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diff --git a/5666-0.txt b/5666-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..270a41f --- /dev/null +++ b/5666-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14737 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 5666 *** + + + + + The "Aldine" Edition of + + The Arabian Nights Entertainments + + Illustrated by S. L. Wood + + FROM THE TEXT OF DR. JONATHAN SCOTT + + In Four Volumes + + Volume 3 + + + London + Pickering and Chatto + 1890 + + + + + + Contents of Volume III. + + + +The Story of Beder, Prince of Persia, and Jehaunara, Prince of + Samandal, or Summunder +The History of Prince Zeyn Alasnam and the Sultan of the Genii +The History of Codadad, and His Brothers + The History of the Princess of Deryabar +The Story of Abu Hassan, or the Sleeper Awakened +The Story of Alla Ad Deen; Or, the Wonderful Lamp +Adventure of the Caliph Haroon Al Rusheed + The Story of Baba Abdoollah + The Story of Syed Naomaun + The Story of Khaujeh Hassan Al Hubbaul +The Story of Ali Aba and the Forty Robbers Destroyed by a Slave +The Story of Ali Khujeh, a Merchand of Bagdad + + + + + + THE STORY OF BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA, AND + JEHAUN-ARA, PRINCESS OF SAMANDAL, OR + SUMMUNDER. + + + +Persia was an empire of such vast extent, that its ancient +monarchs, not without reason, assumed the haughty title of King +of kings. For not to mention those subdued by their arms, there +were kingdoms and provinces whose kings were not only tributary, +but also in as great subjection as governors in other nations are +to the monarchs. + +One of these kings, who in the beginning of his reign had +signalized himself by many glorious and successful conquests, +enjoyed so profound a peace and tranquillity, as rendered him the +happiest of princes. The only point in which he thought himself +unfortunate was, that amongst all his wives, not one had brought +him a son; and being now far advanced in years, he was desirous +of an heir. He had above a hundred ladies, all lodged in separate +apartments, with women-slaves to wait upon and eunuchs to guard +them; yet, notwithstanding all his endeavours to please their +taste, and anticipate their wishes, there was not one that +answered his expectation. He had women frequently brought him +from the most remote countries; and if they pleased him, he not +only gave the merchants their full price, but loaded them with +honours and benedictions, in hopes that at last he might be so +happy as to meet with one by whom he might have a son. There was +scarcely an act of charity but he performed, to prevail with +heaven. He gave immense sums to the poor, besides large donations +to the religious; building for their use many noble colleges +richly endowed, in hopes of obtaining by their prayers what he so +earnestly desired. + +One day, according to the custom of his royal predecessors, +during their residence in their capital, he held an assembly of +his courtiers, at which all the ambassadors and strangers of +quality about the court were present; and where they not only +entertained one another with news and politics, but also by +conversing on the sciences, history, poetry, literature, and +whatever else was capable of diverting the mind. On that day a +eunuch came to acquaint him with the arrival of a certain +merchant from a distant country, who, having brought a slave with +him, desired leave to shew her to his majesty. "Give him +admittance instantly," said the king, "and after the assembly is +over I will talk with him." The merchant was introduced, and +seated in a convenient place, from whence he might easily have a +full view of the king, and hear him talk familiarly to those that +stood near his person. The king observed this rule to all +strangers, in order that by degrees they might grow acquainted +with him; so that, when they saw with what freedom and civility +he addressed himself to all, they might be encouraged to talk to +him in the same manner, without being abashed at the pomp and +splendour of his appearance, which was enough to deprive those of +their power of speech who were not used to it. He treated the +ambassadors also after the same manner. He ate with them, and +during the repast asked them several questions concerning their +health, their journey, and the peculiarities of their country. +After they had been thus encouraged, he gave them audience. + +When the assembly was over, and all the company had retired, the +merchant, who was the only person left, fell prostrate before the +king's throne, with his face to the earth, wishing his majesty an +accomplishment of all his desires As soon as he arose, the king +asked him if the report of his having brought a slave for him was +true, and whether she were handsome. + +"Sire," replied the merchant, "I doubt not but your majesty has +many very beautiful women, since you search every corner of the +earth for them; but I may boldly affirm, without overvaluing my +merchandise, that you never yet saw a woman that could stand in +competition with her for shape and beauty, agreeable +qualifications, and all the perfections that she is mistress of." +"Where is she?" demanded the king; "bring her to me instantly." +"Sire," replied the merchant, "I have delivered her into the +hands of one of your chief eunuchs; and your majesty may send for +her at your pleasure." + +The fair slave was immediately brought in; and no sooner had the +king cast his eyes on her, but he was charmed with her beautiful +and easy shape. He went directly into a closet, and was followed +by the merchant and a few eunuchs. The fair slave wore, over her +face, a red satin veil striped with gold; and when the merchant +had taken it off, the king of Persia beheld a female that +surpassed in beauty, not only his present ladies, but all that he +had ever had before. He immediately fell passionately in love +with her, and desired the merchant to name his price. + +"Sire," said he, "I gave a thousand pieces of gold to the person +of whom I bought her; and in my three years' journey to your +court, I reckon I have spent as much more: but I shall forbear +setting any price to so great a monarch; and therefore, if your +majesty likes her, I humbly beg you would accept of her as a +present." "I am highly obliged to you," replied the king; "but it +is never my custom to treat merchants, who come hither for my +pleasure, in so ungenerous a manner; I am going to order thee ten +thousand pieces of gold; will that be sufficient?" "Sire," +answered the merchant, "I should have esteemed myself happy in +your majesty's acceptance of her; yet I dare not refuse so +generous an offer. I will not fail to publish your liberality in +my own country, and in every place through which I may pass." The +money was paid; and before he departed, the king made him put on +a rich suit of cloth of gold. + +The king caused the fair slave to be lodged in the apartment next +his own, and gave particular orders to the matrons, and the +female slaves appointed to attend her, that after bathing they +should dress her in the richest habit they could find, and carry +her the finest pearl necklaces, the brightest diamonds, and other +richest precious stones, that she might choose those she liked +best. + +The officious matrons, whose only care was to please the king, +were astonished at her beauty; and being good judges, they told +his majesty, that if he would allow them but three days, they +would engage to make her so much handsomer than she was at +present, that he would scarcely know her again. The king could +hardly prevail with himself to delay so long the pleasure of +seeing her, but at last he consented. + +The king of Persia's capital was situated in an island; and his +palace, which was very magnificent, was built on the shore: his +apartment looked on the water; the fair slave's, which was near +it, had also the same prospect, and was the more agreeable, on +account of the sea's beating almost against the walls. + +At the three days' end, the fair slave, magnificently dressed, +was alone in her chamber, sitting on a sofa, and leaning against +one of the windows that faced the sea, when the king, being +informed that he might visit her, came in. The slave, hearing +somebody walk in the room with an air quite different from that +of the female slaves, who had hitherto attended her, immediately +turned her head about to see who it was. She knew him to be the +king, but without discovering the least surprise, or so much as +rising from her seat to salute or receive him, as if he had been +the most indifferent person in the world, she put herself in the +same posture again. + +The king of Persia was extremely surprised to see a slave of so +beauteous a form so ignorant of the world. He attributed this to +the narrowness of her education, and the little care that had +been taken to instruct her in the first rules of civility. He +went to her at the window, where, notwithstanding the coldness +and indifference with which she had received him, she suffered +herself to be admired, caressed, and embraced, as much as he +pleased. + +In the midst of these amorous embraces and tender endearments, +the king paused awhile, to gaze upon, or rather to devour her +with his eyes. "My lovely fair one! my charmer!" exclaimed he; +"whence came you, and where do those happy parents live who +brought into the world so surprising a masterpiece of nature? How +do I love thee, and shall always continue to do. Never did I feel +for a woman what I now feel for you; and though I have seen, and +every day behold a vast number of beauties, yet never did my eyes +contemplate so many charms in one person--charms which have so +transported me, that I shall entirely devote myself to you. My +dearest life," continued he, "you neither answer, nor by any +visible token give me the least reason to believe that you are +sensible of the demonstrations I have given you of the ardour of +my passion; neither will you turn your eyes on me, to afford mine +the pleasure of meeting them, and to convince you that it is +impossible to love in a higher degree than I do you. Why will you +still preserve this obstinate silence, which chills me, and +whence proceeds the seriousness, or rather sorrow, that torments +me to the soul? Do you mourn for your country, your friends or +your relations? Alas! Is not the king of Persia, who loves and +adores you, capable of comforting you, and making you amends for +every loss?" + +Notwithstanding all the protestations of love the king of Persia +made the fair slave, and all he could say to induce her to speak +to him, she remained unaltered; and keeping her eyes still fixed +upon the ground, would neither look at him, nor utter a word. + +The king of Persia, delighted with the purchase he had made of a +slave that pleased him so well, pressed her no farther, in hopes +that by treating her kindly he might prevail upon her to change +her behaviour. He clapped his hands; and the women who waited in +an outward room entered: he commanded them to bring in supper. +When it was arranged, "My love," said he to the slave, "come +hither and sup with me." She rose from her seat; and being seated +opposite the king, his majesty helped her, before he began eating +himself; and did so of every dish during supper. The slave ate as +well as the king, but still with downcast eyes, and without +speaking a word; though he often asked her how she liked the +entertainment, and whether it was dressed according to her taste. + +The king, willing to change the conversation, asked her what her +name was, how she liked the clothes and the jewels she had on, +what she thought of her apartment and the rich furniture, and +whether the prospect of the sea was not very agreeable? But to +all these questions she made no reply; so that the king was at a +loss what to think of her silence. He imagined at first, that she +might perhaps be dumb: "But then," said he to himself, "can it be +possible that heaven should forge a creature so beautiful, so +perfect, and so accomplished, and at the same time with so great +an imperfection? Were it however so, I could not love her with +less passion than I do." When the king of Persia rose, he washed +his hands on one side, while the fair slave washed hers on the +other. He took that opportunity to ask the woman who held the +basin and napkin, if ever they had heard her speak. One of them +replied, "Sire, we have neither seen her open her lips, nor heard +her speak any more than your majesty has; we have rendered her +our services in the bath; we have dressed her head, put on her +clothes, and waited upon her in her chamber; but she has never +opened her lips, so much as to say, that is well, or I like this. +We have often asked her, "Madam, do you want anything? Is there +anything you wish for? Do but ask, and command us," but we have +never been able to draw a word from her. We cannot tell whether +her sorrow proceeds from pride, sorrow, stupidity, or dumbness." + +The king was more astonished at hearing this than he had been +before: however, believing the slave might have some cause of +sorrow, he was willing to endeavour to divert and amuse her. +Accordingly he appointed a very splendid assembly, which all the +ladies of the court attended; and those who were skilful in +playing upon musical instruments performed their parts, while +others sung or danced, or did both together: they played at all +sorts of games, which much diverted the king. The fair slave was +the only person who took no pleasure in these attempts to amuse +her; she never moved from her place, but remained with her eyes +fixed on the ground with so much indifference, that all the +ladies were not less surprised than the king. After the assembly +was over, every one retired to her apartment; and the king was +left alone with the fair slave. + +The next morning the king of Persia rose more pleased than he had +been with all the women he had seen before, and more enamoured +with the fair slave than ever. Indeed, he soon made it appear, by +resolving henceforth to attach himself to her alone; and +performed his resolution. On the same day he dismissed all his +other women, giving every one of them their jewels, and other +valuables, besides a considerable fortune, with free leave to +marry whom they thought fit; and only kept the matrons and a few +other elderly women to wait upon the fair slave. However, for a +whole year together, she never afforded him the pleasure of one +single word; yet the king continued his assiduities to please +her, and to give her the most signal proofs of sincere love. + +After the expiration of the year, the king sitting one day by his +mistress, protested to her that his love, instead of being +diminished, grew every day more violent. "My queen," said he, "I +cannot divine what your thoughts are; but nothing is more true, +and I swear to you, that having the happiness of possessing you, +there remains nothing for me to desire. I esteem my kingdom, +great as it is, less than an atom, when I have the pleasure of +beholding you, and of telling you a thousand times that I adore +you. I desire not that my words alone should oblige you to +believe me. Surely you can no longer doubt of my devotion to you +after the sacrifice which I have made to your beauty of so many +women, whom I before kept in my palace. You may remember it is +about a year since I sent them all away; and I as little repent +of it now, as I did the moment of their departure; and I never +shall repent. Nothing would be wanting to complete my happiness +and crown my joy, would you but speak one single word to me, by +which I might be assured that you thought yourself at all +obliged. But how can you speak to me if you are dumb? and alas! I +feel but too apprehensive that this is the case. How can I doubt, +since you still torment me with silence, after having for a whole +year in vain supplicated you to speak? If it is possible for me +to obtain of you that consolation, may heaven at least grant me +the blessing of a son by you, to succeed me. I every day find +myself growing old, and I begin already to want one to assist me +in bearing the weight of my crown. Still I cannot conceal the +desire I have of hearing you speak; for something within me tells +me you are not dumb: and I beseech, I conjure you, dear madam, to +break through this long silence, and speak but one word to me; +after that I care not how soon I die." + +At this discourse the fair slave, who, according to her usual +custom, had hearkened to the king with downcast eyes, and had +given him cause to believe not only that she was dumb, but that +she had never laughed, began to smile. The king of Persia +perceived it with a surprise that made him break forth into an +exclamation of joy; and no longer doubting but that she was going +to speak, he waited for that happy moment with an eagerness and +attention that cannot easily be expressed + +At last the fair slave thus addressed herself to the king: "Sire, +I have so many things to say to your majesty, that, having once +broken silence, I know not where to begin. However, in the first +place, I think myself bound to thank you for all the favours and +honours you have been pleased to confer upon me, and to implore +heaven to bless and prosper you, to prevent the wicked designs of +your enemies, and not suffer you to die after hearing me speak, +but to grant you a long life. After this, sire, I cannot give you +greater satisfaction than by acquainting you that I am with +child; and I wish, as you do, it may be a son. Had it never been +my fortune to be pregnant, I was resolved (I beg your majesty to +pardon the sincerity of my intention) never to have loved you, +and to have kept an eternal silence; but now I love you as I +ought to do." + +The king of Persia, ravished to hear the fair slave not only +speak, but tell him tidings in which he was so nearly concerned, +embraced her tenderly. "Staining light of my eyes," said he, "it +is impossible for me to receive greater delight than you have now +given me: you have spoken to me, and you have declared your being +with child, which I did not expect. After these two occasions of +joy I am transported out of myself." + +The king of Persia, in the transport of his feelings, said no +more to the fair slave. He left her, but in such a manner as made +her perceive his intention was speedily to return: and being +willing that the occasion of his joys should be made public, he +declared it to his officers, and sent for the grand vizier. As +soon as he came, he ordered him to distribute a thousand pieces +of gold among the holy men of his religion, who made vows of +poverty; as also among the hospitals and the poor, by way of +returning thanks to heaven: and his will was obeyed by the +direction of that minister. + +After the king of Persia had given this order, he returned to the +fair slave again. "Madam," said he, "pardon me for leaving you so +abruptly, since you have been the occasion of it; but I hope you +will indulge me with some conversation, since I am desirous to +know of you several things of much greater consequence. Tell me, +my dearest soul, what were the powerful reasons that induced you +to persist in that obstinate silence for a whole year together, +though every day you saw me, heard me talk to you, ate and drank +with me, and every night slept with me? I shall pass by your not +speaking; but how you could carry yourself so as that I could +never discover whether you were sensible of what I said to you or +no, I confess, surpasses my understanding; and I cannot yet +comprehend how you could contain yourself so long; therefore I +must conclude the occasion of it to be very extraordinary." + +"To satisfy the king of Persia's curiosity," replied the lady, +"think whether or no to be a slave, far from my own country, +without any hopes of ever seeing it again, to have a heart torn +with grief, at being separated forever from my mother, my +brother, my friends, and my acquaintance, are not these +sufficient reasons for the silence your majesty has thought so +strange and unaccountable? + +The love of our native country is as natural to us as that of our +parents; and the loss of liberty is insupportable to everyone who +is not wholly destitute of common sense, and knows how to set a +value on it. The body indeed may be enslaved, and under the +subjection of a master, who has the power and authority in his +hands; the will can never be conquered, but remains free and +unconfined, depending on itself alone, as your majesty has found +in my case; and it is a wonder that I have not followed the +example of many unfortunate wretches, whom the loss of liberty +has reduced to the melancholy resolution of procuring their own +deaths in a thousand ways, by a liberty which cannot be taken +from them." + +"Madam," replied the king, "I am convinced of the truth of what +you say; but till this moment I was of opinion, that a person +beautiful, of good understanding, like yourself, whom her evil +destiny had condemned to be a slave, ought to think herself very +happy in meeting with a king for her master." + +"Sire," replied the lady, "whatever the slave be, as I have +already observed to your majesty, there is no king on earth can +tyrannize over her will. When indeed you speak of a slave +mistress of charms sufficient to captivate a monarch, and induce +him to love her; if she be of a rank infinitely below him, I am +of your opinion, she ought to think herself happy in her +misfortunes: still what happiness can it be, when she considers +herself only as a slave, torn from a parent's arms, and perhaps +from those of a lover, her passion for whom death only can +extinguish; but when this very slave is in nothing inferior to +the king who has purchased her, your majesty shall judge yourself +of the rigour of her destiny, her misery and her sorrow, and to +what desperate attempts the anguish of despair may drive her." + +The king of Persia, astonished at this discourse, "Madam," said +he, "can it be possible that you are of royal blood, as by your +words you seem to intimate? Explain the whole secret to me, I +beseech you, and no longer augment my impatience. Let me +instantly know who are the happy parents of so great a prodigy of +beauty; who are your brothers, your sisters, and your relations; +but, above all, tell me your name?" + +"Sire," said the fair slave, "my name is Gulnare of the Sea: and +my father, who is dead, was one of the most potent monarchs of +the ocean. When he died, he left his kingdom to a brother of +mine, named Saleh, and to the queen, my mother, who is also a +princess, the daughter of another puissant monarch of the sea. We +enjoyed profound peace and tranquillity through the whole +kingdom, till a neighbouring prince, envious of our happiness, +invaded our dominions with a mighty army; and penetrating as far +as our capital, made himself master of it; and we had but just +time to save ourselves in an impenetrable and inaccessible place, +with a few trusty officers, who did not forsake us in our +distress. + +"In this retreat my brother was not negligent in contriving means +to drive the unjust invaders from our dominions. One day taking +me into his closet, 'Sister,' said he, 'the events of the +smallest undertakings are always dubious. For my own part, I may +fail in the attempt I design to make to recover my kingdom; and I +shall be less concerned for my own disgrace than what may +possibly happen to you. To secure you from all accident, I would +fain see you married. But in the present miserable condition of +our affairs, I see no probability of matching you to any of the +princes of the sea; and therefore I should be glad if you would +concur in my opinion, and think of marrying one of the princes of +the earth. I am ready to contribute all that lies in my power +towards accomplishing this; and am certain there is not one of +them, however powerful, but, considering your beauty, would be +proud of sharing his crown with you.' + +"At this discourse of my brother's, I fell into a violent +passion. 'Brother,' said I, 'you know that I am descended, as +well as you, from the kings and queens of the sea, without any +mixture of alliance with those of the earth; therefore I do not +design to marry below myself, and I have taken an oath to that +effect. The condition to which we are reduced shall never oblige +me to alter my resolution; and if you perish in the execution of +your design, I am prepared to fall with you, rather than follow +the advice I so little expected from you.' + +"My brother, who was still earnest for my marriage, however +improper for me, endeavoured to make me believe that there were +kings of the earth who were no ways inferior to those of the sea. +This put me into a more violent passion, which occasioned him to +say several bitter reflecting things, that nettled me to the +quick. He left me, as much dissatisfied with myself as he could +possibly be with me; and in this peevish mood I gave a spring +from the bottom of the sea up to the Island of the Moon. + +"Notwithstanding the violent discontent that made me cast myself +upon that island, I lived content in retirement. But in spite of +all my precautions, a person of distinction, attended by his +servants, surprised me sleeping, and carried me to his own house. +He expressed much love to me, and omitted nothing which he +thought might induce me to return his passion. When he saw that +fair means would not prevail upon me, he attempted to use force: +but I soon made him repent of his insolence. He resolved to sell +me, which he did to the merchant who brought me hither, and sold +me to your majesty. He was a prudent, courteous, humane man; and +during the whole of the long journey, never gave me the least +reason to complain. + +"As for your majesty," continued the princess Gulnare, "if you +had not shown me all the respect you have hitherto done (for +which I am extremely obliged to your goodness), and given me such +undeniable marks of your affection, that I can no longer doubt of +it; if you had not immediately sent away your women; I hesitate +not to tell you, that I should not have remained with you. I +would have thrown myself into the sea out of this window, where +you accosted me when you first came into this apartment; and have +gone in search of my mother, my brother, and the rest of my +relations. I should have persisted in that design, and would have +put it in execution, if after a certain time I had found myself +deceived in the hopes of being with child; but in the condition I +am in, all I could say to my mother or my brother would never +convince them that I have been a slave to a king like your +majesty. They would never believe it, but would for ever upbraid +me with the crime I have voluntarily committed against my honour. +However, sire, be it a prince or princess that I may bring into +the world, it will be a pledge to engage me never to be parted +from your majesty; and therefore I hope you will no longer regard +me as a slave, but as a princess worthy your alliance." + +In this manner the Princess Gulnare discovered herself to the +king of Persia, and finished her story. "My charming, my adorable +princess," cried he, "what wonders have I heard! and what ample +matter for my curiosity, to ask a thousand questions concerning +those strange and unheard of things which you have related! But +first, I ought to thank you for your goodness and patience in +making trial of the truth and constancy of my passion. I thought +it impossible for me to love you more than I did; but since I +know you to be a princess, I love you a thousand times more. +Princess! did I say, madam? you are no longer so; but you are my +queen, the queen of Persia; and by that title you shall soon be +proclaimed throughout the whole kingdom. To-morrow the ceremony +shall be performed in my capital with a pomp and magnificence +never yet beheld; which will plainly shew that you are my queen +and my lawful wife. This should long ago have been done, had you +sooner convinced me of my error: for from the first moment of my +seeing you, I have been of the same opinion as now, to love you +always, and never to place my affections on any other. + +"But that I may satisfy myself, and pay you all the respect that +is your due, I beseech you, madam, to inform me more particularly +of the kingdom and people of the sea, who are altogether unknown +to me. I have heard much talk, indeed, of the inhabitants of the +sea, but I always looked upon such accounts merely as tales or +fables; by what you have told me, I am convinced there is nothing +more true; and I have a proof of it in your own person, who are +one of them, and are pleased to condescend to be my wife; which +is an honour no other inhabitant on the earth can boast. There is +one point however which yet perplexes me; therefore I must beg +the favour of you to explain it; that is, I cannot comprehend how +it is possible for you to live or move in water without being +drowned. There are few amongst us who have the art of staying +under water; and they would surely perish, if, after a certain +time, according to their activity and strength, they did not come +up again." + +"Sire," replied the Queen Gulnare, "I shall with pleasure satisfy +the king of Persia. We can walk at the bottom of the sea with as +much ease as you can upon land; and we can breathe in the water +as you do in the air; so that instead of suffocating us, as it +does you, it absolutely contributes to the preservation of our +lives. What is yet more remarkable is, that it never wets our +clothes; so that when we wish to visit the earth, we have no +occasion to dry them. Our language is the same with that of the +writing engraved upon the seal of the great prophet Solomon the +son of David. + +"I must not forget to inform you further, that the water does not +in the least hinder us from seeing: for we can open our eyes +without any inconvenience: and as we have quick, piercing sight, +we can discern any objects as clearly in the deepest part of the +sea as upon land. We have also there a succession of day and +night; the moon affords us her light; and even the planets and +the stars appear visible to us. I have already spoken of our +kingdoms; but as the sea is much more spacious than the earth, so +there are a great number of them, and of great extent. They are +divided into provinces; and in each province are several great +cities well peopled. In short there is an infinite number of +nations differing in manners and customs, as they do on the +earth. + +"The palaces of the kings and princes are sumptuous and +magnificent. Some of them are constructed of marble of various +colours; others of rock-crystal, with which the sea abounds, +mother of pearl, coral, and of other materials more valuable; +gold, silver, and all sorts of precious stones are more plentiful +there than on earth. I say nothing of the pearls, since the +largest that ever were seen upon earth would not be valued +amongst us; and none but the very lowest rank of citizens would +wear them. + +"As we have a marvellous and incredible agility to transport +ourselves whither we please in the twinkling of an eye, we have +no occasion for carriages or horses; not but the king has his +stables and his stud of sea horses; but they are seldom used, +except upon public feasts or rejoicing days. Some, after they +have trained them, take delight in riding and shewing their skill +and dexterity in races; others put them to chariots of mother of +pearl, adorned with an infinite number of shells of all sorts, of +the liveliest colours. These chariots are open; and in the middle +is a throne on which the king sits, and shows himself to the +public view of his subjects. The horses are trained to draw by +themselves; so that there is no occasion for a charioteer to +guide them. I pass over a thousand other curious particulars +relating to these submarine countries, which would be very +entertaining to your majesty; but you must permit me to defer +them to a future opportunity, to speak of something of much +greater consequence, which is, that the method of delivering, and +the way of managing the women of the sea in their lying-in, is +very different from those of the women of the earth; and I am +afraid to trust myself in the hands of the midwives of this +country: therefore, since my safe delivery equally concerns us +both, with your majesty's permission, I think it proper, for +greater security, to send for my mother and my cousins, to assist +at my labour; at the same time to desire the king my brother's +company, to whom I have a great desire to be reconciled. They +will be glad to see me again, when they understand I am wife to +the mighty king of Persia. I beseech your majesty to give me +leave to send for them. I am sure they will be happy to pay their +respects to you; and I venture to say you will be pleased to see +them." + +"Madam," replied the king of Persia, "you are mistress; do +whatever you please; I will endeavour to receive them with all +the honours they deserve. But I would fain know how you will +acquaint them with what you desire, and when they will arrive, +that I may give orders to make preparation for their reception, +and go myself in person to meet them." "Sire," replied the Queen +Gulnare, "there is no need of these ceremonies; they will be here +in a moment; and if your majesty will but step into the closet, +and look through the lattice, you shall see the manner of their +arrival." + +As soon as the king of Persia was in the closet, Queen Gulnare +ordered one of her women to bring her a fire-pan with a little +fire. After that she bade her retire, and shut the door. When she +was alone, she took a piece of aloes-wood out of a box, and put +it into the fire-pan. As soon as she saw the smoke rise, she +repeated some words unknown to the king of Persia, who observed +with great attention all that she did. She had no sooner ended, +than the sea began to be disturbed. The closet the king was in +was so contrived, that looking through the lattice on the same +side with the windows that faced the sea, he could plainly +perceive it. + +At length the sea opened at some distance; and presently there +arose out of it a tall, handsome young man, with whiskers of a +sea-green colour; a little behind him, a lady, advanced in years, +but of a majestic air, attended by five young ladies, nothing +inferior in beauty to the Queen Gulnare. + +Queen Gulnare immediately came to one of the windows, and saw the +king her brother, the queen her mother, and the rest of her +relations, who at the same time perceived her also. The company +advanced, supported, as it were, upon the waves. When they came +to the edge, they nimbly, one after another, sprung in at the +window. King Saleh, the queen her mother, and the rest of her +relations, embraced her tenderly on their first entrance, with +tears in their eyes. + +After Queen Gulnare had received them with all imaginable honour, +and made them sit down upon a sofa, the queen her mother +addressed herself to her: "Daughter," said she, "I am overjoyed +to see you again after so long an absence; and I am confident +that your brother and your relations are no less so. Your leaving +us without acquainting any one with your intention, involved us +in inexpressible concern; and it is impossible to tell you how +many tears we have shed on your account. We know of no reason +that could induce you to take such a resolution, but what your +brother related to us respecting the conversation that passed +between him and you. The advice he gave you seemed to him at that +time advantageous for settling you in the world, and suitable to +the then posture of our affairs. If you had not approved of his +proposal, you ought not to have been so much alarmed; and give me +leave to tell you, you took his advice in a different light from +what you ought to have done. But no more of this; it serves only +to renew the occasion of our sorrow and complaint, which we and +you ought to bury forever in oblivion; give us now an account of +all that has happened to you since we saw you last, and of your +present situation, but especially let us know if you are +married." + +Gulnare immediately threw herself at her mother's feet, and +kissing her hand, "Madam," said she, "I own I have been guilty of +a fault, and I am indebted to your goodness for the pardon which +you are pleased to grant me. What I am going to say, in obedience +to your commands, will soon convince you, that it is often in +vain for us to have an aversion for certain measures; I have +myself experienced that the only thing I had an abhorrence to, is +that to which my destiny has led me." She then related the whole +of what had befallen her since she quitted the sea for the earth. +As scon as she had concluded, and acquainted them with her having +been sold to the king of Persia, in whose palace she was at +present; "Sister," said the king her brother, "you have been +wrong to suffer so many indignities, but you can properly blame +nobody but yourself; you have it in your power now to free +yourself, and I cannot but admire your patience, that you could +endure so long a slavery. Rise, and return with us into my +kingdom, which I have reconquered from the proud usurper who had +made himself master of it." + +The king of Persia, who heard these words from the closet where +he stood, was in the utmost alarm; "Ah!" said he to himself, "I +am ruined, and if my queen, my Gulnare, hearken to this advice, +and leave me, I shall surely die, for it is impossible for me to +live without her." Queen Gulnare soon put him out of his fears. + +"Brother," said she smiling, "what I have just heard gives me a +greater proof than ever of the sincerity of your affection; I +could not brook your proposing to me a match with a prince of the +earth: now I can scarcely forbear being angry with you for +advising me to break the engagement I have made with the most +puissant and most renowned monarch in the world. I do not speak +here of an engagement between a slave and her master; it would be +easy to return the ten thousand pieces of gold he gave for me; +but I speak now of a contract between a wife and a husband--and a +wife who has not the least reason to complain. He is a religious, +wise, and temperate king, and has given me the most essential +demonstrations of his love. What can be a greater proof of the +sincerity of his passion, than sending away all his women (of +which he had a great number) immediately upon my arrival, and +confining himself to me alone? I am now his wife, and he has +lately declared me queen of Persia, to share with him in his +councils; besides, I am pregnant, and if heaven permit me to give +him a son, that will be another motive to engage my affections to +him the more." + +"So that, brother," continued the queen Gulnare, "instead of +following your advice, you see I have all the reason in the +world, not only to love the king of Persia as passionately as he +loves me, but also to live and die with him, more out of +gratitude than duty. I hope then neither my mother, nor you, nor +any of my cousins, will disapprove of the resolution or the +alliance I have made, which will do equal honour to the kings of +the sea and earth. Excuse me for giving you the trouble of coming +hither from the bottom of the deep, to communicate it to you; and +to enjoy the pleasure of seeing you after so long a separation." + +"Sister," replied King Saleh, "the proposal I made you of going +back with us into my kingdom, upon the recital of your adventures +(which I could not hear without concern), was only to let you see +how much we all love you, and how much I in particular honour +you, and that nothing is so dear to me as your happiness. Upon +the same account then, for my own part, I cannot condemn a +resolution so reasonable and so worthy of yourself, after what +you have told us of the king of Persia your husband, and the +great obligations you owe him; and I am persuaded that the queen +our mother will be of the same opinion." + +The queen confirmed what her son had spoken, and addressing +herself to Gulnare, said, "I am glad to hear you are pleased; and +I have nothing to add to what your brother has said. I should +have been the first to condemn you, had you not expressed all the +gratitude you owe to a monarch. that loves you so passionately." + +As the king of Persia had been extremely concerned under the +apprehension of losing his beloved queen, so now he was +transported with joy at her resolution never to forsake him; and +having no room to doubt of her love after so open a declaration, +he resolved to evince his gratitude in every possible way. + +While the king was indulging incredible pleasure, Queen Gulnare +clapped her hands, and immediately some of her slaves entered, +whom she had ordered to bring in a collation: as soon as it was +served up, she invited the queen her mother, the king her +brother, and her cousins to partake. They began to reflect that +they were in the palace of a mighty king, who had never seen or +heard of them, and that it would be rudeness to eat at his table +without him. This reflection raised a blush in their faces, and +in their emotion, their eyes glowing like fire, they breathed +flames at their mouths and nostrils. + +This unexpected sight put the king of Persia, who was totally +ignorant of the cause of it, into a dreadful consternation. Queen +Gulnare, suspecting this, and understanding the intention of her +relations, rose from her seat, and told them she would be back in +a moment. She went directly to the closet, and by her presence +recovered the king of Persia from his surprise; "Sir," said she, +"I doubt not but that your majesty is well pleased with the +acknowledgment I have made of the many favours for which I am +indebted to you. I might have complied with the wishes of my +relations, and gone back with them into their dominions; but I am +not capable of such ingratitude, for which I should have been the +first to condemn myself." "Ah! my queen,"cried the king of +Persia, "speak no more of your obligations to me; you have none; +I am under so many to you, that I shall never be able to repay +them. I never thought it possible you could have loved me so +tenderly as you do, and as you have made appear to me in the most +endearing manner." "Ah! sir," replied Gulnare "could I do less? I +fear I have not done enough, considering all the honours that +your majesty has heaped upon me; and it is impossible for me to +remain insensible of your love, after so many convincing proofs +as you have given me." + +"But, sir," continued Gulnare, "let us drop this subject, and +give me leave to assure you of the sincere friendship the queen +my mother and the king my brother are pleased to honour you with; +they earnestly desire to see you, and tell you so themselves: I +intended to have had some conversation with them by ordering a +banquet for them, before I introduced them to your majesty; but +they are impatient to pay their respects to you; and therefore I +beseech your majesty to be pleased to honour them with your +presence." + +"Madam," said the king of Persia, "I should be glad to salute +persons who have the honour to be so nearly related to you, but I +am afraid of the flames they breathe at their mouths and +nostrils." "Sir," replied the queen laughing, "you need not in +the least fear those flames, which are nothing but a sign of +their unwillingness to eat in your palace, without your honouring +them with your presence, and eating with them." + +The king of Persia, encouraged by these words, rose and went into +the apartment with his Queen Gulnare She presented him to the +queen her mother, to the king her brother, and to her other +relations; who instantly threw themselves at his feet, with their +faces to the ground. The king of Persia ran to them, and lifting +them up, embraced them one after another. After they were all +seated, King Saleh began: "Sir;" said he to the king of Persia, +"we are at a loss for words to express our joy, to think that the +queen my sister, in her disgrace, should have the happiness of +falling under the protection of so powerful a monarch. We can +assure you, she is not unworthy of the high rank to which you +have been pleased to raise her; and we have always had so much +love and tenderness for her, that we could never think or parting +with her to any of the puissant princes of the sea, who have +often demanded her in marriage before she came of age. Heaven has +reserved her for you, and we have no better way of testifying our +gratitude for the favour it has done her, than beseeching it to +grant your majesty a long and happy life with her, and to crown +you with prosperity and satisfaction. + +"Certainly," replied the king of Persia, "heaven reserved her for +me, as you observe. I love her with so tender and ardent a +passion, that I am satisfied I never loved any woman till I saw +her. I cannot sufficiently thank either the queen her mother or +you, prince, or your whole family, for the generosity with which +you have consented to receive me into an alliance so glorious to +me as yours." So saying he invited them to take part of the +collation, and he and his queen sat down with them. After the +collation, the king of Persia conversed with them till it was +very late; and when they thought it convenient to retire, he +waited upon them himself to the several apartments he had ordered +to be prepared for them. + +The king of Persia treated his illustrious guests with continual +feasts; in which he omitted nothing that might shew his grandeur +and magnificence, and insensibly prevailed with them to stay with +him till the queen was brought to bed. When the time of her +lying-in drew near, he gave particular orders that nothing should +be wanting proper for such an occasion. At length she was brought +to bed of a son, to the great joy of the queen her mother, who +assisted at the labour, and presented him to the king. + +The king of Persia received this present with a joy easier to be +imagined than expressed. The young prince being of a beautiful +countenance, he thought no name so proper for him as that of +Beder, which in the Arabian language signifies the Full Moon. To +return thanks to heaven, he was very liberal in his alms to the +poor, caused the prison doors to be set open, and gave all his +slaves of both sexes their liberty. He distributed vast sums +among the ministers and holy men of his religion. He also gave +large donations to his courtiers, besides a considerable sum that +was thrown amongst the people; and by proclamation, ordered +rejoicings to be kept for several days through the whole city. + +One day, after the queen was recovered, as the king of Persia, +Gulnare, the queen her mother, King Saleh her brother, and the +princesses their relations, were discoursing together in her +majesty's bed-chamber, the nurse came in with the young prince +Beder in her arms. King Saleh as soon as he saw him, ran to +embrace him, and taking him in his arms, kissed and caressed him +with the greatest demonstrations of tenderness. He took several +turns with him about the room, dancing and tossing him about, +when all of a sudden, through a transport of joy, the window +being open, he sprung out, and plunged with him into the sea. + +The king of Persia, who expected no such sight, believing he +should either see the prince his son no more, or else that he +should see him drowned, was overwhelmed in affliction. "Sir," +said queen Gulnare (with a quiet and undisturbed countenance, the +better to comfort him), "let your majesty fear nothing; the young +prince is my son as well as yours, and I do not love him less +than yourself. You see I am not alarmed; neither in truth ought I +to be. He runs no risk, and you will soon see the king his uncle +appear with him again, and bring him back safe. Although he be +born of your blood, he is equally of mine, and will have the same +advantage his uncle and I possess, of living equally in the sea, +and upon the land." The queen his mother and the princesses his +relations affirmed the same thing; yet all they said had no +effect on the king, who could not recover from his alarm till he +again saw prince Beder. + +The sea at length became troubled, when immediately King Saleh +arose with the young prince in his arms, and holding him up in +the air, reentered at the window from which he had leaped. The +king of Persia being overjoyed to see Prince Beder again, and +astonished that he was as calm as before he lost sight of him; +King Saleh said, "Sir, was not your majesty in alarm, when you +first saw me plunge into the sea with the prince my nephew?" +"Alas prince," answered the king of Persia, "I cannot express my +concern. I thought him lost from that very moment, and you now +restore life to me by bringing him again." "I thought as much," +replied King Saleh, "though you had not the least reason to +apprehend danger; for before I plunged into the sea, I pronounced +over him certain mysterious words, which were engraved on the +seal of the great Solomon the son of David. We practise the like +in relation to all those children that are born in the regions at +the bottom of the sea, by virtue whereof they receive the same +privileges as we have over those people who inhabit the earth. +From what your majesty has observed, you may easily see what +advantage your son Prince Beder has acquired by his birth on the +part of his mother Gulnare my sister: for as long as he lives, +and as often as he pleases, he will be at liberty to plunge into +the sea, and traverse the vast empires it contains in its bosom." + +Having so spoken, King Saleh, who had restored Prince Beder to +his nurse's arms, opened a box he had fetched from his palace in +the little time he had disappeared, which was filled with three +hundred diamonds, as large as pigeons' eggs; a like number of +rubies of extraordinary size; as many emerald wands, each half a +foot long, and thirty strings or necklaces of pearl consisting +each of ten feet. "Sir," said he to the king of Persia, +presenting him with this box, "when I was first summoned by the +queen my sister, I knew not what part of the earth she was in, or +that she had the honour to be married to so great a monarch. This +made us come without a present. As we cannot express how much we +have been obliged to your majesty, I beg you to accept this small +token of gratitude in acknowledgment of the many favours you have +been pleased to shew her, wherein we take equal interest." + +It is impossible to express how greatly the king of Persia was +surprised at the sight of so much riches, enclosed in so little +compass. "What! prince," cried he, "do you call so inestimable a +present a small token of your gratitude, when you never have been +indebted to me? I declare once more you have never been in the +least obliged to me, neither the queen your mother nor you. I +esteem myself but too happy in the consent you have given to the +alliance I have contracted with you. Madam," continued he, +turning to Gulnare, "the king your brother has put me into the +greatest confusion; and I would beg of him to permit me to refuse +his present, were I not afraid of disobliging him: do you +therefore endeavour to obtain his leave that I may be excused +accepting it." + +"Sir," replied King Saleh, "I am not at all surprised that your +majesty thinks this present so extraordinary. I know you are not +accustomed upon earth to see precious stones of this quality and +number: but if you knew, as I do, the mines whence these jewels +were taken, and that it is in my power to form a treasure greater +than those of all the kings of the earth, you would wonder we +should have the boldness to make you so small a present. I +beseech you therefore not to regard its trifling value, but +consider the sincere friendship which obliges us to offer it to +you, and not give us the mortification of refusing it." These +engaging expressions obliged the king of Persia to accept the +present, for which he returned many thanks both to King Saleh and +the queen his mother. + +A few days after, King Saleh gave the king of Persia to +understand, that the queen his mother, the princesses his +relations, and himself, could have no greater pleasure than to +spend their whole lives at his court; but that having been so +long absent from their own kingdom, where their presence was +absolutely necessary, they begged of him to excuse them if they +took leave of him and Queen Gulnare. The king of Persia assured +them, he was sorry it was not in his power to return their visit +in their own dominions; but added, "As I am persuaded you will +not forget Gulnare, I hope I shall have the honour to see you +again more than once." + +Many tears were shed on both sides upon their separation. King +Saleh departed first; but the queen his mother and the princesses +his relations were obliged to force themselves from the embraces +of Gulnare, who could not prevail with herself to let them go. +This royal company were no sooner out of sight, than the king of +Persia said to Gulnare, "Madam, I should have looked upon the +person who had pretended to pass those upon me for true wonders, +of which I myself have been eye-witness from the time I have been +honoured with your illustrious family at my court, as one who +would have abused my credulity. But I cannot refuse to believe my +senses; and shall remember them while I live, and never cease to +bless heaven for directing you to me, in preference to any other +prince." + +Beder was brought up and educated in the palace under the care of +the king and queen of Persia, who both saw him grow and increase +in beauty to their great satisfaction. He gave them yet greater +pleasure as he advanced in years, by his continual sprightliness, +his agreeable manners, and the justness and vivacity of his wit; +and this satisfaction was the more sensible, because King Saleh +his uncle, the queen his grandmother, and the princesses his +relations, came from time to time to partake of it. + +He was easily taught to read and write, and was instructed with +the same facility in all the sciences that became a prince of his +rank. + +When he arrived at the age of fifteen, he acquitted himself in +all his exercises with infinitely better address and grace than +his masters. He was withal wise and prudent. The king, who had +almost from his cradle discovered in him virtues so necessary for +a monarch, and who moreover began to perceive the infirmities of +old age coming upon himself every day, would not stay till death +gave him possession of his throne, but purposed to resign it to +him. He had no great difficulty to make his council consent to +this arrangement: and the people heard his resolution with so +much the more joy, as they conceived Prince Beder worthy to +govern them. In a word, as the king had not for a long time +appeared in public, they had the opportunity of observing that he +had not that disdainful, proud, and distant air, which most +princes have, who look upon all below them with scorn and +contempt. They saw, on the contrary, that he treated all mankind +with that goodness which invited them to approach him; that he +heard favourably all who had anything to say to him; that he +answered everybody with a goodness that was peculiar to him; and +that he refused nobody any thing that had the least appearance of +justice. + +The day for the ceremony was appointed, when in the midst of the +whole assembly, which was then more numerous than ordinary, the +king of Persia came down from his throne, took the crown from his +head, put it on that of Prince Beder, and having seated him in +his place, kissed his hand as a token that he resigned his +authority to him. After which he took his place among the crowd +of viziers and emirs below the throne. + +Hereupon the viziers, emirs, and other principal officers, came +immediately and threw themselves at the new king's feet, taking +each the oath of fidelity according to their rank. Then the grand +vizier made a report of divers important matters, on which the +young king gave judgment with that admirable prudence and +sagacity that surprised all the council. He next turned out +several governors convicted of mal-administration, and put others +in their room, with such wonderful and just discernment, as +exalted the acclamations of every body, which were so much the +more honourable, as flattery had no share in them. He at length +left the council, accompanied by his father, and went to wait on +his mother Queen Gulnare at her apartment. The queen no sooner +saw him coming with his crown upon his head, than she ran to him +and embraced him with tenderness, wishing him a long and +prosperous reign. + +The first year of his reign King Beder acquitted himself of all +his royal functions with great assiduity. Above all, he took care +to inform himself of the state of his affairs, and all that might +any way contribute towards the happiness of his people. Next +year, having left the administration to his council, under the +direction of his father, he left his capital, under pretence of +diverting himself with hunting; but his real intention was to +visit all the provinces of his kingdom, that he might reform +abuses, establish good order, and deprive all ill-minded princes, +his neighbours, of any opportunities of attempting anything +against the security and tranquillity of his subjects, by shewing +himself on his frontiers. + +It required no less than a whole year for the young monarch to +execute a design so worthy of him. Soon after his return, the old +king his father fell so dangerously ill, that he knew at once he +should never recover. He waited for his last moment with great +tranquillity, and his only care was to recommend to the ministers +and other lords of his son's court, to persevere in the fidelity +they had sworn to him: and there was not one but willingly +renewed his oath as freely as at first. He died at length, to the +great grief of King Beder and Queen Gulnare, who caused his +corpse to be borne to a stately mausoleum, worthy of his rank and +dignity. + +The funeral obsequies ended, King Beder found no difficulty to +comply with that ancient custom in Persia to mourn for the dead a +whole month and not to be seen by anybody during that time. He +had mourned the death of his father his whole life, had he +yielded to his excessive affliction, and had it been right for a +great prince thus to abandon himself to sorrow. During this +interval the Queen Gulnare's mother, and King Saleh, together +with the princesses their relations, arrived at the Persian court +to condole with their relations. + +When the month was expired, the king could not refuse admittance +to the grand vizier and the other lords of his court, who +besought him to lay aside his mourning, to shew himself to his +subjects, and take upon him the administration of affairs as +before. + +He shewed so much reluctance to comply with their request, that +the grand vizier was forced to take upon himself to say; "Sir, it +were needless to represent to your majesty, that it belongs only +to women to persist in perpetual mourning. We doubt not but you +are fully convinced of this, and that it is not your intention to +follow their example. Neither our tears nor yours are capable of +restoring life to the good king your father, though we should +lament him all our days. He has submitted to the common law of +all men, which subjects them to pay the indispensable tribute of +death. Yet we cannot say absolutely that he is dead, since we see +in him your sacred person. He did not himself doubt, when he was +dying, but he should revive in you, and to your majesty it +belongs to show that he was not deceived." + +King Beder could no longer oppose such pressing instances; he +laid aside his mourning; and after he had resumed the royal habit +and ornaments, began to provide for the necessities of his +kingdom and subjects with the same assiduity as before his +father's death. He acquitted himself with universal approbation: +and as he was exact in maintaining the ordinances of his +predecessor, the people did not perceive they had changed their +sovereign. + +King Saleh, who was returned to his dominions in the sea with the +queen his mother and the princesses, no sooner saw that King +Beder had resumed the government, but he at the end of the year +came alone to visit him; and King Beder and Queen Gulnare were +overjoyed to see him. One evening, talking of various matters, +King Saleh fell insensibly on the praises of the king his nephew, +and expressed to the queen his sister how glad he was to see him +govern so prudently, as to acquire such high reputation, not only +among his neighbours, but more remote princes. King Beder, who +could not bear to hear himself so well spoken of, and not being +willing, through good manners, to interrupt the king his uncle, +turned on one side, and feigned to be asleep, leaning his head +against a cushion that was behind him. + +From these commendations, which regarded only the conduct and +genius of Beder, King Saleh came to speak of the perfections of +his person, which he extolled as prodigies, having nothing equal +to them upon earth, or in all the kingdoms under the waters, with +which he was acquainted. + +"Sister," said he, "I wonder you have not thought of marrying +him: if I mistake not, he is in his twentieth year; and, at that +age, no prince ought to be suffered to be without a wife. I will +think of a match for him myself, since you will not, and marry +him to some princess of our lower world that may be worthy of +him." + +"Brother," replied queen Gulnare, "you call to my attention what +I must own has never occurred to me. As he discovered no +inclination for marriage, I never thought of mentioning it to +him. I like your proposal of one of our princesses; and I desire +you to name one so beautiful and accomplished that the king my +son may be obliged to love her." + +"I know one," replied king Saleh, softly; "but before I tell you +who she is, let us see if the king my nephew be asleep, and I +will tell you afterwards why it is necessary we should take that +precaution." Queen Gulnare turned about and looked at her son, +and thought she had no reason to doubt but he was in a profound +sleep. King Beder, nevertheless, far from sleeping, redoubled his +attention, unwilling to lose any thing the king his uncle said +with so much secrecy. "There is no necessity for your speaking so +low," said the queen to the king her brother; "you may speak out +with freedom, without fear of being heard." + +"It is by no means proper," replied King Saleh, "that the king my +nephew should as yet have any knowledge of what I am going to +say. Love, you know, sometimes enters at the ear, and it is not +necessary he should thus conceive a passion for the lady I am +about to name. Indeed I see many difficulties to be surmounted, +not on the lady's part, as I hope, but on that of her father. I +need only mention to you the princess Jehaun-ara, daughter of the +king of Samandal." + +"How! brother," replied Queen Gulnare, "is not the princess yet +married? I remember to have seen her before I left your palace; +she was then about eighteen months old, surprisingly beautiful, +and must needs be the wonder of the world, if her charms have +increased with her years. The few years she is older than the +king my son ought not to prevent us from doing our utmost to +effect the match. Let me but know the difficulties in the way, +and we will surmount them." + +"Sister," replied King Saleh, "the greatest difficulty is, that +the king of Samandal is insupportably vain, looking upon all +others as his inferiors: it is not likely we shall easily get him +to enter into this alliance. I will however go to him in person, +and demand of him the princess his daughter; and, in case he +refuses her, we will address ourselves elsewhere, where we shall +be more favourably heard. For this reason, as you may perceive," +added he, "it is as well for the king my nephew not to know any +thing of our design, till we have the consent of the king of +Samandal." They discoursed a little longer upon this point and, +before they parted, agreed that King Saleh should forthwith +return to his own dominions, and demand the princess for the king +of Persia his nephew. + +This done, Queen Gulnare and King Saleh, who believed King Beder +asleep, agreed to awake him before they retired; and he +dissembled so well that he seemed to awake from a profound sleep. +He had heard every word, and the character they gave of the +princess had inflamed his heart with a new passion. He had +conceived such an idea of her beauty, that the desire of +possessing her made him pass the night very uneasy without +closing his eyes. + +Next day King Saleh proposed taking leave of Gulnare and the king +his nephew. The young king, who knew his uncle would not have de- +parted so soon but to go and promote without loss of time his +happiness, changed colour when he heard him mention his +departure. His passion was become so violent, it would not suffer +him to wait so long for the sight of his mistress as would be +required to accomplish the marriage. He more than once resolved +to desire his uncle to bring her away with him: but as he did not +wish to let the queen his mother understand he knew anything of +what had passed, he desired him only to stay with him one day +more, that they might hunt together, intending to take that +opportunity to discover his mind to him. + +The day for hunting was fixed, and King Beder had many +opportunities of being alone with his uncle; but he had not +courage to acquaint him with his design. + +In the heat of the chase, when King Saleh was separated from him, +and not one of his officers or attendants was near him, he +alighted by a rivulet; and having tied his horse to a tree, +which, with several others growing along the banks, afforded a +very pleasing shade, he laid himself on the grass, and gave free +course to his tears, which flowed in great abundance, accompanied +with many sighs. + +He remained a good while in this condition, absorbed in thought, +without speaking a word. King Saleh, in the meantime, missing the +king his nephew, began to be much concerned to know what was +become of him; but could meet no one who could give any tidings +of him. He therefore left his company to seek for him, and at +length perceived him at a distance. He had observed the day +before, and more plainly that day, that he was not so lively as +he used to be; and that, if he was asked a question, he either +answered not at all, or nothing to the purpose; but never in the +least suspected the cause. As soon as he saw him dying in that +disconsolate posture, he immediately guessed he had not only +heard what had passed between him and Queen Gulnare, but was +become passionately in love. He alighted at some distance from +him, and having tied his horse to a tree, came upon him so +softly, that he heard him pronounce the following words: + +"Amiable princess of the kingdom of Samandal, I have no doubt had +but an imperfect sketch of your incomparable beauty; I hold you +to be still more beautiful in preference to all the princesses in +the world, and to excel them as much as the sun does the moon and +stars. I would this moment go and offer you my heart, if I knew +where to find you; it belongs to you, and no princess shall be +possessor of it but yourself!" + +King Saleh would hear no more; he advanced immediately, and +discovered himself to Beder. "From what I see, nephew," said he, +"you heard what the queen your mother and I said the other day of +the princess Jehaun-ara. It was not our intention you should have +known any thing respecting her, and we thought you were asleep." +"My dear uncle," replied King Beder, "I heard every word, and +have sufficiently experienced the effect you foretold; which it +was not in your power to prevent. I detained you on purpose to +acquaint you with my love before your departure; but the shame of +disclosing my weakness, if it be any to love a princess so worthy +of my affection, sealed up my mouth. I beseech you then, by the +friendship you profess for a prince who has the honour to be so +nearly allied to you, that you would pity me, and not wait to +procure me the consent of the divine Jehaun-ara, till you have +gained that of the king of Samandal that I may marry his +daughter, unless you had rather see me die with love, before I +behold her." + +These words of the king of Persia greatly embarrassed King Saleh. +He represented to him how difficult it was to give him the +satisfaction he desired, and that he could not do it without +carrying him along with him; which might be of dangerous +consequence, since his presence was so absolutely necessary in +his kingdom. He conjured him, therefore, to moderate his passion, +till such time as he had put things into a train to satisfy him, +assuring him he would use his utmost diligence, and would come to +acquaint him in a few days. But these reasons were not sufficient +to satisfy the king of Persia. "Cruel uncle," said he. "I find +you do not love me so much as you pretended, and that you had +rather see me die than grant the first request I ever made." + +"I am ready to convince your majesty," replied King Saleh, "that +I would do any thing to serve you; but as for carrying you along +with me, I cannot do that till I have spoken to the queen your +mother. What would she say of you and me? If she consents, I am +ready to do all you would have me, and will join my entreaties to +yours." "You cannot be ignorant," replied the king of Persia, +"that the queen my mother would never willingly part with me; and +therefore this excuse does but farther convince me of your +unkindness. If you really love me, as you would have me believe, +you must return to your kingdom immediately, and take me with +you." + +King Saleh, finding himself obliged to yield to his nephew's +importunity, drew from his finger a ring, on which were engraved +the same mysterious names of God that were upon Solomon's seal, +which had wrought so many wonders by their virtue. "Here, take +this ring," said he, "put it on your finger, and fear neither the +waters of the sea, nor their depth." The king of Persia took the +ring, and when he had put it on his finger, King Saleh said to +him, "Do as I do." At the same time they both mounted lightly up +into the air, and made towards the sea, which was not far +distant, and they both plunged into it. + +The sea-king was not long in arriving at his palace, with the +king of Persia, whom he immediately carried to the queen's +apartments, and presented to her. The king of Persia kissed the +queen his grandmother's hands, and she embraced him with great +demonstrations of joy. "I do not ask you how you do," said she, +"I see you are very well, and am rejoiced at it; but I desire to +know how my daughter your mother Queen Gulnare does." The king of +Persia took great care not to let her know that he had come away +with out taking leave of her; on the contrary he told her, the +queen his mother was in perfect health, and had enjoined him to +pay her duty to her. The queen then presented him to the +princesses; and while he was in conversation with them, she left +him, and went with King Saleh into a closet, who told her how the +king of Persia was fallen in love with the Princess Jehaun-ara, +upon the bare relation of her beauty, and contrary to his +intention; that he had, against his own wishes, brought him along +with him, and that he was going to concert measures to procure +the princess for him in marriage. + +Although King Saleh was, to do him justice, perfectly innocent of +the king of Persia's passion, yet the queen could hardly forgive +his indiscretion in mentioning the princess Jehaun- ara before +him, "Your imprudence is not to be forgiven," said she; "can you +think that the king of Samandal, whose character is so well +known, will have greater consideration for you, than the many +other kings to whom he has refused his daughter, with such +evident contempt? Would you have him send you away with the same +confusion? + +"Madam," replied King Saleh, "I have already told you it was +contrary to my intention that the king my nephew heard what I +related of the beauty of the princess to the queen my sister. The +fault is committed, and we must consider what a violent passion +he has for this princess, and that he will die with grief and +affliction, if we do not speedily obtain her for him. For my +part, I shall omit nothing that can contribute to effect their +union: since I was, though innocently, the cause of the malady, I +will do all I can to remedy it. I hope, madam, you will approve +of my resolution, to go myself and wait on the king of Samandal, +with a rich present of precious stones, and demand the princess +his daughter of him for the king of Persia. I have some reason to +believe he will not refuse, but will be pleased with an alliance +with one of the greatest potentates of the earth." + +"It were to have been wished," replied the queen, "that we had +not been under a necessity of making this demand, since the +success of our attempt is not so certain as we could desire; but +since my grandson's peace and content depend upon it, I freely +give my consent. But, above all, I charge you, since you well +know the humour of the king of Samandal, that you take care to +speak to him with due respect, and in a manner that cannot +possibly offend him." + +The queen prepared the present herself, composing it of diamonds, +rubies, emeralds, and strings of pearl, all which she put into a +rich box. Next morning King Saleh took leave of her majesty and +the king of Persia, and departed with a chosen and small troop of +officers, and attendants. He soon arrived at the kingdom, and the +palace of the king of Samandal, who delayed not to give him +audience. He rose from his throne as soon as he perceived him; +and King Saleh, forgetting his character for some moments, +knowing whom he had to deal with, prostrated himself at his feet, +wishing him the accomplishment of all his desires. The king of +Samandal stooped to raise him, and after he had placed him on his +left hand, told him he was welcome, and asked him if there was +any thing he could do to serve him. + +"Sir," answered King Saleh, "though I should have no other motive +than that of paying my respects to the most potent, most prudent, +and most valiant prince in the world, feeble would be my language +to express how much I honour your majesty. Could you penetrate +into my inmost soul, you would be convinced of the great +veneration I have for you, and of my ardent desire to testify my +attachment." Having spoke these words, he took the box of jewels +from one of his servants, and having opened it, presented it to +the king, imploring him to accept of it for his sake. + +"Prince," replied the king of Samandal, "you would not make me +such a present unless you had a request proportionable to it to +propose. If there be any thing in my power to grant, you may +freely command me, and I shall feel the greatest pleasure in +complying with your wishes. Speak, and tell me frankly, wherein I +can serve you?" + +"I must own ingenuously," replied King Saleh, "I have a boon to +ask of your majesty; and I shall take care to ask nothing but +what is in your power to bestow. The thing depends so absolutely +on yourself, that it would be to no purpose to ask it of any one +else. I ask it then with all possible earnestness, and I beg of +you not to refuse me." "If it be so," replied the king of +Samandal, "you have nothing to do but acquaint me what it is, and +you shall see after what manner I can oblige when it is in my +power." + +"Sir," said King Saleh, "after the confidence with which your +majesty has been pleased to inspire me, I will not dissemble any +longer, that I came to beg of you to honour our house with your +alliance by the marriage of your daughter, and to strengthen the +good understanding that has so long subsisted between our two +crowns." + +At these words the king of Samandal burst into a loud laugh, +falling back in his throne against a cushion that supported him, +and with an imperious and scornful air, said, "King Saleh, I have +always hitherto thought you a prince of great wisdom, and +prudence; but what you say convinces me I was mistaken. Tell me, +I beseech you, where was your wit or discretion, when you formed +to yourself such a chimera as you have proposed to me? Could you +conceive a thought of aspiring in marriage to a princess, the +daughter of so powerful a monarch as myself? You ought to have +considered the great distance between us, and not run the risk of +losing in a moment the esteem I always had for you." + +King Saleh was hurt at this affronting answer, and could scarcely +restrain his resentment; however he replied with all possible +moderation, "God reward your majesty as you deserve! I have the +honour to inform you, I do not demand the princess your daughter +in marriage for myself; had I done even that, your majesty and +the princess, so far from being offended, should have thought it +an honour done to both. Your majesty well knows I am one of the +kings of the sea as well as yourself; that my ancestors yield not +in antiquity to any royal house; and that the kingdom I inherit +is no less potent and flourishing than your own. If your majesty +had not interrupted me, you had soon understood that the favour I +asked was not for myself, but for the young king of Persia my +nephew, whose power and grandeur, no less than his personal good +qualities, cannot be unknown to you. Everybody acknowledges the +Princess Jehaun-ara to be the most beautiful under ocean: but it +is no less true, that the king of Persia is the handsomest and +most accomplished prince on earth. Thus the favour that is asked +being likely to redound to the honour both of your majesty and +the princess your daughter, you ought not to doubt that your +consent to an alliance so equal will be unanimously approved in +all the kingdoms of the sea. The princess is worthy of the king +of Persia, and the king of Persia is no less worthy of her." + +The king of Samandal had not permitted King Saleh to speak so +long, but that rage deprived him of all power of speech. At +length, however, he broke out into outrageous and insulting +expressions, unworthy of a great king. "Dog," cried he, "dare you +talk to me after this manner, and so much as mention my +daughter's name in my presence Can you think the son of your +sister Gulnare worthy to come in competition with my daughter? +Who are you? Who was your father? Who is your sister? And who +your nephew? Was not his father a dog, and the son of a dog, like +you? Guards, seize the insolent wretch, and strike off his head." + +The few officers who were about the king of Samandal were +immediately going to obey his orders, when King Saleh, who was in +the flower of his age, nimble and vigorous, got from them, before +they could draw their sabres; and having reached the palace-gate, +found there a thousand men of his relations and friends, well +armed and equipped, who were just arrived. The queen his mother +having considered the small number of attendants he had taken +with him, and foreseeing the reception he would probably meet +from the king of Samandal, had sent these troops to protect and +defend him in case of danger, ordering them to make haste. Those +of his relations who were at the head of this troop had reason to +rejoice at their seasonable arrival, when they beheld him and his +attendants running in great disorder, and pursued. "Sire," cried +his friends, the moment he joined them, "who has insulted you? We +are ready to revenge you: you need only command us." + +King Saleh related his case to them in few words, and putting +himself at the head of a troop, while some seized the gates, he +re-entered the palace. The few officers and guards who had +pursued him, being soon dispersed, he forced the king of +Samandal's apartment, who, being abandoned by his attendants, was +soon seized. King Saleh left sufficient guards to secure his +person, and then went from apartment to apartment, to search +after the Princess Jehaun-ara. But she, on the first alarm, had, +together with her women, sprung up to the surface of the sea, and +escaped to a desert island. + +While this passed in the palace of the king of Samandal, those of +King Saleh's attendants who had fled at the first menaces of that +king, put the queen mother into terrible consternation, on +relating the danger of her son. King Beder, who was present at +the time, was the more concerned, as he looked upon himself as +the principal author of the mischief that might ensue: therefore, +not caring to abide the queen's presence any longer, whilst she +was giving the orders necessary at that conjuncture, he darted up +from the bottom of the sea; and not knowing how to find his way +to the kingdom of Persia, happened to land on the island where +the Princess Jehaun-ara had saved herself. + +The prince, not a little disturbed in mind, seated himself under +the shade of a large tree, surrounded by others. Whilst he was +endeavouring to recover himself, he heard somebody talking, but +was too far off to understand what was said. He arose, and +advanced softly towards the place whence the sound proceeded, +where, among the branches, he perceived a beauty that dazzled +him. "Doubtless," said he, within himself, stopping and +considering her with great attention, "this must be the princess +Jehaun-ara, whom fear has obliged to abandon her father's palace; +or if it be not, she no less deserves my love." This said, he +came forward, and discovering himself, approached the princess +with profound reverence. "Madam," said he, "I can never +sufficiently thank Heaven for the favour it has done me in +presenting to my eyes so much beauty. A greater happiness could +not have befallen me than this opportunity to offer you my +services. I beseech you, therefore, madam, to accept them, it +being impossible that a lady in this solitude should not want +assistance." + +"True, my lord," replied Jehaun-ara, sorrowfully; "it is not a +little extraordinary for a lady of my quality to be in this +situation. I am a princess, daughter of the king of Samandal, and +my name is Jehaun-ara. I was at ease in my father's palace, in my +apartment, when suddenly I heard a dreadful noise: news was +immediately brought me, that king Saleh, I know not for what +reason, had forced the palace, seized the king my father, and +murdered all the guards who made any resistance. I had only time +to save myself, and escape hither from his violence." + +At these words King Beder began to be concerned that he had +quitted his grandmother so hastily, without staying to hear from +her an explanation of the news that had been brought. But he was, +on the other hand, overjoyed to find that the king his uncle had +rendered himself master of the king of Samandal's person, not +doubting but he would consent to give up the princess for his +liberty. "Adorable princess," continued he, "your concern is most +just, but it + +is easy to put an end both to that and your father's captivity. +You will agree with me, when I shall tell you that I am Beder, +king of Persia, and King Saleh is my uncle: I assure you, madam, +he has no design to seize the king your father's dominions; his +only intention is to obtain your father's consent, that I may +have the honour and happiness of being his son-in- law. I had +already given my heart to you, upon the bare relation of your +beauty and charms; and now, far from repenting, I beg of you to +accept it, and to be assured that I will love you as long as I +live. I dare flatter myself you will not refuse this favour, but +be ready to acknowledge that a king, who quitted his dominions +purely on your account, deserves some acknowledgment. Permit me +then, beauteous princess! to have the honour to present you to +the king my uncle; and the king your father shall no sooner have +consented to our marriage, than King Saleh will leave him +sovereign of his dominions as before." + +This declaration of King Beder did not produce the effect he +expected. It is true, the princess no sooner saw him, than his +person, air, and the grace wherewith he accosted her, led her to +regard him as one who would not have been disagreeable to her; +but when she heard that he had been the occasion of all the ill +treatment her father had suffered, of the grief and fright she +had endured, and especially the necessity she was reduced to of +flying her country; she looked upon him as an enemy with whom she +ought to have no connection. Whatever inclination she might have +to agree to the marriage which he desired, she determined never +to consent, reflecting that one of the reasons her father might +have against this match might be, that King Beder was son of a +king of the earth. + +She would not, however, let King Beder know her resentment; but +sought an occasion to deliver herself dexterously out of his +hands; and seeming in the meantime to have a great kindness for +him, "Are you then," said she, with all possible civility, "son +of the Queen Gulnare, so famous for her wit and beauty? I am glad +of it, and rejoice that you are the son of so worthy a mother. +The king my father was much in the wrong so strongly to oppose +our union: had he but seen you, he must have consented to make us +happy." Saying so, she reached forth her hand to him as a token +of friendship. + +King Beder, believing himself arrived at the very pinnacle of +happiness, held forth his hand, and taking that of the princess, +stooped down to kiss it, when she, pushing him back, and spitting +in his face for want of water to throw at him, said, "Wretch, +quit the form of a man, and take that of a white bird, with a red +bill and feet." Upon her pronouncing these words, King Beder was +immediately changed into a bird of that description, to his great +surprise and mortification. "Take him," said she to one of her +women, "and carry him to the Dry Island." This island was only +one frightful rock, where not a drop of water was to be had. + +The waiting-woman took the bird, but in executing her princess's +orders, had compassion on King Beder's misfortune. "It would be +great pity," said she to herself, "to let a prince so worthy to +live die of hunger and thirst. The princess, who is good and +gentle, will, it may be, repent of this cruel order, when she +comes to herself; it were better that I carried him to a place +where he may die a natural death." She accordingly carried him to +a well-frequented island, and left him in a charming plain, +planted with all sorts of fruit- trees, and watered by divers +rivulets. + +Let us return to King Saleh. After he had sought for the princess +Jehaun-ara to no purpose, he caused the king of Samandal to be +shut up in his own palace, under a strong guard; and having given +the necessary orders for governing the kingdom in his absence, +returned to give the queen his mother an account of what he had +done. The first question he asked on his arrival was, "Where was +the king his nephew?" and he learned with great surprise and +vexation that he could not be found. "News being brought me," +said the queen, "of the danger you were in at the palace of the +king of Samandal, whilst I was giving orders to send you other +troops to avenge you, he disappeared. He must have been alarmed +at hearing of your being in such great danger, and did not think +himself in sufficient security with us." + +This news exceedingly afflicted King Saleh, who now repented +being so easily wrought upon by King Beder as to carry him away +with him without his mother's consent. He sent everywhere to seek +for him, but could hear no tidings of him; and instead of the joy +he felt at having carried on so far the marriage, which he looked +upon as his own work, his grief for this accident was more +mortifying. Whilst he was under this suspense about his nephew, +he left his kingdom under the administration of his mother, and +went to govern that of the king of Samandal, whom he continued to +keep with great vigilance, though with all due respect to his +character. + +The same day that King Saleh returned to the kingdom of Samandal, +Queen Gulnare arrived at the court of the queen her mother. The +princess was not at all surprised to find her son did not return +the same day he set out: it being not uncommon for him to go +farther than he proposed in the heat of the chase; but when she +saw he neither returned the next day, nor the day after, she +began to be alarmed, as may easily be imagined from her affection +for him. This alarm was augmented, when the officers, who had +accompanied the king, and were obliged to return after they had +for a long time sought in vain both for him and his uncle, came +and told her majesty they must of necessity have come to some +harm, or must be together in some place which they could not +guess; since, notwithstanding all the diligence they had used, +they could hear no tidings of them. Their horses indeed they had +found, but as for their persons, they knew not where to look for +them. The queen hearing this, had resolved to dissemble and +conceal her affliction, bidding the officers to search once more +with their utmost diligence; but in the meantime she plunged into +the sea, to satisfy herself as to the suspicion she had +entertained that king Saleh must have carried his nephew with +him. + +This great queen would have been more affectionately received by +her mother, had she not, on first seeing her, guessed the +occasion of her coming. "Daughter," said she, "I plainly perceive +you are not come hither to visit me; you come to inquire after +the king your son; and the only news I can tell you will augment +both your grief and mine. I no sooner saw him arrive in our +territories, than I rejoiced; yet when I came to understand he +had come away without your knowledge, I began to participate with +you the concern you must needs suffer." Then she related to her +with what zeal King Saleh went to demand the Princess Jehaun-ara +in marriage for King Beder, and what had happened, till her son +disappeared. "I have sought diligently after him," added she, +"and the king my son, who is but just gone to govern the kingdom +of Samandal, has done all that lay in his power. All our +endeavours have hitherto proved unsuccessful, but we must hope +nevertheless to see him again, perhaps when we least expect it." + +Queen Gulnare was not satisfied with this hope: she looked upon +the king her son as lost, and lamented him bitterly, laying all +the blame on the king his uncle. The queen her mother made her +consider the necessity of not yielding too much to grief. "The +king your brother," said she, "ought not, it is true, to have +talked to you so inconsiderately about that marriage, nor ever +have consented to carry away the king my grandson, without +acquainting you; yet, since it is not certain that the king of +Persia is absolutely lost, you ought to neglect nothing to +preserve his kingdom for him: lose then no more time, but return +to your capital; your presence there will be necessary, and it +will not be difficult for you to preserve the public peace, by +causing it to be published, that the king of Persia was gone to +visit his grandmother." + +This was sufficient to oblige Queen Gulnare to yield. She took +leave of the queen her mother, and returned to the palace of the +capital of Persia before she had been missed. She immediately +despatched persons to recall the officers she had sent after the +king, to tell them that she knew where his majesty was, and that +they should soon see him again. She also caused the same report +to be spread throughout the city, and governed, in concert with +the prime minister and council, with the same tranquillity as if +the king had been present. + +To return to King Beder, whom the Princess Jehaun-ara's +waiting-woman had left in the island before mentioned; that +monarch was not a little surprised when he found himself alone, +and under the form of a bird. He esteemed himself yet more +unhappy, in that he knew not where he was, or in what part of the +world the kingdom of Persia lay. But if he had known, and had +tried the force of his wings, to hazard the traversing so many +extensive watery regions, and had reached it, what could he have +gained, but the mortification to continue still in the same form, +and not to be accounted even a man, much less acknowledged king +of Persia? He was forced to remain where he was, live upon such +food as birds of his kind were wont to have, and to pass the +night on a tree. + +A few days afterwards, a peasant, skilled in taking birds with +nets, chanced to come to the place where he was; when perceiving +so fine a bird, the like of which he had never seen, though he +had followed that employment for a long while, he began greatly +to rejoice. He employed all his art to ensnare him; and at length +succeeded and took him. Overjoyed at so great a prize, which he +looked upon to be of more worth than all the other birds he +commonly took, he shut it up in a cage, and carried it to the +city. As soon as he was come into the market, a citizen stops +him, and asked how much he would have for his bird? + +Instead of answering, the peasant demanded of the citizen what he +would do with him in case he should buy him? "What wouldst thou +have me to do with him," answered the citizen, "but roast and eat +him?" "If that be the case," replied the peasant, "I suppose you +would think me very well paid, if you should give me the smallest +piece of silver for him. I set a much higher value upon him, and +you should not have him for a piece of gold. Although I am +advanced in years, I never saw such a bird in my life. I intend +to make a present of him to the king; he will know its value +better than you." + +Without staying any longer in the market, the peasant went +directly to the palace, and placed himself exactly before the +king's apartment. His majesty, being at a window where he could +see all that passed in the court, no sooner cast his eyes on this +beautiful bird, than he sent an officer of his eunuchs to buy it +for him. The officer going to the peasant, demanded of him how +much he would have for the bird? "If it be for his majesty," +answered the. peasant, "I humbly beg of him to accept it of me as +a present, and I desire you to carry it to him." The officer took +the bird to the king, who found it so great a rarity, that he +ordered the same officer to take ten pieces of gold, and carry +them to the peasant, who departed very well satisfied. The king +ordered the bird to be put into a magnificent cage, and gave it +corn and water in rich vessels. + +The king being then ready to mount on horseback to go a hunting, +had not time to consider the bird, therefore had it brought to +him as soon as he returned. The officer brought the cage, and the +king, that he might the better view the bird, took it out +himself; and perched it upon his hand. Looking earnestly upon it, +he demanded of the officer, if he had seen it eat. "Sir," replied +the officer, "your majesty may observe the vessel with his food +is still full, and I have not observed that he has touched any of +it." Then the king ordered him meat of divers sorts, that he +might take what he liked best. + +The table being spread, and dinner served up just as the king had +given these orders, as soon as the dishes were placed, the bird, +clapping his wings, leaped off the king's hand, flew upon the +table, where he began to peck the bread and victuals, sometimes +on one plate and sometimes on another. The king was so surprised +that he immediately sent the officer of the eunuchs to desire the +queen to come and see this wonder. The officer related it to her +majesty, and she came forthwith; but she no sooner saw the bird, +than she covered her face with her veil, and would have retired. +The king, surprised at her proceeding, as there was none present +in the chamber but the eunuchs and the women who attended her, +asked the reason of her conduct. + +"Sir," answered the queen, "your majesty will no longer be +surprised, when you understand, that this is not as you suppose a +bird, but a man." "Madam," said the king, more astonished than +before, "you mean to banter me; but you shall never persuade me +that a bird can be a man." "Sir," replied the queen, "far be it +from me to banter your majesty; nothing is more certain than what +I have had the honour to tell you. I can assure your majesty, it +is the king of Persia, named Beder, son of the celebrated +Gulnare, princess of one of the largest kingdoms of the sea, +nephew of Saleh, king of that kingdom, and grandson of Queen +Farasche, mother of Gulnare and Saleh; and it was the Princess +Jehaun-ara, daughter of the king of Samandal, who thus +metamorphosed him into a bird." That the king might no longer +doubt of what she affirmed, she told him the whole story, and +stated that the Princess Jehaun-ara had thus revenged herself for +the ill treatment which King Saleh had used towards the king of +Samandal her father. + +The king had the less difficulty to believe this assertion of the +queen, as he knew her to be a skilful magician. And as she knew +everything which passed in every part of the world, he was always +by her means timely informed of the designs of the kings his +neighbours against him, and prevented them. His majesty had +compassion on the king of Persia, and earnestly besought his +queen to break the enchantment, that he might return to his own +form. + +The queen consented with great willingness. "Sir," said she to +the king, "be pleased to take the bird into your closet, and I +will shew you a king worthy of the consideration you have for +him." The bird, which had ceased eating, and attended to what the +king and queen said, would not give his majesty the trouble to +take him, but hopped into the closet before him; and the queen +came in soon after, with a vessel full of water in her hand. She +pronounced over the vessel some words unknown to the king, till +the water began to boil; when she took some of it in her hand, +and sprinkling a little upon the bird, said, "By virtue of those +holy and mysterious words I have just pronounced, and in the name +of the Creator of heaven and earth, who raises the dead, and +supports the universe, quit the form of a bird, and re-assume +that received from thy Creator." + +The words were scarcely out of the queen's mouth, when, instead +of a bird, the king saw a young prince of good shape, air, and +mien. King Beder immediately fell on his knees, and thanked God +for the favour that had been bestowed upon him. He then took the +king's hand, who helped him up, and kissed it in token of +gratitude; but the king embraced him with great joy, and +testified to him the satisfaction he had to see him. He would +then have made his acknowledgments to the queen, but she was +already retired to her apartment. The king made him sit at the +table with him, and prayed him to relate how the Princess +Jehaun-ara could have the inhumanity to transform into a bird so +amiable a prince; and the king of Persia immediately satisfied +him. When he had ended, the king, provoked at the proceeding of +the princess, could not help blaming her. "It was commendable," +said he, "in the princess of Samandal not to be insensible of the +king her father's ill treatment; but to carry her vengeance so +far, and especially against a prince who was not culpable, was +what she could never be able to ,justify herself for. But let us +have done with this subject, and tell me, I beseech you, in what +I can farther serve you." + +"Sir," answered King Beder, "my obligation to your majesty is so +great, that I ought to remain with you all my life to testify my +gratitude; but since your majesty sets no limits to your +generosity, I entreat you to grant me one of your ships to +transport me to Persia, where I fear my absence, which has been +but too long, may have occasioned some disorder, and that the +queen my mother, from whom I concealed my departure, may be +distracted under the uncertainty whether I am alive or dead." + +The king readily granted what he desired, and immediately gave +orders for equipping one of his largest ships, and the best +sailors in his numerous fleet. The ship was soon furnished with +all its complement of men, provisions, and ammunition; and as +soon as the wind became fair, King Beder embarked, after having +taken leave of the king, and thanked him for all his favours. + +The ship sailed before the wind for ten days together, but on the +eleventh the wind changed, and there followed a furious tempest. +The ship was not only driven out of its course, but so violently +tossed, that all its masts were brought by the board; and driving +along at the pleasure of the wind, it at length struck against a +rock and bulged. + +The greatest part of the people were instantly drowned. Some few +were saved by swimming, and others by getting on pieces of the +wreck. King Beder was among the latter, when, after having been +tossed about for some time by the waves and torrents, under great +uncertainty of his fate, he at length perceived himself near the +shore, and not far from a city that seemed of great extent. He +exerted his remaining strength to reach the land, and was at +length so fortunate as to be able to touch the ground with his +feet. He immediately abandoned his piece of wood, which had been +of such great service to him; but when he came pretty near the +shore, was greatly surprised to see horses, camels, mules, asses, +oxen, cows, bulls, and other animals crowding to the shore, and +putting themselves in a posture to oppose his landing. He had the +utmost difficulty to conquer their obstinacy and force his way, +but at length he succeeded, and sheltered himself among the rocks +till he had recovered his breath, and dried his clothes in the +sun. + +When the prince advanced to enter the city, he met with the same +opposition from these animals, who seemed to intend to make him +forego his design, and give him to understand it was dangerous to +proceed. + +King Beder, however, entered the city, and saw many fair and +spacious streets, but was surprised to find no human beings. This +made him think it was not without cause that so many animals had +opposed his passage. Going forward, nevertheless, he observed +divers shops open, which gave him reason to believe the place was +not so destitute of inhabitants as he imagined. He approached one +of these shops, where several sorts of fruits were exposed for +sale, and saluted very courteously an old man who was sitting +within. + +The old man, who was busy about something, lifted up his head, +and seeing a youth who had an appearance of grandeur in his air, +started, asked him whence he came, and what business had brought +him there? King Beder satisfied him in a few words; and the old +man farther asked him if he had met anybody on the road? "You are +the first person I have seen," answered the king, "and I cannot +comprehend how so fine and large a city comes to be without +inhabitants." "Come in, sir; stay no longer upon the threshold," +replied the old man, "or peradventure some misfortune may happen +to you. I will satisfy your curiosity at leisure, and give you a +reason why it is necessary you should take this precaution." + +King Beder entered the shop, and sat down by the old man. The +latter, who had received from him an account of his misfortunes, +knew he must want nourishment, therefore immediately presented +him what was necessary to recover his strength; and although King +Beder was very earnest to know why he had taken the precaution to +make him enter the shop, he would nevertheless not be prevailed +upon to tell him anything till he had done eating, for fear the +sad things he had to relate might spoil his appetite. When he +found he ate no longer, he said to him, "You have great reason to +thank God that you got hither without any accident." "Alas! why?" +demanded King Beder, much surprised and alarmed. + +"Because," answered he, "this city is the City of Enchantments, +and is governed by a queen, who is not only one of the finest of +her sex, but likewise a notorious and dangerous sorceress. You +will be convinced of this," added he, "when you know that these +horses, mules, and other animals which you have seen, are so many +men, like ourselves, whom she has transformed by her diabolical +art. And when young men, like you, enter the city, she has +persons planted to stop and bring them, either by fair means or +force, before her. She receives them in the most obliging manner; +caresses them, regales them, lodges them magnificently, and gives +them so many reasons to believe that she loves them, that she +never fails of success. But she does not suffer them long to +enjoy this happiness. There is not one of them but she has +transformed into some animal or bird at the end of forty days. +You told me all these animals presented themselves to oppose your +landing, and hinder you entering the city. This was the only way +in which they could make you comprehend the danger you were going +to expose yourself to, and they did all in their power to prevent +you." + +This account exceedingly afflicted the young king of Persia: +"Alas!" cried he, "to what extremities has my ill fortune reduced +me! I am hardly freed from one enchantment, which I look back +upon with horror, but I find myself exposed to another much more +terrible." This gave him occasion to relate his story to the old +man more at length, and to acquaint him of his birth, quality, +his passion for the princess of Samandal, .and her cruelty in +changing him into a bird the very moment he had seen her and +declared his love to her. + +When the prince came to speak of his good fortune in finding a +queen who broke the enchantment, the old man to encourage him +said, "Notwithstanding all I have told you of the magic queen is +true, that ought not to give you the least disquiet, since I am +generally beloved throughout the city, and am not unknown to the +queen herself, who has much respect for me; therefore it was your +peculiar good fortune which led you to address yourself to me +rather than to anyone else. You are secure in my house, where I +advise you to continue, if you think fit; and, provided you .do +not stray from hence, I dare assure you, you will have no just +cause to complain of my insincerity." + +King Beder thanked the old man for his kind reception, and the +protection he was pleased so readily to afford him. He sat down +at the entrance of the shop, where he no sooner appeared, but his +youth and good person attracted the eyes of all who passed that +way. Many stopped and complimented the old man on his having +acquired so fine a slave, as they imagined the king to be; and +they were the more surprised as they could not comprehend how so +beautiful a youth could escape the queen's knowledge. "Believe +not," said the old man, "this is a slave: you all know that I am +not rich enough nor of rank to have one of this consequence. He +is my nephew, son of a brother of mine who is dead; and as I had +no children of my own, I sent for him to keep me company." They +congratulated his good fortune in having so fine a young man for +his relation; but could not help telling him they feared the +queen would take him from him. "You know her well," said they to +him, "and you cannot be ignorant of the danger to which you are +exposed, after all the examples you have seen. How grieved would +you be if she should serve him as she has done so many others +whom we knew." + +"I am obliged to you," replied the old man, "for your good will +towards me, and I heartily thank you for the care you seem to +take of my interest; but I shall never entertain the least +thought that the queen will do me any injury, after all the +kindness she has professed for me. In case she happens to hear of +this young man, and speaks to me about him, I doubt not she will +cease to think of him, as soon as she comes to know he is my +nephew." + +The old man was exceedingly glad to hear the commendations they +bestowed on the young king of Persia. He was as much affected +with them as if he had been his own son, and he conceived a +kindness for him, which augmented every day during the stay he +made with him. + +They had lived about a month together, when, as King Beder was +sitting at the shop-door, after his ordinary manner, Queen Labe +(so was this magic queen named) happened to come by with great +pomp. The young king no sooner perceived the guards advancing +before her, than he arose, and going into the shop, asked the old +man what all that show meant. "The queen is coming by," answered +he, "but stand still and fear nothing." + +The queen's guards, clothed in purple uniform, and well armed and +mounted, marched to the number of a thousand in four files, with +their sabres drawn, and every one of their officers, as they +passed by the shop, saluted the old man. Then followed a like +number of eunuchs, habited in brocaded silk, and better mounted, +whose officers did the old man the like honour. Next came as many +young ladies on foot, equally beautiful, richly dressed, and +ornamented with precious stones. They marched gravely, with half +pikes in their hands; and in the midst of them appeared Queen +Labe, on a horse glittering with diamonds, with a golden saddle, +and a housing of inestimable value. All the young ladies saluted +the old man as they passed him; and the queen, struck with the +good mien of King Beder, stopped as soon as she came before the +shop. "Abdallah," (so was the old man named) said she to him, +"tell me, I beseech thee, does that beautiful and charming slave +belong to thee? and hast thou long been in possession of him?" + +Abdallah, before he answered the queen, threw himself on the +ground, and rising again, said, "Madam, he is my nephew, son of a +brother, who has not long been dead. Having no children, I look +upon him as my son, and sent for him to come and comfort me, +intending to leave him what I have when I die." + +Queen Labe, who had never yet seen any one to compare with King +Beder, began to conceive a passion for him, and thought +immediately of getting the old man to abandon him to her. +"Father," said she, "will you not oblige me so far as to make me +a present of this young man? Do not refuse me, I conjure you; and +I swear by the fire and the light, I will make him so great and +powerful, that no individual in the world ever arrived at such +good fortune. Although my purpose be to do evil to all mankind, +he shall be an exception. I trust you will grant me what I +desire, more on account of the friendship I am assured you have +for me, than for the esteem you know I always had, and shall ever +have for you." + +"Madam," replied the good Abdallah, "I am infinitely obliged to +your majesty for all the kind- ness you have for me, and the +honours you propose to do my nephew. He is not worthy to approach +so great a queen, and I humbly beseech your majesty to excuse +him." + +"Abdallah," replied the queen, "I all along flattered myself you +loved me, and I could never have thought you would have shewn me +so much disrespect as to slight my request. But I here swear once +more by the fire and light, and even by whatsoever is most sacred +in my religion, that I will pass on no farther till I have +conquered your obstinacy. I understand well what raises your +apprehensions; but I promise, you shall never have any occasion +to repent having obliged me in so sensible a manner." + +Old Abdallah was exceeding grieved, both on his own account and +King Beder's, at being in a manner forced to obey the queen. +"Madam," replied he, "I would not willingly have your majesty +entertain an ill opinion of the respect I have for you, and my +zeal always to contribute whatever I can to oblige you. I put +entire confidence in your royal word, and I do not in the least +doubt you will keep it. I only beg of your majesty, to delay +doing this great honour to my nephew till you shall again pass +this way." "That shall be to-morrow," said the queen; who +inclined her head, as a token of her being pleased, and so went +forward towards her palace. + +When queen Labe and all her attendants were out of sight, the +good Abdallah said to King Beder, "Son" (for so he was wont to +call him, for fear of some time or other discovering him when he +spoke of him in public), "it has not been in my power, as you may +have observed, to refuse the queen what she demanded of me with +so much earnestness, to the end I might not force her to employ +her magic against both you and myself openly or secretly, and +treat you as much from resentment to you as to me with more +signal cruelty than all those she has had in her power, as I have +already told you. But I have some reason to believe she will use +you well, as she promised me, on account of that particular +esteem she professes for me. This you may have seen by the +respect shewn, and the honours paid, me by all her court. She +would be a vile creature indeed, if she should deceive me; but +she shall not deceive me unpunished, for I know how to revenge +myself." + +These assurances, which appeared very doubtful, were not +sufficient to support King Beder's spirits. "After all you have +told me of this queen's wickedness," replied he, "you cannot +wonder if I am somewhat fearful to approach her: I should, it may +be, slight all you could tell me of her, and suffer myself to be +dazzled by the lustre of grandeur that surrounds her, did I not +know by experience what it is to be at the mercy of a sorceress. +The condition I was in, through the enchantment of the Princess +Jehaun-ara, and from which I was delivered only to fall almost +immediately into the power of another, has made me look upon such +a fate with horror." His tears hindered him from going on, and +sufficiently shewed with what repugnance he beheld himself under +the fatal necessity of being delivered to queen Labe. + +"Son," replied old Abdallah, "do not afflict yourself; for though +I must own, there is no great stress to be laid upon the promises +and oaths of so perfidious a queen, yet I must withal acquaint +you, her power extends not to me. She knows this full well; and +that is the reason, and no other, why she pays me so much +respect. I can quickly hinder her from doing you the least harm, +if she should be perfidious enough to attempt it. You may depend +upon me, and, provided you follow exactly the advice I shall give +you, before I abandon you to her, she shall have no more power +over you than she has over myself." + +The magic queen did not fail to pass by the old man's shop the +next day, with the same pomp as the preceding, and Abdallah +waited for her with great respect. "Father," cried she, "you may +judge of my impatience to have your nephew with me, by my +punctually coming to remind you of your promise. I know you are a +man of your word, and I cannot think you will break it with me." + +Abdallah, who fell on his face as soon as he saw the queen +approaching, rose up when she had done speaking; and as he would +have no one hear what he had to say to her, he advanced with +great respect as far as her horse's head, and then said softly, +"Puissant queen! I am persuaded your majesty will not be offended +at my seeming unwillingness to trust my nephew with you +yesterday, since you cannot be ignorant of the reasons I had for +it; but I conjure you to lay aside the secrets of that art which +you possess in so wonderful a degree. I regard my nephew as my +own son; and your majesty would reduce me to despair, if you +should deal with him as you have done with others." + +"I promise you I will not," replied the queen; "and I once more +repeat the oath I made yesterday, that neither you nor your +nephew shall have any cause to be offended at me. I see plainly," +added she, "you are not yet well enough acquainted with me; you +never saw me yet but through my veil; but as I find your nephew +deserving of my friendship, I will shew you I am not any ways +unworthy of his." With that she threw off her veil, and +discovered to King Beder, who came near her with Abdallah, an +incomparable beauty. But King Beder was little charmed: "It is +not enough," said he within himself, "to be beautiful; one's +actions ought to correspond in regularity with one's features." + +Whilst King Beder was making these reflections with his eyes +fixed on queen Labe, the old man turned towards him, and taking +him by the arm, presented him to her: "Madam," said he, "I beg of +your majesty once more to remember he is my nephew, and to let +him come and see me sometimes." The queen promised he should; and +to give a further mark of her gratitude, she caused a bag of a +thousand pieces of gold to be given him. He excused himself at +first from receiving them, but she insisted absolutely upon it, +and he could not refuse. She had caused a horse to be brought as +richly caparisoned as her own, for the king of Persia. Whilst he +was mounting, "I forgot," said the queen to Abdallah, "to ask you +your nephew's name; pray how is he called?" He answering his name +was Beder (the full moon), her majesty replied, "Surely your +ancestors were mistaken, they ought to have given you the name of +Shems (the sun)." + +When King Beder was mounted, he would have taken his station +behind the queen, but she would not suffer him, and made him ride +on her left hand. She looked at Abdallah, and after having made +him an inclination with her head, departed. + +Instead of observing a satisfaction in the people's faces, at the +sight of their sovereign, King Beder took notice that they looked +at her with contempt, and even cursed her. "The sorceress," said +some, "has got a new subject to exercise her wickedness upon; +will heaven never deliver the world from her tyranny?" "Poor +stranger!" exclaimed others, "thou art much deceived, if thou +thinkest thy happiness will last long. It is only to render thy +fall more terrible, that thou art raised so high." These +exclamations gave King Beder to understand Abdallah had told him +nothing but the truth of Queen Labe; but as it now depended no +longer on himself to escape the mischief, he committed himself to +the will of heaven. + +The magic queen arrived at her palace, immediately alighted, and +giving her hand to King Beder, entered with him, accompanied by +her women and the officers of her eunuchs. She herself shewed him +all her apartments, where there was nothing to be seen but +massive gold, precious stones, and furniture of wonderful +magnificence. When she had carried him into her closet, she led +him out into a balcony, from whence he observed a garden of +surprising beauty. King Beder commended all he saw, but +nevertheless so that he might not be discovered to be any other +than old Abdallah's nephew. They discoursed of indifferent +matters, till the queen was informed that dinner was served. + +The queen and King Beder arose, and went to place themselves at +the table, which was of massive gold, and the dishes of the same +metal. They began to eat, but drank hardly at all till the +dessert came, when the queen caused a cup to be filled for her +with excellent wine. She took it and drank to King Beder's +health; then without putting it out of her hand, caused it to be +filled again, and presented it to him. King Beder received it +with profound respect, and by a very low bow signified to her +majesty that he in return drank to her health. + +At the same time, ten of Queen Labe's women entered with musical +instruments, with which and their voices they made an agreeable +concert, while they continued drinking till late at night. At +length both began so to be heated with wine; that King Beder +insensibly forgot he had to do with a magic queen, and looked +upon her only as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. As +soon as the queen perceived she had wrought him to the pitch she +desired, she made a sign to her eunuchs and women to retire. + +Next morning the queen and King Beder went to the bath; the women +who had served the king there, presented him with fine linen and +a magnificent habit. The queen likewise, who was more splendidly +dressed than the day before, came to receive him, and they went +together to her apartments, where they had a repast brought them, +and spent the remainder of the day in walking in the garden and +in various other amusements. + +Queen Labe treated King Beder after this manner for forty days, +as she had been accustomed to do all her lovers. The fortieth +night, as they were in bed together, she, believing he was really +asleep, arose without making any noise; but he was awake, and +perceiving she had some design upon him watched all her motions. +Being up, she opened a chest, from whence she took a little box +full of a yellow powder; taking some of the powder, she Iaid a +train of it across the chamber, and it immediately flowed in a +rivulet of water, to the great astonishment of King Beder. He +trembled with fear, but still pretended to sleep. + +Queen Labe next took up some of the water in a vessel, poured it +into a basin that contained some flour; with which she made a +paste, and kneaded it for a long time: then she mixed with it +certain drugs which she took from different boxes, and made a +cake, which she put into a covered baking-pan. As she had taken +care first of all to make a good fire, she took some of the +coals, and set the pan upon them; and while the cake was baking, +she put up the vessels and boxes in their places again; and on +her pronouncing certain words, the rivulet disappeared. When the +cake was baked, she took it off the coals, carried it into her +closet, and afterwards returned to King Beder, who dissembled so +well, that she had not the least suspicion of his having seen +what she had done. + +King Beder, whom the pleasures and amusements of a court had made +to forget his good host Abdallah, began now to think of him +again, and believed he had more than ordinary occasion for his +advice, after all he had seen the queen do that night. As soon as +he was up, therefore, he expressed a great desire to go and see +his uncle, and begged of her majesty to permit him. "What! my +dear Beder," cried the queen, "are you then already tired, I will +not say with living in so superb a palace as mine is, where you +must find so many pleasures, but with the company of a queen, who +loves you so passionately as I do, and has given you so many +marks of affection?" + +"Great queen!" answered king Beder, "how can I be tired of so +many favours and graces as your majesty perpetually heaps upon +me? So far from it, I desire this permission, madam, purely to go +and give my uncle an account of the mighty obligations I have to +your majesty. I must own, likewise, that my uncle loving me so +tenderly, as I well know he does, having been absent from him now +forty days, I would not give him reason to think, that I consent +to remain longer without seeing him." "Go," said the queen, "you +have my consent; but you will not be long before you return, if +you consider I cannot possibly live without you." This said, she +ordered him a horse richly caparisoned, and he departed. + +Old Abdallah was overjoyed to see king Beder. Without regard to +his quality, he embraced him tenderly, and King Beder returned +his embrace, that nobody might doubt but that he was his nephew. +As soon as they were sat down, "well," said Abdallah to the king, +"and how have you passed your time with that abominable +sorceress" + +"Hitherto," answered King Beder, "I must needs own she has been +extraordinarily kind to me, and has done all she could to +persuade me that she loves me faithfully; but I observed +something last night, which gives me just reason to suspect that +all her kindness was but dissimulation. Whilst she thought me +asleep, although I was really awake, she stole from me with a +great deal of precaution, which made me suspect her intention, +and therefore I resolved to watch her, still feigning myself +asleep." He then related to Abdallah in what manner he had seen +her make the cake; and then added, "Hitherto," said he, "I must +needs confess, I had almost forgotten, not only you, but all the +advice you gave me concerning the wickedness of this queen; but +this last action of hers gives me reason to fear she intends to +observe none of her promises or solemn oaths .to you. I thought +of you immediately, and I esteem myself happy that I have +obtained permission to come to you." + +"You are not mistaken," replied old Abdallah with a smile, which +showed he did not himself believe she would have acted otherwise; +"nothing is capable of obliging a perfidious woman to amend. But +fear nothing. I know how to make the mischief she intends you +fall upon herself. You are alarmed in time; and you could not +have done better than to have recourse to me. It is her ordinary +practice to keep her lovers only forty days; and after that time, +instead of seeding them home, to turn them into animals, to stock +her forests and parks; but I thought of measures yesterday to +prevent her doing you the same harm. The earth has borne this +monster long enough, and it is now high time she should be +treated as she deserves." + +So saying, Abdallah put two cakes into king Beder's hands, +bidding him keep them to be used as he should direct. "You told +me," continued he, "the sorceress made a cake last night; it was +for you to eat; but do not touch it. Nevertheless, do not refuse +to receive it, when she offers it you; but instead of tasting it, +break off part of one of the two I shall give you, unobserved, +and eat that. As soon as she thinks you have swallowed it, she +will not fail to attempt transforming you into some animal, but +she shall not succeed; when she sees that she has failed, she +will immediately turn her proceeding into pleasantry, as if what +she had done was only out of joke to frighten you; but she will +conceal a mortal grief in her heart, and think she has omitted +something in the composition of her cake. As for the other cake, +you shall make a present of it to her, and press her to eat it; +which she will not refuse to do, were it only to convince you she +does not mistrust you, though she has given you so much reason to +mistrust her. When she has eaten of it, take a little water in +the hollow of your hand, and throwing it in her face, say, "Quit +that form you now wear, and take that of such or such animal," as +you shall think fit; which done, come to me with the animal, and +I will tell you what you shall do afterwards." + +King Beder expressed to Abdallah, in the warmest terms, his great +obligations to him, for his endeavours to defend him from the +power of a pestilent sorceress; and after some further +conversation took his leave of him, and returned to the palace. +Upon his arrival, he understood that the queen waited for him +with great impatience in the garden. He went to her, and she no +sooner perceived him, than she came in great haste to meet him. +"My dear Beder!" exclaimed she, "it is said, with a great deal of +reason, that nothing more forcibly shews the excess of love than +absence from the object beloved. I have had no quiet since I saw +you, and it seems ages since I have been separated from you. If +you had stayed ever so little longer, I was preparing to come and +fetch you once more to my arms." + +"Madam," replied king Beder, "I can assure your majesty, I was no +less impatient to rejoin you; but I could not refuse to stay with +an uncle who loves me, and had not seen me for so long a time. He +would have kept me still longer, but I tore myself away from him, +to come where love calls me. Of all the collations he prepared +for me, I have only brought away this cake, which I desire your +majesty to accept." King Beder, having wrapped up one of the two +cakes in a handkerchief, took it out, and presented it to the +queen, saying, "I beg your majesty to accept of it." + +"I do accept it with all my heart," replied the queen, receiving +it, "and will eat it with pleasure for yours and your good +uncle's sake; but before I taste of it, I desire you will, for my +sake, eat a piece of this, which I have made for you during your +absence." "Fair queen," answered king Beder, receiving it with +great respect, "such hands as your majesty's can never make +anything but what is excellent, and I cannot sufficiently +acknowledge the favour you do me." + +King Beder then artfully substituted in the place of the queen's +cake the other which old Abdallah had given him, and having +broken off a piece, he put it in his mouth, and cried, while he +was eating, "Ah! queen, I never tasted anything so excellent in +my life." They being near a cascade, the sorceress seeing him +swallow one bit of the cake, and ready to eat another, took a +little water in the palm of her hand, and throwing it in the +king's face, said, "Wretch! quit that form ofa man, and take that +of a vile horse, blind and lame." + +These words not having the desired effect, the sorceress was +strangely surprised to find King Beder still in the same form, +and that he only started for fear. Her cheeks reddened; and as +she saw that she had missed her aim, "Dear Beder," cried she, +"this is nothing; recover yourself. I did not intend you any +harm; I only did it to see what you would say. I should be the +most miserable and most execrable of women, should I attempt so +black a deed; not only on account of all the oaths I have sworn, +but also of the many testimonies of love I have given you." + +"Puissant queen," replied King Beder, "persuaded as I am, that +what your majesty did was only to divert yourself, I could not +help being surprised. What could hinder me from being a little +moved at the pronouncing of so strange a transformation? But, +madam," continued he, "let us drop this discourse; and since I +have eaten of your cake, would you do me the favour to taste +mine?" + +Queen Labe, who could not better justify herself than by showing +this mark of confidence in the king of Persia, broke off a piece +of his cake and ate it. She had no sooner swallowed it than she +appeared much troubled, and remained as it were motionless. King +Beder lost no time, but took water out of the same basin, and +throwing it in her face, cried, "Abominable sorceress ! quit the +form of woman, and be turned instantly into a mare." + +The same moment, Queen Labe was transformed into a very beautiful +mare; and her confusion was so great to find herself in that +condition, that she shed tears in great abundance. She bowed her +head to the feet of King Beder, thinking to move him to +compassion; but though he could have been so moved, it was +absolutely out of his power to repair the mischief he had done. +He led her into the stable belonging to the palace, and put her +into the hands of a groom, to bridle and saddle; but of all the +bridles which the groom tried upon her, not one would fit. This +made him cause two horses to be saddled, one for the groom and +the other for himself; and the groom led the mare after him to +old Abdallah's. + +Abdallah seeing at a distance King Beder coming with the mare, +doubted not but he had done what he had advised him. "Cursed +sorceress!" said he immediately to himself in a transport of joy, +"heaven has at length punished thee as thou deservest." King +Beder alighted at Abdallah's door and entered with him into the +shop, embracing and thanking him for all the signal services he +had done him. He related to him the whole matter, with all its +circumstances, and moreover told him, he could find no bridle fit +for the mare. Abdallah bridled the mare himself, and as soon as +King Beder had sent back the groom with the two horses, he said +to him, "My lord, you have no reason to stay any longer in this +city: mount the mare, and return to your kingdom. I have but one +thing more to recommend to you; and that is, if you should ever +happen to part with the mare, be sure not to give up the bridle." +King Beder promised to remember this; and having taken leave of +the good old man, he departed. + +The young king of Persia had no sooner got out of the city, than +he began to reflect with joy on his deliverance, and that he had +the sorceress in his power, who had given him so much cause to +tremble. Three days after he arrived at a great city, where, +entering the suburbs, he met a venerable old man, walking towards +a pleasure- house. "Sir," said the old man, stopping him, "may I +presume to ask from what part of the world you come?" The king +halted to satisfy him, and as they were conversing together, an +old woman came up; who, stopping likewise, wept and sighed +heavily at the sight of the mare. + +King Beder and the old man left off discoursing, to look at the +old woman, whom the king asked, what cause she had to be so much +afflicted? "Alas ! sir," replied she, "it is because your mare +resembles so perfectly one my son had, and which I still mourn +the loss of on his account, and should think yours were the same, +did I not know she was dead. Sell her to me, I beseech you; I +will give you more than she is worth and thank you too.' + +"Good woman," replied King Beder, "I am heartily sorry I cannot +comply with your request: my mare is not to be sold." "Alas! +sir," continued the old woman, "do not refuse me this favour for +the love of God. My son and I shall certainly die with grief, if +you do not grant it." "Good mother," replied the king, "I would +grant it with all my heart, if I were disposed to part with so +good a beast; but if I were so disposed, I believe you would +hardly give a thousand pieces of gold for her, and I could not +sell her for less." "Why should I not give so much?" replied the +old woman: "if that be the lowest price, you need only say you +will take it, and I will fetch you the money." + +King Beder, seeing the old woman so poorly dressed, could not +imagine she could find such a sum; and said, to try her, "Go, +fetch me the money, and the mare is yours." The old woman +immediately unloosed a purse she carried fastened to her girdle, +and desiring him to alight, bade him tell over the money, and in +case he found it came short of the sum demanded, she said her +house was not far off; and she could quickly fetch the rest. + +The surprise of King Beder, at the sight of the purse, was not +small. "Good woman," said he, "do you not perceive I have +bantered you all this while? I assure you my mare is not to be +sold." + +The old man, who had been witness to all that had passed, now +began to speak. "Son," said he to King Beder, "it is necessary +you should know one thing, which I find you are ignorant of; and +that is, that in this city it is not permitted to any one to tell +a lie, on any account whatsoever, on pain of death. You cannot +refuse taking this good woman's money, and delivering your mare, +when she gives you the sum according to the agreement; and this +you had better do without any noise, than expose yourself to what +may ensue." + +King Beder, mortified to find himself thus trapped by his rash +proffer, alighted with great regret. The old woman stood ready to +seize the reins, immediately unbridled the mare, and taking some +water in her hand, from a stream that ran in the middle of the +street, threw it in the mare's face, uttering these words, +"Daughter, quit that strange shape, and re-assume thy own." The +transformation was effected in a moment, and king Beder, who +swooned as soon as he saw Queen Labe appear, would have fallen to +the ground, if the old man had not hindered him. + +The old woman, who was the mother of queen Labe, and had +instructed her in all her magic secrets, had no sooner embraced +her daughter, than to shew her fury, she in an instant by +whistling, caused to rise a genie of a gigantic form and stature. +This genie immediately took King Beder on one shoulder, and the +old woman with the magic queen on the other, and transported them +in a few minutes to the palace of Queen Labe in the City of +Enchantments. + +The magic queen immediately fell upon King Beder, reproaching him +violently. "Is it thus," said she, "ungrateful wretch! that thy +unworthy uncle and thou repay me for all the kindnesses I have +done you? I shall soon make you both feel what you deserve." She +said no more, but taking water in her hand, threw it in his face +with these words, "Quit the form of man, and take that of an +owl." These words were soon followed by the effect, and +immediately she commanded one of her women to shut up the owl in +a cage, and give him neither meat nor drink. + +The woman took the cage, but without regarding what the queen had +ordered, gave him both meat and drink; and being old Abdallah's +friend, sent him word privately how the queen had treated his +nephew, and apprised him of her design to destroy both him and +King Beder, that he might take measures to prevent her +intentions, and secure himself. + +Abdallah knew no common means would do with Queen Labe: he +therefore whistled in a peculiar manner, and there immediately +arose a giant, with four wings, who presenting himself before +him, asked what he would have?" Lightning," said Abdallah to him +(for so was the genie called), "I command you to preserve the +life of King Beder, son of Queen Gulnare. Go to the palace of the +magic queen, and transport immediately to the capital of Persia +the compassionate woman who has the cage in custody, to the end +she may inform Queen Gulnare of the danger the king her son is +in, and the occasion he has for her assistance. Take care not to +frighten her when you come before her, and acquaint her from me +what she ought to do." + +Lightning immediately disappeared, and in an instant reached the +palace of the magic queen. He instructed the woman, lifted her up +into the air, and transported her to the capital of Persia, where +he placed her on the terrace of Gulnare's palace. She descended +into her apartment, and there found Queen Gulnare and Queen +Farasche her mother lamenting their mutual misfortunes. She made +them a profound reverence, and by the relation she gave them, +they soon understood the great need King Beder had of their +assistance. + +Queen Gulnare was so overjoyed at the news, that rising from her +seat, she went and embraced the good woman, telling her how much +she was obliged to her for the service she had done her. Then +going immediately out, she commanded the trumpets to sound, and +the drums to beat, to acquaint the city, that the king of Persia +would suddenly return safe to his kingdom. She then went, and +found King Saleh her brother, whom Farasche had caused to come +speedily thither by a certain fumigation. "Brother," said she to +him, "the king your nephew, my dear son, is in the City of +Enchantments, under the power of Queen Labe. Both you and I must +go to deliver him, for there is no time to be lost." + +King Saleh forthwith assembled a puissant body of his marine +troops, who soon rose out of the sea. He also called to his +assistance the genii his allies, who appeared with a much more +numerous army than his own. As soon as the two armies were +joined, he put himself at the head of them, with Queen Farasche, +Queen Gulnare, and the princesses, who would all have their share +in this enterprize. They then ascended into the air, and soon +poured down on the palace and City of Enchantments, where the +magic queen, her mother, and all the adorers of fire, were +destroyed in an instant. + +Queen Gulnare had ordered the woman who brought the account of +queen Labe's transforming and imprisoning her son, to follow her +close, and bade her, in the confusion, go and seize the cage, and +bring it to her. This order was executed as she wished, and queen +Gulnare was no sooner in possession of the cage, than she opened +it, and took out the owl, saying, as she sprinkled a little water +upon him, "My dear son, quit that strange form, and resume thy +natural one of a man." + +In a moment Queen Gulnare, instead of the hideous owl, beheld +King Beder her son. She immediately embraced him with an excess +of joy, her tears supplying more forcibly the place of words. She +could not let him go; and Queen Farasche was obliged to force him +from her in her turn. After her, he was likewise embraced by the +king his uncle and his relations. + +Queen Gulnare's first care was to look out for old Abdallah, to +whom she had been obliged for the recovery of the king of Persia; +and who being brought to her, she said to him, "My obligations to +you have been so great, that there is nothing within my power but +I would freely do for you, as a token of my acknowledgment. Do +but inform me in what I can serve you." "Great queen," replied +Abdallah, "if the lady whom I sent to your majesty will but +consent to the marriage I offer her, and the king of Persia will +give me leave to reside at his court, I will spend the remainder +of my days in his service." The queen then turned to the lady who +was present, and finding by her modest shame that she was not +averse to the match proposed, she caused them to join hands, and +the king of Persia and she took care of their fortune. + +This marriage occasioned the king of Persia to speak thus to the +queen: "Madam," said he, "I am heartily glad of this match which +your majesty has just made. There remains one more, which I +desire you to think of." Queen Gulnare did not at first +comprehend what marriage he meant; but after a little +considering, she said, "Of yours, you mean, son. I consent to it +with all my heart." Then turning, and looking at her brother's +sea attendants, and the genii who were still present, "Go," said +she, "and traverse both sea and land, to seek the most lovely and +amiable princess, worthy of the king my son, and when you have +found her, come and tell us." + +"Madam," replied king Beder, "it is to no purpose for them to +take all that trouble. You have no doubt heard that I have +already given my heart to the princess of Samandal upon the bare +relation of her beauty. I have seen her, and do not repent of the +present I then made her. In a word, neither earth nor sea, in my +opinion, can furnish a princess like her. It is true upon my +declaring my love, she treated me in a way that would have +extinguished any flame less strong than mine. But I hold her +excused; she could not treat me with less rigour, after your +imprisoning the king her father, of which I was the innocent +cause. But the king of Samandal may, perhaps, have changed his +resolution; and his daughter the princess may consent to love me, +when she sees her father has agreed to it." + +"Son," replied queen Gulnare, "if only the Princess Jehaun-ara +can make you happy, it is not my design to oppose you. The king +your uncle need only have the king of Samandal brought, and we +shall see whether he be still of the same untractable temper." + +Strictly as the king of Samandal had been kept during his +captivity by King Saleh's orders, yet he always had great respect +shewn him. King Saleh caused a chafing-dish of coals to be +brought, into which he threw a certain composition, uttering at +the same time some mysterious words. As soon as the smoke began +to arise, the palace shook, and immediately the king of Samandal, +with King Saleh's officers, appeared. The king of Persia cast +himself at the king of Samandal's feet, and, kneeling, said, "It +is no longer King Saleh that demands of your majesty the honour +of your alliance for the king of Persia; it is the king of Persia +himself that humbly begs that boon; and I persuade myself your +majesty will not persist in being the cause of the death of a +king, who can no longer live if he does not share life with the +amiable Princess Jehaun-ara." + +The king of Samandal did not long suffer the king of Persia to +remain at his feet. He embraced him, and obliging him to rise, +said, "I shall be sorry to have contributed in the least to the +death of a monarch who is so worthy to live. If it be true that +so precious a life cannot be preserved without the possession of +my daughter, live, sir, she is yours. She has always been +obedient to my will, and I cannot think she will now oppose it." +Speaking these words, he ordered one of his officers, whom King +Saleh had permitted to attend him, to go for the princess, and +bring her to him immediately. + +The princess continued where the king of Persia had left her. The +officer perceived her, and brought her soon with her women. The +king of Samandal embraced her, and said, "Daughter, I have +provided a husband for you; it is the king of Persia, the most +accomplished monarch at present in the universe. The preference +he has given you over all other princesses obliges us both to +express our gratitude." + +"Sir," replied the princess Jehaun-ara, "your majesty well knows +I never have presumed to disobey your will: I shall always be +ready to obey you; and I hope the king of Persia will forget my +ill treatment of him, and consider it was duty, not inclination, +that forced me to it." + +The nuptials were celebrated in the palace of the City of +Enchantments, with the greatest solemnity, as all the lovers of +the magic queen, who had resumed their pristine forms as soon as +she ceased to live, assisted at them, and came to return their +thanks to the king of Persia, Queen Gulnare, and King Saleh. They +were all sons of kings, princes, or persons of high rank. + +King Saleh conducted the king of Samandal to his dominions, and +put him again in possession of his throne. The king of Persia, at +the height of his wishes, returned to his capital with Queen +Gulnare, Queen Farasche, and the princesses; the Queen Farasche +and the princesses continued there till King Saleh came to +reconduct them to his kingdom under the waves of the sea. + + + + + + THE HISTORY OF PRINCE ZEYN ALASNAM AND + THE SULTAN OF THE GENII. + + + +A sultan of Bussorah, who possessed great wealth, and was well +beloved by his subjects, had no children, which occasioned him +great affliction; and therefore he made presents to all the holy +persons in his dominions, to engage them to beg a son for him of +Heaven: and their prayers being effectual, the queen proved with +child, and was happily delivered of a prince who was named Zeyn +Alasnam, which signifies Ornament of the Statues. + +The sultan caused all the astrologers in his kingdom to be +assembled, and ordered them to calculate the infant's nativity. +They found by their observations that he would live long, and be +very brave; but that all his courage would be little enough to +carry him through the misfortunes that threatened him. The +sultan was not daunted at this prediction: "My son," said he, "is +not to be pitied, since he will be brave: it is fit that princes +should have a taste of misfortunes; for adversity tries virtue, +and they are the better qualified to reign." + +He rewarded the astrologers, and dismissed them; and caused Zeyn +to be educated with the greatest care, appointing him able +masters as soon as he was of age to receive their instructions. +In short, he proposed to make him an accomplished prince, when on +a sudden this good sultan fell sick of a disorder, which all the +skill of his physicians could not cure. Perceiving his disease +was mortal, he sent for his son, and among other things advised +him rather to endeavour to be loved, than to be feared by his +people; not to give ear to flatterers; to be as slow in rewarding +as in punishing, because it often happens that monarchs misled by +false appearances, load wicked men with favours, and oppress the +innocent. + +As soon as the sultan was dead, prince Zeyn went into mourning, +which he wore seven days, and on the eighth he ascended the +throne, taking his father's seal off the royal treasury, and +putting on his own, beginning thus to taste the sweets of ruling, +the pleasure of seeing all his courtiers bow down before him, and +make it their whole study to shew their zeal and obedience. In a +word, the sovereign power was too agreeable to him. He only +regarded what his subjects owed to him, without considering what +was his duty towards them, and consequently took little care to +govern them well. He revelled in all sorts of debauchery among +the voluptuous youth, on whom he conferred the prime employments +in the kingdom. He lost all command of his power. Being +naturally prodigal, he set no bounds to his grants, so that his +women and his favourites insensibly drained his treasury. + +The queen his mother was still living, a discreet, wise princess. +She had several times unsuccessfully tried to check her son's +prodigality and debauchery, giving him to understand, that, if he +did not soon take another course, he would not only squander his +wealth, but also alienate the minds of his people, and occasion +some revolution, which perhaps might cost him his crown and his +life. What she had predicted had nearly happened: the people +began to murmur against the government, and their murmurs had +certainly been followed by a general revolt, had not the queen +had the address to prevent it. That princess being acquainted +with the ill posture of affairs, informed the sultan, who at last +suffered himself to be prevailed upon. He committed the +government to discreet aged men, who knew how to keep the people +within the bounds of duty. + +Zeyn, seeing all his wealth consumed, repented that he had made +no better use of it. He fell into a profound melancholy, and +nothing could comfort him. One night he saw in a dream a +venerable old man coming towards him, who with a smiling +countenance said, "Know, Zeyn, that there is no sorrow but what +is followed by mirth, no misfortune but what in the end brings +some happiness. If you desire to see the end of your affliction, +set out for Egypt, go to Grand Cairo, where great prosperity +awaits you." + +The young sultan was struck with his dream, and spoke of it very +seriously to his mother, who only laughed at it. "My son," said +she to him, "would you go into Egypt on the faith of an illusive +dream?" "Why not, madam," answered Zeyn, "do you imagine all +dreams are chimerical? No, no, some of them are mysterious. My +preceptors have told me a thousand incidents, which will not +permit me to doubt of it. Besides, though I were not otherwise +convinced, I could not forbear giving some credit to my dreams. +The old man who appeared to me had something supernatural, he was +not one of those men whom nothing but age makes venerable; there +appeared a divine air about his person. In short, he was such a +one as our great prophet is represented; and if you will have me +tell you what I think, I believe it was he, who, pitying my +affliction, designs to relieve it. I rely on the confidence he +has inspired me with. I am full of his promises, and have +resolved to follow his advice." The queen endeavoured to +dissuade him, but in vain. The sultan committed to her the +government of the kingdom, set out one night very privately from +his palace, and took the road to Cairo, without suffering any +person to attend him. + +After much trouble and fatigue, he arrived at that famous city, +like which there are few in the world, either for extent or +beauty. He alighted at the gate of a mosque, where, being spent +with weariness, he lay down. No sooner was he fallen asleep, +than he saw the same old man, who said to him, "I am pleased with +you, my son, you have given credit to my words. You are come +hither, without being deterred by the length or the difficulties +of the way: but know I have not put you upon undertaking such a +long journey, with any other design than to try you. I find you +have courage and resolution. You deserve I should make you the +richest and happiest prince in the world. Return to Bussorah, +and you shall find immense wealth in your palace. No king ever +possessed so rich a treasure." + +The sultan was not pleased with this dream. "Alas!" thought he +to himself, when he awoke, "how much was I mistaken? That old +man, whom I took for our prophet, is no other than the production +of my disturbed imagination. My fancy was so full of him, that +it is no wonder I have seen him again. I had best return to +Bussorah; what should I do here any longer? It is fortunate that +I told none but my mother the motive of my journey: I should +become a jest to my people, if they knew it." + +Accordingly, he set out again for his kingdom, and as soon as he +arrived there, the queen asked him, whether he returned well +pleased? He told her all that had happened, and was so much +concerned for having been so credulous, that the queen, instead +of adding to his vexation, by reproving or laughing at him, +comforted him. "Forbear afflicting yourself, my son," said she; +"if God has appointed you riches, you will have them without any +trouble. Be contented; all that I recommend to you is, to be +virtuous; renounce the delights of dancing, music, and wine: shun +all these pleasures, they have already almost ruined you; apply +yourself to make your subjects happy; by securing their +happiness, you will establish your own." + +Sultan Zeyn vowed that he would for the future follow his +mother's advice, and be directed by the wise viziers she had +chosen to assist him in supporting the weight of government. But +the very night after he returned to his palace, he saw the old +man the third time in a dream, who said to him, "The time of your +prosperity is come, brave Zeyn: to-morrow morning, as soon as you +are up, take a little pick-axe, and dig in the late sultan's +closet; you will there find a rich treasure." + +As soon as the sultan awoke, he got up, ran to the queen's +apartment, and with much eagerness told her the new dream of that +night. "Really, my son," said the queen smiling, "this is a very +positive old man; he is not satisfied with having deceived you +twice: have you a mind to believe him again?" "No, madam," +answered Zeyn, "I give no credit to what he has said; but I will, +for my own satisfaction, search my father's closet." "I really +fancied so," cried the queen, laughing heartily: "go, my son, +satisfy yourself; my comfort is, that work is not so fatiguing as +the journey to Egypt." + +"Well madam," answered the sultan, "I must own, that this third +dream has restored my confidence, for it is connected with the +two others; let us examine the old man's words. He first +directed me to go into Egypt; there he told me, he had put me +upon taking that journey, only to try me. 'Return to Bussorah,' +said he, 'that is the place where you are to find treasures;' +this night he has exactly pointed out to me the place where they +are: these three dreams in my opinion, are connected. After all, +they may be chimerical: but I would rather search in vain, than +blame myself as long as I live, for having perhaps missed great +riches, by being unseasonably incredulous." + +Having spoken thus, he left the queen's apartment, caused a +pick-axe to be brought him, and went alone into the late sultan's +closet. He immediately began to break up the ground, and took up +above half the square stones it was paved with, but yet saw not +the least appearance of what he sought. He ceased working to +take a little rest, thinking within himself, "I am much afraid my +mother had cause enough to laugh at me." However, he took heart, +and went on with his labour, nor had he cause to repent; for on a +sudden he discovered a white slab, which he took up, and under it +found a door, made fast with a steel padlock, which he broke with +the pick-axe, and opened the door, which covered a staircase of +white marble. He immediately lighted a lamp, and went down the +stairs into a room, the floor whereof was laid with tiles of +chinaware, and the roof and walls were of crystal; but he +particularly fixed his eyes on four shelves, a little raised +above the rest of the floor, on each of which were ten urns of +porphyry. He fancied they were full of wine: "Well," said he, +"that wine must be very old, I do not question but it is +excellent." He went up to one of the urns, took off the cover, +and with no less joy than surprise perceived it was full of +pieces of gold. He searched all the forty, one after another, +and found them full of the same coin, took out a handful, and +carried it to the queen. + +The princess, it may be imagined, was amazed, when the sultan +gave her an account of what he had discovered. "O! my son," said +she, "take heed you do not lavish away all this wealth foolishly, +as you have already done the royal treasure. Let not your +enemies have so much occasion to rejoice." "No, madam," answered +Zeyn, "I will from henceforward live in such a manner as shall be +pleasing to you." + +The queen desired her son to conduct her to the wonderful +subterraneous place, which the late sultan her husband had made +with such secrecy, that she had never heard of it. Zeyn led her +to the closet, down the marble stairs, and into the chamber where +the urns were. She observed every thing with the eye of +curiosity, and in a corner spied a little urn of the same sort of +stone as the others. The prince had not before taken notice of +it, but opening, found in it a golden key. "My son," said the +queen, "this key certainly belongs to some other treasure; let us +search well, perhaps we may discover the use it is designed for." + +They examined the chamber with the utmost exactness, and at +length found a key-hole in one of the panels of the wall. The +sultan immediately tried, and as readily opened the door, which +led into a chamber, in the midst of which were nine pedestals of +massive gold, on eight of which stood as many statues, each of +them made of a single diamond, and from them darted such a +brightness, that the whole room was perfectly light. + +"O Heavens!" cried Zeyn, in astonishment, "where could my father +find such rarities?" The ninth pedestal redoubled this +amazement, for it was covered with a piece of white satin, on +which were written these words, "Dear son, it cost me much toil +to procure these eight statues; but though they are +extraordinarily beautiful, you must understand that there is a +ninth in the world, which surpasses them all: that alone is worth +more than a thousand such as these: if you desire to be master of +it, go to the city of Cairo in Egypt; one of my old slaves, whose +name is Mobarec, lives there, you will easily find him; the first +person you meet will shew you his house; visit him, and tell him +all that has befallen you: he will know you to be my son, and +conduct you to the place where that wonderful statue is, which +you will obtain with safety." + +The young sultan having read these words, said to the queen, "I +should be sorry to be without that ninth statue; it must +certainly be a very rare piece, since all these together are not +of so much value. I will set out for Grand Cairo; nor do I +believe, madam, that you will now oppose my design." "No, my +son," answered the queen, "I am not against it: you are certainly +under the special protection of our great prophet, he will not +suffer you to perish in this journey. Set out when you think +fit: your viziers and I will take care of the government during +your absence." The prince made ready his equipage, but would take +only a small number of slaves with him. + +Nothing remarkable befell him by the way, but arriving at Cairo, +he inquired for Mobarec. The people told him he was one of the +wealthiest inhabitants of the city; that he lived like a great +lord, and that his house was open, especially for strangers. +Zeyn was conducted thither, knocked at the gate, which a slave +opened, and demanded, "What is it you want, and who are you?" "I +am a stranger," answered the prince, "and having heard much of +the lord Mobarec's generosity, am come to take up my lodging with +him." The slave desired Zeyn to wait while he went to acquaint +his master, who ordered him to request the stranger to walk in. +The slave returned to the gate, and told the prince he was +welcome. + +Zeyn went in, crossed a large court, and entered a hall +magnificently furnished, where Mobarec expected him, and received +him very courteously, returning thanks for the honour he did him +in accepting a lodging in his house. The prince, having answered +his compliment, said to Mobarec, "I am the son of the late sultan +of Bussorah, and my name is Zeyn Alasnam." "That sovereign," +said Mobarec, "was formerly my master; but, my lord, I never knew +of any children he had: what is your age?" "I am twenty years +old," answered the sultan. "How long is it since you left my +father's court?" "Almost two-and-twenty years," replied Mobarec; +"but how can you convince me that you are his son?" "My father," +rejoined Zeyn, "had a subterraneous place under his closet, in +which I have found forty porphyry urns full of gold." "And what +more is there?" said Mobarec. "There are," answered the prince, +"nine pedestals of massive gold: on eight whereof are as many +diamond statues; and on the ninth a piece of white satin, on +which my father has written what I am to do to procure another +statue, more valuable than all those together. You know where +that statue is; for it is mentioned on the satin, that you will +conduct me to it." + +As soon as he had spoke these words, Mobarec fell down at his +feet, and kissing one of his hands several times, said, "I bless +God for having brought you hither: I know you to be the sultan of +Bussorah's son. If you will go to the place where the wonderful +statue is, I will conduct you; but you must first rest here a few +days. This day I treat the great men of the court; we were at +table when word was brought me of your being at the door. Will +you vouchsafe to come and be merry with us?" "I shall be very +glad," replied Zeyn, "to be admitted to your feast." Mobarec +immediately led him under a dome where the company was, seated +him at the table, and served him on the knee. The nobles of +Cairo were surprised, and whispered to one another, "Who is this +stranger, to whom Mobarec pays so much respect?" + +When they had dined, Mobarec directing his discourse to the +company, said, "Nobles of Cairo, do not think much to see me +serve this young stranger in this manner: know that he is the son +of the sultan of Bussorah, my master. His father purchased me, +and died without making me free; so that I am still a slave, and +consequently all I have of right belongs to this young prince, +his sole heir." Here Zeyn interrupted him: "Mobarec," said he, +"I declare, before all these lords, that I make you free from +this moment, and that I renounce all right to your person, and +all you possess. Consider what you would have me do more for +you." Mobarec kissed the ground, and returned the prince most +hearty thanks. Wine was then brought in, they drank all day, and +towards evening presents were distributed among the guests, who +departed. + +The next day Zeyn said to Mobarec, "I have taken rest enough. I +came not to Cairo to take my pleasure; my design is to obtain the +ninth statue; it is time for us to set out in search of it." +"Sir," said Mobarec, "I am ready to comply with your desires; but +you know not what dangers you must encounter to make this +precious acquisition." "Whatsoever the danger may be," answered +the prince, "I have resolved to make the attempt; I will either +perish or succeed. All that happens in this world is by God's +direction. Do you but bear me company, and let your resolution +be equal to mine." + +Mobarec, finding him determined to set out, called his servants, +and ordered them to make ready his equipage. The prince and he +then performed the ablution, and the prayer enjoined, which is +called Farz; and that done, they set out. On their way they took +notice of abundance of strange and wonderful things, and +travelled many days, at length, being come to a delightful spot, +they alighted from their horses. Mobarec then said to all the +servants that attended them, "Do you remain in this place, and +take care of our equipage till we return." Then he said to Zeyn, +"Now, sir, let us advance by ourselves. We are near the dreadful +place, where the ninth statue is kept. You will stand in need of +all your courage." + +They soon came to a vast lake: Mobarec set down on the brink of +it, saying to the prince, "We must cross this sea." "How can +we," answered Zeyn, "when we have no boat?" "You will see one +appear in a moment," replied Mobarec; "the enchanted boat of the +sultan of the genii will come for us. But do not forget what I +am going to say to you: you must observe a profound silence: do +not speak to the boatman, though his figure seem strange to you: +whatever extraordinary circumstance you observe, say nothing; for +I tell you beforehand, that if you utter one word when we are +embarked, the boat will sink." "I shall take care to hold my +peace," said the prince; "you need only tell me what I am to do, +and I will strictly comply." + +Whilst they were talking, he spied on a sudden a boat in the +lake, made of red sandal wood. It had a mast of fine amber, and +a blue satin flag: there was only one boatman in it, whose head +was like an elephant's, and his body like that of a tiger. When +the boat was come up to the prince and Mobarec, the monstrous +boatman took them up one after another with his trunk, put them +into his boat, and carried them over the lake in a moment. He +then again took them up with his trunk, set them ashore, and +immediately vanished with his boat. + +"Now we may talk," said Mobarec: "the island we are in belongs to +the sultan of the genii. Look round you, prince; can there be a +more delightful spot? It is certainly a lively representation of +the charming place God has appointed for the faithful observers +of our law. Behold the fields adorned with all sorts of flowers +and odoriferous plants: admire those beautiful trees whose +delicious fruit makes the branches bend down to the ground; enjoy +the pleasure of those harmonious songs formed in the air by a +thousand birds of as many various sorts, unknown in other +countries." Zeyn could not sufficiently admire the beauties with +which he was surrounded, and still found something new, as he +advanced farther into the island. + +At length they came before a palace built of emeralds, +encompassed by a wide moat, on the banks whereof, at certain +distances, were planted such tall trees, that they shaded the +whole palace. Before the gate, which was of massive gold, was a +bridge, formed of one single shell of a fish, though it was at +least six fathoms long, and three in breadth. At the head of the +bridge stood a company of genii, of a prodigious height, who +guarded the entrance into the castle with great clubs of China +steel. + +"Let us at present proceed no farther," said Mobarec, "these +genii will destroy us: and in order to prevent their coming to +us, we must perform a magical ceremony." He then drew out of a +purse which he had under his garment, four long slips of yellow +taffety; one he put about his middle, and laid the other on his +back, giving the other two to the prince, who did the like. Then +Mobarec laid on the ground two large table-cloths, on the edges +whereof he scattered some precious stones, musk, and amber. +Afterwards he sat down on one of the cloths, and Zeyn on the +other; and Mobarec said to the prince, "I shall now, sir, conjure +the sultan of the genii, who lives in the palace that is before +us; may he come in a peaceable mood to us! I confess I am not +without apprehension about the reception he may give us. If our +coming into this island is displeasing to him, he will appear in +the shape of a dreadful monster; but if he approves of your +design, he will shew himself in the shape of a handsome man. As +soon as he appears before us, you must rise and salute him, +without going off your cloth; for you would certainly perish, +should you stir from it. You must say to him, 'Sovereign lord of +the genii, my father, who was your servant, has been taken away +by the angel of death; I wish your majesty may protect me, as you +always protected my father.' If the sultan of the genii," added +Mobarec, "ask you what favour you desire of him, you must answer, +'I most humbly beg of you to give me the ninth statue.'" + +Mobarec, having thus instructed prince Zeyn, began his +conjuration. Immediately their eyes were dazzled by a long flash +of lightning, which was followed by a clap of thunder. The whole +island was covered with a thick darkness, a furious storm of wind +blew, a dreadful cry was heard, the island felt a shock, and +there was such an earthquake, as that which Asrayel is to cause +on the day of judgment. + +Zeyn was startled, and began to regard these concussions of the +elements as a very ill omen, when Mobarec, who knew better than +he what to judge, began to smile, and said, "Take courage, my +prince, all goes well." In short, that very moment, the sultan +of the genii appeared in the shape of a very handsome man, yet +there was something of a sternness in his air. + +As soon as sultan Zeyn had made him the compliment he had been +taught by Mobarec, the sultan of the genii smiling, answered, "My +son, I loved your father, and every time he came to pay me his +respects, I presented him with a statue, which he carried away +with him. I have no less kindness for you. I obliged your +father, some days before he died, to write that which you read on +the piece of white satin. I promised him to receive you under my +protection, and to give you the ninth statue, which in beauty +surpasses those you have already. I had begun to perform my +promise to him. It was I whom you saw in a dream in the shape of +an old man; I caused you to open the subterraneous place, where +the urns and the statues are deposited: I have a great share in +all that has befallen you, or rather am the occasion of all. I +know the motive that brought you hither; you shall obtain what +you desire. Though I had not promised your father to give it, I +would willingly grant it to you: but you must first swear to me +by all that is sacred, that you will return to this island, and +that you will bring me a maid who is in her fifteenth year, has +never loved, nor desired to. She must also be perfectly +beautiful: and you so much a master of yourself, as not even to +desire her as you are conducting her hither." + +Sultan Zeyn took the rash oath demanded of him. "But, my lord," +said he, "suppose I should be so fortunate as to meet with such a +maid as you require, how shall I know that I have found her?" "I +own," answered the sultan of the genii, smiling, "that you might +be mistaken in her appearance: that knowledge is above the sons +of Adam, and therefore I do not mean to depend upon your judgment +in that particular: I will give you a looking-glass which will be +more certain than your conjectures. When you shall have seen a +maiden fifteen years of age, perfectly beautiful, you need only +look into the glass in which you shall see her figure. If she be +chaste, the glass will remain clean and unsullied; but if, on the +contrary, it sullies, that will be a certain sign that she has +not always been prudent, or at least that she has desired to +cease to be so. Do not forget the oath you have taken: keep it +like a man of honour; otherwise I will take away your life, +notwithstanding the kindness I have for you." Zeyn Alasnam +protested again that he would faithfully keep his word. The +sultan of the genii then delivered to him a looking-glass, +saying, "My son, you may return when you please, there is the +glass you are to use." Zeyn and Mobarec took leave of the sultan +of the genii, and went towards the lake. The boatman with the +elephant's head brought the boat, and ferried them over the lake +as he had done before. They joined their servants, and returned +with them again to Cairo. + +The young sultan rested a few days at Mobarec's house, and then +said to him, "Let us go to Bagdad, to seek a maiden for the +sovereign of the genii." "Why, are we not at Grand Cairo?" said +Mobarec: "shall we not there find beautiful maidens?" "You are +in the right," answered the prince; "but how shall we explore +where they are?" "Do not trouble yourself about that," answered +Mobarec; "I know a very shrewd old woman, whom I will entrust +with the affair, and she will acquit herself well." + +Accordingly the old woman found means to shew the sultan a +considerable number of beautiful maidens of fifteen years of age; +but when he had viewed them, and came to consult his +looking-glass, the fatal touchstone of their virtue, the glass +always appeared sullied. All the maidens in the court and city, +who were in their fifteenth year, underwent the trial one after +another, but the glass never remained bright and clear. + +When they saw there were no chaste maidens to be found in Cairo, +they went to Bagdad, where they hired a magnificent palace in one +of the chief quarters of the city, and began to live splendidly. +They kept open house; and after all people had eaten in the +palace, the fragments were carried to the dervises, who by that +means had comfortable subsistence. + +There lived in that quarter a pedant, whose name was Boubekir +Muezin, a vain, haughty, and envious person: he hated the rich, +only because he was poor, his misery making him angry at his +neighbour's prosperity. He heard talk of Zeyn Alasnam, and of +the plenty his house afforded. This was enough for him to take +an aversion to that prince; and it proceeded so far, that one day +after the evening prayer in the mosque, he said to the people, +"Brethren, I have been told there is come to live in our ward a +stranger, who every day gives away immense sums. How do we know +but that this unknown person is some villain, who has committed a +robbery in his own country, and comes hither to enjoy himself? +Let us take care, brethren; if the caliph should be informed that +such a man is in our ward, it is to be feared he will punish us +for not acquainting him with it. I declare for my part I wash my +hands of the affair, and if any thing should happen amiss, it +shall not lie at my door." The multitude, who are easily led +away, with one voice cried to Boubekir, "It is your business, do +you acquaint the council with it." The muezin went home well +pleased, and drew up a memorial, resolving to present it to the +caliph next day. + +But Mobarec, who had been at prayers, and heard all that was said +by the muezin, put five hundred pieces of gold into a +handkerchief, made up with a parcel of several silks, and went to +Boubekir's house. The muezin asked him in a harsh tone what he +wanted. "Holy father," answered Mobarec with an obliging air, +and at the same time putting into his hand the gold and the silk, +"I am your neighbour and your servant: I come from prince Zeyn, +who lives in this ward: he has heard of your worth, and has +ordered me to come and tell you, that he desires to be acquainted +with you, and in the mean time desires you to accept of this +small present." Boubekir was transported with joy, and answered +Mobarec thus: "Be pleased, sir, to beg the prince's pardon for +me: I am ashamed I have not yet been to see him, but I will atone +for my fault, and wait on him to-morrow." + +Accordingly the next day after morning prayer he said to the +people, "You must know from your own experience, brethren, that +no man is without some enemies: envy pursues those chiefly who +are very rich. The stranger I spoke to you about yesterday in +the evening is no bad man, as some ill-designing persons would +have persuaded me: he is a young prince, endowed with every +virtue. It behoves us to take care how we give any injurious +report of him to the caliph." + +Boubekir having thus wiped off the impression he had the day +before given the people concerning Zeyn, returned home, put on +his best apparel and went to visit the young prince, who gave him +a courteous reception. After several compliments had passed on +both sides, Boubekir said to the prince, "Sir, do you design to +stay long at Bagdad?" "I shall stay," answered Zeyn, "till I can +find a maid fifteen years of age, perfectly beautiful, and so +chaste, that she has not only never loved a man, but even never +desired to do so." "You seek after a great rarity," replied the +muezin; "and I should be apt to fear your search would prove +unsuccessful, did I not know where there is a maid of that +character. Her father was formerly vizier; but has left the +court, and lived a long time in a lone house, where he applies +himself solely to the education of his daughter. If you please, +I will ask her of him for you: I do not question but he will be +overjoyed to have a son-in-law of your quality." "Not so fast," +said the prince, "I shall not marry the maid before I know +whether I like her. As for her beauty, I can depend on you; but +what assurance can you give me in relation to her virtue?" "What +assurance do you require?" said Boubekir. "I must see her face," +answered Zeyn; "that is enough to determine my resolution." "You +are skilled then in physiognomy?" replied the muezin, smiling. +"Well, come along with me to her father's: I will desire him to +let you see her one moment in his presence." + +The muezin conducted the prince to the vizier's; who, as soon as +he was acquainted with the prince's birth and design, called his +daughter, and made her take off her veil. Never had the young +sultan of Bussorah beheld such a perfect and striking beauty. He +stood amazed; and since he could then try whether the maid was as +chaste as fair, he pulled out his glass, which remained bright +and unsullied. + +When he perceived he had at length found such a person as he +desired, he entreated the vizier to grant her to him. +Immediately the cauzee was sent for, the contract signed, and the +marriage prayer said. After this ceremony, Zeyn conducted the +vizier to his house, where he treated him magnificently, and gave +him considerable presents. Next day he sent a prodigious +quantity of jewels by Mobarec, who conducted the bride home, +where the wedding was kept with all the pomp that became Zeyn's +quality. When all the company was dismissed Mobarec said to his +master, "Let us begone, sir, let us not stay any longer at +Bagdad, but return to Cairo: remember the promise you made the +sultan of the genii." "Let us go," answered the prince; "I must +take care to perform it exactly; yet I must confess, my dear +Mobarec, that, if I obey the sultan of the genii, it is not +without reluctance. The damsel I have married is so charming, +that I am tempted to carry her to Bussorah, and place her on the +throne." "Alas! sir," answered Mobarec, "take heed how you give +way to your inclination: make yourself master of your passions, +and whatever it costs you, be as good as your word to the sultan +of the genii." "Well, then, Mobarec," said the prince, "do you +take care to conceal the lovely maid from me; let her never +appear in my sight; perhaps I have already seen too much of her." + +Mobarec made all ready for their departure; they returned to +Cairo, and thence set out for the island of the sultan of the +genii. When they were arrived, the maid who had performed the +journey in a horse-litter, and whom the prince had never seen +since his wedding-day, said to Mobarec, "Where are we? Shall we +be soon in the dominions of the prince my husband?" "Madam," +answered Mobarec, "it is time to undeceive you. Prince Zeyn +married you only in order to get you from your father: he did not +engage his faith to make you sovereign of Bussorah, but to +deliver you to the sultan of the genii, who has asked of him a +virgin of your character." At these words, she began to weep +bitterly, which moved the prince and Mobarec. "Take pity on me," +said she; "I am a stranger, you will be accountable to God for +your treachery towards me." + +Her tears and complaints were of no effect, for she was presented +to the sultan of the genii, who having gazed on her with +attention, said to Zeyn, "Prince, I am satisfied with your +behaviour; the virgin you have brought me is beautiful and +chaste, and I am pleased with the restraint you have put upon +yourself to be as good as your promise to me. Return to your +dominions, and when you shall enter the subterraneous room, where +the eight statues are, you shall find the ninth which I promised +you. I will make my genii carry it thither." Zeyn thanked the +sultan, and returned to Cairo with Mobarec, but did not stay long +in Egypt, for his impatience to see the ninth statue made him +hasten his departure. However, he could not but often think +regretfully of the young virgin he had married; and blaming +himself for having deceived her, he looked upon himself as the +cause and instrument of her misfortune. "Alas!" said he to +himself, "I have taken her from a tender father, to sacrifice her +to a genie. O incomparable beauty! you deserve a better fate." + +Sultan Zeyn, disturbed with these thoughts, at length reached +Bussorah, where his subjects made extraordinary rejoicings for +his return. He went directly to give an account of his journey +to his mother, who was in a rapture to hear that he had obtained +the ninth statue. "Let us go, my son," said she, "let us go and +see it, for it is certainly in the subterraneous chamber, since +the sultan of the genii told you you should find it there." The +young sultan and his mother, being both impatient to see the +wonderful statue, went down into the room of the statues; but how +great was their surprise, when, instead of a statue of diamonds, +they beheld on the ninth pedestal a most beautiful virgin, whom +the prince knew to be the same whom he had conducted into the +island of the genii! "Prince," said the young maid, "you are +surprised to see me here; you expected to have found something +more precious than me, and I question not but that you now repent +having taken so much trouble: you expected a better reward." +"Madam," answered Zeyn, "heaven is my witness, that I more than +once had nearly broken my word with the sultan of the genii, to +keep you to myself. Whatever be the value of a diamond statue, is +it worth the satisfaction of having you mine? I love you above +all the diamonds and wealth in the world." + +Just as he had done speaking, a clap of thunder was heard, which +shook the subterranean place. Zeyn's mother was alarmed, but the +sultan of the genii immediately appearing, dispelled her fear. +"Madam," said he to her, "I protect and love your son: I had a +mind to try, whether, at his age, he could subdue his passions. +I know the charms of this young lady have wrought on him, and +that he did not punctually keep the promise he had made me, not +to desire her; but I am well acquainted with the frailty of human +nature. This is the ninth statue I designed for him; it is more +rare and precious than the others. "Live," said he (directing +his discourse to the young prince), "live happy, Zeyn, with this +young lady, who is your wife; and if you would have her true and +constant to you, love her always, and love her only. Give her no +rival, and I will answer for her fidelity." Having spoken these +words, the sultan of the genii vanished, and Zeyn, enchanted with +the young lady, the same day caused her to be proclaimed queen of +Bussorah, over which they reigned in mutual happiness to an +advanced age. + + + + + + THE HISTORY OF CODADAD, AND HIS BROTHERS. + + + +Those who have written the history of Diarbekir inform us that +there formerly reigned in the city of Harran a most magnificent +and potent sultan, who loved his subjects, and was equally +beloved by them. He was endued with all virtues, and wanted +nothing to complete his happiness but an heir. Though he had the +finest women in the world in his seraglio, yet was he destitute +of children. He continually prayed to heaven for them; and one +night in his sleep, a comely person, or rather a prophet, +appeared to him, and said, "Your prayers are heard; you have +obtained what you have desired; rise as soon as you awake, go to +your prayers, and make two genuflexions, then walk into the +garden of your palace, call your gardener, and bid him bring you +a pomegranate, eat as many of the seeds as you please, and your +wishes shall be accomplished." + +The sultan calling to mind his dream when he awoke, returned +thanks to heaven, got up, prayed, made two genuflexions, and then +went into his garden, where he took fifty pomegranate seeds, +which he counted, and ate. He had fifty wives who shared his +bed; they all proved with child; but there was one called +Pirouzè, who did not appear to be pregnant. He took an aversion +to this lady, and would have her put to death. "Her barrenness," +said he, "is a certain token that heaven does not judge Pirouzè +worthy to bear a prince; it is my duty to deliver the world from +an object that is odious to the Lord." He would have executed +his cruel purpose had not his vizier prevented him; representing +to him that all women were not of the same constitution, and that +it was not impossible but that Pirouzè might be with child, +though it did not yet appear. "Well," answered the sultan, "let +her live; but let her depart my court; for I cannot endure her." +"Your majesty," replied the vizier, "may send her to sultan +Samer, your cousin." The sultan approved of this advice; he sent +Pirouzè to Samaria, with a letter, in which he ordered his cousin +to treat her well, and, in case she proved with child, to give +him notice of her being brought to bed. + +No sooner was Pirouzè arrived in that country, than it appeared +that she was pregnant, and at length she was delivered of a most +beautiful prince. The prince of Samaria wrote immediately to the +sultan of Harran, to acquaint him with the birth of a son, and to +congratulate him on the occasion. The sultan was much rejoiced +at this intelligence, and answered prince Samer as follows: +"Cousin, all my other wives have each been delivered of a prince. +I desire you to educate that of Pirouzè, to give him the name of +Codadad, and to send him to me when I may apply for him." + +The prince of Samaria spared nothing that might improve the +education of his nephew. He taught him to ride, draw the bow, +and all other accomplishments becoming the son of a sovereign; so +that Codadad, at eighteen years of age, was looked upon as a +prodigy. The young prince, being inspired with a courage worthy +of his birth, said one day to his mother, "Madam, I begin to grow +weary of Samaria; I feel a passion for glory; give me leave to +seek it amidst the perils of war. My father, the sultan of +Harran, has many enemies. Why does he not call me to his +assistance? Why does he leave me here so long in obscurity? +Must I spend my life in sloth, when all my brothers have the +happiness to be fighting by his side?" "My son," answered +Pirouzè, "I am no less impatient to have your name become famous; +I could wish you had already signalized yourself against your +father's enemies; but we must wait till he requires it." "No, +madam," replied Codadad, "I have already waited but too long. I +burn to see the sultan, and am tempted to offer him my service, +as a young stranger: no doubt but he will accept of it, and I +will not discover myself, till I have performed some glorious +actions: I desire to merit his esteem before he knows who I am." +Pirouzè approved of his generous resolutions, and Codadad +departed from Samaria, as if he had been going to the chase, +without acquainting prince Samer, lest he should thwart his +design. + +He was mounted on a white charger, who had a bit and shoes of +gold, his housing was of blue satin embroidered with pearls; the +hilt of his scimitar was of one single diamond, and the scabbard +of sandal-wood, adorned with emeralds and rubies, and on his +shoulder he carried his bow and quiver. In this equipage, which +greatly set off his handsome person, he arrived at the city of +Harran, and soon found means to offer his service to the sultan; +who being charmed with his beauty and promising appearance, and +perhaps indeed by natural sympathy, gave him a favourable +reception, and asked his name and quality. "Sir," answered +Codadad, "I am son to an emir of Grand Cairo; an inclination to +travel has made me quit my country, and understanding, in my +passage through your dominions, that you were engaged in war, I +am come to your court to offer your majesty my service." The +sultan shewed him extraordinary kindness, and gave him a command +in his army. + +The young prince soon signalized his bravery. He gained the +esteem of the officers, and was admired by the soldiers. Having +no less wit than courage, he so far advanced himself in the +sultan's esteem, as to become his favourite. All the ministers +and other courtiers daily resorted to Codadad, and were so eager +to purchase his friendship, that they neglected the sultan's +sons. The princes could not but resent this conduct, and +imputing it to the stranger, all conceived an implacable hatred +against him; but the sultan's affection daily increasing, he was +never weary of giving him fresh testimonies of his regard. He +always would have him near his person; admired his conversation, +ever full of wit and discretion; and to shew his high opinion of +his wisdom and prudence, committed to his care the other princes, +though he was of the same age as they; so that Codadad was made +governor of his brothers. + +This only served to heighten their hatred. "Is it come to this," +said they, "that the sultan, not satisfied with loving a stranger +more than us, will have him to be our governor, and not allow us +to act without his leave? this is not to be endured. We must rid +ourselves of this foreigner." "Let us go together," said one of +them, "and dispatch him." "No, no," answered another; "we had +better be cautious how we sacrifice ourselves. His death would +render us odious to the sultan, who in return would declare us +all unworthy to reign. Let us destroy him by some stratagem. We +will ask his permission to hunt, and when at a distance from the +palace, proceed to some other city, and stay there some time. +The sultan will wonder at our absence, and perceiving we do not +return, perhaps put the stranger to death, or at least will +banish him from court, for suffering us to leave the palace." + +All the princes applauded this artifice. They went together to +Codadad, and desired him to allow them to take the diversion of +hunting, promising to return the same day. Pirouzè's son was +taken in the snare, and granted the permission his brothers +desired. They set out, but never returned. They had been three +days absent, when the sultan asked Codadad where the princes +were, for it was long since he had seen them. "Sir," answered +Codadad, after making a profound reverence, "they have been +hunting these three days, but they promised me they would return +sooner." The sultan grew uneasy, and his uneasiness increased +when he perceived the princes did not return the next day. He +could not check his anger: "Indiscreet stranger," said he to +Codadad, "why did you let my sons go without bearing them +company? Is it thus you discharge the trust I have reposed in +you? Go, seek them immediately, and bring them to me, or your +life shall be forfeited." + +These words chilled with alarm Pirouzè's unfortunate son. He +armed himself, departed from the city, and like a shepherd, who +had lost his flock, searched the country for his brothers, +inquiring at every village whether they had been seen: but +hearing no news of them, abandoned himself to the most lively +grief. "Alas! my brothers," said he, "what is become of you? +Are you fallen into the hands of our enemies? Am I come to the +court of Harran to be the occasion of giving the sultan so much +anxiety?" He was inconsolable for having given the princes +permission to hunt, or for not having borne them company. + +After some days spent in fruitless search, he came to a plain of +prodigious extent, in the midst whereof was a palace built of +black marble. He drew near, and at one of the windows beheld a +most beautiful lady; but set off with no other ornament than her +own charms; for her hair was dishevelled, her garments torn, and +on her countenance appeared all the marks of the greatest +affliction. As soon as she saw Codadad, and judged he might hear +her, she directed her discourse to him, saying, "Young man, +depart from this fatal place, or you will soon fall into the +hands of the monster that inhabits it: a black, who feeds only on +human blood, resides in this palace; he seizes all persons whom +their ill-fate conducts to this plain, and shuts them up in his +dark dungeons, whence they are never released, but to be devoured +by him." + +"Madam," answered Codadad, "tell me who you are, and be not +concerned for myself." "I am a young woman of quality of Grand +Cairo," replied the lady; "I was passing by this castle +yesterday, in my way to Bagdad, and met with the black, who +killed all my attendants, and brought me hither; I wish I had +nothing but death to fear, but to add to my calamity, this +monster would persuade me to love him, and, in case I do not +yield to-morrow to his brutality, I must expect the last +violence. Once more," added she, "make your escape: the black +will soon return; he is gone out to pursue some travellers he +espied at a distance on the plain. Lose no time; I know not +whether you can escape him by a speedy flight." + +She had scarcely done speaking before the black appeared. He was +of monstrous bulk, and of a dreadful aspect, mounted on a large +Tartar horse, and bore such a heavy scimitar, that none but +himself could wield. The prince seeing him, was amazed at his +gigantic stature, directed his prayers to heaven to assist him, +then drew his scimitar, and firmly awaited his approach. The +monster, despising so inconsiderable an enemy, called to him to +submit without fighting. Codadad by his conduct shewed that he +was resolved to defend his life; for rushing upon him, he wounded +him on the knee. The black, feeling himself wounded, uttered +such a dreadful yell as made all the plain resound. He grew +furious and foamed with rage, and raising himself on his +stirrups, made at Codadad with his dreadful scimitar. The blow +was so violent, that it would have put an end to the young +prince, had not he avoided it by a sudden spring. The scimitar +made a horrible hissing in the air: but, before the black could +have time to make a second blow, Codadad struck him on his right +arm, with such force, that he cut it off. The dreadful scimitar +fell with the hand that held it, and the black yielding under the +violence of the stroke, lost his stirrups, and made the earth +shake with the weight of his fall. The prince alighted at the +same time, and cut off his enemy's head. Just then, the lady, +who had been a spectator of the combat, and was still offering up +her earnest prayers to heaven for the young hero, whom she +admired, uttered a shriek of joy, and said to Codadad, "Prince +(for the dangerous victory you have obtained, as well as your +noble air, convinces me that you are of no common rank), finish +the work you have begun; the black has the keys of this castle, +take them and deliver me out of prison." The prince searched the +wretch as he lay stretched on the ground, and found several keys. + +He opened the first door, and entered a court, where he saw the +lady coming to meet him; she would have cast herself at his feet, +the better to express her gratitude, but he would not permit her. +She commended his valour, and extolled him above all the heroes +in the world. He returned her compliments; and she appeared +still more lovely to him near, than she had done at a distance. +I know not whether she felt more joy at being delivered from the +desperate danger she had been in, than he for having done so +considerable a service to so beautiful a person. + +Their conversation was interrupted by dismal cries and groans. +"What do I hear?" said Codadad: "Whence come these miserable +lamentations, which pierce my ears?" "My lord," said the lady to +him, pointing to a little door in the court, "they come from +thence. There are I know not how many wretched persons whom fate +has thrown into the hands of the black. They are all chained, +and the monster drew out one every day to devour." + +"It is an addition to my joy," answered the young prince, "to +understand that my victory will save the lives of those +unfortunate beings. Come along with me, madam, to partake in the +satisfaction of giving them their liberty. You may judge by your +own feelings how welcome we shall be to them." Having so said, +they advanced towards the door of the dungeon, and the nearer +they drew, the more distinctly they heard the lamentations of the +prisoners. Codadad pitying them, and impatient to put an end to +their sufferings, presently put one of the keys into the lock. +The noise made all the unfortunate captives, who concluded it was +the black coming, according to custom, to seize one of them to +devour, redouble their cries and groans. Lamentable voices were +heard, which seemed to come from the centre of the earth. + +In the mean time, the prince had opened the door; he went down a +very steep staircase into a large and deep vault, which received +some feeble light from a little window, and in which there were +above a hundred persons, bound to stakes, and their hands tied. +"Unfortunate travellers," said he to them, "wretched victims, +who only expected the moment of an approaching cruel death, give +thanks to heaven, which has this day delivered you by my means. +I have slain the black by whom you were to be devoured, and am +come to knock off your chains." The prisoners hearing these +words, gave a shout of mingled joy and surprise. Codadad and the +lady began to unbind them; and as soon as any of them were loose, +they helped to take off the fetters from the rest; so that in a +short time they were all at liberty. + +They then kneeled down, and having returned thanks to Codadad for +what he had done for them, went out of the dungeon; but when they +were come into the court, how was the prince surprised to see +among the prisoners, those he was in search of, and almost +without hopes to find! "Princes," cried he, "am I not deceived? +Is it you whom I behold? May I flatter myself that it may be in +my power to restore you to the sultan your father, who is +inconsolable for the loss of you? But will he not have some one +to lament? Are you all here alive? Alas! the death of one of +you will suffice to damp the joy I feel for having delivered +you!" + +The forty-nine princes all made themselves known to Codadad, who +embraced them one after another, and told them how uneasy their +father was on account of their absence. They gave their +deliverer all the commendations he deserved, as did the other +prisoners, who could not find words expressive enough to declare +their gratitude. Codadad, with them, searched the whole castle, +where was immense wealth; curious silks, gold brocades, Persian +carpets, China satins, and an infinite quantity of other goods, +which the black had taken from the caravans he had plundered, a +considerable part whereof belonged to the prisoners Codadad had +then liberated. Every man knew and claimed his property. The +prince restored them their own, and divided the rest of the +merchandise among them. Then he said to them, "How will you +carry away your goods? We are here in a desert place, and there +is no likelihood of your getting horses." "My lord," answered +one of the prisoners, "the black robbed us of our camels as well +as our goods, and perhaps they may be in the stables of this +castle." "This is not unlikely," replied Codadad; "let us +examine." Accordingly they went to the stables, where they not +only found the camels, but also the horses belonging to the +sultan of Harran's sons. There were some black slaves in the +stables, who seeing all the prisoners released, and guessing +thereby that their master had been killed, fled through by-ways +well known to them. Nobody minded to pursue them. All the +merchants, overjoyed that they had recovered their goods and +camels, together with their liberty, thought of nothing but +prosecuting their journey; but first repeated their thanks to +their deliverer. + +When they were gone, Codadad, directing his discourse to the +lady, said, "What place, madam, do you desire to go to? Whither +were you bound when you were seized by the black? I intend to +bear you company to the place you shall choose for your retreat, +and I question not but that all these princes will do the same." +The sultan of Harran's sons protested to the lady, that they +would not leave her till she was restored to her friends. + +"Princes," said she, "I am of a country too remote from hence; +and, besides that, it would be abusing your generosity to oblige +you to travel so far. I must confess that I have left my native +country for ever. I told you that I was a lady of Grand Cairo; +but since you have shewn me so much favour, and I am so highly +obliged to you," added she, looking upon Codadad, "I should be +much in the wrong in concealing the truth from you; I am a +sultan's daughter. An usurper has possessed himself of my +father's throne, after having murdered him, and I have been +forced to fly to save my life." + +Codadad and his brothers requested the princess to tell them her +story, assuring her they felt a particular interest in her +misfortunes, and were determined to spare nothing that might +contribute to render her more happy. After thanking them for +their repeated protestations of readiness to serve her, she could +not refuse to satisfy their curiosity, and began the recital of +her adventures in the following manner. + + + + + +The History of the Princess of Deryabar. + + + +There was in a certain island a great city called Deryabar, +governed by a potent, magnificent, and virtuous sultan, who had +no children, which was the only blessing wanting to make him +happy. He continually addressed his prayers to heaven, but +heaven only partially granted his requests, for the queen his +wife, after a long expectation, brought forth a daughter. + +I am the unfortunate princess; my father was rather grieved than +pleased at my birth; but he submitted to the will of God, and +caused me to be educated with all possible care, being resolved, +since he had no son, to teach me the art of ruling, that I might +supply his place after his death. + +One day when he was taking the diversion of hunting, he espied a +wild ass, which he chased, lost his company, and was carried away +so far by his eagerness as to ride on till night. He then +alighted, and sat down at the entrance of a wood, in which the +ass had sheltered. No sooner was the day shut in than he +discovered among the trees a light, which made him conclude that +he was not far from some village; he rejoiced at this, hoping +that he might pass the night there, and find some person to send +to his followers and acquaint them where he was; accordingly he +rose and walked towards the light, which served to guide him. + +He soon found he had been deceived, the light being no other than +a fire blazing in a hut; however, he drew near, and, with +amazement, beheld a black man, or rather a giant, sitting on a +sofa. Before the monster was a great pitcher of wine, and he was +roasting an ox he had newly killed. Sometimes he drank out of +the pitcher, and sometimes cut slices off the ox and greedily +devoured them. But what most attracted my father's attention was +a beautiful woman whom he saw in the hut. She seemed overwhelmed +with grief; her hands were bound, and at her feet was a little +child about two or three years old, who, as if he was sensible of +his mother's misfortunes, wept without ceasing, and rent the air +with his cries. + +My father, moved with this pitiable object, thought at first to +enter the hut and attack the giant; but considering how unequal +the combat would be, he stopped, and resolved, since he had not +strength enough to prevail by open force, to use art. In the +mean time, the giant having emptied the pitcher, and devoured +above half the ox, turned to the woman and said, "Beautiful +princess, why do you oblige me by your obstinacy to treat you +with severity? It is in your own power to be happy. You need +only resolve to love, and be true to me, and I shall treat you +with more mildness." "Thou hideous satyr," answered the lady, +"never expect that time should wear away my abhorrence of thee. +Thou wilt ever be a monster in my eyes." To these words she +added so many reproaches, that the giant grew enraged. "This is +too much," cried he, in a furious tone; "my love despised is +turned into rage. Your hatred has at last excited mine; I find +it triumphs over my desires, and that I now wish your death more +ardently than your enjoyment." Having spoken these words, he +took the wretched lady by the hair, held her up with one hand in +the air, and drawing his scimitar with the other, was just going +to strike off her head, when the sultan my father let fly an +arrow which pierced the giant's breast, so that he staggered, and +dropped down dead. + +My father entered the hut, unbound the lady's hands, inquired who +she was, and how she came thither. "My lord," said she, "there +are along the sea-coast some families of Saracens, who live under +a prince who is my husband; this giant you have killed was one of +his principal officers. The wretch fell desperately in love with +me, but took care to conceal his passion, till he could put in +execution the design he had formed of forcing me from home. +Fortune oftener favours wicked designs than virtuous resolutions. +The giant one day surprised me and my child in a by-place. He +seized us both, and to disappoint the search he well knew my +husband would cause to be made for me, removed from the country +inhabited by those Saracens, and brought us into this wood, where +he has kept me some days. Deplorable as my condition is, it is +still a great satisfaction to me to think that the giant, though +so brutal, never used force to obtain what I always refused to +his entreaties. Not but that he has a hundred times threatened +that he would have recourse to the worst of extremities, in case +he could not otherwise prevail upon me; and I must confess to +you, that awhile ago, when I provoked his anger by my words, I +was less concerned for my life than for my honour. + +"This, my lord," said the prince of the Saracens' wife, "is the +faithful account of my misfortunes, and I question not but you +will think me worthy of your compassion, and that you will not +repent having so generously relieved me." "Madam," answered my +father, "be assured your troubles have affected me, and I will do +all in my power to make you happy. To-morrow, as soon as day +appears, we will quit this wood, and endeavour to fall into the +road which leads to the great city of Deryabar, of which I am +sovereign; and if you think fit, you shall be lodged in my +palace, till the prince your husband comes to claim you." + +The Saracen lady accepted the offer, and the next day followed +the sultan my father, who found all his retinue upon the skirts +of the wood, they having spent the night in searching for him, +and being very uneasy because they could not find him. They were +no less rejoiced to meet with, than amazed to see him with a +lady, whose beauty surprised them. He told them how he had found +her, and the risk he had run in approaching the hut, where he +must certainly have lost his life had the giant discovered him. +One of his servants took up the lady behind him, and another +carried the child. + +Thus they arrived at the palace of my father, who assigned the +beautiful Saracen lady an apartment, and caused her child to be +carefully educated. The lady was not insensible of the sultan's +goodness to her, and expressed as much gratitude as he could +desire. She had at first appeared very uneasy and impatient that +her husband did not claim her; but by degrees she lost that +uneasiness. The respect my father paid her dispelled her +impatience; and I am of opinion she would at last have blamed +fortune more for restoring her to her kindred, than she did for +removing her from them. + +In the mean time the lady's son grew up; he was very handsome, +and not wanting ability, found means to please the sultan my +father, who conceived a great friendship for him. All the +courtiers perceived it, and guessed that the young man might in +the end be my husband. In this idea, and looking on him already +as heir to the crown, they made their court to him, and every one +endeavoured to gain his favour. He soon saw into their designs, +grew conceited of himself, and forgetting the distance there was +between our conditions, flattered himself with the hopes that my +father was fond enough of him, to prefer him before all the +princes in the world. He went farther; for the sultan not +offering me to him as soon as he could have wished, he had the +boldness to ask me of him. Whatever punishment his insolence +deserved, my father was satisfied with telling him he had other +thoughts in relation to me, and shewed him no further resentment. +The youth was incensed at this refusal; he resented the contempt, +as if he had asked some maid of ordinary extraction, or as if his +birth had been equal to mine. Nor did he stop here, but resolved +to be revenged on the sultan, and with unparalleled ingratitude +conspired against him. In short, he murdered him, and caused +himself to be proclaimed sovereign of Deryabar. The first thing +he did after the murder of my father was to come into my +apartment, at the head of a party of the conspirators. His +design was either to take my life or oblige me to marry him. The +grand vizier, however, who had been always loyal to his master, +while the usurper was butchering my father, came to carry me away +from the palace, and secured me in a friend's house, till a +vessel he had provided was ready to sail. I then left the +island, attended only by a governess and that generous minister, +who chose rather to follow his master's daughter, and share her +misfortunes, than to submit to a tyrant. + +The grand vizier designed to carry me to the courts of the +neighbouring sultans, to implore their assistance, and excite +them to revenge my father's death; but heaven did not concur in a +resolution we thought so just. When we had been but a few days +at sea, there arose such a furious storm, that, in spite of all +the mariners' art, our vessel, carried away by the violence of +the winds and waves, was dashed in pieces against a rock. I will +not spend time in describing our shipwreck. I can but faintly +represent to you how my governess, the grand vizier, and all that +attended me, were swallowed up by the sea. The dread I was +seized with did not permit me to observe all the horror of our +condition. I lost my senses; and whether I was thrown upon the +coast upon any part of the wreck, or whether heaven, which +reserved me for other misfortunes, wrought a miracle for my +deliverance, I found myself on shore when my senses returned. + +Misfortunes very often make us forget our duty. Instead of +returning thanks to God for so singular a favour shewn me, I only +lifted up my eyes to heaven, to complain because I had been +preserved. I was so far from bewailing the vizier and my +governess, that I envied their fate, and dreadful imaginations by +degrees prevailing over my reason, I resolved to cast myself into +the sea; I was on the point of doing so, when I heard behind me a +great noise of men and horses. I looked about to see what it +might be, and espied several armed horsemen, among whom was one +mounted on an Arabian horse. He had on a garment embroidered +with silver, a girdle set with precious stones, and a crown of +gold on his head. Though his habit had not convinced me that he +was chief of the company, I should have judged it by the air of +grandeur which appeared in his person. He was a young man +extraordinarily well shaped, and perfectly beautiful. Surprised +to see a young lady alone in that place, he sent some of his +officers to ask who I was. I answered only by weeping. The +shore being covered with the wreck of our ship, they concluded +that I was certainly some person who had escaped from the vessel. +This conjecture, and my inconsolable condition, excited the +curiosity of the officers, who began to ask me a thousand +questions, with assurances, that their master was a generous +prince, and that I should receive protection at his court. + +The sultan, impatient to know who I was, grew weary of waiting +the return of his officers, and drew near to me. He gazed on me +very earnestly, and observing that I did not cease weeping and +afflicting myself, without being able to return an answer to +their questions, he forbad them troubling me any more; and +directing his discourse to me, "Madam," said he, "I conjure you +to moderate your excessive affliction. Though heaven in its +dispensations has laid this calamity upon you, it does not behove +you to despair. I beseech you shew more resolution. Fortune, +which has hitherto persecuted you, is inconstant, and may soon +change. I dare assure you, that, if your misfortunes are capable +of receiving any relief, you shall find it in my dominions. My +palace is at your service. You shall live with the queen my +mother, who will endeavour by her kindness to ease your +affliction. I know not yet who you are; but I find I already +take an interest in your welfare." + +I thanked the young sultan for his goodness to me, accepted his +obliging offers; and to convince him that I was not unworthy of +them, told him my condition. I described to him the insolence of +the young Saracen, and found it was enough to recount my +misfortunes, to excite compassion in him and all his officers, +who heard me. When I had done speaking, the prince began again, +assuring me that he was deeply concerned at my misfortunes. He +then conducted me to his palace, and presented me to the queen +his mother, to whom I was obliged again to repeat my misfortunes +and to renew my tears. The queen seemed very sensible of my +trouble, and conceived extreme affection for me. On the other +hand, the sultan her son fell desperately in love with me, and +soon offered me his person and his crown. I was so taken up with +the thoughts of my calamities, that the prince, though so lovely +a person, did not make so great an impression on me as he might +have done at another time. However, gratitude prevailing, I did +not refuse to make him happy, and our nuptials were concluded +with all imaginable splendour. + +While the people were taken up with the celebration of their +sovereign's nuptials, a neighbouring prince, his enemy, made a +descent by night on the island with a great number of troops. +That formidable enemy was the king of Zanguebar. He surprised +and cut to pieces my husband's subjects. He was very near taking +us both. We escaped very narrowly, for he had already entered +the palace with some of his followers, but we found means to slip +away, and to get to the seacoast, where we threw ourselves into a +fishing boat which we had the good fortune to meet with. Two +days we were driven about by the winds, without knowing what +would become of us. The third day we espied a vessel making +towards us under sail. We rejoiced at first, believing it had +been a merchant ship which might take us aboard; but what was our +consternation, when, as it drew near, we saw ten or twelve armed +pirates appear on the deck. Having boarded, five or six of them +leaped into our boat, seized us, bound the prince, and conveyed +us into their ship, where they immediately took off my veil. My +youth and features touched them, and they all declared how much +they were charmed at the sight of me. Instead of casting lots, +each of them claimed the preference, and me as his right. The +dispute grew warm, they came to blows, and fought like madmen. +The deck was soon covered with dead bodies, and they were all +killed but one, who being left sole possessor of me, said, "You +are mine. I will carry you to Grand Cairo, to deliver you to a +friend of mine, to whom I have promised a beautiful slave. But +who," added he, looking upon the sultan my husband, "is that man? +What relation does he bear to you? Are you allied by blood or +love?" "Sir," answered I, "he is my husband." "If so," replied +the pirate, "in pity I must rid myself of him: it would be too +great an affliction to him to see you in my friend's arms." +Having spoken these words, he took up the unhappy prince, who was +bound, and threw him into the sea, notwithstanding all my +endeavours to prevent him. + +I shrieked in a dreadful manner at the sight of what he had done, +and had certainly cast myself headlong into the sea, but that the +pirate held me. He saw my design, and therefore bound me with +cords to the main-mast, then hoisting sail, made towards the +land, and got ashore. He unbound me and led me to a little town, +where he bought camels, tents, and slaves, and then set out for +Grand Cairo, designing, as he still said, to present me to his +friend, according to his promise. + +We had been several days upon the road, when, as we were crossing +this plain yesterday, we descried the black who inhabited this +castle. At a distance we took him for a tower, and when near us, +could scarcely believe him to be a man. He drew his huge +scimitar, and summoned the pirate to yield himself prisoner, with +all his slaves, and the lady he was conducting. The pirate was +daring; and being seconded by his slaves, who promised to stand +by him, he attacked the black. The combat lasted a considerable +time; but at length the pirate fell under his enemy's deadly +blows, as did all his slaves, who chose rather to die than +forsake him. The black then conducted me to the castle, whither +he also brought the pirate's body, which he devoured that night. +After his inhuman repast, perceiving that I ceased not weeping, +he said to me, "Young lady, prepare to love me, rather than +continue thus to afflict yourself. Make a virtue of necessity, +and comply. I will give you till to-morrow to consider. Let me +then find you comforted for all your misfortunes, and overjoyed +at having been reserved for me." Having spoken these words, he +conducted me to a chamber, and withdrew to his own, after locking +up the castle gates. He opened them this morning, and presently +locked them after him again, to pursue some travellers he +perceived at a distance; but it is likely they made their escape, +since he was returning alone, and without any booty, when you +attacked him. + +As soon as the princess had finished the recital of her +adventures, Codadad declared to her that he was deeply concerned +at her misfortunes. "But, madam," added he, "it shall be your +own fault if you do not live at ease for the future. The sultan +of Harran's sons offer you a safe retreat in the court of their +father; be pleased to accept of it. You will be there cherished +by that sovereign, and respected by all; and if you do not +disdain the affection of your deliverer, permit me to assure you +of it, and to espouse you before all these princes; let them be +witnesses to our contract." The princess consented, and the +marriage was concluded that very day in the castle, where they +found all sorts of provisions. The kitchens were full of flesh +and other eatables the black used to feed on, when he was weary +of feeding on human bodies. There was also a variety of fruits, +excellent in their kinds; and, to complete their pleasure, +abundance of delicious wine and other liquors. + +They all sat down at table; and after having eaten and drunk +plentifully, took with them the rest of the provisions, and set +out for the sultan of Harran's court: they travelled several +days, encamping in the pleasantest places they could find, and +were within one day's journey of Harran, when having halted and +drunk all their wine, being under no longer concern to make it +hold out, Codadad directing his discourse to all his company, +said "Princes, I have too long concealed from you who I am. +Behold your brother Codadad! I have received my being, as well +as you, from the sultan of Harran, the prince of Samaria brought +me up, and the princess Pirouzè is my mother. Madam," added he, +addressing himself to the Princess of Deryabar, "do you also +forgive me for having concealed my birth from you? Perhaps, by +discovering it sooner, I might have prevented some disagreeable +reflections, which may have been occasioned by a match you may +have thought unequal." "No, sir," answered the princess, "the +opinion I at first conceived of you heightened every moment, and +you did not stand in need of the extraction you now discover to +make me happy." + +The princes congratulated Codadad on his birth, and expressed +much satisfaction at being made acquainted with it. But in +reality, instead of rejoicing, their hatred of so amiable a +brother was increased. They met together at night, whilst +Codadad and the princess his wife lay asleep in their tent. +Those ungrateful, those envious brothers, forgetting that had it +not been for the brave son of Pirouzè they must have been +devoured by the black, agreed among themselves to murder him. +"We have no other course to choose," said one of them, "for the +moment our father shall come to understand that this stranger of +whom he is already so fond, is our brother, and that he alone has +been able to destroy a giant, whom we could not all of us +together conquer, he will declare him his heir, to the prejudice +of all his brothers, who will be obliged to obey and fall down +before him." He added much more, which made such an impression +on their envious and unnatural minds, that they immediately +repaired to Codadad, then asleep, stabbed him repeatedly, and +leaving him for dead in the arms of the princess of Deryabar, +proceeded on their journey for the city of Harran, where they +arrived the next day. + +The sultan their father conceived the greater joy at their +return, because he had despaired of ever seeing them again: he +asked what had been the occasion of their stay? But they took +care not to acquaint him with it, making no mention either of the +black or of Codadad; and only said, that, being curious to see +different countries, they had spent some time in the neighbouring +cities. + +In the mean time Codadad lay in his tent weltering in his blood, +and little differing from a dead man, with the princess his wife, +who seemed to be in not much better condition than himself. She +rent the air with her dismal shrieks, tore her hair, and bathing +her husband's body with her tears, "Alas! Codadad, my dear +Codadad," cried she, "is it you whom I behold just departing this +life? What cruel hands have put you into this condition? Can I +believe these are your brothers who have treated you so +unmercifully, those brothers whom thy valour had saved? No, they +are rather devils, who under characters so dear came to murder +you. O barbarous wretches! how could you make so ungrateful a +return for the service he has done you? But why should I +complain of your brothers, unfortunate Codadad! I alone am to +blame for your death. You would join your fate with mine, and +all the ill fortune that has attended me since I left my father's +palace has fallen upon you. O Heaven! which has condemned me to +lead a life of calamities, if you will not permit me to have a +consort, why did you permit me to find one? Behold you have now +robbed me of two, just as I began to be attached to them." + +By these and other moving expressions, the afflicted princess of +Deryabar vented her sorrow, fixing her eyes on the unfortunate +Codadad, who could not hear her; but he was not dead, and his +consort observing that he still breathed, ran to a large town she +espied in the plain, to inquire for a surgeon. She was directed +to one, who went immediately with her; but when they came to the +tent, they could not find Codadad, which made them conclude he +had been dragged away by some wild beast to be devoured. The +princess renewed her complaints and lamentations in a most +affecting manner. The surgeon was moved and being unwilling to +leave her in so distressed a condition, proposed to her to return +to the town offering her his house and service. + +She suffered herself to be prevailed on. The surgeon conducted +her to his house, and without knowing, as yet, who she was, +treated her with all imaginable courtesy and respect. He used +all his endeavours to comfort her, but it was vain to think of +removing her sorrow, which was rather heightened than diminished. +"Madam," said he to her one day, "be pleased to recount to me +your misfortunes; tell me your country and your condition. +Perhaps I may give you some good advice, when I am acquainted +with all the circumstances of your calamity. You do nothing but +afflict yourself, without considering that remedies may be found +for the most desperate diseases." + +The surgeon's words were so efficacious, that they wrought on the +princess, who recounted to him all her adventures: and when she +had done, the surgeon directed his discourse to her; "Madam," +said he, "you ought not thus to give way to your sorrow; you +ought rather to arm yourself with resolution, and perform what +the name and the duty of a wife require of you. You are bound to +avenge your husband. If you please, I will wait on you as your +attendant. Let us go to the sultan of Harran's court; he is a +good and a just prince. You need only represent to him in lively +colours, how prince Codadad has been treated by his brothers. I +am persuaded he will do you justice." "I submit to your +reasons," answered the princess; "it is my duty to endeavour to +avenge Codadad; and since you are so generous as to offer to +attend me, I am ready to set out." No sooner had she fixed this +resolution, than the surgeon ordered two camels to be made ready, +on which the princess and he mounted, and repaired to Harran. + +They alighted at the first caravanserai they found, and inquired +of the host the news at court. "It is," said he, "in very great +perplexity. The sultan had a son, who lived long with him as a +stranger, and none can tell what is become of the young prince. +One of the sultan's wives, named Pirouzè, is his mother; she has +made all possible inquiry, but to no purpose. All are concerned +at the loss of this prince, because he had great merit. The +sultan has forty-nine other sons, all by different mothers, but +not one of them has virtue enough to comfort him for the death of +Codadad; I say, his death, because it is impossible he should be +still alive, since no intelligence has been heard of him, +notwithstanding so much search has been made." + +The surgeon having heard this account from the host, concluded +that the best course the princess of Deryabar could take was to +wait upon Pirouzè; but that step was not without some danger, and +required much precaution: for it was to be feared, that if the +sultan of Harran's sons should happen to hear of the arrival of +their sister-in-law, and her design, they might cause her to be +conveyed away before she could discover herself to Codadad's +mother. The surgeon weighed all these circumstances, considered +what risk he might run himself, and therefore, that he might +manage matters with discretion, desired the princess to remain in +the caravanserai, whilst he repaired to the palace, to observe +which might be the safest way to conduct her to Pirouzè. + +He went accordingly into the city, and was walking towards the +palace, like one led only by curiosity to see the court, when he +beheld a lady mounted on a mule richly accoutred. She was +followed by several ladies mounted also on mules, with a great +number of guards and black slaves. All the people formed a lane +to see her pass along, and saluted her by prostrating themselves +on the ground. The surgeon paid her the same respect, and then +asked a calender, who happened to stand by him, "Whether that +lady was one of the sultan's wives?" "Yes, brother," answered +the calender, "she is, and the most honoured and beloved by the +people, because she is the mother of prince Codadad, of whom you +must have heard." + +The surgeon asked no more questions, but followed Pirouzè to a +mosque, into which she went to distribute alms, and assist at the +public prayers which the sultan had ordered to be offered up for +the safe return of Codadad. The people, who were highly +concerned for that young prince, ran in crowds to join their vows +to the prayers of the priests, so that the mosque was quite full. +The surgeon broke through the throng, and advanced to Pirouzè's +guards. He waited the conclusion of the prayers, and when the +princess went out, stepped up to one of her slaves, and whispered +him in the ear, "Brother, I have a secret of moment to impart to +the princess Pirouzè; may not I, by your means, be introduced +into her apartment?" "If that secret," answered the slave, +"relate to prince Codadad, I dare promise you shall have audience +of her this very day; but if it concern not him, it is needless +for you to endeavour to be introduced; for her thoughts are all +engrossed by her son, and she will not hear of any other +subject." "It is only about that dear son," replied the surgeon, +"that I wish to speak to her." "If so," said the slave, "you +need only follow us to the palace, and you shall soon have the +opportunity." + +Accordingly, as soon as Pirouzè was returned to her apartment, +the slave acquainted her that a person unknown had some important +information to communicate to her, and that it related to prince +Codadad. No sooner had he uttered these words, than Pirouzè +expressed her impatience to see the stranger. The slave +immediately conducted him into the princess's closet, who ordered +all her women to withdraw, except two, from whom she concealed +nothing. As soon as she saw the surgeon, she asked him eagerly, +what news he had to tell her of Codadad? "Madam," answered the +surgeon, after having prostrated himself on the ground, "I have a +long account to give you, and such as will surprise you." He +then related all the particulars of what had passed between +Codadad and his brothers, which she listened to with eager +attention; but when he came to speak of the murder, the tender +mother fainted away on her sofa, as if she had herself been +stabbed like her son. Her two women used proper means, and soon +brought her to herself. The surgeon continued his relation; and +when he had concluded, Pirouzè said to him, "Go back to the +princess of Deryabar, and assure her from me that the sultan +shall soon own her for his daughter-in-law; and as for yourself, +be satisfied, that your services shall be rewarded as liberally +as they deserve." + +When the surgeon was gone, Pirouzè remained on the sofa, in such +a state of affliction as may easily be imagined; and yielding to +her tenderness at the recollection of Codadad, "O my son," said +she, "I must never then expect to see you more! Alas! when I +gave you leave to depart from Samaria, and you took leave of me, +I did not imagine that so unfortunate a death awaited you at such +a distance from me. Unfortunate Codadad! Why did you leave me? +You would not, it is true, have acquired so much renown, but you +had been still alive, and not have cost your mother so many +tears." While she uttered these words, she wept bitterly, and +her two attendants moved by her grief, mingled their tears with +hers. + +Whilst they were all three in this manner vying in affliction, +the sultan came into the closet, and seeing them in this +condition, asked Pirouzè whether she had received any bad news +concerning Codadad? "Alas! sir," said she, "all is over, my son +has lost his life, and to add to my sorrow, I cannot pay him the +funeral rites; for, in all probability, wild beasts have devoured +him." She then told him all she had heard from the surgeon, and +did not fail to enlarge on the inhuman manner in which Codadad +had been murdered by his brothers. + +The sultan did not give Pirouzè time to finish her relation, but +transported with anger, and giving way to his passion, "Madam," +said he to the princess, "those perfidious wretches who cause you +to shed these tears, and are the occasion of mortal grief to +their father, shall soon feel the punishment due to their guilt." +The sultan having spoken these words, with indignation in his +countenance, went directly to the presence-chamber where all his +courtiers attended, and such of the people as had petitions to +present to him. They were alarmed to see him in passion, and +thought his anger had been kindled against his people. Their +hearts were chilled with fear. He ascended the throne, and +causing his grand vizier to approach, "Hassan," said he, "go +immediately, take a thousand of my guards, and seize all the +princes, my sons; shut them up in the tower used as a prison for +murderers, and let this be done in a moment." All who were +present trembled at this extraordinary command; and the grand +vizier, without uttering a word, laid his hand on his head, to +express his obedience, and hastened from the hall to execute his +orders. In the mean time the sultan dismissed those who attended +for audience, and declared he would not hear of any business for +a month to come. He was still in the hall when the vizier +returned. "Are all my sons," demanded he, "in the tower?" "They +are, sir," answered the vizier, "I have obeyed your orders." +"This is not all," replied the sultan, "I have further commands +for you;" and so saying he went out of the hall of audience, and +returned to Pirouzè's apartment, the vizier following him. He +asked the princess where Codadad's widow had taken up her +lodging? Pirouzè's women told him, for the surgeon had not +forgotten that in his relation. The sultan then turning to his +minister, "Go," said he, "to this caravanserai, and conduct a +young princess who lodges there, with all the respect due to her +quality, to my palace." + +The vizier was not long in performing what he was ordered. He +mounted on horseback with all the emirs and courtiers, and +repaired to the caravanserai, where the princess of Deryabar was +lodged, whom he acquainted with his orders; and presented her, +from the sultan, a fine white mule, whose saddle and bridle were +adorned with gold, rubies, and diamonds. She mounted, and +proceeded to the palace. The surgeon attended her, mounted on a +beautiful Tartar horse which the vizier had provided for him. +All the people were at their windows, or in the streets, to see +the cavalcade; and it being given out that the princess, whom +they conducted in such state to court, was Codadad's wife, the +city resounded with acclamations, the air rung with shouts of +joy, which would have been turned into lamentations had that +prince's fatal adventure been known; so much was he beloved by +all. + +The princess of Deryabar found the sultan at the palace-gate, +waiting to receive her: he took her by the hand, and led her to +Pirouzè's apartment, where a very moving scene took place. +Codadad's wife found her affliction redouble at the sight of her +husband's father and mother; as, on the other hand, those parents +could not look on their son's wife without being much affected. +She cast herself at the sultan's feet, and having bathed them +with tears, was so overcome with grief, that she was not able to +speak. Pirouzè was in no better state. And the sultan, moved by +these affecting objects, gave way to his own feelings, and wept. +All three, mingling their tears and sighs, for some time observed +a silence, equally tender and pitiful. At length the princess of +Deryabar, being somewhat recovered, recounted the adventure of +the castle, and Codadad's disaster. Then she demanded justice +for the treachery of the princes. "Yes, madam," said the sultan, +"those ungrateful wretches shall perish; but Codadad's death must +be first made public, that the punishment of his brothers may not +cause my subjects to rebel; and though we have not my son's body, +we will not omit paying him the last duties." This said, he +directed his discourse to the vizier, and ordered him to cause to +be erected a dome of white marble, in a delightful plain, in the +midst of which the city of Harran stands. Then he appointed the +princess of Deryabar a suitable apartment in his palace, +acknowledging her for his daughter-in-law. + +Hassan caused the work to be carried on with such diligence, and +employed so many workmen, that the dome was soon finished. +Within it was erected a tomb, which was covered with gold +brocade. When all was completed, the sultan ordered prayers to +be said, and appointed a day for the obsequies of his son. + +On that day all the inhabitants of the city went out upon the +plain to see the ceremony performed, which was after the +following manner. The sultan, attended by his vizier and the +principal lords of the court, proceeded towards the dome, and +being come to it, he went in and sat down with them on carpets of +black satin embroidered with gold flowers. A great body of +horse-guards hanging their heads, drew up close about the dome, +and marched round it twice, observing a profound silence; but at +the third round they halted before the door, and all of them with +a loud voice pronounced these words: "O prince! son to the +sultan, could we by dint of sword, and human valour, repair your +misfortune, we would bring you back to life; but the King of +kings has commanded, and the angel of death has obeyed." Having +uttered these words, they drew off, to make way for a hundred old +men, all of them mounted on black mules, and having long grey +beards. These were anchorites, who had lived all their days +concealed in caves. They never appeared in sight of the world, +but when they were to assist at the obsequies of the sultans of +Harran, and of the princes of their family. Each of these +venerable persons carried on his head a book, which he held with +one hand. They took three turns round the dome without uttering +a word; then stopping before the door, one of them said, "O +prince! what can we do for thee? If thou couldst be restored to +life by prayer or learning, we would rub our grey beards at thy +feet, and recite prayers; but the King of the universe has taken +thee away for ever." + +This said, the old men moved to a distance from the dome, and +immediately fifty beautiful young maidens drew near to it; each +of them mounted on a little white horse; they wore no veils, and +carried gold baskets full of all sorts of precious stones. They +also rode thrice round the dome, and halting at the same place as +the others had done, the youngest of them spoke in the name of +all, as follows: "O prince! once so beautiful, what relief can +you expect from us? If we could restore you to life by our +charms, we would become your slaves. But you are no longer +sensible to beauty, and have no more occasion for us." + +When the young maids were withdrawn, the sultan and his courtiers +arose, and having walked thrice around the tomb, the sultan spoke +as follows: "O my dear son, light of my eyes, I have then lost +thee for ever!" He accompanied these words with sighs, and +watered the tomb with his tears; his courtiers weeping with him. +The gate of the dome was then closed, and all the people returned +to the city. Next day there were public prayers in all the +mosques, and the same was continued for eight days successively. +On the ninth the king resolved to cause the princes his sons to +be beheaded. The people incensed at their cruelty towards +Codadad, impatiently expected to see them executed. The +scaffolds were erecting, but the execution was respited, because, +on a sudden, intelligence was brought that the neighbouring +princes, who had before made war on the sultan of Harran, were +advancing with more numerous forces than on the first invasion, +and were then not far from the city. It had been long known that +they were preparing for war, but their preparations caused no +alarm. This news occasioned general consternation, and gave new +cause to lament the loss of Codadad, who had signalized himself +in the former war against the same enemies. "Alas!" said they, +"were the brave Codadad alive, we should little regard those +princes who are coming to surprise us." The sultan, nothing +dismayed, raised men with all possible speed, formed a +considerable army, and being too brave to await the enemy's +coming to attack him within his walls, marched out to meet them. +They, on their side, being informed by their advanced parties +that the sultan of Harran was marching to engage them, halted in +the plain, and formed their army. + +As soon as the sultan discovered them, he also drew up his +forces, and ranged them in order of battle. The signal was given +and he attacked them with extraordinary vigour; nor was the +opposition inferior. Much blood was shed on both sides, and the +victory remained long dubious; but at length it seemed to incline +to the sultan of Harran's enemies, who, being more numerous, were +upon the point of surrounding him, when a great body of cavalry +appeared on the plain, and approached the two armies. The sight +of this fresh party daunted both sides, neither knowing what to +think of them: but their doubts were soon cleared; for they fell +upon the flank of the sultan of Harran's enemies with such a +furious charge, that they soon broke and routed them. Nor did +they stop here; they pursued them, and cut most of them in +pieces. + +The sultan of Harran, who had attentively observed all that +passed, admired the bravery of this strange body of cavalry, +whose unexpected arrival had given the victory to his army. But, +above all, he was charmed with their chief, whom he had seen +fighting with a more than ordinary valour. He longed to know the +name of the generous hero. Impatient to see and thank him, he +advanced towards him, but perceived he was coming to prevent him. +The two princes drew near, and the sultan of Harran discovering +Codadad in the brave warrior who had just assisted him, or rather +defeated his enemies, became motionless with joy and surprise. +"Father," said Codadad to him, "you have sufficient cause to be +astonished at the sudden appearance before your majesty of a man, +whom perhaps you concluded to be dead. I should have been so had +not heaven preserved me still to serve you against your enemies." +"O my son!" cried the sultan, "is it possible that you are +restored to me? Alas! I despaired of seeing you more." So +saying he stretched out his arms to the young prince, who flew to +such a tender embrace. + +"I know all, my son," said the sultan again, after having long +held him in his arms. "I know what return your brothers have +made you for delivering them out of the hands of the black; but +you shall be revenged to-morrow. Let us now go to the palace +where your mother, who has shed so many tears on your account, +expects me to rejoice with us for the defeat of our enemies. +What a joy will it be to her to be informed, that my victory is +your work!" "Sir," said Codadad, "give me leave to ask how you +could know the adventure of the castle? Have any of my brothers, +repenting, owned it to you?" "No," answered the sultan; "the +princess of Deryabar has given us an account of every thing, for +she is in my palace and came thither to demand justice against +your brothers." Codadad was transported with joy, to learn that +the princess his wife was at the court. "Let us go, sir," cried +he to his father in rapture, "let us go to my mother, who waits +for us. I am impatient to dry up her tears, as well as those of +the princess of Deryabar." + +The sultan immediately returned to the city with his army, and +re-entered his palace victorious, amidst the acclamations of the +people, who followed him in crowds, praying to heaven to prolong +his life, and extolling Codadad to the skies. They found Pirouzè +and her daughter-in-law waiting to congratulate the sultan; but +words cannot express the transports of joy they felt, when they +saw the young prince with him: their embraces were mingled with +tears of a very different kind from those they had before shed +for him. When they had sufficiently yielded to all the emotions +that the ties of blood and love inspired, they asked Codadad by +what miracle he came to be still alive? + +He answered, that a peasant mounted on a mule happening +accidentally to come into the tent, where he lay senseless, and +perceiving him alone, and stabbed in several places, had made him +fast on his mule, and carried him to his house, where he applied +to his wounds certain herbs chewed, which recovered him. "When I +found myself well," added he, "I returned thanks to the peasant, +and gave him all the diamonds I had. I then made for the city of +Harran; but being informed by the way, that some neighbouring +princes had gathered forces, and were on their march against the +sultan's subjects, I made myself known to the villagers, and +stirred them up to undertake his defence. I armed a great number +of young men, and heading them, happened to arrive at the time +when the two armies were engaged." + +When he had done speaking, the sultan said, "Let us return thanks +to God for having preserved Codadad; but it is requisite that the +traitors, who would have destroyed him, should perish." "Sir," +answered the generous prince, "though they are wicked and +ungrateful, consider they are your own flesh and blood: they are +my brothers; I forgive their offence, and beg you to pardon +them." This generosity drew tears from the sultan, who caused +the people to be assembled and declared Codadad his heir. He +then ordered the princes, who were prisoners, to be brought out +loaded with irons. Pirouzè's son struck off their chains, and +embraced them all successively, with as much sincerity and +affection as he had done in the court of the black's castle. The +people were charmed with Codadad's generosity, and loaded him +with applause. The surgeon was next nobly rewarded in requital +of the services he had done the princess of Deryabar. + + + + + + THE STORY OF ABOU HASSAN, OR THE SLEEPER + AWAKENED. + + + +In the reign of the caliph Haroon al Rusheed, there lived at +Bagdad a very rich merchant, who, having married a woman advanced +in years, had but one son, whom he named Abou Hassan, and +educated with great restraint: when his son was thirty years old, +the merchant dying, left him his sole heir, and master of great +riches, amassed together by much frugality and close application +to business. Abou Hassan, whose views and inclinations were very +different from those of his father, determined to make another +use of his wealth; for as his father had never allowed him any +money but what was just necessary for subsistence, and he had +always envied those young persons of his age who wanted for +nothing, and who debarred themselves from none of those pleasures +to which youth are so much addicted, he resolved in his turn to +distinguish himself by extravagancies proportionable to his +fortune. To this end he divided his riches into two parts; with +one half he bought houses in town, and land in the country, with +a resolution never to touch the income of his real estate, which +was considerable enough to live upon .very handsomely, but lay it +all by as he received it. With the other half, which consisted of +ready money, he designed to make himself amends for the time he +had lost by the severe restraint in which his father had always +kept him. + +With this intent, Abou Hassan formed a society with youths of his +own age and condition, who thought of nothing but how to make +their time pass agreeably. Every day he gave them splendid +entertainments, at which the most delicate viands were served up, +and the most exquisite wines flowed in profusion, while concerts +of the best vocal and instrumental music by performers of both +sexes heightened their pleasures, and this young band of +debauchees with the glasses in their hands, joined their songs +with the music. These feasts were accompanied by ballets, for +which the best dancers of both sexes were engaged. These +entertainments, renewed every day, were so expensive to Abou +Hassan, that he could not support the extravagance above a year: +and the great sum which he had appropriated to this prodigality +and the year ended together. As soon as he discontinued keeping +this table, his friends forsook him; whenever they saw him they +avoided him, and if by chance he met any of them, and went to +stop them, they always excused themselves on some presence or +other. + +Abou Hassan was more affected by this behaviour of his friends, +who had forsaken him so basely and ungratefully, after all the +protestations they had made him, of inviolable attachment, than +by the loss of all the money he had so foolishly squandered. He +went melancholy and thoughtful, his countenance expressive of +deep vexation, into his mother's apartment, and sat down on the +end of a sofa at a distance from her. "What is the matter with +you, son?" said his mother, seeing him thus depressed. "Why are +you so altered, so dejected, and so different from yourself? You +could not certainly be more concerned, if you had lost all you +had. I know you have lived very extravagantly, and believe all +your money is spent; you have still, however, a good estate; and +the reason that I did not so much oppose your irregular way of +living was, that I knew the wise precaution you had taken to +preserve half your property. I do not, therefore, see why you +should plunge yourself into this deep melancholy." + +At these words Abou Hassan melted into tears; and in the midst of +his sighs exclaimed, "Ah! mother, I see at last how insupportable +poverty must be; I am sensible that it deprives us of joy, as the +setting of the sun does of light. As poverty makes us forget all +the commendations passed upon us before our fall, it makes us +endeavour to conceal ourselves, and spend our nights in tears and +sorrow. In short, a poor man is looked upon, both by friends and +relations, as a stranger. You know, mother, how I have treated my +friends for this year past; I have entertained them with all +imaginable generosity, till I have spent all my money, and now +they have left me, when they suppose I can treat them no longer. +For my real estate, I thank heaven for having given me grace to +keep the oath I made not to encroach upon that. I shall now know +how to use what is left. But I will, however, try how far my +friends, who deserve not that I should call them so, will carry +their ingratitude. I will go to them one after another, and when +I have represented to them what I have done on their account, ask +them to make up a sum of money, to relieve me, merely to try if I +can find any sentiment of gratitude remaining in them." + +"I do not pretend, son," said Abou Hassan's mother, "to dissuade +you from your design; but I can tell you beforehand, that you +have no ground for hope. Believe me, you will kind no relief but +from the estate you have reserved. I see you do not, but will +soon, know those people, who, among persons of your sort, are +generally called friends, and I wish to heaven you may know it in +the manner I desire, for your own good." "Mother," replied Abou +Hassan, "I am persuaded of the truth of what you say, but shall +be more certain of a fact which concerns me so nearly, when I +shall have informed myself fully of their baseness and +insensibility." Abou Hassan went immediately to his friends, whom +he found at home; represented to them the great need he was in, +and begged of them to assist him. He promised to give bonds to +pay them the money they might lend him; giving them to understand +at the same time, that it was, in a great measure, on their +account that he was so distressed. That he might the more +powerfully excite their generosity, he forgot not to allure them +with the hopes of being once again entertained in the same manner +as before. + +Not one of his companions was affected with the arguments which +the afflicted Abou Hassan used to persuade them; and he had the +mortification to find, that many of them told him plainly they +did not know him. + +He returned home full of indignation; and going into his mother's +apartment, said, "Ah! madam, you were right; instead of friends, +I have found none but perfidious ungrateful wretches, who deserve +not my friendship; I renounce them, and promise you I will never +see them more." He resolved to be as good as his word, and took +every precaution to avoid falling again into the inconvenience +which his former prodigality had occasioned; taking an oath never +to give an inhabitant of Bagdad any entertainment while he lived. +He drew the strong box into which he had put the rents received +from his estates from the recess where he had placed it in +reserve, put it in the room of that he had emptied, and resolved +to take out every day no more than was sufficient to defray the +expense of a single person to sup with him, who, according to the +oath he had taken, was not of Bagdad, but a stranger arrived in +the city the same day, and who must take his leave of him the +following morning. + +Conformably to this plan, Abou Hassan took care every morning to +provide whatever was necessary, and towards the close of the +evening, went and sat at the end of Bagdad bridge; and as soon as +he saw a stranger, accosted him civilly invited him to sup and +lodge with him that night, and after having informed him of the +law he had imposed upon himself, conducted him to his house. The +repast with which Abou Hassan regaled his guests was not costly, +but well dressed, with plenty of good wine, and generally lasted +till the night was pretty far advanced; instead of entertaining +his guests with the affairs of state, his family, or business, as +is too frequent, he conversed on different agreeable subjects. He +was naturally of so gay and pleasant a temper, that he could give +the most agreeable turns to every subject, and make the most +melancholy persons merry. When he sent away his guest the next +morning, he always said, "God preserve you from all sorrow +wherever you go; when I invited you yesterday to come and sup +with me, I informed you of the law I have imposed on myself; +therefore do not take it ill if I tell you that we must never see +one another again, nor drink together, either at home or any +where else, for reasons best known to myself: so God conduct +you." + +Abou Hassan was very exact in the observance of this oath, and +never looked upon or spoke to the strangers he had once +entertained; if he met them afterwards in the streets, the +squares, or any public assemblies, he affected not to see them, +and turned away to avoid them, that they might not speak to him, +or he have any communication with them. He had acted for a long +time in this manner, when, one afternoon, a little before sunset, +as he sat upon the bridge according to custom, the caliph Haroon +al Rusheed came by, but so disguised that it was impossible to +know him; for that monarch, though his chief ministers and +officers of justice acquitted themselves of their duty very +punctually, would nevertheless inform himself of every thing, and +for that purpose often disguised himself in different ways, and +walked through the city and suburbs of Bagdad, sometimes one way +and sometimes another. That day, being the first of the month, he +was dressed like a merchant of Moussul, and was followed by a +tall stout slave. + +As the caliph had in his disguise a grave and respectable +appearance, Abou Hassan, who thought him to be a Moussul +merchant, rose up, and after having saluted him with a graceful +air, said to him, "Sir, I congratulate you on your happy arrival +in Bagdad, I beg you to do me the honour to sup with me, and +repose yourself at my house for this night, after the fatigue of +your journey." He then told him his custom of entertaining the +first stranger he met with. The caliph found something so odd and +singular in Abou Hassan's whim, that he was very desirous to know +the cause; and told him that he could not better merit a +civility, which he did not expect as a stranger, than by +accepting the obliging offer made him; that he had only to lead +the way, and he was ready to follow him. + +Abou Hassan treated the caliph as his equal, conducted him home, +and led him into a room very neatly furnished, where he set him +on a sofa, in the most honourable place. Supper was ready, and +the cloth laid. Abou Hassan's mother, who took upon herself the +care of the kitchen, sent up three dishes; the first contained a +capon and four large pullets, which was set in the middle; and +the second and third, placed on each side, contained, one a fat +roasted goose, and the other broiled pigeons. This was all; but +they were good of the kind and well flavoured, with proper +sauces. + +Abou Hassan sat down opposite his guest, and he and the caliph +began to eat heartily of what they liked best, without speaking +or drinking, according to the custom of the country. When they +had done eating, the caliph's slave brought them water to wash +their hands: and in the mean time Abou Hassan's mother cleared +the table, and brought up a dessert of all the various sorts or +fruits then in season; as grapes, peaches, apples, pears, and +various pastes of dried almonds, &c. As soon as it grew dark, wax +candles were lighted, and Abou Hassan, after requesting his +mother to take care of the caliph's slave, set on bottles and +glasses. + +Abou Hassan sitting down with the pretended Moussul merchant +again, filled out a glass of wine before he touched the fruit; +and holding it in his hand, said to the caliph, "You know, sir, +that the cock never drinks before he calls to his hens to come +and drink with him; I invite you to follow my example. I do not +know what you may think; but, for my part, I cannot reckon him a +wise man who does not love wine. Let us leave that sort of people +to their dull melancholy humours, and seek for mirth, which is +only to be found in a bumper." + +While Abou Hassan was drinking' the caliph taking the glass that +was set for him, said, "You are an honest fellow; I like your +pleasant temper, and expect you will fill me as much." Abou +Hassan, as soon as he had drunk, filled the caliph's glass, and +giving it to him, "Taste this wine, sir," said he, "I will +warrant it good." "I am well persuaded of that," replied the +caliph, laughing, "you know how to choose the best." "O," replied +Abou Hassan, while the caliph was drinking his glass, "one need +only look in your face to be assured that you have seen the +world, and know what good living is. If," added he in Arabic +verse, "my house could think and express its joy, how happy would +it be to possess you, and, bowing before you, would exclaim, How +overjoyed am I to see myself honoured with the company of so +accomplished and polite a personage, and for meeting with a man +of your merit.'" + +The caliph, naturally fond of merriment, was highly diverted with +these sallies of Abou Hassan, and artfully promoted drinking, +often asking for wine, thinking that when it began to operate, he +might from his talkativeness satisfy his curiosity. He asked him +his name, his business, and how he spent his life. "My name, +sir," replied he, "is Abou Hassan. I lost my father, who was a +merchant of Bagdad, and though not the richest, yet lived very +comfortably. When he died, he left me money enough to live free +from business; but as he always kept a very strict hand over me, +I was willing, when he was gone, to make up for the time I +thought I had lost. Notwithstanding this," continued Abou Hassan, +"I was more prudent than most young people who give themselves up +to debauchery, without any thought, pursue it till they reduce +themselves to the utmost poverty, and are forced to do penance +during the rest of their lives. To avoid this misfortune, I +divided what I had left me into two parts, landed estate and +ready money. I destined the ready money to supply the expenses of +entertaining my acquaintance. I meditated, and took a fixed +resolution not to touch my rents. I associated with young people +of my own age, and with my ready money, which I spent profusely, +treated them splendidly every day; and in short, spared for no +sort of pleasure. But this course did not last long; for by the +time the year was out, I had got to the bottom of my box, and +then all my table-friends vanished. I made a visit to every one +of them successively, and represented to them the miserable +condition I was in, but none of them offered to relieve me. Upon +this I renounced their friendship, and retrenched so far, as to +live within the compass of my income, bound myself to keep +company with none but the first stranger I might meet with coming +every day into Bagdad, and to entertain him but one day and one +night. I have told you the rest before; and I thank my good +fortune this day for having met with a stranger of so much +worth." + +The caliph was well satisfied with this information, and said to +Abou Hassan, "I cannot enough commend the measures you have +taken, and the prudence with which you have acted, by forsaking +your debauchery; a conduct rarely to be met with in young +persons; and I esteem you the more for being steady to your +resolution. It was a slippery path you trod in, and I cannot but +admire your self-command, that, after having seen the end of your +ready money, you could so far refrain as not to enter upon your +rents, or even your estate. In short, I must own, I envy your +situation. You are the happiest man in the world, to enjoy every +day the company of some one with whom you can discourse freely +and agreeably, and to whom you give an opportunity to declare, +wherever he goes, how handsome he was received by you. But we +talk too long without drinking; come, drink, and pour out a glass +for me." + +In this manner the caliph and Abou Hassan conversed together, +drinking and talking of indifferent subjects, till the night was +pretty far advanced; when the caliph, pretending to be fatigued +after his journey, told his host he stood in need of a little +rest. "But," added he, "as I would not deprive you of yours on my +account, before we part (because to-morrow I may be gone before +you are stirring), I should be glad to shew you how sensible I am +of your civility, and the good cheer and hospitality you have +strewn me. The only thing that troubles me is, that I know not +which way to make you any acknowledgment. I beg of you, +therefore, to let me understand how I may do it' and you shall +see I will not be ungrateful; for it is impossible but a man like +you must have some business, some want, or wish for something +agreeable to you. Speak freely, and open your mind; for though I +am but a merchant, it may be in my power to oblige you myself, or +by some friend." + +To these offers of the caliph, Abou Hassan, taking him still for +a Moussul merchant, replied, "I am very well persuaded, sir, that +it is not out of compliment that you make me these generous +tenders; but upon the word of an honest man, I assure you, I have +nothing that troubles me, no business, nor desires, and I ask +nothing of any body. I have not the least ambition, as I told you +before; and am satisfied with my condition: therefore, I can only +thank you for your obliging proffers, and the honour you have +done me in condescending to partake of my frugal fare. Yet I must +tell you," pursued Abou Hassan, "there is one thing gives me +uneasiness, without, however, disturbing my rest. You must know +the town of Bagdad is divided into quarters, in each of which +there is a mosque with an imaum to perform service at certain +hours, at the head of the quarter which assembles there. The +imaum of the division I live in is a surly curmudgeon, of an +austere countenance, and the greatest hypocrite in the world. +Four old men of this neighbourhood, who are people of the same +stamp, meet regularly every day at this imaum's house. There they +vent their slander, calumny, and malice against me and the whole +quarter, to the disturbance of the peace of the neighbourhood, +and the promotion of dissension. Some they threaten, others they +frighten; and, in short, would be lords paramount, and have every +one govern himself according to their caprice, though they know +not how to govern themselves. Indeed, I am sorry to see that they +meddle with any thing but their Koraun, and will not let the +world live quietly." + +"Well, I suppose," said the caliph, "you wish to have a stop put +to this disorder?" "You have guessed right," answered Abou +Hassan; "and the only thing I should pray for, would be to be +caliph but for one day, in the stead of our sovereign lord and +master Haroon al Rusheed, commander of the faithful." "What would +you do if you were?" said the caliph. "I would make examples of +them," answered Abou Hassan, "to the satisfaction of all honest +men. I would punish the four old men with each a hundred +bastinadoes on the soles of their feet, and the imaum with four +hundred, to teach them not to disturb and abuse their neighbours +in future." + +The caliph was extremely pleased with this thought of Abou +Hassan's; and as he loved adventures, resolved to make this a +very singular one. "Indeed," said he, "I approve much of your +wish, which proceeds from an upright heart, that cannot bear the +malice of such officious hypocrites; I could like to see it +realized, and it is not so impossible as you may imagine. I am +persuaded that the caliph would willingly put his authority for +twenty-four hours into your hands if he knew your intentions, and +the good use you would make of it. Though a foreign merchant, I +have credit enough to contribute in some degree to the execution +of this plan." "I see," said Abou Hassan, "you laugh at my +foolish fancy, and the caliph himself would laugh at my +extravagance if he knew it: yet it would be a means of informing +him of the behaviour of the imaum and his companions, and induce +him to chastise them." + +"Heaven forbid," replied the caliph, "that I, who have been so +handsomely entertained by you, should laugh at you; neither do I +believe, as much a stranger as I am to you, that the caliph would +be displeased: but let us leave off talking; it is almost +midnight, and time to go to bed." "With all my heart," said Abou +Hassan; "I would not be any hindrance to your going to rest; but +there is still some wine in the bottle, and if you please we will +drink it off first, and then retire. The only thing that I have +to recommend to you is, that when you go out in the morning, if I +am not up, you will not leave the door open, but give yourself +the trouble of shutting it after you." This the caliph promised +to do: and while Abou Hassan was talking, took the bottle and two +glasses, filled his own first, saying, "Here is a cup of thanks +to you," and then filling the other, put into it artfully a +little opiate powder, which he had about him and giving it to +Abou Hassan, said, "You have taken the pains to fill for me all +night, and it is the least I can do to save you the trouble once: +I beg you to take this glass; drink it off for my sake." + +Abou Hassan took the glass, and to shew his guest with how much +pleasure he received the honour, drank it off at once; but had +scarcely set the glass upon the table, when the powder began to +operate; he fell into so sound a sleep, and his head knocked +against his knees so suddenly, that the caliph could not help +laughing. The caliph commanded the slave he had brought with him, +who entered the room as soon as he had supped, and had waited to +receive orders, to take Abou Hassan upon his back, and follow +him; but to be sure to observe the house, that he might know it +again. In this manner the caliph, followed by the slave with his +sleeping load, went out of the house, but without shutting the +door after him as he had been desired, went directly to his +palace, and by a private door into his own apartment, where the +officers of his chamber were in waiting, whom he ordered to +undress Abou Hassan, and put him into his bed, which they +immediately performed. + +The caliph then sent for all the officers and ladies of the +palace, and said to them, "I would have all those whose business +it is to attend my levee wait to-morrow morning upon the man who +lies in my bed, pay the same respect to him as to myself, and +obey him in whatever he may command; let him be refused nothing +that he asks, and be addressed and answered as if he were the +commander of the faithful. In short, I expect that you attend to +him as the true caliph, without regarding me; and disobey him not +in the least circumstance." + + +The officers and ladies, who understood that the caliph meant to +divert himself, answered by low bows, and then withdrew, every +one preparing to contribute to the best of their power to perform +their respective parts adroitly. + +The caliph next sent for the grand vizier: "Jaaffier," said he, +"I have sent for you to instruct you, and to prevent your being +surprised to-morrow when you come to audience, at seeing this man +seated on my throne in the royal robes: accost him with the same +reverence and respect as you pay to myself: observe and +punctually execute whatever he bids you do, the same as if I +commanded you. He will exercise great liberality, and commission +you with the distribution of it. Do all he commands; even if his +liberality should extend so far as to empty all the coffers in my +treasury; and remember to acquaint all my emirs, and the officers +without the palace, to pay him the same honour at audience as to +myself, and to carry on the matter so well, that he may not +perceive the least thing that may interrupt the diversion which I +design myself." + +After the grand vizier had retired, the caliph went to bed in +another apartment, and gave Mesrour, the chief of his eunuchs, +the orders which he was to execute, that every thing should +succeed as he intended, so that he might see how Abou Hassan +would use the power and authority of the caliph for the short +time he had desired to have it. Above all, he charged him not to +fail to awaken him at the usual hour, before he awakened Abou +Hassan, because he wished to be present when he arose. + +Mesrour failed not to do as the caliph had commanded, and as soon +as the caliph went into the room where Abou Hassan lay, he placed +himself in a little raised closet, from whence he could see all +that passed. All the officers and ladies, who were to attend Abou +Hassan's levee, went in at the same time, and took their posts +according to their rank, ready to acquit themselves of their +respective duties, as if the caliph himself had been going to +rise. + +As it was just day-break, and time to prepare for the morning +prayer before sun rise, the officer who stood nearest to the head +of the bed put a sponge steeped in vinegar to Abou Hassan's nose, +who immediately turning his head about, without opening his eyes, +discharged a kind of phlegm, which was received in a little +golden basin before it fell on the carpet. This was the usual +effect of the caliph's powder, the sleep lasting longer or +shorter, in proportion to the dose. When Abou Hassan laid down +his head on the bolster, he opened his eyes; and by the dawning +light that appeared, found himself in a large room, magnificently +furnished, the ceiling of which was finely painted in Arabesque, +adorned with vases of gold and silver, and the floor covered with +a rich silk tapestry. He saw himself surrounded by many young and +handsome ladies, many of them having instruments of music in +their hands, and black eunuchs richly clothed, all standing with +great modesty and respect. After casting his eyes on the covering +of the bed, he perceived it was cloth of gold richly embossed +with pearl and diamonds; and near the bed lay, on a cushion, a +habit of tissue embroidered with jewels, with a caliph's turban. + +At the sight of these glittering objects, Abou Hassan was in the +most inexpressible amazement, and looked upon all he saw as a +dream; yet a dream he wished it not to be. "So," said he to +himself, "I am caliph; but," added he, recollecting himself, "it +is only a dream, the effect of the wish I entertained my guest +with last night ;" and then he turned himself about and shut his +eyes to sleep. At the same time the eunuch said very +respectfully, "Commander of the faithful, it is time for your +majesty to rise to prayers, the morning begins to advance." + +These words very much surprised Abou Hassan. "Am I awake, or do I +sleep?" said he to himself. "Ah, certainly I am asleep!" +continued he, keeping his eyes shut; "there is no reason to doubt +of it." + +Immediately the eunuch, who saw he had no inclination to get up, +said again, "Your majesty must permit me to repeat once more that +it is time to rise to morning prayer, unless you choose to let it +pass; the sun is just rising, and you never neglect this duty." +"I am mistaken," said Abou Hassan immediately, "I am not asleep, +but awake; for those who sleep do not hear, and I hear somebody +speak to me;" then opening his eyes again, he saw plainly by +broad day-light, what he had seen but indistinctly before; and +started up, with a smiling countenance, like a man overjoyed at +sudden promotion. The caliph, from his recess, penetrated his +thoughts with great delight. + +The young ladies of the palace now prostrated themselves with +their faces to the ground before Abou Hassan, and those who had +instruments of music in their hands wished him a good morrow, by +a concert of soft flutes, hautboys, theorboes, and other +harmonious instruments, with which he was enchanted, and in such +an ecstacy, that he knew not whether he was himself; but +reverting to his first idea, he still doubted whether what he saw +and heard was a dream or reality. He clapped his hands before his +eyes, and lowering his head, said to himself, "What means all +this? Where am I? and to whom does this palace belong? What can +these eunuchs, handsome well-dressed officers, beautiful ladies, +and musicians mean: How is it possible for me to distinguish +whether I am in my right senses or in a dream?" + +When he took his hands from his eyes, opened them, and lifted up +his head, the sun shone full in at the chamber window; and at +that instant Mesrour, the chief of the eunuchs, came in, +prostrated himself before Abou Hassan, and said, "Commander of +the faithful, your majesty will excuse me for representing to +you, that you used not to rise so late, and that the time of +prayer is over. If your majesty has not had a bad night, it is +time to ascend your throne and hold a council as usual; all your +generals, governors, and other great officers of state, wait your +presence in the council-hall." + +At this discourse, Abou Hassan was persuaded that he was neither +asleep nor in a dream; but at the same time was not less +embarrassed and confused under his uncertainty what steps to +take: at last, looking earnestly at Mesrour, he said to him in a +serious tone, "Whom is it you speak to, and call the commander of +the faithful? I do not know you, and you must mistake me for +somebody else." + +Any person but Mesrour would have been puzzled at these questions +of Abou Hassan; but he had been so well instructed by the caliph, +that he played his part admirably. "My imperial lord and master," +said he, "your majesty only speaks thus to try me. Is not your +majesty the commander of the faithful, monarch of the world from +east to west, and vicar on earth to the prophet sent of God? +Mesrour, your poor slave, has not forgotten you, after so many +years that he has had the honour and happiness to serve and pay +his respects to your majesty. He would think himself the most +unhappy of men, if he has incurred your displeasure, and begs of +you most humbly to remove his fears; but had rather suppose that +you have been disturbed by some troublesome dream." + +Abou Hassan burst out laughing at these words, and fell backwards +upon the bolster, which pleased the caliph so much that he would +have laughed as loud himself, if he had not been afraid of +putting a stop too soon to the pleasant scene he had promised +himself. + +Abou Hassan, when he had tired himself with laughing, sat up +again, and speaking to a little eunuch that stood by him, black +as Mesrour, said, "Hark ye, tell me whom I am?" "Sir," answered +the little boy, modestly, "your majesty is the commander of the +believers, and God's vicar on earth." "You are a little liar, +black face," said Abou Hassan. Then he called the lady that stood +nearest to him; "Come hither, fair one," said he, holding out his +hand, "bite the end of my finger, that I may feel whether I am +asleep or awake." + +The lady, who knew the caliph saw all that passed, was overjoyed +to have an opportunity of strewing her power of diverting him, +went with a grave countenance, and putting his finger between her +teeth, bit it so hard that she put him to violent pain. Snatching +his hand quickly back again, he said, "I find I am awake and not +asleep. But by what miracle am I become caliph in a night's time! +this is certainly the most strange and surprising event in the +world!" Then addressing himself to the same lady, he said, "I +conjure you, by the protection of God, in whom you trust as well +as I, not to hide the truth from me; am I really the commander of +the faithful?" "It is so true," answered the lady, "that we who +are your slaves are amazed to find that you will not believe +yourself to be so." "You are a deceiver," replied Abou Hassan: "I +know very well who I am." + +As the chief of the eunuchs perceived that Abou Hassan now wished +to rise, he offered him his hand, and helped him to get out of +bed. No sooner were his feet set on the floor, than the chamber +rang with the repeated acclamations of the officers and ladies, +who cried out all together, "Commander of the faithful, God give +your majesty a good day." "O heaven!" cried Abou Hassan, "what a +strange thing this is! Last night I was Abou Hassan, and this +morning I am the commander of the believers! I cannot comprehend +this sudden and surprising change." Presently some of the +officers began to dress him; and when they had done, Mesrour led +him through all the eunuchs and ladies, who were ranged on both +sides, quite to the council chamber door, which was opened by one +of the officers. Mesrour walked before him to the foot of the +throne, where he stopped, and putting one hand under one arm, +while another officer who followed did the same by the other, +they helped him to ascend the throne. Abou Hassan sat down amidst +the acclamations of the officers, who wished him all happiness +and prosperity, and turning to the right and left he saw the +officers of the guards ranged in order, and making a fine +appearance. + +The caliph in the mean time came out of the closet, and went into +another, which looked into the hall, from whence he could see and +hear all that passed in council, where his grand vizier presided +in his place. What pleased him highly, was to see Abou Hassan +fill his throne with almost as much gravity as himself. + +As soon as Abou Hassan had seated himself, the grand vizier +prostrated himself at the foot of the throne, and rising, said, +"Commander of the faithful, God shower down blessings on your +majesty in this life, receive you into his paradise in the other +world, and confound your enemies." + +Abou Hassan, after all that had happened that morning, at these +words of the grand vizier, never doubted but that he was caliph, +as he wished to be; and without examining any farther, how or by +what adventure, or sudden change of fortune, he had become so, +immediately began to exercise his power, and looking very gravely +at the vizier, asked him what he had to say? "Commander of the +faithful," replied the grand vizier, "the emirs, Vizier, and +other officers of your council, wait without till your majesty +gives them leave to pay their accustomed respects." Abou Hassan +ordered the door to be opened, and the grand vizier addressing +himself to the officers in waiting, said, "Chief of the door- +keepers, the commander of the faithful orders you to do your +duty." + +When the door was opened, the viziers, emirs, and principal +officers of the court, all dressed magnificently in their habits +of ceremony, went in their order to the foot of the throne, paid +their respects to Abou Hassan; and bowing their heads down to the +carpet, saluted him with the title of commander of the faithful, +according to the instructions of the grand vizier, and afterwards +took their seats. + +When this ceremony was over, and they were all placed, there was +a profound silence. The grand vizier always standing before the +throne, began according to the order of papers in his hand to +make his report of affairs, which at that time were of very +little consequence. Nevertheless, the caliph could not but admire +how Abou Hassan acquitted himself in his exalted station without +the least hesitation or embarrassment, and decided well in all +matters, as his own good sense suggested. But before the grand +vizier had finished his report, Abou Hassan perceived the judge +of the police, whom he knew by sight, sitting in his place. +"Stop," said he, to the grand vizier, interrupting him; "I have +an order of consequence to give to the judge of the police." The +judge of the police perceiving that Abou Hassan looked at him, +and hearing his name mentioned, arose from his seat, and went +gravely to the foot of the throne, where he prostrated himself +with his face to the ground. "Judge of the police," said Abou +Hassan, "go immediately to such a quarter, where you will find a +mosque, seize the imaum and four old grey beards, give each of +the old men a hundred bastinadoes, and the imaum four hundred. +After that, mount them all five, clothed in rags, on camels, with +their faces to the tails, and lead them through the whole city, +with a crier before them, who shall proclaim with a loud voice, +This is the punishment of all those who trouble their heads with +other people's affairs, make it their business to create +disturbances and misunderstandings in families in their +neighbourhood, and do them all the mischief in their power.' My +intention is also, that you enjoin them to leave that quarter, +and never to set foot in it more: and while your lieutenant is +conducting them through the town, return, and give me an account +of the execution of my orders." The judge of the police laid his +hand upon his head, to shew his obedience, and prostrating +himself a second time retired to execute the mandate. + +The caliph was highly pleased at the firmness with which this +order was given, and perceived that Abou Hassan was resolved not +to lose the opportunity of punishing the imaum and the other four +old hypocrites of his quarter. In the mean time the grand vizier +went on with his report, and had just finished, when the judge of +the police came back from executing his commission. He approached +the throne with the usual ceremony, and said, "Commander of the +faithful, I found the imaum and his four companions in the +mosque, which your majesty pointed out; and as a proof that I +have punctually obeyed your commands, I have brought an +instrument signed by the principal inhabitants of the ward." At +the same time he pulled a paper out of his bosom, and presented +it to the pretended caliph. + +Abou Hassan took the paper, and reading it over cautiously with +the names of the witnesses, who were all people he knew, said to +the judge of the police, smiling, "It is well; I am satisfied; +return to your seat." "These old hypocrites," said he to himself, +with an air of satisfaction "who thought fit to censure my +actions, and find fault with my entertaining honest people, +deserved this punishment." The caliph all the time penetrated his +thoughts, and felt inconceivable delight at his frolic. + +Abou Hassan, then addressing himself to the grand vizier, said, +"Go to the high treasurer for a purse of a thousand pieces of +gold, and carry it to the mother of one Abou Hassan, who is known +by the name of the debauchee; she lives in the same quarter to +which I sent the judge of the police. Go, and return +immediately." + +The grand vizier, after laying his hand upon his head, and +prostrating himself before the throne, went to the high +treasurer, who gave him the money, which he ordered a slave to +take, and to follow him to Abou Hassan's mother, to whom he gave +it, saying only, "The caliph makes you this present." She +received it with the greatest surprise imaginable. + +During the grand vizier's absence, the judge of the police made +the usual report of his office, which lasted till the vizier +returned. As soon as he came into the council-chamber, and had +assured Abou Hassan that he had executed his orders, Mesrour, the +chief of the eunuchs, made a sign to the viziers, the emirs, and +other officers, that the council was over, and that they might +all retire; which they did, by making the same prostration at the +foot of the throne as when they entered. + +Abou Hassan descended from the caliph's throne, and Mesrour went +before him, to shew him the way into an inner apartment, where +there was a table spread; several eunuchs ran to tell the +musicians that the sham caliph was coming, when they immediately +began a concert of vocal and instrumental music, with which Abou +Hassan was so charmed and transported, that he could not tell +what to think of all he saw and heard. "If this is a dream," said +he, "it is a long one. But certainly," continued he, "it is no +dream; for I can see and feel, walk and hear, and argue +reasonably; whatever it is, I trust in God; I cannot but believe +that I am the commander of the faithful, for no other person +could live in this splendour. The honour and respect that has +been strewn me, and the obedience paid to my commands, are +sufficient proofs of my exaltation." + +In short, Abou Hassan took it for granted that he was the +commander of the faithful; but was still more convinced of it +when he entered a magnificent and spacious hall, which was finely +painted with the brightest colours intermixed with gold. Seven +bands of female musicians, more beautiful than the others, were +placed round the hall, and as many gold chandeliers hung from the +ceiling, which was painted with blue and gold, intermixed with +wonderful effect. In the middle of the hall was spread a table +covered with massive gold plates and dishes, which scented the +apartment with the spices and amber wherewith the meat was +seasoned; and seven young and most beautiful ladies, dressed in +the richest habits of the most vivid colours, stood round this +table, each with a fan in her hand, to fan Abou Hassan when at +dinner. + +If ever mortal was charmed, Abou Hassan was when he entered this +stately hall. At every step he took, he could not help stopping +to contemplate at leisure all the wonders that regaled his eyes, +and turned first to one side, and then to the other; which gave +the caliph, who viewed him with attention, very great pleasure. +At last he sat down at the table, and presently all the ladies +began to fan the new caliph. He looked first at one, then at +another, and admired the grace with which they acquitted +themselves. He told them with a smile, that he believed one of +them was enough to give him all the air he wanted, and would have +six of the ladies sit at table with him, three on his right hand, +and three on his left; and he placed them so, that as the table +was round, which way soever he turned, his eyes might be saluted +with agreeable objects. + +The six ladies obeyed; and Abou Hassan taking notice, that out of +respect they did not eat, helped them himself, and invited them +to eat in the most pressing and obliging terms. Afterwards he +asked their names, which they told him were Alabaster Neck, Coral +Lips, Moon Face, Sunshine, Eye's Delight, Heart's Delight, and +she who fanned him was Sugar Cane. The many soft things he said +upon their names shewed him to be a man of sprightly wit, and it +is not to be conceived how much it increased the esteem which the +caliph (who saw every thing) had already conceived for him. + +When the ladies observed that Abou Hassan had done eating, one of +them said to the eunuchs who waited, "The commander of the +faithful will go into the hall where the dessert is laid; bring +some water;" upon which they all rose from the table, and taking +from the eunuch, one a gold basin, another an ewer of the same +metal, and a third a towel, kneeled before Abou Hassan, and +presented them to him to wash his hands. As soon as he had done, +he got up, and after an eunuch had opened the door, went, +preceded by Mesrour, who never left him, into another hall, as +large as the former, adorned with paintings by the best masters, +and furnished with gold and silver vessels, carpets, and other +rich furniture. There seven different bands of music began a +concert as soon as Abou Hassan appeared. In this hall there were +seven large lustres, a table in the middle covered with dried +sweetmeats, the choicest and most exquisite fruits of the season, +raised in pyramids, in seven gold basins; and seven ladies more +beautiful than the others standing round it, each with a fan in +her hand. + +These new objects raised still greater admiration in Abou Hassan; +who, after he had made a full stop, and given the most sensible +marks of surprise and astonishment, went directly to the table, +where sitting down, he gazed a considerable time at the seven +ladies, with an embarrassment that plainly shewed he knew not to +which to give the preference. At last he ordered them all to lay +aside their fans and sit down, and eat with him, telling them +that it was not so hot, but he could spare them that trouble. + +When the ladies were all placed about him, the first thing he did +was to ask their names, which were different from the other +seven, and expressed some perfection of mind or body, which +distinguished them from one another: upon which he took an +opportunity, when he presented them with fruit, &c., to say +something gallant. "Eat this fig for my sake," said he to Chain +of Hearts, who sat on his right hand; "and render the fetters, +with which you loaded me the first moment I saw you, more +supportable." Then, presenting a bunch of grapes to Soul's +Torment, "Take this cluster of grapes," said he, "on condition +you instantly abate the torments which I suffer for your sake;" +and so on to the rest. By these sallies Abou Hassan more and more +amused the caliph, who was delighted with his words and actions, +and pleased to think he had found in him a man who diverted him +so agreeably. + +After Abou Hassan had tasted all the fruits in the basin, he got +up and followed Mesrour into a third hall, much more +magnificently furnished than the other two; where he was received +by the same number of musicians and ladies, who stood round a +table covered with all manner of wet sweetmeats. After he had +looked about him with new wonder, he advanced to the table, the +music playing all the time till he sat down. The seven ladies, by +his order, sat down with him, helped themselves, as he desired, +to what they liked best; and he afterwards informed himself of +their names, which pleased him as much as the others had done, +and led him to say as many soft things to them, to the great +diversion of the caliph, who lost not a word. + +By this time the day beginning to close, Abou Hassan was +conducted into a fourth hall, much more superb and magnificently +furnished, lighted with wax in seven gold lustres, which gave a +splendid light. Abou Hassan found the same number of musicians +here as he had done in the three other halls, performing in +concert in the most agreeable manner, and seeming to inspire +greater joy; and he saw as many ladies standing round a table +covered with seven gold basins filled with cakes, dried +sweetmeats, and all such relishes as were calculated to promote +drinking. There he saw, which he had not observed in any of the +other halls, a sideboard set out with seven large silver flagons +full of the choicest wines, and by them seven crystal glasses of +the finest workmanship. + +Hitherto, in the three first halls, Abou Hassan had drunk nothing +but water, according to the custom observed at Bagdad, from the +highest to the lowest and at the caliph's court, never to drink +wine till the evening; all who transgress this rule being +accounted debauchees, who dare not shew themselves in the day- +time. This custom is the more laudable, as it requires a clear +head to apply to business in the course of the day; and as no +wine is drunk till evening, no drunken people are seen in the +streets in open day creating disturbance in the city. + +As soon as Abou Hassan entered the fourth hall, he went to the +table, sat down, and was a long time in a kind of ecstasy at the +sight of the seven ladies who surrounded him, and were much more +beautiful than any he had beheld in the other halls. He was very +desirous to know their names; but as the music played so loud, +and particularly the tambour, that he could not hear them speak, +he clapped his hands for the musicians to cease, when a profound +silence ensued. Taking by the hand the lady who stood on the +right next to him, he made her sit down by him, and presenting +her with a cake, asked her name. "Commander of the faithful," +said the lady, "I am called Cluster of Pearls." "No name," +replied Abou Hassan, "could have more properly expressed your +worth; and indeed your teeth exceed the finest pearls. Cluster of +Pearls," added he, "since that is your name, oblige me with a +glass of wine from your fair hand." The lady went to the +sideboard and brought him a glass of wine, which she presented to +him with a pleasant air. Abou Hassan took the glass with a smile, +and looking passionately at her, said, "Cluster of Pearls, I +drink your health; I desire you to fill out as much for yourself, +and pledge me." She ran to the sideboard, and returned with a +glass in her hand; but before she drank, she sung a song, which +charmed him as much by the sweetness of her voice as by its +novelty. + +After Abou Hassan had drunk, he made another lady sit down by +him, and presenting her with what she chose in the basins, asked +her name, which she told him was Morning Star. "Your bright +eyes," said he, "shine with greater lustre than that star whose +name you bear. Do me the pleasure to bring me some wine," which +she did with the best grace in the world. Then turning to the +third lady, whose name was Day-light, he ordered her to do the +same, and so on to the seventh, to the extreme satisfaction of +the caliph. + +When they had all filled him a glass round, Cluster of Pearls, +whom he had just addressed, went to the sideboard, poured out a +glass of wine, and putting in a pinch of the same powder the +caliph had used the night before, presented it to Abou Hassan; +"Commander of the faithful," said she, "Il beg of your majesty to +take this glass of wine, and before you drink it, do me the +favour to hear a song I have composed to-day, and which I flatter +myself will not displease you. I never sung it before." "With all +my heart," said Abou Hassan, taking the glass, "and, as commander +of the faithful, I command you to sing it; for I am persuaded +that so beautiful a lady cannot compose a song which does not +abound with wit and pleasantry." The lady took a lute, and tuning +it to her voice, sung with so much justness, grace, and +expression, that Abou Hassan was in perfect ecstasy all the time, +and was so much delighted, that he ordered her to sing it again, +and was as much charmed with it as at first. + +When the lady had concluded, Abou Hassan drank off his glass, and +turned his head towards her to give her those praises which he +thought she merited, but was prevented by the opiate, which +operated so suddenly, that his mouth was instantly wide open, and +his eyes close shut, and dropping his head on the cushions, he +slept as profoundly as the day before when the caliph had given +him the powder. One of the ladies stood ready to catch the glass, +which fell out of his hand; and then the caliph, who enjoyed +greater satisfaction in this scene than he had promised himself, +and was all along a spectator of what had passed, came into the +hall to them, overjoyed at the success of his plan. He ordered +Abou Hassan to be dressed in his own clothes, and carried back to +his house by the slave who had brought him, charging him to lay +him on a sofa in the same room, without making any noise, and to +leave the door open when he came away. + +The slave took Abou Hassan upon his shoulders, carried him home +by a back door of the palace, placed him in his own house as he +was ordered, and returned with speed, to acquaint the caliph. +"Well," said the caliph, "Abou Hassan wished only to be caliph +for one day, to punish the imaum of the mosque of his quarter, +and the four old men who had displeased him: I have procured him +the means of doing this, and he ought to be content." + +In the mean time, Abou Hassan, who was laid upon his sofa by the +slave, slept till very late the next morning. When the powder was +worked off, he awoke, opened his eyes, and finding himself at +home, was in the utmost surprise. "Cluster of Pearls! Morning +Star! Coral Lips! Moon Face!" cried he, calling the ladies of the +palace by their names, as he remembered them; "where are you? +come hither." + +Abou Hassan called so loud, that his mother, who was in her own +apartment, heard him, and running to him upon the noise he made, +said "What ails you, son? what has happened to you?" At these +words Abou Hassan lifted up his head, and looking haughtily at +his mother, said, "Good woman! who is it you call son?" "Why +you," answered his mother very mildly; "are not you Abou Hassan +my son? It is strange that you have forgotten yourself so soon." +"I your son! old bull!" replied Abou Hassan; "you are a liar, and +know not what you say! I am not Abou Hassan, I tell you, but the +commander of the faithful!" + +"Hold your tongue, son," answered the mother "one would think you +are a fool, to hear you talk thus." "You are an old fool +yourself," replied Abou Hassan; "I tell you once more I am the +commander of the faithful, and God's vicar on earth!" "Ah! +child," cried the mother, "is it possible that I should hear you +utter such words that shew you are distracted! What evil genius +possesses you, to make you talk at this rate? God bless you, and +preserve you from the power of Satan. You are my son Abou Hassan, +and I am your mother." + +After she had used all the arguments she could think of to bring +him to himself, and to shew how great an error he was in, she +said, "Do not you see that the room you are now in is your own, +and is not like a chamber in a palace fit for the commander of +the believers? and that you have never left it since you were +born, but lived quietly at home with me. Think seriously of what +I say, and do not fancy things that are not, nor ever can be. +Once more, my son, think seriously of it." + +Abou Hassan heard all these remonstrances of his mother very +patiently, holding down his eyes, and clapping his hands under +his chin, like a man recollecting himself, to examine the truth +of what he saw and heard. At last, he said to his mother, just as +if he was awaking out of a deep sleep, and with his hand in the +same posture, "I believe you are right, methinks I am Abou +Hassan, you are my mother, and I am in my own room." Then looking +at her again, and at every object before him, he added, "I am +Abou Hassan, there is no doubt of it, and I cannot comprehend how +this fancy came into my head." + +The mother really believed that her son was cured of the disorder +of his mind, which she ascribed to a dream, began to laugh with +him, and ask him questions about it; when suddenly he started up, +and looking crossly at his mother, said, "Old sorceress, you know +not what you say. I am not your son, nor you my mother. You +deceive yourself and would deceive me. I tell you I am the +commander of the faithful, and you shall never persuade me to the +contrary!" "For heaven's sake, son," said the mother, "let us +leave off this discourse; recommend yourself to God, for fear +some misfortune should happen to us; let us talk of something +else. I will tell you what happened yesterday in our quarter to +the imaum of the mosque, and the four scheiks our neighbours: the +judge of the police came and seized them, and gave each of them I +know not how many strokes with a bastinado, while a crier +proclaimed, That such was the punishment of all those who +troubled themselves about other people's business, and employed +themselves in setting their neighbours at variance:' he +afterwards led them through all the streets, and ordered them +never to come into our quarter again." Abou Hassan's mother +little thought her son had any share in this adventure, and +therefore had turned the discourse on purpose to put him out of +the conceit of being the commander of the faithful; but instead +of effacing that idea, she recalled it, and impressed the more +deeply in his mind, that it was not imaginary but real. + +Abou Hassan no sooner heard this relation, but he cried out, "I +am neither thy son, nor Abou Hassan, but certainly the commander +of the believers. I cannot doubt after what you have told me. +Know then that it was by my order the imaum and the four scheiks +were punished, and I tell you I am certainly the commander of the +faithful: therefore say no more of its being a dream. I was not +asleep, but as much awake as I am now. You do me much pleasure to +confirm what the judge of the police told me he had executed +punctually according to my order; I am overjoyed that the imaum +and the four scheiks, those great hypocrites, were so chastised, +and I should be glad to know how I came here. God be praised for +all things! I am certainly commander of the faithful, and all thy +arguments shall not convince me of the contrary." + +The mother, who could not imagine why her son so strenuously and +positively maintained himself to be caliph, no longer doubted but +that he had lost his senses, when she found he insisted so much +on a thing that was so incredible; and in this thought said, "I +pray God, son, to have mercy upon you! Pray do not talk so madly. +Beseech God to forgive you, and give you grace to talk more +reasonably. What would the world say to hear you rave in this +manner? Do you not know that walls have ears?'" + +These remonstrances only enraged Abou Hassan the more; and he was +so provoked at his mother, that he said, "Old woman, I have +desired you once already to hold your tongue. If you do not, I +shall rise and give you cause to repent all your lifetime. I am +the caliph and the commander of the believers; and you ought to +credit me when I say so." + +The good woman supposing that he was more distracted than ever, +abandoned herself to tears, and beating her face and breast, +expressed the utmost grief and astonishment to see her son in +such a state. Abou Hassan, instead of being appeased or moved by +his mother's tears, lost all the respect due from a son to his +mother. Getting up hastily, and laying hold of a switch, he ran +to his mother in great fury, and in a threatening manner that +would have frightened any one but a mother so partial to him, +said, "Tell me directly, wicked woman, who I am." "I do not +believe, son," replied she, looking at him tenderly, and without +fear, "that you are so abandoned by God as not to know your +mother, who brought you into the world, and to mistake yourself. +You are indeed my son Abou Hassan, and are much in the wrong to +arrogate to yourself the title which belongs only to our +sovereign lord the caliph Haroon al Rusheed, especially after the +noble and generous present the monarch made us yesterday. I +forgot to tell you, that the grand vizier Jaaffier came to me +yesterday, and putting a purse of a thousand pieces of gold into +my hands, bade me pray for the commander of the faithful, who had +sent me that present; and does not this liberality concern you +more than me, who have but a short time to live?" + +At these words Abou Hassan grew quite mad. The circumstance of +the caliph's liberality persuaded him more than ever that he was +caliph, remembering that he had sent the vizier. "Well, old hag," +cried he, "will you be convinced when I tell you that I sent you +those thousand pieces of gold by my grand vizier Jaaffier, who +obeyed my commands, as I was commander of the faithful? But +instead of believing me, you endeavour to distract me by your +contradictions, and maintain with obstinacy that I am your son; +but you shall not go long unpunished." After these words, he was +so unnatural, in the height of his frenzy, as to beat her cruelly +with his cane. + +The poor mother, who could not have thought that her son would +have come so soon from words to blows, called out for help so +loud, that the neighbours ran in to her assistance. Abou Hassan +continued to beat her, at every stroke asking her if he was the +commander of the faithful? to which she always answered tenderly, +that he was her son. + +By the time the neighbours came in Abou Hassan's rage began to +abate. The first who entered the room got between him and his +mother, and taking the switch out of his hand, said to him, "What +are you doing, Abou Hassan? have you lost all fear of God and +your reason? Did ever a son so well brought up as you dare to +strike his mother? are you not ashamed so to treat yours, who +loves you so tenderly?" Abou Hassan, still full of fury, looked +at him who spoke without returning an answer; and then staring on +all the rest of his neighbours who had followed, said, "Who is +that Abou Hassan you speak of? Is it me you call by that name?" + +This question disconcerted the neighbours. "How!" said he who +spoke first, "do not you know your mother who brought you up, and +with whom you have always lived?" "Be gone, you are impertinent +vagabonds," replied Abou Hassan; "I neither knew her nor you, and +will not know her. I am not Abou Hassan; I am the commander of +the faithful, and will make you feel it to your cost." + +At this speech the neighbours no longer doubted that he was mad: +and to prevent his repeating his outrages, seized him, +notwithstanding his resistance, and bound him hand and foot, But +though apparently disabled from doing any mischief, they did not +choose to leave him alone with his mother. Two of them ran for +the keeper of the hospital for insane persons, who came presently +with chains, handcuffs, a bastinado, and many attendants. When +they entered the room, Abou Hassan, who little expected such +treatment, struggled to unloose himself; but after his keeper had +given him two or three smart strokes upon the shoulders, he lay +so quiet, that the keeper and his people did what they pleased +with him. As soon as they had bound and manacled him, they took +him with them to the hospital. When he was got out of the house +into the street, the people crowded round him, one buffeted him, +another boxed him, and others called him fool and madman. To all +this treatment he replied, "There is no greatness and power but +in God most high and almighty. I am treated as a fool, though I +am in my right senses. I suffer all these injuries and +indignities for the love of God." He was conducted to the +hospital, where he was lodged in a grated cell; but before he was +shut up, the keeper, who was hardened to such terrible execution, +regaled him without pity with fifty strokes of the bastinado on +his shoulders, which he repeated every day for three weeks, +bidding him remember that he was not the commander of the +faithful. "I am not mad," said Abou Hassan, "but if I wanted your +assistance, nothing would so effectually make me mad as your +cruel treatment. I want not your advice." + +Abou Hassan's mother went every day to visit her son, and could +not forbear weeping at beholding him fall away, and sigh and +complain at the hardships he endured. In short, his shoulders, +back, and sides were so black and bruised, that he could not turn +himself. His mother would willingly have talked with him, to +comfort him, and to sound him whether he still retained the +notion of being caliph; but whenever she opened her mouth, he +stopped her with so much fury, that she was forced to leave him, +and return home inconsolable at his obstinacy. + +By degrees, however, those strong and lively ideas, which Abou +Hassan had entertained, of having been clothed in the caliph's +habit, having exercised his authority, and been punctually obeyed +and treated like the true caliph, the assurance of which had +persuaded him that he was so, began to wear away. Sometimes he +would say to himself, "If I was the caliph and commander of the +believers, how came I, when I awoke, to find myself at home +dressed in my own apparel? Why should I not have been attended by +eunuchs, and their chief, and a crowd of beautiful ladies? Why +should the grand vizier, and all those emirs and governors of +provinces, who prostrated themselves at my feet, forsake me? +Undoubtedly if I had any authority over them, they would have +delivered me long ago out of the miserable condition I am in; +certainly I ought to look upon all as a dream. It is true, +however, that I commanded the judge of the police to punish the +imaum, and the four old men his companions; I ordered the grand +vizier to carry my mother a thousand pieces of gold; and my +commands were executed. All these points are obstacles to my +believing it a dream; but there are so many things that I cannot +comprehend, nor ever shall, that I will put my trust in God, who +knows all things." + +Abou Hassan was taken up with these thoughts and reflections when +his mother came to see him. She found him so much altered and +emaciated that she shed a torrent of tears; in the midst of which +she saluted him as she used to do, and he returned her +salutation, which he had never done before since he had been in +the hospital. This she looked upon to be a good sign. "Well, my +son," said she, wiping her tears, "how do you do, and how do you +find yourself? Have you renounced all those whims and fancies +which the devil had put into your head?" "Indeed, mother," +replied Abou Hassan, very rationally and calmly, and in a tone +expressive of his grief for the excesses he had been transported +to against her, "I acknowledge my error, and beg of you to +forgive the execrable crime which I have been guilty of towards +you, and which I detest. I ask pardon also of my neighbours whom +I have abused. I have been deceived by a dream; but by so +extraordinary a one, and so like to truth, that I venture to +affirm any other person, to whom such a thing might have +happened, would have been guilty of as great or greater +extravagancies; and I am this instant so much perplexed about it, +that while I am speaking I can hardly persuade myself but that +what befell me was matter of fact, so like was it to what happens +to people who are broad awake. But whatever it was, I do, and +shall always regard it as a dream and an illusion. I am convinced +that I am not that shadow of a caliph and commander of the +faithful, but Abou Hassan your son, the son of a person whom I +always honoured till that fatal day, the remembrance of which +will cover me with confusion, and whom in future I shall honour +and respect all my life as I ought." + +At this rational declaration, the tears of sorrow and affliction +which the mother of Abou Hassan had so long shed were changed +into those of joy. "My son!" cried she, transported with +pleasure, "my satisfaction and comfort to hear you talk so +reasonably is inexpressible: and it gives me as much joy as if I +had brought you into the world a second time; but I must tell you +my opinion of this adventure, and observe one thing which you may +not have noticed; the stranger whom you brought home the evening +before your illness to sup with you went away without shutting +your chamber-door after him, as you desired; which I believe gave +the devil an opportunity to enter, and throw you into the +horrible illusion you have been in: therefore, my son, you ought +to return God thanks for your deliverance, and beseech him to +keep you from falling again into the snares of the evil spirit." + +"You have found out the source of our misfortunes," answered Abou +Hassan. "It was that very night I had this dream which turned my +brain. I bade the merchant expressly to shut the door after him; +and now I find he did not do it. I am persuaded, as well as you, +the devil finding it open came in, and filled my head full of +these fancies. The people of Moussul, from whence this merchant +came, may not know how we at Bagdad are convinced from experience +that the devil is the cause of troublesome dreams when we leave +our chamber-doors open. But since, mother, you see I am, by the +grace of God, so well recovered, for God's sake get me out of +this horrible place, which will infallibly shorten my days if I +stay here any longer." The mother, glad to hear her son was so +well cured of his foolish imagination of being caliph, went +immediately to the keeper, and assuring him that he was very +sensible and well, he came, examined, and released him in her +presence. + +When Abou Hassan came home, he stayed within doors some days to +recover his health by better living than he had found at the +hospital. But when he had recovered his strength, and felt no +longer the effect of the harsh treatment he had suffered in his +confinement, he began to be weary of spending his evenings alone. +He accordingly entered again upon the same plan as he had before +pursued; which was, to provide enough every day to regale a +stranger at night. + +The day on which Abou Hassan renewed his custom of going about +sun-set to the end of Bagdad bridge to stop the first stranger +thee offered, and invite him to do him the honour of supping with +him, happened to be the first day of the month, that which the +caliph always set apart to go in disguise out of some one of the +gates to observe what was committed contrary to the good +government of the city, as established and regulated at the +beginning of his reign. Abou Hassan had not been long arrived at +the bridge, when, looking about him, he perceived the Moussul +merchant, followed by the same slave. Persuaded that all his +misfortunes were owing to the merchant's having left his door +open, he shuddered at the sight of him. "God preserve me," said +he to himself; "if I am not deceived, there is again the magician +who enchanted me!" He trembled with agitation, and looked over +the side railing into the river, that he might not see him till +he was past. + +The caliph, who wished to renew the diversion he had received, +had taken care to inform himself of all that had happened to Abou +Hassan, and enjoyed much pleasure at the relation given him, +especially at his being sent to a mad-house. But as this monarch +was both just and generous, and had taken a great liking to Abou +Hassan, as capable of contributing further to his amusement, and +had doubted whether, after renouncing his frenzied character of a +caliph, he would return to his usual manner of living; with a +view therefore to bring him to his palace, he disguised himself +again like a merchant of Moussul, the better to execute his plan. +He perceived Abou Hassan at the same time that he saw him, and +presently guessed by his action that he was angry, and wished to +shun him. This made him walk close to the side railing; and when +he came nigh him, he put his head over to look him in the face. +"Ho, brother Abou Hassan," said he, "is it you? I greet you! Give +me leave to embrace you?" + +"Not I," replied Abou Hassan, pettishly, without looking at the +pretended Moussul merchant; "I do not greet you; I will have +neither your greeting nor your embraces. Go along!" + +"What!" answered the caliph, "do you not know me? Do you not +remember the evening we spent together at your house this day +month, where you did me the honour to treat me very generously?" +"No," replied Abou Hassan in the same tone, "I do not know you, +nor what you talk about; go, I say again, about your business." + +The caliph was not to be diverted from his purpose by this rude +behaviour. He well knew the law Abou Hassan had imposed on +himself, never to have commerce again with a stranger he had once +entertained; but pretended to be ignorant of it. "I cannot +believe," said he, "but you must know me again; it is not +possible that you should have forgotten me in so short a time. +Certainly some misfortune has befallen you, which inspires you +with this aversion for me. However, you ought to remember, that I +shewed my gratitude by my good wishes, and that I offered you my +interest, which is not to be slighted, in an affair which you had +much at heart." + +"I do not know," replied Abou Hassan, "what your interest may be, +and I have no desire to make use of it: but I am sensible the +utmost of your good wishes ended in making me mad. In God's name, +I say once more, go your way, and trouble me no more." + +"Ah! brother Abou Hassan," replied the caliph, embracing him, "I +do not intend to part with you thus, since I have had the good +fortune to meet with you a second time; you must exercise the +same hospitality towards me again that you shewed me a month ago, +when I had the honour to drink with you." + +"I have protested against this," said Abou Hassan, "and have so +much power over myself, as to decline receiving a second time as +my guest, a man like you who carries misfortunes with him. You +know the proverb, Take up your drum and begone.' Make the +application to yourself. How often must I repeat my refusal. God +be with you! You have been the cause of my sufferings, and I will +not trust myself with you again." "My good friend Abou Hassan," +said the caliph, embracing him, "you treat me in a way I little +expected. I beg of you not to speak to me thus harshly, but be +persuaded of my friendship. Do me the favour to tell me what has +happened to you; for I assure you I wished you well, and still do +so; and would be glad of an opportunity to make you any amends +for the trouble I have caused you, if it has been really my +fault." Abou Hassan yielded to the solicitations of the caliph. +"Your incredulity and importunity," said he, "have tired my +patience; and what I am going to relate will shew you that I do +not accuse you wrongfully." + +The caliph seated himself by Abou Hassan, while he told him all +that had happened to him, from his waking in the palace to his +waking again in his own house, all which he described as a mere +dream, and recounted all the circumstances, which the caliph knew +as well as himself, and which renewed his pleasure. He enlarged +afterwards on the impression which the dream of being caliph and +commander of the faithful had made upon him, which, he said, +threw him into such extravagancies, that his neighbours were +obliged to carry him to a mad-house, where he was treated in a +manner which he deemed most barbarous and inhuman. "But," said +he, "what will surprise you, and what you little think of, is, +that it was altogether your fault that these things happened to +me; for, if you remember, I desired you to shut the door after +you, which you neglected, and the devil, finding it open, entered +and put this dream into my head, which, though it was very +agreeable, was the cause of the misfortune I complain of: you +therefore, for your negligence, are answerable for the horrid and +detestable crime I have committed in lifting my hand against my +mother, whom I might have killed (I blush for shame when I think +of it), because she said I was her son, and would not acknowledge +me for commander of the faithful, as I thought and positively +insisted on to her that I was. You are the cause of the offence I +have given my neighbours, when, running in at the cries of my +poor mother, they surprised me in the horrid act of felling her +at my feet; which would never have happened, if you had taken +care to shut my door when you went away, as I desired you. They +would not have come into my house without my leave; and, what +troubles me most of all, they would not have been witnesses of my +folly. I should not have been obliged to strike them in my own +defence, and they would not have bound and fettered me, to carry +and shut me up in the hospital for madmen, where I assure you +every day that I remained confined in that hell, I received a +score of strokes with a bastinado." Abou Hassan recounted his +complaints with great warmth and vehemence to the caliph, who +knew as well as himself what had passed, and was delighted to +find that he had succeeded so well in his plan to throw him into +the vagaries from which he still was not entirely free. He could +not help laughing at the simplicity wherewith he related them. + +Abou Hassan, who thought that his story should rather have moved +compassion, and that every one ought to be as much concerned at +it as himself, warmly resented the pretended Moussul merchant's +laughter. "What!" said he, "do you make a jest of me and laugh in +my face, or do you believe I laugh at you when I speak seriously? +If you want proof of what I advance, look yourself and see +whether or no I tell you the truth ;" with that, stooping down +and baring his shoulders, he shewed the caliph the scars and +weals which the bastinado had left. + +The caliph could not behold these marks of cruelty without +horror. He pitied Abou Hassan, and felt sorry he had carried the +jest so far. "Come, rise, dear brother," said he to him eagerly, +and embracing Abou Hassan heartily in his arms; "let me go to +your house, and enjoy the happiness of being merry with you to- +night; and to-morrow, if it please God, all things will go well." + +Abou Hassan, notwithstanding his resolution never to admit the +same stranger a second time, could not resist the caresses of the +caliph, whom he still took for a merchant of Moussul. "I will +consent," said he, "if you will swear to shut my door after you, +that the devil may not come in to distract my brain again." The +caliph promised that he would; upon which they both arose, walked +towards the city, and, followed by the caliph's slave, reached +Abou Hassan's house by the time it was dark. + +The caliph, the more to blind Abou Hassan, said to him, "Place +confidence in me; I promise you on my honour I will not break my +word. You need not hesitate to trust a person who wishes you all +happiness and prosperity, of which confidence you will see the +effects." "I desire not that," said Abou Hassan, stopping him +short. "I yield to your importunity; but I dispense with your +good wishes, and beg you in God's name to form none for me. All +the mischief that has hitherto befallen me arose from those you +expressed for me, and from your leaving the door open." "Well," +replied the caliph, still laughing at the misguided imagination +of Abou Hassan, "since you will have it so, I promise you I will +form none." "You give me pleasure by speaking so," said Abou +Hassan; "I desire no more; I shall be more than satisfied +provided you keep your word, and I shall forgive you all the +rest." + +As soon as Abou Hassan entered his house, he called for his +mother and for candles, desired his guest to sit down upon a +sofa, and then placed himself by him. A little time after, supper +was brought up, and they both began to eat without ceremony. When +they had done, Abou Hassan's mother cleared the table, set on a +small dessert of fruit, wine, and glasses by her son, then +withdrew, and appeared no more. Abou Hassan first filled out his +own glass, and then the caliph's: and after they had drunk some +time, and talked of indifferent matters, the caliph, perceiving +that his host grew warm with liquor, began to talk of love, and +asked him if he had ever felt that passion. + +"Brother," replied Abou Hassan, familiarly thinking his guest was +his equal, "I never looked upon love or marriage but as a +slavery, to which I was always unwilling to submit; and must own +to you, that I never loved any thing but good cheer and good +wine; in short, to divert and entertain myself agreeably with my +friends. Yet I do not tell you that I am indifferent to marriage, +or incapable of attachment, if I could meet with a woman of such +beauty and sweetness of temper as her I saw in my dream that +fatal night in which I first received you into my house, and you, +to my misfortune, left my door open, who would pass the whole +night with me drinking, singing, and playing on some instrument, +and in agreeable conversation, and who would study to please and +divert me: I believe, on the contrary, I should change all my +indifference into a perfect attachment to such a person, and, I +think, should live very happily with her. But where is such a +woman to be found except in the caliph's palace, or in those of +the grand vizier or some great lords of the court, who want not +money to provide them? I choose therefore to stick to my bottle, +which is a much cheaper pleasure, and which I can enjoy as well +as the greatest." Saying these words, he filled out his own and +the caliph's glass, and said, "Come, take your glass, and let us +pursue this charming pleasure." + +When they had drunk off their wine, "It is great pity," said the +caliph, "that so gallant a man as you, who owns himself not +insensible of love, should lead so solitary a life." "I prefer +the easy quiet life I live," replied Abou Hassan, "before the +company of a wife, whose beauty might not please me, and who, +besides, might create me a great deal of trouble by her +imperfections and ill-humour." The conversation lasted a long +time, and the caliph seeing Abou Hassan had drunk to the pitch he +desired, said, "Let me alone, since you have the same good taste +as every other honest man, I warrant you I will find you a wife +that shall please you." Then taking Abou Hassan's glass, and +putting a pinch of the same powder into it, filled him up a +bumper, and presenting it to him, said, "Come, let us drink +beforehand the fair lady's health, who is to make you happy. I am +sure you will like her." + +Abou Hassan took the glass laughing, and shaking his head, said, +"Be it so; since you desire it, I cannot be guilty of so great a +piece of incivility, nor disoblige a guest of so much merit in +such a trifling matter. I will drink the health of the lady you +promise me, though I am very well contented as I am, and do not +rely on your keeping your word." No sooner had Abou Hassan drank +off his bumper, than he was seized with as deep a sleep as +before; and the caliph ordered the same slave to take him and +carry him to the palace. The slave obeyed, and the caliph, who +did not intend to send back Abou Hassan as before, shut the door +after him, as he had promised, and followed. + +When they arrived at the palace, the caliph ordered Abou Hassan +to be laid on a sofa, in the fourth hall, from whence he had been +carried home fast asleep a month before; but first he bade the +attendants to put him on the same habit in which he had acted the +caliph, which was done. He then charged all the eunuchs, +officers, ladies, and musicians who were in the hall, when he +drank the last glass of wine which had put him to sleep, to be +there by daybreak, and to take care to act their parts well when +he should awake. He then retired to rest, charging Mesrour to +awake him before they went into the hall, that he might conceal +himself in the closet as before. + +Mesrour, at the hour appointed, awakened the caliph, who +immediately rose, and went to the hall where Abou Hassan lay +still asleep, and when he had placed himself in his closet, +Mesrour and the other officers, ladies, and musicians, who waited +for him, went in, and placed themselves about the sofa, so as not +to hinder the caliph from seeing what passed, and noticing all +his actions. + +Things being thus disposed, and the caliph's powder having had +its effect, Abou Hassan began to awake without opening his eyes, +and threw off the phlegm, which was received in a gold basin as +before. At that instant, the seven bands of singers joined their +voices to the sound of hautboys, fifes, flutes, and other +instruments, forming a very agreeable concert. Abou Hassan was in +great surprise to hear the delightful harmony; but when he opened +his eyes, and saw the ladies and officers about him, whom he +thought he recognized, his amazement increased. The hall that he +was in seemed to be the same he had seen in his first dream, and +he observed the same lustres, and the same furniture and +ornaments. + +The concert ceased, to give the caliph an opportunity of +attending to the countenance of his guest, and all that he might +say in his surprise. The ladies, Mesrour, and all the officers of +the chamber, waited in profound and respectful silence. Abou +Hassan bit his finger, and cried loud enough for the caliph to +hear him, "Alas! I am fallen again into the same dream and +illusion that happened to me a month ago, and must expect again +the bastinado and grated cell at the mad-house. Almighty God," +added he, "I commit myself into the hands of thy divine +providence. He was a wicked man that I entertained at my house +last night, who has been the cause of this illusion, and the +hardships I must again undergo. The base wretch swore to shut the +door after him, but did not, and the devil came in and has turned +my brain with this wicked dream of being commander of the +faithful, and other phantoms which bewitch my eyes. God confound +thee, Satan? and crush thee under some mountain of stones." + +After these words, Abou Hassan closed his eyes, and remained some +time thoughtful and much perplexed; then opening them again, and +looking about him, cried out a second time with less surprise, +and smiling at the various objects before him, "Great God! I +commit myself into the hands of thy providence, preserve me from +the temptation of Satan." Then shutting them again, he said, "I +will go to sleep until Satan leaves me, and returns as he came, +were I to wait till noon." They did not give him time to go to +sleep again as he promised himself; for Strength of Hearts, one +of the ladies whom he had seen before, approached, and sitting +down on the sofa by him, said to him respectfully, "Commander of +the faithful, I entreat your majesty to forgive me for taking the +liberty to tell you not to go to sleep; day appears, and it is +time to rise." "Begone, Satan!" answered Abou Hassan, raising his +voice; but looking at the lady, he said, "Is it me you call the +commander of the faithful? Certainly you take me for somebody +else." "It is to your majesty I give that title," replied the +lady, "to whom it belongs, as you are sovereign of the world, and +I am your most humble slave. Undoubtedly," added she, "your +majesty means to divert yourself by pretending to have forgotten +yourself, or this is the effect of some troublesome dream; but if +you would but open your eyes, the mists which disturb your +imagination would soon be dispelled, and you would find yourself +in your own palace, surrounded by your officers and slaves, who +all wait your commands: and that your majesty may not be +surprised to find yourself in this hall, and not in bed, I beg +leave to inform you, that you fell so suddenly asleep last night, +that we were unwilling to awake you, to conduit you to your +chamber, but laid you carefully upon this sofa." In short, she +said to him so many things which appeared probable, that at last +he sat up, opened his eyes, and recollected her and all the +ladies again. They all approached him, and she who spoke first, +resuming the discourse, said, "Commander of the faithful, and +vicar of the prophet on earth, be not displeased if I acquaint +your majesty once more that it is time to rise, for day appears." + +"You are very troublesome and importunate," replied Abou Hassan, +rubbing his eyes; "I am not the commander of the faithful, but +Abou Hassan; I know it well, and you shall not persuade me +otherwise." "We do not know that Abou Hassan you majesty speaks +of, nor desire to know him," answered the lady; "but we know you +to be the commander of the believers, and you cannot persuade us +to the contrary." + +Abou Hassan looking about, and finding himself in the same hall, +attributed all he saw and heard to such a dream as he had had +before, and greatly feared the dreadful consequences. "Allah have +mercy on me!" said he, lifting up his hands and eyes, like a man +who knew not where he was; "I commit myself into his hands. I +cannot doubt, after what I have seen, but that the devil, who +came into my chamber, possesses me, and fills my imagination full +of all these visions." + +The caliph, who saw him all the time, and heard these +exclamations, began to shake so heartily, that he had much +difficulty to forbear bursting into loud laughter. + +Abou Hassan laying himself down again, and shutting his eyes, the +same lady said, "Commander of the faithful, since your majesty +does not rise, after we have, according to our duty, informed you +it is day, and the dispatch of business requires your presence, +we shall use the liberty you give us in such cases." Then taking +him by one arm, and calling to one of the other ladies to do the +same by the other, they lifted him up, and carried him into the +middle of the hall, where they seated him, and all taking hands, +danced and skipped round him while the music played and sounded +loudly in his ears. + +Abou Hassan was in inexpressible perplexity, and exclaimed, +"What! am I indeed caliph, and commander of the faithful!" And in +his uncertainty, would have said more, but the music was so loud, +that he could not be heard. At last he made a sign to String of +Pearls and Morning Star, two of the ladies who were dancing, that +he wanted to speak with them; upon which they forbore, and went +to him. "Do not lie now," said he, "but tell me truly who I am?" + +"Commander of the faithful," replied Morning Star, "your majesty +means either to surprise us, by asking this question, as if you +did not know that you are commander of the faithful, and vicar on +earth of the prophet of God, master of both worlds, that whereon +we now are and that to come after death, or else you must have +had some extraordinary dream that has made you forget who you +are; which may well be, considering that your majesty has slept +longer than ordinary; however, if you will give me leave, I will +refresh your memory with what passed yesterday." She then told +him how he went to council, punished the imaum, and the four old +men, and had sent a present by his grand vizier of a thousand +pieces of gold to the mother of one Abou Hassan; what he did in +the inner part of the palace, and what passed at the three meals +which he took in the three halls, adding, "In the fourth your +majesty did us the honour to make us sit down by you, to hear our +songs, and received wine from our hands, until your majesty fell +asleep, as Strength of Hearts has told you. From that time your +majesty has continued, contrary to custom, in a sound sleep until +now. Strength of Hearts, all your other slaves, and the officers +present, can confirm what I say, and it is now time you should go +to prayers." + +"Very well," replied Abou Hassan, shaking his head, "you would +have me believe all this; but I tell you, you are all fools, or +mad, and that is great pity, for you are very handsome. Since I +saw you I have been at home, where I used my mother so ill that +they sent me to a mad-house, and kept me there three weeks +against my will, beat me unmercifully every day, and yet you +would make me believe all this to be a dream." "Commander of the +faithful," answered Morning Star, "you are mistaken, we are ready +to swear by all your majesty holds most dear, that all you relate +can be only a dream. You have never stirred out of this hall +since yesterday, but slept here all night." + +The confidence with which the lady assured Abou Hassan that all +she said was truth, and that he had never been out of the hall +since that time, bewildered his senses so that he was at a loss +what to believe. "O Heaven!" said he to himself, "am I Abou +Hassan, or the commander of the faithful! Almighty God, enlighten +my understanding, and inform me of the truth, that I may know +what to trust." He then uncovered his shoulders, and shewed the +ladies the livid weals of the blows he had received. "Look," said +he, "judge whether these strokes could come to me in a dream, or +when I was asleep. For my part, I can affirm, that they were real +blows; I feel the smart of them yet, and that is a testimonial +there is no room to doubt. Now if I received these strokes in my +sleep, it is the most extraordinary thing in the world, and +surpasses my comprehension." + +In this uncertainty Abou Hassan called to one of the officers +that stood near him: "Come hither," said he, "and bite the tip of +my ear, that I may know whether I am asleep or awake." The +officer obeyed, and bit so hard, that he made him cry out loudly +with the pain; the music struck up at the same time, and the +officers and ladies all began to sing, dance, and skip about Abou +Hassan, and made such a noise, that he was in a perfect ecstasy, +and played a thousand ridiculous pranks. He threw off his +caliph's habit, and his turban, jumped up in his shirt and +drawers, and taking hold of two of the ladies' hands, began +singing, jumping and cutting capers, so that the caliph could not +contain himself, but burst into such violent laughter, that he +fell backwards, and was heard above the noise of all the +musicians. He was so long before he could check himself, that it +had like to have been fatal. At last he got up, opened the +lattice, and putting out his head, cried "Abou Hassan, Abou +Hassan, have you a mind to kill me with laughing?" + +As soon as the caliph's voice was heard, every body was silent, +and Abou Hassan, among the rest, who, turning his head to see +from whence the voice came, knew the caliph, and in him +recognised the Moussul merchant, but was not in the least +daunted; on the contrary he became convinced that he was awake, +and that all that had happened to him had been real, and not a +dream. He entered into the caliph's pleasantry. "Ha! ha!" said +he, looking at him with good assurance, "you are a merchant of +Moussul, and complain that I would kill you; you have been the +occasion of my using my mother so ill, and of my being sent to a +mad-house. It was you who treated the imaum and the four scheiks +in the manner they were used, and not me; I wash my hands of it. +It is you who have been the cause of all my disorders and +sufferings: in short, you are the aggressor, and I the injured +person." + +"Indeed, you are in the right, Abou Hassan," answered the caliph, +laughing all the while; "but to comfort you, and make you amends +for all your troubles, I call Heaven to witness, I am ready and +willing to make you what reparation you please to ask." After +these words, he came out of the closet into the hall, ordered one +of his most magnificent habits to be brought, commanded the +ladies to dress Abou Hassan in it, and when they had done, he +said, embracing him, "Thou art my brother; ask what thou wilt, +and thou shalt have it." + +"Commander of the faithful," replied Abou Hassan, "I beg of your +majesty to do me the favour to tell me what you did to disturb my +brain in this manner, and what was your design; for it is a thing +of the greatest importance for me to know, that I may perfectly +recover my senses." + +The caliph was ready to give him this satisfaction, and said, +"First, you are to know, that I often disguise myself, and +particularly at night, to observe if all goes right in Bagdad; +and as I wish to know what passes in its environs, I set apart +the first day of every month to make an excursion, sometimes on +one side, sometimes on another, and always return by the bridge. +The evening that you invited me to supper, I was beginning my +rounds, and in our conversation you told me, that the only thing +you wished for was to be caliph for four-and-twenty hours, to +punish the imaum of your mosque and his four counsellors. I +fancied that this desire of yours would afford me diversion, and +thought immediately how I might procure you the satisfaction you +wished. I had about me a certain powder, which immediately throws +the person who takes it into a sound sleep for a certain time. I +put a dose of it, without being perceived by you, into the last +glass I presented to you, upon which you fell fast asleep, and I +ordered my slave to carry you to my palace, and came away without +shutting the door. I have no occasion to repeat what happened +when you awoke, nor during the whole day till evening, but after +you had been regaled by my orders, one of the ladies put another +dose of the same powder into a glass she gave you; you fell +asleep as before, and the same slave carried you home, and left +the door open. You have told me all that happened to you +afterwards. I never imagined that you could have suffered so much +as you have done. But as I have a great regard for you, I will do +every thing to comfort you, and make you forget all your +sufferings; think of what I can do to serve you, and ask me +boldly what you wish." + +"Commander of the faithful," replied Abou Hassan, "how great +soever my tortures may have been, they are all blotted out of my +remembrance, since I understand my sovereign lord and master had +a share in them. I doubt not in the least of your majesty's +bounty; but as interest never governed me, and you give me +liberty to ask a favour, I beg that it may be that of having +access to your person, to enjoy the happiness of admiring, all my +lifetime, your virtues." + +This proof of disinterestedness in Abou Hassan confirmed the +esteem the caliph had entertained for him. "I am pleased with +your request," said he, "and grant you free access to my person +at all times and all hours." At the same time he assigned him an +apartment in the palace, and, in regard to his pension, told him, +that he would not have him apply to his treasurer, but come +always to him for an order upon him, and immediately commanded +his private treasurer to give him a purse containing a thousand +pieces of gold. Abou Hassan made a low prostration, and the +caliph left him to go to council. + +Abou Hassan took this opportunity to go and inform his mother of +his good fortune, and that what had happened was not a dream; for +that he had actually been caliph, had acted as such, and received +all the honours; and that she had no reason to doubt of it, since +he had this confirmed by the caliph himself. + +It was not long before this story of Abou Hassan was spread +throughout Bagdad, and carried into all the provinces both far +and near, without the omission of a single circumstance. + +The new favourite Abou Hassan was always with the caliph; for, as +he was a man of a pleasent temper, and created mirth wherever he +went by his wit and drollery, the caliph formed no party of +diversion without him, and sometimes carried him to visit his +consort Zobeide, to whom he had related his story. Zobeide, who +observed that every time he came with the caliph, he had his eyes +always fixed upon one of her slaves, called Nouzhatoul-aouadat, +resolved to tell the caliph of it. "Commander of the faithful," +said she one day, "you do not observe that every time Abou Hassan +attends you in your visits to me, he never keeps his eyes off +Nouzhatoul-aouadat, and makes her blush, which is almost a +certain sign that she entertains no aversion for him. If you +approve of it, we will make a match between them." + +"Madam," replied the caliph, "you remind me of what I ought to +have done before. I know Abou Hassan's opinion respecting +marriage from himself, and have always promised him a wife that +should please him. I am glad you mentioned the circumstance; for +I know not how I came to forget it. But it is better that Abou +Hassan should follow his own inclination, and choose for himself. +If Nouzhatoul-aouadat is not averse to it, we ought not to +hesitate upon their marriage; and since they are both present, +they have only to say that they consent." + +Abou Hassan threw himself at the caliph's and Zobeide's feet, to +shew the sense he had of their goodness; and rising up, said, "I +cannot receive a wife from better hands, but dare not hope that +Nouzhatoul-aouadat will give me her hand as readily as I give her +mine." At these words he looked at the princess's slave, who +shewed by her respectful silence, and the sudden blush that arose +in her cheeks, that she was disposed to obey the caliph and her +mistress Zobeide. + +The marriage was solemnized, and the nuptials celebrated in the +palace, with great rejoicings, which lasted several days. Zobeide +made her slave considerable presents, and the caliph did the same +to Abou Hassan. The bride was conducted to the apartment the +caliph had assigned Abou Hassan, who waited for her with all the +impatience of a bridegroom, and received her with the sound of +all sorts of instruments, and musicians of both sexes, who made +the air echo with their concert. + +After these feasts and rejoicings, which lasted several days, the +newly-married couple were left to pursue their loves in peace. +Abou Hassan and his spouse were charmed with each other, lived +together in perfect union, and seldom were asunder, but when +either he paid his respects to the caliph, or she hers to +Zobeide. Indeed, Nouzhatoul-aouadat was endued with every +qualification capable of gaining Abou Hassan's love and +attachment, was just such a wife as he had described to the +caliph, and fit to sit at the head of his table. With these +dispositions they could not fail to pass their lives agreeably. +They kept a good table covered with the nicest and choicest +rarities in season, by an excellent cook, who took upon him to +provide every thing. Their sideboard was always stored with +exquisite wines placed within their reach when at table, where +they enjoyed themselves in agreeable conversation, and afterwards +entertained each other with some pleasantry or other, which made +them laugh more or less, as they had in the day met with +something to divert them; and in the evenings, which they +consecrated to mirth, they had generally some slight repast of +dried sweetmeats, choice fruits, and cakes, and at each glass +invited each other by new songs to drink, and sometimes +accompanied their voices with a lute, or other instruments which +they could both touch. + +Abou Hassan and Nouzhatoul-aouadat led this pleasant life +unattentive to expense, until at length the caterer, who had +disbursed all his and their money for these expenses, brought +them in a long bill in hope of having an advance of cash. They +found the amount to be so considerable, that all the presents +which the caliph and Zobeide had given them at their marriage +were but just enough to pay him. This made them reflect seriously +on what was passed, which, however, was no remedy for the present +evil. But they agreed to pay the caterer; and having sent for +him, gave him all they owed him, without considering the +difficulty they should be in immediately after. + +The caterer went away highly pleased at receiving so large a sum, +though Abou Hassan and his wife were not so well satisfied with +seeing the bottom of their purse, but remained a long time +silent, and very much embarrassed, to find themselves reduced to +poverty the very first year of their marriage. Abou Hassan +remembered that the caliph, when he took him into the palace, had +promised never to let him want. But when he considered how +prodigal he had been of his money, was unwilling to expose +himself to the shame of letting the caliph know the ill use he +had made of his bounty, and that he wanted a supply. Besides, he +had made over his patrimony to his mother, when the caliph had +received him near his person, and was afraid to apply to her, +lest she should discover that he had returned to the same +extravagance he had been guilty of after his father's death. His +wife, on the other hand, regarded Zobeide's generosity, and the +liberty she had given her to marry, as more than a sufficient +recompense for her service, and thought she had no right to ask +more. + +Abou Hassan at last broke silence, and looking at his wife, said, +"I see you are in the same embarrassment as myself, and thinking +what we must do in this unhappy juncture, when our money fails us +so unexpectedly. I do not know what your sentiments may be; but +mine are, let what will happen, not to retrench our expenses in +the least; and I believe you will come into my opinion. The point +is, how to support them without stooping to ask the caliph or +Zobeide: and I think I have fallen on the means; but we must +assist each other." + +This discourse of Abou Hassan very much pleased his wife, and +gave her some hopes. "I was thinking so as well as you," said +she; "but durst not explain my thoughts, because I do not know +how we can help ourselves; and must confess, that what you tell +me gives me a revival of pleasure. Since you say you have found +out a resource, and my assistance is necessary, you need but tell +me in what way, and I will do all that lies in my power." + +"I was sure," replied Abou Hassan, "that you would not fail me in +a business which concerns us both; and therefore I must tell you, +this want of money has made me think of a plan which will supply +us, at least for a time. It consists in a little trick we must +put, I upon the caliph and you upon Zobeide, and at which, as I +am sure they will both be diverted, it will answer advantageously +for us. You and I will both die." "Not I indeed," interrupted +Nouzhatoul-aouadat; "you may die by yourself, if you please, but +I am not so weary of this life; and whether you are pleased or +not, will not die so soon. If you have nothing else to propose, +you may die by yourself; for I assure you I shall not join you." + +"You are a woman of such vivacity and wonderful quickness," +replied Abou Hassan, "that you scarcely give me time to explain +my design. Have but a little patience, and you shall find that +you will be ready enough to die such a death as I intend; for +surely you could not think I meant a real death?" "Well," said +his wife, "if it is but a sham death you design, I am at your +service, and you may depend on my zeal to second you in this +manner of dying; but I must tell you truly, I am very unwilling +to die, as I apprehended you at first." + +"Be but silent a little," said Abou Hassan, "and I will tell you +what I promise. I will feign myself dead, and you shall lay me +out in the middle of my chamber, with my turban upon my face, my +feet towards Mecca, as if ready to be carried out to burial. When +you have done this, you must lament, and weep bitterly, as is +usual in such cases, tear your clothes and hair, or pretend to do +it, and go all in tears, with your locks dishevelled, to Zobeide. +The princess will of course inquire the cause of your grief; and +when you have told her, with words intermixed with sobs, she will +pity you, give you money to defray the expense of my funeral, and +a piece of good brocade to cover my body, that my interment may +be the more magnificent, and to make you a new dress in the room +of that you will have torn. As soon as you return with the money +and the brocade, I will rise, lay you in my place, and go and act +the same part with the caliph, who I dare say will be as generous +to me as Zobeide will have been to you." + +Nouzhatoul-aouadat highly approved the project, and said to Abou +Hassan, "Come, lose no time; strip to your shirt and drawers, +while I prepare a winding sheet. I know how to bury as well as +any body; for while I was in Zobeide's service, when any of my +fellow-slaves died, I had the conducting of the funeral." Abou +Hassan did as his wife mentioned, and laid himself on the sheet +which she had spread on the carpet in the middle of the room. As +soon as he had crossed his arms, his wife wrapped him up, turned +his feet towards Mecca, and put a piece of fine muslin and his +turban upon his face, so that nothing seemed wanting but to carry +him out to be buried. After this she pulled off her head-dress, +and with tears in her eyes, her hair dishevelled, and seeming to +tear it off, with a dismal cry and lamentation, beating her face +and breast with all the marks of the most lively grief, ran +across the court to Zobeide's apartments, who, hearing the voice +of a person crying very loud, commanded some of her women to see +who it was; they returned and told her that it was Nouzhatoul- +aouadat, who was approaching in a deplorable condition. + +The princess, impatient to know what had happened to her, rose up +immediately, and went to meet her at the door of her ante- +chamber. Nouzhatoul-aouadat played her part to perfection. As +soon as she saw Zobeide, who held the door open, she redoubled +her cries, tore her hair off by handfuls, beat her face and +breast, and threw herself at her feet, bathing them with her +tears. + +Zobeide, amazed to see her slave in such extraordinary +affliction, asked what had happened; but, instead of answering, +she continued her sobs; and at last feigning to strive to check +them, said, with words interrupted with sighs, "Alas! my most +honoured lady and mistress, what greater misfortune could have +befallen me than this, which obliges me to throw myself at your +highness's feet)' God prolong your days, my most respectable +princess, in perfect health, and grant you many happy years! Abou +Hassan! poor Abou Hassan! whom you honoured with your esteem, and +gave me for a husband, is no more!" + +At these words Nouzhatoul-aouadat redoubled her tears and sighs, +and threw herself again at the princess's feet. Zobeide was +extremely concerned at this news. "Abou Hassan dead!" cried she; +"that agreeable, pleasant man! I did not expect his death so +soon; he seemed to promise a long life, and well deserved to +enjoy it!" She then also burst into tears, as did all her women, +who had been often witnesses of Abou Hassan's pleasantries when +the caliph brought him to amuse the princess Zobeide, and all +together continued for some time bewailing his loss. At length +the princess Zobeide broke silence: "Wicked woman!" cried she, +addressing herself to the false widow, "perhaps you may have +occasioned his death. Your ill temper has given him so much +vexation, that you have at last brought him to his grave." +Nouzhatoul-aouadat seemed much hurt at the reproaches of Zobeide: +"Ah, madam," cried she, "I do not think I ever gave your majesty, +while I was your slave, reason to entertain so disadvantageous an +opinion of my conduct to a husband who was so dear to me. I +should think myself the most wretched of women if you were +persuaded of this. I behaved to Abou Hassan as a wife should do +to a husband for whom she has a sincere affection; and I may say, +without vanity, that I had for him the same regard he had for me. +I am persuaded he would, were he alive, justify me fully to your +majesty; but, madam," added she, renewing her tears, "his time +was come, and that was the only cause of his death." + +Zobeide, as she had really observed in her slave a uniformly +equal temper, mildness, great docility and zeal for her service, +which shewed she was rather actuated by inclination than duty, +hesitated not to believe her on her word, and ordered her +treasurer to fetch a hundred pieces of gold and a piece of rich +brocade. + +The slave soon returned with the purse and piece of brocade, +which, by Zobeide's order, she delivered to Nouzhatoul-aouadat, +who threw herself again at the princess's feet, and thanked her +with great self-satisfaction at finding she had succeeded so +well. "Go," said Zobeide, "use that brocade to cover the corpse +of your husband, and with the money bury him handsomely, as he +deserves. Moderate the transport of your afflictions: I will take +care of you." + +As soon as Nouzhatoul-aouadat got out of the princess's presence, +she dried up her tears, and returned with joy to Abou Hassan, to +give him an account of her good success. When she came home she +burst out a laughing on seeing her husband still stretched out in +the middle of the floor; she ran to him, bade him rise and see +the fruits of his stratagem. He arose, and rejoiced with his wife +at the sight of the purse and brocade. Unable to contain herself +at the success of her artifice, "Come, husband," said she, +laughing, "let me act the dead part, and see if you can manage +the caliph as well as I have done Zobeide." + +"That is the temper of all women," replied Abou Hassan, "who, we +may well say, have always the vanity to believe they can do +things better than men, though at the same time what good they do +is by their advice. It would be odd indeed, if I, who laid this +plot myself, could not carry it on as well as you. But let us +lose no time in idle discourse; lie down in my place, and witness +if I do not come off with as much applause." + +Abou Hassan wrapped up his wife as she had done him, and with his +turban unrolled, like a man in the greatest affliction, ran to +the caliph, who was holding a private council with Jaaffier and +other confidential viziers. He presented himself at the door, and +the officer, knowing he had free access, opened it. He entered +holding with one hand his handkerchief before his eyes, to hide +the feigned tears, which trickled down his cheeks, and striking +his breast with the other, with exclamations expressing +extraordinary grief. + +The caliph, always used to see Abou Hassan with a merry +countenance, was very much surprised to behold him in so much +distress. He interrupted the business of the council to inquire +the cause of his grief. "Commander of the faithful," answered +Abou Hassan, with repeated sighs and sobs, "God preserve your +majesty on the throne, which you fill so gloriously! a greater +calamity could not have befallen me than what I now lament. Alas! +Nouzhatoul-aouadat whom you in your bounty gave me for a wife to +gladden my existence, alas!" at this exclamation Abou Hassan +pretended to have his heart so full, that he could not utter +more, but poured forth a flood of tears. + +The caliph, who now understood that Abou Hassan came to tell him +of the death of his wife, seemed much concerned, and said to him +with an air which shewed how much he regretted her loss, "God be +merciful to her: she was a good slave, and we gave her to you +with an intention to make you happy: she deserved a longer life." +The tears then ran down his face, so that he was obliged to pull +out his handkerchief to wipe them off. The grief of Abou Hassan, +and the tears of the caliph, excited those of Jaaffier and the +other viziers. They bewailed the death of Nouzhatoul- aouadat, +who, on her part, was only impatient to hear how Abou Hassan +succeeded. + +The caliph had the same suspicion of the husband that Zobeide had +of the wife, and imagined that he had occasioned her death. +"Wretch!" said he, in a tone of indignation, "have not you been +the cause of your wife's death by your ill treatment of her? You +ought at least to have had some regard for the princess my +consort, who loved her more than the rest of her slaves, yet +consented to give her to you. What a return for her kindness!" + +"Commander of the faithful," replied Abou Hassan, affecting to +weep more bitterly than before, "can your majesty for a moment +suppose that Abou Hassan, whom you have loaded with your favours +and kindness, and on whom you have conferred honours he could +never have aspired to, can have been capable of such ingratitude? +I loved Nouzhatoul-aouadat my wife as much on these accounts, as +for the many good qualities she possessed, and which drew from me +all the attachment, tenderness, and love she deserved. But, my +lord," added he, "she was to die, and God would no longer suffer +me to enjoy a happiness for which I was indebted to your majesty +and your beloved consort." + +Abou Hassan dissembled so well, that the caliph, who had never +heard how extravagantly he and his wife had lived, no longer +doubting his sincerity, ordered his treasurer, who was present, +to give Abou Hassan a purse of a hundred pieces of gold and a +piece of brocade. Abou Hassan immediately cast himself at the +caliph's feet, and thanked him for his present. "Follow the +treasurer," said the monarch; "throw the brocade over the corpse, +and with the money shew the last testimony of thy love for thy +wife." + +Abou Hassan made no reply to these obliging words of the caliph, +but retiring with a low prostration, followed the treasurer; and +as soon as he had got the purse and piece of brocade, went home, +well pleased with having found out so quick and easy a way of +supplying the necessity which had given him so much uneasiness. + +Nouzhatoul-aouadat, weary with lying so long in one posture, +waited not till Abou Hassan bade her rise; but as soon as she +heard the door open, sprang up, ran to her husband, and asked him +if he had imposed on the caliph as cleverly as she had done on +Zobeide. "You see," said he, shewing her the stuff, and shaking +the purse, "that I can act a sorrowful husband for a living wife, +as well as you can a weeping widow for a husband not dead." Abou +Hassan, however, was not without his fears that this double plot +might be attended with some ill consequences. He thought it would +not be amiss to put his wife on her guard as to what might +happen, that they might aft in concert. "For," added he, "the +better we succeed in embarrassing the caliph and Zobeide, the +more they will be pleased at last, and perhaps may shew their +satisfaction by greater liberality." This last consideration +induced them to carry on their stratagem farther. + +The caliph, though he had important affairs to decide, was so +impatient to condole with the princess on the death of her slave, +that he rose up as soon as Abou Hassan was gone, and put off the +council to another day. "Follow me," said he to Mesrour, who +always attended him wherever he went, and was in all his +councils, "let us go and share with the princess the grief which +the death of her slave Nouzhatoul-aouadat must have occasioned." + +Accordingly they went to Zobeide's apartment, whom the caliph +found sitting on a sofa, much afflicted, and still in tears. +"Madam," said the caliph, going up to her, "it is unnecessary to +tell you how much I partake with you in your affliction; since +you must be sensible that what gives you pleasure or trouble, has +the same effect on me. But we are all mortal, and must surrender +up to God that life he has given us, when he requires it. +Nouzhatoul-aouadat, your faithful slave, was endued with +qualifications that deserved your esteem, and I cannot but +approve your expressing it after her death; but consider all your +grief will not restore her to life. Therefore, madam, if you love +me, and will take my advice, be comforted for this loss, take +care of a life which you know is precious to me, and constitutes +all the happiness of mine. " + +If the princess was charmed with these tender sentiments which +the caliph expressed in his compliments, she was amazed to hear +of Nouzhatoulaouadat's death. This news threw her into such +astonishment, that she was not able to return an answer for some +time. At last recovering, she replied with an air expressive of +surprise, "Commander of the faithful, I am very sensible of all +your tender sentiments; but give me leave to say, I cannot +comprehend the news you tell me of the death of my slave, who is +in perfect health. My affliction is for the death of Abou Hassan, +her husband, your favourite, whom I esteemed, as much for the +regard you had for him, as his having so often diverted me +agreeably, and for whom I had as great a value as yourself. But +the little concern you shew for his death, and your so soon +forgetting a man in whose company you have so often told me you +took so much pleasure, surprises me; and this insensibility seems +the greater, from the deception you would put upon me in changing +his death for that of my slave." + +The caliph, who thought that he was perfectly well informed of +the death of the slave, and had just reason to believe so, +because he had both seen and heard Abou Hassan, laughed, and +shrugged up his shoulders, to hear Zobeide talk in this manner. +"Mesrour," said he, to the eunuch, "what do you think of the +princess's discourse? Do not women sometimes lose their senses; +for you have heard and seen all as well as myself?" Then turning +to Zobeide, "Madam," said he, "shed no more tears for Abou +Hassan, for I can assure you he is well; but rather bewail the +death of your dear slave. It is not many moments since her +husband came in the most inexpressible affliction, to tell me of +the death of his wife. I gave him a purse of a hundred pieces of +gold and a piece of brocade, to comfort him, and bury her; and +Mesrour, who was present, can tell you the same." + +The princess took this discourse of the caliph's to be all a +jest, and thought he had a mind to impose upon her. "Commander of +the faithful," replied she, "though you are used to banter, I +must tell you, this is not a proper time for pleasantry. What I +tell you is very serious; I do not talk of my slave's death, but +of Abou Hassan's, her husband, whose fate I bewail, and so ought +you too." "Madam," said the caliph, putting on a grave +countenance, "I tell you without raillery that you are deceived; +Nouzhatoul-aouadat is dead, and Abou Hassan is alive, and in +perfect health." + +Zobeide was much piqued at this dry answer of the caliph. +"Commander of the faithful," replied she smartly, "God preserve +you from continuing longer in this mistake, surely you would make +me think your mind is not as usual. Give me leave to repeat to +you once more, that it is Abou Hassan who is dead, and that my +slave Nouzhatoul-aouadat, his widow, is living. It is not an hour +since she went from hence. She came here in so disconsolate a +state, that the sight of her was enough to have drawn tears from +my eyes, if she had not told me her affliction. All my women, who +wept with me, can bear me witness, and tell you also that I made +her a present of a hundred pieces of gold and a piece of brocade; +the grief which you found me in, was on account of the death of +her husband; and just at the instant you entered, I was going to +send you a compliment of condolence." + +At these words of Zobeide, the caliph cried out in a fit of +laughter, "This, madam, is a strange piece of obstinacy; but," +continued he seriously, "you may depend upon Nouzhatoul-aouadat's +being dead." "I tell you no, sir," replied Zobeide sharply; "it +is Abou Hassan that is dead, and you shall never make me believe +otherwise." + +Upon this the caliph's anger rose in his countenance. He seated +himself on the sofa at some distance from the princess, and +speaking to Mesrour, said, "Go immediately, see which it is, and +bring me word; for though I am certain that it is Nouzhatoul- +aouadat, I would rather take this method than be any longer +obstinately positive about the matter, though of its certainty I +am perfectly satisfied." No sooner had the caliph commanded than +Mesrour was gone. "You will see," continued he, addressing +himself to Zobeide, "in a moment, which of us is right." "For my +part," replied Zobeide, "I know very well that I am in the right, +and you will find it to be Abou Hassan." "And for myself," +returned the caliph, "I am so sure that it is Nouzhatoul-aouadat, +that I will lay you what wager you please that Abou Hassan is +well." + +"Do not think to come off so," said Zobeide; "I accept your +wager, and I am so well persuaded of his death, that I would +willingly lay the thing dearest to me in the world against what +you will, though it were of less value. You know what I have in +my disposal, and what I value most; propose the bet, and I will +stand to it." + +"Since it is so," said the caliph, "I will lay my garden of +pleasures against your palace of paintings, though the one is +worth much more than the other." "Is the question at present," +replied Zobeide, "if your garden is more valuable than my palace? +That is not the point. You have made choice of what you thought +fit belonging to me, as an equivalent against what you lay; I +accept the wager, and that I will abide by it, I take God to +witness." The caliph took the same oath, and both waited +Mesrour's return. + +While the caliph and Zobeide were disputing so earnestly, and +with so much warmth, Abou Hassan, who foresaw their difference, +was very attentive to whatever might happen. As soon as he +perceived Mesrour through a window, at which he sat talking with +his wife, and observed that he was coming directly to their +apartment, he guessed his commission, and bade his wife make +haste to act the dead part once more, as they had agreed, without +loss of time; but they were so pressed, that Abou Hassan had much +ado to wrap up his wife, and lay the piece of brocade which the +caliph had given him upon her, before Mesrour reached the house. +This done, he opened the door of his apartment, and with a +melancholy, dejected countenance, and his handkerchief before his +eyes, went and sat down at the head of the pretended deceased. + +By the time he was seated, Mesrour came into the room. The dismal +sight which met his eyes, gave him a secret joy on account of the +errand the caliph had sent him on. Abou Hassan rose up to meet +him, and kissing his hand out of respect, said, sighing and +sobbing, "You see me under the greatest calamity that ever could +have befallen me the death of my dear wife, Nouzhatoul-aouadat, +whom you honoured with your favours." + +Mesrour, affected by this discourse, could not refuse some tears +to the memory of the deceased. He lifted up the cloth a little at +the head, and peeping under it, let it down again, and said, with +a deep sigh, "There is no other God but Allah, we must all submit +to his will, and every creature must return to him. Nouzhatoul- +aouadat, my good sister," added he, sighing, "thy days have been +few: God have mercy on thee." Then turning to Abou Hassan, who +was all the time in tears, "We may well say," added he, "that +women sometimes have whims, and lose their senses in a most +unpardonable manner; for Zobeide, good mistress as she is, is in +that situation at present; she will maintain to the caliph that +you are dead, and not your wife; and whatever the caliph can say +to the contrary, he cannot persuade her otherwise. He called me +to witness and confirm this truth; for you know I was present +when you came and told him the sorrowful news: but all signifies +nothing. They are both positive; and the caliph, to convince +Zobeide, has sent me to know the truth, but I fear I shall not be +believed; for when women once take up a thing, they are not to be +beaten out of it." + +"God keep the commander of the faithful in the possession and +right use of his senses," replied Abou Hassan, still sighing and +weeping; "you see how it is, and that I have not imposed upon his +majesty. And I wish to Heaven," continued he, to dissemble the +better, "that I had no occasion to have told him the melancholy +and afflicting news. Alas! I cannot enough express my irreparable +loss!" "That is true," replied Mesrour, "and I can assure you I +take a great share in your affliction; but you must be comforted, +and not abandon yourself to your grief. I leave you with +reluctance, to return to the caliph; but I beg the favour of you +not to bury the corpse till I come again; for I will assist at +the interment, and accompany it with my prayers." Mesrour went to +give an account of his visit. Abou Hassan attended him to the +door, told him he did not deserve the honour he intended him: and +for fear Mesrour should return to say something else, followed +him with his eyes for some time, and when he saw him at a +distance, returned to his wife and released her. "This is +already," said he, "a new scene of mirth, but I fancy it will not +be the last; for certainly the princess Zobeide will not believe +Mesrour, but will laugh at him, since she has too substantial a +reason to the contrary; therefore we must expect some new event." +While Abou Hassan was talking thus, Nouzhatoul-aouadat had time +to put on her clothes again, and both went and sat down on a sofa +opposite to the window, where they could see all that passed. + +In the mean time, Mesrour reached Zobeide's apartment, and going +into her closet laughing, clapped his hands like one who had +something very agreeable to tell. + +The caliph, naturally impatient, and piqued a little at the +princess's contradiction, as soon as he saw Mesrour, "Vile +slave," said he, "is this a time to laugh? Why do not you tell me +which is dead, the husband or the wife?" + +"Commander of the faithful," answered Mesrour, putting on a +serious countenance, "it is Nouzhatoul-aouadat who is dead, for +the loss of whom About Hassan is as much afflicted as when he +appeared before your majesty." The caliph not giving him time to +pursue his story, interrupted him, and cried out, laughing +heartily, "Good news! Zobeide, your mistress, was a moment ago +possessed of the palace of paintings, and now it is mine. She +staked it against my garden of pleasures, since you went; +therefore you could not have done me greater pleasure. I will +take care to reward you: but give me a true account of what you +saw." + +"Commander of the faithful," said Mesrour, "when I came to Abou +Hassan's apartment, I found the door open, and he was bewailing +the death of his wife. He sat at the head of the deceased, who +was laid out in the middle of the room, with her feet towards +Mecca, and was covered with the piece of brocade which your +majesty presented to Abou Hassan. After I had expressed the share +I took in his grief, I went and lifted up the pall at the head, +and knew Nouzhatoul-aouadat, though hr face was much swelled and +changed. I exhorted Abou Hassan in the best manner I could to be +comforted; and when I came away, told him I would attend at his +wife's funeral, and desired him not to remove the corpse till I +came. This is all I can tell your majesty." "I ask no more," said +the caliph, laughing heartily, "and I am well satisfied with your +exactness." Then addressing himself to Zobeide, "Well, madam," +said he, "have you yet any thing to say against so certain a +truth? Will you still believe that Nouzhatoul-aouadat is alive, +and that Abou Hassan is dead? And will you not own that you have +lost your wager?" + +"How, sir," replied Zobeide, who would not believe one word +Mesrour said, "do you think that I regard that impertinent fellow +of a slave, who knows not what he says? I am not blind or mad. +With these eyes I saw Nouzhatoul-aouadat in the greatest +affliction; I spoke to her myself, and she told me that her +husband was dead." "Madam," replied Mesrour, "I swear to you by +your own life, and that of the commander of the faithful, which +are both dear to me, that Nouzhatoul-aouadat is dead, and Abou +Hassan is living." + +"Thou liest, base despicable slave," said Zobeide in a rage, "and +I will confound thee immediately." Clapping her hands together, +she called her women, who all approached. "Come hither," said the +princess to them, "and speak the truth. Who was that who came and +spoke with me a little before the caliph entered?" The women all +answered that it was poor afflicted Nouzhatoul-aouadat. "And +what," added she, addressing herself to her treasurer, "did I +order you to give her?" "Madam," answered the treasurer, "I gave +Nouzhatoul-aouadat, by your orders, a purse of a hundred pieces +of gold and a piece of brocade, which she carried away with her." +"Well, then, sorry slave," said Zobeide to Mesrour, in passion, +"what have you to say to all this? Whom do you think now I ought +to believe, you or my treasurer, my women, and myself?" + +Mesrour did not want for arguments to contradict the princess; +but, as he was afraid of provoking her too much, chose rather to +be silent, though he was satisfied that the wife was dead, and +not the husband. + +During the whole of this dispute between Zobeide and Mesrour, the +caliph, who heard the evidence on both sides, and was persuaded +of the contrary of what the princess asserted, because he had +himself seen and spoken to Abou Hassan, and from what Mesrour had +told him, laughed heartily to see Zobeide so exasperated. +"Madam," said he to her, "once more I repeat that I know not who +was the author of that saying, that Women sometimes lose their +wits,' but I am sure you make it good. Mesrour has just come from +Abou Hassan's, and tells you that he saw Nouzhatoul-aouadat lying +dead in the middle of the room, Abou Hassan alive, and sitting by +her; and yet you will not believe this evidence, which nobody can +reasonably refuse; I cannot comprehend this conduit." + +Zobeide would not hear the caliph. "Pardon me, commander of the +faithful," replied she, "if I suspect you: I see that you have +contrived with Mesrour to vex me, and to try my patience. And as +I perceive that this report was concerted between you, I beg +leave to send a person to Abou Hassan's, to know whether or not I +am in the wrong." + +The caliph consented, and the princess charged with this +important commission an old nurse, who had lived with her from +her infancy. "Hark you nurse," said she, "you see my dispute with +the commander of the faithful, and Mesrour; I need tell you no +more. Go to Abou Hassan's or rather to Nouzhatoul-aouadat's, for +Abou Hassan is dead, and clear up this matter for me. If you +bring me good news, a handsome present is your reward: make +haste, and return immediately." + +The nurse set out, to the great joy of the caliph, who was +delighted to see Zobeide in this embarrassment; but Mesrour, +extremely mortified to find the princess so angry with him, did +all he could to appease her, and to make her and the caliph both +satisfied with him. He was overjoyed when Zobeide sent the nurse; +because he was persuaded that the report she must make would +agree with his, justify him, and restore him to her favour. + +In the mean time Abou Hassan, who watched at the window, +perceived the nurse at a distance, and guessing that she was sent +by Zobeide, called his wife, and told her that the princess's +nurse was coming to know the truth. "Therefore," said he, "make +haste and lay me out." Accordingly Nouzhatoul-aouadat covered him +with the brocade Zobeide had given her, and put his turban upon +his face. The nurse, eager to acquit herself of her commission, +hobbled as fast as age would allow her, and entering the room, +perceived Nouzhatoul-aouadat in tears, her hair dishevelled, and +seated at the head of her husband, beating her breast, with all +the expressions of violent grief. + +The good old nurse went directly to the false widow. "My dear +Nouzhatoul-aouadat," said she, with a sorrowful countenance, "I +come not to interrupt your grief and tears for a husband whom you +loved so tenderly." "Ah! good mother," replied the counterfeit +widow, "you see my misfortune, and how unhappy I am from the loss +of my beloved Abou Hassan. Abou Hassan, my dear husband!" cried +she, "what have I done that you should leave me so soon? Have I +not always preferred your will to my own? Alas! what will become +of poor Nouzhatoul-aouadat?" + +"This black-faced Mesrour," cried the nurse, lifting up her +hands, "deserves to be punished for having caused so great a +difference between my good mistress and the commander of the +faithful, by the falsehood he has told them. Daughter," continued +she, "that villain Mesrour has asserted, with inconceivable +impudence, before our good mistress, that you were dead, and Abou +Hassan was alive." + +"Alas! my good mother," cried Nouzhatoul-aouadat, "I wish to +Heaven that it was true! I should not be in this sorrowful state, +nor bewail a husband so dear to me!" At these words she wept +afresh, and with redoubled tears and cries feigned the deepest +sorrow. + +The nurse was so much moved by her tears, that she sat down by +her, and cried too. Then gently lifting up the turban and cloth, +looked at the face of the corpse. "Ah! poor Abou Hassan," she +cried, covering his face again, "God have mercy upon thee. Adieu, +child," said she to Nouzhatoul-aouadat: "if I could stay longer +with you, I would with all my heart; but I am obliged to return +immediately, to deliver my mistress from the uneasiness that +black villain has occasioned her, by his impudent lie, assuring +her with an oath that you were dead." + +As soon as the nurse was gone, Nouzhatoul-aouadat wiped her eyes +and released Abou Hassan; they both went and sat down on a sofa +against the window, expecting what would be the end of this +stratagem, and to be ready to act according as circumstances +might require. + + +The nurse, in the mean time, made all the haste she could to +Zobeide. The pleasure of carrying the princess news favourable to +her wager, but still more the hopes of a good reward, added wings +to her feet, and running into the princess's closet quite out of +breath, she gave her a true account of all she had seen. Zobeide +hearkened to the old woman's relation with a most sensible +pleasure; and when she had done, said, with a tone which shewed +triumph at having, as she supposed, won her wager: "Repeat it +once more before the caliph, who looks upon us all to be fools, +would make us believe we have no sense of religion, nor fear of +God; and tell your story to that wicked black slave, who had the +insolence to assert a wilful falsehood." + +Mesrour, who expected the nurse's report would prove favourable +on his side, was much mortified to find it so much the contrary, +and so vexed at the anger Zobeide expressed against him, for a +thing which he thought himself surer of than any body, that he +was glad of an opportunity of speaking his mind freely to the old +women, which he durst not do to the princess. "Old toothless," +said he to the nurse, "you are a liar, and there is no truth in +what you say; for I saw with my own eyes Nouzhatoul-aouadat laid +out in the middle of the room." + +"You are a notorious liar yourself," replied the nurse, with an +insulting air, "to dare maintain so great a falsity before my +face, who am just come from seeing Abou Hassan dead, laid out, +and have left his wife alive." "I am not an impostor," replied +Mesrour; "it is you who endeavour to lead us all into error." + +"What impudence," said the nurse, "to dare tell me I lie in the +presence of their majesties, when I saw just now with my own eyes +what I have had the honour to tell them." "Indeed, nurse," +answered Mesrour again, "you had better hold your tongue, for you +certainly doat." + +Zobeide, who could no longer endure this want of respect in +Mesrour, who, without any regard to her, treated her nurse so +injuriously in her presence, without giving the old lady time to +reply to so gross an affront, said to the caliph, "Commander of +the faithful, I demand justice for this insolence to us both." +She was so enraged she could say no more, but burst into tears. + +The caliph, who had heard all the dispute, thought it very +intricate. He mused some time, and could not tell what to think +of so many contradictions. The princess on her part, as well as +Mesrour, the nurse, and all the women slaves, who were present, +were as much puzzled, and remained silent. At last the caliph, +addressing himself to Zobeide, said, "I see we are all liars; +myself first, then you, Mesrour, and you, nurse; or at least it +seems not one can be believed more than the other; therefore let +us go ourselves to examine the truth, for I can see no other way +to clear up these doubts." + +So saying, the caliph arose, the princess followed him, and +Mesrour went before to open the doors. "Commander of the +faithful," said he, "I am overjoyed that your majesty has taken +this course; and shall be much more, when I shall make it plainly +appear to the nurse, not that she doats, since the expression is +unfortunately displeasing to my good mistress, but that her +report is not true." + +The nurse wanted not a reply; "Hold your tongue, black face," +said she; "you doat yourself." + +Zobeide, who was much provoked at Mesrour, could not bear to hear +him attack her nurse again without taking her part: "Vile slave," +said she, "say what you will, I maintain my nurse speaks the +truth, and look upon you as a mere liar." "Madam," replied +Mesrour, "if nurse is so very certain that Nouzhatoul-aouadat is +alive, and Abou Hassan dead, I will lay her what she dares of +it." The nurse was as ready as he; "I dare," said she, "take you +at your word: let us see if you dare unsay it." Mesrour stood to +his word; and they laid a piece of gold brocade with silver +flowers before the caliph and the princess. + +The apartment from which the caliph and Zobeide set out, though +distant from Abou Hassan's, was nevertheless just opposite, so +that he perceived them coming, and told his wife that he was much +mistaken if the caliph and Zobeide, preceded by Mesrour, and +followed by a great number of women, were not about to do them +the honour of a visit. She looked through a lattice and saw them, +seemed frightened, and cried out, "What shall we do? we are +ruined." "Fear nothing," replied Abou Hassan. "Have you forgotten +already what we agreed on? We will both feign ourselves dead, and +you shall see all will go well. At the slow rate they are coming, +we shall be ready before they reach the door." Accordingly, Abou +Hassan and his wife wrapped up and covered themselves with the +pieces of brocade, and waited patiently for their visitors. + +Mesrour, who came first, opened the door, and the caliph and +Zobeide, followed by their attendants, entered the room; but were +struck with horror, and stood motionless, at the spectacle which +presented itself to their view, not knowing what to think. At +length Zobeide breaking silence, said to the caliph, "Alas! they +are both dead! You have done much," continued she, looking at the +caliph and Mesrour, "to endeavour to make me believe that my dear +slave was dead, and I find it is true: grief at the loss of her +husband has certainly killed her." "Say rather, madam," answered +the caliph, prepossessed to the contrary, that Nouzhatoul-aoudat +died first, "the afflicted Abou Hassan sunk under his grief, and +could not survive his dear wife; you ought, therefore, to confess +that you have lost your wager, and that your palace of paintings +is mine." + +"Hold there," answered Zobeide, warmed at being contradicted by +the caliph; "I will maintain you have lost your garden of +pleasures. Abou Hassan died first; since my nurse told you, as +well as me, that she saw her alive, and weeping for the death of +her husband." + +The dispute of the caliph and Zobeide brought on another between +Mesrour and the nurse, who had wagered as well as they; each +affirmed to have won, and at length they proceeded to abuse each +other very grossly. + +At last the caliph, reflecting on what had passed, began to think +that Zobeide had as much reason as himself to maintain that she +had won. In this embarrassment of not being able to find out the +truth, he advanced towards the corpses, and sat down at the head, +searching for some expedient that might gain him the victory over +Zobeide. "I swear," cried he presently after, "by the holy name +of God, that I will give a thousand pieces of gold to him who can +tell me which of these two died first." + + +No sooner were these words out of the caliph's mouth, than he +heard a voice under Abou Hassan's piece of brocade say, +"Commander of the faithful, I died first, give me the thousand +pieces of gold." At the same instant Abou Hassan threw off the +piece of brocade, and springing up, prostrated himself at his +feet, while his wife did the same to Zobeide, keeping on her +piece of brocade out of decency. The princess at first shrieked +out, but recovering herself, expressed great joy to see her dear +slave rise again, just when she was almost inconsolable at having +seen her dead. "Ah! wicked Nouzhatoul-aouadat," cried she, "what +have I suffered for your sake? However, I forgive you from my +heart, since you are not dead." + +The caliph was not so much surprised, when he heard Abou Hassan's +voice: but thought he should have died with laughing at this +unravelling of the mystery, and to hear Abou Hassan ask so +seriously for the thousand pieces of gold. "What, Abou Hassan," +said he, continuing to laugh aloud, "hast thou conspired against +my life, to kill me a second time with laughing? How came this +thought into your head, to surprise Zobeide and me thus, when we +least thought of such a trick?" + +"Commander of the faithful," replied Abou Hassan, "I will declare +to your majesty the whole truth, without the least reserve. Your +majesty knows that I always loved to eat and drink well' and the +wife you gave me rather increased than restrained this +propensity. With these dispositions your majesty may easily +suppose we might spend a good estate; and to make short of my +story, we were not sparing of what your majesty so generously +gave us. This morning, accounting with our caterer, who took care +to provide every thing for us, and paying what we owed him, we +found we had nothing left. Then, reflections on what was past, +and resolutions to manage better for the future, crowded into our +thoughts; we formed a thousand projects, all of which we +rejected. At last, the shame of seeing ourselves reduced to so +low a condition, and not daring to tell your majesty, made us +contrive this stratagem to relieve our necessities, and to divert +you, which we hope your majesty will be pleased to pardon." + +The caliph was satisfied with Abou Hassan's sincerity, and +Zobeide, who had till now been very serious, began to laugh at +the thought of Abou Hassan's scheme. The caliph, who had not +ceased laughing at the singularity of the adventure, rising, said +to Abou Hassan and his wife, "Follow me; I will give you the +thousand pieces of gold I promised, for joy to find you are not +dead." Zobeide desired him to let her make her slave a present of +the same sum, for the same reason. By this means Abou Hassan and +his wife Nouzhatoul-aouadat preserved the favour of the caliph +Haroon al Rusheed and the princess Zobeide, and by their +liberalities were enabled to pursue their pleasures. + + + + + + THE STORY OF ALLA AD DEEN; OR, THE + WONDERFUL LAMP. + + + +In the capital of one of the large and rich provinces of the +kingdom of China, the name of which I do not recollect, there +lived a tailor, named Mustapha, who was so poor, that he could +hardly, by his daily labour, maintain himself and his family, +which consisted of a wife and son. + +His son, who was called Alla ad Deen, had been brought up in a +very careless and idle manner, and by that means had contracted +many vicious habits. He was wicked, obstinate, and disobedient to +his father and mother, who, when he grew up, could not keep him +within doors. He was in the habit of going out early in the +morning, and would stay out all day, playing in the streets and +public places with idle children of his own age. + +When he was old enough to learn a trade, his father not being +able to put him out to any other, took him into his own shop, and +taught him how to use his needle: but neither fair words nor the +fear of chastisement were capable of fixing his lively genius. +All his father's endeavours to keep him to his work were in vain; +for no sooner was his back turned, than he was gone for that day. +Mustapha chastised him, but Alla ad Deen was incorrigible, and +his father, to his great grief, was forced to abandon him to his +idleness: and was so much troubled at not being able to reclaim +him, that it threw him into a fit of sickness, of which he died +in a few months. + +The mother, finding that her son would not follow his father's +business, shut up the shop, sold off the implements of trade, and +with the money she received for them, and what she could get by +spinning cotton, thought to maintain herself and her son. Alla ad +Deen, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, +and who cared so little for his mother, that whenever she chid +him, he would abuse her, gave himself entirely over to his idle +habits, and was never out of the streets from his companions. +This course he followed till he was fifteen years old, without +giving his mind to any useful pursuit, or the least reflection on +what would become of him. In this situation, as he was one day +playing according to custom in the street, with his vagabond +associates, a stranger passing by stood to observe him. + +This stranger was a sorcerer, called by the writer of this story, +the African magician; he was a native of Africa, and had been but +two days arrived from thence. + +The African magician, who was a good physiognomist, observing in +Alla ad Deen's countenance something absolutely necessary for the +execution of the design he was engaged in, inquired artfully +about his family, who he was, and what were his inclinations; and +when he had learned all he desired to know, went up to him, and +taking him aside from his comrades, said, "Child, was not your +father called Mustapha the tailor?" "Yes, sir," answered the boy; +"but he has been dead a long time." + +At these words, the African magician threw his arms about Alla ad +Deen's neck, and kissed him several times with tears in his eyes. +Alla ad Deen, who observed his tears, asked him what made him +weep. "Alas! my son," cried the African magician with a sigh, +"how can I forbear? + +"I am your uncle; your worthy father was my own brother. I have +been many years abroad, and now I am come home with the hopes of +seeing him, you tell me he is dead. I assure you it is a sensible +grief to me to be deprived of the comfort I expected. But it is +some relief to my affliction, that as far as I can remember him, +I knew you at first sight, you are so like him; and I see I am +not deceived." Then he asked Alla ad Deen, putting his hand into +his purse, where his mother lived; and as soon as he had informed +him, gave him a handful of small money, saying, "Go, my son, to +your mother, give my love to her, and tell her that I will visit +her to-morrow, if I have time, that I may have the satisfaction +of seeing where my good brother lived so long, and ended his +days." + +As soon as the African magician left his newly-adopted nephew, +Alla ad Deen ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle +had given him. "Mother," said he, "have I an uncle?" "No, child," +replied his mother, "you have no uncle by your father's side, or +mine." "I am just now come," said Alla ad Deen, "from a man who +says he is my uncle by my father's side, assuring me that he is +his brother. He cried and kissed me when I told him my father was +dead; and to shew you that what I tell you is truth," added he, +pulling out the money, "see what he has given me. He charged me +to give his love to you, and to tell you, if he has any time to- +morrow, he will come and pay you a visit, that he may see the +house my father lived and died in." "Indeed, child," replied the +mother, "your father had a brother, but he has been dead a long +time, and I never heard of another." + +The mother and son talked no more then of the African magician; +but the next day Alla ad Deen's uncle found him playing in +another part of the town with other children, and embracing him +as before, put two pieces of gold into his hand, and said to him, +"Carry this, child, to your mother, tell her that I will come and +see her tonight, and bid her get us something for supper; but +first shew me the house where you live." + +After Alla ad Deen had shewed the African magician the house, he +carried the two pieces of gold to his mother, and when he had +told her of his uncle's intention, she went out and bought +provisions; and considering she wanted various utensils, borrowed +them of her neighbours. She spent the whole day in preparing the +supper; and at night when it was ready, said to her son, "Perhaps +your uncle knows not how to find our house; go and bring him if +you meet with him." + +Though Alla ad Deen had shewed the magician the house, he was +ready to go, when somebody knocked at the door, which he +immediately opened: and the magician came in loaded with wine, +and all sorts of fruits, which he brought for a dessert. + +After the African magician had given what he brought into Alla ad +Deen's hands, he saluted his mother, and desired her to shew him +the place where his brother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa; and +when she had so done, he fell down and kissed it several times, +crying out with tears in his eyes, "My poor brother! How unhappy +am I, not to have come soon enough to give you one last embrace." +Alla ad Deen's mother desired him to sit down in the same place, +but he declined. "No," said he, "I shall take care how I do that; +but give me leave to sit opposite to it, that although I am +deprived of the satisfaction of seeing the master of a family so +dear to me, I may at least have the pleasure of beholding the +place where he used to sit." The widow pressed him no farther, +but left him at liberty to sit where he pleased. + +When the magician had made choice of a place, and sat down, he +began to enter into discourse with Alla ad Deen's mother. "My +good sister," said he, "do not be surprised at your never having +seen me all the time you have been married to my brother Mustapha +of happy memory. I have been forty years absent from this +country, which is my native place, as well as my late brother's; +and during that time have travelled into the Indies, Persia, +Arabia, Syria, and Egypt, have resided in the finest towns of +those countries; and afterwards crossed over into Africa, where I +made a longer stay. At last, as it is natural for a man, how +distant soever it may be, to remember his native country, +relations, and acquaintance, I was desirous to see mine again, +and to embrace my dear brother; and finding I had strength enough +to undertake so long a journey, I immediately made the necessary +preparations, and set out. I will not tell you the length of time +it took me, all the obstacles I met with, and what fatigues I +have endured, to come hither; but nothing ever mortified and +afflicted me so much, as hearing of my brother's death, for whom +I always had a brotherly love and friendship. I observed his +features in the face of my nephew, your son, and distinguished +him among a number of children with whom he was at play; he can +tell you how I received the most melancholy news that ever +reached my ears. But God be praised for all things! It is a +comfort for me to find, as it were, my brother in a son, who has +his most remarkable features." + +The African magician perceiving that the widow began to weep at +the remembrance of her husband, changed the conversation, and +turning towards her son, asked him his name. "I am called Alla ad +Deen," said he. "Well, Alla ad Deen," replied the magician, "what +business do you follow? Are you of any trade?" + +At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a +little abashed when his mother answered, "Alla ad Deen is an idle +fellow; his father, when alive, strove all he could to teach him +his trade, but could not succeed; and since his death, +notwithstanding all I can say to him, he does nothing but idle +away his time in the streets, as you saw him, without considering +he is no longer a child; and if you do not make him ashamed of +it, I despair of his ever coming to any good. He knows that his +father left him no fortune, and sees me endeavour to get bread by +spinning cotton; for my part, I am resolved one of these days to +turn him out of doors, and let him provide for himself." + +After these words, Alla ad Deen's mother burst into tears; and +the magician said, "This is not well, nephew; you must think of +helping yourself, and getting your livelihood. There are many +sorts of trades, consider if you have not an inclination to some +of them; perhaps you did not like your father's, and would prefer +another: come, do not disguise your sentiments from me; I will +endeavour to help you." But finding that Alla ad Deen returned no +answer, "If you have no mind," continued he, "to learn any +handicraft, I will take a shop for you, furnish it with all sorts +of fine stuffs and linens; and with the money you make of them +lay in fresh goods, and then you will live in an honourable way. +Consult your inclination, and tell me freely what you think of my +proposal: you shall always find me ready to keep my word." + +This plan greatly flattered Alla ad Deen, who hated work, but had +sense enough to know that such shops were much frequented, and +the owners respected. He told the magician he had a greater +inclination to that business than to any other, and that he +should be much obliged to him for his kindness. "Since this +profession is agreeable to you," said the African magician, "I +will carry you with me to-morrow, clothe you as handsomely as the +best merchants in the city, and afterwards we will think of +opening a shop as I mentioned." + +The widow, who never till then could believe that the magician +was her husband's brother, no longer doubted after his promises +of kindness to her son. She thanked him for his good intentions; +and after having exhorted Alla ad Deen to render himself worthy +of his uncle's favour by good behaviour, served up supper, at +which they talked of several indifferent matters; and then the +magician, who saw that the night was pretty far advanced, took +his leave, and retired. + +He came again the next day, as he had promised, and took Alla ad +Deen with him to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for +different ages and ranks ready made, and a variety of fine +stuffs. He asked to see some that suited Alla ad Deen in size; +and after choosing a suit for himself which he liked best, and +rejecting others which he did not think handsome enough, he bade +Alla ad Deen choose those he preferred. Alla ad Deen, charmed +with the liberality of his new uncle, made choice of one, and the +magician immediately paid for it. + +When Alla ad Deen found himself so handsomely equipped, he +returned his uncle thanks; who promised never to forsake him, but +always to take him along with him; which he did to the most +frequented places in the city, and particularly where the +principal merchants kept their shops. + +When he brought him into the street where they sold the richest +stuffs, and finest linens, he said to Alla ad Deen, "As you are +soon to be a merchant, it is proper you should frequent these +shops, and be acquainted with them." He then shewed him the +largest and finest mosques, carried him to the khans or inns +where the merchants and travellers lodged, and afterwards to the +sultan's palace, where he had free access; and at last brought +him to his own khan, where meeting with some merchants he had +become acquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, +to bring them and his pretended nephew acquainted. + +This entertainment lasted till night, when Alla ad Deen would +have taken leave of his uncle to go home; the magician would not +let him go by himself, but conducted him to his mother, who, as +soon as she saw him so well dressed, was transported with joy, +and bestowed a thousand blessings upon the magician, for being at +so great an expense upon her child. "Generous relation!" said +she, "I know not how to thank you for your liberality! I know +that my son is not deserving of your favours; and were he ever so +grateful, and answered your good intentions, he would be unworthy +of them. I thank you with all my soul, and wish you may live long +enough to witness my son's gratitude, which he cannot better shew +than by regulating his conduct by your good advice." "Alla ad +Deen," replied the magician, "is a good boy, and I believe we +shall do very well; but I am sorry for one thing, which is, that +I cannot perform to-morrow what I promised, because, as it is +Friday, the shops will be shut up, and therefore we cannot hire +or furnish one, but must wait till Saturday. I will, however, +call on him to-morrow and take him to walk in the gardens, where +people of the best fashion generally resort. Perhaps he has never +seen these amusements, he has only hitherto been among children; +but now he must see men." The African magician took his leave of +the mother and the son, and retired. Alla ad Deen, who was +overjoyed to be so well clothed, anticipated the pleasure of +walking in the gardens. He had never been out of the town, nor +seen the environs, which were very beautiful and pleasant. + +Alla ad Deen rose early the next morning, dressed himself, to be +ready when his uncle called on him; and after he had waited some +time, began to be impatient, and stood watching at the door; but +as soon as he perceived him coming, he told his mother, took his +leave of her, and ran to meet him. + +The magician caressed Alla ad Deen, and said, "Come, my dear +child, and I will shew you fine things." He then led him out at +one of the gates of the city, to some magnificent houses, or +rather palaces, to each of which belonged beautiful gardens, into +which anybody might enter. At every building he came to, he asked +Alla ad Deen if he did not think it fine; and the youth was ready +to answer when any one presented itself, crying out, "Here is a +finer house, uncle, than any we have seen yet." By this artifice, +the cunning magician led Alla ad Deen some way into the country; +and as he meant to carry him farther, to execute his design, he +took an opportunity to sit down in one of the gardens on the +brink of a fountain of clear water, which discharged itself by a +lion's mouth of bronze into a basin, pretending to be tired. +"Come, nephew," said he, "you must be weary as well as I; let us +rest ourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk." + +After they had sat down, the magician pulled from his girdle a +handkerchief with cakes and fruit, which he had provided, and +laid them on the edge of the basin. He broke a cake in two, gave +one half to Alla ad Deen, and ate the other himself; and in +regard to the fruit, left him at liberty to take which sort he +liked best. During this short repast, he exhorted his nephew to +leave off keeping company with vagabonds, and seek that of wise +and prudent men, to improve by their conversation. "For," said +he, "you will soon be at man's estate, and you cannot too early +begin to imitate their example." When they had eaten as much as +they liked, they got up, and pursued their walk through gardens +separated from one another only by small ditches, which marked +out the limits without interrupting the communication; so great +was the confidence the inhabitants reposed in each other. By this +means, the African magician drew Alla ad Deen insensibly beyond +the gardens, and crossed the country, till they nearly reached +the mountains. + +Alla ad Deen, who had never been so far before, began to find +himself much tired with so long a walk, and said to the magician, +"Where are we going, uncle? We have left the gardens a great way +behind us, and I see nothing but mountains; if we go much +further, I do not know whether I shall be able to reach the town +again?" "Never fear, nephew," said the false uncle; "I will shew +you another garden which surpasses all we have yet seen; it is +not far off; and when we come there, you will say that you would +have been sorry to have been so nigh, and not seen it." Alla ad +Deen was soon persuaded; and the magician, to make the way seem +shorter and less fatiguing, told him a great many stories. + +At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height, +and equal size, divided by a narrow valley, which was the place +where the magician intended to execute the design that had +brought him from Africa to China. "We will go no farther now," +said he to Alla ad Deen: "I will shew you here some extraordinary +things, which, when you have seen, you will thank me for: but +while I strike a light, gather up all the loose dry sticks you +can see, to kindle a fire with." + +Alla ad Deen found so many dried sticks, that before the magician +had made a light, he had collected a great heap. The magician +presently set them on fire, and when they were in a blaze, threw +in some incense which raised a cloud of smoke. This he dispersed +on each side, by pronouncing several magical words which Alla ad +Deen did not understand. + +At the same time the earth trembling, opened just before the +magician, and uncovered a stone, laid horizontally, with a brass +ring fixed into the middle. Alla ad Deen was so frightened at +what he saw, that he would have run away; but the magician caught +hold of him, abused him, and gave him such a box on the ear, that +he knocked him down. Alla ad Deen got up trembling, and with +tears in his eyes, said to the magician, "What have I done, +uncle, to be treated in this severe manner?" "I have my reasons," +answered the magician: "I am your uncle, I supply the place of +your father, and you ought to make no reply. But, child," added +he, softening, "do not be afraid; for I shall not ask any thing +of you, but that you obey me punctually, if you would reap the +advantages which I intend you." These fair promises calmed Alla +ad Deen's fears and resentment; and when the magician saw that he +was appeased, he said to him, "You see what I have done by virtue +of my incense, and the words I pronounced. Know then, that under +this stone there is hidden a treasure, destined to be yours, and +which will make you richer than the greatest monarch in the +world: no person but yourself is permitted to lift this stone, or +enter the cave; so you must punctually execute what I may +command, for it is a matter of great consequence both to you and +me." + +Alla ad Deen, amazed at all he saw and heard the magician say of +the treasure which was to make him happy, forgot what was past, +and rising, said, "Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me, I +am ready to obey." "I am overjoyed, child," said the African +magician, embracing him; "take hold of the ring, and lift up that +stone." "Indeed, uncle," replied Alla ad Deen, "I am not strong +enough, you must help me." "You have no occasion for my +assistance," answered the magician; "if I help you, we shall be +able to do nothing; take hold of the ring, pronounce the names of +your father and grandfather, then lift it up, and you will find +it will come easily." Alla ad Deen did as the magician bade him, +raised the stone with ease, and laid it on one side. + +When the stone was pulled up, there appeared a cavity of about +three or four feet deep, with a little door, and steps to go down +lower. "Observe, my son," said the African magician, "what I +direct. Descend into the cave, and when you are at the bottom of +those steps you will find a door open, which will lead you into a +spacious vault, divided into three great halls, in each of which +you will see four large brass cisterns placed on each side, full +of gold and silver; but take care you do not meddle with them. +Before you enter the first hall, be sure to tuck up your vest, +wrap it about you, and then pass through the second into the +third without stopping. Above all things, have a care that you do +not touch the walls, so much as with your clothes; for if you do, +you will die instantly. At the end of the third hall, you will +find a door which opens into a garden planted with fine trees +loaded with fruit; walk directly across the garden by a path +which will lead you to five steps that will bring you upon a +terrace, where you will see a niche before you, and in that niche +a lighted lamp. Take the lamp down, and extinguish it: when you +have thrown away the wick, and poured out the liquor, put it in +your vestband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid that the +liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is not oil; and the lamp +will be dry as soon as it is thrown out. If you should wish for +any of the fruit of the garden, you may gather as much as you +please." + +After these words, the magician drew a ring off his finger, and +put it on one of Alla ad Deen's, telling him that it was a +preservative against all evil, while he should observe what he +had prescribed to him. After this instruction he said, "Go down +boldly, child, and we shall both be rich all our lives." + +Alla ad Deen jumped into the cave, descended the steps, and found +the three halls just as the African magician had described. He +went through them with all the precaution the fear of death could +inspire; crossed the garden without stopping, took down the lamp +from the niche, threw out the wick and the liquor, and, as the +magician had desired, put it in his vestband. But as he came down +from the terrace, seeing it was perfectly dry, he stopped in the +garden to observe the fruit, which he only had a glimpse of in +crossing it. All the trees were loaded with extraordinary fruit, +of different colours on each tree. Some bore fruit entirely +white, and some clear and transparent as crystal; some pale red, +and others deeper; some green, blue, and purple, and others +yellow: in short, there was fruit of all colours. The white were +pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep red, +rubies; the paler, rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, +turquoises; the purple, amethysts; and those that were of yellow +cast, sapphires. Alla ad Deen was altogether ignorant of their +worth, and would have preferred figs and grapes, or any other +fruits. But though he took them only for coloured glass of little +value, yet he was so pleased with the variety of the colours, and +the beauty and extraordinary size of the seeming fruit, that he +resolved to gather some of every sort; and accordingly filled the +two new purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes. +Some he wrapped up in the skirts of his vest, which was of silk, +large and wrapping, and crammed his bosom as full as it could +hold. + +Alla ad Deen, having thus loaded himself with riches he knew not +the value of, returned through the three halls with the same +precaution, made all the haste he could, that he might not make +his uncle wait, and soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where +the African magician expected him with the utmost impatience. As +soon as Alla ad Deen saw him, he cried out, "Pray, uncle, lend me +your hand, to help me out." "Give me the lamp first," replied the +magician; "it will be troublesome to you." "Indeed, uncle," +answered Alla ad Deen, "I cannot now; it is not troublesome to +me: but I will as soon as I am up." The African magician was so +obstinate, that he would have the lamp before he would help him +up; and Alla ad Deen, who had encumbered himself so much with his +fruit that he could not well get at it, refused to give it to him +till he was out of the cave. The African magician, provoked at +this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a little of +his incense into the fire, which he had taken care to keep in, +and no sooner pronounced two magical words, than the stone which +had closed the mouth of the cave moved into its place, with the +earth over it in the same manner as it lay at the arrival of the +magician and Alla ad Deen. + +This action of the African magician's plainly shewed him to be +neither Alla ad Deen's uncle, nor Mustapha the tailor's brother; +but a true African. Africa is a country whose inhabitants delight +most in magic of any in the whole world, and he had applied +himself to it from his youth. After forty years' experience in +enchantments, geomancy, fumigations, and reading of magic books, +he had found out that there was in the world a wonderful lamp, +the possession of which would render him more powerful than any +monarch; and by a late operation of geomancy, he had discovered +that this lamp lay concealed in a subterraneous place in the +midst of China, in the situation already described. Fully +persuaded of the truth of this discovery, he set out from the +farthest part of Africa; and after a long and fatiguing journey, +came to the town nearest to this treasure. But though he had a +certain knowledge of the place where the lamp was, he was not +permitted to take it himself, nor to enter the .subterraneous +place, but must receive it from the hands of another person. For +this reason he had addressed himself to Alla ad Deen, whom he +looked upon as a young lad whose life was of no consequence, and +fit to serve his purpose, resolving, as soon as he should get the +lamp into his hands, to sacrifice him to his avarice and +wickedness, by making the fumigation mentioned before, and +repeating two magical words, the effect of which would remove the +stone into its place, so that no witness would remain of the +transaction. + +The blow he had given Alla ad Deen was intended to make him obey +the more readily, and give him the lamp as soon as he should ask +for it. But his too great precipitation, and his fear lest +somebody should come that way during their dispute, and discover +what he wished to keep secret, produced an effect quite contrary +to what he had proposed to himself. + +When the African magician saw that all his hopes were frustrated +forever, he returned the same day for Africa; but went quite +round the town, and at some distance from it, lest some persons +who had observed him walk out with the boy, on seeing him come +back without him, should entertain any suspicions, and stop him. + +According to all appearances, there was no prospects of Alla ad +Deen being any more heard of. But the magician, when he had +contrived his death, forgot the ring he had put upon his finger, +which preserved him, though he knew not its virtue. It may seem +astonishing that the loss of that, together with the lamp, did +not drive the magician to despair; but magicians are so much used +to misfortunes, and events contrary to their wishes, that they do +not lay them to heart, but still feed themselves, to the end of +life, with unsubstantial notions and chimeras. + +The surprise of Alla ad Deen, who had never suspected this +treachery from his pretended uncle, after all his caresses and +what he had done for him, is more easily to be imagined than +expressed. When he found himself buried alive, he cried, and +called out to his uncle, to tell him he was ready to give him the +lamp; but in vain, since his cries could not be heard. He +descended to the bottom of the steps, with a design to get into +the garden, but the door, which was opened before by enchantment, +was now shut by the same means. He then redoubled his cries and +tears, sat down on the steps, without any hopes of ever seeing +light again, and in a melancholy certainty of passing from the +present darkness into that of a speedy death. + +Alla ad Deen remained in this state two days, without eating or +drinking, and on the third looked upon death as inevitable. +Clasping his hands with an entire resignation to the will of God, +he said, "There is no strength or power but in the great and high +God." In this action of joining his hands he rubbed the ring +which the magician had put on his finger, and of which he knew +not yet the virtue. Immediately a genie of enormous size and +frightful aspect rose out of the earth, his head reaching the +roof of the vault, and said to him, "What wouldst thou have? I am +ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all who may +possess the ring on thy finger; I, and the other slaves of that +ring." + +At another time, Alla ad Deen, who had not been used to such +appearances, would have been so frightened at the sight of so +extraordinary a figure that he would not have been able to speak; +but the danger he was in made him answer without hesitation, +"Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place, if thou art able." +He had no sooner spoken these words, than he found himself on the +very spot where the magician had caused the earth to open. + +It was some time before his eyes could bear the light, after +being so long in total darkness: but after he had endeavoured by +degrees to support it, and began to look about him, he was much +surprised not to find the earth open, and could not comprehend +how he had got so soon out of its bowels. There was nothing to be +seen but the place where the fire had been, by which he could +nearly judge the situation of the cave. Then turning himself +towards the town, he perceived it at a distance in the midst of +the gardens that surrounded it, and saw the way by which the +magician had brought him. Returning God thanks to find himself +once more in the world, he made the best of his way home. When he +got within his mother's door, the joy to see her and his weakness +for want of sustenance for three days made him faint, and he +remained for a long time as dead. His mother, who had given him +over for lost, seeing him in this condition, omitted nothing to +bring him to himself. As soon as he recovered, the first words he +spoke, were, "Pray, mother, give me something to eat, for I have +not put a morsel of anything into my mouth these three days." His +mother brought what she had, and set it before him. "My son," +said she, "be not too eager, for it is dangerous; eat but little +at a time, and take care of yourself. Besides, I would not have +you talk; you will have time enough to tell me what has happened +to you when you are recovered. It is a great comfort to me to see +you again, after the affliction I have been in since Friday, and +the pains I have taken to learn what was become of you." + +Alla ad Deen took his mother's advice, and ate and drank +moderately. When he had done, "Mother," said he to her, "I cannot +help complaining of you, for abandoning me so easily to the +discretion of a man who had a design to kill me. and who at this +very moment thinks my death certain. You believed he was my +uncle, as well as I; and what other thoughts could we entertain +of a man who was so kind to me, and made such advantageous +proffers? But I must tell you, mother, he is a rogue and a cheat, +and only made me those promises to accomplish my death; but for +what reason neither you nor I can guess. For my part, I can +assure you, I never gave him any cause to justify the least ill +treatment from him. You shall judge yourself, when you have heard +all that passed from the time I left you, till he came to the +execution of his wicked design." + +Alla ad Deen then related to his mother all that had happened to +him from the Friday, when the magician took him to see the +palaces and gardens about the town, and what fell out in the way, +till they came to the place between the two mountains where the +great prodigy was to be performed; how, with incense which the +magician threw into the fire, and some magical words which he +pronounced, the earth opened, and discovered a cave, which led to +an inestimable treasure. He forgot not the blow the magician had +given him, in what manner he softened again, and engaged him by +great promises, and putting a ring to his finger, to go down into +the cave. He did not omit the least circumstance of what he saw +in crossing the three halls and the garden, and his taking the +lamp, which he pulled out of his bosom and shewed to his mother, +as well as the transparent fruit of different colours, which he +had gathered in the garden as he returned. But, though these +fruits were precious stones, brilliant as the sun, and the +reflection of a lamp which then lighted the room might have led +them to think they were of great value, she was as ignorant of +their worth as her son, and cared nothing for them. She had been +bred in a low rank of life, and her husband's poverty prevented +his being possessed of jewels, nor had she, her relations, or +neighbours, ever seen any; so that we must not wonder that she +regarded them as things of no value, and only pleasing to the eye +by the variety of their colours. + +Alla ad Deen put them behind one of the cushions of the sofa, and +continued his story, telling his mother, that when he returned to +the mouth of the cave, upon his refusal to give the magician the +lamp till he should get out, the stone, by his throwing some +incense into the fire, and using two or three magical words, shut +him in, and the earth closed. He could not help bursting into +tears at the representation of the miserable condition he was in, +at finding himself buried alive in a dismal cave, till by the +touching of his ring, the virtue of which he was till then an +entire stranger to, he, properly speaking, came to life again. +When he had finished his story, he said to his mother, "I need +say no more, you know the rest. This is my adventure, and the +danger I have been exposed to since you saw me." + +Alla ad Deen's mother heard with so much patience as not to +interrupt him this surprising and wonderful relation, +notwithstanding it could be no small affliction to a mother, who +loved her son tenderly: but yet in the most moving part which +discovered the perfidy of the African magician, she could not +help shewing, by marks of the greatest indignation, how much she +detested him; and when her son had finished his story, she broke +out into a thousand reproaches against that vile impostor. She +called him perfidious traitor, barbarian, assassin, deceiver, +magician, and an enemy and destroyer of mankind. "Without doubt, +child," added she, "he is a magician, and they are plagues to the +world, and by their enchantments and sorceries have commerce with +the devil. Bless God for preserving you from his wicked designs; +for your death would have been inevitable, if you had not called +upon him, and implored his assistance." She said a great deal +more against the magician's treachery; but finding that whilst +she talked, Alla ad Deen, who had not slept for three days and +nights, began to doze, she left him to his repose and retired. + +Alla ad Deen, who had not closed his eyes while he was in the +subterraneous abode, slept very soundly till late the next +morning; when the first thing he said to his mother was that he +wanted something to eat, and that she could not do him a greater +kindness than to give him his breakfast. "Alas! child," said she, +"I have not a bit of bread to give you, you ate up all the +provisions I had in the house yesterday; but have a little +patience, and it shall not be long before I will bring you some: +I have a little cotton, which I have spun; I will go and sell it, +buy bread, and something for our dinner." "Mother," replied Alla +ad Deen, "keep your cotton for another time, and give me the lamp +I brought home with me yesterday; I will go and sell it, and the +money I shall get for it will serve both for breakfast and +dinner, and perhaps supper too." + +Alla ad Deen's mother took the lamp, and said to her son, "Here +it is, but it is very dirty; if it was a little cleaner I believe +it would bring something more." She took some fine sand and water +to clean it; but had no sooner begun to rub it, than in an +instant a hideous genie of gigantic size appeared before her, and +said to her in a voice like thunder, "What wouldst thou have? I +am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those +who have that lamp in their hands; I and the other slaves of the +lamp." + +Alla ad Deen's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, +fainted; when Alla ad Deen, who had seen such a phantom in the +cavern, snatched the lamp out of his mother's hand, and said to +the genie boldly, "I am hungry, bring me something to eat." The +genie disappeared immediately, and in an instant returned with a +large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishes of the same +metal, which contained the most delicious viands; six large white +bread cakes on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver +cups. All these he placed upon a carpet, and disappeared; this +was done before Alla ad Deen's mother recovered from her swoon. + +Alla ad Deen had fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her +face, to recover her: whether that or the smell of the meat +brought her to life again, it was not long before she came to +herself. "Mother," said Alla ad Deen, "do not mind this; get up, +and come and eat; here is what will put you in heart, and at the +same time satisfy my extreme hunger: do not let such delicious +meat get cold." + +His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve +dishes, six loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the +savoury odour which exhaled from the dishes. "Child," said she, +"to whom are we obliged for this great plenty and liberality? Has +the sultan been made acquainted with our poverty, and had +compassion on us?" "It is no matter, mother," said Alla ad Deen, +"let us sit down and eat; for you have almost as much need of a +good breakfast as myself; when we have done, I will tell you." +Accordingly both mother and son sat down, and ate with the better +relish as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Alla +ad Deen's mother could not forbear looking at and admiring the +tray and dishes, though she could not judge whether they were +silver or any other metal, and the novelty more than the value +attracted her attention. + +The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and +then they thought it would be best to put the two meals together; +yet after this they found they should have enough left for +supper, and two meals for the next day. + +When Alla ad Deen's mother had taken away and set by what was +left, she went and sat down by her son on the sofa, saying, "I +expect now that you should satisfy my impatience, and tell me +exactly what passed between the genie and you while I was in a +swoon;" which he readily complied with. + +She was in as great amazement at what her son told her, as at the +appearance of the genie; and said to him, "But, son, what have we +to do with genii? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had +ever seen one. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, +and not to you, to whom he had appeared before in the cave?" +"Mother," answered Alla ad Deen, "the genie you saw is not the +one who appeared to me, though he resembles him in size; no, they +had quite different persons and habits; they belong to different +masters. If you remember, he that I first saw, called himself the +slave of the ring on my finger; and this you saw, called himself +the slave of the lamp you had in your hand: but I believe you did +not hear him, for I think you fainted as soon as he began to +speak." + +"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occasion of +that cursed genie addressing himself rather to me than to you?" +Ah my son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. +I will never touch it. I had rather you would sell it, than run +the hazard of being frightened to death again by touching it: and +if you would take my advice, you would part also with the ring, +and not have any thing to do with genii, who, as our prophet has +told us, are only devils." + +"With your leave, mother," replied Alla ad Deen, "I shall now +take care how I sell a lamp, which may be so serviceable both to +you and me. Have not you been an eye-witness of what it has +procured us? and it shall still continue to furnish us with +subsistence and maintenance. You may suppose as I do, that my +false and wicked uncle would not have taken so much pains, and +undertaken so long and tedious a journey, if it had not been to +get into his possession this wonderful lamp, which he preferred +before all the gold and silver which he knew was in the halls, +and which I have seen with my own eyes. He knew too well the +worth of this lamp, not to prefer it to so great a treasure; and +since chance hath discovered the virtue of it to us, let us make +a profitable use of it, without making any great shew, and +exciting the envy and jealousy of our neighbours. However, since +the genii frighten you so much, I will take it out of your sight, +and put it where I may find it when I want it. The ring I cannot +resolve to part with; for without that you had never seen me +again; and though I am alive now, perhaps, if it was gone, I +might not be so some moments hence; therefore I hope you will +give me leave to keep it, and to wear it always on my finger. Who +knows what dangers you and I may be exposed to, which neither of +us can foresee, and from which it may deliver us." As Alla ad +Deen's arguments were just, his mother had nothing to say against +them; she only replied, that he might do what he pleased, for her +part, she would have nothing to do with genii, but would wash her +hands of them, and never say anything more about them. + +By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie had +brought; and the next day Alla ad Deen, who could not bear the +thoughts of hunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his +vest, went out early to sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew +whom he met in the streets, took him aside, and pulling out the +plate, asked him if he would buy it. The cunning Jew took the +dish, examined it, and as soon as he found that it was good +silver, asked Alla ad Deen at how much he valued it. Alla ad +Deen, who knew not its value, and never had been used to such +traffic, told him he would trust to his judgment and honour. The +Jew was somewhat confounded at this plain dealing; and doubting +whether Alla ad Deen understood the material or the full value of +what he offered to sell, took a piece of gold out of his purse +and gave it him, though it was but the sixtieth part of the worth +of the plate. Alla ad Deen, taking the money very eagerly, +retired with so much haste, that the Jew, not content with the +exorbitancy of his profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into +his ignorance, and was going to run after him, to endeavour to +get some change out of the piece of gold; but he ran so fast, and +had got so far, that it would have been impossible for him to +overtake him. + +Before Alla ad Deen went home, he called at a baker's, bought +some cakes of bread, changed his money, and on his return gave +the rest to his mother, who went and purchased provisions enough +to last them some time. After this manner they lived, till Alla +ad Deen had sold the twelve dishes singly, as necessity pressed, +to the Jew, for the same money; who, after the first time, durst +not offer him less, for fear of losing so good a bargain. When he +had sold the last dish, he had recourse to the tray, which +weighed ten times as much as the dishes, and would have carried +it to his old purchaser, but that it was too large and +cumbersome; therefore he was obliged to bring him home with him +to his mother's, where, after the Jew had examined the weight of +the tray, he laid down ten pieces of gold, with which Alla ad +Deen was very well satisfied. + +They lived on these ten pieces in a frugal manner, and Alla ad +Deen, though used to an idle life, had left off playing with +young lads of his own age ever since his adventure with the +African magician. He spent his time in walking about, and +conversing with decent people, with whom he gradually got +acquainted. Sometimes he would stop at the principal merchants' +shops, where people of distinction met, and listen to their +discourse, by which he gained some little knowledge of the world. + +When all the money was spent, A]la ad Deen had recourse again to +the lamp. He took it in his hand, looked for the part where his +mother had rubbed it with the sand, rubbed it also, when the +genie immediately appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have?" I +am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those +who have that lamp in their hands; I, and the other slaves of the +lamp." "I am hungry," said Alla ad Deen, "bring me something to +eat." The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a tray, +the same number of covered dishes as before, set them down, and +vanished. + +Alla ad Deen's mother, knowing what her son was going to do, went +out about some business, on purpose to avoid being in the way +when the genie came; and when she returned, was almost as much +surprised as before at the prodigious effect of the lamp. +However, she sat down with her son, and when they had eaten as +much as they liked, she set enough by to last them two or three +days. + +As soon as Alla ad Deen found that their provisions were +expended, he took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew +chapman; but passing by a goldsmith's shop, who had the character +of a very fair and honest man, the goldsmith perceiving him, +called to him, and said, "My lad, I have often observed you go +by, loaded as you are at present, and talk with such a Jew, and +then come back again empty handed. I imagine that you carry +something which you sell to him; but perhaps you do not know that +he is the greatest rogue even among the Jews, and is so well +known, that nobody of prudence will have anything to do with him. +What I tell you is for your own good. If you will shew me what +you now carry, and it is to be sold, I will give you the full +worth of it; or I will direct you to other merchants who will not +cheat you." + +The hopes of getting more money for his plate induced Alla ad +Deen to pull it from under his vest, and shew it to the +goldsmith, who at first sight saw that it was made of the finest +silver, asked him if he had sold such as that to the Jew, when +Alla ad Deen told him that he had sold him twelve such, for a +piece of gold each. "What a villain!" cried the goldsmith; "but," +added he, "my son, what is passed cannot be recalled. By shewing +you the value of this plate, which is of the finest silver we use +in our shops, I will let you see how much the Jew has cheated +you." + +The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and after +he had mentioned how much an ounce of fine silver cost, assured +him that his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, +which he offered to pay down immediately. "If you dispute my +honesty," said he, "you may go to any other of our trade, and if +he gives you more, I will be bound to forfeit twice as much; for +we gain only the fashion of the plate we buy, and that the +fairest dealing Jews are not contented with." + +Alla ad Deen thanked him for his fair dealing, so greatly to his +advantage, took the gold, and never after went to any other +person, but sold him all his dishes and the tray, and had as much +for them as the weight came to. + +Though Alla ad Deen and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure +in their lamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet +they lived with the same frugality as before, except that Alla ad +Deen dressed better; as for his mother, she wore no clothes but +what she earned by spinning cotton. After their manner of living, +it may easily be supposed, that the money for which Alla ad Deen +had sold the dishes and tray was sufficient to maintain them some +time. + +During this interval, Alla ad Deen frequented the shops of the +principal merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, +linens, silk stuffs, and jewellery, and oftentimes joining in +their conversation, acquired a knowledge of the world, and +respectable demeanour. By his acquaintance among the jewellers, +he came to know that the fruits which he had gathered when he +took the lamp were, instead of coloured glass, stones of +inestimable value; but he had the prudence not to mention this to +any one, not even to his mother. + +One day as Alla ad Deen was walking about the town, he heard an +order proclaimed, commanding the people to shut up their shops +and houses, and keep within doors, while the princess Buddir al +Buddoor, the sultan's daughter, went to the baths and returned. + +This proclamation inspired Alla ad Deen with eager curiosity to +see the princess's face, which he could not do without admission +into the house of some acquaintance, and then only through a +window; which did not satisfy him, when he considered that the +princess, when she went to the baths, would be closely veiled; +but to gratify his curiosity, he presently thought of a scheme, +which succeeded; it was to place himself behind the door of the +bath, which was so situated that he could not fail of seeing her +face. + +Alla ad Deen had not waited long before the princess came, and he +could see her plainly through a chink of the door without being +discovered. She was attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves +and eunuchs, who walked on each side, and behind her. When she +came within three or four paces of the door of the baths, she +took off her veil, and gave Alla ad Deen an opportunity of a full +view. + +As soon as Alla ad Deen had seen the princess, his heart could +not withstand those inclinations so charming an object always +inspires. The princess was the most beautiful brunette in the +world; her eyes were large, lively, and sparkling; her looks +sweet and modest; her nose was of a just proportion and without a +fault, her mouth small, her lips of a vermilion red and +charmingly agreeable symmetry; in a word, all the features of her +face were perfectly regular. It is not therefore surprising that +Alla ad Deen, who had never before seen such a blaze of charms, +was dazzled, and his senses ravished by such an assemblage. With +all these perfections the princess had so fine a form, and so +majestic an air, that the sight of her was sufficient to inspire +love and admiration. + +After the princess had passed by, and entered the baths, Alla ad +Deen remained some time astonished, and in a kind of ecstacy, +retracing and imprinting the idea of so charming an object deeply +in his mind. But at last, considering that the princess was gone +past him, and that when she returned from the bath her back would +be towards him, and then veiled, he resolved to quit his hiding +place and go home. He could not so far conceal his uneasiness but +that his mother perceived it, was surprised to see him so much +more thoughtful and melancholy than usual; and asked what had +happened to make him so, or if he was ill? He returned her no +answer, but sat carelessly down on the sofa, and remained silent, +musing on the image of the charming Buddir al Buddoor. His +mother, who was dressing supper, pressed him no more. When it was +ready, she served it up, and perceiving that he gave no attention +to it, urged him to eat, but had much ado to persuade him to +change his place; which when he did, he ate much less than usual, +all the time cast down his eyes, and observed so profound a +silence, that she could not obtain a word in answer to all the +questions she put, in order to find the reason of so +extraordinary an alteration. + +After supper, she asked him again why he was so melancholy, but +could get no information, and he determined to go to bed rather +than give her the least satisfaction. Without examining how he +passed the night, his mind full as it was with the charms of the +princess, I shall only observe that as he sat next day on the +sofa, opposite his mother, as she was spinning cotton, he spoke +to her in these words: "I perceive, mother, that my silence +yesterday has much troubled you; I was not, nor am I sick, as I +fancy you believed; but I assure you, that what I felt then, and +now endure, is worse than any disease. I cannot explain what ails +me; but doubt not what I am going to relate will inform you. + +"It was not proclaimed in this quarter of the town, and therefore +you could know nothing of it, that the sultan's daughter was +yesterday to go to the baths. I heard this as I walked about the +town, and an order was issued that all the shops should be shut +up in her way thither, and everybody keep within doors, to leave +the streets free for her and her attendants. As I was not then +far from the bath, I had a great curiosity to see the princess's +face; and as it occurred to me that the princess, when she came +nigh the door of the bath, would pull her veil off, I resolved to +conceal myself behind the door. You know the situation of the +door, and may imagine that I must have had a full view of her. +The princess threw off her veil, and I had the happiness of +seeing her lovely face with the greatest security. This, mother, +was the cause of my melancholy and silence yesterday; I love the +princess with more violence than I can express; and as my passion +increases every moment, I cannot live without the possession of +the amiable Buddir al Buddoor, and am resolved to ask her in +marriage of the sultan her father." + +Alla ad Deen's mother listened with surprise to what her son told +her; but when he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she +could not help bursting out into a loud laugh. Alla ad Deen would +have gone on with his rhapsody, but she interrupted him. "Alas! +child," said she, "what are you thinking of? you must be mad to +talk thus." + +"I assure you, mother," replied Alla ad Deen, "that I am not mad, +but in my right senses; I foresaw that you would reproach me with +folly and extravagance; but I must tell you once more that I am +resolved to demand the princess of the sultan in marriage, and +your remonstrances shall not prevent me." + +"Indeed, son," replied the mother seriously, "I cannot help +telling you that you have forgotten yourself; and if you would +put this resolution of yours in execution, I do not see whom you +can prevail upon to venture to make the proposal for you." "You +yourself," replied he immediately. "I go to the sultan!" answered +the mother, amazed and surprised. "I shall be cautious how I +engage in such an errand. Why, who are you, son," continued she, +"that you can have the assurance to think of your sultan's +daughter? Have you forgotten that your father was one of the +poorest tailors in the capital, and that I am of no better +extraction; and do not you know that sultans never marry their +daughters but to princes, sons of sovereigns like themselves?" + +"Mother," answered Alla ad Deen, "I have already told you that I +foresaw all that you have said, or can say: and tell you again, +that neither your discourse nor your remonstrances shall make me +change my mind. I have told you that you must ask the princess in +marriage for me: it is a favour I desire of you, and I beg of you +not to refuse, unless you would rather see me in my grave, than +by your compliance give me new life." + +The good old woman was much embarrassed, when she found Alla ad +Deen obstinately persisting in so wild a design. "My son," said +she again, "I am your mother, who brought you into the world, and +there is nothing that is reasonable but I would readily do for +you. If I were to go and treat about your marriage with some +neighbour's daughter, whose circumstances were equal with yours, +I would do it with all my heart; and even then they would expect +you should have some little estate or fortune, or be of some +trade. When such poor folks as we are wish to marry, the first +thing they ought to think of, is how to live. But without +reflecting on the meanness of your birth, and the little merit +and fortune you have to recommend you, you aim at the highest +pitch of exaltation; and your pretensions are no less than to +demand in marriage the daughter of your sovereign, who with one +single word can crush you to pieces. I say nothing of what +respects yourself. I leave you to reflect on what you have to do, +if you have ever so little thought. I come now to consider what +concerns myself. How could so extraordinary a thought come into +your head, as that I should go to the sultan and make a proposal +to him to give his daughter in marriage to you? Suppose I had, +not to say the boldness, but the impudence to present myself +before the sultan, and make so extravagant a request, to whom +should I address myself to be introduced to his majesty? Do you +not think the first person I should speak to would take me for a +mad woman, and chastise me as I should deserve? Suppose, however, +that there is no difficulty in presenting myself for an audience +of the sultan, and I know there is none to those who go to +petition for justice, which he distributes equally among his +subjects; I know too that to those who ask a favour he grants it +with pleasure when he sees it is deserved, and the persons are +worthy of it. But is that your case? Do you think you have +merited the honour you would have me ask for you? Are you worthy +of it? What have you done to claim such a favour, either for your +prince or country? How have you distinguished yourself? If you +have done nothing to merit so high a distinction, nor are worthy +of it, with what face shall I ask it? How can I open my mouth to +make the proposal to the sultan? His majestic presence and the +lustre of his court would absolutely confound me, who used even +to tremble before my dear husband your father, when I asked him +for any thing. There is another reason, my son, which you do not +think of, which is that nobody ever goes to ask a favour of the +sultan without a present. But what presents have you to make? And +if you had any that were worthy of the least attention of so +great a monarch, what proportion could they bear to the favour +you would ask? Therefore, reflect well on what you are about, and +consider, that you aspire to an object which it is impossible for +you to obtain." + +Alla ad Deen heard very calmly all that his mother could say to +dissuade him from his design, and after he had weighed her +representations in all points, replied: "I own, mother, it is +great rashness in me to presume to carry my pretensions so far; +and a great want of consideration to ask you with so much heat +and precipitancy to go and make the proposal to the sultan, +without first taking proper measures to procure a favourable +reception, and therefore beg your pardon. But be not surprised +that through the violence of my passion I did not at first see +every measure necessary to procure me the happiness I seek. I +love the princess, or rather I adore her, and shall always +persevere in my design of marrying her. I am obliged to you for +the hint you have given me, and look upon it as the first step I +ought to take to procure the happy issue I promise myself. + +"You say it is not customary to go to the sultan without a +present, and that I have nothing worthy of his acceptance. As to +the necessity of a present, I agree with you, and own that I +never thought of it; but as to what you say that I have nothing +fit to offer, do not you think, mother, that what I brought home +with me the day on which I was delivered from an inevitable +death, may be an acceptable present? I mean what you and I both +took for coloured glass: but now I am undeceived, and can tell +you that they are jewels of inestimable value, and fit for the +greatest monarchs. I know the worth of them by frequenting the +shops; and you may take my word that all the precious stones +which I saw in the most capital jewellers' possessions were not +to be compared to those we have, either for size or beauty, and +yet they value theirs at an excessive price. In short, neither +you nor I know the value of ours; but be it as it may, by the +little experience I have, I am persuaded that they will be +received very favourably by the sultan: you have a large +porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see how +they will look, when we have arranged them according to their +different colours." + +Alla ad Deen's mother brought the china dish, when he took the +jewels out of the two purses in which he had kept them, and +placed them in order according to his fancy. But the brightness +and lustre they emitted in the day-time, and the variety of the +colours, so dazzled the eyes both of mother and son, that they +were astonished beyond measure; for they had only seen them by +the light of a lamp; and though the latter had beheld them +pendant on the trees like fruit beautiful to the eye, yet as he +was then but a boy, he looked on them only as glittering +playthings. + +After they had admired the beauty of the jewels some time, Alla +ad Deen said to his mother, "Now you cannot excuse yourself from +going to the sultan, under pretext of not having a present to +make him, since here is one which will gain you a favourable +reception." + +Though the good widow, notwithstanding the beauty and lustre of +the precious stones, did not believe them so valuable as her son +estimated them, she thought such a present might nevertheless be +agreeable to the sultan, but still she hesitated at the request. +"My son," said she, "I cannot conceive that your present will +have its desired effect, or that the sultan will look upon me +with a favourable eye; I am sure, that if I attempt to deliver +your strange message, I shall have no power to open my mouth; +therefore I shall not only lose my labour, but the present, which +you say is so invaluable, and shall return home again in +confusion, to tell you that your hopes are frustrated. I have +represented the consequence, and you ought to believe me; but," +added she, "I will exert my best endeavour to please you, and +wish I may have power to ask the sultan as you would have me; but +certainly he will either laugh at me, send me back like a fool, +or be in so great a rage, as to make us both the victims of his +fury." + +She used many other arguments to endeavour to make him change his +mind; but the charms of the princess had made too great an +impression on his heart for him to be dissuaded from his design. +He persisted in importuning his mother to execute his resolution, +and she, as much out of tenderness as for fear he should be +guilty of greater extravagance, complied with his request. + +As it was now late, and the time for admission to the palace was +passed, it was put off till the next day. The mother and son +talked of different matters the remaining part of the day; and +Alla ad Deen strove to encourage her in the task she had +undertaken; while she, notwithstanding all his arguments, could +not persuade herself she should succeed; and it must be confessed +she had reason enough to doubt. "Child," said she to Alla ad +Deen, "if the sultan should receive me as favourably as I wish +for your sake, should even hear my proposal with calmness, and +after this scarcely-to-be-expected reception should think of +asking me where lie your riches and your estate (for he will +sooner inquire after these than your person), if, I say, he +should ask me these questions, what answer would you have me +return him?" + +"Let us not be uneasy, mother," replied Alla ad Deen, "about what +may never happen. First, let us see how the sultan receives, and +what answer he gives you. If it should so fall out, that he +desires to be informed of what you mention, I have thought of an +answer, and am confident that the lamp which hath supported us so +long will not fail me in time of need." + +The tailor's widow could not say any thing against what her son +then proposed; but reflected that the lamp might be capable of +doing greater wonders than just providing victuals for them. This +consideration satisfied her, and at the same time removed all the +difficulties which might have prevented her from undertaking the +service she had promised her son with the sultan. Alla ad Deen, +who penetrated into his mother's thoughts, said to her, "Above +all things, mother, be sure to keep secret our possession of the +lamp, for thereon depends the success we have to expect;" and +after this caution, Alla ad Deen and his mother parted to go to +rest. But violent love, and the great prospect of so immense a +fortune, had so much possessed the son's thoughts, that he could +not repose himself so well as he could have wished. He rose +before day-break, awakened his mother, pressing her to get +herself dressed to go to the sultan's palace, and to get +admittance, if possible, before the grand vizier, the other +viziers, and the great officers of state went in to take their +seats in the divan, where the sultan always assisted in person. + +Alla ad Deen's mother took the china dish, in which they had put +the jewels the day before, wrapped in two napkins, one finer than +the other, which was tied at the four corners for more easy +carriage, and set forward for the sultan's palace. When she came +to the gates, the grand vizier, the other viziers and most +distinguished lords of the court, were just gone in; but, +notwithstanding the crowd of people who had business was great, +she got into the divan, a spacious hall, the entrance into which +was very magnificent. She placed herself just before the sultan, +grand vizier, and the great lords, who sat in council, on his +right and left hand. Several causes were called, according to +their order, pleaded and adjudged, until the time the divan +generally broke up, when the sultan rising, returned to his +apartment, attended by the grand vizier; the other viziers and +ministers of state then retired, as also did those whose business +had called them thither; some pleased with gaining their causes, +others dissatisfied at the sentences pronounced against them, and +some in expectation of theirs being heard the next sitting. + +Alla ad Deen's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the +people depart, judged rightly that he would not sit again that +day, and resolved to go home. When Alla ad Deen saw her return +with the present designed for the sultan, he knew not what to +think of her success, and in his fear lest she should bring him +some ill news, had not courage to ask her any questions; but she, +who had never set foot in the sultan's palace before, and knew +not what was every day practised there, freed him from his +embarrassment, and said to him, with a great deal of simplicity, +"Son, I have seen the sultan, and am very well persuaded he has +seen me too; for I placed myself just before him; but he was so +much taken up with those who attended on all sides of him, that I +pitied him, and wondered at his patience. At last I believe he +was heartily tired, for he rose up suddenly, and would not hear a +great many who were ready prepared to speak to him, but went +away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed I began to lose all +patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so long. But +there is no harm done; I will go again to-morrow; perhaps the +sultan may not be so busy." + +Though his passion was very violent, Alla ad Deen was forced to +be satisfied with this delay, and to fortify himself with +patience. He had at least the satisfaction to find that his +mother had got over the greatest difficulty, which was to procure +access to the sultan, and hoped that the example of those she saw +speak to him would embolden her to acquit herself better of her +commission when a favourable opportunity might offer to speak to +him. + +The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the +present, as early as the day before, but when she came there, she +found the gates of the divan shut, and understood that the +council sat but every other day, therefore she must come again +the next. This news she carried to her son, whose only relief was +to guard himself with patience. She went six times afterwards on +the days appointed, placed herself always directly before the +sultan, but with as little success as the first morning, and +might have perhaps come a thousand times to as little purpose, if +luckily the sultan himself had not taken particular notice of +her: for only those who came with petitions approached the +sultan, when each pleaded their cause in its turn, and Alla ad +Deen's mother was not one of them. + +On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when +the sultan returned to his own apartment, he said to his grand +vizier, "I have for some time observed a certain woman, who +attends constantly every day that I give audience, with something +wrapped up in a napkin: she always stands up from the beginning +to the breaking up of the audience, and affects to place herself +just before me. Do you know what she wants?" + +"Sir," replied the grand vizier, who knew no more than the sultan +what she wanted, but did not wish to seem uninformed, "your +majesty knows that women often make complaints on trifles; +perhaps she may come to complain to your majesty that somebody +has sold her some bad flour, or some such trifling matter." The +sultan was not satisfied with this answer, but replied, "If this +woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I +may hear what she has to say." The grand vizier made answer by +lowering his hand, and then lifting it up above his head, +signifying his willingness to lose it if he failed. + +By this time, the tailor's widow was so much used to go to +audience, and stand before the sultan, that she did not think it +any trouble, if she could but satisfy her son that she neglected +nothing that lay in her power to please him: the next audience +day she went to the divan, placed herself in front of the sultan +as usual; and before the grand vizier had made his report of +business, the sultan perceived her, and compassionating her for +having waited so long, said to the vizier, "Before you enter upon +any business, remember the woman I spoke to you about; bid her +come near, and let us hear and dispatch her business first." The +grand vizier immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers who +stood ready to obey his commands; and pointing to her, bade him +go to that woman, and tell her to come before the sultan. + +The chief of the officers went to Alla ad Deen's mother, and at a +sign he gave her, she followed him to the foot of the sultan's +throne, where he left her, and retired to his place by the grand +vizier. The old woman, after the example of others whom she saw +salute the sultan, bowed her head down to the carpet, which +covered the platform of the throne, and remained in that posture +till the sultan bade her rise, which she had no sooner done, than +he said to her, "Good woman, I have observed you to stand a long +time, from the beginning to the rising of the divan; what +business brings you here?" + +After these words, Alla ad Deen's mother prostrated herself a +second time; and when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs, +before I tell your majesty the extraordinary and almost +incredible business which brings me before your high throne, I +beg of you to pardon the boldness or rather impudence of the +demand I am going to make, which is so uncommon, that I tremble, +and am ashamed to propose it to my sovereign." In order to give +her the more freedom to explain herself, the sultan ordered all +to quit the divan but the grand vizier, and then told her she +might speak without restraint. + +Alla ad Deen's mother, not content with this favour of the +sultan's to save her the trouble and confusion of speaking before +so many people, was notwithstanding for securing herself against +his anger, which, from the proposal she was going to make, she +was not a little apprehensive of; therefore resuming her +discourse, she said, "I beg of your majesty, if you should think +my demand the least injurious or offensive, to assure me first of +your pardon and forgiveness." "Well," replied the sultan, "I will +forgive you, be it what it may, and no hurt shall come to you: +speak boldly." + +When Alla ad Deen's mother had taken all these precautions, for +fear of the sultan's anger, she told him faithfully how Alla ad +Deen had seen the princess Buddir al Buddoor, the violent love +that fatal sight had inspired him with, the declaration he had +made to her of it when he came home, and what representations she +had made "to dissuade him from a passion no less disrespectful," +said she, "to your majesty, as sultan, than to the princess your +daughter. But," continued she, "my son, instead of taking my +advice and reflecting on his presumption, was so obstinate as to +persevere, and to threaten me with some desperate act, if I +refused to come and ask the princess in marriage of your majesty; +and it was not without the greatest reluctance that I was led to +accede to his request, for which I beg your majesty once more to +pardon not only me, but also Alla ad Deen my son, for +entertaining so rash a project as to aspire to so high an +alliance." + +The sultan hearkened to this discourse with mildness, and without +shewing the least anger; but before he gave her any answer, asked +her what she had brought tied up in the napkin. She took the +china dish, which she had set down at the foot of the throne, +before she prostrated herself before him; untied it, and +presented it to the sultan. + +The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he +saw so many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in +the dish. He remained for some time motionless with admiration. +At last, when he had recovered himself, he received the present +from Alla ad Deen's mother's hand, crying out in a transport of +joy, "How rich, how beautiful!" After he had admired and handled +all the jewels, one after another, he turned to his grand vizier, +and shewing him the dish, said, "Behold, admire, wonder, and +confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so rich and beautiful +before." The vizier was charmed. "Well," continued the sultan, +"what sayst thou to such a present? Is it not worthy of the +princess my daughter? And ought I not to bestow her on one who +values her at so great price?" + +These words put the grand vizier into extreme agitation. The +sultan had some time before signified to him his intention of +bestowing the princess on a son of his; therefore he was afraid, +and not without grounds, that the sultan, dazzled by so rich and +extraordinary a present, might change his mind. Therefore going +to him, and whispering him in the ear, he said, "I cannot but own +that the present is worthy of the princess; but I beg of your +majesty to grant me three months before you come to a final +resolution. I hope, before that time, my son, on whom you have +had the goodness to look with a favourable eye, will be able to +make a nobler present than Alla ad Deen, who is an entire +stranger to Your majesty." + +The sultan, though he was fully persuaded that it was not +possible for the vizier to provide so considerable a present for +his son to make the princess, yet as he had given him hopes, +hearkened to him, and granted his request. Turning therefore to +the old widow, he said to her, "Good woman, go home, and tell +your son that I agree to the proposal you have made me; but I +cannot marry the princess my daughter, till the paraphernalia I +design for her be got ready, which cannot be finished these three +months; but at the expiration of that time come again." + +Alla ad Deen's mother returned home much more gratified than she +had expected, since she had met with a favourable answer, instead +of the refusal and confusion she had dreaded. From two +circumstances Alla ad Deen, when he saw his mother returning, +judged that she brought him good news; the one was, that she +returned sooner than ordinary; and the other, the gaiety of her +countenance. "Well, mother," said he, "may I entertain any hopes, +or must I die with despair?" When she had pulled off her veil, +and had seated herself on the sofa by him, she said to him, "Not +to keep you long in suspense, son, I will begin by telling you, +that instead of thinking of dying, you have every reason to be +well satisfied." Then pursuing her discourse, she told him, that +she had an audience before everybody else which made her come +home so soon; the precautions she had taken lest she should have +displeased the sultan, by making the proposal of marriage between +him and the princess Buddir al Buddoor, and the condescending +answer she had received from the sultan's own mouth; and that as +far as she could judge, the present had wrought a powerful +effect. "But when I least expected it," said she, "and he was +going to give me an answer, and I fancied a favourable one, the +grand vizier whispered him in the ear, and I was afraid might be +some obstacle to his good intentions towards us, and so it +happened, for the sultan desired me to come to audience again +this day three months." + +Alla ad Deen thought himself the most happy of all men at hearing +this news, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in +the affair, the good success of which was of so great importance +to his peace. Though from his impatience to obtain the object of +his passion, three months seemed an age, yet he disposed himself +to wait with patience, relying on the sultan's word, which he +looked upon to be irrevocable. But all that time he not only +counted the hours, days, and weeks, but every moment. When two of +the three months were past, his mother one evening going to light +the lamp, and finding no oil in the house, went out to buy some, +and when she came into the city, found a general rejoicing. The +shops, instead of being shut up, were open, dressed with foliage, +silks, and carpeting, every one striving to show their zeal in +the most distinguished manner according to his ability. The +streets were crowded with officers in habits of ceremony, mounted +on horses richly caparisoned, each attended by a great many +footmen. Alla ad Deen's mother asked the oil-merchant what was +the meaning of all this preparation of public festivity." Whence +came you, good woman," said he, "that you don't know that the +grand vizier's son is to marry the princess Buddir al Buddoor, +the sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from +the baths; and these officers whom you see are to assist at the +cavalcade to the palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnized." + +This was news enough for Alla ad Deen's mother. She ran till she +was quite out of breath home to her son, who little suspected any +such event. "Child," cried she, "you are undone! You depend upon +the sultan's fine promises, but they will come to nothing." Alla +ad Deen was alarmed at these words. "Mother," replied he, "how do +you know the sultan has been guilty of a breach of promise?" +"This night," answered the mother, "the grand vizier's son is to +marry the princess Buddir al Buddoor." She then related how she +had heard it; so that from all circumstances, he had no reason to +doubt the truth of what she said. + +At this account, Alla ad Deen was thunder-struck. Any other man +would have sunk under the shock; but a sudden hope of +disappointing his rival soon roused his spirits, and he bethought +himself of the lamp, which had on every emergence been so useful +to him; and without venting his rage in empty words against the +sultan, the vizier, or his son, he only said, "Perhaps, mother, +the vizier's son may not be so happy to-night as he promises +himself: while I go into my chamber a moment, do you get supper +ready." She accordingly went about it, but guessed that her son +was going to make use of the lamp, to prevent, if possible, the +consummation of the marriage. + +When Alla ad Deen had got into his chamber, he took the lamp, +rubbed it in the same place as before, when immediately the genie +appeared, and said to him, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to +obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that +lamp in their possession; I and the other slaves of the lamp." +"Hear me," said Alla ad Deen; "thou hast hitherto brought me +whatever I wanted as to provisions; but now I have business of +the greatest importance for thee to execute. I have demanded the +princess Buddir al Buddoor in marriage of the sultan her father; +he promised her to me, only requiring three months delay; but +instead of keeping that promise, has this night married her to +the grand vizier's son. What I ask of you is, that as soon as the +bride and bridegroom are retired, you bring them both hither in +their bed." "Master," replied the genie, "I will obey you. Have +you any other commands?" "None at present," answered Alla ad +Deen; the genie then disappeared. + +Alla ad Deen having left his chamber, supped with his mother, +with the same tranquillity of mind as usual; and after supper +talked of the princess's marriage as of an affair wherein he had +not the least concern'; he then retired to his own chamber again, +and left his mother to go to bed; but sat up waiting the +execution of his orders to the genie. + +In the meantime, everything was prepared with the greatest +magnificence in the sultan's palace to celebrate the princess's +nuptials; and the evening was spent with all the usual ceremonies +and great rejoicings till midnight, when the grand vizier's son, +on a signal given him by the chief of the princess's eunuchs, +slipped away from the company, and was introduced by that officer +into the princess's apartment, where the nuptial bed was +prepared. He went to bed first, and in a little time after, the +sultaness, accompanied by her own women, and those of the +princess, brought the bride, who, according to the custom of new- +married ladies, made great resistance. The sultaness herself +helped to undress her, put her into bed by a kind of violence: +and after having kissed her, and wished her good night, retired +with the women to her own apartments. + +No sooner was the door shut, than the genie, as the faithful +slave of the lamp, and punctual in executing the command of those +who possessed it, without giving the bridegroom the least time to +caress his bride, to the great amazement of them both, took up +the bed, and transported it in an instant into Alla ad Deen's +chamber, where he set it down. + +Alla ad Deen, who had waited impatiently for this moment, did not +suffer the vizier's son to remain long in bed with the princess. +"Take this new-married man," said he to the genie, "shut him up +in the out-house, and come again tomorrow morning before day- +break." The genie instantly forced the vizier's son out of bed, +carried him whither Alla ad Deen had commanded him; and after he +had breathed upon him, which prevented him stirring, left him +there. + +Passionate as was Alla ad Deen's love for the princess, he did +not talk much to her when they were alone; but only said with a +respectful air, "Fear nothing, adorable princess, you are here in +safety; for, notwithstanding the violence of my passion, which +your charms have kindled, it shall never exceed the bounds of the +profound adoration I owe you. If I have been forced to come to +this extremity, it is not with any intention of affronting you, +but to prevent an unjust rival's possessing you, contrary to the +sultan your father's promise in favour of myself." + +The princess, who knew nothing of these particulars, gave very +little attention to what Alla ad Deen could say. The fright and +amazement of so surprising and unexpected an adventure had +alarmed her so much that he could not get one word from her. +However, he undressed himself, took the bridegroom's place, but +lay with his back to the princess, putting a sabre between +himself and her, to shew that he deserved to be put to death, if +he attempted anything against her honour. Alla ad Deen, satisfied +with having thus deprived his rival of the happiness he had +flattered himself with, slept very soundly, though the princess +Buddir al Buddoor never passed a night so ill in her life; and if +we consider the condition in which the genie left the grand +vizier's son, we may imagine that the new bridegroom spent it +much worse. + +Alla ad Deen had no occasion the next morning to rub the lamp to +call the genie; who appeared at the hour appointed, just when he +had done dressing himself, and said to him, "I am here, master, +what are your commands?" "Go," said Alla ad Deen, "fetch the +vizier's son out of the place where you left him, put him into +his bed again, and carry it to the sultan's palace, from whence +you brought it." The genie presently returned with the vizier's +son. Alla ad Deen took up his sabre, the bridegroom was laid by +the princess, and in an instant the nuptial-bed was transported +into the same chamber of the palace from whence it had been +brought. But we must observe, that all this time the genie never +was visible either to the princess or the grand vizier's son. His +hideous form would have made them die with fear. Neither did they +hear any thing of the discourse between Alla ad Deen and him; +they only perceived the motion of the bed, and their +transportation from one place to another; which we may well +imagine was enough to alarm them. + +As soon as the genie had set down the nuptial bed in its proper +place, the sultan tapped at the door to wish her good morning. +The grand vizier's son, who was almost perished with cold, by +standing in his thin under garment all night, and had not had +time to warm himself in bed, no sooner heard the knocking at the +door than he got out of bed, and ran into the robing-chamber, +where he had undressed himself the night before. + +The sultan having opened the door, went to the bed-side, kissed +the princess between the eyes, according to custom, wishing her a +good morrow, but was extremely surprised to see her so +melancholy. She only cast at him a sorrowful look, expressive of +great affliction or great dissatisfaction. He said a few words to +her; but finding that he could not get a word from her, +attributed it to her modesty, and retired. Nevertheless, he +suspected that there was something extraordinary in this silence, +and thereupon went immediately to the sultaness's apartment, told +her in what a state he had found the princess, and how she had +received him. "Sir," said the sultaness, "your majesty ought not +to be surprised at this behaviour; new-married people have +naturally a reserve about them; two or three days hence she will +receive the sultan her father as she ought: but I will go and see +her," added she; "I am much deceived if she receives me in the +same manner." + +As soon as the sultaness was dressed, she went to the princess's +apartment, who was still in bed. She undrew the curtain, wished +her good morrow, and kissed her. But how great was her surprise +when she returned no answer; and looking more attentively at her, +she perceived her to be much dejected, which made her judge that +something had happened, which she did not understand "How comes +it, child," said the sultaness, "that you do not return my +caresses? Ought you to treat your mother after this manner? I am +induced to believe something extraordinary has happened; come, +tell me freely, and leave me no longer in a painful suspense." + +At last the princess broke silence with a deep sigh, and said, +"Alas! most honoured mother, forgive me if I have failed in the +respect I owe you. My mind is so full of the extraordinary +circumstances which have befallen me this night, that I have not +yet recovered my amazement and alarm." She then told her, how the +instant after she and her husband were together, the bed was +transported into a dark dirty room, where he was taken from her +and carried away, but where she knew not; and that she was left +alone with a young man, who, after he had said something to her, +which her fright did not suffer her to hear, laid himself in her +husband's place, but first put his sabre between them; and in the +morning her husband was brought to her again, when the bed was +transported back to her own chamber in an instant. "All this," +said she, "was but just done, when the sultan my father came into +my chamber. I was so overwhelmed with grief, that I had not power +to speak, and am afraid that he is offended at the manner in +which I received the honour he did me; but I hope he will forgive +me, when he knows my melancholy adventure, and the miserable +state I am in at present." + +The sultaness heard all the princess told her very patiently, but +would not believe it. "You did well, child," said she, "not to +speak of this to your father: take care not to mention it to +anybody; for you will certainly be thought mad if you talk in +this manner." "Madam," replied the princess, "I can assure you I +am in my right senses; ask my husband, and he will tell you the +same circumstances." "I will," said the sultaness, "but if he +should talk in the same manner, I shall not be better persuaded +of the truth. Come, rise, and throw off this idle fancy; it will +be a strange event, if all the feasts and rejoicings in the +kingdom should be interrupted by such a vision. Do not you hear +the trumpets of congratulation, and concerts of the finest music? +Cannot these inspire you with joy and pleasure, and make you +forget the fancies of an imagination disturbed by what can have +been only a dream?" At the same time the sultaness called the +princess's women, and after she had seen her get up, and begin +dressing, went to the sultan's apartment, told him that her +daughter had got some odd notions in her head, but that there was +nothing in them but idle phantasy. + +She then sent for the vizier's son, to know of him something of +what the princess had told her; but he, thinking himself highly +honoured to be allied to the sultan, and not willing to lose the +princess, denied what had happened. "That is enough," answered +the sultaness, "I ask no more, I see you are wiser than my +daughter." + +The rejoicings lasted all that day in the palace, and the +sultaness, who never left the princess, forgot nothing to divert +her, and induce her to take part in the various diversions and +shows; but she was so struck with the idea of what had happened +to her in the night, that it was easy to see her thoughts were +entirely taken up with it. Neither was the grand vizier's son in +less tribulation, though his ambition made him disguise his +feelings so well, that nobody doubted of his being a happy +bridegroom. + +Alla ad Deen, who was well acquainted with what passed in the +palace, was sure the new-married couple were to sleep together +again, notwithstanding the troublesome adventure of the night +before; and therefore, having as great an inclination to disturb +them, had recourse to his lamp, and when the genie appeared, and +offered his service, he said to him, "The grand vizier's son and +the princess Buddir al Buddoor are to sleep together again to- +night: go, and as soon as they are in bed, bring the bed hither, +as thou didst yesterday." + +The genie obeyed as faithfully and exactly as the day before; the +grand vizier's son passed the night as coldly and disagreeably, +and the princess had the mortification again to have Alla ad Deen +for her bed-fellow, with the sabre between them. The genie, +according to orders, came the next morning, brought the +bridegroom, laid him by his bride, and then carried the bed and +new-married couple back again to the palace. + +The sultan, after the reception the princess had given him, was +very anxious to know how she had passed the second night, and +therefore went into her chamber as early as the morning before. +The grand vizier's son, more ashamed and mortified with the ill +success of this last night, no sooner heard him coming, than he +jumped out of bed, and ran hastily into the robing-chamber. The +sultan went to the princess's bed-side, and after the same +caresses he had given her the former morning, bade her good +morrow. "Well daughter," said he, "are you in a better humour +than yesterday?" Still the princess was silent, and the sultan +perceiving her to be more troubled, and in greater confusion than +before, doubted not that something very extraordinary was the +cause; but provoked that his daughter should conceal it, he said +to her in a rage, with his sabre in his hand, "Daughter, tell me +what is the matter, or I will cut off your head immediately." + +The princess, more frightened at the menaces and tone of the +enraged sultan than at the sight of the drawn sabre, at last +broke silence, and said with tears in her eyes, "My dear father +and sultan, I ask your majesty's pardon if I have offended you, +and hope, that out of your goodness and clemency you will have +compassion on me, when I shall have told you in what a miserable +condition I have spent this last night, as well as the +preceding." + +After this preamble, which appeased and affected the sultan, she +told him what had happened to her in so moving a manner, that he, +who loved her tenderly, was most sensibly grieved. She added, "If +your majesty doubts the truth of this account, you may inform +yourself from my husband, who, I am persuaded, will tell you the +same thing." + +The sultan immediately felt all the extreme uneasiness so +surprising an adventure must have given the princess. "Daughter," +said he, "you are much to blame for not telling me this +yesterday, since it concerns me as much as yourself. I did not +marry you with an intention to make you miserable, but that you +might enjoy all the happiness you deserve and might hope for from +a husband who to me seemed agreeable to you. Efface all these +troublesome ideas from your memory; I will take care that you +shall have no more disagreeable and insupportable nights." + +As soon as the sultan had returned to his own apartment, he sent +for the grand vizier: "Vizier," said he, "have you seen your son, +and has he told you anything?" The vizier replied, "No." The +sultan related all the circumstances of which the princess had +informed him, and afterwards said, "I do not doubt but that my +daughter has told me the truth; but nevertheless I should be glad +to have it confirmed by your son, therefore go and ask him how it +was." + +The grand vizier went immediately to his son, communicated what +the sultan had told him, and enjoined him to conceal nothing, but +to relate the whole truth. "I will disguise nothing from you, +father," replied the son, "for indeed all that the princess has +stated is true; but what relates particularly to myself she knows +nothing of. Since my marriage, I have passed two nights beyond +imagination or expression disagreeable, not to mention the fright +I was in at finding my bed lifted four times, transported from +one place to another, without being able to guess how it was +done. You may judge of the miserable condition I was in, passing +two whole nights in nothing but my under vestments, standing in a +kind of closet, unable to stir out of the place or to make the +least movement, though I could not perceive any obstacle to +prevent me. Yet I must tell you, that all this ill usage does not +in the least lessen those sentiments of love, respect, and +gratitude I entertain for the princess, and of which she is so +deserving; but I must confess, that notwithstanding all the +honour and splendour that attends marrying my sovereign's +daughter, I would much rather die, than continue in so exalted an +alliance if I must undergo nightly much longer what I have +already endured. I do not doubt but that the princess entertains +the same sentiments, and that she will readily agree to a +separation, which is so necessary both for her repose and mine. +Therefore, father, I beg, by the same tenderness which led you to +procure me so great an honour, to obtain the sultan's consent +that our marriage may be declared null and void." + +Notwithstanding the grand vizier's ambition to have his son +allied to the sultan, the firm resolution he saw he had formed to +be separated from the princess made him not think it proper to +propose to him to have patience for a few days, to see if this +disappointment would not have an end; but he left him to give an +account of what he had related to him, and without waiting till +the sultan himself, whom he found disposed to it, spoke of +setting aside the marriage, he begged of him to give his son +leave to retire from the palace, alleging it was not just that +the princess should be a moment longer exposed to so terrible a +persecution upon his son's account. + +The grand vizier found no great difficulty to obtain what he +asked, as the sultan had determined already; orders were given to +put a stop to all rejoicings in the palace and town, and +expresses dispatched to all parts of his dominions to countermand +them; and, in a short time, all rejoicings ceased. + +This sudden and unexpected change gave rise both in the city and +kingdom to various speculations and inquiries; but no other +account could be given of it, except that both the vizier and his +son went out of the palace very much dejected. Nobody but Alla ad +Deen knew the secret. He rejoiced within himself at the happy +success procured by his lamp, which now he had no more occasion +to rub, to produce the genie to prevent the consummation of the +marriage, as he had certain information it was broken off, and +that his rival had left the palace. Neither the sultan nor the +grand vizier, who had forgotten Alla ad Deen and his request, had +the least thought that he had any concern in the enchantment +which caused the dissolution of the marriage. + +Alla ad Deen waited till the three months were completed, which +the sultan had appointed for the consummation of the marriage +between the princess Buddir al Buddoor and himself; and the next +day sent his mother to the palace, to remind the sultan of his +promise. + +Alla ad Deen's mother went to the palace, and stood in the same +place as before in the hall of audience. The sultan no sooner +cast his eyes upon her than he knew her again, remembered her +business, and how long he had put her off: therefore when the +grand vizier was beginning to make his report, the sultan +interrupted him, and said, "Vizier, I see the good woman who made +me the present of jewels some months ago; forbear your report, +till I have heard what she has to say." The vizier looking about +the divan, perceived the tailor's widow, and sent the chief of +the mace-bearers to conduct her to the sultan. + +Alla ad Deen's mother came to the foot of the throne, prostrated +herself as usual, and when she rose, the sultan asked her what +she would have. Sir," said she, "I come to represent to your +majesty, in the name of my son Alla ad Deen, that the three +months, at the end of which you ordered me to come again, are +expired; and to beg you to remember your promise." + +The sultan, when he had fixed a time to answer the request of +this good woman, little thought of hearing any more of a +marriage, which he imagined must be very disagreeable to the +princess, when he considered the meanness and poverty of her +dress and appearance; but this summons for him to fulfill his +promise was somewhat embarrassing; he declined giving an answer +till he had consulted his vizier, and signified to trim the +little inclination he had to conclude a match for his daughter +with a stranger, whose rank he supposed to be very mean. + +The grand vizier freely told the sultan his thoughts, and said to +him, "In my opinion, sir, there is an infallible way for your +majesty to avoid a match so disproportionable, without giving +Alla ad Deen, were he known to your majesty, any cause of +complaint; which is, to set so high a price upon the princess, +that, however rich he may be, he cannot comply with. This is the +only evasion to make him desist from so bold, not to say rash, an +undertaking, which he never weighed before he engaged in it." + +The sultan, approving of the grand vizier's advice, turned to the +tailor's widow, and said to her, "Good woman, it is true sultans +ought to abide by their word, and I am ready to keep mine, by +making your son happy in marriage with the princess my daughter. +But as I cannot marry her without some further valuable +consideration from your son, you may tell him, I will fulfill my +promise as soon as he shall send me forty trays of massive gold, +full of the same sort of jewels you have already made me a +present of, and carried by the like number of black slaves, who +shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves, all +dressed magnificently. On these conditions I am ready to bestow +the princess my daughter upon him; therefore, good woman, go and +tell him so, and I will wait till you bring me his answer." + +Alla ad Deen's mother prostrated herself a second time before the +sultan's throne, and retired. In her way home, she laughed within +herself at her son's foolish imagination. "Where," says she, "can +he get so many large gold trays, and such precious stones to fill +them? Must he go again to that subterraneous abode, the entrance +into which is stopped up, and gather them off the trees? But +where will he get so many such slaves as the sultan requires? It +is altogether out of his power, and I believe he will not be much +pleased with my embassy this time." When she came home, full of +these thoughts, she said to her son, "Indeed, child, I would not +have you think any farther of your marriage with the princess. +The sultan received me very kindly, and I believe he was well +inclined to you; but if I am not much deceived the grand vizier +has made him change his mind, as you will guess from what I have +to tell you. After I had represented to his majesty that the +three months were expired, and begged of him to remember his +promise, I observed that he whispered with his grand vizier +before he gave me his answer." She then gave her son an exact +account of what the sultan had said to her, and the conditions on +which he consented to the match. Afterwards she said to him, "The +sultan expects your answer immediately; but," continued she, +laughing, "I believe he may wait long enough." + +"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Alla ad Deen: "the +sultan is mistaken, if he thinks by this exorbitant demand to +prevent my entertaining thoughts of the princess. I expected +greater difficulties, and that he would have set a higher price +upon her incomparable charms. I am very well pleased; his demand +is but a trifle to what I could have done for her. But while I +think of satisfying his request, go and get something for our +dinner, and leave the rest to me." + +As soon as his mother was gone out to market, Alla ad Deen took +the lamp, and rubbing it, the genie appeared, and offered his +service as usual. "The sultan," said Alla ad Deen to him, "gives +me the princess his daughter in marriage; but demands first forty +large trays of massive gold, full of the fruits of the garden +from whence I took this lamp; and these he expects to have +carried by as many black slaves, each preceded by a young +handsome white slave, richly clothed. Go, and fetch me this +present as soon as possible, that I may send it to him before the +divan breaks up." + +The genie told him his command should be immediately obeyed, and +disappeared. + +In a little time afterwards the genie returned with forty black +slaves, each bearing on his head a heavy tray of pure gold, full +of pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and every sort of precious +stones, all larger and more beautiful than those presented to the +sultan. Each tray was covered with silver tissue, embroidered +with flowers of gold; these, together with the white slaves, +quite filled the house, which was but a small one, the little +court before it, and a small garden behind. The genie asked if he +had any other commands, and Alla ad Deen telling him that he +wanted nothing farther, he disappeared. + +When Alla ad Deen's mother came from market, she was much +surprised to see so many people and such vast riches. As soon as +she had laid down her provisions, she was going to pull off her +veil; but he prevented her, and said, "Mother, let us lose no +time; before the sultan and the divan rise, I would have you +return to the palace with this present as the dowry demanded for +the princess, that he may judge by my diligence and exactness of +the ardent and sincere desire I have to procure myself the honour +of this alliance." Without waiting for his mother's reply, Alla +ad Deen opened the street-door, and made the slaves walk out; +each white slave followed by a black with a tray upon his head. +When they were all out, the mother followed the last black slave; +he shut the door, and then retired to his chamber, full of hopes +that the sultan, after this present, which was such as he +required, would receive him as his son-in-law. + +The first white slave who went out made all the people who were +going by stop; and before they were all clear of the house, the +streets were crowded with spectators, who ran to see so +extraordinary and magnificent a procession. The dress of each +slave was so rich, both for the stuff and the jewels, that those +who were dealers in them valued each at no less than a million of +money; besides the neatness and propriety of the dress, the noble +air, fine shape and proportion of each slave were unparalleled; +their grave walk at an equal distance from each other, the lustre +of the jewels curiously set in their girdles of gold, in +beautiful symmetry, and the egrets of precious stones in their +turbans, which were of an unusual but elegant taste, put the +spectators into such great admiration, that they could not avoid +gazing at them, and following them with their eyes as far as +possible; but the streets were so crowded with people, that none +could move out of the spot they stood on. As they had to pass +through several streets to the palace, a great part of the city +had an opportunity of seeing them. As soon as the first of these +slaves arrived at the palace gate, the porters formed themselves +into order, taking him for a prince from the richness and +magnificence of his habit, and were going to kiss the hem of his +garment; but the slave, who was instructed by the genie, +prevented them, and said, "We are only slaves, our master will +appear at a proper time." + +The first slave, followed by the rest, advanced into the second +court, which was very spacious, and in which the sultan's +household was ranged during the sitting of the divan. The +magnificence of the officers, who stood at the head of their +troops, was considerably eclipsed by the slaves who bore Alla ad +Deen's present, of which they themselves made a part. Nothing was +ever seen so beautiful and brilliant in the sultan's palace; and +all the lustre of the lords of his court was not to be compared +to them. + +As the sultan, who had been informed of their march, and approach +to the palace, had given orders for them to be admitted, they met +with no obstacle, but went into the divan in regular order, one +part filing to the right, and the other to the left. After they +were all entered, and had formed a semicircle before the sultan's +throne, the black slaves laid the golden trays on the carpet, +prostrated themselves, touching the carpet with their foreheads, +and at the same time the white slaves did the same. When they +rose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then all stood +with their arms crossed over their breasts. + +In the meantime Alla ad Deen's mother advanced to the foot of the +throne, and having paid her respects, said to the sultan, "Sir, +my son is sensible this present, which he has sent your majesty, +is much below the princess Buddir al Buddoor's worth; but hopes, +nevertheless, that your majesty will accept of it, and make it +agreeable to the princess, and with the greater confidence since +he has endeavoured to conform to the conditions you were pleased +to impose." + +The sultan was not able to give the least attention to this +compliment. The moment he cast his eyes on the forty trays, full +of the most precious, brilliant, and beautiful jewels he had ever +seen, and the fourscore slaves, who appeared by the elegance of +their persons, and the richness and magnificence of their dress, +like so many princes, he was so struck, that he could not recover +from his admiration. Instead of answering the compliment of Alla +ad Deen's mother, he addressed himself to the grand vizier, who +could not any more than the sultan comprehend from whence such a +profusion of richness could come. "Well, vizier," said he aloud, +"who do you think it can be that has sent me so extraordinary a +present, and neither of us know? Do you think him worthy of the +princess Buddir al Buddoor, my daughter?" + +The vizier, notwithstanding his envy and grief to see a stranger +preferred to be the sultan's son-in-law before his son, durst not +disguise his sentiments. It was too visible that Alla ad Deen's +present was more than sufficient to merit his being received into +royal alliance; therefore, consulting his master's feelings, he +returned this answer: "I am so far from having any thoughts that +the person who has made your majesty so noble a present is +unworthy of the honour you would do him, that I should say he +deserved much more, if I was not persuaded that the greatest +treasure in the world ought not to be put in competition with the +princess your majesty's daughter." This speech was applauded by +all the lords who were then in council. + +The sultan made no longer hesitation, nor thought of informing +himself whether Alla ad Deen was endowed with all the +qualifications requisite in one who aspired to be his son-in-law. +The sight alone of such immense riches, and Alla ad Deen's +quickness in satisfying his demand, without starting the least +difficulty at the exorbitant conditions he had imposed, easily +persuaded him, that he could want nothing to render him +accomplished, and such as he desired. Therefore, to send Alla ad +Deen's mother back with all the satisfaction she could desire, he +said to her, "My good lady, go and tell your son that I wait with +open arms to embrace him, and the more haste he makes to come and +receive the princess my daughter from my hands, the greater +pleasure he will do me." + +As soon as the tailor's widow had retired, overjoyed as a woman +in her condition must have been, to see her son raised beyond all +expectations to such exalted fortune, the sultan put an end to +the audience; and rising from his throne, ordered that the +princess's eunuchs should come and carry the trays into their +mistress's apartment, whither he went himself to examine them +with her at his leisure. The fourscore slaves were conducted in +to the palace; and the sultan, telling the princess of their +magnificent appearance, ordered them to be brought before her +apartment, that she might see through the lattices he had not +exaggerated in his account of them. + +In the meantime Alla ad Deen's mother got home, and shewed in her +air and countenance the good news she brought her son "My son," +said she to him, "you have now all the reason in the world to be +pleased: you are, contrary to my expectations, arrived at the +height of your desires. Not to keep you too long in suspense, the +sultan, with the approbation of the whole court, has declared +that you are worthy to possess the princess Buddir al Buddoor, +waits to embrace you and conclude your marriage; therefore, you +must think of making some preparations for your interview, which +may answer the high opinion he has formed of your person; and +after the wonders I have seen you do, I am persuaded nothing can +be wanting. But I must not forget to tell you the sultan waits +for you with great impatience, therefore lose no time in paying +your respects." + +Alla ad Deen, enraptured with this news, and full of the object +which possessed his soul, made his mother very little reply, but +retired to his chamber. There, after he had rubbed his lamp, +which had never failed him in whatever he wished for, the +obedient genie appeared. "Genie," said Alla ad Deen, "I want to +bathe immediately, and you must afterwards provide me the richest +and most magnificent habit ever worn by a monarch." No sooner +were the words out of his mouth than the genie rendered him, as +well as himself, invisible, and transported him into a hummum of +the finest marble of all sorts of colours; where he was +undressed, without seeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious +hall. From the hall he was led to the bath, which was of a +moderate heat, and he was there rubbed and washed with various +scented waters. After he had passed through several degrees of +heat, he came out, quite a different man from what he was before. +His skin was clear white and red, his body lightsome and free; +and when he returned into the hall, he found, instead of his own, +a suit, the magnificence of which astonished him. The genie +helped him to dress, and when he had done, transported him back +to his own chamber, where he asked him if he had any other +commands. "Yes," answered Alla ad Deen, "I expect you to bring me +as soon as possible a charger, that surpasses in beauty and +goodness the best in the sultan's stables, with a saddle, bridle, +and other caparisons worth a million of money. I want also twenty +slaves, as richly clothed as those who carried the present to the +sultan, to walk by my side and follow me, and twenty more to go +before me in two ranks. Besides these, bring my mother six women +slaves to attend her, as richly dressed at least as any of the +princess Buddir al Buddoor's, each carrying a complete dress fit +for any sultaness. I want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten +purses; go, and make haste." + +As soon as Alla ad Deen had given these orders, the genie +disappeared, but presently returned with the horse, the forty +slaves, ten of whom carried each a purse containing ten thousand +pieces of gold, and six women slaves, each carrying on her head a +different dress for Alla ad Deen's mother, wrapped up in a piece +of silver tissue, and presented them all to Alla ad Deen. + +Of the ten purses Alla ad Deen took four, which he gave to his +mother, telling her, those were to supply her with necessaries; +the other six he left in the hands of the slaves who brought +them, with an order to throw them by handfuls among the people as +they went to the sultan's palace. The six slaves who carried the +purses he ordered likewise to march before him, three on the +right hand and three on the left. Afterwards he presented the six +women slaves to his mother, telling her they were her slaves, and +that the dresses they had brought were for her use. + +When Alla ad Deen had thus settled matters, he told the genie he +would call for him when he wanted him, and thereupon the genie +disappeared. Alla ad Deen's thoughts now were only upon +answering, as soon as possible, the desire the sultan had shown +to see him. He dispatched one of the forty slaves to the palace, +with an order to address himself to the chief of the porters, to +know when he might have the honour to come and throw himself at +the sultan's feet. The slave soon acquitted himself of his +commission, and brought for answer, that the sultan waited for +him with impatience. + +Alla ad Deen immediately mounted his charger, and began his +march, in the order we have already described; and though he +never was on horseback before, appeared with such extraordinary +grace, that the most experienced horseman would not have taken +him for a novice. The streets through which he was to pass were +almost instantly filled with an innumerable concourse of people, +who made the air echo with acclamations, especially every time +the six slaves who carried the purses threw handfuls of gold +among the populace. Neither did these acclamations and shouts of +joy come from those alone who scrambled for the money, but from a +superior rank of people, who could not forbear applauding Alla ad +Deen's generosity. Not only those who knew him when he played in +the streets like a vagabond did not recollect him, but those who +saw him but a little while before hardly recognised him, so much +were his features altered: such were the effects of the lamp, as +to procure by degrees to those who possessed it perfections +suitable to the rank to which the right use of it advanced them. +Much more attention was paid to Alla ad Deen's person than to the +pomp and magnificence of his attendants, as a similar show had +been seen the day before when the slaves walked in procession +with the present to the sultan. Nevertheless the horse was much +admired by good judges, who knew how to discern his beauties, +without being dazzled by the jewels and richness of the +furniture. When the report was everywhere spread, that the sultan +was going to give the princess in marriage to Alla ad Deen, +nobody regarded his birth, nor envied his good fortune, so worthy +he seemed of it in the public opinion. + +When he arrived at the palace, everything was prepared for his +reception; and when he came to the gate of the second court, he +would have alighted from his horse, agreeably to the custom +observed by the grand vizier, the commander in chief of the +empire, and governors of provinces of the first rank; but the +chief of the mace-bearers who waited on him by the sultan's order +prevented him, and attended him to the grand hall of audience, +where he helped him to dismount; though Alla ad Deen endeavoured +to prevent him, but could not prevail. The officers formed +themselves into two ranks at the entrance of the hall. The chief +put Alla ad Deen on his right hand, and through the midst of them +led him to the sultan's throne. + +As soon as the sultan perceived Alla ad Deen, he was no less +surprised to see him more richly and magnificently habited than +ever he had been himself, than struck at his good mien, fine +shape, and a certain air of unexpected dignity, very different +from the meanness of his mother's late appearance. + +But, notwithstanding, his amazement and surprise did not hinder +him from rising off his throne, and descending two or three +steps, quick enough to prevent Alla ad Deen's throwing himself at +his feet. He embraced him with all the demonstrations of joy at +his arrival. After this civility Alla ad Deen would have thrown +himself at his feet again; but he held him fast by the hand, and +obliged him to sit close to the throne. + +Alla ad Deen then addressed the sultan, saying, "I receive the +honour which your majesty out of your great condescension is +pleased to confer; but permit me to assure you, that I have not +forgotten that I am your slave; that I know the greatness of your +power, and that I am not in sensible how much my birth is below +the splendour and lustre of the high rank to which I am raised. +If any way," continued he, "I could have merited so favourable a +reception, I confess I owe it merely to the boldness which chance +inspired in me to raise my eyes, thoughts, and desires to the +divine princess, who is the object of my wishes. I ask your +majesty's pardon for my rashness, but I cannot dissemble, that I +should die with grief were I to lose my hopes of seeing them +accomplished." + +"My son," answered the sultan, embracing him a second time, "you +would wrong me to doubt for a moment of my sincerity: your life +from this moment is too dear to me not to preserve it, by +presenting you with the remedy which is at my disposal. I prefer +the pleasure of seeing and hearing you before all your treasure +added to my own." + +After these words, the sultan gave a signal, and immediately the +air echoed with the sound of trumpets, hautboys, and other +musical instruments: and at the same time the sultan led Alla ad +Deen into a magnificent hall, where was laid out a most splendid +collation. The sultan and Alla ad Deen ate by themselves, while +the grand vizier and the great lords of the court, according to +their dignity and rank, sat at different tables. The conversation +turned on different subjects; but all the while the sultan took +so much pleasure in looking at his intended son-in-law, that he +hardly ever took his eyes off him; and throughout the whole of +their conversation Alla ad Deen showed so much good sense, as +confirmed the sultan in the high opinion he had formed of him. + +After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief judge of his +capital, and ordered him to draw up immediately a contract of +marriage between the princess Buddir al Buddoor his daughter and +Alla ad Deen. In the mean time the sultan and he entered into +another conversation on various subjects, in the presence of the +grand vizier and the lords of the court, who all admired the +solidity of his wit, the great ease and freedom wherewith he +delivered himself, the justness of his remarks, and his energy in +expressing them. + +When the judge had drawn up the contract in all the requisite +forms, the sultan asked Alla ad Deen if he would stay in the +palace, and solemnize the ceremonies of marriage that day. To +which he answered, "Sir, though great is my impatience to enjoy +your majesty's goodness, yet I beg of you to give me leave to +defer it till I have built a palace fit to receive the princess; +therefore I petition you to grant me a convenient spot of ground +near your palace, that I may the more frequently pay my respects, +and I will take care to have it finished with all diligence." +"Son," said the sultan, "take what ground you think proper, there +is space enough on every quarter round my palace; but consider, I +cannot see you too soon united with my daughter, which alone is +wanting to complete my happiness." After these words he embraced +Alla ad Deen again, who took his leave with as much politeness as +if he had been bred up and had always lived at court. + +Alla ad Deen returned home in the order he had come, amidst the +acclamations of the people, who wished him all happiness and +prosperity. As soon as he dismounted, he retired to his own +chamber, took the lamp, and called the genie as before, who in +the usual manner made him a tender of his service. "Genie," said +Alla ad Deen, "I have every reason to commend your exactness in +executing hitherto punctually whatever I have demanded; but now +if you have any regard for the lamp your protector, you must +show, if possible, more zeal and diligence than ever. I would +have you build me, as soon as you can, a palace opposite, but at +a proper distance from the sultan's, fit to receive my spouse the +princess Buddir al Buddoor. I leave the choice of the materials +to you, that is to say, porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, or +the finest marble of various colours, and also the architecture +of the building. But I expect that on the terraced roof of this +palace you will build me a large hall crowned with a dome, and +having four equal fronts; and that instead of layers of bricks, +the walls be formed of massive gold and silver, laid alternately; +that each front shall contain six windows, the lattices of all +which, except one, which must be left unfinished, shall be so +enriched in the most tasteful workmanship, with diamonds, rubies, +and emeralds, that they shall exceed every thing of the kind ever +seen in the world. I would have an inner and outer court in front +of the palace, and a spacious garden; but above all things, take +care that there be laid in a place which you shall point out to +me a treasure of gold and silver coin. Besides, the edifice must +be well provided with kitchens and offices, storehouses, and +rooms to keep choice furniture in, for every season of the year. +I must have stables full of the finest horses, with their +equerries and grooms, and hunting equipage. There must be +officers to attend the kitchens and offices, and women slaves to +wait on the princess. You understand what I mean; therefore go +about it, and come and tell me when all is finished." + +By the time Alla ad Deen had instructed the genie resetting the +building of his palace, the sun was set. The next morning, before +break of day, our bridegroom, whose love for the princess would +not let him sleep, was up, when the genie presented himself, and +said, "Sir, your palace is finished, come and see how you like +it." Alla ad Deen had no sooner signified his consent, than the +genie transported him thither in an instant, and he found it so +much beyond his expectation, that he could not enough admire it. +The genie led him through all the apartments, where he met with +nothing but what was rich and magnificent, with officers and +slaves, all habited according to their rank and the services to +which they were appointed. The genie then showed him the +treasury, which was opened by a treasurer, where Alla ad Deen saw +heaps of purses, of different sizes, piled up to the top of the +ceiling, and disposed in most excellent order. The genie assured +him of the treasurer's fidelity, and thence led him to the +stables, where he showed him some of the finest horses in the +world, and the grooms busy in dressing them; from thence they +went to the store-houses, which were filled with all things +necessary, both for food and ornament. + +When Alla ad Deen had examined the palace from top to bottom, and +particularly the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found +it much beyond whatever he could have imagined, he said, "Genie, +no one can be better satisfied than I am; and indeed I should be +much to blame if I found any fault. There is only one thing +wanting which I forgot to mention; that is, to lay from the +sultan's palace to the door of the apartment designed for the +princess, a carpet of fine velvet for her to walk upon." The +genie immediately disappeared, and Alla ad Deen saw what he +desired executed in an instant. The genie then returned, and +carried him home before the gates of the sultan's palace were +opened. + +When the porters, who had always been used to an open prospect, +came to open the gates, they were amazed to find it obstructed, +and to see a carpet of velvet spread from the grand entrance. +They did not immediately look how far it extended; but when they +could discern Alla ad Deen's palace distinctly, their surprise +was increased. The news of so extraordinary a wonder was +presently spread through the palace. The grand vizier, who +arrived soon after the gates were open, being no less amazed than +others at this novelty, ran and acquainted the sultan, but +endeavoured to make him believe it to be all enchantment. +"Vizier," replied the sultan, "why will you have it to be +enchantment? You know as well as I that it must be Alla ad Deen's +palace, which I gave him leave to build, for the reception of my +daughter. After the proof we have had of his riches, can we think +it strange, that he should raise a palace in so short a time? He +wished to surprise us, and let us see what wonders are to be done +with money in only one night. Confess sincerely that the +enchantment you talk of proceeds from a little envy on account of +your son's disappointment." The hour of going to council put an +end to the conversation. + +When Alla ad Deen had been conveyed home, and had dismissed the +genie, he found his mother up, and dressing herself in one of +those suits which had been brought her. By the time the sultan +rose from the council, Alla ad Deen had prepared his mother to go +to the palace with her slaves, and desired her, if she saw the +sultan, to tell him she should do herself the honour to attend +the princess towards evening to her palace. Accordingly she went; +but though she and the women slaves who followed her were all +dressed like sultanesses, yet the crowd was not near so great as +the preceding day, because they were all veiled, and had each an +upper garment on agreeable to the richness and magnificence of +their habits. Alla ad Deen mounted his horse, and took leave of +his paternal house forever, taking care not to forget his +wonderful lamp, by the assistance of which he had reaped such +advantages, and arrived at the utmost height of his wishes, and +went to the palace in the same pomp as the day before. + +As soon as the porters of the sultan's palace saw Alla ad Deen's +mother, they went and informed the sultan, who immediately +ordered the bands of trumpets, cymbals, drums, fifes and +hautboys, placed in different parts of the palace, to play, so +that the air resounded with concerts which inspired the whole +city with joy: the merchants began to adorn their shops and +houses with fine carpets and silks, and to prepare illuminations +against night. The artisans of every description left their work, +and the populace repaired to the great space between the royal +palace and that of Alla ad Deen; which last drew all their +attention, not only because it was new to them, but because there +was no comparison between the two buildings. But their amazement +was to comprehend by what unheard-of miracle so magnificent a +palace could have been so soon erected, it being apparent to all +that there were no prepared materials, or any foundations laid +the day before. + +Alla ad Deen's mother was received in the palace with honour, and +introduced into the princess Buddir al Buddoor's apartment by the +chief of the eunuchs. As soon as the princess saw her, she rose, +saluted, and desired her to sit down on a sofa; and while her +women finished dressing and adorning her with the jewels which +Alla ad Deen had presented to her, a collation was served up. At +the same time the sultan, who wished to be as much with his +daughter as possible before he parted with her, came in and paid +the old lady great respect. Alla ad Deen's mother had talked to +the sultan in public, but he had never seen her with her veil +off, as she was then; and though she was somewhat advanced in +years, she had the remains of a good face, which showed what she +had been in her youth. The sultan, who had always seen her +dressed very meanly, not to say poorly, was surprised to find her +as richly and magnificently attired as the princess his daughter. +This made him think Alla ad Deen equally prudent and wise in +whatever he undertook. + +When it was night, the princess took her leave of the sultan her +father: their adieus were tender, and accompanied with tears. +They embraced each other several times, and at last the princess +left her own apartment for Alla ad Deen's palace, with his mother +on her left hand carried in a superb litter, followed by a +hundred women slaves, dressed with surprising magnificence. All +the bands of music, which had played from the time Alla ad Deen's +mother arrived, being joined together, led the procession, +followed by a hundred state ushers, and the like number of black +eunuchs, in two files, with their officers at their head. Four +hundred of the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on each +side, which, together with the illuminations of the sultan's and +Alla ad Deen's palaces, made it as light as day. + +In this order the princess proceeded in her litter on the carpet, +which was spread from the sultan's palace, preceded by bands of +musicians, who, as they advanced, joining with those on the +terraces of Alla ad Deen's palace, formed a concert, which +increased the joyful sensations not only of the crowd assembled +in the great square, but of the metropolis and its environs. + +At length the princess arrived at the new palace. Alla ad Deen +ran with all imaginable joy to receive her at the grand entrance. +His mother had taken care to point him out to the princess, in +the midst of the officers who surrounded him, and she was charmed +with his person. "Adorable princess," said Alla ad Deen, +accosting her, and saluting her respectfully, as soon as she had +entered her apartment, "if I have the misfortune to have +displeased you by my boldness in aspiring to the possession of so +lovely a princess, and my sultan's daughter, I must tell you, +that you ought to blame your bright eyes and charms, not me." +"Prince (as I may now call you)," answered the princess, "I am +obedient to the will of my father; and it is enough for me to +have seen you to tell you that I obey without reluctance." + +Alla ad Deen, charmed with so agreeable and satisfactory an +answer, would not keep the princess standing; but took her by the +hand, which he kissed with the greatest demonstration of joy, and +led her into a large hall, illuminated with an infinite number of +wax candles, where, by the care of the genie, a noble feast was +served up. The dishes were of massive gold, and contained the +most delicate viands. The vases, basins, and goblets, were gold +also, and of exquisite workmanship, and all the other ornaments +and embellishments of the hall were answerable to this display. +The princess, dazzled to see so much riches collected in one +place, said to Alla ad Deen, "I thought, prince, that nothing in +the world was so beautiful as the sultan my father's palace, but +the sight of this hall alone is sufficient to show I was +deceived." + +Alla ad Deen led the princess to the place appointed for her, and +as soon as she and his mother were seated, a band of the most +harmonious instruments, accompanied with the voices of beautiful +ladies, began a concert, which lasted without intermission to the +end of the repast. The princess was so charmed, that she declared +she had never heard anything like it in the sultan her father's +court; but she knew not that these musicians were fairies chosen +by the genie, the slave of the lamp. + +When the supper was ended, there entered a company of female +dancers, who performed, according to the custom of the country, +several figure dances, singing at the same time verses in praise +of the bride and bridegroom. About midnight Alla ad Deen's mother +conducted the bride to the nuptial apartment, and he soon after +retired. + +The next morning when Alla ad Deen left the bridal chamber, his +attendants presented themselves to dress him, and brought him +another habit as rich and magnificent as that worn the day +before. He then ordered one of the horses appointed for his use +to be got ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a large +troop of slaves to the sultan's palace. The sultan received him +with the same honours as before, embraced him, placed him on the +throne near him, and ordered a collation. Alla ad Deen said, "I +beg your majesty will dispense with my eating with you to-day; I +came to entreat you to take a repast in the princess's palace, +attended by your grand vizier, and all the lords of your court." +The sultan consented with pleasure, rose up immediately, and, +preceded by the principal officers of his palace, and followed by +all the great lords of his court, accompanied Alla ad Deen. + +The nearer the sultan approached Alla ad Deen's palace, the more +he was struck with its beauty, but was much more amazed when he +entered it; and could not forbear breaking out into exclamations +of approbation. But when he came into the hall, and cast his eyes +on the windows, enriched with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, all +large perfect stones, he was so much surprised, that he remained +some time motionless. After he recovered himself, he said to his +vizier, "Is it possible that there should be such a stately +palace so near my own, and I be an utter stranger to it till +now?" "Sir," replied the grand vizier, "your majesty may remember +that the day before yesterday you gave Alla ad Deen, whom you +accepted for your son-in-law, leave to build a palace opposite +your own, and that very day at sunset there was no palace on this +spot, but yesterday I had the honour first to tell you that the +palace was built and finished." "I remember," replied the sultan, +"but never imagined that the palace was one of the wonders of the +world; for where in all the world besides shall we find walls +built of massive gold and silver, instead of brick, stone, or +marble; and diamonds, rubies, and emeralds composing the +windows!" + +The sultan would examine and admire the beauty of all the +windows, and counting them, found that there were but three-and- +twenty so richly adorned, and he was greatly astonished that the +twenty-fourth was left imperfect. "Vizier," said he, for that +minister made a point of never leaving him, "I am surprised that +a hall of this magnificence should be left thus imperfect." +"Sir," replied the grand vizier, "without doubt Alla ad Deen only +wanted time to finish this window like the rest; for it is not to +be supposed but that he has sufficient jewels for the purpose, or +that he will not complete it the first opportunity." + +Alla ad Deen, who had left the sultan to go and give some orders, +returned just as the vizier had finished his remark. "Son," said +the sultan to him, "this hall is the most worthy of admiration of +any in the world; there is only one thing that surprises me, +which is to find one of the windows unfinished. Is it from the +forgetfulness or negligence of the workmen, or want of time, that +they have not put the finishing stroke to so beautiful a piece of +architecture?" "Sir," answered Alla ad Deen, "it was for none of +these reasons that your majesty sees it in this state. The +omission was by design, it was by my orders that the workmen left +it thus, since I wished that your majesty should have the glory +of finishing this hall, and of course the palace." "If you did it +with this intention," replied the sultan, "I take it kindly, and +will give orders about it immediately." He accordingly sent for +the most considerable jewellers and goldsmiths in his capital. + +Alla ad Deen then conducted the sultan into the saloon where he +had regaled his bride the preceding night. The princess entered +immediately afterwards, and received the sultan her father with +an air that showed how happy she was with her marriage. Two +tables were immediately spread with the most delicious meats, all +served up in gold dishes. The sultan, princess, Alla ad Deen, his +mother, and the grand vizier, sat down at the first, and all the +lords of the court at the second, which was very long. The sultan +was much pleased with the cookery, and owned he had never eaten +anything more excellent. He said the same of the wines, which +were delicious; but what he most of all admired, were four large +sideboards, profusely furnished with large flagons, basins, and +cups, all of massive gold, set with jewels. He was besides +charmed with several bands of music, which were ranged along the +hall, and formed most agreeable concerts. + +When the sultan rose from table, he was informed that the +jewellers and goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned to the +hall, and showed them the window which was unfinished. "I sent +for you," said he, "to fit up this window in as great perfection +as the rest; examine them well and make all the dispatch you +can." + +The jewellers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty +windows with great attention, and after they had consulted +together, to know what each could furnish, they returned, and +presented themselves before the sultan, whose principal jeweller, +undertaking to speak for the rest, said, "Sir, we are all willing +to exert our utmost care and industry to obey your majesty; but +among us all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so great a +work." "I have more than are necessary," said the sultan; "come +to my palace, and you shall choose what may answer your purpose." + +When the sultan returned to his palace, he ordered his jewels to +be brought out, and the jewellers took a great quantity, +particularly those Alla ad Deen had made him a present of, which +they soon used, without making any greet advance in their work. +They came again several times for more, and in a month's time had +not finished half their work. In short, they used all the jewels +the sultan had, and borrowed of the vizier, but yet the work was +not half done. + +A]]a ad Deen, who knew that all the sultan's endeavours to make +this window like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewellers +and goldsmiths, and not only commanded them to desist from their +work, but ordered them to undo what they had begun, and to carry +all their jewels back to the sultan and to the vizier. They undid +in a few hours what they had been six weeks about, and retired, +leaving Alla ad Deen alone in the hall. He took the lamp which he +carried about him, rubbed it, and presently the genie appeared. +"Genie," said Alla ad Deen, "I ordered thee to leave one of the +four-and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thus hast +executed my commands punctually; now I would have thee make it +like the rest." The genie immediately disappeared. Alla ad Deen +went out of the hall, and returning soon after, found the window, +as he wished it to be, like the others. + +In the meantime, the jewellers and goldsmiths repaired to the +palace, and were introduced into the sultan's presence; where the +chief jeweller, presenting the precious stones which he had +brought back, said, in the name of all the rest, "Your majesty +knows how long we have been upon the work you were pleased to set +us about, in which we used all imaginable industry. It was far +advanced, when prince Alla ad Deen commanded us not only to leave +off, but to undo what we had already begun, and bring your +majesty your jewels back." The sultan asked them if Alla ad Deen +had given them any reason for so doing, and they answering that +he had given them none, he ordered a horse to be brought, which +he mounted, and rode to his son-in law's palace, with some few +attendants on foot. When he came there, he alighted at the stair- +case, which led up to the hall with the twenty-four windows, and +went directly up to it, without giving previous notice to Alla ad +Deen; but it happened that at that very juncture Alla ad Deen was +opportunely there, and had just time to receive him at the door. + +The sultan, without giving Alla ad Deen time to complain +obligingly of his not having given notice, that he might have +acquitted himself with the more becoming respect, said to him, +"Son, I come myself to know the reason why you commanded the +jewellers to desist from work, and take to pieces what they had +done." + +Alla ad Deen disguised the true reason, which was, that the +sultan was not rich enough in jewels to be at so great an +expense, but said, "I beg of you now to see if any thing is +wanting." + +The sultan went directly to the window which was left imperfect, +and when he found it like the rest, fancied that he was mistaken, +examined the two windows on each side, and afterwards all the +four-and-twenty; but when he was convinced that the window which +several workmen had been so long about was finished in so short a +time, he embraced Alla ad Deen, and kissed him between his eyes. +"My son," said he, "what a man you are to do such surprising +things always in the twinkling of an eye; there is not your +fellow in the world; the more I know, the more I admire you." + +Alla ad Deen received these praises from the sultan with modesty, +and replied in these words: "Sir, it is a great honour to me to +deserve your majesty's good-will and approbation, and I assure +you, I shall study to deserve them more." + +The sultan returned to his palace, but would not let Alla ad Deen +attend him. When he came there, he found his grand vizier +waiting, to whom he related the wonder he had witnessed, with the +utmost admiration, and in such terms as left the minister no room +to doubt but that the facet was as the sultan related it; though +he was the more confirmed in his belief, that Alla ad Deen's +palace was the effect of enchantment, as he had told the sultan +the first moment he saw it. He was going to repeat the +observation, but the sultan interrupted him, and said, "You told +me so once before; I see, vizier, you have not forgotten your +son's espousals to my daughter." The frank vizier plainly saw how +much the sultan was prepossessed, therefore avoided disputes and +let him remain in his own opinion. The sultan as soon as he rose +every morning went into the closet, to look at Alla ad Deen's +palace, and would go many times in a day to contemplate and +admire it. + +Alla ad Deen did not confine himself in his palace; but took care +to shew himself once or twice a week in the town, by going +sometimes to one mosque, and sometimes to another, to prayers, or +to visit the grand vizier, who affected to pay his court to him +on certain days, or to do the principal lords of the court the +honour to return their visits after he had regaled them at his +palace. Every time he went out, he caused two slaves, who walked +by the side of his horse, to throw handfuls of money among the +people as he passed through the streets and squares, which were +generally on those occasions crowded. Besides, no one came to his +palace gates to ask alms, but returned satisfied with his +liberality. In short, he so divided his time, that not a week +passed but he went either once or twice a hunting, sometimes in +the environs of the city, sometimes farther off; at which time +the villages through which he passed felt the effects of his +generosity, which gained him the love and blessings of the +people: and it was common for them to swear by his head. Thus, +without giving the ]east umbrage to the sultan, to whom he paid +all imaginable respect, Alla ad Deen, by his affable behaviour +and liberality, had won the affections of the people, and was +more beloved than the sultan himself. With all these good +qualities he shewed a courage and a zeal for the public good +which could not be sufficiently applauded. He gave sufficient +proofs of both in a revolt on the borders of the kingdom; for he +no sooner understood that the sultan was levying an army to +disperse the rebels than he begged the command of it, which he +found not difficult to obtain. As soon as he was empowered, he +marched with so much expedition, that the sultan heard of the +defeat of the rebels before he had received an account of his +arrival in the army. And though this action rendered his name +famous throughout the kingdom, it made no alteration in his +disposition; but he was as affable after his victory as before. + +Alla ad Deen had conducted himself in this manner several years, +when the African magician, who undesignedly had been the +instrument of raising him to so high a pitch of prosperity, +recalled him to his recollection in Africa, whither, after his +expedition, he had returned. And though he was almost persuaded +that Alla ad Deen must have died miserably in the subterraneous +abode where he had left him, yet he had the curiosity to inform +himself about his end with certainty; and as he was a great +geomancer, he took out of a cupboard a square covered box, which +he used in his geomantic observations: then sat himself down on +the sofa, set it before him, and uncovered it. After he had +prepared and levelled the sand which was in it, with an intention +to discover whether or no Alla ad Deen had died in the +subterraneous abode, he cast the points, drew the figures, and +formed a horoscope, by which, when he came to examine it, he +found that Alla ad Deen, instead of dying in the cave, had made +his escape, lived splendidly, was in possession of the wonderful +lamp, had married a princess, and was much honoured and +respected. + +The magician no sooner understood by the rules of his diabolical +art, that Alla ad Deen had arrived to this height of good +fortune, than his face became inflamed with anger, and he cried +out in a rage, "This sorry tailor's son has discovered the secret +and virtue of the lamp! I believed his death to be certain; but +find that he enjoys the fruit of my labour and study! I will, +however, prevent his enjoying it long, or perish in the attempt." +He was not a great while deliberating on what he should do, but +the next morning mounted a barb, set forwards, and never stopped +but to refresh himself and horse, till he arrived at the capital +of China. He alighted, took up his lodging in a khan, and stayed +there the remainder of the day and the night, to refresh himself +after so long a journey. + +The next day, his first object was to inquire what people said of +Alla ad Deen; and, taking a walk through the town, he went to the +most public and frequented places, where persons of the best +distinction met to drink a certain warm liquor, which he had +drunk often during his former visit. + +As soon as he had seated himself, he was presented with a cup of +it, which he took; but listening at the same time to the +discourse of the company on each side of him, he heard them +talking of Alla ad Deen's palace. When he had drunk off his +liquor, he joined them, and taking this opportunity, inquired +particularly of what palace they spoke with so much commendation. +"From whence come you?" said the person to whom he addressed +himself; "you must certainly be a stranger not to have seen or +heard talk of Prince Alla ad Deen's palace" (for he was called so +after his marriage with the princess). "I do not say," continued +the man, "that it is one of the wonders of the world, but that it +is the only wonder of the world; since nothing so grand, rich, +and magnificent was ever beheld. Certainly you must have come +from a great distance, or some obscure corner, not to have heard +of it, for it must have been talked of all over the world. Go and +see it, and then judge whether I have told you more than the +truth." "Forgive my ignorance," replied the African magician; "I +arrived here but yesterday, and came from the farthest part of +Africa, where the fame of this palace had not reached when I came +away. The business which brought me hither was so urgent, that my +sole objets was to arrive as soon as I could, without stopping +anywhere, or making any acquaintance. But I will not fail to go +and see it; my impatience is so great, I will go immediately and +satisfy my curiosity, if you will do me the favour to shew me the +way thither." + +The person to whom the African magician addressed himself took a +pleasure in shewing him the way to Alla ad Deen's palace, and he +got up and went thither instantly. When he came to the palace, +and had examined it on all sides, he doubted not but that Alla ad +Deen had made use of the lamp to build it. Without attending to +the inability of a poor tailor's son, he knew that none but the +genii, the slaves of the lamp, the attaining of which he had +missed, could have performed such wonders; and piqued to the +quick at Alla ad Deen's happiness and splendour, he returned to +the khan where he lodged. + +The next point was to ascertain where the lamp was; whether Alla +ad Deen carried it about with him, or where he kept it; and this +he was to discover by an operation of geomancy. As soon as he +entered his lodging, he took his square box of sand, which he +always carried with him when he travelled, and after he had +performed some operations, he found that the lamp was in Alla ad +Deen's palace, and so great was his joy at the discovery that he +could hardly contain himself. "Well," said he, "I shall have the +lamp, and defy Alla ad Deen's preventing my carrying it off, and +making him sink to his original meanness, from which he has taken +so high a flight." + +It was Alla ad Deen's misfortune at that time to be absent in the +chase for eight days, and only three were expired, which the +magician came to know by this means. After he had performed the +magical operation, which gave him so much joy, he went to the +superintendent of the khan, entered into conversation with him on +indifferent subjects, and among the rest, told him he had been to +see Alla ad Deen's palace; and after exaggerating on all that he +had seen most worthy of observation, added, "But my curiosity +leads me farther, and I shall not be satisfied till I have seen +the person to whom this wonderful edifice belongs." "That will be +no difficult matter," replied the master of the khan, "there is +not a day passes but he gives an opportunity when he is in town, +but at present he is not at the palace, and has been gone these +three days on a hunting-match, which will last eight. + +The magician wanted to know no more; he took his leave of the +superintendent of the khan, and returning to his own chamber, +said to himself, "This is an opportunity I ought by no means to +neglect, but must make the best use of it." To that end, he went +to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen copper lamps: the master +of the shop told him he had not so many by him, but if he would +have patience till the next day, he would have them ready. The +magician appointed his time, and desired him to take care that +they should be handsome and well polished. After promising to pay +him well, he returned to his inn. + +The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, paid the +man his full price, put them into a basket which he bought on +purpose, and with the basket hanging on his arm, went directly to +Alla ad Deen's palace: as he approached he began crying, "Who +will change old lamps for new ones?" As he went along, a crowd of +children collected, who hooted, and thought him, as did all who +chanced to be passing by, a madman or a fool, to offer to change +new lamps for old ones. + +The African magician regarded not their scoffs, hootings, or all +they could say to him, but still continued crying, "Who will +change old lamps for new?" He repeated this so often, walking +backwards and forwards in front of the palace, that the princess, +who was then in the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, +hearing a man cry something, and not being able to distinguish +his words, owing to the hooting of the children and increasing +mob about him, sent one of her women slaves to know what he +cried. + +The slave was not long before she returned, and ran into the +hall, laughing so heartily, that the princess could not forbear +herself. "Well, giggler," said the princess, "will you tell me +what you laugh at?" "Madam," answered the slave, laughing still, +"who can forbear laughing, to see a fool with a basket on his +arm, full of fine new lamps, ask to change them for old ones; the +children and mob, crowding about him so that he can hardly stir, +make all the noise they can in derision of him." + +Another female slave hearing this, said, "Now you speak of lamps, +I know not whether the princess may have observed it, but there +is an old one upon a shelf of the prince's robing-room, and +whoever owns it will not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. +If the princess chooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if +this fool is so silly as to give a new lamp for an old one, +without taking any thing for the exchange." + +The lamp this slave spoke of was the wonderful lamp, which Alla +ad Deen had laid upon the shelf before he departed for the chase; +this he had done several times before; but neither the princess, +the slaves, nor the eunuchs, had ever taken notice of it. At all +other times except when hunting he carried it about his person. + +The princess, who knew not the value of this lamp, and the +interest that Alla ad Deen, not to mention herself, had to keep +it safe, entered into the pleasantry, and commanded a eunuch to +take it, and make the exchange. The eunuch obeyed, went out of +the hall, and no sooner got to the palace gates than he saw the +African magician, called to him, and shewing him the old lamp, +said, "Give me a new lamp for this." + +The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There +could be no other such in this palace, where every utensil was +gold or silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the eunuch's hand, +and thrusting it as far as he could into his breast, offered him +his basket, and bade him choose which he liked best. The eunuch +picked out one, and carried it to the princess; but the exchange +was no sooner made than the place rung with the shouts of the +children, deriding the magician's folly. + +The African magician gave everybody leave to laugh as much as +they pleased; he stayed not long near the palace, but made the +best of his way, without crying any longer, "New lamps for old +ones." His end was answered, and by his silence he got rid of the +children and the mob. + +As soon as he was out of the square between the two palaces, he +hastened down the streets which were the least frequented; and +having no more occasion for his lamps or basket, set all down in +an alley where nobody saw him: then going down another street or +two, he walked till he came to one of the city gates, and +pursuing his way through the suburbs, which were very extensive, +at length reached a lonely spot, where he stopped for a time to +execute the design he had in contemplation, never caring for his +horse which he had left at the khan, but thinking himself +perfectly compensated by the treasure he had acquired. + +In this place the African magician passed the remainder of the +day, till the darkest time of night, when he pulled the lamp out +of his breast and rubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared, +and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy +slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their +hands; both I and the other slaves of the lamp." "I command +thee," replied the magician, "to transport me immediately and the +palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamp have built in +this city, with all the people in it, to Africa." The genie made +no reply, but with the assistance of the other genii, the slaves +of the lamp immediately transported him and the palace entire, to +the spot whither he was desired to convey it. + +As soon as the sultan rose the next morning, according to custom, +he went into his closet, to have the pleasure of contemplating +and admiring Alla ad Deen's palace; but when he first looked that +way, and instead of a palace saw an empty space such as it was +before the palace was built, he thought he was mistaken, and +rubbed his eyes; but when he looked again, he still saw nothing +more the second time than the first, though the weather was fine, +the sky clear, and the dawn advancing had made all objects very +distinct. He looked again in front, to the right and left, but +beheld nothing more than he had formerly been used to see from +his window. His amazement was so great, that he stood for some +time turning his eyes to the spot where the palace had stood, but +where it was no longer to be seen. He could not comprehend how so +large a palace as Alla ad Deen's, which he had seen plainly every +day for some years, and but the day before, should vanish so +soon, and not leave the least remains behind. "Certainly," said +he to himself, "I am not mistaken; it stood there: if it had +fallen, the materials would have lain in heaps; and if it had +been swallowed up by an earthquake, there would be some mark +left." At last, though he was convinced that no palace stood now +opposite his own, he could not help staying some time at his +window, to see whether he might not be mistaken. At last he +retired to his apartment, not without looking behind him before +he quitted the spot ordered the grand vizier to be sent for with +expedition, and in the meantime sat down, his mind agitated by so +many different conjectures that he knew not what to resolve. + +The grand vizier did not make the sultan wait long for him, but +came with so much precipitation, that neither he nor his +attendants, as they passed, missed Alla ad Deen's palace; neither +did the porters, when they opened the palace gates observe any +alteration. + +When he came into the sultan's presence, he said to him, "The +haste in which your majesty sent for me makes me believe +something extraordinary has happened, since you know that this is +a day of public audience, and I should not have failed of +attending at the usual time." "Indeed," said the sultan, "it is +something very extraordinary, as you say, and you will allow it +to be so: tell me what is become of Alla ad Deen's palace?" "His +palace!" replied the grand vizier, in amazement, "I thought as I +passed it stood in its usual place; such substantial buildings +are not so easily removed." "Go into my closet," said the sultan, +"and tell me if you can see it." + +The grand vizier went into the closet, where he was struck with +no less amazement than the sultan had been. When he was well +assured that there was not the least appearance of this palace, +he returned to the sultan. "Well," said the sultan, :have you +seen Alla ad Deen's palace?" "No," answered the vizier; "but your +majesty may remember that I had the honour to tell you, that +palace, which was the subject of your admiration, with all its +immense riches, was only the work of magic and a magician; but +your majesty would not pay the least attention to what I said." + +The sultan, who could not deny what the grand vizier had +represented to him, flew into the greater passion: "Where is that +impostor, that wicked wretch," said he, "that I may have his head +taken off immediately?" "Sir," replied the grand vizier, "it is +some days since he came to take his leave of your majesty, on +pretence of hunting; he ought to be sent for, to know what is +become of his palace, since he cannot be ignorant of what has +been transacted." "That is too great an indulgence," replied the +sultan: "command a detachment of horse to bring him to me loaded +with chains." The grand vizier gave orders for a detachment, and +instructed the officer who commanded them how they were to act, +that Alla ad Deen might not escape. The detachment pursued their +orders; and about five or six leagues from the town met him +returning from the chase. The officer advanced respectfully, and +informed him the sultan was so impatient to see him, that he had +sent his party to accompany him home. + +Alla ad Deen had not the least suspicion of the true reason of +their meeting him; but when he came within half a league of the +city, the detachment surrounded him, when the officer addressed +himself to him, and said, "Prince, it is with great regret that I +declare to you the sultan's order to arrest you, and to carry you +before him as a criminal: I beg of you not to take it ill that we +acquit ourselves of our duty, and to forgive us." + +Alla ad Deen, who felt himself innocent, was much surprised at +this declaration, and asked the officer if he knew what crime he +was accused of; who replied, he did not. Then Alla ad Deen, +finding that his retinue was much interior to this detachment, +alighted off his horse, and said to the officers, "Execute your +orders; I am not conscious that I have committed any offence +against the sultan's person or government." A heavy chain was +immediately put about his neck, and fastened round his body, so +that both his arms were pinioned down; the officer then put +himself at the head of the detachment, and one of the troopers +taking hold of the end of the chain and proceeding after the +officer, led Alla ad Deen, who was obliged to follow him on foot, +into the city. + +When this detachment entered the suburbs, the people, who saw +Alla ad Deen thus led as a state criminal, never doubted but that +his head was to be cut off; and as he was generally beloved, some +took sabres and other arms; and those who had none gathered +stones, and followed the escort. The last division faced about to +disperse them; but their numbers presently increased so much, +that the soldiery began to think it would be well if they could +get into the sultan's palace before Alla ad Deen was rescued; to +prevent which, according to the different extent of the streets, +they took care to cover the ground by extending or closing. In +this manner they with much difficulty arrived at the palace +square, and there drew up in a line, till their officer and +troopers with Alla ad Deen had got within the gates, which were +immediately shut. + +Alla ad Deen was carried before the sultan, who waited for him, +attended by the grand vizier, in a balcony; and as soon as he saw +him, he ordered the executioner, who waited there for the +purpose, to strike off his head without hearing him or giving him +leave to clear himself. + +As soon as the executioner had taken off the chain that was +fastened about Alla ad Deen's neck and body, and laid down a skin +stained with the blood of the many he had executed, he made the +supposed criminal kneel down, and tied a bandage over his eyes. +Then drawing his sabre, took his aim by flourishing it three +times in the air, waiting for the sultan's giving the signal to +strike. + +At that instant the grand vizier perceiving that the populace had +forced the guard of horse, crowded the great square before the +palace, and were scaling the walls in several places, and +beginning to pull them down to force their way in; he said to the +sultan, before he gave the signal, "I beg of your majesty to +consider what you are going to do, since you will hazard your +palace being destroyed; and who knows what fatal consequence may +follow?" "My palace forced!" replied the sultan; "who can have +that audacity?" "Sir," answered the grand vizier, "if your +majesty will but cast your eyes towards the great square, and on +the palace walls, you will perceive the truth of what I say." + +The sultan was so much alarmed when he saw so great a crowd, and +how enraged they were, that he ordered the executioner to put his +sabre ;immediately into the scabbard, to unbind Alla ad Deen, and +at the same time commanded the porters to declare to the people +that the sultan had pardoned him, and that they might retire. + +Those who had already got upon the walls, and were witnesses of +what had passed, abandoned their design and got quickly down, +overjoyed that they had saved the life of a man they dearly +loved, and published the news amongst the rest, which was +presently confirmed by the mace-bearers from the top of the +terraces. The justice which the sultan had done to Alla ad Deen +soon disarmed the populace of their rage; the tumult abated, and +the mob dispersed. + +When Alla ad Deen found himself at liberty, he turned towards the +balcony, and perceiving the sultan, raised his voice, and said to +him in a moving manner, "I beg of your majesty to add one favour +more to that which I have already received, which is, to let me +know my crime?" "Your crime," answered the sultan; "perfidious +wretch! Do you not know it? Come hither, and I will shew it you." + +Alla ad Deen went up, when the sultan, going before him without +looking at him, said, "Follow me;" and then led him into his +closet. When he came to the door, he said, "Go in; you ought to +know whereabouts your palace stood: look round and tell me what +is become of it?" + +Alla ad Deen looked, but saw nothing. He perceived the spot upon +which his palace had stood; but not being able to divine how it +had disappeared, was thrown into such great confusion and +amazement, that he could not return one word of answer. + +The sultan growing impatient, demanded of him again, "Where is +your palace, and what is become of my daughter?" Alla ad Deen, +breaking silence, replied, "Sir, I perceive and own that the +palace which I have built is not in its place, but is vanished; +neither can I tell your majesty where it may be, but can assure +you I had no concern in its removal." + +"I am not so much concerned about your palace," replied the +sultan, "I value my daughter ten thousand times more, and would +have you find her out, otherwise I will cause your head to be +struck off, and no consideration shall divert me from my +purpose." + +"I beg of your majesty," answered Alla ad Deen, "to grant me +forty days to make my inquiries; and if in that time I have not +the success I wish, I will offer my head at the foot of your +throne, to be disposed of at your pleasure." "I give you the +forty days you ask," said the sultan; "but think not to abuse the +favour I shew you, by imagining you shall escape my resentment; +for I will find you out in whatsoever part of the world you may +conceal yourself." + +Alla ad Deen went out of the sultan's presence with great +humiliation, and in a condition worthy of pity. He crossed the +courts of the palace, hanging down his head, and in such great +confusion, that he durst not lift up his eyes. The principal +officers of the court, who had all professed themselves his +friends, and whom he had never disobliged, instead of going up to +him to comfort him, and offer him a retreat in their houses, +turned their backs to avoid seeing him. But had they accosted him +with a word of comfort or offer of service, they would have no +more known Alla ad Deen. He did not know himself, and was no +longer in his senses, as plainly appeared by his asking everybody +he met, and at every house, if they had seen his palace, or could +tell him any news of it. + +These questions made the generality believe that Alla ad Deen was +mad. Some laughed at him, but people of sense and humanity, +particularly those who had had any connection of business or +friendship with him, really pitied him. For three days he rambled +about the city in this manner, without coming to any resolution, +or eating anything but what some compassionate people forced him +to take out of charity. + +At last, as he could no longer in his unhappy condition stay in a +city where he had lately been next to the sultan, he took the +road to the country; and after he had traversed several fields in +wild uncertainty, at the approach of night came to the bank of a +river. There, possessed by his despair, he said to himself, +"Where shall I seek my palace? In what province, country, or part +of the world, shall I find that and my dear princess, whom the +sultan expects from me? I shall never succeed; I had better free +myself at once from fruitless endeavours, and such bitter grief +as preys upon me." He was just going to throw himself into the +river, but, as a good Moosulmaun, true to his religion, he +thought he should not do it without first saying his prayers. +Going to prepare himself, he went to the river's brink, in order +to perform the usual ablutions. The place being steep and +slippery, from the water beating against it, he slid down, and +had certainly fallen into the river, but for a little rock which +projected about two feet out of the earth. Happily also for him +he still had on the ring which the African magician had put on +his finger before he went down into the subterraneous abode to +fetch the precious lamp. In slipping down the bank he rubbed the +ring so hard by holding on the rock, that immediately the same +genie appeared whom he had seen in the cave where the magician +had left him. "What wouldst thou have?" said the genie. "I am +ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those that +have that ring on their finger; both I and the other slaves of +the ring." + +Alla ad Deen, agreeably surprised at an apparition he so little +expected in his present calamity, replied, "Save my life, genie, +a second time, either by shewing me to the place where the palace +I caused to be built now stands, or immediately transporting it +back where it first stood." "What you command me," answered the +genie, "is not wholly in my power; I am only the slave of the +ring; you must address yourself to the slave of the lamp." "If +that be the case," replied Alla ad Deen, "I command thee, by the +power of the ring, to transport me to the spot where my palace +stands, in what part of the world soever it may be, and set me +down under the window of the princess Buddir al Buddoor." These +words were no sooner out of his mouth, than the genie transported +him into Africa, to the midst of a large plain, where his palace +stood, at no great distance from a city, and placing him exactly +under the window of the princess's apartment, left him. All this +was done almost in an instant. + +Alla ad Deen, notwithstanding the darkness of the night, knew his +palace and the princess Buddir al Buddoor's apartment again; but +as the night was far advanced, and all was quiet in the palace, +he retired to some distance, and sat down at the foot of a large +tree. There, full of hopes, and reflecting on his happiness, for +which he was indebted to chance, he found himself in a much more +comfortable situation than when he was arrested and carried +before the sultan; being now delivered from the immediate danger +of losing his life. He amused himself for some time with these +agreeable thoughts; but not having slept for two days, was not +able to resist the drowsiness which came upon him, but fell fast +asleep. + +The next morning, as soon as day appeared, Alla ad Deen was +agreeably awakened by the singing not only of the birds which had +roosted in the tree under which he had passed the night, but also +of those which frequented the thick groves of the palace garden. +When he cast his eyes on that wonderful edifice, he felt +inexpressible joy at thinking he might possibly soon be master of +it again, and once more possess his dear princess Buddir al +Buddoor. Pleased with these hopes, he immediately arose, went +towards the princess's apartment, and walked some time under her +window in expectation of her rising, that he might see her. +During this expectation, he began to consider with himself whence +the cause of his misfortune had proceeded; and after mature +reflection, no longer doubted that it was owing to having trusted +the lamp out of his sight. He accused himself of negligence in +letting it be a moment away from him. But what puzzled him most +was, that he could not imagine who had been so envious of his +happiness. He would soon have guessed this, if he had known that +both he and his palace were in Africa, the very name of which +would soon have made him remember the magician his declared +enemy; but the genie, the slave of the ring, had not made the +least mention of the name of the country, nor had Alla ad Deen +inquired. + +The princess rose earlier that morning than she had done since +her transportation into Africa by the magician, whose presence +she was forced to support once a day, because he was master of +the palace; but she had always treated him so harshly that he +dared not reside in it. As she was dressing, one of the women +looking through the window, perceived Alla ad Deen, and instantly +told her mistress. The princess, who could not believe the joyful +tidings, hastened herself to the window, and seeing Alla ad Deen, +immediately opened it. The noise of opening the window made Alla +ad Deen turn his head that way, and perceiving the princess he +saluted her with an air that expressed his joy. "To lose no +time," said she to him, "I have sent to have the private door +opened for you; enter, and come up." + +The private door, which was just under the princess's apartment, +was soon opened, and Alla ad Deen conducted up into the chamber. +It is impossible to express the joy of both at seeing each other, +after so cruel a separation. After embracing and shedding tears +of joy, they sat down, and Alla ad Deen said, "I beg of you, +princess, in God's name, before we talk of anything else, to tell +me, both for your own sake, the sultan your father's, and mine, +what is become of an old lamp which I left upon a shelf in my +robing-chamber, when I departed for the chase." + +"Alas! dear husband," answered the princess, "I was afraid our +misfortune might be owing to that lamp: and what grieves me most +is, that I have been the cause of it." "Princess," replied Alla +ad Deen, "do not blame yourself, since it was entirely my fault, +for I ought to have taken more care of it. But let us now think +only of repairing the loss; tell me what has happened, and into +whose hands it has fallen." + +The princess then related how she had changed the old lamp for a +new one, which she ordered to be fetched, that he might see it, +and how the next morning she found herself in the unknown country +they were then in, which she was told was Africa, by the traitor, +who had transported her thither by his magic art. + +"Princess," said Alla ad Deen, interrupting her, "you have +informed me who the traitor is, by telling me we are in Africa. +He is the most perfidious of men; but this is neither a time nor +place to give you a full account of his villanies. I desire you +only to tell me what he has done with the lamp, and where he has +put it?" "He carries it carefully wrapped up in his bosom," said +the princess; "and this I can assure you, because he pulled it +out before me, and shewed it to me in triumph." + +"Princess," said Alla ad Deen, "do not be displeased that I +trouble you with so many questions, since they are equally +important to us both. But to come to what most particularly +concerns me; tell me, I conjure you, how so wicked and perfidious +a man treats you?" "Since I have been here," replied the +princess, "he repairs once every day to see me; and I am +persuaded the little satisfaction he receives from his visits +makes him come no oftener. All his addresses tend to persuade me +to break that faith I have pledged to you, and to take him for my +husband; giving me to understand, I need not entertain hopes of +ever seeing you again, for that you were dead, having had your +head struck off by the sultan my father's order. He added, to +justify himself, that you were an ungrateful wretch; that your +good fortune was owing to him, and a great many other things of +that nature which I forbear to repeat: but as he received no +other answer from me but grievous complaints and tears, he was +always forced to retire with as little satisfaction as he came. I +doubt not his intention is to allow me time to overcome my grief, +in hopes that afterwards I may change my sentiments; and if I +persevere in an obstinate refusal, to use violence. But my dear +husband's presence removes all my apprehensions." + +"I am confident my attempts to punish the magician will not be in +vain," replied Alla ad Deen, "since my princess's fears are +removed, and I think I have found the means to deliver you from +both your enemy and mine; to execute this design, it is necessary +for me to go to the town. I shall return by noon, will then +communicate my design, and what must be done by you to ensure +success. But that you may not be surprised, I think it proper to +acquaint you, that I shall change my apparel, and beg of you to +give orders that I may not wait long at the private door, but +that it may be opened at the first knock;" all which the princess +promised to observe. + +When Alla ad Deen was out of the palace, he looked round him on +all sides, and perceiving a peasant going into the country, +hastened after him; and when he had overtaken him, made a +proposal to him to change habits, which the man agreed to. When +they had made the exchange, the countryman went about his +business, and Alla ad Deen to the city. After traversing several +streets, he came to that part of the town where all descriptions +of merchants and artisans had their particular streets, according +to their trades. He went into that of the druggists; and going +into one of the largest and best furnished shops, asked the +druggist if he had a certain powder which he named. + +The druggist, judging Alla ad Deen by his habit to be very poor, +and that he had not money enough to pay for it, told him he had +it, but that it was very dear; upon which Alla ad Deen penetrated +his thoughts, pulled out his purse, and shewing him some gold, +asked for half a dram of the powder; which the druggist weighed, +wrapped up in paper, and gave him, telling him the price was a +piece of gold. Alla ad Deen put the money into his hand, and +staying no longer in the town than just to get a little +refreshment, returned to the palace, where he waited not long at +the private door. When he came into the princess's apartment, he +said to her, "Princess, perhaps the aversion you tell me you have +for your ravisher may be an objection to your executing what I am +going to propose; but permit me to say it is proper that you +should at this juncture dissemble a little, and do violence to +your inclinations, if you would deliver yourself from him, and +give my lord the sultan your father the satisfaction of seeing +you again. "If you will take my advice," continued he, "dress +yourself this moment in one of your richest habits, and when the +African magician comes, make no difficulty to give him the best +reception; receive him with a cheerful countenance, so that he +may imagine time has removed your affliction and disgust at his +addresses. In your conversation, let him understand that you +strive to forget me; and that he may be the more fully convinced +of your sincerity, invite him to sup with you, and tell him you +should be glad to taste of some of the best wines of his country. +He will presently go to fetch you some. During his absence, put +into one of the cups you are accustomed to drink out of this +powder, and setting it by, charge the slave you may order that +night to attend you, on a signal you shall agree upon, to bring +that cup to you. When the magician and you have eaten and drunk +as much as you choose, let her bring you the cup, and then change +cups with him. He will esteem it so great a favour that he will +not refuse, but eagerly quaff it off; but no sooner will he have +drunk, than you will see him fall backwards. If you have any +reluctance to drink out of his cup, you may pretend only to do +it, without fear of being discovered; for the effect of the +powder is so quick, that he will not have time to know whether +you drink or not." + +When Alla ad Deen had finished, "I own," answered the princess, +"I shall do myself great violence in consenting to make the +magician such advances as I see are absolutely necessary; but +what cannot one resolve to do against a cruel enemy? I will +therefore follow your advice, since both my repose and yours +depend upon it. "After the princess had agreed to the measures +proposed by Alla ad Deen, he took his leave, and went and spent +the rest of the day in the neighbourhood of the palace till it +was night, and he might safely return to the private door. + +The princess, who had remained inconsolable at being separated +not only from her husband, whom she had loved from the first +moment, and still continued to love more out of inclination than +duty, but also from the sultan her father, who had always showed +the most tender and paternal affection for her, had, ever since +their cruel separation, lived in great neglect of her person. She +had almost forgotten the neatness so becoming persons of her sex +and quality, particularly after the first time the magician paid +her a visit; and she had understood by some of the women, who +knew him again, that it was he who had taken the old lamp in +exchange for a new one, which rendered the sight of him more +abhorred. However, the opportunity of taking the revenge he +deserved made her resolve to gratify Alla ad Deen. As soon, +therefore, as he was gone, she sat down to dress, and was attired +by her women to the best advantage in the richest habit of her +wardrobe. Her girdle was of the finest and largest diamonds set +in gold, her necklace of pearls, six on a side, so well +proportioned to that in the middle, which was the largest ever +seen, and invaluable, that the greatest sultanesses would have +been proud to have been adorned with only two of the smallest. +Her bracelets, which were of diamonds and rubies intermixed, +corresponded admirably to the richness of the girdle and +necklace. + +When the princess Buddir al Buddoor was completely dressed, she +consulted her glass and women upon her adjustment; and when she +found she wanted no charms to flatter the foolish passion of the +African magician, she sat down on a sofa expecting his arrival. + +The magician came at the usual hour, and as soon as he entered +the great hall where the princess waited to receive him, she rose +with an enchanting grace and smile, and pointed with her hand to +the most honourable place, waiting till he sat down, that she +might sit at the same time which was a civility she had never +shown him before. + +The African magician, dazzled more with the lustre of the +princess's eyes than the glittering of the jewels with which she +was adorned, was much surprised. The smiling and graceful air +with which she received him, so opposite to her former behaviour, +quite fascinated his heart. + +When he was seated, the princess, to free him from his +embarrassment, broke silence first, locking at him all the time +in such a manner as to make him believe that he was not so odious +to her as she had given him to understand hitherto and said, "You +are doubtless amazed to find me so much altered to-day; but your +surprise will not be so great when I acquaint you, that I am +naturally of a disposition so opposite to melancholy and grief, +sorrow and uneasiness, that I always strive to put them as far +away as possible when I find the subject of them is past. I have +reflected on what you told me of Alla ad Deen's fate, and know my +father's temper so well, that I am persuaded with you he could +not escape the terrible effects of the sultan's rage; therefore, +should I continue to lament him all my life, my tears cannot +recall him. For this reason, since I have paid all the duties +decency requires of me to his memory, now he is in the grave I +think I ought to endeavour to comfort myself. These are the +motives of the change you see in me; I am resolved to banish +melancholy entirely; and, persuaded that you will bear me company +tonight, I have ordered a supper to be prepared; but as I have no +wines but those of China, I have a great desire to taste of the +produce of Africa, and doubt not your procuring some of the +best." + +The African magician, who had looked upon the happiness of +getting so soon and so easily into the princess Buddir al +Buddoor's good graces as impossible, could not think of words +expressive enough to testify how sensible he was of her favours: +but to put an end the sooner to a conversation which would have +embarrassed him, if he had engaged farther in it, he turned it +upon the wines of Africa, and said, "Of all the advantages Africa +can boast, that of producing the most excellent wines is one of +the principal. I have a vessel of seven years old, which has +never been broached; and it is indeed not praising it too much to +say it is the finest wine in the world. If my princess," added +he, "will give me leave, I will go and fetch two bottles, and +return again immediately." "I should be sorry to give you that +trouble," replied the princess; "you had better send for them." +"It is necessary I should go myself," answered the African +magician; "for nobody but myself knows where the key of the +cellar is laid, or has the secret to unlock the door." "If it be +so," said the princess, "make haste back; for the longer you +stay, the greater will be my impatience, and we shall sit down to +supper as soon as you return." + +The African magician, full of hopes of his expected happiness, +rather flew than ran, and returned quickly with the wine. The +princess, not doubting but he would make haste, put with her own +hand the powder Alla ad Deen had given her into the cup set apart +for that purpose. They sat down at the table opposite to each +other, the magician's back towards the sideboard. The princess +presented him with the best at the table, and said to him, "If +you please, I will entertain you with a concert of vocal and +instrumental music; but, as we are only two, I think conversation +maybe more agreeable." This the magician took as a new favour. + +After they had eaten some time, the princess called for some +wine, drank the magician's health, and afterwards said to him, +"Indeed you had a full right to commend your wine, since I never +tasted any so delicious." "Charming princess," said he, holding +in his hand the cup which had been presented to him," my wine +becomes more exquisite by your approbation." "Then drink my +health," replied the princess; "you will find I understand +wines." He drank the princess's health, and returning the cup, +said, "I think myself fortunate, princess, that I reserved this +wine for so happy an occasion; and own I never before drank any +in every respect so excellent." + +When they had each drunk two or three cups more, the princess, +who had completely charmed the African magician by her civility +and obliging behaviour, gave the signal to the slave who served +them with wine, bidding her bring the cup which had been filled +for her, and at the same time bring the magician a full goblet. +When they both had their cups in their hands, she said to him, "I +know not how you express your loves in these parts when drinking +together? With us in China the lover and his mistress +reciprocally exchange cups, and drink each other's health." At +the same time she presented to him the cup which was in her hand, +and held out her hand to receive his. He hastened to make the +exchange with the more pleasure, because he looked upon this +favour as the most certain token of an entire conquest over the +princess, which raised his rapture to the highest pitch. Before +he drank, he said to her, with the cup in his hand, "Indeed, +princess, we Africans are not so refined in the art of love as +you Chinese: and your instructing me in a lesson I was ignorant +of, informs me how sensible I ought to be of the favour done me. +I shall never, lovely princess, forget my recovering, by drinking +out of your cup, that life, which your cruelty, had it continued, +must have made me despair of." + +The princess, who began to be tired with this impertinent +declaration of the African magician, interrupted him, and said, +"Let us drink first, and then say what you will afterwards;" at +the same time she set the cup to her lips, while the African +magician, who was eager to get his wine off first, drank up the +very last drop. In finishing it, he had reclined his head back to +shew his eagerness, and remained some time in that state. The +princess kept the cup at her lips, till she saw his eyes turn in +his head, when he fell backwards lifeless on the sofa. + +The princess had no occasion to order the private door to be +opened to Alla ad Deen; for her women were so disposed from the +great hall to the foot of the staircase, that the word was no +sooner given that the African magician was fallen backwards, than +the door was immediately opened. + +As soon as Alla ad Deen entered the hall, he saw the magician +stretched backwards on the sofa. The princess rose from her seat, +and ran overjoyed to embrace him; but he stopped her, and said, +"Princess, it is not yet time; oblige me by retiring to your +apartment; and let me be left alone a moment, while I endeavour +to transport you back to China as speedily as you were brought +from thence." + +When the princess, her women and eunuchs, were gone out of the +hall, Alla ad Deen shut the door, and going directly to the dead +body of the magician, opened his vest, took out the lamp, which +was carefully wrapped up, as the princess had told him, and +unfolding and rubbing it, the genie immediately appeared. +"Genie," said Alla ad Deen, "I have called to command thee, on +the part of thy good mistress this lamp, to transport this palace +instantly into China, to the place from whence it was brought +hither." The genie bowed his head in token of obedience, and +disappeared. Immediately the palace was transported into China, +and its removal was only felt by two little shocks, the one when +it was lifted up, the other when it was set down, and both in a +very short interval of time. + +Alla ad Deen went to the princess's apartment, and embracing her, +said, "I can assure you, princess, that your joy and mine will be +complete tomorrow morning." The princess, guessing that Alla ad +Deen must be hungry, ordered the dishes, served up in the great +hall, to be brought down. The princess and Alla ad Deen ate as +much as they thought fit, and drank of the African magician's old +wine; during which time their conversation could not be otherwise +than satisfactory, and then they retired to their own chamber. + +>From the time of the transportation of Alla ad Deen's palace, +the princess's father had been inconsolable for the loss of her. +He could take no rest, and instead of avoiding what might +continue his affliction, he indulged it without restraint. Before +the disaster he used to go every morning into his closet to +please himself with viewing the palace, he went now many times in +the day to renew his tears, and plunge himself into the deepest +melancholy, by the idea of no more seeing that which once gave +him so much pleasure, and reflecting how he had lost what was +most dear to him in this world. + +The very morning of the return of Alla ad Deen's palace, the +sultan went, by break of day, into his closet to indulge his +sorrows. Absorbed in himself, and in a pensive mood, he cast his +eyes towards the spot, expecting only to see an open space; but +perceiving the vacancy filled up, he at first imagined the +appearance to be the effect of a fog; looking more attentively, +he was convinced beyond the power of doubt it was his son-in- +law's palace. Joy and gladness succeeded to sorrow and grief. He +returned immediately into his apartment, and ordered a horse to +be saddled and brought to him without delay, which he mounted +that instant, thinking he could not make haste enough to the +palace. + +Alla ad Deen, who foresaw what would happen, rose that morning by +day-break, put on one of the most magnificent habits his wardrobe +afforded, and went up into the hall of twenty-four windows, from +whence he perceived the sultan approaching, and got down soon +enough to receive him at the foot of the great staircase, and to +help him to dismount. "Alla ad Deen," said the sultan, "I cannot +speak to you till I have seen and embraced my daughter." + +He led the sultan into the princess's apartment. The happy father +embraced her with his face bathed in tears of joy; and the +princess, on her side, shewed him all the testimonies of the +extreme pleasure the sight of him afforded her. + +The sultan was some time before he could open his lips, so great +was his surprise and joy to find his daughter again, after he had +given her up for lost; and the princess, upon seeing her father, +let fall tears of rapture and affection. + +At last the sultan broke silence, and said, "I would believe, +daughter, your joy to see me makes you seem as little changed as +if no misfortune had befallen you; yet I cannot be persuaded but +that you have suffered much alarm; for a large palace cannot be +so suddenly transported as yours has been, without causing great +fright and apprehension I would have you tell me all that has +happened, and conceal nothing from me." + +The princess, who took great pleasure in giving the sultan the +satisfaction he demanded, said, "If I appear so little altered, I +beg of your majesty to consider that I received new life +yesterday morning by the presence of my dear husband and +deliverer Alla ad Deen, whom I looked upon and bewailed as lost +to me; and the happiness of seeing and embracing of whom has +almost recovered me to my former state of health. My greatest +suffering was only to find myself forced from your majesty and my +dear husband; not only from the love I bore my husband, but from +the uneasiness I laboured under through fear that he, though +innocent, might feel the effects of your anger, to which I knew +he was left exposed. I suffered but little from the insolence of +the wretch who had carried me off; for having secured the +ascendant over him, I always put a stop to his disagreeable +overtures, and was as little constrained as I am at present. + +"As to what relates to my transportation, Alla ad Deen had no +concern in it; I was myself the innocent cause of it." To +persuade the sultan of the truth of what she said, she gave him a +full account of how the African magician had disguised himself, +and offered to change new lamps for old ones; how she had amused +herself in making that exchange, being entirely ignorant of the +secret and importance of the wonderful lamp; how the palace and +herself were carried away and transported into Africa, with the +African magician, who was recognised by two of her women and the +eunuch who made the exchange of the lamp, when he had the +audacity, after the success of his daring enterprise, to propose +himself for her husband; how he persecuted her till Alla ad +Deen's arrival; how they had concerted measures to get the lamp +from him again, and the success they had fortunately met with by +her dissimulation in inviting him to supper, and giving him the +cup with the powder prepared for him. "For the rest," added she, +"I leave it to Alla ad Deen to recount." + +Alla ad Deen had not much to tell the sultan, but only said, +"When the private door was opened I went up into the great hall, +where I found the magician lying dead on the sofa, and as I +thought it not proper for the princess to stay there any longer, +I desired her to go down into her own apartment, with her women +and eunuchs. As soon as I was alone, and had taken the lamp out +of the magician's breast, I made use of the same secret he had +done, to remove the palace, and carry off the princess; and by +that means the palace was re-conveyed to the place where it stood +before; and I have the happiness to restore the princess to your +majesty, as you commanded me. But that your majesty may not think +that I impose upon you, if you will give yourself the trouble to +go up into the hall, you may see the magician punished as he +deserved." + +The sultan, to be assured of the truth, rose instantly, and went +into the hall, where, when he saw the African magician dead, and +his face already livid by the strength of the poison, he embraced +Alla ad Deen with great tenderness, and said, "My son, be not +displeased at my proceedings against you; they arose from my +paternal love; and therefore you ought to forgive the excesses to +which it hurried me." "Sir," replied Alla ad Deen, "I have not +the least reason to complain of your majesty's conduct, since you +did nothing but what your duty required. This infamous magician, +the basest of men, was the sole cause of my misfortune. When your +majesty has leisure, I will give you an account of another +villanous action he was guilty of towards me, which was no less +black and base than this, from which I was preserved by the +providence of God in a very miraculous way." "I will take an +opportunity, and that very shortly," replied the sultan, "to hear +it; but in the mean time let us think only of rejoicing, and the +removal of this odious object." + +Alla ad Deen ordered the magician's corpse to be removed and +thrown upon a dunghill, for birds and beasts to prey upon. In the +mean time, the sultan commanded the drums, trumpets, cymbals, and +other instruments of music to announce his joy to the public, and +a festival of ten days to be proclaimed for the return of the +princess and Alla ad Deen. + +Thus Alla ad Deen escaped once more the almost inevitable danger +of losing his life; but this was not the last, since he ran as +great a hazard a third time. + +The African magician had a younger brother, who was equally +skilful as a necromancer, and even surpassed him in villany and +pernicious designs. As they did not live together, or in the same +city, but oftentimes when one was in the east, the other was in +the west, they failed not every year to inform themselves, by +their art, each where the other resided, and whether they stood +in need of one another's assistance. + +Some time after the African magician had failed in his enterprise +against Alla ad Deen, his younger brother, who had heard no +tidings of him, and was not in Africa, but in a distant country, +had the wish to know in what part of the world he sojourned, the +state of his health, and what he was doing; and as he, as well as +his brother, always carried a geomantic square instrument about +him, he prepared the sand, cast the points, and drew the figures. +On examining the planetary mansions, he found that his brother +was no longer living, but had been poisoned; and by another +observation, that he was in the capital of the kingdom of China; +also that the person who had poisoned him was of mean birth, +though married to a princess, a sultan's daughter. + +When the magician had informed himself of his brother's fate, he +lost no time in useless regret, which could not restore him to +life; but resolving immediately to revenge his death, departed +for China; where, after crossing plains, rivers, mountains, +deserts, and a long tract of country without delay, he arrived +after incredible fatigues. + +When he came to the capital of China, he took a lodging. The next +day he walked through the town, not so much to observe the +beauties, which were indifferent to him, as to take proper +measures to execute his pernicious designs. He introduced himself +into the most frequented places, where he listened to everybody's +discourse. In a place where people resort to divert themselves +with games of various kinds, and where some were conversing, +while others played, he heard some persons talk of the virtue and +piety of a woman called Fatima, who was retired from the world, +and of the miracles she wrought. As he fancied that this woman +might be serviceable to him in the project he had conceived, he +took one of the company aside, and requested to be informed more +particularly who that holy woman was, and what sort of miracles +she performed. + +"What!" said the person whom he addressed, "have you never seen +or heard of her? She is the admiration of the whole town, for her +fasting, her austerities, and her exemplary life. Except Mondays +and Fridays, she never stirs out of her little cell; and on those +days on which she comes into the town she does an infinite deal +of good; for there is not a person that has the headache but is +cured by her laying her hand upon them." + +The magician wanted no further information. He only asked the +person in what part of the town this holy woman's cell was +situated. After he had informed himself on this head, he +determined on the detestable design of murdering her and assuming +her character. With this view he watched all her steps the first +day she went out after he had made this inquiry, without losing +sight of her till evening, when he saw her re-enter her cell. +When he had fully observed the place, he went to one of those +houses where they sell a certain hot liquor, and where any person +may pass the night, particularly in the great heats, when the +people of that country prefer lying on a mat to a bed. About +midnight, after the magician had satisfied the master of the +house for what little he had called for, he went out, and +proceeded directly to the cell of Fatima. He had no difficulty to +open the door, which was only fastened with a latch, and he shut +it again after he had entered, without any noise. When he entered +the cell, he perceived Fatima by moonlight lying in the air on a +sofa covered only by an old mat, with her head leaning against +the wall. He awakened her, and clapped a dagger to her breast. + +The pious Fatima opening her eyes, was much surprised to see a +man with a dagger at her breast ready to stab her, and who said +to her, "If you cry out, or make the least noise, I will kill +you; but get up, and do as I shall direct you." + +Fatima, who had lain down in her habit, got up, trembling with +fear. "Do not be so much frightened," said the magician; "I only +want your habit, give it me and take mine." Accordingly Fatima +and he changed clothes. He then said to her, "Colour my face, +that I may be like you;" but perceiving that the poor creature +could not help trembling, to encourage her he said, "I tell you +again you need not fear anything: I swear by the name of God I +will not take away your life." Fatima lighted her lamp, led him +into the cell, and dipping a soft brush in a certain liquor, +rubbed it over his face, assured him the colour would not change, +and that his face was of the same hue as her own: after which, +she put her own head-dress on his head, also a veil, with which +she shewed him how to hide his face as he passed through the +town. After this, she put a long string of beads about his neck, +which hung down to the middle of his body, and giving him the +stick she used to walk with in his hand, brought him a looking- +glass, and bade him look if he was not as like her as possible. +The magician found himself disguised as he wished to be; but he +did not keep the oath he so solemnly swore to the good Fatima; +but instead of stabbing her, for fear the blood might discover +him, he strangled her; and when he found she was dead, threw her +body into a cistern just by the cell. + +The magician, thus disguised like the holy woman Fatima, spent +the remainder of the night in the cell. The next morning, two +hours after sunrise, though it was not a day the holy woman used +to go out on, he crept out of the cell, being well persuaded that +nobody would ask him any questions; or, if they should, he had an +answer ready for them. As one of the first things he did after +his arrival was to find out Alla ad Deen's palace, where he was +to complete his designs, he went directly thither. + +As soon as the people saw the holy woman, as they imagined him to +be, they presently gathered about him in a great crowd. Some +begged his blessing, others kissed his hand, and others, more +reserved, only the hem of his garment; while others, whether +their heads ached, or they wished to be preserved against that +disorder, stooped for him to lay his hands upon them; which he +did, muttering some words in form of prayer; and, in short, +counterfeited so well, that everybody took him for the holy +woman. + +After frequently stopping to satisfy people of this description, +who received neither good nor harm from this imposition of hands, +he came at last to the square before Alla ad Deen's palace. The +crowd was so great that the eagerness to get at him increased in +proportion. Those who were the most zealous and strong forced +their way through the crowd. There were such quarrels, and so +great a noise, that the princess, who was in the hall of four- +and-twenty windows, heard it, and asked what was the matter; but +nobody being able to give her an answer, she ordered them to +inquire and inform her. One of her women looked out of a window, +and then told her it was a great crowd of people collected about +the holy woman to be cured of the headache by the imposition of +her hands. + +The princess, who had long heard of this holy woman, but had +never seen her, was very desirous to have some conversation with +her, which the chief of the eunuchs perceiving, told her it was +an easy matter to bring her to her, if she desired and commanded +it; and the princess expressing her wishes, he immediately sent +four eunuchs for the pretended holy woman. + +As soon as the crowd saw the eunuchs, they made way, and the +magician perceiving also that they were coming for him, advanced +to meet them, overjoyed to find his plot proceeded so well. "Holy +woman," said one of the eunuchs, "the princess wants to see you, +and has sent us for you." "The princess does me too great an +honour," replied the false Fatima; "I am ready to obey her +command," and at the same time followed the eunuchs to the +palace. + +When the magician, who under a holy garment disguised a wicked +heart, was introduced into the great hall, and perceived the +princess, he began a prayer, which contained a long enumeration +of vows and good wishes for the princess's health and prosperity, +and that she might have every thing she desired. He then +displayed all his hypocritical rhetoric, to insinuate himself +into the princess's favour under the cloak of piety, which it was +no hard matter for him to do; for as the princess herself was +naturally good, she was easily persuaded that all the world were +like her, especially those who made profession of serving God in +solitude. + +When the pretended Fatima had finished his long harangue, the +princess said to him, "I thank you, good mother, for your +prayers: I have great confidence in them, and hope God will hear +them. Come, and sit by me." The false Fatima sat down with +affected modesty: the princess then resuming her discourse, said, +"My good mother, I have one thing to request, which you must not +refuse me; it is to stay with me, that you may edify me with your +way of living; and that I may learn from your good example how to +serve God." "Princess," said the counterfeit Fatima, "I beg of +you not to ask what I cannot consent to, without neglecting my +prayers and devotion." "That shall be no hinderance to you," +answered the princess; "I have a great many apartments +unoccupied; you shall choose which you like best, and have as +much liberty to perform your devotions as if you were in your own +cell." + +The magician, who desired nothing more than to introduce himself +into the palace, where it would be a much easier matter for him +to execute his designs, under the favour and protection of the +princess, than if he had been forced to come and go from the cell +to the palace, did not urge much to excuse himself from accepting +the obliging offer which the princess made him. "Princess," said +he, "whatever resolution a poor wretched woman as I am may have +made me renounce the pomp and grandeur of this world, I dare not +presume to oppose the will and commands of so pious and +charitable a princess." + +Upon this the princess, rising up, said, "Come with me, I will +shew you what vacant apartments I have, that you may make choice +of that you like best." The magician followed the princess, and +of all the apartments she shewed him, made choice of that which +was the worst furnished, saying it was too good for him, and that +he only accepted of it to please her. + +Afterwards the princess would have brought him back again into +the great hall to make him dine with her; but he considering that +he should then be obliged to shew his face, which he had always +taken care to conceal; and fearing that the princess should find +out that he was not Fatima, he begged of her earnestly to excuse +him, telling her that he never ate anything but bread and dried +fruits, and desiring to eat that slight repast in his own +apartment. The princess granted his request, saying, "You may be +as free here, good mother, as if you were in your own cell: I +will order you a dinner, but remember I expect you as soon as you +have finished your repast." + +After the princess had dined, and the false Fatima had been +informed by one of the eunuchs that she was risen from table, he +failed not to wait upon her. "My good mother," said the princess, +"I am overjoyed to have the company of so holy a woman as +yourself, who will confer a blessing upon this palace. But now I +am speaking of the palace, pray how do you like it? And before I +shew it all to you, tell me first what you think of this hall." + +Upon this question, the counterfeit Fatima, who, to act his part +the better, affected to hang down his head, without so much as +ever once lifting it, at last looked up, and surveyed the hall +from one end to the other. When he had examined it well, he said +to the princess, "As far as such a solitary being as I am, who am +unacquainted with what the world calls beautiful, can judge, this +hall is truly admirable and most beautiful; there wants but one +thing." "What is that, good mother?" demanded the princess; "tell +me, I conjure you. For my part, I always believed, and have heard +say, it wanted nothing; but if it does, it shall be supplied." + +"Princess," said the false Fatima, with great dissimulation, +"forgive me the liberty I have taken; but my opinion is, if it +can be of any importance, that if a roe's egg were hung up in the +middle of the dome, this hall would have no parallel in the four +quarters of the world, and your palace would be the wonder of the +unit verse." + +"My good mother," said the princess, "what bird is a roe, and +where may one get an egg?" "Princess," replied the pretended +Fatima, "it is a bird of prodigious size, which inhabits the +summit of mount Caucasus; the architect who built your palace can +get you one." + +After the princess had thanked the false Fatima for what she +believed her good advice, she conversed with her upon other +matters; but could not forget the roe's egg, which she resolved +to request of Alla ad Deen when he returned from hunting. He had +been gone six days, which the magician knew, and therefore took +advantage of his absence; but he returned that evening after the +false Fatima had taken leave of the princess, and retired to his +apartment. As soon as he arrived, he went directly to the +princess's apartment, saluted and embraced her, but she seemed to +receive him coldly. "My princess," said he, "I think you are not +so cheerful as you used to be; has any thing happened during my +absence, which has displeased you, or given you any trouble or +dissatisfaction In the name of God, do not conceal it from me; I +will leave nothing undone that is in my power to please you." "It +is a trifling matter," replied the princess, "which gives me so +little concern that I could not have thought you could have +perceived it in my countenance; but since you have unexpectedly +discovered some alteration, I will no longer disguise a matter of +so little consequence from you." + +"I always believed," continued the princess," that our palace was +the most superb, magnificent, and complete in the world: but I +will tell you now what I find fault with, upon examining the hall +of four-and-twenty windows. Do not you think with me, that it +would be complete if a roe's egg were hung up in the midst of the +dome?" "Princess," replied Alla ad Deen, "it is enough that you +think there wants such an ornament; you shall see by the +diligence used to supply that deficiency, that there is nothing +which I would not do for your sake." + +Alla ad Deen left the princess Buddir al Buddoor that moment, and +went up into the hall of four-and-twenty windows, where pulling +out of his bosom the lamp, which, after the danger he had been +exposed to, he always carried about him, he rubbed it; upon which +the genie immediately appeared. "Genie," said Alla ad Deen, +"there wants a roe's egg to be hung up in the midst of the dome; +I command thee, in the name of this lamp, to repair the +deficiency." Alla ad Deen had no sooner pronounced these words, +than the genie gave so loud and terrible a cry, that the hall +shook, and Alla ad Deen could scarcely stand upright. "What! +wretch," said the genie, in a voice that would have made the most +undaunted man tremble, "is it not enough that I and my companions +have done every thing for you, but you, by an unheard-of +ingratitude, must command me to bring my master, and hang him up +in the midst of this dome? This attempt deserves that you, your +wife, and your palace, should be immediately reduced to ashes: +but you are happy that this request does not come from yourself. +Know then, that the true author is the brother of the African +magician, your enemy, whom you have destroyed as he deserved. He +is now in your palace, disguised in the habit of the holy woman +Fatima, whom he has murdered; and it is he who has suggested to +your wife to make this pernicious demand. His design is to kill +you, therefore take care of yourself." After these words, the +genie disappeared. + +Alla ad Deen lost not a word of what the genie had said. He had +heard talk of the holy woman Fatima, and how she pretended to +cure the headache. He returned to the princess's apartment, and +without mentioning a word of what had happened, sat down, and +complained of a great pain which had suddenly seized his head; +upon which the princess ordered the holy woman to be called, and +then told him how she had invited her to the palace, and that she +had appointed her an apartment. + +When the pretended Fatima came, Alla ad Deen said, "Come hither, +good mother; I am glad to see you here at so fortunate a time; I +am tormented with a violent pain in my head, and request your +assistance, by the confidence I have in your good prayers, and +hope you will not refuse me that favour which you do to so many +persons afflicted with this complaint." So saying, he arose, but +held down his head. The counterfeit Fatima advanced towards him, +with his hand all the time on a dagger concealed in his girdle +under his gown; which Alla ad Deen observing, he seized his hand +before he had drawn it, pierced him to the heart with his own +dagger, and then pushed him down on the floor. + +"My dear husband, what have you done?" cried the princess in +surprise. "You have killed the holy woman." "No, my princess," +answered Alla ad Deen, with emotion, "I have not killed Fatima, +but a villain, who would have assassinated me, if I had not +prevented him. This wicked wretch," added he, uncovering his +face, "has strangled Fatima, whom you accuse me of killing, and +disguised himself in her clothes with intent to murder me: but +that you may know him better, he is brother to the African +magician." Alla ad Deen then informed her how he came to know +these particulars, and afterwards ordered the dead body to be +taken away. + +Thus was Alla ad Deen delivered from the persecution of two +brothers, who were magicians. Within a few years afterwards, the +sultan died in a good old age, and as he left no male children, +the princess Buddir al Buddoor, as lawful heir of the throne, +succeeded him, and communicating the power to Alla ad Deen, they +reigned together many years, and left a numerous and illustrious +posterity. + + + + + + ADVENTURE OF THE CALIPH HAROON AL + RUSHEED. + + + +The caliph Haroon al Rusheed was one day suffering from +depression of spirits, when his faithful and favourite grand +vizier Jaaffier came to him. This minister finding him alone, +which was seldom the case, and perceiving as he approached that +he was in a very melancholy humour, and never lifted up his eyes, +stopped till he should vouchsafe to look at him. + +At last the caliph turned his eyes towards him, but presently +withdrew them again, and remained in the same posture motionless +as before. + +The grand vizier, observing nothing in the caliph's eyes which +regarded him personally, took the liberty to speak to him, and +said, "Commander of the faithful, will your majesty give me leave +to ask whence proceeds this melancholy, of which you always +seemed to me so little susceptible?" + +"Indeed, vizier," answered the caliph, brightening up his +countenance, "I am very little subject to it, and had not +perceived it but for you, but I will remain no longer in this +hippish mood. If no new affair brought you hither, you will +gratify me by inventing something to dispel it." + +"Commander of the faithful," replied the grand vizier, "my duty +obliged me to wait on you, and I take the liberty to remind your +majesty, that this is the day which you have appointed to inform +yourself of the good government of your capital and its environs; +and this occasion very opportunely presents itself to dispel +those clouds which obscure your natural gaiety." + +"You do well to remind me," replied the caliph, "for I had +entirely forgotten it; go and change your dress, while I do the +same." + +They each put on the habit of a foreign merchant, and under that +disguise went out by a private door of the palace-garden, which +led into the country. After they had gone round part of the city +to the banks of the Euphrates, at some distance from the walls, +without having observed anything disorderly, they crossed the +river in the first boat they met, and making a tour on the other +side, crossed the bridge, which formed the communication betwixt +the two parts of the town. + +At the foot of this bridge they met an old blind man, who asked +alms of them; the caliph turned about, and put a piece of gold +into his hand. The blind man instantly caught hold of his hand, +and stopped him; "Charitable person," said he, "whoever you are, +whom God hath inspired to bestow alms on me, do not refuse the +favour I ask of you, to give me a box on the ear, for I deserve +that, and a greater punishment." Having thus spoken, he let the +caliph's hand go, that he might strike, but for fear he should +pass on without doing it, held him fast by his clothes. + +The caliph, surprised both at the words and action of the blind +man, said, "I cannot comply with your request. I will not lessen +the merit of my charity, by treating you as you would have me." +After these words, he endeavoured to get away from the blind man. + + +The blind man, who expected this reluctance of his benefactor, +exerted himself to detain him. "Sir," said he, "forgive my +boldness and importunity; I desire you would either give me a box +on the ear, or take your alms back again, for I cannot receive it +but on that condition, without breaking a solemn oath, which I +have sworn to God; and if you knew the reason, you would agree +with me that the punishment is very slight." + +The caliph, unwilling to be detained any longer, yielded to the +importunity of the blind man, and gave him a very slight blow: +whereupon he immediately let him go, thanked and blessed him. +When the caliph and vizier had got so me small distance from the +blind man, the caliph said to Jaaffier, "This blind man must +certainly have some very uncommon reasons, which make him behave +himself in this manner to all who give him alms. I should be glad +to know them; therefore return, tell him who I am, and bid him +not fail to come to my palace about prayer-time in the afternoon +of to-morrow, that I may have some conversation with him." + +The grand vizier returned, bestowed his alms on the blind man, +and after he had given him a box on the ear, told him the +caliph's order, and then returned to the caliph. + +When they came into the town, they found in a square a great +crowd of spectators, looking at a handsome well-shaped young man, +who was mounted on a mare, which he drove and urged full speed +round the place, spurring and whipping the poor creature so +barbarously, that she was all over sweat and blood. + +The caliph, amazed at the inhumanity of the rider, stopped to ask +the people if they knew why he used the mare so ill; but could +learn nothing, except that for some time past he had every day, +at the same hour, treated her in the same manner. + +At they went along, the caliph bade the grand vizier take +particular notice of the place, and not fail to order the young +man to attend the next day at the hour appointed to the blind +man. But before the caliph got to his palace, he observed in a +street, which he had not passed through a long time before, an +edifice newly built, which seemed to him to be the palace of some +one of the great lords of the court. He asked the grand vizier if +he knew to whom it belonged; who answered he did not, but would +inquire; and thereupon asked a neighbour, who told him that the +house was that of one Khaujeh Hassan, surnamed Al Hubbaul, on +account of his original trade of rope-making, which he had seen +him work at himself, when poor; that without knowing how fortune +had favoured him, he supposed he must have acquired great wealth, +as he defrayed honourably and splendidly the expenses he had been +at in building. + +The grand vizier rejoined the caliph, and gave him a full account +of what he had heard. "I must see this fortunate rope-maker," +said the caliph, "therefore go and tell him to come to my palace +at the same hour you have ordered the other two." Accordingly the +vizier obeyed. + +The next day, after afternoon prayers, the caliph retired to his +own apartment, when the grand vizier introduced the three persons +we have been speaking of, and presented them to the caliph. + +They all three prostrated themselves before the throne, and when +they rose up, the caliph asked the blind man his name, who +answered, it was Baba Abdoollah. + +"Baba Abdoollah," replied the caliph, "your manner of asking alms +seemed so strange to me yesterday, that if it had not been for +some private considerations I should not have complied with your +request, but should have prevented you from giving any more +offence to the public. I ordered you to come hither, to know from +yourself what could have induced you to make the indiscreet oath +you told me of, that I may judge whether you have done well, and +if I ought to suffer you to continue a practice that appears to +me to set so ill an example. Tell me freely how so extravagant a +thought came into your head, and do not disguise any thing from +me, for I will absolutely know the truth." + +Baba Abdoollah, intimidated by this reprimand, cast himself a +second time at the foot of the caliph's throne, with his face to +the ground, and when he rose up, said, "Commander of the +faithful, I most humbly ask your majesty's pardon for my +presumption, in daring to have required, and almost forced you to +do a thing which indeed appears so contrary to reason. I +acknowledge my offence, but as I did not then know your majesty, +I implore your clemency, and hope you will consider my ignorance. + +"As to the extravagance of my action, I own it, and own also that +it must seem strange to mankind; but in the eye of God it is a +slight penance I have enjoined myself for an enormous crime of +which I have been guilty, and for which, if all the people in the +world were each to give me a box on the ear, it would not be a +sufficient atonement. Your majesty will judge of this yourself, +when, in telling my story, in obedience to your commands I shall +inform you what that heinous crime was." + + + + +The Story of Baba Abdoollah. + + + +Commander of the faithful, I was born at Bagdad, had a moderate +fortune left me by my father and mother, who died within a few +days of each other. Though I was then but young, I did not +squander away my fortune as most young men do, in idle expenses +and debauchery; on the contrary, I neglected no opportunity to +increase it by my industry. At last I became rich enough to +purchase fourscore camels, which I let out to merchants for +caravans, who paid me well for every journey I went with them +throughout the extent of your majesty's dominions. + +In the midst of this prosperity, and with an ardent desire of +growing much richer, as I was returning one day with my camels +unloaded from Bussorah, whither I had carried some bales that +were to be embarked for the Indies, I met with good pasturage, at +some distance from any habitation; made a halt, and let my beasts +graze for some time. While I was seated, a dervish, who was +walking to Bussorah, came and sat down by me to rest himself: I +asked him whence he came, and where he was going; he put the same +questions to me: and when we had satisfied each other's +curiosity, we produced our provisions and ate together. + +During our repast, after we had talked on many indifferent +subjects, the dervish told me that he knew of a spot a small +distance from thence, where there were such immense riches, that +if all my fourscore camels were loaded with the gold and jewels +that might be taken from it, they would not be missed. + +This intelligence surprised and charmed me; and I was so +overjoyed, that I could scarcely contain myself. I could not +believe that the dervish was capable of telling me a falsehood; +therefore I fell upon his neck, and said, "Good dervish, I know +you value not the riches of this world, therefore of what service +can the knowledge of this treasure be to you? You are alone, and +cannot carry much of it away; shew me where it is, I will load +all my camels, and as an acknowledgment of the favour done me, +will present you with one of them." + +Indeed I offered very little, but after he had communicated the +secret to me, my desire of riches was become so violent, that I +thought it a great deal, and looked upon the seventy-nine camel +loads which I reserved for myself as nothing in comparison of +what I allowed him. + +The dervish, though he saw my avarice, was not however angry at +the unreasonable return I proposed to make him, but replied +without the least concern, "You are sensible, brother, that what +you offer me is not proportionable to the valuable favour you ask +of me. I might have chosen whether I would communicate my secret +to you or not, and have kept the treasure to myself: but what I +have told you is sufficient to shew my good intentions; it is in +my power to oblige you, and make both our fortunes. I have, +however, another proposition more just and equitable to make to +you; it lies in your own breast whether or no you will agree to +it. + +"You say," continued the dervish, "that you have fourscore +camels: I am ready to conduct you to the place where the treasure +lies, and we will load them with as much jewels and gold as they +can carry, on condition that when they are so loaded you will let +me have one half, and you be contented with the other; after +which we will separate, and take our camels where we may think +fit. You see there is nothing but what is strictly equitable in +this division; for if you give me forty camels, you will procure +by my means wherewithal to purchase thousands." + +I could not but agree there was a great deal of justice in what +the dervish said: but without considering what riches I should +gain in accepting of the condition he proposed, I could not +without reluctance think of parting with my forty camels, +especially when I reflected that the dervish would then be as +rich as myself. Avarice made me unmindful that I was beforehand +making an ungrateful return for a favour, purely gratuitous. But +there was no time to hesitate; I must either accept of the +proposal, or resolve to repent all my lifetime of losing, by my +own fault, an opportunity of obtaining an immense fortune. That +instant I collected all my camels, and after we had travelled +some time, we came into a valley, the pass into which was so +narrow, that two camels could not go a-breast. The two mountains +which bounded this valley formed nearly a circle, but were so +high, craggy, and steep, that there was no fear of our being seen +by any body. + +When we came between these two mountains, the dervish said to me, +"Stop your camels, make them kneel that we may load them the +easier, and I will proceed to discover the treasure." + +I did as the dervish directed; and going to him soon after, found +him with a match in one hand, gathering sticks to light a fire; +which he had no sooner done, than he cast some incense into it, +and pronouncing certain words which I did not understand, there +presently arose a thick cloud. He divided this cloud, when the +rock, though of a prodigious perpendicular height, opened like +two folding doors, and exposed to view a magnificent palace in +the hollow of the mountain, which I supposed to be rather the +workmanship of genii than of men; for man could hardly have +attempted such a bold and surprising work. + +But this, I must tell your majesty, was an afterthought which did +not occur to me at the moment; so eager was I for the treasures +which displayed themselves to my view, that I did not even stop +to admire the magnificent columns and arcades which I saw on all +sides; and, without attention to the regularity with which the +treasures were ranged, like an eagle seizing her prey, I fell +upon the first heap of golden coin that was near me. My sacks +were all large, and with my good will I would have filled them +all; but I was obliged to proportion my burden to the strength of +my camels. The dervish did the same; but I perceived he paid more +attention to the jewels, and when he told me the reason, I +followed his example, so that we took away much more jewels than +gold. When we had filled our sacks, and loaded our camels, we had +nothing left to do but to shut up the treasure and go our way. + +But before we parted, the dervish went again into the treasury, +where there were a great many wrought vessels of gold of +different forms. I observed that he took out of one of these +vessels a little box of a certain wood, which I knew not, and put +it into his breast; but first shewed me that it contained only a +kind of glutinous ointment. + +The dervish used the same incantations to shut the treasury as he +had done to open it; and after he pronounced certain words, the +doors closed, and the rock seemed as solid and entire as before. + +We now divided our camels. I put myself at the head of the forty +which I had reserved for myself, and the dervish placed himself +at the head of the rest which I had given him. We came out of the +valley by the way we had entered, and travelled together till we +came to the great road, where we were to part; the dervish to go +to Bussorah, and I to Bagdad. To thank him for so great a +kindness, I made use of the most expressive terms, testifying my +gratitude for the preference he had given me before all other men +in letting me have a share of such riches. We embraced each other +with great joy, and taking our leave, pursued our different +routes. + +I had not gone far, following my camels, which paced quietly on +in the track I had put them into, before the demon of ingratitude +and envy took possession of my heart, and I deplored the loss of +my other forty, but much more the riches wherewith they were +loaded. "The dervish," said I to myself, "has no occasion for all +this wealth, since he is master of the treasure, and may have as +much as he pleases;" so I gave myself up to the blackest +ingratitude, and determined immediately to take the camels with +their loading from him. + +To execute this design, I first stopped my own camels, then ran +after the dervish, and called to him as loud as I could, giving +him to understand that I had something material to say to him, +and made a sign to him to stop, which he accordingly did. + +When I came up to him, I said, "Brother, I had no sooner parted +from you, but a thought came into my head, which neither of us +had reflected on before. You are a recluse dervish, used to live +in tranquillity, disengaged from all the cares of the world, and +intent only upon serving God. You know not, perhaps, what trouble +you have taken upon yourself, to take care of so many camels. If +you would take my advice, you would keep but thirty; you will +find them sufficiently troublesome to manage. Take my word; I +have had experience." + +"I believe you are right," replied the dervish, who found he was +not able to contend with me;" I own I never thought of this. I +begin already to be uneasy at what you have stated. Choose which +ten you please, and take them, and go on in God's keeping." + +I set ten apart, and after I had driven them off, I put them in +the road to follow my others. I could not have imagined that the +dervish would be so easily persuaded to part with his camels, +which increased my covetousness, and made me flatter myself, that +it would be no hard matter to get ten more: wherefore, instead of +thanking him for his present, I said to him again; "Brother, the +interest I take in your repose is so great, that I cannot resolve +to part from you without desiring you to consider once more how +difficult a thing it is to govern thirty loaded camels, +especially for you who are not used to such work: you will find +it much better to return me as many more back as you have done +already. What I tell you is not for my own sake and interest, but +to do you the greater kindness. Ease yourself then of the camels, +and leave them to me, who can manage a hundred as well as one." + +My discourse had the desired effect upon the dervish, who gave +me, without any hesitation, the other ten camels; so that he had +but twenty left and I was master of sixty, and might boast of +greater riches than any sovereign princes. Any one would have +thought I should now have been content; but as a person afflicted +with a dropsy, the more he drinks the more thirsty he is, so I +became more greedy and desirous of the other twenty camels. + +I redoubled my solicitations and importunities, to make the +dervish condescend to grant me ten of the twenty, which he did +with a good grace: and as to the other ten he had left, I +embraced him, kissed his feet, and caressed him, conjuring him +not to refuse me, but to complete the obligation I should ever +have to him, so that at length he crowned my joy, by giving me +them also. "Make a good use of them, brother," said the dervish, +"and remember that God can take away riches as well as give them, +if we do not assist the poor, whom he suffers to be in want, on +purpose that the rich may merit by their charity a recompense in +the other world." + +My infatuation was so great that I could not profit by such +wholesome advice. I was not content, though I had my forty camels +again, and knew they were loaded with an inestimable treasure. +But a thought came into my head, that the little box of ointment +which the dervish shewed me had something in it more precious +than all the riches which I was obliged to him for: the place +from whence the dervish took it, said I to myself, and his care +to secure it, makes me believe there is something mysterious in +it. This determined me to obtain it. I had just embraced him and +bade him adieu; but as I turned about from him, I said, "What +will you do with that little box of ointment? It seems such a +trifle, it is not worth your carrying away. I entreat you to make +me a present of it; for what occasion has a dervish, as you are, +who has renounced the vanities of the world, for perfumes, or +scented ointments?" + +Would to heaven he had refused me that box; but if he had, I was +stronger than he, and resolved to have taken it from him by +force; that for my complete satisfaction it might not be said he +had carried away the smallest part of the treasure. + +The dervish, far from denying me, readily pulled it out of his +bosom, and presenting it to me with the best grace in the world, +said, "Here, take it, brother, and be content; if I could do more +for you, you needed but to have asked me; I should have been +ready to satisfy you." + +When I had the box in my hand, I opened it, and looking at the +ointment, said to him, "Since you are so good, I am sure you will +not refuse me the favour to tell me the particular use of this +ointment." + +"The use is very surprising and wonderful," replied the dervish: +"if you apply a little of it round the left eye, and upon the +lid, you will see at once all the treasures contained in the +bosom of the earth; but if you apply it to the right eye, it will +make you blind." + +"I would make the experiment myself. Take the box," said I to the +dervish, "and apply some to my left eye. You understand how to do +it better than I, and I long to experience what seems so +incredible." Accordingly I shut my left eye, and the dervish took +the trouble to apply the unguent; I opened my eye, and was +convinced he had told me truth. I saw immense treasures, and such +prodigious riches, so diversified, that it is impossible for me +to give an account of them; but as I was obliged to keep my right +eye shut with my hand, and that tired me, I desired the dervish +to apply some of the pomatum to that eye. + +"I am ready to do it," said the dervish; "but you must remember +what I told you, that if you put any of it upon your right eye, +you would immediately be blind; such is the virtue of the +ointment." + +Far from being persuaded of the truth of what the dervish said, I +imagined, on the contrary, that there was some new mystery, which +he meant to hide from me. "Brother," replied I, smiling, "I see +plainly you wish to mislead me; it is not natural that this +ointment should have two such contrary effects." + +"The matter is as I tell you," replied the dervish, taking the +name of God to bear witness; "you ought to believe me, for I +cannot disguise the truth." + +I would not believe the dervish, who spoke like an honest man. My +insurmountable desire of seeing at my will all the treasures in +the world and perhaps of enjoying those treasures to the extent I +coveted, had such an effect upon me, that I could not hearken to +his remonstrances, nor be persuaded of what was however but too +true, as to my lasting misfortune I soon experienced. + +I persuaded myself that if the ointment, by being applied to the +left eye, had the virtue of shewing me all the treasures of the +earth, by being applied to the right, it might have the power of +putting them in my disposal. Possessed with this thought, I +obstinately pressed the dervish to apply the ointment to my right +eye; but he as positively refused. "Brother," said he, "after l +have done you so much service, I cannot resolve to do you so +great an injury; consider with yourself what a misfortune it is +to be deprived of one's eye-sight: do not reduce me to the hard +necessity of obliging you in a thing which you will repent of all +your life." + +I persisted in my obstinacy, and said to him in strong terms, +"Brother, I earnestly desire you to lay aside all your +difficulties. You have granted me most generously all that I have +asked of you hitherto, and would you have me go away dissatisfied +with you at last about a thing of so little consequence? For +God's sake grant me this last favour; whatever happens I will not +lay the blame on you, but take it upon myself alone." + +The dervish made all the resistance possible, but seeing that I +was able to force him to do it, he said, "Since you will +absolutely have it so, I will satisfy you;" and thereupon he took +a little of the fatal ointment, and applied it to my right eye, +which I kept shut; but alas! when I came to open it, I could +distinguish nothing with either eye but thick darkness, and +became blind as you see me now. + +"Ah! dervish," I exclaimed in agony, "what you forewarned me of +has proved but too true. Fatal curiosity," added I, "insatiable +desire of riches, into what an abyss of miseries have they cast +me! I am now sensible what a misfortune I have brought upon +myself; but you, dear brother," cried I, addressing myself to the +dervish, "who are so charitable and good, among the many +wonderful secrets you are acquainted with, have you not one to +restore to me my sight again?" + +"Miserable wretch!" answered the dervish, "if you would have been +advised by me, you would have avoided this misfortune, but you +have your deserts; the blindness of your mind was the cause of +the loss of your eyes. It is true I have secrets, some of which, +during the short time we have been together, you have by my +liberality witnessed; but I have none to restore to you your +sight. Pray to God, therefore, if you believe there is one; it is +he alone that can restore it to you. He gave you riches, of which +you were unworthy, on that account takes them from you again, and +will by my hands give them to men not so ungrateful as yourself." + +The dervish said no more, and I had nothing to reply. He left me +to myself overwhelmed with confusion, and plunged in +inexpressible grief. After he had collected my camels, he drove +them away, and pursued the road to Bussorah. + +I cried out loudly as he was departing, and entreated him not to +leave me in that miserable condition, but to conduct me at least +to the first caravanserai; but he was deaf to my prayers and +entreaties. Thus deprived of sight and all I had in the world, I +should have died with affliction and hunger, if the next day a +caravan returning from Bussorah had not received me charitably, +and brought me back to Bagdad. + +After this manner was I reduced without remedy from a condition +worthy the envy of princes for riches and magnificence, though +not for power, to beggary without resource. I had no other way to +subsist but by asking charity, which I have done till now. But to +expiate my offence against God, I enjoined myself, by way of +penance, a box on the ear from every charitable person who should +commiserate my condition. + +"This, commander of the faithful, is the motive which seemed so +strange to your majesty yesterday, and for which I ought to incur +your indignation. I ask your pardon once more as your slave, and +submit to receive the chastisement I deserve. And if you +vouchsafe to pronounce any thing beyond the penance I have +imposed upon myself, I am ready to undergo it, since I am +persuaded you must think it too slight and much too little for my +crime." + +The blind man having concluded his story, the caliph said, "Baba +Abdoollah, your sin has been great; but God be praised, you feel +the enormity of your guilt, and your penance proves your +repentance. You must continue it, not ceasing to ask of God +pardon in every prayer your religion obliges you to say daily: +but that you may not be prevented from your devotions by the care +of getting your living, I will settle a charity on you during +your life, of four silver dirhems a day, which my grand vizier +shall give you daily with the penance, therefore do not go away, +but wait till he has executed my orders." + +At these words, Baba Abdoollah prostrated himself before the +caliph's throne, returned him thanks, and wished him all +happiness and prosperity. + +The caliph, very well satisfied with the story of Baba Abdoollah +and the dervish, addressed himself to the young man who used his +mare so ill, and asked him his name; to which he replied, it was +Syed Naomaun. + +"Syed Naomaun," resumed the caliph, "I have seen horses exercised +all my life, and have often exercised them myself, but never in +so barbarous a manner as you yesterday treated your mare in the +full square, to the great offence of all the spectators, who +murmured loudly at your conduct. I myself was not less +displeased, and had nearly, contrary to my intention, discovered +who I was, to have punished your cruelty. By your air and +behaviour you do not seem to be a barbarous or cruel man; and +therefore I would fain believe that you had reason for what you +did, since I am informed that this was not the first time, but +that you practise the same treatment every day. I would know what +is the cause, and sent for you for that purpose, that you should +tell me the truth, and disguise nothing from me." + +Syed Naomaun understood what the caliph demanded of him. The +relation was painful to him. He changed colour several times, and +could not help shewing how greatly he was embarrassed. However, +he must resolve to tell his story; but before he spoke, he +prostrated himself before the caliph's throne, and after he rose +up, endeavoured to speak to satisfy the caliph, but was so +confounded, not so much at the presence of the caliph, as by the +nature of his relation, that he was speechless. + +The caliph, notwithstanding his natural impatience to be obeyed, +shewed not the least anger at Syed Naomaun's silence: he saw +plainly, that he either had not assurance to speak before him, or +was intimidated by the tone of his voice; or, in short, that +there was something to be concealed in his story. + +"Syed Naomaun," said the caliph, to encourage him, "recollect +yourself, but tell your story as if you were speaking not to me, +but to your most familiar friend. If there is any thing in your +relation which troubles you, and you think I may be offended at +it, I pardon you beforehand: therefore be not uneasy, but speak +boldly and freely, and disguise nothing." + +Syed Naomaun, encouraged by these words, said, "Commander of the +faithful, whatever apprehensions a man may be under at your +majesty's presence, I am sensible those respectful sensations +would not deprive me of the use of my speech, so as to fail in my +obedience, in giving you satisfaction in any other matter but +this you now ask of me. I dare not say I am the most perfect of +men; yet I am not wicked enough to have committed, or to have had +an intention of committing any thing against the laws to fear +their severity; and yet I cannot say I am exempt from sin through +ignorance. In this case I do not say that I depend upon your +majesty's pardon, but will submit myself to your justice, and +receive the punishment I deserve. I own, that the manner in which +I have for some time treated my mare, and which your majesty has +witnessed, is strange, and sets an ill example: but I hope you +will think the motive well grounded, and that I am more worthy of +compassion than chastisement: but not to keep your majesty any +longer in suspense by a long preamble, I will tell you my story." + + + + + +The Story of Syed Naomaun. + + + +I shall not trouble your majesty with my birth, which is not +illustrious enough to merit your attention. For my situation, my +parents, by their good economy, left me enough to live on like an +honest man, free from ambition, or being burdensome to any one. + +With these advantages, the only blessing I wanted to render my +happiness complete was an amiable wife, who might share them with +me; but that was a blessing it did not please God to grant me: on +the contrary, it was my misfortune to have one, who, the very +next day after our wedding, began to exercise my patience in a +manner not to be conceived by any one who has not had the same +trial. + +As it is the custom for us to marry without seeing or knowing +whom we are to espouse, your majesty is sensible that a husband +has no reason to complain, when he finds that the wife who has +been chosen for him is not horribly ugly and deformed, and that +her carriage, wit, and behaviour make amends for any slight +bodily imperfections. + +The first time I saw my wife with her face uncovered, after she +was brought home with the usual ceremonies to my house, I +rejoiced to find that I had not been imposed upon in the +description of her person, which pleased me, and she was +perfectly agreeable to my inclination. + +The next day after our wedding, when our dinner was served up, +which consisted of several dishes, I went into the room where the +cloth was ]aid, and not finding my wife there, ordered her to be +called. After making me wait a long time, she came. I dissembled +my impatience, we sat down, and I began with the rice, which I +took up as usual. + +On the other hand, my wife, instead of using her hand as +everybody does, pulled a little case out of her pocket, and took +out of it a kind of bodkin, with which she picked up the rice, +and put it into her mouth, grain by grain. + +Surprised at this manner of eating, I said to her, "Ameeneh," +(which was her name,) "are you used to eat rice so in your +family, or do you do it because you are a little eater, or would +you count the grains, that you may not eat more at one time than +another? If you do it out of frugality, or to teach me not to be +extravagant, you have no reason to fear, as I can assure you we +shall not ruin ourselves that way. We have, God be thanked! +enough to live at our ease, without depriving ourselves of +necessaries. Do not restrain yourself, my dear Ameeneh, but eat +as you see me eat." The kind manner in which I made these +remonstrances might have produced some obliging answer; but she, +without saying a word, continued to eat as she had begun. At +last, to make me the more uneasy, she ate a grain of rice at +intervals only; and instead of eating any of the other meats with +me, she only now and then put some crumbs of bread into her +mouth, but not so much as a sparrow would have pecked. + +I was much provoked at her obstinacy; but yet, to indulge and +excuse her, I imagined that she had not been used to eat with +men, before whom she might perhaps have been taught to restrain +herself; but at the same time thought she carried it too far out +of pure simplicity. I fancied again that she might have +breakfasted late, or that she might have a wish to eat alone, and +more at liberty. These considerations prevented me from saying +more to her then, to ruffle her temper, by shewing any sign of +dissatisfaction. After dinner I left her, but not with an air +that shewed any displeasure. + +At supper, and the next day, and every time we ate together, she +behaved herself in the same manner. I knew it was impossible for +a woman to live on so little food as she took, and that there +must be some mystery in her conduct, which I did not understand. +This made me resolve to dissemble; I appeared to take no notice +of her actions, in hopes that time would bring her to live with +me as I desired she should. But my hopes were in vain, and it was +not long before I was convinced they were so. + +One night, when Ameeneh thought me fast asleep, she got out of +bed softly, dressed herself with great precaution, not to make a +noise for fear of awaking me. I could not comprehend her design, +but curiosity made me feign a sound sleep. As soon as she had +dressed herself, she went softly out of the room. + +When she was gone, I arose, threw my cloak over my shoulders, and +had time enough to see from a window that looked into my court- +yard, that she opened the street-door and went out. + +I immediately ran down to the door, which she had left half open, +and followed her by moonlight, till I saw her enter a burying- +ground just by our house. I got to the end of the wall, taking +care not to be seen, and looking over, saw Ameeneh with a ghoul. + +Your majesty knows that the ghouls of both sexes are wandering +demons, which generally infest old buildings; from whence they +rush out, by surprise, on people that pass by, kill them, and eat +their flesh; and for want of such prey, will sometimes go in the +night into burying-grounds, and feed on dead bodies which they +dig up. + +I was struck with astonishment and horror to see my wife with +this ghoul. They dug up a dead body which had been buried but +that day, and the ghoul cut off pieces of the flesh, which they +ate together by the grave-side, conversing during their shocking +and inhuman repast. But I was too far off to hear their +discourse, which must have been as strange as their meal, the +remembrance of which still makes me shudder. + +When they had finished this horrible feast, they threw the +remains of the dead body into the grave again, and filled it up +with the earth which they had dug out. I left them at their work, +made haste home, and leaving the door half open as I had found +it, went into my chamber, and to bed again, where I pretended to +be fast asleep. + +Soon afterwards Ameeneh returned without the least noise, +undressed herself, and came to bed, rejoicing, as I imagined, +that she had succeeded so well without being discovered. + +My mind was so full of the idea of such an abominable action as I +had witnessed, that I felt great reluctance to lie by a person +who could have had any share in the guilt of it, and was a long +time before I could fall asleep. However, I got a short nap; but +waked at the first call to public prayers at day-break, got up, +dressed myself, and went to the mosque. + +After prayers I went out of the town, spent the morning in +walking in the gardens, and thinking what I should do to oblige +my wife to change her mode of living. I rejected all the violent +measures that suggested themselves to my thoughts, and resolved +to use gentle means to cure her unhappy and depraved inclination. +In this state of reverie I insensibly reached home by dinner- +time. + +As soon as Ameeneh saw me enter the house, she ordered dinner to +be served up; and as I observed she continued to eat her rice in +the same manner, by single grains, I said to her, with all the +mildness possible, "You know, Ameeneh, what reason I had to be +surprised, when the day after our marriage I saw you eat rice in +so small a quantity, and in a manner which would have offended +any other husband but myself: you know also, I contented myself +with telling you that I was uneasy at it, and desired you to eat +of the other meats, which I had ordered to be dressed several +ways to endeavour to suit your taste, and I am sure my table did +not want for variety: but all my remonstrances have had no +effect, and you persist in your sullen abstemiousness. I have +said nothing, because I would not constrain you, and should be +sorry that any thing I now say should make you uneasy; but tell +me, Ameeneh, I conjure you, are not the meats served up at my +table better than the flesh of a human corpse?" + +I had no sooner pronounced these words than Ameeneh, who +perceived that I had discovered her last night's horrid +voraciousness with the ghoul, flew into a rage beyond +imagination. Her face became as red as scarlet, her eyes ready to +start out of her head, and she foamed with passion. + +The terrible state in which she appeared alarmed me so much, that +I stood motionless, and was not able to defend myself against the +horrible wickedness she meditated against me, and which will +surprise your majesty. In the violence of her passion, she dipped +her hand into a basin of water, which stood by her, and muttering +between her teeth some words, which I could not hear, she threw +some water in my face, and exclaimed, in a furious tone, "Wretch, +receive the punishment of thy prying curiosity, and become a +dog!" + +Ameeneh, whom I did not before know to be a sorceress, had no +sooner pronounced these diabolical words, than I was immediately +transformed into a dog. My amazement and surprise at so sudden +and unexpected a metamorphosis prevented my thinking at first of +providing for my safety. Availing herself of this suspense, she +took up a great stick, with which she laid on me such heavy +blows, that I wonder they did not kill me. I thought to have +escaped her rage, by running into the yard; but she pursued me +with the same fury, and notwithstanding all my activity I could +not avoid her blows. At last, when she was tired of running after +and beating me, and enraged that she had not killed me, as she +desired, she thought of another method to effect her purpose: she +half opened the street-door, that she might endeavour to squeeze +me to death, as I ran out to preserve my life. Dog as I was, I +instantly perceived her pernicious design; and as present danger +inspires a presence of mind, to elude her vigilance I watched her +face and motions so well, that I took my opportunity, and passed +through quick enough to save myself and escape her malice, though +she pinched the end of my tail. + +The pain I felt made me cry out and howl as I ran along the +streets, which collected all the dogs about me, and I got bit by +several of them; but to avoid their pursuit, I ran into the shop +of a man who sold boiled sheep's heads, tongues, and feet, where +I saved myself. + +The man at first took my part with much compassion, by driving +away the dogs that followed me, and would have run into his +house. My first care was to creep into a corner to hide myself; +but I found not the sanctuary and protection I hoped for. My host +was one of those extravagantly superstitious persons who think +dogs unclean creatures, and if by chance one happens to touch +them in the streets, cannot use soap and water enough to wash +their garments clean. After the dogs who chased me were all +dispersed and gone, he did all he could to drive me out of his +house, but I was concealed out of his reach, and spent that night +in his shop in spite of him; and indeed I had need of rest to +recover from Ameeneh's ill-treatment. + +Not to weary your majesty with trifling circumstances, I shall +not particularize the melancholy reflections I made on my +metamorphosis; but only tell you, that my host having gone out +the next morning to lay in a stock of sheep's heads, tongues, and +trotters, when he returned, he opened his shop, and while he was +laying out his goods, I crept from my corner, and got among some +other dogs of the neighbourhood, who had followed my host by the +scent of his meat, and surrounded the shop, in expectation of +having some offal thrown to them. I joined them, and put myself +among them in a begging posture. My host observing me, and +considering that I had eaten nothing while I lay in the shop, +distinguished me from the rest, by throwing me larger pieces of +meat, and oftener than the other dogs. After he had given me as +much as he thought fit, I looked at him earnestly, and wagged my +tail, to shew him I begged he would repeat his favours. But he +was inflexible, and opposed my entrance with a stick in his hand, +and with so stern a look, that I felt myself obliged to seek a +new habitation. + +I stopped at the shop of a baker in the neighbourhood, who was of +a lively gay temper, quite the reverse of the offal butcher. He +was then at breakfast, and though I made no sign that I wanted +any thing, threw me a piece of bread. Instead of catching it up +greedily, as dogs usually do, I looked at him, moving my head and +wagging my tail, to shew my gratitude; at which he was pleased, +and smiled. Though I was not hungry, I ate the piece of bread to +please him, and I ate slowly to shew him that it was out of +respect to him. He observed this, and permitted me to continue +near the shop. I sat down and turned myself to the street, to +shew him I then only wanted his protection; which he not only +granted, but by his caresses encouraged me to come into the +house. This I did in a way that shewed it was with his leave. He +was pleased, and pointed me out a place where to lie, of which I +took possession, and kept while I lived with him. I was always +well treated; and whenever he breakfasted, dined, or supped, I +had my share of provisions; and, in return, I loved him, and was +faithful, as gratitude required of me. I always had my eyes upon +him, and he scarcely stirred out of doors, or went into the city +on business, but I was at his heels. I was the more exact, +because I perceived my attention pleased him; for whenever he +went out, without giving me time to see him, he would call +Chance, which was the name he gave me. + +At this name I used to spring from my place, jump, caper, run +before the door, and never cease fawning on him, till he went +out; and then I always either followed him, or ran before him, +continually looking at him to shew my joy. + +I had lived some time with this baker, when a woman came one day +into the shop to buy some bread, who gave my master a piece of +bad money among some good, which he returned, and requested her +to exchange. + +The woman refused to take it again, and affirmed it to be good. +The baker maintained the contrary, and in the dispute told the +woman, he was sure that the piece of money was so visibly bad, +that his dog could distinguish it; upon which he called me by +name. I immediately jumped on the counter, and the baker throwing +the money down before me, said, "See, and tell me which of these +pieces is bad?" I looked over all the pieces of money, and then +set my paw upon that which was bad, separated it from the rest, +looking in my master's face, to shew it him. + +The baker, who had only called me to banter the woman, was much +surprised to see me so immediately pitch upon the bad money. The +woman thus convicted had nothing to say for herself, but was +obliged to give another piece instead of the bad one. As soon as +she was gone, my master called in some neighbours, and enlarged +very much on my capacity, telling them what had happened. + +The neighbours desired to make the experiment, and of all the bad +money they shewed me, mixed with good, there was not one which I +did not set my paw upon, and separate from the rest. + +The woman also failed not to tell everybody she met what had +happened; so that the fame of my skill in distinguishing good +money from bad was not only spread throughout the neighbourhood, +but over all that part of the town, and insensibly through the +whole city. + +I had business enough every day; for I was obliged to shew my +skill to all customers who came to buy bread of my master. In +short, my reputation procured my master more business than he +could manage, and brought him customers from the most distant +parts of the town; this run of business lasted so long, that he +owned to his friends and neighbours, that I was a treasure to +him. + +My little knowledge made many people envy my master's good +fortune, and lay snares to steal me away, which obliged him +always to keep me in his sight. One day a woman came like the +rest out of curiosity to buy some bread, and seeing me sit upon +the counter, threw down before me six pieces of money, among +which was one that was bad. I separated it presently from the +others, and setting my paw upon it, looked in the woman's face, +as much as to say, "Is it not so?" The woman looking at me +replied, "Yes, you are in the right, it is bad:" and staying some +time in the shop, to look at and admire me, at last paid my +master for his bread, but when she went out of the shop, made a +sign, unknown to him, for me to follow her. + +I was always attentive to any means likely to deliver me out of +so strange a metamorphosis, and had observed that the woman +examined me with an extraordinary attention. I imagined that she +might know something of my misfortune, and the melancholy +condition I was reduced to: however, I let her go, and contented +myself with looking at her. After walking two or three steps, she +turned about, and seeing that I only looked at her, without +stirring from my place, made me another sign to follow her. + +Without deliberating any longer, and observing that my master was +busy cleaning his oven, and did not mind me, I jumped off the +counter, and followed the woman, who seemed overjoyed. + +After we had gone some way, she stopped at a house, opened the +door, and called to me to come in, saying, "You will not repent +following me." When I had entered, she shut the door, and +conduded me to her chamber, where I saw a beautiful young lady +working embroidery. This lady, who was daughter to the charitable +woman who had brought me from the baker's, was a very skilful +enchantress, as I found afterwards. + +"Daughter," said the mother, "I have brought you the much-talked- +of baker's dog, that can tell good money from bad. You know I +gave you my opinion respecting him when I first heard of him, and +told you, I fancied he was a man changed into a dog by some +wicked magician. To-day I determined to go to that baker for some +bread, and was myself a witness of the wonders performed by this +dog, who has made such a noise in Bagdad. What say you, daughter, +am I deceived in my conjecture?" "Mother, you are not," answered +the daughter, "and I will disenchant him immediately." + +The young lady arose from her sofa, put her hand into a basin of +water, and throwing some upon me, said, "If thou wert born a dog, +remain so, but if thou wert born a man, resume thy former shape, +by the virtue of this water." At that instant the enchantment was +broken, and I became restored to my natural form. + +Penetrated with the greatness of this kindness, I threw myself at +my deliverer's feet; and after I had kissed the hem of her +garment, said, "My dear deliverer, I am so sensible of your +unparalleled humanity towards a stranger, as I am, that I beg of +you to tell me yourself what I can do to shew my gratitude; or +rather dispose of me as a slave, to whom you have a just right, +since I am no more my own, but entirely yours: and that you may +know who I am, I will tell you my story in as few words as +possible." + +After I had informed her who I was, I gave her an account of my +marriage with Ameeneh, of the complaisance I had shewn her, my +patience in bearing with her humour, her extraordinary behaviour, +and the savage inhumanity with which she had treated me out of +her inconceivable wickedness, and finished my story with my +transformation, and thanking her mother for the inexpressible +happiness she had procured me. + +"Syed Naomaun," said the daughter to me, "let us not talk of the +obligation you say you owe me; it is enough for me that I have +done any service to so honest a man. But let us talk of Ameeneh +your wife. I was acquainted with her before your marriage; and as +I know her to be a sorceress, she also is sensible that I have +some of the same kind of knowledge as herself, since we both +learnt it of the same mistress. We often meet at the baths, but +as our tempers are different, I avoid all opportunities of +contracting an intimacy with her, which is no difficult matter, +as she does the same by me. I am not at all surprised at her +wickedness: but what I have already done for you is not +sufficient; I must complete what I have begun. It is not enough +to have broken the enchantment by which she has so long excluded +you from the society of men. You must punish her as she deserves, +by going home again, and assuming the authority which belongs to +you. I will give you the proper means. Converse a little with my +mother till I return to you." + +My deliveress went into a closet, and while she was absent, I +repeated my obligations to the mother as well as the daughter. +She said to me, "You see my daughter has as much skill in the +magic art as the wicked Ameeneh; but makes such use of it, that +you would be surprised to know the good she has done, and daily +does, by exercising her science. This induces me to let her +practise it; for I should not permit her, if I perceived she made +an improper application of it in the smallest instance." + +The mother then related some of the wonders she had seen her +perform: by this time the daughter returned with a little bottle +in her hand. "Syed Naomaun," said she, "my books which I have +been consulting tell me that Ameeneh is now abroad, but will be +at home presently. They also inform me that she pretended before +your servants to be very uneasy at your absence, and made them +believe, that at dinner you recollected some business which +obliged you to go out immediately; that as you went, you left the +door open, and a dog running into the hall where she was at +dinner, she had beaten him out with a great stick. + +"Take this little bottle, go home immediately, and wait in your +own chamber till Ameeneh comes in, which she will do shortly. As +soon as she returns, run down into the court, and meet her face +to face. In her surprise at seeing you so unexpectedly, she will +turn her back to run away; have the bottle ready, and throw some +of the liquor it contains upon her, pronouncing at the same time +these words: Receive the chastisement of thy wickedness.' I will +tell you no more; you will see the effect." + +After these instructions I took leave of my benefactress, and her +mother, with all the testimonies of the most perfect gratitude, +and a sincere protestation never to forget my obligation to them; +and then went home. + +All things happened as the beautiful and humane enchantress had +foretold. Ameeneh was not long before she came home. As she +entered the court, I met her with the bottle in my hand. Upon +seeing me, she shrieked; and as she turned to run towards the +door, I threw the liquor upon her, pronouncing the words which +the young lady had taught me, when she was instantly transformed +into the mare which your majesty saw me upon yesterday. + +At that instant, owing to the surprise she was in, I easily +seized her by the mane, and notwithstanding her resistance, led +her into the stable, where I put a halter upon her head, and when +I had tied her to the rack, reproaching her with her baseness, I +chastised her with a whip till I was tired, and have punished her +every day since in the manner which your majesty has witnessed. + +"I hope, commander of the faithful," concluded Syed Naomaun, +"your majesty will not disapprove of my conduct, but will rather +think I have shewn so wicked and pernicious a woman more +indulgence than she deserved." + +When the caliph found that Syed Naomaun had ended his story, he +said to him, "Your adventure is very singular, and the wickedness +of your wife inexcusable; therefore I do not condemn the +chastisement you have hitherto given her; but I would have you +consider how great a punishment it is to be reduced to the +condition of beasts, and wish you would be content with the +chastisement you have already inflicted. I would order you to go +and address yourself to the young enchantress, to end the +metamorphosis she has inflicted, but that I know the obstinacy +and incorrigible cruelty of magicians of both sexes, who abuse +their art; which makes me apprehensive that a second effect of +your wife's revenge might be more fatal than the first." + +The caliph, who was naturally mild and compassionate to all +criminals, after he had declared his mind to Syed Naomaun, +addressed himself to the third person the grand vizier had +summoned to attend him. "Khaujeh Hassan," said he, "passing +yesterday by your house, it seemed so magnificent that I felt a +curiosity to know to whom it belonged, and was told that you, +whose trade is so mean that a man can scarcely get his bread by +it, have built this house after you had followed this trade some +years. I was likewise informed that you make a good use of the +riches God has blessed you with, and your neighbours speak well +of you. + +"All this pleases me well," added the caliph, "but I am persuaded +that the means by which Providence has been pleased to bestow +these gifts on you must have been very extraordinary. I am +curious to know the particulars from your own mouth, and sent for +you on purpose to have that satisfaction. Speak truly, that when +I know your story, I may rejoice in your good fortune. + +"But that you may not suspect my curiosity, and believe I have +any other interest than what I tell you, I declare, that far from +having any pretensions, I give you my word you shall enjoy freely +all you possess." + +On these assurances of the caliph, Khaujeh Hassan prostrated +himself before the throne, with his forehead down to the carpet, +and when he rose up, said, "Commander of the faithful, some +persons might have been alarmed at having been summoned to appear +before your majesty; but knowing that my conscience was clear, +and that I had committed nothing against the laws or your +majesty, but, on the contrary, had always the most respectful +sentiments and the profoundest veneration for your person, my +only fear was, that I should not be able to support the splendour +of your presence. But nevertheless on the public report of your +majesty's receiving favourably, and hearing the meanest of your +subjects, I took courage, and never doubted but I should have +confidence enough to give you all the satisfaction you might +require of me. Besides, your majesty has given me a proof of your +goodness, by granting me your protection before you know whether +I deserve it. I hope, however, you will retain the favourable +sentiments you have conceived of me, when, in obedience to your +command, I shall have related my adventures." + +After this compliment to conciliate the caliph's good-will and +attention, and after some moments' recollection, Khaujeh Hassan +related his story in the following manner: + + + + + +The Story of Khaujeh Hassan al Hubbaul. + + + +Commander of the faithful, that your majesty may the better +understand by what means I arrived at the happiness I now enjoy, +I must acquaint you, there are two intimate friends, citizens of +Bagdad, who can testify the truth of what I shall relate, and to +whom, after God, the author of all good, I owe my prosperity. + +These two friends are called, the one Saadi, the other Saad. +Saadi, who is very rich, was always of opinion that no man could +be happy in this world without wealth, to live independent of +every one. + +Saad was of a different opinion; he agreed that riches were +necessary to comfort, but maintained that the happiness of a +man's life consisted in virtue, without any farther eagerness +after worldly goods than what was requisite for decent +subsistence, and benevolent purposes. + +Saad himself is one of this number, and lives very happily and +contentedly in his station: but though Saadi is infinitely more +opulent, their friendship is very sincere, and the richest sets +no more value on himself than the other. They never had any +dispute but on this point; in all other things their union of +opinion has been very strict. + +One day as they were talking upon this subject, as I have since +been informed by them both, Saadi affirmed, that poverty +proceeded from men's being born poor, or spending their fortunes +in luxury and debauchery, or by some of those unforeseen +fatalities which do not often occur. "My opinion," said he, "is, +that most people's poverty is owing to their wanting at first a +sufficient sum of money to raise them above want, by employing +their industry to improve it; for," continued he, "if they once +had such a sum, and made a right use of it, they would not only +live well, but would in time infallibly grow rich." + +Saad could not agree in this sentiment: "The way," said he, +"which you propose to make a poor man rich, is not so certain as +you imagine. Your plan is very hazardous, and I can bring many +good arguments against your opinion, but that they would carry us +too far into dispute, I believe, with as much probability, that a +poor man may become rich by other means as well as by money: and +there are people who have raised as large and surprising fortunes +by mere chance, as others have done by money, with all their good +economy and management to increase it by the best conducted +trade." + +"Saad," replied Saadi, "I see we shall not come to any +determination by my persisting to oppose my opinion against +yours. I will make an experiment to convince you, by giving, for +example, a sum of money to some artisan, whose ancestors from +father to son have always been poor, lived only from day to day, +and died as indigent as they were born. If I have not the success +I expect, you shall try if you will have better by the means you +shall employ." + +Some days after this dispute, the two friends happened to walk +out together, and passing through the street where I was at work +at my trade of rope-making, which I learnt of my father, who +learnt of his, and he of his ancestors; and by my dress and +appearance, it was no hard matter for them to guess my poverty. + +Saad, remembering Saadi's engagement, said, "If you have not +forgotten what you said to me, there is a man," pointing to me, +"whom I can remember a long time working at his trade of rope- +making, and in the same poverty: he is a worthy subject for your +liberality, and a proper person to make your experiment upon." "I +so well remember the conversation," replied Saadi, "that I have +ever since carried a sufficient sum about me for the purpose, but +only waited for an opportunity of our being together, that you +might be witness of the fact. Let us go to him, and know if he is +really necessitous." + +The two friends came to me, and I, seeing that they wished to +speak to me, left off work: they both accosted me with the common +salutation, and Saadi, wishing me peace, asked me my name. + +I returned their salutation, and answered Saadi's question, +saying to him, "Sir, my name is Hassan; but by reason of my +trade, I am commonly known by the name of Hassan al Hubbaul." + +"Hassan," replied Saadi, "as there is no occupation but what a +man may live by, I doubt not but yours produces enough for you to +live well upon; and I am amazed, that during the long time you +have worked at your trade, you have not saved enough to lay in a +good stock of hemp to extend your manufacture and employ more +hands, by the profit of whose work you would soon increase your +income." + +"Sir," replied I, "you will be no longer amazed that I have not +saved money and taken the way you mention to become rich, when +you come to know that, let me work as hard as I may from morning +till night, I can hardly get enough to keep my family in bread +and pulse. I have a wife and five children, not one of whom is +old enough to be of the least assistance to me. I must feed and +clothe them, and in our poor way of living, they still want many +necessaries, which they can ill do without And though hemp is not +very dear, I must have money to buy it. This is the first thing I +do with any money I receive for my work; otherwise I and my +family must starve. + +"Now judge, sir," added I, "if it be possible that I should save +any thing for myself and family: it is enough that we are content +with the little God sends us, and that we have not the knowledge +or desire of more than we want, but can live as we have been +always bred up, and are not reduced to beg." + +When I had given Saadi this account, he said to me, "Hassan, I am +not so much surprised as I was, for I comprehend what obliges you +to be content in your station. But if I should make you a present +of a purse of two hundred pieces of gold, would not you make a +good use of it? and do not you believe, that with such a sum you +could become soon as rich as the principal of your occupation?" + +"Sir," replied I, "you seem to be so good a gentleman, that I am +persuaded you would not banter me, but that the offer you make me +is serious; and I dare say, without presuming too much upon +myself, that a considerably less sum would be sufficient to make +me not only as rich as the first of our trade, but that in time I +should be richer than all of them in this city together, though +Bagdad is so large and populous." + +The generous Saadi showed me immediately that in what he said he +was serious. He pulled a purse out of his bosom, and putting it +into my hands, said, "Here, take this purse; you will find it +contains two hundred pieces of gold: I pray God bless you with +them, and give you grace to make the good use of them I desire; +and believe me, my friend Saad, whom you see here, and I shall +both take great pleasure in finding they may contribute towards +making you more happy than you now are." + +When I had got the purse, the first thing I did was to put it +into my bosom; but the transport of my joy was so great, and I +was so much penetrated with gratitude, that my speech failed me +and I could give my benefactor no other tokens of my feelings +than by laying hold of the hem of his garment and kissing it; but +he drew it from me hastily, and he and his friend pursued their +walk. + +As soon as they were gone, I returned to my work, and my first +thought was, what I should do with my purse to keep it safe. I +had in my poor house neither box nor cupboard to lock it up in, +nor any other place where I could be sure it would not be +discovered if I concealed it. + +In this perplexity, as I had been used, like many poor people of +my condition, to put the little money I had in the folds of my +turban, I left my work, and went into the house, under pretence +of wrapping my turban up anew. I took such precautions that +neither my wife nor children saw what I was doing. But first I +laid aside ten pieces of gold for present necessaries, and +wrapped the rest up in the folds of the linen which went about my +cap. + +The principal expense I was at that day was to lay in a good +stock of hemp, and afterwards, as my family had eaten no flesh +meat a long time, I went to the shambles, and bought something +for supper. + +As I was carrying home the meat I had bought, a famished vulture +flew upon me, and would have taken it away, if I had not held it +very fast; but, alas! I had better have parted with it than lost +my money; the faster I held my meat, the more the bird struggled +to get it, drawing me sometimes on one side, and sometimes on +another, but would not quit the prize; till unfortunately in my +efforts my turban fell on the ground. + +The vulture immediately let go his hold, but seizing my turban, +flew away with it. I cried out so loud, that I alarmed all the +men, women, and children in the neighbourhood, who joined their +shouts and cries to make the vulture quit his hold; for by such +means these voracious birds are often frightened so as to quit +their prey. But our cries did not avail; he carried off my +turban, and we soon lost sight of him, and it would have been in +vain for me to fatigue myself with running after him. + +I went home very melancholy at the loss of my money. I was +obliged to buy a new turban, which diminished the small remainder +of the ten pieces; for I had laid out several in hemp. The little +that was left was not sufficient to give me reason to indulge the +great hopes I had conceived. + +But what troubled me most, was the little satisfaction I should +be able to give my benefactor for his ineffectual generosity, +when he should come to hear what a misfortune I had met with, +which he would perhaps regard as incredible, and consequently an +idle excuse. + +While the remainder of the ten pieces lasted, my little family +and I lived better than usual; but I soon relapsed into the same +poverty, and the same inability to extricate myself from +wretchedness. However, I never murmured nor repined; "God," said +I, "was pleased to give me riches when I least expelled them; he +has thought fit to take them from me again almost at the same +time, because it so pleased him, and they were at his disposal; +yet I will praise his name for all the benefits I have received, +as it was his good pleasure, and submit myself, as I have ever +done hitherto, to his will." + +These were my sentiments, while my wife, from whom I could not +keep secret the loss I had sustained, was inconsolable. In my +trouble I had told my neighbours, that when I lost my turban I +lost a hundred and ninety pieces of gold; but as they knew my +poverty, and could not comprehend how I should have got so great +a sum by my work, they only laughed at me. + +About six months after this misfortune, which I have related to +your majesty, the two friends walking through that part of the +town where I lived, the neighbourhood brought me to Saad's +recollection. "We are now," said he to Saadi, "not far from the +street where Hassan the ropemaker lives; let us call and see what +use he has made of the two hundred pieces of gold you gave him, +and whether they have enabled him to take any steps towards +bettering his fortune." + +"With all my heart," replied Saadi; "I have been thinking of him +some days, and it will be a great pleasure and satisfaction to me +to have you with me, as a witness of the proof of my argument. +You will see undoubtedly a great alteration. I expect we shall +hardly know him again." + +Just as Saadi said this, the two friends turned the corner of the +street, and Saad, who perceived me first at a distance, said to +his friend, "I believe you reckon without your host. I see +Hassan, but can discern no change in his person, for he is as +shabbily dressed as when we saw him before; the only difference +that I can perceive is, that his turban looks something better. +Observe him yourself, and see whether I am in the wrong." + +As they drew nearer to me, Saadi saw me too, and found Saad was +in the right, but could not tell to what he should attribute the +little alteration he saw in my person; and was so much amazed, +that he could not speak when he came up to me. "Well, Hassan," +said Saad, "we do not ask you how affairs go since we saw you +last; without doubt they are in a better train." + +"Gentlemen," replied I, addressing myself to them both, "I have +the great mortification to tell you, that your desires, wishes, +and hopes, as well as mine, have not had the success you had +reason to expect, and I had promised myself; you will scarcely +believe the extraordinary adventure that has befallen me. I +assure you nevertheless, on the word of an honest man, and you +ought to believe me, for nothing is more true than what I am +going to tell you." I then related to them my adventure, with the +same circumstances I had the honour to tell your majesty. + +Saadi rejected my assertion, and said, "Hassan, you joke, and +would deceive me; for what you say is a thing incredible. What +have vultures to do with turbans? They only search for something +to satisfy their hunger. You have done as all such people as +yourself generally do. If they have made any extraordinary gain, +or any good fortune happens to them, which they never expected, +they throw aside their work, take their pleasure, make merry, +while the money lasts; and when they have eaten and drunk it all +out, are reduced to the same necessity and want as before. You +would not be so miserable, but because you deserve it, and render +yourself unworthy of any service done to you." + +"Sir," I replied, "I bear all these reproaches, and am ready to +bear as many more, if they were more severe, and all with the +greater patience because I do not think I deserve them. The thing +is so publicly known in this part of the town, that there is +nobody but can satisfy you of the truth of my assertions. If you +inquire, you will find that I do not impose upon you. I own, I +never heard of vultures flying away with turbans; but this has +actually happened to me, like many other things, which do not +fall out every day, and yet have actually happened." + +Saad took my part, and told Saadi a great many as surprising +stories of vultures, some of which he affirmed he knew to be +true, insomuch that at last he pulled his purse out of his +vestband, and counted out two hundred pieces of gold into my +hand, which I put into my bosom for want of a purse. + +When Saadi had presented me with this sum, he said, "Hassan, I +make you a present of these two hundred pieces; but take care to +put them in a safer place, that you may not lose them so +unfortunately as you have done the others, and employ them in +such a manner that they may procure you the advantages which the +others would have done." I told him that the obligation of this +his second kindness was much greater than I deserved, after what +had happened, and that I should be sure to make good use of his +advice. I would have said a great deal more, but he did not give +me time, for he went away, and continued his walk with his +friend. + +As soon as they were gone, I left off work, and went home, but +finding neither my wife nor children within, I pulled out my +money, put ten pieces by, and wrapped up the rest in a clean +linen cloth, tying it fast with a knot; but then I was to +consider where I should hide this linen cloth that it might be +safe. After I had considered some time, I resolved to put it in +the bottom of an earthen vessel full of bran, which stood in a +corner, which I imagined neither my wife nor children would look +into. My wife came home soon after, and as I had but little hemp +in the house, I told her I should go out to buy some, without +saying any thing to her about the two friends. + +While I was absent, a sandman, who sells scouring earth for the +hair and body, which women use in the baths, passed through our +street, and called, "Cleansing, ho!" My wife, who wanted some, +beckoned to him: but as she had no money, asked him if he would +make an exchange of some earth for some bran. The sandman asked +to see the bran. My wife shewed him the pot; the bargain was +made; she had the cleansing earth, with which she filled a dust +hole I had made to the house, and the sandman took the pot and +bran along with him. + +Not long after I came home with as much hemp as I could carry, +and followed by five porters loaded also with hemp. After I had +satisfied them for their trouble, I sat down to rest myself; and +looking about me, could not see the pot of bran. + +It is impossible for me to express to your majesty my surprise +and the effect it had on me at the moment. I asked my wife +hastily what was become of it; when she told me the bargain she +had made with the sandman, which she thought to be a very good +one. + +"Ah! unfortunate woman!" cried I, "you know not the injury you +have done me, yourself, and our children, by making that bargain, +which has ruined us for ever. You thought you only sold the bran, +but with the bran you have enriched the sandman with a hundred +and ninety pieces of gold, which Saadi with his friend came and +made me a second present of." + +My wife was like one distracted, when she knew what a fault she +had committed through ignorance. She cried, beat her breast, and +tore her hair and clothes. "Unhappy wretch that I am," cried she, +"am I fit to live after so dreadful a mistake! Where shall I find +this sandman? I know him not, I never saw him in our street +before. Oh! husband," added she, "you were much to blame to be so +reserved in a matter of such importance This had never happened, +if you had communicated the secret to me." In short, I should +never finish my story were I to tell your majesty what her grief +made her say. You are not ignorant how eloquent women often are +in their afflictions. + +"Wife," said I, "moderate your grief: by your weeping and howling +you will alarm the neighbourhood, and there is no reason they +should be informed of our misfortunes. They will only laugh at, +instead of pitying us. We had best bear our loss patiently, and +submit ourselves to the will of God, and bless him, for that out +of two hundred pieces of gold which he had given us, he has taken +back but a hundred and ninety, and left us ten, which, by the use +I shall make of them will be a great relief to us." + +My wife at first did not relish my arguments; but as time softens +the greatest misfortunes, and makes them more supportable, she at +last grew easy, and had almost forgotten them. "It is true," said +I to her, "we live but poorly; but what have the rich which we +have not? Do not we breathe the same air, enjoy the same light +and the same warmth of the sun? Therefore what conveniences have +they more than we, that we should envy their happiness? They die +as well as we. In short, while we live in the fear of God, as we +should always do, the advantage they have over us is so very +inconsiderable, that we ought not to covet it." + +I will not tire your majesty any longer with my moral +reflections. My wife and I comforted ourselves, and I pursued my +trade with as much alacrity as before these two mortifying +losses, which followed one another so quickly. The only thing +that troubled me sometimes was, how I should look Saadi in the +face when he should come and ask me how I had improved his two +hundred pieces of gold, and advanced my fortune by means of his +liberality. I saw no remedy but to resolve to submit to the +confusion I should feel, though it was by no fault of mine this +time, any more than before, that our misfortune had happened. + +The two friends stayed away longer this time than the former, +though Saad had often spoken to Saadi, who always put it off; +for, said he, "The longer we stay away, the richer Hassan will +be, and I shall have the greater satisfaction." + +Saad, who had not the same opinion of the effect of his friend's +generosity, replied, "You fancy then that your last present will +have been turned to a better account than the former. I would +advise you not to flatter yourself too much, for fear you may be +more sensibly mortified if it should prove otherwise." "Why," +replied Saadi, "vultures do not fly away with turbans every day; +and Hassan will have been more cautious this time." + +"I do not doubt it," replied Saad; "but," added he, "there are +other accidents that neither you nor I can think of; therefore, I +say again, moderate your expectations, and do not depend too much +on Hassan's success; for to tell you what I think, and what I +always thought (whether you like to hear it or not), I have a +secret presentiment that you will not have accomplished your +purpose, and that I shall succeed better in proving that a poor +man may sooner become rich by other means than money." + +One day, when Saad and Saadi were disputing upon this subject, +Saad observed that enough had been said; "I am resolved," +continued he, "to inform myself this very day what has passed; it +is a pleasing time for walking, let us not lose it, but go and +see which of us has lost the wager." I saw them at a distance, +was overcome with confusion, and was just going to leave my work, +to run and hide myself. However I refrained, appeared very +earnest at work, made as if I had not seen them, and never lifted +up my eyes till they were close to me and had saluted me, and +then I could not help myself. I hung down my head, told them my +last misfortune, with all the circumstances, and that I was as +poor as when they first saw me. + +"After that," I added, "you may say that I ought to have hidden +my money in another place than in a pot of bran, which was +carried out of my house the same day: but that pot had stood +there many years, and had never been removed, whenever my wife +parted with the bran. Could I guess that a sandman should come by +that very day, my wife have no money, and would make such an +exchange? You may indeed allege, that I ought to have told my +wife of it; but I will never believe that such prudent persons, +as I am persuaded you are, would have given me that advice; and +if I had put my money anywhere else, what certainty could I have +had that it would be more secure?" + +"I see, sir," said I, addressing myself to Saadi, "that it has +pleased God, whose ways are secret and impenetrable, that I +should not be enriched by your liberality, but that I must remain +poor: however, the obligation is the same as if it had wrought +the desired effect." + +After these words I was silent; and Saadi replied, "Though I +would persuade myself, Hassan, that all you tell us is true, and +not owing to your debauchery or ill management, yet I must not be +extravagant, and ruin myself for the sake of an experiment. I do +not regret in the least the four hundred pieces of gold I gave +you to raise you in the world. I did it in duty to God, without +expecting any recompense but the pleasure of doing good. If any +thing makes me repent, it is, that I did not address myself to +another, who might have made a better use of my charity." Then +turning about to his friend, "Saad," continued he, "you may know +by what I have said that I do not entirely give up the cause. You +may now make your experiment, and let me see that there are ways, +besides giving money, to make a poor man's fortune. Let Hassan be +the man. I dare say, whatever you may give him he will not be +richer than he was with four hundred pieces of gold." Saad had a +piece of lead in his hand, which he shewed Saadi. "You saw me," +said he, "take up this piece of lead, which I found on the +ground; I will give it Hassan, and you shall see what it is +worth." + +Saadi, burst out laughing at Saad. "What is that bit of lead +worth," said he, "a farthing? What can Hassan do with that?" Saad +presented it to me, and said, "Take it, Hassan; let Saadi laugh, +you will tell us some news of the good luck it has brought you +one time or another." I thought Saad was in jest, and had a mind +to divert himself: however I took the lead, and thanked him. The +two friends pursued their walk, and I fell to work again. + +At night when I pulled off my clothes to go to bed, the piece of +lead, which I had never thought of from the time he gave it me, +tumbled out of my pocket. I took it up, and laid it on the place +that was nearest me. The same night it happened that a fisherman, +a neighbour, mending his nets, found a piece of lead wanting; and +it being too late to buy any, as the shops were shut, and he must +either fish that night, or his family go without bread the next +day, he called to his wife and bade her inquire among the +neighbours for a piece. She went from door to door on both sides +of the street, but could not get any, and returned to tell her +husband her ill success. He asked her if she had been to several +of their neighbours, naming them, and among the rest my house. +"No indeed," said the wife, "I have not been there; that was too +far off, and if I had gone, do you think I should have found any? +I know by experience they never have any thing when one wants +it." "No matter," said the fisherman, "you are an idle hussy; you +must go there; for though you have been there a hundred times +before without getting any thing, you may chance to obtain what +we want now. You must go." + +The fisherman's wife went out grumbling, came and knocked at my +door, and waked me out of a sound sleep. I asked her what she +wanted. "Hassan," said she, as loud as she could bawl, "my +husband wants a bit of lead to load his nets with; and if you +have a piece, desires you to give it him." + +The piece of lead which Saad had given me was so fresh in my +memory, and had so lately dropped out of my clothes, that I could +not forget it. I told my neighbour I had some; and if she would +stay a moment my wife should give it to her. Accordingly, my +wife, who was wakened by the noise as well as myself, got up, and +groping about where I directed her, found the lead, opened the +door, and gave it to the fisherman's wife, who was so overjoyed +that she promised my wife, that in return for the kindness she +did her and her husband, she would answer for him we should have +the first cast of the nets. + +The fisherman was so much rejoiced to see the lead, which he so +little expected, that he much approved his wife's promise. He +finished mending his nets, and went a-fishing two hours before +day, according to custom. At the first throw he caught but one +fish, about a yard long, and proportionable in thickness; but +afterwards had a great many successful casts; though of all the +fish he took none equalled the first in size. + +When the fisherman had done fishing, he went home, where his +first care was to think of me. I was extremely surprised, when at +my work, to see him come to me with a large fish in his hand. +"Neighbour," said he, "my wife promised you last night, in return +for your kindness, whatever fish I should catch at my first +throw; and I approved her promise. It pleased God to send me no +more than this one for you, which, such as it is, I desire you to +accept. I wish it had been better. Had he sent me my net full, +they should all have been yours." + +"Neighbour," said I, "the bit of lead which I sent you was such a +trifle, that it ought not to be valued at so high a rate: +neighbours should assist each other in their little wants. I have +done no more for you than I should have expected from you had I +been in your situation; therefore I would refuse your present, if +I were not persuaded you gave it me freely, and that I should +offend you; and since you will have it so, I take it, and return +you my hearty thanks." + +After these civilities, I took the fish, and carried it home to +my wife. "Here," said I, "take this fish, which the fisherman our +neighbour has made me a present of, in return for the bit of lead +he sent to us for last night: I believe it is all we can expect +from the present Saad made me yesterday, promising me that it +would bring me good luck;" and then I told her what had passed +between the two friends. + +My wife was much startled to see so large a fish. "What would you +have me do with it?" said she. "Our gridiron is only fit to broil +small fish; and we have not a pot big enough to boil it." "That +is your business," answered I; "dress it as you will, I shall +like it either way." I then went to my work again. + +In gutting the fish, my wife found a large diamond, which, when +she washed it, she took for a piece of glass: indeed she had +heard talk of diamonds, but if she had ever seen or handled any +she would not have known how to distinguish them. She gave it to +the youngest of our children for a plaything, and his brothers +and sisters handed it about from one to another, to admire its +brightness and beauty. + +At night when the lamp was lighted, and the children were still +playing with the diamond, they perceived that it gave a light, +when my wife, who was getting them their supper, stood between +them and the lamp; upon which they snatched it from one another +to try it; and the younger children fell a-crying, that the elder +would not let them have it long enough. But as a little matter +amuses children, and makes them squabble and fall out, my wife +and I took no notice of their noise, which presently ceased, when +the bigger ones supped with us, and my wife had given the younger +each their share. + +After supper the children got together again, and began to make +the same noise. I then called to the eldest to know what was the +matter, who told me it was about a piece of glass, which gave a +light when his back was to the lamp. I bade him bring it to me, +made the experiment myself, and it appeared so extraordinary, +that I asked my wife what it was. She told me it was a piece of +glass, which she had found in gutting the fish. + +I thought no more than herself but that it was a bit of glass, +but I was resolved to make a farther experiment of it; and +therefore bade my wife put the lamp in the chimney, which she +did, and still found that the supposed piece of glass gave so +great a light, that we might see to go to bed without the lamp. +So I put it out, and placed the bit of glass upon the chimney to +light us. "Look," said I, "this is another advantage that Saad's +piece of lead procures us: it will spare us the expense of oil." + +When the children saw the lamp was put out, and the bit of glass +supplied the place, they cried out so loud, and made so great a +noise from astonishment, that it was enough to alarm the +neighbourhood; and before my wife and I could quiet them we were +forced to make a greater noise, nor could we silence them till we +had put them to bed; where after talking a long while in their +way about the wonderful light of a bit of glass, they fell +asleep. After they were asleep, my wife and I went to bed by +them; and next morning, without thinking any more of the glass, I +went to my work as usual; which ought not to seem strange for +such a man as I, who had never seen any diamonds, or if I had, +never attended to their value. + +But before I proceed, I must tell your majesty that there was but +a very slight partition-wall between my house and my next +neighbour's, who was a very rich Jew, and a jeweller; and the +chamber that he and his wife lay in joined to ours. They were +both in bed, and the noise my children made awakened them. + +The next morning the jeweller's wife came to mine to complain of +being disturbed out of their first sleep. "Good neighbour +Rachel," (which was the Jew's wife's name,) said my wife, "I am +very sorry for what happened, and hope you will excuse it: you +know it was caused by the children, and they will laugh and cry +for a trifle. Come in, and I will shew you what was the occasion +of the noise." + +The Jewess went in with her, and my wife taking the diamond (for +such it really was, and a very extraordinary one) out of the +chimney, put it into her hands. "See here," said she, "it was +this piece of glass that caused all the noise;" and while the +Jewess, who understood all sorts of precious stones, was +examining the diamond with admiration, my wife told her how she +found it in the fish's belly, and what happened. + +"Indeed, Ayesha," (which was my wife's name,) said the jeweller's +wife, giving her the diamond again, "I believe as you do it is a +piece of glass; but as it is more beautiful than common glass, +and I have just such another piece at home, I will buy it, if you +will sell it." + +The children, who heard them talking of selling their plaything, +presently interrupted their conversation, crying and begging +their mother not to part with it, who, to quiet them, promised +she would not. + +The Jewess being thus prevented in her intended swindling bargain +by my children, went away, but first whispered my wife, who +followed her to the door, if she had a mind to sell it, not to +shew it to anybody without acquainting her. + +The Jew went out early in the morning to his shop in that part of +the town where the jewellers sell their goods. Thither his wife +followed, and told him the discovery she had made. She gave him +an account of the size and weight of the diamond as nearly as she +could guess, also of its beauty, water, and lustre, and +particularly of the light which it gave in the night according to +my wife's account, which was the more credible as she was +uninformed. + +The Jew sent his wife immediately to treat, to offer her a trifle +at first, as she should think fit, and then to raise her price by +degrees; but be sure to bring it, cost what it would. Accordingly +his wife came again to mine privately, and asked her if she would +take twenty pieces of gold for the piece of glass she had shown +her. + +My wife, thinking the sum too considerable for a mere piece of +glass as she had thought it, would not make any bargain; but told +her, she could not part with it till she had spoken to me. In the +mean time I came from my work to dinner. As they were talking at +the door, my wife stopped me, and asked if I would sell the piece +of glass she had found in the fish's belly for twenty pieces of +gold, which our neighbour offered her. I returned no answer; but +reflected immediately on the assurance with which Saad, in giving +me the piece of lead, told me it would make my fortune. The +Jewess, fancying that the low price she had offered was the +reason I made no reply, said, "I will give you fifty, neighbour, +if that will do." + +As soon as I found that she rose so suddenly from twenty to +fifty, I told her that I expected a great deal more. "Well, +neighbour," said she, "I will give you a hundred, and that is so +much, I know not whether my husband will approve my offering it." +At this new advance, I told her I would have a hundred thousand +pieces of gold for it; that I saw plainly that the diamond, for +such I now guessed it must be, was worth a great deal more, but +to oblige her and her husband, as they were neighbours, I would +limit myself to that price, which I was determined to have; and +if they refused to give it, other jewellers should have it, who +would give a great deal more. + +The Jewess confirmed me in this resolution, by her eagerness to +conclude a bargain; and by coming up at several biddings to fifty +thousand pieces, which I refused. "I can offer you no more," said +she, "without my husband's consent. He will be at home at night; +and I would beg the favour of you to let him see it, which I +promised." + +At night when the Jew came home, his wife told him what she had +done; that she had got no forwarder with my wife or me; that she +offered, and I had refused, fifty thousand pieces of gold; but +that I had promised to stay till night at her request. He +observed the time when I left off work, and came to me. +"Neighbour Hassan", said he, "I desire you would shew me the +diamond your wife shewed to mine." I brought him in, and shewed +it to him. As it was very dark, and my lamp was not lighted, he +knew instantly, by the light the diamond gave, and by the lustre +it cast in my hand, that his wife had given him a true account of +it. He looked at and admired it a long time. "Well, neighbour," +said he, "my wife tells me she offered you fifty thousand pieces +of gold: I will give you twenty thousand more." + +"Neighbour," said I, "your wife can tell you that I valued my +diamond at a hundred thousand pieces, and I will take nothing +less." He haggled a long time with me, in hopes that I would make +some abatement: but finding at last that I was positive, and for +fear that I should shew it to other jewellers, as I certainly +should have done, he would not leave me till the bargain was +concluded on my own terms. He told me that he had not so much +money at home, but would pay it all to me on the morrow, that +very instant fetched two bags of a thousand pieces each, as an +earnest; and the next day, though I do not know how he raised the +money, whether he borrowed it of his friends, or let some other +jewellers into partnership with him, he brought me the sum we had +agreed for at the time appointed, and I delivered to him the +diamond. + +Having thus sold my diamond, and being rich, infinitely beyond my +hopes, I thanked God for his bounty; and would have gone and +thrown myself at Saad's feet to express my gratitude, if I had +known where he lived; as also at Saadi's, to whom I was first +obliged, though his good intention had not the same success. + +Afterwards I thought of the use I ought to make of so +considerable a sum. My wife, with the vanity natural to her sex, +proposed immediately to buy rich clothes for herself and +children; to purchase a house, and furnish it handsomely. I told +her we ought not to begin with such expenses; "for," said I, +"money should only be spent, so that it may produce a fund from +which we may draw without its failing. This I intend, and shall +begin to-morrow." + + +I spent all that day and the next in going to the people of my +own trade, who worked as hard every day for their bread as I had +done; and giving them money beforehand, engaged them to work for +me in different sorts of rope-making, according to their skill +and ability, with a promise not to make them wait for their +money, but to pay them as soon as their work was done. + +By this means I engrossed almost all the business of Bagdad, and +everybody was pleased with my exactness and punctual payment. + +As so great a number of workmen produced, as your majesty may +judge, a large quantity of work, I hired warehouses in several +parts of the town to hold my goods, and appointed over each a +clerk, to sell both wholesale and retail; and by this economy +received considerable profit and income. Afterwards, to unite my +concerns in one spot, I bought a large house, which stood on a +great deal of ground, but was ruinous, pulled it down, and built +that your majesty saw yesterday, which, though it makes so great +an appearance, consists, for the most part, of warehouses for my +business, with apartments absolutely necessary for myself and +family. + +Some time after I had left my old mean habitation, and removed to +this, Saad and Saadi, who had scarcely thought of me from the +last time they had been with me, as they were one day walking +together, and passing by our street, resolved to call upon me: +but great was their surprise when they did not see me at work. +They asked what was become of me, and if I was alive or dead. +Their amazement was redoubled, when they were told I was become a +great manufacturer, and was no longer called plain Hassan, but +Khaujeh Hassan al Hubbaul, and that I had built in a street, +which was named to them, a house like a palace. + +The two friends went directly to the street, and in the way, as +Saadi could not imagine that the bit of lead which Saad had given +me could have been the raising of my fortune, he said to him, "I +am overjoyed to have made Hassan's fortune: but I cannot forgive +the two lies he told me, to get four hundred pieces instead of +two; for I cannot attribute it to the piece of lead you gave +him." + +"So you think," replied Saad: "but so do not I. I do not see why +you should do Khaujeh Hassan so much injustice as to take him for +a liar. You must give me leave to believe that he told us the +truth, disguised nothing from us, that the piece of lead which I +gave him is the cause of his prosperity: and you will find he +will presently tell us so." + +During their discourse the two friends came into the street where +I lived, asked whereabouts my house stood; and being shewn it, +could hardly believe it to be mine. + +They knocked at the door, and my porter opened it; when Saadi, +fearing to be guilty of rudeness in taking the house of a +nobleman for that he was inquiring after, said to the porter, "We +are informed that this is the house of Khaujeh Hassan al Hubbaul: +tell us if we are mistaken." "You are very right, sir," said the +porter, opening the door wider; "it is the same; come in; he is +in the hall, and any of the slaves will point him out to you." + +I had no sooner set my eyes upon the two friends, than I knew +them. I rose from my seat, ran to them, and would have kissed the +hem of their garments; but they would not suffer it, and embraced +me. I invited them to a sofa made to hold four persons, which was +placed full in view of my garden. I desired them to sit down, and +they would have me take the place of honour. I assured them I had +not forgotten that I was poor Hassan the ropemaker, nor the +obligations I had to them; but were this not the case, I knew the +respect due to them, and begged them not to expose me. They sat +down in the proper place, and I seated myself opposite to them. + +Then Saadi, addressing himself to me, said, "Khaujeh Hassan, I +cannot express my joy to see you in the condition I wished you, +when I twice made you a present of two hundred pieces of gold, +for I mean not to upbraid you; though I am persuaded that those +four hundred pieces have made this wonderful change in your +fortune, which I behold with pleasure. One thing only vexes me, +which is, that you should twice disguise the truth from me, +pretending that your losses were the effect of misfortunes which +now seem to me more than ever incredible. Was it not because, +when we were together the last time, you had so little advanced +your small income with the four hundred pieces of gold, that you +were ashamed to own it? I am willing to believe this, and wait to +be confirmed in my opinion." + +Saad heard this speech of Saadi's with impatience, not to say +indignation, which he shewed by casting down his eyes and shaking +his head: he did not, however, interrupt him. When he had done, +he said to him, "Forgive me, Saadi, if I anticipate Khaujeh +Hassan, before he answers you, to tell you, that I am vexed at +your prepossession against his sincerity, and that you still +persist in not believing the assurances he has already given you. +I have told you before, and I repeat it once more, that I believe +those two accidents which befell him, upon his bare assertion; +and whatever you may say, I am persuaded they are true; but let +him speak himself, and say which of us does him justice." + +After this discourse of the two friends, I said, addressing +myself to them both, "Gentlemen, I should condemn myself to +perpetual silence, on the explanation you ask of me, if I were +not certain the dispute you have had on my account cannot break +that friendship which subsists between you; therefore I will +declare to you the truth, since you require it; and with the same +sincerity as before." I then told them every circumstance your +majesty has heard, without forgetting the least. + +All my protestations had no effect on Saadi, to cure him of his +prejudice. "Khaujeh Hassan," replied he, "the adventure of the +fish, and diamond found in his belly, appears to me as incredible +as the vulture's flying away with your turban, and the exchange +of the scouring earth. Be it as it may, I am equally convinced +that you are no longer poor, but rich as I intended you should +be, by my means; and I rejoice sincerely." + +As it grew late, they arose up to depart; when I stopped them, +and said, "Gentlemen, there is one favour I have to ask; I beg of +you not to refuse to do me the honour to stay and take a slight +supper with me, also a bed to-night, and to-morrow I will carry +you by water to a small country-house, which I bought for the +sake of the air, and we will return the same day on my horses." + +"If Saad has no business that calls him elsewhere," said Saadi, +"I consent." Saad told him that nothing should prevent his +enjoying his company. We have only to send a slave to my house, +that we may not be waited for. I provided a slave; and while they +were giving him their orders, I went and ordered supper. + +While it was getting ready, I shewed my benefactors my house, and +all my offices, which they thought very extensive considering my +fortune: I call them both benefactors without distinction, +because without Saadi, Saad would never have given me the piece +of lead; and without Saad, Saadi would not have given me the four +hundred pieces of gold. Then I brought them back again into the +hall, where they asked me several questions about my concerns; +and I gave them such answers as satisfied them. + +During this conversation, my servants came to tell me that supper +was served up. I led them into another hall, where they admired +the manner in which it was lighted, the furniture, and the +entertainment I had provided. I regaled them also with a concert +of vocal and instrumental music during the repast, and afterwards +with a company of dancers, and other entertainments, endeavouring +as much as possible to shew them my gratitude. + +The next morning, as we had agreed to set out early to enjoy the +fresh air, we repaired to the river-side by sun-rise, and went on +board a pleasure-boat well carpeted that waited for us; and in +less than an hour and a half, with six good rowers, and the +stream, we arrived at my country house. + +When we went ashore, the two friends stopped to observe the +beauty of the architecture of my house, and to admire its +advantageous situation for prospects, which were neither too much +limited nor too extensive, but such as made it very agreeable. I +then conducted them into all the apartments, and shewed them the +out-houses and conveniences; with all which they were very well +pleased + +Afterwards we walked in the gardens, where what they were most +struck with was a grove of orange and lemon trees, loaded with +fruit and flowers, which were planted at equal distances, and +watered by channels cut from a neighbouring stream. The close +shade, the fragrant smell which perfumed the air, the soft +murmurings of the water, the harmonious notes of an infinite +number of birds, and many other agreeable circumstances, struck +them in such a manner, that they frequently stopped to express +how much they were obliged to me for bringing them to so +delightful a place, and to congratulate me on my great +acquisitions, with other compliments. I led them to the end of +the grove, which was very long and broad, where I shewed them a +wood of large trees, which terminated my garden, and afterwards a +summer-house, open on all sides, shaded by a clump of palm-trees, +but not so as to injure the prospect; I then invited them to walk +in, and repose themselves on a sofa covered with carpets and +cushions. + +Two of my boys, whom I had sent into the country, with a tutor, +for the air, had gone just then into the wood, and seeing a nest +which was built in the branches of a lofty tree, they attempted +to get at it; but as they had neither strength nor skill to +accomplish their object, they shewed it to the slave who waited +on them, and bade him climb the tree for it. The slave, when he +came to it, was much surprised to find it composed of a turban: +however he took it, brought it down, and shewed it to my +children; and as he thought that I might like to see a nest that +was so uncommon, he gave it to the eldest boy to bring to me. + +I saw the children at a distance, coming back to us, overjoyed to +have procured a nest. "Father," said the eldest, "we have found a +nest in a turban." The two friends and I were very much surprised +at the novelty; but I much more, when I recognized the turban to +be that which the vulture had flown away with. After I had +examined it well, and turned it about, I said to my guests, +"Gentlemen, have you memories good enough to remember the turban +I had on the day you did me the honour first to speak to me?" "I +do not think," said Saad, "that either my friend or I gave any +attention to it; but if the hundred and ninety pieces of gold are +in it, we cannot doubt of it." + +"Sir," replied I, "there is no doubt but it is the same turban; +for besides that I know it perfectly well, I feel by the weight +it is too heavy to be any other, and you will perceive this if +you give yourself the trouble to take it in your hand." Then +after taking out the birds, and giving them to the children, I +put it into his hands, and he gave it to Saadi. "Indeed," said +Saadi, "I believe it to be your turban; which I shall, however, +be better convinced of when I see the hundred and ninety pieces +of gold." + +"Now, sir," added I, taking the turban again, "observe well +before I unwrap it, that it is of no very fresh date in the tree; +and the state in which you see it, and the nest so neatly made in +it, without having been touched by the hand of man, are +sufficient proofs that the vulture drops or laid it in the tree +upon the day it was seized; and that the branches hindered it +from falling to the ground. Excuse my making this remark, since +it concerns me so much to remove all suspicions of fraud." Saad +backed me in what I urged; and said, "Saadi, this regards you and +not me, for I am verily persuaded that Khaujeh Hassan does not +impose upon us." + +While Saad was talking, I pulled off the linen cloth which was +wrapped about the cap of the turban, and took out the purse, +which Saadi knew to be the same he had given me. I emptied it on +the carpet before them, and said, "There, gentlemen, there is the +money, count it, and see if it be right;" which Saad did, and +found it to be one hundred and ninety pieces of gold. Then Saadi, +who could not deny so manifest a truth, addressing himself to me +said, "I agree, Khaujeh Hassan, that this money could not serve +to enrich you; but the other hundred and ninety pieces, which you +would make me believe you hid in a pot of bran, might." "Sir," +answered I, "I have told you the truth in regard to both sums: +you would not have me retract, to make myself a liar." + +"Khaujeh Hassan," said Saad, "leave Saadi to his own opinion; I +consent with all my heart that he believes you are obliged to him +for one part of your good fortune, by means of the last sum he +gave you, provided he will agree that I contributed to the other +half by the bit of lead, and will not pretend to dispute the +valuable diamond found in the fish's belly." "I agree to it," +answered Saadi, "but still you must give me liberty to believe +that money is not to be amassed without money." + +"What," replied Saad, "if chance should throw a diamond in my way +worth fifty thousand pieces of gold, and I should have that sum +given me for it, can it be said I got that sum by money?" + +They disputed no farther at this time; we rose, and went into the +house, just as dinner was serving up. After dinner, I left my +guests together, to pass away the heat of the day more at their +liberty, and with great composure, while I went to give orders to +my housekeeper and gardener, + +Afterwards I returned to them again, and we talked of indifferent +matters till it grew a little cooler; when we returned into the +garden for fresh air, and stayed till sun-set. We then mounted on +horseback, and got to Bagdad by moonlight, two hours after, +followed by one of my slaves. + +It happened, I know not by what negligence of my servants, that +we were then out of grain for the horses, and the storehouses +were all shut up; when one of my slaves seeking about the +neighbourhood for some, met with a pot of bran in a shop; bought +the bran, and brought the pot along with him, promising to carry +it back again the next day. The slave emptied the bran, and +dividing it with his hands among the horses, felt a linen cloth +tied up, and very heavy; he brought the cloth to me in the +condition that he found it, and presented it to me, telling me, +that it might perhaps be the cloth he had often heard me talk of +among my friends. + +Overjoyed, I said to my two benefactors, "Gentlemen, it has +pleased God that you should not part from me without being fully +convinced of the truth of what I have assured you. There are the +other hundred and ninety pieces of gold which you gave me," +continued I, addressing myself to Saadi; "I know it well by the +cloth, which I tied up with my own hands;" and then I told out +the money before them. I ordered the pot to be brought to me, +knew it to be the same; and sent to my wife to ask if she +recognized it, ordering them to say nothing to her of what had +happened. She knew it immediately, and sent me word that it was +the same pot she had exchanged full of bran for the scouring- +earth. + +Saadi readily submitted, renounced his incredulity; and said to +Saad, "I yield to you, and acknowledge that money is not always +the means of becoming rich." + +When Saadi had spoken, I said to him, "I dare not propose to +return you the three hundred and eighty pieces of gold which it +hath pleased God should be found, to undeceive you as to the +opinion of my honesty. I am persuaded that you did not give them +to me with an intention that I should return them; but as I ought +to be content with what Providence has sent me from other +quarters, and I do not design to make use of them; if you approve +of my proposal, to-morrow I will give them to the poor, that God +may bless us both." + +The two friends lay at my house that night also; and next day, +after embracing me, returned home, well pleased with the +reception I had given them, and to find I did not make an +improper use of the riches Heaven had blessed me with. I thanked +them both, and regarded the permission they gave me to cultivate +their friendship, and to visit them, as a great honour. + +The caliph was so attentive to Khaujeh Hassan's story, that he +had not perceived the end of it, but by his silence. "Khaujeh +Hassan," said he, "I have not for a long time heard any thing +that has given me so much pleasure, as having been informed of +the wonderful ways by which God gave thee thy riches to make thee +happy in this world. Thou oughtest to continue to return him +thanks by the good use thou makest of his blessings. I am glad I +can tell thee, that the same diamond which made thy fortune is +now in my treasury; and I am happy to learn how it came there: +but because there may remain in Saadi some doubts on the +singularity of this diamond, which I esteem the most precious and +valuable jewel I possess, I would have you carry him with Saad to +my treasurer, who shall shew it them, to remove Saadi's unbelief, +and to let him see that money is not the only means of making a +poor man rich in a short time, without labour. I would also have +you tell the keeper of my treasury this story, that he may have +it put into writing, and that it may be kept with the diamond." + +After these words the caliph signified to Khaujeh Hassan, Syed +Naomaun, and Baba Abdoollah, by bowing of his head, that he was +satisfied with them; they all took their leaves, by prostrating +themselves at the throne, and then retired. + + + + + + THE STORY OF ALI BABA AND THE FORTY + ROBBERS DESTROYED BY A SLAVE. + + + +In a town in Persia, there lived two brothers, one named Cassim, +the other Ali Baba. Their father left them scarcely any thing; +but as he had divided his little property equally between them, +it should seem their fortune ought to have been equal; but chance +determined otherwise. + +Cassim married a wife who soon after became heiress to a large +sum, and a warehouse full of rich goods; so that he all at once +became one of the richest and most considerable merchants, and +lived at his ease. + +Ali Baba on the other hand, who had married a woman as poor as +himself, lived in a very wretched habitation, and had no other +means to maintain his wife and children but his daily labour of +cutting wood, and bringing it upon three asses, which were his +whole substance, to town to sell. + +One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, and had just cut wood +enough to load his asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of +dust, which seemed to be driven towards him: he observed it very +attentively, and distinguished soon after a body of horse. Though +there had been no rumour of robbers in that country, Ali Baba +began to think that they might prove such, and without +considering what might become of his asses, was resolved to save +himself. He climbed up a large, thick tree, whose branches, at a +little distance from the ground, were so close to one another +that there was but little space between them. He placed himself +in the middle, from whence he could see all that passed without +being discovered; and the tree stood at the base of a single +rock, so steep and craggy that nobody could climb up it. + +The troop, who were all well mounted and armed, came to the foot +of this rock, and there dismounted. Ali Baba counted forty of +them, and, from their looks and equipage, was assured that they +were robbers. Nor was he mistaken in his opinion: for they were a +troop of banditti, who, without doing any harm to the +neighbourhood, robbed at a distance, and made that place their +rendezvous; but what confirmed him in his opinion was, that every +man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, and hung about +his neck a bag of corn which they brought behind them. Then each +of them took his saddle wallet, which seemed to Ali Baba to be +full of gold and silver from its weight. One, who was the most +personable amongst them, and whom he took to be their captain, +came with his wallet on his back under the tree in which Ali Baba +was concealed, and making his way through some shrubs, pronounced +these words so distinctly, "Open, Sesame," that Ali Baba heard +him. As soon as the captain of the robbers had uttered these +words, a door opened in the rock; and after he had made all his +troop enter before him, he followed them, when the door shut +again of itself. + +The robbers stayed some time within the rock, and Ali Baba, who +feared that some one, or all of them together, might come out and +catch him, if he should endeavour to make his escape, was obliged +to sit patiently in the tree. He was nevertheless tempted to get +down, mount one of their horses, and lead another, driving his +asses before him with all the haste he could to town; but the +uncertainty of the event made him choose the safest course. + +At last the door opened again, and the forty robbers came out. As +the captain went in last, he came out first, and stood to see +them all pass by him; when Ali Baba heard him make the door close +by pronouncing these words, "Shut, Sesame." Every man went and +bridled his horse, fastened his wallet, and mounted again; and +when the captain saw them all ready, he put himself at their +head, and they returned the way they had come. + +Ali Baba did not immediately quit his tree; for, said he to +himself, they may have forgotten something and may come back +again, and then I shall be taken. He followed them with his eyes +as far as he could see them; and afterwards stayed a considerable +time before he descended. Remembering the words the captain of +the robbers used to cause the door to open and shut, he had the +curiosity to try if his pronouncing them would have the same +effect. Accordingly, he went among the shrubs, and perceiving the +door concealed behind them, stood before it, and said, "Open, +Sesame." The door instantly flew wide open. + +Ali Baba, who expected a dark dismal cavern, was surprised to see +it well lighted and spacious, in form of a vault, which received +the light from an opening at the top of the rock. He saw all +sorts of provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, and +valuable carpeting, piled upon one another; gold and silver +ingots in great heaps, and money in bags. The sight of all these +riches made him suppose that this cave must have been occupied +for ages by robbers, who had succeeded one another. + +Ali Baba did not stand long to consider what he should do, but +went immediately into the cave, and as soon as he had entered, +the door shut of itself. But this did not disturb him, because he +knew the secret to open it again. He never regarded the silver, +but made the best use of his time in carrying out as much of the +gold coin, which was in bags, at several times, as he thought his +three asses could carry. He collected his asses, which were +dispersed, and when he had loaded them with the bags, laid wood +over in such a manner that they could not be seen. When he had +done he stood before the door, and pronouncing the words, "Shut, +Sesame," the door closed after him, for it had shut of itself +while he was within, but remained open while he was out. He then +made the best of his way to town. + +When Ali Baba got home, he drove his asses into a little yard, +shut the gates very carefully, threw off the wood that covered +the bags, carried them into his house, and ranged them in order +before his wife, who sat on a sofa. + +His wife handled the bags, and finding them full of money, +suspected that her husband had been robbing, insomuch that she +could not help saying, "Ali Baba, have you been so unhappy as +to______." "Be quiet, wife," interrupted Ali Baba, "do not +frighten yourself, I am no robber, unless he may be one who +steals from robbers. You will no longer entertain an ill opinion +of me, when I shall tell you my good fortune." He then emptied +the bags, which raised such a great heap of gold, as dazzled his +wife's eyes; and when he had done, told her the whole adventure +from beginning to end; and, above all, recommended her to keep it +secret. + +The wife, cured of her fears, rejoiced with her husband at their +good fortune, and would count all the gold, piece by piece. +"Wife," replied Ali Baba, "you do not know what you undertake, +when you pretend to count the money; you will never have done. I +will dig a hole, and bury it; there is no time to be lost". "You +are in the right, husband," replied she; "but let us know, as +nigh as possible, how much we have. I will borrow a small measure +in the neighbourhood, and measure it, while you dig the hole." +"What you are going to do is to no purpose, wife," said Ali Baba; +"if you would take my advice, you had better let it alone, but +keep the secret, and do what you please." + +Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law Cassim, who lived just +by, but was not then at home; and addressing herself to his wife, +desired her to lend her a measure for a little while. Her sister- +in-law asked her, whether she would have a great or a small one? +The other asked for a small one. She bade her stay a little, and +she would readily fetch one. + +The sister-in-law did so, but as she knew Ali Baba's poverty, she +was curious to know what sort of grain his wife wanted to +measure, and artfully putting some suet at the bottom of the +measure, brought it to her with an excuse, that she was sorry +that she had made her stay so long, but that she could not find +it sooner. + +Ali Baba's wife went home, set the measure upon the heap of gold, +filled it and emptied it often upon the sofa, till she had done: +when she was very well satisfied to find the number of measures +amounted to so many as they did, and went to tell her husband, +who had almost finished digging the hole. While Ali Baba was +burying the gold, his wife, to shew her exactness and diligence +to her sister-in-law, carried the measure back again, but without +taking notice that a piece of gold had stuck to the bottom. +"Sister," said she, giving it to her again, "you see that I have +not kept your measure long; I am obliged to you for it, and +return it with thanks." + +As soon as Ali Baba's wife was gone, Cassim's looked at the +bottom of the measure, and was in inexpressible surprise to find +a piece of gold stuck to it. Envy immediately possessed her +breast. "What!" said she, "has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to +measure it? Where has that poor wretch got all this wealth? +"Cassim, her husband, was not at home, but at his counting-house, +which he left always in the evening. His wife waited for him, and +thought the time an age; so great was her impatience to tell him +the circumstance, at which she guessed he would be as much +surprised as herself. + +When Cassim came home, his wife said to him, "Cassim, I know you +think yourself rich, but you are much mistaken; Ali Baba is +infinitely richer than you; he does not count his money but +measures it." Cassim desired her to explain the riddle, which she +did, by telling him the stratagem she had used to make the +discovery, and shewed him the piece of money, which was so old +that they could not tell in what prince's reign it was coined. + +Cassim, instead of being pleased, conceived a base envy at his +brother's prosperity; he could not sleep all that night, and went +to him in the morning before sun-rise. Cassim, after he had +married the rich widow, had never treated Ali Baba as a brother, +but neglected him. "All Baba," said he, accosting him, "you are +very reserved in your affairs; you pretend to be miserably poor, +and yet you measure gold." "How, brother?" replied Ali Baba; "I +do not know what you mean: explain yourself." "Do not pretend +ignorance," replied Cassim, shewing him the piece of gold his +wife had given him. "How many of these pieces," added he, "have +you? My wife found this at the bottom of the measure you borrowed +yesterday." + +By this discourse, Ali Baba perceived that Cassim and his wife, +through his own wife's folly, knew what they had so much reason +to conceal; but what was done could not be recalled; therefore, +without shewing the least surprise or trouble, he confessed all, +told his brother by what chance he had discovered this retreat of +the thieves, in what place it was; and offered him part of his +treasure to keep the secret. "I expect as much," replied Cassim +haughtily; "but I must know exactly where this treasure is, and +how I may visit it myself when I choose; otherwise I will go and +inform against you, and then you will not only get no more, but +will lose all you have, and I shall have a share for my +information." + +Ali Baba, more out of his natural good temper, than frightened by +the insulting menaces of his unnatural brother, told him all he +desired, and even the very words he was to use to gain admission +into the cave. + +Cassim, who wanted no more of Ali Baba, left him, resolving to be +beforehand with him, and hoping to get all the treasure to +himself. He rose the next morning, long before the sun, and set +out for the forest with ten mules bearing great chests, which he +designed to fill; and followed the road which Ali Baba had +pointed out to him. He was not long before he reached the rock, +and found out the place by the tree, and other marks which his +brother had given him. When he reached the entrance of the +cavern, he pronounced the words, "Open, Sesame," the door +immediately opened, and when he was in, closed upon him. In +examining the cave, he was in great admiration to find much more +riches than he had apprehended from Ali Baba's relation. He was +so covetous, and greedy of wealth, that he could have spent the +whole day in feasting his eyes with so much treasure, if the +thought that he came to carry some away had not hindered him. He +laid as many bags of gold as he could carry at the door of the +cavern, but his thoughts were so full of the great riches he +should possess, that he could not think of the necessary word to +make it open, but instead of Sesame, said "Open, Barley," and was +much amazed to find that the door remained fast shut. He named +several sorts of grain, but still the door would not open. + +Cassim had never expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at +the danger he was in, that the more he endeavoured to remember +the word Sesame, the more his memory was confounded, and he had +as much forgotten it as if he had never heard it mentioned. He +threw down the bags he had loaded himself with, and walked +distractedly up and down the cave, without having the least +regard to the riches that were round him. + +About noon the robbers chanced to visit their cave, and at some +distance from it saw Cassim's mules straggling about the rock, +with great chests on their backs. Alarmed at this novelty, they +galloped full speed to the cave. They drove away the mules, which +Cassim had neglected to fasten, and they strayed through the +forest so far, that they were soon out of sight. The robbers +never gave themselves the trouble to pursue them, being more +concerned to know who they belonged to. And while some of them +searched about the rock, the captain and the rest went directly +to the door, with their naked sabres in their hands, and +pronouncing the proper words, it opened. + +Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet from the middle +of the cave, never doubted of the arrival of the robbers, and his +approaching death; but was resolved to make one effort to escape +from them. To this end he rushed to the door, and no sooner heard +the word Sesame, which he had forgotten, and saw the door open, +than he ran out and threw the leader down, but could not escape +the other robbers, who with their sabres soon deprived him of +life. + +The first care of the robbers after this was to examine the cave. +They found all the bags which Cassim had brought to the door, to +be ready to load his mules, and carried them again to their +places, without missing what Ali Baba had taken away before. Then +holding a council, and deliberating upon this occurrence, they +guessed that Cassim, when he was in, could not get out again; but +could not imagine how he had entered. It came into their heads +that he might have got down by the top of the cave; but the +aperture by which it received light was so high, and the rock so +inaccessible without, besides that nothing shewed that he had +done so, that they gave up this conjecture. That he came in at +the door they could not believe however, unless he had the secret +of making it open. In short, none of them could imagine which way +he had entered; for they were all persuaded nobody knew their +secret, little imagining that Ali Baba had watched them. It was a +matter of the greatest importance to them to secure their riches. +They agreed therefore to cut Cassim's body into four quarters, to +hang two on one side and two on the other, within the door of the +cave, to terrify any person who should attempt the same thing, +determining not to return to the cave till the stench of the body +was completely exhaled. They had no sooner taken this resolution +than they put it in execution, and when they had nothing more to +detain them, left the place of their hoards well closed. They +mounted their horses, went to beat the roads again, and to attack +the caravans they might meet. + +In the mean time, Cassim's wife was very uneasy when night came, +and her husband was not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in alarm, +and said, "I believe, brother-in-law, that you know Cassim, your +brother, is gone to the forest, and upon what account; it is now +night, and he is not returned; I am afraid some misfortune has +happened to him." Ali Baba, who had expected that his brother, +after what he had said, would go to the forest, had declined +going himself that day, for fear of giving him any umbrage; +therefore told her, without any reflection upon her husband's +unhandsome behaviour, that she need not frighten herself, for +that certainly Cassim would not think it proper to come into the +town till the night should be pretty far advanced. + +Cassim's wife, considering how much it concerned her husband to +keep the business secret, was the more easily persuaded to +believe her brother-in-law. She went home again, and waited +patiently till midnight. Then her fear redoubled, and her grief +was the more sensible because she was forced to keep it to +herself. She repented of her foolish curiosity, and cursed her +desire of penetrating into the affairs of her brother and sister- +in-law. She spent all the night in weeping; and as soon as it was +day, went to them, telling them, by her tears, the cause of her +coming. + +Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to desire him to go +to see what was become of Cassim, but departed immediately with +his three asses, begging of her first to moderate her affliction. +He went to the forest, and when he came near the rock, having +seen neither his brother nor the mules in his way, was seriously +alarmed at finding some blood spilt near the door, which he took +for an ill omen; but when he had pronounced the word, and the +door had opened, he was struck with horror at the dismal sight of +his brother's quarters. He was not long in determining how he +should pay the last dues to his brother, but without adverting to +the little fraternal affection he had shown for him, went into +the cave, to find something to enshroud his remains, and having +loaded one of his asses with them, covered them over with wood. +The other two asses he loaded with bags of gold, covering them +with wood also as before; and then bidding the door shut, came +away; but was so cautious as to stop some time at the end of the +forest, that he might not go into the town before night. When he +came home, he drove the two asses loaded with gold into his +little yard, and left the care of unloading them to his wife, +while he led the other to his sister-in-law's house. + +Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, an +intelligent slave, fruitful in inventions to insure success in +the most difficult undertakings: and Ali Baba knew her to be +such. When he came into the court, he unloaded the ass, and +taking Morgiana aside, said to her, "The first thing I ask of you +is an inviolable secrecy, which you will find is necessary both +for your mistress's sake and mine. Your master's body is +contained in these two bundles, and our business is, to bury him +as if he had died a natural death. Go, tell your mistress I want +to speak with her; and mind what I have said to you." + +Morgiana went to her mistress, and Ali Baba followed her. "Well, +brother," said she, with great impatience, "what news do you +bring me of my husband? I perceive no comfort in your +countenance." "Sister," answered Ali Baba, "I cannot satisfy your +inquiries unless you hear my story from the beginning to the end, +without speaking a word; for it is of as great importance to you +as to me to keep what has happened secret." "Alas!" said she, +"this preamble lets me know that my husband is not to be found; +but at the same time I know the necessity of the secrecy you +require, and I must constrain myself: say on, I will hear you." + +Ali Baba then detailed the incidents of his journey, till he came +to the finding of Cassim's body. "Now," said he, "sister, I have +something to relate which will afflict you the more, because it +is perhaps what you so little expect; but it cannot now be +remedied; if my endeavours can comfort you, I offer to put that +which God hath sent me to what you have, and marry you: assuring +you that my wife will not be jealous, and that we shall live +happily together. If this proposal is agreeable to you, we mast +think of acting so as that my brother should appear to have died +a natural death. I think you may leave the management of the +business to Morgiana, and I will contribute all that lies in my +power to your consolation." + +What could Cassim's widow do better than accept of this proposal? +For though her first husband had left behind him a plentiful +substance, his brother was now much richer, and by the discovery +of this treasure might be still more so. Instead, therefore, of +rejecting the offer, she regarded it as the sure means of +comfort; and drying up her tears, which had begun to flow +abundantly, and suppressing the outcries usual with women who +have lost their husbands, shewed Ali Baba that she approved of +his proposal. Ali Baba left the widow, recommended to Morgiana to +act her part well, and then returned home with his ass. + +Morgiana went out at the same time to an apothecary, and asked +for a sort of lozenges, which he prepared, and were very +efficacious in the most dangerous disorders. The apothecary +inquired who was ill at her master's? She replied with a sigh, +"Her good master Cassim himself: that they knew not what his +disorder was, but that he could neither eat nor speak." After +these words, Morgiana carried the lozenges home with her, and the +next morning went to the same apothecary's again, and with tears +in her eyes, asked for an essence which they used to give to sick +people only when at the last extremity. "Alas!" said she, taking +it from the apothecary, "I am afraid that this remedy will have +no better effect than the lozenges; and that I shall lose my good +master." + +On the other hand, as Ali Baba and his wife were often seen to go +between Cassim's and their own house all that day, and to seem +melancholy, nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the +lamentable shrieks and cries of Cassim's wife and Morgiana, who +gave out every where that her master was dead. + +The next morning, soon after day appeared, Morgiana, who knew a +certain old cobbler that opened his stall early, before other +people, went to him, and bidding him good morrow, put a piece of +gold into his hand. "Well," said Baba Mustapha, which was his +name, and who was a merry old fellow, looking at the gold, though +it was hardly day-light, and seeing what it was, "this is good +hansel: what must I do for it? I am ready." + +"Baba Mustapha," said Morgiana, "you must take with you your +sewing tackle, and go with me; but I must tell you, I shall +blindfold you when you come to such a place." + +Baba Mustapha seemed to hesitate a little at these words. "Oh! +oh!" replied he, "you would have me do something against my +conscience, or against my honour?" "God forbid!" said Morgiana, +putting another piece of gold into his hand, "that I should ask +any thing that is contrary to your honour; only come along with +me, and fear nothing." + +Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his +eyes with a handkerchief at the place she had mentioned, conveyed +him to her deceased master's house, and never unloosed his eyes +till he had entered the room where she had put the corpse +together. "Baba Mustapha," said she, "you must make haste and sew +these quarters together; and when you have done, I will give you +another piece of gold." + +After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him +again, gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, and +recommending secrecy to him, carried him back to the place where +she first bound his eyes, pulled off the bandage, and let him go +home, but watched him that he returned towards his stall, till he +was quite out of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to +return and dodge her; she then went home. + +By the time Morgiana had warmed some water to wash the body, Ali +Baba came with incense to embalm it, after which it was sewn up +in a winding sheet. Not long after, the joiner, according to Ali +Baba's orders, brought the bier, which Morgiana received at the +door, and helped Ali Baba to put the body into it; when she went +to the mosque to inform the imaum that they were ready. The +people of the mosque, whose business it was to wash the dead, +offered to perform their duty, but she told them that it was done +already. + +Morgiana had scarcely got home before the imaum and the other +ministers of the mosque arrived. Four neighbours carried the +corpse on their shoulders to the burying-ground, following the +imaum, who recited some prayers. Morgiana, as a slave to the +deceased, followed the corpse, weeping, beating her breast, and +tearing her hair: and Ali Baba came after with some neighbours, +who often relieved the others in carrying the corpse to the +burying-ground. + +Cassim's wife stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries +with the women of the neighbourhood, who came according to custom +during the funeral, and joining their lamentations with hers, +filled the quarter far and near with sorrow. + +In this manner Cassim's melancholy death was concealed, and +hushed up between Ali Baba, his wife, Cassim's widow, and +Morgiana, with so much contrivance, that nobody in the city had +the least knowledge or suspicion of the cause of it. + +Three or four days after the funeral, Ali Baba removed his few +goods openly to the widow's house; but the money he had taken +from the robbers he conveyed thither by night; soon after the +marriage with his sister-in-law was published, and as these +marriages are common, nobody was surprised. + +As for Cassim's warehouse, Ali Baba gave it to his own eldest +son, promising that if he managed it well, he would soon give him +a fortune to marry very advantageously according to his +situation. + +Let us now leave Ali Baba to enjoy the beginning of his good +fortune, and return to the forty robbers. + +They came again at the appointed time to visit their retreat in +the forest; but great was their surprise to find Cassim's body +taken away, with some of their bags of gold. "We are certainly +discovered," said the captain, "and if we do not speedily apply +some remedy, shall gradually lose all the riches which our +ancestors and ourselves have, with so much pains and danger, been +so many years amassing together. All that we can think of the +loss which we have sustained is, that the thief whom we surprised +had the secret of opening the door, and we came luckily as he was +coming out: but his body being removed, and with it some of our +money, plainly shews that he had an accomplice; and as it is +likely that there were but two who had discovered our secret, and +one has been caught, we must look narrowly after the other. What +say you, my lads?" + +All the robbers thought the captain's proposal so advisable, that +they unanimously approved of it, and agreed that they must lay +all other enterprises aside, to follow this closely, and not give +it up till they had succeeded. + +"I expected no less," said the captain, "from your fidelity to +our cause: but, first of all, one of you who is bold, artful, and +enterprising, must go into the town, disguised as a traveller and +a stranger, to try if he can hear any talk of the strange death +of the man whom we have killed, as he deserved; and endeavour to +find out who he was, and where he lived. This is a matter of the +first importance for us to ascertain, that we may do nothing +which we may have reason to repent of, by discovering ourselves +in a country where we have lived so long unknown, and where we +have so much reason to continue: but to warn him who shall take +upon himself this commission, and to prevent our being deceived +by his giving us a false report, which may be the cause of our +ruin; I ask you all, if you do not think that in case of +treachery, or even error of judgment, he should suffer death?" + +Without waiting for the suffrages of his companions, one of the +robbers started up, and said, "I submit to this condition, and +think it an honour to expose my life, by taking the commission +upon me; but remember, at least, if I do not succeed, that I +neither wanted courage nor good will to serve the troop." + +After this robber had received great commendations from the +captain and his comrades, he disguised himself so that nobody +would take him for what he was; and taking his leave of the troop +that night, went into the town just at day-break; and walked up +and down, till accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha's stall, +which was always open before any of the shops. + +Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to +work. The robber saluted him, bidding him good morrow; and +perceiving that he was old, said, "Honest man, you begin to work +very early: is it possible that one of your age can see so well? +I question, even if it were somewhat lighter, whether you could +see to stitch." + +"Certainly," replied Baba Mustapha," you must be a stranger, and +do not know me; for old as I am, I have extraordinary good eyes; +and you will not doubt it when I tell you that I sewed a dead +body together in a place where I had not so much light as I have +now." + +The robber was overjoyed to think that he had addressed himself, +at his first coming into the town, to a man who in all +probability could give him the intelligence he wanted. "A dead +body!" replied he with affected amazement, to make him explain +himself. "What could you sew up a dead body for? You mean, you +sewed up his winding sheet." "No, no," answered Baba Mustapha, "I +perceive your meaning; you want to have me speak out, but you +shall know no more." + +The robber wanted no farther assurance to be persuaded that he +had discovered what he sought. He pulled out a piece of gold, and +putting it into Baba Mustapha's hand, said to him, "I do not want +to learn your secret, though I can assure you I would not divulge +it, if you trusted me with it. The only thing which I desire of +you is, to do me the favour to shew me the house where You +stitched up the dead body." + +"If I were disposed to do you that favour," replied Baba +Mustapha, holding the money in his hand, ready to return it, "I +assure you I cannot; and you may believe me, on my word. I was +taken to a certain place, where I was blinded, I was then led to +the house, and afterwards brought back again in the same manner; +you see, therefore, the impossibility of my doing what you +desire." + +"Well," replied the robber, "you may, however, remember a little +of the way that you were led blindfolded. Come, let me blind your +eyes at the same place. We will walk together; perhaps you may +recognize some part; and as every body ought to be paid for their +trouble, there is another piece of gold for you; gratify me in +what I ask you." So saying, he put another piece of gold into his +hand. + +The two pieces of gold were great temptations to Baba Mustapha. +He looked at them a long time in his hand, without saying a word, +thinking with himself what he should do; but at last he pulled +out his purse, and put them in. "I cannot assure you," said he to +the robber, "that I can remember the way exactly; but since you +desire, I will try what I can do." At these words Baba Mustapha +rose up, to the great joy of the robber, and without shutting his +shop, where he had nothing valuable to lose, he led the robber to +the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes. "It was here," said +Baba Mustapha, "I was blindfolded; and I turned as you see me." +The robber, who had his handkerchief ready, tied it over his +eyes, walked by him till he stopped, partly leading, and partly +guided by him. "I think," said Baba Mustapha, "I went no +farther," and he had now stopped directly at Cassim's house, +where Ali Baba then lived. The thief, before he pulled off the +band, marked the door with a piece of chalk, which he had ready +in his hand; and then asked him if he knew whose house that was? +to which Baba Mustapha replied, that as he did not live in that +neighbourhood he could not tell. + +The robber, finding he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, +thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and left him to go back +to his stall, while he returned to the forest, persuaded that he +should be very well received. + +A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Morgiana +went out of Ali Baba's house upon some errand, and upon her +return, seeing the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe +it. "What can be the meaning of this mark?" said she to herself; +"somebody intends my master no good: however, with whatever +intention it was done, it is advisable to guard against the +worst." Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two +or three doors on each side, in the same manner, without saying a +word to her master or mistress. + +In the mean time the thief rejoined his troop in the forest, and +recounted to them his success; expatiating upon his good fortune, +in meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of +what he wanted to know. All the robbers listened to him with the +utmost satisfaction; when the captain, after commending his +diligence, addressing himself to them all, said, "Comrades, we +have no time to lose: let us set off well armed, without its +appearing who we are; but that we may not excite any suspicion, +let only one or two go into the town together, and join at our +rendezvous, which shall be the great square. In the mean time our +comrade, who brought us the good news, and I, will go and find +out the house, that we may consult what had best be done." + +This speech and plan were approved of by all, and they were soon +ready. They filed off in parties of two each, after some interval +of time, and got into the town without being in the least +suspected. The captain and he who had visited the town in the +morning as spy, came in the last. He led the captain into the +street where he had marked Ali Baba's residence; and when they +came to the first of the houses which Morgiana had marked, he +pointed it out. But the captain observed that the next door was +chalked in the same manner, and in the same place; and shewing it +to his guide, asked him which house it was, that, or the first? +The guide was so confounded, that he knew not what answer to +make; but still more puzzled, when he and the captain saw five or +six houses similarly marked. He assured the captain, with an +oath, that he had marked but one, And could not tell who had +chalked the rest, so that he could not distinguish the house +which the cobbler had stopped at. + +The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, went +directly to the place of rendezvous, and told the first of his +troops whom he met that they had lost their labour, and must +return to their cave. He himself set them the example, and they +all returned as they had come. + +When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the +reason of their returning; and presently the conductor was +declared by all worthy of death. He condemned himself, +acknowledging that he ought to have taken better precaution, and +prepared to receive the stroke from him who was appointed to cut +off his head. + +But as the safety of the troop required that an injury should not +go unpunished, another of the gang, who promised himself that he +should succeed better, presented himself, and his offer being +accepted, he went and corrupted Baba Mustapha, as the other had +done; and being shewn the house, marked it in a place more remote +from sight, with red chalk. + +Not long after Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could escape, went +out, and seeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as she +had done before, marked the other neighbours' houses in the same +place and manner. + +The robber, at his return to his company, valued himself much on +the precaution he had taken, which he looked upon as an +infallible way of distinguishing Ali Baba's house from the +others; and the captain and all of them thought it must succeed. +They conveyed themselves into the town with the same precaution +as before; but when the robber and his captain came to the +street, they found the same difficulty; at which the captain was +enraged, and the robber in as great confusion as his predecessor. + +Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second +time, and much more dissatisfied; while the robber, who had been +the author of the mistake, underwent the same punishment; which +he willingly submitted to. + +The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was +afraid of diminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get +information of the residence of their plunderer. He found by +their example that their heads were not so good as their hands on +such occasions; and therefore resolved to take upon himself the +important commission. + +Accordingly he went and addressed himself to Baba Mustapha, who +did him the same service he had done to the other robbers. He did +not set any particular mark on the house, but examined and +observed it so carefully, by passing often by it, that it was +impossible for him to mistake it. + +The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of +what he wanted to know, returned to the forest; and when he came +into the cave, where the troop waited for him, said, "Now, +comrades, nothing can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain +of the house, and in my way hither I have thought how to put it +into execution, but if any one can form a better expedient, let +him communicate it." He then told them his contrivance; and as +they approved of it, ordered them to go into the villages about, +and buy nineteen mules, with thirty-eight large leather jars, one +full of oil, and the others empty. + +In two or three days' time the robbers had purchased the mules +and jars, and as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow +for his purpose, the captain caused them to be widened; and after +having put one of his men into each, with the weapons which he +thought fit, leaving open the seam which had been undone to leave +them room to breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil +from the full vessel. + +Things being thus prepared, when the nineteen mules were loaded +with thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, the +captain, as their driver, set out with them, and reached the town +by the dusk of the evening, as he had intended. He led them +through the streets till he came to Ali Baba's, at whose door he +designed to have knocked; but was prevented by his sitting there +after supper to take a little fresh air. He stopped his mules, +addressed himself to him, and said, "I have brought some oil a +great way, to sell at to-morrow's market; and it is now so late +that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not be troublesome +to you, do me the favour to let me pass the night with you, and I +shall be very much obliged by your hospitality." + +Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the +forest, and had heard him speak, it was impossible to know him in +the disguise of an oil-merchant. He told him he should be +welcome, and immediately opened his gates for the mules to go +into the yard. At the same time he called to a slave, and ordered +him, when the mules were unloaded, not only to put them into the +stable, but to give them fodder; and then went to Morgiana, to +bid her get a good supper for his guest. + +He did more. To make his guest as welcome as possible, when he +saw the captain had unloaded his mules, and that they were put +into the stables as he had ordered, and he was looking for a +place to pass the night in the air, he brought him into the hall +where he received his company, telling him he would not suffer +him to be in the court. The captain excused himself on pretence +of not being troublesome; but really to have room to execute his +design, and it was not till after the most pressing importunity +that he yielded. Ali Baba, not content to keep company with the +man who had a design on his life till supper was ready, continued +talking with him till it was ended, and repeating his offer of +service. + +The captain rose up at the same time with his host; and while Ali +Baba went to speak to Morgiana he withdrew into the yard, under +pretence of looking at his mules. Ali Baba, after charging +Morgiana afresh to take care of his guest, said to her, "To- +morrow morning I design to go to the bath before day; take care +my bathing-linen be ready, give them to Abdoollah," which was the +slave's name, "and make me some good broth against I return." +After this he went to bed. + +In the mean time the captain of the robbers went from the stable +to give his people orders what to do; and beginning at the first +jar, and so on to the last, said to each man: "As soon as I throw +some stones out of the chamber window where I lie, do not fail to +cut the jar open with the knife you have about you for the +purpose, and come out, and I will immediately join you." After +this he returned into the house, when Morgiana taking up a light, +conducted him to his chamber, where she left him; and he, to +avoid any suspicion, put the light out soon after, and laid +himself down in his clothes, that he might be the more ready to +rise. + +Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's orders, got his bathing-linen +ready, and ordered Abdoollah to set on the pot for the broth; but +while she was preparing it, the lamp went out, and there was no +more oil in the house, nor any candles. What to do she did not +know, for the broth must be made. Abdoollah seeing her very +uneasy, said, "Do not fret and teaze yourself, but go into the +yard, and take some oil out of one of the jars." + +Morgiana thanked Abdoollah for his advice, took the oil-pot, and +went into the yard; when as she came nigh the first jar, the +robber within said softly, "Is it time?" + +Though the robber spoke low, Morgiana was struck with the voice +the more, because the captain, when he unloaded the mules, had +taken the lids off this and all the other jars to give air to his +men, who were ill enough at their ease, almost wanting room to +breathe. + +As much surprised as Morgiana naturally was at finding a man in a +jar instead of the oil she wanted, many would have made such a +noise as to have given an alarm, which would have been attended +with fatal consequences; whereas Morgiana comprehending +immediately the importance of keeping silence, from the danger +Ali Baba, his family, and herself were in, and the necessity of +applying a speedy remedy without noise, conceived at once the +means, and collecting herself without shewing the least emotions, +answered, "Not yet, but presently." She went in this manner to +all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of +oil. + +By this means, Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba, who +thought that he had entertained an oil merchant, had admitted +thirty-eight robbers into his house, regarding this pretended +merchant as their captain. She made what haste she could to fill +her oil-pot, and returned into her kitchen; where, as soon as she +had lighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went again to the +oil-jar, filled the kettle, set it on a large wood-fire, and as +soon as it boiled went and poured enough into every jar to stifle +and destroy the robber within. + +When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executed +without any noise, as she had projected, she returned into the +kitchen with the empty kettle; and having put out the great fire +she had made to boil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the +broth, put out the lamp also, and remained silent; resolving not +to go to rest till she had observed what might follow through a +window of the kitchen, which opened into the yard. + +She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, +opened the window, and finding no light, and hearing no noise, or +any one stirring in the house, gave the appointed signal, by +throwing little stones, several of which hit the jars, as he +doubted not by the sound they gave. He then listened, but not +hearing or perceiving any thing, whereby he could judge that his +companions stirred, he began to grow very uneasy, threw stones +again a second and also a third time, and could not comprehend +the reason that none of them should answer his signal. Much +alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, and going to the +first jar, whilst asking the robber whom he thought alive if he +was in readiness, smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent forth a +steam out of the jar. Hence he suspected that his plot to murder +Ali Baba and plunder his house was discovered. Examining all the +jars one after another, he found that all his gang were dead; and +by the oil he missed out of the last jar guessed the means and +manner of their death. Enraged to despair at having failed in his +design, he forced the lock of a door that led from the yard to +the garden, and climbing over the walls, made his escape. + +When Morgiana heard no noise, and found, after waiting some time, +that the captain did not return, she concluded that he had chosen +rather to make his escape by the garden than the street-door, +which was double locked. Satisfied and pleased to have succeeded +so well, in saving her master and family, she went to bed. + +Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed by his slave, went to the +baths, entirely ignorant of the important event which had +happened at home; for Morgiana had not thought it safe to wake +him before, for fear of losing her opportunity; and after her +successful exploit she thought it needless to disturb him. + +When he returned from the baths, the sun was risen; he was very +much surprised to see the oil-jars, and that the merchant was not +gone with the mules. He asked Morgiana, who opened the door, and +had let all things stand as they were, that he might see them, +the reason of it? "My good master," answered she, "God preserve +you and all your family; you will be better informed of what you +wish to know when you have seen what I have to shew you, if you +will but give yourself the trouble to follow me." + +As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed her; +when she requested him to look into the first jar and see if +there was any oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started +back in alarm, and cried out. "Do not be afraid," said Morgiana, +"the man you see there can neither do you nor any body else any +harm. He is dead." "Ah, Morgiana!" said Ali Baba, "what is it you +shew me? Explain yourself." "I will," replied Morgiana; "moderate +your astonishment, and do not excite the curiosity of your +neighbours; for it is of great importance to keep this affair +secret. Look into all the other jars." + +Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another: and when +he came to that which had the oil in, found it prodigiously sunk, +and stood for some time motionless, sometimes looking at the +jars, and sometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great +was his surprise: at last, when he had recovered himself, he +said, "And what is become of the merchant?" + +"Merchant!" answered she, "he is as much one as I am; I will tell +you who he is, and what is become of him; but you had better hear +the story in your own chamber; for it is time for your health +that you had your broth after your bathing." + +While Ali Baba retired to his chamber, Morgiana went into the +kitchen to fetch the broth, but before he would drink it, he +first entreated her to satisfy his impatience, and tell him what +had happened, with all the circumstances; and she obeyed him. + +"Last night, sir," said she, "when you were gone to bed, I got +your bathing- linens ready, and gave them to Abdoollah; +afterwards I set on the pot for the broth, but as I was preparing +the materials, the lamp, for want of oil, went out; and as there +was not a drop more in the house, I looked for a candle, but +could not find one: Abdoollah seeing me vexed, put me in mind of +the jars of oil which stood in the yard. I took the oil-pot, went +directly to the jar which stood nearest to me; and when I came to +it, heard a voice within, saying, Is it time?' Without being +dismayed, and comprehending immediately the malicious intention +of the pretended oil-merchant, I answered, Not yet, but +presently.' I then went to the next, when another voice asked me +the same question, and I returned the same answer; and so on, +till I came to the last, which I found full of oil; with which I +filled my pot. + +"When I considered that there were thirty seven robbers in the +yard, who only waited for a signal to be given by the captain, +whom you took to be an oil-merchant, and entertained so +handsomely, I thought there was no time to be lost; I carried my +pot of oil into the kitchen, lighted the lamp, afterwards took +the biggest kettle I had, went and filled it full of oil, set it +on the fire to boil, and then poured as much into each jar as was +sufficient to prevent them from executing the pernicious design +they had meditated: after this I retired into the kitchen, and +put out the lamp; but before I went to bed, waited at the window +to know what measures the pretended merchant would take. + +"After I had watched some time for the signal, he threw some +stones out of the window against the jars, but neither hearing +nor perceiving any body stirring, after throwing three times, he +came down, when I saw him go to every jar, after which, through +the darkness of the night, I lost sight of him. I waited some +time longer, and finding that he did not return, doubted not but +that, seeing he had missed his aim, he had made his escape over +the walls of the garden. Persuaded that the house was now safe, I +went to bed. + +"This," said Morgiana, "is the account you asked of me; and I am +convinced it is the consequence of what I observed some days ago, +but did not think fit to acquaint you with: for when I came in +one morning early, I found our street door marked with white +chalk, and the next morning with red; upon which, both times, +without knowing what was the intention of those chalks, I marked +two or three neighbours' doors on each side in the same manner. +If you reflect on this, and what has since happened, you will +find it to be a plot of the robbers of the forest, of whose gang +there are two wanting, and now they are reduced to three: all +this shews that they had sworn your destruction, and it is proper +you should be upon your guard, while there is one of them alive: +for my part I shall neglect nothing necessary to your +preservation, as I am in duty bound." + +When Morgiana had left off speaking, Ali Baba was so sensible of +the great service she had done him, that he said to her, "I will +not die without rewarding you as you deserve: I owe my life to +you, and for the first token of my acknowledgment, give you your +liberty from this moment, till I can complete your recompense as +I intend. I am persuaded with you, that the forty robbers have +laid snares for my destruction. God, by your means, has delivered +me from them as yet, and I hope will continue to preserve me from +their wicked designs, and by averting the danger which threatened +me, will deliver the world from their persecution and their +cursed race. All that we have to do is to bury the bodies of +these pests of mankind immediately, and with all the secrecy +imaginable, that nobody may suspect what is become of them. But +that labour Abdoollah and I will undertake." + +Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the farther end by +a great number of large trees. Under these he and the slave dug a +trench, long and wide enough to hold all the robbers, and as the +earth was light, they were not long in doing it. Afterwards they +lifted the bodies out of the jars, took away their weapons, +carried them to the end of the garden, laid them in the trench, +and levelled the ground again. When this was done, Ali Baba hid +the jars and weapons; and as he had no occasion for the mules, he +sent them at different times to be sold in the market by his +slave. + +While Ali Baba took these measures to prevent the public from +knowing how he came by his riches in so short a time, the captain +of the forty robbers returned to the forest with inconceivable +mortification; and in his agitation, or rather confusion, at his +ill success, so contrary to what he had promised himself, entered +the cave, not being able, all the way from the town, to come to +any resolution how to revenge himself of Ali Baba. + +The loneliness of the gloomy cavern became frightful to him. +"Where are you, my brave lads," cried he, "old companions of my +watchings, inroads, and labour? What can I do without you? Did I +collect you only to lose you by so base a fate, and so unworthy +of your courage! Had you died with your sabres in your hands, +like brave men, my regret had been less! When shall I enlist so +gallant a troop again? And if I could, can I undertake it without +exposing so much gold and treasure to him who hath already +enriched himself out of it? I cannot, I ought not to think of it, +before I have taken away his life. I will undertake that alone +which I could not accomplish with your powerful assistance; and +when I have taken measures to secure this treasure from being +pillaged, I will provide for it new masters and successors after +me, who shall preserve and augment it to all posterity." This +resolution being taken, he was not at a loss how to execute his +purpose; but easy in his mind, and full of hopes, slept all that +night very quietly. + +When he awoke early next morning, he dressed himself, agreeably +to the project he had formed, went to the town, and took a +lodging in a khan. As he expected what had happened at Ali Baba's +might make a great noise, he asked his host what news there was +in the city? Upon which the inn-keeper told him a great many +circumstances, which did not concern him in the least. He judged +by this, that the reason why Ali Baba kept his affairs so secret, +was for fear people should know where the treasure lay; and +because he knew his life would be sought on account of it. This +urged him the more to neglect nothing to rid himself of so +cautious an enemy. + +The captain now assumed the character of a merchant, and conveyed +gradually a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen to his +lodging from the cavern, but with all the necessary precautions +imaginable to conceal the place whence he brought them. In order +to dispose of the merchandizes, when he had amassed them +together, he took a warehouse, which happened to be opposite to +Cassim's, which Ali Baba's son had occupied since the death of +his uncle. + +He took the name of Khaujeh Houssain, and as a new-comer, was, +according to custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the +merchants his neighbours. Ali Baba's son was from his vicinity +one of the first to converse with Khaujeh Houssain, who strove to +cultivate his friendship more particularly, when, two or three +days after he was settled, he recognized Ali Baba, who came to +see his son, and stopped to talk with him as he was accustomed to +do. When he was gone, the impostor learnt from his son who he +was. He increased his assiduities, caressed him in the most +engaging manner, made him some small presents, and often asked +him to dine and sup with him; when he treated him very +handsomely. + +Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such obligation to +Khaujeh Houssain, without making the like return; but was so much +straitened for want of room in his house, that he could not +entertain him so well as he wished; he therefore acquainted his +father Ali Baba with his intention, and told him that it did not +look well for him to receive such favours from Khaujeh Houssain, +without inviting him in return. + +Ali Baba, with great pleasure, took the treat upon himself. +"Son," said he, "to-morrow being Friday, which is a day that the +shops of such great merchants as Khaujeh Houssain and yourself +are shut, get him to take a walk with you, and as you come back, +pass by my door, and call in. It will look better to have it +happen accidentally, than if you gave him a formal invitation. I +will go and order Morgiana to provide a supper." + +The next day Ali Baba's son and Khaujeh Houssain met by +appointment, took their walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's +son led Khaujeh Houssain through the street where his father +lived; and when they came to the house, stopped and knocked at +the door. "This, sir," said he, "is my father's house; who, from +the account I have given him of your friendship, charged me to +procure him the honour of your acquaintance; and I desire you to +add this pleasure to those for which I am already indebted to +you." + +Though it was the sole aim of Khaujeh Houssain to introduce +himself into Ali Baba's house, that he might kill him without +hazarding his own life or making any noise; yet he excused +himself, and offered to take his leave. But a slave having opened +the door, Ali Baba's son took him obligingly by the hand, and in +a manner forced him in. + +Ali Baba received Khaujeh Houssain with a smiling countenance, +and in the most obliging manner he could wish. He thanked him for +all the favours he had done his son; adding withal, the +obligation was the greater, as he was a young man not much +acquainted with the world, and that he might contribute to his +information. + +Khaujeh Houssain returned the compliment, by assuring Ali Baba, +that though his son might not have acquired the experience of +older men, he had good sense equal to the experience of many +others. After a little more conversation on different subjects, +he offered again to take his leave; when Ali Baba, stopping him, +said, "Where are you going, sir, in so much haste? I beg you +would do me the honour to sup with me, though what I have to give +you is not worth your acceptance; but such as it is, I hope you +will accept it as heartily as I give it." "Sir," replied Khaujeh +Houssain, "I am thoroughly persuaded of your good-will; and if I +ask the favour of you not to take it ill that I do not accept +your obliging invitation, I beg of you to believe that it does +not proceed from any slight or intention to affront, but from a +reason which you would approve if you knew it." + +"And what may that reason be, sir," replied Ali Baba, "if I may +be so bold as to ask you?" "It is," answered Khaujeh Houssain, +"that I can eat no victuals that have any salt in them; therefore +judge how I should feel at your table." "If that is the only +reason," said Ali Baba, "it ought not to deprive me of the honour +of your company at supper; for, in the first place, there is no +salt ever put into my bread, and as to the meat we shall have to- +night, I promise you there shall be none in that. Therefore you +must do me the favour to stay. I will return immediately." + +Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to put no +salt to the meat that was to be dressed that night; and to make +quickly two or three ragouts besides what he had ordered, but be +sure to put no salt in them. + +Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not +help, this time, seeming somewhat dissatisfied at his strange +order. "Who is this difficult man," said she, "who eats no salt +with his meat? Your supper will be spoiled, if I keep it back so +long." "Do not be angry, Morgiana," replied Ali Baba: "he is an +honest man; therefore do as I bid you." + +Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a +curiosity to see this man who ate no salt. To this end, when she +had finished what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped +Abdoollah to carry up the dishes; and looking at Khaujeh +Houssain, knew him at first sight, notwithstanding his disguise, +to be the captain of the robbers, and examining him very +carefully, perceived that he had a dagger under his garment. "I +am not in the least amazed," said she to herself, "that this +wicked wretch, who is my master's greatest enemy, would eat no +salt with him, since he intends to assassinate him; but I will +prevent him". + +Morgiana, while they were eating, made the necessary preparations +for executing one of the boldest acts ever meditated, and had +just determined, when Abdoollah came for the dessert of fruit, +which she carried up, and as soon as Abdoollah had taken the meat +away, set it upon the table; after that, she placed three glasses +by Ali Baba, and going out, took Abdoollah with her to sup, and +to give Ali Baba the more liberty of conversation with his guest. + +Khaujeh Houssain, or rather the captain of the robbers, thought +he had now a favourable opportunity of being revenged on Ali +Baba. "I will," said he to himself, "make the father and son both +drunk: the son, whose life I intend to spare, will not be able to +prevent my stabbing his father to the heart; and while the slaves +are at supper, or asleep in the kitchen, I can make my escape +over the gardens as before." + +Instead of going to supper, Morgiana, who had penetrated the +intentions of the counterfeit Khaujeh Houssain, would not give +him time to put his villanous design into execution, but dressed +herself neatly with a suitable head-dress like a dancer, girded +her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, to which there hung a +poniard with a hilt and guard of the same metal, and put a +handsome mask on her face. When she had thus disguised herself, +she said to Abdoollah, "Take your tabor, and let us go and divert +our master and his son's guest, as we do sometimes when he is +alone." + +Abdoollah took his tabor and played all the way into the hall +before Morgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low +obeisance, with a deliberate air, in order to draw attention, and +by way of asking leave to exhibit her skill. Abdoollah, seeing +that his master had a mind to say something, left off playing. +"Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Khaujeh Houssain see +what you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks of you." +"But, sir," said he, turning towards his guest, "do not think +that I put myself to any expense to give you this diversion, +since these are my slave and my cook and housekeeper; and I hope +you will not find the entertainment they give us disagreeable." + +Khaujeh Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, +began to fear he should not be able to improve the opportunity he +thought he had found; but hoped, if he now missed his aim, to +secure it another time, by keeping up a friendly correspondence +with the father and son; therefore, though he could have wished +Ali Baba would have declined the dance, he pretended to be +obliged to him for it, and had the complaisance to express his +satisfaction at what he saw pleased his host. + +As soon as Abdoollah saw that Ali Baba and Khaujeh Houssain had +done talking, he began to play on the tabor, and accompanied it +with an air; to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, +danced in such a manner as would have created admiration in any +other company besides that before which she now exhibited, among +whom, perhaps, none but the false Khaujeh Houssain was in the +least attentive to her, the rest having seen her so frequently. + +After she had danced several dances with equal propriety and +grace, she drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a +dance, in which she outdid herself, by the many different +figures, light movements, and the surprising leaps and wonderful +exertions with which she accompanied it. Sometimes she presented +the poniard to one's breast, sometimes to another's, and +oftentimes seeming to strike her own. At last, as if she was out +of breath, she snatched the tabor from Abdoollah with her left +hand, and holding the dagger in her right, presented the other +side of the tabor, after the manner of those who get a livelihood +by dancing, and solicit the liberality of the spectators. + +Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as did also his son; +and Khaujeh Houssain seeing that she was coming to him, had +pulled his purse out of his bosom to make her a present; but +while he was putting his hand into it, Morgiana, with a courage +and resolution worthy of herself, plunged the poniard into his +heart. + +Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud. +"Unhappy wretch!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done to ruin +me and my family?" "It was to preserve, not to ruin you," +answered Morgiana; "for see here," continued she (opening the +pretended Khaujeh Houssain's garment, and shewing the dagger), +"what an enemy you had entertained! Look well at him, and you +will find him to be both the fictitious oil-merchant, and the +captain of the gang of forty robbers. Remember, too, that he +would eat no salt with you; and what would you have more to +persuade you of his wicked design? Before I saw him I suspected +him as soon as you told me you had such a guest. I knew him, and +you now find that my suspicion was not groundless." + +Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to +Morgiana for saving his life a second time, embraced her: +"Morgiana," said he, "I gave you your liberty, and then promised +you that my gratitude should not stop there, but that I would +soon give you higher proofs of its sincerity, which I now do by +making you my daughter-in-law." Then addressing himself to his +son, he said, "I believe you, son, to be so dutiful a child, that +you will not refuse Morgiana for your wife. You see that Khaujeh +Houssain sought your friendship with a treacherous design to take +away my life; and, if he had succeeded, there is no doubt but he +would have sacrificed you also to his revenge. Consider, that by +marrying Morgiana you marry the preserver of my family and your +own." + +The son, far from shewing any dislike, readily consented to the +marriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but +also because it was agreeable to his inclination. + +After this, they thought of burying the captain of the robbers +with his comrades, and did it so privately that nobody discovered +their bones till many years after, when no one had any concern in +the publication of this remarkable history. + +A few days afterwards, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his +son and Morgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the +usual dancing and spectacles; and had the satisfaction to see +that his friends and neighbours, whom he invited, had no +knowledge of the true motives of the marriage; but that those who +were not unacquainted with Morgiana's good qualities commended +his generosity and goodness of heart. + +Ali Baba forbore, after this marriage, from going again to the +robbers' cave, as he had done from the time he had brought away +his brother Cassim's mangled remains, for fear of being +surprised. He kept away after the death of the thirty-seven +robbers and their captain, supposing the other two, whom he could +get no account of, might be alive. + +At the year's end, when he found they had not made any attempt to +disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey, taking +the necessary precautions for his safety. He mounted his horse, +and when he came to the cave, and saw no footsteps of men or +horses, looked upon it as a good sign. He alighted, tied his +horse to a tree, then approaching the entrance, and pronouncing +the words, Open, Sesame, the door opened. He entered the cavern, +and by the condition he found things in, judged that nobody had +been there since the false Khaujeh Houssain, when he had fetched +the goods for his shop, that the gang of forty robbers was +completely destroyed, and no longer doubted that he was the only +person in the world who had the secret of opening the cave, so +that all the treasure was at his sole disposal. Having brought +with him a wallet, he put into it as much gold as his horse would +carry, and returned to town. + +Afterwards Ali Baba carried his son to the cave, taught him the +secret, which they handed down to their posterity, who, using +their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honour and +splendour. + + + + + + THE STORY OF ALI KHAUJEH, A MERCHANT OF + BAGDAD. + + + +In the reign of the caliph Haroon al Rusheed, there lived at +Bagdad a merchant whose name was Ali Khaujeh, who was neither one +of the richest nor poorest of his line. He was a bachelor, and +lived in the house which had been his father's, independent and +content with the profit he made by his trade. But happening to +dream for three successive nights that a venerable old man came +to him, and, with a severe look, reprimanded him for not having +made a pilgrimage to Mecca, he was much troubled. + +As a good Mussulmaun, he knew he was obliged to undertake a +pilgrimage; but as he had a house, shop, and goods, he had always +believed that they might stand for a sufficient reason to excuse +him, endeavouring by his charity, and other good works, to atone +for that neglect. After this dream, however, his conscience was +so much pricked, that the fear lest any misfortune should befall +him made him resolve not to defer it any longer; and to be able +to go that year, he sold off his household goods, his shop, and +with it the greatest part of his merchandize, reserving only some +articles, which he thought might turn to a better account at +Mecca; and meeting with a tenant for his house, let that also. + +His affairs being thus disposed, he was ready to depart when the +Bagdad caravan set out for Mecca: the only thing he had to do was +to lodge in some place of security a sum of a thousand pieces of +gold, which would have been troublesome to carry with him, with +the money he had set apart to defray his expenses on the road, +and for other purposes. To this end, he made choice of a jar of a +suitable size, put the thousand pieces of gold into it, and +covered them over with olives. When he had closed the mouth of +the jar, he carried it to a merchant, a particular friend of his, +and said to him, "You know, brother, that in a few days I mean to +depart with the caravan, on my pilgrimage to Mecca. I beg the +favour of you to take charge of a jar of olives, and keep it for +me till I return." The merchant promised him he would, and in an +obliging manner said, "Here, take the key of my warehouse, and +set your jar where you please. I promise you shall find it there +when you return." + +On the day the caravan was to set out Ali Khaujeh joined it, with +a camel loaded with what goods he had thought fit to carry, which +also served him to ride on. He arrived safe at Mecca, where he +visited, with other pilgrims, the temple so much celebrated and +frequented by the faithful of all nations every year, who came +from all parts of the world, and observed religiously the +ceremonies prescribed them. When he had acquitted himself of the +duties of his pilgrimage, he exposed the merchandize he had +brought with him for sale or barter, as might be most profitable. + +Two merchants passing by, and seeing Ali Khaujeh's goods, thought +them so choice, that they stopped some time to look at, though +they had no occasion for them; and when they had satisfied their +curiosity, one of them said to the other, as they were going +away, "If this merchant knew to what profit these goods would +turn at Cairo he would carry them thither, and not sell them +here, though this is a good mart." + + +Ali Khaujeh heard these words; and as he had often heard talk of +the beauties of Egypt, he was resolved to take the opportunity of +seeing them, by performing a journey thither. Therefore, after +having packed up his goods again, instead of returning to Bagdad, +he set out for Egypt, with the caravan of Cairo. When he came +thither, he found his account in his journey, and in a few days +sold all his goods to a greater advantage than he had hoped for. +With the money he bought others, with an intent to go to +Damascus: and while he waited for the opportunity of a caravan, +which was to depart in six weeks, visited all the curiosities of +Cairo, as also the pyramids, and sailing up the Nile, viewed the +famous towns on each side of that river. + +As the Damascus caravan took Jerusalem in their way, our Bagdad +merchant had the opportunity of visiting the temple, regarded by +the Mussulmauns to be the most holy, after that of Mecca, whence +this city takes its name of Biel al Mukkuddus, or most sacred +mansion. + +Ali Khaujeh found Damascus so delicious a place, being environed +by verdant meadows, pleasantly watered, and delightful gardens, +that it exceeded the descriptions given of it in the journals of +travellers. Here he made a long abode, but, nevertheless, did not +forget his native Bagdad: for which place he at length set out, +and arrived at Aleppo, where he made some stay; and from thence, +after having passed the Euphrates, he bent his course to +Moussoul, with an intention, in his return, to come by a shorter +way down the Tigris. + +When Ali Khaujeh came to Moussoul, some Persian merchants, with +whom he had travelled from Aleppo, and with whom he had +contracted a great friendship, had obtained so great an influence +over him by their civilities and agreeable conversation, that +they easily persuaded him not to leave them till he should have +visited Sheerauz, from whence he might easily return to Bagdad +with a considerable profit. They led him through the towns of +Sultania, Rei, Coam, Caschan, Ispahan, and from thence to +Sheerauz; from whence he had the complaisance to bear them +company to Hindoostan, and then returned with them again to +Sheerauz; insomuch, that including the stay made in every town, +he was seven years absent from Bagdad, whither he then resolved +to return. + +All this time his friend, with whom he had left his jar of +olives, neither thought of him nor them; but at the time when he +was on the road with a caravan from Sheerauz, one evening as this +merchant was supping with his family, the discourse happened to +fall upon olives, and his wife was desirous to eat some, saying, +she had not tasted any for a long while. "Now you speak of +olives," said the merchant, "you put me in mind of a jar which +Ali Khaujeh left with me seven years ago, when he went to Mecca; +and put it himself in my warehouse to be kept for him against he +returned. What is become of him I know not; though, when the +caravan came back, they told me he was gone for Egypt. Certainly +he must be dead, since he has not returned in all this time; and +we may eat the olives, if they prove good. Give me a plate and a +candle, I will go and fetch some of them, and we will taste +them." + +"For God's sake, husband," said the wife, "do not commit so base +an action; you know that nothing is more sacred than what is +committed to one's care and trust. You say Ali Khaujeh has left +Mecca, and is not returned; but you have been told that he is +gone into Egypt; and how do you know but that he may be gone +farther? As you have no intelligence of his death, he may return +to-morrow for any thing you can tell: and what a disgrace would +it be to you and your family if he should come, and you not +restore him his jar in the same condition he left it? I declare I +have no desire for the olives, and will not taste them, for when +I mentioned them it was only by way of conversation; besides, do +you think that they can be good, after they have been kept so +long? They most be all mouldy, and spoiled; and if Ali Khaujeh +should return, as I have a strong persuasion he will, and should +find they had been opened, what will he think of your honour? I +beg of you to let them alone." + +The wife had not argued so long with her husband, but that she +read his obstinacy in his face. In short, he never regarded what +she said, but got up, took a candle and a plate, and went into +the warehouse. "Well, husband," said the wife again, "remember I +have no hand in this business; and that you cannot lay any thing +to my charge, if you should have cause to repent of your +conduit." + +The merchant's ears were deaf to these remonstrances of his wife, +and he persisted in his design. When he came into the warehouse, +he opened the jar, and found the olives mouldy; but to see if +they were all so to the bottom, he turned some of them upon the +plate; and by shaking the jar, some of the gold tumbled out. + +At the sight of the gold, the merchant, who was naturally +covetous, looked into the jar, perceived that he had shaken out +almost all the olives, and what remained was gold coin. He +immediately put the olives into the jar again, covered it up, and +returned to his wife. "Indeed, wife," said he, "you were in the +right to say that the olives were all mouldy; for I found them +so, and have made up the jar just as Ali Khaujeh left it; so that +he will not perceive that they have been touched, if he should +return." "You had better have taken my advice," said the wife, +"and not have meddled with them. God grant no mischief happens in +consequence!" + +The merchant was not more affected with his wife's last words +than he had been by her former, but spent almost the whole night +in thinking how he might appropriate Ali Khaujeh's gold to his +own use, and keep possession of it in case he should return and +ask him for the jar. The next morning he went and bought some +olives of that year, took out the old with the gold, and filled +the jar with the new, covered it up, and put it in the place +where Ali Khaujeh had left it. + +About a month after the merchant had committed this unworthy +action, Ali Khaujeh arrived at Bagdad; and as he had let his +house, alighted at a khan, choosing to stay there till he had +announced his arrival to his tenant, and given him time to +provide himself with another residence. + +The next morning Ali Khaujeh went to pay a visit to the merchant +his friend, who received him in the most obliging manner; and +expressed great joy at his return, after so many years absence; +telling him, that he had begun to lose all hopes of ever seeing +him again. + +After the usual compliments on both sides on such a meeting, Ali +Khaujeh desired the merchant to return him the jar of olives +which he had left. with him, and to excuse the liberty he had +taken in giving him so much trouble. + +"My dear friend," replied the merchant, "you are to blame to make +these apologies, your vessel has been no inconvenience to me; on +such an occasion I should have made as free with you: there is +the key of my warehouse, go and fetch your jar ; you will find it +in the place where you deft it." + +Ali Khaujeh went into the merchant's warehouse, took his jar; and +after having returned him the key with thanks for the favour he +had done: him, returned with it to the khan where he lodged; but +on opening the jar, and putting his hand down as low as the +pieces of gold had lain, was greatly surprised to find none. At +first he thought he might perhaps be mistaken; and, to discover +the truth, poured out all the olives into his travelling +kitchen-utensils, but without so much as finding one single piece +of money. His astonishment was so great, that he stood for some +time motionless; then lifting up his hands and eyes to Heaven, he +exclaimed, "Is it possible that a man, whom I took for my friend, +should be guilty of such baseness?" + +Ali Khaujeh, alarmed at the apprehension of so considerable a +loss, returned immediately to the merchant. "My good friend," +said he, "be not surprised to see me come back so soon. I own the +jar of olives to be the same I placed in your warehouse; but with +the olives I put into it a thousand pieces of gold, which I do +not find. Perhaps you might have occasion for them, and have +employed them in trade: if so they are at your service till it +may be convenient for you to return them; only put me out of my +pain, and give me an acknowledgment, after which you may pay me +at your own convenience." + +The merchant, who had expected that Ali Khaujeh would come with +such a complaint, had meditated an answer. "Friend Ali Khaujeh," +said he, "when you brought your jar to me did I touch it? did not +I give you the key of my warehouse, did not you carry it there +yourself, and did not you find it in the same place, covered in +the same manner as when you left it? And if you had put gold in +it, you must have found it. You told me it contained olives, and +I believed you. This is all I know of the matter: you may +disbelieve me if you please; but I never touched them." + +Ali Khaujeh used all the mild methods he could think of to oblige +the merchant to restore his property. "I love peace and +quietness," said he to him, "and shall be sorry to come to those +extremities which will bring the greatest disgrace upon you; +consider, that merchants, as we are, ought to abandon all +interest to preserve a good reputation. Once again I tell you, I +shall be greatly concerned if your obstinacy oblige me to force +you to do me justice; for I would rather almost lose what is my +right than have recourse to law." + +"Ali Khaujeh," replied the merchant, "you agree that you left a +jar of olives with me; and now you have taken it away, you come +and ask me for a thousand pieces of gold. Did you ever tell me +that such a sum was in the jar? I did not even know that they +were olives, for you never showed them to me. I wonder you do not +ask me for diamonds and pearls instead of gold; be gone about +your business, and do not raise a mob about my warehouse;" for +some persons had already collected. These words were pronounced +in such great heat and passion, as not only made those who stood +about the warehouse already stay longer, and create a greater +mob, but the neighbouring merchants came out of their shops to +learn what the dispute was between Ali Khaujeh and the merchant, +and endeavoured to reconcile them; but when Ali Khaujeh had +informed them of his grievance, they asked the merchant what he +had to say. + +The merchant owned that he had kept the jar for Ali Khaujeh in +his warehouse, but denied that ever he had meddled with it; swore +that he knew it contained olives, only because Ali Khaujeh told +him so, and requested them all to bear witness of the insult and +affront offered him. "You bring it upon yourself," said Ali +Khaujeh taking him by the arm; "but since you use me so basely, I +cite you to the law of God: let us see whether you will have the +assurance to say the same thing before the cauzee." + +The merchant could not refuse the summons, which every Mussulmaun +is bound to observe, or be declared a rebel against religion; but +said, "With all my heart; we shall soon see who is in the wrong." + +Ali Khaujeh carried the merchant before the magistrate, where he +accused him of having, by breach of trust, defrauded him of a +thousand pieces of gold, which he had left with him. The cauzee +demanded if he had any witnesses; to which he replied, that he +had not taken that precaution, because he had believed the person +he trusted his money with to be his friend, and always took him +for an honest man. + +The merchant made the same defence he had done before the +merchants his neighbours, offering to make oath that he never had +the money he was accused of, and that he did not so much as know +there was such a sum; upon which the cauzee took his oath, and +dismissed him acquitted for want of evidence. + +Ali Khaujeh, extremely mortified to find that he must sit down +with so considerable a loss, protested against the sentence, +declaring to the cauzee that he would appeal to the caliph, who +would do him justice; which protestation the magistrate regarded +as the effect of the common resentment of those who lose their +cause; and thought he had done his duty in acquitting a person +who had been accused without witnesses. + +While the merchant returned home triumphing over Ali Khaujeh and +overjoyed at his good fortune, the latter went and drew up a +petition; and the next day observing the time when the caliph +came from noon tide prayers, placed himself in the street he was +to pass through; and holding out his hand with the petition, an +officer appointed for that purpose, who always goes before the +caliph, came and took it to present it. + +As Ali Khaujeh knew that it was the caliph's custom to read the +petitions at his return to the palace, he went into the court, +and waited till the officer who had taken the petition came out +of the caliph's apartment, who told him that the caliph had +appointed an hour to hear him next day; and then asking him where +the merchant lived, he sent to notify to him to attend at the +same time. + +That same evening, the caliph, accompanied by the grand vizier +Jaaffier, and Mesrour the chief of the eunuchs, went disguised +through the town, as it was his custom occasionally to do; when, +on passing through a street, the caliph heard a noise, and +mending his pace, came to a gateway, which led into a little +court, in which he perceived ten or twelve children playing by +moonlight. + +The caliph, who was curious to know at what play the children +were engaged, sat down on a stone bench just by; and heard one of +the liveliest of the children say, "Let us play at the cauzee I +will be the magistrate; bring Ali Khaujeh and the merchant who +cheated him of the thousand pieces of gold before me." + +These words of the child put the caliph in mind of the petition +Ali Khaujeh had given him that day, and made him redouble his +attention to see the issue of the trial. + +As the affair of Ali Khaujeh and the merchant had made a great +noise in Bagdad, it had not escaped the children, who all +accepted the proposition with joy, and agreed on the part each +was to act: not one of them refused him who made the proposal to +be cauzee: and when he had taken his seat, which he did with all +the seeming gravity of a judge, another, as an officer of the +court, presented two boys before him; one as Ali Khaujeh, and the +other as the merchant against whom he complained. + +The pretended cauzee then directing his discourse to the feigned +Ali Khaujeh, asked him what he had to lay to that merchant's +charge? + +Ali Khaujeh after a low obeisance, informed the young cauzee of +the fact, related every particular, and afterwards begged that he +would use his authority, that he might not lose so considerable a +sum of money. + +The feigned cauzee, turning about to the merchant, then asked him +why he did not return the money which Ali Khaujeh demanded of +him? + +The feigned merchant alleged the same reasons as the real +merchant had done before the cauzee himself, and offered to +confirm by oath that what he had said was truth. + +"Not so fast," replied the pretended cauzee; "before you come to +your oath, I should be glad to see the jar of olives. Ali +Khaujeh," said he, addressing himself to the boy who acted that +part, "have you brought the jar?" "No," replied he. "Then go and +fetch it immediately," said the other. + +The pretended Ali Khaujeh went immediately, and returning, +feigned to set a jar before the cauzee, telling him that it was +the same he had left with the accused person, and received from +him again. But to omit no part of the formality, the supposed +cauzee asked the merchant if it was the same; and as by his +silence he seemed not to deny it, he ordered it to be opened. He +that represented Ali Khaujeh seemed to take off the cover, and +the pretended cauzee made as if he looked into it. "They are fine +olives," said he, "let me taste them;" and then pretending to eat +some, added, "They are excellent: but," continued he, "I cannot +think that olives will keep seven years, and be so good, +therefore send for some olive-merchants, and let me hear what is +their opinion." Two boys, as olive-merchants, then presented +themselves. "Are you olive-merchants?" said the sham cauzee. +"Tell me how long olives will keep fit to eat." + +"Sir," replied the two merchants, "let us take what care we can, +they will hardly be worth any thing the third year; for then they +have neither taste nor colour." "If it be so," answered the +cauzee, "look into that jar, and tell me how long it is since +those olives were put into it?" + +The two merchants pretended to examine and to taste the olives, +and told the cauzee they were new and good. "You are mistaken," +said the young cauzee; "Ali Khaujeh says he put them into the jar +seven years ago." + +"Sir," replied the merchants, "we can assure you they are of this +year's growth: and we will maintain there is not a merchant in +Bagdad but will say the same." + +The feigned merchant who was accused would have objected against +the evidence of the olive-merchants; but the pretended cauzee +would not suffer him. "Hold your tongue," said he, "you are a +rogue; let him be impaled." The children then concluded their +play, clapping their hands with great joy, and seizing the +feigned criminal to carry him to execution. + +Words cannot express how much the caliph Haroon al Rusheed +admired the sagacity and sense of the boy who had passed so just +a sentence, in an affair which was to be pleaded before himself +the next day. He withdrew, and rising off the bench, asked the +grand vizier, who heard all that had passed, what he thought of +it. "Indeed, commander of the true believers," answered the grand +vizier Jaaffier, "I am surprised to find so much sagacity in one +so young." + +"But," answered the caliph, "do you know one thing? I am to +pronounce sentence in this very cause to-morrow; the true Ali +Khaujeh presented his petition to me to-day; and do you think," +continued he, "that I can give a better sentence?" "I think not," +answered the vizier, " if the case is as the children represented +it." "Take notice then of this house," said the caliph, "and +bring the boy to me to-morrow, that he may try this cause in my +presence; and also order the cauzee, who acquitted the merchant, +to attend to learn his duty from a child. Take care likewise to +bid Ali Khaujeh bring his jar of olives with him, and let two +olive-merchants attend." After this charge he pursued his rounds, +without meeting with any thing worth his attention. + +The next day the vizier went to the house where the caliph had +been a witness of the children's play, and asked for the master; +but he being abroad, his wife appeared thickly veiled. He asked +her if she had any children. To which she answered, she had +three; and called them. "My brave boys," said the vizier, "which +of you was the cauzee when you played together last night?" The +eldest made answer, it was he: but, not knowing why he asked the +question, coloured. "Come along with me, my lad," said the grand +vizier; "the commander of the faithful wants to see you." + +The mother was alarmed when she saw the grand vizier would take +her son with him, and asked, upon what account the caliph wanted +him? The grand vizier encouraged her, and promised that he should +return again in less than an hour's time, when she would know it +from himself. "If it be so, sir," said the mother, "give me leave +to dress him first, that he may be fit to appear before the +commander of the faithful:" which the vizier readily complied +with. + +As soon as the child was dressed, the vizier carried him away and +presented him to the caliph, at the time he had appointed to hear +Ali Khaujeh and the merchant. + +The caliph, who saw that the boy was much abashed, in order to +encourage him, said, "Come to me, child, and tell me if it was +you that determined the affair between Ali Khaujeh and the +merchant who had cheated him of his money? I saw and heard the +decision, and am very well pleased with you." The boy answered +modestly, that it was he. "Well, my son," replied the caliph, +"come and sit down by me, and you shall see the true Ali Khaujeh, +and the true merchant." + +The caliph then took him by the hand, seated him on the throne by +him, and asked for the two parties. When they were introduced, +they prostrated themselves before the throne, bowing their heads +quite down to the carpet that covered it. Afterwards the caliph +said to them, "Plead each of you your causes before this child, +who will hear and do you justice: and if he should be at a loss I +will assist him." + +Ali Khaujeh and the merchant pleaded one after the other; but +when the merchant proposed his oath as before, the child said, +"It is too soon; it is proper that we should see the jar of +olives." + +At these words Ali Khaujeh presented the jar, placed it at the +caliph's feet, and opened it. The caliph looked at the olives, +took one and tasted it, giving another to the boy. Afterwards the +merchants were called, who examined the olives, and reported that +they were good, and of that year. The boy told them, that Ali +Khaujeh affirmed that it was seven years since he had put them +up; when they returned the same answer as the children, who had +represented them the night before. + +Though the wretch who was accused saw plainly that these +merchants' opinion must convict him, yet he would say something +in his own justification. But the child, instead of ordering him +to be impaled, looked at the caliph, and said "Commander of the +faithful, this is no jesting matter; it is your majesty that must +condemn him to death, and not I, though I did it yesterday in +play." + +The caliph, fully satisfied of the merchant's villany, delivered +him into the hands of the ministers of justice to be impaled. The +sentence was executed upon him, after he had confessed where he +had concealed the thousand pieces of gold, which were restored to +Ali Khaujeh. The monarch, most just and equitable, then turning +to the cauzee, bade him learn of that child to acquit himself +more exactly of his duty; and embracing the boy, sent him home +with a purse of a hundred pieces of gold as a token of his +liberality and admiration of his acuteness. + + + + + +End of Volume 3. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 5666 *** |