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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5667.txt b/5667.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de56697 --- /dev/null +++ b/5667.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14349 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Arabian Nights Entertainments vol. 4, by Anon. +(#4 in our series by Anon.) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Arabian Nights Entertainments vol. 4 + +Author: Anon. + +Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5667] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 5, 2002] +[Most recently updated on May 22, 2007] + +Edition: 11 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS VOL. 4 *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by JC Byers. + + + +Text scanned by JC Byers and proofread by the Distributed +Proofers. + + + + + The "Aldine" Edition of + + The Arabian Nights Entertainments + + Illustrated by S. L. Wood + + FROM THE TEXT OF DR. JONATHAN SCOTT + + In Four Volumes + + Volume 4 + + + London + Pickering and Chatto + 1890 + + + + + Contents of Volume IV. + + +The Story of the Enchanted Horse +The Story of Prince Ahmed, and the Fairy Perie Banou +The Story of the Sisters Who Envied Their Younger Sister +Story of the Three Sharpers and the Sultan + The Adventures of the Abdicated Sultan + History of Mahummud, Sultan of Cairo + Story of the First Lunatic + Story of the Second Lunatic + Story of the Retired Sage and His Pupil, Related to the + Sultan by the Second Lunatic + Story of the Broken-backed Schoolmaster + Story of the Wry-mouthed Schoolmaster + Story of the Sisters and the Sultana Their Mother +Story of the Bang-eater and the Cauzee + Story of the Bang-eater and His Wife +The Sultan and the Traveller Mhamood Al Hyjemmee + The Koord Robber + Story of the Husbandman + Story of the Three Princes and Enchanting Bird + Story of a Sultan of Yemen and His Three Sons + Story of the First Sharper in the Cave + History of the Sultan of Hind +Story of the Fisherman's Son +Story of Abou Neeut and Abou Neeuteen; Or, the Well-intentioned + and the Double-minded +Adventure of a Courtier, Related by Himself to His Parton, an +Ameer of Egypt +Story of the Prince of Sind, and Fatima, Daughter of Amir Bin +Naomaun +Story of the Lovers of Syria; Or, the Heroine +Story of Hyjauje, the Tyrannical Governor of Coufeh, and the +Young Syed +Story of Ins Alwujjood and Wird Al Ikmaun, Daughter of Ibrahim, + Vizier to Sultan Shamikh +The Adventures of Mazin of Khorassaun +Story of the Sultan the Dervish, and the Barber's Son +Adventures of Aleefa Daughter of Mherejaun Sultan of Hind, and + Eusuff, Son of Sohul, Sultan of Sind +Adventures of the Three Princes, Sons of the Sultan of China +Story of the Good Vizier Unjustly Imprisoned +Story of the Lady of Cairo and Her Four Gallants + The Cauzee's Story +Story of the Merchant, His Daughter, and the Prince of Eerauk +Adventures of the Cauzee, His Wife, &c + The Sultan's Story of Himself +Conclusion + + + + + THE STORY OF THE ENCHANTED HORSE. + + + +The Nooroze, or the new day, which is the first of the year and +spring, is observed as a solemn festival throughout all Persia, +which has been continued from the time of idolatry; and our +prophet's religion, pure as it is, and true as we hold it, has +not been able to abolish that heathenish custom, and the +superstitious ceremonies which are observed, not only in the +great cities, but celebrated with extraordinary rejoicings in +every little town, village, and hamlet. + +But the rejoicings are the most splendid at the court, for the +variety of new and surprising spectacles, insomuch that strangers +are invited from the neighbouring states, and the most remote +parts, by the rewards and liberality of the sovereign, towards +those who are the most excellent in their invention and +contrivance. In short, nothing in the rest of the world can +compare with the magnificence of this festival. + +One of these festival days, after the most ingenious artists of +the country had repaired to Sheerauz, where the court then +resided, had entertained the king and all the court with their +productions, and had been bountifully and liberally rewarded +according to their merit and to their satisfaction by the +monarch; when the assembly was just breaking up, a Hindoo +appeared at the foot of the throne, with an artificial horse +richly caparisoned, and so naturally imitated, that at first +sight he was taken for a living animal. + +The Hindoo prostrated himself before the throne; and pointing to the +horse, said to the emperor, "Though I present myself the last before +your majesty, yet I can assure you that nothing shewn to-day is so +wonderful as this horse, on which I beg your majesty would be pleased +to cast your eyes." "I see nothing more in the horse," said the +emperor, "than the natural resemblance the workman has given him; +which the skill of another workman may possibly execute as well or +better." + +"Sir," replied the Hindoo, "it is not for his outward form and +appearance that I recommend my horse to your majesty's +examination as wonderful, but the use to which I can apply him, +and which, when I have communicated the secret to them, any other +persons may make of him. Whenever I mount him, be it where it +may, if I wish to transport myself through the air to the most +distant part of the world, I can do it in a very short time. +This, sir, is the wonder of my horse; a wonder which nobody ever +heard speak of, and which I offer to shew your majesty, if you +command me." + +The emperor of Persia, who was fond of every thing that was +curious, and notwithstanding the many prodigies of art he had +seen had never beheld or heard of anything that came up to this, +told the Hindoo, that nothing but the experience of what he +asserted could convince him: and that he was ready to see him +perform what he had promised. + +The Hindoo instantly put his foot into the stirrup, mounted his +horse with admirable agility, and when he had fixed himself in +the saddle, asked the emperor whither he pleased to command him. + +About three leagues from Sheerauz there was a lofty mountain +discernible from the large square before the palace, where the +emperor, his court, and a great concourse of people, then were. +"Do you see that mountain?" said the emperor, pointing to it; "it +is not a great distance from hence, but it is far enough to judge +of the speed you can make in going and returning. But because it +is not possible for the eye to follow you so far, as a proof that +you have been there, I expect that you will bring me a branch of +a palm-tree that grows at the bottom of the hill." + +The emperor of Persia had no sooner declared his will than the +Hindoo turned a peg, which was in the hollow of the horse's neck, +just by the pummel of the saddle; and in an instant the horse +rose off the ground and carried his rider into the air with the +rapidity of lightning to such a height, that those who had the +strongest sight could not discern him, to the admiration of the +emperor and all the spectators. Within less than a quarter of an +hour they saw him returning with the palm branch in his hand; but +before he descended, he took two or three turns in the air over +the spot, amid the acclamations of all the people; then alighted +on the spot whence he had set off, without receiving the least +shock from the horse to disorder him. He dismounted, and going up +to the throne, prostrated himself, and laid the branch of the +palm-tree at the feet of the emperor. + +The emperor, who had viewed with no less admiration than +astonishment this unheard-of sight which the Hindoo had +exhibited, conceived a great desire to have the horse; and as he +persuaded himself that he should not find it a difficult matter +to treat with the Hindoo, for whatever sum of money he should +value it at, began to regard it as the most valuable thing in his +treasury. "Judging of thy horse by his outward appearance," said +he to the Hindoo, "I did not think him so much worth my +consideration. As you have shewn me his merits, I am obliged to +you for undeceiving me; and to prove to you how much I esteem it, +I will purchase him of you, if he is to be sold." + +"Sir," replied the Hindoo, "I never doubted that your majesty, +who has the character of the most liberal prince on earth, would +set a just value on my work as soon as I had shewn you on what +account he was worthy your attention. I also foresaw that you +would not only admire and commend it, but would desire to have +it. Though I know his intrinsic value, and that my continuing +master of him would render my name immortal in the world; yet I +am not so fond of fame but I can resign him, to gratify your +majesty; however, in making this declaration, I have another to +add, without which I cannot resolve to part with him, and perhaps +you may not approve of it. + +"Your majesty will not be displeased," continued the Hindoo, "if +I tell you that I did not buy this horse, but obtained him of the +inventor, by giving him my only daughter in marriage, and +promising at the same time never to sell him; but if I parted +with him to exchange him for something that I should value beyond +all else." + +The Hindoo was proceeding, when at the word exchange, the emperor +of Persia interrupted him. "I am willing," said he, "to give you +whatever you may ask in exchange. You know my kingdom is large, +and contains many great, rich, and populous cities; I will give +you the choice of which you like best, in full sovereignty for +life." + +This exchange seemed royal and noble to the whole court; but was +much below what the Hindoo had proposed to himself, who had +raised his thoughts much higher. "I am infinitely obliged to your +majesty for the offer you make me," answered he, "and cannot +thank you enough for your generosity; yet I must beg of you not +to be displeased if I have the presumption to tell you, that I +cannot resign my horse, but by receiving the hand of the princess +your daughter as my wife: this is the only price at which I can +part with my property." + +The courtiers about the emperor of Persia could not forbear +laughing aloud at this extravagant demand of the Hindoo; but the +prince Firoze Shaw, the eldest son of the emperor, and +presumptive heir to the crown, could not hear it without +indignation. The emperor was of a very different opinion, and +thought he might sacrifice the princess of Persia to the Hindoo, +to satisfy his curiosity. He remained however undetermined, +considering what he should do. + +Prince Firoze Shaw, who saw his father hesitated what answer to +make, began to fear lest he should comply with the Hindoo's +demand, and regarded it as not only injurious to the royal +dignity, and to his sister, but also to himself; therefore to +anticipate his father, he said, "Sir, I hope your majesty will +forgive me for daring to ask, if it is possible your majesty +should hesitate about a denial to so insolent a demand from such +an insignificant fellow, and so scandalous a juggler? or give him +reason to flatter himself a moment with being allied to one of +the most powerful monarchs in the world? I beg of you to consider +what you owe to yourself, to your own blood, and the high rank of +your ancestors." + +"Son," replied the emperor of Persia, "I much approve of your +remonstrance, and am sensible of your zeal for preserving the +lustre of your birth; but you do not consider sufficiently the +excellence of this horse; nor that the Hindoo, if I should refuse +him, may make the offer somewhere else, where this nice point of +honour may be waived. I shall be in the utmost despair if another +prince should boast of having exceeded me in generosity, and +deprived me of the glory of possessing what I esteem as the most +singular and wonderful thing in the world. I will not say I +consent to grant him what he asked. Perhaps he has not well +considered his exorbitant demand: and putting my daughter the +princess out of the question, I may make another agreement with +him that will answer his purpose as well. But before I conclude +the bargain with him, I should be glad that you would examine the +horse, try him yourself, and give me your opinion." + +As it is natural for us to flatter ourselves in what we desire, +the Hindoo fancied, from what he had heard, that the emperor was +not entirely averse to his alliance, and that the prince might +become more favourable to him; therefore, he expressed much joy, +ran before the prince to help him to mount, and shewed him how to +guide and manage the horse. + +The prince mounted without the Hindoo's assisting him; and no +sooner had he got his feet in both stirrups, but without staying +for the artist's advice, he turned the peg he had seen him use, +when instantly the horse darted into the air, quick as an arrow +shot out of a bow by the most adroit archer; and in a few moments +the emperor his father and the numerous assembly lost sight of +him. Neither horse nor prince were to be seen. The Hindoo, +alarmed at what had happened, prostrated himself before the +throne, and said, "Your majesty must have remarked the prince was +so hasty, that he would not permit me to give him the necessary +instructions to govern my horse. From what he saw me do, he was +ambitious of shewing that he wanted not my advice. He was too +eager to shew his address, but knows not the way, which I was +going to shew him, to turn the horse, and make him descend at the +wish of his rider. Therefore, the favour I ask of your majesty +is, not to make me accountable for what accidents may befall him; +you are too just to impute to me any misfortune that may attend +him." + +This address of the Hindoo much surprised and afflicted the +emperor, who saw the danger his son was in to be inevitable, if, +as the Hindoo said, there was a secret to bring him back, +different from that which carried him away; and asked, in a +passion, why he did not call him the moment he ascended? + +"Sir," answered the Hindoo, "your majesty saw as well as I with +what rapidity the horse flew away. The surprise I was then, and +still am in, deprived me of the use of my speech; but if I could +have spoken, he was got too far to hear me. If he had heard me, +he knew not the secret to bring him back, which, through his +impatience, he would not stay to learn. But, sir," added he, +"there is room to hope that the prince, when he finds himself at +a loss, will perceive another peg, and as soon as he turns that, +the horse will cease to rise, and descend to the ground, when he +may turn him to what place he pleases by guiding him with the +bridle." + +Notwithstanding all these arguments of the Hindoo, which carried +great appearance of probability, the emperor of Persia was much +alarmed at the evident danger of his son. "I suppose," replied +he, "it is very uncertain whether my son may perceive the other +peg, and make a right use of it; may not the horse, instead of +lighting on the ground, fall upon some rock, or tumble into the +sea with him?" + +"Sir," replied the Hindoo, "I can deliver your majesty from this +apprehension, by assuring you, that the horse crosses seas +without ever falling into them, and always carries his rider +wherever he may wish to go. And your majesty may assure yourself, +that if the prince does but find out the other peg I mentioned, +the horse will carry him where he pleases. It is not to be +supposed that he will stop any where but where he can find +assistance, and make himself known." + +"Be it as it may," replied the emperor of Persia, "as I cannot +depend upon the assurance you give me, your head shall answer for +my son's life, if he does not return safe in three days' time, or +I should hear that he is alive." He then ordered his officers to +secure the Hindoo, and keep him close prisoner; after which he +retired to his palace in affliction that the festival of Nooroze +should have proved so inauspicious. + +In the mean time the prince was carried through the air with +prodigious velocity; and in less than an hour's time had ascended +so high, that he could not distinguish any thing on the earth, +but mountains and plains seemed confounded together. It was then +he began to think of returning, and conceived he might do this by +turning the same peg the contrary way, and pulling the bridle at +the same time. But when he found that the horse still rose with +the same swiftness, his alarm was great. He turned the peg +several times, one way and the other, but all in vain. It was +then he grew sensible of his fault, in not having learnt the +necessary precautions to guide the horse before he mounted. He +immediately apprehended the great danger he was in, but that +apprehension did not deprive him of his reason. He examined the +horse's head and neck with attention, and perceived behind the +right ear another peg, smaller than the other. He turned that +peg, and presently perceived that he descended in the same +oblique manner as he had mounted, but not so swiftly. + +Night had overshadowed that part of the earth over which the +prince was when he found out and turned the small peg; and as the +horse descended, he by degrees lost sight of the sun, till it +grew quite dark; insomuch that, instead of choosing what place he +would go to, he was forced to let the bridle lie upon the horse's +neck, and wait patiently till he alighted, though not without the +dread lest it should be in the desert, a river, or the sea. + +At last the horse stopped upon some solid substance about +midnight, and the prince dismounted very faint and hungry, having +eaten nothing since the morning, when he came out of the palace +with his father to assist at the festival. He found himself to be +on the terrace of a magnificent palace, surrounded with a +balustrade of white marble, breast high; and groping about, +reached a staircase, which led down into an apartment, the door +of which was half open. + +Few but prince Firoze Shaw would have ventured to descend those +stairs dark as it was, and in the danger he exposed himself to +from friends or foes. But no consideration could stop him. "I do +not come," said he to himself, "to do anybody harm; and +certainly, whoever meets or sees me first, and finds that I have +no arms in my hands, will not attempt any thing against my life, +before they hear what I have to say for myself." After this +reflection, he opened the door wider, without making any noise, +went softly down the stairs, that he might not awaken anybody; +and when he came to a landing-place on the staircase, found the +door of a great hall, that had a light in it, open. + +The prince stopped at the door, and listening, heard no other noise +than the snoring of some people who were fast asleep. He advanced a +little into the room, and by the light of a lamp saw that those +persons were black eunuchs, with naked sabres laid by them; which was +enough to inform him that this was the guard-chamber of some sultan or +princess; which latter it proved to be. + +In the next room to this the princess lay, as appeared by the light, +the door being open, through a silk curtain, which drew before the +door-way, whither prince Firoze Shaw advanced on tip-toe, without +waking the eunuchs. He drew aside the curtain, went in, and without +staying to observe the magnificence of the chamber, gave his attention +to something of greater importance. He saw many beds; only one of them +on a sofa, the rest on the floor. The princess slept in the first, and +her women in the others. + +This distinction was enough to direct the prince. He crept softly +towards the bed, without waking either the princess or her women, +and beheld a beauty so extraordinary, that he was charmed, and +inflamed with love at the first sight. "O heavens!" said he to +himself, "has my fate brought me hither to deprive me of my +liberty, which hitherto I have always preserved? How can I avoid +certain slavery, when those eyes shall open, since, without +doubt, they complete the lustre of this assemblage of charms! I +must quickly resolve, since I cannot stir without being my own +murderer; for so has necessity ordained." + +After these reflections on his situation, and on the princess's +beauty, he fell on his knees, and twitching gently the princess's +sleeve, pulled it towards him. The princess opened her eyes, and +seeing a handsome man on his knees, was in great surprise; yet +seemed to shew no sign of fear. + +The prince availed himself of this favourable moment, bowed his +head to the ground, and rising said, "Beautiful princess, by the +most extraordinary and wonderful adventure, you see at your feet +a suppliant prince, son of the emperor of Persia, who was +yesterday morning in his court, at the celebration of a solemn +festival, but is now in a strange country, in danger of his life, +if you have not the goodness and generosity to afford him your +assistance and protection. These I implore, adorable princess, +with confidence that you will not refuse me. I have the more +ground to persuade myself, as so much beauty and majesty cannot +entertain inhumanity." + +The personage to whom prince Firoze Shaw so happily addressed +himself was the princess of Bengal, eldest daughter of the Rajah +of that kingdom, who had built this palace at a small distance +from his capital, whither she went to take the benefit of the +country air. After she had heard the prince with all the candour +he could desire, she replied with equal goodness, "Prince, you +are not in a barbarous country; take courage; hospitality, +humanity, and politeness are to be met with in the kingdom of +Bengal, as well as in that of Persia. It is not merely I who +grant you the protection you ask; you not only have found it in +my palace, but will meet it throughout the whole kingdom; you may +believe me, and depend on what I say." + +The prince of Persia would have thanked the princess for her +civility, and had already bowed down his head to return the +compliment; but she would not give him leave to speak. +"Notwithstanding I desire," said she, "to know by what miracle +you have come hither from the capital of Persia in so short a +time; and by what enchantment you have been able to penetrate so +far as to come to my apartment, and to have evaded the vigilance +of my guards; yet, as it is impossible but you must want some +refreshment, and regarding you as a welcome guest, I will waive +my curiosity, and give orders to my women to regale you, and shew +you an apartment, that you may rest yourself after your fatigue, +and be better able to satisfy my curiosity." + +The princess's women, who awoke at the first words which the +prince addressed to the princess, were in the utmost surprise to +see a man at the princess's feet, as they could not conceive how +he had got thither, without waking them or the eunuchs. They no +sooner comprehended the princess's intentions, than they were +ready to obey her commands. They each took a wax candle, of which +there were great numbers lighted up in the room; and after the +prince had respectfully taken leave, went before and conducted +him into a handsome chamber; where, while some were preparing the +bed, others went into the kitchen; and notwithstanding it was so +unseasonable an hour, they did not make prince Firoze Shaw wait +long, but brought him presently a collation; and when he had +eaten as much as he chose, removed the trays, and left him to +taste the sweets of repose. + +In the mean time, the princess of Bengal was so struck with the +charms, wit, politeness, and other good qualities which she had +discovered in her short interview with the prince, that she could +not sleep: but when her women came into her room again asked them +if they had taken care of him, if he wanted any thing; and +particularly, what they thought of him? + +The women, after they had satisfied her as to the first queries, +answered to the last: "We do not know what you may think of him, +but, for our parts, we are of opinion you would be very happy if +your father would marry you to so amiable a youth; for there is +not a prince in all the kingdom of Bengal to be compared to him; +nor can we hear that any of the neighbouring princes are worthy +of you." + +This flattering compliment was not displeasing to the princess of +Bengal; but as she had no mind to declare her sentiments, she +imposed silence, telling them that they talked without +reflection, bidding them return to rest, and let her sleep. + +The next day the princess took more pains in dressing and +adjusting herself at the glass than she had ever done before. She +never tired her women's patience so much, by making them do and +undo the same thing several times. She adorned her head, neck, +arms, and waist, with the finest and largest diamonds she +possessed. The habit she put on was one of the richest stuffs of +the Indies, of a most beautiful colour, and made only for kings, +princes, and princesses. After she had consulted her glass, and +asked her women, one after another, if any thing was wanting to +her attire, she sent to know, if the prince of Persia was awake; +and as she never doubted but that, if he was up and dressed, he +would ask leave to come and pay his respects to her, she charged +the messenger to tell him she would make him the visit, and she +had her reasons for this. + +The prince of Persia, who by the night's rest had recovered the +fatigue he had undergone the day before, had just dressed +himself, when he received the princess of Bengal's compliments by +one of her women. Without giving the lady who brought the message +leave to communicate it, he asked her, if it was proper for him +then to go and pay his respects to the princess; and when the +lady had acquitted herself of her errand, he replied, "It shall +be as the princess thinks fit; I came here to be solely at her +pleasure." + +As soon as the princess understood that the prince of Persia +waited for her, she immediately went to pay him a visit. After +mutual compliments, the prince asking pardon for having waked the +princess out of a profound sleep, and the princess inquiring +after his health, and how he had rested, the princess sat down on +a sofa, as did also the prince, though at some distance, out of +respect. + +The princess then resuming the conversation, said, "I would have +received you, prince, in the chamber in which you found me last +night; but as the chief of my eunuchs has the liberty of entering +it, and never comes further without my leave, from my impatience +to hear the surprising adventure which procured me the happiness +of seeing you, I chose to come hither, that we may not be +interrupted; therefore I beg of you to give me that satisfaction, +which will highly oblige me." + +Prince Firoze Shaw, to gratify the princess of Bengal, began with +describing the festival of the Nooroze, and mentioned the shows +which had amazed the court of Persia, and the people of Sheerauz. +Afterwards he came to the enchanted horse; the description of +which, with the account of the wonders which the Hindoo had +performed before so august an assembly, convinced the princess +that nothing of that kind could be imagined more surprising in +the world. "You may well think, charming princess," continued the +prince of Persia, "that the emperor my father, who cares not what +he gives for any thing that is rare and curious, would be very +desirous to purchase such a curiosity. He asked the Hindoo what +he would have for him; who made him an extravagant reply, telling +him, that he had not bought him, but taken him in exchange for +his only daughter, and could not part with him but on the like +condition, which was to have his consent to marry the princess my +sister. + +"The crowd of courtiers, who stood about the emperor my father, +hearing the extravagance of this proposal, laughed loudly; I for +my part conceived such great indignation, that I could not +disguise it; and the more, because I saw that my father was +doubtful what answer he should give. In short, I believe he would +have granted him what he asked, if I had not represented to him +how injurious it would be to his honour; yet my remonstrance +could not bring him entirely to quit his design of sacrificing +the princess my sister to so despicable a person. He fancied he +should bring me over to his opinion, if once I could comprehend, +as he imagined he did, the singular worth of this horse. With +this view he would have me mount, and make a trial of him myself. + +"To please my father, I mounted the horse, and as soon as I was +upon his back, put my hand on a peg, as I had seen the Hindoo do +before, to make the horse mount into the air, without stopping to +take instructions of the owner for his guidance or descent. The +instant I touched the peg, the horse ascended, as swift as an +arrow shot out of a bow, and I was presently at such a distance +from the earth that I could not distinguish any object. From the +swiftness of the motion I was for some time unapprehensive of the +danger to which I was exposed; when I grew sensible of it, I +endeavoured to turn the peg the contrary way. But the experiment +would not answer my expectation, for still the horse rose, and +carried me a greater distance from the earth. At last I perceived +another peg, which I turned, and then I grew sensible that the +horse descended towards the earth, and presently found myself so +surrounded with darkness, that it was impossible for me to guide +the machine. In this condition I laid the bridle on his neck, and +trusted myself to the will of God to dispose of my fate. + +"At length the horse stopped, I got off his back, and examining +whereabouts I might be, perceived myself on the terrace of this +palace, and found the door of the staircase half open. I came +softly down the stairs, and seeing a door open, put my head into +the room, perceived some eunuchs asleep, and a great light in an +adjoining chamber. The necessity I was under, notwithstanding the +inevitable danger to which I should be exposed, if the eunuchs +had waked, inspired me with the boldness, or rather rashness, to +cross that room to get to the other. + +"It is needless," added the prince, "to tell you the rest, since +you are not unacquainted with all that passed afterwards. But I +am obliged in duty to thank you for your goodness and generosity, +and to beg of you to let me know how I may shew my gratitude. +According to the law of nations I am already your slave, and +cannot make you an offer of my person; there only remains my +heart: but, alas! princess, what do I say? My heart is no longer +my own, your charms have forced it from me, but in such a manner, +that I will never ask for it again, but yield it up; give me +leave, therefore, to declare you mistress both of my heart and +inclination." + +These last words of the prince were pronounced with such an air +and tone, that the princess of Bengal never doubted of the effect +she had expected from her charms; neither did she seem to resent +the precipitate declaration of the prince of Persia. Her blushes +served but to heighten her beauty, and render her more amiable in +his eyes. + +As soon as she had recovered herself, she replied, "Prince, you +have given me sensible pleasure, by telling me your wonderful +adventure. But, on the other hand, I can hardly forbear +shuddering, when I think on the height you were in the air; and +though I have the good fortune to see you here safe and well, I +was in pain till you came to that part where the horse +fortunately descended upon the terrace of my palace. The same +thing might have happened in a thousand other places. I am glad +that chance has given me the preference to the whole world, and +of the opportunity of letting you know, that it could not have +conducted you to any place where you could have been received +with greater pleasure. + +"But, prince," continued she, "I should think myself offended, if +I believed that the thought you mentioned of being my slave was +serious, and that it did not proceed from your politeness rather +than from a sincerity of sentiment; for, by the reception I gave +you yesterday, you might assure yourself you are here as much at +liberty as in the midst of the court of Persia. + +"As to your heart," added the princess, in a tone which shewed +nothing less than a refusal, "as I am persuaded that you have not +lived so long without disposing of it, and that you could not +fail of making choice of a princess who deserves it, I should be +sorry to give you an occasion to be guilty of infidelity to her." + +Prince Firoze Shaw would have protested that when he left Persia +he was master of his own heart: but, at that instant, one of the +princess's ladies in waiting came to tell that a collation was +served up. + +This interruption delivered the prince and princess from an +explanation, which would have been equally embarrassing to both, +and of which they stood in need. The princess of Bengal was fully +convinced of the prince of Persia's sincerity; and the prince, +though the princess had not explained herself, judged +nevertheless from some words she had let fall, that he had no +reason to complain. + +As the lady held the door open, the princess of Bengal said to +the prince, rising off her seat, as he did also from his, "I am +not used to eat so early; but as I fancied you might have had but +an indifferent supper last night, I ordered breakfast to be got +ready sooner than ordinary." After this compliment she led him +into a magnificent hall, where a cloth was laid covered with +great plenty of choice and excellent viands; and as soon as they +were seated, many beautiful slaves of the princess, richly +dressed, began a most agreeable concert of vocal and instrumental +music, which lasted the whole time of eating. + +This concert was so sweet and well managed, that it did not in +the least interrupt the prince and princess's conversation. The +prince served the princess with the choicest of every thing, and +strove to outdo her in civility, both by words and actions, which +she returned with many new compliments: and in this reciprocal +commerce of civilities and attentions, love made a greater +progress in both than a concerted interview would have promoted. + +When they rose, the princess conducted the prince into a large +and magnificent saloon, embellished with paintings in blue and +gold, and richly furnished; there they both sat down in a +balcony, which afforded a most agreeable prospect into the palace +garden, which prince Firoze Shaw admired for the vast variety of +flowers, shrubs, and trees, which were full as beautiful as those +of Persia, but quite different. Here taking the opportunity of +entering into conversation with the princess, he said, "I always +believed, madam, that no part of the world but Persia afforded +such stately palaces and beautiful gardens; but now I see, that +other great monarchs know as well how to build mansions suitable +to their power and greatness; and if there is a difference in the +manner of building, there is none in the degree of grandeur and +magnificence." + +"Prince," replied the princess of Bengal, "as I have no idea of +the palaces of Persia, I cannot judge of the comparison you have +made of mine. But, however sincere you seem to be, I can hardly +think it just, but rather incline to believe it a compliment: I +will not despise my palace before you; you have too good an eye, +too good a taste not to form a sound judgment. But I assure you, +I think it very indifferent when I compare it with the king my +father's, which far exceeds it for grandeur, beauty, and +richness; you shall tell me yourself what you think of it, when +you have seen it: for since a chance has brought you so nigh to +the capital of this kingdom, I do not doubt but you will see it, +and make my father a visit, that he may pay you all the honour +due to a prince of your rank and merit." + +The princess flattered herself, that by exciting in the prince of +Persia a curiosity to see the capital of Bengal, and to visit her +father, the king, seeing him so handsome, wise, and accomplished +a prince, might perhaps resolve to propose an alliance with him, +by offering her to him as a wife. And as she was well persuaded +she was not indifferent to the prince, and that he would be +pleased with the proposal, she hoped to attain to the utmost of +her wishes, and preserve all the decorum becoming a princess, who +would appear resigned to the will of her king and father; but the +prince of Persia did not return her an answer according to her +expectation. + +"Princess," he replied, "the preference which you give the king +of Bengal's palace to your own is enough to induce me to believe +it much exceeds it: and as to the proposal of my going and paying +my respects to the king your father, I should not only do myself +a pleasure, but an honour. But judge, princess, yourself, would +you advise me to present myself before so great a monarch, like +an adventurer, without attendants, and a train suitable to my +rank?" + +"Prince," replied the princess, "let not that give you any pain; +if you will but go, you shall want no money to have what train +and attendants you please: I will furnish you; and we have +traders here of all nations in great numbers, and you may make +choice of as many as you please to form your household." + +Prince Firoze Shaw penetrated the princess of Bengal's intention, +and this sensible mark of her love still augmented his passion, +which, notwithstanding its violence, made him not forget his +duty. Without any hesitation he replied, "Princess, I should most +willingly accept of the obliging offer you make me, for which I +cannot sufficiently shew my gratitude, if the uneasiness my +father must feel on account of my absence did not prevent me. I +should be unworthy of the tenderness he has always had for me, if +I should not return as soon as possible to calm his fears. I know +him so well, that while I have the happiness of enjoying the +conversation of so lovely a princess, I am persuaded he is +plunged into the deepest grief, and has lost all hopes of seeing +me again. I trust you will do me the justice to believe, that I +cannot, without ingratitude, and being guilty of a crime, +dispense with going to restore to him that life, which a too long +deferred return may have endangered already. + +"After this, princess," continued the prince of Persia, "if you +will permit me, and think me worthy to aspire to the happiness of +becoming your husband, as my father has always declared that he +never would constrain me in my choice, I should find it no +difficult matter to get leave to return, not as a stranger, but +as a prince, to contract an alliance with your father by our +marriage; and I am persuaded that the emperor will be overjoyed +when I tell him with what generosity you received me, though a +stranger in distress." + +The princess of Bengal was too reasonable, after what the prince +of Persia had said, to persist any longer in persuading him to +pay a visit to the raja of Bengal, or to ask any thing of him +contrary to his duty and honour. But she was much alarmed to find +he thought of so sudden a departure; fearing, that if he took his +leave of her so soon, instead of remembering his promise, he +would forget when he ceased to see her. To divert him from his +purpose, she said to him, "Prince, my intention of proposing a +visit to my father was not to oppose so just a duty as that you +mention, and which I did not foresee. But I cannot approve of +your going so soon as you propose; at least grant me the favour I +ask of a little longer acquaintance; and since I have had the +happiness to have you alight in the kingdom of Bengal, rather +than in the midst of a desert, or on the top of some steep craggy +rock, from which it would have been impossible for you to +descend, I desire you will stay long enough to enable you to give +a better account at the court of Persia of what you may see +here." + +The sole end the princess had in this request was, that the +prince of Persia, by a longer stay, might become insensibly more +passionately enamoured of her charms; hoping thereby that his +ardent desire of returning would diminish, and then he might be +brought to appear in public, and pay a visit to the Rajah of +Bengal. The prince of Persia could not well refuse her the favour +she asked, after the kind reception she had given him; and +therefore politely complied with her request; and the princess's +thoughts were directed to render his stay agreeable by all the +amusements she could devise. + +Nothing went forward for several days but concerts of music, +accompanied with magnificent feasts and collations in the +gardens, or hunting-parties in the vicinity of the palace, which +abounded with all sorts of game, stags, hinds, and fallow deer, +and other beasts peculiar to the kingdom of Bengal, which the +princess could pursue without danger. After the chase, the prince +and princess met in some beautiful spot, where a carpet was +spread, and cushions laid for their accommodation. There resting +themselves, after their violent exercise, they conversed on +various subjects. The princess took pains to turn the +conversation on the grandeur, power, riches, and government of +Persia; that from the prince's replies she might have an +opportunity to talk of the kingdom of Bengal, and its advantages, +and engage him to resolve to make a longer stay there; but she +was disappointed in her expectations. + +The prince of Persia, without the least exaggeration, gave so +advantageous an account of the extent of the kingdom of Persia, +its magnificence and riches, its military force, its commerce by +sea and land with the most remote parts of the world, some of +which were unknown even to him; the vast number of large cities +it contained, almost as populous as that which the emperor had +chosen for his residence, where he had palaces furnished ready to +receive him at all seasons of the year; so that he had his choice +always to enjoy a perpetual spring; that before he had concluded, +the princess found the kingdom of Bengal to be very much inferior +to that of Persia in a great many respects. When he had finished +his relation, he begged of her to entertain him with a +description of Bengal. + +The princess after much entreaty gave prince Firoze Shaw that +satisfaction; but by lessening a great many advantages the +kingdom of Bengal was well known to have over that of Persia, she +betrayed the disposition she felt to accompany him, so that he +believed she would consent at the first proposition he should +make; but he thought it would not be proper to make it till he +had shewed her so much deference as to stay with her long enough +to make the blame fall on herself, in case she wished to detain +him from returning to his father. + +Two whole months the prince of Persia abandoned himself entirely +to the will of the princess of Bengal, yielding to all the +amusements she contrived for him, for she neglected nothing to +divert him, as if she thought he had nothing else to do but to +pass his whole life with her in this manner. But he now declared +seriously he could not stay longer, and begged of her to give him +leave to return to his father; repeating again the promise he had +made her to come back soon in a style worthy of her and himself, +and to demand her in marriage of the Rajah of Bengal. + +"And, princess," observed the prince of Persia, "that you may not +suspect the truth of what I say; and that by my asking this +permission you may not rank me among those false lovers who +forget the object of their affection as soon as absent from them; +to shew that my passion is real, and not feigned, and that life +cannot be pleasant to me when absent from so lovely a princess, +whose love to me I cannot doubt is mutual; I would presume, were +I not afraid you would be offended at my request, to ask the +favour of taking you along with me." + +As the prince saw that the princess blushed at these words, +without any mark of anger, he proceeded, and said, "Princess, as +for my father's consent, and the reception he will give you, I +venture to assure you he will receive you with pleasure into his +alliance; and as for the Rajah of Bengal, after all the love and +tender regard he has always expressed for you, he must be the +reverse of what you have described him, an enemy to your repose +and happiness, if he should not receive in a friendly manner the +embassy which my father will send to him for his approbation of +our marriage." + +The princess returned no answer to this address of the prince of +Persia; but her silence, and eyes cast down, were sufficient to +inform him that she had no reluctance to accompany him into +Persia. The only difficulty she felt was, that the prince knew +not well enough how to govern the horse, and she was apprehensive +of being involved with him in the same difficulty as when he +first made the experiment. But the prince soon removed her fear, +by assuring her she might trust herself with him, for that after +the experience he had acquired, he defied the Hindoo himself to +manage him better. She thought therefore only of concerting +measures to get off with him so secretly, that nobody belonging +to the palace should have the least suspicion of their design. + +The next morning, a little before day-break, when all the +attendants were asleep, they went upon the terrace of the palace. +The prince turned the horse towards Persia, and placed him where +the princess could easily get up behind him; which she had no +sooner done, and was well settled with her arms about his waist, +for her better security, than he turned the peg, when the horse +mounted into the air, and making his usual haste, under the +guidance of the prince, in two hours time the prince discovered +the capital of Persia. + +He would not alight at the great square from whence he had set +out, nor in the palace, but directed his course towards a +pleasure-house at a little distance from the capital. He led the +princess into a handsome apartment, where he told her, that to do +her all the honour that was due to her, he would go and inform +his father of their arrival, and return to her immediately. He +ordered the housekeeper of the palace, who was then present, to +provide the princess with whatever she had occasion for. + +After the prince had taken his leave of the princess, he ordered +a horse to be saddled, which he mounted, after sending back the +housekeeper to the princess, with orders to provide her +refreshments immediately, and then set forwards for the palace. +As he passed through the streets he was received with +acclamations by the people, who were overjoyed to see him again. +The emperor his father was giving audience, when he appeared +before him in the midst of his council. He received him with +ecstacy, and embracing him with tears of joy and tenderness, +asked him, what was become of the Hindoo's horse. + +This question gave the prince an opportunity of describing the +embarrassment and danger he was in when the horse ascended into +the air, and how he had arrived at last at the princess of +Bengal's palace, the kind reception he had met with there, and +that the motive which had induced him to stay so long with her +was the affection she had shewn him; also, that after promising +to marry her, he had persuaded her to accompany him into Persia. +"But, sir," added the prince, "I felt assured that you would not +refuse your consent, and have brought her with me on the +enchanted horse, to a palace where your majesty often goes for +your pleasure; and have left her there, till I could return and +assure her that my promise was not in vain." + +After these words, the prince prostrated himself before the +emperor to obtain his consent, when his father raised him up, +embraced him a second time, and said to him, "Son, I not only +consent to your marriage with the princess of Bengal, but will go +and meet her myself, and thank her for the obligation I in +particular have to her, and will bring her to my palace, and +celebrate your nuptials this day." + +The emperor now gave orders for his court to make preparations +for the princess's entry; that the rejoicings should be announced +by the royal band of military music, and that the Hindoo should +be fetched out of prison and brought before him. When the Hindoo +was conducted before the emperor, he said to him, "I secured thy +person, that thy life, though not a sufficient victim to my rage +and grief, might answer for that of the prince my son, whom, +however, thanks to God! I have found again: go, take your horse, +and never let me see your face more." + +As the Hindoo had learned of those who brought him out of prison +that prince Firoze Shaw was returned with a princess, and was +also informed of the place where he had alighted and left her, +and that the emperor was making preparations to go and bring her +to his palace; as soon as he got out of the presence, he +bethought himself of being revenged upon the emperor and the +prince. Without losing any time, he went directly to the palace, +and addressing himself to the keeper, told him, he came from the +prince of Persia for the princess of Bengal, and to conduct her +behind him through the air to the emperor, who waited in the +great square of his palace to gratify the whole court and city of +Sheerauz with that wonderful sight. + +The palace-keeper, who knew the Hindoo, and that the emperor had +imprisoned him, gave the more credit to what he said, because he +saw that he was at liberty. He presented him to the princess of +Bengal; who no sooner understood that he came from the prince of +Persia than she consented to what the prince, as she thought, had +desired of her. + +The Hindoo, overjoyed at his success, and the ease with which he +had accomplished his villany, mounted his horse, took the +princess behind him, with the assistance of the keeper, turned +the peg, and instantly the horse mounted into the air. + +At the same time the emperor of Persia, attended by his court, +was on the road to the palace where the princess of Bengal had +been left, and the prince of Persia was advanced before, to +prepare the princess to receive his father; when the Hindoo, to +brave them both, and revenge himself for the ill-treatment he had +received, appeared over their heads with his prize. + +When the emperor of Persia saw the ravisher, he stopped. His +surprise and affliction were the more sensible, because it was +not in his power to punish so high an affront. He loaded him with +a thousand imprecations, as did also all the courtiers, who were +witnesses of so signal a piece of insolence and unparalleled +artifice and treachery. + +The Hindoo, little moved with their curses, which just reached +his ears, continued his way, while the emperor, extremely +mortified at so great an insult, but more so that he could not +punish the author, returned to his palace in rage and vexation. + +But what was prince Firoze Shaw's grief at beholding the Hindoo +hurrying away the princess of Bengal, whom he loved so +passionately that he could not live without her! At a spectacle +so little expected he was confounded, and before he could +deliberate with himself what measures to pursue, the horse was +out of sight. He could not resolve how to act, whether he should +return to his father's palace, and shut himself in his apartment, +to give himself entirely up to his affliction, without attempting +to pursue the ravisher. But as his generosity, love, and courage, +would not suffer this, he continued on his way to the palace +where he had left his princess. + +When he arrived, the palace-keeper, who was by this time +convinced of his fatal credulity, in believing the artful Hindoo, +threw himself at his feet with tears in his eyes, accused himself +of the crime, which unintentionally he had committed, and +condemned himself to die by his hand. "Rise," said the prince to +him, "I do not impute the loss of my princess to thee, but to my +own want of precaution. But not to lose time, fetch me a +dervish's habit, and take care you do not give the least hint +that it is for me." + +Not far from this palace there stood a convent of dervishes, the +superior of which was the palace-keeper's particular friend. He +went to his chief, and telling him that a considerable officer at +court and a man of worth, to whom he had been very much obliged +and wished to favour, by giving him an opportunity to withdraw +from some sudden displeasure of the emperor, readily obtained a +complete dervish's habit, and carried it to prince Firoze Shaw. +The prince immediately pulled off his own dress, put it on, and +being so disguised, and provided with a box of jewels, which he +had brought as a present to the princess, left the palace, +uncertain which way to go, but resolved not to return till he had +found out his princess, and brought her back again, or perish in +the attempt. + +But to return to the Hindoo; he governed his enchanted horse so +well, that he arrived early next morning in a wood, near the +capital of the kingdom of Cashmeer. Being hungry, and concluding +the princess was so also, he alighted in that wood, in an open +part of it, and left the princess on a grassy spot, close to a +rivulet of clear fresh water. + +During the Hindoo's absence, the princess of Bengal, who knew +that she was in the power of a base ravisher, whose violence she +dreaded, thought of escaping from him, and seeking out for some +sanctuary. But as she had eaten scarcely any thing on her arrival +at the palace, was so faint, that she could not execute her +design, but was forced to abandon it and stay where she was, +without any other resource than her courage, and a firm +resolution rather to suffer death than be unfaithful to the +prince of Persia. When the Hindoo returned, she did not wait to +be entreated, but ate with him, and recovered herself enough to +answer with courage to the insolent language he now began to hold +to her. After many threats, as she saw that the Hindoo was +preparing to use violence, she rose up to make resistance, and by +her cries and shrieks drew towards them a company of horsemen, +which happened to be the sultan of Cashmeer and his attendants, +who, as they were returning from hunting, happily for the +princess of Bengal, passed through that part of the wood, and ran +to her assistance, at the noise she made. + +The sultan addressed himself to the Hindoo, demanded who he was, +and wherefore he ill treated the lady? The Hindoo, with great +impudence, replied, "That she was his wife, and what had any one +to do with his quarrel with her?" + +The princess, who neither knew the rank nor quality of the person +who came so seasonably to her relief, told the Hindoo he was a +liar; and said to the sultan, "My lord, whoever you are whom +Heaven has sent to my assistance, have compassion on a princess, +and give no credit to that impostor. Heaven forbid that I should +be the wife of so vile and despicable a Hindoo! a wicked +magician, who has forced me away from the prince of Persia, to +whom I was going to be united, and has brought me hither on the +enchanted horse you behold there." + +The princess of Bengal had no occasion to say more to persuade +the sultan of Cashmeer that what she told him was truth. Her +beauty, majestic air, and tears, spoke sufficiently for her. +Justly enraged at the insolence of the Hindoo, he ordered his +guards to surround him, and strike off his head: which sentence +was immediately executed. + +The princess, thus delivered from the persecution of the Hindoo, +fell into another no less afflicting. The sultan conducted her to +his palace, where he lodged her in the most magnificent +apartment, next his own, commanded a great number of women slaves +to attend her, and ordered a guard of eunuchs. He led her himself +into the apartment he had assigned her; where, without giving her +time to thank him for the great obligation she had received, he +said to her, "As I am certain, princess, that you must want rest, +I will take my leave of you till to-morrow, when you will be +better able to relate to me the circumstances of this strange +adventure;" and then left her. + +The princess of Bengal's joy was inexpressible at finding herself +delivered from the violence of the Hindoo, of whom she could not +think without horror. She flattered herself that the sultan of +Cashmeer would complete his generosity by sending her back to the +prince of Persia when she should have told him her story, and +asked that favour of him; but she was much deceived in these +hopes; for her deliverer had resolved to marry her himself the +next day; and for that end had ordered rejoicings to be made by +day-break, by beating of drums, sounding of trumpets, and other +instruments expressive of joy; which not only echoed through the +palace, but throughout the whole city. + +The princess of Bengal was awakened by these tumultuous concerts; +but attributed them to a very different cause from the true one. +When the sultan of Cashmeer, who had given orders that he should +be informed when the princess was ready to receive a visit, came +to wait upon her; after he had inquired after her health, he +acquainted her that all those rejoicings were to render their +nuptials the more solemn; and at the same time desired her assent +to the union. This declaration put her into such agitation that +she fainted away. + +The women-slaves, who were present, ran to her assistance; and +the sultan did all he could to bring her to herself, though it +was a long time before they succeeded. But when she recovered, +rather than break the promise she had made to prince Firoze Shaw, +by consenting to marry the sultan of Cashmeer, who had proclaimed +their nuptials before he had asked her consent, she resolved to +feign madness. She began to utter the most extravagant +expressions before the sultan, and even rose off her seat as if +to attack him; insomuch that he was greatly alarmed and +afflicted, that he had made such a proposal so unseasonably. + +When he found that her frenzy rather increased than abated, he +left her with her women, charging them never to leave her alone, +but to take great care of her. He sent often that day to inquire +how she did; but received no other answer than that she was +rather worse than better. At night she seemed more indisposed +than she had been all day, insomuch that the sultan deferred the +happiness he had promised himself. + +The princess of Bengal continued to talk wildly, and shew other +marks of a disordered mind, next day and the following; so that +the sultan was induced to send for all the physicians belonging +to his court, to consult them upon her disease, and to ask if +they could cure her. + +The physicians all agreed that there were several sorts and +degrees of this disorder, some curable and others not; and told +the sultan, that they could not judge of the princess of Bengal's +unless they might see her; upon which the sultan ordered the +eunuchs to introduce them into the princess's chamber, one after +another, according to their rank. + +The princess, who foresaw what would happen, and feared, that if +she let the physicians feel her pulse, the least experienced of +them would soon know that she was in good health, and that her +madness was only feigned, flew into such a well-dissembled rage +and passion, that she appeared ready to injure those who came +near her; so none of them durst approach her. + +Some who pretended to be more skilful than the rest, and boasted +of judging of diseases only by sight, ordered her some potions, +which she made the less difficulty to take, well knowing she +could be sick or well at pleasure, and that they could do her no +harm. + +When the sultan of Cashmeer saw that his court physicians could +not cure her, he called in the most celebrated and experienced of +the city, who had no better success. Afterwards he sent for the +most famous in the kingdom, who met with no better reception than +the others from the princess, and what they prescribed had no +effect. Afterwards he dispatched expresses to the courts of +neighbouring sultans, with the princess's case, to be distributed +among the most famous physicians, with a promise of a munificent +reward to any of them who should come and effect her cure. + +Various physicians arrived from all parts, and tried their skill; +but none could boast of better success than their predecessors, +or of restoring the princess's faculties, since it was a case +that did not depend on medicine, but on the will of the princess +herself. + +During this interval Firoze Shaw, disguised in the habit of a +dervish, travelled through many provinces and towns, involved in +grief; and endured excessive fatigue, not knowing which way to +direct his course, or whether he might not be pursuing the very +opposite road from what he ought, in order to hear the tidings he +was in search of. He made diligent inquiry after her at every +place he came to; till at last passing through a city of +Hindoostan, he heard the people talk much of a princess of +Bengal, who ran mad on the day of the intended celebration of her +nuptials with the sultan of Cashmeer. At the name of the princess +of Bengal, and supposing that there could exist no other princess +of Bengal than her upon whose account he had undertaken his +travels, he hastened towards the kingdom of Cashmeer, and upon +his arrival at the capital took up his lodging at a khan, where +the same day he was informed of the story of the princess, and +the fate of the Hindoo magician, which he had so richly deserved. +From the circumstances, the prince was convinced that she was the +beloved object he had sought so long. + +Being informed of all these particulars, he provided himself +against the next day with a physician's habit, and having let his +beard grow during his travels, he passed the more easily for the +character he assumed, went to the palace, impatient to behold his +beloved, where he presented himself to the chief of the officers, +and observed modestly, that perhaps it might be looked upon as a +rash undertaking to attempt the cure of the princess, after so +many had failed; but that he hoped some specifics, from which he +had experienced success, might effect the desired relief. The +chief of the officers told him he was welcome, that the sultan +would receive him with pleasure, and that if he should have the +good fortune to restore the princess to her former health, he +might expect a considerable reward from his master's liberality: +"Stay a moment," added he, "I will come to you again +immediately." + +Some time had elapsed since any physician had offered himself; +and the sultan of Cashmeer with great grief had begun to lose all +hope of ever seeing the princess restored to health, that he +might marry, and shew how much he loved her. He ordered the +officer to introduce the physician he had announced. + +The prince of Persia was presented, when the sultan, without +wasting time in superfluous discourse, after having told him the +princess of Bengal could not bear the sight of a physician +without falling into most violent transports, which increased her +malady, conducted him into a closet, from whence, through a +lattice, he might see her without being observed. + +There Firoze Shaw beheld his lovely princess sitting melancholy, +with tears in her eyes, and singing an air in which she deplored +her unhappy fate, which had deprived her, perhaps, for ever, of +the object she loved so tenderly. + +The prince was sensibly affected at the melancholy condition in +which he found his dear princess, but he wanted no other signs to +comprehend that her disorder was feigned, or that it was for love +of him that she was under so grievous an affliction. When he came +out of the closet, he told the sultan that he had discovered the +nature of the princess's complaint, and that she was not +incurable; but added withal, that he must speak with her in +private, and alone, as, notwithstanding her violent agitation at +the sight of physicians, he hoped she would hear and receive him +favourably. + +The sultan ordered the princess's chamber door to be opened, and +Firoze Shaw went in. As soon as the princess saw him (taking him +by his habit to be a physician), she rose up in a rage, +threatening him, and giving him the most abusive language. He +made directly towards her, and when he was nigh enough for her to +hear him, for he did not wish to be heard by any one else, said +to her, in a low voice, "Princess, I am not a physician, but the +prince of Persia, and am come to procure you your liberty." + +The princess, who knew the sound of the voice, and the upper +features of his face, notwithstanding he had let his beard grow +so long, grew calm at once, and a secret joy and pleasure +overspread her face, the effect of seeing the person so much +desired so unexpectedly. Her agreeable surprise deprived her for +some time of the use of speech, and gave Firoze Shaw time to tell +her as briefly as possible, how despair had seized him when he +saw the Hindoo carry her away; the resolution he afterwards had +taken to leave every thing to find her out, and never to return +home till he had regained her out of the hands of the perfidious +wretch; and by what good fortune, at last, after a long and +fatiguing journey, he had the satisfaction to find her in the +palace of the sultan of Cashmeer. He then desired the princess to +inform him of all that happened to her, from the time she was +taken away, till that moment when he had the happiness to +converse with her, telling her, that it was of the greatest +importance to know this, that he might take the most proper +measures to deliver her from the tyranny of the sultan of +Cashmeer. + +The princess informed him how she was delivered from the Hindoo's +violence by the sultan, as he was returning from hunting; how she +was alarmed the next day, by a declaration he had made of his +precipitate design to marry her, without even the ceremony of +asking her consent; that this violent and tyrannical conduct put +her into a swoon; after which she thought she had no other way +than what she had taken, to preserve herself for a prince to whom +she had given her heart and faith; or die, rather than marry the +sultan, whom she neither loved, nor could ever love. + +The prince of Persia then asked her, if she knew what became of +the horse, after the death of the Hindoo magician. To which she +answered, that she knew not what orders the sultan had given; but +supposed, after the account she had given him of it, he would +take care of it as a curiosity. + +As Firoze Shaw never doubted but that the sultan had the horse, +he communicated to the princess his design of making use of it to +convey them both into Persia; and after they had consulted +together on the measures they should take, they agreed that the +princess should dress herself the next day, and receive the +sultan civilly, but without speaking to him. + +The sultan of Cashmeer was overjoyed when the prince of Persia +stated to him what effect his first visit had had towards the +cure of the princess. On the following day, when the princess +received him in such a manner as persuaded him her cure was far +advanced, he regarded him as the greatest physician in the world; +and seeing her in this state, contented himself with telling her +how rejoiced he was at her being likely soon to recover her +health. He exhorted her to follow the directions of so skilful a +physician, in order to complete what he had so well begun; and +then retired without waiting for her answer. + +The prince of Persia, who attended the sultan of Cashmeer out of +the princess's chamber, as he accompanied him, asked if, without +failing in due respect, he might inquire, how the princess of +Bengal came into the dominions of Cashmeer thus alone, since her +own country was far distant? This he said on purpose to introduce +some conversation about the enchanted horse, and to know what was +become of it. + +The sultan, who could not penetrate into the prince's motive, +concealed nothing from him; but informed him of what the princess +had related, when he had delivered her from the Hindoo magician: +adding, that he had ordered the enchanted horse to be kept safe +in his treasury as a great curiosity, though he knew not the use +of it. + +"Sir," replied the pretended physician, "the information which +your majesty has given your devoted slave affords me a means of +curing the princess. As she was brought hither on this horse, and +the horse is enchanted, she hath contracted something of the +enchantment, which can be dissipated only by a certain incense +which I am acquainted with. If your majesty would entertain +yourself, your court, and the people of your capital, with the +most surprising sight that ever was beheld, let the horse be +brought into the great square before the palace, and leave the +rest to me. I promise to show you, and all that assembly, in a +few moments time, the princess of Bengal completely restored in +body and mind. But the better to effect what I propose, it will +be requisite that the princess, should be dressed as +magnificently as possible, and adorned with the most valuable +jewels your majesty may possess." The sultan would have +undertaken much more difficult things to have arrived at the +enjoyment of his desires, which he expected soon to accomplish. + +The next day, the enchanted horse was, by his order, taken out of +the treasury, and placed early in the great square before the +palace. A report was spread through the town that there was +something extraordinary to be seen, and crowds of people flocked +thither from all parts, insomuch that the sultan's guards were +placed to prevent disorder, and to keep space enough round the +horse. + +The sultan of Cashmeer, surrounded by all his nobles and +ministers of state, was placed on a scaffold erected on purpose. +The princess of Bengal, attended by a number of ladies whom the +sultan had assigned her, went up to the enchanted horse, and the +women helped her to mount. When she was fixed in the saddle, and +had the bridle in her hand, the pretended physician placed round +the horse at a proper distance many vessels full of lighted +charcoal, which he had ordered to be brought, and going round +them with a solemn pace, cast in a strong and grateful perfume; +then collected in himself, with downcast eyes, and his hands upon +his breast, he ran three times about the horse, making as if he +pronounced some mystical words. The moment the pots sent forth a +dark cloud of pleasant smell, which so surrounded the princess, +that neither she nor the horse could be discerned, watching his +opportunity, the prince jumped nimbly up behind her, and reaching +his hand to the peg, turned it; and just as the horse rose with +them into the air, he pronounced these words, which the sultan +heard distinctly, "Sultan of Cashmeer, when you would marry +princesses who implore your protection, learn first to obtain +their consent." + +Thus the prince delivered the princess of Bengal, and carried her +the same day to the capital of Persia, where he alighted in the +square of the palace, before the emperor his father's apartment, +who deferred the solemnization of the marriage no longer than +till he could make the preparations necessary to render the +ceremony pompous and magnificent, and evince the interest he took +in it. + +After the days appointed for the rejoicings were over, the +emperor of Persia's first care was to name and appoint an +ambassador to go to the Rajah of Bengal with an account of what +had passed, and to demand his approbation and ratification of the +alliance contracted by this marriage; which the Rajah of Bengal +took as an honour, and granted with great pleasure and +satisfaction. + + + + + THE STORY OF PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY + PERIE BANOU. + + + +There was a sultan who had peaceably filled the throne of India +many years, and had the satisfaction in his old age to have three +sons the worthy imitators of his virtues, who, with the princess +his niece, were the ornaments of his court. The eldest of the +princes was called Houssain, the second Ali, the youngest Ahmed, +and the princess his niece Nouronnihar. + +The princess Nouronnihar was the daughter of the younger brother +of the sultan, to whom in his lifetime he had allowed a +considerable revenue. But that prince had not been married long +before he died, and left the princess very young. The sultan, in +consideration of the brotherly love and friendship that had +always subsisted between them, besides a great attachment to his +person, took upon himself the care of his daughter's education, +and brought her up in his palace with the three princes; where +her singular beauty and personal accomplishments, joined to a +lively wit and irreproachable virtue, distinguished her among all +the princesses of her time. + +The sultan, her uncle, proposed to marry her when she arrived at +a proper age, and by that means to contract an alliance with some +neighbouring prince; and was thinking seriously on the subject, +when he perceived that the three princes his sons loved her +passionately. This gave him much concern, though his grief did +not proceed from a consideration that their passion prevented his +forming the alliance he designed, but the difficulty he foresaw +to make them agree, and that the two youngest should consent to +yield her up to their eldest brother. He spoke to each of them +apart; and remonstrated on the impossibility of one princess +being the wife of three persons, and the troubles they would +create if they persisted in their attachment. He did all he could +to persuade them to abide by a declaration of the princess in +favour of one of them; or to desist from their pretensions, to +think of other matches which he left them free liberty to choose, +and suffer her to be married to a foreign attachment. But as he +found them obstinate, he sent for them all together, and said, +"My children, since I have not been able to dissuade you from +aspiring to marry the princess your cousin; and as I have no +inclination to use my authority, to give her to one in preference +to his brothers, I trust I have thought of an expedient which +will please you all, and preserve harmony among you, if you will +but hear me, and follow my advice. I think it would not be amiss +if you were to travel separately into different countries, so +that you might not meet each other: and as you know I am very +curious, and delight in every thing that is rare and singular, I +promise my niece in marriage to him who shall bring me the most +extraordinary rarity; chance may lead you to form your own +judgment of the singularity of the things which you bring, by the +comparison you make of them, so that you will have no difficulty +to do yourselves justice by yielding the preference to him who +has deserved it; and for the expense of travelling, I will give +each of you a sum suited to your rank, and for the purchase of +the rarity you shall search after; which shall not be laid out in +equipage and attendants, as much display, by discovering who you +are, would not only deprive you of the liberty to acquit +yourselves of your charge, but prevent your observing those +things which may merit your attention, and may be most useful to +you." + +As the three princes were always submissive and obedient to the +sultan's will, and each flattered himself fortune might prove +favourable to him, and give him possession of the princess +Nouronnihar, they all consented to the proposal. The sultan gave +them the money he promised; and that very day they issued orders +for the preparations for their travels, and took leave of their +father, that they might be ready to set out early next morning. +They all went out at the same gate of the city, each dressed like +a merchant, attended by a trusty officer, habited as a slave, and +all well mounted and equipped. They proceeded the first day's +journey together; and slept at a caravanserai, where the road +divided into three different tracks. At night when they were at +supper together, they all agreed to travel for a year, to make +their present lodging their rendezvous; and that the first who +came should wait for the rest; that as they had all three taken +leave together of the sultan, they might return in company. The +next morning by break of day, after they had embraced and wished +each other reciprocally good success, they mounted their horses, +and took each a different road. + +Prince Houssain, the eldest brother, who had heard wonders of the +extent, power, riches, and splendour of the kingdom of Bisnagar, +bent his course towards the Indian coast; and after three months' +travelling, joining himself to different caravans, sometimes over +deserts and barren mountains, and sometimes through populous and +fertile countries, arrived at Bisnagar, the capital of the +kingdom of that name, and the residence of its maharajah. He +lodged at a khan appointed for foreign merchants; and having +learnt that there were four principal divisions where merchants +of all sorts kept their shops, in the midst of which stood the +castle, or rather the maharajah's palace, on a large extent of +ground, as the centre of the city, surrounded by three courts, +and each gate distant two leagues from the other, he went to one +of these quarters the next day. + +Prince Houssain could not view this quarter without admiration. +It was large, divided into several streets, all vaulted and +shaded from the sun, but yet very light. The shops were all of +the same size and proportion; and all who dealt in the same sort +of goods, as well as all the artists of the same profession, +lived in one street. + +The number of shops stocked with all kinds of merchandizes, such +as the finest linens from several parts of India, some painted in +the most lively colours, and representing men, landscapes, trees, +and flowers; silks and brocades from Persia, China, and other +places; porcelain from Japan and China; foot carpets of all +sizes; surprised him so much, that he knew not how to believe his +eyes: but when he came to the shops of the goldsmiths and +jewellers (for those two trades were exercised by the same +merchants), he was in a kind of ecstasy, at beholding such +prodigious quantities of wrought gold and silver, and was dazzled +by the lustre of the pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and +other precious stones exposed to sale. But if he was amazed at +seeing so many treasures in one place, he was much more surprised +when he came to judge of the wealth of the whole kingdom, by +considering, that except the brahmins, and ministers of the +idols, who profess a life retired from worldly vanity, there was +not an Indian, man or woman, through the extent of the kingdom, +but wore necklaces, bracelets, and ornaments about their legs and +feet, made of pearls, and precious stones, which appeared with +the greater lustre, as they were blacks, which colour admirably +set off their brilliancy. + +Another object which prince Houssain particularly admired was the +great number of flower-sellers who crowded the streets; for the +Indians are such great lovers of flowers that not one will stir +without a nosegay of them in his hand, or a garland of them on +his head; and the merchants keep them in pots in their shops, so +that the air of the whole quarter, however extensive, is +perfectly perfumed. + +After prince Houssain had passed through that quarter, street by +street, his thoughts fully employed on the riches he had seen, he +was much fatigued; which a merchant perceiving, civilly invited +him to sit down in his shop. He accepted his offer; but had not +been seated long, before he saw a crier pass with a piece of +carpeting on his arm, about six feet square, and crying it at +thirty purses. The prince called to the crier, and asked to see +the carpeting, which seemed to him to be valued at an exorbitant +price, not only for the size of it, but the meanness of the +materials. When he had examined it well, he told the crier that +he could not comprehend how so small a piece of carpeting, and of +so indifferent an appearance, could be set at so high a price. + +The crier, who took him for a merchant, replied, "Sir, if this +price seems so extravagant to you, your amazement will be greater +when I tell you, I have orders to raise it to forty purses, and +not to part with it under." "Certainly," answered prince +Houssain, "it must have something very extraordinary in it, which +I know nothing of." "You have guessed right, sir," replied the +crier, "and will own it when you come to know, that whoever sits +on this piece of carpeting may be transported in an instant +wherever he desires to be, without being stopped by any +obstacle." + +At this account, the prince of the Indies, considering that the +principal motive of his tour was to carry the sultan his father +home some singular rarity, thought that he could not meet with +any which would afford him more satisfaction. "If the carpeting," +said he to the crier, "has the virtue you attribute to it, I +shall not think forty purses too much; but shall make you a +present besides." "Sir," replied the crier, "I have told you the +truth; and it will be an easy matter to convince you of it, as +soon as you have made the bargain for forty purses, on condition +I shew you the experiment. But as I suppose you have not so much +with you, and to receive them, I must go with you to the khan +where you lodge; with the leave of the master of this shop we +will go into the back warehouse, where I will spread the +carpeting; and when we have both sat down, and you have formed +the wish to be transported into your apartment at the khan, if we +are not conveyed thither, it shall be no bargain, and you shall +be at your liberty. As to your present, as I am paid for my +trouble by the seller, I shall receive it as a favour, and feel +much obliged by your liberality." + +On this assurance of the crier, the prince accepted the +conditions, and concluded the bargain; then having obtained the +master's leave, they went into his back-shop, where they both sat +down on the carpeting; and as soon as the prince had formed his +wish to be transported into his apartment at the khan, he in an +instant found himself and the crier there: as he wanted not a +more convincing proof of the virtue of the carpeting, he counted +to the crier forty purses of gold, and gave him twenty pieces for +himself. + +In this manner prince Houssain became the possessor of the +carpeting, and was overjoyed that at his arrival at Bisnagar he +had found so rare a curiosity, which he never doubted must of +course gain him the possession of Nouronnihar. In short, he +thought it impossible for the princes, his younger brothers, to +meet with any thing to be compared with it. It was in his power, +by sitting on this carpeting, to be at the place of rendezvous +that very day; but as he would be obliged to wait there for his +brothers, as they had agreed, and as he was desirous of seeing +the maharajah of Bisnagar and his court, and to inform himself of +the strength, laws, customs, and religion of the kingdom, he +chose to make a longer abode in this capital, and to spend some +months in satisfying his curiosity. + +It was the custom of the maharajah of Bisnagar to give all +foreign merchants access to his person once a week; so that in +his assumed character prince Houssain saw him often: and as this +prince was of an engaging presence, sensible and accomplished, he +distinguished himself among the merchants, and was preferred +before them all by the maharajah, who addressed himself to him to +be informed of the person of the sultan of the Indies, and of the +government, strength, and riches of his dominions. + +The rest of his time the prince employed in viewing what was most +remarkable in and about the city; and among the objects which +were most worthy of admiration, he visited a temple remarkable +for being built all of brass. It was ten cubits square, and +fifteen high; but its greatest ornament was an idol of the height +of a man, of massive gold; its eyes were two rubies, set so +artificially, that it seemed to look at those who viewed it, on +which side soever they turned: besides this, there was another +not less curious, in the environs of the city, in the midst of a +lawn of about ten acres, which was like a delicious garden full +of roses and the choicest flowers, surrounded by a low wall, +breast high, to keep out the cattle. In the midst of this lawn +was raised a terrace, a man's height, and covered with such +beautiful cement, that the whole pavement seemed to be but one +single stone, most highly polished. A temple was erected in the +middle of this terrace, having a spire rising about fifty cubits +high from the building, which might be seen for several leagues +round. The temple was thirty cubits long, and twenty broad; built +of red marble, highly polished. The inside of the spire was +adorned with three compartments of fine paintings: and there was +not a part in the whole edifice but what was embellished with +paintings, or relievos, and gaudy idols from top to bottom. + +Every night and morning there were superstitious ceremonies +performed in this temple, which were always succeeded by sports, +concerts of music, dancing, singing, and feasts. The brahmins of +the temple, and the inhabitants of this suburb, had nothing to +subsist on but the offerings of pilgrims, who came in crowds from +the most distant parts of the kingdom to perform their vows. + +Prince Houssain was also spectator of a solemn festival, which +was celebrated every year at the court of Bisnagar, at which all +the governors of provinces, commanders of fortified places, all +heads and magistrates of towns, and the brahmins most celebrated +for their learning, were usually present; and some lived so far +off, that they were four months in coming. This assembly, +composed of such innumerable multitudes of Hindoos encamped in +variously coloured tents, on a plain of vast extent, was a +splendid sight, as far as the eye could reach. In the centre of +this plain was a square of great length and breadth, closed on +one side by a large scaffolding of nine stories, supported by +forty pillars, raised for the maharajah and his court, and those +strangers whom he admitted to audience once a week: within, it +was adorned and furnished magnificently with rich carpets and +cushions; and on the outside were painted landscapes, wherein all +sorts of beasts, birds, and insects, even flies and gnats, were +drawn very naturally. Other scaffolds of at least four or five +stories, and painted almost all with the same fanciful +brilliancy, formed the other three sides. But what was more +particular in these scaffolds, they could turn, and make them +change their fronts so as to present different decorations to the +eye every hour. + +On each side of the square, at some little distance from each +other, were ranged a thousand elephants, sumptuously caparisoned, +each having upon his back a square wooden stage, finely gilt, +upon which were musicians and buffoons. The trunks, ears, and +bodies of these elephants were painted with cinnabar and other +colours, representing grotesque figures. + +But what prince Houssain most of all admired, as a proof of the +industry, address, and inventive genius of the Hindoos, was to +see the largest of these elephants stand with his four feet on a +post fixed into the earth, and standing out of it above two feet, +playing and beating time with his trunk to the music. Besides +this, he admired another elephant as large as the former, placed +upon a plank, laid across a strong beam about ten feet high, with +a sufficiently heavyweight at the other end, which balanced him, +while he kept time, by the motions of his body and trunk, with +the music, as well as the other elephant. The Hindoos, after +having fastened on the counterpoise, had drawn the other end of +the board down to the ground, and made the elephant get upon it. + +Prince Houssain might have made a longer stay in the kingdom and +court of Bisnagar, where he would have been agreeably diverted by +a great variety of other wonders, till the last day of the year, +whereon he and his brothers had appointed to meet. But he was so +well satisfied with what he had seen, and his thoughts ran so +much upon the object of his love, that after such success in +meeting with his carpet, reflecting on the beauty and charms of +the princess Nouronnihar increased every day the violence of his +passion, and he fancied he should be the more easy and happy the +nearer he was to her. After he had satisfied the master of the +khan for his apartment, and told him the hour when he might come +for the key, without mentioning how he should travel, he shut the +door, put the key on the outside, and spreading the carpet, he +and the officer he had brought with him sat down upon it, and as +soon as he had formed his wish, were transported to the +caravanserai at which he and his brothers were to meet, and where +he passed for a merchant till their arrival. + +Prince Ali, the second brother, who had designed to travel into +Persia, in conformity with the intention of the sultan of the +Indies, took that road, having three days after he parted with +his brothers joined a caravan; and in four months arrived at +Sheerauz, which was then the capital of the empire of Persia; and +having in the way contracted a friendship with some merchants, +passed for a jeweller, and lodged in the same khan with them. + +The next morning, while the merchants opened their bales of +merchandises, prince Ali, who travelled only for his pleasure, +and had brought nothing but necessaries with him, after he had +dressed himself, took a walk into that quarter of the town where +they sold precious stones, gold and silver works, brocades, +silks, fine linens, and other choice and valuable articles, and +which was at Sheerauz called the bezestein. It was a spacious and +well-built street, arched over, within the arcades of which were +shops. Prince Ali soon rambled through the bezestein, and with +admiration judged of the riches of the place by the prodigious +quantities of the most precious merchandises exposed to view. + +But among the criers who passed backwards and forwards with +several sorts of goods, offering to sell them, he was not a +little surprised to see one who held in his hand an ivory tube, +of about a foot in length, and about an inch thick, which he +cried at forty purses. At first he thought the crier mad, and to +inform himself, went to a shop, and said to the merchant who +stood at the door, "Pray, sir, is not that man" (pointing to the +crier, who cried the ivory tube at forty purses) "mad? If he is +not, I am much deceived." "Indeed, sir," answered the merchant, +"he was in his right senses yesterday; and I can assure you he is +one of the ablest criers we have, and the most employed of any, +as being to be confided in when any thing valuable is to be sold; +and if he cries the ivory tube at forty purses, it must be worth +as much or more, on some account or other which does not appear. +He will come by presently, when we will call him, and you shall +satisfy yourself: in the mean time sit down on my sofa, and rest +yourself." + +Prince Ali accepted the merchant's obliging offer, and presently +afterwards the crier arrived. The merchant called him by his +name, and pointing to the prince, said to him, "Tell that +gentleman, who asked me if you were in your right senses, what +you mean by crying that ivory tube, which seems not to be worth +much, at forty purses? I should indeed be much amazed myself, if +I did not know you were a sensible man." The crier, addressing +himself to prince Ali, said, "Sir, you are not the only person +that takes me for a madman, on account of this tube; you shall +judge yourself whether I am or no, when I have told you its +property; and I hope you will value it at as high a price as +those I have shewed it to already, who had as bad an opinion of +me as you have. + +"First, sir," pursued the crier, presenting the ivory tube to the +prince, "observe, that this tube is furnished with a glass at +both ends; by looking through one of them, you will see whatever +object you wish to behold." "I am," said the prince, "ready to +make you all proper reparation for the reflection I have cast +upon you, if you can make the truth of what you advance appear; +and" (as he had the ivory tube in his hand, after he had looked +at the two glasses), he said, "shew me at which of these ends I +must look, that I may be satisfied." The crier presently shewed +him, and he looked through; wishing, at the same time, to see the +sultan his father, whom he immediately beheld in perfect health, +sitting on his throne, in the midst of his council. Next, as +there was nothing in the world so dear to him, after the sultan, +as the princess Nouronnihar, he wished to see her; and instantly +beheld her laughing, and in a gay humour, with her women about +her. + +Prince All wanted no other proof to persuade him that this tube +was the most valuable article, not only in the city of Sheerauz, +but in all the world; and believed, that if he should neglect to +purchase it, he should never meet with an equally wonderful +curiosity. He said to the crier, "I am very sorry that I have +entertained so erroneous an opinion of you, but hope to make +amends by buying the tube, for I should be sorry if any body else +had it; so tell me the lowest price the owner has fixed; and do +not give yourself any farther trouble to hawk it about, but go +with me and I will pay you the money." The crier assured him, +with an oath, that his last orders were to take no less than +forty purses; and if he disputed the truth of what he said, he +would carry him to his employer. The prince believed him, took +him to the khan where he lodged, told him out the money, and +received the tube. + +Prince Ali was overjoyed at his purchase; and persuaded himself, +that as his brothers would not be able to meet with any thing so +rare and admirable, the princess Nouronnihar must be the +recompense of his fatigue and travels. He thought now of only +visiting the court of Persia incognito, and seeing whatever was +curious in and about Sheerauz, till the caravan with which he +came might be ready to return to the Indies. He satisfied his +curiosity, and when the caravan took its departure, the prince +joined the former party of merchants his friends, and arrived +happily without any accident or trouble, further than the length +of the journey and fatigue of travelling, at the place of +rendezvous, where he found prince Houssain, and both waited for +prince Ahmed. + +Prince Ahmed took the road of Samarcand, and the day after his +arrival, went, as his brothers had done, into the bezestein; +where he had not walked long before he heard a crier, who had an +artificial apple in his hand, cry it at five-and-thirty purses. +He stopped the crier, and said to him, "Let me see that apple, +and tell me what virtue or extraordinary property it possesses, +to be valued at so high a rate?" "Sir," replied the crier, giving +it into his hand, "if you look at the mere outside of this apple +it is not very remarkable; but if you consider its properties, +and the great use and benefit it is of to mankind, you will say +it is invaluable, and that he who possesses it is master of a +great treasure. It cures all sick persons of the most mortal +diseases, whether fever, pleurisy, plague, or other malignant +distempers; for even if the patient is dying, it will recover him +immediately, and restore him to perfect health: and this merely +by the patient's smelling to it." + +"If one may believe you," replied prince Ahmed, "the virtues of +this apple are wonderful, and it is indeed invaluable: but what +ground has the purchaser to be persuaded that there is no +exaggeration in the high praises you bestow on it?" "Sir," +replied the crier, "the truth is known by the whole city of +Samarcand; but without going any farther, ask all these merchants +you see here, and hear what they say; you will find several of +them will tell you they had not been alive this day had they not +made use of this excellent remedy; and that you may the better +comprehend what it is, I must tell you it is the fruit of the +study and experience of a celebrated philosopher of this city, +who applied himself all his lifetime to the knowledge of the +virtues of plants and minerals, and at last attained to this +composition, by which he performed such surprising cures, as will +never be forgotten; but died suddenly himself, before he could +apply his own sovereign remedy; and left his wife and a great +many young children behind in very indifferent circumstances, +who, to support her family, and to provide for her children, has +resolved to sell it." + +While the crier was detailing to prince Ahmed the virtues of the +artificial apple, many persons came about them, and confirmed +what he declared; and one amongst the rest said he had a friend +dangerously ill, whose life was despaired of; which was a +favourable opportunity to shew the experiment. Upon which prince +Ahmed told the crier he would give him forty purses for the apple +if it cured the sick person by smelling to it. + +The crier, who had orders to sell it at that price, said to +prince Ahmed, "Come, sir, let us go and make the experiment, and +the apple shall be yours; and I say this with the greater +confidence, as it is an undoubted fact that it will always have +the same effect, as it already has had whenever it has been +applied to save from death so many persons whose lives were +despaired of." In short, the experiment succeeded; and the +prince, after he had counted out to the crier forty purses, and +had received the apple from him, waited with the greatest +impatience for the departure of a caravan for the Indies. In the +mean time he saw all that was curious at and about Samarcand, and +principally the valley of Sogd, which is reckoned by the Arabians +one of the four paradises of this world, for the beauty of its +fields, gardens, and palaces, and for its fertility in fruit of +all sorts, and all the other pleasures enjoyed there in the fine +season. + +Ahmed joined himself to the first caravan that set out for the +Indies, and notwithstanding the inevitable inconveniences of so +long a journey, arrived in perfect health at the caravanserai, +where the princes Houssain and Ali waited for him. + +Ali, who had arrived some time before Ahmed, asked Houssain how +long he had been there? who told him, "Three months;" to which he +replied, "Then certainly you have not been very far." "I will +tell you nothing now," said prince Houssain, "of where I have +been, but only assure you, I was above three months travelling to +the place I went to." "But then," replied prince Ali, "you made a +short stay there." "Indeed, brother," said prince Houssain, "you +are mistaken; I resided at one place above four months, and might +have stayed longer." "Unless you flew back," returned Ali again, +"I cannot comprehend how you can have been three months here, as +you would make me believe." + +"I tell you the truth," added Houssain, "and it is a riddle which +I shall not explain to you, till our brother Ahmed joins us; when +I will let you know what rarity I have purchased in my travels. I +know not what you have got, but believe it to be some trifle, +because I do not perceive that your baggage is increased." "And +pray what have you brought?" demanded prince Ali, "for I can see +nothing but an ordinary piece of carpeting, with which you cover +your sofa; and therefore I think I may return your raillery; and +as you seem to make what you have brought a secret, you cannot +take it amiss that I do the same with respect to what I have +procured." + +"I consider the rarity I have purchased," replied Houssain, "to +excel all others whatever, and should not make any difficulty to +shew it you, and make you allow that it is so, and at the same +time tell you how I came by it, without being in the least +apprehensive that what you have got is to be preferred to it: but +it is proper that we should wait till our brother Ahmed arrives, +when we may communicate our good fortune to each other." + +Prince All would not enter into a dispute with prince Houssain on +the preference he gave his rarity, but was persuaded, that if his +perspective glass was not preferable, it was impossible it should +be inferior to it; and therefore agreed to stay till prince Ahmed +arrived, to produce his purchase. + +When prince Ahmed joined his brothers, they embraced with +tenderness, and complimented each other on the happiness of +meeting together at the same place they had set out from. +Houssain, as the eldest brother, then assumed the discourse, and +said to them, "Brothers, we shall have time enough hereafter to +entertain ourselves with the particulars of our travels. Let us +come to that which is of the greatest importance for us to know; +and as I do not doubt you remember the principal motive which +engaged us to travel, let us not conceal from each other the +curiosities we have brought, but shew them, that we may do +ourselves justice beforehand, and judge to which of us the sultan +our father may give the preference. + +"To set the example," continued Houssain, "I will tell you, that +the rarity which I have brought from the kingdom of Bisnagar is +the carpeting on which I sit, which looks but ordinary, and makes +no shew; but when I have declared its virtues, you will be struck +with admiration, and confess you never heard of any thing like +it. Whoever sits on it, as we do, and desires to be transported +to any place, be it ever so far distant, he is immediately +carried thither. I made the experiment myself, before I paid the +forty purses, which I most readily gave for it; and when I had +fully satisfied my curiosity at the court of Bisnagar, and wished +to return here, I made use of no other conveyance than this +wonderful carpet for myself and servant, who can tell you how +long we were on our journey. I will shew you both the experiment +whenever you please. I expect now that you should tell me whether +what you have brought is to be compared with this carpet." + +Here prince Houssain finished his commendations of the excellency +of his carpet; and prince Ali, addressing himself to him, said, +"I must own, brother, that your carpet is one of the most +surprising curiosities, if it has, as I do not doubt, the +property you speak of. But you must allow that there may be other +rarities, I will not say more, but at least as wonderful, in +another way; and to convince you there are, here is an ivory +tube, which appears to the eye no more a prodigy than your +carpet; it cost me as much, and I am as well satisfied with my +purchase as you can be with yours; and you will be so just as to +own that I have not been imposed upon, when you shall know by +experience, that by looking at one end you see whatever object +you wish to behold. I would not have you take my word," added +prince Ali, presenting the tube to him; "take it, make trial of +it yourself." + +Houssain took the ivory tube from prince Ali, and put that end to +his eye which Ali directed, with an intention to see the princess +Nouronnihar; when Ali and prince Ahmed, who kept their eyes fixed +upon him, were extremely surprised to see his countenance change +in such a manner, as expressed extraordinary alarm and +affliction. Prince Houssain did not give them time to ask what +was the matter, but cried out, "Alas! princes, to what purpose +have we undertaken such long and fatiguing journeys, but with the +hopes of being recompensed by the possession of the charming +Nouronnihar, when in a few moments that lovely princess will +breathe her last. I saw her in her bed, surrounded by her women +and eunuchs, all in tears, who seem to expect her death. Take the +tube, behold yourselves the miserable state she is in, and mingle +your tears with mine." + +Prince Ali took the tube out of Houssain's hand, and after he had +seen the same object with sensible grief, presented it to Ahmed, +who took it, to behold the melancholy sight which so much +concerned them all. + +When prince Ahmed had taken the tube out of Ali's hands, and saw +that the princess Nouronnihar's end was so near, he addressed +himself to his two brothers, and said, "Princes, the princess +Nouronnihar, equally the object of our vows, is indeed just at +death's door; but provided we make haste and lose no time, we may +preserve her life." He then took the artificial apple out of his +bosom, and shewing it to his brothers, resumed, "This apple cost +me as much and more than either the carpet or tube. The +opportunity which now presents itself to shew you its wonderful +property makes me not regret the forty purses I gave for it. But +not to keep you longer in suspense, it has this virtue; if a sick +person smells to it, though in the last agonies, it will restore +him to perfect health immediately. I have made the experiment, +and can show you its wonderful effect on the person of the +princess Nouronnihar, if we hasten to assist her." + +"If that be all," replied prince Houssain, "we cannot make more +dispatch than by transporting ourselves instantly into her +chamber by means of my carpet. Come, lose no time, sit down, it +is large enough to hold us all: but first let us give orders to +our servants to set out immediately, and join us at the palace." + +As soon as the order was given, the princes Ali and Ahmed sat +down by Houssain, and as their interest was the same, they all +framed the same wish, and were transported instantaneously into +the princess Nouronnihar's chamber. + +The presence of the three princes, who were so little expected, +alarmed the princess's women and eunuchs, who could not +comprehend by what enchantment three men should be among them; +for they did not know them at first; and the eunuchs were ready +to fall upon them, as people who had got into a part of the +palace where they were not allowed to come; but they presently +found their mistake. + +Prince Ahmed no sooner saw himself in Nouronnihar's chamber, and +perceived the princess dying, but he rose off the carpet, as did +also the other two princes, went to the bed-side, and put the +apple to her nostrils. The princess instantly opened her eyes, +and turned her head from one side to another, looking at the +persons who stood about her; she then rose up in the bed, and +asked to be dressed, with the same freedom and recollection as if +she had awaked out of a sound sleep. Her women presently informed +her, in a manner that shewed their joy, that she was obliged to +the three princes her cousins, and particularly to prince Ahmed, +for the sudden recovery of her health. She immediately expressed +her joy at seeing them, and thanked them all together, but +afterwards prince Ahmed in particular. As she desired to dress, +the princes contented themselves with telling her how great a +pleasure it was to them to have come soon enough to contribute +each in any degree towards relieving her from the imminent danger +she was in, and what ardent prayers they had offered for the +continuance of her life; after which they retired. + +While the princess was dressing, the princes went to throw +themselves at the sultan their father's feet; but when they came +to him, they found he had been previously informed of their +unexpected arrival by the chief of the princess's eunuchs, and by +what means the princess had been so suddenly cured. The sultan +received and embraced them with the greatest joy, both for their +return, and the wonderful recovery of the princess his niece, +whom he loved as if she had been his own daughter, and who had +been given over by the physicians. After the usual compliments, +the princes presented each the rarity which he had brought: +prince Houssain his carpet, prince Ali his ivory tube, and prince +Ahmed the artificial apple; and after each had commended his +present, as he put it into the sultan's hands, they begged of him +to pronounce their fate, and declare to which of them he would +give the princess Nouronnihar, according to his promise. + +The sultan of the Indies having kindly heard all that the princes +had to say in favour of their rarities, without interrupting +them, and being well informed of what had happened in relation to +the princess Nouronnihar's cure, remained some time silent, +considering what answer he should make. At last he broke silence, +and said to them in terms full of wisdom, "I would declare for +one of you, my children, if I could do it with justice; but +consider whether I can? It is true, Ahmed, the princess my niece +is obliged to your artificial apple for her cure: but let me ask +you, whether you could have been so serviceable to her if you had +not known by Ali's tube the danger she was in, and if Houssain's +carpet had not brought you to her so soon? Your tube, Ali, +informed you and your brothers that you were likely to lose the +princess your cousin, and so far she is greatly obliged to you. +You must also grant, that the knowledge of her illness would have +been of no service without the artificial apple and the carpet. +And as for you, Houssain, the princess would be very ungrateful +if she did not show her sense of the value of your carpet, which +was so necessary a means towards effecting her cure. But +consider, it would have been of little use, if you had not been +acquainted with her illness by Ali's tube, or if Ahmed had not +applied his artificial apple. Therefore, as neither the carpet, +the ivory tube, nor the artificial apple has the least preference +to the other articles, but as, on the contrary, their value has +been perfectly equal, I cannot grant the princess to any one of +you; and the only fruit you have reaped from your travels is the +glory of having equally contributed to restore her to health. + +"As this is the case," added the sultan, "you see that I must +have recourse to other means to determine me with certainty in +the choice I ought to make; and as there is time enough between +this and night, I will do it to-day. Go and procure each of you a +bow and arrow, repair to the plain where the horses are +exercised; I will soon join you, and will give the princess +Nouronnihar to him who shoots the farthest. + +"I do not, however, forget to thank you all in general, and each +in particular, for the present you have brought me. I have many +rarities in my collection already, but nothing that comes up to +the miraculous properties of the carpet, the ivory tube, and the +artificial apple, which shall have the first places among them, +and shall be preserved carefully, not only for curiosity, but for +service upon all proper occasions." + +The three princes had nothing to object to the decision of the +sultan. When they were dismissed his presence, they each provided +themselves with a bow and arrow, which they delivered to one of +their officers, and went to the plain appointed, followed by a +great concourse of people. + +The sultan did not make them wait long for him: as soon as he +arrived, prince Houssain, as the eldest, took his bow and arrow, +and shot first. Prince Ali shot next, and much beyond him; and +prince Ahmed last of all; but it so happened, that nobody could +see where his arrow fell; and notwithstanding all the search made +by himself and all the spectators, it was not to be found. Though +it was believed that he had shot the farthest, and had therefore +deserved the princess Nouronnihar, it was however necessary that +his arrow should be found, to make the matter more evident and +certain; but notwithstanding his remonstrances, the sultan +determined in favour of prince Ali, and gave orders for +preparations to be made for the solemnization of the nuptials, +which were celebrated a few days after with great magnificence. + +Prince Houssain would not honour the feast with his presence; his +passion for the princess Nouronnihar was so sincere and ardent, +that he could scarcely support with patience the mortification of +seeing her in the arms of prince Ali: who, he said, did not +deserve her better nor love her more than himself. In short, his +grief was so violent and insupportable, that he left the court, +and renounced all right of succession to the crown, to turn +dervish, and put himself under the discipline of a famous chief, +who had gained great reputation for his exemplary life; and had +taken up his abode, and that of his disciples, whose number was +great, in an agreeable solitude. + +Prince Ahmed, urged by the same motive, did not assist at prince +Ali and the princess Nouronnihar's nuptials, any more than his +brother Houssain, yet did not renounce the world as he had done. +But as he could not imagine what could have become of his arrow, +he resolved to search for it, that he might not have any thing to +reproach himself with. With this intent he went to the place +where the princes Houssain's and Ali's were gathered up, and +proceeding straight forwards from thence looked carefully on both +sides as he advanced. He went so far, that at last he began to +think his labour was in vain; yet he could not help proceeding +till he came to some steep craggy rocks, which would have obliged +him to return, had he been ever so desirous to continue his +course. + +As he approached these rocks, he perceived an arrow, which he +took up, looked earnestly at it, and was in the greatest +astonishment to find it was the same he had shot. "Certainly," +said he to himself, "neither I, nor any man living, could shoot +an arrow so far; and finding it laid flat, not sticking into the +ground, he judged that it had rebounded from the rock. There must +be some mystery in this, said he to himself again, and it may be +to my advantage. Perhaps fortune, to make amends for depriving me +of what I thought the greatest happiness of my life, may have +reserved a greater blessing for my comfort." + +As these rocks were full of sharp points and indentures between +them, the prince meditating, entered into one of the cavities, +and looking about, beheld an iron door, which seemed to have no +lock. He feared it was fastened; but pushing against it, it +opened, and discovered an easy descent, which he walked down with +his arrow in his hand. At first he thought he was going into a +dark place, but presently a light quite different from that which +he had quitted succeeded; and entering into a spacious square, +he, to his surprise, beheld a magnificent palace, the admirable +structure of which he had not time to look at: for at the same +instant, a lady of majestic air, and of a beauty to which the +richness of her habit and the jewels which adorned her person +added no advantage, advanced, attended by a troop of ladies, or +whom it was difficult to distinguish which was the mistress, as +all were so magnificently dressed. + +As soon as Ahmed perceived the lady, he hastened to pay his +respects; and the lady seeing him coming, prevented him. +Addressing him first, she said, "Come near, prince Ahmed, you are +welcome." + +It was with no small surprise that the prince heard himself named +in a palace he had never heard of, though so nigh to his father's +capital, and he could not comprehend how he should be known to a +lady who was a stranger to him. At last he returned the lady's +compliment, by throwing himself at her feet, and rising up, said +to her, "Lady, I return you a thousand thanks for the assurance +you give me of welcome to a place where I had reason to believe +my imprudent curiosity had made me penetrate too far. But may I, +without being guilty of rudeness, presume to inquire by what +adventure you know me? and how you who live in the same +neighbourhood should be so little known by me?" "Prince," said +the lady, "let us go into the hall; there I will gratify you in +your request more commodiously for us both." + +After these words, the lady led prince Ahmed into the hall, the +noble structure of which, displaying the gold and azure which +embellished the dome, and the inestimable richness of the +furniture, appeared so great a novelty to him, that he could not +forbear his admiration, but exclaimed, that he had never beheld +its equal. "I can assure you," replied the lady, "that this is +but a small part of my palace, as you will judge when you have +seen all the apartments." She then sat down on a sofa; and when +the prince at her entreaty had seated himself by her, she +continued, "You are surprised, you say, that I know you, and am +not known by you; but you will be no longer surprised when I +inform you who I am. You cannot be ignorant, as the Koran informs +you, that the world is inhabited by genii as well as men: I am +the daughter of one of the most powerful and distinguished of +these genii, and my name is Perie Banou; therefore you ought not +to wonder that I know you, the sultan your father, the princes +your brothers, and the princess Nouronnihar. I am no stranger to +your loves or your travels, of which I could tell you all the +circumstances, since it was I myself who exposed to sale the +artificial apple which you bought at Samarcand, the carpet which +prince Houssain purchased at Bisnagar, and the tube which prince +Ali brought from Sheerauz. This is sufficient to let you know +that I am not unacquainted with every thing that relates to you. +I have to add, that you seemed to me worthy of a more happy fate +than that of possessing the princess Nouronnihar; and that you +might attain to it, I was present when you drew your arrow, and +foresaw it would not go beyond prince Houssain's. I seized it in +the air, and gave it the necessary motion to strike against the +rocks near which you found it. It is in your power to avail +yourself of the favourable opportunity which presents itself to +make you happy." + +As the fairy Perie Banou pronounced the last words with a +different tone, and looked at the same time tenderly at the +prince, with downcast eyes and a modest blush upon her cheeks, it +was not difficult for him to comprehend what happiness she meant. +He reflected that the princess Nouronnihar could never be his, +saw that Perie Banou excelled her infinitely in beauty and +accomplishments, and, as far as he could conjecture by the +magnificence of the palace, in immense riches. He blessed the +moment that he thought of seeking after his arrow a second time, +and yielding to his inclination, which drew him towards the new +object which had fired his heart: he then replied, "Should I, all +my life, have the happiness of being your slave, and the admirer +of the many charms which ravish my soul, I should think myself +the happiest of men. Pardon the presumption which inspires me to +ask this favour, and do not refuse to admit into your court a +prince who is entirely devoted to you." + +"Prince," answered the fairy, "as I have been, long my own +mistress, and have no dependence on a parent's consent, it is not +as a slave that I would admit you into my court, but as master of +my person, and all that belongs to me, by pledging your faith to +me, and taking me as your wife. I hope you will not think it +indecorous, that I anticipate you in this proposal. I am, as I +said, mistress of my will; and must add, that the same customs +are not observed among fairies as with human-kind, in whom it +would not have been decent to have made such advances: but it is +what we do, and we suppose we confer obligation by the practice." + +Ahmed made no answer to this declaration, but was so penetrated +with gratitude, that he thought he could not express it better +than by prostration to kiss the hem of her garment; which she +would not give him time to do, but presented her hand, which he +kissed a thousand times, and kept fast locked in his. "Well, +prince Ahmed," said she, "will you pledge your faith to me, as I +do mine to you?" "Yes, madam," replied the prince, in an ecstacy +of joy. "What can I do more fortunate for myself, or with greater +pleasure? Yes, my sultaness, I give it you with my heart without +the least reserve." "Then," answered the fairy, "you are my +husband, and I am your wife. Our fairy marriages are contracted +with no other ceremonies, and yet are more firm and indissoluble +than those among men, with all their formalities. But as I +suppose," pursued she, "that you have eaten nothing to-day, a +slight repast shall be served up for you while preparations are +making for our nuptial feast this evening, and then I will shew +you the apartments of my palace." + +Some of the fairy's women who came into the hall with them, and +guessed her intentions, went immediately out, and returned with +some excellent viands and wines. + +When Ahmed had refreshed himself, the fairy led him through all +the apartments, where he saw diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and all +sorts of fine jewels, intermixed with pearls, agate, jasper, +porphyry, and all kinds of the most precious marbles; not to +mention the richness of the furniture, which was inestimable; the +whole disposed in such elegant profusion, that the prince +acknowledged there could not be any thing in the world equal to +it. "Prince," said the fairy, "if you admire my humble abode so +much, what would you say to the palaces of the chiefs of our +genii, which are much more beautiful, spacious, and magnificent? +I could also shew you my garden; but we will leave that till +another time. Night draws near, and it will be time to go to +supper." + +The next hall which the fairy led the prince into, where the +cloth was laid for the feast, was the only apartment he had not +seen, and it was not in the least inferior to the others. At his +entrance, he admired the infinite number of wax candles perfumed +with amber, the multitude of which, instead of being confused, +were placed with so just a symmetry, as to form an agreeable and +pleasant light. A large beaufet was set out with all sorts of +gold plate, so finely wrought, that the workmanship was much more +valuable than the weight of the gold. Several bands of beautiful +women richly dressed, and whose voices were ravishing, began a +concert, accompanied by the most harmonious instruments he had +ever heard. When they were seated, the fairy took care to help +prince Ahmed to the most delicious meats, which she named as she +invited him to eat of them, and which the prince had never heard +of, but found so exquisite, that he commended them in the highest +terms, saying, that the entertainment which she gave him far +surpassed those among men. He found also the same excellence in +the wines, which neither he nor the fairy tasted till the dessert +was served up, which consisted of the choicest sweetmeats and +fruits. + +After the dessert, the fairy Perie Banou and prince Ahmed rose +and repaired to a sofa, with cushions of fine silk, curiously +embroidered with all sorts of large flowers, laid at their backs. +Presently after a great number of genii and fairies danced before +them to the chamber where the nuptial bed was prepared; and when +they came to the entrance, divided themselves into two rows, to +let them pass, after which they made obeisance and retired. + +The nuptial festivity was renewed the next day; or rather, every +day following the celebration was a continued feast, which the +fairy Perie Banou knew how to diversify, by new delicacies, new +concerts, new dances, new shows, and new diversions; which were +all so gratifying to his senses, that Ahmed, if he had lived a +thousand years among men, could not have experienced equal +enjoyment. + +The fairy's intention was not only to give the prince convincing +proofs of the sincerity of her love, by so many attentions; but +to let him see, that as he had no pretensions at his father's +court, he could meet with nothing comparable to the happiness he +enjoyed with her, independently of her beauty and attractions, +and to attach him entirely to herself. In this attempt she +succeeded so well, that Ahmed's passion was not in the least +diminished by possession; but increased so much, that if he had +been so inclined, it was not in his power to forbear loving her. + +At the end of six months, prince Ahmed, who always loved and +honoured the sultan his father, felt a great desire to know how +he was; and as that desire could not be satisfied without his +absenting himself, he mentioned his wish to the fairy, and +requested she would give him leave to visit the sultan. + +This request alarmed the fairy, and made her fear it was only an +excuse to leave her. She said to him, "What disgust can I have +given to you to ask me this permission? Is it possible you should +have forgotten that you have pledged your faith to me, or have +you ceased to love one who is so passionately fond of you? Are +not the proofs I have repeatedly given you of my affection +sufficient?" + +"My queen," replied the prince, "I am perfectly convinced of your +love, and should be unworthy of it, if I did not testify my +gratitude by a reciprocal affection. If you are offended at the +permission I solicit, I entreat you to forgive me, and I will +make all the reparation in my power. I did not make the request +with any intention of displeasing you, but from a motive of +respect towards my father, whom I wish to free from the +affliction in which my so long absence must have overwhelmed him, +and which must be the greater, as, I have reason to presume, he +believes that I am dead. But since you do not consent that I +should go and afford him that comfort, I will deny myself the +pleasure, as there is nothing to which I would not submit to +please you." + +Ahmed did not dissemble, for he loved her at heart as much as he +had assured her by this declaration; and the fairy expressed her +satisfaction. But as he could not absolutely abandon his design, +he frequently took an opportunity to speak to her of the great +qualifications of the sultan his father: and above all, of his +particular tenderness towards himself, in hopes he might at +length be able to move her. + +As the prince had supposed, the sultan of the Indies, in the +midst of the rejoicings on account of the nuptials of prince Ali +and the princess Nouronnihar, was sensibly afflicted at the +absence of the other two princes his sons, though it was not long +before he was informed of the resolution Houssain had taken to +forsake the world, and the place he had chosen for his retreat. +As a good father, whose happiness consists in seeing his children +about him, especially when they are deserving of his tenderness, +he would have been better pleased had he stayed at his court, +near his person; but as he could not disapprove of his choice of +the state of perfection which he had entered, he supported his +absence more patiently. He made the most diligent search after +Ahmed, and dispatched couriers to all the provinces of his +dominions, with orders to the governors to stop him, and oblige +him to return to court: but all the pains he took had not the +desired success, and his affliction, instead of diminishing, +increased. He would make it the subject of his conversation with +his grand vizier; and would say to him, "Vizier, thou knowest I +always loved Ahmed the most of all my sons; and thou art not +insensible of the means I have in vain used to find him out. My +grief is so heavy, I shall sink under it, if thou hast not +compassion on me; if thou hast any regard for the preservation of +my life, I conjure thee to assist and advise me." + +The grand vizier, no less attached to the person of the sultan +than zealous to acquit himself well of the administration of the +affairs of state, considering how to give his sovereign some +ease, recollected a sorceress, of whom he had heard wonders, and +proposed to send for and consult her. The sultan consented, and +the grand vizier, upon her arrival, introduced her into the +presence. + +The sultan said to the sorceress, "The affliction I have been in +since the marriage of my son prince Ali to the princess +Nouronnihar, my niece, on account of the absence of prince Ahmed, +is so well known, and so public, that thou canst be no stranger +to it. By thy art and skill canst thou tell me what is become of +him? If he be alive, where he is? what he is doing? and if I may +hope ever to see him again?" To this the sorceress replied, "It +is impossible, sir, for me, however skilful in my profession, to +answer immediately the questions your majesty asks; but if you +allow me till to-morrow, I will endeavour to satisfy you." The +sultan granted her the time, and permitted her to retire, with a +promise to recompense her munificently, if her answer proved +agreeable to his hopes. + +The sorceress returned the next day, and the grand vizier +presented her a second time to the sultan. "Sir," said she, +"notwithstanding all the diligence I have used in applying the +rules of my art to obey your majesty in what you desire to know, +I have not been able to discover any thing more than that prince +Ahmed is alive. This is certain, and you may depend upon it; but +as to where he is I cannot discover." + +The sultan of the Indies was obliged to remain satisfied with +this answer; which left him in the same uneasiness as before as +to the prince's situation. + +To return to prince Ahmed. He so often entertained the fairy +Perie Banou with talking about his father, though without +speaking any more of his desire to visit him, that she fully +comprehended what he meant; and perceiving the restraint he put +upon himself, and his fear of displeasing her after her first +refusal, she inferred, from the repeated proofs he had given her, +that his love for her was sincere; and judging by herself of the +injustice she committed in opposing a son's tenderness for his +father, and endeavouring to make him renounce that natural +affection, she resolved to grant him the permission which she knew +he so ardently desired. One day she said to him, "Prince, the +request you made to be allowed to go and see the sultan your +father gave me apprehension that it was only a pretext to conceal +inconstancy, and that was the sole motive of my refusal; but now, +as I am fully convinced by your actions and words that I can +depend on your honour and the fidelity of your love, I change my +resolution, and grant you the permission you seek, on condition +that you will first swear to me that your absence shall not be +long. You ought not to be uneasy at this condition, as if I asked +it out of distrust. I impose it only because I know that it will +give you no concern, convinced, as I have already told you I am, +of the sincerity of your love." + +Prince Ahmed would have thrown himself at the fairy's feet to +shew his gratitude, but she prevented him. "My sultaness," said +he, "I am sensible of the great favour you grant me; but want +words to express my thanks. Supply this defect, I conjure you, by +your own feelings, and be persuaded I think much more. You may +believe that the oath will give me no uneasiness, and I take it +more willingly, since it is not possible for me to live without +you. I go, but the haste I will make to return shall shew you, +that it is not the fear of being foresworn, but my inclination, +which is to live with you for ever, that urges me; and if with +your consent I now and then deprive myself of your society, I +shall always avoid the pain a too long absence would occasion +me." + +"Prince," replied Perie Banou, delighted with his sentiments, "go +when you please; but do not take it amiss that I give you some +advice how you shall conduct yourself. First, I do not think it +proper for you to inform your father of our marriage, neither of +my quality, nor the place of our residence. Beg of him to be +satisfied with knowing that you are happy, that you want nothing +from him, and let him know that the sole end of your visit is to +make him easy respecting your fate." + +Perie Banou then appointed twenty horsemen, well mounted and +equipped, to attend him. When all was ready, prince Ahmed took +his leave of the fairy, embraced her, and renewed his promise to +return soon. A charger, which was most richly caparisoned, and as +beautiful a creature as any in the sultan of the Indies' stables, +was brought to him, which he mounted with extraordinary grace, +which gave great pleasure to the fairy; and after he had bidden +her adieu, he set forward on his journey. + +As it was no great distance to his father's capital, prince Ahmed +soon arrived there. The people, rejoiced to see him again, +received him with acclamations, and followed him in crowds to the +palace. The sultan received and embraced him with great joy; +complaining at the same time, with a fatherly tenderness, of the +affliction his long absence had occasioned; which, he said, was +the more distressing, as fortune having decided in favour of +prince Ali his brother, he was afraid he might have committed +some act of despair. + +"Sir," replied prince Ahmed, "I leave it to your majesty to +consider, if after having lost the princess Nouronnihar, who was +the only object of my desires, I could bear to be a witness of +Ali's happiness. If I had been capable of such unworthy apathy, +what would the court and city have thought of my love, or what +your majesty? Love is a passion we cannot suppress at our will; +while it lasts, it rules and governs us in spite of our boasted +reason. Your majesty knows, that when I shot my arrow, the most +extraordinary accident that ever befell mortal happened to me, +for surely it was such, that in so large and level a plain as +that where the horses are exercised, it should not be possible to +find my arrow. I lost your decision in my favour, which was as +much due to my love, as to that of the princes my brothers. +Though thus vanquished by the caprice of fate, I lost no time in +vain complaints; but to satisfy my perplexed mind, upon what I +could not comprehend, I left my attendants, and returned alone to +look for my arrow. I sought all about the place where Houssain's +and Ali's arrows were found, and where I imagined mine must have +fallen, but all my labour was in vain. I was not discouraged, but +continued my search in a direct line, and after this manner had +gone above a league, without being able to meet with any thing +like an arrow, when I reflected that it was not possible that +mine should have flown so far. I stopped, and asked myself +whether I was in my right senses, to flatter myself with having +had strength to shoot an arrow so much farther than any of the +strongest archers in the world were able to do. After I had +argued thus with myself, I was ready to abandon my enterprise; +but when on the point of putting my resolution in execution, I +found myself drawn forward against my will; and after having gone +four leagues, to that part of the plain where it is bounded by +rocks, I perceived an arrow. I ran, took it up, and knew it to be +the same which I had shot. Far from thinking your majesty had +done me any injustice in declaring for my brother Ali, I +interpreted what had happened to me quite otherwise, and never +doubted there was a mystery in it to my advantage; the discovery +of which I ought not to neglect, and which I found out without +going from the spot. But as to this mystery I beg your majesty +will not be offended if I remain silent, and that you will be +satisfied to know from my own mouth that I am happy, and content +with my fate. + +"In the midst of my happiness, the only thing that troubled me, +or was capable of disturbing me, was the uneasiness I feared your +majesty would experience on account of my leaving the court, and +your not knowing what was become of me. I thought it my duty to +satisfy you in this point. This was the only motive which brought +me hither; the only favour I ask of your majesty is to give me +leave to come occasionally to pay you my duty, and inquire after +your health." + +"Son," answered the sultan of the Indies, "I cannot refuse you +the permission you ask, but I should much rather you would +resolve to stay with me. At least tell me where I may hear of +you, if you should fail to come, or when I may think your +presence necessary." "Sir," replied the prince, "what your +majesty requires is part of the mystery I spoke of. I beg of you +to allow me to remain silent on this head; for I shall come so +frequently where my duty calls, that I am afraid I shall sooner +be thought troublesome than be accused of negligence, when my +presence may be necessary." + +The sultan of the Indies pressed Ahmed no more, but said to him, +"Son, I wish to penetrate no farther into your secrets, but leave +you at your liberty. I can only tell you, that you could not have +done me greater pleasure than by your presence, having restored +to me the joy I have not felt for a long time; and that you shall +always be welcome when you can come, without interrupting your +business or your pleasure." + +Prince Ahmed stayed but three days at his father's court, and on +the fourth returned to the fairy Perie Banou, who received him +with the greater joy, as she did not expect him so soon. His +expedition made her condemn herself for suspecting his want of +fidelity. She never dissembled, but frankly owned her weakness to +the prince, and asked his pardon. So perfect was the union of the +two lovers, that they had but one will. + +A month after prince Ahmed's return from visiting his father, as +the fairy had observed that since the time when he gave her an +account of his journey, and his conversation with his father, in +which he asked his permission to come and see him from time to +time, he had never spoken of the sultan, whereas before he was +frequently mentioning him, she thought he forebore on her +account, and therefore took an opportunity to say to him one day, +"Tell me, prince, have you forgotten the sultan your father? Do +not you remember the promise you made to pay your duty to him +occasionally? I have not forgotten what you told me at your +return, and put you in mind of it, that you may acquit yourself +of your promise when you may feel inclined." + +"Madam," replied Ahmed, with equal animation, "as I know I am not +guilty of the forgetfulness you lay to my charge, I rather choose to +be thus reproached, however undeservedly, than expose myself to a +refusal, by manifesting a desire for what it might have given you pain +to grant." "Prince," said the fairy, "I would not have you in this +affair have so much consideration for me, since it is a month since +you have seen the sultan your father. I think you should not be longer +in renewing your visits. Pay him one to-morrow, and after that, go and +visit once a month, without speaking to me, or waiting for my +permission. I readily consent to such an arrangement." + +Prince Ahmed went the next morning with the same attendants as +before, but much more magnificently mounted, equipped, and +dressed, and was received by the sultan with the same joy and +satisfaction. For several months he constantly paid him visits, +and always in a richer and more brilliant equipage. + +At last the sultan's favourites, who judged of prince Ahmed's +power by the splendour of his appearance, abused the privilege +the sultan accorded them of speaking to him with freedom, to make +him jealous of his son. They represented that it was but common +prudence to discover where the prince had retired, and how he +could afford to live so magnificently, since he had no revenue +assigned for his expenses; that he seemed to come to court only +to insult him, by affecting to shew that he wanted nothing from +his father to enable him to live like a prince; and that it was +to be feared he might court the people's favour and dethrone him. + +The sultan of the Indies was so far from thinking that prince +Ahmed could be capable of so wicked a design, that he said to +them in displeasure, "You are mistaken, my son loves me, and I am +the more assured of his tenderness and fidelity, as I have given +him no reason to be disgusted." + +At these words, one of the favourites took an opportunity to say, +"Your majesty, in the opinion of the most sensible people, could +not have taken a better method than you did with the three +princes, respecting their marriage with the princess Nouronnihar; +but who knows whether prince Ahmed has submitted to his fate with +the same resignation as prince Houssain? May not he imagine that +he alone deserved her; and that your majesty, by leaving the +match to be decided by chance, has done him injustice? + +"Your majesty may say," added the malicious favourite, "that +prince Ahmed has manifested no appearance of dissatisfaction; +that our fears are vain; that we are too easily alarmed, and are +to blame in suggesting to you suspicions of this kind, which may, +perhaps, be unfounded, against a prince of your blood. But, sir," +pursued the favourite, "it may be also, that these suspicions are +well grounded. Your majesty must be sensible, that in so nice and +important an affair you cannot be too much on your guard, and +should take the safest course. Consider, it is the prince's +interest to dissemble, amuse, and deceive you; and the danger is +the greater, as he resides not far from your capital; and if your +majesty give but the same attention that we do, you may observe +that every time he comes his attendants are different, their +habits new, and their arms clean and bright, as if just come from +the maker's hands; and their horses look as if they had only been +walked out. These are sufficient proofs that prince Ahmed does +not travel far, so that we should think ourselves wanting in our +duty did we not make our humble remonstrances, in order that, for +your own preservation and the good of your people, your majesty +may take such measures as you shall think advisable." + +When the favourite had concluded these insinuations, the sultan +said, "I do not believe my son Ahmed is so wicked as you would +persuade me he is; however, I am obliged to you for your advice, +and do not doubt that it proceeds from good intention and loyalty +to my person." + +The sultan of the Indies said this, that his favourites might not +know the impressions their observations had made on his mind. He +was, however, so much alarmed by them, that he resolved to have +prince Ahmed watched, unknown to his grand vizier. For this end +he sent for the sorceress, who was introduced by a private door +into his closet. "You told me the truth," said he, "when you +assured me my son Ahmed was alive, for which I am obliged to you. +You must do me another kindness. I have seen him since, and he +comes to my court every month; but I cannot learn from him where +he resides, and do not wish to force his secret from him; but +believe you are capable of satisfying my curiosity, without +letting him, or any of my court, know any thing of the discovery. +You know that he is at this time with me, and usually departs +without taking leave of me, or any of my court. Place yourself +immediately upon the road, and watch him so as to find out where +he retires, and bring me information." + +The sorceress left the sultan, and knowing the place where prince +Ahmed had found his arrow, went immediately thither, and +concealed herself near the rocks, so as not to be seen. + +The next morning prince Ahmed set out by daybreak, without taking +leave either of the sultan or any of his court, according to +custom. The sorceress seeing him coming, followed him with her +eyes, till suddenly she lost sight of him and his attendants. + +The steepness of the rocks formed an insurmountable barrier to +men, whether on horseback or on foot, so that the sorceress +judged that the prince retired either into some cavern, or some +subterraneous place, the abode of genies or fairies. When she +thought the prince and his attendants must have far advanced into +whatever concealment they inhabited, she came out of the place +where she had hidden herself, and explored the hollow way where +she had lost sight of them. She entered it, and proceeding to the +spot where it terminated after many windings, looked carefully on +all sides. But notwithstanding all her acuteness she could +perceive no opening, nor the iron gate which prince Ahmed had +discovered. For this door was to be seen by or opened to none but +men, and only to those whose presence was agreeable to the fairy +Perie Banou, but not at all to women. + +The sorceress, who saw it was in vain for her to search any +farther, was obliged to be satisfied with the insufficient +discovery she had made, and returned to communicate it to the +sultan. When she had told him what she had explored, she added, +"Your majesty may easily understand, after what I have had the +honour to tell you, that it will be no difficult matter to obtain +you the satisfaction you desire concerning prince Ahmed's +conduct. To do this, I only ask time, that you will have +patience, and give me leave to act, without inquiring what +measures I design to take." + +The sultan was pleased with the conduct of the sorceress, and +said to her, "Do you as you think fit; I will wait patiently the +event of your promises:" and to encourage her, he presented her +with a diamond of great value, telling her, it was only an +earnest of the ample recompense she should receive when she +should have performed the important service which he left to her +management. + +As prince Ahmed, after he had obtained the fairy Perie Banou's +leave, never failed once a month to visit his father, the +sorceress knowing the time, went a day or two before to the foot +of the rock where she had lost sight of him and his attendants, +and waited there to execute the project she had formed. + +The next morning prince Ahmed went out as usual at the iron gate, +with the same attendants as before, passed the sorceress, and +seeing her lie with her head on the rock, complaining as if she +was in great pain, he pitied her, turned his horse, and asked +what he could do to relieve her? + +The artful sorceress, without lifting up her head, looked at the +prince in such a manner as to increase his compassion, and +answered in broken accents and sighs, as if she could hardly +breathe, that she was going to the city; but in the way was taken +with so violent a fever, that her strength failed her, and she +was forced to stop and lie down where he saw her, far from any +habitation, and without any hopes of assistance. + +"Good woman," replied the prince, "you are not so far from help +as you imagine. I will assist you, and convey you where you shall +not only have all possible care taken of you, but where you will +find a speedy cure: rise, and let one of my people take you +behind him." + +At these words, the sorceress, who pretended sickness only to +explore where the prince resided, and his situation, did not +refuse the charitable offer, and to shew her acceptance rather by +her actions than her words, made many affected efforts to rise, +pretending that the violence of her illness prevented her. At the +same time, two of the prince's attendants alighting, helped her +up, and placed her behind another. They mounted their horses +again, and followed the prince, who turned back to the iron gate, +which was opened by one of his retinue. When he came into the +outward court of the fairy's palace, without dismounting himself, +he sent to tell her he wanted to speak with her. + +The fairy came with all imaginable haste, not knowing what had +made prince Ahmed return so soon; who, not giving her time to +ask, said, "My princess, I desire you would have compassion on +this good woman," pointing to the sorceress, who was taken off +the horse by two of his retinue; "I found her in the condition +you see her, and promised her the assistance she requires. I +recommend her to your care, and am persuaded that you, from +inclination, as well as my request, will not abandon her." + +The fairy, who had her eyes fixed on the pretended sick woman all +the time the prince was speaking, ordered two of her women to +take her from the men who supported her, conduct her into an +apartment of the palace, and take as much care of her as they +would of herself. + +Whilst the two women were executing the fairy's commands, she +went up to prince Ahmed, and whispering him in the ear, said, +"Prince, I commend your compassion, which is worthy of you and +your birth. I take great pleasure in gratifying your good +intention; but permit me to tell you I am afraid it will be but +ill rewarded. This woman is not so sick as she pretends to be; +and I am much mistaken if she is not sent hither on purpose to +occasion you great trouble. But do not be concerned, let what +will be devised against you; be persuaded that I will deliver you +out of all the snares that shall be laid for you. Go and pursue +your journey." + +This address of the fairy's did not in the least alarm prince +Ahmed. "My princess," said he, "as I do not remember I ever did, +or designed to do, any body injury, I cannot believe any one can +have a thought of injuring me; but if they have, I shall not +forbear doing good whenever I have an opportunity." So saying, he +took leave of the fairy, and set forward again for his father's +capital, where he soon arrived, and was received as usual by the +sultan, who constrained himself as much as possible, to disguise +the anxiety arising from the suspicions suggested by his +favourites. + +In the mean time, the two women to whom Perie Banou had given her +orders conveyed the sorceress into an elegant apartment, richly +furnished. They first set her down upon a sofa, with her back +supported by a cushion of gold brocade, while they made a bed on +the same sofa, the quilt of which was finely embroidered with +silk, the sheets of the finest linen, and the coverlid cloth of +gold. When they had put her into bed (for the old sorceress +pretended that her fever was so violent she could not help +herself in the least), one of the women went out, and returned +soon with a china cup in her hand, full of a certain liquor, +which she presented to the sorceress, while the other helped her +to sit up. "Drink this," said the attendant, "it is the water of +the fountain of lions, and a sovereign remedy against fevers. You +will find the effect of it in less than an hour's time." + +The sorceress, the better to dissemble, took it, after a great +deal of entreaty, as if she did it with reluctance. When she was +laid down again, the two women covered her up: "Lie quiet," said +she, who brought her the china cup, "and get a little sleep, if +you can: we will leave you, and hope to find you perfectly +recovered when we return an hour hence." + +The sorceress, who came not to act a sick part long, but to +discover prince Ahmed's retreat, being fully satisfied in what +she wanted to know, would willingly have declared that the potion +had then had its effect, so great was her desire to return to the +sultan, to inform him of the success of her commission: but as +she had been told that the potion did not operate immediately, +she was forced to wait the women's return. + +The two women came again at the time they had mentioned, and +found the sorceress seated on the sofa; who, when she saw them +open the door of the apartment, cried out, "O the admirable +potion! it has wrought its cure much sooner than you told me it +would, and I have waited with impatience to desire you to conduct +me to your charitable mistress, to thank her for her kindness, +for which I shall always feel obliged; but being thus cured as by +a miracle, I would not lose time, but prosecute my journey." + +The two women, who were fairies as well as their mistress, after +they had told the sorceress how glad they were that she was cured +so soon, walked before her, and conducted her through several +apartments, all more superb than that wherein she had lain, into +a large hall, the most richly and magnificently furnished of all +the palace. + +Perie Banou was seated in this hall, upon a throne of massive +gold, enriched with diamonds, rubies, and pearls of an +extraordinary size, and attended on each hand by a great number +of beautiful fairies, all richly dressed. At the sight of so much +splendour, the sorceress was not only dazzled, but so struck, +that after she had prostrated herself before the throne, she +could not open her lips to thank the fairy, as she had proposed. +However, Perie Banou saved her the trouble, and said, "Good +woman, I am glad I had an opportunity to oblige you, and that you +are able to pursue your journey. I will not detain you; but +perhaps you may not be displeased to see my palace: follow my +women, and they will shew it you." + +The old sorceress, who had not power nor courage to say a word, +prostrated herself a second time, with her head on the carpet +that covered the foot of the throne, took her leave, and was +conducted by the two fairies through the same apartments which +were shewn to prince Ahmed at his first arrival, and at sight of +their uncommon magnificence she made frequent exclamations. But +what surprised her most of all was, that the two fairies told +her, that all she saw and so much admired was a mere sketch of +their mistress's grandeur and riches; for that in the extent of +her dominions she had so many palaces that they could not tell +the number of them, all of different plans and architecture, but +equally magnificent. In speaking of many other particulars, they +led her at last to the iron gate at which prince Ahmed had +brought her in; and after she had taken her leave of them, and +thanked them for their trouble, they opened it, and wished her a +good journey. + +After the sorceress had gone a little way, she turned to observe +the door, that she might know it again, but all in vain; for, as +was before observed, it was invisible to her and all other women. +Except in this circumstance, she was very well satisfied with her +success, and posted away to the sultan. When she came to the +capital, she went by many by-ways to the private door of the +palace. The sultan being informed of her arrival, sent for her +into his apartment, and perceiving a melancholy hang upon her +countenance, thought she had not succeeded, and said to her, "By +your looks, I guess that your journey has been to no purpose, and +that you have not made the discovery I expected from your +diligence." "Sir," replied the sorceress, "your majesty must give +me leave to represent that you ought not to judge by my looks +whether or no I have acquitted myself well in the execution of +the commands you were pleased to honour me with; but by the +faithful report I shall make you of all that has happened to me, +and by which you will find that I have not neglected any thing +that could render me worthy of your approbation. The melancholy +you observe proceeds from another cause than the want of success, +which I hope your majesty will have ample reason to be satisfied +with. I do not tell you the cause; the relation I shall give will +inform you." + +The sorceress now related to the sultan of the Indies how, +pretending to be sick, prince Ahmed compassionating her, had her +carried into a subterraneous abode, and presented and recommended +her to a fairy of incomparable beauty, desiring her by her care +to restore her health. She then told him with how much +condescension the fairy had immediately ordered two women to take +care of her, and not to leave her till she was recovered; which +great condescension, said she, could proceed from no other +female, but from a wife to a husband. Afterwards the old +sorceress failed not to dwell on her surprise at the front of the +palace, which she said had not its equal for magnificence in the +world. She gave a particular account of the care they took of +her, after they had led her into an apartment; of the potion they +made her drink, and of the quickness of her cure; which she had +pretended as well as her sickness, though she doubted not the +virtue of the draught; the majesty of the fairy seated on a +throne, brilliant with jewels, the value of which exceeded all +the riches of the kingdom of the Indies, and all the other +treasures beyond computation contained in that vast palace. + +Here the sorceress finishing the relation of the success of her +commission, and continuing her discourse, said, "What does your +majesty think of these unheard-of riches of the fairy? Perhaps +you will say, you are struck with admiration, and rejoice at the +good fortune of prince Ahmed your son, who enjoys them in common +with the fairy. For my part, sir, I beg of your majesty to +forgive me if I take the liberty to say that I think otherwise, +and that I shudder when I consider the misfortunes which may +happen to you from his present situation. And this is the cause +of the melancholy which I could not so well dissemble, but that +you soon perceived it. I would believe that prince Ahmed, by his +own good disposition, is incapable of undertaking anything +against your majesty; but who can answer that the fairy, by her +attractions and caresses, and the influence she has over him, may +not inspire him with the unnatural design of dethroning your +majesty, and seizing the crown of the Indies? This is what your +majesty ought to consider as of the utmost importance." + +Though the sultan of the Indies was persuaded that prince Ahmed's +natural disposition was good, yet he could not help being moved +at the representations of the old sorceress, and said, "I thank +you for the pains you have taken, and your wholesome caution. I +am so sensible of its great importance that I shall take advice +upon it." + +He was consulting with his favourites, when he was told of the +sorceress's arrival. He ordered her to follow him to them. He +acquainted them with what he had learnt, communicated to them the +reason he had to fear the fairy's influence over the prince, and +asked them what measures they thought most proper to be taken to +prevent so great a misfortune as might possibly happen. One of +the favourites, taking upon himself to speak for the rest, said, +"Your majesty knows who must be the author of this mischief. In +order to prevent it, now he is in your court, and in your power, +you ought not to hesitate to put him under arrest; I will not say +take away his life, for that would make too much noise; but make +him a close prisoner." This advice all the other favourites +unanimously applauded. + +The sorceress, who thought it too violent, asked the sultan leave +to speak, which being granted, she said, "I am persuaded it is +the zeal of your counsellors for your majesty's interest that +makes them propose arresting prince Ahmed. But they will not take +it amiss if I offer to your and their consideration, that if you +arrest the prince you must also detain his retinue. But they are +all genies. Do they think it will be so easy to surprise, seize, +and secure their persons? will they not disappear, by the +property they possess of rendering themselves invisible, and +transport themselves instantly to the fairy, and give her an +account of the insult offered her husband? And can it be supposed +she will let it go unrevenged? Would it not be better, if by any +other means which might not make so great a noise, the sultan +could secure himself against any ill designs prince Ahmed may +have, and not involve his majesty's honour? If his majesty has +any confidence in my advice, as genies and fairies can do things +impracticable to men, he will rather trust prince Ahmed's honour, +and engage him by means of the fairy to procure certain +advantages, by flattering his ambition, and at the same time +narrowly watching him. For example; every time your majesty takes +the field, you are obliged to be at a great expense, not only in +pavilions and tents for yourself and army, but likewise in mules +and camels, and other beasts of burden, to carry their baggage. +Request the prince to procure you a tent, which can be carried in +a man's hand, but so large as to shelter your whole army. + +"I need say no more to your majesty. If the prince brings such a +tent, you may make other demands of the same nature, so that at +last he may sink under the difficulties and the impossibility of +executing them, however fertile in means and inventions the +fairy, who has enticed him from you by her enchantments, may be; +so that in time he will be ashamed to appear, and will be forced +to pass the rest of his life with the fairy, excluded from any +commerce with this world; when your majesty will have nothing to +fear from him, and cannot be reproached with so detestable an +action as the shedding of a son's blood, or confining him for +life in a prison." + +When the sorceress had finished her speech, the sultan asked his +favourites if they had any thing better to propose; and finding +them all silent, determined to follow her advice, as the most +reasonable and most agreeable to his mild manner of government. + +The next day when the prince came into his father's presence, who +was talking with his favourites, and had sat down by him, after a +conversation on different subjects, the sultan, addressing +himself to prince Ahmed, said, "Son, when you came and dispelled +those clouds of melancholy which your long absence had brought +upon me, you made the place you had chosen for your retreat a +mastery. I was satisfied with seeing you again, and knowing that +you were content with your condition, sought not to penetrate +into your secret, which I found you did not wish I should. I know +not what reason you had thus to treat a father, who ever was and +still continues anxious for your happiness. I now know your good +fortune. I rejoice with you, and much approve of your conduct in +marrying a fairy so worthy of your love, and so rich and powerful +as I am informed she is. Powerful as I am, it was not possible +for me to have procured for you so great a match. Now you are +raised to so high a rank, as to be envied by all but a father, I +not only desire to preserve the good understanding which has +hitherto subsisted between us, but request that you will use your +influence with your wife, to obtain her assistance when I may +want it. I will therefore make a trial of your interest this day. + +"You are not insensible at what a great expense, not to say +trouble to my generals, officers, and myself, every time I take +the field, they provide tents, mules, camels, and other beasts of +burden, to carry them. If you consider the pleasure you would do +me, I am persuaded you could easily procure from the fairy a +pavilion that might be carried in a man's hand, and which would +extend over my whole army; especially when you let her know it is +for me. Though it may be a difficult thing to procure, she will +not refuse you. All the world knows fairies are capable of +executing most extraordinary undertakings." + +Prince Ahmed never expected that the sultan his father would have +made a demand like this, which appeared to him so difficult, not +to say impossible. Though he knew not absolutely how great the +power of genii and fairies was, he doubted whether it extended so +far as to furnish such a tent as his father desired. Moreover, he +had never asked any thing of the fairy Perie Banou, but was +satisfied with the continual proofs she had given him of her +passion, and had neglected nothing to persuade her that his heart +perfectly corresponded without any views beyond maintaining +himself in her good graces: he was therefore in the greatest +embarrassment what answer to make. At last he replied, "If, sir, +I have concealed from your majesty what has happened to me, and +what course I took after finding my arrow, the reason was, that I +thought it of no great importance to you to be informed of such +circumstances; and though I know not how this mystery has been +revealed to you, I cannot deny but your information is correct. I +have married the fairy you speak of. I love her, and am persuaded +she loves me in return. But I can say nothing as to the influence +your majesty believes I have over her. It is what I have not yet +proved, nor thought of trying, but could wish you would dispense +with my making the experiment, and let me enjoy the happiness of +loving and being beloved, with all that disinterestedness I had +proposed to myself. However, the demand of a father is a command +upon every child, who, like me, thinks it his duty to obey him in +every thing. And though it is with the greatest reluctance, I +will not fail to ask my wife the favour your majesty desires, but +cannot promise you to obtain it; and if I should not have the +honour to come again to pay you my respects, it will be the sign +that I have not been able to succeed in my request: but +beforehand, I desire you to forgive me, and consider that you +yourself have reduced me to this extremity." + +"Son," replied the sultan of the Indies, "I should be sorry that +what I ask should oblige you to deprive me of the gratification +of seeing you as usual. I find you do not know the power a +husband has over a wife; and yours would shew that her love to +you was very slight, if, with the power she possesses as a fairy, +she should refuse so trifling a request as that I have begged you +to make. Lay aside your fears, which proceed from your believing +yourself not to be loved so well as you love her. Go; only ask +her. You will find the fairy loves you better than you imagine; +and remember that people, for want of requesting, often lose +great advantages. Think with yourself, that as you love her, you +could refuse her nothing; therefore, if she loves you, she will +not deny your requests." + +All these representations of the sultan of the Indies could not +satisfy prince Ahmed, who would rather he had asked anything else +than, as he supposed, what must expose him to the hazard of +displeasing his beloved Perie Banou; and so great was his +vexation that he left the court two days sooner than he used to +do. + +When he returned, the fairy, to whom he always before had +appeared with a gay countenance, asked him the cause of the +alteration she perceived in his looks; and finding that instead +of answering he inquired after her health, to avoid satisfying +her, she said to him, "I will answer your question when you have +answered mine." The prince declined a long time, protesting that +nothing was the matter with him; but the more he denied the more +she pressed him, and said, "I cannot bear to see you thus: tell +me what makes you uneasy, that I may remove the cause, whatever +it may be; for it must be very extraordinary if it is out of my +power, unless it be the death of the sultan your father; in that +case, time, with all that I will contribute on my part, can alone +comfort you." + +Prince Ahmed could not long withstand the pressing instances of +the fairy. "Madam," said he, "God prolong the sultan my father's +life, and bless him to the end of his days. I left him alive and +in perfect health; therefore that is not the cause of the +melancholy you perceive in me. The sultan, however, is the +occasion of it, and I am the more concerned because he has +imposed upon me the disagreeable necessity of importuning you. +You know the care I have at your desire taken to conceal from him +the happiness I have enjoyed in living with you, and of having +received the pledge of your faith after having pledged my love to +you. How he has been informed of it I cannot tell." + +Here the fairy interrupted prince Ahmed, and said, "But I know. +Remember what I told you of the woman who made you believe she +was sick, on whom you took so much compassion. It is she who has +acquainted your father with what you have taken so much care to +hide from him. I told you that she was no more sick than you or +I, and she has made it appear so; for, in short, after the two +women, whom I charged to take care of her, had given her the +water sovereign against all fevers, but which however she had no +occasion for, she pretended that it had cured her, and was +brought to take her leave of me that she might go the sooner to +give an account of the success of her undertaking. She was in so +much haste, that she would have gone away without seeing my +palace if I had not, by bidding my two women shew it her, given +her to understand that it was worth her seeing. But proceed and +tell me what is the necessity your father has imposed on you to +be so importunate, which, be persuaded, however, you can never be +to your affectionate wife." + +"Madam," pursued prince Ahmed, "you may have observed that +hitherto I have been content with your love, and have never asked +you any other favour: for what, after the possession of so +amiable a wife, can I desire more? I know how great your power +is, but I have taken care not to make proof of it to please +myself. Consider then, I conjure you, that it is not myself, but +the sultan my father, who, indiscreetly as I think, asks of you a +pavilion large enough to shelter him, his court, and army, from +the violence of the weather, when he takes the field, and which a +man may carry in his hand. Once more remember it is not I, but +the sultan my father who asks this favour." + +"Prince," replied the fairy smiling, "I am sorry that so trifling +a matter should disturb and make you so uneasy as you appear. I +see plainly two things have contributed towards it: one is, the +law you have imposed on yourself, to be content with loving me, +being beloved by me, and deny yourself the liberty of soliciting +the least favour that might try my power. The other, I do not +doubt, whatever you may say, was, that you thought that what your +father asked was out of my power. As to the first, I commend you, +and shall love you the better, if possible, for it; and for the +second, I must tell you that what the sultan your father requests +is a trifle; as upon occasion I can do him more important +service. Therefore be easy in your mind, and persuaded that far +from thinking myself importuned I shall always take real pleasure +in performing whatever you can desire." Perie Banou then sent for +her treasurer, to whom, when she came, she said, "Noor-Jehaun" +(which was her name), "bring me the largest pavilion in my +treasury." Noor-Jehaun returned presently with a pavilion, which +could not only be held, but concealed in the palm of the hand, +when it was closed, and presented it to her mistress, who gave it +prince Ahmed to look at. + +When prince Ahmed saw the pavilion, which the fairy called the +largest in her treasury, he fancied she had a mind to banter him, +and his surprise soon appeared in his countenance; which Perie +Banou perceiving, she burst out a laughing. "What! prince," cried +she, "do you think I jest with you? You will see that I am in +earnest. Noor-Jehaun," said she to her treasurer, taking the tent +out of prince Ahmed's hands, "go and set it up, that he may judge +whether the sultan his father will think it large enough." + +The treasurer went out immediately with it from the palace, and +carried it to such a distance, that when she had set it up, one +end reached to the palace. The prince, so far from thinking it +small, found it large enough to shelter two armies as numerous as +that of the sultan his father; and then said to Perie Banou, "I +ask my princess a thousand pardons for my incredulity: after what +I have seen, I believe there is nothing impossible to you." "You +see," said the fairy, "that the pavilion is larger than your +father may have occasion for; but you are to observe that it has +one property, that it becomes larger or smaller, according to the +extent of the army it is to cover, without applying any hands to +it." + +The treasurer took down the tent again, reduced it to its first +size, brought it and put it into the prince's hands. He took it, +and without staying longer than till the next day, mounted his +horse, and went with the usual attendants to the sultan his +father. + +The sultan, who was persuaded that such a tent as he had asked +for was beyond all possibility, was in great surprise at the +prince's speedy return. He took the tent, but after he had +admired its smallness, his amazement was so great that he could +not recover himself when he had set it up in the great plain +before-mentioned, and found it large enough to shelter an army +twice as large as he could bring into the field. Regarding this +excess in its dimension as what might be troublesome in the use, +prince Ahmed told him that its size would always be +proportionable to his army. + +To outward appearance the sultan expressed great obligation to +the prince for so noble a present, desiring him to return his +thanks to the fairy; and to shew what a value he set upon it, +ordered it to be carefully laid up in his treasury. But within +himself he felt greater jealousy than his flatterers and the +sorceress had suggested to him; considering, that by the fairy's +assistance the prince his son might perform things infinitely +above his own power, notwithstanding his greatness and riches; +therefore, more intent upon his ruin, he went to consult the +sorceress again, who advised him to engage the prince to bring +him some of the water of the fountain of lions. + +In the evening, when the sultan was surrounded as usual by all +his court, and the prince came to pay his respects among the +rest, he addressed himself to him in these words: "Son, I have +already expressed to you how much I am obliged for the present of +the tent you have procured me, which I esteem the most valuable +curiosity in my treasury: but you must do one thing more, which +will be no less agreeable to me. I am informed that the fairy +your spouse makes use of a certain water, called the water of the +fountain of lions, which cures all sorts of fevers, even the most +dangerous; and as I am perfectly well persuaded my health is dear +to you, I do not doubt but you will ask her for a bottle of that +water, and bring it me as a sovereign remedy, which I may use as +I have occasion. Do me this important service, and complete the +duty of a good son towards a tender father." + +Prince Ahmed, who believed that the sultan his father would have +been satisfied with so singular and useful a tent as that which +he had brought, and that he would not have imposed any new task +upon him which might hazard the fairy's displeasure, was +thunderstruck at this new request, notwithstanding the assurance +she had given him of granting him whatever lay in her power. +After a long silence, he said, "I beg of your majesty to be +assured, that there is nothing I would not undertake to procure +which may contribute to the prolonging of your life, but I could +wish it might not be by the means of my wife. For this reason I +dare not promise to bring the water. All I can do is, to assure +you I will request it of her; but it will be with as great +reluctance as I asked for the tent." + +The next morning prince Ahmed returned to the fairy Perie Banou, +and related to her sincerely and faithfully all that had passed +at his father's court from the giving of the tent, which he told +her he received with the utmost gratitude, to the new request he +had charged him to make. He added: "But, my princess, I only tell +you this as a plain account of what passed between me and my +father. I leave you to your own pleasure, whether you will +gratify or reject this his new desire. It shall be as you +please." + +"No, no," replied the fairy, "I am glad that the sultan of the +Indies knows that you are not indifferent to me. I will satisfy +him, and whatever advice the sorceress may give him (for I see +that he hearkens to her counsel), he shall find no fault with you +or me. There is much wickedness in this demand, as you will +understand by what I am going to tell you. The fountain of lions +is situated in the middle of a court of a great castle, the +entrance into which is guarded by four fierce lions, two of which +sleep alternately, while the other two are awake. But let not +that frighten you. I will supply you with means to pass by them +without danger." + +The fairy Perie Banou was at that time at work with her needle; +and as she had by her several clues of thread, she took up one, +and presenting it to prince Ahmed, said, "First take this clue of +thread, I will tell you presently the use of it. In the second +place, you must have two horses; one you must ride yourself, and +the other you must lead, which must be loaded with a sheep cut +into four quarters, that must be killed to-day. In the third +place, you must be provided with a bottle, which I will give you, +to bring the water in. Set out early to-morrow morning, and when +you have passed the iron gate throw before you the clue of +thread, which will roll till it reaches the gates of the castle. +Follow it, and when it stops, as the gates will be open, you will +see the four lions. The two that are awake will, by their +roaring, wake the other two. Be not alarmed, but throw each of +them a quarter of the sheep, and then clap spurs to your horse, +and ride to the fountain. Fill your bottle without alighting, and +return with the same expedition. The lions will be so busy eating +they will let you pass unmolested." + +Prince Ahmed set out the next morning at the time appointed him +by the fairy, and followed her directions punctually. When he +arrived at the gates of the castle, he distributed the quarters +of the sheep among the four lions, and passing through the midst +of them with intrepidity, got to the fountain, filled his bottle, +and returned safe. When he had got a little distance from the +castle gates, he turned about; and perceiving two of the lions +coming after him, drew his sabre, and prepared himself for +defence. But as he went forwards, he saw one of them turn out of +the road at some distance, and shewed by his head and tail that +he did not come to do him any harm, but only to go before him, +and that the other stayed behind to follow. He therefore put his +sword again into its scabbard. Guarded in this manner he arrived +at the capital of the Indies; but the lions never left him till +they had conducted him to the gates of the sultan's palace; after +which they returned the way they had come, though not without +alarming the populace, who fled or hid themselves to avoid them, +notwithstanding they walked gently and shewed no signs of +fierceness. + +A number of officers came to attend the prince while he +dismounted, and conduct him to the sultan's apartment, who was at +that time conversing with his favourites. He approached the +throne, laid the bottle at the sultan's feet, kissed the rich +carpet which covered the footstool, and rising, said, "I have +brought you, sir, the salutary water which your majesty so much +desired to store up among other rarities in your treasury; but at +the same time wish you such health as never to have occasion to +make use of it." + +After the prince had concluded his compliment, the sultan placed +him on his right hand, and said, "Son, I am much obliged to you +for this valuable present; as also for the great danger you have +exposed yourself to on my account (which I have been informed of +by the sorceress, who knows the fountain of lions); but do me the +pleasure, continued he, to inform me by what address, or rather +by what incredible power, you have been preserved." + +"Sir," replied prince Ahmed, "I have no share in the compliment +your majesty is pleased to make me; all the honour is due to the +fairy my spouse, and I take no other merit than that of having +followed her advice." Then he informed the sultan what that +advice was, by the relation of his expedition, and how he had +conducted himself. When he had done, the sultan, who shewed +outwardly all the demonstrations of joy, but secretly became more +and more jealous, retired into an inward apartment, whence he +sent for the sorceress. + +The sorceress, on her arrival, saved the sultan the trouble of +telling her of the success of prince Ahmed's journey, which she +had heard before she came, and therefore was prepared with a new +request. This she communicated to the sultan, who declared it the +next day to the prince, in the midst of all his courtiers, in +these words: "Son, I have one thing yet to ask of you; after +which, I shall expect nothing more from your obedience, nor your +interest with your wife. This request is, to bring me a man not +above a foot and a half high, whose beard is thirty feet long, +who carries upon his shoulders a bar of iron of five hundred +weight, which he uses as a quarter-staff, and who can speak." + +Prince Ahmed, who did not believe that there was such a man in +the world as his father had described, would gladly have excused +himself; but the sultan persisted in his demand, and told him the +fairy could do more incredible things. + +Next day the prince returned to the subterraneous kingdom of +Perie Banou, to whom he related his father's new demand, which, +he said, he looked upon to be a thing more impossible than the +two first. "For," added he, "I cannot imagine there is or can be +such a man in the world; without doubt he has a mind to try +whether I am silly enough to search, or if there is such a man he +seeks my ruin. In short, how can we suppose that I should lay +hold of a man so small, armed as he describes? what arms can I +use to reduce him to submission? If there are any means, I beg +you will tell me how I may come off with honour this time also." + +"Do not alarm yourself, prince," replied the fairy: "you ran a +risk in fetching the water of the fountain of the lions for your +father; but there is no danger in finding this man. It is my +brother Schaibar, who is so far from being like me, though we +both had the same father, that he is of so violent a nature, that +nothing can prevent his giving bloody marks of his resentment for +a slight offence; yet, on the other hand, is so liberal as to +oblige any one in whatever they desire. He is made exactly as the +sultan your father has described him; and has no other arms than +a bar of iron of five hundred pounds weight, without which he +never stirs, and which makes him respected. I will send for him, +and you shall judge of the truth of what I tell you; but prepare +yourself not to be alarmed at his extraordinary figure." "What! +my queen," replied prince Ahmed, "do you say Schaibar is your +brother? Let him be ever so ugly or deformed I shall be so far +from being frightened at his appearance, that I shall love and +honour him, and consider him as my nearest relation." + +The fairy ordered a gold chafing-dish to be set with a fire in it +under the porch of her palace, with a box of the same metal: out +of the latter she took some incense, and threw it into the fire, +when there arose a thick cloud of smoke. + +Some moments after, the fairy said to prince Ahmed, "Prince, +there comes my brother; do you see him?" The prince immediately +perceived Schaibar, who was but a foot and a half high, coming +gravely with his heavy bar on his shoulder; his beard thirty feet +long, which supported itself before him, and a pair of thick +moustaches in proportion, tucked up to his ears, and almost +covering his face: his eyes were very small, like a pig's, and +deep sunk in his head, which was of an enormous size, and on +which he wore a pointed cap: besides all this, he had a hump +behind and and before. + +If prince Ahmed had not known that Schaibar was Perie Banou's +brother, he would not have been able to behold him without fear; +but knowing who he was, he waited for him with the fairy, and +received him without the least concern. + +Schaibar, as he came forwards, looked at the prince with an eye +that would have chilled his soul in his body, and asked Perie +Banou, when he first accosted her, who that man was? To which she +replied, "He is my husband, brother; his name is Ahmed; he is a +son of the sultan of the Indies. The reason why I did not invite +you to my wedding was, I was unwilling to divert you from the +expedition you were engaged in, and from which I heard with +pleasure you returned victorious; on his account I have taken the +liberty now to call for you." + +At these words, Schaibar, looking at prince Ahmed with a +favourable eye, which however diminished neither his fierceness +nor savage look, said, "Is there any thing, sister, wherein I can +serve him? he has only to speak. It is enough for me that he is +your husband, to engage me to do for him whatever he desires." +"The sultan his father," replied Perie Banou, "has a curiosity to +see you, and I desire he may be your guide to the sultan's +court." "He needs but lead the way; I will follow him," replied +Schaibar. "Brother," resumed Perie Banou, "it is too late to go +to-day, therefore stay till to-morrow morning; and in the mean +time, as it is fit you should know all that has passed between +the sultan of the Indies and prince Ahmed since our marriage, I +will inform you this evening." + +The next morning, after Schaibar had been informed of all that +was proper for him to know, he set out with prince Ahmed, who was +to present him to the sultan. When they arrived at the gates of +the capital, the people, as soon as they saw Schaibar, ran and +hid themselves in their shops and houses, shutting their doors, +while others taking to their heels, communicated their fear to +all they met, who stayed not to look behind them; insomuch, that +Schaibar and prince Ahmed, as they went along, found all the +streets and squares desolate, till they came to the palace, where +the porters, instead of preventing Schaibar from entering, ran +away too; so that the prince and he advanced without any obstacle +to the council-hall, where the sultan was seated on his throne +and giving audience. Here likewise the officers, at the approach +of Schaibar, abandoned their posts, and gave them free +admittance. + +Schaibar, carrying his head erect, went fiercely up to the +throne, without waiting to be presented by prince Ahmed, and +accosted the sultan of the Indies in these words: "You have asked +for me," said he; "see, here I am, what would you have with me?" + +The sultan, instead of answering, clapped his hands before his +eyes, and turned away his head, to avoid the sight of so terrible +an object. Schaibar was so much provoked at this uncivil and rude +reception, after he had given him the trouble to come so far, +that he instantly lifted up his iron bar, saying, "Speak, then;" +let it fall on his head, and killed him, before prince Ahmed +could intercede in his behalf. All that he could do was to +prevent his killing the grand vizier, who sat not far from him on +his right hand, representing to him that he had always given the +sultan his father good advice. "These are they then," said +Schaibar, "who gave him bad;" and as he pronounced these words, +he killed all the other viziers on the right and left, flatterers +and favourites of the sultan, who were prince Ahmed's enemies. +Every time he struck he crushed some one or other, and none +escaped but those who, not rendered motionless by fear, saved +themselves by flight. + +When this terrible execution was over, Schaibar came out of the +council-hall into the court-yard with the iron bar upon his +shoulder, and looking at the grand vizier, who owed his life to +prince Ahmed, said, "I know there is here a certain sorceress, +who is a greater enemy of the prince my brother-in-law than all +those base favourites I have chastised; let her be brought to me +immediately." The grand vizier instantly sent for her, and as +soon as she was brought, Schaibar, knocking her down with his +iron bar, said, "Take the reward of thy pernicious counsel, and +learn to feign sickness again;" he left her dead on the spot. + +After this he said, "This is not yet enough; I will treat the +whole city in the same manner, if they do not immediately +acknowledge prince Ahmed my brother-in-law as sultan of the +Indies." Then all who were present made the air ring with the +repeated acclamations of "Long life to sultan Ahmed;" and +immediately after, he was proclaimed through the whole +metropolis. Schaibar caused him to be clothed in the royal +vestments, installed him on the throne, and after he had made all +swear homage and fidelity, returned to his sister Perie Banou, +whom he brought with great pomp, and made her to be owned +sultaness of the Indies. + +As for prince Ali and princess Nouronnihar, as they had no +concern in the conspiracy, prince Ahmed assigned them a +considerable province, with its capital, where they spent the +rest of their lives. Afterwards he sent an officer to Houssain, +to acquaint him with the change, and make him an offer of any +province he might choose; but that prince thought himself so +happy in his solitude, that he desired the officer to return his +brother thanks for the kindness he designed him, assuring him of +his submission; but that the only favour he desired was, to be +indulged with leave to live retired in the place he had chosen +for his retreat. + + + + + THE STORY OF THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR + YOUNGER SISTER. + + + +There was an emperor of Persia named Khoosroo Shaw, who, when he +first came to his crown, in order to obtain a knowledge of +affairs, took great pleasure in night adventures, attended by a +trusty minister. He often walked in disguise through the city, +and met with many adventures. + +After the ceremonies of his father's funeral-rites and his own +inauguration were over, the new sultan, as well from inclination +as duty, went out one evening attended by his grand vizier, +disguised like himself, to observe what was transacting in the +city. As he was passing through a street in that part of the town +inhabited only by the meaner sort, he heard some people talking +very loud; and going close to the house whence the noise +proceeded, and looking through a crack in the door, perceived a +light, and three sisters sitting on a sofa, conversing together +after supper. By what the eldest said, he presently understood +the subject of their conversation was wishes: "For," said she, +"since we have got upon wishes, mine shall be to have the +sultan's baker for my husband, for then I shall eat my fill of +that bread, which by way of excellence is called the sultan's: +let us see if your tastes are as good as mine." "For my part," +replied the second sister, "I wish I was wife to the sultan's +chief cook, for then I should eat of the most excellent dishes; +and as I am persuaded that the sultan's bread is common in the +palace, I should not want any of that; therefore you see," +addressing herself to her eldest sister, "that I have a better +taste than you." + +The youngest sister, who was very beautiful, and had more charms +and wit than the two elder, spoke in her turn: "For my part, +sisters," said she, "I shall not limit my desires to such +trifles, but take a higher flight; and since we are upon wishing, +I wish to be the emperor's queen consort. I would make him father +of a prince, whose hair should be gold on one side of his head, +and silver on the other; when he cried, the tears from his eyes +should be pearl; and when he smiled, his vermilion lips should +look like a rose-bud fresh blown." + +The three sisters' wishes, particularly that of the youngest, +seemed so singular to the sultan, that he resolved to gratify +them in their desires; but without communicating his design to +his grand vizier, he charged him only to take notice of the +house, and bring the three sisters before him the following day. + +The grand vizier, in executing the emperor's orders, would but +just give the sisters time to dress themselves to appear before +him, without telling them the reason. He brought them to the +palace, and presented them to the emperor, who said to them, "Do +you remember the wishes you expressed last night, when you were +all in so pleasant a mood? Speak the truth; I must know what they +were." + +At these unexpected words of the emperor, the three sisters were +much confounded. They cast down their eyes and blushed, and the +colour which rose in the cheeks of the youngest quite captivated +the emperor's heart. Modesty, and fear lest they might have +offended the emperor by their conversation, kept them silent. The +emperor perceiving their confusion, said, to encourage them, +"Fear nothing, I did not send for you to distress you; and since +I see that is the effect of the question I asked, without my +intending it, as I know the wish of each, I will relieve you from +your fears. You," added he, "who wished to be my wife shall have +your desire this day; and you," continued he, addressing himself +to the two elder sisters, "shall also be married to my chief +baker and cook." + +As soon as the sultan had declared his pleasure, the youngest +sister, setting her eldest an example, threw herself at the +emperor's feet, to express her gratitude. "Sir," said she, "my +wish, since it is come to your majesty's knowledge, was expressed +only in the way of conversation and amusement. I am unworthy of +the honour you do me, and supplicate your pardon for my +presumption." The two other sisters would have excused themselves +also; but the emperor interrupting them, said, "No, no; it shall +be as I have declared; every one's wish shall be fulfilled." + +The nuptials were all celebrated that day, as the emperor had +resolved, but in a different manner. The youngest sister's were +solemnized with all the rejoicings usual at the marriages of the +emperors of Persia; and those of the other two sisters according +to the quality and distinction of their husbands; the one as the +sultan's chief baker, and the other as head cook. + +The two elder felt strongly the disproportion of their marriages +to that of their younger sister. This consideration made them far +from being content, though they were arrived at the utmost height +of their late wishes, and much beyond their hopes. They gave +themselves up to an excess of jealousy, which not only disturbed +their joy, but was the cause of great troubles and afflictions to +the queen consort their younger sister. They had not an +opportunity to communicate their thoughts to each other on the +preference the emperor had given her, but were altogether +employed in preparing themselves for the celebration of their +marriages. Some days afterwards, when they had an opportunity of +seeing each other at the public baths, the eldest said to the +other, "Well, what say you to our sister's great fortune? Is not +she a fine person to be a queen!" "I must own," said the other +sister, "I cannot conceive what charms the emperor could discover +to be so bewitched by the young gipsy. Was it a reason sufficient +for him not to cast his eyes on you, because she was somewhat +younger? You were as worthy of his bed; and in justice he ought +to have preferred you." + +"Sister," said the elder, "I should not have regretted if his +majesty had but pitched upon you; but that he should choose that +hussy really grieves me. But I will revenge myself; and you, I +think, are as much concerned as me; therefore I propose that we +should contrive measures, and act in concert in a common cause: +communicate to me what you think the likeliest way to mortify +her, while I, on my side, will inform you what my desire of +revenge shall suggest to me." + +After this wicked agreement, the two sisters saw each other +frequently, and consulted how they might disturb and interrupt +the happiness of the queen. They proposed a great many ways, but +in deliberating about the manner of executing them, found so many +difficulties, that they durst not attempt them. In the mean time, +they often went together to make her visits with a detestable +dissimulation, and every time shewed her all the marks of +affection they could devise, to persuade her how overjoyed they +were to have a sister raised to so high a fortune. The queen, on +her part, constantly received them with all the demonstrations of +esteem they could expect: from a sister who was not puffed up +with her high dignity, and loved them as cordially as before. + +Some months after her marriage, the queen found herself to be +with child. The emperor expressed great joy, which was +communicated to all the court, and spread throughout the empire +of Persia. Upon this news the two sisters came to pay their +compliments, and proffered their service to deliver her, desiring +her, if not provided with a midwife, to accept of them. + +The queen said to them most obligingly, "Sisters, I should desire +nothing more, if it was absolutely in my power to make the +choice. I am however obliged to you for your good-will, but must +submit to what the emperor shall order on this occasion. Let your +husbands employ their friends to make interest, and get some +courtier to ask this favour of his majesty; and if he speaks to +me about it, be assured that I shall not only express the +pleasure he does me, but thank him for making choice of you." + +The two husbands applied themselves to some courtiers their +patrons, and begged of them to use their interest to procure +their wives the honour they aspired to. Those patrons exerted +themselves so much in their behalf, that the emperor promised +them to consider of the matter, and was as good as his word; for +in conversation with the queen, he told her, that he thought her +sisters were the most proper persons to assist her in her labour; +but would not name them before he had asked her consent. The +queen, sensible of the deference the emperor so obligingly paid +her, said to him, "Sir, I was prepared to do as your majesty +might please to command. But since you have been so kind as to +think of my sisters, I thank you for the regard you have shewn +them for my sake; and therefore I shall not dissemble, that I had +rather have them than strangers." + +The emperor named the queen's two sisters to be her midwives; and +from that time they went frequently to the palace, overjoyed at +the opportunity they should have of executing the detestable +wickedness they had meditated against the queen. + +When the queen's time was up she was safely delivered of a young +prince, as bright as the day; but neither his innocence nor +beauty could move the cruel hearts of the merciless sisters. They +wrapped him up carelessly in his cloths, and put him into a +basket, which they abandoned to the stream of a small canal, that +ran under the queen's apartment, and declared that she was +delivered of a little dead dog, which they produced. This +disagreeable intelligence was announced to the emperor, who +became so angry at the circumstance, that he was likely to have +occasioned the queen's death, if his grand vizier had not +represented to him, that he could not, without injustice, make +her answerable for the caprices of nature. + +In the mean time, the basket in which the little prince was +exposed was carried by the stream beyond a wall, which bounded +the prospect of the queen's apartment, and from thence floated +with the current down the gardens. By chance the intendant of the +emperor's gardens, one of the principal and most considerable +officers of the kingdom, was walking in the garden by the side of +this canal, and perceiving a basket floating, called to a +gardener, who was not far off, to bring it to shore, that he +might see what it contained. The gardener, with a rake which he +had in his hand, drew the basket to the side of the canal, took +it up, and gave it to him. + +The intendant of the gardens was extremely surprised to see in +the basket a child, which, though he knew it could be but just +born, had very fine features. This officer had been married +several years, but though he had always been desirous of having +children, Heaven had never blessed him with any. This accident +interrupted his walk: he made the gardener follow him with the +child; and when he came to his own house, which was situated at +the entrance into the gardens of the palace, went into his wife's +apartment. "Wife," said he, "as we have no children of our own, +God has sent us one. I recommend him to you; provide him a nurse, +and take as much care of him as if he were our own son; for, from +this moment, I acknowledge him as such." The intendant's wife +received the child with great joy, and took particular pleasure +in the care of him. The intendant himself would not inquire too +narrowly whence the child came. He saw plainly it came not far +off the queen's apartment; but it was not his business to examine +too closely into what had passed, nor to create disturbances in a +place where peace was so necessary. + +The following year the queen consort was brought to bed of +another prince, on whom the unnatural sisters had no more +compassion than on his brother; but exposed him likewise in a +basket, and set him adrift in the canal, pretending this time +that the sultaness was delivered of a cat. It was happy also for +this child that the intendant of the gardens was walking by the +canal side, who had it carried to his wife, and charged her to +take as much care of it as of the former; which was as agreeable +to her inclination as it was to that of the intendant. + +The emperor of Persia was more enraged this time against the +queen than before, and she had felt the effects of his anger if +the grand vizier's remonstrances had not prevailed. + +The third time the queen lay in she was delivered of a princess, +which innocent babe underwent the same fate as the princes her +brothers; for the two sisters being determined not to desist from +their detestable schemes, till they had seen the queen their +younger sister at least cast off, turned out, and humbled, +exposed this infant also on the canal. But the princess, as well +as the two princes her brothers, was preserved from death by the +compassion and charity of the intendant of the gardens. + +To this inhumanity the two sisters added a lie and deceit as +before. They produced a piece of wood, and affirmed it to be a +false birth of which the queen had been delivered. + +Khoosroo Shaw could no longer contain himself, when he was +informed of the new extraordinary birth. "What!" said he; "this +woman, unworthy of my bed, will fill my palace with monsters, if +I let her live any longer! No, it shall not be; she is a monster +herself, and I must rid the world of her." He pronounced sentence +of death, and ordered the grand vizier to see it executed. + +The grand vizier and the courtiers who were present cast +themselves at the emperor's feet, to beg of him to revoke the +sentence. "Your majesty, I hope, will give me leave," said the +grand vizier, "to represent to you, that the laws which condemn +persons to death were made to punish crimes; the three +extraordinary labours of the queen are not crimes; for in what +can she be said to have contributed towards them? Many other +women have had, and have the same every day, and are to be +pitied, but not punished. Your majesty may abstain from seeing +her, but let her live. The affliction in which she will spend the +rest of her life, after the loss of your favour, will be a +punishment sufficiently distressing." + +The emperor of Persia considered with himself, and reflecting +that it was unjust to condemn the queen to death for what had +happened, said, "Let her live then; I will spare her life; but it +shall be on this condition, that she shall desire to die more +than once every day. Let a wooden shed be built for her at the +gate of the principal mosque, with iron bars to the windows, and +let her be put into it, in the coarsest habit; and every +Mussulmaun that shall go into the mosque to prayers shall spit in +her face. If any one fail, I will have him exposed to the same +punishment; and that I maybe punctually obeyed, I charge you, +vizier, to appoint persons to see this done." + +The emperor pronounced his sentence in such a tone that the grand +vizier durst not further remonstrate; and it was executed, to the +great satisfaction of the two envious sisters. A shed was built, +and the queen, truly worthy of compassion, was put into it, and +exposed ignominiously to the contempt of the people; which usage, +as she did not deserve it, she bore with a patient resignation +that excited the admiration as well as compassion of those who +judged of things better than the vulgar. + +The two princes and the princess were, in the mean time, nursed +and brought up by the intendant of the gardens and his wife with +all the tenderness of a father and mother; and as they advanced +in age, they all shewed marks of superior dignity, but the +princess in particular, which discovered itself every day by +their docility and inclinations above trifles, different from +those of common children, and by a certain air which could only +belong to exalted birth. All this increased the affections of the +intendant and his wife, who called the eldest prince Bahman, and +the second Perviz, both of them names of the most ancient +emperors of Persia, and the princess, Perie-zadeh, which name +also had been borne by several queens and princesses of the +kingdom. + +As soon as the two princes were old enough, the intendant +provided proper masters to teach them to read and write; and the +princess their sister, who was often with them, shewing a great +desire to learn, the intendant, pleased with her quickness, +employed the same master to teach her also. Her emulation, +vivacity, and piercing wit, made her in a little time as great a +proficient as her brothers. + +From that time the brothers and sister had the same masters in +geography, poetry, history, and even the secret sciences; and +made so wonderful a progress, that their tutors were amazed, and +frankly owned that they could teach them no farther. At the hours +of recreation, the princess learned to sing and play upon all +sorts of instruments; and when the princes were learning to ride +she would not permit them to have that advantage over her, but +went through all the exercises with them, learning to ride also, +to bend the bow, and dart the reed or javelin, and often-times +outdid them in the race, and other contests of agility. + +The intendant of the gardens was so overjoyed to find his adopted +children so accomplished in all the perfections of body and mind, +and that they so well requited the expense he had been at in +their education, that he resolved to be at a still greater: for +as he had till then been content only with his lodge at the +entrance of the garden, and kept no country house, he purchased a +country seat at a short distance from the city, surrounded by a +large tract of arable land, meadows, and woods. As the house was +not sufficiently handsome nor convenient, he pulled it down, and +spared no expense in building a mansion more magnificent. He went +every day to hasten, by his presence, the great number of workmen +he employed; and as soon as there was an apartment ready to +receive him, passed several days together there when his presence +was not necessary at court; and by the same exertions, the +interior was furnished in the richest manner, answerably to the +magnificence of the edifice. Afterwards he made gardens, +according to a plan drawn by himself. He took in a large extent +of ground, which he walled round, and stocked with fallow deer, +that the princes and princess might divert themselves with +hunting when they chose. + +When this country seat was finished and fit for habitation, the +intendant of the gardens went and cast himself at the emperor's +feet, and after representing how long he had served, and the +infirmities of age which he found growing upon him, begged he +would permit him to resign his charge into his majesty's +disposal, and retire. The emperor gave him leave, with the more +pleasure because he was satisfied with his long services, both in +his father's reign and his own; and when he granted it, asked +what he should do to recompense him? "Sir," replied the intendant +of the gardens, "I have received so many obligations from your +majesty and the late emperor your father of happy memory, that I +desire no more than the honour of dying in your favour." + +He took his leave of the emperor, and retired with the two +princes and the princess to the country retreat he had built. His +wife had been dead some years, and he himself had not lived above +six months with them before he was surprised by so sudden a +death, that he had not time to give them the least account of the +manner in which he had discovered them. + +The princes Bahman and Perviz, and the princess Perie-zadeh, who +knew no other father than the intendant of the emperor's gardens, +regretted and bewailed him as such, and paid all the honours in +his funeral obsequies which love and filial gratitude required of +them. Satisfied with the plentiful fortune he had left them, they +lived together in perfect union, free from the ambition of +distinguishing themselves at court, or aspiring to places of +honour and dignity, which they might easily have obtained. + +One day when the two princes were hunting, and the princess had +remained at home, a religious old woman came to the gate, and +desired leave to go in to say her prayers, it being then the +hour. The servants asked the princess's permission, who ordered +them to shew her into the oratory, which the intendant of the +emperor's gardens had taken care to fit up in his house, for want +of a mosque in the neighbourhood. She bade them also, after the +good woman had finished her prayers, shew her the house and +gardens, and then bring her to her. + +The old woman went into the oratory, said her prayers, and when +she came out two of the princess's women invited her to see the +house and gardens; which civility she accepted, followed them +from one apartment to another, and observed, like a person who +understood what belonged to furniture, the nice arrangement of +every thing. They conducted her also into the garden, the +disposition of which she found so well planned, that she admired +it, observing that the person who had formed it must have been an +excellent master of his art. Afterwards she was brought before +the princess, who waited for her in the great hall, which in +beauty and richness exceeded all that she had admired in the +other apartments. + +As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she said to her, +"My good mother, come near and sit down by me. I am overjoyed at +the happiness of having the opportunity of profiting for some +moments by the good example and conversation of such a person as +you, who have taken the right way by dedicating yourself to the +service of God. I wish every one were as wise." + +The devout woman, instead of sitting on a sofa, would only sit +upon the edge of one. The princess would not permit her to do so, +but rising from her seat,'and taking her by the hand, obliged her +to come and sit by her. The good woman, sensible of the civility, +said, "Madam, I ought not to have so much respect shewn me; but +since you command, and are mistress of your own house, I will +obey you." When she had seated herself, before they entered into +any conversation, one of the princess's women brought a little +low stand of mother of pearl and ebony, with a china dish full of +cakes upon it, and many others set round it full of fruits in +season, and wet and dry sweetmeats. + +The princess took up one of the cakes, and presenting her with +it, said, "Eat, good mother, and make choice of what you like +best; you had need to eat after coming so far." "Madam," replied +the good woman, "I am not used to eat such delicacies; but will +not refuse what God has sent me by so liberal a hand as yours." + +While the devout woman was eating, the princess ate a little too, +to bear her company, and asked her many questions upon the +exercise of devotion which she practised, and how she lived: all +which she answered with great modesty. Talking of several things, +at last she asked her what she thought of the house, and how she +liked it. + +"Madam," answered the devout woman, "I must certainly have very +bad taste to disapprove any thing in it, since it is beautiful, +regular, and magnificently furnished with exactness and judgment, +and all its ornaments adjusted in the best manner. Its situation +is an agreeable spot, and no garden can be more delightful; but +yet if you will give me leave to speak my mind freely, I will +take the liberty to tell you, that this house would be +incomparable if it had three things which are wanting to complete +it." "My good mother," replied the princess Perie-zadeh, "what are +those? I conjure you, in God's name, to tell me what they are: I +will spare nothing to get them, if it be possible." + +"Madam," replied the devout woman, "the first of these three +things is the speaking bird, so singular a creature, that it +draws round it all the singing birds of the neighbourhood, which +come to accompany his song. The second is the singing tree, the +leaves of which are so many mouths, which form an harmonious +concert of different voices, and never cease. The third is the +yellow water of a gold colour, a single drop of which being +poured into a vessel properly prepared, it increases so as to +fill it immediately, and rises up in the middle like a fountain, +which continually plays, and yet the basin never overflows." + +"Ah! my good mother," cried the princess, "how much am I obliged +to you for the knowledge of these curiosities! They are +surprising, and I never before heard there were such wonderful +rarities in the world; but as I am persuaded that you know, I +expect that you should do me the favour to inform me where they +are to be found." + +"Madam," replied the good woman, "I should be unworthy the +hospitality you have with so much goodness shewn me, if I should +refuse to satisfy your curiosity in that point; and am glad to +have the honour to tell you, that these curiosities are all to be +met with in the same spot on the confines of this kingdom, +towards India. The road to it lies before your house, and whoever +you send needs but follow it for twenty days, and on the +twentieth let him only ask the first person he meets where the +speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow water are, and he will be +informed." After saying this, she rose from her seat, took her +leave, and went her way. + +The princess Perie-zadeh's thoughts were so taken up with what +the devout woman had told her of the speaking bird, singing tree, +and yellow water, that she never perceived her departure, till +she wanted to ask her some question for her better information; +for she thought that what she had told her was not a sufficient +reason for exposing herself by undertaking a long journey, +possibly to no purpose. However, she would not send after her, +but endeavoured to remember all she had told her; and when she +thought she had recollected every word, took real pleasure in +thinking of the satisfaction she should have if she could get +these wonderful curiosities into her possession; but the +difficulties she apprehended, and the fear of not succeeding, +made her very uneasy. + +She was absorbed in these thoughts when her brothers returned +from hunting; who, when they entered the great hall, instead of +finding her lively and gay, as she used to be be, were amazed to +see her so pensive, and hanging down her head as if something +troubled her. + +"Sister," said prince Bahman, "what is become of all your mirth +and gaiety? Are you not well? or has some misfortune befallen +you? Has any body given you reason to be so melancholy? Tell us, +that we may know how to act, and give you some relief. If any one +has affronted you, we will resent his insolence." + +The princess remained in the same posture some time without +answering; but at last lifted up her eyes to look at her +brothers, and then held them down again, telling them nothing +disturbed her. + +"Sister," said prince Bahman, "you conceal the truth from us; +there must be something of consequence. It is impossible we could +observe so sudden a change if nothing was the matter with you. +You would not have us satisfied with the evasive answer you have +given: do not conceal any thing, unless you would have us suspect +that you renounce the strict union which has hitherto subsisted +between us from our infancy." + +The princess, who had not the smallest intention to offend her +brothers, would not suffer them to entertain such a thought, but +said, "When I told you nothing disturbed me, I meant nothing that +was of importance to you; but to me it is of some consequence; +and since you press me to tell you by our strict union and +friendship, which are so dear to me, I will. You think, and I +always believed so too, that this house was so complete that +nothing was wanting. But this day I have learned that it wants +three rarities, which would render it so perfect that no country +seat in the world could be compared with it. These three things +are, the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the yellow water." +After she had informed them wherein consisted the excellency of +these rarities, "A devout woman," added she, "has made this +discovery to me, told me the place where they are to be found, +and the way thither. Perhaps you may imagine these things to be +trifles, and of little consequence to render our house complete, +that without these additions it will always be thought +sufficiently elegant with what it already contains, and that we +can do without them. You may think as you please; but I cannot +help telling you that I am persuaded they are absolutely +necessary, and I shall not be easy without them. Therefore, +whether you value them or not, I desire you to consider what +person you may think proper for me to send in search of the +curiosities I have mentioned." + +"Sister," replied prince Bahman, "nothing can concern you in +which we have not an equal interest. It is enough that you have +an earnest desire for the things you mention to oblige us to take +the same interest; but if you had not, we feel ourselves inclined +of our own accord and for our own individual satisfaction. I am +persuaded my brother is of the same opinion, and therefore we +ought to undertake this conquest; for the importance and +singularity of the undertaking deserve that name. I will take +that charge upon myself; only tell me the place, and the way to +it, and I will defer my journey no longer than till to-morrow." + +"Brother," said prince Perviz, "it is not proper that you, who +are the head and director of our family, should be absent. I +desire my sister would join with me to oblige you to abandon your +design, and allow me to undertake it. I hope to acquit myself as +well as you, and it will be a more regular proceeding." "I am +persuaded of your good-will, brother," replied prince Bahman, +"and that you would succeed as well as myself in this journey; +but I have resolved, and will undertake it. You shall stay at +home with our sister, and I need not recommend her to you." He +spent the remainder of the day in making preparations for his +journey, and informing himself from the princess of the +directions which the devout woman had left her. + +The next morning Bahman mounted his horse, and Perviz and the +princess embraced, and wished him a good journey. But in the +midst of their adieus, the princess recollected what she had not +thought of before. "Brother," said she, "I had quite forgotten +the accidents which attend travellers. Who knows whether I shall +ever see you again? Alight, I beseech you, and give up this +journey. I would rather be deprived of the sight and possession +of the speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow water, than run +the risk of never seeing you more." + +"Sister," replied Bahman, smiling at the sudden fears of the +princess, "my resolution is fixed, but were it not, I should +determine upon it now, and you must allow me to execute it. The +accidents you speak of befall only those who are unfortunate; but +there are more who are not so. However, as events are uncertain, +and I may fail in this undertaking, all I can do is to leave you +this knife." + +Bahman, pulling a knife from his vestband, and presenting it in +the sheath to the princess, said, "Take this knife, sister, and +give yourself the trouble sometimes to pull it out of the sheath: +while you see it clean as it is now, it will be a sign that I am +alive; but if you find it stained with blood, then you may +believe me dead, and indulge me with your prayers." + +The princess could obtain nothing more of Bahman. He bade adieu +to her and prince Perviz for the last time, and rode away. When +he got into the road he never turned to the right hand nor to the +left, but went directly forward towards India. The twentieth day +he perceived on the road side a hideous old man, who sat under a +tree some small distance from a thatched house, which was his +retreat from the weather. + +His eye-brows were as white as snow, as was also the hair of his +head; his whiskers covered his mouth, and his beard and hair +reached down to his feet. The nails of his hands and feet were +grown to an extensive length; a flat broad umbrella covered his +head. He had no clothes, but only a mat thrown round his body. + +This old man was a dervish, for many years retired from the +world, to give himself up entirely to the service of God; so that +at last he became what we have described. + +Prince Bahman, who had been all that morning very attentive to +see if he could meet with any body who could give him information +of the place he was in search of, stopped when he came near the +dervish, alighted, in conformity to the directions which the +devout woman had given the princess Perie-zadeh, and leading his +horse by the bridle, advanced towards him, and saluting him, +said, "God prolong your days, good father, and grant you the +accomplishment of your desires." + +The dervish returned the prince's salutation, but so +unintelligibly that he could not understand one word he said: +prince Bahman perceiving that this difficulty proceeded from the +dervish's whiskers hanging over his mouth, and unwilling to go +any farther without the instructions he wanted, pulled out a pair +of scissors he had about him, and having tied his horse to a +branch of the tree, said, "Good dervish, I want to have some talk +with you: but your whiskers prevent my understanding what you +say: and if you will consent, I will cut off some part of them +and of your eye-brows, which disfigure you so much that you look +more like a bear than a man." + +The dervish did not oppose the offer; and when the prince had cut +off as much hair as he thought fit, he perceived that the dervish +had a good complexion, and that he did not seem so old as he +really was. "Good dervish," said he, "if I had a glass I would +shew you how young you look: you are now a man, but before nobody +could tell what you were." + +The kind behaviour of prince Bahman made the dervish smile, and +return his compliment. "Sir," said he, "whoever you are, I am +obliged by the good office you have performed, and am ready to +shew my gratitude by doing any thing in my power for you. You +must have alighted here upon some account or other. Tell me what +it is, and I will endeavour to serve you." + +"Good dervish," replied prince Bahman, "I am in search of the +speaking bird, the singing tree, and the yellow water; I know +these three rarities are not far from hence, but cannot tell +exactly the place where they are to be found; if you know, I +conjure you to shew me the way, that I may not lose my labour +after so long a journey." + +The prince, while he spoke, observed that the dervish changed +countenance, held down his eyes, looked very serious, and instead +of making any reply, remained silent; which obliged him to say to +him again, "Good father, I fancy you heard me; tell me whether +you know what I ask you, that I may not lose my time, but inform +myself somewhere else." + +At last the dervish broke silence. "Sir," said he to prince +Bahman, "I know the way you ask of me; but the regard which I +conceived for you the first moment I saw you, and which is grown +stronger by the service you have done me, kept me in suspense, +whether I should give you the satisfaction you desire." "What +motive can hinder you?" replied the prince; "and what +difficulties do you find in so doing?" "I will tell you," replied +the dervish; "the danger you are going to expose yourself to is +greater than you may suppose. A number of gentlemen of as much +bravery and courage as you can possibly possess have passed this +way, and asked me the same question. When I had used all my +endeavours to persuade them to desist, they would not believe me; +at last, I yielded, to their importunities; I was compelled to +shew them the way, and I can assure you they have all perished, +for I have not seen one come back. Therefore, if you have any +regard for your life, take my advice, go no farther, but return +home." + +Prince Bahman persisted in his resolution. "I will not suppose," +said he to the dervish, "but that your advice is sincere. I am +obliged to you for the friendship you express for me; but +whatever may be the danger, nothing shall make me change my +intention: whoever attacks me, I am well armed, and can say I am +as brave as any one." "But they who will attack you are not to be +seen," replied the dervish; "how will you defend yourself against +invisible persons?" "It is no matter," answered the prince; "all +you say shall not persuade me to do any thing contrary to my +duty. Since you know the way, I conjure you once more to inform +me." + +When the dervish found he could not prevail upon prince Bahman, +and that he was obstinately bent to pursue his journey +notwithstanding his friendly remonstrance, he put his hand into a +bag that lay by him and pulled out a bowl, which he presented to +him. "Since I cannot prevail on you to attend to my advice," said +he, "take this bowl; when you are on horseback throw it before +you, and follow it to the foot of a mountain, where it will stop. +As soon as the bowl stops, alight, leave your horse with the +bridle over his neck, and he will stand in the same place till +you return. As you ascend you will see on your right and left a +great number of large black stones, and will hear on all sides a +confusion of voices, which will utter a thousand injurious abuses +to discourage you, and prevent your reaching the summit of the +mountain. Be not afraid; but above all things, do not turn your +head to look behind you; for in that instant you will be changed +into such a black stone as those you see, which are all youths +who have failed in this enterprise. If you escape the danger of +which I give you but a faint idea, and get to the top of the +mountain, you will see a cage, and in that cage is the bird you +seek; ask him which are the singing tree and the yellow water, +and he will tell you. I have nothing more to say; this is what +you have to do, and the danger you have to avoid; but if you are +prudent, you will take my advice, and not expose your life. +Consider once more while you have time that the difficulty is +almost insuperable." + +"I am obliged to you for your repeated advice," replied prince +Bahman, after he had received the bowl, "but cannot follow it. +However, I will endeavour to conform myself to that part of it +which bids me not look behind me as I shall ascend the mountain, +and I hope to come and see you again soon, and thank you when I +have obtained what I am seeking." After these words, to which the +dervish made no other answer than that he should be overjoyed to +see him again, the prince mounted his horse, took his leave of +the dervish with a respectful salute, and threw the bowl before +him. + +The bowl rolled away unceasingly with as much swiftness as when +prince Bahman first hurled it from his hand, which obliged him to +put his horse to the same pace to avoid losing sight of it, and +when it had reached the foot of the mountain it stopped. The +prince alighted from his horse, laid the bridle on his neck; and +having first surveyed the mountain, and seen the black stones, +began to ascend; but had not gone four steps, before he heard the +voices mentioned by the dervish, though he could see nobody. Some +said, "Where is that fool going? where is he going? what would he +have? do not let him pass." Others, "Stop him, catch him, kill +him;" and others with a voice like thunder, "Thief! assassin! +murderer!" while some in a gibing tone cried, "No, no, do not +hurt him; let the pretty fellow pass, the cage and bird are kept +for him." + +Notwithstanding all these troublesome voices, prince Bahman +ascended with courage and resolution for some time, but the +voices redoubled with so loud a din near him, both behind and +before, that at last he was seized with dread, his legs trembled +under him, he staggered, and finding that his strength failed +him, he forgot the dervish's advice, turned about to run down the +hill, and was that instant changed into a black stone; a +metamorphosis which had happened to many before him, who had +attempted the ascent. His horse likewise underwent the same +change. + +From the time of prince Bahman's departure, the princess Perie-zadeh +always wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and pulled it out +several times in a day, to know whether her brother was alive. She had +the consolation to understand he was in perfect health, and to talk of +him frequently with prince Perviz, who sometimes prevented her by +asking her what news. + +On the fatal day that prince Bahman was transformed into a stone, +as prince Perviz and the princess were talking together in the +evening, as usual, the prince desired his sister to pull out the +knife to know how their brother did. The princess readily +complied, and seeing the blood run down the point was seized with +so much horror that she threw it down. "Ah! my dear brother," +cried she, "I have been the cause of your death, and shall never +see you more! Why did I tell you of the speaking bird, singing +tree, and yellow water; or rather, of what importance was it to +me to know whether the devout woman thought this house ugly or +handsome, or complete or not? I wish to Heaven she had never +addressed herself to me? Deceitful hypocrite!" added she, "is +this the return you have made for the kind reception I gave you? +Why did you tell me of a bird, a tree, and a water, which, +imaginary as I am persuaded they are, by my dear brother's death, +yet disturb me by your enchantment?" + +Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of prince Bahman +as the princess; but not to waste time in needless regret, as he +knew that she still passionately desired possession of the +speaking bird, the singing tree, and the golden water, he +interrupted her, saying, "Sister, our regret for our brother is +vain and useless; our grief and lamentations cannot restore him +to life; it is the will of God, we must submit to it, and adore +the decrees of the Almighty without searching into them. Why +should you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman told +you? do you think she spoke to you of three things that were not +in being? and that she invented them on purpose to deceive you, +who had given her no cause to do so, but received her with so +much goodness and civility? Let us rather believe that our +brother's death is owing to some error on his part, or some +accident which we cannot conceive. It ought not therefore to +prevent us from pursuing our object. I offered to go this +journey, and am now more resolved than ever; his example has no +effect upon my resolution; to-morrow I will depart." + +The princess did all she could to dissuade prince Perviz, +conjuring him not to expose her to the danger of losing two +brothers; but he was obstinate, and all the remonstrances she +could urge had no effect upon him. Before he went, that she might +know what success he had, he left her a string of a hundred +pearls, telling her, that if they would not run when she should +count them upon the string, but remain fixed, that would be a +certain sign he had undergone the same fate as his brother; but +at the same time told her he hoped it would never happen, but +that he should have the happiness to see her again to their +mutual satisfaction. + +Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day after his departure, met the +same dervish in the same place as his brother Bahman had done +before him. He went directly up to him, and after he had saluted, +asked him, if he could tell him where to find the speaking bird, +the singing tree, and the golden water? The dervish urged the +same difficulties and remonstrances as he had done to prince +Bahman, telling him, that a young gentleman, who very much +resembled him, was with him a short time before; that, overcome +by his importunity and pressing instances, he had shewn him the +way, given him a guide, and told him how he should act to +succeed; but that he had not seen him since, and doubted not but +he had shared the same fate as all other adventurers. + +"Good dervish," answered prince Perviz, "I know whom you speak +of; he was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty +of his death, but know not the cause." "I can tell you," replied +the dervish; "he was changed into a black stone, as all I speak +of have been; and you must expect the same transformation, unless +you observe more exactly than he has done the advice I gave him, +in case you persist in your resolution, which I once more entreat +you to renounce." + +"Dervish," said prince Perviz, "I cannot sufficiently express how +much I am obliged for the concern you take in my life, who am a +stranger to you, and have done nothing to deserve your kindness: +but I thoroughly considered this enterprise before I undertook +it, and I cannot now relinquish it: therefore I beg of you to do +me the same favour you have done my brother. Perhaps I may have +better success in following your directions." "Since I cannot +prevail with you," said the dervish, "to give up your obstinate +resolution, if my age did not prevent me, and I could stand, I +would get up to reach you a bowl I have here, which will shew you +the way." + +Without giving the dervish time to say more, the prince alighted +from his horse and went to the dervish, who had taken a bowl out +of his bag, in which he had a great many, and gave it him, with +the same directions he had given prince Bahman; and after warning +him not to be discouraged by the voices he should hear without +seeing any body, however threatening they might be, but to +continue his way up the hill till he saw the cage and bird, he +let him depart. + +Prince Perviz thanked the dervish, and when he had remounted, and +taken leave, threw the bowl before his horse, and spurring him at +the same time, followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of +the hill it stopped, the prince alighted, and stood some time to +recollect the dervish's directions. He encouraged himself, and +began to walk up with a resolution to reach the summit; but +before he had gone above six steps, he heard a voice, which +seemed to be near, as of a man behind him, say in an insulting +tone, "Stay, rash youth, that I may punish you for your +presumption." + +Upon this affront the prince, forgetting the dervish's advice, +clapped his hand upon his sword, drew it, and turned about to +revenge himself; but had scarcely time to see that nobody +followed him before he and his horse were changed into black +stones. + +In the mean time the princess Perie-zadeh, several times a day +after her brother's departure, counted her chaplet. She did not +omit it at night, but when she went to bed put it about her neck; +and in the morning when she awoke counted over the pearls again +to see if they would slide. + +The day that prince Perviz was transformed into a stone, she was +counting over the pearls as she used to do, when all at once they +became immoveably fixed, a certain token that the prince her +brother was dead. As she had determined what to do in case it +should so happen, she lost no time in outward demonstrations of +grief, which she concealed as much as possible; but having +disguised herself in man's apparel, armed and equipped, she +mounted her horse the next morning, having told her servants she +should return in two or three days, and took the same road her +brothers had done. + +The princess, who had been used to ride on horseback in hunting, +supported the fatigue of so long a journey better than most +ladies could have done; and as she made the same stages as her +brothers, she also met with the dervish on the twentieth day. +When she came near him, she alighted off her horse, leading him +by the bridle, went and sat down by the dervish, and after she +had saluted him, said, "Good dervish, give me leave to rest +myself; and do me the favour to tell me if you have not heard +that there are somewhere in this neighbourhood a speaking bird, a +singing tree, and golden water." + +"Princess," answered the dervish, "for so I must call you, since +by your voice I know you to be a woman disguised in man's +apparel, I thank you for your compliment, and receive the honour +you do me with great pleasure. I know the place well where these +things are to be found: but what makes you ask me this question?" + +"Good dervish," replied the princess, "I have had such a +flattering relation of them given me, that I have a great desire +to possess them." "Madam," replied the dervish, "you have been +told the truth. These curiosities are more singular and +surprising than they have been represented to you: but you have +not been made acquainted with the difficulties which must be +surmounted in order to obtain them. If you had been fully +informed of these, you would not have undertaken so troublesome +and dangerous an enterprise. Take my advice, go no farther, +return, and do not urge me to contribute towards your ruin." + +"Good father," said the princess, "I have travelled a great way, +and should be sorry to return without executing my design. You +talk of difficulties, and danger of life; but you do not tell me +what those difficulties are, and wherein the danger consists. +This is what I desire to know, that I may consider and judge +whether I can trust my courage and strength to brave them." + +The dervish repeated to the princess what he had said to the +princes Bahman and Perviz, exaggerating the difficulties of +climbing up to the top of the mountain, where she was to make +herself mistress of the bird, which would inform her of the +singing tree and golden water. He magnified the noise and din of +the terrible threatening voices which she would hear on all sides +of her, without seeing any body, and the great number of black +stones, alone sufficient to strike terror. He entreated her to +reflect that those stones were so many brave gentlemen, so +metamorphosed for having omitted to observe the principal +condition of success in the perilous undertaking, which was not +to look behind them before they had got possession of the cage. + +When the dervish had done, the princess replied, "By what I +comprehend from your discourse, the difficulties of succeeding in +this affair are, first, the getting up to the cage without being +frightened at the terrible din of voices I shall hear; and +secondly, not to look behind me: for this last, I hope I shall be +mistress enough of myself to observe it. As to the first, I own +that those voices, such as you represent them to be, are capable +of striking terror into the most undaunted; but as in all +enterprises and dangers every one may use stratagem, I desire to +know of you if I may use any in one of so great importance." "And +what stratagem is it you would employ?" said the dervish. "To +stop my ears with cotton," answered the princess, "that the +voices, however loud and terrible, may make the less impression +upon my imagination, and my mind remain free from that +disturbance which might cause me to lose the use of my reason." + +"Princess," replied the dervish, "of all the persons who have +addressed themselves to me for information, I do not know that +ever one made use of the contrivance you propose. All I know is, +that they all perished. If you persist in your design, you may +make the experiment. You will be fortunate if it succeeds; but I +would advise you not to expose yourself to the danger." + +"My good father," replied the princess, "nothing can hinder my +persisting in my design. I am sure my precaution will succeed, +and am resolved to try the experiment. Nothing remains for me but +to know which way I must go; I conjure you not to deny me the +favour of that information." The dervish exhorted her again, for +the last time, to consider well what she was going to do; but +finding her resolute, he took out a bowl, and presenting it to +her, said, "Take this bowl; mount your horse again, and when you +have thrown it before you, follow it through all its windings, +till it stops at the bottom of the mountain, there alight, and +ascend the hill. Go; you know the rest." + +After the princess had thanked the dervish, and taken her leave +of him, she mounted her horse, threw the bowl before her, and +followed it till it stopped at the foot of the mountain. + +The princess alighted, stopped her ears with cotton; and after +she had well examined the path leading to the summit, began with +a moderate pace, and walked up with intrepidity. She heard the +voices, and perceived the great service the cotton was to her. +The higher she went, the louder and more numerous the voices +seemed; but they were not capable of making any impression upon +her. She heard a great many affronting speeches and raillery very +disagreeable to a woman, which she only laughed at. "I mind not," +said she to herself, "all that can be said, were it worse; I only +laugh at them, and shall pursue my way." At last she got so high, +that she could perceive the cage and the bird, which endeavoured, +with the voices, to frighten her, crying in a thundering tone, +notwithstanding the smallness of its size, "Retire, fool, and +approach no nearer." + +The princess, encouraged by this object, redoubled her speed, and +by effort gained the summit of the mountain, where the ground was +level; then running directly to the cage, and clapping her hand +upon it, cried, "Bird, I have you, and you shall not escape me." + +While Perie-zadeh was pulling the cotton out of her ears, the +bird said to her, "Heroic princess, be not angry with me for +joining with those who exerted themselves to preserve my liberty. +Though in a cage, I was content with my condition; but since I am +destined to be a slave, I would rather be yours than any other +person's, since you have obtained me so courageously. From this +instant, I swear inviolable fidelity, and an entire submission to +all your commands. I know who you are; you do not: but the time +will come when I shall do you essential service, which I hope you +will think yourself obliged to me for. As a proof of my +sincerity, tell me what you desire, and I am ready to obey you." + +The princess's joy was the more inexpressible, because the +conquest she had made had cost her the lives of two beloved +brothers, and given her more trouble and danger than she could +have imagined, notwithstanding what the dervish had represented +to her. "Bird," said she, "it was my intention to have told you +that I wish for many things which are of importance; but I am +overjoyed that you have shewn your good-will and prevented me. I +have been told that there is not far off a golden water, the +property of which is very wonderful; before all things, I ask you +to tell me where it is." The bird shewed her the place, which was +just by, and she went and filled a little silver flagon which she +had brought with her. She returned to the bird and said, "Bird, +this is not enough; I want also the singing tree; tell me where +it is." "Turn about," said the bird, "and you will see behind you +a wood, where you will find this tree." The princess went into +the wood, and by the harmonious concert she heard soon knew the +tree among many others, but it was very large and high. She came +back to the bird, and said to it, "Bird, I have found the singing +tree, but I can neither pull it up by the roots, nor carry it." +The bird replied, "It is not necessary that you should take it up +by the roots; it will be sufficient to break off a branch, and +carry it to plant in your garden; it will take root as soon as it +is put into the earth, and in a little time will grow to as fine +a tree as that you have seen." + +When the princess had obtained possession of the three things +which the devout woman had told her of, and for which she had +conceived so great a desire, she said again to the bird, "Bird, +what you have yet done for me is not sufficient. You have been +the cause of the death of my two brothers, who must be among the +black stones which I saw as I ascended the mountain. I wish to +take them home with me." + +The bird seemed reluctant to satisfy the princess in this point, +and indeed made some difficulty to comply. "Bird," said the +princess, "remember you told me that you were my slave. You are +so; and your life is in my disposal." "That I cannot deny," +answered the bird; "but although what you now ask is more +difficult than all the rest, yet I will do it for you. Cast your +eyes around," added he, "and look if you can see a little +pitcher." "I see it already," said the princess. "Take it then," +said he, "and as you descend the mountain, sprinkle a little of +the water that is in it upon every black stone." + +The princess took up the pitcher accordingly, carried with her +the cage and bird, the flagon of golden water, and the branch of +the singing tree, and as she descended the mountain, threw a +little of the water on every black stone, which was changed +immediately into a man; and as she did not miss one stone, all +the horses, both of the princes her brothers, and of the other +gentlemen, resumed their natural forms. She instantly recognized +Bahman and Perviz, as they did her, and ran to embrace her. She +returned their embraces, and expressed her amazement. "What do +you here, my dear brothers?" said she; they told her they had +been asleep. "Yes," replied she, "and if it had not been for me, +perhaps you might have slept till the day of judgment. Do not you +remember that you came to fetch the speaking bird, the singing +tree, and the yellow water? and did not you see, as you came +along, the place covered with black stones? Look and see if there +be any now. The gentlemen and their horses who surround us, and +you yourselves, were these black stones. If you desire to know +how this wonder was performed," continued she, shewing the +pitcher, which she set down at the foot of the mountain, having +no further use for it, "it was done by virtue of the water which +was in this pitcher, with which I sprinkled every stone. After I +had made the speaking bird (which you see in this cage) my slave, +by his directions I found out the singing tree, a branch of which +I have now in my hand; and the yellow water, which this flagon is +filled with; but being still unwilling to return without taking +you with me, I constrained the bird, by the power I had over him, +to afford me the means. He told me where to find this pitcher, +and the use I was to make of it." + +The princes Bahman and Perviz learnt by this relation the +obligation they had to the princess their sister; as did all the +other gentlemen, who were collected round, and expressed to the +princess, that, far from envying her happiness in the conquest +she had made, and which they all had aspired to, they thought +they could not any otherwise acknowledge the favour she had done +them, or better express their gratitude to her for restoring them +to life again, than by declaring themselves all her slaves, and +that they were ready to obey her in whatever she should command. + +"Gentlemen," replied the princess, "if you had given any +attention to my words you might have observed that I had no other +intention in what I have done than to recover my brothers; +therefore, if you have received any benefit, you owe me no +obligation, and I have no further share in your compliment than +your politeness towards me, for which I return you my thanks. In +other respects, I regard each of you individually as free as you +were before your misfortunes, and I rejoice with you at the +happiness which has accrued to you by my means. Let us however +stay no longer in a place where we have nothing to detain us; but +mount our horses, and return to our respective homes." + +The princess took her horse, which stood in the place where she +had left him.--Before she mounted, prince Bahman desired her to +give him the cage to carry. "Brother," replied the princess, "the +bird is my slave, and I will carry him myself; if you will take +the pains to carry the branch of the singing tree, there it is; +only hold the cage while I get on horseback." When she had +mounted her horse; and prince Bahman had given her the cage, she +turned about and said to prince Perviz, "I leave the flagon of +golden water to your care, if it will not be too much trouble for +you to carry it." Prince Perviz took charge of it with pleasure. + +When Bahman, Perviz, and all the gentlemen had mounted their +horses, the princess waited for some of them to lead the way. The +two princes paid that compliment to the gentlemen, and they again +to the princess, who, finding that none of them would accept of +the honour, but that it was reserved for her, addressed herself +to them and said, "Gentlemen, I expect that some of you should +lead the way;" to which one who was nearest to her, in the name +of the rest, replied, "Madam, were we ignorant of the respect due +to your sex, yet after what you have done for us there is no +deference we would not willingly pay you, notwithstanding your +modesty; we entreat you no longer to deprive us of the happiness +of following you." + +"Gentlemen," said the princess, "I do not deserve the honour you +do me, and accept it only because you desire it." At the same +time she led the way, and the two princes and the gentlemen +followed. + +This illustrious company called upon the dervish as they passed, +to thank him for his reception and wholesome advice, which they +had all found to be sincere. But he was dead: whether of old age, +or because he was no longer necessary to shew the way to the +obtaining the three rarities which the princess Perie-zadeh had +secured, did not appear. They pursued their route, but lessened +in their numbers every day. The gentlemen who, as we said before, +had come from different countries, after severally repeating +their obligations to the princess and her brothers, took leave of +them one after another as they approached the road they had come. + +As soon as the princess reached home, she placed the cage in the +garden; and the bird no sooner began to warble than he was +surrounded by nightingales, chaffinches, larks, linnets, +goldfinches, and every species of birds of the country. And the +branch of the singing tree was no sooner set in the midst of the +parterre, a little distance from the house, than it took root, +and in a short time became a large tree, the leaves of which gave +as harmonious a concert as those of the tree from which it was +gathered. A large basin of beautiful marble was placed in the +garden; and when it was finished, the princess poured into it all +the yellow water from the flagon, which instantly increased and +swelled so much that it soon reached up to the edges of the +basin, and afterwards formed in the middle a fountain twenty feet +high, which fell again into the basin perpetually without running +over. + +The report of these wonders was presently spread abroad, and as +the gates of the house and those of the gardens were shut to +nobody, a great number of people came to admire them. + +Some days after, when the princes Bahman and Perviz had recovered +from the fatigue of their journey, they resumed their former way +of living; and as their usual diversion was hunting, they mounted +their horses and went for the first time since their return, not +to their own demesne, but two or three leagues from their house. +As they pursued their sport, the emperor of Persia came in +pursuit of game upon the same ground. When they perceived by the +number of horsemen in different places that he would soon be up, +they resolved to discontinue their chase, and retire to avoid +encountering him; but in the very road they took they chanced to +meet him in so narrow a way that they could not retreat without +being seen. In their surprise they had only time to alight, and +prostrate themselves before the emperor, without lifting up their +heads to look at him. The emperor, who saw they were as well +mounted and dressed as if they had belonged to his court, had the +curiosity to see their faces. He stopped, and commanded them to +rise. The princes rose up, and stood before him with an easy and +graceful air, accompanied with respectful modest countenances. +The emperor took some time to view them before he spoke: and +after he had admired their good air and mien, asked them who they +were, and where they lived. + +"Sir," said prince Bahman, "we are the sons of the late intendant +of your majesty's gardens: and live in a house which he built a +little before he died, till we should be fit to serve your +majesty, and ask of you some employ when opportunity offered." + +"By what I perceive," replied the emperor, "you love hunting." +"Sir," replied prince Bahman, "it is our common exercise, and +what none of your majesty's subjects who intend to bear arms in +your armies ought, according to the ancient custom of the +kingdom, to neglect." The emperor, charmed with so prudent an +answer, said, "Since it is so, I should be glad to see your +expertness in the chase; choose your own game." + +The princes mounted their horses again, and followed the emperor; +but had not gone far before they saw many wild beasts together. +Prince Bahman chose a lion, and prince Perviz a bear; and pursued +them with so much intrepidity, that the emperor was surprised. +They came up with their game nearly at the same time, and darted +their javelins with so much skill and address, that they pierced, +the one the lion, and the other the bear, so effectually, that +the emperor saw them fall one after the other. Immediately +afterwards prince Bahman pursued another bear, and prince Perviz +another lion, and killed them in a short time, and would have +beaten out for fresh game, but the emperor would not let them, +and sent to them to come to him. When they approached he said, +"If I would have given you leave, you would soon have destroyed +all my game: but it is not that which I would preserve, but your +persons; for I am so well assured your bravery may one time or +other be serviceable to me, that from this moment your lives will +be always dear to me." + +The emperor, in short, conceived so great a kindness for the two +princes, that he invited them immediately to make him a visit: to +which prince Bahman replied, "Your majesty does us an honour we +do not deserve; and we beg you will excuse us." + +The emperor, who could not comprehend what reason the princes +could have to refuse this token of his favour, pressed them to +tell him why they excused themselves. "Sir," said prince Bahman, +"we have a sister younger than ourselves, with whom we live in +such perfect union, that we undertake nothing before we consult +her, nor she any thing without asking our advice." "I commend +your brotherly affection," answered the emperor. "Consult your +sister, meet me here tomorrow, and give me an answer." + +The princes went home, but neglected to speak of their adventure +in meeting the emperor, and hunting with him, and also of the +honour he had done them, by asking them to go home with him; yet +did not the next morning fail to meet him at the place appointed. +"Well," said the emperor, "have you spoken to your sister? And +has she consented to the pleasure I expect of seeing you?" The +two princes looked at each other and blushed. "Sir," said prince +Bahman, "we beg your majesty to excuse us: for both my brother +and I forgot." "Then remember to-day," replied the emperor, "and +be sure to bring me an answer to-morrow." + +The princes were guilty of the same fault a second time, and the +emperor was so good-natured as to forgive their negligence; but +to prevent their forgetfulness the third time, he pulled three +little golden balls out of a purse, and put them into prince +Bahman's bosom. "These balls," said he, smiling, "will prevent +your forgetting a third time what I wish you to do for my sake; +since the noise they will make by falling on the floor, when you +undress, will remind you, if you do not recollect it before." The +event happened just as the emperor foresaw; and without these +balls the princes had not thought of speaking to their sister of +this affair. For as prince Bahman unloosed his girdle to go to +bed the balls dropped on the floor, upon which he ran into prince +Perviz's chamber, when both went into the princess Perie-zadeh's +apartment, and after they had asked her pardon for coming at so +unseasonable a time, they told her all the circumstances of their +meeting the emperor. + +The princess was somewhat surprised at this intelligence. "Your +meeting with the emperor," said she, "is happy and honourable, +and may in the end be highly advantageous to you, but it is very +disagreeable and distrustful to me. It was on my account, I know, +you refused the emperor, and I am infinitely obliged to you for +doing so. I know by this your affection is equal to my own, since +you would rather be guilty of incivility towards the emperor than +violate the brotherly union we have sworn to each other. You +judge right, for if you had once gone you would insensibly have +been engaged to leave me, to devote yourselves to him. But do you +think it an easy matter absolutely to refuse the emperor what he +seems so earnestly to desire? Monarchs will be obeyed in their +desires, and it may be dangerous to oppose them; therefore, if to +follow my inclination I should dissuade you from shewing the +complaisance he expects from you, it may expose you to his +resentment, and may render myself and you miserable. These are my +sentiments: but before we conclude upon any thing let us consult +the speaking bird, and hear what he says; he is penetrating, and +has promised his assistance in all difficulties." + +The princess sent for the cage, and after she had related the +circumstances to the bird in the presence of her brothers, asked +him what they should do in this perplexity? The bird answered, +"The princes your brothers must conform to the emperor's +pleasure, and in their turn invite him to come and see your +house." + +"But, bird," replied the princess, "my brothers and I love one +another, and our friendship is yet undisturbed. Will not this +step be injurious to that friendship?" "Not at all," replied the +bird; "it will tend rather to cement it." "Then," answered the +princess, "the emperor will see me." The bird told her it was +necessary he should, and that everything would go better +afterwards. + +Next morning the princes met the emperor hunting, who, at as +great a distance as he could make himself be heard, asked them if +they had remembered to speak to their sister? Prince Bahman +approached, and answered, "Sir, your majesty may dispose of us as +you please; we are ready to obey you; for we have not only +obtained our sister's consent with great ease, but she took it +amiss that we should pay her that deference in a matter wherein +our duty to your majesty was concerned. But if we have offended, +we hope you will pardon us." "Do not be uneasy on that account," +replied the emperor; "so far from taking amiss what you have +done, I highly approve of your conduct, and hope you will have +the same deference and attachment to my person, if I have ever so +little share in your friendship." The princes, confounded at the +emperor's goodness, returned no other answer but a low obeisance, +to shew the great respect with which they received it. + +The emperor, contrary to his usual custom, did not hunt long that +day. Presuming that the princes possessed wit equal to their +courage and bravery, he longed with impatience to converse with +them more at liberty. He made them ride on each side of him, an +honour which, without speaking of the principal courtiers who +accompanied him, was envied by the grand vizier, who was much +mortified to see them preferred before him. + +When the emperor entered his capital, the eyes of the people, who +stood in crowds in the streets, were fixed upon the two princes +Bahman and Perviz; and they were earnest to know who they might +be, whether foreigners or natives. + +All, however, agreed in wishing that the emperor had been blessed +with two such handsome princes, and said, "He might have had +children as old, if the queen, who had suffered the punishment of +her misfortune, had been more fortunate in her lyings-in." + +The first thing that the emperor did when he arrived at his +palace was to conduct the princes into the principal apartments; +who praised without affectation, like persons conversant in such +matters, the beauty and symmetry of the rooms, and the richness +of the furniture and ornaments. Afterwards a magnificent repast +was served up, and the emperor made them sit with him, which they +at first refused; but finding it was his pleasure, they obeyed. + +The emperor, who had himself much learning, particularly in +history, foresaw that the princes, out of modesty and respect, +would not take the liberty of beginning any conversation. +Therefore, to give them an opportunity, he furnished them with +subjects all dinner-time. But whatever subject he introduced, +they shewed so much wit, judgment, and discernment, that he was +struck with admiration. "Were these my own children," said he to +himself, "and I had improved their talents by suitable education, +they could not have been more accomplished or better informed." +In short, he took such great pleasure in their conversation, that +after having sat longer than usual he led them into his closet, +where he pursued his conversation with them, and at last said, "I +never supposed that there were among my subjects in the country +youths so well brought up, so lively, so capable; and I never was +better pleased with any conversation than yours: but it is time +now we should relax our minds with some diversion; and as nothing +is more capable of enlivening the mind than music, you shall hear +a vocal and instrumental concert which may not be disagreeable to +you." + +The emperor had no sooner spoken for them than the musicians, who +had orders to attend, entered, and answered fully the +expectations the princes had been led to entertain of their +abilities. After the concerts, an excellent farce was acted, and +the entertainment was concluded by dancers of both sexes. + +The two princes seeing night approach, prostrated themselves at +the emperor's feet; and having first thanked him for the favours +and honours he had heaped upon them, asked his permission to +retire; which was granted by the emperor, who, in dismissing +them, said, "I give you leave to go; but remember I brought you +to the palace myself only to shew you the way; you will be always +welcome, and the oftener you come the greater pleasure you will +do me." + +Before they went out of the emperor's presence, prince Bahman +said, "Sir, may we presume to request that your majesty will do +us and our sister the honour to pass by our house, and rest and +refresh yourself after your fatigue, the first time you take the +diversion of hunting in that neighbourhood? It is not worthy your +presence; but monarchs sometimes have vouchsafed to take shelter +in a cottage." "My children," replied the emperor; "your house +cannot be otherwise than beautiful, and worthy of its owners. I +will call and see it with pleasure, which will be the greater for +having for my hosts you and your sister, who is already dear to +me from the account you give me of the rare qualities with which +she is endowed; and this satisfaction I will defer no longer than +to-morrow. Early in the morning I will be at the place where I +shall never forget that I first saw you. Meet me, and you shall +be my guides." + +When the princes Bahman and Perviz had returned home, they gave +the princess an account of the distinguished reception the +emperor had given them; and told her that they had invited him to +do them the honour, as he passed by, to call at their house; and +that he had appointed the next day. + +"If it be so," replied the princess, "we must think of preparing +a repast fit for his majesty; and for that purpose I think it +would be proper we should consult the speaking bird, he will tell +us perhaps what meats the emperor likes best." The princes +approved of her plan, and after they had retired she consulted +the bird alone. "Bird," said she, "the emperor will do us the +honour to-morrow to come and see our house, and we are to +entertain him; tell us what we shall do to acquit ourselves to +his satisfaction." + +"Good mistress," replied the bird, "you have excellent cooks, let +them do the best they can; but above all things, let them prepare +a dish of cucumbers stuffed full of pearls, which must be set +before the emperor in the first course before all the other +dishes." + +"Cucumbers stuffed full of pearls!" cried princess Perie-zadeh, +with amazement; "surely, bird, you do not know what you say; it +is an unheard-of dish. The emperor may admire it as a piece of +magnificence, but he will sit down to eat, and not to admire +pearls; besides, all the pearls I possess are not enough for such +a dish." + +"Mistress," said the bird, "do what I say, and be not uneasy +about what may happen. Nothing but good will follow. As for the +pearls, go early to-morrow morning to the foot of the first tree +on your right hand in the park, dig under it, and you will find +more than you want." + +That night the princess ordered a gardener to be ready to attend +her, and the next morning early led him to the tree which the +bird had told her of, and bade him dig at its foot. When the +gardener came to a certain depth, he found some resistance to the +spade, and presently discovered a gold box about a foot square, +which he shewed the princess. "This," said she, "is what I +brought you for; take care not to injure it with the spade." + +When the gardener took up the box, he gave it into the princess's +hands, who, as it was only fastened with neat little hasps, soon +opened it, and found it full of pearls of a moderate size, but +equal, and fit for the use that was to be made of them. Very well +satisfied with having found this treasure, after she had shut the +box again she put it under her arm, and went back to the house, +while the gardener threw the earth into the hole at the foot of +the tree as it had been before. + +The princes Bahman and Perviz, who, as they were dressing +themselves in their own apartments, saw the princess their sister +in the garden earlier than usual, as soon as they could get out +went to her, and met her as she was returning, with a gold box +under her arm, which much surprised them. "Sister," said Bahman, +"you carried nothing with you when we saw you before with the +gardener, and now we see you have a golden box: is this some +treasure found by the gardener, and did he come and tell you of +it?" + +"No, brother," answered the princess; "I took the gardener to the +place where this casket was concealed, and shewed him where to +dig: but you will be more amazed when you see what it contains." + +The princess opened the box, and when the princes saw that it was +full of pearls, which, though small, were of great value; they +asked her how she came to the knowledge of this treasure? +"Brothers," said she, "if nothing more pressing calls you +elsewhere, come with me, and I will tell you." "What more +pressing business," said prince Perviz, "can we have than to be +informed of what concerns us so much? We have nothing to do to +prevent our attending you." The princess, as they returned to the +house, gave them an account of her having consulted the bird, as +they had agreed she should, and the answer he had given her; the +objection she had raised to preparing a dish of cucumbers stuffed +full of pearls, and how he had told her where to find this box. +The princes and princess formed many conjectures to penetrate +into what the bird could mean by ordering them to prepare such a +dish; and after much conversation, though they could not by any +means guess at his reason, they nevertheless agreed to follow his +advice exactly. + +As soon as the princess entered the house, she called for the +head cook; and after she had given him directions about the +entertainment for the emperor, said to him, "Besides all this, +you must dress an extraordinary dish for the emperor's own +eating, which nobody else must have any thing to do with besides +yourself. This dish must be of cucumbers stuffed with these +pearls;" and at the same time she opened him the box, and shewed +him the pearls. + +The chief cook, who had never heard of such a dish, started back, +and shewed his thoughts by his looks; which the princess +penetrating, said, "I see you take me to be mad to order such a +dish, which you never heard of, and which one may say with +certainty was never made. I know this as well as you; but I am +not mad, and give you these orders with the most perfect +recollection. You must invent and do the best you can, and bring +me back what pearls are left." The cook could make no reply, but +took the box and retired: and afterwards the princess gave +directions to all the domestics to have every thing in order, +both in the house and gardens, to receive the emperor. + +Next day the two princes went to the place appointed; and as soon +as the emperor of Persia arrived the chase began, which lasted +till the heat of the sun obliged him to leave off. While prince +Bahman stayed to conduit the emperor to their house, prince +Perviz rode before to shew the way, and when he came in sight of +the house, spurred his horse, to inform the princess Perie-zadeh +that the emperor was approaching; but she had been told by some +servants whom she had placed to give notice, and the prince found +her waiting ready to receive him. + +When the emperor had entered the court-yard, and alighted at the +portico, the princess came and threw herself at his feet, and the +two princes informed him she was their sister, and besought him +to accept her respects. + +The emperor stooped to raise her, and after he had gazed some +time on her beauty, struck with her fine person and dignified +air, he said, "The brothers are worthy of the sister, and she +worthy of them; since, if I may judge of her understanding by her +person, I am not amazed that the brothers would do nothing +without their sister's consent; but," added he, "I hope to be +better acquainted with you, my daughter, after I have seen the +house." + +"Sir," said the princess, "it is only a plain country residence, +fit for such people as we are, who live retired from the great +world. It is not to be compared with houses in great cities, much +less with the magnificent palaces of emperors." "I cannot +perfectly agree with you in opinion," said the emperor very +obligingly, "for its first appearance makes me suspect you; +however, I will not pass my judgment upon it till I have seen it +all; therefore be pleased to conduct me through the apartments." + +The princess led the emperor through all the rooms except the +hall; and, after he had considered them very attentively and +admired their variety, "My daughter," said he to the princess, +"do you call this a country house? The finest and largest cities +would soon be deserted, if all country houses were like yours. I +am no longer surprised that you take so much delight in it, and +despise the town. Now let me see the garden, which I doubt not is +answerable to the house." + +The princess opened a door which led into the garden; and the +first object which presented itself to the emperor's view was the +golden fountain. Surprised at so rare an object, he asked from +whence that wonderful water, which gave so much pleasure to +behold, had been procured; where was its source; and by what art +it was made to play so high, that he thought nothing in the world +was to be compared to it? He said he would presently take a +nearer view of it. + +The princess then led him to the spot where the harmonious tree +was planted; and there the emperor heard a concert, different +from all he had ever heard before; and stopping to see where the +musicians were, he could discern nobody far or near; but still +distinctly heard the music, which ravished his senses. "My +daughter," said he to the princess, "where are the musicians whom +I hear? Are they under ground, or invisible in the air? Such +excellent performers will hazard nothing by being seen; on the +contrary, they would please the more." + +"Sir," answered the princess smiling, "they are not musicians, +but the leaves of the trees your majesty sees before you, which +form this concert; and if you will give yourself the trouble to +go a little nearer, you will be convinced, and the voices will be +the more distinct." + +The emperor went nearer, and was so charmed with the sweet +harmony, that he would never have been tired with hearing it, but +that his desire to have a nearer view of the fountain of yellow +water forced him away. "Daughter," said he, "tell me, I pray you, +whether this wonderful tree was found in your garden by chance, +or was a present made to you, or have you procured it from some +foreign country? It must certainly have come from a great +distance, otherwise, curious as I am after natural rarities, I +should have heard of it. What name do you call it by?" + +"Sir," replied the princess, "this tree has no other name than +that of the singing tree, and is not a native of this country. It +would at present take up too much time to tell your majesty by +what adventures it came here; its history is connected with the +yellow water, and the speaking bird, which came to me at the same +time, and which your majesty may see after you have taken a +nearer view of the golden water. But if it be agreeable to your +majesty, after you have rested yourself, and recovered the +fatigue of hunting, which must be the greater because of the +sun's intense heat, I will do myself the honour of relating it to +you." + +"My daughter," replied the emperor, "my fatigue is so well +recompensed by the wonderful things you have shewn me, that I do +not feel it the least. I think only of the trouble I give you. +Let us finish by seeing the yellow water. I am impatient to see +and admire the speaking bird." + +When the emperor came to the yellow water, his eyes were fixed so +steadfastly upon the fountain, that he could not take them off. +At last, addressing himself to the princess, he said, "As you +tell me, daughter, that this water has no spring or +communication, I conclude that it is foreign, as well as the +singing tree." + +"Sir," replied the princess, "it is as your majesty conjectures; +and to let you know that this water has no communication with any +spring, I must inform you that the basin is one entire stone, so +that the water cannot come in at the sides or underneath. But +what your majesty will think most wonderful is, that all this +water proceeded but from one small flagon, emptied into this +basin, which increased to the quantity you see, by a property +peculiar to itself, and formed this fountain." "Well," said the +emperor, going from the fountain, "this is enough for one time. I +promise myself the pleasure to come and visit it often; but now +let us go and see the speaking bird." + +As he went towards the hall, the emperor perceived a prodigious +number of singing birds in the trees around, filling the air with +their songs and warblings, and asked, why there were so many +there, and none on the other trees in the garden? "The reason, +sir," answered the princess, "is, because they come from all +parts to accompany the song of the speaking bird, which your +majesty may see in a cage in one of the windows of the hall we +are approaching; and if you attend, you will perceive that his +notes are sweeter than those of any of the other birds, even the +nightingale." + +The emperor went into the hall; and as the bird continued +singing, the princess raised her voice, and said, "My slave, here +is the emperor, pay your compliments to him." The bird left off +singing that instant, when all the other birds ceased also, and +it said, "The emperor is welcome; God prosper him, and prolong +his life." As the entertainment was served on the sofa near the +window where the bird was placed, the sultan replied, as he was +taking his seat, "Bird, I thank you, and am overjoyed to find in +you the sultan and king of birds." + +As soon as the emperor saw the dish of cucumbers set before him, +thinking it was stuffed in the best manner, he reached out his +hand and took one; but when he cut it, was in extreme surprise to +find it stuffed with pearls. "What novelty is this?" said he "and +with what design were these cucumbers stuffed thus with pearls, +since pearls are not to be eaten?" He looked at the two princes +and princess to ask them the meaning: when the bird interrupting +him, said, "Can your majesty be in such great astonishment at +cucumbers stuffed with pearls, which you see with your own eyes, +and yet so easily believe that the queen your wife was delivered +of a dog, a cat, and a piece of wood?" "I believed these things," +replied the emperor, "because the midwives assured me of the +facts." "Those midwives, sir," replied the bird, "were the +queen's two sisters, who, envious of her happiness in being +preferred by your majesty before them, to satisfy their envy and +revenge, have abused your majesty's credulity. If you interrogate +them, they will confess their crime. The two brothers and the +sister whom you see before you are your own children, whom they +exposed, and who were taken in by the intendant of your gardens, +who provided nurses for them, and took care of their education." + +This speech of the bird's presently cleared up the emperor's +understanding. "Bird," cried he, "I believe the truth which you +discover to me. The inclination which drew me to them told me +plainly they must be my own blood. Come then, my sons, come, my +daughter, let me embrace you, and give you the first marks of a +father's love and tenderness." The emperor then rose, and after +having embraced the two princes and the princess, and mingled his +tears with theirs, said, "It is not enough, my children; you must +embrace each other, not as the children of the intendant of my +gardens, to whom I have been so much obliged for preserving your +lives, but as my own children, of the royal blood of the monarchs +of Persia, whose glory, I am persuaded, you will maintain." + +After the two princes and princess had embraced mutually with new +satisfaction, the emperor sat down again with them, and finished +his meal in haste; and when he had done, said, "My children, you +see in me your father; to-morrow I will bring the queen your +mother, therefore prepare to receive her." + +The emperor afterwards mounted his horse, and returned with +expedition to his capital. The first thing he did, as soon as he +had alighted and entered his palace, was to command the grand +vizier to seize the queen's two sisters. They were taken from +their houses separately, convicted, and condemned to be +quartered; which sentence was put in execution within an hour. + +In the mean time the emperor Khoosroo Shaw, followed by all the +lords of his court who were then present, went on foot to the +door of the great mosque; and after he had taken the queen out of +the strict confinement she had languished under for so many +years, embracing her in the miserable condition to which she was +then reduced, said to her with tears in his eyes, "I come to +entreat your pardon for the injustice I have done you, and to +make you the reparation I ought; which I have begun, by punishing +the unnatural wretches who put the abominable cheat upon me; and +I hope you will look upon it as complete, when I present to you +two accomplished princes, and a lovely princess, our children. +Come and resume your former rank, with all the honours which are +your due." All this was done and said before great crowds of +people, who flocked from all parts at the first news of what was +passing, and immediately spread the joyful intelligence through +the city. + +Next morning early the emperor and queen, whose mournful +humiliating dress was changed for magnificent robes, went with +all their court to the house built by the intendant of the +gardens, where the emperor presented the princes Bahman and +Perviz, and the princess Perie-zadeh, to their enraptured mother. +"These, much injured wife," said he, "are the two princes your +sons, and this princess your daughter; embrace them with the same +tenderness I have done, since they are worthy both of me and +you." The tears flowed plentifully down their cheeks at these +tender embraces, especially the queen's, from the comfort and joy +of having two such princes for her sons, and such a princess for +her daughter, on whose account she had so long endured the +severest afflictions. + +The two princes and the princess had prepared a magnificent +repast for the emperor and queen, and their court. As soon as +that was over, the emperor led the queen into the garden, and +shewed her the harmonious tree and the beautiful effect of the +yellow fountain. She had seen the bird in his cage, and the +emperor had spared no panegyric in his praise during the repast. + +When there was nothing to detain the emperor any longer, he took +horse, and with the princes Bahman and Perviz on his right hand, +and the queen consort and the princess at his left, preceded and +followed by all the officers of his court, according to their +rank, returned to his capital. Crowds of people came out to meet +them, and with acclamations of joy ushered them into the city, +where all eyes were fixed not only upon the queen, the two +princes, and the princess, but also upon the bird, which the +princess carried before her in his cage, admiring his sweet +notes, which had drawn all the other birds about him, which +followed him, flying from tree to tree in the country, and from +one house-top to another in the city. The princes Bahman and +Perviz, and the princess Perie-zadeh, where at length brought to +the palace with this pomp, and nothing was to be seen or heard +all that night but illuminations and rejoicings both in the +palace and in the utmost parts of the city, which lasted many +days, and were continued throughout the empire of Persia, as +intelligence of the joyful event reached the several provinces. + + + + + STORY OF THE SULTAN OF YEMEN AND HIS THREE + SONS. + + + +There was in the land of Yemen (Arabia Felix) a sultan, under +whom were three tributary princes. He had four children, three +sons and a daughter. He possessed greater treasures than could be +estimated, as well as innumerable camels, horses, and flocks of +sheep; and was held in awe by all contemporary sovereigns. + +After a long and prosperous reign, age brought with it infirmity, +and he at length became incapable of appearing in his hall of +audience; upon which he commanded his sons to his presence, and +said to them, "My wish is to divide among you, before my death, +all my possessions, that you may be satisfied, and live in +unanimity and brotherly affection with each other, and in +obedience to my dying commands." They exclaimed, "To hear is to +obey." + +The sultan then said, "My will is, that the eldest be sovereign +in my room; that the second possess my treasures; and the third +every description of animals. Let no, one encroach upon another, +but all assist each other." He then caused them to sign an +agreement to abide by his bequests, and shortly afterwards was +received into the mercy of the Almighty; upon which his sons +prepared what was suitable to his dignity for his funeral. They +washed the corpse, enshrouded it, prayed over it, and having +committed it to the earth, returned to their palaces; where the +viziers, officers of state, and inhabitants of the metropolis, +high and low, rich and poor, attended to console with them on the +loss of their father. The news of the death of the sultan was +soon spread abroad into all the provinces, and deputations from +every city came to condole with the princes. + +After these ceremonies, the eldest prince demanded that he should +be inaugurated sultan in the room of the deceased monarch, +agreeably to his will; but this was not possible, as each of the +other brothers was ambitious of being sovereign. Contention and +disputes now arose between them for the government, till at +length the elder brother, wishing to avoid civil war, said, "Let +us go and submit to the arbitration of one of the tributary +sultans, and to let him whom he adjudges the kingdom peaceably +enjoy it." To this they assented, as did also the viziers; and +they departed, unattended, towards the capital of one of the +tributary sultans. + +When the princes had proceeded about half way on their journey, +they reached a verdant spot, abounding in herbage and flowers, +with a clear rivulet running through it, the convenience of which +made them halt to refresh themselves. They sat down and were +eating, when one of the brothers casting his eyes on the grass, +said, "A camel has lately passed this way loaded, half with +sweetmeats and half with grain." "True," cried another, "and he +was blind of one eye." "Yes," exclaimed the third, "and he had +lost his tail." They had scarcely concluded their remarks, when +the owner of the camel came up to them (for he had heard what +they had said, and was convinced, as they had described the beast +and his load, that they must have stopped him), crying out, that +they had stolen his camel. "We have not seen him," answered the +princes, "nor touched him." "By Allah!" replied he, "none but you +can have taken him; and if you will not deliver him up, I will +complain of you to the sultan." They rejoined, "It is well; let +us go to the sultan." + +When all four had reached the palace, information was given of +the arrival of the princes, and they were admitted to an +audience, the owner of the camel following, who bawled out, +"These men, my lord, by their own confession, have stolen my +property, for they described him and the load he carried." + +The man then related what each of the princes, had said; upon +which the sultan demanded if it was true. They answered, "My +lord, we have not seen the camel; but we chanced, as we were +sitting on the grass taking some refreshment, to observe that +part of the pasture had been grazed; upon which we supposed that +the camel must have been blind of an eye, as the grass was only +eaten on one side. We then observed the dung of a camel in one +heap on the ground, which made us agree that its tail must have +been cut off, as it is the custom for camels to shake their +tails, and scatter it abroad. On the grass where the camel had +lain down, we saw on one side flies collected in great numbers, +but none on the other: this made us conclude that one of the +panniers must have contained sweets, and the other only grain." +Upon hearing the above, the sultan said to the complainant, +"Friend, go and look for thy camel, for these observations do not +prove the theft on the accused, but only the strength of their +understandings and penetration." + +The sultan now ordered apartments for the princes, and directed +that they should be entertained in a manner befitting their rank; +after which he left them to their repose. In the evening, when +the usual meal was brought in, the elder prince having taken up a +cake of bread, said, "This bread, I am sure, was made by a sick +woman." The second, on tasting some kid, exclaimed, "This kid was +suckled by a bitch:" and the third cried out, "Certainly this +sultan must be illegitimate." At this instant the sultan, who had +been listening, entered hastily, and exclaimed, "Wherefore utter +ye these affronting speeches?" "Inquire," replied the princes, +"into what you have heard, and you will find all true." + +The sultan now retired to his haram, and on inquiry, found that +the woman who had kneaded the bread was sick. He then sent for +the shepherd, who owned that the dam of the kid having died, he +had suckled it upon a bitch. Next, in a violent passion, he +proceeded to the apartments of the sultana mother, and +brandishing his cimeter--threatened her with death, unless she +confessed whether he was son to the late sultan or not. + +The sultana was alarmed, and said, "To preserve my life, I must +speak truth. Know then that thou art the son of a cook. Thy +father had no male offspring, at which he was uneasy: on the same +day myself and the wife of the cook lay in, I of a daughter and +she of a son. I was fearful of the coolness of the sultan, and +imposed upon him the son of the cook for his own: that son art +thou, who now enjoyest an empire." + +The spurious sultan left the sultana in astonishment at the +penetration of the brothers, whom he summoned to his presence, +and inquired of them on what grounds they had founded their just +suspicions respecting the bread, the kid, and himself. "My +lord," replied the elder prince, "when I broke the cake, the +flour fell out in lumps; and hence I guessed that she who made it +had not strength to knead it sufficiently, and must have been +unwell." "It is as thou hast said," replied the sultan. "The fat +of the kid," continued the second brother, "was all next the +bone, and the flesh of every other animal but the dog has it next +the skin. Hence my surmise that it must have been suckled by a +bitch." "Thou wert right," answered the sultan; "but now for +myself." + +"My reason for supposing thee illegitimate," said the youngest +prince, "was, because thou didst not associate with us, who are +of the same rank with thyself. Every man has properties which he +inherits from his father, his grandfather, or his mother. From +his father, generosity, or avarice; from his grandfather, valour +or cowardice; from his mother, bashfulness or impudence." "Thou +hast spoken justly," replied the sultan; "but why came ye to ask +judgment of me, since ye are so much better able to decide +difficult questions than myself? Return home, and agree among +yourselves." The princes did so; and obeyed the will of their +father. + + + + + STORY OF THE THREE SHARPERS AND THE + SULTAN. + + + +Three very ingenious sharpers who associated together, being much +distressed, agreed, in hopes of obtaining immediate relief, that +they would go to the sultan, and pretend each to superior ability +in some occupation. Accordingly they proceeded to the metropolis, +but found admission to the presence difficult; the sultan being +at a garden palace surrounded by guards, who would not let them +approach. Upon this they consulted, and agreed to feign a +quarrel, in hopes that their clamour would draw the notice of the +sultan. It did so: he commanded them to be brought before him, +inquired who they were, and the cause of their dispute. "We were +disputing," said they, "concerning the superiority of our +professions; for each of us possesses complete skill in his own." +"What are your professions?" replied the sultan. "I am," said +one, "O sovereign, a lapidary of wonderful skill." "I fear thou +art an astonishing rascal," exclaimed the sultan. + +"I am," said the second sharper, "a genealogist of horses." "And +I," continued the third, "a genealogist of mankind, knowing every +one's true descent; an art much more wonderful than that of +either of my companions, for no one possesses it but myself, nor +ever did before me." The sultan was astonished, but gave little +credit to their pretensions: yet he said to himself, "If these +men speak truth, they are worthy of encouragement. I will keep +them near me till I have occasion to try them; when, if they +prove their abilities, I will promote them; but if not, I will +put them to death." He then allotted them an apartment, with an +allowance of three cakes of bread and a mess of pottage daily; +but placed spies over them, fearing lest they might escape. + +Not long after this, a present of rarities was brought to the +sultan, among which were two precious stones; one of them +remarkably clear in its water, and the other with a flaw. The +sultan now bethought himself of the lapidary, and sent for him to +his presence, when he gave him the clear jewel to examine, and +demanded what he thought it was worth. + +The sharper took the stone, and with much gravity turned it +backwards and forwards in his hands, examining it with minute +attention on every part; after which he said, "My lord, this +jewel has a flaw in the very centre of it." When the sultan heard +this, he was enraged against the sharper, and gave orders to +strike off his head; saying, "This stone is free from blemish, +and yet thou pretendest it hath a flaw." The executioner now +advanced, laid hold of the sharper, bound him, and was going to +strike, when the vizier entered, and seeing the sultan enraged, +and the sharper under the cimeter, inquired the cause. Being +informed, he advanced towards the sultan, and said, "My lord, act +not thus, but first break the stone: should a flaw appear in it, +the words of this man are true; but if it be found free from +blemish, put him to death." The sultan replied, "Thy advice is +just:" and broke it in two with his mace. In the middle he found +a flaw, at which he was astonished, and exclaimed to the sharper, +"By what means couldst thou discover the blemish?" He replied, +"By the acuteness of my sight." The sultan then released him, and +said, "Take him back to his companions, allow him a mess of +pottage to himself, and two cakes of bread." + +Some time after this a tribute came from one of the provinces, +part of which consisted of a beautiful black colt, in colour +resembling the hue of the darkest night. The sultan was delighted +with the animal, and spent whole days in admiring him. At length +he bethought himself of the sharper who had pretended to be a +genealogist of horses, and commanded him to his presence. When he +appeared, the sultan said, "Art thou a judge of horses?" He +replied, "Yes, my lord," upon which the sultan exclaimed, "It is +well! but I swear by him who appointed me guardian of his +subjects, and said to the universe, Be! and it was, that should I +find untruth in thy declaration, I will strike off thy head." The +man replied, "To hear is to submit." After this they brought out +the colt, that he might examine him. + +The sharper desired the groom to mount the colt and pace him +before him, which he did backwards and forwards, the fiery animal +all the while plunging and rearing. At length the genealogist +said, "It is enough:" and turning to the sultan exclaimed, "My +lord, this colt is singularly beautiful, of true blood by his +sire, his paces exquisite and proportions just; but in him there +is one blemish; could that be done away, he would be all +perfection; nor would there be upon the face of the earth his +equal among all the various breeds of horses." "What can that +blemish be?" said the sultan. "His sire," rejoined the +genealogist, "was of true blood, but his dam of another species +of animal; and, if commanded, I will inform you." "Speak," said +the sultan. "The dam of this beautiful colt," continued the +genealogist, "was a buffalo." + +When the sultan heard this he flew into a rage, and commanded an +executioner to strike off the head of the sharper; exclaiming, +"Thou accursed dog! how could a buffalo bring forth a colt?" "My +lord," replied the sharper, "the executioner is in attendance; +but send for the person who presented the colt, and inquire of +him the truth. If my words prove just, my skill will be +ascertained; but if what I have said be false, then let my head +pay the forfeit for my tongue." Upon this the sultan sent for the +master of the colt to attend his presence. + +When the master of the colt appeared before him, the sultan +inquired whether it was purchased of another person, or had been +bred by himself? To which the man replied, "My lord, I will +relate nothing but the truth. The production of this colt is +surprising. His sire belonged to me, and was of the true breed of +sea-horses: he was always kept in an enclosure by himself, as I +was fearful of his being injured; but it happened one day in the +spring, that the groom took him for air into the country, and +picqueted him in the plain. By chance a cow-buffalo coming near +the spot, the stallion became outrageous, broke his heel-ropes, +joined the buffalo, which after the usual period of gestation, +produced this colt, to our great astonishment." + +The sultan was surprised at this relation. He commanded the +genealogist to be sent for, and upon his arrival said, "Thy words +have proved true, and thy wonderful skill in the breed of horses +is ascertained; but by what mark couldst thou know that the dam +of this colt was a buffalo?" The man replied, "My lord, the mark +is visible in the colt itself. It is not unknown to any person of +observation, that the hoof of a horse is nearly round, but the +hoof of a buffalo thick and longish, like this colt's: hence I +judged that the dam must certainly have been a buffalo." The +sultan now dismissed him graciously, and commanded that he should +be allowed daily a mess of pottage, and two cakes of bread. + +Not long after this the sultan bethought himself of the third +sharper, who pretended that he was the genealogist of man, and +sent for him to the presence. On his appearance he said, "Thou +canst trace the descent of man?" "Yes, my lord," replied the +genealogist. Upon this the sultan commanded an eunuch to take him +into his haram, that he might examine the descent of his +favourite mistress. Upon his introduction, he looked at the lady +on this side and on that, through her veil, till he was +satisfied, when he came out; and the sultan exclaimed, "Well, +what hast thou discovered in my mistress?" He replied, "My lord, +she is all perfect in elegance, beauty, grace, stature, bloom, +modesty, accomplishments, and knowledge, so that every thing +desirable centres in herself; but still there is one point that +disgraces her, from which if she was free, it is not possible she +could be excelled in anything among the whole of the fair sex." +When the sultan had heard this, he rose up angrily, and drawing +his cimeter, ran towards the genealogist, intending to strike off +his head. + +Just as he was going to strike, some of the attendants said, "My +lord, put not the man to death before thou art convinced of his +falsehood." Upon which the sultan exclaimed, "What fault appeared +to thee in my mistress?" "O sultan," replied the man, "she is, as +to herself, all perfect; but her mother was a rope-dancer." Upon +this the sultan immediately sent for the father of the lady, and +said, "Inform me truly who was the mother of thy daughter, or I +will put thee to death." "Mighty prince," replied the father, +"there is no safety for man but in the truth. Her mother was a +rope-dancer, whom I took when very young from a company of +strolling mummers, and educated. She grew up most beautiful and +accomplished: I married her, and she produced me the girl whom +thou hast chosen." + +When the sultan heard this, his rage cooled, but he was filled with +astonishment; and said to the genealogist, "Inform me what could shew +thee that my mistress was the daughter of a rope-dancer?" "My lord," +replied the man, "this cast of people have always their eyes very +black, and their eyebrows bushy; such are hers: and from them I +guessed her descent." The sultan was now convinced of his skill, +dismissed him graciously, and commanded that he should be allowed a +mess of pottage and three cakes of bread daily, which was done +accordingly. + +Some time after this the sultan reflected on the three sharpers, +and said to himself, "These men have proved their skill in +whatever I have tried them. The lapidary was singularly excellent +in his art, the horse genealogist in his, and the last has proved +his upon my mistress. I have an inclination to know my own +descent beyond a doubt." He then ordered the genealogist into his +presence, and said, "Dost thou think thou canst prove my +descent?" "Yes, my lord," replied the man, "but on condition that +you spare my life after I shall have informed you; for the +proverb says, 'When the sultan is present, beware of his anger, +as there is no delay when he commands to strike.'" "There shall +be safety for thee," exclaimed the sultan, "in my promise, an +obligation that can never be forfeited." + +"O sultan," continued the genealogist, "when I shall inform thee +of thy parentage and descent, let not there be any present who +may hear me." "Wherefore?" replied the sultan. "My lord," +answered the sharper, "you know the attributes of the Deity +should be veiled in mystery." The sultan now commanded all his +attendants to retire, and when they were alone, the genealogist +advanced and said, "Mighty prince, thou art illegitimate, and the +son of an adulteress." + +As soon as the sultan heard this, his colour changed, he turned +pale, and fainted away. When he was recovered, he remained some +time in deep contemplation, after which he exclaimed, "By him who +constituted me the guardian of his people, I swear that if thy +assertion be found true I will abdicate my kingdom, and resign it +to thee, for royalty cannot longer become me; but should thy +words prove void of foundation, I will put thee to instant +death." "To hear is to assent," replied the sharper. + +The sultan now arose, entered the haram, and bursting into his +mother's apartment with his cimeter drawn, exclaimed, "By him who +divided the heavens from the earth, shouldst thou not answer +faithfully to what I shall inquire, I will cut thee to pieces +with this cimeter." The queen, trembling with alarm, said, "What +dost thou ask of me?" "Inform me," replied the sultan, "of whom +am I the son?" "Since truth only can save me," cried the +princess, "know that thou art the offspring of a cook. My husband +had no children either male or female, on which account he became +sad, and lost his health and appetite. In a court of the haram we +had several sorts of birds, and one day the sultan fancying he +should relish one of them, ordered the cook to kill and dress it. +I happened then to be in the bath alone. + +"As I was in the bath," continued the sultana, "I saw the cook +endeavouring to catch the birds. At that instant it occurred to +my mind from the instigation of Satan, that if I bore not a son, +after the death of the sultan my influence would be lost. I +tempted the man, and thou art the produce of my crime. The signs +of my pregnancy soon appeared; and when the sultan was informed +of them, he recovered his health, and rejoiced exceedingly, and +conferred favours and presents on his ministers and courtiers +daily, till the time of my delivery. On that day he chanced to be +upon a hunting excursion at a country palace; but when +intelligence was brought him of the birth of a son, he instantly +returned to me, and issued orders for the city to be decorated, +which was done for forty days together, out of respect to the +sultan. Such was my crime, and such was thy birth." + +The sultan now returned to the adventurer, and commanded him to +pull off his clothes, which he did; when the sultan, disrobing +himself, habited him in the royal vestments, after which he said, +"Inform me whence thou judgest that I was a bastard?" + +"My lord," replied the adventurer, "when each of us shewed our +skill in what was demanded, you ordered him only an allowance of +a mess of pottage and three cakes of bread. Hence I judged you to +be the offspring of a cook, for it is the custom of princes to +reward the deserving with wealth and honours, but you only +gratified us with victuals from your kitchen." The sultan +replied, "Thou hast spoken truly." He then made him put on the +rest of the royal robes and ornaments, and seated him upon the +throne; after which he disguised himself in the habit of a +dervish, and wandered from his abdicated dominions. When the +lucky adventurer found himself in possession of the throne, he +sent for his companions; and finding they did not recognize him +in his royal habiliments, dismissed them with liberal presents, +but commanded them to quit his territories with the utmost +expedition, lest they should discover him. After this, with a +satisfied mind, he fulfilled the duties of his new station with a +liberality and dignity that made the inhabitants of the +metropolis and all the provinces bless him, and pray for the +prolongation of his reign. + + + + + The Adventures of the Abdicated Sultan. + + + +The abdicated prince, disguised as a dervish, did not cease +travelling in a solitary mood till he came to the city of Cairo, +which he perceived to be in repose and security, and well +regulated. Here he amused himself with walking through several +streets, till he had reached the royal palace, and was admiring +its magnificent architecture and extent, and the crowds passing +in and out, when the sultan with his train appeared in sight +returning from a hunting excursion, upon which he retired to one +side of the road. The sultan observing his dignified demeanour, +commanded one of his attendants to invite him to the palace, and +entertain him till he should inquire after him. + +When the sultan had reposed himself from the fatigue of his +exercise, he sent for the supposed dervish to his presence, and +said, "From what kingdom art thou arrived?" He answered, "I am, +my lord, a wandering dervish." "Well," replied the sultan, "but +inform me on what account thou art come here." On which he said, +"My lord, this cannot be done but in privacy." "Let it be so," +rejoined the sultan; and rising up, led him into a retired +apartment of the palace. The supposed dervish then related what +had befallen him, the cause of his having abdicated his kingdom, +and taken upon himself the character of a religious. The sultan +was astonished at his self-denial, and exclaimed, "Blessed be his +holy name, who exalteth and humbleth whom he will by his almighty +power; but my history is more surprising than thine. I will +relate it to thee, and conceal nothing." + + + + + History of Mahummud, Sultan of Cairo. + + + +At my first outset in the world I was an indigent man, and +possessed none of the conveniences of life, till at length I +became possessed of ten pieces of silver, which I resolved to +expend in amusing myself. With this intention, I one day walked +into the principal market, intending first to purchase somewhat +delicate to feast upon. While I was looking about me, a man +passed by, with a great crowd following and laughing at him, for +he led in an iron chain a monstrous baboon, which he cried for +sale at the price of ten pieces of silver. Something +instinctively impelled me to purchase the creature, so I paid him +the money, and took my bargain to my lodging; but on my arrival, +was at a loss how to procure a meal for myself or the baboon. +While I was considering what I should do, the baboon having made +several springs, became suddenly transformed into a handsome +young man, beautiful as the moon at the fourteenth night of its +appearance, and addressed me, saying, "Shekh Mahummud, thou hast +purchased me for ten pieces of silver, being all thou hadst, and +art now thinking how thou canst procure food for me and thyself." +"That is true," replied I; "but in the name of Allah, from whence +dost thou come?" "Ask no questions," replied my companion, "but +take this piece of gold, and purchase us somewhat to eat and +drink." I took the gold, did as he had desired, and we spent the +evening merrily together in feasting and conversation, till it +was time to repose. + +In the morning the young man said, "My friend, this lodging is +not fitting for us; go, and hire a better." "To hear is to obey," +replied I, and departed to the principal serai, where I hired an +upper apartment, to which we removed. He then gave me ten +deenars, with orders to purchase carpets and cushions, which I +did, and on my return found before him a package, containing +princely vestments. These he gave to me, desiring that I would go +to the bath, and, after bathing, put them on. I obeyed his +commands, dressed myself, and found in each pocket a hundred +deenars. I was not a little proud of my improved appearance in +the rich robes. On my return, he praised my figure, and seated me +by him, when we refreshed ourselves, and chatted on various +subjects. At length he gave me a bundle, desiring that I would +present it to the sultan, and at the same time demand his +daughter in marriage for myself, assuring me that my request +would meet a ready compliance. + +The young man commanded a slave he had bought to attend me, who +carried the bundle, and I set out for the palace; near which I +found a great crowd of grandees, officers, and guards, who seeing +me so richly habited, inquired respectfully what I wanted. Upon +my replying that my business was with the sultan, they informed +the ushers, who introduced me to the presence. I made the +customary obeisance, and the sultan returned my salute; after +which I presented the bundle before him, saying, "Will my lord +accept this trifle, becoming my humble situation to offer, but +certainly not worthy the royal dignity to receive?" The sultan +commanded the package to be opened; when, lo! it contained a +complete dress of royal apparel, richer than had ever been before +seen, at which the sultan was astonished, and exclaimed, +"Heavens! I have nothing like this, nor ever possessed so +magnificent a suit; it shall be accepted: but inform me, Shekh, +what thou requirest in return for so valuable an offering." +"Mighty sovereign," replied I, "my wish is to become thy relation +by espousing that precious gem of the casket of beauty, thy +incomparable daughter." + +When the sultan had heard this request, he turned towards his +vizier and said, "Advise me how I should act in this affair." +Upon which the minister replied, "Shew him, my lord, your most +valuable diamond, and inquire if he has any one equally precious +to match it as a marriage present for your daughter." The sultan +did so; when I said, "If I present two, will you give me your +daughter?" To which he assented, and I took my leave, carrying +with me the diamond, to shew the young man as a model. Upon my +arrival at our serai, I informed him of what passed, when he +examined the diamond, and said, "The day is now far spent, but +tomorrow I will procure ten like it, which thou shalt present to +the sultan." Accordingly in the morning he walked out, and in the +space of an hour returned with ten diamonds, which he gave me, +and I hastened with them to the sultan. When he beheld the +precious stones he was enraptured at their brilliancy, and again +consulted his vizier how he should act in this business. "My +lord," replied the minister, "you only required one diamond of +the Shekh, and he has presented you with ten: it is therefore +incumbent upon you to give him your daughter." + +The sultan now sent for the cauzees and effendis, who drew up the +deed of espousals, which they gave me, when I returned to our +serai, and shewed it to the young man, who said, "It is well; go +and complete thy marriage; but I entreat that thou wilt not +consummate thy nuptials till I shall give thee permission." "To +hear is to obey," replied I. When it was night I entered the +princess's apartment, but sat down at a distance from her, and +did not speak till morning, when I bade her farewell, and took my +leave for the day. I observed the same conduct the second night +and the third, upon which, offended at my coldness, she +complained to her mother, who informed the sultan of my +affronting behaviour. + +The sultan sent for me to his presence, and with much anger +threatened, if I should continue my coldness to the princess +another evening, that he would put me to death. Upon this I +hastened to inform my friend at the serai, who commanded, that +when I should next be alone with my wife I should demand of her a +bracelet which she wore upon her right arm, and bring it to him, +after which I might consummate my nuptials. I replied, "To hear +is to obey;" and the next evening, when I entered the apartment, +said to my wife, "If thou desirest that we should live happily +together, give me the bracelet on thy right arm." She did so +immediately, when I carried it to the young man, and, returning +to the palace, slept, as I supposed, with the princess till +morning. Guess, however, what was my surprise, when on awaking I +found myself lying in my first humble lodging, stripped of my +rich vestments, and saw on the ground my former mean attire; +namely, an old vest, a pair of tattered drawers, and a ragged +turban, as full of holes as a sieve. When I had somewhat +recovered my senses, I put them on and walked out in a melancholy +mood, regretting my lost happiness, and not knowing what I should +do to recover it. As I strolled towards the palace, I beheld +sitting in the street a fortune-teller, who had some written +papers before him, and was casting omens for the bystanders. I +advanced, and made him a salute, which he returned kindly; and +after looking attentively in my face, exclaimed, "What! has that +accursed wretch betrayed thee, and torn thee from thy wife?" I +replied, "Yes." Upon this he desired me to wait a little, and +seated me by him. When his employers were departed, he said, "My +friend, the ape which you purchased for ten pieces of silver, and +who soon after was transformed into a young man, is not of human +race, but a genie deeply in love with the princess whom you +married. However, he could not approach her while she wore the +bracelet, containing a powerful charm, upon her right arm, and +therefore made use of thee to obtain it. He is now with her, but +I will soon effect his destruction, that genii and men may be +secure from his wickedness, for he is one of the rebellious and +accursed spirits who disobeyed our lord Solomon, son of David." + +After this, the fortune-teller wrote a note, which having sealed +and directed, he gave it to me, saying, "Go to a certain spot, +wait there, and observe those who may approach. Fortify thy mind, +and when thou shall see a great personage attended by a numerous +train, present to him this letter, when he will accomplish thy +desires." I took the note, immediately departed for the place to +which the fortune-teller had directed me, and after travelling +all night and half the next day reached it, and sat down to wait +for what might happen. The evening shut in, and about a fourth +part of the night had passed, when a great glare of lights +appeared advancing towards me from a distance; and as it shone +nearer, I perceived persons carrying flambeaux and lanterns, also +a numerous train of attendants, as if belonging to some mighty +sultan. My mind was alarmed, but I recovered myself, and resolved +to stay where I was. A great concourse passed by me, marching two +and two, and at length there appeared a sultan of the genii, +surrounded by a splendid attendance; upon which I advanced as +boldly as I could, and having prostrated myself, presented the +letter, which he opened, and read aloud, as follows: + +"Be it known unto thee, O sultan of the genii, that the bearer of +this is in distress, from which thou must relieve him by +destroying his enemy. Shouldst thou not assist him, beware of thy +own safety. Farewell." + +When the sultan of the genii had read the note, he called out to +one of his messengers, who immediately attended before him, and +commanded him to bring into his presence without delay the genie +who had enchanted the daughter of the sultan of Cairo. "To hear +is to obey," replied the messenger, and instantly disappearing, +was absent for about an hour, when he returned with the criminal, +and placed him before the sultan of the genii, who exclaimed, +"Accursed wretch, hast thou ill-treated this man?" + +"Mighty sovereign," replied the genie, "my crime proceeded from +love of the princess, who wore a charm in her bracelet which +prevented my approaching her, and therefore I made use of this +man. He procured me the charm, and I now have her in my power; +but I love her tenderly, and have not injured her." "Return the +bracelet instantly," replied the sultan of the genii, "that the +man may recover his wife, or I will command an executioner to +strike off thy head." The offending genie, who was of an accursed +and obstinate race, upon hearing these words was inflamed with +passion, and insolently cried out, "I will not return the +bracelet, for no one shall possess the princess but myself." +Having said thus, he attempted to fly away, but in vain. + +The sultan of the genii now commanded his attendants to bind the +criminal in chains, which they did, and having forced the +bracelet from him, struck off his head. The sultan then presented +me the charm, which was no sooner in my hand than all the genii +vanished from my sight, and I found myself dressed as before, in +the rich habit given me by the pretended young man. I proceeded +to the city, which I entered, and when I came near the palace was +recognized by the guards and courtiers, who cried out in raptures +of joy, "Our lost prince is at length returned." They paid their +respects, and I entered the apartment of the princess, whom I +found in a deep sleep, in which state she had been ever since my +departure. On my replacing the bracelet on her arm, she awoke. +After this we lived together in all happiness till the death of +her father, who appointed me his successor, having no son, so +that I am what I am. + +When the sultan of Cairo had finished his narrative, the +abdicated prince expressed his surprise at his adventures: upon +which the sultan said, "Wonder not, my brother, at the +dispensations of the Almighty, for he worketh in secret, and when +he pleaseth revealeth his mysteries. Since thou hast quitted thy +kingdom, if thou choosest, thou shalt be my vizier, and we will +live together as friends and brothers." "To hear is to obey," +replied the prince. The sultan then constituted him vizier, +enrobed him in a rich uniform, and committed to him his seal, the +inkstand, and other insignia of office, at the same time +conferring upon him a magnificent palace, superbly furnished with +gorgeous carpets, musnuds, and cushions: belonging to it were +also extensive gardens. The vizier entered immediately upon his +new office; held his divans regularly twice every day, and judged +so equitably on all appeals brought before him, that his fame for +justice and impartiality was soon spread abroad; insomuch, that +whoever had a cause or dispute willingly referred it to his +decision, and was satisfied with it, praying for his life and +prosperity. In this state he remained for many years, the +sovereign pleased with him, and he happy under the protection of +the sultan of Cairo, so that he did not regret his abdicated +kingdom. + +It happened one evening that the mind of the sultan was +depressed, upon which he sent for the vizier, who attended; when +he said, "Vizier, my mind is so uneasy that nothing will amuse +me." "Enter then," replied the minister, "into thy cabinet, and +look at thy jewels, the examination of which may perhaps +entertain thee." The sultan did so, but it had no effect on his +lassitude; when he said, "Vizier, this dispiritedness will not +quit me, and nothing gives me pleasure within my palace; let us, +therefore, walk out in disguise." "To hear is to obey," replied +the vizier. They then retired into a private chamber, and putting +on the habits of dervishes of Arabia, strolled through the city +till they reached a hospital for lunatics, which they entered. +Here they beheld two men, one reading and the other listening to +him; when the sultan said to himself, "This is surprising;" and +addressed the men, saying, "Are you really mad?" They replied, +"We are not mad, but our stories are so wonderful, that were they +recorded on a tablet of adamant, they would remain for examples +to them who would be advised." "Let us hear them," said the +sultan; upon which, the man who had been reading exclaimed, "Hear +mine first!" and thus began. + + + + + Story of the First Lunatic. + + + +I was a merchant, and had a warehouse in which were Indian goods +of all sorts, and of the highest value, and I bought and sold to +great advantage. One day as I was sitting in my warehouse, +according to custom, busy in buying and selling, an old woman +came in, telling her beads, and greeted me. I returned her +salute, when she sat down, and said, "Sir, have you any choice +Indian cloths?" "Yes, my mistress," replied I, "of all sorts that +you can possibly wish for." "Bring them," said she. I showed her +a piece of great value, with which she was highly pleased, and +inquired the price. "Five hundred deenars," replied I: she took +out her purse, paid me the money, and went away with the cloth; +upon which I had a profit of one hundred and fifty deenars. She +returned the next day, bought another piece, paid for it, and, in +short, did the same for fifteen days successively, paying me +regularly for each purchase. On the sixteenth day she came to my +shop as usual, chose the cloth and was going to pay me, but +missed her purse; upon which she said, "Sir, I have unfortunately +left my purse at home." "Mistress," replied I, "it is of no +consequence; take the cloth, and if you return, well, if not, you +are welcome to this trifle:" she would not take it: I pressed +her, but in vain. Much friendly argument passed between us, till +at length she said, "Sir, you contradict, and I contradict, but +we shall never agree unless you will favour me by accompanying me +to my house to receive the value of your goods; so lock up your +warehouse, lest any thing should be lost in your absence." +Accordingly I fastened my doors, and accompanied her; we walked +on conversing, till we came near her house, when she pulled out a +handkerchief from her girdle, and said, "My desire is to tie this +over thy eyes." "On what account?" replied I. "Because," said +she, "in our way are several houses, the gates of which are open, +and the women sitting in their balconies, so that possibly thy +eyes may glance upon some one of them, and thy heart be +distracted with love; for in this part are many beautiful +damsels, who would fascinate even a religious, and therefore I am +alarmed for thy peace." + +Upon this I said to myself, "This old woman advises me properly," +and I consented to her demand; when she bound the handkerchief +over my eyes, and we proceeded till we arrived at her house. She +knocked at the door, which was opened by a damsel, and we +entered. The old lady then took the handkerchief from my eyes, +when I looked around me, and perceived that I was in a mansion +having several quadrangles, highly ornamented, and resembling the +palaces of the sultan. + +The old lady now desired me to retire into a room, which I did, +and there beheld heaped together all the pieces of cloth which +she had purchased of me, at which I was surprised, but still more +so when two damsels beautiful as resplendent moons approached, +and having divided a piece of cloth into halves, each took one, +and wrapped it round her hand. They then sprinkled the floor with +rose water and other scents, wiping it with the cloth, and +rubbing it till it became bright as silver; after which they +withdrew into an adjoining room, and brought out at least fifty +stools, which they set down, and placed over each a rich +covering, with cushions of tissue. They then fetched a large +stool of gold, and having put upon it a carpet and cushions of +gold brocade, retired. Not long after this, there descended from +the staircase by two and two, as many damsels in number as the +stools; upon each of which one sat down. At last descended a lady +attended by ten damsels, who placed herself upon the larger +stool. When I beheld her, my lord, my senses forsook me, and I +was in raptures at her beauty, her stature, and elegance, as she +chatted and laughed with her companions. + +At length she exclaimed, "My dear mother!" when the old woman +entered; to whom she said, "Hast thou brought the young man?" She +replied, "Yes, my daughter, he is ready to attend thee." Upon +which the lady said, "Introduce him to me." When I heard this I +was alarmed, and said to myself, "There is no refuge but in the +most high God; doubtless she has discovered my being here, and +will command me to be put to death." The old woman came to me, +and leading me by the hand, took me before the lady seated on the +golden stool, who, on seeing me, smiled, made a graceful salute, +and waved her hand for a seat to be brought, which was done, and +placed close to her own. She then commanded me to sit down, which +I did with much confusion. + +When I was seated, the lady began to chat and joke with me, +saying, "What think you of my appearance and my beauty, do you +judge me worthy of your affection? shall I be your partner and +you mine?" When I had heard these words, I replied, "How, dear +lady, dare I presume, who am not worthy to be your servant, to +arrive at such an honour?" Upon this, she said, "Young man, my +words have no evasion in them; be not discouraged, or fearful of +returning me an answer, for my heart is devoted to thy love." I +now perceived, my lord, that the lady was anxious to marry me; +but could not conceive on what account, or who could have given +her intelligence concerning me. She continued to shew me so many +pleasing attentions, that at length I was emboldened to say, +"Lady, if your words to me are sincere, according to the proverb, +no time is so favourable as the present." "There cannot," said +she, "be a more fortunate day than this for our union." Upon this +I replied, "My dear lady, how can I allot for you a proper +dowry?" "The value of the cloth you intrusted to the old lady, +who is my mother," answered she, "is sufficient." "That cannot be +enough," rejoined I. "Nothing more shall be added," exclaimed the +lady; "and my intention is this instant to send for the cauzee +and witnesses, and I will choose a trustee, that they may unite +us without delay. We will celebrate our nuptials this very +evening, but upon one condition." "What is that?" replied I. She +answered, "That you bind yourself not to address or hold +conversation with any woman but myself." My lord, I was eager to +be in possession of so beautiful a woman, and therefore said to +her, "I agree, and will never contradict thee either by my words +or actions." She then sent for the cauzee and witnesses, and +appointed a trustee, after which we were married. After the +ceremony, she ordered coffee and sherbet, gave money to the +cauzee, a dress of honour to her trustee, and they departed. + +I was lost in astonishment, and said to myself, "Do I dream, or +am I awake?" She now commanded her damsels to empty the warm +bath, fill it afresh, and prepare cloths and necessaries for +bathing. When they had done as she desired, she ordered the +eunuchs in waiting to conduct me to the hummaum, and gave them a +rich dress. They led me into an elegant apartment, difficult for +speech to describe. They spread many-coloured carpets, upon which +I sat down and undressed; after which I entered the hummaum, and +perceived delightful odours from sandal wood, of comorin, and +other sweets diffusing from every part. Here they seated me, +covered me with perfumed soaps, and rubbed me till my body became +bright as silver; when they brought the basins, and I washed with +warm water, after which they gave me rose-water, and I poured it +over me. They next brought in sweet-smelling salves, which I +rubbed over me, and then repaired to the hummaum, where I found a +royal dress, in which the eunuchs arrayed me; and after perfuming +me with incense of sandal wood, brought in confections, coffee, +and sherberts of various sorts, with which I refreshed myself. I +then left the bath with my attendants, who shewed me into the +grand hall of the palace, which was spread with most magnificent +carpets, stools, and cushions. Here the lady met me, attired in a +new habit, more sumptuous than I had seen her in before. + +When I beheld my bride, she appeared to me, from the richness of +her ornaments, like a concealed treasure from which the talisman +had just been removed. She sat down by me, and smiled so +fascinatingly upon me, I could no longer contain my rapture. In a +short time she retired, but soon returned again in a dress richer +than her last. I again embraced her, and in short, my lord, we +remained together for ten days in the height of happiness and +enjoyment. At the end of this period I recollected my mother, and +said to my wife, "It is so long since I have been absent from +home, and since my mother has not seen me, that I am certain she +must be anxious concerning me. Will you permit me to visit her +and look after my warehouse?" "There can be no impediment," +replied she; "you may visit your mother daily, and employ +yourself in your warehouse, but the old woman must conduct you +and bring you back;" to which I assented. + +The old lady then came in, tied a handkerchief over my eyes, +conducted me to the spot where she had first blindfolded me, and +said, "You will return here about the time of evening prayer, and +will find me waiting." I left her, and repaired to my mother, +whom I found in great affliction at my absence, and weeping +bitterly. Upon seeing me, she ran and embraced me with tears of +joy. I said, "Weep not, my dear mother, for my absence has been +owing to the highest good fortune." I then informed her of my +lucky adventure, when she exclaimed, "May Allah protect thee, my +son, but visit me at least every two days, that my affection for +thee may be gratified." I then went to my warehouse, and employed +myself as usual till evening, when I returned to the place +appointed, where I found the old lady, who blindfolded me as +before, and conducted me to the palace of my wife, who received +me with fondness. For three months I continued to go and come in +this manner, but I could not help wishing to know whom I had +married, and wondering at the affluence, splendour, and +attendance that appeared around her. + +At length I found an opportunity of being in private with one of +her black slaves, and questioned her concerning her mistress. "My +lord," replied she, "the history of my mistress is wonderful; but +I dare not relate it, lest she should put me to death." Upon +this, I assured her, that if she would inform me, no one should +know it but myself, and I took an oath of secrecy, when she began +as follows: + +"My mistress one day went to a public bath, intending to amuse +herself, for which purpose she made such preparations of +delicacies and rarities, as were worth a camel's load of +treasure, and when she left the hummaum, made an excursion to a +garden, where a splendid collation was laid out. Here she +continued enjoying herself till evening, when she ordered her +retinue to make ready for departure, and the fragments of the +entertainment to be distributed among the poor. On her return, +she passed through the street in which is your warehouse. It was +upon a Friday, when you were sitting in conversation with a +friend, arrayed in your best attire. She beheld you, her heart +was stricken with love, but no one perceived her emotion. +However, she had no sooner reached her palace than she became low +and melancholy, and her appetite failed her. At length she took +to her bed, her colour left her, sleep forsook her, and she +became very weak. Upon this her mother went to call in a +physician, that he might consider what might be the cause of her +daughter's indisposition; but on the way she met a skilful old +lady, with whom she returned home. + +"The old lady on feeling the pulse of her patient, and after +asking several questions, could perceive in her no bodily ailment +or pain; upon which she judged she was in love, but did not +venture to speak to her before her mother of her suspicions. She +took leave, and said, 'By God's blessing thou wilt soon recover; +I will return tomorrow, and bring with me an infallible +medicine.' She then took her mother aside, and said, 'My good +lady, be not angry at what I shall remark, but thy daughter has +no bodily disorder; she is in love, and there can be no cure for +her but by a union with her beloved.' The mother, on the +departure of the old lady, repaired to her daughter, and with +much difficulty, after twenty days of denial (for my mistress's +modesty was hurt), obtained from her a description of your +person, and the street in which you lived; upon which she behaved +to you in the manner you are well acquainted with, brought you +here, and you know what followed. Such is her history," concluded +the black slave, "which you must not reveal." "I will not," +replied I; and after this I continued to live very happily with +my wife, going daily to see my mother, to attend in my warehouse, +and return in the evening, conducted as usual by the old lady my +mother-in-law. + +One day, after the expiration of some months, as I was sitting in +my warehouse, a damsel came into the street with the image of a +cock, composed of jewelry. It was set with pearls, diamonds, and +other precious stones, and she offered it to the merchants for +sale; when they began bidding for it at five hundred deenars, and +went to nine hundred and fifty; all which I observed in silence +and did not interfere by speaking or bidding. At length the +damsel came up to me, and said, "My lord, all the merchants have +increased in bidding for my precious toy, but you have neither +bidden, nor taken any notice of me." "I have no occasion for it," +replied I. "Nay," exclaimed she, "but you must bid something +more." "Since I must," I answered, "I will give fifty deenars +more, which will be just a thousand." She accepted the price, and +I went into my warehouse to fetch the money to pay her, saying to +myself, "I will present this curiosity to my wife, as it may +please her." When I was going to pay the money, the damsel would +not take it, but said, "My lord, I have a request to make, which +is, that I may snatch one kiss from your cheek as the price of my +jewelry, for I want nothing else." Upon this, I thought to +myself, a single kiss of my cheek is an easy price for the value +of a thousand deenars, and consented; when she came up to me and +gave me a kiss, but at the same time a most severe bite; left the +piece of jewelry, and went away with the greatest haste. + +In the evening I repaired to the house of my wife, and found the +old lady waiting as usual at the accustomed spot. She tied the +handkerchief over my eyes, and when she had conducted me home, +took it off. I found my wife sitting upon her golden stool, but +dressed in scarlet, and with an angry countenance; upon which I +said to myself, "God grant all may be well." I approached her, +took out the toy set with diamonds and rubies (thinking that on +sight of it her ill-humour would vanish), and said, "My mistress, +accept this, for it is curious, and I purchased it for thee." She +took it into her hand, and examined it on all sides; after which +she exclaimed, "Didst thou really purchase this on my account?" +"By heavens," replied I, "I bought it for thy sake, for a +thousand deenars." Upon this she frowned angrily upon me, and +exclaimed, "What means that wound upon thy cheek?" I was +overwhelmed with confusion. + +While I was in this state, she called out to her attendants, who +immediately descended the staircase, carrying the headless corpse +of a young girl, the head placed upon the middle of the body. I +looked, and knew it to be the head of the damsel who had sold me +the piece of jewelry for a kiss, and had bitten my cheek. My wife +now exclaimed, "I had no occasion for such baubles, for I have +many of them; but I wished to know if thou wert so faithful to +thy agreement with me, as not to address another woman than +myself, and sent the girl to try thee. Since thy promise has been +broken, begone, and return no more." + +When my wife had finished her speech, the old woman took me by +the hand, tied the handkerchief over my eyes, and conducted me to +the usual spot, when she said, "Begone!" and disappeared. I was +so overcome by the sad adventure, and the loss of my wife, that I +ran through the streets like one frantic, crying, "Ah, what +beauty, what grace, what elegance did she possess!" upon which, +the people, supposing me distracted, conducted me to this +hospital, and bound me in fetters, as you see. + +When the sultan had heard the young man's story, he was much +affected, inclined his head for some instants in deep thought, +then said to his vizier, "By Allah, who has intrusted me with +sovereignty, if thou dost not discover the lady who married this +young man, thy head shall be forfeited." The vizier was alarmed, +but recovering himself, replied, "Allow me three days to search," +to which the sultan consented. The vizier then took with him the +young man, and for two days was at a loss how to find out the +house. At length he inquired if he should know the spot where the +handkerchief was tied over his eyes, and the gateway at which it +was taken off, of both which the youth professed to be certain. +He conducted the minister to the street where he was blindfolded, +and they reached a gateway, at which the vizier knocked. It was +opened by the domestics, who knowing the vizier, and seeing the +young man with him, were alarmed, and ran to communicate the +quality of the visitants to their mistress. She desired to know +the commands of the vizier, who informed her, that it was the +sultan's pleasure she should be reconciled to her husband; to +which she replied, "Since the sultan hath commanded, my duty is +obedience." The young man was reunited to his wife, who was the +daughter of a former sultan of Cairo. + +Such were the adventures of the young man who was reading in the +hospital. We now recite those of the youth who was listening to +him. Upon the sultan's inquiring his story, he began as follows. + + + + + Story of the Second Lunatic. + + + +My lord, I was by profession a merchant, and on my commencing +business the youngest of my trade, having but just entered my +sixteenth year. As I was one day busy in my warehouse, a damsel +entering, put into my hands a packet, which, on opening, I found +to contain several copies of verses in praise of myself, with a +letter expressive of ardent affection for my person. Supposing +them meant only as banter, I foolishly flew into a passion, +seized the bearer, and beat her severely. On her departure, I +reflected on my improper behaviour, dreaded lest she should +complain to her relations, and that they might revenge themselves +upon me by some sudden assault. I repented of what I had done, +but alas! it was when repentance would not avail. + +Ten days had passed, when, as I was sitting in my warehouse as +usual, a young lady entered most superbly dressed, and +odoriferously perfumed. She resembled in brightness the moon on +its fourteenth night, so that when I gazed upon her my senses +forsook me, and I was incapable of attention to any thing but +herself. She addressed me, saying, "Young man, have you in your +warehouse any female ornaments?" to which I replied, "Of all +sorts, my lady, that you can possibly require." Upon this she +desired to see some bracelets for the ankles, which I shewed her, +when holding out her foot, she desired me to try them on. I did +so. After this, she asked for a necklace, and opening her veil, +made me tie it on. She then chose a pair of bracelets, and +extending her hands, desired me to put them on her wrists, which +I did; after which, she inquired the amount of the whole, when I +exclaimed, "Fair lady, accept them as a present, and inform me +whose daughter thou art." She replied, "I am the daughter of the +chief magistrate;" when I said, "My wish is to demand thee in +marriage of thy father." She consented that I should, but +observed, "When you ask me of my father, he will say, I have only +one daughter, who is a cripple, and wretchedly deformed. Do thou, +however, reply, that thou art willing to accept her, and if he +remonstrates, still insist upon wedding her." I then asked when I +should make my proposals. She replied, "The best time to visit my +father is on the Eed al Koorbaun, which is three days hence, as +thou wilt then find with him all his relations and friends, and +our espousals will add to his festivity." + +Agreeably to the lady's instructions, on the third day following +I repaired with several of my friends to the house of the chief +magistrate, and found him sitting in state, receiving the +compliments of the day from the chief inhabitants of the city. We +made our obeisance, which he graciously noticed, received us with +kindness, and entered familiarly into conversation. A collation +was brought in, the cloth spread, and we partook with him of the +viands, after which we drank coffee. I then stood up, saying, "My +lord, I am desirous of espousing the chaste lady your daughter, +more precious than the richest gem." + +When the chief magistrate heard my speech, he inclined his head +for some time towards the earth in deep thought, after which he +said, "Son, my daughter is an unfortunate cripple, miserably +deformed." To this I replied, "To have her for my wife is all I +wish." The magistrate then said, "If thou wilt have a wife of +this description, it must be on condition that she shall not be +taken from my house, that thou shalt consummate the marriage +here, and abide with me." I replied, "To hear is to obey;" +believing that she was the beautiful damsel who had visited my +warehouse, and whose charms I had so rapturously beheld. In +short, the nuptial ceremony was performed, when I said to myself, +"Heavens! is it possible that I am become master of this +beautiful damsel, and shall possess her charms!" + +When night set in, the domestics of the chief magistrate +introduced me into the chamber of my bride. I ran eagerly to gaze +upon her beauty, but guess my mortification when I beheld her a +wretched dwarf, a cripple, and deformed, as her father had +represented. I was overcome with horror at the sight of her, +distracted with disappointment, and ashamed of my own foolish +credulity, but I dared not complain, as I had voluntarily +accepted her as my wife from the magistrate: I sat down silently +in one corner of the chamber, and she in another, for I could not +bring myself to approach her, as she was disgusting to the sight +of man, and my soul could not endure her company. + +At day-break I left the house of my father-in-law, repaired to my +warehouse, which I opened, and sat down much distressed in mind, with +my head dizzy, like one suffering from intoxication, when lo! who +should appear before me but the lady who had put upon me so mortifying +a trick. She entered, and paid me the customary salute. I was enraged, +and began to abuse her, saying, "Wherefore hast thou put upon me such +a stratagem?" when she replied, "Wretch, recollect the day that I +brought thee a packet, in return for which you seized, beat, reviled, +and drove me scornfully away. In retaliation for such treatment, I +have taken revenge by giving thee such a delectable bride." I now fell +at her feet, entreated her forgiveness, and expressed my repentance; +upon which, smiling upon me, she said, "Be not uneasy, for as I have +plunged thee into a dilemma, I will also relieve thee from it. Go to +the aga of the leather-dressers, give him a sum of money, and desire +him to call thee his son; then repair with him, attended by his +followers and musicians, to the house of the chief magistrate. When he +inquires the cause of their coming, let the aga say, 'My lord, we are +come to congratulate thy son-in-law, who is my beloved child, on his +marriage with thy daughter, and to rejoice with him.' The magistrate +will be furiously enraged, and exclaim, 'Dog, is it possible that, +being a leather-dresser, thou durst marry the daughter of the chief +magistrate?' Do thou then reply, 'My lord, my ambition was to be +ennobled by your alliance, and as I have married your lordship's +daughter, the mean appellation of leather-dresser will soon be +forgotten and lost in the glorious title of the son-in-law of your +lordship; I shall be promoted under your protection, and purified from +the odour of the tan-pit, so that my offspring will smell as sweet as +that of a syed." + +I did as the lady had directed me, and having bribed the chief of +the leather-dressers, he accompanied me with the body of his +trade, and a numerous party of musicians, vocal and instrumental, +to my father-in-law's house, before which they began to sing and +dance with great clamour every now and then crying out, "Long +live our noble kinsman! Long live the son-in-law of the chief +magistrate!" The magistrate inquired into the cause of our +intrusive rejoicing, when I told him my kinsfolk were +congratulating me upon my alliance with his illustrious house, +and come to thank him for the honour he had done the whole body +of leather-dressers in my person. The chief magistrate on hearing +this was passionately enraged, and abused me; but reflecting that +without my consent the supposed disgrace of his noble house could +not be done away, he became calm, and offered me money to divorce +his daughter. At first I pretended unwillingness, but at length +affecting to be moved by his earnest entreaties, accepted forty +purses of gold, which he gave me to repudiate my deformed wife, +and I returned home with a lightened heart. The day following, +the lady came to my warehouse, when I thanked her for having +freed me from my ridiculous marriage, and begged her to accept of +me as a husband. To this she consented, but said she was, she +feared, too meanly born for me to marry, as her father was but a +cook, though of eminence in his way, and very rich. I replied, +"Even though he were a leather-dresser, thy charms would grace a +throne." In short, my lord, we were married, and have lived +together very happily from the day of our union to the present +time. + +Such is my story, but it is not so surprising as that of the +learned man and his pupil, whose adventures were among the +miracles of the age, which I will relate. + + + + + Story of the retired Sage and his Pupil, related to the Sultan + by the Second Lunatic, + + + +There was a learned and devout sage, who in order to enjoy his +studies and contemplations uninterrupted, had secluded himself +from the world in one of the cells of the principal mosque of the +city, which he never left but upon the most pressing occasions. +He had led this retired life some years, when a boy one day +entered his cell, and earnestly begged to be received as his +pupil and domestic. The sage liked his appearance, consented to +his request, inquired who were his parents, and whence he came; +but the lad could not inform him, and said, "Ask not who I am, +for I am an orphan, and know not whether I belong to heaven or +earth." The shekh did not press him, and the boy served him with +the most undeviating punctuality and attention for twelve years, +during which he received his instructions in every branch of +learning, and became a most accomplished youth. At the end of the +twelve years, the youth one day heard some young men praising the +beauty of the sultan's daughter, and saying that her charms were +unequalled by those of all the princesses of the age. This +discourse excited his curiosity to behold so lovely a creature. +He repaired to his master, saying, "My lord, I understand that +the sultan hath a most beautiful daughter, and my soul longs +ardently for an opportunity of beholding her, if only for an +instant." The sage exclaimed, "What have such as we to do, my +son, with the daughters of sovereigns or of others? We are a +secluded order, and should refrain ourselves from associating +with the great ones of this world." The old man continued to warn +his pupil against the vanities of the age, and to divert him from +his purpose; but the more he advised and remonstrated, the more +intent the youth became on his object, which affected his mind so +much, that he grew very uneasy, and was continually weeping. + +The sage observing his distress was afflicted at it, and at +length said to the youth, "Will one look at the princess satisfy +thy wishes?" "It shall," replied the pupil. The sage then +anointed one of his eyes with a sort of ointment; when lo! he +became to appearance as a man divided into half, and the sage +ordered him to go and hop about the city. The youth obeyed his +commands, but he had no sooner got into the street than he was +surrounded by a crowd of passengers, who gazed with astonishment +at his appearance. The report of so strange a phenomenon as a +half man soon spread throughout the city, and reached the palace +of the sultan, who sent for the supposed monster to the presence. +The youth was conveyed to the palace, where the whole court gazed +upon him with wonder; after which he was taken into the haram, to +gratify the curiosity of the women. He beheld the princess, and +was fascinated by the brilliancy of her charms, insomuch, that he +said to himself, "If I cannot wed her, I will put myself to +death." + +The youth being at length dismissed from the palace, returned +home; his heart tortured with love for the daughter of the +sultan. On his arrival, the sage inquired if he had seen the +princess. "I have," replied the youth, "but one look is not +enough, and I cannot rest until I shall sit beside her, and feast +my eyes till they are wearied with gazing upon her." "Alas! my +son," exclaimed the old man, "I fear for thy safety: we are +religious men, and should avoid temptations; nor does it become +us to have any thing to do with the sultan." To this the youth +replied, "My lord, unless I shall sit beside her, and touch her +neck with my hands, I shall, through despair, put myself to +death." + +At these words, the sage was alarmed for the safety of his pupil, +and said to himself, "I will, if possible, preserve this amiable +youth, and perchance Allah may gratify his wishes." He then +anointed both his eyes with an ointment, which had the effect of +rendering him invisible to human sight. After this, he said, "Go, +my son, and gratify thy wishes, but return again, and be not too +long absent from thy duty." + +The youth hastened towards the royal palace, which he entered +unperceived, and proceeded into the haram, where he seated +himself near the daughter of the sultan. For some time he +contented himself with gazing on her beauty, but at length +extending his hands, touched her softly on the neck. As soon as +she felt his touch, the princess, alarmed, shrieked out +violently, and exclaimed, "I seek refuge with Allah, from Satan +the accursed." Her mother and the ladies present, affrighted at +her outcries, eagerly inquired the cause; when she said, "Eblees, +or some other evil spirit, hath this instant touched me on the +neck." + +Upon this, the mother was alarmed and sent for her nurse, who, +when informed of what had happened, declared, "That nothing was +so specific to drive away evil spirits as the smoke of camel's +hair;" a quantity of which was instantly brought, and being set +fire to, the smoke of it filled the whole apartment, and so +affected the eyes of the young man, that they watered +exceedingly, when he unthinkingly wiped them with his +handkerchief, so that with his tears the ointment was soon washed +off. + +The ointment was no sooner wiped away from his eyes than the +young man became visible, and the princess, her mother, and the +ladies, all at once uttered a general cry of astonishment and +alarm; upon which the eunuchs rushed into the apartment. Seeing +the youth, they surrounded him, beat him unmercifully, then bound +him with cords, and dragged him before the sultan, whom they +informed of his having been found in the royal haram. The sultan, +enraged, sent for an executioner, and commanded him to seize the +culprit, to clothe him in a black habit patched over with flame +colour, to mount him upon a camel, and after parading with him +through the streets of the city, to put him to death. + +The executioner took the young man, dressed him as he had been +directed, placed him upon the camel, and led him through the +city, preceded by guards and a crier, who bawled out, "Behold the +merited punishment of him who has dared to violate the sanctuary +of the royal haram." The procession was followed by an +incalculable crowd of people, who were astonished at the beauty +of the young man, and the little concern he seemed to feel at his +own situation. + +At length the procession arrived in the square before the great +mosque, when the sage, disturbed by the noise and concourse of +the people, looked from the window of his cell, and beheld the +disgraceful situation of his pupil. He was moved to pity, and +instantly calling upon the genii (for by his knowledge of magic +and every abstruse science he had them all under his control), +commanded them to bring him the youth from the camel, and place +in his room, without being perceived, some superannuated man. +They did so, and when the multitude saw the youth, as it were, +transformed into a well-known venerable shekh, they were stricken +with awe, and said, "Heavens! the young man turns out to be our +reverend chief of the herb-sellers;" for the old man had long +been accustomed to dispose of greens and sugarcane at the college +gate near the great mosque, and was the oldest in his trade. + +The executioner, on beholding the change of appearance in his +prisoner, was confounded. He returned to the palace with the old +man upon the camel, and followed by the crowd. He hastened or +contrive my death to the sultan, and said, "My lord, the young +man is vanished, and in his room became seated upon the camel +this venerable shekh, well known to the whole city." On hearing +this, the sultan was alarmed, and said to himself, "Whoever has +been able to perform this, can do things much more surprising He +may depose me from my kingdom." + +The sultan's fears increased so much, that he was at a loss how +to act. He summoned his vizier, and said, "Advise me what to do +in the affair of this strange youth, for I am utterly +confounded." The vizier for some time inclined his head towards +the ground in profound thought, then addressing the sultan, said, +"My lord, no one could have done this but by the help of genii, +or by a power which we cannot comprehend, and he may possibly, if +irritated, do you in future a greater injury respecting your +daughter. I advise, therefore, that you cause it to be proclaimed +throughout the city, that whoever has done this, if he will +appear before you shall have pardon on the word of a sultan, +which can never be broken. Should he then surrender himself, +espouse him to your daughter, when perhaps his mind may be +reconciled by her love. He has already beheld her, and seen the +ladies of the haram, so that nothing can save your honour but his +union with the princess." + +The sultan approved the advice of his vizier, the proclamation was +issued, and the crier proceeded through several streets, till at +length he reached the square of the great mosque. The pupil +hearing the proclamation, was enraptured, and running to his +patron, declared his intention of surrendering himself to the +sultan. "My son," said the sage, "why shouldst thou do so? Hast +thou not already suffered sufficiently?" The youth replied, +"Nothing shall prevent me." Upon which the sage exclaimed, "Go +then, my son, and my midnight prayers shall attend thee." + +The youth now repaired to the hummaum, and having bathed, dressed +himself in his richest habit; after which he discovered himself +to the crier, who conducted him to the palace. He made a profound +obeisance to the sultan, at the same time uttering an eloquent +prayer for his long life and prosperity. The sultan was struck +with his manly beauty, the gracefulness of his demeanour, and the +propriety of his delivery, and said, "Young stranger, who art +thou, and from whence dost thou come?" "I am," replied the youth, +"the half man whom you saw, and have done what you are already +acquainted with." + +The sultan now requested him to sit in the most honourable place, +and entered into conversation on various subjects. He put to him +several difficult questions in science, to which the youth +replied with such judgment, that his abilities astonished him, +and he said to himself, "This young man is truly worthy of my +daughter." He then addressed him, saying, "Young man, my wish is +to unite thee to my daughter, for thou hast already seen her, +also her mother, and after what has passed no one will marry +her." The youth replied, "I am ready in obedience, but must +advise with my friends." "Go then," said the sultan, "consult +with thy friends, and return quickly." + +The young man repaired to the sage, and having informed him of +what had passed between himself and the sultan, signified his +wish to marry the princess, when the shekh replied, "Do so, my +son; there can be in the measure no crime, as it is a lawful +alliance." "But I wish," said the youth, "to invite the sultan to +visit you." "By all means," answered the sage. "My lord," +rejoined the pupil, "since I first came, and you honoured me in +your service, I have beheld you in no other residence but this +confined cell, from which you have never stirred night or day. +How can I invite the sultan here?" "My son," exclaimed the shekh, +"go to the sultan, rely upon Allah, who can work miracles in +favour of whom he chooseth, and say unto him, 'My patron greets +thee, and requests thy company to an entertainment five days +hence.'" The youth did as he was directed, and having returned to +his master, waited upon him as before, but anxiously wishing for +the fifth day to arrive. + +On the fifth day, the sage said to his impatient pupil, "Let us +remove to our own house, that we may prepare for the reception of +the sultan, whom you must conduct to me." They arose, and walked, +till on coming to a ruinous building about the middle of the +city, the walls of which were fallen in heaps, the shekh said, +"My son, this is my mansion, hasten and bring the sultan." The +pupil, in astonishment, exclaimed, "My lord, this abode is a heap +of ruins, how can I invite the sultan here, it would only +disgrace us?" "Go," repeated the sage, "and dread not the +consequences." Upon this the youth departed, but as he went on +could not help saying to himself, "Surely my master must be +insane, or means to make a jest of us." When he had reached the +palace he found the sultan expecting him; upon which he made his +obeisance, and said, "Will my lord honour me by his company?" + +The sultan arose, mounted his horse, and attended by his whole +court, followed the youth to the place chosen by the venerable +shekh. It now appeared a royal mansion, at the gates of which +were ranged numerous attendants in costly habits, respectfully +waiting. The young man, at sight of this transformed appearance, +was confounded in such a manner that he could hardly retain his +senses. He said to himself, "It was but this instant that I +beheld this place a heap of ruins, yet now it is a palace far +more magnificent than any belonging to this sultan. I am +astonished, but must keep the secret to myself." + +The sultan alighted, as did also his courtiers, and entered the +palace. They were surprised and delighted at the splendour of the +first court, but much more so at the superior magnificence of a +second; into which they were ushered, and introduced into a +spacious hall, where they found the venerable shekh sitting to +receive them. The sultan made a low obeisance; upon which the +sage just moved his head, but did not rise. The sultan then sat +down, when the shekh greeted him, and they entered into +conversation on various subjects; but the senses of the sultan +were confounded at the dignified demeanour of his host, and the +splendid objects around him. At length the shekh desired his +pupil to knock at a door and order breakfast to be brought in, +which he did: when lo! the door opened, and there entered a +hundred slaves, bearing upon their heads golden trays, on which +were placed dishes of agate, cornelian, and other stones, filled +with various eatables, which they arranged in order before the +sultan. He was astonished, for he had nothing so magnificent in +his own possession. He then partook of the sumptuous collation, +as did also the venerable shekh, and all the courtiers, till they +were satisfied; after which they drank coffee and sherbets of +various sorts, when the sultan and the sage conversed on +religious and literary subjects, and the former was edified by +the remarks of the latter. + +When it was noon the shekh again desired his pupil to knock at +another door, and order dinner to be brought in. He had no sooner +done so, than immediately a hundred slaves, different from the +former, entered, bearing trays of the richest viands. They spread +the cloth before the sultan, and arranged the dishes, which were +each thickly set with precious stones, at which he was more +astonished than before. When all had eaten till they were +satisfied, basins and ewers, some of gold and others of agate, +were carried round, and they washed their hands; after which the +shekh said to the sultan, "Have you fixed what my son must give +as the dower of your daughter?" To this, the sultan replied, "I +have already received it." This he said out of compliment; but +the shekh replied, "My lord, the marriage cannot be valid without +a dower." He then presented a vast sum of money, with many +jewels, for the purpose to his pupil; after which he retired with +the sultan into a chamber, and arrayed him in a splendid habit; +rich dresses were also given to each of his attendants according +to their rank. The sultan then took leave of the shekh, and +returned with his intended son-in-law to the palace. + +When evening arrived the young man was introduced into the +apartment of the princess, which he found spread with the richest +carpets, and perfumed with costly essences, but his bride was +absent: at which he was somewhat surprised, but supposed her +coming was put off till midnight, for which he waited with +impatience. Midnight came, but no bride appeared; when a thousand +uneasy sensations afflicted his mind, and he continued in +restless anxiety till morning: nor were the father and mother of +the princess less impatient; for supposing she was with her +husband, they waited anxiously, and were mortified at the delay. + +At daylight, the mother, unable to bear longer suspense, entered +the chamber; when the young man, rather angrily, inquired what +had delayed the coming of his bride. "She entered before thee," +replied the mother. "I have not seen her," answered the +bridegroom. Upon this the sultana shrieked with affright, calling +aloud on her daughter, for she had no other child but her. Her +cries alarmed the sultan, who rushing into the apartment, was +informed that the princess was missing, and had not been seen +since her entrance in the evening. Search was now made in every +quarter of the palace, but in vain; and the sultan, sultana, and +the bridegroom, were involved in the deepest distress. + +To account for the sudden disappearance of the princess, be it +known, that a genie used often to divert himself with visiting +the haram of the sultan; and happening to be there on the +marriage night, was so captivated by the charms of the bride, +that he resolved to steal her away. Accordingly, having rendered +himself invisible, he waited in the nuptial chamber, and upon her +entering bore her off, and soared into the air. At length he +alighted with his prey in a delightful garden, far distant from +the city; placed the princess in a shady arbour, and set before +her delicious fruits; but contented himself with gazing upon her +beauty. + +The young bridegroom, when recovered from his first alarm, +bethought himself of his tutor, and, together with the sultan, +repaired to the palace where the splendid entertainment had been +given. Here they found every thing in the same order as on the +day of festivity, and were kindly received by the venerable +shekh; who on hearing of the loss of the princess, desired them +to be comforted. He then commanded a chafing-dish of lighted +charcoal to be set before him, and after some moments of +contemplation, cast into it some perfumes, over which he +pronounced incantations. He had scarcely ended them, when lo! the +earth shook, whirlwinds arose, lightnings flashed, and clouds of +dust darkened the air, from which speedily descended winged +troops, bearing superb standards and massive spears. In the +centre of them appeared three sultans of the genii, who bowing +low before the shekh, exclaimed all at once, "Master, hail! we +are come to obey thy commands." + +The shekh now addressed them, saying, "My orders are, that you +instantly bring me the accursed spirit who hath carried off the +bride of my son;" when the genii replied, "To hear is to obey:" +and immediately detached fifty of their followers to reconduct +the princess to her chamber, and drag the culprit to the presence +of the sage. These commands were no sooner issued than they were +performed. Ten of the genii carefully conveyed the bride to her +apartment, while the rest having seized the offending genie, +dragged him before the sage, who commanded the three sultans to +burn him to ashes, which was executed in an instant. All this was +done in the presence of the sultan, who was wrapt in +astonishment, and viewed with awe the tremendously gigantic +figures of the genii, wondering at the submissive readiness with +which they obeyed the commands of the venerable shekh. When the +offending genie was consumed to ashes, the shekh renewed his +incantations; during which the sultans of the genii, with their +followers, bowed themselves before him, and when he had ended, +vanished from sight. + +The sultan and the bridegroom having taken leave of the shekh, +returned to the palace, where all was now gladness for the safe +return of the princess. The marriage was consummated, and the +young man was so happy with his bride, that he did not quit the +haram for seven days. On the eighth, the sultan ordered public +rejoicings to be made, and invited all the inhabitants of the +city to feast at the royal cost; causing it to be proclaimed, +that no one, either rich or poor, should for three days presume +to eat at home, light a fire, or burn a lamp in his own house, +but all repair to the nuptial festival of the daughter of the +sultan. Ample provision was made for all comers in the courts of +the palace, and the officers of the household attended day and +night to serve the guests according to their quality. During one +of the nights of this grand festival, the sultan being anxious to +know if his proclamation was generally obeyed, resolved to walk +through the city in disguise. Accordingly he and his vizier, in +the habit of dervishes of Persia, having quitted the palace +privately, began their excursion, and narrowly examined several +streets. At length they came to a close alley, in one of the +houses of which they perceived a light, and heard the sound of +voices. When they had reached the door, they heard a person say +to another, "Our sultan understands not how to treat properly, +nor is he liberal, since the poor have it not in their option to +partake of the costly feast he has prepared for his daughter's +nuptials. He should have distributed his bounty among the +wretched, who dare not presume to enter the palace in their +ragged garments, by sending it to their home." + +The sultan, upon hearing this, said to the vizier, "We must enter +this house;" and knocked at the door, when a person cried out, +"Who is there?" "Guests," replied the sultan. "You shall be +welcome to what we have," answered the person, and opened the +door. On entering, the sultan beheld three mean-looking old men, +one of whom was lame, the second broken-backed, and the third +wry-mouthed. He then inquired the cause of their misfortunes; to +which they answered, "Our infirmities proceeded from the weakness +of our understandings." The sultan upon this replied in a whisper +to his vizier, that at the conclusion of the festival he should +bring the three men to his presence, in order that he might learn +their adventures. + +When they had tasted of their homely fare, the sultan and vizier +rose up, and having presented the three maimed companions with a +few deenars, took leave and departed. They strolled onwards. It +was now near midnight when they reached a house in which, through +a lattice, they could perceive three girls with their mother +eating a slender meal; during which, at intervals, one of them +sung, and the other two laughed and talked. The sultan resolved +to enter the house, and commanded the vizier to knock at the +door, which he did; when one of the sisters cried out, "Who +knocks at our door at this advanced time of night?" "We are two +foreign dervishes," replied the vizier; to which the ladies +answered, "We are women of virtue, and have no men in our house +to whom you can be introduced: repair to the festival of the +sultan, who will entertain you!" "Alas!" continued the vizier, +"we are strangers unacquainted with the way to the palace, and +dread lest the magistrate of the police should meet and apprehend +us. We beg that you will afford us lodging till daylight: we will +then depart, and you need not apprehend from us any improper +behaviour." + +When the mother of the ladies heard this she pitied the +strangers, and commanded them to open the door: upon which the +sultan and vizier having entered, paid their respects and sat +down; but the former, on observing the beauty of the sisters and +their elegant demeanour, could not contain himself, and said, +"How comes it that you dwell by yourselves, have no husbands or +any male to protect you?" The younger sister replied, +"Impertinent dervish, withhold thy inquiries! our story is +surprising; but unless thou wert sultan, and thy companion +vizier, you could not appreciate our adventures." The sultan upon +this remark became silent on the subject, and they discoursed +upon indifferent matters till near daylight, when the pretended +dervishes took a respectful leave, and departed. At the door the +sultan commanded the vizier to mark it, so that he might know it +again, being resolved, when the nuptial festivities should be +concluded, to send for the ladies and hear their story. + +On the last evening of the festival the sultan bestowed dresses +of honour on all his courtiers; and on the following day, affairs +returning to their usual course, he commanded his vizier to bring +before him the three maimed men, and ordered them to relate the +cause of their misfortunes, which they did as follows. + + + + + Story of the Broken-backed Schoolmaster. + + + +Formerly, O mighty sultan, was a schoolmaster, and had under my +tuition nearly seventy scholars, of whose manners I was as +careful as of their learning: so much did I make them respect me, +that whenever I sneezed they laid down their writing boards, +stood up with arms crossed, and with one voice exclaimed, "God +have mercy upon our tutor!" to which I replied, "May he have +mercy upon me and you, and all who have children." If any one of +the boys did not join in this prayer, I used to beat him +severely. One fine afternoon my scholars requested leave to visit +a certain garden some distance from the town, which I granted; +and they clubbed their pittances to purchase sweetmeats and +fruits. I attended them on this excursion, and was as much +delighted as themselves with the pleasure they enjoyed, and their +childish gambols. When evening approached we returned homewards, +and on the way, my boys having fatigued themselves with play, as +well as eaten much sweets and fruit, were seized with extreme +thirst, of which they heavily complained. At length we reached a +draw-well, but, alas! it had no bucket or cord. I pitied their +situation, and resolved, if possible, to relieve them. I +requested them to give me their turbans, which I tied to each +other; but as they were altogether not long enough to reach the +water, I fixed one of the turbans round my body, and made them +let one down into the well, where I filled a small cup I had with +me, which they drew up repeatedly till their thirst was +satisfied. I then desired them to draw me up again, which they +attempted; and I had reached nearly the mouth of the well, when I +was unfortunately seized with a fit of sneezing; upon which the +boys mechanically, as they had been accustomed to do in school, +one and all let go their hold, crossed their arms, and exclaimed, +"God have mercy upon our venerable tutor!" while I tumbled at +once to the bottom of the well, and broke my back. I cried out +from the agony of pain, and the children ran on all sides for +help. At length some charitable passengers drew me out, and +placing me upon an ass, carried me home; where I languished for a +considerable time, and never could recover my health sufficiently +again to attend to my school. Thus did I suffer for my foolish +pride: for had I not been so tenacious of respect from my +scholars, they would not upon my sneezing have let go their hold +and broken my back. + +When the broken-backed schoolmaster had finished his story, the +old man with the wry-mouth thus began: + + + + + Story of the Wry-mouthed Schoolmaster. + + + +I also, O sultan, was a schoolmaster; and so strict with my +pupils, that I allowed them no indulgence, but even kept them to +their studies frequently after the usual hours. At length, one +more cunning than the rest resolved, in revenge, to play me a +trick. He instructed the lads as they came into school to say to +me, "Dear master, how pale you look!" Not feeling myself ill, I, +though surprised at their remarks, did not much regard them on +the first day; but a second, and so on to a fifth passing, on +each of which all the pupils on entrance uttered the same +exclamation, I began to think some fatal disorder had seized me, +and resolved, by way of prevention, to take physic. I did so the +following morning, and remained in my wife's apartments; upon +which the unlucky lads, clubbing their pittances together to the +amount of about a hundred faloose, requested my acceptance of the +money as an offering for my recovery; and I was so pleased with +the present that I gave them a holiday. The receipt of cash in so +easy a manner was so agreeable to me, that I feigned illness for +some days; my pupils made an offering as usual, and were allowed +to play. On the tenth day the cunning urchin who had planned the +scheme came into my chamber, as customary, with an offering of +faloose. I happened then to have before me a boiled egg, which, +upon seeing him enter, I clapped into my mouth, supposing, that +if he perceived me well enough to eat he might not give me the +money. He, however, observed the trick, and coming up to me with +affected condolence, exclaimed, "Dear master, how your cheeks are +swelled!" at the same time pressing his hands upon my face. The +egg was boiling hot, and gave me intolerable pain, while the +young wit pretended compassionately to stroke my visage. At +length, he pressed my jaws together so hard that the egg broke, +when the scalding yolk ran down my throat, and over my beard: +upon which the artful lad cried out in seeming joy, "God be +praised, my dear master, that the dreadful imposthume has +discharged itself; we, your pupils, will all return thanks for +your happy recovery." My mouth was contracted by the scald in the +manner you behold, and I became so ridiculed for my folly, that I +was obliged to shut up my school. + +The sultan having heard the other man's story, which was of but +little interest, dismissed the three foolish schoolmasters with a +present, commanded the vizier to go and recognize the house of +the three ladies and their mother, it being his intention to +visit them again in disguise and hear their adventures. The +vizier hastened to the street, but to his surprise and +mortification found all the houses marked in the same manner, for +the youngest sister having overheard the sultan's instructions, +had done this to prevent a discovery of their residence. The +vizier returned to the sultan, and informed him of the trick +which had been played. He was much vexed, but the circumstance +excited his curiosity in a greater degree. At length the vizier +bethought himself of a stratagem, and said, "My lord, let a +proclamation be issued for four days successively throughout the +city, that whoever presumes after the first watch of the night to +have a lamp lighted in his house, shall have his head struck off, +his goods confiscated, his house razed to the ground, and his +women dishonoured. It is possible, as these ladies did not regard +your proclamation at the nuptials of the princess, they may +disobey this, and by that means we may discover their residence." + +The sultan approved the contrivance of the vizier, caused the +proclamation to be made, and waited impatiently for the fourth +night, when he and his minister having disguised themselves as +before, proceeded to the street in which the ladies lived. A +light appeared only in one house, which it being now tolerably +certain was that they were in quest of, they knocked at the door. + +Immediately on their knocking the youngest sister called out, +"Who is at the door?" and they replied, "We are dervishes, and +entreat to be your guests." She exclaimed, "What can you want at +such a late hour, and where did you lodge last night?" They +answered, "Our quarters are at a certain serai, but we have lost +our way, and are fearful of being apprehended by the officers of +police. Let your kindness then induce you to open the door, and +afford us shelter for the remainder of the night: it will be a +meritorious act in the eye of heaven." The mother overhearing +what was said, ordered the door to be opened. + +When they were admitted, the old lady and her daughters rose up, +received them respectfully, and having seated them, placed +refreshments before them, of which they partook, and were +delighted with their treatment. At length the sultan said, +"Daughters, you cannot but know of the royal proclamation; how +comes it that you alone of all the inhabitants of the city have +disobeyed it by having lights in your house after the first watch +of the night?" Upon this the youngest sister replied, "Good +dervish, even the sultan should not be obeyed but in his +reasonable commands, and as this proclamation against lighting +our lamps is tyrannical, it ought not to be complied with, +consistently with the law of scripture; for the Koraun says, +'Obedience to a creature in a criminal matter, is a sin against +the Creator.' The sultan (may God pardon him!) acts against +scripture, and obeys the dictates of Satan. We three sisters, +with our good mother, make it a rule to spin every night a +certain quantity of cotton, which in the morning we dispose of, +and of the price of our labour we lay out a part in provisions, +and the remainder in a new supply of materials for working to +procure us a subsistence." + +The sultan now whispered to his vizier, saying, "This damsel +astonishes me by her answers; endeavour to think of some question +that may perplex her." "My lord," replied the vizier, "we are +here in the characters of strangers and dervishes as their +guests: how then can we presume to disturb them by improper +questions?" The sultan still insisted upon his addressing them: +upon which, the vizier said to the ladies, "Obedience to the +sultan's orders is incumbent upon all subjects." "It is true he +is our sovereign," exclaimed the youngest sister, "but how can he +know whether we are starving or in affluence?" "Suppose," replied +the vizier, "he should send for you to the presence, and question +you concerning your disobedience to his commands, what could you +advance in excuse for yourselves?" "I would say to the sultan," +rejoined she, "'Your majesty has acted in contradiction to the +divine law.'" + +The vizier upon this turned towards the sultan, and said in a +whisper, "Let us leave off disputing further with this lady on +points of law or conscience, and inquire if she understands the +fine arts." The sultan put the question; upon which she replied, +"I am perfect in all:" and he then requested her to play and +sing. She retired immediately, but soon returning with a lute, +sat down, tuned it, and played in a plaintive strain, which she +accompanied with the following verses: + +"It is praiseworthy in subjects to obey their sovereigns, but his +reign will continue long who gains their affections by kindness. +Be liberal in thy manners, and he who is dependent upon thee will +pray for thy life, for the free man alone can feel gratitude. To +him who confers gifts man will ever resort, for bounty is +fascinating. Sadden not with denial the countenance of the man of +genius, for the liberal mind is disgusted at stinginess and +haughty demeanour. Not a tenth part of mankind understand what is +right, for human nature is ignorant, rebellious, and ungrateful." + +When the sultan had heard these verses, he remained for some time +immersed in thought; then whispering his vizier, said, "This +quotation was certainly meant in allusion to ourselves, and I am +convinced they must know that I am their sultan, and thou vizier, +for the whole tenor of their conversation shews their knowledge +of us." He then addressed the lady, saying, "Your music, your +performance, your voice, and the subject of your stanzas have +delighted me beyond expression." Upon this she sang the following +verse: + +"Men endeavour to attain station and riches during an age of toil +and oppression, while, alas! their accounts to heaven and their +graves are decreed from their very birth." + +The sultan, from the purport of these last verses, was more +assured than ever that she knew his quality. She did not leave +off singing and playing till day-light, when she retired, and +brought in a breakfast, of which the sultan and the vizier +partook; after which she said, "I hope you will return to us this +night at the conclusion of the first watch, and be our guests." +The sultan promised, and departed in admiration at the beauty of +the sisters, their accomplishments, and graceful manners; saying +to the vizier, "My soul is delighted with the charms of these +elegant women." + +The following evening the sultan and vizier, disguised as usual, +repaired to the house of the sisters, taking with them some +purses of deenars, and were received with the same respectful +welcome. Being seated, supper was set before them, and after it +basins and ewers to wash their hands. Coffee was then served up, +and conversation on various subjects amused them till the prayer +time of the first watch; they then arose, performed their +ablutions, and prayed. When, their devotions were ended, the +sultan presented a purse of a thousand deenars to the youngest +sister, and said, "Expend this upon your necessary occasions." +She took the purse with a profound obeisance, kissed his hands, +and was convinced, as she had before suspected, that he must be +the sultan; at the same time hinting privately to her mother and +sisters the quality of their guests, and prostrating herself +before him. + +The other ladies upon this arose, and followed the example of +their sister; when the sultan said aside to his vizier, "They +certainly know us:" and then turning to the ladies, addressed +them saying, "We are merely dervishes, and you pay us a respect +only due to sovereigns; I beseech you refrain." The youngest +sister again fell at his feet, and repeated the following verse: + +"May prosperous fortune daily accompany thee in spite of the +malice of the envious! May thy days be bright and those of thy +enemies gloomy!" + +"I am convinced thou art the sultan, and thy companion thy +vizier." The sultan replied, "What reason have you for such a +supposition?" She answered, "From your dignified demeanour and +liberal conduct, for the signs of royalty cannot be concealed +even in the habit of a recluse." + +The sultan replied, "You have indeed judged truly, but inform me +how happens it, that you have with you no male protectors?" She +answered, "My lord the sultan, our history is so wonderful, that +were it written on a tablet of adamant it might serve as an +example in future ages to such as would be advised." The sultan +requested her to relate it, which she did in the following +manner. + + + + + Story of the Sisters and the Sultana their Mother. + + + +We are not, my lord the sultan, natives of this city, but of +Eerauk, of which country our father was sovereign, and our mother +his sultana the most beautiful woman of her time, insomuch that +her fame was celebrated throughout distant regions. It chanced +that in our infancy our father the sultan marched upon a hunting +excursion throughout his dominions, for some months, leaving his +vizier to conduct affairs at the capital. Not long after the +departure of the sultan, our mother, taking the air on the roof +of the palace, which adjoined that of the vizier, who was then +sitting upon his terrace, her image was reflected in a mirror +which he held in his hand. He was fascinated with her beauty, and +resolved, if possible, to seduce her to infidelity and compliance +with his wishes. + +The day following he sent the female superintendant of his haram +with a package, containing a most superb dress, and many +inestimable jewels, to the sultana, requesting her acceptance of +them, and that she would allow him to see her either at the +palace or at his own house. My mother, when the old woman was +admitted into her apartments, received her with kindness, +supposing that she must be intrusted with some confidential +message from the vizier respecting the affairs of her husband, or +with letters from him. + +The old woman having paid her obeisance, opened the bundle, and +displayed the rich dress and dazzling jewels; when my mother, +admiring them much, inquired the value, and what merchant had +brought them to dispose of. The wretched old woman, supposing +that the virtue of the sultana would not be proof against such a +valuable present, impudently disclosed the passion of the vizier: +upon which my mother, indignant with rage at this insult offered +to her virtue and dignity, drew a sabre, which was near, and +exerting all her strength, struck off the head of the procuress, +which, with the body, she commanded her attendants to cast into +the common sewer of the palace. + +The vizier finding his messenger did not return, the next day +despatched another, to signify that he had sent a present to the +sultana, but had not heard whether it had been delivered. My +mother commanded the infamous wretch to be strangled, and the +corpse to be thrown into the same place as that of the old woman, +but she did not make public the vizier's baseness, hoping that he +would reform. He, however, continued every day to send a female +domestic, and my mother to treat her in the same way as the +others till the sultan's return; but my mother, not wishing to +destroy the vizier, and still trusting that he would repent of +his conduct, for in other respects he was a faithful and prudent +minister, kept his treachery a secret from my father. + +Some years after this, the sultan my father resolved on a +pilgrimage to Mecca, and having, as before, left the vizier in +charge of his kingdom, departed. When he had been gone ten days, +the vizier, still rapturously in love, and yet presumtuously +hoping to attain his wishes, sent a female domestic, who, being +admitted into the apartment of the sultana, said, "For Heaven's +sake have compassion on my master, for his heart is devoted to +love, his senses are disturbed, and his body is wasted away. Pity +his condition, revive his heart, and restore his health by the +smiles of condescension." + +When my mother heard this insolent message, she in a rage +commanded her attendants to seize the unfortunate bearer, and +having strangled her, to leave the carcase for public view in the +outer court of the palace, but without divulging the cause of her +displeasure. Her orders were obeyed. When the officers of state +and others saw the body they informed the vizier, who, resolving +to be revenged, desired them for the present to be silent, and on +the sultan's return he would make known on what account the +sultana had put to death his domestic, of which they could bear +testimony. + +When the time of the sultan's return from Mecca approached, and +the treacherous vizier judged he was on his march, he wrote and +despatched to him the following letter: + +"After prayers for thy health, be it known, that since thy +absence the sultana has sent to me five times, requesting +improper compliances, to which I would not consent, and returned +for answer, that however she might wish to abuse my sovereign, I +could not do it, for I was left by him guardian of his honour and +his kingdom: to say more would be superfluous." + +The messenger reached the sultan's camp when distant eight days' +journey from the city, and delivered the letter. On reading it +the countenance of my father became pale, his eyes rolled with +horror, he instantly ordered his tents to be struck, and moved by +forced marches till he arrived within two days' journey of his +capital. He then commanded a halting day, and despatched two +confidential attendants with orders to conduct our innocent and +unfortunate mother, with us three sisters, a day's distance from +the city, and then to put us to death. They accordingly dragged +us from the haram, and carried us into the country; but on +arriving at the spot intended for our execution, their hearts +were moved with compassion, for our mother had conferred many +obligations on these men and their families. They said one to +another, "By heavens, we cannot murder them!" and informed us of +what the vizier had written to our father: upon which the sultana +exclaimed, "God knows that he hath most falsely accused me;" and +she then related to them all that she had done, with the +strictest fidelity. + +The men were moved even to tears at her misfortunes, and said, +"We are convinced that thou hast spoken truly." They then caught +some fawns of the antelope, killed them, and having required an +under garment from each of us, dipped it in the blood, after +which they broiled the flesh, with which we satisfied our hunger. +Our preservers now bade us farewell, saying, "We intrust you to +the protection of the Almighty, who never forsaketh those who are +committed to his care;" and then departed from us. We wandered +for ten days in the desert, living on such fruits as we could +find, without beholding any signs of population, when, at length, +fortunately we reached a verdant spot, abounding in various sorts +of excellent vegetables and fruits. Here also was a cave, in +which we resolved to shelter ourselves till a caravan might pass +by. On the fourth day of our arrival one encamped near our +asylum. We did not discover ourselves, but when the caravan +marched, speedily followed its track at some distance, and after +many days of painful exertion reached this city, where, having +taken up our lodging in a serai, we returned thanks to the +almighty assister of the distressed innocent for our miraculous +escape from death and the perils of the desert. + +We must now quit for awhile the unfortunate sultana and her +daughters, to learn the adventures of the sultan her husband. As +he drew near his capital, the treacherous vizier, attended by the +officers of government and the principal inhabitants of the city, +came out to meet him; and both high and low congratulated his +safe return from the sacred pilgrimage. + +The sultan, as soon as he had alighted at his palace, retired +with the vizier alone, and commanded him to relate the +particulars of the atrocious conduct of his wife; upon which he +said, "My lord, the sultana in your absence despatched to me a +slave, desiring me to visit her, but I would not, and I put the +slave to death that the secret might be hidden; hoping she might +repent of her weakness, but she did not, and repeated her wicked +invitation five times. On the fifth I was alarmed for your +honour, and acquainted you of her atrocious behaviour." + +The sultan, on hearing the relation of the vizier, held down his +head for some time in profound thought, then lifting it up, +commanded the two attendants whom he had despatched with orders +to put his wife and children to death to be brought before him. +On their appearance, he said, "What have you done in execution of +the charge I gave you?" they replied, "We have performed that +which you commanded to be done, and as a testimony of our +fidelity, behold these garments dyed with the blood of the +offenders!" The sultan took the garments; but the recollection of +his beauteous consort, her former affectionate endearments, of +the happiness he had enjoyed with her, and of the innocence of +his guiltless children, so affected his mind, that he wept +bitterly and fainted away. On his recovery he turned to the +vizier, and said, "Is it possible thou canst have spoken the +truth?" He replied, "I have." + +The sultan, after a long pause, again said to the two attendants, +"Have you really put to death my innocent children with their +guilty mother?" They remained silent. The sultan exclaimed, "Why +answer ye not, and wherefore are ye silent?" They replied, "My +lord, the honest man cannot support a lie, for lying is the +distinction of traitors." When the vizier heard these words his +colour changed, his whole frame was disordered, and a trembling +seized him, which the sultan perceiving, he said to the +attendants, "What mean you by remarking that lying is the +distinction of traitors? Is it possible that ye have not put them +to death? Declare the truth instantly, or by the God who hath +appointed me guardian of his people, I will have you executed +with the most excruciating torments." + +The two men now fell at the feet of the sultan, and said, "Dread +sovereign, we conveyed, as thou commandest us, the unfortunate +sultana and thy daughters to the middle of the desert, when we +informed them of the accusation of the vizier and thy orders +concerning them. The sultana, after listening to us with +fortitude, exclaimed, 'There is no refuge or asylum but with the +Almighty; from God we came, and to God we must return; but if you +put us to death, you will do it wrongfully, for the treacherous +vizier hath accused me falsely, and he alone is guilty.' She then +informed us of his having endeavoured to corrupt her by rich +presents, and that she had put his messengers to death." + +The sultan at these words exclaimed in agony, "Have ye slain +them, or do they yet live?" "My lord," replied the attendants, +"We were so convinced of the innocence of the sultana, that we +could not put her to death. We caught some fawn antelopes, killed +them, and having dipped these garments belonging to the abused +mother and your children in their blood, dressed the flesh, and +gave it to our unfortunate mistress and thy daughters, after +which we said to them, 'We leave you in charge of a gracious God +who never deserts his trust; your innocence will protect you.' We +then left them in the midst of the desert, and returned to the +city." + +The sultan turned in fury towards the vizier, and exclaimed, +"Wretched traitor! and is it thus thou hast estranged from me my +beloved wife and innocent children?" The self-convicted minister +uttered not a word, but trembled like one afflicted with the +palsy. The sultan commanded instantly an enormous pile of wood to +be kindled, and the vizier, being bound hand and foot, was forced +into an engine, and cast from it into the fire, which rapidly +consumed him to ashes. His house was then razed to the ground, +his effects left to the plunder of the populace, and the women of +his haram and his children sold for slaves. + +We now return to the three princesses and their mother. When the +sultan had heard their adventures, he sympathized with their +misfortunes, and was astonished at the fortitude with which they +had borne their afflictions, saying to his vizier, "How sad has +been their lot! but blessed be Allah, who, as he separateth +friends, can, when he pleaseth, give them a joyful meeting." He +then caused the sultana and the princesses to be conveyed to his +palace, appointed them proper attendants and apartments suitable +to their rank, and despatched couriers to inform the sultan their +father of their safety. The messengers travelled with the +greatest expedition, and on their arrival at the capital, being +introduced, presented their despatches. The sultan opened them, +and began to read; but when he perceived the contents, was so +overcome with joy, that, uttering a loud exclamation of rapture, +he fell to the ground and fainted away. His attendants were +alarmed, lifted him up, and took means for his recovery. When he +was revived, he informed them of his sultana and daughters being +still alive, and ordered a vessel to be prepared to convey them +home. + +The ship was soon ready, and being laden with every necessary for +the accommodation of his family, also rich presents for the +friendly sultan who had afforded them protection, sailed with a +favourable wind, and speedily arrived at the desired haven. + +The commander of the vessel was welcomely received by the sultan, +who issued orders for his entertainment and that of his whole +crew at the royal cost, and at the expiration of three days the +sultana and her daughters, being anxious to return home after so +long an absence, and that so unfortunate, took leave and +embarked. The sultan made them valuable presents, and the wind +being fair they set sail. For three days the weather was +propitious, but on the evening of the last a contrary gale arose, +when they cast anchor, and lowered their topmasts. At length the +storm increased to such violence that the anchor parted, the +masts fell overboard, and the crew gave themselves over for lost. +The vessel was driven about at the mercy of the tempest till +midnight, all on board weeping and wailing, when at length she +struck upon the rocks, and went to pieces. Such of the crew whose +deaths were decreed perished, and those whose longer life was +predestined escaped to shore, some on planks, some on chests, and +some on the broken timbers of the ship, but all separated from +each other. + +The sultana mother was tossed about till daylight on a plank, +when she was perceived by the commander of the vessel, who with +three of his crew had taken to the ship's boat. He took her in, +and after three days' rowing they reached a mountainous coast, on +which they landed, and advanced into the country. They had not +proceeded far when they perceived a great dust, which clearing +up, displayed an approaching army. To their joyful surprise it +proved to be that of the sultan, who, after the departure of the +vessel, dreading lest an accident might happen, had marched in +hopes of reaching the city where they were before his wife and +daughters should sail, in order to conduct them home by land. It +is impossible to describe the meeting of the sultan and his +consort, but their joy was clouded by the absence of their +daughters, and the dreadful uncertainty of their fate. When the +first raptures of meeting were over, they wept together, and +exclaimed, "We are from God, and to God we must return." After +forty days' march they arrived at their capital, but continually +regretting the princesses, saying, "Alas, alas! most probably +they have been drowned, but even should they have escaped to +shore, perhaps they may have been separated; and ah! what +calamities may have befallen them!" Constantly did they bemoan +together in this manner, immersed in grief, and taking no +pleasure in the enjoyments of life. + +The youngest princess, after struggling with the waves till +almost exhausted, was fortunately cast ashore on a pleasant +coast, where she found some excellent fruits and clear fresh +water. Being revived, she reposed herself awhile, and then walked +from the beach into the country; but she had not proceeded far, +when a young man on horseback with some dogs following him met +her, and upon hearing that she had just escaped shipwreck, +mounted her before him, and having conveyed her to his house, +committed her to the care of his mother. She received her with +compassionate kindness, and during a whole month assiduously +attended her, till by degrees she recovered her health and +beauty. + +The young man was legal heir to the kingdom, but his succession +had been wrested from him by a usurper, who, however, dying soon +after the arrival of the princess, he was reinstated in his +rights and placed on the throne, when he offered her his hand; +but she said, "How can I think of marriage while I know not the +condition of my unfortunate family, or enjoy repose while my +mother and sisters are perhaps suffering misery? When I have +intelligence of their welfare I will be grateful to my +deliverer." + +The young sultan was so much in love with the princess, that the +most distant hope gave him comfort, and he endeavoured to wait +patiently her pleasure; but the nobles of the country were +anxious to see him wedded, he being the last of his race, and +importuned him to marry. He promised to conform to their wishes, +but much time elapsing, they became importunate and discontented, +when his mother, dreading a rebellion, earnestly entreated the +princess to consent to a union as the only measure that could +prevent disturbances. The princess, who really loved her +preserver, was unwilling to endanger the safety of one to whom +she owed such important obligations, and at length consented, +when the marriage was celebrated with the greatest pomp and +rejoicings. At the expiration of three years the sultana was +delivered of two sons, whose birth added to the felicity of the +union. + +The second princess, after being long driven about by the waves +upon a plank, was at length cast on shore near a large city, +which she entered, and was fortunately compassionated by a +venerable matron, who invited her to her house, and adopted her +as a daughter in the room of her own, who had lately died. Here +she soon recovered her health and beauty. It chanced that the +sultan of this city, who was much beloved for his gentle +government and liberality, was taken ill, and not withstanding +the skill of the most celebrated physicians, daily became worse, +insomuch that his life was despaired of, to the general grief of +the people. The princess having heard her venerable protectress +lament the danger of the sultan, said, "My dear mother, I will +prepare a dish of pottage, which, if you will carry to the +sultan, and he can be prevailed upon to eat it, will, by the +blessing of Allah, recover him from his disorder." "I fear," +replied the matron, "I shall hardly be allowed admittance to the +palace, much less to present him the pottage." "You can but try," +answered the princess; "and even the attempt at a good action is +acceptable to God." "Well," rejoined the old woman, "prepare your +pottage, my dear daughter, and I will endeavour to get +admission." + +The princess prepared the dish of pottage, composed of various +minerals, herbs, and perfumes, and when it was ready the old +woman took it to the sultan's palace. The guards and eunuchs +inquired what she had brought, when she said, "A dish of pottage, +which I request you will present to the sultan, and beg him to +eat as much of it as he can, for by God's help it will restore +him to health." The eunuchs introduced her into the chamber of +their sick sovereign, when the old woman taking off the cover of +the dish, such a grateful perfume exhaled from the contents as +revived his spirits. Being informed what the venerable matron had +brought, he thanked her and tasted the pottage, which was so +agreeably flavoured that he ate part of it with an appetite to +which he had been long a stranger. He then presented the bearer +with a purse of deenars, when she returned home, informed the +princess of her welcome reception, and of the present she had +received. + +The sultan had no sooner eaten part of the pottage than he felt +an inclination to repose, and sunk into a refreshing sleep, which +lasted for some hours. On his awakening he found himself +wonderfully revived, and having a desire afresh to eat, finished +the whole. He now wished for more, and inquired after the old +woman, but none of his attendants could inform him where she +lived. However, in the evening she brought another mess, which +the princess had prepared, and the sultan ate it with renewed +appetite; after which, though before quite helpless, he was now +able to sit up and even to walk. He inquired of the old woman if +it was her own preparation; to which she replied, "No, my lord, +but my daughter dressed it, and entreated me to bring it." The +sultan exclaimed, "She cannot be thy own daughter, as her skill +shews her of much higher quality." He then made her a present, +and requested that she would bring him every morning a fresh +supply, to which she said, "To hear is to obey;" and retired. + +The princess sent regularly for seven mornings successively a +dish of pottage, and the sultan as regularly presented her +adopted mother with a purse of deenars; for such was the rapidity +of his recovery, that at the expiration of the sixth day he was +perfectly well, and on the seventh he mounted his horse and +repaired to his country palace to make the absolution of health +and enjoy the fresh air. During her visits he had questioned the +old lady concerning her adopted daughter, and she so described +her beauty, virtues, and accomplishments, that his heart was +smitten, and he became anxious to see her. + +The sultan, in order to gratify his curiosity, disguised himself +one day in the habit of a dervish, and repairing to the house of +the old woman, knocked at the door. On being questioned what he +wanted, he replied, "I am a wandering dervish, a stranger in this +city, and distressed with hunger." The old woman being fearful of +admitting an unknown person, would have sent him away, but the +princess exclaimed, "Hospitality to strangers is incumbent upon +us, especially to the religious poor." Upon this he was admitted, +and the princess having seated him respectfully, set victuals +before him, of which he ate till he was satisfied, and having +washed, rose up, thanked the old woman and her supposed daughter +for their bounty, and retired, but his sight was fascinated with +her beauty, and his heart devoted to her love. + +The sultan on his return to the palace sent for the old woman, +and on her arrival presented her with a rich dress and valuable +jewels, desiring that she would give them to her daughter, and +prevail upon her to put them on. The old lady promised obedience, +and as she walked homewards, said to herself, "If this adopted +daughter of mine is wise, she will comply with the sultan's +desires, and put on the dress, but if she does not, I will expel +her from my house." When she reached home, she displayed the +superb habit and the dazzling ornaments; but the princess at +first refused to accept them, till at length, moved by the +entreaties of her protectress, whom she could not disoblige, she +put them on, and the old lady was delighted with her appearance. + +The sultan, who had slipped on a female dress, having covered +himself with a close veil, followed the old woman to her house, +and listened at the door to know if the daughter would accept his +present. When he found that she had put on the dress, he was +overcome with rapture, and hastening back to his palace, sent +again for the old lady, to whom he signified his wish to marry +her daughter. When the princess was informed of the offer she +consented, and the sultan, attended by a splendid cavalcade, +conducted her that evening to his palace, where the cauzee united +them in marriage. A general feast was made for all the +inhabitants of the city for seven days successively, and the +sultan and the princess enjoyed the height of felicity. In the +course of five years the Almighty blessed them with a son and two +daughters. + +The eldest princess on the wreck of the ship having clung to a +piece of timber, was after much distress floated on shore, where +she found a man's habit, and thinking it a safe disguise for the +protection of her honour, she dressed herself in it, and +proceeded to a city which appeared near the coast. On her +entrance she was accosted by a maker of cotton wallets for +travelling, who observing that she was a stranger, and supposing +her a man, asked if she would live with him, as he wanted an +assistant. Being glad to secure any asylum, she accepted his +offer of maintenance, and daily wages of half a dirhem. He +conducted her to his house, and treated her with kindness. The +next day she entered upon her business, and so neat was the work +she executed, that in a short time her master's shop was more +frequented than any other. + +It happened that the shop was situated near the palace of the +sultan. One morning the princess his daughter looking through the +lattice of a balcony beheld the seeming young man at work, with +the sleeves of his vest drawn up to his shoulder: his arms were +white and polished as silver, and his countenance brilliant as +the sun unobscured by clouds. The daughter of the sultan was +captivated in the snare of love. + +The sultan's daughter continued gazing at the supposed young man +till he withdrew from work, when she retired to her apartment; +but so much was she fascinated by his charms, that she became +restless, and at length indisposed. Her nurse who attended her +felt her pulse, and asked her several questions, but could find +no symptoms of bodily illness upon her. She said, "My dear +daughter, I am convinced that nothing has afflicted thee but +desire of some youth with whom thou art in love." The princess +exclaimed, "My dear mother, as thou hast discovered my secret, +thou wilt, I trust, not only keep it sacred, but bring to me the +man I love." The nurse replied, "No one can keep a secret closer +than myself, so that you may safely confide it to my care." The +princess then said, "Mother, my heart is captivated by the young +man who works in the shop opposite my windows, and if I cannot +meet him I shall die of grief." + +The nurse replied, "My dear mistress, he is the most beautiful +youth of the age, and the women of the whole city are distracted +with his charms; yet he is so bashful as to answer no advances, +and shrinks from notice like a school-boy, but I will endeavour +to overcome his shyness, and procure you a meeting." Having said +thus, she went immediately to the wallet-maker's, and giving him +a piece of gold, desired he would let his assistant accompany her +home with two of his best wallets. The man was pleased with her +generosity, and selecting his choicest manufacture, commanded his +journeyman to accompany the nurse. + +The old woman led the disguised princess through by-paths to a +private passage of the palace, and introduced her into the +apartments of the daughter of the sultan, who received her +supposed beloved with emotions of joy too violent to be +concealed. Pretending to admire the goods, she asked some +questions, and giving him twenty pieces of gold, desired him to +return with more goods on the following evening, to which the +seeming journeyman replied, "To hear is to obey." + +The disguised princess on her return home delivered the twenty +pieces of gold to her employer, who was alarmed, and inquired +from whence they came: upon which she informed him of her +adventure, when the wallet-maker was in greater terror than +before, and said to himself, "If this intrigue goes on, the +sultan will discover it, I shall be put to death, and my family +ruined on account of this young man and his follies." He then +besought him not to repeat his visit, but he answered, "I cannot +forbear, though I dread my death may be the consequence." In +short, the disguised princess went every evening with the old +nurse to the apartments of the sultan's daughter, till at length +the sultan one night suddenly entered, and perceiving, he +supposed, a man with the princess, commanded him to be seized and +bound hand and foot. + +The sultan then sent for an executioner, resolved to put the +culprit to death. The executioner on his arrival seized the +disguised princess; but what was the surprise of all present, +when, on taking off the turban and vest, they discovered her sex. +The sultan commanded her to be conducted to his haram, and +inquired her story, when having no resource but the truth, she +related her adventures. + +When the princess had informed the sultan of the treachery of the +vizier, the consequent conduct of her father, the distress of her +mother, her sisters and herself, their being relieved, and her +escape from shipwreck, with what had happened since, he was +filled with wonder and compassion, and ordered his daughter to +accommodate her in the haram. The love of the latter was now +changed to sincere friendship, and under her care and attentions +the unfortunate princess in a few months recovered her former +beauty. It chanced that the sultan visiting his daughter was +fascinated with the charms of the princess, but unwilling to +infringe the rules of hospitality concealed his love, till at +length he became dangerously ill, when the daughter suspecting +the matter, prevailed upon him to reveal the cause of his +complaint. She then informed her friend, and entreated her to +accept her father in marriage; but the princess said, at the same +time weeping bitterly, "Misfortune hath separated me from my +family; I know not whether my sisters, my father and my mother, +are living, or, if so, what is their condition. How can I be +happy or merry, while they are perhaps involved in misery?" + +The daughter of the sultan did not refrain from comforting the +unfortunate princess, at the same time representing the hopeless +condition of her father, till at length she consented to the +marriage. This joyful intelligence speedily revived the love-lorn +sultan, and the nuptials were celebrated with the utmost joy and +magnificence. + +The aged sultan and sultana continued to lament the loss of their +daughters for some years, when at length the former resolved to +travel in search of them, and having left the government in +charge of his wife, departed, attended only by his vizier. They +both assumed the habit of dervishes, and after a month's +uninterrupted travelling reached a large city extending along the +sea coast, close upon which the sultan of it had erected a +magnificent pleasure house, where the pretended dervishes beheld +him sitting in one of the pavilions with his two sons, one six +and the other seven years old. They approached, made their +obeisance, and uttered a long invocation, agreeably to the usage +of the religious, for his prosperity. The sultan returned their +compliment, desired them to be seated, and having conversed with +them till evening, dismissed them with a present, when they +repaired to a caravanserai, and hired an apartment. On the +following day, after amusing themselves with viewing the city, +they again repaired to the beach, and saw the sultan sitting with +his children, as before. While they were admiring the beauty of +the structure, the younger prince, impelled by an unaccountable +impulse, came up to them, gazed eagerly at them, and when they +retired followed them to their lodging, which they did not +perceive till he had entered with them and sat down. The old +sultan was astonished at the child's behaviour, took him in his +arms, kissed and fondled him, after which he desired him to +return to his parents, but the boy insisted upon staying, and +remained four days, during which the pretended dervishes did not +stir from their caravanserai. + +The sultan missing his son, supposed that he had gone to his +mother, and she imagined that he was still with his father; but +on the latter entering the haram the loss was discovered. +Messengers were despatched every way, but no tidings of the boy +could be obtained. The miserable parents now supposed that he had +fallen into the sea and was drowned. Nets were dragged, and +divers employed for three days, but in vain. On the fifth day +orders were issued to search every house in the city, when the +infant prince was at length discovered at the caravanserai in the +apartment of the pretended dervishes, who were ignominiously +dragged before the sultan. + +The sultan was transported with joy at the recovery of his son, +but supposing the dervishes had meant to steal him away, he +ordered them instantly to be put to death. The executioners +seized them, bound their hands behind them, and were going to +strike, when the child with loud outcries ran up, and clinging to +the knees of the elder victim could not be forced away. The +sultan was astonished, and ordering the execution for the present +to be delayed, went and informed the mother of the child of his +wonderful behaviour. + +The sultana, on hearing it, was no less surprised than the +sultan, and felt a curiosity to hear from the dervish himself on +what account he had enticed away her son. She said, "It is truly +extraordinary that the boy should express such affection for a +strange dervish. Send for him to your closet, and order him to +relate his adventures, to which I will listen from behind a +curtain." + +The sultan sent for the supposed dervish, and commanding all his +attendants to retire, withdrew with him into his closet, and +desired him to be seated; after which he said, "Wicked dervish, +what could have induced thee to entice away my son, or to visit +my kingdom?" He replied, "Heaven knows, O sultan, I did not +entice him. The boy followed me to my lodging, when I said, 'My +son, return to thy father,' but he would not; and I remained in +continual dread till what was decreed occurred." The sultan was +softened, spoke kindly to him, and begged him to relate his +adventures, when the pretended dervish wept, and said, "My +history is a wonderful one. I had a friend whom I left as my +agent and guardian to my family, while I was performing a +pilgrimage to Mecca; but had scarcely left my house ten days, +when accidently seeing my wife he endeavoured to debauch her, and +sent an old woman with a rich present to declare his adulterous +love. My wife was enraged, and put the infamous messenger to +death. He sent a second, and a third, whom she also killed." + +These last words were scarcely spoken, when the sultana bursting +from her concealment ran up to the dervish, fell upon his neck, +and embraced him: upon which, the sultan her husband was enraged, +put his hand to his cimeter, and exclaimed, "What means this +shameless behaviour?" The sultana, at once laughing and crying +with rapture, informed him that the supposed dervish was her +father: upon which the sultan also fell at his feet and welcomed +him. He then ordered the other dervish his vizier to be released, +commanded royal robes to be brought for his father-in-law, and a +suite of apartments in the palace to be prepared for his +reception, with an attendance befitting his dignity. + +When the old sultan had spent some time with his youngest +daughter thus happily recovered, he became anxious to search +after the others, and signified his intention of departing; but +his son-in-law declared that he would accompany him on the +expedition with a number of his nobles, and an army, lest some +fatal accident might occur from his being unattended. +Preparations were accordingly made for march, the two sultans +encamped without the city, and in a few days began their +expedition, which proved successful to their wishes. The aged +monarch having recovered his children retired to his own kingdom, +where he reigned prosperously till the angel of death summoned +him to Paradise. + + + + + STORY OF THE BANG-EATER AND THE CAUZEE. + + + +In a certain city there was a vagabond fellow much addicted to +the use of bang, who got his livelihood by fishing. When he had +sold the product of his day's labour, he laid part of it out in +provisions and part in bang, with which (his day's, work over) he +solaced himself till he became intoxicated, and such was his +constant practice. One night, having indulged more than ordinary, +his senses were unusually stupefied; and in this, condition he +had occasion to come down into the square in which was his +lodging. It happened to be the fourteenth night of the moon, when +she shone uncommonly bright, and shed such a lustre upon the +ground, that the bang-eater from the dizziness of his head +mistook the bright undulations of her reflection on the pavement +for water, and fancied he was upon the brink of the river. He +returned to his chamber, and brought down his line, supposing +that he should catch his usual prey. + +The bang-eater threw out his line, made of strong cord, and +baited on several hooks with bits of flesh, into the square, when +a dog, allured by the scent, swallowed one of the pieces, and +feeling pain from the hook which stuck in his throat, pulled +strongly at the cord. The bang-eater, supposing he had caught a +monstrous fish, lugged stoutly, but in vain. The dog, agonized by +the hook, resisted; at the same time yelping hideously, when the +bang-eater, unwilling to quit his prey, yet fearing he should be +dragged into the imaginary river, bellowed aloud for help. The +watch came up, seized him, and perceiving him intoxicated, +carried him bound to the cauzee. + +It happened that the cauzee often privately indulged himself with +bang. Seeing the intoxicated situation of the fisherman, he +pitied his condition, and ordered him to be put into a chamber to +sleep off his disorder; at the same time saying to himself, "This +is a man after my own heart, and to-morrow evening I will enjoy +myself with him." The fisherman was well taken care of during the +day, and at night the cauzee sent for him to his apartment; +where, after eating, they took each a powerful dose of bang, +which soon operating upon their brains, they began to sing, +dance, and commit a thousand extravagancies. + +The noise which they made attracted the notice of the sultan, who +with his vizier was traversing the city, disguised as merchants. +Finding the doors open, they entered, and beheld the cauzee and +his companion in the height of their mirth, who welcomed them, +and they sat down. At length, after many ridiculous tricks, the +fisherman starting up, exclaimed, "I am the sultan!" "And I," +rejoined the cauzee, "am my lord the bashaw!" "Bashaw!" continued +the fisherman, "if I choose I can strike off thy head." "I know +it," returned the cauzee, "but at present I am not worth +beheading; give me first a rich government, that I may be worth +punishing." "Thou sayest true," answered the fisherman; "I must +make thee fat before thou wilt be fit for killing." + +The sultan laughed at their extravagancies, and said to his +vizier, "I will amuse myself with these vagabonds to-morrow +evening:" then rising up, he and his minister departed. + +The next evening the cauzee and the fisherman indulged themselves +as before, and while they were making merry, the sultan and his +vizier entered, but in different disguises from those they had +worn on the former night. They brought with them a strong +confection of opium, which they presented to their hosts, who, +highly delighted, greedily devoured it, and such were the effects +that they became madder than ever. At length, the fisherman +starting up, exclaimed, "The sultan is deposed, and I am +sovereign in his stead." "Suppose the sultan should hear thee," +replied the prince. "If he opposes me," cried the fisherman, "I +will order my bashaw to strike off his head; but I will now +punish thee for thy insolent question." He then ran up and seized +the sultan by the nose, the cauzee at the same time attacking the +vizier: it was with difficulty that they made their escape from +the house. + +The sultan, notwithstanding his tweak by the nose, resolved to divert +himself further with the bang-eaters, and the next evening putting on +a fresh disguise, repaired to the cauzee's house with his vizier; +where he found the happy companions in high glee. They had taken it +into their heads to dance, which they did with such vehemence, and for +so long a time, that at length they fell down with fatigue. When they +had rested a little, the fisherman perceiving the sultan, said, +"Whence comest thou?" "We are strangers," replied the sultan, "and +only reached this city to-night; but on our way through the streets, +hearing your mirth, we made bold to enter, that we might participate +it with you. Are ye not, however, fearful lest the sultan should hear +you on his rounds, and punish you for an infringement of the laws?" +"How should the sultan hear us?" answered the fisherman; "he is in his +palace, and we in our own house, though, perhaps, much merrier than +he, poor fellow, with the cares of state upon his mind, +notwithstanding his splendour." + +"How comes it," rejoined the sovereign, "that you have not +visited the sultan? for you are merry fellows, and I think he +would encourage you." "We fear," replied the fisherman, "his +guards would beat us away." "Never mind them," said the sultan; +"if you choose I will give you a letter of recommendation, which +I am sure he will pay attention to, for we were intimate when +youths." "Let us have it," cried the fisherman. The sultan wrote +a note, directed to himself, and departed. + +In the morning the cauzee and the fisherman repaired to the +palace, and delivered the note to one of the guards, who, on +sight of it, placed it on his head, prostrated himself to the +ground, and then introduced them to the sultan. Having read the +letter, the sultan commanded them to be led into separate +apartments, and to be treated respectfully. At noon a handsome +collation was served up to each, and at sunset a full service, +after which they were presented with coffee. When about two hours +of the night had passed, the sultan ordered them into his +presence, and on their making their obeisance returned their +salutes, and desired them to be seated, saying, "Where is the +person who gave you this letter?" + +"Mighty sultan," replied the fisherman, "two men who last night +visited our house inquired why we did not repair to your majesty, +and partake of your bounty. We replied, that we feared the guards +would drive us away; when one of them gave us this note, saying, +'Fear not; take this recommendation to the sultan, with whom in +my youth I was intimate.' We followed his direction, and have +found his words to be true. We inquired whence they came; but +they would not tell us more than that they were strangers in this +city." "It is," continued the sultan, "absolutely necessary that +you should bring them to my presence, for it is long since I have +beheld my old friends." "Permit us then to return home, where +they may possibly visit us again," said the fisherman, "and we +will oblige them to come with us." "How can you do that," replied +the sultan, "when the other evening you could not prevent your +guest escaping, though you had him by the nose?" + +The poor fisherman, and his companion the cauzee, were now +confounded at the discovery that it was the sultan himself who +had witnessed their intoxication and ridiculous transports. They +trembled, turned pale, and fell prostrate to the ground, crying, +"Pardon, pardon, gracious sovereign, for the offences we have +committed, and the insult which in our madness we offered to the +sacred person of your majesty." + +The sultan, after laughing heartily at their distress, replied, +"Your pardon is granted, for the insult was involuntary, though +deserved, as I was an impertinent intruder on your privacy; make +yourselves easy, and sit down; but you must each of you relate to +me your adventures, or some story that you have heard." The +cauzee and the fisherman, having recovered from their confusion, +obeyed the commands of the sultan, and being seated, the latter +related the following tale. + + + + + Story of the Bang-eater and His Wife. + + + +There lived formerly, near Bagdad, a half-witted fellow, who was +much addicted to the use of bang. Being reduced to poverty, he +was obliged to sell his stock. One day he went to the market to +dispose of a cow; but the animal being in bad order, no one would +bid for it, and after waiting till he was weary he returned +homewards. On the way he stopped to repose himself under a tree, +and tied the cow to one of the branches while he ate some bread, +and drank of an infusion of his beloved bang, which he always +carried with him. In a short time it began to operate, so as to +bereave him of the little sense he possessed, and his head was +filled with ridiculous reveries. While he was musing, a magpie +beginning to chatter from her nest in the tree, he fancied it was +a human voice, and that some woman had asked to purchase his cow: +upon which he said, "Reverend mother of Solomon, dost thou wish +to buy my cow?" The bird croaked again. "Well," replied he, "what +wilt thou give if I will sell her a bargain." The bird repeated +her croak. "Never mind," said the foolish fellow, "for though +thou hast forgotten to bring thy purse, yet, as I dare say thou +art an honest woman, and hast bidden me ten deenars, I will trust +thee with the cow, and call on Friday for the money." The bird +renewed her croaking, which he fancied to be thanks for his +confidence; so leaving the cow tied to the branch of the tree, he +returned home exulting in the good bargain he had made for the +animal. + +When he entered the house, his wife inquired what he had gotten +for the cow; to which he replied, that he had sold her to an +honest woman named Am Solomon, who had promised to pay him on the +next Friday ten pieces of gold. The wife was contented, and when +Friday arrived, her idiot of a husband having, as usual, taken a +dose of bang, repaired to the tree, and hearing the bird +chattering, as before, said, "Well, my good mother, hast thou +brought the gold?" The bird croaked. Supposing the imaginary +woman refused to pay him, he became angry, and threw up his +spade, which frightening the bird, it flew from the nest, and +alighted on a heap of soil at some distance. He fancied that Am +Solomon had desired him to take his money from the heap, into +which he dug with his spade, and found a brazen vessel full of +gold coin. This discovery convinced him he was right, and being, +notwithstanding his weakness, naturally honest, he only took ten +pieces; then replacing the soil, said, "May Allah requite thee +for thy punctuality, good mother!" and returned to his wife, to +whom he gave the money, informing her at the same time of the +great treasure his friend Am Solomon possessed, and where it was +concealed. The wife waited till night, when she went and brought +away the pot of gold; which her husband observing, said, "It is +dishonest to rob one who has paid us so punctually, and if thou +dost not return it to its place, I will inform the (walee) +officer of police." + +The wife laughed at his folly; but fearing the ill consequences +of his executing his threat, she planned a stratagem to prevent +them. Going to the market, she purchased some broiled meat and +fish ready dressed, which she brought privately home, and +concealed in the house. At night, the husband having regaled +himself with his beloved bang, retired to sleep off his +intoxication; but about midnight she strewed the provisions she +had brought at the door, and awakening her partner, cried out, in +pretended astonishment, "Dear husband, a most wonderful +phenomenon has occurred; there has been a violent storm while you +slept, and, strange to tell, it has rained pieces of broiled meat +and fish, which now lie at the door!" The husband, still in a +state of stupefaction from the bang, got up, went to the door, +and seeing the provisions, was persuaded of the truth of his +wife's story. The fish and flesh were gathered up, and he partook +with much glee of the miraculous treat; but he still threatened +to inform the walee of her having stolen the treasure of the good +old woman Am Solomon. + +In the morning the foolish bang-eater actually repaired to the +walee, and informed him that his wife had stolen a pot of gold, +which she had still in her possession. The walee upon this +apprehended the woman, who denied the accusation, when she was +threatened with death. She then said, "My lord, the power is in +your hands; but I am an injured woman, as you will find by +questioning my unfortunate husband; who, alas! is deranged in his +intellects. Ask him when I committed the theft." The walee did +so; to which he replied, "It was on the evening of that night on +which it rained broiled flesh and fish ready dressed." "Wretch!" +exclaimed the walee, "dost thou dare to utter falsehoods before +me? Who ever saw it rain any thing but water?" "As I hope for +life, my lord," replied the bang-eater, "I speak the truth; for +my wife and myself ate of the fish and flesh which fell from the +clouds." The woman being appealed to, denied the assertion of her +husband. + +The walee being now convinced that the man was crazy, released +his wife, and sent the husband to the madhouse; where he remained +some days, till the wife, pitying his condition, contrived to get +him released by the following stratagem. She visited her husband, +and desired him when any one inquired of him if he had seen it +rain flesh and fish, to answer, "No: who ever saw it rain any +thing but water?" She then informed the keeper that he was come +to his senses, and desired him to put the question. On his +answering properly he was released. + +The fisherman had not long been in the service of the sultan, +when walking one day near the house of a principal merchant, his +daughter chanced to look through a window, and the buffoon was so +struck with her beauty that he became devoted to love. Daily did +he repair to the same spot for weeks together in hopes of once +seeing her, but in vain; for she did not again appear at the +window. At length, his passion had such an effect upon him that +he fell sick, kept his bed, and began to rave, exclaiming, "Ah! +what charming eyes, what a beautiful complexion, what a graceful +stature has my beloved!" In this situation he was attended by an +old woman, who, compassionating his case, desired him to reveal +the cause of his uneasiness. + +"My dear mother," replied he, "I thank thee for thy kindness; but +unless thou canst assist me I must soon die." He then related +what he had seen, and described to her the house of the merchant. +When she said, "Son, be of good cheer; for no one could so +readily have assisted thee in this dilemma as myself. Have +patience, and I will speedily return with intelligence of thy +beloved." Having spoken thus, she departed, and upon reaching her +own house disguised herself as a devotee. Throwing over her +shoulders a coarse woollen gown, holding in one hand a long +string of beads, in the other a walking staff, she proceeded to +the merchant's house, at the gate of which she cried, "God is +God, there is no God but God; may his holy name be praised, and +may God be with you," in a most devout tone. + +The merchant's daughter, on hearing this devout ejaculation, came +to the door, saluted the old woman with great respect, and said, +"Dear mother, pray for me:" when she exclaimed, "May Allah +protect thee, my beloved child, from all injury!" The young lady +then introduced her into the house, seated her in the most +honourable place, and with her mother sat down by her. They +conversed on religious subjects till noon, when the old woman +called for water, performed her ablutions, and recited prayers of +an unusual length: upon which the mother and daughter remarked to +one another that the aged matron must certainly be a most +religious character. When prayers were ended, they set a +collation before her; but she declined partaking, saying, "I am +to day observing a fast." This increased their respect and +admiration of her sanctity, so that they requested her to remain +with them till sunset, and break her fast with them, to which she +consented. At sunset she prayed again, after which she ate a +little, and then uttered many pious exhortations. In short, the +mother and daughter were so pleased with her, that they invited +her to stay all night. In the morning, she rose early, made her +ablutions, prayed for a considerable time, and concluded with a +blessing upon her entertainers in learned words, which they could +not understand. When she rose up, they supported her by the arms +respectfully, and entreated her longer stay; but she declined it, +and having taken leave, departed; promising, however, with the +permission of Allah, to make them soon another visit. + +On the second day following, the old woman repaired again to the +merchant's house, and was joyfully received by the mother and +daughter; who, kissing her hands and feet, welcomed her return. +She behaved the same as before, and inspired them with stronger +veneration for her sandity. Her visits now grew frequent, and she +was always a welcome guest in the merchant's family. At length, +one evening she entered, and said, "I have an only daughter, +whose espousals are now celebrating, and this night the bride +goes in state to her husband's house. My desire is that my good +young lady should attend the ceremony, and receive the benefit of +my prayers." The mother replied, "I am unwilling to let her go, +lest some accident should befall her:" upon which the pretended +religious exclaimed, "What canst thou fear, while I and other +devout women shall be with her?" The daughter expressing great +eagerness to attend the nuptials, her mother at length consented. + +When the merchant's daughter had adorned herself in her richest +habit, she accompanied the old woman; who, after leading her +through several streets, conducted her to the lodging of the late +fisherman, but now favourite to the sultan, who was eagerly +expecting her arrival. The young lady was astonished on her +entrance at beholding a comely looking man; who, she saw, could +hardly restrain his raptures at the sight of her. Her first alarm +was great at finding herself betrayed into such a snare by the +hypocritical beldam; but having naturally much presence of mind, +she concealed her fears, and considered how she might escape. She +sat down, and after looking round the apartment affected to +laugh, saying to the gallant, "It is commonly usual when a lover +invites his mistress to his house to have an entertainment +prepared; for what is love without the accompaniment of a feast? +If you wish, therefore, that I should spend the evening here, go +and bring in some good cheer, that our joy may be complete. I +will with my good mother wait your return." + +The gallant, rejoiced at her commands, exclaimed, "Thou hast +spoken truly, and to hear is to obey;" after which, he went +towards the market to order a splendid entertainment. When he was +gone, the young lady locked the door after him, and thanking the +old woman for introducing her to so handsome a lover, threw her +off her guard, while she walked about the apartment meditating +her escape. At length she found in one corner of it a sharp +sabre, and drawing up her sleeve to her elbow, she grasped the +weapon, which she struck with such force at her false friend, who +was reclining on a sofa, as to cleave the head of the abandoned +procuress in two, and she fell down weltering in her blood, to +rise no more. + +The merchant's daughter now searched the room, and finding a rich +dress which the favourite usually wore when he visited the +sultan, rolled it up in a bundle, and carrying it under her veil, +unlocked the door, and hastened homewards. Luckily she reached +her father's house without interruption. Her mother welcomed her +with joy; but on perceiving the bundle, said, "My dear daughter, +what can have been given thee at the nuptials of a poor +religious?" The daughter, whose mind had been over agitated with +her late adventure, was not able to answer; her spirits sunk at +the recollection of her narrow escape, and she fainted away. The +mother shrieked aloud with affright, which brought in her husband +and attendants, who used various means for the young lady's +recovery; and at length, having regained her senses, she related +what had passed. The merchant having cursed the memory of the old +woman for her hypocritical deception, comforted his virtuous +daughter, and taking up the dress which he knew, and to whom it +belonged, hastened to make his complaint to the sultan. + +When the sultan had heard the complaint of the merchant, he was +enraged against his unworthy favourite, and commanded him to be +apprehended; but he could no where be found, for having on his +return home seen the old woman weltering in her blood, he guessed +what had happened; and apprehensive of being called to an +account, putting on a mean disguise, made his escape from the +city. Fortunately for him a caravan was just taking its +departure, and with it he travelled for five days successively, +with a mind tortured by disappointed love, and the fear of +discovery. At length the caravan passed the confines of his late +master, and encamped before a large city, which he entered, and +having hired a room at a caravanserai, he resolved to repose, and +seek out for some employment less dangerous than making love, or +serving princes. + +When he had rested himself for some days, he repaired to a +market, where labourers stood to be hired; and had not waited +long, when a woman coming up asked if he wanted work, to which he +replied in the affirmative. She then said, "Part of the wall +round the court of my house is so much decayed, that I must have +it taken down and rebuilt, and if thou art willing to undertake +the job I will employ thee." On his consenting, she led him to +her house, and shewing him the wall, gave him a pick-axe, +directing him as he went on to place the stones in one heap and +the rubbish in another. He replied, "To hear is to obey." She +then brought him some provision and water, when he refreshed +himself, and having thanked God that he had escaped, and was able +to get his living, began his task, which he continued till +sunset. His employer paid him ten pieces of silver for his day's +work, and he returned contented to his lodging. + +The following morning he again went to labour, and was treated +with the same kindness as before. About noon, as he was stocking +up the foundation of the wall he found a copper vessel, which +upon examination proved to be full of golden coin. He carried the +vessel to his lodging, where he counted the money, upwards of a +hundred deenars, and returned to his work. As he was coming home +in the evening, he saw a crowd following a man who carried upon +his head a large chest, which he offered for sale at a hundred +deenars, but refused to mention the contents. + +The fisherman was seized with an irresistible impulse to purchase +the chest, and having a small silver coin of not more value than +a silver penny, said to himself, "I will try my fate, possibly it +may contain something valuable; but if not, I will disregard the +disappointment;" ordered it to be conveyed to his lodging, and +paid the price demanded. He then locked his door and opened the +chest, when, to his astonishment, he beheld in it a beautiful +girl very richly dressed, but apparently lifeless. However, on +putting his hand to her mouth, he perceived that she breathed, +and was only in a deep sleep, from which he endeavoured to awake +her, but in vain. He then took her out of the chest, laid her +gently on his carpet, and continued to gaze at her charms; till +at length about midnight she awoke, and in an exclamation of +alarm and surprise exclaimed, "Gracious Allah, where am I?" + +When the lady's first alarm had subsided, she asked the fisherman +how he had brought her to his lodging, and on being informed of +the circumstances her mind became easy; for he behaved towards +her with respectful attention. Concealing for the present her +condition and adventures, she said, "This lodging is too mean, on +the morrow you must hire a better. Serve me with fidelity, do as +I desire, and you shall be amply rewarded." The fisherman, who, +cautioned by his last love adventure, was fearful of taking +liberties, and awed by her dignified demeanour, made a profound +obeisance, and professed himself her slave. He set before her the +best refreshments he could procure, and when she had supped left +her, and retired to sleep in a separate chamber. + +Early the next morning he went and hired a decent house, to which +he conveyed her in a covered litter, and did not cease to attend +upon her in all her commands for twenty days, she supplying him +with money to purchase necessaries. + +It is proper now to mention, that the lady bought by the +fisherman in the chest was the favourite mistress of the sultan: +having deserted for her all his other women, they had become +envious; but the sultana, who, before the arrival of Koout al +Koolloob (for such was her name) had presided over the haram, was +more mortified than the rest, and had resolved to effect her +removal. For this a favourable opportunity soon occurred, owing +to the sultan's departure for twenty days upon a hunting +excursion. In a day or two after his absence, the sultana invited +Koout al Koolloob to an entertainment, and having mixed a strong +soporific in some sherbet, presented it her to drink. The effect +of the potion was instantaneous, and she sunk into a trance; when +the sultana putting her into the chest, commanded it to be given +to a broker, and sold without examination of the contents, for a +hundred deenars; hoping, that whoever might be the purchaser, he +would be so fascinated with the charms of the beautiful Koout al +Koolloob, as to enjoy his good fortune in secrecy; and that she +should thus get rid of a rival without the crime of +assassination. + +When the sultan returned from his excursion, immediately on +entering the palace he inquired for his favourite; when the +sultana entering with affected sadness, said, "Alas! my lord, the +beautiful and affectionate Koout al Koolloob, unable to bear the +pangs of absence, three days after your departure fell sick, and +having lingered for seven days, was gathered to the mercy of the +Almighty." The sultan, on hearing this, burst into an agony of +grief, and exclaimed, "There is no asylum or refuge but with God; +from God we came, and to God we must return." He was overcome +with affliction, and remained the whole night involved in +melancholy. In the morning he sent for his vizier, and commanded +him to look out for a spot on the bank of the river for the +erection of a building in which he might sit retired, and +meditate on his beloved Koout al Koolloob. + +The vizier replied, "To hear is to obey;" and taking with him an +architect, fixed upon a pleasant spot, on which he ordered him to +mark out a space of ninety yards in length and seventy in breadth +for the intended building. The necessary materials, of stone and +marbles, were soon collected, and the work was begun upon; which +the minister for two days superintended in person. On the third +the sultan came to view the progress. He approved of the plan, +and said, "It is truly beautiful; but, alas! only worthy of the +residence of Koout al Koolloob;" after which he wept bitterly. +Seeing the distress of the sultan, his vizier said, "My lord, be +resigned under distress; for the wise have written, 'Be moderate +when prosperity occurs, and when calamity afflicts thee exercise +patience.'" + +The sultan replied, "It is true, O vizier, that resignation is +praiseworthy, and impatience blamable; for a poet has justly +said, 'Be calm under adversity; for calmness can alone extricate +from danger.' To affliction joy often succeeds, and after trouble +we generally enjoy repose; but, alas! human nature cannot divest +itself of feeling; and Koout al Koolloob was so dear to me, and +so delighted my soul, that I dread I shall never find another +mistress her equal in beauty and accomplishments." The vizier +consoled his master, and at length prevailed upon him to submit +to his misfortune with some degree of resignation. + +The sultan and vizier daily repaired to view the progress of the +new edifice, the report of which had spread through the city, and +at length reached Koout al Koolloob, who said to the fisherman, +"We are every day expending our money, and getting nothing: +suppose, therefore, you seek employment in the building which the +sultan is erecting. Report says that he is liberal, so that +possibly advantage may accrue." The fisherman replied, "My dear +mistress, how shall I bear the least absence from you?" for he +loved her, and she perceiving it, often dreaded that he would +have made advances; but the remembrance of what he had endured +from the conduct of the merchant's daughter had made him +cautious. She replied, "Dost thou really love me?" "Canst thou +doubt it?" answered he; "thou art my life, and the light of my +eyes!" "If so," exclaimed she, "take this necklace, and when you +think of me as you are working, look at it, and it will console +you till your return home." + +The fisherman obeyed the commands of Koout al Koolloob, repaired +to the spot where the edifice was erecting, and beheld the sultan +and vizier observing the workmen. The former inquired if he +wanted employment, to which he replied in the affirmative, and +was hired. He began his labour; but so much was his mind engaged +with his mistress, that every now and then, dropping his +implements, he drew out the necklace, and looking upon it heaved +a deep sigh, which the sultan observing, said to his vizier, +"This man, perchance, is more unhappy than myself; let us call +him to us, and inquire into his circumstances." The vizier +brought him to the presence, and desired him to tell honestly why +he had sighed so deeply. "Alas!" replied he, "I am absent from my +beloved, who gave me this necklace to look at whenever I might +think upon her; and my mind is so taken up with her, that I +cannot help laying down my tools, and admiring it constantly." + +When the sultan saw the necklace, he recollected that it was one +which he had purchased for Koout al Koolloob for a thousand +deenars. He concealed his agitation, and said, "To whom does this +necklace belong?" "To my slave," replied the labourer, "whom I +purchased for a hundred deenars." "Canst thou admit us to thy +lodging," rejoined the sultan, "that we may see her?" "I dread," +answered the labourer, "that her modesty may be offended; but I +will consult her, and if she assents, I will invite you to my +lodging." "That is but just," said the sultan, "and no more than +what is proper." + +The labourer at sunset returned home, and informed Koout al +Koolloob of his adventure, when she desired him on the morrow to +purchase what was requisite for a decent entertainment, at the +same time giving him five deenars. In the morning he bought what +she had desired, and going to his work, informed the sultan and +vizier that they were welcome to his homely fare, and to see his +slave; or rather, said he, "My divinity, for as such I have at +humble distance adored her." + +The sultan and vizier accompanied the labourer to his house where +they were astonished to find prepared an elegant collation, of +which they partook; after which they drank sherbet and coffee. +The sultan then desired to see his slave, who just made her +appearance, but retired immediately. However, the sultan knew +her; and said to the labourer, "Wilt thou dispose of this +damsel?" "I cannot, my lord," replied the labourer, "for my soul +is wholly occupied with her love, though as yet unreturned." "May +thy love be rewarded!" exclaimed the sultan; "but bring her with +thee at sunset to the palace." "To hear is to obey," replied the +labourer. + +At sunset the labourer conducted his slave to the palace, when +the eunuchs attended, and would have led her into the haram; but +he clung round her, and exclaimed, "She is my beloved, and I +cannot part with her." Upon this the sultan related the +circumstances of his having lost her; and requested him to give +her up. Knowing that he durst not oppose the sovereign, he +submitted to his commands with resignation, when the sultan +presented him with fifteen hundred deenars, and a beautiful +slave, also a rich dress, at the same time receiving him among +the most distinguished of his officers. So well did he conduct +himself in his new station, that in a short time he was promoted +to the rank of prime minister, and fulfilled the duties of it +with such ability and integrity, that he became celebrated by the +title of the Just Vizier. + +Such was the celebrity of the vizier's decisions, that in a short +time appeals were made from the most distant provinces to his +judgment. One of the most remarkable cases was the following. Two +women belonging to one man conceived on the same day, and were +delivered, one of a boy, the other of a girl, at the same time, +and in one apartment. The female infant died, when each laid +claim to the male child. The magistrates, unable to decide +between the mothers, referred the decision to the just vizier; +who, on hearing the circumstances, commanded two eggs to be +brought, and the contents to be drawn out without breaking the +shells; after which he ordered them to be filled with milk from +the breast of each woman. This being done, he placed the shells +in separate scales, and finding one outweigh the other, declared +that she whose milk was heaviest must be the mother of the male +child; but the other woman was not satisfied with this decision, +and still affirmed she was the mother of the boy. + +The vizier, vexed at her obstinacy, now commanded the infant to +be cut in two; when she, whom he had said was the mother, fell +into agonies, and besought its life; but the other was unmoved, +and assented to the death of the child. He then ordered her to be +severely punished, and committed the boy to its afflicted mother. +On being asked on what proofs he had grounded his decision, he +replied, "On two: the first, because the milk of a woman having +produced a male child is always heavier than that of the mother +of a female infant: the second, because the pretended mother +consented to the boy's death; and I supposed it impossible for a +woman to agree to the destruction of her offspring, which is a +part of herself." + + + + + THE SULTAN AND THE TRAVELLER MHAMOOD AL + HYJEMMEE. + + + +There was a sultan, who one evening being somewhat low-spirited, +sent for his vizier, and said, "I know not the cause, but my mind +is uneasy, and I want something to divert it." "If so," replied +the vizier, "I have a friend, named Mhamood al Hyjemmee, a +celebrated traveller, who has witnessed many wonderful +occurrences, and can relate a variety of astonishing narratives. +Shall I send for him to the presence?" "By all means," answered +the sultan, "that I may hear his relations." The minister +departed, and informed his friend that the sultan desired to see +him. "To hear is to obey," replied Mhamood, and hastened with the +vizier to the palace. + +When they had entered the palace, Mhamood made the obeisance +usual to the caliphs, and uttered a poetical invocation for the +prosperity of the sultan, who returned his salute; and after +desiring him to be seated, said, "Mhamood, my mind is uneasy, and +as I hear you are acquainted with many curious events, I wish you +to relate some of them to amuse me." Mhamood replied, "To hear is +to obey;" and thus began an adventure of his own. + + + + + The Koord Robber. + + + +Some years ago I took a journey from my own country to the land +of Yemen, accompanied by a slave, who was a lad of much ready +wit, and who carried a wallet containing a few necessaries. As we +were entering a town, a rascally koord snatched the wallet from +his hands, and asserted that it was his own, which we had stolen +from him: upon which, I called out to some passengers to assist +me in the recovery of my property, and they helped me to carry +the sharper before the cauzee, to whom I complained of his +assault. The magistrate asked the koord what he had to allege in +his defence; to which he replied, "My lord, I lost this wallet +some days since, and found it in possession of the complainant, +who pretends that it is his own, and will not resign it." "If it +be thine," rejoined the cauzee, "describe to me what it contains, +when I shall be satisfied that thou speakest the truth." + +The koord assented, and with a loud voice cried out, "In this +wallet, my lord, are two chests, in which are collyrium for the +eyes, a number of rich napkins, drinking vessels of gold, lamps, +cooking utensils, dishes, basins, and ewers; also bales of +merchandize, jewels, gold, silks, and other precious articles, +with a variety of wearing apparel, carpets, cushions, eating +cloths, and other things too tedious to enumerate; besides, I can +bring a number of my brother koords to testify to the truth of +what I have said, and that the wallet is mine." + +When the koord had finished, the cauzee smiled, and asked me and +my slave what we could describe to be in the wallet: upon which, +my slave said, "My lord, there is nothing in it of what the koord +has mentioned, for it contains only both worlds, with all their +lands, seas, cities, habitations, men, animals, and productions +of every kind." The cauzee laughed, and turning to the koord, +said, "Friend, thou hast heard what has past; what further canst +thou say?" "The bag is mine," continued the koord: upon which, +the cauzee ordered it to be emptied; when, lo! there were found +in it some cakes of bread, a few limes, a little pepper, and a +cruet of oil. Seeing this, the koord exclaimed, "Pardon me, my +lord the cauzee, I have been mistaken, the wallet is not mine; +but I must away and search for the thief who has stolen my +valuable property." Having said this, he ran off, leaving the +cauzee, myself, and the spectators bursting with laughter at his +impudent knavery. + +The sultan was much diverted with the relation of Mhamood, and +requested him to relate another story, which he did as follows. + + + + + Story of the Husbandman. + + + +A certain husbandman having reared some choice vegetables and +fruits earlier than usual, resolved to present them to the +sultan, in hopes of receiving a handsome present. He accordingly +loaded his ass and set off for the capital, on the road to which +he met the sultan, whom he had never before seen; and who being +on a hunting excursion had separated from his attendants. The +sultan inquired where he was going, and what he carried. "I am +repairing," said the husbandman, "to our lord the sultan, in +hopes that he will reward me with a handsome price for my fruits +and vegetables, which I have reared earlier than usual." "What +dost thou mean to ask him?" replied the sultan. "A thousand +deenars," answered the husbandman; "which if he refuses to give, +I will demand five hundred; should he think that sum too much, I +will come down to two hundred; and if he declines to give so +much, I will ask thirty deenars, from which price I will not +depart." + +The sultan now left the husbandman, and hastening to the city, +entered the palace, where the latter soon after arrived with his +fruits, and was introduced to the presence. Having made his +obeisance, the sultan returning his salute, said, "Father, what +hast thou brought with thee?" "Fruits, reared earlier than +usual," answered the husbandman: to which the sultan replied, +"They are acceptable," and uncovering them, sent a part by the +eunuchs into his haram, and distributed the rest to his +courtiers, excepting a few which he ate himself, talking all the +while to the countryman, whose sensible remarks gave him much +pleasure. He presented him with two hundred deenars, and the +ladies of the haram sent him a present of half that sum. The +sultan then desired him to return home, give the money to his +family, and come back with speed, as he wished to enjoy his +conversation. The husbandman having replied, "To hear is to +obey," blessed the sultan for his bounty, and hastening home gave +the deenars to his wife, informing her that he was invited to +spend the evening at court, and took his leave. It was sunset +when he arrived at the palace, and the sultan being at his +evening meal invited him to partake. When they were satisfied, +they performed their ablutions, and having said the evening +prayer, and read a portion of the Koraun, the sultan, desiring +him to be seated, commanded the husbandman to relate him some +narrative. The husbandman being seated, thus began. + + + + + Story of the Three Princes and Enchanting Bird. + + + +It has been lately related that there was formerly a sovereign of +the East who had three sons, the eldest of whom had heard some +traveller describe a particular country where there was a bird +called Bulbul al Syach, who transformed any passenger who came +near him into stone. The prince resolved to see this wonderful +bird; and requested leave to travel from his father, who +endeavoured in vain to divert him from his purpose. He took +leave, and on his departure, pulling off a ring set with a +magical gem, gave it to his second brother, saying, "Whenever you +perceive this ring press hard upon your finger, be assured that I +am lost beyond recovery." Having begun his journey, he did not +cease travelling till he reached the spot where was the bird's +cage, in which it used to pass the night, but in the daytime it +flew about for exercise and food. + +It was the custom of the bird to return about sunset to the cage; +when, if it perceived any person near, it would cry out in a +plaintive tone, "Who will say to a poor wanderer, Lodge? who will +say to an unhappy Bulbul, Lodge?" and if the person replied, +"Lodge, poor bird!" it immediately hovered over his head, and +scattering upon him some earth from its bill, the person became +transformed into a stone. Such proved the fate of the unfortunate +prince. + +The transformation of the eldest prince had no sooner taken place +than the ring pressed hard upon the finger of the second, who +exclaimed, "Alas! alas! my brother is lost; but I will travel, +and endeavour to find out his condition." It was in vain that the +sultan his father, and the sultana his mother, remonstrated. He +departed after he had delivered the magical ring to his younger +brother, and journeyed till he reached the cage of the bird; who +having ensnared him to pronounce the word lodge, scattered some +earth upon his head, when he, also, immediately became +transformed into stone. + +At this instant the youngest prince was sitting at a banquet with +his father; when the ring pressed so hard to his finger, as to +put him to much pain. He rose up, and exclaimed, "There is no +refuge or asylum but with God; for his we are, and to him we must +return." The sultan, upon this, inquired the cause of his grief; +when he said, "My brother has perished." + +The old sultan was loudly lamenting the loss of his two children, +when the youngest continued, "I will travel and learn the fate of +my brothers." "Alas!" said the father, "is it not enough that I +have lost them, but thou also wilt rush into destruction? I +entreat thee not to leave me." "Father," replied the prince, +"fate impels me to search for my brothers, whom, perhaps, I may +recover; but if I fail, I shall only have done my duty." Having +said this, he departed, in spite of the tears and lamentations of +his parents, and travelled till he had reached the residence of +the bird; where he found his brothers transformed into images of +stone. At sunset the bird began its usual tone; but the prince +suspecting some deceit, forbore to speak, till at length the +Bulbul retired to his cage, and fell asleep; when watching the +opportunity, the prince darted upon it, and fastened the door. +The bird awoke at the noise, and seeing himself caught, said, +"Thou hast won the prize, O glorious son of a mighty sultan!" "If +so," exclaimed the prince, "inform me by what means thou hast +enchanted so many persons as I see around me changed into images +of marble, and how I may release them from their unhappy state." +"Behold," replied the bird, "yonder two heaps of earth, one white +and the other blue. The blue enchants, and the other will recover +from transformation." + +The prince immediately took up handfuls of the white earth, and +scattering it over the numerous images, they instantly became +animated and restored to all their functions. He embraced his two +brothers, and received their thanks; also those of the sons of +many sultans, bashaws, and great personages, for giving them new +life. They informed him that near the spot was a city, all the +inhabitants of which had been, like them, transformed into stone. +To this he repaired, and having relieved them from their +enchantment, the people out of gratitude made him rich presents, +and would have chosen him for their sovereign, but he declined +their offer, and resolved to conduct his brothers in safety to +their father. + +The two elder princes, notwithstanding they owed the restoration +of their lives to their brother, became envious of the valuable +presents he had received, and of the fame he would acquire at +home for his achievement. They said to one another, "When we +reach the capital the people will applaud him, and say, 'Lo! the +two elder brothers have been rescued from destruction by the +youngest.'" + +The youngest prince being supplied with horses, camels, and +carriages, for himself and companions, began his march homewards, +and proceeded by easy stages towards the capital of his father; +within one day's journey of which was a reservoir of water lined +with marble. On the brink of this he ordered his tents to be +pitched, resolving to pass the night and enjoy himself in +feasting with his brothers. An elegant entertainment was +prepared, and he sat with them till it was time to repose; when +they retired to their tents, and he lay down to sleep, having on +his finger a ring, which he had found in the cage of the Bulbul. + +The envious brothers thinking this a fit opportunity to destroy +their generous preserver, arose in the dead of night, and taking +up the prince, cast him into the reservoir, and escaped to their +tents undiscovered. In the morning they issued orders of march, +the tents were struck, and the camels loaded; but the attendants +missing the youngest prince, inquired after him; to which the +brothers replied, that being asleep in his tent, they were +unwilling to disturb him. This satisfied them, and having pursued +their march they reached the capital of their father, who was +overjoyed at their return, and admired the beauty of the Bulbul, +which they had carried with them; but he inquired with eagerness +what was become of their brother. + +The brothers replied, "We know nothing of him, and did not till +now hear of his departure in search of the bird, which we have +brought with us." The sultan dearly loved his youngest son; and +on hearing that his brothers had not seen him, beat his hands +together, exclaiming, "Alas! alas! there is no refuge or asylum +but with the Almighty, from whom we came, and to whom we must +return." + +We must now return to the youngest brother. When he was cast into +the reservoir he awoke, and finding himself in danger, exclaimed, +"I seek deliverance from that God who relieveth his servants from +the snares of the wicked." His prayer was heard, and he reached +the bottom of the reservoir unhurt; where he seated himself on a +ledge, when he heard persons talking. One said to another, "Some +son of man is near." "Yes," replied the other, "he is the +youngest son of our virtuous sultan; who, after having delivered +his two brothers from enchantment, hath been treacherously cast +into this reservoir." "Well," answered the first voice, "he may +easily escape, for he has a ring upon his finger, which if he +will rub a genie will appear to him and perform whatever he may +command." + +The prince no sooner heard these words than he rubbed his hand +over the ring, when a good genie appearing, said, "Prince, what +are thy commands?" + +"I command," replied the prince, "that thou instantly prepare me +tents, camels, domestics, guards, and every thing suitable to my +condition." "All is ready," answered the genie; who, at the same +instant taking him from the ledge, conducted him into a splendid +encampment, where the troops received him with acclamations. He +ordered signals of march to be sounded, and proceeded towards the +capital of his father. When he had arrived near the city, he +commanded his tents to be pitched on the plain. Immediately his +orders were obeyed, the tents were raised (a most magnificent one +for himself), before which the servants raised a gorgeous awning, +and sprinkled water to lay the dust. The cooks lighted their +fires, and a great smoke ascended, which filled the plain. + +The inhabitants of the city were astonished at the approach of +the army, and when they saw the encampment pitched, supposed it +to be that of a powerful enemy preparing for assaulting them. +Intelligence of this unexpected host was conveyed to the sultan; +who, on hearing it, instead of alarm, felt a pleasure which he +could not account for, and said, "Gracious Allah! my heart is +filled with delight; but why I know not." Immediately he +commanded his suite to attend, and repaired to the encampment of +his son, to whom he was introduced; but the prince being habited +very richly, and differently from what he had seen him in, was +not known by the sultan. + +The prince received his father with the honours due to his rank, +and when they were seated, and had entered into conversation, +said, "What is become of thy youngest son?" The words were +scarcely uttered, when the old sultan fell fainting to the earth. +On his recovery, he exclaimed, "Alas! my son's imprudence led him +to travel, and he has fallen a prey to the beasts of the forest." +"Be comforted," replied the prince; "the disasters of fortune +have not reached thy son, for he is alive and in health." "Is it +possible?" cried the sultan; "ah! tell me where I shall find +him!" "He is before thee," replied the prince: upon which, the +sultan looking more closely, knew him, fell upon his neck, wept, +and sunk to the earth overpowered with ecstacy. + +When the sultan had recovered, he desired his son to relate his +adventures, which he did from first to last. Just as he had +finished the elder brothers arrived, and seeing him in such +splendour, hung down their heads, abashed and unable to speak; +but yet more envious than ever. The old sultan would have put +them to death for their treachery, but the youngest prince said, +"Let us leave them to the Almighty, for whoever commits sin will +meet its punishment in himself." + +When the husbandman had concluded the above story, the sultan was +so highly pleased that he presented him with a large sum of +money, and a beautiful slave, inquiring at the same time if he +could divert him with another story, to which he replied in the +affirmative. + +On another night, when the sultan and the countryman had sat down +to converse, the former desired him to relate some ancient story, +when the latter began as follows. + + + + + Story of a Sultan of Yemen and his three Sons. + + + +It has been related, that in the kingdom of Yemen there was a +sultan who had three sons, two of whom were born of the same +mother, and the third of another wife, with whom becoming +disgusted from some caprice, and having degraded her to the +station of a domestic, he suffered her and her son to live +unnoticed among the servants of the haram. The two former, one +day, addressed their father, requesting his permission to hunt: +upon which he presented them each with a horse of true blood, +richly caparisoned, and ordered proper domestics to attend them +to the chase. + +When they had departed, the unfortunate youngest brother repaired +to his unhappy mother, and expressed his wishes to enjoy, like +the elder princes, the pleasures of the field. "My son," replied +she, "it is not in my power to procure thee a horse or other +necessaries." Upon this he wept bitterly; when she gave him some +of her silver ornaments, which he took, and having sold them, +with the price purchased a foundered steed. Having mounted it, +and provided himself with some bread, he followed the track of +his brothers for two days, but on the third lost his way. After +wandering two days more he beheld upon the plain a string of +emeralds and pearls, which shone with great lustre. Having taken +it up, he wreathed it round his turban, and returned homewards +exulting in his prize; but when he had arrived near the city his +brothers met him, pulled him from his horse, beat him, and forced +it from him. He excelled them both in prowess and vigour, but he +was fearful of the sultan's displeasure, and his mother's safety, +should he punish his insulters. He therefore submitted to the +indignity and loss, and retired. + +The two cowardly princes entered the palace, and presented the +string of jewels to the sultan; who, after admiring it, said, "I +shall not rest satisfied till the bird arrives to whom this +certainly must have belonged:" upon which the brothers replied, +"We will travel in search of it, and bring it to our august +father and sultan." + +Preparations being made, the brothers departed, and the youngest +prince having mounted his lame steed followed them. After three +days' journey he reached an arid desert, which having passed over +by great exertion, he arrived almost exhausted at a city; which +on entering he found resounding with the shrieks of lamentation +and woe. At length he met with a venerable old man, to whom +having made a respectful salute, he inquired of him the cause of +such universal mourning. "My son," replied the old man, "on a +certain day during the last forty-three years, a terrible monster +has appeared before our city, demanding a beautiful virgin to be +delivered up to him, threatening to destroy it in case of +refusal. Unable to defend ourselves, we have complied with his +demand, and the damsels of the city have drawn lots for the +dreadful sacrifice; but this year the chance has fallen upon the +beautiful daughter of our sultan. This is the day of the +monster's usual arrival, and we are involved in universal +lamentation for her unhappy fate." + +When the young prince heard the above, he, under the direction of +the old man, repaired to the place of the monster's resort, +resolved to conquer him or die. Scarcely had he reached it, when +the princess approached it, splendidly habited, but with a +dejected head, and drowned in tears. He made a respectful salute, +which she returned, saying, "Hasten, young man, from this spot, +for a monster will soon appear, to whom, by my unhappy fate, I am +destined. Should he discover thee, he will tear thee in pieces." +"Princess," replied he, "I know the circumstance, and am resolved +to become a ransom for thy beauty." + +The prince had hardly uttered these words, when a column of dust +arose; from which with dreadful howlings and fury the monster +issued, lashing his gigantic sides with his thick tail. The +princess shrieked, and wept in the agonies of fear; but the +prince drawing his sabre, put himself in the way of the savage +monster; who, enraged, snorted fire from his wide nostrils, and +made a spring at the prince. The gallant youth with wonderful +agility evaded his talons, and darting from side to side of the +monster, watched his opportunity, till rushing upon him, he cleft +his head asunder just between his eyes, when the huge creature +fell down and growled his last in a tremendous roar. + +The princess, on seeing the monster expire, ran to her deliverer, +wiped the dust and sweat from his face with her veil, uttering +grateful thanks, to which he replied, "Return to thy lamenting +parents;" but she would not, and said, "My lord, and light of my +eyes, thou must be mine and I thine." "That is perhaps +impossible," rejoined the prince; and hastening from her, he +returned to the city, where he took up his lodging in an obscure +corner. She now repaired to the palace. On her entrance, the +sultan and her mother were astonished, and inquired in alarm the +cause of her return; fearing that she had escaped from the +monster, who would in revenge destroy the city. + +The princess related the story of her deliverance by a handsome +youth: upon which, the sultan, with his attendants, and most of +the inhabitants of the place, repaired to view the monster, whom +they found extended dead on the earth. The whole city was now +filled with grateful thanksgivings and universal rejoicing. The +sultan, eager to shew his gratitude to the gallant youth, said to +the princess, "Shouldst thou know thy deliverer wert thou to see +him again?" "Certainly!" replied she; for love had impressed his +image on her mind too strongly to be ever erased. + +The sultan, upon this, issued a proclamation, commanding every +male in the city to pass under the windows of his daughter's +apartment; which was done successively for three days; but she +did not recognize her beloved champion. The sultan then inquired +if all the men of the city had obeyed his commands, and was +informed that all had done so, except a young man at a certain +serai, who was a foreigner, and therefore had not attended. The +sultan ordered him to appear; and he had no sooner approached the +window than the princess threw down upon his head an embroidered +handkerchief, exclaiming, "This is our deliverer from the fangs +of the monster." + +The sultan now ordered the young prince to be introduced to his +presence, to which he advanced, making the obeisances customary +to royal personages in a graceful manner. "Art thou the destroyer +of the monster?" exclaimed the sultan. "I am," answered the +prince. "Tell me how I can reward thee?" replied the sultan. "My +request to God and your majesty," answered the prince, "is, that +the princess thy daughter may be given me in marriage." "Rather +ask me a portion of my treasures," rejoined the sultan. Upon +this, the officers of the court observed, that as he had saved +the princess from death, he was worthy of her; and the sultan at +length consenting, the marriage knot was tied. The young prince +received his bride, and the nuptials were consummated. Towards +the close of night he arose, and having taken off her ring, put +his own in its room on her finger, and wrote upon the palm of her +hand, "I am called Alla ad Deen, the son of a potent sultan, who +rules in Yemen; if thou canst come to me there, well; otherwise +remain with thy father." + +When the prince had done as above related, he left his bride +asleep, and quitting the palace and city, pursued his travels; +during which he married another wife, whom he had saved from an +elephant in a similar way: he left her in the same manner as the +first. + +When the prince had left his second wife, he proceeded in search +of the bird to whom the string of emeralds and pearls had +belonged, and at length reached the city of its mistress, who was +daughter to the sultan, a very powerful monarch. Having entered +the capital, he walked through several streets, till at last he +perceived a venerable old man, whose age seemed to be, at least, +that of a hundred years, sitting alone. He approached him, and +having paid his respects, sat down, and entering into +conversation, at length said, "Canst thou, my uncle, afford me +any information respecting a bird, whose chain is composed of +pearls and emeralds, or of its mistress?" + +The old man remained silent, involved in thought, for some +instants; after which, he said, "My son, many sultans and princes +have wished to attain this bird and the princess, but failed in +the attempt; however, do thou procure seven lambs, kill them, +flay and cut them up into halves. In the palace are eight courts, +at the gates of seven of which are placed two hungry lions; and +in the latter, where the princess resides, are stationed forty +slaves. Go, and try thy fortune." + +The prince having thanked the old man, took his leave, procured +the lambs, cut them up as directed, and towards midnight, when +the step of man had ceased from passing, repaired to the first +gate of the palace, before which he beheld two monstrous lions, +their eyes flaming like the mouth of a lighted oven. He cast +before each half a lamb, and while they were devouring it passed +on. By the same stratagem he arrived safely into the eighth +court: at the gate of which lay the forty slaves sunk in profound +sleep. He entered cautiously, and beheld the princess in a +magnificent hall, reposing on a splendid bed; near which hung her +bird in a cage of gold wire strung with valuable jewels. He +approached gently, and wrote upon the palm of her hand, "I am +Alla ad Deen, son of a sultan of Yemen. I have seen thee +sleeping, and taken away thy bird. Shouldst thou love me, or wish +to recover thy favourite, come to my father's capital." He then +departed from the palace, and having reached the plain, stopped +to repose till morning. + +The prince being refreshed, at day-light having invoked Allah to +protect him from discovery, travelled till sunset, when he +discovered an Arab encampment, to which he repaired and requested +shelter. His petition was readily attended to by the chief; who +seeing him in possession of the bird, which he knew, said to +himself, "This young man must be a favourite of heaven, or he +could not have obtained a prize for which so many potent sultans, +princes, and viziers, have vainly fallen sacrifices." He +entertained him with hospitality, but asked no questions, and in +the morning dismissed him with prayers for his welfare, and a +present of a beautiful horse. Alla ad Deen having thanked his +generous host took leave, and proceeded unceasingly till he +arrived within sight of his father's capital. On the plain he was +again overtaken by his two brothers, returning from their +unsuccessful expedition, who seeing the bird and splendid cage in +his possession, dragged him suddenly from his horse, beat him +cruelly, and left him. They entered the city, and presenting the +cage to their father, framed an artful tale of danger and escapes +that they had undergone in procuring it; on hearing which, the +sultan loaded them with caresses and praises, while the +unfortunate Alla ad Deen retired bruised and melancholy to his +unhappy mother. + +The young prince informed his mother of his adventures, +complained heavily of his loss, and expressed his resolves to be +revenged upon his envious brothers. She comforted him, entreated +him to be patient, and wait for the dispensations of Allah; who, +in proper season, would shew his power in the revealment of +justice. We now return to the princess who had lost her bird. + +When she awoke in the morning, and missed her bird, she was +alarmed; but on perceiving what was written upon her palm still +more so. She shrieked aloud; her attendants ran in, and finding +her in a frantic state, informed the sultan; who, anxious for her +safety, hastened to the apartment. The princess being somewhat +recovered, related the loss of her bird, shewed the writing on +her hand, and declared that she would marry no one but him who +had seen her asleep. The sultan finding remonstrances vain, +agreed to accompany his daughter in search of the prince, and +issued orders for his army to prepare for a march to Yemen. + +When the troops were assembled, the sultan conducted his daughter +to the camp, and on the day following marched; the princess with +her ladies being conveyed in magnificent equipages. No halt was +made till the army arrived near the city, where Alia ad Deen had +delivered the daughter of its sultan by killing the elephant. A +friendly ambassador being dispatched to request permission to +encamp and purchase a supply of provisions, he was honourably +received, and the sultan of the city proceeded in great pomp to +visit his brother monarch, who then informed him of the object of +his expedition. This convinced the other sultan that the stealer +of the bird must also have been the deliverer of his daughter, +and he resolved to join in the search. Accordingly, after three +days of splendid entertainments and rejoicings, the two sultans, +with the two princesses, and their united forces, moved towards +Yemen. Their route lay through the capital, the daughter of whose +sultan Alla ad Deen had saved from the fangs of the savage +monster. + +On the arrival of the allies at this city an explanation similar +to the last took place, and the third sultan resolved to +accompany them in search of the husband of his daughter, who +readily agreed to join the other princesses. They marched; and on +the route the princess who had lost her bird was fully informed +by the others of the beauty, prowess, and manly vigour of Alla ad +Deen; which involved her more than ever in anxious impatience to +meet him. At length, by continued and uninterrupted movements, +the three sultans reached Yemen, and pitched their encampments +about sunset on a verdant plain well watered, near the capital. + +It was with much dread and apprehension that the sultan of Yemen +beheld such a numerous host encamped so near his residence; but +he concealed his fears, and gave proper orders for securing it +from surprise during the night. With the morning his alarms were +removed, as the allied sultans dispatched an ambassador with rich +presents, assurances that they had no hostile intentions, and a +request that he would honour them by a visit to their camp, and +furnish it with supplies. The sultan complied with the +invitation, and the suite being prepared, he proceeded, attended +by all his courtiers in the highest magnificence, to the +encampment; where he was received with due honours. At the +outposts the three sultans met him, and after the usual greetings +of ceremony conducted him to a splendid tent made of crimson +velvet, the fringes and ropes of which were composed of gold +threads, the pins of solid silver, and the lining of the richest +silver tissue, embroidered with flowers of raised work in silks +of all colours, intermixed with foils and gold. It was covered +with superb carpets, and at the upper end on a platform spread +with gold brocade were placed four stools, the coverings of +which, and the cushions, were magnificent beyond description, +being made of Persian velvet, fringed and flowered with costly +pearls. + +When the four sultans were seated, and some conversation had +taken place, in which the latter was informed of the occasion of +the others having marched into his country, the cloth was spread, +and a magnificent entertainment served up in dishes of agate, +crystal, and gold. The basins and ewers for washing were of pure +gold set with jewels. Such was the richness of every thing, that +the sultan with difficulty refrained from shewing his surprise, +and inwardly exclaimed, "By Allah, till now I never have beheld +such a profusion of splendour, elegance, and valuable furniture!" +When the meal was ended, coffee, various sorts of confections, +and sherbets were brought in; after which the company conversed. +The three sultans inquired of their royal guest if he had any +children, to which he replied that he had two sons. + +The sultans then requested that he would send for them: upon +which, their father dispatched a messenger to summon them to his +presence. They repaired to the camp, mounted on chargers richly +caparisoned, and most splendidly dressed. On their entering the +tent, the princesses, who were seated in a recess concealed from +view by blinds of gold wire, gazed eagerly at them; and she who +had lost her bird inquired of the other two if either of them was +their husband. They replied in the negative, remarking that he +was of personal beauty, and dignified appearance, far superior to +these princes. The three sultans, also, questioned their +daughters on the subject, and received similar answers. + +The sultans, upon this, inquired of the father of the princes if +he had any other sons; to which he replied that he had one; but +that he had long rejected him, and also his mother, from notice; +and that they lived among the domestics of the palace. The +sultans entreated to see him, and he was introduced, but in a +mean habit. The two princesses whom he had delivered from the +monsters and married immediately recognized him, and exclaimed +together, "This is truly our beloved husband!" He was then +embraced by the sultans, and admitted to his wives; who fell upon +his neck in transports of joy and rapture, kissing him between +his eyes, while the princess who had lost the bird prostrated +herself before him, covered with a veil, and kissed his hand. + +After this scene the young prince returned to his father, and the +other sultans, who received him respectfully, and seated him by +them, at which the father was astonished; but more so, when, +turning to his brothers, he addressed them, saying, "Which of you +first found the string of emeralds and pearls?" To this they made +no reply: when he continued, "Who of you killed the monster, +destroyed the elephant, or, fortifying his mind, dared to enter +the palace of this sultan, and bring away the cage with the bird? +When you both, coward-like, rushed upon me, robbed me of my +prizes, and wounded me, I could easily have overcome you; but I +felt that there was a season appointed by Providence for justice +upon you and my wretched father, who rejected my mother and +myself, depriving us of our just claims." Having thus spoken, he +drew his sabre, and rushing upon the two guilty princes struck +them dead, each at one blow. He would, in his rage, have attacked +his father; but the sultans prevented him, and having reconciled +them, the old sultan promised to leave him his heir, and to +restore his mother to her former rank and consequence. His +nuptials with the third princess were then celebrated; and their +fathers, after participating for forty days in the magnificent +entertainments given on the occasion, took leave, and returned to +their several kingdoms. The old sultan finding himself, from age, +incapable of the cares of government, resigned the throne to his +son, whose authority was gladly submitted to by the people, who +admired his prowess and gallantry. + +Some time after his accession to the kingdom, attended only by +some select courtiers, and without the cumbrous appendages of +royalty, he left his capital upon a hunting excursion. In the +course of the sport, passing over a desert plain, he came to a +spot where was the opening of a cave, into which he entered, and +observed domestic utensils and other marks of its being +inhabited; but no one was then within it. + +The curiosity of the sultan being excited, he resolved to wait +until the owners of the cave should appear, and cautioned his +attendants not to mention his rank. He had not sat long, when a +man was seen advancing with a load of provisions and two skins of +water. On his coming to the mouth of the cave, the sultan +addressed him, saying, "Whence comest thou, where art thou going, +and what dost thou carry?" "I am," replied the man, "one of three +companions, who inhabit this cave, having fled from our city to +avoid imprisonment, and every ten days one of us goes to purchase +provisions: to-day was my turn, and my friends will be here +presently." "What was the cause of your flight?" rejoined the +sultan. "As to that," answered the man, "it can only be +communicated by the relation of our adventures, which are +curious, and if you wish to hear them, stay with us to-night, and +we will each, in our turn, relate his own story." + +The sultan upon this, said to himself, "I will not move from this +spot until I have heard their adventures;" and immediately +dispatched his attendants, excepting a few, with orders to bring +from the city some necessaries for the night. "For," thought he, +"hearing these stories will be pleasanter than hunting, as they +may, perhaps, inform my mind." He remained in the cave with his +few followers; and soon after arrived the two other inmates, who +were succeeded by the sultan's messengers with the requisites for +a substantial repast, of which all partook without ceremony. When +it was finished, the sultan desired the owners of the cave to +relate their adventures; and they replied, "To hear is to obey:" +the first beginning as follows. + + + + + Story of the First Sharper in the Cave. + + + +My father died when I was a youth, leaving my mother and myself +with little property, but an old she-goat, which we sold, and +with the price bought a calf, and nourished her as well as we +could for a whole year; when my mother desired me to go and +dispose of her in the market. Accordingly I went, and soon +perceived that there was not a fatter or finer beast in the +market. The company of butchers, composed of forty persons, fixed +their eyes upon the calf, and supposing me an ignorant lad, +resolved to have her for little or nothing, and feast themselves +upon her flesh. After concerting among themselves, one of them +coming up, said, "My lad, dost thou mean to sell this she-goat?" +"Goat!" replied I, "it is a calf." "Nay," answered he, "surely +thou must be blind or under enchantment; but, old as the goat is, +if thou wilt sell it, I will give thee a koorsh for her." I +angrily refused, and he went away; when presently up came +another; and, in short, in regular succession the whole forty, +the last of whom was the chief of the butchers. I perceived the +connivance to cheat me, and resolving to be revenged, said, "I am +convinced I am deceived, so you shall have the goat, if such she +is, for the koorsh, provided you let me have her tail." This was +agreed to, and it being cut off, I delivered my calf to the chief +of the butchers, received the money, and returned home. + +On my arrival at home, my mother asked if I had sold the calf; to +which I replied, "Yes, for a koorsh, and her tail into the +bargain." She thought me stupid or mad, and inquired what I would +do with the latter. I answered, "I will be amply revenged on the +sharpers, who pretended that my calf was a she-goat, and force +from them, at least, a thousand times the price they gave me." +After this, I skinned the tail, cut the leather into thongs, and +twisted them into a whip with hard thick knots. I then disguised +myself in female attire, taking pains to make myself look as +handsome as possible with the assistance of my mother, who put +soorma into my eyelids, and arranged my eyebrows, stained my +hands with hinna, and directed me how to ogle and smile. In +short, as I was then a beardless lad, and reckoned comely, I +appeared as a very desirable maiden in my disguise. + +On my arrival at the house of the chief of the butchers, I found +him sitting with his companions in the court. The whole of my +calf had been cooked in various ways, and they were just going to +spread the cloth and feast upon it. On my entrance I made a +profound salutation: upon which they all rose up to return it, +and having seated me welcomely, whispered one to another, +saying, "By Allah, this will be a night of glorious festivity, +illumined by so much beauty! however, our chief must have the +preference, this night shall be his; after which we will all cast +lots for his turn of enjoyment." + +When we had feasted on my calf, and the night was far advanced, +the butchers took leave, departed to their homes, and I remained +alone with the chief, who began to entertain me with amusing +conversation. Observing a rope hanging from the ceiling of an +apartment, I, as if ignorant of its purpose, inquired the use of +it; when the venerable chief of the butchers informed me it was +for suspending animals to cut up; also, occasionally his +dependants, whose crimes required the punishment of flogging. +Upon this I expressed a great desire to be tied with the rope, +drawn up, and swung for amusement. "My dear lady," replied he, +"the cord will hurt thy delicate skin; but thou shall put it +round me, draw me up, and see the use without injuring thyself." + +I consented to the wish of the chief butcher, placed the cord +under his arms, and drew him up till the ends of his toes +scarcely touched the ground. I then secured the rope, and for +some moments kept running playfully round him, and tickling his +sides, which made him laugh with delight. At length, tired of his +posture, he desired me to release him; but I refused, saying, "My +dear chief, I have not yet finished my amusement;" after which I +tore the clothes from his back, as if in merriment. When I had +done this, I pulled out my whip, which was well knotted, saying, +"This is the tail of a she-goat, and not of a calf." The butcher +now began to be somewhat alarmed, asking me who I was, and whence +I came? to which I replied, "I am the owner of the fat calf, of +which thou and thy villanous companions so rascally cheated me." +I then bared my arm to my elbow, and so belaboured his back and +sides with my whip that he roared in agony; nor did I leave off +till his skin was completely flayed, and he fainted from the +pain. After this I searched the apartment, found a bag containing +three hundred deenars, some handsome dresses, and other valuable +articles, all of which I bundled up, and carried off; leaving the +chief of the butchers, suspended, to his fate. When I had reached +home, I gave my prize to my mother, saying, "This is only part of +the value of my calf, which I have just received of the +purchaser." + +Early in the morning the butchers repaired, as usual, to the +residence of their chief, and finding the door of the court-yard +locked, joked one with another, saying, "Our old gentleman has +been so fatigued with his happiness that he sleeps longer than +ordinary." They waited till near noon, when they called out for +admittance; but receiving no answer, became apprehensive of some +disaster, and forcing the door, found their chief suspended, +almost lifeless, and his scars dropping blood. To their inquiries +into the cause of his doleful situation, he replied, "That +pretended vixen was no woman, but a brawny youth, the owner of +the calf; who, in return for our roguery, has flogged me thus, +and carried off all he could find in my chamber worth having." +The butchers vowed revenge, saying, "We will seize and put him to +death;" but their chief requested them for the present to be +patient, and carry him to a warm bath, that he might wash and get +his wounds dressed. + +I observed the chief butcher enter the bathing house alone, while +his followers waited at the gate: upon which I went to a +slaughter-house, poured over my back the blood of a sheep, dabbed +it with plaisters of cotton, and leaning on a crutch, as if in +agony of pain, repaired to the bath. At first the butchers +refused me admittance, saying their chief was within; but on my +entreating their compassion for my miserable condition, they at +length permitted me to enter. Passing through the different +rooms, I came to the bath, in which I found the unfortunate chief +washing his scars. I pulled out my whip, and having said to him, +"Shekh, this is the tail of my calf!" flogged him again so +severely that he fainted; after which I made my escape by another +entrance to the hummaum, which opened into a different street. + +The butchers growing impatient at the long stay of their chief in +the bath, at length entered, and found him in extreme agony. He +informed them of this second revenge of the owner of the calf, +and requested that he would take him into the country, pitch a +tent for his reception, and remain to guard him till he should be +cured of his wounds. They did so; but I watched their motions, +and disguising myself, repaired in the evening towards the tent. +Here I found a Bedouin Arab, whom I bribed with a piece of gold +to cry out, "I am the owner of the calf, and will have the life +of your chief!" cautioning him at the same time, after he had so +exclaimed, to make his escape as quickly as possible from the +butchers, who would pursue him. "I shall not heed them," replied +he, "though they may be mounted on the fleetest coursers." + +Having said this, the Bedouin went up close to the tents, bawling +out vociferously, as I had directed him: upon which all the +butchers started up and pursued him, but in vain, to a great +distance. I then entered the tent in which the chief was reposing +alone, and pulling out my whip, once more flogged him till he +roared with agony. When I was tired I bundled up such articles as +I could lay my hands on; and returning home, presented them to my +mother, saying, "Here is the balance of the price of our calf." + +The butchers having attempted to overtake the Bedouin, till they +were wearied with running, but in vain, returned to their chief, +whom they found in a fainting fit from the pain of his wounds. +Having sprinkled water on his face, they recovered him so far +that he was able to inform them of what had happened; and to +request them to convey him once more to his own house, to give +out that he was dead of his wounds, and make a mock funeral; +when, possibly, the owner of the calf, believing him departed +this life, might cease to torment him. + +The butchers obeyed the commands of their chief, and reporting +that he was dead, laid him in a litter, and marched in mournful +procession towards the burying ground, followed by a great +concourse of people. Mixing with the crowd, in disguise, I at +length stooped under the litter, and giving the chief, who lay +extended in a winding sheet, a smart poke with a pointed stick, +up he jumped, to the astonishment of the beholders; who cried +out, "A miracle! a miracle! the dead is raised to life!" while I +made my escape in the throng; but being fearful that the many +tricks I had played, especially this last, might excite inquiry, +and lead to a discovery, I fled from the city, and resolved to +remain in this cave till curiosity should subside. + +The sultan exclaimed, "These adventures are surprising;" when the +second inhabitant of the cave said, "My lord, my story is much +more wonderful than the last; for I contrived not only to be dead +and buried, but to escape from the tomb." "Possibly," said the +sultan, "thy adventures may have been stranger than those of this +man; but if any of you are acquainted with the memoirs of ancient +monarchs, I could wish you to relate them; however, at present, I +must take you with me to the palace, that I may make you +welcome." When the men heard this proposition, they were alarmed, +and cried out, "What, my lord, would you carry us to the city +from which we have escaped to save our lives?" "Fear not," +replied he, "I am the sultan, and was amusing myself with hunting +when I chanced to discover your cave." They bowed themselves +before him, and exclaimed, "To hear is to obey;" after which they +attended him to the city. On their arrival, the sultan ordered +them proper apartments and suitable entertainment, and invested +each of them with a rich habit. For some days they remained +enjoying themselves; when, at length, one evening the sultan +commanded them to his presence, and requested a narrative, when +one of them related the following story. + + + + + History of the Sultan of Hind. + + + +In ancient days there lived a sultan of Hind, than whom no prince +of the age was greater in extent of territory, riches, or force; +but Heaven had not allotted to him offspring, either male or +female: on which account he was involved in sorrow. One morning, +being even more melancholy than usual, he put on a red habit, and +repaired to his divan; when his vizier, alarmed at the robes of +mourning, said, "What can have occasioned my lord to put on this +gloomy habit?" "Alas!" replied the sultan, "my soul is this +morning overclouded with melancholy." "Repair then to the +treasury," said the vizier, "and view thy wealth; as, perhaps, +the lustre of gold, and the brilliant sparkling of jewels, may +amuse thy senses and disperse thy sorrow." "Vizier," answered the +sultan, "this world to me is all vanity; I regard nothing but the +contemplation of the Deity: yet how can I be relieved from +melancholy, since I have lived to this age and he has not blessed +me with children, either sons or daughters, who are the ornaments +of manhood in this world?" + +The sultan had scarcely ceased speaking, when a human figure of a +dusky hue appeared before him, and said, "My sovereign, here is a +confection left me by my ancestors, with an assurance, that +whoever might eat of it would have offspring." The sultan eagerly +took the confection, and by the blessing of Allah, one of the +ladies of his haram conceived that very night. When her pregnancy +was made known to him, the sultan was overjoyed, distributed +large sums in charity to the poor, and every day comforted the +distressed by his bounty. + +When the sultana had gone her full time, she was delivered of a +son beautiful in aspect, and of graceful person; at which the +sultan became overjoyed, and on that day set apart one half of +his treasures for the use of the infant prince, who was intrusted +to the charge of experienced nurses. After he had thrived +sufficiently at the breast he was weaned, and at six years of age +put under the care of learned tutors, who taught him to write, to +read the Koran, and instructed him in the other several branches +of literature. When he had completed his twelfth year, he was +accomplished in horsemanship, archery, and throwing the lance, +till at length he became a distinguished cavalier, and excelled +the most celebrated equestrians. + +The young prince being on a certain day hunting in the vicinity +of the capital, there suddenly appeared soaring and wheeling in +the air a bird, whose plumage was of the most beautiful and +glossy green. The prince let fly an arrow, but without effect, +and the bird suddenly disappeared. It was in vain that he turned +his eye to all quarters, in hopes of again discovering his +wished-for prey, for the bird had flown out of sight, and the +prince after searching in all directions till the close of day, +returned vexed and much disappointed to his father's palace. On +his entrance, the sultan and sultana perceiving his countenance +gloomy, inquired the cause of his melancholy, when he informed +them of the bird: upon which, they said, "Dear son, the creatures +of the Almighty are innumerably diversified; and, doubtless, +there are many birds as beautiful, and wonderfully more so than +this, whose escape you so much regret." "It may be so," replied +the prince; "but unless I shall be able to take this, which has +so captivated my fancy, I will abstain from food." + +On the following morning the prince repaired again to the chase, +and having reached the same spot on the plain, to his great joy +beheld the green bird. Having taken a cautious aim, he let fly an +arrow; but she evaded it, and soared before him in the air. The +prince spurred his courser and followed, keeping his desired prey +in sight unceasingly till sunset; when both himself and his horse +being exhausted he gave up the pursuit, and returned towards the +city. As he was riding slowly, and almost fainting with hunger +and fatigue, there met him a venerable looking personage, who +said, "Prince, both thyself and thy charger seem exhausted; what +can have been the cause of such over exercise?" "Father," +answered the prince, "I have been pursuing, but in vain, a +beautiful green bird, on which I had set my mind." "Son," replied +the sage, "if thou wert to follow it for a whole year's journey, +thy pursuit would be useless; for thou couldst never take it. +This bird comes from a city in the country of Kafoor, in which +are most delightful gardens abounding in such birds as this, and +many other species still more beautiful, some of which sing +enchantingly, and others talk like human beings; but, alas thou +canst never reach that happy spot. Give up then all thoughts of +the bird, and seek some other object for a favourite that thou +mayst enjoy repose, and no longer vex thyself for +impossibilities." When the prince heard this from the old man, he +exclaimed, "By Allah! nothing shall prevent me from visiting the +charming country thou hast mentioned;" and leaving the sage, he +rode homewards, his mind wholly taken up in meditating on the +land of Kafoor. + +When the prince had reached the palace, the sultan perceiving his +disordered state, inquired the adventures of the day; and being +informed of his fruitless pursuit, and the remarks of the old +man, said, "My son, discharge this idle chimera from thy mind, +nor perplex thyself longer, since he who wishes for an +impossibility may pine himself to death, but can never gain his +desires: calm then thy soul, nor vex thyself longer in vain." "By +Allah!" answered the prince, "my soul, O my father, is captivated +with the desire of possessing this bird more strongly than ever, +from the words of the venerable old man; nor is it possible I can +enjoy repose till I have travelled to the island of Kafoor, and +beheld the gardens containing such a wonderful feathered +species." "Alas! my dear son," exclaimed the sultan, "think how +afflicting must be to myself and thy mother thy absence from our +sight, and for our sakes give up such a fruitless expedition." + +The prince, notwithstanding the remonstrances of his father, +continued obstinate, and said, "My travelling is inevitable: +grant me then permission, or I will put myself to death." "If +so," exclaimed the affrighted sultan, "there is no refuge or help +but from the omnipotent Allah: well has the proverb remarked, +that the nestling would not be restrained from the air, when +suddenly the raven pounced upon it and bore it away. Heaven guard +my son from the consequences of his imprudence." Having said +thus, the sultan commanded preparations for the requisites of +travel, and ordered a force to accompany the headstrong prince; +who, having taken leave of his afflicted parents, began his +expedition towards the country of Kafoor. + +The prince pursued his journey without any extraordinary +adventure for a whole month, and at the expiration of it arrived +at a spot from which branched out three roads. At the junction of +them was erected a lofty pyramid, each face fronting one of the +roads. On one face was inscribed, "This is named the Path of +Safety:" on the second, "This is called the Way of Repentance:" +and on the third, "Whoever follows this road will not probably +return." "I will pursue this last," said the prince to himself, +and accordingly striking into it, proceeded onwards for twenty +days, at the end of which he encamped near a desolated city, +crumbling into ruin, wholly destitute of inhabitants. He +commanded his attendants, as no provisions could be found in the +city, to kill five sheep of the flocks he had brought with him, +and dress them for their refreshment in various ways. When all +were ready, and the simmaut was spread out, having performed his +ablutions, he sat down with his principal followers. + +The prince and his company had scarcely seated themselves, when, +lo! there advanced from the desolated city a Genie, whom the +prince seeing, stood up, and thus accosted, "Hail! and welcome to +the sovereign of the Aoon, friendly to his brethren, and ruler of +this extensive desert." He then addressed him, flatteringly, in +fluent language and eloquent expression. The hair of this Oone +Genie hung shaggily over his eyes, and flowed in matted tresses +upon his shoulders. The prince took out a pair of scissors, and +having condescendingly cut his hair, pared his nails, and washed +him, seated him at the cloth, and placed before him the dish +dressed peculiarly for himself. + +The Oone ate, and was delighted with the affability of the +prince, whom he addressed, saying, "By Allah, O Mahummud, son of +a sultan! I am doomed to death by thy arrival here; but what, my +lord, was thy object in coming?" Upon this the prince informed +him of his having seen the bird, his vain attempts to take her, +the account he had received from the old man, and his resolution, +in consequence of his information, to penetrate to the kingdom of +Kafoor, to visit the gardens, and bring away some of the +wonderful birds. + +When the Oone heard this, he said, "O son of a sultan, that +country to thee is impenetrable, thou canst not reach it; for the +distance from hence is a journey of three hundred years to the +most laborious traveller; how then canst thou hope to arrive at +it, much more return? But, my son, the good old proverb remarks, +that kindness should be returned with kindness, and evil with +evil, and that none are so cruel or so benevolent as the +inhabitants of the desert. As thou hast treated me kindly, so, +God willing, shalt thou have a return for thy goodness; but thou +must leave here thy attendants and thy effects. Thou and I only +will go together, and I will accomplish thy wish in gratitude for +what thou hast done for me." The prince immediately retired from +his encampment with the Oone, who said, "Mount upon my +shoulders." + +The prince obeyed the commands of the Oone, who having first +stopped his rider's ears with cotton, mounted into the air, and +after soaring for some hours descended; when the prince found +himself in the island of Kafoor, and near the desired garden. +Having alighted from the shoulders of the generous Oone, he +examined the spot, beheld groves, blooming shrubs, flowers +bordering clear streams, and beautiful birds chanting various +melodies. The Oone said, "Behold the object, of thy search, enter +the garden!" Upon this the prince left him, passed the gate, +which was open, and entered. He walked on every quarter, and +depending from the branches of flowering shrubs saw cages holding +a variety of beautiful birds, two birds in each cage. + +The prince took down a large cage, and having examined the birds, +placed in it such as pleased him to the number of six, with which +he was preparing to leave the garden; when at the gate a watchman +met him, who cried out loudly, "A robber! a robber!" Instantly +numerous guards rushing out, seized the prince, bound, and +carried him before the sultan, to whom they complained, saying, +"We found in the garden this young man, carrying off a cage with +six birds. He must certainly be a robber." + +The sultan addressed the prince, saying, "What induced thee, +youthful stranger, to violate my property, trespass on the +garden, and attempt stealing these birds?" The prince returned no +answer: upon which the sultan exclaimed, "Young man, thou art +verging upon death; yet still, if thy soul is bent upon having +these birds, bring me from the Black Island some bunches of +grapes, which are composed of emeralds and diamonds, and I will +give thee six birds in addition to those thou hast stolen." +Having said this, the sultan released the prince, who repaired to +his generous friend the Oone, whom he informed of the unlucky +conclusion of his adventure. "Our task is an easy one," answered +the Oone; "mount upon my shoulders." + +The prince did as he was desired, and after two hours flight the +Oone descended and alighted, when the prince found himself in the +Black Island. He immediately advanced towards the garden in which +was the fruit composed of emeralds and diamonds. On the way a +monster met him of terrible appearance. + +The monster sprung at the prince, who, with surprising agility, +drawing his sword, wounded the furious beast on the forehead with +such effect, that, uttering a dreadful groan, he fell dead at his +feet. It happened, by divine decree, that the sultan's daughter +looking from a window of the haram, beheld the combat, and, +stricken with the manly beauty and prowess of the prince, +exclaimed, "Who can withstand thy courage, or who resist thy all +conquering charms?" But he did not see the princess, or hear her +applause. + +The prince, after having slain the monster, proceeded to the +garden, the gate of which he found open, and on entering, +perceived variety of artificial trees composed of precious +stones. Among them was one resembling the vine, the fruits of +which were of emeralds and diamonds. He plucked off six bunches, +and was quitting the garden when a sentinel met him; who, being +alarmed, cried out, "A robber! a robber!" The guards rushed out, +and having bound him, carried him before the sultan, saying, "My +lord, we found this youth stealing the fruit from the garden of +jewels." + +The sultan was enraged, and on the point of ordering him to be +put to death, when a number of persons entered, crying out, "Good +tidings to our sovereign." "On what account?" exclaimed the +sultan. "The horrible monster," replied they, "who used annually +to appear and devour our sons and daughters, we have just now +found dead and cloven in two." The sultan was so rejoiced at this +happy event, that he refrained from the blood of the prince, and +exclaimed, "Whoever has destroyed this monster let him come to +me, and I swear by Allah, who has invested me with royalty, that +I will give him my daughter in marriage; and whatever else he may +desire, even to the half of my empire." + +Upon the sultan's declaration being proclaimed, several young men +appeared, pretending that they had killed the monster, and gave +various accounts of the combat, which made the prince smile. "By +Allah! it is strange," said the sultan, "that a youth in such a +perilous situation should be so unconcerned as to smile." While +the sultan was ruminating on this occurrence, a eunuch entered +from the haram, requesting that he would come and speak to the +princess his daughter, who had business of importance to +communicate; upon which the sultan arose, and retired from the +hall of audience. + +When the sultan had entered the princess's apartment, he said, +"What can have happened which has occasioned you to send for me +so suddenly?" She replied, "Is it thy wish to know who slew the +monster, and to reward the courageous hero?" "By Allah," answered +the sultan, "who created subjects and their sovereigns, if I can +discover him, my first offer to him shall be to espouse thee, +whatever be his condition, or though he dwell in the most distant +region." The princess rejoined, "No one slew the monster but the +youth who entered the garden of gems, and was bearing off the +fruit, whom thou wast just now on the point of putting to death." + +When the sultan heard the above from his daughter, he returned to +the divan, and calling the prince before him, said, "Young man, I +grant thee thy pardon; art thou he who destroyed the monster?" "I +am," replied the prince. The sultan would instantly have summoned +the cauzee to perform the espousals; but the prince said, "I have +a friend to consult; permit me to retire, and I will soon +return." The sultan consented, saying, "Thy request is but +reasonable; but come back quickly." The prince having repaired to +his friend the Oone, informed him of what had happened to him, +and of the offer of the sultan's daughter in marriage: upon which +the Oone said, "Accept the princess; but on condition that, if +you marry her, you shall be allowed to carry her to your own +kingdom." The prince having returned to the sultan, proposed his +terms, which were readily agreed to, and the nuptials were +celebrated with the most splendid magnificence. After abiding in +the palace of the sultan for a month and three days, he requested +permission to depart with his bride towards his own country, +which was granted. + +On the departure of the prince, his father-in-law presented him +with a hundred bunches of the grapes composed of emeralds and +diamonds, and he repaired to his friend the Oone; who, having +first stopped their ears with cotton, mounted them upon his +shoulders, and soaring into the air, after two hours descended +near the capital of the island of Kafoor. The prince, taking four +bunches of the jewelled fruit, hastened to the palace, and laid +them before the sultan; who, in astonishment, exclaimed, "Surely, +this young stranger must be a powerful magician, or how could he +have travelled the distance of three hundred years' journey, and +have accomplished his purpose in less time than three months! +Such an action is truly miraculous. Hast thou, indeed, young +man," said the sultan, "been at the Black Island?" "I have," +answered the prince. "Describe it to me," replied the sultan, +"its appearance, its buildings, its gardens, and rivers." The +prince having answered all his queries, the sultan said, "Noble +youth, you may assuredly ask of me whatever you wish!" "I want +nothing but the birds," rejoined the prince. "They are thine," +returned the sultan; "but annually on a certain day, and this is +it, there descends from yonder mountain a monstrous vulture, +which tears in pieces our men, women, and children; and having +flown away with them in his gigantic talons devours their flesh. +I have a beautiful daughter, whom, if thou canst overcome this +calamitous monster, I will give to thee in marriage." + +The prince replied, "I will consult my friend;" and then returned +to the Oone, whom he informed of the offer; but he had scarcely +done speaking, when, lo! the vulture appeared: upon which the +Oone, ascending into the air, attacked the monster, and after a +fierce combat, tore him into halves; after which he descended to +the prince, and said, "Go to the sultan, and acquaint him that +his destructive enemy is slain." + +The prince did as he was directed: upon which the sultan with his +train, and an immense crowd of the inhabitants of the city, came +out on horseback, and beheld the monstrous vulture, stretched +dead on the ground, torn in halves. The sultan then conducted the +prince of Hind to the palace; where his marriage with the +princess was instantly celebrated, amid the highest festivity and +rejoicings; and after remaining a full month at the sultan's +court, he requested leave to depart; when his father-in-law +presented him with ten cages, in each of which were four of the +beautiful birds of variously coloured plumage, and dismissed him, +after an affectionate farewell, with his daughter. + +The prince having departed from the sultan repaired to his +faithful friend the Oone, who welcomed his return; and having +mounted him upon his back with his two brides, his jewel fruit, +and the cages, immediately ascended into the air, from whence, +after soaring for some hours, he gradually descended, and +alighted near the ruined city, where the prince had left his +tents, cattle, and followers, whom he found anxiously expecting +his arrival. The friendly Oone had scarcely set him down, when he +said to the prince, "My young friend Mahummud, the obligation +already conferred upon me by thy coming here was great; but I +have one more favour to request." "What can that be?" replied the +prince. "That thou leave not this spot," continued the Oone, +"until thou hast washed my corpse, enshrouded, and laid it in the +grave." Having said thus, the Oone suddenly uttered one loud +groan, and instantly his soul took its flight from the body. The +astonished prince stood for some time overpowered with sorrow; +but at length recovering himself, he, with the assistance of his +domestics, washed the corpse, wrapped it in a winding sheet, and +having prayed over it, deposited it in the earth. + +The funeral ceremonies of his friend being over, he commenced his +march homewards, and after three days arrived in sight of the +inscribed pyramid, near which he perceived an extensive +encampment, which, on reconnoitring, he found to be that of his +father. The aged sultan, unable to bear the absence of his son, +had marched from his capital in hopes of overtaking him; but on +his arrival at the junction of the three ways, being confounded +at the sight of the inscriptions, he had halted, not knowing +where to proceed. Great was his joy on discovering the prince +advancing towards that face of the pyramid on which was engraved, +"Whoever travels this road will probably never return." When the +raptures of meeting and mutual congratulations were over, the +prince informed the sultan of his wonderful and successful +adventures, which overpowered him with astonishment and joy. +After reposing a few days, they proceeded towards the capital of +the sultan; where tidings having arrived of their approach, the +inhabitants ornamented the city with silks, carpets, and +transparent paintings; and the nobles and respectable persons +issued forth with splendid trains to meet and congratulate their +sovereign and the prince, who entered in triumphal procession, +amid the greatest rejoicings and prayers for their welfare and +prosperity. + + + + + STORY OF THE FISHERMAN'S SON. + + + +A fisherman's son having in company with his father caught a +large fish, the latter proposed to present it to the sultan, in +hopes of receiving a great reward. While he was gone home to +fetch a basket, the son, moved by compassion, returned the fish +into the water; but fearful of his father's anger, fled from his +country, and repaired to a distant city, where he was entertained +by a person as a servant. Strolling one day in the market, he saw +a Jew purchase of a lad a cock at a very high price, and send it +by his slave to his wife, with orders to keep it safely till his +return home. The fisherman's son supposing that as the Jew gave +so great a price for the cock it must possess some extraordinary +property, resolved to obtain it; and, accordingly, having bought +two large fowls, carried them to the Jew's wife, whom he informed +that her husband had sent him for the cock, which he had +exchanged for the fowls. She gave it him; and he having retired, +killed the bird, in whose entrails he found a magical ring; which +being rubbed by his touch, a voice proceeded from it demanding +what were the commands of its possessor, which should be +immediately executed by the genii who were servants of the ring. +The fisherman's son was rejoiced at his good fortune, and while +meditating what use he should make of his ring, passed by the +sultan's palace, at the gates of which were suspended many human +heads. He inquired the reason, and was informed that they were +those of unfortunate princes, who having failed in performing the +conditions on which the sultan's daughter was offered them in +marriage, had been put to death. Hoping to be more fortunate than +them by the aid of his ring, he resolved to demand the princess's +hand. He rubbed the ring, when the voice asked his commands: upon +which he required a rich dress, and it was instantly laid before +him. He put it on, repaired to the palace, and being introduced +to the sultan, demanded his daughter to wife. The sultan +consented, on condition that his life should be forfeited unless +he should remove a lofty and extensive mound of sand that lay on +one side of the palace, which must be done before he could wed +the princess. He accepted the condition; but demanded an interval +of forty days to perform the task. This being agreed to, he took +his leave, and having repaired to his lodging, rubbed his ring, +commanded the genii to remove the mound, and erect on the space +it covered a magnificent palace, and to furnish it suitably for a +royal residence. In fifteen days the task was completed; he was +wedded to the princess, and declared heir to the sultan. In the +mean while, the Jew whom he had tricked of the cock and the +magical ring resolved to travel in search of his lost prize, and +at last arrived at the city, where he was informed of the +wonderful removal of the mound, and the erection of the palace. +He guessed that it must have been done by means of his ring, to +recover which he planned the following stratagem. Having +disguised himself as a merchant, he repaired to the palace, and +cried for sale valuable jewels. The princess hearing him, sent an +attendant to examine them and inquire their price, when the Jew +asked in exchange only old rings. This being told to the +princess, she recollected that her husband kept an old shabby +looking ring in his writing stand, and he being asleep, she took +it out, and sent it to the Jew; who, knowing it to be the one he +had so long sought for, eagerly gave for it all the jewels in his +basket. He retired with his prize, and having rubbed the ring, +commanded the genii to convey the palace and all its inhabitants, +excepting the fisherman's son, into a distant desert island, +which was done instantly. The fisherman's son, on awaking in the +morning, found himself lying on the mound of sand, which had +reoccupied its old spot. He arose, and in alarm lest the sultan +should put him to death in revenge for the loss of his daughter, +fled to another kingdom as quickly as possible. Here he endured a +disconsolate life, subsisting on the sale of some jewels, which +he happened to have upon his dress at his flight. Wandering one +day through a town, a man offered him for sale a dog, a cat, and +a rat, which he purchased, and kept, diverting his melancholy +with their tricks, and uncommon playfulness together. These +seeming animals proved to be magicians; who, in return for his +kindness, agreed to recover for their master his lost prize, and +informed him of their intention. He eagerly thanked them, and +they all set out in search of the palace, the ring, and the +princess. At length they reached the shore of the ocean, after +much travel, and descried the island on which it stood, when the +dog swam over, carrying on his back the cat and the rat. Being +landed, they proceeded to the palace; when the rat entered, and +perceived the Jew asleep upon a sofa, with the ring laid before +him, which he seized in his mouth, and then returned to his +companions. They began to cross the sea, as before, but when +about half over the dog expressed a wish to carry the ring in his +mouth. The rat refused, lest he should drop it; but the dog +threatened, unless he would give it him, to dive and drown them +both in the sea. The rat, alarmed for his life, complied with his +demand: but the dog missed his aim in snatching at the ring, +which fell into the ocean. They landed, and informed the +fisherman's son of his loss: upon which he, in despair, resolved +to drown himself; when suddenly, as he was going to execute his +purpose, a great fish appearing with the ring in his mouth, swam +close to shore, and having dropped it within reach of the +despairing youth, miraculously exclaimed, "I am the fish which +you released from captivity, and thus reward you for your +generosity." The fisherman's son, overjoyed, returned to his +father-in-law's capital, and at night rubbing the ring, commanded +the genii to convey the palace to its old site. This being done +in an instant, he entered the palace, and seized the Jew, whom he +commanded to be cast alive into a burning pile, in which he was +consumed. From this period he lived happily with his princess, +and on the death of the sultan succeeded to his dominions. + + + + + STORY OF ABOU NEEUT AND ABOU NEEUTEEN; + OR, THE WELL-INTENTIONED AND THE DOUBLE-MINDED. + + + +A person named Abou Neeut, or the well-intentioned, being much +distressed in his own country, resolved to seek a better livelihood in +another. Accordingly he took with him all he possessed, being only one +single sherif, and began his journey. He had not travelled far when +there overtook him a man, who entertained him with his conversation; +in the course of which it appeared that his name was Abou Neeuteen, or +double-minded. Being upon the same scheme, they agreed to seek their +fortunes together, and it was settled that Abou Neeut should be the +purse-bearer of the common stock. The other possessed ten sherifs. + +After some days of toilsome journey they reached a city; on +entering which, a beggar accosted them, crying out, "Worthy +believers, disburse your alms and ye shall be rewarded ten-fold." +Upon this, Abou Neeut gave him a sherif; when his companion, +enraged at what he thought prodigality, demanded back his money, +which was given him, and he marched off leaving his new friend +without any thing. Abou Neeut, resigned to his fate, and relying +on Providence, proceeded to a mosque to pay his devotions, hoping +to meet some charitable person who would relieve his necessities; +but he was mistaken. For a night and day he remained in the +mosque, but no one offered him charity. Pressed by hunger, he in +the dusk of evening stole out, and wandered with fainting steps +through the streets. At length perceiving a servant throwing the +fragments from an eating cloth, he advanced, and gathering them +up, sat down in a corner, and gnawed the bones and half-eaten +morsels with eagerness; after which, lifting up his eyes towards +heaven, he thanked God for his scanty meal. The servant, who had +observed his motions, was surprised and affected at his wretched +condition and devotion, of which he informed his master; who, +being a charitable man, took from his purse ten sherifs, which he +ordered the servant to give to Abou Neeut. + +The servant, through avarice, having retained one sherif as a +perquisite, delivered the rest to Abou Neeut; who, having counted +the money, thanked God for his bounty; but said, agreeably to the +scriptural declaration he ought to have had ten-fold for the +sherif he had given to the beggar. The master of the servant +overhearing this, called Abou Neeut up stairs; and having seated +him, inquired his story, which he faithfully related to his host, +who was a capital merchant, and was so much pleased at his pious +simplicity, that he resolved to befriend him, and desired him to +abide for the present in his house. + +Abou Neeut had resided some days with his friendly host, when the +season arrived at which the merchant, who was punctual in +discharging the duties of religion, having examined his stock, +set apart the tenth of it in kind, and bestowed it upon his +guest, whom he advised to open a shop and try his fortune in +trade. Abou Neeut did so, and was so successful, that in a few +years he became one of the most reputable merchants in the place. + +At the end of this period, sitting one day in his warehouse, he +saw in the streets wretchedly habited, lean, and with eyes sunken +and dim, his old companion Abou Neeuteen, begging alms of +passengers with the importunate cry of distress. Abou Neeut +compassionating his miserable situation, ordered a servant to +call him to him; and on his arrival, having seated him, sent for +refreshments to relieve his immediate want. He then invited him +to spend the night at his house; and in the evening, having shut +up his warehouse, conducted him home, where a bath was made warm +for him, and when he had bathed, he was presented with a change +of handsome apparel. Supper was served, and when they had eaten +till they were satisfied they conversed on several subjects. At +length Abou Neeut exclaimed, "Dost thou not recollect me, my +brother?" "No, by Allah, most liberal host," replied the other; +"but who art thou?" "I was," answered Abou Neeut, "the companion +of thy travel at such a period; but my disposition is still +unchanged, nor have I forgotten our old connection. Half of what +I possess is thine." + +Having said this, Abou Neeut balanced his accounts, and gave half +of his property to his distressed fellow traveller; who with it +stocked a warehouse, and traded for himself with good success. +For some time the two friends lived near each other in great +repute, when Abou Neeuteen growing restless, requested Abou Neeut +to quit their present abode, and travel for recreation and +profit. "My dear friend," replied Abou Neeut, "why should we +travel? have we not here affluence and ease, and what more can we +enjoy in any part of the world?" This remonstrance had no effect +on Abou Neeuteen, who became so importunate, that at length his +kind friend yielded to his whim; they loaded an ample stock of +merchandize on mules and camels, and departed for the city of +Moussul. + +After travelling ten days, they one evening encamped near a deep +well, round which they took up their lodging. In the morning Abou +Neeut, by his own desire, was let down into the well, more +readily to fill the water bags for the use of the caravan, men +and cattle, little apprehending what was by Providence decreed to +befall him; for his ungrateful friend, who envied his prosperity, +and coveted his wealth, having loaded the beasts, cut the rope at +the top of the well, and leaving him to his fate, departed. + +Abou Neeut remained all day without food, but humbly putting his +trust in Allah for deliverance. About the middle of the following +night he overheard two Afreets in conversation with each other, +when one said, "I am now perfectly happy: for at length I have +possessed the beautiful princess of Moussul, and no one can drive +me away, unless by sprinkling the infusion of wormwood under her +feet on a Friday during divine service in the great mosque, a +recipe which will hardly be found out." "I," continued the other +Afreet, "have been as fortunate as yourself: for I am in +possession of such a hidden treasure of gold and jewels, under +the mound near Moussul, as cannot be computed, the talisman of +which cannot be opened to any one unless by killing on the mound +a white cock, and pouring over it the blood; which secret I +judge, will not be found out by man." Having said this, the +Afreets took their flight from the well. + +Abou Neeut treasured up in his mind the conversation of the +Afreets, and at day-light was happily delivered from the well by +the arrival of a caravan, some of the followers of which were let +down to fill water, and having discovered him, charitably drew +him up, and gave him some refreshments. When he was somewhat +revived by them, they inquired by what accident he had remained +in the well; and he, concealing the treachery of his ungrateful +companion, informed them that having reposed to sleep on the edge +he had fallen in, and not being missed at the time by his fellow +travellers, the caravan had proceeded on its journey. He then +begged leave to accompany his generous deliverers to Moussul, to +which they agreed, and liberally furnished him with a conveyance. + +On entering the city Abou Neeut perceived all the people in +motion, and on inquiring the reason, was informed that they were +hastening to the great square before the palace, to see the +beheading of a physician, who had failed in attempting to expel +an evil spirit that had long possessed the daughter of the +sultan, and that such had been the fate of many unhappy men who +had tried their skill upon the unfortunate princess. Upon this +intelligence he hastened with all speed to the palace, and having +obtained admission to the sultan, made the usual prostrations; +after which he offered to expel the evil spirit, and begged as +part of his reward the sparing of the life of the unsuccessful +physician. To this the sultan for the present agreed; but +declared, that should Abou Neeut fail in his undertaking, he +would execute them together, as ignorant pretenders in their art. +Abou Neeut then begged that the trial of his skill might be +deferred till the Friday, which he requested of the sultan might +be solemnly observed, as the devout prayers of all true believers +would draw down a blessing on his operations. The sultan +consented; the unfortunate physician was released from the +executioner, and commanded to be kept in the palace, in which +Abou Neeut had also an apartment allotted him. Proclamation was +then made through the city for the strict celebration of the +approaching sabbath, under pain of the royal displeasure on those +who should neglect it. + +Friday being arrived, and the whole city assembled at prayers, +Abou Neeut prepared his infusion of wormwood, as the Afreet had +mentioned. Being introduced into the apartment of the princess, +who lay in a melancholy stupor, he poured the infusion upon her +feet, when a loud yell was heard near her, and she starting up, +as if from sleep, called upon her attendants to assist her in +rising. News was immediately conveyed to the sultan of the +princess's recovery, and he came overjoyed to witness her +returned senses. He commanded public rejoicings to be made, large +sums to be distributed in alms, and desired Abou Neeut to demand +what he chose in reward for his important service, at the same +time ordering the unsuccessful physician to be set at liberty, +with a handsome present. + +Abou Neeut, who had been captivated by the beauty of the princess, +asked, as his reward, her hand in marriage: upon which the sultan +consulted with his viziers, who advised him to dismiss the petitioner +for the present, with orders to return in the morning, when he should +receive the sultan's decision on a request which demanded much +consideration. When Abou Neeut had retired, the viziers represented to +the sultan, that it was fitting the husband of his daughter should at +least possess great wealth: for though Abou Neeut had expelled the +evil spirit, yet if he could not support her in a manner becoming her +rank, he was not worthy to marry her. They, therefore, advised him to +select a number of his most valuable jewels, to shew them to Abou +Neeut, and demand as a dowry for the princess some of equal +estimation; which if he could produce he was ready to receive him as +his son-in-law; but if not, he must accept a compensation for his +services more suited to his condition than the royal alliance. + +On Abou Neeut's appearance at court the next morning the sultan +displayed the jewels, and made the proposal advised by his +viziers; when looking with the utmost indifference upon the +brilliant stones before him, he assured the sultan that he would +the next day present him with ten times the number, of superior +value and lustre; which declaration astonished the whole court, +as it was known that no prince possessed richer gems than those +in possession of the sultan of Moussul. + +Abou Neeut having taken leave of the sultan proceeded to the +poultry market, and having purchased a cock entirely white and +free from blemish, brought it to his lodgings, where he continued +till the rising of the moon, when he walked out of the city +alone, and speeded to the mound of blueish earth mentioned by the +Afreet of the well to contain the invaluable hidden treasure. +Being arrived at the mound, he ascended it, cut the throat of the +cock, whose blood began to flow, when, lo! the earth shook, and +soon made an opening, through which, to his great satisfaction, +he perceived such heaps of inestimable precious stones, of all +sorts, as are not to be adequately described, Abou Neeut now went +back to the city, where, having procured ten camels, with two +panniers on each, he returned and loaded them with his treasure, +which he conveyed to his lodging, having first filled up the +cavity of the mound. + +In the morning Abou Neeut repaired with his loaded camels to the +palace, and entering the court of the divan, in which the sultan +sat expecting him, after a profound obeisance, cried out, +"Descend for a moment, my lord, and examine the dowry of the +princess." The sultan, arising from his throne, came down the +steps of the hall, and the camels being made to kneel, he +examined the panniers, and was so astonished at the richness of +their contents, being jewels far surpassing his own in size and +lustre, that he exclaimed, "By Allah! if the treasuries of all +the sultans of the world were brought together they could not +afford gems equal to these." When somewhat recovered from his +surprise, he inquired of his viziers how he should now act +towards Abou Neeut; when they all unanimously cried out, "By all +means give him your daughter." The marriage was then immediately +celebrated with great splendour, and Abou Neeut conducted himself +so well in his high station, that the sultan his father-in-law +committed to him the giving public audience in his stead, and the +decision of all appeals, three days in each week. + +Some time had elapsed after his elevation, when Abou Neeut one +day giving audience in the magnificent hall of one of his country +palaces, beheld a man among the crowd of a sorrowful aspect, +dressed in a wretched habit, who cried, "O true believers, O +charitable gentlemen, relieve the distressed!" Abou Neeut +commanded one of his mace-bearers to bring him to his presence, +and on his appearance recognized his treacherous companion who +had left him in the well. Without making himself known, or +betraying any emotion but that of compassion, he ordered +attendants to conduct him to the warm bath; in which being +refreshed, he was arrayed in a magnificent habit, and again +brought to the divan. Abou Neeut having retired with him into a +closet, said, "Knowest them me not, my old friend?" "No, by +Allah," replied the other. "Know then," returned he, "that I am +Abou Neeut, thy benefactor and companion, whom you treacherously +left in the well." He then related all his adventures, concluding +them with an assurance, that so far from resenting his treachery, +he regarded his conduit as the impulse of fate, and as the means +by which he, himself, had attained his present dignity and +affluence, which he would share with him. The envious heart of +Abou Neeuteen was unconquerable; and instead of thanking the +noble-minded Abou Neeut for his forgiveness and liberality, he +exclaimed, "Since the well has been to thee so fortunate, why +should it not prove so also to me?" Having said this, he hastily +rose up and quitted Abou Neeut, who would not punish such +rudeness, even without taking leave. + +Abou Neeuteen hastened with all speed to the well, and having +descended by a rope, sat down, impatiently expecting the arrival +of the Afreets, who about midnight alighted, and resting +themselves on the terrace above, began to inquire each other's +adventures. "Since we met last," said one, "I have been rendered +miserable; for a cunning Mussulmaun found out the secret of +overpowering me, and has married my princess, nor can I revenge +myself, for he is under the protection of a converted genie, whom +the prophet has appointed to watch over him." "I," continued the +other Afreet, "have been equally unfortunate with thyself; for +the same man who has wedded thy mistress discovered my hidden +treasure, and keeps it in spite of my attempts to recover it: but +let us fill up this abominable well, which must have been the +cause of all our disasters." Having said thus, the two Afreets +immediately hurled the terrace and large stones into the well, +which crushed the ungrateful and envious Abou Neeuteen to atoms. +Some days after this, the good Abou Neeut, finding he did not +return, repaired to the well, and seeing it fallen in, ordered it +to be cleared; when the discovery of the body proved to him that +the malicious spirit of the wretch had been the cause of his own +destruction. He with reverence exclaimed, "There is no refuge but +with the Almighty; may he preserve us from envy, which is +destructive to the envious alone!" + +Abou Neeut returned to the capital, where, not long after, his +father-in-law the sultan dying, left him heir to his kingdom. His +succession was disputed by the husbands of the two elder sisters +of his wife; but the ministers and people being in favour of the +sultan's will, they resigned their pretensions and submitted to +his authority. His wife being brought to bed of a son, her +sisters bribed the midwife to pretend that the sultana had +produced a dog. They did the same by another son. At the third +lying-in of the sultana Abou Neeut resolved to be present, and a +beautiful princess appeared. The two infant princes having been +thrown at the gate of one of the royal palaces, were taken up by +the gardener and his wife, who brought them up as their own. Abou +Neeut in visiting the garden with his daughter, who shewed an +instinctive affection for them, from this, and their martial play +with each other (having made horses of clay, bows and arrows, +&c.), was induced to inquire of the gardener whether they were +really his own children. The gardener upon this related the +circumstance of his having found them exposed at the gate of the +palace, and mentioned the times, which agreed exactly with those +of the sultana's delivery. Abou Neeut then questioned the +midwife, who confessed the imposition and wickedness of the +sisters, whom he left to be punished by the pangs of their own +consciences, convinced that envy is its own severest tormentor. +The young princes were acknowledged; and the good Abou Neeut had +the satisfaction of seeing them grow up to follow his example. + + + + + ADVENTURE OF A COURTIER, RELATED BY + HIMSELF TO HIS PATRON, AN AMEER OF EGYPT. + + + +It is related by an historian that there was an ameer of the land +of Egypt, whose mind being one night unusually disturbed, he sent +for one of his courtiers, a convivial companion, and said to him, +"To-night my bosom, from what cause I know not, is uncommonly +restless, and I wish thee to divert me by some amusing +narrative." The courtier replied, "To hear is to obey: I will +describe an adventure which I encountered in the youthful part of +my life." + +When a very young man I was deeply in love with a beautiful Arab +maiden, adorned by every elegance and grace, who resided with her +parents; and I used frequently to visit their camp, for her +family was one of the desert tribes. One day my mind felt +uncommonly anxious concerning her, and I resolved to seek relief +by a visit; but when I reached the spot found neither my beloved +nor any of her kindred. I questioned some passengers, who +informed me that the family had removed their encampment from +scarcity of forage for their herds and camels. I remained for +some time on the ground; but observing no signs of their return, +my impatience of absence became intolerable, and my love +compelled me to travel in search of my charmer. Though the shades +of evening were falling, I replaced the saddle upon my camel, put +on my vestments, and girding on my sabre proceeded. I had +advanced some distance, when the night became dismally black, and +from the darkness I now sunk into sands and hollows, and now +ascended declivities, while the yells of wild beasts resounded on +every quarter. My heart beat with apprehension, and my tongue did +not cease to repeat the attributes of the Almighty, our only +defender in time of need. At length stupor overcame my senses, +and I slept; while my camel quitted the track, and wandered from +the route I had meant to pursue all night. Suddenly my head was +violently intercepted by the branch of a tree, and I was awakened +by the blow, which gave me infinite pain. As I recovered myself I +beheld trees, verdure sprinkled with flowers, and a clear +rivulet; also a variety of birds, whose notes were melodiously +sweet. I alighted from my camel, and laid the bridle on my arm, +as the underwood of the thicket was closely entwined. + +I did not cease leading my camel till I was out of the thicket, +when I remounted; but at a loss which way to go, and unknowing +where Providence might direct me, I reached the desert, and cast +my eyes over the expanse; when, lo! at length a smoke appeared in +the midst of it. I whipped my camel, and at length reached a +fire, and near it observed a handsome tent, before which was a +standard planted, surrounded by spears, horses picketted, and +camels grazing. I said to myself, "What can mean this tent, which +has a grand appearance, in so solitary a plain?" I then went to +the rear of the tent, and exclaimed, "Health to you, O +inhabitants of this tent, and may the Almighty to you be +merciful!" Upon this there advanced from it a youth, seemingly +about nineteen, who appeared graceful as the rising moon, and +valour and benevolence gleamed upon his aspect. He returned my +salutation, and said, "Brother Arab, perchance thou hast missed +thy way." I answered, "Yes, shew it, and may God requite thee!" +upon which he replied, "My dwelling, brother Arab, is at present +in this wild spot; but the night is dreary, and shouldst thou +proceed there is no surety against wild beasts tearing thee in +pieces. Lodge, then, at present with me in safety, and repose, +and when day shall appear I will direct thee on thy way." I +alighted, when he took my camel, picketted her, and gave her +water and fodder. He then retired for a while; but returned with +a sheep, which he killed, flayed, and cut up; then lighted a +fire, and when it was of a proper glow broiled part of the sheep, +which he had previously seasoned with sundry dried herbs, seeds, +and spices, and when ready presented his cookery to me. + +During his hospitalities I observed that my kind host sometimes +beat his breast and wept, from which I guessed that he was in +love, and a wanderer, like myself. My curiosity was raised; but I +said within myself, "I am his guest, why should I intrude upon +him by painful questions?" and refrained from inquiry. When I had +eaten as much as sufficed me, the youth arose, went into his +tent, and brought out a basin and ewer, with a napkin embroidered +with silk and fringed with gold; also a cruet of rose water, in +which musk had been infused. I was astonished at his proceedings, +and the politeness of his demeanour, and exclaimed inwardly, "How +wonderful is the abode of so accomplished a personage in this +wild desert." We made our ablutions, and conversed awhile upon +various subjects; after which my gentle host went to his tent, +from whence he brought out a piece of red silk damask, which he +divided between us, saying, "Brother Arab, go into my tent and +choose thy place of repose, for last night and to-day great must +have been thy hardship and fatigue." + +I entered the tent, and in one partition of it found a mattress +of green damask: upon which, having pulled off my upper garments, +I lay down, and slept so soundly that I never enjoyed, before or +since, so refreshing a repose. At length I awoke, when night was +far advanced, and became involved in thought respecting my +hospitable host; but knew not what to conjecture, and was sinking +again into slumber, when, lo! gentle murmurs struck my ears, than +which I never heard sound more soft or tenderly affecting. I +lifted up the curtain of my partition, and looked around, when I +beheld a damsel more beautiful than any I had ever seen, seated +by the generous owner of the tent. They wept and complained of +the agonies of love, of separation and interruptions to their +desire of frequent meetings. Then I said within myself, "There is +a wonderfully dignified appearance in this amiable youth, yet he +lives alone, and I have seen no other tent on the plain. What can +I conjecture, but that this damsel must be a daughter of one of +the good genii, who has fallen in love with him, and upon her +account he has retired to this solitary spot?" Respect for their +love made me drop the curtain; I drew the coverlid over me, and +again fell asleep. + +When the morning dawned I awoke, dressed, and having performed my +ablutions and prayers, said to the young man, who had already +risen, "Brother Arab, if in addition to thy hospitalities already +shewn thou wilt put me in my way, my obligations will be +complete." He looked kindly, and said, "If convenient, my +brother, let me entertain thee as my guest for three days." I +could not refuse his hospitable request, and abode with him. On +the third day I ventured to inquire his name and family, when he +replied, "I am of the noble tribe of Azzra," and I discovered +that he was the son of my father's brother. "Son of my uncle," +exclaimed I, "what can have induced thee to court the seclusion +of this desert spot, and to quit thy kinsmen, neighbours, and +dependents?" + +Upon hearing these words, the eyes of the youth became suffused +with tears, he sighed, and said, "Ah! my cousin, I passionately +admired the daughter of my uncle, and was so devoted to her love +that I asked her in marriage; but he refused me, and wedded her +to another of our tribe richer than myself, who carried her to +his abode. When she was thus torn from me, despair agitated my +soul, I quitted my relations, friends, and companions, became +enamoured of solitude, and retired to this lonely spot." + +When he had finished his communication, I said, "But where is the +abode of thy beloved and thy successful rival?" He replied, "Near +the summit of yonder mountain, from whence, as frequently as +opportunity will allow, in the stillness of night, when sleep +hath overpowered the eyes of the village, she ventures to my +tent, and we enjoy the company of each other; but believe me, my +brother, our passion is innocent as devotional love. Hence I +dwell here in the manner you have witnessed, and while she visits +me delightful will pass the hours, until Allah shall execute his +appointed decrees, and reward our constancy in this world, or +consign us to the grave together." + +When the unfortunate youth had concluded his narration, at which +I was affected with sincere compassion for his circumstances, an +eager desire to relieve the lovers from their oppressors occupied +my mind, and after much consideration I addressed him thus: "If +thou choosest, I think I can point out a plan which, under the +blessing of Allah, may end the sufferings of thyself and thy +beloved." He replied, "O son of my uncle, reveal it to me!" and I +continued, saying, "When night shall arrive, and the damsel +cometh, let us seat her upon my camel; for she is sure-footed and +swift of pace; do thou then mount thy steed, and I will accompany +you upon one of your camels. We will travel all night, and ere +morning shall have passed the forest, when you will be safe, and +thy heart will be rendered happy with thy beloved. The land of +God is wide enough to afford us an asylum; and by Heaven I swear, +that while life remains I will be thy friend." The youth replied, +"Son of my uncle, I will consult upon thy plan with my beloved, +for she is prudent and well-informed." + +When night had shut in, and the usual hour of the damsel's coming +approached, my kind host impatiently expected her arrival; but in +vain, for she did not appear. He rose, stood in the doorway of +the tent, opened his mouth, and drew in the exhalations of the +gale, then returned, sat down pensively for a few minutes, and at +last bursting into tears, exclaimed, "Ah! my cousin, there are no +tidings of the daughter of my uncle, some, mishap must have +befallen her. Remain here while I go in search of intelligence." +Having said thus, he took up his sabre, his lance, and departed. + +When somewhat more than an hour had elapsed, I heard his +footstep, and soon perceived him advancing, bearing something +bulky in his arms, while he called loudly upon me in a +distressful tone. I hastened towards him, and upon my arrival he +exclaimed, "Alas, alas! the beloved daughter of my uncle is no +more, and I bear her remains. She was hastening, as usual, to my +tent, when suddenly a lion sprung upon her in the path, and tore +her in pieces. These relics are all that remain of my beloved." +He then laid them down, and, lo! the thigh bones of the damsel +and part of her ribs. He wept piteously, and said, "Remain here +till I return;" after which he departed with the swiftness of an +arrow. In about an hour he returned, and in his hand was the head +of the lion, which he threw down, and asked eagerly for water, +which I brought him. He then washed his hands, cleansed the mouth +of the lion, which he rapturously kissed, and wept bitterly for +some moments. He then exclaimed, "By Allah, I conjure thee, O son +of my uncle, and by the ties of relationship between us, that +thou observe my will; for within this hour I shall follow my +beloved; be thou our mourner, and bury her remains with mine in +the same grave." Having said this, he retired into the sleeping +partition of the tent; where he remained at his devotions for an +hour, then came out, beat his breast, sighed deeply, and at +length heaved his expiring groan, saying, "I come, I come, my +beloved, I come!" and his pure soul took flight for the mansions +of Paradise. + +When I beheld his corpse, sad indeed was my condition, and from +excess of sorrow I found it difficult to perform my promise; but +at length I arose, washed, enshrouded, and laid the remains of +these constant lovers in the same grave, near which I remained +for three days in prayer and lamentation; after which I departed +homewards: but have not failed annually to visit the spot, to +bedew their grave with my tears, and pray for the mercy of Allah +to their souls and my own errors. + + + + + STORY OF THE PRINCE OF SIND, AND FATIMA, + DAUGHTER OF AMIR BIN NAOMAUN. + + + +Some ages back a certain sultan of Sind had a son by a concubine, +who behaved so rudely to his sultana, that she became dispirited +and lost her health, which her favourite woman observing, +resolved by stratagem to get rid of the prince. She advised her +mistress, when he might next insult her, to say to him, "That he +would never appear becoming his rank till he was beloved by +Fatima, daughter of a sultan named Amir bin Naomaun." The queen +having followed the woman's directions, the prince resolved to +travel to the country of the princess, and demand her in +marriage. Accordingly, having obtained the consent of the sultan +his father, he departed with an attendance suitable to his rank. +After marching for some time he entered a desert, which was +covered with a numberless flight of locusts, that had fallen +exhausted for want of food. Pitying their distress, he ordered +meal to be spread on the ground, when the locusts having +refreshed themselves flew away. Some days after this incident he +reached a thick forest crowded with elephants, and herds of wild +animals of every description; but as they did not attempt to +attack him, and were in a starving condition, he ordered some of +his cattle to be killed, and distributed to them for food. Having +satisfied themselves they retired, shewing every sign that +dumbness would allow of being pleased with his kind treatment. On +his march onwards the prince met a venerable old man, of whom he +inquired the route to the territories of Amir bin Naomaun, and +was informed that they were at no great distance; but only to be +entered by a range of rugged and steep mountains composed of +iron-stone, and next to impassable; also, that should he succeed +in overcoming this difficulty, it was in vain to hope to attain +the princess. The prince inquiring the reason, the old man +continued, "Sultan Amir bin Naomaun has resolved that no one +shall wed his daughter unless he can perform three tasks which he +will impose, and these are of so difficult a nature as not to be +executed by the labour or ingenuity of man, and many unhappy +princes have lost their heads in the attempt; for he puts them to +death instantly on failure: be advised, therefore, and give up so +fruitless an expedition." The prince, instead of listening to the +admonition of the old man, resolved to proceed; and having +requested his prayers and benedictions, continued his march. In a +short time, having entered the passes of the mountains, he +discovered vast caverns inhabited by a species of genii, who were +employed in working upon masses of iron-stone, which they dug +from the rock. The prince having entertained them with a +hospitable feast, they, in return, shewed him the easiest route +through the stupendous mountains, and he at length arrived in +safety before the capital of sultan Amir bin Naomaun, to whom he +sent an envoy, requesting leave to encamp on the plain, and to +offer himself as a candidate for the beautiful princess his +daughter. The sultan, in reply, acceded to his petition, and +invited him to the palace; where, in the evening, he was led into +a court, in which was placed an immense vessel filled with three +kinds of grain mixed together, which (as his first task towards +obtaining the princess) he was to separate entirely from each +other, and put into three heaps; which if not accomplished before +sunrise, he was then to forfeit his head in punishment for his +temerity. It being now too late to recede, the prince resigned +himself to Providence; and the gates of the court being locked +upon him, he prayed to Allah, and began to separate the grains; +but finding his progress vain, his spirits deserted him about +midnight, and he left off his fruitless labour in despair, +endeavouring to reconcile himself to death. While he was praying +for fortitude to bear him up in his last moments, a voice was +heard, saying, "Be comforted, and receive the reward of thy +charity to famished insects." Immediately after this the heavens +were obscured, as if by thick clouds, which descended on the +court, when, lo! this phenomenon proved to be myriads of locusts; +who, alighting on the vessel, in a few hours emptied it of all +the grain, which they disposed of, each in its kind, in three +several heaps, and having given a general buzzing of salutation, +took flight, and vanished into the air. The prince was overjoyed +at the miraculous accomplishment of his task by the grateful +locusts, and having offered up thanks to Allah and the prophet +for his deliverance from impending destruction, composed himself +to rest, doubting not but that they would assist him to overcome +the two remaining labours. Great was the surprise of the sultan +Amir bin Naomaun, when, on coming at daylight to the court, he +beheld his intended victim in a profound sleep, and the grain in +three separate heaps, neatly piled up in the form of domes. The +prince awaking, saluted him, and demanded to be informed of his +next task; but the sultan put him off to the evening, until when +he entertained him at the palace with a most magnificent feast; +and his obdurate heart was so softened by the noble address and +demeanour of his guest, that he wished he might be able to +overcome the remaining impositions and become his son-in-law. The +princess, also, who had the curiosity to look at him through the +blinds of her apartments, was so fascinated with his appearance +that she prayed for his success. + +When night had set in, the prince was conducted to an open plain +in front of the palace, in the centre of which was a large +reservoir full of clear water, which the sultan commanded him to +drain off before sunrise, or forfeit his life. The prince +remained alone on the brink of the reservoir with rather somewhat +more hope of success than he had felt of overcoming his task of +the preceding night; nor was he disappointed, for about midnight +a voice was heard exclaiming, "Prince, benevolence is never +unrequited:" and, lo! the plain was filled with elephants, +rhinoceroses, camels, dromedaries, lions, tigers, and every +species of wild beasts, in such immense droves as could not be +numbered, who, advancing in turn to the reservoir, drank in such +quantity that it, at length, was completely emptied, and became +as dry as if just finished. The beasts then expressing pleasure +by their varying natural noises at having served their benefactor +departed, and left him to enjoy the deliverance from the labour +imposed upon him. + +The prince, now more assured than ever that he was the favourite +of Allah and the prophet, after offering up prayers with a +relieved heart, slept comfortably in a building creeled on the +margin of the reservoir, and was only awakened by the call of the +sultan at sun-rise, who was more astonished at the accomplishment +of this labour than the former, though certainly each was equally +difficult. He conducted the prince to his palace, and the day was +spent in the highest festivity. + +At the approach of night the prince was conducted to his third +task, which was to complete and fit up before daylight from a +vast mass of planks of the choicest timber ready stored the +doors, windows, and balconies of an unfinished palace, much +larger than that which the sultan inhabited. The prince at the +apprehension of the consequences of failure was somewhat alarmed; +but the recollection of his former aids supported him, and after +offering up his devotions he sat down, composedly waiting for the +decision of Providence on his fate. His resignation was accepted, +for at midnight he was roused from his contemplations by the +sounds of sawing, planing, hammering, nailing, and the songs of +happy work-men. Looking up he perceived his friends of the iron +mountains; who, all saluting him, cried out, "Prince, set your +heart at rest, for we are come to repay you for your hospitable +feast." Before daylight the palace was fitted up in a manner more +elegant than can be described, and every door, window, and +balcony painted with the most brilliant colours, flowered with +silver and gold. The grateful labourers of the iron mountains +having finished their work, respectfully saluted the prince and +departed. + +The prince having taken a grateful leave of his useful friends, walked +through the palace, and was eagerly employed in admiring its elegance +and the magnificence of their finishing hand, when the sultan Amir bin +Naomaun, who from his apartments at sun-rise had observed the +miraculous completion, appeared, having hastened to examine the superb +workmanship, and to congratulate his son-in-law, for as such he now +acknowledged him, and as the favoured of Allah, and of the last of +prophets. He conducted the prince to the palace, and the most +magnificent preparations being made, the nuptials with his daughter +were celebrated in the new edifice, where the bride and bridegroom +enjoyed themselves for three months, at the expiration of which the +prince begged permission to return to his father's dominions, which he +reached just in time to release him from the attack of an inimical +sultan, who had invaded the country, and laid close siege to his +capital. His father received him with rapture, and the prince having +made an apology to the sultana for his former rude behaviour, she +received his excuses, and having no child of her own readily adopted +him as her son; so that the royal family lived henceforth in the +utmost harmony, till the death of the sultan and sultana, when the +prince succeeded to the empire. + + + + + STORY OF THE LOVERS OF SYRIA; OR, THE + HEROINE. + + + +There formerly dwelt in the city of Damascus two brothers, one +poor and the other rich, the former of whom had a son, and the +latter a daughter. The poor man dying left his son, just emerging +from infancy, to the protection of his wealthy uncle, who behaved +to his unfortunate charge with paternal tenderness, till the +youth, who had exchanged vows of love with his cousin, requested +her in marriage; when the father refused, and expelled him from +his house. The young lady, however, who ardently loved him, +agreed to elope, and having one night escaped from her father's +dwelling, repaired to the object of her affection; who, having +had notice of her intentions, had prepared two horses and a mule +to carry their baggage. They travelled all night, and by morning +reached a sea-port, where they found a ship ready to sail, in +which, having secured a passage, the lady immediately embarked; +but the lover remained on shore to dispose of the horses and +mule. While he was seeking for a purchaser in the market, a fair +wind sprung up, and the master of the ship having weighed anchor, +hoisted sail and departed: the lady in vain entreating him to +wait the return of her beloved, or send her on shore, for he was +captivated with her beauty. Finding herself thus ensnared, as she +was a woman of strong mind, instead of indulging in unavailing +complaint, she assumed a satisfied air; and as the only way to +preserve her honour, received the addresses of the treacherous +master with pretended complacency, and consented to receive him +as a husband at the first port at which the ship might touch. +With these assurances he was contented, and behaved to her with +honourable deference, and affectionate respect. At length the +vessel anchored near a city, to which the captain went to make +preparations for his marriage; but the lady, while he was on +shore, addressed the ship's crew, setting forth with such force +his treacherous conduct to herself, and offering such rewards if +they would convey her to her lover at the port they had left, +that the honest sailors were moved in her favour, agreed to obey +her as their mistress, and hoisting sail, left the master to +shift for himself. After some days of favourable weather, a +contrary gale blowing hard, the vessel was driven far out of her +course, and for shelter obliged to anchor in the first haven that +offered, which proved to be that of a large city, the capital of +a potent sultan, whose officers came on board to examine the +vessel, and inquire into her cargo and destination. These men, to +their great surprise, finding it commanded by a lady of exquisite +beauty, reported her charms to the sultan, who resolved to +possess them, and sent her an offer of marriage; to which she +seemingly consented, and the sultan commanded the most splendid +preparations to be made for the nuptials. When all was ready, he +sent onboard the vessel the daughter of his vizier, with other +ladies, thirty-nine in number, magnificently attired, to wait +upon his bride, and attend her on shore. They were graciously +received by the politic lady, and invited to refresh themselves +in the grand cabin, which she had elegantly adorned with costly +hangings, and prepared in it a superb collation, to which they +sat down. She then dismissed the boats in which they came, +sending a message to the sultan that she should entertain the +ladies on board till the next morning, when she would repair on +shore and conclude their marriage. She behaved towards her new +guests with such winning affability, that they one and all +admired their expected sultana, and partook of the entertainment +with the highest satisfaction; but what was their surprise when, +in the middle of the night, she commanded the crew to weigh +anchor, having first warned them, on pain of her displeasure and +immediate death, to keep silence, and raise no alarm in the +harbour. The vessel sailed, and put to sea without being +molested, when the intrepid commandress consoled the affrighted +ladies, related to them her own adventures, and assured them that +when she should have rejoined her lover, they should, if they +chose it, be honourably restored to their homes; but in the mean +time she hoped they would contentedly share her fortunes. This +behaviour, by degrees, so won upon their minds, that the ladies +forgot their sorrows, became pleased with their situation, and in +a short time were so attached to their new mistress, that they +would not have left her had it been in their power. After some +weeks sail, it became necessary to steer towards the first coast +that should present itself, to lay in a supply of fresh water and +provisions, and land appearing, the vessel anchored, when the +lady with her companions went on shore. Here they were surrounded +by forty robbers, who threatened to take them prisoners; when the +heroic lady, desiring her friends to conceal their fears, assumed +a smiling countenance, and addressing the chief of the banditti, +assured him there would be no occasion for force, as she and her +companions were ready to share their love, being women who were +above the prejudices of their sex, and had devoted themselves to +pleasure, in search of which they roved on board their vessel +from one coast to another, and would now stay with them as long +as they might wish for their company. This declaration suiting +the depraved minds of the robbers, they laid aside their fierce +looks and warlike weapons, bringing abundance of all sorts of +provisions to regale their expected mistresses, with whom they +sat down to a plentiful repast, which was heightened by a store +of wines which the lady had brought in her boats from the ship. +Mirth and jollity prevailed; but the fumes of the liquors, in +which the politic lady had infused strong opiates, suddenly +operated upon their senses, and they fell down one and all in a +state of stupefaction. She then with her companions drew the +sabres of their brutal admirers and put them all to death +excepting the chief, whom they bound hand and foot with strong +cords, and after cutting off his beard and mustachios, tied his +own cimeter round his neck, leaving him to feel mortification +worse than death on the recovery of his senses, namely, the sight +of his slaughtered fellows, and regret at the loss of his +imagined happiness. The ladies then stripped the caves of the +robbers of the vast wealth which they had hoarded up from their +plunders, and having carried it on board their boats, with a +stock of water and provisions, returned to the ship, weighed +anchor, and sailed triumphant and rejoicing from such a dangerous +coast. After some weeks' sail they again descried land, to which +they approached, and discovered a spacious harbour, round which +rose a vast city, the buildings of which were sublimely lofty, +adorned with flights of marble steps to the water's edge, and +crowned with domes and minarets topped with pinnacles of gold. +The enterprising lady having anchored, clothed herself and her +companions in magnificent male habits; after which she ordered +the boats to be hoisted out, and they were rowed ashore by part +of their crew richly dressed. On landing, they found all the +inhabitants of the city in mourning, and making doleful +lamentation for their late sultan, who had died only a few days +before. The gallant appearance of a stranger so nobly attended +created much surprise, and intelligence of the arrival was +instantly conveyed to the vizier, who acted as regent till the +election of a new monarch, which ceremony was just on the point +of taking place. The minister, who thought he perceived in such a +critical arrival the work of fate, immediately waited on the now +supposed prince, whom he invited to be present at the election; +at the same time informing him that when in this kingdom a sultan +died without issue, the laws appointed that his successor should +be chosen by the alighting of a bird on his shoulder, which bird +would be let fly among the crowd assembled in the square before +the palace. The seeming prince accepted the invitation, and with +the disguised ladies was conducted to a gorgeous pavilion, open +on all sides, to view the ceremony. The ominous bird being +loosened from his chain, soared into the air to a great height, +then gradually descending, flew round and round the square +repeatedly, even with the faces of the spectators. At length it +darted into the pavilion, where the lady and her companions were +seated, fluttered around her head, and at length rested upon her +shoulder, giving at the same time a cry of exultation, stretching +its neck, and flapping its wings. Immediately upon this, the +viziers and courtiers bowed themselves to the ground, and the +assembled crowd prostrated themselves on the earth, crying out, +"Long live our glorious sultan, the chosen of Providence, the +elected by the decrees of fate!" The disguised lady was instantly +conducted to the palace, seated on a splendid throne, and +proclaimed amidst the acclamations of the people, sovereign of an +extensive empire; nor were the abilities of her mind unequal to +the task of government. In a few days the vizier offered to the +supposed sultan his daughter in marriage; and his offer being +accepted, the nuptials were celebrated with the utmost +magnificence; but what was the astonishment of the bride, when, +instead of being caressed, the sultan on retiring with her became +cold and reserved, rose from her, and spent the night in prayer. +In the morning the sultana was questioned by her mother; who, on +her relating the behaviour of the husband, observed, that +possibly from his youth he might be over reserved; but that love +would naturally in time operate its effect. Several evenings past +in the same manner, when the bride, mortified at such coldness, +could no longer restrain herself, and said, "Why, my lord, if you +disliked me, did you take me to wife? but if you love not as +other men, tell me so, and I will suffer my misfortune in +silence." The lady, moved by this remonstrance, replied, "Most +virtuous princess, would that for your sake I were of the sex you +suppose me; but, alas! I am like you a woman, disappointed in +love." She then related to her the wonderful adventures she had +undergone since leaving her father's house, at which the vizier's +daughter was so affected that she vowed for her a lasting +friendship, agreed to keep her secret, and live with her till +such times as chance should restore her lover. In return for this +kindness the lady promised that should the object of her +affections ever arrive, he should marry them both, and that she +should have the precedence in the ceremony of union. The two +friends having thus agreed, the vizier's daughter regained her +cheerfulness, and means were taken to convince her father, +mother, and friends of the consummation of the nuptials. From +this time they lived in perfect happiness together, one +exercising the authority of sultan to the satisfaction of the +subject, and the other acting the part of a satisfied and +obedient wife; but still both were anxious to meet their mutual +husband. As the capital of the kingdom was a mart for most +nations of the world, the pretended sultan formed the following +stratagem for discovering her beloved, not doubting but that he +would travel over all parts of the world in search of the object +of his affection. She erected a most magnificent caravanserai, +furnished with baths hot and cold, and every convenience for the +weary traveller. When it was finished, she issued a proclamation, +that sojourners from all parts should be welcome to lodge in it, +and be provided with every necessary till they could accommodate +themselves in the city, or pursued, if only travellers, their +journey to another part. Over the gate of this edifice she placed +an exact statue of herself, and gave orders to the guards that +whatever stranger, on looking at it, should shew signs of +agitation, or utter words signifying that he knew the original, +should be immediately seized and confined in the palace. Many +weeks had not passed when the father of this enterprising lady, +who had travelled many thousands of miles in search of his +daughter, arrived at the gate, and on seeing the statue, +exclaimed, "Alas! alas! how like my poor, lost child!" He was +immediately carried to the palace, lodged in a magnificent +apartment, treated with the highest respect; but kept in complete +ignorance as to the cause of his confinement and his future fate. +Not long after this, his disconsolate nephew, who, on the +departure of the treacherous captain, had wandered from city to +city in hopes of finding his mistress, arrived, and repaired to +the caravanserai. + +On sight of the statue his feelings overcame him; he sighed and +fainted: when he was taken up by the guards and lodged in the +palace, where being come to himself, he was astonished at the +respect and attention paid him by the domestics, and the splendid +manner in which he was entertained; but it was in vain that he +inquired the cause of his detention, the only answer he could get +being, "Have patience, my lord, and repose yourself till +Providence shall free you from our confinement." Soon after this +the master of the ship, who had visited port after port in hopes +of recovering his vessel, reached the city, and hearing of the +hospitality with which all strangers were received at the +caravanserai of the sultan, repaired to the gateway; but no +sooner had he cast his eyes on the statue, than he exclaimed, +"Ah! how like to the artful yet virtuous woman who cheated me of +my property by stealing my ship." Immediately he was seized by +the guards, and conveyed to the palace, but treated with +kindness. Many days had not succeeded to this event, when the +sultan and the vizier, whose daughter with the thirty-nine ladies +had been so artfully carried away from them by the enterprising +heroine of this history, made their appearance at the gateway of +the caravanserai, and on beholding the statue, cried out, "Surely +this is the likeness of her who deprived us of our children; ah! +that we could find her and be revenged on her hypocrisy!" On +saying this they were apprehended and taken to the palace, where +they were conducted to apartments suitable to their rank. In a +few days afterwards the chief of the banditti, who, burning with +the ireful resolution of revenging the deaths of his associates, +had travelled from place to place in hopes of finding the object +of his fury, arrived at the gateway, and observing the statue, +roared out in a rage, "Surely this is the resemblance of my +tormenter; oh! that I could meet thy original, so that I might +have the satisfaction of making her blood atone for the murder of +my friends!" Instantly, as he had spoken, the guards at the gate +rushing upon him, bound him hand and foot, conveyed him to the +palace, where he was confined in a loathsome dungeon, and fed on +the coarsest viands. + +The pretended sultan having now all the parties in her power, one +morning ascended her throne in full audience, and commanded them +to be brought before her. When they had made their obeisance, she +commanded them to relate the cause of their having journeyed to +her capital; but the royal presence rendered them incapable of +uttering a word: upon which she exclaimed, "Since you cannot +speak, I will;" and then discovered to their astonished minds the +adventures of each, which had occasioned their travelling. She +then discovered herself, and fell upon the necks of her father +and lover, with whom she retired into the private apartments. The +sultan and his vizier were made happy in the company of the +daughter of the latter and the other ladies. The master of the +ship, as his troubles had atoned for his irregular behaviour, was +received into favour, and had his vessel restored; but the savage +chief of the banditti was put to death, by being cast into a +burning pile, that no further injury might be offered to mankind. +In a few days, the most magnificent preparations being made, the +double nuptials of the heroic lady and her friend the vizier's +daughter were celebrated with her constant lover, to whom she +resigned her throne, and the happy wives lived together in +felicity, undisturbed by jealousy of the husband's attention to +either, so equally did they share his love. The sultan and +vizier, after being long entertained at the court, took leave, +and returned, under an escort, to their own country; but the +daughter and the thirty-nine ladies could not be prevailed upon +to accompany them, only to visit and bid farewell to their +parents, for such was their attachment to their gallant mistress, +that they came back immediately, and were espoused to the +principle nobles of her court. Years of unusual happiness passed +over the heads of the fortunate adventurers of this history, +until death, the destroyer of all things, conducted them to a +grave which must one day be the resting-place for ages of us all, +till the receiving angel shall sound his trumpet. + + + + + STORY OF HYJAUJE, THE TYRANNICAL GOVERNOR + OF COUFEH, AND THE YOUNG SYED. + + + +As Hyjauje (the Ommiad caliph) was was one day seated in his hall +of audience, surrounded by his nobles and dependents, tremblingly +awaiting his commands, for his countenance resembled that of an +enraged lion, there suddenly entered, unceremoniously, into the +assembly a beardless youth of noble but sickly aspect, arrayed in +tattered garments, for misfortune had changed his original +situation, and poverty had withered the freshness of his opening +youth. He made the customary obeisance to the governor, who +returned his salute, and said, "Who art thou, boy? what hast thou +to say, and wherefore hast thou intruded thyself into the company +of princes, as if thou wert invited? who art thou, and of whom +art thou the son?" "Of my father and mother," replied the youth. +"But how earnest thou here?" "In my clothes." "From whence?" +"From behind me." "Where art thou going?" "Before me." "Upon what +dost thou travel?" "Upon the earth" Hyjauje, vexed at the +pertness of the youth, exclaimed, "Quit this trifling, and inform +me whence thou comest." "From Egypt." "Art thou from Cairo?" "Why +askest thou?" said the boy? "Because," replied Hyjauje, "her +sands are of gold, and her river Nile miraculously fruitful; but +her women are wanton, free to every conqueror, and her men +unstable." "I am not from thence, but from Damascus," cried the +youth. "Then," said Hyjauje, "thou art from a most rebellious +place, filled with wretched inhabitants, a wavering race, neither +Jews nor Christians." "But I am not from thence," replied the +youth, "but from Khorassan." "That is a most impure country," +said Hyjauje, "whose religion is worthless, for the inhabitants +are of all barbarians the most savage. Plunderers of flocks, they +know not mercy, their poor are greedy, and their rich men +misers." "I am not of them," cried the youth, "but of Moussul." +"Then," exclaimed Hyjauje, "thou art of an unnatural and +adulterous race, whose youths are catamites, and whose old men +are obstinate as asses." "But I am from Yemen," said the boy. "If +so," answered the tyrant, "thou belongest to a comfortless +region, where the most honourable profession is robbery, where +the middling ranks tan hides, and where a wretched poor spin wool +and weave coarse mantles." "But I am from Mecca," said the boy. +"Then," replied Hyjauje, "thou comest from a mine of +perverseness, stupidity, ignorance, and slothfulness; for from +among its people God raised up his prophet, whom they +disbelieved, rejected, and forced away to a strange nation, who +loved, venerated, and assisted him in spite of the men of Mecca. +But whence comest thou, youth? for thy pertness is become +troublesome, and my inclination leads me to punish thee for thy +impertinence." "Had I been assured that thou durst kill me," +cried the youth, "I should not have appeared before thee; but +thou canst not." "Woe to thee, rash boy," exclaimed Hyjauje; "who +is he that can prevent my executing thee instantly?" "To thee be +thy woe," replied the youth: "he can prevent thee who directs man +and his inmost thoughts, and who never falsifieth his gracious +promises." "He it is," cried the tyrant, "who instigates me to +put thee to death." "Withhold thy blaspheming," replied the +youth; "it is not God, but Satan that prompts thy mind to my +murder, and with God I hope for refuge from the accursed: but +know, that I am from the glorious Medina, the seat of religion, +virtue, respectability, and honour, descended of the race of Bin +Ghalib, and family of Ali, son of Abou Talib, whom God has +glorified and approved, and will protect all his posterity, which +you would extirpate; but you cannot root it out, for it will +flourish even to the last day of the existence of this world." + +The tyrant was now overcome with rage, and commanded the youthful +Syed to be slain; but his nobles and officers interceded for him, +saying, while they bowed their necks before him, "Pardon, pardon; +behold our heads and our lives a ransom for his! For God's sake +accept our intercession, O ameer, for this youth is not deserving +of death." "Forbear your entreaties," exclaimed the tyrant, "for +were an angel to cry from Heaven, 'Do not slay him!' I would not +attend." Upon this the young Syed said, "Thou ravest, O Hyjauje; +who art thou that an angel should be commissioned for thy sake?" +The tyrant, struck with his magnanimity, became calm, and +commanding the executioner to release the youth, said, "For the +present I forbear, and will not kill thee unless thy answers to +my further questions shall deserve it." They then entered on the +following dialogue; Hyjauje hoping to entrap him in discourse. + +Hyjauje. How can the creature approach the perfection of the +Almighty? + +Syed. By prayer, by fasting, by the commanded alms, by +pilgrimage, and fighting for the cause of God. + +H. I serve him by shedding the blood of infidel man. You pretend +that Hassan and Houssain, your ancestors, were descendants of the +prophet; but how can that be, when God has declared in the Koran +Mahummud was not of your obstinate race; but the prophet of God, +and last of divine messengers? + +S. Hear the answer to that in the verse following it. "Hath not a +prophet come unto you of your own nation? Receive him, and from +what he hath forbidden be forbidden." Surely, then, God hath +forbidden the shedding of the blood of him whom he sanctified. + +H. Thou hast spoken justly, young man; but inform me what God +hath daily and nightly commanded us as obligatory to do? + +S. To pray five times. + +H. What to observe in each year? + +S. To keep the month of Ramzaun as a fast. + +H. What to perform in the course of life? + +S. To make a pilgrimage to Mecca, the temple of God. + +H. Truly said; but what hath mostly dignified and enlightened +Arabia? + +S. The tribe of Koreish. + +H. Wherefore? + +S. Because of our holy prophet's being a member of it. + +H. Who were the most skilful in horsemanship in all Arabia, the +most valiant, and of best conduct in war? + +S. The tribe of Hashim. + +H. Why think you so? + +S. Because my grandfather Imaum Ali, son of Abou Talib, was one +of it. + +H. What tribe of Arabs is most famous for benevolence, and +celebrated for liberality? + +S. The family of Tai. + +H. Wherefore? + +S. Because Hatim belonged to it. + +H. Which of the tribes have been most disgraceful to Arabia, and +most oppressive to its inhabitants? + +S. The tribe of Sukkeef. + +H. Why so? + +S. Because thou belongest to it. + +The tyrant could scarcely now contain his anger; but said, hoping +to cut the youth off from reply, "Tell me, is the Capricorn of +the heavens male or female?" To which he answered, "Shew me its +tail, that I may inform thee." The tyrant laughed, and continued +his questions as follows: + +H. Wert thou ever in love? + +S. Yes, completely immersed in it. + +H. With whom? + +S. With my God, who will, I trust, pardon me for my errors, and +deliver me from thee this day. + +H. Knowest thou thy God? + +S. Yes. + +H. By what means? + +S. By the scriptures, which he caused to descend to his prophet. + +H. Dost thou guard the Koran? + +S. Does it fly from me, that I should guard it? + +H. What dost thou learn from it? + +S. That God commanded its rules to be obeyed. + +H. Hast thou read and understood it? + +S. Yes. + +H. If so, tell me, first, What passage in it is most sublime. +Secondly, Which most commanding. Thirdly, Which most just. +Fourthly, Which most alarming. Fifthly, Which most encouraging. +Sixthly, That which Jews and Christians both believe in. +Seventhly, That in which God has spoken purely of himself; that +where he speaks of the angels; that in which he mentions the +prophets; that where he alludes to those destined to Paradise; +and that in which he speaks of those devoted to hell; that which +includes ten points; and that which Eblis the accursed delivered. + +S. By God's help I will answer thee. The most sublime passage is +the Koorsee: the most commanding, "God insisteth on justice:" the +most just, "Whoever diminishes the least of a measure, God will +requite him doubly, and the same to whoever addeth the least:" +the most alarming, "All expect to enter Paradise:" the most +encouraging, "O my servants, who have mortified yourselves, +despair not of the mercy of God!" that in which are ten points, +"God created the heavens and the earth, the revolutions of night +and day; also, the firmament over the waters that it might profit +man:" that which is believed alike by jews and christians, "The +Jew saith that the Christian is in error, and the Christian saith +that the Jew is mistaken, they both believe so; and both are in +error:" that in which God hath spoken purely of himself, "I have +not created genii and men but to worship me:" that in which he +speaks of the angels, "They said, we have no knowledge, but what +thou hast taught us; for thou only art wise and all-knowing:" +that which speaks of the prophets, "How could we deliver you a +verse without the order of God, on whom the faithful will rely:" +that which mentions the devoted to hell, "God hath cast us down +from heaven, for we were transgressors:" that which describes the +blessed, "Praised be God, who hath divested us of all sorrow, for +our Lord is merciful and gracious:" that which satan spoke, "None +will profit by thy mercy but thy servants the blessed." + +Hyjauje involuntarily exclaimed, "Praised be God, who giveth +wisdom to whom it pleaseth him; but I have found none so learned +of such tender age." Having thus spoken, he put many other +questions to the youth in every science, and he answered them so +readily that the tyrant was overcome with admiration, and offered +him a residence at his court; but the young man declined it, and +requested his dismission, which he granted, conferring upon him a +beautiful female slave richly habited, a thousand pieces of gold, +and a steed elegantly caparisoned. The courtiers were astonished +at the bounty of the tyrant, which he perceiving, said, "Be not +surprised, for the advice he hath given me was worthy of reward, +and 'Cursed is he who doth not requite a sincere adviser,' +declareth our sacred Koran." + + + + + STORY OF INS AL WUJJOOD AND WIRD AL + IKMAUM, DAUGHTER OF IBRAHIM, VIZIER TO + SULTAN SHAMIKH. + + + +Many ages past there was a very powerful sultan who had a vizier +named Ibrahim, and this minister had a daughter the most +beautiful of her sex and accomplished of her age, so that she +became distinguished by the appellation of Wird al Ikmaum, or the +rose among flowers. It was the custom of sultan Shamikh to hold +annually a general assembly of all the nobles of his kingdom, and +persons eminent for science or the arts, during which they were +magnificently entertained at the royal expense. The former +displayed their prowess in martial exercises before the +sovereign, and the latter the productions of their genius and +skill; when valuable prizes were bestowed by the arbitration of +appointed judges on those who deserved them. On one of the days +of this festival, the vizier's daughter from a latticed balcony +of the palace, in which she sat to view the sports, was so struck +with the manly figure and agility of a young nobleman named Ins +al Wujjood (or the perfection of human nature), that love took +possession of her mind. She pointed him out to a female +confidant, and gave her a letter to convey to the object of her +affections. The young nobleman, who had heard her praises, was +enraptured by his good fortune, and the next day, having obtained +as full a sight of her beauties as could be had through the +golden wires of the balcony, retired overcome by love. Letters +now passed daily, and almost hourly, between them; but they were +impatient for a meeting, which was at length planned; but the +note fixing the place and time was unfortunately dropped by the +confidant and carried to the vizier; who, alarmed for the honour +of his family, sent his daughter the same night to a far distant +castle belonging to himself, and situated on an island in a vast +lake, surrounded by mountainous deserts thinly inhabited. The +unfortunate lady was obliged to submit to her fate, but before +her departure contrived to write on the outside of her balcony +the following words, "They are carrying me off, but I know not +where." In the morning her lover repairing, as usual, in hopes of +seeing his mistress in the balcony, read the unwelcome +intelligence, which for a time deprived him of his senses. When +somewhat recovered he resolved to leave the court, though then +the chief favourite of the sultan, and go in search of his +beloved. Having put on the habit of a wandering devotee, he, on +the following evening, quitted the city, and recommending himself +to Providence, set out, but knew not whither. Many weeks did he +travel, but could find no traces of his beloved object; when +suddenly, passing through a thick forest, there met him a +monstrous lion, from whom he thought it impossible to escape, and +having uttered a prayer for the happiness of his beloved, and +repeated the testimony of martyrdom, he resigned himself to his +fate, and waited the spring of his expected devourer. What was +his surprise when the majestic animal, instead of making him his +prey, on approaching close to him, having looked compassionately +in his face, licked his hands, and turning round, walked gently +onwards, moving his head, as if to signify the youth should +follow him. Ins al Wujjood did so, and was conducted through the +forest by the lion; who, ascending a high mountain, suddenly +stopped at the entrance of a cave, to which was a door of iron, +then moving his head, and once more licking the hands of his +companion, the generous animal left him, and retired back to the +woods. The youth now went to the cave, and having knocked at the +door, it was opened by a venerable hermit, who bade him welcome, +brought him warm water to wash his feet, and set before him +refreshments of various kinds. When he had eaten, he inquired the +cause of his coming to such a desolate country; and Ins al +Wujjood having related his adventures, the old man exclaimed, +"Thou art a favourite of Heaven, or the lion would have devoured +thee; despair not, therefore, of success, for my mind presages +that thou wilt be happy, nor shalt thou want my assistance." Ins +al Wujjood having thanked him for his hospitality and generous +offers, the hermit informed him, that for nearly twenty years +past he had not beheld a human face till a few days prior to his +coming, when, wandering over the mountains, he had seen an +encampment on the margin of the great lake below, in which +appeared a crowd of men and women, some very richly habited, part +of whom had embarked on board a stately yacht, and the remainder +having taken leave of them, struck their tents, and returned by +the road they had come. "Most probably," said the hermit, "the +yacht may have conveyed thy mistress to the castle which stands +on an island in the middle of the lake, and if so thou shalt soon +be safely landed: for the rest Providence must be thy guide. I +will this night remember thee in my prayers, and meditate on what +can be done for thy benefit." Having said this, the hermit +conducted the wanderer to a chamber, and left him to his repose. + +The beautiful Wird al Ikmaum during this time remained +overwhelmed with uneasiness in her confinement, and it was in +vain that her attendants tried to amuse her. She wandered +melancholy through the magnificent gardens of the castle, the +groves of which were filled with every variety of birds, whose +harmony was delightful; but the soft cooing of the turtle dove +and the plaintive note of the lovelorn nightingale alone caught +her attention. To these she would listen for hours together, +reclined on a mossy bank, and fancy their pensive strains the +language of her beloved. Such was her daily employment, nor would +she quit the garden till forced by her attendants to take shelter +from the falling dews of night. We now return to her lover. + +Fatigue and the consoling assurances of the friendly hermit had +greatly composed the mind of Ins al Wujjood, who enjoyed a +refreshing sleep, nor did he awake till the sun was mounted high +in the heavens, when he joined his venerable host in his +devotions; after which they partook of a repast of bread, milk, +and fresh fruits. This ended, the old man requested him to fetch +from the forest a bundle of the filaments of palm bark, which, +when brought to him, he plaited into a shape resembling a little +boat, and giving it to Ins al Wujjood, said, "Repair to the lake, +and put this into the water, when it will become instantly large +enough to hold thee, then embark in it, and trust to Heaven for +the rest. Farewell!" + +Ins al Wujjood having taken leave of his venerable friend the +hermit, with many thanks, did as he had been commanded, and soon +arrived on the margin of the lake, into which he launched his +little vessel, when, to his great surprise, it instantaneously +became a handsome boat with the sails set. He got into it, and a +fair wind springing up was soon out of sight of land. For some +days he was wafted over the deep; but at length the shore of an +island appeared, on which he landed, and made his boat fast to +the trunk of a large tree. He then walked into the country, and +found it beautifully interspersed with green meadows, clear +streams, and shady groves of bending fruit trees, on the branches +of which all sorts of birds were warbling in their different +strains. Having refreshed himself with several fruits, he +proceeded onwards, and at length came in sight of a superb +edifice, to the gateway of which he advanced; but found it +locked. For three days he waited in hopes of seeing some of its +inhabitants, but in vain. However on the fourth morning the gate +was opened by a man, who seeing Ins al Wujjood, advanced towards +him, and inquired who he was, whence he came, and what was his +reason for waiting at the gate. "I am of Ispahaun," replied Ins +al Wujjood, "and was shipwrecked in a trading voyage upon this +coast, to the shore of which I alone of all my companions had the +good fortune to escape." Upon hearing this the man burst into +tears, embraced him, and said, "May God preserve thee from future +calamities! I am also a native of Ispahaun, where also dwelt my +cousin, whom I dearly loved, and by whom I was beloved. At this +happy period of my youth a nation stronger than ours made war +against us, overcame us, and among other captives forced me from +my country; after which they sold me as a slave to my present +master: but come, my dear countryman, enter the palace, and +repose thyself in my apartment, where we will endeavour to +console each other under our misfortunes till Providence shall +restore us to our homes." + +Ins al Wujjood gladly accepted such a friendly invitation, and on +entering the court beheld a lofty and wide-spreading tree, from +the branches of which were suspended several golden cages, each +inhabited by a beautiful bird, and each striving to rival the +other in melody, as if in welcome of his approach. He inquired of +his host to whom the splendid edifice belonged, and was informed +to the vizier of sultan Shamikh; who, to secure his daughter from +the vicissitudes of fortune, had lodged her here, and only +visited her annually to inquire after her health, and bring the +necessary supplies for her convenience and the support of her +attendants in the castle. Upon hearing the above circumstances, +Ins al Wujjood was nearly overcome with ecstacy; but restraining +his feelings, exclaimed to himself, "At length I have reached the +abode of my beloved, and may hope for success;" which was yet, +however, afar off. His charming mistress, little thinking that +her lover was so near, and weary of absence and the solitude of +her abode, had that very evening resolved to escape from +confinement. In the darkness of night she accordingly let herself +down from the battlements by a silken rope, which she had twisted +from slips of various robes, and reached the ground unhurt. With +haste she fled towards the sea shore, where she perceived a +fishing boat, the owner of which, though at first alarmed, +supposing her, from her dazzling appearance (for she was covered +with jewels), to be an ensnaring genie, at length, on her +assurances that she was really a woman, admitted her into his +vessel. She thanked him for his kindness, which she rewarded by +the gift of many rich jewels, and requested to be conveyed across +the lake. The fisherman hoisted sail, and for some hours the wind +was prosperous; but now a heavy tempest arose, which tossed them +constantly in imminent danger for three days, and drove them far +from their intended course. At length the gale subsided, the sea +became assuaged, and land appeared. As they approached the shore +a stately city rose to their view, the buildings of which seemed +unusually magnificent. Under the terrace of the sultan's palace +they safely, at last, cast anchor; and it chanced that the +prince, who was named Dara, was then sitting with his daughter in +a balcony to enjoy the fresh sea breeze, and the view of the +extensive harbour, crowded with the vessels of every country. +Perceiving the boat, the sultan commanded his officers to bring +the master and his crew to the presence. Great was his surprise +at the introduction of the beautiful Wird al Ikmaum. From her +rich dress, dignified air, and demeanour, he concluded her to be +of superior rank, and having seated her near his daughter, he +graciously requested to be informed of the name of her country, +and the cause of her having travelled to his capital; to which +she replied in eloquent language, giving a summary detail of all +her adventures. The sultan consoled her by encouraging assurances +of his protection, promised to exert his authority to effect a +union with her beloved, and immediately dispatched his vizier +with costly presents to sultan Shamikh, requesting him to send +Ins al Wujjood to his court. + +The vizier, after a prosperous voyage, having reached the capital +of sultan Shamikh, presented his offerings, and made known the +request of his master; to which the sultan replied, That nearly a +year had elapsed since Ins al Wujjood had, to his great regret, +absented himself from his court, nor had any tidings been +obtained of the place of his retirement; but that he would order +his vizier to accompany the ambassador in search of his retreat, +being willing to oblige his master the sultan to the utmost of +his power. Accordingly, after a repose of some days, the two +viziers departed in search of Ins al Wujjood, but without knowing +where to bend their journey. At length they reached the shore of +the ocean of Kunnooz, on which they embarked in a hired vessel, +and sailed to the mountainous island of Tukkalla, of which the +vizier of sultan Shamikh gave to his companion the following +account. "This island was some ages back inhabited by genii; a +princess of whom became violently enamoured of a handsome young +man, a son of an ameer of the city of Misr, or Cairo, whom she +beheld in her flight sleeping in his father's garden in the heat +of the day. She sat down by him, and having gently awoke him, the +youth, on looking up, to his astonishment and rapture saw a most +beautiful damsel who courted his addresses: he was not backward +in offering them; and mutual protestations of love and constancy +took place. After some hours of happiness the genie princess took +an affectionate leave, promising soon to visit him again, and +vanished from sight. The youth remained musing on his fortunate +adventure till the dews of night began to fall, when his parents, +fearful of some injury, sent attendants to conduct him to their +palace, but he refused to go; and talked, as it appeared to them, +so incoherently concerning his beloved, that they thought him +distracted; seized him roughly, and forced him homewards. His +father and mother were alarmed: it was in vain that they courted +him to partake of refreshment; he was sullen and gloomy, and at +length abruptly retired to his chamber, where he remained in +restless anxiety all night, waiting impatiently for morning, that +he might revisit the happy spot where his charmer had promised +again to meet him. + +"At early dawn the ameer's son repaired to the garden, and was +soon gratified with the sight of his beloved; but while they were +exchanging mutual protestations of regard, the mother of the +genie princess, who had suspected from her daughter's conduct +that she was carrying on some intrigue, and had followed her in +the air unperceived, suddenly appeared. Rushing upon the lovers, +she seized her daughter by the hair, beat, and abused her in the +harshest language for having disgraced the honour of the genii by +an amour with a wretched son of mortality: to all which the genie +princess replied, that her remonstrances were vain; she had fixed +her affections, and would rather be torn into a thousand pieces +than desert the object of her heart. The mother upon this finding +the case desperate, and being herself softened by the uncommon +beauty of the youth, who had fallen at her feet, entreating mercy +for his beloved, at length relented, and agreed to sanctify their +loves by her consent to their marriage. It was accordingly +celebrated; and this island, which after the name of the genie +princess was called Tukkalla, was fixed upon for the place of +their residence. Its magnificent palace still remains, after the +lapse of many ages, and is at present in my possession. Here I +hope to meet my only daughter, whom I brought to reside in it +nearly a year ago, to secure her from the attempts of a young +courtier, on whom she had, against my consent, fixed her +affections." + +The two viziers now disembarked, and proceeded up the island; but +what was the astonishment and mortification of Ibrahim on +learning, when he arrived at the palace, that his daughter had +escaped, nor had the attendants heard of her since her departure, +though they had repeatedly searched every quarter of the island. +Perceiving among his attendants whom he had left at the palace a +strange young man of pallid countenance, wasted frame, and +melancholy air, the vizier inquired how he had come among them; +and received for reply, that he was a shipwrecked merchant of +Ispahaun, whom they had taken in for the sake of charity. Ibrahim +now requested of the vizier of sultan Dara that he would return +to his master, and inform him of their vain search after Ins al +Wujjood; at the same time desiring him to receive into his suite +the supposed merchant as far as the city of Ispahaun, which lay +in his route. To this the vizier of sultan Dara consented: and +the two ministers having taken a friendly leave of each other +separated, and departed for their several capitals. + +The vizier of sultan Dara, in the course of the journey, became +so pleased with the agreeable manners of the supposed merchant, +that he often conversed with him familiarly; and at length the +young man, emboldened by his condescending attention, ventured to +inquire the cause of his travels to regions so distant from his +own country: upon which he was informed of the arrival of the +beautiful Wird al Ikmaum at the court of sultan Dara; of the +compassion of that sultan for her misfortunes; his generous +protection; and his own fruitless mission in search of her lover +Ins al Wujjood. A this happy intelligence, the latter, overcome +with ecstacy, could no longer contain himself, but discovered who +he was; and the vizier was also overjoyed at knowing, when least +expected, that he had found the despaired of object of his long +journey. He embraced the young man, congratulated him upon the +speedy termination of absence from his beloved, and the happy +union which awaited him. He then made him an inmate of his own +tents, supplied him with rich attire, and every necessary +becoming the condition of a person for whose fortunes he knew his +sovereign to be so highly concerned. Ins al Wujjood, now easy in +mind, and renovated by the happy prospects before him, daily +recovered health and strength, so that by the time of their +arrival at the capital of sultan Dara he had regained his +pristine manliness and vigour. + +When the vizier waited upon his master the sultan Dara to +communicate his successful commission, the sultan commanded the +youth to his presence. Ins al Wujjood performed the usual +obeisance of kissing the ground before the throne, with the +graceful demeanour of one who had been used to a court. The +sultan graciously returned his salutation, and commanded him to +be seated; after which he requested him to relate his adventures, +which he did in eloquent language, interspersing in his narrative +poetical quotations, and extempore verses applicable to the +various incidents and situations. The sultan was charmed with his +story; and when he had finished its relation, sent for a cauzee +and witnesses to tie the marriage knot between the happy Ins al +Wujjood and the beautiful Wird al Ikmaum; at the same time +dispatching a messenger to announce the celebration of the +nuptials to sultan Shamikh and Ibrahim his vizier, who were +bewailing their supposed irrecoverable losses; one that of his +favourite, and the latter that of his daughter. Sultan Dara +detained the happy couple at his court for some time, after which +he dismissed them with valuable presents to their own country, +which they reached in safety, and were received with the most +heart-felt rejoicings by the sultan and the repentant vizier, who +now recompensed them by his kindness for the former cruelty of +his behaviour towards them; so that in favour with the sultan, +and happy in their own family, the lovers henceforth enjoyed +every earthly felicity, sweetened by the reflection on past +distresses, till the angel of death summoned them to submit to +the final destination of mortality. + + + + + THE ADVENTURES OF MAZIN OF KHORASSAUN. + + + +In ancient days there resided in the city of Khorassaun a youth +named Mazin, who, though brought up by his mother, a poor widow, +to the humble occupation of a dyer, was so celebrated for his +personal accomplishments and capacity as to become the admiration +of crowds, who daily flocked to his shop to enjoy the pleasure of +his conversation. This young man was as good as he was able, nor +did flattery take away his humility, or make him dissatisfied +with his laborious occupation, which he followed with industry +unceasing, and maintained his mother and himself decently from +the fruits of his labour. So delicate was his taste in the choice +of colours, that veils, turbans, and vests of Mazin's dyeing were +sought after by all the young and gay of Khorassaun; and many of +the females would often cast a wishful glance at him from under +their veils as they gave him their orders. Mazin, however, was +destined by fate not always to remain a dyer, but for higher +fortunes and surprising adventures. + +As he was one day busy in his occupation, a man of Hijjem came to +his shop, and after looking at him earnestly for some moments, +exclaimed, "Alas, that such a noble youth should be confined to +drudge at so mean an employment!" "I thank you, father, for your +compassion," replied Mazin, "but honest industry can never be +disgraceful." "True," said the old man of Hijjem, "yet if +Providence puts affluence and distinction in our way, should we +refuse it?" "By no means," said Mazin; "canst thou point me out +the way to it without making me forfeit my integrity? If so, I +assure thee I am not so fond of my trade but I would be glad to +live at ease in an honest manner without it; for I should like to +enjoy leisure to follow my studies, which have already gained me +some little celebrity." "Son," said the Hijjemmee, "thy wishes +shall be satisfied: thou hast no father, but I will be one to +thee; from this instant I adopt thee as my son. I possess the art +of transmuting common metals into gold: be ready at thy shop +early in the morning, when I will meet thee. Farewell!" Having +thus said, the old man took leave. + +Mazin's curiosity and ambition were raised: he shut up his shop +sooner than usual, and returned with a full heart to his mother, +to whom he communicated the offered kindness of the Hijjemmee. +The good woman, after some moments of reflection, said, "Son, I +fear some evil lurks under this apparent kindness, for we live in +wicked days, when men profess more than they mean to do for the +sake of attaining an object; be cautious then, and do not till +thou hast proof of his sincerity regard his office. We have at +present all we want, and what can riches give more?" Mazin agreed +to the propriety of his mother's advice, and promised to be wary. +They ate their usual cheerful meal, and retired to rest; but the +young man could sleep but little, and he longed with impatience +for the morning that was to put him into possession of the art of +transmuting metals into gold. + +The morning arrived, and Mazin repaired impatiently to his shop, +where he had soon after the satisfaction of seeing his adopted +father, who came bearing in his hands a crucible. "Welcome, son!" +"Welcome, father!" was the mutual salutation; after which the +Hijjemmee desired Mazin to kindle a fire: he did so, when the old +man inquired of Mazin if he had any old metal, iron, brass, +copper, &c. Mazin produced some pieces of an old pot of the +latter metal, which were put into the crucible. When melted, the +Hijiemmee took from his turban a paper containing powder of a +yellowish hue, which he threw into the crucible, over which he +repeated some cabalistic words while he stirred the melting +metal. At length he took it from the fire, and to his +astonishment Mazin beheld a large lump of pure gold, which the +Hijiemmee desired him to carry to a goldsmith's and get it +exchanged for coin He did did so, and received a handsome sum, +with which he returned to his adopted father. + +"Well, my son," said the Hijjemmee, "art thou now convinced of my +skill, and my sincerity in offering to promote thy fortunes?" "I +am," said Mazin, "and am ready to follow wherever thou choosest, +in hopes of learning this invaluable secret" "That shall soon be +thine," replied the transmuter of metals; "I will sup with thee +this evening, and in the privacy of retirement give thee the +necessary instruction." Mazin, overjoyed, immediately shut up his +shop, and with his adopted father repaired to his own house, +where he seated him in his best apartment. He then went to his +mother, desiring that she would go and spend the night at a +neighbour's, shewing her the gold which his broken copper had +procured, as a proof of the sincerity of his new friend. The old +lady no longer doubted upon such evidence, and cheerfully took +leave and departed to a friend's house. + +Mazin next went to a cook's shop, from which he returned laden +with every sort of refreshment, nor was wine forgotten, though +forbidden to the faithful. The adopted father and son ate +heartily, at the same time pushing about the spirit-stirring +liquor, till at last Mazin, who had not been used to drink wine, +became intoxicated. The wily magician, for such in fact was his +pretended friend, watching his opportunity, infused into the +goblet of his unsuspecting host a certain potent drug, which +Mazin had scarcely drunk oft, when he fell back upon his cushion +totally insensible, the treacherous wizard tumbled him into a +large chest, and shutting the lid, locked it. He then ransacked +the apartments of the house of every thing portable worth having, +which, with the gold, he put into another chest, then fetching in +porters, he made them take up the chests and follow him to the +seaside, where a vessel waited his orders to sail, and embarked +with the unfortunate Mazin and his plunder. The anchor was +weighed, and the wind being fair, the ship was soon out of sight +of the land. + +Mazin's mother early in the morning returning to her house found the +door open, her son missing, and the rooms ransacked of all her +valuables. She gave a loud shriek, tore her hair, beat her bosom, and +threw herself on the ground, crying out for her son, who she thought +must have been murdered by the treacherous magician, against whose +professions she had warned him to be cautious, till the sight of the +transmuted gold had deceived her, as well as the unfortunate victim of +his accursed arts. Some neighbours hearing her lamentations rushed in, +lifted her from the ground, and inquired the cause of her distress; +which, when informed of, they endeavoured to alleviate by every +consolation in their power, but in vain: the afflicted old lady was +not to be comforted. She commanded a tombstone to be raised in the +court-yard, over which she sat night and day bewailing her son, taking +scarcely food sufficient to preserve her miserable existence. + +The infidel Hijjemmee, who was a wicked magician and a worshipper +of fire, by name Bharam, hated the true believers, one of whom +annually for several years past he had inveigled by his offers of +instructing in the science of transmuting metals into his power; +and after making him subservient to his purposes in procuring the +ingredients necessary for his art, had treacherously put him to +death, lest the secret should be divulged: such was now his +intention towards the unfortunate Mazin. + +On the evening of the second day after the sailing of the vessel, +Bharam thought proper to awaken his victim to a sense of his +misery. He opened the chest, which had been placed in his cabin, +and poured a certain liquid down the throat of Mazin, who +instantly sneezed several times; then opening his eyes, gazed for +some minutes wildly around him. At length, seeing the magician, +observing the sea, and feeling the motion of the ship, his mind +surmised to him the misfortune which had happened; and he guessed +his having fallen into the snares of the treacherous Bharam, +against which his mother had warned him, but in vain. Still, +being a virtuous Mussulmaun, he would not complain against the +decrees of Heaven; and instead of lamentation uttered the +following verse of the sacred Koran: "There is no support or +refuge but from the Almighty, whose we are, and to whom we must +return. Deal gently with me, O my God, in the dictates of thy +omnipotence; and make me resigned under thy chastening, O Lord of +all being." + +Having finished the above prayer, Mazin turning humbly towards +his accursed betrayer, said in a supplicating tone, "What hast +thou done, my father? didst thou not promise me enjoyment and +pleasure?" The magician, after striking him, with a scowling and +malignant sneer, exclaimed, "Thou dog! son of a dog! my pleasure +is in thy destruction. Nine and thirty such ill-devoted wretches +as thyself have I already sacrificed, and thou shalt make the +fortieth victim to my enjoyment, unless thou wilt abjure thy +faith, and become, like me, a worshipper of the sacred fire, in +which case thou shalt be my son, and I will teach thee the art of +making gold." "Cursed be thou, thy religion, and thy art," +exclaimed the enraged Mazin: "God forbid that for the pleasures +of this world I should apostatize from our holy prophet, and give +up the glorious rewards reserved in certain store for his +faithful disciples. Thou mayest indeed destroy my body, but my +soul despises thy torments" "Vile dog!" roared out the now +furious sorcerer, "I will try thy constancy." He then called in +his slaves, who held Mazin on the floor of the cabin while their +abominable master beat him with a knotted whip till he was +covered with a gore of blood, but the resolute youth, instead of +complaining, uttered only prayers to Heaven for divine support +under his pangs, and strength of fortitude to acquire the glory +of martyrdom. At length the magician, exhausted by his cruel +exercise, desisted, and making his slaves load his unfortunate +victim with heavy fetters, chained him down with only a coarse +mat to lie upon in a dark closet, in which was placed some +stinking water and coarse bread, just sufficient to keep up his +miserable existence. Mazin's courage was not to be overcome He +washed his wounds, and comforted himself with the hope that if he +died he should enjoy the blisses of Paradise, or if Providence +had decreed his continuance in life, that the same Providence +would present a mode of relief from his present and future +afflictions. In this assurance he took a little of his wretched +fare, and in spite of the agony of his wounds fell asleep, but +only to awake to fresh misery In the morning he was again +persecuted by his cruel tormentor, who for three months daily +harassed him with blows, with revilings, and every sort of insult +that malice could invent or cruelty devise. + +Hitherto the wind had been fair, and the vessel had nearly +reached the desired haven, when suddenly it changed, and a most +tremendous storm arose The waves threatened to swallow up or dash +the vessel in pieces, so that all gave themselves over for lost. +At this crisis the sailors, who believed that the tempest was +sent by Heaven as a judgment for their suffering the unfortunate +Mazin to be so cruelly tormented, went in a body to the accursed +Bharam, and accused him of having brought down the wrath of God +upon the crew by his persecution of the young Mussulmaun; at the +same time threatening to cast him overboard if he did not +instantly release the youth from his confinement. To show the +seriousness of their resolves, the sailors seized the slaves who +had been the instruments of the magician's cruelty, and threw +them into the sea, which so alarmed the treacherous Bharam that +he immediately released Mazin from his chains, fell at his feet, +begging pardon for his hard usage, and promising if they escaped +the storm to conduct him safely to his own country, and fulfil +his promise of instructing him in the secret of making gold. +Wonderful to relate! But no sooner was Mazin freed from his +fetters than the violence of the tempest lessened, by degrees the +winds subsided, the waves abated their swell, and the sea no +longer threatened to overwhelm them: in a few hours all was calm +and security, and a prosperous gale enabled the shattered vessel +to resume her course. + +The sailors now regarding Mazin as one immediately befriended by +Heaven, treated him with the greatest respect and attention; and +the hypocritical magician pretending sorrow for his late +cruelties, strove to procure his forgiveness and good opinion by +every art of flattery and affected contrition; which had such an +effect on the ingenuous youth that he forgot his treachery, again +believed his fair promises and assurances that the torments he +had undergone had only been inflicted as trials of his constancy +and belief in the true religion, virtues necessary to be proved +before the grand secret of transmuting metals could be trusted to +his keeping. + +The remainder of the voyage was prosperous and happy, and at the +expiration of three months more the vessel anchored on the wished +for coast, which was rocky, and the beach strewed with pebbles of +every colour. The magician having given orders to the master of +the vessel to wait a month for their return, disembarked with +Mazin, and they proceeded together into the country. When they +had got out of sight of the ship the magician sat down, and +taking from his vestband a small drum, began to beat upon it with +two sticks, when instantly a whirlwind arose, and a thick column +of dust rolled towards them from the desert. Mazin was alarmed, +and began to repent having left the vessel; when the magician, +seeing his colour change, desired him to calm his apprehensions, +for which there was no cause, that he had only to obey his orders +and be happy. He had scarcely spoken when the wind ceased, the +dust dispersed, and three camels stood before them, one of which +was laden with water and provisions; the others were bridled and +very richly caparisoned. Bharam having mounted one, and, at his +desire, Mazin the other, they travelled without ceasing, except +to take the necessary refreshment and repose, for seven days and +nights successively over a wild and sandy desert. + +On the eighth morning they reached a beautifully fertile tract, +delightfully watered by clear streams; the ground verdant, shaded +by spreading trees laden with fruit, on whose branches various +birds warbled melodiously, and beneath them antelopes and other +forest animals sported unmolested. At the end of a thick avenue +rose to view a capacious dome of blue and green enamel, resting +upon four columns of solid gold, each pillar exceeding in value +the treasures of the sovereigns of Persia and Greece. They +approached the dome, stopped their camels and dismounted, and +turned the animals to graze. This splendid building was +surrounded by a delightful garden, in which the now happy Mazin +and the magician reposed themselves all that day and night. At +some distance from this enchanting spot appeared a stupendous +fabric, whose numerous turrets and lofty pinnacles glittered to +the eye, and denoted a palace of uncommon magnificence, so that +the curiosity of Mazin was raised, and he could not help +inquiring of his companion to whom such a superb edifice might +belong. The magician, rather roughly, desired him for the present +to ask no questions concerning a place which belonged to his most +bitter enemies, who were evil genii, and of whom at a proper time +he would give him the history. Mazim was silent, but from the +magician's manner he began to forbode some new treachery. + +In the morning Bharam beat his magical drum, and the three camels +appealed, when Mazim and his companion mounted, pursuing their +journey in the same manner as before for seven days, with a speed +more resembling flight than the pace of travel, for their camels +were supernatural. On the eighth morning the magician inquired of +Mazim what he saw on the horizon. "I behold," said he, "to +appearance, a range of thick black clouds extending from east to +west." "They are not clouds," replied Bharam, "but lofty +mountains, called the Jubbal al Sohaub, or mountains of clouds, +from their cloud-like appearance, on their summit lies the object +of our journey, which with thy assistance we shall soon obtain, +and return to our vessel more enriched than all the sovereigns of +the world, but thou must be sure to obey me in whatever I may +command." Mazin promised to do so, but his heart trembled within +him as he beheld the gloomy prospect before him, and recollected +the boast which the accursed magician had made of his having +sacrificed thirty-nine youthful victims on these mountains, and +also his threat on board the ship to make the fortieth offering +of himself. He repented of having trusted himself from the +vessel, but it was now too late to recede. He resigned himself to +the same Providence who had relieved his sufferings in his +voyage, and concealed, as well as he could, his uneasiness from +the magician, who now endeavoured to sooth and flatter him with +artful promises and caresses. + +For four days longer they pursued their route, when it was +stopped by the black mountains, which formed, as it were, a wall +inaccessible, for the precipices were perpendicular, as if +scarped by art, and their tremendous height cast a dark and +gloomy shade to a vast distance. They now dismounted, and turned +their camels to graze, when the magician took out of his package +three loaves and a sum of water, after which he lighted a fire; +then having beat his talismanic drum, the camels again appeared, +the smallest of which he killed, embowelled, and carefully flayed +off the skin, the inside of which he washed with water. Having +done thus, he addressed Mazin, saying, "My son, the task must now +be thine to crown our labours with success. Enter this skin, with +these loaves and this water bag for thy sustenance while thou +remainest on the summit of the mountain. Be not afraid, for no +harm can happen I will sew up the skin, leaving room enough for +the admission of air. By and by a roc will descend, and seizing +it in her talons carry thee easily through the air. When she +shall have alighted on the table-land of the mountain, rip open +the stitches of the skin with thy dagger, and the roc on seeing +thee will be instantly scared, and fly far away. Then arise, +gather as much as possible of a black dust which thou wilt find +thickly strewed on the ground; put it into this bag, and throw it +down to me, after which I will contrive an easy means for thy +descent, and when thou hast rejoined me we will return to our +vessel, and I will convey thee safely back to thy own country. +The dust, which has the quality of transmuting metals into gold, +we will share between us, and shall each have enough to rival all +the treasuries on earth." + +Mazim finding it in vain to oppose, allowed himself to be sewn up +in the camel's skin with the loaves and water, recommending +himself by mental prayer to the protection of Allah and his +prophet. The magician having finished his work retired to some +distance, when, as he had said, a monstrous roc, darting from a +craggy precipice, descended with the rapidity of lightning, +grasped the skin in her widely extended talons, and soaring +swifter than the eagle soon alighted on the table-land of the +mountain; when Mazin, feeling himself on the ground, ripped the +stitches of his dangerous enclosure, and the roc being alarmed, +uttered a loud scream and flew away. Mazin now arose, and walked +upon the surface of the mountain, which he found covered with +black dust; but he beheld also the skeletons of the young men +whom the accursed Bharam, after they had served his purpose, had +left to perish. His blood became chilled with horror at the view, +as he apprehended the same unhappy fate: he however filled his +bag with the black powder, and advanced to the edge of a +precipice, from which he beheld the magician eagerly looking +upwards to discover him. Mazin called out; and when the hypocrite +saw him, he began dancing and capering for joy, at the same time +exclaiming, "Welcome, welcome, my son! my best friend, beloved +child! all our dangers are now over, throw me down the bag." "I +will not," said Mazin, "but will give it thee when thou hast +conveyed me safely from this perilous summit." "That is not in my +power," answered Bharam, "till I shall have the bag: cast it +down, and I swear by the fire which I worship immediately to +procure thee a safe descent." Mazin, relying on his oath, and +seeing no other chance of escape, cast down the bag; which having +taken up, the accursed sorcerer mounted his camel and was +departing. The unhappy Mazin in agony called after him, saying, +"Surely thou wilt not forfeit thy oath, nor leave me to perish!" +"Perish thou must, Mussulmaun dog!" exclaimed the treacherous +magician, "that my secret may be kept, nor can thy boasted +prophet save thee from destruction; for around thee are mountains +impassable, and below a fathomless sea. I have obtained what I +wished, and leave thee to thy fate." Having said thus he speeded +onwards, and was soon out of sight. + +Mazin was now in an agony of despair, not a ray of hope comforted +his mind; he beat his bosom, threw himself on the ground amid the +mouldering skeletons of the former victims to the treachery of +the magician, and lay for some time in a state of insensibility. +At length the calls of hunger and thirst forced him back to a +sense of wretched existence; and the love of life, however +miserable, made him have recourse to his water and his loaves. +Being somewhat revived, religion came to his aid, and he began to +pray for resignation to submit to the decrees of Heaven, however +painful. He then walked to the edge of the mountain overhanging +the sea, which he observed to wash the base of the rock without +any beach, at sight of which a desperate chance of escape struck +his mind: this was, to throw himself from the precipice into the +ocean, in hopes, should he survive the fall and rise to the +surface, he might reach land. He commended himself to God, shut +his eyes, held in his breath, and giving a desperate spring, +plunged headlong into the dreadful abyss, which providentially +received him unhurt, and a friendly wave drove him on shore; +where, however, he remained some minutes in a lifeless stupor, +owing to the rapidity of his descent from the brain-sickening +precipice. + +When his senses returned Mazin looked wildly around him, at first +scarcely able to bear the light from the recollection of the +dizzy eminence from which he had plunged; and an uneasy interval +elapsed before he could persuade himself that the certainty of +death was past. Convinced at length of this, he prostrated +himself to the earth, and exclaimed, "In God alone is our refuge +and support! I thought I should have perished, but his providence +has sustained me." He then wept exceedingly, entreated +forgiveness of his offences, read several passages from the +Koran, which he had preserved in his vestband, repeated the whole +of his rosary, and besought the intercession of the prophet for +his deliverance from future dangers. After this he walked onwards +till evening, the fruits of the forest his food, his drink the +water of the streams, and his resting place the green turf. Such +was his progress, that after three days he reached the spot under +the mountain where he had been taken up by the roc in the camel's +skin. He now recognized the road he had come; and after measuring +back his steps for nine days, beheld on the last the superb +palace, concerning which he had inquired of the magician, who had +informed him it was inhabited by evil genii, his most bitter +enemies. + +For some time Mazin hesitated whether he should advance to the +gates of the palace; but considering that no greater calamity +could happen to him than he had already endured, he contemned +danger, and boldly advanced to a grand lodge built of white +marble exquisitely polished. He entered, and beheld on one of the +raised platforms which skirted the passage into the court two +beautiful damsels playing at the game of chess; one of whom on +beholding him exclaimed, "Surely, sister, this is the young man +who passed this way about a month ago with Bharam the magician?" +"I am he!" exclaimed Mazin, at the same time throwing himself at +her feet, "and entreat your hospitable protection." The lady, +raising him from the ground, said, "Stranger, you resemble so +much a once beloved brother, that I feel inclined to adopt thee +as such, if my sister will also agree to do so." The other lady +readily assented. They then embraced Mazin, seated him between +them, and requested to be informed of his adventures, of which he +gave them a true narration. + +When Mazin had concluded his story, the ladies expressed +compassion for his misfortunes, and the strongest resentment +against the accursed magician, whom they vowed to punish by a +tormenting death for having had the insolence to accuse them of +being evil genii. They then proceeded to acquaint him with the +cause of their residence in this secluded palace, saying, +"Brother, for as such we shall henceforward regard you, our +father is a most potent sultan of a race of good genii, who were +converted by Solomon, the son of David, to the true faith; we are +seven daughters by the same mother; but for some cause which we +do not know the sultan our father, being fearful of our becoming +connected with mankind, has placed us in this solitary spot. This +palace was erected by genii for our accommodation; the meadows +and forests around it are delightful, and we often amuse +ourselves with field sports, there being plenty of every sort of +game, as you must have observed. When we want horses or camels we +have only to beat a small magical drum, and they instantly attend +our call, ready caparisoned. Our five sisters are at present at +the chase, but will soon return. Set thy heart at rest, forget +thy misfortunes, which are now at an end, and thou shall live +with us in ease and pleasure." + +The five sisters soon returned, and Mazin's adventures being +recounted to them they also adopted him as their brother; and he +continued with these ladies, who strove to divert him all in +their power by repeated rounds of amusements: one day they +hunted, another hawked, another fished, and their indoor +pleasures were varied and delightful; so that Mazin soon +recovered his health, and was happy to the extent of his wishes. +A year had elapsed, when Mazin one day riding out for his +amusement to the enamelled dome supported on four golden columns, +perceived under it the accursed magician, and with him a youth, +whom, like himself, he had inveigled into his snares, and devoted +also to destruction. The rage of Mazin was kindled at the sight; +he drew his sabre, and rushing unperceived behind the sorcerer, +who was in the act of flaying a camel for the purposes already +described, seized him by his hair, and exclaimed, "Wretch! the +judgment of Heaven at length hath overtaken thee, and soon shall +thy impure soul be plunged into that fire thou hast blasphemously +adored." The magician struggled, but in vain. He then implored +for mercy and forgiveness; but Mazin, convinced by experience +that he deserved none, struck off his head at one blow. Then +informing the intended victim, who stood near gazing with +astonishment, of the wicked arts of the accursed Bharam, and of +his own narrow escape from almost certain destruction, he advised +the young man to remount his camel, and return to the spot where +he had disembarked from the vessel, which would safely convey him +back to his own country. The youth, having thanked him for his +deliverance, took his leave; and Mazin returned to the palace, +carrying with him the head of the magician as a trophy of his +victory. He was highly applauded for his prowess by the sisters, +who rejoiced in the destruction of so cruel an enemy to mankind. + +Many days had not elapsed after this event, when one morning +Mazin and the sisters sitting together in a gallery of the +palace, observed a thick cloud of dust rising from the desert and +approaching towards them. As it came nearer they perceived +through it a troop of horsemen; upon which the sisters, desiring +Mazin to retire into an inner chamber, went to the gateway to +inquire who the strangers might be. They were servants of the +genie sultan, father to the ladies, and sent by him to conduct +them to his presence, in order to attend the nuptials of a near +relation. Upon this summons the sisters prepared for the journey, +and at the end of three days departed, assuring Mazin that they +would return in a month. At taking leave they gave him the keys +of every apartment in the palace, telling him that he might open +every door except one, which to enter might be attended with +unpleasant consequences, and therefore had better be avoided. +Mazin promised to observe their caution; and for many days was so +well amused in examining the magnificent rooms and curiosities of +the palace, that he did not feel a wish to transgress till the +forbidden door alone remained unopened. Having then nothing to +divert him, he could not resist the impulse of curiosity, but +unlocked the door, which opened on a marble staircase by which he +ascended to the terraced roof of the palace, from whence a most +delightful prospect feasted his sight. On one side his eye was +arrested by an extensive garden, in the centre of which, under +shady trees, was a basin of clear water, lined with gems of every +colour and description. He resolved to visit this enchanting +object; and descending the staircase, explored his way through a +long arcade, which led him at length into the garden, in which he +diverted himself with the scenery it afforded for some time. He +then retired to an alcove on the margin of the basin, and sat +down; but had not rested many moments, when to his astonishment +he beheld descending from the sky a company of beautiful damsels, +whose robes of light green silk floating in the air seemed their +only support. Alarmed at such a preternatural appearance, he +retired to the end of the alcove, from whence he watched their +motions. They alighted on the brink of the water, and having +thrown off their robes, stood to the enraptured view of Mazin in +native loveliness. Never had he beheld such enchanting beauty; +but one even more exquisitely charming than the rest attracted +his gaze, and from the instant fixed the affections of his heart. +They now plunged into the basin, where for some time they amused +themselves by swimming, every now and then playfully dashing the +water over themselves and at each other. When satiated with +frolic they came out of the water, sat for some time on the +verdant margin, then dressed themselves, and adjusting their +robes to the air, soared aloft, and were soon far from the sight +of the enamoured Mazin, who followed them till his eyes could +stretch no farther; then despairing of ever again beholding the +object of his affections, he fainted on the grass, and it was +some time before he recovered his senses. He returned melancholy +to the palace, and spent the night in reposeless agitation. + +The following morning the seven sisters returned; and she who had +first welcomed him to their abode, and had ever since retained +for Mazin the purest affection, ran with eagerness to inquire +after his health. Great was her affliction on beholding him upon +his bed, pale, and apparently in a state of rapid decay. After +many kind questions, to which he returned no answers, she +entreated earnestly, by the vow of brotherly and sisterly +adoption which had past between them, that he would inform her of +the cause of his unhappy dejection; assuring him that she would +use every exertion to remove it, and gratify his wishes, be they +what they might, however difficult to be obtained. Mazin upon +this, in a feeble tone, related his adventure in the garden; and +declared that unless the beautiful (he supposed celestial) damsel +could be obtained for him he must die of grief. The sister bade +him be comforted, for in a short time his desires should be +satisfied, which revived his spirits, and he accompanied his kind +hostess to welcome home her sisters, who received him with their +usual hospitality, but were grieved and alarmed at the sad +alteration in his appearance, of which they inquired the reason, +and were informed that it was the effect of absence from his +generous patronesses. + +The next morning the sisters went upon a hunting excursion for +ten days, only one (his kindest friend) remained in the palace, +under pretence of attending Mazin, whose health, she said, was +too delicate to bear the exercise of the chase. When the others +were departed, she informed Mazin that the beautiful beings he +had seen in the garden were of a race of genie much more powerful +than her own, that they inhabited a country surrounded by seas +and deserts not to be approached by human exertion, that the +ladies he beheld were sisters to the queen of these genii, whose +subjects were entirely female, occasionally visited by male +genii, with whom they were in alliance for the sake of +population, and to whom all the males were sent away as soon as +born. She further told him, that these females had the power, +from their silken robes, of soaring through the air with a flight +an hundred times swifter than that of any bird, that they were +fond of recreating in verdant spots, and bathing in the clearest +waters, and that the garden he had seen them in was a favourite +place of their resort, so that they would probably soon visit it +again. "Possibly," continued she, "they may recreate themselves +there to-day; we will be on the watch, and if they appear, you +must fix your eye on your favourite, mark where she places her +robes, and while they are in the water seize and conceal them, +for deprived of these she cannot fly away, and you may make her +your prisoner. Bring her to the palace, and endeavour by +tenderness and endearing attention to gain her affection and +consent to marriage; but remember when she is in your power to +keep her robes from her, for should she regain possession of them +she would certainly return to the Flying Islands, and you would +see her no more." + +Mazin and his adopted sister now repaired to the garden, and +seated themselves in the alcove, nor had they been there long +when the fair genii appeared as before, descended on the margin +of the basin, and all having undressed, each laying her robes by +themselves, rushed playfully into the water, in which they began +to swim, dive, and besprinkle playfully each other. Mazin, whose +eager eye had ardently watched his beloved, swiftly, but +cautiously, snatching up the robes of his mistress, conveyed them +to the alcove unobserved by the fair bathers; who, when they had +sufficiently amused themselves, quitted the water, and ascending +the bank, began to dress; but how can we describe the distressful +confusion of the unhappy genie whose robes had been stolen? Big +tears rolled down her beautiful cheeks, she beat her bosom, tore +her hair, and uttered loud shrieks, while her sisters, instead of +consoling her, were concerned only for their own safety, and +dressing themselves with confused haste, bade her farewell, +mounted into the air, and disappeared. On their departure, Mazin +and his adopted sister approached, and saluting the disconsolate +genie endeavoured to console her, but for the present in vain, +her mind being intent only on the sad captivity she thought +awaited her, and the loss of her native country and relations. +They led her gently to the palace, and Mazin, retiring +respectfully, left her to the care of his adopted sister, who by +a thousand endearments and attentions so gained upon her, that in +two days the genie began to recover her spirits, and consented to +receive Mazin as her husband, when the ladies should return from +the chase. On their arrival at the palace they were informed by +their sisters of what had happened, and introduced to the fair +stranger; who, diverted by their company and attentions, now +scarcely regretted her captivity. Preparations were made for the +nuptials, and in a short time Mazin was made happy in the +possession of his beloved genie. A round of festivities succeeded +their marriage, and the seven sisters strove with each other who +should by invention of new amusements make their residence among +them most delightful to the happy pair Mazin, however, now began +to think of his mother and his native city with fond regret, and +at length begged leave of his kind patronesses to return home, to +which request they, from admiration of his filial love, though +unwilling to part, consented, and a day was fixed for his +departure. The time being arrived, the sisters beat their magical +drum, when several camels appeared at the gates of the palace +heavily laden with the richest goods, a large sum of money, +valuable jewels, and refreshments for the journey, led by proper +attendants. One camel carried a splendid litter for the +conveyance of his wife, and another was richly caparisoned for +the use of Mazin, who, having taken an affectionate leave of his +generous benefactresses, whom he promised to revisit at some +future time, departed, and pursued the route back towards the sea +shore, where he had disembarked with the magician. On the journey +nothing remarkable occurred, and on their arrival at the coast +they found a vessel ready to receive them, when the wind proving +fair, a short time carried them safely to Bussorah, where Mazin +had the satisfaction of finding his mother alive, though greatly +wasted with constant grief and lamentation for his loss. To +describe the joy of their meeting is impossible, for never was +there more tender affection between parent and child than +subsisted between Mazin and his mother. She seemed to gain new +life from his recovery, and again to grow young. The fair genie, +who was now in the way of being a mother, appeared perfectly +contented in her situation, and Mazin, so unexpectedly restored +to his country, was happy in the possession of all he wished; for +the generous sisters had bestowed such wealth upon him, that, in +addition to the domestic felicity he enjoyed, he was now one of +the richest persons in all Bussorah. + +Three years had rolled away in undisturbed happiness, during +which the fair genie had borne him two sons, when Mazin thought +it grateful to perform his promise to the seven sisters, the +benevolent foundresses of his good fortune. Having accordingly +made preparations for his journey, he committed his wife's native +robes to the care of his mother, giving her the key of a secret +recess in which he had lodged them, but with a strict charge not +to let the genie put them on, lest an irresistible impulse might +inspire her to fly away to her own country; for though in general +she had seemed contented, he had heard her now and then express a +wish to be again with her own friends and species. The mother +promised obedience, and Mazin having taken an affectionate leave +of her, his wife and children, with assurances of speedy return, +embarked on board a vessel and pursued his voyage, which was +uncommonly prosperous. On his landing he found camels waiting his +arrival on the beach, for the genie ladies, by magic arts, knew +of his coming, and had stationed them for his conveyance to their +palace, which he reached in safety, and was received with the +most affectionate welcomes and hospitality. + +Some time after the departure of Mazin, his wife requested her +mother-in-law's permission to amuse herself at a public bath, and +the old lady willingly accompanied her and the children to the +most celebrated humnaum in the city, which was frequented by the +ladies and those of the chief personages of the court, the caliph +Haroon al Rusheed then happening to be at Bussorah. When they +reached the bath there were then in it some of the principal +female slaves, attendants of Zobeide, who, on the entrance of +Mazin's wife, were struck with her uncommon beauty, and instantly +collecting round her, rapturously gazed upon her as she was +undressing. + +The slaves of Zobeide did not cease to admire Mazin's wife till +she left the hummaum, and even followed her till she entered her +own house, when dusk had begun to gloom, and they became +apprehensive of their mistress's being displeased at their long +absence, and so it happened. + +Upon entering into her presence, Zobeide exclaimed, "Where have +ye loitered, and what has been the cause of your unusually long +stay at the hummaum?" Upon which they looked confusedly at each +other, and remained silent. The sultana then said in anger, +"Instantly inform me of the cause of your delay!" when they +related the wonderful beauty of Mazin's wife, and dwelt so much +upon her charms, that Zobeide was overcome by curiosity to behold +them. On the following day she sent for the mother of Mazin, who +obeyed the summons with fear and trembling, wondering what could +have made the caliph's consort desirous of seeing a person of her +inferior rank. + +Mazin's mother prostrated herself, and kissed the feet of the +sultana, who graciously raising her, said, "Am Mazin, our wish is +that you introduce to me your son's wife, of whose beauty I have +heard such a description, that I long to behold her." + +When the mother of Mazin heard these words, her heart sunk within +her, she trembled, but dared not refuse the command of Zobeide, +and she said, "To hear is to obey!" after which she took leave, +with the usual ceremony of prostration before the throne of the +sultana. + +When the mother of Mazin left the princess Zobeide she returned +towards her own house; and when she had reached it, entered to +her son's wife, and said, "Our sultana Zobeide hath invited thee +to an entertainment." The wife of Mazin was delighted, instantly +rose up, arrayed herself in the richest apparel she was mistress +of, and dressed her two children in their choicest garments and +ornaments Then with them, the mother of her husband, and a black +slave, she proceeded, till they reached the palace of the +princess Zobeide, which they entered, and found her sitting in +impatient expectation. They kissed the ground be fore her, and +prayed for her prosperity. + +When the sultana Zobeide beheld the wife of Mazin her senses were +confounded, her heart fluttered, she was astonished at her +beauty, elegance, graceful stature, and blooming complexion, and +exclaimed, "Gracious heaven! Where could such a form as this have +been created?" Then she seated her guests, and ordered a +collation to be brought in, which was done immediately, when they +ate and were satisfied, but Zobeide could not keep her eyes from +the wife of Mazin of Bussorah. She kissed her, and questioned her +concerning what had befallen herself and her husband. Her +astonishment was redoubled on the relation of their adventures. + +The wife of Mazin then said, "My princess, if you are thus +surprised, though you have not seen me in my native robes, how +would you be delighted at my appearance in them! If, therefore, +you wish to gratify your curiosity by beholding a miracle, you +must command the mother of my husband to bring my country dress." +Upon this Zobeide commanded the mother of Mazin to fetch the +flying robes, and as she dared not disobey the sultana of the +caliph, she went home, and speedily returned with them. Zobeide +took them into her hands, examined them, and was surprised at +their fashion and texture. At length she gave them to the wife of +Mazin. + +When the wife of Mazin had received the robes, she unfolded them, +and going into the open court of the palace, arrayed herself in +them, then taking her children in her arms, mounted with them +suddenly into the air. When she had ascended to about the height +of sixty feet, she called out to the mother of her husband, +saying, "Give my adieu, dear mother, to my lord, and tell him, +should ardent love for me affect him he may come to me in the +islands of Waak al Waak." After this speech she soared towards +the clouds, till she was hidden from their eyes, and speeded to +her own country. + +When the mother of Mazin beheld her in the air, she beat her +cheeks, scattered dust upon her head, and cried aloud to the +princess Zobeide, "This is thy mischief." Zobeide was not able to +answer or reprove her boldness from the excess of her sorrow and +regret, which made her repent, when repentance could not avail. +The old lady returned in despair to her own habitation. + +Thus it happened to the persons above mentioned, but how was it +with the affairs of Mazin? He did not cease travelling for some +time, till he arrived at the palace of the seven sisters, and +paid his respects. They were rejoiced at his arrival, and +inquired after his wife, when he informed them she was well, and +that God had blessed him with two children, both sons, which +added to their satisfaction. He remained with them for some time, +after which he entreated their permission to depart. They took a +tender leave of him, when he bade them farewell, and returned +towards his own country; nor did he halt till he arrived in +safety at Bussorah. When he entered his house he found his mother +alone, mournfully weeping and lamenting what had happened in his +absence. Seeing her in this state, he inquired the cause, upon +which she informed him of all that had occurred, from the +beginning to the conclusion. + +When Mazin had heard the unwelcome intelligence, he cried out in +an agony of distress for the loss of his wife and children, fell +fainting to the ground, and forgot his own existence. His mother, +on beholding his condition, beat her cheeks, and sprinkled water +upon his face till he came to himself, when he wept and said to +his mother, "Inform me what my wife may have spoken on her +departure." She repeated her farewell words: upon hearing which +his distress and ardent longing for his wife and children was +redoubled. He remained mournfully at home for the space of ten +days, after which he resolved upon the journey to the islands of +Waak al Waak, distant from Bussorah one hundred and fifty years +of travel. + +Mazin departed from his mother after he had taken leave and +entreated her prayers for his success, but the aged matron was so +affected that she ordered her tomb to be prepared, and did +nothing but weep and lament night and day for her son, who did +not halt till he had reached the palace of the seven sisters. +When they saw him they were surprised, and said to one another, +"There must be some urgent cause for his returning so speedily." +They saluted him, and inquired after his affairs: upon which he +informed them of the desertion of his wife, what she had said at +going away, and of his resolves to travel to the islands of Waak +al Waak. The seven ladies replied, "This expedition is impossible +to be accomplished either by thee or any of thy race; for these +islands are distant a hundred and fifty years' journey, so that +thou canst not live to reach them." Mazin exclaimed, "My +attempting it, however, is incumbent upon me, though I may perish +on the road: if God has decreed my reunion with my wife I shall +meet her again; but if not, I shall die and be received into the +mercy of the Almighty." The sisters did not cease to importune +him to lay aside the journey, but it was impossible for him to +obey them or remain at ease; upon which their grief for his +situation increased. They knew that the distance was such as he +could never overcome by human aid, or rejoin his wife, but they +respected his ardent love for her and his children. + +On this account they consulted with one another how to assist him +on the journey. He remained with them a month, but unable to +repose or enjoy their entertainments. The sisters had two uncles, +one named Abd al Kuddoos, and the other Abd al Sulleeb, who lived +at three months distance from them, to whom they wrote in +recommendation of Mazin as follows. + +"The bearer is our friend Mazin of Bussorah. If you can direct +him how to reach the islands of Waak al Waak, assist him; but if +not, prevent him from proceeding, lest he plunge himself into +destruction. At present he will not attend to our advice or +reproofs, from excess of love to his wife and children, but +through you there may finally occur to him safety and success." + +When they had sealed this letter they gave it to Mazin, and +bestowed also upon him, of water and provisions, what would +suffice for three months' consumption, laden upon camels, and a +steed for his conveyance, upon which he took leave of them with +many thanks, fully resolved to pursue his journey to the islands +of Waak al Waak. + +With much pain and difficulty he pursued his journey, nor had he +any pleasure either in eating or drinking during the three months +of his pilgrimage. At length he reached a verdant pasturage, in +which was a variety of flowers, flocks of sheep, and cattle +feeding. It was indeed a paradise upon earth. In one part of it +he perceived a pleasant eminence on which were buildings: he +advanced to them, and entered a court. Within it he beheld a +venerable looking personage, his beard flowing to his middle, +whom he saluted; when the sage returned his compliments, welcomed +him with respectful demeanour, and congratulated him on his +arrival. He seated him, and laid before him a collation, of which +they both ate till they were satisfied. + +Mazin lodged with him that night, and in the morning the sage +inquired of him his situation, and the reason of his coming to +such a sequestered spot. + +Mazin informed him; and, behold! this personage was Abd al +Kuddoos; who, when he heard his guest mention particulars of his +brother's children, redoubled his attentions to him, and said, +"Did they give you any letter?" Mazin replied, "Yes." He eagerly +exclaimed, "Give it to me." He gave it him, when he opened it, +read it to himself, and considered the contents word byword. + +Abd al Kuddoos gazed earnestly at Mazin; reflected on his +adventures, at which he was astonished; and how he had plunged +himself into danger and difficulty in such a wild pursuit. He +then said to him, "My son, my advice is, that thou return by the +way which thou hast come, and no longer vex thy soul on account +of impossibilities, for this business thou canst not accomplish. +I will write to the daughters of my brother what shall make thee +happy with them, and restore thy peace. Return then to them, and +perplex not thyself farther, for between this spot and the +islands of Waak al Waak is the distance of a hundred and fifty +years' journey. On the way also are numerous perils, for in it +are the abodes of genii, the haunts of wild beasts, and monstrous +serpents, and some parts also where food cannot be had or thirst +be gratified. Have compassion then, my son, upon thyself, and +rush not on destruction." + +Abd al Kuddoos continued to dissuade him from his resolution +during three days, but he would not hear advice or reproof. On +the third he prepared to depart, being sufficiently refreshed; +upon which the old man, seeing his steadiness, arose, kindled a +fire, cast into it some perfumes, and uttered incantations, to +Mazin unintelligible; when suddenly appeared a genie, in stature +forty cubits; he was one of the subdued spirits of our lord +Solomon. He muttered and growled, saying, "For what, my lord, +hast thou summoned me here? shall I tear up this eminence by the +roots, and hurl it beyond the mountains of Kaaf?" + +Abd al Kuddoos replied, "God be merciful to thee; I have occasion +for thee, and request that thou wilt accomplish my wish in one +day:" upon which the genie answered, "To hear is to obey." + +Abd al Kuddoos then said to the genie, "Take up this young man, +and convey him to my brother Abd al Sullecb." He consented, +though the distance was a common journey of seventy years. The +genie advanced, seized Mazin, and placing him upon his shoulders, +soared with him through the air from morning till sunset, when he +descended before Abd al Sulleeb, paid his respects, and informed +him of the commands of his brother Abd al Kuddoos. Upon this he +greeted Mazin, who presented him the letter from the daughters of +his brother, which he opened and read. When he had examined the +contents, he was astonished at the circumstances which had +befallen Mazin, his arrival with him, and his resolve to +penetrate to the islands of Waak al Waak. He then said to him, +"My son, I advise that thou vex not thyself with these +difficulties and dangers, for thou canst never attain thy object, +or reach these islands." + +Mazin now began to despair, and at the remembrance of his wife +and children to weep bitterly, insomuch that he fainted, which, +when Abd al Sulleeb beheld, his heart sympathized with his +unhappy condition. He perceived that he would not return from his +pursuit, or be controlled, and therefore thought it best to +assist his progress towards the islands. Going into another +apartment, he kindled a fire, over which he sprinkled some +perfumes, and uttered incantations; when, lo! ten genii presented +themselves before him, and said, "Inform us, my lord, what thou +desirest, and we will bring it thee in an instant." He replied, +"May God be gracious unto you!" and related to them the story of +Mazin, his wife, and children. + +When the ten genii had heard the narration, they exclaimed, "This +affair is wonderful and miraculous; however, we will take and +convey him safely over the mountains and deserts, to the extent +of our country and dominion, and leave him there, but cannot +promise further assistance, as we dare not pass a step beyond our +own territories, for the land belongs to others. In it are +innumerable horrors, and we dread the inhabitants." Mazin having +heard what they said, exclaimed, "I accept your offer with +gratitude." + +The ten genii now took up Mazin, soared with him through the air +for a night and day, till they came to the limits of their +territories, and then set him down in a country called the land +of Kafoor, took, their leaves, and vanished from his sight. He +walked onwards, and did not neglect to employ his tongue in +prayer, beseeching from God deliverance and the attainment of his +wishes. Often would he exclaim, "O God, deliverer from bondage, +who canst guide in safety over mountains, who feedest the wild +beasts of the forest, who decreest life and death, thou canst +grant me if thou choosest relief from all my distress, and free +me from all my sorrows." + +In this manner did he travel onwards during ten days; on the last +of which he beheld three persons contending with each other, each +man trying to kill his fellow. He was astonished at their +conduit, but advanced towards them. Upon his approach they +desisted from combat, and one and all exclaimed, "We will be +judged before his young man, and whoever contradicts his opinion +shall be deemed in the wrong." To this they agreed, and coming up +to Mazin, demanded from him a just arbitration in their dispute. +They then displayed before him a cap, a small copper drum, and a +wooden ball, saying, "We are three brothers, by the same father +and mother, who are both received into the mercy of God, leaving +behind them these articles. They are three, and we are three; but +a dispute hath fallen out among us respecting their allotment, as +each of us says, 'I will have the cap.' Our contention made us +proceed to blows, but now we are desirous that thou shouldst +arbitrate between us, and allot an article to each of us as thou +shall judge best, when we will rest satisfied with thy decision, +but should either contradict it he shall be adjuged an offender." + +When Mazin heard the above he was surprised, and said to himself, +"These articles are so paltry and of such trifling value as not +to be worth an arbitration; for surely this shabby cap, the drum, +and the wooden ball, cannot be worth altogether more than half a +deenar; but I will inquire farther about them." He then said, "My +brethren, wherein lies the value of these three things about +which you were contending, for to me they appear of very little +worth." They replied, "Dear uncle, each of them has a property +worth treasuries of wealth, and to each of them belongs a tale so +wonderful, that wert thou to write it on a tablet of adamant it +would remain an example for those who will be admonished." + +Mazin then requested that they would relate to him the stories of +the three articles, when they said, "The eldest brother shall +first deliver the account of one, its properties, what can be +gained from them, and we will not conceal any thing from thee." + +"This cap," said the elder brother, "is called the cap of +invisibility, by which, whoever possesseth it may become +sovereign of the world. When he puts it on, he may enter where he +pleases, for none can perceive him, either genii or men, so that +he may convey away whatever he chooses, unseen, in security. He +may enter the cabinets of kings and statesmen, and hear all they +converse upon respecting political intrigues. Does he covet +wealth, he may visit the royal treasuries, and plunder them at +his pleasure; or does he wish for revenge, he can kill his enemy +without being detected. In short, he may act as he pleases +without fear of discovery." + +Mazin now said to himself, "This cap can become nobody but me, to +whom it will be most advantageous in the object of my expedition. +Perhaps it may conduct me to my wife and children, and I may +obtain from its possession all I wish. It is certainly one of the +wonders of the world and rarities of the age, not to be found +among the riches of kings of the present day." When he had +ruminated thus, he said, "I am acquainted with the properties of +the cap, what are those of the drum?" + +The second brother began, saying, "Whoever has this drum in his +possession, should he be involved in a difficult situation, let +him take it out of its case, and with the sticks gently beat upon +the characters engraven on the copper; when, if his mind be +collected and his courage firm, there will appear to him +wonderful matters. The virtue of it consists in the words +inscribed upon it, which were written by our lord Solomon Bin +David in talismanic characters, each of which has control over +certain spirits and princes of the genii, and a power that cannot +be described in speech. Hence, whoever is master of this drum may +become superior to all the monarchs of the present day, for, on +his beating it in the manner already described, when he is +pressed for help, all the princes of the genii, with their sons, +will appear also their troops and followers, ready to obey his +commands. Whatever he may order them to execute they will perform +by virtue of the talisman of our lord Solomon Bin David." + +When Mazin of Bussorah had heard the above, he said to himself, +"This drum is fitting only for me, as I have much more need of it +than the brothers. It will protect me from all evil in the +islands of Waak al Waak, should I reach them, and meet with my +wife and children. It is true, if I take only the cap I may be +able to enter all places, but this drum will keep injury from me, +and with it I shall be secure from all enemies." After this, he +said, "I have been informed of the virtues of the cap, and the +properties of the drum, there now only remains the account of the +wooden ball, that I may give judgment between you, therefore let +the third brother speak." He answered, "To hear is to obey." + +The third brother said, "My dear uncle, whoever possesses this +ball will find in it wonderful properties, for it brings distant +parts near, and makes near distant, it shortens long journeys, and +lengthens short ones If any person wish to perform one of two +hundred years in two days, let him take it from its case, then +lay it upon the ground and mention what place he desires to go, +it will instantly be in motion, and rush over the earth like the +blast of the stormy gale. He must then follow it till he arrives +at the place desired, which he will have the power to do with +ease." + +When the youth had concluded his description of the virtue of the +wooden ball, Mazin resolved within himself to take this also from +the brothers, and said, "If your wish be that I should arbitrate +between you, I must first prove the virtues of these three +articles, and afterwards let each take that which may fall to him +by decision." The three brothers exclaimed, "We have heard, and +we consent; act as thou thinkest best, and may God protect thee +in thy undertakings!" Mazin then put on the cap, placed the drum +under his vestband, took up the ball and placed it on the ground, +when it speeded before him swiftly as the gale. He followed it +till it came to the gate of a building which it entered, and +Mazin also went in with it. The brothers ran till they were +fatigued, and cried out, "Thou hast sufficiently tried them;" but +in vain, for by this time there was between him and them the +distance of ten years' journey. Mazin now rested, took the drum +in his hands, rubbed his fingers over the talismanic characters, +hesitated whether he should strike them with the sticks, then +labored lightly upon them, when, lo! a voice exclaimed, "Mazin, +thou hast gained thy desires. + +"Thou wilt not, however," continued the voice, "arrive at thy +object till after much trouble, but take care of the ball in this +spot, for thou art at present in the land of the evil genii." +Upon this, Mazin took up the ball and concealed it in his +clothes; but he was overcome with astonishment at hearing words +without seeing the speaker, and exclaimed, "Who art thou, my +lord?" "I am," replied the voice, "one of the slaves of the +characters which thou seest engraved upon the drum, and +unremittingly in attendance; but the other servants will not +appear except the drum be beaten loudly, when three hundred and +sixty chiefs will attend thy commands, each of whom has under his +authority ten thousand genii, and every individual of them +numerous followers." + +Mazin now inquired the distance of the islands of Waak al Waak; +to which the voice replied, "Three years' journey:" upon which he +struck the ball before him, and followed it. He next arrived in a +region infested by serpents, dragons, and ravenous beasts, in the +mountains of which were mines of copper. He now again tabored +gently upon the drum, when the voice exclaimed, "I am ready to +obey thy commands." + +"Inform me," said Mazin, "what is the name of this country?" "It +is called," answered the voice, "the Land of Dragons and Ravenous +Animals. Be careful then of thyself, and make no delay, nor +regard fatigue, for these mountains are not to be passed without +a chance of trouble from the inhabitants, who are genii, and in +their caves are furious wild beasts." Upon this he struck the +ball afresh, and followed it unceasingly, till at length he +reached the sea shore, and perceived the islands of Waak al Waak +at a distance, whose mountains appeared of a fiery red, like the +sky gilded by the beams of the setting sun. When he beheld them +he was struck with awe and dread; but recovering, he said to +himself, "Why should I be afraid? since God has conducted me +hither, he will protect me; or, if I die, I shall be relieved +from my troubles, and be received into the mercy of God." He then +gathered some fruits, which he ate, drank some water, and having +performed his devotions, laid himself down to sleep, nor did he +awake till the morning. + +In the morning Mazin had recourse to his drum, which he rubbed +gently, when the voice inquired his commands. "How am I," said +he, "to pass this sea, and enter the islands?" "That is not to be +done," replied the voice, "without the assistance of a sage who +resides in a cell on yonder mountains, distant from hence a day's +journey, but the ball will conduct thee there in half an hour. +When you reach his abode, knock softly at the door, when he will +appear, and inquire whence you come, and what you want. On +entering he will receive thee kindly, and desire thee to relate +thy adventures from beginning to end. Conceal nothing from him, +for he alone can assist thee in passing the sea." + +Mazin then struck the ball, and followed it till he arrived at +the abode of the hermit, the gate of which he found locked He +knocked, when a voice from within said, "Who is at the gate?" "A +guest," replied Mazin upon which the sage arose and opened the +door, admitted him, and entertained him kindly for a whole night +and day, after which Mazin ventured to inquire how he might pass +the sea The sage replied, "What occasions thy searching after +such an object?" Mazin answered, "My lord, I intend to enter the +islands, and with that view have I travelled far distant from my +own country." When the sage heard this, he stood up before him, +took a book, opened it, and read in it to himself for some time, +every now and then casting a look of astonishment upon Mazin. At +length he raised his head and said, "Heavens! what troubles, +disasters, and afflictions in exile have been decreed to this +youth in the search of his object!" Upon this Mazin exclaimed, +"Wherefore, my lord, did you look at the book and then at me so +earnestly?" The sage replied, "My son, I would instruct thee how +to reach the islands, since such is thy desire, but thou canst +not succeed in thy desires till after much labour and +inconvenience. However, at present relate to me thy adventures +from first to last" Mazin rejoined, "My story, my lord, is such a +surprising one, that were it engraven on tablets of adamant, it +would be an example for such as would take warning." + +When he had related his story from beginning to end, the sage +exclaimed, "God willing thou wilt attain thy wishes:" upon which +Mazin inquired concerning the sea surrounding the islands, and +how he could overcome such an impediment to his progress; when +the sage answered, "By God's permission, in the morning we will +repair to the mountains, and I will shew thee the wonders of the +seas." + +When God permitted morning to dawn the hermit arose, took Mazin +with him, and they ascended the mountains, till they reached a +structure resembling a fortress, which they entered, and +proceeded into the inmost court, in which was an immense colossal +statue of brass, hollowed into pipes, having in the midst of it a +reservoir lined with marble, the work of magicians. When Mazin +beheld this he was astonished, and began to tremble with fear at +the vastness of the statue, and what miraculous power it might +contain. The hermit now kindled a fire, threw into it some +perfumes, and muttered some unintelligible words, when suddenly +dark clouds arose, from which burst out eddies of tempestuous +wind, lightnings, claps of thunder, groans, and frightful noises, +and in the midst of the reservoir appeared boiling waves, for it +was near the ocean surrounding the islands. The hermit did not +cease to utter his incantations, until the hurricane and noises +had subsided by his authority, for he was more powerful than any +of the magicians, and had command over the rebellious genii. He +now said to Mazin, "Go out, and look towards the ocean +surrounding the islands." + +Mazin repaired to the summit of the mountain, and looked towards +the sea, but could not discover the smallest trace of its +existence: upon which he was astonished at the miraculous power +of the hermit. He returned to him, exclaiming, "I can behold no +remains of the ocean, and the islands appear joined to the main +land;" when the sage said, "My son, place thy reliance on God and +pursue thy object," after which he vanished from sight. + +Mazin now proceeded into the islands, and did not stop till he +had reached a verdant spot watered by clear rivulets, and shaded +by lofty trees. It was now sunrise, and among the wonders which +he beheld was a tree like the weeping willow, on which hung, by +way of fruit, beautiful damsels, who exclaimed, "Praised be God +our creator, and former of the islands of Waak al Waak." They +then dropped from the tree and expired. At sight of this prodigy +his senses were confounded, and he exclaimed, "By heavens, this +is miraculously surprising!" When he had recovered himself, he +roamed through the groves, and admired the contrivances of the +Almighty till sunset, when he sat down to rest. + +He had not sat long when there approached towards him a +masculinely looking old woman of disagreeable countenance, at +sight of whom Mazin was alarmed. The matron guessing that he was +in fear of her, said to him, "What is thy name, what are thy +wants? art thou of this country? Inform me; be not afraid or +apprehensive, for I will request of God that I may be the means +of forwarding thy wishes." On hearing these words the heart of +Mazin was encouraged, and he rerelated to her his adventures from +first to last. When she had heard them, she knew that he must be +husband to the sister of her mistress, who was queen of the +islands of Waak al Waak, and said, "Thy object is a difficult +one, but I will assist thee all in my power." + +The old woman now conducted Mazin through by-paths to the capital +of the island, and led him unperceived in the darkness of night, +when the inhabitants had ceased to pass through the streets, to +her own house. She then set before him refreshments, and having +eaten and drunk till he was satisfied, he praised God for his +arrival; when the matron informed him concerning his wife, that +she had endured great troubles and afflictions since her +separation, and repented sincerely of her flight. Upon hearing +this, Mazin wept bitterly, and fainted with anguish. When revived +by the exertions of the old woman, she comforted him by promises +of speedy assistance to complete his wishes, and left him to his +repose. + +Next morning the old woman desiring Mazin to wait patiently for +her return, repaired to the palace, where she found the queen and +her sisters in consultation concerning the wife of Mazin, and +saying, "This wretch hath espoused a man, by whom she has +children, but now she is returned, we will put her to death after +divers tortures." Upon the entrance of the old lady they arose, +saluted her with great respect, and seated her, for she had been +their nurse. When she had rested a little, she said, "Were you +not conversing about your unfortunate sister? but can ye reverse +the decrees of God?" "Dear nurse," replied they, "no one can +avoid the will of heaven, and had she wedded one of our own +nature there would have been no disgrace, but she has married a +human being of Bussorah, and has children by him, so that our +species will despise us, and tauntingly say, 'Your sister is a +harlot.' Her death is therefore not to be avoided." The nurse +rejoined, "If you put her to death your scandal will be greater +than hers, for she was wedded lawfully, and her offspring is +legitimate; but I wish to see her." The eldest sister answered, +"She is now confined in a subterraneous dungeon;" upon which the +nurse requested permission to visit her, which was granted, and +one of the sisters attended to conduct her to the prison. + +The nurse, on her arrival at the prison, found the wife of Mazin +in great distress from the cruelty of her sisters. Her children +were playing about her, but very pallid, from the closeness of +their confinement. On the entrance of the nurse she stood up, +made her obeisance, and began to weep, saying, "My dear nurse, I +have been long in this dungeon, and know not what in the end may +be my fate." The old woman kissed her cheeks, and said, "My dear +daughter, God will bring thee relief, perchance on this very +day." + +When the wife of Mazin heard this, she said, "Good heavens! your +words, my dear nurse, recall a gleam of comfort that last night +struck across my mind from a voice, which said, 'Be comforted, O +wife of Mazin, for thy deliverance is near.'" Upon this the old +woman replied, "Thou shalt indeed be comforted, for thy husband +is at my abode, and will speedily release thee." The unfortunate +prisoner, overcome with joy, fainted away, but was soon restored +by the nurse's sprinkling water upon her face, when she opened +her eyes and said, "I conjure thee by heaven, my dear nurse, +inform me if thou speakest truth, or dissemblest." "I not only +speak truth," answered the nurse, "but by God's help thou shalt +meet thy husband this day." After this she left her. + +The nurse, upon her return home, inquired of Mazin if he had +skill to take his wife away, provided he was admitted into the +dungeon at night. He replied, "Yes." When night was set in, she +conducted him to the spot where she was confined, left him near +the gate, and went her way. He then put on his cap of +invisibility, and remained unperceived all night by any one. +Early in the morning the queen, his wife's eldest sister, +advanced, opened the gate of the prison, and entered, when he +followed unseen behind her, and seated himself in a corner of the +apartment. The queen went up to her sister, and beat her cruelly +with a whip, while her children wept around her, till the blood +appeared upon her body, when she left her hanging by her hair +from a pillar, went out, and locked the door of the dungeon. +Mazin now arose, unloosed his wife's hair, and pulling off the +cap, appeared before her, when she exclaimed, "From whence didst +thou come?" They then embraced each other, and he said. "Ah, why +didst thou act thus, leave me in such affliction, and plunge +thyself into such distress, which, indeed, thy conduct hath +almost deserved?" "It is true," replied she; "but what is past is +past, and reproach will not avail, unless thus canst effect our +escape:" upon which he exclaimed, "Does thy inclination really +lead thee to accompany me to my own country?" She answered, + +"Yes; do with me what thou choosest." + +They remained in endearment with their children until evening, +when the keeper of the dungeon approaching, Mazin put on his cap +of invisibility. The keeper having set down the provisions for +the night, retired into a recess of the dungeon and fell asleep; +when Mazin and his family sat down and refreshed themselves. +Perceiving the keeper asleep, Mazin tried the door and found it +unlocked; upon which, he, with his wife and children, left the +prison, and travelled as quickly as possible all night. When the +queen, in the morning, was informed of her sister's escape she +was enraged, and made incantations, on which seven thousand genii +attended, with whom she marched out in pursuit, resolved to cut +the fugitives in pieces. + +Mazin, looking behind him, perceived a cloud of dust, and soon +appeared the forces of his wife's sister, who cried out on seeing +him, with dreadful howls, "Where will ye go, ye wretches, ye +accursed? where can ye hide yourselves?" Upon this Mazin took out +his drum, and beat it violently, when, lo! there appeared before +him legions of genii, in number more than could be reckoned, and +they fought with the armies of the queen, who was taken prisoner, +with her principal attendants. + +When the wife of Mazin beheld her sister in this distress her +compassion was moved towards her, and she said to her husband, +"Hurt not my sister, nor use her ill, for she is my elder:" upon +which he treated her respectfully, and commanded tents to be +pitched for her and her court. + +Peace being established, the sisters took an affectionate leave, +and Mazin, with his family, departed for the residence of Abd al +Sulleeb, which they speedily reached with the assistance of the +genii, and the directing ball. The old man received him kindly, +and inquired his adventures, when he related them to him; at +which he was surprised, especially at the account of the cap, the +drum, and the ball; of which last Mazin begged his acceptance, +being now near home, and having no farther occasion for its use. +Abd al Sulleeb was much pleased, and entertained him +magnificently for three days, when Mazin wishing to depart, the +old man presented him with rich gifts, and dismissed him. + +Mazin was continuing his route, when suddenly a band of a hundred +banditti appeared, resolved to plunder and put him and his +companions to death, with which design they kept advancing. Mazin +called out to them, "Brother Arabs, let the covenant of God be +between you and me, keep at a distance from me." When they heard +this they increased their insolence, surrounded him, and supposed +they should easily seize all that he had; but especially when +they beheld his wife, and the beauty she was endowed with, they +said one to another, "Let us put him to death, and not suffer him +to live." Each man resolved within himself, saying, "I will seize +this damsel, and not take the plunder." + +When Mazin saw that they were bent upon attacking him, to seize +his wife and plunder his effects, he took out his drum and beat +upon it in a slight manner, when, behold! ten genii appeared +before him, requiring his commands. He replied, "I wish the +dispersion of yonder horsemen;" upon which one of the ten +advanced among the hundred banditti, and uttered such a +tremendous yell as made the mountains reverberate the sound. +Immediately as he sent forth the yell, the banditti, in alarm, +dispersed themselves among the rocks, when such as fell from +their horses' backs fled on foot; so that they lost their +reputation, and were ridiculed among the chiefs of the Abbasside +tribes. Mazin now pursued his journey, and did not halt till he +had reached the abode of Abd al Kuddoos, who advanced to meet him +and saluted him, but was astonished when he beheld his company, +and the wealth he had obtained. Mazin related what had befallen +him, of dangers, and hunger, and thirst; his safe arrival in the +islands of Waak al Waak; the deliverance of his wife from prison, +and the defeat of the army sent to oppose his return. He +mentioned also the reconciliation between the sisters of his +wife, and whatever had happened to him from first to last. + +Abd al Kuddoos was greatly astonished at these adventures, and +said to Mazin of Bussorah, "Truly, my son, these events are most +surprising, and can have never occurred to any but thyself." +Mazin remained three days to repose himself, and was treated with +hospitality and respect until the fourth, when he resolved to +continue his journey, and took leave. He proceeded towards his +own country, and did not halt on the way till he arrived with the +seven sisters, the owners of the palace, who had so much +befriended him. + +When Mazin of Bussorah arrived near the palace of the seven +sisters, they came out to meet him, saluted him and his wife, and +conducted them within; but they were astonished at his return, +and at first could scarcely believe his success, wondering that +he had not perished on the road, or been torn in pieces by the +wild beasts of the desert; for they had regarded it as impossible +that he should ever reach the islands of Waak al Waak. + +When they were seated, they requested him to relate to them all +that had befallen him, which he did from first to last, and they +were more than ever astonished at his uncommon adventures. After +this they introduced a collation, and spread the cloth, when they +ate till they were satisfied, and then wrote a letter and +dispatched it to the mother of Mazin, congratulating her on the +health of her son, and his safe return with his wife and +children. + +Mazin remained with the ladies a month, enjoying himself in +feasting and amusements, after which he begged permission to +depart to his own country, for his heart was anxious for his +mother. They dismissed him, and he travelled unceasingly till he +arrived at Bussorah. He entered the city at sunset, and proceeded +to his own house, when his mother came out, saluted him, and +embraced him. She had erected her tomb in the court of her house, +and had wept night and day till she became blind, but when the +letter arrived from the sisters, from the rapture of joy her +sight returned unto her again. She beheld the children of her +son, embraced them, and that night was to her as an eed or +festival. + +When God had caused the morning to dawn, the chief personages of +Bussorah visited Mazin to congratulate him on his return, and the +principal ladies came to his mother, and rejoiced with her on the +safety of her son. At length intelligence of it reached the +caliph Haroon al Rusheed, who sent for Mazin to his presence. +Having entered the audience chamber, he made the usual obeisance, +when the caliph returned his salute, and commanded him to sit. +When he was seated, the caliph demanded that he should relate the +whole of what had befallen him, to which he answered, "To hear is +to obey." + +Mazin then recited his adventures from the time the fire-worshipper +who had stolen him from his mother by his stratagems, the mode of his +coming to the palace of the seven ladies, the manner in which he +obtained his wife, her flight from the palace of the empress Zobeide, +his journey to the islands of Waak al Waak, also the dangers and +difficulties he had encountered from first to last. The caliph was +astonished, and said, "The substance of these adventures must not be +lost or concealed, but shall be recorded in writing." He then +commanded an amanuensis to attend, and seated Mazin of Bussorah by +him, until he had taken down his adventures from beginning to end. + + + + + STORY OF THE SULTAN, THE DERVISH, AND THE + BARBER'S SON. + + + +In the capital of a sultan named Rammaud lived a barber, who had +a son growing up to manhood, possessing great accomplishments of +mind and person, and whose wit and humour drew numerous customers +to his shop. One day a venerable dervish entering it, sat down, +and calling for a looking glass, adjusted his beard and whiskers, +at the same time asking many questions of the young man; after +which he laid down a sherif, rose up, and departed. The next day +he came again, and for several days following, always finishing +his visit by leaving a piece of gold upon the looking-glass, to +the great satisfaction of the barber, who from his other +customers never usually received more than sonic coppers of +little value; but though he liked the gold, his suspicions were +raised against the generous donor, supposing him to be a +necromancer, who had some evil design against his son, whom, +therefore, he cautioned to be upon his guard. The visits of the +dervish were continued as usual for some time; when one day he +found the barber's son alone in the shop, and was informed that +his father had gone to divert himself with viewing some +experiments which the sultan was making of the mixture of various +metals, being an adept in chemistry, and eager in search of the +philosopher's stone. The dervish now invited the young man to +accompany him to the spot where the experiments were making, and +on their arrival they saw a vast furnace, into which the sultan +and his attendants cast pieces of metal of various sorts. The +dervish having taken a lump of ore from his wallet threw it into +the furnace; then addressing the young barber, said, "I must for +the present bid you farewell, as I have a journey to take; but if +the sultan should inquire after me, let him know I am to be found +in a certain city, and will attend his summons." Having said +this, the dervish presented the barber's son with a purse of +gold, took his leave, and the youth returned home. Great was the +surprise of the sultan, when the metals in the furnace were all +melted, to find them converted into a mass of solid gold, which +proved, on assay, to be of the purest quality. Every one was +questioned as to what he had cast into the furnace, when there +appeared no reason to suppose the transmutation could have been +effected by such an accidental mixture of metals. At length it +was remarked, that a dervish, accompanying the barber's son, had +cast in a lump of ore, and immediately disappeared. Upon this the +sultan summoned the youth to his presence, and inquiring after +his companion, was informed of the place of his residence, and of +what, on his departure, he had said to him. The sultan was +overjoyed at the welcome intelligence, and dispatched the young +man, with an honourable attendance, to conduct the venerable +dervish to his presence, where being arrived, he was received +with the most distinguishing attention, and the barber's son was +promoted to high office. After some days, the sultan requested +the dervish to instruct him in the transmutation of metals, which +he readily did, as well as in many other occult mysteries; which +so gratified his royal patron, that he trusted the administration +of government to his care. This disgusted the ministers and +courtiers, who could not bear to be controlled by a stranger, and +therefore resolved to effect his ruin. By degrees they persuaded +their credulous master that the dervish was a magician, who would +in time possess himself of his throne, and the sultan, alarmed, +resolved to put him to death. With this intention, calling him to +the presence, he accused him of sorcery, and commanded an +executioner to strike off his head. "Forbear awhile," exclaimed +the dervish, "and let me live till I have shown you the most +wonderful specimen of my art." To this the sultan consented, when +the dervish, with chalk, drew a circle of considerable extent +round the sultan and his attendants, then stepping into the +middle of it, he drew a small circle round himself, and said, +"Now seize me if you can;" and immediately disappeared from +sight. At the same instant, the sultan and his courtiers found +themselves assaulted by invisible agents, who, tearing off their +robes, whipped them with scourges till the blood flowed in +streams from their lacerated backs. At length the punishment +ceased, but the mortification of the sultan did not end here, for +all the gold which the dervish had transmuted returned to its +original metals. Thus, by his unjust credulity, was a weak prince +punished for his ungrateful folly. The barber and his son also +were not to be found, so that the sultan could gain no +intelligence of the dervish, and he and his courtiers became the +laughingstock of the populace for years after their merited +chastisement. + + + + + ADVENTURES OF ALEEFA, DAUGHTER OF + MHEREJAUN, SULTAN OF HIND, AND EUSUFF, SON + OF SOHUL, SULTAN OF SIND. + + + +Mherejaun, sultan of Hind, was many years without any progeny, +and immersed in melancholy at the thought of his kingdom's +passsing to another family. One evening, while indulging his +gloomy thoughts, he dropped into a doze, from which he was roused +by a voice exclaiming, "Sultan, thy wife this night shall +conceive. If she bears a son, he will increase the glory of thy +house; but if a daughter, she will occasion thee disgrace and +misfortune." In due time the favourite sultana was delivered of a +daughter, to the great mortification of the parents, who would +have destroyed her had not her infant smiles diverted their +anger. She was brought up in the strictest privacy, and at the +end of twelve years the sultan had her conveyed to a strong +citadel erected in the middle of a deep lake, hoping in such a +confinement to prevent her from fulfilling the prediction which +had been made concerning her. Nothing could excel the +magnificence of her abode, where she was left only with female +attendants of the highest accomplishments, but no male was +allowed to approach even the borders of the lake, except when +supplies were conveyed for the use of its fair inhabitants, who +were then restricted to their apartments. The gate of the citadel +was entrusted to the care of an old lady, the princess's nurse. +For three years the fair Aleefa lived happy in her splendid +prison, but the decree of fate was not to be overcome, and an +event predestined by heaven overturned the cautious project of +sultan Mherejaun. + +Eusuff, a dissipated young prince, son to the sultan of Sind, +having offended his father, fled from his court, and with a few +attendants reached the borders of the lake, in his way to seek an +asylum in the territories of Mherejaun. Curious to know who +inhabited the citadel in the midst of it, he swam over the lake, +and landed at the gate, which he found shut, but no one answered +his loudest call for admission. Upon this he wrote a note, +requesting compassion to a helpless stranger, and having fixed it +to an arrow, shot it over the battlements. It luckily for him +fell at the feet of the princess, then walking in one of the +courts of her palace. She prevailed upon her nurse to open the +gate, and at sight of Eusuff fell in love with him, as he did +with her. He was admitted, and the tenderest interviews took +place between them. Joy and pleasure prevailed in the citadel, +while the prince's attendants remained, expecting his return, on +the banks of the lake. + +After some time, sultan Sohul wishing to be reconciled to his +son, and having learnt the route he had taken, dispatched his +nephew named Yiah to assure him of forgiveness, and invite him to +return to Sind. Yiah arriving at the lake, was informed by +Eusuff's attendants that the prince had entered the citadel, +since which they had not seen or heard anything of him. Yiah, +upon this, penned a note expressive of the sultan's forgiveness, +and his wish to see the prince, which he fixed to an arrow and +shot it into the palace, in the garden of which it fell, as +Eusuff and Aleefa were walking for their amusement. The prince, +on reading the note, overcome with joy at the intelligence of his +father's forgiveness of his errors, resolved to return home and +pay his duty to his parents. He communicated his design to the +princess, who was plunged into the deepest sorrow at the thought +of his departure, but he comforted her by assurances of his +speedy return, declaring that nothing but filial duty could have +torn him from her, even for a moment. She now implored him to to +take her with him, but Eusuff prudently represented that such a +step could only disgrace her fame and enrage her father, who, on +discovery of her flight, would invade the kingdom of Sind with +his powerful armies, and a scene of unnecessary bloodshed would +ensue. On the contrary, it they waited patiently, sultan +Mherejaun might be prevailed upon to consent to their union; but, +in the mean time, he would visit her often, while their meetings +might, through the fidelity of their mutual attendants, be kept +secret. Aleefa, though unwilling, was obliged to acknowledge the +justice of his reasoning, and consented to his departure; but on +his taking leave, with tears and embraces entreated him not to be +long absent, which he promised, and with truth, for his love was +sincere, and it was with difficulty he submitted to the call of +duty to a forgiving parent. + +Eusuff having swam the lake with his bow and quiver upon his +head, as before, rejoined his companions, who rejoiced to see +him. He was received by his cousin Yiah with transports of +affection, and informed of what had happened since his departure +from court; after which the prince related his love adventure +with the fair Aleefa, at the same time requesting his secrecy, +and that he would charge the same on his attendants, as to his +having been in the citadel, which he should earnestly beg also of +his companions to observe. After a night's repose the two princes +marched towards Sind, and when within a day's distance from the +capital, dispatched a courier to give notice of their approach. +Sultan Sohul, overcome with joy at the recovery of his son, +having commanded the city to be ornamented and splendid +entertainments to be made for his triumphal entry, with his whole +court in their most magnificent array advanced to meet him. The +prince, on seeing his father's train, dismounted, fell on his +face, then running up, eagerly embraced the stirrup of the old +sultan, who threw himself upon his neck in a transport of joy, +and wept over him with tears of affectionate rapture. A horse +sumptuously caparisoned was now brought for the prince's +mounting, and the father and son rode side by side into the city, +amid the acclamations of all ranks of people; while, as they +proceeded, basins full of silver and gold, coined for the +occasion, were showered amongst the assembled crowds in the +streets. It is impossible to describe the tender interview +between the prince and the queen his mother, whose heart had been +nearly broken on the flight of her son, or the glad transports of +Eusuff's own ladies, who were in number three wives and forty +concubines. Suffice it to say, that all was joy and pleasure in +the palace, except in the breast of Eusuff; who mingled with the +satisfaction of return to his family an ardent desire to meet +again the beautiful Aleefa, so that the caresses of his women +gave him no pleasure; and when he retired to his apartment, he +did not, as was usual, call any of them to his presence, but +passed the night alone, thinking of his beloved. Morning invited +him to new scenes of festivity, prepared by his happy parents, +who little suspected how soon they were again to lose their son. + +Eusuff having sacrificed a few days (to him long as the eve of +dissolution) to his sense of duty, could no longer restrain his +impatience, but with a faithful slave named Hullaul, mounted on a +favourite courser behind him, left the palace undiscovered in the +darkness of night, and speeded with the swiftness of the gale +towards the citadel of Aleefa. Being arrived on the banks of the +lake, he secured his saddle and bridle among some bushes, and was +carried with his attendant safely through the water by his noble +steed. Unbounded was the joy of the princess at again meeting her +faithful lover, nor was his rapture less than hers. Having +committed Hullaul to the care of the ladies of Aleefa, they +retired to their apartment. Thirty days rolled on almost +unperceived by Eusuff, who forgot his parents, his family, and +country, in the delights of love. + +On the thirtieth evening, as Eusuff and Aleefa were viewing the +beautiful prospect from the terrace of the palace, they perceived +a boat sailing towards it, which, as it drew nearer, the princess +knew to belong to her father the sultan Mherejaun; upon which she +requested her lover to keep himself concealed from view, while +she received the persons in the vessel. Eusuff accordingly +withdrew into a chamber, the lattice of which looked upon the +lake; but how can we express his indignant surprise, and furious +jealousy, when he beheld landing from the boat two handsome young +men, into the arms of one of whom Aleefa threw herself with eager +transport, and after mutual embraces they withdrew together into +the palace. Without considering that his supposed rival might be +a near relation to the princess, as he in fact was, being her +first cousin, who had been brought up with her till her +confinement to the lake; Eusuff suffered himself to be overcome +by unworthy suspicion, and resolved to quit for ever a faithless +mistress. Having written an angry letter upraiding her with +falsehood, and bidding her farewell, he with his attendant +Hullaul mounted his courser; then delivering his note to one of +the females, to be given to the princess, he swam over the lake +and speeded rapidly to his own country, where he was once more +joyfully received by his parents and family; and in order to +forget the charms of Aleefa, he indulged himself in mirth and +pleasure with his lately forsaken ladies, who, delighted with the +long-wished-for return of his affection, strove with each ether +who should please him best. + +The unsuspecting Aleefa was engaged with her cousin Sohaul and +Ali Bin Ibrahim, a faithful eunuch who was his attendant, asking +a thousand questions and listening to the news of her father's +court, when Eusuff's letter was put into her hands. Rising up, +she withdrew into a closet, opened it, and was much vexed at its +ungrateful contents; but knowing herself innocent, and trusting +that her lover would return when convinced of his mistake, she +composed her mind as firmly as she, could till the departure of +her cousin, who after some days took leave and returned to the +capital of Mherejaun, leaving behind him the eunuch, to the great +satisfaction of the princess, who hoped to make him the mediator +between her and her beloved. Nor was she mistaken. When unfolding +to him the whole of her adventures with Eusuff, he agreed to be +the bearer of a letter, and explain to him the cause of his +needless suspicion. Having swam the lake with the fair Aleefa's +packet wrapped in his clothes upon his head, the faithful Ah in +twenty days reached the city of Sind, and demanding an audience +in private, which was readily granted, delivered his commission +to the prince. Eusuff, whose anger was now calmed, and who had +already begun to feel uneasy at absence from the still reigning +favourite of his heart, on perusing her letter was overcome with +joy. He listened eagerly to the account of his fancied rival by +the eloquent Ali Bin Ibrohim, to whom he expressed his conviction +of her constancy, his own sorrow for his unreasonable desertion +of her, and his intention of departing to visit her the next +night, till when he desired the eunuch to repose himself after +his fatigue. Ali Bin Ibrahim was then lodged, by the prince's +orders, in one of the most splendid apartments of the palace, and +respectfully waited upon by the domestics of his court. The night +following, Eusuff having ordered his favourite Hullaul to make +preparations, departed from Sind as before, with the eunuch +mounted on a second courser. They in a few days reached the +borders of the lake, swam over, and to the great joy of the once +more happy Aleefa arrived at the citadel. The recollection of the +pains of absence added a zest to the transports of reunion, and +the lovers were, if possible, more delighted with each other than +before their separation. The faithful Ali Bin Ibrahim was now +dismissed with invaluable presents of precious stones, and +returned to the court of Mherejaun, the time for his stay at the +citadel of the lake being expired. On his arrival, the sultan, +anxious for intelligence of his daughter's health, took him into +his closet, and while he was questioning him, by some accident +the eunuch's turban unfortunately falling off, the precious +stones, which, with a summary of the adventures of Eusuff and +Aleefa, and his own embassy to Sind, were wrapped in the folds, +tumbled upon the floor. The sultan knew the jewels, and examining +the turban, to make farther discoveries, found the paper, which +he eagerly read; and furious was his wrath, when from the +contents it appeared that all his caution to guard against the +decrees of heaven had been vain, that the princess had been +seduced, and his house dishonoured. He sternly inquired of the +trembling Ali if Eusuff was yet with his daughter, and was +answered in the affirmative, when he immediately gave orders for +vessels to be prepared for his departure, hoping to take him +prisoner, and at the same time commanded his army to march along +the banks of the lake and encamp opposite the citadel. The +unfortunate eunuch was thrown into a dungeon and loaded with +heavy chains, after he had been bastinadoed almost to death; but +still faithful to the lovers, he prevailed upon his gaoler by a +large bribe during the night to permit him to dispatch a note by +a trusty messenger to the princess, apprising her of the +misfortune which had happened, in hopes that she would have time +to escape with Eusuff towards his own country before her father's +arrival. Fortunately for the lovers, this information reached +them the next morning, when they consulted what measures to +pursue, and it was agreed, that instead of both quitting the +citadel, only Eusuff and Hullaul should return to Sind, as the +princess was unequal to such a rapid journey, but that in order +to ensure her safety, the slaves should, on the sultan's arrival, +assure him that she had gone off with her lover, when he would +either return home or pursue the prince with his army; who, +however, mounted as he was on so swift a courser, could not be +overtaken. It was also settled that Eusuff, on his arrival in his +own country, should send an embassy to Mherejaun, declaring his +marriage with Aleefa, and requesting pardon, and leave to pay his +duty as his son-in-law. This stratagem had in part its effect, +but no precaution could ward off the fulfilment of the prediction +at the princess's birth, which was that she should occasion the +disgrace and death of her father. + +Mherejaun armed at the citadel a few hours after Eusuff's escape, +and was informed by her attendants that she had also accompanied +him in his flight; upon which the enraged sultan, hurried on by +fate, without stopping to search the palace in which his daughter +was concealed, hastened to join his troops on the banks of the +lake, and with a vast army pursued the Sindian prince, who, +however, reached his capital in safety. On his arrival, having +informed his father of his adventures, the old sultan, eager to +gratify his son, approved of his additional marriage with the +fair Aleefa, and dispatched an embassy to Mherejaun, who by this +time was in the territory of Sind, laying it waste with fire and +sword, no troops scarcely being opposed to his sudden invasion. +He received the ambassador with mortifying haughtiness, bidding +him return to his master, and inform him that he never would +forgive the seduction of his daughter, in revenge for which he +had taken a solemn oath to overturn the kingdom of Sind, raze the +capital, and feast his eyes with the blood of the old sultan and +his son. On receipt of this ungracious reply to his proposals, +the sultan and Eusuff had no alternative but to oppose so +inveterate a foe. They collected their troops, by whom they were +much beloved, and marched to meet the enemy, whom, after an +obstinate battle, they defeated, and Mherejaun was slain in the +action. It is impossible to resist the decrees of heaven. From +God we came, and to God we must return. + +Eusuff, after the action, behaved with the greatest humility to +the conquered, and had the body of the unfortunate Mherejaun +embalmed and laid in a splendid litter, in which it was conducted +by a numerous escort, in respectful solemnity, to the capital of +Hind, and deposited with funeral pomp, becoming the rank of the +deceased, in a magnificent mausoleum, which had been erected by +himself, as is customary among the sovereigns of Asia. The +prince, at the same time, dispatched letters of condolence to the +mother of Aleefa, lamenting the fate of Mherejaun, whom he had +been, much against his will, necessitated to oppose in battle, +and expressing his ardent love for her daughter, a marriage with +whom was his highest hope, as it was his first wish to console +the mother of his beloved in her misfortunes. + +The sultana, who had received intelligence of the decisive +victory and the death of her husband, and who expected, instead +of such conduct, to see the victor besieging her capital, felt +some alleviation of her sorrow in the prospect of saving her +people from destruction, by consenting to an union between Eusuff +and Aleefa. Her answer accordingly was favourable, upon which the +prince of Sind repaired to the lake, and conducting his willing +bride to the capital of Hind, at the expiration of the stated +time of mourning for Mherejaun, their nuptials were celebrated +with all possible magnificence, amid the united acclamations of +the subjects, who readily acknowledged his authority, and had no +cause to repent of their submission to his yoke. His next care +was to inform the caliph Mamoon, who was then commander of the +faithful at Bagdad, of the events which had happened, +accompanying his petition with a great sum of money, and +offerings of all the rarities the countries of Hind and Sind +afforded; among which were ten beautiful slaves, highly +accomplished in singing, dancing, and a talent for poetry. They +recited extempore verses before the caliph, but the subject of +each was so expressive of their wish to return to their beloved +sovereign, and delivered in so affecting a manner, that Mamoon, +though delighted with their wit and beauty, sacrificed his own +pleasure to their feelings, and sent them back to Eusuff by the +officer who carried the edict, confirming him in his dominions, +where the prince of Sind and the fair Aleefa continued long, amid +a numerous progeny, to live the protectors of their happy +subjects. + + + + + ADVENTURES OF THE THREE PRINCES, SONS OF + THE SULTAN OF CHINA. + + + +A sultaness of China being seized with an alarming illness was +given over by the physicians, who declared her case incurable by +any other means than the water of life, which they feared it was +next to impossible to obtain before nature would be exhausted; +the country in which, if anywhere, it was to be found, being so +very distant. Such, however, was the affection of the sultaness's +three sons, that in hopes of saving their mother they resolved to +go in search of the precious medicine, and departed immediately +in the route pointed out by the physicians. After travelling +without success to their inquiries through divers countries, they +agreed to separate, in hopes that one of them at least might be +fortunate enough to procure the wished-for miraculous liquid, and +return home in time to save their mother. Having taken an +affectionate farewell, each pursued his journey alone. The +eldest prince, after a fatiguing walk (for the brothers had +thought it prudent to lay aside their dignity, and as safest to +disguise themselves in mean habits) over a wild country, arrived +at last within sight of a large city, inhabited by blasphemous +Jews, near which, in a superb synagogue, he laid himself down on +a carpet to repose, being quite exhausted with toil and hunger. +He had not rested long, when a Jew rabbi entering the building, +the prince begged for the love of God a little refreshment; but +the wicked infidel, who hated true believers, instead of +relieving, cruelly put him to death with his sabre, and wrapping +the corpse in a mat, threw it into a corner of the synagogue. By +ill fortune, on the day following the second prince arrived, and +was treated in the same manner by the barbarous Jew, and on the +next came also the youngest brother to the same place, where he +was met by the base assassin, who would have killed him also, had +not the extraordinary beauty of the young prince struck his +covetous mind with the idea of making him a slave, and selling +him for a large sum of money. Speaking therefore to him in a kind +manner he brought him refreshments, and inquired if he was +willing to be his servant, and employ himself in cleaning the +synagogue and lighting the lamps; to which the prince, being in +an exhausted condition, seemingly assented, seeing no other means +of present support, but secretly resolved to escape when +recovered from his fatigue. The Jew now took him to his house in +the city, and showed him, apparently, the same tenderness as he +used towards his own children. The next day the prince repaired +to his allotted task of cleaning the synagogue, where, to his +grief and horror, he presently discovered the bodies of his +unfortunate brothers. While he lamented their unhappy fate with +showers of tears, the recollection of his own perilous situation, +in the power of their murderer, filled his mind with terror; but +after the agonies of thought were over, the natural courage of a +princely heart rose in his bosom, and he meditated how to revenge +the death of his brothers on the savage infidel. An opportunity +happened that same night. The prince having composed his mind, +finished his work, and when the Jew arrived to examine it, +dissembled so well, that no appearance of his inward melancholy +was displayed. The Jew applauded his diligence, and taking him +home, made him sit down to supper with himself and family, +consisting of a wife and two young lads. It being the middle of +summer, and the weather sultry, they retired to sleep on the open +terrace of the house, which was very lofty. In the dead of night, +when the Jew and his family were fast locked in the arms of +slumber, the prince, who had purposely kept himself awake, seized +the sabre of the treacherous infidel, and with a dexterous blow +struck off his head; then snatching up the two children, hurled +them headlong from the terrace, so that their brains were dashed +out on the stone pavement of the court below. He then uplifted +the sabre to destroy the Jew's wife, but the thought that she +might be of use to him withheld his hand. He awoke her gently, +commanded her to make no noise, and follow him down stairs, +where, by degrees, he informed her of his adventures, the +discovery he had made of the murder of his brothers, and his +revenge on her treacherous husband and ill-fated children, whom, +however, he would not have destroyed had he not been apprehensive +of their cries alarming the neighbourhood. The Moosulmaun woman, +for such she secretly was, did not regard the death of the wicked +Jew, who had married her against her will, and often used her +with great harshness, and her sorrows for the children were +softened by the salvation of her own life. She also felt +sentiments of tenderness towards the prince, whose injuries in +the murder of his unfortunate brothers had compelled him to +revenge, and felt herself obliged to his mercy in letting her +live. She now informed him that in the Jew's laboratory were many +valuable medicines, and among them the very water of life he was +in search of; which intelligence was most gratifying to the +prince, who offered to take the woman under his protection, and +she willingly consented to accompany him to a country inhabited +by true believers. Having packed up the medicines, with some +valuable jewels, and put them, with various refreshments and +necessaries, on two camels, they mounted and left the city +undiscovered, nor did any accident occur on their journey; but on +reaching the capital of China, the prince found that his father +was dead, while his mother, contrary to expectation, lingered in +painful existence. The ministers, who had with difficulty, in +hopes of the three brothers' arrival, kept the next relations of +the throne from disputing their right to ascend it, were rejoiced +at his return; and on being informed of the untimely end of the +two elder princes, immediately proclaimed him sultan. His first +care was to administer comfort and relief to his afflicted +mother, on whom the water of life had an instantaneous effect; +his next, to regulate the affairs of his government, which he did +with such ability, justice, and moderation, that he became +endeared to his subjects, and an example to other sovereigns. + +As the sultan, some time after his accession, was one day amusing +himself in the chase, he saw a venerable Arab, accompanied by his +daughter, travelling on horseback. By accident the young female's +veil being blown aside, displayed such beauty to the eyes of the +sultan, as instantly fascinated his heart, and made him wish to +have her for his sultana. He immediately made offers to her +father of his alliance; but great was his mortification and +surprise when the Arab rejected them, saying, "That he had sworn +not to give his daughter to any one who was not master of some +useful trade, by which a livelihood might be earned." "Father," +replied the sultan, "what occasion is there that I should learn a +mean occupation, when I have the wealth of a kingdom at my +command?" "Because," rejoined the Arab, "such are the +vicissitudes of the world, that you may lose your kingdom and +starve, if not able to work in some way for your living." The +sultan, unlike some princes, who would have seized the lady and +punished the Arab for his freedom, felt the force of his remark, +applauded his wisdom, and requested that he would not betroth her +to another, as he was resolved to make himself worthy of becoming +his son-in-law by learning some handicraft, till when he hoped +they would accept of an abode near the palace. To this the old +man readily consented; and in a short time the sultan, eager to +possess his bride, became such an adept in the handicraft of +making ornamental mats for sofas and cushions of cane and reeds, +that the Arab agreed to the nuptials, which were celebrated with +all possible splendour and rejoicing, while the subjects admired +more than ever the justice and moderation of their sovereign; so +true is it, that, unless in depraved states, a good prince makes +a good people. + +Some years rolled on in uninterrupted felicity to the sultan and +his beloved partner. It was the custom of the former frequently +to visit in the disguise of a dervish the various quarters of the +city, by which means he learnt the opinions of the people, and +inspected the conduct of the police. One day in an excursion of +this sort he passed by a cook's shop, and being hungry, stepped +in to take some refreshment. He was, with seeming respect, +conducted to a back room spread with flowered carpeting, over +which was a covering of muslin transparently fine. Pulling off +his slippers, he entered the room and sat down upon a neat +musnud, but to his surprise and terror it instantly sunk under +him, and he found himself at the bottom of a dark vault, where by +a glimmering light he could discern several naked bodies of +unfortunate persons who had been murdered, and presently +appeared, descending from a narrow staircase, a black slave of +savage countenance, who, brandishing a huge cimeter, cried out, +"Wretch, prepare thyself to die!" The sultan was alarmed, but his +presence of mind did not forsake him. "What good," said he, "will +my death do you or your employers? I have nothing about me but +the humble habit I wear; but if you spare my life, I possess an +art that will produce your employers considerable wealth." Upon +this, the slave going to the master of the house informed him of +what the supposed dervish had said, when the treacherous cook +came to inquire after the promised riches. "Give me only some +reeds and canes, varnished of different colours," said the +sultan, "and I will make a mat, which if you carry to the palace +and present to the vizier, he will purchase it for a thousand +pieces of gold." The desired articles were furnished, and the +sultan setting to work, in a few days finished a mat, in which he +ingeniously contrived to plait in flowery characters, known only +to himself and his vizier, the account of his situation. When +finished, he gave it to his treacherous host, who admired the +beauty of the workmanship, and not doubting of the reward, +carried it to the palace, where he demanded admission, saying he +had a curiosity to offer for sale. The vizier, who was then +giving audience to petitioners, commanded him to be brought in; +but what was his astonishment when the mat was unfolded, to see +pourtrayed upon it the imminent danger of the sultan, whom he +supposed to be in his haram, and whose absence the sultana had, +in order to prevent confusion, commanded to be kept secret, +hoping for his speedy return. The vizier instantly summoning his +guards seized the villanous cook, and proceeding to his house, +released the sultan from his confinement. The house was razed to +the ground, and the abominable owner, with his guilty family, put +to death. The sultan exultingly felt the use of having learnt a +useful art, which had been the means of saving his life. + + + + + STORY OF THE GOOD VIZIER UNJUSTLY + IMPRISONED. + + + +A certain vizier, though perfectly loyal and of the strictest +integrity, having been falsely accused by his enemies, was, +without due examination of the charges brought against him, +thrown into prison, where, by orders from the sultan, he was +confined to a gloomy dungeon, and allowed only bread and water +for his daily food. In this wretched abode he lay for seven +years, at the expiration of which, the sultan his master, who was +in the habit of walking about the city in disguise to amuse +himself, chanced to pass by the house of his injured minister, +dressed as a dervish. To his surprise he saw it open, and a crowd +of domestics busy in cleaning the apartments, and preparing for +the reception of the owner, who, they said, had commanded them by +a messenger from the prison to put things in order, as he should +that day be restored to the sultan's favour, and return home. The +sultan, who, so far from intending to release the unfortunate +vizier, had almost erased the remembrance of him from his mind, +was astonished at the report of the domestics, but thought his +long confinement might possibly have disturbed the brain of his +prisoner, who in his madness might have fancied his deliverance +to be at hand. He resolved however to go and visit the prison +disguised as he was, and see the vizier. Having purchased a +quantity of bread and cakes, he proceeded to the gaol, and +requested, under pretence of fulfilling a vow he had made to feed +the prisoners, to be admitted, and allowed to distribute his +charity among them. The gaoler granted his request, and permitted +him to visit the different cells. At length he came to that of +the vizier, who was employed earnestly at his devotions, which on +the entrance of the supposed dervish he suspended, and inquired +his business. "I come," said he, "for though unknown to you I +have always prayed for your welfare, to congratulate you on your +approaching deliverance, which I understand you have announced to +your domestics, but fear without foundation, not having heard of +any orders for the purpose from the sultan." "That may be true, +charitable dervish," said the vizier, "but depend upon it before +night I shall be released and restored to office." "I wish it may +be so," replied the sultan; "but upon what ground do you build an +expectation, the gratification of which appears to me so +improbable?" "Be seated, good dervish, and I will tell you," +rejoined the vizier, and began as follows: "Know then, my friend, +experience has convinced me that the height of prosperity is +always quickly succeeded by adverse fortune, and the depth of +affliction by sudden relief. When I was in office, beloved by the +people for my lenient administration, and distinguished by the +sultan, whose honour and advantage were the constant objects of +my care, and for whose welfare I have never ceased to pray even +in this gloomy dungeon, I was one evening taking the air upon the +river in a splendid barge with some favourite companions. As we +were drinking coffee, the cup I held in my hand, which was made +of a single emerald of immense value, and which I highly prized, +slipped from it and fell into the water; upon which I ordered the +barge to be stopped, and sent for a diver, to whom I promised an +ample reward should he recover the cup. He undressed, and desired +me to point out the place at which it fell; when I, having in my +hand a rich diamond ring, heedlessly, in a fit of absence, threw +it into that part of the river. While I was exclaiming against my +own stupidity, the diver made a plunge towards where I had cast +the ring, and in less than two minutes reappeared with the +coffee-cup in his hand, when to my great surprise within it I +found also my ring. I rewarded him liberally, and was exulting in +the recovery of my jewels, when it suddenly struck my mind, that +such unusual good fortune must speedily be followed by some +disaster. This reflection made me melancholy, and I returned home +with a foreboding sadness, nor without cause, for that very night +my enemies accused me falsely of treason to the sultan, who +believed the charge, and next morning I was hurried to this +gloomy cell, where I have now remained seven years with only +bread and water for my support. God, however, has given me +resignation to his decrees, and this day an accident occurred +which makes me confident of release before night, and restoration +to the sultan's favour, which, as I have always done, I will +endeavour to deserve. You must know, venerable dervish, that this +morning I felt an unconquerable longing to taste a bit of flesh, +and earnestly entreated my keeper, giving him at the same time a +piece of gold, to indulge my wish. The man, softened by the +present, brought me a stew, on which I prepared to make a +delicious meal; but while, according to custom before eating, I +was performing my ablutions, guess my mortification, when a huge +rat running from his hole leaped into the dish which was placed +upon the floor. I was near fainting with agony at the sight, and +could not refrain from tears; but at length recovering from the +poignancy of disappointment, the rays of comfort darted upon my +mind, and I reflected that as disgrace and imprisonment had +instantaneously followed the fortunate recovery of my cup and +ring, so this mortification, a greater than which could not have +happened, would be immediately succeeded by returning prosperity. +In this conviction I prevailed on the gaoler to order my +domestics to make ready my house and expect my return." + +The disguised sultan, who, while the vizier was speaking, felt +every word impress him more and more with the conviction of his +innocence, had much difficulty to support his assumed character; +but not choosing his visit to the prison should be known at +present, he restrained his feelings, and when the minister had +finished took his leave, saying, he hoped his presage would be +fulfilled. He then returned undiscovered to the palace, and +entering his cabinet, resumed his usual habit; after which he +issued orders for the release of the vizier, sending him a robe +of honour and splendid attendants to escort him to court, at the +same time condemning to confiscation and imprisonment his +malicious accusers. On his arrival, the sultan received the +vizier with the most gracious distinction; and having presented +him with the canopy of state, the seal and the inkstand set with +rich jewels, the insignia of office, conducted him to a private +chamber, where falling upon his neck he embraced him, and +requesting him to forget past oppression, informed him of his +disguised visit to the prison; after which he dismissed him to +his own palace. + + + + + STORY OF THE LADY OF CAIRO AND HER FOUR + GALLANTS. + + + +A virtuous lady of Cairo, who seldom left her house but upon +urgent business, one day returning from the bath, passed by the +tribunal of the cauzee just as it was breaking up, when the +magistrate perceived her, and struck with her dignity and +elegance of gait, from which he judged of her beauty, called her +to him, and in a soft whisper expressed his desire of a private +interview. The lady being resolved to punish him for his unworthy +conduct, seemingly consented, and desired him to repair to her +house that evening, which he gladly promised. She then pursued +her route homewards, but was on the way accosted by three other +men, who made her similar proposals, all which she accepted, and +fixed that evening for receiving their visits. The first of these +gallants was the customs tax-collector of Cairo, the second the +chief of the butchers, and the third a rich merchant. + +When the lady returned to her house she informed her husband of +what had happened, and begged him to permit her to execute a +stratagem that she had formed to punish their insolence, which +would not only afford himself and her much laughable amusement, +but solid advantage, as doubtless the lovers would each bring +with him a handsome present. The husband, who knew he could trust +the virtue of his wife, readily consented, and the lady having +prepared a handsome entertainment, adorned herself in her richest +apparel, and seated herself to receive her guests. Evening had +just shut in, when the venerable cauzee having finished his +sunset devotions, impatiently repaired first to his mistress and +knocked at the door, which the lady opened and led him upstairs, +where he presented her with a rosary of valuable pearl; after +which she made him undress, and in place of his robes put on a +loose vest of yellow muslin, and a parti-coloured cap, her +husband all the while looking at them through the door of a +closet, and ready to burst his sides with laughter as he beheld +the tender grimaces of the enamoured magistrate. The happiness of +the venerable gallant was however soon changed to frightful +alarm, for he had scarcely sat down and begun to partake of some +refreshment, when a loud rap was heard at the door; upon which +the lady starting up in well-affected terror, cried out, +"Mahummud protect us! for this is my husband's knock, and if he +finds you here, he will put us both to death." The cauzee's heart +sank within him, and he became more dead than alive; but the lady +somewhat revived him by thrusting him into her bed-chamber, +desiring him to remain still, as possibly a way might be found +for his escape. He gladly retired, secretly vowing that if spared +from his present threatening distress, Satan should no more tempt +him to make love or break the sacred law. + +The lady having disposed of the cauzee, hastened to the door, where +she found the expecting tax-collector, who brought with him, as a +present, a set of jewels. She shewed him upstairs, took off his rich +clothes, and made him put on a crimson vest, and a green cap with +black spots. He had scarcely sat down when the door again resounded, +and she played over the same game as she had done with the cauzee, who +on his also entering the bed-chamber was somewhat pleased at seeing a +brother magistrate in the same ridiculous plight with himself. The +venerable lovers condoled by signs with each other, but dared not +speak for fear of discovery. The chief of the butchers, on his +arrival, was next ushered up stairs, and his present received, then +made to undress and put on a blue vest with a scarlet cap, ornamented +with sea shells and bits of tinsel; but he had scarce time to finish, +when a fourth loud rap was heard at the door, the scene of alarm was +renewed, and the frightened gallant hurried into the room to keep +company with his rivals. Now appeared the respectable merchant, who +presented the cunning lady with several rich veils, pieces of silk, +and embroidered muslins, after which he was asked to undress and +enrobe himself in a sky coloured vest and a cap striped with red and +white; which he had hardly put on when a thundering knock at the gate +put an end to his transports, and the wife pretending great alarm, as +it was her husband's rap, forced him into the bed-chamber, where, to +his surprise he discovered three of his intimate acquaintance. + +The husband, who had left his hiding place and knocked at the +door, now entered, and after saluting his wife, sat down, when +having partaken of the refreshments provided for the gallants, +the happy couple entered into conversation loud enough to be +overheard by the wretched inamorati, who were quaking for fear of +discovery. "Light of my eyes," said the husband, "didst thou meet +with any thing amusing to-day in thy visit to the bath? and if +so, divert me with an account of it." "I did, indeed," said the +lady, "for I met with four antic creatures, whom" (at hearing +this the unfortunate lovers gave themselves over for lost) "I had +a great inclination to bring home with me" (here they recovered a +little from their alarm) "to divert us, but fearful of your +displeasure I did not; however, if agreeable, we can send for +them to-morrow." The frighted gallants now indulged some hope of +escape through the kindness of their cunning mistress, and began +to breathe a little freer, but very short was the suspension of +their fears. "I am sorry thou didst not bring them," said the +husband, "because business will to-morrow call me from home, and +I shall be absent for some days." Upon this, the lady laughing, +said, "Well, then, you must know that in fact I have brought +them, and was diverting myself with them when you came in, but +fearful you might suspect something wrong I hurried them into our +bed-chamber, in order to conceal them till I had tried your +temper, hoping, should you not be in good humour, to find some +means of letting them out undiscovered." It is impossible to +describe the alarm into which the wretched gallants were now +plunged, especially when the husband commanded his wife to bring +them out one by one, saying, "Let each entertain us with a dance +and then recite a story, but if they do not please me, I will +strike off their heads." "Heaven protect us," said the cauzee, +"how can men of our gravity dance? but there is no resisting the +decrees of fate, nor do I see any chance of escape from this +artful baggage and her savage husband but by performing as well +as we can." His companions were of the same opinion, and mustered +what courage they could to act as they should be ordered. + +The wife now entered the chamber, and putting a tambourine into +the cauzee's hands, led him out and began to play a merry tune +upon her lute, to which the affrighted magistrate danced with a +thousand antics and grimaces like an old baboon, beating time +with the tambourine, to the great delight of the husband, who +every now and then jeeringly cried out, "Really wife, if I did +not know this fellow was a buffoon, I should take him for our +cauzee; but God forgive me, I know our worthy magistrate is +either at his devotions, or employed in investigating cases for +to-morrow's decision." Upon this the cauzee danced with redoubled +vigour, and more ridiculous gestures, in hopes of evading +discovery. At length he was overpowered by such unusual exercise; +but the husband had no mercy upon his sufferings, and made him +continue capering by threatening the bastinado, till the tired +judge was exhausted, and fainted upon the floor in a bath of +perspiration, when they held him up, and pouring a goblet of wine +down his throat it somewhat revived him. He was now suffered to +breathe a little, and something given him to eat, which, with a +second cup of liquor, recovered his strength. The husband now +demanded his story; and the cauzee, assuming the gesture of a +coffee-house droll, began as follows. + + + + + The Cauzee's Story. + + + +A young tailor, whose shop was opposite the house of an officer, +was so attracted from his work by the appearance of a beautiful +young lady, his wife, in her balcony, that he became desperately +in love, and would sit whole days waiting her coming, and when +she showed herself make signs of his passion. For some time his +ridiculous action diverted her, but at length she grew tired of +the farce she had kept up by answering his signals, and of the +interruption it gave to her taking the fresh air, so that she +resolved to punish him for his presumption, and oblige him to +quit his stall. Having laid her plan, one day when her husband +was gone out for a few hours she dispatched a female slave to +invite the tailor to drink coffee. To express the rapture of the +happy snip is impossible. He fell at the feet of the slave, which +he kissed as the welcome messengers of good tidings, gave her a +piece of gold, and uttered some nonsensical verses that he had +composed in praise of his beloved; then dressing himself in his +best habit, he folded his turban in the most tasty manner, and +curled his mustachios to the greatest advantage, after which he +hastened exultingly to the lady's house, and was admitted to her +presence. She sat upon a rich musnud, and gracefully lifting up +her veil welcomed the tailor, who was so overcome that he had +nearly fainted away with excess of rapture. She desired him to be +seated, but such was his bashfulness that he would not approach +farther than the corner of the carpet. Coffee was brought in, and +a cup presented him; but not being used to such magnificence and +form, and his eyes, also, being staringly fixed on the beauties +of the lady, instead of carrying the cup to his mouth, he hit his +nose and overthrew the liquid upon his vest. The lady smiled, and +ordered him another cup; but while he was endeavouring to drink +it with a little more composure, a loud knock was heard at the +door, and she starting up, cried out with great agitation, "Good +heavens! this is my husband's knock; if he finds us together he +will sacrifice us to his fury!" The poor tailor, in terror, fell +flat upon the carpet, when the lady and her slave threw some cold +water upon his face, and when a little recovered hurried him away +to a chamber, into which they forced him, and desired him to +remain quiet, as the only means of saving his life. Here he +remained quivering and trembling, more alive than dead, but +perfectly cured of his love, and vowing never again to look up at +a balcony. + +When the tailor was disposed of, the lady again sat down upon her +stool, and ordered her slave to open the gate. Upon her husband's +entering the room he was surprised at beholding things set out +for an entertainment, and inquired who had been with her; when +she replied tartly, "A lover." "And where is he now?" angrily +replied the officer. "In yonder chamber, and if you please you +may sacrifice him to your fury, and myself afterwards." The +officer demanded the key, which she gave him; but while this was +passing, the agony of the unfortunate tailor was worse than +death; he fully expecting every moment to have his head struck +off: in short, he was in a most pitiable condition. The officer +went to the door, and had put the key into the lock, when his +wife burst suddenly into a fit of laughter: upon which he +exclaimed angrily, "Who do you laugh at?" "Why, at yourself, to +be sure, my wise lord," replied the lady; "for who but yourself +could suppose a woman serious when she told him where to find out +a concealed lover? I wanted to discover how far jealousy would +carry you, and invented this trick for the purpose," The officer, +upon this, was struck with admiration of his wife's pleasantry +and his own credulity, which so tickled his fancy that he laughed +immoderately, begged pardon for his foolish conduct, and they +spent the evening cheerfully together; after which, the husband +going to the bath, his wife charitably released the almost dead +tailor, and reproving him for his impertinence, declared if he +ever again looked up at her balcony she would contrive his death. +The tailor, perfectly cured of love for his superior in life, +made the most abject submission, thanked her for his deliverance, +hurried home, prayed heartily for his escape, and the very next +day took care to move from so dangerous a neighbourhood. + +The husband and wife were highly diverted with the cauzee's story, +and after another dance permitted him to depart, and get home as +well as he could in his ridiculous habit. How he got there, and +what excuse he was able to make for so unmagisterial an +appearance, we are not informed; but strange whispers went about +the city, and the cauzee's dance became the favourite one or the +strolling drolls, whom he had often the mortification of seeing +taking him off as he passed to and from the tribunal, and not +unfrequently in causes of adultery the evidences and culprits +would laugh in his face. He, however, never again suffered Satan +to tempt him, and was scarcely able to look at a strange woman, +so great was his fear of being led astray. + +When the cauzee was gone, the lady, repairing to the apartment, +brought out the grave tax-collector, whom her husband addressed +by name, saying, "Venerable sir, how long have you turned droll? +can you favour me with a dance?" The tax-collector made no reply, +but began capering, nor was he permitted to stop till quite +tired. He was then allowed to sit, some refreshment was given +him, and when revived he was desired to tell a story: knowing +resistance vain, he complied. After having finished he was +dismissed, and the other gallants were brought in and treated in +a like manner. + + + + + STORY OF THE MERCHANT, HIS DAUGHTER, AND + THE PRINCE OF EERAUK. + + + +A certain rich merchant was constantly repining, because +Providence had not added to his numerous blessings that of a +child to inherit his vast wealth. This want destroyed the power +of affluence to make him happy, and he importuned heaven with +unceasing prayers. At length one evening, just as he had +concluded his devotions, he heard a voice, saying, "Thy request +has been heard, and thou wilt have a daughter, but she will give +thee much uneasiness in her fourteenth year by an amour with the +prince of Eerauk, and remember there is no avoiding the decrees +of fate." + +The merchant's wife that same night conceived, and at the usual +time brought forth a daughter, who grew up an exquisite beauty. +No pains were spared in her education, so that at thirteen she +became most accomplished, and the fame of her charms and +perfections was spread throughout the city. The merchant enjoyed +the graces of his child, but at the same time his heart was heavy +with anxiety for her fate, whenever he called to mind the +prediction concerning her; so that at length he determined to +consult a celebrated dervish, his friend, on the possible means +of averting the fulfilment of the prophecy. The dervish gave him +but little hopes of being able to counteract the will of heaven, +but advised him to carry the beautiful maiden to a sequestered +mansion, situated among unfrequented mountains surrounding it on +all sides, and the only entrance to which was by a dark cavern +hewn out of the solid rock, which might be safely guarded by a +few faithful domestics. "Here," said the dervish, "your daughter +may pass the predicted year, and if any human care can avail she +may be thus saved from the threatened dishonour; but it is in +vain for man to fight against the arms of heaven, therefore +prepare thy mind for resignation to its decrees." + +The merchant followed the advice of his friend, and having made +the necessary preparations, accompanied by him, and attended by +some white and black slaves of both sexes, arrived, after a +month's journey, with his daughter, at the desired mansion; in +which having placed her, he, after a day's repose, took his +departure homewards with the dervish. Ample stores of all +necessaries for her accommodation had been laid in, and slaves +male and female were left for her attendance and protection. Not +many days, had elapsed when an incident occurred, clearly proving +the emptiness of human caution against the predestination of +fate. The prince of Eerauk being upon a hunting excursion outrode +his attendants, and missing his way, reached the gate of the +cavern leading to the mansion, which was guarded by two black +slaves, who seeing a stranger, cried out to him to withdraw. He +stopped his horse, and in a supplicating tone requested +protection and refreshment for the night, as he had wandered from +the road, and was almost exhausted from weariness and want of +food. The slaves were moved by the representation of his +distress, as well as awed by his noble appearance, and +apprehending no danger from a single person, conducted him +through the cavern, into the beautiful valley, in which stood the +mansion. They then informed their mistress of his arrival, who +commanded him to be introduced into an apartment, in which an +elegant entertainment was provided, where she gave him the most +hospitable reception. To become known to each other was to love; +nor was it long ere the prediction respecting the merchant's +daughter proved fully verified. Some months passed in mutual +happiness; when the prince, becoming anxious to return to his +friends, took leave of his mistress, promising when he had seen +his family to visit her again, and make her his wife. + +On his way he met the merchant, who was coming to see his +daughter. Halting at the same spot they fell into conversation, +in which each inquired after the other's situation, and the +prince, little aware to whom he was speaking, related his late +adventure. The merchant, convinced that all his caution had been +vain, concealed his uneasiness, resolved to take his daughter +home, make the best of what had happened, and never again to +struggle against fate. On his arrival at the cavern he found his +daughter unwell; and before they reached their own abode she was +delivered of a male infant, who, to save her credit, was left +exposed in a small tent with a sum of money laid under its +pillow, in hopes that the first passenger would take the child +under his care. It so happened, that a caravan passing by, the +leader of it, on examining the tent and seeing the infant, took +it up, and having no children adopted it as his own. The prince +of Eerauk having seen his parents, again repaired to visit his +beautiful mistress, and on his journey to the cavern once more +met the merchant, who, at his daughter's request, was travelling +towards Eerauk to acquaint him with her situation. The prince, +overjoyed, accompanied the merchant home, married the young lady, +and with her parents returned to his dominions. Their exposed +son, after long inquiry, was discovered, and liberal rewards +bestowed on the leader of the caravan, who at his own request was +permitted to reside in the palace of Eerauk, and superintend the +education of his adopted son. + + + + + ADVENTURES OF THE CAUZEE, HIS WIFE, &c. + + + +In the capital of Bagdad there was formerly a cauzee, who filled +the seat of justice with the purest integrity, and who by his +example in private life gave force to the strictness of his +public decrees. After some years spent in this honourable post, +he became anxious to make the pilgrimage to Mecca; and having +obtained permission of the caliph, departed on his pious journey, +leaving his wife, a beautiful woman, under the protection of his +brother, who promised to respect her as his daughter. The cauzee, +however, had not long left home, when the brother, instigated by +passion, made love to his sister-in-law, which she rejected with +scorn; being, however, unwilling to expose so near a relative to +her husband, she endeavoured to divert him from his purpose by +argument on the heinousness of his intended crime, but in vain. +The abominable wretch, instead of repenting, a gain and again +offered his love, and at last threatened, if she would not accept +his love, to accuse her of adultery, and bring upon her the +punishment of the law. This threat having no effect, the +atrocious villain suborned evidences to swear that they had seen +her in the act of infidelity, and she was sentenced to receive +one hundred strokes with a knotted whip, and be banished from the +city. Having endured this disgraceful punishment, the unhappy +lady was led through Bagdad by the public executioner, amid the +taunts and scorns of the populace; after which she was thrust oat +of the gates and left to shift for herself. Relying on +Providence, and without complaining of its decrees, she resolved +to travel to Mecca, in hopes of meeting her husband, and clearing +her defamed character to him, whose opinion alone she valued. +When advanced some days on her journey she entered a city, and +perceived a great crowd of people following the executioner, who +led a young man by a rope tied about his neck. Inquiring the +crime of the culprit, she was informed that he owed a hundred +deenars, which being unable to pay, he was sentenced to be hung, +such being the punishment of insolvent debtors in that city. The +cauzee's wife, moved with compassion, immediately tendered the +sum, being nearly all she had, when the young man was released, +and falling upon his knees before her, vowed to dedicate his life +to her service. She related to him her intention of making the +pilgrimage to Mecca, upon which the young man requested to +accompany and protect her, to which she consented. They set out +on their journey; but had not proceeded many days, when the youth +forgot his obligations, and giving way to impulse, insulted his +benefactress by offering her his love. The unfortunate lady +reasoned with him on the ingratitude of his conduct, and the +youth seemed to be convinced and repentant, but revenge rankled +in his heart. Some days after this they reached the sea-shore, +where the young man perceiving a ship, made a signal to speak +with it, and the master letting down his boat sent it to land; +upon which the young man going on board the vessel, informed the +master that he had for sale a handsome female slave, for whom he +asked a thousand deenars. The master, who had been used to +purchase slaves upon that coast, went on shore, and looking at +the cauzee's wife, paid the money to the wicked young man, who +went his way, and the lady was carried on board the ship, +supposing that her companion had taken the opportunity of easing +her fatigue, by procuring her a passage to some sea-port near +Mecca: but her persecution was not to end here. In the evening +she was insulted by attentions of the master of the vessel, who +being surprised at her coolness, informed her that he had +purchased her as his slave for a thousand deenars. The +unfortunate lady told him that she was a free woman, but this had +no effect on the brutish sailor, who finding tenderness +ineffectual proceeded to force and blows in order to reduce her +to submit to his authority. Her strength was almost exhausted, +when suddenly the ship struck upon a rock, the master was hurried +upon deck, and in a few moments the vessel went to pieces. +Providentially the virtuous wife laying hold of a plank was +wafted to the shore, after being for several hours buffeted by +the waves. Having recovered her senses she walked inland, and +found a pleasant country abounding in fruits and clear streams, +which satisfied her hunger and thirst. On the second day she +arrived at a magnificent city, and on entering it was conducted +to the sultan, who inquiring her story, she informed him that she +was a woman devoted to a religious life, and was proceeding on +the pilgrimage to Mecca, when her vessel was shipwrecked on his +coast, and whether any of the crew had escaped she knew not, as +she had seen none of them since her being cast ashore on a plank; +but as now the hopes of her reaching the sacred house were cut +off, if the sultan would allot her a small hut, and a trifling +pittance for her support, she would spend the remainder of her +days in prayers for the prosperity of himself and his subjects. + +The sultan, who was truly devout, and pitied the misfortune of +the lady, gladly acceded to her request, and allotted a pleasant +garden-house near his palace for her residence, at which he often +visited her, and conversed with her on religious topics, to his +great edification and comfort, for she was sensibly pious. Not +long after her arrival, several refractory vassals who had for +years withheld their usual tribute, and against whom the good +sultan, unwilling to shed blood, though his treasury much felt +the defalcation, had not sent a force to compel payment, +unexpectedly sent in their arrears; submissively begged pardon +for their late disobedience, and promised in future to be loyal +in their duty. The sultan, who attributed this fortunate event to +the successful prayers of his virtuous guest, mentioned his +opinion to his courtiers in full divan, and they to their +dependents. As, according to the proverb, the sheep always follow +their leader, so it was in the present instance. All ranks of +people on every emergency flocked to beg the prayers and counsel +of the sultan's favourite devotee; and such was their efficacy, +that her clients every day became more numerous, nor were they +ungrateful; so that in a short time the offerings made to her +amounted in value to an incalculable sum. Her reputation was not +confined to the kingdom of her protector, but spread gradually +abroad through all the countries in the possession of true +believers, who came from all parts of Asia to solicit her +prayers. Her residence was enlarged to a vast extent, in which +she supported great numbers of destitute persons, as well as +entertained the crowds of poor people who came in pilgrimage to +so holy a personage as she was now esteemed. But we must now +return to her pious husband. + +The good cauzee having finished the ceremonies of his pilgrimage +at Mecca, where he resided one year, and visited all the holy +spots around, returned to Bagdad: but dreadful was his agony and +grief when informed that his wife had played the harlot, and that +his brother, unable to bear the disgrace of his family, had left +the city, and had not been heard of since. This sad intelligence +had such an effect upon his mind, that he resolved to give up +worldly concerns, and adopt the life of a wandering religious, to +move from place to place, from country to country, and visit the +devotees celebrated for sanctity in each. For two years he +travelled through various kingdoms, and at length hearing of his +wife's fame, though he little supposed the much-talked-of female +saint stood in that relation to himself, he resolved to pay his +respects to so holy a personage. With this view he journeyed +towards the capital of the sultan her protector, hoping to +receive benefit from her pious conversation and prayers. + +The cauzee on his way overtook his treacherous brother, who, +repenting of his wicked life, had turned mendicant, and was going +to confess his sins, and ask the prayers for absolution of the +far-famed religious woman. Time and alteration of dress, for they +were both habited as dervishes, caused the brothers not to know +each other. As fellow travellers they entered into conversation; +and finding they were both bound the same way, agreed to continue +their journey together. They had not proceeded many days when +they came up with a driver of camels, who informed them that he +was upon the same errand as themselves, having been guilty of a +horrid crime, the reflection upon which tormented his conscience, +and made life miserable; that he was going to confess his sins to +the pious devotee, and consult her on whatever penance could +atone for his villany, of which he had heartily repented, and +hoped to obtain the mercy of heaven by a sincere reformation of +life. The crime of this wretch was no less than murder; the +circumstances of which we forgot to detail in its proper place. +The cauzee's wife immediately after her expulsion from Bagdad, +and before she had met the young man who sold her for a slave, +had taken shelter in the hut of a camel breeder, whose wife owed +her great obligations, and who received her with true hospitality +and kindness; consoling her in her misfortunes, dressing her +wounds, and insisting on her stay till she should be fully +recovered of the painful effects of her unjust and disgraceful +punishment; and in this she was seconded by the honest husband. +With this humble couple, who had an infant son, she remained some +time, and was recovering her spirits and beauty when the wicked +camel breeder, first mentioned, arrived on a visit to her host; +and being struck with her beauty made love to her, which she +mildly but firmly rejected, informing him that she was a married +woman. Blinded by passion, the wretch pressed his addresses +repeatedly, but in vain; till at length, irritated by refusal, he +changed his love into furious anger, and resolved to revenge his +disappointed lust by her death. With this view he armed himself +with a poniard; and about midnight, when the family were asleep, +stole into the chamber where she reposed, and close by her the +infant son of her generous host. The villain being in the dark +made a random stroke, not knowing of the infant, and instead of +stabbing the object of his revenge, plunged his weapon into the +bosom of the child, who uttered loud screams; upon which the +assassin, fearful of detection, ran away, and escaped from the +house. The cauzee's wife awaking in a fright, alarmed her unhappy +hosts, who, striking a light, came to her assistance; but how can +we describe their agonizing affliction when they beheld their +beloved child expiring, and their unfortunate guest, who had +swooned away, bathed in the infant's blood. From such a scene we +turn away, as the pen is incapable of description. The unhappy +lady at length revived, but their darling boy was gone for ever. +Some days after this tragical event she began her pilgrimage, +and, as above stated, reached the city where she released the +young man from his cruel creditors, and was shortly afterwards +ungratefully sold by him as a slave. But to return to the good +cauzee and his wicked companions. + +They had not travelled far when they overtook a young man, who +saluted them, and inquired their course; of which being informed, +he begged to join in company, saying, that he also was going to +pay his respects to the celebrated religious, in hopes that by +her prayers he might obtain pardon of God for a most flagitious +ingratitude; the remorse for which had rendered him a burthen to +himself ever since the commission of the crime. The four pilgrims +pursued their journey, and a few days afterwards overtook the +master of a vessel, who told them he had some time back suffered +shipwreck; since which he had undergone the severest distress, +and was now going to request the aid of the far-famed woman, +whose charities and miraculous prayers had been noised abroad +through all countries. The companions then invited him to join +them, and they proceeded on the pilgrimage together, till at +length they reached the capital of the good sultan who protected +the cauzee's wife. + +The five pilgrims having entered the city, repaired immediately +to the abode of the respected devotee; the courts of which were +crowded with petitioners from all parts, so that they could with +difficulty gain admission. Some of her domestics seeing they were +strangers newly arrived, and seemingly fatigued, kindly invited +them, into an apartment, and to repose themselves while they +informed their mistress of their arrival; which having done, they +brought word that she would see them when the crowd was +dispersed, and hear their petitions at her leisure. Refreshments +were then brought in, of which they were desired to partake, and +the pilgrims having make their ablutions, sat down to eat, all +the while admiring and praising the hospitality of their pious +hostess; who, unperceived by them, was examining their persons +and features through the lattice of a balcony, at one end of the +hall. Her heart beat with joyful rapture when she beheld her long +lost husband, whose absence she had never ceased to deplore, but +scarcely expected ever to meet him again; and great was her +surprise to find him in company with his treacherous brother, her +infamous intending assassin, her ungrateful betrayer the young +man, and the master of the vessel to whom he had sold her as a +slave. It was with difficulty she restrained her feelings; but +not choosing to discover herself till she should hear their +adventures, she withdrew into her chamber, and being relieved by +tears prostrated herself on the earth, and offered up +thanksgivings to the protector of the just, who had rewarded her +patience under affliction by succeeding blessings, and at length +restored to her the partner of her heart. Having finished her +devotions, she sent to the sultan requesting him to send her a +confidential officer, who might witness the relations of five +visitors whom she was going to examine. On his arrival she placed +him where he could listen unseen; and covering herself with a +veil, sat down on her stool to receive the pilgrims, who being +admitted, bowed their foreheads to the ground; when requesting +them to arise, she addressed them as follows: "You are welcome, +brethren, to my humble abode, to my counsel and my prayers, +which, by God's mercy, have sometimes relieved the repentant +sinner; but as it is impossible I can give advice without hearing +a case, or pray without knowing the wants of him who entreats me, +you must relate your histories with the strictest truth, for +equivocation, evasion, or concealment, will prevent my being of +any service; and this you may depend upon, that the prayers of a +liar tend only to his own destruction." Having said this, she +ordered the cauzee to remain, but the other four to withdraw; as +she should, to spare their shame before each other, hear their +cases separately. The good cauzee having no sins to confess +related his pilgrimage to Mecca; the supposed infidelity of his +wife; and his consequent resolve to spend his days in visiting +sacred places and holy personages, among whom she stood so +famous, that to hear her edifying conversation, and entreat the +benefit of her prayers for his unhappy wife, was the object of +his having travelled to her sacred abode. When he had finished +his narrative the lady dismissed him to another chamber, and +heard one by one the confessions of his companions; who not +daring to conceal any thing, related their cruel conduct towards +herself, as above-mentioned; but little suspecting that they were +acknowledging their guilt to the intended victim of their evil +passions. After this the cauzee's wife commanded the officer to +conduct all five to the sultan, and inform him of what he had +heard them confess. The sultan, enraged at the wicked behaviour +of the cauzee's brother, the camel-driver, the young man, and the +master of the vessel, condemned them to death; and the +executioner was preparing to put the sentence in force, when the +lady arriving at the presence demanded their pardon; and to his +unspeakable joy discovered herself to her delighted husband. The +sultan complying with her request, dismissed the criminals; but +prevailed on the cauzee to remain at his court, where for the +remainder of his life this upright judge filled the high office +of chief magistrate with honour to himself, and satisfaction to +all who had causes tried before him; while he and his faithful +partner continued striking examples of virtue and conjugal +felicity. The sultan was unbounded in his favour towards them, +and would often pass whole evenings in their company in friendly +conversation, which generally turned upon the vicissitudes of +life, and the goodness of Providence in relieving the sufferings +of the faithful, by divine interposition, at the very instant +when ready to sink under them and overwhelmed with calamity. "I +myself," said the sultan, "am an example of the protection of +heaven, as you, my friends, will learn from my adventures." He +then began as follows. + + + + + The Sultan's Story of Himself. + + + +Though now seated on a throne, I was not born to such exalted +rank, but am the son of a rich merchant in a country far distant +from this which I now govern. My father brought me up to his own +profession; and by instruction and example encouraged me to be +virtuous, diligent, and honest. Soon after I had attained to the +age of manhood death snatched away this valuable parent, who in +his last moments gave me instructions for my future conduct; but +particularly requested that nothing might ever prevail upon me to +take an oath, though ever so just or necessary to my concerns. I +assured him it would not: soon after which he breathed his last, +leaving me, my mother, and sister in sincere grief for his loss. +After the funeral I examined his property, and found myself in +possession of a vast sum of money, besides an ample stock in +trade, two-thirds of which I immediately paid to my mother and +sister, who retired to a house which they purchased for +themselves. Many weeks had not elapsed when a merchant set up a +claim on my father's estate for a sum of money equal to nearly +the whole that I possessed: I asked him for his bond, but he had +none, yet swore solemnly to the justice of his demand. I had no +doubt of the falsity of his oath, but as I had promised never to +swear, I could not disprove it by mine, and therefore was obliged +to pay the money, which I did entirely from my own share, not +choosing to distress my mother and sister by lessening theirs. +After this, other unjust demands were preferred, and I paid them, +rather than falsify my promise to my father, though by so doing I +became reduced to the most abject poverty, as still I would not +trouble my mother. At length I resolved to quit my native city, +and seek for subsistence in a distant country as clerk to a +merchant, or in any other way that might offer. I accordingly set +out alone, and had travelled some days, when in passing over a +sandy desert I met a venerable looking personage dressed in +white, who kindly accosting me, inquired the object of my +journey: upon which I related my story. The old man blessed me, +highly praised the steadfastness of my adherence to the promise I +had made to a dying father; and said, "My son, be not dismayed, +thy virtuous conduct has been approved by our holy prophet, who +has interceded for thee at the throne of bounty: follow me, and +reap the reward of thy sufferings." I did as he desired; and we, +after some time, reached this city, which was then wholly +depopulated, and even this palace in a state of decay. On our +entrance my venerable guide bade me welcome, saying, "Here heaven +has decreed thee to reign, and thou wilt soon become a powerful +sultan." He then conducted me to the palace, and we descended +from one of the apartments into a vault, where to my astonishment +I beheld vast heaps of gold and silver ingots, large bags of +coins of the same metals, and several rich chests filled with +jewels of inestimable value, of all which he saluted me master. I +was overcome with astonishment; but said, "Of what use is all +this wealth in a depopulated city? and how can I be a sultan +without subjects?" The old man smiled, and said, "Have patience, +my son; this evening a numerous caravan will arrive here composed +of emigrants, who are in search of a settlement, and they will +elect thee their sovereign." His words proved true; the caravan +arrived, when the old man invited them to inhabit the city; his +offer was gladly accepted, and by his direction they declared me +their sultan. My protector remained with me a whole year, during +which he gave me instructions how to govern, and I became what I +am. Heaven has prospered my endeavours to do good: the fame of my +liberality, justice, and clemency soon spread abroad; the city +was soon filled by industrious inhabitants, who repaired the +decayed buildings, and erected new ones. The country round became +well cultivated, and our port was filled with vessels from every +quarter. I shortly after sent for my family, for I had left +behind me a wife and two sons; and you may guess from your own +joy at meeting after long separation what must have been mine on +such an occasion. My venerable patron, at the expiration of the +year, one day thus addressed me: "My son, as my mission is +completed I must now leave you; but be not alarmed, for provided +thou continuest to act as thou hast begun, we shall meet again. +Know that I am the prophet Khizzer, and was sent by heaven to +protect thee. Mayest thou deserve its blessings!" Having said +this he embraced me in his arms, and then vanished, how I know +not, from my sight. For some time I continued rapt in +astonishment and wonder, which at length gave place to +reverential awe and gratitude to heaven; by degrees I recovered +myself, and bowed down with fervent devotion. I have endeavoured +to follow the admonitions of my holy adviser. It is unnecessary +to say more; you see my state and the happiness I enjoy. + + + + + CONCLUSION. + + + +The sultan of the Indies could not but admire the prodigious and +inexhaustible memory of the sultaness his wife, who had +entertained him so many nights with such a variety of interesting +stories. + +A thousand and one nights had passed away in these innocent +amusements, which contributed so much towards removing the +sultan's unhappy prejudice against the fidelity of women. His +temper was softened. He was convinced of the merit and great +wisdom of the sultaness Scheherazade. He remembered with what +courage she had offered to be his wife, without fearing the death +to which she knew she exposed herself, as so many sultanesses had +suffered within her knowledge. + +These considerations, and the many other good qualities he knew +her to possess, induced him at last to forgive her. "I see, +lovely Scheherazade," said he, "that you can never be at a loss +for these little stories, which have so long diverted me. You +have appeased my anger. I freely renounce the law I had imposed +on myself. I restore your sex to my favourable opinion, and will +have you to be regarded as the deliverer of the many damsels I +had resolved to sacrifice to my unjust resentment." + +The sultaness cast herself at his feet, and embraced them +tenderly with all the marks of the most lively and perfect +gratitude. + +The grand vizier was the first who learned this agreeable +intelligence from the sultan's own mouth. It was instantly +carried to the city, towns, and provinces; and gained the sultan, +and the lovely Scheherazade his consort, universal applause, and +the blessings of all the people of the extensive empire of the +Indies. + + + + +End of Volume 4. + + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS VOL. 4 *** + +This file should be named 5667.txt or 5667.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, arns412.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, arns410a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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