diff options
Diffstat (limited to '5665-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 5665-0.txt | 13044 |
1 files changed, 13044 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/5665-0.txt b/5665-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..52ba72b --- /dev/null +++ b/5665-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13044 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 5665 *** + + + + + The "Aldine" Edition of + + The Arabian Nights Entertainments + + Illustrated by S. L. Wood + + FROM THE TEXT OF DR. JONATHAN SCOTT + + In Four Volumes + + Volume 2 + + + London + Pickering and Chatto + 1890 + + + + + + Contents of Volume II. + +The Story of the Little Hunch-Back + The Story Told by the Christian Merchant + The Story Told by the Sultan of Casgar's Purveyor + The Story Told by the Jewish Physician + The Story Told by the Tailor + The Story Told by the Barber + The Story Told by the Barber's Eldest Brother + The Story Told by the Barber's Second Brother + The Story Told by the Barber's Third Brother + The Story Told by the Barber's Fourth Brother + The Story Told by the Barber's Fifth Brother + The Story Told by the Barber's Sixth Brother + +The History of Aboulhassen Ali Ebn Ecar, and Schemselnihar, +Favourite of Caliph Haroon Al Rusheed + +The Story of the Loves of Kummir Al Zummaun, Prince of the Isles +of the Children of +Khaledan, and of Badoura, Princess of China + +The Story of the Princes Amgiad and Assad + The Story of the Prince Amgiad and a Lady of the City of +Magicians + +The Story of Noor Ad Deen and the Fair Persian + + + + + + + THE STORY OF THE LITTLE HUNCH-BACK. + + + +There was in former times at Casgar, on the extreme boundaries of +Tartary, a tailor who had a pretty wife, whom he affectionately +loved, and by whom he was beloved with reciprocal tenderness. One +day while he was at work, a little hunch-back seated himself at +the shop door and began to sing, and play upon a tabor. The +tailor was pleased with his performance, and resolved to take him +to his house to entertain his wife: "This little fellow," said +he, "will divert us both this evening." He accordingly invited +him, and the other readily accepted the invitation: so the tailor +shut up his shop, and carried him home. Immediately after their +arrival the tailor's wife placed before them a good dish of fish; +but as the little man was eating, he unluckily swallowed a bone, +which, notwithstanding all that the tailor and his wife could do, +choked him. This accident greatly alarmed them both, dreading, if +the magistrates should hear of it, that they would be punished as +murderers. However, the husband devised a scheme to get rid of +the corpse. He reflected that a Jewish doctor lived just by, and +having formed his plan, his wife and he took the corpse, the one +by the feet and the other by the head, and carried it to the +physician's house. They knocked at the door, from which a steep +flight of stairs led to his chamber. The servant maid came down +without any light, and opening the door, asked what they wanted. +"Have the goodness," said the tailor, "to go up again, and tell +your master we have brought him a man who is very ill, and wants +his advice. Here," continued he, putting a piece of money into +her hand, "give him that beforehand, to convince him that we do +not mean to impose." While the servant was gone up to inform her +master, the tailor and his wife hastily conveyed the hunchbacked +corpse to the head of the stairs, and leaving it there, hurried +away. + +In the mean time, the maid told the doctor, that a man and woman +waited for him at the door, desiring he would come down and look +at a sick man whom they had brought with them, and clapped into +his hand the money she had received. The doctor was transported +with joy; being paid beforehand, he thought it must needs be a +good patient, and should not be neglected. "Light, light," cried +he to the maid; "follow me quickly." As he spoke, he hastily ran +towards the head of the stairs without waiting for a light, and +came against the corpse with so much violence that he +precipitated it to the bottom, and had nearly fallen with it. +"Bring me a light," cried he to the maid; "quick, quick." At last +she brought one, and he went down stairs with her; but when he +saw that what he had kicked down was a dead man, he was so +frightened, that he invoked Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Esdras, and all +the other prophets of his nation. "Unhappy man that I am," said +he, "why did I attempt to come without a light! I have killed the +poor fellow who was brought to me to be cured: doubtless I am the +cause of his death, and unless Esdras's ass come to assist me, I +am ruined: Mercy on me, they will be here out of hand, and drag +me out of my house for a murderer." + +Notwithstanding the perplexity and confusion into which he was +thrown, he had the precaution to shut his door, for fear any one +passing by should observe the accident of which he reckoned +himself to be the author. He then took the corpse into his wife's +chamber, who was ready to swoon at the sight. "Alas," cried she, +"we are utterly ruined and undone, unless we can devise some +expedient to get the corpse out of our house this night. If we +harbour it till morning we are lost. What a deplorable misfortune +is this! What have you done to kill this man?" "That is not now +the question," replied the Jew; "our business at present is, to +find a remedy for the evil which threatens us." + +The doctor and his wife consulted how to dispose of the corpse +that night. The doctor racked his brain in vain, he could not +think of any stratagem to relieve his embarrassment; but his +wife, who was more fertile in invention, said, "A thought is just +come into my head; let us carry the corpse to the terrace of our +house, and throw it down the chimney of our Mussulmaun +neighbour." + +This Mussulmaun was one of the sultan's purveyors for furnishing +oil, butter, and articles of a similar nature, and had a magazine +in his house, where the rats and mice made prodigious havoc. + +The Jewish doctor approving the proposed expedient, the wife and +he took the little hunch-back up to the roof of the house; and +clapping ropes under his arm-pits, let him down the chimney into +the purveyor's chamber so dexterously that he stood upright +against the wall, as if he had been alive. When they found he had +reached the bottom, they pulled up the ropes, and left the corpse +in that posture. They were scarcely got down into their chamber, +when the purveyor, who had just returned from a wedding feast, +went into his room, with a lanthorn in his hand. He was not a +little surprised to discover a man standing in his chimney; but +being a stout fellow, and apprehending him to be a thief, he took +up a stick, and making straight up to the hunch-back, "Ah!" said +he, "I thought the rats and mice ate my butter and tallow; but it +is you who come down the chimney to rob me? However, I think you +will have no wish to come here again." Upon this he attacked +hunch-back, and struck him several times with his stick. The +corpse fell down flat on the ground, and the purveyor redoubled +his blows. But, observing that the body did not move, he stood a +little time to regard it; and then, perceiving it to be dead, +fear succeeded his anger. "Wretched man that I am," said he, +"what have I done! I have killed a man; alas, I have carried my +revenge too far. Good God, unless thou pity me my life is gone! +Cursed, ten thousand times accursed, be the fat and the oil that +occasioned me to commit so criminal an action." He stood pale and +thunderstruck; he fancied he already saw the officers come to +drag him to condign punishment, and could not tell what +resolution to take. + +The sultan of Casgar's purveyor had never noticed the little +man's hump-back when he was beating him, but as soon as he +perceived it, he uttered a thousand imprecations against him. +"Ah, thou cursed hunch-back," cried he, "thou crooked wretch, +would to God thou hadst robbed me of all my fat, and I had not +found thee here. I then should not have been thrown into this +perplexity on account of this and thy vile hunch. Ye stars that +twinkle in the heavens, give your light to none but me in this +dangerous juncture." As soon as he had uttered these words, he +took the crooked corpse upon his shoulders, and carried it to the +end of the street, where he placed it in an upright posture +against a shop; he then returned without once looking behind him. + +A few minutes before day-break, a Christian merchant, who was +very rich, and furnished the sultan's palace with various +articles, having sat up all night at a debauch, happened to come +from his house in this direction on his way to the bath. Though +he was intoxicated, he was sensible that the night was far spent, +and that the people would soon be called to morning prayers; he +therefore quickened his pace to get to the bath in time, lest +some Mussulmaun, in his way to the mosque, should meet him and +carry him to prison for a drunkard. When he came to the end of +the street, he had occasion to stop by the shop where the +sultan's purveyor had put the hunch-backed corpse; which being +jostled by him, tumbled upon the merchant's back. The merchant +thinking he was attacked by a robber, knocked it down, and after +redoubling his blows, cried out "Thieves!" + +The outcry alarmed the watch, who came up immediately, and +finding a Christian beating a Mussulmaun (for hump-back was of +our religion), "What reason have you," said he, "to abuse a +Mussulmaun in this manner?" "He would have robbed me," replied +the merchant, "and jumped upon my back in order to take me by the +throat." "If he did," said the watch, "you have revenged yourself +sufficiently; come, get off him." At the same time he stretched +out his hand to help little hump-back up, but observing he was +dead, "Oh!" said he, "is it thus that a Christian dares to +assassinate a Mussulmaun?" So saying, he laid hold of the +Christian, and carried him to the house of the officer of the +police, where he was kept till the judge was stirring, and ready +to examine him. In the mean time, the Christian merchant became +sober, and the more he reflected upon his adventure, the less +could he conceive how such slight blows of his fist could have +killed the man. + +The judge having heard the report of the watch, and viewed the +corpse, which they had taken care to bring to his house, +interrogated the Christian merchant, who could not deny the +crime, though he had not committed it. But the judge considering +that little hump-back belonged to the sultan, for he was one of +his buffoons, would not put the Christian to death till he knew +the sultan's pleasure. For this end he went to the palace, and +acquainted the sultan with what had happened; and received this +answer: "I have no mercy to show to a Christian who kills a +Mussulmaun." Upon this the judge ordered a stake to be prepared, +and sent criers all over the city to proclaim that they were +about to impale a Christian for killing a Mussulmaun. + +At length the merchant was brought to the place of execution; and +the executioner was about to do his duty, when the sultan's +purveyor pushed through the crowd, calling to him to stop for +that the Christian had not committed the murder, but he himself +had done it. Upon that, the officer who attended the execution +began to question the purveyor, who told him every circumstance +of his having killed the little hunchback, and how he had +conveyed his corpse to the place where the Christian merchant had +found it. "You were about," added he, "to put to death an +innocent person; for how can he be guilty of the death of a man +who was dead before he touched him? It is enough for me to have +killed a Mussulmaun without loading my conscience with the death +of a Christian who is not guilty." + +The sultan of Casgar's purveyor having publicly charged himself +with the death of the little hunchbacked man, the officer could +do no less than execute justice on the merchant. "Let the +Christian go," said he to the executioner, "and impale this man +in his stead, since it appears by his own confession that he is +guilty." Thereupon the executioner released the merchant, and +seized the purveyor; but just as he was going to impale him, he +heard the voice of the Jewish doctor, earnestly intreating him to +suspend the execution, and make room for him to approach. + +When he appeared before the judge, "My lord," said he, "this +Mussulmaun you are going to execute is not guilty. I am the +criminal. Last night a man and a woman, unknown to me, came to my +door with a sick man; my maid went and opened it without a light, +and received from them a piece of money with a commission to come +and desire me, in their name, to step down and look at the +patient. While she was delivering her message, they conveyed the +sick person to the stair-head, and disappeared. I went, without +staying till my servant had lighted a candle, and in the dark +happened to stumble upon the sick person, and kick him down +stairs. At length I saw he was dead, and that it was the crooked +Mussulmaun whose death you are now about to avenge. My wife and I +took the corpse, and, after conveying it up to the roof of the +purveyor, our next neighbour, whom you were going to put to death +unjustly, let it down the chimney into his chamber. The purveyor +finding it in his house, took the little man for a thief, and +after beating him concluded he had killed him. But that it was +not so you will be convinced by this my deposition; I am the sole +author of the murder; and though it was committed undesignedly, I +am resolved to expiate my crime, that I may not have to charge +myself with the death of two Mussulmauns." + +The chief justice being persuaded that the Jewish doctor was the +murderer, gave orders to the executioner to seize him and release +the purveyor. Accordingly the doctor was just going to be +impaled, when the tailor appeared, crying to the executioner to +hold his hand, and make room for him, that he might come and make +his confession to the chief judge. Room being made, "My lord," +said he, "you have narrowly escaped taking away the lives of +three innocent persons; but if you will have the patience to hear +me, I will discover to you the real murderer of the crook backed +man. If his death is to be expiated by another, that must be +mine. Yesterday, towards the evening, as I was at work in my +shop, and was disposed to be merry, the little hunch-back came to +my door half-drunk, and sat down. He sung a little, and so I +invited him to pass the evening at my house. He accepted the +invitation and went in with me. We sat down to supper and I gave +him a plate of fish; but in eating, a bone stuck in his throat, +and though my wife and I did our utmost to relieve him, he died +in a few minutes. His death afflicted us extremely, and for fear +of being charged with it, we carried the corpse to the Jewish +doctor's house and knocked. The maid came. and opened the door; I +desired her to go up again and ask her master to come down and +give his advice to a sick person whom we had brought along with +us; and withal, to encourage him, I charged her to give him a +piece of money, which I put into her hand. When she was gone, I +carried the hunch-back up stairs, and laid him upon the uppermost +step, and then my wife and I made the best of our way home. The +doctor coming, threw the corpse down stairs, and concluded +himself to be the author of his death. This being the case," +continued he, "release the doctor, and let me die in his stead." + +The chief justice, and all the spectators, wondered at the +strange events which had ensued upon the death of the little +hunch-back. "Let the Jewish doctor go," said the judge, "and +seize the tailor, since he confesses the crime. It is certain +this history is very uncommon, and deserves to be recorded in +letters of gold." The executioner having dismissed the doctor +prepared to impale the tailor. + +While the executioner was making ready to impale the tailor, the +sultan of Casgar, wanting the company of his crooked jester, +asked where he was; and one of his officers told him; "The hunch- +back, Sir, whom you inquire after, got drunk last night, and +contrary to his custom slipped out of the palace, and went +strolling about the city, and this morning was found dead. A man +was brought before the chief justice, and charged with the murder +of him; but when he was going to be impaled, up came a man, and +after him another, who took the charge upon themselves and +cleared one another, and the judge is now examining a third, who +gives himself out for the real author of the murder." + +Upon this intelligence the sultan of Casgar sent an officer to +the place of execution. "Go," said he, "with all expedition, and +tell the judge to bring the accused persons before me immediately +and bring also the corpse of poor hunch-back, that I may see him +once more." Accordingly the officer went, and happened to arrive +at the place of execution at the very time that the executioner +had laid his hands upon the tailor. He called aloud to him to +suspend the execution. The executioner knowing the officer, did +not dare to proceed, but released the tailor; and then the +officer acquainted the judge with the sultan's pleasure. The +judge obeyed, and went directly to the palace accompanied by the +tailor, the Jewish doctor, and the Christian merchant; and made +four of his men carry the hunch-backed corpse along with him. + +When they appeared in the sultan's presence, the judge threw +himself at the prince's feet and after recovering himself, gave +him a faithful relation of what he knew of the story of the +hunch-backed man. The story appeared so extraordinary to the +sultan, that he ordered his own historian to write it down with +all its circumstances. Then addressing himself to the audience; +"Did you ever hear," said he, "such a surprising event as has +happened on the account of my little crooked buffoon?" The +Christian merchant, after falling down, and touching the earth +with his forehead, spoke as follows: "Most puissant monarch, I +know a story yet more astonishing than this; if your majesty will +give me leave, I will relate it. The circumstances are such, that +no one can hear them without emotion." "Well," said the sultan, +"you have my permission:" and the merchant went on as follows: + + + + +The Story told by the Christian Merchant. + + + +Sir, before I commence the recital of the story you have +permitted me to relate, I beg leave to acquaint you, that I have +not the honour to be born in any part of your majesty's empire. I +am a stranger, born at Cairo in Egypt, a Copt by nation, and by +religion a Christian. My father was a broker, and realized +considerable property, which he left me at his death. I followed +his example, and pursued the same employment. While I was +standing in the public inn frequented by the corn merchants, +there came up to me a handsome young man, well dressed, and +mounted on an ass. He saluted me, and pulling out a handkerchief, +in which he had a sample of sesame or Turkey corn, asked me how +much a bushel of such sesame would fetch. + +I examined the corn the young man shewed me, and told him it was +worth a hundred dirhems of silver per bushel. "Pray," said he, +"look out for some merchant to take it at that price, and come to +me at the Victory gate, where you will see a khan at a distance +from the houses." So saying, he left me the sample, and I shewed +it to several merchants, who told me, that they would take as +much as I could spare at a hundred and ten dirhems per bushel, so +that I reckoned on getting ten dirhems per bushel for my +commission. Full of the expectation of this profit, I went to the +Victory gate, where I found the young merchant expecting me, and +he took me into his granary, which was full of sesame. He had +then a hundred and fifty bushels, which I measured out, and +having carried them off upon asses, sold them for five thousand +dirhems of silver. "Out of this sum," said the young man, "there +are five hundred dirhems coming to you, at the rate of ten +dirhems per bushel. This I give you; and as for the rest which +pertains to me, take it out of the merchants' hands, and keep it +till I call or send for it, for I have no occasion for it at +present." I answered, it should be ready for him whenever he +pleased to demand it; and so, kissing his hand, took leave of +him, with a grateful sense of his generosity. + +A month passed before he came near me: then he asked for the sum +he had committed to my trust. I told him it was ready, and should +be counted to him immediately. He was mounted on his ass, and I +desired him to alight, and do me the honour to eat a mouthful +with me before he received his money. "No," said he, "I cannot +alight at present, I have urgent business that obliges me to be +at a place just by; but I will return this way, and then take the +money which I desired you would have in readiness." This said, he +disappeared, and I still expected his return, but it was a full +month before I saw him again. "This young merchant," thought I, +"has great confidence in me, leaving so great a sum in my hands +without knowing me; any other man would have been afraid I should +have run away with it." To be short, he came again at the end of +the third month, and was still mounted on his ass, but more +handsomely dressed than before. + +As soon as I saw the young man, I intreated him to alight, and +asked him if he would not take his money? "There is no hurry," +said he, with a pleasant easy air, "I know it is in good hands; I +will come and take it when my other money is all gone. Adieu," +continued he, "I will return towards the end of the week." With +that he struck the ass, and soon disappeared. "Well," thought I, +"he says he will see me towards the end of the week, but he may +not perhaps return for a great while; I will make the most I can +of his money, which may bring me much profit." + +As it happened, I was not deceived in my conjecture; for it was a +full year before I saw my young merchant again. He then appeared +as richly appareled as before, but seemed to have something on +his spirits. I asked him to do me the honour to walk into my +house. "For this time," replied he, "I will: but on this +condition, that you shall put yourself to no extraordinary charge +on my account." "I will do just as you please," said I, "only do +me the favour to alight and walk in." Accordingly he complied. I +gave orders to have a repast prepared, and while this was doing, +we entered into conversation. All things being ready, we sat +down. I observed he took the first mouthful with his left hand, +and not with the right. I was at a loss what to think of this. +"Ever since I have known this young man," said I inwardly, "he +has always appeared very polite; is it possible he can do this +out of contempt? What can be the reason he does not use his right +hand?" + +After we had done eating, and every thing was taken away, we sat +upon a sofa, and I presented him with a lozenge by way of dainty; +but still he took it with his left hand. I said to him, "Pardon, +Sir, the liberty I take in asking you what reason you have for +not using your right hand? Perhaps you have some complaint in +that hand." Instead of answering, he heaved a deep sigh, and +pulling out his right arm, which he had hitherto kept under his +vest, shewed me, to my great astonishment, that it had been cut +off. "Doubtless you were displeased," said he, "to see me feed +myself with the left hand; but I leave you to judge, whether it +was in my power to do otherwise." "May one ask," said I, "by what +mischance you lost your right hand?" Upon that he burst into +tears, and after wiping his eyes, gave me the following relation. + +You must know that I am a native of Bagdad, the son of a rich +merchant, the most eminent in that city for rank and opulence. I +had scarcely launched into the world, when falling into the +company of travellers, and hearing their wonderful accounts of +Egypt, especially of Grand Cairo, I was interested by their +discourse, and felt a strong desire to travel. But my father was +then alive, and would not grant me permission. At length he died; +and being then my own master, I resolved to take a journey to +Cairo. I laid out a large sum of money in the purchase of several +sorts of fine stuffs of Bagdad and Moussol. and departed. + +Arriving at Cairo, I went to the khan, called the khan of +Mesrour, and there took lodgings, with a warehouse for my bales, +which I had brought with me upon camels. This done, I retired to +my chamber to rest, after the fatigue of my journey, and gave +some money to my servants, with orders to buy some provisions and +dress them. After I had eaten, I went to view the castle, some +mosques, the public squares, and the other most remarkable +places. + +Next day I dressed myself, and ordered some of the finest and +richest of my bales to be selected and carried by my slaves to +the Circassian bazaar, whither I followed. I had no sooner made +my appearance, than I was surrounded with brokers and criers who +had heard of my arrival. I gave patterns of my stuffs to several +of the criers, who shewed them all over the bazaar; but none of +the merchants offered near so much as prime cost and carriage. +This vexed me, and the criers observing I was dissatisfied, said, +"If you will take our advice, we will put you in a way to sell +your goods without loss." + +The brokers and the criers, having thus promised to put me in a +way of losing nothing by my goods, I asked them what course they +would have me pursue . "Divide your goods," said they, among +several merchants, they will sell them by retail; and twice a +week, that is on Mondays and Thursdays, you may receive what +money they may have taken. By this means, instead of losing, you +will turn your goods to advantage, and the merchants will gain by +you. In the mean while you will have time to take your pleasure +about the town or go upon the Nile." + +I took their advice, and conducted them to my warehouse; from +whence I brought all my goods to the bazaar, and there divided +them among the merchants whom they represented as most reputable +and able to pay; and the merchants gave me a formal receipt +before witnesses, stipulating that I should not making any +demands upon them for the first month. + +Having thus regulated my affairs, my mind was occupied with +ordinary pleasures. I contracted acquaintance with divers persons +of nearly the same age with myself, which made the time pass +agreeably. After the first month had expired, I began to visit my +merchants twice a week, taking with me a public officer to +inspect their books of sale, and a banker to see that they paid +me in good money, and to regulate the value of the several coins. +Every pay-day, I had a good sum of money to carry home to my +lodging at the khan of Mesrour. I went on other days to pass the +morning sometimes at one merchant's house, and sometimes at that +of another. In short, I amused myself in conversing with them, +and seeing what passed in the bazaar. + +One Monday, as I was sitting in a merchant s shop, whose name +was Buddir ad Deen, a lady of quality, as might easily be +perceived by her air, her apparel, and by a well-dressed slave +attending her, came into the shop, and sat down by me. Her +external appearance, joined to a natural grace that shone in all +her actions, prepossessed me in her favour, and inspired me with +a desire to be better acquainted with her. I know not whether she +observed that I took pleasure in gazing on her, and whether this +attention on my part was not agreeable to her; but she let down +the crepe that hung over the muslin which covered her face, and +gave me the opportunity of seeing her large black eyes; which +perfectly charmed me. In fine, she inflamed my love to the height +by the agreeable sound of her voice, her graceful carriage in +saluting the merchant, and asking him how he did since she had +seen him last. + +After conversing with him some time upon indifferent subjects, +she gave him to understand that she wanted a particular kind of +stuff with a gold ground; that she came to his shop, as affording +the best choice of any in all the bazaar; and that if he had any +such as she asked for, he would oblige her in showing them. +Buddir ad Deen produced several pieces, one of which she pitched +upon, and he asked for it eleven hundred dirhems of silver. "I +will," said she, "give you your price for it, but I have not +money enough about me; so I hope you will give me credit till to- +morrow, and in the mean time allow me to carry home the stuff. I +shall not fail," added she, "to send you tomorrow the eleven +hundred dirhems." "Madam," said Buddir ad Deen, "I would give you +credit with all my heart if the stuff were mine; but it belongs +to the young man you see here, and this is the day on which we +settle our accounts." "Why," said the lady in surprise, "do you +use me so? Am not I a customer to your shop And when I have +bought of you, and carried home the things without paying ready +money for them, did I in any instance fail to send you your money +next morning?" "Madam," said the merchant, "all this is true, but +this very day I have occasion for the money." "There," said she, +throwing the stuff to him, "take your stuff, I care not for you +nor any of the merchants. You are all alike; you respect no one." +As she spoke, she rose up in anger, and walked out. + +When I saw that the lady walked away, I felt interested on her +behalf, and called her back, saying, "Madam, do me the favour to +return, perhaps I can find a way to satisfy you both." She +returned, saying, it was on my account that she complied. "Buddir +ad Deen," said I to the merchant, "what is the price you must +have for this stuff that belongs to me?" "I must have," replied +he, "eleven hundred dirhems, I cannot take less." "Give it to the +lady then," said I, "let her take it home with her; I allow a +hundred dirhems profit to yourself, and shall now write you a +note, empowering you to deduct that sum upon the produce of the +other goods you have of mine." In fine, I wrote, signed, and gave +him the note, and then delivered the stuff to the lady. "Madam," +said I, "you may take the stuff with you, and as for the money, +you may either send it to-morrow or the next day; or, if you +will, accept it as a present from me." "Pardon me," returned she, +"I mean no such thing. You treat me with so much politeness, that +I should be unworthy to appear in the world again, were I to omit +making you my best acknowledgments. May God reward you, by an +increase of your fortune; may you live many years after I am +dead; may the gate of paradise be open to you when you remove to +the other world, and may all the city proclaim your generosity." + +These words inspired me with some assurance. "Madam," I replied, +"I desire no other reward for the service I have done you than +the happiness of seeing your face; which will repay me with +interest." I had no sooner spoken than she turned towards me, +took off her veil, and discovered to me a wonderful beauty. I +became speechless with admiration. I could have gazed upon her +for ever; but fearing any one should observe her, she quickly +covered her face, and letting down the crepe, took up the piece +of stuff, and went away, leaving me in a very different state of +mind from that in which I had entered the shop. I continued for +some time in great confusion and perplexity. Before I took leave +of the merchant, I asked him, if he knew the lady; "Yes," said +he, "she is the daughter of an emir." + +I went back to the khan of Mesrour, and sat down to supper, but +could not eat, neither could I shut my eyes all the night, which +seemed the longest in my life. As soon as it was day I arose, in +hopes of once more beholding the object that disturbed my repose: +and to engage her affection, I dressed myself much richer than I +had done the day before. + +I had but just reached Buddir ad Deen's shop, when I saw the lady +coming in more magnificent apparel than before, and attended by +her slave. When she entered, she did not regard the merchant, but +addressing herself to me, said, "Sir, you see I am punctual to my +word. I am come for the express purpose of paying the sum you +were so kind as to pass your word for yesterday, though you had +no knowledge of me. Such uncommon generosity I shall never +forget." + +"Madam," said I, "you had no occasion to be in such haste; I was +well satisfied as to my money, and am sorry you should put +yourself to so much trouble." "I had been very unjust," answered +she, "if I had abused your generosity." With these words she put +the money into my hand, and sat down by me. + +Having this opportunity of conversing with her, I determined to +improve it, and mentioned to her the love I had for her; but she +rose and left me very abruptly, as if she had been angry with the +declaration I had made. I followed her with my eyes as long as +she continued in sight; then taking leave of the merchant walked +out of the bazaar, without knowing where I went. I was musing on +this adventure, when I felt somebody pulling me behind, and +turning to see who it was, I was agreeably surprised to perceive +it was the lady's slave. "My mistress," said she, "I mean the +young lady you spoke to in the merchant's shop, wants to speak +with you, if you please to give yourself the trouble to follow +me." Accordingly I followed her, and found her mistress sitting +waiting for me in a banker's shop. + +She made me sit down by her, and spoke to this purpose. "Do not +be surprised, that I left you so abruptly. I thought it not +proper, before that merchant, to give a favourable answer to the +discovery you made of your affection for me. But to speak the +truth, I was so far from being offended at it, that it gave me +pleasure; and I account myself infinitely happy in having a man +of your merit for my lover. I do not know what impression the +first sight of me may have made on you, but I assure you, I had +no sooner beheld you than I found my heart moved with the +tenderest emotions of love. Since yesterday I have done nothing +but think of what you said to me; and my eagerness to seek you +this morning may convince you of my regard." "Madam," I replied, +transported with love and joy, "nothing can be more agreeable to +me than this declaration. No passion can exceed that with which I +love you. My eyes were dazzled with so many charms, that my heart +yielded without resistance." "Let us not trifle away the time in +needless discourse," said she, interrupting me; "make no doubt of +your sincerity, and you shall quickly be convinced of mine. Will +you do me the honour to come to my residence? Or if you will I +will go to yours." "Madam," I returned, "I am a stranger lodged +in a khan, which is not the proper place for the reception of a +lady of your quality. It is more proper, madam, that I should +visit you at your house; have the goodness to tell me where it +is." The lady consented; "Come," said she, "on Friday, which is +the day after to-morrow, after noon-prayers, and ask for the +house of Abon Schama, surnamed Bercour, late master of the emirs; +there you will find me." This said, we parted; and I passed the +next day in great impatience. + +On Friday I put on my richest apparel, and took fifty pieces of +gold in my purse. I mounted an ass I had bespoken the day before, +and set out, accompanied by the man who let me the ass. I +directed the owner of the ass to inquire for the house I wanted; +he found it, and conducted me thither. I paid him liberally, +directing him to observe narrowly where he left me, and not to +fail to return next morning with the ass, to carry me again to +the khan of Mesrour. + +I knocked at the door, and presently two little female slaves, +white as snow, and neatly dressed came and opened it. "Be pleased +to come in, Sir, said they, "our mistress expects you +impatiently; these two days she has talked of nothing but you. I +entered the court, and saw a pavilion raised seven steps, and +surrounded with iron rails that parted it from a very pleasant +garden. Besides the trees which only embellished the place, and +formed an agreeable shade, there was an infinite number of others +loaded with all sorts of fruit. I was charmed with the warbling +of a great number of birds, that joined their notes to the +murmurings of a fountain, in the middle of a parterre enamelled +with flowers. This fountain formed a very agreeable object; four +large gilded dragons at the angles of the basin, which was of a +square form, spouted out water clearer than rock-crystal. This +delicious place gave me a charming idea of the conquest I had +made. The two little slaves conducted me into a saloon +magnificently furnished; and while one of them went to acquaint +her mistress with my arrival, the other tarried with me, and +pointed out to me the beauties of the hall. + +I did not wait long in the hall, ere the lady I loved appeared, +adorned with pearls and diamonds ; but the splendour of her eyes +far outshone that of her jewels. Her shape, which was now not +disguised by the habit she wore in the city, appeared the most +slender and delicate. I need not mention with what joy we met +once more; it far exceeded all expression. When the first +compliments were over, we sat down upon a sofa, and there +conversed together with the highest satisfaction. We had the most +delicious refreshments served up to us; and after eating, +continued our conversation till night. We then had excellent wine +brought up, and fruit adapted to promote drinking, and timed our +cups to the sound of musical instruments, joined to the voices of +the slaves. The lady of the house sung herself, and by her songs +raised my passion to the height. In short, I passed the night in +full enjoyment. + +Next morning I slipped under the bolster of the bed the purse +with the fifty pieces of gold I had brought with me, and took +leave of the lady, who asked me when I would see her again. +"Madam," said I, "I give you my promise to return this night." +She seemed to be transported with my answer, and conducting me to +the door, conjured me at parting to be mindful of my promise. + +The same man who had carried me thither waited for me with his +ass, which I mounted, and went directly to the khan; ordering the +man to come to me again in the afternoon at a certain hour, to +secure which, I deferred paying him till that time came. + +As soon as I arrived at my lodging, my first care was to order my +people to buy a lamb, and several sorts of cakes, which I sent by +a porter as a present to the lady. When that was done I attended +to my business till the owner of the ass arrived. I then went +along with him to the lady's house, and was received by her with +as much joy as before, and entertained with equal magnificence. + +Next morning I took leave, left her another purse with fifty +pieces of gold, and returned to my khan. + +I continued to visit the lady every day, and to leave her every +time a purse with fifty pieces of gold, till the merchants whom I +employed to sell my goods, and whom I visited regularly twice a +week, had paid me the whole amount of my goods and, in short, I +came at last to be moneyless, and hopeless of having any more. + +In this forlorn condition I walked out of my lodging, not knowing +what course to take, and by chance went towards the castle, where +there was a great crowd to witness a spectacle given by the +sultan of Egypt. As soon as I came up, I wedged in among the +crowd, and by chance happened to stand by a horseman well mounted +and handsomely clothed, who had upon the pommel of his saddle a +bag, half open, with a string of green silk hanging out of it. I +clapped my hand to the bag, concluding the silk-twist might be +the string of a purse within: in the mean time a porter, with a +load of wood upon his back, passed by on the other side of the +horse so near, that the rider was forced to turn his head towards +him, to avoid being hurt, or having his clothes torn by the wood. +In that moment the devil tempted me; I took the string in one +hand, and with the other pulled out the purse so dexterously, +that nobody perceived me. The purse was heavy, and I did not +doubt but it contained gold or silver. + +As soon as the porter had passed, the horseman, who probably had +some suspicion of what I had done while his head was turned, +presently put his hand to his bag, and finding his purse was +gone, gave me such a blow, that he knocked me down. This violence +shocked all who saw it. Some took hold of the horse's bridle to +stop the gentleman, and asked him what reason he had to strike +me, or how he came to treat a Mussulmaun so rudely. "Do not you +trouble yourselves," said he briskly, "I had reason for what I +did; this fellow is a thief." At these words I started up, and +from my appearance every one took my part, and cried out he was a +liar, for that it was incredible a young man such as I was should +be guilty of so base an action: but while they were holding his +horse by the bridle to favour my escape, unfortunately passed by +the judge, who seeing such a crowd about the gentleman on +horseback, came up and asked what the matter was. Every body +present reflected on the gentleman for treating me so unjustly +upon the presence of robbery. + +The judge did not give ear to all that was said; but asked the +cavalier if he suspected any body else beside me? The cavalier +told him he did not, and gave his reasons why he believed his +suspicions not to be groundless. Upon this the judge ordered his +followers to seize me, which they presently did; and finding the +purse upon me, exposed it to the view of all the people. The +disgrace was so great, I could not bear it, and I swooned away. +In the mean time the judge called for the purse. + +When the judge had got the purse in his hand, he asked the +horseman if it was his, and how much money it contained. The +cavalier knew it to be his own, and assured the judge he had put +twenty sequins into it. Upon which the judge called me before +him; "Come, young man," said he, "confess the truth. Was it you +that took the gentleman's purse from him? Do not wait for the +torture to extort confession." Then with downcast eyes, thinking +that if I denied the fact, they, having found the purse upon me, +would convict me of a lie, to avoid a double punishment I looked +up and confessed my guilt. I had no sooner made the confession, +than the judge called people to witness it, and ordered my hand +to be cutoff. This sentence was immediately put in execution, to +the great regret of all the spectators; nay, I observed, by the +cavalier's countenance, that he was moved with pity as much as +the rest. The judge would likewise have ordered my foot to be cut +off, but I begged the cavalier to intercede for my pardon; which +he did, and obtained it. + +When the judge was gone, the cavalier came up to me, and holding +out the purse, said, "I see plainly that necessity drove you to +an action so disgraceful and unworthy of such a young man as you +appear. Here, take that fatal purse; I freely give it you, and am +heartily sorry for the misfortune you have undergone." Having +thus spoken, he went away. Being very weak by loss of blood, some +of the good people of the neighbourhood had the kindness to carry +me into a house and give me a glass of cordial; they likewise +dressed my arm, and wrapped up the dismembered hand in a cloth, +which I carried away with me fastened to my girdle. + +Had I returned to the khan of Mesrour in this melancholy +condition, I should not have found there such relief as I wanted; +and to offer to go to the young lady was running a great hazard, +it being likely she would not look upon me after being informed +of my disgrace. I resolved, however, to put her to the trial; and +to tire out the crowd that followed me, I turned down several by- +streets, and at last arrived at the lady's house very weak, and +so much fatigued, that I presently threw myself down upon a sofa, +keeping my right arm under my garment, for I took great care to +conceal my misfortune. + +In the mean time the lady, hearing of my arrival, and that I was +not well, came to me in haste; and seeing me pale and dejected, +said, "My dear love, what is the matter with you?" "Madam," I +replied, dissembling, "I have a violent pain in my head." The +lady seemed to be much concerned, and asked me to sit down, for I +had arisen to receive her. "Tell me," said she, "how your illness +was occasioned. The last time I had the pleasure to see you, you +were very well. There must be something that you conceal from me, +let me know what it is." I stood silent, and instead of an +answer, tears trickled down my cheeks. "I cannot conceive," +resumed she, "what it is that afflicts you. Have I unthinkingly +given you any occasion of uneasiness? Or do you come on purpose +to tell me you no longer love me?" "It is not that, madam," said +I, heaving a deep sigh; "your unjust suspicion adds to my +misfortune." + +I could not think of discovering to her the true cause. When +night came, supper was brought, and she pressed me to eat; but +considering I could only feed myself with my left hand, I begged +to be excused upon the plea of having no appetite. "It will +return," said she, "if you would but discover what you so +obstinately conceal from me. Your want of appetite, without +doubt, is only owing to your irresolution." + +"Alas! madam," returned I, "I find I must resolve at last." I had +no sooner spoken, than she filled me a cup full of wine, and +offering it to me, "Drink that," said she, "it will give you +courage." I reached out my left hand, and took the cup. + +When I had taken the cup in my hand, I redoubled my tears and +sighs. "Why do you sigh and weep so bitterly?" asked the lady; +"and why do you take the cup with your left hand, rather than +your right?" "Ah! madam," I replied, "I beseech you excuse me; I +have a swelling in my right hand." "Let me see that swelling," +said she; "I will open it." I desired to be excused, alleging it +was not ripe enough for such an operation; and drank off the cup, +which was very large. The fumes of the wine, joined to my +weakness and weariness, set me asleep, and I slept very soundly +till morning. + +In the mean time the lady, curious to know what ailed my right +hand, lifted up my garment that covered it; and saw to her great +astonishment that it was cut off, and that I had brought it along +with me wrapped up in a cloth. She presently apprehended what was +my reason for declining a discovery, notwithstanding all her +pressing solicitation; and passed the night in the greatest +uneasiness on account of my disgrace, which she concluded had +been occasioned only by the love I bore to her. + +When I awoke, I discerned by her countenance that she was +extremely grieved. However, that she might not increase my +uneasiness she said not a word. She called for jelly-broth of +fowl, which she had ordered to be prepared, and made me eat and +drink to recruit my strength. After that, I offered to take leave +of her; but she declared I should not go out of her doors. +"Though you tell me nothing of the matter," said she, "I am +persuaded I am the cause of the misfortune that has befallen you. +The grief that I feel on that account will soon end my days, but +before I die, I must execute a design for your benefit." She had +no sooner spoken, than she called for a judge and witnesses, and +ordered a writing to be drawn up, putting me in possession of her +whole property. After this was done, and every body dismissed, +she opened a large trunk where lay all the purses I had given her +from the commencement of our amour. "There they are all entire," +said she; "I have not touched one of them. Here is the key ; take +it, for all is yours." After I had returned her thanks for her +generosity and goodness; "What I have done for you," said she, +"is nothing; I shall not be satisfied unless I die, to show how +much I love you." I conjured her, by all the powers of love, to +relinquish such a fatal resolution. But all my remonstrances were +ineffectual: she was so afflicted to see me have but one hand, +that she sickened, and died after five or six weeks' illness. + +After mourning for her death as long as was decent, I took +possession of all her property, a particular account of which she +gave me before she died; and the corn you sold for me was part of +it. + +"What I have now told you," said he, "will plead my excuse for +eating with my left hand. I am highly obliged to you for the +trouble you have given yourself on my account. I can never +sufficiently recompense your fidelity. Since I have still, thanks +to God, a competent estate, notwithstanding I have spent a great +deal, I beg you to accept of the sum now in your hand, as a +present from me. I have besides a proposal to make to you. As I +am obliged, on account of this fatal accident, to quit Cairo, I +am resolved never to return to it again. If you choose to +accompany me, we will trade together as equal partners, and share +the profits." + +I thanked the young man for the present he had made me, and I +willingly embraced the proposal of travelling with him, assuring +him, that his interest should always be as dear to me as my own. + +We fixed a day for our departure, and accordingly entered upon +our travels. We passed through Syria and Mesopotamia, travelled +over Persia, and after stopping at several cities, came at last, +sir, to your capital. Some time after our arrival here, the young +man having formed a design of returning to Persia, and settling +there, we balanced our accounts, and parted very good friends. He +went from hence, and I, sir, continue here in your majesty's +service. This is the story I had to relate. Does not your majesty +find it more surprising than that of the hunch-back buffoon? + +The sultan of Casgar fell into a passion against the Christian +merchant. "Thou art a presumptuous fellow," said he, "to tell me +a story so little worth hearing, and then to compare it to that +of my jester. Canst thou flatter thyself so far as to believe +that the trifling adventures of a young debauchee are more +interesting than those of my jester? I will have you all four +impaled, to revenge his death. + +Hearing this, the purveyor prostrated himself at the sultan's +feet. "Sir," said he, "I humbly beseech your majesty to suspend +your wrath, and hear my story; and if it appears to be more +extraordinary than that of your jester, to pardon us." The sultan +having granted his request, the purveyor began thus. + + + + +The Story told by the Sultan of Casgar's Purveyor. + + + +Sir, a person of quality invited me yesterday to his daughter's +wedding. I went to his house in the evening at the hour +appointed, and found there a large company of men of the law, +ministers of justice, and others of the first rank in the city. +After the ceremony was over, we partook of a splendid feast. +Among other dishes set upon the table, there was one seasoned +with garlic, which was very delicious, and generally relished. We +observed, however, that one of the guests did not touch it, +though it stood just before him. We invited him to taste it, but +he intreated us not to press him. "I will take good care," said +he, "how I touch any dish that is seasoned with garlic; I have +not yet forgotten what the tasting of such a dish once cost me." +We requested him to inform us what the reason was of his aversion +to garlic. But before he had time to answer, the master of the +house exclaimed, "Is it thus you honour my table? This dish is +excellent, do not expect to be excused from eating of it; you +must do me that favour as well as the rest." "Sir," said the +gentleman, who was a Bagdad merchant, "I hope you do not think my +refusal proceeds from any mistaken delicacy; if you insist on my +compliance I will submit, but it must be on this condition, that +after having eaten, I may, with your permission, wash my hands +with alkali forty times, forty times more with ashes, and forty +times again with soap. I hope you will not feel displeased at +this stipulation, as I have made an oath never to taste garlic +but on these terms." + +As the master of the house, continued the purveyor of the sultan +of Casgar, would not dispense with the merchant's partaking of +the dish seasoned with garlic, he ordered his servants to provide +a basin of water, together with some alkali, the ashes, and soap, +that the merchant might wash as often as he pleased. After he had +given these instructions, he addressed the merchant and said, "I +hope you will now do as we do." + +The merchant, apparently displeased with the constraint put upon +him, took up a bit, which he put to his mouth trembling, and ate +with a reluctance that astonished us. But what surprised us yet +more was, that he had no thumb; which none of us had observed +before, though he had eaten of other dishes. "You have lost your +thumb," said the master of the house. "This must have been +occasioned by some extraordinary accident, a relation of which +will be agreeable to the company." "Sir," replied the merchant, +"I have no thumb on either the right or the left hand." As he +spoke he put out his left hand, and shewed us that what he said +was true. "But this is not all," continued he: "I have no great +toe on either of my feet: I was maimed in this manner by an +unheard-of adventure, which I am willing to relate, if you will +have the patience to hear me. The account will excite at once +your astonishment and your pity. Only allow me first to wash my +hands." With this he rose from the table, and after washing his +hands a hundred and twenty times, reseated himself, and proceeded +with his narrative as follows. + +In the reign of the caliph Haroon al Rusheed, my father lived at +Bagdad, the place of my nativity, and was reputed one of the +richest merchants in the city. But being a man addicted to his +pleasures, and neglecting his private affairs, instead of leaving +me an ample fortune, he died in such embarrassed circumstances, +that I was reduced to the necessity of using all the economy +possible to discharge the debts he had contracted. I at last, +however, paid them all; and by care and good management my little +fortune began to wear a smiling aspect. + +One morning, as I opened my shop, a lady mounted upon a mule, and +attended by an eunuch and two slaves, stopped near my door, and +with the assistance of the eunuch alighted. "Madam," said the +eunuch, "I told you you would be too early; you see there is no +one yet in the bazaar: had you taken my advice, you might have +saved yourself the trouble of waiting here." The lady looked and +perceiving no shop open but mine, asked permission to sit in it +till the other merchants arrived. With this request I of course +readily complied. + +The lady took a seat in my shop, and observing there was no one +in the bazaar but the eunuch and myself, uncovered her face to +take the air. I had never beheld any thing so beautiful. I became +instantly enamoured, and kept my eyes fixed upon her. I flattered +myself that my attention was not unpleasant to her; for she +allowed me time to view her deliberately, and only concealed her +face so far as she thought necessary to avoid being observed. + +After she had again lowered her veil, she told me she wanted +several sorts of the richest and finest stuffs, and asked me if I +had them. "Alas! madam," I replied, "I am but a young man just +beginning the world; I have not capital sufficient for such +extensive traffic. I am much mortified not to be able to +accommodate you with the articles you want. But to save you the +trouble of going from shop to shop, when the merchants arrive, I +will, if you please, go and get those articles from them, and +ascertain the lowest prices." She assented to this proposal, and +entered into conversation with me, which I prolonged, making her +believe the merchants that could furnish what she wanted were not +yet come. + +I was not less charmed with her wit than I had been before with +the beauty of her face; but was obliged to forego the pleasure of +her conversation. I ran for the stuffs she wanted, and after she +had fixed upon what she liked, we agreed for five thousand +dirhems of coined silver; I wrapped up the stuffs in a small +bundle, and gave it to the eunuch, who put it under his arm. She +then rose and took leave. I followed her with my eyes till she +had reached the bazaar gate, and even after she had remounted her +mule. + +The lady had no sooner disappeared, than I perceived that love +had led me to a serious oversight. It had so engrossed my +thoughts, that I did not reflect that she went away without +paying, and that I had not informed myself who she was, or where +she resided. I soon felt sensible, however, that I was +accountable for a large sum to the merchants, who, perhaps, would +not have patience to wait for their money: I went to them, and +made the best excuse I could, pretending that I knew the lady; +and then returned home, equally affected with love, and with the +burden of such a heavy debt. + +I had desired my creditors to wait eight days for their money: +when this period had elapsed, they did not fail to dun me. I then +intreated them to give me eight days more, to which they +consented; but the next day I saw the lady enter the bazaar, +mounted on her mule, with the same attendants as before, and +exactly the same hour of the day. + +She came straight to my shop. "I have made you wait some time," +said she, "but here is your money at last; carry it to the +banker, and see that it is all good and right." The eunuch who +carried the money went along with me to the banker, and we found +it quite right. I returned, and had the happiness of conversing +with the lady till all the shops of the bazaar were open. Though +we talked but of ordinary things, she gave them such a turn, that +they appeared new and uncommon; and convinced me that I was not +mistaken in admiring her wit at our first interview. + +As soon as the merchants had arrived and opened their shops, I +carried to the respective owners the money due for their stuffs, +and was readily intrusted with more, which the lady had desired +to see. She chose some from these to the value of one thousand +pieces of gold, and carried them away as before without paying; +nay, without speaking a word, or informing me who she was. What +distressed me was the consideration that while at this rate she +risked nothing, she left me without any security against being +made answerable for the goods in case she did not return. "She +has paid me," thought I, "a considerable sum; but she leaves me +responsible for a greater, Surely she cannot be a cheat. The +merchants do not know her, they will all come upon me." In short, +my love was not so powerful as to stifle the uneasiness I felt, +when I reflected upon the circumstances in which I was placed. A +whole month passed before I heard any thing of the lady again; +and during that time my alarm increased. The merchants were +impatient for their money, and to satisfy them, I was going to +sell off all I had, when one morning the lady returned with the +same equipage as before. + +"Take your weights," said she, "and weigh the gold I have brought +you." These words dispelled my fear, and inflamed my love. Before +we counted the money, she asked me several questions, and +particularly if I was married. I answered I never had been. Then +reaching out the gold to the eunuch, "Let us have your +interposition," said she, "to accommodate our matters." Upon +which the eunuch fell a laughing, and calling me aside, made me +weigh the gold. While I was thus occupied, the eunuch whispered +in my ear, "I know by your eyes you love this lady, and I am +surprised that you have not the courage to disclose your passion. +She loves you more ardently than you do her. Do not imagine that +she has any real occasion for your stuffs. She only makes this +her presence to come here, because you have inspired her with a +violent passion. It was for this reason she asked you if you were +married. It will be your own fault, if you do not marry her." "It +is true," I replied, "I have loved her since I first beheld her; +but I durst not aspire to the happiness of thinking my attachment +could meet her approbation. I am entirely hers, and shall not +fail to retain a grateful sense of your good offices in this +affair." + +I finished weighing the gold, and while I was putting it into the +bag, the eunuch turned to the lady, and told her I was satisfied; +that being the word they had agreed upon between themselves. +Presently after, the lady rose and took her leave; telling me she +would send her eunuch to me, and that I had only to obey the +directions he might give me in her name. + +I carried each of the merchants their money, and waited some days +with impatience for the eunuch. At last he came. + +I received the eunuch very kindly, and inquired after his +mistress's health. "You are," said he, "the happiest lover in the +world; she is impatient to see you; aud were she mistress of her +own conduct, would not fail to come to you herself, and willingly +pass in your society all the days of her life." "Her noble mien +and graceful carriage," I replied, "convinced me, that she was a +lady beyond the common rank." "You have not erred in your +judgment on that head," said the eunuch; "she is the favourite of +Zobeide the caliph's wife, who is the more affectionately +attached to her from having brought her up from her infancy, and +intrusts her with all her affairs. Having a wish to marry, she +has declared to her mistress that she has fixed her affections +upon you, and has desired her consent. Zobeide told her, she +would not withhold her consent; but that she would see you first, +in order to judge if she had made a good choice; in which case +she meant herself to defray the expenses of the wedding. Thus you +see your felicity is certain; since you have pleased the +favourite, you will be equally agreeable to the mistress, who +seeks only to oblige her, and would by no means thwart her +inclination. All you have to do is to come to the palace. I am +sent hither to invite you." "My resolution is already formed," +said I, "and I am ready to follow you whithersoever you please." +"Very well," said the eunuch; "but you know men are not allowed +to enter the ladies' apartments in the palace, and you must be +introduced with great secrecy. The favourite lady has contrived +the matter well. On your side you must act your part discreetly; +for if you do not, your life is at stake." + +I gave him repeated assurances punctually to perform whatever he +might require. "Then," said he, "in the evening, you must be at +the mosque built by the caliph's lady on the bank of the Tigris, +and wait there till somebody comes to conduct you." To this I +agreed; and after passing the day in great impatience, went in +the evening to the prayer that is said an hour and a half after +sun-set in the mosque, and remained there after all the people +had departed. + +Soon after I saw a boat making up to the mosque, the rowers of +which were all eunuchs, who came on shore, put several large +trunks into the mosque, and then retired. One of them stayed +behind, whom I perceived to be the eunuch that had accompanied +the lady, and had been with me that morning. I saw the lady also +enter the mosque; and approaching her, told her I was ready to +obey her orders. "We have no time to lose," said she; and opening +one of the trunks, desired me to get into it, that being +necessary both for her safety and mine. "Fear nothing," added +she, "leave the management of all to me." I considered with +myself that I had gone too far to recede, and obeyed her orders; +when she immediately locked the trunk. This done, the eunuch her +confidant called the other eunuchs who had brought in the trunks, +and ordered them to carry them on board again. The lady and the +eunuch re-embarked, and the boatmen rowed to Zobeide's apartment. + +In the meantime I reflected very seriously upon the danger to +which I had exposed myself, and made vows and prayers, though it +was then too late. + +The boat stopped at the palace-gate, and the trunks were carried +into the apartment of the officer of the eunuchs, who keeps the +key of the ladies' apartments, and suffers nothing to enter +without a narrow inspection. The officer was then in bed, and it +was necessary to call him up. + +The officer of the eunuchs was displeased at having his rest +disturbed, and severely chid the favourite lady for coming home +so late. "You shall not come off so easily as you think," said +he: "not one of these trunks shall pass till I have opened it." +At the same time he commanded the eunuchs to bring them before +him, and open them one by one. The first they took was that +wherein I lay, which put me into inexpressible fear. + +The favourite lady, who had the key, protested it should not be +opened. "You know very well," said she, "I bring nothing hither +but what is for the use of Zobeide, your mistress and mine. This +trunk is filled with rich goods, which I purchased from some +merchants lately arrived, besides a number of bottles of Zemzem +water sent from Mecca; and if any of these should happen to +break, the goods will be spoiled, and you must answer for them; +depend upon it, Zobeide will resent your insolence." She insisted +upon this in such peremptory terms, that the officer did not dare +to open any of the trunks. "Let them go," said he angrily; "you +may take them away." Upon this the door of the women's apartment +was opened, and all the trunks were carried in. + +This had been scarcely accomplished, when I heard the people cry, +"Here is the caliph! Here comes the caliph!" This put me in such +alarm, that I wonder I did not die upon the spot; for as they +announced, it proved to be the caliph. "What hast thou got in +these trunks?" said he to the favourite. "Some stuffs," she +replied, "lately arrived, which the empress wishes to see." "Open +them," cried he, "and let me see them." She excused herself, +alleging the stuffs were only proper for ladies, and that by +opening them, his lady would be deprived of the pleasure of +seeing them first. "I say open them," resumed the caliph; "I will +see them." She still represented that her mistress would be angry +with her, if she complied: "No, no," said he, "I will engage she +shall not say a word to you. Come, come, open them, and do not +keep me waiting." + +It was necessary to obey, which gave me such alarm, that I +tremble every time I recollect my situation. The caliph sat down; +and the favourite ordered all the trunks to be brought before him +one after another. She opened some of them; and to lengthen out +the time, displayed the beauties of each particular stuff, +thinking in this manner to tire out his patience; but her +stratagem did not succeed. Being as unwilling as myself to have +the trunk where I lay opened, she left that to the last. When all +the rest were viewed, "Come," said the caliph, "let us see what +is in that." I am at a loss to tell you whether I was dead or +alive that moment; for I little thought of escaping such imminent +danger. + +When Zobeide's favourite saw that the caliph persisted in having +this trunk opened: "As for this," said she, "your majesty will +please to dispense with the opening of it; there are some things +in it which I cannot shew you without your lady be present." +"Well, well," said the caliph, "since that is the case, I am +satisfied; order the trunks to be carried away." The words were +no sooner spoken than they were moved into her chamber, where I +began to revive again. + +As soon as the eunuchs, who had brought them, were gone, she +opened the trunk in which I was confined. "Come out," said she; +"go up these stairs that lead to an upper room, and wait there +till I come to you." The door, which led to the stairs, she +locked after me; and that was no sooner done, than the caliph +came and sat down on the very trunk which had been my prison. The +occasion of this visit did not respect me. He wished to question +the lady about what she had seen or heard in the city. So they +conversed together some time; he then left her, and retired to +his apartment. + +When she found the coast clear, she came to the chamber where I +lay concealed, and made many apologies for the alarms she had +given me. "My uneasiness," said she, "was no less than yours; you +cannot well doubt of that, since I have run the same risk out of +love to you. Perhaps another person in my situation would not, +upon so delicate an occasion, have had the presence of mind to +manage so difficult a business with so much dexterity; nothing +less than the love I had for you could have inspired me with +courage to do what I have. But come, take heart, the danger is +now over." After much tender conversation, she told me it was +time to go to rest, and that she would not fail to introduce me +to Zobeide her mistress, some hour on the morrow, "which will be +very easy," added she; "for the caliph never sees her but at +night." Encouraged by these words, I slept very well, or if my +sleep was interrupted, it was by agreeable disquietudes, caused +by the hopes of possessing a lady blest with so much wit and +beauty. + +The next day, before I was introduced to Zobeide, her favourite +instructed me how to conduct myself, mentioning what questions +she would probably put to me, and dictating the answers I was to +return. She then carried me into a very magnificent and richly +furnished hall. I had no sooner entered, than twenty female +slaves, advanced in age, dressed in rich and uniform habits, came +out of Zobeide's apartment, and placed themselves before the +throne in two equal rows; they were followed by twenty other +younger ladies, clothed after the same fashion, only their habits +appeared somewhat gayer. In the middle of these appeared Zobeide +with a majestic air, and so laden with jewels, that she could +scarcely walk. She ascended the throne, and the favourite lady, +who had accompanied her, stood just by her right hand; the other +ladies, who were slaves, being placed at some distance on each +side of the throne. + +As soon as the caliph's lady was seated, the slaves who came in +first made a sign for me to approach. I advanced between the two +rows they had formed, and prostrated myself upon the carpet that +was under the princess's feet. She ordered me to rise, did me the +honour to ask my name, my family, and the state of my fortune; to +all which I gave her satisfactory answers, as I perceived, not +only by her countenance, but by her words. "I am glad," said she, +"that my daughter," (so she used to call the favourite lady,) +"for I look upon her as such after the care I have take of her +education, has made this choice; I approve of it, and consent to +your marriage. I will myself give orders for having it +solemnized; but I wish my daughter to remain with me ten days +before the solemnity; in that time I will speak to the caliph, +and obtain his consent: mean while do you remain here; you shall +be taken care of." + +Pursuant to the commands of the caliph's lady, I remained ten +days in the women's apartments, and during that time was deprived +of the pleasure of seeing the favourite lady: but was so well +used by her orders, that I had no reason to be dissatisfied. + +Zobeide told the caliph her resolution of marrying the favourite +lady; and the caliph leaving to her the liberty to act in the +business as she thought proper, granted the favourite a +considerable sum by way of settlement. When the ten days were +expired, Zobeide ordered the contract of marriage to be drawn up +and brought to her, and the necessary preparations being made for +the solemnity, the musicians and the dancers, both male and +female, were called in, and there were great rejoicings in the +palace for nine days. The tenth day being appointed for the last +ceremony of the marriage, the favourite lady was conducted to a +bath, and I to another. At night I had all manner of dishes +served up to me, and among others, one seasoned with garlic, such +as you have now forced me to eat. This I liked so well, that I +scarcely touched any of the other dishes. But to my misfortune, +when I rose from table, instead of washing my hands well, I only +wiped them; a piece of negligence of which I had never before +been guilty. + +As it was then night, the whole apartment of the ladies was +lighted up so as to equal the brightness of day. Nothing was to +be heard through the palace but musical instruments, dances, and +acclamations of joy. My bride and I were introduced into a great +hall, where we were placed upon two thrones. The women who +attended her made her robe herself several times, according to +the usual custom on wedding days; and they shewed her to me every +time she changed her habit. + +All these ceremonies being over, we were conducted to the nuptial +chamber: as soon as the company retired, I approached my wife; +but instead of returning my transports, she pushed me away, and +cried out, upon which all the ladies of the apartment came +running in to inquire the cause: and for my own part, I was so +thunderstruck, that I stood like a statue, without the power of +even asking what she meant. "Dear sister," said they to her, +"what has happened since we left you? Let us know, that we may +try to relieve you." "Take," said she, "take that vile fellow out +of my sight." "Why, madam?" I asked, "wherein have I deserved +your displeasure?" "You are a villain," said she in a furious +passion, "to eat garlic, and not wash your hands! Do you think I +would suffer such a polluted wretch to poison me? Down with him, +down with him on the ground," continued she, addressing herself +to the ladies, "and bring me a bastinado." They immediately did +as they were desired; and while some held my hands, and others my +feet, my wife, who was presently furnished with a weapon, laid on +me as long as she could stand. She then said to the ladies, "Take +him, send him to the judge, and let the hand be cut off with +which he fed upon the garlic dish." + +"Alas!" cried I, "must I be beaten unmercifully, and, to complete +my affliction, have my hand cut off, for partaking of a dish +seasoned with garlic, and forgetting to wash my hands? What +proportion is there between the punishment and the crime? Curse +on the dish, on the cook who dressed it, and on him who served it +up." + +"All the ladies who had seen me receive the thousand strokes, +took pity on me, when they heard the cutting off of my hand +mentioned. "Dear madam, dear sister," said they to the favourite +lady, "you carry your resentment too far. We own he is a man +quite ignorant of the world, of your quality, and the respect +that is due to you: but we beseech you to overlook and pardon his +fault." "I have not received adequate satisfaction," said she; "I +will teach him to know the world; I will make him bear sensible +marks of his impertinence, and be cautious hereafter how he +tastes a dish seasoned with garlic without washing his hands." +They renewed their solicitations, fell down at her feet, and +kissing her fair hands, said, "Good madam, moderate your anger, +and grant us the favour we supplicate." She made no reply, but +got up, and after uttering a thousand reproaches against me, +walked out of the chamber: all the ladies followed her, leaving +me in inconceivable affliction. + +I continued thus ten days, without seeing any body but an old +female slave that brought me victuals. I asked her what was +become of the favourite lady. "She is sick," said the old woman; +"she is sick of the poisoned smell with which you infected her. +Why did you not take care to wash your hands after eating of that +cursed dish?" "Is it possible," thought I, "that these ladies +can be so nice, and so vindictive for such a trifling fault!" I +loved my wife notwithstanding all her cruelty, and could not help +pitying her. + +One day the old woman told me my spouse was recovered, and gone +to bathe, and would come to see me the next day. "So," said she, +"I would have you call up your patience, and endeavour to +accommodate yourself to her humour. For she is in other respects +a woman of good sense and discretion, and beloved by all the +ladies about the court of our respected mistress Zobeide." + +My wife accordingly came on the following evening, and accosted +me thus: "You perceive that I must possess much tenderness to +you, after the affront you have offered me: but still I cannot be +reconciled till I have punished you according to your demerit, in +not washing your hands after eating of the garlic dish." She then +called the ladies, who, by her order, threw me upon the ground; +and after binding me fast, she had the barbarity to cut off my +thumbs and great toes herself, with a razor. One of the ladies +applied a certain root to staunch the blood; but by bleeding and +by the pain, I swooned away. + +When I came to myself, they gave me wine to drink, to recruit my +strength. "Ah! madam," said I to my wife, "if ever I again eat of +a dish with garlic in it, I solemnly swear to wash my hands a +hundred and twenty times with alkali, with ashes, and with soap." +"Well," replied she, "upon that condition I am willing to forget +what is past, and live with you as my husband." + + +"This," continued the Bagdad merchant, addressing himself to the +company, "is the reason why I refused to eat of the dish seasoned +with what is now on the table." + +The ladies applied to my wounds not only the root I mentioned, +but likewise some balsam of Mecca, which they were well assured +was not adulterated, because they had it out of the caliph's own +dispensatory. By virtue of that admirable balsam, I was in a few +days perfectly cured, and my wife and I lived together as +agreeably as if I had never eaten of the garlic dish. But having +been all my lifetime used to enjoy my liberty, I grew weary of +being confined to the caliph's palace; yet I said nothing to my +wife on the subject, for fear of displeasing her. However, she +suspected my feelings; and eagerly wished for liberty herself, +for it was gratitude alone that made her continue with Zobeide. +She represented to her mistress in such lively terms the +constraint I was under, in not living in the city with people of +my own rank, as I had always done, that the good princess chose +rather to deprive herself of the pleasure of having her favourite +about her than not to grant what we both equally desired. + +A month after our marriage, my wife came into my room with +several eunuchs, each carrying a bag of silver. When the eunuchs +were gone; "You never told me," said she, "that you were uneasy +in being confined to court; but I perceived it, and have happily +found means to make you contented. My mistress Zobeide gives us +permission to quit the palace; and here are fifty thousand +sequins, of which she has made us a present, in order to enable +us to live comfortably in the city. Take ten thousand of them, +and go and buy us a house." + +I quickly found a house for the money, and after furnishing it +richly, we went to reside in it, kept a great many slaves of both +sexes, and made a good figure. We thus began to live in a very +agreeable manner: but my felicity was of short continuance; for +at the end of a year my wife fell sick and died. + +I might have married again, and lived honourably at Bagdad; but +curiosity to see the world put me upon another plan. I sold my +house, and after purchasing several kinds of merchandize, went +with a caravan to Persia; from Persia I travelled to Samarcand, +and from thence to this city. + +"This," said the purveyor to the sultan of Casgar, "is the story +that the Bagdad merchant related in a company where I was +yesterday." "This story," said the sultan, "has something in it +extraordinary; but it does not come near that of the little +hunch-back." The Jewish physician prostrated himself before the +sultan's throne, and addressed the prince in the following +manner: "Sir, if you will be so good as to hear me, I flatter +myself you will be pleased with a story I have to tell you." +"Well spoken," said the sultan; "but if it be not more surprising +than that of little hunch-back, you must not expect to live." + +The Jewish physician, finding the sultan of Casgar disposed to +hear him, gave the following relation. + + + + + +The Story told by the Jewish Physician. + + + +When I was studying physic at Damascus, and was just beginning to +practise that noble profession with some reputation, a slave +called me to see a patient in the governor of the city's family. +Accordingly I went, and was conducted into a room, where I found +a very handsome young man, much dejected by his disorder. I +saluted him, and sat down by him; but he made no return to my +compliments, only a sign with his eyes that he heard me, and +thanked me. "Pray, sir," said I, "give me your hand, that I may +feel your pulse." But instead of stretching out his right, he +gave me his left hand, at which I was extremely surprised. +However, I felt his pulse, wrote him a prescription, and took +leave. + +I continued my visits for nine days, and every time I felt his +pulse, he still gave me his left hand. On the tenth day he seemed +to be so far recovered, that I only deemed it necessary to +prescribe bathing to him. The governor of Damascus, who was by, +in testimony of his satisfaction with my service, invested me +with a very rich robe, saying, he had appointed me a physician of +the city hospital, and physician in ordinary to his house, where +I might eat at his table when I pleased. + +The young man likewise shewed me many civilities, and asked me to +accompany him to the bath. Accordingly we went together, and when +his attendants had undressed him, I perceived he wanted the right +hand, and that it had not long been cut off, which had been the +occasion of his disorder, though concealed from me; for while the +people about him were applying proper remedies externally, they +had called me to prevent the ill consequence of the fever which +was on him. I was much surprised and concerned on seeing his +misfortune; which he observed by my countenance. "Doctor," cried +he, "do not be astonished that my hand is cut off; some day or +other I will tell you the cause; and in that relation you will +hear very surprising adventures." + +After we had returned from the bath, we sat down to a collation; +and he asked me if it would be any prejudice to his health if he +went and took a walk out of town in the governor's garden? I made +answer, that the air would be of service to him. "Then," said he, +"if you will give me your company, I will recount to you my +history." I replied I was at his command for all that day. Upon +which he presently called his servants, and we went to the +governor's garden. Having taken two or three turns there, we +seated ourselves on a carpet that his servants had spread under a +tree, which gave a pleasant shade. The young man then gave me his +history in the following terms; + +I was born at Moussol, of one of the most considerable families +in the city. My father was the eldest of ten brothers, who were +all alive and married when my grandfather died. All the brothers +were childless, except my father; and he had no child but me. He +took particular care of my education; and made me learn every +thing proper for my rank. + +When I was grown up, and began to enter into the world, I +happened one Friday to be at noon-prayers with my father and my +uncles in the great mosque of Moussol. After prayers were over, +the rest of the company going away, my father and my uncles +continued sitting upon the best carpet in the mosque; and I sat +down by them. They discoursed of several things, but the +conversation fell insensibly, I know not how, upon the subject of +travelling. They extolled the beauties and peculiar rarities of +some kingdoms, and of their principal cities. But one of my +uncles said, that according to the uniform report of an infinite +number of voyagers, there was not in the world a pleasanter +country than Egypt, on account of the Nile; and the description +he gave infused into me such high admiration, that from that +moment I had a desire to travel thither. Whatever my other uncles +said, by way of preference to Bagdad and the Tigris, in calling +Bagdad the residence of the Mussulmaun religion, and the +metropolis of all the cities of the earth, made no impression +upon me. My father joined in opinion with those of his brothers +who had spoken in favour of Egypt; which filled me with joy. "Say +what you will," said he, "the man that has not seen Egypt has not +seen the greatest rarity in the world. All the land there is +golden; I mean, it is so fertile, that it enriches its +inhabitants. All the women of that country charm you by their +beauty and their agreeable carriage. If you speak of the Nile, +where is there a more wonderful river? What water was ever +lighter or more delicious? The very slime it carries along in its +overflowing fattens the fields, which produce a thousand times +more than other countries that are cultivated with the greatest +labour. Observe what a poet said of the Egyptians, when he was +obliged to depart from Egypt: Your Nile loads you with blessings +every day; it is for you only that it runs from such a distance. +Alas! in removing from you, my tears will flow as abundantly as +its waters; you are to continue in the enjoyment of its +sweetnesses, while I am condemned to deprive myself of them +against my will.' + +"If you look," added my father, "towards the island that is +formed by the two greatest branches of the Nile, what variety of +verdure! What enamel of all sorts of flowers! What a prodigious +number of cities, villages, canals, and a thousand other +agreeable objects! If you turn your eyes on the other side, up +towards Ethiopia, how many other subjects of admiration! I cannot +compare the verdure of so many plains, watered by the different +canals of the island, better than to brilliant emeralds set in +silver. Is not Grand Cairo the largest, the most populous, and +the richest city in the world? What a number of magnificent +edifices both public and private! If you view the pyramids, you +will be filled with astonishment at the sight of the masses of +stone of an enormous thickness, which rear their heads to the +skies! You will be obliged to confess, that the Pharaohs, who +employed such riches, and so many men in building them, must have +surpassed in magnificence and invention all the monarchs who have +appeared since, not only in Egypt, but in all the world, for +having left monuments so worthy of their memory: monuments so +ancient, that the learned cannot agree upon the date of their +erection; yet such as will last to the end of time. I pass over +in silence the maritime cities of the kingdom of Egypt, such as +Damietta, Rosetta, and Alexandria, where nations come for various +sorts of grain, cloth, and an infinite number of commodities +calculated for accommodation and delight. I speak of what I know; +for I spent some years there in my youth, which I shall always +reckon the most agreeable part of my life." + +My uncles could make no reply, and assented to all my father had +said of the Nile, of Cairo, and of the whole kingdom of Egypt. My +imagination was so full of these subjects, I could not sleep that +night. Soon after, my uncles declared how much they were struck +with my father's account. They made a proposal to him, that they +should travel all together into Egypt. To this he assented; and +being rich merchants, they resolved to carry with them such +commodities as were likely to suit the market. When I found that +they were making preparations for their departure, I went to my +father, and begged of him, with tears in my eyes, that he would +suffer me to make one of the party, and allow me some stock of +goods to trade with on my own account. "You are too young," said +he, "to travel into Egypt; the fatigue is too great for you; and, +besides, I am sure you will come off a loser in your traffic." +These words, however, did not suppress my eager desire to travel. +I made use of my uncles' interest with my father, who at last +granted me permission to go as far as Damascus, where they were +to leave me, till they had travelled through Egypt. "The city of +Damascus," said my father, "may likewise glory in its beauties, +and my son must be content with leave to go so far." Though my +curiosity to see Egypt was very pressing, I considered he was my +father, and submitted to his will. + +I set out from Moussol in company with him and my uncles. We +travelled through Mesopotamia, passed the Euphrates, and arrived +at Aleppo, where we stayed some days. From thence we went to +Damascus, the first sight of which struck me with agreeable +surprise We lodged all together in one khan; and I had the view +of a city that was large, populous, full of handsome people, and +well fortified. We employed some days in walking up and down the +delicious gardens that surrounded it; and we all agreed that +Damascus was justly said to be seated in a paradise. At last my +uncles thought of pursuing their journey; but took care, before +they went, to sell my goods so advantageously for me, that I +gained by them five hundred per cent. This sale brought me a sum +so considerable, as to fill me with delight. + +My father and my uncles left me in Damascus, and pursued their +journey. After their departure, I used great caution not to lay +out my money idly. But at the same time I took a stately house, +built of marble, adorned with paintings of gold, silver foliage, +and a garden with fine water-works. I furnished it, not so richly +indeed as the magnificence of the place deserved, but at least +handsomely enough for a young man of my rank. It formerly +belonged to one of the principal lords of the city; but was then +the property of a rich jewel-merchant, to whom I paid for it only +two sherifs a month. I had a number of domestics, and lived +honourably; sometimes I gave entertainments to such people as I +had made an acquaintance with, and sometimes was treated by them. +Thus did I spend my time at Damascus, waiting for my father's +return; no passion disturbed my repose, and my only employment +was conversing with people of credit. + +One day, as I sat taking the cool air at my gate, a very +handsome, well-dressed lady came to me, and asked if I did not +sell stuffs? She had no sooner spoken the words, than she went +into my house. + +When I saw that the lady had entered the house, I rose, and +having shut the gate, conducted into a hall, and prayed her to +sit down. "Madam," said I, "I have had stuffs fit to be strewn to +you, but at present, I am sorry to say, I have none." She removed +the veil from her face, and discovered such beauty as affected me +with emotions I had never felt before. "I have no occasion for +stuffs," replied she, "I only come to see you, and, if you +please, to pass the evening in your company; all I ask of you is +a light collation." + +Transported with joy, I ordered the servants to bring us several +sorts of fruit, and some bottles of wine. These being speedily +served, we ate, drank, and made merry till midnight. In short, I +had not before passed a night so agreeably as this. Next morning +I would have put ten sherifs into the lady's hands, but she drew +back instantly. "I am not come to see you," said she, "from +interested motives; you therefore do me wrong. So far from +receiving money from you, I must insist on your taking some from +me, or else I will see you no more." In speaking this, she put +her hand into her purse, took out ten sherifs, and forced me to +take them, saying, "You may expect me three days hence after sun- +set. She then took leave of me, and I felt that when she went she +carried my heart along with her." + +She did not fail to return at the appointed hour three days +after; and I received her with all the joy of a person who waited +impatiently for her arrival. The evening and the night we spent +as before; and next day at parting she promised to return the +third day after. She did not, however, leave me without forcing +me to take ten sherifs more. + +She returned a third time; and at that interview, when we were +both warm with wine, she spoke thus: "My dear love, what do you +think of me? Am I not handsome and agreeable?" "Madam," I +replied, "I think this an unnecessary question: the love which I +shew you ought to persuade you that I admire you; I am charmed to +see and to possess you. You are my queen, my sultaness; in you +lies all the felicity of my life." "Ah!" returned she, "I am sure +you would speak otherwise, if you saw a certain lady of my +acquaintance, who is younger and handsomer than I am. She is of +such a pleasant lively temper, that she would make the most +melancholy people merry: I must bring her hither; I spoke of you +to her, and from the account I have given of you she is dying +with desire to see you. She intreated me to procure her that +pleasure, but I did not dare to promise her without speaking to +you beforehand." "Madam," said I, "do what you please; but +whatever you may say of your friend, I defy all her charms to +tear my heart from you, to whom it is so inviolably attached, +that nothing can disengage it." "Be not too positive," returned +she; "I now tell you, I am about to put your heart to a severe +trial." + +We continued together all night, and next morning at parting, +instead of ten sherifs she gave me fifteen, which I was forced to +accept. "Remember," said she, "that in two days' time you are to +have a new guest; pray take care to give her a good reception: we +will come at the usual hour." I had my hall put in great order, +and a handsome collation prepared against they came. + +I waited for the two ladies with impatience and at last they +arrived at the close of the day. They both unveiled, and as I had +been surprised with the beauty of the first, I had reason to be +much more so when I saw her friend. She had regular features, an +elegant person, and such sparkling eyes, that I could hardly bear +their splendour. I thanked her for the honour she did me, and +entreated her to excuse me if I did not give her the reception +she deserved. "No compliments," replied she; "it should be my +part to make them to you, for allowing my friend to bring me +hither. But since you are pleased to suffer it, let us lay aside +all ceremony, and think only of amusing ourselves." + +I had given orders, as soon as the ladies arrived, to have the +collation served up, and we soon sat down to our entertainment. I +placed myself opposite the stranger, who never ceased looking +upon me with a smiling countenance. I could not resist her +conquering eyes, and she made herself mistress of my heart, +without opposition. But while she inspired me with a flame, she +caught it herself; and so far from appearing to be under any +constraint, she conversed in very free and lively language. + +The other lady, who observed us, did nothing at first but laugh. +"I told you," said she, addressing herself to me, "you would find +my friend full of charms; and I perceive you have already +violated the oath you made of being faithful to me." "Madam," +replied I, laughing as well as she, "you would have reason to +complain, if I were wanting in civility to a lady whom you +brought hither, and who is your intimate friend; both of you +might then upbraid me for not performing duly the rites of +hospitality." + +We continued to drink; but as the wine warmed us, the strange +lady and I ogled one another with so little reserve, that her +friend grew jealous, and quickly gave us a dismal proof of the +inveteracy of her feelings. She rose from the table and went out, +saying, she would be with us presently again: but in a few +moments after, the lady who stayed with me changed countenance, +fell into violent convulsions, and expired in my arms while I was +calling for assistance to relieve her. I went out immediately, +and enquired for the other lady; when my people told me, she had +opened the street door and was gone. I then suspected what was +but too true, that she had been the cause of her friend's death. +She had the dexterity, and the malice, to put some very strong +poison into the last glass, which she gave her with her own hand. + +I was afflicted beyond measure with the accident. "What shall I +do?" I exclaimed in agony. "What will become of me?" I considered +there was no time to lose, and it being then moon-light, I +ordered my servants to take up one of the large pieces of marble, +with which the court of my house was paved, dig a hole, and there +inter the corpse of the young lady. After replacing the stone, I +put on a travelling suit, took what money I had; and having +locked up every thing, affixed my own seal on the door of my +house. This done I went to the jewel-merchant my landlord, paid +him what I owed, with a year's rent in advance and giving him the +key, prayed him to keep it for me. "A very urgent affair," said +I, "obliges me to be absent for some time; I am under the +necessity of going to visit my uncles at Cairo." I took my leave +of him, immediately mounted my horse, and departed with my +attendants from Damascus. + +I had a good journey, and arrived at Cairo without any accident. +There I met with my uncles, who were much surprised to see me. To +excuse myself, I pretended I was tired of waiting; and hearing +nothing of them, was so uneasy, that I could not be satisfied +without coming to Cairo. They received me kindly, and promised +that my father should not be displeased with me for leaving +Damascus without his permission. I lodged in the same khan with +them, and saw all the curiosities of Cairo. + +Having finished their traffic, they began to talk of returning to +Moussol, and to make preparations for their departure; but I, +having a wish to view in Egypt what I had not yet seen, left my +uncles, and went to lodge in another quarter at a distance from +their khan, and did not appear any more till they were gone. They +sought for me all over the city; but not finding me, supposed +remorse for having come to Egypt without my father's consent had +occasioned me to return to Damascus, without saying any thing to +them. So they began their journey, expecting to find me at +Damascus, and there to take me up. + +After their departure I continued at Cairo three years, more +completely to indulge my curiosity in seeing all the wonders of +Egypt. During that time I took care to remit money to the jewel- +merchant, ordering him to keep my house for me; for I designed to +return to Damascus, and reside there some years longer. I had no +adventure at Cairo worth relating; but doubtless you will be much +surprised at that which befell me on my return to Damascus. + +Arriving at this city, I went to the jewel-merchant's, who +received me joyfully, and would accompany me to my house, to shew +me that no one had entered it whilst I was absent. The seal was +still entire upon the lock; and when I went in, I found every +thing in the order in which I had left it. + +In sweeping and cleaning out the hall where I had eaten with the +ladies, one of my servants found a gold chain necklace, with ten +very large and perfect pearls strung upon it at certain +distances. He brought it to me, when I knew it to be the same I +had seen upon the lady's neck who was poisoned; and concluded it +had broken off and fallen. I could not look upon it without +shedding tears, when I called to mind the lovely creature I had +seen die in such a shocking manner. I wrapped it up, and put it +in my bosom. + +I rested some days to recover from the fatigues of my journey; +after which, I began to visit my former acquaintance. I abandoned +myself to every species of pleasure, and gradually squandered +away all my money. Being thus reduced, instead of selling my +furniture, I resolved to part with the necklace; but I had so +little skill in pearls, that I took my measures very ill, as you +shall hear. + +I went to the bazaar, where I called a crier aside, and strewing +him the necklace, told him I wished to sell it, and desired him +to show it to the principal jewellers. The crier was surprised to +see such a valuable ornament. "How beautiful," exclaimed he, +gazing upon it with admiration, "never did our merchants see any +thing so rich; I am sure I shall oblige them highly in strewing +it to them; and you need not doubt they will set a high price +upon it, in emulation of each other." He carried me to a shop +which proved to be my landlord's: "Stop here," said the crier, "I +will return presently and bring you an answer." + +While he was running about to shew the necklace, I sat with the +jeweller, who was glad to see me, and we conversed on different +subjects. The crier returned, and calling me aside, instead of +telling me the necklace was valued at two thousand sherifs, +assured me nobody would give me more than fifty. "The reason is," +added he, "the pearls are false; consider if you will part with +it at that price." I took him at his word, wanting money. "Go," +said I, "I take your word, and that of those who know better than +myself; deliver it to them, and bring me the money immediately." + +The crier had been ordered to offer me fifty sherifs by one of +the richest jewellers in town who had only made that offer to +sound me, and try if I was well acquainted with the value of the +pearls. He had no sooner received my answer, than he carried the +crier to the judge, and shewing him the necklace; "Sir," said he, +"here is a necklace which was stolen from me, and the thief, +under the character of a merchant, has had the impudence to offer +it to sale, and is at this minute in the bazaar. He is willing to +take fifty sherifs for a necklace that is worth two thousand + +which is a clear proof of his having stolen it." + +The Judge sent immediately to seize me, and when I came before +him, he asked me if the necklace he had in his hand was not the +same that I had exposed to sale in the bazaar. I told him it was. +"Is it true," demanded he, "that you are willing to sell it for +fifty sherifs,?" I answered I was. "Well," continued he, in a +scoffing way "give him the bastinado; he will quickly confess +notwithstanding his merchant's disguise, that he is only an +artful thief; let him be beaten till he owns his guilt." The pain +of the torture made me tell a lie; I confessed, though it was not +true that I had stolen the necklace; and the judge ordered my +hand to be cut off according to the sentence of our law. + +This made a great noise in the bazaar, and I was scarcely +returned to my house when my landlord came. "My son," said he, +"you seem to be a young man well educated, and of good sense; how +is it possible you could be guilty of such an unworthy action, as +that I hear talked of? You gave me an account of your property +yourself, and I do not doubt but the account was just. Why did +not you request money of me, and I would have lent it you? +However, after what has happened, I cannot allow you to remain +longer in my house; you must go and seek for other lodgings." I +was extremely troubled at this; and entreated the jeweller, with +tears in my eyes, to let me stay three days longer; which he +granted. + +"Alas," thought I, "this misfortune and affront are unsufferable; +how shall I dare to return to Moussol? Nothing I can say to my +father will persuade him that I am innocent." + +Three hours after this fatal accident my house was forcibly +entered by the judge's officers, accompanied by my landlord, and +the merchant who had falsely accused me of having stolen the +necklace. I asked them, what brought them there? But instead of +giving me any answer, they bound and gagged me, calling me a +thousand abusive names, and telling me the necklace belonged to +the governor of Damascus, who had lost it above three years +before, and that one of his daughters had not been heard of +since. Judge of my sensations when I heard this intelligence. +However, I summoned all my resolution, "I will," thought I, "tell +the governor the truth, and it will rest with him either to put +me to death, or to protect my innocence." + +When I was brought before him, I observed he looked upon me with +an eye of compassion, from whence I augured well. He ordered me +to be untied, and addressing himself to the jeweller who accused +me, and to my landlord: "Is this the man," asked he, "that sold +the pearl necklace?" They had no sooner answered yes, than he +continued, "I am sure he did not steal the necklace, and I am +much astonished at the injustice that has been done him." These +words giving me courage: "Sir," said I, "I do assure you I am +perfectly innocent. I am likewise fully persuaded the necklace +never did belong to my accuser, whom I never saw, and whose +horrible perfidy is the cause of my unjust treatment. It is true, +I made a confession as if I had stolen it; but this I did +contrary to my conscience, through the force of torture, and for +another reason that I am ready to give you, if you will have the +goodness to hear me." "I know enough of it already," replied the +governor, "to do you one part of the justice to which you are +entitled. Take from hence," continued he, "the false accuser; let +him undergo the same punishment as he caused to be inflicted on +this young man, whose innocence is known to myself." + +The governor's orders were immediately put in execution; the +jeweller was punished as he deserved. Then the governor, having +ordered all present to withdraw, said to me: "My son, tell me +without fear how this necklace fell into your hands, conceal +nothing from me." I related plainly all that had passed, and +declared I had chosen rather to pass for a thief than to reveal +that tragical adventure. "Good God," exclaimed the governor, "thy +judgments are incomprehensible, and we ought to submit to them +without murmuring. I receive, with entire submission, the stroke +thou hast been pleased to inflict upon me." Then directing his +discourse to me: "My son," said he, "having now heard the cause +of your disgrace, for which I am truly concerned, I will give you +an account of the affliction which has befallen myself. Know +then, that I am the father of both the young ladies you were +speaking of. The first lady, who had the impudence to come to +your house, was my eldest daughter. I had given her in marriage +at Cairo to one of her cousins, my brother's son. Her husband +died, and she returned home corrupted by every vice too often +contracted in Egypt. Before I took her home, her younger sister, +who died in that deplorable manner in your arms, was a truly +virtuous girl, and had never given me any occasion to complain of +her conduce. But after that, the elder sister became very +intimate with her, and insensibly made her as wicked as herself. +The day after the death of the younger not finding her at home, I +asked her elder sister what was become of her; but she, instead +of answering, affected to weep bitterly; from whence I formed a +fatal presage. I pressed her to inform me of what she knew +respecting her sister Father,' replied she, sobbing, I can tell +you no more than that my sister put on yesterday her richest +dress, with her valuable pearl necklace, went out, and has not +been heard of since.' I searched for her all over the town, but +could learn nothing of her unhappy fate. In the mean time the +elder, who doubtless repented of her jealous fury, became +melancholy, and incessantly bewailed the death of her sister; she +denied her self all manner of food, and so put an end to her +deplorable days. Such is the condition of mankind! such are the +misfortunes to which we are exposed! However, my son," added he, +"since we are both of us equally unfortunate, let us unite our +sorrow, and not abandon one another. I will give you in marriage +a third daughter I have still left, she is younger than her +sisters, and in no respect imitates their conduct; besides, she +is handsomer, and I assure you is of a disposition calculated to +make you happy. You shall have no other house but mine, and, +after my death, you and she shall be heirs to all my property." +"My lord," I replied, "I am overcome by your favours, and shall +never be able to make a sufficient acknowledgment." "Enough," +said he, interrupting me, "let us not waste time in idle words." +He then called for witnesses, ordered the contract of marriage to +be drawn, and I became the husband of his third daughter. He was +not satisfied with punishing the jeweller, who had falsely +accused me, but confiscated for my use all his property, which +was very considerable. As for the rest, since you have been +called to the governor's house, you may have seen what respect +they pay me there. I must tell you further, that a person +despatched by my uncles to Egypt, on purpose to inquire for me +there, passing through this city found me out last night, and +delivered me a letter from them. They inform me of my father's +death, and invite me to come and take possession of his property +at Moussol. But as the alliance and friendship of the governor +have fixed me here, and will not suffer me to leave him, I have +sent back the express with a power, which will secure to me my +inheritance. After what you have heard, I hope you will pardon my +seeming incivility during the course of my illness, in giving you +my left instead of my right hand. + +" This," said the Jewish physician, "is the story I heard from +the young man of Moussol. I continued at Damascus as long as the +governor lived; after his death, being still in the vigour of my +age, I had the curiosity to travel. Accordingly I went through +Persia to the Indies, and came at last to settle in this your +capital, where I have practised physic with reputation." + +The sultan of Casgar was well pleased with this story. "I must +confess," said he to the Jew, "the story you have told me is very +singular; but I declare freely, that of the little hump-back is: +yet more extraordinary, and much more diverting; so you are not +to expect that I will give you your life, any more than the rest. +I will have you all four executed." "Pray, sir, stay a minute," +said the tailor, advancing, and prostrating himself at the +sultan's feet. "Since your majesty loves pleasant stories, I have +one to tell you that will not displease you." "Well, I will hear +thee too," said the sultan; "but do not flatter thyself that I +will suffer thee to live, unless thou tellest me some adventure +that is yet more diverting than that of my hump-backed jester." +Upon this the tailor, as if he had been sure of success, spoke +boldly to the following purpose. + + + + +The Story told by the Tailor. + + + +A citizen of this city did me the honour two days ago to invite +me to an entertainment, which he was to give to his friends +yesterday morning. Accordingly I went early, and found there +about twenty persons. + +The master of the house was gone out upon some business, but in a +short time returned, and brought with him a young man, a +stranger, very well dressed, and handsome, but lame. When he +entered, we all rose, and out of respect to the master of the +house, invited the young man to sit down with us upon the +estrade. He was going to comply; but suddenly perceiving a barber +in our company, flew backwards, and made towards the door. The +master of the house, surprised at his behaviour, stopped him. +"Where are you going?" demanded he. "I bring you along with me to +do me the honour of being my guest among the rest of my friends, +and you are no sooner got into my house, than you are for running +away." "Sir," replied the young man, "for God's sake do not stop +me, let me go, I cannot without horror look upon that abominable +barber, who, though he was born in a country where all the +natives are white, resembles an Ethiopian; and his soul is yet +blacker and more horrible than his face." + +We were all surprised to hear the young man speak in this manner, +and began to have a very bad opinion of the barber, without +knowing what ground the young man had for what he said. Nay, we +protested we would not suffer any one to remain in our company, +who bore so horrid a character. The master of the house intreated +the stranger to tell us what reason he had for hating the barber. +"Gentlemen," resumed the young man, "you must know this cursed +barber is the cause of my being lame, and having fallen into the +most ridiculous and teasing situation you can imagine. For this +reason I have sworn to avoid all the places where he is, and even +not to stay in the cities where he resides. It was for this +reason that I left Bagdad, where he then dwelt; and travelled so +far to settle in this city, at the extremity of Tartary; a place +where I flattered myself I should never see him. And now, after +all, contrary to my expectation, I find him here. This obliges +me, gentlemen, against my will, to deprive myself of the honour +of being merry with you. This very day I shall take leave of your +town, and go, if I can, to hide my head where he cannot come." +This said, he would have left us, but the master of the house +earnestly intreated him to stay, and tell us the cause of his +aversion for the barber, who all this while looked down and said +not a word. We joined with the master of the house in his +request; and at last the young man, yielding to our +importunities, sat down; and, after turning his back on the +barber, that he might not see him, gave us the following +narrative of his adventures. + +My father's quality might have entitled him to the highest posts +in the city of Bagdad, but he always preferred a quiet life to +the honours of a public station. I was his only child, and when +he died I had finished my education, and was of age to dispose of +the plentiful fortune he had left me; which I did not squander +away foolishly, but applied to such uses as obtained for me +everybody's respect. I had not yet been disturbed by any passion: +I was so far from being sensible of love, that I bashfully +avoided the conversation of women. One day, walking in the +streets, I saw a large party of ladies before me; and that I +might not meet them, I turned down a narrow lane, and sat down +upon a bench by a door. I was placed opposite a window, where +stood a pot of beautiful flowers, on which I had my eyes fixed, +when the window opened, and a young lady appeared, whose beauty +struck me. Immediately she fixed her eyes upon me; and in +watering the flowerpot with a hand whiter than alabaster, looked +upon me with a smile, that inspired me with as much love for her +as I had formerly aversion for all women. After having watered +her flowers, and darted upon me a glance full of charms that +pierced my heart, she shut the window, and left me in +inconceivable perplexity, from which I should not have recovered, +if a noise in the street had not brought me to myself. I lifted +up my head, and turning, saw the first cauzee of the city, +mounted on a mule, and attended by five or six servants: he +alighted at the door of the house, where the young lady had +opened the window, and went in; from whence I concluded he was +her father. I went home in an altered state of mind; agitated by +a passion the more violent, as I had never felt its assaults +before: I retired to bed in a violent fever, at which all the +family were much concerned. My relations, who had a great +affection for me, were so alarmed by the sudden disorder, that +they importuned me to tell the cause; which I took care not to +discover. My silence created an uneasiness that the physicians +could not dispel, because they knew nothing of my distemper, and +by their medicines rather inflamed than checked it. My relations +began to despair of my life, when an old lady of our +acquaintance, hearing I was ill, came to see me. She considered +me with great attention, and after having examined me, +penetrated, I know not how, into the real cause of my illness. +She took my relations aside, and desired all my people would +retire out of the room, and leave her with me alone. + +When the room was clear, she sat down on the side of my bed. "My +son," said she, "you have obstinately concealed the cause of your +illness; but you have no occasion to reveal it to me. I have +experience enough to penetrate into a secret; you will not deny +when I tell you it is love that makes you sick. I can find a way +to cure you, if you will but inform me who that happy lady is, +that could move a heart so insensible as yours; for you have the +character of a woman-hater, and I was not the last who perceived +that such was your disposition; but what I foresaw has come to +pass, and I am now glad of the opportunity to employ my talents +in relieving your pain." + +The old lady having thus spoken, paused, expecting my answer; but +though what she had said had made a strong impression upon me, I +durst not lay open to her the bottom of my heart; I only turned +to her, and heaved a deep sigh, without replying a word. "Is it +bashfulness," said she, "that keeps you silent? Or is it want of +confidence in me? Do you doubt the effect of my promise? I could +mention to you a number of young men of your acquaintance, who +have been in the same condition with yourself, and have received +relief from me." + +The good lady told me so many more circumstances that I broke +silence, declared to her my complaint, pointed out to her the +place where I had seen the object which occasioned it, and +unravelled all the circumstances of my adventure. "If you +succeed," added I, "and procure me the happiness of seeing that +charming beauty, and revealing to her the passion with which I +burn for her, you may depend upon it I will be grateful." "My +son," replied the old woman, "I know the lady you speak of; she +is, as you rightly judged, the daughter of the first cauzee of +this city: I am not surprised that you are in love with her. She +is the handsomest and most lovely lady in Bagdad, but very proud, +and of difficult access. You know how strict our judges are, in +enjoining the punctual observance of the severe laws that confine +women; and they are yet more strict in the observation of them in +their own families; the cauzee you saw is more rigid in that +point than any of the other magistrates. They are always +preaching to their daughters what a heinous crime it is to shew +themselves to men; and the girls themselves are so prepossessed +with the notion, that they make no other use of their own eves +but to conduct them along the street, when necessity obliges them +to go abroad. I do not say absolutely that the first cauzee's +daughter is of that humour; but that does not hinder my fearing +to meet with as great obstacles on her side, as on her father's. +Would to God you had loved any other, then I should not have had +so many difficulties to surmount. However, I will employ all my +wits to compass the matter; but it requires time. In the mean +while take courage and trust to me." + +The old woman took leave; and as I weighed within myself all the +obstacles she had been talking of, the fear of her not succeeding +in her undertaking inflamed my disorder. Next day she came again, +and I read in her countenance that she had no favourable news to +impart. She spoke thus: "My son, I was not mistaken, I have +somewhat else to conquer besides the vigilance of a father. You +love an insensible object, who takes pleasure in making every one +miserable who suffers himself to be charmed by her; she will not +deign them the least comfort: she heard me with pleasure, when I +spoke of nothing but the torment she made you undergo; but I no +sooner opened my mouth to engage her to allow you to see her, and +converse with her, but casting at me a terrible look, You are +very presumptuous,' said she, to make such a proposal to me; I +charge you never to insult me again with such language.' + +"Do not let this cast you down," continued she; "I am not easily +disheartened, and am not without hope but I shall compass my +end." To shorten my story, this good woman made several fruitless +attacks in my behalf on the proud enemy of my rest. The vexation +I suffered inflamed my distemper to that degree, that my +physicians gave me over. I was considered as a dead man, when the +old woman came to recall me to life. + +That no one might hear what was said, she whispered in my ear; +"Remember the present you owe for the good news I bring you." +These words produced a marvellous effect; I raised myself up in +the bed, and with transport replied, "You shall not go without a +present; but what is the news you bring me?" "Dear sir," said she +"you shall not die; I shall speedily have the pleasure to see you +in perfect health, and very well satisfied with me. Yesterday I +went to see the lady you love, and found her in good humour. As +soon as I entered, I put on a sad countenance heaved many deep +sighs, and began to squeeze out some tears. My good mother,' +demanded she what is the matter with you, why are you so cast +down?' Alas, my dear and honourable lady,' I replied, I have +just been with the young gentleman of whom I spoke to you the +other day, who is dying on your account.' I am at a loss to +know,' said she, how you make me to be the cause of his death. +How can I have contributed to it?' How?' replied I; did not you +tell me the other day, that he sat down before your window when +you opened it to water your flower-pot? He then saw that prodigy +of beauty, those charms that your mirror daily represents to you. +From that moment he languished, and his disorder has so +increased, that he is reduced to the deplorable condition I have +mentioned.' + +"You well remember,' added I, how harshly you treated me at our +last interview; when I was speaking to you of his illness, and +proposing a way to save him from the threatened consequences of +his complaint. After I left you I went directly to his house, and +he no sooner learnt from my countenance that I had brought no +favourable answer than his distemper increased. From that time, +madam, he has been at the point of death; and I doubt whether +your compassion would not now come too late to save his life.' +The fear of your death alarmed her, and I saw her face change +colour. Is your account true?' she asked. Has he actually no +other disorder than what is occasioned by his love of me?' Ah, +madam!' I replied, it is too true; would it were false!' Do you +believe,' said she, that the hopes of seeing me would at all +contribute to rescue him from his danger?' I answered, Perhaps +it may, and if you will permit me, I will try the remedy.'? +Well,' resumed she, sighing, give him hopes of seeing me; but +he must pretend to no other favours, unless he aspire to marry +me, and obtains my father's consent.' Madam,' replied I. your +goodness overcomes me; I will instantly seek the young gentleman, +and tell him he is to have the pleasure of an interview with +you.' The best opportunity I can think of,' said she, for +granting him that favour, will be next Friday at the hour of noon +prayers. Let him observe when my father goes out, and then, if +his health permits him to be abroad, come and place himself +opposite the house. I shall then see him from my window, and will +come down and open the door for him: we will converse together +during prayer-time; but he must depart before my father returns.' + +"It is now Tuesday," continued the old lady "you have the +interval between this and Friday to recover your strength, and +make the necessary dispositions for the interview." While the +good old lady was speaking, I felt my illness decrease, or +rather, by the time she had done, I found myself perfectly +recovered. "Here, take this," said I, reaching out to her my +purse, which was full, "it is to you alone that I owe my cure. I +reckon this money better employed than all that I gave the +physicians, who have only tormented me during my illness." + +When the lady was gone, I found I had strength enough to get up: +and my relations finding me so well, complimented me on the +occasion, and went home. + +On Friday morning the old woman came, just as I was dressing, and +choosing out the richest clothes in my wardrobe, said, "I do not +ask you how you are, what you are about is intimation enough of +your health; but will not you bathe before you go?" "That will +take up too much time," I replied; "I will content myself with +sending for a barber, to shave my head." Immediately I ordered +one of my slaves to call a barber that could do his business +cleverly and expeditiously. + +The slave brought me the wretch you see here, who came, and after +saluting me, said, "Sir, you look as if you were not well." I +told him I was just recovered from a fit of sickness. "May God," +resumed he, "deliver you from all mischance; may his grace always +go along with you." "I hope he will grant your wish, for which I +am obliged to you." "Since you are recovering from a fit of +sickness," he continued, "I pray God preserve your health; but +now let me know what I am to do; I have brought my razors and my +lancets, do you desire to be shaved or to be bled?" I replied, "I +am just recovered from a fit of sickness, and you may readily +judge I only want to be shaved: come, do not lose time in +prattling; for I am in haste, and have an appointment precisely +at noon." + +The barber spent much time in opening his case, and preparing his +razors Instead of putting water into the basin, he took a very +handsome astrolabe out of his case, and went very gravely out of +my room to the middle of the court to take the height of the sun: +he returned with the same grave pace, and entering my room, said, +"Sir, you will be pleased to know this day is Friday the 18th of +the moon Suffir, in the year 653, from the retreat of our great +prophet from Mecca to Medina, and in the year 7320 of the epocha +of the great Iskender with two horns; and that the conjunction of +Mars and Mercury signifies you cannot choose a better time than +this very day and hour for being shaved. But, on the other hand, +the same conjunction is a bad presage to you. I learn from it, +that this day you run a great risk, not indeed of losing your +life, but of an inconvenience which will attend you while you +live. You are obliged to me for the advice I now give you, to +avoid this accident; I shall be sorry if it befall you." + +You may guess, gentlemen, how vexed I was at having fallen into +the hands of such a prattling, impertinent fellow; what an +unseasonable adventure was it for a lover preparing for an +interview with his mistress! I was quite irritated. "I care not," +said I, in anger, "for your advice and predictions; I did not +call you to consult your astrology; you came hither to shave me; +shave me, or begone." "I will call another barber, sir," replied +he, with a coolness that put me out of all patience; "what reason +have you to be angry with me? You do not know, that all of my +profession are not like me; and that if you made it your business +to search, you would not find such another. You only sent for a +barber; but here, in my person, you have the best barber in +Bagdad, an experienced physician, a profound chemist, an +infallible astrologer, a finished grammarian, a complete orator, +a subtle logician, a mathematician perfectly well versed in +geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, and all the refinements of +algebra; an historian fully master of the histories of all the +kingdoms of the universe. Besides, I understand all parts of +philosophy. I have all our sacred traditions by heart. I am a +poet, I am an architect; and what is it I am not? There is +nothing in nature hidden from me. Your deceased father, to whose +memory I pay a tribute of tears every time I think of him, was +fully convinced of my merit; he was fond of me, and spoke of me +in all companies as the first man in the world. Out of gratitude +and friendship for him, I am willing to attach myself to you, to +take you under my protection, and guard you from all the evils +that your stars may threaten." + +When I heard all this jargon, I could not forbear laughing, +notwithstanding my anger. "You impertinent prattler!" said I, +"will you have done, and begin to shave me?" + +"Sir," replied the barber, "you affront me in calling me a +prattler; on the contrary, all the world gives me the honourable +title of Silent. I had six brothers, whom you might justly have +called prattlers. These indeed were impertinent chatterers, but +for me, who am a younger brother, I am grave and concise in my +discourse." + +For God's sake, gentlemen, do but suppose you had been in my +place. What could I say when I saw myself so cruelly delayed? +"Give him three pieces of gold," said I to the slave who was my +housekeeper, "and send him away, that he may disturb me no more; +I will not be shaved this day." "Sir," said the barber, "pray +what do you mean? I did not come to seek for you, you sent for +me; and as that is the case I swear by the faith of a Moosulmaun, +I will not stir out of these doors till I have shaved you. If you +do not know my value, it is not my fault. Your deceased father +did me more justice. Every time he sent for me to let him blood, +he made me sit down by him, and was charmed with hearing what +witty things I said. I kept him in a continual strain of +admiration; I elevated him; and when I had finished my discourse, +My God,' he would exclaim, you are an inexhaustible source of +science, no man can reach the depth of your knowledge.' My dear +sir,' I would answer, you do me more honour than deserve. If I +say anything that is worth hearing, it is owing to the favourable +audience you vouchsafe me; it is your liberality that inspires me +with the sublime thoughts which have the happiness to please +you.' One day, when he was charmed with an admirable discourse I +had made him, he said, Give him a hundred pieces of gold, and +invest him with one of my richest robes.' I instantly received +the present. I then drew his horoscope, and found it the happiest +in the world. Nav. I carried my gratitude further; I let him +blood with cupping-glasses." + +This was not all; he spun out another harangue that was a full +half hour long. Tired with hearing him, and fretted at the loss +of time, which was almost spent before I was half ready, I did +not know what to say. "It is impossible," I exclaimed, "there +should be such another man in the world who takes pleasure, as +you do, in making people mad." + +I thought I might perhaps succeed better if I dealt mildly with +my barber. "In the name of God," said I, "leave off talking, and +shave me directly: business of the last importance calls me, as I +have already told you." At these words he fell a laughing: "It +would be fortunate," said he, "if our minds were always in the +same state; if we were always wise and prudent. I am willing, +however, to believe, that if you are angry with me, it is your +disorder that has caused the change in your temper, for which +reason you stand in need of some instructions, and you cannot do +better than follow the example of your father and grandfather. +They came and consulted me upon all occasions, and I can say, +without vanity, that they always highly prized my advice. Pray +observe, sir, men never succeed in their undertakings without the +counsel of persons of understanding. A man cannot, says the +proverb, be wise without receiving advice from the wise. I am +entirely at service, and you have only to command me." + +"What! cannot I prevail with you then," I demanded,, interrupting +him, "to leave off these long speeches, that tend to nothing but +to distract my head, and detain me from my business? Shave me, I +say, or begone:" with that I started up in anger, stamping my +foot against the ground. + + +When he saw I was in earnest, he said, "Sir, do not be angry, we +are going to begin." He lathered my head, and began to shave me; +but had not given four strokes with his razor before he stopped, +and addressed me, "Sir, you are hasty, you should avoid these +transports that only come from the devil. I am entitled to some +consideration on account of my age, my knowledge, and my great +virtues." + +"Go on and shave me," said I, interrupting him again, "and talk +no more." "That is to say," replied he, "you have some urgent +business to go about; I will lay you a wager I guess right." "Why +I told you two hours ago," I returned, "you ought to have shaved +me before." "Moderate your passion," replied he; "perhaps you +have not maturely weighed what you are going about; when things +are done precipitately, they are generally repented of. I wish +you would tell me what mighty business this is you are so earnest +upon. I would tell you my opinion of it; besides, you have time +enough, since your appointment is not till noon, and it wants +three hours of that yet." "I do not mind that," said I; "persons +of honour and of their word are rather before their time than +after. But I forget that by reasoning with you, I give into the +faults of you prattling barbers; have done, have done; shave me." + +The more haste I was in, the less speed he made. He laid down the +razor, and took up his astrolabe; then laid down his astrolabe, +and took up his razor again. + +The barber quitted his razor again, and took up his astrolabe a +second time; and so left me half shaved, to go and see precisely +what hour it was. Back he came, and exclaimed, "Sir, I knew I was +not mistaken, it wants three hours of noon. I am sure of it, or +else all the rules of astronomy are false." "Just heaven!" cried +I, "my patience is exhausted, I can bear this no longer. You +cursed barber, you barber of mischief, I can scarcely forbear +falling upon you and strangling you." "Softly, sir," said he, +very calmly, without being moved by my anger: "are you not afraid +of a relapse? Be not in a passion, I am going to shave you this +minute." In speaking these words, he clapped his astrolabe in his +case, took up his razor, and passing it over the strap which was +fixed to his belt, fell to shaving me again; but all the while he +was thus employed, the dog could not forbear prattling. "If you +would be pleased, sir," said he, "to tell me what the business is +you are going about at noon, I could give you some advice that +might be of use to you." To satisfy the fellow, I told him I was +going to meet some friends at an entertainment at noon, to make +merry with me on the recovery of ray health. + +When the barber heard me talk of regaling; "God bless you this +day, as well as all other days!" he cried: "you put me in mind +that yesterday I invited four or five friends to come and eat +with me as this day; indeed I had forgotten the engagement, and +have made no preparation for them." "Do not let that trouble +you," said I; "though I dine abroad, my larder is always well +furnished. I make you a present of all that it contains; and +besides, I will order you as much wine as you have occasion for; +I have excellent wine in my cellar; only you must hasten to +finish shaving me: and pray remember, as my father made you +presents to encourage you to speak, I give you mine to induce you +to be silent." + +He was not satisfied with my promise, but exclaimed, "God reward +you, sir, for your kindness: pray shew me these provisions now, +that I may see if there will be enough to entertain my friends. I +would have them satisfied with the good fare I make them." "I +have," said I, "a lamb, six capons, a dozen chickens, and enough +to make four courses." I ordered a slave to bring all before him, +with four great pitchers of wine. "It is very well," returned the +barber; "but we shall want fruit, and sauce for the meat." These +I ordered likewise; but then he left off shaving, to look over +every thing one after another; and this survey lasted almost half +an hour. I raged and stormed like a madman; but it signified +nothing, the wretch made no more haste. However, he took up his +razor again, and shaved me for some minutes; then stopping +suddenly, exclaimed, "I could not have believed, sir, that you +would have been so liberal; I begin to perceive that your +deceased father lives again in you. Most certainly, I do not +deserve the favours with which you have loaded me; and I assure +you I shall have them in perpetual remembrance; for, sir, to let +you know, I have nothing but what I obtain from the generosity of +such gentlemen as you: in which respect, I am like to Zantout, +who rubs the people in the baths; to Sali, who cries boiled peas +in the streets; to Salout, who sells beans; to Akerscha, who +sells greens; to Aboumecarez, who sprinkles the streets to lay +the dust; and to Cassem, the caliph's lifeguard man. Of all these +persons, not one is apt so be melancholy; they are neither +impertinent nor quarrelsome; they are more contented with their +lot, than the caliph in the midst of his court; they are always +gay, ready to sing and dance, and have each of them their +peculiar song and dance, with which they divert the city of +Bagdad; but what I esteem most in them is, that they are no great +talkers, any more than your slave, that has bow the honour to +speak to you. Here, sir, is the song and dance of Zantout, who +rubs the people in the baths; mind me, pray, and see if I do not +imitate it exactly." + +The barber sung the song, and danced the dance of Zantout; and +let me say what I could to oblige him to finish his buffooneries, +he did not cease till he had imitated, in like manner, the songs +and dances of the other persons he had named. "After that," +addressing himself to me, "I am going," said he, "to invite all +these honest men to my house; if you will take my advice you will +join us, and disappoint your friends, who perhaps are great +talkers. They will only teaze you to death with their impertinent +discourse, and make you relapse into a disorder worse than that +from which you are so lately recovered; whereas at my house you +shall have nothing but pleasure." + +Notwithstanding my anger, I could not forbear laughing at the +fellow's impertinence. "I wish I had no business upon my hands," +I replied, "I would accept your invitation, and go with all my +heart to partake of your entertainment; but I beg to be excused, +I am too much engaged; another day I shall be more at leisure, +and then we will make up the same party. Come, finish shaving me, +and make haste home; perhaps your friends are already arrived at +your house." "Sir," replied he, "do not refuse me the favour I +ask of you; were you but once in our company, it would afford you +so much pleasure as abundantly to compensate you for forsaking +your friends." "Let us talk no more of that," said I; "I cannot +be your guest." + +I found I gained no ground by mild terms. "Since you will not +come to my house," replied the barber, "you must allow me to go +along with you: I will carry these things to my house, where my +friends may eat of them if they like, and I will return +immediately; I would not be so uncivil as to leave you alone. You +deserve this piece of complaisance at my hands." "Heavens!" cried +I, "then I shall not get clear of this troublesome fellow to-day. +In the name of the living God, leave off your unreasonable +jargon; go to your friends, drink, eat, and be merry with them, +and leave me at liberty to go to mine. I must go alone, I have no +occasion for company; besides, I must needs tell you, the place +to which I go is not one where you can be received." "You jest, +sir," said he; "if your friends have invited you to a feast, what +should prevent you from allowing me to go with you? You will +please them, I am sure, by introducing to them a man who can talk +wittily like me, and knows how to divert company. But say what +you will, I am determined to accompany you." + +These words, gentlemen, perplexed me much. "How," thought I, +"shall I get rid of this cursed barber? If I persist in +contradicting him, we shall never have done." + +Besides, I heard at this instant the first call to noon-prayers, +and it was time for me to go. In fine, I resolved to say nothing, +and to make as if I consented to his accompanying me. He then +finished shaving me, and I said to him, "Take some of my servants +to carry these provisions along with you, and return hither; I +will stay for you, and shall not go without you." + +At last he went, and I dressed myself as expeditiously as I +could. I heard the last call to prayers, and hastened to set out: +but the malicious barber, who guessed my intention, went with my +servants only within sight of the house and stood there till he +saw them enter it, after which he concealed himself at the corner +of the street, with an intent to observe and follow me. In fine, +when I arrived at the cauzee's door, I looked back and saw him at +the head of the street which alarmed me to the last degree. + +The cauzee's door was half open, and as I went in I saw an old +woman waiting for me, who, after she had shut the door, conducted +me to the chamber of the young lady who was the object of my +love; but we had scarcely begun to converse, when we heard a +noise in the streets. The young lady put her head to the window, +and saw through the gate that it was her father already returning +from prayers. At the same time I looked, and saw the barber +sitting over-against the house, on the bench from which I had +first seen the young lady. + +I had then two things to fear, the arrival of the cauzee, and the +presence of the barber. The young lady mitigated my apprehension +on the first head, by assuring me the cauzee, came but seldom to +her chamber, and as she had forseen that this misadventure might +happen, she had contrived a way to convey me out safely: but the +indiscretion of the accursed barber made me very uneasy; and you +shall hear that my uneasiness was not without ground. + +As soon as the cauzee was come in, he caned one of his slaves, +who had deserved chastisement. This slave made a horrid noise, +which was heard in the streets; the barber thought it was I who +cried out, and was maltreated. Prepossessed with this thought, he +roared out aloud, rent his clothes, threw dust upon his head, and +called the neighbourhood to his assistance. The neighbours +collected, and asked what assistance he wanted? "Alas!" cried he, +"they are assassinating my master, my dear patron;" and without +saying anything more, he ran all the way to my house, with the +very same cry in his mouth. From thence he returned, followed by +all my domestics armed with sticks. They knocked with +inconceivable fury at the door, and the cauzee sent slave to see +what was the matter; but the slave being frightened, returned to +his master, crying, "Sir, above ten thousand men are going to +break into your house by force." + +Immediately the cauzee himself ran, opened the door, and asked +what they wanted. His venerable presence could not inspire them +with respect. They insolently said to him, "You cursed cauzee, +what reason have you to assassinate our master? What has he done +to you?" "Good people," replied the magistrate, "for what should +I assassinate your master, whom I do not know and who has done me +no harm? my house is open to you, come and search." "You +bastinadoed him," said the barber; "I heard his cries not a +minute ago." "What harm could your master do to me," replied the +cauzee, "to oblige me to abuse him at that rate? Is he in my +house? If he is, how came he in, or who could have introduced +him?" "Ah! wretched cauzee, cried the barber, "you and your long +beard shall never make me believe you; I know your daughter is in +love with our master, and appointed him a meeting during the time +of noon-prayer, you without doubt have had notice of it, returned +home, and surprised him, and made your slaves bastinado him: but +this your wicked action shall not pass with impunity; the caliph +shall be acquainted with it, and he will give true and brief +justice. Let him come out, deliver him to us immediately; or if +you do not, we will go in and take him out to your shame." "There +is no occasion for so many words," replied the cauzee, "nor to +make so great a noise: if what you say is true, go and find him +out, I give you free liberty." Thereupon the barber and my +domestics rushed into the house like furies, and looked for me +all about. + +As I heard all that the barber said to the cauzee, I sought for a +place to conceal myself, and could find nothing but a large empty +trunk, in which I lay down, and shut it upon me. The barber, +after he had searched everywhere, came into the chamber where I +was, and opened the trunk. As soon as he saw me, he took it upon +his head and carried it away. He descended a high staircase into +a court, which he crossed hastily, and at length reached the +street door. While he was carrying me, the trunk unfortunately +flew open, and not being able to endure the shame of being +exposed to the view and shouts of the mob who followed us, I +leaped out into the street with so much haste, that I have been +lame ever since. I was not sensible of the hurt at first, and +therefore got up quickly to avoid the people, who laughed at me; +nay, I threw handfuls of gold and silver among them, and whilst +they were gathering it up, I made my escape by cross streets and +alleys. But the cursed barber followed me close, crying, "Stay, +sir; why do you run so fast? If you knew how much I am afflicted +at the ill treatment you received from the cauzee, you, who are +so generous, and to whom I and my friends are so much obliged! +Did I not tell you truly, that you would expose your life by your +obstinate refusal to let me go with you? See what has happened to +you, by your own fault; and if I had not resolutely followed, to +see whither you went, what would have become of you? Whither do +you go, sir? Stay for me." + +Thus the barber cried aloud in the street it was not enough for +him to have occasioned so great a scandal in the quarter where +the cauzee lived, but he would have it known through the whole +town. I was in such a rage, that I had a great mind to stop and +cut his throat; but considering this would have perplexed me +farther, I chose another course. Perceiving that his calling +after me exposed me to vast numbers of people, who crowded to the +doors or windows, or stopped in the street to gaze at me, I +entered an inn, the chamberlain of which knew me, and finding him +at the gate, whither the noise had brought him, I prayed him, for +the sake of heaven, to hinder that madman from coming in after +me. He promised to do so, and was as good as his word, but not +without a great deal of trouble; for the obstinate barber would +enter in spite of him, and did not retire without calling him a +thousand names. After the chamberlain had shut the gate, the +barber continued telling all he met what great service he had +done me. Thus I rid myself of that troublesome fellow. After +this, the chamberlain prayed me to tell him my adventure, which I +did, and then desired him to let me have an apartment until I was +cured . "But sir," said he, "will it not be more convenient for +you to go home?" "I will not return thither," replied I: "for the +detestable barber will continue plaguing me there, and I shall +die of vexation to be continually teazed by him. Besides, after +what has befallen me to-day, I cannot think of staying any longer +in this town; I must go whither my ill-fortune leads me." +Accordingly, when I was. cured, I took all the money I thought +necessary for my travels, and divided the rest of my property +among my kindred. + +Thus, gentlemen, I left Bagdad, and came hither. I had ground to +hope that I should not meet this pernicious barber in a country +so far from my own, and yet I find him amongst you. Be not +surprised then at my haste to be gone: you may easily judge how +unpleasant to me is the sight of a man who was the occasion of my +lameness, and of my being reduced to the melancholy necessity of +living so far from my kindred, friends, and country. + +When he had spoken these words, the lame young man rose up and +went out; the master of the house conducted him to the gate, and +told him, he was sorry that he had given him, though innocently, +so great a subject of mortification. + + +When the young man was gone, continued the tailor, we were all +astonished at the story, and turning to the barber, told him he +was very much to-blame, if what we had just heard was true. +"Gentlemen," answered he, raising up his head, which till then he +had held down, "my silence during the young man's discourse is +sufficient to testify that he advanced nothing that was not true: +but for all that he has said to you, I maintain that I ought to +have done what I did; I leave you to be judges. Did not he throw +himself into danger, and could he have come off so well without +my assistance? He may think himself happy to have escaped with +the lame leg Did not I expose myself to greater danger to get him +out of a house where I thought he was ill-treated? Has he any +reason to complain of and abuse me? This is what one gets by +serving unthankful people. He accuses me of being a prattling +fellow, which is a mere slander: of seven brothers, I speak +least, and have most wit to my share; and to convince you of +this, gentlemen, I need only relate my own story and theirs. +Honour me, I beseech you, with your attention." + + + + +The Story of the Barber. + + + +In the reign of the caliph Mustunsir Billah, that is, seeking +victory of God, a prince so famous for his liberality towards the +poor, ten highwaymen infested the roads about Bagdad, and for a +long time committed unheard-of robberies and cruelties. The +caliph, having notice of this, sent for the judge of the police, +some days before the feast of Bairam, and ordered him, on pain of +death, to bring all the ten to him. + + +The judge of the police used so much diligence, and sent so many +people in pursuit of the ten robbers, that they were taken on the +very day of Bairam. I was walking at the time on the banks of the +Tigris, and saw ten men richly appareled go into a boat. Had I +but observed the guards who had them in custody, I might have +concluded they were robbers; but my attention was fixed on the +men themselves, and thinking they were people who designed to +spend the festival in jollity, I entered the boat with them, +hoping they would not object to my making one of the company. We +descended the Tigris, and landed before the caliph's palace: I +had by this time had leisure to reflect, and to discover my +mistake. When we quitted the boat, we were surrounded by a new +troop of the judge of the police's guard, who bound us all, and +carried us before the caliph. I suffered myself to be bound as +well as the rest, without speaking one word: for what would it +have availed to have spoken, or made any resistance? That had +been the way to have got myself ill-treated by the guards, who +would not have listened to me, for they are brutish fellows, who +will hear no reason: I was with the robbers, and that was enough +to make them believe me to be one of their number. + +When we had been brought before the caliph, he ordered the ten +highwaymen's heads to be cut off immediately. The executioner +drew us up in a file within reach of his arm, and by good fortune +I was placed last. He cut off the heads of the ten highwaymen, +beginning at the first; and when he came to me, he stopped. The +caliph perceiving that he did not strike me, grew angry: "Did not +I command thee," said he, "to cut off the heads of ten +highwaymen, and why hast thou cut off but nine?" "Commander of +the faithful," he replied, "Heaven preserve me from disobeying +your majesty's orders: here are ten bodies upon the ground, and +as many heads which I have cut off; your majesty may count them." +When the caliph saw that what the executioner said was true, he +looked at me with amazement, and perceiving that I had not the +face of a highwayman, said to me, "Good old man, how came you to +be among those wretches, who have deserved a thousand deaths?" I +answered, "Commander of the faithful, I will make a true +confession. This morning I saw those ten persons, whose +punishment is a proof of your majesty's justice, take boat: I +embarked with them, thinking they were men going to celebrate +this day, which is the most distinguished in our religion." The +caliph could not forbear laughing at my adventure; and instead of +treating me as a prattling fellow, as this lame young man did, he +admired my discretion and taciturnity. "Commander of the +faithful," I resumed, "your majesty need not wonder at my silence +on such an occasion, as would have made another apt to speak. I +make a particular profession of holding my peace, and on that +account have acquired the glorious title of Silent; by which I am +distinguished from my six brothers. This is the effect of my +philosophy; and, in a word, in this virtue consists my glory and +happiness." "I am glad," said the caliph, smiling, "that they +gave you a title which you know so well how to use. But tell me +what sort of men were your brothers, were they like you?" "By no +means," I replied; "they were all of them loquacious, prating +fellows. And as to their persons, there was still a greater +difference betwixt them and me. The first was hump-backed; the +second had rotten teeth; the third had but one eye; the fourth +was blind; the fifth had his ears cut off; and the sixth had +hare-lips. They had met with such adventures as would enable you +to judge of their characters, had I the honour of relating them +to your majesty:" and the caliph seemed desirous to hear their +several stories, I went on without waiting his commands. + + + +The Story of the Barber's Eldest Brother. + + + +My eldest brother, whose name was Bacbouc the hump-back, was a +tailor: when he came out of his apprenticeship, he hired a shop +opposite a mill, and having but very little business, could +scarcely maintain himself. The miller, on the contrary, was very +wealthy, and had a handsome wife. One day as my brother was at +work in his shop, he saw the miller's wife looking out of the +window, and was charmed with her beauty. The woman took no notice +of him, but shut her window, and made her appearance no more that +day The poor tailor did nothing all day long but lift up his eyes +towards the mill. He pricked his finger oftener than once, and +his work was not very regular. At night, when he was to shut his +shop, he could scarcely tell how to do it, because he still hoped +the miller's wife would once more come to the window; but at last +he was forced to shut up, and go home, where he passed but a very +uncomfortable night. He arose betimes in the morning, and ran to +his shop, in hopes to see his mistress; but he was no happier +than the day before, for the miller's wife did not appear at the +window above a minute in the course of the day, but that minute +made the tailor the most amorous man that ever lived. The third +day he had more ground of satisfaction, for the miller's wife +cast her eyes upon him by chance, and surprised him as he was +gazing at her, which convinced her of what passed in his mind. + +No sooner did the miller's wife perceive my brother's +inclination, than, instead of allowing it to excite her +resentment, she resolved to divert herself with it. She looked at +him with a smiling countenance, and my brother returned her +smile, but in so ludicrous a way, that the miller's wife hastily +shut her window, lest her loud laughter should make him sensible +that she only ridiculed him. Poor Bacbouc interpreted her +carriage to his own advantage, and flattered himself that she +looked upon him with pleasure. + +The miller's wife resolved to have sport with my brother: she had +a piece of very fine stuff, with which she had a long time +designed to make a vest; she wrapped it up in a fine embroidered +silk handkerchief, and sent it to him by a young slave whom she +kept; who being taught her lesson, went to the tailor's shop, and +told him, "My mistress gives you her service, and prays you to +make her a vest of this stuff according to this pattern; she +changes her dress often, so that her custom will be profitable to +you." My brother doubted not but the miller's wife loved him, and +thought she had sent him work so soon after what had passed +betwixt them, only to signify that she knew his mind, and +convince him that he had obtained her favour. He charged the +slave to tell her mistress, that he would lay aside all work for +hers and that the vest should be ready next morning. He worked at +it with so much diligence, that he finished it in the course of +the same day. Next morning the young slave came to see if the +vest was ready. Bacbouc delivered it to her neatly folded up, +telling her, "I am too much concerned to please your mistress to +neglect her work; I would engage her by my diligence to employ no +other than myself for the time to come." The young slave went +some steps as if she had intended to go away, and then coming +back, whispered to my brother, "I had forgotten part of my +commission; my mistress charged me to make her compliments to +you, and to ask how you passed the night; as for her, poor woman, +she loves you to that degree that she could not sleep." "Tell +her," answered my silly brother, "I have so strong a passion for +her, that for these four nights I have not slept one wink." After +such a compliment from the miller's wife, my brother thought she +would not let him languish long in expectation of her favours. + +About a quarter of an hour after, the slave returned to my +brother with a piece of satin: "My mistress," said she, "is very +well pleased with her vest, nothing in the world can fit her +better, and as it is very handsome, she will not wear it without +a new pair of drawers; she prays you to make her one, as soon as +you can, of this piece of satin." "Enough," said Bacbouc, "I will +do it before I leave my shop: you shall have it in the evening." +The miller's wife shewed herself often at her window, and was +very prodigal of her charms, to encourage my brother. You would +have laughed to see him work. The pair of drawers was soon made, +and the slave came for it, but brought the tailor no money, +neither for the trimming he had bought for the vest, nor for the +making. In the mean time, this unfortunate lover, whom they only +amused, though he could not see it, had eaten nothing all that +day, and was forced to borrow money at night to buy his supper. +Next morning, as soon as he arrived at his shop, the young slave +came to tell him that the miller wanted to speak to him. "My +mistress," said she, "spoke to him so much in your praise, when +she shewed him your work, that he has a mind you should work for +him also; she does this on purpose, that the connection she +wishes to form betwixt you and him may crown your mutual wishes +with success." My brother was easily persuaded, and went to the +mill with the slave. The miller received him very kindly, and +shewed him a piece of cloth, and told him he wanted shirts, bade +him make it into twenty, and return him again what was left. + +My brother had work enough for five or six days to make twenty +shirts for the miller, who afterwards gave him another piece of +cloth to make him as many pair of drawers. When they were +finished, Bacbouc carried them to the miller, who asked him what +he must have for his pains. My brother answered, he would be +content with twenty dirhems of silver. The miller immediately +called the young slave, and bade her bring him his weights to see +if his money was right. The slave, who had her lesson, looked at +my brother with an angry countenance, to signify to him, that he +would spoil all if he took money. He knew her meaning, and +refused to take any, though he wanted it so much that he was +forced to borrow some to buy the thread to sew the shirts and +drawers. When he left the miller, he came to me to borrow money +to purchase provisions, and told me they did not pay him. I gave +him some copper money I had in my purse, and upon that he +subsisted for some days. It is true, indeed, he lived upon +nothing but broth, nor had he his fill of that. + +One day he went to the miller, who was busy at his work, and +thinking my brother came for money, offered him some; but the +young slave being present, made him another sign not to take it, +which he complied with, and told the miller he did not come for +his money, but only to know how he did. The miller thanked him, +and gave him an upper garment to make. Bacbouc carried it to him +the next day. When the miller drew out his purse, the young slave +gave my brother the usual sign, on which he said to the miller, +"Neighbour, there is no haste, we will reckon another time;" so +that the poor ninny went to his shop again, with three terrible +distempers, love, hunger, and an empty purse. The miller's wife +was not only avaricious, but ill-natured; for, not content with +cheating my brother of his due, she provoked her husband to +revenge himself upon him for making love to her, which they +accomplished thus. The miller invited Bacbouc one night to +supper, and after giving him a very sorry treat, said to him, +"Brother, it is too late for you to return home, you had better +stay here all night," and then took him to a place in the mill, +where there was a bed; there he left him, and went to bed with +his wife. About the middle of the night, the miller came to my +brother, and said, "Neighbour, are you asleep? My mule is ill, +and I have a quantity of corn to grind; you will do me a great +kindness if you will turn the mill in her stead." Bacbouc, to +shew his good nature, told him, he was ready to do him that +service, if he would shew him how. The miller tied him by the +middle in the mule's place, and whipping him soundly over the +back, said to him, "Go on, neighbour." "Ho!" exclaimed my +brother, "why do you beat me?" "It is to make you brisk," replied +the miller, "for without a whip my mule will not go." Bacbouc was +amazed at this treatment, but durst not complain. When he had +gone five or six rounds, he would fain have rested; but the +miller gave him a dozen sound lashes, saying, "Courage, +neighbour! do not stop, pray; you must go on without taking +breath, otherwise you will spoil my meal." + +The miller obliged my brother to turn the mill thus all night. +About break of day he left him without untying him, and went to +his wife's chamber. Bacbouc continued there for some time, and at +last the young slave came and untied him. "Ah!" said the +treacherous wretch, "how my mistress and I pitied you! We had no +hand in this wicked trick which her husband has played you." The +wretched Bacbouc answered not a word, he was so much fatigued +with work and blows; but crept home to his house, resolving never +to think more of the miller's wife. + +The telling of this story, continued the barber, made the caliph +laugh. "Go home," said he to me, "I have ordered something to be +given you to make up for the loss of the good dinner you +expected." "Commander of the faithful," I replied, "I pray your +majesty to let me stay till I have told the story of my other +brothers." The caliph having signified by his silence that he was +willing to hear me, I went on thus. + + + + +The Story of the Barber's Second Brother. + + + +My second brother, who was called Backbarah the Toothless, going +one day through the city, met in a distant street an old woman, +who came up to him, and said, "I want one word with you, pray +stop a moment." He did so, and asked what she would have. "If you +have time to come with me," said she, "I will bring you into a +stately palace, where you shall see a lady as fair as the day. +She will receive you with much pleasure, and treat you with +excellent wine. I need say no more." "But is what you say true?" +demanded my brother. "I am no lying hussy," replied the old +woman. "I say nothing to you but what is true. But hark, I have +something to ask of you. You must be prudent, say but little, and +be extremely polite." Backbarah agreed to all this. The old woman +went on, and he followed her. They came to the gate of a great +palace, where there was a number of officers and domestics. Some +of them would have stopped my brother, but no sooner did the old +woman speak to them than they let him pass. Then turning to my +brother, she said to him, "You must remember that the young lady +I bring you to loves good-nature and modesty, and cannot endure +to be contradicted; if you please her in these respects, you may +be sure to obtain of her what you please." Backbarah thanked her +for this advice, and promised to follow it. + +She brought him into a superb court, answerable to the +magnificence of the palace. There was a gallery round it, and a +garden in the middle. The old woman made him sit down on a +handsome sofa, and bade him stay a moment, till she went to +acquaint the young lady with his arrival. + +My brother, who had never been in such a stately palace before, +gazed on the fine things that he saw; and judging of his good +fortune by the magnificence of the palace, he was scarcely able +to contain himself for joy. In a short time he heard a great +noise, occasioned by a troop of merry slaves, who came towards +him with loud fits of laughter; and in the middle of them he +perceived a young lady of extraordinary beauty, who was easily +known to be their mistress by the respect they paid her. +Backbarah, who expected private conversation with the lady, was +extremely surprised when he saw so much company with her. In the +mean time, the slaves, as they drew near, put on a grave +countenance; and when the young lady came up to the sofa, my +brother rose and made her a low obeisance. She took the upper +seat, prayed him to sit down, and said to him with a smiling +countenance, "I am much pleased to see you, and wish you all the +happiness you can desire." "Madam," replied Backbarah, "I cannot +desire a greater happiness than to be in your company." "You seem +to be of a pleasant humour," said she, "and to be disposed to +pass the time agreeably." + +She commanded a collation to be brought; and immediately a table +was covered with several baskets of fruit and sweetmeats. The +lady sat down at the table with the slaves and my brother; and he +being placed just opposite to her, when he opened his mouth to +eat, she perceived he had no teeth; and taking notice of this to +her slaves, she and they laughed heartily. Backbarah, from time +to time, lifted up his head to look at her, and perceiving her +laugh, concluded it was from the pleasure she derived from his +company, and flattered himself that she would speedily send away +her slaves, and remain with him alone. She guessed his thoughts, +and amusing herself to flatter him in this mistake, addressed him +in the most pleasant language, and presented him the best of +every thing with her own hand. The entertainment being finished, +they rose from the table; ten slaves took musical instruments, +and began to play and sing, and others to dance. My brother, to +please them, danced likewise, and the lady danced with them. +After they had danced some time, they sat down to take breath, +and the young lady calling for a glass of wine, looked upon my +brother with a smiling countenance, to signify that she was going +to drink his health. He rose and stood while she drank. When she +had done instead of giving back the glass, she ordered it to be +filled, and presented it to my brother, that he might pledge her. + +My brother took the glass from the young lady's hand, which he +kissed at the same time and stood and drank to her, in return for +the favour she had done him. The lady then made him sit down by +her, and began to caress him. She put her hand behind his head, +and gave him some tips from time to time with her fingers: +ravished with these favours, he thought himself the happiest man +in the world, and felt disposed to kiss the charming lady, but +durst not take that liberty before so many slaves, who had their +eyes upon him, and laughed at their lady's wanton tricks. The +young lady continued to tip him with her fingers, but at last +gave him such a sound box on the ear, that he grew angry; the +colour came into his face, and he rose up to remove to a greater +distance from such a rude playfellow. Then the old woman, who +brought him thither, gave him a look, to let him know that he was +in the wrong, and that he had forgotten her advice, to be very +complaisant. He owned his fault, and to make amends, went near +the young lady again, pretending that he did not remove out of +any ill-humour. She drew him by the arm, made him sit down by +her, and gave him a thousand malicious squeezes. Her slaves took +their part in the diversion; one gave poor Backbarah several +fillips on the nose with all her might; another pulled him by the +ears, as if she would have pulled them off; and others boxed him +in a manner that might have made it appear they were not in jest. +My brother bore all this with admirable patience, affecting a gay +air, and looking at the old woman, said to her with a forced +smile, "You told me, indeed, that I should find the lady +perfectly kind, pleasant, and charming; I am mightily obliged to +you!" "All this is nothing," replied the old woman; "let her go +on, you will see other things by and by." Then the young lady +said to him, "Brother, you are a brave man; I am glad to find you +are so good-humoured and complaisant to bear with my little +caprices, and that your humour is so conformable to mine." +"Madam," replied Backbarah, who was charmed with this address, "l +am no more at my own disposal, I am wholly yours, you may do with +me as you please." "How you oblige me," returned the lady, "by +such submission! I am well pleased with you, and would have you +be so with me: bring him perfume, and rose-water." Upon this, two +slaves went out and returned speedily, one with a silver casket, +filled with the best of aloes wood, with which she perfumed him; +and the other with rose-water, which she sprinkled on his face +and hands. My brother was quite enraptured with this handsome +treatment. After this ceremony, the young lady commanded the +slaves, who had already played on their instruments and sung, to +renew their concerts. They obeyed, and while they were thus +employed, the lady called another slave, and ordered her to take +my brother with her, and do what she knew, and bring him back to +her again. Backbarah, who heard this order, got up quickly, and +going to the old woman, who also rose to accompany him and the +slave, prayed her to inform him what they were to do with him. +"My mistress is only curious," replied the old woman softly; "she +has a mind to see how you look in a woman's dress, and this +slave, who is desired to take you with her, has orders to paint +your eyebrows, to cut off your whiskers, and to dress you like a +woman." "You may paint my eyebrows as much as you please," said +my brother, "I consent to that, because I can wash it off again; +but to shave me, you know I must not permit. How can I appear +abroad again without moustaches?" "Beware of refusing what is +asked of you," returned the old woman, you will spoil your +fortune, which is now in as favourable a train as heart can wish. +The lady loves you, and has a mind to make you happy; and will +you, for a nasty whisker, renounce the most delicious favours +that man can obtain?" Backbarah listened to the old woman, and +without saying a word went to a chamber with the slave, where +they painted his eyebrows with red, cut off his whiskers, and +were going to do the like with his beard.. My brother's patience +then began to fail: "Oh!" said he, "I will never part with my +beard." The slave told him, that it was to no purpose to have +parted with his whiskers, if he would not also part with his +beard, which could never comport with "woman's dress; and she +wondered that a man, who was upon the point of being loved by the +finest lady in Bagdad, should be concerned about his beard. The +old woman threatened him with the loss of the young lady's +favour; so that at last he allowed them to do what they would. +When he was dressed in female attire, they brought him before the +young lady, who laughed so heartily when she saw him, that she +fell backward on the sofa. The slaves laughed and clapped their +hands, so that my brother was quite out of countenance. The young +lady got up, and still laughing, said to him, "After so much +complaisance, I should be very much to blame not to love you with +all my heart: but there is one thing more you must do for me, and +that is, to dance as we do." He obeyed, and the young lady and +her slaves danced with him, laughing as if they had been mad. +After they had danced some time, they all fell upon the poor +wretch, and did so box and kick him, that he fell down like one +out of his senses. The old woman helped him up again: and that he +might not have time to think of his ill-treatment, bade him take +courage, and whispered in his ear, that all his sufferings were +at an end, and that he was just about to receive his reward. + +The old woman continued her discourse to Backbarah thus: "You +have only one thing more to do, and that is but a small one. You +must know that my mistress has a custom, when she has drunk a +little, as you see she has done to-day, to let no one that she +loves come near her, except they be stripped to their shirt; and +when they have done so, she takes a little advantage of them and +begins running before them through the gallery, and from chamber +to chamber, till they catch her. This is one more of her humours: +what advantage soever she takes of you, considering your +nimbleness, you will soon overtake her; strip yourself then to +your shirt, undress yourself without ceremony." + +My silly brother had done too much to hesitate at anything now. +He undressed himself; and in the mean time the young lady was +stripped to her shift and drawers, that she might run the more +nimbly. When they were ready, the young lady took the advantage +of twenty paces, and then began to run with surprising swiftness: +my brother followed as fast as he could, the slaves in the mean +time laughing heartily and clapping their hands. The young lady, +instead of losing ground, gained upon my brother: she made him +run two or three times round the gallery, and then entering a +long dark passage, made her escape. Backbarah, who still +followed, having lost sight of her in the passage, was obliged to +slacken his pace, because of the darkness of the place: at last +perceiving a light, he ran towards it, and went out at a door, +which was immediately shut after him. You may imagine how he was +surprised to find himself in a street inhabited by curriers, and +they were no less surprised to see him in his shirt, his eyes +painted red, and without beard or moustaches: they began to clap +their hands and shout at him, and some of them ran after him and +lashed his back with leather straps. They then took him and set +him upon an ass which they met by chance, and carried him through +the town exposed to the laughter of the people. + +To complete his misfortune, as he went by the judge's house, he +would needs know the cause of the tumult. The curriers told him, +that they saw him come in that condition from the gate of the +apartments of the grand vizier's women, which opened into their +street; upon which the judge ordered unfortunate Backbarah to +have a hundred blows with a cane on the soles of his feet, and +sent him out of the town with orders never to return. + +"Thus, commander of the faithful," said I to the caliph, "I have +given an account of the adventure of my second brother, who did +not know that our greatest ladies divert themselves sometimes by +putting such tricks upon young people, who are so foolish as to +be caught in the snare." + +The barber, without breaking off, told the story of his third +brother in the following manner. + + + + +The Story of the Barber's Third Brother. + + + +Commander of the faithful, my third brother, whose name was +Backbac, was blind, and his evil destiny reduced him to beg from +door to door. He had been so long accustomed to walk through the +streets alone, that he wanted none to lead him: he had a custom +to knock at people's doors, and not to answer till they opened to +him. One day he knocked thus, and the master of the house, who +was alone, cried, "Who is there?" My brother made no answer, and +knocked a second time: the master of the house asked again and +again, "Who is there?" but to no purpose, no one answered; upon +which he came down, opened the door, and asked my brother what he +wanted? "Give me something for Heaven's sake," said Backbac. "You +seem to be blind," replied the master of the house. "Yes, to my +sorrow," answered my brother. "Give me your hand," resumed the +master of the house. My brother did so, thinking he was going to +give him alms; but he only took him by the hand to lead him up to +his chamber. Backbac thought he had been carrying him to dine +with him, as many other people had done. When they reached the +chamber, the man let go his hand, and sitting down, asked him +again what he wanted? "I have already told you," said Backbac, +"that I want something for God's sake." "Good blind man," replied +the master of the house, "all that I can do for you is to wish +that God may restore you your sight." "You might have told me +that at the door," replied my brother, "and not have given me the +trouble to come up stairs." "And why, fool," said the man of the +house, "do not you answer at first, when people ask you who is +there? Why do you give any body the trouble to come and open the +door when they speak to you?" "What will you do with me then?" +asked my brother. "I tell you again," said the man of the house, +"I have nothing to give you." "Help me down the stairs then, as +you brought me up." "The stairs are before you," said the man of +the house, "and you may go down by yourself if you will." My +brother attempted to descend, but missing a step about the middle +of the stairs, fell to the bottom and hurt his head and his back: +he got up again with much difficulty, and went out cursing the +master of the house. who laughed at his fall. + +As my brother went out of the house, two blind men, his +companions, were going by, knew him by his voice, and asked him +what was the matter? He told them what had happened; and +afterwards said, "I have eaten nothing to-day; I conjure you to +go along with me to my house, that I may take some of the money +that we three have in common to buy me something for supper." The +two blind men agreed, and they went home with him. + +You must know that the master of the house where my brother was +so ill used was a robber, and of a cunning and malicious +disposition. He overheard from his window what Backbac had said +to his companions, and came down and followed them to my +brother's house. The blind men being seated, Backbac said to +them, "Brothers, we must shut the door, and take care there be no +stranger with us." At this the robber was much perplexed, but +perceiving a rope hanging down from a beam, he caught hold of it, +and hung by it, while the blind men shut the door, and felt about +the room with their sticks. When they had done, and had sat down +again in their places, the robber left his rope, and seated +himself softly by my brother, who thinking himself alone with his +blind comrades, said to them, "Brothers, since you have trusted +me with the money, which we have been a long time gathering, I +will show you that I am not unworthy of the confidence you repose +in me. The last time we reckoned, you know we had ten thousand +dirhems, and that we put them into ten bags; I will shew you that +I have not touched one of them:" having so said, he put his hand +among some old clothes, and taking out the bags one after +another, gave them to his comrades, saying, "There they are; you +may judge by their weight that they are whole, or you may tell +them if you please." His comrades answered there was no need, +they did not mistrust him; so he opened one of the bags, and took +out ten dirhems, and each of the other blind men did the like. + +My brother put the bags into their place again: after which, one +of the blind men said to him, "There is no need to lay out +anything for supper, for I have collected as much victuals from +good people as will serve us all." At the same time he took out +of his bag bread and cheese, and some fruit, and putting all upon +the table, they began to eat, The robber, who sat at my brother's +right hand, picked out the best, and eat with them; but whatever +care he took to make no noise, Backbac heard his chaps going, and +cried out immediately, "We are undone, there is a stranger among +us:" having so said, he stretched out his hand, and caught hold +of the robber by the arm, cried out "Thieves!" fell upon him, and +struck him. The other blind men fell upon him in like manner; the +robber defended himself as well as he could, and being young and +vigorous, besides having the advantage of his eyes, gave furious +blows, sometimes to one, sometimes to another, and cried out +"Thieves!" louder than they did. The neighbours came running at +the noise, broke open the door, and had much ado to separate the +combatants; but having at last succeeded, they asked the cause of +their quarrel. My brother, who still had hold of the robber, +cried out, "Gentlemen, this man I have hold of is a thief, and +stole in with us on purpose to rob us of the little money we +have." The thief, who shut his eyes as soon as the neighbours +came, feigned himself blind, and exclaimed, "Gentlemen, he is a +liar. I swear to you by heaven, and by the life of the caliph, +that I am their companion, and they refuse to give me my just +share. They have all three fallen upon me, and I demand justice." +The neighbours would not interfere in their quarrel, but carried +them all before the judge. + +When they came before the magistrate, the robber, without staying +to be examined, cried out, still feigning himself blind, "Sir, +since you are deputed to administer justice by the caliph, whom +God prosper, I declare to you that we are equally criminal, my +three comrades and I; but we have all engaged, upon oath, to +confess nothing except we be bastinadoed; so that if you would +know our crime, you need only order us to be bastinadoed, and +begin with me." My brother would have spoken, but was not allowed +to do so: and the robber was put under the bastinado. + +The robber being under the bastinado, had the courage to bear +twenty or thirty blows; when, pretended to be overcome with pain, +he first opened one eve, and then the other, and crying out for +mercy, begged the judge would put a stop to the blows. The judge +perceiving that he looked upon him with his eyes open, was much +surprised, and said to him, "Rogue, what is the meaning of this +miracle?" "Sir," replied the robber, "I will discover to you an +important secret, if you will pardon me, and give me, as a pledge +that you will keep your word, the seal-ring which you have on +your finger." The judge consented, gave him his ring, and +promised him pardon. "Under this promise," continued the robber, +"I must confess to you sir, that I and my three comrades do all +of us see very well. We feigned ourselves to be blind, that we +might freely enter people's houses, and women's apartments, where +we abuse their weakness. I must farther confess to you, that by +this trick we have gained together ten thousand dirhems. This day +I demanded of my partners two thousand five hundred that belonged +to my share, but they refused because I told them I would leave +them; and they were afraid I should accuse them. Upon my pressing +still to have my share, they fell upon me; for which I appeal to +those people who brought us before you. I expect from your +justice, sir, that you will make them deliver me the two thousand +five hundred dirhems which is my due; and if you have a mind that +my comrades should confess the truth, you must order them three +times as many blows as I have had, and you will find they will +open their eyes as well as I have done." + +My brother and the other two blind men would have cleared +themselves of this horrid charge, but the judge would not hear +them: "Villains," said he, "do you feign yourselves blind then, +and, under that pretext of moving their compassion, cheat people, +and commit such crimes?" "He is an impostor," cried my brother, +"and we take God to witness that none of us can see." + +All that my brother could say was in vain, his comrades and he +received each of them two hundred blows. The judge expected them +to open their eyes, and ascribed to their obstinacy what really +they could not do. All the while the robber said to the blind +men, "Poor fools that you are, open your eyes, and do not suffer +yourselves to be beaten to death." Then addressing himself to the +judge, said, "I perceive, sir, that they will be maliciously +obstinate to the last, and will never open their eyes. They wish +certainly to avoid the shame of reading their own condemnation in +the face of every one that looks upon them; it were better, if +you think fit, to pardon them, and to send some person along with +me for the ten thousand dirhems they have hidden." + +The judge consented to give the robber two thousand five hundred +dirhems, and kept the rest himself; and as for my brother and his +two companions, he thought he shewed them pity by sentencing them +only to be banished. As soon as I heard what had befallen my +brother, I went to him; he told me his misfortune, and I brought +him back secretly to the town. I could easily have justified him +to the judge, and have had the robber punished as he deserved, +but durst not make the attempt, for fear of bringing myself into +danger of assassination. Thus I finished the sad adventure of my +honest blind brother. The caliph laughed at it, as much as at +those he had heard before, and ordered again that something +should be given me; but without staying for it, I began the story +of my fourth brother. + + + + +The Story of the Barber's Fourth Brother. + + + +Alcouz was the name of the fourth brother who lost one of his +eyes, upon an occasion that I shall have the honour to relate to +your majesty. He was a butcher by profession, and had a +particular way of teaching rams to fight, by which he gained the +acquaintance and friendship of the chief lords of the country, +who loved that sport, and for that end kept rams at their houses. +He had besides a very good trade, and had his shop always full of +the best meat, because he spared no cost for the prime of every +sort. One day when he was in his shop, an old man with a long +white beard came and bought six pounds of meat of him, gave him +money for it, and went his way. My brother thought the money so +pure and well coined, that he put it apart by itself: the same +old man came every day for five months together, bought a like +quantity of meat, and paid for it in the same kind of money, +which my brother continued to lay apart. + +At the end of five months, Alcouz having a mind to buy a lot of +sheep, and to pay for them in this money, opened his chest; but +instead of finding his money, was extremely surprised to see +nothing in the place where he had laid it, but a parcel of leaves +clipped round. He beat his head, and cried out aloud, which +presently brought the neighbours about him, who were as much +surprised as he, when he told them the story. "O!" cried my +brother, weeping, "that this treacherous old fellow would come +now with his hypocritical looks!" He had scarcely spoken, when he +saw him at a distance; he ran to him, and laid hands on him; +"Moosulmauns," cried he, as loud as he could, "help! hear what a +cheat this wicked fellow has put upon me," and at the same time +told a great crowd of people, who came about him, what he had +formerly told his neighbours. When he had done, the old man said +to him very gravely and calmly, "You had better let me go, and by +that means make amends for the affront you have put upon me +before so many people, for fear I should put a greater affront +upon you, which I should be sorry to do." "How," said my brother, +"what have you to say against me? I am an honest man in my +business, and fear not you, nor any body." "You would have me +speak out then," resumed the old man in the same tone; and +turning to the crowd, said to them, "Know, good people, that this +fellow, instead of selling mutton as he ought to do, sells human +flesh." "You are a cheat," said my brother. "No, no," continued +the old man; "good people, this very minute while I am speaking +to him, there is a man with his throat cut hung up in the shop +like a sheep; do any of you go thither, and see if what I say be +not true." + +Just before my brother had opened his chest he had killed a +sheep, dressed it, and exposed it in the shop, according to +custom: he protested that what the old man said was false; but +notwithstanding all his protestations, the credulous mob, +prejudiced against a man accused of such a heinous crime, would +go to see whether the charge were true. They obliged my brother +to quit the old man, laid hold of him, and ran like madmen into +his shop, where they saw, to all appearance, a man hung up with +his throat cut, as the old man had told them; for he was a +magician, and deceived the eyes of all people, as he did my +brother, when he made him take leaves instead of money. At this +sight, one of those who held Alcouz gave him a violent blow with +his fist, and said to him, "Thou wicked villain, dost thou make +us eat man's flesh instead of mutton?" And at the same time the +old man gave him another blow, which beat out one of his eyes. +Every body that could get near him struck him; and not content +with that, they carried him before a judge, with the pretended +carcase of the man, to be evidence against him." "Sir," said the +old magician to the judge, "we have brought you a man, who is so +barbarous as to murder people, and to sell their flesh instead of +mutton. The public expects that you will punish him in an +exemplary manner." The judge heard my brother with patience, but +would believe nothing of the story of the money changed into +leaves, called my brother a cheat, told him he would believe his +own eyes, and ordered him to receive five hundred blows. He +afterwards made him tell him where his money was, took it all +from him, and banished him for ever, after having made him ride +three days through the city upon a camel, exposed to the insults +of the people. + +I was not at Bagdad when this tragical adventure befell my fourth +brother. He retired into a remote place, where he lay concealed +till he was cured of the blows with which his back was terribly +mangled. When he was able to walk, he went by night to a certain +town where nobody knew him; and there he took a lodging, from +whence he seldom moved; but being weary of this confined life, he +went to walk in one of the suburbs, where suddenly he heard a +noise of horsemen coming behind him. He was then by chance near +the gate of a house, and fearing, after what had befallen him, +that these horsemen were pursuing him, he opened the gate in +order to hide himself, and after he had shut it, entered a court, +where immediately two servants came and collared him, saying, +"Heaven be praised, that you have come of your own accord to +surrender yourself; you have alarmed us so much these three last +nights, that we could not sleep; nor would you have spared our +lives, if we had not prevented your design." You may well imagine +my brother was much surprised. "Good people," said he, "I know +not what you mean; you certainly take me for somebody else." "No, +no," replied they, "we know that you and your comrades are +robbers: you were not contented to rob our master of all that he +had, and to reduce him to beggary, but you conspired to take his +life. Let us see if you have not a knife about you, which you had +in your hand when you pursued us last night." Having said thus, +they searched him, and found he had a knife. "Ho! ho!" cried +they, laying hold of him, "and dare you say that you are not a +robber?" "Why," said my brother, "cannot a man carry a knife +about him without being a robber? If you will hearken to my +story, instead of having so bad an opinion of me, you will be +touched with compassion at my misfortunes." But far from +attending to him, they fell upon him, trod upon him, took away +his clothes, and tore his shirt. Then seeing the scars on his +back, "O dog," said they, redoubling their blows, "would you have +us believe you are an honest man, when your back shews us the +contrary?" "Alas!" said my brother, "my crimes must be very +great, since, after having been abused already so unjustly, I am +thus treated a second time without being more culpable!" + +The two servants, no way moved with his complaint, carried him +before the judge, who asked him how he durst presume to go into +their house, and pursue them with a drawn knife? "Sir," replied +the unfortunate Alcouz, "I am the most innocent man in the world, +and am undone if you will not be pleased to hear me patiently: no +one deserves more compassion." "Sir," exclaimed one of the +domestics, "will you listen to a robber, who enters people's +houses to plunder and murder them? If you will not believe us, +only look upon his back;" and while he said so he uncovered my +brother's back, and shewed it to the judge, who, without any +other information, commanded his officers immediately to give him +a hundred lashes over the shoulders, and made him afterwards be +carried through the town on a camel, with one crying before him, +"Thus are men punished who enter people's houses by force." After +having treated him thus, they banished him the town, and forbad +him ever to return. Some people, who met him after the second +misfortune, brought me word where he was; I went, brought him to +Bagdad privately, and gave him all the assistance I could. The +caliph did not laugh so much at this story as at the other. He +was pleased to pity the unfortunate Alcouz, and ordered something +to be given me. But without giving his servants time to obey his +orders, I continued my discourse, and said to him: "My sovereign +lord and master, you see that I do not talk much; and since your +majesty has been pleased to do me the favour to listen to me so +far, I beg you would likewise hear the adventures of my two other +brothers; I hope they will be as diverting as those of the +former. You may make a complete history of them, that will not be +unworthy of your library: I shall do myself the honour then to +acquaint you, that the fifth brother was called Alnaschar." + + + + +The Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother. + + + +Alnaschar, as long as our father lived, was very lazy; instead of +working he used to beg in the evening, and live upon what he got. +Our father died at a very old age, and left among us seven +hundred dirhems: we divided equally, so that each of us had a +hundred for his share. Alnaschar, who had never before possessed +so much money, was much perplexed to know what he should do with +it. He consulted a long time with himself, and at last resolved +to lay it out in glass-ware which he bought of a wholesale +dealer. He put all in an open basket, and sat with it before him, +and his back against a wall, in a place where he might sell it. +In this posture, with his eyes fixed on his basket, he began to +meditate; during which he spoke as follows: "This basket cost me +a hundred dirhems, which is all I have in the world. I shall make +two hundred of them by retailing my glass, and of these two +hundred, which I will again lay out in glass-ware, I shall make +four hundred; and going on thus, I shall at last make four +thousand dirhems; of four thousand I shall easily make eight +thousand, and when I come to ten thousand, I will leave off +selling glass and turn jeweller; I will trade in diamonds, +pearls, and all sorts of precious stones: then when I am as rich +as I can wish, I will buy a fine mansion, a great estate, slaves, +eunuchs, and horses. I will keep a good house, and make a great +figure in the world; I will send for all the musicians and +dancers of both sexes in town. Nor will I stop here, for, I will, +by the favour of Heaven, go on till I get one hundred thousand +dirhems, and when I have amassed so much, I will send to demand +the grand vizier's daughter in marriage; and represent to that +minister, that I have heard much of the wonderful beauty, +understanding, wit, and all the other qualities of his daughter; +in a word, that I will give him a thousand pieces of gold the +first night after we are married; and if the vizier be so uncivil +as to refuse his daughter, which cannot be supposed, I will go +and carry her off before his face, and take her to my house +whether he will or no. As soon as I have married the grand +vizier's daughter, I will buy her ten young black eunuchs, the +handsomest that can be had; I will clothe my self like a prince, +and mounted upon a fine horse, with a saddle of fine gold, with +housings of cloth of gold, finely embroidered with diamonds and +pearls, I will ride through the city, attended by slaves before +and behind. I will go to the vizier's palace in view of all the +people great and small, who will show me the most profound +respect. When I alight at the foot of the vizier's staircase, I +will ascend through my own people, ranged in files on the right +and left; and the grand vizier, receiving me as his son-in-law, +shall give me the right hand and set me above him, to do me the +more honour. If this comes to pass, as I hope it will, two of my +people shall each of them have a purse with a thousand pieces of +gold, which they shall carry with them. I will take one, and +presenting it to the grand vizier, tell him, There is the +thousand pieces of gold that I promised the first night of +marriage:' and I will offer him the other and say to him, There +is as much more, to shew you that I am a man of my word, and even +better than my promise.' After such an action as this, all the +world will talk of my generosity. I will return to my own house +in the same pomp. My wife will send some officer to compliment +me, on account of my visit to the vizier, her father: I will +honour the officer with a fine robe, and send him back with a +rich present. If she send me a present, I will not accept it, but +dismiss the bearer. I will not suffer her to go out of her +apartment on any account whatever, without giving me notice: and +when I have a mind to come to her apartment, it shall be in such +a manner as to make her respect me. In short, no house shall be +better ordered than mine. I will be always richly clad. When I +retire with my wife in the evening, I will sit on the upper seat, +I will affect a grave air, without turning my head to one side or +the other. I will speak little; and whilst my wife, beautiful as +the full moon, stands before me in all her charms, I will make as +if I did not see her. Her women about her will say to me, Our +dear lord and master, here is your spouse, your humble servant, +before you, ready to receive your caresses, but much mortified +that you do not vouchsafe to look upon her; she is wearied with +standing so long, bid her, at least, sit down.' I will make no +answer, which will increase their surprise and grief. They will +prostrate themselves at my feet; and after they have for a +considerable time entreated me to relent, I will at last lift up +my head, give her a careless look, and resume my former posture: +they will suppose that my wife is not handsomely enough dressed, +and will carry her to her closet to change her apparel. At the +same time I will get up and put on a more magnificent suit; they +will return and address me as before, but I will not so much as +look upon my wife, till they have prayed and entreated as long as +they did at first. Thus I will begin on the first day of +marriage, to teach her what she is to expect during the rest of +her life. + +"After the ceremonies of the marriage, I will take from one of my +servants, who shall be about me, a purse of five hundred pieces +of gold, which I will give to the tire-women, that they may leave +me alone with my spouse: when they are gone, my wife shall go to +bed first; then I will lie down by her with my back towards her, +and will not say one wore to her all night. The next morning she +will certainly complain of my contempt and of my pride, to her +mother the grand vizier's wife, which will rejoice my heart. Her +mother will come to wait upon me, respectfully kiss my hands, and +say to me, Sir' (for she will not dare to call me son-in-law, +for fear of provoking me by such a familiar style), I entreat +you not to disdain to look on my daughter, and refuse to come +near her. I assure you that her chief delight is to please you, +and that she loves you with all her soul.' But in spite of all my +mother-in-law can say, I will not answer her one word, but keep +an obstinate gravity. Then she will throw herself at my feet, +kiss them repeatedly, and say to me, Sir, is it possible that +you can suspect my daughter's virtue? You are the first man who +ever saw her face: do not mortify her so much; do her the favour +to look upon her, to speak to her, and confirm her in her good +intentions to satisfy you in every thing.' But nothing of this +shall prevail with me. Upon which my mother-in-law will take a +glass of wine, and putting it in the hand of her daughter my +wife, will say, Go, present him this glass of wine yourself; +perhaps he will not be so cruel as to refuse it from so fair a +hand.' My wife will come with the glass and stand trembling +before me; and when she finds that I do not look towards her, but +that I continue to disdain her, she will say to me with tears in +her eyes, My heart, my dear soul, my amiable lord, I conjure +you, by the favours which heaven heaps upon you, to receive this +glass of wine from the hand of your most humble servant:' but I +will not look upon her still, nor answer her. My charming +spouse,' will she say, redoubling her tears, and putting the +glass to my mouth, "I will never cease till I prevail with you to +drink;' then, wearied with her entreaties, I will dart a terrible +look at her, shake my hand in her face, and spurn her from me +with my foot." + +My brother was so full of these chimerical visions, that he acted +with his foot as if she had been really before him, and +unfortunately gave such a push to his basket and glasses, that +they were thrown down, and broken into a thousand pieces, + +On this fatal accident, he came to himself, and perceiving that +he had brought misfortune upon himself by his insupportable +pride, beat his face, tore his clothes, and cried so loud, that +the neighbours came about him; and the people, who were going to +their noon prayers, stopped to know what was the matter. Being on +a Friday, more people went to prayers than usual; some of them +took pity on Alnaschar, and others only laughed at his +extravagance. In the mean time, his vanity being dispersed with +his property, he bitterly bewailed his loss; and a lady of rank +passing by upon a mule richly caparisoned, my brother's situation +moved her compassion. She asked who he was, and what he cried +for? They told her, that he was a poor man, who had laid out the +little money he possessed in the purchase of a basket of +glassware, that the basket had fallen, and all his glasses were +broken. The lady immediately turned to an eunuch who attended +her, and said to him, "Give the poor man what you have about +you." The eunuch obeyed, and put into my brother's hands a purse +with five hundred pieces of gold. Alnaschar was ready to die with +joy when he received it. He gave a thousand blessings to the +lady, and shutting up his shop, where he had no more occasion to +sit, went to his house. + +While he was pondering over his good luck, he heard somebody +knock at his door. Before he opened, he asked who it was, and +knowing by the voice that it was a woman, he let her in. "My +son," said she, "I have a favour to beg of you: the hour of +prayer is come, let me perform my ablutions in your house, that I +may be fit to say my prayers." My brother looking at her, and +seeing that she was well advanced in years, though he knew her +not, granted her request, and sat down again still full of his +new adventure. He put his gold in a long strait purse, proper to +carry at his girdle. The old woman in the mean time said her +prayers, and when she had done, came to my brother and bowed +twice to the ground, so low, that she touched it with her +forehead: then rising up, she wished him all happiness. + +The old woman then bowed again, and thanked him for his civility. +Being meanly clad, and very humble, he thought she asked alms; +upon which he offered her two pieces of gold. The old woman +stepped back in a sort of surprise, as if my brother had +affronted her. "Good God!" said she, "what is the meaning of +this? Is it possible, sir, that you took me for one of those +impudent beggars who push into people's houses to ask alms? Take +back your money: thank heaven, I need it not. I belong to a young +lady of this city, who is a perfect beauty, and very rich; she +lets me want for nothing." + +My brother was not cunning enough to perceive the craft of the +old woman, who only refused the two pieces of gold, that she +might catch more. He asked her, if she could not procure him the +honour of seeing that lady. "With all my heart," she replied; +"she will be very glad to marry you, and to put you in possession +of her fortune, by making you master of her person. Take up your +money, and follow me." My brother, transported with his good luck +in finding so great a sum of money, and almost at the same time a +beautiful and rich wife, shut his eyes to all other +considerations; so that he took his five hundred pieces of gold, +and followed the old woman. She walked on, and he followed at a +distance, to the gate of a great house, where she knocked. He +came up just as a young Greek slave opened the gate. The old +woman made him enter first, crossed a well-paved court, and +introduced him into a hall, the furniture of which confirmed him +in the good opinion he had conceived of the mistress of the +house. While the old woman went to acquaint the lady, he sat +down, and the weather being hot, put off his turban, and laid it +by him. He speedily saw the young lady enter: her beauty and rich +apparel perfectly surprised him; he arose as soon as he saw her. +The lady, with a smiling countenance, prayed him to sit down +again, and placed herself by him. She told him, she was very glad +to see him; and after having spoken some engaging words, said, +"We do not sit here at our ease. Come, give me your hand." At +these words she presented him hers, and conducted him into an +inner chamber, where she conversed with him for some time: she +then left him, saying that she would be with him in a moment. He +waited for her; but instead of the lady came in a great black +slave with a cimeter in his hand, and looking upon my brother +with a terrible aspect, said to him fiercely, "What have you to +do here?" Alnaschar was so frightened, that he had no power to +answer. The black stripped him, carried off his gold, and gave +him several flesh wounds with his cimeter. My unhappy brother +fell to the ground, where he lay without motion, though he had +still the use of his senses. The black thinking him to be dead, +asked for salt: the Greek slave brought him a basin full: they +rubbed my brother's wounds with it, but he had so much command of +himself, notwithstanding the intolerable pain it put him to, that +he lay still without giving any sign of life. The black and the +Greek slave having retired, the old woman, who had enticed my +brother into the snare, came and dragged him by the feet to a +trapdoor, which she opened, and threw him into a place under +ground, among the bodies of several other people who had been +murdered. He perceived this as soon as he came to himself, for +the violence of the fall had taken away his senses. The salt +rubbed into his wounds preserved his life, and he recovered +strength by degrees, so as to be able to walk. After two days he +opened the trap-door in the night, and finding in the court a +place proper to hide himself in, continued there till break of +day, when he saw the cursed old woman open the street gate, and +go out to seek another victim. He stayed in the place some time +after she was gone, that she might not see him, and then came to +me for shelter, when he told me of his adventures. + +In a month's time he was perfectly cured of his wounds by +medicines that I gave him, and resolved to avenge himself of the +old woman, who had put such a barbarous cheat upon him. To this +end he took a bag, large enough to contain five hundred pieces of +gold, and filled it with pieces of glass. + + +My brother fastened the bag of glass about him, disguised himself +like an old woman, and took a cimeter under his gown. One morning +he met the old woman walking through the town to seek her prey; +he went up to her, and counterfeiting a woman's voice, said, +"Cannot you lend me a pair of scales? I am newly come from +Persia, have brought five hundred pieces of gold with me, and +would know if they are weight." "Good woman," answered the old +hag, "you could not have applied to a fitter person: follow me, I +will conduct you to my son, who changes money, and will weigh +them himself to save you the trouble. Let us make haste, for fear +he should go to his shop." My brother followed her to the house +where she carried him at first, and the Greek slave opened the +door. + +The old woman took my brother to the hall where she desired him +to wait till she called her son. The pretended son came, and +proved to be the villainous black slave. "Come, old woman," said +he to my brother, "rise and follow me:" having spoken thus, he +went before to conduct him to the place where he designed to +murder him. Alnaschar got up, followed him, and drawing his +cimeter, gave him such a dexterous blow behind on the neck, that +he cut off his head, which he took in one hand, and dragging the +corpse with the other, threw them both into the place under +ground before-mentioned. The Greek slave, who was accustomed to +the trade, came presently with a basin of salt; but when she saw +Alnaschar with his cimeter in his hand, and without his veil, she +laid down the basin, and fled. But my brother overtaking her, cut +off her head also. The wicked old woman came running at the +noise, and my brother seizing her, said to her, "Treacherous +wretch, do not you know me?" "Alas, Sir!" answered she trembling, +"who are you? I do not remember that I ever saw you." "I am," +replied he, "the person to whose house you came the other day to +wash and say your prayers. Hypocritical hag, do not you +remember?" Then she fell on her knees to beg his pardon, but he +cut her in four pieces. + +There remained only the lady, who knew nothing of what had +passed: he sought her out, and found her in a chamber, where she +was ready to sink when she saw him: she begged her life, which he +generously granted. "Madam," said he, "how could you live with +such wicked people, as I have so justly revenged myself upon?" "I +was," she answered, "wife to an honest merchant; and the old +woman, whose wickedness I did not then know, used sometimes to +come to see me; Madam,' said she to me one day, we have a +wedding at our house, which you will be pleased to see, if you +will give us the honour of your company:' I was persuaded by her, +put on my best apparel, and took with me a hundred pieces of +gold. I followed her; she brought me to this house, where the +black has since kept me by force, and I have been three years +here to my great sorrow." "By the trade which that cursed black +followed," replied my brother, "he must have gathered together a +vast deal of riches." "There is so much," said she "that you will +be made for ever, if you can carry them off: follow me, and you +shall see them." Alnaschar followed her to a chamber, where she +shewed him several coffers full of gold, which he beheld with +admiration. "Go," said she, "and fetch people to carry it all +off." My brother went out, got ten men together, and brought them +with him, but was much surprised to find the gate open, the lady +and the coffers gone, for she being more diligent than he, had +conveyed them all off and disappeared. However, being resolved +not to return empty-handed, he carried off all the furniture of +the house, which was a great deal more than enough to make up the +five hundred pieces of gold he had been robbed of; but when he +went out of the house, he forgot to shut the gate. The +neighbours, who saw my brother and the porters come and go, went +and acquainted the magistrate, for they looked upon my brother's +conduct as suspicious. Alnaschar slept well enough all night, but +the next morning, when he came out of his house, twenty of the +magistrate's men seized him. "Come along with us," said they, +"our master would speak with you." My brother prayed them to have +patience for a moment, and offered them a sum of money to let him +escape; but instead of listening to him, they bound him, and +forced him to go with them. They met in the street an old +acquaintance of my brother's, who stopped them awhile, asked them +why they had seized my brother, offered them a considerable sum +to let him escape, and tell the magistrate they could not find +him, but in vain. + +When the officers brought him before the magistrate, he asked him +where he had the goods which he had carried home the preceding +evening? "Sir," replied Alnaschar, "I am ready to tell you all +the truth; but allow me first to have recourse to your clemency, +and to beg your promise, that I shall not be punished." "I give +it you," said the magistrate. My brother then told him the whole +story without disguise, from the period the old woman came into +his house to say her prayers, to the time the lady made her +escape, after he had killed the black, the Greek slave, and the +old woman: and as for what he had carried to his house, he prayed +the judge to leave him part of it, for the five hundred pieces of +gold of which he had been robbed. + +The judge, without promising any thing, sent his officers to +bring off the whole, and having put the goods into his own +warehouse, commanded my brother to quit the town immediately, and +never to return, for he was afraid, if he had stayed in the city, +he would have found some way to represent this injustice to the +caliph. In the mean time, Alnaschar obeyed without murmuring, and +left that town to go to another. By the way, he met with +highwaymen, who stripped him naked; and when the ill news was +brought to me, I carried him a suit, and brought him secretly +into the town, where I took the like care of him as I did of his +other brothers. + + + + +The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother. + + + +I have now only to relate the story of my sixth brother, called +Schacabac, with the hare lips. At first he was industrious enough +to improve the hundred dirhems of silver which fell to his share, +and went on very well; but a reverse of fortune brought him to +beg his bread, which he did with a great deal of dexterity. He +studied chiefly to get into great men's houses by means of their +servants and officers, that he might have access to their +masters, and obtain their charity. One day as he passed by a +magnificent house, whose high gate shewed a very spacious court, +where there was a multitude of servants, he went to one of them, +and asked him to whom that house belonged? "Good man," replied +the servant, "whence do you come that you ask me such a question? +Does not all that you behold point out to you that it is the +palace of a Barmecide?" "My brother, who very well knew the +liberality and generosity of the Barmecides, addressed himself to +one of his porters (for he had more than one), and prayed him to +give him alms. "Go in," said he, "nobody hinders you, and address +yourself to the master of the house; he will send you back +satisfied." + +My brother, who expected no such civility, thanked the porters, +and with their permission entered the palace, which was so large, +that it took him a considerable time to reach the Barmecide's. +apartment; at last he came to an arcade square building of an +excellent architecture, and entered by parterres of flowers +intersected by walks of several colours, extremely pleasant to +the eye: the lower apartments round this square were most of them +open, and were shut only with great curtains to keep out the sun, +which were opened again when the heat was over to let in the +fresh air. + +Such an agreeable place would have struck my brother with +admiration, even if his mind had been more at ease than it was. +He went on till he came into a hall richly furnished and adorned +with painting of gold and azure foliage, where he saw a venerable +man with a long white beard, sitting at the upper end on a sofa, +whence he concluded him to be the master of the house; and in +fact it was the Barmecide himself, who said to my brother in a +very civil manner, that he was welcome; and asked him what he +wanted? "My lord," answered my brother, in a begging tone, "I am +a poor man who stands in need of the help of such rich and +generous persons as yourself." He could not have addressed +himself to a fitter person than this lord, who had a thousand +good qualities. + +The Barmecide seemed to be astonished at my brother's answer, and +putting both his hands to his stomach, as if he would rend his +clothes for grief, "Is it possible," cried he, "that I am at +Bagdad, and that such a man as you is so poor as you say? this is +what must never be." My brother, fancying that he was going to +give him some singular mark of his bounty, blessed him a thousand +times, and wished him all happiness. "It shall not be said," +replied the Barmecide, "that I will abandon you, nor will I have +you leave me." "Sir," replied my brother, "I swear to you I have +not eaten one bit to-day." "Is it true," demanded the Barmecide, +"that you are fasting till now? Alas, poor man! he is ready to +die for hunger. Ho, boy," cried he, with a loud voice, "bring a +basin and water presently, that we may wash our hands." Though no +boy appeared, and my brother saw neither water nor basin, the +Barmecide fell to rubbing his hands as if one had poured water +upon them, and bade my brother come and wash with him. Schacabac +judged by this, that the Barmecide lord loved to be merry, and he +himself understanding raillery, and knowing that the poor must be +complaisant to the rich, if they would have any thing from them, +came forward and did as he was required. + +"Come on," said the Barmecide, "bring us something to eat, and do +not let us wait." When he had spoken, though nothing appeared, he +began to cut as if something had been brought him upon a plate, +and putting his hand to his mouth began to chew, and said to my +brother, "Come, friend, eat as freely as if you were at home; +come, eat; you said you were like to die of hunger, but you eat +as if you had no appetite." "Pardon me, my lord," said Schacabac, +who perfectly imitated what he did, "you see I lose no time, and +that I play my part well enough." "How like you this bread," said +the Barmecide; "do not you find it very good?" "O! my lord," +replied my brother, who saw neither bread nor meat, "I have never +eaten anything so white and so fine." "Eat your belly-full," said +the Barmecide; "I assure you the woman who bakes me this good +bread cost me five hundred pieces of gold to purchase her." + +The Barmecide, after having boasted so much of his bread, which +my brother ate only in idea, cried, "Boy, bring us another dish:" +and though no boy appeared, "Come, my good friend," continued he, +"taste this new dish; and tell me if ever you ate better mutton +and barley-broth than this." "It is admirably good," replied my +brother, "and therefore you see I eat heartily." "You oblige me +highly," resumed the Barmecide; "I conjure you then, by the +satisfaction I have to see you eat so heartily, that you eat all +up, since you like it so well." A little while after he called +for a goose and sweet sauce, made up of vinegar, honey, dry +raisins, grey peas, and dry figs, which were brought just in the +same manner as the others had. "The goose is very fat," said the +Barmecide, "eat only a leg and a wing; we must save our stomachs, +for we have abundance of other dishes to come." He actually +called for several others, of which my brother, who was ready to +die of hunger, pretended to eat; but what he boasted of more than +all the rest was a lamb fed with pistachio nuts, which he ordered +to be brought up in the same manner. "Here is a dish," said the +Barmecide "that you will see at nobody's table but my own; I +would have you eat your belly-full of it." Having spoken thus, he +stretched out his hand as if he had had a piece of lamb in it, +and putting it to my brother's mouth, "There," said he, "swallow +that, and you will judge whether I had not reason to boast of +this dish." My brother thrust out his head, opened his mouth, and +made as if he took the piece of lamb, and eat it with extreme +pleasure. "I knew you would like it," said the Barmecide. "There +is nothing in the world finer," replied my brother; "your table +is most delicious." "Come, bring the ragout; I fancy you will +like that as well as you did the lamb: Well, how do you relish +it?" "O! it is wonderful," replied Schacabac; "for here we taste +all at once, amber, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, pepper, and the most +odoriferous herbs, and all these delicacies are so well mixed, +that one does not prevent our tasting the other." "How pleasant! +Honour this ragout," said the Barmecide, "by eating heartily of +it. Ho, boy, bring us another ragout." "No, my lord, if it please +you," replied my brother, "for indeed I can eat no more." + +"Come, take away then," said the Barmecide, "and bring the +fruit." He stayed a moment as it were to give time for his +servants to carry away; after which, he addressed my brother, +"Taste these almonds, they are good and fresh gathered." Both of +them made as if they had peeled the almonds, and eaten them; +after this, the Barmecide invited my brother to eat something +else. "Look," said he, "there are all sorts of fruits, cakes, dry +sweetmeats, and conserves, take what you like;" then stretching +out his hand, as if he had reached my brother something, "Look," +he continued, "there is a lozenge, very good for digestion." +Schacabac made as if he ate it, and said, "My lord, there is no +want of musk here." "These lozenges," replied the Barmecide, "are +made at my own house, where nothing is wanting to make every +article good." He still bade my brother eat, and said to him, +"Methinks you do not eat as if you had been so hungry as you +complained you were when you came in." "My lord," replied +Schacabac, whose jaws ached with moving and having nothing to +eat, "I assure you I am so full that I cannot eat one bit more." + +"Well, then, friend," resumed the Barmecide, "we must drink now, +after we have eaten so well." "You may drink wine, my lord," +replied my brother, "but I will drink none if you please, because +I am forbidden." "You are too scrupulous," rejoined the +Barmecide; "do as I do." "I will drink then out of complaisance," +said Schacabac, "for I see you will have nothing wanting to make +your treat complete; but since I am not accustomed to drink wine, +I am afraid I shall commit some error in point of good breeding, +and contrary to the respect that is due to you; therefore I pray +you, once more, to excuse me from drinking any wine; I will be +content with water." "No, no," said the Barmecide, "you shall +drink wine," and at the same time he commanded some to be +brought, in the same manner as the meat and fruit had been served +before. He made as if he poured out wine, and drank first +himself, and then pouring out for my brother, presented him the +glass, saying, "Drink my health, and let us know if you think +this wine good." My brother made as if he took the glass, and +looked as if the colour was good, and put it to his nose to try +the flavour: he then made a low salute to the Barmecide, to +signify that he took the liberty to drink his health, and lastly +he appeared to drink with all the signs of a man that drinks with +pleasure: "My lord," said he, "this is very excellent wine, but I +think it is not strong enough." "If you would have stronger," +answered the Barmecide, "you need only speak, for I have several +sorts in my cellar. Try how you like this." Upon which he made as +if he poured out another glass for himself, and one for my +brother; and did this so often, that Schacabac, feigning to be +intoxicated with the wine, and acting a drunken man, lifted up +his hand, and gave the Barmecide such a box on the ear as made +him fall down. He was going to give him another blow, but the +Barmecide holding up his hand to ward it off, cried, "Are you +mad?" Then my brother, making as if he had come to himself again, +said, "My lord, you have been so good as to admit your slave into +your house, and give him a treat; you should have been satisfied +with making me eat, and not have obliged me to drink wine; for I +told you beforehand, that it might occasion me to fail in my +respect for you. I am very sorry for it, and beg you a thousand +pardons." + +Scarcely had he finished these words, when the Barmecide, instead +of being in a passion, fell a laughing with all his might. "I +have been long," said he, "seeking a man of your character." + +The Barmecide caressed Schacabac mightily, and told him, "I not +only forgive the blow you have given me, but I desire +henceforward we should be friends, and that you take my house for +your home: you have had the complaisance to accommodate yourself +to my humour, and the patience to keep the jest up to the last; +we will now eat in good earnest." When he had finished these +words, he clapped his hands, and commanded his servants, who then +appeared, to cover the table; which was speedily done, and my +brother was treated with all those dishes in reality, which he +ate of before in fancy. At last they cleared the table, and +brought in the wine, and at the same time a number of handsome +slaves, richly appareled, came and sung some agreeable airs to +their musical instruments. In a word, Schacabac had all the +reason in the world to be satisfied with the Barmecide's civility +and bounty; for he treated him as his familiar friend, and +ordered him a suit from his wardrobe. + +The Barmecide found my brother to be a man of so much wit and +understanding, that in a few days after he entrusted him with the +care of his household and all his affairs. My brother acquitted +himself very well in that employment for twenty years; at the end +of which the generous Barmecide died, and leaving no heirs, all +his property was confiscated to the use of the prince; and my +brother lost all he had acquired. Being reduced to his first +condition, he joined a caravan of pilgrims going to Mecca, +designing to accomplish that pilgrimage by their charity; but +unfortunately the caravan was attacked and plundered by a number +of Bedouins, superior to that of the pilgrims. My brother was +then taken as a slave by one of the Bedouins, who put him under +the bastinado for several days, to oblige him to ransom himself. +Schacabac protested that it was all in vain. "I am your slave," +said he, "you may dispose of me as you please; but I declare to +you that I am extremely poor, and not able to redeem myself." In +a word, my brother discovered to him all his misfortunes, and +endeavoured to soften him with tears; but the Bedouin was not to +be moved, and being vexed to find himself disappointed of a +considerable sum of which he reckoned himself sure, he took his +knife and slit my brother's lips. to avenge himself by this +inhumanity for the loss that he thought he had sustained. + +The Bedouin had a handsome wife, and frequently when he went on +his excursions left my brother alone with her. At such times she +used all her endeavours to comfort my brother under the rigour of +his slavery. She gave him tokens enough that she loved him, but +he durst not return her passion, for fear he should repent; and +therefore avoided being alone with her, as much as she sought the +opportunity to be alone with him. She was so much in the habit of +caressing and playing with the miserable Schacabac, whenever she +saw him, that one day she happened to act in the same manner, in +the presence of her husband. My brother, without taking notice +that he observed them (so his sins would have it), played +likewise with her. The Bedouin, immediately supposing that they +lived together in a criminal manner, fell upon my brother in a +rage, and after he had mutilated him in a barbarous manner, +carried him on a camel to the top of a desert mountain, where he +left him. The mountain was on the road to Bagdad, so that the +passengers who saw him there informed me where he was. I went +thither speedily, and found unfortunate Schacabac in a deplorable +condition: I gave him what help he stood in need of, and brought +him back to the city. + +This is what I told the caliph; that prince applauded me with new +fits of laughter. "Now," said he, "I cannot doubt but they justly +give you the surname of Silent. No one can say the contrary for +certain reasons, however, I command you to depart this town +immediately, and let me hear no more of you." I yielded to +necessity, and travelled for several years in distant countries. +Understanding at last that the caliph was dead, I returned to +Bagdad, where I found not one of my brothers alive. It was on my +return to this city that I did the lame young man the important +service which you have heard. You are, however, witnesses of his +ingratitude, and of the injurious manner in which he treated me; +instead of testifying his obligation, he rather chose to fly from +me and leave his own country. When I understood that he was not +at Bagdad, though no one could tell me whither he was gone, I +determined to seek him. I travelled from province to province a +long time; and when I least expected, met him this day, but I +little thought to find him so incensed against me. + +When the barber had concluded his story, we found that the young +man was not to blame for calling him a great chatterer. However, +he wished him to stay with us, and partake of the entertainment +which the master of the house had prepared. We sat down to table, +and were merry together till afternoon prayers; when all the +company parted, and I went to my shop, till it was time to return +home. It was during this interval that humpback came half drunk +before my shop, where he sung and played on his tabor. I thought +that, by carrying him home with me, I should divert my wife, +therefore I took him in: my wife gave us a dish of fish, and I +presented humpback with some, which he ate, without taking notice +of a bone. He fell down dead before us, and after having in vain +essayed to help him, in the trouble and fear occasioned by such +an unlucky accident, we carried the corpse out, and dexterously +lodged him with the Jewish doctor. The Jewish doctor put him into +the chamber of the purveyor, and the purveyor carried him out +into the street, where it was believed the merchant had killed +him. "This sir," added the tailor, "is what I had to say to +satisfy your majesty, who must pronounce whether we be worthy of +mercy or wrath, life or death." + +The sultan of Casgar shewed a satisfaction in his countenance, +which restored the tailor and his comrades to life. "I cannot but +acknowledge," said he, "that I am more struck with the history of +the young cripple, with that of the barber, and with the +adventures of his brothers, than with the story of my jester: but +before I send you all away, and we proceed to bury humpback, I +should like to see the barber who is the occasion of my pardoning +you; since he is in my capital, it is easy to satisfy my +curiosity." At the same time he sent an officer with the tailor +to find him. + +The officer and the tailor went immediately and brought the +barber, whom they presented to the sultan: the barber was a +venerable man about ninety years of age; his eye-brows and beard +were white as snow, his ears hanging down, and his nose very +long. The sultan could not forbear laughing when he saw him. +"Silent man," said he to him, "I understand that you know +wonderful stories, will you tell me some of them?" + +"Sir," answered the barber, "let us forbear the stories, if you +please, at present. I most humbly beg your majesty to permit me +to ask what that Christian, that Jew, that Moosulmaun and that +dead humpback, who ties on the ground, do here before your +majesty?" The sultan smiled at the barber's freedom, and replied, +"Why do you ask?" "Sir," replied the barber, "it concerns me to +ask, that your majesty may know I am not so great a talker as +some represent me, but a man justly called Silent." + +The sultan commanded them to tell him the story of the humpback, +which he seemed earnestly to wish for. When the barber heard it, +he shook his head, as if he would say, there was something under +this which he did not understand. "Truly," cried he, "this is a +surprising story; but I wish to examine humpback a little +nearer." He approached him, sat down on the ground, took his head +between his knees, and after he had looked upon him steadfastly, +fell into so great a fit of laughter, and had so little command +of himself, that he fell backwards on the ground, without +considering that he was before the sultan of Casgar. As soon as +he came to himself, "It is said," cried he, "and not without +reason, that no man dies without a cause. If ever any history +deserved to be written in letters of gold, it is that of this +humpback." + +At this all the people looked on the barber as a buffoon, or an +old dotard. "Silent man," said the sultan, "why do you laugh?" +"Sir," answered the barber, "I swear by your majesty's +benevolence, that humpback is not dead: he is yet alive, and I +shall be content to pass for a madman if I do not convince you +this minute." So saying, he took a box wherein he had several +medicines that he carried about him to use as occasion might +require; and drew out a little phial of balsam, with which he +rubbed humpback's neck a long time; then he took out of his case +a neat iron instrument, which he put betwixt his teeth, and after +he had opened his mouth, he thrust down his throat a pair of +small pincers, with which he took out a bit of fish and bone, +which he shewed to all the people. Immediately humpback sneezed, +stretched forth his arms and feet, opened his eyes, and shewed +several other signs of life. + +The sultan of Casgar, and all who were witnesses of this +operation, were less surprised to see humpback revive, after he +had passed a whole night, and great part of a day, without giving +any sign of life, than at the merit and capacity of the barber, +who performed this; and notwithstanding all his faults, began to +look upon him as a great physician. The sultan, transported with +joy and admiration, ordered the story of humpback to be written +down, with that of the barber, that the memory of them might, as +it deserved, be preserved for ever. Nor did he stop here; but, +that the tailor, Jewish doctor, purveyor, and Christian merchant +might remember the adventure, which the accident of humpback had +occasioned to them, with pleasure, he did not send them away till +he had given each of them a very rich robe, with which he caused +them to be clothed in his presence. As for the barber, he +honoured him with a great pension, and kept him near his person. + + + + + + The History of Aboulhassen Ali Ebn Becar, and + Schemselnihar, Favourite of Caliph Maroon Al Rusheed. + + + +In the reign of the caliph Haroon al Rusheed, there lived at +Bagdad a druggist, named Alboussan Ebn Thaher, a very rich +handsome man. He had more wit and politeness than people of his +profession generally possess: his integrity, sincerity, and good +humour made him beloved and sought after by all sorts of people. +The caliph, who knew his merit, had entire confidence in him. He +held him in such high esteem, that he entrusted him to provide +his favourite ladies with all the things they stood in need of. +He chose for them their clothes, furniture, and jewels, with +admirable taste. + +His good qualities, and the favour of the caliph, occasioned the +sons of emirs, and other officers of the first rank, to be always +about him: his house was the rendezvous of all the nobility of +the court Among the young lords that went daily to visit him, was +one whom he took more notice of than the rest, and with whom he +contrasted a particular friendship, called Aboulhassen Ali Ebn +Becar, originally of an ancient royal family of Persia. This +family had continued at Bagdad ever since the conquest of that +kingdom. Nature seemed to have taken pleasure in endowing this +young prince with the rarest qualities of body and mind: his face +was so very beautiful, his shape so fine, his air so easy, and +his physiognomy so engaging, that it was impossible to see him +without immediately loving him. When he spoke, he expressed +himself in terms proper and well chosen, with a new and agreeable +turn, and his voice charmed all that heard him: he had besides so +much wit and judgment, that he thought and spoke of all subjects +with admirable exactness. He was so reserved and modest, that he +advanced nothing till after he had taken all possible care to +avoid giving any ground of suspicion that he preferred his own +opinion to that of others. + +Being such a person as I have represented him, we need not wonder +that Ebn Thaher distinguished him from all the other young +noblemen of the court, most of whom had the vices which composed +the opposites to his virtues. One day, when the prince was with +Ebn Thaher, there came a lady mounted on a piebald mule, in the +midst of ten female slaves who accompanied her on foot, all very +handsome, as far as could be judged by their air, and through +their veils which covered their faces. The lady had a girdle of a +rose colour, four inches broad, embroidered with pearls and +diamonds of an extraordinary bigness; and for beauty it was easy +to perceive that she surpassed all her women, as far as the full +moon does that of two days old. She came to buy something, and as +she wanted to speak to Ebn Thaher, entered his shop, which was +very neat and spacious; and he received her with all the marks of +the most profound respect, entreating her to sit down, and +directing her to the most honourable place. + +In the mean time, the prince of Persia, unwilling to lose such an +opportunity of strewing his good breeding and gallantry, adjusted +the cushion of cloth of gold, for the lady to lean on; after +which he hastily retired, that she might sit down; and having +saluted her, by kissing the carpet under her feet, rose and stood +before her at the lower end of the sofa. It being her custom to +be free with Ebn Thaher, she lifted up her veil, and discovered +to the prince of Persia such an extraordinary beauty as struck +him to the heart. On the other hand, the lady could not refrain +from looking upon the prince, the sight of whom had made the same +impressions upon her. "My lord," said she to him, with an +obliging air, "pray sit down." The prince of Persia obeyed, and +sat on the edge of the sofa. He had his eyes constantly fixed +upon her, and swallowed large draughts of the sweet poison of +love. She quickly perceived what passed in his heart, and this +discovery served to inflame her the more towards him. She arose, +went to Ebn Thaher, and after she had whispered to him the cause +of her coming, asked the name and country of the prince. "Madam," +answered Ebn Thaher, "this young nobleman's name is Aboulhassen +Ali Ebn Becar, and he is a prince of the blood royal of Persia." + +The lady was transported at hearing that the person she already +loved so passionately was of so high a rank. "Do you really +mean," said she, "that he is descended from the kings of Persia?" +"Yes, madam," replied Ebn Thaher, "the last kings of Persia were +his ancestors, and since the conquest of that kingdom, the +princes of his family have always made themselves very acceptable +at the court of our caliphs." "You will oblige me much," added +she, "by making me acquainted with this young nobleman: when I +send this woman," pointing to one of her slaves, "to give you +notice to come and see me, pray bring him with you; I shall be +glad to afford him the opportunity of seeing the magnificence of +my house, that he may have it in his power to say, that avarice +does not reign at Bagdad among persons of quality. You know what +I mean." + +Ebn Thaher was a man of too much penetration not to perceive the +lady's mind by these words: "My princess, my queen," replied he, +"God preserve me from giving you any occasion of anger: I shall +always make it a law to obey your commands." At this answer, the +lady bowed to Ebn Thaher, and took her leave; and after she had +given a favorable look to the prince of Persia, she remounted her +mule, and departed. + +The prince of Persia was so deeply in love with the lady, that he +looked after her as far as he could; and long after she was out +of sight directed his eyes that way. Ebn Thaher told him, that he +remarked several persons observing him, and began to laugh to see +him in this posture. "Alas!" said the prince, "the world and you +would pity me, if you knew that the beautiful lady, who is just +gone from you, has carried with her the best part of me, and that +the remaining part seeks for an opportunity to go after her. Tell +me, I conjure you," added he, "what cruel lady is this, who +forces people to love her, without giving them time to reflect?" +"My lord," answered Ebn Thaher, "this is the celebrated +Schemselnihar, the principal favourite of the caliph, our +master." "She is justly so called," added the prince, "since she +is more beautiful than the sun at noonday." "True," replied Ebn +Thaher; "therefore the commander of the faithful loves, or rather +adores her. He gave me express orders to furnish her with all +that she asked for, and to anticipate her wishes as far as lies +in my power." + +He spoke thus to hinder him from engaging in a passion which +could not but prove unfortunate to him; but this served only to +inflame it the more. "I feared, charming Schemselnihar," cried +he, "I should not be allowed so much as to think of you; I +perceive, however, that without hopes of being loved in return, I +cannot forbear loving you; I will love you then, and bless my lot +that I am the slave of an object fairer than the meridian sun." + +While the prince of Persia thus consecrated his heart to the fair +Schemselnihar, this lady, as she went home, contrived how she +might see, and have free converse with him. She no sooner entered +her palace, than she sent to Ebn Thaher the woman she had pointed +out to him, and in whom she placed all her confidence, to tell +him to come and see her without delay, and bring the prince of +Persia with him. The slave came to Ebn Thaher's shop, while he +was speaking to the prince, and endeavouring to dissuade him, by +very strong arguments, from loving the caliph's favourite. When +she saw them together, "Gentlemen," said she, "my honourable +mistress Schemselnihar the chief favourite of the commander of +the faithful, entreats you to come to her palace, where she waits +for you." Ebn Thaher, to testify his obedience, rose up +immediately, without answering the slave, and followed her, not +without some reluctance. The prince also followed he, without +reflecting on the danger there might be in such a visit. The +presence of Ebn Thaher, who had liberty to go to the favourite +when he pleased, made the prince very easy: they followed the +slave, who went a little before them, and entered after her into +the caliph's palace, and joined her at the gate of +Schemselnihar's pavilion, which was ready open. She introduced +them into a great hall, where she prayed them to be seated. + +The prince of Persia thought himself in one of those delicious +palaces that are promised to us in the other world: he had never +seen any thing that came near the magnificence of the place. The +carpets, cushions, and other appendages of the sofa, the +furniture, ornaments, and architecture, were surprisingly rich +and beautiful. A little time after Ebn Thaher and he had seated +themselves, a very handsome black slave brought in a table +covered with several delicacies, the admirable smell of which +evinced how deliciously they were seasoned. While they were +eating, the slave who brought them in waited upon them; she took +particular care to invite them to eat of what she knew to be the +greatest dainties. The other slaves brought them excellent wine +after they had eaten. When they had done, there was presented to +each of them a gold basin full of water to wash their hands; +after which, they brought them a golden pot full of the wood of +aloes, with which they perfumed their beards and clothes. +Odoriferous water was not forgotten, but served in a golden +vessel enriched with diamonds and rubies, and it was thrown upon +their beards and faces according to custom; they then resumed +their places, but had scarcely sat down, when the slave entreated +them to arise and follow her. She opened a door, and conducted +them into a large saloon of wonderful structure. It was a dome of +the most agreeable form, supported by a hundred pillars of +marble, white as alabaster. The bases and chapiters of the +pillars were adorned with four-footed beasts, and birds of +various sorts, gilded. The carpet of this noble saloon consisted +of one piece of cloth of gold, embroidered with bunches of roses +in red and white silk; and the dome painted in the same manner, +after the Arabian fashion, presented to the mind one of the most +charming objects. In every space between the columns was a little +sofa adorned in the same manner, and great vessels of china, +crystal, jasper, jet, porphyry, agate, and other precious +materials, garnished with gold and jewels; in these spaces were +also so many large windows, with balconies projecting breast +high, fitted up as the sofas, and looking out into the most +delicious garden; the walks were of little pebbles of different +colours, of the same pattern as the carpet of the saloon; so +that, looking upon the carpet within and without it seemed as if +the dome and the garden with all its ornaments had been upon the +same carpet. The prospect was, at the end of the walks, +terminated by two canals of clear water, of the same circular +figure as the dome, one of which being higher than the other, +emptied its water into the lowermost, in form of a sheet; and +curious pots of gilt brass, with flowers and shrubs, were set +upon the banks of the canals at equal distances. Those walks lay +betwixt great plots of ground planted with straight and bushy +trees, where a thousand birds formed a melodious concert, and +diverted the eye by flying about, and playing together, or +fighting in the air. + +The prince of Persia and Ebn Thaher were a long time engaged in +viewing the magnificence of the place, and expressed their +surprise at every thing thing saw, especially the prince, who had +never beheld any thing like it. Ebn Thaher, though he had been +several times in that delicious place, could not but observe many +new beauties, In a word they never grew weary in admiring so many +singularities, and were thus agreeably employed, when they +perceived a company of ladies richly appareled sitting without, +at some distance from the dome, each of them upon a seat of +Indian plane wood inlaid with silver filigree in compartments, +with instruments of music in their hands, waiting for orders to +play. They both went forward, and had a full view of the ladies, +and on the right they saw a great court with a stair up from the +garden, encompassed with beautiful apartments. The slave had left +them, and being alone, they conversed together; "For you, who are +a wise man," said the prince of Persia, "I doubt not but you look +with a great deal of satisfaction upon all these marks of +grandeur and power; for my part, I do not think there is any +thing in the world more surprising. But when I consider that this +is the glorious habitation of the lovely Schemselnihar, and that +the greatest monarch of the earth keeps her here, I confess to +you that I look upon myself to be the most unfortunate of all +mankind, and that no destiny can be more cruel than mine, to love +an object possessed by my rival, and that too in a place where he +is so potent, that I cannot think myself sure of my life one +moment." + +Ebn Thaher, hearing the prince of Persia speak, replied, "Sir, I +wish you could give me as good assurance of the happy success of +your passion, as I can give you of the safety of your life. +Though this stately palace belongs to the caliph, who built it on +purpose for Schemselnihar, and called it the palace of eternal +pleasures, and though it makes part of his own palace, yet you +must know that this lady lives here at absolute liberty. She is +not beset by eunuchs to be spies upon her; this is her private +house, absolutely at her disposal. She goes into the city when +she pleases, and returns again, without asking leave of any body: +and the caliph never comes to see her, but he sends Mesrour, the +chief of his eunuchs, to give her notice, that she may be +prepared to receive him. Therefore you may be easy, and give full +attention to the concert of music, which, I perceive, +Schemselnihar is preparing for you." + +Just as Ebn Thaher had spoken these words, the prince of Persia, +and he, saw the favourite's trusty slave giving orders to the +ladies to begin to sing, and play with the instruments: they all +began immediately to play together as a prelude, and after they +had played some time, one of them began to sing alone, and +accompanied herself at the same time admirably upon her lute, +being informed beforehand upon what subject she was to sing. The +words were so agreeable to the prince of Persia's sentiments, +that he could not forbear applauding her at the end of the +couplet. "Is it possible," cried he, "that you have the gift of +knowing people's hearts, and that the knowledge of what is +passing in my mind has occasioned you to give us a taste of your +charming voice by those words? I should not express myself +otherwise, were I to choose." The lady made no reply, but went on +and sung several other stanzas, with which the prince was so +affected, that he repeated some of them with tears in his eyes; +which discovered plainly enough that he applied them to himself. +When she had finished, she and her companions rose up and sung a +chorus, signifying by their words, that the full moon was going +to rise in all her splendour, and that they should speedily see +her approach the sun. Intimating, that Schemselnihar was coming, +and that the prince of Persia would soon have the pleasure of +beholding her. + +In fact, as they looked towards the court, they saw +Schemselnihar's confidant coming towards them, followed by ten +black women, who, with much difficulty, carried a throne of +massive silver curiously wrought, which they set down before them +at a certain distance; the black slaves then retired behind the +trees, to the entrance of a walk. After this came twenty handsome +ladies richly appareled alike; they advanced in two rows, each +singing and playing upon instruments which she held in her hands, +and placed themselves on each side of the throne. + +All these things kept the prince of Persia and Ebn Thaher in so +much the greater expectation, as they were curious to know how +they would end. At length they saw advancing from the gate +through which the ten black women had proceeded ten other ladies +equally handsome, and well dressed, who halted a few moments, +expecting the favourite, who came out last, and placed herself in +the midst of them. + +Schemselnihar was easily distinguished from the rest, by her fine +shape and majestic air, as well as by a sort of mantle, of a very +fine stuff of gold and sky-blue, fastened to her shoulders, over +her other apparel, which was the most handsome, most magnificent, +and best contrived that could be imagined. + +The pearls, rubies, and diamonds, which adorned her, were well +disposed; not many in number, but chosen with taste, and of +inestimable value. She came forward, with a majesty resembling +the sun in its course amidst the clouds, which receive his +splendour without hiding his lustre, and sat upon the silver +throne that had been brought for her. + +As soon as the prince of Persia saw Schemselnihar, his eyes were +rivetted on her. "We cease inquiring," said he to Ebn Thaher, +"after what we seek, when once it is in view; and no doubt +remains, when once the truth is made apparent. Do you see this +charming beauty? She is the cause of all my sufferings, which I +bless, and will never forbear to bless, however severe and +lasting. At the sight of this objets, I am not my own master; my +soul is disturbed, and rebels, and seems disposed to leave me. Go +then, my soul, I allow thee; but let it be for the welfare and +preservation of this weak body. It is you, cruel Ebn Thaher, who +are the cause of this disorder, in bringing me hither. You +thought to do me a great pleasure; but I perceive I am only come +to complete my ruin. Pardon me," he continued, interrupting +himself; "I am mistaken. I would come, and can blame no one but +myself;" and at these words he burst into tears. "I am glad," +said Ebn Thaher, "that you do me justice. When I told you at +first, that Schemselnihar was the caliph's chief favourite, I did +it on purpose to prevent that fatal passion which you please +yourself with entertaining. All that you see here ought to +disengage you, and you are to think of nothing but of +acknowledging the honour which Schemselnihar has done you, by +ordering me to bring you with me; recall then your wandering +reason, and prepare to appear before her, as good breeding +requires. See, she advances: were we to begin again, I would take +other measures, but since the thing is done, I pray God we may +not have cause to repent. All that I have now to say to you is, +that love is a traitor, who may involve you in difficulties from +which you will never be able to extricate yourself." + +Ebn Thaher had no time to say more, because Schemselnihar +approached, and sitting down upon her throne, saluted them both +by bowing her head; but she fixed her eyes on the prince of +Persia, and they spoke to one another in a silent language +intermixed with sighs; by which in a few moments they spoke more +than they could have done by words in a much longer time. The +more Schemselnihar, looked upon the prince, the more she found in +his looks to confirm her opinion that he was in love with her; +and being thus persuaded of his passion, thought herself the +happiest woman in the world. At last she turned her eyes from +him, to command the women, who began to sing first, to come near; +they rose, and as they advanced, the black women, who came out of +the walk into which they had retired, brought their seats, and +placed them near the window, in the front of the dome where Ebn +Thaher and the prince of Persia stood, and their seats were so +disposed, that, with the favourite's throne and the women on each +side of her, they formed a semicircle before them. + +The women, who were sitting before she came resumed their places, +with the permission of Schemselnihar, who ordered them by a sign; +that charming favourite chose one of those women to sing, who, +after she had spent some moments in tuning her lute, sung a song, +the meaning whereof was, that when two lovers entirely loved one +another with affection boundless, their hearts, though in two +bodies, were united; and, when any thing opposed their desires, +could say with tears in their eyes, "If we love because we find +one another amiable, ought we to be blamed? Let destiny bear the +blame." + +Schemselnihar evinced so plainly by her eyes and gestures that +those words were applicable to herself and the prince of Persia, +that he could not contain himself. He arose, and advancing to a +balustrade, which he leaned upon, beckoned to one of the +companions of the woman who had just done singing, to approach. +When she had got near enough, he said to her, "Do me the favour +to accompany me with your lute, in a song which you shall hear me +sing." He then sung with an air so tender and passionate, as +perfectly expressed the violence of his love. As soon as he had +done, Schemselnihar, following his example, said to one of the +women, "Attend to me likewise, and accompany my song." At the +same time she sung in such a manner, as more deeply to penetrate +the heart of the prince of Persia, who answered her by a new air, +more passionate than the former. + +The two lovers having declared their mutual affection by their +songs, Schemselnihar yielded to the force of hers. She arose from +her throne in transport, and advanced towards the door of the +hall. The prince, who perceived her design, rose up immediately, +and went to meet her. They met at the door, where they took one +another by the hand, and embraced with so much passion, that they +fainted, and would have fallen, if the woman who followed +Schemselnihar had not hindered them. They supported them to a +sofa, where they were brought to themselves, by throwing +odoriferous water on their faces, and applying pungent odours to +their nostrils. + +When they had recovered, the first thing Schemselnihar did was to +look about: and not seeing Ebn Thaher, she asked, with eagerness, +where he was? He had withdrawn out of respect whilst her women +were engaged in recovering her, and dreaded, not without reason, +that some disagreeable consequence might follow what he had seen; +but as soon as he heard Schemselnihar inquire for him, he came +forward. + +Schemselnihar was much pleased to see Ebn Thaher, and expressed +her joy in the most obliging terms: "Ebn Thaher, I know not how +to make you proper returns for the great obligations you have put +upon me; without you, I should never have seen the prince of +Persia, nor have loved the most amiable person in the world. +Assure yourself I shall not die ungrateful, and that my +gratitude, if possible, shall be equal to the obligation." Ebn +Thaher answered this compliment by a low obeisance, and wished +the favourite the accomplishment of all her desires. + +Schemselnihar, turning towards the prince of Persia, who sat by +her, and looking upon him with some confusion after what had +passed, said to him, "I am well assured you love me, and how +great soever your love may be to me, you need not doubt but mine +is as great towards you: but let us not flatter ourselves; for, +notwithstanding this conformity of our sentiments, I see nothing +for you and me but trouble, impatience, and tormenting grief. +There is no other remedy for our evils but to love one another +constantly, to refer ourselves to the disposal of Heaven, and to +wait its determination of our destiny." "Madam," replied the +prince of Persia, "you will do me the greatest injustice, if you +doubt for a moment the continuance of my love. It is so +interwoven with my soul, that I can justly say it makes the best +part of it, and will continue so after death. Pains, torments, +obstacles, nothing shall prevent my loving you." Speaking these +words he shed tears in abundance, and Schemselnihar was not able +to restrain hers. + +Ebn Thaher took this opportunity to speak to the favourite. +"Madam, allow me to represent to you, that, instead of melting +into tears, you ought to rejoice that you are now together. I +understand not this grief. What will it be when you are obliged +to part? But why do I talk of that? We have been a long while +here, and you know, madam, it is time for us to be going." "Ah! +how cruel are you!" replied Schemselnihar, "You, who know the +cause of my tears, have you no pity for my unfortunate condition? +Oh! sad fatality! What have I done to subject myself to the +severe law of not being able to join with the only person I +love?" + +Persuaded as she was that Ebn Thaher spoke to her only out of +friendship, she did not take amiss what he said, but made a +proper use of his intimation She made a sign to the slave her +confidant, who immediately went out, and in a little time brought +a collation of fruits upon a small silver table, which she set +down betwixt her mistress and the prince of Persia. Schemselnihar +took some of the best, and presented it to the prince, praying +him to eat it for her sake; he took it, and put to his mouth that +part which she had touched; and then he presented some to her, +which she took, and ate in the same manner. She did not forget to +invite Ebn Thaher to eat with them; but he thinking himself not +safe in that place, and wishing himself at home, ate only out of +complaisance. After the collation was taken away, they brought a +silver basin, with water in a vessel of gold, and washed +together; they afterwards returned to their places, and three of +the ten black women brought each a cup of rock crystal full of +exquisite wine, upon a golden salver; which they placed before +Schemselnihar, the prince of Persia, and Ebn Thaher. That they +might be the more private, Schemselnihar kept with her only ten +black women, with ten others who began to sing, and play upon +instruments; and after she had sent away all the rest, she took +up one of the cups, and holding it in her hand sung some tender +words, which one of her women accompanied with her lute. When she +had done, she drank, and afterwards took up one of the other cups +and presented it to the prince, praying him to drink for love of +her, as she had drunk for love of him. He received the cup with a +transport of love and joy; but before he drank, he sung also a +song, which another woman accompanied with an instrument: and as +he sang the tears fell from his eyes in such abundance, that he +could not forbear expressing in his song, that he knew not +whether he was going to drink the wine she had presented to him, +or his own tears. Schemselnihar at last presented the third cup +to Ebn Thaher, who thanked her for her kindness, and for the +honour she did him. + +After this she took a lute from one of her women, and sung to it +in such a passionate manner, that she seemed to be transported +out of herself: and the prince of Persia stood with his eyes +fixed upon her, as if he had been enchanted. At this instant, her +trusty slave came in great alarm, and addressing herself to her +mistress, said, "Madam Mesrour and two other officers, with +several eunuchs that attend them, are at the gate, and want to +speak with you from the caliph." When the prince of Persia and +Ebn Thaher heard these words, they changed colour, and began to +tremble as if they had been undone: but Schemselnihar who +perceived their agitation, revived their courage by a sigh. + +After Schemselnihar had quieted the fears of the prince of Persia +and Ebn Thaher, she ordered the slave, her confidant, to go and +speak to Mesrour, and the two other officers, till she had put +herself in a condition to receive them, and could send her to +introduce them. Immediately she ordered all the windows of' the +saloon to be shut, and the painted cloth on the side of the +garden to be let down: and after having assured the prince and +Ebn Thaher that they might continue there without any fear, she +went out at the gate leading to the garden, and closed it upon +them: but whatever assurance she had given them of their safety, +they were full of apprehension all the while they remained there. + +As soon as Schemselnihar had reached the garden with the women +that had followed her, she ordered all the seats, which served +the women who played on the instruments, to be placed near the +window, where the prince of Persia and Ebn Thaher heard them; and +having got things in order, she sat down upon her silver throne: +she then sent notice to the slave her confidant to bring in the +chief of the eunuchs, and his two subaltern officers. + +They appeared, followed by twenty black eunuchs all handsomely +clothed, with cimeters by their sides, and gold belts of four +inches broad. As soon as they perceived the favourite +Schemselnihar at a distance, they made her a profound reverence, +which she returned them from her throne. When they approached, +she arose and went to meet Mesrour, who advanced first; she asked +what news he brought? He answered, "Madam, the commander of the +faithful has sent me to signify that he cannot live longer +without seeing you; he designs to do himself that pleasure this +night, and I am come to give you notice, that you may be ready to +receive him. He hopes, madam, that you will receive him with as +much pleasure as he feels impatience to see you." + +At these words the favourite Schemselnihar prostrated herself to +the ground, as a mark of that submission with which she received +the caliph's order. When she rose, she said, "Pray tell the +commander of the faithful, that I shall always reckon it my glory +to execute his majesty's commands, and that his slave will do her +utmost to receive him with all the respect that is due to him." +At the same time she ordered the slave her confidant to tell the +black women appointed for that service to get the palace ready to +receive the caliph, and dismissing the chief of the eunuchs, said +to him, "You see it requires some time to get all things ready, +therefore I entreat you to curb his majesty's impatience, that, +when he arrives, he may not find things out of order." + +The chief of the eunuchs and his retinue being gone, +Schemselnihar returned to the saloon, extremely concerned at the +necessity she was under of sending back the prince of Persia +sooner than she had intended. She came up to him again with tears +in her eyes, which heightened Ebn Thaher's fear, who thought it +no good omen. "Madam," said the prince to her, "I perceive you +are come to tell me that we must part: if there be nothing more +to dread, I hope Heaven will give me the patience which is +necessary to support your absence." "Alas!" replied the too +tender Schemselnihar, "how happy do I think you, and how unhappy +do I think myself, when I compare your lot with my sad destiny! +No doubt you will suffer by my absence, but that is all, and you +may comfort yourself with hopes of seeing me again; but as for +me, just Heaven! what a terrible trial am I brought to! I must +not only be deprived of the sight of the only person whom I love, +but I must be tormented with the presence of one whom you have +made hateful to me. Will not the arrival of the caliph put me in +mind of your departure? And how can I, when I am taken up with +your dear image, express to that prince the joy which he always +observed in my eyes whenever he came to see me? I shall have my +mind perplexed when I speak to him, and the least complaisance +which I shew to his love will stab me to the heart. Can I relish +his kind words and caresses? Think, prince, to what torments I +shall be exposed when I can see you no more." Her tears and sighs +hindered her from going on, and the prince of Persia would have +replied, but his own grief, and that of his mistress, deprived +him of the power of speech. + +Ebn Thaher, who only wished to get out of the palace, was obliged +to comfort them, and to exhort them to have patience: but the +trusty slave again interrupted them. "Madam," said she to +Schemselnihar, "you have no time to lose; the eunuchs begin to +arrive, and you know the caliph will be here immediately." "O +Heaven! how cruel is this separation!" cried the favourite. "Make +haste," said she to the confidant, "take them both to the gallery +which looks into the garden on the one side, and to the Tigris on +the other; and when the night grows dark, let them out by the +back gate, that they may retire with safety." Having spoken thus, +she tenderly embraced the prince of Persia, without being able to +say one word more, and went to meet the caliph in such disorder +as cannot well be imagined. + +In the mean time, the trusty slave conducted the prince and Ebn +Thaher to the gallery, as Schemselnihar had appointed; and left +them there, assuring them, as she closed the door upon them, that +they had nothing to fear, and that she would come for them when +it was time + +When Schemselnihar's trusty slave had left the prince of Persia +and Ebn Thaher, they forgot she had assured them they had nothing +to apprehend. They examined the gallery, and were seized with +extreme fear, because they knew no means of escape, if the caliph +or any of his officers should happen to come there. + +A great light, which they suddenly beheld through the lattices on +the garden side, caused them to approach them to see from whence +it came. It was occasioned by a hundred flambeaux of white wax, +carried by as many young eunuchs: these were followed by more +than a hundred others, who guarded the ladies of the caliph's +palace, clothed, and armed with cimeters, in the same manner as +those I spoke of before; and the caliph came after them, betwixt +Mesrour their captain on his right, and Vassif their second +officer on his left hand. + +Schemselnihar waited for the caliph at the entrance of a walk, +accompanied by twenty women all of surprising beauty, adorned +with necklaces and ear-rings of large diamonds; they played and +sung on their instruments, and formed a charming concert. The +favourite no sooner saw the prince appear, but she advanced and +prostrated herself at his feet; and while she was doing this, +"Prince of Persia," said she, within herself, "if your sad eyes +witness what I do, judge of my hard lot; if I were humbling +myself so before you, my heart would feel no reluctance." + +The caliph was delighted to see Schemselnihar: "Rise, madam," +said he to her, "come near, I am angry with myself that I should +have deprived myself so long of the pleasure of seeing you." As +he spoke, he took her by the hand, and, with many tender +expressions, went and sat down upon the silver throne which +Schemselnihar caused to be brought for him, and she sat down on a +seat before him. The twenty women made a circle round them upon +other seats, while the young eunuchs, who carried flambeaux, +dispersed themselves at a certain distance from one another, that +the caliph might the better enjoy the cool of the evening. + +When the caliph had seated himself, he looked round him, and +beheld with great satisfaction the garden illuminated with many +other lights, besides those flambeaux which the young eunuchs +held; but taking notice that the saloon was shut, expressed his +surprise, and demanded the reason. It was done on purpose to +surprise him; for he had no sooner spoken, than all the windows +flew open at once, and he saw it illuminated within and without, +in a much better manner than ever he had beheld it before. +"Charming Schemselnihar," cried he, at this sight, "I understand +you; you would have me know there are as fine nights as days. +After what I have seen, I cannot deny this." + +Let us return to the prince of Persia and Ebn Thaher, whom we +left in the gallery. Ebn Thaher could not enough admire all that +he saw: "I am not young," said he, "and I have seen great +entertainments in my time; but I do not think any thing can be +seen so surprising and magnificent! All that is said of enchanted +palaces does not come up to the prodigious spectacle we now +behold. What riches and magnificence united!" + +The prince of Persia was not at all interested by the objects +which so delighted Ebn Thaher; he could look on nothing but +Schemselnihar, and the presence of the caliph threw him into +inconceivable grief. "Dear Ebn Thaher," he exclaimed, "would to +God I had my mind as much at liberty to attend to those objects +of admiration as you! But alas! I am in a quite different +situation, all these things serve only to increase my torment. +Can I see the caliph familiar with the objets of my love, and not +die of grief? Must so ardent a passion as mine be disturbed with +so potent a rival? O heavens! How cruel and strange is my +destiny! It is but a moment since I esteemed myself the most +fortunate lover in the world, and at this instant I feel a death +stroke to my heart. I cannot resist it, my dear Ebn Thaher; my +patience is exhausted, my disorder overwhelms me, and my courage +fails." While he was speaking, he saw something pass in the +garden, which obliged him to be silent and to turn all his +attention that way. + +The caliph had ordered one of the women, who was near him, to +play upon her lute, and she began to sing. The words she sung +were very passionate, and the caliph, persuaded that she sung +thus by order of Schemselnihar, who had frequently entertained +him with the like testimonies of her affection, interpreted them +in his own favour. But this was not now Schemselnihar's meaning; +she applied them to her dear Ali Ebn Becar, and was so sensibly +touched with grief, to have before her an object whose presence +she could no longer enjoy, that she fainted and fell backwards +upon her seat, which having no arms to support her, she must have +fallen, had not some of the women given her timely assistance, +taken her up, and carried her into the saloon. + +Ebn Thaher, who was in the gallery, being surprised at this +accident, turned towards the prince of Persia; but instead of +finding him standing, and looking through the window as before, +he was extremely amazed to discover him Iying at his feet +motionless. This convinced him of the violence of the prince's +passion for Schemselnihar, and he admired that strange effect of +sympathy, which put him into a mortal fear on account of the +place they were in. He did all he could to recover the prince, +but in vain. Ebn Thaher was in this perplexity, when +Schemselnihar's confidant opened the gallery door, and entered +out of breath, as one who knew not where she was. "Come +speedily," cried she "that I may let you out; all is in confusion +here; and I fear this will be the last of our days." "Alas! how +would you have us go?" replied Ebn Thaher, with a mournful voice; +"approach, and see what a condition the prince of Persia is in." +When the slave saw him in a swoon, she ran for water, and +returned in an instant. + +At last the prince of Persia, after they had thrown water on his +face, recovered. "Prince," said Ebn Thaher to him, "we run the +risk of perishing if we stay here any longer; exert yourself, +therefore, let us endeavour to save our lives." He was so feeble, +that he could not rise alone; Ebn Thaher and the confidant lent +him their hands, and supported him on each side. They reached a +little iron gate which opened towards the Tigris, went out at it, +and came to the side of a little canal which communicated with +the river. The confidant clapped her hands, and immediately a +little boat appeared, and came towards them with one rower. Ali +Ebn Becar and his comrade went aboard, and the confidant remained +at the side of the canal. As soon as the prince was seated in the +boat, he stretched out one hand towards the palace, and laying +the other on his heart, exclaimed with a feeble voice, "Dear +object of my soul, receive my faith with this hand, while I +assure you with the other, that my heart shall for ever preserve +the fire with which it burns for you." + +In the mean time the boatman rowed with all his might, and +Schemselnihar's confidant accompanied the prince of Persia and +Ebn Thaher walking along the side of the canal, until they came +to the Tigris, and when she could go no farther she took leave of +them and returned. + +The prince of Persia continued very feeble. Ebn Thaher comforted +him, and exhorted him to take courage. "Consider," said he, "that +when we are landed, we have a great way to walk before we reach +my house, and I would not advise you to go to your palace, which +is a great deal farther, at this hour and in this condition." At +last they went out of the boat, but the prince had so little +strength that he could not walk, which put Ebn Thaher into great +perplexity. He recollected he had a friend in the neighbourhood, +and carried the prince thither with great difficulty. His friend +received him very cheerfully, and when he had made them sit down, +he asked them where they had been so late. Ebn Thaher answered, +"I heard this evening that a man who owed me a considerable sum +of money was setting out on a long voyage. I lost no time to find +him, and by the way I met with this young nobleman, to whom I am +under a thousand obligations; for knowing my debtor, he did me +the favour to go along with me. We had a great deal of trouble to +bring the man to reason. We have at length succeeded, and that is +the cause of our being so late. In our return home, this good +lord, to whom I am for ever bound to shew all possible respect, +was attacked by a sudden illness, which made me take the liberty +to knock at your door, flattering myself that you would be +pleased to lodge us this night." + +Ebn Thaher's friend took all this for truth, told them they were +welcome, and offered the prince of Persia, whom he knew not, all +the assistance he could desire; but Ebn Thaher spoke for the +prince, and said, that his distemper was of such a nature as to +require nothing but rest. His friend understood by this that they +desired to go to bed. Upon which he conducted them to an +apartment, where he left them. + +Though the prince of Persia slept, he was interrupted by +troublesome dreams, which represented Schemselnihar in a swoon at +the caliph's feet, and increased his affliction. Ebn Thaher was +very impatient to be at home, and doubted not but his family was +under great apprehension, because he never used to sleep out. He +arose and departed early in the morning, after he had taken leave +of his friend, who rose at break of day to prayers At last he +reached his house, and the first thing the prince of Persia did, +who had walked so far with much trouble, was to lie down upon a +sofa, as weary as if he had been a long journey. Not being in a +state to go to his own palace, Ebn Thaher ordered a chamber to be +prepared for him, and sent to acquaint his friends with his +condition, and where he was. In the mean time he begged him to +compose himself, to command in his house, and to dispose of all +things as he pleased. "I thank you heartily for your obliging +offers," said the prince; "but that I may not be any ways +troublesome to you, I conjure you to deal with me as if I were +not at your house. I would not stay one moment, if I thought my +presence would incommode you in the least." + +As soon as Ebn Thaher had time to recollect himself, he told his +family all that had passed at Schemselnihar's palace, and +concluded by thanking God, who had delivered him from the danger +he had been in. The prince of Persia's principal domestics came +to receive his orders at Ebn Thaher's house, and in a little time +there arrived several of his friends, who had notice of his +indisposition. Those friends passed the greatest part of the day +with him; and though their conversation could not extinguish +those melancholy ideas which were the cause of his trouble, yet +it afforded him some relief. He would have taken his leave of Ebn +Thaher towards the evening; but this faithful friend found him +still so weak, that he obliged him to stay till next day, and in +the mean time, to divert him, gave a concert of vocal and +instrumental music in the evening; but this concert served only +to remind him of the preceding night, and renewed his trouble, +instead of assuaging it; so that next day his distemper seemed to +increase. Upon this Ebn Thaher did not oppose his going home, but +took care to accompany him; and when he was with him alone in his +chamber, he represented to him all those arguments which might +influence him to a generous effort to overcome his passion, which +in the end would neither prove fortunate to himself nor to the +favourite. "Ah! dear Ebn Thaher," exclaimed the prince, "how easy +is it for you to give this advice, but how hard for me to follow +it! I am sensible of its importance, but am not able to profit by +it. I have said already, that I shall carry to the grave the love +I bear to Schemselnihar." When Ebn Thaher saw that he could gain +nothing upon the prince, he took his leave, and would have +retired. + +The prince of Persia interrupted him, and said, "Kind Ebn Thaher, +since I have declared to you that it is not in my power to follow +your wise counsels, I beg you would not charge it on me as a +crime, nor forbear to give me the usual testimonies of your +friendship. You cannot do me a greater favour than to inform me +of the destiny of my dear Schemselnihar, when you hear of her. +The uncertainty I am in concerning her fate, and the +apprehensions her fainting have occasioned in me, keep me in this +languishing condition you reproach me with." "My lord," answered +Ebn Thaher, "you have reason to hope that her fainting was not +attended with any bad consequences: her confidant will quickly +come and inform me of the issue; and as soon as I know the +particulars, I will not fail to impart them." + +Ebn Thaher left the prince in this hope, and returned home, where +he expected Schemselnihar's confidant all the rest of the day, +but in vain, nor did she come on the following. His uneasiness to +know the state of the prince of Persia's health would not suffer +him to wait any longer without seeing him. He went to his palace +to exhort him to patience, and found him lying on his bed as ill +as ever, surrounded by a great many of his friends, and several +physicians, who used all their art to discover the cause of his +disorder. As soon as he saw Ebn Thaher, he looked at him with a +smile, to signify that he had two things to tell him; the one, +that he was glad to see him; the other how much the physicians, +who could not discover the cause of his illness, were out in +their reasonings. + +His friends and physicians retired one after another, so that Ebn +Thaher being alone with him, approached his bed to ask him how he +had been since he had last seen him. "I must tell you," answered +the prince, "that my passion, which continually gathers new +strength, and the uncertainty of the lovely Schemselnihar's fate, +augment my disorder every moment, and cast me into such a state +as afflicts my kindred and friends, and breaks the measures of my +physicians, who do not understand it. You cannot think," he +added, "how much I suffer by seeing so many people about me, who +importune me, and whom I cannot in civility put away. Your +company alone relieves me; but I conjure you not to dissemble +with me: what news do you bring of Schemselnihar? Have you seen +her confidant? What says she to you?" Ebn Thaher answered, that +he had not seen her yet. No sooner had he communicated to the +prince of Persia this sad intelligence, than the tears came into +his eyes; he could not answer one word, his heart was so +oppressed. "Prince," added Ebn Thaher, "suffer me to tell you, +that you are too ingenious in tormenting yourself. In the name of +God, wipe away your tears: if any of your people should come in, +they would discover you by this, notwithstanding the care you +ought to take to conceal your thoughts." Whatever his judicious +adviser could say, it was not possible for the prince to refrain +from weeping. "Wise Ebn Thaher," said he, when he had recovered +his speech, "I may indeed hinder my tongue from revealing the +secrets of my heart, but I have no power over my tears, upon such +an alarming subject as Schemselnihar's danger. If that adorable +and only objets of my desires be no longer in the world, I shall +not survive her a moment." "Reject so afflicting a thought," +replied Ebn Thaher; "Schemselnihar is yet alive, you need not +doubt it: if you have heard no news of her, it is because she +could find no opportunity to send to you, and I hope you will +hear from her to-day." To this he added several other consoling +arguments, and then withdrew. + +Ebn Thaher had scarcely reached his own house, when +Schemselnihar's confidant arrived with a melancholy countenance, +which he reckoned a bad omen. He asked news of her mistress. +"Tell me yours first," said the confidant, "for I was in great +trouble to see the prince of Persia go away in that condition." +Ebn Thaher told her all that she wished to know, and when he had +done, the slave began thus: "If the prince of Persia has +suffered, and does still suffer for my mistress, she suffers no +less for him. After I departed from you, I returned to the +saloon, where I found Schemselnihar not yet recovered from her +swoon, notwithstanding all the assistance they endeavoured to +give her. The caliph was sitting near her with all the signs of +real grief. He asked all the women, and me in particular, if we +knew the cause of her disorder; but we kept all secret, and told +him we were altogether ignorant of it. In the mean time we all +wept to see her suffer so long, and forgot nothing that might any +ways relieve her. In a word, it was almost midnight before she +came to herself. The caliph, who had the patience to wait the +event, was rejoiced at her recovery, and asked Schemselnihar the +cause of her illness. As soon as she heard him speak, she +endeavoured to recover her seat; and after she had kissed his +feet, before he could hinder her, Sir,' said she, I have reason +to complain of heaven, that it did not allow me to expire at your +majesty's feet to testify thereby how sensible I am of your +favours.' + +"I am persuaded you love me,' replied the caliph, and I command +you to preserve yourself for my sake. You have probably exceeded +in something to-day, which has occasioned this indisposition; +take care, I entreat you; abstain from it for the future. I am +glad to see you better, and advise you to stay here to-night, and +not return to your chamber, for fear the motion should affect +you.' He then commanded a little wine to be brought to strengthen +her; and taking leave of her, returned to his apartment. + +"As soon as the caliph had departed, my mistress gave me a sign +to come near her. She asked me earnestly concerning you: I +assured her that you had been gone a long time, which made her +easy on that head. I took care not to speak of the prince of +Persia's fainting, lest she should fall into the same state, from +which we had so much trouble to recover her: but my precautions +were in vain, as you shall hear. Prince,' exclaimed she, I +henceforth renounce all pleasure as long as I am deprived of the +sight of you. If I have understood your heart right, I only +follow your example. You will not cease to weep and mourn until I +see you.' At these words, which she uttered in a manner +expressive of the violence of her passion, she fainted a second +time in my arms. + +"My companions and I were a long time recovering her; at last she +came to herself; and then I said to her, Madam, are you resolved +to kill yourself, and to make us also die with you? I entreat +you, in the name of the prince of Persia, who is so deeply +interested in your life, to preserve it.' I am much obliged to +you,' replied she, for your care, your zeal, and your advice; +but alas! they are useless to me: you are not to flatter us with +any hopes, for we can expect no end of our torment but in the +grave' + +"One of my companions would have diverted these sad thoughts by +playing on the lute, but she commanded her to be silent, and +ordered all of them to retire, except me, whom she kept all night +with her. O heavens! what a night it was! she passed it in tears +and groans, and incessantly naming the prince of Persia. She +lamented her lot, that had destined her to the caliph, whom she +could not love, and not for him whom she loved so dearly. + +"Next morning, as she was not commodiously lodged in the saloon, +I helped her to her chamber, which she had no sooner reached, +than all the physicians of the palace came to see her, by order +of the caliph, who was not long before he arrived himself. The +medicines which the physicians prescribed to Schemselnihar were +ineffectual, because they were ignorant of the cause of her +malady, which was augmented by the presence of the caliph. She +got a little rest however this night, and as soon as she awoke, +she charged me to come to you, to learn some news of the prince +of Persia." "I have already informed you of his case," said Ebn +Thaher; "so return to your mistress, and assure her, that the +prince of Persia waits for some account of her with an impatience +equal to her own. Above all, exhort her to moderation, and to +overcome her feelings, for fear she should drop before the caliph +some word, which may prove fatal to us all." "As for me," replied +the confidant, "I confess I dread her transports. I have taken +the liberty to tell her my mind, and am persuaded that she will +not take it ill that I tell her this from you." + +Ebn Thaher, who had but just come from the prince of Persia's +lodgings, thought it not convenient to return so soon, and +neglect his own important affairs; he therefore went not till the +evening. The prince was alone, and no better than in the morning. +"Ebn Thaher," said he to him, as soon as he saw him, "you have +doubtless many friends, but they do not know your worth, which +you discover to me by your zeal, your care, and the trouble you +give yourself to oblige me. I am confounded with all that you do +for me with so much affection, and I know not how I shall be able +to express my gratitude." "Prince," answered Ebn Thaher, "do not +speak thus, I entreat you. I am ready, not only to give one of my +eyes to save one of yours, but to sacrifice my life for you. But +this is not the present business. I come to tell you that +Schemselnihar sent her confidant to ask me about you, and at the +same time to inform me of her condition. You may assure yourself +that I said nothing but what might confirm the excess of your +passion for her mistress, and the constancy with which you love +her." Then Ebn Thaher gave him a particular account of all that +had passed betwixt the trusty slave and him. The prince listened +with all the different emotions of fear, jealousy, affection, and +compassion, which this conversation could inspire, making, upon +every thing which he heard, all the afflicting or comforting +reflections that so passionate a lover was capable of. + +Their conversation continued so long that the night was far +advanced, so that the prince of Persia obliged Ebn Thaher to stay +with him. The next morning, as this trusty friend returned home, +there came a woman to him whom he knew to be Schemselnihar's +confidant, and immediately she spoke to him thus: "My mistress +salutes you, and I am come to entreat you in her name to deliver +this letter to the prince of Persia." The zealous Ebn Thaher took +the letter, and returned to the prince, accompanied by the +confidant slave. + +When Ebn Thaher entered the prince of Persia's house with +Schemselnihar's confidant, he prayed her to stay, and wait for +him a moment in the ante-room. As soon as the prince saw him, he +asked earnestly what news he had to communicate? "The best you +can expect," answered Ebn Thaher: "you are as dearly beloved as +you love; Schemselnihar's confidant is in your anteroom; she has +brought you a letter from her mistress, and waits for your orders +to come in." "Let her enter," cried the prince, with a transport +of joy; and so saying, sat up to receive her. + +The prince's attendants retired as soon as they saw Ebn Thaher, +and left him alone with their master. Ebn Thaher opened the door +himself, and brought in the confidant. The prince knew her, and +received her with great politeness. "My lord," said she to him, +"I am sensible of the affliction you have endured since I had the +honour to conduct you to the boat which waited to bring you back; +but I hope the letter I have brought will contribute to your +cure." So saying, she presented him the letter. He took it, and +after he had kissed it several times, opened it, and read as +follows: + + + +Letter from Schemselnihar to the Prince of Persia. + + +"The person who will deliver to you this letter will give you +more correct information concerning me than I can, for I have not +been myself since I saw you. Deprived of your presence, I +endeavour to deceive myself by conversing with you by these ill- +written lines, with the same pleasure as if I had the happiness +of speaking to you in person. + +"It is said that patience is a cure for all evils, but instead of +relieving it heightens my sufferings. Although your picture is +deeply engraver in my heart, my eyes desire to have the original +continually before them; and they will lose all their light, if +they be any considerable time deprived of this felicity. May I +flatter myself that yours have the same impatience to see me? +Yes, I can; their tender glances have sufficiently assured me of +this. How happy, prince, would it be for you, how happy for +Schemselnihar, if our united desires were not thwarted by +invincible obstacles; obstacles which afflict me the more +sensibly as they affect you. + +"These thoughts which my fingers write, and which I express with +incredible pleasure, repeating them again and again, proceed from +the bottom of my heart, and from the incurable wound which you +have made in it; a wound which I bless a thousand times, +notwithstanding the cruel torments I endure through your absence. +I would reckon all that opposes our love nothing, were I only +allowed to see you sometimes with freedom; I should then enjoy +your company, and what could I desire more? + +"Do not imagine that I say more than I think. Alas! whatever +expressions I use, I feel that I think more than I can tell you. +My eyes, which are continually watching and weeping for your +return; my afflicted heart, which desires you alone; the sighs +that escape me as often as I think on you, and that is every +moment; my imagination, which represents no other object to me +than my dear prince; the complaints that I make to heaven for the +rigour of my destiny; m a word, my grief, my distress, my +torments, which have allowed me no ease since I was deprived of +your presence, will vouch for what I write. + +"Am not I unhappy to be born to dove, without hope of enjoying +the object of my passion? This afflicting thought oppresses me so +that I should die, were I not persuaded that you love me: but +this sweet comfort balances my despair, and preserves my life. +Tell me that you love me always. I will keep your letter +carefully, and read it a thousand times a-day: I shall endure my +afflictions with less impatience: I pray heaven may cease to be +angry at us, and grant us an opportunity to say that we love one +another without fear; and that we shall never cease thus to love. +Adieu. I salute Ebn Thaher, to whom we are so much obliged." + + +The prince of Persia was not satisfied with reading the letter +once; he thought he had perused it with too little attention, and +therefore read it again with more leisure; and while so doing, +sometimes heaved deep sighs, sometimes shed tears, and sometimes +broke out into transports of joy and tenderness as the contents +affected him. In short, he could not keep his eyes off those +characters drawn by so beloved a hand, and was beginning to read +it a third time, when Ebn Thaher observed to him that the +confidant had no time to lose, and that he ought to think of +giving an answer. "Alas!" cried the prince, "how would you have +me reply to so kind a letter! In what terms shall I express +myself in my present disturbed state! My mind is tossed with a +thousand tormenting thoughts, which are lost the moment they are +conceived, to make way for others. So long as my body is +influenced by the impressions of my mind, how shall I be able to +hold the paper, or guide a reed to write." + +So saying, he took out of a little desk which was near him, +paper, a cane ready cut, and an inkhorn. + + +The prince of Persia, before he began to write, gave +Schemselnihar's letter to Ebn Thaher, and prayed him to hold it +open while he wrote, that by casting his eyes upon it he might +the better see what to answer. He began to write; but the tears +that fell from his eyes upon the paper obliged him several times +to stop, that they might fall the more freely. At last he +finished his letter, and giving it to Ebn Thaher, "Read it, I +pray," said he, "and do me the favour to see if the disorder of +my mind has allowed me to give a favourable answer." Ebn Thaher +took it, and read as follows: + + + +The Prince of Persia's Answer to Schemselnihar's Letter. + + +"I was plunged in the deepest grief when I received your letter, +but at the sight of it I was transported with unspeakable joy. +When I beheld the characters written by your fair hand, my eyes +were enlightened by a stronger light than they lost, when yours +were suddenly closed at the feet of my rival. The words contained +in your kind epistle are so many rays which have dispelled the +darkness wherewith my soul was obscured; they shew me how much +you suffer from your love of me, and that you are not ignorant of +what I endure on your account. Thus they comfort me in my +afflictions. On the one hand they cause me to shed tears in +abundance; and on the other, inflame my heart with a fire which +supports it, and prevents my dying of grief. I have not had one +moment's rest since our cruel separation. Your letter alone gave +me some ease. I kept a mournful silence till the moment I +received it, and then recovered my speech. I was buried in +profound melancholy, but it inspired me with joy, which +immediately appeared in my eyes and countenance. But my surprise +at receiving a favour which I had not yet deserved was so great, +that I knew not how to begin to testify my thankfulness. In a +word, after having kissed it several times, as a precious pledge +of your goodness, I read it over and over, and was confounded at +the excess of my good fortune. You would have me declare that I +always love you. Ah! did I not love you so perfectly as I do, I +could not forbear adoring you, after all the marks you have given +me of an affection so uncommon: yes, I love you, my dear soul, +and shall account it my glory to burn all my days with that sweet +fire you have kindled in my heart. I will never complain of that +ardour with which I feel it consumes me: and how rigorous soever +the evils I suffer, I will bear them with fortitude, in hopes +some time or other to see you. Would to heaven it were to-day, +and that, instead of sending you my letter, I might be allowed to +come and assure you in person, that I die for you! My tears +hinder me from saying more. Adieu." + + +Ebn Thaher could not read these last lines without weeping. He +returned the letter to the prince of Persia, and assured him it +wanted no correction. The prince closed it, and when he had +sealed it, he desired the trusty slave to come near, and said to +her, "This is my answer to you dear mistress's letter. I conjure +you to carry it to her, and to salute her in my name." The slave +took the letter, and retired with Ebn Thaher. + +After Ebn Thaher had walked some way with the slave, he left her, +and went to his house, and began to think in earnest upon the +amorous intrigue in which he found himself unhappily engaged. He +considered, that the prince of Persia and Schemselnihar, +notwithstanding their interest to conceal their correspondence, +conducted themselves with so little discretion, that it could not +be long a secret. He drew all the consequences from it, which a +man of good sense might have anticipated. "Were Schemselnihar," +said he to himself, "a lady of common rank, I would contribute +all in my power to make her and her lover happy; but she is the +caliph's favourite, and no man can without danger attempt to +engage the affections of the objets of his choice. His anger +would fall in the first instance on Schemselnihar; it will next +cost the prince of Persia his life, and I should be involved in +his misfortune. In the mean time I have my honour, my quiet, my +family, and my property to preserve. I must, while I can, +extricate myself out of such a perilous situation." + +These thoughts occupied his mind all that day. Next morning he +went to the prince of Persia, with a design of making one more +effort to induce him to conquer his passion. He represented to +him what he had before urged in vain; that it would be much +better for him to summon all his resolution, to overcome his +inclination for Schemselnihar, than to suffer himself to be +hurried away by it; and that his passion was so much the more +dangerous, as his rival was powerful. "In short, sir," added he, +"if you will hearken to me, you ought to think of nothing but to +triumph over your love; otherwise you run the risk of destroying +yourself with Schemselnihar, whose life ought to be dearer to you +than your own. I give you this advice as a friend, for which you +will some time or other thank me." + +The prince heard Ebn Thaher with great impatience, but suffered +him to speak his mind, and then replied to him thus: "Ebn Thaher, +do you think I can cease to love Schemselnihar, who loves me so +tenderly? She is not afraid to expose her life for me, and would +you have me regard mine? No; whatever misfortunes befall me, I +will love Schemselnihar to my last breath." + +Abn Thaher, shocked at the obstinacy of the prince of Persia, +left him hastily, and going to his own house, recalled his former +reflections, and began to think seriously what he should do. In +the mean time a jeweller, one of his intimate friends, came to +see him. The jeweller had perceived that Schemselnihar's +confidant came oftener to Ebn Thaher than usual, and that he was +constantly with the prince of Persia, whose sickness was known to +every one, though not the cause. This had awakened the jeweller's +suspicions, and finding Ebn Thaher very pensive, he presently +judged that he was perplexed with some important affair, and +fancying that he knew the cause, he asked what Schemselnihar's +confidant wanted with him? Ebn Thaher being struck with this +question, would have dissembled, and told him, that it was on +some trifling errand she came so frequently to him. "You do not +tell me the truth," said the jeweller, "and your dissimulation +only serves to prove to me that this trifle is a more important +affair than at first I thought it to be." + +Ebn Thaher, perceiving that his friend pressed him so much, said +to him, "It is true, that it is an affair of the greatest +consequence. I had resolved to keep it secret, but since I know +how much you are my friend, I choose rather to make you my +confidant, than to suffer you to be under a mistake about it. I +do not bind you to secrecy, for you will easily judge by what I +am going to tell you how impossible it is to keep it unknown." +After this preamble, he told him the amour between Schemselnihar +and the prince of Persia. "You know," he continued, "in what +esteem I am at court, in the city, and with lords and ladies of +the greatest quality; what a disgrace would it be for me, should +this rash amour come to be discovered? But what do I say; should +not I and my family be completely ruined! That is what perplexes +my mind; but I have just formed my resolution: I will go +immediately and satisfy my creditors, and recover my debts, and +when I have secured my property, will retire to Bussorah, and +stay till the storm, that I foresee, is blown over. My friendship +for Schemselnihar and the prince of Persia makes me very sensible +to what dangers they are exposed. I pray heaven to convince them +of their peril, and to preserve them; but if their evil destiny +should bring their attachment to the knowledge of the caliph, I +shall, at least, be out of the reach of his resentment; for I do +not think them so wicked as to design to involve me in their +misfortunes. It would be the height of ingratitude, and a bad +reward for the service I have done them, and the good advice I +have given, particularly to the prince of Persia, who may save +both himself and his mistress from this precipice. He may as +easily leave Bagdad as I; and absence will insensibly disenage +him from a passion, which will only increase whilst he continues +in this place." + +The jeweller was extremely surprised at what Ebn Thaher told him. +"What you say," said he, "is of so much importance, that I cannot +understand how Schemselnihar and the prince could have abandoned +themselves to such a violent passion. What inclination soever +they may have for one another, instead of yielding to it, they +ought to resist it, and make a better use of their reason. Is it +possible they can be insensible of the danger of their +correspondence? How deplorable is their blindness! I anticipate +all its consequences as well as yourself; but you are wise and +prudent, and I approve your resolution; as it is the only way to +deliver yourself from the fatal events which you have reason to +fear." After this conversation the jeweller rose, and took his +leave of Ebn Thaher. + +Before the jeweller retired, Ebn Thaher conjured him by the +friendship betwixt them, to say nothing of what he had heard. +"Fear not," replied the jeweller, "I will keep this secret at the +peril of my life." + +Two days after, the jeweller went to Ebn Thaher's shop, and +seeing it shut, he doubted not but he had executed his design; +but, to be more sure, he asked a neighbour, if he knew why it was +not opened? The neighbour answered that he knew not, unless Ebn +Thaher was gone a journey. There was no need of his enquiring +farther, and he immediately thought of the prince of Persia: +"Unhappy prince," said he to himself, "what will be your grief +when you hear this news? How will you now carry on your +correspondence with Schemselnihar? I fear you will die of +despair. I pity you, and must repair your loss of a too timid +confidant." + +The business that obliged him to come abroad was of no +consequence, so that he neglected it, and though he had no +knowledge of the prince of Persia, only by having sold him some +jewels, he went to his house. He addressed himself to one of his +servants, and desired him to tell his master, that he wished to +speak with him about business of very great importance. The +servant returned immediately to the jeweller, and introduced him +to the prince's chamber. He was leaning on a sofa, with his head +on a cushion. As soon as the prince saw him, he rose up to +receive and welcome him, and entreated him to sit down; asked him +if he could serve him in any thing, or if he came to tell him any +thing interesting concerning himself. "Prince," answered the +jeweller, "though I have not the honour to be particularly +acquainted with you, yet the desire of testifying my zeal has +made me take the liberty to come to your house, to impart to you +a piece of news that concerns you. I hope you will pardon my +boldness for my good intention." + +After this introduction, the jeweller entered upon the matter, +and continued: "Prince, I shall have the honour to tell you, that +it is a long time since conformity of disposition, and some +business we have had together, united Ebn Thaher and myself in +strict friendship. I know you are acquainted with him, and that +he has employed himself in obliging you to his utmost. I have +learnt this from himself, for he keeps nothing secret from me, +nor I from him. I went just now to his shop, and was surprised to +find it shut. I addressed myself to one of his neighbours, to ask +the reason; he answered me, that two days ago Ebn Thaher took +leave of him, and other neighbours, offering them his service at +Bussorah, whither he is gone, said he, about an affair of great +importance. Not being satisfied with this answer, my concern for +his welfare determined me to come and ask if you knew any thing +particular concerning this his sudden departure." + +At this discourse, which the jeweller accommodated to the +subject, the better to compass his design, the prince of Persia +changed colour, and looked at the jeweller in a manner which +convinced him how much he was disconcerted at the intelligence. +"I am surprised at what you inform me," said he; "a greater +misfortune could not befall me: Ah!" he continued, with tears in +his eyes, "if what you tell me be true, I am undone! Has Ebn +Thaher, who was all my comfort, in whom I put all my confidence, +left me? I cannot think of living after so cruel a blow." + +The jeweller needed no more to convince him fully of the prince +of Persia's violent passion, which Ebn Thaher had told him of: +mere friendship would not make him speak so; nothing but love +could produce such lively sensations. + +The prince continued some moments absorbed in melancholy +thoughts; at last he lifted up his head, and calling one of his +servants, said, "Go, to Ebn Thaher's house, and ask some of his +domestics if he be gone to Bussorah: run, and come back quickly +with the answer." While the servant was gone, the jeweller +endeavoured to entertain the prince of Persia with indifferent +subjects; but the prince gave little heed to him. He was a prey +to fatal grief: sometimes he could not persuade himself that Ebn +Thaher was gone, and at others he did not doubt of it, when he +reflected upon the conversation he had had with him the last time +he had seen him, and the abrupt manner in which he had left him. + +At last the prince's servant returned, and reported that he had +spoken with one of Ebn Thaher's servants, who assured him that he +had been gone two days to Bussorah. "As I came from Ebn Thaher's +house," added the servant. "a slave well dressed met me, and +after she had asked me if I had the honour to belong to you, told +me she wanted to speak with you, and begged at the same time that +she might accompany me: she is in the outer room, and I believe +has a letter to deliver to you from some person of consequence." +The prince commanded her to be immediately introduced, not +doubting but it was Schemselnihar's confidant slave, as indeed it +was. The jeweller knew her, having seen her several times at Ebn +Thaher's house: she could not have come at a better time to save +the prince from despair. She saluted him. The prince of Persia +returned the salute of Schemselnihar's confidant. The jeweller +arose as soon as he saw her and retired, to leave them at liberty +to converse together. The confidant, after she had spoken some +time with the prince, took her leave and departed. She left him +quite another person from what he was before; his eyes appeared +brighter, and his countenance more gay, which satisfied the +jeweller that the good slave came to tell him something +favourable to his amour. + + +The jeweller having taken his place again near the prince, said +to him smiling, "I see, prince, you have business of importance +at the caliph's palace." The prince of Persia, astonished and +alarmed at these words, answered the jeweller, "What leads you to +suppose that I have business at the caliph's palace?" "I judge +so," replied the jeweller, "by the slave who has just left you." +"And to whom, think you, belongs this slave?" demanded the +prince. "To Schemselnihar the caliph's favourite," answered the +jeweller: "I know," continued he, "both the slave and her +mistress, who has several times done me the honour to come to my +house, and buy jewels. Besides, I know that Schemselnihar keeps +nothing secret from this slave; and I have seen her pass +backwards and forwards for several days along the streets, as I +thought very much troubled; I imagined that it was for some +affair of consequence concerning her mistress." + +The jeweller's words greatly troubled the prince of Persia. "He +would not say so," said he to himself, "if he did not suspect, or +rather were not acquainted with my secret." He remained silent +for some time, not knowing what course to take. At last he began, +and said to the jeweller, "You have told me things which make me +believe that you know yet more than you have acquainted me with; +it concerns my repose that I be perfectly informed; I conjure you +therefore not to conceal any thing from me." + +Then the jeweller, who desired nothing more, gave him a +particular account of what had passed betwixt Ebn Thaher and +himself. He informed him that he was apprised of his +correspondence with Schemselnihar. and forgot not to tell him +that Ebn Thaher, alarmed at the danger of being his confidant in +the matter, had communicated to him his intention of retiring to +Bussorah, until the storm which he dreaded should be blown over. +"This he has executed," added the jeweller, "and I am surprised +how he could determine to abandon you, in the condition he +informed me you were in. As for me, prince, I confess, I am moved +with compassion towards you, and am come to offer you my service. +If you do me the favour to accept of it, I engage myself to be as +faithful to you as Ebn Thaher; besides, I promise to be more +resolute. I am ready to sacrifice my honour and life for you: +and, that you may not doubt of my sincerity, I swear by all that +is sacred in our religion, to keep your secret inviolable. Be +persuaded then, prince, that you will find in me the friend whom +you have lost." This declaration encouraged the prince, and +comforted him under Ebn Thaher's absence. "I am glad," said he to +the jeweller, "to find in you a reparation of my loss; I want +words to express the obligations I am under to you. I pray God to +recompense your generosity, and I accept your obliging offer with +all my heart. Believe me," continued he, "Schemselnihar's +confidant came to speak to me concerning you. She told me that it +was you who advised Ebn Thaher to go from Bagdad; these were the +last words she spoke to me, as she went away, and she seemed +persuaded of what she said; but they do not do you justice. I +doubt not, after what you have told me, she is deceived." +"Prince" replied the jeweller, "I have had the honour to give you +a faithful account of my conversation with Ebn Thaher. It is +true, when he told me he meant to retire to Bussorah, I did not +oppose his design; but let not this prevent your putting +confidence in me. I am ready to serve you with all imaginable +zeal. If you do not use my service, this shall not hinder me from +keeping your secret religiously, according to my oath." "I have +already told you," replied the prince, "that I did not believe +what the confidant said: it is her zeal which inspired her with +this groundless suspicion, and you ought to excuse it, as I do." + +They continued their conversation for some time, and consulted +together about the most convenient means to keep up the prince's +correspondence with Schemselnihar. They agreed to begin by +undeceiving the confidant, who was so unjustly prepossessed +against the jeweller. The prince engaged to remove her mistake +the first time he saw her again, and to intreat her to address +herself to the jeweller whenever she might bring letters, or any +other information from her mistress to him. In short, they +determined, that she ought not to come so frequently to the +prince's house, because thereby she might lead to the discovery +of what it was of so great importance to conceal. At last the +jeweller arose, and, after having again intreated the prince of +Persia to place an unreserved confidence in him, withdrew. + +The jeweller returning to his house perceived before him a +letter, which somebody had dropped in the street. He took it up, +and as it was not sealed, he opened it, and read as follows: + + +Letter from Schemselnihar to the Prince of Persia. + +"I have received from my confidant intelligence which gives me no +less concern than it must give you. In Ebn Thaher, we have indeed +sustained a great loss; but let this not hinder you, dear prince, +from thinking of your own preservation. If our friend has +abandoned us through fear, let us consider that it is a +misfortune which we could not avoid. I confess Ebn Thaher has +left us at a time when we most needed his assistance; but let us +bear this unexpected stroke with patience, and let us not forbear +to love one another constantly. Fortify your heart under this +misfortune. The object of our wishes is not to be obtained +without trouble. Let us not be discouraged, but hope that heaven +will favour us, and that, after so many afflictions, we shall see +a happy accomplishment of our desires. Adieu." + + +While the jeweller was conversing with the prince of Persia, the +confidant had time to return to the palace and communicate to her +mistress the ill news of Ebn Thaher's departure. Schemselnihar +immediately wrote this letter, and sent back her confidant with +it to the prince of Persia, but she negligently dropped it on her +way. + +The jeweller was glad to find it, for it furnished him with an +opportunity of justifying himself to the confidant, and bringing +her to the point he desired. When he had read it, he perceived +the slave seeking for it with the greatest anxiety. He closed it +again quickly, and put it into his bosom; but the slave observed +him, and running to him, said, "Sir, I have dropped a letter, +which you had just now in your hand; I beseech you to restore +it." The jeweller, pretending not to hear her, continued his way +till he came to his house. He left his door open, that the +confidant, who followed him, might enter after him. She followed +him in, and when she came to his apartment, said, "Sir, you can +make no use of that letter you have found, and you would not +hesitate to return it to me, if you knew from whom it came, and +to whom it is directed. Besides, allow me to tell you, you cannot +honestly keep it." + +Before the jeweller returned her any answer he made her sit down, +and then said to her, "Is not this letter from Schemselnihar, and +is it not directed to the prince of Persia?" The slave, who +expected no such question, blushed. "The question embarrasses +you," continued he; "but I assure you I do not put it rashly: I +could have given you the letter in the street, but I wished you +to follow me, on purpose that I might come to some explanation +with you. Is it just, tell me, to impute a misfortune to persons +who have no ways contributed towards it? Yet this you have done, +in telling the prince of Persia that it was I who advised Ebn +Thaher to leave Bagdad for his own safety. I do not intend to +waste time in justifying myself; it is enough that the prince of +Persia is fully persuaded of my innocence; I will only tell you, +that instead of contributing to Ebn Thaher's departure, I have +been extremely afflicted at it, not so much from my friendship to +him, as out of compassion for the condition in which he left the +prince of Persia, whose correspondence with Schemselnihar he has +discovered to me. As soon as I knew certainly that Ebn Thaher was +gone from Bagdad, I went and presented myself to the prince, in +whose house you found me, to inform him of this event, and to +offer to undertake the service in which he had been employed; and +provided you put the same confidence in me, that you did in Ebn +Thaher, it will be your own fault if you do not make my +assistance of use to you. Inform your mistress of what I have +told you, and assure her, that though I should die for engaging +in so dangerous an intrigue, I should not repent of having +sacrificed myself for two lovers so worthy of one another." + +The confidant, after having heard the jeweller with great +satisfaction, begged him to pardon the ill opinion she had +conceived of him, for the zeal she had for her mistress's +interest.? I am beyond measure glad," she added, "that +Schemselnihar and the prince have found in you a person so fit to +supply Ebn Thaher's place I will not fail to convince my mistress +of the good-will you bear her." + +After the confidant had testified to the jeweller her joy to see +him so well disposed to serve Schemselnihar and the prince of +Persia, the jeweller took the letter out of his bosom, and +restored it to her, saying, "Go, carry it quickly to the prince, +and return this way that I may see his reply. Forget not to give +him an account of our conversation." + +The confidant took the letter and carried it to the prince, who +answered it immediately. She returned to the jeweller's house to +shew him the answer, which was in these words: + + +The Prince of Persia's Answer to Schemselnihar. + +"Your precious letter has had a great effect upon me, but not so +great as I could have wished. You endeavour to comfort me for the +loss of Ebn Thaher; alas! however sensible I am of this, it is +but the least of my troubles. You know these troubles, and you +know also that your presence alone can cure me. When will the +time come that I shall enjoy it without fear of a separation? How +distant does it seem to me! or shall we flatter ourselves that we +may ever see it? You command me to preserve myself; I will obey +you, since I have renounced my own will to follow only yours. +Adieu." + + +After the jeweller had read this letter, he returned it to the +confidant, who said, as she was going away, "I will desire my +mistress to put the same confidence in you that she did in Ebn +Thaher. You shall hear of me to-morrow." Accordingly, next day +she returned with a pleasant countenance. "Your very looks," said +he to her, "inform me that you have brought Schemselnihar to the +point you wished." "It is true," replied the confidant, "and you +shall hear how I succeeded. I found yesterday, on my return, +Schemselnihar expecting me with impatience, I gave her the prince +of Persia's letter, and she read it with tears in her eyes. When +she had done, I saw that she had abandoned herself to her usual +sorrow. Madam,' said I to her, it is doubtless Ebn Thaher's +removal that troubles you; but suffer me to conjure you in the +name of God, to alarm yourself no farther on this account. We +have found another Ebn Thaher, who offers to oblige you with +equal zeal; and, what is yet more important, with greater +courage.' Then I spoke to her of you," continued the slave, "and +acquainted her with the motive which led you to the prince of +Persia's house. In short, I assured her that you would keep +inviolably the secret betwixt her and the prince of Persia, and +that you were resolved to favour their amour with all your might. +She seemed to be much relieved by my discourse. Ah! what +obligations,' said she, are the prince of Persia and I under to +that honest man you speak of! I must be acquainted with him and +see him, that I may hear from his own mouth what you tell me, and +thank him for such unheard-of generosity towards persons on whose +account he is no way obliged to interest himself. The sight of +him will give me pleasure, and I shall omit nothing to confirm +him in those good sentiments. Fail not to bring him to me to- +morrow.' Therefore, sir, be so good as to accompany me to the +palace." + +The confidant's proposal perplexed the jeweller. "Your mistress," +replied he, "must allow me to say that she has not duly +considered what she requires of me. Ebn Thaher's access to the +caliph gave him admission every where; and the officers who knew +him, allowed him free access to Schemselnihar's palace; but as +for me, how dare I enter? You see clearly that it is impossible. +I entreat you to represent to Schemselnihar the reasons which +prevent me from affording her that satisfaction; and acquaint her +with all the ill consequences that would attend my compliance. lf +she considered it ever so little, she would find that it would +expose me needlessly to very imminent danger." + +The confidant endeavoured to encourage the jeweller. "Can you +believe," said she, "that Schemselnihar is so unreasonable as to +expose you to the least danger by bringing you to her, from whom +she expects such important services? Consider with yourself that +there is not the least appearance of risk. My mistress and I are +too much interested in this affair to involve you in any danger. +You may depend upon me, and leave yourself to my conduit. After +the thing is over you will be the first to confess that your +apprehensions were groundless." + +The jeweller yielded to the confidant's assurances, and rose up +to follow her, but notwithstanding his boasted courage, he was +seized with such terror that his whole body trembled. "In your +present state," said she, "I perceive it will be better for you +to remain at home, and that Schemselnihar should take other +measures to see you. It is not to be doubted but that to satisfy +her desire she will come hither herself: the case being so, sir, +I would not have you go: I am persuaded it will not be long ere +you see her here." The confidant foresaw this; for she no sooner +informed Schemselnihar of the jeweller's fear, but she prepared +to go to his house. + +He received her with all the expressions of profound respect. +When she sat down, being a little fatigued, she unveiled herself, +and exhibited to the jeweller such beauty as convinced him that +the prince of Persia was excusable in giving his heart to the +caliph's favourite. Then she saluted the jeweller with a graceful +air, and said to him, "I could not hear with what zeal you have +engaged in the prince of Persia's concerns and mine, without +immediately determining to express my gratitude in person. I +thank heaven for having so soon made up to us the loss of Ebn +Thaher." + +Schemselnihar said many other obliging things to the jeweller, +after which she returned to her palace. The jeweller went +immediately to give an account of this visit to the prince of +Persia; who said to him, as soon as he saw him, "I have expected +you impatiently. The trusty slave has brought me a letter from +her mistress, but it does not relieve me. Whatever the lovely +Schemselnihar says, I dare not hope, and my patience is +exhausted; I know not now what measures to pursue; Ebn Thaher's +departure reduces me to despair. He was my only support: in him I +have lost every thing. I had flattered myself with some hopes by +reason of his access to Schemselnihar." + +After these words, which the prince spoke with so much eagerness, +that he gave the jeweller no time to interrupt him, he said to +the prince, "No man can take more interest in your affliction +than I do; and if you will have patience to hear me you will +perceive that I can relieve you." Upon this the prince became +silent, and listened to him. "I see," said the jeweller, "that +the only way to give you satisfaction is to devise a plan that +will afford you an opportunity of conversing freely with +Schemselnihar. This I wish to procure you, and to-morrow will +make the attempt. You must by no means expose yourself to enter +Schemselnihar's palace; you know by experience the danger of that +step. I know a fitter place for this interview, where you will be +safe." When the jeweller had finished, the prince embraced him +with transports of joy. "You revive," said he, "by this promise, +a wretched lover, who was condemned to die. You have fully +repaired the loss of Ebn Thaher; whatever you do will be well +performed; I leave myself entirely to your conduct." + +After the prince had thus thanked him for his zeal, the jeweller +returned home, and next morning Schemselnihar's confidant came to +him. He told her that he had given the prince of Persia hopes +that he should shortly see her mistress. "I am come on purpose," +answered she, "to concert measures with you for that end. I think +this house will be convenient enough for their interview." "I +could receive them very well here," replied he, "but I think they +will have more liberty in another house of mine where no one +resides at present; I will immediately furnish it for their +reception." "There remains nothing then for me to do," replied +the confidant, "but to bring Schemselnihar to consent to this. I +will go and speak to her, and return speedily with an answer." + +She was as diligent as her promise, and returning to the +jeweller, told him that her mistress would not fail to keep the +appointment in the evening. In the mean time she gave him a +purse, and told him it was to prepare a collation. He carried her +immediately to the house where the lovers were to meet, that she +might know whither to bring her mistress: and when she was gone, +he went to borrow from his friends gold and silver plate, +tapestry, rich cushions, and other furniture, with which he +furnished the house very magnificently; and when he had put all +things in order, went to the prince of Persia. + +You may easily conceive the prince of Persia's joy, when the +jeweller told him that he came to conduct him to the house he had +prepared to receive him and Schemselnihar. This news made him +forget all his former trouble. He put on a magnificent robe, and +went without his retinue along with the jeweller; who led him +through several by-streets that nobody might observe them, and at +last brought him to the house, where they conversed together +until Schemselnihar's arrival. + +They did not wait long for this passionate lover. She came after +evening prayer, with her confidant, and two other slaves. It is +impossible to express the excess of joy that seized these two +lovers when they saw one another. They sat down together upon a +sofa, looking upon one another for some time, without being able +to speak, they were so much overjoyed: but when their speech +returned, they soon made up for their silence. They said to each +other so many tender things, as made the jeweller, the confidant, +and the two other slaves weep. The jeweller however restrained +his tears, to attend the collation, which he brought in himself. +The lovers ate and drank little, after which they sat down again +upon the sofa: Schemselnihar asked the jeweller if he had a lute, +or any other instrument, The jeweller, who took care to provide +all that could please her, brought her a lute: she spent some +time in tuning it, and then sung. + +While Schemselnihar was charming the prince of Persia, and +expressing her passion by words composed extempore, a great noise +was heard; and immediately the slave, whom. the jeweller had +brought with him, came in great alarm to tell him that some +people were breaking in at the gate; that he asked who they were, +but instead of any answer the blows were redoubled. The jeweller, +being alarmed, left Schemselnihar and the prince to inform +himself of the truth of this intelligence. No sooner had he got +to the court, than he perceived, notwithstanding the darkness of +the night, a company of men armed with spears and cimeters, who +had broken the gate, and came directly towards him. He stood +close to a wall for fear of his life, and saw ten of them pass +without being perceived by them. Finding he could give no great +assistance to the prince of Persia and Schemselnihar, he +contented himself with lamenting their fate, and fled for refuge +to a neighbour's house, who was not yet gone to bed. He did not +doubt but this unexpected violence was by the caliph's order, +who, he thought, had been informed of his favourite's meeting the +prince of Persia there. He heard a great noise in his house, +which continued till midnight: and when all was quiet, as he +thought, he desired his neighbour to lend him a cimeter; and +being thus armed, went on till he came to the gate of his own +house: he entered the court full of fear, and perceived a man, +who asked him who he was; he knew by his voice that it was his +own slave. "How did you manage," said he, "to avoid being taken +by the watch?" "Sir," answered the slave, "I hid myself in a +corner of the court, and I went out as soon as I heard the noise. +But it was not the watch who broke into your house: they were +robbers, who within these few days robbed another house in this +neighbourhood. They doubtless had notice of the rich furniture +you brought hither, and had that in view." + +The jeweller thought his slave's conjecture probable enough. He +entered the house, and saw that the robbers had taken all the +furniture out of the apartment where he received Schemselnihar +and her lover, that they had also carried off the gold and silver +plate, and, in a word, had left nothing. Perceiving this +desolation, he exclaimed, "O heaven! I am irrecoverably ruined! +What will my friends say, and what excuse can I make when I shall +tell them that the robbers have broken into my house, and robbed +me of all they had generously lent me? I shall never be able to +make up their loss. Besides, what is become of Schemselnihar and +the prince of Persia? This business will be so public, that it +will be impossible but it must reach the caliph's ears. He will +get notice of this meeting, and I shall fall a sacrifice to his +fury." The slave, who was very much attached to him, endeavoured +to comfort him. "As to Schemselnihar," said he, "the robbers +would probably consent themselves with stripping her, and you +have reason to think that she is retired to her palace with her +slaves. The prince of Persia too has probably escaped, so that +you have reason to hope the caliph will never know of this +adventure. As for the loss your friends have sustained, that is a +misfortune that you could not avoid. They know very well the +robbers are numerous, that they have not only pillaged the house +I have already spoken of, but many other houses of the principal +noblemen of the court: and they are not ignorant that, +notwithstanding the orders given to apprehend them, nobody has +been yet able to seize any of them. You will be acquitted by +restoring your friends the value of the things that are stolen, +and, blessed be God, you will have enough left." + +While they were waiting for day-light, the jeweller ordered the +slave to mend the street door, which was broken, as well as he +could: after which he returned to his usual residence with his +slave, making melancholy reflections on what had happened. "Ebn +Thaher," said he to himself, "has been wiser than I; he foresaw +the misfortune into which I have blindly thrown myself: would to +God I had never meddled in this intrigue, which will, perhaps, +cost me my life!" + +It was scarcely day when the report of the robbery spread through +the city, and a great many of his friends and neighbours came to +his house to express their concern for his misfortune; but were +curious to know the particulars. He thanked them for their +affection, and had at least the consolation, that he heard no one +mention Schemselnihar. or the prince of Persia: which made him +believe they were at their houses, or in some secure place. + +When the jeweller was alone, his servants brought him something +to eat, but he had no appetite. About noon one of his slaves came +to tell him there was a man at the gate, whom he knew not, that +desired to speak with him. The jeweller, not choosing to receive +a stranger into his house, rose up, and went to speak to him. +"Though you do not know me," said the man; "I know you, and I am +come to talk to you about an important affair." The jeweller +desired him to come in. "No," answered the stranger "if you +please, rather take the trouble to go with me to your other +house." "How know you," asked the jeweller, "that I have another +house?" "I know very well," answered the stranger; "follow me, +and do not fear any thing: I have something to communicate which +will please you." The jeweller went immediately with him; and +after he had considered by the way how the house they were going +to had been robbed, he said to him that it was not fit to receive +him. + +When they were before the house, and the stranger saw the gate +half broken down, he said to the jeweller, "I see you have told +me the truth. I will conduct you to a place where we shall be +better accommodated." When he had thus spoken, he went on, and +walked all the rest of the day without stopping. The jeweller +being fatigued with his walk, vexed to see night approach, and +that the stranger went on without telling him where he was going, +began to lose his patience, when they came to a path which led to +the Tigris. As soon as they reached the river, they embarked in a +little boat, and went over. The stranger led the jeweller through +a long street, where he had never been before; and after he had +brought him through several by-streets, he stopped at a gate, +which he opened. He made the jeweller go in before him, he then +shut and bolted the gate, with a huge iron bolt, and conducted +him to a chamber, where there were ten other men, all of them as +great strangers to the jeweller as he who had brought him hither. + + +These ten men received him without much ceremony. They desired +him to sit down, of which he had great need; for he was not only +out of breath with walking so far, but his terror at finding +himself with people whom he thought he had reason to fear would +have disabled him from standing. They waited for their leader to +go to supper, and as soon as he came it was served up. They +washed their hands, obliged the jeweller to do the like, and to +sit at table with them. After supper the men asked him, if he +knew whom he spoke to? He answered, "No; and that he knew not the +place he was in." "Tell us your last night's adventure," said +they to him, "and conceal nothing from us." The jeweller, being +astonished at this request, answered, "Gentlemen, it is probable +you know it already." "That is true," replied they; "the young +man and the young lady, who were at your house yesternight, told +it us; but we would know it from your own mouth." The jeweller +needed no more to inform him that he spoke to the robbers who had +broken into and plundered his house. "Gentlemen," said he, "I am +much troubled for that young man and lady; can you give me any +tidings of them?" + +Upon the jeweller's inquiry of the thieves, if they knew any +thing of the young man and the young lady, they answered, "Be not +concerned for them, they are safe and well," so saying, they +shewed him two closets, where they assured him they were +separately shut up. They added, "We are informed you alone know +what relates to them, which we no sooner came to understand, but +we shewed them all imaginable respect, and were so far from doing +them any injury, that we treated them with all possible kindness +on your account. We answer for the same," proceeded they, "for +your own person, you may put unlimited confidence in us." + +The jeweller being encouraged by this assurance, and overjoyed to +hear that the prince of Persia and Schemselnihar were safe, +resolved to engage the robbers yet farther in their interest. He +commended them, flattered them, and gave them a thousand +benedictions. "Gentlemen," said he, "I must confess I have not +the honour to know you, yet it is no small happiness to me that I +am not wholly unknown to you; and I can never be sufficiently +grateful for the favours which that knowledge has procured me at +your hands. Not to mention your great humanity, I am fully +persuaded now, that persons of your character are capable of +keeping a secret faithfully, and none are so fit to undertake a +great enterprise, which you can best bring to a good issue by +your zeal, courage, and intrepidity. Confiding in these +qualities, which are so much your due, I hesitate not to tell you +my whole history, with that of those two persons you found in my +house, with all the fidelity you desire me." + +After the jeweller had thus secured, as he thought, the +confidence of the robbers, he made no scruple to relate to them +the whole amour of the prince of Persia and Schemselnihar, from +the beginning of it to the time he had received them into his +house. + +The robbers were greatly astonished at all the particulars they +heard, and could not forbear exclaiming, "How! is it possible +that the young man should be the illustrious Ali Ebn Becar, +prince of Persia, and the young lady the fair and celebrated +beauty Schemselnihar?" The jeweller assured them nothing was more +certain, and that they need not think it strange, that persons of +so distinguished a character should wish not to be known. + +Upon this assurance of their quality, the robbers went +immediately, one after another, and threw themselves at their +feet, imploring their pardon, and protesting that nothing of the +kind would have happened to them, had they been informed of the +quality of their persons before they broke into the house; and +that they would by their future conduct endeavour to make amends +for the crime they had thus ignorantly committed. Then turning to +the jeweller, they told him, they were heartily sorry they could +not restore to him all that had been taken from him, part of it +being no longer in their possession. but as for what remained, if +he would content himself with his plate, it should be forthwith +put into his hand. + +The jeweller was overjoyed at the favour done him, and after the +robbers had delivered to him the plate, they required of the +prince, Schemselnihar, and him, to promise them upon oath, that +they would not betray them, and they would carry them to a place +whence they might easily return to their respective homes. The +prince, Schemselnihar, and the jeweller, replied, that they might +rely on their words, but since they desired an oath of them, they +solemnly swore not to discover them. The thieves, satisfied with +this, immediately went out with them. + +On the way, the jeweller, uneasy at not seeing the confidant and +the two slaves, came up to Schemselnihar, and begged her to +inform him what was become of them. She answered, she knew +nothing of them, and that all she could tell him was, that she +was carried away from his house, ferried over the river, and +brought to the place from whence they were just come. + +Schemselnihar and the jeweller had no farther conversation; they +let the robbers conduit them with the prince to the river's side, +when the robbers immediately took boat, and carried them over to +the opposite bank. + +While the prince, Schemselnihar, and the jeweller were landing, +they heard the noise of the horse patrol coming towards them, +just as the boat had conveyed the robbers back. + +The commander of the brigade demanded of the prince, +Schemselnihar, and the jeweller, who they were, and whence they +had come so late? Frightened as they were, and apprehensive of +saying any thing that might prejudice them, they could not speak; +but at length it was necessary they should. The jeweller's mind +being most at ease, he said, "Sir, I can assure you, we are +respectable people of the city. The persons who have just landed +us, and are now returned to the other side of the water, are +thieves, who having last night broke open the house where we +were, pillaged it, and afterwards carried us to their quarters, +whence by fair words, we prevailed on them to let us have our +liberty; and they brought us hither. They have restored us part +of the booty they had taken from us." At which words he shewed +the parcel of plate he had recovered. + +The commander, not satisfied with what the jeweller had told him, +came up to him and the prince of Persia, and looking steadfastly +at them, said, "Tell me truly, who is this lady? How came you to +know her?" + +These questions embarrassed them so much that neither of them +could answer; till at length Schemselnihar extricated them from +their difficulty, and taking the commander aside, told him who +she was; which he no sooner heard, than he alighted with +expressions of great respect and politeness, and ordered his men +to bring two boats. + +When the boats were come, he put Schemselnihar into one, and the +prince of Persia and the jeweller into the other, with two of his +people in each boat; with orders to accompany each of them +whithersoever they were bound. The boats took different routes, +but we shall at present speak only of that which contained the +prince and the jeweller. + +The prince, to save his guides trouble, bade them land the +jeweller at his house, naming the place. The guide, by this +direction, stopped just before the caliph's palace, which put +both him and the jeweller into great alarm; for although they had +heard the commander's orders to his men, they could not help +imagining they were to be delivered up to the guard, to be +brought before the caliph next morning. + +This nevertheless was not the intention of the guides. For after +they had landed them, they, by their master's command, +recommended them to an officer of the caliph's guard who assigned +them two soldiers to conduct them by land to the prince's house, +which was at some distance from the river. They arrived there, +but so tired and weary that they could hardly move. + +The prince being come home, with the fatigue of his journey, and +this misadventure to himself and Schemselnihar, which deprived +him of all hope of ever seeing her more, fell into a swoon on his +sofa. While the greatest part of his servants were endeavoring to +recover him, the rest gathered about the jeweller, and begged him +to tell them what had happened to the prince their lord, whose +absence had occasioned them such inexpressible uneasiness. + +While the greatest part of the prince's domestics were +endeavouring to recover him from his swoon, others of them got +about the jeweller, desiring to know what had happened to their +lord. The jeweller, who took care to discover nothing that was +not proper for them to know, told them that it was an +extraordinary case, but that it was not a time to relate it, and +that they would do better to go and assist the prince. By good +fortune the prince came to himself that moment, and those that +but just before required his history with so much earnestness +retreated to a respectful distance. + +Although the prince had in some measure recovered his +recollection, he continued so weak that he could not open his +mouth to speak. He answered only by signs, even to his nearest +relations, when they spoke to him. He remained in this condition +till next morning, when the jeweller came to take leave of him. +He could answer only by a movement of his eyes, and holding out +his right hand; but when he saw he was laden with a bundle of +plate, which the thieves had returned to him, he made a sign to +his servants that they should take it and carry it to his house. + +The jeweller had been expected with great impatience by his +family the day he departed with the stranger; but now he was +quite given over, and it was no longer doubted but some disaster +had befallen him. His wife, children, and servants, were in the +greatest alarm, and lamenting him. When he arrived, their joy was +excessive; yet they were troubled to see that he was so much +altered in the short interval, that he was hardly to be known. +This was occasioned by the great fatigue of the preceding day, +and the fears he had undergone all night, which would not permit +him to sleep. Finding himself much indisposed, he continued at +home two days, and would admit only one of his intimate friends +to visit him. + +The third day, finding himself something better, he thought he +might recover strength by going abroad to take the air; and +therefore went to the shop of a rich merchant of his +acquaintance, with whom he continued long in conversation. As he +was rising to take leave of his friend to return home, he +observed a woman making a sign to him, whom he presently knew to +be the confidant of Schemselnihar. Between fear and joy, he made +what haste he could away, without looking at her; but she +followed him, as he feared she would, the place they were in +being by no means proper to converse in. As he quickened his +pace, she, not being able to overtake him, every now and then +called out to him to stay. + +He heard her; but after what had happened, he did not think fit +to speak to her in public, for fear of giving cause to suspect +that he was connected with Schemselnihar. It was known to every +body in Bagdad, that this woman belonged to her, and executed all +her little commissions. He continued the same pace, and at length +reached a mosque, where he knew but few people came. He entered, +and she followed him, and they had a long conversation together, +without any body overhearing them. + +Both the jeweller and confidant expressed much joy at seeing each +other, after the strange adventure of the robbers, and their +reciprocal apprehension for each other, without regarding their +own particular persons. + +The jeweller wished her to relate to him how she escaped with the +two slaves, and what she knew of Schemselnihar from the time he +lost sight of her; but so great was her eagerness to know what +had happened to him from the time of their unexpected separation, +that he found himself obliged to satisfy her. "Having given you +the detail you desired," said he, "oblige me in your turn," which +she did in the following manner. + +"When I first saw the robbers, I hastily imagined that they were +soldiers of the caliph's guard, and that the caliph being +informed of Schemselnihar's going out, had sent them to put her, +the prince, and all of us to death. Under this impression I +immediately got up to the terrace of your house, when the thieves +entered the apartment where the prince and Schemselnihar were, +and I was soon after followed by that lady's two slaves. From +terrace to terrace, we came at last to a house of very honest +people, who received us with much civility, and with whom we +lodged that night. + +"Next morning, after thanking the master of the house for our +good usage, we returned to Schemselnihar's palace, where we +entered in great disorder and distress, because we could not +learn the fate of the two unfortunate lovers. The other women of +Schemselnihar were astonished to see me return without their +lady. We told them, we had left her at the house of one of her +female friends, and that she would send for us when she wished to +come home; with which excuse they seemed well satisfied. + +"For my part, I spent the day in great uneasiness, and when night +arrived, opening a small private gate, I espied a little boat on +the canal which seemed driven by the stream. I called to the +waterman, and desired him to row up each side of the river, and +look if he could not see a lady; and if he found her, to bring +her along with him. The two slaves and I waited impatiently for +his return, and at length, about midnight, we saw the boat coming +down with two men in it, and a woman lying along in the stern. +When the boat was come up, the two men helped the woman to rise, +and then it was I knew her to be Schemselnihar. I cannot express +my joy at seeing her. + +"I gave my hand to Schemselnihar to help her out of the boat; she +had great need of my assistance, for she could hardly stand. When +she was landed, she whispered me in a tone expressive of her +affliction, and bade me go and take a purse of one thousand +pieces of gold and give it to the two soldiers that had +accompanied her. I left her to the care of the two slaves to +support her, and having ordered the two soldiers to wait for me a +moment, I took the purse, and returned instantly; I gave it to +them, and having paid the waterman, shut the door. + +"I then followed my lady, and overtook her before she had reached +her chamber. We immediately undressed her, and put her to bed, +where she had not long been, before she became so ill that for +the whole of the night we almost despaired of her life. The day +following, her other women expressed a great desire to see her; +but I told them she had been greatly fatigued, and wanted rest. +The other two women and I gave her all the assistance in our +power; but we should have given over every hope of her recovery, +had I not at last perceived that the wine which we every now and +then gave her had a sensible effect in recruiting her strength. +By importunity we at length prevailed with her to eat. + +"When she recovered the use of her speech, for she had hitherto +only wept, groaned, and sighed, I begged of her to tell me how +she had escaped out of the hands of the robbers. Why would you +require of me,' said she, with a profound sigh, to renew my +grief? Would to God the robbers had taken away my life, rather +than have preserved it; my misfortunes would then have had an +end, whereas I live but to increase my sufferings.' + +"Madam,' I replied, I beg you would not refuse me this favour. +You cannot but know that the wretched feel a consolation in +relating their greatest misfortunes; what I ask would alleviate +yours, if you would have the goodness to gratify me.' + +"Hear then,' said she, the most afflicting adventure that could +possibly have happened to one so deeply in love as myself, who +considered myself as at the utmost point of my wishes. You must +know, when I first saw the robbers enter, sword in hand, I +considered it as the last moment of our lives. But death was not +an object of regret, since I thought I was to die with the prince +of Persia. However, instead of murdering us, as I expected, two +of the robbers were ordered to take care of us, whilst their +companions were busied in packing up the goods they found in the +house. When they had done, and got their bundles upon their +backs, they went out, and took us with them. + +"As we went along, one of those that had charge of us demanded +of me who I was? I answered, I was a dancer. He put the same +question to the prince, who replied, he was a citizen. + +"When we had reached the place of our destination, a new alarm +seized us. They gathered about us, and after having considered my +dress, and the rich jewels I was adorned with, they seemed to +suspect I had disguised my quality. "Dancers," said they, "do not +use to be dressed as you are. Tell us truly who you are?" + +"When they saw I made no reply, they asked the prince once more +who he was, for they told him they plainly perceived he was not +the person he pretended to be. He did not satisfy them much more +than I had done; he only told them he came to see the jeweller, +naming him, who was the owner of the house where they found us. +"I know this jeweller," replied one of the rogues, who seemed to +have some authority over the rest: "I owe him some obligations, +which he knows nothing of, and I take upon me to bring him hither +to-morrow morning; but you must not expect," continued he, "to be +released till he arrives and tells us who you are; in the mean +time, I promise you there shall be no injury offered to you." + +" The jeweller was brought next morning, who thinking to oblige +us, as he really did, declared to the robbers the whole truth. +They immediately came and asked my pardon, and I believe did the +like to the prince, who was shut up in another room. They +protested to me, they would not have broken open the house where +we were, had they known it was the jeweller's. They soon after +took us (the prince, the jeweller, and myself), carried us to the +river side, put us aboard a boat, and rowed us across the water; +but we were no sooner landed, than a party of horse-patrol came +up to us. + +"The robbers fled; I took the commander aside, and told him my +name, and that the night before I had been seized by robbers, who +forced me along with them; but having been told who I was, +released me, and the two persons he saw with me, on my account. +He alighted out of respect to me; and expressing great joy at +being able to oblige me, caused two boats to be brought: putting +me and two of his soldiers, whom you have seen, into one, he +escorted me hither: but what is become of the prince and his +friend I cannot tell. + +"I trust,' added she, melting into tears, no harm has befallen +them since our separation; and I do not doubt but the prince's +concern for me is equal to mine for him. The jeweller, to whom we +have been so much obliged, ought to be recompensed for the loss +he has sustained on our account. Fail not, therefore, to take two +purses of a thousand pieces of gold in each, and carry them to +him to-morrow morning in my name, and be sure to inquire after +the prince's welfare.' + +"When my good mistress had done speaking, I endeavoured, as to +the last article of inquiring into the prince's welfare, to +persuade her to endeavour to triumph over her passion, after the +danger she had so lately escaped almost by miracle. Make me no +answer,' said she, but do what I require.' + +"I was obliged to be silent, and am come hither to obey her +commands. I have been at your house, but not finding you at home, +and uncertain as I was of where you might be found, was about +going to the prince of Persia; but not daring to attempt the +journey, I have left the two purses with a particular friend, and +if you will wait here, I will go and fetch them immediately." + +The confidant soon returned to the jeweller in the mosque, where +she had left him, and giving him the two purses, bade him out of +them satisfy his friends. "They are much more than is necessary," +said he, "but I dare not refuse the present from so good and +generous a lady to her most humble servant; I beseech you to +assure her from me, that I shall preserve an eternal remembrance +of her goodness." He then agreed with the confidant, that she +should find him at the house where she had first seen him, +whenever she had occasion to impart any thing from Schemselnihar, +or to hear any tidings of the prince of Persia: and so they +parted. + +The jeweller returned home well pleased, not only that he had got +wherewithal so fully to satisfy his friends, but also to think +that no person in Bagdad could possibly know that the prince and +Schemselnihar had been in his other house when it was robbed. It +is true, he had acquainted the thieves with it, but on their +secrecy he thought he might very well depend. Next morning he +visited the friends who had obliged him, and found no difficulty +in satisfying them. He had money in hand to furnish his other +house, in which he placed servants. Thus he forgot all his past +danger, and the next evening waited on the prince of Persia. + +The prince's domestics told the jeweller, that he came very +opportunely, as the prince, since he had parted with him, was +reduced to such a state that his life was in danger. They +introduced him softly into his chamber, and he found him in a +condition that excited his pity. He was lying on his bed, with +his eyes closed; but when the jeweller saluted him, and exhorted +him to take courage, he recollected him, opened his eyes, and +gave him a look that sufficiently declared the greatness of his +affliction, infinitely beyond what he felt after he first saw +Schemselnihar. He grasped him by the hand, to testify his +friendship, and told him, in a feeble voice, that he was +extremely obliged to him for coming so far to visit one so +unhappy and wretched. + +"Prince," replied the jeweller, "mention not, I beseech you, any +obligations you owe to me. I wish the good offices I have +endeavoured to do you had had a better effect; but at present, +let us talk only of your health; which, in the state I see you, I +fear you greatly injure by unreasonably abstaining from proper +nourishment." + +The prince's servants took this opportunity to tell him, it was +with the greatest difficulty they had prevailed on their master +to take the smallest refreshment, and that for some time he had +taken nothing. This obliged the jeweller to entreat the prince to +let his servants bring him something to eat. + +After the prince had, through the persuasion of the jeweller, +eaten more than he had hitherto done, he commanded the servants +to leave him alone with his friend. When the room was clear, he +said, "Besides the misfortune that distracts me, I have been +exceedingly concerned to think what a loss you have sustained on +my account; and it is but just I should make you some recompence. +But before I do this, after begging your pardon a thousand times, +I conjure you to tell me whether you have learnt any tidings of +Schemselnihar, since I had the misfortune to be parted from her." + +Here the jeweller, instructed by the confidant, related to him +all that he knew of Schemselnihar's arrival at her palace, her +state of health from that time till she recovered, and how she +had sent her confidant to him to inquire after his welfare. + +To all this the prince replied only by sighs and tears. He made +an effort to get up, and calling his servants, went himself to +his wardrobe, and having caused several bundles of rich furniture +and plate to be packed up, he ordered them to be carried to the +jeweller's house. + +The jeweller would fain have declined this kind offer; but +although he represented that Schemselnihar had already made him +more than sufficient amends for what he had lost, the prince +would be obeyed. The jeweller was therefore obliged to make all +possible acknowledgments, and protested how much he was +confounded at his highness's liberality. He would then have taken +his leave, but the prince desired him to stay, and they passed +good part of the night in conversation. + +Next morning the jeweller waited again on the prince, who made +him sit down by him. "You know," said he, "there is an end +proposed in all things: that which the lover proposes, is to +enjoy the beloved object in spite of all opposition. If once he +loses that hope, he must not think to live. Such is my hard case; +for twice when I have been at the very point of fulfilling my +desires, I have suddenly been torn from her I loved in the most +cruell manner imaginable. It remains for me only to think of +death, and I had sought it, but that our holy religion forbids +suicide; but I need not anticipate it; I need not wait long." +Here he stopped, and vented his passion in groans, sighs, sobs, +and tears, which flowed abundantly. + +The jeweller, who knew no better way of diverting him from his +despair than by bringing Schemselnihar into his mind, and giving +him some shadow of hope, told him, he feared the confidant might +be come from her lady, and therefore it would not be proper to +stay any longer from home. "I will let you go," said the prince, +"but conjure you, that if you see her, you recommend to her to +assure Schemselnihar, that if I die, as I expect to do shortly, I +shall love her to the last moment, even in the grave." + +The jeweller returned home, and waited in expectation of seeing +the confidant, who came some hours after, but all in tears, and +in great affliction. The jeweller alarmed, asked her what was the +matter? She answered, that Schemselnihar, the prince, herself, +and he, were all ruined. "Hear the sad news," said she, "as it +was told me just upon my entering the palace after I had left you + +"Schemselnihar had for some fault chastised one of the slaves you +saw with her when you met in your other house. The slave, enraged +at the ill treatment, ran immediately away, and finding the gate +open, went out; so that we have just reason to believe she has +discovered all to an eunuch of the guard, who gave her +protection. + +"But this is not all; the other slave her companion has fled too, +and has taken refuge in the caliph's palace. So that we may well +fear she has borne her part in this discovery: for just as I came +away, the caliph had sent twenty of his eunuchs for +Schemselnihar, who have carried her to the palace. I just found +means to come and tell you this. I know not what has passed, yet +I fear no good; but above all, I recommend to you to keep the +secret inviolate." + +The confidant added to what she had related before to the +jeweller, that it was proper he should go immediately and +acquaint the prince with the whole affair, that he might be +prepared for every event, and keep faithful to the common cause. +She went away in haste, without staying for any answer. + + +What answer could the jeweller have made in the condition he was +in? He stood motionless as if thunderstruck. He found, however, +that there was no time to be lost, and immediately went to give +the prince information. He addressed him with an air, that +sufficiently shewed the bad news he brought. "Prince," said he, +"arm yourself with courage and patience, and prepare to receive +the most terrible shock that ever you had to encounter." + +"Tell me in a few words," replied the prince, "what is the +matter, without keeping me in suspense; I am, if necessary, +prepared to die." + +Then the jeweller repeated all that he had learnt from the +confidant. "You see," continued he, "your destruction is +inevitable. Rise, save yourself by flight, for the time is +precious. You, of all men, must not expose yourself to the anger +of the caliph, and, less than any, confess in the midst of +torture." + +At these words the prince was ready to expire through grief, +affliction, and fear. However, he recovered himself, and asked +the jeweller what resolution he would advise him to take in this +conjuncture, every moment of which ought to be employed. The +jeweller told him, he thought nothing remained, but that he +should immediately take horse, and hasten away towards Anbar, +that he might get thither before day. "Take what servants and +swift horses you think necessary," continued he, "and suffer me +to escape with you." + +The prince, seeing nothing more to be done, immediately gave +orders to prepare such an equipage as would be least troublesome; +took money and jewels, and having taken leave of his mother, +departed with the jeweller and such servants as he had chosen. + +They travelled all night without stopping, till at length, both +their horses and themselves being spent with so long a journey, +they halted to rest themselves. + +They had hardly alighted before they found themselves surrounded +and assaulted by a band of robbers. They defended their lives for +some time courageously; but at length the prince's servants being +all killed, both he and the jeweller were obliged to yield at +discretion. The robbers, however, spared their dives, but after +they had seized the horses and baggage, they took away their +clothes and left them naked. + +When the thieves were gone, the prince said to the jeweller, +"What think you of our adventure and condition? Had I not better +have tarried in Bagdad, and awaited my death?" "Prince," replied +the jeweller, "it is the decree of Heaven that we should thus +suffer. It has pleased God to add affliction to affliction. and +we must not murmur, but receive his chastisements with +submission. Let us stay no longer here, but seek for some retreat +where we may perhaps be relieved." + +"Let me die," said the prince; "for what signifies it whether I +die here or elsewhere. Perhaps while we are talking, +Schemselnihar is no more, and why should I endeavour to live +after she is dead!" The jeweller, by his entreaty, at length +prevailed on him, and they had not gone far before they came to a +mosque, which was open; they entered it, and passed there the +remainder of the night. + + +At day-break a man came into the mosque. When he had ended his +prayer, as he turned about to go away, he perceived the prince +and jeweller, who were sitting in a corner. He came up to them, +and after having saluted them with a great deal of civility, +said, "I perceive you are strangers." + +The jeweller answered, "You are not deceived. We have been robbed +to-night in coming from Bagdad, as you may see, and have retired +hither for shelter, but we know not to whom to apply." "If you +think fit to accompany me to my house," answered the man, "I will +give you all the assistance in my power." + +Upon this obliging offer, the jeweller turned to the prince, and +whispered, "This man, as you perceive, sir, does not know us, and +we have reason to fear that somebody else may come who does. We +cannot, I think, refuse his offer." "Do as you please," said the +prince; "I am willing to be guided by your discretion." + +The man observing the prince and jeweller consulting together, +and thinking they made some difficulty to accept his offer, asked +them if they were resolved what to do? The jeweller answered "We +are ready to follow you; all we hesitate about is that we are +ashamed to appear thus naked." + +Fortunately the man had it in his power to cover them +sufficiently till they could get to his house. As soon as they +had entered, he brought a very handsome suit for each of them. As +he thought they must be hungry, and might wish to be alone, he +had several dishes brought to them by a slave; but they ate +little, especially the prince who was so dejected and dispirited, +that he gave the jeweller cause to fear he would die. Their host +visited them several times in the course of the day, and in the +evening, as he knew they wanted rest, he left them early. But he +was no sooner in bed, than the jeweller was forced to call him +again to assist at the death of the prince of Persia. He found +him breathe short, and with difficulty, which gave him reason to +fear he had but few minutes to live. Coming near him, the prince +said, "It is all over, and I am glad you are witness of my last +words. I quit life with a great deal of satisfaction; I need not +tell you the reason, for you know it already. All my concern is, +that I cannot die in the arms of my dear mother, who has always +loved me tenderly, and for whom I had a reciprocal affection. Let +her know how much I was concerned at this, and request her in my +name to have my body removed to Bagdad, that she may have an +opportunity to bedew my tomb with her tears, and assist my +departed soul with her prayers." He then took notice of the +master of the house, and thanked him for his kindness in taking +him in; and after desiring him to let his body rest with him till +it should be conveyed to Bagdad, he expired. + +The day after the prince's death, the jeweller took the +opportunity of a numerous caravan that was going to Bagdad, and +arrived there in safety. He first went home to change his +clothes, and then hastened to the prince's palace, where every +body was alarmed at not seeing the prince with him. He desired +them to acquaint the prince's mother that he wished to speak with +her, and it was not long before he was introduced to her in a +hall, with several of her women about her. "Madam," said he to +her, with an air that sufficiently denoted the ill news he +brought, "God preserve you, and shower down upon you the choicest +of his blessings. You cannot be ignorant that he alone disposes +of us at his pleasure." + + +The princess would not permit him to proceed, but exclaimed, +"Alas! you bring me the news of my son's death?" She and her +women at the same time wept and sobbed loudly. At length she +checked her sighs and groans, and begged of him to continue +without concealing from her the least circumstance of such a +melancholy separation. He satisfied her, and when he had done, +she farther demanded of him, if her son the prince had not given +him in charge something more particular in his last moments? He +assured her his last words were, that it was to him the most +afflicting circumstance that he must die so far distant from his +dear mother, and that the only thing he wished was, that she +would have his corpse transported to Bagdad. Accordingly early +next morning the princess set out with her women and great part +of her slaves, to bring her son's body to her own palace. + +When the jeweller, whom she had detained, had seen her depart, he +returned home very sad and melancholy, at the reflection that so +accomplished and amiable a prince was thus cut off in the flower +of his age. + +As he walked towards his house, dejected and musing, he saw a +woman standing before him. He recognized her to be +Schemselnihar's confidant. At the sight of her, his tears began +to flow afresh but he said nothing to her; and going into his own +house, she followed him. + +They sat down; when the jeweller beginning the conversation, +asked the confidant, with a deep sigh, if she had heard of the +death of the prince of Persia, and if it was on his account that +she grieved. "Alas!" answered she, "What! is that charming prince +then dead? He has not lived long after his dear Schemselnihar. +Beauteous souls," continued she, "in whatsoever place ye now are, +ye must be happy that your loves will no more be interrupted. +Your bodies were an obstacle to your wishes; but Heaven has +delivered you from them; ye may now form the closest union." + +The jeweller, who had heard nothing of Schemselnihar's death, and +had not reflected that the confidant was in mourning, suffered +fresh grief at this intelligence. "Is Schemselnihar then dead?" +cried he. "She is," replied the confidant, weeping afresh, "and +it is for her I wear these weeds. The circumstances of her death +were extraordinary," continued she, "and deserve to be known to +you: but before I give you an account of them, I beg you to +acquaint me with those of the prince of Persia, whom, with my +dearest friend and mistress, I shall lament as long as I live." + +The jeweller then gave the confidant the information she desired; +and after he had told her all, even to the departure of the +prince's mother to bring her son's body to Bagdad, she began and +said, "You have not forgotten that I told you the caliph had sent +for Schemselnihar to his palace. He had, as we had every reason +to believe, been informed of the amour betwixt her and the prince +by the two slaves, whom he had examined apart. You may imagine, +he would be exceedingly enraged at Schemselnihar's conduct, and +give striking proofs of his jealousy and of his impending +vengeance against the prince. But this was by no means the case. +He pitied Schemselnihar, and in some measure blamed himself for +what had happened, in giving her so much freedom to walk about +the city without being attended by his eunuchs. This is the only +conclusion that could be drawn from his extraordinary behavior +towards her, as you will hear. + +"He received her with an open countenance; and when he observed +that the melancholy which oppressed her did not lessen her beauty +(for she appeared thus before him without surprise or fear), with +a goodness worthy himself, he said Schemselnihar, I cannot bear +your appearing before me thus with an air which gives me infinite +pain. You must needs be sensible how much I have always loved +you, and be convinced of the sincerity of my passion by the +continued demonstrations I have given of it. I can never change +my mind, for I love you more than ever. You have enemies, +Schemselnihar,' proceeded he, and those enemies have insinuated +things against your conduct, but all they have said against you +has not made the least impression upon me. Shake off then this +melancholy, and prepare to entertain me this night with some +amusing conversation, after your accustomed manner.' He said many +other obliging things to her, and then desired her to step into a +magnificent apartment near her own, and wait for him. + +"The afflicted Schemselnihar was very sensible of the caliph's +kindness; but the more she thought herself obliged to him, the +more she was concerned that she was so far removed, perhaps for +ever, from her prince, without whom she could not live. + +"This interview between the caliph and Schemselnihar," continued +the confidant, "took place whilst I was come to speak to you, and +I learned the particulars of it from my companions who were +present. But I had no sooner left you," proceeded she, "than I +went to my dear mistress again, and was eye-witness to what +happened in the evening. I found her in the apartment I told you +of; and as she though I came from you, she drew near me, and +whispering me, said, I am much obliged to you for the service +you have done me, but I feel it will be the last.' She said no +more; but I was not in a place proper to offer any thing to +comfort her. + +"The caliph was introduced at night with the sound of instruments +which her women played upon, and the collation was immediately +served up. He took his mistress by the hand, and made her sit +down with him on the sofa; she put such a force upon herself to +please him, that she expired a few minutes after. In short, she +was hardly set down, when she fell backwards. The caliph believed +she had only fainted, and so we all thought; but she never +recovered, and in this manner we lost her. + +"The caliph did her the honour to weep over her, not being able +to refrain from tears; and before he left the room ordered all +the musical instruments to be broken; this was immediately done. +I stayed with her corpse all night, and next morning washed and +dressed her for her funeral, bathing her with my tears. The +caliph had her interred in a magnificent tomb he had erected for +her in her lifetime, in a place she had desired to be buried in. +Now since you tell me," said she, "the prince of Persia's body is +to be brought to Bagdad, I will use my best endeavours that he +shall be interred in the same tomb." + +The jeweller was much surprised at this resolution of the +confidant, and said, "Certainly you do not consider that the +caliph will never suffer this?" "You think the thing impossible," +replied she; "it is not. You will alter your opinion when I tell +you that the caliph has given liberty to all her slaves, with a +pension to each for their support. He has committed to me the +care and keeping of my mistress's tomb, and allotted me an annual +income for that purpose, and for my maintenance. Besides, the +caliph, who was not ignorant of the amour between Schemselnihar +and the prince, as I have already told you, without being +offended, will not be sorry if after her death he be buried with +her." To all this the jeweller had not a word to say. He +earnestly entreated the confidant to conduct him to her +mistress's tomb, that he might say his prayers over her. When he +came in sight of it, he was not a little surprised to find a vast +concourse of people of both sexes, who were come thither from all +parts of Bagdad. As he could not come near the tomb, he said his +prayers at a distance; and then going to the confidant, who was +waiting hard by, said to her, "I am now so far from thinking that +what you proposed cannot be put in execution, that you and I need +only publish abroad what we know of the amour of this unfortunate +couple, and how the prince died much about the same time with his +mistress. Before his corpse arrives, all Bagdad will concur to +desire that two such faithful lovers, whom nothing could divide +in affection whilst they lived, should not be separated when +dead." It happened as he said; for as soon as it was known that +the corpse was within a day's journey of the city, an infinite +number of people went above twenty miles to meet it, and +afterwards walked before it till it came to the city gate; where +the confidant, waiting for that purpose, presented herself before +the prince's mother, and begged of her in the name of the whole +city, who earnestly desired it, that she would be pleased to +consent that the bodies of the two lovers, who had but one heart +whilst they lived, from the time their mutual passion commenced, +might be buried in the same tomb. The princess immediately +consented; and the corpse of the prince, instead of being +deposited in his own burying-place, was laid by Schemselnihar's +side, after it had been carried along in procession at the head +of an infinite number of people of all ranks. From that time all +the inhabitants of Bagdad, and even strangers from all parts of +the world where the Mahummedan religion prevails have held that +tomb in the highest veneration, and pay their devotions at it. + + + + + + The Story of the Loves of Kummir Al Zummaun, Prince of + the Isles of the Children of Khaledan, and of Badoura, + Princess of China. + + + +About twenty days' sail from the coast of Persia, there are +islands in the main ocean called the Islands of the Children of +Khaledan. These islands are divided into four great provinces, +which have all of them very flourishing and populous cities, +forming together a powerful kingdom. It was formerly governed by +a king named Shaw Zummaun, who had four lawful wives, all +daughters of kings, and sixty concubines. + +Shaw Zummaun thought himself the most happy monarch of the world, +on account of his peaceful and prosperous reign. One thing only +disturbed his happiness; which was, that he was advanced in +years, and had no children, though he had so many wives. He knew +not to what to attribute this barrenness; and what increased his +affliction was, that he was likely to leave his kingdom without a +successor. He dissembled his discontent, and this dissimulation +only heightened his uneasiness. At length he broke silence; and +one day after he had complained bitterly of his misfortune to his +grand vizier, he asked him if he knew any remedy for it? + +That wise minister replied, "If what your majesty requires of me +had depended on the ordinary rules of human wisdom, you had soon +had an answer to your satisfaction; but my experience and +knowledge fall far short of your question. It is to God only that +we can apply in cases of this kind. In the midst of our +prosperities, which often tempt us to forget him, he is pleased +to mortify us in some instance, that we may address our thoughts +to him, acknowledge his omnipotence, and ask of him what we ought +to expect from him alone. Your majesty has subjects," proceeded +he "who make a profession of honouring and serving God, and +suffering great hardships for his sake; to them I would advise +you to have recourse, and engage them, by alms, to join their +prayers with yours. Perhaps some one among them may be so pure +and pleasing to God as to obtain a hearing for your prayers." + +Shaw Zummaun approved this advice, and thanked his vizier. He +immediately caused alms to be given to every community of these +holy men in his dominions: and having sent for the superiors, +declared to them his intention, and desired them to acquaint +their devout men with it. + +The king obtained of Heaven what he requested, for in nine +months' time he had a son by one of his wives. To express his +gratitude to Heaven, he sent fresh alms to the communities of +devotees, and the prince's birth-day was celebrated not only in +his capital, but throughout his dominions, for a whole week. The +prince was brought to him as soon as born, and he found him so +beautiful that he gave him the name of Kummir al Zummaun, or Moon +of the Age. + +He was brought up with all imaginable care; and when he had +arrived at a proper age, his father appointed him an experienced +governor and able preceptors. These persons, distinguished by +their capacity, found in him a ready wit capable of receiving all +the instructions that were proper to be given him, as well in +relation to morals as other knowledge which a prince ought to +possess. As he grew up, he learned all his exercises, and +acquitted himself with such grace and wonderful address, as to +charm all that saw him, and particularly the sultan his father. + +When he had attained the age of fifteen, the sultan, who tenderly +loved him, and gave him every day new marks of his affection, +proposed to afford a still higher demonstration by resigning his +throne to him, and he accordingly acquainted his grand vizier +with his intentions. "I fear," said he, "lest my son should lose +in the inactivity of youth those advantages which nature and my +education have give him; therefore, since I am advanced in age, +and ought to think of retirement I propose to resign the +government to him, and pass the remainder of my days in the +satisfaction of seeing him reign. I have borne the fatigue of a +crown till I am weary of it, and think it is now proper for me to +retire." + +The grand vizier declined offering all the reasons he could have +alleged to dissuade the sultan from such a proceeding; on the +contrary, he appeared to acquiesce with him in his opinion. +"Sir," replied he, "the prince is yet but young, and it would +not, in my humble opinion, be advisable to burden him with the +weight of a crown so soon. Your majesty fears, with great reason, +his youth may be corrupted by indolence: but to avoid this +danger, do not you think it would be proper to marry him? +Marriage forms attachment, and prevents dissipation. Your majesty +might then admit him of your council, where he would learn by +degrees the art of reigning; and so be prepared to receive your +authority, whenever by your own experience you shall think him +qualified." + +Shaw Zummaun approved the advice of his prime minister; and +summoned the prince to appear before him, at the same time that +he dismissed the grand vizier. + +The prince, who had been accustomed to see his father only at +certain times without being sent for, was a little startled at +this summons; when, therefore, he came into his presence, he +saluted him with great respect, and stood with his eyes fixed on +the ground. + +The sultan perceiving his constraint, addressed him with great +mildness, "Do you know, son, for what reason I have sent for +you?" The prince modestly replied, "God alone knows the heart: I +shall hear it from your majesty with pleasure." "I sent for you," +resumed the sultan, "to inform you that it is my intention to +provide a proper marriage for you: what do you think of my +design?" + +The prince heard this with great uneasiness: he was greatly +agitated, and knew not what answer to make. After a few moments +silence, he replied, "Sir, I beseech you to pardon me if I seem +surprised at the declaration you have made. I did not expect such +proposals at my present age. I know not whether I could prevail +on myself to marry, on account of the trouble incident to a +married life, and the many treacheries of women, which I have +read of. I may not be always of the same mind, yet I conceive it +will require time to determine on what your majesty requires of +me." + +The prince's answer extremely afflicted his father. He was not a +little grieved to discover his aversion to marriage; yet would +not charge him with disobedience, nor exert his paternal +authority. He contented himself with telling him, he would not +force his inclinations, but give him time to consider of the +proposal; and reflect, that a prince destined to govern a great +kingdom ought to take some care to leave a successor; and that in +giving himself that satisfaction he communicated it to his +father, who would be glad to see himself revive in his son and +his issue. + +Shaw Zummaun said no more to the prince but admitted him into his +council, and gave him every reason to be satisfied. At the end of +the year he took him aside, and said to him; "My son, have you +thoroughly considered what I proposed to you last year about +marrying? Will you still refuse me that pleasure I expect from +your obedience, and suffer me to die without affording me that +satisfaction?" + +The prince seemed less disconcerted than before; and was not long +answering his father to this effect: "Sir, I have not neglected +to consider of your proposal; but after the maturest reflection +find myself more confirmed in my resolution to continue in a +state of celibacy. The infinite mischief which women have caused +in the world, and which are on record in our histories, and the +accounts I daily hear to their disadvantage, are the motives +which powerfully influence me against having any thing to do with +them; so that I hope your majesty will pardon me if I presume to +tell you, it will be in vain to solicit me any further upon this +subject." As soon as he had thus spoken, he quitted the sultan +abruptly without waiting his answer. + +Any monarch but Shaw Zummaun would have been angry at such +freedom in a son, and would have made him repent; but he loved +him, and preferred gentle methods before he proceeded to +compulsion. He communicated this new cause of discontent to his +prime minister. "I have followed your advice," said he, "but +Kummir al Zummaun is farther than ever from complying with my +desires. He delivered his determination in such free terms, that +it required all my reason and moderation to keep my temper. +Fathers who so earnestly desire children as I did this son are +fools, who seek to deprive themselves of that rest which it is in +their own power to enjoy without control. Tell me, I beseech you, +how I shall reclaim a disposition so rebellious to my will?" + +"Sir," answered the grand vizier, "patience brings many things +about that before seemed impracticable; but it may be this affair +is of a nature not likely to succeed that way. Your majesty will +have no cause to reproach yourself for precipitation, if you +would give the prince another year to consider your proposal. If +in this interval he return to his duty, you will have the greater +satisfaction, as you will have employed only paternal love to +induce him; and if he still continue averse when this is expired, +your majesty may in full council observe, that it is highly +necessary for the good of the state that he should marry; and it +is not likely he will refuse to comply before so grave an +assembly, which you honour with your presence." + +The sultan, who so anxiously desired to see his son married, +thought this long delay an age; however, though with much +difficulty, he yielded to his grand vizier's reasons, which he +could not disapprove. + +After the grand vizier was gone, the sultan went to the apartment +of the mother of prince Kummir al Zummaun, to whom he had often +expressed his desire to see the prince married. When he had told +her, with much concern, how his son had a second time refused to +comply with his wishes, and the indulgence which, by the advice +of his grand vizier, he was inclined to shew him; he said, "I +know he has more confidence in you than he has in me, and will be +more likely to attend to your advice. I therefore desire you +would take an opportunity to talk to him seriously, and urge upon +him, that if he persists in his obstinacy, he will oblige me to +have recourse to measures which would be disagreeable to me, and +which would give him cause to repent having disobeyed me." + +Fatima, for so was the lady called, told the prince the first +time she saw him, that she had been informed of his second +refusal to marry; and how much chagrin his resolution had +occasioned his father. "Madam," replied the prince, "I beseech +you not to renew my grief upon that head. I fear, under my +present uneasiness, something may escape me, which may not be +consistent with the respect I owe you." Fatima judged from this +answer that this was not a proper time to speak to him, and +therefore deferred what she had to say to another opportunity. + +Some considerable time after, Fatima thought she had found a more +favourable season, which gave her hopes of being heard upon that +subject. "Son," said she, "I beg of you, if it be not +disagreeable, to tell me what reason you have for your great +aversion to marriage? If it be the wickedness of some women, +nothing can be more unreasonable and weak. I will not undertake +the defence of those that are bad; there are a great number of +them undoubtedly; but it would be the height of injustice on +their account to condemn all the sex. Alas! my son, you have in +your books read of many bad women, who have occasioned great +mischief, and I will not excuse them: but you do not consider how +many monarchs, sultans, and other princes there have been in the +world, whose tyrannies, barbarities, and cruelties astonish those +that read of them, as well as myself. Now, for one wicked woman, +you will meet with a thousand tyrants and barbarians; and what +torment do you think must a good woman undergo, who is matched +with any of these wretches?" + +"Madam," replied the prince, "I doubt not there are a great +number of wise, virtuous, good, affable, and well-behaved women +in the world; would to God they all resembled you! But what +deters me is, the hazardous choice a man is obliged to make, and +oftentimes one has not the liberty of following his inclination. + +"Let us suppose then, madam," continued he, "that I had a mind to +marry, as the sultan my father so earnestly desires; what wife, +think you, would he be likely to provide for me? Probably a +princess whom he would demand of some neighbouring prince, and +who would think it an honour done him to send her. Handsome or +ugly, she must be taken; nay, suppose no other princess excelled +her in beauty, who can be certain that her temper would be good; +that she would be affable, complaisant, easy, obliging, and the +like? That her conversation would generally turn on solid +subjects, and not on dress, fashions, ornaments, and a thousand +such fooleries, which would disgust any man of sense? In a word, +that she would not be haughty, proud, arrogant, impertinent, +scornful, and waste an estate in frivolous expenses, such as gay +clothes, jewels, toys, and foolish mistaken magnificence? + +"You see, madam," continued he, "by one single article, how many +reasons a man may have to be disgusted at marriage. Let this +princess be ever so perfect, accomplished, and irreproachable in +her conduct, I have yet a great many more reasons not to alter my +opinion and resolution." + +"What, son," exclaimed Fatima; "have you then more reasons after +those you have already alleged? I do not doubt of being able to +answer them, and stop your mouth with a word." "You may proceed, +madam," returned the prince, "and perhaps I may find a reply to +your answer." + +"I mean, son," said Fatima, "that it is easy for a prince, who +has had the misfortune to marry such a wife as you describe, to +get rid of her, and take care that she may not ruin the state." +"Ah, madam," replied the prince, "but you do not consider what a +mortification it would be to a person of my quality to be obliged +to come to such an extremity. Would it not have been more for his +honour and quiet that he had never run such a risk?" + +"But, son," said Fatima once more, "as you take the case, I +apprehend you have a mind to be the last king of your race, who +have reigned so long and gloriously over the isles of the +children of Khaledan?" + +"Madam," replied the prince, "for myself I do not desire to +survive the king my father; and if I should die before him, it +would be no great matter of wonder, since so many children have +died before their parents. But it is always glorious to a race of +kings, that it should end with a prince worthy to be so, as I +should endeavour to make myself like my predecessors, and like +the first of our race." + +From that time Fatima had frequent conferences with her son the +prince on the same subject; and she omitted no opportunity or +argument to endeavour to root out his aversion to the fair sex; +but he eluded all her reasonings by such arguments as she could +not well answer, and continued unaltered. + +The year expired, and, to the great regret of the sultan, prince +Kummir al Zummaun gave not the least proof of having changed his +sentiments. One day, therefore, when there was a great council +held, the prime vizier, the other viziers, the principal officers +of the crown, and the generals of the army being present, the +sultan thus addressed the prince: "My son, it is now a long while +since I expressed to you my earnest desire to see you married, +and I imagined you would have had more complaisance for a father, +who required nothing unreasonable of you, than to oppose him so +long. But after such a resistance on your part, which has almost +worn out my patience, I have thought fit to propose the same +thing once more to you in the presence of my council. It is not +merely to oblige a parent that you ought to have acceded to my +wish, the well-being of my dominions requires your compliance, +and this assembly join with me in expecting it: declare yourself, +then; that your answer may regulate my proceedings." + +The prince answered with so little reserve, or rather with so +much warmth, that the sultan, enraged to see himself thwarted by +him in full council, exclaimed, "How, unnatural son! have you the +insolence to talk thus to your father and sultan?" He ordered the +guards to take him away, and carry him to an old tower that had +been long unoccupied; where he was shut up, with only a bed, a +little furniture, some books, and one slave to attend him. + +Kummir al Zummaun, thus deprived of liberty, was nevertheless +pleased that he had the freedom to converse with his books, which +made him regard his confinement with indifference. In the evening +he bathed and said his prayers; and after having read some +chapters in the Koraun, with the same tranquillity of mind as if +he had been in the sultan's palace, he undressed himself and went +to bed, leaving his lamp burning by him while he slept. + +In this tower was a well, which served in the daytime for a +retreat to a certain fairy, named Maimoune, daughter of Damriat, +king or head of a legion of genies. It was about midnight when +Maimoune sprung lightly to the mouth of the well, to wander about +the world after her wonted custom, where her curiosity led her. +She was surprised to see a light in the prince's chamber. She +entered, and without stopping at the slave who lay at the door, +approached the bed. + +The prince had but half covered his face with the bed-clothes, +which Maimoune lifted up, and perceived the finest young man she +had ever seen in her rambles through the world. "What beauty, or +rather what prodigy of beauty," said she within herself, "must +this youth appear, when the eyes, concealed by such well-formed +eyelids, shall be open? What crime can he have committed, that a +man of his high rank can deserve to be treated thus rigorously?" +for she had already heard his story, and could hardly believe it. + +She could not forbear admiring the prince, till at length having +kissed him gently on both cheeks, and in the middle of the +forehead, without waking him, she laid the bed-clothes in the +order they were in before, and took her flight into the air. As +she was ascending into the middle region, she heard a great +flapping of wings, towards which she directed her course; and +when she approached, she knew it was a genie who made the noise, +but it was one of those that are rebellious against God. As for +Maimoune, she belonged to that class whom the great Solomon had +compelled to acknowledge him. + +This genie, whose name was Danhasch, and son of Schamhourasch, +knew Maimoune, and was seized with fear, being sensible how much +power she had over him by her submission to the Almighty. He +would fain have avoided her, but she was so near him, he must +either fight or yield. He therefore broke silence first. + +"Brave Maimoune," said he, in the tone of a suppliant, "swear to +me in the name of the great God, that you will not hurt me; and I +swear also on my part not to do you any harm." + +"Cursed genie," replied Maimoune, "what hurt canst thou do me? I +fear thee not; but I will grant thee this favour; I will swear +not to do thee any harm. Tell me then, wandering spirit, whence +thou comest, what thou hast seen, and what thou hast done this +night?" "Fair lady," answered Danhasch, "you meet me in a good +time to hear something very wonderful." + +Danhasch, the genie rebellious against God, proceeded and said to +Maimoune, "Since you desire, I will inform you that I have come +from the utmost limits of China, which comprise the remotest +islands of this hemisphere. . . . . But, charming Maimoune," said +Danhasch, who trembled with fear at the sight of this fairy, so +that he could hardly speak, "promise me at least you will forgive +me, and let me proceed after I have satisfied your request." + +"Go on, cursed spirit," replied Maimoune; "go on, and fear +nothing. Dost thou think I am as perfidious as thyself, and +capable of breaking the solemn oath I have made? Be sure you +relate nothing but what is true, or I shall clip thy wings, and +treat thee as thou deserves" + +Danhasch, a little encouraged by the words of Maimoune, said, "My +dear lady, I will tell you nothing but what is strictly true, if +you will but have the goodness to hear me. The country of China, +from whence I come, is one of the largest and most powerful +kingdoms of the earth, on which depend the remotest islands of +this hemisphere, as I have already told you. The king of this +country is at present Gaiour, who has an only daughter, the +finest woman that ever was seen in the world since it has been a +world. Neither you nor I, neither your class nor mine, nor all +our respective genies, have expressions forcible enough, nor +eloquence sufficient to convey an adequate description of her +charms. Her hair is brown, and of such length as to trail on the +ground; and so thick, that when she has fastened it in buckles on +her head, it may be fitly compared to one of those fine clusters +of grapes whose fruit is so very large. Her forehead is as smooth +as the best polished mirror, and admirably formed. Her eyes are +black, sparkling, and full of fire. Her nose is neither too long +nor too short, and her mouth small and of a vermilion colour. Her +teeth are like two rows of pearls, and surpass the finest in +whiteness. When she moves her tongue to speak, she utters a sweet +and most agreeable voice; and expresses herself in such terms, as +sufficiently indicate the vivacity of her wit. The whitest +alabaster is not fairer than her neck. In a word, by this +imperfect sketch, you may guess there is no beauty likely to +exceed her in the world. + + +"Any one that did not know the king, the father of this +incomparable princess, would be apt to imagine, from the great +respect and kindness he shews her, that he was enamoured with +her. Never did a lover more for the most beloved mistress than he +has been seen to do for her. The most violent jealousy never +suggested such measures as his care has led him to adopt, to keep +her from every one but the man who is to marry her: and that the +retreat in which he has resolved to place her may not seem +irksome, he has built for her seven palaces, the most +extraordinary and magnificent that ever were known. + +"The first palace is of rock crystal, the second of brass, the +third of fine steel, the fourth of another kind of brass more +valuable than the former and also than steel, the fifth of +touchstone, the sixth of silver, and the seventh of massive gold. +He has furnished these palaces most sumptuously, each in a manner +corresponding to the materials of the structure. He has +embellished the gardens with parterres of grass and flowers, +intermixed with pieces of water, water-works, jets d'eau, canals, +cascades, and several great groves of trees, where the eye is +lost in the perspective, and where the sun never enters, and all +differently arranged. King Gaiour, in a word, has shewn that his +paternal love has led him to spare no expense. + +"Upon the fame of this incomparable princess's beauty, the most +powerful neighbouring kings have sent ambassadors to solicit her +in marriage. The king of China received them all in the same +obliging manner; but as he resolved not to marry his daughter +without her consent, and she did not like any of the parties, the +ambassadors were forced to return as they came, as to the subject +of their embassy; they were perfectly satisfied with the great +honours and civilities they had received. + +"Sir,' said the princess to the king her father, you have an +inclination to see me married, and think to oblige me by it; but +where shall I find such stately palaces and delicious gardens as +are furnished me by your majesty? Through your good pleasure I am +under no constraint, and have the same honours shewn to me as are +paid to yourself. These are advantages I cannot expect to find +any where else, whoever may be my husband; men love to be +masters, and I have no inclination to be commanded.' + +"After several other embassies on the same occasion, there +arrived one from a king more opulent and powerful than any of the +preceding. This prince the king of China recommended to his +daughter for her husband, urging many forcible arguments to shew +how much it would be to her advantage to accept him, but she +entreated her father to excuse her compliance for the reasons she +had before urged. He pressed her; but instead of consenting, she +lost all the respect due to the king her father: Sir,' said +she, in anger, talk to me no more of this or any other match, +unless you would have me plunge this dagger in my bosom, to +deliver myself from your importunities' + +"The king, greatly enraged, said, Daughter, you are mad, and I +must treat you accordingly.' In a word, he had her shut up in a +single apartment of one of his palaces, and allowed her only ten +old women to wait upon her, and keep her company, the chief of +whom had been her nurse That the kings his neighbours, who had +sent embassies to him on her account, might not think any more of +her, he despatched envoys to them severally, to let them know how +averse his daughter was to marriage; and as he did not doubt but +she was really mad, he charged them to make known in every court, +that if there were any physician that would undertake to cure +her, he should, if he succeeded, have her for his pains. + +"Fair Maimoune," continued Danhasch, "all that I have told you is +true; and I have gone every day regularly to contemplate this +incomparable beauty, to whom I would be sorry to do the least +harm, notwithstanding my natural inclination to mischief. Come +and see her, I conjure you; it would be well worth your while. +When you have seen from your own observation that I am no liar, I +am persuaded you will think yourself obliged to me for the sight +of a princess unequalled in beauty." + +Instead of answering Danhasch, Maimoune burst out into violent +laughter, which lasted for some time; and Danhasch, not knowing +what might be the occasion of it, was astonished beyond measure. +When she had done laughing, she exclaimed, "Good, good, very +good! You would have me then believe all you have told me? I +thought you designed to tell me something surprising and +extraordinary, and you have been talking all this while of a mad +woman. Fie, fie! what would you say, cursed genie, if you had +seen the beautiful prince from whom I am just come, and whom I +love as he deserves. I am confident you would soon give up the +contest, and not pretend to compare your choice with mine." + +"Agreeable Maimoune," replied Danhasch, "may I presume to ask who +this prince you speak of is?" "Know," answered Maimoune, "the +same thing has happened to him as to your princess. The king his +father would have married him against his will; but after much +importunity, he frankly told him he would have nothing to do with +a wife. For this reason he is at this moment imprisoned in an old +tower where I reside." + +"I will not absolutely contradict you," replied Danhasch; "but, +my pretty lady, you must give me leave to be of opinion, till I +have seen your prince, that no mortal upon earth can equal my +princess in beauty." "Hold thy tongue, cursed sprite," replied +Maimoune. "I tell thee once more thou art wrong." "I will not +contend with you," said Danhasch, "but the way to be convinced, +whether what I say be true or false, is to accept of my proposal +to go and see my princess, and after that I will go with you to +your prince." + +"There is no need I should be at so much trouble," replied +Maimoune; "there is another way to satisfy us both; and that is, +for you to bring your princess, and place her at my prince's bed- +side: by this means it will be easy for us to compare them +together, and determine the dispute." + +Danhasch consented, and determined to set out immediately for +China. But Maimoune drew him aside, and told him, she must first +shew him the tower whither he was to bring the princess. They +flew together to the tower, and when Maimoune had strewn it to +Danhasch, she cried, "Go fetch your princess, and do it quickly, +you will find me here." + +Danhasch left Maimoune, and flew towards China, whence he soon +returned with incredible speed, bringing the fair princess along +with him asleep. Maimoune received him, and introduced him into +the chamber of Kummir al Zummaun, where they placed the princess +by the prince's side. + +When the prince and princess were thus laid together, there arose +a sharp contest between the genie and the fairy about the +preference of their beauty. They were some time admiring and +comparing them without speaking; at length Danhasch said to +Maimoune, "You see, and I have already told you, my princess was +handsomer than your prince; now, I hope, you are convinced." + +"How! convinced!" replied Maimoune; "I am not convinced, and you +must be blind, if you cannot see that my prince excels in the +comparison. That the princess is fair, I do not deny; but if you +compare them together without prejudice, you will soon see the +difference." + +"How much soever I may compare them," returned Danhasch, "I shall +never change my opinion. I saw at first sight what I now behold, +and time will not make me see differently: however, this shall +not hinder my yielding to you, charming Maimoune, if you desire +it." "What! have you yield to me as a favour! I scorn it," said +Maimoune, "I would not receive a favour at the hand of such a +wicked genie. I will refer the matter to an umpire, and if you do +not consent, I shall win by your refusal." + +Danhasch, who was ready to have shewn a different kind of +complaisance, no sooner gave his consent, than Maimoune stamped +with her foot. The earth opened, and out came a hideous, hump- +backed, squinting, and lame genie, with six horns upon his head, +and claws on his hands and feet. As soon as he was come out, and +the earth had closed, perceiving Maimoune, he threw himself at +her feet, and then rising on one knee, inquired her commands. + +"Rise, Caschcasch," said Maimoune, "I brought you hither to +determine a difference between me and this cursed Danhasch. Look +on that bed, and tell me without partiality who is the handsomer +of those two that lie there asleep, the young man or the young +lady." + +Caschcasch looked on the prince and princess with great +attention, admiration, and surprise; and after he had considered +them a good while, without being able to determine, he turned to +Maimoune, and said, "Madam, I must confess I should deceive you, +and betray myself, if I pretended to say one was handsomer than +the other. The more I examine them, the more clearly it appears +to me each possesses, in a sovereign degree, the beauty of which +both partake. Neither of them appears to have the least defect, +to yield to the other the palm of superiority; but if there be +any difference, the best way to determine it is, to awaken them +one after the other, and to agree that the person who shall +express most love for the other by ardour, eagerness, and +passion, shall be deemed to have in some respect less beauty." + +This proposal of Caschcasch's pleased both Maimoune and Danhasch. +Maimoune then changed herself into a flea, and leaping on the +prince's neck, stung him so smartly, that he awoke, and put up +his hand to the place; but Maimoune skipped away, and resumed her +pristine form, which, like those of the two genies, was +invisible, the better to observe what he would do. + +In drawing back his hand, the prince chanced to let it fall on +that of the princess of China. He opened his eyes, and was +exceedingly surprised to find lying by him a lady of the greatest +beauty. He raised his head, and leaned on his elbow, the better +to observe her. Her blooming youth and incomparable beauty fired +him in a moment with a flame of which he had never yet been +sensible, and from which he had hitherto guarded himself with the +greatest attention. + +Love seized on his heart in the most lively manner, and he +exclaimed, "What beauty! what charms! my heart! my soul!" As he +spoke he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and her mouth with so +little caution, that he would have awakened her, had she not +slept sounder than ordinary, through the enchantment of Danhasch. + +"How!" said the prince, "do you not awake at these testimonies of +love?" He was going to awake her, but suddenly refrained. "Is not +this she," said he, "that the sultan my father would have had me +marry? He was in the wrong not to let me see her sooner. I should +not have offended him by my disobedience and passionate language +to him in public, and he would have spared himself the confusion +which I have occasioned him." + +The prince began to repent sincerely of the fault he had +committed, and was once more on the point of awaking the princess +of China. "It may be," said he, "that the sultan my father has a +mind to surprise me; and has sent this young lady to try if I had +really that aversion to marriage which I pretended. Who knows but +he has brought her himself, and is hidden behind the hangings, to +observe me, and make me ashamed of my dissimulation? The second +fault would be greater than the first. At all events, I will +content myself with this ring, as a remembrance of her." + +He then gently drew off a ring which the princess had on her +finger, and immediately replaced it with one of his own. After +this he fell into a more profound sleep than before, through the +enchantment of the genies. + +Danhasch now transformed himself into a flea in his turn, and bit +the princess so rudely on the lip, that she awoke, started up, +and on opening her eyes, was not a little surprised to see a man +lying by her side. From surprise she proceeded to admiration, and +from admiration to a transport of joy, at beholding so beautiful +and lovely a youth. + +"What!" cried she, "is it you the king my father has designed me +for a husband? Would that I had known it, for then I should not +have displeased him, nor been deprived of a husband whom I cannot +forbear loving. Wake then, awake!" + +So saying, she took the prince by the arm, and shook him so +violently, that he would have awaked, had not Maimoune increased +his sleep by her enchantment. She shook him several times, and +finding he did not awake, exclaimed, "What is come to thee? what +jealous rival, envying thy happiness and mine, has had recourse +to magic to throw thee into this unconquerable drowsiness when +thou shouldst be most awake?" Tired at length with her fruitless +endeavours to awaken the prince; "Since," said she, "I find it is +not in my power to awake thee, I will no longer disturb thy +repose, but wait our next meeting." After having kissed his +cheek, she lay down and fell asleep by enchantment. + +Maimoune now cried out to Danhasch, "Ah, cursed genie, art thou +not now convinced how much thy princess is inferior to my prince? +Another time believe me when I assert any thing." Then turning to +Caschcasch, "As for you," said she, "I thank you for your +trouble; take the princess, in conjunction with Danhasch, and +convey her back again to her bed, from whence he has taken her." +Danhasch and Caschcasch did as they were commanded, and Maimoune +retired to her well. + +Kummir al Zummaun on waking next morning, looked if the lady whom +he had seen the night before were by him. When he found she was +gone, he cried out, "I thought indeed this was a trick the king +my father designed to play me. I am glad I was aware of it." He +then awaked the slave, who was still asleep, and after he had +washed and said his prayers, took a book and read some time. + +After these usual exercises, he called the slave, and said to +him, "Come hither, and be sure you do not tell me a lie. How came +the lady hither who lay with me to-night, and who brought her?" + +"My lord," answered the slave with great astonishment, "I know +not what lady your highness speaks of." "I speak," said the +prince, "of her who came, or rather was brought hither, and lay +with me to-night." "My lord," replied the slave, "I swear I know +of no such lady; and how should she come in without my knowledge, +since I lay at the door?" + +"You are a lying knave," replied the prince, "and in the plot to +vex and provoke me." He then gave him a box on the ear, which +knocked him down; and after having stamped upon him for some +time, he tied the well-rope under his arms, and plunged him +several times into the water, neck and heels. "I will drown +thee," cried he, "if thou dost not tell me directly who this lady +was, and who brought her." + +The slave, perplexed and half dead, said within himself, "The +prince must have lost his senses through grief, and I shall not +escape if I do not tell him a falsehood. My lord," cried he, in a +suppliant tone, "I beseech your highness to spare my life, and I +will tell you the truth." + +The prince drew the slave up, and pressed him to tell him. As +soon as he was out of the well, "My lord," said he, trembling, +"your highness must perceive it is impossible for me to satisfy +you in my present condition; I beg you to give me leave first to +go and change my clothes." "I permit you, but do it quickly," +said the prince; "and be sure you conceal nothing." + +The slave went out, and having locked the door upon the prince, +ran to the palace just as he was. The king was at that time in +discourse with his prime vizier, to whom he had just related the +grief in which he had passed the night on account of his son's +disobedience and opposition to his will. + +The minister endeavoured to comfort his master, by telling him, +the prince himself had given him cause for his severity. "Sir," +said he, "your majesty need not repent of having treated your son +in this manner. Have but patience to let him continue a while in +prison, and assure yourself his heat will abate, and he will +submit to all you require." + +The grand vizier had but just done speaking when the slave came +in, and cast himself at the feet of the sovereign. "My lord," +said he, "I am sorry to be the messenger of ill news to your +majesty, which I know must occasion you fresh affliction. The +prince is distracted; he raves of a lady having lain with him all +night, and his treatment of me, as you may see, too plainly +proves the state of his mind." Then he proceeded to relate the +particulars of what the prince had said, and the violence with +which he had been treated. + +The king, who did not expect to hear any thing of this afflicting +kind, said to the prime minister, "This is a melancholy turn, +very different from the hopes you gave me: go immediately and +examine the condition of my son." + +The grand vizier obeyed; and coming into the prince's chamber, +found him sitting on his bed with a book in his hand, which he +was reading. + +After mutual salutations, the vizier said, "My lord, I wish that +a slave of yours were punished for coming to alarm the king your +father by news that he has brought him." + +"What is it," demanded the prince, "that could give my father so +much uneasiness?" + +"Prince," answered the vizier, "God forbid that the intelligence +he has conveyed to your father concerning you should be true; +indeed, I find it to be false, by the calm temper in which I +observe you, and which I pray you to continue." + +"It may be," replied the prince, "he did not make himself well +understood; but since you are come, who ought to know something +of the matter, permit me to ask you who that lady was that lay +with me last night?" + +The grand vizier was thunderstruck at this question; he recovered +himself and said, "My lord, be not surprised at my astonishment +at your question. Is it possible, that a lady or any other person +should penetrate by night into this place without entering at the +door, and walking over the body of your slave? I beseech you, +recollect yourself, and you will find it is only a dream which +has made this impression on you." + +"I give no ear to what you say," replied the prince, raising his +voice. "I must know from you absolutely what is become of the +lady; and if you hesitate, I am in a place where I shall soon be +able to force you to obey me." + +At this stern language, the grand vizier began to feel more +alarmed than before, and to think how he could extricate himself. +He endeavoured to pacify the prince, and begged of him, in the +most humble and guarded manner, to tell him if he had seen this +lady. + +"Yes, yes," answered the prince, "I have seen her, and am very +well satisfied you sent her here to tempt me. She played the part +in which you had instructed her admirably well. She pretended to +be asleep, and I had no sooner fallen into a slumber, than she +arose and left me. You know all this; for I doubt not she has +been to make her report to you." + +"My lord," replied the vizier, "I swear to you nothing of this +kind has been acted; neither your father nor I sent this lady you +speak of; permit me therefore once more to suggest to your +highness, that you have only seen this lady in a dream." + +"Do you come to affront and contradict me," said the prince in a +rage, "and to tell me to my face, that what I have told you is a +dream?" At the same time he took him by the beard, and loaded him +with blows, as long as he could stand. + +The grand vizier endured with respectful patience all the +violence of the prince's indignation, and could not help saying +within himself, "Now am I in as bad a condition as the slave, and +shall think myself happy, if I can, like him, escape from any +further danger." In the midst of repeated blows, he cried out but +for a moment's audience, which the prince, after he had nearly +tired himself with beating him, consented to give him. + +"I own, my prince," said the grand vizier dissembling, "there is +something in what your highness suspects; but you cannot be +ignorant of the necessity a minister is under to obey his royal +master's commands: yet, if you will but be pleased to set me at +liberty, I will go and tell him any thing on your behalf that you +shall think fit to require." "Go then," said the prince, "and +tell him from me, if he pleases, I will marry the lady he sent +me, or, rather, that was brought to me last night. Do this +immediately, and bring me a speedy answer." The grand vizier made +a profound reverence and went away, not thinking himself +altogether safe till he had got out of the tower, and had closed +the door on the prince. + +He came and presented himself before Shaw Zummaun, with a +countenance that sufficiently shewed he had been ill used, and +which the king could not behold without concern. "Well," said the +king, "in what condition did you find my son?" "Sir," answered +the vizier, "what the slave reported to your majesty is but too +true." He then began to relate his interview with the prince, how +he flew into a passion upon his endeavouring to persuade him it +was impossible the lady he spoke of should have been introduced; +the ill treatment he had received from him; how he had used him, +and by what means he had made his escape. + +The king, the more concerned as he loved the prince with +excessive tenderness, resolved to find out the truth, and +therefore proposed to go himself and see his son in the tower, +accompanied by the grand vizier. + +The prince received his father in the tower, where he was +confined, with great respect. The king put several questions to +him, which he answered calmly. The king every now and then looked +on the grand vizier, as intimating he did not find his son had +lost his wits, but rather thought he had lost his. + +The king at length spoke of the lady to the prince. "My son," +said he, "I desire you to tell me what lady it was who lay with +you last night." + +"Sir," answered the prince, "I beg of your majesty not to give me +more vexation on that head, but rather to oblige me by letting me +have her in marriage; whatever aversion I may hitherto have +discovered for women, this young lady has charmed me to that +degree, that I cannot help confessing my weakness. I am ready to +receive her at your majesty's hands, with the deepest gratitude." + +Shaw Zummaun was surprised at this answer of the prince, so +remote, as he thought, from the good sense he had strewn before. +"My son," said he, "you fill me with the greatest astonishment by +what you say: I swear to you I know nothing of the lady you +mention; and if any such has come to you, it was without my +knowledge or privily. But how could she get into this tower +without my consent? For whatever my grand vizier told you, it was +only to appease your anger, it must therefore be a mere dream; +and I beg of you not to believe otherwise, but recover your +senses." + +"Sir," replied the prince, "I should be for ever unworthy of your +majesty's favour, if I did not give entire credit to what you are +pleased to say but I humbly beseech you at the same time to give +a patient hearing to what I shall relate, and then to judge +whether what I have the honour to tell you be a dream or not." + +The prince then related to his father how he had been awaked, +exaggerating the beauty and charms of the lady he found by his +side, the instantaneous love he conceived for her, and the pains +he took to awaken her without effect. Shewing the king the ring +he had taken from her finger he added, "After this, I hope you +will be convinced that I have not lost my senses, as you have +been almost made to believe." + +Shaw Zummaun was so perfectly convinced of the truth of what his +son had been telling him, that he could make no reply, remaining +astonished for some time, and not being able to utter a syllable. + +The prince took advantage of this opportunity, and said, "The +passion I have conceived for this charming lady, whose lovely +image I bear continually in my mind, is so ardent, that I cannot +resist it. I entreat you therefore to have compassion, and +procure me the happiness of being united to her." + +"Son," replied the king, "after what I have just heard, and what +I see by the ring on your finger, I cannot doubt but that your +passion is real, and that you have seen this lady, who is the +object of it. Would to God I knew who she was. I would instantly +comply with your wishes, and should be the happiest father in the +world! But where shall I seek her? How came she here, and by what +conveyance, without my consent? Why did she come to sleep with +you only to display her beauty, to kindle a flame of love while +she slept, and then leave you while you were in a slumber? These +things, I must confess, I do not understand; and if heaven do not +favour us in our perplexity, I fear we must both go down to the +grave together." As he spoke, he took the prince by the hand, and +said, "Come then, my son, let us go and grieve together; you with +hopeless love, and I with seeing your affliction, without being +able to afford you relief." + + +Shaw Zummaun then led his son out of the tower, and conveyed him +to the palace, where he had no sooner arrived, than in despair at +loving an unknown object he fell sick, and took to his bed; the +king shut himself up with him, without attending to the affairs +of his kingdom for many days. + +The prime minister, who was the only person that had admittance, +at length informed him, that the whole court, and even the +people, began to murmur at not seeing him, and that he did not +administer justice every day as he was wont to do; adding, he +knew not what disorder it might occasion. "I humbly beg your +majesty, therefore," proceeded he, "to pay some attention. I am +sensible your majesty's company is a great comfort to the prince, +and that his tends to relieve your grief; but you must not run +the risk of letting all be lost. Permit me to propose to your +majesty, to remove with the prince to the castle near the port, +where you may give audience to your subjects twice a week only. +During these absences the prince will be so agreeably amused with +the beauty, prospect, and good air of the place, that he will +bear them with the less uneasiness." + +The king approved this proposal: he removed thither with the +prince; and, excepting when he gave audience, never left him, but +passed all his time endeavouring to comfort him by sharing his +distress. + +Whilst matters passed thus in the capital of Shaw Zummaun, the +two genies, Danhasch and Caschcasch, had carried the princess of +China back to the palace where the king her father had confined +her, and laid her in her bed as before. + +When she awoke next morning, and found that prince Kummir al +Zummaun was not by her, she cried out in such a manner to her +women, that she soon brought them to her bed. Her nurse, who +arrived first, desired to be informed if any thing disagreeable +had happened to her. + +"Tell me," said the princess, "what is become of the young man +that has passed the night with me, and whom I love with all my +soul?" "Madam," replied the nurse, "we cannot understand your +highness, unless you will be pleased to explain yourself." + +"A young man, the handsomest and most amiable," said the +princess, "slept with me last night, whom, with all my caresses, +I could not awake; I ask you where he is?"' + +"Madam,"answered the nurse, "your highness asks us these +questions in jest. I beseech you to rise." "I am in earnest," +said the princess, "and I must know where this young man is." +"Madam," insisted the nurse, "you were alone when you went to bed +last night; and how any man could come to you without our +knowledge we cannot imagine, for we all lay about the door of +your chamber, which was locked, and I had the key in my pocket." + +At this the princess lost all patience,and taking her nurse by +the hair of her head, and giving her two or three sound cuffs, +cried, "You shall tell me where this young man is, you old +sorceress, or I will put you to death." + +The nurse struggled to get from her, and at last succeeded. She +went immediately with tears in her eyes, and her face all bloody, +to complain to the queen, who was not a little surprised to see +her in this condition, and asked who had misused her. + +"Madam," began the nurse, "you see how the princess has treated +me; she had certainly murdered me, if I had not had the good +fortune to escape out of her hands." She then related what had +been the cause of all that violent passion in the princess. The +queen was surprised at her account, and could not guess how she +came to be so infatuated as to take that for a reality which +could be no other than a dream. "Your majesty must conclude from +all this," continued the nurse, "that the princess is out of her +senses. You will think so yourself if you will go and see her." + +The queen's affection for the princess deeply interested her in +what she heard; she ordered the nurse to follow her; and they +immediately went together to the princess's palace. + +The queen of China sat down by her daughter's bed-side on her +arrival in her apartment, and after she had informed herself +about her health began to ask her what had made her so angry with +her nurse, as to treat her in the manner she had done. +"Daughter," said she, "this is not right, and a great princess +like you should not suffer herself to be so transported by +passion," + +"Madam," replied the princess, "I plainly perceive your majesty +is come to mock me; but I declare I will never let you rest till +you consent to my marrying the young man who lay with me last +night. You must know where he is, and therefore I beg of your +majesty to let him come to me again." + +"Daughter," answered the queen, "you surprise me; I do not +understand your meaning." The princess now forgot all respect for +the queen; "Madam," replied she, "the king my father and you have +persecuted me about marrying, when I had no inclination; I now +have an inclination, and I will have this young man I told you of +for my husband, or I will destroy myself." + +The queen endeavoured to calm the princess by conciliatory +language: "Daughter," said she, "you know well you are guarded in +this apartment, how then could any man come to you?" But instead +of attending to her, the princess interrupted her, by such +extravagancies as obliged the queen to leave her, and retire in +great affliction, to inform the king of all that had passed. + +When the king had heard the account, he wished likewise to be +satisfied in person, and coming to his daughter's apartment, +asked her, if what he had been told was true? "Sir," replied the +princess, "let us talk no more of that; I only beseech your +majesty to grant me the favour, that I may marry the young man I +lay with last night." + +"What! daughter," said the king, "has any one lain with you last +night?" "How, sir," replied the princess, without giving him time +to go on, "do you ask me if any one lay with me last night? Your +majesty knows that but too well. He was the most beautiful youth +the sun ever saw: I ask him of you for my husband; I entreat you +do not refuse me. But that your majesty may not longer doubt +whether I have seen this young man, whether he has lain with me, +whether I have caressed him, or whether I did not my utmost to +awake him without succeeding, see, if you please, this ring." She +then reached forth her hand, and shewed the king a man's ring on +her finger. The king was perplexed what to think. He had confined +his daughter as mad, he began now to think her more insane than +ever. Without saying any thing more to her, lest she might do +violence to herself or somebody about her, he had her chained, +and confined more closely than before, allowing her only the +nurse to wait on her, with a good guard at the door. + +The king, exceedingly concerned at this indisposition of his +daughter, sought all possible means to effect her cure. He +assembled his council, and after having acquainted them with her +condition "If any of you," said he, "is capable of undertaking to +restore her to health, and succeed, I will give her to him in +marriage, and make him heir to my dominions." + +The desire of obtaining a handsome young princess, and the hopes +of one day governing so great a kingdom as that of China, had a +powerful effect on an emir, already advanced in years, who was +present at this council. As he was well skilled in magic, he +offered the king to recover his daughter, and flattered himself +with success. "I consent to the trial," said the king; "but I +forgot to tell you one condition, and that is, that if you do not +succeed, you shall lose your head. It would not be reasonable you +should have so great a reward, and yet run no risk: and what I +say to you," continued the king, "I say to all others who shall +come after you, that they may consider beforehand what they +undertake." + +The emir accepted the condition, and the king conducted him to +the princess's place of confinement. She covered her face as soon +as she saw them enter, and exclaimed, "Your majesty surprises me, +in bringing with you a man whom I do not know, and by whom my +religion forbids me to let myself be seen." "Daughter," replied +the king, "you need not be scandalized, it is only one of my +emirs who is come to demand you in marriage." "It is not, I +perceive, the person that you have already given me, and whose +faith is plighted by the ring I wear," replied the princess; "be +not offended that I will never marry any other." + +The emir expected the princess would have said or done some +extravagant thing, and was not a little disappointed when he +heard her talk so calmly and rationally; for he then concluded +that her disease was nothing but a violent and deep-rooted +passion. He therefore threw himself at his majesty's feet, and +said, "After what I have heard and observed, sir, it will be to +no purpose for me to think of curing the princess, since I have +no remedies proper for her malady; for which reason I humbly +submit my life to your majesty's pleasure." The king, enraged at +his incapacity, and the trouble he had given him, caused him to +be immediately beheaded. + +Some days after, unwilling to have it said that he had neglected +his daughter's cure, the king put forth a proclamation in his +capital, importing, that if there were any physician, astrologer, +or magician who would undertake to restore the princess to her +senses, he needed only to offer himself, and he should be +employed, on condition of losing his head if he failed. He had +the same published in the other principal cities and towns of his +dominions, and in the courts of the princes his neighbours. + +The first that presented himself was an astrologer and magician, +whom the king caused to be conducted to the princess's prison by +an eunuch. The astrologer drew forth, out of a bag he carried +under his arm, an astrolabe, a small sphere, a chafing-dish, +several sorts of drugs proper for fumigations, a brass pot, with +many other articles, and desired he might have a fire. + +The princess demanded what all these preparations were for. +"Madam," answered the eunuch, "they are to exorcise the evil +spirit that possesses you, to shut him up in this pot, and throw +him into the sea." + +"Foolish astrologer," replied the princess, "I have no occasion +for any of your preparations, but am in my perfect senses, and +you alone are mad. If your art can bring him I love to me, I +shall be obliged to you; otherwise you may go about your +business, for I have nothing to do with you." "Madam," said the +astrologer, "if your case be so, I shall desist from all +endeavours, believing the king your father only can remove your +disorder:" so putting up his trinkets again, he marched away, +much concerned that he had so easily undertaken to cure an +imaginary malady. + +The eunuch conducted the astrologer to the king, whom the +astrologer thus addressed: "According to what your majesty +published in your proclamation, and what you were pleased to +confirm to me yourself, I thought the princess was insane, and +depended on being able to recover her by the secrets I have long +been acquainted with; but I soon found she had no other disease +but that of love, over which my art has no power: your majesty +alone is the physician who can cure her, by giving her in +marriage the person whom she desires." + +The king was much enraged at the astrologer, and had his head +instantly cut off. A hundred and fifty astrologers, physicians, +and magicians, came on this account, who all underwent the same +fate; and their heads were set upon poles on every gate of the +city. + +The princess of China's nurse had a son whose name was Marzavan, +who had been foster-brother to the princess, and brought up with +her, The friendship was so great during their childhood, and all +the time they had been together, that as they grew up, even some +time after their separation, they treated each other as brother +and sister. + +Marzavan, among other studies, had from his youth been much +addicted to judicial astrology, geomancy, and the like secret +arts, wherein he became exceedingly skilful. Not satisfied with +what he had learned from masters, he travelled, and there was +hardly any person of note in any science or art, but he sought +him in the most remote cities, to obtain information, so great +was his thirst after knowledge. + +After several years' absence in foreign parts, he returned to the +capital of his native country, where, seeing so many heads on the +gate by which he entered, he was exceedingly surprised, and +demanded for what reason they had been placed there; but he more +particularly inquired after the princess his foster-sister. As he +could not receive an answer to one inquiry without the other, he +heard at length a general account of what had happened, and +waited for further particulars till he could see his mother, the +princess's nurse. + +Although the nurse, the mother of Marzavan, was much employed +about the princess, yet she no sooner heard her son was returned, +than she found time to come out, embrace him, and converse with +him a little. Having told him, with tears in her eyes, the +unhappy condition of the princess, and for what reason the king +her father had confined her; her son desired to know if she could +not procure him a private view of her royal mistress, without the +king's knowledge. After some pause, she told him she could give +him no answer for the present; but if he would meet her the next +day at the same hour, she would inform him. + +The nurse knowing none could approach the princess but herself; +without leave of the eunuch, who commanded the guard at the gate, +addressed: herself to him, and said, "You know I have brought up +and suckled the princess, and you may likewise have heard that I +had a daughter whom I brought up along with her. This daughter +has been since married, yet the princess still does her the +honour to love her, and wishes to see her, without any person's +observing her enter or depart." + +The nurse was proceeding, but the eunuch interrupted her and +exclaimed, "Say no more, I will with pleasure do any thing to +oblige the princess; go and fetch your daughter, or send for her +about midnight,and the gate shall be open for you." + +As soon as it was dark, the nurse went to Marzavan, and having +dressed him so well in women's clothes, that nobody could suspect +he was a man, carried him along with her; and the eunuch +believing it was her daughter, admitted them. + +The nurse, before she presented Marzavan, went to the princess, +and said, "Madam, this is not a woman I have brought to you, it +is my son Marzavan in disguise, newly arrived from his travels; +having a great desire to kiss your hand, I hope your highness +will vouchsafe him that honour." + +"What! my brother Marzavan," exclaimed the princess, with great +joy; "approach, and take off that veil; for it is not +unreasonable that a brother and a sister should see each other +without covering their faces." + +Marzavan saluted her with profound respect, while, without giving +him time to speak, she continued, "I rejoice to see you returned +in good health, after so many years' absence, and without sending +any account of your welfare, even to your good mother." + +"Madam," replied Marzavan, "I am infinitely obliged to your +goodness. I hoped to have heard a better account of your health +than has been given me, and which I lament to find confirmed by +your appearance. It gives me pleasure, however, to have come so +seasonably to bring your highness that remedy which your +situation requires. Should I reap no other benefit from my +studies and travels, I should think myself amply recompensed." + +Having thus spoken, Marzavan drew out of his pocket a book and +some other things, which from the account he had had from his +mother of the princess's distemper, he thought he might want. The +princess, observing these preparations, exclaimed, "What! +brother, are you one of those who believe me mad? Undeceive +yourself, and hear me." + +The princess then related to Marzavan all the particulars of her +story, without omitting the least circumstance, even to the ring +which was exchanged for hers, and which she shewed him. "I have +not concealed the least incident from you," continued she; "there +is something in this business which I cannot comprehend, and +which has given occasion for some persons to think me mad. But no +one will attend to the rest, which is literally as I have +stated." + +After the princess had concluded, Marzavan, filled with wonder +and astonishment, remained for some time with his eyes fixed on +the ground, without speaking a word; but at length he lifted up +his head, and said, "If it be as your highness says, and which I +do not in the least doubt, I do not despair of being able to +procure you the gratification of your wishes. But I must first +entreat your highness to arm yourself with patience, till I have +travelled over kingdoms which I have not yet visited, and when +you hear of my return, be assured the object of your desire is +not far distant." Having thus spoken, Marzavan took leave of the +princess, and set out the next morning on his intended travels. + +He journeyed from city to city, from province to province, and +from island to island; and in every place he visited, he could +hear of nothing but the princess Badoura (which was the princess +of China's name) and her history. + +About four months after, our traveller arrived at Torf, a sea- +port town, large and populous, where the theme was changed; he no +more heard of the princess Badoura, but all the talk was of +prince Kummir al Zummaun, who was sick, and whose history greatly +resembled hers. Marzavan was extremely delighted on hearing this, +and informed himself where the prince was to be found. There were +two ways to it; one, by land and sea; the other, by sea only, +which was the shortest. + +Marzavan chose the latter; and embarking on board a merchant +ship, arrived safely in sight of Shaw Zummaun's capital; but just +before it entered the port, the ship struck upon a rock, by the +unskilfulness of the pilot, and foundered: it went down in sight +of the castle, where at that time were the king and his grand +vizier. + +Marzavan, who could swim well, immediately upon the ship's +sinking cast himself into the sea, and got safe on shore under +the castle, where he was soon relieved by the grand vizier's +order. After he had changed his clothes, and been well treated, +he was introduced to the grand vizier, who lead sent for him. + +Marzavan being a young man of good address, the minister received +him with great politeness; and was induced, from the just and +pertinent answers he returned to the questions put to him, to +regard him with great esteem. Finding by degrees that he +possessed great variety and extent of information, he said to +him, "From what I can understand, I perceive you are no common +man; you have travelled much: would to God you had discovered +some remedy for a malady which has been long a source of great +affliction at this court." + +Marzavan replied, if he knew what malady it was, he might perhaps +find a remedy applicable to it. + +The grand vizier then related to him the story of prince Kummir +al Zummaun. He concealed nothing relating to his birth, which had +been so earnestly desired, his education, the wish of the king +his father to see him early married, his resistance and +extraordinary aversion from marriage, his disobeying his father +in full council, his imprisonment, his extravagancies in prison, +which were afterwards changed into a violent passion for some +unknown lady, who, he pretended, had exchanged a ring with him, +though, for his part, he verily believed there was no such person +in the world. + +Marzavan gave great attention to all the grand vizier said, and +was infinitely rejoiced to find that, by means of his shipwreck, +he had so fortunately lighted on the person he was seeking. He +saw no reason to doubt that the prince was the man whom the +princess of China so ardently loved, and that this princess was +equally the object of his passion. Without explaining himself +farther to the vizier, he desired to see the prince, that he +might be better able to judge of his disorder and its cure. +"Follow me," said the grand vizier, "and you will find the king +with him, who has already desired I should introduce you." + +On entering the prince's chamber, the first thing Marzavan +observed was the prince upon his bed languishing, and with his +eyes shut. Notwithstanding his condition, and regardless of the +presence of the king his father, who was sitting by him, he could +not avoid exclaiming, "Heavens! was there ever a greater +resemblance?" He meant to the princess of China; for it seems the +princess and the prince were much alike. + +This exclamation of Marzavan excited the prince's curiosity; he +opened his eyes and looked at him. Marzavan, who had a ready wit, +seized that opportunity, and made his compliment in extempore +verse; but in such a disguised manner, that neither the king nor +the grand vizier under stood his meaning. He represented so +exactly what had happened to him with the princess of China, that +the prince had no reason to doubt he knew her, and could give him +tidings of her. His countenance immediately brightened up with +joy. + +After Marzavan had finished his compliment in verse, which +surprised Kummir al Zummaun so agreeably, the prince took the +liberty of making a sign to the king his father, to give his +place to Marzavan, and allow him to sit by him. + +The king, overjoyed at this alteration, which inspired him with +hopes of his son's speedy recovery, quitted his place, and taking +Marzavan by the hand, led him to it, obliging him to sit. He then +demanded of him who he was, and whence he had come? And upon +Marzavan's answering he was a subject of China, and came from +that kingdom, the king exclaimed, "Heaven grant you may be able +to recover my son from this profound melancholy; I shall be +eternally obliged to you, and all the world shall see how +handsomely I will reward you." Having said thus, he left the +prince to converse at full liberty with the stranger, whilst he +went and rejoiced with the grand vizier on this happy incident. + +Marzavan leaning down to the prince, addressed him in a low +voice: "Prince, it is time you should cease to grieve. The lady, +for whom you suffer, is the princess Badoura, daughter of Gaiour, +king of China. This I can assure your highness from what she has +told me of her adventure, and what I have learned of yours. She +has suffered no less on your account than you have on hers." Here +he related all that he knew of the princess's story, from the +night of their extraordinary interview. + +He omitted not to acquaint him how the king had treated those who +had failed in their endeavours to cure the princess of her +indisposition. "But your highness is the only person," added he, +"that can cure her effectually, and you may present yourself +without fear. However, before you undertake so long a voyage, I +would have you perfectly recovered, and then we will take what +measures may be necessary. Think then immediately of the recovery +of your health." + +This account had a marvellous effect on the prince. The hopes of +speedily fulfilling his desires so much relieved him, that he +felt he had strength sufficient to rise, and begged permission of +his father to dress himself, with such an air as gave him +incredible pleasure. + +Shaw Zummaun, without inquiring into the means he had used to +produce this wonderful effect, could not refrain from embracing +Marzavan, and soon after went out of the prince's chamber with +the grand vizier, to publish the agreeable tidings. He ordered +public rejoicings for several days together, gave great largesses +to his officers and the people, and alms to the poor, and caused +the prisoners to be set at liberty throughout his kingdom The joy +was soon general in the capital, and in every part of his +dominions. + +Kummir al Zummaun, though extremely weakened by almost continual +privation of sleep and long abstinence, soon recovered his +health. When he found himself in a condition to undertake the +voyage, he took Marzavan aside, and said, "Dear Marzavan, it is +now time to perform the promise you have made me. My impatience +to behold the charming princess, and to relieve her of the +torments she is now suffering on my account, is such, that if we +do not shortly depart, I shall relapse into my former +indisposition. One thing still afflicts me," continued he, "and +that is the difficulty I shall find, from his tender affection +for me, to obtain my father's permission to travel into a distant +country. You observe he scarcely allows me to be a moment out of +his sight." + +At these words the prince wept. Marzavan then replied, "I foresaw +this difficulty, and I will take care it shall not obstruct us. +My principal design in this voyage was to cure the princess of +China of her malady, and this on account of the mutual affection +which we have borne to each other from our birth, as well as from +the zeal and affection I otherwise owe her. I should therefore be +wanting in my duty to her, if I did not use my best endeavours to +effect her cure and yours. This is then the mode I have devised +to obtain the king your father's consent. You have not stirred +abroad for some time, therefore request his permission to go upon +a hunting party with me. He will no doubt comply. When you have +obtained his leave, obtain two fleet coursers for each of us to +be got ready, one to mount, the other to change, and leave the +rest to me." + +The following day the prince did as he had been instructed. He +acquainted the king he was desirous of taking the air, and, if he +pleased, would go and hunt for two or three days with Marzavan. +The king gave his consent, but wished him not to be absent more +than one night, since too much exercise at first might impair his +health and a longer absence would make him uneasy. He then +ordered him to choose the best horses in the royal stable, and +took particular care that nothing should be wanting for his +accommodation. When all was ready, he embraced the prince, and +having recommended to Marzavan to be careful of him, he let him +go. Kummir al Zummaun and Marzavan were soon mounted, when, to +amuse the two grooms who led the spare horses, they made as if +they were going to hunt, and under this pretence got as far from +the city and out of the high road as was possible. When night +began to approach, they alighted at a caravanserai or inn, where +they supped, and slept till about midnight; when Marzavan +awakened the prince, and desired his highness to let him have his +dress, and to take another for himself, which was brought in his +baggage. Thus equipped, they mounted the fresh horses, and after +Marzavan had taken one of the grooms' horses by the bridle, they +left the caravanserai. + +At day-break they found themselves in a forest, where four roads +met. Here Marzavan, desiring the prince to wait for him a little, +went into the wood. He then cut the throat of the groom's horse, +and after having torn the suit which the prince had taken off, +and besmeared it with blood, threw it into the highway. + +The prince inquired his reason for what he had done. He replied, +he was sure that when the king his father found he did not +return, and should learn that he had departed without the grooms, +he would suspect something wrong, and immediately send in quest +of them. "they who may come this way, finding this bloody habit, +will conclude you are devoured by wild beasts, and that I have +escaped to avoid the king's anger. The king, concluding you are +dead, will stop further pursuit, and we may have leisure to +continue our journey without fear of being followed." "I must +confess," continued Marzavan, "it is a violent way of proceeding, +to alarm a fond father with the death of his son, but his joy +will be the greater when he shall hear you are alive and happy." +"Breve Marzavan," replied the prince, "I cannot but approve such +an ingenious stratagem, or sufficiently admire your conduct: you +place me under fresh obligations to you." + +The prince and Marzavan being well provided for their expenses, +continued their journey both by land and sea, and found no other +obstacle but the length of the time which it necessarily took up. +They arrived at length at the capital of China, where Marzavan, +instead of going to his house, carried the prince to a public +inn. They remained there incognito three days, to rest themselves +after the fatigue of the voyage; during which time Marzavan +caused an astrologer's habit to be made for the prince. The three +days being expired, they went together to the bath, where the +prince put on his astrologer's dress: from thence Marzavan +conducted him to the neighbourhood of the king of China's palace, +where he left him, to go and inform his mother of his arrival. + +Kummir al Zummaun, instructed by Marzavan what he was to do, came +next morning to the gate of the king's palace, and cried aloud, +"I am an astrologer, and am come to cure the illustrious princess +Badoura, daughter of the most high and mighty monarch Gaiour king +of China, on the conditions proposed by his majesty, to marry her +if I succeed, or else to lose my life for my fruitless and +presumptuous attempt." + +Besides the guards and porters at the gate, this incident drew +together a great number of people about the prince. There had no +physician, astrologer, or magician appeared for a long time on +this account, being deterred by the many tragical examples of ill +success that appeared before; it was therefore thought there +remained no more of these professions in the world, or none so +mad as those that had already forfeited their lives. + +The prince's appearance, his noble air, and blooming youth, made +every one who saw him pity him. "What mean you, sir," said some +that were nearest to him, "thus to expose a life of such +promising expectations to certain death? Cannot the heads you see +on all the gates of this city deter you from such an undertaking? +In the name of God consider what you do! abandon this rash +attempt, and depart." + +The prince continued firm, notwithstanding all these +remonstrances; and as he saw no one coming to introduce him, he +repeated the same cry with a boldness that made every body +tremble. They all then exclaimed, "Let him alone, he is resolved +to die; God have mercy on his youth and his soul!"" He then +proceeded to cry a third time in the same manner, when the grand +vizier came in person, and introduced him to the king of China. + +As soon as the prince came into the presence, he bowed and kissed +the ground. The king, who, among all that had hitherto +presumptuously exposed their lives on this occasion, had not +before seen one worthy of his attention, felt real compassion for +Kummir al Zummaun, on account of the danger to which he exposed +himself. "Young man," said he, "I can hardly believe that at this +age you can have acquired experience enough to dare attempt the +cure of my daughter. I wish you may succeed, and would give her +to you in marriage with all my heart, and with the greatest joy, +more willingly than I should have done to others that have +offered themselves before you; but I must declare to you at the +same time, though with great concern, that if you fail, +notwithstanding your noble appearance and your youth, you must +lose your head." + +"Sir," replied the prince, "I have infinite obligations to your +majesty for the honour you design me, and the great goodness you +shew to a stranger; but I desire your majesty to believe I would +not have come from so remote a country as I have done, the name +of which perhaps may be unknown in your dominions, if I had not +been certain of the cure I propose. What would not the world say +of my fickleness, if, after such great fatigues and so many +dangers as I have undergone in the pursuit, I should abandon this +generous enterprise? Even your majesty would lose that esteem you +have conceived for me. If I perish, I shall die with the +satisfaction of not having forfeited your good opinion. I beseech +your majesty therefore to keep me no longer from displaying the +certainty of my art, by the proof I am ready to afford." + +The king now commanded the eunuch, who had the custody of the +princess, to introduce Kummir al Zummaun into her apartment: but +before he would let him go, reminded him once more that he was at +liberty to renounce his design; but the prince paid no regard to +this, and with astonishing resolution and eagerness followed the +eunuch. + +When they had entered a long gallery, at the end of which was the +princess's apartment, the prince, who saw himself so near the +objets of his wishes, who had occasioned him so many tears, +pushed on, and got before the eunuch. + +The eunuch redoubling his pace, with difficulty got up to him, +"Wither so fast?"" cried he, taking him by the arm; "you cannot +get in without me; and it should seem you have a great desire for +death, thus to run to it headlong. Not one of all those many +astrologers and magicians I have introduced before made such +haste as yourself, to a place whence I fear you will come but too +soon." + +"Friend," replied the prince, looking earnestly on the eunuch, +and continuing his pace, "this was because none of the +astrologers you speak of were so confident in their art as I am: +they were certain indeed they should die, if they did not +succeed, .but they had no certainty of their success. On this +account they had reason to tremble on approaching this spot, +where I am sure to find my happiness." He had just spoken these +words when he reached the door. The eunuch opened it, and +introduced him into a great hall, whence was an entrance into the +princess's apartment, divided from it only by a piece of +tapestry. + +The prince stopped before he entered, speaking more softly to the +eunuch for fear of being heard by the princess. "To convince +you," said he; "there is neither presumption, nor whim, nor +youthful conceit in my undertaking, I leave it to your choice +whether I shall cure the princess in her presence, or where we +are, without going any farther, or seeing her?" + +The eunuch was amazed to hear the prince talk to him with such +confidence: he left off jeering, and said seriously to him, "It +is no matter where it is done, provided it be effected: cure her +how you will, if you succeed you will gain immortal honour, not +only in this court, but over all the world." + +The prince replied, "It will be best then to cure her without +seeing her, that you may be witness of my skill; notwithstanding +my impatience to see a princess of her rank, who is to be my +wife, yet out of respect to you, I will deprive myself of that +pleasure for a little while." Being furnished with every thing +proper for an astrologer to carry about him, he took pen, ink, +and paper our of his pocket, and wrote the following billet to +the princess. + + +"The impassioned Kummir al Zummaun cannot recite the +inexpressible pain he has endured since that fatal night in which +your charms deprived him of the liberty which he had resolved to +preserve. He only tells you that he devoted his heart to you in +your charming slumbers; those obstinate slumbers which hindered +him from beholding the brightness of your piercing eyes, +notwithstanding all his endeavours to oblige you to open them. He +presumed to present you with his ring as a token of his passion; +and to take yours in exchange, which he encloses. If you +condescend to return his as a reciprocal pledge of love, he will +esteem himself the happiest of mankind. If not, the sentence of +death, which your refusal must draw upon him, will be received +with resignation, since he will perish on account of his love for +you." + +When the prince had finished his billet, he folded it up, and +enclosed in it the princess's ring. "There, friend," said he to +the eunuch, "carry this to your mistress; if it does not cure her +as soon as she reads it, and sees what it contains, I give you +leave to tell every body, that I am the most ignorant and +impudent astrologer that ever existed." + +The eunuch entering the princess of China's apartment, gave her +the packet, saying, "The boldest astrologer that ever lived is +arrived here, and pretends, that on reading this letter and +seeing what it encloses, you will be cured; I wish he may prove +neither a liar nor an impostor." + +The princess Badoura took the billet, and opened it with +indifference: but when she saw the ring, she had not patience to +read it through: she rose hastily, broke the chain that held her, +ran to the door and opened it. They immediately recognized each +other, tenderly embraced, and without being able to speak for +excess of joy, looked at one another, wondering how they met +again after their first interview. The princess's nurse, who ran +to the door with her, made them come into her apartment, where +the princess Badoura gave the prince her ring, saying, "Take it, +I cannot keep it without restoring yours; which I will never part +with; neither can it be in better hands." + +The eunuch went immediately to inform the king of China of what +had happened: "Sir," said he, "all the astrologers and doctors +who have hitherto pretended to cure the princess were fools +compared with the present. He made use neither of schemes nor +conjurations, of perfumes, nor any thing else, but cured her +without seeing her." The monarch was agreeably surprised at this +intelligence, and going to the princess's apartment, he embraced +her, and afterwards the prince, and taking his hand joined it to +the princess's, saying, "Happy stranger, whoever you are, I will +keep my word, and give you my daughter for your wife; though, by +what I see in you, it is impossible for me to believe you are +really what you pretend, and would have me take you to be." + +Kummir al Zummaun thanked the king in the most humble +expressions, that he might the better shew his gratitude. "As for +my condition," said he, "I must own I am not an astrologer, as +your majesty has guessed; I only put on the habit of one, that I +might succeed the more easily in my ambition to be allied to the +most potent monarch in the world. I was born a prince, and the +son of a king and of a queen; my name is Kummir al Zummaun; my +father is Shaw Zummaun, who now reigns over the islands that are +well known by the name of the Islands of the Children of +Khaledan." He then related to him his history, and how wonderful +had been the origin of his love; that the princess's was +altogether as marvellous; and that both were confirmed by the +exchange of the two rings. + +When the prince had done speaking, the king said to him, "This +history is so extraordinary, it deserves to be known to +posterity; I will take care it shall; and the original being +deposited in my royal archives, I will spread copies of it +abroad, that my own kingdoms and the kingdoms around me may know +it." + +The marriage was solemnized the same day, and the rejoicings were +universal all over the empire of China. Nor was Marzavan +forgotten: the king gave him an honourable post in his court, and +a promise of further advancement. + +The prince and princess enjoyed the fulness of their wishes in +the sweets of marriage; and the king kept continual feastings for +several months, to manifest his joy on the occasion. + +In the midst of these pleasures Kummir al Zummaun dreamt one +night that he saw his father on his bed at the point of death, +and heard him thus address his attendants: "My son, to whom I +gave birth; my son, whom I so tenderly loved whom I bred with so +much fondness, so much care, has abandoned me, and is himself the +cause of my death." He awoke with a profound sigh, which alarmed +the princess, who asked him the cause. + +"Alas! my love," replied the prince, "perhaps at the very moment +while I am speaking, the king my father is no more." He then +acquainted her with his melancholy dream, which occasioned him so +much uneasiness. The princess, who studied to please him in every +thing, went to her father the next day, kissed his hand, and thus +addressed him: "I have a favour to beg of your majesty, and I +beseech you not to deny me; but that you may not believe I ask it +at the solicitation of the prince my husband, I assure you +beforehand he knows nothing of my request: it is, that you will +grant me your permission to go with him and visit his father." + +"Daughter," replied the king, "though I shall be sorry to part +with you for so long a time as a journey to a place so distant +will require, yet I cannot disapprove of your resolution; it is +worthy of yourself: go, child, I give you leave, but on condition +that you stay no longer than a year in Shaw Zummaun's court. I +hope the king will agree to this, that we shall alternately see, +he his son and his daughter-in-law, and I my daughter and my son- +in-law." + +The princess communicated the king of China's consent to her +husband, who was transported to receive it, and returned her +thanks for this new token of her love. + +The king of China gave orders for preparations to be made for +their departure; and when all things were ready, he accompanied +the prince and princess several days' journey on their way; they +parted at length with much affliction on both sides: the king +embraced them; and having desired the prince to be kind to his +daughter, and to love her always with the same tenderness he now +did, he left them to proceed, and to divert himself, hunted as he +returned to his capital. + +When the prince and princess had recovered from their grief, they +comforted themselves with considering how glad Shaw Zummaun would +be to see them, and how they should rejoice to see the king. + +After travelling about a month, they one day entered a plain of +great extent, planted at convenient distances with tall trees, +forming an agreeable shade. The day being unusually hot, the +prince thought it best to encamp there, and proposed it to +Badoura, who, having the same wish, the more readily consented. +They alighted in one of the finest spots; a tent was presently +set up; the princess, rising from the shade under which she had +sat down, entered it. The prince then ordered his attendants to +pitch their tents, and went himself to give directions. The +princess, weary with the fatigues of the journey, bade her women +untie her girdle, which they laid down by her; and she falling +asleep, they left her alone. + +Kummir al Zummaun having seen all things in order, came to the +tent where the princess was sleeping: he entered, and sat down +without making any noise, intending to repose himself; but +observing the princess's girdle lying by her, he took it up, and +looked at the diamonds and rubies one by one. In viewing it he +observed a little purse hanging to it, sewed neatly on the stuff, +and tied fast with a riband; he felt it, and found it contained +something solid. Desirous to know what it was, he opened the +purse, and took out a cornelian, engraven with unknown figures +and characters. "This cornelian," said the prince to himself, +"must be something very valuable, or my princess would not carry +it with so much care." It was Badoura's talisman, which the queen +of China had given her daughter as a charm, that would keep her, +as she said, from any harm as long as she had it about her. + +The prince, the better to look at the talisman, took it out to +the light, the tent being dark; and while he was holding it up in +his hand, a bird darted down from the air and snatched it away +from him. + +One will easily conceive the concern and grief of the prince, +when he saw the bird fly away with the talisman. He was more +troubled than words can express, and cursed his unseasonable +curiosity, by which his dear princess had lost a treasure, that +was so precious, and so valued by her. + +The bird having got its prize, settled on the ground not far off, +with the talisman in its mouth. The prince drew near it, hoping +it would drop it; but as he approached, the bird took wing, and +settled again on the ground further off. Kummir al Zummaun +followed, and the bird took a further flight: the prince being +very dexterous at a mark, thought to kill it with a stone, and +still pursued; the further it flew, the more eager he grew in +pursuing, keeping it always in view. Thus the bird drew him along +from hill to valley, and valley to hill, all the day, every step +leading him out of the way from the plain where he had left his +camp and the princess Badoura: and instead of perching at night +on a bush, where he might probably have taken it, roosted on a +high tree, safe from his pursuit. The prince, vexed to the heart +at having taken so much pains to no purpose, thought of +returning; "But," said he to himself, "which way shall I return? +Shall I go down the hills and valleys which I have passed overt' +Shall I wander in darkness? and will my strength bear me out? How +shall I dare appear before my princess without her talisman?" +Overwhelmed with such thoughts, and tired with the pursuit, sleep +came upon him, and he lay down under a tree, where he passed the +night. + +He awoke the next morning before the bird had left the tree, and +as soon as he saw it on the wing, followed it again the whole of +that day, with no better success than he had done the last, +eating nothing but herbs and fruits as he went. He did the same +for ten days together, pursuing the bird, and keeping it in view +from morning to night, lying always under the tree where it +roosted. On the eleventh day, the bird continued flying, and +Kummir al Zummaun pursuing it, came near a great city. When the +bird had reached the walls, it flew over them, and the prince saw +no more of it; so that he despaired of ever recovering the +princess Badoura's talisman. + +The prince, whose grief was beyond expression, went into the +city, which was built on the seaside, and had a fine port; he +walked up and down the streets without knowing where he was, or +where to stop. At last he came to the port, in as great +uncertainty as ever what he should do. Walking along the shore, +he perceived the gate of a garden open, and an old gardener at +work in it; the good man looking up, saw he was a stranger and a +Moosulmaun, and asked him to come in, and shut the door after +him. + +Kummir al Zummaun entered, and demanded of the gardener why he +was so cautious? "Because," replied the old man, "I see you are a +stranger newly arrived; and this city is inhabited for the most +part by idolaters, who have a mortal aversion to us Moosulmauns, +and treat a few of us that are here with great barbarity. I +suppose you did not know this, and it is a miracle that you have +escaped as you have thus far: these idolaters being very apt to +fall upon strangers, or draw them into a snare. I bless God, who +has brought you into a place of safety." + +Kummir al Zummaun thanked the honest gardener for his advice, and +the security he offered him in his house; he would have said +more, but the good man interrupted him, saying, "Let us leave +complimenting; you are weary, and must want to refresh yourself. +Come in, and rest." He conducted him into his little hut; and +after the prince had eaten heartily of what he set before him, +with a cordiality that charmed him, he requested him to relate +how he had come there. + +The prince complied; and when he had finished his story, without +concealing any part of it, asked him which was the nearest route +to his father's territories; saying, "It is in vain for me to +think of finding my princess where I left her, after wandering +eleven days from the spot by so extraordinary an adventure. Ah!" +continued he, "how do I know she is alive?" and saying this, he +burst into tears. The gardener replied, "There was no possibility +of his going thither by land, the ways were so difficult, and the +journey so long; besides, there was no accommodation for his +subsistence; or, if there were, he must necessarily pass through +the countries of so many barbarous nations, that he would never +reach his father's. It was a year's journey from the city where +he then was to any country inhabited only by Moosulmauns; that +the quickest passage for him would be to go to the isle of Ebene, +whence he might easily transport himself to the isles of the +children of Khaledan; that a ship sailed from the port every year +to Ebene, and he might take that opportunity of returning to +those islands. "The ship departed," said he, "but a few days ago; +if you had come a little sooner, you might have taken your +passage in it. You must wait till it makes the voyage again, and +if you will stay with me and accept of my house, such as it is, +you shall be as welcome to it as to your own." + +The prince was glad he had met with such an asylum, in a place +where he had no acquaintance. He accepted the offer, and lived +with the gardener till the time arrived that the ship was to sail +to the isle of Ebene. He spent the interval in working by day in +the garden, and passing the night in sighs, tears, and +complaints, thinking of his dear princess Badoura. We must leave +him in this place, to return to the princess, whom we left asleep +in her tent. + +The princess slept a long time, and when she awoke, wondered that +the prince was not with her; she called her women, and asked if +they knew where he was. They told her they saw him enter the +tent, but did not see him go out. While they were talking to her, +she took up her girdle, found her little purse open, and that the +talisman was gone. She did not doubt but that the prince had +taken it to see what it was, and that he would bring it back with +him. She waited for him impatiently till night, and could not +imagine what made him stay away from her so long. + +When it was quite dark, and she could hear no tidings of him, she +fell into violent grief: she cursed the talisman, and him that +made it; and, had not she been restrained by duty, would have +cursed the queen her mother, who had given her such a fatal +present. She was the more troubled, because she could not imagine +how her talisman should have caused the prince's separation from +her; she did not however lose her judgment, and came to a +courageous resolution, not common with persons of her sex. + +Only herself and her women knew of the prince's absence; for his +men were reposing or asleep in their tents. The princess, fearing +they would betray her, if they had any knowledge of this +circumstance, moderated her grief, and forbade her women to say +or do any thing that might create the least suspicion. She then +laid aside her own habit, and put on one of Kummir al Zummaun's. +She was so much like him, that the next day, when she came +abroad, the male attendants took her for the prince. + +She commanded them to pack up their baggage and begin their +march; and when all things were ready, she ordered one of her +women to go into her litter, she herself mounting on horseback, +and riding by her side. + +She travelled several months by land and sea; the princess +continuing the journey under the name of Kummir al Zummaun. They +touched at Ebene in their way to the isles of the children of +Khaledan, and went to the capital of the island, where a king +reigned, whose name was Armanos. The persons who first landed, +giving out that the ship carried prince Kummir al Zummaun, who +was returning from a long voyage, and was forced in by a storm, +the news of his arrival was soon carried to court. + +King Armanos, accompanied by his courtiers' went immediately to +wait on the prince, and met the princess just as she was landing, +and going to the palace that had been prepared for her. He +received her as the son of a king, who was his friend, and with +whom he always kept up a good understanding: he conducted her to +the palace, where an apartment was prepared for her and all her +attendants; though she would fain have excused herself. He shewed +her all possible honour, and entertained her three days together +with extraordinary magnificence. At the end of this time king +Armanos understanding that the princess intended proceeding on +her voyage, charmed with the air and qualities of such an +accomplished prince, as he supposed her, took an opportunity when +she was alone, and spoke to her in this manner: "You see, prince, +that I am old, and to my great mortification have not a son to +whom I may leave my crown. Heaven has only blest me with one +daughter, whose beauty cannot be better matched than with a +prince of your rank and accomplishments. Instead of going home, +stay and accept my crown, which I will resign in your favour. It +is time for me to rest, and nothing could be a greater pleasure +to me in my retirement, than to see my people ruled by so worthy +a successor to my throne." + +The king's offer to bestow his only daughter in marriage, and +with her his kingdom, on the princess Badoura, put her into +unexpected perplexity. She thought it would not become a princess +of her rank to undeceive the king, and to own that she was not +prince Kummir al Zummaun, whose part she had hitherto acted so +well. She was also afraid to decline the honour he offered her, +lest, being so much bent upon the conclusion of the marriage, his +kindness might turn to aversion, and he might attempt something +even against her life. + +These considerations, added to the prospect of obtaining a +kingdom for the prince her husband, in case she found him again, +determined her to accept the proposal of king Armanos, and marry +his daughter. After having stood silent for some minutes, she +with blushes, which the king took for a sign of modesty, +answered, "I am infinitely obliged to your majesty for your good +opinion of me, for the honour you do me, and the great favour you +offer, which I cannot pretend to merit, and dare not refuse." + +"But," continued she, "I cannot accept this great alliance on any +other condition, than that your majesty will assist me with your +counsels, and that I do nothing without having first obtained +your approbation." + +The marriage treaty being thus concluded, the ceremony was put +off till the next day. In the mean time princess Badoura gave +notice to her officers, who still took her for their prince, of +what she was about to do, that they might not be surprised, +assuring them the princess Badoura consented. She talked also to +her women, and charged them to continue to keep the secret she +had entrusted to them. + +The king of the isle of Ebene, rejoicing that he had found a son- +in-law so much to his satisfaction, next morning summoned his +council, and acquainted them with his design of marrying his +daughter to prince Kummir al Zummaun, whom he introduced to them, +and told them he resigned the crown to him, and required them to +acknowledge him for their king, and swear fealty to him. Having +said this, he descended from his throne, and the princess +Badoura, by his order, ascended it. As soon as the council broke +up, the new king was proclaimed through the city, rejoicings were +appointed for several days, and couriers despatched over all the +kingdom, to see the same ceremonies observed with the usual +demonstrations of joy. + +At night there were extraordinary feastings at the palace, and +the princess Haiatalnefous was conducted to the princess Badoura, +whom every body took for a man, dressed like a royal bride: the +wedding was solemnized with the utmost splendour: they were left +together, and retired to bed. In the morning, while the princess +Badoura went to receive the compliments of the nobility in the +hall of audience, where they congratulated her on her marriage +and accession to the throne, king Armanos and his queen went to +the apartment of their daughter to inquire after her health. +Instead of answering, she held down her head, and by her looks +they saw plainly enough that she was disappointed. + +King Armanos, to comfort the princess Haiatalnefous, bade her not +be troubled. "Prince Kummir al Zummaun," said he, "when he landed +here might think only of going to his father's court. Though we +have engaged him to stay by arguments, with which he ought to be +well satisfied, yet it is probable he grieves at being so +suddenly deprived of the hopes of seeing either his father or any +of his family. You must wait till those first emotions of filial +love are over; he will then conduct himself towards you as a good +husband ought to do." + +The princess Badoura, under the name and character of Kummir al +Zummaun, the king of Ebene, spent the whole day in receiving the +compliments of the courtiers and the nobility of the. kingdom who +were in and about the city, and in reviewing the regular troops +of her household; and entered on the administration of affairs +with so much dignity and judgment, that she gained the general +applause of all who were witnesses of her conduct. + +It was evening before she returned to queen Haiatalnefous's +apartment, and she perceived by the reception she gave her, that +the bride was not at all pleased with the preceding night. She +endeavoured to dissipate her grief by a long conversation, in +which she employed all the wit she had (and she possessed a good +share), to persuade her she loved her entirely. She then gave her +time to go to bed, and while she was undressing she went to her +devotions; her prayers were so long, that queen Haiatalnefous was +asleep before they were ended. She then left off, and lay down +softly by the new queen, without waking her, and was as much +afflicted at being forced to act a part which did not belong to +her, as in the loss of her dear Kummir al Zummaun, for whom she: +ceased not to sigh. She rose as soon as it was day, before +Haiatalnefous was awake; and, being dressed in her royal robes as +king, went to council. + +King Armanos, as he had done the day before, came early to visit +the queen his daughter, whom he found in tears; he wanted nothing +more to be informed of the cause of her trouble. Provoked at the +contempt, as he thought, put upon his daughter, of which he could +not imagine the reason: "Daughter," said he, "have patience for +another night. I raised your husband to the throne, and can pull +him down again, and drive him thence with shame, unless he shews +you proper regard. His treatment of you has provoked me so much, +I cannot tell to what my resentment may transport me; the affront +is as great to me as to you." + +It was late again before the princess Badoura came to queen +Haiatalnefous. She talked to her as she had done the night +before, and after the same manner went to her devotions, desiring +the queen to go to bed. But Haiatalnefous would not be so served; +she held her back, and obliged her to sit down. "Tell me, I +beseech you," said she, "what can you dislike in a princess of my +youth and beauty, who not only loves but adores you, and thinks +herself the happiest of women in having so amiable a prince for +her husband. Any body but me would be not merely offended but +shocked by the slight, or rather the unpardonable affront you +have put upon me, and abandon you to your evil destiny. However, +though I did not love you so well as I do, yet out of pure good- +nature and humanity, which makes me pity the misfortunes of +persons for whom I am less concerned, I cannot forbear telling +you, that the king my father is enraged against you for your +behaviour towards me, and to-morrow will make you feel the weight +of his just anger, if you continue to neglect me as you have +hitherto done. Do not therefore drive to despair a princess, who, +notwithstanding all your ill usage, cannot help loving you." + +This address embarrassed the princess Badoura inexpressibly. She +did not doubt the truth of what Haiatalnefous had said. King +Armanos's coldness to her the day before had given her but too +much reason to see he was highly dissatisfied with her. The only +way to justify her conduit was, to communicate her sex to the +princess Haiatalnefous. But though she had foreseen she should be +under a necessity of making such a discovery to her, yet her +uncertainty as to the manner in which she would receive it, made +her tremble; but, considering that if Kummir al Zummaun was +alive, he must necessarily touch at the isle of Ebene in his way +to his father's kingdom, she ought to preserve herself for his +sake; and that it was impossible to do this, if she did not let +the princess Haiatalnefous know who and what she was, she +resolved to venture the experiment. + +The princess Badoura stood as one who had been struck dumb, and +Haiatalnefous being impatient to hear what she could say, was +about to speak to her again, when she prevented her by these +words: "Lovely and too charming princess! I own I have been in +the wrong, and I condemn myself for it; but I hope you will +pardon me, and keep the secret I am going to reveal to you for my +justification." + +She then opened her bosom, and proceeded thus: "See, princess, if +a woman like yourself does not deserve to be forgiven. I believe +you will be so generous, at least when you know my story, and the +afflicting circumstance that forced me to act the part I have +done." + +The princess Badoura having discovered her sex to the princess of +the isle of Ebene, she again prayed her to keep the secret, and +to pretend to be satisfied with her as a husband, till the +prince's arrival, which she hoped would be in a little time. + +"Princess," replied Haiatalnefous, "your fortune is indeed +strange, that a marriage, so happy as yours, should be shortened +by so unaccountable an accident, after a passion so reciprocal +and full of wonders. Pray heaven you may soon meet with your +husband again, and assure yourself I will keep religiously the +secret committed to me. It will be to me the greatest pleasure in +the world to be the only person in the great kingdom of the isle +of Ebene who knows what and who you are, while you go on +governing the people as happily as you have begun. I only ask of +you at present to be your friend." Then the two princesses +tenderly embraced each other, and after a thousand expressions of +mutual friendship lay down to rest. + +The two princesses having decided on a way to make belief that +the marriage had been consummated: queen Haiatalnefous's women +were deceived themselves next morning, and it deceived Armanos, +his queen, and the whole court. From this time the princess +Badoura rose in the king's esteem and affection, governing the +kingdom peaceably and prosperously. + +While things passed as already mentioned in the court of the isle +of Ebene, prince Kummir al Zummaun remained in the city of +idolaters with the gardener, who had offered him his house for a +retreat till the ship should sail to convey him away. + +One morning early, when the prince was as usual preparing to work +in the garden, the gardener prevented him, saying, "This day is a +great festival among the idolaters, and because they abstain from +all work themselves, to spend the time in their assemblies and +public rejoicings, they will not let the Moosulmauns labour; who, +to gain their favour, generally attend their shows, which are +worth seeing. You will therefore have nothing to do to-day: I +leave you here. As the time approaches, at which it is usual for +the ship to sail for the isle of Ebene, I will call on some of my +friends to know when it will depart, and secure you a passage." +The gardener put on his best apparel, and went out. + +When the prince was alone, instead of going out to share in the +public joy of the city, his solitude brought to his mind, with +more than usual violence, the loss of his dear princess. He +walked up and down the garden sighing and lamenting, till the +noise which two birds made on a neighbouring tree led him to lift +up his head, to see what was the matter. + +Kummir al Zummaun was surprised to observe that the birds were +fighting furiously: in a very little while, one of them fell down +dead at the foot of the tree; the victorious bird took wing +again, and flew away. + +In an instant, two other large birds, that had beheld the battle +at a distance, came from the other side of the garden, and +pitched on the ground, one at the feet, and the other at the head +of the dead bird: they looked at it for some time, shaking their +heads in token of grief; after which they dug a grave with their +talons, and buried it. + +When they had filled up the grave with the earth they had turned +up, they flew away, but returned in a few minutes, bringing with +them the bird that had committed the murder, one holding one of +its wings in its beak, and the other one of its legs; the +criminal all the while crying out in a doleful manner, and +struggling to escape. They carried it to the grave of the bird +which it had lately sacrificed to its rage, and there killed it +in just revenge for the murder it had committed. They opened its +belly, tore out the entrails, left the body on the spot unburied, +and flew away. + +The prince had remained in astonishment all the time that he +stood beholding this singular spectacle. He now drew near the +tree where this scene had passed, and casting his eyes on the +scattered entrails of the bird that had been last killed, spied +something red hanging out of the stomach. He took it up, and +found it was his beloved princess Badoura's talisman, which had +cost him so much pain and sorrow, and so many sighs, since the +bird had snatched it out of his hand. "Ah, cruel!" said he to +himself; still looking on the bird, "thou took'st delight in +doing mischief, so I have the less reason to complain of that +which thou didst to me: but the greater it was, the more do I +wish well to those that revenged my quarrel, punishing thee for +the murder of one of their own kind." + +It is impossible to express the prince's joy: "Dear princess," +continued he to himself, "this happy minute, which restores to me +a treasure so precious to thee, is, without doubt, a presage of +our meeting again, and perhaps sooner than I think of. Thank +heaven who sent me this good fortune, and gives me hope of the +greatest felicity that my heart can desire." + +Saying this, he kissed the talisman, wrapped it up in a riband, +and tied it carefully about his arm. He had been almost every +night a stranger to rest, the recollection of his misfortunes +keeping him awake, but this night he enjoyed calm repose: he rose +somewhat later the next morning than he used to do, and went to +the gardener for orders. The good man bade him root up an old +tree which bore no fruit. + +Kummir al Zummaun took an axe and began his work. In cutting off +a branch of the root, he found his axe struck against something +that resisted the blow. He removed the earth, and discovered a +broad plate of brass, under which was a staircase of ten steps. +He went down, and at the bottom saw a cavity about six yards +square with fifty brass urns placed in order, each with a cover +over it. He opened them all, one after another, and found they +were all of them full of gold-dust. He came out of the cave, +rejoicing that he had found such a vast treasure, put the brass +plate on the staircase, and had the tree rooted up by the +gardener's return. + +The gardener had ascertained that the ship which was bound for +the isle of Ebene, would sail in a few days, but the exact time +was not yet fixed. His friend promised to let him know the day, +if he called upon him on the morrow; and while the prince was +rooting up the tree, he went to have his answer. He returned with +a joyful countenance, by which the prince guessed he brought him +good news. "Son," said the old man (so he always called him on +account of the difference of years between him and the prince) +"be joyful, and prepare to embark in three days; the ship will +then certainly sail; I have agreed with the captain for your +passage." + +"In my present situation," replied Kummir al Zummaun, "you could +not bring me more agreeable intelligence; and in return, I have +also tidings that will be as welcome to you: come along with me, +and you shall see what good fortune heaven has in store for you." + +The prince led the gardener to the place where he had rooted up +the tree, made him go down into the cave, shewed him what a +treasure he had discovered, thanking Providence for rewarding his +virtue, and the pains he had been at for so many years. "What do +you mean?" replied the gardener: "do you imagine I will take +these riches as mine? The property is yours: I have no right to +it. For fourscore years, since my father's death, I have done +nothing but dig in this garden, and could not discover this +treasure, which is a sign it was destined for you, since God has +permitted you to find it. It is better suited to a prince like +you than to me; I have one foot in the grave, and am in no want +of any thing. Providence has bestowed it upon you, just when you +are returning to that country, which will one day be your own, +where you will make good use of it." + +Kummir al Zummaun would not be surpassed in generosity by the +gardener. They disputed for some time. At last the prince +solemnly protested, that he would have none of it, unless the +gardener would divide it with him. The good man, to please the +prince, consented; so they shared it between them, and each had +twenty-five urns. + +"Having thus divided it, son," said the gardener to the prince, +"it is not enough that you have got this treasure; we must now +contrive to carry it privately aboard, otherwise you will run the +risk of losing it. There are no olives in the isle of Ebene, +those that are exported hence are a good commodity there: you +know I have plenty of them, take what you will; fill fifty pots, +half with the gold-dust and half with olives, and I will get them +carried to the ship when you embark." + +The prince followed this advice, and spent the rest of the day in +packing up the gold and the olives in the fifty pots, and fearing +the talisman, which he wore on his arm, might be lost again, he +carefully put it into one of the pots, with a particular mark to +distinguish it from the rest. When they were all ready to be +shipped, night coming on, the prince retired with the gardener, +and related to him the battle of the birds, with the circumstance +by which he had found the talisman. The gardener was equally +surprised and joyful to hear it on his account. Whether the old +man was quite worn out with age, or had exhausted himself too +much that day, the gardener had a very bad night; he grew worse +the next day, and on the third day, when the prince was to +embark, was so ill, that it was plain he was near his end. As +soon as day broke, the captain of the ship came with several +seamen to the gardener's; they knocked at the garden-door, which +the prince opened to them. They asked him for the passenger who +was to go with them. The prince answered, "I am he; the gardener +who agreed with you for my passage is sick, and cannot be spoken +with; come in, and let your men carry those pots of olives and my +baggage aboard for me; I will only take leave of the gardener, +and follow you." + +The seamen took the pots and the baggage, and the captain bade +the prince make haste, the wind being fair. + +When the captain and his men were gone, Kummir al Zummaun went to +the gardener to take his leave of him, and thanked him for all +his good offices; but found him in the agonies of death, and had +scarcely time to bid him rehearse the articles of his faith, +which all good Moosulmauns do before they die, before the +gardener expired. + +The prince being under the necessity of embarking immediately, +hastened to pay the last duty to the deceased. He washed his +body, buried him in his own garden, and having nobody to assist +him, it was almost evening before he had put him into the ground. +As soon as he had done, he ran to the water-side, carrying with +him the key of the garden, designing, if he had time, to give it +to the landlord; otherwise to deposit it in some trusty person's +hand before a witness, that he might have it after he was gone. +When he reached the port, he was told the ship had sailed several +hours, and was already out of sight. It had waited three hours +for him, and the wind standing fair, the captain durst not stay +longer. + +It is easy to imagine that Kummir al Zummaun was exceedingly +grieved at being forced to remain longer in a country where he +neither had, nor wished to have, any acquaintance; to think that +he must wait another year for the opportunity he had lost. But +the greatest affliction of all was, his having parted with the +princess Badoura's talisman, which he now considered lost. The +only course left him was to return to the garden from whence he +had come, to rent it of the landlord and continue to cultivate it +by himself, deploring his misery and misfortunes. He hired a boy +to assist him to do some part of the drudgery: that he might not +lose the other half of the treasure which came to him by the +death of the gardener, who died without heirs, he put the gold- +dust into fifty other jars, which he filled up with olives, to be +ready against the ship's return. + +While the prince was beginning another year of labour, sorrow, +and impatience, the ship having a fair wind, continued her voyage +to the isle of Ebene, and happily arrived at the capital. + +The palace being by the sea side, the new king, or rather the +princess Badoura, espying the ship as she was entering into the +port, with all her flags, asked what vessel it was: she was +answered, that it came annually from the city of the idolaters, +and was generally richly laden. + +The princess, who always had Kummir al Zummaun in her mind, +imagined that the prince might be aboard; and resolved to visit +the ship and meet him, without discovering herself; but to +observe him, and take proper measures for their making themselves +mutually known. Under pretence of inquiring what merchandize was +on board, and having the first sight of the goods, she commanded +a horse to be brought, which she mounted, accompanied by several +officers in waiting, and arrived at the port, just as the captain +came ashore. She ordered him to be brought before her, asked +whence he had come, how long he had been on his voyage, and what +good or bad fortune he had met with: if he had no stranger of +quality aboard, and particularly with what his ship was laden. + +The captain gave a satisfactory answer to all her demands; and as +to passengers, assured her there were none but merchants in his +ship, who used to come every year, and bring rich stuffs from +several parts of the world to trade with, the finest linens +painted and plain, diamonds, musk, ambergris, camphire, civet, +spices, drugs, olives, and many other articles. + + +The princess Badoura loved olives extremely when she heard the +captain speak of them, "Land them," said she, "I will take them +off your hands; as to the other goods, tell the merchants to +bring them to me, and let me see them before they dispose of, or +shew them to any one." + +The captain taking her for the king of the isle of Ebene, +replied, "Sire, there are fifty great jars of olives, but they +belong to a merchant whom I was forced to leave behind. I gave +him notice myself that I stayed for him, and waited a long time, +but he not coming, and the wind offering, I was afraid of losing +the opportunity, and so set sail." The princess answered, "No +matter, bring them ashore; we will nevertheless make a bargain +for them." + +The captain sent the boat, which in a little time returned with +the olives. The princess demanded how much the fifty jars might +be worth in the isle of Ebene? "Sir," replied the captain, "the +merchant is very poor, and your majesty will do him a singular +favour if you give him one thousand pieces of silver." + +"To satisfy him," said the princess, "and because you tell me he +is poor, I will order you one thousand pieces of gold for him, +which do you take care to give him." The money was accordingly +paid, and the jars carried to the palace. + +Night drawing on the princess withdrew into the inner palace, and +went to the princess Haiatalnefous's apartment, ordering the +olives to be brought thither. She opened one jar to let the +princess Haiatalnefous taste them, and poured them into a dish. +Great was her astonishment, when she found the olives were +mingled with gold-dust. "What can this mean!" said she, "It is +wonderful beyond comprehension." Her curiosity increasing from so +extraordinary an adventure, she ordered Haiatalnefous's women to +open and empty all the jars in her presence; and her wonder was +still greater, when she saw that the olives in all of them were +mixed with gold-dust; but when she saw her talisman drop out, she +was so surprised that she fainted away. Haiatalnefous and her +women brought the princess to herself, by throwing cold water in +her face. When she recovered, she took the talisman, and kissed +it again and again; but not being willing that the princess +Haiatalnefous's women, who were ignorant of her disguise, should +hear what she said, and it growing late, she dismissed them. +"Princess," said she to Haiatalnefous, as soon as they were gone, +"you who have heard my story, doubtless, guessed it was at the +sight of the talisman that I fainted. This is that talisman, and +the fatal cause of my dosing my husband; but as it was that which +caused our separation, so I foresee it will be the means of our +meeting." + +The next day, as soon as it was light, she sent for the captain +of the ship; and when he came, spoke to him thus: "I want to know +something more of the merchant to whom the olives belong, that I +bought of you yesterday. I think you told me you left him behind +in the city of the idolaters; can you tell me what is his +employment there?" + +"Yes," replied the captain, "I can speak from my own knowledge. I +agreed for his passage with a very old gardener, who told me I +should find him in his garden, where he worked under him. He +shewed me the place, and for that reason I told your majesty he +was poor. I went thither to call him. I told him what haste I was +in, spoke to him myself in the garden, and cannot be mistaken in +the man." + + +"If what you say is true," replied the princess, "you must set +sail this very day for the city of idolaters, and bring me that +gardener's man, who is my debtor; else I will not only confiscate +all your goods and those of your merchants, but your life and +theirs shall answer for his. I have ordered my seal to be put on +the warehouses where their goods are deposited, which shall not +be taken off till your return: this is all I have to say to you; +go and do as I command you." + +The captain could make no reply to this order, the disobeying of +which must have proved of such loss to him and his merchants. He +acquainted them with it; and they hastened him away as fast as +they could, after he had laid in a stock of provisions and fresh +water for his voyage. + +They were so diligent, that he set sail the same day. He had a +prosperous voyage to the city of the idolaters, where he arrived +in the night. When he was got as near the city as he thought +convenient, he would not cast anchor, but lay to off shore; and +going into his boat, with six of his stoutest seamen, landed a +little way off the port, whence he went directly to the garden of +Kummir al Zummaun. + +Though it was about midnight when he came there, the prince was +not asleep. His separation from the fair princess of China his +wife afflicted him as usual. He cursed the minute in which his +curiosity tempted him to touch the fatal girdle. + +Thus was he passing those hours which are devoted to rest, when +he heard somebody knock at the garden-door: he ran hastily to it; +but he had no sooner opened it than the captain and his seamen +took hold of him, and carried him to the boat, and so on ship- +board. As soon as he was safely lodged, they set sail, and made +the best of their way to the isle of Ebene. + +Hitherto Kummir al Zummaun, the captain, and his men, had not +said a word to one another; at last the prince asked the captain, +whom he knew again, why they had taken him away by force? The +captain in his turn demanded of the prince, whether he was not a +debtor of the king of Ebene? "I the king of Ebene's debtor!" +replied the prince in amazement; "I do not know him, and have +never set foot in his kingdom." The captain answered, "You should +know that better than I; you will talk to him yourself in a +little while; till then stay here and have patience." + +The captain was not long on his voyage back to the isle of Ebene. +Though it was night when he cast anchor in the port, he landed +immediately, and taking his prisoner with him, hastened to the +palace, where he demanded to be introduced to the king. + +The princess Badoura had withdrawn into the inner palace, but as +soon as she heard of the captain's return, she came out to speak +to him. Immediately as she cast her eyes on the prince, for whom +she had shed so many tears, she recognized him in his gardener's +habit. As for the prince, who trembled in the presence of a king, +as he thought her, to whom he was to answer for an imaginary +debt, it could not enter into his thoughts, that the person whom +he so earnestly desired to see stood before him. If the princess +had followed the dictates of her inclination, she would have run +to him, and, by embracing, discovered herself to him; but she put +a constraint on herself, believing that it was for the interest +of both that she should act the king a little longer before she +made herself known. She contented herself for the present to put +him into the hands of an officer, who was then in waiting, +charging him to take care of him, and use him well, till the next +day. + +When the princess Badoura had provided for Kummir al Zummaun, she +turned to the captain, whom she was now to reward for the +important service he had done her. She commanded another officer +to go immediately to take the seal off the warehouse which +contained his goods, and gave him a rich diamond, worth much more +than the expense he had been at in both his voyages. She also +bade him keep the thousand pieces of gold she had given for the +olives, telling him she would make up the account with the +merchant whom he had brought with him. + +This done, she returned to the princess of the isle of Ebene's +apartment, to whom she communicated her joy, praying her to keep +the secret still. She told how she intended to manage the +discovering of herself to Kummir al Zumrnaun, and resignation of +the kingdom to him; adding, there was so vast a distance between +a gardener, as he would appear to the public, and a great prince, +that it might be dangerous to raise him at once from the lowest +condition of the people to the highest honour, however justice +might require it should be done. The princess of the isle of +Ebene was so far from betraying her, that she rejoiced with her, +and entered into the design. + +The next morning the princess of China ordered Kummir al Zummaun +to be conducted early to the bath, and then to be appareled in +the robes of an emir or governor of a province. She commanded him +to be introduced into the council, where his fine person and +majestic air drew upon him the eyes of all the lords present. + +The princess Badoura herself was charmed to see him look as +lovely as ever, and her pleasure inspired her to speak the more +warmly in his praise. When she spoke to the council, having +ordered the prince to take his seat among the emirs, she +addressed them thus: "My lords, Kummir al Zummaun, whom I have +advanced to the same dignity with yourselves, is not unworthy of +the place assigned him. I have known enough of him in my travels +to answer for him, and I can assure you he will make his merit +known to all of you, as well by his velour, as by a thousand +other brilliant qualities, and the extent of his genius." + +The prince was extremely amazed to hear the king of the isle of +Ebene, whom he was far from taking for a woman, much less for his +dear princess, name him, and declare that he knew him, while he +thought himself certain he had never seen him before. He was much +more surprised when he heard him praise him so highly. Those +praises however from the mouth of majesty did not disconcert him, +though he received them with such modesty, as shewed that he +deserved them. He prostrated himself before the throne of the +king, and rising again, said, "Sire, I want words to express my +gratitude to your majesty for the honour you have done me; I +shall do all in my power to render myself worthy of your royal +favour." + +From the council-board the prince was conducted to a palace, +which the princess Badoura had ordered to be fitted up for him; +where he found officers and domestics ready to obey his commands, +a stable full of fine horses, and every thing suitable to the +quality of an emir. When he was in his closet, the steward of his +household brought him a strong box full of gold for his expenses. + + +The less he could conceive whence his happiness proceeded, the +more he wondered, but he never once imagined that he owed it to +the princess of China. + +Two or three days after, the princess Badoura, that he might be +nearer her person and in a more distinguished post, made him high +treasurer, which office had lately become vacant. He conducted +himself in his new charge with so much integrity, yet obliging +every body, that he not only gained the friendship of the great, +but also the affections of the people, by his uprightness and +bounty. + +Kummir al Zummaun had been the happiest man in the world, to see +himself in so high favour with a foreign king as he conceived, +and increasing in the esteem of all his subjects, if he had had +his princess with him. In the midst of his good fortune he never +ceased lamenting her, and grieved that he could hear no tidings +of her, especially in a country which she must necessarily have +visited in her way to his father's court after their separation. +He would have mistrusted something, had the princess still gone +by the name of Kummir al Zummaun, which she took with his habit; +but on her accession to the throne, she had changed it, and taken +that of Armanos, in honour of the old king her father-in-law. + +The princess desiring that her husband should owe the discovery +of her to herself alone, resolved to put an end to her own +torments and his; for she had observed, that as often as she +discoursed with him about the affairs of office, he heaved such +deep sighs, as could be addressed to nobody but her. While she +herself lived in such a constraint, that she could endure it no +longer. + +The princess Badoura had no sooner formed her resolution in +concert with the princess Haiatalnefous, than she the same day +took Kummir al Zummaun aside, saying, "I must talk with you about +an affair which requires much consideration, and on which I want +your advice. As I do not see how it can be done so conveniently +as in the night, come hither in the evening, and leave word at +home not to be waited for; I will take care to provide you a +lodging." + +Kummir al Zummaun came punctually to the palace at the hour +appointed by the princess; she took him with her into the inner +apartment, and having told the chief eunuch, who prepared to +follow her, that she had no occasion for his service, conducted +him into a different apartment from that of the princess +Haiatalnefous, where she used to sleep. + +When the prince and princess entered the chamber, she shut the +door, and taking the talisman out of a little box, gave it to +Kummir al Zummaun, saying, "It is not long since an astrologer +presented me with this talisman; you being skilful in all things, +may perhaps tell me its use." + +Kummir al Zummaun took the talisman, and drew near a lamp to view +it. As soon as he recollected it, with an astonishment which gave +the princess great pleasure, "Sire," said he to the prince, "your +majesty asked me the use of this talisman. Alas! its only purpose +is to kill me with grief and despair, if I do not quickly find +the most charming and lovely princess in the world to whom it +belonged, whose loss it occasioned me by a strange adventure, the +recital of which will move your majesty to pity such an +unfortunate husband and lover as I am." + + +"You shall tell me the particulars another time," replied the +princess; "I know something of them already: remain here a +little, and I will soon return to you." + +At these words she went into her closet, put off her royal +turban, and in a few minutes dressed herself in her female +attire; and having the girdle round her, which she had on the day +of their separation, re-entered the chamber. + +Kummir al Zummaun immediately recognized his dear princess, ran +to her, and tenderly embraced her, exclaiming, "How much am I +obliged to the king who has so agreeably surprised me!" "Do not +expect to see the king any more," replied the princess, embracing +him in her turn, with tears in her eyes: "you see him in me; sit +down, and I will explain this enigma to you." + +They seated themselves, and the princess related the plan she had +formed in the plain where they were encamped the last time they +were together, as soon as she perceived she waited for him to no +purpose; how she went through with it till she arrived at the +isle of Ebene, where she had been obliged to marry the princess +Haiatalnefous, and accept of the crown, which king Armanos +offered her as a condition of the marriage: how the princess, +whose merit she highly extolled, had obliged her to make +declaration of her sex: and how she found the talisman in the +pots of olives mingled with the gold-dust, which she had bought, +and how this circumstance had proved the cause of her sending for +him from the city of the idolaters. + +When she had concluded her adventure, she obliged the prince to +tell her by what means the talisman had occasioned their +separation. He satisfied her inquiries; after which, it growing +late, they retired to rest. + +The princess Badoura and Kummir al Zummaun rose next morning as +soon as it was light, but the princess would no more put on her +royal robes as king; she dressed herself in her female attire, +and then sent the chief eunuch to king Armanos, her father-in- +law, to desire he would oblige her by coming to her apartment. + +When the king entered the chamber, he was amazed at seeing a lady +who was unknown to him, and the high treasurer with her, who was +not by etiquette permitted to come within the inner palace. He +sat down, and asked where the king was. + +The princess answered, "Yesterday I was king, but to-day I am +only princess of China, wife to the true prince Kummir al +Zummaun. If your majesty will have patience to hear our +adventures, I hope you will not condemn me for putting an +innocent deceit upon you." The king bade her go on, and heard her +narrative from beginning to end with astonishment. The princess +on finishing said to him, "Sir, though women do not easily comply +with the liberty assumed by men to have several wives; yet if +your majesty will consent to give your daughter the princess +Haiatalnefous in marriage to the prince, I will with all my heart +yield up to her the rank and quality of queen, which of right +belongs to her, and content myself with the second place. If this +precedence were not her due, I would resign it to her, after the +obligation I have to her for keeping my secret so generously. If +your majesty refer it to her consent, I am sure of that, having +already consulted her; and I will pass my word that she will be +very well satisfied." + + +King Armanos listened to the princess with astonishment, and when +she had done, turned to Kummir al Zummaun, saying, "Son, since +the princess Badoura your wife, whom I have all along thought to +be my son-in-law, through a deceit of which I cannot complain, +assures me, that she will divide your bed with my daughter; I +would know if you are willing to marry her, and accept of the +crown, which the princess Badoura would deservedly wear, if she +did not quit it out of love to you." "Sir," replied Kummir al +Zummaun, "though I desire nothing so earnestly as to see the king +my father, yet the obligations I have to your majesty and the +princess Haiatalnefous are so weighty, I can refuse her nothing." +The prince was then proclaimed king, and married the same day +with all possible demonstrations of joy; and had every reason to +be well pleased with the princess Haiatalnefous's beauty, wit, +and love for him. + +The two queens lived together afterwards on the same friendly +terms and in the same cordiality as they had done before, both +being contented with Kummir al Zummaun's equal carriage towards +them. + +The next year each brought him a son at the same time, and the +births of the two princes were celebrated with extraordinary +rejoicings: the first, whom the princess Badoura was delivered +of, was named Amgiad (most illustrious); and the other, born of +queen Haiatalnefous, Assad (most virtuous). + + + + + + The Story of the Princes Amgiad and Assad. + + + +The two princes were brought up with great care; and, when they +were old enough, had the same governor, the same instructors in +the arts and sciences, and the same master for each exercise. The +affection which from their infancy they conceived for each other +occasioned an uniformity of manners and inclination, which +increased it. When they were of an age to have separate +households, they loved one another so tenderly, that they begged +the king to let them live together. He consented, and they had +the same domestics, the same equipages, the same apartment, and +the same table. Kummir al Zummaun had formed so good an opinion +of their capacity and integrity, that he made no scruple of +admitting them into his council at the age of eighteen, and +letting them, by turns, preside there, while he took the +diversion of hunting, or amused himself with his queens at his +houses of pleasure. + +The princes being equally handsome, the two queens loved them +with incredible tenderness; but the princess Badoura had a +greater kindness for prince Assad, queen Haiatalnefous's son, +than for her own; and queen Haiatalnefous loved Amgiad, the +princess Badoura's son, better than her own son Assad. + +The two queens thought at first this inclination was nothing but +a regard which proceeded from an excess of their own friendship +for each other, which they still preserved: but as the two +princes advanced in years, that friendship grew into a violent +love, when they appeared in their eyes to possess graces that +blinded their reason. They knew how criminal their passion was, +and did all they could to resist it; but the familiar intercourse +with them, and the habit of admiring, praising, and caressing +them from their infancy, which they could not restrain when they +grew up, inflamed their desires to such a height as to overcome +their reason and virtue. It was their and the princes' ill- +fortune, that the latter being used to be so treated by them, had +not the least suspicion of their infamous passion. + +The two queens had not concealed from each other this passion, +but had not the boldness to declare it to the princes they loved; +they at last resolved to do it by a letter, and to execute their +wicked design, availed themselves of the king's absence, when he +was gone on a hunting party for three or four days. + +Prince Amgiad presided at the council on the day of his father's +departure, and administered justice till two or three o'clock in +the afternoon. As he returned to the palace from the council- +chamber, an eunuch took him aside, and gave him a letter from +queen Haiatalnefous. Amgiad took it, and read it with horror. +"Traitor," said he, to the eunuch. as soon as he had perused it +through, "is this the fidelity thou owest thy master and thy +king?" At these words he drew his sabre and cut off his head. + +Having done this in a transport of anger he ran to the princess +Badoura his mother, shewed her the letter, told her the contents +of it, and from whom it came. Instead of hearkening to him, she +fell into a passion, and said, "Son, it is all a calumny and +imposture; queen Haiatalnefous is a very discreet princess, and +you are very bold to talk to me against her." The prince, enraged +at his mother, exclaimed, "You are both equally wicked, and were +it not for the respect I owe my father, this day should have been +the last of Haiatalnefous's life." + +Queen Badoura might have imagined by the example of her son +Amgiad, that prince Assad, who was not less virtuous, would not +receive more favourably a declaration of love, similar to that +which had been made to his brother. Yet that did not hinder her +persisting in her abominable design; she, the next day, wrote him +a letter, which she entrusted to an old woman who had access to +the palace, to convey to him. + +The old woman watched her opportunity to put it into his hands as +he was coming from the council-chamber, where he presided that +day in his turn. The prince took it, and reading it, fell into +such a rage, that, without giving himself time to finish it, he +drew his sabre and punished the old woman as she deserved. He ran +immediately to the apartment of his mother queen Haiatalnefous, +with the letter in his hand: he would have shewn it to her, but +she did not give him time, crying out, "I know what you mean; you +are as impertinent as your brother Amgiad: be gone, and never +come into my presence again." + +Assad stood as one thunder-struck at these words, so little +expected. He was so enraged, that he had like to have given fatal +demonstrations of his anger; but he contained himself, and +withdrew without making any reply, fearing if he stayed he might +say something unworthy the greatness of his soul. Amgiad had not +mentioned to him the letter which he had received the preceding +day; and finding by what his mother had said to him that she was +altogether as criminal as queen Haiatalnefous, he went to his +brother, to chide him for not communicating the hated secret to +him, and to mingle his own sorrow with his. + +The two queens, rendered desperate by finding in the two princes +such virtue as should have made them look inwardly on themselves, +renounced all sentiments of nature and of mothers and conspired +together to destroy them. They made their women believe the two +princes had attempted their virtue: they counterfeited the matter +to the life by their tears, cries, and curses; and lay in the +same bed, as if the resistance they pretended to have made had +reduced them almost to death's-door. + +When Kummir al Zummaun returned to the palace from hunting, he +was much surprised to find them in bed together, in tears, acting +despondency so well, that he was touched with compassion. He +asked them with earnestness what had happened to them. + +At this question, the dissembling queens wept and sobbed more +bitterly than before; and after he had pressed them again and +again to tell him, queen Badoura at last answered him: "Sir, our +grief is so well founded, that we ought not to see the light of +the sun, or live a day, after the violence that has been offered +us by the unparalleled brutality of the princes your sons. They +formed a horrid design, encouraged by your absence, and had the +boldness and insolence to attempt our honour. Your majesty will +excuse us from saying any more; you may guess the rest by our +affliction." + +The king sent for the two princes, and would have killed them +both with his own hand, had not old king Armanos his father-in- +law, who was present, held his hand: "Son," said he, "what are +you going to do? Will you stain your hands and your palace with +your own blood? There are other ways of punishing them, if they +are really guilty." + +He endeavoured thus to appease him, and desired him to examine +whether they did indeed commit the crime of which they were +accused. + +It was no difficult matter for Kummir al Zummaun to restrain +himself so far as not to butcher his own children. He ordered +them to be put under arrest, and sent for an emir called Jehaun- +dar, whom he commanded to conduct them out of the city, and put +them to death, at a great distance, and in what place he pleased, +but not to see him again, unless he brought their clothes with +him, as a token of his having executed his orders. + +Jehaun-dar travelled with them all night, and early next morning +made them alight, telling them, with tears in his eyes, the +commands he had received. "Believe me, princes," said he, "it is +a trying duty imposed on me by your father, to execute this cruel +order: would to heaven I could avoid it!" The princes replied, +"Do your duty; we know well you are not the cause of our death, +and forgive you with all our hearts." + +They then embraced, and bade each other a last adieu with so much +tenderness, that it was a long time before they could leave one +another's arms. Prince Assad was the first who prepared himself +for the fatal stroke. "Begin with me," said he "that I may not +have the affliction to see my dear brother Amgiad die." To this +Amgiad objected; and Jehaun-dar could not, without weeping more +than before, be witness of this dispute between them; which +shewed how perfect and sincere was their affection. + +At last they determined the contest, by desiring Jehaun-dar to +tie them together, and put them in the most convenient posture +for him to give them the fatal stroke at one blow. "Do not refuse +the comfort of dying together to two unfortunate brothers, who +from their birth have shared every thing, even their innocence," +said the generous princes. + +Jehaun-dar granted their request; he tied them to each other, +breast to breast; and when he had placed them so that he thought +he might strike the blow with more certainty, asked them if they +had any thing to command him before they died. + +"We have only one thing to desire of you," replied the princes, +"which is, to assure the king our father on your return, that we +are innocent; but that we do not charge him with our deaths, +knowing he is not well informed of the truth of the crime of +which we are accused." + +Jehaun-dar promised to do what they desired and drew his sabre, +when his horse, being tied to a tree just by, started at the +sight of the sabre, which glittered against the sun, broke his +bridle, and ran away into the country. + +He was a very valuable horse, and so richly caparisoned, that the +emir could not bear the loss of him. This accident so vexed him, +that instead of beheading the two princes, he threw away his +sabre, and ran after his horse. + +The horse galloped on before him, and led him several miles into +a wood. Jehaun-dar followed him, and the horse's neighing roused +a lion that was asleep. The lion started up, and instead of +running after the horse, made directly towards Jehaun-dar, who +thought no more of his horse, but how to save his life. He ran +into the thickest of the wood, the lion keeping him in view, +pursuing him among the trees. In this extremity he said to +himself, "Heaven had not punished me in this manner, but to shew +the innocence of the princes whom I was commanded to put to +death; and now, to my misfortune, I have not my sabre to defend +myself." + +While Jehaun-dar was gone, the two princes were seized with a +violent thirst, occasioned by the fear of death, notwithstanding +their noble resolution to submit to the king their father's cruel +order. + +Prince Amgiad told the prince his brother there was a spring not +far off. "Ah! brother," said Assad, "we have so little time to +live, what need have we to quench our thirst? We can bear it a +few minutes longer." + +Amgiad taking no notice of his brother's remonstrance, unbound +himself, and the prince his brother. They went to the spring, and +having refreshed themselves, heard the roaring of the lion. They +also heard Jehaun-dar's dreadful cries in the wood, which he and +the horse had entered. Amgiad took up the sabre which lay on the +ground, saying to Assad, "Come, brother, let us go and save the +unfortunate Jehaun-dar; perhaps we may arrive soon enough to +deliver him from the danger to which he is now exposed." + +The two princes ran to the wood, and entered it just as the lion +was going to fall on Jehaun-dar. The beast seeing prince Amgiad +advancing towards him with a sabre in his hand, left his prey, +and rushed towards him with great fury. The prince met him +intrepidly, and gave him a blow so forcibly and dexterously, that +it felled him to the ground. + +When Jehaun-dar saw that he owed his life to the two princes, he +threw himself at their feet, and thanked them for the obligation, +in words which sufficiently testified his gratitude. "Princes," +said he, rising up and kissing their hands, with tears in his +eyes, "God forbid that ever I should attempt any thing against +your lives, after you have so kindly and bravely saved mine. It +shall never he said, that the emir Jehaun-dar was guilty of such +ingratitude." + +"The service we have done you," answered the princes, "ought not +to prevent you from executing the orders you have received: let +us first catch your horse, and then return to the place where you +left us."--They were at no great trouble to take the horse, whose +mettle was abated with running. When they had restored him to +Jehaun-dar, and were come near the fountain, they begged of him +to do as their father had commanded; but all to no purpose. "I +only take the liberty to desire," said Jehaun-dar, "and I pray +you not to deny me, that you will divide my clothes between you, +and give me yours; and go to such a distance, that the king your +father may never hear of you more." + +The princes were forced to comply with his request. Each of them +gave him his clothes, and covered themselves with what he could +spare them of his. He also gave them all the money he had about +him, and took his leave of them. + +After the emir Jehaun-dar had parted from the princes, he passed +through the wood where Amgiad had killed the lion, in whose blood +he dipped their clothes: which having done, he proceeded on his +way to the capital of the isle of Ebene. + +On his arrival there, Kummir al Zummaun inquired if he had done +as commanded? Jehaun-dar replied, "Behold, sir, the proofs of my +obedience;" giving him at the same time the princes' clothes. + +"How did they bear their punishment?" Jehaun-dar answered, "With +wonderful constancy and resignation to the decrees of heaven, +which shewed how sincerely they made profession of their +religion: but particularly with great respect towards your +majesty, and an inconceivable submission to the sentence of +death. We die innocent,' said they; but we do not murmur: we +take our death from the hand of heaven, and forgive our father; +for we know he has not been rightly informed of the truth.'" + +Kummir al Zummaun was sensibly touched at Jehaun-dar's relation. +A thought occurred to him to search the princes' pockets; he +began with prince Amgiad's where he found a letter open, which he +read. He no sooner recognized the hand-writing than he was +chilled with horror. He then, trembling, put his hand into that +of Assad, and finding there queen Badoura's letter, his horror +was so great, that he fainted. + +Never was grief equal to Kummir all Zummaun's, when he recovered +from his fit: "Barbarous father," cried he, "what hast thou done? +Thou hast murdered thy own children, thy innocent children! Did +not their wisdom, their modesty, their obedience, their +submission to thy will in all things, their virtue, all plead in +their behalf? Blind and insensible father! dost thou deserve to +live after the execrable crime thou hast committed? I have +brought this abomination on my own head; and heaven chastises me +for not persevering in that aversion to women with which I was +born. And, oh ye detestable wives! I will not, no, I will not, as +ye deserve, wash off the guilt of your sins with your blood; ye +are unworthy of my rage: but I will never see you more!" + +Kummir al Zummaun was a man of too much religion to break his +vow: he commanded the two queens to be lodged in separate +apartments that very day, where they were kept under strong +guards, and he never saw them again as long as he lived. + +While the king of the isle of Ebene was afflicting himself for +the loss of his sons, of whose death he thought he had been the +author by his too rashly condemning them, the royal youths +wandered through deserts, endeavouring to avoid all places that +were inhabited, and shun every human creature. They lived on +herbs and wild fruits, and drank only rain-water, which they +found in the crevices of the rocks. They slept and watched by +turns at night, for fear of wild beasts. + +When they had travelled about a month, they came to the foot of a +frightful mountain of black stones, and to all appearance +inaccessible. They at last espied a kind of path, but so narrow +and difficult that they durst not venture to follow it: this +obliged them to go along by the foot of the mountain, in hopes of +finding a more easy way to reach the summit, but could discover +nothing like a path, so they were forced to return to that which +they had neglected. They still thought it would be in vain for +them to attempt it. They deliberated for a long time what they +should do, and at last, encouraging one another, resolved to +ascend. + +The more they advanced the higher and steeper the mountain +appeared, which made them think several times of giving over +their enterprise. When the one was weary, the other stopped, and +they took breath together; sometimes they were both so tired, +that they wanted strength to proceed: then despairing of being +able to reach the top they thought they must lie down and die of +fatigue and weariness. A few minutes after, when they found they +recovered strength, they animated each other and went on. + +Notwithstanding all their endeavours, their courage and +perseverance, they could not reach the summit that day; night +came on, and prince Assad was so spent, that he stopped and said +to Amgiad, "Brother, I can go no farther, I am just dying." "Let +us rest ourselves," replied prince Amgiad, "as long as you will, +and have a good heart: it is but a little way to the top, and the +moon befriends us." + +They rested about half an hour, and then Assad making a new +effort, they ascended what remained of the way to the summit, +where they both at last arrived, and lay down. Amgiad rose first, +and advancing, saw a tree at a little distance. He went to it, +and found it was a pomegranate, with large fruit upon it, and he +perceived there was a spring at its foot: he ran to his brother +Assad to tell him the good news, and conduct him to the tree by +the fountain side. Here they refreshed themselves by eating each +a pomegranate, after which they fell asleep. + +When they awoke the next morning, "Come, brother," said Amgiad to +Assad, "let us go on; I see the mountain is easier to be +travelled over on this side than the other, all our way now is +down hill." But Assad was so tired with the preceding day's +exertions, that he wanted three days' repose to recover himself. + +They spent these days as they had done many before, in conversing +on their mothers' inordinate passion, which had reduced them to +such a deplorable state: but, said they, "Since heaven has so +visibly declared itself in our favour, we ought to bear our +misfortunes with patience, and comfort ourselves with hopes that +we shall see an end of them." + +After having rested three days, the two brothers continued their +travels. As the mountain on that side was composed of several +shelves of extensive flat, they were five days in descending +before they came into the plain. They then discovered a large +city, at which they rejoiced: "Brother," said Amgiad to Assad, +"are not you of my opinion that you should stay in some place out +of the city, where I may find you again, while I go and inform +myself what country we are in, and when I come back I will bring +provisions with me? It may not be safe for us to go there +together." + +"Brother," replied Assad, "your plan is both safe and prudent, +and I approve of what you say but if one of us must part from the +other on that account, I will not suffer it shall be you; you +must allow me to go; for what shall I suffer, if any accident +should befall you?" + +"But, brother," answered Amgiad, "the very accident you fear +would befall me, I have as much reason to fear would happen to +you: I entreat you to let me go, and do you remain here +patiently." "I will never consent to this," said Assad; "if any +ill happen to me, it will be some comfort to think you are safe." +Amgiad was forced to submit, and Assad going towards the city, he +stayed under the trees at the foot of the mountain. + +Prince Assad took the purse of money which Amgiad had in charge, +and went forwards towards the city. He had not proceeded far in +the first street, before he met with a reverend old man with a +cane in his hand. He was neatly dressed, and the prince took him +for a man of note in the place, who would not put a trick upon +him, so he accosted him thus: "Pray, my lord, which is the way to +the market-place?" The old man looked at prince Assad smiling; +"Child," said he, "it is plain you are a stranger, or you would +not have asked that question." + +"Yes, my lord, I am a stranger," replied Assad. The old man +answered, "You are welcome then; our country will be honoured by +the presence of so handsome a young man as you are: tell me what +business you have at the market-place." + +"My lord," replied Assad, "it is near two months since my brother +and I set out from our own country: we have not ceased +travelling, and we arrived here but to-day; my brother, tired +with such a long journey, stays at the foot of the mountain, and +I am come to buy some provisions for him and myself." + +"Son," said the old man, "you could not have come in a better +time, and I am glad of it for your and your brother's sake. I +made a feast today for some friends of mine: come along with me; +you shall eat as much as you please; and when you have done, I +will give you enough to last your brother and yourself several +days. Do not spend your money, when there is no occasion; +travellers are always in want of it: while you are eating I will +give you an account of our city, which no one can do better than +myself, who have borne all the honourable offices in it. It is +well for you that you happen to light upon me; for I must tell +you, all our citizens cannot so well assist and inform you. I can +assure you some of them are very wicked. Come, you shall see the +difference between a real honest man, as I am, and such as boast +of being so, and are not." + +"I am infinitely obliged to you," replied Assad, "for your +kindness; I put myself entirely into your hands, and am ready to +go with you where you please." + +The old man, as he walked along by his side, laughed inwardly, to +think he had got the prince in his clutches; and all the way, +lest he should perceive his dissimulation, talked of various +subjects, to preserve the favourable opinion Assad had of him. +Among other things, he said, "It must be confessed you were very +fortunate to have spoken to me, rather than to any one else: I +thank God I met with you; you will know why, when you come to my +house." + +At length they arrived at the residence of the old man, who +introduced Assad into a hall, where there were forty such old +fellows as himself, who made a circle round a flaming fire, which +they were adoring. The prince was not less struck with horror at +the sight of so many men mistakenly worshipping the creature for +the Creator, than he was with fear at finding himself betrayed +into so abominable a place. + +While the prince stood motionless with astonishment, the old +cheat saluted the forty gray-headed men. "Devout adorers of +fire," said he to them, "this is a happy day for us; where is +Gazban? call him." + +He spake these words aloud, when a negro who waited at the lower +end of the hall immediately came up to him. This black was +Gazban, who, as soon as he saw the disconsolate Assad, imagined +for what purpose he was called. He rushed upon him immediately, +threw him down, and bound his hands with wonderful activity. When +he had done, "Carry him down," said the old man, "and fail not to +order my daughters, Bostama and Cavama, to give him every day a +severe bastinado, with only a loaf morning and night for his +subsistence; this is enough to keep him alive till the next ship +departs for the blue sea and the fiery mountain, where he shall +be offered up an acceptable sacrifice to our divinity." + +As soon as the old man had given the cruel order, Gazban hurried +prince Assad under the hall, through several doors, till they +came to a dungeon, down to which led twenty steps; there he left +him in chains of prodigious weight and bigness, fastened to his +feet. When he had done, he went to give the old man's daughters +notice: but their father had before sent for them, and given them +their instructions himself: "Daughters," said he to them, "go +down and give the Mussulmaun I just now brought in the bastinado: +do not spare him; you cannot better shew your zeal for the +worship of the fire." + +Bostama and Cavama, who were bred up in their hatred to the +faithful, received this order with joy. They descended into the +dungeon that instant, stripped Assad, and bastinadoed him +unmercifully, till the blood issued out of his wounds and he was +almost dead. After this cruel treatment, they put a loaf of bread +and a pot of water by him, and retired. + +Assad did not come to himself again for a long time; when he +revived, he burst out into a flood of tears, deploring his +misery. His comfort however was, that this misfortune had not +happened to his brother. + +Amgiad waited for his brother till evening with impatience; as +two, three, or four of the clock in the morning arrived, and +Assad did not return, he was in despair. He spent the night in +extreme uneasiness; and as soon as it was day went to the city, +where he was surprised to see but very few Mussulmauns. He +accosted the first he met, and asked him the name of the place. +He was told it was the city of the Magicians, so called from the +great number of magicians, who adored the fire; and that it +contained but few Mussulmauns. Amgiad then demanded how far it +was to the isle of Ebene? He was answered, four months' voyage by +sea, and a year's journey by land. The man he talked to left him +hastily, having satisfied him as to these two questions. + +Amgiad, who had been but six weeks coming from the isle of Ebene +with his brother Assad, could not comprehend how they had reached +this city in so short a time, unless it was by enchantment, or +that the way across the mountain was a much shorter one, but not +frequented because of its difficulty. + +Going farther into the town, he stopped at a tailor's shop, whom +he knew to be a Mussulmaun by his dress. Having saluted him, he +sat down, and told him the occasion of the trouble he was in. + +When prince Amgiad had done talking, the tailor replied, "If your +brother has fallen into the hands of some magicians, depend upon +it you will never see him more. He is lost past all recovery; and +I advise you to comfort yourself as well as you can, and to +beware of falling into the same misfortune: to which end, if you +will take my advice, you shall stay at my house, and I will tell +you all the tricks of these magicians, that you may take care of +yourself, when you go out." Amgiad, afflicted for the loss of his +brother, accepted the tailor's offer and thanked him a thousand +times for his kindness to him. + + + +The Story of the Prince Amgiad and a Lady of the City of the +Magicians. + + + +For a whole month prince Amgiad never went out of the tailor's +house without being accompanied by his host. At last he ventured +to go alone to the bath. As he was returning home, he met a lady +on the way. Seeing a handsome young man, she lifted up her veil, +asked him with a smiling air, and bewitching look, whither he was +going? Amgiad was overpowered by her charms, and replied, "Madam, +I am going to my own house, or, if you please, I will go to +yours." + +"My lord," resumed the lady, with a smile, "ladies of my quality +never take men to their houses, they always accompany them to +theirs." + +Amgiad was much perplexed by this unexpected reply. He durst not +venture to take her home to his landlord's house, lest he should +give him offence, and thereby lose his protection, of which he +had so much need, in a city which required him to be always on +his guard. He knew so little of the town, that he could not tell +where to convey her, and he could not make up his mind to suffer +the adventure to go unimproved. In this uncertainty, he +determined to throw himself upon chance; and without making any +answer, went on, and the lady followed him. Amgiad led her from +street to street, from square to square, till they were both +weary with walking. At last they entered a street, at the end of +which was a closed gateway leading to a handsome mansion. On each +side of the gateway was a bench. Amgiad sat down on one of them, +as if to take breath: and the lady, more weary than he, seated +herself on the other. + +When she had taken her seat, she asked him, whether that was his +house? "You see it, madam," said Amgiad. "Why do you not open the +gate then," demanded the lady; "what do you wait for?" "Fair +lady," answered Amgiad, "I have not the key; I left it with my +slave, when I sent him on an errand, and he cannot be come back +yet: besides, I ordered him afterwards to provide something good +for dinner; so that I am afraid we shall wait a long time for +him." + +The prince, meeting with so many obstacles to the satisfying of +his passion, began to repent of having proceeded so far, and +contrived this answer, in hopes that the lady would take the +hint, would leave him out of resentment, and seek elsewhere for a +lover; but he was mistaken. + +"This is a most impertinent slave," said the lady, "to make us +wait so long. I will chastise him myself as he deserves, if you +do not, when he comes back. It is not decent that I should sit +here alone with a man." Saying this, she arose, and took up a +stone to break the lock, which was only of wood, and weak, +according to the fashion of the country. + +Amgiad gave himself over for a lost man, when he saw the door +forced open. He paused to consider whether he should go into the +house or make off as fast as he could, to avoid the danger which +he believed was inevitable; and he was going to fly when the lady +returned. + +Seeing he did not enter, she asked, "Why do not you come into +your house?" The prince answered, "I am looking to see if my +slave is coming, fearing we have nothing ready." "Come in, come +in," resumed she, we had better wait for him within doors than +without." + +Amgiad, much against his will, followed her into the house. +Passing through a spacious court, neatly paved, they ascended by +several steps into a grand vestibule, which led to a large open +hall very well furnished, where he and the lady found a table +ready spread with all sorts of delicacies, another heaped with +fruit, and a sideboard covered with bottles of wine. + +When Amgiad beheld these preparations, he gave himself up for +lost. "Unfortunate Amgiad," said he to himself, "thou wilt soon +follow thy dear brother Assad." + +The lady, on the contrary, transported at the sight, exclaimed, +"How, my lord, did you fear there was nothing ready? You see your +slave has done more than you expected. But, if I am not mistaken, +these preparations were made for some other lady, and not for me: +no matter, let her come, I promise you I will not be jealous; I +only beg the favour of you to permit me to wait on her and you." + +Amgiad, greatly as he was troubled at this accident, could not +help laughing at the lady's pleasantry. "Madam," said he, +thinking of something else that tormented his mind, "there is +nothing in what you imagine; this is my common dinner, and no +extraordinary preparation, I assure you." As he could not bring +himself to sit down at a. table which was not provided for him, +he would have taken his seat on a sofa, but the lady would not +permit him. "Come, sir," said she, "you must be hungry after +bathing, let us eat and enjoy ourselves." + +Amgiad was forced to comply: they both sat down, and began to +regale themselves. After having taken a little, the lady took a +bottle and glass, poured out some wine, and when she had drunk +herself, filled another glass, and gave it to Amgiad, who pledged +her. The more the prince reflected on this adventure, the more he +was amazed that the master of the house did not appear; and that +a mansion, so rich and well provided, should be left without a +servant. "It will be fortunate," said he to himself, "if the +master of the house do not return till I am got clear of this +intrigue." While he was occupied with these thoughts, and others +more troublesome, she ate and drank heartily, and obliged him to +do the same. Just as they were proceeding to the dessert, the +master of the house arrived. + +It happened to be Bahader, master of the horse to the king of the +magicians. This mansion belonged to him, but he commonly resided +in another; and seldom came to this, unless to regale himself +with two or three chosen friends He always sent provisions from +his other house on such occasions, and had done so this day by +some of his servants, who were just gone when the lady and Amgiad +entered. + +Bahader came as he used to do, in disguise, and without +attendants, and a little before the time appointed for the +assembling of his friends. He was not a little surprised to find +the door broken open; he entered, making no noise, and hearing +some persons talking and making merry in the hall, he stole along +under the wall, and put his head half way within the door to see +who they were. + +Perceiving a young man and a young lady eating at his table the +victuals that had been provided for his friends and himself, and +that there was no great harm done, he resolved to divert himself +with the adventure. + +The lady's back was a little turned towards him, and she did not +see the master of the horse, but Amgiad perceived him +immediately. The glass was at the time in his hand, and he was +going to drink; he changed colour at the sight of Bahader, who +made a sign to him not to say a word, but to come and speak to +him. + +Amgiad drank and rose: "Where are you going?" inquired the lady. +The prince answered, "Pray, madam, stay here a little; I shall +return directly." Bahader waited for him in the vestibule, and +led him into the court to talk to him without being overheard by +the lady. + +When Bahader and Amgiad were in the court, Bahader demanded of +the prince, how the lady came into his house? and why they broke +open his door? "My lord," replied Amgiad, "you may very +reasonably think me guilty of a very unwarrantable action: but if +you will have patience to hear me, I hope I shall convince you of +my innocence." He then related, in a few words, what had +happened, without disguising any part of the truth; and to shew +him that he was not capable of committing such an action as to +break into a house, told him he was a prince, and informed him of +the reason of his coming to the city of the magicians. + +Bahader, who was a good man, was pleased with an opportunity of +obliging one of Amgiad's rank: for by his air, his actions, and +his well-turned conversation, he did not in the least doubt the +truth of what he had asserted. "Prince," said Bahader, "I am glad +I can oblige you in so pleasent an adventure. Far from disturbing +the feast, it will gratify me to contribute to your satisfaction +in any thing. Before I say any more on this subject, I must +inform you my name is Bahader; I am master of the horse to the +king of the magicians; I commonly reside in another house, which +I have in the city, and come here sometimes to have the more +liberty with my friends. You have made this lady believe you have +a slave, though you have none; I will personate that slave, and +that this may not make you uneasy, and to prevent your excuses, I +repeat again, that I will positively have it to be so; you will +soon know my reason. Go to your place, and continue to divert +yourself. When I return again, and come to you in a slave's +habit, chide me for staying so long, do not be afraid even to +strike me. I will wait upon you while you are at table till +night; you shall sleep here, and so shall the lady, and to-morrow +morning you may send her home with honour. I shall afterwards +endeavour to do you more important services: go, and lose no +time." Amgiad would have made him an answer, but the master of +the horse would not suffer him, forcing him to return to the +lady. He had scarcely reentered the hall before Bahader's +friends, whom he had invited, arrived. Bahader excused himself +for not entertaining them that day, telling them they would +approve of his reason when they should be informed of it, which +they should be in due time. When they were gone, he went and +dressed himself in a slave's habit. + + +Prince Amgiad returned to the lady much pleased at finding the +house belonged to a man of quality, who had received him so +courteously. When he sat down again, he said, "Madam, I beg a +thousand pardons for my rudeness. I was vexed that my slave +should tarry so long; the rascal shall pay for it when he comes: +I will teach him to make me wait so for him." + +"Let not that trouble you," said the lady. "The evil is his; if +he is guilty of any faults, let him pay for it: but do not let us +think of him, we will enjoy ourselves without him." + +They continued at the table with the more pleasure, as Amgiad was +under no apprehensions of the consequence of the lady's +indiscretion in breaking open the door. The prince was now as +merry as the lady: they said a thousand pleasant things, and +drank more than they ate, till Bahader arrived in his disguise. + +Bahader entered like a slave who feared his master's displeasure +for staying out when he had company with him. He fell down at his +feet and kissed the ground, to implore his clemency; and when he +had done, stood behind him with his hands across, waiting his +commands. + +"Sirrah," said Amgiad, with a fierce tone, and angry look, "where +have you been? What have you been doing, that you came no +sooner?" + +"My lord," replied Bahader, "I ask your pardon; I was executing +your orders, and did not think you would return home so early." + +"You are a rascal," said Amgiad, "and I will break your bones, to +teach you to lie, and disappoint me." He then rose up, took a +stick, and gave him two or three slight blows; after which he sat +down again. + +The lady was not satisfied with this chastisement. She also rose, +took the stick, and fell upon Bahader so unmercifully, that the +tears came into his eyes. Amgiad, offended to the last degree at +the freedom she took, and that she should use one of the king's +chief officers so ill, called out to her in vain to forbear. "Let +me alone," said she "I will give him enough, and teach him to be +absent so long another time." She continued beating him with +great fury, till Amgiad rose from the table, and forced the stick +out of her hand which she did not relinquish without much +struggling. When she found she could beat Bahader no longer, she +sat down, railed at and cursed him. + +Bahader wiped his eyes, and stood up to fill out wine When he saw +they had done eating and drinking, he took away the cloth, +cleared the hall, put every thing in its place; and night coming +on, lighted up the lamps. Every time he came in, or went out, the +lady muttered, threatened him, and gave him abusive language, to +Amgiad's great regret, who would have hindered her, but could +not. When it was time for them to retire to bed, Bahader prepared +one for them on the sofa, and withdrew into a chamber, where he +laid himself down, and soon fell asleep, having been fatigued +with his beating. Amgiad and the lady entertained one another for +some time afterwards. The lady before she went to bed having +occasion to go to another part of the house, passing through the +vestibule, heard Bahader snore, and having seen a sabre hanging +up in the hall, turned back, and said to Amgiad, "My lord, as you +love me, do one thing for me." "In what can I serve you?" asked +the prince. "Oblige me so far as to take down this sabre and cut +off your slave's head." Amgiad was astonished at such a proposal +from a lady, and made no doubt but it was the wine she had drunk +that induced her to make it. "Madam," said he, "let us suffer him +to rest, he is not worthy of your farther notice: I have beaten +him, and you have beaten him: that ought to be sufficient; +besides, I am in other respects well satisfied with him." + +"That shall not satisfy me," replied the lady, in a violent +passion; "the rascal shall die, if not by your hands, by mine." +As she spoke, she took down the sabre from the place where it +hung, drew it out of the scabbard, and prepared to execute her +wicked design. + +Amgiad met her in the vestibule, saying, "You shall be satisfied, +madam, since you will have it so; but I should be sorry that any +one besides myself should kill my slave." When she had given him +the sabre, "Come, follow me," said he; "make no noise, lest we +should awaken him." They went into Bahader's chamber, where +Amgiad, instead of striking him, aimed his blow at the lady, and +cut off her head, which fell upon Bahader. + +Bahader was awakened by the head of the lady falling upon him. He +was amazed to see Amgiad standing by him with a bloody sabre, and +the body of the lady lying headless on the ground. The prince +told him what had passed, and said, "I had no other way to +prevent this furious woman from killing you, but to take away her +life." "My lord," replied Bahader, full of gratitude, "persons of +your rank and generosity are incapable of doing such a wicked +action: as she desired of you. You are my deliverer, and I cannot +sufficiently thank you." After having embraced him, to evince the +sense he entertained of his obligations to him, he said, "We must +carry this corpse out before it is quite day; leave it to me, I +will do it." Amgiad would not consent to this, saying, "He would +carry it away himself, since he had struck the blow." Bahader +replied, "You are a stranger in this city, and cannot do it so +well as one who is acquainted with the place. I must do it, if +for no other reason, yet for the safety of both of us, to prevent +our being questioned about her death. Remain you here, and if I +do not return before day, you may be sure the watch has seized +me; and for fear of the worst, I will by writing give this house +and furniture for your habitation." + +When he had written, signed, and delivered the paper to prince +Amgiad, he put the lady's body in a bag, head and all; laid it on +his shoulder, and went out with it from one street to another, +taking the way to the sea-side. He had not proceeded far before +he met one of the judges of the city, who was going the rounds in +person. Bahader was stopped by the judge's followers, who, +opening the bag, found the body of a murdered lady, bundled up +with the head. The judge, who knew the master of the horse +notwithstanding his disguise, took him home to his house, and not +daring to put him to death without telling the king, on account +of his rank, carried him to court as soon as it was day. When the +king had been informed by the judge of the crime Bahader had, as +he believed from the circumstances, committed, he addressed +himself to the master of the horse as follows: "It is thus then +that thou murderess my subjects, to rob them, and then wouldst +throw their dead bodies into the sea, to hide thy villainy? Let +us get rid of him; execute him immediately." + +Innocent as Bahader was, he received sentence of death with +resignation, and said not a word in his justification. The judge +carried him to his house, and while the pale was preparing, sent +a crier to publish throughout the city, that at noon the master +of the horse was to be impaled for a murder. + +Prince Amgiad, who had in vain expected Bahader's return, was +struck with consternation when he heard the crier publish the +approaching execution of the master of the horse. "If," said he +to himself, "any one ought to die for the murder of such a wicked +woman, it is I, and not Bahader; I will never suffer an innocent +man to be punished for the guilty." Without deliberating, he then +hastened to the place of execution, whither the people were +running from all parts. + +When Amgiad saw the judge bringing Bahader to the pale, he went +up to him, and said, "I am come to assure you, that the master of +the horse, whom you are leading to execution, is wholly innocent +of the lady's death; I alone am guilty of the crime, if it be +one, to have killed a detestable woman, who would have murdered +Bahader." He then related to him how it had happened. + +The prince having informed the judge of the manner in which he +had met her coming from the bath; how she had occasioned his +going into the master of the horse's pleasure-house, and all that +had passed to the moment in which he was forced to cut off her +head, to save Bahader's life; the judge ordered execution to be +stopped, and conducted Amgiad to the king, taking the master of +the horse with them. + +The king wished to hear the story from Amgiad himself; and the +prince, the better to prove his own innocence and that of the +master of the horse, embraced the opportunity to discover who he +was, and what had driven him and his brother Assad to that city, +with all the accidents that had befallen them, from their +departure from the Isle of Ebene. + +The prince having finished his account, the king said to him, "I +rejoice that I have by this means been made acquainted with you; +I not only give you your own life, and that of my master of the +horse, whom I commend for his kindness to you, but I restore him +to his office; and as for you, prince, I declare you my grand +vizier, to make amends for your father's unjust usage, though it +is also excusable, and I permit you to employ all the authority +with which I now invest you to find out prince Assad." + +Amgiad having thanked the king for the honour he had done him, on +taking possession of his office of grand vizier used every +possible means to find out the prince his brother. He ordered the +common criers to promise a great reward to any who should +discover him, or give any tidings of him. He sent men up and down +the country to the same purpose; but in vain. + +Assad in the meanwhile continued in the dungeon in chains; +Bostama and Cavama, the cunning old conjuror's daughters, +treating him daily with the same cruelty and inhumanity as at +first. + +The solemn festival of the adorers of fire approached; and a ship +was fitted out for the fiery mountain as usual: the captain's +name was Behram, a great bigot to his religion. He loaded it with +proper merchandize; and when it was ready to sail, put Assad in a +chest, which was half full of goods, a few crevices being left +between the boards to give him air. + + +Before the ship sailed, the grand vizier Amgiad, who had been +told that the adorers of fire used to sacrifice a Mussulmaun +every year on the fiery mountain, suspecting that Assad might +have fallen into their hands, and be designed for a victim, +resolved to search the ship in person. He ordered all the +passengers and seamen to be brought upon deck, and commanded his +men to search all over the ship, which they did, but Assad could +not be found, he was so well concealed. + +When the grand vizier had done searching the vessel, she sailed. +As soon as Behram was got out to sea, he ordered prince Assad to +be taken out of the chest, and fettered, to secure him, lest he +should throw himself into the sea in despair since he knew he was +going to be sacrificed. + +The wind was very favourable for a few days, after which there +arose a furious storm. The vessel was driven out of her course, +so that neither Behram nor his pilot knew where they were. They +were afraid of being wrecked on the rocks, for in the violence of +the storm they discovered land, and a dangerous shoal before +them. Behram perceived that he was driven into the port and +capital of queen Margiana, which occasioned him great +mortification. + +This queen Margiana was a devout professor of the Mahummedan +faith, and a mortal enemy to the adorers of fire. She had +banished all of them out of her dominions, and would not suffer +their ships to touch at her ports. + +It was no longer in the power of Behram to avoid putting into the +harbour, for he had no alternative but to be dashed to pieces +against the frightful rocks that lay off the shore. In this +extremity he held a council with his pilot and seamen. "My lads," +said he, "you see to what a necessity we are reduced. We must +choose one of two things; either to resolve to be swallowed up by +the waves, or put into queen Margiana's port, whose hatred to all +persons of our religion you well know. She will certainly seize +our vessel and put us all to death, without mercy. I see but one +way to escape her, which is, to take off the fetters from the +Mussulmaun we have aboard, and dress him like a slave. When queen +Margiana commands me to come before her, and asks what trade I +follow, I will tell her I deal in slaves; that I have sold all I +had, but one, whom I keep to be my clerk, because he can read and +write. She will by this means see him, and he being handsome, and +of her own religion, will have pity on him. No doubt she will +then ask to buy him of me, and on this account will let us stay +in the port till the weather is fair. If any of you have any +thing else to propose that will be preferable, I am ready to +attend to it." The pilot and seamen applauded his judgment, and +agreed to follow his advice. + +Behram commanded prince Assad's chains to be taken off, and had +him neatly habited like a slave, as became one who was to pass +for his clerk before the queen of the country. They had scarcely +time to do this, before the ship drove into the port, and dropped +anchor. + +Queen Margiana's palace was so near the sea, that her garden +extended down to the shore. She saw the ship anchor, and sent to +the captain to come to her, and the sooner to satisfy her +curiosity waited for him in her garden. + +Behram landed with prince Assad, whom he required to confirm what +he had said of his being a slave, and his clerk. When he was +introduced to the queen, he threw himself at her feet, and +informed her of the necessity he was under to put into her port: +that he dealt in slaves, and had sold all he had but one, who was +Assad, whom he kept for his clerk. + +The queen was taken with Assad from the moment she first saw him, +and was extremely glad to hear that he was a slave; resolving to +buy him, cost what he would. She asked Assad what was his name. + +"Great queen," he replied, with tears in his eyes, "does your +majesty ask what my name was formerly, or what it is now?" The +queen answered, "Have you two names then?" "Alas! I have," said +Assad: "I was once called Assad (most happy); and now my name is +Motar" (devoted to be sacrificed). + +Margiana not being able to comprehend the meaning of his answer, +interpreted it to refer to his condition of a slave. "Since you +are clerk to the captain," said she, "no doubt you can write +well; let me see your hand." + +Behram had furnished Assad with pen, ink, and paper, as a token +of his office, that the queen might take him for what he designed +she should. + +The prince stepped a little aside, and wrote as follows, suitable +to his wretched circumstances: + +"The blind man avoids the ditch into which the clear-sighted +falls. Fools advance themselves to honours, by discourses which +signify nothing, while men of sense and eloquence live in poverty +and contempt. The Mussulmaun with all his riches is miserable. +The infidel triumphs. We cannot hope things will be otherwise. +The Almighty has decreed it shall be so." + +Assad presented the paper to queen Margiana, who admired alike +the moral of the sentences, and the goodness of the writing. She +needed no more to have her heart inflamed, and to feel a sincere +concern for his misfortunes. She had no sooner read the lines, +than she addressed herself to Behram, saying, "Do which you will, +either sell me this slave, or make me a present of him; perhaps +it will turn most to your account to do the latter." + +Behram answered insolently, that he could neither give nor sell +him; that he wanted his slave, and would keep him. + +Queen Margiana, provoked at his rudeness, would not talk to him +any more on the subject. She took the prince by the arm, and +turned him before her to the palace, sending Behram word, that if +he stayed the night in her port, she would confiscate his goods, +and burn his ship. He was therefore forced to return to his +vessel, and prepare to put to sea again, notwithstanding the +tempest had not yet subsided. + +Queen Margiana, on entering her palace, commanded supper to be +got ready; and while it was providing, she ordered Assad to be +brought into her apartment, where she bade him sit down. Assad +would have excused himself: "It becomes not a slave," said he, +"to presume to this honour." + +"To a slave! "replied the queen: "you were so a moment ago; +henceforward you are no more a slave. Sit down near me, and tell +me the story of your life; for by what you wrote, and the +insolence of that slave-merchant, I guess there is something +extraordinary in your history." + +Prince Assad obeyed her; and sitting down, began thus: "Mighty +queen, your majesty is not mistaken, in thinking there is +something extraordinary in the story of my life: it is indeed +more so than you can imagine. The ills, the incredible torments I +have suffered, and the death to which I was devoted, and from +which I am delivered by your royal generosity, will shew the +greatness of my obligation to you, never to be forgotten. But +before I enter into particulars of my miseries, which will strike +horror into the hearts of all that hear them, I must trace the +origin of them to its source." + +This preamble increased queen Margiana's curiosity. The prince +then told her of his royal birth; of his brother Amgiad, and +their mutual friendship; of their mothers' criminal passion, the +cause of all their sufferings; of the king his father's rage; how +miraculously their lives were saved; how he had lost his brother; +how he had been long imprisoned and tortured, and was devoted to +be sacrificed on the fiery mountain. + +When Assad had finished his recital' the queen was more than ever +enraged at the adorers of fire. "Prince," said she, "though I +have always had an aversion to the adorers of fire, yet hitherto +I have had some humanity for them: but after their barbarous +usage of you, and their execrable design to sacrifice you, I will +henceforth wage perpetual war against them." + +She was proceeding, but supper being served in, she made prince +Assad sit down at table with her, being charmed with his beauty +and eloquence, and touched with a passion which she hoped soon to +have an opportunity of making known to him "Prince," said she, +"we must make you amends for so many fasts and wretched meals, to +which the pitiless adorers of fire made you submit; you must want +nourishment after such sufferings." With conversation of this +kind she helped him at supper; and ordered him to drink a good +deal of wine to recover his spirits; by which means he drank more +than he could well bear. + +The cloth being taken away, Assad having occasion to go out, took +an opportunity when the queen did not observe him. He descended +into the court, and seeing the garden-door open, went into it. +Being tempted by the pleasantness of the place, he walked there +for some time. At last he came to a fountain, where he washed his +face and hands to refresh himself, and lying down on the turf by +the fountain, fell asleep. + +Behram, to prevent the queen from executing her threats, had +weighed anchor, vexed at the loss of Assad, by which he was +disappointed of a most acceptable sacrifice. He comforted himself +as well as he could, with the thoughts that the storm was over, +and that a land breeze favoured his getting off the coast. As +soon as he was towed out of the port by the help of his boat, +before it was hoisted up into the ship again, "Stop, my lads," +said he to the seamen, "do not come on board yet; I will give you +some casks to fill with water, and wait for you." Behram had +observed, while he was talking to the queen in the garden, that +there was a fountain at the end of it, near the port. "Go," said +he, "land before the palace-garden; the wall is not above breast +high, you may easily get over; there is a basin in the middle of +the garden, where you may fill all your barrels, and hand them +aboard without difficulty." + +The sailors went ashore at the place he directed them to, and +laying their casks on their shoulders easily got over the wall. + +As they approached the basin, they perceived a man sleeping on +the grass, and knew him to be Assad. They immediately divided +themselves; and while some of the crew filled their barrels with +as little noise as possible, others surrounded Assad, and watched +to seize him if he should awake. + +He slept on undisturbed, giving them time to fill all their +casks; which they afterwards handed over the wall to others of +the crew who waited to carry them aboard. + +They next seized Assad, and conveyed him away, without giving him +time to recollect himself. They got him over the wall into their +boat with the casks, and rowed to the ship. When they drew near +her they cried out for joy, "Captain, sound your trumpets, beat +your drums, we have brought you your slave." + +Behram, who could not imagine how the seamen could find and take +him again, and did not see Assad in the boat, it being night, +waited their arrival with impatience, to ask what they meant; but +when he saw him, he could not contain himself for joy. He +commanded him to be chained, without staying to inquire how they +came by him; and having hoisted the boat on board, set sail for +the fiery mountain. + +In the meanwhile queen Margiana was in alarm. She was not at +first apprehensive when she found prince Assad was gone out, +because she did not doubt but he would soon return When some time +had passed without his appearing, she began to be uneasy, and +commanded her women to look for him. They sought for him in every +direction, and at night renewed their search by torch-light, but +all to no purpose. + +Queen Margiana was so impatient and alarmed, that she went +herself with lights, and finding the garden-door open, entered, +and walked all over it with her women to seek for him. Passing by +the fountain and basin, she espied a slipper, which she took up, +and knew it to be prince Assad's, her women also recognized it to +be his. This circumstance, together with the water being spilt +about the edge of the basin, induced her to believe that Behram +had carried him off. She sent immediately to see if he was still +in the port; and hearing he had sailed a little before it was +dark, that he lay-to some time off the shore, while he sent his +boat for water from the fountain, she sent word to the commander +of ten ships of war, which lay always ready in the harbour, to +sail on the shortest notice, that she would embark herself next +morning as soon as it was day. The commander lost no time, +ordered the captains, seamen and soldiers aboard, and was ready +to sail at the time appointed. She embarked, and when the +squadron was at sea, told the commander her intention. "Make all +the sail you can," said she, "and chase the merchantman that +sailed last night out of this port. If you capture it, I assign +it to you as your property; but if you fail, your life shall +answer." + +The ten ships chased Behram's vessel two whole days without +seeing her. The third day in the morning they discovered her, and +at noon had so surrounded her, that she could not escape. + +As soon as Behram espied the ten ships of war, he made sure it +was queen Margiana's squadron in pursuit of him; and upon that he +ordered Assad to be bastinadoed, which he had done every day. He +was much perplexed what to do, when he found he was surrounded. +To keep Assad, was to declare himself guilty; to kill him was as +dangerous, for he feared some marks of the murder might be seen. +He therefore commanded him to be unfettered and brought from the +bottom of the hold where he lay. When he came before him, "It is +thou," said he, "that art the cause of my being pursued;" and so +saying, he flung him into the sea. + +Prince Assad being an expert swimmer, made such good use of his +feet and hands, that he reached the shore in safety. The first +thing he did after he had landed, was to thank God who had +delivered him from so great a danger, and once more rescued him +out of the hands of the adorers of fire. He then stripped +himself, and wringing the water out of his clothes, spread them +on a rock, where, by the heat of the sun, and of the rock, they +soon dried. After this he lay down to rest himself, deploring his +miserable condition, not knowing in what country he was nor which +way to direct his course. He dressed himself again and walked on, +keeping as near the sea-side as he could. At last he entered a +kind of path, which he followed, and travelled on ten days +through an uninhabited country, living on herbs, plants, and wild +fruits. At last he approached a city, which he recognized to be +that of the magicians, where he had been so ill used and where +his brother Amgiad was grand vizier. + +He rejoiced to discover where he was, but resolved not to +approach any of the adorers of fire, and to converse only with +Moosulmauns, for he remembered he had seen some the first time he +entered the town. It being late, and knowing the shops were +already shut, and few people in the streets, he resolved to +remain in a burying ground near the city, where there were +several tombs built in the form of mausoleums. He found the door +of one of them open, which he entered, designing to pass the +night there. + +We must now return to Behram's ship, which, after he had thrown +prince Assad overboard, was soon surrounded on all sides by queen +Margiana's squadron. The ship in which queen Margiana was in +person first came up with him, and Behram, being in no condition +of defence against so many, furled his sails as a mark of his +submission. + +The queen herself boarded his ship, and demanded where the clerk +was, whom he had the boldness to take or cause to be taken out of +her palace. Behram replied, "O queen! I swear by your majesty, he +is not in my ship; you will, by searching, be convinced of my +innocence." + +Margiana ordered the ship to be searched as narrowly as possible, +but she could not find the man, whom she so much wished to +recover, as well on account of her love for him, as of the +generosity for which she was distinguished. She once resolved to +kill Behram with her own hand, but refrained, and contented +herself with seizing his ship and cargo, and turning him and his +men on shore in their boat. + +Behram and his seamen arrived at the city of the magicians the +same night as Assad, and stopped at the same burying-ground, the +city gates being shut, intending to stay in some tomb till the +next day, when they should be opened again. + +To Assad's misfortune, Behram came to that in which the prince +was sleeping with his head wrapped up in his habit, and entered +it. Assad awoke at the noise of his footsteps, and demanded who +was there. + +Behram immediately recognized him. "Hah, hah," said he, "thou art +the man who has ruined me for ever; thou hast escaped being +sacrificed this year, but depend on it thou shalt not be so +fortunate the next." Saying this, he flew upon him, clapped his +handkerchief into his mouth to prevent his making a noise, and +with the assistance of his seamen bound him. + +The next morning as soon as the city gates were open, Behram and +his men easily carried Assad through streets, where no one was +yet stirring, to the old man's house, where he had been so +inhumanly treated. As soon as he was brought in, he was again +thrown into the same dungeon. Behram acquainted the old man with +the unfortunate circumstances of his return, and the ill success +of his voyage. The old savage, upon this, commanded his two +daughters Bostama and Cavama to treat him, if possible, more +cruelly than before. + +Assad was overwhelmed with terror at seeing himself again in the +hands of persecutors from whom he had suffered so much, and +expected the repetition of the torments from which he hoped that +he had been delivered. He was lamenting the severity of his fate, +when Bostama entered with a stick in her hand, a loaf and a +pitcher of water. He trembled at the sight of this unmerciful +wretch, and at the very thoughts of the sufferings he was to +endure for another year, at the conclusion of which he was to die +the most horrible death. + +Bostama treated prince Assad as inhumanly as she had done during +his first confinement. But his cries, lamentations, and earnest +entreaties to her to spare him, joined with his tears, were so +affecting, that she could not help shedding tears. "My lord," +said she, covering his shoulders again, "I ask a thousand pardons +for my inhuman treatment of you formerly, and for making you once +more feel its effect. Till now I was afraid of disobeying a +father, who is unjustly enraged against you, and resolved on your +destruction, but at last I abhor this barbarity. Be comforted, +your evil days are over. I will endeavour by better treatment to +make amends for all my crimes, of the enormity of which you will +find I am duly sensible. You have hitherto regarded me as an +infidel; henceforth believe me one of your own religion; having +been taught it by a slave, I hope your lessons will complete my +conversion. To convince you of my sincerity, I first beg pardon +of the true God for all my sins, in dealing so cruelly by you, +and I trust he will put it in my power to set you entirely at +liberty." + +This address afforded the prince much comfort. He thanked the +Almighty for the change wrought in her heart, He also thanked her +for her favourable disposition towards him, and omitted no +arguments which he thought would have any effect in confirming +her conversion to the Moosulmaun religion. He afterwards related +to her the whole story of his life to that time. When he was +fully assured of her good intentions respecting him, he asked her +how she could continue to keep her sister Cavama in ignorance of +them; and prevent her treating him as barbarously as she used to +do? "Let not that trouble you," replied Bostama; "I know how to +order matters so that she shall never come near you." + +She accordingly every day prevented her sister's coming down into +the dungeon, where she often visited the prince. Instead of +carrying him bread and water, she now brought him the best wine +and the choicest victuals she could procure, which were prepared +by her twelve Mahommedan slaves. She ate with him herself from +time to time, and did all in her power to alleviate his +misfortunes. + +A few days afterwards, Bostama, as she stood at her father's +door, observed the public crier making proclamation, but she +could not hear what it was about, being too far off. As he was +proceeding in the direction of her father's house, she went in, +and holding the door half open, perceived that he went before the +grand vizier Amgiad, brother to Assad; who was accompanied by +several officers, and other attendants. + +The crier, a few steps from the house, repeated the proclamation +with a loud voice, as follows: "The most excellent and +illustrious grand vizier is come in person to seek for his dear +brother, from whom he was separated about a year ago. He is a +young man of such an appearance; if any one has him in keeping, +or knows where he is, his excellency commands that they bring him +forth, or give him notice where to find him, promising a great +reward to the person that shall give the information. If any one +conceal him, and he be hereafter found, his excellency declares' +he shall be punished with death, together with his wife, +children, and all his family, and his house to be razed to the +ground. + +Bostama, as soon as she had heard this, shut the door as fast as +she could, and ran to Assad in the dungeon. "Prince," said she, +with joy, "your troubles are at an end; follow me immediately. +She had taken off his fetters the day he was brought in, and the +prince followed her into the street, where she cried, "There he +is, there he is!" + +The grand vizier, who was not far from the house, returned. Assad +knew him to be his brother, ran to him, and embraced him. Amgiad, +who immediately recollected him, returned his embrace with all +possible tenderness; made him mount one of his officers' horses, +who alighted for that purpose; and conducted him in triumph to +the palace, where he presented him to the king, by whom he was +advanced to the post of a vizier. + +Bostama not wishing to return to her father's house, which was +the next day razed to the ground, was sent to the queen's +apartments. + +The old man her father, Behram, and all their families were +brought before the king, who condemned them to be beheaded. They +threw themselves at his feet, and implored his mercy. "There is +no mercy for you to expect," said the king, "unless you renounce +the adoration of fire, and profess the Mahummedan religion." + + +They accepted the condition, and were pardoned at the +intercession of Assad, in consideration of Bostama's friendship; +for whose sake Cavama's life, and the lives of the rest of their +families were saved. + +Amgiad, in consideration of Behram turning Mussulmaun, and to +compensate for the loss which he had suffered before he deserved +his favour, made him one of his principal officers, and lodged +him in his house. Behram, being informed of Amgiad and his +brother Assad's story, proposed to his benefactor, to fit out a +vessel to convey them to their father's court: "For," said he, +"the king must certainly have heard of your innocence, and +impatiently desire to see you: otherwise we can easily inform him +of the truth before we land, and if he is still in the same mind, +you can but return." + +The two brothers accepted the proposal, communicated it to the +king of the city of the magicians, who approved of it; and +commanded a ship to be equipped. Behram undertook the employment +cheerfully, and soon got in readiness to sail. The two princes, +when they understood the ship was ready, waited upon the king to +take leave. While they were making their compliments, and +thanking the king for his favours, they were interrupted by a +great tumult in the city: and presently an officer came to give +them notice that a numerous army was advancing against the city, +nobody knowing who they were, or whence they had come. + +The king being alarmed at the intelligence, Amgiad addressed him +thus: "Sir, though I have just resigned into your majesty's hands +the dignity of your first minister, with which you were pleased +to honour me, I am ready to do you all the service in my power. I +desire therefore that you would be pleased to let me go and see +who this enemy is, that comes to attack you in your capital, +without having first declared war." + +The king desired him to do so. Amgiad departed immediately, with +a very small retinue, to see what enemy approached, and what was +the reason of their coming. + +It was not long before prince Amgiad descried the army, which +appeared very formidable, and which approached nearer and nearer. +The advanced guards received him favourably, and conducted him to +a princess, who stopped, and commanded her army to halt, while +she talked with the prince; who, bowing profoundly to her, +demanded if she came as a friend or an enemy: if as an enemy, +what cause of complaint she had against the king his master? + +"I come as a friend," replied the princess, "and have no cause of +complaint against the king of the city of the magicians. His +territories and mine are so situated, that it is almost +impossible for us to have any dispute. I only come to require a +slave named Assad, to be delivered up to me. He was carried away +by one Behram, a captain of a ship belonging to this city, the +most insolent man in the world. I hope your king will do me +justice, when he knows I am Margiana." + +The prince answered, "Mighty queen, the slave whom you take so +much pains to seek is my brother: I lost him, and have found him +again. Come, and I will deliver him up to you myself; and will do +myself the honour to tell you the rest of the story: the king my +master will rejoice to see you." + +The queen ordered her army to pitch their tents, and encamp where +they were; and accompanied prince Amgiad to the city and palace, +where he presented her to the king; who received her in a manner +becoming her dignity. Assad, who was present, and knew her as +soon as he saw her, also paid his respects to her. She appeared +greatly rejoiced to see him. While they were thus engaged, +tidings came, that an army more powerful than the former +approached on the other side of the city. + +The king of the magicians was more terrified than before, +understanding the second army was more numerous than the first, +for he saw this by the clouds of dust they raised, which hid the +face of the heavens. "Amgiad," cried he, "what shall we do now? a +new army comes to destroy us." Amgiad guessed what the king +meant; he mounted on horseback again, and galloped towards the +second army. He demanded of the advanced guards to speak with +their general, and they conducted him to their king. When he drew +near him, he alighted, prostrated himself to the ground, and +asked what he required of the king his master. + +The monarch replied, "I am Gaiour, king of China; my desire to +learn tidings of a daughter, whose name is Badoura, whom I +married to Kummir al Zummaun, son of Shaw Zummaun, king of the +isles of the children of Khaledan, obliged me to leave my +dominions. I suffered that prince to go to see his father, on +condition that he came back in a year with my daughter; from that +time I have heard nothing of them. Your king will lay an infinite +obligation on an afflicted father, by telling him if he knows +what is become of them." + +Prince Amgiad, perceiving by his discourse that the king was his +grandfather, kissed his hand with tenderness, and answered him +thus: "I hope your majesty will pardon my freedom, when you know +that I only pay my duty to my grandfather. I am the son of Kummir +al Zummaun, king of the isle of Ebene, and of queen Badoura, for +whom you are thus troubled; and I doubt not but they are both in +good health in their kingdom." + +The king of China, overjoyed to see his grandson, tenderly +embraced him. Such a meeting, so happy and unexpected, drew tears +from both. The king inquiring on what occasion he had come into a +strange country, the prince told him all that had happened to him +and his brother Assad. When he had finished his relation, "My +son," replied the king of China, "it is not just that such +innocent princes as you are should be longer ill used. Comfort +yourself, I will carry you and your brother home, and make your +peace. Return, and acquaint your brother with my arrival." + +While the king of China encamped in the place where prince Amgiad +met him, the prince returned to inform the king of the magicians, +who waited for him impatiently, how he had succeeded. + +The king was astonished that so mighty a king as that of China +should undertake such a long and troublesome journey, out of a +desire to see his daughter. He gave orders to make preparations +for his reception, and went forth to meet him. + +While these things were transacting, a great dust was seen on +another side of the town; and suddenly news was brought of the +arrival of a third army, which obliged the king to stop, and to +desire prince Amgiad once more to see who they were, and on what +account they came. + +Amgiad went accordingly, and prince Assad accompanied him. They +found it was Kummir al Zummaun their father's army, with whom he +was coming to seek for them. He was so grieved for the loss of +his sons, that at last emir Jehaun-dar declared that he had saved +their lives, which made him resolve to seek for them wherever he +was likely to find them. + +The afflicted father embraced the two princes with tears of joy, +which put an end to those he had a long time shed for grief. The +princes had no sooner told him the king of China, his father-in- +law, was arrived, than, accompanied by them and a small party, he +rode to wait upon him in his camp. They had not gone far, before +they saw a fourth army advancing in good order, which seemed to +come from Persia. + +Kummir al Zummaun desired the two princes to go and see what army +it was, and he would in the meanwhile wait for them. They +departed immediately, and coming up to it, were presented to the +king to whom the army belonged; and, after having saluted him +with due reverence, they demanded on what design he approached so +near the king of the magicians' capital. The grand vizier, who +was present, answered in the name of the king his master, "The +monarch to whom you speak is Shaw Zummaun, king of the isles of +the children of Khaledan, who has a longtime travelled, thus +attended, to seek his son, who left his dominions many years ago: +if you know any thing of him, you cannot oblige him more than by +communicating to him all the information in your power." + +The princes only replied, that they would shortly bring him an +answer, and galloping back as fast as they could, told Kummir al +Zummaun that the king his father was approaching with his army. + +Wonder, surprise, joy, and grief, had such an effect on Kummir al +Zummaun, that he fainted as soon as he heard he was so near. +Prince Amgiad and prince Assad, by their assiduities, at length +brought him to himself; and when he had recovered his strength, +he went to his father's tent, and threw himself at his feet. + +Never was there a more affecting interview. Shaw Zummaun gently +upbraided his son with unkindness in so cruelly leaving him; and +Kummir al Zummaun discovered a hearty sorrow for the fault which +love had urged him to commit. + +The three kings, and queen Margiana, stayed three days at the +court of the king of the magicians, who treated them +magnificently. These three days were rendered more remarkable by +prince Assad's marriage with queen Margiana, and prince Amgiad +with Bostama, for the service she had done his brother Assad. + +At length the three kings, and queen Margiana, with her husband +Assad, returned to their respective kingdoms. As for Amgiad, the +king of the magicians had such an affection for him, he could not +part with him; and being very old, he resigned his crown to him. +Amgiad, when he had the supreme authority, did his utmost to +exterminate the worship of fire, and establish the Mahummedan +religion throughout his dominions. + + + + + + THE STORY OF NOOR AD DEEN AND THE FAIR + PERSIAN. + + + +The city of Bussorah was for many years the capital of a kingdom +tributary to the caliphs of Arabia. The king who governed it in +the days of the caliph Haroon al Rusheed was named Zinebi, who +not thinking it proper to commit the administration of his +affairs to a single vizier, made choice of two, Khacan and Saouy. + +Khacan was of a sweet, generous, and affable temper, and took +pleasure in obliging, to the utmost of his power, those with whom +he had any business to transact, without violating the justice +which it became him to dispense to all. He was therefore +universally respected, at court, in the city, and throughout the +whole kingdom; and the praises he so highly deserved were the +general theme. + +Saouy was of a very different character: he was always sullen and +morose, and disgusted every body, without regard to their rank or +quality. Instead of commanding respect by the liberal +distribution of his immense wealth, he was so perfect a miser as +to deny himself the necessaries of life. In short, nobody could +endure him; and nothing good was said of him. But what rendered +him most hateful to the people, was his implacable aversion to +Khacan. He was always putting the worst construction on the +actions of that worthy minister, and endeavouring as much as +possible to prejudice him with the king. + +One day after council, the king of Bussorah amused himself with +his two viziers and some other members. The conversation turned +upon the female slaves that are daily bought and sold, and who +hold nearly the same rank as the lawful wives. Some were of +opinion, that personal beauty in slaves so purchased was of +itself sufficient to render them proper substitutes for wives, +which, often on account of alliance or interest in families, men +are obliged to marry, though they are not always possessed of any +perfection, either of mind or body. + +Others maintained, and amongst the rest Khacan, that personal +charms were by no means the only qualifications to be desired in +a slave; but that they ought to be accompanied with a great share +of wit, a cultivated understanding, modesty, and, if possible, +every agreeable accomplishment. The reason they gave was, that +nothing could be more gratifying to persons on whom the +management of important affairs devolved, than, after having +spent the day in fatiguing employment, to have a companion in +their retirement, whose conversation would be not only pleasing, +but useful and instructive: for, in short, continued they, there +is but little difference between brutes and those men who keep a +slave only to look at, and to gratify a passion that we have in +common with them. + + +The king entirely concurred in this opinion, and accordingly +ordered Khacan to buy him a slave, of perfect beauty, mistress of +all the qualifications they had enumerated, and possessed, above +all things, of an enlightened understanding. + +Saouy, jealous of the honour the king had done Khacan, and +differing widely with him in opinion, said, "Sire, it will be +very difficult to find a slave so accomplished as your majesty +requires; and should such a one be discovered, which I scarcely +believe possible, she will be cheap at ten thousand pieces of +gold." "Saouy," replied the king, "I perceive plainly you think +the sum too great; it may be so for you, though not for me." Then +turning to his high treasurer, he ordered him to send the ten +thousand pieces of gold to the vizier's house. + +Khacan, as soon as he had returned home, sent for all the brokers +who used to deal in women-slaves, and strictly charged them, +that, if ever they met with one who answered the description he +gave them, they should immediately apprise him. The brokers, +partly to oblige the vizier, and partly for their own interest, +promised to use their utmost endeavours to procure for him one +that would accord with his wishes. Scarcely a day passed but they +brought him a slave for his inspection, but he always discovered +in each something defective. + +One day, early in the morning, as Khacan was mounting his horse +to go to court, a broker came to him, and, taking hold of the +stirrup with great eagerness, told him a Persian merchant had +arrived very late the day before, who had a slave to sell, so +surprisingly beautiful that she excelled all the women his eyes +had ever beheld; "And for wit and knowledge," added he, "the +merchant engages she shall match the most acute and learned +persons of the age." + +Khacan, overjoyed at this intelligence, which promised him a +favourable opportunity for making his court, ordered him to bring +the slave to his palace against his return, and departed. + +The broker failed not to be at the vizier's at the appointed +hour; and Khacan, finding the lovely slave so much beyond his +expectation, immediately gave her the name of the fair Persian. +As he had himself much wit and learning, he soon perceived by her +conversation, that it was in vain to search further for a slave +that surpassed her in any of the qualifications required by the +king; and therefore he asked the broker at what sum the Persian +merchant valued her. + +"Sir," replied the broker, "he is a man of few words in +bargaining, and he tells me, that the very lowest price he will +take for her is ten thousand pieces of gold: he has also sworn to +me, that, without reckoning his care and pains from the time of +his first taking her under his charge, he has laid out nearly +that sum on her education in masters to improve her form and +cultivate her mind, besides what she has cost him in clothes and +maintenance. As he always thought her fit for a king, he has from +her infancy, when he first bought her, been sparing of nothing +that might contribute towards advancing her to that high +distinction. She plays upon all kinds of instruments to +perfection; she sings, dances, writes better than the most +celebrated authors, makes verses, and there is scarcely any book +but she has read; so that there never was a slave so accomplished +heard of before." + +The vizier Khacan, who could estimate the merits of the fair +Persian better than the broker, who only reported what he had +heard from the merchant, was unwilling to defer the bargain to a +future opportunity, and therefore sent one of his servants to +look for the merchant, where the broker told him he was to be +found. + +As soon as the Persian merchant arrived, "It is not for myself, +but for the king," said the vizier Khacan, "that I buy your +slave; but, nevertheless, you must let him have her at a more +reasonable price than you have set upon her." + +"Sir," replied the merchant, "I should do myself unspeakable +honour in offering her as a present to his majesty, if it became +a person in my situation to make him one of such inestimable +value. I ask no more than her education and accomplishments have +cost me; and all I have to say is, that I believe his majesty +will be extremely pleased with the purchase." + +The vizier Khacan would stand no longer bargaining with the +merchant, but paid him the money immediately. "Sir," said he to +the vizier, upon taking his leave of him, "since the slave is +designed for the king's use, give me leave to tell you, that +being extremely fatigued with our long journey, you see her at +present under great disadvantage. Though she has not her equal in +the world for beauty, yet if you please to keep her at your own +house for a fortnight, she will appear quite another creature. +You may then present her to the king with honour and credit; for +which I hope you will think yourself much obliged to me. The sun, +you perceive, has a little injured her complexion; but after two +or three times bathing, and when you have dressed her as you +think proper, she will be so changed, that she will appear +infinitely more charming." + +Khacan was pleased with the instructions the merchant gave him, +and resolved to abide by them. He assigned the fair Persian a +particular apartment near his lady's, whom he desired to invite +her to an entertainment, and thenceforth to treat her as a person +designed for the king: he also provided for her several suits of +the richest clothes that could be had, and would become her best. +Before he took his leave of the fair Persian, he said "Your +happiness, madam, cannot be greater than what I am about to +procure for you; you shall judge for yourself; it is for the king +I have purchased you; and I hope he will be even more pleased +with possessing you than I am in having discharged the commission +with which his majesty has honoured me. I think it, however, my +duty to warn you that I have a son, who, though he does not want +wit, is yet young, insinuating, and forward; and to caution you +how you suffer him to come near you." The fair Persian thanked +him for his advice; and after she had given him assurance of her +intention to follow it, he withdrew. + +Noor ad Deen, for so the vizier's son was named, had free access +to the apartment of his mother, with whom he usually ate his +meals. He was young, handsome in person, agreeable in manners, +and firm in his temper; and having great readiness of wit, and +fluency of language, was perfect master of the art of persuasion. +He saw the fair Persian; and from their first interview, though +he knew his father had bought her purposely for the king, and had +so informed him, yet he never used the least endeavour to check +the violence of his passion. In short, he resigned himself wholly +to the power of her charms, by which his heart was at first +captivated; and, from his first conversation with her, resolved +to use his utmost endeavours to keep her from the king. + +The fair Persian, on her part, had no dislike to Noor ad Deen. +"The vizier," said she to herself, "has done me honour in +purchasing me for the king; but I should have thought myself very +happy if he had designed me only for his own son." + +Noor ad Deen was not remiss in improving the advantage he enjoyed +of seeing and conversing with a beauty of whom he was so +passionately enamoured; for he would never leave her till obliged +by his mother. "My son," she would say, "it is not proper for a +young man like you to be always in the women's apartments; go, +mind your studies, and endeavour to qualify yourself to succeed +to the honours of your father." + +The fair Persian not having bathed for a considerable time on +account of the length of her journey, the vizier's lady, five or +six days after she was purchased, ordered the bath in her own +house to be got ready purposely for her. She sent her to it +accompanied by many other women-slaves, who were charged by the +vizier's lady to be as attentive to her as to herself, and, after +bathing, to put her on a very rich suit of clothes that she had +provided for her. She was the more careful in order to ingratiate +herself with her husband, by letting him see how much she +interested herself in every thing that contributed to his +pleasure. + +As soon as she came out of the bath, the fair Persian, a thousand +times more beautiful than she had appeared to Khacan when he +bought her, went to visit his lady, who at first hardly knew her. +The fair Persian gracefully kissed her hand, and said, "Madam, I +know not how you like me in this dress you have been pleased to +order for me; but your women, who tell me it becomes me so +extremely well they should scarcely know me, certainly flatter +me. From you alone I expect to hear the truth; but, if what they +say be really so, I am indebted to you, madam, for the advantage +it has given me." + +"Oh! my daughter," cried the vizier's lady, transported with joy, +"you have no reason to believe my women have flattered you; I am +better skilled in beauty than they; and, setting aside your +dress, which becomes you admirably well, your beauty is so much +improved by the bath, that I hardly knew you myself. If I thought +the bath was warm enough, I would take my turn; for I am now of +an age to require its frequent use." "Madam," replied the fair +Persian, "I have nothing to say to the undeserved civilities you +have been pleased to shew me. As for the bath, it is in fine +order; and if you design to go in, you have no time to lose, as +your women can inform you." + +The vizier's lady, considering that she had not bathed for some +days, was desirous to avail herself of that opportunity; and +accordingly acquainted her women with her intention, who +immediately prepared all things necessary for the occasion. The +fair Persian withdrew to her apartment; and the vizier's lady, +before she went to bathe, ordered two little female slaves to +stay with her, with a strict charge that if Noor ad Deen came, +they should not give him admittance. + +While the vizier's lady was bathing, and the fair slave was alone +in her apartment, Noor ad Deen came in, and not finding his +mother in her chamber, went directly towards the fair Persian's, +and found the two little slaves in the antechamber. He asked them +where his mother was? They told him in the bath. "Where is the +fair Persian, then?" demanded Noor ad Deen. "In her chamber," +answered the slaves; "but we have positive orders from your +mother not to admit you." + + +The entrance into the fair Persian's chamber being only covered +with a piece of tapestry, Noor ad Deen went to lift it up, in +order to enter, but was opposed by the two slaves, who placed +themselves before it, to stop his passage. He presently caught +them both by the arms, and, thrusting them out of the +antechamber, locked the door upon them. They immediately ran with +loud lamentations to the bath, and with tears in their eyes, told +their lady, that Noor ad Deen, having driven them away by force, +had gone into the fair Persian's chamber. + +The vizier's lady received the account of her son's presumption +with the greatest concern. She immediately left the bath, and +dressing herself with all possible speed, came directly to the +fair Persian's chamber; but before she could get thither, Noor ad +Deen had gone away. + +The fair Persian was extremely surprised to see the vizier's lady +enter her chamber in tears, and in the utmost confusion. "Madam," +said she, "may I presume to ask you the occasion of your concern; +and what accident has happened in the bath, to make you leave it +so soon?" + +"What!" cried the vizier's lady, "can you so calmly ask that. +question, after my son has been with you alone in your chamber? +Can there happen a greater misfortune to him or me?" + +"I beseech you, madam," replied the fair slave, "what prejudice +can this action of Noor ad Deen's do to you or him?" + +"How," returned the vizier's lady, "did not my husband tell you +that you were designed for the king, and sufficiently caution you +to beware of our son?" + +"I have not forgotten that, madam," replied the fair Persian; +"but your son came to tell me the vizier his father had changed +his purpose, and instead of reserving me for the king, as he +first designed, had made him a present of my person. I easily +believed him; for, oh! think how a slave as I am, accustomed from +my infant years to the laws of servitude, could or ought to +resist him! I must own I did it with the less reluctance, on +account of the affection for him, which the freedom of our +conversation and daily intercourse has excited in my heart. I +could without regret resign the hope of ever being the king's, +and think myself perfectly happy in spending my whole life with +Noor ad Deen." + +At this discourse of the fair Persian's, the vizier's lady +exclaimed, "Would to God that what you say were true! I should +hear it with joy; but, believe me, Noor ad Deen has deceived you; +for it is impossible his father should ever make him such a +present. Ah! wretched youth, how miserable has he made me! and +more especially his father, by the dismal consequences we must +all expect to share with him! Neither my prayers nor tears will +be able to prevail, or obtain a pardon for him; for as soon as +his father hears of his violence to you, he will inevitably +sacrifice him to his resentment." At these words she wept +bitterly; and the slaves, who were as much alarmed for Noor ad +Deen as herself, joined in her tears. + +Shortly after the vizier Khacan entered; and being surprised to +find his lady and her slaves all in tears, and the fair Persian +very melancholy asked the reason; but instead of answering him +his wife and the slaves continued weeping and lamenting. This +astonished him still more; at last, addressing himself to his +wife, "I command you," said he, "to let me know the reason of +your tears, and to tell me the whole truth." + +The disconsolate lady could no longer refuse to satisfy her +husband. "Sir," said she, "first promise not to use me unkindly +on account of what I shall inform you, since I assure you, that +what has happened has not been occasioned by any fault of mine." +Without waiting for his answer, she then proceeded, "whilst I was +bathing with my women, your son seizing that fatal opportunity to +ruin us both, came hither, and made the fair Persian believe, +that instead of reserving her for the king, you had given her to +him as a present. I will not say what he did after such a wicked +falsehood, but shall leave you to judge. This is the cause of my +affliction, on your account, and his, for whom I want confidence +to implore your pardon." + +It is impossible to express the vizier Khacan's distraction at +this account of the insolence of his son. "Ah!" cried he, beating +his breast, and tearing his beard, "miserable son! unworthy of +life! hast thou at last thrown thy father from the highest +pinnacle of happiness into a misfortune that must inevitably +involve thee also in his ruin? neither will the king be satisfied +with thy blood or mine, to avenge the affront offered to his +royal person." + +His lady endeavoured to comfort him. "Afflict yourself no more," +said she; "I shall easily raise, with part of my jewels, ten +thousand pieces of gold, and you may buy another slave, more +beautiful and more worthy of the king." + +"Ah!" replied the vizier, "could you think me capable of being so +extremely afflicted at losing ten thousand pieces of gold? It is +not that loss, nor the loss of all I am worth, for that I should +not feel; but the forfeiting my honour, more precious than all +the riches in the world, that distresses me." "However," replied +the lady, "a loss that can be repaired by money cannot be so very +great." + +"How!" exclaimed the vizier; "do you not know that Saouy is my +mortal enemy; and as soon as this affair comes to his knowledge, +do you think he will not exult over me before the king? Your +majesty,' will he not say to him, is always talking of Khacan's +zeal and affection for your service; but see what a proof he has +lately given of his claim to the regard you have hitherto shewn +him. He has received ten thousand pieces of gold to buy a slave; +and, to do him justice, he has most honourably acquitted himself +of that commission, by purchasing the most beautiful that ever +eyes beheld; but, instead of bringing her to your majesty, he has +thought it better to make a present of her to his son. "Here, my +son," said he, "take this slave, since thou art more worthy of +her than the king."' Then, with his usual malice, will he not go +on, His son has her now entirely in his possession, and every +day revels in her arms, without the least disturbance. This, sir, +is the exact truth, that I have done myself the honour of +acquainting you with; and if your majesty questions my veracity, +you may easily satisfy yourself.' Do you not plainly see," +continued the vizier, "how, upon such a malicious insinuation as +this, I am every moment liable to have my house forced by the +king's guards, and the fair Persian taken from me, besides a +thousand other misfortunes that will unavoidably follow?" "Sir," +replied the vizier's lady to her husband, "I am sensible the +malice of Saouy is very great, and that, if he have but the least +intimation of this affair, he will certainly give it a turn very +disadvantageous to your interest; but how is it possible that he +or any one else should know what has been privately transacted in +your family? Suppose it comes to the king's ears, and he should +ask you about it; cannot you say, that upon a strict examination +you did not deem the slave so fit for his majesty's use as you +had at first thought her; that the merchant has cheated you; +that, indeed, she has considerable beauty, but is by no means so +accomplished as she had been represented. The king will certainly +believe what you say, and Saouy be vexed to the soul, to see all +his malicious design of ruining you disappointed. Take courage +then, and, if you will follow my advice, send for all the +brokers, tell them you do not like the fair Persian, and order +them to be as expeditious as possible in procuring for you +another slave." + +As this advice appeared rational to the vizier Khacan, and as his +passion began to cool, he resolved to abide by it, but his +indignation against his son remained as violent as ever. + +Noor ad Deen did not make his appearance during the whole of that +day, and not daring to hide himself among his young companions, +lest his father should search for him in their houses, he went a +little way out of town, and took sanctuary in a garden, where he +had never been before, and where he was totally unknown. He did +not return home till it was very late, when he knew his father +was in bed; and then his mother's women, opening the door very +softly; admitted him without any noise. He quitted the house +again next morning before his father was stirring; and this plan +he pursued for a whole month, to his great mortification. Indeed, +the women never flattered him, but told him plainly, his father's +anger was not at all diminished, and that he protested if he came +into his sight he would certainly kill him. + +The vizier's lady learnt from her women that Noor ad Deen slept +every night in the house, but she could not summon resolution to +supplicate her husband for his pardon. At last, however, she +ventured. One day she said to him, "I have hitherto been silent, +sir, not daring to take the liberty of talking to you about your +son; but now give me leave to ask what you design to do with him? +It is impossible for a son to have acted more criminally towards +a father than he has done, in depriving you of the honour and +gratification of presenting to the king a slave so accomplished +as the fair Persian. This I acknowledge; but, after all, are you +resolved to destroy him, and, instead of a light evil no more to +be thought of, to draw upon yourself a far greater than perhaps +you at present apprehend? Are you not afraid that the malicious +world, which inquires after the reason of your son's absconding, +may find out the true cause, which you are so desirous of +concealing? Should that happen, you would justly fall into a +misfortune, which it is so much your interest to avoid." + +"Madam," returned the vizier, "there is much reason in what you +have urged; but I cannot think of pardoning our son, till I have +mortified him as he deserves." "He will be sufficiently +mortified," replied the lady, "if you will only do what has just +suggested itself to my mind. Your son comes home every night +after you have retired; he sleeps here, and steals out every +morning before you are stirring. Wait for his coming in to-night, +make as if you designed to kill him, upon which I will run to his +assistance, and when he finds he owes his life entirely to my +prayers and entreaties, you may oblige him to take the fair +Persian on what condition you please. He loves her, and I am well +satisfied the fair slave has no aversion for him." + +Khacan readily consented to this stratagem. Accordingly, when +Noor ad Deen came at the usual hour, before the door was opened, +he placed himself behind it: as soon as he entered, he rushed +suddenly upon him, and got him down under his feet. Noor ad Deen, +lifting up his head, saw his father with a dagger in his hand, +ready to stab him. + +At that instant his mother arrived, and catching hold of the +vizier's arm, cried, "Sir, what are you doing?" "Let me alone," +replied the vizier, "that I may kill this base, unworthy son." +"You shall kill me first," returned the mother; "never will I +suffer you to imbue your hands in your own blood." Noor ad Deen +improved this moment. "My father," cried he with tears in his +eyes, "I implore your clemency and compassion; nor must you deny +me pardon, since I ask it in his name before whom we must all +appear at the last day." + +Khacan suffered the dagger to be taken out of his hand; and as +soon as Noor ad Deen was released, he threw himself at his +father's feet and kissed them, to shew how sincerely he repented +of having offended him. "Son," said the vizier, "return thanks to +your mother, since it is for her sake I pardon you. I propose +also to give you the fair Persian, on condition that you will +bind yourself by an oath not to regard her any longer as a slave, +but as your wife; that you will not sell her, nor ever be +divorced from her. As she possesses an excellent understanding, +and abundantly more wit and prudence than yourself, I doubt not +but that she will be able to moderate those rash sallies of +youth, which are otherwise so likely to effect your ruin." + +Noor ad Deen, who little expected such indulgent treatment, +returned his father a thousand thanks, and the fair Persian and +he were well pleased with being united to each other. + +The vizier Khacan, without waiting for the king's inquiries about +the success of the commission he had given him, took particular +care to mention the subject often, representing to his majesty +the many difficulties he met, and how fearful he was of not +acquitting himself to his majesty's satisfaction. In short, he +managed the business with so much address, that the king +insensibly forgot it. Though Saouy had gained some intimation of +the transaction, yet Khacan was so much in the king's favour, +that he was afraid to divulge what he had heard. + +This delicate affair had now been kept rather more than a year +with greater secrecy than the vizier at first expected, when +being one day in the bath, and some important business obliging +him to leave it, warm as he was, the air, which was then cold, +struck to his breast, caused a defluxion to fall upon his lungs, +which threw him into a violent fever, and confined him to his +bed. His illness increasing every day, and perceiving he had not +long to live, he thus addressed himself to his son, who never +quitted him during the whole of his illness: "My son," said he, +"I know not whether I have well employed the riches heaven has +blessed me with, but you see they are not able to save me from +the hands of death. The last thing I desire of you with my dying +breath is, that you would be mindful of the promise you made me +concerning the fair Persian, and in this assurance I shall die +content." + +These were the vizier Khacan's last words. He expired a few +moments after, and left his family, the court, and the whole +city, in great affliction, The king lamented him as a wise, +zealous, and faithful minister; and the people bewailed him as +their protector and benefactor.. Never was there a funeral in +Bussorah solemnized with greater pomp and magnificence. The +viziers, emirs, and in general all the grandees of the court, +strove for the honour of bearing his coffin, one after another, +upon their shoulders, to the place of burial; and both rich and +poor accompanied him, dissolved in tears. + +Noor ad Deen exhibited all the demonstrations of a sorrow +proportioned to the loss he had sustained, and long refrained +from seeing any company. At last he admitted of a visit from an +intimate acquaintance. His friend endeavoured to comfort him; and +finding him inclined to hear reason, told him, that having paid +what was due to the memory of his father, and fully satisfied all +that decency required of him, it was now high time to appear +again in the world, to converse with his friends, and maintain a +character suitable to his birth and talents. "For," continued he, +"though we should sin against the laws both of nature and +society, and be thought insensible, if on the death of our +fathers we neglected to pay them the duties which filial love +imposes upon us; yet having performed these, and put it out of +the power of any to reproach us for our conduct, it behoves us to +return to the world, and our customary occupations. Dry up your +tears then, and reassume that wonted air of gaiety which has +always inspired with joy those who have had the honour of your +friendship." + +This advice seemed too reasonable to be rejected, and had Noor ad +Deen strictly abided by it, he would certainly have avoided all +the misfortunes that afterwards befell him. He entertained his +friend honourably; and when he took his leave, desired him to +come again the next day, and bring with him three or four friends +of their acquaintance. By this means he insensibly fell into the +society of about ten young men nearly of his own age, with whom +he spent his time in continual feasting and entertainments; and +scarcely a day passed but he made every one of them some +considerable present. + +The fair Persian, who never approved of his extravagant way of +living, often spoke her mind freely. "I question not," said she, +"but the vizier your father has left you an ample fortune: but +great as it may be, be not displeased with your slave for telling +you, that at this rate of living you will quickly see an end of +it. We may sometimes indeed treat our friends, and be merry with +them; but to make a daily practice of it, is certainly the high +road to ruin and destruction: for your own honour and reputation, +you would do better to follow the footsteps of your deceased +father, that in time you may rise to that dignity by which he +acquired so much glory and renown." + +Noor ad Deen hearkened to the fair Persian with a smile: and when +she had done, "My charmer," said he, with the same air of gaiety, +"say no more of that; let us talk of nothing but mirth and +pleasure. In my father's lifetime I was always under restraint; +and I am now resolved to enjoy the liberty I so much sighed for +before his death. It will be time enough for me hereafter to +think of leading the sober, regular life you talk of; and a man +of my age ought to taste the pleasures of youth." + +What contributed still more to the ruin of Noor ad Deen's +fortune, was his unwillingness to reckon with his steward; for +whenever he brought in his accounts, he still sent him away +without examining them: "Go, go," said he, "I trust wholly to +your honesty; only take care to provide good entertainments for +my friends." + +"You are the master, sir," replied he, "and I but the steward; +however, you would do well to think upon the proverb, He that +spends much, and has but little, must at last insensibly be +reduced to poverty.' You are not contented with keeping an +extravagant table, but you must lavish away your estate with both +hands: and were your coffers as large as mountains, they would +not be sufficient to maintain you." "Begone," replied Noor ad +Deen, "I want not your grave lessons; only take care to provide +good eating and drinking, and trouble your head no farther about +the rest." + +In the meantime, Noor ad Deen's friends were constant guests at +his table, and never failed to take advantage of the easiness of +his temper. They praised and flattered him, extolling his most +indifferent actions; but, above all, they took particular care to +commend whatever belonged to him; and in this they found their +account. "Sir," said one of them, "I came the other day by your +estate that lies in such a place; nothing can be so magnificent +or so handsomely furnished as your house; and the garden +belonging to it is a paradise upon earth." "I am very glad it +pleases you," replied Noor ad Deen: "bring me pen, ink, and +paper; without more words, it is at your service; I make you a +present of it." No sooner had others commended one of his houses, +baths, or public buildings erected for the use of strangers, the +yearly revenue of which was very considerable, than he +immediately gave them away. The fair Persian could not forbear +stating to him how much injury he did himself; but, instead of +paying any regard to her remonstrances, he continued his +extravagances, and the first opportunity that offered, squandered +away the little he had left. + +In short, Noor ad Deen did nothing for a whole year but feast and +make merry, wasting and consuming, with the utmost prodigality, +the great wealth that his predecessors, and the good vizier his +father, had with so much pains and care acquired and preserved. + +The year was but just expired, when a person one day knocked at +the door of the hall, where he and his friends were at dinner +together by themselves, having sent away the slaves, that they +might enjoy the greater liberty. + +One of his friends offered to rise; but Noor ad Deen stepping +before him, opened the door himself. It was the steward; and Noor +ad Deen, going a little out of the hall to know his business, +left the door half open. + +The friend that offered to rise from his seat, seeing it was the +steward, and being curious to know what he had to say, placed +himself between the hangings and the door, where he plainly +overheard the steward's discourse to his master. "Sir," said he, +"I ask a thousand pardons for coming to disturb you in the height +of your pleasure; but what I have to say is of such importance, +that I thought myself bound in duty to acquaint you with it. I am +come, sir, to make up my last accounts, and to tell you, that +what I all along foresaw, and have often warned you of, is at +last come to pass. I have not the smallest piece left of all the +sums I have received from you for your expenses; the other funds +you assigned me are all exhausted. The farmers, and those that +owe you rent, have made it so plainly appear to me, that you have +assigned over to others what they held of you, that it is +impossible for me to get any more from them on your account. Here +are my books; if you please, examine them; and if you wish I +should continue useful to you, assign me other funds, or else +give me leave to quit your service." Noor ad Deen was so +astonished at his statement, that he gave him no answer. + + +The friend who had been listening all this while, and had heard +every syllable of what the steward said, immediately came in, and +told the company what he had overheard. "It is your business, +gentlemen," said he, "to make your use of this caution; for my +part, I declare to you, this is the last visit I design ever to +make Noor ad Deen." "Nay," replied they, "if matters go thus, we +have as little business here as you; and for the future shall +take care not to trouble him with our company." + +Noor ad Deen returned presently after; notwithstanding all his +efforts to appear gay to his guests, he could not so dissemble +his concern, but they plainly perceived the truth of what they +had heard. He was scarcely sat down in his place, when one of his +friends arose: "Sir," said he, "I am sorry I cannot have the +honour of keeping you company any longer; and therefore I hope +you will excuse my rudeness in leaving you so soon." "What urgent +affair," demanded Noor ad Deen, "obliges you to be going so +soon?" "My wife, sir," he replied, "is brought to bed to-day; and +upon such an occasion, you know a husband's company is always +necessary." So making a very low bow, he went away. A minute +afterwards a second took his leave, with another excuse. The rest +did the same, one after another, till at last not one of the ten +friends that had hitherto kept Noor ad Deen company remained. + +As soon as they were gone, Noor ad Deen, little suspecting the +resolution they had formed never to see him again, went directly +to the fair Persian's apartment; to whom he related all the +steward had told him, and seemed extremely concerned at the ill +state of his affairs. "Sir," said the fair Persian, "allow me to +say, you would never take my advice, but always managed your +concerns after your own way, and now you see the fatal +consequences. I find I was not mistaken, when I presaged to what +a miserable condition you would bring yourself at last: but what +afflicts me the more is, that at present you do not see the worst +of your misfortunes. Whenever I presumed freely to remonstrate +with you, Let us be merry,' you replied, and improve the time +that Fortune offers us; perhaps she will not always be so +prodigal of her favours:' but was I to blame in telling you, that +we are ourselves the makers of our own fortunes by a prudent +management of them? You would not hearken to me; and I was +forced, however reluctantly, to let you go on." + +"I must own," replied Noor ad Deen, "I was extremely in the wrong +in not following the advice which with such admirable prudence +you gave me. It is true, I have spent my estate; but do you not +consider, it is among a chosen set of friends, whom I have long +known, and who, I am persuaded, have more generosity and +gratitude than to abandon me in distress?" "Sir," replied the +fair Persian, "if you have nothing but the gratitude of your +friends to depend on, your case is desperate; for, believe me, +that hope is ill-grounded, and you will tell me so yourself in +time." + +To this Noor ad Deen replied, "Charming Persian, I have a better +opinion of my friends' generosity: to-morrow I design to visit +them all, before the usual time of their coming hither; and you +shall see me return with a round sum that they will assist me +with. I am resolved to alter my way of living, and, with the +money they lend me, to set up in some business." + +Next morning, Noor ad Deen visited his ten friends, who lived in +the same street. He knocked at the first door, where one of the +richest of them resided. A slave came to the door: but before he +would open it, asked who was there. "Tell your master," said he +to the slave, "it is Noor ad Deen, the late vizier Khacan's son." +The slave opened the door, and shewed him into a hall, where he +left him, in order to inform his master, who was in an inner +room, that Noor ad Deen was come to wait on him, "Noor ad Deen!" +cried he, in a disdainful tone, loud enough for him to hear: "go +tell him I am not at home; and whenever he may come again, be +sure you give him the same answer." The slave returned, and told +Noor ad Deen he thought his master was within, but was mistaken. + +Noor ad Deen came away in the greatest confusion. "Ah! base, +ungrateful wretch!" cried he, "to treat me so to-day after the +vows and protestations of friendship that he made me yesterday." +He went to another door, but that friend ordered his slave also +to say he was gone out. He had the same answer at the third; and, +in short, all the rest denied themselves, though every one was at +home. + +Noor ad Deen now began in earnest to reflect with himself, and +see the folly of relying upon the protestations of attachment +that his false friends had solemnly made him in the time of his +prosperity, when he could treat them sumptuously, and load them +with favours. "It is true," said he to himself, "that a fortunate +man, as I was, may be compared to a tree laden with fruit, which, +as long as there is any on its boughs, people will be crowding +round, and gathering; but as soon as it is stripped of all, they +immediately leave it, and go to another." He smothered his +passion as much as possible while he was abroad; but no sooner +was he got home than he gave a loose to his affliction, and +discovered it to the fair Persian. + +The fair Persian seeing him so extremely concerned, guessed he +had not found his friends so ready to assist him as he expected. +"Well, sir," said she, "are you now convinced of the truth of +what I told you?" "Ah!" cried he, "thou hast been too true a +prophetess; for not one of them would know me, see me, or speak +to me. Who could ever have believed, that persons so highly +obliged to me, and on whom I have spent my estate, could have +used me so ungratefully? I am distracted; and I fear shall commit +some action unworthy myself, in the deplorable and desperate +condition I am reduced to, unless you assist me with your prudent +advice." "Sir," replied the fair Persian, "I see no other way of +supporting yourself in your misfortunes, but selling off your +slaves and furniture, and living on the money they produce, till +heaven points out some other means to deliver you from your +present misery." + +Noor ad Deen was loth to resort to this expedient; but what could +he do in the necessitous circumstances to which he was reduced? +He first sold off his slaves, those unprofitable mouths, which +would have been a greater expense to him than in his present +condition he could bear. He lived on the money for some time; and +when it was spent, ordered his goods to be carried into the +market-place, where they were sold for half their value, though +there were among them several articles that had cost immense +sums. Upon the produce of these he lived a considerable time; but +this supply failing at last, he had nothing left by which he +could raise any more money, of which he informed the fair Persian +in the most sorrowful expressions. + +Noor ad Deen little expected the answer this prudent woman made +him. "Sir," said she, "I am your slave; and the late vizier your +father gave ten thousand pieces of gold for me. I know I am a +little sunk in value since that time; but I believe I shall sell +for pretty near that sum. Let me entreat you then instantly to +carry me to the market, and expose me to sale; and with the money +that you get for me, which will be very considerable, you may +turn merchant in some city where you are not known, and by that +means find a way of living, if not in splendour, yet with +happiness and content." + +"Lovely and adorable Persian!" cried Noor ad Deen, "is it +possible you can entertain such a thought? Have I given you such +slender proofs of my love, that you should think me capable of so +base an action? But suppose me so vile a wretch, could I do it +without being guilty of perjury, after the oath I have taken to +my late father never to sell you? I would sooner die than break +it, and part with you, whom I love infinitely beyond myself; +though, by the unreasonable proposal you have made me, you shew +me that your love is by no means reciprocal." + +"Sir," replied the fair Persian, "I am convinced that your +passion for me is as sincere as you express; and heaven, who +knows with what reluctance I have made this proposal which +induces you to think so hardly of me, is my witness, that mine is +as great as yours; but to silence your reasons, I need only bid +you remember, that necessity has no law. I love you to that +degree that it is impossible for you to love me more; and be +assured, that to what master soever I shall belong, my love for +you will continue undiminished; and if you are ever able to +redeem me, as I hope you may, it will be the greatest pleasure in +the world to be restored to you again. I confess it is a fatal +and cruel necessity to which we are driven; but I see no other +way of freeing ourselves from the misery that involves us both." + +Noor ad Deen, convinced of the truth of what the fair Persian had +said, and that there was no other way of avoiding a shameful +poverty, was forced to yield to her proposal. Accordingly he led +her to the market where the women-slaves are exposed to sale, +with a regret that cannot easily be expressed. He applied himself +to a broker, named Hagi Hassan. "Hagi Hassan," said he, "here is +a slave whom I mean to sell; what will they give for her?" + +Hagi Hassan desired Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian to walk +into a room; and when she had pulled off the veil that covered +her face, "Sir," said Hagi Hassan, in surprise, "if I am not +mistaken, this is the slave your father, the late vizier, gave +ten thousand pieces of gold for?" Noor ad Deen assured him she +was the same and Hagi Hassan gave him some hopes of selling her +at a high price, and promised to use all his art to raise her +value as high as he could. + +Hagi Hassan and Noor ad Deen went out of the room; and Hagi +Hassan locked the fair Persian in. He went immediately to the +merchants; but they being busy in buying slaves from different +countries, Greeks, Franks, Africans, Tartars, and others, he was +forced to wait till the market was over. When the sale was ended, +and the greatest part of them were got together again, "My +masters," said he to them, with an air of gaiety in his looks and +actions, "every thing that is round is not a nut, every thing +that is long is not a fig, all that is red is not flesh, and all +eggs are not fresh; it is true you have seen and bought a great +many slaves in your lives, but you never yet saw one comparable +to her I am going to tell you of. She is the very pearl of +slaves. Come, follow me, you shall see her yourselves, and judge +at what rate I shall cry her." + +The merchants followed Hagi Hassan into the apartment where he +had left the fair Persian, and as soon as they beheld her were so +surprised at her beauty, that they unanimously agreed, four +thousand pieces of gold was the very lowest price they could set +upon her. The merchants left the room; and Hagi Hassan, who came +out with them, without going any farther, proclaimed with a loud +voice, "Four thousand pieces of gold for a Persian slave." + +None of the merchants had yet offered anything, and were +consulting together about what they might afford to give for her, +when the vizier Saouy appeared. Perceiving Noor ad Deen in the +market, he said to himself, "Noor ad Deen is certainly still +making money of his goods" (for he knew he had exposed them to +sale), "and is come hither to buy a slave with the product." He +advanced forward just as Hagi Hassan began to proclaim a second +time, "Four thousand pieces of gold for a Persian slave." + +The vizier Saouy, who concluded by the high price, that the slave +must be extraordinarily beautiful, was very desirous to see her; +so spurring his horse forward, he rode up to Hagi Hassan, who was +surrounded by the merchants. "Open the door," said he, "and let +me see the slave." It was not the custom to shew a slave to a +particular person after the merchants had seen her, and were +treating for her; but none of them durst dispute their right with +the vizier; and Hagi Hassan was obliged to open the door, and he +made a sign to the fair Persian to come forward, that Saouy might +see her, without alighting from his horse. + +The vizier was astonished at the sight of so beautiful a slave; +and knowing the broker's name (having formerly dealt with him), +"Hagi Hassan," said he, "is it not at four thousand pieces of +gold that you cry her?" "Yes, sir," answered he; "the merchants +just now agreed that I should put her up at that price: I wait +their advance; and I question not but they will give a great deal +more." + +"If no one offers more, I will give that sum," replied Saouy, +looking at the merchants at the same time with a countenance that +forbad them to advance the price. He was so universally dreaded, +that no one durst speak a word, even to complain of his +encroaching upon their privilege. + +The vizier having stayed some time, and finding none of the +merchants outbid him, "What do you stay for?" said he to Hagi +Hassan. "Inquire after the seller, and strike a bargain with him +at four thousand pieces of gold, or ask if he demands more." + +Hagi Hassan having locked the chamber-door, went to confer with +Noor ad Deen. "Sir," said he to him, "I am very sorry to bring +you the ill news of your slave's going to be sold for nothing." +"How so?" replied Noor ad Deen. "Why sir," continued Hagi Hassan, +"you must know that the business at first went on well; for as +soon as the merchants had seen your slave, they ordered me, +without hesitation, to cry her at four thousand pieces of gold; +accordingly I cried her at that price, but presently the vizier +Saouy came, and his presence has stopped the mouths of all the +merchants, who seemed disposed to raise her, at least to the same +price your deceased father gave for her. Saouy will give no more +than four thousand pieces; and it is much against my inclination +that I am come to tell you his despicable offer. The slave indeed +is your own; but I will never advise you to part with her upon +those terms, since you and every one else are sensible of her +being worth infinitely more; besides, he is base enough to +contrive a way to trick you out of the money." + + +"Hagi Hassan," replied Noor ad Deen, "I am highly obliged to thee +for thy advice: do not think I will ever sell my slave to any +enemy of our family; my necessities, indeed, are at present very +great; but I would sooner die in the utmost poverty than consent +to delivering her up to him. I have only one thing to beg of +thee, who art skilful in all the turns and shifts of sale, that +thou wouldst put me in a way to prevent the completion of the +bargain." + +"Sir," said Hagi Hassan, "nothing is more easy: you must pretend +that, being in a violent passion with your slave, you swore to +expose her in the market, and for the sake of your oath have now +brought her hither, without any intention of selling her. This +will satisfy every one; and Saouy will have nothing to say +against it. Come along with me then; and just as I am presenting +her to Saouy as if it were by your own consent, pull her to you, +give her two or three blows, and send her home." "I thank thee +for thy counsel," said Noor ad Deen, "and will make use of it." + +Hagi Hassan went back to the chamber; and having privately +acquainted the fair Persian with their design, that she might not +be surprised, took her by the hand, and led her to the vizier +Saouy, who was still on horseback at the door "Sir," said he, +"here is the slave, she is yours; take her." + +The words were scarcely out of Hagi Hassan's mouth, when Noor ad +Deen, catching hold of the fair Persian, pulled her to him, and +giving her a box on the ear, "Come hither, impertinence," said +he, "and get you home again; for though your ill-humour obliged +me to swear I should bring you hither, yet I never intended to +sell you: I have business for you to do yet; and it will be time +enough to part with you when I have nothing else left." + +This conduct of Noor ad Deen put the vizier Saouy into a violent +passion. "Miserable debauchee," cried he, "wouldst thou have me +believe thou hast any thing else left to make money of but thy +slave?" and at the same instant, spurring his horse directly +against him, endeavoured to carry off the fair Persian. Noor ad +Deen. nettled to the quick at the affront the vizier had put upon +him, quitted the fair Persian, and laying hold of his horse's +bridle, made him run two or three paces backwards. "Vile dotard," +said he to the vizier, "I would tear thy soul out of thy body +this moment, were it not out of respect for the crowd of people +here present." + +The vizier Saouy being hated by all, there was not one among them +but was pleased to see Noor ad Deen mortify him; and by signs +they gave him to understand, that he might revenge himself upon +him as much as he pleased, for nobody would interfere in their +quarrel. + +Saouy endeavoured to force Noor ad Deen to quit the bridle; but +he being a lusty, vigorous man, and encouraged by those that +stood by, pulled him off his horse, gave him several blows, and +dashed his head against the stones, till it was all over blood. +The slaves who waited upon the vizier would have drawn their +cimeters, and fallen upon Noor ad Deen; but the merchants +interposing prevented them. "What do you mean?" said they to +them; "do you not see that one is a vizier, the other a vizier's +son? Let them fight it out; perhaps they will be reconciled one +time or another; whereas, if you had killed Noor ad Deen, your +master, with all his greatness, could not have been able to +protest you against the law?" + +Noor ad Deen having given over beating the vizier Saouy, left him +in the mire, and taking the fair Persian, marched home with her, +attended by the people, with shouts and acclamations for the +action he had performed. + +The vizier, cruelly bruised with the blows he had received, made +shift to get up, with the assistance of his slaves, and had the +mortification to see himself besmeared with blood and dirt. He +leaned on the shoulders of two slaves, and in that condition went +straight to the palace in the sight of all the people, with the +greater confusion, because no one pitied him. As soon as he +reached the king's apartment, he began to cry out, and call for +justice in a lamentable tone. The king ordered him to be +admitted; and asked who it was that had abused and put him into +that miserable plight. "Sire," cried Saouy, "it is the favour of +your majesty, and being admitted into your sacred councils, that +has occasioned me to be so barbarously treated." "Say no more of +that," replied the king, "only let me hear the whole story +simply, and who the offender is; and if he is in the wrong, you +may depend upon it he shall be severely punished." + +"Sire," said Saouy, telling the whole matter to his own +advantage, "having occasion for a cook, I went to the market of +women-slaves to buy one: when I came thither, there was a slave +just cried at four thousand pieces of gold; I ordered them to +bring her before me, and I think my eyes never did nor will +behold a more beautiful creature: I had no sooner examined her +beauty with the highest satisfaction, than I immediately asked to +whom she belonged; and upon inquiry found that Noor ad Deen, son +to the late vizier Khacan, had the disposing of her. + +"Your majesty may remember, that about two or three years ago, +you gave that vizier ten thousand pieces of gold, strictly +charging him to buy you a slave with that sum. The money, indeed, +was laid out upon this very slave; but instead of bringing her to +your majesty, thinking his son deserved her better, he made him a +present of her. Noor ad Deen, since his father's death, having +wasted his whole fortune in riot and feasting, has nothing left +but this slave, whom he at last resolved to part with; and she +was to be sold in his name, I sent for him; and, without +mentioning any thing of his father's prevarication, or rather +treachery to your majesty, I in the civilest manner said to him, +Noor ad Deen, the merchants, I perceive, have put your slave up +at four thousand pieces of gold; and I question not, but, in +emulation of each other, they will raise the price considerably: +let me have her for the four thousand pieces; I am going to buy +her for the king our lord and master; this will be a handsome +opportunity of making your court to him: and his favour will be +worth far more than the merchants can propose to give you.' + +"Instead of returning me a civil answer, the insolent wretch, +beholding me with a fierce air, "Impotent villain,' said he, I +would rather give my slave to a Jew for nothing than to thee for +money.' Noor ad Deen,' I replied, without passion, though I had +some reason to be a little warm,'you do not consider, that by +talking in this manner you affront the king, who raised both your +father and me to the honours we have enjoyed.' + +"This admonition, instead of softening him, only provoked him to +a higher degree; so that, falling upon me like a madman, without +regard to my age or rank, he pulled me off my horse, and put me +into this miserable plight. I beseech your majesty to consider, +that it is on your account I have been so publicly affronted." + + +The abused king, highly incensed against Noor ad Deen by this +relation, so full of malice and artifice, discovered by his +countenance the violence of his anger; and turning to the captain +of his guards, who stood near him, "Take forty of your soldiers," +said he, "immediately plunder Noor ad Deen's house, and having +ordered it to be razed to the ground, bring him and his slave to +the presence." + +Before the captain of the guards was gone out of the king's +presence, an officer belonging to the court, who overheard the +order given, hastened out. His name was Sangiar; and he had been +formerly a slave of the vizier Khacan who had introduced him at +court, where by degrees he had raised himself. + +Sangiar, full of gratitude to his old master and affection for +Noor ad Deen, whom he remembered a child, being no stranger to +Saouy's hatred of Khacan's family, could not hear the order +without concern. "This action," said he to himself, "may not be +altogether so black as Saouy has represented it. He has +prejudiced the king against him, who will certainly put him to +death, without allowing him time to justify himself." He made so +much haste to Noor ad Deen's house, as to get thither soon enough +to acquaint him with what had passed at court, and give him time +to provide for his own and the fair Persian's safety. He knocked +so violently at the door, that Noor ad Deen, who had been a great +while without any servant, ran immediately to open it. "My dear +lord," said Sangiar, "there is no safety for you in Bussorah; you +must lose no time, but depart hence this moment." + +"How so?" demanded Noor ad Deen. "What is the reason I must be +gone so soon?" "Make haste away, sir," replied Sangiar, "and take +your slave with you. In short, Saouy has been just now +acquainting the king, after his own way of telling it, all that +passed between you and him; and the captain of the guards will be +here in an instant, with forty soldiers, to seize you and the +fair Persian. Take these forty pieces of gold to assist you in +repairing to some place of safety. I would give you more if I had +it about me. Excuse my not staying any longer; I leave you with +reluctance." Sangiar gave Noor ad Deen but just time to thank +him, and departed. + +Noor ad Deen acquainted the fair Persian with the absolute +necessity of their going that moment. She only put on her veil; +they both stole out of the house, and were fortunate enough not +only to get clear of the city, but also safely to arrive at the +Euphrates, which was not far off, where they embarked in a vessel +that lay ready to weigh anchor. + +As soon as they were on board, the captain came on deck amongst +his passengers. "Children," said he to them, "are you all here? +have any of you any more business to do in the city? or have you +left any thing behind you?" They were all there, they answered +him, and ready; so that he might sail as soon as he pleased. When +Noor ad Deen came aboard, the first question he asked was, +whither the vessel was bound? and being told for Bagdad, he +rejoiced at it. The captain, having weighed anchor, set sail; and +the vessel, with a very favourable wind, lost sight of Bussorah. + +The captain of the guards came to Noor ad Deen's house, and +knocked at the door; but no one answering, he ordered his +soldiers to break it open, who immediately obeyed him, and rushed +in. They searched the house; but neither he nor the fair Persian +were to be found. The captain of the guards made them inquire of +the neighbours; and he himself asked if they had seen them +lately. It was all in vain; for if they had seen him go out of +his house, so universally beloved was Noor ad Deen by the people, +that not one of them would have said the least word to his +prejudice. While they were rifling the house, and levelling it to +the ground, he went to acquaint the king with the news. "Look for +them," said he, "every where; for I am resolved to have them." + +The captain of the guards made a second search, and the king +dismissed the vizier Saouy with honour. "Go home," said he, +"trouble yourself no farther to punish Noor ad Deen; I will +revenge your injuries." + +Without delay the king ordered to be proclaimed throughout the +whole city a reward of a thousand pieces of gold for any person +that should apprehend Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian, also a +severe punishment upon those who should conceal them. No tidings +however could be heard of them; and the vizier Saouy had only the +comfort of seeing the king espouse his quarrel. + +In the mean time, Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian, after a +prosperous voyage, landed safe at Bagdad. As soon as the captain +came within sight of that city, pleased that his voyage was at an +end, "Rejoice, my children," cried he to the passengers; "yonder +is that great and wonderful city, where there is a perpetual +concourse of people from all parts of the world: there you shall +meet with innumerable crowds, and never feel the extremity of +cold in winter, nor the excess of heat in summer, but enjoy an +eternal spring with all its flowers, and the delicious fruits of +autumn." + +When the vessel came to anchor, a little below the city, the +passengers went ashore, each to their respective place of abode. +Noor ad Deen gave the captain five pieces of gold for his +passage, and went ashore also with the fair Persian; but being a +perfect stranger in Bagdad, was at a loss for a lodging. They +rambled a considerable time along the gardens that bordered on +the Tigris, and keeping close to one of them that was enclosed +with a very long wall, at the end of it they turned into a street +well paved, where they perceived a magnificent gateway and a +fountain near it. + +The inner door happened to be shut, but the portal was open, in +which there was an estrade on each side. "This is a very +convenient place for us," said Noor ad Deen to the fair Persian; +"night comes on apace; and though we have eaten nothing since our +landing, I am for passing the night here, and to-morrou we shall +have time enough to look for a lodging." "Sir," replied the fair +Persian, "you know your wishes are mine; les us go no farther, +since you are willing to stay here." Each of them having drunk a +draught of water at the fountain, they laid themselves down upon +one of the estrades; and after a little chat, being soothed by +the agreeable murmur of the water, fell asleep. + +The garden belonged to the caliph: and in the middle of it there +was a pavilion, called the pavilion of pictures, because its +chief ornaments were pictures after the Persian manner, drawn by +the most celebrated painters in Persia, whom the caliph had sent +for on purpose. The stately hall within this pavilion was lighted +by fourscore arches and a lustre in each; but these were lighted +only when the caliph came thither to spend the evening. On such +occasions they made a glorious illumination, and could be seen at +a great distance in the country on that side, and by great part +of the city. + +The office of keeper of this pleasure house was at this time held +by a very aged officer, named Scheich Ibrahim, whom the caliph, +for some important service, had put into that employment, with +strict charge not to let all sorts of people in, but especially +to suffer no one either to sit or lie down on the estrades at the +outward door, that they might always be clean; and whenever he +found any body there, to punish them severely. + +Some business had obliged this officer to go abroad, and he was +not yet returned. When he came back, there was just day-light +enough for him to discern two persons asleep upon one of the +estrades, with their heads under a piece of linen, to defend them +from the gnats. "Very well," said Scheich Ibrahim to himself; +"these people disobey the caliph's orders: but I will take care +to teach them better manners." Upon this he opened the door very +softly, and a moment after returned with a cane in his hand, and +his sleeve tucked up to the elbow: he was just going to lay on +them both with all his might, but withholding his arm, began to +reason with himself after this manner: "Thou wast going, without +reflection, to strike these people, who perhaps are strangers, +destitute of a lodging, and utterly ignorant of the caliph's +order; so that it would be advisable to know first who they are." +Upon this he gently lifted up the linen that covered their heads, +and was astonished to see a young man so well shaped, and a young +woman so beautiful; he then waked Noor ad Deen, by pulling him +softly by the feet. + +Noor ad Deen, lifting up his head, and seeing an old man with a +long white beard standing at his feet, got up, and throwing +himself upon his knees, and taking his hand, kissed it. "Good +father," said he, "Heaven preserve you!" "What do you want, my +son?" replied Scheich Ibrahim; "who are you, and whence came +you?" "We are strangers newly arrived," answered Noor ad Deen, +"and would fain tarry here till to-morrow." "This is not a proper +place for you," said Scheich Ibrahim; "come in with me, and I +will find one fitter for you to sleep in than this; and the sight +of the garden, which is very fine, will please you, when you see +it to-morrow by day light." "Is this garden your own?" asked Noor +ad Deen. "Yes," replied Scheich Ibrahim, smiling; "it is an +inheritance left me by my father: pray walk in, for I am sure you +will not repent seeing it." + +Noor ad Deen rose to thank Scheich Ibrahim for the civility he +had strewn, as did afterwards the fair Persian; and they entered +the garden. Scheich Ibrahim locked the door, and going before, +led them to a spot from whence, at one view, they might see the +disposition, grandeur, and beauty of the whole. + +Noor ad Deen had seen very fine gardens, but never any comparable +to this. Having satisfied his curiosity, as he was walking in one +of the walks, he turned about to the officer, and asked his name. +As soon as he had told him it was Scheich Ibrahim; "Scheich +Ibrahim," said he to him, "I must confess this is a charming +garden indeed. Heaven send you long to enjoy the pleasures of it; +we cannot sufficiently thank you for the favour you have done by +shewing us a place so well worth seeing; however, it is but just +that we should make you some amends for your kindness; here are +two pieces of gold; take them and get us something to eat, that +we may be merry together." + +At the sight of the two pieces of gold, Scheich Ibrahim, who was +a great admirer of that metal, laughed in his sleeve: he took +them, and leaving Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian by +themselves, went to provide what was necessary; for he was alone. +Said he to himself with great joy, "these are generous people; I +should have done very wrong, if, through imprudence, I had ill- +treated and driven them away. A tenth part of the money will +suffice to treat them; and the rest I will keep for my pains." + +While Scheich Ibrahim was gone to fetch something for his own +supper, as well as for his guests Noor ad Deen and the fair +Persian walked up and down the garden, till at last they came to +the pavilion of pictures. They stood awhile to admire its +wonderful structure, size, and loftiness; and after taking a full +view of it on every side, went up many steps of fine white marble +to the hall-door, which they found locked. + +They were but just returned to the bottom of the steps, when +Scheich Ibrahim arrived, loaded with provisions. "Scheich +Ibrahim," said Noor ad Deen, in great surprise, "did you not tell +us that this was your garden?" "I did," replied Scheich Ibrahim, +"and do so still." "And does this magnificent pavilion also +belong to you?" Scheich Ibrahim was staggered at this unexpected +question. "If," said he to himself, "I should say it is none of +mine, they will ask me how I can be master of the garden and not +of the pavilion.' As he had made them believe the garden was his, +he said the same of the pavilion. "My son," said he, "the +pavilion is not distinct from the garden; but they both belong to +me." "If so," said Noor ad Deen, "since you invite us to be your +guests to-night, do us the favour to shew us the inside of it; +for if we may judge by the outward appearance, it must certainly +be extraordinarily magnificent." + +It would have been a great piece of incivility in Scheich Ibrahim +to refuse this favour, after what he had already done: moreover, +he considered that the caliph not having given him notice, +according to his usual custom, it was likely he would not be +there that night, and therefore resolved to treat his guests, and +sup with them in the pavilion. He laid the provisions on the +first step, while he went to his apartment for the key: he soon +returned with a light, and opened the door. + +Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian entered the hall, and were +never tired with admiring the beauty and richness of the place. +Indeed, without saying anything of the pictures. which were +admirably well drawn, the sofas were very noble and costly; and +besides lustres suspended from every arch, there was between each +a silver branch supporting a wax candle. Noor ad Deen could not +behold these glorious objects without recollecting his former +splendour, and sighing. + +In the mean time Scheich Ibrahim was getting supper ready; and +the cloth being laid upon a sofa, and every thing in order, Noor +ad Deen, the fair Persian, and he sat down and ate together. When +supper was finished, and they had washed their hands, Noor ad +Deen opened a lattice, and calling the fair Persian to him, "Come +hither," said he, "and with me admire the charming prospect and +beauty of the garden by moon-light; nothing can be more +agreeable." She came to him; and they both enjoyed the view, +while Scheich Ibrahim was busy in taking away the cloth. + +When Scheich Ibrahim came to his guests again, Noor ad Deen asked +him whether he had any liquor to treat them with. "What liquor +would you have?" replied Scheich Ibrahim--"Sherbet? I have the +best in the world; but sherbet, you know, my son, is never drunk +after supper." + +"I know that very well," said Noor ad Deen; "it is not sherbet, +but another sort of liquor that we ask you for, and I am +surprised at your not understanding me." "It is wine then you +mean?" said Scheich Ibrahim. "You guess right," replied Noor ad +Deen, "and if you have any, oblige us with a bottle: you know a +bottle after supper is a very proper companion to spend the hours +with till bed-time." + +"Heaven defend me from keeping wine in my house," cried Scheich +Ibrahim, "and from ever coming to a place where any is found! A +man who, like me, has been a pilgrimage four times to Mecca, has +renounced wine for ever." + +"You would do us a singular kindness," said Noor ad Deen, "in +getting a little for our own drinking; and if it be not too much +trouble, I will put you in a way how you may do it, without going +into a vintner's shop, or so much as laying your hand upon the +vessel that contains it." "Upon that condition I will do it," +replied Scheich Ibrahim, "only let me know what I am to do." + +"Why then," said Noor ad Deen, "we just now saw an ass tied at +the entrance of your garden, which certainly must be yours, and +which you may make use of in this extremity: here are two pieces +of gold more; take them, and lead your ass with the panniers to +the next vintner's; you may stand at as great a distance as you +please, do but give something to the first person that comes by, +and desire him to go with your ass, and procure two pitchers of +wine; put one in one pannier, in another, another, which he must +pay for out of the money you give him, and so let him bring the +ass back to you: you will have nothing to do, but to drive the +beast hither before you; we will take the wine out of the +panniers: by this means you will do nothing that will give you +any scruple." + +The two last pieces of gold that Scheich Ibrahim was going to +receive wrought wonderfully upon his mind. "Ah! my son," cried +he, "you have an excellent contrivance; and had it not been for +your invention, I should never have thought of this way of +getting you some wine without any scruple of conscience." Away he +went to execute the orders, which he did in a little time; and, +upon his return, Noor ad Deen taking the pitchers out of the +panniers, carried them into the hall. + +Scheich Ibrahim having led the ass to the place from whence he +took him, came back again, "Scheich Ibrahim," said Noor ad Deen, +"we cannot enough thank you for the trouble we have already given +you; but we want something yet." "What is that? "replied Scheich: +"what more service can I do you?" "We have no cups to drink out +of," said Noor ad Deen, "and a little fruit, if you had any, +would be very acceptable." "Do but say what you have a mind to," +replied Scheich Ibrahim, "and you shall have every thing to your +heart's content." + +Down went Scheich Ibrahim, and in a short time spread a carpet +for them with beautiful porcelain dishes, full of all sorts of +delicious fruits, besides gold and silver cups to drink out of; +and having asked them if they wanted any thing else, he withdrew, +though they pressed him earnestly to stay. + +Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian sat down again, and drank each +a cup. They were pleased with the wine, which was excellent. +"Well, my dear," said Noor ad Deen to the fair Persian, "are we +not the most fortunate persons in the world, after so many +dangers, to meet with so charming and agreeable a place? Let us +be merry, and think no more on the hardships of our voyage. Can +my happiness be greater in this world, than to have you on one +side of me, and my glass on the other?" They drank freely, and +diverted themselves with agreeable conversation, each singing a +song. + +Both having very fine voices, but especially the fair Persian, +their singing attracted Scheich Ibrahim, who had stood hearkening +a great while on the steps, without discovering himself. He could +contain himself no longer; but thrusting his head in at the door, +"Courage, sir," said he to Noor ad Deen, whom he took to be quite +drunk, "I am glad to see you so pleased." + +"Ah! Scheich Ibrahim," cried Noor ad Deen, turning to him, "you +are a glorious man, and we are extremely obliged to you. We dare +not ask you to drink a cup; but walk in; come, sit down, and let +us have the honour at least of your company." "Go on, go on," +said Scheich Ibrahim; "the pleasure of hearing your songs is +sufficient for me." Upon this he immediately retired. + +The fair Persian perceiving Scheich Ibrahim, through one of the +windows, standing upon the steps, told Noor ad Deen of it. "Sir," +said she, "you see what an aversion he has for wine; yet I +question not in the least to make him drink, if you will do as I +would have you." Noor ad Deen asked her what it was. "Do but say +the word," replied he, "and I am ready to do what you please." +"Prevail with him then only to come in, and bear us company; some +time after fill up a bumper, and give it him; if he refuses, +drink it yourself, pretend to be asleep, and leave the rest to +me." + +Noor ad Deen understood the fair Persian's design, and called to +Scheich Ibrahim, who came again to the door. "Scheich Ibrahim," +said he, "we are your guests; you have entertained us in the most +obliging manner, and will you now refuse our solicitations to +honour us with your company? We do not ask you to drink, but only +the favour of seeing you." + +Scheich Ibrahim being at last prevailed upon, came into the hall, +and sat down on the edge of a sofa nearest to the door. "You do +not sit well there," said Noor ad Deen, "and we cannot have the +honour of seeing you; pray come nearer, and sit you down by the +lady; she will like it much." "I will obey you," replied Scheich +Ibrahim, so coming forward, simpering, to think he should be +seated near so beautiful a creature, he placed himself at some +distance from the fair Persian. Noor ad Deen desired a song of +her, in return for the honour Scheich Ibrahim had done them; and +she sung one that charmed him. + +When the fair Persian had ended her song, Noor ad Deen poured out +a cup of wine, and presented it to Scheich Ibrahim. "Scheich +Ibrahim," said he, "I entreat you, drink this to our healths." +"Sir," replied he, starting back, as if he abhorred the very +sight of the wine, "I beseech you to excuse me; I have already +told you that I have forsworn the use of wine these many years." +"Then since you will not drink our healths," said Noor ad Deen, +"give me leave to drink yours." + +While Noor ad Deen was drinking, the fair Persian cut half an +apple, and presented it to Scheich Ibrahim. "Though you refused +drinking," said she, "yet I believe you will not refuse tasting +this apple; it is very excellent." Scheich Ibrahim had no power +to refuse it from so fair a hand; but taking it with a very low +bow, put it in his mouth. She said a great many pleasant things +on the occasion; and Noor ad Deen, falling back upon a sofa, +pretended to fall fast asleep. The fair Persian presently +advanced towards Scheich Ibrahim, and speaking in a low voice, +"Look at him," said she, "thus in all our merry parties he +constantly serves me; and no sooner has he drunk a cup or two, +but he falls asleep, and leaves me alone; but I hope you will +have the goodness to keep me company till he awakes." + +At this the fair Persian took a cup, and filling it with wine, +offered it to Scheich Ibrahim. "Here," said she, "drink off this +to my health; I am going to pledge you." Scheich Ibrahim made a +great many difficulties, and begged her to excuse him from +drinking; but she pressed him so, that overcome by her charms and +entreaties he took the cup, and drank off every drop of the wine. + +The good old man loved a chirruping cup to his heart, but was +ashamed to drink among strangers. He often went to the tavern in +private, as many other people do; and he did not take the +precaution recommended, but went directly where he was well known +(night serving him instead of a cloak), and saved the money that +Noor ad Deen had ordered him to give the messenger who was to +have gone for the wine. + +While Scheich Ibrahim was eating fruit after his draught, the +fair Persian filled him out another, which he received with less +difficulty than the former, but made none at all at the third. In +short, a fourth was quaffing, when Noor ad Deen started up from +his pretended sleep; and bursting out into a violent fit of +laughter, and looking at him, "Ha! ha!" said he, "Scheich +Ibrahim, have I caught you at last? did you not tell me you had +forsworn wine? and now you have drunk it all up from me." + +Scheich Ibrahim, not expecting to be surprised, blushed a little; +however, that did not spoil his draught; but when he had done, +"Sir," said he laughing, "if there is any crime in what I have +done, it lies at this fair lady's door, not mine: for who could +possibly resist so many charms?" + +The fair Persian, who perfectly understood Noor ad Deen, took +Scheich Ibrahim's part. "Let him talk," said she, "Scheich +Ibrahim, take no notice of him, but let us drink on and be +merry." Awhile after Noor ad Deen filled out a cup for himself +and the fair Persian; but when Scheich Ibrahim saw that Noor ad +Deen had forgotten him in his turn, he took his cup, and +presenting it to the fair Persian, "Madam," said he, "do you +suppose I cannot drink as well as you?" + +At these words Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian laughed very +heartily. They poured him out some wine; and sat laughing, +chatting, and drinking, till near midnight. About that hour the +fair Persian began to notice that there was but one candle on the +carpet. "Scheich Ibrahim," said she to the good old officer, "you +have afforded us but one candle, when there are so many wax- +lights yonder; pray do us the favour to light some of them, that +we may see a little better what we are doing." + +Scheich Ibrahim making use of the liberty that wine inspires when +it gets into the head, and not caring to be interrupted in his +discourse, bade the fair Persian light them herself. "It is +fitter for a young person like you to do it," said he, "than for +me; but be sure not to light above five or six" Up rose the fair +Persian immediately, and taking a wax candle in her hand, lighted +it with that which stood upon the carpet, and without any regard +to Scheich Ibrahim's order, lighted up the whole fourscore. + +By and by, while Scheich Ibrahim was entertaining the fair +Persian with some discourse, Noor ad Deen took his turn to desire +him to light up some of the candles in the lustres, not taking +notice that all the wax-lights were already in a blaze. +"Certainly," replied Scheich Ibrahim, "you must be very lazy, or +less vigorous than I am, that you are not able to light them +yourself; get you gone, and light them; but be sure you light no +more than three." To work he went; but instead of that number, he +lighted them all, and opened the shutters of the fourscore +windows, before Scheich Ibrahim, who was deeply engaged with the +fair Persian, knew any thing of the matter. + +The caliph Haroon al Rusheed being not yet gone to rest, was in a +room of his palace on the river Tigris, from whence he could +command a view both of the garden and pavilion. He accidentally +opened the casement, and was extremely surprised at seeing the +pavilion illuminated; and at first, by the greatness of the +light, thought the city was on fire. The grand vizier Jaaffier +was still with him, waiting for his going to rest. The caliph, in +a great rage, called the vizier to him. "Careless vizier," said +he, "come hither, come hither; look at the pavilion of pictures, +and tell me the reason of its being illuminated at this hour, now +I am not there." + +The grand vizier at this account fell into a violent trembling; +but when he came nearer, and with his own eyes saw the truth of +what the caliph had told him, he was more alarmed than before. +Some excuse must be made to appease the caliph's anger. +"Commander of the true believers," said he, "all that I can say +to your majesty about this matter is, that some five or six days +ago Scheich Ibrahim came to acquaint me, that he had a design to +assemble the ministers of his mosque, to assist at a ceremony he +was ambitious of performing in honour of your majesty's +auspicious reign. I asked him if I could be any way serviceable +to him in this affair; upon which he entreated me to get leave of +your majesty to perform the ceremony in the pavilion. I sent him +away with leave to hold the assembly, telling him I would take +care to acquaint your majesty with it; and I ask pardon for +having quite forgotten it." "Scheich Ibrahim," continued he, "has +certainly made choice of this day for the ceremony; and after +treating the ministers of his mosque, was willing to indulge them +with the sight of this illumination." + +"Jaaffier," said the caliph, with a tone that plainly shewed his +anger was a little mollified, "according to your own account, you +have committed three faults; the first, in giving Scheich Ibrahim +leave to perform this ceremony in my pavilion, for a person in +such an office is not worthy of so great an honour; the second, +in not acquainting me with it; and the third, in not diving into +the bottom of the good old man's intention. For my part, I am +persuaded he only did it to try if he could get any money towards +bearing the charge of it; but that never came into your head." + +The grand vizier, overjoyed to hear the caliph put the matter +upon that footing, very willingly owned the faults he reproached +him with, and freely confessed he was to blame in not giving +Scheich Ibrahim a few pieces of gold. "Since the case is so," +added the caliph, "it is just that thou shouldst be punished for +thy mistakes, but thy punishment shall be light: thou shalt spend +the remainder of the night as I mean to do, with these honest +people, whose company I shall be well pleased with; and while I +am putting on a citizen's habit, go thou and disguise thyself +with Mesrour, and come both of you along with me." + +The vizier would have persuaded him it was late, and that all the +company would be gone before he could get thither: but the caliph +said he would positively go. The vizier, who knew that not a +syllable of what he had said was true, began to be in great +consternation; but there was no reply to be made, and go he must. + +The caliph then, disguised like a citizen, with the grand vizier +Jaaffier and Mesrour, chief of the eunuchs, stole out of the +palace together. They rambled through the streets of Bagdad till +they came to the garden; the door, through the carelessness of +Scheich Ibrahim, was open, he having forgotten to shut it when he +came back with the wine. The caliph was very angry at this. +"Jaaffier," said he to the grand vizier, "what excuse have you +for the door's being open at this unseasonable hour?" "Is it +possible that Scheich Ibrahim makes a custom of leaving it thus +all night? I rather believe the hurry of the feast has been the +occasion of this neglect." + +The caliph went into the garden; and when he came to the +pavilion, resolving not to go into the hall till he knew what was +doing, consulted with the grand vizier whether it was not his +best way to climb up into one of the trees that was near, to +observe what was going forward. The grand vizier casting his eyes +upon the door, perceived it stood half open, and told the caliph. +It seems Scheich Ibrahim had left it so, when he was prevailed +upon to come in and bear Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian +company. + +The caliph laying aside his first design, stole softly up to the +hall-door, which standing half open, he could see all the company +within, without being discovered himself. + +But how was he surprised, when he saw a lady of incomparable +beauty and a handsome young man sitting, with Scheich Ibrahim by +them. Scheich Ibraham held a cup in his hand. "My fair lady," +said he to the fair Persian, "a true toper never drinks without +singing a song first: if you please to hear, I will give you one +of my best songs." + +Scheich Ibrahim sung, and the caliph was the more surprised, +because till that moment he never knew of his drinking wine, but +always took him for a grave, solid man, as he seemed to be to +outward appearance. The caliph retired from the door with the +same caution as he had made his approaches to it; and coming to +the grand vizier, who was standing on the steps a little lower, +"Come up," said he to him, "and see if those within are the +ministers of the mosque, as you would have made me believe." + +By the tone of voice in which the caliph spoke these last words, +the vizier understood that things went ill on his side: however, +he went up the steps; but when he had peeped in at the door, and +saw the three sitting in that condition, he trembled for his +life. He returned to the caliph, but in such confusion, that he +knew not what to say. "What riotous doings are here?" said the +caliph to him: "who are these people that have presumed to take +the liberty of diverting themselves in my garden and pavilion? +and how durst Scheich Ibrahim give them admittance, and partake +of the diversion with them? I must, however, confess, I never saw +two persons more beautiful or better paired in my life; and +therefore, before I discover my anger, I will inform myself +better, and know who they are, and the reason of their being +here." He went to the door again to observe them more narrowly; +and the vizier, who followed, stood behind him, while he fixed +his eyes upon them. They both plainly heard every word that +Scheich Ibrahim said to the fair Persian. "Is there any thing, my +charming lady, wanting to render the pleasure of the evening more +complete?" "Nothing but a lute," replied the fair Persian, "and +methinks, if you could get me one, all would be well." "Can you +play upon it?" said Scheich Ibrahim. "Fetch me one," replied the +fair Persian, "and you shall hear whether I can or not." + +Scheich Ibrahim, without stirring very far from his place, took a +lute out of a press, and presented it to the fair Persian, who +begun to tune it. The caliph, in the mean time, turning to the +grand vizier, "Jaaffier," said he, "the young lady is going to +play upon the lute; and if she performs well, I will forgive her, +and the young man for her sake; but as for thee, I will have thee +impaled." "Commander of the true believers," replied the grand +vizier, "if that is your intention, I wish to God she may play +ill." "Why so?" said the caliph. "Because," replied the grand +vizier, "the longer we live in this world, the more reason we +shall have to comfort ourselves with the hopes of dying in good +sociable company." The caliph, who loved a repartee, began to +laugh at this; and putting his ear to the opening of the door, +listened to hear the fair Persian play. + +The fair Persian began in such a style, that, from the first +moment of her touching the lute, the caliph perceived she did it +with a masterly hand. Afterwards accompanying the lute with her +voice, which was admirably fine, she sung and played with so much +skill and sweetness, that the caliph was quite ravished to hear +her. + +As soon as the fair Persian had finished her song, the caliph +went down the steps, and the vizier followed him. When he came to +the bottom, "I never," said he to the vizier, "heard a more +charming voice, or a lute better touched. Isaac, whom I thought +the most skilful player in the world, does not come up to her. I +am so charmed with her music, that I will go in, and hear her +play before me. We must, therefore, consider how I can do it." + +"Commander of the true believers," said the grand vizier, "if you +should go in, and Scheich Ibrahim chance to know you, he would +infallibly die with the fright." "It is that which hurts me," +replied the caliph, "and I should be loth to be the occasion of +his death, after so many years service. A thought is just come +into my head, that may succeed; stay here with Mesrour, and wait +for me in the next walk." + +The neighbourhood of the Tigris had given the caliph an +opportunity of turning the stream under a stately bridge into his +garden, through a piece of water, whither the choicest fish of +the river used to retire. The fishermen knew it well; but the +caliph had expressly charged Scheich Ibrahim not to suffer any of +them to come near it. However, that night, a fisherman passing by +the garden-door, which the caliph had left open as he found it, +made use of the opportunity, and going in, went directly to the +canal. + + +The fisherman immediately fell to work with his nets, and was +just ready to draw them, when the caliph, fearing what would be +the effect of Scheich Ibrahim's negligence, but willing to make +use of it to bring his design about, came to the same place. The +fisherman, in spite of his disguise, knew him, and throwing +himself at his feet, humbly implored his pardon, and excused +himself on account of his poverty. "Rise," said the caliph, "and +be not afraid; only draw your nets, that I may see what fish you +have got." + +The fisherman, recovered of his fright, quickly obeyed the +caliph's orders. He drew out five or six very large fishes; and +the caliph choosing the two biggest, tied them together by the +head, with the twig of a tree. "After this," said he to the +fisherman, "give me thy clothes, and take mine." The exchange was +soon made; and the caliph being dressed like a fisherman, even to +his boots and turban, "Take thy nets," said he to the fisherman, +"and get thee about thy business." + +When the fisherman, well pleased with his good fortune, was gone, +the caliph, taking the two fishes in his hand, went to look after +the grand vizier and Mesrour; he first met Jaaffier, who, not +knowing him, asked what he wanted, and bade him go about his +business. The caliph fell a laughing; by which the vizier +recognising him, "Commander of the true believers," said he, "is +it possible it can be you? I knew you not; and I ask a thousand +pardons for my rudeness. You are so disguised that you may +venture into the hall without any fear of being discovered by +Scheich Ibrahim." Stay you here with Mesrour," said the caliph, +"while I go and play my part." + +The caliph went up to the hall, and knocked at the door. Noor ad +Deen hearing him first, told Scheich Ibrahim of it, who asked who +was there? The caliph opened the door, and stepping a little way +into the hall to shew himself, "Scheich Ibrahim," said he, "I am +the fisherman Kerim, who being informed of your design to treat +some of your friends, have brought you two very fine fishes, +fresh caught, to ask if you have any occasion for them." + +Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian were pleased to hear him name +fish. "Pray," said the latter to Scheich Ibrahim, "let him come +in, that we may look at them." Scheich Ibrahim, by this time, was +incapable of asking this counterfeit fisherman how or which way +he came thither, his whole thought being only to oblige the fair +Persian. With much ado he turned his head towards the door, being +quite drunk, and, in a stammering tone, calling to the caliph, +whom he took to be a fisherman, "Come hither, thou nightly +thief," said he, "and let us see what thou hast got." + +The caliph went forwards, and counterfeiting all the actions of a +fisherman, presented the two fishes. "These are very fine ones +indeed," said the fair Persian, "and if they were well dressed +and seasoned, I should be glad to eat some of them." "The lady is +in the right," answered Scheich Ibrahim; "but what can you do +with your fish, unless it were dressed? Go, dress it thyself, and +bring it to us; thou wilt find every thing necessary in my +kitchen." + +The caliph went back to the grand vizier. "Jaaffier," said he, "I +have been very well received; but they want the fish to be +dressed." "I will take care to dress it myself," said the grand +vizier, "and they shall have it in a moment." "Nay," replied the +caliph, "so eager am I to accomplish my design, that I will take +that trouble myself; for since I have personated the fisherman so +well, surely I can play the cook for once; in my younger days, I +dealt a little in cookery, and always came off with credit." So +saying, he went directly towards Scheich Ibrahim's lodgings, and +the grand vizier and Mesrour followed him. + +They all fell to work; and though Scheich Ibrahim's kitchen was +not very large, yet there was every thing in it that they wanted. +The fish was quickly cooked; and the caliph served it up, putting +to every one's place a lemon to squeeze into the sauce, if they +thought proper. They all ate very heartily, but especially Noor +ad Deen and the fair Persian; and the caliph stood before them. + +As soon as the repast was over, Noor ad Deen looking at the +caliph, "Fisherman," said he, "there never was better fish eaten; +and you have done us the greatest favour." At the same time, +putting his hand into his bosom, and pulling out a purse of +thirty pieces of gold, the remainder of forty that Sangiar, the +officer of the king of Bussorah, had given him just upon his +departure, "Take it," said he to him; "if I had any more, thou +shouldst have it; had I known thee in my prosperity, I would have +taken care to secure thee from want: do not refuse the small +present I make thee, but accept of it as kindly as if it were +much greater." + +The caliph took the purse, thanked Noor ad Deen, and perceiving +by the weight that it contained gold, "Sir," said he to him, "I +cannot enough thank you for your liberality, and I think myself +very fortunate in having to do with a person of your generosity; +but before I take my leave I have a favour to ask, which I beg +you not to deny me. Yonder is a lute, which makes me believe that +the lady understands playing upon it; and if you can prevail with +her to play but one tune, I shall go away perfectly satisfied; +for a lute, sir, is an instrument I am particularly fond of." + +"Fair Persian," said Noor ad Deen, immediately addressing himself +to her, "I ask that favour of you, and I hope you will not refuse +me." She took up the lute without more entreaties, and putting it +presently in tune, played and sung with such an air, as charmed +the very soul of the caliph. Afterwards she played upon the lute +without singing, but with so much strength and softness, as to +transport him into an ecstasy. + +When the fair Persian had given over playing, the caliph cried +out, "What a voice! what a hand! what skill! Was there ever finer +singing, or better playing upon the lute? Never was there any +seen or heard like it." + +Noor ad Deen, who was accustomed to give all that belonged to him +to persons who praised him, said, "Fisherman, I find thou hast +some taste for music; since thou art so delighted with her +performance, she is thine, I make thee a present of her." At the +same time he rose up, and taking his robe which he had laid by, +was going away, and leaving the caliph, whom he believed to be no +other than a fisherman, in possession of the fair Persian. + +The fair Persian was extremely surprised at Noor ad Deen's +liberality; she took hold of him, and looking tenderly at him, +"Whither, sir," said she, "are you going? sit down in your place, +I entreat you, and hearken to what I am going to sing and play." +He did as she desired him, and then the fair Persian, touching +the lute, and looking upon him with tears in her eyes, sung some +verses that she had made ex tempore, to reproach him with his +indifference, and the easiness as well as cruelty with which he +resigned her to Kerim. She only hinted, without explaining +herself any farther to a fisherman; for she, as well as Noor ad +Deen, was ignorant of his being the caliph. When she had done +playing, she put the lute down by her, and clapped a handkerchief +to her face, to hide the tears she could not repress. + +Noor ad Deen made no answer to all these reproaches, but by his +silence seemed to declare he did not repent of what he had done +The caliph, surprised at what he had heard, said, "Sir, as far as +I see, this beautiful, rare, and accomplished lady, of whom so +generously you have made me a present, is your slave?" "It is +very true, Kerim," replied Noor ad Deen, "and thou wouldst be +more surprised than thou art now, should I tell thee all the +misfortunes that have happened to me upon her account." "Ah! I +beseech you, sir," replied the caliph, still behaving like a +fisherman, "oblige me so far as to let me hear part of your +story." + +Noor ad Deen, who had already obliged him in several things of +more consequence, was so complaisant as to relate the whole story +to him. He began with the vizier his father's buying the fair +Persian for the king of Bussorah, and omitted nothing of what he +had done, or what had happened to him, from that time to their +arrival at Bagdad, and to the very moment he was talking to him. + +When Noor ad Deen had ended his story, "And whither are you going +now?" asked the caliph. "Where Heaven shall direct me," answered +Noor ad Deen. "If you will believe me," replied the caliph, "you +shall go no farther, but, on the contrary, you must return to +Bussorah: I will write a short letter, which you shall give the +king in my name: you shall see upon the reading it, he will give +you a very handsome reception, and nobody will dare to speak +against you." + +"Kerim," said Noor ad Deen, "what thou hast told me is very +singular; I never heard that a poor fisherman, as thou art, had +any correspondence with a king?" "Be not astonished at that," +replied the caliph: "you must know, that we both studied together +under the same masters, and were always the best friends in the +world: it is true, fortune has not been equally favourable to us; +she has made him a king, and me a fisherman. But this inequality +has not lessened our friendship. He has often expressed a +readiness and desire to advance my fortune, but I always refused; +and am better pleased with the satisfaction of knowing that he +will never deny me whatever I ask for the service and advantage +of my friends: let me do it, and you shall see the success." + +Noor ad Deen consented to what the caliph had proposed; and there +being every thing necessary for writing in the hall, the caliph +wrote a letter to the king of Bussorah; at the top of which he +placed this form, "In the name of the most merciful God," to shew +he would be absolutely obeyed. + +"Haroon al Rusheed, son of Mhadi, sends this letter to Zinebi, +his cousin. As soon as Noor ad Deen, son to the late vizier +Khacan, the bearer, has delivered you this letter, and you have +read it, pull off the royal vestments, put them on his shoulders, +and place him in thy seat without fail. Farewell." + +The caliph folded up the letter, sealed it, and giving it to Noor +ad Deen, without saying any thing of what was in it, "Go," said +he, "embark immediately in a vessel that is ready to go off (as +there did constantly every day at the same hour); you may sleep +when you are aboard." + +Noor ad Deen took the letter, and departed with the little money +he had about him when Sangiar gave him his purse; and the fair +Persian, distracted with grief at his departure, retired to one +of the sofas, and wept bitterly. + +Noor ad Deen was scarcely gone out of the hall, when Scheich +lbrahim, who had been silent during the whole transaction, +looking steadfastly upon the caliph, whom he still took for the +fisherman Kerim, "Hark'e," said he, "Kerim, thou hast brought us +two fishes, that are worth twenty pieces of copper at most, and +thou hast got a purse and a slave: but dost thou think to have +all for thyself? I here declare, that I will go halves with thee +in the slave; and as for the purse, shew me what is in the +inside: if it is silver, thou shalt have one piece for thyself; +but if it is gold, I will have it all, and give thee in exchange +some pieces of copper which I have in my purse." + +The caliph, before his serving up the fish, had dispatched the +grand vizier to his palace, with orders to get four slaves with a +rich habit, and to wait on the other side of the pavilion till he +gave a signal with his finger against the window. The grand +vizier performed his commission; and he, Mesrour, and the four +slaves, waited at the appointed place, expecting the sign. + +The caliph, still personating the fisherman, answered Scheich +Ibrahim boldly, "I know not what there is in the purse; gold or +silver, you shall freely go my halves: but as to the slave, I +will have her all to myself; and if you will not accept these +conditions, you shall have nothing." + +Scheich lbrahim, enraged to the last degree at this insolence, +considering him only as a fisherman, snatched up one of the china +dishes which were on the table, and flung it at the caliph's +head. The caliph easily avoided the blow, being thrown by a +person in liquor; but the dish striking against the wall, was +dashed into a thousand pieces. Scheich Ibrahim grew more enraged +at having missed his aim, and catching up the candle that stood +upon the table, rose from his seat, and went staggering down a +pair of back-stairs to look for a cane. + +The caliph took this opportunity, and striking his hands against +the window, the grand vizier, Mesrour, and the four slaves were +with him in an instant: the slaves quickly pulled off the +fisherman's clothes, and put him on the habit they had brought. +They had not quite dressed the caliph, who had seated himself on +the throne that was in the hall, but were busy about him when +Scheich Ibrahim, spurred on by interest, came back with a cane in +his hand, with which he designed to pay the pretended fisherman +soundly; but instead of finding him, he saw his clothes in the +middle of the hall, and the caliph on his throne, with the grand +vizier and Mesrour on each side of him. He stood awhile gazing on +this unexpected sight, doubting whether he was awake or asleep. +The caliph fell a laughing at his astonishment; and calling to +him, "Scheich Ibrahim," said he, "What dost thou want? whom dost +thou look after?" + +Scheich Ibrahim, no longer doubting that it was the caliph, +immediately threw himself at his feet, with his face and long +beard to the ground. "Commander of the true believers," cried he, +"your vile slave has offended you; but he implores your clemency, +and asks a thousand pardons for his offence." As soon as the +slaves had finished dressing him, he came down from his throne, +and advancing towards him, "Rise," said he, "I forgive thee." + +The caliph then addressed himself to the fair Persian, who had +suspended her sorrow as soon as she understood that the garden +and pavilion belonged to that prince, and not to Scheich Ibrahim, +as he had all along made her believe, and that it was he himself +disguised in the fisherman's clothes. "Fair Persian," said he, +"rise, and follow me: by what you have lately seen, you ought to +know who I am, and to believe that I am above taking any +advantage of the present which Noor ad Deen, with a generosity +not to be paralleled, has made me of your person. I have sent him +to Bussorah as king; and when I have given him the dispatches +necessary for his establishment, you shall go thither and be +queen. In the mean time I am going to order an apartment for you +in my palace, where you shall be treated according to your +desert." + +This discourse encouraged the fair Persian, and comforted her +very sensibly. The joy for the advancement of Noor ad Deen, whom +she passionately loved, to so high an honour, made her sufficient +amends for her affliction. The caliph kept his promise, and +recommended her to the care of his empress Zobeide, whom he +acquainted with the esteem he had entertained for Noor ad Deen. + +Noor ad Deen's return to Bussorah was more fortunate, and +speedier by some days than he could have expected. Upon his +arrival, without visiting any of his friends or relations he went +directly to the palace, where the king at that time was giving +public audience. With the letter held up in his hand, he pressed +through the crowd, who presently made way for him to come forward +and deliver it. The king took and opened it, and his colour +changed in reading it; he kissed it thrice, and was just about to +obey the caliph's orders, when he bethought himself of strewing +it to the vizier Saony, Noor ad Deen's irreconcileable enemy. + +Saouy, who had discovered Noor ad Deen, and began to conjecture, +with great uneasiness, what might be the design of his coming, +was no less surprised than the king at the order contained in the +letter; and being as much concerned in it, he instantly devised a +method to evade it. He pretended not to have read the letter +quite through, and therefore desiring a second view of it, turned +himself a little on one side as if he wanted a better light, and, +without being perceived by any body, dexterously tore off from +the top of it the form which shewed the caliph would be +absolutely obeyed, and putting it into his mouth, swallowed it. + +After this egregious piece of villainy, Saouy turned to the king, +and giving him the letter, "Sir," said he to him in a low voice, +"what does your majesty intend to do?" "What the caliph has +commanded me," replied the king. "Have a care, sir," said the +wicked vizier, "what you do. It is true this is the caliph's +hand, but the form is not to it." The king had observed it, but +in his confusion thought his eyes had deceived him when he saw it +was gone. + +"Sir," continued the vizier, "we have no reason to doubt but that +the caliph, on the complaints he has made against your majesty +and myself, has granted him this letter to get rid of him, and +not with any intention of having the order contained in it +executed. Besides, we must consider he has sent no express with a +patent; and without that the order is of no force. And since a +king like your majesty was never deposed without that formality, +any other man as well as Noor ad Deen might come with a forged +letter: let who will bring such a letter as this, it ought not to +be put in execution. Your majesty may depend upon it, that is +never done; and I will take upon myself all the consequence of +disobeying this order." + +King Zinebi, easily persuaded by this pernicious counsel, left +Noor ad Deen entirely to the discretion of the vizier Saouy, who +led him to his house in a very insulting manner; and after +causing him to be bastinadoed till he was almost dead, he ordered +him to a prison, where he commanded him to be put into the +darkest and deepest dungeon, with a strict charge to the gaoler +to give him nothing but bread and water. + +When Noor ad Deen, half dead with the strokes, came to himself, +and found what a dismal dungeon he was in, he bewailed his +misfortunes in the most pathetic manner. "Ah! fisherman," cried +he, "how hast thou cheated me; and how easy have I been in +believing thee! Could I, after the civility I shewed thee, expect +such inhuman and barbarous usage? However, may Heaven reward +thee; for I cannot persuade myself that thy intention was so +base; and I will with patience wait the end of my afflictions." + +The disconsolate Noor ad Deen remained six whole days in this +miserable condition; and Saouy did not forget that he had +confined him there; but being resolved to put him to a shameful +death, and not daring to do it by his own authority, to +accomplish his villainous design, loaded some of his slaves with +rich presents, which he, at the head of them, went and presented +to the king. "Behold, sire," said he, with the blackest malice, +"what the new king has sent you upon his accession to the crown, +and begs your majesty to accept." + +The king taking the matter just as Saouy intended, "What!" +replied he, "is that wretch still living? I thought you had put +him to death already." "Sire, I have no power," answered the +vizier, "to take any person's life; that only belongs to your +majesty." "Go," said the king, "behead him instantly; I give you +full authority." "Sire," replied the vizier Saouy, "I am +infinitely obliged to your majesty for the justice you do me; but +since Noor ad Deen has publicly affronted me, I humbly beg the +favour, that his execution may be performed before the palace; +and that the criers may publish it in every quarter of the city, +so that every body may be satisfied he has made a sufficient +reparation for the affront." The king granted his request; and +the criers in performing their office diffused universal sorrow +through the whole city. The memory of his father's virtues being +yet fresh among them, no one could hear, without horror and +indignation, that the son was going to suffer an ignominious +death. + +Saouy went in person to the prison, accompanied by twenty slaves, +ministers of his cruelty, who took Noor ad Deen out of the +dungeon, and put him upon a shabby horse without a saddle. When +Noor ad Deen saw himself in the hands of his enemy, "Thou +triumphest now," said he, "and abusest thy power; but I trust in +the truth of what is written in our scripture, You judge +unjustly, and in a little time you shall be judged yourself.'" +The vizier Saouy triumphed in his heart. "What! insolent," said +he, "darest thou insult me yet? but I care not what may happen to +me, so I have the pleasure of seeing thee lose thy head in the +public view of all Bussorah. Thou oughtest also to remember what +another of our books says, What signifies if one dies the next +day after the death of his enemy?'" + +The vizier, implacable in his hatred and enmity, surrounded by +his slaves in arms, conducted Noor ad Deen towards the palace. +The people were ready to fall upon him as he passed; and if any +one had set the example, would certainly have stoned him to +death. When he had brought him to the place of suffering, which +was to be in sight of the king's apartment, he left him in the +executioner's hands, and went straight to the king, who was in +his closet, ready to glut his eyes with the bloody spectacle he +had prepared. + +The king's guard and the vizier's slaves, who made a circle round +Noor ad Deen, had much trouble to withstand the people, who made +all possible efforts to break through, and carry him off by +force. The executioner coming up to him, said, "I hope you will +forgive me, I am but a slave, and cannot help doing my duty. If +you have no occasion for any thing more, I beseech you to prepare +yourself; for the king is just going to give me orders to strike +the blow." + +The unfortunate Noor ad Deen, at that moment, looking round upon +the people, "Will no charitable body," cried he, "bring me a +little water to quench my thirst?" Which immediately they did, +and handed it up to him upon the scaffold. The vizier Saouy +perceiving this delay, called out to the executioner from the +king's closet window, where he had planted himself, "Strike, what +dost thou stay for?" At these inhuman words the whole place +echoed with loud imprecations against him; and the king, jealous +of his authority, made it appear, by enjoining him to stop +awhile, that he was angry at his presumption. But there was +another reason; for the king that very moment casting his eye +towards a street that faced him, saw a troop of horsemen +advancing full speed towards the palace. "Vizier," said the king +immediately, "look yonder; what is the meaning of those +horsemen?" Saouy, who knew not who they might be, earnestly +pressed the king to give the executioner the sign. "No," replied +the king; "I will first know who those horsemen are." It was the +vizier Jaaffier, with his train, who came in person from Bagdad +by the caliph's order. + +To understand the occasion of this minister's coming to Bussorah, +we must observe, that after Noor ad Deen's departure with the +letter, the caliph the next day, nor for several days after, +thought not of sending him the patent which he mentioned to the +fair Persian. He happened one day to be in the inner palace, +which was that of the women, and passing by her apartment, heard +the sound of a fine voice: he listened to it; and he had no +sooner heard the words of one complaining for the absence of +somebody, than he asked the officer of the eunuchs who attended +him who the woman was that lived in that apartment? The officer +told him it was the young stranger's slave whom he had sent to +Bussorah to be king in the room of Mahummud Zinebi. + +"Ah! poor Noor ad Deen," cried the caliph, "I had forgotten thee; +but hasten," said he to the officer, "and bid Jaaffier come to +me." The vizier was with him in an instant. As soon as he came, +"Jaaffier," said he, "I have hitherto neglected sending the +patent which was to confirm Noor ad Deen king of Bussorah; but we +have no time now to draw up one; therefore immediately take post- +horses, and with some of your servants, make what haste you can +to that city. If Noor ad Deen is no longer alive, but put to +death by them, order the vizier Saouy to be impaled; but if he is +living, bring him to me with the king and the vizier." + +The grand vizier stayed no longer than just to get on horseback; +and being attended by a great train of officers belonging to his +household departed for Bussorah, where he arrived in the manner +and at the time already mentioned. As soon as he came to the +palace-yard, the people cleared the way for him, crying out, "A +pardon for Noor ad Deen!" and with his whole train he rode into +the palace, even to the very stairs, where he alighted. + +The king of Bussorah, knowing him to be the caliph's chief +minister, went to meet him, and received him at the entrance of +his apartment. The first question the vizier asked was, If Noor +ad Deen was living? and if he was, he desired that he might be +sent for. The king made answer, he was alive, and gave orders to +have him brought in. Accordingly he soon made his appearance as +he was, bound with cords. The grand vizier Jaaffier caused him to +be unbound, and setting him at liberty, ordered the vizier Saoay +to be seized, and bound him with the same cords. + +The grand vizier remained but one night at Bussorah; and, +according to the order he had received, carried Saouy, the king +of Bussorah, and Noor ad Deen, along with him. Upon his arrival +at Bagdad, he presented them to the caliph: and after he had +given him an account of his journey, and particularly the +miserable condition in which he found Noor ad Deen, and his ill- +usage by the advice and malice of Saony, the caliph desired Noor +ad Deen to behead the vizier himself. "Commander of the true +believers," said the generous youth, "notwithstanding the injury +this wicked man has done me, and the mischief he endeavoured to +do my deceased father, I should think myself the basest of +mankind if I stained my hands with his blood." The caliph was +pleased with his generosity, and ordered justice to be done by +the executioner. + +The caliph would fain have sent Noor ad Deen to Bussorah as king: +but he humbly begged to be excused from accepting the offer. +"Commander of the true believers," said Noor ad Deen, "the city +of Bussorah, after the misfortunes that have happened to me +there, will be so much my aversion, that I beseech your majesty +to give me leave to keep the oath which I have made, of never +returning thither again; and I shall think it my greatest glory +to serve near your royal person, if you are pleased to allow me +the honour." The caliph consented; and placing him among the +number of those courtiers who were his greatest favourites, +restored the fair Persian to him again. To all these favours he +added a plentiful fortune; and he and the fair Persian lived +together thenceforth, with all the happiness this world could +afford. + +As for the king of Bussorah, the caliph contented himself with +hinting how careful he ought to be in the choice of his viziers, +and sent him back to his kingdom. + + + + +End of Volume 2. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 5665 *** |