diff options
Diffstat (limited to '5664-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 5664-0.txt | 12517 |
1 files changed, 12517 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/5664-0.txt b/5664-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ac06cd --- /dev/null +++ b/5664-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12517 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 5664 *** + + + + + The "Aldine" Edition of + + The Arabian Nights Entertainments + + Illustrated by S. L. Wood + + FROM THE TEXT OF DR. JONATHAN SCOTT + + In Four Volumes + + Volume 1 + + Only 500 copies of the Small Paper Edition are printed + for America, of which this is No. 217 + + + London + Pickering and Chatto + 1890 + + + + + The Publishers' Preface. + + + +This, the "Aldine Edition" of "The Arabian Nights +Entertainments," forms the first four volumes of a proposed +series of reprints of the Standard works of fiction which have +appeared in the English language. + +It is our intention to publish the series in an artistic way, +well illustrating a text typographically as perfect as possible. +The texts in all cases will be carefully chosen from approved +editions. + +The series is intended for those who appreciate well printed and +illustrated books, or who are in want of a handy and handsome +edition of such works to place upon their bookshelves. + +The exact origin of the Tales, which appear in the Arabic as "The +Thousand and One Nights," is unknown. The Caliph Haroon al +Rusheed, who, figures in so lifelike a manner in many of the +stories, was a contemporary of the Emperor Charlemagne, and there +is internal evidence that the collection was made in the Arabic +language about the end of the tenth century. + +They undoubtedly convey a picturesque impression of the manners, +sentiments, and customs of Eastern Mediaeval Life. + +The stories were translated from the Arabic by M. Galland and +first found their way into English in 1704, when they were +retranslated from M. Galland's French text and at once became +exceedingly popular. + +This process of double translation had great disadvantages; it +induced Dr. Jonathan Scott, Oriental Professor, to publish in +1811, a new edition, revised and corrected from the Arabic. + +It is upon this text that the present edition is formed. + +It will be found free from that grossness which is unavoidable in +a strictly literal translation of the original into English; and +which has rendered the splendid translations of Sir R. Burton and +Mr. J. Payne quite unsuitable as the basis of a popular edition, +though at the same time stamping the works as the two most +perfect editions for the student. + +The scholarly translation of Lane, by the too strict an adherence +to Oriental forms of expression, and somewhat pedantic rendering +of the spelling of proper names, is found to be tedious to a very +large number of readers attracted by the rich imagination, +romance, and humour of these tales. + + + + The Arabian Nights Entertainments. + + + +The chronicles of the Sassanians, ancient kings of Persia, who +extended their empire into the Indies, over all the adjacent +islands, and a great way beyond the Ganges, as far as China, +acquaint us, that there was formerly a king of that potent +family, who was regarded as the most excellent prince of his +time. He was as much beloved by his subjects for his wisdom and +prudence, as he was dreaded by his neighbours, on account of his +velour, and well-disciplined troops. He had two sons; the elder +Shier-ear, the worthy heir of his father, and endowed with all +his virtues; the younger Shaw-zummaun, a prince of equal merit. + +After a long and glorious reign, this king died; and Shier-ear +mounted his throne. Shaw-zummaun, being excluded from all share +in the government by the laws of the empire, and obliged to live +a private life, was so far from envying the happiness of his +brother, that he made it his whole business to please him, and in +this succeeded without much difficulty. Shier-ear, who had +naturally a great affection the prince his brother, gave him the +kingdom of Great Tartary. Shaw-zummaun went immediately and took +possession of it, and fixed the seat of his government at +Samarcand, the metropolis of the country. + +After they had been separated ten years, Shier-ear, being very +desirous of seeing his brother, resolved to send an ambassador to +invite him to his court. He made choice of his prime vizier for +the embassy, and sent him to Tartary, with a retinue answerable +to his dignity. The vizier proceeded with all possible expedition +to Samarcand. When he came near the city, Shaw-zummaun was +informed of his approach, and went to meet him attended by the +principal lords of his court, who, to shew the greater honour to +the sultan's minister, appeared in magnificent apparel. The king +of Tartary received the ambassador with the greatest +demonstrations of joy; and immediately asked him concerning the +welfare of the sultan his brother. The vizier having acquainted +him that he was in health, informed him of the purpose of his +embassy. Shaw-zummaun was much affected, and answered: "Sage +vizier, the sultan my brother does me too much honour; nothing +could be more agreeable to me, for I as ardently long to see him +as he does to see me. Time has not diminished my friendship more +than his. My kingdom is in peace, and I want no more than ten +days to get myself ready to return with you. There is therefore +no necessity for your entering the city for so short a period. I +pray you to pitch your tents here, and I will order everything +necessary to be provided for yourself and your attendants." The +vizier readily complied; and as soon as the king returned to the +city, he sent him a prodigious quantity of provisions of all +sorts, with presents of great value. + +In the meanwhile, Shaw-zummaun prepared for his journey, gave +orders about his most important affairs, appointed a council to +govern in his absence, and named a minister, of whose wisdom he +had sufficient experience, and in whom he had entire confidence, +to be their president. At the end of ten days, his equipage being +ready, he took leave of the queen his wife, and went out of town +in the evening with his retinue. He pitched his royal pavilion +near the vizier's tent, and conversed with him till midnight. +Wishing once more to see the queen, whom he ardently loved, he +returned alone to his palace, and went directly to her majesty's +apartments. But she, not expecting his return, had taken one of +the meanest officers of her household to her bed. + +The king entered without noise, and pleased himself to think how +he should surprise his wife who he thought loved him with +reciprocal tenderness. But how great was his astonishment, when, +by the light of the flambeau, he beheld a man in her arms! He +stood immovable for some time, not knowing how to believe his own +eyes. But finding there was no room for doubt, "How!" said he to +himself, "I am scarcely out of my palace, and but just under the +walls of Samarcand, and dare they put such an outrage upon me? +Perfidious wretches! your crime shall not go unpunished. As a +king, I am bound to punish wickedness committed in my dominions; +and as an enraged husband, I must sacrifice you to my just +resentment." The unfortunate prince, giving way to his rage, then +drew his cimeter, and approaching the bed killed them both with +one blow, their sleep into death; and afterwards taking them up, +he threw them out of a window into the ditch that surrounded the +palace. + +Having thus avenged himself, he returned to his pavilion without +saying one word of what had happened, gave orders that the tents +should be struck, and everything made ready for his journey. All +was speedily prepared, and before day he began his march, with +kettle-drums and other instruments of music, that filled everyone +with joy, excepting the king; he was so much afflicted by the +disloyalty of his wife, that he was seized with extreme +melancholy, which preyed upon his spirits during the whole of his +journey. + +When he drew near the capital of the Indies, the sultan Shier-ear +and all his court came out to meet him. The princes were +overjoyed to see one another, and having alighted, after mutual +embraces and other marks of affection and respect, remounted, and +entered the city, amidst the acclamations of the people. The +sultan conducted his brother to the palace provided for him, +which had a communication with his own by a garden. It was so +much the more magnificent as it was set apart as a banqueting- +house for public entertainments, and other diversions of the +court, and its splendour had been lately augmented by new +furniture. + +Shier-ear immediately left the king of Tartary, that he might +give him time to bathe, and to change his apparel. As soon as he +had done, he returned to him again, and they sat down together on +a sofa or alcove. The courtiers out of respect kept at a +distance, and the two princes entertained one another suitably to +their friendship, their consanguinity, and their long separation. +The time of supper being come, they ate together, after which +they renewed their conversation, which continued till Shier-ear, +perceiving that it was very late, left his brother to repose. + +The unfortunate Shaw-zummaun retired to bed. Though the +conversation of his brother had suspended his grief for some +time, it returned again with increased violence; so that, instead +of taking his necessary rest, he tormented himself with the +bitterest reflections. All the circumstances of his wife's +disloyalty presented themselves afresh to his imagination, in so +lively a manner, that he was like one distracted. being able to +sleep, he arose, and abandoned himself to the most afflicting +thoughts, which made such an impression upon his countenance, as +it was impossible for the sultan not to observe. "What," said he, +"can be the matter with the king of Tartary that he is so +melancholy? Has he any cause to complain of his reception? No, +surely; I have received him as a brother whom I love, so that I +can charge myself with no omission in that respect. Perhaps it +grieves him to be at such a distance from his dominions, or from +the queen his wife? If that be the case, I must forthwith give +him the presents I designed for him, that he may return to +Samarcand." Accordingly the next day Shier-ear sent him part of +those presents, being the greatest rarities and the richest +things that the Indies could afford. At the same time he +endeavoured to divert his brother every day by new objects of +pleasure, and the most splendid entertainments. But these, +instead of affording him ease, only increased his sorrow. + +One day, Shier-ear having appointed a great hunting-match, about +two days journey from his capital, in a place that abounded with +deer, Shaw-zummaun besought him to excuse his attendance, for his +health would not allow him to bear him company. The sultan, +unwilling to put any constraint upon him, left him at his +liberty, and went a-hunting with his nobles. The king of Tartary +being thus left alone, shut himself up in his apartment, and sat +down at a window that looked into the garden. That delicious +place, and the sweet harmony of an infinite number of birds, +which chose it for their retreat, must certainly have diverted +him, had he been capable of taking pleasure in anything; but +being perpetually tormented with the fatal remembrance of his +queen's infamous conduct, his eyes were not so much fixed upon +the garden, as lifted up to heaven to bewail his misfortune. + +While he was thus absorbed in grief, a circumstance occurred +which attracted the whole of his attention. A secret gate of the +sultan's palace suddenly opened, and there came out of it twenty +women, in the midst of whom walked the sultaness, who was easily +distinguished from the rest by her majestic air. This princess +thinking that the king of Tartary was gone a-hunting with his +brother the sultan, came with her retinue near the windows of his +apartment. For the prince had so placed himself that he could see +all that passed in the garden without being perceived himself. He +observed, that the persons who accompanied the sultaness threw +off their veils and long robes, that they might be more at their +ease, but he was greatly surprised to find that ten of them were +black men, and that each of these took his mistress. The +sultaness, on her part, was not long without her gallant. She +clapped her hands, and called "Masoud, Masoud," and immediately a +black descended from a tree, and ran towards her with great +speed. + +Modesty will not allow, nor is it necessary, to relate what +passed between the blacks and the ladies. It is sufficient to +say, that Shaw-zummaun saw enough to convince him, that his +brother was as much to be pitied as himself. This amorous company +continued together till midnight, and having bathed together in a +great piece of water, which was one of the chief ornaments of the +garden, they dressed themselves, and re-entered the palace by the +secret door, all except Masoud, who climbed up his tree, and got +over the garden wall as he had come in. + +These things having passed in the king of Tartary's sight, filled +him with a multitude of reflections. "How little reason had I," +said he, "to think that none was so unfortunate as myself? It is +surely the unavoidable fate of all husbands, since even the +sultan my brother, who is sovereign of so-many dominions, and the +greatest prince of the earth, could not escape. Such being the +case, what a fool am I to kill myself with grief? I am resolved +that the remembrance of a misfortune so common shall never more +disturb my peace." + +From that moment he forbore afflicting himself. He called for his +supper, ate with a better appetite than he had done since his +leaving Samarcand, and listened with some degree of pleasure to +the agreeable concert of vocal and instrumental music that was +appointed to entertain him while at table. + +He continued after this very cheerful; and when he was informed +that the sultan was returning, went to meet him, and paid him his +compliments with great gaiety. Shier-ear at first took no notice +of this alteration. He politely expostulated with him for not +bearing him company, and without giving him time to reply, +entertained him with an account of the great number of deer and +other game they had killed, and the pleasure he had received in +the chase. Shaw-zummaun heard him with attention; and being now +relieved from the melancholy which had before depressed his +spirits, and clouded his talents, took up the conversation in his +turn, and spoke a thousand agreeable and pleasant things to the +sultan. + +Shier-ear, who expected to have found him in the same state as he +had left him, was overjoyed to see him so cheerful: "Dear +brother," said he, "I return thanks to heaven for the happy +change it has wrought in you during my absence. I am indeed +extremely rejoiced. But I have a request to make to you, and +conjure you not to deny me."I can refuse you nothing," replied +the king of Tartary; "you may command Shaw-zummaun as you please: +speak, I am impatient to know what you desire of me." "Ever since +you came to my court," resumed Shier-ear, "I have found you +immersed in a deep melancholy, and I have in vain attempted to +remove it by different diversions. I imagined it might be +occasioned by your distance from your dominions, or that love +might have a great share in it; and that the queen of Samarcand, +who, no doubt, is an accomplished beauty, might be the cause. I +do not know whether I am mistaken in my conjecture; but I must +own, that it was for this very reason I would not importune you +upon the subject, for fear of making you uneasy. But without +myself contributing anything towards effecting the change, I find +on my return that your mind is entirely delivered from the black +vapour which disturbed it. Pray do me the favour to tell me why +you were so melancholy, and wherefore you are no longer so." + +The king of Tartary continued for some time as if he had been +meditating and contriving what he should answer; but at last +replied, "You are my sultan and master; but excuse me, I beseech +you, from answering your question." "No, dear brother," said the +sultan, "you must answer me, I will take no denial." Shaw- +zummaun, not being able to withstand these pressing entreaties, +replied, "Well then, brother, I will satisfy you, since you +command me ;" and having told him the story of the queen of +Samarcand's treachery "This," said he, "was the cause of my +grief; judge whether I had not sufficient reason for my +depression." + +"O! my brother," said the sultan, (in a tone which shewed what +interest he took in the king of Tartary's affliction), "what a +horrible event do you tell me! I commend you for punishing the +traitors who offered you such an outrage. None can blame you for +what you have done. It was just; and for my part, had the case +been mine, 1 should scarcely have been so moderate. I could not +have satisfied myself with the life of one woman; I should have +sacrificed a thousand to my fury. I now cease to wonder at your +melancholy. The cause was too afflicting and too mortifying not +to overwhelm you. O heaven! what a strange adventure! Nor do I +believe the like ever befell any man but yourself. But I must +bless God, who has comforted you; and since I doubt not but your +consolation is well-grounded, be so good as to inform me what it +is, and conceal nothing from me." Shaw-zummaun was not so easily +prevailed upon in this point as he had been in the other, on his +brother's account. But being obliged to yield to his pressing +instances, answered, "I must obey you then, since your command is +absolute, yet I am afraid that my obedience will occasion your +trouble to be greater than my own. But you must blame yourself, +since you force me to reveal what I should otherwise have buried +in eternal Oblivion." "What you say," answered Shier-ear, "serves +only to increase my curiosity. Discover the secret, whatever it +be." The king of Tartary being no longer able to refuse, related +to him the particulars of the blacks in disguise, of the +ungoverned passion of the sultaness, and her ladies; nor did he +forget Masoud. After having been witness to these infamous +actions, he continued, "I believed all women to be naturally +lewd; and that they could not resist their inclination. Being of +this opinion, it seemed to me to be in men an unaccountable +weakness to place any confidence in their fidelity. This +reflection brought on many others; and in short, I thought the +best thing I could do was to make myself easy. It cost me some +pains indeed, but at last I grew reconciled; and if you will take +my advice, you will follow my example." + +Though the advice was good, the sultan could not approve of it, +but fell into a rage. "What!" said he, "is the sultaness of the +Indies capable of prostituting herself in so base a manner! No, +brother, I cannot believe what you state unless I beheld it with +my own eyes. Yours must needs have deceived you; the matter is so +important that I must be satisfied of it myself." "Dear brother," +answered Shaw-zummaun, "that you may without much difficulty. +Appoint another hunting-match, and when we are out of town with +your court and mine, we will rest under our tents, and at night +let you and I return unattended to my apartments. I am certain +the next day you will see a repetition of the scene." The sultan +approving the stratagem, immediately appointed another hunting- +match. And that same day the tents were pitched at the place +appointed. + +The next day the two princes set out with all their retinue; they +arrived at the place of encampment, and stayed there till night. +Shier-ear then called his grand vizier, and, without acquainting +him with his design, commanded him during his absence to suffer +no person to quit the camp on any presence whatever. As soon as +he had given this order, the king of Grand Tartary and he took +horse, passed through the camp incognito, returned to the city, +and went to Shaw-zummaun's apartment. They had scarcely placed +themselves in the window whence the king of Tartary had beheld +the scene of the disguised blacks, when the secret gate opened, +the sultaness and her ladies entered the garden with the blacks, +and she having called to Masoud, the sultan saw more than enough +fully to convince him of his dishonour and misfortune. + +"Oh heavens!" he exclaimed, "what indignity! What horror! Can the +wife of a sovereign be capable of such infamous conduct? After +this, let no prince boast of being perfectly happy. Alas! my +brother," continued he, embracing the king of Tartery, "let us +both renounce the world, honour is banished out of it; if it +flatter us one day, it betrays us the next. Let us abandon our +dominions, and go into foreign countries, where we may lead an +obscure life, and conceal our misfortunes." Shaw-zummaun did not +at all approve of this plan, but did not think fit to contradict +Shierear in the heat of his passion. "Dear brother," he replied, +"your will shall be mine. I am ready to follow you whithersoever +you please: but promise me that you will return, if we meet with +any one more unhappy than ourselves." "To this I agree," said the +sultan, "but doubt much whether we shall." "I am not of your +opinion in this," replied the king of Tartary; "I fancy our +journey will be but short." Having thus resolved, they went +secretly out of the palace. They travelled as long as day-light +continued; and lay the first night under trees. They arose about +break of day, went on till they came to a fine meadow on the +seashore, that was be-sprinkled with large trees They sat down +under one of them to rest and refresh themselves, and the chief +subject of their conversation was the infidelity or their wives. + +They had not rested long, before they heard a frightful noise +from the sea, and a terrible cry, which filled them with fear. +The sea then opened, and there arose something like a great black +column, which reached almost to the clouds. This redoubled their +terror, made them rise with haste, and climb up into a tree m +bide themselves. They had scarcely got up, when looking to the +place from whence the noise proceeded, and where the sea had +opened, they observed that the black column advanced, winding +about towards the: shore, cleaving the water before it. They +could not at first think what this could mean, but in a little +time they found that it was one of those malignant genies that +are mortal enemies to mankind, and are always doing them +mischief. He was black and frightful, had the shape of a giant, +of a prodigious stature, and carried on his head a large glass +box, fastened with four locks of fine steel. He entered the +meadow with his burden, which he laid down just at the foot of +the tree where the two princes were concealed, who gave +themselves over as lost. The genie sat down by his box, and +opening it with four keys that he had at his girdle, there came +out a lady magnificently appareled, of a majestic stature, and +perfect beauty. The monster made her sit down by him, and eyeing +her with an amorous look, said, "Lady, nay, most accomplished of +all ladies who are admired for their beauty, my charming +mistress, whom I carried off on your wedding-day, and have loved +so constantly ever since, let me sleep a few moments by you; for +I found myself so very drowsy that I came to this place to take a +little rest." Having spoken thus, he laid down his huge head upon +the lady's knees, and stretching out his legs, which reached as +far as the sea, he fell asleep presently, and snored so loud that +he made the shores echo. + +The lady happening at this time to look up, saw the two princes +in the tree, and made a sign to them with her hand to come down +without making any noise. Their fear was extreme when they found +themselves discovered, and they prayed the lady, by other signs, +to excuse them. But she, after having laid the monster's head +softly on the ground, rose up and spoke to them, with a low but +eager voice, to come down to her; she would take no denial. They +informed her by signs that they were afraid of the genie, and +would fain have been excused. Upon which she ordered them to come +down, and threatened if they did not make haste, to awaken the +genie, and cause him to put them to death. + +These words so much intimidated the princes, that they began to +descend with all possible precaution lest they should awake the +genie. When they had come down, the lady took them by the hand, +and going a little farther with them under the trees, made them a +very urgent proposal. At first they rejected it, but she obliged +them to comply by her threats. Having obtained what she desired, +she perceived that each of them had a ring on his finger, which +she demanded. As soon as she had received them, she pulled out a +string of other rings, which she shewed the princes, and asked +them if they knew what those jewels meant? "No," said they, "we +hope you will be pleased to inform us." "These are," she replied, +"the rings of all the men to whom I have granted my favours. +There are fourscore and eighteen, which I keep as memorials of +them; and I asked for yours to make up the hundred. So that I +have had a hundred gallants already, notwithstanding the +vigilance of this wicked genie, who never leaves me. He may lock +me up in this glass box and hide me in the bottom of the sea; but +I find methods to elude his vigilance. You may see by this, that +when a woman has formed a project, there is no husband or lover +that can prevent her from putting it in execution. Men had better +not put their wives under such restraint, as it only serves to +teach them cunning." Having spoken thus to them, she put their +rings on the same string with the rest, and sitting down by the +monster, as before, laid his head again upon her lap, end made a +sign to the princes to depart. + +They returned immediately the way they had come, and when they +were out of sight of the lady and the genie Shier-ear said to +Shaw-zummaun "Well, brother, what do you think of this adventure? +Has not the genie a very faithful mistress? And do you not agree +that there is no wickedness equal to that of women?" "Yes, +brother," answered the king of Great Tartary; "and you must also +agree that the monster is more unfortunate, and more to be pitied +than ourselves. Therefore, since we have found what we sought +for, let us return to our dominions, and let not this hinder us +from marrying. For my part, I know a method by which to preserve +the fidelity of my wife inviolable. I will say no more at +present, but you will hear of it in a little time, and I am sure +you will follow my example." The sultan agreed with his brother; +and continuing their journey, they arrived in the camp the third +night after their departure. + +The news of the sultan's return being spread, the courtiers came +betimes in the morning before his pavilion to wait his pleasure. +He ordered them to enter, received them with a more pleasant air +than he had formerly done, and gave each of them a present. After +which, he told them he would go no farther, ordered them to take +horse, and returned with expedition to his palace. + +As soon as he arrived, he proceeded to the sultaness's apartment, +commanded her to be bound before him, and delivered her to his +grand vizier, with an order to strangle her, which was +accordingly executed by that minister, without inquiring into her +crime. The enraged prince did not stop here, but cut off the +heads of all the sultaness's ladies with his own hand. After this +rigorous punishment, being persuaded that no woman was chaste, he +resolved, in order to prevent the disloyalty of such as he should +afterwards marry, to wed one every night, and have her strangled +next morning. Having imposed this cruel law upon himself, he +swore that he would put it in force immediately after the +departure of the king of Tartary, who shortly took leave of him, +and being laden with magnificent presents, set forward on his +journey. + +Shaw-zummaun having departed, Shier-ear ordered his grand vizier +to bring him the daughter of one of his generals. The vizier +obeyed. The sultan lay with her, and putting her next morning +into his hands again in order to have her strangled, commanded +him to provide him another the next night. Whatever reluctance +the vizier might feel to put such orders in execution, as he owed +blind obedience to the sultan his master, he was forced to +submit. He brought him then the daughter of a subaltern, whom he +also put to death the next day. After her he brought a citizen's +daughter; and, in a word, there was every day a maid married, and +a wife murdered. + +The rumour of this unparalleled barbarity occasioned a general +consternation in the city, where there was nothing but crying and +lamentation. Here, a father in tears, and inconsolable for the +loss of his daughter; and there, tender mothers dreating lest +their daughters should share the same fate, filling the air with +cries of distress and apprehension. So that, instead of the +commendation and blessings which the sultan had hitherto received +from his subjects, their mouths were now filled with +imprecations. + +The grand vizier who, as has been already observed, was the +unwilling executioner of this horrid course of injustice, had two +daughters, the elder called Scheherazade, and the younger +Dinarzade. The latter was highly accomplished; but the former +possessed courage, wit, and penetration, infinitely above her +sex. She had read much, and had so admirable a memory, that she +never forgot any thing she had read. She had successfully applied +herself to philosophy, medicine, history, and the liberal arts; +and her poetry excelled the compositions of the best writers of +her time. Besides this, she was a perfect beauty, and all her +accomplishments were crowned by solid virtue. + +The vizier loved this daughter, so worthy of his affection. One +day, as they were conversing together, she said to him, "Father, +I have one favour to beg of you, and most humbly pray you to +grant it." "I will not refuse," answered he, "provided it be just +and reasonable." "For the justice of it," resumed she, "there can +be no question, and you may judge of this by the motive which +obliges me to make the request. I wish to stop that barbarity +which the sultan exercises upon the families of this city. I +would dispel those painful apprehensions which so many mothers +feel of losing their daughters in such a fatal manner." "Your +design, daughter," replied the vizier "is very commendable; but +the evil you would remedy seems to me incurable. How do you +propose to effect your purpose?" "Father," said Scheherazade, +"since by your means the sultan makes every day a new marriage, I +conjure you, by the tender affection you bear me, to procure me +the honour of his bed." The vizier could not hear this without +horror. "O heaven!" he replied in a passion, "have you lost your +senses, daughter, that you make such a dangerous request? You +know the sultan has sworn, that he will never lie above one night +with the same woman, and to command her to be killed the next +morning; would you then have me propose you to him? Consider well +to what your indiscreet zeal will expose you." "Yes, dear +father," replied the virtuous daughter, "I know the risk I run; +but that does not alarm me. If I perish, my death will be +glorious; and if I succeed, I shall do my country an important +service." "No, no," said the vizier "whatever you may offer to +induce me to let you throw yourself into such imminent danger, do +not imagine that I will ever consent. When the sultan shall +command me to strike my poniard into your heart, alas! I must +obey; and what an employment will that be for a father! Ah! if +you do not dread death, at least cherish some fears of afflicting +me with the mortal grief of imbuing my hands in your blood." +"Once more father," replied Scheherazade, "grant me the favour I +solicit." "Your stubbornness," resumed the vizier "will rouse my +anger; why will you run headlong to your ruin? They who do not +foresee the end of a dangerous enterprise can never conduct it to +a happy issue. I am afraid the same thing will happen to you as +befell the ass, which was well off, but could not remain so." +"What misfortune befell the ass?" demanded Scheherazade. "I will +tell you," replied the vizier, "if you will hear me." + + + + + The Ass, the Ox, and the Labourer. + + + +A very wealthy merchant possessed several country-houses, where +he kept a large number of cattle of every kind. He retired with +his wife and family to one of these estates, in order to improve +it under his own direction. He had the gift of understanding the +language of beasts, but with this condition, that he should not, +on pain of death, interpret it to any one else. And this hindered +him from communicating to others what he learned by means of this +faculty. + +He kept in the same stall an ox and an ass. One day as he sat +near them, and was amusing himself in looking at his children who +were playing about him, he heard the ox say to the ass, +"Sprightly, O! how happy do I think you, when I consider the ease +you enjoy, and the little labour that is required of you. You are +carefully rubbed down and washed, you have well-dressed corn, and +fresh clean water. Your greatest business is to carry the +merchant, our master, when he has any little journey to make, and +were it not for that you would be perfectly idle. I am treated in +a very different manner, and my condition is as deplorable as +yours is fortunate. Daylight no sooner appears than I am fastened +to a plough, and made to work till night, which so fatigues me, +that sometimes my strength entirely fails. Besides, the labourer, +who is always behind me, beats me continually. By drawing the +plough, my tail is all flayed; and in short, after having +laboured from morning to night, when I am brought in they give me +nothing to eat but sorry dry beans, not so much as cleansed from +dirt, or other food equally bad; and to heighten my misery, when +I have filled my belly with such ordinary stuff, I am forced to +lie all night in my own dung: so that you see I have reason to +envy your lot." + +The ass did not interrupt the ox; but when he had concluded, +answered, "They that called you a foolish beast did not lie. You +are too simple; you suffer them to conduct you whither they +please, and shew no manner of resolution. In the mean time, what +advantage do you reap from all the indignities you suffer." You +kill yourself for the ease, pleasure, and profit of those who +give you no thanks for your service. But they would not treat you +so, if you had as much courage as strength. When they come to +fasten you to the stall, why do you not resist? why do you not +gore them with your horns, and shew that you arc angry, by +striking your foot against the ground? And, in short, why do not +you frighten them by bellowing aloud? Nature has furnished you +with means to command respect; but you do not use them. They +bring you sorry beans and bad straw; eat none of them, only smell +and then leave them. If you follow my advice, you will soon +experience a change, for which you will thank me." + +The ox took the ass's advice in very good part, and owned he was +much obliged to him. "Dear Sprightly," added he, "I will not fail +to do as you direct, and you shall see how I will acquit myself." +Here ended their conversation, of which the merchant lost not a +word. + +Early the next morning the labourer went for the ox. He fastened +him to the plough and conducted him to his usual work. The ox, +who had not forgotten the ass's counsel, was very troublesome and +untowardly all that day, and in the evening, when the labourer +brought him back to the stall, and began to fasten him, the +malicious beast instead of presenting his head willingly as he +used to do, was restive, and drew back bellowing; and then made +at the labourer, as if he would have gored him with his horns. In +a word, he did all that the ass had advised him. The day +following, the labourer came as usual, to take the ox to his +labour; but finding the stall full of beans, the straw that he +had put in the night before not touched, and the ox lying on the +ground with his legs stretched out, and panting in a strange +manner, he believed him to be unwell, pitied him, and thinking +that it was not proper to take him to work, went immediately and +acquainted his master with his condition. The merchant perceiving +that the ox had followed all the mischievous advice of the ass, +determined to punish the latter, and accordingly ordered the +labourer to go and put him in the ox's place, and to he sure to +work him hard. The labourer did as he was desired. The ass was +forced to draw the plough all that day, which fatigued him so +much the more, as he was not accustomed to that kind of labour; +besides he had been so soundly beaten, that he could scarcely +stand when he came back. + +Meanwhile, the ox was mightily pleased; he ate up all that was in +his stall, and rested himself the whole day. He rejoiced that he +had followed the ass's advice, blessed him a thousand times for +the kindness he had done him, and did not fail to express his +obligations when the ass had returned. The ass made no reply, so +vexed was he at the ill treatment he had received; but he said +within himself, "It is by my own imprudence I have brought this +misfortune upon myself. I lived happily, every thing smiled upon +me; I had all that I could wish; it is my own fault that I am +brought to this miserable condition; and if I cannot contrive +some way to get out of it, I am certainly undone." As he spoke, +his strength was so much exhausted that he fell down in his +stall, as if he had been half dead. + +Here the grand vizier, himself to Scheherazade, and said, +"Daughter, you act just like this ass; you will expose yourself +to destruction by your erroneous policy. Take my advice, remain +quiet, and do not seek to hasten your death." "Father," replied +Scheherazade, "the example you have set before me will not induce +me to change my resolution. I will never cease importuning you +until you present me to the sultan as his bride." The vizier, +perceiving that she persisted in her demand, replied, "Alas! +then, since you will continue obstinate, I shall be obliged to +treat you in the same manner as the merchant whom I before +referred to treated his wife a short time after." + +The merchant understanding that the ass was in a lamentable +condition, was desirous of knowing what passed between him and +the ox, therefore after supper he went out by moonlight, and sat +down by them, his wife bearing him company. After his arrival, he +heard the ass say to the ox "Comrade, tell me, I pray you, what +you intend to do to-morrow, when the labourer brings you meat?" +"What will I do?" replied the ox, "I will continue to act as you +taught me. I will draw back from him and threaten him with my +horns, as I did yesterday: I will feign myself ill, and at the +point of death." "Beware of that," replied the ass, "it will ruin +you; for as I came home this evening, I heard the merchant, our +master, say something that makes me tremble for you." "Alas! what +did you hear?" demanded the ox; "as you love me, withhold nothing +from me, my dear Sprightly." "Our master," replied the ass, +"addressed himself thus to the labourer: Since the ox does not +eat, and is not able to work, I would have him killed to-morrow, +and we will give his flesh as an alms to the poor for God's sake, +as for the skin, that will be of use to us, and I would have you +give it the currier to dress; therefore be sure to send for the +butcher.' This is what I had to tell you," said the ass. "The +interest I feel in your preservation, and my friendship for you, +obliged me to make it known to you, and to give you new advice. +As soon as they bring you your bran and straw, rise up and eat +heartily. Our master will by this think that you are recovered, +and no doubt will recall his orders for killing you; but, if you +act otherwise, you will certainly be slaughtered." + +This discourse had the effect which the ass designed. The ox was +greatly alarmed, and bellowed for fear. The merchant, who heard +the conversation very attentively, fell into a loud fit of +laughter. His wife was greatly surprised, and asked, "Pray, +husband, tell me what you laugh at so heartily, that I may laugh +with you." "Wife," replied he, "you must content yourself with +hearing me laugh." "No," returned she, "I will know the reason." +"I cannot afford you that satisfaction," he, "and can only inform +you that I laugh at what our ass just now said to the ox. The +rest is a secret, which I am not allowed to reveal." "What," +demanded she "hinders you from revealing the secret?" "If I tell +it you," replied he, "I shall forfeit my life." "You only jeer +me," cried his wife, "what you would have me believe cannot be +true. If you do not directly satisfy me as to what you laugh at, +and tell me what the ox and the ass said to one another, I swear +by heaven that you and I shall never bed together again." + +Having spoken thus, she went into the house, and seating herself +in a corner, cried there all night. Her husband lay alone, and +finding next morning that she continued in the same humour, told +her, she was very foolish to afflict herself in that manner; that +the thing was not worth so much; that it concerned her very +little to know while it was of the utmost consequence to him to +keep the secret: "therefore," continued he, "I conjure you to +think no more of it." "I shall still think so much of it," +replied she, "as never to forbear weeping till you have satisfied +my curiosity." "But I tell you very seriously," answered he, +"that it will cost me my life if I yield to your indiscreet +solicitations." "Let what will happen," said she, "I do insist +upon it." "I perceive," resumed the merchant, "that it is +impossible to bring you to reason, and since I foresee that you +will occasion your own death by your obstinacy, I will call in +your children, that they may see you before you die." Accordingly +he called for them, and sent for her father and mother, and other +relations. When they were come and had heard the reason of their +being summoned, they did all they could to convince her that she +was in the wrong, but to no purpose: she told them she would +rather die than yield that point to her husband. Her father and +mother spoke to her by herself, and told her that what she +desired to know was of no importance to her; but they could +produce no effect upon her, either by their authority or +intreaties. When her children saw that nothing would prevail to +draw her out of that sullen temper, they wept bitterly. The +merchant himself was half frantic, and almost ready to risk his +own life to save that of his wife, whom he sincerely loved. + +The merchant had fifty hens and one cock, with a dog that gave +good heed to all that passed. While the merchant was considering +what he had best do, he saw his dog run towards the cock as he +was treading a hen, and heard him say to him: "Cock, I am sure +heaven will not let you live long; are you not ashamed to ad thus +to-day?" The cock standing up on tiptoe, answered fiercely: "And +why not to-day as well as other days?" "If you do not know," +replied the dog, "then I will tell you, that this day our master +is in great perplexity. His wife would have him reveal a secret +which is of such a nature, that the disclosure would cost him his +life. Things are come to that pass, that it is to be feared he +will scarcely have resolution enough to resist his wife's +obstinacy; for he loves her, and is affected by the tears she +continually sheds. We are all alarmed at his situation, while you +only insult our melancholy, and have the impudence to divert +yourself with your hens." + +The cock answered the dog's reproof thus: "What, has our master +so little sense? he has but one wife, and cannot govern her, and +though I have fifty, I make them all do what I please. Let him +use his reason, he will soon find a way to rid himself of his +trouble." "How?" demanded the dog; "what would you have him do?" +"Let him go into the room where his wife is," resumed the cock, +"lock the door, and take a stick and thrash her well; and I will +answer for it, that will bring her to her senses, and make her +forbear to importune him to discover what he ought not to +reveal." The merchant had no sooner heard what the cock said, +than he took up a stick, went to his wife, whom he found still +crying, and shutting the door, belaboured her so soundly, that +she cried out, "Enough, husband, enough, forbear, and I will +never ask the question more." Upon this, perceiving that she +repented of her impertinent curiosity, he desisted; and opening +the door, her friends came in, were glad to find her cured of her +obstinacy, and complimented her husband upon this happy expedient +to bring his wife to reason. + +"Daughter," added the grand vizier, "you deserve to be treated as +the merchant treated his wife." + +"Father," replied Scheherazade, "I beg you would not take it ill +that I persist in my opinion. I am nothing moved by the story of +this woman. I could relate many, to persuade you that you ought +not to oppose my design. Besides, pardon me for declaring, that +your opposition is vain; for if your paternal affection should +hinder you from granting my request, I will go and offer myself +to the sultan." In short, the father, being overcome by the +resolution of his daughter, yielded to her importunity, and +though he was much grieved that he could not divert her from so +fatal a resolution, he went instantly to acquaint the sultan, +that next night he would bring him Scheherazade. + +The sultan was much surprized at the sacrifice which the grand +vizier proposed to make. "How could you", said he, "resolve to +bring me your own daughter?" "Sir," answered the vizier, "it is +her own offer. The sad destiny that awaits her could not +intimidate her; she prefers the honour of being your majesty's +wile for one night, to her life." "But do not act under a +mistake, vizier," said the sultan; "to-morrow. when I place +Scheherazade in your hands, I expect you will put her to death; +and if you fail, I swear that your own life shall answer." "Sir," +rejoined the vizier "my heart without doubt will be full of grief +to execute your commands; but it is to no purpose for nature to +murmur. Though I am her father, I will answer for the fidelity of +my hand to obey your order." Shier-ear accepted his minister's +offer, and told him he might bring his daughter when he pleased. + +T'he grand vizicr went with the intelligence to Schcherazade, who +received it with as much joy as if it had been the most agreeable +information she could have received. She thanked her father for +having so greatly obliged her; and perceiving that he was +overwhelmed with grief, told him for his consolation, that she +hoped he would never repent of having married her to the sultan; +and that, on the contrary, he should have reason to rejoice at +his compliance all his days. + +Her business now was to adorn herself to appear before the +sultan; but before she went, she took her sister Dinarzade apart, +and said to her, "My dear sister, I have need of your assistance +in a matter of great importance, and must pray you not to deny it +me. My father is going to conduct me to the sultan; do not let +this alarm you, but hear me with patience. As soon as I am in his +presence, I will pray him to allow you to lie in the bride- +chamber, that I may enjoy your company this one night more. If I +obtain that favour, as I hope to do, remember to awake me to- +morrow an hour before day, and to address me in these or some +such words: My sister, if you be not asleep, I pray you that +till day-break, which will be very shortly, you will relate to me +one of the entertaining stories of which you have read so many.' +I will immediately tell you one; and I hope by this means to +deliver the city from the consternation it is under at present." +Dinarzade answered that she would with pleasure act as she +required her. + +The grand vizier conducted Schcherazade to the palace, and +retired, after having introduced her into the sultan's apartment. +As soon as the sultan was left alone with her, he ordered her to +uncover her face: he found her so beautiful that he was perfectly +charmed; but perceiving her to be in tears, demanded the reason. +"Sir," answered Scheherazade, "I have a sister who loves me +tenderly, and I could wish that she might be allowed to pass the +night in this chamber, that I might see her, and once more bid +her adieu. Will you be pleased to allow me the consolation of +giving her this last testimony of my affection?" Shier-ear having +consented, Dinarzade was sent for, who came with all possible +expedition. + +An hour before day, Dinarzade failed not to do as her sister had +ordered. "My dear sister," cried she, "if you be not asleep, I +pray that until daybreak, which will be very shortly, you will +tell me one of those pleasant stories you have read. Alas! this +may perhaps be the last time that I shall enjoy that pleasure." + +Scheherazade, instead of answering her sister, addressed herself +to the sultan: "Sir, will your majesty be pleased to allow me to +afford my sister this satisfaction?" "With all my heart," replied +the sultan. Scheherazade then bade her sister attend, and +afterwards, addressing herself to Shier-ear, proceeded as +follows. + + + + + THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE. + + + +There was formerly a merchant who possessed much property in +lands, goods, and money, and had a great number of clerks, +factors, and slaves. He was obliged from time to time to visit +his correspondents on business; and one day being under the +necessity of going a long journey on an affair of importance, he +took horse, and carried with him a wallet containing biscuits and +dates, because he had a great desert to pass over, where he could +procure no sort of provisions. He arrived without any accident at +the end of his journey; and having dispatched his affairs, took +horse again, in order to return home. + +The fourth day of his journey, he was so much incommoded by the +heat of the sun, and the reflection of that heat from the earth, +that he turned out of the road, to refresh himself under some +trees. He found at the root of a large tree a fountain of very +clear running water. Having alighted, he tied his horse to a +branch, and sitting down by the fountain, took some biscuits and +dates out of his wallet. As he ate his dates, he threw the shells +carelessly in different directions. When he had finished his +repast, being a good Moosulmaun, he washed his hands, face, and +feet, and said his prayers. Before he had finished, and while he +was yet on his knees, he saw a genie, white with age, and of a +monstrous bulk, advancing towards him with a cimeter in his hand. +The genie spoke to him in a terrible voice: "Rise, that I may +kill thee with this cimeter, as thou hast killed my son;" and +accompanied these words with a frightful cry. The merchant being +as much alarmed at the hideous shape of the monster as at his +threatening language, answered him, trembling, "Alas! my good +lord, of what crime can I be guilty towards you, that you should +take away my life?" "I will," replied the genie, "kill thee, as +thou hast killed my son." "Heavens," exclaimed the merchant, "how +could I kill your son? I never knew, never saw him." "Did not you +sit down when you came hither?" demanded the genie: "did you not +take dates out of your wallet, and as you ate them, did not you +throw the shells about in different directions?" "I did all that +you say," answered the merchant, "I cannot deny it." "If it be +so," resumed the genie, "I tell thee that thou hast killed my +son; and in this manner: When thou wert throwing the shells +about, my son was passing by, and thou didst throw one into his +eye, which killed him; therefore I must kill thee." "Ah! my lord! +pardon me!" cried the merchant. "No pardon," exclaimed the genie, +"no mercy. Is it not just to kill him that has killed another?" +"I agree it is," replied the merchant, "but certainly I never +killed your son; and if I have, it was unknown to me, and I did +it innocently; I beg you therefore to pardon me, and suffer me to +live." "No, no," returned the genie, persisting in his +resolution, "I must kill thee, since thou hast killed my son." +Then taking the merchant by the arm, he threw him with his face +on the ground, and lifted up his cimeter to cut off his head. + +The merchant, with tears, protested he was innocent, bewailed his +wife and children, and supplicated the genie, in the most moving +expressions. The genie, with his cimeter still lifted up, had the +patience to hear his unfortunate victims to the end of his +lamentations, but would not relent. "All this whining," said the +monster, "is to no purpose; though you should shed tears of +blood, they should not hinder me from killing thee, as thou hast +killed my son." "What!" exclaimed the merchant, "can nothing +prevail with you? Will you absolutely take away the life of a +poor innocent?" "Yes," replied the genie, "I am resolved." + +As soon as she had spoken these words, perceiving it was day, and +knowing that the sultan rose early in the morning to say his +prayers, and hold his council, Scheherazade discontinued her +story. "Dear sister," said Dinarzade, "what a wonderful story is +this!" "The remainder of it," replied Scheherazade "is more +surprising, and you will be of this opinion, if the sultan will +but permit me to live over this day, and allow me to proceed with +the relation the ensuing night." Shier-ear, who had listened to +Scheherazade with much interest, said to himself, "I will wait +till to-morrow, for I can at any time put her to death when she +has concluded her story." Having thus resolved not to put +Scheherazade to death that day, he rose and went to his prayers, +and to attend his council. + +During this time the grand vizier was in the utmost distress. +Instead of sleeping, he spent the night in sighs and groans, +bewailing the lot of his daughter, of whom he believed he should +himself shortly be the executioner. As, with this melancholy +prospect before him, he dreaded to meet the sultan, he was +agreeably surprised when he found the prince entered the council +chamber without giving him the fatal orders he expected. + +The sultan, according to his custom, spent the day in regulating +his affairs; and when the night had closed in, retired with +Scheherazade. The next morning before day, Dinarzade failed not +to call to her sister: "My dear sister, if you be not asleep, I +pray you till day-break, which is very near, to go on with the +story you began last night." The sultan, without waiting for +Scheherazade to ask his permission, bade her proceed with the +story of the genie and the merchant; upon which Scheherazade +continued her relation as follows. [FN: In the original work +Scheherazade continually breaks off to ask the sultan to spare +her life for another day, that she may finish the story she is +relating. As these interruptions considerably interfere with the +continued interest of the stories, it has been deemed advisable +to omit them.] + +When the merchant saw that the genie was going to cut off his +head, he cried out aloud to him, "For heaven's sake hold your +hand! Allow me one word. Have the goodness to grant me some +respite, to bid my wife and children adieu, and to divide my +estate among them by will, that they may not go to law after my +death. When I have done this, I will come back and submit to +whatever you shall please to command." "But," said the genie, "if +I grant you the time you ask, I doubt you will never return?" "If +you will believe my oath," answered the merchant, "I swear by all +that is sacred, that I will come and meet you here without fail." +"What time do you require then?" demanded the genie. "I ask a +year," said the merchant; "I cannot in less settle my affairs, +and prepare myself to die without regret. But I promise you, that +this day twelve months I will return under these trees, to put +myself into your hands." "Do you take heaven to be witness to +this promise?" said the genie. "I do," answered the merchant, +"and you may rely on my oath." Upon this the genie left him near +the fountain, and disappeared. + +The merchant being recovered from his terror, mounted his horse, +and proceeded on his journey, glad on the one hand that he had +escaped so great a danger, but grieved on the other, when he +reflected on his fatal oath. When he reached home, his wife and +children received him with all the demonstrations of perfect joy. +But he, instead of returning their caresses, wept so bitterly, +that his family apprehended something calamitous had befallen +him. His wife enquire reason of his excessive grief and tears; +"We are all overjoyed," said she, "at your return; but you alarm +us by your lamentations; pray tell us the cause of your sorrow." +"Alas!" replied the husband, "I have but a year to live." He then +related what had passed betwixt him and the genie, and informed +her that he had given him his oath to return at the end of the +year, to receive death from his hands. + +When they heard this afflicting intelligence, they all began to +lament in the most distressing manner. His wife uttered the most +piteous cries, beat her face, and tore her hair. The children, +all in tears, made the house resound with their groans; and the +father, not being able to resist the impulse of nature, mingled +his tears with theirs: so that, in a word, they exhibited the +most affecting spectacle possible. + +On the following morning the merchant applied himself to put his +affairs in order; and first of all to pay his debts. He made +presents to his friends, gave liberal alms to the poor, set his +slaves of both sexes at liberty, divided his property among his +children, appointed guardians for such of them as were not of +age; and after restoring to his wife all that was due to her by +their marriage contract, he gave her in addition as much as the +law would allow him. + +At last the year expired, and he was obliged to depart. He put +his burial clothes in his wallet; but when he came to bid his +wife and children adieu, their grief surpassed description. They +could not reconcile their minds to the separation, but resolved +to go and die with him. When, however, it became necessary for +him to tear himself from these dear objects, he addressed them in +the following terms: "My dear wife and children, I obey the will +of heaven in quitting you. Follow my example, submit with +fortitude to this necessity, and consider that it is the destiny +of man to die." Having thus spoken, he went out of the hearing of +the cries of his family; and pursuing his journey, arrived on the +day appointed at the place where he had promised to meet the +genie. He alighted, and seating himself down by the fountain, +waited the coming of the genie, with all the sorrow imaginable. +Whilst he languished under this painful expectation, an old man +leading a hind appeared and drew near him. After they had saluted +one another, the old man said to him, "Brother, may I ask why you +are come into this desert place, which is possessed solely by +evil spirits, and where consequently you cannot be safe? From the +beautiful trees which are seen here, one might indeed suppose the +place inhabited; but it is in reality a wilderness, where it is +dangerous to remain long." + +The merchant satisfied his curiosity, and related to him the +adventure which obliged him to be there. The old man listened +with astonishment, and when he had done, exclaimed, "This is the +most surprising thing in the world! and you are bound by the most +inviolable oath. However, I will be witness of your interview +with the genie." He then seated himself by the merchant, and they +entered into conversation. + +"But I see day," said Scheherazade, "and must leave off; yet the +best of the story is to come." The sultan resolving to hear the +end of it, suffered her to live that day also. + +The next morning Dinarzade made the same request to her sister as +before: "My dear sister," said she, "if you be not asleep, tell +me one of those pleasant stories that you have read." But the +sultan, wishing to learn what followed betwixt the merchant and +the genie, bade her proceed with that, which she did as follows. + +Sir, while the merchant and the old man who led the hind were +conversing, they saw another old man coming towards them, +followed by two black dogs; after they had saluted one another, +he asked them what they did in that place? The old man with the +hind told him the adventure of the merchant and genie, with all +that had passed between them, particularly the merchant's oath. +He added, that it was the day agreed on, and that he was resolved +to stay and see the issue. + +The second old man thinking it also worth his curiosity, resolved +to do the same, and took his seat by them. They had scarcely +begun to converse together, when there arrived a third old man +leading a mule. He addressed himself to the two former, and asked +why the merchant who sat with them looked so melancholy? They +told him the reason, which appeared to him so extraordinary, that +he also resolved to witness the result; and for that purpose sat +down with them. + +In a short time they perceived a thick vapour, like a cloud of +dust raised by a whirlwind, advancing towards them. When it had +come up to them it suddenly vanished, and the genie appeared; +who, without saluting them, went to the merchant with a drawn +cimeter, and taking him by the arm, said, "Get thee up, that I +may kill thee, as thou didst my son." The merchant and the three +old men began to lament and fill the air with their cries. + +When the old man who led the hind saw the genie lay hold of the +merchant, and about to kill him, he threw himself at the feet of +the monster, and kissing them, said to him, "Prince of genies, I +most humbly request you to suspend your anger, and do me the +favour to hear me. I will tell you the history of my life, and of +the hind you see; and if you think it more wonderful and +surprising than the adventure of the merchant, I hope you will +pardon the unfortunate man a third of his offence." The genie +took some time to deliberate on this proposal, but answered at +last, "Well then, I agree." + + + + + The Story of the First Old Man and the Hind. + + + +I shall begin my story then; listen to me, I pray you, with +attention. This hind you see is my cousin; nay, what is more, my +wife. She was only twelve years of age when I married her, so +that I may justly say, she ought to regard me equally as her +father, her kinsman, and her husband. + +We lived together twenty years, without any children. Her +barrenness did not effect any change in my love; I still treated +her with much kindness and affection. My desire of having +children only induced me to purchase a slave, by whom I had a +son, who was extremely promising. My wife being jealous, +cherished a hatred for both mother and child, but concealed her +aversion so well, that I knew nothing of it till it was too late. + +Mean time my son grew up, and was ten years old, when I was +obliged to undertake a long journey. Before I went, I recommended +to my wife, of whom I had no mistrust, the slave and her son, and +prayed her to take care of them during my absence, which was to +be for a whole year. She however employed that time to satisfy +her hatred. She applied herself to magic, and when she had learnt +enough of that diabolical art to execute her horrible design, the +wretch carried my son to a desolate place, where, by her +enchantments, she changed him into a calf, and gave him to my +farmer to fatten, pretending she had bought him. Her enmity did +not stop at this abominable action, but she likewise changed the +slave into a cow, and gave her also to my farmer. + +At my return, I enquired for the mother and child. "Your slave," +said she, "is dead; and as for your son, I know not what is +become of him, I have not seen him this two months." I was +afflicted at the death of the slave, but as she informed me my +son had only disappeared, I was in hopes he would shortly return. +However, eight months passed, and I heard nothing of him. When +the festival of the great Bairam was to be celebrated, I sent to +my farmer for one of the fattest cows to sacrifice. He +accordingly sent me one, and the cow which was brought me proved +to be my slave, the unfortunate mother of my son. I bound her, +but as I was going to sacrifice her, she bellowed piteously, and +I could perceive tears streaming from her eyes. This seemed to me +very extraordinary, and finding myself moved with compassion, I +could not find in my heart to give her a blow, but ordered my +farmer to get me another. + +My wife, who was present, was enraged at my tenderness, and +resisting an order which disappointed her malice, she cried out, +"What are you doing, husband? Sacrifice that cow; your farmer has +not a finer, nor one fitter for the festival." Out of deference +to my wife, I came again to the cow, and combating my compassion, +which suspended the sacrifice, was going to give her the fatal +blow, when the victim redoubling her tears, and bellowing, +disarmed me a second time. I then put the mallet into the +farmer's hands, and desired him to take it and sacrifice her +himself, for her tears and bellowing pierced my heart. + +The farmer, less compassionate than myself; sacrificed her; but +when he flayed her, found her to be nothing except bones, though +to she seemed very fat. "Take her yourself," said I to him, +"dispose of her in alms, or any way you please: and if you have a +very fat calf, bring it me in her stead." I did not enquire what +he did with the cow, but soon after he had taken her away, he +returned with a fat calf. Though I knew not the calf was my son, +yet I could not forbear being moved at the sight of him. On his +part, as soon as he beheld me, he made so great an effort to come +near me, that he broke his cord, threw himself at my feet, with +his head against the ground, as if he meant to excite my +compassion, conjuring me not to be so cruel as to take his life; +and did as much as was possible for him, to signify that he was +my son. + +I was more surprised and affected with this action, than with the +tears of the cow. I felt a tender pity, which interested me on +his behalf, or rather, nature did its duty. "Go," said I to the +farmer, "carry home that calf, take great care of him, and bring +me another in his stead immediately." + +As soon as my wife heard me give this order, she exclaimed, "What +are you about, husband? Take my advice, sacrifice no other calf +but that." "Wife," I replied, "I will not sacrifice him, I will +spare him, and pray do not you oppose me." The wicked woman had +no regard to my wishes; she hated my son too much to consent that +I should save him. I tied the poor creature, and taking up the +fatal knife, was going to plunge it into my son's throat, when +turning his eyes bathed with tears, in a languishing manner, +towards me, he affected me so much that I had not strength to +kill him. I let the knife fall, and told my wife positively that +I would have another calf to sacrifice, and not that. She used +all her endeavours to persuade me to change my resolution; but I +continued firm, and pacified her a little, by promising that I +would sacrifice him against the Bairam of the following year. + +The next morning my farmer desired to speak with me alone. "I +come," said he, "to communicate to you a piece of intelligence, +for which I hope you will return me thanks. I have a daughter +that has some skill in magic. Yesterday, as I carried back the +calf which you would not sacrifice, I perceived she laughed when +she saw him, and in a moment after fell a weeping. I asked her +why she acted two such opposite parts at one and the same time. +rather,' replied she, the calf you bring back is our landlord's +son; I laughed for joy to see him still alive, and wept at the +remembrance of the sacrifice that was made the other day of his +mother, who was changed into a cow. These two metamorphoses were +made by the enchantments of our master's wife, who hated both the +mother and son.' This is what my daughter told me," said the +farmer, "and I come to acquaint you with it." + +I leave you to judge how much I was surprised. I went immediately +to my farmer, to speak to his daughter myself. As soon as I +arrived, I went forthwith to the stall where my son was kept; he +could not return my embraces, but received them in such a manner, +as fully satisfied me he was my son. + +The farmer's daughter then came to us: "My good maid," said I, +"can you restore my son to his former shape?" "Yes," she replied, +"I can." "Ah!" said I, "if you do, I will make you mistress of +all my fortune." She answered me, smiling, "You are our master, +and I well know what I owe to you; but I cannot restore your son +to his former shape, except on two conditions: the first is, that +you give him to me for my husband; and the second, that you allow +me to punish the person who changed him into a calf." "As to the +first," I replied, "I agree with all my heart: nay, I promise you +more, a considerable fortune for yourself, independently of what +I design for my son: in a word, you shall see how I will reward +the great service I expect from you. As to what relates to my +wife, I also agree; a person who has been capable of committing +such a criminal action, justly deserves to be punished. I leave +her to your disposal, only I must pray you not to take her life." +"I am going then," answered she, "to treat her as she treated +your son." "To this I consent," said I, "provided you first of +all restore to me my son." + +The damsel then took a vessel full of water, pronounced over it +words that I did not understand, and addressing herself to the +calf, "O calf, if thou west created by the almighty and sovereign +master of the world such as thou appearest at this time, continue +in that form; but if thou be a man, and art changed into a calf +by enchantment, return to thy natural shape, by the permission of +the sovereign Creator." As she spoke, she threw water upon him, +and in an instant he recovered his natural form. + +"My son, my dear son," cried I, immediately embracing him with +such a transport of joy that I knew not what I was doing, "it is +heaven that hath sent us this young maid, to remove the horrible +charm by which you were enchanted, and to avenge the injury done +to you and your mother. I doubt not but in acknowledgment you +will make your deliverer your wife, as I have promised." He +joyfully consented; but before they married, she changed my wife +into a hind; and this is she whom you see here. I desired she +might have this shape, rather than another less agreeable, that +we might see her in the family without horror. + +Since that time, my son is become a widower, and gone to travel. +It being now several years since I heard of him, I am come abroad +to inquire after him; and not being willing to trust anybody with +my wife, till I should return home, I thought fit to take her +everywhere with me. + +"This is the history of myself and this hind: is it not one of +the most wonderful and surprising?" "I admit it is," said the +genie, "and on that account forgive the merchant one third of his +crime." + +When the first old man had finished his story, the second, who +led the two black dogs, addressed the genie, and said: "I am +going to tell you what happened to me, and these two black dogs +you see by me; and I am certain you will say, that my story is +yet more surprising than that which you have just heard. But when +I have done this, I hope you will be pleased to pardon the +merchant another third of his offence." "I will," replied the +genie, "provided your story surpass that of the hind." Then the +second old man began in this manner-- + + + + + The Story of the Second old Man and the Two Black Dogs. + + + +Great prince of genies, you must know that we are three brothers, +the two black dogs and myself. Our father, when he died, left +each of us one thousand sequins. With that sum, we all became +merchants. A little time after we had opened shop, my eldest +brother, one of these two dogs, resolved to travel and trade in +foreign countries. With this view, he sold his estate, and bought +goods suited to the trade intended to follow. + +He went away, and was absent a whole year. At the expiration of +this time, a poor man, who I thought had come to ask alms, +presented himself before me in my shop. I said to him, "God help +you." He returned my salutation, and continued, "Is it possible +you do not know me?" Upon this I looked at him narrowly, and +recognised him: "Ah, brother," cried I, embracing him, "how could +I know you in this condition?" I made him come into my house, and +asked him concerning his health and the success of his travels. +"Do not ask me that question," said he; "when you see me, you see +all: it would only renew my grief, to relate to you the +particulars of the misfortunes I have experienced since I left +you, which have reduced me to my present condition." + +I immediately shut up my shop, and taking him to a bath, gave him +the best clothes I had. Finding on examining my books, that I had +doubled my stock, that is to say, that I was worth two thousand +sequins, I gave him one half; "With that," said I, "brother, you +may make up your loss." He joyfully accepted the present, and +having repaired his fortunes, we lived together, as before. + +Some time after, my second brother, who is the other of these two +dogs, would also sell his estate. His elder brother and myself +did all we could to divert him from his purpose, but without +effect. He disposed of it, and with the money bought such goods +as were suitable to the trade which he designed to follow. He +joined a caravan, and departed. At the end of the year he +returned in the same condition as my other brother. Having myself +by this time gained another thousand sequins, I made him a +present of them. With this sum he furnished his shop, and +continued his trade. + +Some time after, one of my brothers came to me to propose that I +should join them in a trading voyage; I immediately declined. +"You have travelled," said I, "and what have you gained by it? +Who can assure me, that I shall be more successful than you have +been?" It was in vain that they urged open me all the +considerations they thought likely to gain me over to their +design, for I constantly refused; but after having resisted their +solicitations five whole years, they importuned me so much, that +at last they overcame my resolution. When, however, the time +arrived that we were to make preparations for our voyage, to buy +the goods necessary to the undertaking, I found they had spent +all, and had not one dirrim left of the thousand sequins I had +given to each of them. I did not, on this account, upbraid them. +On the contrary, my stock being still six thousand sequins, I +shared the half of it with them, telling them, "My brothers, we +must venture these three thousand sequins, and hide the rest in +some secure place: that in case our voyage be not more successful +than yours was formerly, we may have wherewith to assist us, and +to enable us to follow our ancient way of living." I gave each of +them a thousand sequins, and keeping as much for myself, I buried +the other three thousand in a corner of my house. We purchased +goods, and having embarked them on board a vessel, which we +freighted betwixt us, we put to sea with a favourable wind. + +After two months sail, we arrived happily at port, where we +landed, and had a very good market for our goods. I, especially, +sold mine so well, that I gained ten to one. With the produce we +bought commodities of that country, to carry back with us for +sale. + +When we were ready to embark on our return, I met on the sea- +shore a lady, handsome enough, but poorly clad. She walked up to +me gracefully, kissed my hand, besought me with the greatest +earnestness imaginable to marry her, and take her along with me. +I made some difficulty to agree to this proposal; but she urged +so many things to persuade me that I ought not to object to her +on account of her poverty, and that I should have all the reason +in the world to be satisfied with her conduct, that at last I +yielded. I ordered proper apparel to be made for her; and after +having married her, according to form, I took her on board, and +we set sail. I found my wife possessed so many good qualities, +that my love to her every day increased. In the mean time my two +brothers, who had not managed their affairs as successfully as I +had mine, envied my prosperity; and suffered their feelings to +carry them so far, that they conspired against my life; and one +night, when my wife and I were asleep, threw us both into the +sea. + +My wife proved to be a fairy, and, by consequence, a genie, so +that she could not be drowned; but for me, it is certain I must +have perished, without her help. I had scarcely fallen into the +water, when she took me up, and carried me to an island. When day +appeared, she said to me, "You see, husband, that by saving your +life, I have not rewarded you ill for your kindness to me. You +must know, that I am a fairy, and being upon the sea-shore, when +you were going to embark, I felt a strong desire to have you for +my husband; I had a mind to try your goodness, and presented +myself before you in disguise. You have dealt generously by me, +and I am glad of an opportunity of returning my acknowledgment. +But I am incensed against your brothers, and nothing will satisfy +me but their lives." + +I listened to this discourse with admiration; I thanked the fairy +the best way I could, for the great kindness she had done me; +"But, Madam," said I, "as for my brothers, I beg you to pardon +them; whatever cause of resentment they have given me, I am not +cruel enough to desire their death." I then informed her what I +had done for them, but this increased her indignation; and she +exclaimed, "I must immediately pursue those ungrateful traitors, +and take speedy vengeance on them. I will destroy their vessel, +and sink them into the bottom of the sea." "My good lady," +replied I, "for heaven's sake forbear; moderate your anger, +consider that they are my brothers, and that we ought to return +good for evil." + +I pacified her by these words; and as soon as I had concluded, +she transported me in a moment from the island to the roof of my +own house, which was terraced, and instantly disappeared. I +descended, opened the doors, and dug up the three thousand +sequins I had formerly secreted. I went afterwards to my shop, +which I also opened; and was complimented by the merchants, my +neighbours, upon my return. When I went back to my house, I +perceived there two black dogs, which came up to me in a very +submissive manner: I could not divine the meaning of this +circumstance, which greatly astonished me. But the fairy, who +immediately appeared, said, "Husband, be not surprised to see +these dogs, they are your brothers." I was troubled at this +declaration, and asked her by what power they were so +transformed. "I did it," said she, "or at least authorised one of +my sisters to do it, who at the same time sunk their ship. You +have lost the goods you had on board, but I will compensate you +another way. As to your two brothers, I have condemned them to +remain five years in that shape. Their perfidiousness too well +deserves such a penance." Having thus spoken and told me where I +might hear of her, she disappeared. + +The five years being now nearly expired, I am travelling in quest +of her; and as I passed this way, I met this merchant, and the +good old man who led the hind, and sat down by them. This is my +history, O prince of genies! do not you think it very +extraordinary?" "I own it is," replied the genie, "and on that +account I remit the merchant the second third of the crime which +he has committed against me." + +As soon as the second old man had finished, the third began his +story, after repeating the request of the two former, that the +genie would pardon the merchant the other third of his crime, +provided what he should relate surpassed in singularity of +incidents the narratives he had already heard. The genie made him +the same promise as he had given the others. + +The third old man related his story to the genie; and it exceeded +the two former stories so much, in the variety of wonderful +adventures, that the genie was astonished; and no sooner heard +the conclusion, than he said to the old man, "I remit the other +third of the merchant's crime on account of your story. He is +greatly obliged to all of you, for having delivered him out of +his danger by what you have related, for to this he owes his +life." Having spoken thus he disappeared, to the great +contentment of the company. + +The merchant failed not to make due acknowledgment to his +deliverers. They rejoiced to see him out of danger; and bidding +him adieu, each of them proceeded on his way. The merchant +returned to his wife and children, and passed the rest of his +days with them in peace. + + + + + THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN. + + + +There was an aged fisherman, who was so poor, that he could +scarcely as much as would maintain himself, his wife, and three +children. He went every day to fish betimes in the morning; and +imposed it as a law upon himself, not to cast his nets above four +times a-day. He went one morning by moon-light, and coming to the +seaside, undressed himself, and cast in his nets. As he drew them +towards the shore, he found them very heavy, and thought he had a +good draught of fish, at which he rejoiced; but in a moment +after, perceiving that instead of fish his nets contained nothing +but the carcass of an ass, he was much vexed. + +When the fisherman had mended his nets, which the carcass of the +ass had broken in several places, he threw them in a second time; +and when he drew them, found a great deal of resistance, which +made him think he had taken abundance of fish; but he found +nothing except a basket full of gravel and slime, which grieved +him extremely. "O fortune!" cried he, with a lamentable tone, "be +not angry with me, nor persecute a wretch who prays thee to spare +him. I came hither from my house to seek for my livelihood, and +thou pronouncest against me a sentence of death. I have no other +trade but this to subsist by: and notwithstanding all my care, I +can scarcely provide what is absolutely necessary for my family. +But I am to blame to complain of thee; thou takest pleasure to +persecute honest people, and to leave great men in obscurity, +while thou shewest favour to the wicked, and advancest those who +have no virtue to recommend them." + +Having finished this complaint, he fretfully threw away the +basket, and washing his nets from the slime, cast them the third +time; but brought up nothing, except stones, shells, and mud. No +language can express his disappointment; he was almost +distracted. However, when day began to appear, he did not forget +to say his prayers, like a good Moosulmaun, and he added to them +this petition: "Lord, thou knowest that I cast my nets only four +times a day; I have already drawn them three times, without the +least reward for my labour: I am only to cast them once more; I +pray thee to render the sea favourable to me, as thou didst to +Moses " + +The fisherman having finished this prayer, cast his nets the +fourth time; and when he thought it was proper, drew them as +formerly, with great difficulty; but instead of fish, found +nothing in them but a vessel of yellow copper, which from its +weight seemed not to be empty; and he observed that it was shut +up and sealed with lead, having the impression of a seal upon it. +This turn of fortune rejoiced him; "I will sell it," said he, "to +the founder, and with the money buy a measure of corn." He +examined the vessel on all sides, and shook it, to try if its +contents made any noise, but heard nothing. This circumstance, +with the impression of the seal upon the leaden cover, made him +think it inclosed something precious. To try this, he took a +knife, and opened it with very little labour. He turned the mouth +downward, but nothing came out; which surprised him extremely. He +placed it before him, but while he viewed it attentively, there +came out a very thick smoke, which obliged him to retire two or +three paces back. + +The smoke ascended to the clouds, and extending itself along the +sea and upon the shore formed a great mist, which we may well +imagine filled the fisherman with astonishment. When the smoke +was all out of the vessel, it re-united and became a solid body, +of which was formed a genie twice as high as the greatest of +giants. At the sight of a monster of such an unwieldy bulk, the +fisherman would fain have fled, but was so frightened, that he +could not move. + +"Solomon," cried the genie immediately, "Solomon, the great +prophet, pardon, pardon; I will never more oppose your will, I +will obey all your commands." + +When the fisherman heard these words of the genie, he recovered +his courage, and said to him, "Thou proud spirit, what is it you +say? It is above eighteen hundred years since the prophet Solomon +died, and we are now at the end of time. Tell me your history, +and how you came to be shut up in this vessel." + +The genie turning to the fisherman, with a fierce look, said. +"Thou must speak to me with more respect; thou art a presumptuous +fellow to call me a proud spirit." "Very well," replied the +fisherman, "shall I speak to you more civilly, and call you the +owl of good luck?" "I say," answered the genie, "speak to me more +respectfully, or I will kill thee." "Ah!" replied the fisherman, +"why would you kill me? Did I not just now set you at liberty, +and have you already forgotten my services?" "Yes, I remember +it," said the genie, "but that shall not save thy life: I have +only one favour to grant thee." "And what is that?" asked the +fisherman. "It is," answered the genie, "to give thee thy choice, +in what manner thou wouldst have me put thee to death." "But +wherein have I offended you?" demanded the fisherman. "Is that +your reward for the service I have rendered you?" "I cannot treat +thee otherwise," said the genie; "and that thou mayest know the +reason, hearken to my story." + +"I am one of those rebellious spirits that opposed the will of +heaven; nearly all the other genies owned Solomon, the great +prophet, and yielded to his authority. Sabhir and I were the only +two that would never be guilty of a mean submission: and to +avenge himself, that great monarch sent Asaph, the son of +Barakhia, his chief minister, to apprehend me. That was +accordingly done. Asaph seized my person, and brought me by force +before his master's throne. + +"Solomon, the son of David, commanded me to acknowledge his +power, and to submit to his commands: I bravely refused, and told +him, I would rather expose myself to his resentment, than swear +fealty as he required. To punish me, he shut me up in this copper +vessel; and that I might not break my prison, he himself stamps +upon this leaden cover, his seal with the great name of God +engraver upon it. He then gave the vessel to one of the genies +who had submitted, with orders to throw me into the sea, which to +my sorrow were executed. + +"During the first hundred years of my imprisonment, I swore that +if any one should deliver me before the expiration of that +period, I would make him rich, even after his death: but that +century ran out, and nobody did me that good office. During the +second, I made an oath, that I would open all the treasures of +the earth to any one that might set me at liberty; but with no +better success. In the third, I promised to make my deliverer a +potent monarch, to be always near him in spirit, and to grant him +every day three requests, of what nature soever they might be: +but this century passed as well as the two former, and I +continued in prison. At last being angry, or rather mad, to find +myself a prisoner so long, I swore, that if afterwards any one +should deliver me, I would kill him without mercy, and grant him +no other favour but to choose the manner of his death; and +therefore, since thou hast delivered me to-day, I give thee that +choice." + +This discourse afflicted the fisherman extremely: "I am very +unfortunate," cried he, "to come hither to do such a kindness to +one that is so ungrateful. I beg you to consider your injustice, +and revoke such an unreasonable oath; pardon me, and heaven will +pardon you; if you grant me my life, heaven will protest you from +all attempts against your own." "No, thy death is resolved on," +said the genie, "only choose in what manner you will die." The +fisherman perceiving the genie to be resolute, was extremely +grieved, not so much for himself, as on account of his three +children; and bewailed the misery they must be reduced to by his +death. He endeavoured still to appease the genie, and said, +"Alas! be pleased to take pity on me, in consideration of the +service I have done you." "I have told thee already," replied the +genie, "it is for that very reason I must kill thee." "That is +strange," said the fisherman, "are you resolved to reward good +with evil? The proverb says, That he who does good to one who +deserves it not is always ill rewarded.' I must confess, I +thought it was false; for certainly there can be nothing more +contrary to reason, or the laws of society. Nevertheless, I find +now by cruel experience that it is but too true." "Do not lose +time," interrupted the genie; "all thy reasonings shall not +divert me from my purpose: make haste, and tell me what kind of +death thou preferest?" + +Necessity is the mother of invention. The fisherman bethought +himself of a stratagem. "Since I must die then," said he to the +genie, "I submit to the will of heaven; but before I choose the +manner of my death, I conjure you by the great name which was +engraver upon the seal of the prophet Solomon, the son of David, +to answer me truly the question I am going to ask you." + +The genie finding himself obliged to a positive answer by this +adjuration, trembled; and replied to the fisherman, "Ask what +thou wilt, but make haste." + +The fisherman then said to him, "I wish to know if you were +actually in this vessel: Dare you swear it by the name of the +great God?" "Yes," replied the genie, "I do swear by that great +name, that I was." "In good faith," answered the fisherman, "I +cannot believe you; the vessel is not capable of holding one of +your size, and how should it be possible that your whole body +should lie in it?" "I swear to thee, notwithstanding," replied +the genie, "that I was there just as you see me here: Is it +possible, that thou cost not believe me after the solemn oath I +have taken?" "Truly not I," said the fisherman; "nor will I +believe you, unless you go into the vessel again." + +Upon which the body of the genie dissolved and changed itself +into smoke, extending as before upon the sea shore; and at last, +being collected, it began to re-enter the vessel, which it +continued to do by a slow and equal motion, till no part remained +out; when immediately a voice came forth, which said to the +fisherman, "Well now, incredulous fellow, I am in the vessel, do +not you believe me now?" + +The fisherman, instead of answering the genie, took the cover of +lead, and having speedily replaced it on the vessel, "Genie," +cried he, "now it is your turn to beg my favour, and to choose +which way I shall put you to death; but not so, it is better that +I should throw you into the sea, whence I took you: and then I +will build a house upon the shore, where I will reside and give +notice to all fishermen who come to throw in their nets, to +beware of such a wicked genie as thou art, who hast made an oath +to kill him that shall set thee at liberty." + +The genie, enraged at these expressions, struggled to set himself +at liberty; but it was impossible, for the impression of +Solomon's seal prevented him. Perceiving that the fisherman had +got the advantage of him, for he thought fit to dissemble his +anger; "Fishermen," said he, "take heed you do not what you +threaten; for what I spoke to you was only by way of jest." "O +genie!" replied the fisherman, "thou who wast but a moment ago +the greatest of all genies, and now art the least of them, thy +crafty discourse will signify nothing, to the sea thou shalt +return. If thou hast been there already so long as thou hast told +me, thou may'st very well stay there till the day of judgment. I +begged of thee in God's name not to take away my life, and thou +didst reject my prayers; I am obliged to treat thee in the same +manner." + +The genie omitted nothing that he thought likely to prevail with +the fisherman: "Open the vessel," said he, "give me my liberty, +and I promise to satisfy thee to thy own content." "Thou art a +traitor," replied the fisherman, "I should deserve to lose my +life, if I were such a fool as to trust thee: thou wilt not fail +to treat me in the same manner as a certain Grecian king treated +the physician Douban. It is a story I have a mind to tell thee, +therefore listen to it." + + + + + The Story of the Grecian King and the Physician Douban. + + + +There was in the country of Yunaun or Greece, a king who was +leprous, and his physicians had in vain endeavoured his cure; +when a very able physician, named Douban, arrived at his court. + +This physician had learnt the theory of his profession in Greek, +Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Latin, Syriac, and Hebrew books; he was +an experienced natural philosopher, and fully understood the good +and bad qualities of plants and drugs. As soon as he was informed +of the king's distemper, and understood that his physicians had +given him over, he found means to present himself before him. "I +know," said he, after the usual ceremonials, "that your majesty's +physicians have not been able to heal you of the leprosy; but if +you will accept my service, I will engage to cure you without +potions, or external applications." + +The king listened to what he said, and answered, "If you be able +to perform what you promise, I will enrich you and your +posterity. Do you assure me that you will cure my leprosy without +potion, or applying any external medicine?" "Yes, Sire," replied +the physician, "I promise myself success, through God's +assistance, and to-morrow, with your majesty's permission, I will +make the trial." + +The physician returned to his quarters, made a hollow mace, and +at the handle he put in his drugs; he made also a ball in such a +manner as suited his purpose, with which next morning he +presented himself before the king, and falling down at his feet, +kissed the ground. + +The physician Douban rose up, and after a profound reverence, +said to the king, he judged it meet that his majesty should take +horse, and go to the place where he used to play at mall. The +king did so, and when he arrived there, the physician came to him +with the mace, and said, "Exercise yourself with this mace, and +strike the ball until you find your hands and body perspire. When +the medicine I have put up in the handle of the mace is heated +with your hand, it will penetrate your whole body; and as soon as +you perspire, you may leave off the exercise, for then the +medicine will have had its effect. Immediately on your return to +your palace, go into the bath, and cause yourself to be well +washed and rubbed; then retire to bed, and when you rise to- +morrow you will find yourself cured." + +The king took the mace, and struck the ball, which was returned +by his officers who played with him; he played so long, that his +hands and his whole body were in a sweat, and then the medicine +shut up in the handle of the mace had its operation, as the +physician had said. Upon this the king left off play, returned to +his palace, entered the bath, and observed very exactly his +physician had prescribed to him. + +The next morning when he arose, he perceived with equal wonder +and joy, that his leprosy was cured, and his body as clean as if +it had never been affected. As soon as he was dressed, he came +into the hall of audience, where he ascended his throne, and +shewed himself to his courtiers: who, eager to know the success +of the new medicine, came thither betimes, and when they saw the +king perfectly cured, expressed great joy. The physician Douban +entering the hall, bowed himself before the throne, with his face +to the ground. The king perceiving him, made him sit down by his +side, presented him to the assembly, and gave him all the +commendation he deserved. His majesty did not stop here: but as +he treated all his court that day, made him eat at his table +alone with him. + +The Grecian king was not satisfied with having admitted the +physician Douban to his table, but caused him to be clad in a +rich robe, ordered him two thousand pieces of gold, and thinking +that he could never sufficiently acknowledge his obligations to +him, continued every day to load him with new favours. But this +king had a vizier, who was avaricious, envious, and naturally +capable of every kind of mischief. He could not behold without +envy the presents that were given to the physician, whose other +merits had already begun to make him jealous, and he therefore +resolved to lessen him in the king's esteem. To effect this, he +went to the king, and told him in private, that he had some +information of the greatest consequence to communicate. The king +having asked what it was? "Sire," said he, "it is highly +dangerous for a monarch to confide in a man whose fidelity he has +never tried. Though you heap favours upon the physician Douban, +your majesty does not know that he is a traitor, sent by your +enemies to take away your life." "From whom," demanded the king, +"have you the suggestion which you dare pronounce? Consider to +whom you are speaking, and that you are advancing what I shall +not easily believe." "Sire," replied the vizier, "I am well +informed of what I have had the honour to reveal to your majesty; +therefore do not rest in dangerous security: if your majesty be +asleep, be pleased to awake; for I once more repeat, that the +physician Douban left his native country, and came to settle +himself at your court, for the sole purpose of executing the +horrible design which I have intimated." + +"No, no, vizier," interrupted the king; "I am certain, that this +physician, whom you suspect to be a villain and a traitor, is one +of the best and most virtuous of men. You know by what medicine, +or rather by what miracle, he cured me of my leprosy: If he had +had a design upon my life, why did he save me then? He needed +only to have left me to my disease; I could not have escaped it, +as life was fast decaying. Forbear then to fill me with unjust +suspicions: instead of listening to you, I tell you, that from +this day forward I will give that great man a pension of a +thousand pieces of gold per month for his life; nay, though I +were to share with him all my riches and dominions, I should +never pay him sufficiently for what he has done. I perceive it to +be his virtue that raises your envy; but do not think I will be +unjustly prejudiced against him. I remember too well what a +vizier said to king Sinbad, his master, to prevent his putting to +death the prince his son." + +What the Grecian king said about king Sinbad raised the vizier's +curiosity, who said, "I pray your majesty to pardon me, if I have +the boldness to ask what the vizier of king Sinbad said to his +master to divert him from putting the prince his son to death." +The Grecian king had the condescension to satisfy him: "That +vizier," said he, "after having represented to king Sinbad, that +he ought to beware, lest on the accusation of a mother-in-law he +should commit an action of which he might afterwards repent, told +him this story." + + + + +The Story of the Husband and the Parrot. + + + +A certain man had a beautiful wife, whom he loved so dearly, that +he could scarcely allow her to be out of his sight. One day, some +urgent affairs obliging him to go from home, he went to a place +where all sorts of birds were sold, and bought a parrot, which +not only spoke well, but could also give an account of every +thing that was done in its presence. He brought it in a cage to +his house, desired his wife to put it in his chamber, and take +care of it during his absence, and then departed. + +On his return, he questioned the parrot concerning what had +passed while he was from home, and the bird told him such things +as gave him occasion to upbraid his wife. She concluded some of +her slaves had betrayed her, but all of them swore they had been +faithful, and agreed that the parrot must have been the tell- +tale. + +Upon this, the wife began to devise how she might remove her +husband's jealousy, and at the same time revenge herself on the +parrot. Her husband being gone another journey, she commanded a +slave in the night-time to turn a hand-mill under the parrot's +cage; she ordered another to sprinkle water, in resemblance of +rain, over the cage; and a third to move a looking-glass, +backward and forward against a candle, before the parrot. The +slaves spent a great part of the night in doing what their +mistress desired them, and acquitted themselves with much skill. + +Next night the husband returned, and examined the parrot again +about what had passed during his absence. The bird answered, +"Good master, the lightning, thunder, and rain so much disturbed +me all night, that I cannot tell how much I suffered." The +husband, who knew that there had been neither thunder, lightning, +nor rain in the night, fancied that the parrot, not having spoken +truth in this, might also have lied in the other relation; upon +which he took it out of the cage, and threw it with so much force +to the ground that he killed it. Yet afterwards he understood +from his neigbours, that the poor parrot had not deceived him in +what it had stated of his wife's base conduct, made him repent +that he had killed it. + +When the Grecian king had finished the story of the parrot, he +added, "And you, vizier, because of the hatred you bear to the +physician Douban, who never did you any injury, you would have me +cut him off; but I will beware lest I should repent as the +husband did after killing his parrot." + +The mischievous vizier was too desirous of effecting the ruin of +the physician Douban to stop here. "Sir," said he, "the death of +the parrot was but a trifle, and I believe his master did not +mourn for him long: but why should your fear of wronging an +innocent man, hinder your putting this physician to death? Is it +not sufficient justification that he is accused of a design +against your life? When the business in question is to secure the +life of a king, bare suspicion ought to pass for certainty; and +it is better to sacrifice the innocent than to spare the guilty. +But, Sir, this is not a doubtful case; the physician Douban has +certainly a mind to assassinate you. It is not envy which makes +me his enemy; it is only my zeal, with the concern I have for +preserving your majesty's life, that makes me give you my advice +in a matter of this importance. If the accusation be false, I +deserve to be punished in the same manner as a vizier formerly +was." "What had the vizier done," demands the Grecian king, "to +deserve punishment?" "I will inform your majesty," said the +vizier, "if you will be pleased to hear me." + + + + +The Story of the Vizier that was Punished. + + + +There was a king who had a son that loved hunting. He allowed him +to pursue that diversion often; but gave orders to his grand +vizier always to attend him. + +One hunting day, the huntsman having roused a deer, the prince, +who thought the vizier followed him, pursued the game so far, and +with so much earnestness, that he separated himself from the +company. Perceiving he had lost his way he stopped, and +endeavoured to return to the vizier; but not knowing the country +he wandered farther. + +Whilst he was thus riding about, he met on his way a handsome +lady, who wept bitterly. He stopped his horse, and enquired who +she was, how she came to be alone in that place, and what she +wanted. "I am," replied she, "the daughter of an Indian king. As +I was taking the air on horseback, in the country, I grew sleepy, +and fell from my horse, who is run away, and I know not what is +become of him." The young prince taking compassion on her, +requested her to get up behind him, which she willingly did. + +As they were passing by the ruins of a house, the lady expressed +a desire to alight. The prince stopped, and having put her down, +dismounted himself, and went near the building, leading his horse +after him. But you may judge how much he was surprised, when he +heard the pretended lady utter these words: "Be glad, my +children, I bring you a young man for your repast;" and other +voices, which answered immediately, "Where is he, for we are very +hungry?" + +The prince heard enough to convince him of his danger. He +perceived that the lady, who called herself the daughter of an +Indian king, was one of those savage demons, called Gholes, who +live in desolated places, and employ a thousand wiles to surprise +passengers, whom they afterwards devour. The prince instantly +remounted his horse, and luckily escaped. + +The pretended princess appeared that very moment, and perceiving +she had missed her prey, exclaimed, "Fear nothing, prince: Who +are you? Whom do you seek?" "I have lost my way," replied he, +"and am endeavouring to find it." "If you have lost your way," +said she, "recommend yourself to God, he will deliver you out of +your perplexity." + +After the counterfeit Indian princess had bidden the young prince +recommend himself to God, he could not believe she spoke +sincerely, but thought herself sure of him; and therefore lifting +up his hands to heaven, said, "Almighty Lord, cast shine eyes +upon me, and deliver me from this enemy." After this prayer, the +ghole entered the ruins again, and the prince rode off with all +possible haste. He happily found his way, and arrived safe at the +court of his father, to whom he gave a particular account of the +danger he had been in through the vizier's neglect: upon which +the king, being incensed against that minister, ordered him to be +immediately strangled. + +"Sir," continued the Grecian king's vizier, "to return to the +physician Douban, if you do not take care, the confidence you put +in him will be fatal to you; I am very well assured that he is a +spy sent by your enemies to attempt your majesty's life. He has +cured you, you will say: but alas! who can assure you of that? He +has perhaps cured you only in appearance, and not radically; who +knows but the medicine he has given you, may in time have +pernicious effects?" + +The Grecian king was not able to discover the wicked design of +his vizier, nor had he firmness enough to persist in his first +opinion. This discourse staggered him: "Vizier," said he, "thou +art in the right; he may be come on purpose to take away my life, +which he may easily do by the smell of his drugs." + +When the vizier found the king in such a temper as he wished, +"Sir," said he, "the surest and speediest method you can take to +secure your life, is to send immediately for the physician +Douban, and order his head to be struck off." "In truth," said +the king, "I believe that is the way we must take to frustrate +his design." When he had spoken thus, he called for one of his +officers, and ordered him to go for the physician; who, knowing +nothing of the king's purpose, came to the palace in haste. + +"Knowest thou," said the king, when he saw him, "why I sent for +thee?" "No, Sir," answered he; "I wait till your majesty be +pleased to inform me." "I sent for thee," replied the king, "to +rid myself of thee, by taking away thy life." + +No man can express the surprise of the physician, when he heard +the sentence of death pronounced against him. "Sir," said he, +"why would your majesty take my life? What crime have I +committed?" "I am informed," replied the king, "that you came to +my court only to attempt my life; but to prevent you, I will be +sure of yours. Give the blow," said he to the executioner, who +was present, "and deliver me from a perfidious wretch, who came +hither on purpose to assassinate me." + +When the physician heard this cruel order, he readily judged that +the honours and presents he had received from the king had +procured him enemies, and that the weak prince was imposed on. He +repented that he had cured him of his leprosy; but it was now too +late. "Is it thus," asked the physician, "that you reward me for +curing you?" The king would not hearken to him, but a second time +ordered the executioner to strike the fatal blow. The physician +then had recourse to his prayers; "Alas, Sir," cried he, "prolong +my days, and God will prolong yours; do not put me to death, lest +God treat you in the same manner." + +The fisherman broke off his discourse here, to apply it to the +genie. "Well, genie," said he, "you see that what passed betwixt +the Grecian king and his physician Douban is acted just now by +us." + +The Grecian king, continued he, instead of having regard to the +prayers of the physician, who begged him to spare his life, +cruelly replied, "No, no; I must of necessity cut you off, +otherwise you may assassinate with as much art as you cured me." +The physician, without bewailing himself for being so ill +rewarded by the king, prepared for death. The executioner tied +his hands, and was going to draw his cimeter. + +The courtiers who were present, being moved with compassion, +begged the king to pardon him, assuring his majesty that he was +not guilty of the crime laid to his charge, and that they would +answer for his innocence: but the king was inflexible. + +The physician being on his knees, his eyes tied up, and ready to +receive the fatal blow, addressed himself once more to the king: +"Sir," said he, "since your majesty will not revoke the sentence +of death, I beg, at least, that you would give me leave to return +to my house, to give orders about my burial, to bid farewell to +my family, to give alms, and to bequeath my books to those who +are capable of making good use of them. I have one particularly I +would present to your majesty; it is a very precious book, and +worthy of being laid up carefully in your treasury." "What is +it," demanded the king, "that makes it so valuable?" "Sir," +replied the physician, "it possesses many singular and curious +properties; of which the chief is, that if your majesty will give +yourself the trouble to open it at the sixth leaf, and read the +third line of the left page, my head, after being cut off, will +answer all the questions you ask it." The king being curious, +deferred his death till next day, and sent him home under a +strong guard. + +The physician, during that time, put his affairs in order; and +the report being spread, that an unheard of prodigy was to happen +after his death, the viziers, emirs, officers of the guard, and, +in a word, the whole court, repaired next day to the hall of +audience, that they might be witnesses of it. + +The physician Douban was brought in, and advancing to the foot of +the throne, with a book in his hand, he called for a basin, and +laid upon it the cover in which the book was wrapped; then +presenting the book to the king, "Take this," said he, "and after +my head is cut off, order that it be put into the basin upon that +cover; as soon as it is placed there, the blood will stop; then +open the book, and my head will answer your questions. But permit +me once more to implore your majesty's clemency; for God's sake +grant my request, I protest to you that I am innocent." "Your +prayers," answered the king, "are in vain; and were it for +nothing but to hear your head speak after your death, it is my +will you should die." As he said this, he took the book out of +the physician's hand, and ordered the executioner to do his duty. + +The head was so dexterously cut off that it fell into the basin, +and was no sooner laid upon the cover of the book than the blood +stopped; then to the great surprise of the king, and all the +spectators, its eyes, and said, "Sir, will your majesty be +pleased to open the book?" The king proceeded to do so; but +finding that the leaves adhered to each other, that he might turn +them with more ease, he put his finger to his mouth, and wetted +it with spittle. He did thus till he came to the sixth leaf, and +finding no writing on the place where he was desired to look for +it, "Physician," said he, "there is nothing written." "Turn over +some more leaves," replied the head. The king went on, putting +always his finger to his mouth, until the poison with which each +leaf was imbued, coming to have its effect, the prince found +himself suddenly taken with an extraordinary fit, his eye-sight +failed, and he fell down at the foot of the throne in violent +convulsions. + +When the physician Douban, or rather his head, saw that the +poison had taken effect, and that the king had but a few moments +to live; "Tyrant," it cried, "now you see how princes are +treated, who, abusing their authority, cut off innocent men: God +punishes soon or late their injustice and cruelty." Scarcely had +the head spoken these words, when the king fell down dead, and +the head itself lost what life it had. + +As soon as the fisherman had concluded the history of the Greek +king and his physician Douban, he made the application to the +genie, whom he still kept shut up in the vessel. "If the Grecian +king," said he, "had suffered the physician to live, God would +have continued his life also; but he rejected his most humble +prayers, and the case is the same with thee, O genie! Could I +have prevailed with thee to grant me the favour I supplicated, I +should now take pity on thee; but since, notwithstanding the +extreme obligation thou west under to me, for having set thee at +liberty, thou didst persist in thy design to kill me, I am +obliged, in my turn, to be equally hard-hearted to thee." + +"My good friend fisherman," replied the genie, "I conjure thee +once more, not to be guilty of such cruelty; consider, that it is +not good to avenge one's self, and that on the other hand, it is +commendable to do good for evil; do not treat me as Imama +formerly treated Ateca." "And what did Imama to Ateca?" enquired +the fisherman. "Ho!" says the genie, "if you have a mind to be +informed, open the vessel: do you think that I can be in an +humour to relate stories in so strait a prison? I will tell you +as many as you please, when you have let me out." "No," said the +fisherman, "I will not let thee out; it is in vain to talk of it; +I am just going to throw thee into the bottom of the sea." "Hear +me one word more," cried the genie; "I promise to do thee no +hurt; nay, far from that, I will shew thee a way to become +exceedingly rich." + +The hope of delivering himself from poverty, prevailed with the +fisherman. "I could listen to thee," said he, "were there any +credit to be given to thy word; swear to me by the great name of +God, that you will faithfully perform what you promise, and I +will open the vessel; I do not believe you will dare to break +such an oath." + +The genie swore to him, upon which the fisherman immediately took +off the covering of the vessel. At that instant the smoke +ascended, and the genie having resumed his form, the first thing +he did was to kick the vessel into the sea. This action alarmed +the fisherman. "Genie," said he, "will not you keep the oath you +just now made? And must I say to you, as the physician Douban +said to the Grecian king, suffer me to live, and God will prolong +your days." + +The genie laughed at the fisherman's fear, and answered, "No, +fisherman, be not afraid, I only did it to divert myself, and to +see if thou wouldst be alarmed at it: but to convince thee that I +am in earnest, take thy nets and follow me." As he spoke these +words, he walked before the fisherman, who having taken up his +nets, followed him, but with some distrust. They passed by the +town, and came to the top of a mountain, from whence they +descended into a vast plain, which brought them to a lake, that +lay betwixt four hills. + +When they reached the side of the lake, the genie said to the +fisherman, "Cast in thy nets, and catch fish; "the fisherman did +not doubt of taking some, because he saw a great number in the +water; but he was extremely surprised, when he found they were of +four colours, that is to say, white, red, blue, and yellow. He +threw in his nets, and brought out one of each colour. Having +never seen the like before, he could not but admire them, and +judging that he might get a considerable sum for them, he was +very joyful. "Carry those fish," said the genie to him, "and +present them to thy sultan; he will give thee more money for +them. Thou mayest come every day to fish in this lake; but I give +thee warning not to throw in thy nets above once a day, otherwise +thou wilt repent." Having spoken thus, he struck his foot upon +the ground, which opened, and after it had swallowed him up +closed again. + +The fisherman being resolved to follow the genie's advice, +forbore casting in his nets a second time; and returned to the +town very well satisfied; and making a thousand reflections upon +his adventure. He went immediately to the sultan's palace, to +offer his fish. + +The sultan was much surprised, when he saw the four fish which +the fisherman presented. He took them up one after another, and +viewed them with attention; and after having admired them a long +time, "Take those fish," said he to his vizier, "and carry them +to the cook, whom the emperor of the Greeks has sent me. I cannot +imagine but that they must be as good as they are beautiful." + +The vizier, carried them as he was directed, and delivering them +to the cook, said, "Here are four fish just brought to the +sultan; he orders you to dress them:" he then returned to the +sultan his master, who ordered him to give the fisherman four +hundred pieces of gold of the coin of that country, which he did +accordingly. + +The fisherman, who had never seen so much money, could scarcely +believe his good fortune, but thought the whole must be a dream, +until he found it otherwise, by being able to provide necessaries +for his family with the produce of his fish. + +As soon as the sultan's cook had gutted the fish, she put them +upon the fire in a frying-pan, with oil, and when she thought +them fried enough on one side, she turned them upon the other; +but, O monstrous prodigy! scarcely were they turned, when the +wall of the kitchen divided, and a young lady of wonderful beauty +entered from the opening. She was clad in flowered satin, after +the Egyptian manner, with pendants in her ears, a necklace of +large pearls, and bracelets of gold set with rubies, with a rod +in her hand. She moved towards the frying-pan, to the great +amazement of the cook, who continued fixed by the sight, and +striking one of the fish with the end of the rod, said, "Fish, +fish, are you in duty?" The fish having answered nothing, she +repeated these words, and then the four fish lifted up their +heads, and replied, "Yes, yes: if you reckon, we reckon; if you +pay your debts, we pay ours; if you fly, we overcome, and are +content." As soon as they had finished these words, the lady +overturned the frying-pan, and returned into the open part of the +wall, which closed immediately, and became as it was before. + +The cook was greatly frightened at what had happened, and coming +a little to herself, went to take up the fish that had fallen on +the hearth, but found them blacker than coal, and not fit to be +carried to the sultan. This grievously troubled her, and she fell +to weeping most bitterly. "Alas!" said she, "what will become of +me? If I tell the sultan what I have seen, I am sure he will not +believe me, but will be enraged against me." + +While she was thus bewailing herself, the grand vizier entered, +and asked her if the fish were ready? She told him all that had +occurred, which we may easily imagine astonished him; but without +speaking a word of it to the sultan, he invented an excuse that +satisfied him, and sending immediately for the fisherman, bid him +bring four more such fish, for a misfortune had befallen the +others, so that they were not fit to be carried to the sultan. +The fisherman, without saying any thing of what the genie had +told him, in order to excuse himself from bringing them that day, +told the vizier, he had a great way to go for them, but would +certainly bring them on the morrow. + +Accordingly the fisherman went away by night, and coming to the +lake, threw in his nets betimes next morning, took four fish like +the former, and brought them to the vizier, at the hour +appointed. The minister took them himself, carried them to the +kitchen, and shutting himself up with the cook, she gutted them, +and put them on the fire, as she had done the four others the day +before. When they were fried on one side, and she had turned them +upon the other, the kitchen wall again opened, and the same lady +came in with the rod in her hand, struck one of the fish, spoke +to it as before, and all four gave her the same answer. + +After the four fish had answered the young lady, she overturned +the frying-pan with her rod, and retired into the wall. The grand +vizier, being witness to what had passed: "This is too wonderful +and extraordinary," said he, "to be concealed from the sultan; I +will inform him of this prodigy." + +The sultan, being much surprised, sent immediately for the +fisherman, and said to him, "Friend, cannot you bring me four +more such fish?" The fisherman replied, "If your majesty will be +pleased to allow me three days, I will do it." Having obtained +his time, he went to the lake immediately, and at the first +throwing in of his net, he caught four fish, and brought them +directly to the sultan; who was so much the more rejoiced, as he +did not expect them so soon, and ordered him four hundred pieces +of gold. As soon as the sultan had the fish, he ordered them to +be carried into his closet, with all that was necessary for +frying them; and having shut himself up with the vizier, the +minister gutted them, put them into the pan, and when they were +fried on one side, turned them upon the other; then the wall of +the closet opened, but instead of the young lady, there came out +a black, in the habit of a slave, and of a gigantic stature, with +a great green staff in his hand. He advanced towards the pan, and +touching one of the fish with his staff, said with a terrible +voice, "Fish, are you in your duty?" At these words, the fish +raised up their heads, and answered, "Yes, yes; we are: if you +reckon, we reckon; if you pay your debts, we pay ours; if you +fly, we overcome, and are content." + +The fish had no sooner finished these words, than the black threw +the pan into the middle of the closet, and reduced the fish to a +coal. Having done this, he retired fiercely, and entering again +into the aperture, it closed, and the wall appeared just as it +did before. + +"After what I have seen," said the sultan to the vizier, "it will +not be possible for me to be easy: these fish, without doubt, +signify something extraordinary." He sent for the fisherman, and +when he came, said to him, "Fisherman, the fish you have brought +us, make me very uneasy; where did you catch them?" "Sir," +answered he, "I fished for them in a lake situated betwixt four +hills, beyond the mountain that we see from hence." "Knowst thou +not that lake?" said the sultan to the vizier. "No," replied the +vizier. "I never so much as heard of it, although I have for +sixty years hunted beyond that mountain." The sultan asked the +fisherman, how far the lake might be from the palace? The +fisherman answered, it was not above three hours journey; upon +this assurance, the sultan commanded all his court to take horse, +and the fisherman served them for a guide. They all ascended the +mountain, and at the foot of it they saw, to their great +surprise, a vast plain, that nobody had observed till then, and +at last they came to the lake, which they found to be situated +betwixt four hills as the fisherman had described. The water was +so transparent, that they observed all the fish to be like those +which the fisherman had brought to the palace. + +The sultan stood upon the bank of the lake, and after beholding +the fish with admiration, demanded of his courtiers, if it were +possible they had never seen this lake, which was within so short +a distance of the town. They all answered, that they had never so +much as heard of it. + +"Since you all agree that you never heard of it, and as I am no +less astonished than you are, at this novelty, I am resolved not +to return to my palace till I learn how this lake came here, and +why all the fish in it are of four colours." Having spoken thus, +he ordered his court to encamp; and immediately his pavilion and +the tents of his household were planted upon the banks of the +lake. + +When night came, the sultan retired under his pavilion, and spoke +to the grand vizier. thus: "Vizier, my mind is uneasy: this lake +transported hither; the black that appeared to us in my closet, +and the fish that we heard speak; all these things so much excite +my curiosity, that I cannot resist my impatient desire to have it +satisfied. To this end, I am resolved to withdraw alone from the +camp, and I order you to keep my absence secret: stay in my +pavilion, and to-morrow morning, when the emirs and courtiers +come to attend my levee, send them away, and tell them, that I am +somewhat indisposed, and wish to be alone; and the following days +tell them the same thing, till I return." + +The grand vizier. endeavoured to divert the sultan from this +design; he represented to him the danger to which he might be +exposed, and that all his labour might perhaps be in vain: but it +was to no purpose; the sultan was resolved. He put on a suit fit +for walking, and took his cimeter; and as soon as he found that +all was quiet in the camp, went out alone, and passed over one of +the hills without much difficulty; he found the descent still +more easy, and when he came to the plain, walked on till the sun +arose, and then he saw before him, at a considerable distance, a +vast building. He rejoiced at the sight, in hopes of receiving +there the information he sought. When he drew near, he found it +was a magnificent palace, or rather a strong castle, of black +polished marble, and covered with fine steel, as smooth as glass. +Being highly pleased that he had so speedily met with something +worthy his curiosity, he stopped before the front of the castle, +and considered it with attention. + +He then advanced towards the gate, which had two leaves, one of +them open; though he might immediately have entered, yet he +thought it best to knock. This he did at first softly, and waited +for some time; but seeing no one, and supposing he had not been +heard, he knocked harder the second time, and after that he +knocked again and again, but no one yet appearing, he was +exceedingly surprised; for he could not think that a castle in +such repair was without inhabitants. "If there be no one in it," +said he to himself, "I have nothing to fear; and if it be +inhabited, I have wherewith to defend myself." + +At last he entered, and when he came within the porch, he cried, +"Is there no one here to receive a stranger, who comes in for +some refreshment as he passes by?" He repeated the same words two +or three times; but though he spoke very loud, he was not +answered. The silence increased his astonishment: he came into a +spacious court, and looked on every side for inhabitants, but +discovered none. + +The sultan entered the grand halls, which were hung with silk +tapestry, the alcoves and sofas were covered with stuffs of +Mecca, and the porches with the richest stuffs of India, mixed +with gold and silver. He came afterwards into a superb saloon, in +the middle of which was a fountain, with a lion of massy gold at +each angle: water issued from the mouths of the four lions; and +as it fell, formed diamonds and pearls, resembling a jet d'eau, +which springing from the middle of the fountain, rose nearly to +the top of a cupola painted in Arabesque. + +The castle, on three sides, was encompassed by a garden, with +parterres of flowers, shrubbery, and whatever could concur to +embellish it; and to complete the beauty of the place, an +infinite number of birds filled the air with their harmonious +notes, and always remained there, nets being spread over the +garden, and fastened to the palace to confine them. The sultan +walked from apartment to apartment, where he found every thing +rich and magnificent. Being tired with walking, he sat down in a +verandah or arcade closet, which had a view over the garden, +reflecting what he had already seen, and then beheld: when +suddenly he heard the voice of one complaining, in lamentable +tones. He listened with attention, and heard distinctly these +words: "O fortune! thou who wouldst not suffer me longer to enjoy +a happy lot, forbear to persecute me, and by a speedy death put +an end to my sorrows. Alas! is it possible that I am still alive, +after so many torments as I have suffered!" + +The sultan rose up, advanced toward the place whence he heard the +voice; and coming to the door of a great hall, opened it, and saw +a handsome young man, richly habited, seated upon a throne raised +a little above the ground. Melancholy was painted on his +countenance. The sultan drew near, and saluted him; the young man +returned his salutation by an inclination of his head, not being +able to rise, at the same time saying, "My lord, I should rise to +receive you; but am hindered by sad necessity, and therefore hope +you will not be offended." "My lord," replied the sultan, "I am +much obliged to you for having so good an opinion of me: as to +the reason of your not rising, whatever your apology be, I +heartily accept it. Being drawn hither by your complaints, and +afflicted by your grief, I come to offer you my help; would to +God that it lay in my power to ease you of your trouble! I would +do my utmost to effect it. I flatter myself that you will relate +to me the history of your misfortunes; but inform me first of the +meaning of the lake near the palace, where the fish are of four +colours? whose this castle is? how you came to be here? and why +you are alone?" + +Instead of answering these questions, the young man began to weep +bitterly. "How inconstant is +fortune!" cried he; "she takes pleasure to pull down those she +had raised. Where are they who enjoy quietly the happiness which +they hold of her, and whose day is always clear and serene?" + +The sultan, moved with compassion to see him in such a condition, +prayed him to relate the cause of his excessive grief. "Alas! my +lord," replied the young man, "how is it possible but I should +grieve, and my eyes be inexhaustible fountains of tears?" At +these words, lifting up his robe, he shewed the sultan that he +was a man only from the head to the girdle, and that the other +half of his body was black marble. + +The sultan was much surprised, when he saw the deplorable +condition of the young man. "That which you shew me," said he, +"while it fills me with horror, excites my curiosity, so that I +am impatient to hear your history, which, no doubt, must be +extraordinary, and I am persuaded that the lake and the fish make +some part of it; therefore I conjure you to relate it. You will +find some comfort in so doing, since it is certain, that the +unfortunate find relief in making known their distress." "I will +not refuse your request," replied the young man, "though I cannot +comply without renewing my grief. But I give you notice before +hand, to prepare your ears, your mind, and even your eyes, for +things which surpass all that the imagination can conceive." + + + + +The History of the Young King of the Black Isles. + + + +You must know that my father, named Mahmoud, was king of this +country. This is the kingdom of the Black Isles, which takes its +name from the four small neighbouring mountains; for these +mountains were formerly isles: the capital where the king my +father resided was situated on the spot now occupied by the lake +you have seen. The sequel of my history will inform you of those +changes. + +The king my father died when he was seventy years of age; I had +no sooner succeeded him, than I married, and the lady I chose to +share the royal dignity with me, was my cousin. I had so much +reason to be satisfied with her affection, and, on my part, loved +her with so much tenderness, that nothing could surpass the +harmony and pleasure of our union. This lasted five years, at the +end of which time, I perceived the queen, my cousin, ceased to +delight in my attentions. + +One day, after dinner, while she was at the bath, I found myself +inclined to repose and lay down upon a sofa. Two of her ladies, +who were then in my chamber, came and sat down, one at my head, +and the other at my feet, with fans in their hands to moderate +the heat, and to prevent the flies from disturbing me. They +thought I was asleep, and spoke in whispers; but as I only closed +my eyes, I heard all their conversation. + +One of them said to the other, "Is not the queen wrong, not to +love so amiable a prince?" "Certainly," replied the other; "I do +not understand the reason, neither can I conceive why she goes +out every night, and leaves him alone!" "Is it possible that he +does not perceive it?" "Alas!" said the first, "how should he? +she mixes every evening in his liquor, the juice of a certain +herb, which makes him sleep so sound all night, that she has time +to go where she pleases, and as day begins to appear, she comes +and lies down by him again, and wakes him by the smell of +something she puts under his nostrils." + +You may guess, my lord, how much I was surprised at this +conversation, and with what sentiments it inspired me; yet, +whatever emotion it excited, I had sufficient self-command to +dissemble, and feigned to awake without having heard a word. + +The queen returned from the bath, we supped together and she +presented me with a cup full of such water as I was accustomed to +drink; but instead of putting it to my mouth, I went to a window +that was open, and threw out the water so quickly, that she did +not perceive it, and returned. + +We went to bed together, and soon after, believing that I was +asleep, she got up with so little precaution, that she said loud +enough for me to hear her distinctly, "Sleep on, and may you +never wake again!" She dressed herself, and went out of the +chamber. + +As soon as the queen my wife was gone, I dressed myself in haste, +took my cimeter, and followed her so quickly, that I soon heard +the sound of her feet before me, and then walked softly after +her, for fear of being heard. She passed through several gates, +which opened upon her pronouncing some magical words, and the +last she opened was that of the garden, which she entered. I +stopt at this gate, that she might not perceive me, as she passed +along a parterre; then looking after her as far as the darkness +of the night permitted, I saw her enter a little wood, whose +walks were guarded by thick palisadoes. I went thither by another +way, and concealing myself behind the palisadoes of a long walk, +I saw her walking there with a man. + +I did not fail to lend the most attentive ear to their discourse, +and heard her address herself thus to her gallant: "I do not +deserve to be reproached by you for want of diligence. You well +know the reason; but if all the proofs of affection I have +already given you be not sufficient to convince you of my +sincerity, I am ready to give you others more decisive: you need +but command me, you know my power; I will, if you desire it, +before sun-rise convert this great city, and this superb palace, +into frightful ruins, inhabited only by wolves, owls, and revens. +If you would have me transport all the stones of those walls so +solidly built, beyond mount Caucasus, or the bounds of the +habitable world, speak but the word, and all shall be changed." + +As the queen finished these words she and her lover came to the +end of the walk, turned to enter another, and passed before me. I +had already drawn my cimeter, and her lover being next me, I +struck him on the neck, and brought him to the ground. I +concluded I had killed him, and therefore retired speedily +without making myself known to the queen, whom I chose to spare, +because she was my kinswoman. + +The wound I had given her lover was mortal; but by her +enchantments she preserved him in an existence in which he could +not be said to be either dead or alive. As I crossed the garden +to return to the palace, I heard the queen loudly lamenting, and +judging by her cries how much she was grieved, I was pleased that +I had spared her life. + +As soon as I had reached my apartment, I went to bed, and being +satisfied with having punished the villain who had injured me, +fell asleep; and when I awoke next morning, found the queen +lying. I cannot tell you whether she slept or not; but I arose, +went to my closet, and dressed myself. I afterwards held my +council. At my return, the queen, clad in mourning, her hair +dishevelled, and part of it torn off, presented herself before +me, and said; "I come to beg your majesty not to be surprised to +see me in this condition. My heavy affliction is occasioned by +intelligence of three distressing events which I have just +received." "Alas! what are they, madam?" said I. "The death of +the queen my dear mother," she replied, "that of the king my +father killed in battle, and of one of my brothers, who has +fallen down a precipice." + +I was not displeased that she used this pretext to conceal the +true cause of her grief, and I concluded she had not suspected me +of being the author of her lover's death. "Madam," said I, "so +far from blaming, I assure you I heartily commiserate your +sorrow. I should feel surprise if you were insensible to such +heavy calamities: weep on; your tears are so many proofs of your +tenderness; but I hope that time and reflection will moderate +your grief." + +She retired into her apartment, where, giving herself wholly up +to sorrow, she spent a whole year in mourning and lamentation. At +the end of that period, she begged permission to erect a burying +place for herself, within the bounds of the palace, where she +would continue, she told me, to the end of her days: I consented, +and she built a stately edifice, crowned by a cupola, which may +be seen from hence, and called it the Palace of Tears. When it +was finished, she caused her lover to be conveyed thither, from +the place to which she had caused him to be carried the night I +wounded him: she had hitherto prevented his dying, by potions +which she had administered to him; and she continued to convey +them to him herself every day after he came to the Palace of +Tears. + +Yet, with all her enchantments, she could not cure him; he was +not only unable to walk or support himself, but had also lost the +use of his speech, and exhibited no sign of life except in his +looks. Though the queen had no other consolation but to see him, +and to say to him all that her senseless passion could inspire, +yet every day she made him two long visits. I was well apprised +of this, but pretended ignorance. + +One day my curiosity induced me to go to the Palace of Tears, to +observe how the princess employed herself, and from a place where +she could not see me, I heard her thus address her lover: "I am +afflicted to the highest degree to behold you in this condition; +I am as sensible as yourself of the tormenting pain you endure; +but, dear soul, I am continually speaking to you, and you do not +answer me: how long will you remain silent? Speak only one word: +alas! the sweetest moments of my life are these I spend here in +partaking of your grief. I cannot live at a distance from you, +and would prefer the pleasure of having you always before me, to +the empire of the universe." + +At these words, which were several times interrupted by her sighs +and sobs, I lost all patience: and discovering myself, came up to +her, and said, "Madam, you have wept enough, it is time to give +over this sorrow, which dishonours both; you have too much +forgotten what you owe to me and to yourself." "Sire," said she, +"if you have any kindness or compassion for me left, I beseech +you to put no restraint upon me; allow me to indulge my grief, +which it is impossible for time to assuage." + +When I perceived that my remonstrance, instead of restoring her +to a sense of duty, served only to increase her anguish, I gave +over and retired. She continued every day to visit her lover, and +for two whole years abandoned herself to grief and despair. + +I went a second time to the Palace of Tears, while she was there. +I concealed myself again, and heard her thus address her lover: +"It is now three years since you spoke one word to me; you answer +not the proofs I give you of my love by my sighs and +lamentations. Is it from insensibility, or contempt? O tomb! hast +thou destroyed that excess of affection which he bare me? Hast +thou closed those eyes that evinced so much love, and were all my +delight? No, no, this I cannot think. Tell me rather, by what +miracle thou becamest the depositary of the rarest treasure the +world ever contained." + +I must confess, my lord, I was enraged at these expressions; for, +in truth, this beloved, this adored mortal, was by no means what +you would imagine him to have been. He was a black Indian, one of +the original natives of this country. I was so enraged at the +language addressed to him, that I discovered myself, and +apostrophising the tomb in my turn; I cried, "O tomb! why dost +not thou swallow up that monster so revolting to human nature, or +rather why dost not thou swallow up both the lover and his +mistress?" + +I had scarcely uttered these words, when the queen, who sat by +the black, rose up like a fury. "Miscreant!" said she "thou art +the cause of my grief; do not think I am ignorant of this, I have +dissembled too long. It was thy barbarous hand that brought the +objets of my fondness into this lamentable condition; and thou +hast the cruelty to come and insult a despairing lover." "Yes," +said I, in a rage, "it was I that chastised that monster, +according to his desert; I ought to have treated thee in the same +manner; I now repent that I did not; thou hast too long abused my +goodness." As I spoke these words, I drew out my cimeter, and +lifted up my hand to punish her; but regarding me stedfastly, she +said with a jeering smile, "Moderate thy anger." At the same +time, she pronounced words I did not understand; and afterwards +added, "By virtue of my enchantments, I command thee to become +half marble and half man." Immediately, my lord, I became what +you see, a dead man among the living, and a living man among the +dead. + +After the cruel sorceress, unworthy of the name of queen, had +metamorphosed me thus, and brought me into this hall, by another +enchantment she destroyed my capital, which was very flourishing +and populous; she annihilated the houses, the public places and +markets, and reduced the site of the whole to the lake and desert +plain you have seen; the fishes of four colours in the lake are +the four kinds of inhabitants of different religions, which the +city contained. The white are the Moosulmauns; the red, the +Persians, who worship fire; the blue, the Christians and the +yellow, the Jews. The four little hills were the four islands +that gave name to this kingdom. I learned all this from the +enchantress, who, to add to my affliction, related to me these +effects of her rage. But this is not all; her revenge not being +satisfied with the destruction of my dominions, and the +metamorphosis of my person, she comes every day, and gives me +over my naked shoulders a hundred lashes with a whip until I am +covered with blood. When she has finished this part of my +punishment, she throws over me a coarse stuff of goat's hair, and +over that this robe of brocade, not to honour, but to mock me. + +When he came to this part of the narrative, the young king could +not restrain his tears; and the sultan was himself so affected by +the relation, that he could not find utterance for any words of +consolation. Shortly after, the young king, lifting up his eyes +to heaven, exclaimed, "Mighty creator of all things, I submit +myself to thy judgments, and to the decrees of thy providence: I +endure my calamities with patience, since it is thy will things +should be as they are; but I hope thy infinite goodness will +ultimately reward me." + +The sultan, greatly moved by the recital of this affecting story, +and anxious to avenge the sufferings of the unfortunate prince, +said to him, "Inform me whither this perfidious sorceress +retires, and where may be found her vile paramour, who is +entombed before his death." "My lord," replied the prince, "her +lover, as I have already told you, is lodged in the Palace of +Tears, in a superb tomb constructed in the form of a dome: this +palace joins the castle on the side in which the gate is placed. +As to the queen, I cannot tell you precisely whither she retires, +but every day at sun-rise she goes to visit her paramour, after +having executed her bloody vengeance upon me; and you see I am +not in a condition to defend myself. She carries to him the +potion with which she had hitherto prevented his dying, and +always complains of his never having spoken to her since he was +wounded." + +"Prince," said the sultan, "your condition can never be +sufficiently deplored: no one can be more sensibly affected by +your misfortunes than I am. Never did any thing so extraordinary +befall any man, and those who write your history will have the +advantage of relating what surpasses all that has hitherto been +recorded. One thing only is wanting; the revenge to which you are +entitled, and I will omit nothing in my power to effect it." + +In his subsequent conversation with the young prince, the sultan +told him who he was, and for what purpose he had entered the +castle; and afterwards informed him of a mode of revenge which he +had devised. They agreed upon the measures they were to take for +accomplishing their design, but deferred the execution of it till +the following day. In the mean time, the night being far spent, +the sultan took some rest; but the young prince passed the night +as usual, without sleep, having never slept since he was +enchanted, still indulging some hopes of being speedily delivered +from his misery. + +Next morning the sultan arose with the dawn, and prepared to +execute his design, hiding his upper garment, which might +encumber him; he then proceeded to the Palace of Tears. He found +it lighted up with an infinite number of flambeaux of white wax, +and perfumed by a delicious scent issuing from several censers of +fine gold of admirable workmanship. As soon as he perceived the +bed where the black lay, he drew his cimeter, and without +resistance deprived him of his wretched life, dragged his corpse +into the court of the castle, and threw it into a well. After +this, he went and lay down in the black's bed, placed his cimeter +under the covering, and waited to complete his design. + +The queen arrived shortly after. She first went into the chamber +of her husband, the king of the Black Islands, stripped him, and +with unexampled barbarity gave him a hundred stripes. The +unfortunate prince filled the palace with his lamentations, and +conjured her in the most affecting tone to take pity on him; but +the cruel wretch ceased not till she had given the usual number +of blows. "You had no compassion on my lover," said she, "and you +are to expect none from me." + +After the enchantress had given the king, her husband, a hundred +blows with the whip, she put on again his covering of goat's +hair, and his brocade gown over all; she went afterwards to the +Palace of Tears, and as she entered renewed her tears and +lamentations: then approaching the bed, where she thought her +paramour lay, "What cruelty," cried she, "was it to disturb the +satisfaction so tender and passionate a lover as I am? O cruel +prince, who reproachest me that I am inhuman, when I make thee +feel the effects of my resentment! Does not thy barbarity surpass +my vengeance? Traitor! in attempting the life of the object which +I adore, hast thou not robbed me of mine? Alas!" said she, +addressing herself to the sultan, conceiving him to be the black +"My sun, my life, will you always be silent! Are you resolved to +let me die, without affording me the comfort of hearing again +from your own lips that you love me? My soul, speak one word to +me at least, I conjure you." + +The sultan, as if he had awaked out of a deep sleep, and +counterfeiting the pronunciation of the blacks, answered the +queen with a grave tone, "There is no strength or power but in +God alone, who is almighty." At these words the enchantress, who +did not expect them, uttered a loud exclamation of joy. "My dear +lord," cried she, "do not I deceive myself; is it certain that I +hear you, and that you speak to me?" "Unhappy woman," said the +sultan, "art thou worthy that I should answer thee?" "Alas!" +replied the queen, "why do you reproach me thus?" "The cries," +returned the sultan, "the groans and tears of thy husband, whom +thou treatest every day with so much indignity and barbarity, +prevent my sleeping night or day. Hadst thou disenchanted him, I +should long since have been cured, and have recovered the use of +my speech. This is the cause of my silence, of which you +complain." "Well," said the enchantress, "to pacify you, I am +ready to execute your commands; would you have me restore him?" +"Yes," replied the sultan; "make haste to set him at liberty, +that I be no longer disturbed by his lamentations." + +The enchantress went immediately out of the Palace of Tears; she +took a cup of water, and pronounced some words over it, which +caused it to boil, as if it had been on the fire. She afterwards +proceeded to the young king her husband, and threw the water upon +him, saying, "If the creator of all things did form thee as thou +art at present; or if he be angry with thee, do not change; but +if thou art in that condition merely by virtue of my +enchantments, resume thy natural shape, and become what thou west +before." She had scarcely spoken these words, when the prince, +finding himself restored to his former condition, rose up and +returned thanks to God. The enchantress then said to him, "Get +thee from this castle, and never return on pain of death." The +young king, yielding to necessity, went away from the +enchantress, without replying a word; and retired to a remote +place, where he patiently awaited the event of the design which +the sultan had so happily begun. Meanwhile, the enchantress +returned to the Palace of Tears, and supposing that she still +spoke to the black, said, "Dear love, I have done what you +required; nothing now prevents your rising and giving me the +satisfaction of which I have so long been deprived." + +The sultan, still counterfeiting the pronunciation of the blacks, +said, "What you have now done is by no means sufficient for my +cure; you have only removed a part of the evil; you must cut it +up by the root." "My lovely black," resumed the queen, "what do +you mean by the root?" "Wretched woman," replied the sultan, +"understand you not that I allude to the town, and its +inhabitants, and the four islands, destroyed by thy enchantments? +The fish every night at midnight raise their heads out of the +lake, and cry for vengeance against thee and me. This is the true +cause of the delay of my cure. Go speedily, restore things to +their former state, and at thy return I will give thee my hand, +and thou shalt help me to arise." + +The enchantress, inspired with hope from these words, cried out +in a transport of joy, "My heart, my soul, you shall soon be +restored to your health, for I will immediately do as you command +me." Accordingly she went that instant, and when she came to the +brink of the lake, she took a little water in her hand, and +sprinkling it, had no sooner pronounced some words over the fish +and the lake, than the city was immediately restored. The fish +became men, women, and children; Mahummedans, Christians, +Persians, or Jews; freemen or slaves, as they were before: every +one having recovered his natural form. The houses and shops were +immediately filled with their inhabitants, who found all things +as they were before the enchantment. The sultan's numerous +retinue, who found themselves encamped in the largest square, +were astonished to see themselves in an instant in the middle of +a large, handsome, well-peopled city. + +To return to the enchantress: As soon as she had effected this +wonderful change, she returned with all expedition to the Palace +of Tears, that she might receive her reward. "My dear lord," +cried she, as she entered, "I come to rejoice with you in the +return of your health: I have done all that you required of me, +then pray rise, and give me your hand." "Come near," said the +sultan, still counterfeiting the pronunciation of the blacks. She +did so. "You are not near enough," he continued, "approach +nearer." She obeyed. He then rose up, and seizing her by the arm +so suddenly, that she had not time to discover him, he with a +blow of his cimeter cut her in two, so that one half fell one way +and the other another. This done he left the body on the spot, +and going out of the Palace of Tears, went to seek the young king +of the Black Isles, who waited for him with great impatience. +When he found him, "Prince," said he, embracing him, "rejoice; +you have now nothing to fear; your cruel enemy is dead." + +The young prince returned thanks to the sultan in a manner that +sufficiently the sincerity of his gratitude, and in return wished +him long life and happiness. "You may henceforward," said the +sultan, "dwell peaceably in your capital, unless you will +accompany me to mine, which is near: you shall there be welcome, +and have as much honour and respect shown you as if you were in +your own kingdom." "Potent monarch, to whom I am so much +indebted," replied the king, "you think then that you are near +your capital?" "Yes," said the sultan, "I know it is not above +four or five hours' journey." "It will take you a whole year to +return," said the prince "I do indeed believe that you came +hither from your capital in the time you mention, because mine +was enchanted; but since the enchantment is taken off, things are +changed: however, this shall not prevent my following you, were +it to the utmost corners of the earth. You are my deliverer, and +that I may give you proofs of my acknowledging this during my +whole life, I am willing to accompany you, and to leave my +kingdom without regret." + +The sultan was extremely surprised to understand that he was so +far from his dominions, and could not imagine how it could be. +But the young king of the Black Islands convinced him beyond a +possibility of doubt. Then the sultan replied, "It is no matter; +the trouble of returning to my own country is sufficiently +recompensed by the satisfaction of having obliged you, and by +acquiring you for a son; for since you will do me the honour to +accompany me, as I have no child, I look upon you as such, and +from this moment appoint you my heir and successor." + +The conversation between the sultan and the king of the Black +Islands concluded with most affectionate embraces, after which +the young prince employed himself in making preparations for his +journey, which were finished in three weeks, to the great regret +of his court and subjects, who agreed to receive at his hands one +of his nearest kindred for their monarch. + +At length, the sultan and the young prince began their journey, +with a hundred camels laden with inestimable riches from the +treasury of the young king, followed by fifty handsome gentlemen +on horseback, perfectly well mounted and dressed They had a +pleasant journey; and when the sultan, who had sent couriers to +give advice of his delay, and of the adventure which had +occasioned it, approached his capital, the principal officers +came to receive him, and to assure him that his long absence had +occasioned no alteration in his empire. The inhabitants also came +out in great crowds, received him with acclamations, and made +public rejoicings for several days. + +The day after his arrival the sultan gave all his courtiers a +very ample account of the circumstances, which, contrary to his +expectation, had detained him so long. He acquainted them with +his having adopted the king of the Four Black Islands, who was +willing to leave a great kingdom, to accompany and live with him; +and, in reward for their loyalty, he made each of them presents +according to their rank. + +As for the fisherman, as he was the first cause of the +deliverance of the young prince, the sultan gave him a plentiful +fortune, which made him and his family happy the rest of their +days. + + + + + STORY OF THE THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF + SULTANS; AND OF THE FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD. + + + +In the reign of Caliph Haroon al Rusheed, there was at Bagdad, a +porter, who, notwithstanding his mean and laborious business, was +a fellow of wit and good humour. One morning as he was at the +place where he usually plyed, with a great basket, waiting for +employment, a handsome young lady, covered with a great muslin +veil, accosted him, and said with a pleasant air, "Hark you, +porter, take your basket and follow me." The porter, charmed with +these words, pronounced in so agreeable a manner, took his basket +immediately, set it on his head, and followed the lady, +exclaiming, "O happy day, O day of good luck!" + +In a short time the lady stopped before a gate that was shut, and +knocked: a Christian, with a venerable long white beard, opened +it; and she put money into his hand, without speaking; but the +Christian, who knew what she wanted, went in, and in a little +time, brought a large jug of excellent wine. "Take this jug," +said the lady to the porter, "and put it in your basket." This +being done, she commanded him to follow her; and as she +proceeded, the porter continued his exclamation, "O happy day! +This is a day of agreeable surprise and joy." + +The lady stopped at a fruit-shop, where she bought several sorts +of apples, apricots, peaches, quinces, lemons, citrons, oranges; +myrtles, sweet basil, lilies, jessamin, and some other flowers +and fragrant plants; she bid the porter put all into his basket, +and follow her. As she went by a butcher's stall, she made him +weigh her twenty five pounds of his best meat, which she ordered +the porter to put also into his basket. At another shop, she took +capers, tarragon, cucumbers, sassafras, and other herbs, +preserved in vinegar: at another, she bought pistachios, walnuts, +filberts, almonds, kernels of pine-apples, and such other fruits; +and at another, all sorts of confectionery. When the porter had +put all these things into his basket, and perceived that it grew +full, "My good lady," said he, "you ought to have given me notice +that you had so much provision to carry, and then I would have +brought a horse, or rather a camel, for the purpose; for if you +buy ever so little more, I shall not be able to bear it." The +lady laughed at the fellow's pleasant humour, and ordered him +still to follow her. + +She then went to a druggist, where she furnished herself with all +manner of sweet-scented waters, cloves, musk, pepper, ginger, and +a great piece of ambergris, and several other Indian spices; this +quite filled the porter's basket, and she ordered him to follow +her. They walked till they came to a magnificent house, whose +front was adorned with fine columns, and had a gate of ivory. +There they stopped, and the lady knocked softly. + +While the young lady and the porter waited for the opening of the +gate, the porter made a thousand reflections. He wondered that +such a fine lady should come abroad to buy provisions; he +concluded she could not be a slave, her air was too noble, and +therefore he thought she must needs be a woman of quality. Just +as he was about to ask her some questions upon this head, another +lady came to open the gate, and appeared to him so beautiful, +that he was perfectly surprised, or rather so much struck with +her charms, that he had nearly suffered his basket to fall, for +he had never seen any beauty that equalled her. + +The lady who brought the porter with her, perceiving his +disorder, and knowing the cause, was greatly diverted, and took +so much pleasure in watching his looks, that she forgot the gate +was opened. "Pray, Sister," said the beautiful portress, "come +in, what do you stay for? Do not you see this poor man so heavy +laden, that he is scarcely able to stand," + +When she entered with the porter, the lady who had opened the +gate shut it, and all three, after having passed through a +splendid vestibule, entered a spacious court, encompassed with an +open gallery, which had a communication with several apartments +of extraordinary magnificence. At the farther end of the court +there was a platform, richly furnished, with a throne of amber in +the middle, supported by four columns of ebony, enriched with +diamonds and pearls of an extraordinary size, and covered with +red satin embroidered with Indian gold of admirable workmanship. +In the middle of the court there was a fountain, faced with white +marble, and full of clear water, which was copiously supplied out +of the mouth of a lion of brass. + +The porter, though heavy laden, could not but admire the +magnificence of this house, and the excellent order in which +every thing was placed; but what particularly captivated his +attention, was a third lady, who seemed to be more beautiful than +the second, and was seated upon the throne just mentioned; she +descended as soon as she saw the two others, and advanced towards +them: he judged by the respect which the other ladies showed her, +that she was the chief, in which he was not mistaken. This lady +was called Zobeide, she who opened the gate Safie, and she who +went to buy the provisions was named Amene. + +Zobeide said to the two ladies, when she came to them, "Sisters, +do not you see that this honest man is ready to sink under his +burden, why do not you ease him of it?" Then Amene and Safie took +the basket, the one before and the other behind; Zobeide also +assisted, and all three together set it on the ground; then +emptied it; and when they had done, the beautiful Amene took out +money, and paid the porter liberally. + +The porter was well satisfied with the money he had received; but +when he ought to have departed, he could not summon sufficient +resolution for the purpose. He was chained to the spot by the +pleasure of beholding three such beauties, who appeared to him +equally charming; for Amene having now laid aside her veil, +proved to be as handsome as either of the others. What surprised +him most was, that he saw no man about the house, yet most of the +provisions he had brought in, as the dry fruits, and the several +sorts of cakes and confections, were adapted chiefly for those +who could drink and make merry. + +Zobeide thought at first, that the porter staid only to take +breath, but perceiving that he remained too long, "What do you +wait for," said she, "are you not sufficiently paid?" And turning +to Amene. she continued, "Sister, give him something more, that +he may depart satisfied." "Madam," replied the porter, "it is not +that which detains me, I am already more than paid for my +services; I am sensible that I act rudely in staying longer than +I ought, but I hope you will the goodness to pardon me, when I +tell you, that I am astonished not to see a man with three ladies +of such extraordinary beauty: and you know that a company of +women without men is as melancholy as a company of men without +women." To this he added several other pleasant things, to prove +what he said, and did not forget the Bagdad proverb, "That the +table is not completely furnished, except there be four in +company:" and so concluded, that since they were but three, they +wanted another. + +The ladies fell a laughing at the porter's reasoning; after which +Zobeide gravely addressed him, "Friend, you presume rather too +much; and though you do not deserve that I should enter into any +explanation with you, I have no objection to inform you that we +are three sisters, who transact our affairs with so much secrecy +that no one knows any thing of them. We have but too much reason +to be cautious of acquainting indiscreet persons with our +counsel; and a good author that we have read, says, Keep thy own +secret, and do not reveal it to any one. He that makes his secret +known it no longer its master. If thy own breast cannot keep thy +counsel, how canst thou expect the breast of another to be more +faithful?'" + +"My ladies," replied the porter, "by your very air, I judged at +first that you were persons of extraordinary merit, and I +conceive that I am not mistaken. Though fortune has not given me +wealth enough to raise me above my mean profession, yet I have +not omitted to cultivate my mind as much as I could, by reading +books of science and history; and allow me, I beseech you, to +say, that I have also read in another author a maxim which I have +always happily followed: We conceal our secret from such persons +only as are known to all the world to want discretion, and would +abuse our confidence; but we hesitate not to discover it to the +prudent, because we know that with them it is safe.' A secret in +my keeping is as secure as if it were locked up in a cabinet, the +key of which is lost, and the door sealed up." + +Zobeide perceiving that the porter was not deficient in wit, but +thinking he wished to share in their festivity, answered him, +smiling, "You know that we have been making preparations to +regale ourselves, and that, as you have seen, at a considerable +expense; it is not just that you should now partake of the +entertainment without contributing to the cost." The beautiful +Safie seconded her sister, and said to the porter, "Friend. have +you never heard the common saying, If you bring something with +you, you shall carry something away, but if you bring nothing, +you shall depart empty?'" + +The porter, notwithstanding his rhetoric, must, in all +probability, have retired in confusion, if Amene had not taken +his part, and said to Zobeide and Safie, "My dear sisters, I +conjure you to let him remain; I need not tell you that he will +afford us some diversion, of this you perceive he is capable: I +assure you, had it not been for his readiness, his alacrity, and +courage to follow me, I could not have done so much business, in +so short a time; besides, where I to repeat to you all the +obliging expressions he addressed to me by the way, you would not +feel surprised at my taking his part." + +At these words of Amene, the porter was so transported with joy, +that he fell on his knees, kissed the ground at her feet, and +raising himself up, said, "Most beautiful lady, you began my good +fortune to-day, and now you complete it by this generous conduct; +I cannot adequately express my acknowledgments. As to the rest, +ladies," said he, addressing himself to all the three sisters, +"since you do me so great an honour, do not think that I will +abuse it, or look upon myself as deserving of the distinction. +No, I shall always look upon myself as one of your most humble +slaves." When he had spoken these words he would have returned +the money he had received, but Zobeide ordered him to keep it. +"What we have once given," said she, "to reward those who have +served us, we never take back. My friend, in consenting to your +staying with us, I must forewarn you, that it is not the only +condition we impose upon you that you keep inviolable the secret +we may entrust to you, but we also require you to attend to the +strictest rules of good manners." During this address, the +charming Amene put off the apparel she went abroad with, and +fastened her robe to her girdle that she might act with the +greater freedom; she then brought in several sorts of meat, wine, +and cups of gold. Soon after, the ladies took their places, and +made the porter sit down by them, who was overjoyed to see +himself seated with three such admirable beauties. After they had +eaten a little, Amene took a cup, poured some wine into it, and +drank first herself; she then filled the cup to her sisters, who +drank in course as they sat; and at last she filled it the fourth +time for the porter, who, as he received it, kissed Amene's hand; +and before he drank, sung a song to this purpose. That as the +wind bears with it the sweet scents of the purfumed places over +which it passes, so the wine he was going to drink, coming from +her fair hands, received a more exquisite flavour than it +naturally possessed. The song pleased the ladies much, and each +of them afterwards sung one in her turn. In short, they were all +very pleasant during the repast, which lasted a considerable +time, and nothing was wanting that could serve to render it +agreeable. The day drawing to a close, Safie spoke in the name of +the three ladies, and said to the porter, "Arise, it is time for +you to depart." But the porter, not willing to leave good +company, cried, "Alas! ladies, whither do you command me to go in +my present condition? What with drinking and your society, I am +quite beside myself. I shall never find the way home; allow me +this night to recover myself, in any place you please, but go +when I will, I shall leave the best part of myself behind." + +Amene pleaded the second time for the porter, saying, "Sisters, +he is right, I am pleased with the request, he having already +diverted us so well; and, if you will take my advice, or if you +love me as much as I think you do, let us keep him for the +remainder of the night." "Sister," answered Zobeide, "we can +refuse you nothing;" and then turning to the porter, said, "We +are willing once more to grant your request, but upon this new +condition, that, whatever we do in your presence relating either +to ourselves or any thing else, you do not so much as open your +mouth to ask the reason; for if you put any questions respecting +what does not concern you, you may chance to hear what you will +not like; beware therefore, and be not too inquisitive to pry +into the motives of our actions. + +"Madam," replied the porter, "I promise to abide by this +condition, that you shall have no cause to complain, and far less +to punish my indiscretion; my tongue shall be immovable on this +occasion, and my eye like a looking-glass, which retains nothing +of the objets that is set before it." "To shew you," said Zobeide +with a serious countenance, "that what we demand of you is not a +new thing among us, read what is written over our gate on the +inside." + +The porter went and read these words, written in large characters +of gold: "He who speaks of things that do not concern him, shall +hear things that will not please him." Returning again to the +three sisters, "Ladies," said he, "I swear to you that you shall +never hear me utter a word respecting what does not relate to me, +or wherein you may have any concern." + +These preliminaries being settled, Amene brought in supper, and +after she had lighted up the room with tapers, made of aloe-wood +and ambergris, which yield a most agreeable perfume, as well as a +delicate light, she sat down with her sisters and the porter. +They began again to eat and drink, to sing, and repeat verses. +The ladies diverted themselves in intoxicating the porter, under +pretext of making him drink their healths, and the repast was +enlivened by reciprocal flashes of wit. When they were all in the +best humour possible, they heard a knocking at the gate. + +When the ladies heard the knocking, they all three got up to open +the gate; but Safie was the nimblest; which her sisters +perceiving, they resumed their seats. Safie returning, said, +"Sisters, we have a very fine opportunity of passing a good part +of the night pleasantly, and if you agree with me, you will not +suffer it to go by. There are three calenders at our gate, at +least they appear to be such by their habit; but what will +surprise you is, they are all three blind of the right eye, and +have their heads, beards, and eye-brows shaved. They say, they +are but just come to Bagdad, where they never were before; it +being night, and not knowing where to find a lodging, they +happened by chance to knock at this gate, and pray us, for the +love of heaven, to have compassion on them, and receive them into +the house. They care not what place we put them in, provided they +may be under shelter; they would be satisfied with a stable. They +are young and handsome, and seem not to want spirit. But I cannot +without laughing think of their amusing and uniform figure." Here +Safie laughed so heartily, that the two sisters and the porter +could not refrain from laughing also. "My dear sisters," said +she, "you will permit them to come in; it is impossible but that +with such persons as I have described them to be, we shall finish +the day better than we began it; they will afford us diversion +enough, and put us to no charge, because they desire shelter only +for this night, and resolve to leave us as soon as day appears." + +Zobeide and Amene made some difficulty to grant Safie's request, +for reasons which she herself well knew. But being very desirous +to obtain this favour, they could not refuse her; "Go then," said +Zobeide, "and bring them in, but do not forget to acquaint them +that they must not speak of any thing which does not concern +them, and cause them to read what is written over the gate." +Safie ran out with joy, and in a little time after returned with +the three calenders. + +At their entrance they made a profound obeisance to the ladies, +who rose up to receive them, and told them courteously that they +were welcome, that they were glad of the opportunity to oblige +them, and to contribute towards relieving the fatigues of their +journey, and at last invited them to sit down with them. + +The magnificence of the place, and the civility they received, +inspired the calenders with high respect for the ladies: but, +before they sat down, having by chance cast their eyes upon the +porter, whom they saw clad almost like those devotees with whom +they have continual disputes respecting several points of +discipline, because they never shave their beards nor eye-brows; +one of them said, "I believe we have got here one of our revolted +Arabian brethren." + +The porter having his head warm with wine, took offence and with +a fierce look, without stirring from his place, answered, "Sit +you down, and do not meddle with what does not concern you: have +you not read the inscription over the gate? Do not pretend to +make people live after your fashion, but follow ours." + +"Honest man," said the calender, "do not put yourself in a +passion; we should be sorry to give you the least occasion; on +the contrary, we are ready to receive your commands." Upon which, +to put an end to the dispute, the ladies interposed, and pacified +them. When the calenders were seated, the ladies served them with +meat; and Safie, being highly pleased with them, did not let them +want for wine. + +After the calenders had eaten and drunk liberally, they signified +to the ladies, that they wished to entertain them with a concert +of music, if they had any instruments in the house, and would +cause them to be brought: they willingly accepted the proposal, +and fair Safie going to fetch them, returned again in a moment, +and presented them with a flute of her own country fashion, +another of the Persian, and a tabor. Each man took the instrument +he liked, and all three together began to play a tune The ladies, +who knew the words of a merry song that suited the air, joined +the concert with their voices; but the words of the song made +them now and then stop, and fall into excessive laughter. + +In the height of this diversion, when the company were in the +midst of their jollity, a knocking was heard at the gate; Safie +left off singing, and went to see who it was. The caliph Haroon +al Rusheed was frequently in the habit of walking abroad in +disguise by night, that he might discover if every thing was +quiet in the city, and see that no disorders were committed. + +This night the caliph went out on his rambles, accompanied by +Jaaffier his grand vizier, and Mesrour the chief of the eunuchs +of his palace, all disguised in merchants' habits; and passing +through the street where the three ladies dwelt, he heard the +sound of music and fits of loud laughter; upon which he commanded +the vizier, to knock, as he wished to enter to ascertain the +reason. The vizier, in vain represented to him that the noise +proceeded from some women who were merry-making, that without +question their heads were warm with wine, and that it would not +be proper he should expose himself to be affronted by them: +besides, it was not yet an unlawful hour, and therefore he ought +not to disturb them in their mirth. "No matter," said the caliph, +"I command you to knock." Jaaffier complied; Safie opened the +gate, and the vizier, perceiving by the light in her hand, that +she was an incomparable beauty, with a very low salutation said, +"We are three merchants of Mossoul, who arrived here about ten +days ago with rich merchandise, which we have in a warehouse at a +caravan-serai, where we have also our lodging. We happened this +evening to be with a merchant of this city, who invited us to his +house, where we had a splendid entertainment: and the wine having +put us in good humour, he sent for a company of dancers. Night +being come on, and the music and dancers making a great noise, +the watch, passing by, caused the gate to be opened and some of +the company to be taken up; but we had the good fortune to escape +by getting over the wall. Being strangers, and somewhat overcome +with wine, we are afraid of meeting that or some other watch, +before we get home to our khan. Besides, before we can arrive +there the gates will be shut, and will not be opened till +morning: wherefore, hearing, as we passed by this way, the sound +of music, we supposed you were not yet going to rest, and made +bold to knock at your gate, to beg the favour of lodging +ourselves in the house till morning; and if you think us worthy +of your good company, we will endeavour to contribute to your +diversion to the best of our power, to make some amends for the +interruption we have given you; if not, we only beg the favour of +staying this night in your vestibule." + +Whilst Jaaffier was speaking, Safie had time to observe the +vizier, and his two companions, who were said to be merchants +like himself, and told them that she was not mistress of the +house; but if they would have a minute's patience, she would +return with an answer. + +Safie made the business known to her sisters, who considered for +some time what to do: but being naturally of a good disposition, +and having granted the same favour to the three calenders, they +at last consented to let them in. + +The caliph, his grand vizier, and the chief of the eunuchs, being +introduced by the fair Safie, very courteously saluted the ladies +and the calenders. The ladies returned their salutations, +supposing them to be merchants. Zobeide, as the chief, addressed +them with a grave and serious countenance, which was natural to +her, and said, "You are welcome. But before I proceed farther, I +hope you will not take it ill if we desire one favour of you." +"Alas!" said the vizier, "what favour? We can refuse nothing to +such fair ladies." Zobeide continued, "It is that, while here, +you would have eyes, but no tongues; that you question us not for +the reason of any thing you may see, and speak not of any thing +that does not concern you, lest you hear what will by no means +please you." + +"Madam," replied the vizier, "you shall be obeyed. We are not +censorious, nor impertinently curious; it is enough for us to +notice affairs that concern us, without meddling with what does +not belong to us." Upon this they all sat down, and the company +being united, they drank to the health of the new-comers. + +While the vizier, entertained the ladies in conversation, the +caliph could not forbear admiring their extraordinary beauty, +graceful behaviour, pleasant humour, and ready wit; on the other +hand, nothing struck him with more surprise than the calenders +being all three blind of the right eye. He would gladly have +learnt the cause of this singularity; but the conditions so +lately imposed upon himself and his companions would not allow +him to speak. These circumstances, with the richness of the +furniture, the exact order of every thing, and the neatness of +the house, made him think they were in some enchanted place. + +Their conversation happening to turn upon diversions, and the +different ways of making merry; the calenders arose, and danced +after their fashion, which augmented the good opinion the ladies +had conceived of them, and procured them the esteem of the caliph +and his companions. + +When the three calenders had finished their dance, Zobeide arose, +and taking Amene by the hand, said, "Pray, sister, arise, for the +company will not be offended if we use our freedom, and their +presence need not hinder the performance of our customary +exercise." Amene understanding her sister's meaning, rose from +her seat, carried away the dishes, the flasks and cups, together +with the instruments which the calenders had played upon. + +Safie was not idle, but swept the room, put every thing again in +its place, trimmed the lamps, and put fresh aloes and ambergris +to them; this being done, she requested the three calenders to +sit down upon the sofa at one side, and the caliph with his +companions on the other: then addressing herself to the porter, +she said, "Get up, and prepare yourself to assist us in what we +are going to do; a man like you, who is one of the family, ought +not to be idle." The porter, being somewhat recovered from his +wine, arose immediately, and having tied the sleeve of his gown +to his belt, answered, "Here am I, ready to obey your commands." +"Very well," replied Safie, "stay till you are spoken to; and you +shall not be idle long." A little time after, Amene came in with +a chair, which she placed in the middle of the room; and then +went towards a closet. Having opened the door, she beckoned to +the porter, and said, "Come hither and assist me." He obeyed, and +entered the closet, and returned immediately, leading two black +bitches, each of them secured by a collar and chain; they +appeared as if they had been severely whipped with rods, and he +brought them into the middle of the apartment. + +Zobeide, rising from her seat between the calenders and the +caliph, moved very gravely towards the porter; "Come," said she, +heaving a deep sigh, "let us perform our duty:" she then tucked +up her sleeves above her elbows, and receiving a rod from Safie, +"Porter," said she, "deliver one of the bitches to my sister +Amene, and bring the other to me." + +The porter did as he was commanded. Upon this the bitch that he +held in his hand began to howl, and turning towards Zobeide, held +her head up in a supplicating posture; but Zobeide, having no +regard to the sad countenance of the animal, which would have +moved pity, nor to her cries that resounded through the house, +whipped her with the rod till she was out of breath; and having +spent her strength, threw down the rod, and taking the chain from +the porter, lifted up the bitch by her paws, and looking upon her +with a sad and pitiful countenance, they both wept: after which, +Zobeide, with her handkerchief, wiped the tears from the bitch's +eye, kissed her, returned the chain to the porter, desired him to +carry her to the place whence he took her, and bring her the +other. The porter led back the whipped bitch to the closet, and +receiving the other from Amene, presented her to Zobeide, who +requested him to hold her as he had done the first, took up the +rod, and treated her after the same manner; and when she had wept +over her, she dried her eyes, kissed her, and returned her to the +porter: but Amene spared him the trouble of leading her back into +the closet, and did it herself. The three calenders, with the +caliph and his companions, were extremely surprised at this +exhibition, and could not comprehend why Zobeide, after having so +furiously beaten those two bitches, that by the moosulman +religion are reckoned unclean animals, should weep with them, +wipe off their tears, and kiss them. They muttered among +themselves, and the caliph, who, being more impatient than the +rest, longed exceedingly to be informed of the cause of so +strange a proceeding, could not forbear making signs to the +vizier to ask the question: the vizier turned his head another +way; but being pressed by repeated signs, he answered by others, +that it was not yet time for the caliph to satisfy his curiosity. + +Zobeide sat still some time in the middle of the room, where she +had whipped the two bitches, to recover herself of her fatigue; +and Safie called to her, "Dear sister, will you not be pleased to +return to your place, that I may also aft my part?" "Yes, +sister," replied Zobeide; and then went, and sat down upon the +sofa, having the caliph, Jaaffier, and Mesrour, on her right +hand, and the three calenders, with the porter, on her left. + +After Zobeide had taken her seat, the whole company remained +silent for some time; at last, Safie, sitting on a chair in the +middle of the room, spoke to her sister Amene, "Dear sister, I +conjure you to rise; you know what I would say." Amene rose, and +went into another closet, near to that where the bitches were, +and brought out a case covered with yellow satin, richly +embroidered with gold and green silk. She went towards Safie and +opened the case, from whence she took a lute, and presented it to +her: and after some time spent in tuning it, Safie began to play, +and accompanying the instrument with her voice, sung a song about +the torments that absence creates to lovers, with so much +sweetness, that it charmed the caliph and all the company. Having +sung with much passion and action, she said to Amene, "Pray take +it, sister, for my voice fails me; oblige the company with a +tune, and a song in my stead." "Very willingly," replied Amene, +who, taking the lute from her sister Safie, sat down in her +place. + +Amene played and sung almost as long upon the same subject, but +with so much vehemence, and was so much affected, or rather +transported, by the words of the song, that her strength failed +her as she finished. + +Zobeide, desirous of testifying her satisfaction, said, "Sister, +you have done wonders, and we may easily see that you feel the +grief you have expressed in so lively a manner." Amene was +prevented from answering this civility, her heart being so +sensibly touched at the moment, that she was obliged, for air, to +uncover her neck and bosom, which did not appear so fair as might +have been expected; but, on the contrary, were black and full of +scars, which surprised and affected all the spectators. However, +this gave her no ease, for she fell into a fit. + +When Zobeide and Safie had run to help their sister, one of the +calenders could not forbear saying, "We had better have slept in +the streets than have come hither to behold such spectacles." The +caliph, who heard this, came to him and the other calenders, and +asked them what might be the meaning of all this? They answered, +"We know no more than you do." "What," said the caliph, "are you +not of the family? Can you not resolve us concerning the two +black bitches and the lady that fainted away, who appears to have +been so basely abused?" "Sir," said the calenders, "this is the +first time of our being in the house; we came in but a few +minutes before you." + +This increased the caliph's astonishment: "Probably," said he, +"this man who is with you may know something of the matter." One +of the calenders beckoned the porter to come near; and asked him, +whether he knew why those two black bitches had been whipped, and +why Amene's bosom was so scarred. "Sir," said the porter, "I can +swear by heaven, that if you know nothing of all this, I know as +little as you do. It is true, I live in this city, but I never +was in the house until now, and if you are surprised to see me I +am as much so to find myself in your company; and that which +increases my wonder is, that I have not seen one man with these +ladies." + +The caliph and his company, as well as the calenders, had +supposed the porter to be one of the family, and hoped he would +have been able to give them the information they sought; but +finding he could not, and resolving to satisfy his curiosity, the +caliph said to the rest, "We are seven men, and have but three +women to deal with; let us try if we can oblige them to explain +what we have seen, and if they refuse by fair means, we are in a +condition to compel them by force." + +The grand vizier Jaaffier objected to this, and shewed the caliph +what might be the consequence. Without discovering the prince to +the calenders, he addressed him as if he had been a merchant, and +said, "Consider, I pray you, that our reputation is at stake. You +know the conditions on which these ladies consented to receive +us, and which we agreed to observe; what will they say of us if +we break them? We shall be still more to blame, if any mischief +befall us; for it is not likely that they would have extorted +such a promise from us, without knowing themselves to be in a +condition to punish us for its violation." + +Here the vizier took the caliph aside, and whispered to him, "The +night will soon be at an end, and if your majesty will only be +pleased to have so much patience, I will to-morrow morning bring +these ladies before your throne, where you may be informed of all +that you desire to know." Though this advice was very judicious, +the caliph rejected it, desired the vizier to hold his tongue, +and said, he would not wait so long, but would immediately have +his curiosity satisfied. + +The next business was to settle who should carry the message. The +caliph endeavoured to prevail with the calenders to speak first; +but they excused themselves, and at last they agreed that the +porter should be the man: as they were consulting how to word +this fatal question, Zobeide returned from her sister Amene, who +was recovered of her fit. She drew near them, and having +overheard them speaking pretty loud, said, "Gentlemen, what is +the subject of your conversation? What are you disputing about?" + +The porter answered immediately, "Madam, these gentlemen beseech +you to inform them why you wept over your two bitches after you +had whipped them so severely, and how the bosom of that lady who +lately fainted away came to be so full of scars? These are the +questions I am ordered to ask in their name." + +At these words, Zobeide put on a stern countenance, and turning +towards the caliph and the rest of the company, "Is it true, +gentlemen," said she, "that you desired him to ask me these +questions?" All of them, except the vizier Jaaffier, who spoke +not a word, answered, "Yes." On which she exclaimed, in a tone +that sufficiently expressed her resentment, "Before we granted +you the favour of receiving you into our house, and to prevent +all occasion of trouble from you, because we are alone, we +imposed the condition that you should not speak of any thing that +did not concern you, lest you might hear that which would not +please you; and yet after having received and entertained you, +you make no scruple to break your promise. It is true that our +easy temper has occasioned this, but that shall not excuse your +rudeness." As she spoke these words, she gave three stamps with +her foot, and clapping her hands as often together, cried, "Come +quickly:" upon this, a door flew open, and seven black slaves +rushed in; every one seized a man, threw him on the ground, and +dragged him into the middle of the room, brandishing a cimeter +over his head. + +We may easily conceive the caliph then repented, but too late, +that he had not taken the advice of his vizier, who, with +Mesrour, the calenders and porter, was from his ill-timed +curiosity on the point of forfeiting his life. Before they would +strike the fatal blow, one of the slaves said to Zobeide, and her +sisters: "High, mighty, and adorable mistresses, do you command +us to strike off their heads?" "Stay," said Zobeide, "I must +examine them first." The frightened porter interrupted her thus: +"In the name of heaven, do not put me to death for another man's +crime. I am innocent; they are to blame." "Alas!" said he, +weeping, "how pleasantly did we pass our time! those blind +calenders are the cause of this misfortune; there is no town in +the world but suffers wherever these inauspicious fellows come. +Madam, I beg you not to destroy the innocent with the guilty, and +consider, that it is more glorious to pardon such a wretch as I +am, who have no way to help myself, than to sacrifice me to your +resentment." + +Zobeide, notwithstanding her anger, could not but laugh within +herself at the porter's lamentation: but without replying to him, +she spoke a second time to the rest; "Answer me, and say who you +are, otherwise you shall not live one moment longer: I cannot +believe you to be honest men, or persons of authority or +distinction in your own countries; for if you were, you would +have been more modest and more respectful to us." + +The caliph, naturally warm, was infinitely more indignant than +the rest, to find his life depending upon the command of a woman: +but he began to conceive some hopes, when he found she wished to +know who they all were; for he imagined she would not put him to +death, when informed of his quality; therefore he spoke with a +low voice to the vizier, who was near him, to declare it +speedily: but the vizier, more prudent, resolved to save his +master's honour, and not let the world know the affront he had +brought upon himself by his own imprudence; and therefore +answered, "We have what we deserve." But if he had intended to +speak as the caliph commanded him, Zobeide would not have allowed +him time: for having turned to the calenders, and seeing them all +blind with one eye, she asked if they were brothers. One of them +answered, "No, madam, no otherwise than as we are calenders; that +is to say, as we observe the same rules." "Were you born blind of +the right eye," continued she? "No, madam," answered he; "I lost +my eye in such a surprising adventure, that it would be +instructive to every body were it in writing: after that +misfortune I shaved my beard and eyebrows, and took the habit of +a calender which I now wear." + +Zobeide asked the other two calenders the same question, and had +the same answers; but the last who spoke added, "Madam, to shew +you that we are no common fellows, and that you may have some +consideration for us, be pleased to know, that we are all three +sons of sultans; and though we never met together till this +evening, yet we have had time enough to make that known to one +another; and I assure you that the sultans from whom we derive +our being were famous in the world." + +At this discourse Zobeide suppressed her anger, and said to the +slaves, "Give them their liberty a while, but remain where you +are. Those who tell us their history, and the occasion of their +coming, do them no hurt, let them go where they please; but do +not spare those who refuse to give us that satisfaction." + +The three calendars, the caliph, the grand vizier, Jaaffier, the +eunuch Mesrour, and the porter, were all in the middle of the +hall, seated upon a carpet in the presence of the three ladies, +who reclined upon a sofa, and the slaves stood ready to do +whatever their mistresses should command. + +The porter, understanding that he might extricate himself from +danger by telling his history, spoke first, and said, "Madam, you +know my history already, and the occasion of my coming hither; so +that what I have to say will be very short. My lady, your sister, +called me this morning at the place where I plyed as porter to +see if any body would employ me, that I might get my bread; I +followed her to a vintner's, then to a herb-shop, then to one +where oranges, lemons, and citrons were sold, then to a grocer's, +next to a confectioner's, and a druggist's, with my basket upon +my head as full as I was able to carry it; then I came hither, +where you had the goodness to suffer me to continue till now, a +favour that I shall never forget. This, madam, is my history." + +When the porter had done, Zobeide said to him, "Depart, let us +see you here no more." "Madam," replied the porter, "I beg you to +let me stay; it would not be just, after the rest have had the +pleasure to hear my history, that I should not also have the +satisfaction of hearing theirs." And having spoken thus, he sat +down at the end of the sofa, glad at heart to have escaped the +danger that had frightened him so much. After him, one of the +three calenders directing his speech to Zobeide, as the principal +of the three ladies, began thus: + + + + + The History of the First Calender. + + + +Madam, in order to inform you how I lost my right eye, and why I +was obliged to put myself into a calender's habit, I must tell +you, that I am a sultan's son born: my father had a brother who +reigned over a neighbouring kingdom; and the prince his son and I +were nearly of the same age. + +After I had learned my exercises, the sultan my father granted me +such liberty as suited my dignity. I went regularly every year to +see my uncle, at whose court I amused myself for a month or two, +and then returned again to my father's. These journeys cemented a +firm and intimate friendship between the prince my cousin and +myself. The last time I saw him, he received me with greater +demonstrations of tenderness than he had done at any time before; +and resolving one day to give me a treat, he made great +preparations for that purpose. We continued a long time at table, +and after we had both supped; "Cousin," said he, "you will hardly +be able to guess how I have been employed since your last +departure from hence, about a year past. I have had a great many +men at work to perfect a design I have formed; I have caused an +edifice to be built, which is now finished so as to be habitable: +you will not be displeased if I shew it you. But first you are to +promise me upon oath, that you will keep my secret, according to +the confidence I repose in you." + +The affection and familiarity that subsisted between us would not +allow me to refuse him any thing. I very readily took the oath +required of me: upon which he said to me, "Stay here till I +return, I will be with you in a moment; and accordingly he came +with a lady in his hand, of singular beauty, and magnificently +apparelled: he did not intimate who she was, neither did I think +it would be polite to enquire. We sat down again with this lady +at table, where we continued some time, conversing upon +indifferent subjects; and now and then filling a glass to each +other's health. After which the prince said, "Cousin, we must +lose no time; therefore pray oblige me by taking this lady along +with you, and conducting her to such a place, where you will see +a tomb newly built in form of a dome: you will easily know it; +the gate is open; enter it together, and tarry till I come, which +will be very speedily." + +Being true to my oath, I made no farther enquiry, but took the +lady by the hand, and by the directions which the prince my +cousin had given me, I brought her to the place. We were scarcely +got thither, when we saw the prince following us, carrying a +pitcher of water, a hatchet, and a little bag of mortar. + +The hatchet served him to break down the empty sepulchre in the +middle of the tomb; he took away the stones one after another, +and laid them in a corner; he then dug up the ground, where I saw +a trap-door under the sepulchre, which he lifted up, and +underneath perceived the head of a staircase leading into a +vault. Then my cousin, speaking to the lady, said, "Madam, it is +by this way that we are to go to the place I told you of:" upon +which the lady advanced, and went down, and the prince began to +follow; but first turning to me, said, "My dear cousin, I am +infinitely obliged to you for the trouble you have taken; I thank +you. Adieu." "Dear cousin," I cried, "what is the meaning of +this?" "Be content," replied he; "you may return the way you +came." + +I could get nothing farther from him, but was obliged to take my +leave. As I returned to my uncle's palace, the vapours of the +wine got up into my head; however, I reached my apartment, and +went to bed. Next morning, when I awoke, I began to reflect upon +what had happened, and after recollecting all the circumstances +of such a singular adventure, I fancied it was nothing but a +dream. Full of these thoughts, I sent to enquire if the prince my +cousin was ready to receive a visit from me; but when they +brought word back that he did not lie in his own lodgings that +night, that they knew not what was become of him, and were in +much trouble in consequence, I conceived that the strange event +of the tomb was too true. I was sensibly afflicted, and went to +the public burying-place, where there were several tombs like +that which I had seen: I spent the day in viewing them one after +another, but could not find that I sought for, and thus I spent +four days successively in vain. + +You must know, that all this while the sultan my uncle was +absent, and had been hunting for several days; I grew weary of +waiting for him, and having prayed his ministers to make my +apology at his return, left his palace, and set out towards my +father's court. I left the ministers of the sultan my uncle in +great trouble, surmising what was become of the prince: but +because of my oath to keep his secret, I durst not tell them what +I had seen. + +I arrived at my father's capital, where, contrary to custom, I +found a numerous guard at the gate of the palace, who surrounded +me as I entered. I asked the reason, and the commanding officer +replied, "Prince, the army has proclaimed the grand vizier, +instead of your father, who is dead, and I take you prisoner in +the name of the new sultan." At these words the guards laid hold +of me, and carried me before the tyrant: I leave you to judge, +madam, how much I was surprised and grieved. + +This rebel vizier, had long entertained a mortal hatred against +me; for this reason. When I was a stripling, I loved to shoot +with a cross-bow; and being one day upon the terrace of the +palace with my bow, a bird happening to come by, I shot but +missed him, and the ball by misfortune hit the vizier, who was +taking the air upon the terrace of his own house, and put out one +of his eyes. As soon as I understood this, I not only sent to +make my excuse to him, but did it in person: yet he never forgave +me, and, as opportunity offered, made me sensible of his +resentment. But now that he had me in his power, he expressed his +feelings; for he came to me like a madman, as soon as he saw me, +and thrusting his finger into my right eye, pulled it out, and +thus I became blind of one eye. + +But the usurper's cruelty did not stop here; he ordered me to be +shut up in a machine, and commanded the executioner to carry me +into the country, to cut off my head, and leave me to be devoured +by birds of prey. The executioner conveyed me thus shut up into +the country, in order to execute the barbarous sentence; but by +my prayers and tears, I moved the man's compassion: "Go," said he +to me, "get you speedily out of the kingdom, and take heed of +returning, or you will certainly meet your own ruin, and be the +cause of mine." I thanked him for the favour he did me; and as +soon as I was left alone, comforted myself for the loss of my +eye, by considering that I had very narrowly escaped a much +greater evil. + +Being in such a condition, I could not travel far at a time; I +retired to remote places during the day, and travelled as far by +night as my strength would allow me. At last I arrived in the +dominions of the sultan my uncle, and came to his capital. + +I gave him a long detail of the tragical cause of my return, and +of the sad condition he saw me in. "Alas!" cried he, "was it not +enough for me to have lost my son, but must I have also news of +the death of a brother I loved so dearly, and see you reduced to +this deplorable condition?" He told me how uneasy he was that he +could hear nothing of his son, notwithstanding all the enquiry he +could make. At these words, the unfortunate father burst into +tears, and was so much afflicted, that pitying his grief, it was +impossible for me to keep the secret any longer; so that, +notwithstanding my oath to the prince my cousin, I told the +sultan all that I knew. + +His majesty listened to me with some sort of comfort, and when I +had done, "Nephew," said he, "what you tell me gives me some +hope. I knew that my son ordered that tomb to be built, and I can +guess pretty nearly the place; and with the idea you still have +of it, I fancy we shall find it: but since he ordered it to be +built privately, and you took your oath to keep his secret, I am +of opinion, that we ought to go in quest of it without other +attendants." But he had another reason for keeping the matter +secret, which he did not then tell me, and an important one it +was, as you will perceive by the sequel of my story. + +We disguised ourselves and went out by a door of the garden which +opened into the fields, and soon found what we sought for. I knew +the tomb, and was the more rejoiced, because I had formerly +sought it a long time in vain. We entered, and found the iron +trap pulled down at the head of the staircase; we had great +difficulty in raising it, because the prince had fastened it +inside with the water and mortar formerly mentioned, but at last +we succeeded. + +The sultan my uncle descended first, I followed, and we went down +about fifty steps. When we came to the foot of the stairs, we +found a sort of antechamber, full of thick smoke of an ill scent, +which obscured the lamp, that gave a very faint light. + +From this antechamber we came into another, very large, supported +by columns, and lighted by several branched candlesticks. There +was a cistern in the middle, and provisions of several sorts +stood on one side of it; but we were much surprised not to see +any person. Before us there appeared a high estrade, which we +mounted by several steps, and upon this there was a large bed, +with curtains drawn. The sultan went up, and opening the +curtains, perceived the prince his son and the lady in bed +together, but burnt and changed to cinder, as if they had been +thrown into a fire, and taken out before they were consumed. + +But what surprised me most was, that though this spectacle filled +me with horror, the sultan my uncle, instead of testifying his +sorrow to see the prince his son in such a condition, spat on his +face, and exclaimed, with a disdainful air, "This is the +punishment of this world, but that of the other will last to +eternity;" and not content with this, he pulled off his sandal, +and gave the corpse of his son a blow on the cheek. + +I cannot adequately express how much I was astonished when I saw +the sultan my uncle abuse his son thus after he was dead. "Sir," +said I, "whatever grief this dismal sight has impressed upon me, +I am forced to suspend it, to enquire of your majesty what crime +the prince my cousin may have committed, that his corpse should +deserve such indignant treatment?" "Nephew," replied the sultan, +"I must tell you, that my son (who is unworthy of that name) +loved his sister from his infancy, as she did him: I did not +check their growing fondness, because I did not foresee its +pernicious consequence. This tenderness increased as they grew in +years, and to such a height, that I dreaded the end of it. At +last, I applied such remedies as were in my power: I not only +gave my son a severe reprimand in private, laying before him the +horrible nature of the passion he entertained, and the eternal +disgrace he would bring upon my family, if he persisted; but I +also represented the same to my daughter, and shut her up so +close that she could have no conversation with her brother. But +that unfortunate creature had swallowed so much of the poison, +that all the obstacles which by my prudence I could lay in the +way served only to inflame her love. + +"My son being persuaded of his sister's constancy, on presence of +building a tomb, caused this subterraneous habitation to be made, +in hopes of finding one day or other an opportunity to possess +himself of that objets which was the cause of his flame, and to +bring her hither. He took advantage of my absence, to enter by +force into the place of his sister's confinement; but this was a +circumstance which my honour would not suffer me to make public. +And after so damnable an action, he came and shut himself up with +her in this place, which he has supplied, as you see, with all +sorts of provisions, that he might enjoy detestable pleasures, +which ought to be a subject of horror to all the world; but God, +who would not suffer such an abomination, has justly punished +them both." At these words, he melted into tears, and I joined +mine with his. + +After a while, casting his eyes upon me, "Dear nephew," cried he, +embracing me, "if I have lost that unworthy son, I shall happily +find in you what will better supply his place." The reflections +he made on the doleful end of the prince and princess his +daughter made us both weep afresh. + +We ascended the stairs again, and departed at last from that +dismal place. We let down the trap door, and covered it with +earth, and such other materials as the tomb was built of, on +purpose to hide, as much as lay in our power, so terrible an +effect of the wrath of God. + +We had not been long returned to the palace, unperceived by any +one, but we heard a confused noise of trumpets, drums, and other +instruments of war. We soon understood by the thick cloud of +dust, which almost darkened the air, that it was the arrival of a +formidable army: and it proved to be the same vizier that had +dethroned my father, and usurped his place, who with a vast +number of troops was come to possess himself of that also of the +sultan my uncle. + +My uncle, who then had only his usual guards about him, could not +resist so numerous an enemy; they invested the city, and the +gates being opened to them without any resistance, soon became +masters of it, and broke into the palace where my uncle defended +himself, and sold his life at a dear rate. I fought as valiantly +for a while; but seeing we were forced to submit to a superior +power, I thought on my retreat, which I had the good fortune to +effect by some back ways, and got to one of the sultan's servants +on whose fidelity I could depend. + +Being thus surrounded with sorrows and persecuted by fortune, I +had recourse to a stratagem, which was the only means left me to +save my life: I caused my beard and eye-brows to be shaved, and +putting on a calender's habit, I passed, unknown by any, out of +the city; after that, by degrees, I found it easy to quit my +uncle's kingdom, by taking the bye-roads. + +I avoided passing through towns, until I had reached the empire +of the mighty governor of the Moosulmauns, the glorious and +renowned caliph Haroon al Rusheed, when I thought myself out of +danger; and considering what I was to do, I resolved to come to +Bagdad, intending to throw myself at the feet of that monarch, +whose generosity is renowned throughout the world. "I shall move +him to compassion," said I to myself, "by the relation of my +uncommon misfortunes, and without doubt he will take pity on a +persecuted prince, and not suffer me to implore his assistance in +vain." + +In short, after a journey of several months, I arrived yesterday +at the gate of this city, into which I entered about the dusk of +evening ; and stopping a little while to consider which way I was +to turn, another calender came up; he saluted me, and I him: "You +appear," said I, "to be a stranger, as I am." "You are not +mistaken," replied he. He had no sooner returned this answer, +than a third calender overtook us. He saluted us, and told us he +was a stranger newly come to Bagdad; so that as brethren we +joined together, resolving not to separate from one another. + +It was now late, and we knew not where to seek a lodging in the +city, where we had never been before. But good fortune having +brought us to your gate, we made bold to knock, when you received +us with so much kindness, that we are incapable of rendering +suitable thanks. "This, madam," said he, "is, in obedience to +your commands, the account I was to give how I lost my right eye, +wherefore my beard and eye-brows are shaved, and how I came to be +with you at this time." + +"It is enough," said Zobeide; "you may retire to what place you +think fit." The calender begged the ladies' permission to stay +till he had heard the relations of his two comrades, "Whom I +cannot," said he, "leave with honour;" and that he might also +hear those of the three other persons in company. + +The story of the first calender seemed wonderful to the whole +company, but especially to the caliph, who, notwithstanding the +slaves stood by with their cimeters drawn, could not forbear +whispering to the vizier "Many stories have I heard, but never +any that equalled in surprising incident that of the calender." +Whilst he was saying this, the second calender began, addressing +himself to Zobeide. + + + + + The Story of the Second Calender. + + + +Madam, to obey your commands, and to shew you by what strange +accident I became blind of the right eye, I must of necessity +give you the account of my life. + +I was scarcely past my infancy, when the sultan my father (for +you must know I am a prince by birth) perceived that I was +endowed with good natural ability, and spared nothing proper for +improving it. + +No sooner was I able to read and write, but I learned the Koraun +from beginning to end by heart, that admirable book, which +contains the foundation, the precepts, and the rules of our +religion; and that I might be thoroughly instructed in it, I read +the works of the most approved divines, by whose commentaries it +had been explained. I added to this study, that of all the +traditions collected from the mouth of our prophet, by the great +men that were contemporary with him. I was not satisfied with the +knowledge of all that had any relation to our religion, but made +also a particular search into our histories. I made myself +perfect in polite learning, in the works of poets, and +versification. I applied myself to geography, chronology, and to +speak the Arabian language in its purity; not forgetting in the +meantime all such exercises as were proper for a prince to +understand. But one thing which I was fond of, and succeeded in, +was penmanship; wherein I surpassed all the celebrated scribes of +our kingdom. + +Fame did me more honour than I deserved, for she not only spread +the renown of my talents through all the dominions of the sultan +my father, but carried it as far as the empire of Hindoostan, +whose potent monarch, desirous to see me, sent an ambassador with +rich presents: my father, who rejoiced at this embassy for +several reasons, was persuaded, that nothing could be more +improving to a prince of my age than to travel and visit foreign +courts; and he wished to gain the friendship of the Indian +monarch. I departed with the ambassador, but with no great +retinue. + +When we had travelled about a month, we discovered at a distance +a cloud of dust, and under that we saw very soon fifty horsemen +well armed, who were robbers, advancing towards us at full speed. + +As we had ten horses laden with baggage, and presents to the +sultan of Hindoostan, from my father, and my retinue was but +small, you may easily judge that these robbers came boldly up to +us; and not being in a posture to make any opposition, we told +them, that we were ambassadors, and hoped they would attempt +nothing contrary to the respect due to such sacred characters, +thinking by this means to save our equipage and our lives: but +the robbers most insolently replied, "For what reason would you +have us shew any respect to the sultan your master? We are none +of his subjects, nor are we upon his territories:" having spoken +thus, they surrounded and fell upon us: I defended myself as long +as I could; but finding myself wounded, and seeing the ambassador +with his attendants and mine lying on the ground, I made use of +what strength was yet remaining in my horse, who was also very +much wounded, and rode away as fast as he could carry me; but he +shortly after, from weariness and the loss of blood, fell down +dead. I cleared myself from him unhurt, and finding that I was +not pursued, judged the robbers were not willing to quit the +booty they had obtained. + +Here you see me, alone, wounded, destitute of help, and in a +strange country. I durst not take the high road, fearing I might +fall again into the hands of these robbers. When I had bound up +my wound, which was not dangerous, I walked on the rest of the +day, and arrived at the foot of + +mountain, where I perceived a passage into a cave; I went in, and +staid there that night with little satisfaction, after I had +eaten some fruits that I had gathered by the way. + +I continued my journey for several days following, without +finding any place of abode: but after a month's time, I came to a +large town well inhabited, and situated so much the more +advantageously, as it was surrounded by several streams, so that +it enjoyed perpetual spring. + +The pleasant objects which then presented themselves to my view +afforded me some joy, and suspended for a time the sorrow with +which I was overwhelmed. My face, hands, and feet were black and +sun-burnt; and, by my long journey, my boots were quite worn out, +so that I was forced to walk bare-footed; and besides, my clothes +were all in rags I entered the town to inform myself where I was, +and addressed myself to a tailor that was at work in his shop; +who, perceiving by my air that I was a person of more note than +my outward appearance bespoke, made me sit down by him, and asked +me who I was, from whence I came, and what had brought me +thither? I did not conceal anything that had befallen me, nor +made I any scruple to discover my quality. + +The tailor listened to me with attention; but after had done +speaking, instead of giving me any consolation, he augmented my +sorrow: "Take heed," said he, "how you discover to any person +what you have related to me; for the prince of this country is +the greatest enemy your father has, and he will certainly do you +some mischief, should he hear of your being in this city." I made +no doubt of the tailor's sincerity, when he named the prince: but +since that enmity which is between my father and him has no +relation to my adventures, I pass it over in silence. + +I returned the tailor thanks for his advice, expressed himself +disposed to follow his counsel, and assured him that his favours +should never be forgotten. He ordered something to be brought for +me to eat, and offered me at the same time a lodging in his +house, which I accepted. Some days after, finding me tolerably +well recovered of the fatigue I had endured by a long and tedious +journey, and reflecting that most princes of our religion applied +themselves to some art or calling that might be serviceable to +them upon occasion, he asked me, if I had learned any whereby I +might get a livelihood, and not be burdensome to others? I told +him that I understood the laws, both divine and human; that I was +a grammarian and poet; and above all, that I could write with +great perfection. "By all this," said he, "you will not be able, +in this country, to purchase yourself one morsel of bread; +nothing is of less use here than those sciences; but if you will +be advised by me, dress yourself in a labourer's habit; and since +you appear to be strong, and of a good constitution, you shall go +into the next forest and cut fire-wood, which you may bring to +the market to be sold; and I can assure you this employment will +turn to so good an account that you may live by it, without +dependence upon any man; and by this means you will be in a +condition to wait for the favourable minute, when heaven shall +think fit to dispel those clouds of misfortune that thwart your +happiness, and oblige you to conceal your birth; I will take care +to supply you with a rope and a hatchet." + +The fear of being known, and the necessity I was under of getting +a livelihood, made me agree to this proposal, notwithstanding the +meanness and hardships that attended it. The day following the +tailor brought me a rope. a hatchet, and a short coat, and +recommended me to some poor people who gained their bread after +the same manner, that they might take me into their company. They +conducted me to the wood, and the first day I brought in as much +upon my head as procured me half a piece of gold, of the money of +that country; for though the wood was not far distant from the +town, yet it was very scarce, by reason that few would be at the +trouble of fetching it for themselves. I gained a good sum of +money in a short time, and repaid my tailor what he had advanced +to me + +I continued this way of living for a whole year. One day, having +by chance penetrated farther into the wood than usual, I happened +to light on a pleasant spot, where I began to cut; and in pulling +up the root of a tree, I espied an iron ring, fastened to a trap +door of the same metal. I took away the earth that covered it, +and having lifted it up, discovered a flight of stairs, which I +descended with my axe in my hand. + +When I had reached the bottom, I found myself in a palace, and +felt great consternation, on account of a great light which +appeared as clear in it as if it had been above ground in the +open air. I went forward along a gallery, supported by pillars of +jasper, the base and capitals of messy gold: but seeing a lady of +a noble and graceful air, extremely beautiful, coming towards me, +my eyes were taken off from every other objets. + +Being desirous to spare the lady the trouble of coming to me, I +hastened to meet her; and as I was saluting her with a low +obeisance, she asked me, "What are you, a man or a genie?" "A +man, madam," said I; "I have no correspondence with genies." "By +what adventure," said she, fetching a deep sigh, "are you come +hither? I have lived here twenty-five years, and you are the: +first man I have beheld in that time." + +Her great beauty, which had already smitten me, and the sweetness +and civility wherewith she received me, emboldened me to say, +"Madam, before I have the honour to satisfy your curiosity, give +me leave to tell you, that I am infinitely gratified with this +unexpected meeting, which offers me an occasion of consolation in +the midst of my affliction; and perhaps it may give me an +opportunity of making you also more happy than you are." I +related to her by what strange accident she beheld me, the son of +a sultan, in such a condition as I appeared in her presence; and +how fortune had directed that I should discover the entrance into +that magnificent prison where I had found her, according to +appearance, in an unpleasant situation. + +"Alas! prince," said she, sighing once more, "you have just cause +to believe this rich and pompous prison cannot be otherwise than +a most wearisome abode: the most charming place in the world +being no way delightful when we are detained there contrary to +our will. It is not possible but you have heard of the sultan of +the isle of Ebene, so called from that precious wood which it +produces in abundance; I am the princess his daughter. + +"The sultan, my father, had chosen for me a husband, a prince who +was my cousin; but on my wedding-night, in the midst of the +rejoicings of the court and capital, before I was conducted to my +husband, a genie took me away. I fainted with alarm, and when I +recovered, found myself in this place. I was long inconsolable, +but time and necessity have accustomed me to see and receive the +genie. Twenty-five years I have continued in this place, where, I +must confess, I have all that I can wish for necessary to life, +and also every thing that can satisfy a princess fond of dress +and splendour. + +"Every ten days," continued the princess, "the genie comes +hither, and remains with me one night, which he never exceeds; +and the excuse he makes for it is, that he is married to another +wife, who would grow jealous if she should know his infidelity. +Meanwhile, if I have occasion for him by day or night, as soon as +I touch a talisman, which is at the entrance into my chamber, the +genie appears. It is now the fourth day since he was here, and I +do not expect him before the end of six more; so, if you please, +you may stay five days, and I will endeavour to entertain you +according to your quality and merit." I thought myself too +fortunate, to have obtained so great a favour without asking, to +refuse so obliging an offer. The princess made me go into a bath, +the most commodious, and the most sumptuous imaginable; and when +I came forth, instead of my own clothes I found another very +costly suit, which I did not esteem so much for its richness, as +because it made me appear worthy to be in her company. We sat +down on a sofa covered with rich tapestry, with cushions of the +rarest Indian brocade; and some time after she covered a table +with several dishes of delicate meats. We ate, and passed the +remaining part of the day with much satisfaction, as also the +evening, together. + +The next day, as she contrived every means to please me, she +brought in, at dinner, a bottle of old wine, the most excellent +that ever was tasted, and out of complaisance drank some part of +it with me. When my head grew warm with the agreeable liquor, +"Fair princess," said I, "you have been too long thus buried +alive; follow me, enjoy the real day, of which you have been +deprived so many years, and abandon this artificial though +brilliant glare." "Prince," replied she, with a smile, "leave +this discourse; if you out of ten days will grant me nine, and +resign the last to the genie, the fairest day would be nothing in +my esteem." "Princess," said I, "it is the fear of the genie that +makes you speak thus; for my part, I value him so little, that I +will break in pieces his talisman, with the conjuration that is +written about it. Let him come, I will expect him; and how brave +or redoubtable soever he be, I will make him feel the weight of +my arm: I swear solemnly that I will extirpate all the genies in +the world, and him first." The princess, who knew the +consequence, conjured me not to touch the talisman. "For that +would be the means," said she, "of ruining both you and me; I +know what belongs to genies better than you." The fumes of the +wine did not suffer me to hearken to her reasons; but I gave the +talisman a kick with my foot, and broke it in several pieces. + +The talisman was no sooner broken than the palace began to shake, +and seemed ready to fall, with a hideous noise like thunder, +accompanied with flashes of lightning, and alternate darkness. +This terrible noise in a moment dispelled the fumes of my wine, +and made me sensible, but too late, of the folly I had committed. +"Princess," cried I, "what means all this?" She answered, without +any concern for her own misfortune, "Alas! you are undone, if you +do not fly immediately." + +I followed her advice, but my fears were so great, that I forgot +my hatchet and cords. I had scarcely reached the stairs by which +I had descended, when the enchanted palace opened at once, and +made a passage for the genie: he asked the princess in great +anger, "What has happened to you, and why did you call me?" "A +violent spasm," said the princess, "made me fetch this bottle +which you see here, out of which I drank twice or thrice, and by +mischance made a false step, and fell upon the talisman, which is +broken, and that is all." + +At this answer, the furious genie told her, "You are a false +woman, and speak not the truth; how came that axe and those cords +there?" "I never saw them till this moment," said the princess. +"Your coming in such an impetuous manner has, it may be, forced +them up in some place as you came along, and so brought them +hither without your knowing it." + +The genie made no other answer but what was accompanied with +reproaches and blows, of which I heard the noise. I could not +endure to hear the pitiful cries of the princess so cruelly +abused. I had already taken off the suit she had presented to me, +and put on my own, which I had laid on the stairs the day before, +when I came out of the bagnio: I made haste upstairs, the more +distracted with sorrow and compassion, as I had been the cause of +so great a misfortune; and by sacrificing the fairest princess on +earth to the barbarity of a merciless genie, I was becoming the +most criminal and ungrateful of mankind. "It is true," said I, +"she has been a prisoner these twenty-five years; but, liberty +excepted she wanted nothing that could make her happy. My folly +has put an end to her happiness, and brought upon her the cruelty +of an unmerciful devil." I let down the trap-door, covered it +again with earth, and returned to the city with a burden of wood, +which I bound up without knowing what I did, so great was my +trouble and sorrow. + +My landlord, the tailor, was very much rejoiced to see me: "Your +absence," said he, "has disquieted me much, as you had entrusted +me with the secret of your birth, and I knew not what to think; I +was afraid somebody had discovered you; God be praised for your +return." I thanked him for his zeal and affection, but not a word +durst I say of what had passed, nor of the reason why I came back +without my hatchet and cords. + +I retired to my chamber, where I reproached myself a thousand +times for my excessive imprudence: "Nothing," said I, "could have +paralleled the princess's good fortune and mine, had I forborne +to break the talisman." + +While I was thus giving myself over to melancholy thoughts, the +tailor came in and said, "An old man, whom I do not know, brings +your hatchet and cords, which he found in his way as he tells me, +and says he understood from your comrades that you lodge here; +come out and speak to him, for he will deliver them to none but +yourself." + +At these words I changed colour, and fell a trembling. While the +tailor was asking me the reason, my chamber-door opened, and the +old man, having no patience to stay, appeared to us with my +hatchet and cords. This was the genie, the ravisher of the fair +princess of the isle of Ebene, who had thus disguised himself, +after he had treated her with the utmost barbarity. "I am a +genie," said he, speaking to me, "son of the daughter of Eblis, +prince of genies: is not this your hatchet, and are not these +your cords?" + +After the genie had put the question to me, he gave me no time to +answer, nor was it in my power, so much had his terrible aspect +disordered me. He grasped me by the middle, dragged me out of the +chamber, and mounting into the air, carried me up to the skies +with such swiftness, that I was not able to take notice of the +way he conveyed me. He descended again in like manner to the +earth, which on a sudden he caused to open with a stroke of his +foot, and sunk down at once, when I found myself in the enchanted +palace, before the fair princess of the isle of Ebene. But, alas! +what a spectacle was there! I saw what pierced me to the heart; +this poor princess was quite naked, weltering in her blood, and +laid upon the ground, more like one dead than alive, with her +cheeks bathed in tears. + +"Perfidious wretch!" said the genie to her, pointing at me, "is +not this your gallant?" She cast her languishing eyes upon me, +and answered mournfully, "I do not know him, I never saw him till +this moment." "What!" said the genie, "he is the cause of thy +being in the condition thou art justly in; and yet darest thou +say thou cost not know him?" "If I do not know him," said the +princess, "would you have me lie on purpose to ruin him?" "Oh +then," said the genie, pulling out a cimeter and presenting it to +the princess, "if you never saw him before, take this, and cut +off his head." "Alas," replied the princess, "how is it possible +that I should execute such an act? My strength is so far spent +that I cannot lift up my arm; and if I could, how should I have +the heart to take away the life of an innocent man, and one whom +I do not know?" "This refusal," said the genie to the princess, +"sufficiently informs me of your crime." Upon which, turning to +me, "And thou," said he, "dost thou not know her?" + +I should have been the most ungrateful wretch, and the most +perfidious of all mankind, if I had not strewn myself as faithful +to the princess as she had been to me, who had been the cause of +her misfortunes. I therefore answered the genie, "How should I +know her, when I never saw her till now?" "If it be so," said he, +"take the cimeter and cut off her head: on this condition I will +set thee at liberty, for then I shall be convinced that thou hast +never seen her till this moment, as thou gayest." "With all my +heart," replied I, and took the cimeter in my hand. + +Do not think, madam, that I drew near to the fair princess of the +isle of Ebene to be the executioner of the genie's barbarity. I +did it only to demonstrate by my behaviour, as much as possible, +that as she had strewn her resolution to sacrifice her life for +my sake, I would not refuse to sacrifice mine for hers. The +princess, notwithstanding her pain and suffering, understood my +meaning; which she signified by an obliging look, and made me +understand her willingness to die for me; and that she was +satisfied to see how ready I was also to die for her. Upon this I +stepped back, and threw the cimeter on the ground. "I should for +ever," said I to the genie, "be hateful to all mankind were I to +be so base as to murder, not only a person whom I do not know, +but a lady like this, who is already on the point of expiring: do +with me what you please, since I am in your power; I cannot obey +your barbarous commands." + +"I see," said the genie, "that you both out-brave me, and insult +my jealousy; but both of you shall know by my treatment of you of +what I am capable." At these words the monster took up the +cimeter and cut off one of her hands, which left her only so much +life as to give me a token with the other that she bade me for +ever adieu. For the blood she had lost before, and that which +gushed out then, did not permit her to live above one or two +moments after this barbarous cruelty; the sight of which threw me +into a fit. When I was come to myself again, I expostulated with +the genie, why he made me languish in expectation of death: +"Strike," cried I, "for I am ready to receive the mortal blow, +and expect it as the greatest favour you can show me." But +instead of agreeing to that, "Behold," said he, "how genies treat +their wives whom they suspect of unfaithfulness; she has received +thee here, and were I certain that she had put any further +affront upon me, I would put thee to death this minute: but I +will content myself with transforming thee into a dog, ape, lion, +or bird; take thy choice of any of these, I will leave it to +thyself." + +These words gave me some hopes of being able to appease him: "O +genie," said I, "moderate your passion, and since you will not +take away my life, give it me generously. I shall always remember +your clemency, if you pardon me, as one of the best men in the +world pardoned one of his neighbours that bore him a mortal +hatred. The genie asked me what had passed between those two +neighbours, and said, he would have patience till he heard the +story, which I related to him; and I believe, madam, you will not +be displeased if I now repeat it. + + + + +The Story of the Envious Man, and of him that he Envied. + + + +In a considerable town two persons dwelt in adjoining houses. One +of them conceived such a violent hatred against the other, that +the hated party resolved to remove to a distance, being persuaded +that their being neighbours was the only cause of this animosity; +for though he had done him several pieces of service, he found +that his hatred was not diminished; he therefore sold his house, +with what goods he had left, and retired to the capital city of a +kingdom which was not far distant. Here he bought a little spot +of ground, which lay about half a league from the city; where he +had a convenient house, with a garden, and a pretty spacious +court, wherein there was a deep well, which was not in use. + +The honest man having made this purchase put on a dervise's +habit, intending to lead a retired life, and caused several cells +to be made in the house, where in a short time he established a +numerous society of dervises. He soon came to be publicly known +by his virtue, through which he acquired the esteem of many +people, as well of the commonalty as of the chief of the city. In +short, he was much honoured and courted by all ranks. People came +from afar to recommend themselves to his prayers; and all who +visited him, published what blessings they received through his +means. + +The great reputation of this honest man having spread to the town +from whence he had come, it touched the envious man so much to +the quick, that he left his house and affairs with a resolution +to ruin him. With this intent he went to the new convent of +dervises, of which his former neighbour was the head, who +received him with all imaginable tokens of friendship. The +envious man told him that he was come on purpose to communicate a +business of importance, which he could not do but in private; and +"that nobody may hear us, let us," said he, "take a walk in your +court; and seeing night begins to draw on, command your dervises +to retire to their cells." The chief of the dervises did as he +was required. + +When the envious man saw that he was alone with this good man, he +began to tell him his errand, walking side by side in the court, +till he saw his opportunity; and getting the good man near the +brink of the well, he gave him a thrust, and pushed him into it, +without being seen by any one. Having done thus, he returned, got +out at the gate of the convent without being known, and reached +his own house well satisfied with his journey, being fully +persuaded that the object of his hatred was no more; but he found +himself mistaken. + +This old well was inhabited by fairies and genies, which happened +luckily for the relief of the head of the convent; for they +received and supported him, and carried him to the bottom, so +that he got no hurt. He perceived that there was something +extraordinary in his fall, which must otherwise have cost him his +life; but he neither saw nor felt anything. He soon heard a +voice, however, which said, "Do you know what honest man this is, +to whom we have done this piece of service?" Another voice +answered, "No." To which the first replied, "Then I will tell +you. This man out of charity, the purest ever known, left the +town he lived in, and has established himself in this place, in +hopes to cure one of his neighbours of the envy he had conceived +against him; he had acquired such a general esteem, that the +envious man, not able to endure it, came hither on purpose to +ruin him; and he would have accomplished his design, had it not +been for the assistance we have given this honest man, whose +reputation is so great, that the sultan, who keeps his residence +in the neighbouring city, was to pay him a visit to-morrow, to +recommend the princess his daughter to his prayers." + +Another voice asked, "What need had the princess of the dervise's +prayers?" To which the first answered, "You do not know, it +seems, that she is possessed by genie Maimoun, the son of Dimdim, +who is fallen in love with her. But I well know how this good +head of the dervises may cure her; the thing is very easy, and I +will explain it to you. He has a black cat in his convent, with a +white spot at the end of her tail, about the bigness of a small +piece of Arabian money; let him only pull seven hairs out of the +white spot, burn them, and smoke the princess's head with the +fume, she will not only be immediately cured, but be so safely +delivered from Maimoun, the son of Dimdim, that he will never +dare to approach her again." + +The head of the dervises remembered every word of the +conversation between the fairies and the genies, who remained +silent the remainder of the night. The next morning, as soon as +daylight appeared, and he could discern the nature of his +situation, the well being broken down in several places, he saw a +hole, by which he crept out with ease. + +The other dervises, who had been seeking for him, were rejoiced +to see him; he gave them a brief account of the wickedness of the +man to whom he had given so kind a reception the day before, and +retired into his cell. Shortly after the black cat, which the +fairies and the genies had mentioned the night before, came to +fawn upon her master, as she was accustomed to do; he took her +up, and pulled seven hairs from the white spot that was upon her +tail, and laid them aside for his use when occasion should serve. + +Soon after sunrise the sultan, who would leave no means untried +that he thought likely to restore the princess to perfect health, +arrived at the gate of the convent. He commanded his guards to +halt, whilst he with his principal officers went in. The dervises +received him with profound respect. + +The sultan called their chief aside, and said, "Good Sheik, you +may probably be already acquainted with the cause of my visit." +"Yes, Sir," replied he gravely, "if I do not mistake, it is the +disease of the princess which procures me this unmerited honour." +"That is the real case," replied the sultan. "You will give me +new life if your prayers, as I hope they may, restore my +daughter's health." "Sir," said the good man, "if your majesty +will be pleased to let her come hither, I am in hopes, through +God's assistance and favour, that she will be effectually cured." + +The prince, transported with joy, sent immediately for his +daughter, who soon appeared with a numerous train of ladies and +eunuchs, but veiled, so that her face was not seen. The chief of +the dervises caused a pall to be held over her head, and he had +no sooner thrown the seven hairs upon the burning coals, than the +genie Maimoun, the son of Dimdim, uttered a great cry, and +without being seen, left the princess at liberty; upon which, she +took the veil from her face, and rose up to see where she was, +saying, "Where am I, and who brought me hither?" At these words +the sultan, overcome with excess of joy, embraced his daughter, +and kissed her eyes; he also kissed the chief of the dervises' +hands, and said to his officers, "What reward does he deserve +that has thus cured my daughter?" They all cried, "He deserves +her in marriage." "That is what I had in my thoughts," said the +sultan; "and I make him my son-in-law from this moment." Some +time after the prime vizier died, and the sultan conferred the +place on the dervise. The sultan himself also died without heirs +male; upon which the religious orders and the militia consulted +together, and the good man was declared and acknowledged sultan +by general consent. + +The honest dervise, having ascended the throne of his father-in- +law, as he was one day in the midst of his courtiers on a march, +espied the envious man among the crowd that stood as he passed +along, and calling one of the viziers that attended him, +whispered him in his ear, "Go, bring me that man you see there; +but take care you do not frighten him." The vizier obeyed, and +when the envious man was brought into his presence, the sultan +said, "Friend, I am extremely glad to see you." Upon which he +called an officer, "Go immediately," said he, "and cause to be +paid to this man out of my treasury, one hundred pieces of gold: +let him have also twenty loads of the richest merchandize in my +storehouses, and a sufficient guard to conduit him to his house." +After he had given this charge to the officer, he bade the +envious man farewell, and proceeded on his march. + +When I had finished the recital of this story to the genie, the +murderer of the princess of the isle of Ebene, I made an +application of it to himself: "O genie!" said I, "this bountiful +sultan was not satisfied with merely overlooking the design of +the envious man to take away his life, but also treated him +kindly, and sent him back loaded with the favours I have +enumerated." In short, I employed all my eloquence to persuade +him to imitate so good an example, and to grant me pardon; but it +was impossible to move his compassion. + +"All that I can do for thee," said he, "is, to grant thee thy +life; but do not flatter thyself that I will allow thee to return +safe and well; I must let thee feel what I am able to do by my +enchantments." So saying, he seized me violently, and carried me +through the arched roof of the subterraneous palace, which opened +to give him passage; he ascended with me into the air to such a +height, that the earth appeared like a little white cloud; he +then descended again like lightning, and alighted upon the summit +of a mountain. + +Here he took up a handful of earth, and pronouncing, or rather +muttering, some words which I did not understand, threw it upon +me. "Quit," said he, "the form of a man, and take that of an +ape." He instantly disappeared, and left me alone, transformed +into an ape, and overwhelmed with sorrow in a strange country, +not knowing whether I was near or far from my father's dominions. + +I descended the mountain, and entered a plain level country, +which took me a month to travel over, and then I came to the sea- +side. It happened at the time to be perfectly calm, and I espied +a vessel about half a league from the shore: unwilling to lose so +good an opportunity, I broke off a large branch from a tree, +carried it into the sea, and placed myself astride upon it, with +a stick in each hand to serve me for oars. + +I launched out in this posture, and rowed towards the ship. When +I had approached sufficiently near to be seen, I exhibited to the +seamen and passengers on the deck an extraordinary spectacle, and +all of them regarded me with astonishment. In the meantime I got +on board, and laying hold of a rope, jumped upon the deck, but +having lost my speech I found myself in great perplexity: and +indeed the risk I ran was not less than when I was at the mercy +of the genie. + +The merchants, being both superstitious and scrupulous, thought +if they received me on board I should be the occasion of some +misfortune to them during their voyage. On this account one of +them said, "I will destroy him with a blow of this handspike;" +another, "I will shoot an arrow through his body;" and a third, +"Let us throw him into the sea." Some one of them would not have +failed to carry his threat into execution had I not gone to the +captain, thrown myself at his feet, and taken hold of his skirt +in a supplicating posture. This action, together with the tears +which he saw gush from my eyes, moved his compassion. He took me +under his protection, threatened to be revenged on any one that +would do me the least hurt, and loaded me with a thousand +caresses. On my part, though I had not power to speak, I showed +by my gestures every mark of gratitude in my power. + +The wind that succeeded the calm was not strong, but favourable; +it continued to blow in the same direction for fifty days, and +brought us safe to the port of a city, well peopled, and of great +trade, the capital of a powerful state, where we came to anchor. + +Our vessel was instantly surrounded with an infinite number of +boats full of people, who came to congratulate their friends on +their safe arrival, or to inquire for those they had left behind +them in the country from whence they had come, or out of +curiosity to see a ship that had performed so long a voyage. + +Amongst the rest, some officers came on board, desiring in the +name of the sultan to speak with the merchants. The merchants +appearing, one of the officers told them, "The sultan our master +hath commanded us to acquaint you, that he rejoices in your safe +arrival, and beseeches each of you to take the trouble to write a +few lines upon this roll. That you may understand the design of +this request, you must know that we had a prime vizier, who +besides possessing great abilities for the management of public +affairs could write in the highest perfection. This minister a +few days since died. The event has greatly affected the sultan; +and since he can never behold his writing without admiration, he +has made a solemn vow, not to give the place to any one who +cannot write equally well. Many have presented specimens of their +skill; but to this day, no one in the empire has been judged +worthy to supply the vizier's place." + +Those of the merchants who thought they could write well enough +to aspire to this high dignity, wrote one after another what they +thought fit. After they had done, I advanced, and took the roll +out of the gentleman's hand; but all the people, especially the +merchants, cried out, that I would tear it, or throw it into the +sea, till they saw how properly I held the roll, and made a sign +that I would write in my turn: their apprehensions then changed +into wonder. However, as they had never seen an ape that could +write, and could not be persuaded that I was more ingenious than +others of my kind, they wished to take the roll out of my hand; +but the captain took my part once more. "Let him alone," said he, +"allow him to write. If he only scribbles the paper, I promise +you that I will immediately punish him. If, on the contrary, he +writes well, as I hope he will, because I never saw an ape so +clever and ingenious, and so quick of apprehension, I declare +that I will adopt him as my son." Perceiving that no one opposed +my design, I took the pen, and wrote six sorts of hands used +among the Arabians, and each specimen contained an extemporary +distich or quatrain in praise of the sultan. My writing not only +excelled that of the merchants, but was such as they had not +before seen in that country. When I had done, the officers took +the roll, and carried it to the sultan. + +The sultan took little notice of any of the writings, except +mine, which pleased him so much that he said to the officers, +"Take the finest horse in my stable, with the richest trappings, +and a robe of the most sumptuous brocade to put on the person who +wrote the six hands, and bring him thither." At this command the +officers could not forbear laughing. The sultan was incensed at +their rudeness, and would have punished them had they not +explained: "Sir," said they, "we humbly beg your majesty's +pardon: these hands were not written by a man, but by an ape." +"What do you say?" exclaimed the sultan. "Those admirable +characters, are they not written by the hands of a man?" "No, +Sir," replied the officers; "we assure your majesty that it was +an ape, who wrote them in our presence." The sultan was too much +surprised at this account not to desire a sight of me, and +therefore said, "Do what I command you, and bring me speedily +that wonderful ape." + +The officers returned to the vessel and shewed the captain their +order, who answered, "The sultan's command must be obeyed." +Whereupon they clothed me with the rich brocade robe, and carried +me ashore, where they set me on horseback, whilst the sultan +waited for me at his palace with a great number of courtiers, +whom he gathered together to do me the more honour. + +The procession commenced; the harbour, the streets, the public +places, windows, terraces, palaces, and houses, were filled with +an infinite number of people of all ranks, who flocked from every +part of the city to see me; for the rumour was spread in a +moment, that the sultan had chosen an ape to be his grand vizier, +and after having served for a spectacle to the people, who could +not forbear to express their surprise by redoubling their shouts +and cries, I arrived at the sultan's palace. + +I found the prince on his throne in the midst of the grandees; I +made my obeisance three times very low, and at last kneeled and +kissed the ground before him, and afterwards took my seat in the +posture of an ape. The whole assembly viewed me with admiration, +and could not comprehend how it was possible that an ape should +so well understand how to pay the sultan his due respect; and he +himself was more astonished than any. In short, the usual +ceremony of the audience would have been complete, could I have +added speech to my behaviour; but apes never speak, and the +advantage I had of having been a man did not now yield me that +privilege. + +The sultan dismissed his courtiers, and none remained by him but +the chief of the eunuchs, a little young slave, and myself. He +went from his chamber of audience into his own apartment, where +he ordered dinner to be brought. As he sat at table he made me a +sign to approach and eat with them: to shew my obedience I kissed +the ground, arose, and placed myself at the table, and ate with +discretion and moderation. + +Before the table was cleared, I espied a standish, which I made a +sign to have brought me; having got it, I wrote upon a large +peach some verses expressive of my acknowledgment to the sultan; +who having read them after I had presented the peach to him, was +still more astonished. When the things were removed, they brought +him a particular liquor, of which he caused them to give me a +glass. I drank, and wrote upon the glass some new verses, which +explained the state I was reduced to, after many sufferings. The +sultan read these likewise, and said, "A man that was capable of +doing so much would be above the greatest of his species." + +The sultan caused to be brought to him a chessboard, and asked me +by a sign if I understood that game, and would play with him? I +kissed the ground, and laying my hand upon my head, signified +that I was ready to receive that honour. He won the first game, +but I won the second and third; and perceiving he was somewhat +displeased at my success, I made a quatrain to satisfy him; in +which I told him that two potent armies had been fighting +furiously all day, but that they concluded a peace towards the +evening, and passed the remaining part of the night very amicably +together upon the field of battle. + +So many circumstances appearing to the sultan beyond whatever had +either been seen or known of the cleverness or sense of apes, he +determined not to be the only witness of these prodigies himself, +but having a daughter, called the Lady of Beauty, on whom the +chief of the eunuchs, then present, waited; "Go," said the sultan +to him, "and bid your lady come hither: I am desirous she should +share my pleasure." + +The eunuch went, and immediately brought the princess, who had +her face uncovered; but she had no sooner come into the room, +than she put on her veil, and said to the sultan, "Sir, your +majesty must needs have forgotten yourself; I am surprised that +your majesty has sent for me to appear among men." "How, +daughter!" said the sultan, "you do not know what you say: there +is no one here, but the little slave, the eunuch your governor, +and myself, who have the liberty to see your face; and yet you +lower your veil, and blame me for having sent for you." "Sir," +said the princess, "your majesty shall soon understand that I am +not in the wrong. That seeming ape is a young prince, son of a +powerful sultan, and has been metamorphosed into an ape by +enchantment. A genie, son of the daughter of Eblis, has +maliciously done him this wrong, after having cruelly taken away +the life of the princess of the isle of Ebene." + +The sultan, astonished at this declaration, turned towards me, +and speaking no more by signs, but in plain words, asked me, if +what his daughter said was true? Finding I could not speak, I put +my hand to my head' to signify that what the princess spoke was +correct. Upon this the sultan said again to his daughter, "How do +you know that this prince has been transformed by enchantments +into an ape?" "Sir," replied the Lady of Beauty, "your majesty +may remember that when I was past my infancy I had an old lady +who waited on me; she was a most expert magician, and taught me +seventy rules of magic, by virtue of which I can, in the +twinkling of an eye, transport your capital into the midst of the +sea, or beyond mount Caucasus. By this science I know all +enchanted persons at first sight: I know who they are, and by +whom they have been enchanted; therefore do not be surprised if I +should forthwith relieve this prince, in spite of the +enchantments, from that which prevents his appearing in your +sight in his natural form." "Daughter," said the sultan, "I did +not believe you to have understood so much." "Sir," replied the +princess, "these things are curious and worth knowing; but I +think I ought not to boast of them." "Since it is so," said the +sultan, "you can dispel the prince's enchantment." "Yes, sir," +said the princess, "I can restore him to his original shape." "Do +it then," said the sultan, "you cannot do me a greater pleasure; +for I will have him to be my vizier, and he shall marry you." +"Sir," said the princess, "I am ready to obey you in all that you +should be pleased to command me." + +The princess, the Lady of Beauty, went into her apartment, and +brought thence a knife, which had some Hebrew words engraven on +the blade: she made the sultan, the master of the eunuchs, the +little slave, and myself, descend into a private court of the +palace, and there left us under a gallery that went round it. She +placed herself in the middle of the court, where she made a great +circle, and within it she wrote several words in Arabian +characters, some of them ancient. + +When she had finished and prepared the circle as she thought fit, +she placed herself in the centre of it, where she began +incantations, and repeated verses of the Koraun. The air grew +insensibly dark, as if it had been night, and the whole world +were about to be dissolved: we found ourselves struck with +consternation, and our fear increased when we saw the genie, the +son of the daughter of Eblis, appear suddenly in the shape of a +lion of a gigantic size. + +As soon as the princess perceived this monster, "Dog," said she, +"instead of creeping before me, dare you present yourself in this +shape, thinking to frighten me?" "And thou," replied the lion, +"art thou not afraid to break the treaty which was solemnly made +and confirmed between us by oath, not to wrong or do one another +any injury?" "Wretch," replied the princess, "I justly may +reproach thee with having done so." The lion answered fiercely, +"Thou shalt quickly have thy reward for the trouble thou hast +given me:" with that he opened his monstrous jaws, and sprang +forward to devour her; but she, being on her guard, stepped back, +got time to pull out one of her hairs, and by pronouncing three +or four words, changed it into a sharp sword, with which she cut +the lion in two through the middle. + +The two parts of the lion disappeared, while the head changed +into a large scorpion. Immediately the princess turned herself +into a serpent, and fought the scorpion, who, finding himself +worsted, took the shape of an eagle, and flew away: but the +serpent at the same time took also the shape of an eagle, that +was black and much stronger, and pursued him, so that we lost +sight of them both. + +Some time after they had disappeared, the ground opened before +us, and out of it came forth a black and white cat, with her hair +standing on end, and mewing in a frightful manner; a black wolf +followed close after her, and gave her no time to rest. The cat, +being thus hard pressed, changed into a worm, and being near a +pomegranate accidentally fallen from a tree on the side of a +canal which was deep, but not broad, pierced the pomegranate in +an instant, and hid itself, but the pomegranate swelled +immediately, and became as big as a gourd, which, mounting up to +the roof of the gallery, rolled there for some time backward and +forward; it then fell down again into the court, and broke into +several pieces. + +The wolf had in the meanwhile transformed itself into a cock, and +now fell to picking up the seeds of the pomegranate one after +another; but finding no more, he came towards us with his wings +spread, making a great noise, as if he would ask us whether there +were any more seed. There was one lying on the brink of the +canal, which the cock perceiving as he went back, ran speedily +thither; but just as he was going to pick it up, the seed rolled +into the river, and turned into a little fish. + +The cock leaped into the river, turned into a pike, and pursued +the small fish; they continued both under water above two hours, +and we knew not what was become of them, but suddenly we heard +terrible cries, which made us tremble, and a little while after +we saw the genie and princess all in flames. They threw flashes +of fire out of their mouths at each other, till they came to +close combat; then the two fires increased, with a thick burning +smoke which mounted so high that we had reason to apprehend it +would set the palace on fire. But we very soon had a more +pressing occasion of fear, for the genie having got loose from +the princess, came to the gallery where we stood, and blew flames +of fire upon us. We must all have perished had not the princess, +running to our assistance, forced him to retire, and defend +himself against her; yet, notwithstanding all her exertions, she +could not hinder the sultan's beard from being burnt, and his +face scorched, the chief of the eunuchs from being stifled, and a +spark from entering my right eye, and making it blind. The sultan +and I expected but death, when we heard a cry of "Victory! +Victory!" and instantly the princess appeared in her natural +shape, but the genie was reduced to a heap of ashes. + +The princess approached us, and hastily called for a cup-full of +water, which the young slave, who had received no hurt, brought +her. She took it, and after pronouncing some words over it, threw +it upon me, saying, "If thou art become an ape by enchantment, +change thy shape, and take that of a man which thou hadst +before." These words were hardly uttered, when I again became a +man, in every respect as I was before my transformation, +excepting the loss of my eye. + +I was prepared to return the princess my thanks, but she +prevented me by addressing herself to her father: "Sir, I have +gained the victory over the genie, as your majesty may see; but +it is a victory that costs me dear; I have but a few minutes to +live, and you will not have the satisfaction to make the match +you intended; the fire has pierced me during the terrible combat, +and I find it is gradually consuming me. This would not have +happened, had I perceived the last of the pomegranate seeds, and +swallowed it, as I did the others when I was changed into a cock: +the genie had fled thither as to his last intrenchment, and upon +that the success of the combat depended, which would have been +successful, and without danger to me. This oversight obliged me +to have recourse to fire, and to fight with those mighty arms as +I did, between heaven and earth, in your presence; for, in spite +of all his redoubtable art and experience, I made the genie know +that I understood more than he; I have conquered and reduced him +to ashes, but I cannot escape death, which is approaching." + +The sultan suffered the princess, the Lady of Beauty, to go on +with the recital of her combat, and when she had done, addressed +her in a tone that sufficiently testified his grief; "My +daughter," said he, "you see in what condition your father is; +alas! I wonder that I am yet alive! Your governor, the eunuch, is +dead, and the prince whom you have delivered from his enchantment +has lost one of his eyes." He could say no more, for his tears, +sighs, and sobs, deprived him of the power of utterance. + +Suddenly the princess exclaimed, "I burn! I burn!" She found that +the fire had at last seized upon her vital parts, which made her +still cry "I burn!" until death had put an end to her intolerable +pains. The effect of that fire was so extraordinary, that in a +few moments she was wholly reduced to ashes, as the genie had +been. + +I cannot tell you, madam, how much I was grieved at so dismal a +spectacle; I had rather all my life have continued an ape or a +dog, than to have seen my benefactress thus miserably perish. The +sultan being afflicted all that can be imagined, cried piteously, +and beat himself on his head and breast, until being quite +overcome with grief, he fainted away, which made me fear for his +life. In the mean time, the eunuchs and officers came running at +the sultan's lamentations, and with much difficulty brought him +to himself. It was not necessary that the prince or myself should +relate the circumstances of the adventure, to convince them of +the affliction it had occasioned us. The two heaps of ashes, to +which the princess and the genie had been reduced, were a +sufficient demonstration. The sultan was hardly able to stand, +but was under the necessity of being supported to his apartment. + +When the knowledge of this tragical event had spread through the +palace and the city, all the people bewailed the misfortune of +the princess, the Lady of Beauty, and commiserated the sultan's +affliction. Public mourning was observed for seven days, and many +ceremonies were performed. The ashes of the genie were thrown +into the air, but those of the princess were collected into a +precious urn, to be preserved, and the urn was deposited in a +superb mausoleum, constructed for that purpose on the spot where +the princess had been consumed. + +The grief of the sultan for the loss of his daughter confined him +to his chamber for a whole month. Before he had fully recovered +his strength he sent for me: "Prince," said he, "attend to the +commands I now give you; your life must answer if you do not +carry them into execution." I assured him of exalt obedience; +upon which he went on thus: "I have constantly lived in perfect +felicity, but by your arrival all the happiness I possessed has +vanished; my daughter is dead, her governor is no more, and it is +only through a miracle that I am myself yet alive You are the +cause of all these misfortunes, under which it is impossible that +I should be comforted; depart hence therefore in peace, without +farther delay, for I must myself perish if you remain any longer. +I am persuaded that your presence brings misfortune with it. +Depart, and take care never to appear again in my dominions. No +consideration whatever shall hinder me from making you repent +your temerity should you violate my injunction." I was going to +speak, but he prevented me by words full of anger; and I was +obliged to quit the palace, rejected, banished, an outcast from +the world. Before I left the city I went into a bagnio, here I +caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and put on a +calender's habit. I began my journey, not so much deploring my +own miseries, as the death of the two fair princesses, of which I +have been the occasion. I passed through many countries without +making myself known; at last I resolved to come to Bagdad, in +hopes of getting myself introduced to the commander of the +faithful, to move his compassion by relating to him my +unfortunate adventures. I arrived this evening, and the first man +I met was this calender, our brother, who spoke before me. You +know the remaining part, madam, and the cause of my having the +honour to be here. + +When the second calender had concluded his story, Zobeide, to +whom he had addressed his speech, said, "It is well, you are at +liberty." But instead of departing, he also petitioned the lady +to shew him the same favour vouchsafed to the first calender, and +went and sat down by him. + + + + + The History of the Third Calender. + + + +My story, most honourable lady, very much differs from what you +have already heard. The two princes who have spoken before me +have each lost an eye by the pure effects of their destiny, but +mine I lost through my own fault, and by hastening to seek my own +misfortune, as you shall hear by the sequel of the story. + +My name is Agib, and I am the son of a sultan who was called +Cassib. After his death I took possession of his dominions, and +continued in the city where he had resided. It is situated on the +sea-coast, has one of the finest and safest harbours in the +world, an arsenal capable of fitting out for sea one hundred and +fifty men of war, besides merchantmen and light vessels. My +kingdom is composed of several fine provinces upon the main land, +besides a number of valuable islands, which lie almost in sight +of my capital. + +My first object was to visit the provinces: I afterwards caused +my whole fleet to be fitted out, and went to my islands to gain +the hearts of my subjects by my presence, and to confirm them in +their loyalty. These voyages gave me some taste for navigation, +in which I took so much pleasure, that I resolved to make some +discoveries beyond my own territories; to which end I caused ten +ships to be fitted out, embarked, and set sail. + +Our voyage was very pleasant for forty days successively, but on +the forty-first night the wind became contrary, and withal so +boisterous that we were near being lost: about break of day the +storm abated, the clouds dispersed, and the weather became fair. +We reached an island, where we remained two days to take in fresh +provisions; and then put off again to sea. After ten days' sail +we were in hopes of seeing land, for the tempests we had +experienced had so much abated my curiosity, that I gave orders +to steer back to my own coast; but I perceived at the same time +that my pilot knew not where we were. Upon the tenth day, a +seaman being sent to look out for land from the mast head, gave +notice that on starboard and larboard he could see nothing but +sky and sea, but that right a-head he perceived a great +blackness. + +The pilot changed colour at this account, and throwing his turban +on the deck with one hand, and beating his breast with the other, +cried, "Oh, Sir, we are all lost; not one of us can escape; and +with all my skill it is not in my power to effect our +deliverance." Having spoken thus, he lamented like a man who +foresaw unavoidable ruin; his despondence threw the whole ship's +crew into consternation. I asked him what reason he had thus to +despair? He exclaimed, "The tempest has brought us so far out of +our course, that to-morrow about noon we shall be near the black +mountain, or mine of adamant, which at this very minute draws all +your fleet towards it, by virtue of the iron in your ships; and +when we approach within a certain distance, the attraction of the +adamant will have such force, that all the nails will be drawn +out of the sides and bottoms of the ships, and fasten to the +mountain, so that your vessels will fall to pieces and sink. + +"This mountain," continued the pilot, "is inaccessible. On the +summit there is a dome of fine brass, supported by pillars of the +same metal, and on the top of that dome stands a horse, likewise +of brass, with a rider on his back, who has a plate or lead fixed +to his breast, upon which some talismanic characters are +engraver. Sir, the tradition is, that this statue is the chief +cause why so many ships and men have been lost and sunk in this +place, and that it will ever continue to be fatal to all those +who have the misfortune to approach, until it shall be thrown +down." + +The pilot having finished his discourse, began to weep afresh, +and all the rest of the ship's company did the same. I had no +other thought but that my days were there to terminate. In the +mean time every one began to provide for his own safety, and to +that end took all imaginable precaution; and being uncertain of +the event, they all made one another their heirs, by virtue of a +will, for the benefit of those that should happen to be saved. + +The next morning we distinctly perceived the black mountain. +About noon we were so near, that we found what the pilot had +foretold to be true; for all the nails and iron in the ships flew +towards the mountain, where they fixed, by the violence of the +attraction, with a horrible noise; the ships split asunder, and +their cargoes sunk into the sea. All my people were drowned, but +God had mercy on me, and permitted me to save myself by means of +a plank, which the wind drove ashore just at the foot of the +mountain. I did not receive the least hurt, and my good fortune +brought me to a landing place, where there were steps that led up +to the summit of the mountain. + +At the sight of these steps, for there was not a space of ground +either on the right or left whereon a man could set his foot, I +gave thanks to God; and recommended myself to his holy +protection, as I began to ascend the steps, which were so narrow, +that had the wind raged it would have thrown me into the sea. +But, at last, I reached the top, without accident. I went into +the dome, and kneeling on the ground, gave God thanks for his +mercies. + +I passed the night under the dome. In my sleep an old grave man +appeared to me, and said, "Hearken, Agib; as soon as thou art +awake dig up the ground under thy feet: thou wilt find a bow of +brass, and three arrows of lead, that are made under certain +constellations, to deliver mankind from the many calamities that +threaten them. Shoot the three arrows at the statue, and the +rider will fall into the sea, but the horse will fall by thy +side; thou must bury it in the place where thou findest the bow +and arrows: this being done, the sea will swell and rise to the +foot of the dome. When it has come so high, thou wilt perceive a +boat with one man holding an oar in each hand; this man is also +of metal, but different from that thou hast thrown down; step on +board, but without mentioning the name of God, and let him +conduct thee. He will in ten days' time bring thee into another +sea, where thou shalt find an opportunity to return to thy +country, provided, as I have told thee, thou dost not mention the +name of God during the whole voyage." + +This was the substance of the old man's discourse. When I awoke I +felt much comforted by the vision, and did not fail to observe +everything that he had commanded me. I took the bow and arrows +out of the ground, shot at the horseman, and with the third arrow +I overthrew him; he fell into the sea, and the horse fell by my +side; I buried it in the place whence I took the bow and arrows. +In the mean time, the sea swelled and rose up by degrees. When it +came as high as the foot of the dome upon the top of the +mountain, I saw, afar off, a boat rowing towards me, and I +returned God thanks that everything succeeded according to my +dream. + +At last the boat made land, and I perceived the man was made of +metal, as I had dreamt. I stept aboard, and took great heed not +to pronounce the name of God, neither spoke I one word. I sat +down, and the man of metal began to row off from the mountain. He +rowed without ceasing till the ninth day, when I saw some +islands, which gave me hopes that I should escape all the danger +that I feared. The excess of my joy made me forget what I was +forbidden: "Blessed be God," said I; "God be praised." + +I had no sooner spoken these words, than the boat sunk with the +man of metal, leaving me upon the surface. I swam the remaining +part of the day towards that land which appeared nearest. A very +dark night succeeded, and not knowing where I was, I swam at +random. My strength at last began to fail, and I despaired of +being able to save myself, but the wind began to blow hard, and a +wave vast as a mountain threw me on a flat, where it left me, and +retreated. I made haste ashore, fearing another wave might wash +me back. The first thing I did was to strip, wring the water out +of my clothes, and lay them on the dry sand, which was still warm +from the heat of the day. + +Next morning the sun dried my clothes; I put them on, and went +forward to discover what sort of country I was in. I had not +walked far before I found I was upon a desert, though a very +pleasant, island, as it displayed several sorts of trees and wild +shrubs bearing fruit; but I perceived it was far from the +continent, which much diminished the joy I felt at having escaped +the danger of the seas. Nevertheless, I recommended myself to God +and prayed him to dispose of me according to his will. +Immediately after, I saw a vessel coming from the main land, +before the wind, directly towards the island. I doubted not but +they were coming to anchor there; and being uncertain what sort +of people they might be, whether friends or foes, I thought it +not safe to be seen. I got up into a very thick tree, from whence +I might safely view them. The vessel came into a little creek, +where ten slaves landed, carrying a spade and other instruments +for digging up the ground. They went towards the middle of the +island, where I saw them stop, and dig for a considerable time, +after which I thought I perceived them lift up a trap door. They +returned again to the vessel, and unloaded several sorts of +provisions and furniture, which they carried to the place where +they had been digging: they then descended, which made me suppose +it led to a subterraneous dwelling. + +I saw them once more go to the ship, and return soon after with +an old man, who led in his hand a handsome lad of about fourteen +or fifteen years of age. They all descended when the trap door +had been opened. After they had again come up, they let down the +trap door, covered it over with earth, and returned to the creek +where the ship lay, but I saw not the young man in their company. +This made me believe that he had staid behind in the +subterraneous place, a circumstance which exceedingly surprised +me. + +The old man and the slaves went on board, and getting the vessel +under weigh, steered their course towards the main land. When I +perceived they had proceeded to such a distance that I could not +be seen by them, I came down from the tree, and went directly to +the place where I had seen the ground broken. I removed the earth +by degrees, till I came to a stone that was two or three feet +square. I lifted it up, and found that it covered the head of a +flight of stairs, which were also of stone. I descended, and at +the bottom found myself in a large room, furnished with a carpet, +a couch covered with tapestry, and cushions of rich stuff, upon +which the young man sat, with a fan in his hand. These things, +together with fruits and flower-pot standing about him, I saw by +the light of two wax tapers. The young man, when he perceived me +was considerably alarmed; but to quiet his apprehensions, I said +to him as I entered, "Whoever you are, Sir, do not fear; a +sultan, and the son of a sultan, as I am, is not capable of doing +you any injury: on the contrary, it is probable that your good +destiny may have brought me hither to deliver you out of this +tomb, where it seems you have been buried alive, for reasons to +me unknown. But what surprises me (for you must know that I have +been witness to all that hath passed since your coming into this +island), is, that you suffered yourself to be entombed in this +place without any resistance." + +The young man felt assured at these words, and with a smiling +countenance requested me to take a seat by him. When I had +complied, he said "Prince, I am to acquaint you with what will +surprise you by its singularity. + +"My father is a merchant jeweller, who, by his industry and +professional skill, has acquired considerable property. He has +many slaves, and also agents, whom he employs as supercargoes in +his own ships, to maintain his correspondence at the several +courts, which he furnishes with precious stones. + +"He had been long married without having issue, when it was +intimated to him in a dream that he should have a son, though his +life would be but short; at which he was much concerned when he +awoke. Some days after, my mother acquainted him that she was +with child, and what she supposed to be the time of her +conception agreed exactly with the day of his dream. At the end +of nine months she was brought to bed of me; which occasioned +great joy in the family. + +"My father, who had observed the very moment of my birth, +consulted astrologers about my nativity; and was answered, Your +son shall live happily till the age of fifteen, when his life +will be exposed to a danger which he will hardly be able to +escape. But if his good destiny preserve him beyond that time, he +will live to a great age. It will be' (said they) when the +statue of brass, that stands upon the summit of the mountain of +adamant, shall be thrown into the sea by prince Agib, son of king +Cassib; and, as the stars prognosticate, your son will be killed +fifty days afterwards by that prince.' + +"My father took all imaginable care of my education until this +year, which is the fifteenth of my age. He had notice given him +yesterday, that the statue of brass had been thrown into the sea +about ten days ago. This news alarmed him much. + +"Upon the prediction the astrologers, he sought by all means +possible to falsify my horoscope, and to preserve my life. He +took the precaution to form this subterranean habitation to hide +me in, till the expiration of the fifty days after the throwing +down of the statue; and therefore, as it is ten days since this +happened, he came hastily hither to conceal me, and promised at +the end of forty days to return and fetch me away. For my own +part I am sanguine in my hopes, and cannot believe that prince +Agib will seek for me in a place under ground, in the midst of a +desert island." + +While the jeweller's son was relating this story, I laughed at +the astrologers who had foretold that I should take away his +life; for I thought myself so far from being likely to verify +their prediction, that he had scarcely done speaking, when I told +him with great joy, "Dear Sir, trust in the goodness of God, and +fear nothing; consider it as a debt you had to pay; but that you +are acquitted of it from this hour. I rejoice that after my +shipwreck I came so fortunately hither to defend you against all +who would attempt your life. I will not leave you till the forty +days have expired, of which the foolish astrologers have made you +apprehensive; and in the mean while I will do you all the service +in my power: after which, with leave of your father and yourself, +I shall have the benefit of getting to the main land in your +vessel; and when I am returned into my kingdom, I will remember +the obligations I owe you, and endeavour to demonstrate my +gratitude by suitable acknowedgments." + +This discourse encouraged the jeweller's son, and inspired him +with confidence. I took care not to inform him I was the very +Agib whom he dreaded, lest I should alarm his fears, and used +every precaution not to give him any cause to suspect who I was. +We passed the time in various conversation till night came on. I +found the young man of ready wit, and partook with him of his +provisions, of which he had enough to have lasted beyond the +forty days, though he had had more guests than myself. After +supper we conversed for some time; and at last retired to bed. + +The next morning, when he arose, I held the basin of water to +him; I also provided dinner, and at the proper time placed it on +the table: after we had dined I invented a play for our +amusement, not only for that day, but for those that followed. I +prepared supper after the same manner as I had done the dinner; +and having supped, we retired to bed as before. We had sufficient +time to contrast mutual friendship and esteem for each other. I +found he loved me; and I on my part regarded him with so much +affection, that I often said to myself, "Those astrologers who +predicted to his father that his son should die by my hand were +impostors; for it is not possible that I could commit so base a +crime." In short, madam, we spent thirty-nine days in the +pleasantest manner possible in this subterraneous abode. + +The fortieth day appeared: and in the morning, when the young man +awoke, he said to me with a transport of joy that he could not +restrain, "Prince, this is the fortieth day, and I am not dead, +thanks to God and your good company. My father will not fail to +make you, very shortly, every acknowledgment of his gratitude for +your attentions, and will furnish you with every necessary +accommodation for your return to your kingdom: but," continued +he, "while we are waiting his arrival, I beg you will provide me +some warm water in that portable bath, that I may wash my body +and change my dress, to receive my father with the more respect." + +I set the water on the fire, and when it was hot poured it into +the moveable bath; the youth went in, and I both washed and +rubbed him. At last he came out, and laid himself down in his bed +that I had prepared. After he had slept a while, he awoke, and +said, "Dear prince, pray do me the favour to fetch me a melon and +some sugar, that I may eat some to refresh me." + +Out of several melons that remained I took the best, and laid it +on a plate; and as I could not find a knife to cut it with, I +asked the young man if he knew where there was one. "There is +one," said he, "upon this cornice over my head:" I accordingly +saw it there, and made so much haste to reach it, that, while I +had it in my hand, my foot being entangled in the carpet, I fell +most unhappily upon the young man, and the knife pierced his +heart. + +At this spectacle I cried out with agony. I beat my head, my +face, and breast; I tore my clothes; I threw myself on the ground +with unspeakable sorrow and grief! "Alas!" I exclaimed, "there +were only some hours wanting to have put him out of that danger +from which he sought sanctuary here; and when I thought the +danger past, then I became his murderer, and verified the +prediction. But, O Lord!" said I, lifting up my face and my hands +to heaven, "I intreat thy pardon, and if I be guilty of his +death, let me not live any longer." + +After this misfortune I would have embraced death without any +reluctance, had it presented itself to me. But what we wish, +whether it be good or evil, will not always happen according to +our desire. Nevertheless, considering that all my tears and +sorrows would not restore the young man to life, and, the forty +days being expired, I might be surprised by his father, I quitted +the subterranean dwelling, laid down the great stone upon the +entrance, and covered it with earth. + +I had scarcely done, when, casting my eyes upon the sea towards +the main land, I perceived the vessel coming to fetch away the +young man. I began then to consider what I had best do. I said to +myself, "If I am seen by the old man, he will certainly seize me, +and perhaps cause me to be massacred by his slaves, when he has +discovered that his son is killed: all that I can allege to +justify myself will not convince him of my innocence. It is +better then to withdraw while it is in my power, than to expose +myself to his resentment." + +There happened to be near a large tree thick with leaves, which I +ascended in hopes of concealment, and was no sooner fixed in a +place where I could not be perceived, than I saw the vessel come +to the creek where she lay the first time. + +The old man with his slaves landed immediately, and advanced +towards the subterranean dwelling, with a countenance that shewed +some hope; but when they saw the earth had been newly removed, +they changed colour, particularly the old man. They lifted up the +stone, and went down; they called the young man by his name, but +he not answering, their fears increased. They proceeded to seek +him; and at length found him lying upon the bed with the knife in +his heart, for I had not power to take it out. At this sight they +cried out lamentably, which increased my sorrow: the old man fell +down in a swoon. The slaves, to give him air, brought him up in +their arms, and laid him at the foot of the tree where I was +concealed; but notwithstanding all the pains they took to recover +him, the unfortunate father continued a long while insensible, +and made them more than once despair of his life; but at last he +came to himself. The slaves then brought up his son's corpse, +dressed in his best apparel, and when they had made a grave they +buried it. The old man, supported by two slaves, and his face +covered with tears, threw the first earth upon the body, after +which the slaves filled up the grave. + +This being done, all the furniture was brought up, and, with the +remaining provisions, put on board the vessel. The old man, +overcome with sorrow, and not being able to stand, was laid upon +a litter, and carried to the ship, which stood out to sea, and in +a short time was out of sight. + +After the old man and his slaves were gone, I was left alone upon +the island. I lay that night in the subterranean dwelling, which +they had shut up, and when the day came, I walked round the +island, and stopped in such places as I thought most proper for +repose. + +I led this wearisome life for a whole month. At the expiration of +this time I perceived that the sea had receded; that the island +had increased in dimensions; the main land too seemed to be +drawing nearer. In fact, the water sunk so low, that there +remained between me and the continent but a small stream, which I +crossed, and the water did not reach above the middle of my leg. +I walked so long a way upon the slime and sand that I was very +weary: at last I got upon more firm ground, and when I had +proceeded some distance from the sea, I saw a good way before me +something that resembled a great fire, which afforded me some +comfort; for I said to myself, I shall find here some persons, it +not being possible that this fire should kindle of itself. As I +drew nearer, however, I found my error, and discovered that what +I had taken for a fire was a castle of red copper, which the +beams of the sun made to appear at a distance like flames. + +I stopped in the neighbourhood of the castle, and sat down to +admire its noble structure, and to rest myself. Before I had +taken such a view of this magnificent building as it deserved, I +saw ten handsome young men coming along, as if they had been +taking a walk; but what surprised me was, that they were all +blind of the right eye. They were accompanied by an old man, who +was very tall, and of a venerable aspect. + +I could not suppress my astonishment at the sight of so many half +blind men in company, and every one deprived of the same eye. As +I was conjecturing by what adventure these men could come +together, they approached, and seemed glad to see me. After the +first salutations, they inquired what had brought me thither. I +told them my story would be somewhat tedious, but if they would +take the trouble to sit down, 1 would satisfy their curiosity. +They did so, and I related to them all that had happened to me +since I had left my kingdom, which filled them with astonishment. + +After I had concluded my account, the young gentlemen prayed me +to accompany them into the castle. I accepted their offer, and we +passed through a great many halls, ante-chambers, bed-chambers, +and closets, very well furnished, and came at last into a +spacious hall, where there were ten small blue sofas set round, +separate from one another, on which they sat by day and slept at +night. In the middle of this circle stood an eleventh sofa, not +so high as the rest, but of the same colour, upon which the old +man before-mentioned sat down, and the young gentlemen occupied +the other ten. But as each sofa could only contain one man, one +of the young men said to me, "Comrade, sit down upon that carpet +in the middle of the room, and do not inquire into anything that +concerns us, nor the reason why we are all blind of the right +eye; be content with what you see, and let not your curiosity +extend any farther." + +The old man having sat a short time, arose, and went out; but he +returned in a minute or two, brought in supper, distributed to +each man separately his proportion, and likewise brought me mine, +which I ate apart, as the rest did; and when supper was almost +ended, he presented to each of us a cup of wine. + +They thought my story so extraordinary, that they made me repeat +it after supper, and it furnished conversation for a good part of +the night. One of the gentlemen observing that it was late, said +to the old man, "You do not bring us that with which we may +acquit ourselves of our duty." At these words the old man arose, +and went into a closet, and brought out thence upon his head ten +basins, one after another, all covered with blue stuff; he placed +one before every gentleman, together with a light. + +They uncovered their basins, which contained ashes, coal-dust, +and lamp-black; they mixed all together, and rubbed and bedaubed +their faces with it in such a manner as to make themselves look +very frightful. After having thus blackened themselves, they wept +and lamented, beating their heads and breasts, and crying +continually, "This is the fruit of our idleness and debauches." + +They continued this strange employment nearly the whole of the +night, and when they left off, the old man brought them water, +with which they washed their faces and hands; they changed all +their clothes, which were spoiled, and put on others; so that +they exhibited no appearance of what they had been doing. + +You may judge how uneasy I felt all this time. I wished a +thousand times to break the silence which had been imposed upon +me, and ask questions; nor was it possible for me to sleep that +night. + +The next day, soon after we had arisen, we went out to walk, and +then I said to them, "Gentlemen, I declare to you, that I must +renounce the law which you prescribed to me last night, for I +cannot observe it. You are men of sense, you have convinced me +that you do not want understanding; yet, I have seen you do such +actions as none but madmen could be capable of. Whatever +misfortune befalls me, I cannot forbear asking, why you bedaubed +your faces with black? How it has happened that each of you has +but one eye? Some singular circumstance must certainly be the +cause; therefore I conjure you to satisfy my curiosity." To these +pressing instances they answered only, that it was no business of +mine to make such inquiries, and that I should do well to hold my +peace. + +We passed that day in conversation upon indifferent subjects; and +when night was come and every man had supped, the old man brought +in the blue basins, and the young gentlemen as before bedaubed +their faces, wept and beat themselves, crying, "This is the fruit +of our idleness and debauches," and continued the same actions +the following night. At last, not being able to resist my +curiosity, I earnestly prayed them to satisfy me, or to shew me +how to return to my own kingdom; for it was impossible for me to +keep them company any longer, and to see every night such an odd +exhibition, without being permitted to know the reason. + +One of the gentlemen answered on behalf of the rest, "Do not +wonder at our conduit in regard to yourself, and that hitherto we +have not granted your request: it is out of kindness, to save you +the pain of being reduced to the same condition with ourselves. +If you have a mind to try our unfortunate destiny, you need but +speak, and we will give you the satisfaction you desire." I told +them I was resolved on it, let what would be the consequence. +"Once more," said the same gentleman, "we advise you to restrain +your curiosity: it will cost you the loss of your right eye." "No +matter," I replied; "be assured that if such a misfortune befall +me, I will not impute it to you, but to myself." + +He farther represented to me, that when I had lost an eye I must +not hope to remain with them, if I were so disposed, because +their number was complete, and no addition could be made to it. I +told them, that it would be a great satisfaction to me never to +part from such agreeable gentlemen, but if there were a necessity +for it, I was ready to submit; and let it cost me what it would, +I begged them to grant my request. + +The ten gentlemen perceiving that I was so fixed in my +resolution, took a sheep, killed it, and after they had taken off +the skin, presented me with a knife, telling me it would be +useful to me on an occasion which they would soon explain. "We +must sew you in this skin," said they, "and then leave you; upon +which a bird of a monstrous size, called a roc, will appear in +the air, and taking you for a sheep, will pounce upon you, and +soar with you to the sky: but let not that alarm you; he will +descend with you again, and lay you on the top of a mountain. +When you find yourself on the ground, cut the skin with your +knife, and throw it off. As soon as the roc sees you, he will fly +away for fear, and leave you at liberty. Do not stay, but walk on +till you come to a spacious castle, covered with plates of gold, +large emeralds, and other precious stones: go up to the gate, +which always stands open, and walk in. We have each of us been in +that castle; but will tell you nothing of what we saw, or what +befell us there; you will learn by your own experience. All that +we can inform you is, that it has cost each of us our right eye, +and the penance which you have been witness to, is what we are +obliged to observe in consequence of having been there. The +history of each of us is so full of extraordinary adventures, +that a large volume would not contain them. But we cannot explain +ourselves farther." + +When the gentleman had thus spoken, I wrapt myself in the sheep's +skin, held fast the knife which was given me; and after the young +gentlemen had been at the trouble to sew the skin about me, they +retired into the hall, and left me alone. The roc they spoke of +soon arrived; he pounced upon me, took me in his talons like a +sheep, and carried me up the summit of the mountain. + +When I found myself on the ground, I cut the skin with the knife, +and throwing it off, the roc at the sight of me flew sway. This +roc is a white bird, of a monstrous size; his strength is such, +that he can lift up elephants from the plains, and carry them to +the tops of mountains, where he feeds upon them. + +Being impatient to reach the castle, I lost no time; but made so +much haste, that I got thither in half a day's journey, and I +must say that I found it surpassed the description they had given +me of its magnificence. + +The gate being open, I entered a square court, so large that +there were round it ninety-nine gates of wood of sanders and +aloes, and one of gold, without reckoning those of several superb +staircases, that led to apartments above, besides many more which +I could not see. The hundred doors I spoke of opened into gardens +or store-houses full of riches, or into apartments which +contained many things wonderful to be seen. + +I saw a door standing open just before me, through which I +entered into a large hall. Here I found forty young ladies of +such perfect beauty as imagination could not surpass: they were +all most sumptuously appareled. As soon as they saw me they +arose, and without waiting my salutations, said to me, with +demonstrations of joy, "Noble Sir, you are welcome." And one thus +addressed me in the name of the rest, "We have long been in +expectation of such a gentleman as you; your mien assures us, +that you are master of all the good qualities we can desire; and +we hope you will not find our company disagreeable or unworthy of +yours." + +They obliged me, notwithstanding all the opposition I could make, +to sit down on a seat that was higher than their own; and when I +expressed my uneasiness, "That is your place," said they, "you +are at present our lord, master, and judge, and we are your +slaves, ready to obey your commands." + +Nothing, madam, so much astonished me, as the solicitude and +eagerness of those fair ladies to do me all possible service. One +brought hot water to wash my feet, a second poured sweet scented +water on my hands; others brought me all kinds of necessaries, +and change of apparel; others again brought in a magnificent +collation; and the rest came with glasses in their hands to fill +me delicious wines, all in good order, and in the most charming +manner possible. I ate and drank; after which the ladies placed +themselves about me, and desired an account of my travels. I gave +them a full relation of my adventures, which lasted till night +came on. + +When I had finished my narrative to the forty ladies, some of +them who sat nearest me staid to keep me company, whilst the +rest, seeing it was dark, rose to fetch tapers. They brought a +prodigious number, which by the wonderful light they emitted +exhibited the resemblance of day, and they disposed them with so +much taste as to produce the most beautiful effect possible. + +Other ladies covered a table with dry fruits, sweetmeats, and +everything proper to relish the liquor; a side-board was set out +with several sorts of wine and other liquors. Some of the ladies +brought in musical instruments, and when everything was ready, +they invited me to sit down to supper. The ladies sat down with +me, and we continued a long while at our repast. They that were +to play upon the instruments and sing arose, and formed a most +charming concert. The others began a kind of ball, and danced two +and two, couple after couple, with admirable grace. + +It was past midnight ere these amusements ended. At length one of +the ladies said to me, "You are doubtless wearied by the journey +you have taken to-day; it is time for you to retire to rest; your +lodging is prepared: but before you depart choose which of us you +like best to be your bedfellow." I answered, "That I knew not how +to make my own choice, as they were all equally beautiful, witty, +and worthy of my respects and service, and that I would not be +guilty of so much incivility as to prefer one before another." + +The lady who had spoken to me before answered, "We are very well +satisfied of your civility, and find it is your fear to create +jealousy among us that occasions your diffidence; but let not +this hinder you. We assure you, that the good fortune of her whom +you choose shall cause no feeling of the kind; for we are agreed +among ourselves, that every one of us shall in her turn have the +same honour; and when forty days are past, to begin again; +therefore make your selection, and lose no time to take the +repose you need." I was obliged to yield to their entreaties, and +offered my hand to the lady who spoke, and who, in return, gave +me hers. We were conducted to a sumptuous apartment, where they +left us; and then every one retired to her own chamber. + +I was scarcely dressed next morning, when the other thirty-nine +ladies came into my chamber, all in different dresses from those +they had worn the day before: they bade me good-morrow, and +inquired after my health. After which they conveyed me to a bath, +where they washed me themselves, and whether I would or no, +served me with everything I needed; and when I came out of the +bath, they made me put on another suit much richer than the +former. + +We passed the whole day almost constantly at table; and when it +was bed-time, they prayed me again to make choice of one of them +for my companion In short, madam, not to weary you with +repetitions, I must tell you that I continued a whole year among +those forty ladies, and received them into my bed one after +another: and during all the time of this voluptuous life, we met +not with the least kind of trouble. When the year was expired, I +was greatly surprised that these forty ladies, instead of +appearing with their usual cheerfulness to ask me how I did, +entered my chamber one morning all in tears. They embraced me +with great tenderness one after another, saying, "Adieu, dear +prince, adieu! for we must leave you." Their tears affected. I +prayed them to tell me the reason of their grief, and of the +separation they spoke of. "Fair ladies, let me know," said I, "if +it be in my power to comfort you, or if my assistance can be any +way useful to you." Instead of returning a direct answer, +"Would," said they, "we had never seen or known you! Several +gentlemen have honoured us with their company before you; but +never one of them had that comeliness, that sweetness, that +pleasantness of humour, and that merit which you possess; we know +not how to live without you." After they had spoken these words, +they began to weep bitterly. "My dear ladies," said I, "have the +kindness not to keep me any longer in suspense: tell me the cause +of your sorrow." "Alas!" said they, "what but the necessity of +parting from you could thus afflict us? Perhaps we shall never +see you more; but if it be your wish we should, and if you +possess sufficient self-command for the purpose, it is not +impossible but that we may again enjoy the pleasure of your +company." "Ladies," I replied, "I understand not what you mean; +pray explain yourselves more clearly." + +"Well," said one of them, "to satisfy you, we must acquaint you +that we are all princesses, daughters of kings. We live here +together in the manner you have seen; but at the end of every +year we are obliged to be absent forty days upon indispensable +duties, which we are not permitted to reveal: and afterwards we +return again to this castle. Yesterday was the last of the year; +to day we must leave you, and this circumstance is the cause of +our grief. Before we depart we will leave you the keys of +everything, especially those of the hundred doors, where you will +find enough to satisfy your curiosity, and to relieve your +solitude during our absence. But for your benefit, and our own +personal interests, we recommend you to forbear opening the +golden door; for if you do we shall never see you again; and the +apprehension of this augments our grief. We hope, nevertheless, +that you will attend to our advice; your own peace, and the +happiness of your life, depends upon your compliance; therefore +take heed. If you suffer yourself to be swayed by a foolish +curiosity, you will do yourself a considerable injury. We conjure +you to avoid the indiscretion, and to give us the satisfaction +finding you here again at the end of forty days. We would +willingly take the key of the golden door with us; but that it +would be an affront to a prince like you to question your +discretion and firmness." + +This speech of the fair princesses grieved me extremely. I +omitted not to declare how much their absence would afflict me. I +thanked then for their good advice, assuring them that I would +follow it, and expressed my willingness to perform what was much +more difficult, to secure the happiness of passing the rest of my +days with ladies of such beauty and accomplishments. We separated +with much tenderness, and after I had embraced them all, they +departed, and I remained alone in the castle. + +The agreeableness of their company, their hospitality, their +musical entertainments, and other amusements, had so much +absorbed my attention during the whole year, that I neither had +time nor desire to see the wonders contained in this enchanted +palace. I did not even notice a thousand curious objects that +every day offered themselves to my view, so much was I charmed by +the beauty of those ladies, and the pleasure they seemed to take +in promoting my gratification. Their departure sensibly afflicted +me; and though their absence was to be only forty days, it seemed +to me an age to live without them. + +I determined not to forget the important advice they had given +me, not to open the golden door; but as I was permitted to +satisfy my curiosity in everything else, I took the first of the +keys of the other doors, which were hung in regular order. + +I opened the first door, and entered an orchard, which I believe +the universe could not equal. I could not imagine any thing to +surpass it, except that which our religion promises us after +death. The symmetry, the neatness, the admirable order of the +trees, the abundance and diversity of unknown fruits, their +freshness and beauty, delighted my senses. + +Nor must I omit to inform you, that this delicious orchard was +watered in a very particular manner. There were channels so +artificially and proportionately dug, that they carried water in +considerable quantities to the roots of such trees as required +much moisture. Others conveyed it in smaller quantities to those +whose fruits were already formed: some carried still less to +those whose fruits were swelling, and others carried only so much +as was just requisite to water those which had their fruits come +to perfection, and only wanted to be ripened. They far exceeded +in size the ordinary fruits of our gardens. Lastly, those +channels that watered the trees whose fruit was ripe had no more +moisture than just what would preserve them from withering. + +I should never have tired in examining and admiring so delightful +a place; nor have left it, had I not conceived a still higher +idea of the other things which I had not seen. I went out at last +with my mind filled with the wonders I had viewed: I shut the +door, and opened the next. + +Instead of an orchard, I found here a flower garden, which was no +less extraordinary in its kind. It contained a spacious plot, not +watered so profusely as the former, but with greater niceness, +furnishing no more water than just what each flower required. The +roses, jessamines, violets, daffodils, hyacinths, anemonies, +tulips, pinks, lilies, and an infinite number of flowers, which +do not grow in other places but at certain times, were there +flourishing all at once, and nothing could be more delicious than +the fragrant smell which they emitted. + +I opened the third door, and found a large aviary, paved with +marble of several fine and uncommon colours. The trellis work was +made of sandal wood and wood of aloes. It contained a vast number +of nightingales, gold-finches, canary birds, larks, and other +rare singing-birds, which I had never heard of; and the vessels +that held their seed and water were of the most precious jasper +or agate. + +Besides, this aviary was so exceedingly neat, that, considering +its extent, I judged there must be not less than a hundred +persons to keep it clean; but all this while not one appeared, +either here or in the gardens I had before examined; and yet I +could not perceive a weed, or any thing superfluous or offensive +to sight. The sun went down, and I retired, charmed with the +chirping notes of the multitude of birds, who then began to perch +upon such places as suited them for repose during the night. I +went to my chamber, resolving on the following days to open all +the rest of the doors, excepting that of gold. + +The next day I opened the fourth door. If what I had seen before +was capable of exciting my surprise, what I now beheld +transported me into perfect ecstacy. I entered a large court +surrounded with buildings of an admirable structure, the +description of which I will omit, to avoid prolixity. + +This building had forty doors, all open, and through each of them +was an entrance into a treasury: several of these treasuries +contained as much wealth as the largest kingdoms. The first was +stored with heaps of pearls: and, what is almost incredible, the +number of those stones which are most precious, and as large as +pigeons' eggs, exceeded the number of those of the ordinary size. +In the second treasury, there were diamonds, carbuncles, and +rubies; in the third, emeralds; in the fourth, ingots of gold; in +the fifth, money; in the sixth, ingots of silver; and in the two +following, money. The rest contained amethysts, chrysolites, +topazes, opals, turquoises, and hyacinths, with all the other +stones known to us, without mentioning agate, jasper, cornelian, +and coral, of which there was a store house filled, not only with +branches, but whole trees. + +Filled with astonishment and admiration at the view of all these +riches, I exclaimed, "If all the treasures of the kings of the +universe were gathered together in one place, they could not +equal the value of these. How fortunate am I to possess all this +wealth with so many admirable princesses! " + +I will not tire you, madam, with a detail of all the other +objects of curiosity and value which I discovered on the +following day. I shall only say, that thirty-nine days afforded +me but just as much time as was necessary to open ninety-nine +doors, and to admire all that presented itself to my view, so +that there was only the hundredth door left, which I was +forbidden to open. + +The fortieth day after the departure of those charming princesses +arrived, and had I but retained so much self-command as I ought +to have had, I should have been this day the happiest of all +mankind, whereas now I am the most unfortunate. They were to +return the next day, and the pleasure of seeing them again ought +to have restrained my curiosity: but through my weakness, which I +shall ever repent, I yielded to the temptations of the evil +spirit, who allowed me no rest till I had involved myself in the +misfortunes I have since suffered. + +I opened that fatal door! But before I had moved my foot to +enter, a smell pleasant enough, but too powerful for my senses, +made me faint away. However, I soon recovered: but instead of +taking warning from this incident to close the door, and restrain +my curiosity, after waiting some time for the external air to +correct the effluvia of the place, I entered, and felt myself no +longer incommoded. I found myself in a spacious vaulted +apartment, the pavement of which was strewed with saffron. It was +illuminated by several large tapers which emitted the perfume of +aloes and ambergris, and were placed in candlesticks of solid +gold. This light was augmented by gold and silver lamps, burning +perfumed oils of various kinds. + +Among the many objects that attracted my attention was a black +horse, of the most perfect symmetry and beauty that ever was +beheld. I approached in order the better to observe him, and +found he had on a saddle and bridle of massive gold, curiously +wrought. One part of his manger was filled with clean barley and +sesame, and the other with rose-water. I laid hold of his bridle, +and led him out to view him by daylight. I mounted, and +endeavoured to make him move: but finding he did not stir, I +struck him with a switch I had taken up in his magnificent +stable. He had no sooner felt the blow, than he began to neigh in +a most horrible manner, and extending his wings, which I had not +before perceived, flew up with me into the air. My thoughts were +fully in keeping my seat; and considering the fear that had +seized me, I sat well. At length he directed his course towards +the earth, and lighted upon the terrace of a castle, and, without +giving me time to dismount, shook me out of the saddle with such +force, as to throw me behind him, and with the end of his tail he +struck out my eye. + +Thus it was I became blind of one eye. I then recollected the +predictions of the ten young gentlemen. The horse again took +wing, and soon disappeared. I got up much vexed at the misfortune +I had brought upon myself. I walked upon the terrace, covering my +eye with one of my hands, for it pained me exceedingly, and then +descended, and entered into a hall. I soon discoved by the ten +sofas in a circle, and the eleventh in the middle, lower than the +rest, that I was in the castle whence I had been carried by the +roc. + +The ten young gentlemen were not in the hall when I entered; but +came in soon after, attended by the old man. They seemed not at +all surprised to see me, nor at the loss of my eye; but said, "We +are sorry that we cannot congratulate you on your return, as we +could wish; but we are not the cause of your misfortune." "I +should do you wrong," I replied, "to lay it to your charge; I +have only myself to accuse." "If," said they, "it be a subject of +consolation to the afflicted to know that others share their +sufferings, you have in us this alleviation of your misfortune. +All that has happened to you we have also endured; we each of us +tasted the same pleasures during a year; and we had still +continued to enjoy them, had we not opened the golden door, when +the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser than we, and +have incurred the same punishment. We would gladly receive you +into our company, to join with us in the penance to which we are +bound, and the duration of which we know not. But we have already +stated to you the reasons that render this impossible: depart, +therefore, and proceed to the court of Bagdad, where you will +meet with the person who is to decide your destiny." After they +had explained to me the road I was to travel, I departed. + +On the road I caused my beard and eye-brows to be shaven, and +assumed a calender's habit. I have had a long journey, but at +last I arrived this evening, and met these my brother calenders +at the gate, being strangers as well as myself. We were mutually +surprised at one another, to see that we were all blind of the +same eye; but we had not leisure to converse long on the subject +of our misfortunes. We have only had time enough to bring us +hither, to implore those favours which you have been generously +pleased to grant us. + +The third calender having finished this relation of his +adventures, Zobeide addressed him and his fellow calenders thus: +"Go wherever you think proper, you are at liberty." But one of +them answered, "Madam, we beg you to pardon our curiosity, and +permit us to hear the stories of those gentlemen who have not yet +spoken." Then the lady turned to the caliph, the vizier Jaaffier, +and Mesrour, and said to them, "It is now your turn to relate +your adventures, therefore speak." + +The grand vizier who had all along been the spokesman, answered +Zobeide: "Madam, in order to obey you, we need only repeat what +we have already said. We are merchants of Moussol come to Bagdad +to sell our merchandize, which lies in the khan where we lodge. +We dined today with several other persons of our condition, at a +merchant's house of this city; who, after he had treated us with +choice dainties and excellent wines, sent for men and women +dancers, and musicians. The great noise we made brought in the +watch, who arrested some of the company, and we had the good +fortune to escape: but it being already late, and the door of our +khan shut up, we knew not whither to retire. We chanced as we +passed along this street to hear mirth at your house, which made +us determine to knock at your gate. This is all the account that +we can give you, in obedience to your commands." + +Zobeide having heard this statement, seemed to hesitate what to +say, which the calenders perceiving, prayed her to grant the same +favour to the three Moussol merchants as she had done to them. +"Well then," said she, "you shall all be equally obliged to me; I +pardon you all, provided you immediately depart." + +Zobeide having given this command in a tone that signified she +would be obeyed, the caliph, the vizier Mesrour, the three +calenders, and the porter departed, without saying one word: for +the presence of the seven slaves with their weapons awed them +into silence. As soon as they had quitted the house, and the gate +was closed after them, the caliph said to the calenders, without +making himself known, "You gentlemen, who are newly come to town, +which way do you design to go, since it is not yet day?" "It is +this," they replied, "that perplexes us." "Follow us," resumed +the caliph, "and we will convey you out of danger." He then +whispered to the vizier, "Take them along with you, and tomorrow +morning bring them to me; I will cause their history to be put in +writing, for it deserves a place in the annals of my reign." + +The vizier Jaaffier took the three calenders along with him; the +porter went to his quarters, and the caliph and Mesrour returned +to the palace. The caliph went to bed, but could not sleep, being +perplexed by the extraordinary things he had seen and heard. But +above all, he was most concerned to know the history of Zobeide; +what reason she could have to be so severe to the two black +bitches, and why Amene had her bosom so scarred. Day began to +appear whilst he was thinking upon these things; he arose and +went to his council chamber, and sat upon his throne. + +The grand vizier entered soon after, and paid his respects as +usual. "Vizier," said the caliph, "the affairs that we have to +consider at present are not very pressing; that of the three +ladies and the two black bitches is the most urgent: my mind +cannot rest till I am thoroughly satisfied, in all those matters +that have so much surprised me. Go, bring those ladies and the +calenders at the same time; make haste, and remember that I +impatiently expect your return." + +The vizier who knew his master's quick and fiery temper, hastened +to obey, and went to the ladies, to whom he communicated, in a +civil way,. the orders with which he was charged, to bring them +before the caliph, without taking any notice of what had passed +the night before at their house. + +The ladies put on their veils, and went with the vizier As he +passed his own house, he took along with him the three calenders, +who in the interval had learnt that they had seen and spoken with +the caliph, without knowing him. The vizier conducted them to the +palace with so much expedition, that the caliph was much pleased. +This prince, that he might observe proper decorum before the +officers of his court who were then present, ordered that the +ladies should be placed behind the hangings of the door which led +to his own chamber, and placed the three calenders near his +person, who, by their respectful behaviour, sufficiently evinced +that they were not ignorant before whom they had the honour to +appear. + +When the ladies were thus disposed of, the caliph turned towards +them, and said, "When I acquaint you that I was last night in +your house, disguised in a merchant's habit, you may probably be +alarmed, lest you may have given me offence; you may perhaps +believe that I have sent for you for no other purpose than to +shew some marks of my resentment; but be not afraid; you may rest +assured that I have forgotten all that has past, and am well +satisfied with your conduct. I wish that all the ladies of Bagdad +had as much discretion as you evinced before me. I shall always +remember the moderation with which you acted, after the rudeness +of which we were guilty. I was then a merchant of Moussol, but am +at present Haroon al Rusheed, the fifth caliph of the glorious +house of Abbas, and hold the place of our great prophet. I have +only sent for you to know who you are, and to ask for what reason +one of you, after severely whipping the two black bitches, wept +with them? And I am no less curious to know, why another of you +has her bosom so full of scars." + +Though the caliph pronounced these words very distinctly, the +three ladies heard him well enough, yet the vizier out of +ceremony, repeated them. + +Zobeide, after the caliph by his address had encouraged her, +began thus: + + + + + The Story of Zobeide. + + + +Commander of the faithful, the relation which I am about to give +your majesty is singularly extraordinary. The two black bitches +and myself are sisters by the same father and mother; and I shall +acquaint you by what strange accident they came to be +metamorphosed. The two ladies who live with me, and are now here, +are also my sisters by the father's side, but by another mother: +she that has the scars upon her breast is named Amene; the name +of the other is Safie, and my own Zobeide. + +After our father's death, the property that he left was equally +divided among us, and as soon as these two sisters received their +portions, they left me to live with their mother. My other two +sisters and myself stayed with our mother, who was then alive, +and who when she afterwards died left each of us a thousand +sequins. As soon as we had received our portions, the two eldest +(for I am the youngest) married, and left me alone. Some time +after, my eldest sister's husband sold all that he had, and with +that money and my sister's portion they went both into Africa, +where her husband, by riotous living and debauchery' spent all; +and finding himself reduced to poverty, found a pretext for +divorcing my sister, and put her away. + +She returned to this city, and having suffered incredible +hardships by the way, came to me in so lamentable a condition +that it would have moved the hardest heart to compassion to +behold her. I received her with every possible tenderness, and +inquiring into the cause of her distress, she told me with tears +how inhumanly her husband had behaved towards her. Her +misfortunes affected me: and I mingled my tears with hers. I took +her to a bath, clothed her with my own apparel, and thus +addressed her: "Sister, you are the elder, and I esteem you as my +mother: during your absence, God has blest the portion that fell +to my share, and the employment I follow of breeding silk-worms. +Assure yourself there is nothing I have but is at your service, +and as much at your disposal as my own." + +We lived very comfortably together for some months. As we were +one day conversing about our third sister, and wondering we +received no intelligence of her, she came in as bad a condition +as the eldest: her husband had treated her after the same manner; +and I received her likewise with the same affection as I had done +the former. + +Some time after, my two sisters, on presence that they would not +be chargeable to me, told me they intended to marry again. I +observed, that if putting me to expense was the only reason, they +might lay those thoughts aside, and be welcome to remain: for +what I had would be sufficient to maintain us all three, in a +manner answerable to our condition. "But," I added, "I rather +believe you wish to marry again; I shall feel much surprised if +such be the case. After the experience you have had of the little +satisfaction there is in wedlock, is it possible you dare venture +a second time? You know how rare it is to meet with a husband +perfectly virtuous and deserving. Believe what I say, and let us +live together as comfortably as we can." All my persuasion was in +vain; they were resolved to marry, and soon accomplished their +wishes. But after some months were past, they returned again, and +begged my pardon a thousand times for not following my advice. +"You are our youngest sister," said they, "but abundantly more +wise than we; if you will vouchsafe to receive us once more into +your house, and account us your slaves, we shall never commit a +similar fault again." My answer was, "Dear sisters, I have not +altered my mind with respect to you since we last parted: come +again, and take part of what I have." Upon this I embraced them, +and we lived together as before. + +We continued thus a whole year in perfect love and harmony. +Seeing that God had increased my small stock, I projected a +voyage, to embark some of it in a commercial speculation. To this +end, I went with my two sisters to Bussorah, where I bought a +ship ready fitted for sea, and laded her with such merchandise as +I had carried with me from Bagdad. We set sail with a fair wind, +and soon cleared the Persian gulf; when we had reached the open +sea, we steered our course to the Indies; and the twentieth day +saw land. It was a very high mountain, at the bottom of which we +perceived a great town: having a fresh gale, we soon reached the +harbour, and cast anchor. + +I had not patience to wait till my sisters were dressed to go +along with me, but went ashore alone in the boat. Making directly +to the gate of the town, I saw there a great number of men upon +guard, some sitting, and others standing with sticks in their +hands; and they had all such dreadful countenances that I was +greatly alarmed; but perceiving they remained stationary, and did +not so much as move their eyes, I took courage, and went nearer, +when I found they were all turned into stones. I entered the town +and passed through several streets, where at different intervals +stood men in various attitudes, but all motionless and petrified. +In the quarter inhabited by the merchants I found most of the +shops shut, and in such as were open I likewise found the people +petrified. + +Having reached a vast square, in the heart of the city, I +perceived a large folding gate, covered with plates of gold, +which stood open; a curtain of silk stuff seemed to be drawn +before it: a lamp hung over the entrance. After I had surveyed +the building, I made no doubt but it was the palace of the prince +who reigned over that country: and being much astonished that I +had not met with one living creature, I approached in hopes to +find some. I lifted up the curtain, and was surprised at +beholding no one but the guards in the vestibule all petrified; +some standing, some sitting, and some lying. + +I came to a large court, where I saw before me a stately +building, the windows of which were inclosed with gates of messy +gold: I concluded it to be the queen's apartments. I entered; and +in a large hall I found several black eunuchs turned into stone. +I went from thence into a room richly furnished, where I +perceived a lady in the same situation. I knew it to be the +queen, by the crown of gold on her head, and a necklace of pearls +about her neck, each of them as large as a nut; I approached her +to have a nearer view of it, and never beheld a finer objets. + +I stood some time admiring the riches and magnificence of the +room; but above all, the carpet, the cushions, and the sofas, +which were all ornamented with Indian stuff of gold, and +representations of men and beasts in silver, admirably executed. + +I quitted the chamber where the petrified queen was, and passed +through several other apartments and closets richly furnished, +and at last came into a large room, where there was a throne of +massive gold, raised several steps above the floor, and enriched +with large enchased emeralds, and upon the throne there was a bed +of rich stuff embroidered with pearls. What surprised me most was +a sparkling light which came from above the bed. Being curious to +know whence it proceeded, I ascended the steps, and lifting up my +head, saw a diamond as large as the egg of an ostrich, lying upon +a low stool; it was so pure, that I could not find the least +blemish in it, and it sparkled with so much brilliancy, that when +I saw it by day-light I could not endure its lustre. + +At the head of the bed there stood on each side a lighted +flambeau, but for what use I could not comprehend; however, it +made me imagine that there was some living creature in this +place; for I could not believe that the torches continued thus +burning of themselves. Several other rarities detained my +curiosity in this room, which was inestimable in value, were it +only for the diamond I mentioned. + +The doors being all open, or but half shut, I surveyed some other +apartments, that were as beautiful as those I had already seen. I +looked into the offices and store-rooms, which were full of +riches. In short, the wonders that everywhere appeared so wholly +engrossed my attention, that I forgot my ship and my sisters, and +thought of nothing but gratifying my curiosity. In the mean time +night came on, which reminded me that it was time to retire. I +proposed to return the way I had entered, but I could not find +it; I lost myself among the apartments; and perceiving I was come +back again to the large room, where the throne, the couch, the +large diamond, and the torches stood, I resolved to take my +night's lodging there, and to depart the next morning early, to +get aboard my ship. I laid myself down upon a couch, not without +some dread to be alone in a desolate place; and this fear +hindered my sleep. + +About midnight I heard a voice like that of a man reading the +Koraun, after the same manner, and in the same tone as it is read +in our mosques. Being extremely glad to hear it, I immediately +arose, and taking a torch in my hand, passed from one chamber to +another on that side from whence the sound proceeded. I came to +the closet-door, and stood still, not doubting that it came from +thence. I set down my torch upon the ground, and looking through +a window, found it to be an oratory. It had, as we have in our +mosques, a niche, to direct us whither we are to turn to say our +prayers: there were also lamps hung up, and two candlesticks with +large tapers of white wax burning. + +I saw a little carpet laid down like those we have to kneel upon +when we say our prayers, and a comely young man sat on this +carpet reading with great devotion the Koraun, which lay before +him on a desk. At this sight I was transported with admiration. I +wondered how it came to pass that he should be the only living +creature in a town where all the people were turned into stones, +and I did not doubt but there was something in the circumstance +very extraordinary. + +The door being only half shut, I opened it, went in, and standing +upright before the niche, I repeated this prayer aloud: "Praise +be to God, who has favoured us with a happy voyage, and may he be +graciously pleased to protect us in the same manner, until we +arrive again in our own country. Hear me, O Lord, and grant my +request." + +The young man turned his eyes towards me, and said, "My good +lady, pray let me know who you are, and what has brought you to +this desolate city? And, in return, I will you who I am, what has +happened to me, why the inhabitants of this city are reduced to +the state you see them in, and why I alone am safe in the midst +of such a terrible disaster." + +I told him in a few words whence I had come, what had made me +undertake the voyage, and how I safely arrived at the port after +twenty days' sailing; when I had done, I prayed him to perform +his promise, and told him how much I was struck by the frightful +desolation which I had seen in the city. + +"Lady," said the young man, "have patience for a moment." At +these words he shut the Koraun, put it into a rich case, and laid +it in the niche. I took that opportunity to observe him, and +perceiving in him so much good nature and beauty, I felt emotions +I had never known before. He made me sit down by him, and before +he began his discourse, I could not forbear saying, with an air +that discovered the sentiments I felt, "Amiable sir, dear object +of my soul, I can scarcely have patience to wait for an account +of all these wonderful objects that I have seen since I came into +your city; and my curiosity cannot be satisfied too soon: +therefore pray, sir, let me know by what miracle you alone are +left alive among so many persons that have died in so strange a +manner." + +"Madam," said the young man, "by the prayer you just now +addressed to him, you have given me to understand that you have a +knowledge of the true God. I will acquaint you with the most +remarkable effect of his greatness and power. You must know, that +this city was the metropolis of a mighty kingdom, over which the +sultan my father reigned. That prince, his whole court, the +inhabitants of the city, and all his other subjects, were magi, +worshippers of fire, and of Nardoun, the ancient king of the +giants, who rebelled against God. + +"But though I was born of an idolatrous father and mother, I had +the good fortune in my youth to have a governess who was a good +Moosulmaun. Dear prince,' would she oftentimes say, there is +but one true God; take heed that you do not acknowledge and adore +any other.' She taught me to read Arabic, and the book she gave +me to study was the Koraun. As soon as I was capable of +understanding it, she explained to me all the passages of this +excellent book, and infused piety into my mind, unknown to my +father or any other person. She happened to die, but not before +she had perfectly instructed me in all that was necessary to +convince me of the truth of the Moosulmaun religion. After her +death I persisted with constancy in the belief of its divinity: +and I abhor the false god Nardoun, and the adoration of fire. + +"About three years and some months ago, a thundering voice was +suddenly sounded so distinctly, through the whole city, that +nobody could miss hearing it. The words were these: Inhabitants, +abandon the worship of Nardoun, and of fire, and worship the only +God who shews mercy.' + +"This voice was heard three years successively, but no one was +converted. On the last day of that year, at four o'clock in the +morning, all the inhabitants were changed in an instant into +stone, every one in the condition and posture they happened to be +in. The sultan, my father, shared the same fate, for he was +metamorphosed into a black stone, as he is to be seen in this +palace, and the queen, my mother, had the like destiny. + +"I am the only person who did not suffer under that heavy +judgment, and ever since I have continued to serve God with more +fervency than before. I am persuaded, dear lady, that he has sent +you hither for my comfort, for which I render him infinite +thanks; for I must own that this solitary life is extremely +irksome." + +All these expressions, and particularly the last, greatly +increased my love for him. "Prince," said I, "there is no doubt +but Providence has brought me into your port, to afford you an +opportunity of withdrawing from this dismal place. The ship I +came in may serve in some measure to convince you that I am in +some esteem at Bagdad, where I have left considerable property; +and I dare engage to promise you sanctuary there, until the +mighty commander of the faithful, vicegerent to our prophet whom +you acknowledge, shew you the honour that is due to your merit. +This renowned prince lives at Bagdad, and as soon as he is +informed of your arrival in his capital, you will find that it is +not in vain to implore his assistance. It is impossible you can +stay any longer in a city where all the objects you behold must +renew your grief: my vessel is at your service, where you may +absolutely command as you shall think fit." He accepted the +offer, and we conversed the remainder of the night concerning our +embarkation. + +As soon as it was day we left the palace, and went aboard my +ship, where we found my sisters, the captain, and the slaves, all +much troubled at my absence. After I had presented my sisters to +the prince, I told them what had hindered my return the day +before, how I had met with the young prince, his story, and the +cause of the desolation of so fine a city. + +The seamen were taken up several days in unlading the merchandize +I brought with me, and embarking in its stead all the precious +things in the palace, such as jewels, gold, and money. We left +the furniture and goods, which consisted of an infinite quantity +of plate, &c., because our vessel could not carry it, for it +would have required several vessels more to convey to Bagdad all +the riches that we might have chosen to take with us. + +After we had laden the vessel with what we thought most +desirable, we took such provisions and water aboard as were +necessary for our voyage (for we had still a great deal of those +provisions left that we had taken in at Bussorah); at last we set +sail with a wind as favourable as we could wish. + +The young prince, my sisters and myself, enjoyed ourselves for +some time very agreeably. But alas! this good understanding did +not last long, for my sisters grew jealous of the friendship +between the prince and myself, and maliciously asked me one day, +what we should do with him when we came to Bagdad? I perceived +immediately that they put this question on purpose to discover my +inclinations; therefore, resolving to put it off with a jest, I +answered, "I will take him for my husband;" and upon that, +turning myself to the prince, said, "Sir, I humbly beg of you to +give your consent, for as soon as we come to Bagdad I desire to +offer you my person to be your slave, to do you all the service +that is in my power, and to resign myself wholly to your +commands." + +The prince replied, "I know not, madam, whether you be in jest or +no; but for my part, I seriously declare before these ladies, +your sisters, that from this moment I heartily accept your offer, +not with any intention to have you as a slave, but as my lady and +mistress: nor will I pretend to have any power over your +actions." At these words my sisters changed colour, and I could +perceive afterwards that they did not love me as before. + +We entered the Persian gulf, and had come within a short distance +of Bussorah (where I hoped, considering the fair wind, we might +have arrived the day following), when in the night, while I was +asleep, my sisters watched their opportunity, and threw me +overboard. They did the same to the prince, who was drowned. I +floated some minutes on the water, and by good fortune, or rather +miracle, I felt ground. I went towards a dark spot, that, by what +I could discern, seemed to be land, and proved to be a flat on +the coast, which, when day appeared, I found to be a desert +island, lying about twenty miles from Bussorah. I soon dried my +clothes in the sun, and as I walked along I found several kinds +of fruit, and likewise fresh water, which gave me some hopes of +preserving my life. + +I had just laid myself down to rest in a shade, when I perceived +a very large winged serpent coming towards me, with an irregular +waving movement, and hanging out its tongue, which induced me to +conclude it had received some injury. I instantly arose, and +perceived that it was pursued by a larger serpent which had hold +of its tail, and was endeavouring to devour it. This perilous +situation of the first serpent excited my pity, and instead of +retreating I assumed courage to take up a stone that lay near me, +and to throw it with all my strength at the other, which I hit +upon the head and killed. The other, finding itself at liberty, +took wing and flew away. I looked after it for some time till it +disappeared. I then sought another shady spot for repose, and +fell asleep. + +Judge what was my surprise when I awoke, to see standing by me a +black woman of lively and agreeable features, who held in her +hand two bitches of the same colour, fastened together. I sat up, +and asked her who she was? "I am," said she, "the serpent whom +you lately delivered from my mortal enemy. I did not know in what +way I could better requite the important services you have +rendered me than by what I have just done. The treachery of your +sisters was well known to me, and to avenge your wrongs, as soon +as I was liberated by your generous assistance, I called together +several of my companions, fairies like myself, conveyed into your +storehouses at Bagdad all the lading of your vessel, and +afterwards sunk it. + +"These two black bitches are your sisters, whom I have +transformed into this shape. But this punishment will not +suffice; and my will is that you treat them hereafter in the way +I shall direst." + +As soon as she had thus spoken the fairy took me under one of her +arms, and the two bitches under the other, and conveyed us to my +house in Bagdad; where I found in my storehouses all the riches +with which my vessel had been laden. Before she left me, she +delivered to me the two bitches, and said, "If you would not be +changed into a similar form, I command you, in the name of him +that governs the sea, to give each of your sisters every night +one hundred lashes with a rod, as the punishment of the crime +they have committed against yourself, and the young prince, whom +they have drowned." I was forced to promise obedience. Since that +time I have whipped them every night, though with regret, whereof +your majesty has been a witness. My tears testify with how much +sorrow and reluctance I perform this painful duty; and in this +your majesty may see I am more to be pitied than blamed. If there +be any thing else relating to myself that you desire to know, my +sister Amene will give you full information in the relation of +her story. + +After the caliph had heard Zobeide with much astonishment, he +desired his grand vizier to request Amene to acquaint him +wherefore her breast was disfigured with so many scars. + +Amene addressed herself to the caliph, and began her story after +this manner: + + + + + The Story of Amene. + + + +Commander of the faithful, to avoid repeating what your majesty +has already heard in my sister's story, I shall only add, that +after my mother had taken a house for herself to live in, during +her widowhood, she gave me in marriage, with the portion my +father left me, to a gentleman who had one of the best estates in +the city. + +I had scarcely been a year married when I became a widow, and was +left in possession of all my husband's property, which amounted +to 90,000 sequins. The interest of this money was sufficient to +maintain me very honourably. When the first six months of my +mourning was over, I caused to be made for me ten different +dresses, of such magnificence that each came to a thousand +sequins; and at the end of the year I began to wear them. + +One day, while I was alone engaged in my domestic affairs, I was +told that a lady desired to speak to me. I gave orders that she +should be admitted. She was a person advanced in years; she +saluted me by kissing the ground, and said to me kneeling, "Dear +lady, excuse the freedom I take to trouble you, the confidence I +have in your charity makes me thus bold. I must acquaint your +ladyship that I have an orphan daughter, who is to be married +this day. She and I are both strangers, and have no acquaintance +in this town; which much perplexes me, for we wish the numerous +family with whom we are going to ally ourselves to think we are +not altogether unknown and without credit: therefore, most +beautiful lady, if you would vouchsafe to honour the wedding with +your presence, we shall be infinitely obliged, because the ladies +of our country, when informed that a lady of your rank has strewn +us this respect, will then know that we are not regarded here as +unworthy and despised persons. But, alas! madam, if you refuse +this request, how great will be our mortification! we know not +where else to apply." + +This poor woman's address, which she spoke with tears, moved my +compassion. "Good woman," said I, "do not afflict yourself, I +will grant you the favour you desire; tell me whither I must go, +and I will meet you as soon as I am dressed." The old woman was +so transported with joy at my answer, that she kissed my feet +before I had time to prevent her. "My compassionate lady," said +she, rising, "God will reward the kindness you have shewed to +your servants, and make your heart as joyful as you have made +theirs. You need not at present trouble yourself; it will be time +enough for you to go when I call for you in the evening. So +farewell, madam, till I have the honour to see you again." + +As soon as she was gone, I took the suit I liked best, with a +necklace of large pearls, bracelets, pendents for my ears, and +rings set with the finest and most sparkling diamonds; for my +mind presaged what would befall me. + +When the night closed in, the old woman called upon me, with a +countenance full of joy. She kissed my hands, and said, "My dear +lady, the relations of my son-in-law, who are the principal +ladies of the city, are now met together; you may come when you +please; I am ready to conduct you." We immediately set out; she +walked before me, and I was followed by a number of my women and +slaves properly dressed for the occasion. We stopt in a wide +street, newly swept and watered, at a spacious gate with a lamp, +by the light of which I read this inscription in golden letters +over the entrance: "This is the everlasting abode of pleasure and +joy." The old woman knocked, and the gate was opened immediately. + +I was conducted towards the lower end of the court, into a large +hall, where I was received by a young lady of admirable beauty. +She drew near, and after having embraced me, made me sit down by +her upon a sofa, on which was raised a throne of precious wood +set with diamonds. "Madam," said she, "you are brought hither to +assist at a wedding; but I hope it will be a different wedding +from what you expected. I have a brother, one of the handsomest +men in the world: he is fallen so much in love with the fame of +your beauty, that his fate depends wholly upon you, and he will +be the unhappiest of men if you do not take pity on him. He knows +your quality, and I can assure you he is in no respect unworthy +of your alliance. If my prayers, madam, can prevail, I shall join +them with his, and humbly beg you will not refuse the proposal of +being his wife." + +After the death of my husband I had not thought of marrying +again. But I had no power to refuse the solicitation of so +charming a lady. As soon as I had given consent by my silence, +accompanied with a blush, the young lady claps her hands, and +immediately a closet-door opened, out of which came a young man +of a majestic air, and so graceful a behaviour, that I thought +myself happy to have made so great a conquest. He sat down by me, +and I found from his conversation that his merits far exceeded +the eulogium of his sister. + +When she perceived that we were satisfied with one another, she +claps her hands a second time, and out came a Cauzee, who wrote +our contract of marriage, signed it himself, and caused it to be +attested by four witnesses he brought along with him. The only +condition that my new husband imposed upon me was, that I should +not be seen by nor speak to any other man but himself, and he +vowed to me that, if I complied in this respect, I should have no +reason to complain of him. Our marriage was concluded and +finished after this manner; so I became the principal actress in +a wedding to which I had only been invited as a guest. + +About a month after our marriage, having occasion for some +stuffs, I asked my husband's permission to go out to buy them, +which he granted; and I took with me the old woman of whom I +spoke before, she being one of the family, and two of my own +female slaves. + +When we came to the street where the merchants reside, the old +woman said, "Dear mistress, since you want silk stuffs, I must +take you to a young merchant of my acquaintance, who has a great +variety; and that you may not fatigue yourself by running from +shop to shop, I can assure you that you will find in his what no +other can furnish." I was easily persuaded, and we entered a shop +belonging to a young merchant who was tolerably handsome. I sat +down, and bade the old woman desire him to shew me the finest +silk stuffs he had. The woman desired me to speak myself; but I +told her it was one of the articles of my marriage contract not +to speak to any man but my husband, which I ought to keep. + +The merchant shewed me several stuffs, of which one pleased me +better than the rest; but I bade her ask the price. He answered +the old woman, "I will not sell it for gold or money, but I will +make her a present of it, if she will give me leave to kiss her +cheek." I ordered the old woman to tell him, that he was very +rude to propose such a freedom. But instead of obeying me, she +said, "What the merchant desires of you is no such great matter; +you need not speak, but only present him your cheek." The stuff +pleased me so much, that I was foolish enough to take her advice. +The old woman and my slaves stood up, that nobody might see, and +I put up my veil; but instead of kissing me, the merchant bit me +so violently as to draw blood. + +The pain and my surprise were so great, that I fell down in a +swoon, and continued insensible so long, that the merchant had +time to escape. When I came to myself, I found my cheek covered +with blood: the old woman and my slaves took care to cover it +with my veil, that the people who came about us could not +perceive it, but supposed I had only had a fainting fit. + +The old woman who accompanied me being extremely troubled at this +accident, endeavoured to comfort me. "My dear mistress," said +she, "I beg your pardon, for I am the cause of this misfortune, +having brought you to this merchant, because he is my countryman: +but I never thought he would be guilty of such a villainous +action. But do not grieve; let us hasten home, I will apply a +remedy that shall in three days so perfectly cure you, that not +the least mark shall be visible." The fit had made me so weak, +that I was scarcely able to walk. But at last I got home, where I +again fainted, as I went into my chamber. Meanwhile, the old +woman applied her remedy; I came to myself, and went to bed. + +My husband came to me at night, and seeing my head bound up, +asked me the reason. I told him I had the head-ache, which I +hoped would have satisfied him, but he took a candle, and saw my +cheek was hurt: "How comes this wound?" said he. Though I did not +consider myself as guilty of any great offence, yet I could not +think of owning the truth. Besides, to make such an avowal to a +husband, I considered as somewhat indecorous; I therefore said, +"That as I was going, under his permission, to purchase some silk +stuff, a porter, carrying a load of wood, came so near to me, in +a narrow street, that one of the sticks grazed my cheek; but had +not done me much hurt." This account put my husband into a +violent passion. "This act," said he, "shall not go unpunished. I +will to-morrow order the lieutenant of the police to seize all +those brutes of porters, and cause them to be hanged." Fearful of +occasioning the death of so many innocent persons, I said, "Sir, +I should be sorry so great a piece of injustice should be +committed. Pray refrain; for I should deem myself unpardonable, +were I to be the cause of so much mischief." "Then tell me +sincerely," said he, "how came you by this wound." "I answered, +"That it was occasioned by the inadvertency of a broom-seller +upon an ass, who coming behind me, while he was looking another +way, his ass came against me with so much violence, that I fell +down, and hurt my cheek upon some glass." "If that is the case," +said my husband, "to-morrow morning, before sun-rise, the grand +vizier Jaaffier shall be informed of this insolence, and cause +all the broom-sellers to be put to death." "For the love of God, +Sir," said I, "let me beg of you to pardon them, for they are not +guilty." "How, madam," he demanded, "what then am I to believe? +Speak, for I am resolved to know the truth from your own mouth." +"Sir," I replied, "I was taken with a giddiness, and fell down, +and that is the whole matter." + +At these words my husband lost all patience. "I have," said he, +"too long listened to your falsehoods." As he spoke he clapped +his hands, and in came three slaves: "Pull her out of bed," said +he, "and lay her in the middle of the floor." The slaves obeyed, +one holding me by the head, another by the feet; he commanded the +third to fetch a cimeter, and when he had brought it, "Strike," +said he, "cut her in two, and then throw her into the Tygris. +This is the punishment I inflict on those to whom I have given my +heart, when they falsify their promise." When he saw that the +slave hesitated to obey him, "Why do you not strike?" said he. +"What do you wait for?" + +"Madam," said the slave then, "you are near the last moment of +your life, consider if you have any thing to dispose of before +you die." I begged permission to speak one word, which was +granted me. I lifted up my head, and casting an affectionate look +on my husband, said, "Alas! to what a condition am I reduced! +must I then die in the prime of my youth!" I could say no more, +for my tears and sighs choked my utterance. My husband was not at +all moved, but, on the contrary, went on to reproach me; and it +would have been in vain to attempt a reply. I had recourse to +intreaties and prayers; but he had no regard to them, and +commanded the slaves to proceed to execution. The old woman, who +had been his nurse, came in just at that moment, fell down upon +her knees, and endeavoured to appease his wrath. "My son," said +she, "since I have been your nurse and brought you up, let me beg +the favour of you to grant me her life. Consider, that he who +kills shall be killed, and that you will stain your reputation, +and forfeit the esteem of mankind. What will the world say of +such sanguinary violence?" She spoke these words in such an +affecting manner, accompanied with tears, that she prevailed upon +him at last to abandon his purpose, + +"Well then," said he to his nurse, "for your sake I will spare +her life; but she shall bear about her person some marks to make +her remember her offence." When he had thus spoken, one of the +slaves, by his order, gave me upon my sides and breast so many +blows, with a little cane, that he tore away both skin and flesh, +which threw me into a swoon. In this state he caused the same +slaves, the executioners of his fury, to carry me into a house, +where the old woman took care of me. I kept my bed four months; +at last I recovered: the scars which, contrary to my wish, you +saw yesterday, have remained ever since. + +As soon as I was able to walk, and go abroad, I resolved to +retire to the house which was left me by my first husband, but I +could not find the site whereon it had stood. My second husband, +in the heat of his resentment, was not satisfied with the +demolition of that, but caused every other house in the same +street to be razed to the ground. I believe such an act of +violence was never heard of before; but against whom could I +complain? The perpetrator had taken good care to conceal himself. +But suppose I had discovered him, is it not easily seen that his +conduct must have proceeded from absolute power? How then could I +dare to complain? + +Being left thus destitute and helpless, I had recourse to my dear +sister Zobeide, whose adventures your majesty has just heard. To +her I made known my misfortune; she received me with her +accustomed goodness, and advised me to bear my ambition patience. +"This is the way of the world," said she, "which either robs us +of our property, our friends, or our lovers; and some. times of +all together." In confirmation of her remark, she at the same +time gave me an account of the loss of the young prince, +occasioned by the jealousy of her two sisters. She told me also +by what accident they were transformed into bitches: and in the +last place, after a thousand testimonials of her love towards me, +she introduced me to my youngest sister, who had likewise taken +sanctuary with her after the death of her mother. + +Having returned our grateful acknowledgments to God for having +thus brought us together, we resolved to preserve our freedom, +and never again to separate. We have now long enjoyed this +tranquil life. As it was my business to manage the affairs of the +house, I always took pleasure in going myself to purchase what we +wanted. I happened to go abroad yesterday for this purpose, and +the things I bought I caused to be carried home by a porter, who +proving to be a sensible and jocose fellow, we kept with us for a +little diversion. Three calenders happened to come to our door as +it began to grow dark, and prayed us to give them shelter till +the next morning We admitted them upon certain conditions which +they agreed to observe; and after we had made them sit at table +with us, they in their own way entertained us with a concert of +music. At this time we heard knocking at our gate. This proceeded +from three merchants of Moussol, men of good appearance, who +begged the same favour which the calenders had obtained before. +We consented upon the same conditions, but neither of them kept +their promise. Though we had power, as well as justice on our +side, to punish them, yet we contented ourselves with demanding +from them the history of their lives; and afterwards confined our +revenge to dismissing them, after they had done, and denying them +the asylum they requested. + +The caliph was well pleased to be thus informed of what he +desired to know; and publicly expressed his admiration of what he +had heard. + +The caliph having satisfied his curiosity, thought himself +obliged to shew his generosity to the calender princes, and also +to give the three ladies some proof of his bounty. He himself, +without making use of his minister, the grand vizier, spoke to +Zobeide. "Madam, did not this fairy, that shewed herself to you +in the shape of a serpent, and imposed such a rigorous command +upon you, tell you where her place of abode was? Or rather, did +she not promise to see you, and restore those bitches to their +natural shape?" + +"Commander of the faithful," answered Zobeide, "I forgot to tell +your majesty that the fairy left with me a bundle of hair, +saying, that her presence would one day be of use to me; and +then, if I only burnt two tufts of this hair, she would be with +me in a moment, though she were beyond mount Caucasus." "Madam," +demanded the caliph, "where is the bundle of hair?" She answered, +"Ever since that time I have been so careful of it, that I always +carry it about me." Upon which she pulled it out, opened the case +which contained it, and shewed it to him. "Well then," said the +caliph, "let us bring the fairy hither; you could not call her in +a better time, for I long to see her." + +Zobeide having consented, fire was brought in, and she threw the +whole bundle of hair into it. The palace at that instant began to +shake, and the fairy appeared before the caliph in the form of a +lady very richly dressed. + +"Commander of the faithful," said she to the prince, "you see I +am ready to receive your commands. The lady who gave me this call +by your order did me essential service. To evince my gratitude, I +revenged her of her sisters' inhumanity, by changing them to +bitches; but if your majesty commands me, I will restore them to +their former shape." + +"Generous fairy," replied the caliph, "you cannot do me a greater +pleasure; vouchsafe them that favour, and I will find some means +to comfort them for their hard penance. But besides, I have +another boon to ask in favour of that lady, who has had such +cruel usage from an unknown husband. As you undoubtedly know all +things, oblige me with the name of this barbarous wretch, who +could not be contented to exercise his outrageous and unmanly +cruelty upon her person, but has also most unjustly taken from +her all her substance. I only wonder how such an unjust and +inhuman action could be performed under my authority, and even in +my residence, without having come to my knowledge." + +"To oblige your majesty," answered the fairy, "I will restore the +two bitches to their former state, and I will so cure the lady of +her scars, that it shall never appear she was so beaten; and I +will also tell you who it was that abused her." + +The caliph sent for the two bitches from Zobeide's house, and +when they came, a glass of water was brought to the fairy by her +desire. She pronounced over it some words which nobody +understood; then throwing some part of it upon Amene, and the +rest upon the bitches, the latter became two ladies of surprising +beauty, and the scars that were upon Amene disappeared. After +which the fairy said to the caliph, "Commander of the faithful, I +must now discover to you the unknown husband you enquire after. +He is very nearly related to yourself, for it is prince Amin, +your eldest son, who falling passionately in love with this lady +from the fame of her beauty, by stratagem had her brought to his +house, where he married her. As to the blows he caused to be +given her, he is in some measure excusable; for the lady his +spouse had been a little too easy, and the excuses she had made +were calculated to lead him to believe she was more faulty than +she really was. This is all I can say to satisfy your curiosity." +At these words she saluted the caliph, and vanished. + +The prince being filled with admiration, and having much +satisfaction in the changes that had happened through his means, +acted in such a manner as will perpetuate his memory to all ages. +First, he sent for his son Amin, told him that he was informed of +his secret marriage, and how he had ill-treated Amene upon a very +slight cause. Upon this the prince did not wait for his father's +commands, but received her again immediately. + +After which the caliph declared that he would give his own heart +and hand to Zobeide, and offered the other three sisters to the +calenders, sons of sultans, who accepted them for their brides +with much joy. The caliph assigned each of them a magnificent +palace in the city of Bagdad, promoted them to the highest +dignities of his empire, and admitted them to his councils. + +The chief Cauzee of Bagdad being called, with witnesses, wrote +the contracts of marriage; and the caliph in promoting by his +patronage the happiness of many persons who had suffered such +incredible calamities, drew a thousand blessings upon himself. + + + + + THE STORY OF SINBAD THE VOYAGER. + + + +In the reign of the same caliph Haroun al Rusheed, whom I have +already mentioned, there lived at Bagdad a poor porter called +Hindbad. One day, when the weather was excessively hot, he was +employed to carry a heavy burden from one end of the town to the +other. Being much fatigued, and having still a great way to go, +he came into a street where a refreshing breeze blew on his face, +and the pavement was sprinkled with rose-water. As he could not +desire a better place to rest and recruit himself, he took off +his load and sat upon it, near a large mansion. + +He was much pleased that he stopped in this place; for the +agreeable smell of wood of aloes, and of pastils that came from +the house, mixing with the scent of the rose-water, completely +perfumed and embalmed the air. Besides, he heard from within a +concert of instrumental music, accompanied with the harmonious +notes of nightingales, and other birds, peculiar to the climate. +This charming melody, and the smell of several sorts of savoury +dishes, made the porter conclude there was a feast, with great +rejoicings within. His business seldom leading him that way, he +knew not to whom the mansion belonged; but to satisfy his +curiosity, he went to some of the servants, whom he saw standing +at the gate in magnificent apparel, and asked the name of the +proprietor. "How," replied one of them, "do you live in Bagdad, +and know not that this is the house of Sinbad, the sailor, that +famous voyager, who has sailed round the world?" The porter, who +had heard of this Sinbad's riches, could not but envy a man whose +condition he thought to be as happy as his own was deplorable: +and his mind being fretted with these reflections, he lifted up +his eyes to heaven, and said loud enough to be heard, "Almighty +creator of all things, consider the difference between Sinbad and +me! I am every day exposed to fatigues and calamities, and can +scarcely get coarse barley-bread for myself and my family, whilst +happy Sinbad profusely expends immense riches, and leads a life +of continual pleasure. What has he done to obtain from thee a lot +so agreeable? And what have I done to deserve one so wretched?" +Having finished his expostulation, he struck his foot against the +ground, like a man absorbed in grief and despair. + +Whilst the porter was thus indulging his melancholy, a servant +came out of the house, and taking him by the arm, bade him follow +him, for Sinbad, his master, wanted to speak to him. + +Sir, your majesty may easily imagine, that the repining Hindbad +was not a little surprised at this compliment. For, considering +what he had said, he was afraid Sinbad had sent for him to punish +him: therefore he would have excused himself, alleging, that he +could not leave his burden in the middle of the street. But +Sinbad's servants assured him they would look to it, and were so +urgent with him, that he was obliged to yield. + +The servants brought him into a great hall, where a number of +people sat round a table, covered with all sorts of savoury +dishes. At the upper end sat a comely venerable gentleman, with a +long white beard, and behind him stood a number of officers and +domestics, all ready to attend his pleasure. This personage was +Sinbad. The porter, whose fear was increased at the sight of so +many people, and of a banquet so sumptuous, saluted the company +trembling. Sinbad bade him draw near, and seating him at his +right hand, served him himself, and gave him excellent wine, of +which there was abundance upon the sideboard. + +When the repast was over, Sinbad addressed his conversation to +Hindbad; and calling him brother, according to the manner of the +Arabians, when they are familiar one with another, enquired his +name and employment. + +"My lord," answered he, "my name is Hindbad." "I am very glad to +see you," replied Sinbad; "and I daresay the same on behalf of +all the company: but I wish to hear from your own mouth what it +was you lately said in the street." Sinbad had himself heard the +porter complain through the window, and this it was that induced +him to have him brought in. + +At this request, Hindbad hung down his head in confusion, and +replied, "My lord, I confess that my fatigue put me out of +humour, and occasioned me to utter some indiscreet words, which I +beg you to pardon." "Do not think I am so unjust," resumed +Sinbad, "as to resent such a complaint. I consider your +condition, and instead of upbraiding, commiserate you. But I must +rectify your error concerning myself. You think, no doubt, that I +have acquired, without labour and trouble, the ease and +indulgence which I now enjoy. But do not mistake; I did not +attain to this happy condition, without enduring for several +years more trouble of body and mind than can well be imagined. +Yes, gentlemen," he added, speaking to the whole company, "I can +assure you, my troubles were so extraordinary, that they were +calculated to discourage the most covetous from undertaking such +voyages as I did, to acquire riches. Perhaps you have never heard +a distinct account of my wonderful adventures, and the dangers I +encountered, in my seven voyages; and since I have this +opportunity, I will give you a faithful account of them, not +doubting but it will be acceptable." + +As Sinbad wished to relate his adventures chiefly on the porter's +account, he ordered his burden to be carried to the place of its +destination, and then proceeded. + + + + + The First Voyage. + + + +I inherited from my father considerable property, the greater +part of which I squandered in my youth in dissipation; but I +perceived my error, and reflected that riches were perishable, +and quickly consumed by such ill managers as myself. I farther +considered, that by my irregular way of living I wretchedly +misspent my time; which is, of all things, the most valuable. I +remembered the saying of the great Solomon, which I had +frequently heard from my father; That death is more tolerable +than poverty. Struck with these reflections, I collected the +remains of my fortune, and sold all my effects by public auction. +I then entered into a contract with some merchants, who traded by +sea. I took the advice of such as I thought most capable of +assisting me: and resolving to improve what money I had, I went +to Bussorah, and embarked with several merchants on board a ship +which we had jointly fitted out. + +We set sail, and steered our course towards the Indies, through +the Persian gulf, which is formed by the coasts of Arabia Felix +on the right, and by those of Persia on the left, and, according +to common opinion is seventy leagues wide at the broadest place. +The eastern sea, as well as that of the Indies, is very spacious. +It is bounded on one side by the coasts of Abyssinia, and is +4,500 leagues in length to the isles of Vakvak. At first I was +troubled with the sea-sickness, but speedily recovered my health, +and was not afterwards subject to that complaint. + +In our voyage we touched at several islands, where we sold or +exchanged our goods. One day, whilst under sail, we were becalmed +near a small island, but little elevated above the level of the +water, and resembling a green meadow. The captain ordered his +sails to be furled, and permitted such persons as were so +inclined to land; of this number I was one. + +But while we were enjoying ourselves in eating and drinking, and +recovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island on a +sudden trembled, and shook us terribly. + +The trembling of the island was perceived on board the ship, and +we were called upon to re-embark speedily, or we should all be +lost; for what we took for an island proved to be the back of a +sea monster. The nimblest got into the sloop, others betook +themselves to swimming; but for myself I was still upon the back +of the creature, when he dived into the sea, and I had time only +to catch hold of a piece of wood that we had brought out of the +ship to make a fire. Meanwhile, the captain, having received +those on board who were in the sloop, and taken up some of those +that swam, resolved to improve the favourable gale that had just +risen, and hoisting his sails pursued his voyage, so that it was +impossible for me to recover the ship. + +Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves. I struggled for my +life all the rest of the day and the following night. By this +time I found my strength gone, and despaired of saving my life, +when happily a wave threw me against an island, The bank was high +and rugged; so that I could scarcely have got up, had it not been +for some roots of trees, which fortune seemed to have preserved +in this place for my safety. Having reached the land, I lay down +upon the ground half dead, until the sun appeared. Then, though I +was very feeble, both from hard labour and want of food, I crept +along to find some herbs fit to eat, and had the good luck not +only to procure some, but likewise to discover a spring of +excellent water, which contributed much to recover me. After this +I advanced farther into the island, and at last reached a fine +plain, where at a great distance I perceived a horse feeding. I +went towards it, fluctuating between hope and fear, for I knew +not whether in advancing I was more likely to endanger or to +preserve my life. As I approached, I perceived it to be a very +fine mare, tied to a stake. Whilst I was admiring its beauty, I +heard from beneath the voice of a man, who immediately appeared, +and asked me who I was? I related to him my adventure, after +which, taking me by the hand, he led me into a cave, where there +were several other people, no less amazed to see me than I was to +see them. + +I partook of some provisions which they offered me. I then asked +them what they did in such a desert place? to which they +answered, that they were grooms belonging to Maha-raja, sovereign +of the island; that every year, at the same season, they brought +thither the king's mares, and fastened them as I had seen, until +they were covered by a sea-horse, who afterwards endeavoured to +destroy the mares; but was prevented by their noise, and obliged +to return to the sea. The mares when in foal were taken back, and +the horses thus produced were kept for the king's use, and called +seahorses. They added, that they were to return home on the +morrow, and had I been one day later, I must have perished, +because the inhabited part of the island was at a great distance, +and it would have been impossible for me to have got thither +without a guide. + +While they entertained me thus, the horse came out of the sea, as +they had told me, covered the mare, and afterwards would have +devoured her; but upon a great noise made by the grooms, he left +her, and plunged into the sea. + +Next morning they returned with their mares to the capital of the +island, took me with them, and presented me to the Maha-raja. He +asked me who I was, and by what adventure I had come into his +dominions? After I had satisfied him, he told me he was much +concerned for my misfortune, and at the same time ordered that I +should want nothing; which commands his officers were so generous +and careful as to see exactly fulfilled. + +Being a merchant, I frequented men of my own profession, and +particularly enquired for those who were strangers, that +perchance I might hear news from Bagdad, or find an opportunity +to return. For the Maha-raja's capital is situated on the sea- +coast, and has a fine harbour, where ships arrive daily from the +different quarters of the world. I frequented also the society of +the learned Indians, and took delight to hear them converse; but +withal, I took care to make my court regularly to the Maha-raja, +and conversed with the governors and petty kings, his +tributaries, that were about him. They put a thousand questions +respecting my country; and I being willing to inform myself as to +their laws and customs, asked them concerning every thing which I +thought worth knowing. + +There belongs to this king an island named Cassel. They assured +me that every night a noise of drums was heard there, whence the +mariners fancied that it was the residence of Degial. I +determined to visit this wonderful place, and in my way thither +saw fishes of 100 and 200 cubits long, that occasion more fear +than hurt; for they are so timorous, that they will fly upon the +rattling of two sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fish about +a cubit in length, that had heads like owls. + +As I was one day at the port after my return, a ship arrived, and +as soon as she cast anchor, they began to unload her, and the +merchants on board ordered their goods to be carried into the +customhouse. As I cast my eye upon some bales, and looked to the +name, I found my own, and perceived the bales to be the same that +I had embarked at Bussorah. I also knew the captain; but being +persuaded that he believed me to be drowned, I went, and asked +him whose bales these were? He replied, that they belonged to a +merchant at Bagdad, called Sinbad, who came to sea with him; but +one day, being near an island, as was supposed, he went ashore, +with several other passengers, upon this island, which was only a +monstrous fish, that lay asleep upon the the sur-face of the +water: but as soon as he felt the heat of the fire they had +kindled upon his back, to dress some victuals, began to move, and +dived under water. Most of the persons who were upon him +perished, and among them the unfortunate Sinbad. Those bales +belonged to him, and I am resolved to trade with them until I +meet with some of his family, to whom I may return the profit. "I +am that Sinbad," said I, "whom you thought to be dead, and those +bales are mine." + +When the captain heard me speak thus, "Heavens!" he exclaimed, +"whom can we trust in these times? There is no faith left among +men. I saw Sinbad perish with my own eyes, as did also the +passengers on board, and yet you tell me you are that Sinbad. +What impudence is this? To look on you, one would take you to be +a man of probity, and yet you tell a horrible falsehood, in order +to possess yourself of what does not belong to you." "Have +patience," replied I; "do me the favour to hear what I have to +say." "Very well," said he, "speak, I am ready to hear you." Then +I told him how I had escaped, and by what adventure I met with +the grooms of Maha-raja, who had brought me to his court. + +His confidence began to abate upon this declaration, and he was +at length persuaded that I was no cheat: for there came people +from his ship who knew me, paid me great compliments, and +expressed much joy at seeing me alive. At last he recollected me +himself, and embracing me, "Heaven be praised," said he, "for +your happy escape. I cannot express the joy it affords, me; there +are your goods, take and do with them as you please." I thanked +him, acknowledged his probity, and in requital, offered him part +of my goods as a present, which he generously refused. + +I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented them +to the Maha-raja, who, knowing my misfortune, asked me how I came +by such rarities. I acquainted him with the circumstance of their +recovery. He was pleased at my good luck, accepted my present, +and in return gave me one much more considerable. Upon this, I +took leave of him, and went aboard the same ship, after I had +exchanged my goods for the commodities of that country. I carried +with me wood of aloes, sandal, camphire, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, +and ginger. We passed by several islands, and at last arrived at +Bussorah, from whence I came to this city, with the value of +l00,000 sequins. My family and I received one another with all +the transports of sincere affection. I bought slaves of both +sexes, and a landed estate, and built a magnificent house. Thus I +settled myself, resolving to forget the miseries I had suffered, +and to enjoy the pleasures of life. + +Sinbad stopped here, and ordered the musicians to proceed with +their concert, which the story had interrupted. The company +continued enjoying themselves till the evening, and it was time +to retire, when Sinbad sent for a purse of 100 sequins and giving +it to the porter, said, "Take this, Hindbad, return to your home, +and come back to-morrow to hear more of my adventures." The +porter went away, astonished at the honour done, and the present +made him. The account of this adventure proved very agreeable to +his wife and children, who did not fail to return thanks to God +for what providence had sent him by the hand of Sinbad. + +Hindbad put on his best apparel next day, and returned to the +bountiful traveller, who received him with a pleasant air, and +welcomed him heartily. When all the guests had arrived, dinner +was served, and continued a long time. When it was ended, Sinbad, +addressing himself to the company, said, "Gentlemen, be pleased +to listen to the adventures of my second voyage; they deserve +your attention even more than those of the first." Upon which +every one held his peace, and Sinbad proceeded. + + + + + The Second Voyage. + + + +I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days +at Bagdad, as I had the honour to tell you yesterday; but it was +not long ere I grew weary of an indolent life. My inclination to +trade revived. I bought goods proper for the commerce I intended, +and put to sea a second time with merchants of known probity. We +embarked on board a good ship, and after recommending ourselves +to God, set sail. We traded from island to island, and exchanged +commodities with great profit. One day we landed in an island +covered with several sorts of fruit-trees, but we could see +neither man nor animal. We went to take a little fresh air in the +meadows, along the streams that watered them. Whilst some +diverted themselves with gathering flowers, and other fruits, I +took my wine and provisions, and sat down near a stream betwixt +two high trees, which formed a thick shade. I made a good meal, +and afterwards fell asleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but +when I awoke the ship was gone. + +I was much alarmed at finding the ship gone. I got up and looked +around me, but could not see one of the merchants who landed with +me. I perceived the ship under sail, but at such a distance, that +I lost sight of her in a short time. + +I leave you to guess at my melancholy reflections in this sad +condition: I was ready to die with grief. I cried out in agony; +beat my head and breast, and threw myself upon the ground, where +I lay some time in despair, one afflicting thought being +succeeded by another still more afflicting. I upbraided myself a +hundred times for not being content with the produce of my first +voyage, that might have sufficed me all my life. But all this was +in vain, and my repentance too late. + +At last I resigned myself to the will of God. Not knowing what to +do, I climbed up to the top of a lofty tree, from whence I looked +about on all sides, to see if I could discover any thing that +could give me hopes. When I gazed towards the sea I could see +nothing but sky and water; but looking over the land I beheld +something white; and coming down, I took what provision I had +left, and went towards it, the distance being so great, that I +could not distinguish what it was. + +As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigious +height and extent; and when I came up to it, I touched it, and +found it to be very smooth. I went round to see if it was open on +any side, but saw it was not, and that there was no climbing up +to the top as it was so smooth. It was at least fifty paces +round. + +By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the +sky became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. +I was much astonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when +I found it occasioned by a bird of a monstrous size, that came +flying toward me. I remembered that I had often heard mariners +speak of a miraculous bird called Roc, and conceived that the +great dome which I so much admired must be its egg. In short, the +bird alighted, and sat over the egg. As I perceived her coming, I +crept to the egg, so that I had before me one of the legs of the +bird, which was as big as the trunk of a tree. I tied myself +strongly to it with my turban, in hopes that the roc next morning +would carry me with her out of this desert island. After having +passed the night in this condition, the bird flew away as soon as +it was daylight, and carried me so high, that I could not discern +the earth; she afterwards descended with so much rapidity that I +lost my senses. But when I found myself on the ground, I speedily +untied the knot, and had scarcely done so, when the roc, having +taken up a serpent of a monstrous length in her bill, flew away. + +The spot where it left me was encompassed on all sides by +mountains, that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep +that there was no possibility of getting out of the valley. This +was a new perplexity: so that when I compared this place with the +desert island from which the roc had brought me, I found that I +had gained nothing by the change. + +As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewed with +diamonds, some of which were of a surprising bigness. I took +pleasure in looking upon them; but shortly saw at a distance such +objects as greatly diminished my satisfaction, and which I could +not view without terror, namely, a great number of serpents, so +monstrous, that the least of them was capable of swallowing an +elephant. They retired in the day-time to their dens, where they +hid themselves from the roc their enemy, and came out only in the +night. + +I spent the day in walking about in the valley, resting myself at +times in such places as I thought most convenient. When night +came on, I went into a cave, where I thought I might repose in +safety. I secured the entrance, which was low and narrow, with a +great stone to preserve me from the serpents; but not so far as +to exclude the light. I supped on part of my provisions, but the +serpents, which began hissing round me, put me into such extreme +fear, that you may easily imagine I did not sleep. When day +appeared, the serpents retired, and I came out of the cave +trembling. I can justly say, that I walked upon diamonds, without +feeling any inclination to touch them. At last I sat down, and +notwithstanding my apprehensions, not having closed my eyes +during the night, fell asleep, after having eaten a little more +of my provision. But I had scarcely shut my eyes, when something +that fell by me with a great noise awaked me. This was a large +piece of raw meat; and at the same time I saw several others fall +down from the rocks in different places. + +I had always regarded as fabulous what I had heard sailors and +others relate of the valley of diamonds, and of the stratagems +employed by merchants to obtain jewels from thence; but now I +found that they had stated nothing but truth. For the fact is, +that the merchants come to the neighbourhood of this valley, when +the eagles have young ones, and throwing great joints of meat +into the valley, the diamonds, upon whose points they fall, stick +to them; the eagles, which are stronger in this country than any +where else, pounce with great force upon those pieces of meat, +and carry them to their nests on the precipices of the rocks to +feed their young: the merchants at this time run to their nests, +disturb and drive off the eagles by their shouts, and take away +the diamonds that stick to the meat. + +Until I perceived the device I had concluded it to be impossible +for me to get from this abyss, which I regarded as my grave; but +now I changed my opinion, and began to think upon the means of my +deliverance. + +I began to collect together the largest diamonds I could find, +and put them into the leather bag in which I used to carry my +provisions. I afterwards took the largest of the pieces of meat, +tied it close round me with the cloth of my turban, and then laid +myself upon the ground with my face downward, the bag of diamonds +being made fast to my girdle. + +I had scarcely placed myself in this posture when the eagles +came. Each of them seized a piece of meat, and one of the +strongest having taken me up, with the piece of meat to which I +was fastened, carried me to his nest on the top of the mountain. +The merchants immediately began their shouting to frighten the +eagles; and when they had obliged them to quit their prey, one of +them came to the nest where I was. He was much alarmed when he +saw me; but recovering himself, instead of enquiring how I came +thither began to quarrel with me, and asked, why I stole his +goods? "You will treat me," replied I, "with more civility, when +you know me better. Do not be uneasy, I have diamonds enough for +you and myself, more than all the other merchants together. +Whatever they have they owe to chance, but I selected for myself +in the bottom of the valley those which you see in this bag." I +had scarcely done speaking, when the other merchants came +crowding about us, much astonished to see me; but they were much +more surprised when I told them my story. Yet they did not so +much admire my stratagem to effect my deliverance, as my courage +in putting it into execution. + +They conducted me to their encampment, and there having opened my +bag, they were surprised at the largeness of my diamonds, and +confessed that in all the courts which they had visited they had +never seen any of such size and perfection. I prayed the +merchant, who owned the nest to which I had been carried (for +every merchant had his own), to take as many for his share as he +pleased. He contented himself with one, and that too the least of +them; and when I pressed him to take more, without fear of doing +me any injury, "No," said he, "I am very well satisfied with +this, which is valuable enough to save me the trouble of making +any more voyages, and will raise as great a fortune as I desire." + +I spent the night with the merchants, to whom I related my story +a second time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard +it. I could not moderate my joy when I found myself delivered +from the danger I have mentioned. I thought myself in a dream, +and could scarcely believe myself out of danger. + +The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley for +several days. And each of them being satisfied with the diamonds +that had fallen to his lot, we left the place the next morning, +and travelled near high mountains, where there were serpents of a +prodigious length, which we had the good fortune to escape. We +took shipping at the first port we reached, and touched at the +isle of Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphire. This tree +is so large, and its branches so thick, that one hundred men may +easily sit under its shade. The juice, of which the camphire is +made, exudes from a hole bored in the upper part of the tree, is +received in a vessel, where it thickens to a consistency, and +becomes what we call camphire; after the juice is thus drawn out, +the tree withers and dies. + +In this island is also found the rhinoceros, an animal less than +the elephant, but larger than the buffalo. It has a horn upon its +nose, about a cubit in length; this horn is solid, and cleft +through the middle, upon this may be seen white lines, +representing the figure of a man. The rhinoceros fights with the +elephant, runs his horn into his belly, and carries him off upon +his head but the blood and the fat of the elephant running into +his eyes, and making him blind, he falls to the ground; and then, +strange to relate! the roc comes and carries them both away in +her claws, for food for her young ones. + +I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I +should be troublesome to you. Here I exchanged some of my +diamonds for merchandize. From hence we went to other islands, +and at last, having touched at several trading towns of the +continent, we landed at Bussorah, from whence I proceeded to +Bagdad. There I immediately gave large presents to the poor, and +lived honourably upon the vast riches I had brought, and gained +with so much fatigue. + +Thus Sinbad ended the relation of the second voyage, gave Hindbad +another hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to +hear the account of the third. The rest of the guests returned to +their homes, and came again the following day at the same hour, +and one may be sure the porter did not fail, having by this time +almost forgotten his former poverty. When dinner was over, Sinbad +demanded attention, and gave them an account of his third voyage, +as follows. + + + + +The Third Voyage. + + + +I soon lost in the pleasures of life the remembrance of the +perils I had encountered in my two former voyages; and being in +the flower of my age, I grew weary of living without business, +and hardening myself against the thought of any danger I might +incur, went from Bagdad to Bussorah with the richest commodities +of the country. There I embarked again with some merchants. We +made a long voyage, and touched at several ports, where we +carried on a considerable trade. One day, being out in the main +ocean, we were overtaken by a dreadful tempest, which drove us +from our course. The tempest continued several days, and brought +us before the port of an island, which the captain was very +unwilling to enter; but we were obliged to cast anchor. When we +had furled our sails, the captain told us, that this, and some +other neighbouring islands, were inhabited by hairy savages, who +would speedily attack us; and. though they were but dwarfs, yet +our misfortune was such, that we must make no resistance, for +they were more in number than the locusts; and if we happened to +kill one of them, they would all fall upon us and destroy us. + +This account of the captain, continued Sinbad put the whole +company into great consternation and we soon found that what he +had told us was but too true; an innumerable multitude of +frightful savages, about two feet high, covered all over with red +hair, came swimming towards us, and encompassed our ship. They +spoke to us as they came near, but we understood not their +language; they climbed up the sides of the ship with such agility +as surprised us. We beheld all this with dread, but without +daring to defend ourselves, or to divert them from their +mischievous design. In short, they took down our sails, cut the +cable, and hauling to the shore, made us all get out, and +afterwards carried the ship into another island from whence they +had come. All voyagers carefully avoided the island where they +left us, it being very dangerous to stay there, for a reason you +shall presently hear; but we were forced to bear our affliction +with patience. + +We went forward into the island, where we gathered some fruits +and herbs to prolong our lives as long as we could; but we +expected nothing but death. As we advanced, we perceived at a +distance a vast pile of building, and made towards it. We found +it to be a palace, elegantly built, and very lofty, with a gate +of ebony of two leaves, which we forced open. We entered the +court, where we saw before us a large apartment, with a porch, +having on one side a heap of human bones, and on the other a vast +number of roasting spits. We trembled at this spectacle, and +being fatigued with travelling, fell to the ground, seized with +deadly apprehension, and lay a long time motionless. + +The sun set, and whilst we were in the lamentable condition I +have described, the gate of the apartment opened with a loud +crash, and there came out the horrible figure of a black man, as +tall as a lofty palm-tree. He had but one eye, and that in the +middle of his forehead, where it looked as red as a burning coal. +His fore-teeth were very long and sharp, and stood out of his +mouth, which was as deep as that of a horse. His upper lip hung +down upon his breast. His ears resembled those of an elephant, +and covered his shoulders; and his nails were as long and crooked +as the talons of the greatest birds. At the sight of so frightful +a giant, we became insensible, and lay like dead men. + +At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch +looking at us. When he had considered us well, he advanced +towards us, and laying his hand upon me, took me up by the nape +of my neck, and turned round as a butcher would do a sheep's +head. After having examined me, and perceiving me to be so lean +that I had nothing but skin and bone, he let me go. He took up +all the rest one by one, and viewed them in the same manner. The +captain being the fattest, he held him with one hand, as I would +do a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; he then kindled a +great fire, roasted, and ate him in his apartment for his supper. +Having finished his repast, he returned to his porch, where he +lay and fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept thus +till morning. As to ourselves, it was not possible for us to +enjoy any rest, so that we passed the night in the most painful +apprehension that can be imagined. When day appeared the giant +awoke, got up, went out, and left us in the palace. + +When we thought him at a distance, we broke the melancholy +silence we had preserved the whole of the night, and filled the +palace with our lamentations and groans. Though we were several +in number, and had but one enemy, it never occurred to us to +effect our deliverance by putting him to death. This enterprize +however, though difficult of execution, was the only design we +ought naturally to have formed. + +We thought of several other expedients, but determined upon none; +and submitting ourselves to what it should please God to order +concerning us, we spent the day in traversing the island, +supporting ourselves with fruits and herbs as we had done the day +before. In the evening we sought for some place of shelter, but +found none; so that we were forced, whether we would or not, to +return to the palace. + +The giant failed not to return, and supped once more upon one of +our companions, after which he slept, and snored till day, and +then went out and left us as before. Our situation appeared to us +so dreadful, that several of my comrades designed to throw +themselves into the sea, rather than die so painful a death; and +endeavoured to persuade the others to follow their example. Upon +which one of the company answered, "That we were forbidden to +destroy ourselves: but even if that were not the case, it was +much more reasonable to devise some method to rid ourselves of +the monster who had destined us to so horrible a fate." + +Having thought of a project for this purpose, I communicated it +to my comrades, who approved it. "Brethren," said I, "you know +there is much timber floating upon the coast; if you will be +advised by me, let us make several rafts capable of bearing us, +and when they are done, leave them there till we find it +convenient to use them. In the mean time, we will carry into +execution the design I proposed to you for our deliverance from +the giant, and if it succeed, we may remain here patiently +awaiting the arrival of some ship to carry us out of this fatal +island; but if it happen to miscarry, we will take to our rafts, +and put to sea. I admit that by exposing ourselves to the fury of +the waves, we run a risk of losing our lives; but is it not +better to be buried in the sea than in the entrails of this +monster, who has already devoured two of our number?" My advice +was approved, and we made rafts capable of carrying three persons +on each. + +We returned to the palace towards the evening, and the giant +arrived shortly after. We were forced to submit to seeing another +of our comrades roasted. But at last we revenged ourselves on the +brutish giant in the following manner. After he had finished his +cursed supper, he lay down on his back, and fell asleep. As soon +as we heard him snore, according to his custom, nine of the +boldest among us, and myself, took each of us a spit, and putting +the points of them into the fire till they were burning hot, we +thrust them into his eye all at once, and blinded him. The pain +made him break out into a frightful yell: he started up, and +stretched out his hands, in order to sacrifice some of us to his +rage: but we ran to such places as he could not reach; and after +having sought for us in vain, he groped for the gate, and went +out, howling in agony. + +We quitted the palace after the giant, and came to the shore, +where we had left our rafts, and put them immediately to sea. We +waited till day, in order to get upon them, in case the giant +should come towards us with any guide of his own species, but we +hoped if he did not appear by sun-rising, and gave over his +howling, which we still heard, that he would prove to be dead; +and if that happened to be the case, we resolved to stay in that +island, and not to risk our lives upon the rafts: but day had +scarcely appeared, when we perceived our cruel enemy, accompanied +with two others almost of the same size, leading him; and a great +number more coming before him at a quick pace. + +We did not hesitate to take to our rafts, and put to sea with all +the speed we could. The giants, who perceived this, took up great +stones, and running to the shore, entered the water up to the +middle, and threw so exactly, that they sunk all the rafts but +that I was upon; and all my companions, except the two with me, +were drowned. We rowed with all our might, and got out of the +reach of the giants. But when we got out to sea, we were exposed +to the mercy of the waves and winds, and tossed about, sometimes +on one side, and sometimes on another, and spent that night and +the following day under the most painful uncertainty as to our +fate; but next morning we had the good fortune to be thrown upon +an island, where we landed with much joy. We found excellent +fruit, which afforded us great relief, and recruited our +strength. + +At night we went to sleep on the sea-shore but were awakened by +the noise of a serpent of surprising length and thickness, whose +scales made a rustling noise as he wound himself along. It +swallowed up one of my comrades, notwithstanding his loud cries, +and the efforts he made to extricate himself from it; dashing him +several times against the ground, it crushed him, and we could +hear it gnaw and tear the poor wretch's bones, though we had fled +to a considerable distance. The following day, to our great +terror, we saw the serpent again, when I exclaimed, "O heaven, to +what dangers are we exposed! We rejoiced yesterday at having +escaped from the cruelty of a giant and the rage of the waves, +now are we fallen into another danger equally dreadful." + +As we walked about, we saw a large tall tree upon which we +designed to pass the following night, for our security; and +having satisfied our hunger with fruit, we mounted it according. +Shortly after, the serpent came hissing to the foot of the tree; +raised himself up against the trunk of it, and meeting with my +comrade, who sat lower than I, swallowed him at once, and went +off. + +I remained upon the tree till it was day, and then came down, +more like a dead man than one alive, expecting the same fate with +my two companions. This filled me with horror, and I advanced +some steps to throw myself into the sea; but the natural love of +life prompting us to prolong it as long as we can, I withstood +this dictate of despair, and submitted myself to the will of God, +who disposes of our lives at his pleasure. + +In the mean time I collected together a great quantity of small +wood, brambles, and dry thorns, . and making them up into +faggots, made a wide circle with them round the tree, and also +tied some of them to the branches over my head. Having done this, +when the evening came, I shut myself up within this circle, with +the melancholy satisfaction, that I had neglected nothing which +could preserve me from the cruel destiny with which I was +threatened. The serpent failed not to come at the usual hour, and +went round the tree, seeking for an opportunity to devour me, but +was prevented by the rampart I had made; so that he lay till day, +like a cat watching in vain for a mouse that has fortunately +reached a place of safety. When day appeared, he retired, but I +dared not to leave my fort until the sun arose. + +I felt so much fatigued by the labour to which it had put me, and +suffered so much from his poisonous breath, that death seemed +more eligible to me than the horrors of such a state. I came down +from the tree, and, not thinking of the resignation I had the +preceding day resolved to exercise, I ran towards the sea, with a +design to throw myself into it. + +God took compassion on my hopeless state; for just as I was going +to throw myself into the sea, I perceived a ship at a +considerable distance. I called as loud as I could, and taking +the linen from my turban, displayed it, that they might observe +me. This had the desired effect; the crew perceived me, and the +captain sent his boat for me. As soon as I came on board, the +merchants and seamen flocked about me, to know how I came into +that desert island; and after I had related to them all that had +befallen me, the oldest among them said to me, they had several +times heard of the giants that dwelt in that island, that they +were cannibals, and ate men raw as well as roasted; and as to the +serpents, they added, that there were abundance in the island +that hid themselves by day, and came abroad by night. After +having testified their joy at my escaping so many dangers, they +brought me the best of their provisions; and the captain, seeing +that I was in rags, was so generous as to give me one of his own +suits. We continued at sea for some time, touched at several +islands, and at last landed at that of Salabat, where sandal wood +is obtained, which is of great use in medicine. We entered the +port, and came to anchor. The merchants began to unload their +goods, in order to sell or exchange them. In the mean time, the +captain came to me, and said, "Brother, I have here some goods +that belonged to a merchant, who sailed some time on board this +ship, and he being dead, I design to dispose of them for the +benefit of his heirs, when I find who they are." The bales he +spoke of lay on the deck, and shewing them to me, he said, "There +are the goods; I hope you will take care to sell them, and you +shall have factorage." I thanked him for thus affording me an +opportunity of employing myself, because I hated to be idle. + +The clerk of the ship took an account of all the bales, with the +names of the merchants to whom they belonged. And when he asked +the captain in whose name he should enter those he had given me +the charge of; "Enter them," said the captain, "in the name of +Sinbad." I could not hear myself named without some emotion; and +looking stedfastly on the captain, I knew him to be the person +who, in my second voyage, had left me in the island where I fell +asleep, and sailed without me, or sending to see for me. But I +could not recollect him at first, he was so much altered since I +had seen him. + +I was not surprised that he, believing me to be dead, did not +recognize me. "Captain," said I, "was the merchant's name, to +whom those bales belonged, Sinbad?" "Yes," replied he, "that was +his name; he came from Bagdad, and embarked on board my ship at +Bussorah. One day, when we landed at an island to take in water +and other refreshments, I knew not by what mistake, I sailed +without observing that he did not re-embark with us; neither I +nor the merchants perceived it till four hours after. We had the +wind in our stern, and so fresh a gale, that it was not then +possible for us to tack about for him." "You believe him then to +be dead?" said I. "Certainly," answered he. "No, captain," I +resumed; "look at me, and you may know that I am Sinbad, whom you +left in that desert island." + +The captain, continued Sinbad, having considered me attentively, +recognized me. "God be praised," said he, embracing me; "I +rejoice that fortune has rectified my fault. There are your +goods, which I always took care to preserve." I took them from +him, and made him the acknowledgments to which he was entitled. + +From the isle of Salabat, we went to another, where I furnished +myself with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed from +this island, we saw a tortoise twenty cubits in length and +breadth. We observed also an amphibious animal like a cow, which +gave milk; its skin is so hard, that they usually make bucklers +of it. I saw another, which had the shape and colour of a camel. + +In short, after a long voyage, I arrived at Bussorah, and from +thence returned to Bagdad, with so much wealth that I knew not +its extent. I gave a great deal to the poor, and bought another +considerable estate in addition to what I had already. + +Thus Sinbad finished the history of his third voyage; gave +another hundred sequins to Hindbad, invited him to dinner again +the next day, to hear the story of his fourth voyage. Hindbad and +the company retired; and on the following day, when they +returned, Sinbad after dinner continued the relation of his +adventures. + + + + + The Fourth Voyage. + + + +The pleasures and amusements which I enjoyed after my third +voyage had not charms sufficient to divert me from another. My +passion for trade, and my love of novelty, again prevailed. I +therefore settled my affairs, and having provided a stock of +goods fit for the traffic I designed to engage in, I set out on +my journey. I took the route of Persia, travelled over several +provinces, and then arrived at a port, where I embarked. We +hoisted our sails, and touched at several ports of the continent, +and some of the eastern islands, and put out to sea: we were +overtaken by such a sudden gust of wind, as obliged the captain +to lower his yards, and take all other necessary precautions to +prevent the danger that threatened us. But all was in vain our +endeavours had no effect; the sails were split in a thousand +pieces, and the ship was stranded; several of the merchants and +seamen were drowned and the cargo was lost. + +I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and +mariners, to get upon some planks, and we were carried by the +current to an island which lay before us. There we found fruit +and spring water, which preserved our lives. We staid all night +near the place where we had been cast ashore, without consulting +what we should do; our misfortune had so much dispirited us that +we could not deliberate. + +Next morning, as soon as the sun was up, we walked from the +shore, and advancing into the island, saw some houses, which we +approached. As soon as we drew near, we were encompassed by a +great number of negroes, who seized us, shared us among them, and +carried us to their respective habitations. + +I, and five of my comrades, were carried to one place; here they +made us sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made +signs to us to eat. My comrades not taking notice that the blacks +ate none of it themselves, thought only of satisfying their +hunger, and ate with greediness. But I, suspecting some trick, +would not so much as taste it, which happened well for me; for in +little time after, I perceived my companions had lost their +senses, and that when they spoke to me, they knew not what they +said. + +The negroes fed us afterwards with rice, prepared with oil of +cocoa-nuts; and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of it +greedily. I also partook of it, but very sparingly. They gave us +that herb at first on purpose to deprive us of our senses, that +we might not be aware of the sad destiny prepared for us; and +they supplied us with rice to fatten us; for, being cannibals, +their design was to eat us as soon as we grew fat. This +accordingly happened, for they devoured my comrades, who were not +sensible of their condition; but my senses being entire, you may +easily guess that instead of growing fat, as the rest did, I grew +leaner every day. The fear of death under which I laboured, +turned all my food into poison. I fell into a languishing +distemper, which proved my safety; for the negroes, having killed +and eaten my companions, seeing me to be withered, lean, and +sick, deferred my death. + +Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was +taken of what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to +get at a distance from the houses, and to make my escape. An old +man, who saw me, and suspected my design, called to me as loud as +he could to return; but instead of obeying him, I redoubled my +speed, and quickly got out of sight. At that time there was none +but the old man about the houses, the rest being abroad, and not +to return till night, which was usual with them. Therefore, being +sure that they could not arrive time enough to pursue me, I went +on till night, when I stopped to rest a little, and to eat some +of the provisions I had secured; but I speedily set forward +again, and travelled seven days, avoiding those places which +seemed to be inhabited, and lived for the most part upon cocoa- +nuts, which served me both for meat and drink. On the eighth day +I came near the sea, and saw some white people like myself, +gathering pepper, of which there was great plenty in that place. +This I took to be a good omen, and went to them without any +scruple. + +The people who gathered pepper came to meet me as soon as they +saw me, and asked me in Arabic who I was, and whence I came? I +was overjoyed to hear them speak in my own language, and +satisfied their curiosity, by giving them an account of my +shipwreck, and how I fell into the hands of the negroes. "Those +negroes," replied they, "eat men, and by what miracle did you +escape their cruelty?" I related to them the circumstances I have +just mentioned, at which they were wonderfully surprised. + +I staid with them till they had gathered their quantity of +pepper, and then sailed with them to the island from whence they +had come. They presented me to their king, who was a good prince. +He had the patience to hear the relation of my adventures, which +surprised him; and he afterwards gave me clothes, and commanded +care to be taken of me. + +The island was very well peopled, plentiful in everything, and +the capital a place of great trade. This agreeable retreat was +very comfortable to me after my misfortunes, and the kindness of +this generous prince completed my satisfaction. In a word, there +was not a person more in favour with him than myself; and, +consequently, every man in court and city sought to oblige me; so +that in a very little time I was looked upon rather as a native +than a stranger. + +I observed one thing, which to me appeared very extraordinary. +All the people, the king himself not excepted, rode their horses +without saddle, bridle, or stirrups. This made me one day take +the liberty to ask the king how it came to pass? His majesty +answered, that I talked to him of things which nobody knew the +use of in his dominions. + +I went immediately to a workman, and gave him a model for making +the stock of a saddle. When that was done, I covered it myself +with velvet and leather, and embroidered it with gold. I +afterwards went to a smith, who made me a bit, according to the +pattern I shewed him, and also some stirrups. When I had all +things completed, I presented them to the king, and put them upon +one of his horses. His majesty mounted immediately, and was so +pleased with them, that he testified his satisfaction by large +presents. I could not avoid making several others for the +ministers and principal officers of his household, who all of +them made me presents that enriched me in a little time. I also +made some for the people of best quality in the city, which +gained me great reputation and regard. + +As I paid my court very constantly to the king, he said to me one +day, "Sinbad, I love thee; and all my subjects who know thee, +treat thee according to my example. I have one thing to demand of +thee, which thou must grant." "Sir," answered I, "there is +nothing but I will do, as a mark of my obedience to your majesty, +whose power over me is absolute." "I have a mind thou shouldst +marry," replied he, "that so thou mayst stay in my dominions, and +think no more of thy own country." I durst not resist the +prince's will, and he gave me one of the ladies of his court, +noble, beautiful, and rich. The ceremonies of marriage being +over, I went and dwelt with my wife, and for some time we lived +together in perfect harmony. I was not, however, satisfied with +my banishment, therefore designed to make my escape the first +opportunity, and to return to Bagdad; which my present +settlement, how advantageous soever, could not make me forget. + +At this time the wife of one of my neighbours, with whom I had +contrasted a very strict friendship, fell sick, and died. I went +to see and comfort him in his affliction, and finding him +absorbed in sorrow, I said to him as soon as I saw him, "God +preserve you and grant you a long life." "Alas!" replied he, "how +do you think I should obtain the favour you wish me? I have not +above an hour to live." "Pray," said I, "do not entertain such a +melancholy thought; I hope I shall enjoy your company many +years." "I wish you," he replied, "a long life; but my days are +at an end, for I must be buried this day with my wife. This is a +law which our ancestors established in this island, and it is +always observed inviolably. The living husband is interred with +the dead wife, and the living wife with the dead husband. Nothing +can save me; every one must submit to this law." + +While he was giving me an account of this barbarous custom, the +very relation of which chilled my blood, his kindred, friends, +and neighbours, came in a body to assist at the funeral. They +dressed the corpse of the woman in her richest apparel, and all +her jewels, as if it had been her wedding-day; then they placed +her on an open coffin, and began their march to the place of +burial. The husband walked at the head of the company, and +followed the corpse. They proceeded to a high mountain, and when +they had reached the place of their destination, they took up a +large stone, which covered the mouth of a deep pit, and let down +the corpse with all its apparel and jewels. Then the husband, +embracing his kindred and friends, suffered himself to be put +into another open coffin without resistance, with a pot of water, +and seven small loaves, and was let down in the same manner. The +mountain was of considerable length, and extended along the sea- +shore, and the pit was very deep. The ceremony being over, the +aperture was again covered with the stone, and the company +returned. + +It is needless for me to tell you that I was a most melancholy +spectator this funeral, while the rest were scarcely moved, the +custom was to them so familiar. I could not forbear communicating +to the king my sentiment respecting the practice: "Sir," I said, +"I cannot but feel astonished at the strange usage observed in +this country, of burying the living with the dead. I have been a +great traveller, and seen many countries, but never heard of so +cruel a law." "What do you mean, Sinbad?" replied the king: "it +is a common law. I shall be interred with the queen, my wife, if +she die first." "But, Sir," said I, "may I presume to ask your +majesty, if strangers be obliged to observe this law?" "Without +doubt," returned the king (smiling at the occasion of my +question), "they are not exempted, if they be married in this +island." + +I returned home much depressed by this answer; for the fear of my +wife's dying first, and that I should be interred alive with her, +occasioned me very uneasy reflections. But there was no remedy; I +must have patience, and submit to the will of God. I trembled +however at every little indisposition of my wife. Alas! in a +little time my fears were realized, for she fell sick, and died. + +Judge of my sorrow; to be interred alive, seemed to me as +deplorable a termination of life as to be devoured by cannibals. +It was necessary, however, to submit. The king and all his court +expressed their wish to honour the funeral with their presence, +and the most considerable people of the city did the same. When +all was ready for the ceremony, the corpse was put into a coffin, +with all her jewels and her most magnificent apparel. The +procession began, and as second actor in this doleful tragedy, I +went next the corpse, with my eyes full of tears, bewailing my +deplorable fate. Before we reached the mountain, I made an +attempt to affect the minds of the spectators: I addressed myself +to the king first, and then to all those that were round me; +bowing before them to the earth, and kissing the border of their +garments, I prayed them to have compassion upon me. "Consider," +said I, "that I am a stranger, and ought not to be subject to +this rigorous law, and that I have another wife and children in +my own country." Although I spoke in the most pathetic manner, no +one was moved by my address; on the contrary, they ridiculed my +dread of death as cowardly, made haste to let my wife's corpse +into the pit, and lowered me down the next moment in an open +coffin, with full of water and seven loaves. In short, the fatal +ceremony being performed, they covered over the mouth of the pit, +notwithstanding my grief and piteous lamentations. + +As I approached the bottom, I discovered by the aid of the little +light that came from above the nature of this subterranean place, +it seemed an endless cavern, and might be about fifty fathom +deep. I was annoyed by an insufferable stench proceeding from the +multitude of bodies which I saw on the right and left; nay, I +fancied that I heard some of them sigh out their last. However, +when I got down, I immediately left my coffin, and getting at a +distance from the bodies, held my nose, and lay down upon the +ground, where I stayed a considerable time, bathed in tears. At +last, reflecting on my melancholy case, "It is true," said I, +"that God disposes all things according to the degrees of his +providence; but, unhappy Sinbad, hast thou any but thyself to +blame that thou art brought to die so strange a death? Would to +God thou hadst perished in some of those tempests which thou hast +escaped! then thy death had not been so lingering, and so +terrible in all its circumstances. But thou hast drawn all this +upon thyself by thy inordinate avarice. Ah, unfortunate wretch! +shouldst thou not rather have remained at home, and quietly +enjoyed the fruits of thy labour?" + +Such were the vain complaints with which I filled the cave, +beating my head and breast out of rage and despair, and +abandoning myself to the most afflicting thoughts. Nevertheless, +I must tell you, that instead of calling death to my assistance +in that miserable condition, I felt still an inclination to live, +and to do all I could to prolong my days. I went groping about, +with my nose stopped, for the bread and water that was in my +coffin, and took some of it. Though the darkness of the cave was +so great that I could not distinguish day and night, yet I always +found my coffin again, and the cave seemed to be more spacious +and fuller of bodies than it had appeared to be at first. I lived +for some days upon my bread and water, which being all spent, I +at last prepared for death. + +As I was thinking of death, I heard the stone lifted up from the +mouth of the cave, and immediately the corpse of a man was let +down When reduced to necessity, it is natural to come to extreme +resolutions. While they let down the woman I approached the place +where her coffin was to be put, and as soon as I perceived they +were again covering the mouth of the cave, gave the unfortunate +wretch two or three violent blows over the head, with a large +bone; which stunned, or, to say the truth, killed her. I +committed this inhuman action merely for the sake of the bread +and water that was in her coffin, and thus I had provision for +some days more. When that was spent, they letdown another dead +woman, and a living man; I killed the man in the same manner, +and, as there was then a sort of mortality in the town, by +continuing this practice I did not want for provisions. + +One day after I had dispatched another woman, I heard something +tread, and breathing or panting as it walked. I advanced towards +that side from whence I heard the noise, and on my approach the +creature puffed and blew harder, as if running away from me. I +followed the noise, and the thing seemed to stop sometimes, but +always fled and blew as I approached. I pursued it for a +considerable time, till at last I perceived a light, resembling a +star; I went on, sometimes lost sight of it, but always found it +again, and at last discovered that it came through a hole in the +rock, large enough to admit a man. + +Upon this, I stopped some time to rest, being much fatigued with +the rapidity of my progress: afterwards coming up to the hole, I +got through, and found myself upon the sea shore. I leave you to +guess the excess of my joy: it was such, that I could scarcely +persuade myself that the whole was not a dream. + +But when I was recovered from my surprise, and convinced of the +reality of my escape, I perceived what I had followed to be a +creature which came out of the sea, and was accustomed to enter +the cavern and feed upon the bodies of the dead. + +I examined the mountain, and found it to be situated betwixt the +sea and the town, but without any passage to or communication +with the latter; the rocks on the sea side being high and +perpendicularly steep. I prostrated myself on the shore to thank +God for this mercy, and afterwards entered the cave again to +fetch bread and water, which I ate by daylight with a better +appetite than I had done since my interment in the dark cavern + +I returned thither a second time, and groped among the coffins +for all the diamonds, rubies,, pearls, gold bracelets, and rich +stuffs I could find; these I brought to the shore, and tying them +up neatly into bales, with the cords that let down the coffins, I +laid them together upon the beach, waiting till some ship might +appear, without fear of rain, for it was then the dry season. + +After two or three days, I perceived a ship just come out of the +harbour, making for the place where I was. I made a sign with the +linen of my turban, and called to the crew as loud as I could. +They heard me, and sent a boat to bring me on board, when they +asked by what misfortune I came thither; I told them that I had +suffered shipwreck two days before, and made shift to get ashore +with the goods they saw. It was fortunate for me that these +people did not consider the place where I was, nor enquire into +the probability of what I told them; but without hesitation took +me on board with my goods. When I came to the ship, the captain +was so well pleased to have saved me, and so much taken up with +his own affairs, that he also took the story of my pretended +shipwreck upon trust, and generously refused some jewels which I +offered him. + +We passed by several islands, and among others that called the +isle of Bells, about ten days' sail from Serendib, with a regular +wind, and six from that of Kela, where we landed. This island +produces lead mines, Indian canes, and excellent camphire. + +The king of the isle of Kela is very rich and powerful, and the +isle of Bells, which is about two days journey in extent, is also +subject to him. The inhabitants are so barbarous that they still +eat human flesh. After we had finished our traffic in that +island, we put to sea again, and touched at several other ports; +at last I arrived happily at Bagdad with infinite riches, of +which it is needless to trouble you with the detail. Out of +gratitude to God for his mercies, I contributed liberally towards +the support of several mosques, and the subsistence of the poor, +gave myself up to the society of my kindred and friends, enjoying +myself with them in festivities and amusements. + +Here Sinbad finished the relation of his fourth voyage, which +appeared more surprising to the company than the three former. He +made a new present of one hundred sequins to Hindbad, whom he +requested to return with the rest next day at the same hour to +dine with him, and hear the story of his fifth voyage. Hindbad +and the other guests took their leave and retired. Next morning +when they all met, they sat down at table, and when dinner was +over, Sinbad began the relation of his fifth voyage as follows. + + + + + The Fifth Voyage. + + + +The pleasures I enjoyed had again charms enough to make me forget +all the troubles and calamities I had undergone, but could not +cure me of my inclination to make new voyages. I therefore bought +goods, departed with them for the best sea-port; and there, that +I might not be obliged to depend upon a captain, but have a ship +at my own command, I remained till one was built on purpose, at +my own charge. When the ship was ready, I went on board with my +goods; but not having enough to load her, I agreed to take with +me several merchants of different nations with their merchandize. + +We sailed with the first fair wind, and after a long navigation +the first place we touched at was a desert island, where we found +an egg of a roe, equal in size to that I formerly mentioned. +There was a young roc it just ready to be hatched, and its bill +had begun to appear. + +The merchants whom I had taken on board, and who landed with me, +broke the egg with hatchets, and made a hole in it, pulled out +the young roc piecemeal, and roasted it. I had earnestly +intreated them not to meddle with the egg, but they would not +listen to me. + +Scarcely had they finished their repast, when there appeared in +the air at a considerable distance from us two great clouds. The +captain whom I had hired to navigate my ship, knowing by +experience what they meant, said they were the male and female +roc that belonged to the young one, and pressed us to re-embark +with all speed, to prevent the misfortune which he saw would +otherwise befall us. We hastened on board, and set sail with all +possible expedition. + +In the mean time, the two roes approached with a frightful noise, +which they redoubled when they saw the egg broken, and their +young one gone. They flew back in the direction they had come, +and disappeared for some time, while we made all the sail we +could to endeavour to prevent that which unhappily befell us. + +They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried +between its talons stones, or + +rather rocks, of a monstrous size. When they came directly over +my ship, they hovered, and one of them let fall a stone, but by +the dexterity of the steersman it missed us, and falling into the +sea, divided the water so that we could almost see the bottom. +The other roe, to our misfortune, threw his messy burden so +exactly upon the middle of the ship, as to split it into a +thousand pieces. The mariners and passengers were all crushed to +death, or sunk. I myself was of the number of the latter; but as +I came up again, I fortunately caught hold of a piece of the +wreck, and swimming sometimes with one hand, and sometimes with +the other, but always holding fast my board, the wind and the +tide favouring me, I came to an island, whose shore was very +steep. I overcame that difficulty, however, and got ashore. + +I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, +after which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to be +a delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them +bearing green, and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure +water running in pleasant meanders. I ate of the fruits, which I +found excellent; and drank of the water, which was very light and +good. + +When night closed in, I lay down upon the grass in a convenient +spot, but could not sleep an hour at a time, my mind being +apprehensive of danger. I spent best part of the night in alarm, +and reproached myself for my imprudence in not remaining at home, +rather than undertaking this last voyage. These reflections +carried me so far, that I began to form a design against my life; +but daylight dispersed these melancholy thoughts. I got up, and +walked among the trees, but not without some fears. + +When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man, +who appeared very weak and infirm. He was sitting on the bank of +a stream, and at first I took him to be one who had been +shipwrecked like myself. I went towards him and saluted him, but +he only slightly bowed his head. I asked him why he sat so still, +but instead of answering me, he made a sign for me to take him +upon my back, and carry him over the brook, signifying that it +was to gather fruit. + +I believed him really to stand in need of my assistance, took him +upon my back, and having carried him over, bade him get down, and +for that end stooped, that he might get off with ease; but +instead of doing so (which I laugh at every time I think of it) +the old man, who to me appeared quite decrepid, clasped his legs +nimbly about my neck, when I perceived his skin to resemble that +of a cow. He sat astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so +tight, that I thought he would have strangled me, the +apprehension of which make me swoon and fall down. + +Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow kept fast +about my neck, but opened his legs a little to give me time to +recover my breath. When I had done so, he thrust one of his feet +against my stomach, and struck me so rudely on the side with the +other, that he forced me to rise up against my will. Having +arisen, he made me walk under the trees, and forced me now and +then to stop, to gather and eat fruit such as we found. He never +left me all day, and when I lay down to rest at night, laid +himself down with me, holding always fast about my neck. Every +morning he pushed me to make me awake, and afterwards obliged me +to get up and walk, and pressed me with his feet. You may judge +then, gentlemen, what trouble I was in, to be loaded with such a +burden of which I could not get rid. + +One day I found in my way several dry calebashes that had fallen +from a tree. I took a large one, and after cleaning it, pressed +into it some juice of grapes, which abounded in the island; +having filled the calebash, I put it by in a convenient place, +and going thither again some days after, I tasted it, and found +the wine so good, that it soon made me forget my sorrow, gave me +new vigour, and so exhilarated my spirits, that I began to sing +and dance as I walked along. + +The old man, perceiving the effect which this liquor had upon me, +and that I carried him with more ease than before, made me a sign +to give him some of it. I handed him the calebash, and the liquor +pleasing his palate, he drank it all off. There being a +considerable quantity of it, he became drunk immediately, and the +fumes getting up into his head, he began to sing after his +manner, and to dance with his breech upon my shoulders. His +jolting made him vomit, and he loosened his legs from about me by +degrees. Finding that he did not press me as before, I threw him +upon the ground, where he lay without motion; I then took up a +great stone, and crushed his head to pieces. + +I was extremely glad to be thus freed for ever from this +troublesome fellow. I now walked towards the beach, where I met +the crew of a ship that had cast anchor, to take in water. They +were surprised to see me, but more so at hearing the particulars +of my adventures. "You fell," said they, "into the hands of the +old man of the sea, and are the first who ever escaped strangling +by his malicious tricks. He never quitted those he had once made +himself master of, till he had destroyed them, and he has made +this island notorious by the number of men he has slain; so that +the merchants and mariners who landed upon it, durst not advance +into the island but in numbers at a time." + +After having informed me of these things, they carried me with +them to the ship; the captain received me with great kindness, +when they told him what had befallen me. He put out again to sea, +and after some days' sail, we arrived at the harbour of a great +city, the houses of which were built with hewn stone. + +One of the merchants who had taken me into his friendship invited +me to go along with him, and carried me to a place appointed for +the accommodation of foreign merchants. He gave me a large bag, +and having recommended me to some people of the town, who used to +gather cocoa-nuts, desired them to take me with them. "Go," said +he, "follow them, and act as you see them do, but do not separate +from them, otherwise you may endanger your life." Having thus +spoken, he gave me provisions for the journey, and I went with +them. + +We came to a thick forest of cocoa-trees, very lofty, with trunks +so smooth that it was not possible to climb to the branches that +bore the fruit. When we entered the forest we saw a great number +of apes of several sizes, who fled as soon as they perceived us, +and climbed up to the top of the trees with surprising swiftness. + +The merchants with whom I was, gathered stones and threw them at +the apes on the trees. I did the same, and the apes out of +revenge threw cocoa-nuts at us so fast, and with such gestures, +as sufficiently testified their anger and resentment. We gathered +up the cocoa-nuts, and from time to time threw stones to provoke +the apes; so that by this stratagem we filled our bags with +cocoa-nuts, which it had been impossible otherwise to have done. + +When we had gathered our number, we returned to the city, where +the merchant, who had sent me to the forest, gave me the value of +the cocoas I brought: "Go on," said he, "and do the like every +day, until you have got money enough to carry you home." I +thanked him for his advice, and gradually collected as many +cocoa-nuts as produced me a considerable sum. + +The vessel in which I had come sailed with some merchants, who +loaded her with cocoa-nuts. I expected the arrival of another, +which anchored soon after for the like loading. I embarked in her +all the cocoa-nuts I had, and when she was ready to sail, took +leave of the merchant who had been so kind to me; but he could +not embark with me, because he had not finished his business at +the port. + +We sailed towards the islands, where pepper grows in great +plenty. From thence we went to the isle of Comari, where the best +species of wood of aloes grows, and whose inhabitants have made +it an inviolable law to themselves to drink no wine, and suffer +no place of debauch. I exchanged my cocoa in those two islands +for pepper and wood of aloes, and went with other merchants a +pearl-fishing. I hired divers, who brought me up some that were +very large and pure. I embarked in a vessel that happily arrived +at Bussorah; from thence I returned to Bagdad, where I made vast +sums of my pepper, wood of aloes, and pearls. I gave the tenth of +my gains in alms, as I had done upon my return from my other +voyages, and endeavoured to dissipate my fatigues by amusements +of different kinds. + +When Sinbad had finished his story, he ordered one hundred +sequins to be given to Hindbad, who retired with the other +guests; but next morning the same company returned to dine with +rich Sinbad; who, after having treated them as formerly, +requested their attention, and gave the following account of his +sixth voyage. + + + + + The Sixth Voyage. + + + +Gentlemen, you long without doubt to know, how, after having been +shipwrecked five times, and escaped so many dangers, I could +resolve again to tempt fortune, and expose myself to new +hardships? I am, myself, astonished at my conduct when I reflect +upon it, and must certainly have been actuated by my destiny. But +be that as it may, after a year's rest I prepared for a sixth +voyage, notwithstanding the intreaties of my kindred and friends, +who did all in their power to dissuade me. + +Instead of taking my way by the Persian gulf, I travelled once +more through several provinces of Persia and the Indies, and +arrived at a sea-port, where I embarked in a ship, the captain of +which was bound on a long voyage. It was long indeed, and at the +same time so unfortunate, that the captain and pilot lost their +course. They however at last discovered where they were, but we +had no reason to rejoice at the circumstance. Suddenly we saw the +captain quit his post, uttering loud lamentations. He threw off +his turban, pulled his beard, and beat his head like a madman. We +asked him the reason, and he answered, that he was in the most +dangerous place in all the ocean. "A rapid current carries the +ship along with it, and we shall all perish in less than a +quarter of an hour. Pray to God to deliver us from this peril; we +cannot escape, if he do not take pity on us." At these words he +ordered the sails to be lowered; but all the ropes broke, and the +ship was carried by the current to the foot of an inaccessible +mountain, where she struck and went to pieces, yet in such a +manner that we saved our lives, our provisions, and the best of +our goods. + +This being over, the captain said to us, "God has done what +pleased him. Each of us may dig his grave, and bid the world +adieu; for we are all in so fatal a place, that none shipwrecked +here ever returned to their homes." His discourse afflicted us +sensibly, and we embraced each other, bewailing our deplorable +lot. + +The mountain at the foot of which we were wrecked formed part of +the coast of a very large island. It was covered with wrecks, and +from the vast number of human bones we saw everywhere, and which +filled us with horror, we concluded that multitudes of people had +perished there. It is also incredible what a quantity of goods +and riches we found cast ashore. All these objects served only to +augment our despair. In all other places, rivers run from their +channels into the sea, but here a river of fresh water runs out +of the sea into a dark cavern, whose entrance is very high and +spacious. What is most remarkable in this place is, that the +stones of the mountain are of crystal, rubies, or other precious +stones. Here is also a sort of fountain of pitch or bitumen, that +runs into the sea, which the fish swallow, and evacuate soon +afterwards, turned into ambergris: and this the waves throw up on +the beach in great quantities. Trees also grow here, most of +which are wood of aloes, equal in goodness to those of Comari. + +To finish the description of this place, which may well be called +a gulf, since nothing ever returns from it, it is not possible +for ships to get off when once they approach within a certain +distance. If they be driven thither by a wind from the sea, the +wind and the current impel them; and if they come into it when a +land-wind blows, which might seem to favour their getting out +again, the height of the mountain stops the wind, and occasions a +calm, so that the force of the current carries them ashore: and +what completes the misfortune is, that there is no possibility of +ascending the mountain, or of escaping by sea. + +We continued upon the shore in a state of despair, and expected +death every day. At first we divided our provisions as equally as +we could, and thus every one lived a longer or shorter time, +according to his temperance, and the use he made of his +provisions. + +Those who died first were interred by the survivors, and I paid +the last duty to all my companions: nor are you to wonder at +this; for besides that I husbanded the provision that fell to my +share better than they, I had some of my own which I did not +share with my comrades; yet when I buried the last, I had so +little remaining, that I thought I could not long survive: I dug +a grave, resolving to lie down in it, because there was no one +left to inter me. I must confess to you at the same time, that +while I was thus employed, I could not but reproach myself as the +cause of my own ruin, and repented that I had ever undertaken +this last voyage. Nor did I stop at reflections only, but had +well nigh hastened my own death, and began to tear my hands with +my teeth. + +But it pleased God once more to take compassion on me, and put it +in my mind to go to the bank of the river which ran into the +great cavern. Considering its probable course with great +attention, I said to myself, "This river, which runs thus under +ground, must somewhere have an issue. If I make a raft, and leave +myself to the current, it will convey me to some inhabited +country, or I shall perish. If I be drowned, I lose nothing, but +only change one kind of death for another; and if I get out of +this fatal place, I shall not only avoid the sad fate of my +comrades, but perhaps find some new occasion of enriching myself. +Who knows but fortune waits, upon my getting off this dangerous +shelf, to compensate my shipwreck with usury." + +I immediately went to work upon large pieces of timber and +cables, for I had choice of them, and tied them together so +strongly, that I soon made a very solid raft. When I had +finished, I loaded it with some bulses of rubies, emeralds, +ambergris, rock-crystal, and bales of rich stuffs. Having +balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I +went on board with two oars that I had made, and leaving it to +the course of the river, resigned myself to the will of God. + +As soon as I entered the cavern, I lost all light, and the stream +carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated some days in +perfect darkness, and once found the arch so low, that it very +nearly touched my head, which made me cautious afterwards to +avoid the like danger. All this while I ate nothing but what was +just necessary to support nature; yet, notwithstanding my +frugality, all my provisions were spent. Then a pleasing stupor +seized upon me. I cannot tell how long it continued; but when I +revived, I was surprised to find myself in an extensive plain on +the brink of a river, where my raft was tied, amidst a great +number of negroes. I got up as soon as I saw them, and saluted +them. They spoke to me, but I did not understand their language. +I was so transported with joy, that I knew not whether I was +asleep or awake; but being persuaded that I was not asleep, I +recited the following words in Arabic aloud: "Call upon the +Almighty, he will help thee; thou needest not perplex thyself +about any thing else: shut thy eyes, and while thou art asleep, +God will change thy bad fortune into good." + +One of the blacks, who understood Arabic, hearing me speak thus, +came towards me, and said, "Brother, be not surprised to see us, +we are inhabitants of this country, and came hither to-day to +water our fields, by digging little canals from this river, which +comes out of the neighbouring mountain. We observed something +floating upon the water, went to see what it was, and, perceiving +your raft, one of us swam into the river, and brought it thither, +where we fastened it, as you see, until you should awake. Pray +tell us your history, for it must be extraordinary; how did you +venture yourself into this river, and whence did you come?" "I +begged of them first to give me something to eat, and then I +would satisfy. their curiosity. They gave me several sorts of +food, and when I had satisfied my hunger, I related all that had +befallen me, which they listened to with attentive surprise. As +soon as I had finished, they told me, by the person who spoke +Arabic and interpreted to them what I said, that it was one of +the most wonderful stories they had ever heard, and that I must +go along with them, and tell it their king myself; it being too +extraordinary to be related by any other than the person to whom +the events had happened. I assured them that I was ready to do +whatever they pleased. + +They immediately sent for a horse, which was brought in a little +time; and having helped me to mount, some of them walked before +to shew the way, while the rest took my raft and cargo and +followed. + +We marched till we came to the capital of Serendib, for it was in +that island I had landed. The blacks presented me to their king; +I approached his throne, and saluted him as I used to do the +kings of the Indies; that is to say, I prostrated myself at his +feet. The prince ordered me to rise, received me with an obliging +air, and made me sit down near him. He first asked me my name, +and I answered, "People call me Sinbad the voyager, because of +the many voyages I have undertaken, and I am a citizen of +Bagdad." "But," resumed he, "how came you into my dominions, and +from whence came you last?" + +I concealed nothing from the king; I related to him all that I +have told you, and his majesty was so surprised and pleased, that +he commanded my adventures to be written in letters of gold, and +laid up in the archives of his kingdom. At last my raft was +brought in, and the bales opened in his presence; he admired the +quantity of wood of aloes and ambergris, but, above all, the +rubies and emeralds, for he had none in his treasury that +equalled them. + +Observing that he looked on my jewels with pleasure, and viewed +the most remarkable among them one after another, I fell +prostrate at his feet, and took the liberty to say to him, "Sir, +not only my person is at your majesty's service, but the cargo of +the raft, and I would beg of you to dispose of it as your own." +He answered me with a smile, "Sinbad, I will take care not to +covet any thing of yours, or to take any thing from you that God +has given you; far from lessening your wealth, I design to +augment it, and will not let you quit my dominions without marks +of my liberality." All the answer I returned were prayers for the +prosperity of that nobly minded prince, and commendations of his +generosity and bounty. He charged one of his officers to take +care of me, and ordered people to serve me at his own expence. +The officer was very faithful in the execution of his commission, +and caused all the goods to be carried to the lodgings provided +for me. + +I went every day at a set hour to make my court to the king, and +spent the rest of my time in viewing the city, and what was most +worthy of notice. + +The isle of Serendib is situated just under the equinoctial line; +so that the days and nights there are always of twelve hours +each, and the island is eighty parasangs in length, and as many +in breadth. + +The capital stands at the end of a fine valley, in the middle of +the island, encompassed by mountains the highest in the world. +They are seen three days' sail off at sea. Rubies and several +sorts of minerals abound, and the rocks are for the most part +composed of a metalline stone made use of to cut and polish other +precious stones. All kinds of rare plants and trees grow there, +especially cedars and cocoa-nut. There is also a pearl-fishing in +the mouth of its principal river; and in some of its valleys are +found diamonds. I made, by way of devotion, a pilgrimage to the +place where Adam was confined after his banishment from Paradise, +and had the curiosity to go to the top of the mountain. + +When I returned to the city, I prayed the king to allow me to +return to my own country, and he granted me permission in the +most obliging and most honourable manner. He would needs force a +rich present upon me; and when I went to take my leave of him, he +gave me one much more considerable, and at the same time charged +me with a letter for the commander of the faithful, our +sovereign, saying to me, "I pray you give this present from me, +and this letter to the caliph, and assure him of my friendship." +I took the present and letter in a very respectful manner, and +promised his majesty punctually to execute the commission with +which he was pleased to honour me. Before I embarked, this prince +sent for the captain and the merchants who were to go with me, +and ordered them to treat me with all possible respect. + +The letter from the king of Serendib was written on the skin of a +certain animal of great value, because of its being so scarce, +and of a yellowish colour. The characters of this letter were of +azure, and the contents as follows: + +"The king of the Indies, before whom march one hundred elephants, +who lives in a palace that shines with one hundred thousand +rubies, and who has in his treasury twenty thousand crowns +enriched with diamonds, to caliph Haroon al Rusheed. + +"Though the present we send you be inconsiderable, receive it +however as a brother and a friend, in consideration of the hearty +friendship which we bear for you, and of which we are willing to +give you proof. We desire the same part in your friendship, +considering that we believe it to be our merit, being of the same +dignity with yourself. We conjure you this in quality of a +brother. Adieu." + +The present consisted first, of one single ruby made into a cup, +about half a foot high, an inch thick, and filled with round +pearls of half a drachm each. 2. The skin of a serpent, whose +scales were as large as an ordinary piece of gold, and had the +virtue to preserve from sickness those who lay upon it. 3. Fifty +thousand drachms of the best wood of aloes, with thirty grains of +camphire as big as pistachios. 4. A female slave of ravishing +beauty, whose apparel was all covered over with jewels. + +The ship set sail, and after a very successful navigation we +landed at Bussorah, and from thence I went to Bagdad, where the +first thing I did was to acquit myself of my commission. + +Scheherazade stopped, because day appeared, and next night +proceeded thus. + +I took the king of Serendib's letter, and went to present myself +at the gate of the commander of the faithful, followed by the +beautiful slave, and such of my own family as carried the +presents. I stated the reason of my coming, and was immediately +conducted to the throne of the caliph. I made my reverence, and, +after a short speech, gave him the letter and present. When he +had read what the king of Serendib wrote to him, he asked me, if +that prince were really so rich and potent as he represented +himself in his letter? I prostrated myself a second time, and +rising again, said, "Commander of the faithful, I can assure your +majesty he doth not exceed the truth. I bear him witness. Nothing +is more worthy of admiration than the magnificence of his palace. +When the prince appears in public, he has a throne fixed on the +back of an elephant, and marches betwixt two ranks of his +ministers, favourites, and other people of his court; before him, +upon the same elephant, an officer carries a golden lance in his +hand; and behind the throne there is another, who stands upright, +with a column of gold, on the top of which is an emerald half a +foot long, and an inch thick; before him march a guard of one +thousand men, clad in cloth of gold and silk, and mounted on +elephants richly caparisoned. + +"While the king is on his march, the officer, who is before him +on the same elephant, cries + +from time to time, with a loud voice, Behold the great monarch, +the potent and redoubtable sultan of the Indies, whose palace is +covered with one hundred thousand rubies, and who possesses +twenty thousand crowns of diamonds. Behold the monarch greater +than Solomon, and the powerful Maha-raja.' After he has +pronounced those words, the officer behind the throne cries in +his turn, This monarch, so great and so powerful, must die, must +die, must die.' And the officer before replies, Praise be to him +who lives for ever.' + +"Farther, the king of Serendib is so just, that there are no +judges in his dominions. His people have no need of them. They +understand and observe justice rigidly of themselves." + +The caliph was much pleased with my account. "The wisdom of that +king," said he, "appears in his letter, and after what you tell +me, I must confess, that his wisdom is worthy of his people, and +his people deserve so wise a prince." Having spoken thus, he +dismissed me, and sent me home with a rich present. + +Sinbad left off, and his company retired, Hindbad having first +received one hundred sequins; and next day they returned to hear +the relation of his seventh and last voyage. + + + + + The Seventh and Last Voyage. + + + +Being returned from my sixth voyage, said Sinbad, I absolutely +laid aside all thoughts of travelling; for, besides that my age +now required rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to +such risks as I had encountered; so that I thought of nothing but +to pass the rest of my days in tranquillity. One day as I was +treating my friends, one of my servants came and told me that an +officer of the caliph's enquired for me. I rose from table, and +went to him. "The caliph," he said, "has sent me to tell you, +that he must speak with you." I followed the officer to the +palace, where being presented to the caliph, I saluted him by +prostrating myself at his feet. "Sinbad," said he to me, "I stand +in need of your service; you must carry my answer and present to +the king of Serendib. It is but just I should return his +civility." + +This command of the caliph was to me like a clap of thunder. +"Commander of the faithful," I replied, "I am ready to do +whatever your majesty shall think fit to command; but I beseech +you most humbly to consider what I have undergone. I have also +made a vow never to go out of Bagdad." Hence I took occasion to +give him a full and particular account of all my adventures, +which he had the patience to hear out. + +As soon as I had finished, "I confess," said he, "that the things +you tell me are very extraordinary, yet you must for my sake +undertake this voyage which I propose to you. You will only have +to go to the isle of Serendib, and deliver the commission which I +give you. After that you are at liberty to return. But you must +go; for you know it would not comport with my dignity, to be +indebted to the king of that island." Perceiving that the caliph +insisted upon my compliance, I submitted, and told him that I was +willing to obey. He was very well pleased, and ordered me one +thousand sequins for the expences of my journey. + +I prepared for my departure in a few days, and as soon as the +caliph's letter and present were delivered to me, I went to +Bussorah, where I embarked, and had a very happy voyage. Having +arrived at the isle of Serendib, I acquainted the king's +ministers with my commission, and prayed them to get me speedy +audience. They did so, and I was conducted to the palace in an +honourable manner, where I saluted the king by prostration, +according to custom. That prince knew me immediately, and +testified very great joy at seeing me. "Sinbad," said he, "you +are welcome; I have many times thought of you since you departed; +I bless the day on which we see one another once more." I made my +compliment to him, and after having thanked him for his kindness, +delivered the caliph's letter and present, which he received with +all imaginable satisfaction. + +The caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, valued +at one thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred of +white cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria; a vessel +of agate broader than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot wide, +the bottom of which represented in bass relief a man with one +knee on the ground, who held bow and an arrow, ready to discharge +at a lion. He sent him also a rich tablet, which, according to +tradition, belonged to the great Solomon. The caliph's letter was +as follows: + +"Greeting, in the name of the sovereign guide of the right way, +from the dependent on God, Haroon al Rusheed, whom God hath set +in the place of vicegerent to his prophet, after his ancestors of +happy memory, to the potent and esteemed Raja of Serendib. + +"We received your letter with joy, and send you this from our +imperial residence, the garden of superior wits. We hope when you +look upon it, you will perceive our good intention and be pleased +with it. Adieu." + +The king of Serendib was highly gratified that the caliph +answered his friendship. A little time after this audience, I +solicited leave to depart, and had much difficulty to obtain it. +I procured it however at last, and the king, when he dismissed +me, made me a very considerable present. I embarked immediately +to return to Bagdad, but had not the good fortune to arrive there +so speedily as I had hoped. God ordered it otherwise. + +Three or four days after my departure, we were attacked by +corsairs, who easily seized upon our ship, because it was no +vessel of force. Some of the crew offered resistance, which cost +them their lives. But for myself and the rest, who were not so +imprudent, the corsairs saved us on purpose to make slaves of us. + +We were all stripped, and instead of our own clothes, they gave +us sorry rags, and carried us into a remote island, where they +sold us. + +I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he +bought me, carried me to his house, treated me well, and clad me +handsomely for a slave. Some days after, not knowing who I was, +he asked me if I understood any trade? I answered, that I was no +mechanic, but a merchant, and that the corsairs, who sold me, had +robbed me of all I possessed. "But tell me," replied he, "can you +shoot with a bow?" I answered, that the bow was one of my +exercises in my youth. He gave me a bow and arrows, and, taking +me behind him upon an elephant, carried me to a thick forest some +leagues from the town. We penetrated a great way into the wood, +and when he thought fit to stop, he bade me alight; then shewing +me a great tree, "Climb up that," said he, "and shoot at the +elephants as you see them pass by, for there is a prodigious +number of them in this forest, and if any of them fall, come and +give me notice." Having spoken thus, he left me victuals, and +returned to the town, and I continued upon the tree all night. + +I saw no elephant during that time, but next morning, as soon as +the sun was up, I perceived a great number. I shot several arrows +among them, and at last one of the elephants fell, when the rest +retired immediately, and left me at liberty to go and acquaint my +patron with my booty. When I had informed him, he gave me a good +meal, commended my dexterity, and caressed me highly. We went +afterwards together to the forest, where we dug a hole for the +elephant; my patron designing to return when it was rotten, and +take his teeth to trade with. + +I continued this employment for two months, and killed an +elephant every day, getting sometimes upon one tree, and +sometimes upon another. One morning, as I looked for the +elephants, I perceived with extreme amazement, that, instead of +passing by me across the forest as usual, they stopped, and came +to me with a horrible noise, in such number that the plain was +covered, and shook under them. They encompassed the tree in which +I was concealed, with their trunks extended, and all fixed their +eyes upon. At this alarming spectacle I continued immoveable, and +was so much terrified, that my bow and arrows fell out of my +hand. + +My fears were not without cause; for after the elephants had +stared upon me some time, one of the largest of them put his +trunk round the foot of the tree, plucked it up, and threw it on +the ground; I fell with the tree, and the elephant taking me up +with his trunk, laid me on his back, where I sat more like one +dead than alive, with my quiver on my shoulder. He put himself +afterwards at the head of the rest, who followed him in troops, +carried me a considerable way, then laid me down on the ground, +and retired with all his companions. Conceive, if you can, the +condition I was in: I thought myself in a dream. After having +lain some time, and seeing the elephants gone, I got up, and +found I was upon a long and broad hill, almost covered with the +bones and teeth of elephants. I confess to you, that this object +furnished me with abundance of reflections. I admired the +instinct of those animals; I doubted not but that was their +burying place, and that they carried me thither on purpose to +tell me that I should forbear to persecute them, since I did it +only for their teeth. I did not stay on the hill, but turned +towards the city, and, after having travelled a day and a night, +I came to my patron. I met no elephant in my way, which made me +think they had retired farther into the forest, to leave me at +liberty to come back to the hill without any obstacle. + +As soon as my patron saw me; "Ah, poor Sinbad," exclaimed he, "I +was in great trouble to know what was become of you. I have been +at the forest, where I found a tree newly pulled up, and a bow +and arrows on the ground, and after having sought for you in +vain, I despaired of ever, seeing you more. Pray tell me what +befell you, and by what good chance thou art still alive." I +satisfied his curiosity, and going both of us next morning to the +hill, he found to his great joy that what I had told him was +true. We loaded the elephant which had carried us with as many +teeth as he could bear; and when we were returned, "Brother," +said my patron, "for I will treat you no more as my slave, after +having made such a discovery as will enrich me, God bless you +with all happiness and prosperity. I declare before him, that I +give you your liberty. I concealed from you what I am now going +to tell you. + +"The elephants of our forest have every year killed us a great +many slaves, whom we sent to seek ivory. For all the cautions we +could give them, those crafty animals destroyed them one time or +other. God has delivered you from their fury, and has bestowed +that favour upon you only. It is a sign that he loves you, and +has some use for your service in the world. You have procured me +incredible wealth. Formerly we could not procure ivory but by +exposing the lives of our slaves, and now our whole city is +enriched by your means. Do not think I pretend to have rewarded +you by giving you your liberty, I will also give you considerable +riches. I could engage all our city to contribute towards making +your fortune, but I will have the glory of doing it myself." + +To this obliging declaration I replied, "Patron, God preserve +you. Your giving me my liberty is enough to discharge what you +owe me, and I desire no other reward for the service I had the +good fortune to do to you and your city, but leave to return to +my own country." "Very well," said he, "the monsoon will in a +little time bring ships for ivory. I will then send you home, and +give you wherewith to bear your charges." I thanked him again for +my liberty and his good intentions towards me. I staid with him +expecting the monsoon; and during that time, we made so many +journeys to the hill, that we filled all our warehouses with +ivory. The other merchants, who traded in it, did the same, for +it could not be long concealed from them. + +The ships arrived at last, and my patron, himself having made +choice of the ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it +with ivory on my account, laid in provisions in abundance for my +passage, and besides obliged me to accept a present of some +curiosities of the country of great value. After I had returned +him a thousand thanks for all his favours, I went aboard. We set +sail, and as the adventure which procured me this liberty was +very extraordinary, I had it continually in my thoughts. + +We stopped at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our +vessel being come to a port on the main land in the Indies, we +touched there, and not being willing to venture by sea to +Bussorah, I landed my proportion of the ivory, resolving to +proceed on my journey by land. I made vast sums of my ivory, +bought several rarities, which I intended for presents, and when +my equipage was ready, set out in company with a large caravan of +merchants. I was a long time on the way, and suffered much, but +endured all with patience, when I considered that I had nothing +to fear from the seas, from pirates, from serpents, or from the +other perils to which I had been exposed. + +All these fatigues ended at last, and I arrived safe at Bagdad. I +went immediately to wait upon the caliph, and gave him an account +of my embassy. That prince said he had been uneasy, as I was so +long in returning, but that he always hoped God would preserve +me. When I told him the adventure of the elephants, he seemed +much surprised, and would never have given any credit to it had +he not known my veracity. He deemed this story, and the other +relations I had given him, to be so curious, that he ordered one +of his secretaries to write them in characters of gold, and lay +them up in his treasury. I retired well satisfied with the +honours I received, and the presents which he gave me; and ever +since I have devoted myself wholly to my family, kindred, and +friends. + +Sinbad here finished the relation of his seventh and last voyage, +and then addressing himself to Hindbad, "Well, friend," said he, +"did you ever hear of any person that suffered so much as I have +done, or of any mortal that has gone through so many +vicissitudes? Is it not reasonable that, after all this I should +enjoy a quiet and pleasant life?" As he said this, Hindbad drew +near to him, and kissing his hand, said, "I must acknowledge, +sir, that you have gone through many imminent dangers; my +troubles are not comparable to yours: if they afflict me for a +time, I comfort myself with the thoughts of the profit I get by +them. You not only deserve a quiet life, but are worthy of all +the riches you enjoy, because you make of them such a good and +generous use. May you therefore continue to live in happiness and +joy till the day of your death!" Sinbad gave him one hundred +sequins more, received him into the number of his friends, +desired him to quit his porter's employment, and come and dine +every day with him, that he might have reason to remember Sinbad +the voyager. + + + + + THE THREE APPLES. + + + +The Caliph Haroon al Rusheed one day commanded the grand vizier +Jaffier to come to his palace the night following. "Vizier," said +he, "I will take a walk round the town, to inform myself what +people say, and particularly how they are pleased with my +officers of justice. If there be any against whom they have cause +of just complaint, we will turn them out, and put others in their +stead, who shall officiate better. If, on the contrary, there be +any that have gained their applause, we will have that esteem for +them which they deserve." The grand vizier being come to the +palace at the hour appointed, the caliph, he, and Mesrour the +chief of the eunuchs, disguised themselves so that they could not +be known, and went out all three together. + +They passed through several places, and by several markets. As +they entered a small street, they perceived by the light of the +moon, a tall man, with a white beard, who carried nets on his +head, and a staff in his hand. "To judge from his appearance," +said the caliph, "that old man is not rich; let us go to him and +inquire into his circumstances." "Honest man," said the vizier, +"who art thou?" The old man replied, "Sir, I am a fisher, but one +of the poorest and most miserable of the trade. I went from my +house about noon a fishing, and from that time to this I have not +been able to catch one fish; at the same time I have a wife and +small children, and nothing to maintain them." + +The caliph, moved with compassion, said to the fisherman, "Hast +thou the courage to go back and cast thy net once more? We will +give thee a hundred sequins for what thou shalt bring up." At +this proposal, the fisherman, forgetting all his day's toil, took +the caliph at his word, and returned to the Tigris, accompanied +by the caliph, Jaaffier, and Mesrour; saying to himself as he +went, "These gentlemen seem too honest and reasonable not to +reward my pains; and if they give me the hundredth part of what +they promise, it will be an ample recompence." + +They came to the bank of the river, and the fisherman, having +thrown in his net, when he drew it again, brought up a trunk +close shut, and very heavy. The caliph made the grand vizier pay +him one hundred sequins immediately, and sent him away. Mesrour, +by his master's order, carried the trunk on his shoulder, and the +caliph was so very eager to know what it contained, that he +returned to the palace with all speed. When the trunk was opened, +they found in it a large basket made of palm-leaves, shut up, and +the covering of it sewed with red thread. To satisfy the caliph's +impatience, they would not take time to undo it, but cut the +thread with a knife, and took out of the basket a package wrapt +up in a sorry piece of hanging, and bound about with a rope; +which being untied, they found, to their great amazement, the +corpse of a young lady, whiter than snow, all cut in pieces. + +The astonishment of the caliph was great at this dreadful +spectacle. His surprise was instantly changed into passion, and +darting an angry look at the vizier, "Thou wretch," said he, "is +this your inspection into the actions of my people? Do they +commit such impious murders under thy ministry in my capital, and +throw my subjects into the Tigris, that they may cry for +vengeance against me at the day of judgment? If thou dost not +speedily avenge the murder of this woman, by the death of her +murderer, I swear by heaven, that I will cause thee and forty +more of thy kindred to be impaled." "Commander of the faithful," +replied the grand vizier, "I beg your majesty to grant me time to +make enquiry." "I will allow thee no more," said the caliph, +"than three days." + +The vizier Jaaffier went home in great perplexity. "Alas!" said +he "how is it possible that in such a vast and populous city as +Bagdad, I should he able to detect a murderer, who undoubtedly +committed the crime without witness, and perhaps may be already +gone from hence? Any other vizier than I would take some wretched +person out of prison, and cause him to be put to death to satisfy +the caliph; but I will not burden my conscience with such a +barbarous action; I will rather die than preserve my life by the +sacrifice of another innocent person." + +He ordered the officers of the police and justice to make strict +search for the criminal. They sent their servants about, and they +were not idle themselves, for they were no less concerned in this +matter than the vizier. But all their endeavours were to no +purpose; what pains soever they took they could not discover the +murderer; so that the vizier concluded his life to be lost. + +The third day being arrived, an officer came to the unfortunate +minister, with a summons to follow him, which the vizier obeyed. +The caliph asked him for the murderer. He answered, "Commander of +the faithful, I have not found any person that could give me the +least account of him." The caliph, full of fury and rage, gave +him many reproachful words, and ordered that he and forty +Bermukkees should be impaled at the gate of the palace. + +In the mean while the stakes were preparing, and orders were sent +to seize forty Bermukkees in their houses; a public crier was +sent about the city by the caliph's order, to cry thus: "Those +who have a desire to see the grand vizier Jaaffier impaled, with +forty of his kindred, let them come to the square before the +palace." + +When all things were ready, the criminal judge, and many officers +belonging to the palace, having brought out the grand vizier with +the forty Bermukkees, set each by the stake designed for him. The +multitude of people that filled the square could not without +grief and tears behold this tragical sight; for the grand vizier +and the Bermukkees were loved and honoured on account of their +probity, bounty, and impartiality, not only in Bagdad, but +through all the dominions of the caliph. + +Nothing could prevent the execution of this prince's severe and +irrevocable sentence, and the lives of the most deserving people +in the city were just going to be sacrificed, when a young man of +handsome mien pressed through the crowd till he came up to the +grand vizier, and after he had kissed his hand, said, "Most +excellent vizier, chief of the emirs of this court, and comforter +of the poor, you are not guilty of the crime for which you stand +here. Withdraw, and let me expiate the death of the lady that was +thrown into the Tigris. It is I who murdered her, and I deserve +to be punished for my offence." + +Though these words occasioned great joy to the vizier, yet he +could not but pity the young man, in whose look he saw something +that instead of evincing guilt was engaging: but as he was about +to answer him, a tall man advanced in years, who had likewise +forced his way through the crowd, came up to him, saying, "Do not +believe what this young man tells you, I killed that lady who was +found in the trunk, and this punishment ought only to fall upon +me. I conjure you in the name of God not to punish the innocent +for the guilty." "Sir," said the young man to the vizier, "I do +protest that I am he who committed this vile act, and nobody else +had any concern in it." "My son," said the old man, "it is +despair that brought you hither, and you would anticipate your +destiny. I have lived a long while in the world, and it is time +for me to be gone; let me therefore sacrifice my life for yours." +"Sir," said he again to the vizier, "I tell you once more I am +the murderer; let me die without delay." + +The controversy between the old and the young man induced the +grand vizier to carry them both before the caliph, to which the +judge criminal consented, being glad to serve the vizier. When he +came before the prince, he kissed the ground seven times, and +spake after this manner: "Commander of the faithful, I have +brought here before your majesty this old and this young man, +each of whom declares himself to be the sole murderer of the +lady." The caliph asked the criminals which of them it was that +so cruelly murdered the lady, and threw her into the Tigris? The +young man assured him it was he, but the old man maintained the +contrary. "Go," said the caliph to the grand vizier, "and cause +them both to be impaled." "But, Sir," said the vizier, "if only +one of them be guilty, it would be unjust to take the lives of +both." At these words the young man spoke again, "I swear by the +great God, who has raised the heavens so high, that I am the man +who killed the lady, cut her in pieces, and about four days ago +threw her into the Tigris. I renounce my part of happiness +amongst the just at the day of judgment, if what I say be not +truth; therefore I am he that ought to suffer." The caliph being +surprised at this oath, believed him; especially since the old +man made no answer. Whereupon, turning to the young man, +"Wretch," said he, "what made thee commit that detestable crime, +and what is it that moves thee to offer thyself voluntarily to +die?" "Commander of the faithful," said he, "if all that has past +between that lady and me were set down in writing, it would be a +history that might be useful to other men." "I command thee then +to relate it," said the caliph. The young man obeyed, and began +his history. + + + + +The Story of the Lady who was Murdered, and of the Young Man her + Husband. + + + +Commander of the faithful, this murdered lady was my wife, +daughter of this old man, who is my uncle by the father's side. +She was not above twelve years old, when eleven years ago he gave +her to me. I have three children by her, all boys, yet alive, and +I must do her the justice to say, that she never gave me the +least occasion for offence; she was chaste, of good behaviour, +and made it her whole business to please me. And on my part I +ardently loved her, and in every thing rather anticipated than +opposed her wishes. + +About two months ago she fell sick; I took all imaginable care of +her, and spared nothing that could promote her speedy recovery. +After a month thus passed she began to grow better, and expressed +a wish to go to the bath. Before she went, "Cousin," said she +(for so she used to call me out of familiarity), "I long for some +apples; if you would get me any, you would greatly please me. I +have longed for them a great while, and I must own it is come to +that height, that if I be not satisfied very soon, I fear some +misfortune will befall me." "I will cheerfully try," said I, "and +do all in my power to make you easy." + +I went immediately round all the markets and shops in the town to +seek for apples, but I could not get one, though I offered to pay +a sequin a piece. I returned home much dissatisfied at my +failure; and for my wife, when she returned from the bagnio, and +saw no apples, she became so very uneasy, that she could not +sleep all night. I got up by times in the morning, and went +through all the gardens, but had no better success than the day +before; only I happened to meet an old gardener, who told me, +that all my pains would signify nothing, for I could not expect +to find apples any where but in your majesty's garden at +Bussorah. As I loved my wife passionately, and would not neglect +to satisfy her, I dressed myself in a traveller's habit, and +after I had told her my design, went to Bussorah, and made my +journey with such speed, that I returned at the end of fifteen +days with three apples, which cost me a sequin apiece, for as +there were no more left, the gardener would not let me have them +for less. As soon as I came home, I presented them to my wife, +but her longing had ceased, she satisfied herself with receiving +them, and laid them down by her. In the mean time she continued +sickly, and I knew not what remedy to procure for her relief. + +Some few days after I returned from my journey, sitting in my +shop in the public place where all sorts of fine stuffs are sold, +I saw an ugly, tall, black slave come in, with an apple in his +hand, which I knew to be one of those I had brought from +Bussorah. I had no reason to doubt it, because I was certain +there was not one to be had in Bagdad, nor in any of the gardens +in the vicinity. I called to him, and said, "Good slave, pr'ythee +tell me where thou hadst this apple?" "It is a present" (said he, +smiling) "from my mistress. I went to see her to-day, and found +her out of order. I saw three apples lying by her, and asked her +where she had them. She told me the good man, her husband, had +made a fortnight's journey on purpose, and brought them to her. +We had a collation together; and, when I took my leave of her, I +brought away this apple." + +This account rendered me distracted. I rose, shut up my shop, ran +home with all speed, and going to my wife's chamber, looked +immediately for the apples, and seeing only two, asked what was +become of the third. My wife, turning her head to the place where +the apples lay, and perceiving there were but two, answered me +coldly, "Cousin, I know not what is become of it." At this reply +I was convinced what the slave had told me was true; and giving +myself up to madness and jealousy, drew my knife from my girdle, +and thrust it into the unfortunate creature's throat. I +afterwards cut off her head, and divided her body into four +quarters, which I packed up in a bundle, sewed it up with a +thread of red yarn, put all together in a trunk, and when night +came, carried it on my shoulder down to the Tigris, where I sunk +it. + +The two youngest of my children were asleep, the third was out; +but at my return, I found him sitting by my gate, weeping. I +asked him the reason; "Father," said he, "I took this morning +from my mother, without her knowledge, one of those three apples +you brought her, and kept it a long while; but, as I was playing +some time ago with my little brother in the street, a tall slave +passing by snatched it out of my hands, and carried it away. I +ran after him, demanding it back, and besides told him, that it +belonged to my mother, who was sick; and that you had made a +fortnight's journey to procure it; but all to no purpose, he +would not restore it. And as I still followed him, crying out, he +turned and beat me, and then ran away as fast as he could from +one lane to another, till at length I lost sight of him. I have +since been walking without the town expecting your return, to +pray you, dear father, not to tell my mother of it, lest it +should make her worse!" When he had thus spoken he fell a weeping +again more bitterly than before. + +My son's account afflicted me beyond measure. I then found myself +guilty of an enormous crime, and repented too late of having so +easily believed the calumnies of a wretched slave, who, from what +he had learnt of my son, had invented that fatal falsehood. + +My uncle here present came just at that time to see his daughter, +but instead of finding her alive, understood from me that she was +dead, for I concealed nothing from him; and without staying for +his censure, declared myself the greatest criminal in the world. + +Upon this, instead of reproaching me, he joined his tears with +mine, and we together wept three days without intermission, he +for the loss of a daughter whom he had loved tenderly; and I for +the loss of a beloved wife, of whom I had deprived myself in so +cruel a manner by giving too easy credit to the report of a lying +slave. + +This, commander of the faithful, is the sincere confession your +majesty required from me. You have now heard all the +circumstances of my crime, and I must humbly beg of you to order +the punishment due for it; how severe soever it may be, I shall +not in the least complain, but esteem it too easy and light. + +The caliph was much astonished at the young man's relation. But +this just prince, finding he was rather to be pitied than +condemned, began to speak in his favour: "This young man's +crime," said he, "is pardonable before God, and excusable with +men. The wicked slave is the sole cause of this murder; it is he +alone that must be punished: wherefore," continued he, looking +upon the grand vizier, "I give you three days' time to find him +out; if you do not bring him within that space, you shall die in +his stead." The unfortunate Jaaffier, had thought himself out of +danger, was perplexed at this order of the caliph; but as he +durst not return any answer to the prince, whose hasty temper he +knew too well, he departed from his presence, and retired +melancholy to his house, convinced that he had but three days to +live; for he was so fully persuaded that he should not find the +slave, that he made not the least enquiry after him. "Is it +possible," said he, "that in such a city as Bagdad, where there +is an infinite number of negro slaves, I should be able to find +him out that is guilty? Unless God be pleased to interpose as he +hath already to detest the murderer, nothing can save my life." + +He spent the first two days in mourning with his family, who sat +round him weeping and complaining of the caliph's cruelty. The +third day being arrived, he prepared himself to die with courage, +as an honest minister, and one who had nothing to trouble his +conscience; he sent for notaries and witnesses' who signed his +will. After which he took leave of his wife and children, and +bade them farewell. All his family were drowned in tears, so that +there never was a more sorrowful spectacle. At last a messenger +came from the caliph to tell him that he was out of all patience, +having heard nothing from him concerning the negro slave whom he +had commanded him to search for; "I am therefore ordered," said +the messenger, "to bring you before his throne." The afflicted +vizier, obeyed the mandate, but as he was going out, they brought +him his youngest daughter, about five or six years of age, to +receive his last blessing. + +As he had a particular affection for that child, he prayed the +messenger to give him leave to stop a moment, and taking his +daughter in his arms, kissed her several times: as he kissed her, +he perceived she had something in her bosom that looked bulky, +and had a sweet scent. "My dear little one," said he, "what hast +thou in thy bosom?" "My dear father," she replied, "it is an +apple which our slave Rihan sold me for two sequins." + +At these words apple and slave, the grand vizier, uttered an +exclamation of surprise, intermixed with joy, and putting his +hand into the child's bosom, pulled out the apple. He caused the +slave, who was not far off, to be brought immediately, and when +he came, "Rascal," said he, "where hadst thou this apple?" "My +lord," replied the slave, "I swear to you that I neither stole it +in your house, nor out of the commander of the faithful's garden; +but the other day, as I was passing through a street where three +or four children were at play, one of them having it in his hand, +I snatched it from him, and carried it away. The child ran after +me, telling me it was not his own, but belonged mother, who was +sick; and that his father, to satisfy her longing, had made a +long journey, and brought home three apples, whereof this was +one, which he had taken from his mother without her knowledge. He +said all he could to prevail upon me to give it him back, but I +refused, and so brought it home, and sold it for two sequins to +the little lady your daughter." + +Jaaffier could not reflect without astonishment that the +mischievousness of a slave had been the cause of an innocent +woman's death, and nearly of his own. He carried the slave along +with him, and when he came before the caliph, gave the prince an +exact account of what the slave had told him, and the chance +which led him to the discovery of his crime. + +Never was any surprise so great as that of the caliph, yet he +could not refrain from falling into excessive fits of laughter. +At last he recovered himself, and with a serious air told the +vizier, that since his slave had been the occasion of murder, he +deserved an exemplary punishment. "I must own it," said the +vizier, "but his guilt is not unpardonable: I remember the +wonderful history of a vizier, of Cairo, and am ready to relate +it, upon condition that if your majesty finds it more astonishing +than that which gives me occasion to tell it, you will be pleased +to pardon my slave." "I consent," said the caliph; "but you +undertake a hard task, for I do not believe you can save your +slave, the story of the apples being so very singular." Upon +this, Jaaffier began his story thus: + + + + + The Story of Noor ad Deen Ali and Buddir ad Deen Houssun. + + + +Commander of the faithful, there was formerly a sultan of Egypt, +a strict observer of justice, gracious, merciful, and liberal, +and his valour made him terrible to his neighbours. He loved the +poor, and protected the learned, whom he advanced to the highest +dignities. This sultan had a vizier, who was prudent, wise, +sagacious, and well versed in all sciences. This minister had two +sons, who in every thing followed his footsteps. The eldest was +called Shumse ad Deen Mahummud, and the younger Noor ad Deen Ali. +The latter was endowed with all the good qualities that man could +possess. + +The vizier their father being dead, the sultan caused them both +to put on the robes of a vizier, "I am as sorry," said he, "as +you are for the loss of your father; and because I know you live +together, and love one another cordially, I will bestow his +dignity upon you conjointly; go, and imitate your father's +conduct." + +The two new viziers humbly thanked the sultan, and retired to +make due preparation for their father's interment. They did not +go abroad for a month, after which they repaired to court, and +attended their duties. When the sultan hunted, one of the +brothers accompanied him, and this honour they had by turns. One +evening as they were conversing together after a cheerful meal, +the next day being the elder brother's turn to hunt with the +sultan, he said to his younger brother, "Since neither of us is +yet married, and we live so affectionately together, let us both +wed the same day sisters out of some family that may suit our +quality. What do you think of this plan?" "Brother," answered the +other vizier, "there cannot be a better thought; for my part, I +will agree to any thing you approve." "But this is not all," said +the elder; "my fancy carries me farther: Suppose both our wives +should conceive the first night of our marriage, and should +happen to be brought to bed on one day, yours of a son, and mine +of a daughter, we will give them to each other in marriage." +"Nay," said Noor ad Deen aloud, "I must acknowledge that this +prospect is admirable; such a marriage will perfect our union, +and I willingly consent to it. But then, brother," said he +farther, "if this marriage should happen, would you expect that +my son should settle a jointure on your daughter?" "There is no +difficulty in that," replied the other; "for I am persuaded, that +besides the usual articles of the marriage contract, you will not +fail to promise in his name at least three thousand sequins, +three landed estates, and three slaves." "No," said the younger +"I will not consent to that; are we not brethren, and equal in +title and dignity? Do not you and I know what is just? The male +being nobler than the female, it is your part to give a large +dowry with your daughter. By what I perceive, you are a man that +would have your business done at another's charge." + +Although Noor ad Deen spoke these words in jest, his brother +being of a hasty temper, was offended, and falling into a passion +said, "A mischief upon your son, since you prefer him before my +daughter. I wonder you had so much confidence as to believe him +worthy of her; you must needs have lost your judgment to think +you are my equal, and say we are colleagues. I would have you to +know, that since you are so vain, I would not marry my daughter +to your son though you would give him more than you are worth." +This pleasant quarrel between two brothers about the marriage of +their children before they were born went so far, that Shumse ad +Deen concluded by threatening: "Were I not to-morrow," said he, +"to attend the sultan, I would treat you as you deserve; but at +my return, I will make you sensible that it does not become a +younger brother to speak so insolently to his elder as you have +done to me." Upon this he retired to his apartment in anger. + +Shumse ad Deen rising early next morning, attended the sultan, +who went to hunt near the pyramids. As for Noor ad Deen, he was +very uneasy all night, and supposing it would not be possible to +live longer with a brother who had treated him with so much +haughtiness, he provided a stout mule, furnished himself with +money and jewels, and having told his people that he was going on +a private journey for two or three days, departed. + +When out of Cairo, he rode by way of the desert towards Arabia; +but his mule happening to tire, was forced to continue his +journey on foot. A courier who was going to Bussorah, by good +fortune overtaking him, took him up behind him. As soon as the +courier reached that city, Noor ad Deen alighted, and returned +him thanks for his kindness. As he went about to seek for a +lodging, he saw a person of quality with a numerous retinue, to +whom all the people shewed the greatest respect, and stood still +till he had passed. This personage was grand vizier, to the +sultan of Bussorah, who was passing through the city to see that +the inhabitants kept good order and discipline. + +This minister casting his eyes by chance on Noor ad Deen Ali, +perceiving something extraordinary in his aspect, looked very +attentively upon him, and as he saw him in a traveller's habit, +stopped his train, asked him who he was, and from whence he came? +"Sir," said Noor ad Deen, "I am an Egyptian, born at Cairo, and +have left my country, because of the unkindness of a near +relation, resolved to travel through the world, and rather to die +than return home." The grand vizier, who was a good-natured man, +after hearing these words, said to him, "Son, beware; do not +pursue your design; you are not sensible of the hardships you +must endure. Follow me; I may perhaps make you forget the +misfortunes which have forced you to leave your own country." + +Noor ad Deen followed the grand vizier, who soon discovered his +good qualities, and conceived for him so great an affection, that +one day he said to him in private, "My son, I am, as you see, so +far gone in years, that it is not probable I shall live much +longer. Heaven has bestowed on me only one daughter, who is as +beautiful as you are handsome, and now fit for marriage. Several +nobles of the highest rank at this court have sought her for +their sons, but I would not grant their request. I have an +affection for you, and think you so worthy to be received into my +family, that, preferring you before all those who have demanded +her, I am ready to accept you for my son-in-law. If you like the +proposal, I will acquaint the sultan my master that I have +adopted you by this marriage, and intreat him to grant you the +reversion of my dignity of grand vizier in the kingdom of +Bussorah. In the mean time, nothing being more requisite for me +than ease in my old age, I will not only put you in possession of +great part of my estate, but leave the administration of public +affairs to your management." + +When the grand vizier had concluded this kind and generous +proposal, Noor ad Deen fell at his feet, and expressing himself +in terms that demonstrated his joy and gratitude, assured him, +that he was at his command in every way. Upon this the vizier +sent for his chief domestics, ordered them to adorn the great +hall of his palace, and prepare a splendid feast. He afterwards +sent to invite the nobility of the court and city, to honour him +with their company; and when they were all met (Noor ad Deen +having made known his quality), he said to the noblemen present, +for he thought it proper to speak thus on purpose to satisfy +those to whom he had refused his alliance, "I am now, my lords, +to discover a circumstance which hitherto I have keep a secret. I +have a brother, who is grand vizier to the sultan of Egypt. This +brother has but one son, whom he would not marry in the court of +Egypt, but sent him hither to wed my daughter in order that both +branches of our family may be united. His son, whom I knew to be +my nephew as soon as I saw him, is the young man I now present to +you as my son-in-law. I hope you will do me the honour to be +present at his wedding, which I am resolved to celebrate this +day." The noblemen, who could not be offended at his preferring +his nephew to the great matches that had been proposed, allowed +that he had very good reason for his choice, were willing to be +witnesses to the ceremony, and wished that God might prolong his +days to enjoy the satisfaction of the happy match. + +The lords met at the vizier of Bussorah's palace, having +testified their satisfaction at the marriage of his daughter with +Noor ad Deen Ali, sat down to a magnificent repast, after which, +notaries came in with the marriage contrast, and the chief lords +signed it; and when the company had departed, the grand vizier +ordered his servants to have every thing in readiness for Noor ad +Deen Ali, to bathe. He had fine new linen, and rich vestments +provided for him in the greatest profusion. Having bathed and +dressed, he was perfumed with the most odoriferous essences, and +went to compliment the vizier, his father-in-law, who was +exceedingly pleased with his noble demeanour. Having made him sit +down, "My son," said he, "you have declared to me who you are, +and the office you held at the court of Egypt. You have also told +me of a difference betwixt you and your brother, which occasioned +you to leave your country. I desire you to make me your entire +confidant, and to acquaint me with the cause of your quarrel; for +now you have no reason either to doubt my affection, or to +conceal any thing from me." + +Noor ad Deen informed him of every circumstance of the quarrel; +at which the vizier, burst out into a fit of laughter, and said, +"This is one of the strangest occurrences I ever heard. Is it +possible, my son, that your quarrel should rise so high about an +imaginary marriage? I am sorry you fell out with your elder +brother upon such a frivolous matter; but he was also wrong in +being angry at what you only spoke in jest, and I ought to thank +heaven for that difference which has procured me such a son-in- +law. But," continued the vizier, "it is late, and time for you to +retire; go to your bride, my son, she expects you: to-morrow, I +will present you to the sultan, and hope he will receive you in +such a manner as shall satisfy us both." Noor ad Deen Ali took +leave of his father-in-law, and retired to his bridal apartment. + +It is remarkable that Shumse ad Deen Mahummud happened also to +marry at Cairo the very same day that this marriage was +solemnized at Bussorah, the particulars of which are as follow: + +After Noor ad Deen Ali left Cairo, with an intention never to +return, his elder brother, who was hunting with the sultan of +Egypt, was absent for a month; for the sultan being fond of the +chase, continued it often for so long a period. At his return, +Shumse ad Deen was much surprised when he understood, that under +presence of taking a short journey his brother departed from +Cairo on a mule the same day as the sultan, and had never +appeared since. It vexed him so much the more, because he did not +doubt but the harsh words he had used had occasioned his flight. +He sent a messenger in search of him, who went to Damascus, and +as far as Aleppo, but Noor ad Deen was then at Bussorah. When the +courier returned and brought no news of him, Shumse ad Deen +intended to make further inquiry after him in other parts; but in +the meantime matched with the daughter of one of the greatest +lords in Cairo, upon the same day in which his brother married +the daughter of the grand vizier, of Bussorah. + +At the end of nine months the wife of Shumse ad Deen was brought +to bed of a daughter at Cairo, and on the same day the lady of +Noor ad Deen was delivered of a son at Bussorah, who was called +Buddir ad Deen Houssun. + +The grand vizier, of Bussorah testified his joy for the birth of +his grandson by gifts and public entertainments. And to shew his +son-in-law the great esteem he had for him, he went to the +palace, and most humbly besought the sultan to grant Noor ad Deen +Ali his office, that he might have the comfort before his death +to see his son in-law made grand vizier, in his stead. + +The sultan, who had conceived a distinguished regard for Noor ad +Deen when the vizier, had presensed him upon his marriage, and +had ever since heard every body speak well of him, readily +granted his father-in-law's request, and caused Noor ad Deen +immediately to be invested with the robe and insignia of the +vizarut, such as state drums, standards, and writing apparatus of +gold richly enamelled and set with jewels. + +The next day, when the father saw his son-in-law preside in +council, as he himself had done, and perform all the offices of +grand vizier, his joy was complete. Noor ad Deen Ali conducted +himself with that dignity and propriety which shewed him to have +been used to state affairs, and engaged the approbation of the +sultan, and reverence and affection of the people. + +The old vizier of Bussorah died about four years afterwards with +great satisfaction, seeing a. branch of his family that promised +so fair to support its future consequence and respectability. + +Noor ad Deen Ali, performed his last duty to him with all +possible love and gratitude. And as soon as his son Buddir ad +Deen Houssun had attained the age of seven years, provided him an +excellent tutor, who taught him such things as became his birth. +The child had a ready wit, and a genius capable of receiving all +the good instructions that could be given. + +After Buddir ad Deen had been two years under the tuition of his +master, who taught him perfectly to read, he learnt the Koran by +heart. His father put him afterwards to other tutors, by whom his +mind was cultivated to such a degree, that when he was twelve +years of age he had no more occasion for them. And then, as his +physiognomy promised wonders, he was admired by all who saw him. + +Hitherto his father had kept him to study, but now he introduced +him to the sultan, who received him graciously. The people who +saw him in the streets were charmed with his demeanour, and gave +him a thousand blessings. + +His father proposing to render him capable of supplying his +place, accustomed him to business of the greatest moment, on +purpose to qualify him betimes. In short, he omitted nothing to +advance a son he loved so well. But as he began to enjoy the +fruits of his labour, he was suddenly seized by a violent fit of +sickness; and finding himself past recovery, disposed himself to +die a good Mussulmaun. + +In that last and precious moment he forgot not his son, but +called for him, and said, "My son, you see this world is +transitory; there is nothing durable but in that to which I shall +speedily go. You must therefore from henceforth begin to fit +yourself for this change, as I have done; you must prepare for it +without murmuring, so as to have no trouble of conscience for not +having acted the part of a really honest man. As for your +religion, you are sufficiently instructed in it, by what you have +learnt from your tutors, and your own study; and as to what +belongs to an upright man, I shall give you some instructions, of +which I hope you will make good use. As it is a necessary thing +to know one's self, and you cannot come to that knowledge without +you first understand who I am, I shall now inform you. + +"I am a native of Egypt; my father, your grandfather, was first +minister to the sultan of that kingdom. I had myself the honour +to be vizier, to that sultan, and so has my brother, your uncle, +who I suppose is yet alive; his name is Shumse ad Deen Mahummud. +I was obliged to leave him, and come into this country, where I +have raised myself to the high dignity I now enjoy. But you will +understand all these matters more fully by a manuscript that I +shall give you." + +At the same time, Noor ad Deen Ali gave to his son a memorandum +book, saying, "Take and read it at your leisure; you will find, +among other things, the day of my marriage, and that of your +birth. These are circumstances which perhaps you may hereafter +have occasion to know, therefore you must keep it very +carefully." + +Buddir ad Deen Houssun being sincerely afflicted to see his +father in this condition, and sensibly touched with his +discourse, could not but weep when he received the memorandum +book, and promised at the same time never to part with it. + +That very moment Noor ad Deen fainted, so that it was thought he +would have expired; but he came to himself again, and spoke as +follows: + +"My son, the first instruction I give you, is, Not to make +yourself familiar with all sorts of people. The way to live happy +is to keep your mind to yourself, and not to tell your thoughts +too easily. + +"Secondly, Not to do violence to any body whatever, for in that +case you will draw every body's hatred upon you. You ought to +consider the world as a creditor, to whom you owe moderation, +compassion, and forbearance. + +"Thirdly, Not to say a word when you are reproached; for, as the +proverb says, He that keeps silence is out of danger.' And in +this case particularly you ought to practice it. You also know +what one of our poets says upon this subject, That silence is +the ornament and safe-guard of life'; That our speech ought not +to be like a storm of hail that spoils all. Never did any man yet +repent of having spoken too little, whereas many have been sorry +that they spoke so much. + +"Fourthly, To drink no wine, for that is the source of all vices. + +" Fifthly, To be frugal in your way of living; if you do not +squander your estate, it will maintain you in time of necessity. +I do not mean you should be either profuse or niggardly; for +though you have little, if you husband it well, and lay it out on +proper occasions, you will have many friends; but if on the +contrary you have great riches, and make but a bad use of them, +all the world will forsake you, and leave you to yourself. + +In short, the virtuous Noor ad Deen continued till the last +aspiration of his breath to give good advice to his son; and when +he was dead he was magnificently interred. + +Noor ad Deen was buried with all the honours due to his rank. +Buddir ad Deen Houssun of Bussorah, for so he was called, because +born in that city, was with grief for the death of his father, +that instead of a month's time to mourn, according to custom, he +kept himself shut up in tears and solitude about two months, +without seeing any body, or so much as going abroad to pay his +duty to his sovereign. The sultan being displeased at his +neglect, and looking upon it as a alight, suffered his passion to +prevail, and in his anger, called for the new grand vizier, (for +he had created another on the death of Noor ad Deen), commanded +him to go to the house of the deceased, and seize upon it, with +all his other houses, lands, and effects, without leaving any +thing for Buddir ad Deen Houssun, and to confine his person. + +The new grand vizier, accompanied by his officers, went +immediately to execute his commission. But one of Buddir ad Deen +Houssun's slaves happening accidentally to come into the crowd, +no sooner understood the vizier's errand, than he ran before to +give his master warning. He found him sitting in the vestibule of +his house, as melancholy as if his father had been but newly +dead. He fell down at his feet out of breath, and alter he had +kissed the hem of his garment, cried out, "My lord, save yourself +immediately." The unfortunate youth lifting up his head, +exclaimed, "What news dost thou bring?" "My lord," said he, +"there is no time to be lost; the sultan is incensed against you, +has sent to confiscate your estates, and to seize your person." + +The words of this faithful and affectionate slave occasioned +Buddir ad Deen Houssun great alarm. "May not I have so much +time," said he, "as to take some money and jewels along with me?" +``No, Sir," replied the slave, "the grand vizier, will be here +this moment; be gone immediately, save yourself." The unhappy +youth rose hastily from his sofa, put his feet in his sandals, +and after he had covered his head with the skirt of his vest, +that his face might not be known, fled, without knowing what way +to go, to avoid the impending danger. + +He ran without stopping till he came to the public burying- +ground, and as it was growing dark, resolved to pass that night +in his father's tomb. It was a large edifice, covered by a dome, +which Noor ad Deen Ali, as is common with the Mussulmauns, had +erected for his sepulture. On the way Buddir ad Deen met a Jew, +who was a banker and merchant, and was returning from a place +where his affairs had called him, to the city. + +The Jew, knowing Buddir ad Deen, stopped, and saluted him very +courteously. + +Isaac the Jew, after he had paid his respects to Buddir ad Deen +Houssun, by kissing his hand, said, "My lord, dare I be so bold +as to ask whither you are going at this time of night alone, and +so much troubled? Has any thing disquieted you?" "Yes," said +Buddir ad Deen, "a while ago I was asleep, and my father appeared +to me in a dream, looking very fiercely upon me, as if much +displeased. I started out of my sleep in alarm, and came out +immediately to go and pray upon his tomb." + +"My lord," said the Jew (who did not know the true reason why +Buddir ad Deen had left the town), "your father of happy memory, +and my good lord, had store of merchandize in several vessels, +which are yet at sea, and belong to you; I beg the favour of you +to grant me the refusal of them before any other merchant. I am +able to pay down ready money for all the goods that are in your +ships: and to begin, if you will give me those that happen to +come in the first that arrives in safety, I will pay you down in +part of payment a thousand sequins," and drawing out a bag from +under his vest, he shewed it him sealed up with one seal. + +Buddir ad Deen Houssun being banished from home, and dispossessed +of all that he had in the world, looked on this proposal of the +Jew as a favour from heaven, and therefore accepted it with joy. +"My lord," said the Jew, "then you sell me for a thousand sequins +the lading of the first of your ships that shall arrive in port?" +"Yes," answered Buddir ad Deen, "I sell it to you for a thousand +sequins; it is done." Upon this the Jew delivered him the bag of +a thousand sequins, and offered to count them, but Buddir ad Deen +said he would trust his word. "Since it is so, my lord," said he, +"be pleased to favour me with a small note of the bargain we have +made." As he spoke, he pulled the inkhorn from his girdle, and +taking a small reed out of it neatly cut for writing, presented +it to him with a piece of paper. Buddir ad Deen Houssun wrote +these words: + +"This writing is to testify, that Buddir ad Deen Houssun of +Bussorah, has sold to Isaac the Jew, for the sum of one thousand +sequins, received in hand, the lading of the first of his ships +that shall arrive in this port." + +This note he delivered to the Jew, after having stamped it with +his seal, and then took his leave of him. + +While Isaac pursued his journey to the city, Buddir ad Deen made +the best of his way to his father's tomb. When he came to it, he +prostrated himself to the ground, and, with his eyes full of +tears, deplored his miserable condition. "Alas!" said he, +"unfortunate Buddir ad Deen, what will become of thee? Whither +canst thou fly for refuge against the unjust prince who +persecutes thee? Was it not enough to be afflicted by the death +of so dear a father? Must fortune needs add new misfortunes to +just complaints?" He continued a long time in this posture, but +at last rose up, and leaning his head upon his father's +tombstone, his sorrows returned more violently than before; so +that he sighed and mourned, till, overcome with heaviness, he +sunk upon the floor, and drops asleep. + +He had not slept long, when a genie, who had retired to the +cemetery during the day, and was intending, according to his +custom, to range about the world at night, entered the sepulchre, +and finding Buddir ad Deen lying on his back, was surprised at +his beauty. + +When the genie had attentively considered Buddir ad Deen Houssun, +he said to himself, "To judge of this creature by his beauty, he +would seem to be an angel of the terrestrial paradise, whom God +has sent to put the world in a flame by his charms." At last, +after he had satisfied himself with looking at him, he tool; a +flight into the air, where meeting by chance with a perie, they +saluted one another; after which he said to her, "Pray descend +with me into the cemetery, where I dwell, and I will shew you a +beauty worthy your admiration." The perie consented, and both +descended in an instant; they came into the tomb. "Look," said +the genie, shewing her Buddir ad Deen Houssun, "did you ever see +a youth more beautiful?" + +The perie having attentively observed Buddir ad Deen, replied, "I +must confess that he is a very handsome man, but I am just come +from seeing an objets at Cairo, more admirable than this; and if +you will hear me, I will relate her unhappy fate." "You will very +much oblige me," answered the genie. "You must know then," said +the perie, "that the sultan of Egypt has a vizier, Shumse ad Deen +Mahummud, who has a daughter most beautiful and accomplished. The +sultan having heard of this young lady's beauty, sent the other +day for her father, and said, I understand you have a daughter +to marry; I would have her for my bride: will not you consent?' +The vizier, who did not expect this proposal, was troubled, and +instead of accepting it joyfully, which another in his place +would certainly have done, he answered the sultan: May it please +your majesty, I am not worthy of the honour you would confer upon +me, and I most humbly beseech you to pardon me, if I do not +accede to your request. You know I had a brother, who had the +honour, as well as myself, to be one of your viziers: we had some +difference together, which was the cause of his leaving me +suddenly. Since that time I have had no account of him till +within these four days, that I heard he died at Bussorah, being +grand vizier to the sultan of that kingdom. + +"He has left a son, and there having been an agreement between +us to match our children together, I am persuaded he intended +that match when he died; and being desirous to fulfil the promise +on my part, I conjure your majesty to grant me permission.' + +"The sultan of Egypt, provoked at this denial of his vizier said +to him in anger which he could not restrain: Is this the way in +which you requite my condescension in stooping so low as to +desire your alliance? I know how to revenge your presumption in +daring to prefer another to me, and I swear that your daughter +shall be married to the most contemptible and ugly of my slaves.' +Having thus spoken, he angrily commanded the vizier to quit his +presence. The vizier retired to his palace full of confusion, and +overwhelmed in despair. + +"This very day the sultan sent for one of his grooms, who is +hump-backed, big-bellied, crook legged, and as ugly as a +hobgoblin; and after having commanded the vizier to marry his +daughter to this ghastly slave, he caused the contract to be made +and signed by witnesses in his own presence. The preparations for +this fantastical wedding are all ready, and this very moment all +the slaves belonging to the lords of the court of Egypt are +waiting at the door of a bath, each with a flambeau in his hand, +for the crook-back groom, who is bathing, to go along with them +to his bride, who is already dressed to receive him; and when I +departed from Cairo, the ladies met for that purpose were going +to conduct her in her nuptial attire to the hall, where she is to +receive her hump-backed bridegroom, and is this minute expecting +him. I have seen her, and do assure you, that no person can +behold her without admiration." + +When the perie left off speaking, the genie said to her, +"Whatever you think or say, I cannot be persuaded that the girl's +beauty exceeds that of this young man." "I will not dispute it +with you," answered the perie; "for I must confess he deserves to +be married to that charming creature, whom they design for hump- +back; and I think it were a deed worthy of us to obstruct the +sultan of Egypt's injustice, and put this young gentleman in the +room of the slave." "You are in the right," answered the genie; +"I am extremely obliged to you for so good a thought; let us +deceive him. I consent to your revenge upon the sultan of Egypt; +let us comfort a distressed father, and make his daughter as +happy as she thinks herself miserable. I will do my utmost +endeavours to make this project succeed, and I am persuaded you +will not be backward. I will be at the pains to carry him to +Cairo before he awakes, and afterwards leave it to your care to +carry him elsewhere, when we have accomplished our design." + +The perie and the genie having thus concerted what they had to +do, the genie lifted up Buddir ad Deen Houssun gently, and with +an inconceivable swiftness conveyed him through the air and set +him down at the door of a building next to the bath, whence hump- +back was to come with a train of slaves that waited for him. +Buddir ad Deen awoke, and was naturally alarmed at finding +himself in the middle of a city he knew not; he was going to cry +out, but the genie touched him gently on the shoulder, and forbad +him to speak. He then put a torch in his hand, saying, "Go, and +mix with the crowd at the door of the bath; follow them till you +come into a hall, where they are going to celebrate a marriage. +The bridegroom is a hump-backed fellow, and by that you will +easily know him. Put yourself at the right hand as you go in, +open the purse of sequins you have in your bosom, distribute them +among the musicians and dancers as they go along; and when you +are got into the hall, give money also to the female slaves you +see about the bride; but every time you put your hand in your +purse, be sure to take out a whole handful, and do not spare +them. Observe to do everything exactly as I have desired you; be +not afraid of any person, and leave the rest to a superior power, +who will order matters as he thinks fit." + +Buddir ad Deen, being well instructed in all that he was to do, +advanced towards the door of the bath. The first thing he did was +to light his torch at that of a slave; and then mixing among them +as if he belonged to some noblemen of Cairo, he marched along as +they did, and followed humpback, who came out of the bath, and +mounted a horse from the sultan's own stable. + +Buddir ad Deen coming near to the musicians, and men and women +dancers, who went just before the bridegroom, pulled out time +after time whole handfuls of sequins, which he distributed among +them: and as he thus gave his money with an unparalleled grace +and engaging mien, all who received it fixed their eyes upon him; +and after they had a full view of his face, they found him so +handsome that they could not withdraw their attention. + +At last they came to the gates of the vizier who little thought +his nephew was so near. The doorkeepers, to prevent any disorder, +kept back all the slaves that carried torches, and would not +admit them. Buddir ad Deen was likewise refused; but the +musicians, who had free entrance, stood still, and protested they +would not go in, if they hindered him from accompanying them. "He +is not one of the slaves'" said they; "look upon him, and you +will soon be satisfied. He is certainly a young stranger, who is +curious to see the ceremonies observed at marriages in this +city;" and saying thus, they put him in the midst of them, and +carried him with them in spite of the porters. They took his +torch out of his hand, gave it to the first they met, and having +brought him into the hall, placed him at the right hand of the +hump-backed bridegroom, who sat near the vizier's daughter on a +throne most richly adorned. + +She appeared very lovely, but in her face there was nothing to be +seen but vexation and grief. The cause of this was easily to be +guessed, when she had by her side a bridegroom so very deformed, +and so unworthy of her love. The nuptial seat was in the midst of +an estrade. The ladies of the emirs, viziers, those of the +sultan's bed-chamber, and several other ladies of the court and +city, were placed on each side, a little lower, every one +according to her rank, and richly dressed, holding a large wax +taper in her hands. + +When they saw Buddir ad Deen Houssun, all fixed their eyes upon +him, and admiring his shape, his behaviour, and the beauty of his +face, they could not forbear looking upon him. When he was seated +every one deft their seats, came near him to have a full view of +his face, and all found themselves moved with love and +admiration. + +The disparity between Buddir ad Deen Houssun and the hump-backed +groom, who made such a contemptible figure, occasioned great +murmuring among the company; insomuch that the ladies cried out, +"We must give our bride to this handsome young gentleman, and not +to this ugly humpback." Nor did they rest here, but uttered +imprecations against the sultan, who, abusing his absolute power, +would unite ugliness and beauty together. They also mocked the +bridegroom, so as to put him out of countenance, to the great +satisfaction of the spectators, whose shouts for some time put a +stop to the concert of music in the hall. At last the musicians +began again, and the women who had dressed the bride surrounded +her. + +Each time that the bride retired to change her dress, she on her +return passed by hump-back without giving him one look, and went +towards Buddir ad Deen, before whom she presented herself in her +new attire. On this occasion, Buddir ad Deen, according to the +instructions given him by the genie, failed not to put his hands +in his purse, and pulled out handfuls of sequins, which he +distributed among the women that followed the bride. Nor did he +forget the players and dancers, but also threw money to them. It +was pleasant to see how they pushed one another to gather it up. +They shewed themselves thankful for his liberality. + +When the ceremony of changing habits was passed, the music ceased +and the company retired. The bride repaired to the nuptial +chamber, whither her attendants followed to undress her, and none +remained in the hall but the hump-back groom, Buddir ad Deen, and +some of the domestics. + +Hump-back, who was enraged at Buddir ad Deen, suspecting him to +be his rival, gave him a cross look, and said, "And thou, what +dost thou wait for? Why art thou not gone as well as the rest? +Depart!" Buddir ad Deen having no pretence to stay, withdrew, not +knowing what to do with himself. But before he got out of the +vestibule, the genie and the perie met and stopped him. "Whither +are you going?" said the perie; "stay, hump-back is not in the +hall, return, and introduce yourself into the bride's chamber. As +soon as you are alone with her, tell her boldly that you are her +husband, that the sultan's intention was only to make sport with +the groom. In the mean time we will take care that the hump-back +shall not return, and let nothing hinder your passing the night +with your bride, for she is yours and not his." + +While the perie thus encouraged Buddir ad Deen, and instructed +him how he should behave himself, hump-back had really gone out +of the room for a moment. The genie went to him in the shape of a +monstrous cat, mewing at a most fearful rate. Hump-back called to +the cat, he clapped his hands to drive her away, but instead of +retreating, she stood upon her hinder feet, staring with her eyes +like fire, looking fiercely at him, mewing louder than she did at +first, and increasing in size till she was as large as an ass. At +this sight, hump-back would have cried out for help, but his fear +was so great, that he stood gaping and could not utter one word. +That he might have no time to recover, the genie changed himself +immediately into a large buffalo, and in this stripe called to +him, with a voice that redoubled his fear, "Thou hump-backed +villain!" At these words the affrighted groom cast himself upon +the ground, and covering his face with his vest, that he might +not see this dreadful beast, "Sovereign prince of buffaloes," +said he, "what is it you want of me?" "Woe be to thee," replied +the genie, "hast thou the presumption to venture to marry my +mistress?" "O my lord," said hump-back, "I pray you to pardon me, +if I am guilty, it is through ignorance. I did not know that this +lady had a buffalo to her sweetheart: command me in anything you +please, I give you my oath that I am ready to obey you." "By +death," replied the genie; "if thou goest out from hence, or +speakest a word till the sun rises, I will crush thy head to +pieces. I warn thee to obey, for if thou hast the impudence to +return, it shall cost thee thy life." When the genie had done +speaking, he transformed himself into the shape of a man, took +hump-back by the legs, and after having set him against the wall +with his head downwards, "If thou stir," said he, "before the sun +rise, as I have told thee already, I will take thee by the heels +again, and dash thy head in a thousand pieces against the wall." + +To return to Buddir ad Deen. Prompted by the genie and the +presence of the perie, he returned to the hall, from whence he +slips into the bride-chamber, where he sat down, expecting the +success of his adventure. After a while the bride arrived, +conducted by an old matron, who came no farther than the door, +without looking in to see whether it were hump-back or another +that was there, and then retired. + +The beautiful bride was agreeably surprised to find instead of +hump-back a handsome youth, who gracefully addressed her. "What! +my dear friend," said she, "by your being here at this time of +night you must be my husband's comrade?" "No, madam," said Buddir +ad Deen, "I am of another quality than that ugly hump-back." +"But," said she, "you do not consider that you speak degradingly +of my husband." "He your husband," replied he: "can you retain +those thoughts so long? Be convinced of your mistake, for so much +beauty must never be sacrificed to the most contemptible of +mankind. It is I that am the happy mortal for whom it is +reserved. The sultan had a mind to make himself merry, by putting +this trick upon the vizier your father, but he chose me to be +your real husband. You might have observed how the ladies, the +musicians, the dancers, your women, and all the servants of your +family, were pleased with this comedy. We have sent hump-back to +his stable again." + +At this discourse the vizier's daughter (who was more like one +dead than alive when she came into the bride-chamber) put on a +gay air, which made her so handsome, that Buddir ad Deen was +charmed with her graces. + +"I did not expect," said she, "to meet with so pleasing a +surprise; and I had condemned myself to live unhappy all my days. +But my good fortune is so much the greater, that I possess in you +a man worthy of my tenderest affection." + +Buddir ad Deen, overjoyed to see himself possessor of so many +charms, retired with his bride, and laid his vesture aside, with +the bag that he had from the Jew; which, notwithstanding all the +money he had dispersed, was still full. + +Towards morning, while the two lovers were asleep, the genie, who +had met again with the perie, said, "It is time to finish what we +have so successfully carried on; let us not be overtaken by day- +light, which will soon appear; go you and bring off the young man +again without awaking him." + +The perie went into the bed-chamber where the two lovers were +fast asleep, took up Buddir ad Deen in his under vest and +drawers; and in company with the genie with wonderful swiftness +fled away with him to the gates of Damascus in Syria, where they +arrived just at the time when the officers of the mosques, +appointed for that end, were calling the people to prayers at +break of day. The perie laid Buddir ad Deen softly on the ground, +close by the gate, and departed with the genie. + +The gate of the city being opened, and many people assembled, +they were surprised to see a youth lying in his shirt and drawers +upon the ground. One said, "He has been hard put to it to get +away from his mistress, that he could not get time to put on his +clothes." "Look," said another, "how people expose themselves; +sure enough he has spent most part of the night in drinking with +his friends, till he has got drunk, and then, perhaps, having +occasion to go out, instead of returning, is come this length, +and not having his senses about him, was overtaken with sleep." +Others were of another opinion; but nobody could guess what had +been the real occasion of his coming thither. + +A small puff of wind happening to blow at this time, uncovered +his breast, which was whiter than snow. Every one being struck +with admiration at the fineness of his complexion, they spoke so +loud that they awaked him. + +His surprise was as great as theirs, when he found himself at the +gate of a city where he had never been before, and encompassed by +a crowd of people gazing at him. "Inform me," said he, "for God's +sake, where I am, and what you would have?" One of the crowd +spoke to him saying, "Young man, the gates of the city were just +now opened, and as we came out we found you lying here in this +condition: have you lain here all night? and do not you know that +you are at one of the gates of Damascus?" "At one of the gates of +Damascus!" answered Buddir ad Deen, "surely you mock me. When I +lay down to sleep last night I was at Cairo." When he had said +this, some of the people, moved with compassion for him, +exclaimed, "It is a pity that such a handsome young man should +have lost his senses;" and so went away. + +"My son," said an old man to him, "you know not what you say. How +is it possible that you, being this morning at Damascus, could be +last night at Cairo?" "It is true," said Buddir ad Deen, "and I +swear to you, that I was all day yesterday at Bussorah." He had +no sooner said this than all the people fell into a fit of +laughter, and cried out, "He's a fool, he's a madman." There were +some, however, that pitied him because of his youth; and one +among the company said to him, "My son, you must certainly be +crazed, you do not consider what you say. Is it possible that a +man could yesterday be at Bussorah, the same night at Cairo, and +this morning at Damascus? Surely you are asleep still, come rouse +up your spirits." "What I say," answered Buddir ad Deen Houssun, +"is so true that last night I was married in the city of Cairo." +All those who laughed before, could not forbear again at this +declaration. "Recollect yourself," said the same person who spoke +before; "you must have dreamt all this, and the fancy still +possesses your brain." "I am sensible of what I say," answered +the young man. "Pray can you tell me how it was possible for me +to go in a dream to Cairo, where I am very certain I was in +person, and where my bride was seven times brought before me, +each time dressed in a different habit, and where I saw an ugly +hump backed fellow, to whom they intended to give her? Besides, I +want to know what is become of my vest, my turban, and the bag of +sequins I had at Cairo?" + +Though he assured them that all these things were matters of +fact, yet they could not forbear to laugh at him: which put him +into such confusion, that he knew not what to think of all those +adventures. + +After Buddir ad Deen Houssun had confidently affirmed all that he +said to be true, he rose up to go into the town, and every one +who followed him called out, "A madman, a fool." Upon this some +looked out at their windows, some came to their doors, and others +joined with those that were about him, calling out as they did, +"A madman;" but not knowing for what. In this perplexity the +affrighted young man happened to come before a pastry-cook's +shop, and went into it to avoid the rabble. + +This pastry-cook had formerly been captain to a troop of Arabian +robbers, who plundered the caravans; and though he was become a +citizen of Damascus, where he behaved himself to every one's +satisfaction, yet he was dreaded by all who knew him; wherefore, +as soon as he came out to the rabble who followed Buddir ad Deen, +they dispersed. + +The pastry-cook asked him who he was, and what brought him +thither. Buddir ad Deen told him all, not concealing his birth, +nor the death of his father the grand vizier. He afterwards gave +him an account why he had left Bussorah; how, after he had fallen +asleep the night following upon his father's tomb, he found +himself when he awoke at Cairo, where he had married a lady; and +at last, in what amazement he was, when he found himself at +Damascus, without being able to penetrate into all those +wonderful adventures. + +"Your history is one of the most surprising," said the pastry- +cook; "but if you will follow my advice, you will let no man know +those matters you have revealed to me, but patiently wait till +heaven thinks fit to put an end to your misfortunes. You shall be +welcome to stay with me till then; and as I have no children, I +will own you for my son, if you consent; after you are so +adopted, you may freely walk the city, without being exposed any +more to the insults of the rabble." + +Though this adoption was below the son of a grand vizier, Buddir +ad Deen was glad to accept of the pastry-cook's proposal, judging +it the best thing he could do, considering his circumstances. The +cook clothed him, called for witnesses, and went before a notary, +where he acknowledged him for his son. After this, Buddir ad Deen +lived with him under the name of Houssun, and learned the pastry- +trade. + +While this passed at Damascus, the daughter of Shumse ad Deen +awoke, and finding Buddir ad Deen gone, supposed he had risen +softly for fear of disturbing her, but would soon return. As she +was in expectation of him, her father the vizier. (who was vexed +at the affront put upon him by the sultan) came and knocked at +her chamber-door, to bewail her sad destiny. He called her by her +name, and she knowing him by his voice, immediately got up, and +opened the door. She kissed his hand, and received him with so +much pleasure in her countenance, that she surprised the vizier. +who expected to find her drowned in tears, and as much grieved as +himself. "Unhappy wretch!" said he in a passion, "do you appear +before me thus? after the hideous sacrifice you have just +consummated, can you see me with so much satisfaction?" + +The new bride seeing her father angry at her pleasant +countenance, said to him, "For God's sake, sir, do not reproach +me wrongfully; it is not the hump-back fellow, whom I abhor more +than death, it is not that monster I have married. Every body +laughed him to scorn, and put him so out of countenance, that he +was forced to run away and hide himself, to make room for a noble +youth, who is my real husband." "What fable do you tell me?" said +Shumse ad Deen, roughly. "What! Did not crook-back lie with you +tonight?" "No, sir," said she, "it was the youth I mentioned, who +has large eyes and black eyebrows." At these words the vizier. +lost all patience, and exclaimed in anger, "Ah, wicked woman! you +will make me distracted!" "It is you, father," said she, "that +put me out of my senses by your incredulity." "So, it is not +true," replied the vizier, "that hump-back----" "Let us talk no +more of hump-back," said she, "a curse upon hump-back. Father, I +assure you once more, that I did not bed with him, but with my +dear spouse, who, I believe, is not far off." + +Shumse ad Deen went out to seek him, but, instead of seeing +Buddir ad Deen, was surprised to find hump-back with his head on +the ground, and his heels uppermost, as the genie had set him +against the wall. "What is the meaning of this?" said he; "who +placed you thus?" Crookback, knowing it to be the vizier. +answered, "Alas! alas! it is you then that would marry me to the +mistress of a genie in the form of a buffalo." + +Shumse ad Deen Mabummud, when he heard hump-back speak thus, +thought he was raving, bade him move, and stand upon his legs. "I +will take care how I stir," said hump-back, "unless the sun be +risen. Know, sir, that when I came last night to your palace, +suddenly a black cat appeared to me, and in an instant grew as +big as a buffalo. I have not forgotten what he enjoined me, +therefore you may depart, and leave me here." The vizier. instead +of going away, took him by the heels, and made him stand up, when +hump-back ran off, without looking behind him; and coming to the +palace presented himself to the sultan, who laughed heartily when +informed how the genie had served him. + +Shumse ad Deen returned to his daughter's chamber, more +astonished than before. "My abused daughter," said he, "can you +give me no farther light in this miraculous affair?" "Sir," +replied she, "I can give you no other account than I have done +already. Here are my husband's clothes, which he put off last +night; perhaps you may find something among them that may solve +your doubt." She then shewed him Buddir ad Deen's turban, which +he examined narrowly on all sides, saying, "I should take this to +be a vizier's turban, if it were not made after the Bussorah +fashion." But perceiving something to be sewed between the stuff +and the lining, he called for scissors, and having unripped it, +found the paper which Noor ad Deen Ali had given to his son upon +his deathbed, and which Buddir ad Deen Houssun had sewn in his +turban for security. + +Shumse ad Deen having opened the paper, knew his brother's hand, +and found this superscription, "For my son Buddir ad Deen +Houssun." Before he could make any reflections upon it, his +daughter delivered him the bag, that lay under the garments, +which he likewise opened, and found it full of sequins: for, +notwithstanding all the liberality of Buddir ad Deen, it was +still kept full by the genie and perie. He read the following +words upon a note in the bag: "A thousand sequins belonging to +Isaac the Jew." And these lines underneath, which the Jew had +written, "Delivered to my lord Buddir ad Deen Houssun, for the +cargo of the first of those ships that formerly belonged to the +noble vizier, his father, of blessed memory, sold to me upon its +arrival in this place." He had scarcely read these words, when he +groaned heavily, and fainted away. + +The vizier Shumse ad Deen being recovered from his fit by the aid +of his daughter, and the women she called to her assistance; +"Daughter," said he, "do not alarm yourself at this accident, +occasioned by what is scarcely credible. Your bridegroom is your +cousin, the son of my beloved and deceased brother. The thousand +sequins in the bag reminds me of a quarrel I had with him, and is +without the dowry he gives you. God be praised for all things, +and particularly for this miraculous adventure, which +demonstrates his almighty power." Then looking again upon his +brother's writing, he kissed it several times, shedding abundance +of tears. + +He looked over the book from beginning to end. In it he found the +date of his brother's arrival at Bussorah, of his marriage, and +of the birth of his son; and when he compared them with the day +of his own marriage, and the birth of his daughter at Cairo, he +wondered at the exact coincidence which appeared in every +circumstance. + +The happy discovery put him into such a transport of joy, that he +took the book, with the ticket of the bag, and shewed them to the +sultan, who pardoned what was past, and was so much pleased with +the relation of this adventure, that he caused it with all its +circumstances to be put in writing for the information of +posterity. + +Meanwhile, the vizier. Shumse ad Deen could not comprehend the +reason why his nephew did not appear; he expected him every +moment, and was impatient to receive him to his arms. After he +had waited seven days in vain, he searched through all Cairo, but +could procure no intelligence of him, which threw him into great +perplexity. "This is the strangest occurrence," said he, "that +ever happened." In order to certify it, he thought fit to draw up +in writing with his own hand an account of the manner in which +the wedding had been solemnized; how the hall and his daughter's +bed-chamber were furnished, with the other circumstances. He +likewise made the turban, the bag, and the rest of Buddir ad +Deen's raiment into a bundle, and locked them up. + +After some days were past, the vizier's daughter perceived +herself pregnant, and after nine months was brought to bed of a +son. A nurse was provided for the child, besides other women and +slaves to wait upon him; and his grandfather called him Agib. + +When young Agib had attained the age of seven, the vizier, +instead of teaching him to read at home, put him to school with a +master who was in great esteem; and two slaves were ordered to +wait upon him. Agib used to play with his schoolfellows, and as +they were all inferior to him in rank, they shewed him great +respect, according to the example of their master, who many times +would pass by faults in him that he would correct in his other +pupils. This indulgence spoiled Agib; he became proud and +insolent, would have his play-fellows bear all from him, and +would submit to nothing from them, but be master every where; and +if any took the liberty to thwart him, he would call them a +thousand names, and many times beat them. + +In short, all the scholars grew weary of his insolence, and +complained of him to their master. He answered, "That they must +have patience." But when he saw that Agib grew still more and +more overbearing, and occasioned him much trouble, "Children," +said he to his scholars, "I find Agib is a little insolent +gentleman; I will shew you how to mortify him, so that he shall +never torment you any more. Nay, I believe it will make him leave +the school. When he comes again to-morrow, place yourselves round +him, and let one of you call out, "Come, let us play, but upon +condition, that every one who desires to play shall tell his own +name, and the names of his father and mother; they who refuse +shall be esteemed bastards, and not be suffered to play in our +company." + +Next day when they were gathered together, they failed not to +follow their master's instructions. They placed themselves round +Agib, and one of them called out, "Let us begin a play, but on +condition that he who cannot tell his own name, and that of his +father and mother, shall not play at all." They all cried out, +and so did Agib, "We consent." Then he that spoke first asked +every one the question, and all fulfilled the condition except +Agib, who answered, "My name is Agib, my mother is called the +lady of beauty, and my father Shumse ad Deen Mahummud, vizier to +the sultan." + +At these words all the children cried out, "Agib, what do you +say? That is not the name of your father, but your grandfather." +"A curse on you," said he in a passion. "What! dare you say that +the vizier is not my father?" "No, no," cried they with great +laughter, "he is your grandfather, and you shall not play with +us. Nay we will take care how we come into your company." Having +spoken thus, they all left him, scoffing him, and laughing among +themselves, which mortified Agib so much that he wept. + +The schoolmaster who was near, and heard all that passed, came +up, and speaking to Agib, said, "Agib, do not you know that the +vizier is not your father, but your grandfather, and the father +of your mother the lady of beauty? We know not the name of your +father any more than you do. We only know that the sultan was +going to marry your mother to one of his grooms, a humpback +fellow; but a genie lay with her. This is hard upon you, but +ought to teach you to treat your schoolfellows with less +haughtiness." + +Agib being nettled at this, ran hastily out of the school. He +went directly sobbing to his mother's chamber, who being alarmed +to see him thus grieved, asked the reason. He could not answer +for tears, so great was his mortification, and it was long ere he +could speak plain enough to repeat what had been said to him, and +had occasioned his sorrow. + +When he came to himself. "Mother," said he "for the love of God +be pleased to tell me who is my father?" "My son," she replied, +"Shumse ad Deen Mahummud, who every day caresses you so kindly, +is your father." "You do not tell me truth," returned Agib; "he +is your father, and none of mine. But whose son am I?" At this +question, the lady of beauty calling to mind her wedding night, +which had been succeeded by a long widowhood, began to shed +tears, repining bitterly at the loss of so handsome a husband as +Buddir ad Deen. + +Whilst the lady of beauty and Agib were both weeping, the vizier +entered, who demanded the reason of their sorrow. The lady told +him the shame Agib had undergone at school, which so much +affected the vizier that he joined his tears with theirs, and +judging from this that the misfortune which had happened to his +daughter was the common discourse of the town, he was mortified +to the quick. + +Being thus afflicted, he went to the sultan's palace, and falling +prostrate at his feet, most humbly intreated permission to make a +journey in search of his nephew Buddir ad Deen Houssun. For he +could not bear any longer that the people of the city should +believe a genie had disgraced his daughter. + +The sultan was much concerned at the vizier's affliction, +approved his resolution, and gave him leave to travel. He caused +a passport also to be written for him, requesting in the +strongest terms all kings and princes in whose dominions Buddir +ad Deen might sojourn, to grant that the vizier might conduct him +to Cairo. + +Shumse ad Deen, not knowing how to express his gratitude to the +sultan, fell down before him a second time, while the floods of +tears he shed bore sufficient testimony to his feelings. At last, +having wished the sultan all manner of prosperity, he took his +leave and returned to his house, where he disposed every thing +for his journey; and the preparations were carried on with so +much diligence, that in four days after he left the city, +accompanied with his daughter the lady of beauty, and his +grandson Agib. + +They travelled nineteen days without intermission; but on the +twentieth, arriving at a pleasant mead, a small distance from the +gate of Damascus, they halted, and pitched their tents upon the +banks of a river which fertilizes the vicinity, and runs through +the town, one of the pleasantest in Syria, once the capital of +the caliphs; and celebrated for its elegant buildings, the +politeness of its inhabitants, and the abundance of its +conveniences. + +The vizier declared he would stay in that pleasent place two +days, and pursue his journey on the third. In the mean time he +gave his retinue leave to go to Damascus; and almost all of them +made use of it: some influenced by curiosity to see a city they +had heard so much of, and others by the opportunity of vending +the Egyptian goods they had brought with them, or buying stuffs, +and the rarities of the country. The beautiful lady desiring her +son Agib might share in the satisfaction of viewing that +celebrated city, ordered the black eunuch, who acted in quality +of his governor, to conduct him thither. + +Agib, in magnificent apparel, went with the eunuch, who had a +large cane in his hand. They had no sooner entered the city, than +Agib, fair and glorious as the day, attracted the eyes of the +people. Some got out of their houses to gain a nearer and +narrower view of him; others put their heads out of the windows, +and those who passed along the street were not satisfied in +stopping to look upon him, but kept pace with him, to prolong the +pleasure of the agreeable sight: in fine, there was not a person +that did not admire him, and bestow a thousand benedictions on +the father and mother that had given being to so fine a child. By +chance the eunuch and he passed by the shop of Buddir ad Deen +Houssun, and there the crowd was so great, that they were forced +to halt. + +The pastry-cook who had adopted Buddir ad Deen Houssun had died +some years before, and left him his shop and all his property, +and he conducted the pastry trade so dexterously, that he had +gained great reputation in Damascus. Buddir ad Deen seeing so +great a crowd before his door, who were gazing so attentively +upon Agib and the black eunuch, stepped out to see them himself. + +Having cast his eyes upon Agib, Buddir ad Deen found himself +moved, he knew not how, nor for what reason. He was not struck +like the people with the brilliant beauty of the boy; another +cause unknown to him gave rise to the uneasiness and emotion he +felt. It was the force of blood that wrought in this tender +father; who, laying aside his business, made up to Agib, and with +an engaging air, said to him: "My little lord, who hast won my +soul, be so kind as to come into my shop, and eat a bit of such +fare as I have; that I may have the pleasure of admiring you at +my ease." These words he pronounced with such tenderness, that +tears trickled from his eyes. Little Agib was moved when he saw +his emotion; and turning to the eunuch, said, "This honest man +speaks in such an affectionate manner, that I cannot avoid +complying with his request; let us step into his house, and taste +his pastry." "It would be a fine thing truly," replied the slave, +"to see the son of a vizier go into a pastry-cook's shop to eat; +do not imagine that I will suffer any such thing." "Alas! my +lord," cried Buddir ad Deen, "it is cruelty to trust the conduct +of you in the hands of a person who treats you so harshly." Then +applying himself to the eunuch, "My good friend," continued he, +"pray do not hinder this young lord from granting me the favour I +ask; do not put such mortification upon me: rather do me the +honour to walk in along with him, and by so doing, you will let +the world know, that, though your outside is brown like a +chestnut, your inside is as white. Do you know," continued he, +"that I am master of the secret to make you white, instead of +being black as you are?" This set the eunuch a laughing, and then +he asked what that secret was. "I will tell you," replied Buddir +ad Deen, who repeated some verses in praise of black eunuchs, +implying, that it was by their ministry that the honour of +princes and of all great men was secured. The eunuch was so +charmed with these verses, that, without further hesitation, he +suffered Agib to go into the shop, and went in with him himself. + +Buddir ad Deen Houssun was overjoyed at having obtained what he +had so passionately desired, and, falling again to the work he +had discontinued "I was making," said he, "cream-tarts; and you +must, with submission, eat of them. I am persuaded you will find +them good; for my own mother, who made them incomparably well, +taught me, and the people send to buy them of me from all +quarters of the town." This said, he took a cream-tart out of the +oven, and after strewing upon it some pomegranate kernels and +sugar, set it before Agib, who found it very delicious. + +Another was served up to the eunuch, and he gave the same +judgment. + +While they were both eating, Buddir ad Deen viewed Agib very +attentively; and after looking upon him again and again, it came +into his mind that possibly he might have such a son by his +charming wife, from whom he had been so soon and so cruelly +separated; and the very thought drew tears from his eyes. He +intended to have put some questions to little Agib about his +journey to Damascus; but the child had no time to gratify his +curiosity, for the eunuch pressing him to return to his +grandfather's tent, took him away as soon as he had done eating. +Buddir ad Deen Houssun, not contented with looking after him, +shut up his shop immediately, and followed him. + +Buddir ad Deen Houssun ran after Agib and the eunuch, and +overtook them before they had reached the gate of the city. The +eunuch perceiving he followed them, was extremely surprised: "You +impertinent fellow," said he, with an angry tone, "what do you +want?" "My dear friend," replied Buddir ad Deen, "do not trouble +yourself; I have a little business out of town, and I must needs +go and look after it." This answer, however, did not at all +satisfy the eunuch, who turning to Agib, said, "This is all owing +to you; I foresaw I should repent of my complaisance; you would +needs go into the man's shop; it was not wisely done in me to +give you leave." "Perhaps," replied Agib, "he has real business +out of town, and the road is free to every body." While this +passed they kept walking together, without looking behind them, +till they came near the vizier's tents, upon which they turned +about to see if Buddir ad Deen followed them. Agib, perceiving he +was within two paces of him, reddened and whitened alternately, +according to the different emotions that affected him. He was +afraid the grand vizier his grandfather should come to know he +had been in the pastry shop, and had eaten there. In this dread, +he took up a large stone that lay at his foot and throwing it at +Buddir ad Deen, hit him in the forehead, and wounded him so that +his face was covered with blood. The eunuch gave Buddir ad Deen +to understand, he had no reason to complain of a mischance that +he had merited and brought upon himself. + +Buddir ad Deen turned towards the city staunching the blood of +the wound with his apron, which he had not put off. "I was a +fool," said he within himself, "for leaving my house, to take so +much pains about this brat; for doubtless he would never have +used me after this manner, if he had not thought I had some ill +design against him." When he got home, he had his wound dressed, +and softened the sense of his mischance by the reflection that +there was an infinite number of people upon the earth, who were +yet more unfortunate than he. + +Buddir ad Deen kept on the pastry-trade at Damascus, and his +uncle Shumse ad Deen Mahummud went from thence three days after +his arrival. He went by way of Emaus, Hanah, and Halep; then +crossed the Euphrates, and after passing through Mardin, +Moussoul, Singier, Diarbeker, and several other towns, arrived at +last at Bussorah. Immediately after his arrival he desired +audience of the sultan, who was no sooner informed of his quality +than he admitted him to his presence, received him very +favourably, and inquired the occasion of his journey to Bussorah. +"Sire," replied the vizier "I come to know what is become of the +son of my brother, who has had the honour to serve your majesty." +"Noor ad Deen Ali," said the sultan, "has been long dead; as for +his son, all I can tell you of him is, that he disappeared +suddenly, about two months after his father's death, and nobody +has seen him since, notwithstanding all the inquiry I ordered to +be made. But his mother, who is the daughter of one of my +viziers, is still alive." Shumse ad Deen Mahummud desired leave +of the sultan to take her to Egypt; and having obtained +permission, without waiting till the next day, inquired after her +place of abode, and that very hour went to her house, accompanied +with his daughter and his grandson. + +The widow of Noor ad Deen Ali resided still in the same place +where her husband had lived. It was a stately fabric, adorned +with marble pillars: but Shumse ad Deen did not stop to view it. +At his entry he kissed the gate, and the piece of marble upon +which his brother's name was written in letters of gold. He asked +to speak with his sister-in-law, and was told by her servants, +that she was in a small building covered by a dome, to which they +directed in the middle of a very spacious court. This tender +mother used to spend the greatest part of the day and night in +that room which she had built as a representation of the tomb of +her son Buddir ad Deen Houssun, whom she supposed to be dead +after so long an absence. She was pouring tears over his memorial +when Shumse ad Deen entering, found her buried in the deepest +affliction. + +He made his compliment, and after beseeching her to suspend her +tears and sighs, informed her he had the honour to be her +brother-in-law, and acquainted her with the reason of his journey +from Cairo to Bussorah. + +Shumse ad Deen Mahummud, after acquainting his sister-in-law with +all that had passed at Cairo on his daughter's wedding-night, and +informing her of the surprise occasioned by the discovery of the +paper sewed up in Buddir ad Deen's turban, presented to her Agib +and the beautiful lady. + +The widow of Noor ad Deen, who had still continued sitting like a +woman dejected, and weaned from the affairs of this world, no +sooner understood by his discourse that her dear son, whom she +lamented so bitterly, might still be alive, than she arose, and +repeatedly embraced the beautiful lady and her grandchild Agib; +and perceiving in the youth the features of Buddir ad Deen, drops +tears different from what she had been so long accustomed to +shed. She could not forbear kissing the youth, who, for his part, +received her embraces with all the demonstrations of joy he was +capable of shewing. "Sister," said Shumse ad Deen, "it is time to +dry your tears, and suppress your sighs; you must think of going +with us to Egypt. The sultan of Bussorah gives me leave to carry +you thither, and I doubt not you will consent. I am in hopes we +shall at last find out your son my nephew; and if we do, the +history of him, of you, of my own daughter, and of my own +adventures, will deserve to be committed to writing, and +transmitted to posterity." + +The widow of Noor ad Deen heard this proposal with pleasure, and +ordered preparations to be made for her departure. While they +were making, Shumse ad Deen desired a second audience, and after +taking leave of the sultan, who dismissed him with ample marks of +respect, and gave him a considerable present for himself, and +another of great value for the sultan of Egypt, he set out from +Bussorah once more for the city of Damascus. + +When he arrived in the neighbourhood of Damascus, he ordered his +tents to be pitched without the gate, at which he designed to +enter the city; and gave out he would tarry there three days, to +give his suit rest, and buy up curiosities to present to the +sultan of Egypt. + +While he was employed in selecting the finest stuffs which the +principal merchants had brought to his tents, Agib begged the +black eunuch his governor to carry him through the city, in order +to see what he had not had leisure to view before; and to inquire +what was become of the pastry cook whom he had wounded. The +eunuch complying with his request, went along with him towards +the city, after leave obtained of the beautiful lady his mother. + +They entered Damascus by the Paradise-gate, which lay next to the +tents of the vizier They walked through the great squares and the +public places where the richest goods were sold, and took a view +of the superb mosque at the hour of prayer, between noon and sun- +set. When they passed by the shop of Buddir ad Deen Houssun, whom +they still found employed in making cream tarts, "I salute you +sir," said Agib; "do you know me? Do you remember you ever saw me +before?" Buddir ad Deen hearing these words, fixed his eyes upon +him, and recognizing him (such was the surprising effect of +paternal love!), felt the same emotion as when he saw him first; +he was confused, and instead of making any answer, continued a +long time without uttering a word. At length, recovering himself, +"My lord," said he, "be so kind as to come once more with your +governor into my house, and taste a cream-tart. I beg your +lordship's pardon, for the trouble I gave you in following you +out of town; I was at that time not myself, I did not know what I +did. You drew me after you, and the violence of the attraction +was so soft, that I could not withstand it." + +Agib, astonished at what Buddir ad Deen said, replied: "There is +an excess in the kindness you express, and unless you engage +under oath not to follow me when I go from hence, I will not +enter your house. If you give me your promise, and prove a man of +your word, I will visit you again to-morrow, since the vizier my +grandfather, is still employed in buying up rarities for a +present to the sultan of Egypt." "My lord," replied Buddir ad +Deen, "I will do whatever you would have me." This said, Agib and +the eunuch went into the shop. + +Presently after, Buddir ad Deen set before them a cream-tart, +that was full as good as what they had eaten before; "Come," said +Agib, "sit down by me, and eat with us." Buddir ad Deen sat down, +and attempted to embrace Agib, as a testimony of the joy he +conceived upon sitting by him. But Agib pushed him away, desiring +him not to be too familiar. Buddir ad Deen obeyed, and repeated +some extempore verses in praise of Agib: he did not eat, but made +it his business to serve his guests. When they had done, he +brought them water to wash, and a very white napkin to wipe their +hands. Then he filled a large china cup with sherbet, and put +snow into it; and offering it to Agib, "This," said he, "is +sherbet of roses; and I am sure you never tasted better." Agib +having drunk of it with pleasure, Buddir ad Deen took the cup +from him, and presented it to the eunuch, who drank it all off at +once. + +In fine, Agib and his governor having fared well, returned thanks +to the pastry-cook for their good entertainment, and moved +homewards, it being then late. When they arrived at the tents of +Shumse ad Deen Mahummud, Agib's grandmother received him with +transports of joy: her son ran always in her mind, and in +embracing Agib, the remembrance of him drew tears from her eyes. +"Ah, my child!" said she, "my joy would be perfect, if I had the +pleasure of embracing your father as I now embrace you." She made +Agib sit by her, and put several questions to him, relating to +the walk he had been taking with the eunuch; and when he +complained of being hungry, she gave him a piece of cream-tart, +which she had made for herself, and was indeed very good: she +likewise gave some to the eunuch. + +Agib no sooner touched the piece of cream-tart that had been set +before him, than he pretended he did not like it, and left it +uncut; and Shubbaunee (which was the eunuch's name) did the same. +The widow of Noor ad Deen Ali observed with regret that her +grandson did not like the tart. "What!" said she, "does my child +thus despise the work of my hands? Be it known to you, no one in +the world can make such besides myself and your father, whom I +taught." "My good mother," replied Agib, "give me leave to tell +you, if you do not know how to make better, there is a pastry- +cook in this town that outdoes you. We were at his shop, and ate +of one much better than yours." + +On hearing this, the grandmother, frowning upon the eunuch, said, +"How now, Shubbaunee, was the care of my grandchild committed to +you, to carry him to eat at pastry-shops like a beggar?" "Madam," +replied the eunuch, "it is true, we did stop a little while and +talked with the pastry-cook, but we did not eat with him." +"Pardon me," said Agib, "we went into his shop, and there ate a +cream-tart." Upon this, the lady, more incensed against the +eunuch than before, rose in a passion from the table, and running +to the tent of Shumse ad Deen, informed him of the eunuch's +crime; and that in such terms, as tended more to inflame the +vizier than to dispose him to excuse it. + +The vizier who was naturally passionate, did not fail on this +occasion to display his anger. He went forthwith to his sister- +in-law's tent, and said to the eunuch, "Wretch, have you the +impudence to abuse the trust I repose in you?" Shubbaunee, though +sufficiently convicted by Agib's testimony, denied the fact +still. But the child persisting in what he had affirmed, +"Grandfather," said he, "I can assure you we not only ate, but +that so very heartily, that we have no occasion for supper: +besides, the pastry-cook treated us also with a great bowl of +sherbet." "Well," cried Shumse ad Deen, "after all this, will you +continue to deny that you entered the pastry-cook's house, and +ate there?" Shubbaunee had still the impudence to swear it was +not true. "Then you are a liar," said the vizier "I believe my +grandchild; but after all, if you can eat up this cream-tart I +shall be persuaded you have truth on your side." + +Though Shubbaunee had crammed himself up to the throat before, he +agreed to stand that test, and accordingly took a piece of tart; +but his stomach rising against it, he was obliged to spit it out +of his mouth. Yet he still pursued the lie, and pretended he had +over-eaten himself the day before, and had not recovered his +appetite. The vizier irritated with all the eunuch's frivolous +presences, and convinced of his guilt, ordered him to be soundly +bastinadoed. In undergoing this punishment, the poor wretch +shrieked out aloud, and at last confessed the truth; "I own," +cried he, "that we did eat a cream-tart at the pastry cook's, and +that it was much better than that upon the table." + +The widow of Noor ad Deen thought it was out of spite to her, and +with a desire to mortify her, that Shubbaunee commended the +pastry-cook's tart; and accordingly said, "I cannot believe the +cook's tarts are better than mine; I am resolved to satisfy +myself upon that head. Where does he live? Go immediately and buy +me one of his tarts." The eunuch repaired to Buddir ad Deen's +shop, and said, "Let me have one of your cream-tarts; one of our +ladies wants to taste them." Buddir ad Deen chose one of the +best, and gave it to the eunuch. + +Shubbaunee returned speedily to the tents, gave the tart to Noor +ad Deen's widow, who, snatching it greedily, broke a piece off; +but no sooner put it to her mouth, than she cried out and swooned +away. The vizier was extremely surprised at the accident; he +threw water upon her face, and was very active in recovering her. +As soon as she came to herself, "My God!" cried she, "it must +needs be my son, my dear Buddir ad Deen who made this tart." + +When the vizier Shumse ad Deen heard his sister-in-law say, that +the maker of the tart, brought by the eunuch, must needs be her +son, he was overjoyed; but reflecting that his joy might prove +groundless, and the conjecture of Noor ad Deen's widow be false, +"Madam," said he, "do you think there may not be a pastry-cook in +the world, who knows how to make cream-tarts as well as your +son?" "I own," replied she, "there may be pastry-cooks that can +make as good tarts as he; but as I make them in a peculiar +manner, and only my son was let into the secret, it must +absolutely be he that made this. Come, my brother," added she in +a transport, "let us call up mirth and joy; we have at last found +what we have been so long looking for." "Madam," said the vizier +answer, "I entreat you to moderate your impatience, for we shall +quickly know the truth. All we have to do, is to bring the +pastry-cook hither; and then you and my daughter will readily +distinguish whether he be your son or not. But you must both be +concealed so as to have a view of Buddir ad Deen while he cannot +see you; for I would not have our interview and mutual discovery +happen at Damascus. My design is to delay the discovery till we +return to Cairo." + +This said, he left the ladies in their tent, and retired to his +own; where he called for fifty of his men, and said to them: +"Take each of you a stick in your hands, and follow Shubbaunee, +who will conduct you to a pastry-cook in this city. When you +arrive there, break and dash in pieces all you find in the shop: +if he demand the reason of your outrage, only ask him in return +if it was not he that made the cream-tart that was brought from +his house. If he answer in the affirmative, seize his person, +fetter him, and bring him along with you; but take care you do +not beat him, nor do him the least harm. Go, and lose no time." + +The vizier's orders were immediately executed. The detachment, +conducted by the black eunuch, went with expedition to Buddir ad +Deen's house, broke in pieces the plates, kettles, copper pans, +and all the other moveables and utensils they met with, and +inundated the sherbet-shop with cream and comfits. Buddir ad +Deen, astonished at the sight, said with a pitiful tone, "Pray, +good people, why do you serve me so? What is the matter? What +have I done?" "Was it not you," said they, "that sold this eunuch +the cream-tart?" "Yes," replied he, "I am the man; and who says +any thing against it? I defy any one to make a better." Instead +of giving him an answer, they continued to break all round them, +and the oven itself was not spared. + +In the mean time the neighbours took the alarm, and surprised to +see fifty armed men committing such a disorder, asked the reason +of such violence; and Buddir ad Deen said once more to the +rioters, "Pray tell me what crime I have committed to deserve +this usage?" "Was it not you," replied they, "that made the +cream-tart you sold to the eunuch?" "Yes, yes, it was I," replied +he; "I maintain it is a good one. I do not deserve this +treatment." However, without listening to him, they seized his +person, and, snatching the cloth off his turban, tied his hands +with it behind his back, and, after dragging him by force out of +his shop, marched off. + +The mob gathering, from compassion to Buddir ad Deen, took his +part; but officers from the governor of the city dispersed the +people, and favoured the carrying off of Buddir ad Deen, for +Shumse ad Deen Mahummud had in the mean time gone to the +governor's house to acquaint him with the order he had given, and +to demand the interposition of force to favour the execution; and +the governor, who commanded all Syria in the name of the sultan +of Egypt, was unwilling to refuse any thing to his master's +vizier. + +It was in vain for Buddir ad Deen to ask those who carried him +off, what fault had been found with his cream-tart: they gave him +no answer. In short, they conducted him to the tents, and made +him wait there till Shumse ad Deen returned from the governor of +Damascus. + +Upon the vizier's return, the pretended culprit was brought +before him. "My lord," said Buddir ad Deen, with tears in his +eyes, "pray do me the favour to let me know wherein I have +displeased you." "Why, you wretch," exclaimed the vizier "was it +not you that made the cream-tart you sent me?" "I own I am the +man," replied Buddir ad Deen, "but pray what crime is that?" "I +will punish you according to your deserts," said Shumse ad Deen, +"it shall cost you your life, for sending me such a sorry tart." +"Ah!" exclaimed Buddir ad Deen, "is it a capital crime to make a +bad cream-tart?" "Yes," said the vizier "and you are to expect no +other usage from me." + +While this interview lasted, the ladies, who were concealed +behind curtains, saw Buddir ad Deen, and recognized him, +notwithstanding he had been so long absent. They were so +transported with joy, that they swooned away; and when they +recovered, would fain have run up and fallen upon his neck, but +the promise they had made to the vizier of not discovering +themselves, restrained the tender emotions of love and of nature. + +Shumse ad Deen having resolved to set out that night, ordered the +tents to be struck, and the necessary preparations to be made for +his journey. He ordered Buddir ad Deen to be secured in a sort of +cage, and laid on a camel. The vizier and his retinue began their +march, and travelled the rest of that night, and all the next +day, without stopping In the evening they halted, and Buddir ad +Deen was taken out of his cage, in order to be served with the +necessary refreshments, but still carefully kept at a distance +from his mother and his wife; and during the whole expedition, +which lasted twenty days, was served in the same manner. + +When they arrived at Cairo, they encamped in the neighbourhood of +the city; Shumse ad Deen called for Buddir ad Deen, and gave +orders, in his presence, to prepare a stake. "Alas!" said Buddir +ad Deen, "what do you mean to do with a stake?" "Why, to impale +you," replied Shumse ad Deen, "and then to have you carried +through all the quarters of the town, that the people may have +the spectacle of a worthless pastry-cook, who makes cream-tarts +without pepper." This said, Buddir ad Deen cried out so +ludicrously, that Shumse ad Deen could hardly keep his +countenance: "Alas!" said he, "must I suffer a death as cruel as +it is ignominious, for not putting pepper in a cream-tart?" + +"How," said Buddir ad Deen, "must I be rifled; must I be +imprisoned in a chest, and at last impaled, and all for not +putting pepper in a cream-tart? Are these the actions of +Moosulmauns, of persons who make a profession of probity, +justice, and good works?" With these words he shed tears, and +then renewing his complaint; "No," continued he, "never was a man +used so unjustly, nor so severely. Is it possible they should be +capable of taking a man's life for not putting pepper in a cream- +tart? Cursed be all cream-tarts, as well as the hour in which I +was born! Would to God l had died that minute!" + +The disconsolate Buddir ad Deen did not cease his lamentations; +and when the stake was brought, cried out bitterly at the horrid +sight. "Heaven!" said he, "can you suffer me to die an +ignominious and painful death? And all this, for what crime? not +for robbery or murder, or renouncing my religion, but for not +putting pepper in a cream tart," + +Night being then pretty far advanced, the vizier ordered Buddir +ad Deen to be conveyed again to his cage, saying to him, "Stay +there till to-morrow; the day shall not elapse before I give +orders for your death." The chest or cage then was carried away +and laid upon the camel that had brought it from Damascus: at the +same time all the other camels were loaded again; and the vizier +mounting his horse, ordered the camel that carried his nephew to +march before him, and entered the city with all his suit. After +passing through several streets, where no one appeared, he +arrived at his palace, where he ordered the chest to be taken +down, but not opened till farther orders. + +While his retinue were unlading the other camels, he took Buddir +ad Deen's mother and his daughter aside; and addressed himself to +the latter: "God be praised," said he, "my child, for this happy +occasion of meeting your cousin and your husband! You remember, +of course, what order your chamber was in on your wedding night: +go and put all things as they were then placed; and if your +memory do not serve you, I can aid it by a written account, which +I caused to be taken upon that occasion." + +The beautiful lady went joyfully to execute her father's orders; +and he at the same time commanded the hall to be adorned as when +Buddir ad Deen Houssun was there with the sultan of Egypt's +hunch-backed groom. As he went over his manuscript, his domestics +placed every moveable in the described order. The throne was not +forgotten, nor the lighted wax candles. When every thing was +arranged in the hall, the vizier went into his daughter's chamber +and put in their due place Buddir ad Deen's apparel, with the +purse of sequins. This done, he said to the beautiful lady, +"Undress yourself, my child, and go to bed. As soon as Buddir ad +Deen enters your room, complain of his being from you so long, +and tell him, that when you awoke, you were astonished you did +not find him by you. Press him to come to bed again; and to- +morrow morning you will divert your mother-in-law and me, by +giving us an account of your interview." This said, he went from +his daughter's apartment, and left her to undress herself and go +to bed. + +Shumse ad Deen Mahummud ordered all his domestics to depart the +hall, excepting two or three, whom he desired to remain. These he +commanded to go and take Buddir ad Deen out of the cage, to strip +him to his under vest and drawers, to conduct him in that +condition to the hall, to leave him there alone, and shut the +door upon him. + +Buddir ad Deen, though overwhelmed with grief, was asleep so +soundly, that the vizier's domestics had taken him out of the +chest and stripped him before he awoke; and they carried him so +suddenly into the hall, that they did not give him time to see +where he was. When he found himself alone in the hall, he looked +round him, and the objects he beheld recalling to his memory the +circumstances of his marriage, he perceived, with astonishment, +that it was the place where he had seen the sultan's groom of the +stables. His surprise was still the greater, when approaching +softly the door of a chamber which he found open, he spied his +own raiments where he remembered to have left them on his wedding +night. "My God!" said he, rubbing his eyes, "am I asleep or +awake?" + +The beautiful lady, who in the mean time was diverting herself +with his astonishment, opened the curtains of her bed suddenly, +and bending her head forward, "My dear lord," said she, with a +soft, tender air, "what do you do at the door? You have been out +of bed a long time. I was strangely surprised when I awoke in not +finding you by me." Buddir ad Deen was enraptured; he entered the +room, but reverting to all that had passed during a ten years' +interval, and not being able to persuade himself that it could +all have happened in the compass of one night, he went to the +place where his vestments lay with the purse of sequins; and +after examining them very carefully, exclaimed, "By Allah these +are mysteries which I can by no means comprehend!" The lady, who +was pleased to see his confusion, said, once more, "My lord, what +do you wait for?" He stepped towards the bed, and said to her, +"Is it long since I left you?" "The question," answered she, +"surprises me. Did not you rise from me but now? Surely your mind +is deranged." "Madam," replied Buddir ad Deen, "I do assure you +my thoughts are not very composed. I remember indeed to have been +with you, but I remember at the same time, that I have since +lived ten years at Damascus. Now, if I was actually in bed with +you this night, I cannot have been from you so long. These two +points are inconsistent. Pray tell me what I am to think; whether +my marriage with you is an illusion, or whether my absence from +you is only a dream?" "Yes, my lord," cried she, "doubtless you +were light-headed when you thought you were at Damascus." Upon +this Buddir ad Deen laughed heartily, and said, "What a comical +fancy is this! I assure you, madam, this dream of mine will be +very pleasant to you. Do but imagine, if you please, that I was +at the gate of Damascus in my shirt and drawers, as I am here +now; that I entered the town with the halloo of a mob who +followed and insulted me; that I fled to a pastry cook who +adopted me, taught me his trade, and left me all he had when he +died; that after his death I kept a shop. In fine, I had an +infinity of other adventures, too tedious to recount: and all I +can say is, that it was well that I awoke, for they were going to +impale me!" "And for what," cried the lady, feigning +astonishment, "would they have used you so cruelly? Surely you +must have committed some enormous crime." "Not the least," +replied Buddir ad Deen; "it was for nothing but a mere trifle, +the most ridiculous thing you can imagine. All the crime I was +charged with, was selling a cream-tart that had no pepper in it." +"As for that matter," said the beautiful lady laughing heartily, +"I must say they did you great injustice." "Ah!" replied he, +"that was not all. For this cursed cream-tart was every thing in +my shop broken to pieces, myself bound and fettered, and flung +into a chest, where I lay so close, that methinks I am there +still, but thanks be to God all was a dream." + +Buddir ad Deen was not easy all night. He awoke from time to +time, and put the question to himself, whether he dreamed or was +awake. He distrusted his felicity; and, to be sure whether it was +true or not, looked round the room. "I am not mistaken," said he; +"this is the same chamber where I entered instead of the hunch- +backed groom of the stables; and I am now in bed with the fair +lady designed for him." Day-light, which then appeared, had not +yet dispelled his uneasiness, when the vizier Shumse ad Deen, his +uncle, knocked at the door, and at the same time went in to bid +him good morrow. + +Buddir ad Deen was extremely surprised to see a man he knew so +well, and who now appeared with a different air from that with +which he pronounced the terrible sentence of death against him. +"Ah!" cried Buddir ad Deen, "it was you who condemned me so +unjustly to a kind of death, the thoughts of which make me +shudder, and all for a cream-tart without pepper." The vizier +fell a laughing, and to put him out of suspense, told him how, by +the ministry of a genie (for hunch-back's relation made him +suspect the adventure), he had been at his palace, and had +married his daughter instead of the sultan's groom of the +stables; then he acquainted him that he had discovered him to be +his nephew by the memorandum of his father, and pursuant to that +discovery had gone from Cairo to Bussorah in quest of him. "My +dear nephew," added he, embracing him with every expression of +tenderness, "I ask your pardon for all I have made you undergo +since I discovered you. I resolved to bring you to my palace +before I told you your happiness; which ought now to be so much +the dearer to you, as it has cost you so much perplexity and +distress. To atone for all your afflictions, comfort yourself +with the joy of being in the company of those who ought to be +dearest to you. While you are dressing yourself I will go and +acquaint your mother, who is beyond measure impatient to see you; +and will likewise bring to you your son, whom you saw at +Damascus, and for whom, without knowing him, you shewed so much +affection." + +No words can adequately express the joy of Buddir ad Deen, when +he saw his mother and his son. They embraced, and shewed all the +transports that love and tenderness could inspire. The mother +spoke to Buddir ad Deen in the most moving terms; she mentioned +the grief she had felt for his long absence, and the tears she +had shed. Little Ajib, instead of flying his father's embraces, +as at Damascus, received them with all the marks of pleasure. And +Buddir ad Deen Houssun, divided between two objects so worthy of +his love, thought he could not give sufficient testimonies of his +affection. + +While this passed, the vizier was gone to the palace, to give the +sultan an account of the happy success of his travels; and the +sultan was so moved with the recital of the story, that he +ordered it to be taken down in writing, and carefully preserved +among the archives of the kingdom. After Shumse ad Deen's return +to his palace, he sat down with his family, and all the household +passed the day in festivity and mirth. + +The vizier Jaaffier having thus concluded the story of Buddir ad +Deen, told the caliph that this was what he had to relate to his +majesty. The caliph found the story so surprising, that without +farther hesitation he granted his slave Rihan's pardon; and to +console the young man for the grief of having unhappily deprived +himself of a woman whom he had loved so tenderly, married him to +one of his slaves, bestowed liberal gifts upon him, and +maintained him till he died. + + + + + THE HISTORY OF GANEM, SON OF ABOU AYOUB, + AND KNOWN BY THE SURNAME OF LOVE'S SLAVE. + + + +There was formerly at Damascus a merchant, who had by care and +industry acquired great wealth, on which he lived in a very +honourable manner. His name was Abou Ayoub, and he had one son +and a daughter. The son was called Ganem, but afterwards surnamed +Love's slave. His person was graceful, and the excellent +qualities of his mind had been improved by able masters. The +daughter's name was Alcolom, signifying Ravisher of hearts, +because her beauty was so perfect that whoever saw her could not +avoid loving her. + +Abou Ayoub died, and left immense riches: a hundred loads of +brocades and other silks that lay in his warehouse were the least +part. The loads were ready made up, and on every bale was written +in large characters, "For Bagdad." + +Mahummud, the son of Soliman, surnamed Zinebi, reigned at that +time at Damascus, the capital of Syria. His kinsman, Haroon al +Rusheed, had bestowed that kingdom on him as his tributary. + +Soon after the death of Abou Ayoub, Ganem conversed with his +mother about their domestic affairs, and concerning the loads of +merchandize in the warehouse, asked her the meaning of what was +written upon each bale. "My son," answered his mother, "your +father used to travel sometimes into one province, and sometimes +into another; and it was customary with him, before he set out, +to write the name of the city he designed to repair to on every +bade. He had provided all things to take a journey to Bagdad, and +was on the point of setting out, when death"----She had not power +to finish; the lively remembrance of the loss of her husband +would not permit her to say more, and drew from her a shower of +tears. + +Ganem could not see his mother so sensibly affected, without +being equally so himself. They continued some time silent; but at +length he recovered himself, and as soon as he found his mother +calm enough to listen to him, said, "Since my father designed +these goods for Bagdad, I will prepare myself to perform that +journey; and I think it will be proper for me to hasten my +departure, for fear those commodities should perish, or that we +should lose the opportunity of selling them to the best +advantage." + +Abou Ayoub's widow, who tenderly loved her son, was much +concerned at this resolution, and replied, "My dear child, I +cannot but commend you for designing to follow your father's +example; but consider, that you are too young, inexperienced, and +unaccustomed to the fatigue of travelling. Besides, can you think +of leaving me, and adding to that sorrow with which I am already +oppressed? Is it not better to sell those goods to the merchants +of Damascus, and take up with a moderate profit, than expose +yourself to the danger of perishing?" + +It was in vain for her to oppose Ganem's resolution by the +strongest arguments; they had no weight with him. An inclination +to travel, and to accomplish himself by a thorough knowledge of +the world, urged him to set out, and prevailed over all his +mother's remonstrances, her entreaties, and even her tears. He +went to the market where slaves were sold, and bought such as +were able-bodied, hired a hundred camels, and having provided all +other necessaries, entered upon his journey, with five or six +merchants of Damascus, who were going to trade at Bagdad. + +Those merchants, attended by their slaves, and accompanied by +several other travellers, made up such a considerable caravan, +that they had nothing to fear from the Bedouin Arabs, who make it +their only profession to range the country; and attack and +plunder the caravans when they are not strong enough to repulse +them. They had no other difficulty to encounter, than the usual +fatigues of a long journey, which were easily forgotten when they +came in sight of the city of Bagdad, where they arrived in +safety. + +They alighted at the most magnificent and most frequented khan in +the city; but Ganem chose to be lodged conveniently, and by +himself. He only left his goods there in a warehouse for their +greater security, and hired a spacious house in the +neighbourhood, richly furnished, having a garden which was very +delightful, on account of its many waterworks and shady groves. + +Some days after this young merchant had been settled in his +house, and perfectly recovered of the fatigue of his journey, he +dressed himself richly, and repaired to the public place, where +the merchants met to transact business. A slave followed him, +carrying a parcel of fine stuffs and silks. + +The merchants received Ganem very courteously, and their syndic, +or chief, to whom he first made application, bought all his +parcel, at the price set down in the ticket annexed to every +piece of stuff. Ganem continued his trade so successfully, that +he every day sold all the goods he exposed. + +He had but one bale left, which he had caused to be carried from +the warehouse to his own house; he then went to the public +rendezvous, where he found all the shops shut. This seemed +somewhat extraordinary to him and having asked the cause, he was +told, that one of the first merchants, whom he knew, was dead, +and that all his brother traders were gone to his funeral. + +Ganem inquired for the mosque, where prayer was to be said, and +whence the body was to be conducted to the grave; and having been +informed, sent back his slave with the goods, and walked towards +the mosque. He got thither before the prayers were ended, which +were said in a hall hung with black satin. The corpse was taken +up, and followed by the kindred, the merchants, and Ganem, to the +place of burial, which was at some distance without the city. It +was a stone structure, in form of a dome, purposely built to +receive the bodies of all the family of the deceased, and being +very small, they had pitched tents around, that all the company +might be sheltered during the ceremony. The monument was opened, +and the corpse laid in it, after which it was shut up. Then the +imam, and other ministers of the mosque, sat down in a ring on +carpets, in the largest tent, and recited the rest of the +prayers. They also read the Fateah, or introductory chapter of +the Koraun, appointed for the burial of the dead. The kindred and +merchants sat round, in the same manner, behind the ministers. + +It was near night before all was ended: Ganem who had not +expected such a long ceremony, began to be uneasy, and the more +so, when he saw meat served up, in memory of the deceased, +according to the custom of the Mahummedans. He was also told that +the tents had been set up not only against the heat of the sun, +but also against the evening dew, because they should not return +to the city before the next morning. These words perplexed Ganem. +"I am a stranger," said he to himself, "and have the reputation +of being a rich merchant; thieves may take the opportunity of my +absence, and rob my house. My slaves may be tempted by so +favourable an opportunity; they may run away with all the gold I +have received for my goods, and whither shall I go to look for +them?" Full of these thoughts, he ate a few mouthfuls hastily, +and slipped away from the company. + +He made all possible haste; but, as it often happens that the +more a man hurries the less he advances, he went astray in the +dark, so that it was near midnight when he came to the city gate; +which, to add to his misfortune, was shut. This was a fresh +affliction to him, and he was obliged to look for some convenient +place in which to pass the rest of the night till the gate was +opened. He went into a burial-place, so spacious, that it reached +from the city to the very place he had left. He advanced to some +high walls, which enclosed a small field, being the mausoleum of +a family, and in which there was a palm-tree. Ganem, finding that +the burial-place where the palm-tree grew was open, went into it, +and shut the door after him. He lay down on the grass and tried +to sleep; but his uneasiness at being absent from home would not +permit him. He got up, and after having passed before the door +several times, opened it, without knowing why, and immediately +perceived at a distance a light, which seemed to come towards +him. He was startled at the sight, closed the door, which had +nothing to secure it but a latch, and got up as fast as he could +to the top of the palm-tree; looking upon that as the safest +retreat under his present apprehensions. + +No sooner was he up, than by the help of the light which had +alarmed him, he plainly perceived three men, whom, by their +habit, he knew to be slaves, enter into the burial-place. One of +them advanced with a lantern, and the two others followed him, +loaded with a chest, between five and six feet long, which they +carried on their shoulders. They set it down, and then one of the +three slaves said to his comrades, "Brethren, if you will be +advised by me, we will leave the chest here, and return to the +city." "No, no," replied another, "that would not be executing +our mistress's orders; we may have cause to repent not doing as +we were commanded. Let us bury the chest, since we are enjoined +so to do." The two other slaves complied. They began to break +ground with the tools they had brought for that purpose. When +they had made a deep trench, they put the chest into it, and +covered it with the earth they had taken out, and then departed. + +Ganem, who from the top of the palm-tree had heard every word the +slaves had spoken, could not tell what to think of the adventure. +He concluded that the chest must contain something of value, and +that the person to whom it belonged had some particular reasons +for causing it to be buried in the cemetery. He resolved +immediately to satisfy his curiosity, came down from the palm- +tree, the departure of the slaves having dissipated his fear, and +fell to work upon the pit, plying his hands and feet so well, +that in a short time he uncovered the chest, but found it secured +by a padlock. This new obstacle to the satisfying of his +curiosity was no small mortification to him, yet he was not +discouraged, but the day beginning then to appear, he saw several +great stones about the burial-place. He picked out one, with +which he easily knocked off the padlock, and then with much +impatience opened the chest. Ganem was strangely surprised, when, +instead of money, he discovered a young lady of incomparable +beauty. Her fresh and rosy complexion, and her gentle regular +breathing, satisfied him she was alive, but he could not conceive +why, if she were only asleep, she had not awaked at the noise he +made in forcing off the padlock. Her habit was so costly, with +bracelets and pendants of diamonds, and a necklace of pearls, so +large, that he made not the least doubt of her being one of the +principal ladies of the court. At the sight of so beautiful an +object, not only compassion and natural inclination to relieve +persons in danger, but something more powerful, which Ganem could +not then account for, prevailed on him to afford the unfortunate +beauty all the assistance in his power. + +He first shut the gate of the burial-place, which the slaves had +left open; then, returning, took the lady in his arms, and laid +her on the soft earth which he had thrown off the chest. As soon +as she was exposed to the air, she sneezed, and, by the motion in +turning her head, there came from her mouth a liquor, with which +her stomach seemed to have been loaded; then opening and rubbing +her eyes, she with such a voice as charmed Ganem, whom she did +not see, cried out, "Zohorob Bostan, Shijher al Mirjaun, Casabos +Souccar, Nouron Nihar, Nagmatos Sohi, Nonzbetos Zaman, why do you +not answer? where are you?" These were the names of six female +slaves that used to wait on her. She called them, and wondered +that nobody answered; but at length looking about, and perceiving +she was in a burial-place, was seized with fear. "What," cried +she, much louder than before, "are the dead raised? Is the day of +judgment come? What a wonderful change is this from evening to +morning?" + +Ganem did not think fit to leave the lady any longer in her +perplexity, but presented himself before her with all possible +respect, and in the most courteous manner. "Madam," said he, "I +am not able to express my joy at having happened to be here to do +you the service I have, and to offer you all the assistance you +may need under your present circumstances." + +In order to persuade the lady to repose confidence in him, he, in +the first place, told her who he was, and what accident had +brought him to that place. Next he acquainted her with the coming +of the three slaves, and how they had buried the chest. The lady, +who had covered her face with her veil as soon as Ganem appeared, +was extremely sensible of the obligations she owed him. "I return +thanks to God," said she "for having sent so worthy a person as +you are to deliver me from death; but since you have begun so +charitable a work, I conjure you not to leave it imperfect. Let +me beg of you to go into the city, and provide a muleteer, to +come with his mule, and carry me to your house in this chest; +for, should I go with you on foot, my dress being different from +that of the city ladies, some one might take notice of it, and +follow me, which it highly concerns me to prevent. When I shall +be in your house, I will give you an account of myself; and in +the mean time be assured that you have not obliged an ungrateful +person." + +Before the young merchant left the lady, he drew the chest out of +the pit, which he filled up with earth, laid her again in the +chest, and shut it in such a manner, that it did not look as if +the padlock had been forced off; but for fear of stifling her, he +did not put it quite close, leaving room for the admittance of +air. Going out of the burial-place, he drew the door after him; +and the city gate being then open, soon found what he sought. He +returned with speed to the burial place, and helped the muleteer +to lay the chest across his mule, telling him, to remove all +cause of suspicion, that he came to that place the night before, +with another muleteer, who, being in haste to return home, had +laid down the chest where he saw it. + +Ganem, who, since his arrival at Bagdad, had minded nothing but +his business, was still unacquainted with the power of love, and +now felt its first attacks. It had not been in his power to look +upon the young lady without being dazzled; and the uneasiness he +felt at following the muleteer at a distance, and the fear lest +any accident might happen by the way that should deprive him of +his conquest, taught him to unravel his thoughts. He was more +than usually delighted, when, being arrived safe at home, he saw +the chest unloaded. He dismissed the muleteer, and having caused +a slave to shut the door of his house, opened the chest, helped +the lady out, gave her his hand, and conducted her to his +apartment, lamenting how much she must have endured in such close +confinement. "If I have suffered," said she, "I have satisfaction +sufficient in what you have done for me, and in the pleasure of +seeing myself out of danger." + +Though Ganem's apartment was very richly furnished, the lady did +not so much regard its appearance, as she did the handsome +presence and engaging mien of her deliverer, whose politeness and +obliging behaviour heightened her gratitude. She sat down on a +sofa, and to give the merchant to understand how sensible she was +of the service done her, took off her veil. Ganem on his part was +sensible of the favour so lovely a lady did in uncovering her +face to him, or rather felt he had already a most violent passion +for her. Whatever obligations she owed him, he thought himself +more than requited by so singular a favour. + +The lady dived into Ganem's thoughts, yet was not at all alarmed, +because he appeared very respectful. He, judging she might have +occasion to eat, and not willing to trust any but himself with +the care of entertaining so charming a guest, went out with a +slave to an eating-house, to give directions for an +entertainment. From thence he went to a fruiterer, where he chose +the finest and best fruit; buying also the choicest wine, and the +same bread that was eaten at the caliph's table. + +As soon as he returned home, he with his own hands made a pyramid +of the fruit he had bought, and serving it up himself to the lady +in a large dish, of the finest china-ware, "Madam," said he, "be +pleased to make choice of some of this fruit, while a more solid +entertainment, and more worthy yourself, is preparing." He would +have continued standing before her, but she declared she would +not touch any thing, unless he sat down and ate with her. He +obeyed; and when they had eaten a little, Ganem observing that +the lady's veil, which she laid down by her on a sofa, was +embroidered along the edge with golden letters, begged her +permission to look on the embroidery. The lady immediately took +up the veil, and delivered it to him, asking him whether he could +read? "Madam," replied he, with a modest air, "a merchant would +be ill-qualified to manage his business if he could not at least +read and write." "Well, then," said she, "read the words which +are embroidered on that veil, which gives me an opportunity of +telling you my story." + +Ganem took the veil, and read these words, "I am yours, and you +are mine, thou descendant from the prophet's uncle." That +descendant from the prophet's uncle was the caliph Haroon al +Rusheed, who then reigned, and was descended from Abbas, +Mahummud's uncle. + +When Ganem perceived these words, "Alas! madam," said he, in a +melancholy tone, "I have just saved your life, and this writing +is my death! I do not comprehend all the mystery; but it +convinces me I am the most unfortunate of men. Pardon, madam, the +liberty I take, but it was impossible for me to see you without +giving you my heart. You are not ignorant yourself, that it was +not in my power to refuse it you, and that makes my presumption +excusable. I proposed to myself to touch your heart by my +respectful behaviour, my care, my assiduity, my submission, my +constancy; and no sooner have I formed the flattering design, +than I am robbed of all my hopes. I cannot long survive so great +a misfortune. But, be that as it will, I shall have the +satisfaction of dying entirely yours. Proceed, madam, I conjure +you, and give me full information of my unhappy fate." + +He could not utter those words without letting fall some tears. +The lady was moved; but was so far from being displeased at the +declaration he made, that she felt secret joy; for her heart +began to yield. However, she concealed her feelings, and as if +she had not regarded what Ganem had said. "I should have been +very cautious," answered she, "of strewing you my veil, had I +thought it would have given you so much uneasiness; but I do not +perceive that what I have to say to you can make your condition +so deplorable as you imagine." + +"You must understand," proceeded she, "in order to acquaint you +with my story, that my name is Fetnah (which signifies +disturbance), which was given me at my birth, because it was +judged that the sight of me would one day occasion many +calamities. Of this you cannot be ignorant, since there is nobody +in Bagdad but knows that the caliph, my sovereign lord and yours, +has a favourite so called. + +"I was carried into his palace in my tenderest years, and I have +been brought up with all the care that is usually taken with such +persons of my sex as are destined to reside there. I made no +little progress in all they took the pains to teach me; and that, +with some share of beauty, gained me the affection of the caliph, +who allotted me a particular apartment adjoining to his own. That +prince was not satisfied with such a mark of distinction; he +appointed twenty women to wait on me, and as many eunuchs; and +ever since he has made me such considerable presents, that I saw +myself richer than any queen in the world. You may judge by what +I have said, that Zobeide, the caliph's wife and kinswoman, could +not but be jealous of my happiness. Though Haroon has all the +regard imaginable for her, she has taken every possible +opportunity to ruin me. + +"Hitherto I had secured myself against all her snares, but at +length I fell under the last effort of her jealousy; and, had it +not been for you, must now have been exposed to inevitable death. +I question not but she had corrupted one of my slaves, who last +night, in some lemonade, gave me a drug, which causes such a dead +sleep, that it is easy to dispose of those who have taken it; for +that sleep is so profound, that nothing can dispel it for the +space of seven or eight hours. I have the more reason to judge +so, because naturally I am a very bad sleeper, and apt to wake at +the least noise. + +"Zobeide, the better to put her design in execution, has availed +herself of the absence of the caliph, who went lately to put +himself at the head of his troops, to chastise some neighbouring +kings, who have formed a league of rebellion. Were it not for +this opportunity, my rival, outrageous as she is, durst not have +presumed to attempt any thing against my life. I know not what +she will do to conceal this action from the caliph, but you see +it highly concerns me that you should keep my secret. My life +depends on it. I shall be safe in your house as long as the +caliph is from Bagdad. It concerns you to keep my adventure +private; for should Zobeide know the obligation I owe you, she +would punish you for having saved me. + +"When the caliph returns, I shall not need to be so much upon my +guard. I shall find means to acquaint him with all that has +happened, and I am fully persuaded he will be more earnest than +myself to requite a service which restores me to his love." + +As soon as Haroon al Rusheed's beautiful favourite had done +speaking, Ganem said, "Madam, I return you a thousand thanks for +having given me the information I took the liberty to desire of +you; and I beg of you to believe, that you are here in safety; +the sentiments you have inspired are a pledge of my secrecy. + +"As for my slaves, they may perhaps fail of the fidelity they owe +me, should they know by what accident and in what place I had the +happiness to find you. I dare assure you, however, that they will +not have the curiosity to inquire. It is so natural for young men +to purchase beautiful slaves, that it will be no way surprising +to them to see you here, believing you to be one, and that I have +bought you. They will also conclude that I have some particular +reasons for bringing you home as they saw I did. Set your heart, +therefore, at rest, as to that point, and remain satisfied that +you shall be served with all the respect that is due to the +favourite of so great a monarch as our sovereign the caliph. But +great as he is, give me leave, madam, to declare, that nothing +can make me recall the present I have made you of my heart. I +know, and shall never forget, that what belongs to the master is +forbidden to the slave;' but I loved you before you told me that +you were engaged to the caliph; it is not in my power to overcome +a passion which, though now in its infancy, has all the force of +a love strengthened by a perfect of situation. I wish your august +and most fortunate lover may avenge you of the malice of Zobeide, +by calling you back to him; and when you shall be restored to his +wishes, that you may remember the unfortunate Ganem, who is no +less your conquest than the caliph. Powerful as that prince is, I +flatter myself he will not be able to blot me out of your +remembrance. He cannot love you more passionately than I do; and +I shall never cease to love you into whatever part of the world I +may go to expire, after having lost you." + +Fetnah perceived that Ganem was under the greatest of +afflictions, and his situation affected her; but considering the +uneasiness she was likely to bring upon herself, by prosecuting +the conversation on that subject, which might insensibly lead her +to discover the inclination she felt for him; "I perceive," said +she, "that this conversetion gives you too much uneasiness; let +us change the subject, and talk of the infinite obligation I owe +you. I can never sufficiently express my gratitude, when I +reflect that, without your assistance, I should never again have +beheld the light of the sun." + +It was happy for them both, that somebody just then knocked at +the door; Ganem went to see who it was, and found it to be one of +his slaves come to acquaint him that the entertainment was ready. +Ganem, who, by way of precaution, would have none of his slaves +come into the room where Fetnah was, took what was brought, and +served it up himself to his beautiful guest, whose soul was +ravished to behold what attention he paid her. + +When they had eaten, Ganem took away, as he had covered the +table; and having delivered all things at the door of the +apartment to his slaves, "Madam," said he to Fetnah, "you may now +perhaps desire to take some rest; I will leave you, and when you +have reposed yourself, you shall find me ready to receive your +commands." + +Having thus spoken, he left her, and went to purchase two women- +slaves. He also bought two parcels, one of fine linen, and the +other of all such things as were proper to make up a toilet fit +for the caliph's favourite. Having conducted home the two women- +slaves, he presented them to Fetnah, saying, "Madam, a person of +your quality cannot be without two waiting-maids, at least, to +serve you; be pleased to accept of these." + +Fetnah, admiring Ganem's attention, said, "My lord, I perceive +you are not one that will do things by halves: you add by your +courtesy to the obligations I owe you already; but I hope I shall +not die ungrateful, and that heaven will soon place me in a +condition to requite all your acts of generosity." + +When the women-slaves were withdrawn into a chamber adjoining, he +sat down on the sofa, but at some distance from Fetnah, in token +of respect. He then began to discourse of his passion. "I dare +not so much as hope," said he, "to excite the least sensibility +in a heart like yours, destined for the greatest prince in the +world. Alas! it would be a comfort to me in my misfortune, if I +could but flatter myself, that you have not looked upon the +excess of my love with indifference." "My lord," answered Fetnah +"Alas! madam," said Ganem, interrupting her at the word lord, +"this is the second time you have done me the honour to call me +lord; the presence of the women-slaves hindered me the first time +from taking notice of it to you: in the name of God, madam, do +not give me this title of honour; it does not belong to me; treat +me, I beseech you, as your slave: I am, and shall never cease to +be so." + +"No, no," replied Fetnah, interrupting him in her turn, "I shall +be cautious how I treat with such disrespect a man to whom I owe +my life. I should be ungrateful, could I say or do any thing that +did not become you. Leave me, therefore, to follow the dictates +of my gratitude, and do not require of me, that I should +misbehave myself towards you, in return for the benefits I have +received. I shall never be guilty of such conduct; I am too +sensible of your respectful behaviour to abuse it; and I will not +hesitate to own, that I do not regard your care with +indifference. You know the reasons that condemn me to silence." + +Ganem was enraptured at this declaration; he wept for joy, and +not being able to find expressions significant enough, in his own +opinion, to return Fetnah thanks, was satisfied with telling her, +that as she knew what she owed to the caliph, he, on his part, +was not ignorant "that what belongs to the master is forbidden to +the slave." + +Night drawing on, he rose up to fetch a light, which he brought +in himself, as also a collation. + +They both sat down at table, and at first complimented each other +on the fruit as they presented it reciprocally. The excellence of +the wine insensibly drew them both to drink; and having drunk two +or three glasses, they agreed that neither should take another +glass without first singing some air. Ganem sung verses ex +tempore, expressive of the vehemence of his passion; and Fetnah, +encouraged by his example, composed and sung verses relating to +her adventure, and always containing something which Ganem might +take in a sense favourable to himself; except in this, she most +exactly observed the fidelity due to the caliph. The collation +continued till very late, and the night was far advanced before +they thought of parting. Ganem then withdrew to another +apartment, leaving Fetnah where she was, the women slaves he had +bought coming in to wait upon her. + +They lived together in this manner for several days. The young +merchant went not abroad, unless upon of the utmost consequence, +and even for that took the time when the lady was reposing; for +he could not prevail upon himself to lose a moment that might be +spent in her company. All his thoughts were taken up with his +dear Fetnah, who, on her side, gave way to her inclination, +confessed she had no less affection for him than he had for her. +However, fond as they were of each other, their respect for the +caliph kept them within due bounds, which still heightened their +passion. + +Whilst Fetnah, thus snatched from the jaws of death, passed her +time so agreeably with Ganem, Zobeide was not without some +apprehensions in the palace of Haroon al Rusheed. + +No sooner had the three slaves, entrusted with the execution of +her revenge, carried away the chest, without knowing what it +contained, or so much as the least curiosity to inquire (being +used to pay a blind obedience to her commands), than she was +seized with a tormenting uneasiness; a thousand perplexing +thoughts disturbed her rest; sleep fled from her eyes, and she +spent the night in contriving how to conceal her crime. "My +consort," said she, "loves Fetnah more than ever he did any of +his favourites. What shall I say to him at his return, when he +inquires of me after her?" Many contrivances occurred to her, but +none were satisfactory. Still she met with difficulties, and knew +not where to fix. There lived with her a lady advanced in years, +who had bred her up from her infancy. As soon as it was day, she +sent for her, and having entrusted her with the secret, said, "My +good mother, you have always assisted me with your advice; if +ever I stood in need of it, it is now, when the business before +you is to still my thoughts, distracted by a mortal anxiety, and +to show me some way to satisfy the caliph." + +"My dear mistress," replied the old lady, "it had been much +better not to have run yourself into the difficulties you labour +under; but since the thing is done, the best consolation is to +think no more of it. All that must now be thought of, is how to +deceive the commander of the believers; and I am of opinion, that +you should immediately cause a wooden image resembling a dead +body to be carved. We will shroud it up in linen, and when shut +up in a coffin, it shall be buried in some part of the palace; +you shall then immediately cause a marble mausoleum to be built, +in the form of a dome, over the burial place, and erect a tomb, +which shall be covered with embroidered cloth, and set about with +great candlesticks and large wax tapers. There is another thing," +added the old lady, "which ought not to be forgotten; you must +put on mourning, and cause the same to be done by your own and +Fetnah's women, your eunuchs, and all the officers of the palace. +When the caliph returns, and sees you all and the palace in +mourning, he will not fail to ask the occasion of it. You will +then have an opportunity of insinuating yourself into his favour, +by saying, it was out of respect to him that you paid the last +honours to Fetnah, snatched away by sudden death. You may tell +him, you have caused a mausoleum to be built, and, in short, that +you have paid all the last honours to his favourite, as he would +have done himself had he been present. His passion for her being +extraordinary, he will certainly go to shed tears upon her grave; +and perhaps," added the old woman, `he will not believe she is +really dead. He may, possibly, suspect you have turned her out of +the palace through jealousy, and look upon all the mourning as an +artifice to deceive him, and prevent his making inquiries after +her. It is likely he will cause the coffin to be taken up and +opened, and it is certain he will be convinced of her death, as +soon as he shall see the figure of a dead body buried. He will be +pleased with all you shall have done, and express his gratitude. +As for the wooden image, I will myself undertake to have it cut +by a carver in the city, who shall not know the purpose for which +it is designed. As for your part, madam, order Fetnah's woman, +who yesterday gave her the lemonade, to give out, among her +companions, that she has just found her mistress dead in her bed; +and in order that they may only think of lamenting, without +offering to go into her chamber, let her add, she has already +acquainted you with the circumstance, and that you have ordered +Mesrour to cause her to be buried." + +As soon as the old lady had spoken, Zobeide took a rich diamond +ring out of her casket, and putting it on her finger, and +embracing her in a transport of joy, said, "How infinitely am I +beholden to you, my good mother! I should never have thought of +so ingenious a contrivance. It cannot fail of success, and I +begin to recover my peace. I leave the care of the wooden figure +to you, and will go myself to order the rest." + +The wooden image was got ready with as much expedition as Zobeide +could have wished, and then conveyed by the old lady herself into +Fetnah's bed-chamber, where she dressed it like a dead body, and +put it into a coffin. Then Mesrour, who was himself deceived by +it, caused the coffin and the representation of Fetnah to be +carried away, and buried with the usual ceremonies in the place +appointed by Zobeide, the favourite's women weeping and +lamenting, she who had given her the lemonade setting them an +example by her cries and lamentations. + +That very day Zobeide sent for the architect of the palace, and, +according to orders, the mausoleum was finished in a short time. +Such potent princesses as the consort of a monarch, whose power +extended from east to west, are always punctually obeyed in +whatsoever they command. She soon put on mourning with all the +court; so that the news of Fetnah's death was quickly spread over +the city. + +Ganem was one of the last who heard of it; for, as I have before +observed, he hardly ever went abroad. Being, however, at length +informed of it, "Madam," said he to the caliph's fair favourite, +"you are supposed in Bagdad to be dead, and I do not question but +that Zobeide herself believes it. I bless heaven that I am the +cause, and the happy witness of your being alive; would to God, +that, taking advantage of this false report, you would share my +fortune, and go far from hence to reign in my heart! But whither +does this pleasing transport carry me? I do not consider that you +are born to make the greatest prince in the world happy; and that +only Haroon al Rusheed is worthy of you. Supposing you could +resolve to give him up for me, and that you would follow me, +ought I to consent? No, it is my part always to remember, that +what belongs to the master is forbidden to the slave.'" + +The lovely Fetnah, though moved by the tenderness of the passion +he expressed, yet prevailed with herself not to encourage it. "My +lord," said she to him, "we cannot obstruct the momentary triumph +of Zobeide. I am not surprised at the artifice she uses to +conceal her guilt: but let her go on; I flatter myself that +sorrow will soon follow her triumph. The caliph will return, and +we shall find the means privately to inform him of all that has +happened. In the mean time let us be more cautious than ever, +that she may not know I am alive. I have already told you the +consequences to be apprehended from such a discovery." + +At the end of three months the caliph returned to Bagdad with +glory, having vanquished all his enemies. He entered the palace +with impatience to embrace Fetnah; but was amazed to see all the +officers in mourning; and his concern was redoubled when, +approaching the apartment of Zobeide, he beheld that princess +coming to meet him in mourning with all her women. He immediately +asked her the cause, with much agitation. "Commander of the +believers," answered Zobeide, "I am in mourning for your slave +Fetnah; who died so suddenly that it was impossible to apply any +remedy to her disorder." She would have proceeded, but the caliph +did not give her time, being so agitated at the news, that he +uttered a feeble exclamation, and fainted. On recovering himself, +he, with a feeble voice, which sufficiently expressed his extreme +grief, asked where his dear Fetnah had been buried. "Sir," said +Zobeide, "I myself took care of her funeral, and spared no cost +to make it magnificent. I have caused a marble mausoleum to be +built over her grave, and will attend you thither if you desire." + +The caliph would not permit Zobeide to take that trouble, but +contented himself to have Mesrour to conduct him. He went thither +just as he was, in his camp dress. When he saw the tomb, the wax- +lights round it, and the magnificence of the mausoleum, he was +amazed that Zobeide should have performed the obsequies of her +rival with so much pomp; and being naturally of a jealous temper, +suspected his wife's generosity and fancied his mistress might +perhaps be yet alive; that Zobeide, taking advantage of his long +absence, might have turned her out of the palace, ordering those +she had entrusted to conduct her, to convey her so far off that +she might never more be heard of. This was all he suspected; for +he did not think Zobeide wicked enough to have attempted the life +of his favourite. + +The better to discover the truth himself, he ordered the tomb to +be removed, and caused the grave and the coffin to be opened in +his presence; but when he saw the linen wrapped round the wooden +image, he durst not proceed any farther. This devout caliph +thought it would be a sacrilegious act to suffer the body of the +dead lady to be touched; and this scrupulous fear prevailed over +his love and curiosity. He doubted not of Fetnah's death. He +caused the coffin to be shut up again, the grave to be filled, +and the tomb to be made as it was before. + +The caliph thinking himself obliged to pay some respect to the +grave of his favourite, sent for the ministers of religion, the +officers of the palace, and the readers of the Koraun; and, +whilst they were collecting together, he remained in the +mausoleum, moistening with his tears the marble that covered the +phantom of his mistress. When all the persons he had sent for +were come, he stood before the tomb, and recited long prayers; +after which the readers of the Koraun read several, chapters. + +The same ceremony was performed every day for a whole month, +morning and evening, the caliph being always present, with the +grand vizier, and the principal officers of the court, all of +them in mourning, as well as the caliph himself, who all the time +ceased not to honour the memory of Fetnah with his tears, and +would not hear of any business. + +The last day of the month, the prayers and reading of the Koraun +lasted from morning till break of day the next morning. The +caliph, being tired with sitting up so long, went to take some +rest in his apartment, and fell asleep upon a sofa, between two +of the court ladies, one of them sitting at the bed's-head, and +the other at the feet, who, whilst he slept, were working some +embroidery, and observed a profound silence. + +She who sat at the bed's-head, and whose name was Nouron-Nihar, +perceiving the caliph was asleep, whispered to the other, called +Nagmatos Sohi,"There is great news! The commander of the +believers our master will be overjoyed when he awakes, and hears +what I have to tell him; Fetnah is not dead, she is in perfect +health." "O heavens!" cried Nagmatos Sohi, in a transport of joy, +"is it possible, that the beautiful, the charming, the +incomparable Fetnah should be still among the living?" She +uttered these words with so much vivacity, and so loud, that the +caliph awoke. He asked why they had disturbed his rest? "Alas! my +sovereign lord," answered the slave, "pardon me this +indiscretion; I could not without transport hear that Fetnah is +still alive; it caused such emotion in me, as I could not +suppress." "What then is become of her," demanded the caliph, "if +she is not dead?" "Chief of the believers," replied the other, "I +this evening received a note from a person unknown, written with +Fetnah's own hand; she gives me an account of her melancholy +adventure, and orders me to acquaint you with it. I thought fit, +before I fulfilled my commission, to let you take some few +moments' rest, believing you must stand in need of it, after your +fatigue; and----" + +"Give me that note," said the caliph, interrupting her eagerly, +"you were wrong to defer delivering it to me." + +The slave immediately presented to him the note, which he opened +with much impatience, and in it Fetnah gave a particular account +of all that had befallen her, but enlarged a little too much on +the attentions of Ganem. The caliph, who was naturally jealous, +instead of being provoked at the inhumanity of Zobeide, was more +concerned at the infidelity he fancied Fetnah had been guilty of +towards him. "Is it so?" said he, after reading the note; "the +perfidious wretch has been four months with a young merchant, and +has the effrontery to boast of his attention to her. Thirty days +are past since my return to Bagdad, and she now thinks of sending +me news of herself. Ungrateful creature! whilst I spend the days +in bewailing her, she passes them in betraying me. Go to, let us +take vengeance of a bold woman, and that bold youth who affronts +me." Having spoken these words, the caliph rose, and went into a +hall where he used to appear in public, and give audience to his +court. The first gate was opened, and immediately all the +courtiers, who were waiting without, entered. The grand vizier, +came in, and prostrated himself before the throne. Then rising, +he stood before his master, who, in a tone which denoted he would +be instantly obeyed, said to him, "Jaaffier, your presence is +requisite, for putting in execution an important affair I am +about to commit to you. Take four hundred men of my guards with +you, and first inquire where a merchant of Damascus lives whose +name is Ganem, the son of Abou Ayoub. When you have learnt this, +repair to his house, and cause it to be razed to the foundations; +but first secure Ganem, and bring him hither, with my slave +Fetnah, who has lived with him these four months. I will punish +her, and make an example of that insolent man, who has presumed +to fail in respell to me." + +The grand vizier, having received this positive command, made a +low prostration to the caliph, having his hand on his head, in +token that he would rather lose it than disobey him, and +departed. The first thing he did, was to send to the syndic of +the dealers in foreign stuffs and silks, with strict orders to +find out the house of the unfortunate merchant. The officer he +sent with these orders brought him back word, that he had +scarcely been seen for some months, and no man knew what could +keep him at home, if he was there. The same officer likewise told +Jaaffier where Ganem lived. + +Upon this information, that minister, without losing time, went +to the judge of the police, whom he caused to bear him company, +and attended by a great number of carpenters and masons, with the +necessary tools for razing a house, came to Ganem's residence; +and finding it stood detached + +from any other, he posted his soldiers round it, to prevent the +young merchant's making his escape. + +Fetnah and Ganem had just dined: the lady was sitting at a window +next the street; hearing a noise, she looked out through the +lattice, and seeing the grand vizier, approach with his +attendants, concluded she was their object as well as Ganem. She +perceived her note had been received, but had not expected such a +consequence, having hoped that the caliph would have taken the +matter in a different light. She knew not how long the prince had +been returned from his campaign, and though she was acquainted +with his jealous temper, yet apprehended nothing on that account. +However, the sight of the grand vizier, and the soldiers made her +tremble, not indeed for herself, but for Ganem: she did not +question clearing herself, provided the caliph would but hear +her. As for Ganem, whom she loved less out of gratitude than +inclination, she plainly foresaw that his incensed rival might be +apt to condemn him, on account of his youth and person. Full of +this thought, she turned to the young merchant and said, "Alas! +Ganem, we are undone." Ganem looked through the lattice, and was +seized with dread, when he beheld the caliph's guards with their +naked cimeters, and the grand vizier, with the civil magistrate +at the head of them. At this sight he stood motionless, and had +not power to utter one word. "Ganem," said the favourite, "there +is no time to be lost; if you love me, put on the habit of one of +your slaves immediately, and disfigure your face and arms with +soot. Then put some of these dishes on your head; you may be +taken for a servant belonging to the eating house, and they will +let you pass. If they happen to ask you where the master of the +house is, answer, without any hesitation, that he is within." +"Alas! madam," answered Harem, concerned for himself than for +Fetnah, "you only take care of me, what will become of you?" "Let +not that trouble you," replied Fetnah, "it is my part to look to +that. As for what you leave in this house, I will take care of +it, and I hope it will be one day faithfully restored to you, +when the caliph's anger shall be over; but at present avoid his +fury. The orders he gives in the heat of passion are always +fatal." The young merchant's affliction was so great, that he +knew not what course to pursue, and would certainly have suffered +himself to be seized by the caliph's soldiers, had not Fetnah +pressed him to disguise himself. He submitted to her persuasions, +put on the habit of a slave, daubed himself with soot, and as +they were knocking at the door, all they could do was to embrace +each other tenderly. They were both so overwhelmed with sorrow, +that they could not utter a word. Thus they parted. Ganem went +out with some dishes on his head: he was taken for the servant of +an eating-house, and no one offered to stop him. On the contrary, +the grand vizier, who was the first that met him, gave way and +let him pass, little thinking that he was the man he looked for. +Those who were behind the grand vizier, made way as he had done, +and thus favoured his escape He soon reached one of the gates, +and got clear of the city. + +Whilst he was making the best of his way from the grand vizier, +that minister came into the room where Fetnah was sitting on a +sofa, and where there were many chests full of Ganem's clothes, +and of the money he had made of his goods. + +As soon as Fetnah saw the grand vizier, come into the room, she +fell upon her face, and continuing in that posture, as it were to +receive her death; "My lord," said she, "I am ready to undergo +the sentence passed against me by the commander of the believers; +you need only make it known to me." "Madam," answered Jaaffier, +falling also down till she had raised herself, "God forbid any +man should presume to lay profane hands on you. I do not intend +to offer you the least harm. I have no farther orders, than to +intreat you will be pleased to go with me to the palace, and to +conduct you thither, with the merchant that lives in this house." +"My lord," replied the favourite, "let us go; I am ready to +follow you. As for the young merchant, to whom I am indebted for +my life, he is not here, he has been gone about a month since to +Damascus, whither his business called him, and has left these +chests you see under my care, till he returns. I conjure you to +cause them to be carried to the palace, and order them to be +secured, that I may perform the promise I made him to take all +possible care of them." + +"You shall be obeyed," said Jaaffier, and immediately sent for +porters, whom he commanded to take up the chests, and carry them +to Mesrour. + +As soon as the porters were gone, he whispered the civil +magistrate, committing to him the care of seeing the house razed, +but first to cause diligent search to be made for Ganem, who, he +suspected, might be hidden, notwithstanding what Fetnah had told +him. He then went out, taking her with him, attended by the two +slaves who waited on her. As for Ganem's slaves, they were not +regarded; they ran in among the crowd, and it was not known what +became of them. + +No sooner was Jaaffier out of the house, than the masons and +carpenters began to demolish it, and did their business so +effectually, that in a few hours none of it remained. But the +civil magistrate, not finding Ganem, after the strictest search, +sent to acquaint the grand vizier, before that minister reached +the palace. "Well," said Haroon al Rusheed, seeing him come into +his closet, "have you executed my orders?" "Yes," answered +Jaaffier "the house Ganem lived in is levelled with the ground, +and I have brought you your favourite Fetnah; she is at your +closet door, and I will call her in, if you command me. As for +the young merchant, we could not find him, though every place has +been searched, and Fetnah affirms that he has been gone a month +to Damascus." + +Never was passion equal to that of the caliph, when he heard that +Ganem had made his escape. As for his favourite, believing that +she had been false to him, he would neither see nor speak to her. +"Mesrour," said he to the chief of the eunuchs, who was then +present, "take the ungrateful and perfidious Fetnah, and shut her +up in the dark tower." That tower was within the precinct of the +palace, and commonly served as a prison for the favourites who +any way offended the caliph. + +Mesrour being used to execute his sovereign's orders, however +unjust, without making any answer, obeyed this with some +reluctance. He signified his concern to Fetnah, who was the more +grieved because she had assured herself, that the caliph would +not refuse to speak to her. She was obliged to submit to her hard +fate, and to follow Mesrour, who conducted her to the dark tower, +and there left her. + +In the mean time, the enraged caliph dismissed his grand vizier, +and only hearkening to his passion, wrote the following letter +with his own hand to the king of Syria, his cousin and tributary, +who resided at Damascus. + +"This letter is to inform you, that a merchant of Damascus, whose +name is Ganem, the son of Abou Ayoub, has seduced the most +amiable of my women slaves, called Fetnah, and is fled. It is my +will, that when you have read my letter, you cause search to be +made for Ganem, and secure him. When he is in your power, you +shall cause him to be loaded with irons, and for three days +successively let him receive fifty strokes of the bastinado. Then +let him be led through all parts of the city by a crier, +proclaiming, This is the smallest punishment the commander of +the believers inflicts on him that offends his lord, and +debauches one of his slaves.' After that you shall send him to me +under a strong guard. It is my will that you cause his house to +be plundered; and after it has been razed, order the materials to +be carried out of the city into the middle of the plain. Besides +this, if he has father, mother, sister, wives, daughters, or +other kindred, cause them to be stripped; and when they are +naked, expose them three days to the whole city, forbidding any +person on pain of death to afford them shelter. I expect you will +without delay execute my command." + +The caliph having written this letter, dispatched it by an +express, ordering him to make all possible speed, and to take +pigeons along with him, that he might the sooner hear what had +been done by Mahummud Zinebi. + +The pigeons of Bagdad have this peculiar quality, that from +wherever they may be carried to, they return to Bagdad as soon as +they are set at liberty, especially when they have young ones. A +letter rolled up is made fast under their wing, and by that means +advice is speedily received from such places as it is desired. + +The caliph's courier travelled night and day, as his master's +impatience required; and being come to Damascus, went directly to +king Zinebi's palace, who sat upon his throne to receive the +caliph's letter. The courier having delivered it, Mahummud +looking at it, and knowing the hand, stood up to shew his +respect, kissed the letter, and laid it on his head, to denote he +was ready submissively to obey the orders it contained. He opened +it, and having read it, immediately descended from his throne, +and without losing time, mounted on horseback with the principal +officers of his household. He sent for the civil magistrate; and +went directly to Ganem's house, attended by all his guards. + +Ganem's mother had never received any letter from him since he +had left Damascus; but the other merchants with whom he went to +Bagdad were returned, and all of them told her they had left her +son in perfect however, seeing he did not return, she could not +but be persuaded that he was dead, and was so fully convinced of +this in her imagination, that she went into mourning. She +bewailed Ganem as if she had seen him die, and had herself closed +his eyes: never mother expressed greater sorrow; and so far was +she from seeking any comfort, that she delighted in indulging her +grief. She had caused a dome to be built in the middle of the +court belonging to her house, in which she placed a tomb. She +spent the greatest part of the days and nights in weeping under +that dome, as if her son had been buried there: her daughter bore +her company, and mixed her tears with hers. + +It was now some time since they had thus devoted themselves to +sorrow, and the neighbourhood, hearing their cries and +lamentations, pitied such tender relations, when king Mahummud +Zinebi knocked at the door, which being opened by a slave +belonging to the family, he hastily entered the house, inquiring +for Ganem, the son of Abou Ayoub. + +Though the slave had never seen king Zinebi, she guessed by his +retinue that he must be one of the principal officers of +Damascus. "My lord," said she, "that Ganem you inquire for is +dead; my mistress, his mother, is in that monument, lamenting +him." The king, not regarding what was said by the slave, caused +all the house to be diligently searched by his guards for Ganem. +He then advanced towards the monument, where he saw the mother +and daughter sitting on a mat, and their faces appeared to him +bathed in tears. These poor women immediately veiled themselves, +as soon as they beheld a man at the door of the dome; but the +mother, knowing the king of Damascus, got up, and ran to cast +herself at his feet. "My good lady," said he, "I was looking for +your son, Ganem, is he here?" "Alas! sir," cried the mother, "it +is a long time since he has ceased to be: would to God I had at +least put him into his coffin with my own hands, and had had the +comfort of having his bones in this monument! O my son, my dear +son!" She would have said more, but was oppressed with such +violent sorrow that she was unable to proceed. + +Zinebi was moved; for he was a prince of a mild nature, and had +much compassion for the sufferings of the unfortunate. "If Ganem +alone be guilty," thought he to himself, "why should the mother +and the daughter, who are innocent, be punished? Ah! cruel Haroon +al Rusheed! what a mortification do you put upon me, in making me +the executioner of your vengeance, obliging me to persecute +persons who have not offended you." + +The guards whom the king had ordered to search for Ganem, came +and told him their search had been vain. He was fully convinced +of this; the tears of those two women would not leave him any +room to doubt. It distracted him to be obliged to execute the +caliph's order. "My good lady," said he to Ganem's mother, "quit +this monument with your daughter, it is no place of safety for +you." They went out, and he, to secure them against any insult, +took off his own robe, and covered them both with it, bidding +them keep close to him. He then ordered the populace to be let in +to plunder, which was performed with the utmost rapaciousness, +and with shouts which terrified Ganem's mother and sister the +more, because they knew not the reason. The rabble carried off +the richest goods, chests full of wealth, fine Persian and Indian +carpets, cushions covered with cloth of gold and silver, fine +China ware; in short, all was taken away, till nothing remained +but the bare walls of the house: and it was a dismal spectacle +for the unhappy ladies, to see all their goods plundered, without +knowing why they were so cruelly treated. + +When the house was plundered, Mahummud ordered the civil +magistrate to raze the house and monument; and while that was +doing, he carried away the mother and daughter to his palace. +There it was he redoubled their affliction, by acquainting them +with the caliph's will. "He commands me," said he to them, "to +cause you to be stripped, and exposed naked for three days to the +view of the people. It is with the utmost reluctance that I +execute such a cruel and ignominious sentence." The king +delivered these words with such an air, as plainly made it appear +his heart was really pierced with grief and compassion. Though +the fear of being dethroned prevented his following the dictates +of his pity, yet he in some measure moderated the rigour of the +caliph's orders, by causing large shifts, without sleeves, to be +made of coarse horse-hair for Ganem's mother, and his sister. + +The next day, these two victims of the caliph's rage were +stripped of their clothes, and their horse-hair shifts put upon +them; their head-dress was also taken away, so that their +dishevelled hair hung floating on their backs. The daughter had +the finest hair, and it hung down to the ground. In this +condition they were exposed to the people. The civil magistrate, +attended by his officers, were along with them, and they were +conducted through the city. A crier went before them, who every +now and then cried, "This is the punishment due to those who have +drawn on themselves the indignation of the commander of the +believers." + +Whilst they walked in this manner along the streets of Damascus, +with their arms and feet naked, clad in such a strange garment, +and endeavouring to hide their confusion under their hair, with +which they covered their faces, all the people were dissolved in +tears; more especially the ladies, considering them as innocent +persons, as they beheld them through their lattice windows, and +being particularly moved by the daughter's youth and beauty, they +made the air ring with their shrieks, as they passed before their +houses. The very children, frightened at those shrieks, and at +the spectacle that occasioned them, mixed their cries with the +general lamentation. In short, had an enemy been in Damascus, +putting all to fire and sword, the consternation could not have +been greater. + +It was near night when this dismal scene concluded. The mother +and daughter were both conducted back to king Mahummud's palace. +Not being used to walk bare-foot, they were so spent, that they +lay a long time in a swoon. The queen of Damascus, highly +afflicted at their misfortunes, notwithstanding the caliph's +prohibition to relieve them, sent some of her women to comfort +them, with all sorts of refreshments and wine, to recover their +spirits. + +The queen's women found them still in a swoon, and almost past +receiving any benefit by what they offered them. However, with +much difficulty they were brought to themselves. Ganem's mother +immediately returned them thanks for their courtesy. "My good +madam," said one of the queen's ladies to her, "we are highly +concerned at your affliction, and the queen of Syria, our +mistress, has done us a favour in employing us to assist you. We +can assure you, that princess is much afflicted at your +misfortunes, as well as the king her consort." Ganem's mother +entreated the queen's women to return her majesty a thousand +thanks from her and her daughter, and then directing her +discourse to the lady who spoke to her, "Madam," said she, "the +king has not told me why the chief of the believers inflicts so +many outrages on us: pray be pleased to tell us what crimes we +have been guilty of." "My good lady," answered the other, "the +origin of your misfortunes proceeds from your son Ganem. He is +not dead, as you imagine. He is accused of having seduced the +beautiful Fetnah, the best beloved of the caliph's favourites; +but having, by flight, withdrawn himself from that prince's +indignation, the punishment is fallen on you. All condemn the +caliph's resentment, but all fear him; and you see king Zinebi +himself dares not resist his orders, for fear of incurring his +displeasure. All we can do is to pity you, and exhort you to have +patience." + +"I know my son," answered Ganem's mother; "I have educated him +carefully, and in that respect which is due to the commander of +the believers. He cannot have committed the crime he is accused +of; I dare answer for his innocence. But I will cease to murmur +and complain, since it is for him that I suffer, and he is not +dead. O Ganem!" added she, in a transport of affection and joy, +"my dear son Ganem! is possible that you are still alive? I am no +longer concerned for the loss of my fortune; and how harsh and +unjust soever the caliph's orders may be, I forgive him, provided +heaven has preserved my son. I am only concerned for my daughter; +her sufferings alone afflict me; yet I believe her to be so good +a sister as to follow my example." + +On hearing these words, the young lady, who till then had +appeared insensible, turned to her mother, and clasping her arms +about her neck, "Yes, dear mother," said she, "I will always +follow your example, whatever extremity your love for my brother +may reduce us to." + +The mother and daughter thus interchanging their sighs and tears, +continued a considerable time in such moving embraces. In the +mean time the queen's women, who were much affected at the +spectacle, omitted no persuasions to prevail with Ganem's mother +to take some sustenance. She ate a morsel out of complaisance, +and her daughter did the like. + +The caliph having ordered that Ganem's kindred should be exposed +three days successively to the sight of the people, in the +condition already mentioned, the unhappy ladies afforded the same +spectacle the second time next day, from morning till night. But +that day and the following, the streets, which at first had been +full of people, were now quite empty. All the merchants, incensed +at the ill usage of Abou Ayoub's widow and daughter, shut up +their shops, and kept themselves close within their houses. The +ladies, instead of looking through their lattice windows, +withdrew into the back parts of their houses. There was not a +person to be seen in the public places through which those +unfortunate women were carried. It seemed as if all the +inhabitants of Damascus had abandoned their city. + +On the fourth day, the king resolving punctually to obey the +caliph's orders, though he did not approve of them, sent criers +into all quarters of the city to make proclamation, strictly +commanding all the inhabitants of Damascus, and strangers, of +what condition soever, upon pain of death, and having their +bodies cast to the dogs to be devoured, not to receive Ganem's +mother and sister into their houses, or give them a morsel of +bread or a drop of water, and, in a word, not to afford them the +least support, or hold the least correspondence with them. + +When the criers had performed what the king had enjoined them, +that prince ordered the mother and the daughter to be turned out +of the palace, and left to their choice to go where they thought +fit. As soon as they appeared, all persons fled from them, so +great an impression had the late prohibition made upon all. They +easily perceived that every body shunned them; but not knowing +the reason, were much surprised; and their amazement was the +greater, when coming into any street, or among any persons, they +recollected some of their best friends, who immediately retreated +with as much haste as the rest. "What is the meaning of this," +said Ganem's mother; "do we carry the plague about us? Must the +unjust and barbarous usage we have received render us odious to +our fellow-citizens? Come, my child," added she, "let us depart +from Damascus with all speed; let us not stay any longer in a +city where we are become frightful to our very friends." + +The two wretched ladies, discoursing in this manner, came to one +of the extremities of the city, and retired to a ruined house to +pass the night. Thither some Mussulmauns, out of charity and +compassion, resorted to them after the day was shut in. They +carried them provisions, but durst not stay to comfort them, for +fear of being discovered, and punished for disobeying the +caliph's orders. + +In the mean time king Zinebi had let fly a pigeon to give the +caliph an account of his exact obedience. He informed him of all +that had been executed, and conjured him to direct what he would +have done with Ganem's mother and sister. He soon received the +caliph's answer in the same way, which was, that he should banish +them from Damascus for ever. Immediately the king of Syria sent +men to the old house, with orders to take the mother and +daughter, and to conduct them three days' journey from Damascus, +and there to leave them, forbidding them ever to return to the +city. + +Zinebi's men executed their commission, but being less exact +their master, in the strict performance of the caliph's orders, +they in pity gave the wretched ladies some small pieces of money, +and each of them a scrip, which they hung about their necks, to +carry their provisions. + +In this miserable state they came to the first village. The +peasants' wives flocked about them, and, as it appeared through +their disguise that they were people of some condition, asked +them what was the occasion of their travelling in a habit that +did not seem to belong to them. Instead of answering the +question, they fell to weeping, which only served to heighten the +curiosity of the peasants, and to move their compassion. Ganem's +mother told them what she and her daughter had endured; at which +the good countrywomen were sensibly afflicted, and endeavoured to +comfort them. They treated them as well as their poverty would +permit, took off their horse-hair shifts, which were very uneasy +to them, and put on them others which they gave them, with shoes, +and something to cover their heads, and save their hair. + +Having expressed their gratitude to those charitable women, Jalib +al Koolloob and her mother departed from that village, taking +short journeys towards Aleppo. They used at dusk to retire near +or into the mosques, where they passed the night on the mat, if +there was any, or else on the bare pavement; and sometimes rested +in the public places appointed for the use of travellers. As for +sustenance, they did not want, for they often came to places +where bread, boiled rice, and other provisions are distributed to +all travellers who desire it. + +At length they came to Aleppo, but would not stay there, and +continuing their journey towards the Euphrates, crossed the +river, and entered Mesopotamia, which they traversed as far as +Moussoul. Thence, notwithstanding all they had endured, they +proceeded to Bagdad. That was the place they had fixed their +thoughts upon, hoping to find Ganem, though they ought not to +have fancied that he was in a city where the caliph resided; but +they hoped, because they wished it; their affection for him +increasing instead of diminishing, with their misfortunes. Their +conversation was generally about him, and they inquired for him +of all they met. But let us leave Jalib al Koolloob and her +mother, and return to Fetnah. + +She was still confined closely in the dark tower, since the day +that had been so fatal to Ganem and herself. However, +disagreeable as her prison was to her, it was much less grievous +than the thoughts of Ganem's misfortune, the uncertainty of whose +fate was a killing affliction. There was scarcely a moment in +which she did not lament him. + +The caliph was accustomed to walk frequently at night within the +enclosure of his palace, for he was the most inquisitive prince +in the world, and sometimes, by those night-walks, came to the +knowledge of things that happened in his court, which would +otherwise never have reached his ear. One of those nights, in his +walk, he happened to pass by the dark tower, and fancying he +heard somebody talk, stops, and drawing near the door to listen, +distinctly heard these words, which Fetnah, whose thoughts were +always on Ganem, uttered with a loud voice: "O Ganem, too +unfortunate Ganem! where are you at this time, whither has thy +cruel fate led thee? Alas! it is I that have made you wretched! +why did you not let me perish miserably, rather than afford me +your generous relief? What melancholy return have you received +for your care and respect? The commander of the faithful, who +ought to have rewarded, persecutes you; and in requital for +having always regarded me as a person reserved for his bed, you +lose your fortune, and are obliged to seek for safety in flight. +O caliph, barbarous caliph, how can you exculpate yourself, when +you shall appear with Ganem before the tribunal of the Supreme +Judge, and the angels shall testify the truth before your face? +All the power you are now invested with, and which makes almost +the whole world tremble, will not prevent your being condemned +and punished for your violent and unjust proceedings." Here +Fetnah ceased her complaints, her sighs and tears putting a stop +to her utterance. + +This was enough to make the caliph reflect. He plainly perceived, +that if what he had heard was true, his favourite must be +innocent, and that he had been too hasty in giving such orders +against Ganem and his family. Being resolved to be rightly +informed in an affair which so nearly concerned him in point of +equity, on which he valued himself, he immediately returned to +his apartment, and that moment ordered Mesrour to repair to the +dark tower, and bring Fetnah before him. + +By this command, and much more by the caliph's manner of +speaking, the chief of the eunuchs guessed that his master +designed to pardon his favourite, and take her to him again. He +was overjoyed at the thought, for he respected Fetnah, and had +been much concerned at her disgrace; therefore flying instantly +to the tower, "Madam," said he to the favourite, with such an air +as expressed his satisfaction, "be pleased to follow me; I hope +you will never more return to this melancholy abode: the +commander of the faithful wishes to speak with you, and I draw +from this a happy omen." + +Fetnah followed Mesrour, who conducted her into the caliph's +closet. She prostrated herself before him, and so continued, her +face bathed in tears. "Fetnah," said the caliph, without bidding +her rise, "I think you charge me with violence and injustice. Who +is he, that, notwithstanding the regard and respell he had for +me, is in a miserable condition? Speak freely, you know the +natural goodness of my disposition, and that I love to do +justice." + +By these words the favourite was convinced that the caliph had +heard what she had said, and availed herself of so favourable an +opportunity to clear Ganem. "Commander of the true believers," +said she, "if I have let fall any word that is not agreeable to +your majesty, I most humbly beseech you to forgive me; but he +whose innocence and wretched state you desire to be informed of +is Ganem, the unhappy son of Abou Ayoub, late a rich merchant of +Damascus. He saved my life from a grave, and afforded me a +sanctuary in his house. I must own, that, from the first moment +he saw me, he perhaps designed to devote himself to me, and +conceived hopes of engaging me to admit his love. I guessed at +this, by the eagerness which he shewed in entertaining me, and +doing me all the good offices I so much wanted under the +circumstances I was then in; but as soon as he heard that I had +the honour to belong to you, Ah, madam,' said he, that which +belongs to the master is forbidden to the slave.' From that +moment, I owe this justice to his virtue to declare, his +behaviour was always suitable to his words. You, commander of the +true believers, well know with what rigour you have treated him, +and you will answer for it before the tribunal of God." + +The caliph was not displeased with Fetnah for the freedom of +these words; "But may I," said he, "rely on the assurance you +give me of Ganem's virtue?" "Yes," replied Fetnah, "you may. I +would not for the world conceal the truth from you; and to prove +to you that I am sincere, I must make a confession, which perhaps +may displease you, but I beg pardon of your majesty beforehand." +"Speak, daughter," said Haroon al Rusheed, "I forgive you all, +provided you conceal nothing from me." "Well, then," replied +Fetnah, "let me inform you, that Ganem's respectful behaviour, +joined to all the good offices he did me, gained him my esteem. I +went further yet: you know the tyranny of love: I felt some +tender inclination rising in my breast. He perceived it; but far +from availing himself of my frailty, and notwithstanding the +flame which consumed him, he still remained steady in his duty, +and all that his passion could force from him were the words I +have already repeated to your majesty, That which belongs to the +master is forbidden to the slave.'" + +This ingenuous confession might have provoked any other man than +the caliph; but it completely appeased that prince. He commanded +her to rise, and making her sit by him, "Tell me your story," +said he, "from the beginning to the end." She did so, with +artless simplicity, passing slightly over what regarded Zobeide, +and enlarging on the obligations she owed to Ganem; but above +all, she highly extolled his discretion, endeavouring by that +means to make the caliph sensible that she had been under the +necessity of remaining concealed in Ganem's house, to deceive +Zobeide. She concluded with the young merchant's escape, which +she plainly told the caliph she had compelled him to, that he +might avoid his indignation. + +When she had done speaking, the caliph said to her, "I believe +all you have told me; but why was it so long before you let me +hear from you? Was there any need of staying a whole month after +my return, before you sent me word where you were?" "Commander of +the true believers," answered Fetnah, "Ganem went abroad so very +seldom, that you need not wonder we were not the first that heard +of your return. Besides, Ganem, who took upon him to deliver the +letter I wrote to Nouron Nihar, was a long time before he could +find an opportunity of putting it into her own hands." + +"It is enough, Fetnah," replied the caliph; "I acknowledge my +fault, and would willingly make amends for it, by heaping favours +on the young merchant of Damascus. Consider, therefore, what I +can do for him. Ask what you think fit, and I will grant it." +Hereupon the favourite fell down at the caliph's feet, with her +face to the ground; and rising again, said, "Commander of the +true believers, after returning your majesty thanks for Ganem, I +most humbly entreat you to cause it to be published throughout +your do minions, that you pardon the son of Abou Ayoub, and that +he may safely come to you." "I must do more," rejoined the +prince, "in requital for having saved your life, and the respect +he has strewn for me, to make amends for the loss of his fortune. +In short, to repair the wrong I have done to himself and his +family, I give him to you for a husband." Fetnah had no words +expressive enough to thank the caliph for his generosity: she +then withdrew into the apartment she had occupied before her +melancholy adventure. The same furniture was still in it, nothing +had been removed; but that which pleased her most was, to find +Ganem's chests and bales, which Mesrour had received the caliph's +orders to convey thither. + +The next day Haroon al Rusheed ordered the grand vizier, to cause +proclamation to be made throughout all his dominions, that he +pardoned Ganem the son of Abou Ayoub; but this proved of no +effect, for a long time elapsed without any news of the young +merchant. Fetnah concluded, that he had not been able to survive +the pain of losing her. A dreadful uneasiness seized her mind; +but as hope is the last thing which forsakes lovers, she +entreated the caliph to give her leave to seek for Ganem herself; +which being granted, she took a purse containing a thousand +pieces of gold, and went one morning out of the palace, mounted +on a mule from the caliph's stables, very richly caparisoned. +Black eunuchs attended her, with a hand placed on each side of +the mule's back. + +Thus she went from mosque to mosque, bestowing her alms among the +devotees of the Mahummedan religion, desiring their prayers for +the accomplishment of an affair, on which the happiness of two +persons, she told them, depended. She spend the whole day and the +thousand pieces of gold in giving alms at the mosques, and +returned to the palace in the evening. + +The next day she took another purse of the same value, and in the +like equipage as the day before, went to the square of the +jewellers' shops, and stopping at the gateway without alighting, +sent one of her black eunuchs for the syndic or chief of them. +The syndic, who was a most charitable man, and spent above two- +thirds of his income in relieving poor strangers, sick or in +distress, did not make Fetnah wait, knowing by her dress that she +was a lady belonging to the palace. "I apply myself to you," said +she, putting the purse into his hands, "as a person whose piety +is celebrated throughout the city. I desire you to distribute +that gold among the poor strangers you relieve, for I know you +make it your business to assist those who apply to your charity. +I am also satisfied that you prevent their wants, and that +nothing is more grateful to you, than to have an opportunity of +relieving their misery." "Madam," answered the syndic, "I shall +obey your commands with pleasure; but if you desire to exercise +your charity in person, and will be pleased to step to my house, +you will there see two women worthy of your compassion; I met +them yesterday as they were coming into the city; they were in a +deplorable condition, and it moved me the more, because I thought +they were persons of rank. Through all the rags that covered +them, notwithstanding the impression the sun has made on their +faces, I discovered a noble air, not to be commonly found in +those people I relieve. I carried them both to my house, and +delivered them to my wife, who was of the same opinion with me. +She caused her slaves to provide them good beds, whilst she +herself led them to our warm bath, and gave them clean linen. We +know not as yet who they are, because we wish to let them take +some rest before we trouble them with our questions." + +Fetnah, without knowing why, felt a curiosity to see them. The +syndic would have conducted her to his house, but she would not +give him the trouble, and was satisfied that a slave should shew +her the way. She alighted at the door, and followed the syndic's +slave, who was gone before to give notice to his mistress, she +being then in the chamber with Jalib al Koolloob and her mother, +for they were the persons the syndic had been speaking of to +Fetnah. + +The syndic's wife being informed by the slave, that a lady from +the palace was in her house, was hastening to meet her; but +Fetnah, who had followed the slave, did not give her time: on her +coming into the chamber, the syndic's wife prostrated herself +before her, to express the respect she had for all who belonged +to the caliph. Fetnah raised her up, and said, "My good lady, I +desire you will let me speak with those two strangers that +arrived at Bagdad last night." "Madam," answered the syndic's +wife, "they lie in those beds you see by each other." The +favourite immediately drew near the mother's, and viewing her +carefully, "Good woman," said she, "I come to offer you my +assistance: I have considerable interest in this city, and may be +of service to you and your companion." "Madam," answered Ganem's +mother, "I perceive by your obliging offers, that Heaven has not +quite forsaken us, though we had cause to believe it had, after +so many misfortunes as have befallen us." Having uttered these +words, she wept so bitterly that Fetnah and the syndic's wife +could not forbear letting fall some tears. + +The caliph's favourite having dried up hers, said to Ganem's +mother, "Be so kind as to tell us your misfortunes, and recount +your story. You cannot make the relation to any persons better +disposed to use all possible means to comfort you." "Madam," +replied Abou Ayoub's disconsolate widow, "a favourite of the +commander of the true believers, a lady whose name is Fetnah, is +the occasion of all our misfortunes." These words were like a +thunderbolt to the favourite; but suppressing her agitation and +concern, she suffered Ganem's mother to proceed in the following +manner: "I am the widow of Abou Ayoub, a merchant of Damascus; I +had a son called Ganem, who, coming to trade at Bagdad, has been +accused of carrying off Fetnah. The caliph caused search to be +made for him every where, to put him to death; but not finding +him, he wrote to the king of Damascus, to cause our house to be +plundered and razed, and to expose my daughter and myself three +days successively, naked, to the populace, and then to banish us +out of Syria for ever. But how unworthy soever our usage has +been, I should be still comforted were my son alive, and I could +meet with him. What a pleasure would it be for his sister and me +to see him again! Embracing him we should forget the loss of our +property, and all the evils we have suffered on his account. +Alas! I am fully persuaded he is only the innocent cause of them; +and that he is no more guilty towards the caliph than his sister +and myself." + +"No doubt of it," said Fetnah, interrupting her there, "he is no +more guilty than you are; I can assure you of his innocence; for +I am that very Fetnah, you so much complain of; who, through some +fatality in my stars, have occasioned you so many misfortunes. To +me you must impute the loss of your son, if he is no more; but if +I have occasioned your misfortune, I can in some measure relieve +it. I have already justified Ganem to the caliph; who has caused +it to be proclaimed throughout his dominions, that he pardons the +son of Abou Ayoub; and doubt not he will do you as much good as +he has done you injury. You are no longer his enemies. He waits +for Ganem, to requite the service he has done me, by uniting our +fortunes; he gives me to him for his consort, therefore look on +me as your daughter, and permit me to vow eternal duty and +affection." "Having so said, she bowed down on Ganem's mother, +who was so astonished that she could return no answer. Fetnah +held her long in her arms, and only left her to embrace the +daughter, who, sitting up, held out her arms to receive her. + +When the caliph's favourite had strewn the mother and daughter +all tokens of affection, as Ganem's wife, she said to them, "The +wealth Ganem had in this city is not lost, it is in my apartment +in the palace; but I know all the treasure of the world cannot +comfort you without Ganem, if I may judge of you by myself. Blood +is no less powerful than love in great minds; but why should we +despair of seeing him again? We shall find him; the happiness of +meeting with you makes me conceive fresh hopes. Perhaps this is +the last day of your sufferings, and the beginning of a greater +felicity than you enjoyed in Damascus, when Ganem was with you." + +Fetnah would have proceeded, but the syndic of the jewellers +coming in interrupted her: "Madam," said he to her, "I come from +seeing a very moving object, it is a young man, whom a camel- +driver had just carried to an hospital: he was bound with cords +on a camel, because he had not strength enough to sit. They had +already unbound him, and were carrying him into the hospital, +when I happened to pass by. I went up to the young man, viewed +him attentively, and fancied his countenance was not altogether +unknown to me. I asked him some questions concerning his family +and his country; but all the answers I could get were sighs and +tears. I took pity on him, and being so much used to sick people, +perceived that he had need to have particular care taken of him. +I would not permit him to be put into the hospital; for I am too +well acquainted with their way of managing the sick, and am +sensible of the incapacity of the physicians. I have caused him +to be brought to my own house, by my slaves; and they are now in +a private room where I placed him, putting on some of my own +linen, and treating him as they would do myself." + +Fetnah's heart beat at these words of the jeweller, and she felt +a sudden emotion, for which she could not account: "Shew me," +said she to the syndic, "into the sick man's room; I should be +glad to see him." The syndic conducted her, and whilst she was +going thither, Ganem's mother said to Jalib al Koolloob, "Alas! +daughter, wretched as that sick stranger is, your brother, if he +be living, is not perhaps in a more happy condition." + +The caliph's favourite coming into the chamber of the sick +stranger, drew near the bed, in which the syndic's slaves had +already laid him. She saw a young man, whose eyes were closed, +his countenance pale, disfigured, and bathed in tears. She gazed +earnestly on him, her heart beat, and she fancied she beheld +Ganem; but yet she would not believe her eyes. Though she found +something of Ganem in the objets she beheld, yet in other +respects he appeared so different, that she durst not imagine it +was he that lay before her. Unable, however, to withstand the +earnest desire of being satisfied, "Ganem," said she, with a +trembling voice, "is it you I behold?" Having spoken these words, +she stopped to give the young man time to answer, but observing +that he seemed insensible; "Alas! Ganem," added she, "it is not +you that I address! My imagination being overcharged with your +image, has given to a stranger a deceitful resemblance. The son +of Abou Ayoub, however indisposed, would know the voice of +Fetnah." At the name of Fetnah, Ganem (for it was really he) +opened his eyes, sprang up, and knowing the caliph's favourite; +"Ah! madam," said he, "by what miracle" He could say no more; +such a sudden transport of joy seized him that he fainted away. +Fetnah and the syndic did all they could to bring him to himself; +but as soon as they perceived he began to revive, the syndic +desired the lady to withdraw, lest the sight of her should +heighten his disorder. + +The young man having recovered, looked all around, and not seeing +what he sought, exclaimed, "What is become of you, charming +Fetnah? Did you really appear before my eyes, or was it only an +illusion?" "No, sir," said the syndic, "it was no illusion. It +was I that caused the lady to withdraw, but you shall see her +again, as soon as you are in a condition to bear the interview. +You now stand in need of rest, and nothing ought to obstruct your +taking it. The situation of your affairs is altered, since you +are, as I suppose, that Ganem, in favour of whom the commander of +the true believers has caused a proclamation to be made in +Bagdad, declaring, that he forgives him what is passed. Be +satisfied, for the present, with knowing so much; the lady, who +just now spoke to you, will acquaint you with the rest, therefore +think of nothing but recovering your health; I will contribute +all in my power towards it." Having spoke these words, he left +Ganem to take his rest, and went himself to provide for him such +medicines as were proper to recover his strength, exhausted by +hard living and toil. + +During this time Fetnah was in the room with Jalib al Koolloob +and her mother, where almost the same scene was acted over again; +for when Ganem's mother understood that the sick stranger whom +the syndic had brought into his house was Ganem himself, she was +so overjoyed, that she also swooned away, and when, with the +assistance of Fetnah and the syndic's wife, she was again come to +herself, she would have arisen to go and see her son; but the +syndic coming in, hindered her, representing that Ganem was so +weak and emaciated, that it would endanger his life to excite in +him those emotions, which must be the consequence of the +unexpected sight of a beloved mother and sister. There was no +occasion for the syndic's saying any more to Ganem's mother; as +soon as she was told that she could not converse with her son, +without hazarding his life, she ceased insisting to go and see +him. Fetnah then said, "Let us bless Heaven for having brought us +all together. I will return to the palace to give the caliph an +account of these adventures, and tomorrow morning I will return +to you." This said, she embraced the mother and the daughter, and +went away. As soon as she came to the palace, she sent Mesrour to +request a private audience of the caliph, which was immediately +granted; and being brought into the prince's closet, where he was +alone, she prostrated herself at his feet, with her face on the +ground, according to custom. He commanded her to rise, and having +made her sit down, asked whether she had heard any news of Ganem? +"Commander of the true believers," said she, "I have been so +successful, that I have found him, and also his mother and +sister." The caliph was curious to know how she had discovered +them in so short a time, and she satisfied his inquiries, saying +so many things in commendation of Ganem's mother and sister, he +desired to see them as well as the young merchant. + +Though Haroon al Rusheed was passionate, and in his heat +sometimes guilty of cruel actions; yet he was just, and the most +generous prince in the world, when the storm of anger was over, +and he was made sensible of the wrong he had done. Having +therefore no longer cause to doubt but that he had unjustly +persecuted Ganem and his family, and had publicly wronged them, +he resolved to make them public satisfaction. "I am overjoyed," +said he to Fetnah, "that your search has proved so successful; it +is a real satisfaction to me, not so much for your sake as for my +own. I will keep the promise I have made you. You shall marry +Ganem, and I here declare you are no longer my slave; you are +free. Go back to that young merchant, and as soon as he has +recovered his health, you shall bring him to me with his mother +and sister." + +The next morning early Fetnah repaired to the syndic of the +jewellers, being impatient to hear of Ganem's health, and tell +the mother and daughter the good news she had for them. The first +person she met was the syndic, who told her that Ganem had rested +well that night; and that his disorder proceeding altogether from +melancholy, the cause being removed, he would soon recover his +health. + +Accordingly the son of Abou Ayoub was speedily much amended. +Rest, and the good medicines he had taken, but above all the +different situation of his mind, had wrought so good an effect, +that the syndic thought he might without danger see his mother, +his sister, and his mistress, provided he was prepared to receive +them; because there was ground to fear, that, not knowing his +mother and sister were at Bagdad, the sight of them might +occasion too great surprise and joy. It was therefore resolved, +that Fetnah should first go alone into Ganem's chamber, and then +make a sign to the two other ladies to appear, when she thought +it was proper. + +Matters being so ordered, the syndic announced Fetnah's coming to +the sick man, who was so transported to see her, that he was +again near fainting away, "Well, Ganem," said she, drawing near +to his bed, "you have again found your Fetnah, whom you thought +you had lost for ever." "Ah! madam," exclaimed he, eagerly +interrupting her, "what miracle has restored you to my sight? I +thought you were in the caliph's palace; he has doubtless +listened to you. You have dispelled his jealousy, and he has +restored you to his favour." + +"Yes, my dear Ganem," answered Fetnah, "I have cleared myself +before the commander of the true believers, who, to make amends +for the wrong he has done you, bestows me on you for a wife." +These last words occasioned such an excess of joy in Ganem, that +he knew not for a while how to express himself, otherwise than by +that passionate silence so well known to lovers. At length he +broke out in these words: "Beautiful Fetnah, may I give credit to +what you tell me? May I believe that the caliph really resigns +you to Abou Ayoub's son?" "Nothing is more certain," answered the +lady. "The caliph, who before caused search to be made for you, +to take away your life, and who in his fury caused your mother +and your sister to suffer a thousand indignities, desires now to +see you, that he may reward the respect you had for him; and +there is no question but that he will load your family with +favours." + +Ganem asked, what the caliph had done to his mother and sister, +which Fetnah told him; and he could not forbear letting fall some +tears at the relation, notwithstanding the thoughts which arose +in his mind at the prospect of being married to his mistress. But +when Fetnah informed him, that they were actually in Bagdad, and +in the same house with him, he appeared so impatient to see them, +that the favourite could no longer defer giving him the +satisfaction; and accordingly called them in. They were at the +door waiting for that moment. They entered, went up to Ganem, and +embracing him in their turns, kissed him a thousand times. What +tears were shed amidst those embraces! Ganem's face was bathed +with them, as well as his mother's and sisters; and Fetnah let +fall abundance. The syndic himself and his wife were so moved at +the spectacle, that they could not forbear weeping, nor +sufficiently admire the secret workings of Providence which had +brought together into their house four persons, whom fortune had +so cruelly persecuted. + +When they had dried up their tears, Ganem drew them afresh, by +the recital of what he had suffered from the day he left Fetnah, +till the moment the syndic brought him to his house. He told +them, that having taken refuge in a small village, he there fell +sick; that some charitable peasants had taken care of him, but +finding he did not recover, a camel-driver had undertaken to +carry him to the hospital at Bagdad. Fetnah also told them all +the uneasiness of her imprisonment, how the caliph, having heard +her talk in the tower, had sent for her into his closet, and how +she had cleared herself. In conclusion, when they had related +what accidents had befallen them, Fetnah said, "Let us bless +Heaven, which has brought us all together again, and let us think +of nothing but the happiness that awaits us. As soon as Ganem has +recovered his health, he must appear before the caliph, with his +mother and sister; but I will go and make some provision for +them." + +This said, she went to the palace, and soon returned with a purse +containing a thousand pieces of gold, which she delivered to the +syndic, desiring him to buy apparel for the mother and daughter. +The syndic, who was a man of a good taste, chose such as were +very handsome, and had them made up with all expedition. They +were finished in three days, and Ganem finding himself strong +enough, prepared to go abroad; but on the day he had appointed to +pay his respects to the caliph, while he was making ready, with +his mother and sister, the grand vizier, Jaaffier came to the +syndic's house. + +He had come on horseback, attended by a great number of officers. +"Sir," said he to Ganem, as soon as he entered, "I am come from +the commander of the true believers, my master and yours; the +orders I have differ much from those which I do not wish to +revive in your memory; I am to bear you company, and to present +you to the caliph, who is desirous to see you." Ganem returned no +other answer to the vizier's compliment, than by profoundly +bowing his head, and then mounted a horse brought from the +caliph's stables, which he managed very gracefully. The mother +and daughter were mounted on mules belonging to the palace, and +whilst Fetnah on another mule led them by a bye-way to the +prince's court, Jaaffier conducted Ganem, and brought him into +the hall of audience. The caliph was sitting on his throne, +encompassed with emirs, viziers, and. other attendants and +courtiers, Arabs, Persians, Egyptians, Africans, and Syrians, of +his own dominions, not to mention strangers. + +When the vizier had conducted Ganem to the foot of the throne, +the young merchant paid his obeisance, prostrating himself with +his face to the ground, and then rising, made a handsome +compliment in verse, which, though the effusion of the moment, +met with the approbation of the whole court. After his +compliment, the caliph caused him to approach, and said, "I am +glad to see you, and desire to hear from your own mouth where you +found my favourite, and all that you have done for her." Ganem +obeyed, and appeared so sincere, that the caliph was convinced of +his veracity. He ordered a very rich vest to be given him, +according to the custom observed towards those who are admitted +to audience. After which he said to him, "Ganem, I will have you +live in my court." "Commander of the true believers," answered +the young merchant, "a slave has no will but his master's, on +whom his life and fortune depend." The caliph was highly pleased +with Ganem's reply, and assigned him a considerable pension. He +then descended from his throne, and causing only Ganem and the +grand vizier, follow him, retired into his own apartment. + +Not questioning but that Fetnah was in waiting, with Abou Ayoub's +widow and daughter, he caused them to be called in. They +prostrated themselves before him: he made them rise; and was so +charmed by Jalib al Koolloob's beauty, that, after viewing her +very attentively, he said, "I am so sorry for having treated your +charms so unworthily, that I owe them such a satisfaction as may +surpass the injury I have done. I take you to wife; and by that +means shall punish Zobeide, who shall become the first cause of +your good fortune, as she was of your past sufferings. This is +not all," added he, turning towards Ganem's mother; "you are +still young, I believe you will not disdain to be allied to my +grand vizier, I give you to Jaaffier, and you, Fetnah, to Ganem. +Let a cauzee and witnesses be called, and the three contracts be +drawn up and signed immediately." Ganem would have represented to +the caliph, that it would be honour enough for his sister to be +one of his favourites; but he was resolved to marry her. + +Haroon thought this such an extraordinary story, that he ordered +his historiographer to commit it to writing with all its +circumstances. It was afterwards laid up in his library, and many +copies being transcribed, it became public. + + + + +End of Volume 1. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 5664 *** |