diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/63306-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63306-0.txt | 12822 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 12822 deletions
diff --git a/old/63306-0.txt b/old/63306-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a176e30..0000000 --- a/old/63306-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12822 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights, Volume II of IV, by Anonymous - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Arabian Nights, Volume II of IV - -Author: Anonymous - -Translator: Edward Forster - -Release Date: September 26, 2020 [EBook #63306] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, VOLUME II *** - - - - -Produced by Mohammad Aboomar for the QuantiQual Project; -Project ID: COALESCE/2017/117 (Irish Research Council) - - - - - - - -[Transcriber's Note: -The first edition of this translation was published in London in -1802 in five volumes. It was translated indirectly by Edward Forster -from the French translation of Antoine Galland titled Les mille et -une nuits.] - - - - -THE -ARABIAN NIGHTS. - -VOL. II. - - - - -THE -ARABIAN NIGHTS. - - -IN FOUR VOLUMES, -TRANSLATED -BY -EDWARD FORSTER, M. A. - - -THE FOURTH EDITION. - - -VOL. II. - - -LONDON: -PRINTED FOR WILLIAM MILLER, ALBEMARLE-STREET, -Reprinted by Assignment, for -THOMAS TEGG, NO. 111, CHEAPSIDE. - - -1815. - - -W. Lewis, Printer, St. John’s Square, London. - - - - -THE -ARABIAN NIGHTS. - - -THE HISTORY -OF THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK. - - -In the city of Casgar, which is situated near the farther extremity -of Great Tartary, there formerly lived a tailor, who had the good -fortune to possess a very beautiful wife, between whom and her -husband there existed the strongest mutual affection. One day, while -the tailor was at work in his shop, a little hunchbacked fellow came -and sat down at the door, and began playing on a tymbal, which he -accompanied with his voice. The tailor was much pleased with his -performance, and resolved to carry him home, that he might entertain -his wife, who would equally, he thought, with himself, be amused in -the evening with his pleasant and humorous songs. He immediately -therefore made the proposal to the little hunchback, who readily -accepted the invitation; and the tailor directly shut up his shop, -and took him home with him. - -They were no sooner arrived than the tailor’s wife, who had -already set out the table, as it was near supper time, placed upon -it a very nice dish of fish, which she had been dressing. They all -three then sat down; but in eating, the little hunchback had the -misfortune to swallow a large fish-bone, which stuck fast in his -throat, and almost instantly killed him, before the tailor or his -wife could apply any relief. They were both most dreadfully -frightened at this accident; for, as it happened in their house, -they had great reason to fear it might come to the knowledge of some -of the officers of justice, who would punish them as murderers; the -husband, however, thought of an expedient to get rid of the dead -body. - -He recollected, that there lived in his neighbourhood, a physician, -who was a Jew; and he formed a plan, which he directly began to put -in execution. He and his wife took up the body, one by the head and -the other by the feet, and carried it to the physician’s house. -They knocked at the door, which was at the bottom of a steep and -narrow flight of stairs that led to his apartment. A maid servant -immediately came down, without even staying for a light; and opening -the door, asked them what they wanted. “I will thank you to go and -tell your master,” said the tailor, “that we have brought him a -patient, who is very ill, and for whom we request his advice. -Stop,” added he, holding out a piece of money in his hand, “give -him this in advance, that he may be assured we do not intend he -should lose his labour for nothing.” While the servant went back -to inform her master, the Jewish physician, of this good news, the -tailor and his wife quickly carried the body of the little hunchback -up stairs, left him close to the door, and returned home as fast as -possible. - -In the mean time the servant went and told the physician, that a man -and a woman were waiting for him at the door, and requested him to -go down to see a sick person whom they had brought for that purpose. -She then gave him the money she had received from the tailor. -Transported with joy at the idea of being paid beforehand, he -conceived it must be a most excellent patient, that they had brought -him; and one who ought not to be neglected. “Bring a light -directly,” cried he to the girl, “and follow me.”--“Having -said this, he ran towards the staircase in such a hurry, that he did -not wait for the light, and encountering little hunchback, he gave -him such a blow with his foot, as sent him from the top of the -stairs to the bottom; and he had some difficulty to prevent himself -from following him. “Why don’t you come with the light?” he -called out to the servant. She at last appeared, and they went down -stairs. When the physician found that what had rolled down stairs -turned out to be a dead man, he was so alarmed at the sight, that he -invoked Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Esdras, and all the other prophets of -the law to his assistance. “Wretch, that I am,” exclaimed he, -“why did I not wait for the light? why did I go down in the dark? -I have completely killed the sick man, whom they brought to me. I am -the cause of his death, and if the good ass [1] of Esdras does not -come to my assistance, I am a lost man. Alas, alas, they will come -and drag me hence as a murderer.” - -Notwithstanding the perplexity he was in, he had the precaution to -shut his door, for fear, that as any one passed along the street, -they might perchance discover the unfortunate accident, of which he -believed himself to be the cause. He immediately took up the body, -and carried it into his wife’s apartment, who was near fainting -when she saw him come in with his fatal load. “Alas,” she cried, -“we are quite lost, if we cannot find some means of getting rid of -this dead man before to-morrow morning. We shall inevitably forfeit -our lives, if we keep him till day breaks. What a misfortune! how -could you kill this man?”--“Never mind, in this dilemma, how it -happened,” said the Jew, “our only business at present is how to -remedy so dreadful a calamity.” - -The physician and his wife then consulted together upon the best -means of ridding themselves of the body during the night. The -husband pondered a long time, but could think of no stratagem likely -to extricate them from this embarrassment; but his wife was more -fertile in invention, and said, “A thought occurs to me. Let us -take the carcase up to the terrace of our house, and let him down -the chimney, into that of our neighbour’s, the mussulman.” - -This mussulman was one of the sultan’s purveyors; and it was his -office to furnish oil, butter, and all other articles of a similar -kind. His warehouse for these things was in his dwelling-house, -where the rats and mice used to make great havoc and destruction. - -The Jewish physician having approved of his wife’s plan, they took -the little hunchback and carried him to the roof of the house, and -having first fastened a cord under his arms, they let him gently -down the chimney into the purveyor’s apartment. They managed this -so adroitly, that he remained standing on his feet against the wall, -exactly as if he were alive. As soon as they found they had landed -him, they drew up the cords, and left him precisely in the situation -I have related. They had hardly gone down from the terrace, and -retired to their chamber, when the purveyor went into his. He was -just returned from a wedding feast, which he had been invited to -partake of on that evening; and he had a lantern in his hand. He was -very much surprised at seeing, by means of this light, a man -standing up in the chimney: but as he was naturally of a brave and -courageous disposition, and as he thought it was a thief, he seized -hold of a large stick, with which he directly ran at little -hunchback, “Ah, ah,” he cried, “I thought it was the rats and -mice who eat my butter and tallow; and it is you, who come down the -chimney, and rob me. I don’t think you will ever wish to visit me -again.” In saying this he attacked hunchback, and gave him many -hard blows. The body at last fell down, with its face on the ground. -The purveyor then redoubled his blows; but at length remarking, that -the body he struck did not make the least motion, he stopped to -observe it. Perceiving then that it was a dead man, fear succeeded -to rage. “What have I done, miserable wretch that I am!” he -exclaimed. “Alas I have carried my vengeance too far. Good God, -have pity upon me, or my life is gone. I wish all the butter and oil -were destroyed a thousand times over, before they had caused me to -commit so criminal an action.” He remained pale and confounded; -and imagined he already saw the officers of justice coming to -conduct him to his punishment: he knew not what course to follow. - -While the sultan of Casgar’s purveyor was beating the little -hunchback, he did not perceive his hump; the instant he did, he -poured out an hundred imprecations on it. “Oh, you rascal of a -hunchback, you dog of deformity? would to God you had robbed me of -all my fat and grease before I had found you here. I should not then -have got into the scrape I have, and be hanged to you, and your -rascally hump. O ye stars, which shine in the heavens,” he cried, -“shed your light to lead me out of the imminent danger in which I -am.” Having said this, he took the body of the hunchback upon his -shoulders, went out of his chamber, and walked into the street, -where he set it upright against a shop, and having done this, he -made the best of the way to his house, without once looking behind -him. - -A little while before day-break, a Christian merchant who was very -rich, and who furnished the palace of the sultan with most things -which were wanted there, having passed the night in revelry and -debauchery, was just come from home in his way to a bath. Although -he was much intoxicated, he had still sufficient recollection to -know, that the night was far advanced, and that the people would -very soon be called to early prayers. It was for this reason that he -was making all the haste he could in order to arrive at the bath, -for fear any mussulman, as he was going to mosque, should meet him, -and order him to prison as a drunkard. When he was at the end of the -street, however, he stopped, for some occasion or other, close to -the shop against which the sultan’s purveyor had placed little -hunchback’s body, which at the very first touch fell directly -against the merchant’s back. The latter took him for a robber, -that was attacking him; and therefore knocked him down with his -fist, with which he struck him on the head. He immediately repeated -his blows, and began calling out, “Thief, thief.” - -The guard, belonging to that quarter of the city, came directly on -hearing his cries; and seeing that it was a Christian who was -beating a mussulman, (for little hunchback was of our religion,) -“What business have you,” he said, “to ill-treat a mussulman -in that manner?”--“He wanted to rob me,” answered the -merchant, “and he attacked me behind in order to seize me by my -throat.”--“You have revenged yourself pretty well,” replied -the guard, taking hold of the merchant’s arm, and pulling him -away, “let him go therefore.” At the same time he held out his -hand to the hunchback, to assist him in getting up; but observing -that he was dead, “Oh, oh,” he cried, “is it thus then, that a -Christian has the impudence to assassinate a mussulman.” Having -said this, he arrested the Christian merchant, and carried him -before the magistrate of the police, from whence they sent him to -prison, till the judge had risen, and was ready to examine the -accused. In the mean time the merchant became completely sober; and -the more he reflected upon this adventure, the less could he -comprehend how a single blow with the fist was capable of taking -away the life of a man. - -Upon the report of the guard, and after having seen the body, which -they had brought with them, the judge examined the Christian -merchant, who could not deny the crime, although he in fact was not -guilty of it. As the little hunchback belonged to the sultan, for he -was one of his buffoons, the judge determined not to put the -Christian to death, till he had learnt the will of the prince. He -went, therefore, to the palace, in order to give an account of what -had passed to the sultan; who having heard the whole story, replied, -“I have no mercy to show towards a Christian who kills a -mussulman; go and do your duty.” At these words the judge of the -police went back, and ordered a gibbet to be erected; and then sent -some criers through the city to make known, that a Christian was -going to be hanged for having killed a mussulman. - -At last they took the merchant out of prison, and conducted him on -foot to the gallows. The executioner having fastened the cord round -the merchant’s neck, was just going to draw him up into the air, -when the sultan’s purveyor, making his way through the crowd, -approached the executioner, and called out, “Stop, stop, do not be -in a hurry; it is not he who has committed the murder; I have done -it.” The judge of the police, who attended the execution, -immediately interrogated the purveyor, who gave him a long and -minute detail of the manner in which he had killed the little -hunchback; and he concluded by saying, that he had carried the body -to the place where the Christian merchant had found it. “You are -going,” added he, “to sacrifice an innocent person, since he -could not kill a man that was not alive. It is enough for me to have -slain a mussulman, without having to charge my conscience with the -murder of a Christian, who is not criminal.” - -When the purveyor of the sultan of Casgar had thus publicly accused -himself of being the author of the hunchback’s death, the judge -could not do otherwise than act with justice towards the merchant. -“Let the Christian merchant go,” said he to the executioner, -“and hang this man in his place, since it is evident, by his own -confession, that he is the guilty person. The executioner -immediately released the merchant, and put the rope round the neck -of the purveyor; and at the very instant that he was going to -complete the punishment, he heard the voice of the Jewish physician, -who desired them to stop the execution that instant, that he might -come and take his place at the foot of the gallows. - -“Sir,” said he, as soon as he was come before the judge, “this -mussulman, whom you are about to deprive of his life, does not -deserve to die; I alone am the guilty wretch. About the middle of -last night, a man and a woman, who are total strangers to me, came -and knocked at my door, with a sick person, whom they brought with -them: my servant went instantly to the door without waiting for a -light, and having first received a piece of money from one of them, -she came to me and said, that they wished I would come down and look -at the sick person. While she was bringing me this message, they -brought the patient up to the top of the stairs, and then -disappeared. I went directly out, without waiting till my servant -had lighted a candle; and meeting with the sick man in the dark, I -gave him an unintentional kick, and he fell from the top to the -bottom of the staircase. I then discovered that he was dead, and -that he was a mussulman, and the very same little hunchback whose -murderer you now wish to punish. My wife and myself took the body -and carried it to the roof of our home, whence we let it down into -that of our neighbour, the purveyor, whose life you are now going -most unjustly to take away; as we were the persons who placed the -body in his apartment, by lowering it down the chimney. When the -purveyor discovered him, he took him for a thief, and treated him as -such. He knocked him down, and believed he had killed him; but this -is not the fact, as you may now be convinced by my confession. I -alone am the author of the murder; and although it was -unintentional, I am resolved to expiate my crime, and not charge my -conscience with the death of two mussulmen, by suffering you to take -away the life of the sultan’s purveyor, whose innocence I thus -clearly prove to you. Dismiss him then, if you please, and put me in -his place; since no one but myself was the cause of the -hunchback’s death. - -As soon as the judge was convinced that the Jewish physician was the -true murderer, he ordered the executioner to take him, and set the -purveyor at liberty. The cord was now placed round the neck of the -physician, and he had hardly a moment to live, when the voice of the -tailor was heard, who entreated the executioner not to proceed, -while he made his way to the judge of the police, to whom, on his -approach, he said, “You have been very near, sir, causing the -death of three innocent persons; but if you will have the patience -to listen to me, you shall be informed of the true murderer of the -hunchback. If his death ought to be expiated by that of another -person, mine is the one to be taken. - -“As I was at work in my shop yesterday evening, a little before -dark, and in a disposition well suited to enjoy any amusement, this -little hunchback came up to it half drunk, and sat down. He -immediately began to sing, and went on for some time, when I -proposed to him to come and pass the evening at my house. He no -sooner agreed to it, than I conducted him thither. We sat down to -table almost directly, and I helped him to a little piece of fish; -in eating of which a bone stuck fast in his throat, and in spite of -every thing that my wife and I could do to relieve him, he died in a -very short time. We were much afflicted at his death; and for fear -of being taken up on account of it, we carried the body to the door -of the Jewish physician. I knocked, and told the servant, who opened -it, to go back to her master as soon as possible, and request him -from us to come down, to see a patient, whom we had brought to him; -and that he might not refuse coming, I charged her to put into his -own hand a piece of money, which I gave her for that purpose. She -was no sooner gone up, than I carried the little hunchback to the -top of the stairs, and laid him on the first step: having done this, -my wife and myself made the best of our way home. When the physician -came out in order to go down, he stumbled against the hunchback, and -rolled him down from the top to the bottom, which made him suppose -he was the cause of his death. Since, however,” added he, “the -case is as it is, let the physician go, and take my life instead of -his.” - -The judge of the police, and all the spectators, were filled with -astonishment at the various strange events that the death of the -little hunchback seemed to have given rise to. “Let the physician -then depart,” said the judge, “and hang the tailor, since he -confesses the crime. I must candidly own, that this adventure is a -very extraordinary one, and is worthy of being written in letters of -gold.” When the executioner had set the physician at liberty, he -put the cord round the tailor’s neck. - -While all this was passing, and the executioner was preparing to -hang the tailor, the sultan of Casgar, who never passed any length -of time without seeing the little hunchback, his buffoon, ordered -him into his presence; when one of the attendants replied, “Little -hunchback, sire, whom your majesty is so desirous to see, after -having got drunk yesterday, escaped from the palace, contrary to his -usual custom, in order to wander about the city; and this morning he -was found dead. They have brought a man before the judge of the -police, who was accused of his murder, and the judge immediately -ordered a gibbet to be erected. At the very moment they were going -to hang the accused person, another man came up to the gallows, and -then a third, who each accused themselves, and declared the former -to be innocent of the murder. All this took up some time, and the -judge is at this moment in the very act of examining this third man, -who says that he is the real murderer.” - -On hearing this, the sultan of Casgar sent one of his attendants to -the place of execution, “Go,” he cried, “with all possible -speed, and tell the judge instantly to bring all the accused persons -before me; and order them also to bring the body of poor little -hunchback, whom I wish once more to see.” The officer instantly -went, and arrived at the very moment that the executioner began to -draw the cord, in order to hang the tailor. He called out to them as -loud as he could to suspend the execution. As the hangman knew the -officer, he durst not proceed, but let the tailor live. The officer, -having now come up to the judge, declared the will of the sultan. -The judge obeyed, and proceeded to the palace with the tailor, the -Jew, the purveyor, and the Christian merchant, and ordered four of -his people to carry the body of the hunchback. - -As soon as they were come into the presence of the sultan, the judge -prostrated himself at his feet; and when he got up, he gave a -faithful and accurate detail of every thing that related to the -adventure of little hunchback. The sultan thought it so very -singular, that he commanded his own historian to write it down, with -all its particulars: then addressing himself to those who were -present, he said, “Have any one of you ever heard a more wonderful -adventure than this, which is now happened to the hunchback, my -buffoon?” The Christian merchant, having first prostrated himself -so low at the sultan’s feet, that his head touched the ground, -then spoke as follows: “Powerful monarch, I think I am acquainted -with a still more surprising history than that which you have just -heard recited; and if your majesty will grant me permission, I will -relate it. The circumstances are of such a nature, that no person -can hear them without being affected at the narrative.” The sultan -having permitted him to speak, he began his story in these words: - - - - -THE STORY -TOLD BY THE CHRISTIAN MERCHANT. - - -Before I begin, sire, the account which your majesty has consented -to listen to, I must, if you please, just remark, that I have not -the honour of being born in any spot within the limits of your -empire. I am a stranger: a native of Cairo, in Egypt, of Coptic -parents, and by religion a Christian. My father was by profession a -broker, and had amassed a considerable fortune, which, when he died, -he left to me. I followed his example, and pursued the same line of -business. One day, when I was in the public grain market at Cairo, -which is frequented by the dealers in all sorts of grain, a young -merchant, very well made, handsomely dressed, and mounted upon an -ass, accosted me. He saluted me, and opening a handkerchief, in -which he had a sample of sesamè, he showed it to me, and inquired -how much a large measure of grain of a similar quality was worth. I -examined the sample, which the young merchant had put into my hands, -and told him, that, according to the present price, a large measure -was worth a hundred drachms of silver. “Look then,” he said, -“for a merchant who will buy it at that price, and come to the -gate, called Victory, where you will see a khan, separate from every -other house, and I will wait for you there.” Having said this, he -went away, and left me the sample of sesamè, which I showed to -different merchants on the spot, who all said, they would take as -much as I would sell them, at one hundred and ten drachms of silver -a measure; and at this rate I should gain ten drachms for each -measure sold. - -Pleased with so much profit, I went directly to the Victory gate, -where the merchant was waiting for me. He carried me into his -warehouse, which was full of sesamè. I had it measured, and there -were about one hundred and fifty large measures. I then loaded it -upon asses and went and sold it for five thousand drachms [2] of -silver. “Of this sum,” said the young man to me, “you have a -right, according to our agreement, to five hundred drachms, after -the rate of ten drachms a measure; what remains belongs to me, but -as I have no immediate want of it, go in and put it by for me, till -I shall come and demand it of you.” I told him, it should be ready -at any time, that he should wish to come for it, or send any one to -demand it. I kissed his hand, when he left me; and went home, very -well satisfied with his generosity. - -A whole month passed without my seeing him; at the end of which time -he appeared. “Where,” he asked me, “are the four thousand five -hundred drachms of silver, which you owe me?”--“They are all -ready,” I replied, “and I will immediately count them out to -you.” As he was mounted upon an ass, I requested him to alight, -and do me the honour to eat with me before he received his money. -“No,” he answered, “I have not time at present, I have some -urgent business, which requires my presence, and cannot stay; but, -in coming back, I will call for my money; be so good as to have it -ready for me.” Having said this, he went away. I waited for him a -long time, but it was to no purpose, for he did not return till a -month after. “This young merchant,” thought I to myself, -“places a great deal of confidence in me, to leave the sum of four -thousand five hundred drachms of silver in my hands, without knowing -any thing of me. No one besides himself would surely act thus, for -fear I should run away with the money.” At the end of the third -month, I saw him come back, mounted upon the same ass, but much more -magnificently dressed than he was before. - -As soon as I perceived the young man, I went out to meet him. I -entreated him to alight, and asked, whether he wished me to count -out the money which I had of his. “Never mind that,” he replied, -in a lively and contented manner, “I am in no hurry. I know it is -in good hands: and I will come and take it when I shall have spent -all I now have, and nothing more remains. Adieu,” added he, “and -expect me again at the end of the week.” At these words, he gave -his ass a cut with his whip, and was out of sight in a moment. -“Vastly well;” said I to myself, “he has told me to expect him -in a week, and yet if I may judge from the tenor of his -conversation, I may not see him this age. Why should not I in the -mean time make some use of his money? it will be of considerable -advantage to me.” - -I was not mistaken in my conjecture, for a whole year passed before -I heard any thing of the young man. At the end of this time he again -appeared, and as richly dressed as he had been the last time he -came; but there seemed to me to be something or other which affected -his spirits. I entreated him so far to honour me, as to come into my -house. “I agree to it for this once,” he replied, “but it is -only on condition, that you put yourself to no additional trouble or -expence on my account.”--“I will do exactly as you please,” I -said, “if you will favor me by coming in.” He immediately -alighted, and entered my house. I then gave orders for the -refreshments I wished to be procured, and while they were getting -ready, we entered into conversation; and when the repast was served, -we sat down to table. The very first morsel he took, I observed it -was with his left hand, and I continued all the time to be much -astonished at never seeing him make use of his right. I knew not -what to think of it. “From the very first moment,” I said to -myself, “I have known this merchant, I have always seen him behave -with the greatest politeness; and it is impossible that he can act -thus out of contempt for me. What can be the reason of his making no -use of his right hand?” This matter continued to puzzle me -extremely. - -When the repast was over, and my servants had cleared every thing -away, and left the room, we went and sat down on a sofa. I then -offered, as a sort of relish, a very excellent kind of lozenge. -Still he took it with his left hand. “I entreat you, sir,” at -last I cried, “to pardon the liberty I take in asking you, how it -happens, that you always make use of your left hand, and never of -the right: some accident surely has happened to it?” At this he -gave a deep sigh, and instead of answering me, he drew out his right -arm from his robe, under which he had till now quite concealed it; -when I saw, to my utter astonishment, that his hand was cut off. -“You were much shocked, without doubt,” he said, “at seeing me -eat with my left hand; but you now see I could not do -otherwise.”--“May I inquire,” I answered, “how you had the -misfortune to lose your right hand?” At this request he began to -shed tears; after some time, however, he told me his history, which -I am now going to repeat. - -“I must in the first place inform you,” said the young man, -“that I am a native of Bagdad. My father was extremely rich, and -one of the most eminent men, both as to rank and quality, in that -city. I had hardly begun to enter into the society of the world, -when I was struck with the accounts which many people, who had -travelled in that country, gave of the wonderful and extraordinary -things in Egypt, and particularly at Grand Cairo. Their conversation -made a deep impression on my mind; and I became excessively anxious -to make a journey there. But my father, who was still alive, would -not give me permission. He at length died, and as his death left me -master of my own actions, I resolved to go to Cairo. I directly -employed a large sum of money in the purchase of different sorts of -the fine stuffs and manufactures of Bagdad and Moussoul, and began -my travels. - -“When I arrived at Cairo, I stopped at a khan, which they call the -khan of Mesrour. I took up my abode there, and also hired a -warehouse, in which I placed the bales of merchandize that I had -brought with me on camels. When I had arranged this business, I -retired to my apartment, in order to rest myself, and recover from -the fatigue of my journey. In the mean time my servants, to whom I -had given some money for that purpose, went and bought some -provisions, and began to dress them. After I had satisfied my -hunger, I went to see the castle, mosques, the public places, and -every thing else, that was worthy of notice. - -“The next morning, I dressed myself very neatly, and after taking -from my bales a few very beautiful and rich stuffs, for the purpose -of carrying them to a bezestein, [3] to know what they would offer -me for them, I gave them to some of my slaves, and we went to the -bezestein of the Circassians. I was instantly surrounded by a -multitude of brokers and criers, who were soon informed of my -arrival. I gave a specimen of my different stuffs to several criers, -who went and showed them all over the bezestein; but I was offered -by no merchant not even so much as the original cost of the -merchandize, and the expenses of the carriage. This vexed me very -much, and the criers were witness to my resentment and vexation. -“If you will depend upon us,” they said, “we will show you a -way to lose nothing by your stuffs.” I asked them what mode I -ought to follow, in order to sell my goods to advantage. -“Distribute them,” said they, “among different merchants, who -will sell them in small quantities, and you may come twice every -week, namely, on Mondays and Thursdays, and receive the money, for -which they have been sold. By this method you will make some profit, -instead of losing any thing, and the merchants also will have an -advantage in the business. In the mean time, you will have -opportunity and leisure to walk about and view the town, and to go -upon the Nile.” - -“I followed their advice, and carried them with me to my -warehouse, from which I took out all my goods; and returning to the -bezestein, I distributed them among the several merchants whom they -pointed out to me as the most trusty and creditable. The merchants -gave me a receipt in due form, properly signed and witnessed, with -the condition, that I should make no demand for the first month. - -“Having thus arranged all my business, I gave myself up entirely -to pleasure and gaiety. I contracted a friendship with several young -men about my own age, who contributed very much to make my time pass -agreeably. When the first month had elapsed, I began to call upon my -merchants regularly twice every week, accompanied by a proper public -officer, to examine their books, and a money-changer to ascertain -the goodness and different value of the various sorts of money they -paid me. In this manner I constantly brought away, on those days, a -considerable sum of money, which I took with me to the khan of -Mesrour, where I lodged. This, however, did not prevent me from -going, on the intermediate days of the week, to pass the morning -sometimes with one merchant, and sometimes with another; and I was -thus much pleased with their conversation, and with seeing what -passed in the bezestein. - -“One Monday, while I was sitting in one of these merchant’s -shops, whose name was Bedreddin, a lady of distinction, as I easily -conjectured both by her air and dress, and also by a female slave -neatly attired, who followed her, entered the same shop, and sat -down close to me. Her external appearance, joined to a certain -natural grace in every thing she did, prejudiced me very much in her -favour, and excited a great desire in me to know more of her than I -did. I know not whether she perceived that I took a pleasure in -beholding her, or whether my attention pleased her or not; but she -lifted up the thick crape that hung over the muslin, which concealed -the lower part of her face, and thus gave me an opportunity of -seeing her black eyes, that quite charmed me. She at last completed -her conquest, and made me quite in love with her, by the pleasant -tone of her voice, and by her obliging and modest manner, when she -addressed herself to the merchant, and inquired after his health, -since she had seen him last. - -“After she had conversed some time upon indifferent subjects, she -told him that she was in search of a particular sort of stuff, with -a gold ground: and that she came to his shop, because it contained -the best assortment of goods of any in the bezestein; and that if he -had such a thing, he would much oblige her by shewing it to her. -Bedreddin opened a good many different pieces, and having fixed upon -one, she stopped and asked the price of it. He said, he could afford -to sell it her for eleven hundred drachms of silver. ‘I will agree -to give you that sum,’ she replied, ‘though I have not the money -about me; but I hope you will give me credit for it till to-morrow, -and suffer me to carry the stuff home, and I will not fail to send -you eleven hundred drachms, for which we have agreed, in the course -of to-morrow.’ ‘Madam,’ answered the merchant, ‘I would give -you credit with the greatest pleasure, and you should have full -permission to take the stuff home with you, if it belonged to me; -but it is the property of this young man, whom you see there, and -this is one of the days fixed upon to give an account of the money -for which his goods are sold.’--‘How comes it,’ cried the -lady, ‘that you treat me in this manner? Am I not in the habit of -coming to your shop? And every time I have bought any stuffs, you -have desired me to carry them home, without first paying for them; -and have I ever failed sending you the money on the following -day?’ The merchant agreed to it. ‘It is all very true, madam,’ -he answered, ‘but to-day I have occasion for the -money.’--‘Well then,’ she cried, throwing it down, ‘take -your stuff, and may God confound you, and all of your fellow -merchants, for you are all alike, and have no regard for any one but -yourselves.’ Having said this, she rose up in a passion and went -away extremely piqued against Bedreddin. - -“When I saw that the lady was gone, I began to feel very much -interested about her, and before she was too far off, I called her -back, and said, ‘Do me, madam, the favour to return, and perhaps I -shall find a way to accommodate and satisfy both yourself and the -merchant.’ She came back, but made me understand it was entirely -on my account. ‘Sir,’ said I, at this moment, to the merchant, -‘how much do you say it is that you wish to receive for this -stuff, which belongs to me?’--‘Eleven hundred drachms of -silver,’ he replied, ‘nor can I possibly let it go for less.’ -‘Give it then,’ said I, ‘to the lady, and permit her to carry -it home. I will give you one hundred drachms for your profit, and -give you an order to take this sum out of the account of the other -merchandize which you have of mine.’ I immediately wrote the -order, signed it, and put it into the hands of Bedreddin. Then -presenting the stuff to the lady, I said, ‘You have now, madam, -full power to take it away with you, and with respect to the money, -you may send it to-morrow, or the next day, or if you will do me the -honour to accept of the stuff, it is quite at your -service.’--‘This,’ replied the lady, ‘is very far from my -intention. You have behaved with so much politeness, and in so -obliging a manner, that I should be unworthy of appearing in the -society of men, if I did not prove my gratitude to you. May God -increase your fortune, suffer you to live a long time after I am -gone; open the gates of heaven at your death; and may all the city -publish the report of your generosity!’ - -“This speech gave me courage, and I said to her, ‘Suffer me -then, madam, only to see your face, as a return for the favour you -say I have done you. This will repay me, even with usury.’ At -these words, she turned herself towards me, and lifting up the -muslin which covered her face, she displayed a countenance most -wonderfully beautiful. I was so much struck with it, that I could -think of nothing to express what I felt at the sight. I was unable -to take my eyes off, but she quickly covered her face again, for -fear any one should perceive her, and after drawing down her long -crape veil, she took up the piece of stuff, and went out from the -shop, leaving me in a very different state from what I was in before -her arrival. My mind continued greatly troubled, and strongly -disordered for some length of time. Before I left the merchant, I -asked him if he knew who the lady was; and he told me she was the -daughter of an emir, who left her, at his death, an immense fortune. - -“I had no sooner returned to the khan of Mesrour, than my people -brought up supper; but I was unable to eat the least morsel. Nor -could I close my eyes during the whole night, which appeared to me -of more than ordinary length. As soon as it was day I got up, with -the hopes of again beholding the object who thus disturbed my -repose: and with the wish, should I be so fortunate of pleasing her, -I dressed myself still nicer than I had done the day before. I then -returned to the shop of Bedreddin. - -“I had not been there a great length of time before I saw the lady -approach, followed by her slave. She was much more magnificently -dressed than on the preceding day. Paying no attention to the -merchant, she addressed herself only to me. ‘You see, sir,’ she -said, ‘that I have kept my word with you very exactly. I promised -yesterday to do so, and have now come on purpose to bring you the -amount of what you had the goodness to trust me, without knowing any -thing of me. This is an act of generosity I shall never -forget.’--‘There was not the least necessity, madam,’ I -replied, ‘for you at all to hurry yourself.’ I was perfectly -easy with respect to my money, and am sorry for the trouble you have -given yourself.’--‘It would not, however, have been just in me -to have abused your good nature,’ she replied. In saying this, she -put the money into my hands, and sat down near me. - -“Taking the advantage which this opportunity of conversing with -her gave me, I declared the love I felt for her; but she got up and -left me so hastily, that I believed she was offended at the -confession I made. I followed her with my eyes, as long as I could -see her; and when she was quite out of sight, I took my leave of the -merchant, and left the bezestein without knowing where I went. I was -meditating upon this adventure, when I felt some person pull me -behind; I instantly turned round to see who it was, and recognized -the young slave belonging to the lady by whom my whole mind was -absorbed. This sight delighted me. ‘My mistress,’ said she, -‘who is the young lady that spoke to you in the shop of the -merchant, wishes to speak a few words to you, if you will have the -goodness to follow me.’ I instantly went with her, and in truth -found her mistress waiting for me in the shop of a money-changer. - -“She directly invited me to sit down near her, and began the -conversation by saying, ‘Be not, my dear sir, surprised that I -quitted you just now so abruptly: but I did not think it prudent, -before that merchant, to give any thing like a favourable answer to -the acknowledgment you made of my having inspired you with -sentiments of affection. Far, however, from being offended at the -confession, I own to you, it afforded me great pleasure to hear you -say, that I was not indifferent to you; and I esteem myself happy in -having acquired the regard of a man of your worth and merit. I know -not what impression the sight of me may have made upon you, but with -respect to myself, I can assure you, that I felt, on the very first -moment I saw you, a very great inclination towards you. Ever since -yesterday morning I have thought of nothing but what you said, and -my haste and anxiety to discover you this morning was so great, that -it ought to be sufficient to convince you, that you by no means -displease me. ‘Madam,’ I exclaimed, transported with love, and -filled with delight, ‘nothing I could possibly hear, could give me -half so much pleasure as what you have now had the goodness to say -to me. It is impossible for any one to feel a stronger regard than I -have done for you, from the first happy moment I set my eyes upon -you. They were quite dazzled with so many charms, and my heart -yielded without the least resistance.’--‘Let us not then,’ she -said, interrupting me, ‘lose any time in useless speeches, I do -not doubt your sincerity, and you shall immediately be convinced of -mine. Will you do me the honour of visiting my house? Or, if you had -rather, I will accompany you.’--‘Madam,’ replied I, ‘I am -quite a stranger in this city, and have only lodgings at a khan, -which is by no means a proper place to receive a lady of your rank -and quality. It will surely be much better for you to have the -goodness to acquaint me with your residence; where I shall be -delighted to have the honour of waiting upon you.’ The lady -consented to this plan. ‘On Thursday next,’ said she, ‘which -is the day after to-morrow, come directly after mid-day prayers into -the street, called Devotion-street. You have only to inquire for the -house of Abon Schamma, surnamed Bercour, and formerly chief of the -emirs; at that place you will find me.’ Having said this, we -separated, and I passed the whole of the next day with the greatest -impatience. - -“When Thursday came, I got up very early, and dressed myself in -the handsomest robe I had. I put a purse, containing fifty pieces of -gold, into my pocket, and I set out mounted upon an ass, which I had -ordered the day before, and accompanied by the man of whom I had -hired it. When we were come into Devotion-street, I desired the -owner of the ass to inquire whereabout the house, which I was -seeking after, was: some person immediately pointed it out, and he -then conducted me to it. I alighted at the door, rewarded the man -very liberally, and dismissed him; desiring him at the same time to -observe well the house at which he left me, and not to fail to -return for me the next morning, in order to take me back to the khan -of Mesrour. - -“I knocked at the door; when two little slaves, as white as snow, -very neatly dressed, immediately came and opened it. ‘Come in, -sir, if you please,’ they said, ‘our mistress has been waiting -very impatiently for you. For two whole days she has never once -ceased talking of you.’ I went into a court, and observed a -pavilion, raised about seven steps from the ground, and surrounded -with some trellis-work, which divided it from a very beautiful -garden. Besides some trees, which served at the same time both for -embellishment and shelter from the rays of the sun, there was an -infinite number of others, which were loaded with all kinds of -fruit. I was charmed with the warbling of a great many birds, which -mingled their notes with the murmurs of a fountain, that threw its -water to a vast height, in the midst of a parterre, enamelled with -flowers. The fountain also was a very pleasing sight. Four large -gilt dragons were seen at the four angles of the reservoir, which -was exactly square: and these dragons threw up the water in great -abundance, and clearer and more brilliant than rock chrystal. This -place was so full of beauties, that it gave me a very high idea of -the conquest I had made. The two little slaves desired me to go into -a saloon, that was magnificently furnished; and while one of them -was gone to inform her mistress of my arrival, the other remained -with me, and pointed out all the beauties of the saloon. - -“I had not been long in this place, before the lady, whom I was so -much in love with, made her appearance, adorned with the finest -diamonds and pearls, but she appeared still more brilliant from the -lustre of her eyes than from that of her jewels. Her figure, which -was now no longer concealed by her walking dress, as when I met her -in the city, seemed to me to be the finest and most striking in the -whole world. I can never express to you the delight we experienced -at again beholding each other; indeed the strongest description -would do injustice to our feelings. I can only say, that after the -first compliments were over, we both sat down on a sofa, where we -conversed together with the greatest satisfaction imaginable. They -then served up the most delicate and exquisite dishes. We sat down -to table, and after our repast, we recommenced our conversation, -which lasted till the evening set in. They then brought us some most -excellent wine, and also some dried fruits well adapted to excite a -desire for drinking; and we drank to the sound of instruments on -which some slaves played, and accompanied at the same time with -their voices. The lady of the house also sung herself, and by this -completely confirmed her conquest, and rendered me the most -passionate of lovers. In short, I passed the whole night in a series -of all kinds of delightful pleasures. - -“The next morning, having first very slily put the purse with -fifty pieces of gold in it, which I had brought with me, under her -pillow, I got up and bid her adieu. Before I went, she asked me when -I would return again. ‘I promise you, madam,’ I replied, ‘to -come back this evening.’ She seemed delighted with my answer, -conducted me herself to the door, and, at parting, she conjured me -not to forget my promise. - -“The same man, who had brought me the day before, was now waiting -for me with his ass. I immediately mounted, and returned to the khan -of Mesrour. In dismissing the man, I told him I would not pay him, -but that he might come again with his ass after dinner, at the hour -I fixed. - -“As soon as I was returned to my khan, my first business was to go -and purchase a nice lamb and several sorts of cakes, which I sent as -a present to the lady by a porter. I then transacted my more -important affairs, till the owner of the ass arrived, when I went -with him to the lady’s house. She received me with as much joy as -on the day before, and regaled me in quite as magnificent a style. -When I left her the next morning, I put, as before, a purse, -containing fifty pieces of gold, under the pillow, and returned to -the khan of Mesrour. - -“I continued thus to visit the lady every day, and each time I -left a purse, with fifty pieces of gold in it. I pursued this plan, -till the merchants to whom I had given my merchandise to dispose of, -and whom I visited regularly twice a week, had nothing more of mine -in their hands; I then found myself without any money, or the least -chance of obtaining any. - -“In this horrid state, I was ready to give myself up to despair. I -went out of my khan, without knowing what I was about, and walked -towards the castle, where there was a great multitude of people -collected to be present at a spectacle which was given by the sultan -of Egypt. When I came to the spot where the crowd was collected, I -mixed with the thickest part of it; and by chance I found myself -near a gentleman very well mounted, and very handsomely dressed. To -the pummel of his saddle there was fastened a little bag half open, -from which a green string hung out. By touching the outside of the -bag, I thought I discovered, that the green string, which hung down, -belonged to a purse, that was within side. At the very moment I was -forming this opinion, a porter, carrying a large bundle of wood, -passed so close to him on the other side of his horse, that he was -obliged to turn towards him in order to prevent the wood from -touching him, and tearing his dress. The devil at this moment -tempted me; and laying hold of the string with one hand, while with -the other I enlarged the opening of the bag, I drew out the purse -without being perceived by any one. It was very heavy, and I did not -doubt, but it was filled either with gold or silver. - -“The porter was no sooner gone past but the person on horseback, -who seemed to have had some suspicion of my intention, while his -head was turned away, instantly put his hand into the bag, and -missing the purse, he gave me such a blow, that I fell to the -ground. They, who saw this violent attack, directly began to take my -part; some seized the bridle of his horse to stop him, and asked him -what he meant by thus knocking me down; and how he durst thus ill -treat a mussulman. ‘What business is this of yours?’ he answered -in an angry tone.--‘I know what I am about; he is a thief.’ At -these words I got up; when, on seeing me, every one took my part, -and said he asserted a falsehood; for it was very improbable, that a -young man of my appearance and manner could be guilty of so infamous -an action as he laid to my charge. In short, they kept persisting in -my innocence; and while they were holding his horse, in order to -favour my escape, unfortunately for me one of the officers of the -police came by, accompanied by some of his men. He came up to us, -and inquired what had happened.--Every one immediately accused the -man on horseback with having used me ill, under the pretence that I -had robbed him. - -“The officer of the police, however, was by no means satisfied -with this account. He asked the gentleman on horseback, if he -suspected any one besides me of having robbed him. The latter -replied in the negative; and informed the officer of the reasons -which he had for believing that he was not mistaken in his -suspicions. After having attentively listened to him, the officer -ordered his attendants to arrest and search me. They instantly -obeyed; and one of them discovering the purse, held it publicly up -to view. This disgrace was too much for me to bear, and I fainted -away. The officer of the police then desired them to bring the purse -to him. - -“As soon as the officer had taken the purse, he asked the man on -horseback, if that was his, and how much money there was in it? The -latter immediately knew it to be the same which had been taken from -him; and assured the officer there were twenty sequins in it. The -judge instantly opened it, and finding exactly that sum in it, he -returned it. After this he ordered me before him:--‘Young man,’ -said he, ‘confess the truth; acknowledge that it was you who stole -the purse; and do not wait till I order you to the torture, to make -you confess.’ Holding down my head, I reflected within myself, -that if I denied the fact, as the purse was found upon me, they -could only consider it as a falsehood and an evasion; to avoid -therefore being doubly punished, both as a liar and a thief, I -raised my head, and acknowledged that I had taken it. I had no -sooner made this confession, than the officer, having first taken -down the evidence, ordered my right hand to be cut off. This -sentence was executed upon the spot, and excited the compassion of -all the spectators: and I observed the accuser himself was not less -affected than the rest. The judge indeed wished to punish me still -farther by cutting off one of my feet, but I begged the person, from -whom I had taken the purse, to intercede for me with the judge to -omit that part of the sentence; he did so, and obtained his request. - -The officer was no sooner gone on, than the injured person came up -to me.--‘I am convinced,’ said he to me, and at the same time -offered the purse, ‘that necessity alone compelled you to commit -so disgraceful an action, and one so unworthy a young man of your -appearance. Here is this fatal purse, take it; and I am truly sorry -for the misfortune it has occasioned you.’ Having said this, he -left me; and as I was very weak and faint from the quantity of blood -I had lost, some people, who lived in that neighbourhood, were so -kind and compassionate as to take me home with them, and give me a -glass of wine. They also dressed my arm, and put my hand, which had -been cut off, in a piece of linen cloth, and I fastened it to my -girdle. - -“When I had got back to the khan of Mesrour, I did not find that -assistance there which I stood so much in need of. It was, however, -I thought, hazarding a great deal to go and present myself to the -young lady.--‘She will not,’ said I to myself, ‘wish to see me -any more, when she shall have been informed of the infamous action I -have been guilty of.’ I nevertheless determined to pursue this -plan; and as soon as the crowd, who had followed me, were dispersed, -I went by the most unfrequented streets to her house. When I -arrived, I found myself so weak and worn out from pain and fatigue, -that I instantly threw myself on a sofa; taking care to keep my -right arm under my robe, as I was anxious she should not see the -state in which it was. - -“In the mean time, the lady, being informed of my arrival, and -that I seemed very ill, came to me in the greatest haste, and seeing -me pale and faint, ‘My dear soul,’ she cried, ‘what is the -matter with you?’ I dissembled the real cause, and in answer told -her, that I had a most violent head-ache, which very much tormented -me. At this she appeared much afflicted.--‘Sit down,’ she -replied, for I had risen to receive her, ‘and tell me how this has -happened to you. You were very well the last time I had the pleasure -of seeing you here. There is surely something else, which you -conceal from me. Tell me, I beg of you, what it is.’ As I remained -silent, instead of answering her, the tears fell from my eyes.--‘I -cannot comprehend,’ added she, ‘what can possibly cause you so -much affliction.--Have I unintentionally given you any cause? Do you -come to tell me you no longer love me?’--‘It is not that, -madam,’ I replied, ‘and even a suspicion of the sort augments my -misery still more.’ - -“I could not make up my mind to discover the true cause of my -illness to her. When the evening approached, supper was served up. -She entreated me to eat, but as I could only make use of my left -hand, I requested her to excuse me, saying, I had no -appetite.--‘It would return,’ said she, if you would unfold to -me what you so obstinately conceal. Your dislike doubtless arises -from the pain you suffer by remaining silent.’--‘Alas, madam,’ -I replied, ‘it is very necessary for me to make that -determination, and to adhere to it.’ I had no sooner said this, -than she poured me out a glass of wine, and presenting it to me, -‘Drink this,’ she replied, ‘it will give you both strength and -courage.’ I then held out my left hand, and took the glass. - -“I had no sooner received the glass than my tears flowed afresh, -and my sighs increased.--‘Why do you lament and sigh so -bitterly?’ said the lady to me. ‘Why do you take the glass in -your left hand rather than your right?’--‘Alas, madam,’ I -replied, ‘excuse me, I entreat you; for I have a swelling on my -right hand.’--‘Show me this tumour,’ said she, ‘and I will -open it for you.’ I still excused myself by saying it was not yet -in a state proper for that operation; I then drank all the contents -of the glass, which was a very large one. The strength of the wine, -joined to my fatigue, and the low state in which I was, soon made me -very drowsy, and I fell into a profound sleep, that lasted till the -next morning. - -“While I was in this state, the lady wishing to know what accident -had happened to my right hand, lifted up my robe, which concealed -it, and saw, as you may conjecture, with the greatest astonishment, -that it was cut off, and that I had got it with me, wrapped up in a -linen cloth. She had now no difficulty in comprehending why I so -strongly resisted all the entreaties she made me; and she passed the -night in thinking of the disgrace that had happened to me; not -doubting but that my love for her had been the cause of it. - -“When I awoke the next morning, I perceived by her countenance -that she was very much afflicted. She did not, however, utter a word -to me on the subject, that she might not give me any pain. She -desired some thick jelly made from chickens, that she had ordered on -purpose for me, to be served up. She obliged me both to eat and -drink, in order, as she said, to recruit my strength, of which I had -so much need. I then wished to take my leave of her, but she took -hold of my robe and detained me.--‘I will not suffer you,’ she -said, ‘to go from hence; for although you will not tell me so, I -am persuaded that I am the cause of the misfortune which has -happened to you. The poignant grief which I feel will not suffer me -to live long; but before I die, I must execute a design which I -meditate in your favour.’ Having said this, she ordered some of -her people to go for an officer of justice, and some witnesses, and -made him draw up a bequest of all her fortune to me. Having then -dismissed them, after paying them handsomely for their trouble, she -opened a large chest, where all the purses that I had ever brought -her since the commencement of our connection had been placed. -‘There they all are,’ said she to me, ‘just as you left them; -I have not touched one of them. Here is the key, take it, for they -belong to you.’ I thanked her for her kindness and -generosity.--‘I do not,’ added she, ‘reckon this as any thing -in comparison with what I intend to do for you. Nor shall I be -satisfied till I die, to prove to you how much I love you.’ I -conjured her, by every tie of love, to give up so dreadful a -resolution; but I was unable to divert her thoughts from it; the -sorrow and chagrin she felt at seeing me so maimed, brought on a -serious illness, which at the end of five or six weeks terminated in -her death. - -“After mourning for her loss as much as became me, I took -possession of all her fortune, and every thing, which, as she had -informed me, belonged to her; and the sesamè, which you sold for -me, was part of her property.” - -When the young man of Bagdad had finished his relation, he added, -“What you have now heard ought to be a sufficient excuse for my -having eaten in your company with my left hand. I am much obliged to -you for the trouble you have taken on my account. I cannot enough -applaud your fidelity and probity; and as I have, thank God, a very -plentiful fortune, although I have expended a great deal, I must -beg, that you will accept as a present the small sum for which you -sold the sesamè, and which you now are in my debt for. I have -besides another proposal to make to you. Being unable to remain with -any comfort or satisfaction to myself at Cairo, after the melancholy -accident I have mentioned, I am resolved to leave it, and never to -return again. If you like to accompany me, we will trade in common -together, and we will divide the profits we make into equal -shares.” - -When the young man of Bagdad (said the Christian merchant) had -concluded his history, I said to him, “I return you, sir, my most -grateful thanks for the present you have done me the favour to make -me; and with respect to the proposal of travelling with you, I -accept it with all my heart; and assure you, that your interest will -be always as much my concern as my own.” - -We fixed a day for our departure, and when it came we began our -journey. We passed through Syria and Mesopotamia; we travelled over -Persia, and after visiting for some time many cities, we at length -came, Sire, to your capital. After some little time, the young man -informed me, that he was very desirous, and, in fact, had taken the -resolution of going back into Persia, and of settling there. We then -made up our accounts, and separated, perfectly satisfied with each -other. He departed, and I remained in this city, where I have the -honour of being employed in the service of your majesty. This is the -history which I had to recount to you, and does it not seem to your -majesty much more surprising than that of the little hunchback? - -The sultan of Casgar was very angry with the Christian merchant. -“Thou art very bold and impudent,” said he to the merchant, -“to dare to make a comparison between the recital of a history so -trifling and unworthy my attention with that of my hunchback. Dost -thou flatter thyself, that thou canst persuade me that the stale -adventures of a young debauchee are more wonderful than those of my -buffoon? I will in truth hang all four of you to revenge his -death.” - -At these words the terrified purveyor threw himself at the -sultan’s feet: “Sire,” he cried, “I entreat your majesty to -suspend your just wrath, and to listen to me; and if the narrative I -shall have the honour to lay before your majesty, shall seem to you -more interesting than that of little hunchback, that you will do us -the favour to extend your pardon to us all.”--“Speak,” said -the sultan, “I grant thy request.” The purveyor then began as -follows: - - - - -THE STORY -TOLD BY THE PURVEYOR OF THE SULTAN OF CASGAR. - - -I was yesterday, Sire, invited by a man of great respectability and -fortune to the wedding of one of his daughters. I did not fail to be -at his house by the appointed hour, and found a large company -composed of the best inhabitants of the city, and of various -professions. When the ceremony was over, the feast, which was very -magnificent, was served up. We sat down to table, and each person -eat what was most agreeable to his taste. Amongst other things, -there was a dish dressed with garlic, which was so very excellent, -that every one was anxious to get a little of it. We could not, -however, but remark, that one of the guests did not seem desirous of -eating any of it, although the dish stood directly before him. We -invited him to help himself to some, as we did; but he requested us -not to press him to eat any.--“I shall be very careful,” said -he, “how I touch a ragout dressed with garlic. I have not yet -forgotten what was the consequence of it to me the last time I -tasted one.” We then requested him to inform us what had been the -cause of such an aversion for garlic, as he seemed to have. The -master of the house, however, called out, without giving him time to -answer our inquiries, “Is it thus you honour my table? This ragout -is delicious; do not, therefore, pretend not to eat of it; you must -do me that favour like the rest of the company.”--“Sir,” -replied his guest, who was a merchant of Bagdad, “do not suppose -that I act thus out of any notions of false delicacy. I certainly -will obey your commands, if you insist upon it: but it must only be -on condition, that after eating of it you will permit me to wash my -hands forty times with alkali, forty times with the ashes of the -same plant from which that is procured, and as many times with soap. -I hope you will not take my mode of procedure ill, but it is in -consequence of an oath I have taken, and which I do not wish to -break, never to eat a ragout with garlic, but on those conditions.” - -As the master of the house would not dispense with the merchant’s -eating some of the ragout, he ordered his servants to get some -basons ready, containing a solution of alkali, ashes of the same -plant, and soap, that the merchant might wash himself as often as he -pleased. After having given these orders, he said to the merchant, -“Come then, now do as we do, and eat; neither the alkali, the -ashes of the plant, nor the soap shall be deficient.” - -Although the merchant was enraged at this sort of violence that was -done to him, he put out his hand, and took a small quantity of the -ragout, which he put to his mouth with fear and trembling, and eat -with a repugnance which very much astonished us all. But what we -remarked with still greater surprise was, that he had only four -fingers, and no thumb, and till this moment no person had noticed -this circumstance, although he had eaten of several other dishes. -The master of the house then spoke, “You seem to have lost your -thumb,” said he, “how did such an accident happen? There must -probably have been some singular circumstances connected with the -occasion of it; and you will afford this company a great pleasure, -if you will relate them.” - -“Sir,” replied the guest, “it is not only on my right hand -that I have no thumb, my left is also in the same state. He held out -his left hand at the same time, that we might be convinced he spoke -the truth. “Nor is this all,” he added, “I have lost the great -toe from each of my feet. I have been maimed in this manner through -a most unheard of adventure, and which, if you will have the -patience to listen to it, I have no objection to relate; and I think -it will not excite your astonishment more than it will your -compassion. First of all, however, permit me to wash my hands.” -Having said this, he got up from table, and after washing his hands -one hundred and twenty times, he sat down again, and related his -history in the following terms: - -“You must know, gentlemen, that my father lived at Bagdad, during -the reign of the caliph Haroun Alraschid, where I also was born; and -he was reckoned one of the richest merchants in that city. But as he -was a man very fond of pleasure, and one who loved dissipation of -every sort, he very much neglected his affairs, and instead -therefore of inheriting a large fortune at his death, I encountered -great difficulties, and was obliged to make use of the greatest -economy to pay the debts he left behind him. With great attention, -however, and care, I at last discharged them all, and my small -fortune then began to assume a favorable appearance. - -“One morning, when I was opening my shop, a lady, mounted upon a -mule, accompanied by a eunuch, and followed by two slaves, passed -close to my door, and stopped. The eunuch directly assisted her to -alight, by taking hold of her hand; he then said to her, ‘I am -afraid, madam, you have arrived too soon; you see, there is no one -yet come to the bezestein. If you had believed what I said, you -would not have had the trouble of waiting.’ She looked every where -about, and finding that there was, in fact, no other shop open but -mine, she came up, and saluting me, requested permission to sit down -in it, till the other merchants were arrived. I returned such an -answer as became me. - -“When the lady had entered my shop, and sat down, as she observed -there was no one to be seen in the bezestein, except the eunuch and -myself, she took off her veil, in order to enjoy the air. I had -never seen any one before so beautiful, and to see, and to be -passionately in love, were with me one and the same thing. I kept my -eyes constantly fixed upon her, and I thought she looked as if my -attention was not unpleasing to her, for she gave me full -opportunity, during the whole time, of beholding her; and she did -not put down her veil, till the fear of any one’s approach obliged -her. - -“After she had adjusted her dress, as it was before, she informed -me that she was come with the intention of looking at some of the -finest and richest kinds of stuff, which she described to me; and -inquired, whether I had any such. ‘Alas, madam,’ I said, ‘I am -but a young merchant, who have not long begun business, and am not -yet sufficiently rich to trade so largely; and it is a great -mortification to me to have none of the things for which you come -into the bezestein. But to save you the trouble of going from shop -to shop, I will, as soon as the merchants come, if you please, go -and get whatever you wish from them. They will tell me exactly the -lowest price, and you will thus be enabled, without having the -trouble of seeking any farther, to execute all your commissions.’ -To this she consented, and I entered into conversation with her, -which lasted a long time, as I made her believe, that those -merchants who had the stuffs she wanted were not yet come. - -“I was not less charmed with her wit and understanding than I had -been with her person; I was, however, at last compelled to deprive -myself of the pleasure of her conversation, and I went to inquire -for the stuffs she wanted. When she had fixed upon those she wished -to have, I informed her, that they came to five thousand drachms of -silver. I then made them up into a parcel, and gave them to the -eunuch, who put them under his arm. She immediately got up, and -after taking leave of me, she went away. I followed her with my eyes -till she was got to the gate of the bezestein, nor did I leave off -gazing at her till she mounted her mule. - -“The lady was no sooner out of sight, than I recollected, that my -love had caused me to be guilty of a great fault. It had indeed so -wholly engrossed my attention, that I not only omitted taking the -money for the goods, but had even neglected to inquire who she was, -and where she lived. This led me immediately to reflect, that I was -accountable for a very large sum of money to several merchants, who -would not perhaps have the patience to wait. I then went and excused -myself to them, in the best way I could, telling them I knew the -lady very well. I returned home as much in love as ever, although -very much embarrassed by the idea of so heavy a debt. - -“I requested my creditors to wait eight days for their money, -which they agreed to do. On the eighth morning they did not fail to -come and request payment; but I again begged them to grant me the -favor of a little farther delay, in which they had the goodness to -acquiesce; but on the very next morning I saw the lady coming along -on the same mule, with the same number of persons attending her, and -exactly at the same hour as at first. - -“She came directly to my shop. ‘I have made you wait,’ she -said, ‘a little for your money, on account of the stuffs which I -had the other day; but I have at last brought it you. Carry it to a -money-changer, and see that it is all good, and the right sum.’ -The eunuch, who had the money, went with me to a money-changer’s; -the sum was exactly correct, and all good silver. After this, I had -the happiness of a long conversation with the lady, till all the -shops in the bezestein were open. Although we conversed only upon -common topics, she nevertheless gave a certain turn to whatever she -said, that threw a grace and novelty over the whole discourse, and -convinced me I was not mistaken, when, from the first time I saw -her, I thought that she possessed much wit and good sense. - -“As soon as the merchants were come, and had opened their shops, I -took what I was indebted to each of those from whom I had purchased -the stuffs on credit, and I had now no difficulty in getting others -from them, which the lady had desired to see. I carried back with me -as many as came to a thousand pieces of gold, all of which she took -away with her, not only without paying for them, but without saying -a word on the subject, or even informing me who she was, or where -she lived. What astonished me the most was, that she ran no risk, -and hazarded nothing, while I remained without the least security, -and without any chance of being indemnified in case I should not see -her again. ‘She has paid me, it is true,’ I said to myself, ‘a -very large sum of money; but she has left me with a debt which is -much more considerable. Is it possible she can intend to cheat me, -and has thus, by paying me for the first quantity, only enticed me -on to my more certain ruin? The merchants themselves do not know -her, and depend only upon me for payment.’ - -“My love was not so powerful as to prevent me from making these -distressing reflections. My fears kept increasing from day to day -for one entire month, which passed on without my having any -intelligence whatever of the lady. The merchants, at last, began to -grow very impatient, and in order to satisfy them, I was going to -sell off every thing I had; when, one morning, I saw her coming -exactly with the same attendants as before. ‘Take your weights,’ -she said to me, ‘and weigh the gold I have brought you.’ These -few words put an end to all my fears, and redoubled my love. - -“Before she began to count out the gold, she addressed several -questions to me: and, among other things, she asked me if I were -married. I told her I was not, nor ever had been. Giving then the -gold to the eunuch, she said to him, ‘Come, let us have your -assistance to settle our affairs.’ The eunuch could not help -smiling, and taking me aside, he made me weigh the gold. While I was -thus employed, the eunuch whispered in my ear as follows: ‘I have -only to look at you, to be perfectly convinced you are desperately -in love with my mistress; and I am only surprised that you have not -sufficient courage to discover your passion to her. She loves you, -if possible, to a still greater excess. Don’t suppose that she is -in want of any of your stuffs; she only comes here, because you have -inspired her with the most violent passion, and this was the reason -of her asking you whether you were married. You have only to make -known your sentiments by speech, and if you wish it, she will not -stop short even of marrying you.’--‘It is true,’ I replied to -the eunuch, ‘that I felt the sensations of love arise in my breast -the very first moment I beheld your lady, but I never thought of -aspiring to the hope of having pleased her. I am wholly her own, and -shall not fail to remember the good office you have done me.’ - -“As soon as I had finished weighing the gold, and while I was -putting it back into the bag, the eunuch went to the lady and said, -that I was very well satisfied. This was the particular expression -they had agreed upon between themselves. The lady, who was seated, -immediately got up, and went away, telling me first, that she would -send back the eunuch, and that I must do exactly as he directed. - -“I then went to all the merchants to whom I was indebted, and paid -them. After this, I waited with the greatest impatience for the -arrival of the eunuch, but it was some days before he made his -appearance. At length, however, he arrived. - -“I conducted myself in the most kind and friendly manner towards -him; and made many inquiries after the health of his mistress: -‘You certainly are,’ he said, ‘the happiest lover in all the -world: she is absolutely dying for love of you. It is impossible you -can be more anxious to see her, than she is for your company: and if -she were able to follow her own inclinations, and act as she likes, -she would instantly come to you, and gladly pass every moment of her -future life with you.’--‘From her noble air and manner,’ I -replied, ‘I have concluded, she is a lady of great rank and -consequence.’--‘Nor are you deceived in this opinion;’ said -the eunuch, ‘she is the favourite of Zobeidè, the caliph’s -wife, who is the more strongly attached to her, as she brought her -up from her earliest infancy; and her confidence in her is so great, -that she employs her in every commission she wishes to have -executed. From the desire which she has of being married, she has -told her mistress, Zobeidè, that she has cast her eyes upon you; -and has asked her consent to the match. Zobeidè has agreed to it, -but has requested, in the first instance, to see you, that she may -judge whether her favorite has made a good choice; and in case she -approves of you, she will herself be at the expense of the wedding. -You may be sure, therefore, that your happiness is certain. As you -have pleased the favorite, you will equally please her mistress, -whose sole wish is to afford her pleasure; and who has not the least -desire of putting any restraint upon her inclination. The only -thing, therefore, to be done, is to go to the palace; and this was -the reason of my coming here. You must now tell me on what you will -resolve.’--‘My resolution is already taken,’ I replied, ‘and -I am ready to follow you, when, and wherever you choose to conduct -me.’--‘That is well,’ said the eunuch, ‘but you must -recollect, that no man is permitted to enter the apartments in the -palace belonging to the ladies; and that you can be introduced there -only by such means as will keep it a profound secret. The favourite -has taken her measures for the purpose; and you must, on your part, -do every thing to facilitate it; but, above all things, you must be -discreet, or it may cost you your life.’ - -“I assured him that I would do every thing exactly as he ordered -me. ‘You must then,’ he added, ‘this evening, at the very -close of day, go to the mosque, which the lady Zobeidè has ordered -to be built on the banks of the Tigris; and you must wait there till -we come to you.’ I agreed to every thing he wished, and waited -with the greatest impatience till the day was passed. When the -evening commenced, I set out, and went to prayers, which began an -hour and a half before sun-set, at the appointed mosque; and -remained there till the very last. - -“Almost immediately after prayers, I saw a boat come to shore, in -which all the rowers were eunuchs. They landed, and brought a great -number of chests into the mosque. This being done, they all went -away, except one, whom I soon recognised to be the same that had -accompanied the lady; and who had spoken with me that very morning. -Directly after I saw the lady herself come in. I went up to her, and -was informing her, that I was ready to obey all her orders, when she -said, ‘We have no time to lose in conversation.’ She then opened -one of the chests and ordered me to get in. ‘It is,’ she added, -‘absolutely necessary, both for your safety and mine. Fear -nothing, and leave me to manage every thing.’ I had gone too far -to recede at this moment: I did, therefore, as she desired, and she -immediately shut down the top of the chest and locked it. The -eunuch, who was in her confidence, then called the other eunuchs, -who had brought the chests, and ordered them to be carried on board -the boat again. The lady and the eunuch then embarked, and they -began to row towards the apartments of Zobeidè. - -“While I was in this situation, I had leisure to make the most -serious reflections; and considering the danger I was in, I repented -most heartily of having exposed myself to it. I both swore and -prayed, but one was now as equally useless, and out of season, as -the other. - -“The boat came to shore exactly before the gate of the caliph’s -palace: they landed the chests, which were all carried to the -apartment of the officer of the eunuchs, who keeps the key of that -belonging to the ladies, and who never permits any thing to be -carried in, without having first examined it. The officer was gone -to bed; it was therefore necessary to wake him and make him get up. -He was, however, excessively out of humor at having his rest thus -disturbed and broken in upon; he quarrelled with the favorite, -because she returned so late: ‘You shall not finish your business -so soon as you think,’ said he to her, ‘for not one of these -chests shall pass, till I have opened and examined them most -narrowly.’ He at the same time commanded the eunuch to bring them -to him one after the other, that he might open them. They began by -taking that in which I was shut up, and set it down before him. At -this I was more terrified than I can express, and thought the last -moment of my life was approaching. - -“The favorite, who had the key, declared she would not give it -him, nor suffer that chest to be opened. ‘You very well know,’ -she said, ‘that I do not bring any thing in here, but what is for -our mistress, Zobeidè. This chest is filled with very valuable -articles, that have been intrusted to me by some merchants, who are -just arrived. There are also a great many bottles of water from the -fountain of Zemsem, at Mecca; [4] and if any one of them should -happen to be broken, all the other things will be spoiled, and you -will have to be answerable for them. The wife of the Commander of -the Faithful too will know how to punish your insolence.’ She -spoke this in so peremptory a tone, that the officer had not courage -to persist in his resolution of opening either the chest in which I -was, or any of the others, ‘Get along then,’ he angrily cried -out, ‘go.’ The door of the ladies’ apartment was immediately -opened, and the chests were all carried in. - -“They were scarcely deposited there, before I suddenly heard the -cry of ‘Here’s the caliph; the caliph is come.’ These words -increased my fears to a still greater degree, and I was almost ready -to die on the spot. It was in fact the caliph himself. ‘What have -you got in those chests?’ said he to the Favourite.--‘Commander -of the Faithful,’ she replied, ‘they are some stuffs lately -arrived, which your majesty’s lady wished to have shewn to -her.’--‘Open them,’ said he, ‘and let me see them -also.’--She endeavoured to excuse herself, by saying they were -only fit for females, and that it would deprive Zobeidè of the -pleasure of seeing them before any one else.--‘Open them, I tell -you,’ he answered, ‘I command you.’--She still remonstrated, -and said, ‘that the queen would be very angry, if she did as his -majesty ordered.’--‘No, no,’ he replied, ‘I will promise -you, that she shall not reproach you: only open them, and do not -make me wait so long.’ - -“It was then absolutely necessary to obey: my fears were again -excited, and I tremble, even now, every time I think of it. The -caliph seated himself, and the Favourite ordering all the chests, -one after the other, to be brought, opened them, and displayed the -stuffs before him. In order to prolong the business as much as -possible, she pointed out to him the peculiar beauties of each -individual stuff, in hopes of tiring his patience quite out; but she -did not succeed. As the Favourite was not less anxious than myself -not to have that chest opened in which I was, she did not hurry in -having them brought to her. There now remained only one to examine. -‘Come,’ said the caliph, ‘let us make haste and finish: we -have now only to see what is in that chest.’ At this instant I -knew not whether I was alive or dead; nor could I possibly hope to -escape so great a danger. - -“When the Favourite saw that the caliph was determined she should -open the chest in which I was, she said, ‘Your majesty must -absolutely excuse me, and must do me the favour not to see what is -in that chest: there are some things which I cannot shew except in -the presence of the queen, my mistress.’--‘Well, then,’ -replied the caliph, ‘I am content: let them carry the chests -in.’--The eunuchs immediately took them up and placed them in her -chamber, where I again began, as it were, to breathe. - -“As soon as the eunuchs, who brought the chests in, were retired, -she quickly opened that in which I was a prisoner. ‘Come out,’ -she cried, and showing me a staircase, which led to a chamber above, -‘Go up, and wait for me there.’ She had hardly shut the door -after me, when the caliph came in, and sat down upon the very chest -in which I had been locked up. The motive of this visit was a -certain fit of curiosity, which did not in the least relate to me. -This prince only wished to ask the Favourite some questions as to -what she had seen and heard in the city. They conversed a long time -together: he at last left her, and went back to his own apartment. - -“She was no sooner at liberty, than she came into the apartment in -which I was, and made a thousand excuses for the alarms she had -caused me. ‘My anxiety and fear,’ she said, ‘was not less than -your own: of this you ought not to doubt, since I suffered both for -you, from my great regard for you, and for myself, on account of the -great danger I ran from a discovery. Any other, in my place, would -not, I think, have had the address and courage to extricate -themselves from so delicate a situation. It required not less -boldness than presence of mind; or rather, it was necessary to feel -the love for you I do, to get out of such an embarrassment; but -compose yourself now, there is nothing more to fear.’ After we had -entertained ourselves some time with mutual proofs of our affection, -‘But,’ she said, ‘you want repose; you are to sleep here, and -I will not fail to present you to my mistress, Zobeidè, some time -to-morrow. This is a very easy matter, as the caliph is with her -only at night.’ Encouraged by this account, I slept with the -greatest tranquillity; or, if my rest was at all interrupted, it was -by the pleasant ideas that arose in my mind from the thoughts of -possessing a lady of so much understanding and beauty. - -“The next morning, before the Favourite of Zobeidè introduced me -to her mistress, she instructed me how I ought to conduct myself in -her presence. She informed me almost word for word what Zobeidè -would ask me, and dictated such answers as I should make to her. She -then led me into a hall, where every thing was very magnificent, -very rich, and very appropriate. I had not been long there, before -twenty female slaves, of a certain age, all dressed in rich and -uniform habits, came out from the cabinet of Zobeidè, and -immediately ranged themselves before the throne in two equal rows, -with the greatest modesty and propriety. They were followed by -twenty other female slaves, very young, and dressed exactly like the -first, with the difference only, that their dress were much gayer. -Zobeidè appeared in the midst of the latter with the most majestic -air. She was so loaded with precious stones and jewels, that she -could scarcely walk. She went immediately and seated herself upon -the throne. I must not forget to mention, that her favourite lady -accompanied her, and remained standing close on her right hand, -while the female slaves were crowded altogether at a greater -distance on both sides the throne. - -“As soon as the consort of the caliph was seated, the slaves, who -came in first, made a sign for me to approach. I advanced in the -midst of two ranks, which they formed for that purpose, and -prostrated myself, till my head touched the carpet which was under -the feet of the princess. She ordered me to rise, and honoured me so -far as to ask my name, my family, and the state of my fortune; in my -answers to all of which I gave her perfect satisfaction. I was -confident of this, not only from her manner, but she herself gave -evident proofs of it, by a thousand kind things she had the -condescension to say to me, ‘I have great satisfaction,’ said -she, ‘in finding that my daughter, (this was the title by which -she distinguished her Favourite), for as such I shall ever regard -her, after the care I have taken of her education, has made such a -choice. I entirely approve of it, and agree to your marriage. I will -myself give orders for the preparations necessary in this affair. -But before the ceremony takes place, I have occasion for my daughter -for the next ten days, and during this time, I will take an -opportunity of speaking to the caliph, and obtain his consent; till -this period has passed, you shall remain here, and shall be well -taken care of.’ - -“I spent these ten days in the female apartments, and during the -whole of this time, I was deprived of the pleasure of seeing the -Favourite, even for one moment: but I was so well treated through -her orders, that I had great reason to be satisfied in every other -respect. - -“Zobeidè in the mean time informed the caliph of the -determination she had taken to marry her Favourite; and this prince -not only left her at liberty to act as she pleased in this matter, -but even gave a large sum of money to the Favourite, as his share -towards the formation of her establishment. The intermediate time at -length elapsed, and Zobeidè had got a proper contract of marriage -prepared, with all the necessary forms. Preparations for the -nuptials were made; musicians and dancers of both sexes were ordered -to hold themselves in readiness, and even nine days were spent, in -which the greatest joy and festivity reigned through the palace. The -tenth was the day appointed for the concluding ceremony of the -marriage; the Favourite was conducted to a bath on one side, and I -to one on the other. In the evening I sat down to table, and they -served me with all sorts of dishes and ragouts; and among other -things, there was a ragout made with garlic, similar to that you -have now forced me to eat of. I found it so excellent, that I hardly -touched any other dish. But, unfortunately for me, when I rose from -table, I satisfied myself with only wiping my hands, instead of well -washing them; this was a negligence that I believe I had never been -before guilty of. - -“As it was now night, they supplied the place of day-light by a -grand illumination in all the ladies’ apartments. Instruments of -music resounded through the building; they danced, they played a -thousand sports, and all the palace re-echoed with exclamations of -joy and pleasure. They introduced my bride and myself into a large -hall, where we were seated upon two thrones. The females, who -attended on her, changed her dress several times, as was the general -practice on these occasions; and they also painted her face in -different ways, according to a custom, peculiar to the day of -marriage. Every time they thus changed her dress, they presented her -to me. - -“When all these ceremonies were finished, they conducted us into -the bridal chamber, where we were no sooner left by ourselves than I -approached my bride to embrace her. But instead of returning my -transports, she forcibly repulsed me, and called out in the most -lamentable and violent manner; so much so, that the women all rushed -into the apartment, desirous of learning the reason of her screams. -As for myself, my astonishment was so great, that I stood quite -motionless, without having even power to ask the cause of all this. -‘What can possibly have happened to you,’ they said to my bride, -‘in the short time since we left you? inform us pray, that we may -help you.’--‘Take away,’ she cried, ‘instantly take from my -sight that infamous man.’--‘Alas, madam,’ I exclaimed, ‘how -can I possibly have deservedly incurred your anger?’--‘You are a -villain,’ said she, in the greatest rage. ‘You have eaten of -garlic, and have not washed your hands. Do you think I will suffer a -man, who can be guilty of so dirty and so filthy a negligence, to -approach and stifle me with his embraces. Lay him on the ground,’ -she added, speaking to the women, ‘and bring me a whip.’--They -immediately threw me down; and while some held me by the arms, and -others by the feet, my wife, who had been very diligently attended -to, beat me without the least mercy, as long as she had any strength -remaining. She then said to the females, ‘Take him to an officer -of the police, and order him to cut off that hand with which he fed -himself with the garlic ragout.’ - -“At these words I exclaimed, ‘Merciful God! I have been beaten -and whipped, and, to complete my misfortune, I am still farther -punished by having my hand cut off; and all for what? Because, -truly, I have eaten of a ragout made with garlic, and have forgotten -to wash my hands! What a trifling cause for such anger and revenge. -Plague on the garlic ragout; I wish that the cook that made it, and -the slave that served it up, were all at the bottom of the sea.’ - -“Every one of the women, however, who were present, and had seen -me already so severely punished, pitied me very much, when they -heard the Favourite talk of having my hand cut off. ‘My dear -sister, and my good lady,’ said they to her, ‘do not carry your -resentment so far. It is true, that he is a man who does not -understand how to conduct himself, and who seems ignorant of your -rank, and the respect that is due to you. We entreat you, however, -not to take any farther notice of the fault he has committed, but to -pardon him.’--‘I am not yet satisfied,’ she cried, ‘I wish -to teach him how to live; and that he should bear such powerful -marks of his ill-breeding, that he will never forget, as long as he -lives, the having eaten garlic without remembering to wash his hands -after it.’ They were not discouraged by this refusal; they threw -themselves at her feet, and kissing her hand, ‘My good lady,’ -they cried, ‘in the name of God, moderate your anger, and grant us -the favour we ask of you.’ She did not answer them a single word; -but got up, and after abusing me again, went out of the apartment. -All the women followed her, and left me quite alone, in the greatest -affliction imaginable. - -“I remained here ten days, without ever seeing a soul except an -old slave, who brought me something by way of food. I asked her for -some information about the Favourite. ‘She is very ill,’ she -said, ‘on account of the poisonous odour you made her breathe. Why -did you not take care to wash your hands after eating of that -diabolical ragout?’--‘Is it possible then,’ I answered, -‘that the delicacy and sensibility of these ladies is so great; -and that they can be so vindictive for so slight a fault.’ I -nevertheless still loved my wife in spite of her cruelty: and could -not help pitying her. - -“One day the old slave said to me, ‘Your bride is cured, she is -gone to the bath, and she told me, that she intended to come and -visit you to-morrow. Have therefore a little patience; and endeavour -to accommodate yourself to her humour. She is very wise, and, -indeed, very reasonable: and is moreover very much beloved by all -the females that are in the service of Zobeidè, our respectable -mistress.’ - -“My wife, in fact, came to see me the next day: and she -immediately said to me, ‘You must necessarily think me very good -to come and see you again, after the offence you have given me; but -I cannot bring myself to be reconciled to you, till I have punished -you as you deserve, for not washing your hands after having eaten of -the ragout with garlic.’ She had no sooner said this, than she -called to the women, who instantly entered, and laid me down upon -the ground, according to her orders; and after they had bound me, -she took a razor, and had the barbarity to cut off my two thumbs, -and two great toes, with her own hands. One of the women immediately -applied a certain root to stop the blood; but this did not prevent -me from fainting, in consequence of both the quantity I lost, before -the remedy took effect, and the great pain I suffered. - -“When I recovered from my fainting fit, they gave me some wine, in -order to recruit my strength and spirits. ‘Ah, madam,’ I then -said to my wife, ‘if it should ever fall to my lot again to -partake of a ragout with garlic, I swear to you, that instead of -once, I will wash my hands one hundred and twenty times; with -alkali, with the ashes of the plant from which alkali is made, and -with soap.’--‘Well then,’ replied my wife, ‘on this -condition I will forget what has passed, and live with you as my -husband.’ - -“‘This is the reason,’ continued the merchant of Bagdad, -addressing himself to all the company, ‘why I refused to eat of -the garlic ragout which was before me.’ - -“The women not only applied the root to my wounds, as I have -before said, to stop the blood, but they also put some balsam of -Mecca to them, which was certain of being unadulterated, since it -came from the caliph’s own store. Through the virtue of this -excellent balsam I was perfectly cured in a very few days. After -this, my wife and I lived together as happily as if I had never -tasted the garlic ragout. As, however, I had always been in the -habit of enjoying my liberty, I began to grow excessively weary of -being constantly shut up in the palace of the caliph; I did not, -nevertheless, give my wife any reason to suspect that this was the -case, for fear of displeasing her. At last, however, she perceived -it; nor indeed did she wish to leave the palace less anxiously than -myself. Gratitude alone kept her near Zobeidè. She possessed, -however, both courage and ingenuity; and she so well represented to -her mistress the constraint I felt myself under, in not being able -to live in the city, and associate with men in a similar condition -to myself, as I had always been accustomed to do, that this -excellent princess had more gratification in depriving herself of -the pleasure of having her Favourite near her, than in not complying -with what we both equally wished. - -“It was on this account that, about a month after our marriage, I -one day perceived my wife come in, followed by many eunuchs, each of -whom carried a bag of money. When they were retired, my wife said to -me, ‘You have not, it is true, remarked to me the uneasiness and -langour which so long a residence in the palace has caused you; but -I have nevertheless perceived it; and I have fortunately found out a -method to satisfy you. My mistress Zobeidè has permitted us to -leave the palace, and here are fifty thousand sequins, which she has -presented us with, that we may begin to live comfortably and -commodiously in the city. Take ten thousand, and go and purchase a -house.’ - -“I very soon found one for this sum, and after furnishing it most -magnificently, we went to live there. We took with us a great number -of slaves of both sexes, and we dressed them in the handsomest -manner possible. In short, we began to live the most pleasant kind -of life; but, alas! it was not of long duration. At the end of a -year my wife was taken ill, and a very few days put a period to her -existence. - -“I should certainly have married again, and continued to live in -the most honourable manner at Bagdad; but the desire I felt to see -the world, inspired me with other views. I sold my house; and after -purchasing different sorts of merchandize, I attached myself to a -caravan, and travelled into Persia. From thence I took the road to -Samarcand, and at last came and established myself in this city. - -“This, sire,” said the purveyor to the sultan of Casgar, “is -the history which the merchant of Bagdad related to the company -where I was yesterday.”--“And it truly comprises some very -extraordinary things,” replied the sultan, “but yet it is not -comparable to that of my little hunchback.” The Jewish physician -then advanced, and prostrated himself before the throne of the -prince; and in getting up, he said to him, “If your majesty will -have the goodness to listen to me, I flatter myself, that you will -be very well satisfied with the history I shall have the honour to -relate.”--“Speak, then,” said the sultan, “but, if it be not -more wonderful than that of the hunchback, do not hope I shall -suffer thee to live. - - - - -THE STORY -TOLD BY THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN. - - -While I was studying medicine at Damascus, sire, and had even began -to practise that admirable science with considerable reputation, a -slave came to inquire for me; and desired me to go to the house of -the governor of the city, to visit a person who was ill. I -accordingly went; and was introduced into a chamber, where I -perceived a very well made young man, but apparently very much -depressed, from the pain he suffered; I saluted him, and went and -sat down by his side. He returned no answer to my salutation; but -expressed to me by his eyes, that he understood me, and was grateful -for my kindness. “Will you do me the favour, sir,” I said to -him, “to put out your hand, that I may feel your pulse?” When, -instead of giving me his right hand, as is the usual custom, he -presented his left to me. This astonished me very much. -“Surely,” said I to myself, “it is a mark of great ignorance -of the world, not to know, that it is the constant custom always to -present the right hand to a physician.” I nevertheless felt his -pulse, wrote a prescription, and then took my leave. - -I continued to visit him successively for nine days: and every time -that I wished to feel his pulse, he still presented his left hand to -me. On the tenth day he appeared to be so much recovered, that I -told him he had no more occasion for me, or indeed for any thing -else but to go to the bath. The governor of Damascus, who was -present, in order to prove how very well he was satisfied with my -abilities and conduct, made me put on a very rich robe in his -presence, and appointed me on the spot physician to the hospital of -the city, and physician in ordinary to his house, where I might go -whenever I pleased, as there was constantly a place provided at his -table for me. - -The young man also gave me many proofs of his friendship, and -requested me to accompany him to the bath. I did so; and when we -were gone in, and his slaves had undressed him, I perceived that he -had lost his right hand. I even remarked, that it had not been long -cut off; that this was in fact the cause of his disease, which he -had concealed from me; and that while the most proper applications -were used to cure his arm as quickly as possible, they only called -me in to prevent any bad consequences arising from a fever which had -come on. I was both astonished and afflicted to see him in that -condition. Nor could my countenance conceal the state of my mind. -The young man remarked it, and said to me, “Do not be surprised at -seeing me without my right hand, I will one day inform you how it -happened, and you will then hear a most wonderful and strange -adventure.” - -When we came from the bath, we sat down to table, and began to -converse together. He asked me, if he might, without endangering his -health, take a walk out of the city to the garden of the governor; I -replied, that it would be very beneficial to him to go into the air. -“If so,” said he, “and you will like to accompany me, I will -there relate my history.” I told him I was at his disposal for the -rest of the day. He immediately ordered his people to prepare a -slight collation, and we set out for the garden of the governor. We -walked two or three times round the garden, and after seating -ourselves on a carpet, which his people spread under a tree, that -formed a delightful shade, the young man thus began the relation of -his history. - -“I was born at Moussoul; and am of a family which is one of the -most considerable in that city. My father was the eldest of ten -children, whom my grandfather, when he died, left living and all -married. But amongst this number of brothers, my father was the only -one who had any offspring; and he had no other child besides myself. -He took great care of my education, and had me taught every thing -which a boy in my situation of life ought to be acquainted with. - -“I was grown up, and began to associate with the world, when one -Friday I went to the noon-day prayers, in the great mosque of -Moussoul, with my father and my uncles. After the prayers were over, -every one retired, excepting my father and my uncles, who seated -themselves on the carpet which covered the whole floor of the -mosque. I sat down with them, and discoursing on various topics, the -conversation insensibly turned on travels. They praised the beauties -and peculiarities of some kingdoms, and of their principal towns; -but one of my uncles said, that if one might believe the account of -an infinity of travellers, there was not in the world a more -beautiful country than Egypt, on the banks of the Nile, which all -universally agreed in praising. What he related of it gave me such -vast ideas, that I from that moment formed the wish of travelling -thither. All that my other uncles could say, in giving the -preference to Bagdad and the Tigris, calling Bagdad the true abode -of the mussulman religion, and the metropolis of all the cities in -the world, did not make half so much impression on me. My father -maintained the same opinion with that brother who had spoken in -favor of Egypt, which caused me very great pleasure. ‘Let people -say what they will,’ cried he, ‘he who has not seen Egypt, has -not seen the greatest wonder in the world. The earth is all gold, -that is to say, so fertile, that it enriches the inhabitants beyond -conception. All the women enchant, either by their beauty or their -agreeable manners. If you mention the Nile, what river can be more -delightful? What water was ever so pure and delicious? The mud that -remains after its overflowings enriches the ground, which produces, -without any trouble, a thousand times more than other countries do -with all the labor that it costs to cultivate them. Hear what a -poet, who was obliged to quit Egypt, addressed to the natives of -that country: ‘Your Nile heaps riches on you every day; it is for -you alone that it travels so far; alas! at leaving you, my tears -will flow as abundantly as its waters; you will continue to enjoy -its pleasures, whilst I, contrary to my inclinations, am condemned -to deprive myself of them.’ - -“‘If,’ continued my father, ‘you cast your eyes on the -island, which is formed by the two largest branches of the Nile, -what a variety of verdure will gratify them! What a beautiful enamel -of all kinds of flowers! What a prodigious quantity of cities, -towns, canals, and a thousand other pleasing objects! If you turn on -the other side, looking towards Ethiopia, how many different -subjects for admiration! I can only compare the verdure of so many -meadows, watered by the various canals in the island, to the -brilliancy of emeralds set in silver. Is not Cairo the largest, the -richest, the most populous city in the universe? How magnificent the -edifices, as well private as public! If you go to the pyramids, you -are lost in astonishment! you remain speechless at the sight of -those enormous masses of stone, which lose their lofty summits in -the clouds: you are forced to confess, that the Pharaohs, who -employed so many men, and such immense riches in the construction of -them, surpassed all the monarchs who have succeeded them, not only -in Egypt, but over the whole world, in magnificence and invention, -by leaving monuments so worthy of them. These monuments, which are -so ancient, that the learned are at a loss to fix the period of -their erection, still brave the ravages of time? and will remain for -ages. I pass over in silence the maritime towns of the kingdom of -Egypt, such as Damietta, Rosetta, and Alexandria, where so many -nations traffic for various kinds of grain and stuffs, and a -thousand other things for the comfort and pleasure of mankind. I -speak of it from knowing the place; I spent some years of my youth -there, which I shall ever esteem the happiest of my life.’ - -“My uncles had nothing to say in reply to my father, and agreed to -all he had said about the Nile, Cairo, and the whole of the kingdom -of Egypt. As for me, my imagination was so filled with it, that I -could not sleep all night. A short time after, my uncles also -evinced how much they had been struck with my father’s discourse. -They all proposed to him to travel together into Egypt: he accepted -the proposal, and, as they were rich merchants, they resolved to -take with them such goods as they might dispose of with profit. I -heard of their preparations for the journey, and I went to my father -to entreat him, with tears in my eyes, to permit me to accompany -them, and to allow me a stock of merchandise to sell on my own -account. ‘You are too young,’ said he, ‘to undertake such a -journey; the fatigue would be too much for you; besides which, I am -persuaded you would be a loser by your bargains. This speech did not -diminish my desire of travelling; I engaged my uncles to intercede -for me with my father, and they at length obtained his permission, -that I should go as far as Damascus, where they would leave me, -whilst they continued their journey into Egypt. ‘The city of -Damascus,’ said my father, ‘has its beauties; and he must be -satisfied that I give him leave to go thus far.’ However strong my -inclination was to see Egypt after the accounts I heard, I was -obliged to relinquish the thought; for he was my father, and I -submitted to his will. - -“I set off from Moussoul with my father and my uncles. We -traversed Mesopotamia, crossed the Euphrates, and arrived at Aleppo, -where we remained a few days, and from thence proceeded to Damascus, -the first appearance of which agreeably surprised me. We all lodged -in the same khan. I here saw a large and well fortified city, -populous, and inhabited by civilized people. We passed some days in -visiting those delightful gardens, which adorn the suburbs, as we -may see from this spot, and we agreed, that what was said of -Damascus was true, that it was in the midst of Paradise. After -staying some time, my uncles began to think of proceeding on their -journey, having first taken care to dispose of my merchandize, which -they did so advantageously, that I gained a profit of five per cent. -This produced a considerable sum for me, the possession of which -quite delighted me. - -“My father and my uncles left me at Damascus, and continued their -journey. After their departure, I was very careful not to spend my -money in useless things. I, however, hired a magnificent house; it -was built entirely of marble, and ornamented with paintings, and -there was a garden attached, in which were some very fine mountains. -I furnished it, not indeed so expensively as the magnificence of the -place required, but at least sufficiently so for a young man of my -condition. It had formerly belonged to one of the principal grandees -of the city, named Modoun Abdaltaham, and it was then the property -of a rich jeweller, to whom I paid only two scherifs [5] a month for -the use of it. I had a numerous retinue of servants, and lived well. -I sometimes invited my acquaintance to dine with me, and -occasionally partook of entertainments at their houses; thus I -passed my time at Damascus during the absence of my father. I had no -passion to disturb my repose, and the society of agreeable people -was my only pleasure and occupation. - -“One day, when I was sitting at the door of my house, enjoying the -fresh air, a lady very well dressed, and of a good figure, came -towards me, and asked me if I did not sell stuffs; and saying this, -walked into my house. When I saw she was gone in, I got up and shut -the door, and ushered her into a room, where I entreated her to be -seated. ‘Madam,’ said I, ‘I have had some stuffs, which were -worthy of being shewn to you, but I have not any at present, for -which I am extremely sorry.’ She took off the veil which concealed -her face, and discovered to my eyes a countenance, the beauty of -which made me experience sensations I had till then been a stranger -to. ‘I do not want any stuffs,’ replied she, ‘I come to see -you, and to pass the evening in your company if you do not -disapprove it; I only require a slight collation.’ - -“Delighted with my good fortune, I immediately gave orders for my -people to bring us several kinds of fruit, and some bottles of wine. -We were served quickly, and we eat and drank, and regaled ourselves -till midnight; in short, I had never passed a night so agreeably -before. The next morning I was going to put ten scherifs into her -hand; but she withdrew it quickly, and said, ‘I did not come to -see you from interested motives; you wound my delicacy. Far from -receiving money from you, I insist on your accepting some from me, -otherwise I will never see you more.’ At the same time she took -ten scherifs out of her purse, and forced me to accept them. -‘Expect me in three days,’ said she, ‘after the sun is set.’ -She then took her leave, and I felt that she carried away my heart -with her. - -“At the expiration of three days, she did not fail to return at -the appointed hour, and I received her with the joy of a man who -impatiently expected her. We passed the evening and night as we had -the former one, and the next day, when she left me, she again -promised to return in three days, but would not depart till she had -obliged me as before to take ten scherifs. - -“Having returned the third time, and being both heated with wine, -she said to me, ‘My dear love, what do you think of me? Am I not -handsome and pleasing?’--‘Madam,’ replied I, ‘these -questions, I think, are very useless; all the proofs of affection I -give you, ought to convince you I love you; I am enchanted to see -and possess you; you are my queen, my sultana; you form the sole -happiness of my life.’--‘Ah!’ resumed she, ‘I am sure you -would change your tone, if you were to see a lady of my -acquaintance, who is younger and handsomer than I am; she has such -lively spirits, that she would make the most melancholy laugh. I -must bring her to you; I have spoken to her about you, and from what -I said, she is dying with impatience to see you. She begged me to -procure her this gratification, but I did not dare to comply with -her request, till I had mentioned it to you.’--‘Madam,’ said -I, ‘you will do as you please; but say what you will about your -friend, I defy all her attractions to have any power over my heart, -which is so devotedly yours, that nothing can ever alter my -attachment.’--‘Take care,’ replied she, ‘I warn you, that I -am going to put your heart to a great trial.’ - -“The subject was then dropped, and the following morning at her -departure, instead of ten scherifs she gave me fifteen, which she -obliged me to accept. ‘Remember,’ said she, ‘that in two days -you will have a new guest; prepare to give her a good reception; we -will come at the usual hour after sun-set.’ - -“I had the room ornamented, and prepared an elegant collation -against the day that they were to come; I waited for them with great -impatience, and they at length arrived towards the close of the -evening. They both unveiled; and if I had been surprised with the -beauty of the first, I had much more reason to be so with that of -her friend. She had regular features, and perfectly formed; a -glowing complexion, and eyes of such brilliancy, that I could -scarcely sustain their lustre. I thanked her for the honour she -conferred on me, and entreated her to excuse me, if I did not -receive her in the style she deserved. ‘No compliments,’ said -she, ‘I ought to bestow them on you, for having allowed me to -accompany my friend hither; but as you are so good as to suffer me -to remain, let us waive all ceremony, and think of nothing but -amusing ourselves.’ - -“As I had given orders for the collation to be served as soon as -the ladies arrived, we shortly sat down to table. I was opposite to -my new guest, who did not cease to look and smile at me. I could not -resist her winning glances, and she made herself mistress of my -heart without any resistance. But while inspiring me with love, she -felt the flame herself; and far from practising any restraint, she -said a number of tender things to me. - -“The other lady, who observed us, at first only laughed. ‘I told -you,’ said she, addressing herself to me, ‘that you would be -charmed with my friend, and I perceive you would have already -violated the oath you made me to remain constant.’ ‘Madam,’ -replied I, laughing as she had done, ‘you would have reason to -complain, if I were remiss in politeness towards a lady whom you -love, and have done me the honour to bring here; both of you would -reproach me with not knowing how to perform the honours of my -house.’ - -“We continued drinking, but in proportion as we became heated with -wine, the new lady and I exchanged glances with so little precaution -that her friend conceived a violent jealousy, of which she soon gave -us a fatal proof. She got up and went out, saying, that she should -soon return; but a few minutes after, the lady who had remained with -me changed countenance; she fell into strong convulsions, and -shortly after expired in my arms, whilst I was calling my servants -to assist me in relieving her. I went out immediately, and inquired -for the other lady; my people told me that she had opened the street -door, and had gone away. I then began to suspect, and nothing could -be more just than my suspicions, that she had occasioned the death -of her friend. In fact, she had had the address and the wickedness -to put a strong poison into the last cup, which she herself had -presented to her. - -“I was extremely afflicted at this accident. ‘What shall I -do?’ said I to myself. ‘What will become of me?’ As I -considered that I had no time to lose, I ordered my people to raise -up, by the light of the moon, and as quietly as possible, one of the -largest pieces of marble with which the court of my house was paved, -and to dig a grave, where they interred the body of the young lady. -After the marble was replaced, I put on a travelling dress, and -taking all the money I was possessed of, I locked up every thing, -even the door of my house, on which I put my own seal; I went to the -jeweller, who was the proprietor, paid him what rent I was in his -debt, and a year in advance besides; and giving him the key, begged -him to keep it for me: ‘A very important affair,’ said I, -‘obliges me to be absent for some time; I am under the necessity -of going to my uncle’s at Cairo.’ I then took my leave of him; -instantly mounted my horse, and set off with my people, who were -waiting for me. - -“I had a good journey, and arrived at Cairo without any unpleasant -interruption. I found my uncles, who were astonished to see me. I -said to them, by way of excuse, that I was tired of waiting for -them; and that, receiving no intelligence of them, my uneasiness had -induced me to undertake the journey. They received me very kindly, -and promised to intercede with my father, that he should not be -displeased at my quitting Damascus, without his permission. I lodged -in the same khan with them, and saw every thing that was worthy of -attention in Cairo. - -“As they had sold all their merchandize, they talked of returning -to Moussoul, and were already beginning to make preparations for -their departure; but as I had not seen all that I wished in Egypt, I -left my uncles, and went to lodge in a quarter very distant from -their khan, and did not make my appearance till they had set off. -They sought me in the city for a considerable time; but not being -able to find me, they supposed, that, touched with remorse at coming -to Egypt against the will of my father, I had returned to Damascus -without acquainting them, and they left Cairo in the hopes of -meeting me there, where I could join them, and return home. - -“I remained then at Cairo after their departure, and lived there -three years to gratify my curiosity in examining all the wonders of -Egypt. During that time I took care to send my rent to the jeweller; -always desiring him to keep my house for me, as it was my intention -to return to Damascus, and reside there for some years. I did not -meet with any adventure at Cairo, worthy of being related; but you -will, no doubt, be very much surprised to hear what befel me, on my -return to Damascus. - -“When I arrived in this city, I dismounted at the jeweller’s, -who received me with joy, and would accompany me to my house, to -shew me, that no one had been in it during my absence. In fact, the -seal was still entire on the lock. I entered, and found every thing -in the state I had left it. - -“In cleaning and sweeping the room where I had regaled the two -ladies, one of my servants found a golden necklace in the form of a -chain, in which, from space to space, were ten pearls very large and -perfect. He brought it me, and I knew it to be that which I had seen -on the neck of the young lady who was poisoned. I supposed that it -had got loose, and had fallen without my perceiving it. I could not -look at it without shedding tears, as it brought to my recollection -so amiable a person, whom I had seen expire in such a cruel manner. -I wrapped it up, and put it carefully in my bosom. - -“I passed some days in recovering from the fatigue of my journey; -after which I began to visit those with whom I had been formerly -acquainted. I gave myself up to all kinds of pleasure, and -insensibly spent all my money. Reduced to this situation, instead of -selling my goods, I resolved to dispose of the necklace; but I was -so little acquainted with the value of pearls, that I had but bad -success, as you will hear. - -“I went to the bezestein, where I called aside one of the criers, -and shewing him the necklace told him I wished to sell it, and -begged him to shew it to the principal jewellers. The crier was -surprised at seeing such an elegant ornament. ‘Ah, what a -beautiful thing!’ cried he, after having admired it for some time. -‘Our merchants have never seen any thing so rich and costly; I -shall give them great pleasure, and you need not doubt their setting -a high price on it, and bidding against each other.’ He led me -into a shop, which I found to be that of the owner of my house. -‘Wait for me here,’ said the crier, ‘I shall soon return and -bring you an answer.’ - -“Whilst he with great secrecy was going about to the different -merchants to shew the necklace, I seated myself near the jeweller, -who was very glad to see me; and we entered into conversation -together on various subjects. The crier returned, and taking me -aside, instead of telling me that the necklace was esteemed worth -two thousand scherifs at the least, he assured me, that no one would -give me more than fifty. ‘They tell me,’ added he, ‘that the -pearls are false; determine whether you will let it go at that -price.’ As I believed what he said, and was in want of money, -‘Go,’ said I, ‘I depend on what you say, and those who are -better acquainted with these matters than I am; deliver it, and -bring me the money directly.’ - -“The crier had, in fact, been sent to offer me fifty scherifs by -one of the richest jewellers in the bezestein, who had only -mentioned this price to sound me, and see if I knew the worth of -what I wanted to sell. No sooner therefore was he made acquainted -with my answer, than he took the crier with him to an officer of the -police, to whom, shewing the necklace, he said, ‘Sir, this is a -necklace that has been stolen from me, and the thief, disguised as a -merchant, has had the effrontery to offer it for sale, and is now -actually in the bezestein. He is content to receive fifty scherifs -for jewels that are worth two thousand: nothing can be a stronger -proof of his being a thief.’ - -“The officer of the police sent immediately to arrest me; and when -I appeared before him, he asked me if the necklace he had in his -hand was not that which I had offered for sale in the bezestein; I -replied in the affirmative. ‘And is it true,’ continued he, -‘that you would dispose of it for fifty scherifs?’ I confessed -it was. ‘Well then,’ said he, in a sneering tone, ‘let him -have the bastinado, he will soon tell us, in his fine merchant’s -dress, that he is nothing better than a rank thief; let him be -beaten till he owns it.’ The violence of the blows made me tell a -lie; I confessed, contrary to truth, that I had stolen the necklace, -and immediately the officer of police ordered my hand to be cut off. - -“This occasioned a great noise in the bezestein, and I was -scarcely returned to my house, when the owner of it came to me, -‘My son,’ said he, ‘you seem to be a young man so prudent and -well educated, how is it possible, that you should have committed an -action so unworthy of yourself as that which I have just heard -related? You told me the amount of your property, and I doubt not it -was what you said. Why did not you ask me for money? I would -willingly have lent you some; but after what has passed I cannot -allow you to remain any longer in my house; resolve what you will -do; for you must seek another lodging.’ I was extremely mortified -at these words, and entreated the jeweller, with tears in my eyes, -to suffer me to stay in his house three days longer, which he -granted. - -“‘Alas,’ cried I, ‘what a misfortune! What an affront! How -can I venture to return to Moussoul? All that I can say to my -father, will never persuade him that I am innocent.’ Three days -after this accident befel me, I saw, with the utmost astonishment, a -number of the attendants of the police officer come into my house, -attended by my landlord and the merchant, who had falsely accused me -of having stolen the necklace from him. I asked them what they -wanted; but instead of replying, they bound me with cords, and -poured forth the most abusive language, telling me, that the -necklace belonged to the governor of Damascus, who had lost it about -three years before; and that at the same time one of his daughters -had disappeared. Judge of the state I was in at this intelligence; I -however determined how to act. ‘I will tell the truth,’ thought -I; ‘the governor shall decide, whether he will pardon me, or -commit me for execution.’ - -“When I was conducted before him, I observed, that he looked on me -with an eye of compassion, which I conceived to be a favourable -omen. He ordered me to be unbound, and then addressing the merchant, -who was my accuser, and the landlord of my house, ‘Is that,’ -said he to them, ‘the young man who offered for sale the pearl -necklace?’ They immediately answered that I was. When he added, -‘I am convinced, that he did not steal the necklace; and I am very -much surprised, that such injustice should have been practised on -him.’ Encouraged by this speech, ‘My lord,’ I cried, ‘I -swear to you that I am innocent. I am persuaded also, that the -necklace did not ever belong to my accuser, whom I never saw before, -and whose horrible perfidy is the cause of the disagreeable -treatment I have met with. It is true that I confessed the theft; -but I made this avowal against my conscience, urged by the torments -I was made to suffer, and for a reason which I am ready to relate, -if you will have the goodness to listen to me.’--‘I know enough -already,’ replied the governor, ‘to be able to render you -immediately part of the justice which is your due. Let the false -accuser be taken from hence,’ continued he, ‘and let him undergo -the same punishment which he caused to be inflicted on this young -man, whose innocence is well known to me.’ - -“The order of the governor was instantly put in execution. The -merchant was led out, and punished as he deserved. After which the -governor, having desired all who were present to withdraw, thus -addressed me: ‘My son, relate to me, without fear, in what manner -this necklace fell into your hands, and disguise nothing from me.’ -I then discovered to him all that had happened; and owned, that I -preferred passing for a thief to revealing this tragical adventure. -‘Great God,’ exclaimed the governor, as soon as I had done -speaking, ‘thy judgments are incomprehensible, and we must submit -without murmuring: I receive, with entire submission, the blow which -thou hast been pleased to strike.’ Then addressing himself to me, -‘My son,’ added he, ‘having heard the account of your -misfortune, for which I am extremely sorry, I will now relate mine. -Know, then, that I am the father of the two ladies you have been -speaking of. - -“‘The first lady, who had the effrontery to seek you, even in -your own house, was the eldest of all my daughters. I had married -her, at Cairo, to her cousin, the son of my brother. Her husband -died, and she returned here, corrupted by a thousand vices, which -she had learnt in Egypt. Before her arrival, the youngest, who died -in so deplorable a manner in your arms, was very prudent, and had -never given me any reason to complain of her morals. Her eldest -sister formed a very close friendship with her, and by insensible -degrees rendered her as wicked as herself. - -“‘The day following that on which the youngest died, as I did -not see her when I sat down to table, I inquired for her of the -eldest, who had returned home; but instead of making any reply she -began to weep so bitterly, that I conceived an unlucky presage. I -pressed her to inform me of what I wished to know. - -“‘Father,’ replied she, sobbing, ‘I can tell you nothing -more than that my sister yesterday put on her best dress, and her -beautiful pearl necklace, and went out; since which she has not -appeared.’ I had my daughter searched for over the city, but could -learn no tidings of her unhappy fate. In the mean time my eldest -daughter, who no doubt began to repent of her jealous fit, did not -cease weeping and bewailing the death of her sister: she even -deprived herself of all kinds of nourishment, and by that means put -a period to her existence. - -“‘This alas!’ continued the governor, ‘is the condition of -man. These are the evils to which he is exposed. But, my son, as we -are both equally unfortunate, let us unite our sorrows, and never -abandon each other. I will bestow my third daughter on you in -marriage: she is younger than her sisters, and does not at all -resemble them in her conduct. She is even more beautiful than they -were, and I can assure you, that she is of a disposition to make you -happy. My house shall be your home, and after my death you and she -will be my only heirs.’--‘My lord,’ said I, ‘I am quite -confused by your kindness, and shall never be able to testify my -gratitude.’--‘Enough,’ interrupted he, ‘let us not waste -time in useless conversation.’ Saying this, he had some witnesses -called, and I married his daughter without any farther ceremony. - -“He was not satisfied with punishing the merchant who had falsely -accused me; he also confiscated all his property, which was very -considerable, to my use. In short, as you come now from the -governor, you may have observed in what high estimation he holds me. -I must add too, that a man, who was sent expressly by my uncles to -seek me in Egypt, having discovered, in passing through this city, -that I resided here, yesterday gave me letters from them. They -inform me of the death of my father, and invite me to go to Moussoul -to take possession of his inheritance; but as my alliance and -friendship with the governor attach me to him, and do not suffer me -to think of quitting him, I have sent back the express, empowering -my uncles legally to transfer all that belongs to me. After what you -have heard I trust you will pardon me the incivility I have been -guilty of, during my illness, of presenting you my left hand instead -of my right.’ - -“This,” said the Jewish physician to the sultan of Casgar, “is -what the young man of Moussoul related to me. I remained at Damascus -as long as the governor lived; after his death, as I was in the -prime of my life, I had the curiosity to travel. I traversed all -Persia, and went into India; at last I came to establish myself in -your capital, where I exercise, with credit to myself, the -profession of physician.” - -The sultan of Casgar thought this story entertaining; “I -confess,” said he to the Jew, “what thou hast been relating is -extraordinary; but to speak frankly, the story of the hunchback is -still more so, and much more comical; so do not flatter thyself with -the hope of being reprieved any more than the others; I shall have -you all four hanged.”--“A moment’s grace, Sire,” cried the -tailor, advancing, and prostrating himself at the feet of the -sultan; since your majesty likes pleasant stories, that which I -shall tell you, will not, I think, displease you.”--“I will -listen to thee also,” replied the sultan, “but do not entertain -any hopes that I shall suffer thee to live, unless thou canst -recount some adventure more diverting than that of the hunchback.” -The tailor then, as if he had been sure of his business, boldly -began his recital in these words: - - - - -THE STORY -TOLD BY THE TAILOR. - - -A tradesman, Sire, of this city, did me the honor, two days since, -of inviting me to an entertainment, which he gave yesterday morning -to his friends: I repaired to his house at an early hour, and found -about twenty people assembled. - -We were waiting for the master of the house, who was gone out on -some sudden business, when we saw him arrive, accompanied by a young -stranger very neatly dressed, and of a good figure, but lame. We all -rose, and to do honor to the master of the house, we begged the -young man to sit with us on the sofa. He was just going to sit down, -when perceiving a barber, who was one of the company, he abruptly -stepped back; and was going away. The master of the house, surprised -at this, stopped him. “Where are you going?” said he, “I bring -you here to do me the honor of being present at an entertainment I -am going to give my friends, and you are scarcely entered before you -want to go away!”--“In the name of God, sir,” replied the -stranger, “I entreat you not to detain me, but suffer me to -depart. I cannot behold without horror that abominable barber, who -is sitting there; although he is born in a country where the -complexion of the people is white, yet he bears the colour of an -Ethiopian; but his mind is of a still deeper and more horrible die -than his visage.” - -We were all very much surprised at this speech, and began to -conceive a very bad opinion of the barber, without knowing whether -the young stranger had any just reason for speaking of him in such -terms. We even went so far as to declare that we would not suffer at -our table a man of whom we had heard so shocking a character. The -master of the house begged the stranger to acquaint us with the -occasion of his hatred to the barber. “Gentlemen,” said the -young man, “you must know, that this barber was the cause of my -being lame; and also of the most cruel affair, which befel me, that -you can possibly conceive; for this reason I have made a vow to quit -instantly any place where he may be; and even not to reside in any -town where he lives: for this reason I left Bagdad, where he was, -and undertook so long a journey to come and settle myself in this -city, where, being in the centre of Great Tartary, I flattered -myself I should be secure of never beholding him again. However, -contrary to my hopes and expectations, I find him here; this obliges -me, gentlemen, to deprive myself of the honor of partaking of your -feast. I will this day leave your city, and go to hide myself, if I -can, in some place where he can never again offend my sight.” In -saying this, he was going to leave us, but the master of the house -still detained him, and entreated him to relate to us the cause of -the aversion he had against the barber, who all this time kept his -eyes fixed on the ground, and was silent. We joined our entreaties -to those of the master of the house, and at last the young man, -yielding to our wishes, seated himself on the sofa, and began his -history in these words; having first turned his back towards the -barber, lest he should see him. - -“My father, who lived in Bagdad, was of a rank to aspire to the -highest offices of state; but he preferred leading a quiet and -tranquil life to all the honors he might deserve. I was his only -child, and when he died, I had completed my education, and was of an -age to dispose of the large possessions he had bequeathed me. I did -not dissipate them in folly, but made such use of them as procured -me the esteem of every one. - -“I had not yet felt any tender passion, and far from being at all -sensible to love, I will confess, perhaps to my shame, that I -carefully avoided the society of women. One day, as I was walking in -a street I saw a great number of ladies coming towards me; in order -to avoid them, I turned into a little street that was before me, and -sat down on a bench that was placed near a door. I was opposite to a -window, where there was a number of very fine flowers, and my eyes -were fixed on them, when the window opened and a lady appeared, -whose beauty dazzled me. She cast her eyes on me, and watering the -flowers, with a hand whiter than alabaster, she looked at me with a -smile, which inspired me with as much love for her as I had hitherto -had aversion towards the rest of her sex. After having watered her -flowers, and bestowed on me another look full of charms, which -completed the conquest of my heart, she shut the window, and left me -in a state of pain and uncertainty which I cannot describe. - -“I should have remained thus a considerable time, had not the -noise I heard in the street brought me to my senses again. I turned -my head as I got up, and saw, that it was one of the first cadis of -the city, mounted on a mule, and accompanied by five or six of his -people: he alighted at the door of the house where the young lady -had opened the window, and went in, which made me suppose he was her -father. - -“I returned home in a state very different from that in which I -had left it: agitated by a passion so much the more violent from its -being the first attack. I went to bed with a raging fever, which -caused great affliction in my household. My relations, who loved me, -alarmed by so sudden an indisposition, came quickly to see me, and -importuned me to acquaint them of the cause, but I was very careful -to keep it secret. My silence increased their alarms, nor could the -physicians dissipate their fears for my safety, because they knew -nothing of my disease, which was only increased by the medicines -they administered. - -“My relations began to despair of my life, when an old lady of -their acquaintance, being informed of my illness, arrived; she -considered me with a great deal of attention, and after she had -thoroughly examined me, she discovered, I know not by what chance, -the cause of my disorder. She took them aside, and begged them to -leave her alone with me, and to order my people to retire. - -“The room being cleared, she seated herself near my pillow. ‘My -son,’ said she, ‘you have hitherto persisted in concealing the -cause of your illness; nor do I require you to confess it; I have -sufficient experience to penetrate into this secret, and I am sure -you will not disown what I am going to declare. It is love which -occasions your indisposition. I can probably assist your cure, -provided you will tell me who is the happy lady that has been able -to wound a heart so insensible as yours; for you have the reputation -of not liking the ladies, and I have not been the last to perceive -it; however, what I foresaw is at last come to pass, and I shall be -delighted if I can be of any service in releasing you from your -pain.’ - -“The old lady having finished this speech, waited to hear my -answer; but although it had made a strong impression on me, I did -not dare to open my heart to her. I only turned towards her, and -uttered a deep sigh, without saying a word. ‘Is it shame,’ -continued she, ‘that prevents you from speaking, or is it want of -confidence in my power to relieve you? Can you doubt the effects of -my promise? I could mention to you an infinite number of young -people of your acquaintance, who have endured the same pain that you -do; and for whom I have obtained consolation.’ - -“In short, the good lady said so many things to me, that at length -I broke silence, and declared to her the cause of my pain. I -acquainted her with the place where I had seen the object that had -given birth to it; and related all the circumstances of the -adventure. ‘If you succeed,’ continued I, ‘and procure me the -happiness of seeing this enchanting beauty, and of expressing to her -the passion with which I burn, you may rely on my -gratitude.’--‘My son,’ replied the old lady, ‘I know the -person you mention; she is, as you justly suppose, the daughter of -the principal cadi in this city. I am not surprised that you should -love her; she is the most beautiful, as well as most amiable lady in -Bagdad; but what grieves me is, she is very haughty, and difficult -of access. You know, that many of our officers of justice are very -exact, in making women observe the harsh laws which subject them to -so irksome a restraint; they are still more strict in their own -families, and the cadi you saw is himself alone more rigid on this -point than all the others put together. As they are continually -preaching to their daughters the enormity of the crime of showing -themselves to men, the poor things are in general so cautious of -being guilty of it, that, when necessity obliges them to walk in the -streets, they make no use of their eyes, but to guide them on their -way; I do not say, that this is absolutely the case with the -daughter of the principal cadi; yet I am much afraid of having as -great obstacles to overcome on her side, as on her father’s. Would -to Heaven you loved any other lady! I should not have so many -difficulties, as I foresee, to surmount. I will nevertheless employ -all my address; but it will require time to succeed. At any rate -take courage, and place confidence in me.’ - -“The old lady left me, and as I reflected with anxiety on all the -obstacles she had represented to me, the fear that she would not -succeed possessed me, and increased my disease. She returned the -following day, and I soon read in her countenance, that she had no -favourable intelligence to announce. She said, ‘My son, I was not -mistaken; I have more to surmount than merely the vigilance of a -father; you love an insensible object, who delights in letting those -burn with unrequited passion, who suffer themselves to be charmed -with her beauty; she will not allow them the least relief; she -listened to me with pleasure, whilst I talked to her only of the -pain she made you suffer; but no sooner did I open my mouth, to -persuade her to allow you an interview, than she cast an angry look -at me, and said, ‘You are very insolent to attempt to make such a -proposition; and I desire you will never see me more, if it be only -to hold such conversations as this! - -“‘But let not that afflict you,’ continued the old lady, ‘I -am not easily discouraged, and provided you do not lose your -patience, I hope at last to accomplish my design.’ Not to protract -my narration (said the young man) I will only say, that this good -messenger made several fruitless attempts in my favor, with the -haughty enemy of my peace. The vexation I endured, increased my -disorder to such a degree, that the physicians gave me over. I was, -therefore, considered as a man who was at the point at death, when -the old lady came to give me new life. - -“That no one might hear her, she whispered in my ear; ‘Think of -the present you will make me for the good news I bring you.’ These -words produced a wonderful effect; I raised myself in my bed, and -replied with transport, ‘The present will not be deficient; what -have you to tell me?’--‘My dear sir,’ resumed she, ‘you will -not die this time, and I shall soon have the pleasure of seeing you -in perfect health, and well satisfied with me; yesterday being -Monday, I went to the lady you are in love with, and found her in -very good humour; I at first put on a mournful countenance, uttered -an abundance of sighs, and shed some tears. ‘My good mother,’ -said she, ‘what is the matter? Why are you in such -affliction?’--‘Alas! my dear and honorable lady,’ replied I, -‘I am just come from the young gentleman I spoke to you of the -other day; it is all over with him; he is at the point of death, and -all for love of you; it is a great pity, I assure you, and you are -very cruel.’--‘I do not know,’ said she, ‘why you should -accuse me of being the cause of his death: how can I have -contributed to his illness?’--‘How?’ replied I, ‘did I not -tell you, that he seated himself before your window, just as you -opened it to water your flowers? He beheld this prodigy of beauty, -these charms, which your mirror reflects every day; from that moment -he has languished for you, and his disease is so augmented, that he -is now reduced to the pitiable state I have had the honor of -describing to you. You may remember, madam,’ continued I, ‘how -rigorously you treated me lately, when I was going to tell you of -his illness, and propose to you a method of relieving him from his -dangerous condition; I returned to him after I left you, and he no -sooner perceived, from my countenance, that I did not bring a -favorable account, than his malady redoubled its violence. From that -time, madam, he has been in the most imminent danger of death; and I -do not know, whether you could now save his life, even if you were -inclined to take pity on him.’ - -“‘This was what I said to her,’ added the old lady. ‘The -fear of your death staggered her, and I saw her face change colour. -‘Is what you say to me quite true,’ said she, ‘and does his -illness proceed only from his love of me?’--‘Ah, madam,’ -replied I, ‘it is but too true: would to heaven it were -false!’--‘And do you really think,’ resumed she, ‘that the -hope of seeing and speaking to me could contribute to diminish the -peril of his situation?’--‘It very likely may,’ said I, ‘and -if you desire me, I will try this remedy.’--‘Well then,’ -replied she, sighing, ‘let him hope that he may see me; but he -must not expect any other favors, unless he aspires to marry me, and -my father gives his consent!’--‘Madam,’ said I, ‘you are -very good; I will go directly to this young gentleman, and announce -to him, that he will have the pleasure of seeing and conversing with -you.’--‘I do not know,’ said she, ‘that I can fix a more -convenient time to do him this favor than on Friday next, during the -mid-day prayer. Let him observe when my father goes out to attend at -the mosque; and then let him come immediately before this house, if -he is well enough to go abroad. I shall see him arrive, from my -window, and will come down to let him in. We will converse together -while the prayer lasts, and he will retire before my father -returns.’ - -“‘This is Tuesday,’ continued the old lady, ‘between this -and Friday you will be sufficiently recovered to encounter this -interview.’ Whilst the good lady was talking, I felt my disorder -diminish, or rather by the time she had concluded her discourse, I -found myself quite recovered. ‘Take this,’ said I, giving her my -purse, which was quite full, ‘to you alone I owe my cure; I think -this money better employed than all I have given to the physicians, -who have done nothing but torment me during my illness.’ - -“The lady having left me, I found myself sufficiently strong to -get up. My relations, delighted to see me so much better, -congratulated me on my recovery, and took their leave. - -“Friday morning being arrived, the old lady came whilst I was -dressing, and making choice of the handsomest dress my wardrobe -contained. ‘I do not ask you,’ said she, ‘how you find -yourself; the occupation you are engaged in sufficiently convinces -me of what I am to think; but will not you bathe before you go to -the principal cadi’s?’--‘That would take up too much time,’ -replied I, ‘I shall content myself with sending for a barber to -shave my head and beard.’ I then ordered one of my slaves to seek -one who was expert in his business, as well as expeditious. - -“The slave brought me this unlucky barber, who is here present. -After having saluted me, he said, ‘Sir, by your countenance you -seem to be unwell.’ I replied, that I was recovering from a very -severe illness. ‘I wish God may preserve you from all kinds of -evils,’ continued he, ‘and may his grace accompany you every -where.’--‘I hope he will grant this wish,’ said I, ‘for -which I am much obliged to you.’--‘As you are now recovering -from illness,’ resumed he, ‘I pray God that he will preserve you -in health. Now tell me what is your pleasure; I have brought my -razors and my lancets; do you wish me to shave or to bleed -you?’--‘Did I not tell you,’ returned I, ‘that I am -recovering from illness? You may suppose, then, that I did not send -for you to bleed me. Be quick and shave me, and do not lose time in -talking, for I am in a hurry, and have an appointment precisely at -noon.’ - -“The barber employed a great deal of time in undoing his apparatus -and preparing his razors; instead of putting some water into his -bason, he drew out of his case a very nice astrolabe, went out of my -room, and walked into the middle of the court, with a sedate step, -to take the height of the sun. He returned with the same gravity, -and on entering the chamber, ‘You will, no doubt, be glad to -learn, sir,’ said he, ‘that this Friday is the eighteenth day of -the moon of Safar, in the year six hundred and fifty three, [6] -since the retreat of our great prophet from Mecca to Medina, and in -the year seven thousand three hundred and twenty, [7] of the epoch -of the great Iskander with the two horns; and that the conjunction -of Mars and Mercury signifies, that you cannot choose a better time -than the present day and present hour to be shaved. But, on the -other side, this conjunction forms a bad presage for you. It -demonstrates to me, that you in this day will encounter a great -danger; not indeed of losing your life, but of an inconvenience -which will remain with you all your days; you ought to be obliged to -me for advertising you to be careful of this misfortune; I should be -sorry that it befel you.’ - -“Judge, gentlemen, of my vexation, at having fallen in the way of -this chattering and ridiculous barber: what a mortifying delay for a -lover, who was preparing for a tender meeting with his mistress! I -was quite exasperated. ‘I care very little,’ said I angrily, -‘either for your advice or your predictions: I did not send for -you to consult you on astrology; you came here to shave me; -therefore either perform your office or take yourself away, that I -may send for another barber.’ - -“‘Sir,’ replied he, in a tone so phlegmatic that I could -scarcely contain myself, ‘What reason have you to be angry? Do not -you know, that all barbers are not like me, and that you would not -find another such, even if you had him made on purpose. You only -asked for a barber, and in my person are united the best barber of -Bagdad, an experienced physician, a profound chemist, a -never-failing astrologer, a finished grammarian, a perfect -rhetorician, a subtle logician; a mathematician, thoroughly -accomplished in geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, and in all the -refinements of algebra; an historian, who is acquainted with the -history of all the kingdoms in the universe. Besides these sciences, -I am well instructed in all the points of philosophy; and have my -memory well stored with all our laws and all our traditions. I am a -poet, an architect; but what am I not? There is nothing in nature -concealed from me. Your late honored father, to whom I pay a tribute -of tears every time I think of him, was fully convinced of my merit. -He loved me, caressed me, and never ceased quoting me in all -companies, as the first man in the whole world. My gratitude and -friendship for him attaches me to you; and urges me to take you -under my protection, and insure you from all the misfortunes with -which the planets may threaten you.’ - -“At this speech, notwithstanding my anger, I could not help -laughing. ‘When do you mean to have done, impertinent -chatterer,’ cried I, ‘and when do you intend to begin shaving -me?’ - -“‘Sir,’ replied the barber, ‘you do me an injury by calling -me a chatterer: every one, on the contrary, bestows on me the -honorable appellation of silent. I had six brothers, whom you might -with some reason have termed chatterers, and that you may be -acquainted with them, the eldest was named Bacbouc, the second -Bakbarah, the third Bakbac, the fourth Alcouz, the fifth Alnaschar, -and the sixth Shacabac. These were indeed most tiresome talkers, but -I, who am the youngest of the family, am very grave and concise in -my discourses.’ - -“Place yourselves in my situation, gentlemen; what could I do with -so cruel a tormentor? ‘Give him three pieces of gold,’ said I to -the slave who overlooked the expenses of my house, ‘and send him -away, that I may be at peace; I will not be shaved -to-day.’--‘Sir!’ cried the barber, at hearing this, ‘what am -I to understand, sir, by these words? It was not I who came to seek -you; it was you who ordered me to come; and that being the case, I -swear by the faith of a musselman, that I will not quit your house -till I have shaved you. If you do not know my worth, it is no fault -of mine; your late honored father was more just to my merits. Every -time, when he sent for me to bleed him, he used to make me sit down -by his side, and then it was delightful to hear the clever things I -entertained him with. I kept him in continual admiration; I -enchanted him; and when I had done, ‘Ah!’ cried he, ‘you are -an inexhaustible fund of science; no one can approach the -profoundness of your knowledge.’--‘My dear sir,’ I used to -reply, ‘you do me more honor than I deserve. If I say a good -thing, I am indebted to you for the favorable hearing you are so -good as to grant me: it is your liberality that inspires me with -those sublime ideas which have the good fortune to meet your -approbation.’ One day, when he was quite charmed with an admirable -discourse I had just concluded, ‘Give him,’ cried he, ‘an -hundred pieces of gold, and put him on one of my richest robes!’ I -received this present immediately; and at the same instant I drew -out his horoscope, which I found to be one of the most fortunate in -the world. I carried the proofs of my gratefulness still farther, -for I cupped him instead of bleeding him with a lancet.’ - -“He did not stop here; he began another speech which lasted a full -half hour. Fatigued with hearing him, and vexed at finding the time -pass without my getting forward, I knew not what more to say. ‘No -indeed,’ at length I exclaimed, ‘it is not possible that there -should exist, in the whole world, a man who takes greater delight in -enraging people.’ - -“I then thought I might succeed better by gentle means. ‘In the -name of God,’ I said to him, ‘leave off your fine speeches, and -finish with me quickly: I have an affair of the greatest importance, -which obliges me to go out, as I have already told you.’ At these -words he began to laugh. ‘It would be very praiseworthy,’ said -he, ‘if our minds were always wise and prudent; however, I am -willing to believe, that, when you put yourself in a passion with -me, it was your late illness which occasioned this change in your -temper; on this account, therefore, you are in need of some -instructions, and you cannot do better than follow the example of -your father and your grandfather: they used to come and consult me -in all their affairs; and I may safely say, without vanity, that -they were always the better for my advice. Let me tell you, sir, -that a man scarcely ever succeeds in any enterprise, if he has not -recourse to the opinions of enlightened persons: no man becomes -clever, says the proverb, unless he consults a clever man. I am -entirely at your service, and you have only to command me.’ - -“‘Cannot I then persuade you,’ interrupted I, ‘to desist -from these long speeches, which tend to no purpose but to distract -my head, and prevent me from keeping my appointment: shave me -directly, or leave my house.’ In saying this I arose, and angrily -struck my foot against the ground. - -“When he saw that I was really exasperated with him, ‘Sir,’ -said he, ‘do not be angry; we are going to begin directly.’ In -fact he washed my head, and began to shave me; but he had not made -four strokes with his razor, when he stopped to say, ‘Sir, you are -hasty; you should abstain from these gusts of passion, which only -come from the devil. Besides which, I deserve that you should have -some respect for me on account of my age, my knowledge, and my -striking virtues.’ - -“‘Go on shaving me,’ said I, interrupting him again, ‘and -speak no more,’--‘That is to say,’ replied he, ‘that you -have some pressing affair on your hands; I’ll lay a wager that I -am not mistaken.’--‘Why I told you so two hours ago,’ returned -I, ‘you ought to have shaved me long since.’--‘Moderate your -ardor,’ replied he, ‘perhaps you have not considered well of -what you are going to do; when one does any thing precipitately, it -is almost always a source of repentance. I wish you would tell me -what this affair is, that you are in such haste about, and I will -give you my opinion on it: you have plenty of time, for you are not -expected till noon, and it will not be noon these three -hours.’--‘That is nothing to me,’ said I, ‘people of honor, -who keep their word, are always before the time appointed. But I -perceive that in reasoning thus with you, I am imitating the faults -of chattering barbers; finish shaving me quickly.’ - -“The more anxious I was for dispatch, the less so was he to obey -me. He left his razor to take up his astrolabe; and when he put down -his astrolabe he took up his razor. - -“He got his astrolabe a second time, and left me half shaved to go -and see what o’clock it was precisely. He returned. ‘Sir,’ -said he, ‘I was certain I was not mistaken; it wants three hours -to noon, I am well assured, or all the rules of astronomy are -false.’--‘Gracious Heaven!’ cried I, ‘my patience is -exhausted, I can hold out no longer. Cursed barber, ill-omen’d -barber, I can hardly refrain from falling upon thee and strangling -thee.’--‘Softly sir,’ said he coolly, and without showing any -emotion and anger, ‘you seem to have no fear of bringing on your -illness again; do not be so passionate and you shall be shaved in a -moment.’ Saying this he put the astrolabe in his case, took his -razor, which he sharpened on the strop that was fastened to his -girdle, and began to shave me; but whilst he was shaving he could -not help talking. ‘If you would, sir,’ said he, ‘inform me -what this affair is, that will engage you at noon, I would give you -some advice, which you might find serviceable.’ To satisfy him, I -told him that some friends expected me at noon to regale me, and -rejoice with me on my recovery. - -“No sooner had the barber heard me mention a feast, than he -exclaimed, ‘God bless you on this day as well as on every other; -you bring to my mind, that yesterday I invited four or five friends -to come and regale with me to-day; I had forgotten it, and have not -made any preparations for them.’--‘Let not that embarrass -you,’ said I; ‘although I am going out, my table is always well -supplied, and I make you a present of all that is intended for it -to-day; I will also give you as much wine as you want, for I have -some excellent in my cellar; but then you must be quick in finishing -to shave me; and remember that instead of making you presents to -hear you talk, as my father did, I give them to you to be silent.’ - -“He was not content to rely on my word. ‘May God recompense -you,’ cried he, ‘for the favor you do me; but show me directly -these provisions, that I may judge if there will be enough to regale -my friends handsomely; for I wish them to be satisfied with the good -cheer I shall give them.’--‘I have,’ said I, ‘a lamb, six -capons, a dozen of fowls, and sufficient for four courses.’ I gave -orders to a slave to produce all that, together with four large jugs -of wine. ‘This is well,’ replied the barber, ‘but we shall -want some fruit, and something for sauce to the meat.’ I desired -what he wanted to be given him. He left off shaving me to examine -each thing separately, and as this examination took up nearly half -an hour, I stamped and swore; but I might amuse myself as I pleased, -the rascal did not hurry a bit the more. At length, however, he -again took up the razor and shaved for a few minutes, then stopping -suddenly, ‘I should never have supposed, sir,’ said he, ‘that -you had been of so liberal a turn; I begin to discover, that your -late father, of honored memory, lives a second time in you; -certainly I did not deserve the favors you heap on me; and I assure -you, that I shall retain an eternal sense of the obligation; for, -sir, that you may know it in future, I will tell you that I have -nothing but what I get from generous people like yourself, in which -I resemble Zantout, who rubs people at the bath, and Sali, who sells -little burnt peas about the streets, and Salouz, who sells beans and -Akerscha, who sells herbs, and Abou Mekares, who waters the streets -to lay the dust, and Cassem, who belongs to the caliph’s guard: -all these people give no reception to melancholy; they are neither -sorrowful nor quarrelsome; better satisfied with their fortune than -the caliph himself in the midst of his court, they are always gay -and ready to dance and sing; and they have each their peculiar dance -and song, with which they entertain the whole city of Bagdad; but -what I esteem the most in them is, that they are none of them great -talkers any more than your slave, who has the honor of speaking to -you. Here, sir, I will give you the song and the dance of Zantout, -who rubs the people at the bath; look at me, and you will see an -exact imitation.’ - -“The barber sung the song and danced the dance of Zantout, and -notwithstanding all I could say to make him cease his buffoonery, he -would not stop till he had imitated in the same way all those he had -mentioned. After that, ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘I am going to invite -all these good people to my house, and if you will take my advice, -you will be of our party, and leave your friends, who are perhaps -great talkers, and will only disturb you by their tiresome -conversations, and will make you relapse into an illness still worse -than that from which you are just recovered; instead of which, at my -house, you will only enjoy pleasure.’ - -“Notwithstanding my anger, I could not avoid laughing at his -folly. ‘I wish,’ said I, ‘that I had no other engagement, and -I would gladly accept your proposal; I would with all my heart make -one of your jolly set, but I must entreat you to excuse me, I am too -much engaged to-day; I shall be more at liberty another day, and we -will have this party: finish shaving me, and hasten to return, for -perhaps your friends are already arrived.’--‘Sir,’ replied he, -‘do not refuse me the favor I ask of you. Come and amuse yourself -with the good company I shall have; if you had once been with such -people, you would have been so pleased with them, that you would -give up your friends for them.’--‘Say no more about it,’ said -I; ‘I cannot be present at your feast.’ - -“I gained nothing by gentleness. ‘Since you will not come with -me,’ replied the barber, ‘you must allow me then to accompany -you. I will go home with the provisions you have given me; my -friends shall eat of them if they like; and I will return -immediately. I cannot commit such an incivility as to suffer you to -go alone; you deserve this piece of complaisance on my -part.’--‘Good heaven,’ exclaimed I, on hearing this,’ am I -then condemned to bear this whole day so tormenting a creature! In -the name of the great God,’ said I to him, ‘finish your tiresome -speeches; go to your friends; eat and drink, and entertain -yourselves, and leave me at liberty to go to mine. I will go alone, -and do not want any one to accompany me; and indeed if you must know -the truth, the place where I am going is not one in which you can be -received; I only can be admitted.’--‘You are joking, sir,’ -replied he, ‘if your friends have invited you to an entertainment, -what reason can prevent me from accompanying you? You will give them -great pleasure, I am sure, by taking with you a man like me, who has -the art of entertaining a company and making them merry. Say what -you will, sir, I am resolved to go in spite of you.’ - -“These words, gentlemen, threw me into the greatest embarrassment. -‘How can I possibly contrive to get rid of this infernal -barber,’ thought I to myself. ‘If I continue obstinately to -contradict him, our contest will never be finished. I have already -waited till they have called the people to noon prayers for the -first time,’ and as it was now almost the moment to set out, I -determined, therefore, not to answer him a single word, and to -appear as if I agreed to every thing he said. He finished shaving -me, and he had no sooner done, than I said to him, ‘Take some of -my people with you to carry these provisions home; then return here; -I will wait, and not go without you.’ - -“He then went out, and I finished dressing myself as quickly as -possible. I only waited till they called to prayers for the last -time, when I hastened to commence my expedition; but this malicious -barber, who seemed aware of my intentions, was satisfied with -accompanying my people only within sight of his own house, and -seeing them go in. He afterwards concealed himself at the corner of -the street, to observe and follow me. In short, when I got to the -door of the cadi, I turned round, and perceived him at the end of -the street. This sight put me into the greatest rage. - -“The cadi’s door was half open, and when I went in, I saw the -old lady who was waiting for me, and who, as soon as she had shut -the door, conducted me to the apartment of the young lady with whom -I was so much in love. But I had hardly began to enter into any -conversation with her, before we heard a great noise in the street. -The young lady ran to the window, and looking through the blinds, -perceived that it was the cadi, her father, who was already -returning from prayers. I looked out at the same time, and saw the -barber seated exactly opposite, and on the same bench from whence I -had beheld the lady the first time. - -“I had now two subjects for alarm, the arrival of the cadi, and -the presence of the barber. The young lady dissipated my fears on -the first, by telling me, that her father very rarely came up into -her apartment; and as she had foreseen, that such an interruption -might take place, she had prepared the means for my escape, in case -of necessity; but the indiscretion of that unlucky barber caused me -great uneasiness, and you will soon perceive that this disquietude -was not without foundation. - -“As soon as the cadi was returned home he himself inflicted the -bastinado on a slave who had deserved it. The slave uttered loud -cries, which were distinguishable even in the street. The barber -thought I was the person whom they were treating ill, and that these -were my cries. Fully persuaded of this, he began to call out as loud -as he could, to tear his clothes, throw dust upon his head, and call -for help to all the neighbours, who soon ran out to him. They -inquired what was the matter, and what assistance they could give -him. ‘Alas!’ cried he, ‘they are assassinating my master, my -dear lord,’ and without saying another word, he ran to my house, -crying out in the same way, and returned, followed by all my -servants armed with sticks. They knocked furiously at the door of -the cadi, who sent a slave to know what the noise was about; but the -slave, quite frightened, returned to his master, ‘My lord,’ said -he, ‘above ten thousand men will come into your house by force, -and are already beginning to break open the door.’ - -“The cadi ran himself to the door, and inquired what they wanted. -His venerable appearance did not inspire my people with any respect, -and they insolently addressed him, ‘Cursed cadi! you dog! for what -reason are you going to murder our master? What has he done to -you?’--‘My good people,’ replied the cadi, ‘why should I -murder your master, whom I do not know, and who has never offended -me? My door is open, you may come in and search my house.’--‘You -have given him the bastinado,’ said the barber, ‘I heard his -cries not a minute ago.’--‘But,’ replied the cadi, ‘as I -said before, in what can your master have offended me, that I should -ill-treat him thus? Is he in my house? and if he is, how could he -get in, or who could have introduced him?’--‘You will not make -me believe you, with your great beard, you wicked cadi,’ resumed -the barber, ‘I know what I say. Your daughter loves our master, -and appointed a meeting in your house during the mid-day prayers; -you no doubt received information of it, and returned quickly; you -surprised him here, and ordered your slaves to give him the -bastinado; but this wicked action shall not remain unpunished; the -caliph shall be informed of it, and will execute a severe and speedy -sentence on you. Give him his liberty, and let him come out -directly, otherwise we will go in and take him from you to your -shame.’--‘There is no occasion to say so much about it,’ said -the cadi, ‘nor to make such a bustle; if what you say is true, you -have only to go in and search for him; I give you full -permission.’ The cadi had scarcely spoken these words, when the -barber and my people burst into the house, like a set of furious -madmen, and began to seek for me in every corner. - -“As I heard every thing the barber said to the cadi, I endeavoured -to find out some place to conceal myself in. I was unable to -discover any other than a large empty chest, into which I -immediately got, and shut the lid down upon me. After the barber had -searched every other place, he did not fail coming into the -apartment where I was. He went directly to the chest, and opened it; -and as soon as he perceived that I was in it, he took it up and -carried it away upon his head. He descended from the top of the -staircase, which was very high, into a court, through which he -quickly passed, and at last reached the street-door. - -“As he was carrying me along the street, the lid of the chest -unfortunately opened: I had not resolution enough to bear the shame -and disgrace of being thus exposed to the populace who followed us; -I jumped down, therefore, into the street in such a hurry, that I -hurt myself violently, and have been lame ever since. I did not at -first perceive the full extent of my misfortune; I therefore made -haste to get up and run away from the people who were laughing at -me. At the same time, I scattered a handful or two of gold and -silver, with which I had filled my purse, and while they were -stopping to pick it up, I made my escape by passing through several -private streets. But the cursed barber, taking advantage of the -trick which I had made use of to get rid of the crowd, followed me -so closely, that he never once lost sight of me; and all the time he -continued calling aloud, ‘Stop, sir, why do you run so fast? You -know not how much I have felt for you, on account of the ill usage -you have received from the cadi; and well I might, as you have been -so generous to me and my friends, and we are under such obligations -to you. Did I not truly inform you, that you would endanger your -life through your obstinacy in not suffering me to accompany you? -All this has happened to you through your own fault; and I know not -what would have become of you, if I had not obstinately determined -to follow you, and observe which way you went. Where then, my lord, -are you running? Pray wait for me.’ - -“It was in this manner that the unlucky barber kept calling out to -me all through the street. He was not satisfied with having -scandalized me so completely in the quarter of the town where the -cadi resided, but seemed to wish that the whole city should become -acquainted with my disgrace. This put me into such a rage, that I -could have stopped and strangled him, but that would only have -increased my distraction. I therefore went another way to work. As I -perceived, that by his calling out, the eyes of every one were -attracted towards me, some looking out of the windows, and others -stopping in the street to stare at me; I went into a khan, [8] the -master of which was known to me. I found him indeed at the door, -where the noise and uproar had brought him. ‘In the name of -God,’ I cried, ‘do me the favor to prevent that mad fellow from -following me in here.’ He not only promised me to do so, but he -kept his word; although it was not without great difficulty: for the -obstinate barber attempted to force an entrance in spite of him. Nor -did he retire before he uttered a thousand abusive words: and he -continued to tell every one he met, till he reached his own house, -the very great service he pretended to have done me. - -“It was thus that I got rid of this tiresome man. The master of -the khan then entreated me to give him an account of my adventure. I -did so; after which I asked him, in my turn, to let me have an -apartment in his house till I was quite cured. ‘You will be much -better accommodated, sir,’ he said, ‘in your own house.’--‘I -do not wish to return there,’ I answered, ‘for that detestable -barber will not fail to find me out, I shall then be pestered with -him every day; and it would absolutely kill me with vexation, to -have him constantly before my eyes. Besides, after what has happened -to me this day, I am determined not to remain any longer in this -city. I will wander wherever my ill-stars may direct me.’ In -short, as soon as I was cured, I took as much money as I thought -would be sufficient for my journey, and gave the remainder of my -fortune to my relations. - -“I then set out from Bagdad, gentlemen, and arrived here. I had -every reason, at least to hope that I should not have met with this -mischievous barber, in a country so distant from my own; and I now -discover him in your company. Be not therefore surprised at my -anxiety and eagerness to retire. You may judge of the painful -sensations the sight of this man causes me, by whose means I became -lame, and was reduced to the dreadful necessity of giving up my -relations, my friends, and my country.” - -Having made this speech, the lame young man got up and went out. The -master of the house conducted him to the door, assuring him, that it -gave him great pain to have been the cause, though innocently, of so -great a mortification. - -When the young man was gone, (continued the tailor,) we still -remained very much astonished at his history. We cast our eyes -towards the barber, and told him, that he had done wrong; if what we -had just heard was true. “Gentlemen,” answered he, raising his -head, which he had till now kept towards the ground, “the silence, -which I have imposed upon myself, while this young man was telling -you his story, ought to prove to you, that he has advanced nothing -that was not the fact; notwithstanding, however, all that he has -told you, I still maintain that I ought to have done what I did; and -I leave you yourselves to judge of it. Was he not thrown into a -situation of great danger, and without my assistance would he so -fortunately have escaped from it? He may, indeed, think himself very -happy to have got free from it with only a lame leg. Was I not -exposed to a much greater danger, in order to get him from a house -where I thought he was so ill treated? Has he then reason to -complain of me, and to attack me with so many injurious reproaches? -You see what we get by serving ungrateful people. He accuses me of -being a chatterer: it is mere calumny. Of seven brothers, of whom -our family consists, I am the very one who speaks least, and yet who -possesses the most wit. In order to convince you of it, Gentlemen, I -have only to relate their history and my own to you. I entreat you -to favour me with your attention. - - - - -THE HISTORY -OF THE BARBER. - - -During the reign of the Caliph Mostanser Billah, [9] a prince so -famous for his great liberality towards the poor, there were ten -robbers, who very much infested the roads in the neighbourhood of -Bagdad; and were for a long time guilty of great depredations and -horrible cruelties. The caliph having been informed of this great -outrage, ordered the judge of the police some days before the feast -of Bairam to come to him: and commanded him, under pain of death, to -bring them all ten before him. The judge of the police was very -active; and sent out so many of his men into the country, that the -ten robbers were taken on the very day of the feast. I happened to -be walking at that time on the banks of the Tigris, where I observed -ten very well dressed men, who embarked on board a boat. I should -have known that they had been robbers, if I had paid any attention -to the guard who accompanied them: but I observed only the robbers -themselves; and thinking that they were men, who were going to enjoy -themselves and pass this day in festivity, I got into the boat at -the same time with them, without saying a word; in hopes that they -would suffer me to accompany them. We rowed down the Tigris, and -they made us land at the caliph’s palace. By this time, I had an -opportunity of recollecting myself; and perceiving that I had formed -a wrong opinion of my companions. When we got out of the boat, we -were surrounded by a fresh party of the guards belonging to the -judge of the police, who bound us and carried us before the caliph. -I suffered myself to be bound like the rest, still without saying a -word: for what use would it have been to me, either to have -remonstrated, or to have made any resistance? It would only have -been the cause of my being ill-treated by the guards, who would have -paid no attention to me; for they are brutes, who will not hear -reason. I was, in fact, with the robbers, and that was quite enough -for them to believe, that I really was one. - -As soon as we were come before the caliph, he ordered these ten -rascals to be punished. “Strike off,” said he, “the heads of -these ten robbers. The executioner immediately ranged us in a line -within reach of his arm, and fortunately I was the very last. He -then, beginning with the first, struck off the heads of the ten -robbers; but when he came to me he stopped. The caliph observing, -that the executioner did not cut off my head, called out in anger, -“Have I not ordered thee to cut off the heads of the ten robbers? -Why then hast thou cut off only nine?”--“Commander of the -Faithful,” replied the executioner, “God forbid, that I should -not execute your majesty’s orders. You may see here ten bodies on -the ground, and as many heads, which I have cut off.” He then -counted them. When the caliph himself saw that the executioner was -right, he looked at me with astonishment; and finding that I did not -possess the countenance of a robber,--“My good old man,” said -he, “by what accident were you found among these wretches, who -deserved a thousand deaths?”--“Commander of the Faithful,” I -replied, “I will tell you the absolute truth: I this morning saw -these ten persons, whose punishment is an illustrious proof of your -majesty’s justice, get into a boat: being fully persuaded, that -they were people, who were going to enjoy themselves in a party to -celebrate this day, which is the most distinguished of our religion, -I embarked with them.” - -The caliph could not help laughing at my adventure; and, quite -contrary to the lame young man, who treated me as a babbler, he -admired my discretion and power of keeping silence. “Commander of -the Faithful,” said I to him, “let not your majesty be -astonished, if I hold my tongue upon any occasion, when another -person would have been most anxious to have spoken. I make it my -particular study to practise silence, and it is from the possession -of this virtue, that I have acquired the glorious title of the -silent man. I am called thus, in order to distinguish me from six -brothers of mine. It is an art, which my philosophy has taught me; -in short, this virtue is the cause of all my glory and my -happiness.”--“I heartily rejoice,” answered the caliph, -smiling, “that they have bestowed a title upon you, of which you -make so excellent a use. But inform me what sort of men your -brothers were: did they at all resemble you?”--“Not in the -least;” I answered, “they were every one chatterers; and in -person there was the greatest difference between us. The first was -hunch-backed; the second was toothless; the third had but one eye; -the fourth was quite blind; the fifth had his ears cut off: the -sixth was hare-lipped. The various adventures which happened to them -would enable your majesty to judge of their characters, if I might -have the honour to relate them.” As I thought the caliph wished -for nothing better than to hear them, I went on without waiting for -his answer. - - - - -THE STORY -OF THE BARBER’S FIRST BROTHER. - - -My eldest brother, Sire, who was called Bacbouc the hunchback, was a -tailor by trade. As soon as his apprenticeship was finished, he -hired a shop, which happened to be opposite a mill; and as he had -not yet got a great deal of business, he found some difficulty in -getting a livelihood. The miller, on the contrary, was very -comfortably off; and had also a very beautiful wife. As my brother -was one morning working in his shop, he happened to look up and -perceived the window of the mill open, and the miller’s wife -looking into the street. He thought her so very handsome, that he -was quite enchanted with her; she, however, paid not the least -attention to him, but shut the window, and did not make her -appearance any more that day. - -In the mean time the poor tailor did nothing but lift up his head, -and kept looking towards the mill all the time he was at work. The -consequence was, that he pricked his fingers very often, and his -work was not that day so neat and regular as usual. When the evening -came, and he was forced to shut up his shop, he had hardly -resolution to set about it, because he still hoped he should again -see the miller’s wife. It was, however, at length absolutely -necessary for him to shut it up and retire to his small house, where -he passed a very bad night. The next morning he got up very early, -and ran to his shop; so impatient was he to behold his mistress. But -he was not more fortunate than the day before, for the miller’s -wife looked out only for one instant during the whole day. That -instant, however, was quite sufficient to render him the most -amorous of men. On the third he had, indeed, more reason to be -satisfied, for the miller’s wife accidentally cast her eyes upon -him, and actually surprised him attentively surveying her; this -readily informed her of what passed in his bosom. - -She had no sooner thus got acquainted with his sentiments, than she -resolved, instead of being angry or vexed at it, to amuse herself -with my brother. She looked at him with a smiling air, which he -returned in the same manner, but so humourously, that she was -obliged to shut the window as quick as possible, for fear her loud -fits of laughter should make him suppose she was turning him into -ridicule. Bacbouc was so innocent, that he interpreted this conduct -in his own favour; and flattered himself, that she had looked upon -him with pleasure. - -The miller’s wife then resolved to gratify her inclination for -humour at my brother’s expence. She happened to have a piece of -handsome stuff, which she had for a long time intended to have made -into a dress. She wrapped it up therefore in a beautiful -handkerchief, embroidered with silk, and sent it to the tailor by a -young female slave of hers. This slave being instructed for the -purpose, came to his shop, and said, “My mistress sends her -salutations to you, and desires you to make a dress out of this -piece of stuff that I have brought, according to the pattern that is -along with it. She very often alters her dress, and you will be very -well pleased with her custom. My brother did not for a moment doubt -but that the miller’s wife was in love with him. He thought that -she had given him this employment so soon after what had passed -between them, only to show that she was well acquainted with the -state of his heart, and to assure him of the progress he had made in -her affections. Impressed with this good opinion of himself, he -desired the slave to tell her mistress, that he would put aside -every other business for hers, and that the dress should be ready by -the next morning. He worked, in short, with so much diligence and -assiduity, that the dress was finished that very day. - -The next morning the young slave came to see if the dress was -finished. Bacbouc immediately gave it her, neatly folded up, and -said, “I have too great an interest to oblige your mistress to -neglect her dress; and I wish, by my diligence, to persuade her to -employ no one else but myself.” The slave then walked a few steps, -as if she was going away; but suddenly turning back, she said in a -low voice to my brother, “I had nearly forgotten, by the by, to -execute one of my commissions; my mistress charged me to make her -compliments to you, and to ask you how you had passed the night; as -for her, she, poor lady, is so much in love with you that she has -not slept a wink.”--“Tell her,” answered my poor simpleton of -a brother, in a transport, “that my passion for her is so violent, -I have not closed my eyes these four nights.” After this kind -speech from the miller’s wife, he flattered himself she would not -let him languish a long time in expectation only of her favors. - -The slave had not left my brother above a quarter of an hour, before -he saw her return with a piece of satin. “My mistress,” said -she, “is quite satisfied with her dress, which fits her as well as -possible; but as it is very handsome, and she is desirous of wearing -it only with a new pair of drawers, she entreats you to make her a -pair as soon as possible, out of this piece of satin.”--“It is -sufficient,” answered Bacbouc, “it shall be done before I leave -my shop to-day; and you have only to come and fetch it in the -evening.” The miller’s wife showed herself very often to my -brother from the window, and was prodigal of her charms in order to -encourage him to work. It was quite a treat to see him stitching. -The drawers were soon made, and the slave came to take them; but she -brought the tailor no money, either for what he had laid out in the -trimmings for both the dress and the drawers, or to pay him for -making of either. In the mean time this unfortunate lover, who thus -diverted them, without knowing he was made a fool of, had eaten -nothing the whole of that day; and was obliged to borrow some money -to purchase a supper. - -The day following, as soon as he was come to his shop, the young -slave came to him, and told him the miller wished to speak to him. -“My mistress,” added she, “has shown him your work, and has -said so much in your favor, that he also wants you to work for him. -She has acted thus, because she wishes that the intercourse and -connection which thus will be formed between you and him, should be -a means of enabling you both to succeed in what you so much desire. -My brother was easily persuaded of this, and went with the slave to -the mill. The miller gave him a good reception, and showing him a -piece of cloth, “I have occasion,” said he, “for some shirts, -and wish you to make me twenty out of this piece of cloth: if there -be any remain you will bring it back.” - -My brother was obliged to work for five or six days before he -finished the twenty shirts for the miller; who, immediately after, -gave him another piece of cloth to make him as many pair of drawers. -When they were finished, Bacbouc carried them to the miller, who -asked him what was his demand for his trouble. My brother upon this -said, that he should be satisfied with twenty drachms of silver. The -miller immediately called the young slave, and ordered her to bring -the scales, to see if the money he was going to pay was weight. The -slave, who knew her part, looked at my brother angrily, to make him -understand, that he would spoil every thing if he received the -money. He understood her very well; and therefore refused to take -any of the silver, although he was so much in want of it, that he -had been obliged to borrow some in order to purchase the thread, -with which he had made the shirts and the drawers. When he left the -miller, he came directly to me, and entreated me to lend him a -trifle to buy some food, telling me that his customers did not pay -him. I gave him some copper money which I had in my purse, upon -which he lived for some days. It is true, he eat only broth, nor -even with that did he ever get a sufficient meal. - -My brother one day went into the miller’s, who was busy about his -mill; and thinking my brother might come to ask for his money, he -offered it him: but the young slave, who was present, again, by -signs to him, prevented his accepting any, and made him tell the -miller in answer, that he did not come on that account, but only to -inquire after his health. The miller thanked him for his kindness, -and gave him an outside robe to make. Bacbouc brought it home the -next day: when the miller took out his purse: but the young slave -coming in at that moment, looked at my brother, who then said to the -miller; “There is no hurry, neighbour, we will settle the business -another time.” Thus the poor dupe returned to his shop with three -great evils; he was in love, he was hungry, and he was pennyless. - -The miller’s wife was both avaricious and wicked. She was not -satisfied with preventing my brother from receiving what was due to -him, but she excited her husband to revenge himself for the love -which the tailor professed for her; the means which they took were -the following. The miller invited Bacbouc one evening to supper; and -after having treated him with but indifferent fare, he thus -addressed him: “It is too late, brother, for you to return home; -you had much better, therefore, sleep here.” After having thus -spoken, he showed him a place where there was a bed; and having left -him there, he returned, and went with his wife to the room where -they were accustomed to sleep. In the middle of the night the miller -came back to my brother, he called out to him, “are you asleep, -neighbour? My mule is taken suddenly ill, and I have a great deal of -corn to grind; you will therefore do me a very great favor if you -would turn the mill in his place.” To prove to him that he was a -man willing to oblige him, he answered that he was ready to render -him this service if he would only show him how he was to set about -it. The miller then fastened him by the middle of his body, like a -mule, to make him turn the mill; and immediately giving him a good -cut upon the loins with the whip, “Get on neighbour,” he cried. -“Why do you strike me?” answered my brother.--“It is only to -encourage you;” replied the miller, “for without that my mule -will not stir a step.” Bacbouc was astonished at this treatment; -nevertheless he durst not complain of it. When he had gone five or -six rounds, he wished to rest himself, but the miller immediately -gave him a dozen sharp cuts with the whip; calling out, “Courage -neighbour, don’t stop, I entreat you: you must go on without -taking breath, otherwise you will spoil my flour.” - -The miller thus obliged my brother to turn the mill during the rest -of the night. And as soon as daylight appeared, he went away without -unfastening him, and returned to his wife’s chamber. Bacbouc -remained some time in this situation. At last the young slave came, -who untied him; “Alas! how my good mistress and myself have pitied -you,” cried the cunning slave, “we are not at all to blame for -what you have suffered; we have had no share in the wicked trick -which her husband has played you.” The unfortunate Bacbouc -answered not a word, so much was he fatigued and bruised with the -beating. He got, however, back to his own house, and firmly resolved -to think no more of the miller’s wife. The recital of this -history, continued the barber, made the caliph laugh, “Go,” said -he to me, “return home; they shall give you something, by my -order, to console you for having lost the festivities which you -expected.”--“Commander of the Faithful,” replied I, “I -entreat your majesty not to think of giving me any thing till I have -related the histories of my other brothers.” The caliph having -shown, by his silence, that he was disposed to listen to me, I -continued as follows: - - - - -THE HISTORY -OF THE BARBER’S SECOND BROTHER. - - -My second brother, who was called Bakbarah, the toothless, walking -one day through the city, met an old woman in a retired street. She -thus accosted him. “I have,” said she, “a word to say to you, -if you will stay a moment.” He immediately stopped, and asked her -what she wished. “If you have time to go with me,” she replied, -“I will carry you to a most magnificent palace, where you shall -see a lady more beautiful than the day. She will receive you with a -great deal of pleasure; and will treat you with a collation and -excellent wine. I have no occasion, I believe, to say any -more.”--“But is what you tell me,” replied my brother, -“true?”--“I am not given to lying,” replied the old woman. -“I propose nothing to you but what is the fact. You must, however, -pay attention to what I require of you. You must be prudent, speak -little, and you must comply with every thing.” Bakbarah having -agreed to the conditions, she walked on before, and he followed her. -They arrived at the gate of a large palace, where there were a great -number of officers and servants. Some of them wished to stop my -brother, but the old woman no sooner spoke to them, than they let -him pass. She then turned to my brother and said, “Remember, that -the young lady to whose house I have brought you, is fond of -mildness and modesty; nor does she like being contradicted. If you -satisfy her in this, there is no doubt but you will obtain from her -whatever you wish.” Bakbarah thanked her for this advice, and -promised to profit by it. - -She then carried him into a very beautiful apartment, which formed -part of a square building. It corresponded with the magnificence of -the palace: there was a gallery all round it; and in the midst of it -was a very fine garden. The old woman made him sit down on a sofa -that was handsomely furnished; and desired him to wait there a -moment, till she went to inform the young lady of his arrival. - -As my brother had never before been in so superb a place, he -immediately began to observe all the beautiful things that were in -sight; and judging of his good fortune by the magnificence he -beheld, he could hardly contain his joy. He almost immediately heard -a great noise, which came from a long troop of slaves, who were -enjoying themselves, and came towards him, bursting out at the same -time into violent fits of laughter. In the midst of them he -perceived a young lady of most extraordinary beauty, whom he -discovered to be their mistress, by the attention they paid her. -Bakbarah, who expected merely a private conversation with the lady, -was very much surprised at the arrival of so large a company. In the -mean time, the slaves putting on a serious air, approached him; and -when the young lady was near the sofa, my brother, who had risen up, -made a most profound reverence. She took the seat of honor, and -then, having requested him to resume his, she said to him in a -smiling manner:--“I am delighted to see you, and wish you every -thing you can yourself desire.”--“Madam,” replied Bakbarah, -“I cannot wish a greater honor than that of appearing before -you.”--“You seem to me,” she replied, “of so good-humoured a -disposition, that we shall pass our time very agreeably together. - -She immediately ordered a collation, to be served up; and they -covered the table with baskets of various fruits and sweetmeats. She -then sat down at the table along with my brother and the slaves. As -it happened that he was placed directly opposite to her, as soon as -he opened his mouth to eat, she observed he had no teeth; she -remarked this to her slaves, and they all laughed immoderately at -it. Bakbarah, who from time to time raised his head to look at the -lady, and saw that she was laughing, imagined it was from the -pleasure she felt at being in his company; and flattered himself, -therefore, that she would soon order the slaves to retire, and that -he should enjoy her conversation in private. The lady easily guessed -his thoughts, and took a pleasure in continuing a delusion which -seemed so agreeable to him: she said a thousand soft tender things -to him; she presented the best of every thing to him with her own -hand. - -When the collation was finished, she arose from table: ten slaves -instantly took some musical instruments, and began to play and sing; -the others to dance. In order to make himself the more agreeable, my -brother also began dancing, and the young lady herself partook of -the amusement. After they had danced for sometime, they all sat down -to take breath. The lady ordered them to bring her a glass of wine, -then cast a smile at my brother, to intimate that she was going to -drink his health. He instantly rose up and stood while she drank. As -soon as she had finished, instead of returning the glass, she had it -filled again, and presented it to my brother, that he might pledge -her. - -Bakbarah took the glass, and in receiving it from the young lady, he -kissed her hand; then drank to her, standing the whole time, to show -his gratitude for the favor she had done him. After this, the young -lady made him sit down by her side, and began to give him signs of -affection. She put her arm round his neck, and frequently gave him -gentle pats with her hand. Delighted with these favors, he thought -himself the happiest man in the world; he also was tempted to begin -to play in the same manner with this charming person, but he durst -not take this liberty before the slaves, who had their eyes upon -him, and who continued to laugh at this trifling. The young lady -still kept giving him such gentle taps; at last she began to apply -them so forcibly, that he grew angry at it. He reddened, and got up -to sit further from so rude a playfellow. At this moment, the old -woman who had brought my brother there, looked at him in such a way -as to make him understand that he was wrong, and had forgotten the -advice she had before given him. He acknowledged his fault; and to -repair it, he again approach the young lady, pretending that he had -not gone to a distance through anger. She then took hold of him by -the arm, and drew him towards her; making him again sit down close -by her, and continuing to bestow a thousand pretended caresses on -him. Her slaves, whose only aim was to divert her, began to take a -part in the sport. One of them gave poor Bakbarah a fillip on the -nose with all her strength; another pulled his ears almost off, -while the rest kept giving him slaps; which passed the limits of -raillery and fun. - -My brother bore all this with the most exemplary patience: he even -affected an air of gaiety; and looked at the old woman with a forced -smile. “You were right,” said he, “when you said that I should -find a very fine, agreeable, and charming young lady. How much am I -obliged to you for it!”--“Oh, this is nothing yet,” replied -the old woman, “let her alone, and you will see a very different -thing by and by.”--The young lady then spoke: “You are a brave -man,” said she to my brother, “and I am delighted at finding in -you so much kindness and complaisance towards all my little -fooleries, and that you possess a disposition so conformable to -mine.”--“Madam,” replied Bakbarah, ravished with this speech, -“I am no longer myself, but am entirely at your disposal; you have -full power to do with me as you please.”--“You afford me the -greatest happiness,” added the lady, “by showing so much -submission to my inclination. I am perfectly satisfied with you; and -I wish that you should be equally so with me. Bring,” cried she to -the attendants, “perfumes and rose-water.” At these words two -slaves went out and instantly returned, one with a silver vase, in -which there was exquisite aloe-wood, with which she perfumed him, -and the other with rose-water, which she sprinkled over his face and -hands. My brother could not contain himself for joy, at seeing -himself so handsomely and honorably treated. - -When this ceremony was finished, the young lady commanded the -slaves, who had before sung and played, to recommence their -concerts. They obeyed, and while this was going on, the lady called -another slave, and ordered her to take my brother with her, saying, -“you know what to do, and when you have finished, return with him -to me.” Bakbarah, who heard this order given, immediately got up, -and going towards the old woman, who had also risen to accompany the -slave, he requested her to tell him what they wished him to do. -“Our mistress,” replied she, in a whisper, “is extremely -curious; and she wishes to see how you would look disguised as a -female; this slave, therefore, has orders to take you with her, to -paint your eyebrows, shave your mustachios, and dress you like a -woman.”--“You may paint my eyebrows,” said my brother, “as -much as you please; to that I readily agree, because I can wash them -again; but as to shaving me, that, mind you, I will by no means -suffer. How do you think I dare appear without my -mustachios?”--“Take care,” answered the woman, “how you -oppose any thing that is required of you. You will quite spoil your -fortune, which is going on as prosperously as possible. She loves -you, and wishes to make you happy. Will you, for the sake of a -paltry mustachio, forego the most delicious favors any man can -possibly enjoy?” - -Bakbarah at length yielded to the old woman’s arguments; and, -without saying another word, he suffered the slave to conduct him to -an apartment, where they painted his eyebrows red. They shaved his -mustachios, and were absolutely going to shave his beard. But the -easiness of my brother’s temper did not carry him quite so far as -to suffer that. “Not a single stroke,” he exclaimed, “shall -you take at my beard.” The slave represented to him, that it was -of no use to have cut off his mustachios, if he would not also agree -to lose his beard: that a hairy countenance did not at all coincide -with the dress of a woman; and that she was astonished, that a man -who was on the very point of possessing the most beautiful woman in -Bagdad, should care for his beard. The old woman also joined with -the slave, and added fresh reasons; she threatened my brother with -being quite in disgrace with her mistress. In short, she said so -much, that he at last permitted them to do what they wished. - -As soon as they had dressed him like a woman, they brought him back -to the young lady, who burst into so violent a fit of laughter at -the sight of him, that she fell down on the sofa in which she was -sitting. The slaves all began to clap their hands, so that my -brother was put quite out of countenance. The young lady then got -up, and continuing to laugh all the time, said, “After the -complaisance you have shown to me, I should be guilty of a crime not -to bestow my whole heart upon you; but it is necessary that you -should do one thing more for love of me; it is only to dance before -me as you are.” He obeyed; and the young lady and the slaves -danced with him, laughing all the while, as if they were crazy. -After they had danced for some time, they all threw themselves upon -the poor wretch, and gave him so many blows, both with their hands -and feet, that he fell down almost fainting. The old woman came to -his assistance, and without giving him time to be angry at such -ill-treatment, she whispered in his ear, “Console yourself, for -you are now arrived at the conclusion of your sufferings, and are -about to receive the reward for them. You have only one thing more -to do,” added she, “and that is a mere trifle. You must know -that my mistress makes it her custom, whenever she has drank a -little, as she has done to-day, not to suffer any one she loves to -come near her, unless they are stripped to their shirt. When they -are in this situation, she takes advantage of a short distance, and -begins running before them through the gallery, and from room to -room, till they have caught her. This is one of her fancies. Now, at -whatever distance from you she may start, you, who are so light and -active, can easily overtake her. Undress yourself, therefore, -quickly, and remain in your shirt, and do not make any difficulty -about it.” - -My brother had already carried his complying humour too far to stop -at this. The young lady at the same time took off her robe in order -to run with greater ease, and remained only in her drawers. When -they were both ready to begin the race, the lady took the advantage -of about twenty paces, and then started with wonderful celerity. My -brother followed her with all his strength; but not without exciting -the risibility of the slaves, who kept clapping their hands all the -time. The young lady, instead of losing any of the advantage she had -first taken, kept continually gaining ground of my brother. She ran -round the gallery two or three times, then turned off down a long -dark passage, where she saved herself by a turn of which my brother -was ignorant. Bakbarah, who kept constantly following her, lost -sight of her in this passage; and he was also obliged to run much -slower, because it was so dark. He at last perceived a light, -towards which he made all possible haste; he went out through a -door, which was instantly shut upon him. - -You may easily imagine what was his astonishment, at finding himself -in the middle of a street inhabited by curriers. Nor were they less -surprised at seeing him in his shirt, his eyebrows painted red, and -without either beard or mustachios. They began to clap their hands, -to hoot at him; and some even ran after him, and kept lashing him -with strips of their leather. They then stopped him, and set him on -an ass, which they accidentally met with, and led him through the -city, exposed to the laughter and shouts of the mob. - -To complete his misfortune, they led him through the street where -the judge of the police lived, and this magistrate immediately sent -to inquire into the cause of the uproar. The curriers informed him -that they saw my brother, exactly in the state he then was, come out -of the gate leading to the apartments of the women belonging to the -grand vizier, which opened into their street. The judge then ordered -the unfortunate Bakbarah, upon the spot, to receive a hundred -strokes upon the soles of his feet, to be conducted without the -city, and forbid him ever to enter it again. - -This, Commander of the Faithful, said I to the caliph Mostanser -Billah, is the history of my second brother, which I wished to -relate to your majesty. He knew not, poor fellow, that the ladies of -our great and powerful lords amuse themselves by making such fun as -this with any young man, who is silly enough to trust himself in -their hands. - -The barber then went on without any interruption to the history of -his third brother. - - - - -THE HISTORY -OF THE BARBER’S THIRD BROTHER. - - -Commander of the Faithful (said he to the caliph) my third brother, -who was called Bakbac, was quite blind, and his destiny was so -wretched, he was reduced to beg, and passed his life in going from -door to door, asking charity. He had been accustomed to walk through -the streets alone for so long a time, that he had no occasion for -any one to lead him. He always used to knock at the different doors, -and never to answer till they came and opened them. - -He happened one day to knock at the door of a house, the master of -which was quite alone. “Who is there?” he called out. My brother -made no answer, but knocked a second time. Again did the master of -the house inquire who was at the door, but no one answered. He then -came down, opened the door, and asked my brother what he wanted. -“That you will bestow something upon me for the love of God,” -answered Bakbac.--“You seem to me to be blind,” said the master -of the house. “Alas, it is true,” replied my brother, “Hold -out your hand,” cried the other. My brother, supposing it was to -receive something, immediately put his hand out; but the master of -the house only took hold of it to assist him in going up-stairs to -his apartment. Bakbac imagined it was for the purpose of giving him -some food; as that had often happened to him at other houses. When -they were both in the chamber, the master of the house let my -brother’s hand go, and sat down in his place; he then again asked -him what it was he wanted. “I have already told you,” replied -Bakbac, “that I request a trifle of you, for the love of -God.”--“My good blind man,” answered the master, “all I can -do for you is to wish that God would restore your sight to -you.”--“You might have told me that at the door,” said my -brother, and spared me the difficulty of coming -up-stairs.”--“And why, good innocent man as you are,” replied -the other, “did you not answer me after you had knocked the first -time, and when I asked you what you wanted? What is the reason you -give people the trouble of coming down to open the door, when they -speak to you?”--“What then do you mean to do for me?” said -Bakbac.--“I tell you again,” replied the master, “that I have -nothing to give you?”--“Help me at least to go down again, as -you brought me up,” said my brother.”--“The staircase is -before you,” answered he, “and if you wish it, you may go down -alone.” My brother then began to descend, but missing his step -about half way down, he fell to the bottom, and bruised his head and -strained his loins very much. He got up, but not without pain, and -went away muttering at and abusing the master of the house, who did -nothing but laugh at his fall. - -As he was going from the house, two of his companions, who were also -blind, happened to pass by, and knew his voice. They stopped to ask -him what success he had met with: on which he told them what had -just befallen him; and added, that he had received nothing during -the whole day. “I conjure you,” continued he, “to accompany me -home, that I may, in your presence, take some of the money which we -have in store among us, to buy something for my supper.” The two -blind men agreed to it, and he conducted them home. - -It is necessary in this place to observe, that the man of the house -in which my brother had been so ill-treated, was a thief, and by -nature both cunning and malicious. He had overheard, by means of his -window, what Bakbac had said to his comrades; he therefore came down -stairs and followed them; and went with them, unobserved, into an -old woman’s house, where my brother lodged. As soon as they were -seated, Bakbac said to the other two, “We must shut the door, -brothers, and take care that there is no stranger among us.” At -these words the robber was very much embarrassed; but perceiving a -rope that hung from a beam in the middle of the room, he took hold -of it, and suspended himself in the air while the blind men shut the -door and felt all round the room with their sticks. When this -ceremony was concluded, and they were again seated, he let go the -rope and sat down by the side of my brother, without making any -noise. The latter thinking there was no one besides his blind -companions thus addressed them: “As you have made me, comrades, -the banker for all the money we three have collected for a long time -past, I wish to prove to you that I am not unworthy of the trust you -have reposed in me. The last time we reckoned, you know we had ten -thousand drachms, and we put them into ten bags: I will now show you -that I have not touched one of them.” Having said this, he put his -hands among some old rags and clothes, and drew out the ten bags, -one after the other; and giving them to his companions, “Here,” -said he, “are all the bags, and you may judge by the weight, that -they are quite full; or you may count them if you like it better.” -They answered that they were perfectly satisfied with his honesty. -He then opened one of the bags, and took out ten drachms, and the -other two blind men did the same. - -After this my brother replaced the bags in the same spot. One of the -blind men then said, there was no occasion for them to spend any -thing for supper that night, as he had received, from the charity of -some good people, sufficient provisions for all three; he instantly -took out of his wallet some bread, cheese, and fruit, and put all of -them upon a table. They then began to eat; and the robber, who sat -on the right hand of my brother, chose the best, and eat of every -thing with them: but in spite of all the precaution he used to avoid -making the least noise, Bakbac heard him chew, and instantly -exclaimed, “We are lost; there is a stranger among us.” While he -was saying this he stretched out his hand, and seized the robber by -the arm. He then threw himself upon him; calling out Thief! and -giving him many blows with his fist. The other blind men also -instantly called out, and beat the robber, who on his part defended -himself as well as he could. As he was both strong and active, and -had the advantage of seeing where he placed his blows, he laid about -him most furiously, first on one and then the other, whenever he was -able, and called out “Thieves, robbers,” more clamorously than -his enemies. - -The neighbours immediately assembled at the noise, broke open the -door, and had much difficulty to separate the combatants. Having at -last put an end to the fray, they inquired the cause of their -disagreement. “Gentlemen,” cried my brother, who had not yet let -the robber go, “this man, whom I have got hold of is a thief, who -came in here with us for the purpose of robbing us of the little -money we possess.” The robber, who as soon as he saw the people -enter, had shut his eyes, and pretended to be blind, said, “He is -a liar, gentlemen; and I swear by the name of God, and by the life -of the caliph, that I am one of their companions and associates, and -that they refuse to give me the share which belongs to me. They all -three set themselves against me, and I demand justice.” The -neighbours, who did not wish to interfere with their disputes, -carried them all four before the judge of the police. - -When they were come before this magistrate, the robber, still -pretending to be blind, without waiting till they were interrogated, -said, “Since you, my lord, have been appointed to administer -justice in behalf of the caliph, whose power may God prosper, I will -declare to you that we are all equally culpable. But as we have -pledged ourselves under an oath, not to reveal any thing except we -receive the bastinado, if you wish to be informed of our crime, you -have only to order it to be given to us; and you may begin with -me.” My brother now wished to speak, but they compelled him to -hold his tongue. They then began to bastinado the robber. - -He had the resolution to bear twenty or thirty strokes; and then -pretending to be overcome with pain, he first opened one eye, and -soon after the other; calling out at the same time for mercy, and -begging the judge of the police to order them to remit his -punishment. At seeing the robber with both eyes open, the judge was -very much astonished. “Scoundrel,” he cried, “what does this -strange thing mean?”--“My lord,” replied the robber, “I will -discover a most important secret, if you will have the goodness to -pardon me; and as a pledge that you will keep your word, give me the -ring you have on your finger, and which you often use as a seal. I -am then ready to reveal the whole mystery to you.” - -The judge ordered his people to stop the punishment, and promised to -pardon him. “Upon the faith of this promise,” replied the -robber, “I now declare to you, my lord, that both my companions -and myself are possessed of most excellent eye-sight. We all four -feign blindness, in order to have the power of entering houses -without molestation, and even penetrating into the apartments of the -women, whose weakness we sometimes take advantage of. I moreover -confess to you, that we have collected in common, at least ten -thousand drachms by this cunning trick. This morning I demanded of -my companions two thousand five hundred drachms, which came to my -share; but because I declared I would break off all connection with -them and retire, and from fear that I should discover their -artifice, they refused to give them me; on my continuing to insist -upon my share, they all fell upon me, and ill-treated me in a -violent manner, as I can prove by the people who have brought us -before you. I wait here for you to administer justice, my lord, and -that you will make them deliver up the two thousand five hundred -drachms, which are my due. And if you wish that my comrades should -acknowledge the truth of what I advance, order them to receive three -times as many blows as you have given me, and you will see them open -their eyes as I did.” - -My brother and the other two blind men wished to convince the judge -of this infamous imposture, but he would not hear a word. -“Rascals,” cried he, “is it thus then that you counterfeit -blindness, and go about deceiving people, under pretence of exciting -their charity, and are thus enabled to be guilty of such wicked -actions?”--“He is an impostor,” exclaimed my brother, “it is -false, that we are able to see at all, and we are ready to take God -to witness of it.” - -Whatever my brother could say, was nevertheless useless; both he and -his companions received two hundred strokes of the bastinado. The -judge every moment expected them to open their eyes, and attributed -to their great obstinacy, what it was impossible for them to do. -During the whole of this time, the robber kept saying to the blind -men, “My good fellows, open your eyes, and do not wait till you -almost die under the punishment.” Then addressing himself to the -judge of the police, he added, “I see very well, my lord, that -they will carry their obstinacy so far, that they will never open -their eyes; they are without doubt anxious to avoid the shame of -reading their own condemnation in the countenances of those who -surround them. It is better to pardon them now, and send some one -with me to take the ten thousand drachms they have concealed.” - -The judge did not intend to neglect doing this; he therefore -commanded one of his people to accompany the robber, and they -brought the ten bags back with them. He then ordered two thousand -five hundred drachms to be counted out and given to the robber, and -kept the remainder for himself. With respect to my brother and his -companions, he was satisfied with ordering them into banishment, -which punishment he thought light enough. I was no sooner informed -of what had happened to Bakbac, than I sought him out. He related -his misfortune to me, and I brought him privately back into the -city. I should have been able, I have no doubt, to have proved the -innocence of my brother before the judge of the police, and to have -had the robber punished as he deserved, but I dared not undertake it -for fear of bringing some misfortune upon my own head. - -This is the conclusion of the melancholy adventure of my third -brother, who was blind. The caliph did not laugh less at this than -he had done at those he had before heard. He again ordered me to -receive something more; but without waiting till they had done so, I -began the history of my fourth brother. - - - - -THE HISTORY -OF THE BARBER’S FOURTH BROTHER. - - -The name by which my fourth brother was called, was Alcouz. He lost -his eye in the manner I shall have the honour to relate to your -majesty. He was a butcher by trade! and as he had a particular -talent in bringing up rams, and teaching them to fight, he from this -circumstance acquired the friendship and knowledge of some of the -principal people; who were much amused with these sorts of combats, -and who even kept rams for this very purpose at their own houses. He -had, besides, a very good business; and there was always in his shop -the finest and most beautiful meat that was to be found in the -market; because he was very rich, and did not spare expense in order -to have the best. - -As he was one day in his shop, an old man, who had a very long and -white beard, came in to purchase six pounds of meat; he then paid -his money and went away. My brother observed, that his money was -very beautiful, new, and well coined. He resolved, therefore, to lay -it by in a separate part of his closet. During five months the same -old man came regularly every day for the same quantity of meat, and -paid for it with the same sort of money, which my brother as -regularly continued to lay by. - -At the end of five months, Alcouz, having an inclination to make a -purchase of a certain quantity of sheep, resolved to pay for them -out of this particular money; the therefore went to his box, and -opened it; but he was in the greatest astonishment, when he -discovered, instead of his money, only a parcel of leaves cut round. -He immediately began to beat himself, and made so great a noise, -that he brought all his neighbours about him; whose surprise was as -great as his own, when he informed them of what had passed. “I -wish to God,” cried my brother, with tears in his eyes, “that -this treacherous old man would at this instant make his appearance -with his hypocritical face.” He had hardly spoken these words, -when he saw him coming along at a distance. He ran in the greatest -hurry to meet him, and having seized hold of him; “Mussulmen,” -he vociferated with all his force, “assist me; only listen to the -shameful trick that this infamous man has played me.” He then -related to a large crowd of people, who had collected round him, the -same story he had before done to his neighbours. When he had -finished his tale, the old man, without the least emotion, quietly -answered, You would do much better to let me go, and by this action -make reparation for the affront you have thus offered me before so -many people; lest I should return you the compliment in a more -serious manner, which I should be sorry to do.”--“And what have -you, pray, to say against me?” replied my brother, “I am an -honest man in my business, and I fear you not.”--“You wish, -then, that I should make it public,” returned the old man, in the -same tone of voice. “Learn then,” added he, addressing himself -to the people, “that instead of selling the flesh of sheep, as he -ought to do, this man sells human flesh.”--“You are an -impostor,” cried my brother.”--“No, no,” answered the other; -for at this very moment I am speaking, there is a man with his -throat cut, hanging up on the outside of your shop like a sheep. Let -them go there, and we shall soon know, whether I have spoken the -truth.” - -Before my brother had opened the box where the leaves were, he had -that morning killed a sheep, and had dressed and exposed it on the -outside of his shop as usual. He therefore protested that what the -old man had said was false; but in spite of all his protestations, -the credulous mob, enraged at the idea of a man’s being guilty of -so shocking a crime, wished to be assured of the fact on the spot. -They therefore obliged my brother to let the old man go, and laid -hold of him instead, and ran like fury to his shop, where they saw a -man with his throat cut; and hung up exactly as the accuser had -stated: for this old man was, in fact, a magician, and had deceived -the eyes of all the people, as he had formerly done my brother, when -he made him take the leaves he had given him, for real good money. - -At sight of this, one of those who held Alcouz gave him a great blow -with his fist, and at the same time said, “Is it thus then, -rascal, that you make us eat human flesh?” The old man also, who -had not left them, immediately gave him another blow, that knocked -out one of his eyes. Every one, who could get near him, was not -deficient in beating him. Nor were they satisfied with ill-treating -him in this manner; they conducted him before the judge of the -police, before whom they produced the pretended carcase, which they -had taken down and brought with them, as a proof of the accused -person’s guilt. “My lord,” said the old magician to him, -“you see before you a man, who is so barbarous as to kill men, and -sell their flesh for that of sheep. The public expect that you will -punish him in an exemplary manner.” The judge of the police -attended to what my brother had to say with great patience, but the -story of the money, changed into leaves, appeared so little worthy -of belief, that he treated my brother as an impostor; and choosing -to give credit to his own eyes, he ordered him to receive five -hundred blows. After this, having obliged him to discover where his -money was, he took the whole of it from him, and condemned him to -perpetual banishment, after having exposed him for three successive -days, mounted on a camel, to all the city. - -At the time that this dreadful adventure happened to Alcouz, my -fourth brother, I was absent from Bagdad. He retired to a very -obscure part, where he remained concealed till the wounds his -punishment produced, were healed. It was chiefly on the back that he -had been so beaten. As soon as he was able to walk he travelled, -during the night and through unfrequented roads, to a city where he -was known to no one! there he took a lodging, from whence he hardly -ever stirred. Tired, however, at last of living so recluse a life, -he one day went to walk in the suburbs of the town, when he suddenly -heard a great noise of horsemen coming along behind him. He happened -just at this instant to be near the door of a large house; and as he -was apprehensive of every body, after what had passed, he fancied -that these horsemen were in pursuit of him in order to arrest him. -He therefore opened the door for the purpose of concealing himself. -After having shut it again, he went into a large court, where he had -no sooner appeared than two domestics came up to him and seized him -by the collar, saying, “God be praised that you have come of your -own free will, to give yourself up. You have disturbed us so much -for these last three nights, we have been unable to sleep; and you -have spared our lives only because we have prevented your base -intention of taking them.” - -You may easily imagine that my brother was not a little surprised at -this sort of welcome. “My good friends,” said he to them, “I -really know not what you wish of me; you without doubt take me for -another person.”--“No, no,” replied they, “we are not -ignorant that you and your comrades are free-booters. You were not -satisfied with having robbed our master of all he possessed, and -reducing him to beggary, but even wished to take his life. Let us -see if you have not the knife about you, which you had in your hand -when we pursued you last night.” Having said this, they began to -search him, and perceived that he had a knife. “So, so,” cried -they in taking it, “and have you the assurance still to deny that -you are a robber?”--“What,” then answered my brother, -“cannot a man carry a knife in his pocket, without being a thief? -Listen to my story,” added he, “and instead of having a bad -opinion of me, you will even be affected at my misfortunes.” So -far, however, were they from listening to it, that they immediately -fell upon him, trod upon him, pulled off his clothes, tore his -shirt; and then observing the scars upon his back, “Ah, rascal,” -they cried, redoubling their blows, “do you wish to make us -believe you are an honest man, when your back is so covered with -scars?”--“Alas,” cried my brother, “my sins must be very -great, since, after having been once before so unjustly treated, I -am served so a second time without being the least culpable.” - -The two servants paid no attention to my brother’s complaints; but -carried him before the judge of the police. “How dare you,” said -the judge, “break into people’s houses, and pursue them with a -knife in your hand?”--“My lord,” answered poor Alcouz, “I am -one of the most innocent men in the world. I shall be undone, if you -will not do me the favour patiently to listen to me. No person is -more worthy of compassion than I am.”--“Sir,” cried one of the -domestics at this instant, “will you listen for a moment to a -robber, who breaks into people’s houses, pillages them, and -murders the inhabitants? If you refuse to give us credit, look at -his back, and that will prove enough.” When he had said this, they -uncovered my brother’s back, and showed it to the judge, who -immediately ordered him to receive upon the spot a hundred strokes, -with a leathern strap, on his shoulders, without inquiring any -farther into the matter: he then commanded him to be led through the -city upon a camel, with a crier going before him, calling out, -“this is the way they punish those who forcibly break into -houses.” - -When this ceremony was over, they set him down without the town, and -forbad him ever to enter it again. Some people, who accidentally met -him after this second disgraceful event, informed me where he was. I -directly set out to find him, and then brought him secretly to -Bagdad, where I did every thing, as far as I was able, to assist him. - -The caliph Mostanser Billah (continued the barber), did not laugh so -much at this history as at the others; for he had the goodness of -heart to commiserate the unfortunate Alcouz. He then wished to give -me something, and send me away; but without giving them time to obey -his orders, I said, “You may now have observed, most sovereign -lord and master, that I speak very little. Since your majesty has -had the goodness to listen to me thus far, and as you express a wish -to hear the adventures of my two other brothers, I hope and trust -they will not afford you less amusement than what you have already -heard. You may then make a most complete history of them, which will -not be unworthy of being placed amongst your archives.” - - - - -THE HISTORY -OF THE BARBER’S FIFTH BROTHER. - - -I have the honour to inform you, that the name of my fifth brother -was Alnaschar, who, while he lived with my father, was excessively -idle: instead of working for his bread, he was not ashamed of -demanding sufficient for his support every evening, and to live upon -it the next day. Our father at last died at a very advanced period -of life, and all he left us consisted of seven hundred drachms of -silver. We divided it equally among us, and each took one hundred -for his share. Alnaschar, who had never before been in possession of -so much money at a time, found himself very much embarrassed with -the disposal of it. He debated a long time in his own mind on this -subject, and at last determined to lay it out in the purchase of -glasses, bottles, and other glass articles, which he went to get at -a large wholesale merchant’s. He put the whole of his stock into -an open basket, and fixed upon a very small shop, where he sat down -with the basket before him; and, leaning his back against the wall, -waited for customers to buy his merchandise. - -While he was remaining in this attitude, with his eyes fixed upon -his basket, he began to meditate; and in the midst of his reverie, -he pronounced the following speech sufficiently loud for a tailor, -who was his neighbour, to hear him. “This basket,” said he, -“cost me one hundred drachms, and that is all I am worth in the -world. In selling its contents by retail, I shall do well in making -two hundred drachms: and of these two hundred which I shall employ -again in glass ware, I shall make four hundred drachms. By -continuing this traffic, I shall, in process of time, amass the sum -of four thousand drachms. With these four thousand, I shall easily -make eight. And as soon as I am worth ten thousand, I will leave off -selling glass ware and turn jeweller. I will then deal in diamonds, -pearls, and all sorts of precious stones. When I shall be in -possession of as much wealth as I wish, I will purchase a beautiful -house, large estates, eunuchs, slaves, and horses. I will entertain -handsomely and largely, and shall make some noise in the world. I -will make all the musicians and dancers, both male and female, who -live in the city, come to my house. Nor will I remain satisfied, -till I have realized, if it shall please God, one hundred thousand -drachms. And when I shall become thus rich, I shall think myself -equal to a prince; and I will send and demand the daughter of the -grand vizier in marriage, and represent to him that I have heard -most astonishing reports of the beauty, wisdom, wit, and every other -good quality of his daughter: and in short, that I will bestow upon -her, the very night of our nuptials, a thousand pieces of gold. If -the vizier should be so ill-bred as to refuse me his daughter, -though I know that will not be the case, I will go and take her away -before his face, and bring her home in spite of him. - -As soon as I shall have married the grand vizier’s daughter, I -will purchase ten very young and well-made black eunuchs for her. I -will dress myself like a prince; and will parade through the town, -mounted on a fine horse, the saddle of which shall be of pure gold, -and the caparisons of gold stuff, relieved with diamonds and pearls. -I will be accompanied by slaves, who shall go both before and behind -me, and will thus proceed to the palace of the vizier, with the eyes -of all fixed upon me, both nobles and others, who will make me the -most profound reverence as I go along. When I shall have dismounted -at the grand vizier’s, and come to the bottom of the staircase, I -will ascend between my people, ranged in two rows to the right and -left; and the grand vizier, in receiving me for his son-in-law, -shall give me his place, and seat himself before me, in order to -show me the more respect. If all this should happen, as I hope it -will, two of my men shall have a purse, each containing one thousand -pieces of gold, which I had ordered them to bring. I will then take -one of them, and in presenting it to the grand vizier will say, -“Behold the thousand pieces of gold, which I have promised you on -the first night of my marriage.” Then offering him the other, I -will add, “This is not all; to show you that I am a man of my -word, and to prove that I give you more than I promise, receive this -other purse of equal value.” After such an act as this, my -generosity will be the conversation of all the world. - -I will then return home with the same pomp. My wife shall send some -officer to compliment me on my visit to her father. I will bestow a -beautiful robe of honor on the officer, and send him back with a -rich present. If in return she shall wish to make me a present, I -will refuse it; and dismiss the person who brings it. I will not, -moreover, permit her to leave her apartments upon any account -whatever, without first consulting me; and, whenever I wish to go to -her, it shall always be in a way that shall impress her with the -greatest respect for me. In short, no house shall be so well -regulated as mine. I will always appear magnificently dressed; and, -whenever I wish to pass the evening with her, I will sit in the most -honorable seat, where I will affect a grave and solemn air; nor will -I turn my head to the right or left. I will speak but little: and -while my wife, beautiful as the moon at the full, presents herself -before me in all her splendor, I will pretend not to see her. Her -women, who will be standing round her, shall say, “My dear lord -and master, behold your spouse, the humblest of your slaves, before -you. She is waiting for you to caress her; and is much mortified -that you do not deign to take the least notice of her. She is -greatly fatigued at standing thus long before you; at least, then, -give her leave to sit down.” I will not answer a word to this -speech, at which their surprise and grief would be much augmented. -They will then throw themselves at my feet; and after they shall -have remained there a considerable time, entreating and begging me -to yield to them, I will at last lift up my head, and casting upon -her a sort of negligent unmeaning glance, will then return to my -former state. Thinking, perhaps, that my wife may not either be well -or properly dressed, they will lead her back to her room, in order -to change her habit; and, in the mean time, I will return to my -apartment and put on a more magnificent dress than I had before. -They will then return a second time; will address the same speech; -and I shall again have the pleasure of not looking at my wife, till -they shall have prayed and entreated me as long and earnestly as -before. And I will thus begin, on the very first day of my marriage, -to teach her how she may expect to be treated, during the remainder -of her life. - -After the various ceremonies of our nuptials are over, continued -Alnaschar, I will take a purse from the hands of one of the -attendants, containing five hundred pieces of gold, which I will -give to the female attendants, that they may leave me alone with my -spouse. As soon as they shall have retired, my wife shall go to bed -first. I will immediately follow her, and will be the whole night -with my back turned towards her, and will not utter a single -syllable. The next morning she will not fail to complain to her -mother, the lady of the grand vizier, of my pride and neglect; and -this will very much delight me. Her mother will then come to see me, -and out of respect take and kiss my hands, and say to me, “My -lord,” for she will not dare to call me son-in-law, through fear -of displeasing me, by speaking with so much familiarity, “I -entreat you, my lord, not to despise my child in such a manner, nor -keep her at such a distance; I assure you she will always endeavor -to please you, and I know her whole heart is devoted to you.” -Although my mother-in-law shall address me so respectfully and -kindly, I will not answer her a word, but remain as grave and solemn -as ever. She will then throw herself at my feet, and after kissing -them many times, will say, “My lord, is it possible you suspect -the prudence of my daughter; I assure you, I have never suffered her -to go out of my sight; and you are the first man who has ever seen -her face. Forbear to inflict so great a mortification upon her, and -do her the favor to look at and speak to her; and thus strengthen -her good intention of endeavoring to satisfy and please you in every -thing.” - -All this shall have no effect upon me; which my mother-in-law -observing, she will then take a glass of wine, and putting it into -my wife’s hand, will say, “Go, and present him this glass of -wine yourself; he will not, perhaps, have the cruelty to refuse it -from so beautiful a hand.” My wife will then take the glass, and -stand up before me, trembling all the time. When she observes that I -do not incline myself towards her, and that I persist in taking not -the least notice of her, she will address me, with her eyes bathed -in tears, in these words; “My heart, my dear soul, my amiable -lord, I conjure you, by the favors which heaven has so plentifully -bestowed upon you, to have the goodness to take this glass of wine -from the hand of the humblest of your slaves.” I shall, however, -take care neither to look at, nor speak to her. “My charming -husband,” will she continue to say, redoubling her tears, and -carrying the glass of wine close to my mouth, “I will not cease -entreating you till I obtain the favor of your drinking it.” At -last, tired and worn out with her solicitations and prayers, I will -throw a most terrible glance at her, and will give her a good blow -on her cheek, at the same time pushing her so violently from me with -my foot, that she shall fall down at the bottom of the sofa. - -My brother was so entirely absorbed in these chimerical visions, -that he represented the action with his foot, as if it were a -reality; and he unfortunately struck his basket of glass ware so -violently, that he sent it from one end of his shop into the street, -where it was all broken to pieces. - -His neighbour, the tailor, who had heard the whole of his -extravagant speech, burst out into a fit of laughter when he saw the -basket overturned. “Oh, you cruel wretch!” said he to my -brother, “ought you not expire with shame at ill-treating a young -wife in such a manner, when she has given you no reason for -complaint? You must be hard-hearted indeed to pay no attention to -the tears, and be insensible to the charms, of so amiable a lady. If -I were in the place of your father-in-law, the grand vizier, I would -order you a hundred strokes with a leathern strap, and send you -round the city, with the praise you so well merit.” - -This most unfortunate accident brought my brother to his senses, and -knowing that it was his own insupportable pride that had caused it, -he beat his breast, tore his garments, and sobbed so violently and -loud, that all the neighbourhood soon assembled; and the people who -were going by to mid-day prayers, stopped to inquire the cause of -all this bustle: and, as this happened to be on a Friday, there were -more people than usual. Some pitied Alnaschar, others laughed at his -folly. The vanity, however, which he had before possessed, was now -entirely annihilated, as well as his property; and he continued -weeping at his hard and cruel fate, when a lady of considerable -consequence passed by, mounted on a mule very richly caparisoned. -The state in which she saw my brother excited her compassion. She -asked who he was, and the reason of his crying so violently. They -only said, that he was a poor man who had laid out the little money -he possessed in a basket of glass ware; and that the basket had -fallen down, and all his glass was broken. The lady immediately -turned to a eunuch who accompanied her, and ordered him to give my -brother what money he had with him. The eunuch obeyed, and put a -purse, containing five hundred pieces of gold, into my brother’s -hand. Alnaschar was ready to expire with joy at sight of it. He -bestowed a thousand blessings on the lady; and after shutting up his -shop, where it was now useless for him to stay, he went home. - -He made many serious reflections on the good fortune which had so -unexpectedly happened to him; and while he was thus employed, he -heard some person knock at his door. Before he opened it, he asked -who was there; and perceiving it was a female voice, he opened it. -“My son,” said she, addressing my brother, “I have a favor to -request of you. It is now the time for prayers, and I wish to wash -myself, in order to be fit to offer them. Suffer me I entreat you, -to come into your house, and afford me a bason of water.” My -brother looked at her, and saw she was rather advanced in years; and -although he did not know her, he nevertheless acceded to what she -wished. He gave her a vessel full of water, and then resumed his -seat. He was again quite absorbed with his adventure; he took his -gold and put it into a sort of long and narrow purse, adapted to the -purpose of carrying it at his girdle. The old woman, in the mean -time, said her prayers; and when she had finished, she approached my -brother, and prostrated herself twice at his feet, so low, that her -forehead touched the ground, as if she was praying to God; then -getting up, she wished my brother all manner of prosperity, and -thanked him for his kindness. - -As she was but very meanly dressed, and humbled herself so much -before him, he thought that she meant to ask charity, and he offered -her, therefore, two pieces of gold. The old woman drew back with as -much surprise as if my brother had done her an injury. “Good -God,” cried she, “what do you mean by this? Is it possible, sir, -that you can take me for one of those poor wretches who make a -practice of impudently going into people’s houses and demanding -charity? Put back your money, for I have no necessity for it, God be -praised. I belong to a young lady in this city of most incomparable -beauty, and so rich, that she does not let me want for any thing.” - -My brother was not cunning enough to perceive the address of the old -woman, who refused the two pieces of gold only to dupe him the more. -He asked her, if she could not procure him the honor of seeing this -lady. “Certainly,” answered she, “and you may even easily be -able to marry her; and, in becoming master of her person, you will -get possession of all her fortune: take your money and follow me. -Delighted with having so unexpectedly received such a large sum of -money, and of finding, almost immediately after, a beautiful and -rich wife, he lost all recollection of every thing else. He took the -five hundred pieces of gold, and suffered the old woman to conduct -him. - -She went on before, and he followed her till they came to the door -of a large house, at which she knocked. He came up to her just as a -young female Greek slave opened the door. The old woman made him go -in first; he passed through a well paved court, and she then -introduced him into a hall, the furniture of which confirmed him in -the high opinion he had conceived of the mistress of the house. -While the old woman went to inform the young lady of his arrival, he -sat down; and as it was rather warm, he took off his turban, and -laid it by the side of him. The lady of the house immediately made -her appearance, and he was much more struck with her beauty than -with the magnificence and richness of her dress. He rose up the -moment he perceived her. The lady requested him, with a pleasing -air, to resume his place, and seated herself by his side. She -expressed great joy at seeing him: and, after some kind compliments, -she said to him, “We are not here sufficiently at our ease; come, -give me your hand.” At the same instant holding out her own, she -led him to a distant apartment, where they remained some time in -conversation; she then left him with a promise of returning in a few -moments. He waited some time, when, instead of the lady, a large -black slave entered, with a scimitar in his hand, and casting a most -terrible look at my brother, “What business have you here?” he -cried, in a haughty tone. At this sight, Alnaschar was seized with -so violent a fright, he could not make any answer. The black -immediately stripped him, took away his gold, and wounded him with -his scimitar in several parts of his flesh. The poor unfortunate man -fell down on the ground, where he remained without motion, though he -did not lose his senses. The black slave, thinking he had killed -him, asked for some salt, of which the Greek slave brought him a -large dish. They then rubbed it over my brother’s wounds, and -although the pain he felt was almost intolerable, he had the -presence of mind to show no signs of life. The black slave and the -young Greek now went away, and the old woman, who had caught my -brother in this snare, came and took him by the legs and drew him -towards a trap-door, which she opened. She then threw him in, and he -perceived that he was in a subterraneous place, in which there were -the bodies of different people who had been murdered. It was some -time, however, before he knew this, as the violence of the fall had -stunned him, and took away his senses. The salt with which his -wounds had been rubbed, was what preserved his life; he soon after -felt himself sufficiently strong to sit up; and at the end of two -days he opened the trap-door in the night, and observing a place in -a court, in which he could conceal himself, he remained there till -day-break. He then saw the detestable old woman come out; she opened -the street-door, and went in search of more prey. As soon as she was -gone too far to observe him, he let himself out of this cut-throat -house and fled to mine. He then informed me of the numerous -adventures he had encountered in so short a space of time. - -At the end of a month he was quite cured of his wounds, by means of -the infallible remedies I made him apply. He then resolved to -revenge himself on the old woman who had so cruelly deceived him. -For this purpose, he took a purse large enough to hold five hundred -pieces of money, but instead of gold, he filled it with bits of -glass. - -My brother then tied the purse round his girdle, and disguised -himself as an old woman. After which he took a scimitar, and -concealed it under his dress. He went out early one morning, and -soon met the old hag, who was already walking about the city, -seeking to entrap some one or other. Alnaschar accosted her, and -feigning the voice of a woman, he said, “Can you do me the favor -to lend me a money balance? I am a Persian, and but just arrived in -this city. I have brought five hundred pieces of gold from my own -country, and I wish to see if they are weight.”--“My good -woman,” replied the other, “you could not have addressed -yourself to a more proper person than me. You need only follow me -and I will take you to the house of my son, who is a money-changer, -and he will take a pleasure in weighing the gold for you himself, -and save you the trouble. Do not let us lose any time, for fear he -should be gone to his shop.” My brother followed her to the same -house where she had introduced him the first time, and the door was -opened by the Greek slave. - -The old woman conducted my brother into the hall, where she bid him -wait a moment while she went to find her son. The pretended son then -appeared, in the form of that villainous black slave. “Come, my -old woman,” he called out, “get up, and follow me.” Having -spoken this, he walked on before, to the place where he wished to -murder him. Alnaschar got up, and followed the black slave; and as -he was going along he drew his scimitar from under his robe, and -gave him such a blow on the hind part of the neck, that he cut his -head completely off. He then took it up in one hand, and with the -other he drew the body after him to the subterraneous building, -where he lodged both of them in safety. The Greek slave, who was -used to this business, directly after brought a bason of salt; but -when she saw Alnaschar with the scimitar in his hand, and without -the veil that had concealed his face, she let the bason fall and ran -away: but my brother being able to run faster, soon overtook her, -and made her head fly from her shoulders. At hearing this noise, the -wicked old woman ran to see what was the matter, when Alnaschar -seized her, before she had time to make her escape. “Wretch,” he -exclaimed, “dost thou not know me?”--“Alas, sir,” she -tremblingly answered, “I do not remember to have ever seen you -before; who are you?”--“I am the person into whose house you -came the other day, to request leave to wash yourself, and say your -hypocritical prayers. Do you not recollect it?” She instantly fell -down on her knees, and implored his pardon, but he cut her into four -pieces. - -The lady alone remained, who knew nothing at all of what was -passing. My brother went to look after her, and discovered her in a -chamber. When she saw him enter she was near fainting. She prayed -him to spare her life, and he had the generosity to grant it. “How -can you, madam,” he asked, “live with such infamous wretches as -those on whom I have now so justly revenged myself?”--“I was,” -she answered, “the wife of a very worthy merchant, and that wicked -old woman, of whose treachery I was ignorant, sometimes came to see -me. “Madam,” said she one day to me, “we are going to have a -gay and splendid wedding at our house, and you will enjoy a great -deal of pleasure there, if you will honor us with your company.” I -suffered myself to be prevailed upon to go; and for this purpose I -dressed myself in my richest habit, and took a hundred pieces of -gold with me. I followed her till she came to this house, where I -saw this black, who detained me here by force; and it is now three -years that I have been here, though very much against my -inclination.”--“From the manner in which this black proceeded, -he must have amassed,” replied my brother, “great -wealth.”--“So much so,” she answered “that if you could -carry it away, you would never be poor again. Follow me, and I will -shew it you.” She conducted Alnaschar into a room, where in truth -he saw so many coffers filled with gold, that he could not conceal -his astonishment. “Go,” she cried, “and bring here a -sufficient number of persons to carry all this away.” - -My brother did not wait to be told a second time; he went away, and -was absent only till he collected ten men together. He brought them -back with him, and was much astonished to find the door of the house -open; but his astonishment was still greater, when on going into the -room where he had seen the coffers, he could not discover a single -one. The lady had been both more cunning and more diligent than he -had, and she and the coffers had entirely vanished during my -brother’s absence. That he might not return with empty hands, he -ordered the men to take, instead of the coffers, whatever moveables -they could find in the chambers and different apartments, whence he -took much more than was sufficient to repay him the value of his -five hundred pieces of gold, of which they had robbed him. But in -going away from the house, my brother forgot to shut the door; and -the neighbours, who knew my brother, and had observed the porters -both come and go, went and informed the judge of the whole business, -which appeared to them of a very suspicious nature. - -Alnaschar passed the night quite at his ease; but early the next -morning, as he was going out, he encountered twenty men belonging to -the police, who immediately seized him. “You must come with us,” -they cried, “our master wants to speak with you.” My brother -begged them to have a moment’s patience, and offered them a sum of -money if they would permit him to escape; but instead of paying any -attention to what he said, they bound him, and compelled him to go -with them. In the street they met with an old friend of my -brother’s, who stopped them to know the reason of their taking him -in this manner. He also proposed to give them a considerable sum to -suffer him to escape, and report to the judge that they were unable -to find him. But he could not succeed with them, and they carried -Alnaschar before the judge of the police. - -As soon as he came into his presence, the magistrate said to him, -“I desire you to inform me from what place you got all that -furniture which you had brought home yesterday.”--“Sir,” -replied Alnaschar, “I am ready to tell you the whole truth, but -permit me, in the first place, to implore your clemency; and I -request of you to give me your word, that nothing shall happen to -me.”--“I do so,” said the judge. My brother then related, -without disguise, every circumstance that had happened to him, from -the time the old woman first came to his house to request leave to -say her prayers, till he returned to the chamber in which he had -left the young lady, but whom he could not find there, after having -killed the black, the Greek slave, and the old woman. With regard to -what he had carried home, he entreated the judge to suffer him to -keep, at least, a part of it, to recompense him for the five hundred -pieces of gold, of which they had robbed him. - -The judge immediately sent some of his people to my brother’s -house to bring away every thing he had, without promising to give -him any part; and as soon as the things were deposited in his -warehouse, he ordered my brother instantly to leave the city, and -never to return again on forfeiture of his life; because he was -fearful, if my brother remained there, he would go and complain of -his injustice to the caliph. Alnaschar in the mean time obeyed the -order without a murmur; he departed from the city, and fled for -refuge to another town. But on his road he encountered some robbers, -who took every thing from him, and stripped him as bare as my hand. -I was no sooner informed of this new misfortune than I took some -clothes with me, and went to find him out: after consoling him as -well as it was in my power, I brought him back with me, and made him -enter the city quite privately, and I took as much care of him as of -my other brothers. - - - - -THE HISTORY -OF THE BARBER’S SIXTH BROTHER. - - -The history of my sixth brother is the only one that now remains to -be told; and he was called Schacabac, the hare-lipped. He was at -first sufficiently industrious to employ the hundred drachms of -silver, which came to his share, in common with me and his other -brothers, in a very advantageous manner; but, at length, by reverse -of fortune, he was reduced to the necessity of begging his bread. In -this occupation he acquitted himself with great address; and his -chief aim was to procure admission, by bribing the officers and -domestics into the houses of the great, and by having access to -their persons, to excite their compassion. - -He one day passed by a very magnificent building, through the door -of which he observed a spacious court, where he saw a vast number of -servants. He went up to one of them, and inquired of them, to whom -the house belonged. “My good man,” answered the domestic, -“where can you come from to ask such a question? Any one you met -would tell you it belonged to a Barmecide.” [10] My brother, to -whom the liberal and generous dispositions of the Barmecides were -well known, addressed himself to the porters, for there were more -than one, and requested to afford him some charity. “Come in,” -answered they, “no one prevents you, and speak to our master, he -will send you back well satisfied.” - -My brother did not expect so much kindness; and after returning many -thanks to the porters, he, with their permission, entered the -palace, which was so large, that it took him some time to find the -apartment belonging to the Barmecide. He at length came to a large -square building, in a very beautiful style of architecture, into -which he entered by a vestibule that led to a fine garden, the walks -of which were formed of stones of different colours, very pleasant -to the eye. The apartments which surrounded this building on the -ground floor, were almost all open, and shaded only by some large -curtains, in order to keep off the sun, and which they drew aside to -admit the fresh air when the heat began to subside. - -My brother would have been most highly delighted in so pleasant a -spot had his mind been sufficiently at ease to have enjoyed it. He -advanced still further, and entered a hall which was very richly -furnished, and ornamented with foliage, painted in azure and gold. -He perceived a venerable old man, whose beard was long and white, -sitting on a sofa, and in the most distinguished place. Hence he -judged it was the master of the house. In fact, it was the Barmecide -himself, who told him, in an obliging manner, that he was welcome, -and asked him what he wished. “My lord,” answered my brother, in -a lamentable tone, in order to excite his pity, “I am a poor man -who stands very much in need of the assistance of such powerful and -generous persons as you.” He could not have done better than -address himself to the person he did, for he was possessed of a -thousand amiable qualities. - -The Barmecide was much astonished at my brother’s answer; and -putting both his hands to his breast, as if to tear his habit, as a -mark of commiseration; “is it possible,” he cried, “that I -should live at Bagdad, and that such a man as you should be so much -distressed as you say you are? I cannot suffer this.” At this -exclamation, my brother thinking he was going to give him a singular -proof of his liberality, wished him every blessing. “It shall -never be said,” replied the Barmecide, “that I abandon you; nor -do I intend that you shall again leave me.”--“Sir,” replied my -brother, “I swear to you that I have not even eaten any thing this -day.”--“What,” cried the Barmecide, “is it true, that at -this late hour you have not yet broken your fast? Alas, poor man, he -will die with hunger! Here, boy,” added he, raising his voice, -“bring us, instantly, a bason of water, that we may wash our -hands.” - -Although no boy made his appearance, and my brother observed neither -bason nor water, the Barmecide nevertheless began to rub his hands, -as if some one held the water for him, and while he was doing this, -he said to my brother, “come close, and wash along with me.” -Schacabac by this supposed, that the Barmecide was fond of fun, and -as he himself liked a little raillery, and was not ignorant of the -submission the rich expected from the poor, he approached him and -did the same. - -“Come,” said the Barmecide, “now bring us something to eat, -and mind you do not keep us waiting.” He had no sooner said this, -than he began, although nothing had been brought to eat, as if he -had taken something in his plate, and pretended to put it to his -mouth and chew it, calling out at the same time to my brother, -“Eat, I entreat you, my guest; make yourself quite at home. Eat, I -beg of you: you seem, for a hungry man, to have but a very poor -appetite.”--“Pardon me, my lord,” replied Schacabac, imitating -his motions at the same time very accurately, “You see I lose no -time, and understand my business very well.”--“What think you of -this bread?” said the Barmecide, “don’t you find it -excellent?”--“In truth, my lord,” answered my brother, who in -fact saw neither bread nor meat, “I never eat any thing more white -or delicate.”--“Eat your fill then,” rejoined the Barmecide, -“the slave who made this excellent bread cost me, I assure you, -five hundred pieces of gold.” Then continuing to praise the female -slave who was his baker, and boasting of his bread, which my brother -only devoured in idea, he said, “Boy, bring us another dish. Come, -my friend,” he continued to my brother, though no other boy -appeared, “taste this fresh dish, and tell me if you have ever -eaten any boiled mutton and barley better dressed than -this.”--“Oh, it is admirable,” answered my brother, “I -therefore, you see, help myself very plentifully.”--“It affords -me great pleasure,” added the Barmecide, “to see you; and I -entreat you not to suffer any of these dishes to be taken away, -since you find them so much to your taste.” He presently called -for a goose with sweet sauce, and dressed with vinegar, honey, dried -raisins, grey peas, and dried figs; this was brought in the same -manner as the mutton had been. “This goose is nice and fat,” -said the Barmecide; “here, take only a wing and a thigh, for you -must nurse your appetite, as there are many more things yet to -come.” In short, he called for many other dishes of different -kinds, of which my brother, all the time dying with hunger, -continued to pretend to eat. But what he boasted the most of, was a -lamb that had been fatted with pistachio nuts, and which he ordered, -and was served in the same manner as the other dishes had been. -“Now this,” said he, “is a dish you never meet with any where -but at my table, and I wish you to eat your fill of it.” As he -said this, he pretended to take a piece in his hand, and putting it -to my brother’s mouth, “take and eat this,” he said, “and -you will not think ill of my judgment in boasting of this dish.” -My brother held his head forward, opened his mouth, pretended to -take the piece and to chew and swallow it with the greatest -pleasure. “I was quite sure,” said the Barmecide, “you would -think it excellent.”--“Nothing can be more so,” replied -Schacabac. “In short, no table can be more deliciously served than -yours.”--“Now bring me the ragout,” said the other, “and I -do not think you will be less pleased with that than with the lamb. -Well, what do you think of it?”--“It is wonderful,” answered -my brother; “we at the same time have in this the flavor of amber, -cloves, nutmegs, ginger, pepper, and sweet herbs; and yet they are -all so well balanced, that the presence of one does not prevent the -flavor of the rest. How delicious it is!”--“Do justice to it -then,” cried the Barmecide, “and eat heartily I beg. Holloh, -boy,” cried he, raising his voice, “bring us a fresh -ragout.”--“Oh, no, if you please,” said Schacabac, “for in -truth, my lord, I cannot indeed eat any more.” - -“Let the desert, then,” said the Barmecide, “be served, and -the fruit brought.” He then waited a few moments, in order to give -the servants time to change the dishes, then resuming his speech, he -said, “Taste these almonds, they are just gathered and very -good.” They then both pretended to take the skin off the almonds, -and eat them. The Barmecide, after this, invited my brother to -partake of many other things. “Here are, you see,” he said, -“all sorts of fruits, cakes, dried comfits, and preserves; take -what you like.” Then stretching out his hand, as if he was going -to give him something, “take this lozenge,” he said, “it is -excellent to assist digestion.” Schacabac pretended to take and -eat it. “Here is no want of musk in this, my lord?”--“I have -these lozenges made at home,” said the Barmecide, “and for -these, as well as every thing else in my house, nothing is -spared.” He still continued to persuade my brother to eat. “For -a man,” he said, “who was almost starving when he came here, you -have really eaten hardly any thing.”--“My lord,” replied -Schacabac, whose jaws were weary of chewing nothing, “I assure you -I am so full, that I cannot eat a morsel more.” - -“Well, then,” cried the Barmecide, “after having eaten so -heartily it is necessary to drink [11] a little. You have no -objection to good wine?”--“My lord,” replied my brother, “if -you will excuse me, I never drink wine, because it is forbidden -me.”--“Oh, you are too scrupulous,” said the other, “come, -come, do as I do.”--“To oblige you then,” replied Schacabac, -“I will; for I observe you do not like that any thing should be -omitted in our feast. But as I am not in the habit of drinking wine, -I am fearful of being guilty of some fault against good breeding, -and even against the respect that is due to you. It is for this -reason, that I still entreat you to excuse my drinking any wine; I -shall be well satisfied with water.”--“No, no,” said the -Barmecide, you must drink wine.” At the same time he ordered some -to be brought. But the wine, like the dinner and desert, never in -reality appeared. He then pretended to pour some out, and drank the -first glass. After that, he poured out another glass for my brother, -and presenting it to him, “Come, drink my health,” he cried, -“and tell me if you think the wine good.” - -My brother took the ideal glass, and first holding it up, and -looking to see if it were of a good bright colour, he put it to his -nose, in order to examine if it had an agreeable perfume; he then, -making a most profound reverence to the Barmecide, to show that he -took the liberty to drink his health, drank it off; accompanied at -the same time with proofs of receiving great pleasure from the -draught. “My lord,” he said, “I find this wine excellent; but -it does not seem to me quite strong enough.”--“You have only to -speak,” replied the other, “if you wish for any stronger. I have -various sorts in my cellar. We will see if this will suit you -better.” He then pretended to pour out some of another sort for -himself, and also some for my brother. He did this so frequently, -that Schacabac, pretending that the wine had got into his head, -feigned to be drunk. He raised his hand, and gave the Barmecide such -a violent blow, that he knocked him down. He was going to strike him -a second time, but the Barmecide, holding out his hand to avoid the -blow, called out, “Are you mad?” My brother then recollecting -himself, said, “My lord, you had the goodness to receive your -slave into your house, and to make a great feast for him: you ought -to have been satisfied with having made him eat, and not compelled -him to drink wine. I told you at first that I should be guilty of -some disrespect; I am very sorry for it, and ask you a thousand -pardons.” - -He had hardly finished this speech, before the Barmecide, instead of -putting himself in a great passion, and being very angry, burst into -a violent fit of laughter. “I have searched for a long time,” -said he, “for a person of your disposition. I not only pardon the -blow you have given me, but from this moment I wish to look upon you -as one of my friends, and that you shall make no other house than -mine your home. You have had the complaisance to accommodate -yourself to my humor, and the patience to carry on the pleasantry to -the end; but we will now eat in reality.” Having said this, he -clapped his hands, when several slaves instantly appeared, whom he -ordered to set out the table and serve dinner up. His commands were -quickly obeyed, and my brother was now in reality treated with all -the same dishes he had before partaken of in idea. As soon as the -table was cleared, they brought some wine; and a number of beautiful -female slaves, most richly dressed, appeared, and began to sing some -pleasant airs to the sound of instruments. Schacabac had in the end -every reason to be satisfied with the kindness and civility of the -Barmecide, who took a great fancy to him, and treated him in the -most familiar manner; he gave him also a handsome dress from his own -wardrobe. - -The Barmecide found my brother possessed of so much knowledge of -various sorts, that in the course of a few days he entrusted him -with the care of all his house and other affairs; and my brother -acquitted himself of his charge during the time it lasted, which was -twenty years, to the complete satisfaction of his employer. At the -end of this period, the generous Barmecide, worn out with old age, -paid the common debt of nature; and as he did not leave any heirs, -they confiscated all his fortune to the use of the prince. They even -took from my brother every thing he had saved. Finding himself thus -reduced to the state he was in at first, he joined a caravan of -pilgrims, going to Mecca, with the intention of making, by means of -their charitable disposition, the same pilgrimage. During their -journey, the caravan was unfortunately attacked and plundered by a -party of Bedouin [12] Arabs, who were more numerous than the -pilgrims. - -My brother thus became the slave of a Bedouin, who for many days -continually gave him the bastinado, in order to induce him to get -himself ransomed. Schacabac protested to him, that it was all to no -purpose for him to ill-treat him in this manner. “I am your -slave,” said he, “and you may dispose of me as you like; but I -declare to you, that I am in the most extreme poverty, and that it -is not in my power to ransom myself.” My brother tried every -expedient to convince him of his wretched condition: he endeavored -to soften him by his tears, but the Bedouin was inexorable; and -through revenge, at finding himself disappointed of a considerable -sum of money, which he fully expected to receive, he absolutely took -his knife and slit up the lips of my brother, and by this inhuman -act, he endeavoured to repay himself for the loss he supposed -himself to have suffered. - -This Bedouin had a wife who was rather handsome; and he very soon -after left my brother with her, when he went on his excursions. At -these times, his wife left no means untried to console him for the -rigour of his situation. She even gave him to understand she was in -love with him; but he dared not return her passion, for fear he -should have reason to repent of it: he, therefore, took every -precaution to avoid being alone with her, whenever she seemed to -wish it. She, at length, became so much accustomed to joke, and -amuse herself with the hard-hearted Schacabac, whenever she met him, -that she one day forgot herself, and did it in the presence of her -husband. My poor brother, without in the least thinking he was -observed, for so his ill-luck would have it, returned her -pleasantries. The Bedouin immediately imagined that they passed -their time, during his absence, in a way not very consistent with -his honor. This suspicion put him into the greatest rage; he threw -himself upon my brother, and after mutilating him in the most -barbarous manner, he carried him on a camel to the top of a high -desert mountain, where he left him. The road to Bagdad happened to -pass over this very mountain, and some travellers, who accidentally -met him there, informed me where he was to be found. I made all the -haste I could to the place; and I found the unfortunate Schacabac in -the most deplorable condition it was possible to be in. I afforded -him every assistance and aid he stood in need of, and brought him -back with me into the city. - -This was what I related to the caliph Mostanser Billah (added the -barber.) The prince very much applauded my conduct, by reiterated -fits of laughter. “This must be the reason,” he said to me, -“that they have given you, and so justly, the name of -‘Silent,’ and no one can say you do not deserve it. -Nevertheless, I have some private reasons for wishing you to leave -the town; I, therefore, order you immediately to quit the city. Go, -and never let me hear of you again.” I yielded to necessity, and -travelled for many years in distant parts. I at length was informed, -that the caliph was dead; I returned, therefore, to Bagdad, where I -did not find one of my brothers alive. It was on my return to this -city, that I rendered to this lame young man the important service -which you have been informed of. You are also witnesses of his great -ingratitude, and of the injurious manner in which he has treated me. -Instead of acknowledging his great obligations to me, he has chosen -rather to wander at a distance from his own country in order to -avoid me. As soon as I discovered that he had left Bagdad, and -although no person could give me any information of the road he had -taken, or into what country he had travelled, I did not hesitate a -moment, but instantly set out to seek him. I passed on from province -to province for a considerable length of time; and I accidentally -met him to-day at a time I least expected it. And least of all did I -expect to find him so irritated against me. - -Having in this manner related the history of the lame young man and -the barber of Bagdad to the sultan of Casgar, the tailor went on as -follows: - -When the barber had finished his story, we plainly perceived the -young man was not wrong in accusing him of being a great chatterer. -We nevertheless wished that he should remain with us and partake of -the feast which the master of the house had prepared for us. We then -sat down at table, and continued to enjoy ourselves till the time of -the last prayers before sun-set. All the company then separated; and -I returned to my shop, where I remained, till it was time to shut it -up, and go to my house. - -It was during this interval, that the little hunchback, who was half -drunk, came before my shop; when he sat down and sung, and played on -the symbal. I thought that by taking him home with me, I should -afford some entertainment to my wife; and it was for this reason -only, that I invited him. My wife gave us a dish of fish for supper, -to which I helped the little hunchback, who immediately began to -eat, without taking sufficient care to avoid the bones, and -instantly fell down senseless before us. We tried every thing in our -power to relieve him, but without effect; and then, in order to free -ourselves from the embarrassment into which this melancholy accident -had thrown us, and the great fright it caused us, we did not -hesitate a moment to carry the body out of our house, and induce the -Jewish physician to receive it in the manner your majesty has heard. -The Jewish physician let it down into the apartment of the purveyor, -and the purveyor carried it into the street, where the merchant -thought he had killed him. This, Sire, (added the tailor,) is what I -wished to say to your majesty in my justification. It is for you to -determine, whether we are worthy of your clemency, or your anger; -whether we deserve to live or die.” - -The sultan of Casgar’s countenance expressed so much satisfaction -and content, that it gave new life to the tailor and his companions. -“I cannot deny,” he said, “that I am more astonished at the -history of the lame young man, of the barber, and with the -adventures of his brothers, than at any thing in the history of my -buffoon. But before I send you all four back to your own houses, and -even before I order the burial of the little hunchback, I wish to -see this barber, who has been the cause of your pardon. And since he -is now in my capital, it will not be difficult to satisfy my -curiosity.” He immediately ordered one of his attendants to go and -find him out, and to take the tailor with him, who knew where he -most probably was. - -The officer and tailor were not long absent, and brought back the -barber with them, whom they presented to the sultan. He appeared -like a man of about ninety. His beard and eyebrows were as white as -snow; his ears hung down a considerable length, and his nose was -very long. The sultan could scarcely refrain from laughter at the -sight of him. “Man of silence,” said he to the barber, “I -understand that you are acquainted with many wonderful histories, I -wish very much that you would relate one of them to -me.”--“Sire,” replied the barber, “for the present, we will, -if it please your majesty, not speak of the histories which I may -know; but I most humbly entreat you to permit me to ask one -question: and that is, for what reason this Christian, this Jew, -this mussulman, and this hunchback, whom I see extended on the -ground, are in your majesty’s presence.” The sultan smiled at -the liberty the barber took, and said, “Of what consequence can -that be to you?”--“Sire,” returned the barber, “it is of -consequence to me to make this inquiry; namely, that your majesty -may know, that I am not that great talker which some people pretend; -but a man who has very justly acquired the title of the Silent.” - -The sultan of Casgar had the complaisance to satisfy the barber’s -great curiosity. He desired the adventures of the little hunchback -to be related to him, since he seemed so very anxious to hear it. -When the barber had heard the whole story, he shook his head, as if -he meant it to be understood, that he thought there was something -which he could not well comprehend. “Truly,” he exclaimed, -“This is a very wonderful history: but I should vastly like to -examine this little hunchback a little more closely.” He then went -near to him, and sat down on the ground. He took his head between -his knees, and after examining him very attentively, he suddenly -burst out into a violent fit of laughter; and with so little -restraint, that he absolutely fell backwards, without at all -considering that he was in the presence of the sultan of Casgar. He -then got up laughing heartily the whole time. “You may very well -say,” he at length cried, “that no one dies without a cause. If -ever a history deserved to be written in letters of gold, it is this -of the hunchback.” - -This speech made every one look upon the barber as a buffoon; or -like an old man who had lost his senses. - -“Man of silence,” said the sultan, “answer me: what is the -reason of your clamorous laughter?” “Sire,” replied the -barber, “I swear, by your majesty’s good nature, that this -hunchback fellow is not dead; there is still some life in him; and I -wish to be considered as a fool and a madman, if I do not instantly -prove it to you.” Having said this, he produced a box, in which -there were various medicines, and which he always carried about with -him, to use as occasion might require. He opened it, and taking out -a phial, containing a sort of balsam, he rubbed some of it, for a -length of time, on the neck of the hunchback. He then drew out of a -case an iron instrument suited to the purpose, with which he set -open his jaws; and by these means he was enabled to put a small pair -of pincers into the hunchback’s throat, and drew out the -fish-bone, which he held up and showed to all who were present. -Almost immediately after this the hunchback gave a sneeze, stretched -out his hands and feet, opened his eyes, and gave many other proofs -of being alive. - -The sultan of Casgar, and all who were witness to this excellent -operation, were less surprised at seeing the hunchback brought to -life, although he had passed a night and almost a whole day without -the least apparent sign of animation, than they were at the merit -and skill of the barber, whom they now began to regard, in spite of -all his faults, as a very great personage. The sultan was so filled -with joy and admiration, that he ordered the history of the -hunchback, as well as that of the barber, to be instantly committed -to writing; that the knowledge of it, which so well deserved to be -preserved, might never be forgotten. He was not satisfied with this; -but in order that the tailor, the Jewish physician, the purveyor, -and the Christian merchant might ever remember with pleasure the -adventures which the accident of the hunchback had caused them, he -presented each of them with a very rich robe, which he made them put -on in his presence, before he dismissed them. And he bestowed upon -the barber a large pension; and retained him ever afterwards near -his person. - -The sultana Scheherazadè thus finished this long series of -adventures, to which the supposed death of the hunchback had given -rise. She was now silent. Her sister Dinarzadè, observing, that she -had done speaking, said to her, “My dear princess, my sultana, I -am much the more delighted with the story you have just finished, -because it was brought to a conclusion by so unexpected an incident. -I really thought the little hunchback was quite dead.”--“This -surprise has also afforded me pleasure,” said Schahriar, “as -well as the adventures of the barber’s brothers.”--“The -history of the lame young man of Bagdad has also very much diverted -me,” rejoined Dinarzadè.--“I am highly satisfied, my dear -sister,” replied Scheherazadè, “at having been able thus to -entertain the sultan, our lord and master, as well as yourself; and -since I have had the good fortune not to weary his majesty, if he -will have the goodness to prolong my life still further, I will have -the honour to relate to him the history of the amours of Aboulhassan -Ali Ebn Becar, and of Schemselnihar, the favourite of the caliph -Haroun Alraschid, which is not less worthy of his attention, and -yours also, than the history of the hunchback.” The sultan of -India, who was well satisfied at every thing Scheherazadè had -hitherto related, was determined not to forego the pleasure of -hearing this other history, which she promised. He now therefore -arose and went to prayers, and then sat in council; and the next -morning Dinarzadè did not fail to remind her sister of her promise, -which she was thus prepared to fulfil. - - - - -THE HISTORY -OF ABOULHASSAN ALI EBN BECAR, AND OF SCHEMSELNIHAR, THE FAVORITE OF -THE CALIPH HAROUN ALRASCHID. - - -During the reign of the caliph Haroun Alraschid, there lived a -druggist at Bagdad, whose name was Aboulhassen Ebn Thaher. He was a -man of considerable wealth; and was also very well made, and -reckoned an agreeable person. He possessed more understanding and -more politeness than generally falls to the lot of people of his -profession. His notions of rectitude, his sincerity, and the -liveliness of his disposition, made him beloved, and sought after by -every one. The caliph, who was well acquainted with his merit, -placed the most implicit confidence in him. He esteemed him so -highly, that he reposed in him the sole care of procuring for his -favorite ladies every thing they had occasion for. He chose their -dresses, the furniture of their apartments, and their jewellery, in -all of which departments he gave proofs of a most excellent taste. - -His various good qualities, and the favor of the caliph, caused the -sons of the emirs, and other officers of the highest rank, to -frequent his house; and it, in this manner, became the rendezvous of -all the nobles of the court. Among other young men, who made almost -a daily practice of going there, was one whom Ebn Thaher esteemed -above all the rest, and with whom he contracted a most intimate -friendship. This young nobleman’s name was Aboulhassan Ali Ebn -Becar; and he derived his origin from an ancient royal family of -Persia. This family still continued extant at Bagdad, from the time -that the mussulman arms made a conquest of that kingdom. Nature -seemed to have taken a pleasure in combining in this young prince -every mental endowment, and personal accomplishment. He possessed a -countenance of the most finished beauty, his figure was fine, his -air elegant and easy, and the expression of his face so engaging, -that no one could see him without instantly loving him. Whenever he -spoke, he used the most appropriate and pure words, added to a -certain turn of expression equally novel and agreeable. There was -something even in the tone of his voice that charmed all who heard -him. To complete the whole, as his understanding and judgment were -of the first rank, so all his thoughts and expressions were most -admirable and just. He was moreover so very reserved and modest, -that he advanced nothing till he had taken every possible precaution -to avoid any suspicion of prefering his own opinion, or sentiment, -to that of another. Being a young man in every respect such as I -have described him to you, it is not to be wondered at, that Ebn -Thaher distinguished him in a particular manner from the other young -noblemen of the court, whose vices, for the most part, served only -as a foil to his virtues. - -As this prince was one day at the house of Ebn Thaher, they observed -a lady come to the door, mounted upon a black and white mule, and -surrounded by ten female slaves, who accompanied her on foot. They -were all very handsome, at least as far as could be judged from -their air, and through the veils that covered their faces. The lady -herself had on a rose-coloured girdle, at least four fingers in -width, upon which were fastened diamonds and pearls of the largest -size; and it was no difficult matter to conjecture, that her beauty -surpassed that of her attendants, as much as the moon at the full -exceeds the crescent of two days old. She came here for the purpose -of executing some commission; and as it was necessary to speak to -Ebn Thaher, she went into his shop, which was very large and -commodious. He received her with every mark of respect, begged her -to be seated, and conducted her by the hand to the most honourable -place. - -The prince of Persia, in the mean time, did not choose to let such -an excellent opportunity of showing his politeness and his gallantry -escape him; he placed a cushion, covered with cloth of gold, for the -lady to rest upon: then immediately retired, that she might sit -down. After this he made his compliments by kissing the carpet under -her feet, got up, and stood before her at the end of the sofa. As -she felt herself quite at home with Ebn Thaher, she took off her -veil, and displayed in the eyes of the prince of Persia a beauty so -extraordinary, that it pierced him to the bottom of his heart. Nor -could the lady on her part help looking at the prince, whose person -made an equal impression on her. “I beg of you, sir,” she said -to him in an obliging manner, “to be seated.” The prince of -Persia obeyed, and sat down on the edge of the sofa. He kept his -eyes constantly fixed upon her, and swallowed large draughts of the -delicious poison of love. She soon perceived what passed in his -mind, and this discovery completed her own passion. She then got up -and went to Ebn Thaher, and after having informed him, in a whisper, -of the motive of her visit, she inquired of him what was the name -and country of the prince of Persia. “Madam,” replied Ebn -Thaher, “this young nobleman, of whom you are speaking, is called -Aboulhassan Ali Ebn Becar, and is of the blood royal of Persia.” - -The lady was delighted to find that the man she was so passionately -in love with, was of such an high rank. “You mean, without doubt, -I suppose,” replied she, “that he is descended from the kings of -Persia.”--“I do, madam,” returned Ebn Thaher, “the last -kings of Persia are his ancestors; and since the conquest of that -kingdom, the princes of his family have always been held in -estimation at the court of our caliphs.”--“You will afford me a -great pleasure,” said the lady, “if you will make me acquainted -with this young nobleman. When I shall send this female to you,” -added she, pointing to one of her slaves, “to request you to come -and see me, I beg you will bring him with you; I very much wish that -he should see the splendour and magnificence of my palace, that he -may both see and publish to the world, that avarice does not hold -her court among people of quality at Bagdad. You understand, and -attend to what I say to you. Pray do not fail: if you do, I shall be -very angry with you, and will never come and see you again as long -as I live.” - -Ebn Thaher possessed too much penetration not to understand, by this -speech, what were the sentiments of the lady. “God preserve me, my -princess,” replied he, “from giving you any cause to be offended -with me. To execute your orders will ever be a law to me.” Having -received this answer, the lady took her leave of Ebn Thaher with an -inclination of her head; and after casting a most obliging look at -the prince of Persia, she mounted her mule, and departed. - -Distractedly in love with this lady, he continued looking at her as -long as she was in sight; and even after he had lost sight of her, -it was a long time before he took his eyes from the way she went. -Ebn Thaher then remarked to him, that he was observed by some -people, who were ready to laugh at seeing him in that attitude. -“Alas!” said the prince to him, “you, and all the world, would -have compassion upon me, if you knew that this beautiful lady, who -has just left your house, had carried away by far the better part of -me; and that what remains cannot live separate. Tell me, I conjure -you,” added he, “who this tyrannical lady is, that compels -people thus to love her, without giving them time to think on the -subject.”--“My lord,” replied Ebn Thaher, it is the famous -[13] Schemselnihar, the first favorite of our sovereign master, the -caliph.”--“She is indeed called so,” said the prince, “with -the greatest justice and propriety, since she is more beautiful than -the cloudless meridian sun.”--“It is true,” replied Ebn -Thaher, “and the Commander of the Faithful loves her, or, I might -rather say, adores her. He has expressly commanded me to furnish her -with every thing she wishes, and even to anticipate her thoughts, if -it were possible, in any thing she may desire.” - -He entered into this conversation with the prince, to prevent his -falling in love, where the event must be unfortunate; but this in -fact only served to inflame him the more. “I cannot doubt,” -cried he, “charming Schemselnihar, that I shall not be suffered to -raise my thoughts to you. I nevertheless feel, although without any -hopes of being beloved by you, that it will not be in my power to -cease from adoring you. I will continue to love you then, and will -bless my fate, that I am become the slave of an object the most -beautiful that the sun illumines.” - -Whilst the prince of Persia was thus consecrating his heart to the -beautiful Schemselnihar, this lady, as she went home, continued to -think upon the means she should pursue, in order to see and converse -with freedom with this prince. She was no sooner returned to the -palace, than she sent back to Ebn Thaher that particular female -slave, whom she had pointed out to him, and in whom she placed the -most implicit confidence, to request him to come and see her without -delay; and to bring the prince of Persia along with him. The slave -arrived at the shop of Ebn Thaher at the very time he was conversing -with the prince, and while he was using the strongest arguments to -endeavour to persuade him to give up his love for the favorite of -the caliph. When the slave saw them together, she said, “My most -honorable mistress, Schemselnihar, the first favorite of the -Commander of the Faithful, entreats you both to come to the palace, -where she expects you.” Ebn Thaher, in order to show how ready he -was to obey her, instantly got up, without answering the slave one -word, and followed her, though not without considerable repugnance. -As for the prince, he followed her without at all reflecting on the -danger he ran from making this visit. The presence of Ebn Thaher, -who had free admission to the Favorite, made him perfectly easy on -that subject. They both then followed the slave, who walked a little -before them. They went into the palace of the caliph soon after her, -and joined her at the door of the smaller palace, appropriated to -Schemselnihar, which was already open. She introduced them into a -large hall, where she bagged them to be seated. - -The prince of Persia thought himself in one of those delightful -palaces, which are promised to us in the other world. He had -hitherto seen nothing that at all equalled the magnificence of the -place where he now was. The carpets, cushions, and other furniture -of the sofas, together with the furniture, ornaments, and -architecture, were most exceeding rich and beautiful. They had not -long remained in this place, before a black slave, properly dressed, -set out a table, covered with the most delicate dishes; the -delicious smell of which afforded them a strong proof of the -excellence of the seasoning: while they were eating, the slave, who -had conducted them here, did not leave them: she took great care to -invite them to eat of those ragouts and dishes she knew to be best; -in the mean time, other slaves poured out some excellent wine, with -which they finished their repast. When this was over, they presented -to the prince of Persia, and to Ebn Thaher, each a separate bason, -and a beautiful golden vase, full of water, to wash their hands. -They afterwards brought them some perfume of aloes in a portable -vessel, which was also of gold, with which they scented their beards -and dress. Nor was the perfumed water forgotten. It was brought in a -golden vase, enriched with diamonds and rubies, made expressly for -this purpose, and it was poured into both their hands, with which -they rubbed their beards, and their whole faces, as was the usual -custom. They then sat down again in their places, but they were no -sooner there, than the slave requested them to get up, and follow -her. She opened a door, which led from the hall where they were, and -they entered a very large saloon, most wonderfully constructed. It -was a dome of an agreeable form, supported by an hundred columns of -marble, as white as alabaster. The pedestals and capitals of these -columns were each ornamented with quadrupeds, and birds of various -species, worked in gold. The carpet of this wonderful saloon was -composed of a single piece of cloth of gold, upon which were worked -bunches of roses in red and white silk; the dome itself was painted -in arabesque, and afforded a view of a multitude of charming -objects. There was a small sofa between each column, ornamented in -the same manner, together with large vases of porcelain, of crystal, -of jasper, of jet, of porphyry, of agate, and other valuable -materials, all enriched with gold, and inlaid with precious stones. -The spaces between the columns contained also large windows, with -balconies of a proper height, and furnished in the same style of -elegance with the sofas, from whence you looked into the most -delicious garden in the world. Its walks were formed of small stones -of various colours, which represented the carpet of the saloon under -the dome; and, in this manner, while they looked on the floor, -either in the saloon or garden, it seemed as if the dome and the -garden, with all their beauties, formed one splendid whole. The view -from every point was terminated at the end of the walks by two -canals of water, as transparent as rock crystal, which preserved the -same circular figure as the dome. One of these canals was raised -above the other, and from the higher, the water fell in a large body -into the lower one. On their banks, at certain distances, were -placed some beautiful bronze and gilt vases, all furnished with -shrubs and flowers. These walks also separated from each other large -spaces, which were planted with lofty and thick trees, in the midst -of which a thousand birds warbled the most melodious sounds; and -diversified the scene by their various flights, and by the battles -they fought while in the air; sometimes in sport, and at others in a -more serious and cruel manner. - -The prince of Persia and Ebn Thaher stopped a long time to examine -the great magnificence of this place. They expressed strong marks of -surprise and admiration at every thing that struck them, -particularly the prince of Persia, who had never before seen any -thing at all comparable to it. Ebn Thaher too, although he had been -before in this enchanting spot, could not refrain from admiring its -beauties, which always appeared with an air of novelty. In short, -they had not ceased from their admiration of these singular things, -with which they were so agreeably taken up, when they suddenly -perceived a company of females most richly dressed. They were all -sitting down on the outside, at some distance from the dome, each on -a seat made of Indian plantain wood, enriched with silver inlaid in -compartments, with a musical instrument in their hands waiting only -for the appointed signal, to begin to play on them. - -They both went and placed themselves in one of the balconies, from -whence they had a direct view of them; and on looking towards the -right hand, they saw below a large court, with an entrance into the -garden up a flight of steps. The whole of this court was surrounded -with very elegant apartments. The slave had left them, and, as they -were by themselves, they conversed together for some time. “I do -not doubt,” said the prince of Persia to Ebn Thaher, “that you, -who are a sedate and wise man, look with very little satisfaction -upon all these exhibitions of magnificence and power. In my eyes -nothing in the whole world can be more surprising; and when I add to -this the reflection, that it is the splendid abode of the too -amiable Schemselnihar, and that the first monarch of the world makes -it the place of his retirement, I confess to you, that I think -myself the most unfortunate of men. It seems to me, that there -cannot exist a more cruel fate than mine; to love an object -completely in the power of my rival, and in the very spot where that -rival is so powerful, that I am not, even at this very instant, -secure of my life.” - -To this speech of the prince of Persia, Ebn Thaher thus answered: -“I wish to God, sir, that I could give you as perfect an assurance -of the happy issue of your attachment, as I can of the safety of -your person. Although this superb palace belongs to the caliph, it -was erected expressly for Schemselnihar, and is called the Palace of -continual pleasures, and although it makes a part, as it were, of -his own, yet be assured, this lady here enjoys most perfect liberty. -She is not surrounded by eunuchs, who watch her minutest actions. -These buildings are appropriated solely to her use, and she has the -absolute disposal of the whole, as she thinks proper. She goes out, -and walks about the city wherever she pleases, without asking leave -of any one; she returns at her own time, and the caliph never comes -to visit her, without first sending Mesrour, the chief of the -eunuchs, to give her notice of it, and to prepare for his reception. -Your mind, therefore, ought not to be disturbed, but remain in a -tranquil state; be attentive, therefore, to a concert, which I -perceive Schemselnihar is going to treat us with.” - -At the very instant Ebn Thaher had done speaking, the prince of -Persia and he both observed the slave, who was the confidant of the -Favorite, come and order the females, that were seated in front of -them, to sing and play on their several instruments. They all -immediately began a sort of prelude, and after playing thus for some -time, one of them sung alone, and accompanied herself on a lute, -most admirably. As she had been informed of the subject upon which -she was to sing, the words of her song were in such perfect unison -with the feelings of the prince of Persia, that he could not help -applauding her at the conclusion of the couplet. “Is it -possible,” he cried, “that you can have the faculty of -penetrating the inmost thoughts of others, and that thus the -knowledge you have of what passes in my heart, has enabled you to -give my feelings utterance, by the sound of your delightful voice? I -could not myself have expressed them in more appropriate terms.” -To this speech the female answered not a word. She went on, and sung -several other stanzas, which so much affected the prince, that he -repeated some of them with tears in his eyes, whence it was -sufficiently evident to whom he made the application. When she had -finished all the couplets, she and her companions stood up and sang -altogether some words to the following effect, that _the full moon -was about to rise in all its splendour, and going soon to approach -the sun_. The meaning of which was, that Schemselnihar was about to -appear, and that the prince of Persia would immediately have the -pleasure of seeing her. - -In fact, Ebn Thaher and the prince, looking towards one side of the -court, observed the confidential slave approach, followed by ten -black females, who with difficulty carried a large throne of massive -silver, most elegantly wrought, which the slave made them place at a -certain distance from the prince and Ebn Thaher. After this, the -black slaves retired behind some trees at the end of a walk. Then -twenty most beautiful females, richly and uniformly dressed, -advanced in two rows, singing and playing on different instruments, -and ranged themselves on each side of the throne. - -The prince of Persia and Ebn Thaher beheld all these things with the -greatest possible attention, eager and curious to know in what it -would end. At last, they saw come out of the same door, whence the -ten black slaves, who had brought the throne, and the twenty other -slaves had come, ten other females equally beautiful and handsomely -adorned as the former. They stopped at the door, waiting some -moments for the Favorite, who then issued forth, and placed herself -in the midst of them. It was very easy to distinguish her from the -rest, as well by her person and majestic air, as by a sort of mantle -of very light materials enriched with azure and gold, which she wore -fastened to her shoulders, over the other parts of her dress, which -was the most appropriate, best made, and most magnificent you can -imagine. The diamonds, pearls, and rubies, which ornamented her -person, were not scattered in a confused manner. They were few in -number, properly arranged, and of inestimable value. She advanced -with a degree of majesty which did not ill represent the sun in its -course, in the midst of clouds, which received its rays without -diminishing its splendour. She then proceeded, and seated herself -upon the silver throne that they had brought for that purpose. - -As soon as the prince of Persia perceived Schemselnihar, he had eyes -for nothing else. “We cease our inquiries,” said he to Ebn -Thaher, “after the object of our search, when it appears before -us; and we no longer are in a state of doubt, when the truth is -evident. Look at this divine beauty; she is the origin of all my -evils; evils, indeed, which I bless, however severe, and however -lasting they may become. At sight of this object I am no longer -myself: my restless soul revolts against its master, and I feel that -it strives to abandon me. Go, then, my soul, I give thee leave; but -let thy flight be for the advantage and preservation of this weak -frame. It is you, too cruel Ebn Thaher, who are the cause of my -disorder. You imagined it would afford me pleasure to bring me here; -and I perceive, that I am come here only to court my destruction. -Pardon me,” he added, recovering himself a little, “I deceive -myself, for I was determined to come, and can only complain of -myself.” At these words, he wept most violently. “I am very -glad,” said Ebn Thaher, “that you at last do me justice. When I -told you, that Schemselnihar was the first Favorite of the caliph, I -did so for the express purpose of preventing this direful and fatal -passion, which you seem to take a pleasure in nourishing in your -heart. Every thing you see here ought to make you endeavour to -disengage yourself, and to excite only sentiments of gratitude and -respect for the honour Schemselnihar has been willing to do you, in -ordering me to introduce you here. Recollect yourself then; recall -your wandering reason, and put yourself in a state to appear before -her, in a way her kindness and condescension deserves. See, she -approaches. If this affair was to come over again, I would, in -truth, act very differently; but the thing is done, and I trust in -God that we shall not repent it. I have nothing more to say,” -added he, “but that love is a traitor, who will involve you in -such an abyss, you can never again extricate yourself. - -Ebn Thaher had no time to say any more, as Schemselnihar now came -up. She placed herself on the throne, and saluted them both by an -inclination of her hand. Her eyes, however, were fixed upon the -prince, and they both spoke a language intermingled with sighs, by -which, in a short time, they understood more than they would have -done in an age from actual conversation. The more Schemselnihar -looked at the prince, the more did his looks tend to confirm her -opinion, that she was not indifferent to him; and being thus already -convinced of his passion, Schemselnihar thought herself the happiest -being in the whole world. She at length took her eyes off him, to -give orders for the females, who had sung before, to approach. They -rose up, and while they were walking forward, the black slaves came -from the walk, where they had remained, and brought their seats, and -placed them near the balcony in the window, where the prince of -Persia and Ebn Thaher were. The manner in which all these were -arranged, together with the Favorite’s throne, and the females, -who were on each side of her, formed a semicircle before them. - -When those who had before been seated, had again, by the permission -of Schemselnihar, who gave them a sign for that purpose, taken their -places, this charming Favorite fixed upon one of her women to sing. -After employing a little time in tuning her lute, she sung a song, -of which the sense of the words was as follows: When two lovers, who -are dotingly fond of each other, are attached by a passion without -bounds; when their hearts, although in two bodies, form but one; and -when any obstacle opposes their mutual desires, they may, with tears -in their eyes, say, “If we love each other, because each finds the -other amiable, ought we to incur displeasure? Fate alone is to -blame, not ourselves.” - -Schemselnihar evidently showed, both by her eyes and actions, that -she thought these words applicable to herself and the prince, and -that he was no longer master of himself. He got up, and advancing -towards the balustrade, which served him to lean upon, he contrived -to catch the attention of one of the females who sung. And as she -was not far from him, he said to her, “Attend to me, and do me the -favor to accompany with your lute the song I am now going to sing -you.” He then sung an air, the tender and impassioned words of -which perfectly expressed the violence of his love. As soon as it -was finished, Schemselnihar, following his example, said to one of -her women, “Attend to me also, and accompany my voice.” She then -sung in a manner that increased, to a still greater degree, the -flame that burnt in the heart of the prince of Persia; who only -answered her by another air still more tender than the one he sung -before. - -These two lovers having thus declared their mutual affection by -their songs, Schemselnihar at length completely yielded to the -strength of hers. She got up from her throne, almost forgetting what -she did, and proceeded towards the door of the saloon. The prince, -who was aware of her intention, instantly rose also, and hurried to -meet her. They met at the very door, where they seized each -other’s hands, and embraced with so much transport, that they both -fainted on the spot. They would have fallen to the ground, if the -female attendants, who followed Schemselnihar, had not prevented -them. They supported and led them to a sofa; and it was only by -throwing some perfumed water over them, and applying various -stimulants, that they returned to their senses. - -The first thing Schemselnihar did, as soon as they had recovered, -was to look round on all sides; and not seeing Ebn Thaher, she -eagerly inquired where he was. The fact was, Ebn Thaher had retired -out of respect to her, while the slaves were employed in attending -their mistress; for he was really afraid, and not without reason, -that some unfortunate consequence would arise from this adventure. -As soon as he heard that Schemselnihar asked for him, he came -forward and presented himself before her. - -She seemed highly satisfied at the appearance of Ebn Thaher, and -expressed her joy in these obliging terms. “I know not by what -means, Ebn Thaher, I can ever repay the obligations I am under to -you; but for you, I should never have become acquainted with the -prince of Persia, nor have gained the affections of the most amiable -being in the world. Be assured, however, that I shall not die -ungrateful; and that my gratitude shall, if possible, equal the -benefit I have received through your means.” Ebn Thaher could only -answer this flattering speech by an inclination of the head, and by -wishing the Favorite the attainment of every thing she could desire. - -Schemselnihar then turned towards the prince of Persia, who was -seated by her side, and looking at him, though not without feeling -confused after what had passed between them; “I cannot, sir,” -she said to him, “but be perfectly assured that you love me; and, -however strong your passion for me may be, you cannot, I think, -doubt that mine is equally violent. Do not, however, let us -delusively flatter ourselves; whatever unison there may be between -your sentiments and mine, I can look forwards only to pain, -disappointment, and misery for each. And no remedy, alas, remains to -befriend us in our misfortunes, but perfect constancy in love, -entire submission to the will of Heaven, and patient expectation of -whatever it may please to decree as our destiny.” “Madam,” -replied the prince of Persia, “you would do me the greatest -injustice in the world, if you could for a moment doubt the -constancy and fidelity of my heart. My affection is so completely -blended with my soul, that it forms in fact a part of my very -existence; nay, I shall even preserve it beyond the grave. Neither -misery, torments, nor obstacles of any kind, can ever be capable of -lessening my love for you.” At the conclusion of this speech his -tears flowed in abundance; nor could Schemselnihar restrain hers. - -Ebn Thaher took this opportunity to speak to the Favorite, -“Madam,” said he, “permit me to say, that instead of thus -remaining overwhelmed in misery, you ought rather to feel the -greatest joy in finding yourselves so fortunately in each other’s -society. I really do not understand the motives for your grief. If -it be so great now, what must you feel when necessity shall compel -you to separate. But why do I say shall compel you: we have already -been a long time here; and it is now necessary, as you must be -aware, madam, for us to take our departure.” “Alas,” replied -Schemselnihar, “how cruel you are! Have not you, who so well know -the cause of my tears, any pity for the unfortunate situation in -which you see me. O miserable destiny, why am I compelled to submit -to so severe a restriction, as to be for ever unable to obtain and -enjoy what absorbs my whole affection?” - -As however she was well persuaded that Ebn Thaher had said nothing -but what was dictated by friendship, she was by no means angry at -his speech; she even profited from it; for she directly made a sign -to the slave, her confidant, who immediately went out, and soon -returned with a small collation of various fruits upon a silver -table, which she placed between the Favorite and the prince of -Persia. Schemselnihar chose what she thought was the best, and -presented it to the prince, entreating him to eat it for her sake. -He took it, and instantly carried it to his mouth; taking care, that -the very part which had felt the pressure of her fingers, should -first touch his lips. The prince, in his turn, then presented -something to Schemselnihar, who directly took and eat it in the same -manner. Nor did she forget to invite Ebn Thaher to partake with -them: but as he knew he was now staying longer in a place than was -perfectly safe, he would rather have returned home; and he eat -therefore only through complaisance. As soon as the things were -taken away, they brought some water in a vase of gold, and a silver -bason, in which they both washed their hands at the same time. After -this they returned to their seats, and then three of the ten black -females brought each of them a cup, formed of beautiful rock -crystal, and filled with the most exquisite wine, upon a golden -waiter, which they placed before Schemselnihar, the prince of -Persia, and Ebn Thaher. - -In order to be more by themselves, Schemselnihar retained near her -only the ten black slaves, and the other ten females, who were -skilled in music and singing. After she had dismissed all the other -attendants, she took one of the cups, and holding it in her hand, -she sung some of the most tender words, which one of the females -accompanied with her lute. When this was finished, she drank the -wine. She then took one of the other cups, and, presenting it to the -prince, requested him to drink it for love of her, in the same -manner she had done hers. He received it with the greatest transport -of love and joy. But before he drank it, he sung in his turn an air, -accompanied by the instrument of another female; and in singing it, -the tears fell in abundance from his eyes: the words, also, which he -sung, expressed the idea, that he himself was ignorant whether it -was the wine that he was drinking, or his own tears. Schemselnihar -then presented the third cup to Ebn Thaher, who thanked her for the -honor and attention she showed him. - -When this was over, the Favorite took a lute from one of her slaves, -and accompanied her own voice in so impassioned a manner, that she -was absolutely carried beyond herself; and the prince of Persia, -with his eyes intently fixed upon her, remained perfectly -motionless, like one enchanted. In the midst of these scenes the -trusty slave of the Favorite came in quite alarmed, and told her -mistress, that Mesrour, and two other officers, together with many -eunuchs, who accompanied them, were at the door, and desired to -speak to her as from the caliph. When the prince of Persia and Ebn -Thaher heard what the slave said, they changed colour; and trembled, -as if their discovery had actually taken place. Schemselnihar -however, who perceived them, soon dispelled their fears. - -After having endeavoured to quiet their alarm, she charged her -confidential slave to go and keep Mesrour and the two officers of -the caliph in conversation, while she prepared herself to receive -them; and said, she would then send to her to introduce them. She -directly ordered all the windows of the saloon to be shut, and the -paintings on silk, which were in the garden, to be taken down; and -after having again assured the prince and Ebn Thaher, that they -might remain therein perfect safety, she opened the door that led to -the garden, went out, and shut it after her. In spite, however, of -every assurance which she had given them, that they were quite -secure from discovery, they could not avoid feeling very much -alarmed all the time they were alone. - -As soon as Schemselnihar was in the garden, with the women who -attended her, she made them take away all the seats, on which the -females, who had formed the concert, had sat near the window, from -whence the prince and Ebn Thaher had heard them. When she saw that -every thing was in the state she wished, she sat down on the silver -throne; and then sent to inform her confidential slave, that she -might introduce the chief of the eunuchs, and his two under officers. - -They appeared, followed by twenty black eunuchs, all properly -dressed; each having a scimitar by his side, and a large golden belt -round his body, four fingers in breadth. As soon as they perceived -the Favorite, although they were at a considerable distance, they -made a most profound reverence, which she returned them from her -throne. When they approached nearer, she got up, and went towards -Mesrour, who walked first. She asked him what intelligence he -brought; to which he replied, “The Commander of the Faithful, -madam, by whose order I am come, has charged me to say to you, that -he cannot live any longer without the pleasure of beholding you. He -purposes, therefore, to pay you a visit this evening; and I am come -in order to inform you of it, that you may prepare for his -reception. He hopes, madam, that you will feel as much joy at -receiving him, as he does impatience to be with you.” - -When the Favorite observed that Mesrour had finished his speech, she -prostrated herself on the ground, to show the submission with which -she received the commands of the caliph. When she got up, she said -to him, “I beg you will inform the Commander of the Faithful, that -it will ever be my glory to fulfil the commands of his majesty, and -that his slave will endeavour to receive him with all the respect -that is due to him.” She at the same time gave orders to her -confidential slave, to make all the necessary preparations in the -palace for the caliph’s reception, by means of the black females, -who were kept for this purpose. Then taking leave of the chief of -the eunuchs, she said to him, “You must see, that it will take -some little time to make the necessary preparations; go, therefore, -I beg of you, and arrange matters so that the caliph may not be very -impatient, and that he may not arrive so soon as to find us quite in -confusion.” - -The chief of the eunuchs then retired with his attendants; and -Schemselnihar returned to the saloon, very much afflicted at the -necessity she was under, of sending the prince of Persia back sooner -than she intended. She went to him with tears in her eyes, which -very much increased the alarm of Ebn Thaher, who seemed to -conjecture from it some unfortunate event. “I see, madam,” said -the prince to her, “that you come for the purpose of announcing to -me, that we are compelled to separate. Provided, however, that I -have nothing farther to dread, I trust that Heaven will grant me -patience, which I have so much need of, to enable me to support your -absence.” “Alas, my love, my dear soul,” cried the too tender -Schemselnihar, interrupting him, “how happy do I find yours, when -I compare it with my more wretched fate. You doubtless suffer -greatly from my absence, but that is your only grief; you can derive -consolation from the hopes of seeing me again: but I, just Heaven, -to what a painful task am I compelled! I am not only deprived of the -enjoyment of the only being I love, but am obliged to bear the sight -of one whom you have rendered hateful to me. Will not the caliph’s -arrival constantly bring to my recollection the necessity of your -departure? And absorbed as I shall be continually with your dear -image, how shall I be able to express to that prince any signs of -joy at his presence, which was hitherto always accompanied on my -part, as he often remarked, with pleasure sparkling in my eyes. When -I address him, my mind will be distracted; and the least possible -indulgence I shall grant to his affection, will plunge a poniard -into my very soul. Can I possibly derive the least pleasure from his -kind words and caresses? How dreadful the idea. Judge then, my -prince, to what torments I shall be exposed, when you have left -me.” The tears, which ran in streams from her eyes, and the -convulsive sobs of her bosom, prevented her further utterance. The -prince of Persia wished to make a reply, but he had not sufficient -strength of mind. His own grief, added to what he saw his mistress -suffer, took from him all power of speech. - -Ebn Thaher, whose only object was to get out of the palace, was -obliged to console them, and beg them to have a little patience. At -this moment, the confidential slave broke in upon them; “Madam,” -she cried, “you have no time to lose; the eunuchs are beginning to -assemble, and you know the caliph, therefore, will very soon be -here.”--“Oh Heavens!” exclaimed the Favorite, “how cruel is -the separation! Hasten,” she cried to the slave, “and conduct -them to the gallery, which on one side looks towards the garden, and -on the other over the Tigris: and when night shall have thrown the -greatest obscurity over the face of the earth, let them out of the -gate that is on the back part of the palace, that they may retire in -perfect safety.” At these words she embraced the prince of Persia, -without having the power of saying another word; and then went to -meet the caliph, with her mind in such a disordered state as may -easily be imagined. - -In the mean time the confidential slave conducted the prince and Ebn -Thaher to the gallery, where Schemselnihar had ordered her: as soon -as she had introduced them into it she left them there, and in going -away she shut the doors after her: having first assured them that -they had nothing to fear; and that she would come at the proper time -and let them out. - -The slave, however, was no sooner gone, than both the prince and Ebn -Thaher forgot the assurances she had given them, that they had -nothing to be alarmed at. They examined all round the gallery; and -were extremely frightened when they found there was not a single -place by which they could escape, in case the caliph, or any of his -officers, should take it into their heads to come there. - -A sudden light, which they saw through the blinds on the side -towards the garden, induced them to go and examine from whence it -came. It was in fact caused by the flames of an hundred flambeaux of -white wax, which an equal number of young eunuchs carried in their -hands. These eunuchs were followed by more than an hundred others, -who were older, all of whom formed a part of the guards that were -always on duty at the apartments of the females belonging to the -caliph. They were dressed and armed with scimitars, in the same way -as those I have before mentioned. The caliph himself walked after -these, between Mesrour, the chief of the eunuchs, who was on his -right hand, and Vassif, the second in command, who was on his left. - -Schemselnihar waited for the caliph at the entrance of one of the -walks, accompanied by twenty very beautiful females, who wore -necklaces and ear-rings made of large diamonds, and whose heads were -also profusely ornamented with the same materials. They all sung to -the sound of their instruments, and formed a most delightful -concert. The favorite no sooner saw the caliph appear, than she -advanced towards him, and prostrated herself at his feet. But at the -very instant of doing it, she said to herself, “If your mournful -eyes, O prince of Persia, were witness to what I am now compelled to -do, you would be able to judge of the severity of my lot. It is -before you alone, that I wish thus to humble myself; my heart would -not then feel the least repugnance.” - -The caliph was delighted to see Schemselnihar. “Rise, madam,” he -cried, as he approached her, “and come near to me. I have felt -myself but ill at ease at having been deprived for so long a time of -the pleasure of beholding you.” Having thus spoken, he took her by -the hand, and addressing the most kind and obliging things to her, -he seated himself on the throne of silver, which she had ordered to -be brought, as she did on a seat before him; and the other twenty -females formed an entire circle round them, sitting down on other -seats; while the hundred young eunuchs, who carried the flambeaux, -dispersed themselves at certain distances from each other all over -the garden; and the caliph, in the mean time, enjoyed at his ease -the freshness of the evening air. - -When the caliph had sat down, he looked round him, and observed, -with great satisfaction, that the garden was illuminated with a -multitude of other lights besides those which the eunuchs carried. -He took notice, however, that the saloon was shut up; at which he -seemed surprised, and asked the reason of it. It was, in fact, done -so on purpose to astonish him; for he had no sooner spoken, than all -the windows at once suddenly opened, and he saw it lighted up both -within side and without, in a much more extensive and magnificent -manner than he had ever done before. “Charming Schemselnihar,” -he cried at this sight, “I understand your meaning: you wish me to -acknowledge, that the night may be made as beautiful as the day. And -after what I now see, I cannot deny it.” - -Let us now return to the prince of Persia and Ebn Thaher, whom we -left shut up in the gallery. Although in that disagreeable -situation, the latter could not help admiring every thing that -passed, and of which he was a spectator, “I am not a young man,” -he cried, “and have, in the course of my life, been witness to -many beautiful sights; but I really think I never saw any spectacle -so surprising or grand as this is. Nothing that has been related -even of enchanted palaces, at all equals the exhibitions we have now -before our eyes. What a profusion of magnificence and richness!” - -None of these brilliant objects, however, seemed to have any effect -upon the prince of Persia: he derived not that pleasure from them -which Ebn Thaher did. His eyes were only intent upon watching -Schemselnihar; and the presence of the sultan plunged him into the -greatest affliction. “Dear Ebn Thaher,” he cried, “I wish to -God I had a mind sufficiently at ease to be interested like yourself -in every thing that is admirable around us. But I am, alas, in a -very different state; and all these objects serve but to increase my -torment. How can I possibly see the caliph alone with her I doat on, -and not die in despair? Ought an affection so tender and indelible -as mine to be disturbed by so powerful a rival? Heavens! how -extraordinary and cruel is my destiny. Not an instant ago I thought -myself the happiest and most fortunate lover in the world, and at -this moment I feel a stroke on my heart that will, at last, be the -death of me. No, I cannot, my dear Ebn Thaher, resist it. My -patience is worn out; my misfortune completely overwhelms me, and my -courage sinks under it.” In pronouncing these last words, he -observed something going on in the garden, which obliged him to be -silent and give his attention. - -The fact was, that the caliph had commanded one of the females that -was near, to take her lute and sing. The words she sung were very -tender and impassioned; and the caliph, being persuaded that she -sung them by Schemselnihar’s order, who had often given him -similar proofs of her affection, interpreted them in favor of -himself. But, at this moment, it was very far from the intention of -Schemselnihar. She, in her heart, applied them to her dear Ali Ebn -Becar, the prince of Persia; and the misery she felt at having, in -his place, an object before her whose presence she could not endure, -took such an effect upon her, that she fainted. She fell back in her -chair, which had no arms to it; and would have fallen on the ground -if some of her women had not quickly ran to her assistance. They -carried her away, and took her into the saloon. - -Ebn Thaher, who was in the gallery, surprised by this accident, -turned his head towards the prince of Persia, when, instead of -seeing him leaning against the blinds, and looking out as well as -himself, he was extremely astonished to find him stretched -motionless at his feet. He judged by this of the strength of his -love for Schemselnihar, and could not help wondering at this strange -effect of sympathy, which distressed him the more, on account of the -place they were then in. However, he did all he could to recover the -prince, but without success. Ebn Thaher was in this embarrassing -situation, when the confidant of Schemselnihar opened the door of -the gallery and ran in, quite out of breath, and like one who did -not know what course to pursue. “Come instantly,” cried she, -“that I may let you out. Every thing here is in such confusion, -that I believe this is the last day we have to live.”--“Alas!” -replied Ebn Thaher, in a tone which bespoke his grief, “how can we -depart? Pray come hither, and see what a state the prince of Persia -is in.” When the slave saw that he had fainted, she ran -immediately to get some water, without losing time in conversation, -and returned in a few moments. - -At length the prince of Persia, after they had sprinkled water on -his face, began to recover. When Ebn Thaher saw symptoms of -returning life, he said to him, “Prince, we both run a great risk -of losing our lives by remaining here any longer; make an effort -then, and let us fly as quick as possible.” He was so weak that he -could not get up without assistance. Ebn Thaher and the confident -gave him their hands, and, supporting him on each side, they got to -a little iron gate, which opened on the Tigris. They went out by -this gate, and proceeded to the edge of a small canal, which -communicated with the river. The confidential slave clapped her -hands, and instantly a little boat appeared, rowed by one man, and -came towards them. Ali Ebn Becar and his companion embarked in it, -and the slave remained on the bank of the canal. As soon as the -prince was seated in the boat, he stretched out one hand towards the -palace, and placing the other on his heart, “Dear object of my -soul,” cried he, in a feeble voice, “receive from this hand the -pledge of my faith, while with my other I assure you, that my heart -will ever preserve the flame with which it now burns.” - -In the mean time the boatman rowed with all his strength, and the -confidant walked on the bank of the canal to accompany the prince of -Persia and Ebn Thaher till they arrived in the current of the -Tigris. Then, as she could not go any farther, she took her leave of -them and retired. - -The prince of Persia continued extremely weak: Ebn Thaher said all -he could to console him, and exhort him to take courage. -“Remember,” said he, “that when we disembark, we shall still -have a long way to go before we arrive at my house; for to conduct -you to yours, which is so much farther, at this hour, and in the -state you now are, would, I think, be very imprudent. We might also -run a risk of meeting the watch-guard.” They at length got out of -the boat, but the prince was so feeble, that he could not walk, -which very much increased Ebn Thaher’s embarrassment. He -recollected, that he had a friend in the neighbourhood, and he, with -great difficulty, dragged the prince thither. His friend received -them very cordially, and when he had made them sit down, he asked -them from whence they came at that late hour. Ebn Thaher replied, -“I learned this evening that a man, who owes me a considerable sum -of money, intended to set out on a very long journey; I lost no -time, but went in search of him, and in my way I met this young -lord, whom you see, and to whom I am under a thousand obligations; -as he knows my debtor, he did me the favor to accompany me. We had -some difficulty to accomplish our purpose, and bring our gentleman -to a right understanding of the business. However, at last we -succeeded, and this is the reason of our having staid so late with -him. As we were returning, at a few steps from hence, this young -lord, for whom I have the utmost regard, felt himself suddenly -seized with illness, which induced me to take the liberty of -knocking at your door. I flattered myself, that you would have the -goodness to do us the favor of giving us a lodging for this night.” - -The friend of Ebn Thaher easily swallowed this fable, told them they -were welcome, and offered the prince of Persia, whom he did not -know, every assistance in his power. But Ebn Thaher, taking upon -himself to answer for the prince, said, that his illness was of a -nature only to require repose. His friend, also, understood by this -speech, that they both wanted rest. He, therefore, conducted them to -an apartment, where he left them at liberty to lie down. - -The prince of Persia no sooner dropt asleep, than his repose was so -disturbed by the most distressing dreams, representing Schemselnihar -fainting at the feet of the caliph, that his affliction did not at -all subside. Ebn Thaher, who was excessively impatient to get to his -own house, not doubting that his family were in the utmost distress, -because he made it a rule never to sleep from home, got up and -departed very early, after taking leave of his friend, who had risen -by day-break to go to early prayers. They at length arrived at Ebn -Thaher’s house, when the prince of Persia, who had exerted himself -very much to walk so far, threw himself upon a sofa; feeling as much -fatigued as if he had been a long journey. As he was not in a state -to go home, Ebn Thaher ordered an apartment to be prepared for him: -and that none of his people might be uneasy about him, he sent to -inform them where he was. In the mean time, he begged the prince to -endeavor to make his mind easy; and order every thing about him as -he pleased. “I accept, with pleasure,” replied the prince of -Persia, “the obliging offers you make; but that I may not be any -embarrassment to you, I entreat you to do every thing as if I were -not with you. I cannot think of staying here a moment if my presence -is to be any restraint upon you.” - -As soon as Ebn Thaher had time to recollect himself, he informed his -family of every thing that had passed in the palace of -Schemselnihar, and finished this recital, by returning thanks to God -for having delivered him from the danger he had escaped. The -principal domestics belonging to the prince of Persia came to -receive their orders from him at Ebn Thaher’s, and soon after -several of his friends arrived, who had become acquainted with his -indisposition. His friends passed the greatest part of the day with -him; and, although their conversation could not entirely banish the -sorrowful reflections which occasioned his illness, yet at least it -was thus far of advantage, that it gave him some relaxation. - -Towards the close of the day he wished to take his leave of Ebn -Thaher, but this faithful friend found him still so weak, that he -made him remain till the following day. In the mean time, to -dissipate his gloom, he gave him, in the evening, a concert of vocal -and instrumental music; but this only served to recall to the -prince’s memory the one he had enjoyed the preceding night, and -only increased his grief instead of assuaging it, so that the next -day his indisposition seemed to be augmented. Finding this to be the -case, Ebn Thaher no longer opposed the prince’s wish of returning -to his own house. He undertook the care of having him conveyed -there, and also accompanied him; when he found himself alone with -him in his apartment, he represented to him, in strong terms, the -necessity of making one great effort to overcome a passion which -could not terminate happily either for him or the Favorite. “Ah! -dear Ebn Thaher,” cried the prince, “it is easy for you to give -this advice: but how difficult is the task for me to follow it! I -see, and confess the importance of it, without being able to profit -from it. I have already said it; the love I have for Schemselnihar -will accompany me to the grave.” When Ebn Thaher perceived that he -could make no impression on the mind of the prince, he took his -leave, with the intention of retiring, but the prince prevented him. -“Obliging Ebn Thaher,” said he to him, “if I have declared to -you, that it is not in my power to follow your prudent counsel, I -entreat you not to be angry with me, and desist, on that account, -from giving me proofs of your friendship. You could not give me a -stronger one than to inform me of the fate of my beloved -Schemselnihar, if you should hear any tidings of her. The -uncertainty I am under respecting her situation, and the dreadful -apprehensions I feel on account of her fainting, make me continue in -the languid state you so much reproach me for.”--“My lord,” -replied Ebn Thaher, “you may surely hope that her fainting has not -been productive of any bad consequences, and that her confidential -slave will shortly come to acquaint me how the affair terminated. As -soon as I know the detail, I will not fail to come and communicate -it to you.” - -Ebn Thaher left the prince with this hope, and returned home, where -he expected all the rest of the day to see the confidant of -Schemselnihar arrive, but in vain. She did not make her appearance -even on the morrow. The uneasiness he felt to learn the state of the -prince’s health, did not allow him to remain any longer without -seeing him; and he went to him with the design of exhorting him to -have patience. He found him on the bed, and quite as ill as ever; he -was also surrounded by his friend, and several physicians, who were -exerting all their professional skill to endeavor to discover the -cause of his disease. As soon as he perceived Ebn Thaher, he cast a -smiling look on him, which denoted two things; one, that he was -rejoiced to see him; the other, how deceived his physicians were in -their conjectures on his disease, the cause of which they could not -guess. - -The physicians and the friends retired, one after the other, so that -Ebn Thaher remained alone with the patient. He approached his bed, -to inquire how he had been since he last saw him. “I must own to -you,” replied the prince of Persia, “that my love, which every -day acquires increased strength, and the uncertainty of the destiny -of the lovely Schemselnihar, heighten my disease every moment; and -reduce me to a state which afflicts my relations and friends, and -baffles the skill of the physicians, who cannot understand it. You -little imagine,” added he, “how much I suffer at seeing so many -people, who constantly importune me, and whom I cannot dismiss -without incivility. You are the only one whose company affords me -any comfort; but do not disguise any thing from me, I conjure you. -What news do you bring of Schemselnihar? Have you seen her -confidant? What did she say to you?” Ebn Thaher answered, that he -had not seen her: and he had no sooner communicated this sorrowful -intelligence to the prince, than the tears came in his eyes; he -could make no reply, for his heart was full. “Prince,” then -resumed Ebn Thaher, “allow me to say, that you are too ingenious -in tormenting yourself. In the name of God, dry your tears; some of -your people might come in at this moment, and you are well aware how -cautious you ought to be to conceal your sentiments, which might be -discovered by that means.” Whatever this judicious counsellor -might urge, was ineffectual to stop the prince’s tears, which he -could not restrain. “Wise Ebn Thaher,” cried he, when he had -regained the power of speech, “I can prevent my tongue from -revealing the secret of my heart, but I have no power over my tears, -while I have so much reason to fear for Schemselnihar. If this -adorable and only object of my desires were no longer in this world, -I should not survive her one moment.”--“Do not harbour so -afflicting a thought,” replied Ebn Thaher, “Schemselnihar still -lives; you must not doubt it. If she has not sent you any account of -herself, it is probably because she has not been able to find an -opportunity, and I hope this day will not pass without your hearing -of her.” He added many other consoling speeches, and then he took -his leave. - -Ebn Thaher was scarcely returned to his house, when the confidant of -Schemselnihar arrived. She had a sorrowful air, from which he -conceived an unfavorable presage. He inquired after her mistress. -“First,” said she, “give me some intelligence of yourselves, -for I was in great anxiety on your account, seeing you depart with -the prince of Persia in such a state as he appeared to be.” Ebn -Thaher related to her all she wished to know; and when he had -concluded his narrative, the slave began hers: “If the prince of -Persia,” said she, “suffers on my mistress’s account, she does -not endure less pain for him. After I had quitted you,” continued -she, “I returned to the saloon, where I found Schemselnihar, who -had not yet recovered from her fainting fit, notwithstanding all the -remedies that had been applied. The caliph was seated next to her, -showing every symptom of real grief. He inquired of all the women, -and of me in particular, if we had any knowledge of the cause of her -indisposition; but we all kept the secret, and we replied quite -contrary to what we knew to be the fact. We were, however, all in -tears to see her suffer so long, and we omitted nothing that we -thought might relieve her. It was full midnight when she came to -herself. The caliph, who had had the patience to wait for this -moment, showed great joy, and asked Schemselnihar what could have -occasioned this illness. As soon as she heard his voice, she made an -effort to sit up; and having kissed his feet, before he had time to -prevent her, “Sire,” said she, “I ought to complain of Heaven -for not suffering me to expire at the feet of your majesty, to -convince you by that, how sincerely I am penetrated by the sense of -all your goodness to me.” - -“I am well persuaded that you love me,” replied the caliph, -“but I command you to take care of yourself for my sake; you have -probably made some exertion to-day, which has been the cause of this -indisposition; you must be more careful, and I beg you to avoid a -repetition of any thing that may be injurious. I am happy to see you -in a better state, and I advise you to pass the night here, instead -of returning to your apartment, lest the motion should be hurtful to -you.” He then ordered some wine to be brought, of which he made -her take a small quantity, to give her strength, after which he took -his leave of her, and retired to his chamber. - -“As soon as the caliph was gone, my mistress made signs to me to -draw near. She anxiously inquired after you. I assured her, that you -had long since quitted the palace, and I set her mind at ease on -that subject. I took care not to mention the fainting of the prince -of Persia, for fear she should relapse into the same state, from -which we had with so much difficulty recovered her. But my -precaution was useless, as you will shortly hear. ‘O, prince,’ -cried she, ‘then, from this time I renounce all pleasures, so long -as my eyes shall be deprived of the gratification of beholding you; -if I understand your heart, I only follow your example. You will not -cease your tears, until you have rejoined me; and it is but just, -that I should weep and lament, until you are restored to my -prayers.’ On concluding these words, which she pronounced in a -manner that denoted the violence of her love, she fainted a second -time in my arms. - -“My companions and I were a long while in restoring her to her -senses again; at length, life returned; I then said to her, ‘Are -you resolved, madam, to suffer yourself to die, and to make us die -with you? I conjure you, in the name of the prince of Persia, for -whom you are so interested, to endeavour to preserve your life. Pray -be persuaded, and make those efforts, which you owe to yourself, to -your love for the prince, and to our attachment to you.’--‘I am -much obliged to you,’ returned she, ‘for your care, your -attention, and your advice. But, alas! how can they be serviceable -to me? We are not permitted to flatter ourselves with any hope; and -it is only in the bosom of the grave, that we may expect a period to -our torments.’ - -“One of my companions wished to give a turn to these melancholy -ideas, by singing a little air to her lute; but she desired her to -be silent, and ordered her with the rest to quit the room. She -detained only me, to spend the night with her. Heavens! what a night -it was; she passed it in tears and lamentations, and calling -continually on the name of the prince of Persia, she complained of -the cruelty of her fate, which had destined her for the caliph, whom -she could not love; and not to be united to the prince of Persia, of -whom she was so passionately enamoured. - -“The next day, as it was not convenient for her to remain in the -saloon, I assisted to remove her into her own apartment, where she -was no sooner arrived, than all the physicians of the palace came to -see her, by order of the caliph; and it was not long before he -himself made his appearance. The remedies prescribed by the -physicians for Schemselnihar, had no effect; for they were ignorant -of the cause of her illness; and the restraint she felt in the -presence of the caliph, only increased the disease. She has, -however, enjoyed a little rest this night, and as soon as she awoke, -she charged me to come in search of you, to obtain some intelligence -of the prince of Persia.”--“I have already informed you of the -state he is in,” replied Ebn Thaher, “so return to your -mistress, and assure her that the prince of Persia expected to hear -from her with as much impatience as she could feel on his account. -Exhort her, above all, to moderate and conquer her feelings, lest -some word should escape her lips before the caliph, which might -prove the destruction of us all.”--“As for me,” resumed the -slave, “I am in constant apprehension, from the little command she -has over herself; I took the liberty of telling her what I thought -on that subject, and I am persuaded she will not take it amiss if I -speak to her on your part also.” - -Ebn Thaher, who had but just left the prince of Persia, did not -judge it proper to return again so soon, and neglect some important -business, which he found would engage him at home; he did not go -till the close of day. The prince was alone, and was not better than -in the morning. “Ebn Thaher,” said he, when he saw him enter the -room, “you have, no doubt, many friends; but these friends do not -know your worth, which I am better acquainted with, by witnessing -the zeal, the care, and the pains you take, when an opportunity -offers of obliging them. I am quite confused at all you do for me, -and it is done with so much friendship and affection, that I shall -never be able to acquit myself towards you.” - -“Prince,” replied Ebn Thaher, “let us drop that subject, I -beg; I am not only ready to lose one of my eyes to preserve one of -yours, but even to sacrifice my life for you; but this is not the -business I am come upon; I come to tell you, that Schemselnihar sent -her confidential slave to me, to inquire how you are, and at the -same time to give you some information respecting her. You may -imagine, that I did not say any thing but what must confirm her -belief of the excess of your love for her mistress, and of the -constancy with which you adore her.” Ebn Thaher then gave him an -exact detail of every thing the slave had told him. The prince heard -it with all the different emotions of fear, jealousy, tenderness, -and compassion, which such a relation was likely to inspire; and -made on each circumstance such reflections, either of an afflicting -or consoling nature, as so passionate a lover could be capable of. - -The conversation lasted so long, that the night being far advanced, -the prince of Persia made Ebn Thaher remain at his house. The next -morning, as this faithful friend was returning home, he saw a woman -coming towards him, whom he soon recognised to be the confidential -slave of Schemselnihar: when she came up to him, “My mistress,” -said she, “salutes you, and I come from her to beg you to deliver -this letter to the prince of Persia.” The friendly Ebn Thaher took -the letter, and returned to the prince, accompanied by the confidant. - -When they had got there, he begged her to remain a few minutes in -the anti-chamber, and wait for him. As soon as the prince saw him, -he anxiously inquired what news he had to announce. “The best you -can possibly wish,” replied Ebn Thaher, “you are beloved as -tenderly as you love. The confidant of Schemselnihar is in your -anti-chamber; she brings you a letter from your mistress, and only -waits your orders to present herself before you.”--“Let her come -in,” cried the prince, in a transport of joy; and saying this he -raised himself in his bed to receive her. - -As the attendants of the prince had left the room when Ebn Thaher -entered it, that he might be alone with their master, Ebn Thaher -went to open the door himself, and desire the confidant to come in. -The prince recollected her, and received her in a very obliging -manner. “My lord,” said she, “I know all the pains you have -suffered, since I had the honour of conducting you to the boat, -which waited to take you back; but I hope, that the letter I bring -you will contribute to your recovery.” She then presented to him -the letter; he took it, and after having kissed it several times, he -opened it, and read the following words: - -“SCHEMSELNIHAR TO ALI EBN BECAR, PRINCE OF PERSIA. - -“The person who will deliver this letter to you, will give you an -account of me better than I can myself; for I know nothing, since I -ceased beholding you. Deprived of your presence, I seek to continue -the illusion, and converse with you by means of these ill-formed -lines, which afford me some pleasure, while I am prevented the -happiness of speaking to you. - -“Patience, they say, is the remedy for all evils: yet those I -suffer are increased instead of relieved by it. Although your image -is indelibly engraven on my heart, my eyes nevertheless wish again -to behold the original; and their sight will forsake them, if they -remain deprived of that gratification for any length of time. Dare I -flatter myself, that yours experience the same impatience to see me? -Yes, I may; they have sufficiently proved it to me by their tender -glances. Happy would Schemselnihar be, happy would you be, prince, -if my wishes, which are conformable to yours, were not opposed by -insurmountable obstacles! These obstacles occasion me an affliction -so much the more poignant, as they are the cause of sorrow to you. - -“These sentiments, which my fingers trace, and in expressing of -which I feel such inconceivable pleasure, that I cannot repeat them -too often, proceed from the bottom of my heart; from that incurable -wound you have made in it; a wound which I bless a thousand times, -notwithstanding the cruel sufferings I endure in your absence. I -should little heed all that opposes our love, were I only permitted -to see you occasionally without restraint. You would then be mine; -and what more could I desire? - -“Do not imagine that my words convey more than I feel. Alas! -whatever expressions I may use, I shall still think much more than I -can ever say. My eyes, which never cease looking for you, and -incessantly weep till they shall behold you again; my afflicted -heart which seeks but you; my sighs which escape my lips, whenever I -think on you, and that is continually; my imagination which never -reflects any object but my beloved prince; the complaints I utter to -Heaven of the rigour of my fate; in short, my melancholy, my -uneasiness, my sufferings from which I have had no respite since I -lost sight of you, are all sufficient pledges of the truth of what I -write. - -“Am I not truly unfortunate to be born to love, love, without -indulging the hope of possessing the object of my affections? This -distracting reflection overpowers me to such a degree, that I should -die, were I not persuaded that you love me. But this sweet -consolation counteracts my despair, and attaches me to life. Tell me -that you love me still. I will preserve your letter with precious -care; I will read it a thousand times a-day; and I shall then bear -my sorrows with less impatience. I pray that heaven may no longer be -irritated against us, and may grant us an opportunity of telling -each other, without restraint, the tender affection we feel, and -that we will never cease to love. Farewell. - -“I salute Ebn Thaher, to whom we each have so many obligations.” - -The prince of Persia was not satisfied with reading this letter only -once; he thought he had not bestowed sufficient attention on it; he -read it again more deliberately, and while thus engaged he -alternately uttered deep sighs and wept; he then would burst into -transports of joy and tenderness, according to the different -emotions he experienced from the contents of the letter. In short, -he could not withdraw his eyes from the characters, traced by so -dear a hand, and he was going to read it a third time, when Ebn -Thaher represented to him, that the slave had no time to lose, and -that he must prepare an answer. “Alas!” cried the prince, “how -can I reply to so obliging and kind a letter? In what terms shall I -describe the state of my soul? My mind is agitated by a thousand -distressing thoughts, and my sentiments are destroyed, before I have -time to express them by others, which in their turn are erased as -soon as formed. While my body is so much in unison with the -situation of my mind, how shall I be able to hold the paper and -guide the cane to form the letters?” - -Saying this, he drew from a little writing-case, which was near him, -some paper, a cut cane, and an ink-horn; but before he began to -write, he gave the letter of Schemselnihar to Ebn Thaher, and begged -him to hold it open whilst he wrote, that by occasionally casting -his eyes over it, he might be better enabled to answer it. He took -up the writing-cane to begin; but the tears, which flowed from his -eyes on the paper, frequently obliged him to stop to allow them a -free current. He at length finished his letter, and giving it to Ebn -Thaher, “Do me the favor to read it,” said he, “and see, if -the agitation my spirits are in, has allowed me to write a proper -answer.” Ebn Thaher took it, and read as follows: - -“THE PRINCE OF PERSIA TO SCHEMSELNIHAR. - -“I was plunged in the deepest affliction, when your letter was -delivered into my hands. At the sight of it alone I was transported -with a joy I cannot express; but on reading the lines, which your -beautiful hand had traced, my eyes were sensible of greater pleasure -than that which they lost when yours so suddenly closed on the -evening you fell senseless at my rival’s feet. The words contained -in your obliging letter, are so many luminous rays that enliven the -obscurity in which my soul was enveloped. They convince me how much -you suffer for me, and also prove, that you are not ignorant of what -I endure for you, and thus console me in my pain. At one moment they -cause my tears to flow in abundant streams; at another, they inflame -my heart with an unextinguishable fire, which supports it, and -prevents my expiring with grief. I have not tasted one instant’s -repose since our too cruel separation. Your letter alone procured me -some relief from my misery. I preserved an uninterrupted silence -till it was placed in my hands; but that has restored speech to me. -I was wrapped in the most profound melancholy; but that has inspired -me with a joy, which instantly proclaimed itself in my eyes and -countenance. My surprise at receiving a favor so unmerited on my -part, was so great, that I knew not how to express myself to testify -my gratitude. In short, after having kissed it many times, as the -precious pledge of your goodness, I perused and re-perused it till I -was quite lost in the excess of my happiness. You tell me to say, -that I love you still; ah! had my love for you been less passionate, -less tender than that which occupies my whole soul, could I have -done otherwise than adore you after all the proofs you give me of so -uncommon an affection? Yes, I love you, my dearest life; and shall, -to the end of my existence, glory in the pure flame which you have -kindled in my heart. I will never complain of the vivid fire which -consumes it; and, however rigorous the pains which your absence -occasions may be, I will support them with constancy and firmness, -encouraged by the hope of beholding you again. Would to God it were -to-day, and that, instead of sending you this letter, I might be -permitted to present myself before you, and assure you that I die -for love of you. My tears prevent me from adding any more. -Farewell.” - -Ebn Thaher could not read the last lines without shedding tears -himself. He returned the letter to the prince, assuring him it -needed no correction. The prince folded it up, and when he had -sealed it: “I beg you to approach,” said he to the confidential -slave, who had retired a little; “this is the answer I have -written to the letter of your dear mistress. I entreat you to take -it to her, and to salute her from me.” The slave took the letter, -and retired with Ebn Thaher, who, after he had walked with her some -way, left her and returned to his house, where he began to make some -serious reflections on the love intrigue in which he found himself -so unfortunately and deeply engaged. He considered that the prince -of Persia and Schemselnihar, notwithstanding the strong interest -they had in concealing their connection, behaved with so little -discretion, that it could not long remain a secret. He drew from -thence all the unfavorable conclusions which must naturally suggest -themselves to a man of good sense. “If Schemselnihar,” thought -he, “was not a lady of such high rank, I would exert myself to the -utmost of my abilities to make her and her lover happy; but as she -is the favorite of the caliph, no one can aspire to obtain her with -impunity who has gained his affections. His anger will first fall on -Schemselnihar; the prince will not escape with life; and I shall be -involved in his misfortune. But I have my honor, my peace of mind, -my family, and my property to take care of; I must then, while it is -in my power, endeavour to extricate myself from so perilous a -situation.” - -His mind was occupied with thoughts of this nature for the whole of -that day. The following morning he went to the prince of Persia, -with the intention of making one last effort to induce him to -conquer his unfortunate passion. In fact, he represented to him what -he had before mentioned, to no effect; that he would do much better -to exert all his courage to overcome this attachment to -Schemselnihar, than to suffer himself to be led away to destruction -by its means; that his love for her was of a more dangerous nature -to himself, as his rival was so powerful. “In short, my lord,” -added he, “if you will take my advice, you will endeavour to -overcome your affection; otherwise you run the risk of causing the -destruction of Schemselnihar, whose life ought to be dearer to you -than your own. I give you this counsel as a friend; and some day you -will thank me for it.” - -The prince listened to Ebn Thaher with evident impatience; -nevertheless he allowed him to finish what he wished to say; but -when he had concluded, he said, “Ebn Thaher, do you suppose that I -can cease loving Schemselnihar, who returns my affection with so -much tenderness? She does not hesitate to expose her life for me, -and can you imagine, that the care of preserving mine should occupy -me a single moment? No; whatever misfortunes may be the consequence, -I will love Schemselnihar to my latest breath.” - -Ebn Thaher, offended with the obstinacy of the prince, left him -abruptly, and returned home: where, recollecting his reflections on -the preceding day, he began to consider very seriously what course -he should pursue. - -While he was thus occupied, a jeweller, an intimate friend of his, -came to see him. This jeweller had observed, that the confidential -slave of Schemselnihar had been with Ebn Thaher more frequently than -usual: and that he had been almost incessantly with the prince of -Persia, whose indisposition was known to every one, although the -cause was not; all this had created some suspicions in the -jeweller’s mind. As Ebn Thaher appeared to be absorbed in thought, -he supposed that some important affair occasioned it; and thinking -he had hit on it, he asked him what business the slave of -Schemselnihar had with him. Ebn Thaher was a little confused at this -question; but not choosing to confess the truth, he replied, that it -was only for some trifling thing that she came to him so often. -“You do not speak sincerely,” resumed the jeweller, “and by -your dissimulation you will make me suspect, that this trifle is of -a nature more important than I had at first supposed it.” - -Ebn Thaher, finding that his friend pressed him so closely, said, -“It is true; this affair is of the utmost importance. I had -determined to keep it a secret; but as I know you take a lively -interest in every thing that concerns me, I will entrust you with -the truth, rather than suffer you to make conclusions for which -there is no foundation. I do not enjoin you to secrecy, for you will -be sensible, from what I am going to relate, how impossible it would -be to keep such a promise.” After this preface, he related to him -the amours of Schemselnihar and the prince of Persia. “You are -aware,” added he, at the conclusion, “in what estimation I am -held by the nobles and ladies of highest rank both in the court and -city. What a disgrace for me, if this story becomes known! But what -do I say? It would be absolute destruction to my whole family as -well as to myself; this consideration embarrasses me the most: but I -have resolved how to act: I owe it to my safety, and I must be firm. -I am going with the greatest diligence to call in my debts, and -satisfy those who are my creditors; and after I have secured all my -property, I will retire to Balsora, where I will remain till the -storm I see gathering over my head is passed. The friendship I feel -for Schemselnihar, and for the prince of Persia, makes me very -anxious on their account; I pray God to make them sensible of the -danger to which they expose themselves, and to preserve them. But if -their luckless destiny condemns their attachment to be known to the -caliph, I at least shall be sheltered from his resentment; for I do -not suspect them of sufficient malice to entangle me in their -misfortune. Their ingratitude would be of the blackest die, if they -acted thus; they would then repay with baseness the services I have -done them, and the good advice I have given, particularly to the -prince of Persia, who might still withdraw them from the precipice, -if he were willing, and save his mistress as well as himself. It -would be easy for him to leave Bagdad, as I shall; and absence would -insensibly eradicate a passion which will only increase while he -remains in this city.” - -The jeweller heard this recital from Ebn Thaher with very great -astonishment. “What you have now told me,” said he, “is of so -much consequence, that I cannot comprehend how Schemselnihar and the -prince of Persia could be so imprudent as to give way to such a -violent passion. Whatever inclination they might feel for each -other, instead of yielding to its influence, they ought to have -resisted it with firmness, and made a better use of their reason. -Could they be blind to the dreadful consequences of their -connection? How sadly are they mistaken, if they suppose it can -remain secret! I foresee, as well as yourself, the fatal termination -of this affair. But you are prudent and wise, and I entirely approve -the resolution you have formed; it is only by putting it in -execution, that you can escape the direful events you so justly -fear.” After this conversation, the jeweller arose, and took his -leave of Ebn Thaher; but before he left him, the latter entreated -him by the friendship which united them, not to reveal to any one -what he had related to him. “Be easy on that score,” replied the -jeweller, “I will keep the secret at the peril of my life.” - -Two days after this, the jeweller happened to pass by the shop of -Ebn Thaher, and observing that it was shut up, he concluded he had -put in execution the design he had communicated to him. To be quite -sure, however, he inquired of a neighbour, if he knew why it was not -open. The neighbour replied, that he knew no more than that Ebn -Thaher had set off on a journey. This was all the jeweller required; -and the first person he thought of, was the prince of Persia. -“Unhappy prince,” thought he, “how grieved you will be to -learn this intelligence! By what means will you now be able to hold -any intercourse with Schemselnihar? I fear despair will put a period -to your existence. I feel compassion for you; and must endeavour to -replace the loss of so timid a friend.” - -The business which had led him out was not of immediate consequence; -he therefore neglected that, and although he only knew the prince -from having sold him some jewellery, he nevertheless went to his -house. He requested one of the servants he met at the door, to tell -his master that he wanted to speak to him on an affair of the -greatest importance. The servant soon returned to the jeweller, and -introduced him into the apartment of the prince, whom he found -reclining on a sofa, with his head on the cushion. The prince, -recollecting that he had seen him before, got up to receive him and -give him welcome; and, after having begged him to sit down, he asked -him, if he could render him any service; or if he came on business -which related to him. “Prince,” replied the jeweller, -“although I have not the honor to be much known to you, yet the -zealous desire I have of serving you, has made me take the liberty -of coming to acquaint you of a circumstance which concerns you; I -hope you will pardon this freedom, as it proceeds from a good -intention.” - -After this preface, the jeweller began his story, and proceeded -thus: “Prince, you will allow me the honor of telling you, that -the conformity of our minds, together with some affairs we had to -transact with each other, has given rise to a firm friendship which -exists between Ebn Thaher and myself. I know his acquaintance with -you, and that he has, till now, exerted himself to serve you to the -utmost of his ability; this I learned from his own lips, for we -never practise concealment with each other. I just now passed by his -shop, and was surprised to find it shut up. I inquired the reason of -one of his neighbours, who told me, that Ebn Thaher had taken his -leave of him, and of the other neighbours, two days since; at the -same time offering them his services at Balsora, whither he said he -was going on an affair of considerable importance. I was not -thoroughly satisfied with this answer; and the interest I feel in -whatever concerns him, induced me to come to ask you, if you knew -any thing particular about this sudden departure.” - -At this speech, to which the jeweller had given that turn he thought -most likely to forward his design, the prince of Persia changed -colour, and looked al the jeweller with an air which evidently -proved how much he was afflicted at this intelligence. “What you -tell me,” said he, “astonishes me; I could not have met with a -more mortifying occurrence. Yes,” cried he, the tears flowing from -his eyes, “I have no hope left, if what you tell me is true! Ebn -Thaher, who was my only consolation and support, forsakes me! I no -longer seek to live after so cruel a blow!” - -The jeweller had heard enough to be fully convinced of the violence -of the prince’s love, with which Ebn Thaher had already acquainted -him. Simple friendship does not express itself in such strong -language; love, alone, is capable of inspiring sentiments so -animated. - -The prince remained for some minutes absorbed in the most -distracting reflections. He at length raised his head, and -addressing one of his attendants, “Go,” said he, “to Ebn -Thaher’s house; speak to some of his servants, and inquire if it -be true, that he is set off for Balsora. Run there instantly; and -return as quickly as possible, that I may learn what you have -heard.” While the servant was gone, the jeweller endeavoured to -converse with the prince on indifferent subjects, but he seemed -totally inattentive; his mind was lost in thought. Sometimes he -could not persuade himself, that Ebn Thaher was really gone; then he -felt convinced of it, when he recollected the conversation he had -held with his friend the last time he had seen him, and the abrupt -manner in which he left him. - -At length, the servant of the prince returned, and said, that he had -spoken with one of the people belonging to Ebn Thaher, who assured -him, that he was no longer in Bagdad, and that he had set off two -days since for Balsora. “As I was coming out of the house of Ebn -Thaher,” continued the servant, “a well dressed female slave -accosted me; and having asked me, if I had not the honor of being -one of your attendants, she said, that she wanted to speak to you, -and begged me at the same time to allow her to come with me. She is -in the antichamber, and, I believe, has a letter to deliver from -some person of consequence.” The prince immediately desired that -she might be admitted; not doubting that it was the confidential -slave of Schemselnihar, whom, in fact, she proved to be. - -The jeweller knew her again from having met her sometimes at Ebn -Thaher’s, who told him who she was. She could not have arrived at -a more seasonable time, to prevent the prince from giving way to -despair. She saluted him, as he did in return. The jeweller had -risen as soon as she entered, and had withdrawn a little to leave -them at liberty to converse together. The slave, after having -remained some time with the prince, took her leave, and went away. -She left him quite different from what he was before, his eyes -appeared more sparkling, and his countenance more cheerful, which -led the jeweller to suppose, that the good slave had been saying -something favorable to his attachment. - -The jeweller, having resumed his place near the prince, said to him -smiling, “I see, prince, you have some important affairs at the -palace of the caliph.” The prince, surprised and alarmed at this -speech, replied, “What induces you to think, that I have any -affairs at the palace of the caliph?”--“I conclude so,” -resumed the jeweller, “from the slave who has just left -you.”--“And to whom do you suppose this slave belongs?” -inquired the prince.--“To Schemselnihar, the Favorite of the -caliph,” replied the jeweller. “I know this slave,” continued -he, “and her mistress also, who has sometimes done me the honor of -coming to my shop to buy jewellery. I know, moreover, that this -slave is admitted into all the secrets of Schemselnihar; I have seen -her for some days past, continually walking about the streets with a -pensive air, from which, I imagine, she is now concerned in -something of consequence, which relates to her mistress.” - -These words of the jeweller confused the prince of Persia. He would -not talk to me thus, thought he, if he did not suspect, or rather if -he did not know, my secret. He remained silent for some minutes, not -knowing how to act. At length he spoke, and said to the jeweller, -“You tell me some things, which lead me to think you know still -more than you say. It is very necessary to my peace of mind, that I -should know the whole; I entreat you, therefore, to conceal nothing -from me.” - -The jeweller, who could not desire a better opportunity, then gave -him an exact detail of the conversation he had had with Ebn Thaher; -and thus let him know, that he was apprised of the intercourse that -subsisted between him and Schemselnihar; he did not omit telling -him, that Ebn Thaher, alarmed at the danger which his office of -confidant placed him in, had imparted to him the design he had -formed, of quitting Bagdad for Balsora, where he intended to remain -until the storm, which he dreaded, was appeased. “This he has put -in execution,” continued the jeweller, “and I am surprised how -he could prevail on himself to abandon you in the state which he -described you to be in. As for me, prince, I confess to you, that I -was moved with compassion for your sufferings, and I come to offer -you my services; and if you will do me the honor to accept them, I -promise to observe the same fidelity towards you as Ebn Thaher has -done; and engage, moreover, to continue more firm and constant. I am -ready to sacrifice my life and honor in your service; and, that you -may have no doubts of my sincerity, I swear by every thing most -sacred in our holy religion, to preserve your secret inviolably. Be -assured, then, prince, that in me you will find a friend equal to -the one you have lost.” - -This speech afforded the prince of Persia great consolation, and -reconciled him to the voluntary banishment of Ebn Thaher. “I feel -great satisfaction,” said he, “in finding in you so good a -substitute for the loss I have suffered. I cannot sufficiently -express how much I think myself indebted to you; and, I trust, that -God will amply recompense your generosity. I accept, therefore, with -great pleasure, the kind offer you have made me. Should you -suppose,” continued the prince, “that Schemselnihar’s -confidential slave has just been talking to me of you? She told me, -that it was you who advised Ebn Thaher to leave Bagdad. These were -the very last words she said, as she left me; and she seemed -thoroughly persuaded of their truth. She did you, however, great -injustice; and, after every thing you have now informed me of, I -have no doubt but she was completely deceived.”--“Prince,” -replied the jeweller, “I have had the honor to give you both a -literal and a faithful narrative of the conversation that took place -between Ebn Thaher and myself. It is true, that when he told me of -his intention of retiring to Balsora, I did not oppose his design: I -even told him, I thought him both prudent and wise; but this ought -not to prevent you from putting your whole confidence in me; for I -am ready to afford you all my services; and to exert myself most -warmly and indefatigably in your cause. If you think otherwise, and -decline my interference, I will, nevertheless, as I have most -solemnly sworn, religiously preserve your secret.”--“I have -already told you,” replied the prince, “that I place not the -least confidence in any thing the slave has said. It is her zeal -only that has raised these suspicions in her mind, and which have -not, in fact, the least foundation. You ought, therefore, like -myself, to excuse her on that account.” - -They continued their conversation for some time longer, and -consulted together about the best and most suitable means of keeping -open a correspondence between the prince and Schemselnihar. The -first thing they settled was, that it was necessary to undeceive the -confidant, who was so unjustly prejudiced against the jeweller. The -prince took upon himself the task of explaining this matter the -first time she came to him; and also to desire her, whenever she -brought any more letters, or had any message from her mistress, to -carry them directly to the jeweller. In fact, they thought it -improper, that she should make her appearance at the prince’s -house so often; because she might by those means, perhaps, cause a -discovery of what it was so much the interest of all parties to -conceal. The jeweller then got up; and after having again assured -the prince he might place an entire confidence in him, took his -leave. - -As the jeweller was going from the prince of Persia’s, he observed -a letter in the street, which some one seemed to have dropped. As it -was not sealed, he unfolded it, and found it written in the -following terms: - -“SCHEMSELNIHAR TO THE PRINCE OF PERSIA. - -“I am now about to inform you, by means of my slave, of a -circumstance which gives me no less affliction than it will occasion -you. By losing Ebn Thaher we truly suffer a great deal; but do not -let this, my dear prince, prevent you from taking care of yourself. -If the friend, in whom we trusted, has abandoned us through a dread -of the consequences, let us consider it as an evil we could not -avoid; we must, therefore, console ourselves under the misfortune. I -own to you, that Ebn Thaher has forsaken us at a time when his -presence and aid is most necessary; but let us fortify ourselves -with patience under this most unexpected event; nor let our -affection fail us even for an instant. Strengthen your mind against -this disastrous event. Remember, we seldom obtain what we wish, -without difficulty. Do not then let this damp our courage; let us -hope, that Heaven will be favorable; and, after all our numerous -sufferings, we shall at last arrive at the full and happy completion -of our wishes. Farewell.” - -While the jeweller had been engaged with his visit to the prince of -Persia, the confidant had had time to return to the palace, and -inform her mistress of the unpleasant intelligence of Ebn Thaher’s -departure. Schemselnihar had in consequence immediately written the -foregoing letter, and sent her slave back to carry it to the prince -without delay; and the confidant, as she went along, had -accidentally dropped it. - -The jeweller was much pleased at finding it, as it afforded him an -excellent method of justifying himself in the mind of the confidant, -and bringing the matter to the point he wished. As he finished -reading it, he perceived the slave herself, who was looking about -with great distress and anxiety to recover it. He directly folded it -up, and put it in his bosom, but the confidant, having observed his -motions, ran up to him; “Sir,” said she, “I have dropped the -letter, which you had just now in your hand; I beg you to have the -goodness to return it me.” The jeweller pretended not to hear her, -and continued walking on, till he got home, without answering a -word: he did not shut the door after him, that the confidant, who -still followed him, might, if she pleased, come in. This she did not -fail to do, and when she had reached his apartment, she said to him, -“Sir, you can make no use of the letter you have found, and you -would have no difficulty in giving it me again, if you knew from -whom it came, and to whom it is addressed. Give me leave to tell you -also, that you do not act justly by detaining it.” - -Before he returned any answer to the slave, the jeweller made her -sit down; he then said to her, “Is it not true, that the letter in -question is from Schemselnihar, and that it is addressed to the -prince of Persia?” The slave, who did not expect this question, -changed colour; “This inquiry seems to embarrass you,” continued -he, “but understand that indiscreet curiosity is not my motive for -asking this; I could have given you the letter in the street, but I -wished to induce you to follow me here, because I am desirous of -explaining my motives to you. Tell me, is it just to impute a -disastrous event to any one who has not in the most distant manner -contributed to it. This, however, is exactly what you did, when you -told the prince of Persia, that I advised Ebn Thaher to leave Bagdad -for his own security. I will not, however, lose time in justifying -myself to you; it is enough that the prince of Persia is fully -persuaded of my innocence in this point. I will only say, that -instead of having aided Ebn Thaher in his departure, I am extremely -mortified at it; not so much through my friendship for him, as -through compassion for the situation in which he left the prince, -whose intercourse with Schemselnihar he made me acquainted with. As -soon as I was certain that Ebn Thaher was no longer in Bagdad, I ran -and presented myself to the prince, with whom you found me; I -informed him of this news, and, at the same time, offered him the -same services which Ebn Thaher had afforded him. I have succeeded in -my design, and provided you place as much confidence in me as you -did in Ebn Thaher, it will be your own fault if I am not equally -useful. Give an account to your mistress of what I have now said to -you, and assure her, that though I may lose my life by engaging in -so dangerous an enterprise, I shall never repent having sacrificed -myself for two lovers so worthy of each other.” - -The confidential slave listened to what the jeweller said with great -satisfaction. She requested him to pardon her for the bad opinion -she had entertained of him, which arose merely from the zeal she -felt for Schemselnihar’s interests. “I much rejoice,” added -she, “that the Favorite and the prince of Persia have been so -fortunate as to find in you so proper a person to supply the place -of Ebn Thaher: and I will not fail to give my mistress a favorable -account of the strong inclination you have to serve her. - -After the confidant had thus expressed the pleasure it afforded her -to find the jeweller so disposed to be useful to Schemselnihar and -the prince of Persia, he took the letter out of his bosom and gave -it her. “Take it,” he cried, “and carry it immediately to the -prince; and then come back this way, that I may see the answer which -he sends. And do not also forget to give him an account of our -conversation.” The slave took the letter, and carried it to the -prince of Persia, who answered it without any delay. She then -returned to the jeweller’s, to show him the answer, which -contained these words: - -“THE PRINCE OF PERSIA TO SCHEMSELNIHAR. - -“Your dear letter has produced a great effect upon me: but yet not -so great as I could wish. You endeavour to console me for the loss -of Ebn Thaher. Alas! however sensible I may be of it, this is only -the least part of the evils I endure. You know these evils; and you -know, that your presence can alone cure them. When, alas, will the -period arrive, in which I can enjoy that dear leisure without the -dread of being again deprived of it? How distant does it appear to -me! Rather, perhaps, we ought not to flatter ourselves, that we -shall ever meet again. You tell me to take care of myself. I will -obey you, since I have made every inclination of my heart -subservient to you. Farewell.” - -When he had read this letter, the jeweller returned it to the -confidant, who, as she was departing, said to him; “I am going, -sir, to induce my mistress to place the same confidence in you which -she did in Ebn Thaher. To-morrow you will have some intelligence -from me.” And he saw her, in fact, arrive the very next day with -great satisfaction marked in her countenance. “The sight of you -alone,” said he, “proves to me, that you found Schemselnihar in -the disposition of mind you wished.”--“It is true,” she -answered, “and you shall hear the manner in which I brought it -about. I found her yesterday,” continued the confidant, “waiting -for me with the greatest impatience. I put the letter of the prince -into her hand, and she read it, while her eyes were bathed in tears. -As I perceived she was going to give herself up to her accustomed -grief, ‘Madam,’ said I, ‘it is, without doubt, the departure -of Ebn Thaher which so much afflicts you: but permit me to conjure -you, in the name of God, not to alarm yourself any more on that -subject. We have found another like himself, who has offered to -engage in your service with equal zeal, and what is of more -consequence, with greater courage!’ I then mentioned you to -her,” continued the slave, “and told her the motives which -induced you to go to the prince of Persia. In short, I assured her, -that you would ever preserve the secret intercourse between her and -the prince inviolable, and that you were determined to aid their -attachment with all your power. She appeared greatly consoled at -this speech, ‘What obligation,’ she exclaimed, ‘ought we to -feel ourselves under to the excellent man you have mentioned! I wish -to know him, to see him, to hear from his own lips what you have now -told me; and to thank him for his almost unheard-of generosity -towards persons who have not the slightest reason to expect him to -interest himself in so fervent a manner. His sight will afford me -pleasure; and I will omit nothing that I think will confirm him in -his good opinions and intentions. Do not neglect to go to him -to-morrow morning and bring him here.’ You must therefore, sir, if -you please, take the trouble to go with me to her palace.” - -This speech of the confidant’s very much embarrassed the jeweller. -“Your mistress,” he replied, “must permit me to say, that she -has not thought sufficiently of what she has required of me. The -free access which Ebn Thaher had to the caliph, gave him admission -every where; and the officers and attendants, who knew him, suffered -him to go backwards and forwards to the palace of Schemselnihar -without molestation. But how dare I enter it! You must yourself see -that the thing is impossible. I entreat you, therefore, to explain -to Schemselnihar the reasons which ought to prevent me from giving -her this satisfaction, and represent to her all the unpleasant -consequences that might happen from it. And if she will consider the -matter again in the slightest degree, she will easily see, that she -exposes me to a very great danger without the least use.” - -The confidential slave endeavoured to encourage the jeweller. “Do -you suppose,” she said, “that Schemselnihar is so regardless as -to expose you, from whom she expects a continuance of the most -important services, to the least danger, in ordering you to come to -her? Recollect yourself; and you will find, there is not even the -appearance of danger. Both my lady and myself are too much -interested in this affair to engage you in it without due -consideration. You may, therefore, very safely trust me to conduct -you: and after it is all finished, you will readily enough -acknowledge, that your alarms are without any foundation.” - -The jeweller yielded to the arguments of the confidant; and got up -to follow her. In spite, however, of all the courage he piqued -himself upon possessing, his fears so far got the better of him, -that he trembled from head to foot. “From the state which I -perceive you are in,” cried she, “I am sure you had better -remain at home, and Schemselnihar pursue some other mode of seeing -you: and I have no doubt, from the great desire she feels, that she -will come and find you out herself. This being the case, sir, do not -go out; for I am convinced it will not be long before you will see -her arrive.” The confidant was not wrong in her conjectures; for -she had no sooner informed Schemselnihar of the fright of the -jeweller, than the latter instantly made preparations to go to his -house. - -He received her with every mark of the most profound respect. As -soon as she had sat down, for she was a little fatigued with her -walk, she took off her veil, and discovered so much beauty to the -eyes of the jeweller, that he instantly confessed, in his own mind, -how excusable it was in the prince of Persia to have devoted his -heart to the Favorite of the caliph. She then accosted the jeweller -in the kindest manner, and said to him, “I could not possibly -become acquainted with the great interest you take in the welfare of -the prince of Persia and myself, without instantly forming the -design of thanking you in person; and I am truly grateful to Heaven -for having so soon, and so well, supplied the great loss we suffered -in Ebn Thaher.” - -Schemselnihar added many other obliging things in her speech to the -jeweller; and then returned to her palace. The jeweller himself -instantly went, and gave the prince of Persia an account of this -visit; who, when he saw him arrive, called out, “I have been -waiting for you with the greatest impatience. The confidential slave -has brought me a letter from her mistress: but this letter has -afforded me no comfort. Although the amiable Schemselnihar may -endeavour to give me every encouragement, yet I dare not indulge my -hopes, and my patience is quite exhausted. I know not what plan to -follow. The departure of Ebn Thaher has thrown me into despair. He -was my support; and, in losing him, I have lost every thing; for in -the free access he had to Schemselnihar, I did flatter myself with -some hopes.” - -At these words, which the prince uttered in a very expressive -manner, and so rapidly that the jeweller had no opportunity of -putting in a word before, he said, “No one, prince, can take a -greater interest in your misfortunes than I do; and if you will have -the patience to listen to me, you will find, that I can afford you -some comfort. At this speech the prince held his tongue, and was -attentive, “I very clearly see,” added the jeweller, “that the -only means of satisfying you, is to enable you to converse with and -see Schemselnihar without any restraint. This is a satisfaction I -wish to procure you; and I will set about it to-morrow. It will not, -I trust, be necessary to expose you to the risk of going to the -palace of Schemselnihar? you know, from experience, how dangerous a -plan that is. I am acquainted with a much more proper place for this -interview; and where you will both be in safety.” When the -jeweller had finished this speech, the prince embraced him with the -greatest transport. - -“You reanimate, by this delightful promise,” he exclaimed, “an -unfortunate lover, who felt himself already condemned to death. From -what I already hear, I am sure I have fully repaired the loss of Ebn -Thaher. Whatever you undertake will, I know, be done well; and I -give myself entirely up to your direction.” - -After the prince had thanked the jeweller for the zeal he had shown -in his service, the latter returned home; where the confidential -slave of Schemselnihar came the next morning to seek him. He -informed her, that he had given the prince of Persia some hopes of -seeing Schemselnihar very soon. “I am come expressly,” she -cried, “to concert some measures with you for that purpose. It -appears to me,” she added, “that this very house is well adapted -for their meeting.”--“I should not have the least objection to -their coming here,” replied the jeweller, “but I think they will -be much more at liberty in another house which I have, and which is -inhabited by no one. I will immediately have it handsomely furnished -to receive them.”--“This being the case,” rejoined the slave, -“nothing more remains to be done, but to get the Favorite to agree -to it. I will go and speak to her on the subject, and will return in -a very short time, and give you her answer.” - -It was not long before she came back; and she told the jeweller, -that Schemselnihar would not fail to be at the appointed place -towards the close of the day. She at the same time put a purse into -his hands, and told him, it was to procure an excellent collation. -The jeweller directly carried the slave to the house where the -lovers were to meet, that she might know where it was, and be able -to conduct her mistress thither: and, as soon as they parted, he -went to borrow from his friends some gold and silver plate, some -carpets, some very rich cushions, and other furniture, with which he -ornamented the house in the most magnificent manner. When he had got -every thing in readiness, he went to the prince of Persia. - -Imagine to yourself the joy of the prince, when the jeweller -informed him, that he was come for the purpose of conducting him to -a house which was prepared on purpose for his and Schemselnihar’s -reception. This intelligence made him forget all his vexations, all -his disappointments, and all his sufferings. He put on a most -magnificent dress, and went out, without even one attendant, with -the jeweller, who led him through many unfrequented streets to his -house, in order that no one might observe them, where he introduced -him, and where they remained in conversation till the arrival of -Schemselnihar. - -They did not wait a great while for this too doting fair-one. She -arrived directly after prayers at sun-set, accompanied by her -confidential and two other slaves. It would be useless to attempt to -express to you the excess of joy these two lovers evinced at the -sight of each other; the delineation is almost impossible. They sat -down upon a sofa, and at first looked at each other without being -able to utter a single word, so much were their minds absorbed in -mutual contemplation. But the use of their speech was no sooner -returned, than they made ample amends for their former silence. They -expressed themselves in so tender and affecting a manner, that even -the jeweller, the confidant, and the two slaves, could not refrain -from shedding tears. It was necessary, however, for the jeweller to -dry his tears, and to think about the collation, which he set before -them with his own hands. The lovers eat and drank but very slightly; -after which they returned to the sofa, and Schemselnihar asked the -jeweller, if he happened to have a lute, or any other instrument. -The jeweller, who took care to provide every thing which he thought -might afford them pleasure, immediately brought a lute. The Favorite -spent a few moments in tuning it, and then began to sing. - -While Schemselnihar was thus delighting the prince of Persia, by -expressing her love for him in words which she composed at the -moment, they suddenly heard a great noise; and a slave, whom the -jeweller had brought with him, instantly rushed in, frightened to -death, and said, that some people were forcing the door; that he had -demanded of them who it was, when, instead of returning any answer, -they redoubled their blows. The jeweller, greatly alarmed, left -Schemselnihar and the prince of Persia to go and inform himself of -the truth of this bad news. He went as far as the court, when, -through the obscurity of the place, he observed a troop of men, -armed with scimitars, who had already forced the door, and were -coming directly towards him. The jeweller got up close to the wall, -as quickly as possible, and, without being observed, he saw them -pass by, to the number of ten. - -As he thought he could be of no use in assisting the prince of -Persia and Schemselnihar, he contented himself with lamenting their -sad situation, and took flight as fast as possible. He ran out of -his own house, and went for safety to that of a neighbour, who was -not yet retired for the night; not doubting, that this unforeseen -and violent attack was made by order of the caliph, who had by some -means been informed of the place of appointment between the Favorite -and the prince of Persia. The house, to which he fled for safety, -was not so far distant, but that he heard the noise they made at his -own; and this noise continued till midnight. Then, as every thing -appeared to him to be silent, he requested his neighbour to lend him -a sabre, and, armed in this manner, he sallied forth. He went to the -door of his own house; and, entering the court, perceived, with -great alarm, a man, who demanded who he was. He instantly recognised -the voice of his slave. “How have you been able,” cried the -jeweller, “to escape being taken by the guard?”--“Sir,” -replied the slave, “I concealed myself in the corner of the court, -and I came out as soon as the noise had ceased. But it was not the -guard that broke in your house; they were robbers, who, for some -days past, have infested this quarter of the city, and pillaged -almost every one. They have, without doubt, remarked, that some rich -furniture has been brought here; and this was certainly their -object.” - -The jeweller thought the conjecture of his slave too probable. He -examined the house, and found, in fact, that the robbers had taken -away the beautiful furniture of the apartment in which he had -received Schemselnihar and her lover; and had carried off all the -gold and silver plate, not leaving an individual thing behind them. -At this sight he was quite in despair. “Oh, heavens!” he -exclaimed, “I am undone, without the chance of redress or -recovery. What will my friends say, and what excuse can I make them, -when I shall inform them the thieves have broken open my house, and -robbed me of every thing they had so generously lent me? How can I -ever compensate them for the loss they have suffered through me? -Besides, what can have become of Schemselnihar and the prince of -Persia? This affair will make a great noise, and it infallibly must -reach the ears of the caliph. He will be informed of this -assignation, and I shall be the victim of his rage.” The slave, -who was very much attached to his master, tried to console him. With -regard to Schemselnihar,” he said, “there is no doubt but that -the robbers would be contented with despoiling her of her valuables, -and you may be assured she will return to her palace with her -slaves: and the same will probably be the fate of the prince of -Persia. You have every reason, therefore, to hope, that the caliph -will remain in total ignorance of this adventure. As for the loss -which your friends have suffered, it is a misfortune you cannot -help, nor were able to avoid. They very well know, that the robbers -are here in great numbers, and that they have had the boldness to -pillage, not only the houses I have mentioned to you, but many -others belonging to the principal noblemen of the court; and they -are not ignorant, that in spite of the orders which have been -issued, to seize them, not one of them has hitherto been taken, -notwithstanding all the exertions and diligence that have been used. -You will make them every recompense in returning to your friends the -full value of the things you have been robbed of, and you will then -still have, God be praised, a tolerable fortune remaining.” - -While they were waiting till it was day-light, the jeweller made the -slave mend the door of the house that had been forced, as well as he -could. After this, he went back with his slave to that he commonly -lived in; making the most melancholy reflections all the way he -walked along. “Ebn Thaher,” said he to himself, “has been -wiser than I have: he has foreseen this misfortune, into which I -have blindly run headlong. I wish to God I had never taken any part -in an intrigue which may perhaps cost me my life.” - -It was hardly day when the report of this house having been broken -open and pillaged spread itself through the city, and was the cause -of a great number of the jeweller’s friends and neighbours -assembling at his habitation; the most part of whom, under the -pretext of expressing their sorrow for this accident, only came to -hear the account more at large. He did not omit to thank them for -the kindness of their inquiries: and he had, at least, the -consolation of finding, that no one mentioned either the prince of -Persia or Schemselnihar, which led him to hope, that they were -returned home, or had retired to some place of safety. - -When the jeweller was again alone, his people served up a repast; -but he could not eat any thing. It was now about mid-day; when one -of his slaves came and informed him, there was a man at the door, -whom he did not know, who said, he wanted to speak with him. As the -jeweller did not wish to admit an entire stranger into his house, he -got up and went to speak to him at the door. “Although you do not -know me,” said the man, “I am not unacquainted with you, and I -am come to you upon a most important affair.” At these words the -jeweller requested him to come into the house. “By no means,” -replied the stranger, “you must, if you please, take the trouble -to go with me to your other house.”--“How came you to know,” -answered the jeweller, “that I have any other house besides -this?”--“I am very well acquainted with that,” said the -stranger; “and therefore you have only to follow me, and fear -nothing; I have something to communicate to you that will give you -pleasure.” The jeweller then went with him, but informed him, by -the way, in what manner his house had been robbed, and that it was -not in a state in which to receive any one. - -When they had arrived opposite to the house, and the stranger saw -that the door was half broken, he said to the jeweller, “I see, -indeed, that you have spoken the truth; I will conduct you, then, to -a place where we shall be better accommodated.” Having said this, -they continued walking on, nor did they stop during the remainder of -the day. Fatigued with the distance they had come, vexed at seeing -night so near at hand, and wondering at the silence which the -stranger kept respecting the place they were going to, the jeweller -began to lose all his patience, when they arrived at an open place, -which led down to the Tigris. As soon as they were on the banks of -that river they embarked in a small boat, and passed over to the -other side. The stranger then conducted the jeweller down a long -street, where he had never before been; and, after passing through I -know not how many unfrequented lanes, he stopped at a door, which he -opened. He desired the jeweller to go in, shut the door after him, -and fastened it with a large iron bar. He then conducted him into an -apartment, where there were ten other men, who were not less -strangers to the jeweller than the one who had brought him there. - -These ten men received the jeweller without much ceremony. They -desired him to sit down, which he did. He had, indeed, great -occasion for a seat, for he was not only fatigued and out of breath -from his long walk, but the alarm with which he was seized at -finding himself with people apparently fully adequate to inspire it, -was so great, that he was hardly able to stand. As they only waited -for the chief, before they went to supper, it was served up, when he -made his appearance. They first washed their hands, and compelled -the jeweller to do the same, and also to sit down at table with -them. After supper was over, they asked him, if he was aware with -whom he was conversing. The jeweller answered he was not, and did -not even know either the quarter of the city or the place he was in. -“Relate to us, then,” they said, “your adventure of last -night, and do not conceal any thing from us.” The jeweller was -much astonished at this speech, and answered, “You are, probably, -gentlemen, already acquainted with it.”--“True,” replied they, -“the young man and young lady who were with you yesterday evening, -have related it to us; but we wish, nevertheless, to know it from -your own lips.” - -Nothing more was wanting to make the jeweller understand, that he -was now speaking to the very robbers who had broken open and -pillaged his house. “Gentlemen,” said he, “I am in great -distress about that young man and young lady, can you give me any -information concerning them?”--“Be in no fear,” answered they, -“on their account; they are in a place of safety, and are quite -well.” Having said this, they pointed out two small apartments to -him, in which they assured him they were kept separate. “They -informed us,” added the strangers, “that you were the only -person who were acquainted with their affairs and interested about -them. As soon, therefore, as we knew that, we took all possible care -of them on your account. So far from having made use of the least -violence towards them, we have, on the contrary, done them every -service in our power, and no one has ever wished to treat them ill: -we assure you, also, of the same treatment, and you may place the -fullest confidence in us.” - -Encouraged by this speech, and delighted to find that Schemselnihar -and the prince of Persia were in safety, at least with respect to -their lives and persons, the jeweller endeavoured to engage the -robbers still further in their service. He praised and flattered -them, and returned them a thousand thanks. “I acknowledge, -gentlemen,” said he to them, “that I have not the honor of -knowing you; but it is a very great happiness to me, that you are -not unacquainted with me, and I cannot sufficiently thank you for -the gratification this acquaintance on your part has procured me. -Not to mention a word of the great humanity and kindness of this -action, I see very clearly, that it is only among men such as you, -that a secret can be faithfully kept, where there is any danger of a -discovery to be dreaded; and if there be any enterprise of a more -difficult nature than common, you well know how to carry it through, -by your alacrity, your courage, and your intrepidity. Relying upon -these qualifications, to which you have so just a claim, I shall -make no difficulty in relating my history to you, and also that of -the two persons whom you found at my house, with all the -distinctness and truth you can require.” - -After the jeweller had taken all these precautions to interest the -robbers about every thing he was going to reveal to them, that he -thought might be of advantage, he gave them a complete detail, -without omitting a single circumstance of the attachment and -adventures of the prince of Persia and Schemselnihar, from the very -beginning till the meeting he had procured them at his house. - -The robbers were in the greatest astonishment at what they heard. -“What,” they cried, when the jeweller had concluded his -narration, “is it possible, that this young man is the illustrious -Ali Ebn Becar, prince of Persia, and this lady the beautiful and -celebrated Schemselnihar?” The jeweller swore that he had told -them nothing but the strict and literal truth; and added, that they -ought not to think it strange, that persons of their rank were very -unwilling to make themselves known. - -Upon this assurance, the robbers all went, one after the other, and -threw themselves at the feet of Schemselnihar and the prince of -Persia, entreating them to grant them a pardon; and protesting, that -nothing which had happened should have taken place if they had known -the rank of the guests before they had broken open the jeweller’s -house. “And we will now endeavour,” they added, “to make some -reparation for the fault we have committed.” They then returned to -the jeweller, “We are very sorry,” said they to him, “that we -are unable to restore every thing we have taken from you, as some -part of it is no longer at our disposal; we beg of you, therefore, -to be satisfied with the plate and silver articles, which we will -immediately return to you.” - -The jeweller thought himself very fortunate at the favor they, by -these means, did him. When, therefore, the robbers had restored what -they promised, they requested the prince of Persia and Schemselnihar -to come, and informed them, as well as the jeweller, that they were -ready to conduct them back to a certain place, from whence each -might return to his own house; but before they did this, they wished -to engage each of them, by an oath, not to discover them. The prince -of Persia, Schemselnihar, and the jeweller, all said they were ready -to pledge their words; but if the robbers particularly wished it, -they would swear solemnly to preserve the whole transaction a most -profound secret. The robbers, upon this, perfectly satisfied with -their oath, went out with them. - -As they were going along, the jeweller, feeling much disturbed at -not seeing either the confidant or the other two slaves, went up to -Schemselnihar, and requested her to inform him, if she knew what was -become of them. “I know nothing about them,” she replied; “all -I can tell you is, that they carried us with them from your house, -that we were conducted across the river, and at last led to the -house where you found us.” - -This was all the conversation which the jeweller had with -Schemselnihar; they then suffered themselves to be escorted by the -robbers, together with the prince, and they soon came to the side of -the river. The robbers immediately took a boat, embarked with them, -and landed them on the opposite bank. - -At the instant in which the prince of Persia, Schemselnihar, and the -jeweller, were getting on shore, they heard a great noise, caused by -the horse-patrole coming towards them, who arrived at the moment -they were landed, and while the robbers were rowing back to the -other side with all strength. - -The officer of the guard demanded of the prince, Schemselnihar, and -the jeweller, where they were coming from at that late hour, and who -they were. As they were all in a state of considerable alarm, and -therefore fearful of saying any thing that might lead them into -difficulties, they remained silent. It was, however, absolutely -necessary to make some answer; and this the jeweller took upon -himself, as his mind was not quite so disturbed. “Sir,” he -replied, “let me, in the first place, assure you, that we are -people of character, who live in the city. The men, who are in the -boat from whence we have just landed, are robbers, who last night -broke open the house where we were. They despoiled it of every -thing, and carried us with them. During the whole of this time, we -made use of every means in our power, by persuasion and entreaties, -and have at last succeeded in obtaining our liberty, and in -consequence of this, they brought us to this spot. Nay, they even -did more, and restored to us a part of the plunder they had taken, -and which we now have with us.” He then showed to the officer the -parcel of plate the robbers had returned to him. - -The commander of the patrole was by no means satisfied with this -answer of the jeweller. He went up both to him and the prince of -Persia, “Tell me,” said he to them, looking in their faces, -“the strict truth; who is this lady? How came you acquainted with -her, and in what quarter of the city do you live?” - -These questions very much embarrassed them, and they knew not what -answer to make. Schemselnihar, however, got over the difficulty. She -took the officer aside, and no sooner spoke to him, than he got off -his horse, and showed her every mark of great respect and honor. He -directly also ordered some of his attendants to bring two boats. - -When these were come, the officer desired Schemselnihar to embark in -one, and the prince and jeweller went into the other. Two of his -attendants were also in each, with orders to conduct them wherever -they wished to go. The two boats then began to steer a different -course: and we will now only attend to that in which the prince of -Persia and the jeweller were. - -The prince, in order to save the persons whom the officer had -ordered to conduct them home, some trouble, told them he would take -the jeweller home with him, and informed them of the part of the -city where he lived. Upon this information, the attendants rowed the -boat towards the shore, close to the caliph’s palace. The prince -of Persia and the jeweller, although they durst not discover it, -were in the greatest possible alarm. Notwithstanding they had heard -the order which the officer had given, they nevertheless were fully -persuaded they were going to be conducted to the guard-house for the -night, and that they should be brought before the caliph in the -morning. - -This was, however, by no means the intention of their conductors: -for as soon as they had landed; as they were obliged to return to -their party, they transferred them to an officer belonging to the -caliph’s guard, who sent two soldiers with them to attend them by -land to the prince of Persia’s house, which was at a considerable -distance from the river. They at length arrived there, but so worn -out with labor and fatigue they could scarcely move. - -In addition to this excess of weariness, the prince of Persia felt -so much afflicted at the unfortunate and unpleasant interruption he -and Schemselnihar had experienced, and which seemed for ever to -annihilate even the hope of another interview, that in sitting down -on the sofa he absolutely fainted. While most of his people were -employed in assisting to recover him, the rest surrounded the -jeweller, and requested him to inform them what had happened to the -prince, whose absence had occasioned them the greatest anxiety. - -The jeweller, who took good care to discover nothing to them they -ought not to know, told them, that the adventure was a very -extraordinary one; but that he had not, at that time, sufficient -leisure to give them the relation, and that they would be of greater -use in assisting the prince. The latter fortunately returned at this -moment to his senses, and those persons, therefore, who had so -recently asked the questions, went to a distance, and showed the -greatest respect; and, at the same time, evinced much joy that his -fainting fit had lasted but a short time. - -Although the prince of Persia had recovered his recollection, he -remained in such a weak state, that he could not open his lips for -the purpose of speaking. He answered only by signs, even to his -relations, who spoke to him. He continued in the same situation on -the next morning, when the jeweller took his leave of him. The -prince answered him only by a motion of his eye; at the same moment -he took him by the hand; and, as he observed, that he was incumbered -with the bundle of plate which the robbers had returned to him, he -made a sign to one of his attendants to take and carry it home for -him. - -His family had expected the return of the jeweller with the greatest -impatience, during the whole of the day he had gone out with the man -who had called to inquire for him, and of whom they were entirely -ignorant; and, when the time in which he ought to have returned was -elapsed, they were convinced some accident even worse than the -robbery had happened to him. His wife, his children, and servants, -were all in the greatest alarm, and were still in tears when he -arrived. Their joy at seeing him was great for the moment, but it -was soon accompanied with pain and regret at finding him so much -altered in so short a time. The excessive fatigue of the preceding -days and having passed the whole of the night without sleep, and in -the midst of alarms, were the causes of this change, and many of his -people, for the moment, hardly knew him again. As he felt himself -very much weakened, he remained two whole days at home without once -stirring out; during which time he saw only his most intimate -friends, to whom he had ordered free admission. - -On the third day, the jeweller, who felt his strength -re-established, thought that a walk in the open air would assist his -recovery. He went, therefore, to the shop of a rich merchant, with -whom he had been upon a friendly footing for some length of time. As -he got up to take his leave and go away, he perceived a female, who -made him a sign, and he instantly recognised her as the confidential -slave of Schemselnihar. This sight affected him with such a mixture -of joy and alarm, that he went out of the shop without noticing her. -She, however, followed him, as he was convinced she would, because -the place they were then in was not proper for conversation. As he -walked rather quickly, the confidant could not overtake him, and, -therefore, from time to time called out to him to stop. He heard her -perfectly well, but after what had happened to him, he did not -choose to speak to her in public, through the dread of giving rise -to any suspicion that he had any acquaintance with Schemselnihar. -For it was very well known all over Bagdad, that this slave belonged -to the Favorite, and that she employed her upon every occasion. He -continued to walk at the same rate till he came to a mosque, which -was but little frequented, and where he knew there would not be any -one at this time. The slave followed him into the mosque, and they -had there an opportunity of a long conversation without any -interruption. - -Both the jeweller and the confidant of Schemselnihar felt great -pleasure in again seeing each other, after the singular adventure of -the robbers; and the fear each was in for the other, not to mention -the alarm they all were in on their own accounts. The jeweller -wished the confidential slave to inform him, in the first instance, -by what means she and the two slaves had been able to make their -escape, and if she had gained any intelligence of Schemselnihar -since he had seen her. The confidant herself, however, was so very -eager to learn what had happened to him since their unexpected -separation, that he was obliged to satisfy her. “This,” said he, -when he finished his relation, “is all that you wished to know -from me; now, therefore, I beg of you, inform me, in your turn, what -I before desired you.” - -“As soon as I saw the robbers make their appearance,” said the -confidant, “I took them for some soldiers belonging to the -caliph’s guard; imagining that the caliph had been informed of the -excursions of Schemselnihar, and that he had sent them with orders -to kill her, the prince of Persia, and all of us. I, therefore, -instantly ran up to the terrace on the top of your house, while the -robbers went into the apartment where the prince and Schemselnihar -were; the other two slaves also made haste to follow my example. We -continued going on from the terrace of one house to another, till we -came to one belonging to some people of good character, who received -us with great kindness, and with whom we passed the night. - -“The next morning, after thanking the master of the house for the -favor he had done us, we returned to Schemselnihar’s palace. When -we arrived, we were in the greatest confusion; and felt the more -distressed, as we were entirely ignorant of the destiny of these two -unfortunate lovers. The other female attendants of Schemselnihar -were much surprised at seeing us return without their mistress. We -told them we had previously agreed among ourselves, that we had left -her at the house of a lady, who was one of her friends; and that she -would send for us again, to accompany her back, when she intended to -return. With this excuse they were quite satisfied. - -“In the mean time, I passed the day in the greatest uneasiness. -When night came on, I opened the small private gate, and saw a boat -upon the canal that branched off from the river, and terminated at -the gate. I called out to the boatman, and begged him to row on each -side of the river, and look if he could not see a lady; and, if he -met with one, to bring her over. - -“We waited (for the two slaves were with me, and as much -distressed as myself,) in expectation of his return till midnight, -when the same boat came back, with two other men in it and a woman, -who was lying down in the stern. When the boat reached the shore, -the two men assisted the lady in getting up and landing. I -immediately discovered her to be Schemselnihar; and my joy at seeing -and finding her again was greater than I can possibly express to -you. I instantly gave her my hand, to assist her in getting out of -the boat, and she had no little need of my assistance, for it was -with difficulty that she supported herself; as soon as she was on -shore, she whispered in my ear, and in a tone which evinced her -sufferings, desired me to go and get a purse, containing a thousand -pieces of gold, and give it to the two soldiers who accompanied her. -I then gave her in charge to the two slaves to help her along, and -after desiring the soldiers to wait a moment, I ran for the purse, -and returned with it almost instantly. I gave it to them, paid the -boatman, and then shut the gate. - -“I soon overtook Schemselnihar, who had not yet reached her -apartment. We lost no time in undressing and putting her to bed, -where she continued all night in such a state, as if her soul was on -the eve of quitting its habitation. - -“The next day her other attendants expressed a great desire to see -her; but I told them she had returned home very much fatigued, and -had great want of repose to recruit her strength. In the mean time, -the other two slaves and myself afforded her all the assistance and -comfort we could devise, and which she could possibly expect from -our zeal. At first she seemed determined not to eat any thing, and -we should have despaired of her life, if we had perceived that the -wine we from time to time gave her, did not very much support and -strengthen her. At length, by means of our repeated entreaties, and -even prayers, we got her to eat something. - -“As soon as I saw that she was able to speak without injury to -herself, for she had hitherto done nothing but shed tears, mixed -with sighs and groans, I requested her to do me the favor of -informing me by what fortunate accident she escaped from the power -of the robbers. ‘Why do you ask me,’ she replied, with a -profound sigh, ‘to bring to my recollection a subject that causes -me so much affliction? I wish to God the robbers had taken my life, -instead of preserving me. My evils would then have been at an end: -but now my sufferings will, I know, long continue to torment me.’ - -“‘Madam,’ I answered, ‘I beg of you not to refuse me. You -cannot be ignorant, that the unhappy sometimes derive a degree of -consolation from a relation even of their most painful adventures. -What I request, then, will be of service to you, if you will have -the goodness to comply.’ - -“‘Listen then,’ she said, ‘to a narrative of circumstances -the most distressing that can possibly happen to any one so much in -love as I am, and who thought herself almost at the completion of -her wishes. When I saw the robbers enter, with a sabre in one hand -and a poniard in the other, I concluded the very last moment of my -existence was at hand, and that the prince of Persia was in equal -danger. I did not indeed lament my own death from the satisfaction I -felt, that we should die together. Instead, however, of instantly -falling upon us, and plunging their weapons into our hearts, as I -fully expected, two of the robbers were ordered to guard us, while -the others were engaged in packing up whatever they could find in -the room where we were, and in the other apartments. When they had -done this, and had taken all the plunder upon their shoulders, they -went out, and made us go with them. - -“‘While we were on the way, one of those, who accompanied us, -demanded our names. I told him, that I was a dancer. He asked the -same question of the prince, who said, that he was a citizen. - -“‘When we had arrived at their dwelling, we experienced new -alarms. They first collected round me, and after examining my dress, -and the valuable jewels with which I was adorned, they seemed very -much to doubt my rank. ‘A dancing girl,’ said they, ‘is not -likely to be dressed like you. Tell us truly who you are.’ - -“‘As they found I was not inclined to give them any answer, they -put the same question to the prince of Persia. ‘Inform us,’ they -cried, ‘who you are. We see well enough, that you are not a common -person, as you wish us to believe by your former answer.’ He, -however, gave them no greater satisfaction than I had done. He only -told them, that he had come on a visit to a certain jeweller, whose -name he mentioned, in order to amuse himself, and that the house -where they found us belonged to him. - -“‘I know that jeweller,’ cried one of the robbers, who seemed -to have some authority among them; ‘and I am under some -obligations to him, although he is not perhaps aware of it: I know, -also, that he has another house. To-morrow I will make it my -business to bring him hither, and we will not release you till we -know from him who you are. In the mean time, be assured that no harm -shall be done to you.’ - -“‘The jeweller was brought here the next day, and as he thought -to oblige us, and in fact he did so, he informed the robbers -precisely who we were. They immediately came and begged my pardon, -and I believe they did the same to the prince, who was in another -apartment. They protested to me, at the same time, that if they had -known that the house where they discovered us belonged to the -jeweller, they would not have broken it open. They then took us all -three, and conducted us to the banks of the Tigris; they made us go -on board a boat, by which we crossed the water; but, at the very -instant of landing, a party of the guard came up to us on horseback. - -“‘I took the commander aside, told him my name, and also that on -the evening before, as I was visiting one of my friends, the robbers -met and stopped me, and then carried me with them; and that it was -not till I had informed them who I was, that they would release me. -That on my account, also, they set at liberty the two persons he -then saw with me, because I assured them I knew who they were. The -officer of the guard immediately alighted, as a mark of his respect, -and after expressing his joy at being able to oblige me in any -thing, he ordered two boats to come to the shore, into one of which -he put me and two of his people, whom you saw, and who escorted me -hither. The prince of Persia and the jeweller embarked in the other -with two more of his soldiers, who went with and conducted them -safely home. - -“‘I hope,’ added Schemselnihar, with her eyes swimming in -tears, as she finished this account, ‘that no fresh misfortune has -happened to them since our separation, and I firmly believe, that -the grief and distress of the prince is equal to mine. The jeweller, -who has served us with so much zeal and affection, deserves, at -least, to be recompensed for the loss he has sustained through his -friendship for us; do not, therefore, fail to take him to-morrow -morning, as from me, two purses with a thousand pieces of gold in -each; and gain, at the same time, some intelligence from him -concerning the prince of Persia.’ - -“When my good mistress had concluded her story, I endeavoured, on -her giving me this last order, to obtain some information of the -prince of Persia, to persuade her to make use of every method to -conquer her feelings after the danger she had just encountered, and -from which she had escaped only, as it were, by a miracle. ‘Make -no reply,’ she called out, ‘but do as I command you.’ - -“I was, therefore, obliged to hold my tongue, and immediately set -out to obey her orders. I first proceeded to your house, where I did -not find you; and, from the uncertainty whether I should meet with -you at the place where they told me you were gone, I was on the -point of going to the prince of Persia’s, but was afraid to make -the attempt. I left the two purses, as I went past, with a person of -my acquaintance. If you will wait here a little while for me, I will -go and fetch them.” - -The confidential slave then departed, but returned to the mosque, -where she had left the jeweller, almost directly. “Here,” said -she, giving him the two purses, “take these, and make a -compensation to your friends for their losses.”--“There is much -more,” replied the jeweller, “than is necessary for that -purpose: but I dare not refuse the present, which so kind and -generous a lady wishes to make to the humblest of her slaves. I beg -you to assure her, that I shall for ever preserve the recollection -of her kindness.” He then made an agreement with the confidant, -that she should come and inquire for him at the house where she had -first met him, whenever she had any thing to communicate from -Schemselnihar, or wished to gain any intelligence of the prince of -Persia. After this they separated. - -The jeweller returned home very well satisfied, not only with the -ample sum of money he had received for the purpose of making up the -loss his friends had suffered, but also from the idea, that he was -sure no person in Bagdad knew that the prince of Persia and -Schemselnihar had been discovered in his other house, which had been -robbed. It is true, he had acquainted the robbers themselves with -it, but he was tolerably secure of their secrecy, from its being -mutual. Besides, they, he thought, did not mix sufficiently with the -world to fear any danger from them, even if they did divulge it. The -next morning he saw those friends, to whom he was under such -obligations, and he had no difficulty in giving them perfect -satisfaction. And, after all, he had enough money remaining to -furnish his other house again very properly. He did this, and sent -some of his domestics to inhabit it. While thus employed, he quite -forgot the danger which he had so lately escaped from; and in the -evening he went to visit the prince of Persia. - -The officers and attendants of the prince, who received him, told -him he arrived very opportunely, for that the prince, since he left -him, was in such a state as to alarm them for his life; and that -they had not been able to get him to speak a single word. They -introduced him into his chamber without making the least noise; and, -he found the prince lying in his bed, with his eyes shut, and in a -state which very much excited his compassion. He saluted him, took -him by the hand, and exhorted him to keep up his spirits. - -The prince of Persia perceived that it was the jeweller who spoke to -him; he opened his eyes, and gave him such a look as plainly evinced -how much he was afflicted, and how much more he now suffered than -when he first saw Schemselnihar. He took hold of him, and pressed -his hand as a mark of his friendship; and, at the same time said, -though in the most feeble tone of voice, how much he felt himself -obliged to him for the trouble he took in coming to see so -unfortunate and wretched a being as he was. - -“Talk not, I beseech you, prince,” said the jeweller, “of the -obligations you are under to me. I wish, most earnestly, that the -good offices which I endeavor to do you were attended with more -success. Let us only think of your health. From the state you are -now in, I fear you suffer yourself to be too much depressed, and -that you do not take so much nourishment as is absolutely -necessary.” - -The attendants who were in waiting, seized this opportunity to -inform the jeweller, that they had tried every method in their power -to induce him to eat something, but all their efforts were -ineffectual, and that the prince had taken nothing for a great -length of time. This compelled the jeweller to request the prince of -Persia to suffer his servants to bring some nourishment for him to -take, and after much entreaty he at length obtained his consent. - -When the prince of Persia had eaten, through the persuasions of the -jeweller, much more than he had hitherto done, he ordered his people -to retire, that he might be alone with him. And after they were gone -out, he addressed these words to him: “Added to the misfortune -which overwhelms me, I feel very great pain for the loss that you -have suffered from your regard to me; and, it is but just, that I -should think of some means to recompense you: but in the first -place, after requesting you most earnestly to pardon me, I entreat -you to inform me, if you have heard any thing of Schemselnihar, -after I was compelled to separate myself from her.” - -As the jeweller had before received the whole account from -Schemselnihar’s confidential slave, he now related what he knew of -her arrival at her own palace, and of the state she had been in from -that moment, till she felt herself so much better as to be able to -send her confidant to get some intelligence of him. - -To this speech of the jeweller the prince answered only by his sighs -and tears. He then made an effort to get up; he called his people, -and went himself to the room where he kept his valuables, and -ordered it to be opened; he then made them take out many pieces of -rich furniture and plate, and ordered them to be carried to the -jeweller’s. - -The jeweller wished to decline accepting the present of the prince -of Persia; but although he represented to him, that Schemselnihar -had already sent him much more than sufficient to replace every -thing that his friends had lost, the prince nevertheless would be -obeyed. The only thing, therefore, the jeweller could do, was to -acknowledge how much he felt confused at his great liberality, and -to assure him, he could not be sufficiently thankful for his -kindness. He then wished to take his leave; but the prince desired -him to remain, and they passed the greatest part of the night in -conversation. - -The jeweller saw the prince again the next morning before he went -away, when the latter made him sit down near him. “You know very -well,” said he, “that there must be an end to every thing. The -sole object and end of a lover is to obtain possession of her he -loves, without restraint: if he once loses sight of this hope, it is -certain, that he can no longer wish to live. This, you must be well -convinced, is the miserable situation in which I am. Twice, when I -have fancied myself at the very consummation of my wishes, at that -very instant have I been torn from the object of my affections in -the most cruel manner. I have now, therefore, only to think of -death. I would myself be the cause of its immediate presence, but -that my religion prevents my becoming a self-murderer. I feel, -however, that I have no occasion to hasten its approach; because I -am well convinced I shall not have long to expect it.” With these -words he concluded his speech, and then gave full scope to his -tears, nor did he endeavour to suppress his sighs and his -lamentations. - -The jeweller, who knew not what better method to pursue, to lead his -attention from this hopeless and despairing train of thinking, than -by recalling Schemselnihar to his recollection, and holding out some -slight ray of hope, told him, that he was afraid the confidant was -already come; and it would not, therefore, be right that he should -lose any time in going home. “I permit you to go,” said the -prince, “but if you see her, I entreat you to urge her to assure -Schemselnihar, that if I die, as I expect will very soon be the -case, I shall adore her with my last breath, nor will my affection -cease even in the tomb.” - -The jeweller then returned home, and remained there, in hopes that -the slave would soon make her appearance. She, in fact, arrived a -few hours after; but bathed in tears, and in the greatest disorder. -Greatly alarmed at seeing her in this condition, the jeweller -eagerly inquired what was the matter. - -“We are all undone,” cried she; “Schemselnihar, the prince of -Persia, you, myself, every one of us are lost. Listen to the -terrible news I learnt yesterday, when I left you and returned to -the palace. - -“Schemselnihar had ordered one of the two slaves, who were with us -at your house, to be punished for some fault or other. Enraged at -this ill-treatment, this slave, finding a door of the palace open, -ran out, and we have no doubt but that she went and told every thing -to one of the eunuchs of our guard, who has afforded her a retreat. - -“Nor is this all: the other slave, her companion, is also fled, -and has taken refuge in the palace of the caliph, to whom, we have -every reason to believe, she has revealed all she knew; and what -confirms this opinion is, that the caliph sent this morning twenty -eunuchs to bring Schemselnihar to his palace. I found the means to -steal away, and to come and give you information of all this. I know -not what has passed, but I conjecture nothing good. Whatever it may -be, I entreat you to be quite secret. - -The confidant then added, that she thought it would be proper to go, -without losing a moment, and find the prince of Persia, and to -inform him of the whole affair, that he might hold himself in -readiness for any turn the event might take; and also that he might -be true and faithful to the common cause. She said not another word, -but suddenly went away, without even waiting for an answer. - -And what indeed could the jeweller have answered in the state this -speech put him in! He remained motionless, like a person stunned by -a blow. He was nevertheless aware, that the business required -decisive and prompt measures. He, therefore, made all the haste he -could to the prince of Persia’s, and as soon as he saw him, he -accosted him in a way that instantly showed he was the messenger of -bad news. “Prince,” he cried, “arm yourself with patience, -constancy, and courage; prepare for an attack, the most dreadful you -have ever encountered.” - -“Tell me,” exclaimed the prince, “in two words, what has -happened, and do not thus keep me in suspense. I am ready to die, if -it be necessary.” - -The jeweller then related to him every thing he had heard from the -confidential slave. “You see,” added he, “that your -destruction is inevitable. Get up then, and endeavour instantly to -save yourself. The time is precious. You ought not to expose -yourself to the rage of the caliph, still less to confess any thing, -although you should be in the midst of torments.” - -Very little more would at this moment have actually destroyed the -prince, so much was he already broken down by affliction, sorrow, -and terror. He at length recollected himself, and inquired of the -jeweller what plan he advised him to pursue in so critical a -conjuncture, and when he had only an instant to take advantage of -it. “There is nothing to be done,” replied the jeweller, “but -to get on horse-back as soon as possible, take the road to Anbar, -and endeavour to arrive there before daylight to-morrow. Let as many -of your people accompany you as you think necessary, and some good -horses, and suffer me to save myself with you.” - -The prince of Persia, who knew of no better method to pursue, gave -orders to have prepared barely as much as was necessary for the -journey; carried some money and jewels with him, and after taking -leave of his mother, set out, and hastened as much as possible to -get at a distance from Bagdad, in company with the jeweller, and the -attendants he had chosen. - -They travelled the rest of the day, and most of the following night, -without making any stop on the road, till about two or three hours -before day, when the fatigue of so long a journey, and the absolute -inability of their horses to proceed, compelled them to alight, and -take some little repose. - -They had hardly had time to breathe, before they were attacked by a -considerable troop of robbers. They defended themselves for some -time with the greatest courage, till all the attendants of the -prince were killed: the prince and the jeweller then laid down their -arms, and yielded at discretion. The robbers gave them their lives; -and after taking their horses and baggage, they rifled and even -stripped their persons, and then retiring with their plunder, left -them in the same place. - -The robbers were no sooner at some distance, than the prince said to -the jeweller, who was in the utmost distress, “Well, what think -you of our late adventure, and the state we are now left in? Do you -not rather wish that I had remained at Bagdad waiting there for my -death, in what manner soever it might have been -inflicted!”--“Prince,” replied the jeweller, “we must submit -to the decrees of the Almighty. It is his will that we should suffer -affliction upon affliction. Our business is not to murmur, but to -receive every thing, whether good or evil, from his hands with -absolute submission. Let us not, however, stop here; but proceed, -and endeavour to find out some place, where we shall be able to -obtain relief under our misfortune.” - -“Let me alone,” cried the prince of Persia, “and suffer me to -end my days in this place; for of what consequence is it where I -breathe my last. Perhaps, at the very instant we are now speaking, -Schemselnihar is herself no more; and it is neither my wish nor even -in my power, to live a moment after her.” The jeweller at length, -with much intreaty, persuaded him to move. They walked on for a long -time, and at last came to a mosque, which they found open. They went -in, and passed the rest of the night there. - -At day-break, there was only one person came into the mosque. He -said his prayers, and when he had finished them, as he was going out -he perceived the prince of Persia and the jeweller, who were seated -in one corner. He went up to them, and saluted them with great -civility. “You seem to me,” he said to them, “if I may judge -from your appearance, to be strangers.” The jeweller, who took -upon himself to speak, answered, “You are not wrong in your -supposition. Last night, in coming along the road from Bagdad, we -were robbed, as you may conjecture from the state we are in; and we -have great need of assistance, but know not to whom to -apply.”--“If you will take the trouble,” replied the stranger, -“to come to my house, I will very readily give you all the help -and assistance in my power.” - -On hearing this obliging offer, the jeweller turned towards the -prince of Persia, and whispered in his ear, that he thought this man -did not know either of them, and that they had some reason to think -it possible another might come, who would recognise them. “We -ought not, therefore,” said he, “to refuse the favor which this -good man does us.”--“You are master,” replied the prince, “I -agree to every thing you wish.” - -As the stranger saw the prince and the jeweller consulting together, -he thought that they made some difficulty in accepting the proposal -he had made them. He asked, therefore, on what they had determined, -“We are ready to follow you,” replied the jeweller, “but what -affords us the greatest distress is, that we are almost naked, and -are therefore ashamed to appear in this condition.” Fortunately, -however, the man had sufficient clothes about him, to be able to -bestow enough on them to cover them in their way to his house. And -they were no sooner arrived, than their host ordered some clothes to -be brought for each of them; and, as he naturally imagined that they -were greatly in want of food, and would also be much more at ease by -themselves, he sent a female slave with a variety of dishes. They -scarcely, however, touched any thing, particularly the prince, who -was reduced to such a languid state, and was so worn out, that the -jeweller felt considerable alarms for his life. - -Their host visited them several times during the day; but he left -them early in the evening, as he knew they stood in great need of -repose. The jeweller, however, was obliged, almost immediately, to -call him again, to help him in attending on the prince of Persia, -who, he thought, was very near dying. He perceived that his -respiration was difficult and rapid, and from this he judged he had -only a few moments to live. He went up to him, when the prince said, -“It is, as you must perceive, all over with me; and I am well -satisfied, that you should be a witness to the last sigh I shall -ever breathe; I resign my life with much satisfaction, nor need I -inform you why I do so. You know it. All the regret I feel is, that -I do not breathe my last in the arms of my dearest mother, who has -always shown the tenderest affection for me; and for whom, I trust, -my respect has ever been such as was proper. She will suffer much, -from not having the melancholy consolation of closing my eyes, and -even of burying me with her own hands. Tell her, I beg of you, the -pain I suffer; and request her, as from me, to have my body conveyed -to Bagdad, chat she may water my grave with her tears, and may -afford me the benefit of her prayers.” He did not forget the -master of the house where he was; and thanked him for the generous -reception he had given him, and after requesting that his body might -be preserved in his house, till they came to bury it, he expired. - -The day after the death of the prince of Persia, the jeweller took -advantage of a large caravan, which happened at that time to be -going to Bagdad; where he arrived in safety. He immediately went to -his own house, and having changed his dress, he proceeded to that of -the deceased prince of Persia, where they were all much alarmed at -not seeing the prince himself come back with him. He desired the -attendants to inform the prince’s mother, that he wished to speak -to her; and it was not long before they introduced him into a hall, -where she was surrounded by many of her females. “Madam,” said -the jeweller on entering, but in a tone and manner that evidently -proved he was the messenger of ill news, “may God preserve you, -and heap abundance of his favors upon you. You are not ignorant, -that the Almighty disposes of us as he pleases.” - -The lady gave the jeweller no time to say more, “Ah,” she -exclaimed, “you come to announce the death of my son!” She -instantly uttered the most melancholy cries, which, together with -those made by her women, renewed the grief, and made the tears of -the jeweller flow afresh. She continued to suffer these torments, -and remained a long time overcome by affliction, before she would -permit the jeweller to go on with what he had to say. She at length -suppressed for a time her lamentations and tears, and begged him to -continue his account, and not to conceal any circumstance of this -melancholy separation. He satisfied her; and when he had concluded, -she asked him if the prince her son had not charged him with any -thing in particular to say to her, when he was at the extremity of -his life. He assured her, that he only expressed the greatest regret -at breathing his last at a distance from her, and that the only -thing he wished was, that she would take care and have his body -brought to Bagdad. Early, therefore, the next morning, she set out, -accompanied by all her women, and a considerable part of her slaves. - -When the jeweller, who had been detained by the mother of the prince -of Persia, had seen her take her departure, he returned home in the -most melancholy state of mind: his eyes cast down, and himself -deeply regretting the death of so accomplished and amiable a prince, -in the very flower of his age. - -As he was walking along, meditating thus within himself, a woman -came up and stopped directly before him. He lifted his eyes, and -perceived the confidential slave of Schemselnihar, dressed in -mourning, and her eyes bathed in tears. The sight renewed his -affliction to a great degree, and without even opening his lips to -speak to her, he continued walking on, till he came to his own -house, to which the confidant followed him, and entered at the same -time. - -They both sat down, and the jeweller began the conversation, by -asking her, sighing deeply at the same time, if she had already been -informed of the death of the prince of Persia, and if it was for him -that she wept. “Alas, no,” she answered: “is then this -charming prince dead? He has not indeed long survived his adorable -Schemselnihar. Lovely spirits,” added she, addressing the departed -lovers, “in whatever place you may be, you are now sufficiently -satisfied in being able, for the future, to love each other without -any obstacle. Your bodies were an invincible hindrance to your -wishes, and Heaven has only freed you from them to enable you to be -united in soul.” - -The jeweller, who was hitherto ignorant of the death of -Schemselnihar, and who had not as yet attended to the circumstance -of the confidant’s being in mourning, felt an additional pang when -he learnt this intelligence. “Schemselnihar dead too!” he -exclaimed. “Is she no more?”--“Such indeed is her fate,” -replied her slave, renewing her tears. “It is for her that I am in -mourning. The circumstances attending her death are singular, and it -is proper that you should be made acquainted with them. But previous -to my giving you a narrative of this, I beg of you to inform me of -every thing relative to the death of the prince of Persia, whose -loss I shall continue all my life to lament, as well as that of my -dear and amiable mistress of Schemselnihar. - -The jeweller satisfied the confidant in every particular she wished -to know, and as soon as he had finished his account, beginning from -the time she left him to the moment in which the prince’s mother -began her journey for the purpose of bringing her son’s body to -Bagdad, she went on as follows: “I have already told you how the -caliph sent for Schemselnihar to his own palace. It was true, as we -had reason to believe, that the caliph had been informed of the -attachment and meeting between Schemselnihar and the prince of -Persia by the two slaves, whom he had separately questioned. You may -already perhaps imagine, that he was in the greatest rage with the -Favorite; and that he showed strong marks of jealousy and revenge -against the prince of Persia. By no means. He thought not for an -instant about him. He only pitied Schemselnihar. Nay, he attributed, -as it is thought, what had happened only to himself, and to the -permission which he had given her to go freely about the city, -unaccompanied by any eunuchs. At least we cannot form any other -conjecture, from the extraordinary manner in which he conducted -himself towards her from first to last; as you shall hear. - -“The caliph received her with an open countenance, and when he -perceived the traces of that grief with which she was overwhelmed, -but which nevertheless did not in the least diminish her beauty, for -she appeared before him without any symptoms either of surprise or -fear. ‘Schemselnihar,’ said he to her, with his usual accustomed -goodness, ‘I cannot bear that you should appear before me with a -countenance so strongly impressed by sorrow. You know with what -ardour I have always loved you: You must be convinced of its -sincerity by all the proofs I have given you of it. I am not -changed; for I still love you more than ever. You have some enemies, -and these enemies have made some ill reports of the manner in which -you conduct yourself; every thing, however, that they can say of -you, has not made the least impression upon my mind. Drive away then -this melancholy, and dispose yourself to entertain me this evening -with something as amusing and diverting as you used to do.’ He -continued to say many other obliging things to her, and then -conducted her into a magnificent apartment near his own; where he -requested her to wait for him. - -“The wretched Schemselnihar was sensibly affected at so many -proofs of the caliph’s concern for her person: but the more she -felt herself under obligations to him, the more was her bosom -penetrated with grief at being separated, perhaps for ever, from the -prince of Persia, without whom she was convinced she could not exist. - -“This interview between the caliph and Schemselnihar,” continued -the confidant, “took place while I was coming to speak to you; and -I learnt the particulars of it from my companions, who were present. -As soon, however, as I left you, I hastened back to Schemselnihar, -and was witness to what passed in the evening. I found my mistress -in the apartment I have mentioned; and as she was very sure I was -come from your house, she desired me to approach her; and, without -being overheard by any one, she said to me, ‘I am much obliged to -you for the service you have just now rendered me: I feel that it -will be the last.’ This was all she uttered, and I was not in a -place where I could say any thing by way of endeavouring to afford -her consolation. - -The caliph in the evening entered Schemselnihar’s palace to the -sound of instruments, which were touched by the females belonging to -the Favorite, when a collation was instantly served up. The caliph -took Schemselnihar by the hand, and made her sit near him upon a -sofa. To comply with this action had such a violent effect upon her -feelings, that in a few moments after we saw her expire. She was in -fact hardly seated, before she fell backwards. The caliph thought -that she had only fainted, nor had we at first any other idea. We -gave her every assistance in our power; but she never breathed -again. This then was the manner in which we suffered our great loss. - -“The caliph honored her with his tears, which he was unable to -restrain; and before he retired to his apartment he gave orders that -all the musical instruments should be absolutely destroyed, which -was accordingly done. I remained near the body the whole night, and -both washed and prepared it for burial with my own hands, almost -bathing it with my tears. It was the next day interred, by the -command of the caliph, in a magnificent tomb, which he had before -ordered to be built in a spot that Schemselnihar had herself chosen. -And since,” added the slave, “you have told me the body of the -prince of Persia is to be brought to Bagdad, I am determined that it -shall be placed in the same tomb with that of the Favorite.” - -The jeweller was very much astonished at this resolution of the -confidant. “You do not surely recollect,” said he, “that the -caliph will never suffer it.”--“You may believe the thing -impossible,” replied she, “but I assure you, it is not. And you -will agree with me, when I have informed you that the caliph has -given their freedom to all the slaves that belonged to -Schemselnihar, with a pension to each of them sufficient to support -themselves; and that he has moreover appointed me to take care of, -and watch her tomb, with a considerable salary both for its repair -and my subsistence. Besides, the caliph, who is not ignorant of the -mutual attachment of Schemselnihar and the prince of Persia, as I -have already told you, and who is not now offended or hurt at it, -will never have any objection to it.” In answer to this, the -jeweller had nothing to say; he only requested the confidant to -conduct him to the tomb, that he might offer up his prayers there. -When he arrived, he was greatly surprised at seeing a crowd of -people of both sexes, who had collected there from all parts of -Bagdad. He could not even get near it; and could only pray at some -distance. When he had finished his prayers, he said to the confidant -in a satisfactory tone of voice, “I do not now think it impossible -to accomplish what you so properly planned. We have only to make -known the various facts we are acquainted with, concerning the -Favorite and the prince of Persia, and particularly the death of the -latter, which took place almost at the same instant with that of -Schemselnihar.” Before his body arrived, all Bagdad agreed in -demanding, that they should not be separated in the grave. The -scheme succeeded, and on the day in which it was known the body -would arrive, a multitude of people went out even twenty miles to -meet it.” - -The confidant waited at the gate of the city, where she presented -herself before the mother of the prince of Persia, and requested her -in the name of all the inhabitants, who so ardently desired it, to -allow the bodies of the two lovers, whose hearts formed but one, -from the commencement of their attachment to the last moment of -their lives, to be united in one tomb. The lady agreed to it; and -the body was carried to the tomb of Schemselnihar, an immense number -of people of all ranks following it; and then placed by her side. -From that time all the inhabitants of Bagdad, and even strangers -from all parts of the world, where mussulmen are known, have never -ceased from feeling a great veneration for that tomb, and going to -offer up their prayers at its foot. - -“This, sire,” said Scheherazadè in this place, “is what I had -to relate to your majesty concerning the amours of the beautiful -Schemselnihar, the Favorite of the caliph Haroun Alraschid, and the -amiable Ali Ebn Becar, prince of Persia.” - -When Dinarzadè perceived the sultana, her sister, had concluded her -speech, she thanked her most kindly for the pleasure she had -afforded her by the recital of so interesting a history: “If the -sultan,” replied Scheherazadè, “would suffer me to live till -to-morrow, I would relate to him the history of prince Camaralzaman, -[14] which he would find still more agreeable.” She was then -silent; and Schahriar, who could not yet determine to give orders -for her death, deferred it, in order to listen to the new story, -which the sultana began to relate, on the following night. - - - - -THE HISTORY -OF THE AMOURS OF CAMARALZAMAN, PRINCE OF THE ISLE OF THE CHILDREN OF -KHALEDAN, AND OF BADOURA, PRINCESS OF CHINA. - - -About twenty days sail from the coast of Persia, sire, there is, in -the open sea, an island, which is called the Isle of the Children of -Khaledan. This island is divided into several large provinces, with -many large flourishing and well-peopled towns scattered over them, -and forms altogether a very powerful kingdom. It was formerly -governed by a king, named Schahzaman, who had four wives, as was the -custom; all daughters of kings, and sixty concubines. - -Schahzaman esteemed himself the happiest sovereign on the whole face -of the earth, on account of the tranquillity and prosperity of his -reign. One thing alone affected his happiness; he was already far -advanced in years, and he had no children, notwithstanding he had so -great a number of wives. He could not account in any way for this -circumstance; and in the moments of his affliction he considered it -as the greatest misfortune that could befal him, to die without -leaving a successor to the throne, who was descended from him. He, -for a considerable time, concealed the tormenting anxiety that -preyed upon him; and he suffered so much the more as he endeavoured -to assume an air of cheerfulness. At length he broke silence; and -one day having complained of his misfortune in the bitterest terms -of sorrow, in a private conversation he had with his grand vizier, -he asked him if he knew of any means to remedy so great an evil. - -“If what your majesty requires,” replied this wise minister, -“depended on the common interference of human wisdom, you might -soon have the gratification you so ardently desire; but I confess, -my experience and knowledge is not equal to solve what you ask; to -God alone you must apply in such cases; in the midst of our -prosperity, which often makes us forget what we owe him, he -sometimes mortifies us on some interesting point, that we may turn -our thoughts to him, acknowledge his universal power, and ask of him -that which we cannot obtain but by his interference. You have -amongst your subjects some men, who devote themselves to the -particular profession of knowing and serving him, and lead a life of -penance and hardship for the love of him: my advice is, that your -majesty should bestow alms on them, and request them to join their -prayers to yours; perhaps amongst so great a number, one may be -sufficiently pure and acceptable to God, to obtain from him the -completion of your wishes.” - -The King approved this advice, for which he thanked his grand -vizier. He ordered alms to a considerable amount to be presented to -each of these communities of people, consecrated to God; he then -desired the superiors of them to come to him, and after having -regaled them with a repast suited to their frugal manner of living, -he declared his intention, and begged them to acquaint the devotees -of it also, who were under their authority. - -Schahzaman obtained from Heaven what he so much desired, and which -was soon evident by the pregnancy of one of his wives, who, at the -expiration of nine months, presented him with a son. To testify his -gratitude, he sent fresh presents to the societies of devout -mussulmen, which were worthy of his dignity and greatness; and the -birth of the prince was celebrated by public rejoicings for a whole -week, not only in his capital but throughout his extensive -dominions. The young prince was taken to him immediately on his -birth, and he thought him so very beautiful, that he gave him the -name of Camaralzaman, which means the moon of the age. - -Prince Camaralzaman was educated with all possible attention, and -when he had reached a proper age, the sultan appointed him a prudent -governor and able preceptors. These persons, distinguished by their -superior understandings, found in him a docile and intelligent -disposition, capable of receiving all the instruction they wished to -give him, either for the forming of his morals, or the cultivation -of his mind, in such acquirements as a prince in his situation ought -to be possessed of. And, when of a more advanced age, he learned -various exercises with the same degree of facility; and acquitted -himself with so much grace and address, that he charmed every -beholder, but more particularly the sultan his father. - -When the prince had attained the age of fifteen years, Schahzaman, -who loved him with the greatest tenderness, and of which he gave him -every day new and stronger proofs, conceived the design of bestowing -on him the most striking mark of his affection, by descending from -the throne himself, and raising his son to that distinguished -situation. He communicated it to his grand vizier: “I fear,” -said he, “that in the idleness of youth, my son will lose not only -those advantages which nature has bestowed on him, but also such as -he has so successfully acquired by the good education I have given -him. As I am now advanced to an age to make me think of retiring -from the world, I have almost resolved to give up the government to -him, and to pass the rest of my days in the satisfaction of seeing -him reign. I have laboured a long time, and I now want repose.” - -The grand vizier would not then represent to the sultan all the -reasons that might dissuade him from putting this design into -execution; on the contrary, he appeared to concur in his wish. -“Sire,” replied he, “the prince is still too young, I think, -to be charged at so early a period with a burden so heavy as that of -governing a powerful state. Your majesty is fearful that he may be -corrupted, if suffered to lead a life of inactivity and indolence, -and indeed with reason; but to remedy that evil, would it not in -your opinion be more proper to marry him first? Marriage is likely -to render his affections steady, and to prevent his entering into -dissipation; added to that, your majesty might allow him admittance -to your councils, by which he would learn by degrees to sustain the -brilliancy and weight of your crown with dignity; and when -sufficiently qualified, and you by experience found him equal to the -undertaking, you might still resign it in his favor.” - -Schahzaman thought this advice from his prime minister very -reasonable and prudent; he therefore summoned his son, prince -Camaralzaman, to attend him as soon as the grand vizier had taken -his leave. - -The prince, who hitherto had only seen the sultan at certain stated -hours, without requiring a summons, was rather surprised al this -order. Instead, therefore, of presenting himself before him in his -usual free manner, he saluted him with great respect, and stopped as -soon as he was in his presence, fixing his eyes on the ground. - -The sultan perceived the restraint of the prince; “My son,” said -he, in a tone intended to inspire him with confidence, “do you -know on what account I sent for you?”--“Sire,” replied the -prince, modestly, “God alone can penetrate into the recesses of -the heart: I shall learn the reason from your majesty’s lips with -the greatest pleasure.”--“I did it to acquaint you,” resumed -the sultan, “that I wish you to marry: what do you think of it?” - -Prince Camaralzaman heard these words with great concern. He was -quite disconcerted; a cold damp arose on his face; and he knew not -how to reply. After some moments passed in silence he said, “Sire, -I entreat you to pardon me, if I appear confused at the declaration -your majesty has just made; I did not expect it at my very youthful -age. I do not even know, whether I shall ever be able to submit -myself to the bonds of marriage, for I am well aware of the -embarrassment and trouble occasioned by women; besides which, I have -frequently read in our authors of their arts, their cunning, and -their perfidy. Perhaps I may not always remain of this opinion; at -any rate I feel, that I should require a considerable length of time -to induce me to agree to what your majesty requires of me.” - -This answer of the prince extremely afflicted the sultan his father. -This monarch felt real grief at finding in his son so great a -repugnance to matrimony. He did not, however, think proper to treat -it as disobedience, nor to make use of the authority of a parent; he -contented himself with saying, “I will not use any undue influence -over you on this subject; I give you time to think of it, and to -consider, that a prince, destined as you are to govern a large -kingdom, ought in the first place to turn his thoughts to provide a -successor in his own family. In giving yourself this satisfaction -you will afford me a very great one, who shall love to see myself -live over again in you and in the children, who are to prolong my -race.” - -Schahzaman said no more to prince Camaralzaman. He allowed him free -entrance to the councils of state, and in every other respect gave -him reason to be satisfied with his conduct towards him. At the -expiration of a year he took him aside; “Well, my son,” said he, -“have you remembered to make your reflections on the design I -formed last year, of marrying you? Will you still refuse me the joy -I should experience from your compliance with my wishes, and do you -intend that I should die without experiencing this satisfaction?” - -The prince appeared less discontented than on the former occasion, -and did not long hesitate to reply with firmness in these words, -“I have not, sire, omitted to reflect upon the subject; I gave it -all the attention which it deserves; but, after having maturely -considered it; I am still more confirmed in my resolution to live -without any matrimonial engagement. In fact, the numberless evils -which women have from time immemorial been the occasion of in the -universe, as I have been well informed by our histories, and the -daily accounts I hear of their cunning and malice, are the motives -which determine me never to have any connexion with them. Therefore -your majesty will pardon me, if I dare to assure you, that any -arguments you may use, to endeavour to persuade me to marry, will be -fruitless.” Here he ceased, and left the presence of the sultan in -an abrupt manner, without even waiting for him to return an answer. - -Any other monarch besides Schahzaman would with difficulty have -restrained himself from using violence, after the rude and obstinate -way in which the prince, his son, had expressed himself, and would -have ordered him some punishment; but he tenderly loved him, and -wished to employ every gentle means of persuasion before he had -recourse to more rigid methods. He communicated this new cause of -sorrow which Camaralzaman had given to him, to his prime minister. -“I have followed your advice,” said he, “but my son is still -more adverse to matrimony than he was the first time I spoke to him -on the subject; and he explained himself in such a determined -manner, that I needed all my reason and moderation to restrain my -anger. Fathers who pray for children as ardently as I did, are -madmen and fools, who seek to deprive themselves of that repose and -quiet which they might otherwise have tranquilly enjoyed. Tell me, I -entreat you, by what means I can reclaim a mind so rebellious to my -desires.” - -“Sire,” replied the grand vizier, “a great many things are -accomplished through the medium of patience; perhaps this may not be -of a nature to be conquered by such means; but your majesty will not -have to reproach yourself with being too precipitate, if you consent -to allow the prince another year to form his determination. If, -during this interval, he does not return to his duty, you will have -a much greater satisfaction in the consciousness of having employed -no method, but that of paternal kindness, to obtain his consent. If, -on the contrary, he persists in his obstinacy, then, when the year -is expired, I think your majesty will be fully justified in -declaring to him, before the whole council, that the good of the -state requires his marriage. It is not possible that he should be -wanting in respect towards you before an assembly of enlightened and -celebrated men, which you honour with your presence.” - -The sultan, who so passionately and ardently wished to see his son -married, that so long a delay appeared ages to him, had some -difficulty in consenting to wait so much longer. He, however, was -persuaded by the arguments of the grand vizier, which he could -neither contradict nor disapprove. - -When the prime minister had retired, the sultan Schahzaman went to -the apartment of the mother of prince Camaralzaman, to whom he had -long since imparted the ardent desire he had of marrying his son. -When he had related to her the painful disappointment he had just -met with from his second refusal, and also the indulgence he still -intended to grant him by the advice of his grand vizier, he added, -“I know, madam, that he has more confidence in you than in me, -that you converse with him, and that he listens to you with more -familiarity; I entreat you, therefore, to take an opportunity to -speak to him seriously on this subject; and to make him sensible, -that if he persists in his obstinacy, he will oblige me at last to -have recourse to extremities, which I should be sorry to adopt, and -which would make him repent of his disobedience.” - -Fatima, for this was the name of the prince’s mother, informed -Camaralzaman, the first time she had any conversation with him, that -she had been acquainted with his fresh refusal to marry, which he -had testified to the sultan; and expressed herself much chagrined at -his having occasioned his father so great a cause for anger. -“Madam,” replied Camaralzaman, “do not, I entreat you, renew -my grief on this affair; I fear, that in my present state of mind, I -might be guilty of saying something disrespectful to you.” Fatima -knew by this answer, that the wound was too recent to continue the -subject; she therefore dropped it for the present. - -Some time after this, Fatima thought she had met with an opportunity -of renewing it, and with more prospect of success in obtaining a -hearing. “My son,” said she, “if it be not painful to you, -pray tell me what are the reasons that have given you so great an -aversion to marriage. If you have none stronger than the art and -wickedness of women, believe me, you could not have chosen any more -weak or unreasonable. I will not undertake the defence of artful -women, for that there are numbers of that description, I am well -persuaded; but it is the most flagrant injustice to accuse the whole -sex of this crime. Surely my son, you do not form your opinion from -the few examples which your books mention, and who have, I confess, -occasioned great disorder and confusion in the world; such, I will -not attempt to justify; but why, on the other hand, do not you -remark also, the many monarchs, sultans, and inferior princes, whose -tyranny, barbarity, and cruelty excite the deepest horror in those -histories, which I have read as well as yourself. For one woman, who -has been guilty of such crimes, you will find a thousand of these -barbarians and tyrants. And do you think the poor women who have the -misfortune to be married to these wretches, and who are, perhaps, -good and prudent wives, can be very happy?” - -“Madam,” replied Camaralzaman, “I do not doubt, that there is -in the world a great number of prudent, good, and virtuous women, of -gentle dispositions and good morals. Would to God they all resembled -you! But what deters me is the doubtful choice a man is obliged to -make, when marrying; or rather the dread, that he is often deprived -of the liberty of making that choice himself. - -“Let us suppose,” continued he, “that I had consented to form -a matrimonial engagement, as the sultan my father so impatiently -wishes; what wife would he give me? a princess, in all probability, -whom he would request of some neighbouring prince, and who would, no -doubt, think it a great honor. Handsome or ugly, she must be -received; but even supposing she excels every other princess in -beauty, who can ensure that her mind will be equal to her person? -That she will be gentle, obliging, affable, and engaging? that her -conversation will not be frivolous; of dress, of ornaments, of -appearance, and a thousand other trifles, which must create contempt -in a man of good sense? In a word, that she is not proud, haughty, -irascible, disdainful, and one who will ruin a whole kingdom by her -frivolous expenses in dresses, jewels, trinkets, or in tasteless and -empty magnificence. - -“Now you see, madam, on one subject only, how many things there -are to give rise to my antipathy to matrimony; but even if this -princess be so perfect and so accomplished, that she is -irreproachable on all these points, I have a great number of reasons -still stronger than any I have expressed, to make me continue in the -same opinion, and adhere to my resolution.” - -“What, my son!” exclaimed Fatima, “can you add more objections -to those you have already stated? I was going to answer you, and -refute your arguments with one word.”--“That need not prevent -you, madam,” replied the prince, “I shall probably have some -reply to make to your answers.” - -“I was going to say, my son,” resumed Fatima, “that it is easy -for a prince, who should have the misfortune to marry a princess, -such as you describe, to leave her, and also to adopt such measures -as might prevent her ruining the state.” - -“Well, madam,” said prince Camaralzaman, “and do you not -consider what a cruel mortification it must be to a prince to be -under the necessity of having recourse to such extremities? Is it -not much better both for his peace of mind, and for his reputation, -not to expose himself to it?” - -“But, my son,” replied Fatima, “from the way you treat this -matter, I conclude that you intend to be the last king of the race -from which you are descended; and which has so gloriously filled the -throne of the island of the children of Khaledan.” - -“Madam,” continued the prince, “I have no wish of surviving -the king my father. Even should I die before him, he ought not to be -surprised, since there are so many examples of children dying before -their parents. But it is always glorious for a race of kings to -finish with a prince so worthy of being a sovereign as I should -endeavour to be, by imitating my predecessors and him, with whom the -line began.” - -After this, Fatima frequently had conversations of the same nature -with the prince, her son: and she left no means untried, by which -she hoped to eradicate his aversion. But he confuted all the reasons -she could produce, by others equally strong, to which she knew not -what to reply; and he remained unshaken in his determination. - -The year passed on, and prince Camaralzaman, to the great regret of -the sultan Schahzaman, did not show the least appearance of having -altered his sentiments. At length one day, when the grand council -met, and the first vizier, the other viziers, the principal officers -of the crown, and the generals of the army were assembled, the -sultan thus addressed the prince: “It is now a long time, my son, -since I expressed to you the anxious desire I have of seeing you -married: and I expected from you a greater attention to the wishes -of a father who required of you nothing but what was reasonable. -After so long a resistance on your part, which has entirely -exhausted my patience, I now repeat the same thing to you, in the -presence of my council. It is not only, that by persisting in your -refusal, you disoblige your father, but the welfare of my dominions -requires your compliance, and all these nobles join with me in -requesting it. Declare your sentiments before them, that from the -answer you make me, I may know what measures to adopt. - -Prince Camaralzaman answered with so little temper, or rather with -so much warmth, that the sultan, justly irritated by the behaviour -of his son before the full council, exclaimed, “What, undutiful -son! have you the insolence to speak thus to your father and your -sultan?” He immediately ordered him to be arrested by the officers -present, and to be conducted to an ancient tower which had been long -neglected, where he was confined, with only a bed and very little -furniture, a few books, and one slave to attend him. - -Camaralzaman, satisfied with having the liberty of amusing himself -with his books, looked on his imprisonment with indifference. -Towards evening, he washed himself, repeated his prayers, and after -having read some chapters in the Koran with the same tranquillity as -if he had been in his own apartment in the palace of the sultan, he -lay down without extinguishing his lamp, which he left by his -bed’s side, and fell asleep. - -In this tower there was a well, which, during the day, formed a -retreat for a fairy, called Maimounè, the daughter of Damriat, the -king or chief of a legion of Genii. It was about midnight when -Maimounè lightly darted to the top of the well, to prepare for her -nightly excursion, as was her usual custom, and wander about the -world, wherever curiosity might lead her. She was much surprised to -see a light in the chamber of Camaralzaman. She entered it; and -without being stopped by the slave, who was stationed at the door, -she approached the bed, the magnificence of which attracted her -attention, but her surprise was much increased, at observing that -somebody was in it. - -Camaralzaman’s face was half concealed by the covering of the bed. -Maimounè raised it a little, and beheld the handsomest youth she -had ever seen in any part of the habitable world, through all of -which she had frequently traversed. “What brilliancy,” said she -to herself, “or rather what a prodigy of beauty must those eyes -display, when no longer concealed, as they now are, by such -well-formed eye-lids! What cause can he have given to be treated in -a manner so unworthy of his rank?” for she had already heard of -his disgrace, and did not doubt who it was. - -Maimounè could not cease admiring the beauty of prince -Camaralzaman; at length, however, having gently kissed him on the -cheek, and on the middle of his forehead, without waking him, she -replaced the covering as it was before, and took her flight through -the air. When she had risen very high towards the middle region, she -was suddenly struck with the sound of wings, which inclined her to -fly to the quarter from whence it came. On approaching she found it -to be a Genius, who occasioned the noise; but one of those who had -rebelled against God. Maimounè was, on the contrary, one of those, -whom the great Solomon had compelled to acknowledge his power. - -This Genius, who was named Danhasch, and who was the son of -Schamhourasch, recognised Maimounè, though not without very great -terror. In fact, he knew that she possessed considerable superiority -over him, in consequence of her submission to God. He would fain, -therefore, have avoided this meeting, but he found he was so close -to her, that he must either encounter a battle, or submit. - -Danhasch was the first to speak; “Good Maimounè,” said he, in a -supplicating tone, “swear to me, by the great name of God, that -you will not hurt me, and I promise you on my part not to annoy -you.” - -“Cursed Genius,” cried Maimounè, “what harm canst thou do to -me? I fear thee not. But I will grant thee this favor, and I make -the oath thou requirest. Now tell me whence thou comest, what thou -hast seen, and what thou hast done this night?”--“Beautiful -lady,” replied Danhasch, “we meet opportunely for you to hear -something wonderful. Since you wish it, I will tell you that I come -from the extremity of China, where its coast overlooks the farthest -islands of this hemisphere. But, charming Maimounè,” interrupted -Danhasch, who trembled with fear in the presence of this fairy, and -had some difficulty in speaking before her, “you promise at least -to forgive me, and to permit me to depart, when I shall have -satisfied your curiosity?” - -“Go on, go on, wretch,” replied Maimounè, “and fear nothing. -Dost thou think I am as perfidious as thyself, and that I am capable -of breaking the terrible oath I have taken? take care only to relate -nothing but what is true; otherwise I will cut thy wings, and shall -treat thee as thou deservest.” - -Danhasch felt a little relieved by these words of Maimounè; “my -dear lady,” continued he, “I will tell you nothing but what is -very true; have but the goodness to listen to me. The country of -China, from whence I come, is one of the largest and most powerful -kingdoms in the world; and attached to it are the most extreme isles -of this hemisphere, of which I spoke just now. The present king is -named Gaiour, who has an only daughter, the most beautiful creature -that ever was beheld on earth, since this world has been a world. -Neither you, nor I, nor the genii of your party, nor of mine, nor -all mankind put together, can find proper terms, words sufficiently -expressive, or eloquence suited to convey the most distant idea of -what she is in reality. Her hair is of a fine brown, and of such a -length, that it reaches below her feet, and in such abundance, that -when she wears it in curls on her head, it resembles a fine bunch of -grapes, of which the fruit is of an extraordinary size. Under her -hair appears her well-formed forehead, as smooth as the finest -polished mirror; her eyes even with it, a brilliant black, and full -of fire; the nose, neither too long nor too short; the mouth small -and tinted with vermillion; her teeth are like two rows of pearls, -which surpass the finest in whiteness; and when she opens her mouth -to speak, she utters a sweet and agreeable voice, and expresses -herself in words which prove the liveliness of her wit. The most -beautiful alabaster is not whiter than her bosom. In short, by this -feeble sketch, you may easily suppose, that there is not a more -perfect beauty in the world. - -“Whoever is not well acquainted with the king her father would -imagine, from the various proofs of affection he is continually -giving her, that he is enamoured of her. The most tender lover was -never known to do so much for the most beloved mistress, as he has -done for his daughter. In fact, the most violent jealousy never -invented so much, as his care to render her inaccessible to every -one, except the fortunate person who is destined to marry her; and -that she might not feel the retreat irksome, to which he has -confined her, he has had seven palaces built for her, which surpass -in magnificence every thing that was ever heard of. - -“The first palace is composed of rock crystal, the second of -bronze, the third of the finest steel, the fourth of another kind of -bronze, more precious than either the first or steel, the fifth of -touchstone, the sixth of silver, and the seventh of massive gold. He -has furnished them in the most sumptuous style, each in a manner -appropriate to the materials of which it is built. Nor has he -forgotten to embellish the gardens, which are attached to them, with -every thing that can delight the senses; smooth lawns, or pastures -enamelled with flowers; fountains, canals, cascades; groves thickly -planted with trees, through which the rays of the sun never -penetrate, and all differently disposed in each garden. In short, -King Gaiour’s paternal love alone has induced him to incur this -enormous expence. - -“The fame of this princess’s incomparable beauty has induced the -most powerful of the neighbouring kings to demand her in marriage by -the most solemn embassies. The King of China received all their -proposals with the same degree of ceremony; but as he had determined -not to marry the princess except with her own entire consent; and as -she did not approve of any of the offers made her, the ambassadors -returned unsuccessful with respect to the purport of their mission, -yet all highly gratified by the civilities and attentions they had -received. - -“Sire,” would the princess say to the king of China, “you wish -to marry me, and you think by so doing to make me happy. I know your -motive, and feel obliged to you for your kindness. But where should -I find such superb palaces and such delicious gardens, unless in the -territories of your majesty? Added to which, by your goodness, I am -under no restraint, and I receive the same honors as are paid to -your own person. These are advantages which I should not enjoy in -any other part of the world, whatever prince I might be united to. -Husbands ever will be masters, and I am not of a disposition to -brook command.” - -“After several fruitless embassies, one at last arrived from a -king, who was richer and more powerful than any who had before -applied. The king of China proposed him to his daughter, and -enlarged on all the advantages which would result from such an -alliance. The princess entreated him to dispense with her -compliance, urging the same reasons as on former occasions. - -“He pressed her to accede; but instead of obeying, she forgot the -respect due to the king, her father, and angrily replied, ‘Sire, -speak to me no more of this, nor of any other marriage; if you -persist in your importunities, I will plunge a dagger in my heart, -and thus free myself from them.’ - -“The king of China, extremely irritated against the princess, -replied, ‘My daughter, you are mad, and as such I must treat -you.’ In fact, he had her confined to an apartment in one of his -palaces, and allowed her only ten old women to associate with and -attend on her, the principal of whom was her nurse. Then, that the -neighbouring kings, who had sent embassies to request her, might not -entertain any farther prospects of obtaining her, he dispatched -envoys to announce to them all her absolute determination against -marriage. And as he supposed that she really had lost her senses, he -commanded the same envoys to make known in each court, that, if -there were any physician sufficiently skilful to restore her, he -should obtain her in marriage as a recompense. - -“Beautiful Maimounè,” continued Danhasch, “things are at -present in this situation, and I do not fail to go regularly every -day to contemplate this wonderful beauty, whom I should grieve to -injure in the slightest degree, notwithstanding my natural malicious -inclinations. I entreat you to come and see her; it is well worth -the trouble. When you are convinced by your own eyes that I do not -tell an untruth, I am sure you will feel obliged to me for having -shown you a princess, who has no equal in beauty. I am ready to -conduct you to her, and you have only to command.” - -Instead of replying to Danhasch, Maimounè burst into a loud fit of -laughter, which continued for some time, and which very much -astonished Danhasch, who did not know to what cause to attribute it. -Having at last however composed herself, she said, “Yes, yes, thou -thinkest to impose on me. I thought thou wast going to tell me of -something very surprising and extraordinary, and thou talkest to me -only of a blear-eyed wench. Fye, fye! What wouldst thou say then, -wretch, if thou hadst seen the beautiful prince I have just been -looking at, and whom I love as he deserves? He indeed is rather -different. Thou wouldst be mad for love of him. - -“Amiable Maimounè,” replied Danhasch, “may I inquire who this -prince can be, whom you speak of?”--“Know,” said the fairy, -“that nearly the same thing has happened to him as to the princess -thou hast been talking of. The king his father would marry him by -force; after long and repeated importunities he has frankly -declared, that he would not agree to it. For this reason he is at -this moment imprisoned in an ancient tower, where I take up my -abode, and where I have had an opportunity of admiring him.” - -“I will not absolutely contradict you,” resumed Danhasch, -“but, my dear lady, you will give me leave, until I have seen your -prince, to think, that no mortal, either male or female, can equal, -or even approach the beauty of my princess.”--“Peace, wretch,” -replied Maimounè, “I tell thee again that thou art -wrong.”--“I will not obstinately oppose you,” added Danhasch; -“the only means of convincing you whether I speak truth or not, is -to accept the proposal I have made you to come and see my princess, -and afterwards to show me your prince.”--“There is no occasion -for me to take so much trouble,” said Maimounè, “there is -another method, by which we can both be satisfied; that is to bring -thy princess and place her by the side of my prince on his bed. We -can then easily compare them with each other, and thus settle our -dispute.” - -Danhasch consented to do as the fairy desired, and was going -instantly to set off for China, but Maimounè stopped him; -“Stay,” said she, “come with me first, that I may show thee -the tower where thou art to bring thy princess.” They flew -together to the tower, and when Maimounè had shown it to Danhasch, -she said, “Now go and fetch thy princess; be quick, and thou wilt -find me here. But listen, I intend thou shalt pay me a forfeit if my -prince turns out to be handsomer than thy princess. I will also pay -thee one, if thy princess is the most beautiful.” - -Danhasch, having quitted the Fairy, flew to China, and returned with -inconceivable swiftness, bearing the beautiful princess along with -him fast asleep. Maimounè received her, and introduced her into the -chamber of prince Camaralzaman, where they placed her on the bed by -his side. - -When the prince and princess were thus close to each other, a grand -contest arose on the pre-eminence of their beauty, between the -Genius and the Fairy. They stood for some time admiring and -comparing them in silence. Danhasch was the first to speak: “Now -you are convinced,” said he to Maimounè, “I told you that my -princess was more beautiful than your prince. Have you any doubts -remaining?” - -“How! any doubts?” cried Maimounè, “Yes, truly I doubt it. -Thou must be blind not to see, that my prince is infinitely superior -to thy princess. She is beautiful, I confess; but do not hurry -thyself: compare them well one with the other, without prejudice, -and then thou wilt see that it is as I say.” - -“Were I to compare them for any length of time,” replied -Danhasch, “I should think no otherwise than I do. I saw what I now -see from the first glance, and time would show me no more than what -is now visible to my eyes. This, however, will not prevent me from -giving up my judgment to yours, charming Maimounè, if you wish -it.”--“It shall not be so,” interrupted the Fairy. “I will -never suffer a cursed Genius, such as thou art, to show me favor. I -will submit the contest to an arbitrator, and if thou dost not -consent, I win the cause by your refusal.” - -Danhasch, who was ready to show any degree of complaisance to -Maimounè, had no sooner consented, than the fairy struck the ground -with her foot. The earth opened, and instantly a hideous Genius -appeared, who was hunchbacked, lame, and blind with one eye; having -six horns on his head, and his hands and feet hooked. As soon as he -was out, and the ground had closed again, he perceived Maimounè, -and threw himself at her feet; and kneeling on one knee, he asked -what she desired of his very humble services. - -“Rise, Caschcasch,” said she, for this was the name of the -Genius, “I sent for you hither to be judge in a dispute, which -exists between me and this cursed Danhasch. Cast your eye on that -bed, and tell us impartially, which appears to you the most -beautiful, the young man, or the young lady?” - -Caschcasch looked very attentively at the prince and princess, and -showed every mark of great surprise and admiration. After having -examined them very accurately for a long time, without being able to -make up his mind; “Madam,” said he to Maimounè, “I confess to -you, that I should deceive you, and betray myself, if I were to tell -you, that I thought one of them more handsome than the other. The -more I examine them, the more each seems to me to have separately -that sovereign perfection of beauty which they jointly possess: and -neither has the least defect, which we can assert the other to be -free from, and consequently superior. If there be, in truth, any -difference between them, there seems to be only one mode of -discovering that difference. And this mode is, to wake them one -after the other, and to agree, that the person who feels for the -other the most violent love, and proves it by the strongest and most -ardent expressions, as well as by the general conduct, shall be -considered in some point or other to be less beautiful.” - -The proposal of Caschcasch was approved of, both by Maimounè and -Danhasch. Maimounè then changed herself into a flea, and jumped -upon the neck of Camaralzaman. She gave him so sharp a bite, that he -awoke, and put his hand to the place, but he caught nothing, for -Maimounè, prepared for this, had jumped away, and taking her -original form, invisible, however, like the other two Genii, to all -but themselves, stood by in order to witness what was going forward. - -In drawing back his hand, the prince let it fall upon that of the -princess of China. He opened his eyes and expressed great surprise -at seeing a lady by the side of him; and one, too, who possessed -such beauty. He lifted his head up and supported it on his elbow, in -order the better to observe her. The great youth of the princess, -joined to her incomparable beauty, kindled in an instant a flame in -his heart, to which he had hitherto been a stranger, and excited -sensations which he had till now looked upon with aversion. - -A passion of the most animated kind now occupied his soul; and he -could not help exclaiming, “What beauty! what charms! Oh my heart, -my soul,” and saying this, he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and -her lips, with so little precaution, that it must have broken her -slumbers, if she had not, through the enchantment of Danhasch, slept -more soundly than usual. - -“What, my beautiful creature,” said the prince, “will not -these marks of the love of Camaralzaman disturb your repose? Whoever -you may be, he is not unworthy of your affection.” He was then -going to wake her in good earnest, but he suddenly stopped himself, -“There cannot be a doubt,” he exclaimed, “but that this is the -person to whom the sultan, my father, wished to marry me. He has -been much to blame, not to let me see her sooner; I should not then -have offended him, both by my disobedience, and my public behaviour -towards him; and he would thus have spared himself the contusion -which I have caused him.” Prince Camaralzaman repented most -heartily of the fault he had been guilty of; and was again upon the -point of waking the princess of China, “perhaps indeed,” added -he, “the sultan, my father, wished to surprise me; and has -therefore sent this lady to ascertain whether I really have so great -an aversion to marriage as I have always shown. Who knows if he may -not have brought her here himself, and may even now be concealed, in -order to see how I conduct myself, and make me ashamed of my former -dissimulation. This second fault would be much worse than my first; -I will therefore satisfy myself with this ring in remembrance of -her.” - -The princess of China had a very beautiful ring on her finger; and -as the prince concluded his speech, he drew it quietly, and put one -of its own in its place. He then turned his back, and it was not -long before, through the enchantment of the Genii, he fell into as -deep a sleep as he was in at first. - -As soon as prince Camaralzaman’s eyes were completely closed, -Danhasch, in his turn, transformed himself into a flea, and bit the -princess directly under her lip. She awoke suddenly, and starting up -opened her eyes: how great was her astonishment at finding herself -in bed with a man. From surprise, she passed to admiration; and from -admiration to excess of joy, which was very apparent as soon as she -saw that it was a young, handsome, and well-made man. - -“What!” she exclaimed, “are you the person, whom the king, my -father, has destined for my husband? How unfortunate am I at not -having known this before! I should then never have been deprived for -so long a time of a husband, whom it is impossible not to love with -my whole soul. Awake, and rouse yourself; it but ill becomes a -husband to sleep thus soundly on the very first night of his -nuptials.” - -Having said this, the princess shook prince Camaralzaman by the arm -in so violent a manner, that he must have awoke, if Maimounè had -not at that very instant heightened his sleep by means of -enchantment. She shook him in this manner several times; then, as -she found she could not prevent him from sleeping, she called out, -“What can possibly have happened to you? What rival, jealous of -our mutual happiness, has had recourse to magic; and thus thrown you -into this insurmountable fit of stupefaction, from whence it seems -almost impossible you should ever be roused.” She then took hold -of his hand, and tenderly kissing it, she perceived the ring which -he had on his finger. It appeared so like her own, that she was -convinced it was the very same; and at the same moment observed, -that she herself had on a different one. She could not comprehend -how this exchange had been effected; but she did not for an instant -doubt, that it was a sure proof of her marriage. Fatigued with the -useless efforts she had made to wake him; and satisfied, as she -thought, that he could not leave her; “Since I am unable to rouse -you out of your sleep,” she cried, “I will continue no longer to -attempt to interrupt it. We shall see each other again.” Then -kissing his cheek as she pronounced these last words, she lay down, -and in a short time fell asleep.” - -When Maimounè perceived that she might speak without any danger of -waking the princess of China; “Well, wretch,” she said to -Danhasch, “hast thou observed, then, and art thou convinced, that -thy princess is less beautiful than my prince? Get along, I forgive -thee the wager thou hast lost; but another time, believe me, when I -assert any thing.” Then turning towards Caschcasch, “As for -you,” added she, “I thank you. Do you and Danhasch take the -princess, and carry her to her bed, where he brought her from.” -Danhasch and Caschcasch executed the orders of Maimounè, while the -latter retired to her well. - -When prince Camaralzaman awoke the next morning, he looked on each -side of him to see if the lady, whom he had found by him in the -night, was still there; but when he perceived she was gone, he said -to himself, “It is as I suspected; the king, my father, wished to -surprise me: I am, however, happy that I was aware of it.” He then -called the slave, who was still asleep, and desired him to make -haste and dress himself, without saying a word to him on what -account he was in such a hurry. The slave brought a bason and water; -the prince then washed himself, and after saying his prayers, he -took a book and continued to read for some time. - -After he had thus finished his usual occupations, Camaralzaman -called the slave towards him, “Come here,” he said, “and be -sure you do not tell me a falsehood. Inform me how the lady, who -slept with me last night, came here, and who brought her.” - -“Prince,” replied the slave, in the greatest astonishment, “of -what lady are you speaking?”--“Of her, I tell you,” answered -the prince, “who either came or was brought here, and who passed -the night with me.”--“Prince,” returned the slave, “I swear -to you, that I know nothing about the matter. How could any lady -possibly get in, as I slept at the door?”--“Thou art a lying -rascal,” replied the prince, “and art in league with some one to -vex and distress me.” Saying this he gave him a blow, and knocked -him down; then, after having trampled on him, he tied the rope of -the well round his body, and let him down into it, and plunged him -several times in the water: “I will drown thee,” cried he, “if -thou dost not immediately acquaint me who the lady is, and who -brought her.” - -The poor slave extremely embarrassed, and half in and half out of -the water, thought the prince had certainly lost his senses through -grief, and that he could only escape by telling an untruth. -“Prince,” said he, in a supplicating tone, “grant me my life, -I conjure you, and I promise to tell you exactly how the matter -stands.” - -The prince drew up the slave, and commanded him to speak. When he -was out of the well, “Prince,” said the slave, trembling, “You -must be sensible that I cannot satisfy you in the state I am now in; -allow me time to change my dress.”--“I grant it thee,” replied -the prince, “but be quick; and take care thou dost not disguise -the truth from me.” - -The slave went out, and after having fastened the door on the -prince, he ran to the palace, wet as he was. The king was engaged in -conversation with his grand vizier; and was complaining of the -restless night he had passed in consequence of the disobedience and -ill-judged rashness of the prince his son, in thus opposing his will. - -The minister endeavoured to console him, and convince him, that the -prince, by his disrespectful behaviour, had justly merited the -punishment he endured; “Sire,” said he, “your majesty ought -not to repent of having arrested him. If you will have the patience -to suffer him to remain in prison, you may be assured that he will -lose this youthful impetuosity, and that he will at length submit to -whatever you may require of him.” - -The grand vizier had just uttered these words, when the slave -presented himself before king Schahzaman: “Sire,” said he, “I -am sorry to be obliged to announce to your majesty a piece of -intelligence that will no doubt occasion you great sorrow. What the -prince says of a lady, who slept with him last night, together with -the manner in which he treated me, as your majesty may perceive, too -plainly prove that he is not in his senses.” He then gave a detail -of every thing that prince Camaralzaman had said, and of the -excesses he had committed on his person, in terms which confirmed -the truth of the account. - -The king, who was not prepared for this new cause for affliction, -exclaimed to the grand vizier, “This is, indeed, an incident of -the most distressing nature, and very different from the hopes you -flattered me with just now. Go, lose not a moment, and examine -yourself the whole of this affair, and then come and inform me of -what you discover.” The grand vizier immediately obeyed. When he -entered the chamber of the prince, he found him seated with a book -in his hand, which he was reading with apparent composure. He -saluted him: and seating himself by his side, “I am very angry -with the slave that attends you,” said he, “for having alarmed -your father by the intelligence he has just now brought -him.”--“What is this intelligence,” inquired the prince, -“that has occasioned my father so much alarm? I have much more -reason to complain of my slave.” - -“Prince,” replied the vizier, “Heaven avert that what he has -just said of you be true! The tranquil state in which I find you, -and in which may God preserve you, convinces me there is no truth in -his report.”--“Perhaps,” replied the prince, “he has not -explained himself properly; but as you are here, I am glad to have -an opportunity of asking you, who must know something about the -matter, where the lady is who slept with me last night.” - -The grand vizier was quite astonished at this inquiry. “Prince,” -said he, “do not be surprised at the astonishment you see me in at -this question. How can it be possible, not only that any lady, but -that any man whatever, could have penetrated into this place in the -night, to which there is no other entrance but by the door, and even -then he must trample over your slave, who was guarding it? I entreat -you to collect your thoughts, and I am persuaded you will find it is -only a dream that has left a strong impression on your mind.” - -“I shall pay no attention to your arguments,” resumed the -prince, in a more elevated tone of voice: “I will absolutely know -what is become of this lady; I am here in a situation to make you -obey me.” This firmness of speech and manner embarrassed the grand -vizier more than can be expressed; and he now only thought of the -best means to extricate himself. He tried the prince with gentle -means, and asked him, in the most humble and conciliating manner, if -he had himself seen the lady. - -“Yes, yes,” replied the prince, “I saw her, and soon perceived -that you had instructed her in ways to tempt me. She played the part -you allotted her vastly well; not to say a word, to pretend to -sleep, and to take herself away, as soon as I fell asleep again. You -know it all, I dare say; she has not failed giving you an account of -the whole transaction.”--“Prince,” resumed the grand vizier, -“I swear to you, that all you have been relating was unknown to -me, and that neither the king, your father, nor I, sent you the lady -you mention; we should never have had such an idea. Allow me once -more to say, that this lady could only appear to you in a dream.” - -“You come to mock me too,” cried the prince angrily, “and to -tell me that what I have seen was only a dream!” He then seized -him by the beard, and beat him most unmercifully, till his strength -quite failed him. The poor grand vizier bore all this treatment from -prince Camaralzaman very respectfully. “Here am I,” said he to -himself, “precisely in the same situation as the slave; happy -shall I be, if, like him, I can escape from so great a danger.”’ -While the prince was still employed in beating him, he cried, “I -entreat you, prince, to listen to me for one moment.” The prince, -tired of this occupation, suffered him to speak. - -“I own to you, prince,” said the grand vizier, as soon as he had -liberty to speak, “that your suspicions are not unfounded; but you -well know, that a minister is compelled to execute the orders of the -king his master. If you will have the goodness to suffer me to go, I -am ready to take any message to him with which you will entrust -me.”--“I give you leave to go,” replied the prince. “Tell my -father that I will marry the lady whom he sent, or brought me, and -who slept with me last night. Be expeditious, and bring me the -answer.” The grand vizier made a profound reverence on quitting -him; but he could hardly be satisfied of his safety, till he was out -of the tower, and had fastened the door after him. He presented -himself before king Schahzaman with an air of sorrow which alarmed -him. “Well,” said the monarch, “in what state did you find my -son?”-- - -“Sire,” replied the vizier, “what the slave related to your -majesty is but too true.” He then gave him an account of the -conversation he had had with Camaralzaman, of the rage the prince -had been in, when he attempted to convince him that the lady he -spoke of could not possibly have slept with him, of the cruel -treatment he had met with from him, and of the excuse by which he -had escaped from his fury. - -Schahzaman, who was the more grieved at this circumstance, as he had -always loved the prince with the greatest tenderness, wished to -investigate the truth of it himself: he repaired to the tower, and -took the grand vizier with him. Prince Camaralzaman received his -father with the greatest respect. The king sat down, and having made -the prince sit next him, he asked him many questions, to which he -replied with perfect good sense, and from time to time he looked at -the vizier, as if to say, that the prince, his son, was not deranged -in his intellects as he had asserted; but that he must himself be -deficient in this respect. - -At length the king mentioned the lady. “My son,” said he, “I -beg you to tell me who this lady is, who they say slept with you -last night.”--“Sire,” replied Camaralzaman, “I entreat your -majesty not to add to the vexation I have already encountered on -this subject; rather do me the favor to bestow her on me in -marriage. Whatever aversion I may hitherto have evinced against -women, this young and beautiful lady has so charmed me, that I feel -no difficulty in avowing my weakness. I am ready to receive her from -your hands, with the deepest sense of my obligation to you.” - -King Schahzaman was thunder-struck at this answer from the prince, -which, as it appeared to him, was so inconsistent with the good -sense he had shown in former answers. “You speak to me in a way, -my son,” said he, “that astonishes me beyond measure. I swear to -you, by the crown which is to adorn your brow when I shall be no -more, that I know nothing of the lady you talk of. I have not been -accessary to her visit, if any one has been with you; but, how is it -possible that she should have penetrated into this tower without my -consent? as to what my grand vizier said to you, he only invented a -story to appease you. It must have been a dream; recollect yourself, -I conjure you, and be careful to ascertain the fact.” - -“Sire,” resumed the prince, “I should be for ever unworthy of -the goodness of your majesty, if I refused to give faith to the -solemn assurance you have given me; but I request you to have the -patience to listen to me, and then judge, if what I shall have the -honor of relating to you can be a dream.” - -Prince Camaralzaman then told the king, his father, in what manner -he had waked in the night. He gave him an exaggerated description of -the beauty and charms of the lady he had found by his side, -confessed the love which had so instantaneously inflamed his breast, -and related all his fruitless endeavours to awaken her. He did not -even conceal what had made him awake; and that he fell asleep again -after he had made the exchange of his ring for that of the lady. -When he concluded, he took the ring from his finger, and presented -it to the king, “Sire,” added he, “mine is not unknown to you, -for you have seen it several times. After this, I hope you will be -convinced that I have not lost my senses, as they would fain -persuade you is the case.” - -The king was so fully convinced of the truth of what the prince had -recounted to him, that he had nothing to reply. Added to which, his -astonishment was so excessive, that he remained a considerable time -incapable of uttering a single word. - -The prince took advantage from these moments of silent wonder. -“Sire,” continued he, “the passion I feel for this charming -person, whose precious image is so deeply engraven on my heart, has -already risen to so violent a pitch, that I am sure I have not -strength to endure it. I humbly supplicate you to feel compassion -for the state I am in, and to procure me the unspeakable happiness -of possessing and calling her mine.” - -“After what I have now heard, my son,” replied king Schahzaman, -“and what I see by this ring, I can no longer doubt the reality of -your love, and that you did absolutely see the lady who gave birth -to it. Would to God I knew her! You should be gratified this very -day, and I should be the happiest of fathers. But where am I to seek -her? How, and by what means, could she enter here, without either my -consent or knowledge? Why did she come only to sleep with you, to -show you her beauty, to inflame you with love while she slept, and -disappear as soon as you fell asleep again? I cannot comprehend this -strange adventure, and if Heaven does not assist us, it will be the -means of reducing both you and me to the grave.” He then took the -prince by the hand, and added, in a mournful accent, “Come, my -son, let us go and mingle our lamentations together; you, for loving -without hope; I, for seeing your affliction, without possessing the -means of relieving it.” - -Schahzaman took the prince out of his prison, and conducted him to -the palace, where the prince, quite in despair at feeling so violent -a passion for an unknown lady, instantly took to his bed. The king -shut himself up from all society for several days, to weep with his -son, and desisted entirely from attending to the usual concerns of -his kingdom. - -His prime minister, who was the only one to whom he had allowed free -entrance, came one day to represent to him, that his whole court, as -well as the people, began to murmur at not seeing him, as usual, -administering justice, as was his daily custom; and that he would -not be answerable for the discontents and disorders that might arise -in consequence of his seclusion. “I entreat your majesty,” -continued he, “to pay some attention to these complaints. I am -persuaded, that your presence only serves to nourish the affliction -of the prince, as his presence increases yours; but you must not -suffer every thing to go to decay. Allow me to propose to you, to -remove with the prince to the castle on the little island, that is -at a short distance from the port, and to have an audience twice -a-week only. This avocation will oblige you to quit the prince -occasionally, while the beauty of the spot, the delicious air, and -the charming prospects of the surrounding country, will enable him -to support these short absences with more patience.” - -The king approved of this advice, and as soon as the castle, which -had not been inhabited for some time, was furnished and prepared for -his reception, he removed thither with the prince, whom he never -left, excepting for the two stipulated audiences. He passed the rest -of the time by the side of his pillow, sometimes endeavouring to -console him, and sometimes sharing his affliction. - -While these things were passing in the capital of king Schahzaman, -the two Genii, Danhasch and Caschcasch, had reconducted the princess -of China to the palace, where the king, her father, had confined -her, and placed her in her bed. - -The next morning, when she awoke, the princess of China looked about -on each side of her, and when she perceived that prince Camaralzaman -was no longer near her, she called her women, in a voice which made -them all run quickly to her, and surround her. Her nurse approached -her pillow, and asked her what she desired, and if any thing had -befallen her. - -“Tell me,” replied the princess, “what is become of the young -man who slept with me last night, and whom I love so -tenderly.”--“My princess,” said the nurse, “we cannot -comprehend your meaning, unless you explain yourself more -clearly.”--“The fact is,” resumed the princess, “that a -young man of the most beautiful and elegant form that can be -conceived, slept by my side last night; I caressed him for a -considerable time, and did all I could to wake him, without effect. -I ask you where he is?” - -“No doubt you do this to joke us, my princess,” replied the -nurse; “will you please to rise now?”--“I speak seriously,” -said the princess, “and I will know where he is.”--“But, my -dear princess,” rejoined the nurse, “you were alone when we put -you to bed last night; and no one has entered this place to sleep -with you, at least that we know of.” - -The princess of China’s patience was quite exhausted, she seized -her nurse’s head, and gave her repeated slaps and blows. “Thou -shalt tell me, thou old witch,” cried she, “or I will murder -thee.” The nurse exerted herself to get out of her hands; she at -length succeeded, and instantly ran to find the queen of China, the -mother of the princess. She presented herself before her, with tears -in her eyes, and her face swelled and disfigured: this excited great -surprise in the queen, who inquired what was the cause of her being -in such a condition. - -“Madam,” said the nurse, “you see the effects of the treatment -I have just received from the princess; she would have destroyed me -entirely if I had not escaped as I did.” She then related to her -the cause of her anger, and subsequent violent behaviour, at which -the queen was no less surprised than afflicted. “You see, -madam,” added she, “that the princess is out of her senses. You -may judge of it yourself, if you will take the trouble of coming to -see her.” - -The queen of China was too tenderly attached to her daughter, not to -feel extremely interested in what she had just heard from the nurse; -and immediately went to the princess. She seated herself next her, -when she got into the apartment where she was confined; and, after -having inquired if she was in good health, she asked her what -subject for discontent she had with her nurse, to induce her to -treat her so cruelly as she had done. “Indeed, my daughter,” -said she, “you acted wrong, and a princess of your rank ought -never to suffer herself to be so led away by passion, as to commit -such excesses.” - -“Madam,” replied the princess, “I plainly perceive that your -majesty also is come to mock me; but I solemnly declare, that I -shall have neither peace nor rest till I have married the amiable -and charming youth who slept with me last night. You certainly must -know who he is; and I beg you to let him come again.” - -“My dear daughter,” replied the queen, “you astonish me; and I -cannot understand what you mean.” The princess forgot the respect -she owed to her mother, and answered, “Madam, the king, my father, -and you have persecuted me for some time, to compel me to marry, -when I had no wish of changing my state; this wish has at length -taken possession of my breast, and I will absolutely either marry -the young man I told you of, or kill myself.” - -The queen attempted to succeed by gentle methods. “You well know, -my dear child,” said she, “that you are alone in your chamber, -and that no man can possibly enter it. But instead of listening to, -the princess interrupted her, and was guilty of such extravagant -excesses, that the queen was obliged to leave her to indulge her -grief, and acquaint the king with what had happened. - -The king of China wished to be personally convinced of the truth of -this business. He, therefore, immediately repaired to the apartment -of the princess, and asked her if what he had been informed of was -true. “Sire,” replied she, “let us not talk of that; only do -me the favor to suffer the husband, who slept with me last night, to -return to me.” - -“What!” exclaimed the king, “has any one slept with you the -last night?”--“How can you ask me, sire, if any one slept with -me?” interrupted the princess, without allowing him time to -continue; “your majesty cannot be ignorant of it. He is the -handsomest young man that was ever beheld under heaven. I entreat -you to send him to me again; do not refuse me, I conjure you. That -your majesty may not entertain any doubts of my having seen this -youth,” added she, “of my having slept with him, caressed him, -used every effort to awaken him, without success, look, if you -please, at this ring.” She held out her hand, and the king of -China knew not what to think, when he perceived that it was the ring -of a man. But as he could not comprehend the least what she said, -and he had confined her originally because she was mad, he had now -thought her still worse than before. So without saying any thing -more to her, lest he should enrage her to commit violence on her own -person, or on any one who might approach her, he had her chained and -more closely confined, and ordered, that no one, except her nurse, -should attend her, and that a strong guard should be placed at her -door. - -The king of China, quite inconsolable for the misfortune that had -befallen the princess, his daughter, which he believed to be -madness, considered what methods should be taken to effect her -recovery. He assembled his council, and after having made known the -state in which she was, he added, “If any one who is here present, -is sufficiently skilful to undertake her cure, and succeeds, I will -bestow her on him in marriage; and will make him the heir of my -crown and dominions.” - -The desire of possessing so beautiful a princess, together with the -hope of governing, at some future period, so large and powerful a -kingdom as that of China, made a strong impression on the mind of an -emir, who was present, although he was already far advanced in -years. As he was well-skilled in magic, he flattered himself he -should succeed; and, therefore, offered his services to the king. -“I consent,” replied the monarch, “but I must first inform -you, that it is on condition of your losing your head if you do not -succeed: it would not be fair that you should be able to acquire so -great and enviable a recompense without any risk on your part. What -I propose to you will, in the same way, be proposed to all who shall -present themselves after you, in case you do not agree to the -condition, or do not succeed.” - -The emir accepted the proposal, and the king himself conducted him -to the apartment of his daughter. The princess covered her face as -soon as she perceived the emir. “Sire,” said she, “your -majesty surprises me, by bringing into my presence a man who is -unknown to me, and to whom, as you well know, our holy religion -forbids me to expose myself.”--“My daughter,” replied the -king, “do not suffer your delicacy to be wounded by his presence; -he is one of my emirs, who requests you in marriage.”--“Sire,” -resumed she, “This is not the husband you have already bestowed on -me, whose faith is pledged to me by the ring I wear: be not offended -if I refuse to accept any other. - -The emir expected to find the princess committing violent actions, -and saying extravagant things. He was much surprised to find her -collected and tranquil; and to hear her utter such good sense; he -therefore was soon convinced, that she had no other madness than a -strong attachment to some object who had engaged her love. He did -not, however, dare to explain his real sentiments to the king, for -he could not have endured the idea, that his daughter had bestowed -her heart on any other than the man whom he should present to her. -“But,” said the emir, prostrating himself at the feet of the -king, “Sire, after what I have just heard from the lips of the -princess, it would be useless for me to undertake to cure her. I -have no remedies that can be of any service to her disease; my life, -therefore, is at the disposal of your majesty.” The king, -irritated by this avowal of inability from the emir, and by the -trouble he had occasioned him, ordered his head to be struck off. - -Some days after this, that he might not have to reproach himself -with having neglected any thing that could conduce to the recovery -of the princess, this monarch ordered it to be proclaimed in his -capital, that if there were any physician, astrologer, or magician, -inhabiting it, who was sufficiently experienced in his profession to -restore her to her senses, he might present himself for that -purpose, on the before-mentioned condition of losing his head if he -failed in the attempt. He sent an order to have the same -proclamation published in all the principal towns in his dominions, -and also in the courts of the neighbouring princes. - -The first who presented himself was an astrologer and magician, whom -the king ordered to be conducted to the prison of the princess by an -eunuch. The astrologer drew out from a little bag he had brought -under his arm, an astrolabe, a small globe, a chafing-dish, various -kinds of drugs proper for fumigation, a copper vessel, together with -several other things; and he desired to have some fire. - -The princess of China asked the meaning of all this apparatus. -“Princess,” said the eunuch, “it is to conjure the evil -spirit, that possesses you, to confine him in this copper vessel, -and throw him into the sea.” - -“Cursed astrologer,” cried the princess, “know, that I want -none of these preparations; I am perfectly in my senses, and it is -thou who art mad. If thy power extends thus far, bring me only him I -love, and thou wilt serve and oblige me beyond expression.”--“If -that is the case,” replied the astrologer, “I can be of no use, -princess; the king, your father, can alone give you relief.” He -then replaced in his bag all that he had taken out, truly mortified -at having so inconsiderately undertaken to cure an imaginary disease. - -When the eunuch had re-conducted the astrologer before the king of -China, he did not wait for the eunuch to speak to the king, but he -addressed himself immediately to him. “Sire,” said he, in a firm -tone, “your majesty published it to the world, and confirmed me -also in opinion, that the princess, your daughter, was mad; and I -had no doubt of being able to restore her to her senses by means of -the secrets I am acquainted with; but I was not long with her before -I was convinced, that her only malady is violent love; and my art -does not extend so far as to cure love-sickness; your majesty can -prescribe the remedy better than any one, if you will please to give -her the husband she wishes.” The king, enraged by what he supposed -to be insolence in the astrologer, immediately commanded his head to -be struck off. - -But, not to weary your majesty with so many repetitions, I will only -say, that, what with astrologers, physicians, and magicians, one -hundred and fifty successively presented themselves, and shared the -same fate; and their heads were ranged over each gate of the city. - -The nurse of the princess of China had a son, named Marzavan, the -foster-brother of the princess, whom she had nursed and brought up -with her. Their friendship, during their infancy, had been so -intimate, that they treated each other as brother and sister as long -as they lived together; and even after their more advanced age, -obliged them to be separated. - -Among the various sciences which Marzavan had cultivated from his -earliest youth, his inclination had led him more particularly to the -study of judicial astrology, geomancy, and other secret sciences; in -all of which he had made considerable proficiency. Not satisfied -with the information he could obtain from the masters, under whose -tuition he was, he began to travel as soon as he felt himself -sufficiently strong to bear the fatigue. There was no one celebrated -for learning in any science or art that he did not seek, even in the -most distant countries; and continued to associate with them, until -he had gained from them all the information and intelligence he -required. - -After an absence of several years, Marzavan at length returned to -the capital of China. The heads which he observed ranged over the -gate at which he entered the city surprised him very much. As soon -as he was arrived at his house, he inquired the reason of their -being placed there; but, above all, he was anxious to be informed of -the health of the princess, his foster-sister, whom he had not -forgotten. As the answer to his first question implied that to his -second also, he was soon made acquainted with what occasioned him -much pain; but he waited for his mother, the princess’s nurse, to -give him full information of the whole affair. Although she was so -much engaged in her attendance on the princess, yet she had no -sooner learnt the arrival of her beloved son, than she contrived to -steal away to embrace and pass a few moments with him. After having -related to him, with tears in her eyes, the pitiable state the -princess was reduced to, and the reason why the king of China had -ordered her to be thus treated, Marzavan asked her, if she could not -procure him a secret interview, without the knowledge of the king. -The nurse meditated for some minutes; she then said, “I cannot say -any thing to such a proposition at present; but expect me to-morrow -at this hour, and I will give you an answer.” - -As no one except the nurse had access to the apartment of the -princess, without first obtaining permission of the eunuch who -commanded the guard at the door, the nurse, knowing that he had been -only lately appointed to that office, and was ignorant of what had -previously taken place at court, addressed herself to him. “You -know,” said she, “that I have nursed and brought up the princess -from her earliest infancy; but, perhaps, you do not also know, that -I nursed a daughter of my own at the same time, who was of the same -age. She is lately married, and the princess, who still does her the -honor of feeling attached to her, desires to see her; but she wishes -an interview could be contrived without any one seeing her come in -or go out.” - -The nurse was going to add more, but the eunuch stopped her. -“Enough,” said he, “I will always, with the greatest pleasure, -do every thing in my power to oblige the princess: you may either -tell your daughter to come, or go yourself to conduct her hither at -night, after the king has retired; the door shall be open to you.” -As soon as night came on, the nurse went to her son Marzavan. She -disguised him in woman’s clothes, so that no one could have -discovered him to be the other sex, and took him with her. The -eunuch, who had no suspicion that he was not her daughter, opened -the door and let them both go in. - -Before she presented Marzavan to the princess, the nurse went to -her. “Madam,” said she, “this is not a woman, whom you see; it -is my son Marzavan, who is just arrived from his travels, and whom I -have found means to introduce into your chamber, disguised by this -dress. I hope you will not refuse him the honor of paying his -respects to you.” - -At the name of Marzavan the princess expressed great joy. “Come -forward, brother,” cried she to Marzavan, “and take off that -veil; it is not forbidden to a brother and sister to see each other -uncovered.” Marzavan saluted her with great respect, but without -allowing him time to say any thing, “I am delighted,” continued -the princess, “to see you again in good health, after an absence -of so many years, during which time no one ever received any -intelligence from you, nay, not even your good mother.” - -“I am infinitely obliged to you for your kindness, my princess,” -replied Marzavan. “I expected and hoped on my arrival to receive -better accounts of you than those I have heard, and which I witness -the truth of with the greatest affliction. I feel very happy, -however, that after the repeated failure of so many others, I am -arrived in time to administer the remedy you are in need of for your -disorder. If I should derive no other advantage of my studies and -travels than that of being instrumental to your recovery; I should -deem it sufficient recompense.” - -As he uttered these words, Marzavan drew out a book and other things -he had furnished himself with, which he supposed would be necessary, -from the accounts his mother had given him of the indisposition of -the princess. She no sooner perceived these preparations than she -exclaimed, “What, brother, are you too of the number of those who -imagine that I am mad? Listen to me, and be undeceived.” - -The princess then related to Marzavan all her history, without -omitting the most trifling circumstance, nor even that of the ring, -which had been exchanged for hers, and which she showed him. “I -have disguised nothing from you,” continued she, “in what I have -told you; I acknowledge, that there is something mysterious, which I -cannot comprehend, and leads them all to suppose, that I am not in -my right senses; but they pay no attention to the other -circumstances, which are exactly as I have related.” - -When the princess had ceased speaking, Marzavan, who was filled with -wonder and astonishment, remained for some time with his eyes fixed -on the ground, and unable to pronounce a syllable. At length raising -his head, he said, “If, princess, what you have now told me be -true, as indeed I am persuaded it is, I do not despair of procuring -you the gratification you so anxiously desire. I only entreat you to -arm yourself with patience for some time longer, until I shall have -visited those countries which I have not yet been in; when you hear -of my return, be assured, that he, for whom you now sigh with so -much love and tenderness, will not be very distant from you.” -Having said this, Marzavan took his leave of the princess, and set -out on the following day. - -Marzavan travelled from city to city, from province to province, and -from island to island. Wherever he went, he heard of nothing but the -princess Badoura, (thus was the princess of China called) and of her -extraordinary history. At the expiration of four months our -traveller arrived at Torf, a large and populous maritime town, where -he no longer heard of the princess Badoura, but every one was -talking of prince Camaralzaman, who was said to be ill; and whose -history was nearly similar to that of the princess of China. -Marzavan experienced a transport of joy that cannot be described; he -inquired in what part of the world this prince resided, and he was -told the place. There were two ways to it, one by land, and the -other by sea, the latter of which was the shortest. Marzavan chose -this, and embarked in a merchant vessel, which had a good voyage -till within sight of the capital of the kingdom of Schahzaman. But, -unfortunately, through the unskilfulness of the pilot, as the vessel -was entering the harbour, it struck on a rock, went to pieces, and -sunk just in sight of the castle in which prince Camaralzaman passed -his life, and where his father, king Schahzaman, was at that moment -conversing with his grand vizier. - -Marzavan could swim extremely well; he therefore did not hesitate to -throw himself into the sea, and he steered his course to the castle -of king Schahzaman, where he was received, and every assistance -given him, according to the orders of the grand vizier, who had -received the king’s commands so to do. He had his dress changed, -and was treated with the greatest kindness: when he had recovered -from his fatigue, he was conducted before the grand vizier, who had -desired to see him. - -As Marzavan was a youth of a good person and engaging air, this -minister treated him with the utmost civility on receiving him, and -soon conceived a great esteem for him, from the sensible and proper -answers he made to all the questions he asked him; he discovered -almost insensibly, that he had numberless sources of information; at -length he could not refrain from saying to him, “I plainly -perceive, from conversing with you, that you are not a man of common -understanding; would to God, that in the course of your travels, you -had learned some secret that could cure a young man, whose illness -has plunged this court in the deepest affliction for some time -past.” - -Marzavan replied, that if he were made acquainted with the disease -which the person was labouring under, perhaps he might be able to -find a remedy for it. The grand vizier then explained to Marzavan -the state in which prince Camaralzaman was; taking up his history -from the very beginning. He concealed nothing from him; his so much -wished-for birth, his education, the desire of king Schahzaman to -see him married at an early age, the extraordinary aversion the -prince had shown to enter into an engagement of so serious a nature, -his behaviour before the council, his subsequent imprisonment, the -extravagant excesses he committed in prison, which had suddenly -changed into a violent love for an unknown lady, for which there was -no other foundation than a ring, which, as the prince pretended, had -belonged to this lady, who, perhaps, was not in existence; in short, -the vizier related every circumstance with the most faithful -exactness. - -This account gave Marzavan great joy, because, in consequence of his -shipwreck, he had so fortunately met with the object of his search -and inquiry. He felt convinced, beyond any doubt, that prince -Camaralzaman was the person, with whom the princess of China was so -deeply enamoured, and that this princess was no less the object of -the prince’s ardent vows. He did not mention his thoughts to the -grand vizier; he only said to him, that if he saw the prince, he -should be better able to judge what remedies it might be necessary -to administer. “Follow me,” said the vizier, “you will find -the king with him, who has already expressed a wish of seeing you.” - -The first thing that met the eyes of Marzavan, when he entered the -chamber, was the figure of the prince lying in his bed, with a -languishing air, and his eyes closed. Notwithstanding the situation -in which he found him, and regardless of king Schahzaman, who was -seated by the side of the bed, as well as of the prince, whom such -an exclamation might have alarmed and agitated, he cried, -“Heavens! nothing on earth can bear a stronger resemblance.” He -meant the resemblance of the princess of China; for, in fact, there -was a great similitude in their features. - -These words of Marzavan excited the curiosity of prince -Camaralzaman, who opened his eyes and looked at him. Marzavan, who -had great quickness of invention, took advantage of this moment, and -instantly repeated some extempore complimentary verses, although in -so mysterious a sense, that the king and grand vizier did not -comprehend the meaning of them. He so well explained what had -happened to him with the princess of China, that the prince -entertained no doubt of his knowing her, and being able to give him -some information respecting her; and he felt a degree of joy at the -hope of hearing of her, that soon displayed itself in his eyes and -countenance. When Marzavan had finished his compliment, the prince -took the liberty of making signs to his father to rise from his -seat, and permit Marzavan to take his place. - -The king, delighted to see in his son a change which flattered him -with hope, arose, and taking Marzavan by the hand, obliged him to -sit down in the place he had just quitted. He asked him who he was, -and from whence he came; and after Marzavan had replied, that he was -a subject of the king of China, and that he was then come from his -dominions; “God grant,” said the king to him, “that you may -restore my son to health, and divert his mind from the profound -melancholy in which it is absorbed; my obligations to you will be -without bounds, and the proofs of my gratitude shall be so -extensive, that the whole world shall know, that no service was ever -before so largely recompensed.” As he concluded these words, he -left the prince at liberty to converse with Marzavan, whilst he was -rejoicing with his grand vizier at so fortunate an occurrence. - -Marzavan approached very close to prince Camaralzaman, and speaking -to him in a low voice; “Prince,” said he, “the time is come -that you should cease to afflict yourself so piteously. The lady for -whom you suffer, is well known to me; she is the princess Badoura, -daughter to the king of China, whose name is Gaiour. I am certain of -the fact from what she has herself related to me of her adventure, -and from what I have already learned of yours. The princess does not -suffer less from love of you, than you do from your affection -towards her.” He then related all that he knew of the history of -the princess, since the fatal night of their almost incredible -interview: he did not omit also to inform him of the punishment -inflicted, by order of the king of China, on all those who undertook -to cure the princess Badoura of her supposed madness, when they -failed of success. “You are the only one,” continued he, “who -can accomplish her perfect recovery, and you may, therefore, present -yourself for that purpose, without fear of incurring the dreadful -penalty. But before you can undertake so long a journey, you must be -in good health yourself; we will then take the necessary measures -for the performance of it. Endeavour, therefore, to regain your -strength as quickly as possible.” - -This discourse of Marzavan instantly produced a wonderful effect: -prince Camaralzaman was so comforted by the hope which had just been -poured into his bosom, that he felt sufficiently strong to get up, -and he entreated the king, his father, to permit him to dress -himself, with an air and countenance which gave him inexpressible -joy. - -The king embraced Marzavan, to express his thanks, without inquiring -the means by which so surprising a change was instantaneously -effected; and immediately went out of the room with the grand -vizier, to proclaim this agreeable intelligence. He ordered public -rejoicings for several days; he distributed presents to his officers -and the populace, gave alms to the poor, and had all prisoners set -at liberty. In short, nothing but joy and mirth reigned in the -capital, and which very soon spread its influence throughout the -dominions of king Schahzaman. - -Prince Camaralzaman, who felt extremely weakened by continual want -of sleep, and by his long abstinence from almost all kinds of food, -soon recovered his usual health. He no sooner found himself -sufficiently re-established to be able to support the fatigue of so -long a journey, than he took Marzavan in private, and said to him, -“My dear Marzavan, it is now time to put in execution the promise -you have made me. The impatience I feel to see this charming -princess, and to put an end to the singular torments she endures for -my sake, would soon, I plainly feel, reduce me to the state in which -you first saw me, if we were not to set out, immediately. One -circumstance alone afflicts me, and makes me fear there may be -delay: that is, the tender affection of my father, who will never be -able to grant me permission to leave him. This will drive me to -despair, if you cannot devise some scheme to obviate it. You see -that he will never suffer me to be out of his sight.” The prince -could not refrain from tears as he pronounced these last words. - -“Prince,” replied Marzavan, “I have before now foreseen the -great obstacle you mention; it remains with me to act so that he -will not prevent our going. The original intention of my journey was -to procure remission of her grief and sufferings to the princess of -China, which I owed to the mutual friendship that has united us -almost from our birth, and to the zeal and affection with which it -is my duty to serve her. I should fail in that duty were I to -neglect any means of obtaining consolation for her, and for you at -the same time, if I did not employ all the address I am capable of -for that purpose. Hear, then, what I have conceived to obviate the -difficulty of obtaining the king’s permission to accomplish what -we both so earnestly desire. You have not yet been out, since I -arrived here; express to him a wish to take some exercise, and ask -his leave to go on a little hunting excursion, for two or three -days, with me; there is no reason to suppose he will refuse you: -when he has granted your request, you will give orders to have two -good horses ready for each; one to ride on, the other for relay, and -leave the rest to me.” - -The next day, prince Camaralzaman watched his opportunity; he told -the king, his father, how much he wished to take an airing, and -begged him to allow him to hunt for a day or two with Marzavan. “I -do not object to it,” replied the king, “provided, however, that -you promise me, not to remain out longer than one night. Too much -exercise at first might be injurious, and a longer absence would be -painful to me.” The king gave orders for the best horses to be -chosen for him, and took care himself, that nothing should be -wanting for his expedition. When every thing was ready, he embraced -him, and having earnestly recommended him to the care of Marzavan, -he let him depart. - -Prince Camaralzaman and Marzavan reached an open country, and, to -deceive the two grooms that led the relay of horses, they pretended -to hunt, and got as distant from the city as possible. At night they -stopped at a caravansera, where they supped and slept till about -midnight. Marzavan, who was the first to wake, called prince -Camaralzaman, without waking the grooms. He begged him to give him -his dress, and to put on another, which one of the grooms had -brought for him. They each mounted the horses of relay, and Marzavan -leading one of the groom’s horses by the bridle, they set out in a -quick pace. - -At day-break, the travellers found themselves in a forest, at a -place where the road divided in four. At this spot Marzavan begged -the prince to wait for him a moment, and rode into the thickest of -the forest. He there killed the groom’s horse, tore the dress -which the prince had on the preceding day, and dipped it in the -blood: when he returned to the prince, he threw it into the middle -of the road where it divided. - -The prince asked Marzavan what was his design by so doing. “When -the king, your father,” replied Marzavan, “perceives that you do -not return to-night, as you promised, or learns from the grooms that -we set out without them, while they were asleep, he will undoubtedly -send people out different ways to search for us. Those who come this -way, and find this bloody vest, will conclude, that some beast of -prey has devoured you, and that I have made my escape, to avoid the -king’s anger and resentment; he, thinking from their account, that -you are no longer in existence, will desist from his researches -after us, and thus afford us the opportunity of continuing our -journey without interruption, and the fear of being pursued. It is -true, that the stratagem is a violent one, to occasion so tender a -parent the afflicting alarm of having lost a son whom he doatingly -loves; but the joy of your father will be beyond all bounds, when he -shall again discover you to be alive and happy.”--“Wise -Marzavan,” cried the prince, “I cannot but approve so ingenious -an invention, and feel additional obligations to you for having put -it in execution.” - -The prince and Marzavan, well supplied with valuable jewels to -defray their expences, continued their travels by land and by sea, -and met with no other obstacle than the length of time, which -necessarily must elapse, before they could reach their place of -destination. - -They at length arrived at the capital of China, where Marzavan, -instead of conducting the prince to his own house, made him alight -at a public khan for the reception of travellers. They remained -there three days, to recover from the fatigue of the journey; and -during this interval, Marzavan had an astrologer’s dress made for -the prince to disguise himself in. When the three days were expired, -they went together to the bath, where Marzavan made the prince put -on the astrologer’s dress, and when they left the bath, he -conducted him within sight of the palace of the king of China, and -there left him, to go and acquaint his mother, the nurse of princess -Badoura, of his arrival, that she might prepare the princess for the -interview. - -The prince, instructed by Marzavan in what he was to do, and -furnished with every implement necessary for his assumed dress and -character, approached the gate of the palace; and stopping before -it, cried out with a loud voice, in the hearing of the guard and -porters, “I am an astrologer, and I come to complete the cure of -the illustrious princess Badoura, daughter of the great and puissant -monarch Gaiour, king of China, according to the conditions proposed -by his majesty, to marry her, if I succeed; or to lose my life, if I -fail. - -The novelty of this address instantly assembled a multitude of -people round prince Camaralzaman, besides the guard and porters -belonging to the palace. In fact, it was a long time since either -physician, astrologer, or magician had presented himself, after so -many tragical examples of people who had failed in their enterprise. -They supposed the race was extinct, or, at least, that there were no -more so foolish as to expose themselves to almost certain death. - -On observing the elegant figure of the prince, his noble air, and -the extreme youth which was discernible in his countenance, every -one present felt compassion for him. “What are you thinking of, -sir?” said those, who were nearest to him; “what can be your -motive for thus exposing to certain death, a life which seems to -possess such flattering hopes? Have not the heads, which you have -seen ranged at the top of the gates of the city, inspired you with -horror? In the name of God, abandon this useless and fatal design, -and withdraw.” - -The prince remained firm, notwithstanding all these remonstrances, -and instead of listening to the entreaties of these people, as he -saw that no one appeared to introduce him, he repeated the same -words as before, with an oath, which made every one shudder; and -they all exclaimed, “He is resolved to die; may God have pity on -his youth and on his soul!” He called out a third time, and the -grand vizier then came himself, by order of the king of China. - -This minister conducted him into the presence of the king. The -prince no sooner perceived the monarch seated on his throne, than he -prostrated himself, and kissed the earth before him. Of all those -whose immeasurable presumption had brought their heads to his feet, -the king had not yet seen one so worthy of his attention, and felt -unfeigned compassion for Camaralzaman, when he considered the danger -to which he exposed himself. He even conferred greater honour on -him; he desired him to approach and seat himself by his side. -“Young man,” said he, “I have some difficulty in believing, -that at your youthful age you can have acquired sufficient -experience to dare to undertake the cure of my daughter. I wish you -may be able to succeed; I would bestow her on you in marriage, not -only without repugnance, but, on the contrary, with the greatest -possible pleasure and joy, whereas I should have felt truly unhappy, -if any of those who have applied before you had obtained her. But I -must declare to you, although it gives me pain to inform you of this -condition, that if you fail, neither your youth, nor your noble and -engaging appearance, can mitigate the penalty; and you must lose -your head.” - -“Sire,” replied prince Camaralzaman, “I have infinite -obligations to your majesty for the honour you confer on me, and for -the kindness you show to one who is an entire stranger to you. The -country I come from is not so distant from your dominions, for its -name to be unknown there, and therefore render me indifferent to the -object I have in view. What would be said of my want of firmness, -were I to abandon so generous and praiseworthy a design after having -undergone so much danger and fatigue as I have already encountered? -Would not your majesty lose that esteem which you already entertain -for me? If I am to lose my life in the attempt, sire, I shall at -least die with the satisfaction of not losing that esteem after -having obtained it; I entreat you then not to let me remain any -longer in my present state of impatience, but to let me prove the -infallibility of my art by the means I am now ready to employ.” - -The king of China commanded the eunuch, who was the guard of the -princess Badoura, and was then present, to conduct prince -Camaralzaman to the apartment of his daughter. But before he -departed, he told him he was still at liberty to relinquish his -enterprise. The prince, however, would not listen to him; he -followed the eunuch with a resolution, or rather with an ardour, -which astonished all. - -Prince Camaralzaman went with the eunuch; and when they had reached -a long gallery, at the end of which was the princess’s apartment, -the prince finding himself so near the dear object which had made -him shed so many tears, and heave so many fruitless sighs, hastened -his pace and got before the eunuch; who also advanced quicker, and -had some difficulty to overtake him: “Where are you a going so -fast?” said he, taking hold of his arm. “You cannot get in -without me. You must be very desirous to get rid of life, to run so -eagerly into the arms of death. Not one of the astrologers I have -seen and conducted, where you will arrive but too soon, have shown -so much anxiety.” - -“Friend,” said prince Camaralzaman, looking at the eunuch, and -slackening his pace, “the reason is, that all the astrologers you -speak of, were not so sure of their science as I am of mine; they -were certain of losing their lives if they did not succeed, and they -were not sure of success; they had, therefore, some reason to -tremble as they approached the place where I am going, and where I -am convinced I shall meet with happiness.” As he pronounced these -words they reached the door. The eunuch opened it, and took the -prince into a large room, which led to the chamber of the princess, -and was divided from it only by a slight door. Before he entered, -the prince stopped, and speaking in a tone of voice much lower than -before, lest he should be heard in her apartment, “To convince -you,” said he to the eunuch, “that neither presumption, caprice, -nor the fire of youthful ardour, have stimulated me to this -enterprise, I submit two ways to your choice: which do you -prefer--that I should cure the princess while in her presence, or -here, without going any farther, and without even seeing her?” - -The eunuch was extremely astonished at the confidence with which the -prince spoke to him: he ceased to insult him, and speaking -seriously, “It does not matter,” said he, “whether it be here -or there. In whatever manner you accomplish the business, you will -acquire immortal glory, not only in this kingdom, but over all the -habitable world.”--“Then,” replied the prince, “it is better -that I cure her without seeing her, that you may be witness of my -skill. Whatever may be my impatience to see a princess of such high -rank, and who is to be my wife, I will nevertheless, to gratify you, -deprive myself for some moments of so great a pleasure.” As he was -furnished with every thing which was the distinguishing -characteristic of an astrologer, he drew out his writing apparatus -and some paper, and wrote the following note to the princess of -China: - -“PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN TO THE PRINCESS OF CHINA. - -“Adorable princess! the amorous prince Camaralzaman does not tell -you of the inexpressible woes he has endured since the fatal night -when your charms deprived him of that liberty which he had resolved -to maintain to the end of his life. He only assures you, that he -gave you his heart during your sweet sleep; a sleep that prevented -his viewing the animated brilliancy of your eyes, notwithstanding -all his efforts to induce you to open them. He even had the -presumption to place his ring upon your finger, as a token of his -love, and to take yours in exchange, which he sends you enclosed in -this note. If you will condescend to return it him as a reciprocal -pledge of yours, he will esteem himself the happiest and most -fortunate of lovers. But should you not comply, your refusal will -make him submit to the stroke of death with so much the more -resignation, as he will receive it for the love he bears you. He -awaits your answer in your anti-chamber.” - -When prince Camaralzaman had finished this note, he made a small -packet of it with the princess’s ring, which he enclosed in it, -without letting the eunuch see what it contained; then giving it to -him, he said, “Take this, friend, and carry it to your mistress. -If she is not cured the moment she has read this note and seen its -contents, I allow you to proclaim to the world, that I am the most -worthless and impudent astrologer either of the past, the present, -or the future age.” - -The eunuch went into the princess’s chamber, and presenting the -packet from prince Camaralzaman, he said to her, “Princess, an -astrologer, who, if I am not mistaken, has more assurance than any -who have yet appeared, is just arrived; and pretends, that you will -be cured as soon as you read this note, and see what it encloses. I -wish he may be neither a liar, nor an impostor.” The princess -Badoura took the packet and opened it with the utmost indifference; -but as soon as she saw the ring, she scarcely allowed herself time -to read it. She got up precipitately, and with an extraordinary -effort, broke the chain which confined her, ran to the door, and -opened it. The princess instantly recollected the prince, as he did -her. They ran into each other’s arms with the tenderest embraces, -and without being able to utter a word from excess of joy; they -looked at each other for a considerable time with emotions not to be -described, and mingled with surprise at the singularity of their -interview, after their former meeting, neither of which could they -comprehend. The nurse, who had run out with the princess, made them -go into the chamber, where the princess returned her ring to the -prince, “Take it,” said she, “I could not keep it without -returning yours, which I am resolved not to part with to the end of -my life. They cannot either of them be better disposed of.” - -The eunuch, in the mean time, was gone to acquaint the king of China -what had passed. “Sire,” said he, “all the physicians, -astrologers, and others, who have hitherto presented themselves to -undertake the recovery of the princess, were only ignorant fools. -This last has not made use either of magic books, or of conjurations -of wicked spirits, or of perfumes, or other things, as they did; he -has cured her without even seeing her.” He related the manner in -which he had proceeded, and the king, most agreeably surprised, went -immediately to the apartment of the princess, whom he tenderly -embraced; he embraced the prince also, took hold of his hand, and -joining it to that of the princess, “Happy stranger,” cried he, -“whoever you may be, I keep my promise, and give you my daughter -in marriage. But it is not possible to persuade me, that you are -what you appear to be, and what you wished to make me believe.” - -Prince Camaralzaman thanked the king in the most submissive terms, -the better to express his gratitude. “As for what I am, sire,” -continued he, “it is true, that I do not practise astrology for my -profession, as your majesty very rightly judged; I only put on the -habit of that character to ensure my success in deserving and -obtaining an honorable alliance with the most powerful monarch in -the universe. I am a prince by birth, the son of a king and a queen: -my name is Camaralzaman, and my father is called Schahzaman, and -reigns over the well-known islands of the Children of Khaledan.” -He then related his adventures, and the miraculous origin of his -love for the princess: that her affection for him was conceived at -the same time, both of which were fully proved by the exchange of -the two rings. - -“So extraordinary a history,” cried the king, “deserves to be -handed down to posterity. I will have it written; and after having -deposited the original amongst the archives of my kingdom, I will -make it public, that from my dominions it may pass to the -neighbouring nations.” The ceremony of the nuptials was performed -on that very day; and the most solemn festivities and rejoicings -took place throughout the extensive dominions of China. Marzavan was -not forgotten: the king granted him free access to the court; -bestowing on him an honorable charge, with the promise of raising -him, in future, to others more considerable. - -Prince Camaralzaman and the princess Badoura each arrived at the -summit of their wishes, enjoyed the blessings of the married state, -and for several months the king of China did not cease from -testifying his happiness by continual feasts and entertainments. - -In the midst of these pleasures, prince Camaralzaman had a dream one -night, in which he thought he saw king Schahzaman, his father, in -bed, on the point of death, saying: “This son, whom I brought into -the world, whom I have so tenderly cherished, has abandoned me, and -he is the cause of my death.” He awoke with a deep sigh, which -waked the princess also, and made her inquire what occasioned his -unhappiness. - -“Alas!” cried the prince, “perhaps at this very moment that I -am speaking, the king, my father, breathes no more.” He then told -her his reason for giving way to such melancholy thoughts. The -princess, who had no object but to give him pleasure, and who knew -that his earnest desire to revisit his father once more might -diminish the satisfaction he felt at residing with her in a country -so distant from his native home, said nothing at the time of her -intentions, but on that very day she availed herself of an -opportunity of speaking to the king of China in private. “Sire,” -said she, respectfully kissing his hand, “I have a favor to -request of your majesty; and I entreat you not to refuse it me. But -lest you should imagine that the prince, my husband, has any part in -my solicitations, I must first assure you, that he is not acquainted -with my intention. It is to permit me to accompany him to see my -father-in-law, king Schahzaman.” - -“Whatever sorrow such a separation may occasion me,” replied the -king, “I cannot disapprove such a resolution; it is worthy of you, -notwithstanding the fatigue you must experience from so long a -journey. Go, I give my consent; but it is only on condition that you -remain no longer than one year at the court of king Schahzaman. He -will not, I hope, object to this proposal, and that we should each -see you by turns; he his son and daughter-in-law, and I my daughter -and son-in-law.” The princess announced this consent to -Camaralzaman, who was much rejoiced at it, and thanked her for this -new proof of her affection towards him. - -The king of China gave orders for the necessary preparations for the -journey, and when every thing was ready he set out with them, and -accompanied them for several days. They at length separated, not -without many tears being shed on either side; the king embraced them -tenderly, and after having begged the prince to continue to love his -daughter with the same affection he then bore her, he left them to -continue their journey, and returned himself to his capital, hunting -by the way. - -The prince and princess had no sooner dried their tears, than they -anticipated the joy that king Schahzaman would experience in seeing -and embracing them, and what they also would feel at being with him. - -After they had been travelling about a month, they arrived on a -plain of vast extent, planted from space to space with trees, which -formed a very agreeable shade. As the heat on that day was -excessive, prince Camaralzaman thought it expedient to encamp on it. -He asked the princess Badoura if she had any objection to it, who, -in reply, said, that she was at that moment going to make the same -request of him. They immediately alighted in this beautiful spot; -and as soon as their tents were pitched, the princess, who had been -resting in the shade, retired to hers, while Camaralzaman went to -give orders to the rest of the party. In order to be more at her -ease, she took off her girdle, which her women placed by her side; -she then fell asleep through fatigue, and her attendants left her. - -When prince Camaralzaman had given all necessary orders, and made -the requisite arrangements in the camp, he returned to the tent, and -as he perceived that the princess had fallen asleep, he came in and -sat down, without making any noise. While he was thus sitting, with -the intention of sleeping himself also, the girdle of the princess -caught his eye. He examined the different diamonds and rubies with -which it was enriched, one by one; and he perceived a small silk -purse, sewn neatly to the girdle, and tied with a piece of twist. On -touching it, he felt that it contained something hard: curious to -know what it was, he opened the purse, and took out a cornelian, -upon which there were different figures and characters engraven, all -of which were unintelligible to him. “This cornelian,” said he -to himself, “must certainly be of very great value, or my princess -would never carry it about with her, and take such great care not to -lose it.” In fact, this cornelian was a talisman, which the queen -of China had given to her daughter to ensure her happiness, which -she would ever enjoy, as long as she wore this about her. - -In order to examine this talisman the better, as the tent was rather -dark, prince Camaralzaman went to the outside; when, as he was -holding it in his hand, a bird made a sudden dart from the air upon -it and carried it away. - -Nothing could exceed the astonishment and grief of the prince, when -he perceived the talisman thus unexpectedly taken from him by the -bird. This accident, the most afflicting that could have befallen -him, and occasioned to by an ill-timed curiosity, deprived the -princess of a precious gift; this reflection rendered him for some -minutes motionless. - -The bird having flown away with his prize alighted on the ground at -a little distance, with the talisman still in his beak. Prince -Camaralzaman went towards him in the hope of his dropping it; but as -soon as he approached, the bird flew a little way and then stopped -again. The prince continued to pursue him; the bird then swallowed -the talisman and took a longer flight. He again followed him, -thinking to kill him with a stone. The farther the bird got from -him, the more was Camaralzaman determined not to lose sight of him -and obtain the talisman. - -Over hills and valleys the bird drew the prince after him for the -whole day, always getting farther from the spot where he had left -the princess Badoura; and at the close of day, instead of perching -in a bush, in which Camaralzaman might have surprised him during the -night, he flew to the top of a high tree, where he was in safety. - -The prince, extremely mortified at having taken so much useless -trouble, deliberated whether he should return to his camp. -“But,” thought he, “how shall I return? Shall I climb the -hills and traverse the valleys over which I came? Shall I not lose -my way in the dusk of the evening, and will my strength hold out? -And even if I could, should I venture to present myself before the -princess without her talisman?” Absorbed by these disconsolate -reflections, and overcome with fatigue, with hunger, thirst, and -sleep, he laid down and passed the night at the foot of the tree. - -The next morning Camaralzaman was awake before the bird had quitted -the tree, and he no sooner saw him take his flight than he got up to -pursue him, and followed him the whole of that day with as little -success as he had done on the preceding one, eating occasionally of -the herbs and fruits he met with in his way. He did the same till -the tenth day, always keeping his eye on the bird, and sleeping at -night at the foot of the tree where it perched on its highest -branches. - -On the eleventh day, the bird constantly flying on, and Camaralzaman -as constantly pursuing, they arrived at a large city. When the bird -was near the walls, he rose very high above them, and bending his -flight to the other side, the prince entirely lost sight of him, and -with him the hope of ever recovering the talisman of the princess -Badoura. - -Afflicted as he was in so many ways, and hopeless of procuring -relief to his sorrows, he entered the city, which was built on the -sea-shore, with a very fine harbour. He walked for a considerable -time along the streets, not knowing either where he was, or where to -go; at length he arrived at the harbour. Still more uncertain what -to do, he walked along the shore, till he came to the gate of a -garden, which was open, when he stopped. The gardener, who was a -good old man, engaged with his labour, happened to raise his head at -the same moment; he had scarcely perceived him, and known him to be -a stranger and a mussulman, before he invited him to go in quickly -and shut the gate. Camaralzaman did as he desired, and going up to -the gardener, asked him why he had made him take this precaution. -“It is,” replied the gardener, “because I see that you are a -stranger just arrived, and a mussulman; and this city is inhabited -for the most part by idolaters, who have a mortal aversion against -mussulmen, and treat even the few that are here very ill, who -profess the religion of our prophet. You, I suppose, are ignorant of -this circumstance, and I look on it as a miracle, that you should -have proceeded so far as this without meeting with any disagreeable -adventure. In fact, these idolaters are above all things attentive -to observe mussulmen strangers who arrive; and to make them fall -into some snare, if they are not aware of their wickedness. I praise -God, that he has conducted you into a place of safety.” - -Camaralzaman thanked this good man very gratefully for the retreat -he so generously offered to shelter him from insult. He was going to -say more, but the gardener interrupted him: “Let us have no more -compliments,” said he, “you are fatigued, and you must want -food; come and rest yourself. He took him into his little house, and -after the prince had eaten a sufficiency of what the gardener had -set before him, with a cordiality that quite won his heart, he -begged of him to have the goodness to tell him the reason of his -coming. - -Camaralzaman satisfied his curiosity, and when he had finished his -story, in which he disguised nothing, he asked, in his turn, by what -means he might get back to the dominions of the king, his father; -“For,” added he, “were I to attempt to rejoin the princess, -how should I find her, after eleven days, that I have been separated -from her by so extraordinary an adventure. How do I know even that -she still exists?” At this sorrowful reflection he could not avoid -bursting into tears. - -In answer to what the prince had asked, the gardener told him, that -the city he was then in, was a whole year’s journey distant from -those countries where mussulmen lived, and which were governed by -princes of their religion; but that by sea he might reach the isle -of Ebony in a much shorter time; and that from thence it would be -more easy to pass to the Islands of the Children of Khaledan: that -every year a merchant ship sailed to the Isle of Ebony, and that he -might avail himself of that opportunity to return from thence to the -Islands of the Children of Khaledan. “If you had arrived some days -sooner,” continued he, “you might have embarked in that which -sailed this year. But if you will wait till that of next year sails, -and like to live with me, I offer you my house, such as it is, with -all my heart.” - -Prince Camaralzaman esteemed himself very fortunate in having thus -met with an asylum, in a place where he neither knew any one, nor -had any interest to form acquaintances. He accepted the offer, and -remained with the gardener; and while he waited the departure of a -merchant vessel for the Isle of Ebony, he employed himself in -working in the garden during the day; and the nights, when nothing -prevented his thoughts from fixing on his dear princess Badoura, he -passed in sighs, tears, and lamentations. We will leave him in this -place to return to the princess Badoura, whom we left sleeping in -her tent. - -This princess slept for some time, and on waking was surprised that -prince Camaralzaman was not with her. She called her women, and -asked them if they knew where he was. Whilst they were assuring her -that they had seen him go into the tent, but had not observed his -quitting it, she perceived, on taking up her girdle, that the little -bag was open, and that the talisman was no longer in it. She did not -doubt that the prince had taken it out to examine it, and that he -would bring it back. She expected him till night with the greatest -impatience, and could not comprehend what could oblige him to be -absent from her so long. When she perceived that night was come on, -and that it was already quite dark, and yet he did not return, she -gave herself up to the deepest affliction. She uttered a thousand -curses, both on the talisman and on him who made it; and if respect -had not restrained her tongue, she would even have indulged in -imprecations against the queen, her mother, for having made her so -fatal a present. Although she was distracted at this event, so much -the more afflicting, as she could form no conception why the -talisman should be the cause of the prince’s departure, she did -not lose her presence of mind, but, on the contrary, formed a -courageous design, not common with people of her sex. - -None, but the princess and her women, knew of Camaralzaman’s -disappearance; for at that time his people had all retired, and were -sleeping in their tents. As she feared they might betray her if his -absence came to their knowledge, she endeavoured to subdue her -grief, and commanded her women not to say or do any thing that might -create the slightest suspicion. She then changed her dress for one -of Camaralzaman’s, whom she resembled so strongly, that his people -supposed it to be him on the following morning, when she made her -appearance, and commanded them to pack up the baggage, and proceed -on their journey. When all was ready, she made one of her women take -her place in the litter, and she herself mounted her horse, and they -set off. - -After a journey of several months by land, as well as by sea, the -princess, who had continued the disguise of prince Camaralzaman, in -order to reach the Islands of the Children of Khaledan, arrived at -the capital of the Isle of Ebony, the reigning king of which was -named Armanos. As those of her people, who disembarked the first to -seek a lodging for her, had published in the town, that the vessel -which was just arrived bore prince Camaralzaman, who was returning -from a long voyage, and whom bad weather had obliged to make for -this port, the intelligence soon reached the palace of the king. - -King Armanos, accompanied by the greatest part of his court, -immediately set out to receive the princess, and met her just as she -had left the vessel, and was going to the lodging that was engaged -for her. He received her as the son of a king who was his friend and -ally, with whom he had always lived on terms of amity, and conducted -her to his palace, where he lodged her and her whole suit, -notwithstanding her earnest entreaties to be permitted to have a -lodging to herself. He conferred upon her all the honors imaginable, -besides regaling her for three days with extraordinary magnificence. - -When the three days were expired, king Armanos finding that the -princess, whom he still supposed to be prince Camaralzaman, talked -of re-embarking, and continuing her voyage, and being quite charmed -with a prince who appeared to him so handsome and well-made, and -possessed of so much wit and knowledge, spoke to her in private. -“Prince,” said he, “at the advanced age to which you see I am -arrived, with little hope of living much longer, I endure the -mortification of not having a son, to whom I can bequeath my -kingdom. Heaven has bestowed on me one only daughter, who is -possessed of such beauty as cannot be matched but with a prince of -such high birth and such mental as well as personal accomplishments -as distinguish you. Instead, therefore, of preparing to return to -your own country, accept her from my hands, together with my crown, -which I from this moment resign in your favor, and remain with us. -It is now time for me to repose, after having borne the weight of it -for so many years; I cannot do it with more satisfaction to myself, -than at a period when I am likely to see my state governed by so -worthy a successor.” - -This generous offer of the king of the Island of Ebony, to give his -only daughter in marriage to the princess Badoura, who, being a -woman, could not accept her, and of giving up to her all his -dominions, occasioned her a degree of embarrassment which she little -expected. After having told the king that she was Camaralzaman, and -having supported the character with so much plausibility, she -thought it would be unworthy of a princess of her rank to undeceive -him, and to declare, that instead of being the prince himself, she -was only his wife. But if she refused him, she had just reason to -fear, from the extreme desire he had evinced for the completion of -the marriage, that he might change his friendship and good-will -towards her into enmity and hatred, and might even attempt her life. -Besides which, she could not be certain that she should find -Camaralzaman at the court of king Schahzaman, his father. - -These considerations, together with that of acquiring a kingdom for -the prince, her husband, in case she should ever rejoin him, -determined Badoura to accept the proposals of king Armanos. Having, -therefore, remained for some minutes without speaking, she thus -replied, her face being at the same time overspread with blushes, -which the king attributed to her modesty, “Sire, I am under -infinite obligations to your majesty, for the good opinion you have -conceived of my person, and for the honor you do me, by conferring -on me so great a favor, which I am by no means deserving of, yet -dare not refuse. But, Sire,” added she, “I cannot accept so -great an alliance, except on condition, that your majesty will -assist me with your counsels; and that I undertake nothing that you -shall not previously have approved of.” - -The marriage being thus agreed on and concluded, the ceremony of the -nuptials was postponed to the following day; and the princess -Badoura took that opportunity of acquainting her officers, who still -supposed her to be prince Camaralzaman, of what was to take place, -that they might not be astonished at it; and she assured them, that -the princess Badoura had given her consent. She spoke of it to her -women also, charging them to continue faithful to the secret. - -The king of the Island of Ebony, overjoyed at having acquired a -son-in-law, with whom he was so well satisfied, assembled his -council on the morrow, and declared, that he bestowed the princess, -his daughter, in marriage, on prince Camaralzaman, whom he had taken -with him, and seated next him; that he resigned his crown to him, -and enjoined them to accept him as their king, and to pay him -homage. When he had concluded, he descended from the throne, and -made the princess Badoura ascend and take his place, where she -received the oaths of fidelity and allegiance from the principal -nobles, who were present. - -At the conclusion of the council, the new king was solemnly -proclaimed throughout the city; rejoicings for several days were -ordered, and couriers dispatched to all parts of the kingdom, that -the same ceremonies and the same demonstrations of joy might be -observed. - -In the evening, the whole palace was in festivity, and the princess -Haiatalnefous, for this was the name of the daughter of the king of -the Island of Ebony, was conducted to the princess Badoura, whom -every one supposed to be a man, with a magnificence truly royal. The -ceremonies being completed, they were left alone, and retired to -rest. - -The next morning, while the princess Badoura received the -compliments of a large assembly of courtiers on her marriage and -accession to the throne, king Armanos and his queen repaired to the -apartment of the new queen, their daughter, to inquire how she -passed the night. Instead of making any reply, she fixed her eyes on -the ground, and by the expression of sorrow which overspread her -countenance, plainly showed, that she was dissatisfied. - -In order to console the princess Haiatalnefous, the king said to -her, “My dear daughter, let not this afflict you; when prince -Camaralzaman landed here, he only sought to return, as soon as -possible, to king Schahzaman, his father. Although we have prevented -him from putting his design in execution, by means, with which he -must be well satisfied, we must nevertheless conclude, that he feels -much disappointment at being so suddenly deprived even of the hope -of ever seeing him again, or any one belonging to his family. You -may, therefore, expect, when these emotions of filial tenderness are -a little subsided, that he will behave towards you as a good -husband.” - -The princess Badoura, under the assumed name of Camaralzaman, and -king of the island of Ebony, passed the whole of that day, not only -in receiving the compliments of her court, but also in reviewing the -regular troops belonging to the household, and in several other -royal functions, with a dignity and ability which acquired her the -approbation of all those who witnessed it. - -The night was advanced, when she entered the apartment of queen -Haiatalnefous, and she soon perceived, by the restraint with which -the latter received her, that she recollected the preceding night. -She endeavoured to dissipate her sadness by a long conversation, -that she held with her, and in which she employed all her eloquence, -of which she had a considerable share, to persuade her that she -loved her excessively. She at last gave her time to go to bed, and -during this interval, she began to say a prayer; but she remained so -long thus employed, that Haiatalnefous fell asleep. She then ceased -from praying, and lay down by her side, without waking her, as much -afflicted at the necessity she was under of acting a character which -did not become her, as the loss of her beloved Camaralzaman, whom -she unceasingly lamented. She arose the next morning at break of -day, before Haiatalnefous awoke, and went to the council, dressed in -the royal robes. - -King Armanos did not fail to see the queen, his daughter, again on -that day, and he found her in tears. He required no further proof, -to be satisfied of the cause of her affliction. Quite indignant at -this affront, for such he conceived it, the cause of which he could -not comprehend; “Daughter,” said he, “have patience for one -night more; I have elevated your husband to my throne, but I shall -find the means of abasing him, and of banishing him from hence with -shame and ignominy, if he does not behave to you properly. In my -present anger, at seeing you treated with such neglect, I do not -know whether I shall be satisfied with so moderate a punishment. It -is not to you, but to my person that he offers so unpardonable an -affront.” - -The princess Badoura returned to the chamber of Haiatalnefous as -late that evening as on the preceding one. She conversed with her in -the same manner, and was then going to say her prayer, while she -went to bed; but Haiatalnefous prevented her, and obliged her to sit -down again. “What!” said she, “I see you intend to treat me -this night as you did the two former ones. Tell me, I entreat you, -in what I can have displeased you; I, who not only love, but adore -you, and esteem myself the happiest of all the princesses of my -rank, for having so amiable a prince as you are for my husband? Any -other besides me would have a good opportunity of revenge by -abandoning you to your luckless fate for so indignant an affront to -my person; but even did I not love you as I do, I am too -compassionate for the misfortunes even of those who are totally -indifferent to me, not to warn you, that the king, my father, is -extremely irritated with your mode of proceeding; and that he only -suspends his anger till to-morrow, when you will feel its just -effects, if you continue this usage of me. I conjure you not to -drive a princess to despair, who cannot avoid loving you.” - -This speech occasioned inexpressible embarrassment to the princess -Badoura. She could not doubt the sincerity of Haiatalnefous; the -coolness which king Armanos had shown her on that day, fully proved -his displeasure. The only method that occurred to her of justifying -her conduct, was to confess her sex to Haiatalnefous. But although -she had foreseen that she should be obliged to make this -declaration, yet the uncertainty, whether this princess would take -it in good part made her tremble. But at last, when she reflected -that if prince Camaralzaman was still alive, he must necessarily -stop at the Isle of Ebony, in his way to the dominions of -Schahzaman, that she ought to preserve herself for him, and that she -could only do it by discovering herself to the princess -Haiatalnefous, she hazarded this confession. - -As Badoura had remained silent and confused, Haiatalnefous, becoming -impatient, was going to continue, when she prevented her by these -words: “Too amiable and charming princess,” said she, “I -confess I am in fault; and I freely condemn myself: but I hope you -will pardon me; and that you will not violate the secret I am going -to entrust you with for my justification.” At the same moment -Badoura uncovered her bosom: “See, princess,” continued she, -“if a woman and a princess, such as you are yourself, does not -deserve your pardon; I am persuaded you will grant it with good-will -when I shall have related to you my history; and above all, when you -are made acquainted with the misfortune which has obliged me to act -a deceitful part.” - -When the princess Badoura had concluded her narration, and made -herself known to the princess of the Isle of Ebony, she entreated -her a second time not to betray her secret, and to agree to continue -the deceit, and pretend, that she was really her husband, until the -arrival of prince Camaralzaman, whom she hoped shortly to see again. - -“Princess,” replied Haiatalnefous, “it would indeed be a -singular destiny, if so happy an union as yours has been, should be -of such short duration, after a mutual affection, conceived and -preserved with so many miraculous adventures. I join my wishes to -yours, that Heaven may soon re-unite you. Be assured, in the mean -time, that I will most religiously preserve the secret you have -entrusted me with. I shall feel the greatest pleasure at being the -only person in the great kingdom of the Isle of Ebony, who really -knows you, while you govern it with the wisdom you have displayed at -the commencement of your reign. I asked you to love me, but now I -declare to you that I shall be fully satisfied, if you do not refuse -me your friendship.” After this conversation, the two princesses -tenderly embraced, and with a thousand demonstrations of reciprocal -friendship, they lay down to rest. - -It was a custom in this island, that the consummation of royal -marriages should be made known to the public. The princesses, -however, found some means of overcoming this difficulty; and not -only the female attendants of the princess Haiatalnefous were the -next morning deceived, but also king Armanos, the queen, his -consort, and his whole court. And from this time the princess -Badoura continued to govern the kingdom in great tranquillity, to -the complete satisfaction of the king and all his subjects. - -While these things were in this situation in the Isle of Ebony -between the princess Badoura and Haiatalnefous, king Armanos, the -queen, the court, and the rest of the people in the kingdom, prince -Camaralzaman was still in the city of idolaters, with the gardener, -who had offered him a retreat. - -One morning very early, while the prince was preparing to work in -the garden, as was his usual custom, the good old gardener prevented -him. “The idolaters,” said he to him, “have a grand festival -to-day, and as they abstain from all kinds of labour, to pass it in -public assemblies and rejoicings, they will not suffer mussulmen -either to work; and the latter, to preserve peace and amity with -them, enter into their amusements, and are present at the various -spectacles, which are well worthy of notice: so you may allow -yourself a little rest to-day. I shall leave you here, and as the -time approaches for the merchant vessel, which I mentioned to you, -to sail for the Island of Ebony; I am going to see some friends, and -will inquire of them what day it is to set sail, and at the same -time I will arrange matters for your embarking on it.” The -gardener put on his best dress and went out. - -When prince Camaralzaman found himself alone, instead of partaking -of the public rejoicings which enlivened the whole city, the state -of inactivity he remained in brought to his mind in stronger colours -the sad recollection of his ever beloved princess. Absorbed by his -melancholy reflections, he sighed and moaned as he walked along the -garden; when the noise made by two birds, who had perched on a tree -near him, attracting his attention, inclined him to lift up his head -and stop. - -Camaralzaman observed that these birds were fighting desperately, -pecking each other with their beaks, and in a few minutes he saw one -of them fall dead at the foot of a tree. The bird who remained -conqueror resumed his flight, and soon disappeared. - -At the same moment, two other birds of a larger size, who had seen -the combat from a distance, arrived from a different quarter, and -alighted, one at the head, the other at the feet of the deceased, -looked at him for a considerable time, shaking their heads in a way -which showed their grief, and then dug a grave for him with their -claws, in which they buried him. - -As soon as the birds had again filled the grave with the earth, they -flew away, and a short time after returned, holding in their beaks, -one by the wing and the other by a claw, the criminal bird, who -uttered dreadful screams, and made violent efforts to escape. They -brought him to the grave of the bird he had in his rage destroyed, -and there, sacrificing him to the just punishment he merited for the -cruel murder he had committed, they deprived him of life by pecking -him with their beaks. They then tore open his body, drew out the -entrails, and leaving the corpse on the ground, flew away. - -Camaralzaman remained in silent admiration the whole time this -surprising spectacle continued. He approached the tree where the -scene had taken place, and casting his eyes on the entrails, which -lay scattered on the ground, he perceived something red appearing -out of the stomach of the bird that had been torn to pieces. He took -up the mangled remains of the body, and taking out the red substance -which had attracted his notice, he found it to be the talisman of -the princess Badoura, his dear and tenderly beloved princess, which -had cost him so much anxiety, pain, and regret, since this bird had -flown away with it. “Cruel bird,” cried he, looking at it, -“you delighted in evil actions, and I have no little cause to -complain of the grief you have occasioned me. But in proportion to -what I have suffered through you, so much do I wish well to those -who have revenged my injuries by revenging the death of their -companion.” - -It is not possible to express the joy of prince Camaralzaman at this -adventure. “Dearest princess,” he exclaimed again, “this -fortunate moment, in which I thus redeem what is so valuable to you, -is no doubt a happy presage that announces my meeting with you in -the same unexpected manner, and perhaps even sooner than I dare to -hope. Blessed be the day in which I taste such happiness, and which, -at the same time, flatters me with the delightful prospect of the -greatest pleasure I can enjoy.” - -As he finished these words Camaralzaman kissed the talisman, and, -wrapping it up carefully, tied it round his arm. During his extreme -affliction he had passed almost every night without closing his -eyes, and in the midst of tormenting reflections. He slept very -tranquilly the whole of that which succeeded this happy event; and -the next morning at break of day, putting on his working dress, he -went to the gardener for his orders, who begged him to cut and root -up a particular tree, which he pointed out to him, as being old and -no longer bearing fruit. - -Camaralzaman took an axe, and set to work. As he was cutting a part -of the root, he struck something, which seemed to resist, and made a -loud noise. He removed the earth and discovered a large plate of -brass, under which he found a stair-case with ten steps. He -immediately descended, and when he had reached the bottom, he saw -himself in a sort of cave, or vault, about fifteen feet square, in -which he counted fifty large bronze jars, ranged round it, each with -a cover. He uncovered them all, one after the other, and found them -filled with gold dust. He then left the vault, quite overjoyed at -having discovered so rich a treasure; he replaced the plate over the -staircase, and continued to root up the tree, while he waited for -the gardener’s return. - -The gardener had been informed on the preceding day, that the -vessel, which sailed annually to the Isle of Ebony, was to depart in -a very few days; but those who had given him this intelligence, -could not acquaint him with the precise day; they promised, however, -to do so on the morrow. He had been to gain the information he -wanted, and returned with a countenance which displayed the joy he -felt at being the bearer of such good news to Camaralzaman.” “My -son,” said he to him, for by his great age he claimed the -privilege of addressing the prince in such familiar terms, -“rejoice, and hold yourself in readiness to embark in three days; -the vessel will sail on that day without fail, and I have agreed -with the captain about your passage and departure.” - -“In my present situation,” replied Camaralzaman, “you could -not announce to me any thing of so agreeable a nature. But, in -return, I have to communicate to you also a piece of news, which -will give you great pleasure. Take the trouble of following me, and -you will see the good fortune that Heaven sends you.” Camaralzaman -conducted the gardener to the spot, where he had rooted up the tree, -and made him go down into the vault; when he had shown him the -number of jars it contained, all filled with gold dust, he expressed -his joy, that God had thus recompensed his virtue, and all the -fatigue and pain he had undergone for so many years. - -“What do you mean?” replied the gardener. “Do you suppose, -then, that I will possess myself of all this treasure? No, it is all -your own; I have no pretensions to any part of it. During eighty -years that I have worked in this garden since my father’s death, I -have never chanced to discover it. It is a sign that it was destined -for you alone, since God permitted you to find it; it is more -appropriate to a prince, like you, than to me, who am on the brink -of the grave, and want nothing more. God sends it you very -opportunely, at the time that you are about to return to the states -which are to belong to you, and where you will make a good use of -it.” - -Prince Camaralzaman would not give up to the gardener in generosity, -and they had a great contest on this point. He, at length, solemnly -protested that he would not touch any of the gold, unless the -gardener retained half for his share, to which he with some -difficulty consented; and they divided the jars, twenty-five to each. - -The division being made, “My son,” said the gardener, “this is -not enough; we must now devise some plan for embarking these riches -on the vessel, and taking them with you so secretly as not to give -any suspicion of them, otherwise you might run a risk of losing -them. There are no olives in the Isle of Ebony, and those, which are -taken from here, are in great request. As you know I have a good -provision of those I have gathered from my own garden, you must take -the fifty jars, and fill them half way with the gold dust, and the -other half with olives up to the top, and we will have them taken to -the ship, when you yourself embark. - -Camaralzaman adopted this advice, and employed himself the rest of -the day in filling and arranging the fifty jars; and as he feared -that he might lose the talisman of the princess Badoura by wearing -it constantly on his arm, he had the precaution to put it in one of -these jars, on which he set a mark to know it again. When he had -completed his work, and the jars were ready for removal, as night -was approaching, he went home with the gardener, and entering into -conversation with him, related the battle of the two birds, and the -circumstances attending this adventure, by which he had recovered -the talisman of the princess Badoura; the gardener was not less -surprised than rejoiced at this account, for his sake. - -Whether it was on account of his great age, or that he had taken too -much exercise on that day, the gardener passed a bad night; his -illness increased on the following day, and on the third morning he -found himself still worse. As soon as it was day, the captain of the -vessel himself, together with some of his seamen, came and knocked -at the garden gate. Camaralzaman opened it, and they inquired for -the passenger who was to embark on board their vessel. “I am -he,” replied the prince: “the gardener, who took my passage, is -ill and cannot speak to you; however, pray come in and take away -these jars of olives, together with my baggage, and I will follow -you as soon as I have taken my leave of him.” - -The seamen carried away his jars and baggage, and on leaving -Camaralzaman desired him to follow them immediately; “The wind is -fair,” added the captain, “and I only wait for you to set -sail.” - -As soon as the captain and seamen were gone, Camaralzaman returned -to the gardener to bid him farewell, and thank him for all the good -offices he had received from him; but he found him at the point of -death, and he had scarcely obtained from him the profession of his -faith, according to the custom of good mussulmen, on the article of -death, than he saw him expire. - -The prince being under the necessity of embarking immediately, used -the utmost diligence in performing the last duties to the deceased. -He washed the body, wrapped it in the sepulchral clothes, and having -dug a grave in the garden, for as Mahometans were barely tolerated -in the city of idolaters, they had no public cemetery, and buried it -himself, which employed him till the close of the day. He then set -out, without losing any more time, to embark; and to use great -dispatch, he took the key of the garden with him, intending to -deliver it to the proprietor; or, if he could not accomplish that, -to give it to some trusty person, in the presence of witnesses, to -remit it to him. But when he arrived at the harbour, he was informed -that the ship had weighed anchor some time, and it was already out -of sight. They added, that it had waited for him three full hours -before it set sail. - -As you may suppose, Sire, Camaralzaman was vexed and distressed to -the utmost degree, at finding himself obliged to remain in a -country, where he had no motive for wishing to form any -acquaintance, and to wait another year before the opportunity he had -just lost, would again present itself. What mortified him still more -was, that he had parted with the talisman of the princess Badoura, -which he now gave up for lost. He had no other method to pursue, but -to return to the garden he had left, to rent it of the landlord to -whom it belonged, and to continue the cultivation of it, while he -deplored his misfortune. As he could not support the fatigue of all -the labour it required, he hired a boy to assist him; and that he -might not lose the other share of the treasure, which came to him by -the death of the gardener, who had died without heirs, he put the -gold dust into fifty other jars, and covered them with olives as he -had done before, that he might take them with him, when the time -came for him to embark. - -While prince Camaralzaman was beginning another year of pain, -sorrow, and impatience, the vessel continued its voyage with a -favorable wind, and arrived without any misfortune al the capital of -the Isle of Ebony. - -As the palace was on the sea-shore, the new king, or rather the -princess Badoura, who perceived the vessel, while sailing into port, -with all its flags flying, inquired what ship it was, and was told, -that it came every year from the city of idolaters at that season, -and that it was in general laden with very rich merchandize. - -The princess, who in the midst of all the state and splendor that -surrounded her, had her mind constantly occupied with the idea of -Camaralzaman, conceived, that he might have embarked on board that -vessel, and the thought occurred to her of going to meet him when he -landed, not intending to make herself known to him, for she was -convinced he would not recognise her, but to observe him, and take -the measures she thought most proper for their mutual discovery. -Under pretence therefore of inspecting the merchandize, and even of -being the first to see and to choose the most valuable for herself, -she ordered a horse to be brought her. She went to the harbour, -accompanied by several officers, who happened to be with her, and -she arrived at the moment that the captain came on shore. She -desired him to come to her, and inquired of him from whence he had -sailed, how long he had been at sea, what good or unfortunate -incidents he had met with during his voyage, if he had amongst his -passengers any stranger of distinction, and above all with what his -vessel was laden. - -The captain gave satisfactory answers to all these questions; as for -the passengers, he assured her there were none besides the -merchants, who were accustomed to trade thither, and that they -brought very rich stuffs from different countries, linens of the -finest texture, painted as well as plain, precious stones, musk, -ambergris, camphor, civet, spices, medicinal drugs, olives, and -several other articles. - -The princess Badoura happened to be passionately fond of olives. She -had no sooner heard them mentioned, than she said to the captain, -“I will take all you have on board; order them to be unladen -immediately, that I may make the bargain for them. As for the other -merchandize, you will inform the owners to bring me the most -beautiful and valuable of their goods, before they show them to any -one.” - -“Sire,” replied the captain, who took her for the king of the -Isle of Ebony, which in fact she was, in her feigned character, -“there are fifty large jars of olives, but they belong to a -merchant, who remained behind. I had informed him of my departure, -and even waited for him some time. But as I found he did not come, -and that his delay prevented my profiting by a favorable wind, I -lost all patience, and set sail.”--“Let them be put ashore -nevertheless,” replied the princess, “this shall not prevent our -making the bargain.” - -The captain sent his boat to the ship, and it soon returned, -bringing the jars of olives. The princess inquired what the value of -the fifty jars might be in the Isle of Ebony; “Sire,” replied -the captain, “the merchant is very poor; your majesty will confer -a great obligation on him by giving him a thousand pieces of -silver.”--“That he may be perfectly satisfied,” said the -princess, “and in consideration of his great poverty, you shall -have a thousand pieces of gold counted out to you, which you will -take care to give him.” She gave orders for the payment of this -sum, and after she had desired the jars to be taken away, she -returned to the palace. - -As night approached, the princess Badoura retired to the interior -palace, and went to the apartment of the princess Haiatalnefous, -where she had the fifty jars of olives brought to her. She had -opened one to taste them, and to eat of them herself; and poured -some into a dish, when, conceive her astonishment, at finding the -olives mixed with gold dust. “What a wonderful adventure!” -exclaimed she. She immediately ordered the other jars to be opened, -and emptied in her presence by the women of Haiatalnefous, and her -surprise increased, as she perceived that the olives in each jar -were mixed with the gold dust. But when that was emptied in which -Camaralzaman had deposited the talisman, her emotions on seeing it -were so strong, that she was quite overcome, and fainted away. - -The princess Haiatalnefous and her women ran to her assistance, and -by throwing water on her face, at length brought her to herself. -When she had recovered her senses, she took up the talisman, and -kissed it several times; but as she did not choose to say any thing -before the princess’s women, who were ignorant of her disguise, -and as it was time to retire to rest, she dismissed them. -“Princess,” said she to Haiatalnefous, as soon as they were -alone, “after what I have related to you of my adventures you no -doubt guessed, that it was on beholding this talisman that I -fainted. It is mine, and the fatal cause of the separation that has -taken place between my beloved husband, prince Camaralzaman, and -myself. It was the occasion of an event so painful for both, and I -am certain it will be the means of our speedy re-union.” - -The next morning, as soon as day had appeared, the princess Badoura -sent for the captain of the vessel. When he was come, she said to -him, “I beg you to give me a more satisfactory account of the -merchant, to whom the olives belonged, that I bought yesterday. I -think you told me, that you left him behind in the city of -idolaters; can you inform me what was his occupation there?” - -“Sire,” replied the captain, “I can acquaint your majesty with -it, as I know it for certain. I had agreed about his passage with a -gardener, who was extremely old, and he told me that I should find -him in his garden, the situation of which he pointed out to me, -where he worked under him; this made me say to your majesty, that he -was poor. I went to this very garden to seek him, and tell him that -I was going to embark, and spoke to him myself.” - -“If this be the case,” said the princess, “you must set sail -again to-day, and return to the city of idolaters, to search for -this young gardener, and bring him here, for he is my debtor; if you -refuse, I declare that I will confiscate not only all the goods -which belong to you, and those of the merchants you have on board, -but will also make your life and that of the merchants responsible -for it. At this moment, they are going by my command to place the -seal on the magazines where they are deposited, and which shall not -be taken off until you have delivered into my hands the young man I -require. This is what I had to say to you. Go, and obey my orders.” - -The captain had nothing to reply to this command, the non-execution -of which was to involve him and the merchants in so severe a -punishment. He imparted it to them, and they were no less anxious -than himself for the immediate departure of the vessel: he stored it -with water and provisions for the voyage, which was done with so -much expedition, that he set sail on that very day. - -The ship had a very good voyage, and the captain managed so well, as -to arrive by night at the city of idolaters. When he was as near -land as he thought necessary, he did not cast anchor, but while the -vessel lay to, he got into his boat, and rowed to shore at a spot a -little distance from the harbour, from whence he went to the garden -of Camaralzaman, accompanied by six of his most resolute seamen. - -The prince was not asleep; his separation from the beautiful -princess of China overwhelmed him as usual with affliction, and he -detested and cursed the moment when he had suffered himself to be -tempted by curiosity even to touch, much more to examine her girdle. -He passed, in this manner, the hours which should have been -dedicated to repose, when he heard a knocking at the gate of the -garden. He went half dressed to open it, and he had scarcely -presented himself, when the captain and sailors, without speaking a -word, seized and conducted him by main force to the boat, and took -him to the ship, which set sail again as soon as they had -re-embarked. - -Camaralzaman, who had till then preserved a profound silence, as -well as the captain and seamen, now asked the captain, whose -features he recollected, what reason he had for dragging him away -with so much violence. “Are you not a debtor to the king of the -Island of Ebony?” inquired the captain in his turn. “I a debtor -to the king of the Island of Ebony!” exclaimed Camaralzaman, with -amazement, “I do not know him, I never had any dealings with him, -nor even ever set my foot in his dominions.”--“You must know -that matter better than I can,” replied the captain, “but you -will speak to him yourself; however, remain here quietly, and have -patience.” - -The vessel had as successful a voyage in conducting Camaralzaman to -the Isle of Ebony, as it had experienced in going for him to the -city of idolaters. Although night had closed when they got into -port, the captain nevertheless did not delay going on shore to take -prince Camaralzaman to the palace, where he requested to be -presented to the king. - -The princess Badoura, who had already retired into the inner palace, -was no sooner informed of his return, and of the arrival of -Camaralzaman, than she went out to speak to him. As soon as she had -cast her eyes on her beloved prince, for whom she had shed so many -tears since their separation, she instantly recognised him, even in -his labourer’s dress. As for the prince, who trembled in the -presence of a king, as he believed him to be, to whom he was to -answer for an imaginary debt; he had not the least idea that he was -then in her presence, whom he desired so ardently to rejoin. Had the -princess followed her inclinations, she would have run to him, and -discovered herself by her tender embraces; but she restrained her -emotions, as she thought it for the interest of both that she should -continue to sustain the character of king for some time longer, -before she made herself known. She contented herself with -recommending him particularly to the care of an officer, who was -present, charging him to be attentive, and treat him well until the -following day. - -When the princess Badoura had ordered every thing that related to -prince Camaralzaman, she turned towards the captain, to recompence -him for the important service he had rendered her, by desiring -another officer to go immediately and take off the seal which had -been placed on his merchandise, as well as that of the merchants, -and dismissed him with a present of a rich and precious diamond, -which fully repaid him the expence of the second voyage. She told -him also, that he might keep the thousand pieces of gold, which had -been paid for the jars of olives, and that she should know how to -settle the matter with the merchant he had just brought her. - -She at length returned to the apartment of the princess of the Isle -of Ebony, to whom she related the subject of her joy; begging her -nevertheless not to disclose the secret, and entrusting her with the -measures she thought it necessary to adopt, before she discovered -herself to prince Camaralzaman, or acknowledged who he himself was. -“There is,” added she, “so great a distance between the rank -of a great prince as he is, and that of a gardener, that there might -be some danger attending his passing from one of the lowest degrees -of the people to the very highest, however justice might demand such -an act.” Far from being faithless to her promise, the princess of -the Isle of Ebony concurred with her in the design she had formed. -She even assured her, that she would contribute all in her power to -forward it, if she would inform her of what she wished her to do. - -The next day the princess of China, under the name, habit, and -authority of king of the Isle of Ebony, after taking care to have -prince Camaralzaman conducted to the bath very early in the morning, -and dressed in the robe of an emir, or governor of a province, -introduced him into the council, where he attracted the attention of -all the nobles, who were present, by his elegant and majestic air, -and well-formed person. - -The princess Badoura herself was charmed to see him again, as -amiable as he had so often appeared to her; and she felt additional -interest in extolling him to the council. After he had taken his -place in the rank of emirs, according to her directions: “My -lords,” said she, addressing the other emirs, “Camaralzaman, -whom I this day present to you as your colleague, is not unworthy of -the situation he occupies amongst you. I have had sufficient -experience of his worth in my travels, to be able to answer for him; -and I can assure you, that he will make himself known to, and -admired by you, as much for his valour, and a thousand other good -and amiable qualities, as by the superior greatness of his mind. - -Camaralzaman was extremely surprised, when he heard the king of the -Isle of Ebony, whom he little suspected to be a woman, much less his -adored princess, call him by his name; and assure the assembly that -he knew him, when he was himself convinced, that he had never met -him in any place: he was still more astonished at the unexpected -praise the king bestowed on him. - -This praise, however, although pronounced by royal lips, did not -disconcert him; he received it with a modesty that proved he -deserved it, but that it did not excite his vanity. He prostrated -himself before the throne of the king, and when he arose, he said, -“Sire, I cannot find words to express my thanks to your majesty -for the great honor you have conferred on me, much less for all your -kindness. I will exert myself, to the utmost of my abilities, to -deserve both the one and the other.” - -When he left the council, the prince was conducted by an officer to -a large mansion, which the princess Badoura had already ordered to -be furnished, and prepared for his reception. He there found -officers and servants ready to receive his commands, and a stable -filled with very fine horses; the whole suited to the dignity of an -emir, which had just been conferred on him; and when he went into -his closet, his steward presented him with a coffer full of gold for -his expenses. The less he was able to guess from what quarter this -good fortune came, the greater was his surprise and admiration: but -he never entertained the least suspicion that it was his own -princess who was the cause of the whole. - -At the end of two or three days, the princess Badoura, to afford -Camaralzaman more frequent access to her person, as well as to raise -him to higher distinction, bestowed on him the office of grand -treasurer, which had become vacant. He acquitted himself in this new -office with so much integrity, at the same time conferring -obligations on every one, that he acquired not only the friendship -of all the nobles about the court, but also won the hearts of the -common people by his rectitude and generosity. - -Camaralzaman would have been the happiest of men, to find himself in -such high favour with a king, who, as he supposed, was an entire -stranger to him, and thus to obtain the esteem of every one, which -daily increased, had he possessed his princess also. But in the -midst of all his splendour he never ceased lamenting her loss, and -that he could gain no information respecting her in a country, where -he concluded she must have passed some time, since he had been -separated from her by an accident, so unfortunate for both. He might -have suspected something, if the princess Badoura had retained the -name of Camaralzaman, which she assumed with his dress. But when she -ascended the throne, she changed it for that of Armanos, in -compliment to the former king, her father-in-law. So that she was -now known only by the name of King Armanos the younger, and there -were only a few courtiers who remembered the name of Camaralzaman, -which she bore on her first arrival at the Island of Ebony. -Camaralzaman had not yet had sufficient intercourse with them to -learn this circumstance; but he might in the end have been informed -of it. - -As the princess Badoura feared that it might so happen; and as she -wished Camaralzaman to be indebted to her only for the discovery, -she resolved at length to put an end to her own torments, and to -those she well knew he suffered. In fact, she had remarked, that -whenever she conversed with him on the affairs relating to his -office, he frequently heaved deep sighs, which could only be silent -addresses to her. She herself lived in a state of constant -restraint, which she was determined to put a period to without -further delay. Besides which, the friendship of the nobles, the zeal -and affection of the people, every thing contributed to persuade her -that the crown of the Island of Ebony might be placed on his head -without any obstacle. - -The princess Badoura had no sooner formed this resolution, in -concert with the princess Haiatalnefous, than she spoke to prince -Camaralzaman, in private, on the same day: “Camaralzaman,” said -she, “I wish to converse with you on an affair, which will require -some discussion, and on which I want your advice. As I think I -cannot do it more conveniently than at night, come to me this -evening; tell your people not to wait for you, and I will provide -you with a bed.” - -Camaralzaman did not fail to repair to the palace at the hour -appointed by the princess. She took him with her into the inner -palace, and having told the chief of the eunuchs, who was preparing -to follow her, that she did not require his attendance, and that he -had only to keep the door fastened, she conducted him into a -different apartment from that of the princess Haiatalnefous, in -which she was accustomed to sleep. - -When the prince and princess were in a chamber, which contained a -bed, and had fastened the door, the princess took the talisman out -of a little box, and presented it to Camaralzaman: “It is not long -since an astrologer gave me this talisman,” said she, “and as I -know you to be well informed in every science, you perhaps can tell -me its peculiar properties.” Camaralzaman took the talisman, and -approached a light, to examine it. He no sooner recognised it, than, -with a degree of surprise which delighted the princess, he -exclaimed, “Ah, sire, your majesty asks me the properties of this -talisman? Alas! its properties are such, as to make me die with -grief and sadness, if I do not shortly find the most charming and -amiable princess that was ever beheld under heaven, to whom this -talisman belonged, and which was the cause of my losing her. The -adventure was of so singular a nature, that the recital of it would -excite your majesty’s compassion for a husband and a lover so -unfortunate as I am, if you would have the patience to listen to -it.” - -“You will relate it to me some other time,” replied the -princess, “but I am very happy,” added she, “to tell you, that -I know something concerning it: wait for me here, I will return in a -moment.” - -Saying this, the princess went into a closet, where she took off the -royal turban, and having in a few minutes put on a woman’s dress, -together with the girdle she wore on the day of their separation, -she returned to the chamber where she had left the prince. - -Camaralzaman instantly knew his dear princess. He ran to her, and -embracing her with the utmost tenderness, “Ah,” cried he, “how -much I am obliged to the king for having surprised me so -agreeably.”--“Do not expect to see the king again,” replied -the princess, embracing him in her turn, and with tears in her eyes, -“in me you behold the king: sit down, that I may explain to you -this enigma.” - -They seated themselves, and the princess related to Camaralzaman the -resolution she had formed in the plain, where they had encamped -together for the last time, when she discovered that she waited for -him in vain; in what manner she had executed it until her arrival at -the Isle of Ebony, where she had been obliged to marry the princess -Haiatalnefous, and to accept the crown, which king Armanos had -offered her in consequence of the marriage; that the princess, whose -merits she spoke of in the most exaggerated terms, had received the -declaration she had made of her sex in a favourable manner; and at -last acquainted him with the adventure of the talisman, found in one -of the jars of olives and gold dust, which she had purchased, and -which had induced her to send for him to the city of idolaters. - -When the princess Badoura had concluded, she begged the prince to -inform her by what accident the talisman had occasioned his -departure; he satisfied her curiosity, and when he had finished, he -complained to her, in an affectionate manner, of her cruelty in -making him languish so long a time. She gave him the reasons we have -already heard, after which, as the night was far advanced, they went -to bed. - -They arose the next morning, as soon as it was day; the princess no -longer wore the royal robe, but resumed her own dress, and when she -was ready, she dispatched the chief of the eunuchs, to request king -Armanos, her father-in-law, to take the trouble of coming to her -apartment. - -When king Armanos arrived, he was very much surprised to see a lady, -who was totally unknown to him; and the grand treasurer, who was not -allowed to enter the inner palace, any more than the other nobles -belonging to the court. When he had taken his seat, he inquired for -the king. - -“Sire,” replied the princess, “yesterday I was king; to-day I -am nothing more than the princess of China, the wife of the true -prince Camaralzaman, who is the true son of king Schahzaman. If your -majesty will have the patience to listen to our separate histories, -I flatter myself you will not condemn me for having conceived and -continued a deceit of so innocent a nature.” King Armanos granted -her an audience, and listened to her with the utmost astonishment, -from beginning to end. - -When she had concluded the history of their adventures, “Sire,” -added she, “although the liberty, granted by our religion to men -to have several wives, is not very agreeable to our sex, yet if your -majesty will consent to give the princess Haiatalnefous, your -daughter, in marriage to prince Camaralzaman, I will cheerfully -resign the rank and quality of queen, which properly belongs to her, -and will myself be content with the second rank. Even if this -preference were not her due, I should have insisted on her accepting -it, after the obligation I am under to her, for having so generously -kept the secret with which I entrusted her. If your majesty’s -determination depends upon her consent, I have already obtained -that, and am certain she will be happy.” - -King Armanos listened with every mark of admiration to this -discourse of the princess Badoura; and when she had finished -speaking, he turned to prince Camaralzaman, “My son,” said he to -him, “since the princess Badoura, your wife, whom I had hitherto -considered as my son-in-law, in consequence of a deception which I -know not how to complain of, has offered to share your bed with my -daughter, I have nothing to do but to inquire if you also are -willing to marry her, and will accept the crown, which the princess -Badoura would well deserve to wear for the rest of her life, if she -did not prefer resigning it through her love for -you.”--“Sire,” replied Camaralzaman, “however strong my -desire of seeing the king, my father, may be, the obligations I owe -to your majesty and to the princess Haiatalnefous are so great and -powerful, that I cannot refuse you any thing.” - -Camaralzaman was proclaimed king, and married the same day with the -greatest magnificence; and he was thoroughly satisfied with the -beauty, wit, and affection of the princess Haiatalnefous. - -The two queens continued to live together in the same friendship and -union which they had hitherto done, and were each well contented -with the equality which king Camaralzaman observed in his conduct -towards them, in sharing his bed with them alternately. - -They each presented him with a son in the same year, and nearly at -the same period, and the birth of the two princes was celebrated by -public rejoicings. Camaralzaman gave the name of Amgiad, or “the -most glorious,” to the first, whom the queen Badoura had borne, -and that of Assad, or “the most happy,” to him whom the queen -Haiatalnefous had brought into the world. - - - - -THE HISTORY -OF PRINCE AMGIAD, AND OF PRINCE ASSAD. - - -These two princes were brought up with great care. And when they -were of a proper age, they had each the same governor, and the same -masters in all those sciences and branches of the polite arts which -king Camaralzaman wished them to be skilled in. The same person also -taught them both the same personal exercises. The great regard they -showed for each other, even from their infancy, produced a certain -uniformity in all their thoughts and actions, which in itself tended -still to augment their friendship. - -When they were far enough advanced in years for each of them to have -a separate house and establishment, they were so strongly attached -to each other, that they requested their father to suffer them to -have but one between them. They obtained their wishes; and in this -manner they had the same officers appointed for each, the same -attendants, the same equipage, the same apartment, and the same -table. Camaralzaman indeed insensibly placed so implicit a -confidence both in their ability and their ideas of rectitude, that, -when they were about nineteen years old, he did not hesitate to -appoint them alternately to preside at the council, whenever he was -for a few days engaged in hunting. - -As these two princes were of equal beauty, both in face and person, -and had always been esteemed so from their infancy, the two queens -felt an almost incredible attachment to them; yet it nevertheless -happened, that the princess Badoura had a greater affection for -Assad, the son of queen Haiatalnefous, than she had for Amgiad, her -own son: and in the same manner queen Haiatalnefous was much fonder -of Amgiad than she was of her own son Assad. - -The queens each thought at first that this affection only proceeded -from the great friendship they had for each other. But as the -princes advanced in age, this regard, which commenced in friendship, -changed to a more tender feeling, and at length became the most -violent love. The princes, indeed, appeared in their eyes possessed -of so many accomplishments, that they were absolutely blinded and -led away by their charms. All the infamy of their passion was well -known to them, and they made the greatest efforts to resist it: but -the freedom and familiarity with which they saw the princes every -day, and the continued habit they always had of admiring them from -their earliest infancy, of praising them, and of caressing them, -which it was scarcely in their power to break themselves of, -inflamed their passions to such a degree, that they could get no -rest, and lost all their appetite. To heighten their misfortune, as -well as that of the princes, the latter had not, so much were they -ever accustomed to their manners, the slightest suspicion of this -hateful and horrid attachment. - -As the two queens had not entrusted each other with the secret of -their passion, and as neither of them had the audacity openly to -make a declaration of it in person to the prince whom she loved, -they both agreed, though unknown to each other, to explain it by -letter. And in order to execute this fatal design, they took -advantage of the absence of king Camaralzaman, who was gone for a -few days on a hunting party. - -The day after the king’s departure, prince Amgiad presided at the -council, and was employed two or three hours in the afternoon in -hearing complaints and administering justice. As he came out from -the council, and was going back to the palace, an eunuch took him -aside, and gave him a letter from queen Haiatalnefous. Amgiad -immediately opened it, and read its contents with the greatest -degree of horror. “What,” cried he to the eunuch, the moment he -had perused it, and drawing his sabre, “is this the fidelity you -owe to your king and master?” And, in saying this, he struck off -his head. - -He had no sooner done this, than Amgiad went in the greatest -possible rage to find his mother, queen Badoura, and with an air -that plainly showed his anger, held out the letter to her, and -informed her of the contents; first telling her from whom it came. -Instead, however, of listening to him, the queen herself began to be -angry. “Be assured, my son,” she replied, “that what you tell -me is nothing but a calumnious falsehood. Queen Haiatalnefous is -both prudent and wise, and indeed I consider it a great act of -boldness in you to speak against her with so much insolence.” To -this speech of the queen, the prince said, “You are both equally -wicked, and were it not for the respect I owe to the king, my -father, this day should be the last which Haiatalnefous has to -live.” - -From the manner in which prince Amgiad conducted himself, queen -Badoura might easily judge what she had to expect from prince Assad, -who was equally virtuous, and who would not, therefore, receive the -similar declaration more favorably, which she intended to make to -him. This, however, did not prevent her from pursuing her detestable -plan; the next day, therefore, she wrote a letter to him, which she -entrusted to an old woman, who had free admission into the palace. - -This old woman chose the moment that prince Assad left the council, -where he went to preside in turn, as a proper opportunity to execute -her commission. The prince took the letter, and without even giving -himself time to finish the perusal of it, he was so transported with -rage, that he drew his sabre, and punished the old woman as she -deserved. He then ran to the apartment of queen Haiatalnefous, his -mother, with the letter in his hand. He was going to show it her, -but she did not give him time, either for that, or even to open his -lips. “I know what you want of me,” she cried, “but you are -equally as impertinent as your brother Amgiad. Go, retire; and never -again appear in my presence.” - -Assad was in the utmost astonishment at these words, which he was -totally unprepared for: and they put him into so violent a rage, -that he was upon the point of showing the most direful marks of it; -he, however, had the resolution to restrain himself, and retired -without reply, lest any thing should escape him, unworthy of his own -greatness of soul. As prince Amgiad had not mentioned his having -received a letter the day before, Assad went to his brother to chide -him for his silence, and to mingle his own grief with his; for from -what his own mother said, he easily conjectured she was not less -criminal than queen Badoura. - -The two queens were driven almost to desperation at finding the -princes possessed of so much virtue, which, instead of bringing them -back to a sense of their duty, made them, in fact, renounce every -natural and maternal feeling. They consulted together how they -should be able to destroy their sons. They made their women believe, -that the princes had themselves endeavoured to violate their -persons; and attempted to pass off this trick for a reality by the -tears they shed, as well as the lamentations and invectives they -uttered. They went and slept in the same bed, as if the resistance -they thus pretended to have made, had driven them to the greatest -distress. - -When king Camaralzaman returned the next day from the chase, he was -in so great astonishment at finding the two queens in bed together, -bathed in tears, and in a condition they so well knew how to feign, -that it excited his compassion. He eagerly inquired of them what had -happened to them. - -To this question the cunning queens only answered by redoubling -their sighs and groans, when, at length, after the greatest -entreaty, queen Badoura broke silence, and said, “Considering, -sire, the deep yet proper grief with which we are afflicted, we -ought not even to expose ourselves to the light of the sun, after -the outrage which the princes, your sons, with a brutality almost -without example, have attempted. By a conspiracy, altogether -unworthy of their illustrious birth, they have had the boldness and -insolence during your absence to attempt our honour. We entreat your -majesty not to make any further inquiries, our grief is sufficient -to explain the rest.” - -The king then ordered the two princes to be called, and would -absolutely have killed them with his own hand, if old king Armanos, -his father-in-law, who happened to be present, had not prevented -him. “What, my son,” he cried out, “are you going to do? Do -you wish to embrue your hands, nay your very palace, with your own -blood? There are other means of punishing them, if they are really -guilty of any crime.” In this manner he endeavoured to appease -him, and entreated him thoroughly to examine, whether it was quite -certain they had committed the crime which was laid to their charge. - -It was no difficult task for Camaralzaman so far to get the better -of his rage as to refrain from being the executioner of his own -children. Having, however, ordered them to be arrested, he desired -an emir, called Giondar, to come in the evening to him; and he then -commanded him to conduct the princes to the outside of the city, in -what part, and to any distance he pleased, and there to take their -lives. As a proof also of having executed the orders he thus -received, Giondar was not to return without their clothes. - -Giondar continued travelling the whole night; and the next morning, -as he got off his horse, he informed the princes, with tears in his -eyes, of the order he had received. “This command, princes,” -said he to them, “is most cruel; and to me it is a mortification -of the most painful kind, to have been chosen for the executioner. I -wish to God that I could avoid it.”--“Do your duty,” replied -they, “we know well enough that you are not the cause of our -death; and sincerely pardon you.” In saying this they embraced and -took an eternal farewell of each other with so much tenderness and -affection, that it was a long time before they could separate. -Prince Assad was then the first, who prepared himself to receive his -death from the hands of Giondar. “Begin with me,” said he, -“that I may not have the grief of seeing my dear brother Amgiad -expire.” Amgiad opposed this plan, and Giondar was unable, without -again renewing his tears, to witness their amiable contest, which so -evidently proved the sincerity and strength of their mutual -affection. - -This interesting dispute was at last terminated by their entreating -Giondar to bind them both together, and place them in such a way, -that they might both, as nearly as possible, receive their death at -the same moment. “Do not refuse,” they said to him, “to afford -two unfortunate brothers the consolation of dying together, who -have, not excepting even their innocence in this affair, from their -earliest infancy, possessed every thing in common.” Giondar -granted the two princes what they wished. He bound them, and having -placed them, as he thought, in the most convenient manner to strike -off both their heads at one blow, he asked them if they had any -request to make to him before their death. “There is only one -thing,” answered the princes, “which we wish you to do; and that -is, to assure the king, our father, upon your return, that we die -innocent: but that we nevertheless do not impute to him the crime of -shedding our blood. We know, indeed, that he is not acquainted with -the truth of what we are accused.” Giondar promised not to fail -doing what they desired, and at the same instant drew out his -scimitar; his horse, who was fastened to a tree, alarmed at this -action, and also at the glittering of the blade, broke his bridle, -and began to gallop over the country at full speed. - -This horse was very valuable, and also very richly caparisoned, and -Giondar did not at all like the thoughts of losing him. Vexed, -therefore, at this accident, instead of cutting off the heads of the -princes, he threw down his scimitar and ran after his horse, -endeavouring to catch him. The horse, who was both vigorous and -playful, galloped about for some time just before Giondar, and led -him, by the pursuit, close to a wood, into which he ran. The emir -followed him; when the neighing of the horse disturbed a lion, who -was asleep. The lion instantly roused himself, but instead of -pursuing the horse, he ran directly at Giondar, as soon as he -perceived him. - -He then thought no more of his horse, but was in the greatest -distress how to save his own life. He endeavoured to avoid the -attack of the lion, who never lost sight of him, and kept pursuing -him among the trees. “God,” said he to himself in this -extremity, “would not have inflicted this punishment upon me, if -the princes, whom I have been ordered to kill, were not innocent. -Unfortunately, too, I have not my scimitar to defend myself with.” - -During the absence of Giondar, the two princes experienced the most -burning thirst, brought on by the fear of death, which they felt, -notwithstanding their manly and generous resolution to submit to the -cruel order of their father. Prince Amgiad then observed to his -brother that they were not far from a spring of water, and proposed -to him to unbind themselves and go and drink. “It is not worth the -trouble, my brother,” said Assad, “to quench our thirst for the -few moments we have to live: we shall have to support it only for a -short time longer.” Without, however, paying any attention to this -speech, Amgiad unbound both himself and his brother, though against -the inclination of the latter. They went to the spring; and when -they had thus refreshed themselves they heard the roaring of the -lion, accompanied by the most piercing cries, issue from the wood -into which Giondar had run after his horse. Amgiad instantly took up -the scimitar which Giondar had thrown down. “Brother,” he cried -out, “let us hasten to the assistance of the unfortunate Giondar; -perhaps we may arrive in time to deliver him from the danger he -seems to be in.” - -The two princes lost no time; and they arrived at the very instant -in which the lion had pulled Giondar down to the ground. No sooner -did the animal observe prince Amgiad approaching with his scimitar -in his hand, than he let his prey go and ran at him with the -greatest fury. The prince waited to receive him with intrepidity and -coolness, and gave him a blow, with so much strength and skill, that -the lion fell instantly dead at his feet. - -As soon as Giondar perceived that he was indebted for his life to -the two princes, he threw himself at their feet, and thanked them -for the great favor and assistance they had shown him, in a manner -that evinced the strongest gratitude. “Princes,” said he to them -when he got up, while his tears fell upon their hands, “God -forbid, that I should ever attempt to take your lives after the -essential help you have afforded me in saving my own. It shall never -be said, that the emir Giondar was capable of such black -ingratitude.” - -“The service we have done you,” replied the princes, “ought by -no means to prevent you from executing your orders. Go and take your -horse; and let us return to the spot where you left us.” They had -now no difficulty in catching the horse, whose alarm and spirit was -much abated, and who stopped of himself. In spite, however, of every -thing they could urge to Giondar, as they were returning towards the -spring, either by entreaty or prayer, they could not persuade him to -be the instrument of their death. “The only thing that I take the -liberty to ask of you,” said he, “and which I beg you not to -refuse, is to accommodate yourselves as well as you can with my -clothes between you, and to let me have yours; and then to save -yourselves at such a distance, that the king, your father, may never -again even hear your names mentioned.” - -The princes at length complied with all his wishes; and after having -given him both their dresses, they put on as much as he could spare -of his clothes. Giondar then obliged them to take whatever money he -had about him, and departed. - -After the emir had left the princes, he passed through the wood, -where he dipped their clothes in the blood of the lion, and then -continued his way to the capital of the Isle of Ebony. On his -arrival, king Camaralzaman asked him if he had faithfully executed -the orders he had received. “Sire,” replied Giondar, presenting -the bloody habits of the two princes to him, “behold the -proofs.”--“Inform me,” said the king, “in what manner they -behaved on suffering the punishment I ordered to be inflicted on -them.”--“They received it, sire,” answered Giondar, “with -the most exemplary fortitude; and with such perfect resignation to -the decrees of God, as fully proved the sincerity of their belief in -their religion. Above all, they showed towards your majesty the -greatest respect, and most entire submission to your order for their -deaths. “We die innocent,” they exclaimed, “but we do not -murmur at our fate. We receive our death from the hands of God, and -we heartily forgive the king our father. We well know he is ignorant -of the truth!” Camaralzaman was sensibly affected at the account -given by Giondar. He then thought he would examine the clothes of -his sons, and began by feeling in the pockets of Amgiad; where he -found a letter, which he opened and read. No sooner did he discover, -not only by the handwriting, but by a small lock of hair which was -within side, that it came from queen Haiatalnefous, than he -absolutely groaned aloud. He then, with trembling hands, examined -those of prince Assad, and finding there the letter of queen -Badoura, his astonishment had such a violent and sudden effect upon -him, that he fainted. - -Never did any one show greater signs of grief than did Camaralzaman -when he recovered his senses. “What have you been guilty of, O -barbarous father,” he exclaimed, “you have even destroyed your -own offspring. Innocent sons! could not your sense, your modesty, -your obedience, your entire submission to his wishes, nor even your -virtues, defend you from his rage? Blind misguided parent, do you -think that the earth ought even to bear you after so execrable a -crime? I have brought this abomination on myself; and it is the -punishment which God has inflicted upon me for not persevering in my -hatred against women, which I possessed from my very birth. I will -not, ye detestable women, wash away your crime with your blood; no, -you are not even worthy of my anger: but may heaven itself pour -destruction on my head if ever I see you again!” - -The king kept his oath most religiously. He ordered, on the very -same day, the two queens to be each conveyed to a separate -apartment, where they always remained well guarded; and, during the -rest of his life he never went near them. - -While Camaralzaman was thus afflicting himself for the loss of the -princes, his sons, of which he was himself the cause by his too -precipitate conduct, the two princes wandered about the most desert -places; endeavouring to avoid every trace of human habitations, for -fear of meeting with any living being. They supported themselves -upon herbs and wild fruits, and drank only bad rain water, which -they found in the excavations and holes of rocks. And when night -approached, they slept only by turns, in order to guard against wild -beasts. - -At the end of about a month, they came to the foot of a dreadfully -steep mountain, composed entirely of a sort of black stone, and, as -it appeared to them, quite inaccessible. At. length, however, they -perceived a path; but they found it so narrow and difficult, that -they durst not attempt to pursue it. Through the hopes of -discovering another less rugged and steep, they kept coasting, as it -were, round the foot of the mountain, for about five days. All the -trouble, however, that they took, was to no purpose; and, they were -compelled to return to the same path they had at first neglected. It -appeared to them so absolutely impracticable, that they took a long -time to consult whether they should attempt to ascend it or not. -They, at last, encouraged each other, and began to mount. - -The farther they advanced the higher and steeper the mountain seemed -to be; and they were more than once tempted to abandon their -enterprise. As soon as either perceived that the other was tired, he -stopped; and they took breath together. Sometimes they were both so -fatigued, that all their strength failed them; they then gave up all -thoughts of proceeding, and expected to die through weariness, and -the consequences of exertion. Then again in a little time, as their -strength returned, they acquired fresh courage, animated each other, -and resumed their way. - -In spite, however, of all their diligence, their perseverance, and -their exertions, they were unable to reach the summit while it was -day. Night overtook them, and prince Assad found himself so fatigued -and worn out, that he suddenly stopped. “My dear brother,” he -said to Amgiad, “I can go no farther; but must die in this -spot.”--“Let us rest ourselves here,” replied Amgiad, stopping -at the same time, “as long as you please, and get fresh courage -and strength. You may observe, that we have not much farther to -ascend; and the moon will favor our progress.” - -After having rested for above half an hour, Assad made a fresh -effort; and they arrived at the summit of the mountain, where they -again sat down for some time. Amgiad was the first to rise, and -going a little forward, he observed a tree at a short distance. He -went up, and found it to be a pomegranate-tree, the branches of -which were almost borne down with the weight of the fruit. A -fountain, or small stream, also washed the foot of the tree. He -instantly ran to inform Assad of this good news, and led him to the -border of the fountain under the tree. They refreshed themselves -very much by eating a pomegranate, and then fell asleep. - -The next morning when the princes awoke, Amgiad said to Assad, -“Let us proceed, brother, on our way; I see this mountain is much -less rugged and steep on this side than it was on the other, and we -have now only to descend.” Assad, however, was so fatigued with -the labors of the preceding day, that it required at least three -days for him entirely to recover. They passed this time in -conversation, as they had done on similar occasions; all their -discourse, however, constantly related to the excessive and -unnatural passions of their mothers, which had reduced them to so -deplorable a state. “But,” said they, “if God has declared -himself in our favor in so evident a manner, we ought to bear our -misfortunes with patience, and to console ourselves with the hope -that they will be one day at an end.” - -The three days passed away, and the brothers then pursued their -journey. As the mountain on this side did not form one regular -descent, but was broken by some considerable surface of even ground -several times before they could arrive at its base, it took them -five days to reach the plain. They at length discovered a large -city, the sight of which exceedingly delighted them, “Do you not -think, my brother,” said Amgiad to Assad, “that it would be -better for you to remain in some place without the town, where, on -my return, I shall be able to find you, while I go and learn in what -country we are, what is the name of the place, and what language is -spoken there? When I come back, too, I will bring some fresh -provisions with me. It is, therefore, I think, much the best that we -do not go together, in case there should be any danger.”--“I -highly approve of your opinion,” replied Assad, “it is both -prudent and wise; but, my dear brother, if one of us must separate -himself from the other for this purpose, I will never suffer you to -be the person; you must permit me to undertake it. What agony should -I not endure, were any accident to happen to you!”--“But, -brother,” answered Amgiad, “ought not I to fear the very same -thing on your account which you do for me? I entreat you, therefore, -to suffer me to go; and do you wait patiently for me in this -place.”--“I will never permit it,” said Assad, “and if any -thing should happen to me, I shall, at least, have the consolation -of knowing that you are in safety.” Amgiad was at length obliged -to consent, and he sat down under some trees at the foot of the -mountain. - -Prince Assad took some money out of the purse, of which Amgiad had -the charge, and continued his journey to the town. He had not walked -far in the first street he came to, before he met with a venerable -looking old man, well dressed, and with a cane in his hand. As he -did not doubt but that he was a person of some consequence, and, -therefore, one not likely to deceive him, he accosted him. “I -shall be much obliged to you, sir,” said Assad, “if you will -inform me which is the way to the market-place.” - -The old man looked at the prince with a smiling countenance, and -said to him, “My son, you seem to be a stranger; otherwise surely -you would not put that question to me.”--“Yes, sir,” replied -Assad, “I am indeed a stranger.”--“You are welcome,” added -the old man, “and our country ought to esteem itself highly -honored, that a young man of such an appearance as yours, takes the -trouble to come and visit it. Pray inform me what business takes you -to the public market-place?”--“Sir,” replied Assad, “it is -near two months since my brother and I set out from a very distant -country. We have been all this time on our journey, and arrived here -only yesterday. My brother was so much fatigued with the length of -the way, that he remains at the bottom of the mountain, while I am -come to inquire about, and purchase some provisions for us both.” - -“You could not possibly have arrived, my son,” replied the old -man, “more opportunely, and I heartily rejoice at it, from my -regard for you and your brother. I have this very day given a great -entertainment to many of my friends, and there is a great quantity -of provisions left untouched by any one. Come home, therefore, with -me, and I will give you abundance to eat, and when you shall have -satisfied yourself, I will add as much more as will be sufficient -for yourself and brother for many days. You have no occasion, -therefore, to take the trouble of going and spending your money in -the market; travellers, you know, have seldom too much. Besides, -while you are satisfying your hunger, I will inform you of all the -peculiarities and customs of our city, which I am better able to do -than most people. A person like me, who has been invested with all -the most honorable offices with distinction and credit to himself, -ought not to be ignorant of them. You may, indeed, think yourself -particularly fortunate in having addressing yourself to me, in -preference to any other person; for I am truly sorry to say, that -all our inhabitants are not like myself; some of them, I assure you, -are very wicked. Come then, and I will show you the difference -between an honest man, as I am, and those who boast of their -character without possessing any qualification to entitle them to a -good one.”--“I am infinitely obliged to you,” answered prince -Assad, “for the kindness and good intentions you express for me. I -put myself entirely under your protection, and am ready to go -wherever you please.” - -The old man continued walking on, with the prince by his side, -laughing in his sleeve all the time; and for fear Assad should -perceive it, he conversed with him on many subjects, that he might -continue to have the same good opinion of him he at first had -formed. Among other things, he said, “I must confess to you, that -it is a fortunate circumstance, that you addressed me in preference -to any other person. I thank God that I have met you; you will know -why I say this so earnestly when you have got to my house.” - -The old man at length arrived at home, and introduced Assad into a -large room, where he saw forty old men, sitting in a circle, round a -lighted fire, to which they were paying their adorations. Prince -Assad felt not less horror at thus seeing human beings, so far -deprived of their reason, as to offer that reverence to the creature -in preference to the Creator, than he experienced fear at seeing -himself so deceived, and in such an abominable and wicked place. - -While the prince stood quite motionless in the spot where he was, -the artful old man, who had brought him, saluted the other forty. -“Fervent and devout adorers of fire,” said he to them, “this -is a most happy day for us. Where is Gazban?” added he, “let him -come in.” As these words were spoken in a loud tone of voice, a -black who heard them, without the room, immediately made his -appearance. This black, who was in fact Gasban, no sooner perceived -the disconsolate Assad, than he understood for what purpose he was -called. He ran towards him, and with a blow that he gave him, -knocked him down; he then bound his arms with the most surprising -quickness. He had no sooner done this, than the old man called out, -“Carry him below, and do not fail to tell my daughters, Bostana -and Cavama, to take particular care, and give him enough of the -bastinado every day, with only one piece of bread night and morning -for him to subsist upon. This will be quite enough for his mere -existence till the departure of the vessel for the blue sea, and the -mountain of fire; we will offer him as a most acceptable sacrifice -to our divinity.” - -The old man had no sooner given these cruel orders, that Gazban -seized Assad in the most rough and brutal manner, and made him go -down under the room, and after leading him through several doors, -they came to a dungeon, into which they descended by twenty steps, -and in which the black fastened him by his legs to a large and very -heavy chain. As soon as he had done this, Gazban went to inform the -old man’s daughters; their father had, however, already spoken to -them himself. “My daughters,” he said to them, “go down below, -and bestow the bastinado in the manner you know that every -mussulman, whom I make captive, ought to receive it; and do not -spare him. You cannot, by any better means, evince, that you are -true worshippers of fire.” - -Bostana and Cavama, having been brought up with the greatest -detestation of all mussulmen, accepted this office with joy. They -immediately went down to the dungeon, and having stripped Assad, -they beat him so inhumanly, that he was covered with blood, and at -last fainted. After this merciless action, they placed a piece of -bread and a jar of water by his side, and left him. It was a long -time before the prince returned to his senses, and he then only shed -torrents of tears, in deploring his miserable fate; consoling -himself, however, with the idea, that this misfortune had not -happened to his brother Amgiad. - -In the mean time, prince Amgiad waited for his brother at the foot -of the mountain till sun-set with the greatest impatience. When he -found, that one, two, three, and even four hours of the night were -gone, and that Assad did not make his appearance, he began to be in -the greatest agitation, and even despair. He passed the night in -this most distressing and anxious state, and as soon as day -appeared, he set out towards the town. He was at first very much -astonished at seeing so few mussulmen. He stopped the first he met, -and asked him what was the name of the place. He was informed, it -was called the city of the Magi, because the Magi, who were -idolaters of fire, resided in great numbers in it, and that there -were very few mussulmen. He inquired also how far they reckoned it -to the Isle of Ebony; when he was told for answer, that by sea it -was about four months voyage, and a year’s journey by land. The -person, to whom he had addressed himself, after having satisfied him -in these particulars, abruptly left him, and continued his road, as -he was in haste. - -Amgiad, who had not been more than six weeks in coming from the Isle -of Ebony with his brother Assad, could not comprehend how they had -come so far in so short a time, unless it were by enchantment, or -that the road over the mountain which they had traversed was much -shorter, though not at all frequented, on account of its difficulty -and danger. In walking about the town, he stopped at the shop of a -tailor, whom, by his dress, he knew to be a mussulman, as he had -also known the former person whom he had accosted. After having made -his compliments to him, he sat down and informed him of the cause of -the great distress he was in. - -When prince Amgiad had finished, the tailor said to him, “If your -brother has fallen into the hands of any one of the Magi, you may -make up your mind never to see him again. He is gone past recovery; -and I advise you to console yourself, and only to endeavour to -preserve yourself from the same disgraceful fate. To assist you in -this, you may, if you please, remain with me; and I will inform you -of all the cunning and artful tricks of the Magi, in order that you -may be upon your guard against them, when you go out.” Amgiad was -greatly afflicted at the loss of his brother. He accepted the -tailor’s offer, and thanked him a thousand times for the kindness -he showed him. - -This prince did not go out of the house for a whole month except in -company with the tailor. At the end of this time he risked going -alone to the bath. As he returned, he passed through a street, where -he did not see a single person, except a lady whom he met, and who -came up to him. - -This lady, observing him to be a handsome and well-made young man, -and fresh from the bath, lifted up her veil, and asked him with a -smiling countenance where he was going; casting at the same time a -most enticing glance on him. Amgiad was unable to resist the -appearance of so many charms, and in reply said, “I am going to my -own house, or to yours, whichever you like best.”--“Sir,” -answered the lady, with an engaging smile, “ladies of my rank and -disposition never carry men home with them, they only accompany them -to their houses.” - -Amgiad was in the greatest embarrassment at this answer, which he -did not in the least expect. He was afraid of taking the liberty to -carry her to the house of his host, who would be much scandalized at -it, and he should thus run the risk also of losing his protection, -which was so necessary in a town where so many precautions were to -be taken. The little experience, also, he had in the town, made him -ignorant of any place to which he might carry her; he could not, -however, resolve to let his good fortune escape him. In this -uncertain state he determined to leave every thing to chance; and -without answering the lady a word, he went on, and she followed him. - -Prince Amgiad walked on for a long time from street to street, from -one cross way to another, and from square to square. They were at -last both greatly fatigued with walking so much, when they came down -a street, which was terminated by a large door, belonging to a house -of considerable appearance, with a bench, or seat, on each side of -it. Amgiad sat down on one to take breath, and the lady, even more -tired than he, sat down on the other. - -“Is this your house?” said she to prince Amgiad, as soon as he -was seated.--“You see it is, madam,” replied the prince.--“Why -do you not then open the door?” added she, “What do you wait -for?”--“My charming creature,” answered Amgiad, “it is -because I have not the key. I left it with my slave, to whom I gave -some commission; and he is not yet returned from executing it. And -as I ordered him after that to go and purchase some provisions for a -good dinner, I am afraid that we shall have to wait a considerable -time.” - -The difficulty in which the prince found himself in thus endeavoring -to complete his adventure, began to damp his passion, and make him -repent of his enterprise. He therefore made use of that evasive -pretence, in hopes that the lady would take offence at it, and in -her anger would leave him, to go and seek her fortune in some other -place; but he was mistaken. “What an impertinent slave is -yours,” said she, “to make you wait thus; I will chastise him -myself as he deserves, if you do not punish him well when he comes -back. It is not indeed quite the thing for me to remain here alone -at the door with a man.” Having said this, she got up, and took a -large stone, in order to break the lock, which, according to the -custom of that country, was made of wood, and not very strong. - -Amgiad knew not what to do, nor how to prevent her intention. -“Madam,” he cried, “what are you going to do? Do me the favor -to have a little more patience.”--“What are you afraid of?” -said she. “Is not the house your own? There is no great harm in -breaking a wooden lock; and its place is easily supplied.” She -then broke the lock; and as soon as the door was open, she entered -and walked on before. When the prince saw the house broken open, he -gave himself up for lost. He hesitated whether he should go in, or -endeavour to make his escape in order to free himself from a danger -which seemed to him to be almost inevitable: and he was on the point -of determining upon the latter plan, when the lady came back and -found he was not going in. “What are you about,” she said, -“that you do not come into your own house?”--“I am looking, -madam,” he answered, “to see if my slave is returning; because I -am afraid we shall find nothing ready.”--“Come, come,” added -she, “we can wait much better within, than standing here in -expectation of his arrival.” - -The prince, though much against his will, then went into a very -large and handsome paved court. From this they ascended by a few -steps to a grand vestibule, where both he and the lady perceived a -large open room handsomely furnished, and one table set out with -numerous excellent dishes; another, covered with a variety of fine -fruits; and a sideboard, well supplied with wine. When Amgiad saw -these preparations, he no longer doubted that his destruction was -near at hand. “It is all over with you, poor Amgiad,” said he to -himself: “you will not long survive your dear brother Assad.” -The lady, on the contrary, was delighted with this agreeable sight. -“What, sir!” she cried, “you were fearful that nothing was -ready; and you may now perceive, that your slave has even exceeded -his orders, and done more than you thought? But, if I do not deceive -myself, these preparations are for some other lady, and not intended -for me. Well, never mind; let her come; I promise you, not to be -jealous at it. The only favor that I ask of you is, that you will -suffer me to wait upon you both.” - -Amgiad could not help laughing at the pleasantry of the lady, -notwithstanding the melancholy and painful sensations he felt. -“Madam,” said he, totally absorbed in the afflicting reflections -that preyed upon his mind, “I assure you, that you are much -mistaken in your conjectures: this is only my common fare.” As he -could not resolve to sit down at a table that had not been prepared -for him, he was going to a sofa, but the lady prevented him. “What -are you about?” she cried; “after having gone into the bath, you -ought to be almost famished with hunger. Come, let us sit down at -the table, and eat and enjoy ourselves.” - -The prince was obliged to do as the lady liked. They therefore sat -down, and began to eat. After the first mouthful or two, she took a -bottle and glass, and poured out some wine. She drank the first -glass to the health of Amgiad. Having done this, she filled the same -glass again, and presented it to the prince, who did the same. - -The more he reflected upon the adventure, the more astonished was he -at finding not only that the master of the house did not make his -appearance, but that not a single domestic was to be discovered, -although the house itself was so handsome, and so richly furnished. -“My happiness and good fortune will be extraordinary indeed,” -said he to himself, “if the master should not make his appearance -at all, and I should safely get out of this intrigue.” While these -thoughts continued to be uppermost in his mind, as well as others of -a more distressing nature, the lady continued to eat and to drink, -from time to time obliging him also to do the same. They were -already come to the fruit, when the master of the house arrived. - -It was, in fact, the master of the horse to the king of the Magi, -and whose name was Bahadar. This house belonged to him, but he had -another, in which he commonly lived. He only made use of this, to -receive three or four chosen friends in, and for this purpose every -thing was brought from his other; and this was exactly what had been -done that day by some of his people, who had left it only a few -moments before Amgiad and the lady came there. - -Bahadar himself arrived without any attendants, and in disguise, as -was his usual custom, and he came rather before the time on which he -had appointed to meet his friends. He was not a little surprised at -finding the door of his house forced open. He went in, therefore, -without making any noise; and as he heard some people talking and -enjoying themselves in the eating room, he crept round by the wall, -and put his head half into the room, to see who they were. And as he -observed only a young man and a female, who were eating at the -table, which had been prepared for himself and his friends, and that -the mischief they had done was not so great as he expected, he -resolved to divert himself with them. - -The lady, who had her back turned towards the door, did not perceive -Bahadar; but Amgiad saw him the very first instant, while he was in -the act of drinking. At sight of him, he instantly changed colour, -and fixed his eyes upon Bahadar, who made him a sign not to say a -word, but to come and speak to him. Amgiad drank his glass, and got -up. “Where are you going?” inquired the lady. “Remain here a -moment, I beg of you, madam,” replied he, “I will be back -instantly: a trifling business obliges me to go out.” The prince -found Bahadar waiting for him in the vestibule; and they both went -down into the court, that the lady might not hear their conversation. - -When they were got into the court, Bahadar asked the prince by what -means he came with the lady to his house; and why he had forced the -door? “Sir,” replied Amgiad, “I must in your eyes appear very -much to blame: but if you will have the patience to hear my story, I -hope you will be convinced of my innocence.” He then went on, and -related to Bahadar, in a few words, every thing as it exactly was, -without disguising a single circumstance: and to prove to him that -he was unable to commit so disgraceful an action as that of breaking -open a house, he did not even conceal from him that he was a prince, -or his motives for coming to the city of the Magi. - -Bahadar, who was passionately fond of foreigners, was highly -delighted at having an opportunity of obliging one of so high a rank -and illustrious a quality as Amgiad. In fact, his air, his manners, -his chosen and correct conversation, left no doubt of the perfect -truth of his account. “Prince,” said he, “I am excessively -happy, at thus finding an occasion of obliging you, from so -accidental, singular, and pleasant a meeting as the present. So far -from disturbing your festivity, I shall take a great pleasure in -contributing all in my power to your satisfaction. Before I inform -you any further on this subject, I must tell you, that I am master -of the horse to the king, and that my name is Bahadar. I have -another house, in which I commonly live, and this is the place where -I sometimes come to enjoy myself without any ceremony with my -friends. You have made your lady believe that you have a slave, -though in fact you have none. I will be that slave; and that I may -not distress you by this proposal, nor you wish to excuse yourself -from having it so, I repeat again to you, that I particularly wish -it, and you shall hereafter know my motives for this conduct. - -“Go then, and again take your place, and continue to divert -yourself; and when, after some time, I shall return, and shall -present myself before you, dressed like a slave, quarrel well with -me, and do not be afraid even of striking me. I will attend upon you -all the time you are at table, and even till night. You shall both -sleep here; and to-morrow morning you shall send the lady back in -the most honorable manner. After this, I will endeavor to render you -some services of greater consequence. Go, then, and lose no time.” -Amgiad wished to make some reply, but Bahadar would not suffer it, -and compelled him to go back directly to the lady. - -Amgiad had scarcely returned to the room where he had left the lady, -than the friends whom Bahadar had invited arrived. He requested -them, as a favor, to excuse him from entertaining them at that time; -giving them to understand, that they would approve of his conduct -when they should know the cause, and which they should be informed -of the first opportunity. They were no sooner gone, than he went -out, and procured the habit of a slave, in which he dressed himself. - -The prince rejoined the lady, highly delighted at having thus -fortunately stumbled, as it were, upon a house belonging to a person -of so much consequence, and one who treated him in this unpleasant -situation so kindly. “Madam,” said he, as he again sat down to -the table, “I beg you a thousand pardons for my incivility, and -the bad humor in which I felt myself on account of my slave’s -absence. The rascal shall pay for it well; I will let him see, that -he shall not be absent so long a time with impunity.”--“Do not -let this disturb you,” replied the lady, “it will only be so -much the worse for him. If he commits any faults, he will suffer for -it. Trouble yourself no more about him, but let us only think of -enjoying ourselves.” - -They continued at table with much more pleasure and delight than -before, because Amgiad was no longer uneasy at any consequence that -might have arisen from the indiscretion of the lady, who ought not -to have forced the door, although it had even belonged to Amgiad. He -did not now feel himself in a worse humor than the lady herself; and -while they continued to drink more than they eat, they amused -themselves with saying a thousand pleasant and humorous things, till -the arrival of Bahadar, in his disguise. - -He came in like a slave, who was much mortified at finding his -master with company before he returned. He immediately threw himself -at his feet, and kissing the ground, begged his pardon for being so -late. And when he got up, he stood still with his hands crossed, and -his eyes cast down, waiting for what he was commanded to do. -“Impudent fellow,” cried Amgiad, in a tone and manner of voice -as if he were in a great passion, “tell me, if there is in the -whole world a worse slave than yourself? Where have you been? What -have you been about, not to come back till this time of -day?”--“My lord,” replied Bahadar, “I entreat your pardon; I -am now come from executing the orders you gave me; and I did not -think you would return so early.” “You are a rascal,” said the -prince, “and I will give you a good beating, to teach you not to -tell falsehoods, and be so negligent of your duty.” He then got -up, took a stick, and gave him three or four very slight blows, -after which he returned to the table. - -The lady, however, was not satisfied with this trifling punishment. -She got up in her turn, and taking the stick, she beat Bahadar so -unmercifully, that the tears came into his eyes. Amgiad was -excessively hurt at the liberty which she allowed herself; and the -manner in which she had treated one of the first officers of the -king. He kept calling out that she had beaten him quite enough, but -she nevertheless went on striking him. “Let me alone,” she -cried, “I wish to satisfy myself, and teach him not to be absent -so long another time.” She continued to beat him with so much -violence, that Amgiad was forced to get up, and take the stick out -of her hands; which he had some difficulty in doing. When she found -she could not longer beat him, she sat down in her place, and kept -saying a thousand abusive things to him. - -Bahadar dried his tears, and remained standing behind them to pour -out their wine. As soon as he saw that they had finished both eating -and drinking, he took away all the things, cleaned out the room, put -every thing in its proper place; and when night came on, he lighted -up the candles. Every time that he went out, or came in, the lady -did not fail to scold at, threaten, and abuse him; all of which was -done to the great discontent of Amgiad, who would willingly have -prevented her, but was afraid of saying a word. When it was the -proper time to retire to rest, Bahadar prepared a bed for them upon -the sofa, and then went to another apartment, where he, in a very -short time, fell asleep through the great fatigue he had undergone. - -Amgiad and the lady continued in conversation for at least half an -hour longer; and before they retired to rest, the latter having -occasion to pass through the vestibule, heard Bahadar, who was -already fast asleep, snore very loud. As she had observed that there -was a scimitar hanging up in the room where they had been feasting, -she went back and said to Amgiad, “I beg of you to do one thing -for love of me.”--“What can I do to serve you?” replied the -prince.--“Oblige me, by taking this scimitar,” added she, “and -go and cut off the head of your slave.” - -This proposal excited the greatest astonishment in the prince; and -he had no doubt, but that the quantity of wine she had drank was the -cause of it. “Madam,” he replied, “let us not regard my slave; -he is not worthy of your thoughts: I have punished him, and so have -you also; let this be sufficient. Besides, I am very well satisfied -with him upon the whole, as he is not in general accustomed to be -guilty of these faults.”--“That is of no consequence to me,” -replied the enraged female, “I wish the rascal dead, and if he is -not to be killed by your hands, he shall by mine.” Having said -this, she took up the scimitar, drew it from the scabbard, and ran -out, to put her diabolical design in execution. - -Amgiad followed and overtook her in the vestibule, “You must be -satisfied, madam,” he cried, “since you insist upon it. I am, -however, determined, that no one but myself shall kill my slave.” -As soon as she had given him the scimitar, he said, “Follow me, -and do not make any noise for fear of waking him.” They went into -the chamber where Bahadar was; but, instead of aiming the blow at -him, Amgiad directed it at the lady, whose head fell upon Bahadar. -If the noise made by the action of cutting off the lady’s head -would not have disturbed his sleep, the head itself gave him a -sufficient blow to rouse him. Astonished at seeing Amgiad standing -by him with the bloody scimitar in his hand, and the headless body -of the female upon the ground, Bahadar eagerly inquired the meaning -of all this. The prince related every thing to him exactly as it had -passed, and in conclusion, he added, “To prevent this enraged -creature from taking your life, I could discover no other sure -method than destroying her own.” - -“Sir,” replied Bahadar, impressed with the greatest gratitude, -“persons of your rank and generous character are not capable of -giving aid to any actions of so wicked a nature. You are my -preserver, and I cannot sufficiently thank you.” So great was his -sense of the obligation, that he instantly embraced him. “Before -the day breaks,” said he, “this body must be carried out. I will -undertake to do this.” Amgiad, however, opposed it: and said that -he would take that charge upon himself, as he had been the cause of -her death. “A stranger in this place, like you, will not be so -well able to manage it,” replied Bahadar. “Leave it to me, and -do you retire to rest. If I do not return before day-break, you may -be assured that the watch has surprised me. For fear this should -happen, I will now make over to you, in writing, this house, and all -it contains, and you may live here at your ease.” - -As soon as Bahadar had written what was sufficient to transfer the -house to Amgiad, and had put this deed of gift into his hands, he -took the lady’s body and head, and inclosed them in a sack. He -then threw it across his shoulders, and walked along, from street to -street, towards the sea. He had not, however, proceeded very far, -before he encountered the officer of the police, who was going his -rounds in person. His attendants stopped Bahadar, and, opening the -sack, discovered the body and head of the murdered lady. The -magistrate, who knew the master of the horse notwithstanding his -disguise, carried him home with him; as he durst not put a person of -his high rank and dignity to death, without acquainting the king -with it. The next morning, therefore, he took Bahadar into the royal -presence. The king had no sooner been informed, from the report of -the officer, of this cruel action, which, as appeared from all the -circumstances, Bahadar had been guilty of, than he loaded him with -abuse. “Is this the way,” he cried, “that you murder my -subjects, in order to plunder them, and then throw their bodies into -the sea, to prevent the discovery of your tyranny? Let them be freed -from such a monster, and hang him.” - -Notwithstanding the conscious innocence of Bahadar, he received the -sentence of death with perfect resignation, and said not a word in -his own justification. The judge reconducted him to prison, and -while the gibbet was preparing, he sent criers to publish in all the -quarters of the city, the justice, which was going to be executed at -noon, on the grand master of the horse, for having committed murder. - -Prince Amgiad, who ineffectually waited for Bahadar, was in -inexpressible consternation, when he heard the crier proclaiming -this sentence from the house in which he was. “If any one is to -die for the death of so wicked a woman,” said he to himself, “it -is not Bahadar who should suffer, but myself; and I cannot bear that -the innocent should be punished for the guilty.” Without further -deliberation, he went immediately to the spot, where the execution -was to take place; and mingled with the crowd, which was collecting -from all parts. - -As soon as Amgiad saw the judge make his appearance, leading Bahadar -to the gibbet, he went and presented himself before him: “My -lord,” said he, “I come to declare to you, and assure you, that -the master of the horse, whom you are going to lead to execution, is -quite innocent of the death of the lady for which he is to suffer. -It was I who committed this crime, if a crime indeed it can be -called, to deprive a detestable woman of life, who was on the point -of murdering the master of the horse; the thing happened thus.” - -When prince Amgiad had informed the judge of the manner in which the -lady had accosted him on his coming out of the bath; of her being -the cause of his breaking into the house of Bahadar, and of all that -had passed, until he found himself obliged to cut off her head to -save the life of Bahadar, the judge suspended the execution, and -took them both before the king. - -The monarch desired to be informed of the whole affair by Amgiad -himself; and in order to exculpate himself, as well as the master of -the horse the better, he took advantage of the opportunity to relate -the whole of his history, together with that of prince Assad, his -brother, from the beginning up to the present time. - -When the prince had concluded his narrative, the king said to him, -“I am very much pleased, prince, that this affair has afforded me -the opportunity of becoming acquainted with you: I not only grant -you your life and pardon, together with that of the master of the -horse, whose good intention towards you I commend and admire, and -whom I re-establish in his office; but I also confer on you the -dignity of grand vizier, to console you for the unjust, although -excusable treatment you have experienced from the king, your father. -As for prince Assad, I give you free permission to exercise all the -authority you are invested with, to discover where he is.” - -After Amgiad had thanked the king of the city of the Magi, and -entered into his office of grand vizier, he made use of every method -he could devise to find the prince, his brother. He proclaimed, by -means of the public criers, in all quarters of the city, the promise -of a considerable reward to any one who should bring Assad to him, -or even give him information where he might be found. He employed -people to make inquiries in all parts; but notwithstanding all his -researches, he could obtain no intelligence of him. - -Assad, in the mean time, was constantly chained down in the dungeon, -where he had been confined through the artifice of the old man; and -Bostana and Cavama, his daughters, continued to treat him in the -same cruel and inhuman manner. The solemn festival of the idolaters -of fire drew near: the vessel, which usually sailed to the mountain -of fire, was equipped for that purpose, and a captain, named Behram, -who was a zealous promoter of the religion of the Magi, undertook to -lade it with merchandise. When it was ready to put to sea, Behram -contrived for Assad to be placed in a case half full of merchandise, -leaving sufficient space between the planks to admit air for him to -breathe; and then had the case let down into the hold of the ship. - -Before the vessel set sail, the grand vizier Amgiad, who had been -informed that the worshippers of fire made it an annual custom to -sacrifice a mussulman on the fiery mountain, and that Assad, who had -probably fallen into their hands, might be the destined victim of -this bloody ceremony, wished to inspect the vessel. He went in -person, and ordered all the seamen and passengers to come on deck, -while his people searched the vessel; but Assad was too well -concealed to be discovered. - -The search being concluded, the ship left the harbour, and when it -was in the open sea, Behram took Assad out of his case, but kept him -confined by a chain; fearing, that as he was not ignorant of the -fate to which he was destined, he might, in despair, throw himself -headlong into the sea. - -After some days sail, the wind, which had hitherto been favorable, -became suddenly contrary; and increased to such a violent degree, -that it at length terminated in a furious tempest. The vessel not -only lost its track, but Behram and the pilot did not know where -they were; and were fearful every moment of dashing on a rock, and -going to pieces. During the height of the storm, they discovered -land, and Behram knew it to be the situation of the harbour and -capital of queen Margiana, which occasioned him great vexation and -sorrow. - -The fact was, that queen Margiana, who was a mussulman, professed a -mortal enmity to the idolaters of fire. She not only did not -tolerate one in her dominions, but she would not even suffer any of -their vessels to come into her port. - -It was, however, totally out of the power of Behram to avoid making -for the harbour of this city, unless he had exposed himself to the -danger of being cast away on the dangerous rocks which lined the -shore. In this extremity, he held a council with his pilot and -seamen: “My lads,” said he, “you see the necessity we are -reduced to. Of two things we must choose one; we must either be -swallowed up by the waves, or take refuge with queen Margiana; but -you well know her implacable hatred to our religion, and to all who -profess it. She will not fail to seize our ship, and condemn us all -to death, without mercy. I see but one remedy, which may perhaps -succeed. I propose, that we take off the chains from the mussulman -who is with us, and dress him as a slave. When queen Margiana sends -for me to appear before her, and asks me what I trade in, I will -tell her that I am a merchant who sells slaves, that I have sold all -I had, with the exception of one only, whom I have reserved for -myself, as a sort of secretary, because he can read and write. She -will desire to see him; and as he is well-looking, and moreover is -of her religion, she will be moved with compassion for him, and -will, no doubt, propose to purchase him of me, on condition, -however, that we shall remain in her harbour until the weather is -fair. If you can mention a better plan, speak, and I will hear -you.” The pilot and seamen applauded it very much, and it was put -in practice. - -Behram ordered prince Assad’s chains to be taken off; and had him -neatly dressed as a slave who was in the office of writer, or -secretary, to his ship, in which character he wished him to appear -before the queen. Assad was scarcely dressed and prepared for his -part, when the vessel entered the harbour, and cast anchor. As soon -as queen Margiana, whose palace was situated near the sea, so that -the garden extended along the shore, had perceived the ship at -anchor in the port, she sent to the captain to come to her; and, -that she might the sooner gratify her curiosity, she went to meet -him in the garden. - -Behram, who expected this summons, went on shore with prince Assad, -having first exacted a promise from him, of confirming what he -should say of his being a slave and secretary to the ship; they were -conducted before the queen, and Behram, throwing himself at her -feet, described to her the necessity he had been under of taking -refuge in her harbour; he then told her, that he was a merchant -dealing in slaves, and that Assad, whom he had brought with him, was -the only one remaining; but that he kept him for himself in the -capacity of secretary. - -Margiana had felt a predilection for Assad from the first moment she -cast her eyes on him; and she was delighted to hear that he was a -slave. Determined, therefore, to purchase him at whatever price, she -asked Assad his name. “Great queen,” replied he, with tears in -his eyes, “Does your majesty wish to know the name I formerly -bore, or that by which I am now called?” - -“What, have you two names?” inquired the queen. “Alas!” -resumed the prince, “I have indeed; I was formerly called Assad, -or the most happy, but my name now is Motar, or one destined for -sacrifice.” - -Margiana, who could not understand the true meaning of this reply, -supposed he applied it to his present state of slavery; and at the -same time discovered he had a ready wit. “As you are a -secretary,” said she afterwards, “I conclude you can write very -well; let me see some of your writing.” Assad, who was provided -with an ink-horn, which was fastened to his girdle, and some paper, -for Behram had not forgotten these circumstances, the better to -persuade the queen that he was in reality what she believed him to -be, withdrew to a little distance, and wrote the following -sentences, which bore some relation to his miserable condition. - -“The blind man avoids the ditch into which the clear-sighted -stumbles. The ignorant man elevates himself to the highest dignities -by speeches which signify nothing; while the wise man remains -neglected as the dust, though possessed of the greatest eloquence. -The mussulman is in the deepest misery, notwithstanding his riches, -but the infidel triumphs in the midst of his prosperity. We must not -hope that things will change; the Almighty decrees that they should -remain in their present state.” - -Assad presented the paper to queen Margiana, who did not bestow less -commendation on the morality of the sentences, than on the beauty of -the writing; in short, nothing more was requisite to inflame her -heart and make her feel unfeigned compassion for the unfortunate -youth. She had no sooner finished reading it, than she addressed -herself to Behram; “Choose which you will do,” said she, -“either sell me this slave or give him to me; perhaps you may find -it most to your advantage to do the latter.” Behram replied, in a -very insolent manner, that he had no choice to make, for that he -wanted his slave and should therefore keep him. - -Margiana, irritated by this behaviour, said no more to Behram, but -taking Assad by the arm, made him walk before her, till they reached -the palace, when she sent to acquaint Behram, that she should -confiscate all his property, and set fire to his vessel in the -middle of the harbour if he attempted to pass the night there. He -was obliged to return to his vessel truly mortified; and, to prepare -with the utmost diligence for sailing, although the tempest had not -entirely subsided. - -The queen having, on her return to the palace, ordered supper to be -instantly served, conducted prince Assad to her apartment, where she -made him sit next her. Assad wished to decline it, saying that so -great an honor was not to be conferred on a slave. “On a slave!” -exclaimed the queen, “a moment since and you were one, but you are -now no longer a slave. Sit down next me, I tell you, and relate your -history to me; for I am certain, by what you wrote just now, as well -as by the insolence of that merchant, that it must be very -extraordinary.” - -Prince Assad obeyed; and when he was seated, “Most powerful -queen,” said he, “your majesty is not mistaken; my history is -indeed extraordinary, and more so perhaps than you can imagine. The -grief, the almost inconceivable torments I have undergone, and the -cruel species of death to which I was destined, and from which you -have delivered me with truly royal generosity, will convince you of -the magnitude of your kind office, which will be indelibly impressed -on my memory. But before I enter on this detail, which can only -excite horror, you must permit me to begin from the earliest date of -my misfortunes.” - -After this preface, which very much increased the curiosity of -Margiana, Assad began by acquainting her of his royal birth, -together with that of his brother, prince Amgiad, of their -reciprocal friendship, of the odious passion conceived for them by -their mothers-in-law, which so suddenly changed into an implacable -hatred, and thus became the origin of their singular adventures. He -then told her of the anger of the king, his father, of the almost -miraculous manner in which their lives had been preserved, and -lastly, of the irreparable loss he had sustained in his brother, and -the long and cruel imprisonment he was but just relieved from, only -to be immolated on the fiery mountain. - -When Assad had finished his relation, Margiana, more than ever -irritated against the idolaters of fire, said to him, “Prince, -notwithstanding the aversion I have always felt against the -worshippers of fire, I have nevertheless conducted myself with great -humanity towards them; but after the barbarous treatment you have -experienced from them, and their execrable design of sacrificing you -as a victim to the object of their idolatory, I henceforth declare -implacable war against them.” She would have indulged her -invectives still further on this subject, had not supper been -served; and she sat down to table with prince Assad, charmed with -his presence, and delighted to hear him; being already prejudiced in -his favor by a rising flame, which she purposed to take an early -opportunity of disclosing to him. “Prince,” said she, “you -must now make up for all the fasting and bad meals which the -pitiless worshippers of fire obliged you to endure. You want -nourishment after so many sufferings.” Saying these and other -words of the same nature, she helped him repeatedly both to eat and -drink; the repast lasted a considerable time, and Assad drank some -glasses more than he could well bear. When the table was cleared, -Assad wished to breathe the fresh air, and took the opportunity of -going out when the queen did not perceive him. He went down into the -court, and seeing the gate of the garden open he entered it. -Attracted by the various beauties of the spot, he walked about for -some time. He at length went towards a fountain, which formed one of -the principal ornaments of the garden, and washed his hands and face -in it to refresh himself; then sitting down to rest himself on the -lawn which bordered it, he insensibly fell asleep. - -Night was approaching, and Behram, who did not wish to afford -Margiana an opportunity of executing her menaces, had already -weighed anchor, not a little vexed at having lost Assad, and being -thus frustrated in his hope of sacrificing his victim. He -endeavoured, however, to console himself with the reflection that -the storm had ceased, and that a land-breeze favored his departure. -As soon as he had got out of the harbour with the assistance of his -boat, before he drew it up into the ship, “My lads,” said he to -the sailors who were in it, “Stay a little and don’t come up -yet; I am going to give you the casks to fetch water, and I will -wait for you just off the shore.” The sailors, who did not know -where they should be able to procure any, excused themselves from -going; but Behram, while he was speaking with the queen in the -garden, had remarked the fountain: “Go ashore at the garden of the -palace,” said he, “get over the wall, which is not breast high, -and you will find plenty of water in the bason that is in the middle -of the garden.” - -The sailors went on shore in the place described to them by Behram, -and each having taken a cask on his shoulders, they easily got over -the wall. As they approached the bason, they perceived a man lying -asleep on the bank; and when they drew nearer they discovered him to -be Assad. They divided into two parties; and whilst one set was -filling the casks as quietly, and with the greatest dispatch -possible, the other had surrounded Assad, and watched to secure him -in case he should wake. He did not, however, disturb them, and when -the casks were filled, and hoisted on the shoulders of those who -were to carry them, the others seized him and took him away before -he had time to recollect himself; they conveyed him over the wall, -put him in the boat along with their casks, and rowed with all their -strength to the ship. When they had nearly reached it, they cried -out, with repeated bursts of joy, “Captain, order your hautboys -and your drums, we bring you back your slave.” - -Behram, who could not conceive how his seamen had been able to find -and retake Assad, and who could not discern him in the boat, owing -to the darkness of the night, waited with impatience for their -coming on board to inquire what they meant; but when he saw the -prince before him, he could not contain himself for joy; and without -staying to be informed how they had managed to succeed in so -valuable a capture, he put on his irons again, and ordering his boat -to be hauled up as quickly as possible, he bent his course full sail -towards the mountain of fire. - -Margiana, in the mean time, was in the greatest alarm; she did not -feel uneasy at first, when she perceived the absence of prince -Assad, as she did not doubt he would soon return, she waited -patiently for him; but finding that after a considerable time had -elapsed, he did not make his appearance, she began to be very -uneasy. She commanded her women to search for him, which they did, -but to no purpose, and they could bring her no intelligence of him. -Night came on, and she had him sought for with lights, but still as -ineffectually. - -In the state of impatience and alarm which Margiana experienced, she -went herself to look for the prince by the light of flambeaux, and -as she observed that the garden gate was open, she went in with her -women, supposing he might be there. Passing near the fountain, she -observed a slipper on the bank, which, when examined, she, as well -as her women, knew to be one of those worn by the prince. This -circumstance, added to the quantity of water spilt on the edge of -the bason, led her to conclude that Behram might have taken him away -by force. She immediately sent to inquire if his ship was still in -the harbour; and as she was informed that he had sailed just before -the night came on, that he had stopped for some time off the shore, -and that his boat had been to fetch water from her garden, she -instantly dispatched a messenger to the commander of ten ships of -war, which were always kept in port fully equipped and ready to sail -on the shortest notice, to acquaint him, that she intended to embark -the following day, about an hour after sun-rise. - -The commander was diligent in obeying her orders; she assembled the -captains and other officers, the sailors and soldiers; and every -thing was ready by the appointed hour. She embarked, and when her -squadron got out to sea and was in full sail, she declared her -intention to the commander, “You must use all expedition,” said -she, “and pursue the merchant vessel which sailed from the harbour -yesterday evening. I give it up as your prize, if you take it; but -if you do not succeed, your life shall be the forfeit.” - -The ten ships chased Behram’s vessel for two whole days, without -being able to get within sight of it. On the third they discovered -it at break of day; and by noon they had surrounded it so that it -could not escape. The cruel Behram had no sooner perceived the ten -vessels than he concluded it must be the squadron of queen Margiana -in pursuit of him, and he immediately inflicted the bastinado on -prince Assad; for he had continued that practice daily, from the -time he had left the city of the Magi; and he now repeated his -chastisement with more violence than usual. He was extremely -embarrassed, when he found he was on the point of being surrounded -on all sides. If he kept Assad, he proved himself culpable. If he -deprived him of life, he was fearful that some mark might remain to -discover his guilt. He had him unchained, and the prince was then -made to go up from the hold of the ship, where he was confined, and -appear before him. “It is thou,” said he, “who art the cause -of our being pursued,” and, on saying this, he threw him into the -sea. - -Prince Assad could swim very well, and made use of his hands and -feet with so much success, that, assisted by the waves, which bore -him towards the shore, he had sufficient strength to hold out till -he reached land. When he was in safety, the first thing he did was -to return thanks to God for having delivered him from so great a -peril, and again favoured his escape from the hands of the idolaters -of fire. He then undressed himself, and having wrung the water from -his clothes, he spread them on a rock to dry. This was soon -effected, as well from the heat of the sun, as from that of the -rock, which had received considerable warmth from the power of its -rays. - -He laid down for some time, deploring his miserable fate, ignorant -of the country in which he was, and uncertain which way to go. He -then took up his clothes, put them on, and without leaving the coast -he began to proceed, and continued walking till he came to a road, -which he followed. He pursued this path or road, for ten days, -through a country that seemed to be without inhabitants: and in -which he found nothing but wild fruits, and a few plants along the -banks of the rivulets, on which he lived. He at last arrived at a -town, which he immediately knew to be the city of the Magi, where he -had been so ill used, and where his brother Amgiad was grand vizier. -At this he was much rejoiced; but was determined to address himself -to no one, whom he knew to be a worshipper of fire, but only to -speak to mussulmen; for he remembered to have remarked a few of the -latter as he came into the city the first time. As it was late, and -he knew very well that all the shops were shut up, and that few -people were abroad at that hour, he resolved to go into a -burial-place, which was close to the town, and pass the night there, -as there were many tombs in it that were built like mausoleums. In -looking about he discovered one, of which the door was open. He went -in, and determined to remain there. - -We will now return to the vessel of Behram. It was not a great while -after he had thrown Assad into the sea, before it was surrounded on -all sides by the fleet of Margiana. He was first boarded by the ship -in which the queen herself was; and as he was not able to make any -resistance, Behram at her approach hauled down his sails as a mark -of having surrendered. - -Margiana immediately went on board the vessel, and asked Behram -where the secretary was whom he had the audacity either to take -away, or to make others carry him from her palace. “Queen,” -replied Behram, “I swear to your majesty, that he is not on board -my vessel: if you will order it to be searched you will then know my -innocence.” - -Margiana commanded the vessel to be searched with the greatest -possible strictness; but he whom she was so desirous of finding, as -much for the love she had for him, as from her natural goodness of -disposition, could not be found. She was even on the point of -killing Behram with her own hand; but she restrained herself, and -was satisfied with confiscating the vessel and all its cargo, and -putting him and all the sailors afloat in their open boat, with the -chance of reaching the shore. Having landed, Behram and his crew -went on, and happened to arrive at the city of the Magi on the very -same night in which Assad had taken refuge in the burial-ground, and -retired to the tomb. As the gate of the city was shut, he was also -obliged to have recourse to the cemetery, and to find some tomb to -wait in, till day appeared, and the gate was again open. - -Unfortunately for Assad, Behram came to that in which he was. He -went in, and saw a man asleep, with his head wrapped in his clothes. -The prince awoke at the noise, and lifting up his head, demanded who -was there. Behram immediately recognised him: “Ah, ah,” said he, -“is it then you, who are the cause of my being ruined for the rest -of my life. You have escaped being sacrificed this year, but you -shall not evade it again on the following.” Having said this, he -threw himself upon him, put his handkerchief into his mouth, to -prevent his calling out, and then made his sailors bind him. - -The next morning, as soon as the gate of the city was open, it was -very easy for Behram to carry Assad back to the old man’s house, -who had so completely deceived him by his cunning tricks; and by -taking him through unfrequented streets, as few people were yet -risen, he was sure of not being discovered. As soon as he arrived -there, he took him into the same dungeon from whence he had before -been brought, and then went and informed the old man of the -unfortunate cause of his return, and the bad success of his voyage. -The wicked wretch did not forget to impress his two daughters very -strongly with the necessity of ill-treating the unfortunate prince -in a still worse manner, if possible, than before. - -Assad was extremely surprised at finding himself again in the same -place where he had already suffered so much; and in expectation of -the same tortures, from which he thought himself delivered for ever. -He wept, and was lamenting the hardness of his destiny, when he saw -Bostana enter the dungeon with a stick in her hand, a piece of -bread, and a pitcher of water. He trembled at the sight of this -merciless creature, and groaned aloud when he reflected upon the -daily torments he was again to endure for another whole year, before -he was to be led to his most horrible kind of death. - -Bostana, however, did not treat the unfortunate Assad in so cruel a -manner as she had done, when he was in this prison the former time. -The lamentations, the complaints, and the continual prayers of the -prince to spare him, joined to his tears, were at length so -powerful, that Bostana could not avoid being softened by them, and -even to mingle her tears with his. “Sir,” she said to Assad, as -she again covered his shoulders, “I ask you a thousand pardons for -the cruelty with which I have before treated you, and of which I -have again made you feel the ill effects. Hitherto I have been -afraid of disobeying my father, who is so unjustly enraged against -you, and who is determined upon your destruction. But I now detest -and abhor his barbarity. Console yourself, therefore, for your evils -are at an end; and I am going to repair all my crimes, the enormity -of which I am well aware of, by better treatment. You have hitherto -looked upon me as an infidel; you must for the future regard me as a -mussulman. I have already received much instruction from a female -slave, who attends me; I hope that you will complete what she has -begun. To prove to you my good intentions, I ask pardon of the true -God for all my offences against, and ill treatment of, you; and I -have full confidence, that he will discover to me the means of -restoring you to your full liberty.” - -This speech afforded prince Assad great consolation; he offered up -his grateful thanks to God for instilling such kindness into the -heart of Bostana, and converting her to the true religion. After -first thanking her for the good opinion she had expressed for him, -he neglected nothing that he thought would confirm her in her new -opinions; not only by endeavoring to instruct her still further in -the various doctrines of the mussulman religion, but even giving her -a long and faithful account of himself, of all his misfortunes, and -his illustrious descent. As soon as he was convinced of her firmness -in the good resolutions she had taken, he asked her how she would be -able to prevent her sister Cavama from becoming acquainted with this -change; and also from using him so ill, when it should be her turn; -“Let not that give you any pain,” replied Bostana, “I know -very well how to manage, so that she shall give herself no further -trouble about you.” - -In fact, Bostana found some means of preventing Cavama, every time -she expressed a wish to go into the dungeon. She herself, however, -saw the prince very often; and instead of carrying only bread and -water to him, as she was ordered, she brought him wine, and a -variety of excellent food, which was prepared by twelve mussulman -slaves, who attended on her. She frequently also partook of his -repasts with him, and did every thing in her power to console him. - -Some days after prince Assad’s return to the city of the Magi, -Bostana happened to be at the door of her house, when she heard the -public crier giving notice of something. As she could not understand -what the crier said, because he was so far off, and as she observed -him coming up towards the house, she went in, but left the door a -little open and listened. She saw him walking on before the grand -vizier, Amgiad, prince Assad’s brother, accompanied by several -officers of state: and with a great multitude of people following -them. - -The crier had not gone many steps from the door before he made the -following proclamation in a loud tone of voice; _The most excellent -and illustrious grand vizier, who is now present, comes in person to -inquire after, and seek for, his dear brother, who has been -separated from him for more than a year. His person and description -are as follows. If any person has given him a lodging at his house, -or knows where he is, his Excellency commands them to bring him to -him, or to give him some information concerning him, and he promises -to reward them handsomely. But if any one shall conceal and detain -him, and he shall afterwards be discovered, his Excellency declares -that he will punish such persons with death, together with their -wives, their children, and all their family; and will also raze -their houses to the ground._ - -Bostana no sooner heard these words than she instantly shut the -door, and went to the dungeon, where Assad was. “Prince,” cried -she in a joyful manner, “your misfortunes are at length -terminated, follow me as quickly as possible.” Assad, whom she had -released from his chains on the very first day that he had been -brought back to the dungeon, followed her into the street, and when -there, she instantly cried out, “Behold him, behold him.” The -grand vizier, who had not proceeded far, turned round. Assad -instantly recognised his brother, ran towards him, and fell into his -arms. Amgiad too knew him from the first moment, and embraced him. -He then made him mount the horse of one of his officers, who -returned on foot, and conducted him in triumph to the palace, where -he presented him to the king, who appointed him one of his viziers. - -Bostana, who after this event did not wish to return to her -father’s, whose house was razed to the ground the very same day, -and did not leave prince Assad till he arrived at the palace, was -sent to an apartment belonging to the queen. The old man, her -father, and Behram, as well as all their families, being brought the -next day before the king, he ordered them all to lose their heads. -On this, they threw themselves at his feet, and implored his mercy. -“You shall have no mercy shown you,” replied the king, “unless -you renounce the adoration of fire, and embrace the mussulman -religion.” By adopting this conduct, they saved their lives; and -so also did Cavama, the sister of Bostana, and all their families. - -In consideration of Behram’s being converted to a mussulman, and -in order to give him some recompense for the loss he had before -suffered, Amgiad made him one of his principal officers, and lodged -him at his own house. A few days after, when Behram was made -acquainted with the adventures of his benefactor Amgiad and his -brother Assad, he proposed to fit out a vessel, and to carry them -back to their father Camaralzaman. “There is no doubt,” he said, -“but that the king is by this time convinced of your innocence, -and is impatient to see you again. Should, however, that not be the -case, it is very easy to be informed of it before you land, and -then, should he still continue in his unjust prepossession, you will -find no difficulty in returning.” - -The two brothers accepted Behram’s offer. They mentioned their -design to the king, who not only approved of it, but gave orders for -the immediate equipment of a vessel. Behram hastened the -preparations as much as possible; and when he was ready to set sail, -the princes went and took leave of the king on the morning before -they embarked. While they were paying their compliments, and -thanking the monarch for all his kindness to them, they heard a -great bustle and tumult through the whole city; and at the same -moment an officer came, and said, that a very large army was -approaching, and that no one could tell to whom it belonged. - -Observing the alarm that this bad news gave the king, Amgiad said to -him, “Although, Sire, I am now come for the purpose of resigning -the office of grand vizier, with which you have honored me, I am, -notwithstanding, ready to take upon myself the charge of rendering -you any service in my power; and I entreat you to suffer me to go -and see who this enemy is, that comes thus to attack you, in your -very capital, without having first declared war.” The king begged -he would, and he instantly set out with very few attendants. - -It was not long before prince Amgiad discovered the army, which -appeared so formidable, and continued to approach. The advanced -guards, who had received their orders, gave him a favorable -reception, and conducted him before a princess, who stopped, with -her whole army, to hold a conference with him. Prince Amgiad made -her a most profound reverence; and asked her, if she came as a -friend or an enemy, and if she was an enemy, he requested to be -informed what cause of complaint she had against the king, his -master. “I come as a friend,” she replied, “and have no cause -whatever for complaint against the king of the Magi. His dominions -and mine are situated in such a manner, that it is almost impossible -we can ever have any dispute together. I come only to require a -slave, whose name is Assad, and who has been taken away from me by a -captain belonging to this city, who is called Behram, and is the -most insolent of men. And I trust your king will afford me justice, -when he shall know that my name is Margiana.” - -“Powerful queen,” replied Amgiad, “I am the brother of that -slave whom you seem to search after with so much interest and -concern. I had lost him, and have now recovered him. Come with me, -and I will give him up to you, and will likewise have the honor to -inform you of every other particular. The king, my master, will be -delighted to see you.” - -Queen Margiana then ordered her army to encamp in the spot where it -then was, and accompanied prince Amgiad through the city to the -palace, where he presented her to the king. When the monarch had -received her in the way she deserved, prince Assad, who was present, -and who knew her the moment she appeared, came and paid his -compliments to her. She expressed great joy at seeing him again; -when, at this very instant, some one entered, and announced to the -king, that another army, much more powerful than the first, had made -its appearance on the other side of the city. The king of the Magi -seemed more alarmed now than he was when that belonging to Margiana -came in sight, as the present appeared much the most numerous, if he -might judge from the clouds of dust which its approach occasioned, -and which seemed to spread itself through the whole air. “What -will become of us, Amgiad?” he cried; “there is a fresh army -approaching to overwhelm us.” The prince knew what the king meant; -he therefore mounted his horse, and rode as fast as possible to meet -this second army. He demanded of the first part of it which he -encountered, to speak to their commander, and they conducted him -before a king, as he instantly conjectured, from a crown, which he -had upon his head. As soon as he perceived him, although at some -distance, he alighted, and when he was come nearer, he prostrated -himself on the ground, and asked what he wished of the king, his -master. - -“I am called Gaiour,” replied the monarch, “and am king of -China. The desire of learning some intelligence of a daughter, named -Badoura, whom many years since I gave in marriage to prince -Camaralzaman, son of Schahzaman, king of the Islands of the Children -of Khaledan, has been the cause of my leaving my dominions. I gave -this prince leave to go and see his father, with the charge of -coming to spend every other year with me, and bringing my daughter -with him. I have, however, for a great length of time, been unable -to hear any thing of them. Your king, therefore, will much oblige an -afflicted father, if he can give him the least information on the -subject.” - -Prince Amgiad, who instantly knew by this speech, that it was his -grandfather, kissed his hand with great tenderness, and said to him, -“Your majesty will pardon this liberty, when you shall know, that -I behave thus in order to pay my respects to you as my grandfather. -I am the son of Camaralzaman, at this time king of the Island of -Ebony, and of queen Badoura, on whose account you are so much -distressed; and I do not doubt, but that they are at this time in -their dominions, in perfect health.” The king of China instantly -embraced him in the most affectionate manner, so much was he -delighted at thus seeing his grandson. And this very unexpected and -happy meeting drew tears from the eyes of both. On asking what was -the reason of his being thus in a foreign country, prince Amgiad -related his history, and that of his brother Assad. When it was -finished, “My son,” replied the king of China, “it is not -just, that two princes, so innocent as you are, should experience -any further bad effects from your ill-treatment. Console yourself; I -will carry back both you and your brother, and will make your peace. -Go, and make my arrival known to your brother.” - -While the king of China was ordering his army to encamp in the -place, where prince Amgiad encountered him, the latter went back to -give an account to the king of the Magi, who was waiting for him -with the greatest impatience. The king was extremely surprised to -hear that so powerful a monarch as the king of China had undertaken -such a long and painful journey through the desire of gaining some -intelligence of his daughter, and that he should be so near his -capital. He immediately gave orders to have him handsomely treated, -and made preparations to go and receive him in person. - -In this interval, considerable clouds of dust seemed to arise from a -third side of the city, and the news soon came, that a third army -was approaching. This circumstance obliged the king to stop, and -request Amgiad again to go and see what was the cause of it. The -prince departed, and this time he took his brother Assad with him. -They discovered, that this was the army of Camaralzaman, their -father, who was come to search after them. He had shown signs of the -greatest grief at having destroyed them, when the emir Giondar at -last informed him in what manner he had preserved their lives. This -made the king resolve to go and discover them, in whatever country -they might be. - -This afflicted father embraced the two princes with tears of joy, -the first he had for a long time shed, which had not been tinged -with the deepest affliction. The princes had no sooner informed him -of the arrival of his father-in-law, the king of China, on the very -same day, than he went with them, accompanied by a very few -attendants, to see him in his camp. They had not proceeded far on -their road, before they perceived a fourth army, which seemed to -advance in perfect order, and to come from the side towards Persia. -Camaralzaman desired his sons to go and see to whom that army -belonged; and said that he would wait for them where he was. They -departed immediately, and when they got up to it, they presented -themselves to the king who commanded it. After saluting him with the -greatest respect, they asked him his motive for coming thus near to -the capital of the king of the Magi. - -The grand vizier, who was present, took upon himself to return an -answer. “The monarch, to whom you have addressed yourself,” he -replied, “is called Schahzaman, king of the Islands of the -Children of Khaledan, who has travelled for a great length of time, -with all the attendants you see, in search of his son, prince -Camaralzaman, who left his dominions many years ago, without making -him acquainted with it. If you should happen to know any thing -relative to him, you will afford the king the greatest possible -pleasure by giving him the information.” To this speech the -princes made no other reply than that they would come back in a -little time with an answer. They then set off at full speed to -Camaralzaman, to announce to him the cause of the arrival of the -last army, and that it belonged to king Schahzaman, who was there in -person. - -Astonishment and joy, mixed with regret at having left the king, his -father, without taking leave of him, had so powerful an effect upon -Camaralzaman, that he absolutely fainted, as soon as he learnt that -his father was so near him. He, at length, through the assistance of -Amgiad and Assad, who did all they could to comfort him, returned to -his senses: and when he thought he had acquired sufficient strength, -he went and threw himself at his father’s feet. A more tender or -affecting interview between a parent and son had hardly ever been -witnessed. Schahzaman affectionately chided Camaralzaman for his -unkindness in leaving him in so unfeeling and cruel a manner: and -the latter showed the deepest regret and compunction at the fault, -which love alone had been the cause of. - -The three kings and queen Margiana continued three days at the court -of the king of the Magi, who entertained them in the most -magnificent and splendid manner. These three days were also -remarkable for the marriage of prince Assad with queen Margiana, and -prince Amgiad with Bostana, in consideration of the essential -service she had afforded prince Assad. At length, the three kings -and queen Margiana with her husband, each retired to their separate -dominions. With respect to prince Amgiad, the king of the Magi, who -was at a very advanced age, felt so strong an attachment to him, -that he placed his crown upon his head. Amgiad then used all his -endeavors to abolish the idolatrous worship of fire, and instead of -it to establish the mussulman religion throughout his kingdom. - - - - -NOTES TO VOL. II. - - -Note 1. The Arabian author diverts himself in this place, at the -expence of the Jews. This is the ass, which, according to the -Mahometans, Esdras rode upon, when he returned from the Babylonian -captivity to Jerusalem. - -Note 2. In the French translation, which was adhered to in the text, -there seems to be an error; 150 measures (the quantity the young man -had) sold for 110 drachms, a measure, according to the Christian -merchant, must amount to 16,500 drachms, whereas it is said to be -only 5000; consequently the merchant’s profit, which is there -stated to be only 500, at ten drachms the measure, is in fact 1500; -so also the 4,530 drachms mentioned a little farther on, ought to be -15,000 drachms. - -Note 3. The bezestein is a sort of covered marketplace for -merchants, where the most valuable stuffs, jewels, &c. are sold. - -Note 4. The fountain of Zemsem is at Mecca; and, according to the -Mahometans, it is the very spring which God made to flow in favor of -Hagar, when Abraham compelled her to go and find one. This water was -drank through religious motives, and was frequently sent as presents -to different princes, and their favorites. - -Note 5. A scherif is the same as a sequin, each of which is nearly -equal to ten shillings of our money. - -Note 6. The year 653, means that year of the Hegira; an epoch, from -which all the Mahometans reckon, and which corresponds to the year -1255 of the Christian æra. We may from hence conjecture, at least, -that these tales were in existence in Arabic at that time. - -Note 7. The Arabian author seems here to be in an error respecting -the year 7320. The 653d year of the Hegira and the 1255 after the -birth of Christ, corresponds with the 1557 of the epoch of the -Seleucides, which is the same as that of Alexander the Great, and -which is here denominated Iskander with the two horns, according to -the Arabic mode of expression. - -Note 8. The inns, or public places, where travellers and foreigners -lodge, are called, “khans,” in most of the eastern nations: -sometimes “caravanseras,” but these are chiefly, as their name -seems to import, for the use of the caravans. - -Note 9. Mostanser Billah was raised to the dignity of caliph in the -623d year of the Hegira, that is, in the year 1226 of the Christian -æra. He was the 36th caliph of the race of the Abassides. - -Note 10. See note 8 of the first volume. - -Note 11. Almost all the eastern nations, and particularly all the -Mahometans, are forbidden to drink wine after their meals. - -Note 12. The Bedouins are a tribe of wandering Arabs, who live in -the desert, and who constantly attack and plunder the caravans on -their journey, if they are not sufficiently numerous and strong to -resist them. - -Note 13. The word “Schemselnihar,” in Arabic, signifies the Sun -of the Day. - -Note 14. The name of “Camaralzaman,” in Arabic, means the Moon -of the Time, or the Moon of the Age. - - -END OF VOL. II. - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights, Volume II of IV, by Anonymous - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, VOLUME II *** - -***** This file should be named 63306-0.txt or 63306-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/3/0/63306/ - -Produced by Mohammad Aboomar for the QuantiQual Project; -Project ID: COALESCE/2017/117 (Irish Research Council) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |