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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8658-8.txt b/8658-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1fe9d26 --- /dev/null +++ b/8658-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14728 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book Of The Thousand Nights And One +Night, Volume 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 Book Of The Thousand Nights And One Night, Volume IV + +Author: Anonymous + +Translator: John Payne + +Posting Date: February 26, 2015 [EBook #8658] +Release Date: August, 2005 +First Posted: July 30, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1001 NIGHTS, VOL IV *** + + + + +Produced by JC Byers, Graeme Houston, Renate Preuss, Coralee +Sheehan, Marryann Short, and Anne Soulard + + + + + + + + + + +Editorial Note: Project Gutenberg also has the translation of this work by + Richard F. Burton in 16 volumes. + + + + + THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT: + + Now First Completely Done Into English + Prose and Verse, From The Original Arabic, + + By John Payne +(Author of "The Masque of Shadows," "Intaglios: Sonnets," "Songs + of Life and Death," + "Lautrec," "The Poems of Master Francis Villon of Paris," "New + Poems," Etc, Etc.). + + In Nine Volumes: + + + + VOLUME THE FOURTH. + + + + 1901 + + Delhi Edition + + + Contents of The Fourth Volume. + + + +1. The Imam Abou Yousuf With Haroun er Reshid and his Vizier + Jaafer +2. The Lover Who Feigned Himself a Thief to save His Mistress's + Honour +3. Jaafer the Barmecide and the Bean-seller +4. Abou Mohammed the Lazy +5. Yehya Ben Khalid and Mensour +6. Yehya Ben Khalid and the Man Who Forged a Letter in His Name +7. The Khalif el Mamoun and the Strange Doctor +8. Ali Shar and Zumurrud +9. The Loves of Jubeir Ben Umeir and the Lady Budour +10. The Man of Yemen and His Six Slave Girls +11. Haroun er Reshid with the Damsel and Abou Nuwas +12. The Man Who Stole The Dog's Dish of Gold +13. The Sharper of Alexandria and the Master of Police +14. El Melik en Nasir and the Three Masters of Police + a. Story of the Chief of the New Cairo Police + b. Story of the Chief of the Boulac Police + c. Story of the chief of the Old Cairo Police +15. The Thief and the Money-Changer +16. The Chief of the Cous Police and the Sharper +17. Ibrahim Ben el Mehdi and the Merchant's Sister +18. The Woman Whose Hands Were Cut Off For Almsgiving +19. The Devout Israelite +20. Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi and the Man From Khorassan +21. The Poor Man and his Generous Friend +22. The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through a Dream +23. El Mutawekkil and his Favourite Mehboubeh +24. Werdan the Butcher's Adventure with the Lady and the Bear +25. The King's Daughter and the Ape +26. The Enchanted Horse +27. Uns El Eoujoud and the Vizier's Daughter Rose-in-Bud +28. Abou Nuwas with the Three Boys and the Khalif Haroun er + Reshid +29. Abdallah Ben Maamer with the Man of Bassora and His Slave + Girl +30. The Lovers of the Benou Udhreh +31. The Vizier of Yemen and His Young Brother +32. Loves of the Boy and Girl at School +33. El Mutelemmis and His Wife Umeimeh +34. Haroun er Reshid and Zubeideh in the Bath +35. Haroun er Reshid and the Three Poets +36. Musab Ben ez Zubeir and Aaisheh His Wife +37. Aboulasweh and His Squinting Slave Girl +38. Haroun er Reshid ad the Two Girls +39. Hroun er Reshid and the Three Girls +40. The Miller and his Wife +41. The Simpleton and the Sharper +42. The Imam Abou Yousuf with Haroun er Reshid and Zubeideh +43. The Khalif el Hakim and the Merchant +44. King Kisra Anoushirwan and the Village Damsel +45. The Water-Carrier and the Goldsmith's Wife +46. Khusrau and Shirin and the Fisherman +47. Yehya Ben Khalid and the Poor Man +48. Mohammed El Amin and Jaafer Ben el Hadi +49. Said Ben Salim and the Barmecides +50. The Woman's Trick Against Her Husband +51. The Devout Woman and the Two Wicked Elders +52. Jaafer the Barmecide and the Old Bedouin +53. Omar Ben Khettab and the Young Bedouin +54. El Mamoun and the Pyramids of Egypt +55. The Thief Turned Merchant and the Other Thief +56. Mesrour and Ibn El Caribi +57. The Devout Prince +58. The Schoolmaster Who Fell in Love by Report +59. The Foolish Schoolmaster +60. The Ignorant Man Who Set up For a Schoolmaster +61. The King and the Virtuous Wife +62. Abdurrehman the Moor's Story of the Roc +63. Adi Ben Zeid and the Princess Hind +64. Dibil el Khuzai With the Lady and Muslim Ben el Welid +65. Isaac of Mosul and the Merchant +66. The Three Unfortunate Lovers +67. The Lovers of the Benou Tai +68. The Mad Lover +69. The Apples of Paradise +70. The Loves of Abou Isa and Current El Ain +71. El Amin and His Uncle Ibrahim Ben el Mehdi +72. El Feth Ben Khacan and El Mutawekkil +73. The Man's Dispute with the Learned Woman of the Relative + Excellence of the Male and the Female +74. Abou Suweid and the Handsome Old Woman +75. Ali Ben Tahir and the Birl Mounis +76. The Woman Who Has a Boy and the Other Who Had a Man to Lover +77. The Haunted House in Baghdad +78. The Pilgrim and the Old Woman Who Dwelt in the Desert +79. Aboulhusn and His Slave Girl Taweddud + + + + + THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS + AND ONE NIGHT + + + + + HOW THE IMAM ABOU YOUSUF EXTRICATED THE + KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND HIS VIZIER + JAAFER FROM A DILEMMA. + + + +It is said that Jaafer the Barmecide was one night carousing with +Er Reshid, when the latter said to him, 'O Jaafer, I hear that +thou hast bought such and such a slave-girl. Now I have long +sought her and my heart is taken up with love of her, for she is +passing fair; so do thou sell her to me.' 'O Commander of the +Faithful,' replied Jaafer, 'I will not sell her.' 'Then give her +to me,' rejoined the Khalif. 'Nor will I give her,' answered +Jaafer. 'Be Zubeideh triply divorced,' exclaimed Haroun, 'if +thou shalt not either sell or give her to me!' Quoth Jaafer, 'Be +my wife triply divorced, if I either sell or give her to thee!' +After awhile they recovered from their intoxication and were ware +that they had fallen into a grave dilemma, but knew not how to +extricate themselves. Then said Er Reshid, 'None can help us in +this strait but Abou Yousuf.'[FN#1] So they sent for him, and +this was in the middle of the night. When the messenger reached +the Imam, he arose in alarm, saying in himself, 'I should not be +sent for at this hour, save by reason of some crisis in Islam.' +So he went out in haste and mounted his mule, saying to his +servant, 'Take the mule's nose-bag with thee; it may be she has +not finished her feed; and when we come to the Khalif's palace, +put the bag on her, that she may eat what is left of her fodder, +whilst I am with the Khalif.' 'I hear and obey,' replied the man. + +So the Imam rode to the palace and was admitted to the presence +of Er Reshid, who made him sit down on the couch beside himself, +whereas he was used to seat none but him, and said to him, 'We +have sent for thee at this hour to advise us upon a grave matter, +with which we know not how to deal' And he expounded to him the +case. 'O Commander of the Faithful,' replied Abou Yousuf, 'this +is the easiest of things.' Then he turned to Jaafer and said to +him, 'O Jaafer, sell half of her to the Commander of the Faithful +and give him the other half; so shall ye both be quit of your +oaths.' The Khalif was delighted with this and they did as he +prescribed. Then said Er Reshid, 'Bring me the girl at once, for +I long for her exceedingly.' So they brought her and the Khalif +said to Abou Yousuf, 'I have a mind to lie with her forthright; +for I cannot endure to abstain from her during the prescribed +period of purification; how is this to be done?' 'Bring me one of +thine unenfranchised male slaves,' answered the Imam, 'and give +me leave to marry her to him; then let him divorce her before +consummation. So shall it be lawful for thee to lie with her +before purification.' This expedient pleased the Khalif yet more +than the first and he sent for the slave. When he came, Er Reshid +said to the Imam, 'I authorize thee to marry her to him.' So the +Imam proposed the marriage to the slave, who accepted it, and +performed the due ceremony; after which he said to the slave, +'Divorce her, and thou shalt have a hundred diners.' But he +refused to do this and the Imam went on to increase his offer, +till he bid him a thousand diners. Then said the slave to him, +'Doth it rest with me to divorce her, or with thee or the +Commander of the Faithful?' 'With thee,' answered the Imam. +'Then, by Allah,' quoth the slave, 'I will never do it!' + +At this the Khalif was exceeding wroth and said to the Imam, +'What is to be done, O Abou Yousuf?' 'Be not concerned, O +Commander of the Faithful,' replied the Imam; 'the thing is easy. +Make this slave the damsel's property.' Quoth Er Reshid, 'I give +him to her;' and the Imam said to the girl, 'Say, "I accept."' So +she said, 'I accept:' whereupon quoth Abou Yousuf, 'I pronounce +divorce between them, for that he hath become her property, and +so the marriage is annulled.' With this, Er Reshid sprang to his +feet and exclaimed, 'It is the like of thee that shall be Cadi in +my time.' Then he called for sundry trays of gold and emptied +them before Abou Yousuf, to whom he said, 'Hast thou wherein to +put this ?' The Imam bethought him of the mule's nose-bag; so he +sent for it and filling it with gold, took it and went home; and +on the morrow, he said to his friends, 'There is no easier or +shorter road to the goods of this world and the next, than that +of learning; for, see, I have received all this money for +answering two or three questions.' Consider, then, O polite +[reader], the pleasantness of this anecdote, for it comprises +divers goodly features, amongst which are the complaisance of +Jaafer to Er Reshid and the wisdom[FN#2] of the Khalif and the +exceeding wisdom of Abou Yousuf, may God the Most High have mercy +on all their souls! + + + + + THE LOVER WHO FEIGNED HIMSELF A THIEF TO + SAVE HIS MISTRESS'S HONOUR. + + + +There came one day to Khalid ibn Abdallah el Kesri,[FN#3] +governor of Bassora, a company of men dragging a youth of +exceeding beauty and lofty bearing, whose aspect expressed good +breeding and dignity and abundant wit They brought him before the +governor, who asked what was to do with him, and they replied, +'This fellow is a thief, whom we caught last night in our +dwelling.' Khalid looked at him and was struck with wonder at his +well-favouredness and elegance; so he said to the others, 'Loose +him,' and going up to the young man, asked what he had to say for +himself. 'The folk have spoken truly,' answered he; 'and the case +is as they have said.' 'And what moved thee to this,' asked +Khalid, 'and thou so noble and comely of aspect?' 'The lust +after worldly good,' replied the other, 'and the ordinance of +God, glorified and exalted be He!' 'May thy mother be bereaved of +thee!' rejoined Khalid. 'Hadst thou not, in thy fair face and +sound sense and good breeding, what should restrain thee from +thieving?' 'O Amir,' answered the young man, 'leave this talk +and proceed to what God the Most High hath ordained; this is +what my hands have earned, and God is no oppressor of His +creatures.'[FN#4] Khalid was silent awhile, considering the +matter; then he said to the young man, 'Verily, thy confession +before witnesses perplexes me, for I cannot believe thee to be a +thief. Surely thou hast some story that is other than one of +theft. Tell it me'. 'O Amir,' replied the youth, 'deem thou +nought save what I have confessed; for I have no story other than +that I entered these folk's house and stole what I could lay +hands on, and they caught me and took the stuff from me and +carried me before thee.' Then Khalid bade clap him in prison and +commanded a crier to make proclamation throughout Bassora, +saying, 'Ho, whoso is minded to look upon the punishment of such +an one, the thief, and the cutting off of his hand, let him be +present tomorrow morning at such a place!' + +When the youth found himself in prison, with irons on his feet, +he sighed heavily and repeated the following verses, whilst the +tears streamed from his eyes: + +Khalid doth threaten me with cutting off my hand, Except I do + reveal to him my mistress' case. +But, "God forbid," quoth I, "that I should e'er reveal That which + of love for her my bosom doth embrace!" +The cutting-off my hand, for that I have confessed Unto, less + grievous were to me than her disgrace. + +The warders heard him and went and told Khalid, who sent for the +youth after nightfall and conversed with him. He found him +well-bred and intelligent and of a pleasant and vivacious wit; so +he ordered him food and he ate. Then said Khalid, 'I know thou +hast a story to tell that is no thief's; so, when the Cadi comes +to-morrow morning and questions thee before the folk, do thou +deny the charge of theft and avouch what may avert the cutting-off +of thy hand; for the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) saith, +"In cases of doubt, eschew [or defer] punishment."' Then he sent +him back to the prison, where he passed the night. + +On the morrow, the folk assembled to see his hand cut off, nor +was there man or woman in Bassora but came forth to look upon his +punishment. Then Khalid mounted in company of the notables of the +city and others and summoning the Cadi, sent for the young man, +who came, hobbling in his shackles. There none saw him but wept +for him, and the women lifted up their voices in lamentation. The +Cadi bade silence the women and said to the prisoner, 'These +folk avouch that thou didst enter their dwelling and steal their +goods: belike thou stolest less than a quarter dinar?'[FN#5] +'Nay,' replied he, 'I stole more than that.' 'Peradventure,' +rejoined the Cadi, 'thou art partner with them in some of the +goods?' 'Not so,' replied the young man; 'it was all theirs. I +had no right in it.' At this Khalid was wroth and rose and smote +him on the face with his whip, applying this verse to his own +case: + +Man wisheth and seeketh his wish to fulfil, But Allah denieth + save that which He will. + +Then he called for the executioner, who came and taking the +prisoner's hand, set the knife to it and was about to cut it off, +when, behold, a damsel, clad in tattered clothes, pressed through +the crowd of women and cried out and threw herself on the young +man. Then she unveiled and showed a face like the moon; whereupon +the people raised a mighty clamour and there was like to have +been a riot amongst them. But she cried out her loudest, saying, +'I conjure thee, by Allah, O Amir, hasten not to cut off this +man's hand, till thou have read what is in this scroll!' So +saying, she gave him a scroll, and he took it and read therein +the following verses: + +O Khalid, this man is love-maddened, a cave of desire, Transfixed + by the glances that sped from the bows of my eye. +The shafts of my looks 'twas that pierced him and slew him; + indeed, He a bondsman of love, sick for passion and like for + to die. +Yea, rather a crime, that he wrought not, he choose to confess + Than suffer on her whom he cherished dishonour to lie. +Have ruth on a sorrowful lover; indeed he's no thief, But the + noblest and truest of mortals for passion that sigh. + +When he had read this, he called the girl apart and questioned +her; and she told him that the young man was her lover and she +his mistress. He came to the dwelling of her people, thinking to +visit her, and threw a stone into the house, to warn her of his +coming. Her father and brothers heard the noise of the stone and +sallied out on him; but he, hearing them coming, caught up all +the household stuff and made as if he would have stolen it, to +cover his mistress's honour. 'So they seized him,' continued she, +'saying, "A thief!" and brought him before thee, whereupon he +confessed to the robbery and persisted in his confession, that he +might spare me dishonour; and this he did, making himself a +thief, of the exceeding nobility and generosity of his nature.' + +'He is indeed worthy to have his desire,' replied Khalid and +calling the young man to him, kissed him between the eyes. Then +he sent for the girl's father and bespoke him, saying, 'O elder, +we thought to punish this young man by cutting off his hand; but +God (to whom belong might and majesty) hath preserved us from +this! and I now adjudge him the sum of ten thousand dirhems, for +that he would have sacrificed his hand for the preservation of +thine honour and that of thy daughter and the sparing you both +reproach. Moreover, I adjudge other ten thousand dirhems to thy +daughter, for that she made known to me the truth of the case; +and I ask thy leave to marry him to her.' 'O Amir,' rejoined the +old man, 'thou hast my consent.' So Khalid praised God and +thanked Him and offered up a goodly exhortation and prayer; after +which he said to the young man, 'I give thee this damsel to wife, +with her own and her father's consent; and her dowry shall be +this money, to wit, ten thousand dirhems. 'I accept this marriage +at thy hands,' replied the youth and Khalid let carry the money +on trays in procession to the young man's house, whilst the +people dispersed, full of gladness. And surely [quoth he who +tells the tale[FN#6]] never saw I a rarer day than this, for that +its beginning was weeping and affliction and its end joy and +gladness. + + + + + JAAFER THE BARMECIDE AND THE BEANSELLER. + + + +When Haroun er Reshid put Jaafer the Barmecide to death, he +commanded that all who wept or made moan for him should be +crucified; so the folk abstained from this. Now there was a +Bedouin from a distant desert, who used every year to make and +bring to Jaafer an ode in his honour, for which he rewarded him +with a thousand diners; and the Bedouin took them and returning +to his own country, lived upon them, he and his family, for the +rest of the year. Accordingly, he came with his ode at the wonted +time and finding Jaafer done to death, betook himself to the +place where his body was hanging, and there made his camel kneel +down and wept sore and mourned grievously. Then he recited his +ode and fell asleep. In his sleep Jaafer the Barmecide appeared +to him and said, 'Thou hast wearied thyself to come to us and +findest us as thou seest; but go to Bassora and ask for such a +man there of the merchants of the town and say to him, "Jaafer +the Barmecide salutes thee and bids thee give me a thousand +diners, by the token of the bean."' + +When the Bedouin awoke, he repaired to Bassora, where he sought +out the merchant and repeated to him what Jaafer had said in the +dream; whereupon he wept sore, till he was like to depart the +world. Then he welcomed the Bedouin and entertained him three +days as an honoured guest; and when he was minded to depart, he +gave him a thousand and five hundred diners, saying, 'The +thousand are what is commanded to thee, and the five hundred are +a gift from me to thee; and every year thou shalt have of me a +thousand diners.' When the Bedouin was about to take leave, he +said to the merchant, 'I conjure thee, by Allah, tell me the +story of the bean, that I may know the origin of all this.' 'In +the early part of my life,' replied the merchant, 'I was +miserably poor and hawked hot boiled beans about the streets of +Baghdad for a living. + +I went out one cold, rainy day, without clothes enough on my body +to protect me from the weather, now shivering for excess of cold +and now stumbling into the pools of rain-water, and altogether in +so piteous a plight as would make one shudder to look upon. Now +it chanced that Jaafer was seated that day, with his officers and +favourites, in an upper chamber overlooking the street, and his +eye fell on me; so he took pity on my case and sending one of his +servants to fetch me to him, said to me, "Sell thy beans to my +people." So I began to mete out the beans with a measure I had +with me, and each who took a measure of beans filled the vessel +with gold pieces, till the basket was empty. Then I gathered +together the money I had gotten, and Jaafer said to me, "Hast +thou any beans left?" "I know not," answered I and sought in the +basket, but found only one bean. This Jaafer took and splitting +it in twain, kept one half himself and gave the other to one of +his favourites, saying, "For how much wilt thou buy this +half-bean?" "For the tale of all this money twice-told," replied +she; whereat I was confounded and said in myself, "This is +impossible." But, as I stood wondering, she gave an order to one +of her handmaids and the girl brought me the amount twice-told. +Then said Jaafer, "And I will buy my half for twice the sum of +the whole. Take the price of thy bean." And he gave an order to +one of his servants, who gathered together the whole of the money +and laid it in my basket; and I took it and departed. Then I +betook myself to Bassora, where I traded with the money and God +prospered me, to Him be the praise and the thanks! So, if I give +thee a thousand diners a year of the bounty of Jaafer, it will in +no wise irk me.' Consider then the munificence of Jaafer's nature +and how he was praised both alive and dead, the mercy of God the +Most High be upon him! + + + + + + ABOU MOHAMMED THE LAZY. + + + +It is told that Haroun er Reshid was sitting one day on the +throne of the Khalifate, when there came in to him a youth of his +eunuchs, bearing a crown of red gold, set with pearls and rubies +and all manner other jewels, such as money might not buy, and +kissing the ground before him, said, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, the lady Zubeideh kisses the earth before thee and +saith to thee, thou knowest she hath let make this crown, which +lacks a great jewel for its top; and she hath made search among +her treasures, but cannot find a jewel to her mind.' Quoth the +Khalif to his chamberlains and officers, 'Make search for a +great jewel, such as Zubeideh desires.' So they sought, but found +nothing befitting her and told the Khalif, who was vexed thereat +and exclaimed, 'Am I Khalif and king of the kings of the earth +and lack of a jewel? Out on ye! Enquire of the merchants.' So +they enquired of the merchants, who replied, 'Our lord the Khalif +will not find a jewel such as he requires save with a man of +Bassora, by name Abou Mohammed the Lazy.' They acquainted the +Khalif with this and he bade his Vizier Jaafer send a letter to +the Amir Mohammed ez Zubeidi, governor of Bassora, commanding him +to equip Abou Mohammed the Lazy and bring him to Baghdad. + +Jaafer accordingly wrote a letter to that effect and despatched +it by Mesrour, who set out forthright for Bassora and went in to +the governor, who rejoiced in him and entreated him with the +utmost honour. Then Mesrour read him the Khalif's mandate, to +which he replied, 'I hear and obey,' and forthwith despatched +him, with a company of his followers, to Abou Mohammed's house. +When they reached it, they knocked at the door, whereupon a +servant came out and Mesrour said to him, 'Tell thy master that +the Commander of the Faithful calls for him.' The servant went in +and told his master, who came out and found Mesrour, the Khalif's +chamberlain, and a company of the governor's men at the door. So +he kissed the earth before Mesrour and said, 'I hear and obey the +summons of the Commander of the Faithful; but enter ye my house.' +'We cannot do that,' replied Mesrour, 'save in haste; for the +Commander of the Faithful awaits thy coming.' But he said, 'Have +patience with me a little, till I set my affairs in order.' So, +after much pressure and persuasion, they entered and found the +corridor hung with curtains of blue brocade, figured with gold, +and Abou Mohammed bade one of his servants carry Mesrour to the +bath. Now this bath was in the house and Mesrour found its walls +and floor of rare and precious marbles, wrought with gold and +silver, and its waters mingled with rose-water. The servants +served Mesrour and his company on the most perfect wise and clad +them, on their going forth of the bath, in robes of honour of +brocade, interwoven with gold. + +Then they went in to Abou Mohammed and found him seated in his +upper chamber upon a couch inlaid with jewels. Over his head hung +curtains of gold brocade, wrought with pearls and jewels, and the +place was spread with cushions, embroidered in red gold. When he +saw Mesrour, he rose to receive him and bidding him welcome, +seated him by his side. Then he called for food: so they brought +the table of food, which when Mesrour saw, he exclaimed, 'By +Allah, never saw I the like of this in the palace of the +Commander of the Faithful!' For indeed it comprised all manner of +meats, served in dishes of gilded porcelain. So they ate and +drank and made merry till the end of the day, when Abou Mohammed +gave Mesrour and each of his company five thousand diners; and on +the morrow he clad them in dresses of honour of green and +gold and entreated them with the utmost honour. Then said +Mesrour to him, 'We can abide no longer, for fear of the Khalif's +displeasure.' 'O my lord,' answered Abou Mohammed, 'have patience +with us till to-morrow, that we may equip ourselves, and we will +then depart with you.' So they tarried that day and night with +him; and next morning, Abou Mohammed's servants saddled him a +mule with housings and trappings of gold, set with all manner +pearls and jewels; whereupon quoth Mesrour in himself, 'I wonder +if, when he presents himself in this equipage before the +Commander of the Faithful, he will ask him how he came by all +this wealth.' + +Then they took leave of Ez Zubeidi and setting out from Bassora, +fared on, without stopping, till they reached Baghdad and +presented themselves before the Khalif who bade Abou Mohammed be +seated. So he sat down and addressing the Khalif in courtly wise, +said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I have brought with me +a present by way of homage: have I thy leave to produce it?' +'There is no harm in that,' replied the Khalif; whereupon Abou +Mohammed caused bring in a chest, from which he took a number of +rarities and amongst the rest, trees of gold, with leaves of +emerald and fruits of rubies and topazes and pearls. Then he +fetched another chest and brought out of it a pavilion of +brocade, adorned with pearls and rubies and emeralds and +chrysolites and other precious stones; its poles were of the +finest Indian aloes-wood, and its skirts were set with emeralds. +Thereon were depicted all manner beasts and birds and other +created things, spangled with rubies and emeralds and chrysolites +and balass rubies and other precious stones. + +When Er Reshid saw these things, he rejoiced exceedingly, and +Abou Mohammed said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, deem not +that I have brought these to thee, fearing aught or coveting +aught; but I knew myself to be but a man of the people and that +these things befitted none save the Commander of the Faithful. +And now, with thy leave, I will show thee, for thy diversion, +something of what I can do.' 'Do what thou wilt,' answered Er +Reshid, 'that we may see.' 'I hear and obey,' said Abou Mohammed +and moving his lips, beckoned to the battlements of the palace, +whereupon they inclined to him; then he made another sign to +them, and they returned to their place. Then he made a sign with +his eye, and there appeared before him cabinets with closed +doors, to which he spoke, and lo, the voices of birds answered +him [from within]. The Khalif marvelled exceedingly at this and +said to him, 'How camest thou by all this, seeing that thou art +only known as Abou Mohammed the Lazy, and they tell me that thy +father was a barber-surgeon, serving in a public bath, and left +thee nothing?' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' answered he, +'listen to my story, for it is an extraordinary one and its +particulars are wonderful; were it graven with needles upon the +corners of the eye, it would serve as a lesson to him who can +profit by admonition.' 'Let us hear it,' said the Khalif. + +'Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,' replied Abou Mohammed, +'(may God prolong to thee glory and dominion,) that the report of +the folk, that I am known as the Lazy and that my father left me +nothing, is true; for he was, as thou hast said, but a barber- +surgeon in a bath. In my youth I was the laziest wight on the +face of the earth; indeed, so great was my sluggishness that, +if I lay asleep in the sultry season and the sun came round upon +me, I was too lazy to rise and remove from the sun to the shade; +and thus I abode till I reached my fifteenth year, when my father +was admitted to the mercy of God the Most High and left me +nothing. However, my mother used to go out to service and feed me +and give me to drink, whilst I lay on my side. + + +One day, she came in to me, with five silver dirhems, and said to +me, "O my son, I hear that the Sheikh Aboul Muzeffer is about to +go a voyage to China." (Now this Sheikh was a good and charitable +man and loved the poor.) "So come, let us carry him these five +dirhems and beg him to buy thee therewith somewhat from the land +of China, so haply thou mayst make a profit of it, by the bounty +of God the Most High!" I was too lazy to move; but she swore by +Allah that, except I rose and went with her, she would neither +bring me meat nor drink nor come in to me, but would leave me to +die of hunger and thirst. When I heard this, O Commander of the +Faithful, I knew she would do as she said; so I said to her, +"Help me to sit up." She did so, and I wept the while and said to +her, "Bring me my shoes." Accordingly, she brought them and I +said, "Put them on my feet." She put them on my feet and I said, +"Lift me up." So she lifted me up and I said, "Support me, that I +may walk." So she supported me and I went along thus, still +stumbling in my skirts, till we came to the river-bank, where we +saluted the Sheikh and I said to him, "O uncle, art thou Aboul +Muzeffer?" "At thy service," answered he, and I said, "Take these +dirhems and buy me somewhat from the land of China: haply, God +may vouchsafe me a profit of it." Quoth the Sheikh to his +companions, "Do ye know this youth?" "Yes," replied they; "he is +known as Abou Mohammed the Lazy, and we never saw him stir from +his house till now." Then said he to me, "O my son, give me the +dirhems and the blessing of God the Most High go with them!" So +he took the money, saying, "In the name of God!" and I returned +home with my mother. + +Meanwhile the Sheikh set sail, with a company of merchants, and +stayed not till they reached the land of China, where they bought +and sold, and having done their intent, set out on their homeward +voyage. When they had been three days at sea, the Sheikh said to +his company, "Stay the ship!" And they asked him what was to do +with him. "Know," replied he, "that I have forgotten the +commission with which Abou Mohammed the Lazy charged me; so let +us turn back, that we may buy him somewhat whereby he may +profit." "We conjure thee, by God the Most High," exclaimed they, +"turn not back with us; for we have traversed an exceeding great +distance and endured sore hardship and many perils." Quoth he, +"There is no help for it;" and they said "Take from us double the +profit of the five dirhems and turn not back with us." So he +agreed to this and they collected for him a great sum of money. + +Then they sailed on, till they came to an island, wherein was +much people; so they moored thereto and the merchants went +ashore, to buy thence precious metals and pearls and jewels and +so forth. Presently, Aboul Muzeffer saw a man seated, with many +apes before him, and amongst them one whose hair had been plucked +off. As often as the man's attention was diverted from them, the +other apes fell upon the plucked one and beat him and threw him +on their master; whereupon the latter rose and beat them and +bound them and punished them for this; and all the apes were +wroth with the plucked ape therefor and beat him the more. When +Aboul Muzeffer saw this, he took compassion upon the plucked ape +and said to his master, "Wilt thou sell me yonder ape?" "Buy," +replied the man, and Aboul Muzeffer rejoined, "I have with me +five dirhems, belonging to an orphan lad. Wilt thou sell me the +ape for that sum?" "He is thine," answered the ape-merchant. "May +God give thee a blessing of him!" So the Sheikh paid the money +and his slaves took the ape and tied him up in the ship. + +Then they loosed sail and made for another island, where they +cast anchor; and there came down divers, who dived for pearls and +corals and other jewels. So the merchants hired them for money +and they dived. When the ape saw this, he did himself loose from +his bonds and leaping off the ship's side, dived with them; +whereupon quoth Aboul Muzeffer, "There is no power and no virtue +but in God the Most High, the Supreme! The ape is lost to us, by +the [ill] fortune of the poor fellow for whom we bought him." And +they despaired of him; but, after awhile, the company of divers +rose to the surface, and with them the ape, with his hands full +of jewels of price, which he threw down before Aboul Muzeffer, +who marvelled at this and said, "There hangs some great mystery +by this ape!" + +Then they cast off and sailed till they came to a third island, +called the Island of the Zunonj,[FN#7] who are a people of the +blacks, that eat human flesh. When the blacks saw them, they +boarded them in canoes and taking all in the ship, pinioned them +and carried them to their king who bade slaughter certain of the +merchants. So they slaughtered them and ate their flesh; and the +rest passed the night in prison and sore concern. But, when it +was [mid]night, the ape arose and going up to Aboul Muzeffer, did +off his bonds. When the others saw him free, they said, "God +grant that our deliverance may be at thy hands, O Aboul +Muzeffer!" But he replied, "Know that he who at delivered me, by +God's leave, was none other than this ape; and I buy my release +of him at a thousand dinars." "And we likewise," rejoined the +merchants, "will pay him a thousand diners each, if he release +us." With this, the ape went up to them and loosed their bonds, +one by one, till he had freed them all, when they made for the +ship and boarding her, found all safe and nothing missing. So +they cast off and set sail; and presently Aboul Muzeffer said to +them, "O merchants, fulfil your promise to the ape." "We hear and +obey," answered they and paid him a thousand diners each, whilst +Aboul Muzeffer brought out to him the like sum of his own monies, +so that there was a great sum of money collected for the ape. + +Then they fared on till they reached the city of Bassora, where +their friends came out to meet them; and when they had landed, +the Sheikh said, "Where is Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" The news +reached my mother, who came to me, as I lay asleep, and said to +me, "O my son, the Sheikh Aboul Muzeffer has come back and is now +in the city; so go thou to him and salute him and enquire what he +hath brought thee; it may be God hath blessed thee with +somewhat." "Lift me from the ground," quoth I, "and prop me up, +whilst I walk to the river-bank." So she lifted me up and I went +out and walked on, stumbling in my skirts, till I met the Sheikh, +who exclaimed, at sight of me, "Welcome to him whose money has +been the means of my delivery and that of these merchants, by +the will of God the Most High! Take this ape that I bought for +thee and carry him home and wait till I come to thee." So I +took the ape, saying in myself, "By Allah, this is indeed rare +merchandise!" and drove it home, where I said to my mother, +"Whenever I lie down to sleep, thou biddest me rise and trade; +see now this merchandise with thine own eyes." + +Then I sat down, and presently up came Aboul Muzeffer's slaves +and said to me, "Art thou Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" "Yes," +answered I; and behold, Aboul Muzeffer appeared behind them. So I +went up to him and kissed his hands; and he said to me, "Come +with me to my house." "I hear and obey," answered I and followed +him to his house, where he bade his servants bring me the money +[and what not else the ape had earned me]. So they brought it and +he said to me, "O my son, God hath blessed thee with this wealth, +by way of profit on thy five dirhems." Then the slaves laid the +treasure in chests, which they set on their heads, and Aboul +Muzeffer gave me the keys of the chests, saying, "Go before the +slaves to thy house; for all this wealth is thine." So I returned +to my mother, who rejoiced in this and said to me, "O my son, God +hath blessed thee with this much wealth; so put off thy laziness +and go down to the bazaar and sell and buy." So I shook off my +sloth, and opened a shop in the bazaar, where the ape used to sit +on the same divan with me, eating with me when I ate and drinking +when I drank. But, every day, he was absent from daybreak till +noon-day, when he came back, bringing with him a purse of a +thousand diners, which he laid by my side, and sat down. Thus did +he a great while, till I amassed much wealth, wherewith I bought +houses and lands and planted gardens and got me slaves, black and +white and male and female. + +One day, as I sat in my shop, with the ape at my side, he began +to turn right and left, and I said in myself, "What ails the +beast?" Then God made the ape speak with a glib tongue, and he +said to me, "O Abou Mohammed!" When I heard him speak, I was sore +afraid; but he said to me, "Fear not; I will tell thee my case. +Know that I am a Marid of the Jinn and came to thee, because of +thy poor estate; but to-day thou knowest not the tale of thy +wealth; and now I have a need of thee, wherein it thou do my +will, it shall be well for thee." "What is it?" asked I, and he +said, "I have a mind to marry thee to a girl like the full moon." +"How so?" quoth I. "To. morrow," replied he, "don thou thy +richest clothes and mount thy mule, with the saddle of gold, and +ride to the forage-market. There enquire for the shop of the +Sherif[FN#8] and sit down beside him and say to him, 'I come to +thee a suitor for thy daughter's hand.' If he say to thee, 'Thou +hast neither money nor condition nor family,' pull out a thousand +diners and give them to him; and if he ask more, give him more +and tempt him with money." "I hear and obey," answered I; +"to-morrow, if it please God, I will do thy bidding." + +So on the morrow I donned my richest clothes and mounting my mule +with trappings of gold, rode, attended by half a score slaves, +black and white, to the forage-market, where I found the Sherif +sitting in his shop. I alighted and saluting him, seated myself +beside him. Quoth he, "Haply, thou hast some business with us, +which we may have the pleasure of transacting?" "Yes," answered +I; "I have business with thee." "And what is it?" asked he. Quoth +I, "I come to thee as a suitor for thy daughter's hand." And he +said, "Thou hast neither money nor condition nor family;" +whereupon I pulled out a thousand diners of red gold and said to +him, "This is my rank and family; and he whom God bless and keep +hath said, 'The best of ranks is wealth.' And how well saith the +poet: + +Whoso hath money, though it be but dirhems twain, his lips Have + learnt all manner speech and he can speak and fear no + slight. +His brethren and his mates draw near and hearken to his word And + 'mongst the folk thou seest him walk, a glad and prideful + wight. +But for the money, in the which he glorieth on this wise, + Thou'dst find him, midst his fellow-men, in passing sorry + plight. +Yea, whensoe'er the rich man speaks, though in his speech he err, + 'Thou hast not spoken a vain thing,' they say; 'indeed, + thou'rt right.' +But, for the poor man, an he speak, albeit he say sooth, They + say, 'Thou liest,' and make void his speech and hold it + light +For money, verily, in all the lands beneath the sun, With + goodliness and dignity cloth its possessors dight. +A very tongue it is for him who would be eloquent And eke a + weapon to his hand who hath a mind to fight." + +When he heard this, he bowed his head awhile, then, raising it, +said, "If it must be so, I will have of thee other three thousand +diners." "I hear and obey," answered I and sent one of my +servants to my house for the money. When he came back with it, I +handed it to the Sherif, who rose and bidding his servants shut +his shop, invited his brother-merchants to the wedding; after +which he carried me to his house and drew up the contract of +marriage between his daughter and myself, saying to me, "After +ten days, I will bring thee in to her." So I went home rejoicing +and shutting myself up with the ape, told him what had passed; +and he said, "Thou hast done well." + +When the time appointed by the Sherif drew near, the ape said to +me, "There is a thing I would fain have thee do for me; and +after, thou shalt have of me what thou wilt." "What is that?" +asked I. Quoth he, "At the upper end of the bridechamber stands a +cabinet, on whose door is a padlock of brass and the keys under +it. Take the keys and open the cabinet, in which thou wilt find a +coffer of iron, with four talismanic flags at its angles. In its +midst is a brass basin full of money, wherein is tied a white +cock with a cleft comb; and on one side of the coffer are eleven +serpents and on the other a knife. Take the knife and kill the +cock; cut away the flags and overturn the chest; then go back to +the bride and do away her maidenhead. This is what I have to ask +of thee." "I hear and obey," answered I and betook myself to the +Sherif's house. + +As soon as I entered the bridechamber, I looked for the cabinet +and found it even as the ape had described it. Then I went in to +the bride and marvelled at her beauty and grace and symmetry, for +indeed they were such as no tongue can set forth. So I rejoiced +in her with an exceeding joy; and in the middle of the night, +when she slept, I rose and taking the keys, opened the cabinet. +Then I took the knife and killed the cock and threw down the +flags and overturned the coffer, whereupon the girl awoke and +seeing the closet open and the cock slain, exclaimed, "There is +no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme! The +Marid hath gotten me!" Hardly had she made an end of speaking, +when the Marid came down upon the house and seizing the bride, +flew away with her; whereupon there arose a great clamour and in +came the Sherif, buffeting his face. "O Abou Mohammed," said he, +"what is this thou hast done? Is it thus thou requitest us? I +made the talisman in the cabinet in my fear for my daughter from +this accursed one; for these six years hath he sought to steal +away the girl, but could not. But now there is no more abiding +for thee with us; so go thy ways." + +So I went out and returned to my own house, where I made search +for the ape, but could find no trace of him; whereby I knew that +he was the Marid, who had taken my wife and had tricked me into +destroying the talisman that hindered him from taking her, and +repented, rending my clothes and buffeting my face; and there was +no land but was straitened upon me. So I made for the desert, +knowing not whither I should go, and wandered on, absorbed in +melancholy thought, till night overtook me. Presently, I saw two +serpents fighting, a white one and a tawny. So I took up a stone +and throwing it at the tawny serpent, which was the aggressor, +killed it; whereupon the white serpent made off, but returned +after awhile accompanied by ten others of the same colour, which +went up to the dead serpent and tore it in pieces, till but the +head was left. Then they went their ways and I fell prostrate for +weariness on the ground where I stood; but, as I lay, pondering +my case, I heard a voice repeat the following verses, though I +saw no one: + +Let destiny with slackened rein its course appointed fare And lie + thou down by night to sleep with heart devoid of care. +For, twixt the closing of the eyes and th' opening thereof, God + hath it in His power to change a case from foul to fair. + +When I heard this, great concern got hold of me and I was beyond +measure troubled; and I heard a voice from behind me repeat these +verses also: + +Muslim, whose guide's the Koran and his due, Rejoice, for succour + cometh thee unto. +Let not the wiles of Satan make thee rue, For we're a folk whose + creed's the One, the True. + +Then said I, "I conjure thee by Him whom thou worshippest, let me +know who thou art!" Thereupon the unseen speaker appeared to me, +in the likeness of a man, and said, "Fear not; for the report of +thy good deed hath reached us, and we are a people of the +true-believing Jinn. So, if thou lack aught, let us know it, that +we may have the pleasure of fulfilling thy need." "Indeed," +answered I, "I am in sore need, for there hath befallen me a +grievous calamity, whose like never yet befell man." Quoth he, +"Surely, thou art Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" And I answered, "Yes." +"O Abou Mohammed," rejoined the genie, "I am the brother of the +white serpent, whose enemy thou slewest. We are four brothers, by +one father and mother, and we are all indebted to thee for thy +kindness. Know that he who played this trick on thee, in the +likeness of an ape, is a Marid of the Marids of the Jinn; and had +he not used this artifice, he had never been able to take the +girl; for he hath loved her and had a mind to take her this long +while, but could not win at her, being hindered of the talisman; +and had it remained as it was, he could never have done so. +However, fret not thyself for that; we will bring thee to her and +kill the Marid; for thy kindness is not lost upon us." + +Then he cried out with a terrible voice, and behold, there +appeared a company of Jinn, of whom he enquired concerning the +ape; and one of them said, "I know his abiding-place; it is in +the City of Brass, upon which the sun riseth not." Then said the +first genie to me, "O Abou Mohammed, take one of these our +slaves, and he will carry thee on his back and teach thee how +thou shalt get back the girl: but know that he is a Marid and +beware lest thou utter the name of God, whilst he is carrying +thee; or he will flee from thee, and thou wilt fall and be +destroyed." "I hear and obey," answered I and chose out one of +the slaves, who bent down and said to me, "Mount." So I mounted +on his back, and he flew up with me into the air, till I lost +sight of the earth and saw the stars as they were fixed mountains +and heard the angels glorifying God in heaven, what while the +Marid held me in converse, diverting me and hindering me from +pronouncing the name of God. But, as we flew, behold, one clad in +green raiment, with streaming tresses and radiant face, holding +in his hand a javelin whence issued sparks of fire, accosted me, +saying, "O Abou Mohammed, say, 'There is no god but God and +Mohammed is His apostle;' or I will smite thee with this +javelin." + +Now I was already sick at heart of my [forced] abstention from +calling on the name of God; so I said, "There is no god but God +and Mohammed is His apostle." Whereupon the shining one smote the +Marid with his javelin and he melted away and became ashes; +whilst I was precipitated from his back and fell headlong toward +the earth, till I dropped into the midst of a surging sea, +swollen with clashing billows. Hard by where I fell was a ship +and five sailors therein, who, seeing me, made for me and took me +up into the boat. They began to speak to me in some tongue I knew +not; but I signed to them that I understood not their speech. So +they fared on till ended day, when they cast out a net and caught +a great fish and roasting it, gave me to eat; after which they +sailed on, till they reached their city and carried me in to +their king, who understand Arabic. So I kissed the ground before +him, and he bestowed on me a dress of honour and made me one of +his officers. I asked him the name of the city, and he replied, +"It is called Henad and is in the land of China." Then he +committed me to his Vizier, bidding him show me the city, which +was formerly peopled by infidels, till God the Most High turned +them into stones; and there I abode a month's space, diverting +myself with viewing the place, nor saw I ever greater plenty of +trees and fruits than there. + +One day, as I sat on the bank of a river, there accosted me a +horseman, who said to me, "Art thou not Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" +"Yes," answered I; whereupon, "Fear not," said he; "for the +report of thy good deed hath reached us." Quoth I, "Who art +thou?" And he answered, "I am a brother of the white serpent, and +thou art hard by the place where is the damsel whom thou +seekest." So saying, he took off his [outer] clothes and clad me +therein, saying, "Fear not; for he, that perished under thee, was +one of our slaves." Then he took me up behind him and rode on +with me, till we came to a desert place, when he said to me, +"Alight now and walk on between yonder mountains till thou seest +the City of Brass; then halt afar off and enter it not, till I +return to thee and teach thee how thou shalt do." "I hear and +obey," replied I and alighting, walked on till I came to the +city, the walls whereof I found of brass. I went round about it, +looking for a gate, but found none; and presently, the serpent's +brother rejoined me and gave me a charmed sword that should +hinder any from seeing me, then went his way. + +He had been gone but a little while, when I heard a noise of +cries and found myself in the midst of a multitude of folk whose +eyes were in their breasts. Quoth they, "Who art thou and what +brings thee hither?" So I told them my story, and they said, "The +girl thou seekest is in the city with the Marid; but we know not +what he hath done with her. As for us, we are brethren of the +white serpent. But go to yonder spring and note where the water +enters, and enter thou with it; for it will bring thee into the +city." I did as they bade me and followed the water-course, till +it brought me to a grotto under the earth, from which I ascended +and found myself in the midst of the city. Here I saw the damsel +seated upon a throne of gold, under a canopy of brocade, midmost +a garden full of trees of gold, whose fruits were jewels of +price, such as rubies and chrysolites and pearls and coral. + +When she saw me, she knew me and accosted me with the +[obligatory] salutation, saying, "O my lord, who brought thee +hither?" So I told her all that had passed and she said, "Know +that the accursed Marid, of the greatness of his love for me, +hath told me what doth him hurt and what profit and that there is +here a talisman by means whereof he could, an he would, destroy +this city and all that are therein. It is in the likeness of an +eagle, with I know not what written on it, and whoso possesses +it, the Afrits will do his commandment in everything. It stands +upon a column in such a place; so go thou thither and take it. +Then set it before thee and taking a chafing-dish, throw into it +a little musk, whereupon there will arise a smoke, that will draw +all the Afrits to thee, and they will all present themselves +before thee, nor shall one be absent; and whatsoever thou biddest +them, that will they do. Arise therefore and do this thing, with +the blessing of God the Most High." + +"I hear and obey," answered I and going to the column, did what +she bade me, whereupon the Afrits presented themselves, saying, +"Here are we, O our lord! Whatsoever thou biddest us, that will +we do." Quoth I, "Bind the Marid that brought the damsel hither." +"We hear and obey," answered they and disappearing, returned +after awhile and informed me that they had done my bidding. Then +I dismissed them and returning to my wife, told her what had +happened and said to her, "Wilt thou go with me?" "Yes," answered +she. So I carried her forth of the city, by the underground +channel, and we fared on, till we fell in with the folk who had +shown me the way into the city. I besought them to teach me how I +should return to my native land; so they brought us to the +seashore and set us aboard a ship, which sailed on with us with a +fair wind, till we reached the city of Bassora. Here we landed, +and I carried my wife to her father's house; and when her people +saw her, they rejoiced with an exceeding joy. Then I fumigated +the eagle with musk and the Afrits flocked to me from all sides, +saying, "At thy service; what wilt thou have us do?" I bade them +transport all that was in the City of Brass of gold and silver +and jewels and precious things to my house in Bassora, which they +did; and I then ordered them to fetch the ape. So they brought +him before me, abject and humiliated, and I said to him, "O +accursed one, why hast thou dealt thus perfidiously with me?" +Then I commanded the Afrits to shut him in a brazen vessel: so +they put him in a strait vessel of brass and sealed it with lead. +But I abode with my wife in joy and delight; and now, O Commander +of the Faithful, I have under my hand such stores of precious +things and rare jewels and other treasure as neither reckoning +may comprise nor measure suffice unto. All this is of the bounty +of God the Most High, and if thou desire aught of money or what +not, I will bid the Jinn bring it to thee forthright.' + +The Khalif wondered greatly at his story and bestowed on him +royal gifts, in exchange for his presents, and entreated him with +the favour he deserved. + + + + + + THE GENEROUS DEALING OF YEHYA BEN KHALID + THE BARMECIDE WITH MENSOUR. + + + +It is told that Haroun er Reshid, in the days before he became +jealous of the Barmecides, sent once for one of his guards, Salih +by name, and said to him, 'O Salih, go to Mensour[FN#9] and say +to him, "Thou owest us a thousand thousand dirhems and we require +of thee immediate payment of the amount." And I charge thee, O +Salih, an he pay it not before sundown, sever his head from his +body and bring it to me.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Salih and +going to Mensour, acquainted him with what the Khalif had said, +whereupon quoth he, 'By Allah, I am a lost man; for all my estate +and all my hand owns, if sold for their utmost value, would not +fetch more than a hundred thousand dirhems. Whence then, O Salih, +shall I get the other nine hundred thousand?' 'Contrive how thou +mayst speedily acquit thyself,' answered Salih; 'else art thou a +dead man; for I cannot grant thee a moment's delay after the time +appointed me by the Khalif, nor can I fail of aught that he hath +enjoined on me. Hasten, therefore, to devise some means of saving +thyself ere the time expire.' 'O Salih,' quoth Mensour, 'I beg +thee of thy favour to bring me to my house, that I may take +leave of my children and family and give my kinsfolk my last +injunctions.' + +So he carried him to his house, where he fell to bidding his +family farewell, and the house was filled with a clamour of +weeping and lamentation and calling on God for help. Then Salih +said to him, 'I have bethought me that God may peradventure +vouchsafe thee relief at the hands of the Barmecides. Come, let +us go to the house of Yehya ben Khalid.' So they went to Yehya's +house, and Mensour told him his case, whereat he was sore +concerned and bowed his head awhile; then raising it, he called +his treasurer and said to him, 'How much money have we in our +treasury?' 'Five thousand dirhems,' answered the treasurer, and +Yehya bade him bring them and sent a message to his son Fezl, +saying, 'I am offered for sale estates of great price, that may +never be laid waste; so send me somewhat of money.' Fezl sent him +a thousand thousand dirhems, and he despatched a like message to +his son Jaafer, who also sent him a thousand thousand dirhems; +nor did he leave sending to his kinsmen of the Barmecides, till +he had collected from them a great sum of mosey for Mensour. But +the latter and Salih knew not of this; and Mensour said to Yehya, +'O my lord, I have laid hold upon thy skirt for I know not +whither to look for the money but to thee; so discharge thou the +rest of my debt for me, in accordance with thy wonted generosity, +and make me thy freed slave.' Thereupon Yehya bowed his head and +wept; then he said to a page, 'Harkye, boy, the Commander of the +Faithful gave our slave-girl Denanir a jewel of great price: go +thou to her and bid her send it us.' The page went out and +presently returned with the jewel, whereupon quoth Yehya, 'O +Mensour, I bought this jewel of the merchants for the Commander +of the Faithful, for two hundred thousand diners, and he gave it +to our slave-girl Denanir the lutanist. When he sees it with +thee, he will know it and spare thy life and do thee honour for +our sake; and now thy money is complete.' + +So Salih took the money and the jewel and carried them to the +Khalif, together with Mensour; but on the way? he heard the +latter repeat this verse, applying it to his own case: + +It was not love, indeed, my feet to them that led; Nay, but + because the stroke of th' arrows I did dread. + +When Salih heard this, he marvelled at the baseness and +ingratitude of Mensour's nature, and turning upon him, said, +'There is none on the face of the earth better than the +Barmecides, nor any baser nor more depraved than thou; for they +bought thee off from death and saved thee from destruction, +giving thee what should deliver thee; yet thou thankest them not +nor praisest them, neither acquittest thee after the manner of +the noble; nay, thou requitest their benevolence with this +speech.' Then he went to Er Reshid and acquainted him with all +that had passed; and he marvelled at the generosity and +benevolence of Yehya ben Khalid and the baseness and ingratitude +of Mensour and bade restore the jewel to Yehya, saying, 'That +which we have given, it befits not that we take again.' + +So Salih returned to Yehya, and acquainted him with Mensour's ill +conduct; whereupon, 'O Salih,' replied he, 'when a man is in +distress, sick at heart and distracted with melancholy thought. +he is not to be blamed for aught that falls from him; for it +comes not from the heart.' And he fell to seeking excuse for +Mensour. But Salih wept [in telling the tale] and exclaimed, +'Never shall the revolving sphere bring forth into being the like +of thee, O Yehya! Alas, that one of such noble nature and +generosity should be buried beneath the earth! 'And he repeated +the following verses: + +Hasten to do the kindnesses thou hast a mind unto; For bounty is + not possible at every tide and hour. +How many a man denies his soul to do the generous deed, To which + it's fain, till lack of means deprive him of the power! + + + + + + THE GENEROUS DEALING OF YEHYA BEN KHALID + WITH A MAN WHO FORGED A LETTER IN HIS + NAME. + + + +There was between Yehya ben Khalid and Abdallah ben Malik el +Khuzai[FN#10] a secret enmity, the reason whereof was that Haroun +er Reshid loved the latter with an exceeding love, so that Yehya +and his sons were wont to say that he had bewitched the Khalif; +and thus they abode a long while, with rancour in their hearts, +till it fell out that the Khalif invested Abdallah with the +government of Armenia and sent him thither. Soon after he had +established himself in his seat of government, there came to him +one of the people of Irak, a man of excellent parts and good +breeding, who had lost his wealth and wasted his substance, and +his estate was come to nought; so he forged a letter to Abdallah +in Yehya's name and set out therewith for Armenia. When he came +to the governor's gate, he gave the letter to one of the +chamberlains, who carried it to his master. Abdallah read it and +considering it attentively, knew it to be forged; so he sent for +the man, who presented himself before him and called down +blessings upon him and praised him and those of his court. Quoth +Abdallah to him, 'What moved thee to weary thyself thus and bring +me a forged letter? But be of good heart; for we will not +disappoint thy travail.' 'God prolong the life of our lord the +Vizier!' replied the other. 'If my coming irk thee, cast not +about for a pretext to repel me, for God's earth is wide and the +Divine Provider liveth. Indeed, the letter I bring thee from +Yehya ben Khalid is true and no forgery.' Quoth Abdallah, 'I will +write a letter to my agent at Baghdad and bid him enquire +concerning the letter. If it be true, as thou sayest, I will +bestow on thee the government of one of my cities; or, if thou +prefer a present, I will give thee two hundred thousand dirhems, +besides horses and camels of price and a robe of honour. But, if +the letter prove a forgery, I will have thee beaten with two +hundred blows of a stick and thy beard shaven.' + +Accordingly, he bade confine him in a privy chamber and furnish +him therein with all he needed, till his case should be made +manifest. Then he despatched a letter to his agent at Baghdad, to +the following purport: 'There is come to me a man with a letter +purporting to be from Yehya ben Khalid. Now I have my doubts of +this letter: so delay thou not, but go thyself and learn the +truth of the case and let me have an answer in all speed.' When +the letter reached the agent, he mounted at once and betook +himself to the house of Yehya ben Khalid, whom he found sitting +with his officers and boon-companions. So he gave him the letter +and he read it and said to the agent, 'Come back to me to-morrow, +against I write thee an answer.' + +When the agent had gone away, Yehya turned to his companions and +said, 'What doth he deserve who forgeth a letter in my name and +carrieth it to my enemy?' They all answered, saying this and +that, each proposing some kind of punishment; but Yehya said, 'Ye +err in that ye say and this your counsel is of the meanness and +baseness of your spirits. Ye all know the close favour of +Abdallah with the Khalif and what is between him and us of +despite and enmity; and now God the Most High hath made this man +an intermediary, to effect a reconciliation between us, and hath +appointed him to quench the fire of hate in our hearts, which +hath been growing this score years; and by his means our +differences shall be accorded. Wherefore it behoves me to requite +him by confirming his expectation and amending his estate; so I +will write him a letter to Abdallah, to the intent that he may +use him with increase of honour and liberality.' + +When his companions heard what he said, they called down +blessings on him and marvelled at his generosity and the +greatness of his magnanimity. Then he called for paper and ink +and wrote Abdallah a letter in his own hand, to the following +effect: 'In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful! Thy +letter hath reached me (may God give thee long life!) and I have +read it and rejoice in thy health and well-being. It was thy +thought that yonder worthy man had forged a letter in my name and +that he was not the bearer of any message from me; but the case +is not so, for the letter I myself wrote, and it was no forgery; +and I hope, of thy courtesy and benevolence and the nobility of +thy nature, that thou wilt fulfil this generous and excellent man +of his hope and wish and use him with the honour he deserves and +bring him to his desire and make him the special object of thy +favour and munificence. Whatever thou dost with him, it is to me +that thou dost it, and I am beholden to thee accordingly.' Then +he superscribed the letter and sealing it, delivered it to the +agent, who despatched it to Abdallah. + +When the latter read it, he was charmed with its contents and +sending for the man, said to him, 'Now will I give thee which +thou wilt of the two things I promised thee.' 'The gift were more +acceptable to me than aught else,' replied the man; whereupon +Abdallah ordered him two hundred thousand dirhems and ten Arab +horses, five with housings of silk and other five with richly +ornamented saddles of state, besides twenty chests of clothes and +ten mounted white slaves and a proportionate quantity of jewels +of price. Moreover, he bestowed on him a dress of honour and sent +him to Baghdad in great state. When he came thither, he repaired +to Yehya's house, before he went to his own folk, and sought an +audience of him. So the chamberlain went in to Yehya and said to +him, 'O my lord, there is one at our door who craves speech of +thee; and he is a man of apparent wealth and consideration, +comely of aspect and attended by many servants.' Yehya bade admit +him; so he entered and kissed the ground before him. 'Who art +thou?' asked Yehya; and he answered, 'O my lord, I am one who was +dead from the tyranny of fortune; but thou didst raise me again +from the grave of calamities and preferredst me to the paradise +of [my] desires. I am he who forged a letter in thy name and +carried it to Abdallah ben Malek el Khuzai.' 'How hath he dealt +with thee,' asked Yehya, 'and what did he give thee?' Quoth the +man, 'He hath made me rich and overwhelmed me with presents and +favours, thanks to thee and thy great generosity and magnanimity +and to thine exceeding goodness and abounding munificence and +thine all-embracing liberality. And now, behold, I have brought +all that he gave me, and it is at thy door; for it is thine to +command, and the decision is in thy hand.' 'Thou hast done me +better service than I thee,' rejoined Yehya; 'and I owe thee +thanks without stint and abundant largesse, for that thou hast +changed the enmity that was between me and yonder man of worship +into love and friendship. Wherefore I will give thee the like of +what Abdallah gave thee.' Then he ordered him money and horses +and apparel, such as Abdallah had given him; and thus that man's +fortune was restored to him by the munificence of these two +generous men. + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL MAMOUN AND THE STRANGE + DOCTOR + + + +It is said that there was none, among the Khalifs of the house of +Abbas, more accomplished in all branches of knowledge than El +Mamoun. On two days in each week, he was wont to preside at +conferences of the learned, when the doctors and theologians met +and sitting, each in his several rank and room, disputed in his +presence. One day, as he sat thus, there came into the assembly a +stranger, clad in worn white clothes, and sat down in an obscure +place, behind the doctors of the law. Then the assembled scholars +began to speak and expound difficult questions, it being the +custom that the various propositions should be submitted to each +in turn and that whoso bethought him of some subtle addition or +rare trait, should make mention of it. So the question went round +till it came to the stranger, who spoke in his turn and made a +goodlier answer than that of any of the doctors; and the Khalif +approved his speech and bade advance him to a higher room. When +the second question came round to him, he made a still more +admirable answer, and the Khalif ordered him to be preferred to a +yet higher place. When the third question reached him, he made +answer more justly and appropriately than on the two previous +occasions, and El Mamoun bade him come up and sit near himself. +When the conference broke up, water was brought and they washed +their hands; after which food was set on and they ate. Then the +doctors arose and withdrew; but El Mamoun forbade the stranger to +depart with them and calling him to himself, entreated him with +especial favour and promised him honour and benefits. + +Presently, they made ready the banquet of wine; the fair-faced +boon-companions came and the cup went round amongst them till it +came to the stranger, who rose to his feet and said, 'If the +Commander of the Faithful permit me, I will say one word.' 'Say +what thou wilt,' answered the Khalif. Quoth the stranger, +'Verily, the Exalted Intelligence[FN#11] (whose eminence God +increase!) knoweth that his slave was this day, in the august +assembly, one of the unknown folk and of the meanest of the +company, and the Commander of the Faithful distinguished him and +brought him near to himself, little as was the wit he showed, +preferring him above the rest and advancing him to a rank whereto +his thought aspired not: and now he is minded to deprive him of +that small portion of wit that raised him from obscurity and +augmented him, after his littleness. God forfend that the +Commander of the Faithful should envy his slave what little he +hath of understanding and worth and renown! But, if his slave +should drink wine, his reason would depart from him and ignorance +draw near to him and steal away his good breeding; so would he +revert to that low degree, whence he sprang, and become +contemptible and ridiculous in the eyes of the folk. I hope, +therefore, that the August Intelligence, of his power and bounty +and royal generosity and magnanimity, will not despoil his slave +of this jewel.' + +When the Khalif heard his speech, he praised him and thanked him +and making him sit down again in his place, showed him high +honour and ordered him a present of a hundred thousand diners. +Moreover he mounted him upon a horse and gave him rich apparel; +and in every assembly he exalted him and showed him favour over +all the other doctors, till he became the highest of them all in +rank. + + + + + + ALI SHAR AND ZUMURRUD. + + + +There lived once, of old days, in the land of Khorassan, a +merchant called Mejdeddin, who had great wealth and many slaves +and servants, black and white; but he was childless until he +reached the age of threescore, when God the Most High vouchsafed +him a son, whom he named Ali Shar. The boy grew up like the moon +on the night of its full, and when he came to man's estate and +was endowed with all kinds of perfection, his father fell sick of +a mortal malady and calling his son to him, said to him, 'O my +son, the hour of my death is at hand, and I desire to give thee +my last injunctions.' 'And what are they, O my father?' asked +Ali. 'O my son,' answered Mejdeddin, 'I charge thee, be not [too] +familiar with any and eschew what leads to evil and mischief. +Beware lest thou company with the wicked; for he is like the +blacksmith; if his fire burn thee not, his smoke irks thee: and +how excellent is the saying of the poet: + +There is no man in all the world whose love thou shouldst desire, + No friend who, if fate play thee false, will true and + constant be. +Wherefore I'd have thee live apart and lean for help on none. In + this I give thee good advice; so let it profit thee. + +And what another saith: + +Men are a latent malady; Count not on them, I counsel thee. +An if thou look into their case, They're full of guile and + perfidy. + +And yet a third: + +The company of men will profit thee in nought, Except to pass + away the time in idle prate; +So spare thou to converse with them, except it be For gain of + lore and wit or mending of estate. + +And a fourth + +If a quickwitted man have made proof of mankind, I have eaten of + them, where but tasted hath he, +And have seen their affection but practice and nought But + hypocrisy found their religion to be.' + +'O my father,' said Ali, 'I hear and obey: what more shall I do?' +'Do good when thou art able thereto,' answered his father; 'be +ever courteous and succourable to men and profit by all occasions +of doing a kindness; for a design is not always easy of +accomplishment; and how well saith the poet: + +'Tis not at every time and season that to do Kind offices, + indeed, is easy unto you; +So, when the occasion serves, make haste to profit by't, Lest by + and by the power should fail thee thereunto.' + +'I hear and obey,' answered Ali; 'what more?' 'Be mindful of +God,' continued Mejdeddin, 'and He will be mindful of thee. +Husband thy wealth and squander it not; for, if thou do, thou +wilt come to have need of the least of mankind. Know that the +measure of a man's worth is according to what his right hand +possesses: and how well saith the poet: + +If wealth should fail, there is no friend will bear me company, + But whilst my substance yet abounds, all men are friends to + me. +How many a foe for money's sake hath companied with me! How many + a friend for loss thereof hath turned mine enemy!' + +'What more?' asked Ali. 'O my son,' said Mejdeddin, 'take counsel +of those who are older than thou and hasten not to do thy heart's +desire. Have compassion on those that are below thee, so shall +those that are above thee have compassion on thee; and oppress +none, lest God set over thee one who shall oppress thee. How well +saith the poet: + +Add others' wit to thine and counsel still ensue; For that the + course of right is not concealed from two. +One mirror shows a man his face, but, if thereto Another one he + add, his nape thus can he view. + +And as saith another: + +Be slow to move and hasten not to match thy heart's desire: Be + merciful to all, as thou on mercy reckonest; +For no hand is there but the hand of God is over it, And no + oppressor but shall be with worse than he opprest. + +And yet another: + +Do no oppression, whilst the power thereto is in thine hand; For + still in peril of revenge the sad oppressor goes. +Thine eyes will sleep anon, what while the opprest, on wake, call + down Curses upon thee, and God's eye shuts never in repose. + +Beware of drinking wine, for it is the root of all evil: it does +away the reason and brings him who uses it into contempt; and how +well saith the poet: + +By Allah, wine shall never invade me, whilst my soul Endureth in + my body and my thoughts my words control! +Not a day long will I turn me to the zephyr-freshened bowl, And + for friend I'll choose him only who of wine-bibbing is + whole. + +This, then,' added Mejdeddin, 'is my charge to thee; keep it +before thine eyes, and may God stand to thee in my stead.' Then +he swooned away and kept silence awhile. When he came to himself, +he besought pardon of God and making the profession of the Faith, +was admitted to the mercy of the Most High. His son wept and +lamented for him and made due preparation for his burial. Great +and small attended him to the grave and the readers recited the +Koran about his bier; nor did Ali Shar omit aught of what was due +to the dead. Then they prayed over him and committed him to the +earth, graving these words upon his tomb: + +Created of the dust thou wast and cam'st to life And eloquence + didst learn and spokest many a word; +Then to the dust again returnedst and wast dead, As 'twere from + out the dust, indeed, thou'dst never stirred. + +His son Ali Shar grieved for him and mourned him after the wont +of men of condition; nor did he cease therefrom till his mother +died also, not long afterward, when he did with her as he had +done with his father. Then he sat in the shop, selling and buying +and consorting with none of God's creatures, in accordance with +his father's injunction. + +On this wise he abode for a year, at the end of which time there +came in to him certain whoreson fellows by craft and companied +with him, till he turned with them to lewdness and swerved from +the right way, drinking wine in goblets and frequenting the fair +night and day; for he said in himself, 'My father amassed this +wealth for me, and if I spend it not, to whom shall I leave it? +By Allah, I will not do save as saith the poet: + +If all the days of thy life thou get And heap up treasure, to + swell thy hoard, +When wilt thou use it and so enjoy That thou hast gathered and + gained and stored?' + +Then he ceased not to squander his wealth all tides of the day +and watches of the night, till he had made away with it all and +abode in evil case and troubled at heart. So he sold his shop and +lands and so forth, and after this he sold the clothes off his +body, leaving himself but one suit. Then drunkenness left him and +thought came to him, and he fell into melancholy. + +One day, when he had sat from day-break to mid-afternoon without +breaking his fast, he said in himself, 'I will go round to those +on whom I spent my wealth: it may be one of them will feed me +this day.' So he went the round of them all; but, as often as he +knocked at any one's door, the man denied himself and hid from +him, till he was consumed with hunger. Then he betook himself to +the bazaar, where he found a crowd of people, assembled in a ring +round somewhat, and said in himself, 'I wonder what ails the folk +to crowd together thus? By Allah, I will not remove hence, till I +see what is within yonder ring!' So he made his way into the ring +and found that the crowd was caused by a damsel exposed for sale. +She was five feet high, slender of shape, rosy-cheeked and high- +bosomed and surpassed all the people of her time in beauty and +grace and elegance and perfection; even as saith one, describing +her: + +As she wished, she was created, after such a wise that lo! She in + beauty's mould was fashioned, perfect, neither less no mo'. +Loveliness itself enamoured of her lovely aspect is; Coyness + decks her and upon her, pride and pudour sweetly show. +In her face the full moon glitters and the branch is as her + shape; Musk her breath is, nor midst mortals is her equal, + high or low. +'Tis as if she had been moulded out of water of pure pearls; In + each member of her beauty is a very moon, I trow. + +And her name was Zumurrud. + +When Ali Shar saw her, he marvelled at her beauty and grace and +said, 'By Allah, I will not stir hence till I see what price this +girl fetches and know who buys her!' So he stood with the rest of +the merchants, and they thought he had a mind to buy her, knowing +the wealth he had inherited from his parents. Then the broker +stood at the damsel's head and said, 'Ho, merchants! Ho, men of +wealth! Who will open the biddings for this damsel, the mistress +of moons, the splendid pearl, Zumurrud the Curtain-maker, the aim +of the seeker and the delight of the desirous? Open the biddings, +and on the opener be nor blame nor reproach.' + +So one merchant said, 'I bid five hundred dinars for her.' 'And +ten,' said another. 'Six hundred,' cried an old man named +Reshideddin, blue-eyed and foul of face. 'And ten,' quoth +another. 'I bid a thousand,' rejoined Reshideddin; whereupon the +other merchants were silent and the broker took counsel with the +girl's owner, who said, 'I have sworn not to sell her save to +whom she shall choose; consult her.' So the broker went up to +Zumurrud and said to her, 'O mistress of moons, yonder merchant +hath a mind to buy thee.' She looked as Reshideddin and finding +him as we have said, replied, 'I will not be sold to a grey- +beard, whom decrepitude hath brought to evil plight.' 'Bravo,' +quoth I, 'for one who saith: + +I asked her for a kiss one day, but she my hoary head Saw, though + of wealth and worldly good I had great plentihead; +So, with a proud and flouting air, her back she turned on me And, + "No, by Him who fashioned men from nothingness!" she said. +"Now, by God's truth, I never had a mind to hoary hairs, And + shall my mouth be stuffed, forsooth, with cotton, ere I'm + dead?" + +'By Allah,' quoth the broker, 'thou art excusable, and thy value +is ten thousand dinars!' So he told her owner that she would not +accept of Reshideddin, and he said, 'Ask her of another.' +Thereupon another man came forward and said, 'I will take her at +the same price.' She looked at him and seeing that his beard was +dyed, said, 'What is this lewd and shameful fashion and +blackening of the face of hoariness?' And she made a great show +of amazement and repeated the following verses: + +A sight, and what a sight, did such a one present To me! A neck, + to beat with shoes, by Allah, meant! +And eke a beard for lie a coursing-ground that was And brows for + binding on of ropes all crook'd and bent.[FN#12] +Thou that my cheeks and shape have ravished, with a lie Thou dost + disguise thyself and reck'st not, impudent; +Dyeing thy hoary hairs disgracefully with black[FN#13] And hiding + what appears, with fraudulent intent; +As of the puppet-men thou wert, with one beard go'st And with + another com'st again, incontinent. + +And how well saith another: + +Quoth she to me, "I see thou dy'st thy hoariness;" and I, "I do + but hide it from thy sight, O thou my ear and eye!"[FN#14] +She laughed out mockingly and said, "A wonder 'tis indeed! Thou + so aboundest in deceit that even thy hair's a lie." + +'By Allah,' quoth the broker, 'thou hast spoken truly!' The +merchant asked what she said: so the broker repeated the verses +to him, and he knew that she was in the right and desisted from +buying her. Then another came forward and would have bought her +at the same price; but she looked at him and seeing that he had +but one eye, said, 'This man is one-eyed; and it is of such as he +that the poet saith: + +Consort not with him that is one-eyed a day, And be on thy guard + 'gainst his mischief and lies: +For God, if in him aught of good had been found, Had not curst + him with blindness in one of his eyes.' + +Then the broker brought her another bidder and said to her, 'Wilt +thou be sold to this man?' She looked at him and seeing that he +was short of stature and had a beard that reached to his navel, +said, 'This is he of whom the poet speaks, when he says: + +I have a friend, who has a beard, that God Caused flourish + without profit, till, behold. +'Tis, as it were, to look upon, a night Of middle winter, long + and dark and cold.' + +'O my lady,' said the broker, 'look who pleases thee of these +that are present, and point him out, that I may sell thee to +him.' So she looked round the ring of merchants, examining them +one by one, till her eyes rested on Ali Shar. His sight cost her +a thousand sighs and her heart was taken with him: for that he +was passing fair of favour and more pleasant than the northern +zephyr; and she said, 'O broker, I will be sold to none but my +lord there, he of the handsome face and slender shape, whom the +poet describes in the following verses: + +They showed thy lovely face and railed At her whom ravishment + assailed. +Had they desired to keep me chaste, Thy face so fair they should + have veiled. + +None shall possess me but he,' added she; 'for his cheek is +smooth and the water of his mouth sweet as Selsebil;[FN#15] his +sight is a cure for the sick and his charms confound poet and +proser, even as saith one of him: + +The water of his mouth is wine, and very musk The fragrance of + his breath; his teeth are camphor white. +Rizwan hath put him our from paradise, for fear The black-eyed + girls of heaven be tempted with the wight. +Men blame him for his pride; but the full moon's excuse, How + proud so'er it be, finds favour in our sight. + +Him of the curling locks and rose-red cheeks and enchanting +glances, of whom saith the poet: + +A slender loveling promised me his favours fair and free; So my + heart's restless and my eye looks still his sight to see. +His eyelids warranted me the keeping of his troth; But how shall + they, that bankrupt[FN#16] are, fulfil their warranty? + +And as saith another: + +"The script of whiskers on his cheek," quoth they, "is plain to + see: How canst thou then enamoured be of him, and whiskered + he?" +Quoth I, "Have done with blame and leave your censuring, I pray. + As if it be a very script, it is a forgery. +Lo, in the gathering of his cheeks the meads of Eden be, And more + by token that his lips are Kauther,[FN#17], verily." + +When the broker heard the verses she repeated on the charms of +Ali Shar, he marvelled at her eloquence, no less than at the +brightness of her beauty; but her owner said to him, 'Marvel not +at her beauty, that shames the sun of day, nor that her mind is +stored with the choicest verses of the poets; for, besides this, +she can repeat the glorious Koran, according to the seven +readings, and the august Traditions, after the authentic text; +and she writes the seven hands and is versed in more branches of +knowledge than the most learned doctor. Moreover, her hands are +better than gold and silver; for she makes curtains of silk and +sells them for fifty dinars each; and it takes her eight days to +make a curtain.' 'Happy the man,' exclaimed the broker, 'who hath +her in his house and maketh her of his privy treasures!' And her +owner said, 'Sell her to whom she will.' So the broker went up to +Ali Shar and kissing his hands, said to him, 'O my lord, buy thou +this damsel, for she hath made choice of thee.' Then he set forth +to him all her charms and accomplishments, and added: 'I give +thee joy, if thou buy her, for she is a gift from Him who is no +niggard of His giving.' + +Ali bowed his head awhile, laughing to himself and saying +inwardly, 'Up to now I have not broken my fast; yet I am ashamed +to own before the merchants that I have no money wherewith to buy +her.' The damsel, seeing him hang down his head, said to the +broker, 'Take my hand and lead me to him, that I may show myself +to him and tempt him to buy me; for I will not be sold to any but +him.' So the broker took her hand and stationed her before Ali +Shar, saying, 'What is thy pleasure, O my lord?' But he made him +no answer, and the girl said to him, 'O my lord and darling of my +heart, what ails thee that thou wilt not bid for me? Buy me for +what thou wilt, and I will bring thee good fortune.' Ali raised +his eyes to her and said, 'Must I buy thee perforce? Thou art +dear at one thousand dinars.' 'Then buy me for nine hundred,' +answered she. 'Nay,' rejoined he; and she said, 'Then for eight +hundred;' and ceased not to abate the price, till she came to a +hundred dinars. Quoth he, 'I have not quite a hundred dinars.' +'How much dost thou lack of a hundred?' asked she, laughing. 'By +Allah,' replied he, 'I have neither a hundred dinars, nor any +other sum; for I own neither white money nor red, neither dinar +nor dirhem. So look out for another customer.' When she knew that +he had nothing, she said to him, 'Take me by the hand and carry +me aside into a passage, as if thou wouldst examine me privily.' +He did so and she took from her bosom a purse containing a +thousand dinars, which she gave him saying, 'Pay down nine +hundred to my price and keep the rest to provide us withal.' + +He did as she bade him and buying her for nine hundred dinars, +paid down the price from the purse and carried her to his house, +which when she entered, she found nothing but bare floors, +without carpets or vessels. So she gave him other thousand +dinars, saying, 'Go to the bazaar and buy three hundred dinars' +worth of furniture and vessels for the house and three dinars' +worth of meat and drink, also a piece of silk, the size of a +curtain, and gold and silver thread and [sewing] silk of seven +colours.' He did her bidding, and she furnished the house and +they sat down to eat and drink; after which they went to bed and +took their pleasure, one of the other. And they lay the night +embraced and were even as saith the poet: + +Cleave fast to her thou lov'st and let the envious rail amain; + For calumny and envy ne'er to favour love were fain. +Lo, whilst I slept, in dreams I saw thee lying by my side And + from thy lips the sweetest, sure, of limpid springs did + drain. +Yea, true and certain all I saw is, as I will avouch, And 'spite + the envier, thereto I surely will attain. +There is no goodlier sight, indeed, for eyes to look upon, Than + when one couch in its embrace enfoldeth lovers twain, +Each to the other's bosom clasped, clad in their twinned delight, + Whilst hand with hand and arm with arm about their necks + enchain. +Lo, when two hearts are straitly knit in passion and desire, But + on cold iron smite the folk who chide at them in vain. +Thou, that for loving censurest the votaries of love, Canst thou + assain a heart diseased or heal a cankered brain? +If in thy time thou find but one to love thee and be true, I rede + thee cast the world away and with that one remain. + +They lay together till the morning and love for the other was +stablished in the heart of each of them. On the morrow, Zumurrud +took the curtain and embroidered it with coloured silks and gold +and silver thread, depicting thereon all manner birds and beasts; +nor is there in the world a beast but she wrought on the curtain +the semblant thereof. Moreover, she made thereto a band, with +figures of birds, and wrought at it eight days, till she had made +an end of it, when she trimmed it and ironed it and gave it to +Ali, saying, 'Carry it to the bazaar and sell it to one of the +merchants for fifty dinars; but beware lest thou sell it to a +passer-by, for this would bring about a separation between us, +because we have enemies who are not unmindful of us.' 'I hear and +obey,' answered he and repairing to the bazaar, sold the curtain +to a merchant, as she bade him; after which he bought stuff for +another curtain and silk and gold and silver thread as before and +what they needed of food, and brought all this to her, together +with the rest of the money. + +They abode thus a whole year, and every eight days she made a +curtain, which he sold for fifty dinars. At the end of the year, +he went to the bazaar, as usual, with a curtain, which he gave to +the broker; and there came up to him a Christian, who bid him +threescore dinars for the curtain; but he refused, and the +Christian went on to bid higher and higher, till he came to a +hundred dinars and bribed the broker with ten gold pieces. So the +latter returned to Ali and told him of this and urged him to +accept the offer, saying, 'O my lord, be not afraid of this +Christian, for he can do thee no hurt.' The merchants also were +instant with him to accept the offer; so he sold the curtain to +the Christian, though his heart misgave him, and taking the +price, set off to return home. + +Presently, he found the Christian walking behind him; so he said +to him, 'O Nazarene, why dost thou follow me?' 'O my lord,' +answered the other, 'I have a need at the end of the street, may +God never bring thee to need!' Ali went on, but, as he came to +the door of his house, the Christian overtook him; so he said to +him, 'O accursed one, what ails thee to follow me wherever I go?' +'O my lord,' replied the other, 'give me a draught of water, for +I am athirst; and with God the Most High be thy reward!' Quoth +Ali in himself, 'Verily, this man is a tributary [of the +Khalifate] and seeks a draught of water of me; by Allah, I will +not disappoint him!' So he entered the house and took a mug of +water; but Zumurrud saw him and said to him, 'O my love, hast +thou sold the curtain?' 'Yes,' answered he. 'To a merchant or a +passer-by?' asked she. 'For my heart forethinketh me of +separation.' 'To a merchant, of course,' replied he. But she +rejoined, 'Tell me the truth of the case, that I may order my +affair; and what wantest thou with the mug of water?' 'To give +the broker a drink,' answered he; whereupon she exclaimed, 'There +is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme!' +And repeated the following verses: + +O thou that seekest parting, stay thy feet: Let clips and kisses + not delude thy spright. +Softly, for fortune's nature is deceit And parting is the end of + love-delight. + +Then he took the mug and going out, found the Christian within +the vestibule and said to him, 'O dog, how darest thou enter my +house without my leave?' 'O my lord,' answered he, 'there is no +difference between the door and the vestibule and I will not +budge hence, save to go out; and I am beholden to thee for thy +kindness.' Then he took the mug and emptying it, returned it to +Ali, who took it and waited for him to go; but he did not move. +So Ali said to him, 'Why dost thou not rise and go thy way?' 'O +my lord,' answered the Christian, 'be not of those that do a +kindness and after make a reproach of it, nor one of whom saith +the poet: + +Gone, gone are they who, if thou stoodst before their door of + old, Had, at thy seeking, handselled thee with benefits + untold! +And if thou stoodest at their door who follow after them, These + latter would begrudge to thee a draught of water cold. + +O my lord,' continued he, 'I have drunk, and now I would have +thee give me to eat of whatever is in the house, though it be but +a crust of bread or a biscuit and an onion.' 'Begone, without +more talk,' replied Ali; 'There is nothing in the house.' 'O my +lord,' insisted the Christian, 'if there be nothing in the house, +take these hundred dinars and fetch us somewhat from the market, +if but a cake of bread, that bread and salt may pass between us.' +With this, quoth Ali to himself, 'This Christian is surely mad; I +will take the hundred dinars and bring somewhat worth a couple of +dirhems and laugh at him.' 'O my lord,' added the Christian, 'I +want but somewhat to stay my hunger, were it but a cake of dry +bread and an onion; for the best food is that which does away +hunger, not rich meats; and how well saith the poet: + +A cake of dry stale bread will hunger out to flight: Why then are + grief and care so heavy on my spright? +Death is, indeed, most just, since, with an equal hand, Khalif + and beggar-wretch, impartial, it doth smite.' + +Then said Ali, 'Wait here, whilst I lock the saloon and fetch +thee somewhat from the market.' 'I hear and obey,' said the +Christian. So Ali shut up the saloon and locking the door with a +padlock, put the key in his pocket: after which he repaired to +the market and bought fried cheese and virgin honey and bananas +and bread, with which he returned to the Christian. When the +latter saw this, he said, 'O my lord, this is [too] much; thou +hast brought enough for half a score men and I am alone; but +belike thou wilt eat with me.' 'Eat by thyself,' replied Ali; 'I +am full.' 'O my lord,' rejoined the Christian, 'the wise say, "He +who eats not with his guest is a base-born churl."' + +When Ali heard this, he sat down and ate a little with him, after +which he would have held his hand: but [whilst he was not +looking] the Christian took a banana and peeled it, then, +splitting it in twain, put into one half concentrated henbane, +mixed with opium, a drachm whereof would overthrow an elephant. +This half he dipped in the honey and gave to Ali Shar, saying, 'O +my lord, I swear by thy religion that thou shalt take this.' Ali +was ashamed to make him forsworn; so he took the half banana and +swallowed it; but hardly had it reached his stomach, when his +head fell down in front of his feet and he was as though he had +been a year asleep. + +When the Nazarene saw this, he rose, as he had been a bald wolf +or a baited cat, and taking the saloon key, made off at a run, +leaving Ali Shar prostrate. Now this Christian was the brother of +the decrepit old man who thought to buy Zumurrud for a thousand +dinars, but she would have none of him and flouted him in verse. +He was an infidel at heart, though a Muslim in outward show, and +called himself Reshideddin;[FN#18] and when Zumurrud mocked him +and would not accept of him to her lord, he complained to his +brother, the aforesaid Christian, Bersoum by name, who said to +him, 'Fret not thyself about this affair; for I will make shift +to get her for thee, without paying a penny.' + +Now he was a skilful sorcerer crafty and wicked; so he watched +his time and played Ali Shar the trick aforesaid; then, taking +the key, he went to his brother and told him what had passed, +whereupon Reshideddin mounted his mule and repaired with his +servants to Ali Shar's house, taking with him a purse of a +thousand dinars, wherewith to bribe the master of police, should +he meet him. He unlocked the saloon door, and the men who were +with him rushed in upon Zumurrud and seized her, threatening her +with death if she spoke; but they left the house as it was and +took nothing therefrom. Moreover, they laid the key by Ali's side +and leaving him lying in the vestibule, shut the door on him and +went away. The Christian carried the girl to his own house and +setting her amongst his women and concubines, said to her, 'O +strumpet, I am the old man, whom thou did reject and lampoon; but +now I have thee, without paying a penny.' 'God requite thee, O +wicked old man,' replied she, with her eyes full of tears, 'for +sundering my lord and me!' 'Wanton doxy that thou art,' rejoined +he,' thou shalt see how I will punish thee! By the virtue of the +Messiah and the Virgin, except thou obey me and embrace my faith, +I will torture thee with all manner of torture!' 'By Allah,' +answered she, 'though thou cut me in pieces, I will not forswear +the faith of Islam! It may be God the Most High will bring me +speedy relief, for He is all-powerful, and the wise say, "Better +hurt in body than in religion."' + +Thereupon the old man called out to his eunuchs and women, +saying, 'Throw her down!' So they threw her down and he beat her +grievously, whilst she cried in vain for help, but presently +stinted and fell to saying, 'God is my sufficiency, and He is +indeed sufficient!' till her breath failed her and she swooned +away. When he had taken his fill of beating her, he said to the +eunuchs, 'Drag her forth by the feet and cast her down in the +kitchen, and give her nothing to eat.' They did his bidding, and +on the morrow the accursed old man sent for her and beat her +again, after which he bade return her to her place. When the pain +of the blows had subsided, she said, 'There is no god but God and +Mohammed is His Apostle! God is my sufficiency and excellent is +He in whom I put my trust!' And she called upon our lord Mohammed +(whom God bless and preserve) for succour. + +Meanwhile, Ali Shar slept on till next day, when the fumes of the +henbane quitted his brain and he awoke and cried out, 'O +Zumurrud!' But none answered him. So he entered the saloon and +found 'the air empty and the place of visitation distant;'[FN#19] +whereby he knew that it was the Nazarene, who had played him this +trick. And he wept and groaned and lamented and repeated the +following verses: + +O Fate, thou sparest not nor dost desist from me: Lo, for my soul + is racked with dolour and despite! +Have pity, O my lords, upon a slave laid low, Upon the rich made + poor by love and its unright. +What boots the archer's skill, if, when the foe draw near, His + bowstring snap and leave him helpless in the fight? +And when afflictions press and multiply on man, Ah, whither then + shall he from destiny take flight? +How straitly did I guard 'gainst severance of our loves! But, + when as Fate descends, it blinds the keenest sight. + +Then he sobbed and repeated these verses also: + +Her traces on the encampment's sands a robe of grace bestow: The + mourner yearneth to the place where she dwelt whiles ago. +Towards her native land she turns; a camp in her doth raise + Longing, whose very ruins now are scattered to and fro. +She stops and questions of the place; but with the case's tongue + It answers her, "There is no way to union, I trow. +'Tis as the lost a Levin were, that glittered on the camp Awhile, + then vanished and to thee appeareth nevermo'." + +And he repented, whenas repentance availed him not, and wept and +tore his clothes. Then he took two stones and went round the +city, beating his breast with the stones and crying out, 'O +Zumurrud!' whilst the children flocked round him, calling out, 'A +madman! A madman!' and all who knew him wept for him, saying, +'Yonder is such an one: what hath befallen him?' This he did all +that day, and when night darkened on him, he lay down in one of +the by-streets and slept till morning. On the morrow, he went +round about the city with the stones till eventide, when he +returned to his house, to pass the night. One of his neighbours, +a worthy old woman, saw him and said to him, 'God keep thee, O my +son! How long hast thou been mad?' And he answered her with the +following verse: + +Quoth they, "Thou'rt surely mad for her thou lov'st;" and I + replied, "Indeed the sweets of life belong unto the raving + race. +My madness leave and bring me her for whom ye say I'm mad; And if + she heal my madness, spare to blame me for my case." + +Therewith she knew him for a lover who had lost his mistress and +said, 'There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, +the Supreme! O my son, I would have thee acquaint me with the +particulars of thine affliction. Peradventure God may enable me +to help thee against it, if it so please Him.' So he told her all +that had happened and she said, 'O my son, indeed thou hast +excuse.' And her eyes ran over with tears and she repeated the +following verses: + +Torment, indeed, in this our world, true lovers do aby; Hell + shall not torture them, by God, whenas they come to die! +Of love they died and to the past their passions chastely hid; So + are they martyrs, as, indeed, traditions[FN#20] testify. + +Then she said, 'O my son, go now and buy me a basket, such as the +jewel-hawkers carry, and stock it with rings and bracelets and +ear-rings and other women's gear, and spare not money. Bring all +this to me and I will set it on my head and go round about, in +the guise of a huckstress, and make search for her in all the +houses, till I light on news of her, if it be the will of God the +Most High.' Ali rejoiced in her words and kissed her hands, then, +going out, speedily returned with all she required; whereupon she +rose and donning a patched gown and a yellow veil, took a staff +in her hand and set out, with the basket on her head. + +She ceased not to go from quarter to quarter and street to street +and house to house, till God the Most High led her to the house +of the accursed Reshideddin the Nazarene. She heard groans within +and knocked at the door, whereupon a slave-girl came down and +opening the door to her, saluted her. Quoth the old woman, 'I +have these trifles for sale: is there any one with you who will +buy aught of them?' 'Yes,' answered the girl and carrying her +indoors, made her sit down; whereupon all the women came round +her and each bought something of her. She spoke to them fair and +was easy with them as to price, so that they rejoiced in her, +because of her pleasant speech and easiness. Meanwhile, she +looked about to see who it was she had heard groaning, till her +eyes fell on Zumurrud, when she knew her and saw that she was +laid prostrate. So she wept and said to the girls, 'O my +children, how comes yonder damsel in this plight?' And they told +her what had passed, adding, 'Indeed, the thing is not of our +choice; but our master commanded us to do this, and he is now +absent on a journey.' 'O my children,' said the old woman, 'I +have a request to make of you, and it is that you loose this +unhappy woman of her bonds, till you know of your lord's return, +when do ye bind her again as she was; and you shall earn a reward +from the Lord of all creatures.' 'We hear and obey,' answered +they and loosing Zumurrud, gave her to eat and drink. + +Then said the old woman, 'Would my leg had been broken, ere I +entered your house!' And she went up to Zumurrud and said to her, +'O my daughter, take heart; God will surely bring thee relief.' +Then she told her [privily] that she came from her lord Ali Shar +and appointed her to be on the watch that night, saying, 'Thy +lord will come to the bench under the gallery and whistle to +thee; and when thou hearest him, do thou whistle back to him and +let thyself down to him by a rope from the window, and he will +take thee and go away.' Zumurrud thanked the old woman, and the +latter returned to Ali Shar and told him what she had done, +saying, 'Go to-night, at midnight, to such a quarter,--for the +accursed fellow's house is there and its fashion is thus and +thus. Stand under the window of the upper chamber and whistle; +whereupon she will let herself down to thee; then do thou take +her and carry her whither thou wilt.' He thanked her for her good +offices and repeated the following verses, with the tears running +down his cheeks: + +Let censors cease to rail and chide and leave their idle prate: + My body's wasted and my heart weary and desolate; +And from desertion and distress my tears, by many a chain Of true + traditions handed down, do trace their lineage straight. +Thou that art whole of heart and free from that which I endure Of + grief and care, cut short thy strife nor question of my + state. +A sweet-lipped maiden, soft of sides and moulded well of shape, + With her soft speech my heart hath ta'en, ay, and her + graceful gait. +My heart, since thou art gone, no rest knows nor my eyes do + sleep, Nor can the hunger of my hopes itself with patience + sate. +Yea, thou hast left me sorrowful, the hostage of desire, 'Twixt + enviers and haters dazed and all disconsolate. +As for forgetting, 'tis a thing I know not nor will know; For + none but thou into my thought shalt enter, soon or late. + +Then he sighed and shed tears and repeated these also: + +May God be good to him who brought me news that ye were come! For + never more delightful news unto my ears was borne. +If he would take a worn-out wede for boon, I'd proffer him A + heart that at the parting hour was all in pieces torn. + +He waited until the appointed time, then went to the street, +where was the Christian's house, and recognizing it from the old +woman's description, sat down on the bench under the gallery. +Presently, drowsiness overcame him, for it was long since he had +slept, for the violence of his passion, and he became as one +drunken with sleep. Glory be to Him who sleepeth not! + +Meanwhile, chance led thither a certain thief, who had come out +that night to steal somewhat and prowled about the skirts of the +city, till he happened on Reshideddin's house. He went round +about it, but found no way of climbing up into it and presently +came to the bench, where he found Ali Shar asleep and took his +turban. At that moment, Zumurrud looked out and seeing the thief +standing in the darkness, took him for her lord; so she whistled +to him and he whistled back to her; whereupon she let herself +down to him, with a pair of saddle-bags full of gold. When the +robber saw this, he said to himself, 'This is a strange thing, +and there must needs be some extraordinary cause to it.' Then, +snatching up the saddle-bags, he took Zumurrud on his shoulders +and made off with both like the blinding lightning. + +Quoth she, 'The old woman told me that thou wast weak with +illness on my account; and behold, thou art stronger than a +horse.' He made her no reply; so she put her hand to his face and +felt a beard like a bath-broom,[FN#21] as he were a hog that had +swallowed feathers and they had come out at his gullet; whereat +she took fright and said to him, 'What art thou?' 'O strumpet,' +answered he, 'I am the sharper Jewan the Kurd, of the band of +Ahmed ed Denef; we are forty sharpers, who will all tilt at thy +tail this night, from dusk to dawn.' When she heard his words, +she wept and buffeted her face, knowing that Fate had gotten the +better of her and that there was nothing for it but to put her +trust in God the Most High. So she took patience and submitted +herself to the ordinance of God, saying, 'There is no god but +God! As often as we escape from one trouble, we fall into a +worse.' + +Now the manner of Jewan's coming thither was thus: he had said to +Ahmed ed Denef, 'O captain, I have been here before and know a +cavern without the town, that will hold forty souls; so I will go +before you thither and set my mother therein. Then will I enter +the city and steal somewhat on your account and keep it till you +come; so shall you be my guests this day.' 'Do what thou wilt,' +replied Ahmed. So Jewan forewent them to the cavern and left his +mother there; but, as he came out, he found a trooper lying +asleep, with his horse tethered beside him; so he slew him and +taking his clothes and arms, hid them with his mother in the +cave, where also he tied up the horse. Then he betook himself to +the city and prowled about, till he happened on the Christian's +house and did with Ali Shar and Zumurrud as we have said. He +ceased not to run, with Zumurrud on his back, till he came to the +cavern, where he gave her in charge of his mother, saying, 'Keep +watch over her till I come back to thee at point of day,' and +went away. + +Meanwhile Zumurrud said to herself, 'Now is the time to cast +about for a means of escape. If I wait till these forty men come, +they will take their turns at me, till they make me like a water- +logged ship.' Then she turned to the old woman and said to her, +'O my aunt, wilt thou not come without the cave, that I may louse +thee in the sun?' 'Ay, by Allah, O my daughter!' replied the old +woman. 'This long time have I been out of reach of the bath; for +these hogs cease not to hale me from place to place.' So they +went without the cavern, and Zumurrud combed out the old woman's +hair and killed the vermin in her head, till this soothed her and +she fell asleep; whereupon Zumurrud arose and donning the clothes +of the murdered trooper, girt herself with his sword and covered +her head with his turban, so that she became as she were a man. +Then she took the saddle-bags full of gold and mounted the horse, +saying in herself, 'O kind Protector, I adjure thee by the glory +of Mohammed, (whom God bless and preserve,) protect me! If I +enter the city, belike one of the trooper's folk will see me, and +no good will befall me.' So she turned her back on the city and +rode forth into the desert. + +She fared on ten days, eating of the fruits of the earth and +drinking of its waters, she and her horse; and on the eleventh +day, she came in sight of a pleasant and safe city, stablished in +good; the season of winter had departed from it with its cold and +the spring-tide came to it with its roses and orange-blossoms; +its flowers blew bright, its streams welled forth and its birds +warbled. As she drew near, she saw the troops and Amirs and +notables of the place drawn up before the gate, at which she +marvelled and said to herself, 'The people of the city are all +collected at the gate: there must needs be a reason for this.' +Then she made towards them; but, as she drew near, the troops +hastened forward to meet her and dismounting, kissed the ground +before her and said, 'God aid thee, O our lord the Sultan!' + +Then the grandees ranked themselves before her, whilst the troops +ranged the people in order, saying, 'God aid thee and make thy +coming a blessing to the Muslims, O Sultan of all men! God +stablish thee, O king of the age and pearl of the day and the +time!' 'What ails you, O people of the city?' asked Zumurrud; and +the chamberlain answered, 'Verily, He who is no niggard in giving +hath been bountiful to thee and hath made thee Sultan of this +city and ruler over the necks of all that are therein; for know +that it is the custom of the citizens, when their king dies, +leaving no son, that the troops should sally forth of the pace +and abide there three days; and whoever cometh from the quarter +whence thou hast come, they make him king over them. So praised +be God who hath sent us a well-favoured man of the sons of the +Turks; for had a lesser than thou presented himself, he had been +Sultan.' + +Now Zumurrud was well-advised in all she did; so she said, 'Think +not that I am of the common folk of the Turks; nay, I am a man of +condition; but I was wroth with my family, so I went forth and +left them. See these saddle-bags full of gold I brought with me, +that I might give alms thereof to the poor and needy by the way.' +So they called down blessings upon her and rejoiced in her with +an exceeding joy and she also rejoiced in them and said in +herself, 'Now that I have attained to this estate, it may be God +will reunite me with my lord in this place, for He can do what He +will.' Then the troops escorted her to the city and dismounting, +walked before her to the palace. Here she alighted and the Amirs +and grandees, taking her under the armpits, carried her into the +palace and seated her on the throne; after which they all kissed +the ground before her. Then she bade open the treasuries and gave +largesse to the troops, who offered up prayers for the continuance +of her reign, and all the townsfolk and the people of the kingdom +accepted her rule. + +She abode thus awhile, ordering and forbidding, and remitted +taxes and released prisoners and redressed grievances, so that +all the people came to hold her in exceeding reverence and to +love her, by reason of her generosity and continence; but, as +often as she bethought her of her lord, she wept and besought God +to reunite them; and one night, as she was thinking of him and +calling to mind the days she had passed with him, her eyes ran +over with tears and she repeated the following verses: + +My longing, 'spite of time, for thee is ever new; My weeping + wounds my lids and tears on tears ensue. +Whenas I weep, I weep for anguish of desire; For grievous + severance is a lover's heart unto. + +Then she wiped away her tears and rising, betook herself to the +harem, where she appointed to the slave-girls and concubines +separate lodgings and assigned them pensions and allowances, +giving out that she was minded to live apart and devote herself +to works of piety. So she betook herself to fasting and praying, +till the Amirs said, 'Verily, this Sultan is exceeding devout.' +Nor would she suffer any attendants about her, save two little +eunuchs, to serve her. + +She held the throne thus a whole year, during which time she +heard no news of Ali Shar, and this was exceeding grievous to +her; so, when her distress became excessive, she summoned her +Viziers and chamberlains and bid them fetch architects and +builders and make her a tilting ground, a parasang long and the +like broad, in front of the palace. They hastened to do her +bidding, and when the place was competed to her liking, she went +down into it and they pitched her there a great pavilion, wherein +the chairs of the Amirs were set in their order. Then she bade +spread in the tilting-ground tables with all manner rich meats +and ordered the grandees to eat. So they ate and she said to +them, 'It is my will that, on the first day of each month, ye do +on this wise and proclaim in the city that none shall open his +shop, but that all the people shall come and eat of the king's +banquet, and that whoso disobeyeth shall be hanged over his own +door.' + +They did as she bade them, and when came the first day of the +next month, Zumurrud went down into the tilting-ground and the +crier proclaimed aloud, saying, 'Ho, all ye people, great and +small, whoso openeth shop or house or magazine shall straightway +be hanged over his own door; for it behoves you all to come and +eat of the king's banquet.' Then they laid the tables and the +people came in troops; so she bade them sit down at the tables +and eat their fill of all the dishes. So they sat down and she +sat on her chair of estate, watching them, whilst each thought +she was looking at none but him. Then they fell to eating and the +Amirs said to them, 'Eat and be not ashamed; for this is pleasing +to the King.' So they ate their fill and went away, blessing the +King and saying, one to the other, 'Never saw we a Sultan that +loved the poor as doth this Sultan.' And they wished her length +of life, whilst Zumurrud returned to the palace, rejoicing in her +device and saying in herself, 'If it please God the Most High, I +shall surely by this means happen on news of my lord Ali Shar.' + +When the first day of the second month came round, she made the +banquet as before and the folk came and sat down at the tables, +company by company and one by one. As she sat on her throne, at +the head of the tables, watching the people eat, her eye fell on +Bersoum, the Nazarene who had bought the curtain of Ali Shar; and +she knew him and said in herself, 'This is the first of my solace +and of the accomplishment of my desire.' Bersoum came up to the +table and sitting down with the rest to eat, espied a dish of +sweet rice, sprinkled with sugar; but it was far from him. So he +pushed up to it and putting out his hand to it, took it and set +it before himself. His next neighbour said to him, 'Why dost thou +not eat of what is before thee? Art thou not ashamed to reach +over for a dish that is distant from thee?' Quoth Bersoum, 'I +will eat of none but this dish.' 'Eat then,' rejoined the other, +'and small good may it do thee!' But another man, a hashish- +eater, said, 'Let him eat of it, that I may eat with him.' 'O +unluckiest of hashish-eaters,' replied the first speaker, 'this +is no meat for thee; it is eating for Amirs. Let it be, that it +may return to those for whom it is meant and they eat it.' + +But Bersoum heeded him not and putting his hand to the rice, took +a mouthful and put it in his mouth. He was about to take a second +mouthful, when Zumurrud, who was watching him, cried out to +certain of her guards, saying, 'Bring me yonder man with the dish +of sweet rice before him and let him not eat the mouthful he hath +ready, but throw it from his hand.' So four of the guards went up +to Bersoum and throwing the mouthful of rice from his hand, haled +him forthright before Zumurrud, whilst all the people left eating +and said to one another, 'By Allah, he did wrong in not eating of +the food meant for the like of him.' 'For me,' quoth one, 'I was +content with this frumenty that is before me.' And the hashish- +eater said, 'Praised be God who hindered me from eating of the +dish of sweet rice, for I looked for it to stand before him and +was only waiting for him to have stayed his hunger of it, to eat +with him, when there befell him what we see.' And they said, one +to another, 'Wait till we see what befalls him.' + +Then said Zumurrud to Bersoum, 'Out on thee, O blue eyes! What is +thy name and why comest thou hither?' But the accursed fellow +miscalled himself, having a white turban,[FN#22] and answered, 'O +King, my name is Ali; I am a weaver and came hither to trade.' +'Bring me a table of sand and a pen of brass,' quoth Zumurrud, +and they brought her what she sought. She levelled the sand and +taking the pen, drew a geomantic figure, in the likeness of an +ape; then, raising her head, she considered Bersoum straitly and +said to him, 'O dog, how darest thou lie to kings? Art thou not a +Nazarene, Bersoum by name, and comest thou not hither in quest of +somewhat? Speak the truth, or, by the splendour of the Deity, I +will strike off thy head?' At this, Bersoum was confounded and +the Amirs and bystanders said, 'Verily, the King understands +geomancy: blessed be He who hath gifted him!' Then Zumurrud cried +out upon Bersoum and said, 'Tell me the truth, or I will make an +end of thee!' 'Pardon, O King of the age,' replied Bersoum; 'the +table hath told thee aright; thy slave is indeed a Nazarene.' +Whereupon all present wondered at the King's skill in geomancy, +saying, 'Verily, the King is a diviner, whose like there is not +in the world.' + +Then Zumurrud bade flay the Christian and stuff his skin with +straw and hang it over the gate of the tilting-ground. Moreover, +she commanded to dig a pit without the city and burn his flesh +and bones therein and throw over his ashes offal and rubbish. 'We +hear and obey,' answered they and did with him as she bade. When +the people saw what had befallen the Christian, they said, 'He +hath his deserts; but what an unlucky mouthful was that for him!' +And another said, 'Be my wife triply divorced if ever I eat of +sweet rice as long as I live!' 'Praised be God,' quoth the +hashish-eater, 'who saved me from this fellow's fate by hindering +me from eating of the rice!' Then they all went out, minded +thenceforth to leave sitting in the Christian's place, over +against the dish of sweet rice. + +When the first day of the third month came, they laid the tables +as of wont, and Queen Zumurrud came down and sat on her throne, +with her guards in attendance on her, fearing her danger. Then +the townsfolk entered, as usual, and went round about the tables, +looking for the place of the dish of sweet rice, and quoth one to +another, 'Hark ye, Hajji Khelef!' 'At thy service, O Hajji +Khalid,' answered the other. 'Avoid the dish of sweet rice,' said +Khalid, 'and look thou eat not thereof; for if thou do, thou wilt +be hanged.' Then they sat down to meat; and as they were eating, +Zumurrud chanced to look at the gate of the tilting-ground and +saw a man come running in. So she considered him and knew him for +Jewan the Kurd. + +Now the manner of his coming was on this wise. When he left his +mother, he went to his comrades and said to them, 'I had fine +purchase yesterday; for I slew a trooper and took his horse. +Moreover there fell to me last night a pair of saddle-bags, full +of gold, and a girl worth more than the money; and I have left +them all with my mother in the cave.' At this they rejoiced and +repaired to the cavern at nightfall, whilst they forewent them, +that he might fetch them the booty. But he found the place empty +and questioned his mother, who told him what had befallen; +whereupon he bit his hands for despite and exclaimed, 'By Allah, +I will make search for yonder harlot and take her, wherever she +is, though it be in the shell of a pistachio-nut, and quench my +malice on her!' So he went forth in quest of her and journeyed +from place to place, till he came to Queen Zumurrud's city. He +found the town deserted and enquiring of some women whom he saw +looking from the windows, learnt that it was the Sultan's custom +to make a banquet for all the people on the first of each month +and was directed to the tilting-ground, where the feast was +spread. + +So he came running in and finding no place empty, save that +before the dish of sweet rice, took his seat there and put out +his hand to the dish; whereupon the folk cried out to him, +saying, 'O brother, what wilt thou do?' Quoth he, 'I mean to eat +my fill of this dish.' 'If thou eat of it,' rejoined one of the +people, 'thou wilt assuredly be hanged.' But Jewan said, 'Hold +thy peace and talk not thus.' Then he stretched out his hand to +the dish aforesaid and drew it to him. + +Now the hashish-eater, of whom we have before spoken, was sitting +by him; but when he saw him do this, the fumes of the hashish +left his head and he fled from his place and sat down afar off, +saying, 'I will have nothing to do with yonder dish.' Then Jewan +put out his hand, as it were a crow's foot, and dipping it in the +dish, scooped up therewith half the dishful and drew it out, as +it were a camel's hoof, and the bottom of the dish appeared. He +rolled the rice in his hand, till it was like a great orange, and +threw it ravenously into his mouth; and it rolled down his +gullet, with a noise like thunder. 'Praised by God,' quoth his +neighbour, 'who hath not made me meat before thee; for thou hast +emptied the dish at one mouthful.' 'Let him eat,' said the +hashish-eater; 'methinks he hath a gallows-face.' Then, turning +to Jewan, 'Eat,' added he, 'and small good may it do thee!' + +Jewan put out his hand again and taking another mouthful, was +rolling it in his hands like the first, when Zumurrud cried out +to the guards, saying, 'Bring me yonder man in haste and let him +not eat the mouthful in his hand.' So they ran and seizing him, +as he bent over the dish, brought him to her, whilst the people +exulted over him and said, one to the other, 'He hath his +deserts, for we warned him, but he would not take warning. +Verily, this place is fated to be the death of whoso sits +therein, and yonder rice is fatal to all who eat of it.' + +Then said Zumurrud to Jewan, 'What is thy name and condition and +why comest thou hither?' 'O our lord the Sultan,' answered he, +'my name is Othman; I am a gardener and am come hither in quest +of somewhat I have lost.' 'Bring me a table of sand,' said +Zumurrud. So they brought it, and she took the pen and drawing a +geomantic figure, considered it awhile, then raising her head, +exclaimed, 'Out on thee, thou sorry knave! How darest thou lie to +kings? This sand tells me that thy name is Jewan the Kurd and +that thou art by trade a robber, taking men's goods in the way of +unright and slaying those whom God hath forbidden to slay, save +for just cause.' And she cried out upon him, saying, 'O hog, tell +me the truth of thy case or I will cut off thy head!' + +When he heard this, he turned pale and his teeth chattered; then, +deeming that he might save himself by telling the truth, he +replied, 'O King, thou sayest sooth; but I repent at thy hands +henceforth and turn to God the Most High!' Quoth she, 'I may not +leave a pest in the way of the true-believers.' And she said to +her guards, 'Take him and flay him and do with him as ye did by +his like last month.' And they did her commandment. When the +hashish-eater saw this, he turned his back upon the dish of rice, +saying, 'It is unlawful to present my face to thee.' Then, when +they had made an end of eating, they dispersed and Zumurrud +returned to her palace and dismissed her attendants. + +When the fourth month came round, they made the banquet, as of +wont, and the folk sat awaiting leave to begin. Presently +Zumurrud entered and sitting down on her throne, looked at the +tables and saw that room for four people was left void before the +dish of rice, at which she wondered. As she sat, looking around, +she saw a man come running in at the gate, who stayed not till he +reached the tables and finding no room, save before the dish of +rice, took his seat there. She looked at him and knowing him for +the accursed Christian, who called himself Reshideddin, said in +herself, 'How blessed is this device of the food, into whose +toils this infidel hath fallen!' + +Now the manner of his coming was extraordinary, and it was on +this wise. When he returned from his journey, the people of the +house told him that Zumurrud was missing and with her a pair of +saddle-bags full of gold; whereupon he rent his clothes and +buffeted his face and plucked out his beard. Then he despatched +his brother Bersoum in quest of her, and when he was weary of +awaiting news of him, he went forth himself, to seek for him and +for Zumurrud, and fate led him to the latter's city. He entered +it on the first day of the month and finding the streets deserted +and the shops shut, enquired of the women at the windows, who +told him that the King made a banquet on the first of each month +for the people, all of whom were bound to attend it, nor might +any abide in his house or shop that day; and they directed him to +the tilting-ground. + +So he betook himself thither and sitting down before the rice, +put out his hand to eat thereof, whereupon Zumurrud cried out to +her guards, saying, 'Bring me him who sits before the dish of +rice.' So they laid hands on him and brought him before Queen +Zumurrud, who said to him, 'Out on thee! What is thy name and +occupation, and what brings thee hither?' 'O King of the age,' +answered he, 'my name is Rustem and I have no occupation, for +I am a poor dervish.' Then said she to her attendants, 'Bring +me a table of sand and pen of brass.' So they brought her what +she sought, as usual; and she took the pen and drawing a +geomantic figure, considered it awhile, then raising her head to +Reshideddin, said, 'O dog, how darest thou lie to kings? Thy name +is Reshideddin the Nazarene; thou art outwardly a Muslim, but a +Christian at heart, and thine occupation is to lay snares for the +slave-girls of the Muslims and take them. Speak the truth, or +I will smite off thy head.' He hesitated and stammered, then +replied, 'Thou sayest sooth, O King of the age!' Whereupon she +commanded to throw him down and give him a hundred blows on each +sole and a thousand on his body; after which she bade flay him +and stuff his skin with hards of flax and dig a pit without the +city, wherein they should burn his body and cast dirt and rubbish +on his ashes. They did as she bade them and she gave the people +leave to eat. + +So they ate their fill and went their ways, whilst Zumurrud +returned to her palace, thanking God for that He had solaced her +heart of those who had wronged her. Then she praised the Creator +of heaven and earth and repeated the following verses: + +Lo, these erst had power and used it with oppression and unright! + In a little, their dominion was as it ne'er had been. +Had they used their power with justice, they had been repaid the + like; But they wrought unright and Fortune guerdoned them + with dole and teen. +So they perished and the moral of the case bespeaks them thus, + "This is what your crimes have earnt you: Fate is not to + blame, I ween." + +Then she called to mind her lord Ali Shar and wept, but presently +recovered herself and said, 'Surely God, who hath given mine +enemies into my hand, will vouchsafe me speedy reunion with my +beloved; for He can do what He will and is generous to His +servants and mindful of their case!' Then she praised God (to +whom belong might and majesty) and besought forgiveness of Him, +submitting herself to the course of destiny, assured that to each +beginning there is an end, and repeating the saying of the poet: + +Be at thine ease, for all things' destiny Is in His hands who + fashioned earth and sea. +Nothing of Him forbidden shall befall Nor aught of Him appointed + fail to thee. + +And what another saith: + +Let the days pass, as they list, and fare, And enter thou not the + house of despair. +Full oft, when the quest of a thing is hard, The next hour brings + us the end of our care. + +And a third: + +Be mild what time thou'rt ta'en with anger and despite And + patient, if there fall misfortune on thy head. +Indeed, the nights are quick and great with child by Time And of + all wondrous things are hourly brought to bed. + +And a fourth: + +Take patience, for therein is good; an thou be learn'd in it, + Thou shalt be calm of soul nor drink of anguish any whit. +And know that if, with a good grace, thou do not thee submit, Yet + must thou suffer, will or nill, that which the Pen hath + writ. + +She abode thus another whole month's space, judging the folk and +commanding and forbidding by day, and by night weeping and +bewailing her separation from her lord Ali Shar. On the first day +of the fifth month, she bade spread the banquet as usual and sat +down at the head of the tables, whilst the people awaited the +signal to fall to, leaving the space before the dish of rice +vacant. She sat with eyes fixed upon the gate of the tilting- +ground, noting all who entered and saying, 'O Thou that +restoredst Joseph +to Jacob and didst away the affliction of Job, vouchsafe of Thy +power and greatness to restore me my lord Ali Shar; for Thou +canst all things! O Lord of all creatures, O Guide of the erring, +O Hearer of those that cry, O Answerer of prayer, answer Thou my +prayer, O Lord of all creatures!' + +Hardly had she made an end of her prayer, when she saw entering +the gate a young man, in shape like the willow wand, the +comeliest and most accomplished of youths, save that his face was +sallow and his form wasted. He came up to the tables and finding +no seat vacant save before the dish of rice, sat down there; +whereupon Zumurrud's heart fluttered and observing him narrowly, +she knew him for her lord Ali Shar and was like to have cried out +for joy, but restrained herself, fearing disgrace before the +folk. Her bowels were troubled and her heart throbbed; but she +concealed that which she suffered. + +Now the manner of his coming thither was on this wise. When +he awoke and found himself lying on the bench outside the +Christian's house, with his head bare, he knew that some one had +come upon him and robbed him of his turban, whilst he slept. So +he spoke the word, which whoso saith shall never be confounded, +that is to say, 'Verily, we are God's and to Him we return!' and +going back to the old woman's house, knocked at the door. She +came out and he wept before her, till he swooned away. When he +came to himself, he told her all that had passed, and she blamed +him and chid him for his heedlessness, saying, 'Thou hast but +thyself to thank for thine affliction and calamity.' And she +gave not over reproaching him, till the blood streamed from his +nostrils and he again fainted away. When he revived, he saw her +weeping over him; so he bewailed himself and repeated the +following verses: + +How bitter is parting to friends, and how sweet Reunion to + lovers, for sev'rance that sigh! +May God all unite them and watch over me, For I'm of their number + and like for to die. + +The old woman mourned over him and said to him, 'Sit here, whilst +I go in quest of news and return to thee in haste.' 'I hear and +obey,' answered he. So she left him and was absent till midday, +when she returned and said to him, 'O Ali, I fear me thou must +die in thy grief; thou wilt never see thy beloved again save on +Es Sirat;[FN#23] for the people of the Christian's house, when +they arose in the morning, found the window giving on the garden +broken in and Zumurrud missing, and with her a pair of saddle- +bags, full of the Christian's money. When I came thither, I found +the Master of Police and his officers standing at the door, and +there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the +Supreme!' + +When he heard this, the light in his eyes was changed to darkness +and he despaired of life and made sure of death; nor did he leave +weeping, till he lost his senses. When he recovered, love and +longing were sore upon him; there befell him a grievous sickness +and he kept his house a whole year; during which time the old +woman ceased not to bring him doctors and ply him with diet- +drinks and make him broths, till his life returned to him. Then +he recalled what had passed and repeated the following verses: + +Union is parted; in its stead, of grief I am possessed: My tears + flow still, my heart's on fire for yearning and unrest. +Longing redoubles on a wight who hath no peace, so sore Of love + and wakefulness and pain he's wasted and oppressed. +Lord, I beseech Thee, if there be relief for me in aught, + Vouchsafe it, whilst a spark of life abideth in my breast. + +When the second year began, the old woman said to him, 'O my son, +all this thy sadness and sorrowing will not bring thee back thy +mistress. Rise, therefore, take heart and seek for her in the +lands: haply thou shalt light on some news of her.' And she +ceased not to exhort and encourage him, till he took heart and +she carried him to the bath. Then she made him drink wine and eat +fowls, and thus she did with him for a whole month, till he +regained strength and setting out, journeyed without ceasing till +he arrived at Zumurrud's city, when he went to the tilting-ground +and sitting down before the dish of sweet rice, put out his hand +to eat of it. + +When the folk saw this, they were concerned for him and said to +him, 'O young man, eat not of that dish, for whoso eats thereof, +misfortune befalls him.' 'Leave me to eat of it,' answered he, +'and let them do with me as they list, so haply I may be at rest +from this weary life.' Then he ate a first mouthful, and Zumurrud +was minded to have him brought to her; but bethought her that +belike he was anhungred and said in herself, 'It were well to let +him eat his fill.' So he went on eating, whilst the people looked +on in astonishment, waiting to see what would befall him; and +when he had done, Zumurrud said to certain of her eunuchs, 'Go to +yonder youth that eateth of the rice and bring him to me on +courteous wise, saying, 'The King would have speech of thee on +some slight matter.' 'We hear and obey,' answered they and going +up to Ali Shar, said to him, 'O my lord, the King desires the +favour of a word with thee, and let thy heart be easy.' 'I hear +and obey,' replied he and followed the eunuchs, who carried him +before Zumurrud, whilst the people said to one another, 'There is +no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the Supreme! I +wonder what the King will do with him!' And others said, 'He will +do him nought but good; for, were he minded to harm him, he had +not suffered him to eat his fill.' + +When he came before Zumurrud, he saluted and kissed the earth +before her, whilst she returned his greeting and received him +with honour. Then said she to him, 'What is thy name and +condition and what brought thee hither?' 'O King,' answered he, +'my name is Ali Shar; I am of the sons of the merchants of +Khorassan and the object of my coming hither is to seek for a +slave-girl whom I have lost; for she was dearer to me than my +sight and my hearing, and indeed my soul cleaves to her, since I +lost her.' And he wept, till he swooned away. She caused sprinkle +rose-water on his face, till he came to himself, when she said, +'Bring me the table of sand and the pen.' So they brought them +and she took the pen and drew a geomantic figure, which she +considered awhile; then, 'Thou hast spoken sooth,' quoth she. +'God will grant thee speedy reunion with her; so be not +troubled.' Then she bade her chamberlain carry him to the bath +and after clothe him in a handsome suit of royal apparel, and +mount him an one of the best of the King's horses and bring him +to the palace at end of day. So the chamberlain took him away, +whilst the folk said to one another, 'What makes the King deal +thus courteously with yonder youth?' And one said, 'Did I not +tell you that he would do him no hurt? For he is fair of aspect; +and this I knew, when the King suffered him to eat his fill.' And +each said his say; after which they all dispersed and went their +ways. + +As for Zumurrud, she thought the night would never come, that she +might be alone with the beloved of her heart. As soon as it was +dusk, she withdrew to her sleeping-chamber and made as she were +overcome with sleep; and it was her wont to suffer none to pass +the night with her, save the two little eunuchs that waited upon +her. After a little, she sent for Ali Shar and sat down upon the +bed, with candles burning at her head and feet and the place +lighted with hanging lamps of gold that shone like the sun. When +the people heard of her sending for Ali Shar, they marvelled and +said, 'Algates, the King is enamoured of this young man, and to- +morrow he will make him commander of the troops.' And each +thought his thought and said his say. When they brought him in to +her, he kissed the earth before her and called down blessings on +her, and she said in herself, 'Needs must I jest with him awhile, +ere I make myself known to him.' Then said she to him, 'O Ali, +hast thou been to the bath?' 'Yes, O my lord,' answered he. +'Come, eat of this fowl and meat and drink of this wine and +sherbet of sugar,' said she; 'for thou art weary; and after come +hither.' 'I hear and obey,' replied he and did as she bade him. + +When he had made an end of eating and drinking, she said to him, +'Come up with me on the couch and rub my feet.' So he fell to +rubbing her feet and legs and found them softer than silk. Then +said she, 'Go higher with the rubbing;' and he, 'Pardon me, O my +lord, I will go no higher than the knee.' Whereupon, 'Wilt thou +gainsay me?' quoth she. 'It shall be an ill-omened night for +thee! Nay, but it behoves thee to do my bidding and I will make +thee my minion and appoint thee one of my Amirs.' 'And in what +must I do thy bidding, O King of the age?' asked Ali. 'Put off +thy trousers,' answered she, 'and lie down on thy face.' Quoth +he, 'That is a thing I never in my life did; and if thou force me +thereto, I will accuse thee thereof before God on the Day of +Resurrection. Take all thou hast given me and let me go to my own +city.' And he wept and lamented. But she said, 'Put off thy +trousers and lie down on thy face, or I will strike off thy +head.' So he did as she bade him and she mounted upon his back. +And he felt what was softer than silk and fresher than cream and +said in himself, 'Of a truth, this King is better than all the +women!' + +She abode a while on his back, then turned over on to the ground, +and he said [in himself], 'Praised be God! It seems his yard is +not in point.' Then said she, 'O Ali, it is of the wont of my +yard that it standeth not on end, except it be rubbed with the +hand; so, some, rub it with thy hand, till it be in point, else +will I kill thee.' So saying, she lay down on her back and taking +his hand, set it to her kaze, and he found it a kaze softer than +silk, white, plump and great, resembling for heat the hot room of +the bath or the heart of a lover, whom passion hath wasted. Quoth +Ali in himself, 'Verily, this King hath a kaze. This is a wonder +of wonders!' And desire got hold on him and his yard stood on end +to the utmost; which when Zumurrud saw, she burst out laughing +and said to him, 'O my lord, all this betideth and yet thou +knowest me not!' 'And who art thou, O King?' asked he; and she +said, 'I am thy slave-girl Zumurrud.' + +When he knew this and was certified that she was indeed his very +slave-girl Zumurrud, he threw himself upon her, as the lion upon +the sheep, and kissed her and embraced her. Then he thrust his +yard into her poke and stinted not to play the porter at her door +and the Imam[FN#24] at her prayer-niche, whilst she with him +ceased not from inclination and prostration and rising up and +sitting down,[FN#25] accompanying her canticles of praise[FN#26] +with motitations and other amorous gestures, till the [two +little] eunuchs [aforesaid] heard [the noise]. So they came and +peeping out from behind the curtains, saw the King lying [on his +back] and Ali Shar upon him, thrusting and thronging amain, +whilst she puffed and blew and wriggled. Quoth they, 'This is no +man's wriggle; belike this King is a woman.' But they concealed +their affair and discovered it to none. + +On the morrow, Zumurrud summoned all the troops and the grandees +of the realm and said to them, 'I am minded to journey to this +man's country; so choose a deputy, who shall rule over you, till +I return to you.' And they answered, 'We hear and obey.' Then she +applied herself to making ready for the journey and furnished +herself with victual and treasure and camels and mules and so +forth; after which she set out with Ali Shar, and they fared on, +till they arrived at his native place, where he entered his house +and gave alms and largesse. God vouchsafed him children by her, +and they both lived the happiest of lives, till there came to +them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Companies. Glory +be to God, the Eternal without cease, and praised be He in every +case! + + + + + + THE LOVES OF JUBEIR BEN UMEIR AND THE LADY + BUDOUR + + + +It is related the Khalif Haroun er Reshid was restless one night +and could not sleep; so that he ceased not to toss from side to +side for very restlessness, till, growing weary of this, he +called Mesrour and said to him, 'O Mesrour, look what may solace +me of this my restlessness.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered Mesrour, 'wilt thou walk in the garden of the palace and +divert thyself with the sight of its flowers and gaze upon the +stars and note the beauty of their ordinance and the moon among +them, shining on the water?' 'O Mesrour,' replied the Khalif, 'my +heart inclines not to aught of this.' 'O my lord,' continued +Mesrour, 'there are in thy palace three hundred concubines, each +of whom hath her separate lodging. Do thou bid retire each into +her own apartment and then go thou about and divert thyself with +gazing on them, without their knowledge.' 'O Mesrour,' answered +Haroun, 'the palace is mine and the girls are my property: +moreover, my soul inclineth not to aught of this.' 'O my lord,' +said Mesrour, 'summon the doctors and sages and poets and bid +them contend before thee in argument and recite verses and tell +thee tales and anecdotes.' 'My soul inclines not to aught of +this,' answered the Khalif; and Mesrour said, 'O my lord, bid the +minions and wits and boon-companions attend thee and divert thee +with witty sallies.' 'O Mesrour,' replied the Khalif, 'indeed my +soul inclineth not to aught of this.' 'Then, O my lord,' rejoined +Mesrour, 'strike off my head; maybe, that will dispel thine +unease and do away the restlessness that is upon thee.' + +At this the Khalif laughed and said, 'See which of the boon- +companions is at the door.' So Mesrour went out and returning, +said, 'O my lord, he who sits without is Ali ben Mensour of +Damascus, the Wag.' 'Bring him to me,' quoth Haroun; and Mesrour +went out and returned with Ibn Mensour, who said, on entering, +'Peace be on thee, O Commander of the Faithful!' The Khalif +returned his salutation and said to him, 'O Ibn Mensour, tell us +one of thy stories.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' said the +other, 'shall I tell thee what I have seen with my eyes or what I +have only heard tell?' 'If thou have seen aught worth telling,' +replied the Khalif, 'let us hear it; for report is not like eye- +witness.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' said Ibn Mensour, 'lend +me thine ear and thy heart.' 'O Ibn Mensour,' answered the +Khalif, 'behold, I am listening to thee with mine ears and +looking at thee with mine eyes and attending to thee with my +heart.' + +'Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,' began Ibn Mensour, +'that I receive a yearly allowance from Mohammed ben Suleiman el +Hashimi, Sultan[FN#27] of Bassora; so I went to him, once upon a +time, as usual, and found him about to ride out a-hunting. I +saluted him, and he returned my salute and would have me mount and +go a-hunting with him; but I said, "O my lord, I cannot ride; so +do thou stablish me in the guest-house and give thy chamberlains +and officers charge over me." And he did so and departed for the +chase. His officers entreated me with the utmost honour and +hospitality; but I said in myself, "By Allah, it is a strange +thing that I should have used so long to come from Baghdad to +Bassora, yet know no more of the town than from the palace to +the garden and back again! When shall I find an occasion like +this to view the different parts of Bassora? I will rise at once +and walk forth alone and divert myself and digest what I have +eaten." + +So I donned my richest clothes and went out a-walking in Bassora. +Now it is known to thee, O Commander of the Faithful, that it +hath seventy streets, each seventy parasangs long of Irak +measure; and I lost myself in its by-streets and thirst overcame +me. Presently, as I went along, I came to a great door, on which +were two rings of brass, with curtains of red brocade drawn +before it. Over the door was a trellis, covered with a creeping +vine, that hung down and shaded the doorway; and on either side +the porch was a stone bench. I stood still, to gaze upon the +place, and presently heard a sorrowful voice, proceeding from a +mourning heart, warbling melodiously and chanting the following +verses: + +My body is become th' abode of sickness and dismay, By reason of + a fawn, whose land and stead are far away. +O zephyr of the waste, that roused my pain in me, I pray, By God + your Lord, to him, with whom my heart dwells, take your way + And prithee chide him, so reproach may soften him, + maybe. +And if to you he do incline and hearken, then make fair Your + speech and tidings unto him of lovers, 'twixt you, bear. +Yea, and vouchsafe to favour me with service debonair And unto + him I love make known my case and my despair, + Saying, "What ails thy bounden slave that, for + estrangement, she +Should die without offence of her committed or despite Or + disobedience or breach of plighted faith or slight +Or fraud or turning of her heart to other or unright?" And if he + smile, with dulcet speech bespeak ye thus the wight: + "An thou thy company wouldst grant to her, 'twere well + of thee; +For she for love of thee's distraught, as needs must be the case; + Her eyes are ever void of sleep; she weeps and wails apace." +If he show favour and incline to grant the wished-for grace, 'Tis + well and good; but, if ye still read anger in his face, + Dissemble then with him and say, "We know her not, not + we." + +Quoth I to myself, "Verily, if the owner of this voice be fair, +she unites beauty of person and eloquence and sweetness of +voice." Then I drew near the door, and raising the curtain little +by little, beheld a damsel, white as the moon, when it rises on +its fourteenth night, with joined eyebrows and languorous +eyelids, breasts like twin pomegranates and dainty lips like twin +corn-marigolds,[FN#28] mouth as it were Solomon's seal and teeth +that sported with the reason of rhymester and proser, even as +saith the poet: + +O mouth of the beloved, who set thy pearls arow And eke with + wine fulfilled thee and camomiles like show, +And lent the morning-glory unto thy smile, and who Hath with a + padlock sealed thee of rubies sweet of show? +Whoso but looks upon thee is mad for joy and pride. How should + it fare with him, who kisseth thee, heigho! + +And as saith another: + +O pearls of the teeth of my love, Have ruth on cornelian and + spare To vie with it! Shall it not find You peerless and + passing compare? + +In fine, she comprised all manner of loveliness and was a +ravishment to men and women, nor could the beholder satisfy +himself with the sight of her beauty; for she was as the poet +hath said of her: + +If, face to face, she do appear, unveiled, she slays; and if + She turn her back, she makes all men her lovers far and + near. +Like the full moon and eke the sun she is, but cruelty And + inhumanity belong not to her nature dear. +The garden-gates of Paradise are opened with her shift And the + full moon revolveth still upon her neck-rings' sphere. + +As I looked at her through the opening of the curtains, she +turned and seeing me standing at the door, said to her maid, +"See who stands at the door." So the maid came up to me and +said, "O old man, hast thou no shame, or do gray hairs and +impudence go together?" "O my mistress," answered I, "I confess +to the gray hairs, but as for unmannerliness, I think not to be +guilty of it." "And what can be more unmannerly," rejoined her +mistress, "than to intrude thyself upon a house other than thy +house and gaze on a harem other than thy harem?" "O my lady," +said I, "I have an excuse." "And what is thine excuse?" asked +she. Quoth I, "I am a stranger and well-nigh dead of thirst." +"We accept thine excuse," answered she and calling one of her +maids, said to her, "O Lutf, give him to drink in the golden +tankard." + +So she brought me a tankard of red gold, set with pearls and +jewels, full of water mingled with odoriferous musk and covered +with a napkin of green silk; and I addressed myself to drink +and was long about it, casting stolen glances at her the while, +till I could prolong it no longer. Then I returned the tankard +to the maid, but did not offer to go; and she said to me, "O old +man, go thy way." "O my lady," replied I, "I am troubled in mind." +"For what?" asked she; and I answered, "For the uncertainty of +fortune and the vicissitudes of events." "Well mayst thou be +troubled thereanent," replied she, "for Time[FN#29] is the +mother of wonders. But what hast thou seen of them that thou +shouldst muse upon?" Quoth I, "I was thinking of the former +owner of this house, for he was my good friend in his lifetime." +"What was his name?" asked she. "Mohammed ben Ali the Jeweller," +answered I; "and he was a man of great wealth. Did he leave +any children?" "Yes," said she; "he left a daughter, Budour +by name, who inherited all his wealth." Quoth I, "Meseems +thou art his daughter?" "Yes," answered she, laughing; then +added, "O old man, thou hast talked long enough; go thy ways." +"Needs must I go," replied I; "but I see thou art out of health. +Tell me thy case; it may be God will give thee solace at +my hands." "O old man," rejoined she, "if thou be a man of +discretion, I will discover to thee my secret; but first +tell me who thou art, that I may know whether thou art worthy +of confidence or not; for the poet saith: + +None keepeth secrets but the man who's trusty and discreet: A + secret's ever safely placed with honest fold and leal; +For me, my secrets I preserve within a locked-up house, Whose + key is lost and on whose door is set the Cadi's seal." + +"O my lady," answered I, "an thou wouldst know who I am, I am +Ali ben Mensour of Damascus, the Wag, boon-companion to the +Khalif Haroun er Reshid." When she heard my name she came down +from her seat and saluting me, said, "Welcome, O Ibn Mensour! +Now will I tell thee my case and entrust thee with my secret. +Know that I am a lover separated from her beloved." "O my +lady," rejoined I, "thou art fair and shouldst love none but +the fair. Whom then dost thou love?" Quoth she, "I love Jubeir +ben Umeir es Sheibani, Prince of the Benou Sheiban;"[FN#30] and +she described to me a young man than whom there was none +handsomer in Bassora. "O my lady," asked I, "have letters or +interviews passed between you?" "Yes," answered she; "but his +love for me was of the tongue, not of the heart; for he kept +not his covenant nor was faithful to his troth." "And what was +the cause of your separation?" asked I. + +"I was sitting one day," replied she, "whilst my maid here +combed my hair. When she had made an end of combing it, she +plaited my tresses, and my beauty and grace pleased her; so she +bent down to me and kissed my cheek. At that moment, he came +in, unawares, and seeing her kiss my cheek, turned away in +anger, vowing eternal separation and repeating the following +verses: + +If any share with me in her I love, incontinent, I'll cast her + off from me and be to live alone content. +A mistress, sure, is nothing worth, if, in the way of love, She + wish for aught but that to which the lover doth consent. + +And from that time to this, O Ibn Mensour," continued she, "he +hath neither written to me nor answered my letters." "And what +thinkest thou to do?" asked I. Quoth she, "I have a mind to send +him a letter by thee. If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt +have of me five hundred dinars; and if not, then a hundred for +thy pains." "Do what seemeth good to thee," answered I. So she +called for inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses: + +Whence this estrangement and despite, beloved of my soul? + Whither have kindliness and love between us taken flight? +What makes thee with aversion turn from me? Indeed, thy face Is + not the face I used to know, when we our troth did plight. +Belike, the slanderers have made a false report of me, And thou + inclin'dst to them, and they redoubled in despite. +If thou believedst their report, far, far it should have been + From thee, that art too whole of wit at such a bait to + bite! +Yea, I conjure thee by thy life, tell me what thou hast heard: + For lo! thou knowest what was said and wilt not do + unright. +If aught I've said that angered thee, a speech of change + admits; Ay, and interpreting, I trow, may change its + meaning quite, +Were it a word sent down from God; for even the Pentateuch Hath + falsified and garbled been of this and th' other + wight.[FN#31] +Whilst, as for lies, how many were of folk before us told! + Joseph to Jacob was traduced and blackened in his sight. +Yea, for the slanderer and myself and thee, an awful day Of + standing up shall come, when God to judgment all shall + cite. + +Then she sealed the letter and gave it to me. I took it and +carried it to the house of Jubeir ben Umeir, whom I found +absent hunting. So I sat down, to wait for him, and presently +he returned; and when I saw him come riding up, my wit was +confounded by his beauty ands grace. As soon as he saw me +sitting at the door, he dismounted and coming up to me, saluted +and embraced me; and meseemed I embraced the world and all that +therein is. Then he carried me into his house and seating me on +his own couch, called for food. So they brought a table of +khelenj[FN#32] wood of Khorassan, with feet of gold, whereon +were all manner of meats, fried and roasted and the like. So I +seated myself at the table and examining it, found the following +verses engraved upon it: + +Weep for the cranes that erst within the porringers did lie And + for the stews and partridges evanished heave a sigh! +Mourn for the younglings of the grouse; lament unceasingly, As, + for the omelettes and the fowls browned in the pan, do I. +How my heart yearneth for the fish that, in its different + kinds, Upon a paste of wheaten flour, lay hidden in the + pie! +Praised be God for the roast meat, as in the dish it lay, With + pot-herbs, soaked in vinegar, in porringers hard by, +And eke the rice with buffaloes' milk dressed and made savoury, + Wherein the hands were plunged and arms were buried + bracelet high! +O soul, I rede thee patient be, for God is bountiful: What + though thy fortunes straitened be, His succour's ever + nigh. + +Then said Jubeir, "Put thy hand to our food and ease our heart +by eating of our victual." "By Allah," answered I, "I will not +eat a mouthful, till thou grant me my desire." "What is thy +desire?" asked he. So I brought out the letter and gave it to +him; but, when he had read it, he tore it into pieces and +throwing it on the floor, said to me, "O Ibn Mensour, I will +grant thee whatever thou askest, save this that concerns the +writer of this letter, for I have no answer to make to her." At +this, I rose in anger; but he caught hold of my skirts, saying, +"O Ibn Mensour, I will tell thee what she said to thee, for all +I was not present with you." "And what did she say to me?" +asked I. "Did she not say to thee," rejoined he, "'If thou bring +me back an answer, thou shalt have of me five hundred dinars; +and if not, a hundred for thy pains?'" "Yes," answered I; and +he said, "Abide with me this day and eat and drink and make +merry, and thou shalt have five hundred dinars." + +So I sat with him and ate and drank and made merry and +entertained him with converse; after which I said to him, "O my +master, is there no music in thy house?" "Indeed," answered he, +"we have drunk this long while without music." Then he called +out, saying, "Ho, Shejeret ed Durr!" Whereupon a slave-girl +answered him from her chamber and came in to us, with a lute of +Indian make, wrapped in a silken bag. She sat down and laying +the lute in her lap, preluded in one-and-twenty modes, then, +returning to the first, sang the following verses to a lively +measure: + +Who hath not tasted the sweet and the bitter of passion, I + trow, The presence of her whom he loves from her absence + he hardly shall know. +So he, from the pathway of love who hath wandered and fallen + astray, The smooth knoweth not from the rough of the + roadway, wherein he doth go. +I ceased not the votaries of love and of passion to cross and + gainsay, Till I too must taste of its sweet and its + bitter, its gladness and woe. +Then I drank a full draught of the cup of its bitters, and + humbled was I, and thus to the bondman of Love and its + freedman therein was brought low. +How many a night have I passed with the loved one, carousing + with him, Whilst I drank from his lips what was sweeter + than nectar and colder than snow! +How short was the life of the nights of our pleasance! It + seemed to us still, No sooner was night fallen down than + the daybreak to eastward did glow. +But Fortune had vowed she would sever our union and sunder our + loves; And now, in good sooth, she her vow hath + accomplished. Fate ordered it so; +Fate ordered it thus, and against its ordaining, appeal there + is none; For who shall gainsay a supreme one's + commandments or causes him forego? + +Hardly had she made an end of these verses, when Jubeir gave a +great cry and fell down in a swoon; whereupon, "May God not +punish thee, O old man!" exclaimed the damsel. "This long time +have we drunk without music, for fear the like of this should +befall our master. But go now to yon chamber and sleep there." +So I went to the chamber in question and slept till the +morning, when a page brought me a purse of five hundred dinars +and said to me, "This is what my master promised thee; but +return thou not to her who sent thee and let it be as if +neither thou nor we had heard of this affair." "I hear and +obey," answered I and taking the purse, went my way. + +However, I said in myself, "The lady will have expected me +since yesterday; and by Allah, I must needs return to her and +tell her what passed between me and him; or she will curse me +and all who come from my country." So I went to her and found +her standing behind the door; and when she saw me, she said, "O +Ibn Mensour, thou hast gotten me nought." "Who told thee of +this?" asked I; and she answered, "O Ibn Mensour, yet another +thing hath been revealed to me; and it is that, when thou +gavest hum the letter, he tore it in pieces and throwing it on +the floor, said to thee, 'O Ibn Mensour, ask me anything but +what relates to the writer of this letter; for I have no reply +to make to her.' Then didst thou rise from beside him in anger; +but he laid hold of thy skirts, saying, 'Abide with me to-day, +for thou art my guest, and eat and drink and make merry; and +thou shalt have five hundred dinars.' So thou didst sit with +him, eating and drinking and making merry, and entertainedst +him with converse; and a slave-girl sand such an air and such +verses, whereupon he fell down in a swoon." Quoth I, "Wast thou +then with us?" "O Ibn Mensour," replied she, "hast thou not +heard the saying of the poet: + +The heart of the lover hath eyes, well I wot, That see what the + eyes of beholders see not. + +But," added she, "day and night alternate not upon aught, but they +change it." Then she raised her eyes to heaven and said, "O my +God and my Master and my Lord, like as Thou hast afflicted me +with love of Jubeir ben Umeir, even so do Thou afflict him with +love of me and transfer the passion from my heart to his!" Then +she gave me a hundred dinars for my pains and I took it and +returned to the palace, when I found the Sultan come back from +hunting; so I took my pension of him and made my way back to +Baghdad. + +Next year, I repaired to Bassora, as usual, to seek my pension, +and the Sultan paid it to me; but as I was about to return to +Baghdad, I bethought me of the lady Budour and said to myself, +"By Allah, I must needs go and see what hath befallen between +her and her lover!" So I went to her house and finding the +porch swept and sprinkled and slaves and servants and pages +standing before the door, said to myself, "Most like grief hath +broken the lady's heart and she is dead, and some Amir or other +hath taken up his abode in her house." So I went on to Jubeir's +house, where I found the benches of the porch broken down and +no pages at the door, as of wont, and said to myself, "Belike +he too is dead." Then I took up my station before the door of +his house and with my eyes running over with tears, bemoaned it +in the following verses: + +Lords, that are gone, but whom my heart doth evermore ensue, + Return; so shall my festal says return to me with you. +I stand before your sometime stead, bewailing your abodes, With + quivering lids, from which the tears rain down, like + summer dew. +Weeping, I question of the house and ruins, "Where is he Who + was the source of benefits and bounties ever new?" +[They answer] "Go thy ways, for those thou lov'st from the + abode Departed are and neath the dust are buried; so + adieu!" +May God not stint us of the sight [in dreams] of all their + charms Nor be their noble memories aye absent from men's + view! + +As I was thus bewailing the folk of the house, there came a +black slave thereout and said to me, "Hold thy peace, O old +man! May thy mother be bereft of thee! What ails thee to bemoan +the house thus?" Quoth I, "I knew it of yore, when it belonged +to a good friend of mine." "What was his name?" asked the +slave. And I answered, "Jubeir ben Umeir the Sheibani." "And +what hath befallen him?" rejoined he. "Praised be God, he is +yet in the enjoyment of wealth and rank and prosperity, except +that God hath stricken him with love of a damsel called the +lady Budour; and he is overcome with love of her, that, for the +violence of his passion and torment, he is like a great rock +overthrown. If he hunger, he saith not, 'Feed me;' nor, if he +thirst, doth he say, 'Give me to drink.'" Quoth I, "Ask leave +me to go in to him." "O my lord," said the slave, "Wilt thou go +in to him who understands or to him who understands not?" "I +must needs see him, whatever be his case," answered I. + +Se he went in and presently returned with permission for me to +enter, whereupon I went in to Jubeir and found him like a rock +overthrown, understanding neither sign nor speech. I spoke to +him, but he answered me not; and one of his servants said to +me, "O my lord, if thou know aught of verse, repeat it, and +raise thy voice; and he will be aroused by this and speak with +thee." So I recited the following verses: + +Budour's love hast thou forgotten or art deaf still to her + sighs? Wak'st anights, or do thine eyelids close upon thy + sleeping eyes? +If thy tears flow fast and freely, night and day long, torrent- + wise, Know thou, then, that thou shalt sojourn evermore in + Paradise.[FN#33] + +When he heard this, he opened his eyes and said, "Welcome, O +Ibn Mensour! Verily, the jest is become earnest." "O my lord," +said I, "is there aught thou wouldst have me do for thee?" +"Yes," answered he; "I would fain write her a letter and send +it to her by thee. If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt +have of me a thousand dinars; and if not, two hundred for thy +pains." "Do what seemeth good to thee," said I. So he called to +one of his slave-girls for inkhorn and paper and wrote the +following verses: + +By Allah, O my lady, have ruth on me, I pray! For all my wit by + passion is ravished quite away. +Yea, love for thee and longing have mastered me and clad With + sickness and bequeathed me abjection and dismay. +Aforetime, O my lady, by love I set small store And deemed it + light and easy to bear, until to-day; +But now that Love hath shown me the billows of its sea, Those I + excuse, repenting, who languish neath its sway. +Vouchsafe thy grace to grant me; or, if thou wilt me slay, At + least, then, for thy victim forget thou not to pray. + +Then he sealed the letter and gave it to me. I took it and +repairing to Budour's house, raised the curtain of the door, +little by little, as of wont, and looking in, saw ten damsels, +high-bosomed maids, like moons, and the lady Budour sitting in +their midst, as she were the full moon among stars or the sun, +when it is clear of clouds; nor was there on her any trace of +pain or care. As I looked and marvelled at her case, she turned +and seeing me standing at the gate, said to me, "Welcome and +fair welcome to thee, O Ibn Mensour! Come in." So I entered and +saluting her, gave her the letter. She read it and laughing, +said to me, "O Ibn Mensour, the poet lied not when he said: + +The love of thee I will endure with patient constancy, Till + such time as a messenger shall come to me from thee. + +O Ibn Mensour," added she, "I will write thee an answer that +he may give thee what he promised thee." "May God requite thee +with good!" answered I. So she called for inkhorn and paper and +wrote the following verses: + +How comes it my vows I fulfilled and thou, thou wast false to + thy plight? Thou sawst me do justice and truth, and yet + thou thyself didst unright. +'Twas thou that begannest on me with rupture and rigour, I + trow; 'Twas thou that play'dst foul, and with thee began + the untruth and the slight. +Yea, still I was true to my troth and cherished but thee among + men And ceased not thine honour to guard and keep it + unsullied and bright, +Till tidings of fashions full foul I heard, as reported of + thee, And saw with mine eyes what thou didst, to harm me + and work me despite. +Shall I then abase my estate, that thine may exalted become? By + God, hadst thou generous been, the like should thy conduct + requite! +So now unto solace I'll turn my heart, with forgetting, from + thee And washing my hands of thy thought, blot despair for + thee out of my spright. + +"By Allah, O my lady," said I, "there needs but the reading of +this letter, to kill him!" So I tore it in pieces and said to +her, "Write him other than this." "I hear and obey," answered +she and wrote the following: + +Indeed, I am consoled and sleep is pleasant to mine eyes; For I + have heard what came of prate of slanderers and spies. +My heart my summons hath obeyed, thee to forget; and eke My + lids to stint from wake for thee have seen it good and + wise. +He lies who says that severance is bitterness; for me I find + its taste none otherwise than sweet; indeed he lies. +I've grown to turn away from those who bring me news of thee + And look upon it as a thing at which my gorge doth rise. +Behold, I have forgotten thee with every part of me. Let then + the spy and who will else this know and recognise. + +"By Allah, O my lady," said I, "when he reads these verses, his +soul will depart his body!" "O Ibn Mensour," quoth she, "is +passion indeed come to such a pass with him as thou sayst?" +"Had I said more than this," replied I, "it were but the truth: +but clemency is of the nature of the noble." When she heard +this, her eyes filled with tears and she wrote him a letter, O +Commander of the Faithful, there is none in thy court could +avail to write the like of it; and therein were these verses: + +How long shall this despite continue and this pride? My enviers' + spite on me thou sure hast satisfied. +Mayhap, I did amiss and knew it not; so tell Me what thou heardst + of me, that did our loves divide. +Even as I welcome sleep unto mine eyes and lids, So would I + welcome thee, beloved, to my side. +I've quaffed the cup of love for thee, unmixed and pure; So, if + thou see me drunk, reproach me not nor chide. + +Then she sealed it and gave it to me; and I said, "O my lady, +this thy letter will heal the sick and ease the thirsting soul." +Then I took it and was going away, when she called me back and +said to me, "Tell me that I will be his guest this night." At +this I rejoiced greatly and carried the letter to Jubeir, whom I +found with his eyes fixed on the door, expecting the reply. I +gave him the letter and he opened and read it, then gave a great +cry and fell down in a swoon. When he came to himself, he said to +me, "O Ibn Mensour, did she indeed write this letter with her +hand and touch it with her fingers?" "O my lord," answered I, "do +folk write with their feet?" And by Allah, O Commander of the +Faithful, I had not done speaking, when we heard the chink of her +anklets in the vestibule and she entered. + +When he saw her, he sprang to his feet, as thou there ailed him +nought, and embraced her as the letter Lam embraces Alif,[FN#34] +and the malady, that would not depart, ceased from him. Then he +sat down, but she abode standing and I said to her, "O my lady, +why dost thou not sit?" Quoth she, "I will not sit, O Ibn +Mensour, save on a condition that is between us." "And what is +that?" asked I. "None may know lovers' secrets," answered she and +putting her mouth to Jubeir's ear, whispered to him; whereupon, +"I hear and obey," replied he and rising, said somewhat privily +to one of his slaves, who went out and returned, in a little, +with a Cadi and two witnesses. Then Jubeir rose and taking a bag +containing a hundred thousand dinars, said, "O Cadi, marry me to +this young lady and write this sum to her dowry." Quoth the Cadi +to her, "Say, 'I consent to this.'" "I consent to this," said +she, whereupon he drew up the contract of marriage, and she +opened the bag and taking out a handful of gold, gave it to the +Cadi and the witnesses and handed the rest to Jubeir. + +Then the Cadi and the witnesses withdrew, and I sat with them, in +mirth and delight, till the most part of the night was past, when +I said in myself, "These are lovers and have been this long while +separated. I will go now and sleep in some place afar from them +and leave them to be private, one with the other." So I rose, but +she laid hold of my skirts, saying, "What thinkest thou to do?" +"So and so," answered I. But she rejoined, "Sit still, when we +would be rid of thee, we will send thee away." So I sat with them +till near daybreak, when she said to me, "O Ibn Mensour, go to +yonder chamber; for we have furnished it for thee, and it is thy +sleeping-place." So I went thither and slept till morning, when a +page brought me basin and ewer, and I made the ablution and +prayed the morning-prayer. Then I sat down and presently, Jubeir +and his mistress came out of the bath in the house, wringing +their locks. + +I wished them good morning and gave them joy of their safety and +reunion, saying to Jubeir, "That which began with constraint hath +ended in contentment." "Thou sayst well," replied he; "and indeed +thou deservest largesse." And he called his treasurer and bade +him fetch three thousand dinars. So he brought a purse containing +that sum, and Jubeir gave it to me, saying, "Favour us by +accepting this." "I will not take it," answered I, "till thou +tell me the manner of the transfer of love from her to thee, +after so great an aversion." "I hear and obey," said he. "Know +that we have a festival, called the festival of the New Year, +when all the people use to take boat and go a-pleasuring on the +river. So I went out, with my comrades, and saw a boat, wherein +were half a score damsels like moons, and amongst them, the lady +Budour, with her lute in her hand. She preluded in eleven modes, +then returning to the first, sang the following verses: + +Fire is not so fierce and so hot as the fires in my heart that + glow, And granite itself is less hard than the heart of my + lord, I trow. +Indeed, when I think on his make and his fashion, I marvel to see + A heart that is harder than rock in a body that's softer + than snow. + +Quoth I to her, 'Repeat the verses and the air.' But she would +not; so I bade the boatmen pelt her with oranges, and they pelted +her till we feared her boat would sink. Then she went her way, +and this is how the love was transferred from her breast to +mine." So I gave them joy of their reunion and taking the purse, +with its contents, returned to Baghdad. + +When the Khalif heard Ibn Mensour's story, his heart was +lightened and the restlessness and oppression from which he +suffered forsook him. + + + + + + THE MAN OF YEMEN AND HIS SIX SLAVE-GIRLS + + + +The Khalif El-Mamoun was sitting one day in his palace, +surrounded by his grandees and officers of state, and there were +present also before him all his poets and minions, amongst the +rest one named Mohammed of Bassora. Presently, the Khalif turned +to the latter and said to him, 'O Mohammed, I wish thee to tell +me something that I have never before heard.' 'O Commander of the +Faithful,' answered Mohammed, 'shall I tell thee a thing that I +have heard with my ears of a thing that I have seen with my +eyes?' 'Tell me whichever is the rarer,' said El Mamoun. + +'Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,' began Mohammed, 'that +there lived once a wealthy man, who was a native of Yemen; but he +left his native land and came to this city of Baghdad, whose +sojourn so pleased him that he transported hither his family and +possessions. Now he had six slave-girls, the first fair, the +second dark, the third fat, the fourth thin, the fifth yellow and +the sixth black, all fair of face and perfectly accomplished and +skilled in the arts of singing and playing upon instruments of +music. One day he sent for them all and called for meat and +drink; and they ate and drank and made merry. Then he filled the +cup and taking it in his hand, said to the blonde, "O new-moon- +face, let us hear somewhat pleasing." So she took the lute and +tuning it, made music thereon with such melodious trills and +modulations that the place danced to the rhythm; after which she +played a lively measure and sang the following verses: + +I have a friend, whose form is mirrored in mine eye, And deep + within my breast, his name doth buried lie. +Whenas I call him back to mind, I am all heart, And when on him I + gaze, all eyes indeed am I. +"Forswear the love of him," my censor says; and I, "That which is + not to be, how shall it be?" reply. +"Go forth from me," quoth I, "and leave me, censor mine: Feign + not that eath and light, that's grievous to aby." + +At this their master was moved to mirth and drinking off his cup, +gave the damsels to drink, after which he said to the brunette, +"O light of the brasier[FN#35] and delight of souls, let us hear +thy lovely voice, wherewith all that hearken are ravished." So +she took the lute and trilled upon it, till the place was moved +to mirth; then, taking all hearts with her graceful bendings, she +sang the following verses: + +As thy face liveth, none but thee I'll love nor cherish e'er, + Till death, nor ever to thy love will I be false, I swear. +O full moon, shrouded, as it were a veil, with loveliness, All + lovely ones on earth that be beneath thy banners fare. +Thou, that in pleasantness and grace excellest all the fair, May + God, the Lord of heaven and earth, be with thee everywhere! + +The man was pleased and drank off his cup; after which he filled +again and taking the goblet in his hand, beckoned to the plump +girl and bade her sing and play. So she took the lute and +striking a grief-dispelling measure, sang as follows: + +If but thy consent be assured, O thou who art all my desire, Be + all the folk angered 'gainst me; I set not a whit by their + ire. +And if thou but show me thy face, thy brilliant and beautiful + face, I reck not if all the kings of the earth from my + vision retire. +Thy favour, O thou unto whom all beauty must needs be referred, + Of the goods and the sweets of the world is all that I seek + and require. + +The man was charmed and emptying his cup, gave the girls to +drink. Then he beckoned to the slender girl and said to her, "O +houri of Paradise, feed thou our ears with sweet sounds." So she +took the lute and tuning it, preluded and sang the following +verses: + +Is it not martyrdom that I for thine estrangement dree, Seeing, + indeed, I cannot live, if thou depart from me? +Is there no judge, in Love its law, to judge betwixt us twain, to + do me justice on thy head and take my wreak of thee? + +Their lord rejoiced and emptying the cup, gave the girls to +drink. Then he signed to the yellow girl and said to her, "O sun +of the day, let us hear some pleasant verses." So she took the +lute and preluding after the goodliest fashion, sang as follows: + +I have a lover, whenas I draw him nigh, He bares upon me a sword + from either eye. +May God avenge me some whit of him! For lo, He doth oppress me, + whose heart in 's hand doth lie. +Oft though, "Renounce him, my heart," I say, yet it Will to none + other than him itself apply. +He's all I ask for, of all created things; Yet jealous Fortune + doth him to me deny. + +The man rejoiced and drank and gave the girls to drink; then he +filled the cup and taking it in his hand, signed to the black +girl, saying, "O apple of the eye, let us have a taste of thy +fashion, though it be but two words." So she took the lute and +preluded in various modes, then returned to the first and sang +the following verses to a lively air: + +O eyes, be large with tears and pour them forth amain, For, lo, + for very love my senses fail and wane. +All manner of desire I suffer for his sake I cherish, and my foes + make merry at my pain. +My enviers me forbid the roses of a cheek; And yet I have a heart + that is to roses fain. +Ay, once the cups went round with joyance and delight And to the + smitten lutes, the goblets did we drain, +What time my love kept troth and I was mad for him And in faith's + heaven, the star of happiness did reign. +But lo, he turned away from me, sans fault of mine! Is there a + bitterer thing than distance and disdain? +Upon his cheeks there bloom a pair of roses red, Blown ready to + be plucked; ah God, those roses twain! +Were't lawful to prostrate oneself to any else Than God, I'd sure + prostrate myself upon the swain. + +Then rose the six girls and kissing the ground before their lord, +said to him, "Judge thou between us, O our lord!" He looked at +their beauty and grace and the difference of their colours and +praised God the Most High and glorified Him: then said he, "There +is none of you but has read the Koran and learnt to sing and is +versed in the chronicles of the ancients and the doings of past +peoples; so it is my desire that each of you rise and pointing to +her opposite, praise herself and dispraise her rival; that is to +say, let the blonde point to the black, the plump to the slender +and the yellow to the brunette; and after, the latter shall, each +in turn, do the like with the former; and be this illustrated +with citations from the Holy Koran and somewhat of anecdotes and +verse, so as to show forth your culture and elegance of +discourse." Quoth they, "We hear and obey." + +So the blonde rose first and pointing at the black, said to her, +"Out on thee, blackamoor! It is told that whiteness saith, 'I am +the shining light, I am the rising full moon.' My colour is +patent and my forehead is resplendent, and of my beauty quoth the +poet: + +A blonde with smooth and polished cheeks, right delicate and + fair, As if a pearl in beauty hid, as in a shell, she were. +Her shape a splendid Alif[FN#36] is, her smile a medial + Mim[FN#37] And over it her eyebrows make inverted + Nouns,[FN#38] a pair. +Yes, and the glances of her eyes are arrows, and her brows A bow + that therewithal is horned with death and with despair. +If to her cheeks and shape thou pass, her cheeks are roses red, + Sweet basil, ay, and eglantine and myrtles rich and rare. +'Tis of the saplings' wont, to be implanted in the meads But, in + the saplings of thy shape, how many meads are there! + +My colour is like the wholesome day and the newly-gathered +orange-blossom and the sparkling star; and indeed quoth God the +Most High, in His precious book, to His prophet Moses (on whom be +peace), 'Put thy hand into thy bosom and it shall come forth +white without hurt.'[FN#39] And again He saith, 'As for those +whose faces are made white, they are in the mercy of God and +dwell for ever therein.'[FN#40] My colour is a miracle and my +grace an extreme and my beauty a term. It is in the like of me +that clothes show fair and to the like of me that hearts incline. +Moreover, in whiteness are many excellences; for instance, the +snow falls white from heaven, and it is traditional that white is +the most beautiful of colours. The Muslims also glory in white +turbans; but I should be tedious, were I to repeat all that may +be said in praise of white; little and enough is better than too +much. So now I will begin with thy dispraise, O black, O colour +of ink and blacksmith's dust, thou whose face is like the crow +that brings about lovers' parting! Verily, the poet saith in +praise of white and dispraise of black: + +Seest not that for their milky hue white pearls in price excel + And charcoal for a groat a load the folk do buy and sell? +And eke white faces, 'tis well known, do enter Paradise, Whilst + faces black appointed are to fill the halls of Hell. + +And indeed it is told in certain histories, related on the +authority of devout men, that Noah (on whom be peace) was +sleeping one day, with his sons Ham and Shem seated at his head, +when a wind sprang up and lifting his clothes, uncovered his +nakedness; whereat Ham laughed and did not cover him; but Shem +rose and covered him. Presently, Noah awoke and learning what had +passed, blessed Shem and cursed Ham. So Shem's face was whitened +and from him sprang the prophets and the orthodox Khalifs and +Kings; whilst Ham's face was blackened and he fled forth to the +land of Ethiopia, and of his lineage came the blacks. All people +are of a mind in affirming the lack of understanding of the +blacks, even as saith the adage, 'How shall one find a black +having understanding?'" + +Quoth her master, "It sufficeth; sit down, thou hast been +prodigal." And he signed to the negress, who rose, and pointing +at the blonde, said, "Doth thou not know that, in the Koran sent +down to His prophet and apostle, is transmitted the saying of God +the Most High, 'By the night, when it veileth [the world with +darkness], and by the day, when it appeareth in all its +glory!'[FN#41] If the night were not more illustrious than the +day, why should God swear by it and give it precedence of the +day? And indeed those of sense and understanding accept this. +Knowst now that black [hair] is the ornament of youth and that, +when whiteness descends upon the head, delights pass away and the +hour of death draws nigh? Were not black the most illustrious of +things, God had not set it in the kernel of the heart and the +apple of the eye; and how excellent is the saying of the poet: + +An if I cherish the dusky maids, this is the reason why; They + have the hue of the core of the heart and the apple of the + eye +And youth; nor in error I eschew the whiteness of the blondes; + For 'tis the colour of hoary hair and shrouds in them shun + I. + +And that of another: + +The brown, not the white, are first in my love And worthiest + eke to be loved of me, +For the colour of damask lips have they, Whilst the white have + the hue of leprosy. + +And of a third: + +Black women, white of deeds, are like indeed to eyne That, though + jet-black they be, with peerless splendours shine. +If I go mad for her, be not amazed; for black The source of + madness is, when in the feminine.[FN#42] +'Tis as my colour were the middle dark of night; For all no moon + it be, yet brings it light, in fine. + +Moreover, is the companying together of lovers good but in the +night? Let this quality and excellence suffice thee. What +protects lovers from spies and censors like the blackness of the +shadows? And nought gives them cause to fear discovery like the +whiteness of the dawn. So, how many claims to honour are there +not in blackness and how excellent is the saying of the poet: + +I visit them, and the mirk of night doth help me to my will And + seconds me, but the white of dawn is hostile to me still. + +And that of another: + +How many a night in joy I've passed with the beloved one, What + while the darkness curtained us about with tresses dun! +Whenas the light of morn appeared, it struck me with affright, + And I to him, 'The Magians lie, who worship fire and sun.' + +And saith a third: + +He came forth to visit me, shrouding himself in the cloak of the + night, And hastened his steps, as he wended, for caution and + fear and affright. +Then rose I and laid in his pathway my cheek, as a carpet it + were, For abjection, and trailed o'er my traces my skirts, + to efface them from sight. +But lo, the new moon rose and shone, like a nail-paring cleft + from the nail, And all but discovered our loves with the + gleam of her meddlesome light. +And then there betided between us what I'll not discover, i' + faith: So question no more of the matter and deem not of ill + or unright. + +And a fourth: + +Foregather with thy lover, whilst night your loves may screen; + For that the sun's a telltale, the moon a go-between. + +And a fifth: + +I love not white women, with fat blown out and overlaid; The girl + of all girls for me is the slender dusky maid. +Let others the elephant mount, if it like them; as for me, I'll + ride but the fine-trained colt on the day of the cavalcade. + +And a sixth: + +My loved one came to me by night And we did clip and interlace +And lay together through the dark; But, lo, the morning broke + apace. +To God, my Lord, I pray that He Will reunite us of His grace +And make night last to me, what while I hold my love in my + embrace. + +Were I to set forth all the praise of blackness, I should be +tedious; but little and enough is better than great plenty and +too much. As for thee, O blonde, thy colour is that of leprosy +and thine embrace is suffocation; and it is of report that frost +and intense cold[FN#43] are in Hell for the torment of the +wicked. Again, of black things is ink, wherewith is written the +word of God; and were is not for black ambergris and black musk, +there would be no perfumes to carry to kings. How many glories +are there not in blackness and how well saith the poet: + +Dost thou not see that musk, indeed, is worth its weight in gold, + Whilst for a dirhem and no more a load of lime is sold? +Black eyes cast arrows at men's hearts; but whiteness of the + eyes, In man, is judged of all to be unsightly to behold." + +"It sufficeth," said her master. "Sit down." So she sat down and +he signed to the fat girl, who rose and pointing at the slim +girl, uncovered her arms and legs and bared her stomach, showing +its creases and the roundness of her navel. Then she donned a +shift of fine stuff, that showed her whole body, and said, +"Praised be God who created me, for that He beautified my face +and made me fat and fair and likened me to branches laden with +fruit and bestowed upon me abounding beauty and brightness; and +praised be He no less, for that He hath given me the precedence +and honoured me, when He speaks of me in His holy book! Quoth the +Most High, 'And he brought a fat calf.'[FN#44] And indeed He hath +made me like unto an orchard, full of peaches and pomegranates. +Verily, the townsfolk long for fat birds and eat of them and love +not lean birds; so do the sons of Adam desire fat meat and eat of +it. How many precious attributes are there not in fatness, and +how well saith the poet: + +Take leave of thy love, for the caravan, indeed, is on the + start. O man, canst thou bear to say farewell and thus + from her to part? +'Tis as her going were, I trow, but to her neighbour's house, + The faultless gait of a fat fair maid, that never tires + the heart. + +Sawst thou ever one stop at a butcher's stall, but sought fat +meat of him? The wise say, 'Pleasure is in three things, eating +flesh and riding on flesh and the thrusting of flesh into +flesh.' As for thee, O thin one, thy legs are like sparrow's +legs or pokers, and thou art like a cruciform plank or a piece +of poor meat; there is nought in thee to gladden the heart; +even as saith of thee the poet: + +Now God forfend that aught enforce me take for bedfellow A + woman like a foot-rasp, wrapt in palm-fibres and tow! +In every limb she has a horn, that butts me in my sleep, So + that at day-break, bruised and sore, I rise from her and + go." + +"It is enough," quoth her master. "Sit down." So she sat down +and he signed to the slender girl, who rose, as she were a +willow-wand or a bamboo-shoot or a plant of sweet basil, and +said, "Praised be God who created me and beautified me and made +my embraces the end of all desire and likened me to the branch, +to which all hearts incline. If I rise, I rise lightly; if +I sit, I sit with grace; I am nimble-witted at a jest and +sweeter-souled than cheerfulness [itself]. Never heard I one +describe his mistress, saying, 'My beloved is the bigness of an +elephant or like a long wide mountain;' but rather, 'My lady +hath a slender waist and a slim shape.' + +A little food contents me and a little water stays my thirst; +my sport is nimble and my habit elegant; for I am sprightlier +than the sparrow and lighter-footed than the starling. My +favours are the desire of the longing and the delight of the +seeker; for I am goodly of shape, sweet of smile and graceful +as the willow-wand or the bamboo-cane of the basil-plant; nor +is there any can compare with me in grace, even as saith one of +me: + +Thy shape unto the sapling liken I And set my hope to win thee or + to die. +Distraught, I follow thee, and sore afraid, Lest any look on thee + with evil eye. + +It is for the like of me that lovers run mad and that the longing +are distracted. If my lover be minded to draw me to him, I am +drawn to him, and if he would have me incline to him, I incline +to him and not against him. But as for thee, O fat of body, thine +eating is as that of an elephant, and neither much not little +contents thee. When thou liest with a man, he hath no ease of +thee, nor can he find a way to take his pleasure of thee; for the +bigness of thy belly holds him off from clipping thee and the +grossness of thy thighs hinders him from coming at thy kaze. What +comeliness is there in thy grossness and what pleasantness or +courtesy in thy coarse nature? Fat meat is fit for nought but +slaughter, nor is there aught therein that calls for praise. If +one joke with thee, thou art angry; if one sport with thee, thou +art sulky; if thou sleep, thou snorest; if thou walk, thou +pantest; if thou eat, thou art never satisfied. Thou art heavier +than mountains and fouler than corruption and sin. Thou hast in +thee nor movement nor blessing nor thinkest of aught but to eat +and sleep. If thou make water, thou scatterest; if thou void, +thou gruntest like a bursten wine-skin or a surly elephant. If +thou go to the draught-house, thou needest one to wash out thy +privy parts and pluck out the hairs; and this is the extreme of +laziness and the sign of stupidity. In fine, there is no good +thing in thee, and indeed the poet saith of thee: + +Heavy and swollen with fat, like a blown-out water-skin, With + thighs like the pillars of stone that buttress a mountain's + head, +Lo, if she walk in the West, so cumbrous her corpulence is The + Eastern hemisphere hears the sound of her heavy tread." + +Quoth her master, "It is enough: sit down." So she sat down and +he signed to the yellow girl, who rose to her feet and praised +God and magnified His name, calling down peace and blessing on +the best of His creatures;[FN#45] after which she pointed at the +brunette and said to her, "I am praised in the Koran, and the +Compassionate One hath described my colour and its excellence +over all others in His manifest Book, where He saith, 'A yellow +[heifer], pure yellow, whose colour rejoices the beholders.' +[FN#46] Wherefore my colour is a portent and my grace an extreme +and my beauty a term; for that my colour is the colour of a dinar +and of the planets and moons and of apples. My fashion is the +fashion of the fair, and the colour of saffron outvies all +other colours; so my fashion is rare and my colour wonderful. I +am soft of body, and of great price, comprising all attributes of +beauty. My colour, in that which exists, is precious as virgin +gold, and how many glorious qualities are there not in me! Of the +like of me quoth the poet: + +Yellow she is, as is the sun that shineth in the sky, And like to + golden dinars, eke, to see, her beauties are. +Nor with her brightness, anywise, can saffron hold compare, And + even the very moon herself her charms outvie by far. + +And now I will begin in thy dispraise, O brown of favour! Thy +colour is that of the buffalo, and all souls shudder at thy +sight. If thy colour be in aught, it is blamed; if it be in food, +it is poisoned; for thy colour is that of flies and is a mark of +ugliness in dogs. It is, among colours, one which strikes with +amazement and is of the signs of mourning. Never heard I of brown +gold or brown pearls or brown jewels. If thou enter the wardrobe, +thy colour changes, and when thou comest out, thou addest a new +ugliness to thine ugliness. Thou art neither black, that thou +mayst be known, nor white, that thou mayst be described; and +there is no good quality in thee, even as saith of thee the poet: + +As a complexion unto her, the hue of soot doth serve; Her mirky + colour is as dust on couriers' feet upcast. +No sooner fall mine eyes on her, thou but a moment's space, Than + troubles and misgivings straight beset me thick and fast." + +"Enough," said her master. "Sit down." So she sat down and he +signed to the brunette. Now she was endowed with grace and beauty +and symmetry and perfection, delicate of body, with coal-back +hair, slender shape, rosy, oval cheeks, liquid black eyes, fair +face, eloquent tongue, slim waist and heavy buttocks. So she rose +and said, "Praised be God who hath created me neither blameably +fat nor lankily slender, neither white like leprosy nor yellow +like colic nor black like coal, but hath made my colour to be +beloved of men of wit; for all the poets praise brunettes in +every tongue and exalt their colour over all others. Brown of +hue, praiseworthy of qualities; and God bless him who saith: + +In the brunettes a meaning is, couldst read its writ aright, + Thine eyes would never again look on others, red or white. +Free-flowing speech and amorous looks would teach Harout[FN#47] + himself The arts of sorcery and spells of magic and of + might. + +And saith another: + +Give me brunettes; the Syrian spears, so limber and so + straight, Tell of the slender dusky maids, so lithe and + proud of gait. +Languid of eyelids, with a down like silk upon her cheek, + Within her wasting lover's heart she queens it still in + state. + +And yet another: + +Yea, by my life, such virtues in goodly brownness lie, One spot + thereof makes whiteness the shining moons outvie; +But if the like of whiteness is borrowed, then, for sure, Its + beauty were transmuted unto reproach thereby. +Not with her wine[FN#48] I'm drunken, but with her + tresses[FN#49] bright That make all creatures drunken that + dwell beneath the sky. +Each of her charms doth envy the others; yea, and each To be + the down so silky upon her cheek doth sigh. + +And again: + +Why should I not incline me unto the silken down On the cheeks + of a dusky maiden, like the cane straight and brown, +Seeing the spot of beauty in waterlilies' cups Is of the poets + fabled to be all beauty's crown? +Yea, and I see all lovers the swarthy-coloured mole, Under the + ebon pupil, do honour and renown. +Why, then, do censors blame me for loving one who's all A mole? + May Allah rid me of every railing clown! + +My form is beautiful and my shape slender; kings desire my colour +and all love it, rich and poor. I am pleasant, nimble, handsome, +elegant, soft of body and great of price. I am perfect in beauty +and breeding and eloquence; my aspect is comely and my tongue +fluent, my habit light and my sport graceful. As for thee, +[O yellow girl,] thou art like unto a mallow of Bab el Louc, +yellow and made all of sulphur. Perdition to thee, O pennyworth +of sorrel, O rust of copper, O owl's face and food of the damned! +Thy bedfellow, for oppression of spirit, is buried in the tombs, +and there is no good thing in thee, even as saith the poet of the +like of thee: + +Paleness[FN#50] is sore on her, for all no illness doth her + fret; My breast is straitened by its sight; ay, and my + head aches yet. +If thou repent thee not, my soul, to punish thee, I vow, I'll + humble thee with a kiss of her face, my teeth on edge + shall set." + +"Enough," said her master; "sit down." Then he made peace +between them and clad them all in sumptuous dresses of honour +and handselled them with precious jewels of land and sea. And +never, O Commander of the Faithful, in any place or time have I +seen fairer than these six fair damsels.' + +When the Khalif El Mamoun heard this story from Mohammed of Bassora, +he said to him, 'O Mohammed, knowest thou the abiding-place of +these damsels and their master, and canst thou make shift to buy +them of him for us?' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' answered he, +'I have heard that their master is wrapped up in them and cannot +endure to be parted from them.' 'Take threescore thousand dinars, +--that is, ten thousand for each girl,--' rejoined the Khalif, +'and go to his house and buy them of him.' So Mohammed took the +money and betaking himself to the man of Yemen, acquainted him +with the Khalif's wish. He consented to sell them at that price, +to pleasure him, and despatched them to El Mamoun, who assigned +them an elegant lodging and used to sit with them therein, +marvelling at their beauty and grace, no less than at their varied +colours and the excellence of their speech. + +After awhile, when their former owner could no longer endure separation +from them, he sent a letter to the Khalif, complaining of his ardent +love for them and containing, amongst the rest, the following verses: + +Six damsels fair and bright have captivated me; My blessing and + my peace the six fair maidens greet! +My life, indeed, are they, my hearing and my sight, Yea, and my + very drink, my pleasance and my meat. +No other love can bring me solace for their charms, And + slumber, after them, no more to me is sweet. +Alas, my long regret, my weeping for their loss! Would I have + ne'er been born, to know this sore defeat! +For eyes, bedecked and fair with brows like bended bows, Have + smitten me to death with arrows keen and fleet. + +When the letter came to El Mamoun's hands, he clad the six +damsels in rich apparel and giving them threescore thousand +dinars, sent them back to their master, who rejoiced in them +with an exceeding joy,--more by token of the money they brought +him,--and abode with them in all delight and pleasance of life, +till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the +Sunderer of Companies. + + + + + + HAROUN ER RASHID AND THE DAMSEL AND + ABOU NUWAS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid, being one night exceeding restless +and oppressed with melancholy thought, went out and walked +about his palace, till he came to a chamber, over whose doorway +hung a curtain. He raised the curtain and saw, at the upper end +of the room, a bed, on which lay something black, as it were a +man asleep, with a candle on his right hand and another on his +left and by his side a flagon of old wine, over against which +stood the cup. The Khalif wondered at this, saying, 'How came +yonder black by this wine-service?' Then, drawing near the bed, +he found that it was a girl asleep there, veiled with her hair, +and uncovering her face, saw that it was like the moon on the +night of her full. So he filled a cup of wine and drank it to +the roses of her cheeks; then bent over her and kissed a mole +on her face, whereupon she awoke and cried out, saying, 'O +Trusty One of God,[FN#51], what is to do?' 'A guest who knocks +at thy dwelling by night,' replied the Khalif, '[hoping] that +thou wilt give him hospitality till the dawn.' 'It is well,' +answered she; 'I will grace the guest with my hearing and my +sight.' + +So she brought the wine and they drank it together; after which +she took the lute and tuning it, preluded in one-and-twenty +modes, then returning to the first, struck a lively measure and +sang the following verses: + +The tongue of passion in my heart bespeaks thee for my soul, + Telling I love thee with a love that nothing can control. +I have an eye, that testifies unto my sore disease, And eke a + heart with parting wrung, a-throb for love and dole. +Indeed, I cannot hide the love that frets my life away; Longing + increases still on me, my tears for ever roll. +Ah me, before the love of thee, I knew not what love was; But + God's decree must have its course on every living soul. + +Then said she, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I am a wronged +woman.' 'How so?' quoth he, 'and who hath wronged thee?' She +answered, 'Thy son bought me awhile ago, for ten thousand +dirhems, meaning to give me to thee; but the daughter of thine +uncle[FN#52] sent him the price aforesaid and bade him shut me +up from thee in this chamber.' Whereupon, 'Ask a boon of me,' +said the Khalif; and she, 'I ask thee to lie to-morrow night +with me.' 'If it be the will of God,' replied the Khalif, and +leaving her, went away. + +Next morning, he repaired to his sitting-room and called for +Abou Nuwas, but found him not and sent his chamberlain to seek +for him. The chamberlain found him in pawn, in a tavern, for a +score of a thousand dirhems, that he had spent on a certain +boy, and questioned him. So he told him what had befallen him +with the boy and how he had spent a thousand dirhems upon him; +whereupon quoth the chamberlain, 'Show him to me; and if he be +worth this, thou art excused.' 'Wait awhile,' replied the poet, +'and thou shalt see him presently.' As they were talking, up +came the boy, clad in a white tunic, under which was another of +red and yet another of black. When Abou Nuwas saw him, he +sighed and repeated the following verses: + +To me he appeared in a garment of white, His eyes and his + eyelids with languor bedight. +Quoth I, "Dost thou pass and salutest me not? Though God knows + thy greeting were sweet to my spright. +Be He blessed who mantled with roses thy cheeks, Who creates, + without let, what He will, of His might!" +"Leave prating," he answered; "for surely my Lord Is wondrous + of working, sans flaw or dissight. +Yea, truly, my garment is even as my face And my fortune, each + white upon white upon white." + +When the boy heard this, he put off the white tunic and +appeared in the red one; whereupon Abou Nuwas redoubled in +expressions of admiration and repeated the following verses: + +Appeared in a garment, the colour of flame, A foeman of mine, + "The beloved," by name. +"Thou'rt a full moon," I said in my wonder, "And com'st In a + garment that putteth the roses to shame. +Hath the red of thy cheek clad that vest upon thee Or in + heart's blood of lovers hast tinctured the same?" +Quoth he, "'Twas the sun lately gave me the wede; From the + rubicund hue of his setting it came. +So my garment and wine and the colour so clear Of my cheek are + as flame upon flame upon flame." + +Then the boy doffed the red tunic and abode in the black; +whereupon Abou Nuwas redoubled in attention to him and repeated +the following verses: + +He came in a tunic all sable of hue And shone out, thus veiled + in the dark, to men's view. +"Thou passest," quoth I, "without greeting, and thus Givest + cause to exult to the rancorous crew. +Thy garment resembles thy locks and my lot, Yea, blackness and + blackness and blackness thereto." + +Then the chamberlain returned to Haroun er Reshid and +acquainted him with the poet's predicament, whereupon he bade +him take a thousand dirhems and go and take him out of pawn. So +he returned to Abou Nuwas and paying his score, carried him to +the Khalif, who said, 'Make me some verses containing the +words, "O Trusty One of God, what is to do?"' 'I hear and obey, +O Commander of the Faithful,' answered he and improvised the +following verses: + +My night was long for sleeplessness and care. Weary I was and + many my thoughts were. +I rose and walked awhile in my own place, Then midst the + harem's cloistered courts did fare, +Until I chanced on somewhat black and found It was a damsel + shrouded in her hair. +God bless her for a shining moon! Her shape A willow-wand, and + pudour veiled the fair. +I quaffed a cup to her; then, drawing near, I kissed the mole + upon her cheek so rare. +She woke and swayed about in her amaze, Even as the branch + sways in the rain-fraught air; +Then rose and said, "O Trusty One of God, What is to do, and + thou, what dost thou there?" +"A guest", quoth I, "that sues to thee, by night, For shelter + till the hour of morning-prayer." +"Gladly," she said; "with hearing and with sight To grace the + guest, my lord, I will not spare." + +'Confound thee!' cried the Khalif. 'It is as if thou hadst been +present with us.' Then he took him by the hand and carried him +to the damsel, who was clad in a dress and veil of blue. When +Abou Nuwas saw her, he was profuse in expressions of admiration +and recited the following verses: + +Say to the lovely maid, i' the veil of azure dight, "By Allah, + O my life, have pity on my plight! +For when the fair entreats her lover cruelly, Sighs of all + longing rend his bosom day and night. +So, by thy charms and by the whiteness of thy cheek, Have ruth + upon a heart for love consumed outright. +Incline to him and be his stay 'gainst stress of love, Nor let + what fools may say find favour in thy sight." + +Then the damsel set wine before the Khalif and taking the lute, +played a lively measure and sang the following verses: + +Wilt thou be just in thy love to others and deal with me + Unjustly and put me away, while others have joy in thee? +Were there for lovers a judge, to whom I might complain Of + thee, he would do me justice and judge with equity. +If thou forbid me to pass thy door, yet from afar To greet thee + and to bless, at least, I shall be free. + +The Khalif bade her ply Abou Nuwas with wine, till he lost his +wits; when he gave him a full cup, and he drank a draught of it +and held the cup in his hand. Er Reshid bade the girl take the +cup from him and conceal it; so she took it and hid it between +her thighs. Then he drew his sword and standing at the poet's +head, pricked him with the point; whereupon he awoke and saw +the Khalif standing over him, with a drawn sword. At this sight +the fumes of the wine fled from his head and the Khalif said to +him, 'Make me some verses and tell me therein what is come of +thy cup; or I will cut off thy head.' So he improvised the +following verses: + +My tale, indeed is hard to tell: The thief was none but yon + gazelle. +She stole my cup of wine, whereof My lips had drunken but one + spell, +And hid it in a place, for which My heart's desire's + unspeakable. +I name it not, for awe of him, In whom the right thereof doth + dwell. + +'Confound thee!' quoth the Khalif. 'How knewst thou that? But +we accept what thou sayst.' Then he ordered him a dress of +honour and a thousand dinars, and he went away, rejoicing. + + + + + + THE MAN WHO STOLE THE DISH OF GOLD IN + WHICH THE DOG ATE. + + + +There was once a man, who was overborne with debt, and his case +was straitened upon him, so that he left his people and family +and went forth in distraction. He wandered on at random till he +came to a high-walled and splendidly built city and entered it +in a state of wretchedness and despair, gnawed with hunger and +worn with the toil of his journey. As he passed through one of +the streets, he saw a company of notables going along; so he +followed them, till they entered a house like to a royal +palace. He entered with them, and they stayed not till they +came in presence of a man of the most dignified and majestic +aspect, seated at the upper end of a saloon and surrounded by +pages and servants, as he were of the sons of the Viziers. When +he saw the visitors, he rose and received them with honour; but +the poor man was confounded at the goodliness of the place and +the crowd of servants and attendants and drawing back, in fear +and perplexity, sat down apart in a place afar off, where none +should see him. + +After awhile, in came a man with four hunting-dogs, clad in +various kinds of silk and brocade and having on their necks +collars of gold with chains of silver, and tied up each dog in a +place set apart for him; after which he went out and presently +returned with four dishes of gold, full of rich meats, one of +which he set before each dog. Then he went away and left them, +whilst the poor man began to eye the food, for stress of hunger, +and would fain have gone up to one of the dogs and eaten with +him; but fear of them withheld him. Presently, one of the +dogs looked at him and God the Most High inspired him with a +knowledge of his case; so he drew back from the platter and +beckoned to the man, who came and ate, till he was satisfied. +Then he would have withdrawn, but the dog pushed the dish +towards him with his paw, signing to him to take it and what +was left in it for himself. So the man took the dish and +leaving the house, went his way, and none followed him. Then +he journeyed to another city, where he sold the dish and buying +goods with the price, returned to his own town. There he sold +his stock and paid his debts; and he prospered and became rich +and at his ease. + +After some years had passed, he said to himself, 'Needs must I +repair to the city of the owner of the dish, which the dog +bestowed on me, and carry him its price, together with a fit +and handsome present.' So he took the price of the dish and a +suitable present and setting out, journeyed night and day, till +he came to the city and entering, went straight to the place +where the man's house had been; but lo, he found there nothing +but mouldering ruins and dwelling-places laid waste, over which +the raven croaked; for the place was desert and the environs +changed out of knowledge. At this, his heart and soul were +troubled and he repeated the words of him who saith: + +The privy chambers are void of all their hidden store, As + hearts of the fear of God and the virtues all of yore. +Changed is the vale and strange to me are its gazelles, And + those I knew of old its sandhills are no more. + +And those of another: + +The phantom of Saada came to me by night, near the break of + day, And roused me, whenas my comrades all in the desert + sleeping lay. +But, when I awoke to the dream of the night, that came to visit + me, I found the air void and the wonted place of our + rendezvous far away. + +When he saw what the hand of time had manifestly done with the +place, leaving but traces of the things that had been aforetime, +the testimony of his eyes made it needless for him to enquire +of the case; so he turned away and seeing a wretched man, in +a plight that made the skin quake and would have moved the +very rock to pity, said to him, 'Harkye, sirrah! What have +time and fortune done with the master of this place? Where are +his shining full moons[FN#53] and splendid stars;[FN#54] and +what is the cause of the ruin that is come upon his abode, so +that but the walls thereof remain?' Quoth the other, 'He is the +miserable wretch thou seest bewailing that which hath befallen +him. Knowest thou not the words of the Prophet (whom God bless +and preserve), wherein is a lesson to him who will profit by it +and an admonition to whoso will be guided thereby in the right +way? "Verily it is the way of God the Most High to raise up +nothing of this world, except He cast it down again." If thou +enquire of the cause of this thing, indeed, it is no wonder, +considering the vicissitudes of fortune. I was the master of +this place and its builder and founder and owner and lord of +its shining full moons and radiant damsels and of all its +splendid circumstance an magnificent garniture; but Fortune +turned and did away from me wealth and servants, overwhelming +me unawares with disasters unforeseen and bringing me to this +sorry plight. But there must needs be some reason for this thy +question: tell it me and leave wondering.' + +So the other told him the whole story, sore concerned at what +he heard and saw, and added, 'I have brought thee a present +such as souls desire, and the price of thy dish of gold, that I +took; for it was the cause of my becoming rich, after poverty, +and of the reinstating of my dwelling-place, after desolation, +and of the doing away of my trouble and straitness from me.' +But the poor man shook his head, groaning and weeping and +lamenting, and answered, 'O man, methinks thou art mad; for +this is not the fashion of a man of understanding. How should a +dog of mine make gift to thee of a dish of gold and I receive +back its price? This were indeed a strange thing! By Allah, +were I in the straitest misery and unease, I would not accept +of thee aught, no, not the worth of a nail-paring! So return +whence thou camest, in health and safety.' + +The merchant kissed his feet and taking leave of him, returned +whence he came, praising him and reciting the following verse: + +The men and eke the dogs are gone and vanished all. Peace be + upon the men and dogs, whate'er befall! + + + + + + THE SHARPER OF ALEXANDRIA AND THE + MASTER OF POLICE. + + + +There was once, in the coast-fortress of Alexandria, a Master +of Police, Husameddin by name, who was one night sitting in his +seat of office, when there came in to him a trooper, who said +to him, 'Know, O my lord, that I entered the city this night +and alighted at such a khan and slept there, till a third part +of the night was past, when I awoke and found my saddle-bags +cut open and a purse of a thousand dinars stolen from them.' No +sooner had he done speaking than the magistrate called his +officers and bade them lay hands on all in the khan and clap +them in prison till the morning; and on the morrow, he caused +bring the instruments of torment and sending for the prisoners, +was about to torture them, [to make them confess], in the +presence of the owner of the stolen money, when, behold, a man +pressed through the crowd and coming up to the chief of the +police, said, 'O Amir, let these folk go, for they are wrongly +accused. It was I who robbed the trooper, and here is the purse +I stole from his saddle-bags.' So saying, he pulled out the +purse from his sleeve and laid it before Husameddin, who said +to the soldier, 'Take thy money; thou hast no ground of +complaint now against the people of the khan.' Thereupon the +latter and all who were present fell to blessing the thief and +praising him; but he said, 'O Amir, the skill is not in that I +came to thee and brought thee the purse, but in taking it a +second time from the trooper.' 'And how didst thou take it, O +sharper?' asked Husameddin. + +'O Amir,' replied the thief, 'I was standing in the +money-changers' bazaar at Cairo, when I saw yonder man receive +the gold and put it in his purse; so I followed him from street +to street, but found no occasion of stealing it from him. Then +he left Cairo and I followed him from place to place, casting +about by the way to rob him, but without avail, till he entered +this city and I followed him to the khan. I took up my lodging +beside him and watched him till he fell asleep and I heard him +snoring, when I went softly up to him and cutting open his +saddlebags with this knife, took the purse thus--' + +So saying, he put out his hand and took the purse from before +the chief of the police, whilst the latter and the trooper and +the folk drew back, watching him and thinking he would show them +how he took the purse from the saddle-bags; but, of a sudden, +he broke into a run and threw himself into a reservoir hard by. +The chief of the police called to his officers to pursue him, +but before they could put off their clothes and descend the +steps, he had made off; and they sought for him, but found him +not; for the streets of Alexandria all communicate one with +another. So they came back, empty-handed, and the chief of the +police said to the trooper, 'Thou hast no recourse against the +folk; for thou foundest him who robbed thee and receivedst back +thy money, but didst not keep it.' So the trooper went away, +having lost his money, whilst the folk were delivered from his +hands and those of the chief of the police; and all this was of +the favour of God the Most High. + + + + + + EL MELIK EN NASIR AND THE THREE MASTERS + OF POLICE. + + + +El Melik en Nasir[FN#55] once sent for the chiefs of the police +of New Cairo, Boulac and Old Cairo and said to them, 'I wish +each of you to tell me the most remarkable thing that hath +befallen him during his term of office.' 'We hear and obey,' +answered they. Then said the chief of the police of New Cairo, +'O our lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell +me, during my term of office, was on this wise: + + + + + +Story of the Chief of the Police of New Cairo. + + + +There were once, in this city, two men apt to bear witness in +matters of blood and wounds; but they were both given to wine +and women and debauchery; nor, do what I would, could I succeed +in bringing them to account. So I charged the vintners and +confectioners and fruiterers and chandlers and bagnio-keepers +to acquaint me of these two, when ever they should anywhere be +engaged in drinking or debauchery, whether together or apart, +and that, if they or either of them bought of them aught for +the purpose of carousal, they should not conceal it from me. +And they replied, "We hear and obey." + +One night, a man came to me and said, "O my lord, know that the +two witnesses are in such a house in such a street, engaged +in sore wickedness." So I disguised myself and went out, +accompanied by none but my page, to the street in question. +When I came to the house, I knocked at the door, whereupon a +slave-girl came out and opened to me, saying, "Who art thou?" I +made her no answer, but entered and saw the two witnesses and +the master of the house sitting, and lewd women with them, and +great plenty of wine before them. When they saw me, they rose to +receive me, without showing the least alarm, and made much of me, +seating me in the place of honour and saying to me, "Welcome for +an illustrious guest and a pleasant cup-companion!" + +Presently, the master of the house went out and returning after +awhile with three hundred dinars, said to me, without the least +fear, "O my lord, it is, we know, in thy power both to disgrace +and punish us; but this will bring thee nothing but weariness. +So thou wouldst do better to take this money and protect us; +for God the Most High is named the Protector and loveth those +of His servants who protect each other; and thou shalt have thy +reward in the world to come." The money tempted me and I said +in myself, "I will take the money and protect them this once; +but, if ever again I have them in my power, I will take my +wreak of them." + +So I took the money and went away; but, next day, one of the +Cadi's serjeants came to me and cited me before the court. I +accompanied him thither, knowing not the meaning of the +summons; and when I came into the Cadi's presence, I saw the +two witnesses and the master of the house sitting by him. The +latter rose and sued me for three hundred dinars, nor was it in +my power to deny the debt; for he produced a written obligation +and the two others testified against me that I owed the amount. + +Their evidence satisfied the Cadi and he ordered me to pay the +money; nor did I leave the Court till they had of me the three +hundred dinars. So I went away, in the utmost wrath and +confusion, vowing vengeance against them and repenting that I +had not punished them.' + +Then rose the chief of the Boulac police and said, 'As for me, +O our lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell +me, during my term of office, was as follows: + + + + + +Story of the Chief of the Boulac Police. + + + +I was once in debt to the amount of three hundred thousand +dinars, and being distressed thereby, I sold what was behind me +and what was before me and all I could lay my hands on, but +could raise no more than a hundred thousand dinars and abode in +great perplexity. One night, as I sat at home, in this state of +mind, there came a knocking at the gate; so I said to one of my +servants, "See who is at the door." He went out and returned, +pale and trembling in every nerve; so I said to him, "What ails +thee?" "There is a man at the door, seeking thee," answered he. +"He is half naked, clad in skins, with a sword and a knife in +his girdle, and with him are a company of the same fashion." So +I took my sword and going out to see who these were, found them +as the boy had reported and said to them, "What is your +business?" "We are thieves," answered they, "and have made +great purchase to-night and appointed it to thy use, that thou +mayst pay therewith the debts that oppress thee and free +thyself from thy distress." "Where is it?" asked I; and they +brought me a great chest, full of vessels of gold and silver; +which when I saw, I rejoiced and said in myself, "It were +ungenerous to let them go away empty-handed." + +So I took the hundred thousand dinars I had by me and gave it +to them, thanking them; and they took it and went their way, +under cover of the night. But, on the morrow, when I examined +the contents of the chest, I found them gilded brass and +pewter, worth five hundred dirhems at the most; and this was +grievous to me, for I had lost what money I had, and trouble +was added to my trouble.' + +Then rose the chief of the police of Old Cairo and said, 'O our +lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell me, +during my term of office, was on this wise: + + + + + +Story of the Chief of the Old Cairo Police + + + +I once had ten thieves hanged, each on his own gibbet, and set +guards to watch them and hinder the folk from taking them down. +Next morning, when I came to look at them, I found two bodies +hanging from one gibbet and said to the guards, "Who did this, +and where is the tenth gibbet?" But they denied all knowledge +of it, and I was about to beat them, when they said, "Know, O +Amir, that we fell asleep last night, and when we awoke, we +found one of the bodies gone, gibbet and all, whereat we were +alarmed, fearing thy wrath. But, presently, up came a peasant, +jogging along on his ass; so we laid hands on him and killing +him, hung his body upon this gibbet, in the stead of the +missing thief." + +When I heard this, I marvelled and said to them, "Had he aught +with him?" "He had a pair of saddle-bags on the ass," answered +they. "What was in them?" asked I and they said, "We know not." +Quoth I, "Bring them hither." So they brought them to me and I +bade open them, when, behold, therein was the body of a +murdered man, cut in pieces. When I saw this, I marvelled and +said in myself, "Glory be to God! The cause of the hanging of +this peasant was no other but his crime against this murdered +man; and the Lord is no unjust dealer with [His] servants."' +[FN#56] + + + + + + THE THIEF AND THE MONEY-CHANGER + + + +A money-changer, bearing a bag of money, once passed by a +company of thieves, and one of the latter said to the others, +'I know how to steal yonder bag of money.' 'How wilt thou do +it?' asked they. 'Look,' answered he and followed the money- +changer, till he entered his house, when he threw the bag on a +shelf and went into the draught-house, to do an occasion, +calling to the slave-girl to bring him an ewer of water. So she +took the jug and followed him to the draught-house, leaving the +door open, whereupon the thief entered and taking the bag of +money, made off with it to his companions, to whom he related +what had passed. 'By Allah,' said they, 'this was a clever +trick! It is not every one could do it: but, presently, the +money-changer will come out of the draught-house and missing +the bag of money, will beat the slave-girl and torture her +grievously. Meseems thou hast at present done nothing worthy of +praise; but, if thou be indeed a sharper, thou wilt return and +save the girl from being beaten.' 'If it be the will of God,' +answered the thief, 'I will save both the girl and the purse.' + +Then he went back to the money-changer's house and found him +beating the girl, because of the bag of money; so he knocked at +the door and the man said, 'Who is there? Quoth the thief, 'I +am the servant of thy neighbour in the bazaar.' So he came out +to him and said, 'What is thy business?' 'My master salutes +thee,' replied the thief, 'and says to thee, "Surely, thou art +mad to cast the like of this bag of money down at the door of +thy shop and go away and leave it! Had a stranger chanced on +it, he had made off with it." And except my master had seen it +and taken care of it, it had been lost to thee.' So saying, he +pulled out the purse and showed it to the money-changer, who +said, 'That is indeed my purse,' and put out his hand to take +it; but the thief said, 'By Allah, I will not give it thee, +till thou write me a receipt; for I fear my master will not +believe that thou hast duly received the purse, except I bring +him a writing to that effect, under thy hand and seal.' So the +money-changer went in to write the receipt; but, in the +meantime, the thief made off with the bag of money, having +[thus] saved the slave-girl her beating. + + + + + + THE CHIEF OF THE COUS POLICE AND THE + SHARPER + + + +It is related that Alaeddin, chief of the police of +Cous[FN#57], was sitting one night in his house, when a man of +comely aspect and dignified port, followed by a servant bearing +a chest upon his head, came to the door and said to one of the +young men, 'Go in and tell the Amir that I would speak with him +privily.' So the servant went in and told his master, who bade +admit the visitor. When he entered the Amir saw him to be a man +of good appearance and carriage; so he received him with +honour, seating him beside himself, and said to him, 'What is +thy business?' 'I am a highwayman,' replied the stranger, 'and +am minded to repent at thy hands and turn to God the Most High +but I would have thee help me to this, for that I am in thy +district and under thine eye. I have here a chest, wherein is +that which is worth nigh forty thousand dinars; and none hath +so good a right to it as thou; so do thou take it and give me +in exchange a thousand dinars of thy money, lawfully gotten, +that I may have a little capital, to aid me in my repentance, +and not be forced to resort to sin for subsistence; and with +God the Most High be thy reward!' So saying he opened the chest +and showed the Amir that it was full of trinkets and jewels and +bullion and pearls, whereat he was amazed and rejoiced greatly. +Then he cried out to his treasurer, to bring him a purse of a +thousand dinars, and gave it to the highwayman, who thanked him +and went his way, under cover of the night. + +On the morrow, the Amir sent for the chief of the goldsmiths and +showed him the chest and what was therein; but the goldsmith +found it nothing but pewter and brass and the jewels and pearls +all of glass; at which Alaeddin was sore chagrined and sent in +quest of the highwayman; but none could come at him. + + + + + + IBRAHIM BEN EL MEHDI AND THE MERCHANT'S + SISTER. + + + +The Khalif El Mamoun once said to [his uncle] Ibrahim ben el +Mehdi, 'Tell us the most remarkable thing that thou hast ever +seen.' 'I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful,' answered +he. 'Know that I went out one day, a-pleasuring, and my course +brought me to a place where I smelt the odour of food. My soul +longed for it and I halted, perplexed and unable either to go +on or enter. Presently, I raised my eyes and saw a lattice +window and behind it a hand and wrist, the like of which for +beauty I never saw. The sight turned my brain and I forgot the +smell of the food and began to cast about how I should get +access to the house. After awhile, I espied a tailor hard by +and going up to him, saluted him. He returned my greeting and I +said to him, "Whose house is that?" "It belongs to a merchant +called such an one," answered he, "who consorteth with none but +merchants." + +As we were talking, up came two men of comely and intelligent +aspect, riding on horseback; and the tailor told me their names +and that they were the merchant's most intimate friends. So I +spurred my horse towards them and said to them, "May I be your +ransom! Abou such an one[FN#58] waits for you!" And I rode with +them to the gate, where I entered and they also. When the +master of the house saw me, he doubted not but I was their +friend; so he welcomed me and made me sit down in the highest +room. Then they brought the table of food and I said, "God hath +granted me my desire of the food; and now there remain the hand +and wrist." After awhile, we removed, for carousal, to another +room, which I found full of all manner of rarities; and the +host paid me particular attention, addressing his conversation +to me, for that he deemed me a guest of his guests; whilst the +latter, in like manner, made much of me, taking me for a friend +of the master of the house. + +When we had drunk several cups of wine, there came in to us a +damsel of the utmost beauty and elegance, as she were a +willow-wand, who took a lute and playing a lively measure, sang +the following verses: + +Is it not passing strange, indeed, one house should hold us + tway And still thou drawst not near to me nor yet a word + dost say, +Except the secrets of the souls and hearts that broken be And + entrails blazing in the fires of love, the eye bewray +With meaning looks and knitted brows and eyelids languishing + And hands that salutation sign and greeting thus convey? + +When I heard this, my entrails were stirred and I was moved to +delight, for the excess of her grace and the beauty of the +verses she sang; and I envied her her skill and said, "There +lacketh somewhat to thee, O damsel!" Whereupon she threw the +lute from her hand, in anger, and cried, "Since when do you use +to bring ill-mannered fools into your assemblies?" Then I +repented of what I had done, seeing that the others were vexed +with me, and said in myself, "My hopes are at an end;" and I +saw no way of quitting myself of reproach but to call for a +lute, saying, "I will show you what escaped her in the air she +sang." So they brought me a lute and I tuned it and sang the +following verses: + +This is thy lover distraught, absorbed in his passion and pain; + Thy lover, the tears of whose eyes run down on his body + like rain. +One hand to his heart ever pressed, whilst the other the + Merciful One Imploreth, so He of His grace may grant him + his hope to attain. +O thou, that beholdest a youth for passion that's perished, + thine eye And thy hand are the cause of his death and yet + might restore him again. + +When the damsel heard this, she sprang up and throwing herself +at my feet, kissed them and said, "It is thine to excuse, O my +lord! By Allah, I knew not thy quality nor heard I ever the +like of this fashion!" And they all extolled me and made much +of me, being beyond measure delighted, and besought me to sing +again. So I sang a lively air, whereupon they all became as +drunken men, and their wits left them. Then the guests departed +to their homes and I abode alone with the host and the girl. +The former drank some cups with me, then said to me, "O my +lord, my life hath been wasted, in that I have not known the +like of thee till now. By Allah, then, tell me who thou art, +that I may know who is the boon-companion whom God hath +bestowed on me this night." + +I would not at first tell him my name and returned him evasive +answers; but he conjured me, till I told him who I was; +whereupon he sprang to his feet and said, "Indeed, I wondered +that such excellence should belong to any but the like of thee; +and Fortune hath done me a service for which I cannot avail to +thank her. But, belike, this is a dream; for how could I hope +that the family of the Khalifate should visit me in my own +house and carouse with me this night?" I conjured him to be +seated; so he sat down and began to question me, in the most +courteous terms, as to the cause of my visit. So I told him the +whole matter, concealing nothing, and said to him, "Verily, I +have had my desire of the food, but not of the hand and wrist." +Quoth he, "Thou shalt have thy desire of them also, so God +will." Then said he to the slave-girl, "Bid such an one come +down." And he called his slave-girls down, one by one and +showed them to me; but I saw not my mistress among them, and he +said, "O my lord, there is none left save my mother and sister; +but, by Allah, I must needs have them also down and show them +to thee." + +I marvelled at his courtesy and large-heartedness and said, +"May I be thy ransom! Begin with thy sister." "Willingly," +replied he. So she came down and behold, it was she whose hand +and wrist I had seen. "May God make me thy ransom!" said I. +"This is the damsel whose hand and wrist I saw at the lattice." +Then he sent at once for witnesses and bringing out two myriads +of dinars, said to the witnesses, "This our lord Ibrahim ben el +Mehdi, uncle of the Commander of the Faithful, seeks the hand +of my sister such an one, and I call you to witness that I +marry her to him and that he has endowed her with a dowry of +ten thousand dinars." And he said to me, "I give thee my sister +in marriage, at the dowry aforesaid." "I consent," answered I. +Whereupon he gave one of the bags to her and the other to the +witnesses, and said to me, "O my lord, I desire to array a +chamber for thee; where thou mayst lie with thy wife." But I +was abashed at his generosity and was ashamed to foregather +with her in his house; so I said, "Equip her and send her to my +house." And by thy life, O Commander of the Faithful, he sent +me such an equipage with her, that my house was too strait to +hold it, for all its greatness! And I begot on her this boy +that stands before thee.' + +The Khalif marvelled at the merchant's generosity and said, +'Gifted of God is he! Never heard I of his like.' And he bade +Ibrahim bring him to court, that he might see him. So he +brought him and the Khalif conversed with him; and his wit and +good breeding so pleased him, that he made him one of his chief +officers. + + + + + + THE WOMAN WHOSE HANDS WERE CUT OFF FOR + THAT SHE GAVE ALMS TO THE POOR. + + + +A certain King once made proclamation to the people of his +realm, saying, 'If any of you give alms of aught, I will +assuredly cut off his hand;' wherefore all the people abstained +from alms-giving, and none could give to any. + +One day a beggar accosted a certain woman (and indeed hunger +was sore upon him) and said to her, 'Give me an alms.' 'How can +I give thee aught,' answered she, 'when the King cutteth off +the hands of all who give alms?' But he said, 'I conjure thee +by God the Most High, give me an alms.' So, when he adjured her +by God, she had compassion on him and gave him two cakes of +bread. The King heard of this; so he called her before him and +cut off her hands, after which she returned to her house. + +A while after, the King said to his mother, 'I have a mind to +take a wife; so do thou marry me to a fair woman.' Quoth she, +'There is among our female slaves one who is unsurpassed in +beauty; but she hath a grievous blemish.' 'What is that?' asked +the King; and his mother answered, 'She hath had both her hands +cut off.' Said he, 'Let me see her.' So she brought her to him, +and he was ravished by her and married her and went in to her; +and she brought him a son. + +Now this was the woman, who had her hands cut off for +alms-giving; and when she became queen, her fellow-wives envied +her and wrote to the King [who was then absent] that she was +unchaste; so he wrote to his mother, bidding her carry the +woman into the desert and leave her there. The old queen obeyed +his commandment and abandoned the woman and her son in the +desert; whereupon she fell to weeping and wailing exceeding +sore for that which had befallen her. As she went along, with +the child at her neck, she came to a river and knelt down to +drink, being overcome with excess of thirst, for fatigue and +grief; but, as she bent her head, the child fell into the +water. + +Then she sat weeping sore for her child, and as she wept, there +came up two men, who said to her, 'What makes thee weep?' Quoth +she, 'I had a child at my neck, and he hath fallen into the +water.' 'Wilt thou that we bring him out to thee?' asked they, +and she answered, 'Yes.' So they prayed to God the Most High, +and the child came forth of the water to her, safe and sound. +Quoth they, 'Wilt thou that God restore thee thy hands as they +were?' 'Yes,' replied she: whereupon they prayed to God, +blessed and exalted be He! and her hands were restored to her, +goodlier than before. Then said they, 'Knowst thou who we are?' +'God [only] is all-knowing,' answered she; and they said, 'We +are thy two cakes of bread, that thou gavest in alms to the +beggar and which were the cause of the cutting off of thy +hands. So praise thou God the Most High, for that He hath +restored thee thy hands and thy child.' So she praised God the +Most High and glorified Him. + + + + + + THE DEVOUT ISRAELITE. + + + +There was once a devout man of the children of Israel[FN#59], +whose family span cotton; and he used every day to sell the +yarn they span and buy fresh cotton, and with the profit he +bought the day's victual for his household. One day, he went +out and sold the day's yarn as usual, when there met him one of +his brethren, who complained to him of want; so he gave him the +price of the yarn and returned, empty-handed, to his family, +who said to him, 'Where is the cotton and the food?' Quoth he, +'Such an one met me and complained to me of want; so I gave him +the price of the yarn.' And they said, 'How shall we do? We +have nothing to sell.' Now they had a broken platter and a jar; +so he took them to the market; but none would buy them of him. + +Presently, as he stood in the market, there came up a man with +a stinking, swollen fish, which no one would buy of him, and he +said to the Jew, 'Wilt thou sell me thine unsaleable ware for +mine?' 'Yes,' answered the Jew and giving him the jar and +platter, took the fish and carried it home to his family, who +said, 'What shall we do with this fish?' Quoth he, 'We will +broil it and eat of it, till it please God to provide for us.' +So they took it and ripping open its belly, found therein a +great pearl and told the Jew, who said, 'See if it be pierced. +If so, it belongs to some one of the folk; if not, it is a +provision of God for us.' So they examined it and found it +unpierced. + +On the morrow, the Jew carried it to one of his brethren, who +was skilled in jewels, and he said, 'Whence hadst thou this +pearl?' 'It was a gift of God the Most High to us,' replied the +Jew, and the other said, 'It is worth a thousand dirhems, and I +will give thee that sum; but take it to such an one, for he +hath more money and skill than I.' So the Jew took it to the +jeweller, who said, 'It is worth threescore and ten thousand +dirhems and no more. Then he paid him that sum and the Jew +hired two porters to carry the money to his house. As he came +to his door, a beggar accosted him, saying, 'Give me of that +which God the Most High hath given thee.' Quoth the Jew, 'But +yesterday, we were even as thou; take half the money.' So he +made two parts of it, and each took his half. Then said the +beggar, 'Take back thy money and God prosper thee in it; I am a +messenger, whom thy Lord hath sent to try thee.' Quoth the Jew, +'To God be the praise and the thanks!' and abode with his +family in all delight of life, till death. + + + + + + ABOU HASSAN EZ ZIYADI AND THE MAN FROM + KHORASSAN. + + + +Quoth Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi[FN#60], 'I was once in very needy +case, and the baker and grocer and other purveyors importuned +me, so that I was in sore straits and knew of no resource nor +what to do. Things being thus, there came in to me one day one +of my servants and said to me, "There is a man, a pilgrim, at +the door, who seeks admission to thee." Quoth I, "Admit him." +So he came in and behold, he was a native of Khorassan. We +exchanged salutations and he said to me, "Art thou Abou Hassan +ez Ziyadi?" "Yes," answered I. "What is thy business?" Quoth +he, "I am a stranger and am minded to make the pilgrimage; but +I have with me a great sum of money, which is burdensome to me. +So I wish to deposit with thee these ten thousand dirhems, +whilst I make the pilgrimage and return. If the caravan return +and thou see me not, know that I am dead, in which case the +money is a gift from me to thee; but if I come back, it shall +be mine." "Be it as thou wilt," answered I, "so it please God +the Most High." So he brought out a leather bag and I said to +the servant, "Fetch the scales." He brought them and the man +weighed out the money and handed it to me, after which he went +his way. Then I called the tradesmen and paid them what I owed +and spent freely, saying in myself, "By the time he returns, +God will have succoured me with one or another of His bounties." +However, next day, the servant came in to me and said, "Thy +friend the man from Khorassan is at the door." + +"Admit him," answered I. So he came in and said to me, "I had +thought to make the pilgrimage; but news hath reached me of the +death of my father, and I have resolved to return; so give me +the money I deposited with thee yesterday." When I heard this, +I was troubled and perplexed beyond measure and knew not what +reply to make him; for, if I denied it, he would put me to my +oath, and I should be shamed in the world to come; whilst, if I +told him that I had spent the money, he would make an outcry +and disgrace me. So I said to him, "God give thee health! This +my house is no stronghold nor place of safe custody for this +money. When I received thy leather bag, I sent it to one with +whom it now is; so do thou return to us to-morrow and take thy +money, if it be the will of God." + +So he went away, and I passed the night in sore concern, because +of his return to me. Sleep visited me not nor could I close my +eyes: so I rose and bade the boy saddle me the mule. "O my lord," +answered he, "it is yet but the first watch of the night." So I +returned to bed, but sleep was forbidden to me and I ceased not +to awaken the boy and he to put me off, till break of day, when +he saddled me the mule, and I mounted and rode out, not knowing +whither to go. I threw the reins on the mule's shoulders and +gave myself up to anxiety and melancholy thought, whilst she +fared on with me to the eastward of Baghdad. Presently, as I +went along, I saw a number of people in front and turned aside +into another path to avoid them; but they, seeing that I wore +a professor's hood, followed me and hastening up to me, said, +"Knowest thou the lodging of Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi?" "I am he," +answered I; and they rejoined, "The Commander of the Faithful +calls for thee." Then they carried me before El Mamoun, who +said to me, "Who art thou?" Quoth I, "I am a professor of the +law and traditions, and one of the associates of the Cadi Abou +Yousuf." "How art thou called?" asked the Khalif. "Abou Hassan +ez Ziyadi," answered I, and he said, "Expound to me thy case." + +So I told him how it was with me and he wept sore and said to +me, "Out on thee! The Apostle of God (whom may He bless and +preserve) would not let me sleep this night, because of thee; +for he appeared to me in my first sleep and said to me, +'Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi.' Whereupon I awoke and knowing +thee not, went to sleep again; but he came to me a second time +and said to me, 'Woe to thee! Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi.' I +awoke a second time, but knew thee not, so went to sleep again; +and he came to me a third time and still I knew thee not and +went to sleep again. Then he came to me once more and said, +'Out on thee! Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi!' After that I +dared not go to sleep again, but watched the rest of the night +and aroused my people and sent them in all directions in quest +of thee." Then he gave me ten thousand dirhems, saying, "This +is for the Khorassani," and other ten thousand, saying, "Spend +freely of this and amend thy case therewith, and set thine +affairs in order." Moreover, he gave me yet thirty thousand +dirhems, saying, "Furnish thyself with this, and when the day +of estate comes round, come thou to me, that I may invest thee +with an office." + +So I took the money and returned home, where I prayed the +morning-prayer. Presently came the Khorassani, so I carried him +into the house and brought out to him ten thousand dirhems, +saying, "Here is thy money." "It is not my very money," +answered he. "How cometh this?" So I told him the whole story, +and he wept and said, "By Allah, hadst thou told me the truth +at first, I had not pressed thee! And now, by Allah, I will not +accept aught of the money; and thou art quit of it." So saying, +he went away and I set my affairs in order and repaired on the +appointed day to the Divan, where I found the Khalif seated. +When he saw me, he called me to him and bringing forth to me a +paper from under his prayer-carpet, said to me, "This is a +patent, conferring on thee the office of Cadi of the western +division of the Holy City[FN#61] from the Bab es Selam[FN#62] +to the end of the town; and I appoint thee such and such +monthly allowances. So fear God (to whom belong might and +majesty) and be mindful of the solicitude of His Apostle (whom +may He bless and preserve) on thine account." The folk marvelled +at the Khalif's words and questioned me of their meaning; so I +told them the whole story and it spread abroad amongst the +people.' + +And [quoth he who tells the tale] Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi ceased +not to be Cadi of the Holy City, till he died in the days of El +Mamoun, the mercy of God be on him! + + + + + + THE POOR MAN AND HIS GENEROUS FRIEND. + + + +There was once a rich man, who lost all he had and became poor, +whereupon his wife counselled him to seek aid of one of his +friends. So he betook himself to a certain friend of his and +acquainted him with his strait; and he lent him five hundred +dinars to trade withal. Now he had aforetime been a jeweller; +so he took the money and went to the jewel-bazaar, where he +opened a shop to buy and sell. Presently, three men accosted +him, as he sat in his shop, and asked for his father. He told +them that he was dead, and they said, 'Did he leave any +offspring?' Quoth the jeweller, 'He left a son, your servant.' +'And who knoweth thee for his son?' asked they. 'The people of +the bazaar,' replied he; and they said, 'Call them together, +that they may testify to us that thou art his son.' So he +called them and they bore witness of this; whereupon the three +men delivered to him a pair of saddle-bags, containing thirty +thousand dinars, besides jewels and bullion, saying, 'This was +deposited with us in trust by thy father.' Then they went away; +and presently there came to him a woman, who sought of him +certain of the jewels, worth five hundred dinars, and paid him +three thousand for them. + +So he took five hundred dinars and carrying them to his friend, +who had lent him the money, said to him, 'Take the five hundred +dinars I borrowed of thee; for God hath aided and prospered +me.' 'Not so,' quoth the other. 'I gave them to thee outright, +for the love of God; so do thou keep them. And take this paper, +but read it not, till thou be at home, and do according to that +which is therein.' So he took the paper and returned home, +where he opened it and read therein the following verses: + +The men who came to thee at first my kinsmen were, my sire, His + brother and my dam's, Salih ben Ali is his name. +Moreover, she to whom thou soldst the goods my mother was, And + eke the jewels and the gold, from me, to boot, they came; +Nor, in thus ordering myself to thee, aught did I seek Save of + the taking it from me to spare thee from the shame. + + + + + + THE RUINED MAN WHO BECAME RICH AGAIN + THROUGH A DREAM. + + + +There lived once in Baghdad a very wealthy man, who lost all +his substance and became so poor, that he could only earn his +living by excessive labour. One night, he lay down to sleep, +dejected and sick at heart, and saw in a dream one who said to +him, 'Thy fortune is at Cairo; go thither and seek it.' So he +set out for Cairo; but, when he arrived there, night overtook +him and he lay down to sleep in a mosque. Presently, as fate +would have it, a company of thieves entered the mosque and made +their way thence into an adjoining house; but the people of the +house, being aroused by the noise, awoke and cried out; +whereupon the chief of the police came to their aid with his +officers. The robbers made off; but the police entered the +mosque and finding the man from Baghdad asleep there, laid hold +of him and beat him with palm rods, till he was well-nigh dead. +Then they cast him into prison, where he abode three days, +after which the chief of the police sent for him and said to +him, 'Whence art thou?' 'From Baghdad,' answered he. 'And what +brought thee to Cairo?' asked the magistrate. Quoth the +Baghdadi, 'I saw in a dream one who said to me, "Thy fortune is +at Cairo; go thither to it." But when I came hither, the +fortune that he promised me proved to be the beating I had of +thee.' + +The chief of the police laughed, till he showed his jaw-teeth, +and said, 'O man of little wit, thrice have I seen in a dream +one who said to me, "There is in Baghdad a house of such a +fashion and situate so-and-so, in the garden whereof is a +fountain and thereunder a great sum of money buried. Go thither +and take it." Yet I went not; but thou, of thy little wit, hast +journeyed from place to place, on the faith of a dream, which +was but an illusion of sleep.' Then he gave him money, saying, +'This is to help thee back to thy native land.' Now the house +he had described was the man's own house in Baghdad; so the +latter returned thither, and digging underneath the fountain in +his garden, discovered a great treasure; and [thus] God gave +him abundant fortune. + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL MUTAWEKKIL AND HIS + FAVOURITE MEHBOUBEH. + + + +There were in the palace of the Khalif El Mutawekkil ala Allah +[FN#63] four thousand concubines, whereof two thousand were +Greeks [and other foreigners] and other two thousand native +Arabians[FN#64] and Abyssinians; and Obeid ibn Tahir[FN#65] +had given him two hundred white girls and a like number of +Abyssinian and native girls[FN#66]. Among these latter was a +girl of Bassora, Mehboubeh by name, who was of surpassing +beauty and elegance and voluptuous grace. Moreover, she played +upon the lute and was skilled in singing and making verses and +wrote excellent well; so that El Mutawekkil fell passionately +in love with her and could not endure from her a single hour. +When she saw this, she presumed upon his favour to use him +haughtily and capriciously, so that he waxed exceeding wroth +with her and forsook her, forbidding the people of the palace +to speak with her. + +On this wise she abode some days, but the Khalif still inclined +to her; and he arose one morning and said to his courtiers, +'I dreamt, last night, that I was reconciled to Mehboubeh.' +'Would God this might be on wake!' answered they. As they were +talking, in came one of the Khalif's maidservants and whispered +him that they had heard a noise of singing and luting in +Mehboubeh's chamber and knew not what this meant. So he rose +and entering the harem, went straight to Mehboubeh's apartment, +where he heard her playing wonder-sweetly upon the lute and +singing the following verses: + +I wander through the halls, but not a soul I see, To whom I may + complain or who will speak with me. +It is as though I'd wrought so grievous an offence, No + penitence avails myself therefrom to free. +Will no one plead my cause with a king, who came to me In sleep + and took me back to favour and to gree; +But with the break of day to rigour did revert And cast me off + from him and far away did flee? + +When the Khalif heard these verses, he marvelled at the strange +coincidence of their dreams and entered the chamber. As soon as +she was ware of him, she hastened to throw herself at his feet, +and kissing them, said, 'By Allah, O my lord, this is what I +dreamt last night; and when I awoke, I made the verses thou +hast heard.' ''By Allah,' replied El Mutawekkil, 'I also dreamt +the like!' Then they embraced and made friends and he abode +with her seven days and nights. + +Now she had written upon her cheek, in musk, the Khalif's name, +which was Jaafer: and when he saw this, he made the following +verses: + +One wrote on her cheek, with musk, a name, yea, Jaafer to wit: + My soul be her ransom who wrote on her cheek what I see on + it! +If her fingers, indeed, have traced a single line on her cheek, + I trow, in my heart of hearts full many a line she hath + writ +O thou, whom Jaafer alone of men possesses, may God Grant + Jaafer to drink his fill of the wine of thy beauty and + wit! + +When El Mutawekkil died, all his women forgot him save +Mehboubeh, who ceased not to mourn for him, till she died and +was buried by his side, the mercy of God be on them both! + + + + + + WERDAN THE BUTCHER HIS ADVENTURE WITH + THE LADY AND THE BEAR. + + + +There lived once in Cairo, in the days of the Khalif El Hakim +bi Amrillah, a butcher named Werdan, who dealt in sheep's +flesh; and there came to him every forenoon a lady and gave him +a diner, whose weight was nigh two and a half Egyptian diners, +saying, 'Give me a lamb.' So he took the money and gave her the +lamb, which she delivered to a porter she had with her; and he +put it in his basket and she went away with him to her own +place. This went on for some time, the butcher profiting a +dinar by her every day, till at last he began to be curious +about her and said to himself, 'This woman buys a diner's worth +of meat of me every day, paying ready money, and never misses a +day. Verily, this is a strange thing!' So he took an occasion +of questioning the porter, in her absence, and said to him, +'Whither goest thou every day with yonder woman?' 'I know not +what to make of her,' answered the porter; 'for, every day, +after she hath taken the lamb of thee, she buys fresh and dried +fruits and wax candles and other necessaries of the table, a +dinar's worth, and takes of a certain Nazarene two flagons of +wine, for which she pays him another diner. Then she loads me +with the whole and I go with her to the Vizier's Gardens, where +she blindfolds me, so that I cannot see where I set my feet, +and taking me by the hand, leads me I know not whither. +Presently, she says, "Set down here;" and when I have done so, +she gives me an empty basket she has ready and taking my hand, +leads me back to the place, where she bound my eyes, and there +does off the bandage and gives me ten dirhems.' 'God be her +helper!' quoth Werdan; but he redoubled in curiosity about her +case; disquietude increased upon him and he passed the night in +exceeding restlessness. + +Next morning, [quoth Werdan,] she came to me as of wont and +taking the lamb, delivered it to the porter and went away. So I +gave my shop in charge to a boy and followed her, unseen of +her; nor did I cease to keep her in sight, hiding behind her, +till she left Cairo and came to the Vizier's Gardens. Then I +hid, whilst she bound the porter's eyes, and followed her again +from place to place, till she came to the mountain and stopped +at a place where there was a great stone. Here she made the +porter set down his crate, and I waited, whilst she carried him +back to the Vizier's Gardens, after which she returned and +taking out the contents of the basket, disappeared behind the +stone. Then I went up to the stone and pulling it away, +discovered behind it an open trap-door of brass and a flight of +steps leading downward. So I descended, little by little, into +a long corridor, brilliantly lighted, and followed it, till I +came to a [closed] door, as it were the door of a room. I +looked about till I discovered a recess, with steps therein; +then climbed up and found a little niche with an opening +therein giving upon a saloon. + +So I looked in and saw the lady cut off the choicest parts of +the lamb and laying them in a saucepan, throw the rest to a +huge great bear, who ate it all to the last bit. When she had +made an end of cooking, she ate her fill, after which she set +on wine and fruits and confections and fell to drinking, using +a cup herself and giving the bear to drink in a basin of gold, +till she was heated with wine, when she put off her trousers +and lay down. Thereupon the bear came up to her and served her, +whilst she gave him the best of what belongeth to mankind, till +he had made an end, when he sat down and rested. Presently, he +sprang to her and served her again; and thus he did, till he +had furnished half a score courses, and they both fell down in +a swoon and abode without motion. + +Then said I to myself, "Now is my opportunity," and taking a +knife I had with me, that would cut bones before flesh, went +down to them and found them motionless, not a muscle of them +moving for their much swink. So I put my knife to the bear's +gullet and bore upon it, till I severed his head from his body, +and he gave a great snort like thunder, whereat she started up +in alarm and seeing the bear slain and me standing with the +knife in my hand, gave such a shriek that I thought the soul +had left her body. Then said she, "O Werdan, is this how thou +requitest me my favours?" "O enemy of thine own soul," replied +I, "dost thou lack of men that thou must do this shameful +thing?" She made me no answer, but bent down to the bear, and +finding his head divided from his body, said to me, "O Werdan, +which were the liefer to thee, to hearken to what I shall say +to thee and be the means of thine own safety and enrichment to +the end of thy days, or gainsay me and so bring about thine own +destruction?" "I choose rather to hearken unto thee," answered +I. "Say what thou wilt." "Then," said she, "kill me, as thou +hast killed this bear, and take thy need of this treasure and +go thy way." Quoth I, "I am better than this bear. Return to +God the Most High and repent, and I will marry thee, and we +will live on this treasure the rest of our lives." "O Werdan," +rejoined she, "far be it from me! How shall I live after him? +An thou kill me not, by Allah, I will assuredly do away thy +life! So leave bandying words with me, or thou art a lost man. +This is all I have to say to thee and peace be on thee." Then +said I, "I will slay thee, and thou shalt go to the malediction +of God." So saying, I caught her by the hair and cut her +throat; and she went to the malediction of God and of the +angels and of all mankind. + +Then I examined the place and found there gold and pearls and +jewels, such as no king could bring together. So I filled the +porter's crate with as much as I could carry and covered it +with the clothes I had on me. Then I shouldered it and going up +out of the underground place, set out homeward and fared on, +till I came to the gate of Cairo, where I fell in with ten of +the Khalif's body-guard, followed by El Hakim[FN#67] himself, +who said to me. "Ho, Werdan!" "At thy service, O King," replied +I. "Hast thou killed the woman and the bear?" asked he and I +answered, "Yes." Quoth he, "Set down the basket and fear +naught, for all the treasure thou hast with thee is thine, and +none shall dispute it with thee." So I set down the basket, and +he uncovered it and looked at it; then said to me, "Tell me +their case, though I know it, as if I had been present with +you." So I told him all that had passed and he said, "Thou hast +spoken the truth, O Werdan. Come now with me to the treasure." + +So I returned with him to the cavern, where he found the +trap-door closed and said to me, "O Werdan, lift it; none but +thou can open the treasure, for it is enchanted in thy name and +favour." "By Allah," answered I, "I cannot open it;" but he +said, "Go up to it, trusting in the blessing of God." So I +called upon the name of God the Most High and going up to the +trap-door, put my hand to it; whereupon it came up, as it had +been the lightest of things. Then said the Khalif, "Go down and +bring up what is there; for none but one of thy name and favour +and quality hath gone down there since the place was made, and +the slaying of the bear and the woman was appointed to be at +thy hand. This was recorded with me and I was awaiting its +fulfilment." Accordingly, I went down and brought up all the +treasure, whereupon the Khalif sent for beasts of burden and +carried it away, after giving me the porter's crate, with what +was therein. So I carried it home and opened me a shop in the +market. And [quoth he who tells the tale] this market is still +extant and is known as Werdan's Market. + + + + + + THE KING'S DAUGHTER AND THE APE. + + + +There was once a King's daughter, whose heart was taken with +love of a black slave: he did away her maidenhead, and she +became passionately addicted to amorous dalliance, so that she +could not endure from it a single hour and made moan of her +case to one of her body women, who told her that no thing doth +the deed of kind more abundantly than the ape. Now it chanced, +one day, that an ape-leader passed under her lattice, with a +great ape; so she unveiled her face and looking upon the ape, +signed to him with her eyes, whereupon he broke his bonds and +shackles and climbed up to the princess, who hid him in a place +with her, and he abode, eating and drinking and cricketing, +night and day. Her father heard of this and would have killed +her; but she took the alarm and disguising herself in a [male] +slave's habit, loaded a mule with gold and jewels and precious +stuffs past count; then, taking horse with the ape, fled to +Cairo, where she took up her abode in one of the houses without +the city. + +Now, every day, she used to buy meat of a young man, a butcher, +but came not to him till after noonday, pale and disordered in +face; so that he said in himself, 'There hangs some mystery by +this slave.' For she used to visit him in her slave's habit. +[Quoth the butcher,] So, one day, when she came to me as usual, +I went out after her, unseen, and ceased not to follow her from +place to place, so as she saw me not, till she came to her +lodging, without the city, and I looked in upon her, through a +cranny, and saw her light a fire and cook the meat, of which +she ate her fill and gave the rest to an ape she had with her. +Then she put off her slave's habit and donned the richest of +women's apparel; and so I knew that she was a woman. After this +she set on wine and drank and gave the ape to drink; and he +served her nigh half a score times, till she swooned away, when +he threw a silken coverlet over her and returned to his place. + +Thereupon I went down into the midst of the place and the ape, +becoming aware of me, would have torn me in pieces; but I made +haste to pull out my knife and slit his paunch. The noise +aroused the young lady, who awoke, terrified and trembling; and +when she saw the ape in this plight, she gave such a shriek, +that her soul well-nigh departed her body. Then she fell down +in a swoon, and when she came to herself, she said to me, "What +moved thee to do thus? By Allah, I conjure thee to send me after +him!" But I spoke her fair and engaged to her that I would stand +in the ape's stead, in the matter of much clicketing, till her +trouble subsided and I took her to wife. + +However, I fell short in this and could not endure to it; so I +complained of her case to a certain old woman, who engaged to +manage the affair and said to me, "Thou must bring me a cooking- +pot full of virgin vinegar and a pound of pyrethrum."[FN#68] +So I brought her what she sought, and she laid the pyrethrum +in the pot with the vinegar and set it on the fire, till it +boiled briskly. Then she bade me serve the girl, and I served +her, till she fainted away, when the old woman took her up, and +she unknowing, and set her kaze to the mouth of the cooking-pot. +The steam of the pot entered her poke and there fell from it +somewhat, which I examined and behold, it was two worms, one +black and the other yellow. Quoth the old woman, "The black was +bred of the embraces of the negro and the yellow of those of +the ape." + +When my wife recovered from her swoon, she abode with me, in +all delight and solace of life, and sought not copulation, as +before, for God the Most High had done away from her this +appetite; whereat I marvelled and acquainted her with the case. +Moreover, [quoth he who tells the tale,] she took the old woman +to be to her in the stead of her mother, and she and Werdan and +his wife abode in joy and cheer, till there came to them the +Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and glory +be to the Living One, who dieth not and in whose hand is the +empire of the Seen and the Unseen! + + + + + + THE ENCHANTED HORSE. + + + +There was once, of old time, a great and puissant King, of the +Kings of the Persians, Sabour by name, who was the richest of +all the Kings in store of wealth and dominion and surpassed them +all in wit and wisdom. Generous, open-handed and beneficent, he +gave to those who sought and repelled not those who resorted to +him, comforted the broken-hearted and honourably entreated those +who fled to him for refuge. Moreover, he loved the poor and was +hospitable to strangers and did the oppressed justice upon those +who oppressed them. He had three daughters, like shining full +moons or flowered gardens, and a son as he were the moon; and it +was his wont to keep two festivals in the year, those of the New +Year and the Autumnal Equinox, on which occasions he threw open +his palaces and gave gifts and made proclamation of safety and +security and advanced his chamberlains and officers; and the +people of his realm came in to him and saluted him and gave him +joy of the festival, bringing him gifts and servants. + +Now he loved science and geometry, and one day, as he sat on +his throne of kingship, during one of these festivals, there +came in to him three sages, cunning artificers and past masters +in all manner of crafts and inventions, skilled in making +rarities, such as confound the wit, and versed in the knowledge +of [occult] truths and subtleties; and they were of three +different tongues and countries, the first an Indian, the +second a Greek and the third a Persian. The Indian came forward +and prostrating himself before the King, gave him joy of the +festival and laid before him a present befitting [his dignity]; +that is to say, a figure of gold, set with precious stones and +jewels of price and holding in its hand a golden trumpet. When +Sabour saw this, he said, 'O sage, what is the virtue of this +figure?' And the Indian answered, 'O my lord; if this figure be +set at the gate of thy city, it will be a guardian over it; +for, if an enemy enter the place, it will blow this trumpet +against him, and so he will be known and laid hands on.' The +King marvelled at this and said, 'By Allah, O sage, an this thy +word be true, I will grant thee thy wish and thy desire.' + +Then came forward the Greek and prostrating himself before the +King, presented him with a basin of silver, in whose midst was +a peacock of gold, surrounded by four-and-twenty young ones of +the same metal. Sabour looked at them and turning to the Greek, +said to him, 'O sage, what is the virtue of this peacock?' 'O +my lord,' answered he, 'as often as an hour of the day or night +passes, it pecks one of its young [and cries out and flaps its +wings,] till the four-and-twenty hours are accomplished; and +when the month comes to an end, it will open its mouth and thou +shalt see the new moon therein.' And the King said, 'An thou +speak sooth, I will bring thee to thy wish and thy desire.' + +Then came forward the Persian sage and prostrating himself +before the King, presented him with a horse of ebony wood, +inlaid with gold and jewels, ready harnessed with saddle and +bridle and stirrups such as befit kings; which when Sabour saw, +he marvelled exceedingly and was confounded at the perfection +of its form and the ingenuity of its fashion. So he said, 'What +is the use of this horse of wood, and what is its virtue and +the secret of its movement?' 'O my lord,' answered the Persian, +'the virtue of this horse is that, if one mount him, it will +carry him whither he will and fare with its rider through the +air for the space of a year and a day.' The King marvelled and +was amazed at these three wonders, following thus hard upon +each other in one day, and turning to the sage, said to him, +'By the Great God and the Bountiful Lord, who created all +creatures and feedeth them with water and victual, an thy +speech be true and the virtue of thy handiwork appear, I will +give thee whatsoever thou seekest and will bring thee to thy +wish and thy desire!' + +Then he entertained the three sages three days, that he might +make trial of their gifts, after which they brought them before +him and each took the creature he had wrought and showed him +the secret of its movement. The trumpeter blew the trumpet, the +peacock pecked its young and the Persian sage mounted the horse +of ebony, whereupon it soared with him into the air and +descended again. When the King saw all this, he was amazed and +perplexed and was like to fly for joy and said to the three +sages, 'Now am I certified of the truth of your words and it +behoves me to quit me of my promise. Seek ye, therefore, what +ye will, and I will give it you.' Now the report of the [beauty +of the] King's daughters had reached the sages, so they +answered, 'If the King be content with us and accept of our +gifts and give us leave to ask a boon of him, we ask of him +that he give us his three daughters in marriage, that we may be +his sons-in-law; for that the stability of kings may not be +gainsaid.' Quoth the King, 'I grant you that which you desire,' +and bade summon the Cadi forthright, that he might marry each +of the sages to one of his daughters. + +Now these latter were behind a curtain, looking on; and when they +heard this, the youngest considered [him that was to be] her +husband and saw him to be an old man, a hundred years of age, +with frosted hair, drooping forehead, mangy eyebrows, slitten +ears, clipped[FN#69] beard and moustaches, red, protruding eyes, +bleached, hollow, flabby cheeks, nose like an egg-plant and face +like a cobbler's apron, teeth overlapping one another,[FN#70] +lips like camel's kidneys, loose and pendulous; brief, a monstrous +favour; for he was the frightfullest of the folk of his time; his +grinders had been knocked[FN#71] out and his teeth were like the +tusks of the Jinn that fright the fowls in the hen-house. Now the +princess was the fairest and most graceful woman of her time, more +elegant than the tender gazelle, blander than the gentle zephyr +and brighter than the moon at her full, confounding the branch +and outdoing the gazelle in the flexile grace of her shape and +movements; and she was fairer and sweeter than her sisters. So, +when she saw her suitor, she went to her chamber and strewed dust +on her head and tore her clothes and fell to buffeting her face +and lamenting and weeping. + +Now the prince her brother, who loved her with an exceeding +love, more than her sisters, was then newly returned from a +journey and hearing her weeping and crying, came in to her and +said, 'What ails thee? Tell me and conceal nought from me.' 'O +my brother and my dear one,' answered she, 'if the palace be +straitened upon thy father, I will go out; and if he be +resolved upon a foul thing, I will separate myself from him, +though he consent not to provide for me.' Quoth he, 'Tell me +what means this talk and what has straitened thy breast and +troubled thy humour.' 'O my brother and my dear one,' answered +the princess, 'know that my father hath given me in marriage to +a sorcerer, who brought him, as a gift, a horse of black wood, +and hath stricken him with his craft and his sorcery; but, as +for me, I will none of him, and would, because of him, I had +never come into this world!' Her brother soothed her and +comforted her, then betook himself to his father and said to +him, 'What is this sorcerer to whom thou hast given my youngest +sister in marriage, and what is this present that he hath +brought thee, so that thou hast caused my sister to [almost] +die of chagrin? It is not right that this should be.' + +Now the Persian was standing by and when he heard the prince's +words, he was mortified thereby and filled with rage, and the +King said, 'O my son, an thou sawest this horse, thy wit would +be confounded and thou wouldst be filled with amazement.' Then +he bade the slaves bring the horse before him and they did so; +and when the prince, who was an accomplished cavalier, saw it, +it pleased him. So he mounted it forthright and struck its +belly with the stirrup-irons; but it stirred not and the King +said to the sage, 'Go and show him its movement, that he also +may help thee to thy wish.' Now the Persian bore the prince +malice for that he willed not he should have his sister; so he +showed him the peg of ascent on the right side [of the horse's +neck] and saying to him, 'Turn this pin,' left him. So the +prince turned the pin and forthwith the horse soared with him +into the air, as it were a bird, and gave not over flying with +him, till it disappeared from sight, whereat the King was +troubled and perplexed about his affair and said to the +Persian, 'O sage, look how thou mayst make him descend.' But he +answered, 'O my lord, I can do nothing, and thou wilt never see +him again till the Day of Resurrection, for that he, of his +ignorance and conceit, asked me not of the peg of descent and I +forgot to acquaint him therewith.' When the King heard this, he +was sore enraged and bade beat the sorcerer and clap him in +prison, whilst he himself cast the crown from his head and +buffeted his face and beat upon his breast. Moreover, he shut +the doors of his palaces and gave himself up to weeping and +lamentation, he and his wife and daughters and all the folk of +the city; and [thus] their joy was turned to mourning and their +gladness changed into chagrin and sore affliction. + +Meanwhile, the horse gave not over soaring with the prince, +till he drew near the sun, whereat he gave himself up for lost +and was confounded at his case, repenting him of having mounted +the horse and saying in himself, 'Verily, this was a plot of +the sage to destroy me; but there is no power and no virtue but +in God the Most High, the Supreme! I am lost without recourse; +but, I wonder, did not he who made the peg of ascent make a peg +of descent also?' Now he was a man of wit and intelligence; so +he fell to examining all the parts of the horse, but saw +nothing save a peg, like a cock's head, on its right shoulder +and the like on the left, and turned the right-hand peg, +whereupon the horse flew upward with increased speed. So he +left it and turned the left-hand peg, and immediately the +steed's upward motion ceased and he began to descend, little by +little, towards the earth. When the prince saw this and knew +the uses of the horse, he was filled with joy and gladness and +thanked God the Most High for that He had vouchsafed to deliver +him from destruction. Then he began to turn the horse's head +whither he would, making him rise and fall at pleasure, till he +had gotten complete command of his movement. + +He ceased not to descend the whole of that day, for that the +steed's upward flight had borne him afar from the earth; and as +he descended, he diverted himself with viewing the various +towns and countries over which he passed and which he knew not, +having never seen them in his life. Amongst the rest, he saw a +city of the goodliest ordinance, in the midst of a green and +smiling country, abounding in trees and streams; whereat he +fell a-musing and said in himself, 'Would I knew the name of +yonder city and in what country it is!' And he began to circle +about it and observe it right and left. By this time, the day +began to wane and the sun drew near to its setting; and he +said, 'I see no goodlier place to pass the night in than this +city; so I will lodge here this night and on the morrow I will +return to my people and my kingdom and tell my father and +family what has passed and what I have seen with my eyes.' Then +he addressed himself to look for a place, where he might safely +bestow himself and his horse and where none should see him, and +presently espied a palace, surrounded by a great wall with +lofty battlements, rising high into the air from the midst of +the city and guarded by forty black slaves, clad in complete +mail and armed with spears and swords and bows and arrows. +Quoth he, 'This is a goodly place,' and turned the peg of +descent, whereupon the horse sank down with him and alighted +gently on the roof of the palace. So the prince dismounted and +began to go round about the horse and examine it, saying, 'By +Allah, he who fashioned thee was a cunning craftsman, and if God +extend the term of my life and restore me to my country and family +in safety and reunite me with my father, I will assuredly bestow +upon him all manner of bounties and entreat him with the utmost +favour.' + +By this time the night had overtaken him and he sat on the +roof, till he was assured that all in the palace slept; and +indeed hunger and thirst were sore upon him, for that he had +not tasted food since he parted from his father. So he said in +himself, 'Surely, the like of this palace will not lack of +victual,' and leaving the horse there, went in quest of +somewhat to eat. Presently, he came to a stair and descending +it, found himself in a court paved with white marble and +alabaster, that shone in the light of the moon. He marvelled at +the place and the goodliness of its fashion, but heard no sound +and saw no living soul and stood in perplexity, looking right +and left and knowing not whither he should go. Then said he to +himself, 'I cannot do better than return to where I left my +horse and pass the night by it; and as soon as it is day, I +will mount and depart.' However, as he stood talking to +himself, he espied a light within the palace, and making +towards it, found that it came from a candle that stood before +a door of the palace, at the head of an eunuch, as he were one +of the Afrits of Solomon or a tribesman of the Jinn, longer +than a plank and wider than a bench. He lay asleep before the +door, with the pommel of his sword gleaming in the flame of the +candle, and at his head was a budget of leather[FN#72] hanging +from a column of granite. + +When the prince saw this, he was affrighted and said, 'I crave +help from God the Supreme! O my God, even as Thou hast [already] +delivered me from destruction, vouchsafe me strength to quit +myself of the adventure of this palace!' So saying, he put out +his hand to the budget and taking it, carried it to a place +apart and opened it and found in it food of the best. So he +ate his fill and refreshed himself and drank water, after +which he hung the budget up in its place and drawing the +eunuch's sword from its sheath, took it, whilst the latter +slept on, knowing not whence destiny should come to him. Then +the prince fared on into the palace, till he came to another +door, with a curtain drawn before it; so he raised the curtain +and entering, saw a couch of ivory, inlaid with pearls and +jacinths and jewels, and four slave-girls sleeping about it. He +went up to the couch, to see what was therein, and found a +young lady lying asleep, veiled with her hair, as she were the +full moon at its rising, with flower-white forehead and +shining parting and cheeks like blood-red anemones and dainty +moles thereon. + +When he saw this, he was amazed at her beauty and grace and +symmetry and recked no more of death. So he went up to her, +trembling in every nerve, and kissed her on the right cheek; +whereupon she awoke forthright and seeing the prince standing +at her head, said to him, 'Who art thou and whence comest thou?' +Quoth he, 'I am thy slave and thy lover.' 'And who brought thee +hither?' asked she. 'My Lord and my fortune,' answered he; and +she said, 'Belike thou art he who demanded me yesterday of my +father in marriage and he rejected thee, pretending that thou +wast foul of favour. By Allah he lied, when he spoke this thing, +for thou art not other than handsome.' + +Now the son of the King of Hind[FN#73] had sought her in +marriage, but her father had rejected him, for that he was ill- +favoured, and she thought the prince was he. So, when she saw +his beauty and grace, for indeed he was like the radiant moon, +her heart was taken in the snare of his love, as it were a +flaming fire, and they fell to talk and converse. Presently, +her waiting-women awoke from their sleep and seeing the prince +sitting with their mistress, said to her, 'O my lady, who is +this with thee?' Quoth she, 'I know not; I found him sitting by +me, when I awoke. Belike it is he who seeks me in marriage of +my father.' 'O my lady,' answered they, 'by the Most Great God, +this is not he who seeks thee in marriage, for he is foul and +this man is fair and of high condition. Indeed, the other is +not fit to be his servant.' + +Then they went out to the eunuch and finding him asleep, awoke +him, and he started up in alarm. Quoth they, 'How comes it that +thou art guardian of the palace and yet men come in to us, +whilst we are asleep?' When the eunuch heard this, he sprang in +haste to his sword, but found it not, and fear took him and +trembling. Then he went in, confounded, to his mistress and +seeing the prince sitting talking with her, said to the former, +'O my lord, art thou a man or a genie?' 'O it on thee, O +unluckiest of slaves!' replied the prince. 'How darest thou +even a prince of the sons of the Chosroës with one of the +unbelieving Satans?' Then he took the sword in his hand and +said, 'I am the King's son-in-law, and he hath married me to +his daughter and bidden me go in to her.' 'O my lord,' replied +the eunuch, 'if thou be indeed a man, as thou avouchest, she is +fit for none but thee, and thou art worthier of her than any +other.' + +Then he ran to the King, shrieking out and rending his clothes +and casting dust upon his head; and when the King heard his +outcry, he said to him, 'What has befallen thee? Speak quickly +and be brief; for thou troublest my heart.' 'O King,' answered +the eunuch, 'come to thy daughter's succour; for a devil of the +Jinn, in the likeness of a king's son, hath gotten possession +of her; so up and at him!' When the King heard this, he thought +to kill him and said, 'How camest thou to be careless of my +daughter and let this demon come at her?' Then he betook +himself to the princess's palace, where he found her women +standing, [awaiting him] and said to them, 'What is come to my +daughter?' 'O King,' answered they, 'sleep overcame us and when +we awoke, we found a young man sitting talking with her, as he +were the full moon, never saw we a fairer of favour than he. So +we questioned him of his case and he avouched that thou hadst +given him thy daughter in marriage. More than this we know not, +nor do we know if he be a man or a genie; but he is modest and +well bred, and doth nothing unseemly.' + +When the King heard this, his wrath cooled and he raised the +curtain stealthily and looking in, saw a prince of the goodliest +fashion, with a face like the shining full moon, sitting talking +with his daughter. At this sight he could not contain himself, +of his jealousy for his daughter, and putting the curtain aside, +rushed in upon them, like a Ghoul, with his drawn sword in his +hand. When the prince saw him, he said to the princess, 'Is this +thy father?' 'Yes,' answered she; whereupon he sprang to his +feet and taking his sword in his hand, cried out at the King +with such a terrible cry, that he was confounded. Then he would +have fallen on him with the sword; but the King, seeing that the +prince was doughtier than he, sheathed his blade and stood till +the latter came up to him, when he accosted him courteously and +said to him, 'O youth, art thou a man or a genie?' Quoth the +prince, 'Did I not respect thy right[FN#74] and thy daughter's +honour, I would spill thy blood! How darest thou even me with +devils, me that am a prince of the sons of the Chosroës, who, +had they a mind to take thy kingdom, could shake thee from thy +power and thy dominion and despoil thee of all thy possessions?' +When the King heard his words, he was smitten with awe and fear +of him and rejoined, 'If thou indeed be of the sons of the kings, +as thou pretendest, how comes it that thou enterest my palace, +without my leave, and soilest my honour, making thy way to my +daughter and feigning that thou art her husband and that I have +given her to thee to wife, I that have slain kings and kings' +sons, who sought her of me in marriage? And now who shall save +thee from my mischief, when, if I cried out to my slaves and +servants and bade them put thee to death, they would slay thee +forthright? Who then shall deliver thee out of my hand?' + +When the prince heard this speech of the King, he answered, +'Verily, I wonder at thee and at the poverty of thy wit! Canst +thou covet for thy daughter a goodlier mate than myself and +hast ever seen a stouter of heart or a more sufficient or a +more glorious in rank and dominion than I?' 'Nay, by Allah,' +rejoined the King. 'But, O youth, I would have had thee make +suit to me for her hand before witnesses, that I might marry +her to thee publicly; and now, were I to marry her to thee +privily, yet hast thou dishonoured me in her person.' 'Thou +sayst well, O King,' replied the prince; 'but, if thy servants +and soldiers should fall upon me and slay me, as thou pretendest, +thou wouldst but publish thine own dishonour, and the folk +would be divided between belief and disbelief with regard +to thee. Wherefore, meseems thou wilt do well to turn from +this thought to that which I shall counsel thee.' Quoth the +King, 'Let me hear what thou hast to propose.' And the prince +said, 'What I have to propose to thee is this: either do +thou meet me in single combat and he who slays the other shall +be held the worthier and having a better title to the kingdom; +or else, let me be this night and on the morrow draw out +against me thy horsemen and footmen and servants; but [first] +tell me their number.' Quoth the King, 'They are forty thousand +horse, besides my own slaves and their followers, who are the +like of them in number.' 'When the day breaks, then,' continued +the prince, 'do thou array them against me and say to them, +"This fellow is a suitor to me for my daughter's hand, on +condition that he shall do battle single-handed against you +all; for he pretends that he will overcome you and put you to +the rout and that ye cannot prevail against him." Then leave me +to do battle with them. If they kill me, then is thy secret the +safelier hidden and thine honour the better guarded; and if I +overcome them, then is the like of me one whose alliance a King +should covet.' + +The King approved of his counsel and accepted his proposition, +despite his awe and amaze at the exorbitant pretension of the +prince to do battle against his whole army, such as he had +described it to him, being at heart assured that he would +perish in the mellay and so he be quit of him and freed from +the fear of dishonour. So he called the eunuch and bade him go +forthright to his Vizier and bid him assemble the whole of the +troops and cause them don their arms and mount their horses. +The eunuch carried the King's order to the Vizier, who straightway +summoned the captains of the army and the grandees of the realm +and bade them don their harness of war and mount their horses +and sally forth in battle array. + +Meanwhile, the King sat conversing with the prince, being +pleased with his wit and good breeding, till daybreak, when he +returned to his palace and seating himself on his throne, +commanded the troops to mount and bade saddle one of the best +of the royal horses with handsome housings and trappings and +bring it to the prince. But the latter said, 'O King, I will +not mount, till I come in sight of the troops and see them.' +'Be it as thou wilt,' answered the King. Then they repaired to +the tilting ground, where the troops were drawn up, and the +prince looked upon them and noted their great number; after +which the King cried out to them, saying, 'Ho, all ye men, +there is come to me a youth who seeks my daughter in marriage, +--never have I seen a goodlier than he, no, nor a stouter of +heart nor a doughtier, for he pretends that he can overcome +you, single-handed, and put you to the rout and that, were ye a +hundred thousand in number, yet would ye be for him but little. +But, when he charges upon you, do ye receive him upon the +points of your lances and the edges of your sabres; for, +indeed, he hath undertaken a grave matter.' + +Then said he to the prince, 'Up, O my son, and do thy will on +them.' 'O King,' answered he, 'thou dealest not fairly with me. +How shall I go forth against them, seeing that I am afoot and +they are mounted?' 'I bade thee mount, and thou refusedst,' +rejoined the King; 'but take which of my horses thou wilt.' But +he said, 'None of thy horses pleases me, and I will ride none +but that on which I came.' 'And where is thy horse?' asked the +King. 'Atop of thy palace,' answered the prince, and the King +said, 'In what part of my palace?' 'On the roof,' replied the +prince. 'Out on thee!' quoth the King. 'This is the first sign +thou hast given of madness. How can the horse be on the roof? +But we shall soon see if thou speak truth or falsehood.' Then +he turned to one of his chief officers and said to him, 'Go to +my palace and bring me what thou findest on the roof.' And all +the people marvelled at the prince's words, saying, 'How can a +horse come down the steps from the roof? Verily this is a thing +whose like we never heard.' + +Meanwhile, the King's messenger repaired to the palace, +accompanied by other of the royal officers, and mounting to the +roof, found the horse standing there,--never had they looked on +a handsomer; but when they drew near and examined it, they saw +that it was made of ebony and ivory; whereat they laughed to +each other, saying, 'Was it of the like of this horse that the +youth spoke? Surely, he must be mad; but we shall soon see the +truth of his case. Belike, there hangs some great mystery by +him.' Then they lifted up the horse and carrying it to the +King, set it down before him, and all the people flocked round +it, staring at it and marvelling at the beauty of its fashion +and the richness of its saddle and bridle. The King also +admired it and wondered at it extremely; and he said to the +prince, 'O youth, is this thy horse?' 'Yes, O King,' answered +the prince; 'this is my horse, and thou shalt soon see wonders +of it.' 'Then take and mount it,' rejoined the King, and the +prince said, 'I will not mount till the troops withdraw afar +from it.' So the King bade them withdraw a bowshot from the +horse; whereupon quoth the prince, 'O King, I am about to mount +my horse and charge upon thy troops and scatter them right and +left and cleave their hearts in sunder.' 'Do as thou wilt,' +answered the King; 'and spare them not, for they will not spare +thee.' Then the prince mounted, whilst the troops ranged +themselves in ranks before him, and one said to another, 'When +the youth comes between the ranks, we will take him on the +points of our pikes and the edges of our swords.' 'By Allah,' +quoth another, 'it were pity to kill so handsome and well-shaped +a youth!' 'By Allah,' rejoined a third, 'ye will have hard work +to get the better of him; for he had not done this, but for what +he knew of his own prowess and valiantise.' + +Meanwhile, the prince, having settled himself in his saddle, +whilst all eyes were strained to see what he would do, turned +the peg of ascent; whereupon the horse began to sway to and fro +and make the strangest of movements, after the manner of +horses, till its belly was filled with air and it took flight +with him and soared into the sky. When the King saw this, he +cried out to his men, saying, 'Out on you! Take him, ere he +escape you!' But his Viziers and officers said to him, 'O King, +how shall we overtake the flying bird? This is surely none but +some mighty enchanter, and God hath saved thee from him. So +praise thou the Most High for thy deliverance from his hand.' +Then the King returned to his palace and going in to his +daughter, acquainted her with what had befallen. He found her +sore afflicted for the prince and bewailing her separation from +him; wherefore she fell grievously sick and took to her pillow. +When her father saw her thus, he pressed her to his bosom and +kissing her between the eyes, said to her, 'O my daughter, +praise God and thank Him for that He hath delivered thee from +this crafty enchanter!' And he repeated to her the story of the +prince's disappearance; but she paid no heed to his word and +did but redouble in her tears and lamentations, saying to +herself, 'By Allah, I will neither eat nor drink, till God +reunite me with him!' Her father was greatly concerned for her +plight and mourned sore over her; but, for all he could do to +comfort her, passion and love-longing still grew on her for the +prince. + +Meanwhile, the King's son, whenas he had risen into the air, +turned his horse's head towards his native land, musing upon +the beauty and grace of the princess. Now he had enquired of +the King's people the name of the princess and of the King her +father and of the city, which was the city of Senaa of Yemen. +So he journeyed homeward with all speed, till he drew near his +father's capital and making a circuit about the city, alighted +on the roof of the King's palace, where he left his horse, whilst +he descended into the palace and finding its threshold strewn +with ashes, bethought him that one of his family was dead. Then +he entered, as of wont, and found his father and mother and +sisters clad in mourning raiment of black, pale-faced and lean +of body. When his father saw him and was assured that it was +indeed his son, he gave a great cry and fell down in a swoon, +but presently coming to himself, threw himself upon him and +embraced him, straining him to his bosom and rejoicing in him +exceedingly. His mother and sisters heard this; so they came +in and seeing the prince, fell upon him, kissing him and weeping +and rejoicing with an exceeding joy. Then they questioned him of +his case; so he told them all that had befallen him from first +to last and his father said to him, 'Praised be God for thy +safety, O solace of my eyes and life-blood of my heart!' + +Then the King bade hold high festival, and the glad news flew +through the city. So they beat the drums and the cymbals and +putting off the raiment of mourning, donned that of joy and +decorated the streets and markets; whilst the folk vied with +one another who should be the first to give the King joy, and +the latter proclaimed a general pardon and opening the prisons, +released those who were therein. Moreover, he made banquets to +the people seven days and nights and all creatures were glad; +and he took horse with his son and rode out with him, that the +folk might see him and rejoice. After awhile the prince +enquired for the maker of the horse, saying, 'O my father, what +hath fortune done with him?' 'May God not bless him,' answered +the King, 'nor the hour in which I set eyes on him! For he was +the cause of thy separation from us, O my son, and he hath lain +in prison since the day of thy disappearance.' Then he bade +release him from prison and sending for him, invested him in a +dress of honour and entreated him with the utmost favour and +munificence, save that he would not give him his daughter to +wife; whereat he was sore enraged and repented of that which he +had done, knowing that the prince had learnt the secret of the +horse and the manner of its motion. Moreover, the King said to +his son, 'Methinks thou wilt do well not to mount the horse +neither go near it henceforth; for thou knowest not its +properties, and it is perilous for thee to meddle with it.' Now +the prince had told his father of his adventure with the King's +daughter of Senaa, and he said, 'If the King had been minded to +kill thee, he had done so; but thine hour was not yet come.' + +When the rejoicings were at an end, the people returned to +their houses and the King and his son to the palace, where they +sat down and fell to eating and drinking and making merry. Now +the King had a handsome slave-girl, who was skilled in playing +upon the lute; so she took it and began to play upon it and +sing thereto of separation of lovers before the King and his +son, and she chanted the following verses: + +Think not that absence ever shall win me to forget: For what + should I remember, if I'd forgotten you? +Time passes, but my passion for you shall never end: In love of + you, I swear it, I'll die and rise anew. + +When the prince heard this, the fires of longing flamed up in +his heart and passion redoubled upon him. Grief and regret were +sore upon him and his entrails yearned in him for love of the +King's daughter of Senaa; so he rose forthright and eluding his +father's notice, went forth the palace to the horse and +mounting it, turned the peg of ascent, whereupon it flew up +into the air with him and soared towards the confines of the +sky. Presently, his father missed him and going up to the +summit of the palace, in great concern, saw the prince rising +into the air; whereat he was sore afflicted and repented +exceedingly that he had not taken the horse and hidden it: and +he said in himself, 'By Allah, if but my son return to me, I +will destroy the horse, that my heart may be at rest concerning +my son.' And he fell again to weeping and bewailing himself for +his son. + +Meanwhile, the prince flew on through the air till he came to +the city of Senaa and alighted on the roof as before. Then he +went down stealthily and finding the eunuch asleep, as of wont, +raised the curtain and went on, little by little, till he came +to the door of the princess's chamber and stopped to listen; +when, behold, he heard her weeping plenteous tears and reciting +verses, whilst her women slept round her. Presently, they heard +her weeping and wailing and said, 'O our mistress, why wilt +thou mourn for one who mourns not for thee?' 'O little of +wit,' answered she, 'is he for whom I mourn of those who are +forgotten?' And she fell again to weeping and wailing, till +sleep overcame her. + +Now the prince's heart ached for her, so he entered and seeing +her lying asleep, without covering, touched her with his hand; +whereupon she opened her eyes and saw him standing by her. +Quoth he, 'Why this weeping and mourning?' And when she knew +him, she threw herself upon him and embraced him and kissed him +and answered, 'For thy sake and because of my separation from +thee.' 'O my lady,' said he, 'I have wearied for thee all this +time!' But she answered, 'It is I who have wearied for thee, +and hadst thou tarried longer, I had surely died!' 'O my lady,' +rejoined he, 'what thinkest thou of my case with thy father and +how he dealt with me? Were it not for my love of thee, O +ravishment of all creatures, I had surely slain him and made +him a warning to all beholders; but, even as I love thee, so I +love him for thy sake.' Quoth she, 'How couldst thou leave me? +Can life be sweet to me after thee?' Quoth he, 'Let what has +happened suffice now: I am hungry and thirsty.' So she bade her +maidens make ready meat and drink, [and they sat eating and +drinking and conversing] till nigh upon daybreak, when he rose +to take leave of her and depart, ere the eunuch should awake, +and she said, 'Whither goest thou?' 'To my father's house,' +answered he; 'and I plight thee my troth that I will come to +thee once in every week.' But she wept and said, 'I conjure +thee, by God the Supreme, take me with thee whither thou goest +and make me not taste anew the bitterness of separation from +thee.' Quoth he, 'Wilt thou indeed go with me?' and she +answered, 'Yes.' 'Then,' said he, 'arise, that we may depart.' +So she rose forthright and going to a chest, arrayed herself in +what was richest and dearest to her of her trinkets of gold and +jewels of price. Then he carried her up to the roof of the +palace and mounting the horse, took her up behind him and bound +her fast to himself; after which he turned the peg of ascent, +and the horse rose with him into the air. When her women saw +this, they shrieked aloud and told her father and mother, who +rushed up to the roof of the palace and looking up, saw the +ebony horse flying away with the prince and princess. At this +the King was sore troubled and cried out, saying, 'O King's +son, I conjure thee, by Allah, have compassion on me and my +wife and bereave us not of our daughter!' The prince made him +no reply, but, thinking that the princess repented of leaving +her father and mother, said to her, 'O ravishment of the age, +wilt thou that I restore thee to thy father and mother?' 'By +Allah, O my lord, that is not my desire,' answered she; 'my +only wish is to be with thee wherever thou art; for I am +distracted by the love of thee from all else, even to my father +and mother.' At this the prince rejoiced greatly and made +the horse fare softly with them, so as not to disquiet the +princess; nor did they stay their flight till they came in +sight of a green meadow, in which was a spring of running +water. Here they alighted and ate and drank; after which they +took horse again and fared on, till they came in sight of his +father's capital. At this, the prince was filled with joy and +bethought himself to show her the seat of his dominion and his +father's power and dignity and give her to know that it was +greater than that of her father. So he set her down in one of +his father's pleasance-gardens [without the city] and carrying +her into a pavilion there, prepared for the King, left the +horse at the door and charged her keep watch over it, saying, +'Sit here, till my messenger come to thee; for I go now to my +father, to make ready a palace for thee and show thee my royal +estate.' 'Do as thou wilt,' answered she, for she was glad that +she should not enter but with due honour and observance, as +became her rank. + +Then he left her and betook himself to the palace of the King +his father, who rejoiced in his return and welcomed him; and +the prince said to him, 'Know that I have brought with me the +princess of whom I told thee and have left her without the city +in such a garden and come to tell thee, that thou mayest make +ready and go forth to meet her in state and show her thy royal +dignity and troops and guards.' 'With all my heart,' answered +the King and straightway bade decorate the city after the +goodliest fashion. Then he took horse and rode out in all state +and splendour, he and his troops and household and grandees; +whilst the prince made ready for her a litter of green and +red and yellow brocade, in which he set Indian and Greek +and Abyssinian slave-girls. Moreover, he took forth of his +treasuries jewellery and apparel and what else of the things +that kings treasure up and made a rare display of wealth and +magnificence. Then he left the litter and those who were +therein and rode forward to the pavilion, where he had left the +princess; but found both her and the horse gone. When he saw +this, he buffeted his face and rent his clothes and went round +about the garden, as he had lost his wits; after which he came +to his senses and said to himself, 'How could she have come at +the secret of the horse, seeing I told her nothing of it? Maybe +the Persian sage who made the horse has chanced upon her and +stolen her away, in revenge for my father's treatment of him.' +Then he sought the keepers of the garden and asked them if they +had seen any enter the garden. + +Quoth they, 'We have seen none enter but the Persian sage, who +came to gather simples.' So the prince was certified that it +was indeed he that had taken away the princess and abode +confounded and perplexed concerning his case. And he was +abashed before the folk and returning to his father, [told him +what had happened and] said to him, 'Take the troops and return +to the city. As for me, I will never return till I have cleared +up this affair.' When the King heard this, he wept and beat his +breast and said to him, 'O my son, calm thyself and master thy +chagrin and return with us and look what King's daughter thou +wouldst fain have, that I may marry thee to her.' But the +prince paid no heed to his words and bidding him farewell, +departed, whilst the King returned to the city and their joy +was changed into mourning. + +Now, as Fate would have it, when the prince left the princess +in the pavilion and betook himself to his father's palace, for +the ordering of his affair, the Persian entered the garden to +pluck simples and scenting the fragrance of musk and essences, +that exhaled from the princess's person and perfumed the whole +place, followed it till he came to the pavilion and saw the horse, +that he had made with his own hands, standing at the door. At +this sight, his heart was filled with joy and gladness, for he +had mourned sore for it, since it had gone out of his hand. So +he went up to it and examining its every part, found it safe +and sound; whereupon he was about to mount and ride away, when +he bethought himself and said, 'Needs must I first look what +the prince hath brought and left here with the horse.' So he +entered the pavilion and seeing the princess sitting there, as +she were the sun shining in the cloudless sky, knew her to be +some high-born lady and doubted not but the prince had brought +her thither on the horse and left her in the pavilion, whilst +he went to the city, to make ready for her entry in state. + +Then he went up to her and kissed the earth before her, +whereupon she raised her eyes to him and finding him exceeding +foul of face and favour, said, 'Who art thou?' 'O my lady,' +answered he, 'I am sent by the prince, who hath bidden me bring +thee to another garden, nearer the city; for that my lady the +queen cannot go so far a journey and is unwilling, of her joy +in thee, that another should forestall her with thee.' 'Where +is the prince?' asked she; and the Persian replied, 'He is in +the city, with his father, and will presently come for thee in +great state.' 'O fellow,' said she, 'could he find none to send +to me but thee?' At this he laughed and answered, 'O my lady, +let not the ugliness of my face and the foulness of my favour +deceive thee. Hadst thou profited of me as hath the prince, +thou wouldst praise my affair. Indeed, he chose me as his +messenger to thee, because of my uncomeliness and forbidding +aspect, in his jealousy and love of thee: else hath he slaves +and pages and servants, white and black, out of number, each +goodlier than the other.' When she heard this, it commended +itself to her reason and she believed him; so she rose and +putting her hand in his, said, 'O my father, what hast thou +brought me to ride?' 'O my lady,' answered he, 'thou shalt ride +the horse thou camest on.' Quoth she, 'I cannot ride it by +myself.' Whereupon he smiled and knew that she was in his power +and said, 'I myself will ride with thee.' So he mounted and +taking her up behind him, bound her fast to himself, for she +knew not what he would with her. Then he turned the peg of +ascent, whereupon the belly of the horse became full of wind +and it swayed to and fro and rose with them into the air nor +slackened in its flight, till it was out of sight of the city. + +When the princess saw this, she said to him, 'O fellow, what +didst thou tell me of the prince, that he sent thee to me?' +'Foul befall the prince!' answered the Persian. 'He is a +scurril knave.' And she said, 'Out on thee! How darest thou +disobey thy lord's commandment!' 'He is no lord of mine,' +rejoined the Persian. 'Knowst thou who I am?' 'I know nothing +of thee,' replied the princess, 'save what thou toldest me.' +Quoth he, 'What I told thee was a trick of mine against thee +and the prince. I am he who made this horse under us, and I +have long regretted its loss; for the prince made himself +master of it. But now I have gotten possession of it and of +thee too, and I will rack his heart, even as he hath racked +mine; nor shall he ever have the horse again. So take comfort +and be of good cheer, for I can be of more service to thee than +he.' When she heard this, she buffeted her face and cried out, +saying, 'Ah, woe is me! I have neither gotten my beloved nor +kept my father and mother!' And she wept sore over what had +befallen her, whilst the Persian fared on with her, without +ceasing, till he came to the land of the Greeks and alighted in +a verdant meadow, abounding in trees and streams. + +Now this meadow was near a city, in which was a king of great +puissance, and it befell that he went forth that day to hunt +and divert himself. As he passed by the meadow, he saw the +Persian standing there, with the princess and the horse by his +side, and before he was aware, the King's followers fell upon +him and carried him, the lady and the horse to their master, +who noting the foulness of his favour and the beauty and grace +of the princess, said to the latter, 'O my lady, what kin is +this old fellow to thee?' The Persian made haste to reply, 'She +is my wife and the daughter of my father's brother.' But she +gave him the lie and said, 'O King, by Allah, I know him not, +nor is he my husband, but hath stolen me away by force and +fraud.' Thereupon the King bade beat the Persian, and they beat +him, till he was well-nigh dead; after which the King commanded +to carry him to the city and cast him into prison, and taking +the princess and the horse from him, set the former in his +harem and laid up the latter in his treasury, though he knew +not its properties nor the secret of its motion. + +Meanwhile, the prince donned a travelling-habit and taking what +he needed of money, set out, in very sorry plight, in quest of +the princess, and journeyed from country to country and city to +city, enquiring after the ebony horse, whilst all who heard him +marvelled at him and deemed his talk extravagant. Thus did he a +long while; but, for all his enquiry and research, he could win +at no news of her. At last, he came to the city of Senaa and +there enquired for her, but could get no tidings of her and +found her father mourning her loss. So he turned back and made +for the land of the Greeks, pursuing his enquiries as he went, +till, as chance would have it, he alighted at a certain khan +and saw a company of merchants sitting talking. He sat down +near them and heard one say to the others, 'O my friends, I +happened lately upon a wonder of wonders.' 'What was that?' +asked they, and he answered, 'I was late in such a city,' +naming the city wherein was the princess, 'and heard its people +speak of a strange thing that had lately befallen. It was that +their King went out one day a-hunting, with a company of his +courtiers and the grandees of his realm, and coming to a green +meadow, espied there a man standing, with a horse of ebony, and +a lady sitting hard by. The man was ugly and foul of favour, +but the lady was a marvel of beauty and grace and symmetry; and +as for the ebony horse, it was a wonder, never saw eyes aught +goodlier than it nor more perfect than its fashion.' 'And +what did the King with them?' asked the others. 'As for the +man,' said the merchant, 'he questioned him of the lady and +he pretended that she was his wife and the daughter of his +father's brother; but she gave him the lie. So the King took +her from him and bade beat him and cast him into prison. As +for the horse, I know not what became of it.' When the prince +heard this, he drew near unto the speaker and questioned him +discreetly and courteously, till he told him the name of the +city and of its king; which when he knew, he passed the night, +full of joy. + +On the morrow, he set out and travelled till he reached the +city; but, when he would have entered, the gatekeepers laid +hands on him, that they might bring him before the King; for +that it was his wont to question all strangers respecting their +conditions and the crafts in which they were skilled and the +reason of their coming thither. Now it was eventide, when he +entered the city, and it was then too late to go in to the King +or take counsel with him respecting him. So they carried him to +the prison, thinking to lay him therein for the night; but, +when the warders saw his beauty and grace, they could not find +it in their hearts to imprison him, but made him sit with them, +without the prison; and when food came to them, he ate his fill +with them. When they had made an end of eating, they turned to +him and said, 'What countryman art thou?' 'I come from Persia,' +answered he, 'the land of the Chosroës.' When they heard this, +they laughed and one of them said, 'O Chosroän, I have heard +the talk of men and their histories and looked upon their +conditions; but never saw or heard I a greater liar than the +Chosroän that is with us in the prison.' 'Nor,' quoth another, +'did I ever see fouler than his favour or more repulsive than +his aspect.' 'What have ye seen of his lying?' asked the +prince, and they answered, 'He pretends that he is a sage. Now +the King came upon him, as he went a-hunting, and found with +him a most beautiful lady and a horse of ebony, never saw I a +handsomer. As for the lady, she is with the King, who is +enamoured of her and would fain marry her; but she is mad, and +were this man a physician, as he pretends, he would have cured +her, for the King doth his utmost endeavour to find a remedy +for her disease, and this whole year past hath he spent +treasures upon physicians and astrologers, on her account; but +none can avail to cure her. As for the horse, it is in the +royal treasury, and the man is here with us in the prison; and +all night long he weeps and bemoans himself and will not let us +sleep.' + +When the prince heard this, he bethought himself of a device by +which he might compass his desire; and presently the warders, +being minded to sleep, clapped him into the prison and locked +the door. He heard the Persian weeping and bemoaning himself, +in his own tongue, and saying, 'Woe is me for my sin, that I +sinned against myself and against the King's son, in that which +I did with the damsel; for I neither left her nor got my desire +of her! All this comes of my want of sense, in that I sought +for myself that which I deserved not and which befitted not the +like of me; for he, who seeks what befits him not, falleth into +the like of my predicament.' When the prince heard this, he +accosted him in Persian, saying, 'How long wilt thou keep up +this weeping and wailing? Thinkst thou that there hath befallen +thee what never befell other than thou?' When the Persian heard +this, he made friends with him and began to complain to him of +his case and misfortunes. + +As soon as it was day, the warders took the prince and carried +him before the King, informing him that he had entered the city +on the previous night, at a time when no audience could be had +of him. Quoth the King to the prince, 'Whence comest thou and +what is thy name and craft and why comest thou hither?' And he +answered, 'I am called, in Persian, Herjeh. I come from the +land of Fars and I am of the men of art and especially of the +art of medicine and cure the sick and the mad. For this, I go +round about all countries and cities, adding knowledge to my +knowledge, and whenever I see a sick person, I heal him; and +this is my craft.' When the King heard this, he rejoiced +exceedingly and said, 'O excellent sage, thou hast come to us +at a time when we have need of thee.' Then he acquainted him +with the case of the princess, adding, 'If thou win to cure her +and recover her of her madness, thou shalt have of me whatever +thou seekest.' 'May God advance the King!' rejoined the prince. +'Describe to me all thou hast seen of her madness and tell me +how long it is since it attacked her; also how thou camest by +her.' So the King told him the whole story, from first to last, +adding, 'The sage is in prison.' 'O august King,' said the +prince, 'and what hast thou done with the horse?' 'It is with +me yet, laid up in one of my treasure-chambers,' replied the +King; whereupon quoth the prince in himself, 'The first thing +to do is to see the horse and assure myself of its condition. +If it be whole and unhurt, all will be well; but, if its works +be destroyed, I must find some other way of delivering my +beloved.' + +So he turned to the King and said to him, 'O King, I must see +the horse in question: haply I may find in it somewhat that +will serve me for the recovery of the damsel.' 'With all my +heart,' replied the King and taking him by the hand, led him to +the place where the horse was. The prince went round about it, +examining its condition, and found it whole and unhurt, whereat +he rejoiced greatly and said to the King, 'May God exalt the +King! I would fain go in to the damsel, that I may see how it +is with her; for I hope, by God's grace, to cure her by means +of the horse.' Then he bade take care of the horse and the King +carried him to the princess's apartment, where he found her +writhing and beating herself against the ground, as was her +wont; but there was no madness in her, and she did this but +that none might approach her. When the prince saw her thus, he +said to her, 'No harm shall betide thee, O ravishment of all +creatures;' and went on to soothe her and speak her fair, till +he won to make himself known to her; whereupon she gave a loud +cry and fell down in a swoon for excess of joy; but the King +thought this came of her fear of him. + +Then the prince put his mouth to her ear and said to her, 'O +seduction of the universe, have a care for thy life and mine +and be patient and constant; for we have need of patience and +skilful ordinance to make shift for our delivery from this +tyrannical King. To begin with, I will now go out to him and +tell him that thou art possessed of a genie, and hence thy +madness; but, that if he will loose thee from thy bonds, I will +engage to heal thee and drive away the evil spirit. So, when he +comes in to thee, do thou give him fair words, that he may +think I have cured thee, and all will be accomplished as we +desire.' Quoth she, 'I hear and obey;' and he went out to the +King, full of joy and happiness, and said to him, 'O august +King, by thy good fortune I have discovered her disease and its +remedy and have cured her for thee. So now do thou go in to her +and speak softly to her and entreat her kindly, and promise her +what may please her; so shall all thou desirest of her be +accomplished to thee.' So he went in to her and when she saw +him, she rose and kissing the ground, bade him welcome; whereat +he was greatly rejoiced and bade the eunuchs and waiting-women +attend her and carry her to the bath and make ready for her +dresses and ornaments. + +So they went in to her and saluted her, and she returned their +greeting, after the goodliest and pleasantest fashion; after +which they clad her in royal apparel and clasping a collar of +jewels about her neck, carried her to the bath and served her +there. Then they brought her forth, as she were the full moon; +and when she came into the King's presence, she saluted him and +kissed the ground before him, whereupon he rejoiced in her with +an exceeding joy and said to the prince, 'All this is of thy +blessing, may God increase us of thy good offices!' Quoth the +prince, 'O King, it behoves, for the completion of her cure, +that thou carry her forth, together with the ebony horse, and +attend her with all thy troops to the place where thou foundest +her, that there I may expel from her the evil spirit, by whom +she is possessed, and bind him and kill him, so he may never +more return to her.' 'With all my heart,' answered the King. +Then he caused carry out the horse to the meadow in question +and mounting, rode thither with all his troops and the princess, +knowing not the prince's purpose. + +When they came to the appointed place, the prince bade set the +horse and the princess as far as the eye could reach from the +King and his troops and said to the former, 'With thy leave, I +will now proceed to the needful fumigations and conjurations +and imprison the genie here, that he may nevermore return to +her. After this, I shall mount the horse and take the damsel up +behind me; whereupon it will sway to and fro and fare forward, +till it come to thee, when the affair will be at an end; and +after this thou mayst do with her as thou wilt.' And when the +King heard his words, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy. So the +prince mounted the horse and taking the princess up behind him, +bound her fast to him, whilst the King and his troops watched +him. Then he turned the peg of ascent and the horse took flight +and soared with them into the air, till he disappeared from +sight. + +The King abode half the day, expecting their return; but they +returned not. So, when he despaired of them, he returned to the +city with his troops, repenting him greatly of that which he +had done and grieving sore for the loss of the damsel. He shut +himself up in his palace, mourning and afflicted; but his +Viziers came in to him and applied themselves to comfort him, +saying, 'Verily, he who took the damsel is an enchanter, and +praised be God who hath delivered thee from his craft and +sorcery!' And they ceased not from him, till he was comforted +for her loss. + +Meanwhile, the prince bent his course, in joy and cheer, +towards his father's capital and stayed not, till he alighted +on his own palace, where he set the princess in safety; after +which he went in to his father and mother and acquainted them +with her coming, whereat they rejoiced exceedingly. Then he +made great banquets to the townsfolk and they held high +festival a whole month, at the end of which time he went in to +the princess and they rejoiced in one another with an exceeding +joy. But his father broke the horse in pieces and destroyed its +works. Moreover, the prince wrote a letter to the princess's +father, advising him of all that had befallen her and how she +was now married to him and in all health and happiness, and +sent it by a messenger, together with costly presents and +rarities. The messenger, in due course, arrived at the city of +Senaa and delivered the letter and the presents to the King, +who, when he read the former, rejoiced greatly and accepted the +presents, rewarding the bearer handsomely. Moreover, he sent +rich presents to his son-in-law by the same messenger, who +returned to his master and acquainted him with what had passed, +whereat he was much cheered. And after this the prince wrote a +letter every year to his father-in-law and sent him a present, +till, in course of time, his father King Sabour died and he +reigned in his stead, ruling justly over his subjects and +ordering himself well and righteously towards them, so that +they submitted themselves to him and did him loyal service; and +he and his wife abode in the enjoyment of all delight and +solace of life, till there came to them the Destroyer of +Delights and Sunderer of Companies, He that layeth waste the +palaces and peopleth the tombs; and glory be to the Living One +who dieth not and in whose hand is the dominion of the Seen and +the Unseen! + + + + + + UNS EL WUJOUD AND THE VIZIER'S DAUGHTER + ROSE-IN-BUD. + + + + +There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a +King of great power and glory and dominion, who had a Vizier +named Ibrahim, and this Vizier had a daughter of extraordinary +beauty and grace, gifted with surpassing brilliancy and all +perfection, possessed of abundant wit and perfectly accomplished. +She loved wine and good cheer and fair faces and choice verses +and rare stories; and the delicacy of her charms invited all +hearts to love, even as Saith the poet, describing her: + +She shines out like the moon at full, that midst the stars doth + fare, And for a wrapping-veil she hath the ringlets of her + hair. +The Eastern zephyr gives her boughs to drink of all its sweets + And like a jointed cane, she sways to every breath of air. +She smiles in passing by. O thou that dost alike accord With + red and yellow and arrayed in each, alike art fair, +Thou sportest with my wit in love, so that indeed meseems As if + a sparrow in the clutch of playful urchin 'twere. + +Her name was Rose-in-bud and she was so named for the exceeding +delicacy and perfection of her beauty; and the King loved to +carouse with her, because of her wit and good breeding. + +Now it was the King's custom yearly to gather together all the +nobles of his realm and play with the ball. So, when the day +came round, on which the folk assembled for ball-play, the +Vizier's daughter seated herself at her lattice, to divert +herself by looking on at the game; and as they were at play, +her eyes fell upon a youth among them, never was seen a +handsomer than he or a goodlier of favour, for he was bright of +face, laughing-teethed, tall and broad-shouldered. She looked +at him again and again and could not take her fill of gazing on +him. Then she said to her nurse, 'What is the name of yonder +handsome young man among the troops?' 'O my daughter,' replied +the nurse, 'they are all handsome. Which of them dost thou +mean?' 'Wait till he passes,' said Rose-in-bud, 'and I will +point him out to thee.' So she took an apple and waited till he +came under her window, when she dropped it on him, whereupon he +raised his head, to see who did this, and saw the Vizier's +daughter at the window, as she were the full moon in the +darkness of the night; nor did he withdraw his eyes, till he +had fallen passionately in love with her; and he recited the +following verses: + +Was it an archer shot me or did thine eyes undo The lover's + heart that saw thee, what time thou metst his view? +Did the notched arrow reach me from midst a host, indeed, Or + was it from a lattice that launched at me it flew? + + When the game was at an end, he went away with the King, +[whose servant and favourite he was,] with heart occupied with +love of her; and she said to her nurse, 'What is the name of +that youth I showed thee?' 'His name is Uns el Wujoud,' +answered she; whereat Rose-in-bud shook her head and lay down +on her couch, with a heart on fire for love. Then, sighing +deeply, she improvised the following verses: + +He erred not who dubbed thee, "All creatures' delight,"[FN#75] + That pleasance and bounty[FN#76] at once dust unite. +Full-moonlike of aspect, O thou whose fair face O'er all the + creation sheds glory and light, +Thou'rt peerless midst mortals, the sovran of grace, And many a + witness to this I can cite. +Thy brows are a Noun[FN#77] and shine eyes are a Sad,[FN#78] + That the hand of the loving Creator did write; +Thy shape is the soft, tender sapling, that gives Of its + bounties to all that its favours invite. +Yea, indeed, thou excellest the world's cavaliers In pleasance + and beauty and bounty and might. + +When she had finished, she wrote the verses on a sheet of +paper, which she folded in a piece of gold-embroidered silk and +laid under her pillow. Now one of her nurses saw her; so she +came up to her and held her in talk, till she slept, when she +stole the scroll from under her pillow and reading it, knew +that she had fallen in love with Uns el Wujoud. Then she +returned the scroll to its place and when her mistress awoke, +she said to her, 'O my lady, indeed, I am to thee a faithful +counsellor and am tenderly solicitous for thee. Know that +passion is grievous and the hiding it melteth iron and causeth +sickness and unease; nor is there reproach for whoso confesses +it.' 'O my nurse,' rejoined Rose-in-bud,'and what is the remedy +of passion?' 'The remedy of passion is enjoyment,' answered the +nurse. 'And how may one come by enjoyment?' asked Rose-in-bud. +'By letters and messages,' replied the nurse, 'and many a +tender word and greeting; this brings lovers together and makes +hard matters easy. So, if thou have aught at heart, mistress +mine, I will engage to keep thy secret and do thy need and +carry thy letters.' + +When the girl heard this, her reason fled for joy; but she +restrained herself from speech, till she should see the issue +of the matter, saying in herself, 'None knoweth this thing of +me, nor will I trust this woman with my secret, till I have +proved her.' Then said the nurse, 'O my lady, I saw in my sleep +as though one came to me and said, "Thy mistress and Uns el +Wujoud love one another; so do thou serve their loves by +carrying their messages and doing their need and keeping their +secrets; and much good shall befall thee." So now I have told +thee my dream, and it is thine to decide.' 'O my nurse,' quoth +Rose-in-bud, 'canst thou keep secrets?' 'And how should I not +keep secrets,' answered the nurse, 'I that am of the flower of +the free-born?' Then Rose-in-bud pulled out the scroll, on +which she had written the verses afore said, and said to her,' +Carry this my letter to Uns el Wujoud and bring me his answer.' + +So the nurse took the letter and repairing to Uns el Wujoud, +kissed his hands and saluted him right courteously, then gave +him the letter; and he read it and wrote on the back the +following verses: + +I temper my heart in passion and hide my case as I may; But my + case interprets for me and doth my love bewray. +And whenas my lids brim over with tears,--lest the spy should + see And come to fathom my secret,--"My eye is sore," I + say. +Of old I was empty-hearted and knew not what love was; But now + I am passion's bondman, my heart to love's a prey. +To thee I prefer my petition, complaining of passion and pain, + So haply thou mayst be softened and pity my dismay. +With the tears of my eye I have traced it, that so unto thee it + may The tidings of what I suffer for thee to thee convey. +God watch o'er a visage, that veileth itself with beauty, a + face That the full moon serves as a bondman and the stars + as slaves obey! +Yea' Allah protect her beauty, whose like I ne'er beheld! The + boughs from her graceful carriage, indeed, might learn to + sway. +I beg thee to grant me a visit; algates, if it irk thee nought. + An thou knewst how dearly I'd prize it, thou wouldst not + say me nay. +I give thee my life, so haply thou mayst accept it: to me Thy + presence is life eternal and hell thy turning away. + +Then he folded the letter and kissing it, gave it to the nurse +and said to her, 'O nurse, incline thy lady's heart to me.' 'I +hear and obey,' answered she and carried the letter to her +mistress, who kissed it and laid it on her head, then wrote at +the foot of it these verses: + +Harkye, thou whose heart is taken with my grace and loveliness, + Have but patience, and right surely thou my favours shalt + possess. +When we were assured the passion thou avouchedst was sincere + And that that which us betided had betided thee no less, +Gladly had we then vouchsafed thee what thou sighedst for, and + more; But our guardians estopped us to each other from + access. +When night darkens on the dwellings, fires are lighted in our + heart And our entrails burn within us, for desire and + love's excess. +Yea, for love and longing, slumber is a stranger to our couch + And the burning pangs of fever do our body sore distress. +'Twas a law of passion ever, love and longing to conceal; Lift + not thou the curtain from us nor our secret aye + transgress. +Ah, my heart is overflowing with the love of yon gazelle; Would + it had not left our dwellings for the distant wilderness. + +Then she folded the letter and gave it to the nurse, who took +it and went out to go to the young man; but as she went forth +the door, her master met her and said to her, 'Whither away?' +'To the bath,' answered she; but, in her trouble, she dropped +the letter, without knowing it, and one of the servants, seeing +it lying in the way, picked it up. When she came without the +door, she sought for it, but found it not, so turned back to +her mistress and told her of this and what had befallen her +with the Vizier. + +Meanwhile, the latter came out of the harem and seated himself +on his couch. Presently, the servant, who had picked up the +letter, came in to him, with it in his hand, and said, 'O my +lord, I found this paper lying on the floor and picked it up.' +So the Vizier took it from his hand, folded as it was, and +opening it, read the verses above set down. Then he examined +the writing and knew it for his daughter's hand; whereupon he +went in to her mother, weeping so sore that his beard was +drenched. 'What makes thee weep, O my lord?' asked she; and he +answered, 'Take this letter and see what is therein.' So she +took it and saw it to be a love-letter from her daughter +Rose-in-bud to Uns el Wujoud; whereupon the tears sprang to her +eyes; but she mastered herself and swallowing her tears, said +to her husband, 'O my lord, there is no profit in weeping: the +right course is to cast about for a means of preserving thine +honour and concealing thy daughter's affair.' And she went on +to comfort him and lighten his trouble. Quoth he, 'I am fearful +of what may ensue this passion of my daughter, and that for two +reasons. The first concerns myself; it is, that she is my daughter; +the second, that Uns el Wujoud is a favourite with the Sultan, +who loves him with an exceeding love, and maybe great troubles +shall come of this affair. What deemest thou of the matter?' +'Wait,' answered she, 'whilst I pray to God for direction.' +So she prayed a two-bow prayer, according to the prophetic +ordinance of the prayer for divine guidance; after which she +said to her husband, 'Amiddleward the Sea of Treasures stands +a mountain called the Mount of the Bereaved Mother,' (the cause +of which being so named shall follow in its place, if it be the +will of God,) 'and thither can none come, save with difficulty; +do thou make her an abiding-place there.' + +So the Vizier and his wife agreed to build, on the mountain in +question, a strong castle and lodge his daughter therein with a +year's victual, to be annually renewed, and attendants to serve +and keep her company. Accordingly, he collected builders and +carpenters and architects and despatched them to the mountain, +where they builded her an impregnable castle, never saw eyes +its like. Then he made ready victual and carriage for the +journey and going in to his daughter by night, bade her make +ready to set out on a pleasure-excursion. She refused to set +out by night, but he was instant with her, till she went forth; +and when she saw the preparations for the journey, her heart +misgave her of separation from her beloved and she wept sore +and wrote upon the door the following verses, to acquaint him +with what had passed and with the transports of passion and +grief that were upon her, transports such as would make the +flesh quake, that would cause the hearts of stones to melt and +eyes to overflow with tears: + +By Allah, O house, if the loved one pass in the morning-glow + And greet with the greeting of lovers, as they pass to and + fro, +Give him our salutation, a pure and fragrant one, For that we + have departed, and whither he may not know. +Why on this wise they hurry me off by stealth, anights And + lightly equipped, I know not, nor whither with me they go. +Neath cover of night and darkness, they carry me forth, alack I + Whilst the birds in the brake bewail us and make their + moan for our woe; +And the tongue of the case interprets their language and cries, + "Alas, Alas for the pain of parting from those that we + love, heigho!" +When I saw that the cups of sev'rance were filled and that + Fate, indeed, Would give us to drink of its bitter, + unmingled, would we or no, +I blended the draught with patience becoming, as best I might; + But patience avails not to solace my heart for your loss, + I trow. + +Then she mounted, and they set forward with her and fared on +over desert and plain and hill, till they came to the shore of +the Sea of Treasures, where they pitched their tents and built +a great ship, in which they embarked her and her suite and +carried them over to the mountain. Here they left them in the +castle and making their way back to the shore, broke up the +vessel, in obedience to the Vizier's commandment, and returned +home, weeping over what had befallen. + +Meanwhile, Uns el Wujoud arose from sleep and prayed the +morning prayer, after which he mounted and rode forth to wait +upon the Sultan. On his way, he passed by the Vizier's house, +thinking to see some of his followers, as of wont, but saw no +one and drawing near the door, read the verses aforesaid +written thereon. At this sight, his senses failed him; fire was +kindled in his vitals and he returned to his lodging, where he +passed the rest of the day in ceaseless trouble and anxiety, +without finding ease or patience, till night darkened upon him, +when his transport redoubled. So he put off his clothes and +disguising himself in a fakir's habit, set out, at a venture, +under cover of the night, distraught and knowing not whither he +went. + +He wandered on all that night and next day, till the heat of +the sun grew fierce and the mountains flamed like fire and +thirst was grievous upon him. Presently, he espied a tree, by +whose side was a spring of running water; so he made towards it +and sitting down in the shade, on the bank of the rivulet, +essayed to drink, but found that the water had no taste in his +mouth. Then, [looking in the stream,] he saw that his body was +wasted, his colour changed and his face grown pale and his, +feet, to boot, swollen with walking and weariness. So he shed +copious tears and repeated the following verses: + +The lover is drunken with love of his fair; In longing and heat + he redoubles fore'er. +Love-maddened, confounded, distracted, perplexed, No dwelling + is pleasant to him and no fare. +For how, to a lover cut off from his love, Can life be + delightsome? 'Twere strange an it were. +I melt with the fire of my passion for her And the tears down + my cheek roll and never forbear. +Shall I ever behold her or one from her stead, With whom I may + solace my heart in despair? + +And he wept till he wet the ground; after which he rose and +fared on again over deserts and wilds, till there came out upon +him a lion, with a neck buried in hair, a head the bigness of a +dome, a mouth wider than the door [thereof] and teeth like +elephants' tusks. When Uns el Wujoud saw him, he gave himself up +for lost and turning towards Mecca, pronounced the professions +of the faith and prepared for death. + +Now he had read in books that whoso will flatter the lion, +beguileth him, for that he is lightly duped by fair words and +glorieth in praise; so he began and said, 'O lion of the forest +and the waste! O unconquerable warrior! O father of heroes and +Sultan of wild beasts! Behold, I am a desireful lover, whom +passion and severance have undone. Since I parted from my +beloved, I have lost my reason; wherefore, do thou hearken to +my speech and have ruth on my passion and love-longing.' When +the lion heard this, he drew back from him and sitting down on +his hind-quarters, raised his head to him and began to frisk +his tail and paws to him; which when Uns el Wujoud saw, he +recited these verses: + +Wilt slay me, O lord of the desert, before My enslaver I meet + with, e'en her I adore? +No fat on me is; I'm no booty for thee; For the loss of my + loved one hath wasted me sore. +Yea, my love's separation hath worn out my soul, And I'm grown + like a shape, with a shroud covered o'er. +Give the railers not cause to exult in my woe, O prince of the + spoilers, O lion of war! +A lover, all sleepless for loss of my dear, I'm drowned in the + tears from mine eyelids that pour; +And my pining for her in the darkness of night Hath robbed me, + for passion, of reason and lore. + +When he had finished, the lion rose and coming softly up to +him, with his eyes full of tears, licked him with his tongue, +then walked on before him, signing to him, as who should say, +'Follow me.' So he followed him, and he led him on till he +brought him, over a mountain, to the farther side, where he +came upon the track of a caravan and knew it to be that of +Rose-in-bud and her company. When the lion saw that he knew the +track and set himself to follow it, he turned back and went his +way; whilst Uns el Wujoud followed the foot-marks, till they +brought him to a surging sea, swollen with clashing billows. The +trail led down to the water's edge and there broke off; whereby +he knew that they had taken ship there and had continued their +journey by sea. So he lost hope of finding his beloved and +repeated the following verses, weeping sore: + +Far's the place of visitation and my patience faileth me For my + love; but how to reach her o'er the abysses of the sea? +When, for love of her, my vitals are consumed and I've forsworn + Slumber, sleep for wake exchanging, ah, how can I patient + be? +Since the day she left the homesteads and departed, hath my + heart Burnt with never-ceasing anguish, all a-fire with + agony. +Oxus and Jaxartes, running like Euphrates, are my tears; More + than rain and flood abounding, run like rivers to the sea. +Ulcerated are my eyelids with the running of the tears, And my + heart on fires of passion's burnt and wasted utterly. +Yea, the armies of my longing and my transport on me pressed, + And the hosts of my endurance did before them break and + flee. +Lavishly my life I've ventured for the love of her; for life Is + the lightest to a lover of all ventures, verily. +Be an eye of God unpunished that beheld the beauteous one, Than + the moon how much more splendid, in the harem's sanctuary! +Struck was I and smitten prostrate by wide-opened eyes, whose + shafts, From a bow all stringless loosened, pierced the + hapless heart of me. +By the soft and flexile motions of her shape she captived me, + Swaying as the limber branches sway upon the cassia-tree. +Union with her I covet, that therewith I may apply Solace to + the pains of passion, love and care and misery. +For the love of her, afflicted, as I am, I have become; All + that's fallen on me betided from the evil eye, perdie. + +Then he wept, till he swooned away, and abode in his swoon a +long while. When he came to himself, he looked right and left +and seeing none in the desert, was fearful of the wild beasts; +so he climbed to the top of a high mountain, where he heard a +man's voice speaking within a cavern. He listened and found it +to be that of a devotee, who had forsworn the world and given +himself up to pious exercises. So he knocked thrice at the +cavern door; but the hermit made him no answer, neither came +forth to him; wherefore he sighed heavily and recited the +following verses: + +What way is open unto me, to my desire to get And put off + weariness and toil and trouble and regret? +All pains and terrors have combined on me, to make me hoar And + old of head and heart, whilst I a very child am yet. +I find no friend to solace me of longing and unease' Nor one + 'gainst passion and its stress to aid me and abet. +Alas, the torments I endure for waste and wistful love! + Fortune, meseems, 'gainst me is turned and altogether set. +Ah, woe's me for the lover's pain, unresting, passion-burnt, + Him who in parting's bitter cup his lips perforce hath + wet! +His wit is ravished clean away by separation's woe, Fire in his + heart and all consumed his entrails by its fret. +Ah, what a dreadful day it was, when to her stead I came And + that, which on the door was writ, my eyes confounded met! +I wept, until I gave the earth to drink of my despair; But + still from friend and foe I hid the woes that me beset. +Then strayed I forth till, in the waste, a lion sprang on me + And would have slain me straight; but him with flattering + words I met +And soothed him. So he spared my life and succoured me, as + 'twere He too had known love's taste and been entangled in + its net. +Yet, for all this, could I but win to come to my desire, All, + that I've suffered and endured, straightway I should + forget. +O thou, that harbour'st in thy cave, distracted from the world, + Meseems thou'st tasted love and been its slave, O + anchoret! + +Hardly had he made an end of these verses when, behold, the +door of the cavern opened and he heard one say' 'Alas, the pity +of it I' So he entered and saluted the hermit, who returned his +greeting and said to him, 'What is thy name?' 'Uns el Wujoud,' +answered the young man. 'And what brings thee hither?' asked +the hermit. So he told him his whole story, whereat he wept and +said' 'O Uns el Wujoud, these twenty years have I dwelt in this +place, but never beheld I any here, till the other day, when I +heard a noise of cries and weeping, and looking forth in the +direction of the sound, saw much people and tents pitched on +the sea-shore. They built a ship, in which they embarked and +sailed away. Then some of them returned with the ship and +breaking it up, went their way; and methinks those, who +embarked in the ship and returned not, are they whom thou +seekest. In that case, thy trouble must needs be grievous and +thou art excusable; though never yet was lover but suffered +sorrows.' Then he recited the following verses: + +Uns el Wujoud, thou deem'st me free of heart, but, wel-a-way! + Longing and transport and desire fold and unfold me aye. +Yea, love and passion have I known even from my earliest years, + Since at my mother's nursing breast a suckling babe I lay. +I struggled sore and long with Love, till I his power + confessed. If thou enquire at him of me, he will me not + unsay. +I quaffed the cup of passion out, with languor and disease, And + as a phantom I became for pining and decay. +Strong was I, but my strength is gone and neath the swords of + eyes, The armies of my patience broke and vanished clean + away. +Hope not to win delight of love, without chagrin and woe; For + contrary with contrary conjoined is alway. +But fear not change from lover true; do thou but constant be + Unto thy wish, and thou shalt sure be happy yet some day: +For unto lovers passion hath ordained that to forget Is heresy, + forbidden all its mandates that obey. + +Then he rose and coming to the youth, embraced him, and they +wept together, till the hills rang with their crying and they +fell down in a swoon. When they revived, they swore brotherhood +in God the Most High, and the hermit said to Uns el Wujoud, +'This night will I pray to God and seek of Him direction what +thou shouldst do to attain thy desire.' + +To return to Rose-in-bud. When they brought her into the castle +and she beheld its ordinance, she wept and exclaimed, 'By +Allah, thou art a goodly place, save that thou lackest the +presence of the beloved in thee!' Then, seeing [many] birds in +the island, she bade her people set snares for them and hang up +all they caught in cages within the castle; and they did so. But +she sat at a window of the castle and bethought her of what had +passed, and passion and transport and love-longing redoubled +upon her, till she burst into tears and repeated the following +verses: + +To whom, of my desire complaining, shall I cry, To whom, for + loss of loves and parting's sorrow, sigh? +Flames rage within my breast, but I reveal them not, For fear + lest they my case discover to the spy. +I'm grown as thin as e'er a bodkin's wood, so worn With absence + and lament and agony am I. +Where is the loved one's eye, to see how I'm become Even as a + blasted tree, stripped bare and like to die? +They wronged me, when they shut me prisoner in a place, Wherein + my love, alas I may never come me nigh. +Greetings a thousandfold I beg the sun to bear, What time he + riseth up and setteth from the sky, +To a beloved one, who puts the moon to shame, For loveliness, + and doth the Indian cane outvie. +If the rose ape his cheek, "Now God forfend," I say, "That of + my portion aught to pilfer thou shouldst try." +Lo, in his mouth are springs of limpid water sweet, Refreshment + that would bring to those in flames who lie. +How shall I one forget who is my heart and soul, My malady and + he that healing can apply? + +Then, as the shadows darkened upon her, her longing increased +and she called to mind the past and recited these verses also: + +The shadows darken and passion stirs up my sickness amain And + longing rouses within me the old desireful pain. +The anguish of parting hath taken its sojourn in my breast And + love and longing and sorrow have maddened heart and brain. +Passion hath made me restless and yearning consumes my soul And + tears discover my secret, that else concealed had lain. +I know of no way to ease me of sickness and care and woe; Nor + can my weak endeavour reknit Love's severed skein. +My heart is a raging furnace, because of the heat whereof My + entrails are racked with anguish, that nothing can assain. +O thou, that thinkest to blame me for what is fallen on me, + Enough, I suffer with patience whatever the Fates ordain. +I swear I shall ne'er find comfort nor be consoled for them, + The oath of the children of passion, whose oaths are never + in vain! +Bear tidings, O night, to my dear ones and greet them and + witness bear That thou knowest in thee I sleep not, but + ever to wake am fain. + +Meanwhile, the hermit said to Uns el Wujoud, 'Go down into the +valley and fetch me palm-fibre.' So he went and returned with +the palm-fibre, which the hermit took and twisting into ropes, +made therewith a net, such as is used for carrying straw; after +which he said to the youth, 'O Uns el Wujoud, in the heart of +the valley grows a gourd, which springs up and dries upon its +roots. Go thither and fill this net therewith; then tie it +together and casting it into the water, embark thereon and make +for the midst of the sea, so haply thou shalt come to thy +desire; for he, who adventureth not himself, shall not attain +that he seeketh.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Uns el Wujoud and +bidding the hermit farewell after he had prayed for him, betook +himself to the hollow of the valley, where he did as he had +counselled him and launched out upon the water, supported by +the net. + +Then there arose a wind, which drove him out to sea, till he +was lost to the hermit's view; and he ceased not to fare on +over the abysses of the ocean, one billow tossing him up on the +crest of the wave and another bearing him down into the trough +of the sea, and he beholding the while the terrors and wonders +of the deep, for the space of three days, at the end of which +time Fate cast him upon the Mount of the Bereft Mother, where +he landed, weak and giddy as a fledgling bird, for hunger and +thirst; but, finding there streams running and birds warbling +on the branches and fruit-laden trees, growing in clusters and +singly, he ate of the fruits and drank of the streams. Then he +walked on till he saw some white thing alar off, and making for +it, found that it was a strongly-fortified castle. So he went +up to the gate and finding it locked, sat down by it. + +He sat thus three days and on the fourth, the gate opened and +an eunuch came out, who seeing Uns el Wujoud seated there, said +to him, 'Whence comest thou and who brought thee hither?' Quoth +he, 'I come from Ispahan and was travelling by sea with +merchandise, when my ship was wrecked and the waves cast me +upon this island.' When the eunuch heard this, he wept and +embraced him, saying, 'God preserve thee, O [thou that bringest +me the] fragrance of the beloved! Ispahan is my own country and +I have there a cousin, the daughter of my father's brother, +whom I loved and cherished from a child; but a people stronger +than we fell upon us and taking me among other booty, docked me +and sold me for an eunuch, whilst I was yet a lad; and this is +how I come to be what I am.' Then he carried him into the +courtyard of the castle, where he saw a great basin of water, +surrounded by trees, on whose branches hung cages of silver, +with doors of gold, and therein birds warbling and singing the +praises of the Requiting King. In the first cage he came to was +a turtle dove which, seeing him, raised her voice and cried +out, saying, 'O Bountiful One!'[FN#79] Whereat he fell down in +a swoon, but, presently coming to himself, sighed heavily and +recited the following verses: + +O turtle, art thou mad for love, as is my case? Then sing, 'O + Bountiful!' and seek the Lord His grace! +Tell me, doth thy descant in joyance tale its rise Or in + desireful pain, that in thy heart hath place? +If for desire thou moan'st of bygone loves or pin'st For dear + ones that have gone and left thee but their trace, +Or if thou'st lost thy love, like me, ah, then, indeed, + Severance long-felt desire discovereth apace. +God guard a lover true! Though my bones rot, nor time Nor + absence from my heart her image shall efface. + +Then he fainted again and presently coming to his senses, went +on to the second cage, wherein he found a ring-dove. When it +saw him, it sang out, 'O Eternal, I praise thee!' and he sighed +and recited these verses: + +I heard a ring-dove say in her plaintive note, "Despite of my + woes, O Eternal, I praise Thee still!" +And God, of His grace, reunion of our loves, in this my travel, + may yet to us fulfil. +She visits me oft,[FN#80] with her dusk-red honeyed lips, And + lends to the passion within me an added thrill. +And I cry, whilst the fires in my tortured heart flame high And + my soul for ardour consumes and my eyes distil +Tears that resemble blood and withouten cease Pour down on my + wasted cheeks in many a rill, +There's none created without affliction, and I Must bear with + patience my tribulations, until +The hour of solace with her I love one day Unite me. Ah, then, + by God His power and will, +In succouring lovers, I vow, I'll spend my good, For they're of + my tribe and category still; +And eke from prison I'll loose the birds, to boot, And leave, + for joyance, the thought of every ill! + +Then he went on to the third cage, in which was a mocking-bird. +When it saw him, it set up a song, and he recited the following +verses: + +The mocking-bird delighteth me with his harmonious strain, As + 'twere a lover's voice that pines and wastes for love in + vain. +Woe's me for those that lovers be! How many a weary night, For + love and anguish and desire, to waken they are fain! +'Twould seem as if they had no part in morning or in sleep, For + all the stress of love and woe that holds their heart and + brain. +When I became distraught for her I love and wistfulness Bound + me in fetters strait, the tears from out mine eyes did + rain +So thick and fast, they were as chains, and I to her did say, + "My tears have fallen so thick, that now they've bound me + with a chain." +The treasures of my patience fail, absence is long on me And + yearning sore; and passion's stress consumeth me amain. +If God's protection cover me and Fortune be but just And Fate + with her whom I adore unite me once again, +I'll doff my clothes, that she may see how worn my body is, For + languishment and severance and solitary pain. + +Then he went on to the fourth cage, where he found a +nightingale, which, at sight of him, began to tune its +plaintive note. When he heard its descant, he burst into tears +and repeated the following verses: + +The nightingale's note, when the dawning is near, Distracts + from the lute-strings the true lover's ear. +Complaineth, for love-longing, Uns el Wujoud, Of a passion that + blotteth his being out sheer. +How many sweet notes, that would soften, for mirth, The + hardness of iron and stone, do I hear! +The zephyr of morning brings tidings to me Of meadows, + full-flower'd for the blossoming year. +The scents on the breeze and the music of birds, In the + dawning, transport me with joyance and cheer. +But I think of a loved one, that's absent from me, And mine + eyes rain in torrents, with tear upon tear; +And the ardour of longing flames high in my breast, As a fire + in the heart of a brasier burns clear. +May Allah vouchsafe to a lover distraught To see and foregather + once more with his dear! +Yea, for lovers, heart-sickness and longing and woe And wake + are excuses that plainly appear. + +Then he went on a little and came to a handsome cage, than +which there was no goodlier there, and in it a culver, that is +to Say, a wood-pigeon, the bird renowned among the birds as the +singer of love-longing, with a collar of jewels about its neck, +wonder-goodly of ordinance. He considered it awhile and seeing +it mazed and brooding in its cage, shed tears and repeated +these verses: + +O culver of the copse, may peace upon thee light, O friend of + all who love and every wistful wight! +I love a young gazelle, a slender one, whose glance Than + sharpest sabre's point is keener and more bright. +For love of her, my heart and entrails are a-fire And + sicknesses consume my body and my spright. +The sweet of pleasant food's forbidden unto me, And eke I am + denied the taste of sleep's delight. +Solace and fortitude have taken flight from me, And love and + longing lodge with me, both day and night. +How shall my life be sweet to me, while she's afar, That is my + life, my wish, the apple of my sight? + +When the pigeon heard these verses, it awoke from its brooding +and cooed and warbled and trilled, till it all but spoke; and +the tongue of the case interpreted for it and recited the +following verses: + +O lover, thy wailings recall to my mind The time when my youth + from me wasted and dwined, +And A mistress, whose charms and whose grace I adored, + Seductive and fair over all of her kind; +Whose voice, from the twigs of the sandhill upraised, Left the + strains of the flute, to my thought, far behind. +A snare set the fowler and caught me, who cried, "Would he d + leave me to range at my will on the wind!" +I had hoped he was clement or seeing that I Was a lover, would + pity my lot and be kind; +But no, (may God smite him!) he tore me away From my dear and + apart from her harshly confined. +Since then, my desire for her grows without cease, And my heart + with the fires of disjunction is mined. +God guard a true lover, who striveth with love And hath + suffered the torments in which I have pined! +When he seeth me languish for love in my cage, He will loose + me, in mercy, my loved one to find + + Then Uns el Wujoud turned to his friend, the Ispahani and said +to him, 'What palace is this? Who built it and who abideth in +it?' Quoth the eunuch, 'The Vizier of King Shamikh built it +for his daughter, fearing for her the assaults of fate and the +vicissitudes of fortune, and lodged her therein, with her +attendants; nor do we open it save once in every year, when our +victual comes to us.' And Uns el Wujoud said in himself, 'I +have gained my end' though after long travail.' + +Meanwhile, Rose-in-bud took no delight in eating nor drinking, +sitting nor sleeping; but her transport and passion and +love-longing redoubled on her, and she went wandering about the +castle, but could find no issue; wherefore she shed plenteous +tears and recited the following verses: + +They have prisoned me straitly from him I adore And given me to + eat of mine anguish galore. +My heart with the flames of love-longing they fired, When me + from the sight of my loved one they bore. +They have cloistered me close in a palace built high On a mount + in the midst of a sea without shore. +If they'd have me forget, their endeavour is vain, For my love + but redoubles upon me the more. +How can I forget him, when all I endure Arose from the sight of + his face heretofore? +My days are consumed in lament, and my nights Pass in thinking + of him, as I knew him of yore. +His memory my solace in solitude is, Since the lack of his + presence I needs must deplore. +I wonder, will Fate grant my heart its desire And my love, + after all, to my wishes restore! + +Then she donned her richest clothes and trinkets and threw a +necklace of jewels around her neck; after which she ascended to the +roof of the castle and tying some strips of Baalbek stuff together, +[to serve for a rope], made them fast to the battlements and let +herself down thereby to the ground. Then she fared on over wastes +and wilds, till she came to the sea-shore, where she saw a +fishing-boat, and therein a fisherman, whom the wind had driven +on to the island, as he went, fishing here and there, on the sea. +When he saw her, he was affrighted, [ taking her for a Jinniyeh] +and put out again to sea; but she cried out and made pressing +signs to him to return, reciting the following verses: + +Harkye, O fisherman, fear thou no injury; I'm but an earthly + maid, a mortal like to thee. +I do implore thee, stay, give ear unto my prayer And hearken to + my true and woeful history. +Pity, (so God thee spare,) the ardour [of my love,] And say if + thou hast seen a loved one, fled from me. +I love a fair-faced youth and goodly; brighter far Of aspect + than the face of sun or moon is he. +The antelope, that sees his glances, cries, "His slave Am I," + and doth confess inferiority. +Yea, beauty on his brow these pregnant words hath writ In very + dust of musk, significant to see, +"Who sees the light of love is in the way of right, And he who + strays commits foul sin and heresy." +An thou have ruth on me and bring me to his sight, O rare! + Whate'er thou wilt thy recompense shall be; +Rubies and precious stones and freshly gathered pearls And + every kind of gem that is in earth and sea. +Surely, O friend, thou wilt with my desire comply; For all my + heart's on fire with love and agony. + +When the fisherman heard this, he wept and sighed and lamented; +then, recalling what had betided himself in the days of his +youth, when love had the mastery over him and transport and +love-longing and distraction were sore upon him and the fires +of passion consumed him, replied with these verses: + +Indeed, the lover's excuse is manifest, Wasting of body and + streaming tears, unrest, +Eyes, in the darkness that waken still, and heart, As 'twere a + fire-box, bespeak him love-oppress. +Passion, indeed, afflicted me in youth, And I good money from + bad learnt then to test. +My soul I bartered, a distant love to win; To gain her favours, + I wandered East and West; +And eke I ventured my life against her grace And deemed the + venture would bring me interest. +For law of lovers it is that whoso buys His love's possession + with life, he profits best. + +Then he moored his boat to the shore and bade her embark, +saying, 'I will carry thee whither thou wilt.' So she embarked +and he put off with her; but they had not gone far, before +there came out a stern-wind upon the boat and drove it swiftly +out of sight of land. The fisherman knew not whither he went, +and the wind blew without ceasing three days, at the end of +which time it fell, by leave of God the Most High, and they +sailed on, till they came in sight of a city builded upon the +seashore, and the fisherman set about making fast to the land. + +Now the King of the city, a very powerful prince called Dirbas, +was at that moment sitting, with his son, at a window in the +palace giving upon the sea, and chancing to look out to +sea-ward, they saw the fishing-boat enter the harbour. They +observed it narrowly and espied therein a young lady, as she +were the full moon in the mid-heaven, with pendants in her ears +of fine balass rubies and a collar of precious stones about her +neck. So the King knew that this must be the daughter of some +king or great noble, and going forth of the sea-gate of the +palace, went down to the boat, where he found the lady asleep +and the fisherman busied in making fast to the shore. He went +up to her and aroused her, whereupon she awoke, weeping; and he +said to her, 'Whence comest thou and whose daughter art thou +and what brings thee hither?' 'I am the daughter of Ibrahim, +Vizier to King Shamikh,' answered she; 'and the manner of my +coming hither is strange and the cause thereof extraordinary.' +And she told him her whole story, hiding nought from him; then +she sighed deeply and recited the following verses: + +Tears have mine eyelids wounded sore, and wonder-fast they flow + Adown my cheek for parting's pain and memory and woe, +For a beloved's sake, who dwells for ever in my heart, Though + to foregather with himself I cannot win, heigho! +Fair, bright and brilliant is his face, in loveliness and + grace, Turk, Arab and barbarian he cloth indeed o'ercrow. +The full moon and the sun contend in deference to him, And when + he rises into sight, they, lover-like, bend low. +His eyes with wondrous witchery are decked, as 'twere with + kohl; Even as a bow, that's bent to shoot its shafts, to + thee they show. +O thou, to whom I have perforce revealed my case, have ruth On + one with whom the shifts of love have sported long eno'. +Lo, broken-hearted, Love hath cast me up upon thy coast, + Wherefore I trust that thou on me fair favour wilt bestow. +The noble who, when folk of worth alight within their bounds, + Do honour and protect them, win increase of glory so. +Cover thou then, my lord, my hope, two lovers' follies up And + let them to thy succouring hand their loves' reunion owe. + +Then she shed plenteous tears and recited these verses also: + +I lived, a marvel till I saw in love, then lived no mo'; Each + month to thee as Rejeb[FN#81] be, as free from fear of + foe! +Is it not strange that, on the morn they went away, I lit Fire + in my vitals with the tears that from mine eyes did flow? +Indeed, mine eyelids ran with blood, and on the wasted plain Of + my sad cheek, that therewithal was watered, gold did grow. +Yea, for the safflower hue, that thence o'erspread my cheeks, + they seem The shirt of Joseph, steeped in blood, to make a + lying show. + +When the King heard this, he was certified of her passion and +love-longing and was moved to compassion for her; so he said to +her, 'Fear nothing and be not troubled; thou hast attained the +term of thy wishes; for needs must I bring thee to thy desire.' +And he recited the following verses: + +Daughter if nobles, thou hast reached thy wishes' goal, I trow: + In happy presage then rejoice and fear not any woe. +Treasures this very day, will I collect and neath escort Of + horsemen and of champions, to Shamikh they shall go. +Brocade and bladders full of musk I will to him despatch And + eke white silver and red gold I'll send to him also. +Yea, and a letter neath my hand my wish for ties of kin And for + alliance with himself shall give him eke to know; +And all endeavour will I use, forthwith, that he thou lov'st + Once more with thee may be conjoined, to part from thee no + mo. +I, too, have battened upon love and know the taste thereof And + can excuse the folk who've quaffed the self-same cup of + woe. + +Then, returning to his palace, he summoned his Vizier and +causing pack him up countless treasure, bade him carry it to +King Shamikh and say to him, 'The King is minded to ally +himself with thee by marrying Uns el Wujoud, shine officer, to +his daughter. So needs must thou send him with me, that the +marriage may be solemnized in her father's kingdom.' And he +wrote a letter to King Shamikh, to this effect, and gave it to +the Vizier, charging him without fail bring back Uns el Wujoud, +on pain of deposition from his office. 'I hear and obey,' +answered the Vizier and setting out forthright, in due course +arrived at the court of King Shamikh, to whom he delivered the +letter and presents, saluting him in the name of King Dirbas. +When Shamikh read the letter and saw the name of Uns el Wujoud, +he burst into tears and said to the Vizier, 'And where is Uns +el Wujoud? He went away, and we know not his place of abiding. +Bring him to me, and I will give thee the sum of the presents +thou hast brought me, twice told.' And he wept and sighed and +groaned, reciting the following verses: + +Him whom I loved to me restore; By gold and gifts I set no + store. +Nor do I crave largesse, indeed, Of pearls and gems and + precious ore. +As 'twere a moon at full, for us, In beauty's heaven he did + soar. +Passing in wit and grace, gazelles With him comparison gave + o'er. +His shape was as a willow-wand, For fruits that sweet + seductions bore; +But in the willow, to enslave The hearts of men, there is no + lore. +I reared him from a child upon The bed of fondness evermore; +And now I am at heart distraught For him and sorrow passing + sore. + +Then said he to the Vizier, 'Go back to thy master and tell him +that Uns el Wujoud has been missing this year past, and his +lord knoweth not whither he is gone nor hath any news of him.' +'O my lord,' answered King Dirbas's Vizier, 'my master said to +me, "An thou come back without him, thou shalt be ousted from +the Vizierate and shall not enter my city." How then can I +return without him?' So King Shamikh said to his Vizier +Ibrahim, 'Take a company and go with him and make search for +Uns el Wujoud everywhere.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Ibrahim, +and taking a company of his own retainers, set out in quest of +Uns el Wujoud, accompanied by King Dirbas's Vizier; and as +often as they fell in with Bedouins or others, they enquired at +them of Uns el Wujoud, saying, 'Have ye seen a man, whose name +is so and so and his favour thus and thus?' But they answered, +'We know him not.' + +So they fared on, enquiring in city and hamlet and seeking in +hill and plain and desert and wold, till they came to the +sea-shore, where they took ship and sailed, till they came to +the Mountain of the Bereaved Mother; and King Dirbas's Vizier +said to Ibrahim, 'Why is this mountain thus called?' 'There was +once of old time,' answered the other Vizier, 'a Jinniych, of +the Jinn of China, who fell passionately in love with a man and +being in fear of her own people, searched all the earth for a +place, where she might hide him from them, till she happened on +this mountain and finding it inaccessible both to men and Jinn, +carried off her beloved and lodged him therein. There she used +to visit him privily, till she had borne him a number of +children, and the merchants, sailing by the mountain, in their +voyages over the sea, heard the weeping of the children, as it +were the wailing of a woman who had lost her young, and said, +"Is there here a mother bereaved of her children?" For which +reason the place was named the Mountain of the Bereaved +Mother.' And King Dirbas's Vizier marvelled at this. + +Then they landed and making for the castle, knocked at the gate, +which was opened to them by an eunuch, who knew the Vizier +Ibrahim and kissed his hands. Ibrahim entered and finding in +the courtyard, among the serving men, a man in the habit of a +fakir,[FN#82] said. 'Whence comes yonder fellow?' Quoth they, +'He is a merchant, who hath lost his goods by shipwreck, but +saved himself on a plank; and he is an ecstatic.'[FN#83] Now +this was none other than Uns el Wujoud, [but the Vizier knew +him not]; so he left him and went on into the castle. He found +there no trace of his daughter and questioned her women, who +answered, 'She abode with us but a little while and went away, +how and whither we know not.' Whereupon he wept sore and +repeated the following verses: + +O house, whose birds warbled for joyance whilere And whose + sills were resplendent with glory and pride, +Till the lover came to thee, bemooning himself For his passion, + and found thy doors open and wide, +Would I knew where my soul is, my soul that was late In a + house, where its masters no longer abide! +Therein were all things that are costly and rich And with suits + of brocade it was decked, like a bride. +Yea, happy and honoured its doorkeeper were. Would God I knew + whither its mistress hath tried! + +Then he wept and sighed and bemoaned himself, exclaiming, +'There is no resource against the ordinance of God neither is +there any escape from that which He hath decreed!' Then he went +up to the roof and finding the strips of Baalbek stuff tied to +the battlements and hanging down to the ground, knew that she +had descended thence and had fled forth, as one distracted and +mad with passion. Presently, he turned and seeing there two +birds, an owl and a raven, deemed this an ill omen; so he +groaned and recited these verses: + +Unto the loved ones' stead I came, as hoping, by their sight, + To quench the fire that burnt in me of love-longing and + woe; +But no beloved found I there, nor aught, indeed, I found, Save + two ill-omened ones, an owl And eke a corby-crow. +And quoth the tongue o' the case to me, "Thou hast been + tyrannous And hast two longing lovers torn, the one the + other fro! +Taste of the anguish, then, of love what thou hast made them + taste And live, 'twixt agony and tears, in sorrow evermo." + +Then he descended, weeping, and bade the servants go forth and +search the island for their mistress; so they sought for her, +but found her not. As for Uns el Wujoud, when he was certified +that Rose-in-bud was indeed gone, he gave a great cry and fell +down in a swoon, nor came to himself for a long time, whilst +the folk deemed that a ravishment from the Merciful One had +taken him and that he was absorbed in contemplation of the +splendour of the majesty of the Requiter of good and evil. +Then, despairing of finding Uns el Wujoud and seeing that +Ibrahim was distracted for the loss of his daughter, King +Dirbas's Vizier addressed himself to return to his own country, +for all he had not attained the object of his journey, and said +to Ibrahim? 'I have a mind to take yonder fakir with me; it may +be God, for his sake, will incline the King's heart to me, for +that he is a holy man; and after, I will send him to Ispahan, +which is near our country.' 'Do &as thou wilt,' answered +Ibrahim. + +So they took leave of one another and departed, each for his +own country, King Dirbas's Vizier carrying with him Uns el +Wujoud, who was still insensible. They bore him with them on +muleback, unknowing if he were carried or not, for three days, +at the end of which time he came to himself and said, 'Where am +I?' 'Thou art in company with King Dirbas's Vizier,' answered +they and went and told the latter, who sent him rose-water and +sherbet of sugar, of which they gave him to drink and restored +him. Then they fared on till they drew near King Dirbas's +capital and the King, being advised of his Vizier's coming, +wrote to him, saying, 'An Uns el Wujoud be not with thee, come +not to me ever.' + +When the Vizier read the royal mandate, it was grievous to him, +for he knew not that Rose-in-bud was with the King nor why he +had sent him in quest of Uns el Wujoud, neither knew he that +the fakir he had with him was Uns el Wujoud himself; and the +latter in like manner knew not whither they were bound nor that +the Vizier had been despatched in quest of himself. So, when he +saw him thus chagrined, he said to him, 'What ails thee?' And +he answered, 'I was sent by the King on an errand, which I +have not been able to accomplish. So, when he heard of my +return, he wrote to me? saying, "Enter not my city, except thou +have fulfilled my need."' 'And what is the King's need?' asked +Uns el Wujoud. So the Vizier told him the case, and he said, +'Fear nothing, but go boldly to the King and take me with thee; +and I will be surety to thee for the coming of Uns el Wujoud.' +At this the Vizier rejoiced and said, 'Is this true that thou +sayest?' 'Yes,' answered he; whereupon the Vizier mounted and +carried him to King Dirbas, who said to him, 'Where is Uns el +Wujoud?' 'O King,' answered the young man, 'I know where he +is.' So the King called him to him and said, 'Where?' 'Near at +hand, replied Uns d Wujoud. 'Tell me what thou wouldst with +him, and I will fetch him to thee.' 'With all my heart,' +answered the King; 'but the case calls for privacy.' + +So he bade the folk withdraw and, carrying Uns el Wujoud into +his closet, told him the whole story; whereupon quoth the +youth, 'Clothe me in rice apparel, and I will eftsoons bring +Uns el Wujoud to thee.' So they brought him a sumptuous dress, +and he donned it and said, 'I am the Delight of the World[FN#84] +and the Mortification of the Envious.' So saying, he transfixed +ail hearts with his glances and recited the following verses: + +My loved one's memory cheers me still in this my solitude And + doth wanhope from me away, as I in absence brood. +I have no helper but my tears; yet, when from out mine eyes + They flow, they lighten my despair and ease my drearihood. +Sore is my longing; yea, it hath no like and my affair In love + and passion's marvellous, beyond all likelihood. +I lie the night long, wakeiul-eyed,--no sleep is there for + me,--And pass, for love, from heaven to hell, according to + my mood. +Yea, patience fair some time I had, but have it now no more; + And longing and chagrin increase upon me, like a flood. +Indeed, my body's worn to nought, for severance from her; + Yearnings my aspect and my form to change have all + subdued. +Mine eyelids ulcerated are with weeping, nor can I Avail to + stay the constant tears, wherewith they're still bedewed. +Indeed, I can no more; my strength, my very vitals fail. How + many sorrows have I borne, on sorrows still renewed! +My heart and head are grizzled grown, for loss of a princess In + beauty, sure, the fairest maid that ever lover wooed. +In her despite, our parting was, for no desire hath she Save to + be joined with me and feed once more on lovers' food. +I wonder, will my fate to me union vouchsafe with her I + cherish, after absence long and stress of lonelihood, +And shut the book of severance up, that now is open wide, And + blot out troubles from my thought with love's supremest + good? +Shall my beloved, in my land, my cup-companion be And sorrow + and affliction be by pure delight ensued? + +'By Allah,' exclaimed the King, 'ye are, indeed, a pair of true +lovers and in the heaven of beauty two shining stars! Your +story is marvellous and your case extraordinary.' Then he told +him all that had befallen Rose-in-bud; and Uns el Wujoud said, +'Where is she, O King of the age?' 'She is with me now,' +answered Dirbas and sending for the Cadi and the witnesses, +drew up the contract of marriage between her and him. Then he +loaded Uns el Wujoud with favours and bounties and sent to King +Shamikh, advising him of what had befallen, whereat the latter +rejoiced with an exceeding joy and wrote back to him, saying, +'Since the marriage contract hath been drawn up at thy court! it +behoves that the wedding and consummation be at mine.' And he +made ready camels and horses and men and sent them in quest of +the lovers. + +When the embassy reached King Dirbas, he gave the pair great +store of treasure and despatched them to King Shamikh's court +with an escort of his own troops. The day of their arrival was +a notable day, never was seen a greater; for the King assembled +all the singers and players on instruments of music and made +banquets and held high festival seven days; and on each day he +gave largesse to the folk and bestowed on them sumptuous +dresses of honour. Then Uns el Wujoud went in to Rose-in-bud, +and they embraced and sat weeping for excess of joy and +gladness, whilst she recited the following verses: + +Gladness is come, dispelling grief and putting care aside; We + are united now and have our enviers mortified. +The fragrant breeze of union blows fresh and sweet for us, + Whereby our bodies, vitals, hearts are all revivified. +The splendour of fulfilled delight in all its glory shines, And + for glad tidings beat the drums about us far and wide. +Think not we weep for stress Of grief or for affliction; nay, + It is for joy our tears flow down and will not be denied. +How many terrors have we seen, that now are past away! Yet we + each agonizing strait did patiently abide. +In one hour of delight have we forgotten all the woes, Whose + stresses made us twain, whilom, grey-haired and + hollow-eyed. + +Then they clipped each other and ceased not from their embrace, +till they fell down in a swoon, for the ecstasy of reunion; and +when they came to themselves, Uns d Wujoud recited these +verses: + +Ah, how peerlessly sweet are the nights of delight, When the + loved one to me keeps the troth she did plight, +When enjoyment enjoyment ensues and the bonds Of estrangement + between us are sundered outright, +And fortune is come to us, favouring and fair, After turning + away with aversion and spite! +Fair fortune hath set up her standards for us And we drink from + her hand a cup pure of affright. +United, our woes each to each we recount And the nights when in + torments we watched for the light. +But now, O my lady, forgotten have we Our griefs, and God + pardon the past its upright! +How pleasant, how lovesome, how joyous is life! Enjoyment my + passion doth only excite. + +Then they gave themselves up anew to the pleasures of the +nuptial bed and passed seven whole days thus, carousing and +conversing and reciting verses and telling pleasant tales and +anecdotes, in the intervals of amorous dalliance; for so +drowned were they in the sea of passion, that they knew not +night from day and it was to them, for very stress of joy and +gladness and pleasure and delight, as if the seven days were +but one day, and that without a morrow. Nor did they know the +seventh day, but by the coming of the singers and players on +instruments of music;[FN#85] whereat Rose-in-bud was beyond +measure wondered and improvised the following verses: + +Despite the enviers' rage and malice of the spy, I've won of + him I love my wish to satisfy; +Yea, we have crowned our loves with many a close embrace, On + cushions of brocade and silken stuffs piled high +Upon a couch full soft, of perfumed leather made And stuffed + with down of birds of rarest kind that fly. +Thanks to the honeyed dews of my beloved's lips, Illustrious + past compare, no need of wine have I. +Yea, for the sweet excess of our fulfilled delight, The present + from the past we know, nor far from nigh. +A miracle indeed! Seven nights o'er us have passed, Without our + taking note of how they flitted by; +Till, on the seventh day, they wished us joy and said, "Your + union God prolong to all eternity!" + +When she had finished, Uns el Wujoud kissed her, more than a +hundred times, and recited the following verses: + +O day of pure delight and mutual happiness! The loved one came + and set me free from loneliness. +She blest me with the sweets of all her glorious charms, What + while her converse filled my spirit with liesse. +She plied me with the wine of amorous delight, Till all my + senses failed, for very drunkenness. +Yea, merry each with each we made, together lay, Then fell to + wine and did, in song, our cheer express; +Nor knew we, of the days that fleeted over us, The present from + the past, for very joy's excess. +Fair fall all those that love of ease and twinned delight, And + joy to them fulfil its promise none the less! +Ne'er may they know the taste of parting's bitter cup! God + succour them as me He succoured in my stress! + +Then they went forth and distributed to the folk alms and +largesse of money and raiment and so forth; after which +Rose-in-bud bade empty the bath for her and turning to Uns el +Wujoud, said to him' 'O solace of my eyes, I have a mind to see +thee in the bath; and we will be alone together therein.' He +gladly consented to this, and she bade perfume the bath for +them with all manner of scented woods and essences and light +the candles. Then, of the excess of her contentment, she +recited the following Verses: + +O thou aforetime of my heart that mad'st prize (And the present + for us on the past still relies), +Thou, the only companion I crave, for to me None other the want + of thy presence supplies, +To the bath,--that in midst of hell-fire we may see Even + Paradise shining,--come, light of mine eyes! +We will scent it with ambergris, aloes and musk, Till the + fragrance in clouds from all quarters arise. +Yea, Fortune we'll pardon her sins and give thanks, For His + grace, to the Merciful One, the All-Wise; +And I'll say, when I see thee therein, "O my love, All delights + be thy lot in the earth and the skies!" + +So they went to the bath and took their pleasure there in; +after which they returned to their palace and there abode in +the fulness of delight, till there came to them the Destroyer +of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and glory be to Him +who changeth not neither ceaseth and in whom all things have +their term! + + + + + + ABOU NUWAS WITH THE THREE BOYS AND THE + KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID. + + + +Abou Nuwas one day shut himself up and making ready a richly- +furnished saloon, set out therein a banquet of meats of all +kinds and colours that lips and tongue can desire. Then he went +forth, to seek a minion who should befit the entertainment, +saying, 'O my God and my Master and my Lord, I beseech Thee to +send me one worthy of this banquet and apt to carouse with me +this day!' Hardly had he made an end of speaking, when he +espied three handsome beardless youths, as they were of the +children of Paradise, differing in complexion but equal in +perfection of beauty; and all hearts yearned with desire to the +graceful bending of their shapes, even to what saith the poet: + +Two beardless youths I happened on one day And said "I love + you." "Hast thou pelf?" asked they. +"Yes," answered I, "and liberality." "Then is the matter easy," + did they say. + +Now Abou Nuwas was on this wise given and loved to sport and +make merry with the fair and cull the rose from every fresh- +flowered cheek, even as saith the poet: + +Full many a graybeard is amorous and loves Fair faces and music + and dalliance and glee: +From Mosul, the country of pureness,[FN#86] he comes, Yet + nought but Aleppo[FN#87] remembereth he. + +So he accosted them with the salutation, and they returned his +greeting with all honour and civility and would have gone their +way; but he stayed them, repeating these verses: + +To none but me your footsteps steer; For I have store of all + good cheer; +Wine that the heart of convent monk Would glad, so bright it is + and clear; +And flesh of sheep, to boot, have I And birds of land and sea + and mere. +Eat ye of these and drink old wine, That doth away chagrin and + fear. + +The boys were beguiled by his verses and consented to his +wishes, saying, 'We hear and obey.' So he carried them to his +lodging, where they found all ready that he had set forth in +his verses. They sat down and ate and drank and made merry +awhile, after which they appealed to Abou Nuwas to decide which +was the handsomest and most shapely of them. So he pointed to +one of them, after having kissed him twice, and recited the +following verses: + +With my life I will ransom the mole, on the cheek of the + loveling that is; For how should I ransom it else with + treasure or aught but my soul? +And blessed for ever be He who fashioned his cheek without hair + And made, of His power and His might, all beauty to dwell + in yon mole! + +Then he pointed to another and kissing his lips, repeated these +verses: + +There's a loveling hath a mole upon his cheek, As 'twere musk + on virgin camphor, so to speak. +My eyes marvel when they see it. Quoth the mole, "Heaven's + blessing on the Prophet look ye seek!"[FN#88] + +Then he pointed to the third and repeated the following verses, +after kissing him half a score times: + +All in a silver cup he melted gold full fine, A youth whose + hands were dyed in ruby-coloured wine, +And with the skinkers went and handed round one cup Of wine, + whilst other two were proffered by his eyne. +Fairer than all the Turks, an antelope, whose waist Together + would attract the mountains of Hunain.[FN#89] +An if I were content with crooked[FN#90] womankind, Betwixt + attractions twain would be this heart of mine. +One love towards Diyarbeker[FN#91] drawing it, and one That + draws it, otherguise, to the land of Jamiain.[FN#92] + +Now each of the youths had drunk two cups, and when it came to +Abou Nuwas's turn, he took the goblet and repeated these +verses: + +Drink not of wine except it be at the hands of a loveling slim, + Who in brightness of soul resembles it and it resembles + him. +The drinker of wine, in very truth, hath no delight thereof, + Except the cheek of the fair be pure, who doth the goblet + brim. + +Then he drank off his cup, and when it came round to Him again, +joyance got the mastery of him and he repeated The following +verses: + +Make thou thy boon-fellow of cups, brimmed up as full as this, + And eke to follow cup with cup, I rede thee, do not miss, +Poured by a damask-lipped one's hand, a wonder-lovely fair, + Whose mouth's sweet water, after sleep, as musk on apple + is. +Drink not of wine, except it be from the hand of a gazelle, + Whose cheek is goodlier than itself and sweeter still his + kiss. + +Presently, the wine crept to his head, drunkenness mastered him +and he knew not hand from head, so that he swayed about for +mirth, inclining anon to this one, to kiss him, and anon to +another. Then he fell to glorying in himself and his case and +the goodliness of his entertainment and his companions, and +recited these verses: + +None knoweth perfection of pleasure but he Who drinketh, with + fair ones to hearten him still. +This sings to him, t'other, when cheer him would be, Revives + him forthright with the cups he doth fill; +And whenever from one he hath need of a kiss, Long draughts + from his lips, at his case, he doth swill. +God bless them! Right sweet has my day with them been, And + wonder delightsome and void of all ill! +We drank of the wine cup, both mingled and pure, And agreed + whoso slept, we should touzle at will. + +At this moment, there came a knocking at the door; so they bade +him who knocked enter, and behold, it was the Khalif Haroun er +Reshid. When they saw him, they all rose to him and kissed the +ground before him; and the fumes of the wine forsook Abou +Nuwas's head for awe of the Khalif, who said to him, 'Hallo, +Abou Nuwas!' 'At thy service, O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered he, 'may God preserve thee!' 'What state is this I +find thee in?' asked the Khalif; and the poet replied, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, methinks my state dispenses with +question.' Quoth the Khalif, 'O Abou Nuwas, I have sought +direction of God the Most High and appoint thee Cadi of +whoremasters.' 'Dost thou indeed invest me with that office, O +Commander of the Faithful?' asked Abou Nuwas. 'I do,' replied +the Khalif. 'Then, O Commander of the Faithful,' rejoined Abou +Nuwas, 'hast thou any suit to prefer to me?' At this the Khalif +was wroth and turned away and left them, full of rage, and +passed the night, sore angered against Abou Nuwas, whilst the +latter spent the merriest and most easeful of nights, till the +day dawned and the morning-star appeared and shone, when he +broke up the sitting and dismissing the boys, donned his court- +dress and set out for the Khalif's palace. + +Now it was the latter's custom, when the Divan broke up, to +withdraw to his sitting-chamber and summon thither his poets +and minions and musicians, each having his own place, which he +might not overpass. So, that day, he retired to his saloon, and +the minions came and seated themselves, each in his place. +Presently, in came Abou Nuwas and was about to take his usual +seat, when the Khalif cried out to Mesrour the headsman and +bade him strip the poet of his clothes and clap an ass's pannel +on his back. Moreover, he charged him bind a halter about his +head and a crupper under his rear and carry him round to all +the lodgings of the slave-girls and the chambers of the harem, +that the women might make mock of him; then cut off his head +and bring it to him. 'I hear and obey,' replied Mesrour and +accoutring Abou Nuwas, as the Khalif had bidden him, carried +him round to all the lodgings of the harem, in number as the +days of the year; but he made all the girls laugh with his +buffooneries and each gave him something, so that he returned +with a pocketful of money. + +Just then, Jaafer the Barmecide, who had been absent on an +important business for the Khalif, entered and seeing the poet +in this plight, said to him, 'Hallo, Abou Nuwas!' 'At thy +service, O our lord,' answered he. 'What offence hast thou +committed,' asked Jaafer, 'to bring this punishment on thee?' +'None whatever,' answered the other, 'except that I made our +lord the Khalif a present of the best of my verses, and he +presented me, in return, with the best of his clothes.' When +the Khalif heard this, he laughed, from a heart full of wrath, +and [not only] pardoned Abou Nuwas, but gave him a myriad of +money. + + + + + + ABDALLAH BEN MAAMER WITH THE MAN OF + BASSORA AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL. + + + +A certain man of Bassora once bought a slave-girl and reared +and educated her excellent well. Moreover, he loved her very +dearly and spent all his substance in pleasuring and making +merry with her, till he had nothing left and want was very sore +upon him. So she said to him, 'O my master, sell me; for thou +needest my price and it makes my heart ache to see the sorry +plight to which want hath brought thee. It thou sell me and +make use of my price, it will be better for thee than keeping +me, and haply God the Most High will prosper thee and mend thy +fortune.' He agreed to this, of the straitness of his case, and +carried her to the bazaar, where the broker offered her for +sale to the Governor of Bassora, by name Abballah ben Maamer et +Teimi, and she pleased him. So he bought her, for five hundred +dinars, of her master, who took the money and was about to go +away, when the girl burst into tears and repeated the following +verses: + +May Allah prosper unto thee the money thou hast got! For me, + nought's left me but lament and memory and woe. +I say to my afflicted soul, "Mourn little or mourn much; It + skills not, for the loved one's gone and will return no + mo." + +When he heard this, he sighed heavily and replied thus: + +Though there be no recourse for thee in this thy case and thou + Find nought but death to solace thee, excuse me yet and + know, +Evening and morn the thought of thee will company with me, + Wherewith a heart I will console, that's all fulfilled of + woe. +Peace be on thee! Henceforth for us no meeting shall there be + Nor any union more, except Ben Maamer will it so. + +When Abdallah heard these verses and saw their affliction, he +exclaimed, 'By Allah, I will have no hand in separating you; +for it is manifest to me that ye indeed love one another. So +take the money and the damsel, O man, and may God bless thee in +them! For parting is grievous to true lovers.' So they kissed +his hand and going away, ceased not to dwell together, till +death parted them; and glory be to Him whom death overtaketh +not! + + + + + + THE LOVERS OF THE BENOU UDHREH. + + + +There was once, among the Benou Udhreh, a handsome and +accomplished man, who was never a day out of love, and it +chanced that he became enamoured of a beautiful woman of his +own tribe and sent her many messages; but she ceased not to use +him with cruelty and disdain, till, for stress of passion and +longing and distraction, he fell exceeding sick and took to his +bed and forswore sleep. His sickness grew on him and his +anguish redoubled upon him, till he was all but dead; and his +case became known and his passion noised abroad among the folk. +His family and hers were instant with her to visit him, but she +refused, till he was at the point of death, when, being told of +this, she relented towards him and vouchsafed him a visit. When +he saw her, his eyes ran over with tears and he repeated the +following verses, from a broken heart: + +If, by thy life, there pass thee by my funeral train, to wit, A + bier borne on the necks of four, wilt grudge to follow it? +Wilt thou not follow in its track, that so thou mayst salute + The sepulchre of one who's dead, committed to the pit? + +When she heard this, she wept sore and said to him, 'By Allah, +I thought not that passion had come to such a pass with thee, +as to cast thee into the arms of death! Had I known this, I had +been favourable to thee, and thou shouldst have enjoyed thy +desire.' At this, his tears streamed down, like the cloud- +showers, and he repeated the following verse: + +She draweth near to me, when death hath come betwixt us two And + proffereth union, when it no profit can me do. + +Then he gave one sigh and died, and she fell on him, kissing +him and weeping, till she swooned away. When she came to +herself she charged her people bury her in his grave and +recited the following verses, with streaming eyes: + +We lived upon the earth a life of comfort and delight: Country + and tribe and dwelling-place alike of us were proud; +But Fortune and the shifts of time did rend our loves apart, + And now the grave uniteth us within a single shroud. + +Then she fell again to weeping and ceased not from tears and +lament, till she swooned away. She lay three days, senseless; +then died and was buried in his grave. This is one of the +strange chances of love. + + + + + + THE VIZIER OF YEMEN AND HIS YOUNG + BROTHER + + + +Bedreddin, Vizier of Yemen, had a young brother of singular +beauty and kept strait watch over him. So he applied himself to +seek a governor for him and coming upon an elder of dignified +and reverend aspect, chaste and pious, lodged him in a house +next his own, whence he used to come daily to the Vizier's +dwelling, to teach the latter's brother. After awhile, the old +man's heart was taken with love for his pupil and longing grew +upon him and his entrails were troubled, till, one day, he made +moan of his case to the boy, who said, 'What can I do, seeing +that I may not leave my brother day or night? Thou seest how +careful he is over me.' Quoth the governor, 'My lodging adjoins +thine; so, when thy brother sleeps, do thou rise and entering +the wardrobe, feign thyself asleep. Then come to the parapet of +the roof and I will receive thee on the other side of the wall; +so shalt thou sit with me awhile and return without thy +brother's knowledge.' 'I hear and obey,' answered the boy. So, +when awhile of the night was past, he entered the closet and +waited till his brother lay down on his bed and was drowned in +sleep, when he rose and going to the parapet of the roof, found +the governor awaiting him, who gave him his hand and carried +him to the sitting-chamber, where he had made ready various +dainties for his entertainment, and they sat down to carouse. + +Now it was the night of the full moon, and as they sat, passing +the wine-cup to one another, her rays shone upon them, and the +governor fell to singing. But, whilst they were thus in mirth +and joyance and good cheer, such as confounds the wit and the +sight and defies description, the Vizier awoke and missing his +brother, arose in affright and found the door open. So he went +up to the roof and hearing a noise of talk, peeped over the +parapet and saw a light shining in the governor's lodging. He +looked in and espied his brother and his governor sitting +carousing: but the latter became aware of him and sang the +following verses, cup in hand, to a lively measure: + +He gave me wine to drink, of his mouth's nectar rare, Toasting + with down of cheeks and what adjoineth there; +Then passed with me the night, embracing, cheek to cheek, A + loveling midst mankind unpeered and past compare. +The full moon gazed on us all night; pray then to her, So to + his brother she to tell of us forbear. + +Now the Vizier was a merry man; so, when he heard this, he +said, 'By Allah, I will not betray you!' And he went away and +left them to their diversion. + + + + + + THE LOVES OF THE BOY AND GIRL AT SCHOOL. + + + +A boy and a girl once learnt together in a school, and the boy +fell passionately in love with the girl. So, one day, when the +other boys were heedless, he took her tablet[FN#93] and wrote +on it the following verses: + +Tell me, what sayst thou unto him, whom sickness for thy love + Hath worn and wasted, till he's grown distraught and + stupefied? +Him who of passion maketh moan; for love and longing pain, That + which is in his heart, indeed, no longer can he hide. + +When the girl took her tablet, she read the verses and wept for +pity of him; then wrote thereunder these others: + +An if we see one languishing for very love of us, Our favours, + surely, unto him shall nowise be denied. +Yea, and of us he shall obtain that which he doth desire Of + love-delight, whate'er to us in consequence betide. + +Now it chanced that the teacher came in on them And taking the +tablet, unnoticed, read what was written thereon. So he was +moved to pity of their case and wrote on the tablet the +following verses, in reply to those of the girl: + +Favour thy lover, for he's grown distracted for desire, And + reck thou not of punishment nor fear lest any chide. +As for the master, have no dread of his authority, For he with + passion an its pains aforetime hath been tried. + +Presently, the girl's master entered the school and finding the +tablet, read the above verses and wrote under them the following: + +May Allah never separate your loves, whilst time abide, And may + your slanderer be put to shame and mortified! +But, for the master of the school, by Allah, all my life, A + busier go-between than he I never yet espied. + +Then he sent for the Cadi and the witnesses and married them on +the spot. Moreover, he made them a marriage-feast and entreated +them with exceeding munificence; and they abode together in joy +and contentment, till there came to them the Destroyer of +Delights and the Sunderer of Companies. + + + + + + EL MUTELEMMIS AND HIS WIFE UMEIMEH. + + + +It is related that El Mutelemmis[FN#94] once fled from En Numan +ben Mundhir[FN#95] and was absent so long that the folk deemed +him dead. Now he had a handsome wife, Umeimeh by name, and her +family pressed her to marry again; but she refused, for that +she loved her husband El Mutelemmis very dearly. However, they +were instant with her, because of the multitude of her suitors, +and importuned her till she at last reluctantly consented and +they married her to a man of her own tribe. + +On the night of the wedding, El Mutelemmis came back and +hearing in the camp a noise of pipes and tabrets and seeing +signs of festival, asked some of the children what was toward, +to which they replied, 'They have married Umeimeh, widow of El +Mutelemmis, to such an one, and he goes in to her this night.' +When he heard this, he made shift to enter the house with the +women and saw there the bride seated on her throne. By and by, +the bridegroom came up to her, whereupon she sighed heavily and +weeping, recited the following verses: + +Ah would, (but many are the shifts of good and evil fate), I + knew in what far land thou art, O Mutelemmis mine! + +Now El Mutelemmis was a renowned poet: so he answered her with +the following verse: + +Right near at hand, Umeimeh! Know, whene'er the caravan Halted, + I never ceased for thee with longing heart to pine. + +When the bridegroom heard this, he guessed how the case stood +and went forth from among them in haste, repeating the following +verse: + +I was in luck, but now I'm fall'n into the contrary. A + hospitable house and room your reknit loves enshrine! + +So El Mutelemmis took his wife again and abode with her in all +delight and solace of life, till death parted them. And glory +be to Him at whose command the earth and the heavens shall +arise! + + + + + + THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE + PRINCESS ZUBEIDEH IN THE BATH. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid loved the Princess Zubeideh with an +exceeding love and laid out for her a pleasaunce, in which he +made a great pool and led thither water from all sides. +Moreover, he set thereabout a screen of trees, which so grew +and interlaced over the pool, that one could go in and wash, +without being seen of any, for the thickness of the leafage. It +chanced, one day, that Zubeideh entered the garden and coming +to the basin, gazed upon its goodliness, and the limpidity of +the water and the interlacing of the trees over it pleased her. +Now it was a day of exceeding heat; so she put off her clothes +and entering the pool, which was not deep enough to cover her, +fell to pouring the water over herself from an ewer of silver. + + +The Khalif heard she was in the pool; so he left his palace and +came down to spy upon her, through the screen of the leaves. He +stood behind the trees and saw her naked, with all her secret +charms displayed. Presently, she became aware of him and +turning, saw him behind the trees and was ashamed that he +should see her naked. So she laid her hands on her kaze, but it +escaped from between them, by reason of its much greatness and +plumpness; and the Khalif turned and went away, wondering and +reciting the following verse: + +I looked on her whom I adore And longing rose in me full sore. + +But he knew not what to say next; so he sent for Abou Nuwas and +bade him make a piece of verse commencing with the above line. 'I +hear and obey,' replied the poet and in a twinkling extemporized +the following lines: + +I looked on her whom I adore, And longing rose in me full sore +For a gazelle that ravished me, By double lote-trees shaded + o'er. +The water on her dainty part With silver ewer did she pour +And would have hidden it, seeing me, But all too small her + hands therefor. +Would I were on it, wel-a-way, An hour or liefer two or more! + +The Khalif smiled and made him a handsome present, and he went +away rejoicing. + + + + + + HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE THREE POETS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid was exceeding restless one night; +so he rose and walked about his palace, till he happened on a +damsel overcome with wine. Now he was greatly enamoured of this +damsel; so he toyed with her and pulled her to him, whereupon +her girdle fell down and her trousers were unloosed and he +besought her of amorous dalliance. But she said to him, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, wait till to-morrow night, for I am +unprepared for thee, knowing not of thy coming.' So he left her +and went away. + +On the morrow, he sent a page to her to announce his visit to +her apartment; but she sent back to him, saying, 'The day +obliterates the promise of the night.' So he said to his +minions, 'Make me somewhat of verse, introducing these words, +"The day obliterates the promise of the night."' 'We hear and +obey,' answered they; and Er Recashi[FN#96] came forward and +recited the following: + +By Allah, an thou feltst my longing and my pain, Repose had + turned away from thee and taken flight. +A maid hath made me love-distraught, nor visiting Nor being + visited, a sad and love-lorn wight. +She promised me her grace, then turned away and said, "The day + obliterates the promise of the night." + +Then Abou Musab came forward and recited these verses: + +When wilt thou put away this dotage from thy spright? Thy heart + is dazed and rest to thee forbidden quite. +Is't not enough for thee to have a weeping eye And vitals still + on fire for memory and despite? +For self-conceit, indeed, he laugheth, when he saith, "The day + obliterates the promise of the night." + +Last came Abou Nuwas and recited the following: + +Love was prolonged and far was union out of sight, Nor skilled + it aught to feign aversion and despite. +One day, she came into the palace, drunk with wine, But even + her drunkenness with pudour was bedight. +Her upper garments dropped and left her shoulders bare And + loosened trousers showed the dwelling of delight; +Yea, and the breeze shook hips, full heavy, and a shape, As + 'twere a branch, whereon pomegranates twain unite. +"Give me a tryst," quoth I; and she replied, "The place Of + visiting will be to-morrow clean and right." +Next day, I came and said, "Thy promise;" but quoth she, "The + day obliterates the promise of the night." + +The Khalif bestowed a myriad each on Er Recashi and Abou Musab, +but bade strike off Abou Nuwas's head, saying, 'Thou west with +us yesternight in the palace.' 'By Allah,' answered the poet, +'I slept not but in my own house! I was directed to what I said +by thine own words as to the subject of the poem; and indeed +quoth God the Most High (and He is the truest of all speakers), +"As for poets (devils ensue them!) dost thou not see how they +run wild in each valley and say that they do not?"'[FN#97] So +the Khalif forgave him and bestowed on him two myriads of gold. + + + + + + MUSAB BEN EZ ZUBEIR AND AAISHEH + DAUGHTER OF TELHEH. + + + +It is told of Musab ben ez Zubeir[FN#98] that he met Izzeh, who +was one of the shrewdest of women, in Medina and said to her, +'I have a mind to marry Aaisheh,[FN#99] daughter of Telheh, and +I would have thee go to her and spy out for me how she is +made.' So she went and returning to Musab, said, 'I have seen +her, and her face is more beautiful than health; she hath large +and well-opened eyes, an aquiline nose and smooth, oval cheeks +and a mouth like a cleft pomegranate, a neck like an ewer of +silver and a bosom with two breasts like twin pomegranates, a +slim waist and a slender belly, with a navel therein as it were +a casket of ivory, and backside like a hummock of sand. +Moreover, she hath plump thighs and legs like columns of +alabaster; but I saw her feet to be large, and thou wilt fall +short with her in time of amorous dalliance.' Upon this report, +he married her and Izzeh invited Aaisheh and the women of the +tribe of Kureish to her house, when Aaisheh sang the following, +with Musab standing by: + +The mouths of girls, with their odoriferous, Sweet breath and + their witching smiles, are sweet to buss; +Yet ne'er have I tasted them, but in thought of him; And by + thought, indeed, the Ruler rules over us. + +The night of his going in to her, he departed not from her, +till after seven courses; and on the morrow, a freed-woman of +his met him and said to him, 'May I be thy ransom! Thou art +perfect, even in this.' + +Quoth a certain woman, 'I was with Aaisheh, when her husband +came in to her, and she lusted to him; so he fell upon her and +she puffed and snorted and made use of all manner of rare +motions and strange inventions, and I the while within hearing. +So when he came out from her, I said to her, "How canst thou, +with thy rank and nobility and condition, do thus, and I in thy +house?" Quoth she, "A woman should bring her husband all of +which she is mistress, by way of excitations and rare motions. +What mislikest thou of this?" And I answered, "I would have +this anights." "Thus is it by day," rejoined she, "and by night +I do more than this; for, when he sees me, desire stirs in him +and he falls on heat; so he puts out his hand to me and I obey +him, and it is as thou seest."' + + + + + + ABOUL ASWED AND HIS SQUINTING SLAVE-GIRL. + + + +Aboul Aswed bought a native-born slave-girl, who was squint- +eyed, and she pleased him; but his people decried her to him; +whereat he wondered and spreading out his hands, recited the +following verses: + +They run her down to me, and yet no fault in her find I, Except + perhaps it be a speck she hath in either eye. +To compensate this fault, if fault it be, o' the upper parts + She's slim and heavy of the parts beneath the waist that + lie. + + + + + + + HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE TWO SLAVE-GIRLS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid lay one night between two slave-girls, +one from Medina and the other from Cufa, and the latter rubbed his +hands, whilst the former rubbed his feet and made his yard to +stand up. Quoth the Cufan girl, 'I see thou wouldst keep the whole +of the stock-in-trade to thyself; give me my share of it.' And the +other answered, 'I have been told by Malik, on the authority of +Hisham ibn Orweh,[FN#100] who had it of his [grand]father,[FN#101] +that the Prophet said, "Whoso bringeth the dead to life, it is +his."' But the Cufan took her unawares and pushing her away, took +it all in her own hand and said, 'El Aamesh[FN#102] tells us, on +the authority of Kheithemeh,[FN#103] who had it of Abdallah ben +Mesoud,[FN#104] that the Prophet said, "Game belongeth to him who +taketh it, not to him who raiseth it."' + + + + + + THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE THREE + SLAVE-GIRLS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid lay once with three slave-girls, a +Meccan, a Medinan and an Irakite. The Medina girl put her hand +to his yard and handled it, whereupon it rose and the Meccan +sprang up and drew it to herself. Quoth the other, 'What is +this unjust aggression? I have heard of Malik,[FN#105] on the +authority of Ez Zuhri,[FN#106] who had it of Abdallah ibn +Salim,[FN#107] on the report of Said ben Zeid,[FN#108] that the +Apostle (whom God bless and preserve) said, "Whoso revivifies a +dead land, it is his."' And the Meccan answered, 'Sufyan[FN#109] +tells us, on the authority of Abou Zenad,[FN#110] who had it of +El Aarej,[FN#111] on the report of Abou Hureireh,[FN#112] that +the Apostle of God said, "The game is his who catches it, not +his who starts it."' But the Irak girl pushed them both away and +taking it to herself, said, 'This is mine, till your contention +be decided.' + + + + + + THE MILLER AND HIS WIFE. + + + + +There was a miller, who had an ass to turn his mill; and he was +married to a wicked wife, whom he loved; but she hated him and +loved a neighbour of hers, who liked her not and held aloof +from her. One night, the miller saw, in his sleep, one who said +to him, 'Dig in such a spot of the ass's circuit in the mill, +and thou shalt find a treasure.' When he awoke, he told his +wife the dream and charged her keep it secret; but she told her +neighbour, thinking to win his favour, and he appointed with +her to come to her by night. So he came and they dug in the +mill and found the treasure and took it forth. Then said he to +her, 'How shall we do with this?' 'We will share it equally +between us,' answered she; 'and do thou leave thy wife and I +will cast about to rid me of my husband. Then shalt thou marry +me, and when we are united, we will add the two halves of the +treasure, one to the other, and it will be [all] in our hands.' +Quoth he, 'I fear lest Satan seduce thee and thou take some man +other than myself; for gold in the house is like the sun in the +world. Meseems, therefore, it were better that the money be all +in my hands, so thou mayst study to win free of thy husband and +come to me.' 'I fear the like of thee,' rejoined she, 'and I +will not yield up my part to thee; for it was I directed thee +to it.' When he heard this, covetise prompted him to kill her; +so he killed her and threw her body into the empty hole; but +the day overtook him and hindered him from covering it up; so +he took the treasure and went away. + +Presently, the miller awoke and missing his wife, went into the +mill, where he fastened the ass to the beam and shouted to it. +It went on a little, then stopped; whereupon he beat it +grievously; but the more he beat it, the more it drew back; for +it was affrighted at the dead woman and could not go on. So he +took out a knife and goaded it again and again, but still it +would not budge. Then he was wroth with it, knowing not the +cause of its obstinacy, and drove the knife into its flanks, +and it fell down dead. When the sun rose, he saw his wife lying +dead, in the place of the treasure, and great was his rage and +sore his chagrin for the loss of the treasure and the death of +his wife and his ass. All this came of his letting his wife +into his secret and not keeping it to himself. + + + + + + THE SIMPLETON AND THE SHARPER. + + + +A certain simple fellow was once going along, haling his ass +after him by the halter, when a couple of sharpers saw him and +one said to his fellow, 'I will take that ass from yonder man.' +'How wilt thou do that?' asked the other. 'Follow me and I will +show thee,' replied the first. So he went up to the ass and +loosing it from the halter, gave the beast to his fellow; then +clapped the halter on his own head and followed the simpleton, +till he knew that the other had got clean off with the ass, +when he stood still. The man pulled at the halter, but the +thief stirred not; so he turned and seeing the halter on a +man's neck, said to him, 'Who art thou?' Quoth the sharper, 'I +am thine ass and my story is a strange one. Know that I have a +pious old mother and came in to her one day, drunk; and she +said to me, "O my son, repent to God the Most High of these thy +transgressions." But I took the cudgel and beat her, whereupon +she cursed me and God the Most High changed me into an ass and +caused me fall into thy hands, where I have remained till now. +However, to-day, my mother called me to mind and her heart +relented towards me; so she prayed for me, and God restored me +to my former shape of a man.' 'There is no power and no virtue +but in God the Most High, the Supreme!' cried the simpleton. 'O +my brother, I conjure thee by Allah, acquit me of what I have +done with thee, in the way of riding and so forth.' + +Then he let the sharper go and returned home, drunken with +chagrin and concern. His wife asked him, 'What ails thee and +where is the ass?' And he answered, 'Thou knowest not what was +this ass; but I will tell thee.' So he told her the story, and +she exclaimed, 'Woe worth us for God the Most High! How could +we have used a man as a beast of burden, all this while?' And +she gave alms and asked pardon of God. Then the man abode +awhile at home, idle, till she said to him, 'How long wilt thou +sit at home, idle? Go to the market and buy us an ass and do +thy business with it.' Accordingly, he went to the market and +stopping by the ass-stand, saw his own ass for sale. So he went +up to it and clapping his mouth to its ear, said to it, 'Out on +thee, thou good-for-nought! Doubtless thou hast been getting +drunk again and beating thy mother! But, by Allah, I will never +buy thee more!' And he left it and went away. + + + + + + THE IMAM ABOU YOUSUF WITH HAROUN ER + RESHID AND ZUBEIDEH. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid went up one noon-tide to his couch, +to lie down, and mounting, found thereon fresh semen; whereat +he was startled and sore perturbed and troubled. So he called +the princess Zubeideh and said to her, 'What is that spilt on +the bed?' She looked at it and replied, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, it is semen.' 'Tell me truly what this means,' said he; +'or I will lay violent hands on thee forthright.' 'O Commander of +the Faithful,' answered she, 'indeed, I know not how it came +there and I am guiltless of that whereof thou suspectest me.' +So he sent for the Imam Abou Yousuf and told him the case. The +Imam raised his eyes to the roof and seeing a crack therein, +said to the Khalif, 'O Commander of the Faithful, the bat hath +semen like that of a man, and this is bats' semen.' Then he +called for a lance and thrust it into the crack, whereupon down +fell the bat. In this manner the Khalif's suspicions were +dispelled and Zubeideh's innocence was made manifest; whereat +she gave vent to her joy and promised Abou Yousuf a liberal +reward. + +Now there were with her magnificent fruits, out of their +season, and she knew of others in the garden; so she said to +Abou Yousuf, 'O Imam of the Faith, which wouldst thou rather of +the two kinds of fruits, those that are here or those that are +not here?' 'Our code forbids us to pronounce judgment on the +absent,' answered he. 'When they are present, we will give +judgment.' So she caused bring the two kinds of fruits before +him, and he ate of both. Quoth she, 'What is the difference +between them?' And he answered, 'As often as I think to praise +one kind, the other puts in its claim.' The Khalif laughed at +his answer and made him a present. Zubeideh also gave him what +she had promised him, and he went away, rejoicing. See, then, +the blessed qualities of this Imam and how at his hands were +made manifest the truth and the innocence of the lady Zubeideh. + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL HAKIM AND THE MERCHANT. + + + +The Khalif El Hakim bi Amrillah was riding out in state one day, +when he came to a garden, in which he saw a man, surrounded by +slaves and servants. He asked him for a draught of water, and +the man gave him to drink, saying, 'Peradventure, the Commander +of the Faithful will honour me by alighting in this my garden.' +So the Khalif dismounted and entered the garden with his suite; +whereupon the man brought out to them a hundred carpets and a +hundred leather mats and a hundred cushions and set before them +a hundred dishes of fruits, a hundred saucers of sweetmeats and +a hundred bowls full of sherbets of sugar; whereat the Khalif +marvelled and said to his host, 'O man, this thy case is a +strange one. Didst thou know of our coming and make this +preparation for us?' 'No, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered the other, 'I knew not of thy coming and am but a +merchant of the rest of thy subjects. But I have a hundred +concubines; so, when the Commander of the Faithful honoured +me by alighting with me, I sent to each of them, bidding her +send me the morning-meal here. So they sent me each of her +furniture and of the excess of her meat and drink: and every +day each sends me a dish of meat and another of marinades, also +a plate of fruits and a saucer of sweetmeats and a bowl of +sherbet. This is my every- day noon-meal, nor have I added +aught thereto for thee.' + +The Khalif prostrated himself in thanksgiving to God the Most +High and said, 'Praised be God, who hath been so bountiful to +one of our subjects, that he entertaineth the Khalif and his +suite, without making ready for them, but of the surplus of his +day's victual!' Then he sent for all the dirhems in the +treasury, that had been struck that year,--and they were in +number three thousand and seven hundred thousand;--nor did he +mount, till the money came, when he gave it to the merchant, +saying, 'Use this for the maintenance of thy state; and thy +desert is more than this.' Then he mounted and rode away. + + + + + + KING KISRA ANOUSHIRWAN AND THE VILLAGE + DAMSEL. + + + + +The just King, Kisra Anoushirwan,[FN#113] was hunting one day +and became separated from his suite, in pursuit of an antelope. +Presently, he caught sight of a hamlet, near at hand, and being +sore athirst, made for the door of a house, that stood by the +wayside, and asked for a draught of water. A damsel came out +and looked at him; then, going back into the house, pressed the +juice from a sugar-cane into a tankard and mixed it with water; +after which she strewed on the top somewhat of perfume, as it +were dust, and carried it to the King. He took it and seeing in +it what resembled dust, drank it, little by little, till he +came to the end. Then said he to her, 'O damsel, the drink is +good and sweet, but for this dust in it, that troubles it.' 'O +guest,' answered she, 'I put that in, of intent.' 'And why +didst thou thus?' asked he; and she replied, 'I saw that thou +wast exceeding thirsty and feared that thou wouldst swallow the +whole at one draught and that this would do thee a mischief; +and so hadst thou done, but for this dust that troubled the +drink.' The King wondered at her wit and good sense and said to +her, 'How many sugar-canes didst thou press for this draught?' +'One,' answered she; whereat the King marvelled and calling for +the roll of the taxes of the village, saw that its assessment +was but little and bethought him to increase it, on his return +to his palace, saying in himself, 'Why is a village so lightly +taxed, where they get this much juice out of one sugar-cane?' + +Then he left the village and pursued his chase. As he came back +at the end of the day, he passed alone by the same door and +called again for drink; whereupon the same damsel came out and +knowing him, went in to fetch him drink. It was some time +before she returned and the King wondered at this and said to +her, 'Why hast thou tarried?' Quoth she, 'Because one sugar- +cane yielded not enough for thy need. So I pressed three; but +they yielded not so much as did one aforetime.' 'What is the +cause of that?' asked the King; and she answered, 'The cause of +it is that the King's mind is changed.' Quoth he, 'How knewst +thou that?' 'We hear from the wise,' replied she, 'that, when +the King's mind is changed against a folk, their prosperity +ceaseth and their good waxeth less.' Anoushirwan laughed and +put away from his mind that which he had purposed against the +people of the village. Moreover, he took the damsel to wife +then and there, being pleased with her much wit and acuteness +and the excellence of her speech. + + + + + + THE WATER-CARRIER AND THE GOLDSMITH'S + WIFE. + + + +There was once, in the city of Bokhara, a water-carrier, who +used to carry water to the house of a goldsmith and had done +thus thirty years. Now the goldsmith had a wife of exceeding +beauty and elegance and withal renowned for modesty, chastity +and piety. One day, the water-carrier came, as of wont, and +poured the water into the cisterns. Now the woman was standing +in the midst of the court; so he went up to her and taking her +hand, stroked it and pressed it, then went away and left her. +When her husband came home from the bazaar, she said to him, 'I +would have thee tell me what thou hast done in the bazaar, +today, to anger God the Most High.' Quoth he, 'I have done +nothing.' 'Nay,' rejoined she, 'but, by Allah, thou hast indeed +done something to anger God; and except thou tell me the truth, +I will not abide in thy house, and thou shalt not see me, nor +will I see thee.' 'I will tell thee the truth,' answered he. +'As I was sitting in my shop this day, a woman came up to me +and bade me make her a bracelet. Then she went away and I +wrought her a bracelet of gold and laid it aside. Presently, +she returned and I brought her out the bracelet. She put out +her hand and I clasped the bracelet on her wrist; and I +wondered at the whiteness of her hand and the beauty of her +wrist and recalled what the poet says: + +Bracelets, upon her wrists, of glittering virgin gold She hath, + like fire ablaze on running water cold. +It is as if the wrists and bracelets thereabout Were water girt + with fire, right wondrous to behold. + +So I took her hand and pressed it and squeezed it.' 'God is +Most Great!' exclaimed the woman. 'Why didst thou this ill +thing? Know that the water-carrier, who has come to our house +these thirty years, nor sawst thou ever any treason in him, +took my hand to day and pressed and squeezed it.' Quoth her +husband, 'O woman, let us crave pardon of God! Verily, I repent +of what I did, and do thou ask forgiveness of God for me.' 'God +pardon me and thee,' said she, 'and vouchsafe to make good the +issue of our affair!' + +Next day, the water-carrier came in to the jeweller's wife and +throwing himself at her feet, grovelled in the dust and +besought pardon of her, saying, 'O my lady, acquit me of that +which Satan deluded me to do; for it was he that seduced me and +led me astray.' 'Go thy ways,' answered she; 'the fault was not +in thee, but in my husband, for that he did what he did in his +shop, and God hath retaliated upon him in this world.' And it +is related that the goldsmith, when his wife told him how the +water-carrier had used her, said, 'Tit for tat! If I had done +more, the water-carrier had done more.' And this became a +current byword among the folk. + +So it behoveth a wife to be both outward and inward with her +husband, contenting herself with little from him, if he cannot +give her much, and taking pattern by Aaisheh[FN#114] the +Truthful and Fatimeh[FN#115] the Clean Maid, (may God the Most +High accept of them), that she may be of the company of the +righteous.[FN#116] + + + + + + KHUSRAU AND SHIRIN WITH THE FISHERMAN. + + + +King Khusrau[FN#117] of Persia loved fish; and one day, as he +sat in his saloon, he and Shirin[FN#118] his wife, there came a +fisherman, with a great fish, and presented it to the King, who +was pleased and ordered the man four thousand dirhems. When he +was gone, Shirin said to the King, 'Thou hast done ill.' +'Wherefore?' asked he; and she answered, 'Because if, after +this, thou give one of thy courtiers a like sum, he will +disdain it and say, "He hath but given me the like of what he +gave the fisherman." And if thou give him less, he will say, +"He makes light of me and gives me less than he gave the +fisherman."' 'Thou art right,' rejoined Khusrau; 'but the thing +is done and it ill becomes a king to go back on his gift.' +Quoth Shirin, 'An thou wilt, I will contrive thee a means to +get it back from him.' 'How so?' asked he; and she said, 'Call +back the fisherman and ask him if the fish be male or female. +If he say, "Male," say thou, "We want a female," and if he say, +"Female," say, "We want a male."' + +So he sent for the fisherman, who was a man of wit and +discernment, and said to him, 'Is this fish male or female?' +The fisherman kissed the ground and answered, 'It is of the +neuter gender, neither male nor female.' The King laughed and +ordered him other four thousand dirhems. So the fisherman went +to the treasurer and taking his eight thousand dirhems, put +them in a bag he had with him. Then, throwing the bag over his +shoulder, he was going away, when he dropped a dirhem; so he +laid the bag off his back and stooped down to pick it up. Now +the King and Shirin were looking on, and the latter said, 'O +King, didst thou note the meanness and greediness of yon man, +in that he must needs stoop down, to pick up the one dirhem, +and could not bring himself to leave it for one of the King's +servants?' When the King heard this, he was wroth with the +fisherman and said, 'Thou art right, O Shirin!' So he called +the man back and said to him, 'Thou low-minded fellow! Thou art +no man! How couldst thou put the bag off thy shoulder and stoop +to pick up the one dirhem and grudge to leave it where it +fell?' The fisherman kissed the earth before him and answered, +'May God prolong the King's life! Indeed, I did not pick up the +dirhem, because of its value in my eyes; but because on one of +its faces is the likeness of the King and on the other his +name; and I feared lest any should unwittingly set his foot +upon it, thus dishonouring the name and presentment of the +King, and I be blamed for the offence.' The King wondered at +his wit and shrewdness and ordered him yet other four thousand +dirhems. Moreover, he let cry abroad in his kingdom, saying, +'It behoveth none to order himself by women's counsel; for +whoso followeth their advice, loseth, with his one dirhem, +other two.' + + + + + + YEHYA BEN KHALID THE BARMECIDE AND THE + POOR MAN. + + + +Yehya ben Khalid the Barmecide was returning home, one day, +from the Khalif's palace, when he saw a man at the gate of his +house, who rose at his approach and saluted him, saying, 'O +Yehya, I am in need of that which is in thy hand, and I make +God my intermediary with thee.' So Yehya caused set apart a +place for him in his house and bade his treasurer carry him a +thousand dirhems every day and that his food should be of the +choicest of his own meat. The man abode thus a whole month, at +the end of which time, having received in all thirty thousand +dirhems, he departed by stealth, fearing lest Yehya should take +the money from him, because of the greatness of the sum; and +when they told Yehya of this, he said, 'By Allah, though he had +tarried with me to the end of his days, yet had I not scanted +him of my largesse nor cut off from him the bounties of my +hospitality!' For, indeed, the excellences of the Barmecides +were past count nor can their virtues be told; especially those +of Yehya teen Khalid, for he abounded in noble qualities, even +as saith the poet of him: + +I asked munificence, "Art free?" It answered, "No, perdie! + Yehya ben Khalid's slave am I; my lord and master he." +"A boughten slave?" asked I; but, "Nay, so heaven forfend!" + quoth it. "From ancestor to ancestor he did inherit me." + + + + + + MOHAMMED EL AMIN AND JAAFER BEN EL HADI. + + + +Jaafer ben Mousa el Hadi[FN#119] once had a slave-girl, a lute +player, called El Bedr el Kebir, than whom there was not in her +time a fairer of face nor a better-shaped nor a more elegant of +manners nor a more accomplished in singing and smiting the +strings; she was indeed perfect in beauty and charm. Mohammed +el Amin,[FN#120] son of Zubeideh, heard of her and was instant +with Jaafer to sell her to him; but he replied, 'Thou knowest +it beseems not one of my rank to sell slave-girls nor traffic +in concubines; but, were it not that she was reared in my +house, I would send her to thee, as a gift, nor grudge her to +thee.' + +Some days after this, El Amin went to Jaafer's house, to make +merry; and the latter set before him that which it behoves to +set before friends and bade El Bedr sing to him and gladden +him. So she tuned the lute and sang right ravishingly, whilst El +Amin fell to drinking and making merry and bade the cupbearers +ply Jaafer with wine, till he became drunken, when he took the +damsel and carried her to his own house, but laid not a finger +on her. On the morrow, he sent to invite Jaafer; and when he +came, he set wine before him and bade the girl sing to him, from +behind the curtain. Jaafer knew her voice and was angered at +this, but, of the nobleness of his nature and the greatness of +his mind, he dissembled his vexation and let no change appear in +his demeanour. + +When the carousel was at an end, El Amin commanded one of his +servants to fill the boat, in which Jaafer had come, with +dirhems and dinars and all manner jewels and jacinths and rich +clothes and other treasures of price. So he laid therein a +thousand myriads of money and a thousand fine pearls, each +worth twenty thousand dirhems; nor did he give over loading the +barge with all manner of precious things, till the boatmen +cried out for quarter, saying, 'The boat cannot hold any more;' +whereupon he bade them carry all this to Jaafer's palace. Such +are the fashions of the magnanimous, may God have mercy on +them! + + + + + + + THE SONS OF YEHYA BEN KHALID AND SAID BEN + SALIM EL BAHILI. + + + +(Quoth Said ben Salim el Bahili[FN#121]), I was once, in the +days of Haroun er Reshid, in very narrow case and greatly +oppressed with debts, that had accumulated upon me and that I +had no means of discharging. My doors were blocked up with +creditors and I was without cease importuned for payment by +claimants, who dunned me in crowds, till I was at my wits' +end what to do. At last, being sore perplexed and troubled, +I betook myself to Abdallah ben Malik el Khuzai[FN#122] and +besought him to aid me with his judgment and of his good +counsel direct me to the door of relief; and he said, "None can +quit thee of this thy strait but the Barmecides." Quoth I, "Who +can brook their pride and put up with their arrogance?" And he +answered, "Thou must put up with it, for the sake of amending +thy case." So I left him and went straight to El Fezl and +Jaafer, sons of Yehya ben Khalid, to whom I related my case. +"God give thee His aid," answered they, "and enable thee by +His bounties to dispense with the aid of His creatures and +vouchsafe thee abundant good and bestow on thee what shall +suffice thee, without the need of any but Himself; for He can +what He will and is gracious and provident with His servants." + +I went out from them and returned to Abdallah, disappointed and +perplexed and heavy at heart, and told him what they had said. +Quoth he, "Thou wouldst do well to abide with us this day, that +we may see what God the Most High will decree." So I sat with +him awhile, and lo, up came my servant, who said to me, "O my +lord, there are at our door many laden mules, and with them a +man, who says he is the agent of Fezl and Jaafer ben Yehya." +Quoth Abdallah, "I trust that relief is come to thee: go and +see what is to do." So I left him and running to my house, +found at the door a man, who gave me a letter, wherein was +written the following: "Know that, after thou hadst been with +us and acquainted us with thy case, we betook ourselves to the +Khalif and informed him that the case had reduced thee to the +humiliation of begging; whereupon he ordered thee a million +dirhems from the Treasury. We represented to him that thou +wouldst spend this money in paying thy creditors and said, +'Whence shall he provide for his subsistence?' So he ordered +thee other three hundred thousand, and we have sent thee, of +our own money, a million dirhems each, so that thou hast now +three millions and three hundred thousand dirhems, wherewithal +to order thine affair and amend thine estate." + +See, then, the munificence of these generous men; may God the +Most High have mercy on them! + + + + + + THE WOMAN'S TRICK AGAINST HER HUSBAND. + + + +A man brought his wife a fish one Friday and bidding her cook +it against the end of the congregational prayers, went out to +his business. Meanwhile, there came in her friend,[FN#123] who +bade her to a wedding at his house; so she agreed and laying +the fish in a jar of water, went off with him and was absent a +whole week, whilst her husband sought her from house to house +and enquired after her; but none could give him any news of +her. + +On the following Friday, she came home, [and he fell to chiding +and reproaching her;] but she brought out to him the fish alive +from the jar and assembled the folk against him. He told them +his case; but they credited him not and said, 'It cannot be +that the fish should have remained alive all this while.' So +they caused adjudge him mad and imprisoned him and laughed at +him, whereupon he wept sore and recited the following verses: + +A hag, that holds high rank, indeed, in lewdness! In her face + Are witnesses that testify to filth and wantonness. +When she's unclean, she bawds; and when she's clean, she plays + the whore: So, all her time, she's either bawd or else + adulteress. + + + + + + THE DEVOUT WOMAN AND THE TWO WICKED + ELDERS.[FN#124] + +There was once, of old time, a virtuous woman among the children +of Israel, who was pious and devout and used every day to go out +to the place of prayer, first entering a garden, which adjoined +thereto, and there making the ablution. Now there were in this +garden two old men, its keepers, who fell in love with her +and sought her favours; but she refused, whereupon said they, +'Except thou yield thyself to us, we will bear witness against +thee of fornication.' Quoth she, 'God will preserve me from your +wickedness!' Then they opened the garden-gate and cried out, and +the folk came to them from all sides, saying, 'What ails you?' +Quoth they, 'We found this damsel in company with a youth, who +was doing lewdness with her; but he escaped from our hands.' + +Now it was the use of the people of those days to expose an +adulteress to public ignominy for three days and after stone +her. So they pilloried her three days, whilst the two old men +came up to her daily and laying their hands on her head, said, +'Praised be God who hath sent down His vengeance on thee!' + +On the fourth day, they carried her away, to stone her; but a +lad of twelve years old, by name Daniel, followed them to the +place of execution and said to them, 'Hasten not to stone her, +till I judge between them.' So they set him a chair and he sat +down and caused bring the old men before him separately. (Now +he was the first that separated witnesses.) Then said he to the +first, 'What sawest thou?' So he repeated to him his story, and +Daniel said, 'In what part of the garden did this befall?' 'On +the eastern side,' replied the elder, 'under a pear-tree.' Then +he called the other old man and asked him the same question; +and he replied, 'On the western side of the garden, under an +apple-tree.' Meanwhile the damsel stood by, with her hands and +eyes uplift to heaven, imploring God for deliverance. Then God +the Most High sent down His vengeful thunder upon the two old +men and consumed them and made manifest the innocence of the +damsel. + +This was the first of the miracles of the Prophet Daniel, on +whom and on the Prophet be blessing and peace! + + + + + + JAAFER THE BARMECIDE AND THE OLD + BEDOUIN. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid went out one day, with Abou Yousuf +the minion and Jaafer the Barmecide and Abou Nuwas, into the +desert, where they fell in with an old man, leant upon his ass. +The Khalif bade Jaafer ask him whence he came; so he said to +him, 'Whence comest thou?' 'From Bassora,' answered the +Bedouin. 'And whither goest thou?' asked Jaafer. 'To Baghdad,' +said the other. 'And what wilt thou do there?' asked Jaafer. 'I +go to seek medicine for my eye,' replied the old man. Quoth the +Khalif, 'O Jaafer, make us sport with him.' 'If I jest with +him,' answered Jaafer, 'I shall hear what I shall not like.' +But Er Reshid rejoined, 'I charge thee, on my authority, jest +with him.' + +So Jaafer said to the Bedouin, 'If I prescribe thee a remedy +that shall profit thee, what wilt thou give me in return?' +Quoth the other, 'God the Most High will requite thee for me +with better than I can give thee.' 'Harkye, then,' said Jaafer, +'and I will give thee a prescription, which I have given to +none but thee.' 'What is that?' asked the Bedouin; and Jaafer +answered, 'Take three ounces of wind-wafts and the like of +sunbeams and moonshine and lamp-light; mix them together and +let them lie in the wind three months. Then bray them three +months in a mortar without a bottom and laying them in a cleft +platter, set it in the wind other three months; after which use +three drachms every night in thy sleep, and (God willing) thou +shalt be cured.' + +When the Bedouin heard this, he stretched himself out on the +ass's back and letting fly a terrible great crack of wind, said +to Jaafer, 'Take this, in payment of thy prescription. When I +have followed it, if God grant me recovery, I will give thee a +slave-girl, who shall serve thee in thy lifetime a service, +wherewith God shall cut short thy term; and when thou diest and +God hurries thy soul to the fire, she shall blacken thy face +with her ordure, of her mourning for thee, and lament and +buffet her face, saying, "O frosty-beard, what a ninny thou +wast!"'[FN#125] The Khalif laughed till he fell backward, and +ordered the Bedouin three thousand dirhems. + + + + + + + THE KHALIF OMAR BEN KHETTAB AND THE + YOUNG BEDOUIN. + + + +The sheriff[FN#126] Hussein ben Reyyan relates that the Khalif +Omar ben Khettab was sitting one day, attended by his chief +counsellors, judging the folk and doing justice between his +subjects, when there came up to him two handsome young men, +haling by the collar a third youth, perfectly handsome and +well dressed, whom they set before him. Omar looked at him and +bade them loose him; then, calling him near to himself, said +to them, 'What is your case with him?' 'O Commander of the +Faithful,' answered they, 'we are two brothers by one mother +and known as followers of the truth. We had a father, a very +old man of good counsel, held in honour of the tribes, pure of +basenesses and renowned for virtues, who reared us tenderly, +whilst we were little, and loaded us with favours, when we +grew up; in fine, a man abounding in noble and illustrious +qualities, worthy of the poet's words: + +"Is Abou es Sekr of Sheiban[FN#127]?" they questioned of me; + and "No," I answered, "my life upon it! But Sheiban's of + him, I trow. +How many a father hath ris'n in repute by a noble son, As + Adnan,[FN#128] by God's Apostle, to fame and glory did + grow!" + +He went forth this day to his garden, to take his pleasure +amongst its trees and pluck the ripe fruits, when this young +man slew him and swerved from the road of righteousness; +wherefore we demand of thee the retribution of his crime and +call upon thee to pass judgment upon him, according to the +commandment of God.' + +The Khalif cast a terrible look at the accused youth and said +to him, 'Thou hearest the complaint of these young men; what +hast thou to say in reply?' Now he was stout of heart and ready +of speech, having doffed the wede of faint-heartedness and put +off the apparel of affright; so he smiled and after paying the +usual ceremonial compliment to the Khalif, in the most eloquent +and elegant words, said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I have +given ear to their complaint, and they have said sooth in that +which they avouch, so far as they have set out what befell; and +the commandment of God is a decreed decree.[FN#129] But I will +state my case before thee, and thine be it to decide thereon. + +Know then, O Commander of the Faithful, that I am a very Arab +of the Arabs, the noblest of those that are beneath the skies. +I grew up in the dwellings of the desert, till evil and hostile +times fell upon my tribe, when I came to the utterward of this +town, with my children and good and household. As I went along +one of the paths between the gardens, with my she-camels, high +in esteem with me and precious to me, and midst them a stallion +of noble race and goodly shape, a plenteous getter, by whom the +females bore abundantly and who walked among them, as he were a +crowned king,--behold, one of the she-camels broke away and +running to the garden of these young men's father, began to +crop the branches that showed above the wall. I ran to her, to +drive her away, when there appeared, at a breach of the wall, +an old man, whose eyes sparkled with anger, holding a stone in +his right hand and swaying to and fro, like a lion preparing +for a spring. He cast the stone at my stallion, and it struck +him in a vital part and killed him. When I saw the stallion +drop dead beside me, live coals of anger were kindled in my +heart; so I took up the stone and throwing it at the old man, +it was the cause of his end: thus his own wrongful act returned +against him and the man was slain of that wherewith he slew. +When the stone struck him, he cried out with a terrible great +cry, and I hastened from the spot; but these young men hurried +after me and laying hands on me, carried me before thee.' + +Quoth Omar, (may God the Most High accept of him), 'Thou hast +confessed thy crime and acquittal is impossible; for [the law +of] retaliation is imperative and there is no time of escape.' +[FN#130] 'I hear and obey the judgment of the Imam,' answered +the Bedouin, 'and am content to submit me to the requirement +of the law of Islam; but I have a young brother, whose old +father, before his death, appointed to him great store of +wealth and much gold and committed his affair to me, saying, +"I give this into thy hand for thy brother; keep it for him +with thy might." So I took the money and buried it; nor doth +any know of it but I. Now, if thou adjudge me to die forthright, +the money will be lost and thou wilt be the cause of its loss; +wherefore the little one will sue thee for his due on the day +when God shall judge His creatures. But, if thou wilt grant +me three days' delay, I will appoint one to undertake the boy's +affair, in my stead, and return to answer my debt; and I have +one who will be my surety for this my word.' + +The Khalif bowed his head awhile, then raised it and looking +round upon those present, said, 'Who will be surety to me for +his return?' The Bedouin looked at the faces of those who were +in company and pointing to Abou Dherr,[FN#131] said, 'This man +will answer for me and be my surety.' 'O Abou Dherr,' said Omar, +'dost thou hear what this youth says and wilt thou be surety +to me for his return?' 'Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered Abou Dherr, 'I will be surety for him three days.' +So the Khalif accepted his guarantee and let the young man go. + +Now, at the appointed time, when the days of grace were nearly +or quite at end and still the Bedouin came not, the Khalif sat +in his council, with the Companions[FN#132] surrounding him, +like the stars about the moon, Abou Dherr and the plaintiffs +being also present; and the latter said, 'O Abou Dherr, where +is the defendant and how shall he return, having once escaped? +But we will not stir hence, till thou bring him to us, that we +may take our wreak of him.' 'As the All-Wise King liveth,' +replied Abou Dherr, 'if the days of grace expire and the young +man return not, I will fulfil my warranty and surrender myself +to the Imam.' 'By Allah,' rejoined Omar, 'if the young man +tarry, I will assuredly execute on Abou Dherr that which is +prescribed by the law of Islam!' Thereupon the eyes of the +bystanders ran over with tears; those who looked on raised +groans, and great was the clamour. Then the chiefs of the +Companions were instant with the plaintiffs to accept the +bloodwit and win the thanks of the folk, but they refused and +would nothing but the talion. However, as the folk were swaying +to and fro and clamorously bemoaning Abou Dherr, up came the +young Bedouin, with face beaded with sweat and shining like the +new moon, and standing before the Imam, saluted him right +fairly and said to him, 'I have given the boy in charge to his +mother's brothers and have made them acquainted with all that +pertains to his affairs and let them into the secret of his +good; after which I braved the heats of midday and am come to +redeem the promise of a free-born man.' + +The folk marvelled at his good faith and loyalty and his +intrepid offering himself to death; and one said to him, 'How +noble a youth art thou and how loyal to thy promise and thy +duty!' 'Are ye not certified,' rejoined he, 'that when death +presenteth itself none can escape from it? And indeed I have +kept faith, that it be not said, "Loyalty is gone from among +men."' 'By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,' said Abou +Dherr, 'I became warrant for this young man, without knowing to +what tribe he belonged, nor had I seen him before that day; but +when he turned away from all else who were present and singled +me out, saying, "This man will answer for me and be my surety," +I thought ill to refuse him, and humanity forbade to baulk his +expectation, there being no harm in compliance with his desire, +that it be not said, "Benevolence is gone from among men."' +Then said the two young men, 'O Commander of the Faithful, we +forgive this youth our father's blood,--seeing that [by his +noble behaviour] he hath changed desolation into cheer,--that +it be not said, "Humanity is gone from among men."' + +The Khalif rejoiced in the acquittance of the young Bedouin and +his truth and good faith; moreover, he extolled the humanity of +Abou Dherr, over all his companions, and approved the benevolent +resolve of the two young men, giving them grateful praise and +applying to their case the saying of the poet: + +He who doth good among the folk shall be repaid again; For + works of Good are never lost betwixten God and men. + +Then he offered to pay them, from the Treasury, the bloodwit +for their father; but they refused, saying, 'We forgave him but +of our desire unto God the Bountiful, the Exalted; and he who +is thus minded followeth not his benefits with reproach neither +mischief.' + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL MAMOUN AND THE PYRAMIDS OF + EGYPT. + + + +It is told that the Khalif El Mamoun, son of Haroun er Reshid, +when he entered the [God-]guarded city of Cairo, was minded to +pull down the Pyramids, that he might take what was therein; +but, when he went about to do this, he could not avail thereto, +for all his endeavour. He expended great sums of money in the +attempt, but only succeeded in opening up a small gallery in +one of them, wherein he found treasure, to the exact amount of +the money he had spent in the works, neither more nor less; at +which he marvelled and taking what he found there, desisted +from his intent. + +Now the Pyramids are three in number, and they are one of the +wonders of the world; nor is there on the face of the earth +their like for height and fashion and skilful ordinance; for +they are builded of immense rocks, and they who built them +proceeded by piercing one block of stone and setting therein +upright rods of iron; after which they pierced a second block +of stone and lowered it upon the first. Then they poured melted +lead upon the joints and set the blocks in geometrical order, +till the building was complete. The height of each pyramid was +a hundred cubits, of the measure of the time, and it was four- +square, each side three hundred cubits long, at the bottom, and +sloping upward thence to a point. The ancients say that, in the +western Pyramid, are thirty chambers of vari-coloured granite, +full of precious stones and treasures galore and rare images +and utensils and costly arms, which latter are anointed with +magical unguents, so that they may not rust till the day of +Resurrection. Therein, also, are vessels of glass, that will +bend and not break, containing various kinds of compound drugs +and medicinal waters. In the second Pyramid are the records of +the priests, written on tablets of granite,--to each priest his +tablet, on which are set out the wonders of his craft and his +achievements; and on the walls are figures like idols, working +with their hands at all manner crafts and seated on thrones. To +each pyramid there is a guardian, that keeps watch over it and +guards it, to all eternity, against the ravages of time and the +vicissitudes of events; and indeed the marvels of these +pyramids astound all who have eyes and wit. Many are the poems +that describe them, thou shalt profit no great matter thereby, +and among the rest, quoth one of them: + +The high resolves of kings, if they would have them to abide In + memory, after them, are in the tongues of monuments. +Dost thou not see the Pyramids? They, of a truth, endure And + change not for the shifts of time or chances of events. + +And again: + +Consider but the Pyramids and lend an ear to all They tell of + bygone times and that which did of yore befall. +Could they but speak, assuredly they would to us relate What + time and fate have done with first and last and great and + small. + +And again: + +I prithee, tell me, friend of mine, stands there beneath the + sky A building with the Pyramids of Egypt that can vie +In skilful ordinance? Behold, Time's self's afraid of them, + Though of all else upon the earth 'tis dreaded, low and + high. +My sight no longer rests upon their wondrous ordinance, Yet are + they present evermore unto my spirit's eye. + +And again: + +Where's he the Pyramids who built? What was his tribe, His time + and what the place where he was stricken dead? +The monuments survive their lords awhile; then death O'ertaketh + them and they fall prostrate in their stead. + + + + + + + THE THIEF TURNED MERCHANT AND THE OTHER + THIEF. + + + +There was once a thief who repented to God the Most High and +making good his repentance, opened himself a shop for the sale +of stuffs, where he continued to trade awhile. One day, he +locked his shop and went home; and in the night there came to +the bazaar a cunning thief, disguised in the habit of the +merchant, and pulling out keys from his sleeve, said to the +watchman of the market, 'Light me this candle.' So the watchman +took the candle and went to get a light, whilst the thief +opened the shop and lit another candle he had with him. When +the watchman came back, he found him seated in the shop, +looking over the account-books and reckoning with his fingers; +nor did he leave to do thus till point of day, when he said to +the man, 'Fetch me a camel-driver and his camel, to carry some +goods for me.' So the man fetched him a camel, and the thief +took four bales of stuffs and gave them to the camel-driver, +who loaded them on his beast. Then he gave the watchman two +dirhems and went away after the camel-driver, the watchman the +while believing him to be the owner of the shop. + +Next morning, the merchant came and the watchman greeted +him with blessings, because of the two dirhems, much to the +surprise of the former, who knew not what he meant. When he +opened his shop, he saw the droppings of the wax and the +account-book lying on the floor, and looking round, found +four bales of stuffs missing. So he asked the watchman what +had happened and he told him what had passed in the night, +whereupon the merchant bade him fetch the camel-driver and said +to the latter, 'Whither didst thou carry the stuffs?' 'To such +a wharf,' answered the driver; 'and I stowed them on board such +a vessel.' 'Come with me thither,' said the merchant. So the +camel-driver carried him to the wharf and showed him the barque +and her owner. Quoth the merchant to the latter, 'Whither didst +thou carry the merchant and the stuff?' 'To such a place,' +answered the master, 'where he fetched a camel-driver and +setting the bales on the camel, went I know not whither.' +'Fetch me the camel-driver,' said the merchant; so he fetched +him and the merchant said to him, 'Whither didst thou carry the +bales of stuffs from the ship?' 'To such a khan,' answered he. +'Come thither with me and show it to me,' said the merchant. + +So the camel-driver went with him to a khan at a distance from +the shore, where he had set down the stuffs, and showed him the +mock merchant's magazine, which he opened and found therein his +four bales untouched and unopened. The thief had laid his +mantle over them; so the merchant took the bales and the cloak +and delivered them to the camel-driver, who laid them on his +camel; after which the merchant locked the magazine and went +away with the camel-driver. On the way, he met the thief, who +followed him, till he had shipped the bales, when he said to +him, 'O my brother (God have thee in His keeping!), thou hast +recovered thy goods, and nought of them is lost; so give me +back my cloak.' The merchant laughed and giving him back his +cloak, let him go unhindered. + + + + + + + MESROUR THE EUNUCH AND IBN EL CARIBI + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid was very restless one night; so he +said to his Vizier Jaafer, 'I am sleepless tonight and my heart +is oppressed and I know not what to do.' Now his henchman +Mesrour was standing before him, and he laughed. Quoth the +Khalif, 'Dost thou laugh in derision of me or art thou mad?' +'Neither, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,' answered +Mesrour, 'by thy kinship to the Prince of Apostles, I did it +not of my free-will; but I went out yesterday to walk and +coming to the bank of the Tigris, saw there the folk collected +about a man named Ibn el Caribi, who was making them laugh; and +but now I recalled what he said, and laughter got the better of +me; and I crave pardon of thee, O Commander of the Faithful!' +'Bring him to me forthright,' said the Khalif. So Mesrour +repaired in all haste to Ibn el Caribi and said to him, 'The +Commander of the Faithful calls for thee.' 'I hear and obey,' +answered the droll. 'But on condition,' added Mesrour, 'that, +if he give thee aught, thou shalt have a fourth and the rest +shall be mine.' 'Nay,' replied the other, 'thou shalt have half +and I half.' 'Not so,' insisted Mesrour; 'I will have three- +quarters.' 'Thou shalt have two-thirds, then,' rejoined Ibn el +Caribi; 'and I the other third.' To this Mesrour agreed, after +much haggling, and they returned to the palace together. + +When Ibn el Caribi came into the Khalif's presence, he saluted +him, as became his rank, and stood before him; whereupon said +Er Reshid to him, 'If thou do not make me laugh, I will give +thee three blows with this bag.' Quoth Ibn el Caribi in +himself, 'Three strokes with that bag were a small matter, +seeing that beating with whips irketh me not;' for he thought +the bag was empty. Then he clapped into a discourse, such as +would make a stone laugh, and gave vent to all manner of +drolleries; but the Khalif laughed not neither smiled, whereat +Ibn el Caribi marvelled and was chagrined and affrighted. Then +said the Khalif, 'Now hast thou earned the beating,' and gave +him a blow with the bag, in which were four pebbles, each two +pounds in weight. The blow fell on his neck and he gave a great +cry, then calling to mind his compact with Mesrour, said, +'Pardon, O Commander of the Faithful! Hear two words from me.' +'Say on,' replied the Khalif. Quoth Ibn el Caribi, 'Mesrour +made it a condition with me that, whatsoever might come to me +of the bounties of the Commander of the Faithful, one-third +thereof should be mine and the rest his; nor did he agree to +leave me so much as one-third save after much haggling. Now +thou hast bestowed on me nothing but beating; I have had my +share and here stands he, ready to receive his; so give him the +two other blows.' + +When the Khalif heard this, he laughed till he fell backward; +then calling Mesrour, he gave him a blow, whereat he cried out +and said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, one-third sufficeth me: +give him the two-thirds.' The Khalif laughed at them and +ordered them a thousand diners each, and they went away, +rejoicing. + + + + + + + THE DEVOUT PRINCE. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid had a son, who, from the time he +attained the age of sixteen, renounced the world and walked in +the way of ascetics and devotees. He was wont to go out to the +tombs and say, 'Behold, ye that lie here once possessed the +world, but that was no deliverer for you [from death], and now +are ye come to your graves! Would God I knew what ye say and +what is said to you!' And he wept, as one weeps that is +troubled and fearful, and repeated the words of the poet: + +Whene'er the funerals pass, my heart with fear is torn, And the + wailing of the mourners maketh me to mourn. + +One day, as he sat among the tombs, according to his wont, his +father passed by, in all his state, surrounded by his viziers +and grandees and the officers of his household, who saw the +Khalif's son, with a gown of woollen stuff on his body and a +cowl of the same on his head, and said to one another, 'This +youth dishonours the Commander of the Faithful among Kings: +but, if he reproved him, he would leave his present way of +life.' The Khalif heard what they said; so he bespoke his son +of this, saying, 'O my son, thou puttest me to shame by thy +present way of life.' The young man looked at him and made no +reply: then he beckoned to a bird, that was perched on the +battlements of the palace, and said to it, 'O bird, I conjure +thee, by Him who created thee, alight upon my hand.' And +straightway it flew down and perched on his hand. Quoth he, +'Return to thy place;' and it did so. Then he said, 'Alight on +the hand of the Commander of the Faithful;' but it refused, and +he said to his father, 'It is thou that puttest me to shame, +amongst the friends of God, by thy love of the world; and now I +am resolved to depart from thee, never to return to thee, save +in the world to come.' Then he went down to Bassora, where he +fell to working with those that wrought in mud,[FN#133] taking, +as his day's hire, but a dirhem and a danic.[FN#134] With the +danic he fed himself and gave alms of the dirhem. + +(Quoth Abou Aamir of Bassora), There fell down a wall in my +house: so I went out to the station of the artisans, to find +one who should set it up for me, and my eyes fell on a handsome +youth of a radiant countenance. So I accosted him and said to +him, "O my friend, dost thou seek work?" "Yes," answered he; +and I said, "Come with me and build a wall." "On two conditions," +replied he. Quoth I, "What are they, O my friend?" "First," +said he, "that my hire be a dirhem and a danic, and secondly, +that, when the Muezzin calls to prayer, thou shalt let me +go pray with the congregation." "It is well," answered I +and carried him to my house, where he fell to work, such work +as I never saw the like of. Presently, I named to him the +morning meal; but he said, "No;" and I knew that he was +fasting. When he heard the call to prayer, he said to me, "Thou +knowest the condition?" "Yes," answered I. So he loosed his +girdle and applying himself to the ablution, made it after a +fashion than which I never saw a goodlier; then went to the +mosque and prayed with the congregation and returned to his +work. He did the like upon the call to afternoon-prayer, and +when I saw him fall to work again thereafterward, I said to +him, "O my friend, the hours of labour are over for to-day; a +workman's day is but till the time of afternoon-prayer." "Glory +be to God," answered he, "my service is till the night." And he +ceased not to work till nightfall, when I gave him two dirhems. +Quoth he, "What is this?" "By Allah," answered I, "this is +[but] part of thy wage, because of thy diligence in my service." +But he threw me back the two pieces, saying, "I will have no +more than was agreed upon between us." I pressed him to take +them, but could not prevail upon him; so I gave him the dirhem +and the danic, and he went away. + +Next morning early, I went to the station, but found him not; +so I enquired for him and was told that he came thither only on +Saturdays. So, when Saturday came, I betook me to the market +and finding him there, said to him, "In the name of God, do me +the favour to come and work for me." ["Willingly,"] said he, +"upon the conditions thou wottest of." "It is well," answered I +and carrying him to my house, stood watching him, unseen of +him, and saw him take a handful of mud and lay it on the wall, +when, behold, the stones ranged themselves one upon another; +and I said, "On this wise are the friends of God." He worked +out his day and did even more than before; and when it was +night, I gave him his hire, and he took it and went away. + +When the third Saturday came round, I went to the standing, but +found him not; so I enquired for him and was told that he lay +sick in the hut of such a woman. Now this was an old woman, +renowned for piety, who had a hut of reeds in the burial- +ground. So I went thither and found him lying on the naked +earth, with a brick for a pillow and his face beaming with +light. I saluted him and he returned my salute; and I sat +down at his head, weeping over his tenderness of years and +strangerhood and submission to the will of his Lord. Then said +I to him, "Hast thou any need?" "Yes," answered he; and I said, +"What is it?" He replied, "Come hither tomorrow in the forenoon +and thou wilt find me dead. Wash me and dig my grave and tell +none thereof: but shroud me in this my gown, after thou hast +unsewn it and taken out what thou shalt find in the bosom, +which keep with thee. Then, when thou hast prayed over me and +laid me in the dust, go to Baghdad and watch for the Khalif +Haroun er Reshid, till he come forth, when do thou bear him my +salutation and give him what thou shalt find in the breast of +my gown." Then he made the profession of the Faith and glorified +his Lord in the most eloquent of words, reciting the following +verses: + +Carry the trust of him on whom the wished-for death hath come + To Er Reshid, and thy reward with thy Creator stand! +"An exile greets thee," say, "who longed full sorely for thy + sight; With long desire he yearned for thee, far in a + foreign strand. +Nor hate nor weariness from thee estranged him, for, indeed, To + God Most High he was brought near by kissing thy right + hand. +But, O my father, 'twas his heart, shunning the vain delights + Of this thy world, that drove him forth to seek a distant + land!" + +Then he betook himself to prayer, asking pardon of God and +blessing the Lord of the Just[FN#135] and repeating verses of +the Koran; after which he recited the following: + +Let not prosperity delude thee, father mine; For fortune wastes + and life itself must pass away. +Whenas thou com'st to know of folk in evil plight, Think thou + must answer it upon the Judgment Day; +And when thou bearest forth the dead unto the tombs, Think that + thou, too, must pass upon the self-same way! + +Then I left him and went home. On the morrow, I returned, at +the appointed hour, and found him indeed dead, the mercy of God +be on him! So I washed him and unsewing his gown, found in the +bosom a ruby worth thousands of diners and said to myself, "By +Allah, this youth was indeed abstracted from the things of this +world!" After I had buried him, I made my way to Baghdad and +going to the Khalif's palace, waited till he came forth, when I +accosted him in one of the streets and gave him the ruby, which +when he saw, he knew and fell down in a swoon. His attendants +laid hands on me, but he revived and bade them unhand me and +bring me courteously to the palace. They did his bidding, and +when he returned, he sent for me and carrying me into his +closet, said to me, "How doth the owner of this ruby?" Quoth I, +"He is dead;" and told him what had passed; whereupon he fell +a-weeping and said, "The son hath profited, but the father is +disappointed." Then he called out, saying, "Ho, such an one!" +And behold, a woman came out to him. When she saw me, she would +have withdrawn; but he said to her, "Come; and heed him not." +So she entered and saluted, and he threw her the ruby, which +when she knew, she gave a great shriek and fell down in a +swoon. As soon as she came to herself, she said, "O Commander +of the Faithful, what hath God done with my son?" And he said +to me, "Do thou tell her;" for he could not speak for weeping. +So I repeated the story to her, and she began to weep and say +in a failing voice, "How I have longed for thy sight, O +consolation of my eyes! Would I might have given thee to drink, +when thou hadst none to tend thee! Would I might have companied +with thee, whenas thou foundest none to cheer thee!" And she +poured forth tears and recited the following verses: + +I weep for one to whom death came, an exile and in pain: Alone + he died, without a friend to whom he might complain. +Puissant and honoured and conjoined with those that loved him + dear, To live alone and seeing none, unfriended, he was + fain. +That which the days conceal shall yet be manifest to us: Not + one of us by death, indeed, unsmitten may remain. +O absent one, the Lord of all decreed thy strangerhood, And + thou left'st far behind the love that was betwixt us + twain! +Though death, my son, forbid me hope to see thee in this life, + Tomorrow, on the Reckoning-Day, we two shall meet again. + +Quoth I, "O Commander of the Faithful, was he indeed thy son?" +"Yes," answered he; "and indeed, before I succeeded to this +office, he was wont to visit the learned and company with the +devout; but, when I became Khalif, he grew estranged from me +and withdrew himself apart. Then said I to his mother, 'This +thy son is absorbed in God the Most High, and it may be that +tribulations shall befall him and he be smitten with stress of +evil chance; wherefore, do thou give him this ruby, that it may +be to him a resource in the hour of need.' So she gave it him, +conjuring him to take it, and he obeyed her. Then he left the +things of our world to us and removed himself from us; nor did +he cease to be absent from us, till he went to the presence of +God (to whom belong might and majesty) with a holy and pure +mind." Then said he, "Come, show me his grave." So we repaired +to Bassora and I showed him his son's grave. When he saw it, he +wept and lamented, till he fell down in a swoon; after which he +came to himself and asked pardon of God, saying, "We are God's, +and to Him we return!" and invoked blessings on the dead. Then he +besought me of companionship; but I said to him, "O Commander of +the Faithful, verily, in thy son's case is for me the gravest of +admonitions!" And I recited the following verses: + +'Tis I am the stranger! None harbours the wight, Though he lie + in his native city by night. +'Tis I am the exile! Nor children nor wife Nor comrades have I, + to take ruth on my plight. +The mosques are my refuge; I haunt them indeed: My heart from + their shelter shall never take flight. +To the Lord of all creatures, to God be the praise, Whilst yet + in the body abideth the spright! + + + + + + THE SCHOOLMASTER WHO FELL IN LOVE BY + REPORT. + + + +(Quoth one of the erudite), I passed once by a [school, in +which a] schoolmaster, comely of aspect and well dressed, was +teaching children; so I entered, and he rose and made me sit +with him. Then I examined him in the Koran and in syntax and +poetry and lexicography, and found him perfect in all that was +required of him and said to him, "God strengthen thy purpose! +Thou art indeed versed in all that is sought of thee." So I +frequented him awhile, discovering daily some new excellence +in him, and said to myself, "This is indeed a wonder in a +schoolmaster; for the understanding are agreed upon the lack of +wit of those that teach children." Then I separated myself from +him and sought him out and visited him [only] every few days, +till, one day, coming to see him as of wont, I found the school +shut and made enquiry of the neighbours, who said, "Some one is +dead in his house." So I said to myself, "It behoves me to pay +him a visit of condolence," and going to his house, knocked at +the door. A slave-girl came out to me and said, "What dost thou +want?" "I want thy master," answered I. Quoth she, "He is +sitting alone, mourning." "Tell him," rejoined I, "that his +friend so and so seeks to condole with him." She went in and +told him; and he said, "Admit him." So she brought me in to +him, and I found him seated alone and his head bound [with the +fillets of mourning]. "May God amply requite thee!" said I. +"This is a road all must perforce travel, and it behoves thee +to take patience. But who is dead unto thee?" "One who was +dearest and best beloved of the folk to me," answered he. Quoth +I, "Perhaps thy father?" He replied, "No;" and I said, "Thy +mother?" "No," answered he. "Thy brother?" "No." "One of thy +kindred?" "No." "Then," asked I, "what relation was the dead to +thee?" "My mistress," answered he. Quoth I to myself, "This is +the first sign of his lack of wit." Then I said to him, "There +are others than she and fairer;" and he answered, "I never saw +her, that I might judge whether or no there be others fairer +than she." Quoth I to myself, "This is another sign" Then I +said to him, "And how couldst thou fall in love with one thou +hast never seen?" Quoth he, "I was sitting one day at the +window, when there passed by a man, singing the following +verse: + +Umm Amri,[FN#136] God requite thee thy generosity! Give back my + heart, prithee, wherever it may be! + +When I heard this, I said to myself, 'Except this Umm Amri were +without equal in the world, the poets had not celebrated her in +amorous verse.' So I fell in love with her; but, two days +after, the same man passed, singing the following verse: + +The jackass with Umm Amri departed; but, alas, Umm Amri! She + returned not again, nor did the ass. + +Thereupon I knew that she was dead and mourned for her. This +was three days ago, and I have been mourning ever since." So I +left him and went away, having assured myself of the feebleness +of his wit. + + + + + + + THE FOOLISH SCHOOLMASTER + + + +A man of elegant culture once entered a school and sitting down +by the master, entered into discourse with him and found him an +accomplished theologian, poet, grammarian and lexicographer, +intelligent, well bred and pleasant; whereat he wondered, +saying in himself, 'It cannot be that a man, who teaches +children in a school, should have a perfect wit.' When he was +about to go away, the schoolmaster said to him, 'Thou art my +guest to-night;' and he consented and accompanied him to his +house, where he made much of him and set food before him. They +ate and drank and sat talking, till a third part of the night +was past, when the host spread his guest a bed and went up to +his harem. The other lay down and addressed himself to sleep, +when, behold, there arose a great clamour in the harem. He +asked what was to do, and they said, 'A terrible thing hath +befallen the sheikh, and he is at the last gasp.' 'Take me up +to him,' said he. So they carried him to the schoolmaster, whom +he found lying insensible, with his blood streaming down. He +sprinkled water on his face and when he revived, he said to +him, 'What has betided thee? When thou leftest me, thou west in +all good cheer and sound of body.' 'O my brother,' answered the +schoolmaster, 'after I left thee, I sat meditating on the works +of God the Most High and said to myself, "In every thing God +hath created for man there is an use; for He (to whom be glory) +created the hands to seize, the feet to walk, the eyes to see, +the ears to hear and the yard to do the deed of kind; and so on +with all the members of the body, except these two cullions; +there is no use in them." So I took a razor I had by me and cut +them off; and there befell me what thou seest.' So the guest +left him and went away, saving, 'He was in the right who said, +"No schoolmaster who teaches children can have a perfect wit, +though he know all sciences." + + + + + + THE IGNORANT MAN WHO SET UP FOR A + SCHOOLMASTER. + + + +There was once, among the hangers-on of the collegiate mosque, +a man who knew not how to read and write and got his bread by +gulling the folk. One day, he bethought him to open a school +and teach children; so he got him tablets and written scrolls +and hung them up in a [conspicuous] place. Then he enlarged his +turban and sat down at the door of the school. The people, who +passed by and saw his turban and the tablets and scrolls, +thought he must be a very learned doctor; so they brought him +their children; and he would say to this, 'Write,' and to that, +'Read;' and thus they taught one another. + +One day, as he sat, as of wont, at the door of the school, he +saw a woman coming up, with a letter in her hand, and said to +himself, 'This woman doubtless seeks me, that I may read her +the letter she has in her hand. How shall I do with her seeing +I cannot read writing?' And he would fain have gone down and +fled from her; but, before he could do this, she overtook him +and said to him, 'Whither away?' Quoth he, 'I purpose to pray +the noontide-prayer and return.' 'Noon is yet distant,' said +she; 'so read me this letter.' He took the letter and turning +it upside down, fell to looking at it, now shaking his head and +anon knitting his eyebrows and showing concern. Now the letter +came from the woman's husband, who was absent; and when she saw +the schoolmaster do thus, she said, 'Doubtless my husband is +dead, and this learned man is ashamed to tell me so.' So she +said to him, 'O my lord, if he be dead, tell me.' But he shook +his head and held his peace. Then said she, 'Shall I tear my +clothes?' 'Tear,' answered he. 'Shall I buffet my face?' asked +she; and he said, 'Buffet.' So she took the letter from his +hand and returning home, fell a-weeping, she and her children. + +One of her neighbours heard her weeping and asking what ailed +her, was answered, 'She hath gotten a letter, telling her that +her husband is dead.' Quoth the man, 'This is a lying saying; +for I had a letter from him but yesterday, advising me that he +is in good health and case and will be with her after ten +days.' So he rose forthright and going in to her, said, 'Where +is the letter thou hast received?' She brought it to him, and +he took it and read it; and it ran as follows, after the usual +salutations, 'I am well and in good health and case and will be +with thee after ten days. Meanwhile, I send thee a quilt and an +extinguisher.'[FN#137] So she took the letter and returning +with it to the schoolmaster, said to him, 'What moved thee to +deal thus with me?' And she repeated to him what her neighbour +had told her of her husband's well-being and of his having sent +her a quilt and an extinguisher. 'Thou art in the right,' +answered he. 'But excuse me, good woman; for I was, at the +time, troubled and absent-minded and seeing the extinguisher +wrapped in the quilt, thought that he was dead and they had +shrouded him.' The woman, not smoking the cheat, said, 'Thou +art excused.' and taking the letter, went away. + + + + + + THE KING AND THE VIRTUOUS WIFE + + + +A certain King once went forth in disguise, to look into the +affairs of his subjects. Presently, he came to a great village +and being athirst, stopped at the door of a house and asked for +water. There came out to him a fair woman, with a pitcher of +water, which she gave him, and he drank. When he looked at her, +he was ravished with her and required her of love. Now she knew +him; so she brought him into the house and making him sit down, +brought out a book and said to him, 'Look in this book, whilst +I order my affair and return to thee.' So he looked into the +book, and behold, it treated of the Divine prohibition against +adultery and of the punishments that God hath prepared for +those that do it. When he read this, his flesh quaked and he +repented to God the Most High: then he called the woman and +giving her the book, went away. Now her husband was absent and +when he returned, she told him what had passed, whereat he was +confounded and said in himself, 'I fear lest the King's desire +have fallen upon her.' And he dared not have to do with her +after this. + +After awhile, the wife told her kinsfolk of her husband's +conduct, and they complained of him to the King, saying, 'May +God advance the King! This man hired of us a piece of land, for +tillage, and tilled it awhile; then left it fallow and tilled +it not, neither forsook it, that we might let it to one who +would till it. Indeed, harm is come to the field, and we fear +its corruption, for that land, if it be not tilled' spoileth.' +Quoth the King to the man, 'What hinders thee from tilling thy +land?' 'May God advance the King!' answered he. 'It came to my +knowledge that a lion entered the field, wherefore I stood in +awe of him and dared not approach it, seeing that I know I +cannot cope with the lion, and I stand in fear of him.' The +King understood the parable and rejoined, saying, 'O fellow, +the lion trampled not thy land, and it is good for tillage; so +do thou till it and God prosper thee in it, for the lion hath +done it no hurt.' Then he bade give the man and his wife a +handsome present and sent them away. + + + + + + ABDURREHMAN THE MOOR'S STORY OF THE ROC. + + + +There was once a man of the people of Morocco, called +Abdurrehman the Moor, and he was known, to boot, as the +Chinaman, for his long sojourn in Cathay. He had journeyed far +and wide and traversed many seas and deserts and was wont to +relate wondrous tales of his travels. He was once cast upon an +island, where he abode a long while and returning thence to his +native country, brought with him the quill of the wing-feather +of a young roe, whilst yet unhatched and in the egg; and this +quill was big enough to hold a skinful of water, for it is said +that the length of the young roe's wing, when it comes forth of +the egg, is a thousand fathoms. The folk marvelled at this +quill, when they saw it, and Abdurrehman related to them the +following adventure. + +He was on a voyage in the China seas, with a company of +merchants, when they sighted a great island so they steered +for it and casting anchor before it, saw that it was large and +spacious. The ship's people went ashore to get wood and water, +taking with them skins and ropes and axes, and presently espied +a great white gleaming dome, a hundred cubits high. So they +made towards it and drawing near, found that it was a roe's +egg and fell on it with axes and stones and sticks, till they +uncovered the young bird and found it as it were a firm-set +mountain. They went about to pluck out one of its wing-feathers, +but could not win to do so, save by helping one another, for +all the feathers were not full grown; after which they took +what they could carry of the young bird's flesh and cutting +the quill away from the feather-part, returned to the ship. +Then they spread the canvas and putting out to sea, sailed +with a fair wind all that night, till the sun rose, when they +saw the old roc come flying after them, as he were a vast +cloud, with a rock in his talons, like a great mountain, bigger +than the ship. As soon as he came over the vessel, he let fall +the rock upon it; but the ship, having great way on her, +forewent the rock, which fell into the sea with a terrible +crash. So God decreed them safety and delivered them from +destruction; and they cooked the young bird's flesh and ate it. +Now there were amongst them old grey bearded men; and when they +awoke on the morrow, they found that their beards had turned +black, nor did any who had eaten of the young roc ever grow +grey. Some held the cause of the return of youth to them and +the ceasing of hoariness from them to be that they had heated +the pot with arrow-wood, whilst others would have it that it +came of eating the young roe's flesh; and this is indeed a +wonder of wonders. + + + + + + ADI BEN ZEID AND THE PRINCESS HIND. + + + +En Numan ben el Mundhir, King of the Arabs [of Irak], had a +daughter named Hind, who was eleven years old and was the +loveliest woman of her age and time. She went out one Easter, +which is a feast-day of the Nazarenes,[FN#138] to the White +Church, to take the sacrament. Now that day came to El Hireh a +young man called Adi ben Zeid,[FN#139] with presents from +Chosroës,[FN#140] to En Numan, and he also went into the White +Church, to communicate. He was tall and well-favoured, with +handsome eyes and smooth cheeks, and had with him a company of +his people. Now there was with Hind a slave-girl named Mariyeh, +who was enamoured of Adi, but had not been able to win to him. +So, when she saw him in the church, she said to Hind, 'Look at +yonder youth. By Allah, he is handsomer than all thou seest!' +'And who is he?' asked Hind. 'Adi ben Zeid,' answered Mariyeh +Quoth the princess, 'I fear lest he know me, if I draw near, +to look on him closelier.' 'How should he know thee,' said +Mariyeh, 'when he has never seen thee?' So she drew near him +and found him jesting with his companions; and indeed he +surpassed them all, not only in his beauty, but in the excellence +of his speech and the eloquence of his tongue and the richness +of his apparel. When the princess saw him, she was ravished with +him, her reason was confounded and her colour changed; and +Mariyeh, seeing her inclination to him, said to her, 'Speak to +him.' So she spoke to him and went away. + +When he saw her and heard her speech, he was captivated by her +and his wit was dazed; his colour changed and his heart +fluttered, so that his companions misdoubted of him, and he +whispered one of them to follow her and find out who she was. +The man followed her and returning to his master, informed him +that she was the princess Hind, daughter of En Numan. So Adi +left the church, knowing not whither he went, for stress of +love, and reciting the following verses: + +Companions mine, yet one more favour I entreat: Address ye to + the ways once more your travelling feet. +Turn me towards the lands, the lands where Hinda dwells; Then + go and her I love with tidings of me greet. + +Then he went to his lodging and lay that night, restless nor +tasting sleep. On the morrow, Mariyeh accosted him, and he +received her kindly, though before he would not hearken to her, +and said to her, 'What is thy will?' Quoth she, 'I have a suit +to thee.' 'Name it,' answered he; 'for, by Allah, thou shalt +not ask me aught, but I will give it thee!' So she told him +that she was in love with him, and her suit to him was that he +would grant her a lover's privacy; and he agreed to do her +will, on condition that she would serve him with Hind and make +shift to bring them together. Then he took her into a vintner's +shop, in one of the by-streets of Hireh, and lay with her; +after which she returned to Hind and said to her, 'Dost thou +not long to see Adi?' 'How can this be?' replied the princess. +'Indeed my longing for him makes me restless, and no repose is +left me since yesterday, on his account.' Quoth Mariyeh, 'I +will appoint him to be in such a place, where thou canst look +on him from the palace.' 'Do what thou wilt,' replied Hind and +agreed with her upon the place. + +So Adi came, and the princess looked out upon him; and when she +saw him, she was like to fall down from the top of the palace +and said to Mariyeh, 'Except thou bring him in to me this +night, I shall die.' So saying, she fell down in a swoon, and +her serving-women lifted her up and bore her into the palace; +whilst Mariyeh hastened to En Numan and discovered the whole +matter to him, saying, 'Verily, she is mad for love of Adi; and +except thou marry her to him, she will be put to shame and die +of love for him.' The King bowed his head awhile in thought and +exclaimed again and again, 'Verily, we are God's and to Him we +return!' Then said he, 'Out on thee! How shall the marriage be +brought about, seeing it misliketh me to open the matter to +him?' 'He is yet more ardently in love and yet more desireful +of her than she of him,' answered Mariyeh; 'and I will so order +the matter that he shall be unaware that his case is known to +thee; but do not betray thyself, O King.' + +Them she went to Adi and said to him, 'Make a feast and bid the +King thereto; and when wine hath gotten the better of him, ask +of him the hand of his daughter, for he will not refuse thee.' +Quoth Adi, 'I fear lest this enrage him against me and be the +cause of enmity between us.' + +But she answered, 'I came not to thee, till I had settled the +whole matter with him.' Then she returned to En Numan and said +to him, 'Seek of Adi that he entertain thee in his house.' +'There is no harm in that,' replied the King and after three +days, besought Adi to give him and his lords the morning-meal +in his house. The young man consented, and the King went to +him; and when the wine had taken effect on En Numan, Adi rose +and sought of him his daughter in marriage. He consented and +married them and brought her to him after three days; and they +abode at En Numan's court, in all delight and solace of life, +three years, at the end of which time the King was wroth with +Adi and slew him. Hind mourned for him with an exceeding grief +and built her a convent without the city, whither she retired +and devoted herself to religious exercises, weeping and +bemoaning her husband, till she died. And her convent is extant +to this day without El Hireh. + + + + + + DIBIL EL KHUZAÏ WITH THE LADY AND MUSLIM + BEN EL WELID. + + + +(Quoth Dibil el Khuzaï[FN#141]), I was sitting one day at the +gate of El Kerkh,[FN#142] when a lady came up to me, never saw +I a handsomer or better shaped than she, walking with a swaying +gait and ravishing, with her flexile grace, all who beheld her. +When my eyes fell on her, I was captivated by her and my +entrails trembled and meseemed my heart fled forth of my +breast; so I accosted her with the following verse: + +Unsealed are the springs of tears for mine eyes, heigho! And + sealed are the springs of sleep to my lids, for woe. + +She turned her head and looking at me, made answer forthright +with the following: + +And surely, an ailing eye to have, for him Whom her looks + invite, is a little thing, I trow. + +I was astounded at the readiness of her reply and the sweetness +of her speech and rejoined with this verse: + +And doth then the heart of my fair indeed incline To favour him + whose tears as a river flow? + +She answered me, without hesitation, thus: + +If thou desire us of love, betwixt us love Is a loan to be + returned, I'd have thee know. + +Never entered my ears sweeter than her speech nor ever saw I +brighter than her face: so I changed the rhyme and measure, to +try her, in my wonder at her speech, and repeated the following +verse: + +Will destiny e'er gladden us with union and delight And one + desireful one at last with other one unite? + +She smiled at this, (never saw I fairer than her mouth nor +sweeter than her lips,) and answered me, without hesitation, as +follows: + +I prithee, what hath destiny to do betwixt us twain? Thou'rt + destiny: rejoice us, then, with union and delight. + +At this, I sprang up and kissing her hands, said, "I had not +thought that Fortune would vouchsafe me such an opportunity. Do +thou follow me, not of command or against thy will, but of thy +grace and favour to me." Then I went on and she after me. + +Now I had not, at that time, a lodging I deemed fit for the +like of her; Muslim ben El Welid[FN#143] was my fast friend, +and he had a handsome house. So I made for his abode and +knocked at the door, whereupon he came out, and I saluted him, +saying, "It is for a time like this that friends are treasured +up." "With all my heart," answered he; "enter." So we entered, +I and the lady, but found money scarce with him. However, he +gave me a handkerchief, saying, "Carry it to the market and +sell it and buy meat and what else thou needest." So I took the +handkerchief and hastening to the market, sold it and bought +meat and what else we required; but, when I returned, I found +that Muslim had retired, with the lady, to an underground +chamber.[FN#144] When he heard me, he came out and said to me, +"God requite thee the kindness thou hast done me, O Abou +Ali,[FN#145] and reckon it of thy good deeds on the Day of +Resurrection!" So saying, he took from me the meat and wine and +shut the door in my face His words enraged me and I knew not +what to do; but he stood behind the door, shaking for mirth; +and when he saw me thus, he said to me, "I conjure thee on my +life, O Abou Ali, tell me who it was composed this verse? + +I lay in the arms of the fair one all night, Whilst my friend + slept, clean-limbed, but polluted of spright." + +At this, my rage redoubled, and I replied, "He who wrote this +other verse: + +One, I wish him in's girdle a thousand of horns, Exceeding the +idol Menaf[FN#146] in their height!" + +Then I began to revile him and reproach him with the foulness +of his conduct and his lack of honour; and he was silent. But, +when I had finished, he smiled and said, "Out on thee, O fool! +Thou hast entered my house and sold my handkerchief and spent +my money: so, with whom art thou wroth, O pimp?" Then he left +me and went away to her, whilst I said, "By Allah, thou art +right to call me a fool and a pimp!" Then I left his door and +went away in sore concern, whereof I feel the trace in my heart +to this day; and I never had my desire of her nor ever heard of +her more. + + + + + + ISAAC OF MOSUL AND THE MERCHANT. + + + +(Quoth Ishac ben Ibrahim el Mausili), One day, being weary of +assiduous attendance upon the Khalif, I mounted my horse and +went forth, at break of day, having a mind to ride out and take +my pleasure in the open country, and I said to my servant, "If +there come a messenger from the Khalif or another, say that I +set out at daybreak, upon a pressing business, and that thou +knowest not whither I am gone." So I rode forth alone and went +round about the city, till the sun grew hot, when I halted in a +street, known as El Herem, and stood my horse under the +spacious jutting porch of one of the houses there, to shelter +me from the glare of the sun. + +I had not stood long, before there came up a black slave, +leading an ass with jewelled housings, on which sat a damsel, +clad in the richest of clothes, richness can go no farther; and +I saw that she was elegantly made, with languorous looks and +graceful carriage. I asked one of the passers-by who she was, +and he said, "She is a singer." And I fell in love with her at +sight, so that I could scarce keep my seat on my horse's back. +She entered the house at whose gate I stood; and as I cast +about for a device to gain access to her, there came up two +comely young men, who sought admission, and the master of the +house gave them leave to enter. So they alighted and entered, +and I with them, they supposing that the master of the house +had invited me; and we sat awhile, till food was brought and we +ate. Then they set wine before us, and the damsel came out, +with a lute in her hand. She sang and we drank, till I rose to +do an occasion. During my absence, the host questioned the two +others of me, and they replied that they knew me not; whereupon +quoth he, "This fellow is a spunger, but he is well-bred and +pleasant; so entreat him fairly." Then I came back and sat down +in my place, whilst the damsel sang the following verses to a +pleasing air: + +Say thou unto the she-gazelle, who yet is no gazelle, And the + wild heifer, languorous-eyed, who yet no heifer is, +"One, who in dalliance affects the male, no female is, And he + who is effeminate of step's no male, ywis." + +She sang it excellent well, and the company drank and her song +pleased them. Then she sang various songs to rare tunes, and +amongst the rest one of mine, to the following words: + +The pleasant girls have gone and left The homesteads empty and + bereft +Of their sweet converse, after cheer, All void and ruined by + Time's theft. + +She sang this even better than the first; then she sang other +rare songs, old and new, and amongst them, another of mine, +with the following words: + +To the loved one, who turneth in anger away And vrithdraweth + himself far apart from thee, say, +"The mischief thou wroughtest, thou wroughtest indeed, For all, + per-adventure, thou west but in play." + +I asked her to repeat the song, that I might correct it for +her; whereupon one of the men turned to me and said, "Never saw +I a more brazen-faced parasite than thou. Art thou not content +with spunging, but thou must meddle, to boot? Verily, in thee +is the saying made true, 'A parasite and a meddler.'" I hung +down my head for shame and made him no answer, whilst his +companion would have restrained him from me; but he would not +be restrained. Presently, they rose to pray, but I hung behind +a little and taking the lute, tuned it after a particular +fashion and stood up to pray with the rest. When we had made an +end of prayer, the same man fell again to flouting and reviling +me and persisted in his churlishness, whilst I held my peace. +Then the damsel took the lute and touching it, knew that it was +other than as she had left it and said, "Who hath touched my +lute?" Quoth they, "None of us hath touched it." "Nay, by +Allah," rejoined she, "some one hath touched it, and he a past +master in the craft; for he hath ordered the strings and tuned +them after the fashion of one who is right skilled in the art." +Quoth I, "It was I tuned it." "Then, God on thee," answered +she, "take it and play on it!" So I took it and playing a rare +and difficult measure, that came nigh to deaden the live and +raise the dead, sang thereto the following verses: + +I had a heart, wherewith of yore I lived: 'Twas seared with + fire and all consumed indeed. +Her love, alack I was not vouchsafed to me; Unto the slave + 'twas not of Heaven decreed. +If what I taste be passion's very food, Then all who love upon + its like must feed. + +When I had finished, there was not one of the company but +sprang from his place and sat down before me,[FN#147] saying +"God on thee, O our lord, sing us another song." "With all my +heart," said I and playing another measure in masterly fashion, +sang thereto the following: + +O thou whose heart, for fortune's blows, is all consumed and + sped, Sorrows with whom from every side have taken up + their stead, +Unlawful unto her, my heart who pierces with her shafts, Is + that my blood which, breast-bones 'twixt and + vitals,[FN#148] she hath shed. +'Twas plain, upon the parting day, that her resolve, our loves + To sunder, unto false suspect must be attributed. +She pours forth blood she had not shed, if passion had not + been. Will none my murderess ensue and wreak me on her + head? + +When I had made an end of this song, there was not one of them +but rose to his feet and threw himself to the ground, for +excess of delight. Then I cast the lute from my hand; but they +said, "Allah on thee, let us hear another song, so God increase +thee of His bounty!" "O folk," replied I, "I will sing you +another song and another and another and will tell you who I +am. Know that I am Ishac ben Ibrahim el Mausili, and by Allah, +I bear myself haughtily to the Khalif, when he seeks me. Ye +have today made me hear [abuse from] an unmannerly fellow such +as I loathe; and by Allah, I will not speak a word nor sit with +you, till ye put yonder quarrelsome churl out from among you!" +Quoth the latter's companion to him, "This is what I feared and +warned thee against." So they took him by the hand and put him +out; and I took the lute and sang over again the songs of my +fashion that the damsel had sung. Then I whispered the host +that she had taken my heart and that I had no patience to +endure from her. Quoth he, "Thou shalt have her and all that +pertains to her of clothes and jewels, on one condition." "What +is that?" asked I. "It is," answered he, "that thou abide with +me a month." "It is well," rejoined I; "I will do this." So I +abode with him a whole month, whilst none knew where I was and +the Khalif sought me everywhere, but could come by no news of +me; and at the end of this time, the merchant delivered to me +the damsel, together with all that pertained to her of things +of price and an eunuch to attend her. + +I brought her to my lodging, feeling as I were lord of the +whole world, for stress of delight in her; then rode forthright +to El Mamoun. When he saw me, he said, "Out on thee, O Isaac, +where hast thou been all this while?" I acquainted him with the +story and he said, "Bring me the man at once." So I told him +where he dwelt, and he sent and fetched him and questioned him +of the case; whereupon he repeated the story and the Khalif +said to him, "Thou art a man of a generous mind, and it is just +that thou be upheld in thy generosity." Then he ordered him a +hundred thousand dirhems and said to me, "O Isaac, bring me the +damsel." So I brought her to him, and she sang and delighted +him. He was greatly gladdened by her and ordered her fifty +thousand dirhems, saying to me, "I appoint her of service every +Thursday, when she must come and sing to me from behind the +curtain." So, by Allah, this ride of mine was a source of +profit both to me and to others. + + + + + + THE THREE UNFORTUNATE LOVERS. + + + +(Quoth El Utbi[FN#149]), I was sitting one day with a company +of men of culture, telling stories of the folk, when the talk +turned upon anecdotes of lovers and each of us said his say +thereon. Now there was in our company an old man, who remained +silent, till we had all spoken and had no more to say, when he +said, "Shall I tell you a thing, the like of which you never +heard?" "Yes," answered we; and he said, "Know, then, that I +had a daughter, who loved a youth, but we knew it not. The +youth in question loved a singing-girl, who, in her turn, +was enamoured of my daughter. One day, I was present at an +assembly, where were also the young man and the girl; when the +latter sang the following verses: + +Tears are the token by which, for love, Abjection in lovers + still is shown, +And more by token in one who finds No friend, to whom he may + make his moan. + +'By Allah, thou hast said well, O my lady!' exclaimed the +youth. 'Doss thou bid me die?' 'Yes,' answered the girl from +behind the curtain, 'if thou be in love.' So he laid his head +on a cushion and closed his eyes; and when the cup came round +to him, we shook him and found that he was dead. Therewith we +all flocked to him, and our joy was troubled and we grieved and +broke up forthright. When I came home, my people taxed me with +returning before the appointed time, and I told them what had +befallen the youth, thinking to surprise them. My daughter +heard my words and rising, went into another chamber, whither I +followed her and found her lying, with her head on a cushion, +as I had told of the young man. I shook her and behold, she +was dead. So we laid her out and set forth next morning with +her funeral, whilst the friends of the young man carried him +out, likewise, to bury him. As we were on the way to the +burial-place, we met a third funeral and enquiring whose it +was, were told that it was that of the singing-girl, who, +hearing of my daughter's death, had done even as she and was +dead. So we buried them all three on one day, and this is the +rarest story that ever was heard of lovers." + + + + + + THE LOVERS OF THE BENOU TAI. + + + +Quoth a man of the Benou Temim (cited by Casim ben Adi), I went +out one day in search of a stray beast and coming to the waters +of the Benou Tai, saw two companies of people, near one +another, and those of each company were disputing among +themselves. So I watched them and observed, in one of the +companies, a young man, wasted with sickness, as he were a +worn-out water-skin. As I looked on him, he repeated the +following verses: + +What ails the fair that she returneth not to me? Is't + grudgingness in her or inhumanity? +I sickened, and my folk to visit me came all. Why 'mongst the + visitors wast thou then not to see? +Hadst thou been sick, I would have hastened to thy side; Nor + menaces nor threats had hindered me from thee. +I miss thee midst the rest, and desolate am I: Thy loss, my + heart's abode, is grievous unto me. + +A damsel in the other company heard his words and hastened +towards him. Her people followed her, but she repelled them +with blows. Then the youth caught sight of her and ran towards +her, whilst his people ran after him and laid hold of him. +However, he struggled, till he freed himself from them, and she +in like manner loosed herself; and they ran to each other and +meeting between the two parties, embraced and fell down dead. + +Thereupon there came out an old man from one of the tents and +stood over them, weeping sore and exclaiming, "Verily, we are +God's and to Him we return!" Then, "May God the Most High have +mercy on you both!" said he. "By Allah, though you were not +united in your lives, I will at least unite you after death." +And he bade lay them out. So they washed them and shrouded them +in one shroud and buried them in one grave, after they had +prayed over them; nor were there men nor women in the two +parties but I saw weeping over them and buffeting their faces. +Then I questioned the old man of them, and he said, "She was my +daughter and he my brother's son; and love brought them to this +pass." "May God amend thee!" exclaimed I. "But why didst thou +not marry them to one another?" Quoth he, "I feared reproach +and dishonour; and now I am fallen upon both." + + + + + + THE MAD LOVER. + + + +(Quoth Aboulabbas el Muberred[FN#150]), I set out one day with +a company to El Berid on an occasion, and coming to the +monastery of Heraclius,[FN#151] we alighted in its shade. +Presently a man came out to us and said, "There are madmen in +the monastery, and amongst them one who speaketh wisdom; if ye +saw him, ye would marvel at his speech." So we arose all and +went into the monastery, where we saw a man seated on a leather +mat in one of the cells, with bare head and eyes fixed upon the +wall. We saluted him, and he returned our greeting, without +looking at us; and one said to us, "Repeat some verses to him; +for, when he hears verses, he speaks." So I repeated the +following verses: + +O best of all the race whom Eve gave birth unto, Except for + thee the world were neither sweet nor bright: +Thou'rt he, whose face if God unveil to any man, Eternity is + his; his head shall ne'er grow white.[FN#152] + +When he heard this, he turned towards us and repeated these +lines: + +God indeed knows that I am sore afflicted: I suffer so, I + cannot tell the whole. +I have two souls; one in this place is dwelling; Another + country holds my second soul. +Meseems the absent one is like the present And wearies under + the same weight of dole. + +Quoth he, "Have I said well or ill?" "Thou hast said well and +excellent well," replied we. Then he put out his hand and took +a stone, that was by him; whereupon we fled from him, thinking +he would throw it at us; but he fell to beating his breast +therewith violently and said to us, "Fear not, but draw near +and hear somewhat from me and receive it from me." So we came +back, and he repeated the following verses: + +When they made their beasts of burden kneel as day drew nigh + and nigher, Then they mounted and the camels bore away my + heart's desire,-- +When my eyes perceived my loved one through the crannied + prison-wall, Then I cried, with streaming eyelids and a + heart for love a-fire, +"Turn thou leader of the camels, let me bid my love farewell!" + For her absence and estrangement, life and hope in me + expire. +Still I kept my troth and failed not from her love; ah, would I + knew What she did with that our troth-plight, if she kept + her faith entire! + +Then he looked at me and said, "Dost thou know what she did?" +"Yes," answered I, "she is dead; may God the Most High have +mercy on her!" At this his face changed and he sprang to his +feet and cried out, "How knowest thou she is dead?" "Were she +alive," answered I, "she had not left thee thus." "By Allah, +thou art right," said he, "and I care not to live after her." +Then his nerves quivered and he fell on his face; and we ran up +to him and shook him and found him dead, the mercy of God be on +him! At this we marvelled and mourned sore for him and laid him +out and buried him. When I returned to Baghdad and went in to +the Khalif El Mutawekkil, he saw the trace of tears on my face +and said to me, "What is this?" So I told him what had passed, +and it was grievous to him and he said, "What moved thee to +deal thus with him? By Allah, if I thought thou didst this with +intent, I would punish thee therefor!" And he mourned for him +the rest of the day. + + + + + + THE APPLES OF PARADISE. + + + +(Quoth Abou Bekr Mohammed ibn el Ambari[FN#153]), I once left +Ambar, on a journey to Ammouriyeh, in the land of the Greeks, +[FN#154], and alighted midway at the monastery of El Anwar, +[FN#155], in a village near Ammouriyeh, where there came out +to me the prior of the monastery and superior of the monks, +Abdulmesih[FN#156] by name, and brought me into the monastery. +There I found forty monks, who entertained me that night +with the most liberal hospitality, and I saw among them such +abounding piety and diligence in devotion as I never beheld the +like of in any others. On the morrow, I took leave of them and +went on to Ammouriyeh, where I did my business and returned to +Ambar [without again visiting the monastery]. + +Next year it befell that I made the pilgrimage to Mecca, and as +I was compassing the Holy House, behold, I saw Abdulmesih the +monk also making the circuit of the Kaabeh, and with him five +of his fellows, the monks. When I was certified that it was +indeed he, I accosted him, saying, "Art thou not Abdulmesih er +Rahib?"[FN#157] "Nay," answered he; "I am Abdallah er Raghib." +[FN#158] Therewith I fell to kissing his hoary hairs and weeping; +then, taking him by the hand, I led him aside into a corner of +the sanctuary and said to him, "Tell me the manner of thy +conversion to Islam." "It was a wonder of wonders," answered +he; "and befell thus. Know that, not long after thy visit to +us, a company of Muslim devotees came to the village, in which +is our monastery, and sent a youth to buy them food. He saw, +in the market, a Christian damsel selling bread, who was of +the fairest of women, and became then and there so passionately +enamoured of her, that his senses failed him and he fell on his +face in a swoon. When he revived, he returned to his companions +and told them what had happened, saying, 'Go ye about your +business; I may not go with you.' They blamed him and exhorted +him, but he paid no heed to them; so they left him and went on, +whilst he entered the village and seated himself at the door +of the woman's shop. She asked him what he wanted, and he told +her that he was in love with her, whereupon she turned from +him; but he abode in his place three days, without tasting +food, with his eyes fixed on her face. + +When she saw that he departed not from her, she went to her +people and acquainted them with her case, and they set the boys +of the village on him, who pelted him with stones and bruised +his ribs and broke his head; but, for all this, he would not +budge. Then the people of the village took counsel together to +kill him; but one of them came to me and told me of his +condition, and I went out to him and found him lying prostrate +on the ground. So I wiped the blood from his face and carried +him to the convent, where I dressed his wounds, and he abode +with me fourteen days. But, as soon as he could walk, he left +the convent and returned to the door of the woman's shop, where +he sat gazing on her as before. When she saw him, she came out +to him and said, 'By Allah, thou movest me to pity! If thou +wilt enter my faith, I will marry thee.' 'God forbid,' answered +he, 'that I should put off the faith of the Unity and enter +that of Plurality!'[FN#159] Quoth she, 'Come in with me to my +house and take thy will of me and go thy ways in peace.' 'Not +so,' answered he, 'I will not barter the pious service of +twelve years for the lust of a moment.' 'Then depart from me +forthright,' said she; and he rejoined, 'My heart will not +suffer me to do that;' whereupon she turned her face from him. +Presently the boys found him out and began to throw stones +at him; and he fell on his face, saying, 'Verily, God is my +keeper, who sent down the Book and who protecteth the righteous!' +[FN#160] At this juncture, I sallied forth and driving away +the boys, lifted his head from the ground and heard him say, +'O my God, unite me with her in Paradise!' Then I took him in +my arms, to carry him to the monastery; but he died, before +I could reach it, and I dug him a grave without the village +and buried him there. + +In the middle of that night, the people of the village heard +the damsel give a great cry, and she in her bed; so they +flocked to her and questioned her of her case. Quoth she, 'As I +slept, the Muslim [who ye wot of] came in to me and taking me +by the hand, carried me to the gate of Paradise; but the keeper +denied me entrance, saying, "It is forbidden to unbelievers." +So I embraced Islam at his hands and entering with him, beheld +therein palaces and trees, such as I cannot describe to you. +Moreover, he brought me to a pavilion of jewels and said to me, +"This is my pavilion and thine, nor will I enter it except with +thee; but, after five nights, thou shalt be with me therein, if +it be the will of God the Most High." Then, putting his hand to +a tree that grew at the door of the pavilion, he plucked +therefrom two apples and gave them to me, saying, "Eat this and +keep the other, that the monks may see it." So I ate one of +them and never tasted I aught sweeter than it. Then he took my +hand and carried me back to my house; and when I awoke, I found +the taste of the apple in my mouth and the other in my hand.' +So saying, she brought out the apple, and it shone in the +darkness of the night, as it were a sparkling star. So they +carried her to the monastery, where she repeated to us her +vision and showed us the apple; never saw we its like among all +the fruits of the world. Then I took a knife and cut the apple +into as many pieces as we were folk in the company; and never +knew we aught more delicious than its taste nor sweeter than +its scent; but we said, 'Haply this was a devil that appeared +to her, to seduce her from her faith.' Then her people took her +and went away; but she abstained from eating and drinking till +the fifth night, when she rose from her bed and going forth the +village to the grave of the young Muslim, threw herself upon it +and died. + +Her people knew not what was come of her; but, on the morrow, +there came to the village two Muslim elders, clad in hair- +cloth, and with them two women in like garb, and said, 'O +people of the village, with you is a woman of the friends of +God,[FN#161] who died a Muslim, and we will take charge of her, +instead of you.' So the damsel's family sought her and found +her dead on the young Muslim's grave; and they said, 'This our +sister died in our faith, and we will take charge of her.' 'Not +so,' rejoined the two old men; 'she died a Muslim and we claim +her.' And the dispute waxed hot between them, till one of the +Muslims said, 'Be this the test of her faith. Let the forty +monks of the monastery come all and [essay to] lift her from +the grave. If they succeed, then she died a Nazarene; if not, +one of us shall come and lift her up, and if she yield to him, +she died a Muslim.' The villagers agreed to this and fetched +the forty monks, who heartened each other and came to her, to +lift her, but could not. Then we tied a great rope about her +middle and tugged at it with our might; but the rope broke in +sunder, and she stirred nor; and the villagers came and joined +their endeavour to ours, but could not move her from her place. +At last, when all our devices failed, we said to one of the two +old Muslims, 'Come thou and lift her.' So he went up to the +grave and covering her with his mantle, said, 'In the name of +God the Compassionate, the Merciful, and of the Faith of the +Apostle of God, on whom be peace and salvation!' Then he lifted +her and taking her in his bosom, betook himself with her to a +cave hard by, where they laid her, and the two women came and +washed her and shrouded her. Then the two elders bore her to +the young Muslim's grave and prayed over her and buried her by +his side and went their way. + +Now we were witness of all this; and when we were alone with +one another, we said, 'Of a verity, the Truth is most worthy to +be followed;[FN#162] and indeed it hath been publicly manifested +to us, nor is it possible to have a clearer proof of the truth +of Islam than that we have seen this day with our eyes.' So I +and all the monks embraced Islam and on like wise did the people +of the village; and we sent to the people of Mesopotamia for a +doctor of the law, to instruct us in the ordinances of Islam and +the canons of the Faith. They sent us a pious man, who taught us +the rites of devotion and the tenets of the faith and the +service of God; and we are now in great good case. To God be +the praise and the thanks!" + + + + + + THE LOVES OF ABOU ISA AND CURRET EL AIN. + + + +(Quoth Amr ben Mesaadeh[FN#163]), Abou Isa, son or Er Reshid +and brother to El Mamoun, was enamoured of a girl called Curret +el Ain, belonging to Ali ben Hisham,[FN#164] and she also loved +him; but he concealed his passion, complaining of it to none +neither discovering his secret to any, of his pride and +magnanimity; and he had used his utmost endeavour to buy her of +her lord, but in vain. At last, when his patience failed him +and his passion was sore on him and he was at his wits' end +concerning her affair, he went in, one day of state, to El +Mamoun, after the folk had retired, and said to him, "O +Commander of the Faithful, if thou wilt this day make trial of +thy governors,[FN#165] by visiting them unawares, thou wilt the +men of worth from those that lack of it and note each one's +[due] place, after the measure of his faculties." (But he +purposed, in saying this, to win to sit with Curret el Ain in +her lord's house.) El Mamoun approved his proposal and bade +make ready a barge, called the Flyer, in which he embarked, +with his brother and a party of his chief officers. The first +house he visited was that of Hemid et Tawil of Tous, whom he +found seated on a mat and before him singers and players, with +lutes and hautboys and other instruments of music in their +hands. El Mamoun sat with him awhile, and presently he set +before him dishes of nothing but flesh-meat, with no birds +among them. The Khalif would not taste thereof and Abou Isa +said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, we have taken the +owner of this place unawares, and he knew not of thy coming; +but now let us go to another place, that is prepared and fitted +for thee." + +So the Khalif arose and betook himself, with his brother and +his suite, to the abode of Ali ben Hisham, who, on hearing of +their approach, came out and received them after the goodliest +fashion, and kissed the earth before El Mamoun. Then he brought +them into his palace and opened to them a saloon, than which +never saw eyes a goodlier. Its floors and walls and columns +were of vari-coloured marble, adorned with Greek paintings: it +was spread with Indian matting, on which were carpets and +divans of Bassora make, fitted to the length and breadth of the +room. The Khalif sat awhile, examining the house and its roof +and walls, then said, "Give us to eat." So they brought him +forthwith nigh upon a hundred dishes of fowls, besides other +birds and brewises and fricassees and marinades. When he had +eaten, he said, "Give us to drink, O Ali;" and the latter set +before him raisin-wine, boiled with fruits and spices, in +vessels of gold and silver and crystal, served by boys like +moons, clad in garments of Alexandrian cloth of gold and +bearing on their breasts flagons of crystal, full of rose-water +mingled with musk. El Mamoun marvelled exceedingly at all this +and said, "Harkye, Aboulhusn!"[FN#166] Whereupon Ali sprang to +the carpet [on which the Khalif was seated] and kissing it, +said, "At thy service, O Commander of the Faithful!" and stood +before him. Quoth El Mamoun, "Let us hear some pleasant songs." +"I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful," replied Ali and +said to one of his servants, "Fetch the singing-women." + +So he went out and returned in a moment, followed by ten +eunuchs, bearing ten golden stools, which they set down; and +these in their turn were followed by ten damsels, as they were +shining full moons or flowerful gardens, clad in black brocade, +with crowns of gold on their heads. They sat down on the stools +and sang various songs. Then El Mamoun looked at one of them +and captivated by her elegance and the beauty of her aspect, +said to her, "What is thy name, O damsel?" "My name is Sejahi, +O Commander of the Faithful," answered she; and he said, "Sing +to us, O Sejahi!" So she took the lute and playing a lively +measure, sang the following verses: + +Right stealthily, for fearfulness, I fare, the weakling's gait, + Who sees unto the watering-place two lion-whelps draw + near, +With cloak, instead of sword, begirt and bosom love-distraught + And heart for eyes of enemies and spies fulfilled of fear, +Till in to one at last I come, a loveling delicate, Like to a + desert antelope, that's lost its younglings dear. + +"Well done, O damsel!" said the Khalif. "Whose is this song?" +"The words are by Amr ben Madi Kerib er Zubeidi,"[FN#167] +answered she, "and the air is Mabid's."[FN#168] Then the Khalif +and Ali and Abou Isa drank and the damsels went away and were +succeeded by other ten, clad in flowered silk of Yemen, +brocaded with gold, who sat down on the chairs and sang various +songs. The Khalif looked at one of them, who was like a wild +cow of the desert, and said to her, "What is thy name, O +damsel?" "My name is Zebiyeh, O Commander of the Faithful," +answered she. "Sing to us, O Zebiyeh," said he; so she warbled +some roulades and sang the following verses: + +Houris, noble ladies, that reck not of disquiet, Like antelopes + of Mecca, forbidden to be slain; +Of their soft speech, they're taken for courtezans; but Islam + Still makes them from unseemliness and lewdness to + refrain. + +When she had finished, "Bravo!" cried the Khalif. "Whose is +this song?" "The words are by Jerir,"[FN#169] answered she, +"and the air by Suraij." Then the Khalif and his company drank, +whilst the girls went away and there came yet another ten, as +they were rubies, bareheaded and clad in red brocade, gold +inwoven and broidered with pearls and jewels, who sat down on +the stools and sang various airs. The Khalif looked at one of +them, who was like the sun of the day, and said to her, "What +is thy name?" "O Commander of the Faithful," answered she, "my +name is Fatin." "Sing to us, O Fatin," quoth he. So she played +a lively measure and sang the following verses: + +Vouchsafe me of thy grace; 'tis time to yield consent: Enough + have I endured of absence and lament. +Thou'rt he whose face unites all charms, on whose account My + patience have I lost, for very languishment. +I've spent my life for love of thee; ah, would to God I might + receive return for that which I have spent! + +"Bravo, O Fatin!" exclaimed the Khalif, when she had finished. +"Whose song is that?" "The words are by Adi ben Zeid," answered +she, "and the tune is an old one." Then they drank, whilst the +damsels retired and were succeeded by other ten, as they were +sparkling stars, clad in flowered silk, embroidered with gold, +and girt with jewelled zones. They sat down and sang various +airs; and the Khalif said to one of them, who was like a +willow-wand, "What is thy name, O damsel!" "My name is Reshaa, +O Commander of the Faithful," answered she. "Sing to us, O +Reshaa," said he. So she played a lively measure and sang the +following verses: + +There's a houri healing passion [with her kiss], Like a sapling + or a wild gazelle at gaze. +Wine I quaff unto the vision of her cheeks[FN#170] And dispute + the goblet with her, till she sways. +Then she lies and sleeps the night long in my arms, And I say, + "This is the wish of all my days." + +"Well done, O damsel!" said the Khalif. "More." So she rose and +kissing the ground before him, sang the following verse: + +She came out to gaze on the bridal at leisure, In a tunic with + ambergris smeared, worth a treasure. + +The Khalif was much pleased with this verse, which when Reshaa +saw, she repeated it several times. Then said El Mamoun, "Bring +up the barge," being minded to embark and depart: but Ali said +to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, I have a slave-girl, whom +I bought for ten thousand dinars; she hath taken my whole +heart, and I would fain show her to the Commander of the +Faithful. If she please him and he will accept of her, she is +his: and if not, let him hear something from her." "Bring her +to me," said the Khalif; and there came forth a damsel, as she +were a willow-wand, with heart-seducing eyes and eyebrows like +a double bow. On her head she wore a crown of red gold, set +with pearls and jewels, under which was a fillet, wrought in +letters of chrysolite with the following words: + +Behold, a Jinniyeh this is; and Jinn hath she also, I trow, Who + teach her men's hearts to transfix, by means of a + stringless bow. + +She walked, with a gait like that of a fleeing gazelle, till +she came to a chair, on which she seated herself. The Khalif +marvelled at her beauty and grace; but when Abou Isa saw her, +his colour changed and he was in ill case. "O Abou Isa," said +the Khalif, "what ails thee, to change colour thus?" "O +Commander of the Faithful," answered he, "it is because of pain +that seizes me bytimes." "Hast thou known yonder damsel before +to-day?" asked El Mamoun. "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful," +answered he. "Can the moon be hidden?" Then said El Mamoun to +her, "What is thy name, O damsel?" "My name is Curret el Ain, O +Commander of the Faithful," replied she; and he said, "Sing to +us, O Curret el Ain." So she sang the following verses: + +The loved ones passed from thee in middle midnight's shade And + fared forth in the dawn, with the pilgrims' cavalcade. +The tents of pride they pitched round their pavilions And + veiled themselves about with hangings of brocade. + +Quoth the Khalif, "Bravo, O Curret el Ain! Whose song is that?" +"The words are by Dibil el Khuzai," answered she, "and the air +by Zourzour es Seghir." Abou Isa looked at her and his tears +choked him; so that the company marvelled at him. Then she +turned to El Mamoun and said to him, "O Commander of the +Faithful, wilt thou give me leave to change the words?" "Sing +what thou wilt," answered the Khalif. So she played a lively +measure and sang the following verses: + +If thou please me and he please thee in public, look thou hide + And keep in secret straiter watch o'er love, lest ill + betide. +And disregard and put away the tales of slanderers; For seldom + seeks the sland'rer aught but lovers to divide. +They say that when a lover's near, he wearies of his love And + that by absence passion's cured. 'Tis false; for I have + tried +Both remedies, but am not cured of that which is with me, + Withal that nearness easier is than distance to abide. +Yet nearness of abode, forsooth, may nowise profit thee, An If + the grace of him thou lov'st be unto thee denied. + +When she finished, Abou Isa said, "O Commander of the Faithful, +we will be at peace, though we be dishonoured. Dost thou give +me leave to reply to her?" "Yes," answered the Khalif. "Say +what thou wilt to her." So he swallowed his tears and sang +these verses: + +I held my peace nor said, "I am in love;" and eke The passion + that I felt even from my heart hid I: +And natheless, if my eyes do manifest my love, It is because + they are the shining moon anigh. + +Then Curret el Ain took the lute and rejoined with the +following: + +If what thou dost pretend were very truth, Thou woulst not with + mere wishing rest content, +Nor couldst endure to live without a girl, In charms and beauty + wonder excellent. +But there is nought in that thou dost avouch, Save only idle + talk and compliment. + +When Abou Isa heard this, he fell a-weeping and lamenting and +discovered the trouble and anguish of his soul. Then he raised +his eyes to her and sighing, repeated the following: + +Under my wede there is a wasted body And in my soul an all- + absorbing thought. +I have a heart, whose suffering is eternal, and eyes with tears + like torrents ever fraught. +When a wise man meets me, he rebukes me, Chiding the love that + thou in me hath wrought. +Lord, I've no strength all this my dole to suffer; Prithee, + come Death or quick relief be brought! + +When he had ended, Ali ben Hisham sprang up and kissing his +feet, said, "O my lord, God hath heard thy prayer and answered +thy supplication, and consenteth to thy taking her with all her +gear, so the Commander of the Faithful have no mind to her." +"Had we a mind to her," answered the Khalif, "we would prefer +Abou Isa before ourselves and help him to his desire." So +saying, he rose and embarking, went away, whilst Abou Isa +tarried for Curret al Ain, whom he took and carried to his own +house, with a breast dilated for gladness. See then the +generosity of Ali ben Hisham. + + + + + + EL AMIN BEN ER RESHID AND HIS UNCLE + IBRAHIM BEN EL MEHDI. + + + +El Amin,[FN#171] son of Er Reshid, once entered the house of +his uncle Ibrahim ben el Mehdi and saw there a slave-girl +playing upon the lute. She was one of the fairest of women, +and his heart inclined to her. Ibrahim, seeing how it was with +him, sent the girl to him, with rich apparel and precious +jewels. When he saw her, he thought that his uncle had lain +with her; so he was loath to have to do with her, because of +this, and sent her back to Ibrahim, accepting the present that +came with her. Ibrahim learnt the reason of this from one of +El Amin's servants; so he took a shift of flowered silk and let +work upon his skirt, in letters of gold, the following lines: + +By Him to whom all fronts do bow, of that which is Beneath her + skirt, I swear, I'm ignorant outright; +Nor have I had in aught to meddle with her mouth, Except it + were by way of hearing and of sight. + +Then he clad her in the shift and giving her a lute sent her +once more to his nephew. When she came into the latter's +presence, she kissed the earth before him and tuning the lute, +sang thereto the following verses: + +By returning the gift, thou showest what's hid in thy breast, + And thine aversion to me is made manifest. +As thou bear malice for aught that hath been,--forgive The + past, for the Khalifate's sake, and let it rest. + +When she had made an end of her song, El Amin looked at her and +reading that which was wrought upon her skirt, could not +control himself, but drew near unto her and kissed her and +appointed her a separate lodging in his palace. Moreover, he +thanked his uncle for this and bestowed on him the government +of Er Reï.[FN#172] + + + + + + EL FETH BEN KHACAN AND THE KHALIF EL + MUTAWEKKIL. + + + +The Khalid El Mutawekkil[FN#173] was once again taking +medicine, and folk sent him all manner of presents and +rarities. Amongst others, El Feth ben Khacan[FN#174] sent him +a virgin slave, high-bosomed, of the fairest of women of her +time, and with her a vase of crystal, containing red wine, and +a goblet of red gold, whereon were graven in black the following +verses: + +When th' Imam's made an end of taking medicine And health and + strength ensue to him thereon, in fine, +There's no medicament befits him but to drink, From out this + cup, a draught of this decocted wine. +And break the seal[FN#175] reserved to him, for this, indeed, + Right salutary is, hard after medicine. + +Now the physician Youhenna[FN#176] was with the Khalif, when +the damsel entered; and when he read the above verses, he +smiled and said, 'By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, Feth +is better versed than I in the art of medicine: so let not +the Commander of the Faithful gainsay his prescription.' +Accordingly, the Khalif followed El Feth's prescription and was +made whole by the blessing of God. + + + + + + THE MAN'S DISPUTE WITH THE LEARNED + WOMAN OF THE RELATIVE EXCELLENCE OF THE + MALE AND THE FEMALE. + + + +(Quoth a certain man of learning) I never saw a woman sharper- +witted, more intelligent, better furnished in learning, more +excellent of faculties or more pleasant of ingredients than +a female preacher of the people of Baghdad, by name Sitt el +Meshayikh.[FN#177] It chanced that she came to the city of +Hemah in the year [of the Hegira] 561[FN#178] and there +delivered salutary exhortations to the folk from the pulpits. +Now there used to visit her house a number of students of +divinity and [other] persons of learning and culture, who +would argue with her upon questions of theology and discuss +controversial points with her. I went to her one day, with a +friend of mine, a man of education; and when we had taken our +seats, she set before us a dish of fruit and seated herself +behind a curtain. Now she had a [young] brother, a handsome +youth, who stood by us, to serve us. + +When we had eaten, we fell to disputing upon points of divinity, +and I propounded to her a theological question, bearing upon a +difference between the Imams.[FN#179] She proceeded to speak in +answer, whilst I listened; but my friend fell the while to +looking upon her brother's face and considering his charms, +without paying any heed to what she said. Now she was watching +him from behind the curtain; so, when she had made an end of +her exposition, she turned to him and said, "Meseems thou art +of those that give men the preference over women!" "Assuredly," +answered he. "And why so?" asked she. "Because," replied he, +"God hath preferred the male over the female; and I love that +which excels and mislike that which is excelled." She laughed +and said, "Wilt thou deal fairly with me in argument, if I +argue the matter with thee?" "I will," answered he. Then said +she, "What is the evidence of the superiority of the male to +the female?" "It is of two kinds," answered he, "that which +is founded on authority and that which is founded on reason. +The authoritative part derives from the Koran and the Sunneh +[Traditions of the Prophet]. As for the former, quoth God the +Most High, 'Men stand above women, in that God hath given +these the preference over those;'[FN#180] and again, 'If +there be not two men, then [call] one man and two women;' +[FN#181] and again, when treating of the law of inheritance, +'[If there be brothers and sisters,] let each male have the +like of the portion of two females.'[FN#182] Thus God, blessed +and exalted be He, hath in these places preferred the male over +the female and teaches that a woman is as the half of a man, +for that he is worthier than she. As for the Sunneh, is it not +reported of the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) that he +appointed the blood-wit for a woman to be half that of a man? +As for the evidence of reason, the male is the agent and the +female the patient." + +"Thou hast said well, O my lord," rejoined she; "but, by Allah, +thou hast proved my contention with thine own lips and hast +advanced arguments that tell against thee, and not for thee. +Thus: God (blessed and exalted be He) preferred the male above +the female, solely because of the quality of masculinity; and +in this, there is no difference between us. Now this quality +[of masculinity] is common to the child, the boy, the youth, +the adult and the graybeard; nor is there any distinction +between them in this. Since, then, the superior excellence of +man enures to him solely by virtue of the quality of masculinity, +it behoves that thy heart incline to the graybeard and thy soul +delight in him, equally with the boy, seeing that there is no +distinction between them, in point of masculinity. But the +difference between thee and me turns upon the qualities that +are sought as constituting excellence of intercourse and +delight of usance; and thou hast adduced no proof of the +superiority of the male over the female in this." + +"O my lady," answered he, "knowest thou not that which is +proper to the boy of symmetry of shape and rosy cheeks and +pleasant smile and sweetness of speech? Boys are, in these +respects, superior to women; and the proof of this is what is +reported of the Prophet, that he said, 'Stay not thy gaze upon +the beardless boys, for in them is the similitude[FN#183] of +the black-eyed girls of Paradise.' Nor indeed is the superiority +of the boy over the girl hidden to any, and how well saith Abou +Nuwas: + +The least of his virtues it is that thou'rt free From + uncleanness with him nor with child can he be. + +And what another poet says: + +Quoth th' Iman Abou Nuwas, past-master sure was he In every + canon of debauch and jolly knavery, +"O ye that love the downy cheeks of younglings, take your fill + Of a delight, in Paradise that will not founden be." + +So if one enlarge in praise of a girl and wish to enhance her +value by the mention of her charms, he likens her to a boy, +because of the illustrious qualities that belong to the latter, +even as saith the poet: + +Boylike of buttocks, to and fro, in amorous dalliance, She + sways as sway the nodding canes that in the north wind + dance. + +If boys, then, were not superior to girls, why should the +latter be likened to them? And know also, may God the Most High +preserve thee, that a boy is easy to be led, adapting himself +to the wish, pleasant of commerce and manners, inclining to +assent rather than difference, especially when the down on his +face creeps lightly and the hair darkens on his lips and the +vermilion of early youth runs in his cheeks, so that he is like +the full moon; and how goodly is the saying of Abou Temmam: +[FN#184] + +"The whiskers on his cheek appear;" the slanderers said to me; + Quoth I, "That's none of his defect; so give me no more + prate." +What time he came of age to bear buttocks that here and there + Pulled him and over beads of pearl his lips' hair darkened + late +And eke the rose a solemn oath, full fast and binding, swore + Its ruddy marvels from his cheek should never separate, +I with my eyelids spoke to him, without the need of speech, And + for reply thereto was what his eyebrows answered straight. +His goodliness still goodlier is than that thou knewst of yore, + And the hair guardeth him from those his charms would + violate. +Brighter and sweeter are his charms, now on his cheek the down + Shows and the hair upon his lips grows dark and delicate; +And those who chide me for the love of him, when they take up + Their parable of him and me, say evermore, "His mate." + +And quoth El Heriri[FN#185] and saith well: + +My censors say, "What is this love and doting upon him? Seest + not the hair upon his cheeks that sprouts? Where is thy + wit?" +Quoth I, "By Allah, an ye chide at me, I rede you note The + exposition of the truth that in his eyes is writ. +But for the blackness of the down, that veils his chin and + cheeks, Upon the brightness of his face no mortal gaze + might sit. +A man who sojourns in a land, wherein no herbage is, Whenas the + very Spring arrives, shall he depart from it?" + +And quoth another: + +"He is consoled," say the censors of me; but, by heaven, they + lie! For solace and comfort come hardly to those for + longing that sigh. +When the rose of his cheek stood blooming alone, I was not + consoled; So how should I now find solace, that basil has + sprung thereby? + +And again: + +A slender one, whose glances and the down upon his cheeks Each + other, in the slaying of folk, abet and aid. +A sabre of narcissus[FN#186] withal, he sheddeth blood, The + hangers[FN#187] of its scabbard of very myrtle made. + +And again: + +Not with his wine I'm drunken, but with his tresses bright, + That make all creatures drunken, yea, all beneath the sky. +Each of his charms doth envy the others; ay, and each To be the + down so silky upon his cheek doth sigh. + +These are the excellences of the boy, that women do not +possess, and these suffice and more to give boys the preference +in grace and glory over women." + +"God give thee health!" cried she. "Verily, thou hast imposed +the discussion upon thyself; and thou hast spoken and hast not +stinted and hast adduced these arguments, in support of thy +contention. But now is the truth made manifest;[FN#188] so +swerve thou not from the path thereof; and if thou be not +content with a summary of proof, I will set it out to thee in +detail. God on thee, where is the boy beside the girl and who +shall liken the kid to the wild cow? The girl is soft of +speech, fair of shape, like a stalk of sweet basil, with teeth +like chamomile-petals and hair like halters. Her cheeks are +like blood-red anemones and her face like an apple; she hath +lips like wine and breasts like double pomegranates and a shape +flexile as a willow-wand. Her body is rounded and well-formed: +she hath a nose like the point of a shining sword and a +forehead brilliant with whiteness and joined eyebrows and black +and melting eyes. If she speak, fresh pearls are scattered from +her mouth and all hearts are ravished by the daintiness of her +charms; when she smiles, thou wouldst think the moon shone out +from between her lips and when she gazes, swords flash from her +eyes. In her all beauties have their term, and she is the +centre of attraction of traveller and stay-at-home. She hath +two red lips softer than cream and sweeter of taste than honey, +and a bosom, as it were a way between two hills, wherein are a +pair of breasts like globes of ivory; likewise, a smooth belly, +soft of flanks as palm-flowers[FN#189] and creased with folds +and dimples that overlap one another, and luxuriant thighs, +like columns of pearl, and buttocks, that beat together like +seas of crystal or mountains of light, and two slender feet and +hands like ingot of virgin gold. So, O wretched fellow, where +are mortal men besides the Jinn? Knowest thou not that mighty +kings and captains and noble princes still submit themselves +humbly to women and depend on them for delight? Verily, they +[women] say, 'We rule over [all] necks and captivate [all] +hearts.' How many a rich man have they not made poor, how many +a powerful one have they not humbled and how many a noble have +they not reduced to servitude! Indeed, they seduce the learned +and bring the pious to shame and make poor the rich and plunge +the favoured of fortune into misery. Yet, for all this, the +wise but redouble in love and honour of them, nor do they count +this oppression or dishonour. How many a man for them hath +transgressed against his Lord and called down on himself the +wrath of his father and mother! And all this because of the +preponderance of the love of them over hearts. Knowest thou +not, O wretched fellow, that for them are palaces built and +slave-girls bought, and over them curtains are let down, that +for them do tears flow and for them armies levied and pleasure- +houses raised up and riches gathered and heads smitten off? And +indeed he spoke sooth who said, 'The world is a commentary +[FN#190] upon women.' + +As for thy citation from the Holy Traditions, it is an argument +against thee and not for thee; for the Prophet (whom God bless +and preserve) compares boys to the houris of Paradise. Now, +without doubt, the subject of comparison is more worthy than +the object compared with it; so, except women be the worthier +and the goodlier, wherefore should other than they be likened +to them? As for thy saying that girls are likened to boys, it +is not so, but the contrary: boys are likened to girls; for +folk say, 'Yonder boy is like a girl.' As for that thou quotest +from the poets, the verses in question were the product of an +unnatural complexion in this respect; and as for the confirmed +sodomists and debauchees, that sin against religion, whom God +hath condemned in His Holy Book, wherein He denounceth their +filthy practices, saying, 'Do ye betake you to males from the +four corners of the world and forsake that which your Lord hath +created for you of your wives? Nay, but ye are a froward +folk.'[FN#191] These it is that liken girls to boys, of their +exceeding profligacy and frowardness and inclination to follow +the devil and their own lusts, so that they say, 'She is apt +for two men;' and these are all wanderers from the path of +right. Quoth their chief Abou Nuwas: + +A slender one, boyish of waist and of wit, For wencher as well + as for sodomite fit. + +As for what thou sayest of a boy's whiskers and moustaches and +how they add to his beauty and grace, by Allah, thou wanderest +from the right path and sayest that which is other than the +truth; for whiskers change the charms of the comely into +ugliness; even as saith the poet: + +The whiskers, that sprout on the cheek of the wight, His lovers + avenge, if he 've done them unright. +I see not on 's face what is like unto smoke, Except that his + curls are as coals to the sight. +If the most of his paper[FN#192] thus blackened be, where Is + there room, deemest thou, for the pen to indite? +If any prefer him another above, 'Tis ignorance makes them thus + turn from the light. + +Glory be to God", continued she, "how is it hidden from thee +that the perfection of delight is in women and that abiding +pleasure is not to be found but with them? Seeing that God +(blessed and exalted be He) hath promised His prophets and +saints black-eyed damsels in Paradise and hath appointed them +for a recompense of their pious works: and had God the Most +High known that the supreme delight was in the possession of +other than women, He had rewarded them therewith and promised +it to them. And quoth he whom God bless and preserve, 'The +things in which I most delight of [the things of] your world +are three: women and perfume and the solace of my eyes in +prayer.' Verily, God hath appointed boys to serve His prophets +and saints in Paradise, because Paradise is the abode of +delight and pleasance, which could not be complete without the +service of boys; but, as to the use of them for aught but +service, it is sin and corruption. How well saith the poet: + +Men's turning unto boys is very frowardness; Who noble[FN#193] +women loves is noble[FN#194] none the less. +What difference 'twixt the lewd and him whose bedfellow A houri +is, for looks a very sorceress. +He rises from her couch and she hath given him scent; He +perfumes all the house therewith and each recess. +No boy, indeed, is worth to be compared with her: Shall aloes +evened be with what not filthiness?" + +Then said she, "O folk, ye have made me overpass the bounds of +modesty and the province of free-born women and indulge in idle +talk and freedoms of speech, that beseem not people of learning. +But the breasts of the noble are the tombs of secrets, and +conversations of this kind are in confidence. Moreover, actions +are according to intents, and I ask pardon of God for myself +and you and all Muslims, seeing that He is forgiving and +merciful." + +With this she held her peace and thereafter would answer us of +nought; so we went our way, rejoicing in that we had profited +by her discourses and sorrowing to part from her. + + + + + + ABOU SUWEID AND THE HANDSOME OLD + WOMAN. + + + +(Quoth Abou Suweid), I entered a garden one day, I and a +company of my friends, to buy somewhat of fruit; and we saw, in +a corner of the place, an old woman, who was bright of face, +but her hair was white, and she was combing it with a comb of +ivory. We stopped before her, but she paid no heed to us +neither veiled her face So I said to her' "O old woman, wert +thou to dye thy hair black, thou wouldst be handsomer than a +girl. What hinders thee from this?" She raised her head and +looking at me with great eyes, recited the following verses: + +That which the years had dyed, I dyed erewhen but, sooth to + tell, My dye endureth not, whilst that of Time's + perdurable +Clad in the raiment of my youth and beauty, of old days, + Proudly I walked, and back and front, men had with me to + mell + +"By Allah," cried I, "bravo to thee for an old woman! How +sincere art thou in thy yearning remembrance of sin and how +false in thy presence of repentance from for bidden things!" + + + + + + THE AMIR ALI BEN TAHIR AND THE GIRL MOUNIS. + + + +There was once shown to the Amir Ali ben Mohammed ben Abdallah +ben Tahir[FN#195] a slave-girl, who was excellently handsome +and well-bred and an accomplished poetess; and he asked her of +her name. 'May God advance the Amir,' replied she, 'my name is +Mounis.' Now he knew this before; so he bowed his head awhile, +then raising his eyes to her, recited the following verse: + +What dost thou say of one, on whom sickness and pain have + wrought, For love and longing after thee, till he is grown + distraught? + +'God exalt the Amir!' answered she and recited this verse in +reply: + +An if we saw a lover true, on whom the pangs of love Were sore, + we would to him vouchsafe the favours that he sought. + +Her reply pleased him; so he bought her for threescore and ten +thousand dirhems and begat on her Obeidallah teen Mohammed, +after police-magistrate [at Baghdad]. + + + + + + THE WOMAN WHO HAD A BOY AND THE OTHER + WHO HAD A MAN TO LOVER. + + + +(Quoth Abou el Ainaä[FN#196]), There were in our street two +women, one of whom had to lover a man and the other a beardless +boy, and they foregathered one night on the roof of a house, +not knowing that I was within hearing. Quoth one to the other, +"O my sister, how canst thou brook the harshness of thy lover's +beard, as it falls on thy breast, when he kisses thee, and his +moustaches rub thy cheek and lips?" "Silly wench that thou +art," replied the other, "what adorns the tree but its leaves +and the cucumber but its bloom? Didst ever see aught uglier +than a scald-head, with his beard plucked out? Knowest thou not +that the beard is to men as the side-locks to women; and what +is the difference between the chin and the cheek? Knowest thou +not that God (blessed and exalted be He) hath created an angel +in heaven, who saith, 'Glory be to Him who adorneth men with +beards and women with tresses?' So, were not the beard even as +the tresses in comeliness, it had not been coupled with them, O +silly woman! How shall I underlie a boy, who will be hasty with +me in emission and forestall me in flaccescence, and leave a +man, who, when he takes breath, clips close and when he enters, +goes leisurely, and when he has done, repeats, and when he +pushes, pushes hard, and as often as he withdraws, returns?" +The other was edified by her speech and said, "I forswear my +lover by the Lord of the Kaabeh!" + + + + + + THE HAUNTED HOUSE IN BAGHDAD. + + + +There lived once, in the city of Cairo, a merchant by name +Hassan the Jeweller of Baghdad, who had great store of wealth +in money and jewels and lands and houses beyond count. God +had blessed him with a son of perfect beauty and elegance, +rosy-cheeked, fair of face and well-shaped, whom he named Ali +of Cairo and taught the Koran and science and elocution and the +other branches of polite letters, till he became proficient +in all manner of knowledge and was under his father's hand +in trade. After awhile, Hassan fell sick and his sickness +increased upon him, till he made sure of death and calling his +son to him, said, 'O my son, verily this world passeth away; +but the next endureth for ever. Every soul must taste of death; +and now, O my son, my last hour is at hand and I desire to lay +on thee an injunction, which if thou observe, thou shalt abide +in peace and prosperity, till thou meet God the Most High; but +if thou follow it not, there shall befall thee weariness galore +and thou wilt repent of having transgressed my admonitions.' 'O +my father,' replied Ali, 'how shall I do other than hearken to +thee and do after thine enjoinder, seeing that I am bounden by +the law of God to obey thee and give ear to thy word?' 'O my +son,' rejoined his father, 'I leave thee lands and houses +and goods and wealth past count; wert thou each day to spend +thereof five hundred dinars, thou wouldst miss nought of it. +But, O my son, look that thou live in the fear of God and +follow His Chosen One (whom may He bless and preserve) in +what he is reported to have enjoined and forbidden in his +traditions. Be thou assiduous in good works and the practice of +beneficence and in consorting with men of worth and piety and +learning; and look that thou have a care for the poor and needy +and shun avarice and meanness and the converse of the wicked or +those of doubtful character. Look kindly upon thy servants and +family, and also upon thy wife, for she is of the daughters +of the notables and is with child by thee; belike God will +vouchsafe thee virtuous offspring by her.' And he went on to +exhort him thus, weeping and saying, 'O my son, I beseech God +the Bountiful, the Lord of the Empyrean, to deliver thee from +all straits that may betide thee and grant thee His speedy +relief!' + +His son wept sore and said, 'O my father, I am consumed by thy +words, for they are as the words of one that saith farewell.' +'Yes, O my son,' replied the merchant, 'I am ware of my +condition: forget thou not my enjoinder.' Then he fell to +repeating the professions of the Faith and reciting [verses of +the Koran], until the appointed hour arrived, when he said, +'Draw near unto me, O my son.' So Ali drew near and he kissed +him; then he sighed and his soul departed his body and he went +to the mercy of God the Most High. Therewith great grief fell +upon Ali; the noise of lamentation arose in his house and his +father's friends flocked to him. Then he betook himself to +preparing him for burial and made him a splendid funeral. They +bore him to the place of prayer and prayed over him, then to +the cemetery, where they buried him and recited over him what +was fitting of the Koran; after which they returned to the +house and condoled with the dead man's son and went each his +own way. Moreover, Ali prayed the Friday prayers for his father +and let make recitations of the whole Koran for the [accustomed] +space of forty days, during which time he abode in the house +and went not forth, save to the place of prayer; and every +Friday he visited his father's tomb. + +He ceased not from his prayers and devotions, till, at last, +his fellows of the sons of the merchants came in to him one +day and saluting him, said, 'How long wilt thou keep up this +thy mourning and neglect thy business and the company of +thy friends? Verily, this is a fashion that will bring thee +weariness, and thy body will suffer greatly for it.' Now, +when they came in to him, Iblis the accursed was with them, +prompting them, and they went on to press him to accompany them +to the bazaar, whilst Iblis incited him to consent to them, +till he yielded and went forth the house with them, that the +will of God (blessed and exalted be He) might be fulfilled. +'Mount thy mule,' quoth they, 'and ride with us to such a +garden, that we may divert us there and that thy grief and +melancholy may depart from thee.' So he mounted and taking his +slave, went with them to the garden in question, where they +entered, and one of them went and making ready the morning- +meal, brought it to them there. So they ate and made merry and +sat, talking, till the end of the day, when they mounted and +returned each to his own lodging, where they passed the night. +On the morrow, they said to Ali, 'Come with us.' 'Whither?' +asked he, and they answered, 'To such a garden; for it is +finer than the first and more pleasant.' So he went with them +to the garden, and one of them, going away, made ready the +morning-meal and brought it to them, together with strong wine; +and Ali said, 'What is this?' Quoth they, 'This is what dispels +grief and unveils gladness.' And they went on to commend it to +him, till they prevailed upon him and he drank with them. Then +they sat, drinking and talking, till the end of the day, when +each returned home. + +As for Ali, he was giddy with wine and went in, in this plight, +to his wife, who said to him, 'What ails thee?' Quoth he, 'We +were making merry to-day, when one of my companions brought us +liquor; so my friends drank and I with them, and this giddiness +came upon me.' 'O my lord,' said she, 'hast thou forgotten thy +fathers injunction and done that from which he forbade thee, in +consorting with lewd folk?' 'These are of the sons of the +merchants,' answered he; 'they are no lewd folk, only lovers of +mirth and good cheer.' And he continued to lead this life with +his friends, day after day, going from place to place and +feasting and drinking with them, till they said to him, 'Our +turns are ended, and now it is thy turn.' 'Welcome and fair +welcome!' answered he; so, on the morrow, he made ready all +that the case called for of meat and drink, double what they +had provided, and taking cooks and tent-pitchers and coffee- +makers, repaired with the others to Er Rauzeh[FN#197] and +the Nilometer, where they abode a whole month, eating and +drinking and hearing music and making merry. At the end of the +month, Ali found that he had spent a great sum of money; but +Satan the Accursed deluded him and said to him, 'Though thou +shouldst spend every day a like sum, yet would not thy wealth +fail.' So he took no account of expense and continued this way +of life three years, whilst his wife remonstrated with him and +reminded him of his father's injunctions; but he hearkened not +to her, till he had spent all his ready money, when he fell to +selling his jewels and spending their price, till they were all +gone. Then he sold his houses and lands and farms and gardens, +one after another, till they were all gone and he had nothing +left but the house in which he lived. So he tore out the marble +and wood-work and sold it and spent of its price, till he had +made an end of this also, when he bethought himself and finding +that he had nothing left to spend, sold the house itself and +spent the purchase-money. + +Presently, the man who had bought the house came to him and +said, 'Look thyself out a lodging, for I have need of my +house.' So he bethought himself and considering that he had +nothing requiring a house, except his wife, who had borne him a +son and daughter,--for he had not a servant left,--hired a room +in one of the mean lodging houses and there took up his abode, +after having lived in honour and luxury, with many servants and +much wealth, and came to lack of one day's bread. Quoth his +wife, 'I warned thee of this and exhorted thee to obey thy +father's injunction, and thou wouldst not hearken to me; but +there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the +Supreme! Whence shall the little ones eat? Arise, go round to +thy friends, the sons of the merchants: it may be they will +give thee somewhat on which we may live this day.' So he went +the round of his friends, one by one; but they all hid their +faces from him and gave him nothing but injurious and revolting +words; and he returned to his wife and said to her, 'They have +given me nothing.' Thereupon she went out to beg of her +neighbours wherewithal to sustain themselves and came to a +woman, whom she had known in former days. When she came in to +her and she saw her plight, she rose and receiving her kindly, +wept and said, 'What hath befallen thee?' So she told her of +her husband's conduct, and the other said, 'Welcome and fair +welcome! Whatever thou needest, seek it of me, without price.' +'May God abundantly requite thee!' answered she. Then her +friend gave her as much victual as would suffice herself and +her family a whole month, and she took it and returned to her +lodging. When her husband saw her, he wept and said, 'Whence +hadst thou that?' 'I got it of such a woman,' answered she; +'for, when I told her what had befallen us, she failed me not +in aught, but said, "Seek of me all thou needest."' 'Since thou +hast this,' rejoined her husband, 'I will betake myself to a +place I have in my mind; peradventure God the Most High will +bring us relief.' + +So saying, he took leave of her and kissing the children, went +out, not knowing whither he should go, and walked on till he +came to Boulac,[FN#198] where he saw a ship about to sail for +Damietta. Here he met a man, between whom and his father there +had been friendship; and he saluted him and said to him, +'Whither away?' 'To Damietta,' replied Ali; 'I have friends +there, whom I would fain enquire after and visit and return.' +The man took him home and entreated him hospitably, then, +furnishing him with victual [for the voyage] and giving him +somewhat of money, embarked him on board the vessel bound for +Damietta. When they reached that place, Ali landed, not knowing +where to go, but, as he was walking along, a merchant saw him +and had pity on him. So he carried him to his house, where he +abode awhile, till he said in himself, 'How long shall this +sojourning in other folks' houses last?' Then he left the +merchant's house and went down to the quay, where he saw a ship +ready to sail for Syria. His host provided him with victual and +embarked him in the ship; and it set sail and arrived, in due +course, at the coast of Syria, where he landed and journeyed +till he entered Damascus. As he walked about the town, a +benevolent man saw him and took him to his house, where he +abode awhile, till, one day, going abroad, he saw a caravan +about to start for Baghdad and bethought himself to journey +thither with it. So he returned to his host and taking leave of +him, set out with the caravan. + +Now God (blessed and exalted be He) inclined to him the heart +of one of the merchants, so that he took him with him, and Ali +ate and drank with him, till they came within one day's journey +of Baghdad, where a company of highwaymen fell upon the caravan +and took all they had. But few of the merchants escaped and +these made each for a [separate] place of refuge. As for Ali, +he made for Baghdad, where he arrived at sundown, as the +gatekeepers were about to shut the gates, and said to them +'Let me in with you.' So they admitted him and asked him +whence he came and whither he was bound. 'I am a man from +the city of Cairo,' replied he, 'and have with me mules laden +with merchandise and slaves and servants. I forewent them, to +look me out a place wherein to deposit my goods; but as I rode +along on my mule, there fell upon me a company of highway robbers, +who took my mule and gear; nor did I escape from them but at +the last gasp.' The warders entreated him hospitably and bade +him welcome, saying, 'Abide with us this night, and in the +morning we will look thee out a place befitting thee.' Then he +sought in his pocket and finding a dinar remaining of those he +had gotten of the merchant at Boulac, gave it to one of the +gatekeepers, saying, 'Take this and change it and bring us +something to eat.' The man took it and went to the market, +where he changed it and brought Ali bread and cooked meat. So +he ate, he and the gatekeepers, and he lay the night with them. + +On the morrow, one of the warders carried him to a merchant of +the town, to whom he told the same story, and he believed him, +deeming that he was a merchant and had with him loads of +merchandise. So he took him up into his shop and entreated him +with honour. Moreover, he sent to his house for a splendid suit +of his own apparel for him and carried him to the bath. So, +[quoth Ali], I went with him to the bath, and when we came out, +he brought me to his house, where he caused set the morning-meal +before us, and we ate and made merry. + +Then said he to one of his slaves, "Harkye, Mesoud, take this +thy lord and show him the two houses in such a place. Whichever +pleases him of them, give him the key of it and come back." So +I went with the slave, till we came to a place where stood +three houses, side by side, new and shut up. He opened the +first and the second, and I looked at them; after which he said +to me, "Of which of them shall I give thee the key?" "To whom +does yon large house belong?" asked I. "To us," answered he; +and I said, "Open it, that I may view it." Quoth he, "Thou hast +no call to it." "Wherefore?" asked I; and he, "Because it is +haunted, and none lodges there but in the morning he is a dead +man; nor do we use to open the door, to take out the corpse, +but mount the roof of one of the other two houses and take it +up thence. For this reason, my master has abandoned the house +and says, 'I will never again give it to any one.'" Quoth I, +"Open it, that I may view it;" and I said in myself, "This is +what I seek. I will pass the night there and in the morning be +a dead man and be at peace from this miserable plight of mine." +So he opened it and I entered and found it a splendid house, +without its like; and I said to the slave, "I will have none +other than this house; give me the key." But he answered, "I +will not give thee this key till I consult my master," and +going to the latter, said to him, "The Egyptian merchant saith, +'I will lodge in none but the great house.'" + +When the merchant heard this, he rose and coming to Ali, said +to him, 'O my lord, thou hast no need of this house.' But he +replied, 'I will lodge in none other than this; for I care +nothing for this saying.'[FN#199] 'Then,' said the other, +'write me an acknowledgment that, if aught happen to thee, I am +not responsible.' 'So be it,' answered Ali; whereupon the +merchant fetched an assessor from the Cadi's court and taking +of him the prescribed acknowledgment, delivered him the key, +which he took and entered the house. The merchant sent him +bedding by a slave, who spread it for him on the bench behind +the door and went away. Presently Ali went into the inner court +and seeing there a well with a bucket, let down the latter and +drew water, with which he made the ablution and prayed the +obligatory prayers. Then he sat awhile, till the merchant's +slave brought him the evening meal from his master's house, +together with a lamp, a candle and candlestick, a basin and +ewer and a gugglet; after which he left him and returned home. +Ali lighted the candle and supped at his ease and prayed the +evening prayer; after which he said to himself, 'Let us take +the bed and go upstairs and sleep there, rather than here.' So +he took the bed and carried it upstairs, where he found a +splendid saloon, with gilded ceiling and walls and floor of +variegated marble. He spread his bed there and sitting down, +began to recite somewhat of the sublime Koran, when suddenly he +heard one calling to him and saying, 'O Ali, O son of Hassan, +shall I send thee down the gold?' And he answered, 'Send away.' + +Hardly had he spoken, when pieces of gold began to rain down on +him, like [pebbles from] a mangonel, nor stinted till the +saloon was full. Then said the voice, 'Set me free, that I may +go my way; for I have made an end of my service and have +delivered unto thee that which was committed to me for thee.' +Quoth Ali, 'I adjure thee by the Most High God to tell me the +history of this gold.' 'This is a treasure that was enchanted +to thee of old time,' replied the voice; 'and to every one, who +entered the house, we used to come and say to him, "O Ali, O +son of Hassan, shall we send down the gold?" Whereat he would +be affrighted and cry out, and we would come down to him and +break his neck and go away. But, when thou camest and we +accosted thee by thy name and that of thy father, saying, +"Shall we send thee down the gold?" and thou madest answer, +saying, "Send away," we knew thee for the owner of it and sent +it down. Moreover, there is yet another treasure for thee in +the land of Yemen, whither thou wouldst do well to journey and +fetch it. And now I would have thee set me free, that I may go +my way.' 'By Allah,' said Ali, 'I will not set thee free, till +thou bring me hither the treasure from Yemen!' Quoth the voice, +'If I bring it thee, wilt thou release me and the servant of +the other treasure also?' 'Yes,' replied Ali; and the genie +said, 'Swear to me.' So he swore to him, and he was about to go +away, when Ali said to him, 'I have one other service to ask of +thee.' 'What is that?' asked the genie. Quoth Ali, 'I have a +wife and children at Cairo, in such a place; thou must fetch +them to me, at their ease and without hurt.' 'I will bring them +to thee in state,' answered the genie, 'in a litter, with a +train of slaves and servants, together with the treasure from +Yemen, if it be the will of God the Most High.' Then he took of +him leave of absence for three days, at the end of which time +all this should be with him, and departed. + +When it was morning, Ali went round about the saloon, seeking a +place wherein to lay the gold, and saw in the wall of the dais +a marble panel, with a knob in it. So he pressed the knob and +the panel slid back and discovered a door, which he opened and +entering, found a great closet, full of linen bags. So he took +out the bags and fell to filling them with gold and replacing +them in the closet, till he had transported thither the whole +treasure, whereupon he shut the door and pressing the knob, the +panel returned to its place. Then he went down and seated +himself on the bench behind the door. Presently, there came a +knock at the door; so he opened it and found the merchant's +slave, who, seeing him, returned in haste to his master with +the good tidings, saying, 'O my lord, the merchant, who is +lodged in the haunted house, is alive and well and sits on the +bench behind the door.' When the merchant heard this, he rose +joyfully and went to the house, taking breakfast with him; and +when he saw Ali, he embraced him and kissed him between the +eyes, saying, 'How hath God dealt with thee?' 'Right well,' +answered Ali. 'I slept upstairs in the marble saloon.' Quoth +the merchant, 'Did aught come to thee or didst thou see aught?' +'No,' replied Ali; 'I recited some little of the Koran and +slept till morning, when I arose and after making the ablution +and praying, came down and seated myself on the bench behind +the door.' 'Praised be God for safety!' exclaimed the merchant, +then left him and presently sent him slaves and servants, black +and white and male and female, with furniture. They swept the +house from top to bottom and furnished it magnificently, after +which three black slaves and the like number of white and four +slave-girls abode with him, to serve him, and the rest returned +to their master's house. When the merchants heard of him, they +sent him presents of all manner of things of price, even to +meat and drink and clothes, and took him with them in the +market, saying, 'When will thy baggage arrive?' And he answered, +'After three days it will come.' + +Accordingly, when the three days had elapsed, the servant of +the first treasure came to him and said, 'Go forth and meet thy +harem, together with the treasure I have brought thee from +Yemen, part of which is by way of costly merchandise; but the +slaves, black and white, and the horses and camels and mules +are all of the Jinn. (Now the genie, when he betook himself to +Cairo, found Ali's wife and children in sore straits for +nakedness and hunger; so he carried them forth of the town in a +travelling-litter and clad them in sumptuous raiment of that +which was in the treasure of Yemen.) When Ali heard this, he +rose and repairing to the merchants, said to them, 'Come, go +forth the city with me, to meet the caravan, with my merchandise, +and honour me with the presence of your harems, to meet my +harem.' 'We hear and obey,' answered they and sending for +their harems, went forth all together and alighted in one +of the gardens without the city. As they sat talking, behold, a +cloud of dust arose out of the heart of the desert, and they +came out to see what it was. Presently, it lifted and discovered +mules and muleteers and tent-pitchers and linkmen, who came on, +singing and dancing, till they reached the garden, when the +chief of the muleteers came up to Ali and kissing his hand, +said to him, 'O my lord, we have been long on the way, for +we thought to enter some days ago; but we were in fear of +the highway-robbers, so abode in our station four days, till +God the Most High rid us of them.' + +Then the merchants mounted their mules and rode forward with +the caravan, wondering at the [number of] mules laden with +chests, whilst their harems followed them, with Ali's harem, +marvelling at the richness of the apparel of his wife and +children and saying to each other, 'Verily, the King of Baghdad +hath no such raiment, no, nor any other of the kings or +merchants or notables.' So they entered Baghdad in great state +and rode on till they came to Ali's house, where they alighted +and brought the mules and their burdens into the midst of the +courtyard. Then they unloaded them and laid up the goods in the +storehouses, whilst the merchants' wives went up with Ali's +family to the saloon, which they found as it were a luxuriant +garden, spread with magnificent furniture. They sat in mirth +and good cheer till noon, when they brought them up the noon +meal, of all manner meats and sweetmeats of the best; and +they ate and drank costly sherbets and perfumed themselves +thereafter with rose-water and scented woods. Then they took +leave and departed, men and women. When the merchants returned +home, they all sent presents to Ali, according to their +conditions; and their wives likewise sent presents to his wife, +so that there came to them great plenty of slaves, black and +white and male and female, and store of all manner goods, such +as grain and sugar and so forth, beyond count. As for the +landlord of the house, he abode with Ali and quitted him not, +but said to him, 'Let the slaves and servants take the mules +and the other cattle into one of my other houses, to rest.' +Quoth Ali, 'They set out again to-night for such a place.' Then +he gave them leave to go forth the city, that they might set +out on their journey at nightfall; whereupon they took leave of +him forthright and departing the city, flew off through the air +to their several abodes. + +Ali and the merchant sat together till a third of the night +was past, when the latter returned to his own house and Ali +went up to his wife and children and greeted them, saying, +'What hath befallen you all this time?' So she told him what +they had suffered of hunger and nakedness and toil, and he +said, 'Praised be God for safety! How did ye come?' 'O my lord,' +answered she, 'I was asleep, with my children, yesternight, +when suddenly one raised us from the ground and carried us +through the air, without doing us any hurt, nor did he give +over flying with us, till he set us down in a place as it were +a Bedouin camping-place, where we saw laden mules and a litter +borne upon two great mules, and round them servants, boys and +men. So I said to them, "Who are ye and what are these loads +and where are we?" And they answered, "We are the servants of +the merchant Ali ibn Hassan of Cairo, who has sent us to fetch +you to him at Baghdad." Quoth I, "Is it far or near, hence to +Baghdad?" "Near," answered they; "there lies but the darkness +of the night between us and the city." Then they mounted us in +the litter, and on the morrow, we found ourselves with thee, +without having suffered any hurt. 'Who gave you these clothes?' +asked he, and she said, 'The chief of the caravan opened one of +the chests on the mules and taking out the clothes, clad me and +the children each in a suit; after which he locked the chest +and gave me the key, saying, "Take care of it, till thou give +it to thy husband." And here it is, safe.' So saying, she gave +him the key, and he said, 'Dost thou know the chest?' 'Yes,' +answered she. So he took her down to the magazine and she +pointed it out, whereupon he put the key in the lock and opened +the chest, in which he found much raiment and the keys of all +the other chests. So he took them out and fell to opening the +other chests, one after another, and feasting his eyes upon the +jewels and precious metals they contained, whose like was not +found with any of the kings; after which he locked them again +and took the keys, saying to his wife, 'This is of the bounty +of God the Most High.' + +Then he returned with her to the saloon and bringing her to the +secret panel, pressed the knob and opened the door of the +closet into which he entered with her and showed her the gold +he had laid up there. Quoth she, 'Whence hadst thou all this?' +'It came to me by the grace of my Lord,' answered he and told +her all that had befallen him, from first to last. 'O my lord,' +said she, 'all this comes of the blessing of thy father's +prayers, whenas he prayed for thee, before his death, saying, +"I beseech God to cast thee into no strait, except He bring +thee speedy deliverance [therefrom]!" So praised be God the +Most High for that He hath brought thee relief and hath +requited thee with more than thou didst lose! But God on thee, +O my lord, return not to thy sometime fashion and companying +with folk of lewd life; but look thou fear God the Most High, +both in public and private!' And she went on to admonish him. +Quoth he, 'I accept thine admonition and beg God the Most High +to remove the wicked from us and stablish us in His obedience +and in the observance of the law of His Prophet, on whom be +peace and salvation!' + +Ali and his wife and children were now in all delight of life and +gladness; and he opened him a shop in the merchants' bazaar and +stocking it with jewels and precious metals, sat therein with +his children and servants. He soon became the most considerable +of the merchants of Baghdad, and his report reached the King of +that city, who sent a messenger to command his attendance. So +he took four trays of red gold and filling them with jewels and +precious metals, such as no king possessed, went up to the +palace and presenting himself before the prince, kissed the +earth before him and wished him continuance of glory and +prosperity, in the best words he could command. 'O merchant,' +said the King, 'thou honourest our city with thy presence;' +and Ali rejoined, saying, 'O King of the age, thy slave hath +brought thee a present and hopes for acceptance thereof from +thy favour.' So saying, he laid the four trays before the King, +who uncovered them and seeing that they contained jewels, +whose like he possessed not and whose worth equalled treasuries +of money, said, 'O merchant, thy present is accepted, and so +God please, we will requite thee with its like.' And Ali kissed +his hands and went away. Then the King called his grandees +and said to them, 'How many kings have sought my daughter in +marriage?' 'Many,' answered they. 'Hath any of them given me +the like of this gift?' asked he. 'Not one,' replied they; +'for that none of them hath its like;' and he said, 'I have +consulted God the Most High,[FN#200] as to marrying my daughter +to this merchant. What say ye?' 'Be it as thou deemest,' +answered they. Then he bade the eunuch carry the four trays +into his harem and going in to his wife, laid them before +her. She uncovered them and seeing therein that whose like +she possessed not,--no, nor a fraction thereof,--said to him, +'Of which of the kings hadst thou these? Peradventure of +one of those that seek our daughter in marriage?' 'Not so,' +answered he, 'I had them of an Egyptian merchant, who is lately +come to our city. I heard tell of him and sent to command him +to us, thinking to make his acquaintance, so haply we might +find with him somewhat of jewels and buy them of him for our +daughter's equipment. He obeyed the summons and brought us +these four trays, as a present, and I saw him to be a handsome +and elegant young man[FN#201] of dignified aspect and accomplished +wit, well-nigh as he were of the sons of the kings. Wherefore my +heart inclined to him and I rejoiced in him and thought to marry +my daughter to him.' Then he told her what had passed between +himself and his grandees on the subject and added, 'But what +sayst thou?' 'O King of the age,' answered she, 'the affair +is in God's hand, and thine, and what God willeth shall come +to pass.' 'If it be His will,' rejoined the King, 'I will marry +her to none other than this young man.' + +So, on the morrow, he went out to his Divan and sending for Ali +and the rest of the merchants of Baghdad, bade them be seated. +Then he summoned the Cadi of the Divan and said to him, 'O +Cadi, draw up the contract of marriage between my daughter and +the merchant Ali of Cairo.' But the latter said, 'Thy pardon, O +our lord the Sultan! It befits not that a merchant, such as I, +be the King's son-in-law.' Quoth the King, 'It is my will to +bestow this favour upon thee, as well as the Vizierate.' And he +invested him forthwith in the Vizier's habit. Then Ali sat down +in the seat of the Vizierate and said, 'O King of the age, thou +hast bestowed on me this; and indeed I am honoured by thy +bounties; but hear one word from me.' 'Say on,' answered the +King, 'and fear not.' Quoth Ali, 'Since it is thine august will +to marry thy daughter, thou wouldst do better to marry her to +my son.' 'Hast thou then a son?' asked the King; and Ali +replied, 'Yes.' 'Send for him forthright,' said the King; +whereupon, 'I hear and obey,' answered Ali and sent a servant +to fetch his son, who came and kissing the ground before the +King, stood in an attitude of respect. The King looked at him +and seeing him to be yet comelier than his daughter and +goodlier than she in symmetry and brightness and perfection, +said to him, 'O my son, what is thy name?' 'O our lord the +Sultan,' replied the young man, who was then fourteen years +old, 'my name is Hassan.' Then the Sultan said to the Cadi, +'Write the contract of marriage between my daughter Husn el +Wujoud and Hassan, son of the merchant Ali of Cairo.' So he +wrote the contract of marriage between them, and the affair was +ended on the goodliest wise; after which all in the Divan went +their ways and the merchants escorted the Vizier Ali to his +house, where they gave him joy of his advancement and departed. +Then he went in to his wife, who, seeing him clad in the +Vizier's habit, exclaimed, 'What is this?' So he told her all +that had passed, and she rejoiced therein with an exceeding +joy. + +On the morrow, he went up to the Divan, where the King received +him with especial favour and seating him beside himself, said +to him, 'O Vizier, we purpose to celebrate the wedding festivities +and bring thy son in to our daughter.' 'O our lord the Sultan,' +replied Ali, 'that thou deemest good is good.' So the Sultan +gave orders for the festivities, and they decorated the city +and held high festival thirty days, in all cheer and gladness; +at the end of which time, the Vizier Ali's son Hassan went +in to the princess and enjoyed her beauty and grace. When +the queen saw her daughter's husband, she conceived a warm +affection for him, and in like manner she rejoiced greatly in +his mother. Then the King bade build his son-in-law a palace +beside his own; so they built him with all speed a splendid +palace, in which he took up his abode; and his mother used to +abide with her son some days and then return to her own house. +After awhile, the queen said to her husband, 'O King of the +age, Hassan's mother cannot take up her abode with her son and +leave the Vizier; neither can she abide with her husband and +leave her son.' 'Thou sayst sooth,' replied the King and bade +build a third palace beside the two others, which being done in +a few days, he caused remove thither the Vizier's goods, and +the latter and his wife took up their abode there. Now the +three palaces communicated with one another, so that, when the +King had a mind to speak with the Vizier by night, he would go +to him or send to fetch him; and so with Hassan and his father +and mother. + +They dwelt thus in the greatest happiness and contentment awhile, +till the King fell ill and his sickness increased on him. So he +summoned the grandees of his realm and said to them, 'There is +come upon me a sore sickness, peradventure a mortal one, and I +have therefore summoned you to consult you respecting a certain +matter, on which I would have you counsel me as you deem well.' +'What is the matter of which thou wouldst take counsel with us, +O King?' asked they; and he answered, 'I am old and sickly and +I fear for the realm, after me, from the enemies; so I would +have you all agree upon some one, that I may proclaim him king +in my lifetime and so ye may be at ease.' Whereupon quoth they +all, 'We all approve of thy son-in-law Hassan, son of the +Vizier Ali; for we have seen the perfectness of his wit and +understanding, and he knows the rank of all, great and small. + +'Are ye indeed agreed upon this?' asked the King, and they +answered, 'Yes.' 'Peradventure,' quoth he, 'ye say this to my +face, of respect for me; but, behind my back, ye will say +otherwise.' But they all answered, saying, 'By Allah, our word, +in public and in private, is one, varying not; and we accept +him frankly and with all our hearts.' 'Since the case is thus,' +said the King, 'bring the Cadi of the Holy Law and all the +chamberlains and captains and officers of state before me +to-morrow, and we will settle the affair on the goodliest +wise.' 'We hear and obey,' answered they and withdrawing, +notified all the doctors of the law and the chief Amirs. + +So, on the morrow, they came up to the Divan and saluted the +King, who said to them, 'O Amirs of Baghdad, whom will ye have +to be king over you after me, that I may invest him in my +lifetime, in the presence of you all?' Quoth they all, 'We are +agreed upon thy daughter's husband, Hassan, son of the Vizier +Ali.' 'If it be so,' said the King, 'go all of you and bring +him before me.' So they all arose and repairing to Hassan's +palace, said to him, 'Come with us to the King.' 'Wherefore?' +asked he, and they answered, 'For a thing that will advantage +both us and thee.' So he went in with them to the King and +kissed the ground before the latter, who bade him be seated and +said to him, 'O Hassan, all the Amirs have approved of thee and +agreed to make thee king over them after me; and it is my +purpose to proclaim thee, whilst I yet live, and so make an end +of the business.' But Hassan arose and kissing the earth once +more before the King, said to him, 'O our lord the King, among +the Amirs there be [many] who are older than I and greater of +worth; hold me quit therefore of this thing.' Quoth all the +Amirs, 'We consent not but that thou be king over us.' Then +said Hassan, 'My father is older than I, and he and I are one +thing; and it befits not to advance me over him.' But Ali +said, 'I will consent to nothing but what is pleasing to my +brethren; and they have all chosen and agreed upon thee. +Wherefore gainsay thou not the King's commandment and that +of thy brethren.' And Hassan hung his head in abashment before +the King and his father. Then said the King to the Amirs, 'Do +ye all accept of him?' 'We do,' answered they and recited +thereupon seven Fatihehs.'[FN#202] So the King said to the +Cadi, 'Draw up a legal act testifying of these Amirs that they +are agreed to make my daughter's husband Hassan king over +them.' So the Cadi wrote the act and made it executory,[FN#203] +after they had all taken the oath of fealty to Hassan. Then the +King invested him with the insignia of royalty and bade him +take his seat on the throne; whereupon they all arose and +kissed King Hassan's hands and did homage to him. + +The new king dispensed justice among the people that day, in +right royal fashion, and invested the grandees of the realm in +splendid robes of honour. When the Divan broke up, he went in +to his father-and-law and kissed his hands; and the old King +said to him, 'O my son, look thou govern the people in the fear +of God.' 'O my father,' replied Hassan, 'through thy prayers +for me, the grace of God will come to me.' Then he entered his +own palace and was met by his wife and her mother and their +attendants, who kissed his hands and gave him joy of his +advancement, saying, 'This is a blessed day.' Then he went in +to his father and mother, who rejoiced with an exceeding joy in +that which God had vouchsafed him of his advancement to the +kingship, and his father exhorted him to the fear of God and to +affectionate solicitude in his dealings with his subjects. He +passed the night in joy and gladness, and on the morrow, having +prayed the appointed prayers, concluding with the customary +recitation of part of the Koran, he repaired to the Divan, +whither came all his officers and dignitaries. He passed the +day in dispensing justice among his subjects, enjoining to +beneficence and forbidding from iniquity and appointing and +displacing, till nightfall, when the Divan broke up, after the +goodliest fashion, and all present withdrew and went each his +own way. Then he arose and went in to the palace, where he +found his father-in-law's sickness grown heavy upon him and +said to him, 'May no hurt befall thee!' At this the old King +opened his eyes and said, 'O Hassan!' 'At thy service, O my +lord,' replied the young man. Quoth the old King, 'My last hour +is at hand: be careful of thy wife and her mother and look +thou fear God and honour thy parents, being still in awe of +the majesty of the Requiting King and remembering that He +commandeth to justice and beneficence.' And Hassan replied, +'I hear and obey.' + +The old King lingered three days after this and was then +received into the mercy of God the Most High. They paid him +the last offices and buried him and held over him readings and +recitations of the Koran, to the end of the [customary] forty +days. And King Hassan, son of the Vizier, reigned in his stead, +and his subjects rejoiced in him and all his days were gladness. +Moreover, his father ceased not to be his chief Vizier on his +right hand, and he took to himself another Vizier, to be at his +left hand. His reign was a prosperous one and he abode long +King in Baghdad. God blessed him, by the old King's daughter, +with three sons, who inherited the kingdom after him; and they +abode in the enjoyment of all delight and solace of life, till +there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer +of Companies. And glory be to Him who is eternal and in whose +hand are annulment and confirmation! + + + + + + THE PILGRIM AND THE OLD WOMAN WHO DWELT + IN THE DESERT. + + + +A man of the pilgrims once slept a long sleep and awaking, +found no trace of the caravan. So he arose and walked on, but +lost his way and presently came to a tent, at whose door he saw +an old woman and a dog by her, asleep. He went up to the tent +and saluting the old woman, sought of her food. 'Go to yonder +valley,' said she, 'and catch thy sufficiency of serpents, that +I may broil of them for thee and give thee to eat.' 'I dare not +catch serpents,' answered the pilgrim; 'nor did I ever eat +them.' Quoth the old woman, 'I will go with thee and catch +them; fear not.' So she went with him, followed by the dog, to +the valley, and catching a sufficient number of serpents, +proceeded to broil them. He saw nothing for it but to eat, for +fear of hunger and exhaustion; so he ate of the serpents. + +Then he was athirst and asked for water to drink. 'Go to the +spring and drink,' answered she. So he went to the spring and +found the water thereof bitter; yet needs must he drink of it, +for all its bitterness, because of the violence of his thirst. +Then he returned to the old woman and said to her, 'O old +woman, I marvel at thy choosing to abide in this place and +putting up with such meat and drink!' 'And how is it then in +thy country?' asked she. 'In my country,' answered he, 'are +wide and spacious houses and ripe and delicious fruits and +sweet and abundant waters and goodly viands and fat meats and +plentiful flocks and all things pleasant and all the goods of +life, the like whereof are not, save in the Paradise that God +the Most High hath promised to His pious servants.' 'All this,' +replied she, 'have I heard: but tell me, have you a Sultan who +ruleth over you and is tyrannical in his rule and under whose +hand you are, who, if one of you commit a fault, taketh his +goods and undoth him and who, when he will, turneth you out of +your houses and uprooteth you, stock and branch?' 'Indeed, that +may be,' answered the man. 'Then, by Allah,' rejoined she, +'these your delicious viands and dainty life and pleasant +estate, with tyranny and oppression, are but a corroding +poison, in comparison wherewith, our food and fashion, with +freedom and safety, are a healthful medicine. Hast thou not +heard that the best of all boons, after the true Faith, are +health and security?' + +Now these[FN#204] [quoth he who tells the tale] may be by the +just rule of the Sultan, the Vicar of God in His earth, and the +goodness of his policy. The Sultan of times past needed but +little awfulness, for that, when the people saw him, they +feared him; but the Sultan of these days hath need of the most +accomplished policy and the utmost majesty, for that men are +not as men of time past and this our age is one of folk +depraved and greatly calamitous, noted for folly and hardness +of heart and inclined to hatred and enmity. If, therefore, the +Sultan that is set over them be (which God the Most High +forfend) weak or lack of policy and majesty, without doubt, +this will be the cause of the ruin of the land. Quoth the +proverb, 'A hundred years of the Sultan's tyranny, rather than +one of the tyranny of the people, one over another.' When the +people oppress one another, God setteth over them a tyrannical +Sultan and a despotic King. Thus it is told in history that +there was, one day, presented to El Hejjaj ben Yousuf[FN#205] a +docket, in which was written, 'Fear God and oppress not His +servants with all manner of oppression.' When he read this, he +mounted the pulpit, (for he was ready of speech,) and said, 'O +folk' God the Most High hath set me over you, by reason of your +[evil] deeds; and though I die, yet will ye not be delivered +from oppression, with your evil deeds; for God the Most High +hath created many like unto me. If it be not I, it will be a +more fertile than I in mischief and a mightier in oppression +and a more strenuous in violence, even as saith the poet: + +For no hand is there but the hand of God is over it And no + oppressor but shall be with worse than he oppress. + +Tyranny is feared: but justice is the best of all things. We +beg God to better our case.' + + + + + + ABOULHUSN AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL TAWEDDUD. + + + +There was once in Baghdad a man of rank and rich in money and +houses and lands, who was one of the chiefs of the merchants, +and God had largely endowed him with worldly goods, but had +not vouchsafed him what he longed for of offspring; and there +passed over him a long space of time, without his being blessed +with children, male or female. His years waxed great, his bones +became wasted and his back bent, and weakness and trouble +increased on him, and he feared the loss of his wealth and +possessions, seeing he had no child, whom he might make his +heir and by whom he should be remembered. So he betook himself +with supplication to God the Most High, fasting by day and +rising by night [to pray]. Moreover, he made vows to God the +Living, the Eternal, and visited the pious and was instant in +supplication to the Most Migh, till He gave ear to him and +accepted his prayer and took pity on his striving and complaining; +so that, before many days were past, he lay with one of his women +and she became with child by him the same night. She accomplished +the months of her pregnancy and casting her burden, bore a male +child as he were a piece of the moon; whereupon the merchant, +in his gratitude to God, (to whom belong might and majesty,) +fulfilled his vows and gave alms and clothed the widow and the +orphan. + +On the seventh night after the boy's birth, he named him +Aboulhusn, and the wet-nurses suckled him and the dry-nurses +dandled him and the slaves and servants carried him, till he +grew up and throve and learnt the sublime Koran and the +ordinances of Islam and the things of the True Faith. Moreover, +he learned writing and poetry and mathematics and archery and +became the pearl of his age and the goodliest of the folk of +his time and his day, fair of face and fluent of tongue, +bearing himself with a proud and graceful port and glorying in +his symmetry and amorous grace. His cheeks were red and his +forehead white and brilliant and the tender down of the +whiskers darkened upon his face, even as saith one, describing +him: + +The Spring of the down on his cheeks to the eye shows clear; + And how shall the rose endure, after Spring is here? +Dost thou not see that the growth on his cheek, forsooth, A + violet is, that forth of its leaves doth peer? + +He abode awhile with his father, in the best of case, and the +latter rejoiced and delighted in him, till he came to man's +estate, when the merchant one day made him sit down before him +and said to him, 'O my son, the appointed term draws near; my +last hour is at hand and it remains but to meet God (to whom +belong might and majesty). I leave thee what shall suffice +thee, even to thy son's son, of money and farms and houses and +gardens; wherefore, O my son, fear thou God the Most High in +[dealing with] that which I leave thee and follow none but +those who will help thee [in this].' Not long after, he +sickened and died; so his son ordered his funeral, after the +goodliest fashion, and burying him, returned to his house and +sat mourning for him [many] days and nights, till certain of +his friends came in to him and said to him, 'Whoso leaveth the +like of thee after him is not dead; indeed, what is past is +past and mourning beseemeth none but girls and cloistered +women.' And they ceased not from him, till they wrought on him +to enter the bath and break off his mourning. Then he forgot +his father's injunctions, and his head was turned by his +riches; he thought fortune would still abide with him, as it +was, and that wealth would never come to an end. So he ate and +drank and made merry and took his pleasure and gave gifts of +money and raiment and was profuse with gold and gave himself up +to eating fowls and breaking the seals of wine-flasks and +listening to songs and to the laugh of the wine, as it gurgled +from the flagon; nor did he give over this way of life, till +his wealth was wasted and the case became straitened [upon him] +and he bit his hands [for repentance] and gone was all he had. + +In good sooth, he had nothing left, after that which he had +squandered, but a slave-girl that his father had bequeathed to +him with the rest of his estate: her name was Taweddud and she +had no equal in beauty and grace and brightness and symmetry +and all perfection. She was past mistress in all manner of arts +and accomplishments and endowed with [many] excellences, +surpassing all the folk of her age and time. She was grown more +notorious than a way-mark,[FN#206] for the versatility of her +genius, and outdid the fair both in theory and practice and +elegant and flexile grace, more by token that she was five feet +high and in conjunction with fair fortune, with strait arched +brows, as they were the crescent moon of Shaaban,[FN#207] and +eyes like those of gazelles, nose like the point of the sabre +and cheeks like blood-red anemones, mouth like Solomon's seal +and teeth like necklaces of pearls, navel holding an ounce of +benzoin ointment and waist more slender than his body whom love +hath wasted and whom concealment [of his passion] hath made +sick, and buttocks heavier than two hills of sand; brief, in +all she answered to the saying of him who says: + +Her fair shape ravisheth, if face to face she did appear, And + if she turn, for severance from her she slayeth sheer. +Sun-like, full-moon-like, sapling-like, unto her character + Estrangement nowise appertains nor cruelty austere. +Under the bosom of her shift the garths of Eden are, and the + full-moon revolveth still upon her neck-rings' sphere. + +She seemed [at once] a rising full moon and a browsing gazelle, +a girl of nine and five,[FN#208] putting to shame the moon and +the sun, even as saith of her the eloquent and ingenious poet: + +The likeness of the full-moon, faring o'er The heavens, five + and five and after four; +'Tis not my fault, if she have made of me Its likeness, when it + first in heaven doth soar. + +White of skin, odoriferous of breath, it seemed as if she were +[at once] fashioned of fire and moulded of crystal; rose-red +was the cheek of her and perfect her shape and figure; even as +saith of her one, describing her: + + +Scented with sandal and musk, right proudly doth she go, With + gold and silver and rose and saffron-colour aglow. +A flower in a garden she is, a pearl in an ouch of gold Or an + image in chapel set for worship of high and low. +Slender and shapely she is; vivacity bids her arise, But the + weight of her hips says, "Sit, or softly and slowly go." +Whenas her favours I seek and sue for my heart's desire, "Be + gracious," her beauty says; but her coquetry answers, + "No." +Glory to Him who made beauty her portion, and that Of her lover + to be the prate of the censurers, heigho! + +Indeed, she captivated all who saw her, with the excellence of +her beauty and the sweetness of her smile, and transpierced +them with the arrows she launched from her eyes; and withal she +was eloquent of speech and excellently skilled in poetry. + +When Aboulhusn had squandered all his wealth and there remained +to him nought but this slave-girl, when [I say] the wretchedness +of his plight became manifest to him, he abode three days +without tasting food or taking rest in sleep, and Taweddud +said to him, 'O my lord, carry me to the Khalif Haroun er +Reshid, fifth of the sons of Abbas, and seek of him ten thousand +dinars to my price. If he deem me dear at this price, say to +him, "O Commander of the Faithful, my slave is worth more +than this: do but prove her, and her value will be magnified +in thine eyes, for she hath not her equal, and it were unfit +that any but thou should possess her." And beware, O my lord, +of selling me for less than the sum I have named, for it is +but little for the like of me.' (Now Aboulhusn knew not her +worth nor that she had no equal in her day.) So he carried +her to the Khalif, to whom he repeated what she had bidden +him say, and the Khalif said to her, 'What is thy name?' +'Taweddud,' answered she. 'O Taweddud,' asked he, 'in what +branches of knowledge dost thou excel?' 'O my lord,' answered +she, 'I am versed in syntax and poetry and jurisprudence and +exegesis and lexicography and music and the knowledge of the +Divine ordinances and in arithmetic and geodesy and the fables +of the ancients. I know the sublime Koran [by heart] and have +read it according to the seven and the ten and the fourteen +[modes]. I know the number of its chapters and verses and +sections and words and letters and its halves and fourths +and eighths and tenths, the number of acts of adoration, +that occur in it, and what there is in it of cancelling and +cancelled;[FN#209] also what parts of it were revealed at +Medina and what at Mecca and the manner of the different +revelations. I know the Holy Traditions, their history and +variants and the manner of their recitation and interpretation, +together with those of them whose chain of descent is unbroken +and those for which it is broken; and I have studied the exact +sciences, geometry and philosophy and medicine and logic +and rhetoric and composition; and I know many things and am +passionately fond of poetry. I can play the lute and know its +gamut and notation and so forth. If I sing and dance, I ravish, +and if I adorn and perfume myself, I slay. In fine, I have +reached a pitch of perfection such as can only be estimated by +those who are stablished in knowledge.'[FN#210] + +When the Khalif heard her words, he wondered at them and at the +eloquence of her speech, seeing the tenderness of her age, and +turning to Aboulhusn, said to him, 'I will summon those who +shall examine her in all she lays claim to; if she answer +[correctly,] I will give thee the price thou askest for her and +more; and if not, thou art fitter to [possess] her [than I].' +'With all my heart, O Commander of the Faithful,' replied +Aboulhusn. So the Khalif wrote to the Viceroy of Bassora, to +send him Ibrahim ben Siyyar the poet, who was the first man of +his day in argument and eloquence and poetry and logic, and +bade him bring with him readers of the Koran and doctors of the +law and physicians and astrologers and sages and geometricians +and philosophers; and Ibrahim was more learned than all. In a +little while they all arrived at the Khalif's palace, knowing +not what was to do, and the latter sent for them to his +sitting-chamber and bade them be seated. So they sat down and +he bade fetch the damsel Taweddud, who came and unveiling, +showed herself, as she were a sparkling star. The Khalif caused +set her a stool of gold; and she saluted and speaking with an +eloquent tongue, said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, bid the +learned men present contend with me in argument.' So he said to +them, 'I desire of you that ye dispute with this damsel on the +things of her faith and make void her argument, in all she +avoucheth;' and they answered, saying, 'We hear and obey God +and thee, O Commander of the Faithful.' + +Thereupon Taweddud bowed her head and said, 'Which of you is +the doctor of the law, the scholar, versed in the interpretation +of the Koran and in the Traditions?' Quoth one of them, 'I am +the man thou seekest.' 'Then,' said she, 'ask me of what thou +wilt.' Quoth the doctor, 'Hast thou read the precious book of +God and dost thou know its abrogating and abrogated parts and +hast thou meditated its verses and expressions?' 'Yes,' answered +she. 'Then,' said he, 'I will proceed to question thee of the +obligatory ordinances and the immutable institutions: so tell +me of these, O damsel, and who is thy Lord, who thy prophet, +and who thy brethren. Also, what is thy [point of] fronting +[in prayer], what thine exemplar, what thy path and what thy +highway?' 'Allah is my Lord,' replied she, 'and Mohammed (whom +God bless and preserve) my prophet and the true-believers are my +brethren. The Koran is my exemplar and the Kaabeh my [point of] +fronting; the practice of good is my path and the Sunneh[FN#211] +my highway.' (Q.) 'With what do we know God the Most High?' +(A.) 'With the understanding.' (Q.) 'And what is the understanding?' +(A.) 'It is of two kinds, natural and acquired. The first is that +which God (to whom belong might and majesty) bestoweth on whom He +will of His servants; and the other is that which men acquire +by dint of study and fair knowledge.' (Q.) 'Thou hast answered +well. Where is the seat of the understanding?' (A.) 'God casteth +it in the heart, whence its lustre ascendeth to the brain and +there becometh fixed.' (Q.) 'How knowest thou the Prophet of God?' +(A.) 'By the reading of God's Holy Book and by signs and proofs +and portents and miracles.' (Q.) 'What are the obligatory +ordinances and the immutable institutions?' (A.) 'The obligatory +ordinances are five in number. (1) Testification that there is no +god but God alone, that He hath no partner in divinity and that +Mohammed is His servant and His apostle. (2) The scrupulous +performance of the enjoined prayers. (3) The payment of the +poor-rate. (4) Fasting Ramazan. (5) The performance of the +Pilgrimage to God's Holy House [at Mecca] for all to whom it +is possible. The immutable institutions are four in number; to +wit, night and day and sun and moon, the which build up life and +hope, neither knoweth any son of Adam if they will be destroyed +on the Day of Judgment.' (Q.) 'What are the obligatory rites of +the Faith?' (A.) 'Prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage, +fighting for the Faith and abstinence from what is forbidden.' +(Q.) 'Why dost thou stand up to pray?' (A.) 'To express the +devout intent of the slave submitting himself to [or acknowledging] +the Divinity.' (Q.) 'What are the conditions precedent of standing +up to pray?' (A.) 'Purification, covering the privy parts, +the avoidance of soiled clothes, standing on a clean place, +fronting [the Kaabeh,] a standing posture, the intent[FN#212] +and the magnification of prohibition.'[FN#213] (Q.) 'With what +shouldest thou go forth thy house to pray? (A.) 'With an intent +of worship.'[FN#214] (Q.) 'With what intent shouldest thou +enter the mosque?' (A.) 'With an intent of service.'[FN#215] +(Q.) 'Why do we front the Kaabeh?' (A.) 'In obedience to three +Divine and one Traditional ordinance.' (Q.) 'What is the +commencement, the consecration and the dissolution [end] of +prayer?' (A.) 'Purification, the magnification of prohibition +and the salutation of the angels [concluding prayer].' (Q.) +'What of him who neglecteth prayer?' (A.) 'It is reported, +among the authentic (Traditions of the Prophet, that he said), +"He, who neglecteth prayer wilfully and without excuse, hath no +part in Islam."' (Q.) 'What is prayer?' (A.) 'Prayer is +communion between the slave and his Lord, and in it are ten +virtues, to wit, (1) it illumines the heart (2) makes the face +shine (3) pleases the Merciful One (4) angers Satan (5) +conjures calamity (6) wards off the mischief of enemies (7) +multiplies mercy (8) forfends vengeance [or punishment] (9) +brings the slave nigh unto [or in favour with] his Lord and +(10) restrains from lewdness and iniquity. It is one of the +written obligatory ordinances and the pillar of the Faith.' +(Q.) 'What is the key of prayer?' (A.) 'Ablution.' (Q.) 'What +is the key of ablution?' (A.) 'Nomination.'[FN#216] (Q.) 'That +of naming God?' (A.) 'Faith.' (Q.) 'That of Faith?' (A.) 'Trust +in God.' (Q.) 'That of trust in God?' (A.) 'Hope.' (Q.) 'That +of Hope?' (A.) 'Obedience.' (Q.) 'That of obedience?' (A.) 'The +confession of the unity and the acknowledgment of the divinity +of God.' (Q.) 'What are the Divine ordinances of ablution?' +(A.) 'They are six in number, according to the canon of the +Imam Es Shafi Mohammed ben Idris (of whom God accept) to wit, +(1) intent[FN#217] to wash the face (2) washing the face (3) +washing the hands and elbows (4) wiping part of the head (5) +washing the feet and heels and (6) observing the prescribed +order of ablution, whose statutes are ten in number, to wit, +(1) nomination (2) washing the hands before putting them into +the vase (3) rinsing the mouth (4) drawing up water through the +nostrils (5) wiping the whole head (6) washing the ears within +and without with fresh water (7) separating a thick beard (8) +separating the fingers and toes (9) washing the right foot +before the left and (10) doing each of these thrice and all in +unbroken succession. When the ablution is ended, the devotee +should (quoth Es Shafi[FN#218]) say, "I testify that there is +no god but God alone, who hath no partner, and that Mohammed is +His servant and apostle. O my God, make me of those who repent +and are made clean! Glory to Thee, O my God, and in Thy praise +I testify that there is no god but Thou! I crave pardon of +Thee and repent to Thee!" For it is reported, in the Holy +Traditions, that the Prophet (whom God bless and keep) said of +this prayer, "Whoso ensueth every ablution with this prayer, +the eight gates of Paradise are open to him; he shall enter at +which he pleases."' (Q.) 'When a man purposes to make the +ablution, what betides him from the angels and the devils?' +(A.) 'When a man prepares for ablution, the angels come and +stand on his right and the devils on his left hand. If he name +God, at the beginning of the ablution, the devils flee from him +and the angels hover over him with a pavilion of light, having +four ropes, to each an angel glorifying God and craving pardon +for him, so long as he remains silent or calls upon the name of +God. But if he omit to begin with naming God (to whom belong +might and majesty) neither remain silent, the angels depart +from him and the devils settle upon him and whisper evil +thoughts unto him, till he falls into doubt and comes short in +his ablution. For (quoth he on whom be blessing and salvation) +"A perfect ablution driveth away the devils and assureth +against the tyranny of the Sultan; and he who neglecteth the +ablution, if calamity befall him, let him blame none but +himself."' (Q.) 'What should a man do, when he awakes from +sleep?' (A.) 'He should wash his hands thrice, before putting +them into the vessel.' (Q.) 'What are the ordinances, Koranic +and Traditional, of complete ablution?'[FN#219] (A.) 'The +Koranic ordinances are intent and covering the whole body with +water, so that it shall come at every part of the hair and +skin. The Traditional, previous partial ablution [as before +prayer,] rubbing the body, separating the hair and deferring in +words[FN#220] the washing of the feet till the end of the +ablution.' (Q.) 'What are the reasons [or occasions] for making +the ablution with other than water, and what are the ordinances +thereof, Koranic and Traditional?'[FN#221] (A.) 'The reasons +are seven in number, to wit, lack of water, fear, need thereto, +going astray on a journey, sickness, having the bones [broken +and] in splints and wounds. As for its ordinances, the Koranic +are four in number, to wit, intent, dust, applying it to the +face and to the hands, and the Traditional two, to wit, +nomination and preferring the right before the left hand.' (Q.) +'What are the conditions, the essentials [or fundamentals] and +the Traditional statutes of prayer?' (A.) 'The conditions are +five in number, to wit, (1) purification of the members (2) +covering the privy parts (3) observing the proper hours, either +of certainty or to the best of one's belief, (4) fronting the +Kaabeh and (5) standing on a clean place. The essentials are +twelve in number, to wit, (1) intent (2) the magnification of +prohibition (3) standing at the proper distance one from +another (4) repeating the first chapter of the Koran and also +(according to the Shafiyites) saying, "In the name of God the +Merciful, the Compassionate!" a verse thereof (5) bowing the +body and tranquillity [or gravity] therein (6) keeping the feet +and legs still and in the same position, [whilst the rest of +the body moves], and tranquillity therein (7) prostration and +tranquillity therein (8) sitting between two prostrations and +tranquillity therein (9) repeating the latter profession of +the Faith and sitting up therefor (10) invoking benediction +on the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) (11) the first +Salutation[FN#222] and (12) the intent of making an end of +prayer, [expressed] in words. The Traditional statutes are +the call to prayer, the repetition of the words of the latter, +raising the hands to either side of the face, whilst pronouncing +the magnification of prohibition, pronouncing the magnification +before reciting the Fatiheh [First chapter of the Koran], +seeking refuge with God,[FN#223] saying "Amen," repeating +the (obligatory) chapter [of the Koran] after the Fatiheh, +repeating the magnifications during change of posture, saying, +"May God hear him who praiseth Him!" and "O our Lord, to Thee +be the praise!" uttering aloud the prayers in their places +and in like manner, under the breath, those so prescribed, +the first testification and sitting up thereto, blessing the +Prophet therein, blessing his family in the latter profession +[or testification] and the second Salutation.' (Q.) 'On what +is the poor-rate taxable?' (A.) 'On gold and silver and camels +and oxen and sheep and wheat and barley and millet and beans +and pulse and rice and raisins and dates.' (Q.) 'What is the +poor-rate on gold ?' (A.) 'Below twenty dinars, nothing; but, +on that amount and over, half a dinar for every score.' +(Q.) 'On silver?' (A.) 'Under two hundred dirhems, nothing; +then, five dirhems on every two hundred.' (Q.) 'On camels?' +(A.) 'For every five, an ewe, or for every twenty-five a +pregnant camel.' (Q.) 'On sheep?' (A.) 'On forty and over, an +ewe for every forty head.' (Q.) 'What are the ordinances of +the Fast [of Ramazan]?' (A.) 'The Koranic are intent,[FN#224] +abstinence from eating, drinking and copulation and stoppage of +vomiting. It is incumbent on all who submit to the Law, save +women in their courses and forty days after child-birth; and it +becomes obligatory on sight of the new moon or on news of its +appearance, brought by a trustworthy person and commending +itself as truth to the hearer's heart; and among its requisites +is that it be commenced by night.[FN#225] The Traditional +ordinances of fasting are, hastening to break the fast,[FN#226] +deferring the fore-dawn meal[FN#227] and abstaining from +speech, save for good works and for calling on the name of God +and reciting the Koran.' (Q.) 'What things vitiate not the +fast?' (A.) 'The use of unguents and eye-powders and the dust +of the road and the swallowing of one's spittle and the +emission of seed in dreams of dalliance or at the sight of a +strange woman and cupping and letting blood; none of these +things vitiates the fast.' (Q.) 'What are the prayers of the +two great [annual] Festivals?' (A.) 'Two one-bow prayers, after +the traditional ordinance, without call to prayer or the +repetition thereof by the devotee, who shall say, "Prayer is a +collector of all folk!"[FN#228] and pronounce the magnification +seven times in the first prayer, besides the magnification of +prohibition, and in the second, five times, besides that of +rising up, (according to the canon of the Imam Es Shafi, on +whom God have mercy) and make the profession of the Faith.' +(Q.) 'What are the prayers prescribed on the occasion of an +eclipse of the sun or moon?' (A.) 'Two one-bow prayers, without +call to prayer or repetition thereof by the devotee, who shall +make in each two standings up and two inclinations and two +prostrations, then sit up and testify and salute.' (Q.) 'What +is the ritual of prayer for rain?' (A.) 'Two one-bow prayers, +without call to prayer or repetition; then shall the devotee +make the profession and salute. Moreover [the Imam] shall +deliver an exhortation and (in place of the magnification, as +in the two exhortations of the two great Festivals) ask pardon +of God and reverse his mantle and pray and supplicate.' (Q.) +'What are the additional or occasional prayers?' (A.) 'The +least is a one-bow prayer and the most eleven.' (Q.) 'What +is the forenoon prayer?' (A.) 'At least, two one-bow prayers +and at most, twelve.' (Q.) 'What is the service of seclusion?' +[FN#229] (A.) 'It is a matter of Traditional ordinance.' +(Q.) 'What are its conditions?' (A.) '(1) Expression of intent +(2) not leaving the mosque save of necessity (3) not having +to do with a woman (4) fasting and (5) abstaining from speech.' +(Q.) 'Under what conditions is pilgrimage obligatory?' (A.) +'So a man be of full age and understanding and a true-believer +and it be possible to him; and it is obligatory [on all], once +before death.' (Q.) 'What are the Koranic statutes of the +pilgrimage?'' (A.) '(1) Assumption of the pilgrim's habit +(2) station at Arafat (3) compassing [the Kaabeh] (4) running +[between Sefa and Merweh[FN#230]] and (5) [previous] shaving +or clipping the hair.' (Q.) 'What are the Koranic statutes of +the lesser pilgrimage?' (A.) 'Reassuming the pilgrim's habit and +compassing and running [as before].' (Q.) 'What are the Koranic +ordinances of the assumption of the pilgrim's habit?' (A.) +'Putting off sewn garments, forswearing perfume and ceasing to +shave the head or cut the nails and avoiding the killing of +game and copulation.' (Q.) 'What are the Traditional statutes +of the pilgrimage?' (A.) '(1) The crying out, "Here I am, O our +Lord!"[FN#231] (2) the circuitings [about the Kaabeh] of +arrival [at] and departure [from Mecca] (3) the passing the +night at Muzdelifeh and Mina[FN#232] and (4) the stone-throwing.' +[FN#233] (Q.) 'What is the war in defence of the Faith and its +essentials?' (A.) 'Its essentials are (1) the descent of the +infidels upon us (2) the existence of the Imam[FN#234] (3) a +state of [armed] preparation and (4) firmness in meeting the +foe. Its ordinance is incital to battle, in that the Most High +hath said, "O my Prophet, incite the faithful to battle!"' +[FN#235] (Q.) 'What are the ordinances of buying and selling?' +(A.) 'The Koranic are (1) offer and acceptance and (2) if the +thing sold be a (white) slave, by whom one profiteth, to do +one's endeavour to convert him to Islam and (3) to abstain +from usury; the Traditional, resiliation and option before +separating, after the saying of the Prophet, "The parties +to a sale shall have the option [of cancelling or altering +the terms of a bargain,] whilst they are yet unseparated."' +(Q.) 'What is it forbidden to sell [or exchange] for what?' +(A.) 'On this point I mind me of an authentic tradition, +reported by Nafi[FN#236] of the Apostle of God, that he forbade +the sale of dried dates for fresh and fresh figs for dry and +jerked for fresh meat and cream for butter; in fine, of all +eatables of one and the same kind, it is unlawful to sell some +for other some.'[FN#237] When the professor heard her words +and knew that she was keen of wit, ingenious and learned in +jurisprudence and the Traditions and the interpretation of the +Koran and what not else, he said in himself, 'Needs must I go +about with her, that I may overcome her in the assembly of the +Commander of the Faithful.' So he said to her, 'O damsel, what +is the lexicographical meaning of the word wuzou?'[FN#238] +And she answered, 'Cleanliness and freedom from impurities.' +(Q.) 'And of prayer?' (A.) 'An invocation of good.' (Q.) 'And +of ghusl?'[FN#239] (A.) 'Purification.' (Q.) 'And of fasting?' +(A.) 'Abstention.' (Q.) 'And of zekat?'[FN#240] (A.) 'Increase.' +(Q.) 'And of pilgrimage?' (A.) 'Visitation [or quest].' (Q.) 'And +of jehad?'[FN#241] (A.) '[Endeavour in] repelling.' With this the +doctor's arguments were exhausted, so he rose to his feet and +said, 'Bear witness against me, O Commander of the Faithful, +that this damsel is more learned than I am in the Law. Quoth +she, 'I will ask thee somewhat, which do thou answer me +speedily, an thou be indeed a learned man.' 'Say on,' quoth he; +and she said, 'What are the arrows of the Faith?' 'They are ten +in number,' answered he; 'to wit, (1) Testification,[FN#242] +that is, religion (2) Prayer, that is, the Covenant (3) Alms, +that is, purification (4) Fasting, that is, defensive armour +(5) Pilgrimage, that is, the Law (6) Fighting for the Faith, +that is, a general duty (7) Enjoining to beneficence and (8) +Forbidding from iniquity, both of which are jealousy [for good] +(9) The communion of the faithful, that is, sociableness, and +(10) Seeking knowledge, that is, the praiseworthy way.' (Q.) +'What are the roots[FN#243] of Islam?' (A.) 'They are four +in number, to wit, sincerity of belief, truth of purpose, +observance of the limit [prescribed by the Law] and keeping the +Covenant.' Then said she, 'I have one more question to ask +thee, which if thou answer, [it is well]; else, I will take thy +clothes.' Quoth he, 'Speak, O damsel;' and she said, 'What are +the branches[FN#244] of Islam?' But he was silent and made no +reply; and she said, 'Put off thy clothes, and I will expound +them to thee.' Quoth the Khalif, 'Expound them, and I will make +him put off his clothes for thee.' 'They are two-and-twenty in +number,' answered she, 'to wit, (1) holding fast to the Book of +God the Most High (2) taking example by His Apostle (whom God +bless and preserve) (3) abstaining from doing evil (4) eating +what is lawful and (5) avoiding what is unlawful (6) restoring +things wrongfully taken to their owners (7) repentance (8) +knowledge of the Law (9) love of [Abraham] the Friend [of God] +(10) and of the followers of the Revelation[FN#245] (11) belief +in the Apostles (12) fear of apostacy (13) preparation for +departure[FN#246] (14) strength of conviction (15) clemency in +time of power (16) strength in time of weakness (17) patience +under affliction (18) knowledge of God the Most High and (19) +of what His Prophet hath made known to us (20) gainsaying Iblis +the accursed (21) striving earnestly against the lusts of the +soul and gainsaying them and (22) guiltlessness of believing in +any other god but God.' + +When the Commander of the Faithful heard her words, he bade the +doctor put off his clothes and hood; and he did so and went +forth, beaten and confounded, from the Khalif's presence. +Thereupon arose another man and said to her, 'O damsel, hear a +few questions from me.' 'Say on,' quoth she; and he said, 'What +are the conditions of valid [purchase by] payment in advance?' +'That the amount [of the thing bought], the kind and the period +[of delivery to the purchaser], be [fixed or] known,' replied +she. (Q.) 'What are the Koranic canons of eating?' (A.) 'The +confession [by the eater] that God the Most High provideth him +and giveth him to eat and drink and thanksgiving to Him +therefor.' (Q.) 'What is thanksgiving?' (A.) 'The use by the +creature of that which God vouchsafeth to him in the manner and +to the ends for which He hath created it.' (Q.) 'What are the +Traditional canons of eating?' (A.) 'The [preliminary] naming +[of God] and washing the hands, sitting on the left buttock, +eating with three fingers and eating of that which is chewed.' +[FN#247] (Q.) 'What are the civilities of eating?' (A.) 'Taking +small mouthfuls and looking little at one's table-companion.' +(Q.) 'What are the heart's stays [or articles of faith] and +their correlatives?' (A.) 'They are three in number, to wit, +(1) holding fast to the Faith, the correlative whereof is the +shunning of infidelity, (2) holding fast to the Traditional Law +and its correlative, the shunning of innovation [or heresy] and +(3) holding fast to obedience and its correlative, the shunning +of disobedience.' (Q.) 'What are the conditions of ablution?' +(A.) '(1) Submission to the will of God[FN#248] (2) possession +of discernment of good and evil [or having attained the age of +discretion] (3) purity of the water and (4) absence of legal +or material impediments.' (Q.) 'What is belief?' (A.) 'It is +divided into nine parts, to wit, (1) belief in the One worshipped +(2) belief in the condition of slavery [of the worshipper] +(3) belief in one God, to the exclusion of all others (4) belief +in the Two Handfuls[FN#249] (5) belief in Providence (6) belief +in the Abrogating and (7) in the Abrogated (8) belief in God, His +angels and apostles and (9) in fore-ordained Fate, general and +particular, its good and ill, sweet and bitter.' (Q.) 'What +three things do away other three?' (A.) 'It is told of Sufyan +eth Thauri[FN#250] that he said, "Three things do away other +three. Making light of the pious doth away the future life, +making light of kings doth away [this] life and making light of +expenditure doth away wealth."' (Q.) 'What are the keys of the +heavens, and how many gates have they?' (A.) 'Quoth God the Most +High, "And heaven shall be opened, and it shall be [all] doors," +[FN#251] and quoth he whom God bless and keep, "None knoweth the +number of the gates of heaven, save He who created it, and there +is no son of Adam but hath two gates allotted to him in the skies, +one whereby his subsistence cometh down and another where-through +his works [good and evil] ascend. The former is not closed, +save when his term of life comes to an end, nor the latter, +till his soul ascends [for judgment]."' (Q.) 'Tell me of a +thing and a half thing and a no-thing.' (A.) 'The thing is the +believer, the half thing the hypocrite and the no-thing the +infidel.' (Q.) 'Tell me of various kinds of hearts.' (A.) +'There is the whole [or perfect] heart, which is that of +[Abraham] the Friend [of God], the sick heart, that of the +infidel, the contrite heart, that of the pious, fearful ones, +the heart consecrated to God, that of our Lord Mohammed (whom +God bless and preserve) and the enlightened [or enlightening] +heart, that of those who follow him. The hearts of the learned +are of three kinds, to wit, those that are in love with this +world, with the next and with their Lord; and it is said that +hearts are three, the suspended, that of the infidel, the +non-existent [or lost], that of the hypocrite, and the constant +[or firm], that of the true-believer. Moreover, it is said that +the latter is of three kinds, namely, the heart dilated with +light and faith, that wounded with fear of estrangement and +that which feareth to be forsaken of God.' + +Quoth the second doctor, 'Thou hast said well;' whereupon said +she to the Khalif, 'O Commander of the Faithful, he has +questioned me, till he is weary, and now I will ask him two +questions. If he answer them, it is well, and if not, I will +take his clothes and he shall depart in peace.' Quoth the +doctor, 'Ask me what thou wilt,' and she said, 'What is +religion?' 'Religion,' answered he, 'is confession[FN#252] with +the tongue and belief with the heart and doing with the +members. Quoth the Prophet, "The believer is not perfect in +belief, except five qualities be accomplished in him, namely, +trust in God, committal of his affair to Him, submission to His +commandment, acquiescence in His decrees and that he do all for +His sake; so is he of those who are acceptable to God and who +give and withhold for His sake, and he is perfect in belief."' +Then said she, 'What is the Koranic ordinance of ordinances +and the ordinance which is the preliminary of all ordinances +and that of which all others stand in need and that which +comprehendeth all others, and what is the Traditional ordinance +that entereth into the Koranic, and that whereby the latter is +completed?' But he was silent and made no reply; whereupon the +Khalif bade her expound and ordered him to doff his clothes and +give them to her. 'O doctor,' said she, 'the Koranic ordinance +of ordinances is the knowledge of God the Most High; that, +which is the preliminary of all others, is the testifying that +there is no god but God and that Mohammed is His apostle; that, +of which all others have need, is ablution; that, which +compriseth all others, is that of [total] ablution from +[ceremonial] defilement; the Traditional ordinance, that enters +into the Koranic, is the separation of the fingers and the +thick beard; and that, wherewith all Koranic ordinances are +completed, is circumcision.' Therewith was manifest the +insufficiency of the doctor, who rose to his feet and said, 'I +call God to witness, O Commander of the Faithful, that this +damsel is more learned than I in the Law and what pertains +thereto.' So saying, he put off his clothes and went away, +defeated. + +Then turned she to the rest of the learned men present and +said, 'O masters, which of you is the reader,[FN#253] versed in +the seven readings and in syntax and lexicography?' Thereupon +the professor arose and seating himself before her, said, 'Hast +thou read the Book of God the Most High and made thyself +throughly acquainted with its verses and its various parts, +abrogating and abrogated, equivocal and unequivocal, Meccan and +Medinan? Dost thou understand its interpretation and hast thou +studied it, according to the various versions and readings?' +'Yes,' answered she; and he said, 'What, then, is the number of +its chapters, how many are Meccan and how many Medinan? How +many verses and decades[FN#254] does it contain, how many +words and how many letters and how many acts of prostration +and how many prophets and birds are mentioned in it?' 'It +contains a hundred and fourteen chapters,' replied she, 'whereof +threescore and ten were revealed at Mecca and forty and four at +Medina, six thousand three hundred and thirty-six verses, six +hundred and twenty-one decades, seventy-nine thousand four +hundred and thirty-nine words and three hundred and twenty- +three thousand and six hundred and seventy letters; and to the +reader thereof, for every letter, accrue ten benefits. The +acts of prostration it contains are fourteen in number, and +five-and-twenty prophets are named therein, to wit, Adam, Noah, +Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Elisha, Jonah, Lot, +Salih, Houd,[FN#255] Shuaib,[FN#256] David, Solomon, Dhoulkifl, +[FN#257] Idris,[FN#258] Elias, Yehya,[FN#259] Zacharias, Job, +Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Mohammed, the peace of God and His +blessing be on them all! Moreover, nine birds [or flying +things] are mentioned in the Koran, namely, the gnat, the bee, +the fly, the ant, the hoopoe, the crow, the locust, the bustard +and the bird of Jesus[FN#260] (on whom be peace), to wit, the +bat.' (Q.) 'Which is the most excellent chapter of the Koran?' +(A.) 'That of the Cow.'[FN#261] (Q.) 'Which is the most magnificent +verse?' (A.) 'That of the Throne;[FN#262] it has fifty words, in +each fifty blessings.' (Q.) 'What verse hath in it nine signs [or +wonders]?' (A.) 'That in which quoth God the Most High, "Verily, +in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation +of night and day and the ship that runneth in the sea with what +profiteth mankind and in what God sendeth down from heaven of +water and quickeneth therewith the earth, after its dearth, and +spreadeth abroad therein all manner cattle, and the shifting of +the winds and the clouds, pressed into service betwixt heaven +and earth, are signs for folk who understand."'[FN#263] (Q.) +'Which is the most just?' (A.) 'That in which God saith, "Verily, +God commandeth to justice and beneficence and giving to those +that are near unto us and forbiddeth from profligacy and iniquity +and oppression."'[FN#264] (Q.) 'Which is the most yearnful?' (A.) +'That in which quoth God, "Shall every man of them yearn to +enter a garden of delight?"'[FN#265] (Q.) 'Which is the most +hopeful?' (A.) 'That in which quoth God the Most High, "Say, 'O +ye my servants, that have transgressed against your own souls, +despair not of the mercy of God! Indeed, God forgiveth sins, +all of them, for He is the Forgiving, the Compassionate.'"' +[FN#266] (Q.) 'By what version dost thou read?' (A.) 'By that of +the people of Paradise, to wit, the version of Nafi.'[FN#267] +(Q.) 'In which verse doth God make prophets lie?' (A.) 'In that +wherein He saith, "They [the brothers of Joseph] brought lying +blood upon his shirt."'[FN#268] (Q.) 'In which doth He make +infidels speak the truth?' (A.) 'In that wherein He saith, "The +Jews say, 'The Nazarenes are [grounded] on nought,' and the +Nazarenes say, 'The Jews are [grounded] on nought;' and [yet] +they [both] read the Scripture."[FN#269] And [in this] both speak +the truth.' (Q.) 'In which doth God speak in His own person [in +the singular]?' (A.) 'In that in which He saith, "Neither have I +created Jinn and men, but that they should worship."'[FN#270] +(Q.) 'In which do the angels speak?' (A.) 'In that which saith, +"We celebrate Thy praises and hallow Thee."'[FN#271] (Q.) 'What +sayst thou of the formula, "I seek refuge with God from Satan +the Stoned"?' (A.) 'It is obligatory, by commandment of God, +on all who read the Koran, as appears by His saying, "When +thou readest the Koran, seek refuge with God from Satan the +Stoned."'[FN#272] (Q.) 'What are the words and variants of +the formula?' (A.) 'Some say, "I take refuge with God the +All-hearing and knowing, etc.," and others, "With God the +Strong;" but the best is that of which the noble Koran and the +Traditions speak. The Prophet was used, whenas he was about to +open the Koran, to say, "I take refuge with God from Satan +the Stoned." And quoth a Tradition, reported by Nafi on the +authority of his [adopted] father, "The apostle of God used, +when he rose in the night to pray, to say aloud, 'God is Most +Great, with [all] greatness! Praise be to God abundantly! Glory +to God morning and evening!' Then would he say, 'I seek refuge +with God from Satan the Stoned and from the instigations of the +Devils and their evil suggestions."' And it is told of Ibn +Abbas[FN#273] (of whom God accept) that he said, "The first +time Gabriel came down to the Prophet [with a portion of the +Koran,] he taught him [the formula of] seeking refuge, saying, +'O Mohammed, say, "I seek refuge with God the All-hearing and +knowing;" then say, "In the name of God the Compassionate, the +Merciful!" And read, in the name of thy Lord who created men +from clotted blood.'"'[FN#274] (Q.) 'What sayst thou of the +verse, "In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful"? +Is it one of the verses of the Koran?' (A.) 'Yes; it is a verse +of "The ant"[FN#275] and occurs also [at the head of the first +and] between every two [following] chapters; and there is much +difference of opinion, respecting this, among the learned.' +(Q.) 'Why is not the formula written at the head of the chapter +of Immunity?'[FN#276] (A.) 'When this chapter was revealed for +the dissolution of the alliance between the Prophet and the +idolaters, the former sent Ali ibn Abi Talib (whose face God +honour) therewith [from Medina to Mecca] at the season of the +greater pilgrimage;[FN#277] and he read the chapter to them, +but did not read "In the name, etc."'[FN#278] (Q.) 'What of the +excellence of the formula and the blessing that attaches to +it?' (A.) 'It is told of the Prophet that he said, "Never is +'In the name, etc.' pronounced over aught, but there is a +blessing in it;" and it is reported, on his authority, that the +Lord of Glory swore by His glory that never should the formula +be pronounced over a sick person, but he should be healed of +his sickness. Moreover, it is said that, when God created the +empyreal heaven, it was agitated with an exceeding agitation; but +He wrote on it, "In the name, etc.," and its agitation subsided. +When the formula was first revealed to the Prophet, he said, "I +am safe from three things, earthquake and metamorphosis and +drowning;" and indeed its virtues are great and its blessings +too many to enumerate. It is told of the Prophet that he said, +"There will be brought before God, on the judgment day, a man +with whom He shall reckon and finding no good deed to his account, +shall order him to the fire; but the man will say, 'O my God, +Thou hast not dealt justly by me!' Then shall God (to whom belong +might and majesty) say, 'How so?' and the man will answer, saying, +'O Lord, for that Thou callest Thyself the Compassionate, the +Merciful, yet wilt Thou punish me with the fire!' And God +(extolled be His majesty) shall say, 'I did indeed name myself +the Compassionate, the Merciful. Carry My servant to Paradise, +of My mercy, for I am the most Merciful of those that have +mercy.'"' (Q.) 'What was the origin of the use of the formula?' +(A.) 'When God revealed the Koran, they wrote, "In Thy name, O +my God!"; when He revealed the words, "Say, pray ye to God or +pray ye to the Compassionate, what days ye pray, for to Him +[belong] the most fair names,"[FN#279] they wrote, "In the name +of God, the Compassionate;" and when He revealed the words, +"Your God is one God, there is no god but He, the Compassionate, +the Merciful,"[FN#280] they wrote, "In the name of God, the +Compassionate, the Merciful!"' (Q.) 'Did God reveal the Koran +all at once or at intervals?' (A.) 'Gabriel the Faithful +[Spirit] (on whom be peace) descended with it from the Lord of +the Worlds upon His Prophet Mohammed, Prince of the Apostles +and seal[FN#281] of the Prophets, by detached verses, containing +commandment and prohibition, promise and menace, anecdotes +and similitudes, as the occasion called for it, in the course +of twenty years.' (Q.) 'Which chapter was first revealed?' +(A.) 'According to Ibn Abbas, that of the Clot of Blood,[FN#282] +and according to Jabir ben Abdallah,[FN#283] that of the Covered +[with a cloak].'[FN#284] (Q.) 'Which verse was the last revealed?' +(A.) 'That of Usury,[FN#285] and it is said [also], the verse, +"When there cometh God's succour and victory."'[FN#286] (Q.) 'Tell +me the names of the Companions who collected the Koran, in the +lifetime of the Apostle of God.' (A.) 'They were four in number, +to wit, Ubaï ibn Kaab, Zeid ibn Thabit, Abou Ubeideh Aamir ben +Jerrah and Othman ben Affan,[FN#287] may God accept of them all!' +(Q.) 'Who are the readers, from whom the [accepted] reading of +the Koran is taken?' (A.) 'They are four in number, namely, +Abdallah ben Mesoud, Ubaï ben Kaab, Maadh ben Jebel[FN#288] and +Salim ben Abdallah.'[FN#289] (Q.) 'What sayst thou of the words +of the Most High, "That which is sacrificed to stones"?'[FN#290] +(A.) 'The stones are idols, which are set up and worshipped, instead +of God the Most High, and [from this] we seek refuge with Him.' +(Q.) 'What sayst thou of the words of the Most High, "[Quoth +Jesus] Thou knowest what is in my soul, and I know not what is +in Thy soul"?'[FN#291] (A.) 'They mean "Thou [God] knowest the +truth of me and what is in me and I [Jesus] know not what is in +Thee;" and the proof of this are his words,[FN#292] "Thou [God] +art He that knoweth the hidden things;" and it is said, also, +"Thou [God] knowest my essence, but I [man] know not Thine +essence."' (Q.) 'What sayst thou of the words of the Most High, +"O ye that believe, deny not yourselves the good things that +God hath made lawful to you!"?'[FN#293] (A.) 'My master (on +whom God have mercy) told me that Ez Zuhak[FN#294] said, "There +was a people of the true-believers who said, 'We will dock our +yards and don sackcloth;' whereupon this verse was revealed." +But El Cutadeh[FN#295] says that it was revealed on account of +sundry Companions of the Apostle of God, Ali ibn Abi Talib and +Othman ben Musaab and others, who said, "We will dock ourselves +and don hair [cloth] and make us monks."' (Q.) 'What sayst thou +of the words of the Most High, "And God took Abraham to +friend"?'[FN#296] (A.) 'The friend [of God] is the needy, the +poor, and (according to another saying) he is the lover, he who +is absorbed in the love of God the Most High and in whose +exclusive devotion there is no falling away.' + +When the professor saw her pass on in speech with the passing +of the clouds[FN#297] and that she stayed not in answering, he +rose to his feet and said, 'I take God to witness, O Commander +of the Faithful, that this damsel is more learned than I in +Koranic exegesis and what pertains thereto.' Then said she, 'I +will ask thee one question, which if thou answer, it is well: +but if thou answer not, I will strip off thy clothes.' 'Ask +on,' quoth the Khalif; and she said, 'Which verse of the +Koran has in it three-and-twenty Kafs,[FN#298] which sixteen +Mims,[FN#299] which a hundred and forty Ains,[FN#300] and which +section[FN#301] lacks the formula, "To whom [God] belong might +and majesty"?' He could not answer, and she said to him, 'Put +off thy clothes.' So he doffed them, and she said, 'O Commander +of the Faithful, the verse of the sixteen Mims is in the +chapter Houd and is the saying of the Most High, "It was +said, 'O Noah, go down in peace from us, and blessing upon +thee!'"[FN#302]; that of the three-and-twenty Kafs is the verse +called of the Faith, in the chapter of the Cow; that of the +hundred and forty Ains is in the chapter of El Aaraf,[FN#303] +"And Moses chose seventy men of his tribe to [attend] our +appointed time;[FN#304] to each man a pair of eyes."[FN#305] +And the set portion which lacks the formula, "To whom [God] +belong might and majesty," is that which comprises the chapters +"The Hour draweth nigh and the Moon is cloven in twain," "The +Compassionate" and "The Event."'[FN#306] And the professor +departed in confusion. + +Then came forward the skilled physician and said to her, 'We +have done with theology and come now to physiology. Tell me, +therefore, how is man made, how many veins, bones and vertebræ +are there in his body, which is the chief vein and why Adam was +named Adam?' 'Adam was called Adam,' answered she, 'because of +the udmeh, to wit, the tawny colour of his complexion and also +(it is said) because he was created of the adim of the earth, +that is to say, of the soil of its surface. His breast was made +of the earth of the Kaabeh, his head of earth from the East and +his legs of earth from the West. There were created for him +seven doors [or openings] in his head, to wit, the eyes, the +ears, the nostrils and the mouth, and two passages, the urethra +and the anus. The eyes were made the seat of the sense of +sight, the ears of that of hearing, the nostrils of that of +smell, the mouth of that of taste and the tongue to speak forth +what is in the innermost heart of man. Adam was originally +created of four elements combined, water, earth, fire and air. +The yellow bile is the humour of fire, being hot and dry, the +black bile that of earth, being cold and dry, the phlegm that +of water, being cold and moist, and the blood that of air, +being hot and moist. There are in man three hundred and +threescore veins, two hundred and forty bones and three souls +[or natures], the animal, the rational and the essential or +[natural], to each of which is allotted a separate function. +Moreover, God made him a heart and spleen and lungs and six +guts and a liver and two kidneys and marrow [or brain] and +buttocks and bones and skin and five senses, hearing, seeing, +smell, taste and touch. The heart He set on the left side of +the breast and made the stomach the exemplar [or governor] +thereof. He appointed the lungs for a ventilator to the heart +and set the liver on the right side, opposite thereto. Moreover, +He made, besides this, the midriff and the intestines and set +up the bones of the breast and ribbed them with the ribs.' +(Q.) 'How many ventricles are there in a man's head?' (A.) 'Three, +which contain five faculties, styled the intrinsic senses, i.e. +common sense, fancy, thought, apperception and memory.' (Q.) +'Describe to me the scheme of the bones.' (A.) 'It consists of +two hundred and forty bones, which are divided into three parts, +the head, the trunk and the extremities. The head is divided +into skull and face. The skull is constructed of eight bones, +and to it are attached the teeth, two-and- thirty in number, +and the hyoïd bone, one. The trunk is divided into spinal column, +breast and basin. The spinal column is made up of four-and-twenty +bones, called vertebræ, the breast of the breastbone and the ribs, +which are four-and-twenty in number, twelve on each side, and +the basin of the hips, the sacrum and the coccyx. The extremities +are divided into arms and legs. The arms are again divided into +shoulder, comprising shoulder-blades and collar-bone, the upper- +arm, one bone, the fore-arm, composed of two bones, the radius and +the ulna, and the hand, consisting of the wrist, the metacarpus +and the fingers. The wrist is composed of eight bones, ranked in +two rows, each comprising four bones; the metacarpus of five +and the fingers, which are five in number, of three bones each, +called the phalanges, except the thumb, which has but two. +The lower extremities are divided into thigh, one bone, leg, +composed of three bones, the tibia, the fibula and the kneepan, +and the foot, divided like the hand, with the exception of the +wrist,[FN#307] which is composed of seven bones, ranged in two +rows, two in one and five in the other.' (Q.) 'Which is the +root of the veins?' (A.) 'The aorta from which they ramify, and +they are many, none knoweth the tale of them save He who +created them; but, as I have before observed, it is said that +they are three hundred and threescore in number. Moreover, God +hath appointed the tongue to interpret [for the thought], the +eyes to serve as lanterns, the nostrils to smell with, and the +hands for prehensors. The liver is the seat of pity, the spleen +of laughter and the kidneys of craft; the lungs are the +ventilators, the stomach the storehouse and the heart the +pillar [or mainstay] of the body. When the heart is sound, the +whole body is sound, and when the heart is corrupt, the whole +body is corrupt.' (Q.) 'What are the outward signs and symptoms +of disease in the members of the body, both internal and +external?' (A.) 'A physician, who is a man of understanding, +looks into the state of the body and is guided by the feel of +the hands, according as they are firm [or flabby], hot or cool, +moist or dry. Internal disorders are also indicated by external +symptoms, such as yellowness of the [whites of the] eyes, which +denotes jaundice, and bending of the back, which denotes +disease of the lungs.' (Q.) 'What are the internal symptoms of +disease?' (A.) 'The science of the diagnosis of disease by +internal symptoms is founded upon six canons, to wit, (1) the +actions [of the patient] (2) what is evacuated from his body +(3) the nature and (4) site of the pain he feels (5) swelling +and (6) the effluvia given off by his body.' (Q.) 'How cometh +hurt to the head?' (A.) 'By the introduction of food upon food, +before the first be digested, and by satiety upon satiety; this +it is that wasteth peoples. He who will live long, let him be +early with the morning-meal and not late with the evening-meal; +let him be sparing of commerce with women and chary of cupping +and blood-letting and make of his belly three parts, one for +food, one for drink and the third for air; for that a man's +intestines are eighteen spans in length and it befits that he +appoint six for food, six for drink, and six for air. If he +walk, let him go gently; it will be wholesomer for him and +better for his body and more in accordance with the saying of +God the Most High, "Walk not boisterously [or proudly] upon the +earth."'[FN#308] (Q.) 'What are the symptoms of yellow bile and +what is to be feared there-from?' (A.) 'The symptoms are, +sallow complexion and dryness and bitter taste in the mouth, +failure of the appetite, and rapid pulse; and the patient has +to fear high fever and delirium and prickly heat and jaundice +and tumour and ulceration of the bowels and excessive thirst.' +(Q.) 'What are the symptoms of black bile and what has the +patient to fear from it, if it get the mastery of the body?' +(A.) 'The symptoms are deceptive appetite and great mental +disquiet and care and anxiety; and it behoves that it be +evacuated, else it will generate melancholy and leprosy and +cancer and disease of the spleen and ulceration of the bowels.' +(Q.) 'Into how many branches is the art of medicine divided?' +(A.) 'Into two: the art of diagnosing diseases and that of +restoring the diseased body to health.' (Q.) 'When is the +drinking of medicine more efficacious than otherwhen?' (A.) +'When the sap runs in the wood and the grape thickens in +the cluster and the auspicious planets[FN#309] are in the +ascendant, then comes in the season of the efficacy of drinking +medicine and the doing away of disease.' (Q.) 'What time is it, +when, if a man drink from a new vessel, the drink is wholesomer +and more digestible to him than at another time, and there +ascends to him a pleasant and penetrating fragrance?' (A.) +'When he waits awhile after eating, as quoth the poet: + +I rede thee drink not after food in haste, but tarry still; + Else with a halter wilt thou lead thy body into ill. +Yea, wait a little after thou hast eaten, brother mine; Then + drink, and peradventure thus shalt thou attain unto thy + will.' + + +(Q.) 'What food is it that giveth not rise to ailments?' (A.) +'That which is not eaten but after hunger, and when it is +eaten, the ribs are not filled with it, even as saith Galen the +physician, "Whoso will take in food, let him go slowly and he +shall not go wrong." To end with the saying of the Prophet, +(whom God bless and preserve,) "The stomach is the home of +disease, and abstinence is the beginning[FN#310] of cure, +[FN#311] for the origin of every disease is indigestion, +that is to say, corruption of the meat in the stomach."' (Q.) +'What sayst thou of the bath?' (A.) 'Let not the full man enter +it. Quoth the Prophet, "The bath is the delight of the house, +for that it cleanseth the body and calleth to mind the fire [of +hell]."' (Q.) 'What waters[FN#312] are best for bathing?' (A.) +'Those whose waters are sweet and plains wide and whose air is +pleasant and wholesome, its climate [or seasons] being fair, +autumn and summer and winter and spring.' (Q.) 'What kind of +food is the most excellent?' (A.) 'That which women make and +which has not cost overmuch trouble and which is readily +digested. The most excellent of food is brewis,[FN#313] +according to the saying of the Prophet, "Brewis excels other +food, even as Aaïsheh excels other women."' (Q.) 'What kind of +seasoning[FN#314] is most excellent?' (A.) 'Flesh meat (quoth +the Prophet) is the most excellent of seasonings; for that it +is the delight of this world and the next.' (Q.) 'What kind of +meat is the most excellent?' (A.) 'Mutton; but jerked meat is +to be avoided, for there is no profit in it.' (Q.) 'What of +fruits?' (A.) 'Eat them in their prime and leave them when +their season is past.' (Q.) 'What sayst thou of drinking +water?' (A.) 'Drink it not in large quantities nor by gulps, +or it will give thee the headache and cause divers kinds of +harm; neither drink it immediately after the bath nor after +copulation or eating (except it be after the lapse of fifteen +minutes for a young and forty for an old man) or waking from +sleep.' (Q.) 'What of drinking wine?' (A.) 'Doth not the +prohibition suffice thee in the Book of God the Most High, +where He saith, "Verily, wine and casting lots and idols and +divining arrows are an abomination of the fashion of the Devil: +shun them, so surely shall ye thrive."[FN#315] And again, "If +they ask thee of wine and casting lots, say, 'In them are great +sin and advantages to mankind, but the sin of them is greater +than the advantage.'"[FN#316] Quoth the poet: + +O wine-bibber, art not ashamed and afraid To drink of a thing + that thy Maker forbade? +Come, put the cup from thee and mell with it not, For wine and + its drinker God still doth upbraid. + +And quoth another: + +I drank the sweet sin till my wit went astray: 'Tis ill + drinking of that which doth reason away. + +As for the useful qualities that are therein, it disperses +gravel from the kidneys and strengthens the bowels, banishes +care, moves to generosity and preserves health and digestion. +It assains the body, expels disease from the joints, purifies +the frame of corrupt humours, engenders cheerfulness and +gladdens and keeps up the natural heat. It contracts the +bladder, strengthens the liver and removes obstructions, +reddens the face, clears away cobwebs from the brain and defers +gray hairs. In short, had not God (to whom belong might and +majesty) forbidden it, there were not on the face of the earth +aught fit to stand in its place. As for drawing lots, it is a +game of hazard.'[FN#317] (Q.) 'What wine is the best?' (A.) +'That which is pressed from white grapes and ferments fourscore +days or more: it resembleth not water and indeed there is +nothing on the surface of the earth like unto it.' (Q.) 'What +of cupping?' (A.) 'It is for him who is [over] full of blood +and has no defect therein. Whoso will be cupped, let it be at +the wane of the moon, on a day without cloud or wind or rain +and the seventeenth of the month. If it fall on a Tuesday, it +will be the more efficacious, and nothing is more salutary for +the brain and eyes and for clearing the memory than cupping.' +(Q.) 'What is the best time for cupping?' (A.) 'One should be +cupped fasting, for this fortifies the wit and the memory. It +is reported of the Prophet that, when any one complained to him +of a pain in the head or legs, he would bid him be cupped and +not eat salt [meat] fasting, for it engendered scurvy, neither +eat sour milk immediately after [cupping].' (Q.) 'When is +cupping to be avoided?' (A.) 'On Wednesdays and Saturdays, and +let him who is cupped on these days blame none but himself. +Moreover, one should not be cupped in very hot nor in very cold +weather; and the best season for cupping is Spring.' (Q.) 'Tell +me of copulation.' + +At this Taweddud hung her head, for shame and confusion before +the Khalif; then said, 'By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, +it is not that I am at fault, but that I am ashamed, though, +indeed, the answer is on the tip of my tongue.' 'Speak, O +damsel,' said the Khalif; whereupon quoth she, 'Copulation hath +in it many and exceeding virtues and praiseworthy qualities, +amongst which are, that it lightens a body full of black bile +and calms the heat of love and engenders affection and dilates +the heart and dispels sadness; and the excess of it is more +harmful in summer and autumn than in spring and winter.' (Q.) +'What are its good effects?' (A.) 'It doth away trouble and +disquiet, calms love and chagrin and is good for ulcers in a +cold and dry humour; but excess of it weakens the sight and +engenders pains in the legs and head and back: and beware, +beware of having to do with old women, for they are deadly. +Quoth the Imam Ali,[FN#318] (whose face God honour), "Four +things kill and ruin the body: bathing on a full stomach, +eating salt meat, copulation on a plethora [of blood] and lying +with an ailing woman; for she will weaken thy strength and +infect thy body with sickness; and an old woman is deadly +poison." And quoth one of them, "Beware of taking an old woman +to wife, though she be richer in goods than Caroun."'[FN#319] +(Q.) 'What is the best copulation?' (A.) 'If the woman be +young, well-shaped, fair of face, swelling-breasted and of +honourable extraction, she will add to thee strength and health +of body; and let her be even as saith the poet, describing her: + +Even by thy looks, I trow, she knows what thou desir'st, By + instinct, without sign or setting forth of sense; +And when thou dost behold her all-surpassing grace, Her charms + enable thee with gardens to dispense.' + +(Q.) 'At what time is copulation good?' (A.) 'If by day, after +the morning-meal, and if by night, after food digested.' (Q.) +'What are the most excellent fruits?' (A.) 'The pomegranate and +the citron.' (Q.) 'Which is the most excellent of vegetables?' +(A.) 'The endive.' (Q.) 'Which of sweet-scented flowers?' +(A.) 'The rose and the violet.' (Q.) 'How is sperma hominis +secreted?' (A.) 'There is in man a vein that feeds all the +other veins. Water [or blood] is collected from the three +hundred and threescore veins and enters, in the form of red +blood, the left testicle, where it is decocted, by the heat of +man's temperament, into a thick, white liquid, whose odour is +as that of the palm-spathe.' (Q.) 'What bird [or flying thing] +is it that emits seed and menstruates?' (A.) 'The bat, that is, +the rere-mouse.' (Q.) 'What is that which, when it is shut out +[from the air], lives, and when it smells the air, dies?' (A.) +'The fish.' (Q.) 'What serpent lays eggs?' (A.) 'The dragon.' + +With this the physician was silent, being weary with much +questioning, and Taweddud said to the Khalif, 'O Commander of +the Faithful, he hath questioned me till he is weary, and now I +will ask him one question, which if he answer not, I will take +his clothes as lawful prize.' 'Ask on,' quoth the Khalif. So +she said to the physician, 'What is that which resembles the +earth in [plane] roundness, whose resting-place and spine are +hidden, little of value and estimation, narrow-chested, its +throat shackled, though it be no thief nor runaway slave, +thrust through and through, though not in fight, and wounded, +though not in battle; time eats its vigour and water wastes it +away; now it is beaten without a fault and now made to serve +without stint; united after separation, submissive, but not to +him who caresses it, pregnant[FN#320] without a child in its +belly, drooping, yet not leaning on its side, becoming dirty +yet purifying itself, cleaving to [its mate], yet changing, +copulating without a yard, wrestling without arms, resting and +taking its ease, bitten, yet not crying out, [now] more +complaisant than a boon-companion and [anon] more troublesome +than summer-heat, leaving its wife by night and clipping her +by day and having its abode in the corners of the mansions of +the noble?' The physician was silent and his colour changed and +he bowed his head awhile in perplexity and made no reply; +whereupon she said to him, 'O physician, speak or put off thy +clothes.' At this, he rose and said, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, bear witness against me that this damsel is more +learned than I in medicine and what else and that I cannot cope +with her.' And he put off his clothes and fled forth. Quoth the +Khalif to Taweddud, 'Expound to us thy riddle,' and she +replied, 'O Commander of the Faithful, it is the button and the +button loop.' + +Then said she, 'Let him of you who is an astronomer come +forward.' So the astronomer came forward and sat down before +her. When she saw him, she laughed and said, 'Art thou the +astronomer, the mathematician, the scribe?' 'Yes,' answered he. +'Ask of what thou wilt,' quoth she; 'success rests with God.' +So he said, 'Tell me of the sun and its rising and setting?' +And she replied, 'The sun rises in the Eastern hemisphere and +sets in the Western, and each hemisphere comprises ninescore +degrees. Quoth God the Most High, "Verily, I swear by the Lord +of the places of the sunrise and of the sunsetting."[FN#321] +And again, "He it is who appointed the sun for a splendour and +the moon for a light and ordained to her mansions, that ye +might know the number of the years and the reckoning."[FN#322] +The moon is Sultan of the night and the sun Sultan of the day, +and they vie with one another in their courses and follow each +other in uninterrupted succession. Quoth God the Most High, "It +befits not that the sun overtake the moon nor that the night +prevent the day, but each glides in [its own] sphere."'[FN#323] +(Q.) 'When the day cometh, what becomes of the night, and what +of the day, when the night cometh?' (A.) 'He maketh the night +to enter into the day and the day into the night.'[FN#324] (Q.) +'Enumerate to me the mansions of the moon.' (A.) 'They are +eight-and-twenty in number, to wit, Sheretan, Butain, Thureya, +Deberan, Hecaäh, Henaäh, Dhiraa, Nethreh, Terf, Jebheh, Zubreh, +Serfeh, Awwaa, Simak and Ghefr, Zubaniya, Iklil, Kelb, Shauleh, +Naaïm, Beldeh, Saad edh Dhabih, Saad el Bulaa, Saad el Akhbiyeh, +Saad es Suwoud, Fergh the Former and Fergh the Latter and Rishaa. +They are disposed in the order of the letters of the alphabet, +according to their numerical power, and there are in them secret +virtues which none knoweth save God (glorified and exalted be +He) and those who are firmly stablished in science. They are +divided among the twelve signs of the Zodiac, in the ratio of two +mansions and a third of a mansion to each sign. Thus Sheretan, +Butain and one-third of Thureya belong to Aries, the other two- +thirds of Thureya, Deberan and two thirds of Hecaäh to Taurus, +the other third of Hecaäh, Henaäh and Dhiraa to Gemini, Nethreh, +Terf, and a third of Jebheh to Cancer, the other two-thirds of +Jebheh, Zubreh and two-thirds of Serfeh to Leo, the other third +of Serfeh, Awwaa and Simak to Virgo, Ghefr, Zubaniya and one-third +of Iklil to Libra, the other two-thirds of Iklil, Kelb and two- +thirds of Shauleh to Scorpio, the other third of Shauleh, Naaïm +and Beldeh to Sagittarius, Saad edh Dhabih, Saad el Bulaa and +one-third of Saad es Suwoud to Capricorn, the other two-thirds +of Saad es Suwoud, Saad el Akbiyeh and two-thirds of Fergh the +Former to Aquarius, the other third of Fergh the Former, Fergh +the Latter and Rishaa to Pisces.' (Q.) 'Tell me of the planets +and their natures, also of their sojourn in the signs of the +Zodiac, their aspects, favourable and sinister, their houses, +ascendants and descendants.' (A.) 'The sitting is narrow [for +so comprehensive a matter], but they are seven in number, to +wit, the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and +Saturn. The sun is hot and dry, sinister in conjunction, +favourable in opposition, and abides thirty days in each sign. +The moon is cold and moist, favourable of aspect, and abides +two days in each sign and a third of another day. Mercury is of +a mixed nature, favourable [in conjunction] with the favourable +and sinister [in conjunction] with the sinister [asterisms], +and abides in each sign seventeen and a half days. Venus is +temperate, favourable and abides in each sign five-and-twenty +days. Mars is sinister and abides in each sign ten months. +Jupiter is favourable and abides in each sign a year. Saturn is +cold and dry and sinister and abides in each sign thirty +months. The house of the sun is Leo, its ascendant is Aries and +its descendant Aquarius. The moon's house is Cancer, its +ascendant Taurus, its descendant Scorpio and its sinister +aspect Capricorn. Saturn's house is Capricorn and Aquarius, its +ascendant Libra, its descendant Aries and its sinister aspects +Cancer and Leo. Jupiter's house is Pisces and Sagittarius, its +ascendant Cancer, its descendant Capricorn and its sinister +aspects Gemini and Leo. Venus's house is Taurus, its ascendant +Pisces, its descendant Libra and its sinister aspects Aries and +Scorpio. Mercury's house is Gemini and Virgo, its ascendant +Virgo, its descendant Pisces and its sinister aspect Taurus. +Mars's house is Aries and Scorpio, its ascendant Capricorn, its +descendant Cancer and its sinister aspect Libra.' + +When the astronomer saw her acuteness and skill and heard her +fair answers, he bethought him for a device to confound her +before the Commander of the Faithful and said to her, 'O +damsel, will rain fall this month?' At this she bowed her head +and pondered so long, that the Khalif thought her at a loss for +an answer and the astronomer said to her, 'Why dost thou not +speak?' Quoth she, 'I will not speak except the Commander of +the Faithful give me leave.' The Khalif laughed and said, 'How +so?' Said she, 'I would have thee give me a sword, that I may +strike off his head, for he is an infidel.' At this the Khalif +and those about him laughed, and she said, 'O astronomer, there +are five things that none knoweth save God the Most High;' and +she repeated the following verse: 'Verily, with God is the +knowledge of the hour; He sendeth down the rain and knoweth +what is in the wombs. None knoweth what the morrow shall bring +forth for him nor in what land he shall die. Verily, God is the +All-wise, the All-knowing.'[FN#325] + +Quoth the astronomer, 'Thou hast said well, and by Allah, I +thought but to try thee.' 'Know,' rejoined she, 'that the +almanack-makers have certain signs and tokens, referring to the +planets, relative to the coming in of the year, and in which +are tribulations for the folk.' (Q.) 'What are they?' (A.) +'Each day hath a planet that rules it. So, if the first day of +the year fall on a Sunday, that day is the sun's and this +portends (though God alone is All-knowing) oppression of kings +and sultans and governors and much miasma and lack of rain and +that the folk will be in great disorder and the grain-crop will +be good, except lentils, which will perish, and the vines will +rot and flax will be dear and wheat cheap from the beginning of +Toubeh[FN#326] to the end of Beremhat.[FN#327] Moreover, in +this year there will be much fighting among kings, and there +shall be great plenty of good in this year.' (Q.) 'What if the +first day fall on Monday?' (A.) 'That day belongs to the moon +and portends righteousness in administrators and deputies and +that it will be a year of much rain and grain-crops will be +good, but linseed will decay and wheat will be cheap in the +month Keyehk;[FN#328] also that plagues will be rife and +that half the sheep and goats will die, that grapes will be +plentiful and honey scarce and cotton cheap.' (Q.) 'What if it +fall on Tuesday?' (A.) 'That is Mars's day and portends death +of great men and much destruction and outpouring of blood and +dearness of grain, lack of rain and scarcity of fish, which +will anon be in excess and anon fail [altogether]. In this +year, lentils and honey will be cheap and linseed dear and only +barley will thrive, to the exception of all other grain: great +will be the fighting among kings and death will be in the blood +and there will be much mortality among asses.' (Q.) 'What if it +fall on Wednesday?' (A.) 'That is Mercury's day and portends +great anarchy among the folk and much enmity and rotting of +some of the green crops and moderate rains; also that there +will be great mortality among cattle and infants and much +fighting by sea, that wheat will be dear from Burmoudeh to +Misra[FN#329] and other grains cheap: thunder and lightning +will abound and honey will be dear, palm-trees will thrive and +bear apace and flax and cotton will be plentiful, but radishes +and onions will be dear.' (Q.) 'What if it fall on Thursday?' +(A.) 'That is Jupiter's day and portends equity in viziers and +righteousness in Cadis and fakirs and the ministers of religion +and that good will be plentiful: rain and fruits and trees and +grain and fish will abound and flax, cotton, honey and grapes +be cheap.' (Q.) 'What if it fall on Friday?' (A.) 'That day +belongs to Venus and portends oppression in the chiefs of the +Jinn and talk of forgery and calumny; there will be much dew, +the autumn crops will be good in the land and there will be +cheapness in one town and not in another: lewdness will be +rife by land and sea, linseed will be dear, also wheat, in +Hatour,[FN#330] but cheap in Amshir:[FN#331] honey will be +dear and grapes and melons will rot.' (Q.) 'What if it fall +on Saturday?' (A.) 'That is Saturn's day and portends the +preferment of slaves and Greeks and those in whom there is no +good, neither in their neighbourhood; there will be great +drought and scarcity; clouds will abound and death will be rife +among mankind and woe to the people of Egypt and Syria from the +oppression of the Sultan and failure of blessing upon the green +crops and rotting of grain.' + +With this, the astronomer hung his head, [being at an end of +his questions], and she said to him, 'O astronomer, I will ask +thee one question, which if thou answer not, I will take thy +clothes.' 'Ask on,' replied he. Quoth she, 'Where is Saturn's +dwelling place?' And he answered, 'In the seventh heaven.' (Q.) +'And that of Jupiter?' (A.) 'In the sixth heaven.' (Q.) 'And +that of Mars?' (A.) 'In the fifth heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of +the sun?' (A.) 'In the fourth heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of +Venus?' (A.) 'In the third heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of Mercury?' +(A.) 'In the second heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of the moon?' (A.) +'In the first heaven.' Quoth she, 'Well answered; but I have +one more question to ask thee. Into how many parts are the +stars divided?' But he was silent and answered nothing; and she +said to him, 'Put off thy clothes.' So he put them off and she +took them; after which the Khalif said to her, 'Tell us the +answer to thy question.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered she, 'the stars are divided into three parts, one +whereof is hung in the sky of the earth,[FN#332] as it were +lamps, to give light to the earth, another suspended in the +air, to give light to the seas and that which is therein, and +the third is used to transfix the demons withal, when they draw +near by stealth to [listen to the talk of the angels in] +heaven. Quoth God the Most High, "Verily, we have decked the +sky of the earth with lamps and have appointed them for +projectiles against the demons."'[FN#333] Quoth the astronomer, +'I have one more question to ask, which if she answer, I will +avow myself beaten.' 'Say on,' answered she. Then said he, +'What four incompatible things are based upon other four +incompatibles?' 'The four elements,' replied she; 'for of heat +God created fire, which is by nature hot and dry; of dryness, +earth, which is cold and dry; of cold, water, which is cold and +moist; of moisture, air, which is hot and moist. Moreover, He +created twelve signs of the Zodiac, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, +Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, +Aquarius and Pisces and appointed them of four [several] +humours, three, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, fiery, Taurus, Virgo +and Capricorn, earthy, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, airy, and +Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, watery.' With this, the astronomer +rose, and saying, 'Bear witness against me that she is more +learned than I,' went away beaten. + +Then said the Khalif, 'Where is the philosopher?' whereupon one +came forward and said to Taweddud, 'What is Time?' 'Time,' +answered she, 'is a name applied to the [lapse of the] hours of +the day and night, which are but the measures of the courses of +the sun and moon in their several orbits, even as God the Most +High telleth us, when he saith, "And a sign to them [is] the +night, from which we strip off the day, and behold, they are in +darkness, and the sun runneth to a fixed abode, [appointed] to +it; this is the ordinance of the Sublime, the All-knowing."' +[FN#334] (Q.) 'How comes unbelief to the son of Adam?' (A.) 'It +is reported of the Prophet that he said, "Unbelief runs in a man, +as the blood runs in the veins, when he reviles the world and Time +and night and the hour." And again, "Let none of you revile Time, +for Time is God; neither the world, for it saith, 'May God not +help him that reviles me!' neither the hour, for 'Verily, the hour +cometh, without doubt;'[FN#335] neither the earth, for it is a +portent, according to the saying of the Most High, 'From it we +created you, to it we will return you and from it we will bring +you forth yet again.'"'[FN#336] (Q.) 'What are the five that ate +and drank, yet came not out of loins nor belly?' (A.) 'Adam and +Simeon and Salih's she-camel[FN#337] and Ishmael's ram and the +bird that Abou Bekr the Truth-teller saw in the cave.'[FN#338] +(Q.) 'Tell me of five that are in Paradise and are neither +mortals, Jinn nor angels?' (A.) 'Jacob's wolf and the Seven +Sleepers' dog and Esdras's ass and Salih's camel and the +Prophet's mule.' (Q.) 'What man prayed a prayer neither on +earth nor in heaven?' (A.) 'Solomon [son of David], when he +prayed on his carpet, borne by the wind.' (Q.) 'A man once +looked at a handmaid in the morning, and she was unlawful to +him; but, at noonday, she became lawful to him. By mid-afternoon, +she was again unlawful, but at sundown, she was lawful to him. +At evensong, she was a third time unlawful, but by daybreak, she +became once more lawful to him.' (A.) 'This was a man who looked +at another's handmaid in the morning, and she was then unlawful +to him, but at midday he bought her, and she became lawful to him. +At mid-afternoon he enfranchised her, and she became unlawful to +him, but at sundown he married her and she was again lawful to +him. At evensong, he divorced her and she was then a third time +unlawful to him, but, next morning, at daybreak, he took her back, +and she became once more lawful to him.' (Q.) 'Tell me what tomb +fared on with him that lay buried therein?' (A.) 'The whale, +when it had swallowed Jonah.' (Q.) 'What spot of ground is it, +upon which the sun shone once, but will never again shine till +the Day of Judgment?' (A.) 'The bottom of the Red Sea, when Moses +smote it with his staff, and the sea clove asunder in twelve +places, according to the number of the tribes; then the sun +shone on the bottom and will do so never again till the Day of +Judgment.' (Q.) 'What was the first skirt that trailed upon the +surface of the earth?' (A.) 'That of Hagar, out of shame before +Sarah, and it became a custom among the Arabs.' (Q.) 'What is +that which breathes without life?' (A.) 'Quoth God the Most +High, "By the morning, when it breathes!"'[FN#339] (Q.) 'A +number of pigeons came to a high tree and lighted, some on the +tree and others under it. Said those on the tree to those on +the ground, "If one of you come up to us, ye will be a third +part of us [all] in number; and if one of us descend to you, we +shall be like unto you in number." How many pigeons were there +in all?' (A.) 'Twelve: seven alighted on the tree and five +beneath.' + +With this the philosopher put off his clothes and fled forth: +whereupon she turned to those present and said, 'Which of you +is the rhetorician that can discourse of all kinds of +knowledge?' There came forward Ibrahim ben Siyyar and said to +her, 'Think me not like the rest.' Quoth she, 'It is the more +sure to me that thou wilt be beaten, for that thou art a +boaster, and God will help me against thee, that I may strip +thee of thy clothes. So, if thou sentest one to fetch thee +wherewithal to clothe thyself, it would be well for thee.' 'By +Allah,' cried he, 'I will assuredly conquer thee and make thee +a byword among the folk, generation after generation!' 'Do +penance [in advance] for thy [void] oath,' rejoined she. Then +said he, 'What five things did God create, before He made man?' +And she replied, 'Water and earth and light and darkness and +the fruits [of the earth].' (Q.) 'What did God create with the +hand of omnipotence?' (A.) 'The empyreal heaven and the tree +Touba[FN#340] and Adam and the garden of Eden; these God +created with the hand of His omnipotence; but to all other +created things He said, "Be,"--and they were.' (Q.) 'Who is thy +father in Islam?' (A.) 'Mohammed, whom God bless and preserve!' +(Q.) 'Who was the father [in Islam] of Mohammed?' (A.) 'Abraham +the Friend of God.' (Q.) 'What is the Faith of Islam?' (A.) +'The professing that there is no god but God and that Mohammed +is the apostle of God.' (Q.) 'What is thy first and thy last?' +(A.) 'My first is troubled water[FN#341] and my last filthy +carrion. The first of me is dust and the last dust. Quoth the +poet: + +Created wast thou of the dust and didst a man become, Ready in + question and reply and fluent in debate. +Then to the dust return'dst anon and didst become of it, For + that, in very deed, of dust at first thou wast create.' + +(Q.) 'What thing was it, whose first [state] was wood and its +last life?' (A.) 'Moses' rod, when he cast it on the ground and +it became, by permission of God, a writhing serpent.'[FN#342] +(Q.) 'What is the meaning of the verse in the Koran, "And I +have other need [or occasion] for it"?'[FN#343] (A.) 'He +[Moses] was wont to plant his staff in the ground, and it would +flower and fruit and shade him from the heat and the cold. +Moreover, it would carry him, when he was weary, and guard his +sheep from the wild beasts, whilst he slept.' (Q.) 'What woman +was born of a man alone and what man of a woman alone?' (A.) 'Eve +of Adam and Jesus of Mary.' (Q.) 'What fire eats and drinks, what +fire eats but drinks not, what fire drinks but eats not and what +other neither eats nor drinks?' (A.) 'Hellfire eats and drinks, +the fire of the world eats but drinks not, the fire of the sun +drinks but eats not, and that of the moon neither eats nor drinks.' +(Q.) 'Which is the open [door] and which the shut [door]?' (A.) +'The Traditional Ordinances are the open, the Koranic the shut +[door].' (Q.) 'Of what does the poet speak, when he says: + +A dweller in the sepulchre, at 's head his victual lies; Whenas + he tastes thereof, he speaks and questions and replies. +He rises up and walks and talks, yet silent is the while, And + turns anon unto the tomb wherefrom he did arise. +No living one is he, that hath a title to respect, Nor dead, + that folk should say of him, "God's mercy him comprise!"?' + +(A.) 'The pen.' (Q.) 'What does the poet refer to in these +verses: + +Two breasts in one it hath; its blood is eath and quick of + flow, Wide-mouthed, though all the rest be black, its ears + are white as snow. +It hath an idol like a cock, that doth its belly peck, And half + a dirhem is its worth, if thou its price wouldst know?' + +(A.) 'The inkhorn.' (Q.) 'And in these: + +Say to men of wit and learning and to doctors everywhere, + Skilled to find the hidden meanings riddles and enigmas + bear, +Come expound to me what is it that ye see a bird produce, + 'Mongst the Arabs and barbarians and wherever else ye + fare; +Neither flesh nor blood, I warrant, hath the thing whereof I + speak; Neither down nor feathers, birdwise, for a garment + doth it wear. +Boiled it is and likewise roasted, eaten hot and eaten cold; + Yea, to boot, and when 'tis buried in the glowing embers' + flare, +Colours twain in it are noted, one as silver clear and white, + And the other lucent yellow, gold therewith may not + compare. +Living can it not be reckoned, neither may we count it dead: + Tell me, then, what is this wonder, rarity of all things + rare?' + +(A.) 'Thou makest long the questioning of an egg worth a doit.' +(Q.) 'How many words [or times] did God speak to Moses?' (A.) +'It is related of the Prophet that he said, "God spoke to Moses +fifteen hundred and fifteen words [or times]."' (Q.) 'Tell me +of fourteen things that speak to the Lord of the Worlds?' (A.) +'The seven heavens and the seven earths, when they say, "We +come, obedient."'[FN#344] (Q.) 'How was Adam created?' (A.) +'God created Adam of clay: the clay He made of foam and the +foam of the sea, the sea of darkness, darkness of light, light +of a fish, the fish of a rock, the rock of a ruby, the ruby of +water, and the water He created by the exertion of His omnipotent +will, according to His saying (exalted be His name!), "His +commandment is only when He willeth aught, that He say, 'Be,' +--and it is."'[FN#345] (Q.) 'What is meant by the poet in the +following verses: + +A things sans mouth or maw that eats in wondrous wise; On trees + and beasts it feeds and all beneath the skies. +Give it to eat, it thrives and flourishes amain; But give it + not to drink of water, or it dies?' + +(A.) 'Fire.' (Q.) 'And in these: + +Two lovers, that are still estopped from all delight: + Embracing, each with each, they pass the livelong night. +They guarantee the folk from all calamity, And with the risen + sun they're torn apart forthright?' + +(A.) 'The leaves of a gate.' (Q.) 'Tell me of the gates of +Hell?' (A.) 'They are seven in number and their names are +comprised in the following verses: + +Jehennem first, then Leza comes and eke Hetim as well; Then + must thou count Saïr, and fifth comes Seker, sooth to + tell: +Sixth comes Jehim and last of all, Hawiyeh; thus thou hast, In + compass brief of doggrel rhyme, the seven rooms of Hell.' + +(Q.) 'To what does the poet refer in these verses: + +A pair of ringlets long she hath, that trail for aye Behind + her, as she comes and goes upon her way, +And eye that never knows the taste of sleep nor sheds A tear, + for none it hath for shedding, sooth to say; +Nor wears it aught of clothes, from year to ended year; Yet in + all manner wede it doth the folk array?' + +(A.) 'A needle.' (Q.) 'What is the length and breadth of the +bridge Es Sirat?' (A.) 'Its length is three thousand years' +journey, a thousand in descent, a thousand level and a thousand +in ascent: it is sharper than a sword and finer than a hair.' +(Q.) 'How many intercessions [with God] hath the Prophet [for +each soul]?' (A.) 'Three.' (Q.) 'Was Abou Bekr the first that +embraced Islam?' (A.) 'Yes.' (Q.) 'Yet Ali[FN#346] became a +Muslim before him?' (A.) 'All came to the Prophet, when he was +a boy of seven years old, for God vouchsafed him the knowledge +of the truth in his tender youth, so that he never prostrated +himself to idols.' (Q.) 'Which is the more excellent, Ali or +Abbas?'[FN#347] + +Now she knew that, in propounding this question, Ibrahim was +laying a trap for her; for, if she said, 'Ali is the more +excellent,' she would fall in disgrace with the Khalif; so she +bowed her head awhile, now reddening, now paling, then said, +'Thou askest me of two excellent men, each having [his own +especial] excellence. Let us return to what we were about.' +When the Khalif heard her reply, he rose to his feet and said, +'By the Lord of the Kaabeh, thou hast said well, O Taweddud!' +Then said Ibrahim, 'What means the poet, when he says: + +Slender of skirts and slim of shape and sweet of taste it is, + Most like unto the spear, except it lacks of the spontoon. +In all the countries of the world the folk make use of it, And + eaten 'tis in Ramazan, after mid-afternoon?' + +She answered, 'The sugar-cane;' and he said, 'Tell me of many +things.' 'What are they?' asked she; and he said, 'What is +sweeter than honey, what is sharper than the sword, what is +swifter than poison, what is the delight of a moment and what +the contentment of three days, what is the pleasantest of days, +what is the joy of a week, what is the debt that the worst +payer denieth not, what is the prison of the tomb, what is the +joy of the heart, what is the snare of the soul, what is death +in life, what is the malady that may not be healed, what is the +reproach that may not be done away, what is the beast that +harbours not in cultivated fields, but lodges in waste places +and hates mankind and hath in it somewhat of the make of seven +strong beasts?' Quoth she, 'Hear what I shall say in answer; +then put off thy clothes, that I may expound to thee.' Then the +Khalif said, 'Expound, and he shall put off his clothes.' So +she said, 'That, which is sweeter than honey, is the love of +pious children to their parents; that, which is sharper than +the sword, is the tongue; that, which is swifter than poison, +is the evil eye; the delight of a moment is coition and the +contentment of three days is the depilatory for women; the +pleasantest of days is that of profit on merchandise; the joy +of a week is the bride; the debt, which the worst payer denieth +not, is death; the prison of the tomb is an ill son; the joy of +the heart is a woman obedient to her husband, (and it is said +also that, when fleshmeat descends upon the heart, it rejoiceth +therein); the snare [or vexation] of the soul is a disobedient +slave; death in life is poverty; the malady, that may not be +healed, is an ill nature and the reproach, that may not be done +away, is an ill daughter; lastly, the beast that harbours not +in cultivated fields, but lodges in waste places and hates +mankind and hath in it somewhat of the make of seven strong +beasts, is the locust, whose head is as the head of the horse, +its neck as the neck of the bull, its wings as the wings of the +vulture, its feet as the feet of the camel, its tail as the +tail of the serpent, its body as the body of the scorpion and +its horns as the horns of the gazelle.' + +The Khalif was astounded at her quickness and understanding and +said to Ibrahim, 'Put off thy clothes.' So he rose and said, 'I +call all who are present in this assembly to witness that she +is more learned than I and all the learned men.' And he put off +his clothes and gave them to her, saying, 'Take them and may +God not bless them to thee!' The Khalif ordered him fresh +clothes and said to Taweddud, 'There is one thing left of +that for which thou didst engage, namely, chess.' And he +sent for professors of chess and draughts and backgammon. The +chess-player sat down before her, and they set the pieces, and +he moved and she moved; but, every move he made she speedily +countered, till she beat him and he found himself check-mated. +Quoth he, 'I did but lead thee on, that thou mightest think +thyself skilful; but set up again, and I will show thee.' So +they placed the pieces a second time, and he said to himself, +'Open thine eyes, or she will beat thee.' And he fell to moving +no piece, save after calculation, and ceased not to play, till +she said, 'Check-mate.' When he saw this, he was confounded at +her quickness and skill; but she laughed and said, 'O master, +I will make a wager with thee on this third game. I will give +thee the queen and the right-hand rook and the left-hand knight; +if thou beat me, take my clothes, and if I beat thee, I will +take thine.' 'I agree to this,' replied he, and they replaced +the pieces, she giving him the queen, rook and knight. Then +said she, 'Move, O master.' So he moved, saying in himself, +'I cannot but win, with such an advantage,' and made a combination; +but she moved on, little by little, till she made one of her pawns +a queen and pushing up to him pawns and other pieces, to take off +his attention, set one in his way and tempted him with it.[FN#348] +Accordingly, he took it and she said to him, 'The measure is meted +out and the equilibrium established. Eat, O man, till thou pass +repletion; nought shall be thy ruin but greediness. Knowest thou +not that I did but tempt thee, that I might beguile thee? See: +this is check-mate: put off thy clothes.' 'Leave me my trousers,' +quoth he, 'so God requite thee;' and he swore by Allah that he +would contend with none, so long as Taweddud abode at the Court +of Baghdad. Then he took off his clothes and gave them to her +and went away. + +Then came the backgammon-player, and she said to him, 'If I +beat thee, what wilt thou give me?' Quoth he, 'I will give thee +ten suits of brocade of Constantinople, figured with gold, and +ten suits of velvet and a thousand dinars, and if I beat thee, +I ask nothing but that thou write me an acknowledgment thereof.' +'To it, then,' replied she, 'and do thy best.' So they played, +and he lost and went away, jabbering in the Frank jargon and +saying, 'By the bounty of the Commander of the Faithful, there +is not her like in all the world!' Then the Khalif summoned +players on instruments of music and said to her, 'Dost thou +know aught of music?' 'Yes,' answered she. So he bade bring +a peeled and polished lute, whose owner [or maker] was ground +down by exile [or estrangement from the beloved] and of which +quoth one, describing it: + +God watered a land and straight a tree sprang up on its root: + It cast forth branches and throve and flourished with many + a shoot. +The birds, when the wood was green, sang o'er it, and when it + was dry, Fair women sang to it in turn, for lo, 'twas a + minstrel's lute! + +So they brought a bag of red satin, with tassels of +saffron-coloured silk: and she opened the bag, and took out a +lute, on which were graven the following verses: + +Full many a tender branch a lute for singing-girl has grown, + Wherewith at banquets to her mates she makes melodious + moan. +She sings; it follows on her song, as 'twere to teach her how + Heart's troubles in clear perfect speech of music to make + known. + +She laid her lute in her lap and letting her breasts hang over +it, bent to it as bends a mother, suckling her child; then +preluded in twelve different modes, till the whole assembly was +agitated with delight, and sang the following verses: + +Leave your estrangement, I pray, and bid your cruelty hold, + For, by your life, my heart will never for you be + consoled. +Have pity on one who weeps, afflicted and ever sad, A slave of + passion, who burns for thee with longings untold. + +The Khalif was ravished and exclaimed, 'May God bless thee and +receive him who taught thee[FN#349] into His mercy!' Whereupon +she rose and kissed the earth before him. Then he sent for +money and paid her master Aboulhusn a hundred thousand dinars +to her price; after which he said to her, 'O Taweddud, ask a +boon of me.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' replied she, 'I ask +of thee that thou restore me to my lord who sold me to thee.' +'It is well,' answered the Khalif and restored her to her +master and gave her five thousand dinars for herself. Moreover, +he appointed Aboulhusn one of his boon-companions and assigned +him a monthly stipend of a thousand dinars so long as he should +live, and he abode with the damsel Taweddud in all delight of +life. + +Marvel then, O King, at the eloquence of this damsel and the +greatness of her learning and understanding and her perfect +excellence in all branches of knowledge, and consider the +generosity of the Khalif Haroun er Reshid, in that he gave her +master this money and said to her, 'Ask a boon of me;' and she +besought him to restore her to her lord. So he restored her to +him and gave her five thousand dinars for herself and made him +one of his boon-companions. Where is such generosity to be +found after the Abbaside Khalifs, may God the Most High have +mercy upon them all! + + + + + +End of Vol. IV + + + + + Arabian Nights, Volume 4 + Footnotes + + +[FN#1] A very famous legist and wit of the eighth century and a +prime favourite with Er Reshid. He was one of the chief pupils +of the Imam Abou Henifeh (see note, Vol. II. p. 131 {see Vol. 2 +FN#91}) and was Cadi of Baghdad under the third, fourth and +fifth Khalifs of the Abbaside dynasty. + +[FN#2] Shown in choosing so learned a Cadi. + +[FN#3] Governor of the two Iraks (i.e. Bassora and Cufa) in the +reign of Hisham, tenth Khalif of the Ommiade dynasty (A.D. +723-741). He was celebrated for his beneficence and liberality. + +[FN#4] Koran iii. 178, etc. + +[FN#5] "The hand of a thief shall not be cut off for stealing +less than a quarter of a dinar."--Mischat ul Masabih. + +[FN#6] El Asmai the poet, author or compiler of the well-known +romance of Antar. + +[FN#7] Zanzibar (ant. Zengibar). + +[FN#8] The word Sherif (lit. noble) signifies strictly a +descendant of the martyr Hussein, son of the Khalif Ali; but it +is here used in the sense of "chief" [of the bazaar]. + +[FN#9] Quære Mensour en Nemri, a well-known poet of the time +and (originally) a protege of Yehya's son, El Fezl. + +[FN#10] Intendant of the palace to Haroun er Reshid and captain +of his guards. + +[FN#11] i.e. the Khalif + +[FN#12] i.e. As if he were an old Bedouin, with forehead +disfigured by the friction of the rope of camel's hair, which +is part of the Bedouin headdress. + +[FN#13] Mohammed said, "Change the whiteness of your hair, but +not with anything black." Henna is the approved hairdye for a +true-believer; it changes the hair to a reddish-brown. + +[FN#14] i.e. thou that art as dear to me as my sight and +hearing. + +[FN#15] A fountain of Paradise. + +[FN#16] Syn. languishing (munkesir). + +[FN#17] A river of Paradise. + +[FN#18] i.e. Orthodox. + +[FN#19] These words are a quotation from a well-known piece of +verse. + +[FN#20] Of the Prophet. + +[FN#21] Usually made of palm-fibres. + +[FN#22] The distinctive headdress of the Muslims. + +[FN#23] The bridge that spans Hell, finer than a hair and +sharper than a sword, and over which all must pass on the Day +of Judgment. + +[FN#24] Or leader of the people at prayer, who stands opposite +the niche sunk into or painted on the wall of the mosque, to +indicate the direction of Mecca. + +[FN#25] All this is an audacious parody of the Muslim ritual of +prayer. + +[FN#26] Lit. "exclamations of 'Glory be to God!'" which are of +frequent recurrence in the Mohammedan formulas of prayer. See +last note. + +[FN#27] i.e. governor. + +[FN#28] The word ucwaneh, here used in the dual number, usually +designates the teeth, in its common meaning of "camomile- +flower": but the lips are here expressly mentioned, and this +fact, together with that of the substitution, in the Breslau +edition, of the word akikan (two cornelians or rubies) for +ucwanetan (two camomiles), as in the Calcutta and Boulac +editions, shows that the word is intended to be taken in its +rarer meaning of "corn-marigold." + +[FN#29] Syn. Fortune (ez zeman). + +[FN#30] One of the tribes of the Arabs and that to which the +renowned Maan ben Zaideh (see Vol. III. p. 317, {Vol. 3, +FN#121}) belonged. + +[FN#31] The Muslims accuse the Jews of having corrupted the +Pentateuch and others of their sacred books, even as the +Christians the Gospels (see Vol. II. page 149, note {Vol. 2, +FN#97}), by expunging or altering the passages foretelling the +coming of Mohammed. + +[FN#32] See Vol. I. p. 135, note 2. {Vol. 1, FN#45} + +[FN#33] i.e. as a martyr. + +[FN#34] The force of this comparison will best appear from the +actual figuration of the Arabic double-letter Lam-Alif (Anglice +L.A.) which is made up of the two letters *<arabic character>, +(initial form of Lam) and *<arabic character> (final of Alif,) +and is written thus, *<arabic character>. + +[FN#35] i.e. O thou, whose glance is as the light of the +glowing embers. + +[FN#36] Thus figured in Arabic *<arabic character>. + +[FN#37] Thus *<arabic character>. + +[FN#38] Thus *<arabic character>. + +[FN#39] Koran xxvil. 12. + +[FN#40] Koran iii. 103. + +[FN#41] Koran xcii. 1,2. + +[FN#42] Sauda, feminine of aswed (black), syn. black bile +(melancholia). + +[FN#43] The distinctive colour of which is white. + +[FN#44] Koran li. 26. + +[FN#45] Mohammed. + +[FN#46] Koran ii. 64, referring to an expiatory heifer which +the Jews were commanded, through Moses, to sacrifice. + +[FN#47] See note, Vol III. p. 104 {Vol. 3, FN#19} + +[FN#48] Sulafeh. + +[FN#49] Sewalif, plural of salifeh (equivalent of sulafeh). A +play upon the double meaning of the word is, of course, +intended. + +[FN#50] Syn. yellowness (isfirar). + +[FN#51] A title of the Prophet. + +[FN#52] His wife Zubeideh. + +[FN#53] i.e. his beautiful slave-girls. + +[FN#54] i.e. his beautiful slave-girls. + +[FN#55] Title of Saladin (Selaheddin) and several other +Eyoubite Sultans of Egypt and Syria. It is equivalent to our +"Defender of the Faith." + +[FN#56] Koran xli. 46. + +[FN#57] A town of Upper Egypt. + +[FN#58] Meaning the merchant, whose name, Abou Jaafer or the +like, he had learnt from the tailor. + +[FN#59] Muslim Jews. + +[FN#60] A well-known jurist at Baghdad in the reign of the +Khalif Mamoun. + +[FN#61] Medina. + +[FN#62] One of the gates of the great mosque there, wherein is +the tomb of the Prophet. + +[FN#63] Tenth Khalif of the Abbaside dynasty, A.D. 849-861. + +[FN#64] Muwelledat, women born in Muslim countries of +slave-parents; syn. mulatto-women. + +[FN#65] Lieutenant of the Prefect of Baghdad. + +[FN#66] Muwelledat, women born in Muslim countries of +slave-parents; syn. mulatto-women. + +[FN#67] El Hakim bi Amrillah, sixth Fatimite Khalif of Egypt +(A.D. 995-1021), cruel and fantastic tyrant, who claimed to be +an incarnation of the Deity. He was the founder of the religion +of the Druses, who look to him to reappear and be their Messiah + +[FN#68] Bastard or Spanish pellitory. + +[FN#69] Or dyed. + +[FN#70] Or interlocking. + +[FN#71] Or torn. + +[FN#72] Sufreh, a round piece of leather used (mostly by +travellers) as a table-cloth and having a running string +inserted round its edge, by means of which it can be converted +into a bag or budget for holding provisions, as in this +instance. + +[FN#73] Lower India. + +[FN#74] i.e. as master of the house in which I have sought +shelter. + +[FN#75] Uns el Wujoud. + +[FN#76] A pun upon his name, Uns wa joud, pleasance and bounty. + +[FN#77] See supra, p. 95, note 3. {Vol. 4, FN#38} + +[FN#78] The fourteenth letter of the Arabic alphabet, in its +medial form (<arabic>) closely resembling an eye underlined +with kohl. + +[FN#79] See Note, Vol. III. p. 274. {Vol. 3, FN#102} + +[FN#80] i.e. in dreams.. + +[FN#81] One of the months in which war was forbidden to the +pagan Arabs and a sort of Trève de Dieu prevailed. + +[FN#82] The Arabic word fakir means literally, "a poor man;" +but it would appear, from what follows, that Uns el Wujoud had +disguised himself as a religious mendicant and was taken for +such by the people of the castle. + +[FN#83] i.e. one absorbed in the contemplation of supra- +terrestrial things. + +[FN#84] Uns el Wujoud. + +[FN#85] To salute them and wish them joy, according to Oriental +custom. + +[FN#86] Mosul is called the land of purity, in a religious +sense, it having never been polluted with idolatrous worship. + +[FN#87] The people of Aleppo seem to have been noted for +debauchery. + +[FN#88] i.e. Do not express admiration openly, lest it attract +the evil eye, but vent your wonder by saying, "God bless and +preserve the Prophet!" according to general Muslim wont. + +[FN#89] A gorge near Mecca, the scene of one of Mohammed's +battles. + +[FN#90] i.e. as made out of a crooked rib, according to the +tradition. + +[FN#91] i.e. the land of the virgin. + +[FN#92] The word Jamiaïn means "two congregational mosques," +which would only be found in a large town like Baghdad. It is +possible, therefore, that the expression, "land of Jamiaïn," +may mean Baghdad or some other great city, noted for its +debauched manners. + +[FN#93] Oriental substitute for slate. + + +[FN#94] A pre-Mohammedan poet. + +[FN#95] King of Hireh in Chaldæa, a fantastic and bloodthirsty +tyrant, whom he had lampooned. + +[FN#96] Aboulabbas er Recashi, a well-known poet of the time. + +[FN#97] Koran xxvi. 224, 5, 6. + +[FN#98] Half-brother of Abdallah ben ez Zubeir, the celebrated +pretender to the Khalifate, see Vol. III. p. 194, note 3. {Vol. +3, FN#62} + +[FN#99] Grand-daughter of the Khalif Aboubekr and the most +beautiful woman of her day. + +[FN#100] A famous Medinan Traditionist of the eighth century. + +[FN#101] Er Zubeir ibn el Awwam, cousin-german to Mohammed and +one of his Companions. + +[FN#102] Abou Mohammed el Aamesh, a Cufan Traditionist of the +eighth century. + +[FN#103] A Traditionist of the seventh century. + +[FN#104] One of the Companions. + +[FN#105] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#106] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#107] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#108] Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#109] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#110] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#111] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#112] Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#113] A.D. 530-579. The founder of the great Persian dynasty +of the Kisras (Chosroës). Mohammed was born in the reign of +this monarch, whose name is a synonym with Eastern writers for +all that is just and noble in a King. + +[FN#114] Wife of Mohammed. + +[FN#115] Daughter of Mohammed. + +[FN#116] Lit. "of the ancestors," i.e. those pious and blessed +persons who have gone before. The word es selef (the ancestors) +is specially applied to Mohammed, his wife Aaisheh, the first +three Khalifs and certain other early Muslims. + +[FN#117] Khusrau Perviz, grandson of Kisra Anoushirwan (see +supra, p. 228). {Vol. 4, FN#113} + +[FN#118] The famous beauty, daughter of Maurice, Emperor of the +East, and heroine of Nizami's well-known poem. + +[FN#119] First cousin of Haroun er Reshid. + +[FN#120] Son and successor of Er Reshid. + +[FN#121] A well-known grammarian and traditionist of the time, +afterwards governor of part of Khorassan, under the Khalif El +Mamoun. + +[FN#122] Intendant of the palace under Er Reshid. + +[FN#123] i.e. lover. + +[FN#124] Muslim version of Susannah and the Elders. + +[FN#125] Lit. O frosty-beard (fool), how frosty was thy beard! + +[FN#126] Descendant of the Prophet. + +[FN#127] Name of a tribe. + +[FN#128] A descendant of Ishmael, from whom the Arab +genealogists trace Mohammed's lineage. + +[FN#129] Koran xxxiii. 38. + +[FN#130] Koran xxxviii. 2. + +[FN#131] One of the Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#132] Of the Prophet i.e. those who had personally known +Mohammed. + +[FN#133] i.e. the builders, who, in the East, use mud or clay +for mortar. + +[FN#134] About a penny. + +[FN#135] Mohammed. + + +[FN#136] A woman's name. + +[FN#137] For putting out the fire in a brasier or +cooking-stove. + +[FN#138] The last Kings of Hireh were Christians. + +[FN#139] A prae-Islamitic poet. + +[FN#140] King of Persia and En Numan's suzerain. + +[FN#141] A celebrated poet of the eighth and ninth centuries at +the court d the Abbaside Khalifs. + +[FN#142] A quarter of Baghdad. + +[FN#143] Another well-known poet of the time, Dibil's teacher +and friend. + +[FN#144] Underground rooms are much used in Baghdad and Central +Asia, for coolness' sake, in the season of the great heats. + +[FN#145] Dibil's surname. + +[FN#146] An idol of the pagan Arabs, before the coming of +Mohammed. + +[FN#147] In the attitude or a pupil before his master. + +[FN#148] i.e. heart's blood. + +[FN#149] A well-known poet, who flourished at Baghdad in the +ninth century + +[FN#150] Aboulabbas Mohammed ben Yezid eth Thumali, surnamed El +Muberred, a famous Baghdad grammarian of the ninth century. + +[FN#151] A monastery in the town of Hemah in Syria, so called +from the Emperor Heraclius, who retired thither, to end his. +days. + +[FN#152] These verses are addressed to the Prophet Mohammed. + +[FN#153] The most learned grammarian of his day. He flourished +at Baghdad in the first half of the tenth century. + +[FN#154] Anatolia. + +[FN#155] The Lights. + +[FN#156] Servant of the Messiah. + +[FN#157] The monk. + +[FN#158] The desireful servant of God. Abdallah is the name +commonly given to a Christian convert to Islam. This question +and answer are a good example of the jingle of rhymes so much +affected by the Arabs. + +[FN#159] i.e. of gods (shirk). + +[FN#160] Koran vii. 195. + +[FN#161] i.e. saints. + +[FN#162] Koran x. 36. + +[FN#163] A well-known man of letters and one of El Mamoun's +viziers. + +[FN#164] Prefect of Baghdad under El Mamoun. + +[FN#165] i.e. the persons in authority under them. + +[FN#166] Surname of Ali ben Hisham. + +[FN#167] A renowned chieftain and poet of the time of Mohammed. + +[FN#168] A famous singer and composer of the first century of +the Hegira. + +[FN#169] One of the greatest of Arab poets; he flourished in +the first century of the Hegira. + +[FN#170] i.e. as to the sound of music. + +[FN#171] Sixth of the Abbaside Khalifs, A.D. 809-813. + +[FN#172] See note, Vol. III. p. 324. {See Vol. 3, FN#130}. + +[FN#173] Tenth Abbaside Khalif, A.D. 849-861. + +[FN#174] Vizier and favourite of El Mutawekkil, killed A.D. 861 +whilst endeavouring to defend the Khalif against the parricide +El Muntestr. + +[FN#175] Virginitatem tollere. + +[FN#176] Johannes, a Greek physician in high favour with El +Mutawekkil and others of the Abbaside Khalifs. + +[FN#177] i.e. Princess of the Doctors or men of learning. + +[FN#178] A.D. 1166. + +[FN#179] Or heads of the various sects or schools of religion. + +[FN#180] Koran iv. 38. + +[FN#171] As witness to a debt, Koran ii. 282. + +[FN#182] Koran iv. 175. + +[FN#183] Or "eye-glance." + +[FN#184] Abou Temmam et Tai (of the tribe of Tai), a famous +poet of the first half of the ninth century and postmaster at +Mosul under the Khalif Wathic Billah (commonly known as +Vathek), A.D. 842-849. He was the compiler of the famous +anthology of ancient Arabian poetry, known as the Hemaseh +(Hamasa). + +[FN#185] Aboulcasim el Heriri, the famous poet and grammarian, +author of the Mecamat, the most celebrated single work in +Arabic literature. He holds much the same rank in Arabic +letters as Pope and Boileau in the literature of England +and France and may, with much better reason, be styled "le +legislateur du Parnasse (Arabe)." He was a native of Bassora +and died early in the twelfth century. + +[FN#186] i.e. the languishing glance of his eye. + +[FN#187] i.e. his whiskers. + +[FN#188] Koran xii. 51. + +[FN#189] Or quare palm-spathes. + +[FN#190] Or quare "an exposition of women." + +[FN#191] Koran xxvi. 165, 166. + +[FN#192] i.e. the whiteness of his face. + +[FN#193] Or "freeborn," the Arabic word used here having this +double meaning. The Arabs hold that the child of freeborn +parents (Lat. ingenuus) must of necessity be noble and those +born of slave parents or a slave mother the contrary. + +[FN#194] Or "freeborn," the Arabic word used here having this +double meaning. The Arabs hold that the child of freeborn +parents (Lat. ingenuus) must of necessity be noble and those +born of slave parents or a slave mother the contrary. + +[FN#195] A famous statesman, soldier, poet and musician, +governor of Khorassan, Egypt and other provinces under the +Khalif El Mamoun. + +[FN#196] Abou Abdallah ibn el Casim el Hashimi, surnamed Abou +el Ainaa, a blind traditionist and man of letters of Bassora, +in the ninth century, and one of the most celebrated wits of +his day. + +[FN#197] An island near Cairo, on which is situate the +Nilometer. It is a favourite pleasure-resort of the Cairenes. + +[FN#198] The port of Cairo. + +[FN#199] i.e. the report of its being haunted. + +[FN#200] i.e. by the Sortes Coranicæ or other similar process. + +[FN#201] The word shabb (young man) is applied by the Arabs to +men of all ages from early adolescence to forty or even +(according to some authorities) fifty. + +[FN#202] i.e. recited the first chapter of the Koran seven +times. + +[FN#203] i.e. affixed the tughraa, the royal seal or rather +countermark. + +[FN#204] i.e. health and security. + +[FN#205] See Vol. III. p. 225, note 1. {Vol. 3 FN#78} + +[FN#206] A pile of stones or other land-mark, set up to show +the way to travellers in the desert. + +[FN#207] The eyebrows of a beautiful woman are usually compared +to the new moon of Ramazan (see note, Vol. I. p. 71 {see Vol. 1 +FN#26}). The meaning here is the same, the allusion being +apparently to the eagerness with which the pagan Arabs may be +supposed to have watched for the appearance of the new moon of +Shaaban, as giving the signal for the renewal of predatory +excursions, after the enforced close-time or Trêve de Dieu of +the holy month Rejeb. + +[FN#208] Quære fourteen [years old]. + +[FN#209] i.e. the abrogated passages and those by which they +are abrogated. + +[FN#210] Koran iv. 160. + +[FN#211] Traditions of the Prophet. + +[FN#212] i.e. saying, "I purpose to pray such and such +prayers." + +[FN#213] i.e. saying, "God is most Great!" So called, because +its pronunciation after that of the niyeh or intent, prohibits +the speaking of any words previous to prayer. + +[FN#214] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#215] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#216] i.e. saying, "In the name of God, etc." + +[FN#217] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#218] It may be noted that these answers of Taweddud form an +excellent compendium of devotional practice, according to the +tenets of the Shafy school. + +[FN#219] Obligatory as a preparation for the Friday prayer and +on other occasions when legal purification is necessary. + +[FN#220] i.e. saying, "I purpose to defer, etc." + +[FN#221] i.e. with sand, earth or dust. + +[FN#222] i.e. saying, "Peace be on us and [all] the righteous +worshippers of God!" + +[FN#223] i.e. saying, "I seek refuge with God from Satan the +accursed." + +[FN#224] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#225] Lit. that the intent shall be by night. + +[FN#226] At sundown. + +[FN#227] Eaten a little before the break of day, the fast +commencing as soon as there is light enough to distinguish a +black thread from a white and lasting till sunset. + +[FN#228] A saying of Mohammed. + +[FN#229] i.e. retirement to a mosque for pious exercises, +equivalent to the Roman Catholic retraite. + +[FN#230] Two hills near Mecca. + +[FN#231] On first catching sight of Mecca. + +[FN#232] Places near Mecca. + +[FN#233] At a pillar supposed to represent the Devil. + +[FN#234] Or chief of the faith. + +[FN#235] Koran vii. 66. + +[FN#236] One of the followers of Mohammed, i.e. those who had +known some of the Companions [of the Prophet] though they had +never seen himself. The freedman [and adopted son] of Abdallah, +son of Omar ben El Khettab, the most authoritative of all the +Companions and reporters of the sayings and doings of the +Prophet. + +[FN#237] i.e. at a profit. The exchange must be equal and +profitless. + +[FN#238] Ablution. + +[FN#239] Complete ablution. + +[FN#240] Poor-rate. + +[FN#241] Warring for the Faith. + +[FN#242] i.e. saying, "I testify that there is no God, etc." + +[FN#243] i.e. fundamentals. + +[FN#244] i.e. derivatives. + +[FN#245] i.e. the true believers. + +[FN#246] i.e. death. + +[FN#247] i.e. that which does not require to be cut with a +knife. "Cut not meat with a knife, because it is of the manners +and customs of the barbarians; but eat it with your teeth."-- +Mishcat ul Masabih. + +[FN#248] Or "being a Muslim." + +[FN#249] Apparently referring to the verse, "The earth all +[shall be] His handful [on the] Day of Resurrection and the +heavens rolled up in His right [hand]."--Koran xxxix. 67. + +[FN#250] See Vol. II. p. 126, note. {Vol. 2, FN#76} + +[FN#251] Koran lxxviii. 19. + +[FN#252] Of the unity of God. + +[FN#253] i.e. professor of Koranic exegesis. + +[FN#254] i.e. portions so called. + +[FN#255] Heber. + +[FN#256] Jethro. + +[FN#257] Joshua. + +[FN#258] Enoch. + +[FN#259] John the Baptist. + +[FN#260] i.e. the bird of clay fabled by the Koran (following +the Apocryphal Gospel of the childhood of Christ) to have been +animated by him. + +[FN#261] Koran ii. + +[FN#262] Koran ii. 256, "God, there is no god but He, the +Living, the Eternal. Slumber taketh him not, neither sleep, and +His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Who is +he that intercedeth with Him but by His leave? He knoweth what +is before them and what is behind them, nor do they comprehend +aught of the knowledge of Him but of what He willeth. His +throne embraceth the heavens and the earth and the guarding of +them oppresseth Him not, for He is the Most High, the Supreme." + +[FN#263] Koran ii. 159. + +[FN#264] Koran xvi. 92. + +[FN#265] Paradise, Koran lxx. 38. + +[FN#266] Koran xxxix. 54. + +[FN#267] See note, p. 338 supra. {Vol. 4, FN#236} + +[FN#268] Koran xii. 18. + +[FN#269] Koran ii. 107. + +[FN#270] Koran li. 57. + +[FN#271] Koran ii. 28. + +[FN#272] Koran xvi. 100. The Muslims fable the devil to have +tempted Abraham to disobey God's commandment to sacrifice +Ishmael (Isaac) and to have been driven off by the Patriarch +with stones. Hence he is called "The Stoned." + +[FN#273] Abdallah ibn Abbas, first cousin of Mohammed and the +most learned theologian among the Companions. + +[FN#274] Koran xcvi. 1 and 2. + +[FN#275] Koran xxvii. 30. + +[FN#276] Koran ix. + +[FN#277] i.e. the day of the sacrifice at Mina, which completes +the ceremonies of the pilgrimage. + +[FN#278] The better opinion seems to be that this omission +(unique in the Koran) arose from the ninth chapter having +originally formed part of the eighth, from which it was +separated after Mohammed's death. + +[FN#279] Koran xvii. 110. + +[FN#280] Koran ii. 158. + +[FN#281] i.e. him who seals or closes the list of the prophets. + +[FN#282] C. xcvi. + +[FN#283] A native of Medina and one of the first of Mohammed's +disciples. + +[FN#284] Koran lxxiv. + +[FN#285] There are several verses on this subject. + +[FN#286] Koran cx. 1. + +[FN#287] The third Khalif. + +[FN#288] Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#289] One of the Followers. + +[FN#290] Koran v. 4. + +[FN#291] Koran v. 116. + +[FN#292] In the same verse. + +[FN#293] Koran v. 89. + +[FN#294] Ez Zuhak ben Sufyan, one of the Companions. + +[FN#295] One of the Followers. + +[FN#296] Koran iv. 124. + +[FN#297] i.e. without hesitation or interruption. + +[FN#298] Kaf, the 21st letter of the Arabic alphabet. + +[FN#299] Mim, the 24th letter of the Arabic alphabet. + +[FN#300] Ain, the 18th letter of the Arabic alphabet. + +[FN#301] The Koran is divided into sixty set portions, +answering or equivalent to our Lessons, for convenience of use +in public worship. + +[FN#302] Koran xi. 50. + +[FN#303] Name of the partition-wall between heaven and hell. + +[FN#304] Koran vii. 154. + +[FN#305] A play on the word ain, which means "eye." + +[FN#306] Chapters liv. lv. and lvi. + +[FN#307] i e. ankle. + +[FN#308] Koran xvii. 39. + +[FN#309] Two stars in Aquarius and Capricorn. + +[FN#310] Or chief part, lit. head. + +[FN#311] Or remedial treatment. + +[FN#312] Quare hot springs. + +[FN#313] A dish of crumpled bread and broth. + +[FN#314] Or savoury supplement to bread, rice and so forth. + +[FN#315] Koran v. 92. + +[FN#316] Koran ii. 216. + +[FN#317] Played with headless arrows. + +[FN#318] The fourth Khalif. + +[FN#319] The Korah of Numbers xvi. fabled by the Muslims +(following a Talmudic tradition) to have been a man of immense +wealth. "Now Caroun was of the tribe of Moses [and Aaron], but +he transgressed against them and we gave him treasures, the +keys whereof would bear down a company of men of strength."-- +Koran xxviii. 76. + +[FN#320] Syn. bearing a load (hamil). + +[FN#321] Koran lxx. 40. + +[FN#322] Koran x. 5. + +[FN#323] Koran xxxvi. 40. + +[FN#324] Koran xxii. 60. + +[FN#325] Koran xxxi. 34. + +[FN#326] Fifth and seventh months of the Coptic year, answering +(roughly) to our January and March. + +[FN#327] Fifth and seventh months of the Coptic year, answering +(roughly) to our January and March. + +[FN#328] Fourth month of the Coptic year. + +[FN#329] Eighth and twelfth months of the Coptic year (April +and August). + +[FN#330] Third month (November) of the Coptic year. + +[FN#331] Sixth month (February) of the Coptic year. + +[FN#332] The lowest of the seven stages into which Mohammedan +tradition divides the heavens. + +[FN#333] Koran lxxvii. 5. + +[FN#334] Koran xxxvi. 36, 37, 38. + +[FN#335] Koran xxii. 7. + +[FN#336] Koran xx. 57. + +[FN#337] A she-camel, big with young, miraculously produced, +according to Muslim legend, from a rock by the Prophet Salih, +for the purpose of converting the Themoudites. + +[FN#338] Where he was hiding with Mohammed from the pursuit of +the Benou Curaish. + +[FN#339] Koran lxxxi. 18. + +[FN#340] In Paradise. + +[FN#341] Sperma hominis. + +[FN#342] The Muslims attribute this miracle to Moses, instead +of Aaron. See Koran vii. 110 et seq. + +[FN#343] [Quoth God] "What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?" +Quoth he, "It is my staff, on which I lean and wherewith I beat +down leaves for my flock, and I have other uses for it."--Koran +xx. 18, 19. + +[FN#344] Then He turned to the heaven (now it was smoke) and +said to it and to the earth, "Come ye twain, obedient or +loathing." And they said both, "We come, obedient."--Koran xli. +10. + +[FN#345] Koran xxxvi. 82. + +[FN#346] Ali ibn Abi Taleb, first cousin of Mohammed and fourth +Khalif. + +[FN#347] Uncle of Mohammed and ancestor of the Abbaside +Khalifs. + +[FN#348] Lit. gave him to eat of it. + +[FN#349] Assuming him to be dead. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book Of The Thousand Nights And +One Night, Volume IV, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1001 NIGHTS, VOL IV *** + +***** This file should be named 8658-8.txt or 8658-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/6/5/8658/ + +Produced by JC Byers, Graeme Houston, Renate Preuss, Coralee +Sheehan, Marryann Short, and Anne Soulard + +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. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Book Of The Thousand Nights And One Night, Volume IV + +Author: Anonymous + +Translator: John Payne + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8658] +[This file was first posted on July 30, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT, VOLUME IV *** + + + + +Text scanned by JC Byers (www.wollamshram.ca/1001) and proofread by +JC Byers, Graeme Houston, Renate Preuss, Coralee Sheehan, Marryann +Short, and Anne Soulard + + +Editorial Note: Project Gutenberg also has the translation of this work by + Richard F. Burton in 16 volumes. + + + + + THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT: + + Now First Completely Done Into English + Prose and Verse, From The Original Arabic, + + By John Payne +(Author of "The Masque of Shadows," "Intaglios: Sonnets," "Songs + of Life and Death," + "Lautrec," "The Poems of Master Francis Villon of Paris," "New + Poems," Etc, Etc.). + + In Nine Volumes: + + + + VOLUME THE FOURTH. + + + + 1901 + + Delhi Edition + + + Contents of The Fourth Volume. + + + +1. The Imam Abou Yousuf With Haroun er Reshid and his Vizier + Jaafer +2. The Lover Who Feigned Himself a Thief to save His Mistress's + Honour +3. Jaafer the Barmecide and the Bean-seller +4. Abou Mohammed the Lazy +5. Yehya Ben Khalid and Mensour +6. Yehya Ben Khalid and the Man Who Forged a Letter in His Name +7. The Khalif el Mamoun and the Strange Doctor +8. Ali Shar and Zumurrud +9. The Loves of Jubeir Ben Umeir and the Lady Budour +10. The Man of Yemen and His Six Slave Girls +11. Haroun er Reshid with the Damsel and Abou Nuwas +12. The Man Who Stole The Dog's Dish of Gold +13. The Sharper of Alexandria and the Master of Police +14. El Melik en Nasir and the Three Masters of Police + a. Story of the Chief of the New Cairo Police + b. Story of the Chief of the Boulac Police + c. Story of the chief of the Old Cairo Police +15. The Thief and the Money-Changer +16. The Chief of the Cous Police and the Sharper +17. Ibrahim Ben el Mehdi and the Merchant's Sister +18. The Woman Whose Hands Were Cut Off For Almsgiving +19. The Devout Israelite +20. Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi and the Man From Khorassan +21. The Poor Man and his Generous Friend +22. The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through a Dream +23. El Mutawekkil and his Favourite Mehboubeh +24. Werdan the Butcher's Adventure with the Lady and the Bear +25. The King's Daughter and the Ape +26. The Enchanted Horse +27. Uns El Eoujoud and the Vizier's Daughter Rose-in-Bud +28. Abou Nuwas with the Three Boys and the Khalif Haroun er + Reshid +29. Abdallah Ben Maamer with the Man of Bassora and His Slave + Girl +30. The Lovers of the Benou Udhreh +31. The Vizier of Yemen and His Young Brother +32. Loves of the Boy and Girl at School +33. El Mutelemmis and His Wife Umeimeh +34. Haroun er Reshid and Zubeideh in the Bath +35. Haroun er Reshid and the Three Poets +36. Musab Ben ez Zubeir and Aaisheh His Wife +37. Aboulasweh and His Squinting Slave Girl +38. Haroun er Reshid ad the Two Girls +39. Hroun er Reshid and the Three Girls +40. The Miller and his Wife +41. The Simpleton and the Sharper +42. The Imam Abou Yousuf with Haroun er Reshid and Zubeideh +43. The Khalif el Hakim and the Merchant +44. King Kisra Anoushirwan and the Village Damsel +45. The Water-Carrier and the Goldsmith's Wife +46. Khusrau and Shirin and the Fisherman +47. Yehya Ben Khalid and the Poor Man +48. Mohammed El Amin and Jaafer Ben el Hadi +49. Said Ben Salim and the Barmecides +50. The Woman's Trick Against Her Husband +51. The Devout Woman and the Two Wicked Elders +52. Jaafer the Barmecide and the Old Bedouin +53. Omar Ben Khettab and the Young Bedouin +54. El Mamoun and the Pyramids of Egypt +55. The Thief Turned Merchant and the Other Thief +56. Mesrour and Ibn El Caribi +57. The Devout Prince +58. The Schoolmaster Who Fell in Love by Report +59. The Foolish Schoolmaster +60. The Ignorant Man Who Set up For a Schoolmaster +61. The King and the Virtuous Wife +62. Abdurrehman the Moor's Story of the Roc +63. Adi Ben Zeid and the Princess Hind +64. Dibil el Khuzai With the Lady and Muslim Ben el Welid +65. Isaac of Mosul and the Merchant +66. The Three Unfortunate Lovers +67. The Lovers of the Benou Tai +68. The Mad Lover +69. The Apples of Paradise +70. The Loves of Abou Isa and Current El Ain +71. El Amin and His Uncle Ibrahim Ben el Mehdi +72. El Feth Ben Khacan and El Mutawekkil +73. The Man's Dispute with the Learned Woman of the Relative + Excellence of the Male and the Female +74. Abou Suweid and the Handsome Old Woman +75. Ali Ben Tahir and the Birl Mounis +76. The Woman Who Has a Boy and the Other Who Had a Man to Lover +77. The Haunted House in Baghdad +78. The Pilgrim and the Old Woman Who Dwelt in the Desert +79. Aboulhusn and His Slave Girl Taweddud + + + + + THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS + AND ONE NIGHT + + + + + HOW THE IMAM ABOU YOUSUF EXTRICATED THE + KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND HIS VIZIER + JAAFER FROM A DILEMMA. + + + +It is said that Jaafer the Barmecide was one night carousing with +Er Reshid, when the latter said to him, 'O Jaafer, I hear that +thou hast bought such and such a slave-girl. Now I have long +sought her and my heart is taken up with love of her, for she is +passing fair; so do thou sell her to me.' 'O Commander of the +Faithful,' replied Jaafer, 'I will not sell her.' 'Then give her +to me,' rejoined the Khalif. 'Nor will I give her,' answered +Jaafer. 'Be Zubeideh triply divorced,' exclaimed Haroun, 'if +thou shalt not either sell or give her to me!' Quoth Jaafer, 'Be +my wife triply divorced, if I either sell or give her to thee!' +After awhile they recovered from their intoxication and were ware +that they had fallen into a grave dilemma, but knew not how to +extricate themselves. Then said Er Reshid, 'None can help us in +this strait but Abou Yousuf.'[FN#1] So they sent for him, and +this was in the middle of the night. When the messenger reached +the Imam, he arose in alarm, saying in himself, 'I should not be +sent for at this hour, save by reason of some crisis in Islam.' +So he went out in haste and mounted his mule, saying to his +servant, 'Take the mule's nose-bag with thee; it may be she has +not finished her feed; and when we come to the Khalif's palace, +put the bag on her, that she may eat what is left of her fodder, +whilst I am with the Khalif.' 'I hear and obey,' replied the man. + +So the Imam rode to the palace and was admitted to the presence +of Er Reshid, who made him sit down on the couch beside himself, +whereas he was used to seat none but him, and said to him, 'We +have sent for thee at this hour to advise us upon a grave matter, +with which we know not how to deal' And he expounded to him the +case. 'O Commander of the Faithful,' replied Abou Yousuf, 'this +is the easiest of things.' Then he turned to Jaafer and said to +him, 'O Jaafer, sell half of her to the Commander of the Faithful +and give him the other half; so shall ye both be quit of your +oaths.' The Khalif was delighted with this and they did as he +prescribed. Then said Er Reshid, 'Bring me the girl at once, for +I long for her exceedingly.' So they brought her and the Khalif +said to Abou Yousuf, 'I have a mind to lie with her forthright; +for I cannot endure to abstain from her during the prescribed +period of purification; how is this to be done?' 'Bring me one of +thine unenfranchised male slaves,' answered the Imam, 'and give +me leave to marry her to him; then let him divorce her before +consummation. So shall it be lawful for thee to lie with her +before purification.' This expedient pleased the Khalif yet more +than the first and he sent for the slave. When he came, Er Reshid +said to the Imam, 'I authorize thee to marry her to him.' So the +Imam proposed the marriage to the slave, who accepted it, and +performed the due ceremony; after which he said to the slave, +'Divorce her, and thou shalt have a hundred diners.' But he +refused to do this and the Imam went on to increase his offer, +till he bid him a thousand diners. Then said the slave to him, +'Doth it rest with me to divorce her, or with thee or the +Commander of the Faithful?' 'With thee,' answered the Imam. +'Then, by Allah,' quoth the slave, 'I will never do it!' + +At this the Khalif was exceeding wroth and said to the Imam, +'What is to be done, O Abou Yousuf?' 'Be not concerned, O +Commander of the Faithful,' replied the Imam; 'the thing is easy. +Make this slave the damsel's property.' Quoth Er Reshid, 'I give +him to her;' and the Imam said to the girl, 'Say, "I accept."' So +she said, 'I accept:' whereupon quoth Abou Yousuf, 'I pronounce +divorce between them, for that he hath become her property, and +so the marriage is annulled.' With this, Er Reshid sprang to his +feet and exclaimed, 'It is the like of thee that shall be Cadi in +my time.' Then he called for sundry trays of gold and emptied +them before Abou Yousuf, to whom he said, 'Hast thou wherein to +put this ?' The Imam bethought him of the mule's nose-bag; so he +sent for it and filling it with gold, took it and went home; and +on the morrow, he said to his friends, 'There is no easier or +shorter road to the goods of this world and the next, than that +of learning; for, see, I have received all this money for +answering two or three questions.' Consider, then, O polite +[reader], the pleasantness of this anecdote, for it comprises +divers goodly features, amongst which are the complaisance of +Jaafer to Er Reshid and the wisdom[FN#2] of the Khalif and the +exceeding wisdom of Abou Yousuf, may God the Most High have mercy +on all their souls! + + + + + THE LOVER WHO FEIGNED HIMSELF A THIEF TO + SAVE HIS MISTRESS'S HONOUR. + + + +There came one day to Khalid ibn Abdallah el Kesri,[FN#3] +governor of Bassora, a company of men dragging a youth of +exceeding beauty and lofty bearing, whose aspect expressed good +breeding and dignity and abundant wit They brought him before the +governor, who asked what was to do with him, and they replied, +'This fellow is a thief, whom we caught last night in our +dwelling.' Khalid looked at him and was struck with wonder at his +well-favouredness and elegance; so he said to the others, 'Loose +him,' and going up to the young man, asked what he had to say for +himself. 'The folk have spoken truly,' answered he; 'and the case +is as they have said.' 'And what moved thee to this,' asked +Khalid, 'and thou so noble and comely of aspect?' 'The lust +after worldly good,' replied the other, 'and the ordinance of +God, glorified and exalted be He!' 'May thy mother be bereaved of +thee!' rejoined Khalid. 'Hadst thou not, in thy fair face and +sound sense and good breeding, what should restrain thee from +thieving?' 'O Amir,' answered the young man, 'leave this talk +and proceed to what God the Most High hath ordained; this is +what my hands have earned, and God is no oppressor of His +creatures.'[FN#4] Khalid was silent awhile, considering the +matter; then he said to the young man, 'Verily, thy confession +before witnesses perplexes me, for I cannot believe thee to be a +thief. Surely thou hast some story that is other than one of +theft. Tell it me'. 'O Amir,' replied the youth, 'deem thou +nought save what I have confessed; for I have no story other than +that I entered these folk's house and stole what I could lay +hands on, and they caught me and took the stuff from me and +carried me before thee.' Then Khalid bade clap him in prison and +commanded a crier to make proclamation throughout Bassora, +saying, 'Ho, whoso is minded to look upon the punishment of such +an one, the thief, and the cutting off of his hand, let him be +present tomorrow morning at such a place!' + +When the youth found himself in prison, with irons on his feet, +he sighed heavily and repeated the following verses, whilst the +tears streamed from his eyes: + +Khalid doth threaten me with cutting off my hand, Except I do + reveal to him my mistress' case. +But, "God forbid," quoth I, "that I should e'er reveal That which + of love for her my bosom doth embrace!" +The cutting-off my hand, for that I have confessed Unto, less + grievous were to me than her disgrace. + +The warders heard him and went and told Khalid, who sent for the +youth after nightfall and conversed with him. He found him +well-bred and intelligent and of a pleasant and vivacious wit; so +he ordered him food and he ate. Then said Khalid, 'I know thou +hast a story to tell that is no thief's; so, when the Cadi comes +to-morrow morning and questions thee before the folk, do thou +deny the charge of theft and avouch what may avert the cutting-off +of thy hand; for the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) saith, +"In cases of doubt, eschew [or defer] punishment."' Then he sent +him back to the prison, where he passed the night. + +On the morrow, the folk assembled to see his hand cut off, nor +was there man or woman in Bassora but came forth to look upon his +punishment. Then Khalid mounted in company of the notables of the +city and others and summoning the Cadi, sent for the young man, +who came, hobbling in his shackles. There none saw him but wept +for him, and the women lifted up their voices in lamentation. The +Cadi bade silence the women and said to the prisoner, 'These +folk avouch that thou didst enter their dwelling and steal their +goods: belike thou stolest less than a quarter dinar?'[FN#5] +'Nay,' replied he, 'I stole more than that.' 'Peradventure,' +rejoined the Cadi, 'thou art partner with them in some of the +goods?' 'Not so,' replied the young man; 'it was all theirs. I +had no right in it.' At this Khalid was wroth and rose and smote +him on the face with his whip, applying this verse to his own +case: + +Man wisheth and seeketh his wish to fulfil, But Allah denieth + save that which He will. + +Then he called for the executioner, who came and taking the +prisoner's hand, set the knife to it and was about to cut it off, +when, behold, a damsel, clad in tattered clothes, pressed through +the crowd of women and cried out and threw herself on the young +man. Then she unveiled and showed a face like the moon; whereupon +the people raised a mighty clamour and there was like to have +been a riot amongst them. But she cried out her loudest, saying, +'I conjure thee, by Allah, O Amir, hasten not to cut off this +man's hand, till thou have read what is in this scroll!' So +saying, she gave him a scroll, and he took it and read therein +the following verses: + +O Khalid, this man is love-maddened, a cave of desire, Transfixed + by the glances that sped from the bows of my eye. +The shafts of my looks 'twas that pierced him and slew him; + indeed, He a bondsman of love, sick for passion and like for + to die. +Yea, rather a crime, that he wrought not, he choose to confess + Than suffer on her whom he cherished dishonour to lie. +Have ruth on a sorrowful lover; indeed he's no thief, But the + noblest and truest of mortals for passion that sigh. + +When he had read this, he called the girl apart and questioned +her; and she told him that the young man was her lover and she +his mistress. He came to the dwelling of her people, thinking to +visit her, and threw a stone into the house, to warn her of his +coming. Her father and brothers heard the noise of the stone and +sallied out on him; but he, hearing them coming, caught up all +the household stuff and made as if he would have stolen it, to +cover his mistress's honour. 'So they seized him,' continued she, +'saying, "A thief!" and brought him before thee, whereupon he +confessed to the robbery and persisted in his confession, that he +might spare me dishonour; and this he did, making himself a +thief, of the exceeding nobility and generosity of his nature.' + +'He is indeed worthy to have his desire,' replied Khalid and +calling the young man to him, kissed him between the eyes. Then +he sent for the girl's father and bespoke him, saying, 'O elder, +we thought to punish this young man by cutting off his hand; but +God (to whom belong might and majesty) hath preserved us from +this! and I now adjudge him the sum of ten thousand dirhems, for +that he would have sacrificed his hand for the preservation of +thine honour and that of thy daughter and the sparing you both +reproach. Moreover, I adjudge other ten thousand dirhems to thy +daughter, for that she made known to me the truth of the case; +and I ask thy leave to marry him to her.' 'O Amir,' rejoined the +old man, 'thou hast my consent.' So Khalid praised God and +thanked Him and offered up a goodly exhortation and prayer; after +which he said to the young man, 'I give thee this damsel to wife, +with her own and her father's consent; and her dowry shall be +this money, to wit, ten thousand dirhems. 'I accept this marriage +at thy hands,' replied the youth and Khalid let carry the money +on trays in procession to the young man's house, whilst the +people dispersed, full of gladness. And surely [quoth he who +tells the tale[FN#6]] never saw I a rarer day than this, for that +its beginning was weeping and affliction and its end joy and +gladness. + + + + + JAAFER THE BARMECIDE AND THE BEANSELLER. + + + +When Haroun er Reshid put Jaafer the Barmecide to death, he +commanded that all who wept or made moan for him should be +crucified; so the folk abstained from this. Now there was a +Bedouin from a distant desert, who used every year to make and +bring to Jaafer an ode in his honour, for which he rewarded him +with a thousand diners; and the Bedouin took them and returning +to his own country, lived upon them, he and his family, for the +rest of the year. Accordingly, he came with his ode at the wonted +time and finding Jaafer done to death, betook himself to the +place where his body was hanging, and there made his camel kneel +down and wept sore and mourned grievously. Then he recited his +ode and fell asleep. In his sleep Jaafer the Barmecide appeared +to him and said, 'Thou hast wearied thyself to come to us and +findest us as thou seest; but go to Bassora and ask for such a +man there of the merchants of the town and say to him, "Jaafer +the Barmecide salutes thee and bids thee give me a thousand +diners, by the token of the bean."' + +When the Bedouin awoke, he repaired to Bassora, where he sought +out the merchant and repeated to him what Jaafer had said in the +dream; whereupon he wept sore, till he was like to depart the +world. Then he welcomed the Bedouin and entertained him three +days as an honoured guest; and when he was minded to depart, he +gave him a thousand and five hundred diners, saying, 'The +thousand are what is commanded to thee, and the five hundred are +a gift from me to thee; and every year thou shalt have of me a +thousand diners.' When the Bedouin was about to take leave, he +said to the merchant, 'I conjure thee, by Allah, tell me the +story of the bean, that I may know the origin of all this.' 'In +the early part of my life,' replied the merchant, 'I was +miserably poor and hawked hot boiled beans about the streets of +Baghdad for a living. + +I went out one cold, rainy day, without clothes enough on my body +to protect me from the weather, now shivering for excess of cold +and now stumbling into the pools of rain-water, and altogether in +so piteous a plight as would make one shudder to look upon. Now +it chanced that Jaafer was seated that day, with his officers and +favourites, in an upper chamber overlooking the street, and his +eye fell on me; so he took pity on my case and sending one of his +servants to fetch me to him, said to me, "Sell thy beans to my +people." So I began to mete out the beans with a measure I had +with me, and each who took a measure of beans filled the vessel +with gold pieces, till the basket was empty. Then I gathered +together the money I had gotten, and Jaafer said to me, "Hast +thou any beans left?" "I know not," answered I and sought in the +basket, but found only one bean. This Jaafer took and splitting +it in twain, kept one half himself and gave the other to one of +his favourites, saying, "For how much wilt thou buy this +half-bean?" "For the tale of all this money twice-told," replied +she; whereat I was confounded and said in myself, "This is +impossible." But, as I stood wondering, she gave an order to one +of her handmaids and the girl brought me the amount twice-told. +Then said Jaafer, "And I will buy my half for twice the sum of +the whole. Take the price of thy bean." And he gave an order to +one of his servants, who gathered together the whole of the money +and laid it in my basket; and I took it and departed. Then I +betook myself to Bassora, where I traded with the money and God +prospered me, to Him be the praise and the thanks! So, if I give +thee a thousand diners a year of the bounty of Jaafer, it will in +no wise irk me.' Consider then the munificence of Jaafer's nature +and how he was praised both alive and dead, the mercy of God the +Most High be upon him! + + + + + + ABOU MOHAMMED THE LAZY. + + + +It is told that Haroun er Reshid was sitting one day on the +throne of the Khalifate, when there came in to him a youth of his +eunuchs, bearing a crown of red gold, set with pearls and rubies +and all manner other jewels, such as money might not buy, and +kissing the ground before him, said, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, the lady Zubeideh kisses the earth before thee and +saith to thee, thou knowest she hath let make this crown, which +lacks a great jewel for its top; and she hath made search among +her treasures, but cannot find a jewel to her mind.' Quoth the +Khalif to his chamberlains and officers, 'Make search for a +great jewel, such as Zubeideh desires.' So they sought, but found +nothing befitting her and told the Khalif, who was vexed thereat +and exclaimed, 'Am I Khalif and king of the kings of the earth +and lack of a jewel? Out on ye! Enquire of the merchants.' So +they enquired of the merchants, who replied, 'Our lord the Khalif +will not find a jewel such as he requires save with a man of +Bassora, by name Abou Mohammed the Lazy.' They acquainted the +Khalif with this and he bade his Vizier Jaafer send a letter to +the Amir Mohammed ez Zubeidi, governor of Bassora, commanding him +to equip Abou Mohammed the Lazy and bring him to Baghdad. + +Jaafer accordingly wrote a letter to that effect and despatched +it by Mesrour, who set out forthright for Bassora and went in to +the governor, who rejoiced in him and entreated him with the +utmost honour. Then Mesrour read him the Khalif's mandate, to +which he replied, 'I hear and obey,' and forthwith despatched +him, with a company of his followers, to Abou Mohammed's house. +When they reached it, they knocked at the door, whereupon a +servant came out and Mesrour said to him, 'Tell thy master that +the Commander of the Faithful calls for him.' The servant went in +and told his master, who came out and found Mesrour, the Khalif's +chamberlain, and a company of the governor's men at the door. So +he kissed the earth before Mesrour and said, 'I hear and obey the +summons of the Commander of the Faithful; but enter ye my house.' +'We cannot do that,' replied Mesrour, 'save in haste; for the +Commander of the Faithful awaits thy coming.' But he said, 'Have +patience with me a little, till I set my affairs in order.' So, +after much pressure and persuasion, they entered and found the +corridor hung with curtains of blue brocade, figured with gold, +and Abou Mohammed bade one of his servants carry Mesrour to the +bath. Now this bath was in the house and Mesrour found its walls +and floor of rare and precious marbles, wrought with gold and +silver, and its waters mingled with rose-water. The servants +served Mesrour and his company on the most perfect wise and clad +them, on their going forth of the bath, in robes of honour of +brocade, interwoven with gold. + +Then they went in to Abou Mohammed and found him seated in his +upper chamber upon a couch inlaid with jewels. Over his head hung +curtains of gold brocade, wrought with pearls and jewels, and the +place was spread with cushions, embroidered in red gold. When he +saw Mesrour, he rose to receive him and bidding him welcome, +seated him by his side. Then he called for food: so they brought +the table of food, which when Mesrour saw, he exclaimed, 'By +Allah, never saw I the like of this in the palace of the +Commander of the Faithful!' For indeed it comprised all manner of +meats, served in dishes of gilded porcelain. So they ate and +drank and made merry till the end of the day, when Abou Mohammed +gave Mesrour and each of his company five thousand diners; and on +the morrow he clad them in dresses of honour of green and +gold and entreated them with the utmost honour. Then said +Mesrour to him, 'We can abide no longer, for fear of the Khalif's +displeasure.' 'O my lord,' answered Abou Mohammed, 'have patience +with us till to-morrow, that we may equip ourselves, and we will +then depart with you.' So they tarried that day and night with +him; and next morning, Abou Mohammed's servants saddled him a +mule with housings and trappings of gold, set with all manner +pearls and jewels; whereupon quoth Mesrour in himself, 'I wonder +if, when he presents himself in this equipage before the +Commander of the Faithful, he will ask him how he came by all +this wealth.' + +Then they took leave of Ez Zubeidi and setting out from Bassora, +fared on, without stopping, till they reached Baghdad and +presented themselves before the Khalif who bade Abou Mohammed be +seated. So he sat down and addressing the Khalif in courtly wise, +said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I have brought with me +a present by way of homage: have I thy leave to produce it?' +'There is no harm in that,' replied the Khalif; whereupon Abou +Mohammed caused bring in a chest, from which he took a number of +rarities and amongst the rest, trees of gold, with leaves of +emerald and fruits of rubies and topazes and pearls. Then he +fetched another chest and brought out of it a pavilion of +brocade, adorned with pearls and rubies and emeralds and +chrysolites and other precious stones; its poles were of the +finest Indian aloes-wood, and its skirts were set with emeralds. +Thereon were depicted all manner beasts and birds and other +created things, spangled with rubies and emeralds and chrysolites +and balass rubies and other precious stones. + +When Er Reshid saw these things, he rejoiced exceedingly, and +Abou Mohammed said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, deem not +that I have brought these to thee, fearing aught or coveting +aught; but I knew myself to be but a man of the people and that +these things befitted none save the Commander of the Faithful. +And now, with thy leave, I will show thee, for thy diversion, +something of what I can do.' 'Do what thou wilt,' answered Er +Reshid, 'that we may see.' 'I hear and obey,' said Abou Mohammed +and moving his lips, beckoned to the battlements of the palace, +whereupon they inclined to him; then he made another sign to +them, and they returned to their place. Then he made a sign with +his eye, and there appeared before him cabinets with closed +doors, to which he spoke, and lo, the voices of birds answered +him [from within]. The Khalif marvelled exceedingly at this and +said to him, 'How camest thou by all this, seeing that thou art +only known as Abou Mohammed the Lazy, and they tell me that thy +father was a barber-surgeon, serving in a public bath, and left +thee nothing?' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' answered he, +'listen to my story, for it is an extraordinary one and its +particulars are wonderful; were it graven with needles upon the +corners of the eye, it would serve as a lesson to him who can +profit by admonition.' 'Let us hear it,' said the Khalif. + +'Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,' replied Abou Mohammed, +'(may God prolong to thee glory and dominion,) that the report of +the folk, that I am known as the Lazy and that my father left me +nothing, is true; for he was, as thou hast said, but a barber- +surgeon in a bath. In my youth I was the laziest wight on the +face of the earth; indeed, so great was my sluggishness that, +if I lay asleep in the sultry season and the sun came round upon +me, I was too lazy to rise and remove from the sun to the shade; +and thus I abode till I reached my fifteenth year, when my father +was admitted to the mercy of God the Most High and left me +nothing. However, my mother used to go out to service and feed me +and give me to drink, whilst I lay on my side. + + +One day, she came in to me, with five silver dirhems, and said to +me, "O my son, I hear that the Sheikh Aboul Muzeffer is about to +go a voyage to China." (Now this Sheikh was a good and charitable +man and loved the poor.) "So come, let us carry him these five +dirhems and beg him to buy thee therewith somewhat from the land +of China, so haply thou mayst make a profit of it, by the bounty +of God the Most High!" I was too lazy to move; but she swore by +Allah that, except I rose and went with her, she would neither +bring me meat nor drink nor come in to me, but would leave me to +die of hunger and thirst. When I heard this, O Commander of the +Faithful, I knew she would do as she said; so I said to her, +"Help me to sit up." She did so, and I wept the while and said to +her, "Bring me my shoes." Accordingly, she brought them and I +said, "Put them on my feet." She put them on my feet and I said, +"Lift me up." So she lifted me up and I said, "Support me, that I +may walk." So she supported me and I went along thus, still +stumbling in my skirts, till we came to the river-bank, where we +saluted the Sheikh and I said to him, "O uncle, art thou Aboul +Muzeffer?" "At thy service," answered he, and I said, "Take these +dirhems and buy me somewhat from the land of China: haply, God +may vouchsafe me a profit of it." Quoth the Sheikh to his +companions, "Do ye know this youth?" "Yes," replied they; "he is +known as Abou Mohammed the Lazy, and we never saw him stir from +his house till now." Then said he to me, "O my son, give me the +dirhems and the blessing of God the Most High go with them!" So +he took the money, saying, "In the name of God!" and I returned +home with my mother. + +Meanwhile the Sheikh set sail, with a company of merchants, and +stayed not till they reached the land of China, where they bought +and sold, and having done their intent, set out on their homeward +voyage. When they had been three days at sea, the Sheikh said to +his company, "Stay the ship!" And they asked him what was to do +with him. "Know," replied he, "that I have forgotten the +commission with which Abou Mohammed the Lazy charged me; so let +us turn back, that we may buy him somewhat whereby he may +profit." "We conjure thee, by God the Most High," exclaimed they, +"turn not back with us; for we have traversed an exceeding great +distance and endured sore hardship and many perils." Quoth he, +"There is no help for it;" and they said "Take from us double the +profit of the five dirhems and turn not back with us." So he +agreed to this and they collected for him a great sum of money. + +Then they sailed on, till they came to an island, wherein was +much people; so they moored thereto and the merchants went +ashore, to buy thence precious metals and pearls and jewels and +so forth. Presently, Aboul Muzeffer saw a man seated, with many +apes before him, and amongst them one whose hair had been plucked +off. As often as the man's attention was diverted from them, the +other apes fell upon the plucked one and beat him and threw him +on their master; whereupon the latter rose and beat them and +bound them and punished them for this; and all the apes were +wroth with the plucked ape therefor and beat him the more. When +Aboul Muzeffer saw this, he took compassion upon the plucked ape +and said to his master, "Wilt thou sell me yonder ape?" "Buy," +replied the man, and Aboul Muzeffer rejoined, "I have with me +five dirhems, belonging to an orphan lad. Wilt thou sell me the +ape for that sum?" "He is thine," answered the ape-merchant. "May +God give thee a blessing of him!" So the Sheikh paid the money +and his slaves took the ape and tied him up in the ship. + +Then they loosed sail and made for another island, where they +cast anchor; and there came down divers, who dived for pearls and +corals and other jewels. So the merchants hired them for money +and they dived. When the ape saw this, he did himself loose from +his bonds and leaping off the ship's side, dived with them; +whereupon quoth Aboul Muzeffer, "There is no power and no virtue +but in God the Most High, the Supreme! The ape is lost to us, by +the [ill] fortune of the poor fellow for whom we bought him." And +they despaired of him; but, after awhile, the company of divers +rose to the surface, and with them the ape, with his hands full +of jewels of price, which he threw down before Aboul Muzeffer, +who marvelled at this and said, "There hangs some great mystery +by this ape!" + +Then they cast off and sailed till they came to a third island, +called the Island of the Zunonj,[FN#7] who are a people of the +blacks, that eat human flesh. When the blacks saw them, they +boarded them in canoes and taking all in the ship, pinioned them +and carried them to their king who bade slaughter certain of the +merchants. So they slaughtered them and ate their flesh; and the +rest passed the night in prison and sore concern. But, when it +was [mid]night, the ape arose and going up to Aboul Muzeffer, did +off his bonds. When the others saw him free, they said, "God +grant that our deliverance may be at thy hands, O Aboul +Muzeffer!" But he replied, "Know that he who at delivered me, by +God's leave, was none other than this ape; and I buy my release +of him at a thousand dinars." "And we likewise," rejoined the +merchants, "will pay him a thousand diners each, if he release +us." With this, the ape went up to them and loosed their bonds, +one by one, till he had freed them all, when they made for the +ship and boarding her, found all safe and nothing missing. So +they cast off and set sail; and presently Aboul Muzeffer said to +them, "O merchants, fulfil your promise to the ape." "We hear and +obey," answered they and paid him a thousand diners each, whilst +Aboul Muzeffer brought out to him the like sum of his own monies, +so that there was a great sum of money collected for the ape. + +Then they fared on till they reached the city of Bassora, where +their friends came out to meet them; and when they had landed, +the Sheikh said, "Where is Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" The news +reached my mother, who came to me, as I lay asleep, and said to +me, "O my son, the Sheikh Aboul Muzeffer has come back and is now +in the city; so go thou to him and salute him and enquire what he +hath brought thee; it may be God hath blessed thee with +somewhat." "Lift me from the ground," quoth I, "and prop me up, +whilst I walk to the river-bank." So she lifted me up and I went +out and walked on, stumbling in my skirts, till I met the Sheikh, +who exclaimed, at sight of me, "Welcome to him whose money has +been the means of my delivery and that of these merchants, by +the will of God the Most High! Take this ape that I bought for +thee and carry him home and wait till I come to thee." So I +took the ape, saying in myself, "By Allah, this is indeed rare +merchandise!" and drove it home, where I said to my mother, +"Whenever I lie down to sleep, thou biddest me rise and trade; +see now this merchandise with thine own eyes." + +Then I sat down, and presently up came Aboul Muzeffer's slaves +and said to me, "Art thou Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" "Yes," +answered I; and behold, Aboul Muzeffer appeared behind them. So I +went up to him and kissed his hands; and he said to me, "Come +with me to my house." "I hear and obey," answered I and followed +him to his house, where he bade his servants bring me the money +[and what not else the ape had earned me]. So they brought it and +he said to me, "O my son, God hath blessed thee with this wealth, +by way of profit on thy five dirhems." Then the slaves laid the +treasure in chests, which they set on their heads, and Aboul +Muzeffer gave me the keys of the chests, saying, "Go before the +slaves to thy house; for all this wealth is thine." So I returned +to my mother, who rejoiced in this and said to me, "O my son, God +hath blessed thee with this much wealth; so put off thy laziness +and go down to the bazaar and sell and buy." So I shook off my +sloth, and opened a shop in the bazaar, where the ape used to sit +on the same divan with me, eating with me when I ate and drinking +when I drank. But, every day, he was absent from daybreak till +noon-day, when he came back, bringing with him a purse of a +thousand diners, which he laid by my side, and sat down. Thus did +he a great while, till I amassed much wealth, wherewith I bought +houses and lands and planted gardens and got me slaves, black and +white and male and female. + +One day, as I sat in my shop, with the ape at my side, he began +to turn right and left, and I said in myself, "What ails the +beast?" Then God made the ape speak with a glib tongue, and he +said to me, "O Abou Mohammed!" When I heard him speak, I was sore +afraid; but he said to me, "Fear not; I will tell thee my case. +Know that I am a Marid of the Jinn and came to thee, because of +thy poor estate; but to-day thou knowest not the tale of thy +wealth; and now I have a need of thee, wherein it thou do my +will, it shall be well for thee." "What is it?" asked I, and he +said, "I have a mind to marry thee to a girl like the full moon." +"How so?" quoth I. "To. morrow," replied he, "don thou thy +richest clothes and mount thy mule, with the saddle of gold, and +ride to the forage-market. There enquire for the shop of the +Sherif[FN#8] and sit down beside him and say to him, 'I come to +thee a suitor for thy daughter's hand.' If he say to thee, 'Thou +hast neither money nor condition nor family,' pull out a thousand +diners and give them to him; and if he ask more, give him more +and tempt him with money." "I hear and obey," answered I; +"to-morrow, if it please God, I will do thy bidding." + +So on the morrow I donned my richest clothes and mounting my mule +with trappings of gold, rode, attended by half a score slaves, +black and white, to the forage-market, where I found the Sherif +sitting in his shop. I alighted and saluting him, seated myself +beside him. Quoth he, "Haply, thou hast some business with us, +which we may have the pleasure of transacting?" "Yes," answered +I; "I have business with thee." "And what is it?" asked he. Quoth +I, "I come to thee as a suitor for thy daughter's hand." And he +said, "Thou hast neither money nor condition nor family;" +whereupon I pulled out a thousand diners of red gold and said to +him, "This is my rank and family; and he whom God bless and keep +hath said, 'The best of ranks is wealth.' And how well saith the +poet: + +Whoso hath money, though it be but dirhems twain, his lips Have + learnt all manner speech and he can speak and fear no + slight. +His brethren and his mates draw near and hearken to his word And + 'mongst the folk thou seest him walk, a glad and prideful + wight. +But for the money, in the which he glorieth on this wise, + Thou'dst find him, midst his fellow-men, in passing sorry + plight. +Yea, whensoe'er the rich man speaks, though in his speech he err, + 'Thou hast not spoken a vain thing,' they say; 'indeed, + thou'rt right.' +But, for the poor man, an he speak, albeit he say sooth, They + say, 'Thou liest,' and make void his speech and hold it + light +For money, verily, in all the lands beneath the sun, With + goodliness and dignity cloth its possessors dight. +A very tongue it is for him who would be eloquent And eke a + weapon to his hand who hath a mind to fight." + +When he heard this, he bowed his head awhile, then, raising it, +said, "If it must be so, I will have of thee other three thousand +diners." "I hear and obey," answered I and sent one of my +servants to my house for the money. When he came back with it, I +handed it to the Sherif, who rose and bidding his servants shut +his shop, invited his brother-merchants to the wedding; after +which he carried me to his house and drew up the contract of +marriage between his daughter and myself, saying to me, "After +ten days, I will bring thee in to her." So I went home rejoicing +and shutting myself up with the ape, told him what had passed; +and he said, "Thou hast done well." + +When the time appointed by the Sherif drew near, the ape said to +me, "There is a thing I would fain have thee do for me; and +after, thou shalt have of me what thou wilt." "What is that?" +asked I. Quoth he, "At the upper end of the bridechamber stands a +cabinet, on whose door is a padlock of brass and the keys under +it. Take the keys and open the cabinet, in which thou wilt find a +coffer of iron, with four talismanic flags at its angles. In its +midst is a brass basin full of money, wherein is tied a white +cock with a cleft comb; and on one side of the coffer are eleven +serpents and on the other a knife. Take the knife and kill the +cock; cut away the flags and overturn the chest; then go back to +the bride and do away her maidenhead. This is what I have to ask +of thee." "I hear and obey," answered I and betook myself to the +Sherif's house. + +As soon as I entered the bridechamber, I looked for the cabinet +and found it even as the ape had described it. Then I went in to +the bride and marvelled at her beauty and grace and symmetry, for +indeed they were such as no tongue can set forth. So I rejoiced +in her with an exceeding joy; and in the middle of the night, +when she slept, I rose and taking the keys, opened the cabinet. +Then I took the knife and killed the cock and threw down the +flags and overturned the coffer, whereupon the girl awoke and +seeing the closet open and the cock slain, exclaimed, "There is +no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme! The +Marid hath gotten me!" Hardly had she made an end of speaking, +when the Marid came down upon the house and seizing the bride, +flew away with her; whereupon there arose a great clamour and in +came the Sherif, buffeting his face. "O Abou Mohammed," said he, +"what is this thou hast done? Is it thus thou requitest us? I +made the talisman in the cabinet in my fear for my daughter from +this accursed one; for these six years hath he sought to steal +away the girl, but could not. But now there is no more abiding +for thee with us; so go thy ways." + +So I went out and returned to my own house, where I made search +for the ape, but could find no trace of him; whereby I knew that +he was the Marid, who had taken my wife and had tricked me into +destroying the talisman that hindered him from taking her, and +repented, rending my clothes and buffeting my face; and there was +no land but was straitened upon me. So I made for the desert, +knowing not whither I should go, and wandered on, absorbed in +melancholy thought, till night overtook me. Presently, I saw two +serpents fighting, a white one and a tawny. So I took up a stone +and throwing it at the tawny serpent, which was the aggressor, +killed it; whereupon the white serpent made off, but returned +after awhile accompanied by ten others of the same colour, which +went up to the dead serpent and tore it in pieces, till but the +head was left. Then they went their ways and I fell prostrate for +weariness on the ground where I stood; but, as I lay, pondering +my case, I heard a voice repeat the following verses, though I +saw no one: + +Let destiny with slackened rein its course appointed fare And lie + thou down by night to sleep with heart devoid of care. +For, twixt the closing of the eyes and th' opening thereof, God + hath it in His power to change a case from foul to fair. + +When I heard this, great concern got hold of me and I was beyond +measure troubled; and I heard a voice from behind me repeat these +verses also: + +Muslim, whose guide's the Koran and his due, Rejoice, for succour + cometh thee unto. +Let not the wiles of Satan make thee rue, For we're a folk whose + creed's the One, the True. + +Then said I, "I conjure thee by Him whom thou worshippest, let me +know who thou art!" Thereupon the unseen speaker appeared to me, +in the likeness of a man, and said, "Fear not; for the report of +thy good deed hath reached us, and we are a people of the +true-believing Jinn. So, if thou lack aught, let us know it, that +we may have the pleasure of fulfilling thy need." "Indeed," +answered I, "I am in sore need, for there hath befallen me a +grievous calamity, whose like never yet befell man." Quoth he, +"Surely, thou art Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" And I answered, "Yes." +"O Abou Mohammed," rejoined the genie, "I am the brother of the +white serpent, whose enemy thou slewest. We are four brothers, by +one father and mother, and we are all indebted to thee for thy +kindness. Know that he who played this trick on thee, in the +likeness of an ape, is a Marid of the Marids of the Jinn; and had +he not used this artifice, he had never been able to take the +girl; for he hath loved her and had a mind to take her this long +while, but could not win at her, being hindered of the talisman; +and had it remained as it was, he could never have done so. +However, fret not thyself for that; we will bring thee to her and +kill the Marid; for thy kindness is not lost upon us." + +Then he cried out with a terrible voice, and behold, there +appeared a company of Jinn, of whom he enquired concerning the +ape; and one of them said, "I know his abiding-place; it is in +the City of Brass, upon which the sun riseth not." Then said the +first genie to me, "O Abou Mohammed, take one of these our +slaves, and he will carry thee on his back and teach thee how +thou shalt get back the girl: but know that he is a Marid and +beware lest thou utter the name of God, whilst he is carrying +thee; or he will flee from thee, and thou wilt fall and be +destroyed." "I hear and obey," answered I and chose out one of +the slaves, who bent down and said to me, "Mount." So I mounted +on his back, and he flew up with me into the air, till I lost +sight of the earth and saw the stars as they were fixed mountains +and heard the angels glorifying God in heaven, what while the +Marid held me in converse, diverting me and hindering me from +pronouncing the name of God. But, as we flew, behold, one clad in +green raiment, with streaming tresses and radiant face, holding +in his hand a javelin whence issued sparks of fire, accosted me, +saying, "O Abou Mohammed, say, 'There is no god but God and +Mohammed is His apostle;' or I will smite thee with this +javelin." + +Now I was already sick at heart of my [forced] abstention from +calling on the name of God; so I said, "There is no god but God +and Mohammed is His apostle." Whereupon the shining one smote the +Marid with his javelin and he melted away and became ashes; +whilst I was precipitated from his back and fell headlong toward +the earth, till I dropped into the midst of a surging sea, +swollen with clashing billows. Hard by where I fell was a ship +and five sailors therein, who, seeing me, made for me and took me +up into the boat. They began to speak to me in some tongue I knew +not; but I signed to them that I understood not their speech. So +they fared on till ended day, when they cast out a net and caught +a great fish and roasting it, gave me to eat; after which they +sailed on, till they reached their city and carried me in to +their king, who understand Arabic. So I kissed the ground before +him, and he bestowed on me a dress of honour and made me one of +his officers. I asked him the name of the city, and he replied, +"It is called Henad and is in the land of China." Then he +committed me to his Vizier, bidding him show me the city, which +was formerly peopled by infidels, till God the Most High turned +them into stones; and there I abode a month's space, diverting +myself with viewing the place, nor saw I ever greater plenty of +trees and fruits than there. + +One day, as I sat on the bank of a river, there accosted me a +horseman, who said to me, "Art thou not Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" +"Yes," answered I; whereupon, "Fear not," said he; "for the +report of thy good deed hath reached us." Quoth I, "Who art +thou?" And he answered, "I am a brother of the white serpent, and +thou art hard by the place where is the damsel whom thou +seekest." So saying, he took off his [outer] clothes and clad me +therein, saying, "Fear not; for he, that perished under thee, was +one of our slaves." Then he took me up behind him and rode on +with me, till we came to a desert place, when he said to me, +"Alight now and walk on between yonder mountains till thou seest +the City of Brass; then halt afar off and enter it not, till I +return to thee and teach thee how thou shalt do." "I hear and +obey," replied I and alighting, walked on till I came to the +city, the walls whereof I found of brass. I went round about it, +looking for a gate, but found none; and presently, the serpent's +brother rejoined me and gave me a charmed sword that should +hinder any from seeing me, then went his way. + +He had been gone but a little while, when I heard a noise of +cries and found myself in the midst of a multitude of folk whose +eyes were in their breasts. Quoth they, "Who art thou and what +brings thee hither?" So I told them my story, and they said, "The +girl thou seekest is in the city with the Marid; but we know not +what he hath done with her. As for us, we are brethren of the +white serpent. But go to yonder spring and note where the water +enters, and enter thou with it; for it will bring thee into the +city." I did as they bade me and followed the water-course, till +it brought me to a grotto under the earth, from which I ascended +and found myself in the midst of the city. Here I saw the damsel +seated upon a throne of gold, under a canopy of brocade, midmost +a garden full of trees of gold, whose fruits were jewels of +price, such as rubies and chrysolites and pearls and coral. + +When she saw me, she knew me and accosted me with the +[obligatory] salutation, saying, "O my lord, who brought thee +hither?" So I told her all that had passed and she said, "Know +that the accursed Marid, of the greatness of his love for me, +hath told me what doth him hurt and what profit and that there is +here a talisman by means whereof he could, an he would, destroy +this city and all that are therein. It is in the likeness of an +eagle, with I know not what written on it, and whoso possesses +it, the Afrits will do his commandment in everything. It stands +upon a column in such a place; so go thou thither and take it. +Then set it before thee and taking a chafing-dish, throw into it +a little musk, whereupon there will arise a smoke, that will draw +all the Afrits to thee, and they will all present themselves +before thee, nor shall one be absent; and whatsoever thou biddest +them, that will they do. Arise therefore and do this thing, with +the blessing of God the Most High." + +"I hear and obey," answered I and going to the column, did what +she bade me, whereupon the Afrits presented themselves, saying, +"Here are we, O our lord! Whatsoever thou biddest us, that will +we do." Quoth I, "Bind the Marid that brought the damsel hither." +"We hear and obey," answered they and disappearing, returned +after awhile and informed me that they had done my bidding. Then +I dismissed them and returning to my wife, told her what had +happened and said to her, "Wilt thou go with me?" "Yes," answered +she. So I carried her forth of the city, by the underground +channel, and we fared on, till we fell in with the folk who had +shown me the way into the city. I besought them to teach me how I +should return to my native land; so they brought us to the +seashore and set us aboard a ship, which sailed on with us with a +fair wind, till we reached the city of Bassora. Here we landed, +and I carried my wife to her father's house; and when her people +saw her, they rejoiced with an exceeding joy. Then I fumigated +the eagle with musk and the Afrits flocked to me from all sides, +saying, "At thy service; what wilt thou have us do?" I bade them +transport all that was in the City of Brass of gold and silver +and jewels and precious things to my house in Bassora, which they +did; and I then ordered them to fetch the ape. So they brought +him before me, abject and humiliated, and I said to him, "O +accursed one, why hast thou dealt thus perfidiously with me?" +Then I commanded the Afrits to shut him in a brazen vessel: so +they put him in a strait vessel of brass and sealed it with lead. +But I abode with my wife in joy and delight; and now, O Commander +of the Faithful, I have under my hand such stores of precious +things and rare jewels and other treasure as neither reckoning +may comprise nor measure suffice unto. All this is of the bounty +of God the Most High, and if thou desire aught of money or what +not, I will bid the Jinn bring it to thee forthright.' + +The Khalif wondered greatly at his story and bestowed on him +royal gifts, in exchange for his presents, and entreated him with +the favour he deserved. + + + + + + THE GENEROUS DEALING OF YEHYA BEN KHALID + THE BARMECIDE WITH MENSOUR. + + + +It is told that Haroun er Reshid, in the days before he became +jealous of the Barmecides, sent once for one of his guards, Salih +by name, and said to him, 'O Salih, go to Mensour[FN#9] and say +to him, "Thou owest us a thousand thousand dirhems and we require +of thee immediate payment of the amount." And I charge thee, O +Salih, an he pay it not before sundown, sever his head from his +body and bring it to me.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Salih and +going to Mensour, acquainted him with what the Khalif had said, +whereupon quoth he, 'By Allah, I am a lost man; for all my estate +and all my hand owns, if sold for their utmost value, would not +fetch more than a hundred thousand dirhems. Whence then, O Salih, +shall I get the other nine hundred thousand?' 'Contrive how thou +mayst speedily acquit thyself,' answered Salih; 'else art thou a +dead man; for I cannot grant thee a moment's delay after the time +appointed me by the Khalif, nor can I fail of aught that he hath +enjoined on me. Hasten, therefore, to devise some means of saving +thyself ere the time expire.' 'O Salih,' quoth Mensour, 'I beg +thee of thy favour to bring me to my house, that I may take +leave of my children and family and give my kinsfolk my last +injunctions.' + +So he carried him to his house, where he fell to bidding his +family farewell, and the house was filled with a clamour of +weeping and lamentation and calling on God for help. Then Salih +said to him, 'I have bethought me that God may peradventure +vouchsafe thee relief at the hands of the Barmecides. Come, let +us go to the house of Yehya ben Khalid.' So they went to Yehya's +house, and Mensour told him his case, whereat he was sore +concerned and bowed his head awhile; then raising it, he called +his treasurer and said to him, 'How much money have we in our +treasury?' 'Five thousand dirhems,' answered the treasurer, and +Yehya bade him bring them and sent a message to his son Fezl, +saying, 'I am offered for sale estates of great price, that may +never be laid waste; so send me somewhat of money.' Fezl sent him +a thousand thousand dirhems, and he despatched a like message to +his son Jaafer, who also sent him a thousand thousand dirhems; +nor did he leave sending to his kinsmen of the Barmecides, till +he had collected from them a great sum of mosey for Mensour. But +the latter and Salih knew not of this; and Mensour said to Yehya, +'O my lord, I have laid hold upon thy skirt for I know not +whither to look for the money but to thee; so discharge thou the +rest of my debt for me, in accordance with thy wonted generosity, +and make me thy freed slave.' Thereupon Yehya bowed his head and +wept; then he said to a page, 'Harkye, boy, the Commander of the +Faithful gave our slave-girl Denanir a jewel of great price: go +thou to her and bid her send it us.' The page went out and +presently returned with the jewel, whereupon quoth Yehya, 'O +Mensour, I bought this jewel of the merchants for the Commander +of the Faithful, for two hundred thousand diners, and he gave it +to our slave-girl Denanir the lutanist. When he sees it with +thee, he will know it and spare thy life and do thee honour for +our sake; and now thy money is complete.' + +So Salih took the money and the jewel and carried them to the +Khalif, together with Mensour; but on the way? he heard the +latter repeat this verse, applying it to his own case: + +It was not love, indeed, my feet to them that led; Nay, but + because the stroke of th' arrows I did dread. + +When Salih heard this, he marvelled at the baseness and +ingratitude of Mensour's nature, and turning upon him, said, +'There is none on the face of the earth better than the +Barmecides, nor any baser nor more depraved than thou; for they +bought thee off from death and saved thee from destruction, +giving thee what should deliver thee; yet thou thankest them not +nor praisest them, neither acquittest thee after the manner of +the noble; nay, thou requitest their benevolence with this +speech.' Then he went to Er Reshid and acquainted him with all +that had passed; and he marvelled at the generosity and +benevolence of Yehya ben Khalid and the baseness and ingratitude +of Mensour and bade restore the jewel to Yehya, saying, 'That +which we have given, it befits not that we take again.' + +So Salih returned to Yehya, and acquainted him with Mensour's ill +conduct; whereupon, 'O Salih,' replied he, 'when a man is in +distress, sick at heart and distracted with melancholy thought. +he is not to be blamed for aught that falls from him; for it +comes not from the heart.' And he fell to seeking excuse for +Mensour. But Salih wept [in telling the tale] and exclaimed, +'Never shall the revolving sphere bring forth into being the like +of thee, O Yehya! Alas, that one of such noble nature and +generosity should be buried beneath the earth! 'And he repeated +the following verses: + +Hasten to do the kindnesses thou hast a mind unto; For bounty is + not possible at every tide and hour. +How many a man denies his soul to do the generous deed, To which + it's fain, till lack of means deprive him of the power! + + + + + + THE GENEROUS DEALING OF YEHYA BEN KHALID + WITH A MAN WHO FORGED A LETTER IN HIS + NAME. + + + +There was between Yehya ben Khalid and Abdallah ben Malik el +Khuzai[FN#10] a secret enmity, the reason whereof was that Haroun +er Reshid loved the latter with an exceeding love, so that Yehya +and his sons were wont to say that he had bewitched the Khalif; +and thus they abode a long while, with rancour in their hearts, +till it fell out that the Khalif invested Abdallah with the +government of Armenia and sent him thither. Soon after he had +established himself in his seat of government, there came to him +one of the people of Irak, a man of excellent parts and good +breeding, who had lost his wealth and wasted his substance, and +his estate was come to nought; so he forged a letter to Abdallah +in Yehya's name and set out therewith for Armenia. When he came +to the governor's gate, he gave the letter to one of the +chamberlains, who carried it to his master. Abdallah read it and +considering it attentively, knew it to be forged; so he sent for +the man, who presented himself before him and called down +blessings upon him and praised him and those of his court. Quoth +Abdallah to him, 'What moved thee to weary thyself thus and bring +me a forged letter? But be of good heart; for we will not +disappoint thy travail.' 'God prolong the life of our lord the +Vizier!' replied the other. 'If my coming irk thee, cast not +about for a pretext to repel me, for God's earth is wide and the +Divine Provider liveth. Indeed, the letter I bring thee from +Yehya ben Khalid is true and no forgery.' Quoth Abdallah, 'I will +write a letter to my agent at Baghdad and bid him enquire +concerning the letter. If it be true, as thou sayest, I will +bestow on thee the government of one of my cities; or, if thou +prefer a present, I will give thee two hundred thousand dirhems, +besides horses and camels of price and a robe of honour. But, if +the letter prove a forgery, I will have thee beaten with two +hundred blows of a stick and thy beard shaven.' + +Accordingly, he bade confine him in a privy chamber and furnish +him therein with all he needed, till his case should be made +manifest. Then he despatched a letter to his agent at Baghdad, to +the following purport: 'There is come to me a man with a letter +purporting to be from Yehya ben Khalid. Now I have my doubts of +this letter: so delay thou not, but go thyself and learn the +truth of the case and let me have an answer in all speed.' When +the letter reached the agent, he mounted at once and betook +himself to the house of Yehya ben Khalid, whom he found sitting +with his officers and boon-companions. So he gave him the letter +and he read it and said to the agent, 'Come back to me to-morrow, +against I write thee an answer.' + +When the agent had gone away, Yehya turned to his companions and +said, 'What doth he deserve who forgeth a letter in my name and +carrieth it to my enemy?' They all answered, saying this and +that, each proposing some kind of punishment; but Yehya said, 'Ye +err in that ye say and this your counsel is of the meanness and +baseness of your spirits. Ye all know the close favour of +Abdallah with the Khalif and what is between him and us of +despite and enmity; and now God the Most High hath made this man +an intermediary, to effect a reconciliation between us, and hath +appointed him to quench the fire of hate in our hearts, which +hath been growing this score years; and by his means our +differences shall be accorded. Wherefore it behoves me to requite +him by confirming his expectation and amending his estate; so I +will write him a letter to Abdallah, to the intent that he may +use him with increase of honour and liberality.' + +When his companions heard what he said, they called down +blessings on him and marvelled at his generosity and the +greatness of his magnanimity. Then he called for paper and ink +and wrote Abdallah a letter in his own hand, to the following +effect: 'In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful! Thy +letter hath reached me (may God give thee long life!) and I have +read it and rejoice in thy health and well-being. It was thy +thought that yonder worthy man had forged a letter in my name and +that he was not the bearer of any message from me; but the case +is not so, for the letter I myself wrote, and it was no forgery; +and I hope, of thy courtesy and benevolence and the nobility of +thy nature, that thou wilt fulfil this generous and excellent man +of his hope and wish and use him with the honour he deserves and +bring him to his desire and make him the special object of thy +favour and munificence. Whatever thou dost with him, it is to me +that thou dost it, and I am beholden to thee accordingly.' Then +he superscribed the letter and sealing it, delivered it to the +agent, who despatched it to Abdallah. + +When the latter read it, he was charmed with its contents and +sending for the man, said to him, 'Now will I give thee which +thou wilt of the two things I promised thee.' 'The gift were more +acceptable to me than aught else,' replied the man; whereupon +Abdallah ordered him two hundred thousand dirhems and ten Arab +horses, five with housings of silk and other five with richly +ornamented saddles of state, besides twenty chests of clothes and +ten mounted white slaves and a proportionate quantity of jewels +of price. Moreover, he bestowed on him a dress of honour and sent +him to Baghdad in great state. When he came thither, he repaired +to Yehya's house, before he went to his own folk, and sought an +audience of him. So the chamberlain went in to Yehya and said to +him, 'O my lord, there is one at our door who craves speech of +thee; and he is a man of apparent wealth and consideration, +comely of aspect and attended by many servants.' Yehya bade admit +him; so he entered and kissed the ground before him. 'Who art +thou?' asked Yehya; and he answered, 'O my lord, I am one who was +dead from the tyranny of fortune; but thou didst raise me again +from the grave of calamities and preferredst me to the paradise +of [my] desires. I am he who forged a letter in thy name and +carried it to Abdallah ben Malek el Khuzai.' 'How hath he dealt +with thee,' asked Yehya, 'and what did he give thee?' Quoth the +man, 'He hath made me rich and overwhelmed me with presents and +favours, thanks to thee and thy great generosity and magnanimity +and to thine exceeding goodness and abounding munificence and +thine all-embracing liberality. And now, behold, I have brought +all that he gave me, and it is at thy door; for it is thine to +command, and the decision is in thy hand.' 'Thou hast done me +better service than I thee,' rejoined Yehya; 'and I owe thee +thanks without stint and abundant largesse, for that thou hast +changed the enmity that was between me and yonder man of worship +into love and friendship. Wherefore I will give thee the like of +what Abdallah gave thee.' Then he ordered him money and horses +and apparel, such as Abdallah had given him; and thus that man's +fortune was restored to him by the munificence of these two +generous men. + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL MAMOUN AND THE STRANGE + DOCTOR + + + +It is said that there was none, among the Khalifs of the house of +Abbas, more accomplished in all branches of knowledge than El +Mamoun. On two days in each week, he was wont to preside at +conferences of the learned, when the doctors and theologians met +and sitting, each in his several rank and room, disputed in his +presence. One day, as he sat thus, there came into the assembly a +stranger, clad in worn white clothes, and sat down in an obscure +place, behind the doctors of the law. Then the assembled scholars +began to speak and expound difficult questions, it being the +custom that the various propositions should be submitted to each +in turn and that whoso bethought him of some subtle addition or +rare trait, should make mention of it. So the question went round +till it came to the stranger, who spoke in his turn and made a +goodlier answer than that of any of the doctors; and the Khalif +approved his speech and bade advance him to a higher room. When +the second question came round to him, he made a still more +admirable answer, and the Khalif ordered him to be preferred to a +yet higher place. When the third question reached him, he made +answer more justly and appropriately than on the two previous +occasions, and El Mamoun bade him come up and sit near himself. +When the conference broke up, water was brought and they washed +their hands; after which food was set on and they ate. Then the +doctors arose and withdrew; but El Mamoun forbade the stranger to +depart with them and calling him to himself, entreated him with +especial favour and promised him honour and benefits. + +Presently, they made ready the banquet of wine; the fair-faced +boon-companions came and the cup went round amongst them till it +came to the stranger, who rose to his feet and said, 'If the +Commander of the Faithful permit me, I will say one word.' 'Say +what thou wilt,' answered the Khalif. Quoth the stranger, +'Verily, the Exalted Intelligence[FN#11] (whose eminence God +increase!) knoweth that his slave was this day, in the august +assembly, one of the unknown folk and of the meanest of the +company, and the Commander of the Faithful distinguished him and +brought him near to himself, little as was the wit he showed, +preferring him above the rest and advancing him to a rank whereto +his thought aspired not: and now he is minded to deprive him of +that small portion of wit that raised him from obscurity and +augmented him, after his littleness. God forfend that the +Commander of the Faithful should envy his slave what little he +hath of understanding and worth and renown! But, if his slave +should drink wine, his reason would depart from him and ignorance +draw near to him and steal away his good breeding; so would he +revert to that low degree, whence he sprang, and become +contemptible and ridiculous in the eyes of the folk. I hope, +therefore, that the August Intelligence, of his power and bounty +and royal generosity and magnanimity, will not despoil his slave +of this jewel.' + +When the Khalif heard his speech, he praised him and thanked him +and making him sit down again in his place, showed him high +honour and ordered him a present of a hundred thousand diners. +Moreover he mounted him upon a horse and gave him rich apparel; +and in every assembly he exalted him and showed him favour over +all the other doctors, till he became the highest of them all in +rank. + + + + + + ALI SHAR AND ZUMURRUD. + + + +There lived once, of old days, in the land of Khorassan, a +merchant called Mejdeddin, who had great wealth and many slaves +and servants, black and white; but he was childless until he +reached the age of threescore, when God the Most High vouchsafed +him a son, whom he named Ali Shar. The boy grew up like the moon +on the night of its full, and when he came to man's estate and +was endowed with all kinds of perfection, his father fell sick of +a mortal malady and calling his son to him, said to him, 'O my +son, the hour of my death is at hand, and I desire to give thee +my last injunctions.' 'And what are they, O my father?' asked +Ali. 'O my son,' answered Mejdeddin, 'I charge thee, be not [too] +familiar with any and eschew what leads to evil and mischief. +Beware lest thou company with the wicked; for he is like the +blacksmith; if his fire burn thee not, his smoke irks thee: and +how excellent is the saying of the poet: + +There is no man in all the world whose love thou shouldst desire, + No friend who, if fate play thee false, will true and + constant be. +Wherefore I'd have thee live apart and lean for help on none. In + this I give thee good advice; so let it profit thee. + +And what another saith: + +Men are a latent malady; Count not on them, I counsel thee. +An if thou look into their case, They're full of guile and + perfidy. + +And yet a third: + +The company of men will profit thee in nought, Except to pass + away the time in idle prate; +So spare thou to converse with them, except it be For gain of + lore and wit or mending of estate. + +And a fourth + +If a quickwitted man have made proof of mankind, I have eaten of + them, where but tasted hath he, +And have seen their affection but practice and nought But + hypocrisy found their religion to be.' + +'O my father,' said Ali, 'I hear and obey: what more shall I do?' +'Do good when thou art able thereto,' answered his father; 'be +ever courteous and succourable to men and profit by all occasions +of doing a kindness; for a design is not always easy of +accomplishment; and how well saith the poet: + +'Tis not at every time and season that to do Kind offices, + indeed, is easy unto you; +So, when the occasion serves, make haste to profit by't, Lest by + and by the power should fail thee thereunto.' + +'I hear and obey,' answered Ali; 'what more?' 'Be mindful of +God,' continued Mejdeddin, 'and He will be mindful of thee. +Husband thy wealth and squander it not; for, if thou do, thou +wilt come to have need of the least of mankind. Know that the +measure of a man's worth is according to what his right hand +possesses: and how well saith the poet: + +If wealth should fail, there is no friend will bear me company, + But whilst my substance yet abounds, all men are friends to + me. +How many a foe for money's sake hath companied with me! How many + a friend for loss thereof hath turned mine enemy!' + +'What more?' asked Ali. 'O my son,' said Mejdeddin, 'take counsel +of those who are older than thou and hasten not to do thy heart's +desire. Have compassion on those that are below thee, so shall +those that are above thee have compassion on thee; and oppress +none, lest God set over thee one who shall oppress thee. How well +saith the poet: + +Add others' wit to thine and counsel still ensue; For that the + course of right is not concealed from two. +One mirror shows a man his face, but, if thereto Another one he + add, his nape thus can he view. + +And as saith another: + +Be slow to move and hasten not to match thy heart's desire: Be + merciful to all, as thou on mercy reckonest; +For no hand is there but the hand of God is over it, And no + oppressor but shall be with worse than he opprest. + +And yet another: + +Do no oppression, whilst the power thereto is in thine hand; For + still in peril of revenge the sad oppressor goes. +Thine eyes will sleep anon, what while the opprest, on wake, call + down Curses upon thee, and God's eye shuts never in repose. + +Beware of drinking wine, for it is the root of all evil: it does +away the reason and brings him who uses it into contempt; and how +well saith the poet: + +By Allah, wine shall never invade me, whilst my soul Endureth in + my body and my thoughts my words control! +Not a day long will I turn me to the zephyr-freshened bowl, And + for friend I'll choose him only who of wine-bibbing is + whole. + +This, then,' added Mejdeddin, 'is my charge to thee; keep it +before thine eyes, and may God stand to thee in my stead.' Then +he swooned away and kept silence awhile. When he came to himself, +he besought pardon of God and making the profession of the Faith, +was admitted to the mercy of the Most High. His son wept and +lamented for him and made due preparation for his burial. Great +and small attended him to the grave and the readers recited the +Koran about his bier; nor did Ali Shar omit aught of what was due +to the dead. Then they prayed over him and committed him to the +earth, graving these words upon his tomb: + +Created of the dust thou wast and cam'st to life And eloquence + didst learn and spokest many a word; +Then to the dust again returnedst and wast dead, As 'twere from + out the dust, indeed, thou'dst never stirred. + +His son Ali Shar grieved for him and mourned him after the wont +of men of condition; nor did he cease therefrom till his mother +died also, not long afterward, when he did with her as he had +done with his father. Then he sat in the shop, selling and buying +and consorting with none of God's creatures, in accordance with +his father's injunction. + +On this wise he abode for a year, at the end of which time there +came in to him certain whoreson fellows by craft and companied +with him, till he turned with them to lewdness and swerved from +the right way, drinking wine in goblets and frequenting the fair +night and day; for he said in himself, 'My father amassed this +wealth for me, and if I spend it not, to whom shall I leave it? +By Allah, I will not do save as saith the poet: + +If all the days of thy life thou get And heap up treasure, to + swell thy hoard, +When wilt thou use it and so enjoy That thou hast gathered and + gained and stored?' + +Then he ceased not to squander his wealth all tides of the day +and watches of the night, till he had made away with it all and +abode in evil case and troubled at heart. So he sold his shop and +lands and so forth, and after this he sold the clothes off his +body, leaving himself but one suit. Then drunkenness left him and +thought came to him, and he fell into melancholy. + +One day, when he had sat from day-break to mid-afternoon without +breaking his fast, he said in himself, 'I will go round to those +on whom I spent my wealth: it may be one of them will feed me +this day.' So he went the round of them all; but, as often as he +knocked at any one's door, the man denied himself and hid from +him, till he was consumed with hunger. Then he betook himself to +the bazaar, where he found a crowd of people, assembled in a ring +round somewhat, and said in himself, 'I wonder what ails the folk +to crowd together thus? By Allah, I will not remove hence, till I +see what is within yonder ring!' So he made his way into the ring +and found that the crowd was caused by a damsel exposed for sale. +She was five feet high, slender of shape, rosy-cheeked and high- +bosomed and surpassed all the people of her time in beauty and +grace and elegance and perfection; even as saith one, describing +her: + +As she wished, she was created, after such a wise that lo! She in + beauty's mould was fashioned, perfect, neither less no mo'. +Loveliness itself enamoured of her lovely aspect is; Coyness + decks her and upon her, pride and pudour sweetly show. +In her face the full moon glitters and the branch is as her + shape; Musk her breath is, nor midst mortals is her equal, + high or low. +'Tis as if she had been moulded out of water of pure pearls; In + each member of her beauty is a very moon, I trow. + +And her name was Zumurrud. + +When Ali Shar saw her, he marvelled at her beauty and grace and +said, 'By Allah, I will not stir hence till I see what price this +girl fetches and know who buys her!' So he stood with the rest of +the merchants, and they thought he had a mind to buy her, knowing +the wealth he had inherited from his parents. Then the broker +stood at the damsel's head and said, 'Ho, merchants! Ho, men of +wealth! Who will open the biddings for this damsel, the mistress +of moons, the splendid pearl, Zumurrud the Curtain-maker, the aim +of the seeker and the delight of the desirous? Open the biddings, +and on the opener be nor blame nor reproach.' + +So one merchant said, 'I bid five hundred dinars for her.' 'And +ten,' said another. 'Six hundred,' cried an old man named +Reshideddin, blue-eyed and foul of face. 'And ten,' quoth +another. 'I bid a thousand,' rejoined Reshideddin; whereupon the +other merchants were silent and the broker took counsel with the +girl's owner, who said, 'I have sworn not to sell her save to +whom she shall choose; consult her.' So the broker went up to +Zumurrud and said to her, 'O mistress of moons, yonder merchant +hath a mind to buy thee.' She looked as Reshideddin and finding +him as we have said, replied, 'I will not be sold to a grey- +beard, whom decrepitude hath brought to evil plight.' 'Bravo,' +quoth I, 'for one who saith: + +I asked her for a kiss one day, but she my hoary head Saw, though + of wealth and worldly good I had great plentihead; +So, with a proud and flouting air, her back she turned on me And, + "No, by Him who fashioned men from nothingness!" she said. +"Now, by God's truth, I never had a mind to hoary hairs, And + shall my mouth be stuffed, forsooth, with cotton, ere I'm + dead?" + +'By Allah,' quoth the broker, 'thou art excusable, and thy value +is ten thousand dinars!' So he told her owner that she would not +accept of Reshideddin, and he said, 'Ask her of another.' +Thereupon another man came forward and said, 'I will take her at +the same price.' She looked at him and seeing that his beard was +dyed, said, 'What is this lewd and shameful fashion and +blackening of the face of hoariness?' And she made a great show +of amazement and repeated the following verses: + +A sight, and what a sight, did such a one present To me! A neck, + to beat with shoes, by Allah, meant! +And eke a beard for lie a coursing-ground that was And brows for + binding on of ropes all crook'd and bent.[FN#12] +Thou that my cheeks and shape have ravished, with a lie Thou dost + disguise thyself and reck'st not, impudent; +Dyeing thy hoary hairs disgracefully with black[FN#13] And hiding + what appears, with fraudulent intent; +As of the puppet-men thou wert, with one beard go'st And with + another com'st again, incontinent. + +And how well saith another: + +Quoth she to me, "I see thou dy'st thy hoariness;" and I, "I do + but hide it from thy sight, O thou my ear and eye!"[FN#14] +She laughed out mockingly and said, "A wonder 'tis indeed! Thou + so aboundest in deceit that even thy hair's a lie." + +'By Allah,' quoth the broker, 'thou hast spoken truly!' The +merchant asked what she said: so the broker repeated the verses +to him, and he knew that she was in the right and desisted from +buying her. Then another came forward and would have bought her +at the same price; but she looked at him and seeing that he had +but one eye, said, 'This man is one-eyed; and it is of such as he +that the poet saith: + +Consort not with him that is one-eyed a day, And be on thy guard + 'gainst his mischief and lies: +For God, if in him aught of good had been found, Had not curst + him with blindness in one of his eyes.' + +Then the broker brought her another bidder and said to her, 'Wilt +thou be sold to this man?' She looked at him and seeing that he +was short of stature and had a beard that reached to his navel, +said, 'This is he of whom the poet speaks, when he says: + +I have a friend, who has a beard, that God Caused flourish + without profit, till, behold. +'Tis, as it were, to look upon, a night Of middle winter, long + and dark and cold.' + +'O my lady,' said the broker, 'look who pleases thee of these +that are present, and point him out, that I may sell thee to +him.' So she looked round the ring of merchants, examining them +one by one, till her eyes rested on Ali Shar. His sight cost her +a thousand sighs and her heart was taken with him: for that he +was passing fair of favour and more pleasant than the northern +zephyr; and she said, 'O broker, I will be sold to none but my +lord there, he of the handsome face and slender shape, whom the +poet describes in the following verses: + +They showed thy lovely face and railed At her whom ravishment + assailed. +Had they desired to keep me chaste, Thy face so fair they should + have veiled. + +None shall possess me but he,' added she; 'for his cheek is +smooth and the water of his mouth sweet as Selsebil;[FN#15] his +sight is a cure for the sick and his charms confound poet and +proser, even as saith one of him: + +The water of his mouth is wine, and very musk The fragrance of + his breath; his teeth are camphor white. +Rizwan hath put him our from paradise, for fear The black-eyed + girls of heaven be tempted with the wight. +Men blame him for his pride; but the full moon's excuse, How + proud so'er it be, finds favour in our sight. + +Him of the curling locks and rose-red cheeks and enchanting +glances, of whom saith the poet: + +A slender loveling promised me his favours fair and free; So my + heart's restless and my eye looks still his sight to see. +His eyelids warranted me the keeping of his troth; But how shall + they, that bankrupt[FN#16] are, fulfil their warranty? + +And as saith another: + +"The script of whiskers on his cheek," quoth they, "is plain to + see: How canst thou then enamoured be of him, and whiskered + he?" +Quoth I, "Have done with blame and leave your censuring, I pray. + As if it be a very script, it is a forgery. +Lo, in the gathering of his cheeks the meads of Eden be, And more + by token that his lips are Kauther,[FN#17], verily." + +When the broker heard the verses she repeated on the charms of +Ali Shar, he marvelled at her eloquence, no less than at the +brightness of her beauty; but her owner said to him, 'Marvel not +at her beauty, that shames the sun of day, nor that her mind is +stored with the choicest verses of the poets; for, besides this, +she can repeat the glorious Koran, according to the seven +readings, and the august Traditions, after the authentic text; +and she writes the seven hands and is versed in more branches of +knowledge than the most learned doctor. Moreover, her hands are +better than gold and silver; for she makes curtains of silk and +sells them for fifty dinars each; and it takes her eight days to +make a curtain.' 'Happy the man,' exclaimed the broker, 'who hath +her in his house and maketh her of his privy treasures!' And her +owner said, 'Sell her to whom she will.' So the broker went up to +Ali Shar and kissing his hands, said to him, 'O my lord, buy thou +this damsel, for she hath made choice of thee.' Then he set forth +to him all her charms and accomplishments, and added: 'I give +thee joy, if thou buy her, for she is a gift from Him who is no +niggard of His giving.' + +Ali bowed his head awhile, laughing to himself and saying +inwardly, 'Up to now I have not broken my fast; yet I am ashamed +to own before the merchants that I have no money wherewith to buy +her.' The damsel, seeing him hang down his head, said to the +broker, 'Take my hand and lead me to him, that I may show myself +to him and tempt him to buy me; for I will not be sold to any but +him.' So the broker took her hand and stationed her before Ali +Shar, saying, 'What is thy pleasure, O my lord?' But he made him +no answer, and the girl said to him, 'O my lord and darling of my +heart, what ails thee that thou wilt not bid for me? Buy me for +what thou wilt, and I will bring thee good fortune.' Ali raised +his eyes to her and said, 'Must I buy thee perforce? Thou art +dear at one thousand dinars.' 'Then buy me for nine hundred,' +answered she. 'Nay,' rejoined he; and she said, 'Then for eight +hundred;' and ceased not to abate the price, till she came to a +hundred dinars. Quoth he, 'I have not quite a hundred dinars.' +'How much dost thou lack of a hundred?' asked she, laughing. 'By +Allah,' replied he, 'I have neither a hundred dinars, nor any +other sum; for I own neither white money nor red, neither dinar +nor dirhem. So look out for another customer.' When she knew that +he had nothing, she said to him, 'Take me by the hand and carry +me aside into a passage, as if thou wouldst examine me privily.' +He did so and she took from her bosom a purse containing a +thousand dinars, which she gave him saying, 'Pay down nine +hundred to my price and keep the rest to provide us withal.' + +He did as she bade him and buying her for nine hundred dinars, +paid down the price from the purse and carried her to his house, +which when she entered, she found nothing but bare floors, +without carpets or vessels. So she gave him other thousand +dinars, saying, 'Go to the bazaar and buy three hundred dinars' +worth of furniture and vessels for the house and three dinars' +worth of meat and drink, also a piece of silk, the size of a +curtain, and gold and silver thread and [sewing] silk of seven +colours.' He did her bidding, and she furnished the house and +they sat down to eat and drink; after which they went to bed and +took their pleasure, one of the other. And they lay the night +embraced and were even as saith the poet: + +Cleave fast to her thou lov'st and let the envious rail amain; + For calumny and envy ne'er to favour love were fain. +Lo, whilst I slept, in dreams I saw thee lying by my side And + from thy lips the sweetest, sure, of limpid springs did + drain. +Yea, true and certain all I saw is, as I will avouch, And 'spite + the envier, thereto I surely will attain. +There is no goodlier sight, indeed, for eyes to look upon, Than + when one couch in its embrace enfoldeth lovers twain, +Each to the other's bosom clasped, clad in their twinned delight, + Whilst hand with hand and arm with arm about their necks + enchain. +Lo, when two hearts are straitly knit in passion and desire, But + on cold iron smite the folk who chide at them in vain. +Thou, that for loving censurest the votaries of love, Canst thou + assain a heart diseased or heal a cankered brain? +If in thy time thou find but one to love thee and be true, I rede + thee cast the world away and with that one remain. + +They lay together till the morning and love for the other was +stablished in the heart of each of them. On the morrow, Zumurrud +took the curtain and embroidered it with coloured silks and gold +and silver thread, depicting thereon all manner birds and beasts; +nor is there in the world a beast but she wrought on the curtain +the semblant thereof. Moreover, she made thereto a band, with +figures of birds, and wrought at it eight days, till she had made +an end of it, when she trimmed it and ironed it and gave it to +Ali, saying, 'Carry it to the bazaar and sell it to one of the +merchants for fifty dinars; but beware lest thou sell it to a +passer-by, for this would bring about a separation between us, +because we have enemies who are not unmindful of us.' 'I hear and +obey,' answered he and repairing to the bazaar, sold the curtain +to a merchant, as she bade him; after which he bought stuff for +another curtain and silk and gold and silver thread as before and +what they needed of food, and brought all this to her, together +with the rest of the money. + +They abode thus a whole year, and every eight days she made a +curtain, which he sold for fifty dinars. At the end of the year, +he went to the bazaar, as usual, with a curtain, which he gave to +the broker; and there came up to him a Christian, who bid him +threescore dinars for the curtain; but he refused, and the +Christian went on to bid higher and higher, till he came to a +hundred dinars and bribed the broker with ten gold pieces. So the +latter returned to Ali and told him of this and urged him to +accept the offer, saying, 'O my lord, be not afraid of this +Christian, for he can do thee no hurt.' The merchants also were +instant with him to accept the offer; so he sold the curtain to +the Christian, though his heart misgave him, and taking the +price, set off to return home. + +Presently, he found the Christian walking behind him; so he said +to him, 'O Nazarene, why dost thou follow me?' 'O my lord,' +answered the other, 'I have a need at the end of the street, may +God never bring thee to need!' Ali went on, but, as he came to +the door of his house, the Christian overtook him; so he said to +him, 'O accursed one, what ails thee to follow me wherever I go?' +'O my lord,' replied the other, 'give me a draught of water, for +I am athirst; and with God the Most High be thy reward!' Quoth +Ali in himself, 'Verily, this man is a tributary [of the +Khalifate] and seeks a draught of water of me; by Allah, I will +not disappoint him!' So he entered the house and took a mug of +water; but Zumurrud saw him and said to him, 'O my love, hast +thou sold the curtain?' 'Yes,' answered he. 'To a merchant or a +passer-by?' asked she. 'For my heart forethinketh me of +separation.' 'To a merchant, of course,' replied he. But she +rejoined, 'Tell me the truth of the case, that I may order my +affair; and what wantest thou with the mug of water?' 'To give +the broker a drink,' answered he; whereupon she exclaimed, 'There +is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme!' +And repeated the following verses: + +O thou that seekest parting, stay thy feet: Let clips and kisses + not delude thy spright. +Softly, for fortune's nature is deceit And parting is the end of + love-delight. + +Then he took the mug and going out, found the Christian within +the vestibule and said to him, 'O dog, how darest thou enter my +house without my leave?' 'O my lord,' answered he, 'there is no +difference between the door and the vestibule and I will not +budge hence, save to go out; and I am beholden to thee for thy +kindness.' Then he took the mug and emptying it, returned it to +Ali, who took it and waited for him to go; but he did not move. +So Ali said to him, 'Why dost thou not rise and go thy way?' 'O +my lord,' answered the Christian, 'be not of those that do a +kindness and after make a reproach of it, nor one of whom saith +the poet: + +Gone, gone are they who, if thou stoodst before their door of + old, Had, at thy seeking, handselled thee with benefits + untold! +And if thou stoodest at their door who follow after them, These + latter would begrudge to thee a draught of water cold. + +O my lord,' continued he, 'I have drunk, and now I would have +thee give me to eat of whatever is in the house, though it be but +a crust of bread or a biscuit and an onion.' 'Begone, without +more talk,' replied Ali; 'There is nothing in the house.' 'O my +lord,' insisted the Christian, 'if there be nothing in the house, +take these hundred dinars and fetch us somewhat from the market, +if but a cake of bread, that bread and salt may pass between us.' +With this, quoth Ali to himself, 'This Christian is surely mad; I +will take the hundred dinars and bring somewhat worth a couple of +dirhems and laugh at him.' 'O my lord,' added the Christian, 'I +want but somewhat to stay my hunger, were it but a cake of dry +bread and an onion; for the best food is that which does away +hunger, not rich meats; and how well saith the poet: + +A cake of dry stale bread will hunger out to flight: Why then are + grief and care so heavy on my spright? +Death is, indeed, most just, since, with an equal hand, Khalif + and beggar-wretch, impartial, it doth smite.' + +Then said Ali, 'Wait here, whilst I lock the saloon and fetch +thee somewhat from the market.' 'I hear and obey,' said the +Christian. So Ali shut up the saloon and locking the door with a +padlock, put the key in his pocket: after which he repaired to +the market and bought fried cheese and virgin honey and bananas +and bread, with which he returned to the Christian. When the +latter saw this, he said, 'O my lord, this is [too] much; thou +hast brought enough for half a score men and I am alone; but +belike thou wilt eat with me.' 'Eat by thyself,' replied Ali; 'I +am full.' 'O my lord,' rejoined the Christian, 'the wise say, "He +who eats not with his guest is a base-born churl."' + +When Ali heard this, he sat down and ate a little with him, after +which he would have held his hand: but [whilst he was not +looking] the Christian took a banana and peeled it, then, +splitting it in twain, put into one half concentrated henbane, +mixed with opium, a drachm whereof would overthrow an elephant. +This half he dipped in the honey and gave to Ali Shar, saying, 'O +my lord, I swear by thy religion that thou shalt take this.' Ali +was ashamed to make him forsworn; so he took the half banana and +swallowed it; but hardly had it reached his stomach, when his +head fell down in front of his feet and he was as though he had +been a year asleep. + +When the Nazarene saw this, he rose, as he had been a bald wolf +or a baited cat, and taking the saloon key, made off at a run, +leaving Ali Shar prostrate. Now this Christian was the brother of +the decrepit old man who thought to buy Zumurrud for a thousand +dinars, but she would have none of him and flouted him in verse. +He was an infidel at heart, though a Muslim in outward show, and +called himself Reshideddin;[FN#18] and when Zumurrud mocked him +and would not accept of him to her lord, he complained to his +brother, the aforesaid Christian, Bersoum by name, who said to +him, 'Fret not thyself about this affair; for I will make shift +to get her for thee, without paying a penny.' + +Now he was a skilful sorcerer crafty and wicked; so he watched +his time and played Ali Shar the trick aforesaid; then, taking +the key, he went to his brother and told him what had passed, +whereupon Reshideddin mounted his mule and repaired with his +servants to Ali Shar's house, taking with him a purse of a +thousand dinars, wherewith to bribe the master of police, should +he meet him. He unlocked the saloon door, and the men who were +with him rushed in upon Zumurrud and seized her, threatening her +with death if she spoke; but they left the house as it was and +took nothing therefrom. Moreover, they laid the key by Ali's side +and leaving him lying in the vestibule, shut the door on him and +went away. The Christian carried the girl to his own house and +setting her amongst his women and concubines, said to her, 'O +strumpet, I am the old man, whom thou did reject and lampoon; but +now I have thee, without paying a penny.' 'God requite thee, O +wicked old man,' replied she, with her eyes full of tears, 'for +sundering my lord and me!' 'Wanton doxy that thou art,' rejoined +he,' thou shalt see how I will punish thee! By the virtue of the +Messiah and the Virgin, except thou obey me and embrace my faith, +I will torture thee with all manner of torture!' 'By Allah,' +answered she, 'though thou cut me in pieces, I will not forswear +the faith of Islam! It may be God the Most High will bring me +speedy relief, for He is all-powerful, and the wise say, "Better +hurt in body than in religion."' + +Thereupon the old man called out to his eunuchs and women, +saying, 'Throw her down!' So they threw her down and he beat her +grievously, whilst she cried in vain for help, but presently +stinted and fell to saying, 'God is my sufficiency, and He is +indeed sufficient!' till her breath failed her and she swooned +away. When he had taken his fill of beating her, he said to the +eunuchs, 'Drag her forth by the feet and cast her down in the +kitchen, and give her nothing to eat.' They did his bidding, and +on the morrow the accursed old man sent for her and beat her +again, after which he bade return her to her place. When the pain +of the blows had subsided, she said, 'There is no god but God and +Mohammed is His Apostle! God is my sufficiency and excellent is +He in whom I put my trust!' And she called upon our lord Mohammed +(whom God bless and preserve) for succour. + +Meanwhile, Ali Shar slept on till next day, when the fumes of the +henbane quitted his brain and he awoke and cried out, 'O +Zumurrud!' But none answered him. So he entered the saloon and +found 'the air empty and the place of visitation distant;'[FN#19] +whereby he knew that it was the Nazarene, who had played him this +trick. And he wept and groaned and lamented and repeated the +following verses: + +O Fate, thou sparest not nor dost desist from me: Lo, for my soul + is racked with dolour and despite! +Have pity, O my lords, upon a slave laid low, Upon the rich made + poor by love and its unright. +What boots the archer's skill, if, when the foe draw near, His + bowstring snap and leave him helpless in the fight? +And when afflictions press and multiply on man, Ah, whither then + shall he from destiny take flight? +How straitly did I guard 'gainst severance of our loves! But, + when as Fate descends, it blinds the keenest sight. + +Then he sobbed and repeated these verses also: + +Her traces on the encampment's sands a robe of grace bestow: The + mourner yearneth to the place where she dwelt whiles ago. +Towards her native land she turns; a camp in her doth raise + Longing, whose very ruins now are scattered to and fro. +She stops and questions of the place; but with the case's tongue + It answers her, "There is no way to union, I trow. +'Tis as the lost a Levin were, that glittered on the camp Awhile, + then vanished and to thee appeareth nevermo'." + +And he repented, whenas repentance availed him not, and wept and +tore his clothes. Then he took two stones and went round the +city, beating his breast with the stones and crying out, 'O +Zumurrud!' whilst the children flocked round him, calling out, 'A +madman! A madman!' and all who knew him wept for him, saying, +'Yonder is such an one: what hath befallen him?' This he did all +that day, and when night darkened on him, he lay down in one of +the by-streets and slept till morning. On the morrow, he went +round about the city with the stones till eventide, when he +returned to his house, to pass the night. One of his neighbours, +a worthy old woman, saw him and said to him, 'God keep thee, O my +son! How long hast thou been mad?' And he answered her with the +following verse: + +Quoth they, "Thou'rt surely mad for her thou lov'st;" and I + replied, "Indeed the sweets of life belong unto the raving + race. +My madness leave and bring me her for whom ye say I'm mad; And if + she heal my madness, spare to blame me for my case." + +Therewith she knew him for a lover who had lost his mistress and +said, 'There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, +the Supreme! O my son, I would have thee acquaint me with the +particulars of thine affliction. Peradventure God may enable me +to help thee against it, if it so please Him.' So he told her all +that had happened and she said, 'O my son, indeed thou hast +excuse.' And her eyes ran over with tears and she repeated the +following verses: + +Torment, indeed, in this our world, true lovers do aby; Hell + shall not torture them, by God, whenas they come to die! +Of love they died and to the past their passions chastely hid; So + are they martyrs, as, indeed, traditions[FN#20] testify. + +Then she said, 'O my son, go now and buy me a basket, such as the +jewel-hawkers carry, and stock it with rings and bracelets and +ear-rings and other women's gear, and spare not money. Bring all +this to me and I will set it on my head and go round about, in +the guise of a huckstress, and make search for her in all the +houses, till I light on news of her, if it be the will of God the +Most High.' Ali rejoiced in her words and kissed her hands, then, +going out, speedily returned with all she required; whereupon she +rose and donning a patched gown and a yellow veil, took a staff +in her hand and set out, with the basket on her head. + +She ceased not to go from quarter to quarter and street to street +and house to house, till God the Most High led her to the house +of the accursed Reshideddin the Nazarene. She heard groans within +and knocked at the door, whereupon a slave-girl came down and +opening the door to her, saluted her. Quoth the old woman, 'I +have these trifles for sale: is there any one with you who will +buy aught of them?' 'Yes,' answered the girl and carrying her +indoors, made her sit down; whereupon all the women came round +her and each bought something of her. She spoke to them fair and +was easy with them as to price, so that they rejoiced in her, +because of her pleasant speech and easiness. Meanwhile, she +looked about to see who it was she had heard groaning, till her +eyes fell on Zumurrud, when she knew her and saw that she was +laid prostrate. So she wept and said to the girls, 'O my +children, how comes yonder damsel in this plight?' And they told +her what had passed, adding, 'Indeed, the thing is not of our +choice; but our master commanded us to do this, and he is now +absent on a journey.' 'O my children,' said the old woman, 'I +have a request to make of you, and it is that you loose this +unhappy woman of her bonds, till you know of your lord's return, +when do ye bind her again as she was; and you shall earn a reward +from the Lord of all creatures.' 'We hear and obey,' answered +they and loosing Zumurrud, gave her to eat and drink. + +Then said the old woman, 'Would my leg had been broken, ere I +entered your house!' And she went up to Zumurrud and said to her, +'O my daughter, take heart; God will surely bring thee relief.' +Then she told her [privily] that she came from her lord Ali Shar +and appointed her to be on the watch that night, saying, 'Thy +lord will come to the bench under the gallery and whistle to +thee; and when thou hearest him, do thou whistle back to him and +let thyself down to him by a rope from the window, and he will +take thee and go away.' Zumurrud thanked the old woman, and the +latter returned to Ali Shar and told him what she had done, +saying, 'Go to-night, at midnight, to such a quarter,--for the +accursed fellow's house is there and its fashion is thus and +thus. Stand under the window of the upper chamber and whistle; +whereupon she will let herself down to thee; then do thou take +her and carry her whither thou wilt.' He thanked her for her good +offices and repeated the following verses, with the tears running +down his cheeks: + +Let censors cease to rail and chide and leave their idle prate: + My body's wasted and my heart weary and desolate; +And from desertion and distress my tears, by many a chain Of true + traditions handed down, do trace their lineage straight. +Thou that art whole of heart and free from that which I endure Of + grief and care, cut short thy strife nor question of my + state. +A sweet-lipped maiden, soft of sides and moulded well of shape, + With her soft speech my heart hath ta'en, ay, and her + graceful gait. +My heart, since thou art gone, no rest knows nor my eyes do + sleep, Nor can the hunger of my hopes itself with patience + sate. +Yea, thou hast left me sorrowful, the hostage of desire, 'Twixt + enviers and haters dazed and all disconsolate. +As for forgetting, 'tis a thing I know not nor will know; For + none but thou into my thought shalt enter, soon or late. + +Then he sighed and shed tears and repeated these also: + +May God be good to him who brought me news that ye were come! For + never more delightful news unto my ears was borne. +If he would take a worn-out wede for boon, I'd proffer him A + heart that at the parting hour was all in pieces torn. + +He waited until the appointed time, then went to the street, +where was the Christian's house, and recognizing it from the old +woman's description, sat down on the bench under the gallery. +Presently, drowsiness overcame him, for it was long since he had +slept, for the violence of his passion, and he became as one +drunken with sleep. Glory be to Him who sleepeth not! + +Meanwhile, chance led thither a certain thief, who had come out +that night to steal somewhat and prowled about the skirts of the +city, till he happened on Reshideddin's house. He went round +about it, but found no way of climbing up into it and presently +came to the bench, where he found Ali Shar asleep and took his +turban. At that moment, Zumurrud looked out and seeing the thief +standing in the darkness, took him for her lord; so she whistled +to him and he whistled back to her; whereupon she let herself +down to him, with a pair of saddle-bags full of gold. When the +robber saw this, he said to himself, 'This is a strange thing, +and there must needs be some extraordinary cause to it.' Then, +snatching up the saddle-bags, he took Zumurrud on his shoulders +and made off with both like the blinding lightning. + +Quoth she, 'The old woman told me that thou wast weak with +illness on my account; and behold, thou art stronger than a +horse.' He made her no reply; so she put her hand to his face and +felt a beard like a bath-broom,[FN#21] as he were a hog that had +swallowed feathers and they had come out at his gullet; whereat +she took fright and said to him, 'What art thou?' 'O strumpet,' +answered he, 'I am the sharper Jewan the Kurd, of the band of +Ahmed ed Denef; we are forty sharpers, who will all tilt at thy +tail this night, from dusk to dawn.' When she heard his words, +she wept and buffeted her face, knowing that Fate had gotten the +better of her and that there was nothing for it but to put her +trust in God the Most High. So she took patience and submitted +herself to the ordinance of God, saying, 'There is no god but +God! As often as we escape from one trouble, we fall into a +worse.' + +Now the manner of Jewan's coming thither was thus: he had said to +Ahmed ed Denef, 'O captain, I have been here before and know a +cavern without the town, that will hold forty souls; so I will go +before you thither and set my mother therein. Then will I enter +the city and steal somewhat on your account and keep it till you +come; so shall you be my guests this day.' 'Do what thou wilt,' +replied Ahmed. So Jewan forewent them to the cavern and left his +mother there; but, as he came out, he found a trooper lying +asleep, with his horse tethered beside him; so he slew him and +taking his clothes and arms, hid them with his mother in the +cave, where also he tied up the horse. Then he betook himself to +the city and prowled about, till he happened on the Christian's +house and did with Ali Shar and Zumurrud as we have said. He +ceased not to run, with Zumurrud on his back, till he came to the +cavern, where he gave her in charge of his mother, saying, 'Keep +watch over her till I come back to thee at point of day,' and +went away. + +Meanwhile Zumurrud said to herself, 'Now is the time to cast +about for a means of escape. If I wait till these forty men come, +they will take their turns at me, till they make me like a water- +logged ship.' Then she turned to the old woman and said to her, +'O my aunt, wilt thou not come without the cave, that I may louse +thee in the sun?' 'Ay, by Allah, O my daughter!' replied the old +woman. 'This long time have I been out of reach of the bath; for +these hogs cease not to hale me from place to place.' So they +went without the cavern, and Zumurrud combed out the old woman's +hair and killed the vermin in her head, till this soothed her and +she fell asleep; whereupon Zumurrud arose and donning the clothes +of the murdered trooper, girt herself with his sword and covered +her head with his turban, so that she became as she were a man. +Then she took the saddle-bags full of gold and mounted the horse, +saying in herself, 'O kind Protector, I adjure thee by the glory +of Mohammed, (whom God bless and preserve,) protect me! If I +enter the city, belike one of the trooper's folk will see me, and +no good will befall me.' So she turned her back on the city and +rode forth into the desert. + +She fared on ten days, eating of the fruits of the earth and +drinking of its waters, she and her horse; and on the eleventh +day, she came in sight of a pleasant and safe city, stablished in +good; the season of winter had departed from it with its cold and +the spring-tide came to it with its roses and orange-blossoms; +its flowers blew bright, its streams welled forth and its birds +warbled. As she drew near, she saw the troops and Amirs and +notables of the place drawn up before the gate, at which she +marvelled and said to herself, 'The people of the city are all +collected at the gate: there must needs be a reason for this.' +Then she made towards them; but, as she drew near, the troops +hastened forward to meet her and dismounting, kissed the ground +before her and said, 'God aid thee, O our lord the Sultan!' + +Then the grandees ranked themselves before her, whilst the troops +ranged the people in order, saying, 'God aid thee and make thy +coming a blessing to the Muslims, O Sultan of all men! God +stablish thee, O king of the age and pearl of the day and the +time!' 'What ails you, O people of the city?' asked Zumurrud; and +the chamberlain answered, 'Verily, He who is no niggard in giving +hath been bountiful to thee and hath made thee Sultan of this +city and ruler over the necks of all that are therein; for know +that it is the custom of the citizens, when their king dies, +leaving no son, that the troops should sally forth of the pace +and abide there three days; and whoever cometh from the quarter +whence thou hast come, they make him king over them. So praised +be God who hath sent us a well-favoured man of the sons of the +Turks; for had a lesser than thou presented himself, he had been +Sultan.' + +Now Zumurrud was well-advised in all she did; so she said, 'Think +not that I am of the common folk of the Turks; nay, I am a man of +condition; but I was wroth with my family, so I went forth and +left them. See these saddle-bags full of gold I brought with me, +that I might give alms thereof to the poor and needy by the way.' +So they called down blessings upon her and rejoiced in her with +an exceeding joy and she also rejoiced in them and said in +herself, 'Now that I have attained to this estate, it may be God +will reunite me with my lord in this place, for He can do what He +will.' Then the troops escorted her to the city and dismounting, +walked before her to the palace. Here she alighted and the Amirs +and grandees, taking her under the armpits, carried her into the +palace and seated her on the throne; after which they all kissed +the ground before her. Then she bade open the treasuries and gave +largesse to the troops, who offered up prayers for the continuance +of her reign, and all the townsfolk and the people of the kingdom +accepted her rule. + +She abode thus awhile, ordering and forbidding, and remitted +taxes and released prisoners and redressed grievances, so that +all the people came to hold her in exceeding reverence and to +love her, by reason of her generosity and continence; but, as +often as she bethought her of her lord, she wept and besought God +to reunite them; and one night, as she was thinking of him and +calling to mind the days she had passed with him, her eyes ran +over with tears and she repeated the following verses: + +My longing, 'spite of time, for thee is ever new; My weeping + wounds my lids and tears on tears ensue. +Whenas I weep, I weep for anguish of desire; For grievous + severance is a lover's heart unto. + +Then she wiped away her tears and rising, betook herself to the +harem, where she appointed to the slave-girls and concubines +separate lodgings and assigned them pensions and allowances, +giving out that she was minded to live apart and devote herself +to works of piety. So she betook herself to fasting and praying, +till the Amirs said, 'Verily, this Sultan is exceeding devout.' +Nor would she suffer any attendants about her, save two little +eunuchs, to serve her. + +She held the throne thus a whole year, during which time she +heard no news of Ali Shar, and this was exceeding grievous to +her; so, when her distress became excessive, she summoned her +Viziers and chamberlains and bid them fetch architects and +builders and make her a tilting ground, a parasang long and the +like broad, in front of the palace. They hastened to do her +bidding, and when the place was competed to her liking, she went +down into it and they pitched her there a great pavilion, wherein +the chairs of the Amirs were set in their order. Then she bade +spread in the tilting-ground tables with all manner rich meats +and ordered the grandees to eat. So they ate and she said to +them, 'It is my will that, on the first day of each month, ye do +on this wise and proclaim in the city that none shall open his +shop, but that all the people shall come and eat of the king's +banquet, and that whoso disobeyeth shall be hanged over his own +door.' + +They did as she bade them, and when came the first day of the +next month, Zumurrud went down into the tilting-ground and the +crier proclaimed aloud, saying, 'Ho, all ye people, great and +small, whoso openeth shop or house or magazine shall straightway +be hanged over his own door; for it behoves you all to come and +eat of the king's banquet.' Then they laid the tables and the +people came in troops; so she bade them sit down at the tables +and eat their fill of all the dishes. So they sat down and she +sat on her chair of estate, watching them, whilst each thought +she was looking at none but him. Then they fell to eating and the +Amirs said to them, 'Eat and be not ashamed; for this is pleasing +to the King.' So they ate their fill and went away, blessing the +King and saying, one to the other, 'Never saw we a Sultan that +loved the poor as doth this Sultan.' And they wished her length +of life, whilst Zumurrud returned to the palace, rejoicing in her +device and saying in herself, 'If it please God the Most High, I +shall surely by this means happen on news of my lord Ali Shar.' + +When the first day of the second month came round, she made the +banquet as before and the folk came and sat down at the tables, +company by company and one by one. As she sat on her throne, at +the head of the tables, watching the people eat, her eye fell on +Bersoum, the Nazarene who had bought the curtain of Ali Shar; and +she knew him and said in herself, 'This is the first of my solace +and of the accomplishment of my desire.' Bersoum came up to the +table and sitting down with the rest to eat, espied a dish of +sweet rice, sprinkled with sugar; but it was far from him. So he +pushed up to it and putting out his hand to it, took it and set +it before himself. His next neighbour said to him, 'Why dost thou +not eat of what is before thee? Art thou not ashamed to reach +over for a dish that is distant from thee?' Quoth Bersoum, 'I +will eat of none but this dish.' 'Eat then,' rejoined the other, +'and small good may it do thee!' But another man, a hashish- +eater, said, 'Let him eat of it, that I may eat with him.' 'O +unluckiest of hashish-eaters,' replied the first speaker, 'this +is no meat for thee; it is eating for Amirs. Let it be, that it +may return to those for whom it is meant and they eat it.' + +But Bersoum heeded him not and putting his hand to the rice, took +a mouthful and put it in his mouth. He was about to take a second +mouthful, when Zumurrud, who was watching him, cried out to +certain of her guards, saying, 'Bring me yonder man with the dish +of sweet rice before him and let him not eat the mouthful he hath +ready, but throw it from his hand.' So four of the guards went up +to Bersoum and throwing the mouthful of rice from his hand, haled +him forthright before Zumurrud, whilst all the people left eating +and said to one another, 'By Allah, he did wrong in not eating of +the food meant for the like of him.' 'For me,' quoth one, 'I was +content with this frumenty that is before me.' And the hashish- +eater said, 'Praised be God who hindered me from eating of the +dish of sweet rice, for I looked for it to stand before him and +was only waiting for him to have stayed his hunger of it, to eat +with him, when there befell him what we see.' And they said, one +to another, 'Wait till we see what befalls him.' + +Then said Zumurrud to Bersoum, 'Out on thee, O blue eyes! What is +thy name and why comest thou hither?' But the accursed fellow +miscalled himself, having a white turban,[FN#22] and answered, 'O +King, my name is Ali; I am a weaver and came hither to trade.' +'Bring me a table of sand and a pen of brass,' quoth Zumurrud, +and they brought her what she sought. She levelled the sand and +taking the pen, drew a geomantic figure, in the likeness of an +ape; then, raising her head, she considered Bersoum straitly and +said to him, 'O dog, how darest thou lie to kings? Art thou not a +Nazarene, Bersoum by name, and comest thou not hither in quest of +somewhat? Speak the truth, or, by the splendour of the Deity, I +will strike off thy head?' At this, Bersoum was confounded and +the Amirs and bystanders said, 'Verily, the King understands +geomancy: blessed be He who hath gifted him!' Then Zumurrud cried +out upon Bersoum and said, 'Tell me the truth, or I will make an +end of thee!' 'Pardon, O King of the age,' replied Bersoum; 'the +table hath told thee aright; thy slave is indeed a Nazarene.' +Whereupon all present wondered at the King's skill in geomancy, +saying, 'Verily, the King is a diviner, whose like there is not +in the world.' + +Then Zumurrud bade flay the Christian and stuff his skin with +straw and hang it over the gate of the tilting-ground. Moreover, +she commanded to dig a pit without the city and burn his flesh +and bones therein and throw over his ashes offal and rubbish. 'We +hear and obey,' answered they and did with him as she bade. When +the people saw what had befallen the Christian, they said, 'He +hath his deserts; but what an unlucky mouthful was that for him!' +And another said, 'Be my wife triply divorced if ever I eat of +sweet rice as long as I live!' 'Praised be God,' quoth the +hashish-eater, 'who saved me from this fellow's fate by hindering +me from eating of the rice!' Then they all went out, minded +thenceforth to leave sitting in the Christian's place, over +against the dish of sweet rice. + +When the first day of the third month came, they laid the tables +as of wont, and Queen Zumurrud came down and sat on her throne, +with her guards in attendance on her, fearing her danger. Then +the townsfolk entered, as usual, and went round about the tables, +looking for the place of the dish of sweet rice, and quoth one to +another, 'Hark ye, Hajji Khelef!' 'At thy service, O Hajji +Khalid,' answered the other. 'Avoid the dish of sweet rice,' said +Khalid, 'and look thou eat not thereof; for if thou do, thou wilt +be hanged.' Then they sat down to meat; and as they were eating, +Zumurrud chanced to look at the gate of the tilting-ground and +saw a man come running in. So she considered him and knew him for +Jewan the Kurd. + +Now the manner of his coming was on this wise. When he left his +mother, he went to his comrades and said to them, 'I had fine +purchase yesterday; for I slew a trooper and took his horse. +Moreover there fell to me last night a pair of saddle-bags, full +of gold, and a girl worth more than the money; and I have left +them all with my mother in the cave.' At this they rejoiced and +repaired to the cavern at nightfall, whilst they forewent them, +that he might fetch them the booty. But he found the place empty +and questioned his mother, who told him what had befallen; +whereupon he bit his hands for despite and exclaimed, 'By Allah, +I will make search for yonder harlot and take her, wherever she +is, though it be in the shell of a pistachio-nut, and quench my +malice on her!' So he went forth in quest of her and journeyed +from place to place, till he came to Queen Zumurrud's city. He +found the town deserted and enquiring of some women whom he saw +looking from the windows, learnt that it was the Sultan's custom +to make a banquet for all the people on the first of each month +and was directed to the tilting-ground, where the feast was +spread. + +So he came running in and finding no place empty, save that +before the dish of sweet rice, took his seat there and put out +his hand to the dish; whereupon the folk cried out to him, +saying, 'O brother, what wilt thou do?' Quoth he, 'I mean to eat +my fill of this dish.' 'If thou eat of it,' rejoined one of the +people, 'thou wilt assuredly be hanged.' But Jewan said, 'Hold +thy peace and talk not thus.' Then he stretched out his hand to +the dish aforesaid and drew it to him. + +Now the hashish-eater, of whom we have before spoken, was sitting +by him; but when he saw him do this, the fumes of the hashish +left his head and he fled from his place and sat down afar off, +saying, 'I will have nothing to do with yonder dish.' Then Jewan +put out his hand, as it were a crow's foot, and dipping it in the +dish, scooped up therewith half the dishful and drew it out, as +it were a camel's hoof, and the bottom of the dish appeared. He +rolled the rice in his hand, till it was like a great orange, and +threw it ravenously into his mouth; and it rolled down his +gullet, with a noise like thunder. 'Praised by God,' quoth his +neighbour, 'who hath not made me meat before thee; for thou hast +emptied the dish at one mouthful.' 'Let him eat,' said the +hashish-eater; 'methinks he hath a gallows-face.' Then, turning +to Jewan, 'Eat,' added he, 'and small good may it do thee!' + +Jewan put out his hand again and taking another mouthful, was +rolling it in his hands like the first, when Zumurrud cried out +to the guards, saying, 'Bring me yonder man in haste and let him +not eat the mouthful in his hand.' So they ran and seizing him, +as he bent over the dish, brought him to her, whilst the people +exulted over him and said, one to the other, 'He hath his +deserts, for we warned him, but he would not take warning. +Verily, this place is fated to be the death of whoso sits +therein, and yonder rice is fatal to all who eat of it.' + +Then said Zumurrud to Jewan, 'What is thy name and condition and +why comest thou hither?' 'O our lord the Sultan,' answered he, +'my name is Othman; I am a gardener and am come hither in quest +of somewhat I have lost.' 'Bring me a table of sand,' said +Zumurrud. So they brought it, and she took the pen and drawing a +geomantic figure, considered it awhile, then raising her head, +exclaimed, 'Out on thee, thou sorry knave! How darest thou lie to +kings? This sand tells me that thy name is Jewan the Kurd and +that thou art by trade a robber, taking men's goods in the way of +unright and slaying those whom God hath forbidden to slay, save +for just cause.' And she cried out upon him, saying, 'O hog, tell +me the truth of thy case or I will cut off thy head!' + +When he heard this, he turned pale and his teeth chattered; then, +deeming that he might save himself by telling the truth, he +replied, 'O King, thou sayest sooth; but I repent at thy hands +henceforth and turn to God the Most High!' Quoth she, 'I may not +leave a pest in the way of the true-believers.' And she said to +her guards, 'Take him and flay him and do with him as ye did by +his like last month.' And they did her commandment. When the +hashish-eater saw this, he turned his back upon the dish of rice, +saying, 'It is unlawful to present my face to thee.' Then, when +they had made an end of eating, they dispersed and Zumurrud +returned to her palace and dismissed her attendants. + +When the fourth month came round, they made the banquet, as of +wont, and the folk sat awaiting leave to begin. Presently +Zumurrud entered and sitting down on her throne, looked at the +tables and saw that room for four people was left void before the +dish of rice, at which she wondered. As she sat, looking around, +she saw a man come running in at the gate, who stayed not till he +reached the tables and finding no room, save before the dish of +rice, took his seat there. She looked at him and knowing him for +the accursed Christian, who called himself Reshideddin, said in +herself, 'How blessed is this device of the food, into whose +toils this infidel hath fallen!' + +Now the manner of his coming was extraordinary, and it was on +this wise. When he returned from his journey, the people of the +house told him that Zumurrud was missing and with her a pair of +saddle-bags full of gold; whereupon he rent his clothes and +buffeted his face and plucked out his beard. Then he despatched +his brother Bersoum in quest of her, and when he was weary of +awaiting news of him, he went forth himself, to seek for him and +for Zumurrud, and fate led him to the latter's city. He entered +it on the first day of the month and finding the streets deserted +and the shops shut, enquired of the women at the windows, who +told him that the King made a banquet on the first of each month +for the people, all of whom were bound to attend it, nor might +any abide in his house or shop that day; and they directed him to +the tilting-ground. + +So he betook himself thither and sitting down before the rice, +put out his hand to eat thereof, whereupon Zumurrud cried out to +her guards, saying, 'Bring me him who sits before the dish of +rice.' So they laid hands on him and brought him before Queen +Zumurrud, who said to him, 'Out on thee! What is thy name and +occupation, and what brings thee hither?' 'O King of the age,' +answered he, 'my name is Rustem and I have no occupation, for +I am a poor dervish.' Then said she to her attendants, 'Bring +me a table of sand and pen of brass.' So they brought her what +she sought, as usual; and she took the pen and drawing a +geomantic figure, considered it awhile, then raising her head to +Reshideddin, said, 'O dog, how darest thou lie to kings? Thy name +is Reshideddin the Nazarene; thou art outwardly a Muslim, but a +Christian at heart, and thine occupation is to lay snares for the +slave-girls of the Muslims and take them. Speak the truth, or +I will smite off thy head.' He hesitated and stammered, then +replied, 'Thou sayest sooth, O King of the age!' Whereupon she +commanded to throw him down and give him a hundred blows on each +sole and a thousand on his body; after which she bade flay him +and stuff his skin with hards of flax and dig a pit without the +city, wherein they should burn his body and cast dirt and rubbish +on his ashes. They did as she bade them and she gave the people +leave to eat. + +So they ate their fill and went their ways, whilst Zumurrud +returned to her palace, thanking God for that He had solaced her +heart of those who had wronged her. Then she praised the Creator +of heaven and earth and repeated the following verses: + +Lo, these erst had power and used it with oppression and unright! + In a little, their dominion was as it ne'er had been. +Had they used their power with justice, they had been repaid the + like; But they wrought unright and Fortune guerdoned them + with dole and teen. +So they perished and the moral of the case bespeaks them thus, + "This is what your crimes have earnt you: Fate is not to + blame, I ween." + +Then she called to mind her lord Ali Shar and wept, but presently +recovered herself and said, 'Surely God, who hath given mine +enemies into my hand, will vouchsafe me speedy reunion with my +beloved; for He can do what He will and is generous to His +servants and mindful of their case!' Then she praised God (to +whom belong might and majesty) and besought forgiveness of Him, +submitting herself to the course of destiny, assured that to each +beginning there is an end, and repeating the saying of the poet: + +Be at thine ease, for all things' destiny Is in His hands who + fashioned earth and sea. +Nothing of Him forbidden shall befall Nor aught of Him appointed + fail to thee. + +And what another saith: + +Let the days pass, as they list, and fare, And enter thou not the + house of despair. +Full oft, when the quest of a thing is hard, The next hour brings + us the end of our care. + +And a third: + +Be mild what time thou'rt ta'en with anger and despite And + patient, if there fall misfortune on thy head. +Indeed, the nights are quick and great with child by Time And of + all wondrous things are hourly brought to bed. + +And a fourth: + +Take patience, for therein is good; an thou be learn'd in it, + Thou shalt be calm of soul nor drink of anguish any whit. +And know that if, with a good grace, thou do not thee submit, Yet + must thou suffer, will or nill, that which the Pen hath + writ. + +She abode thus another whole month's space, judging the folk and +commanding and forbidding by day, and by night weeping and +bewailing her separation from her lord Ali Shar. On the first day +of the fifth month, she bade spread the banquet as usual and sat +down at the head of the tables, whilst the people awaited the +signal to fall to, leaving the space before the dish of rice +vacant. She sat with eyes fixed upon the gate of the tilting- +ground, noting all who entered and saying, 'O Thou that +restoredst Joseph +to Jacob and didst away the affliction of Job, vouchsafe of Thy +power and greatness to restore me my lord Ali Shar; for Thou +canst all things! O Lord of all creatures, O Guide of the erring, +O Hearer of those that cry, O Answerer of prayer, answer Thou my +prayer, O Lord of all creatures!' + +Hardly had she made an end of her prayer, when she saw entering +the gate a young man, in shape like the willow wand, the +comeliest and most accomplished of youths, save that his face was +sallow and his form wasted. He came up to the tables and finding +no seat vacant save before the dish of rice, sat down there; +whereupon Zumurrud's heart fluttered and observing him narrowly, +she knew him for her lord Ali Shar and was like to have cried out +for joy, but restrained herself, fearing disgrace before the +folk. Her bowels were troubled and her heart throbbed; but she +concealed that which she suffered. + +Now the manner of his coming thither was on this wise. When +he awoke and found himself lying on the bench outside the +Christian's house, with his head bare, he knew that some one had +come upon him and robbed him of his turban, whilst he slept. So +he spoke the word, which whoso saith shall never be confounded, +that is to say, 'Verily, we are God's and to Him we return!' and +going back to the old woman's house, knocked at the door. She +came out and he wept before her, till he swooned away. When he +came to himself, he told her all that had passed, and she blamed +him and chid him for his heedlessness, saying, 'Thou hast but +thyself to thank for thine affliction and calamity.' And she +gave not over reproaching him, till the blood streamed from his +nostrils and he again fainted away. When he revived, he saw her +weeping over him; so he bewailed himself and repeated the +following verses: + +How bitter is parting to friends, and how sweet Reunion to + lovers, for sev'rance that sigh! +May God all unite them and watch over me, For I'm of their number + and like for to die. + +The old woman mourned over him and said to him, 'Sit here, whilst +I go in quest of news and return to thee in haste.' 'I hear and +obey,' answered he. So she left him and was absent till midday, +when she returned and said to him, 'O Ali, I fear me thou must +die in thy grief; thou wilt never see thy beloved again save on +Es Sirat;[FN#23] for the people of the Christian's house, when +they arose in the morning, found the window giving on the garden +broken in and Zumurrud missing, and with her a pair of saddle- +bags, full of the Christian's money. When I came thither, I found +the Master of Police and his officers standing at the door, and +there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the +Supreme!' + +When he heard this, the light in his eyes was changed to darkness +and he despaired of life and made sure of death; nor did he leave +weeping, till he lost his senses. When he recovered, love and +longing were sore upon him; there befell him a grievous sickness +and he kept his house a whole year; during which time the old +woman ceased not to bring him doctors and ply him with diet- +drinks and make him broths, till his life returned to him. Then +he recalled what had passed and repeated the following verses: + +Union is parted; in its stead, of grief I am possessed: My tears + flow still, my heart's on fire for yearning and unrest. +Longing redoubles on a wight who hath no peace, so sore Of love + and wakefulness and pain he's wasted and oppressed. +Lord, I beseech Thee, if there be relief for me in aught, + Vouchsafe it, whilst a spark of life abideth in my breast. + +When the second year began, the old woman said to him, 'O my son, +all this thy sadness and sorrowing will not bring thee back thy +mistress. Rise, therefore, take heart and seek for her in the +lands: haply thou shalt light on some news of her.' And she +ceased not to exhort and encourage him, till he took heart and +she carried him to the bath. Then she made him drink wine and eat +fowls, and thus she did with him for a whole month, till he +regained strength and setting out, journeyed without ceasing till +he arrived at Zumurrud's city, when he went to the tilting-ground +and sitting down before the dish of sweet rice, put out his hand +to eat of it. + +When the folk saw this, they were concerned for him and said to +him, 'O young man, eat not of that dish, for whoso eats thereof, +misfortune befalls him.' 'Leave me to eat of it,' answered he, +'and let them do with me as they list, so haply I may be at rest +from this weary life.' Then he ate a first mouthful, and Zumurrud +was minded to have him brought to her; but bethought her that +belike he was anhungred and said in herself, 'It were well to let +him eat his fill.' So he went on eating, whilst the people looked +on in astonishment, waiting to see what would befall him; and +when he had done, Zumurrud said to certain of her eunuchs, 'Go to +yonder youth that eateth of the rice and bring him to me on +courteous wise, saying, 'The King would have speech of thee on +some slight matter.' 'We hear and obey,' answered they and going +up to Ali Shar, said to him, 'O my lord, the King desires the +favour of a word with thee, and let thy heart be easy.' 'I hear +and obey,' replied he and followed the eunuchs, who carried him +before Zumurrud, whilst the people said to one another, 'There is +no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the Supreme! I +wonder what the King will do with him!' And others said, 'He will +do him nought but good; for, were he minded to harm him, he had +not suffered him to eat his fill.' + +When he came before Zumurrud, he saluted and kissed the earth +before her, whilst she returned his greeting and received him +with honour. Then said she to him, 'What is thy name and +condition and what brought thee hither?' 'O King,' answered he, +'my name is Ali Shar; I am of the sons of the merchants of +Khorassan and the object of my coming hither is to seek for a +slave-girl whom I have lost; for she was dearer to me than my +sight and my hearing, and indeed my soul cleaves to her, since I +lost her.' And he wept, till he swooned away. She caused sprinkle +rose-water on his face, till he came to himself, when she said, +'Bring me the table of sand and the pen.' So they brought them +and she took the pen and drew a geomantic figure, which she +considered awhile; then, 'Thou hast spoken sooth,' quoth she. +'God will grant thee speedy reunion with her; so be not +troubled.' Then she bade her chamberlain carry him to the bath +and after clothe him in a handsome suit of royal apparel, and +mount him an one of the best of the King's horses and bring him +to the palace at end of day. So the chamberlain took him away, +whilst the folk said to one another, 'What makes the King deal +thus courteously with yonder youth?' And one said, 'Did I not +tell you that he would do him no hurt? For he is fair of aspect; +and this I knew, when the King suffered him to eat his fill.' And +each said his say; after which they all dispersed and went their +ways. + +As for Zumurrud, she thought the night would never come, that she +might be alone with the beloved of her heart. As soon as it was +dusk, she withdrew to her sleeping-chamber and made as she were +overcome with sleep; and it was her wont to suffer none to pass +the night with her, save the two little eunuchs that waited upon +her. After a little, she sent for Ali Shar and sat down upon the +bed, with candles burning at her head and feet and the place +lighted with hanging lamps of gold that shone like the sun. When +the people heard of her sending for Ali Shar, they marvelled and +said, 'Algates, the King is enamoured of this young man, and to- +morrow he will make him commander of the troops.' And each +thought his thought and said his say. When they brought him in to +her, he kissed the earth before her and called down blessings on +her, and she said in herself, 'Needs must I jest with him awhile, +ere I make myself known to him.' Then said she to him, 'O Ali, +hast thou been to the bath?' 'Yes, O my lord,' answered he. +'Come, eat of this fowl and meat and drink of this wine and +sherbet of sugar,' said she; 'for thou art weary; and after come +hither.' 'I hear and obey,' replied he and did as she bade him. + +When he had made an end of eating and drinking, she said to him, +'Come up with me on the couch and rub my feet.' So he fell to +rubbing her feet and legs and found them softer than silk. Then +said she, 'Go higher with the rubbing;' and he, 'Pardon me, O my +lord, I will go no higher than the knee.' Whereupon, 'Wilt thou +gainsay me?' quoth she. 'It shall be an ill-omened night for +thee! Nay, but it behoves thee to do my bidding and I will make +thee my minion and appoint thee one of my Amirs.' 'And in what +must I do thy bidding, O King of the age?' asked Ali. 'Put off +thy trousers,' answered she, 'and lie down on thy face.' Quoth +he, 'That is a thing I never in my life did; and if thou force me +thereto, I will accuse thee thereof before God on the Day of +Resurrection. Take all thou hast given me and let me go to my own +city.' And he wept and lamented. But she said, 'Put off thy +trousers and lie down on thy face, or I will strike off thy +head.' So he did as she bade him and she mounted upon his back. +And he felt what was softer than silk and fresher than cream and +said in himself, 'Of a truth, this King is better than all the +women!' + +She abode a while on his back, then turned over on to the ground, +and he said [in himself], 'Praised be God! It seems his yard is +not in point.' Then said she, 'O Ali, it is of the wont of my +yard that it standeth not on end, except it be rubbed with the +hand; so, some, rub it with thy hand, till it be in point, else +will I kill thee.' So saying, she lay down on her back and taking +his hand, set it to her kaze, and he found it a kaze softer than +silk, white, plump and great, resembling for heat the hot room of +the bath or the heart of a lover, whom passion hath wasted. Quoth +Ali in himself, 'Verily, this King hath a kaze. This is a wonder +of wonders!' And desire got hold on him and his yard stood on end +to the utmost; which when Zumurrud saw, she burst out laughing +and said to him, 'O my lord, all this betideth and yet thou +knowest me not!' 'And who art thou, O King?' asked he; and she +said, 'I am thy slave-girl Zumurrud.' + +When he knew this and was certified that she was indeed his very +slave-girl Zumurrud, he threw himself upon her, as the lion upon +the sheep, and kissed her and embraced her. Then he thrust his +yard into her poke and stinted not to play the porter at her door +and the Imam[FN#24] at her prayer-niche, whilst she with him +ceased not from inclination and prostration and rising up and +sitting down,[FN#25] accompanying her canticles of praise[FN#26] +with motitations and other amorous gestures, till the [two +little] eunuchs [aforesaid] heard [the noise]. So they came and +peeping out from behind the curtains, saw the King lying [on his +back] and Ali Shar upon him, thrusting and thronging amain, +whilst she puffed and blew and wriggled. Quoth they, 'This is no +man's wriggle; belike this King is a woman.' But they concealed +their affair and discovered it to none. + +On the morrow, Zumurrud summoned all the troops and the grandees +of the realm and said to them, 'I am minded to journey to this +man's country; so choose a deputy, who shall rule over you, till +I return to you.' And they answered, 'We hear and obey.' Then she +applied herself to making ready for the journey and furnished +herself with victual and treasure and camels and mules and so +forth; after which she set out with Ali Shar, and they fared on, +till they arrived at his native place, where he entered his house +and gave alms and largesse. God vouchsafed him children by her, +and they both lived the happiest of lives, till there came to +them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Companies. Glory +be to God, the Eternal without cease, and praised be He in every +case! + + + + + + THE LOVES OF JUBEIR BEN UMEIR AND THE LADY + BUDOUR + + + +It is related the Khalif Haroun er Reshid was restless one night +and could not sleep; so that he ceased not to toss from side to +side for very restlessness, till, growing weary of this, he +called Mesrour and said to him, 'O Mesrour, look what may solace +me of this my restlessness.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered Mesrour, 'wilt thou walk in the garden of the palace and +divert thyself with the sight of its flowers and gaze upon the +stars and note the beauty of their ordinance and the moon among +them, shining on the water?' 'O Mesrour,' replied the Khalif, 'my +heart inclines not to aught of this.' 'O my lord,' continued +Mesrour, 'there are in thy palace three hundred concubines, each +of whom hath her separate lodging. Do thou bid retire each into +her own apartment and then go thou about and divert thyself with +gazing on them, without their knowledge.' 'O Mesrour,' answered +Haroun, 'the palace is mine and the girls are my property: +moreover, my soul inclineth not to aught of this.' 'O my lord,' +said Mesrour, 'summon the doctors and sages and poets and bid +them contend before thee in argument and recite verses and tell +thee tales and anecdotes.' 'My soul inclines not to aught of +this,' answered the Khalif; and Mesrour said, 'O my lord, bid the +minions and wits and boon-companions attend thee and divert thee +with witty sallies.' 'O Mesrour,' replied the Khalif, 'indeed my +soul inclineth not to aught of this.' 'Then, O my lord,' rejoined +Mesrour, 'strike off my head; maybe, that will dispel thine +unease and do away the restlessness that is upon thee.' + +At this the Khalif laughed and said, 'See which of the boon- +companions is at the door.' So Mesrour went out and returning, +said, 'O my lord, he who sits without is Ali ben Mensour of +Damascus, the Wag.' 'Bring him to me,' quoth Haroun; and Mesrour +went out and returned with Ibn Mensour, who said, on entering, +'Peace be on thee, O Commander of the Faithful!' The Khalif +returned his salutation and said to him, 'O Ibn Mensour, tell us +one of thy stories.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' said the +other, 'shall I tell thee what I have seen with my eyes or what I +have only heard tell?' 'If thou have seen aught worth telling,' +replied the Khalif, 'let us hear it; for report is not like eye- +witness.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' said Ibn Mensour, 'lend +me thine ear and thy heart.' 'O Ibn Mensour,' answered the +Khalif, 'behold, I am listening to thee with mine ears and +looking at thee with mine eyes and attending to thee with my +heart.' + +'Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,' began Ibn Mensour, +'that I receive a yearly allowance from Mohammed ben Suleiman el +Hashimi, Sultan[FN#27] of Bassora; so I went to him, once upon a +time, as usual, and found him about to ride out a-hunting. I +saluted him, and he returned my salute and would have me mount and +go a-hunting with him; but I said, "O my lord, I cannot ride; so +do thou stablish me in the guest-house and give thy chamberlains +and officers charge over me." And he did so and departed for the +chase. His officers entreated me with the utmost honour and +hospitality; but I said in myself, "By Allah, it is a strange +thing that I should have used so long to come from Baghdad to +Bassora, yet know no more of the town than from the palace to +the garden and back again! When shall I find an occasion like +this to view the different parts of Bassora? I will rise at once +and walk forth alone and divert myself and digest what I have +eaten." + +So I donned my richest clothes and went out a-walking in Bassora. +Now it is known to thee, O Commander of the Faithful, that it +hath seventy streets, each seventy parasangs long of Irak +measure; and I lost myself in its by-streets and thirst overcame +me. Presently, as I went along, I came to a great door, on which +were two rings of brass, with curtains of red brocade drawn +before it. Over the door was a trellis, covered with a creeping +vine, that hung down and shaded the doorway; and on either side +the porch was a stone bench. I stood still, to gaze upon the +place, and presently heard a sorrowful voice, proceeding from a +mourning heart, warbling melodiously and chanting the following +verses: + +My body is become th' abode of sickness and dismay, By reason of + a fawn, whose land and stead are far away. +O zephyr of the waste, that roused my pain in me, I pray, By God + your Lord, to him, with whom my heart dwells, take your way + And prithee chide him, so reproach may soften him, + maybe. +And if to you he do incline and hearken, then make fair Your + speech and tidings unto him of lovers, 'twixt you, bear. +Yea, and vouchsafe to favour me with service debonair And unto + him I love make known my case and my despair, + Saying, "What ails thy bounden slave that, for + estrangement, she +Should die without offence of her committed or despite Or + disobedience or breach of plighted faith or slight +Or fraud or turning of her heart to other or unright?" And if he + smile, with dulcet speech bespeak ye thus the wight: + "An thou thy company wouldst grant to her, 'twere well + of thee; +For she for love of thee's distraught, as needs must be the case; + Her eyes are ever void of sleep; she weeps and wails apace." +If he show favour and incline to grant the wished-for grace, 'Tis + well and good; but, if ye still read anger in his face, + Dissemble then with him and say, "We know her not, not + we." + +Quoth I to myself, "Verily, if the owner of this voice be fair, +she unites beauty of person and eloquence and sweetness of +voice." Then I drew near the door, and raising the curtain little +by little, beheld a damsel, white as the moon, when it rises on +its fourteenth night, with joined eyebrows and languorous +eyelids, breasts like twin pomegranates and dainty lips like twin +corn-marigolds,[FN#28] mouth as it were Solomon's seal and teeth +that sported with the reason of rhymester and proser, even as +saith the poet: + +O mouth of the beloved, who set thy pearls arow And eke with + wine fulfilled thee and camomiles like show, +And lent the morning-glory unto thy smile, and who Hath with a + padlock sealed thee of rubies sweet of show? +Whoso but looks upon thee is mad for joy and pride. How should + it fare with him, who kisseth thee, heigho! + +And as saith another: + +O pearls of the teeth of my love, Have ruth on cornelian and + spare To vie with it! Shall it not find You peerless and + passing compare? + +In fine, she comprised all manner of loveliness and was a +ravishment to men and women, nor could the beholder satisfy +himself with the sight of her beauty; for she was as the poet +hath said of her: + +If, face to face, she do appear, unveiled, she slays; and if + She turn her back, she makes all men her lovers far and + near. +Like the full moon and eke the sun she is, but cruelty And + inhumanity belong not to her nature dear. +The garden-gates of Paradise are opened with her shift And the + full moon revolveth still upon her neck-rings' sphere. + +As I looked at her through the opening of the curtains, she +turned and seeing me standing at the door, said to her maid, +"See who stands at the door." So the maid came up to me and +said, "O old man, hast thou no shame, or do gray hairs and +impudence go together?" "O my mistress," answered I, "I confess +to the gray hairs, but as for unmannerliness, I think not to be +guilty of it." "And what can be more unmannerly," rejoined her +mistress, "than to intrude thyself upon a house other than thy +house and gaze on a harem other than thy harem?" "O my lady," +said I, "I have an excuse." "And what is thine excuse?" asked +she. Quoth I, "I am a stranger and well-nigh dead of thirst." +"We accept thine excuse," answered she and calling one of her +maids, said to her, "O Lutf, give him to drink in the golden +tankard." + +So she brought me a tankard of red gold, set with pearls and +jewels, full of water mingled with odoriferous musk and covered +with a napkin of green silk; and I addressed myself to drink +and was long about it, casting stolen glances at her the while, +till I could prolong it no longer. Then I returned the tankard +to the maid, but did not offer to go; and she said to me, "O old +man, go thy way." "O my lady," replied I, "I am troubled in mind." +"For what?" asked she; and I answered, "For the uncertainty of +fortune and the vicissitudes of events." "Well mayst thou be +troubled thereanent," replied she, "for Time[FN#29] is the +mother of wonders. But what hast thou seen of them that thou +shouldst muse upon?" Quoth I, "I was thinking of the former +owner of this house, for he was my good friend in his lifetime." +"What was his name?" asked she. "Mohammed ben Ali the Jeweller," +answered I; "and he was a man of great wealth. Did he leave +any children?" "Yes," said she; "he left a daughter, Budour +by name, who inherited all his wealth." Quoth I, "Meseems +thou art his daughter?" "Yes," answered she, laughing; then +added, "O old man, thou hast talked long enough; go thy ways." +"Needs must I go," replied I; "but I see thou art out of health. +Tell me thy case; it may be God will give thee solace at +my hands." "O old man," rejoined she, "if thou be a man of +discretion, I will discover to thee my secret; but first +tell me who thou art, that I may know whether thou art worthy +of confidence or not; for the poet saith: + +None keepeth secrets but the man who's trusty and discreet: A + secret's ever safely placed with honest fold and leal; +For me, my secrets I preserve within a locked-up house, Whose + key is lost and on whose door is set the Cadi's seal." + +"O my lady," answered I, "an thou wouldst know who I am, I am +Ali ben Mensour of Damascus, the Wag, boon-companion to the +Khalif Haroun er Reshid." When she heard my name she came down +from her seat and saluting me, said, "Welcome, O Ibn Mensour! +Now will I tell thee my case and entrust thee with my secret. +Know that I am a lover separated from her beloved." "O my +lady," rejoined I, "thou art fair and shouldst love none but +the fair. Whom then dost thou love?" Quoth she, "I love Jubeir +ben Umeir es Sheibani, Prince of the Benou Sheiban;"[FN#30] and +she described to me a young man than whom there was none +handsomer in Bassora. "O my lady," asked I, "have letters or +interviews passed between you?" "Yes," answered she; "but his +love for me was of the tongue, not of the heart; for he kept +not his covenant nor was faithful to his troth." "And what was +the cause of your separation?" asked I. + +"I was sitting one day," replied she, "whilst my maid here +combed my hair. When she had made an end of combing it, she +plaited my tresses, and my beauty and grace pleased her; so she +bent down to me and kissed my cheek. At that moment, he came +in, unawares, and seeing her kiss my cheek, turned away in +anger, vowing eternal separation and repeating the following +verses: + +If any share with me in her I love, incontinent, I'll cast her + off from me and be to live alone content. +A mistress, sure, is nothing worth, if, in the way of love, She + wish for aught but that to which the lover doth consent. + +And from that time to this, O Ibn Mensour," continued she, "he +hath neither written to me nor answered my letters." "And what +thinkest thou to do?" asked I. Quoth she, "I have a mind to send +him a letter by thee. If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt +have of me five hundred dinars; and if not, then a hundred for +thy pains." "Do what seemeth good to thee," answered I. So she +called for inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses: + +Whence this estrangement and despite, beloved of my soul? + Whither have kindliness and love between us taken flight? +What makes thee with aversion turn from me? Indeed, thy face Is + not the face I used to know, when we our troth did plight. +Belike, the slanderers have made a false report of me, And thou + inclin'dst to them, and they redoubled in despite. +If thou believedst their report, far, far it should have been + From thee, that art too whole of wit at such a bait to + bite! +Yea, I conjure thee by thy life, tell me what thou hast heard: + For lo! thou knowest what was said and wilt not do + unright. +If aught I've said that angered thee, a speech of change + admits; Ay, and interpreting, I trow, may change its + meaning quite, +Were it a word sent down from God; for even the Pentateuch Hath + falsified and garbled been of this and th' other + wight.[FN#31] +Whilst, as for lies, how many were of folk before us told! + Joseph to Jacob was traduced and blackened in his sight. +Yea, for the slanderer and myself and thee, an awful day Of + standing up shall come, when God to judgment all shall + cite. + +Then she sealed the letter and gave it to me. I took it and +carried it to the house of Jubeir ben Umeir, whom I found +absent hunting. So I sat down, to wait for him, and presently +he returned; and when I saw him come riding up, my wit was +confounded by his beauty ands grace. As soon as he saw me +sitting at the door, he dismounted and coming up to me, saluted +and embraced me; and meseemed I embraced the world and all that +therein is. Then he carried me into his house and seating me on +his own couch, called for food. So they brought a table of +khelenj[FN#32] wood of Khorassan, with feet of gold, whereon +were all manner of meats, fried and roasted and the like. So I +seated myself at the table and examining it, found the following +verses engraved upon it: + +Weep for the cranes that erst within the porringers did lie And + for the stews and partridges evanished heave a sigh! +Mourn for the younglings of the grouse; lament unceasingly, As, + for the omelettes and the fowls browned in the pan, do I. +How my heart yearneth for the fish that, in its different + kinds, Upon a paste of wheaten flour, lay hidden in the + pie! +Praised be God for the roast meat, as in the dish it lay, With + pot-herbs, soaked in vinegar, in porringers hard by, +And eke the rice with buffaloes' milk dressed and made savoury, + Wherein the hands were plunged and arms were buried + bracelet high! +O soul, I rede thee patient be, for God is bountiful: What + though thy fortunes straitened be, His succour's ever + nigh. + +Then said Jubeir, "Put thy hand to our food and ease our heart +by eating of our victual." "By Allah," answered I, "I will not +eat a mouthful, till thou grant me my desire." "What is thy +desire?" asked he. So I brought out the letter and gave it to +him; but, when he had read it, he tore it into pieces and +throwing it on the floor, said to me, "O Ibn Mensour, I will +grant thee whatever thou askest, save this that concerns the +writer of this letter, for I have no answer to make to her." At +this, I rose in anger; but he caught hold of my skirts, saying, +"O Ibn Mensour, I will tell thee what she said to thee, for all +I was not present with you." "And what did she say to me?" +asked I. "Did she not say to thee," rejoined he, "'If thou bring +me back an answer, thou shalt have of me five hundred dinars; +and if not, a hundred for thy pains?'" "Yes," answered I; and +he said, "Abide with me this day and eat and drink and make +merry, and thou shalt have five hundred dinars." + +So I sat with him and ate and drank and made merry and +entertained him with converse; after which I said to him, "O my +master, is there no music in thy house?" "Indeed," answered he, +"we have drunk this long while without music." Then he called +out, saying, "Ho, Shejeret ed Durr!" Whereupon a slave-girl +answered him from her chamber and came in to us, with a lute of +Indian make, wrapped in a silken bag. She sat down and laying +the lute in her lap, preluded in one-and-twenty modes, then, +returning to the first, sang the following verses to a lively +measure: + +Who hath not tasted the sweet and the bitter of passion, I + trow, The presence of her whom he loves from her absence + he hardly shall know. +So he, from the pathway of love who hath wandered and fallen + astray, The smooth knoweth not from the rough of the + roadway, wherein he doth go. +I ceased not the votaries of love and of passion to cross and + gainsay, Till I too must taste of its sweet and its + bitter, its gladness and woe. +Then I drank a full draught of the cup of its bitters, and + humbled was I, and thus to the bondman of Love and its + freedman therein was brought low. +How many a night have I passed with the loved one, carousing + with him, Whilst I drank from his lips what was sweeter + than nectar and colder than snow! +How short was the life of the nights of our pleasance! It + seemed to us still, No sooner was night fallen down than + the daybreak to eastward did glow. +But Fortune had vowed she would sever our union and sunder our + loves; And now, in good sooth, she her vow hath + accomplished. Fate ordered it so; +Fate ordered it thus, and against its ordaining, appeal there + is none; For who shall gainsay a supreme one's + commandments or causes him forego? + +Hardly had she made an end of these verses, when Jubeir gave a +great cry and fell down in a swoon; whereupon, "May God not +punish thee, O old man!" exclaimed the damsel. "This long time +have we drunk without music, for fear the like of this should +befall our master. But go now to yon chamber and sleep there." +So I went to the chamber in question and slept till the +morning, when a page brought me a purse of five hundred dinars +and said to me, "This is what my master promised thee; but +return thou not to her who sent thee and let it be as if +neither thou nor we had heard of this affair." "I hear and +obey," answered I and taking the purse, went my way. + +However, I said in myself, "The lady will have expected me +since yesterday; and by Allah, I must needs return to her and +tell her what passed between me and him; or she will curse me +and all who come from my country." So I went to her and found +her standing behind the door; and when she saw me, she said, "O +Ibn Mensour, thou hast gotten me nought." "Who told thee of +this?" asked I; and she answered, "O Ibn Mensour, yet another +thing hath been revealed to me; and it is that, when thou +gavest hum the letter, he tore it in pieces and throwing it on +the floor, said to thee, 'O Ibn Mensour, ask me anything but +what relates to the writer of this letter; for I have no reply +to make to her.' Then didst thou rise from beside him in anger; +but he laid hold of thy skirts, saying, 'Abide with me to-day, +for thou art my guest, and eat and drink and make merry; and +thou shalt have five hundred dinars.' So thou didst sit with +him, eating and drinking and making merry, and entertainedst +him with converse; and a slave-girl sand such an air and such +verses, whereupon he fell down in a swoon." Quoth I, "Wast thou +then with us?" "O Ibn Mensour," replied she, "hast thou not +heard the saying of the poet: + +The heart of the lover hath eyes, well I wot, That see what the + eyes of beholders see not. + +But," added she, "day and night alternate not upon aught, but they +change it." Then she raised her eyes to heaven and said, "O my +God and my Master and my Lord, like as Thou hast afflicted me +with love of Jubeir ben Umeir, even so do Thou afflict him with +love of me and transfer the passion from my heart to his!" Then +she gave me a hundred dinars for my pains and I took it and +returned to the palace, when I found the Sultan come back from +hunting; so I took my pension of him and made my way back to +Baghdad. + +Next year, I repaired to Bassora, as usual, to seek my pension, +and the Sultan paid it to me; but as I was about to return to +Baghdad, I bethought me of the lady Budour and said to myself, +"By Allah, I must needs go and see what hath befallen between +her and her lover!" So I went to her house and finding the +porch swept and sprinkled and slaves and servants and pages +standing before the door, said to myself, "Most like grief hath +broken the lady's heart and she is dead, and some Amir or other +hath taken up his abode in her house." So I went on to Jubeir's +house, where I found the benches of the porch broken down and +no pages at the door, as of wont, and said to myself, "Belike +he too is dead." Then I took up my station before the door of +his house and with my eyes running over with tears, bemoaned it +in the following verses: + +Lords, that are gone, but whom my heart doth evermore ensue, + Return; so shall my festal says return to me with you. +I stand before your sometime stead, bewailing your abodes, With + quivering lids, from which the tears rain down, like + summer dew. +Weeping, I question of the house and ruins, "Where is he Who + was the source of benefits and bounties ever new?" +[They answer] "Go thy ways, for those thou lov'st from the + abode Departed are and neath the dust are buried; so + adieu!" +May God not stint us of the sight [in dreams] of all their + charms Nor be their noble memories aye absent from men's + view! + +As I was thus bewailing the folk of the house, there came a +black slave thereout and said to me, "Hold thy peace, O old +man! May thy mother be bereft of thee! What ails thee to bemoan +the house thus?" Quoth I, "I knew it of yore, when it belonged +to a good friend of mine." "What was his name?" asked the +slave. And I answered, "Jubeir ben Umeir the Sheibani." "And +what hath befallen him?" rejoined he. "Praised be God, he is +yet in the enjoyment of wealth and rank and prosperity, except +that God hath stricken him with love of a damsel called the +lady Budour; and he is overcome with love of her, that, for the +violence of his passion and torment, he is like a great rock +overthrown. If he hunger, he saith not, 'Feed me;' nor, if he +thirst, doth he say, 'Give me to drink.'" Quoth I, "Ask leave +me to go in to him." "O my lord," said the slave, "Wilt thou go +in to him who understands or to him who understands not?" "I +must needs see him, whatever be his case," answered I. + +Se he went in and presently returned with permission for me to +enter, whereupon I went in to Jubeir and found him like a rock +overthrown, understanding neither sign nor speech. I spoke to +him, but he answered me not; and one of his servants said to +me, "O my lord, if thou know aught of verse, repeat it, and +raise thy voice; and he will be aroused by this and speak with +thee." So I recited the following verses: + +Budour's love hast thou forgotten or art deaf still to her + sighs? Wak'st anights, or do thine eyelids close upon thy + sleeping eyes? +If thy tears flow fast and freely, night and day long, torrent- + wise, Know thou, then, that thou shalt sojourn evermore in + Paradise.[FN#33] + +When he heard this, he opened his eyes and said, "Welcome, O +Ibn Mensour! Verily, the jest is become earnest." "O my lord," +said I, "is there aught thou wouldst have me do for thee?" +"Yes," answered he; "I would fain write her a letter and send +it to her by thee. If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt +have of me a thousand dinars; and if not, two hundred for thy +pains." "Do what seemeth good to thee," said I. So he called to +one of his slave-girls for inkhorn and paper and wrote the +following verses: + +By Allah, O my lady, have ruth on me, I pray! For all my wit by + passion is ravished quite away. +Yea, love for thee and longing have mastered me and clad With + sickness and bequeathed me abjection and dismay. +Aforetime, O my lady, by love I set small store And deemed it + light and easy to bear, until to-day; +But now that Love hath shown me the billows of its sea, Those I + excuse, repenting, who languish neath its sway. +Vouchsafe thy grace to grant me; or, if thou wilt me slay, At + least, then, for thy victim forget thou not to pray. + +Then he sealed the letter and gave it to me. I took it and +repairing to Budour's house, raised the curtain of the door, +little by little, as of wont, and looking in, saw ten damsels, +high-bosomed maids, like moons, and the lady Budour sitting in +their midst, as she were the full moon among stars or the sun, +when it is clear of clouds; nor was there on her any trace of +pain or care. As I looked and marvelled at her case, she turned +and seeing me standing at the gate, said to me, "Welcome and +fair welcome to thee, O Ibn Mensour! Come in." So I entered and +saluting her, gave her the letter. She read it and laughing, +said to me, "O Ibn Mensour, the poet lied not when he said: + +The love of thee I will endure with patient constancy, Till + such time as a messenger shall come to me from thee. + +O Ibn Mensour," added she, "I will write thee an answer that +he may give thee what he promised thee." "May God requite thee +with good!" answered I. So she called for inkhorn and paper and +wrote the following verses: + +How comes it my vows I fulfilled and thou, thou wast false to + thy plight? Thou sawst me do justice and truth, and yet + thou thyself didst unright. +'Twas thou that begannest on me with rupture and rigour, I + trow; 'Twas thou that play'dst foul, and with thee began + the untruth and the slight. +Yea, still I was true to my troth and cherished but thee among + men And ceased not thine honour to guard and keep it + unsullied and bright, +Till tidings of fashions full foul I heard, as reported of + thee, And saw with mine eyes what thou didst, to harm me + and work me despite. +Shall I then abase my estate, that thine may exalted become? By + God, hadst thou generous been, the like should thy conduct + requite! +So now unto solace I'll turn my heart, with forgetting, from + thee And washing my hands of thy thought, blot despair for + thee out of my spright. + +"By Allah, O my lady," said I, "there needs but the reading of +this letter, to kill him!" So I tore it in pieces and said to +her, "Write him other than this." "I hear and obey," answered +she and wrote the following: + +Indeed, I am consoled and sleep is pleasant to mine eyes; For I + have heard what came of prate of slanderers and spies. +My heart my summons hath obeyed, thee to forget; and eke My + lids to stint from wake for thee have seen it good and + wise. +He lies who says that severance is bitterness; for me I find + its taste none otherwise than sweet; indeed he lies. +I've grown to turn away from those who bring me news of thee + And look upon it as a thing at which my gorge doth rise. +Behold, I have forgotten thee with every part of me. Let then + the spy and who will else this know and recognise. + +"By Allah, O my lady," said I, "when he reads these verses, his +soul will depart his body!" "O Ibn Mensour," quoth she, "is +passion indeed come to such a pass with him as thou sayst?" +"Had I said more than this," replied I, "it were but the truth: +but clemency is of the nature of the noble." When she heard +this, her eyes filled with tears and she wrote him a letter, O +Commander of the Faithful, there is none in thy court could +avail to write the like of it; and therein were these verses: + +How long shall this despite continue and this pride? My enviers' + spite on me thou sure hast satisfied. +Mayhap, I did amiss and knew it not; so tell Me what thou heardst + of me, that did our loves divide. +Even as I welcome sleep unto mine eyes and lids, So would I + welcome thee, beloved, to my side. +I've quaffed the cup of love for thee, unmixed and pure; So, if + thou see me drunk, reproach me not nor chide. + +Then she sealed it and gave it to me; and I said, "O my lady, +this thy letter will heal the sick and ease the thirsting soul." +Then I took it and was going away, when she called me back and +said to me, "Tell me that I will be his guest this night." At +this I rejoiced greatly and carried the letter to Jubeir, whom I +found with his eyes fixed on the door, expecting the reply. I +gave him the letter and he opened and read it, then gave a great +cry and fell down in a swoon. When he came to himself, he said to +me, "O Ibn Mensour, did she indeed write this letter with her +hand and touch it with her fingers?" "O my lord," answered I, "do +folk write with their feet?" And by Allah, O Commander of the +Faithful, I had not done speaking, when we heard the chink of her +anklets in the vestibule and she entered. + +When he saw her, he sprang to his feet, as thou there ailed him +nought, and embraced her as the letter Lam embraces Alif,[FN#34] +and the malady, that would not depart, ceased from him. Then he +sat down, but she abode standing and I said to her, "O my lady, +why dost thou not sit?" Quoth she, "I will not sit, O Ibn +Mensour, save on a condition that is between us." "And what is +that?" asked I. "None may know lovers' secrets," answered she and +putting her mouth to Jubeir's ear, whispered to him; whereupon, +"I hear and obey," replied he and rising, said somewhat privily +to one of his slaves, who went out and returned, in a little, +with a Cadi and two witnesses. Then Jubeir rose and taking a bag +containing a hundred thousand dinars, said, "O Cadi, marry me to +this young lady and write this sum to her dowry." Quoth the Cadi +to her, "Say, 'I consent to this.'" "I consent to this," said +she, whereupon he drew up the contract of marriage, and she +opened the bag and taking out a handful of gold, gave it to the +Cadi and the witnesses and handed the rest to Jubeir. + +Then the Cadi and the witnesses withdrew, and I sat with them, in +mirth and delight, till the most part of the night was past, when +I said in myself, "These are lovers and have been this long while +separated. I will go now and sleep in some place afar from them +and leave them to be private, one with the other." So I rose, but +she laid hold of my skirts, saying, "What thinkest thou to do?" +"So and so," answered I. But she rejoined, "Sit still, when we +would be rid of thee, we will send thee away." So I sat with them +till near daybreak, when she said to me, "O Ibn Mensour, go to +yonder chamber; for we have furnished it for thee, and it is thy +sleeping-place." So I went thither and slept till morning, when a +page brought me basin and ewer, and I made the ablution and +prayed the morning-prayer. Then I sat down and presently, Jubeir +and his mistress came out of the bath in the house, wringing +their locks. + +I wished them good morning and gave them joy of their safety and +reunion, saying to Jubeir, "That which began with constraint hath +ended in contentment." "Thou sayst well," replied he; "and indeed +thou deservest largesse." And he called his treasurer and bade +him fetch three thousand dinars. So he brought a purse containing +that sum, and Jubeir gave it to me, saying, "Favour us by +accepting this." "I will not take it," answered I, "till thou +tell me the manner of the transfer of love from her to thee, +after so great an aversion." "I hear and obey," said he. "Know +that we have a festival, called the festival of the New Year, +when all the people use to take boat and go a-pleasuring on the +river. So I went out, with my comrades, and saw a boat, wherein +were half a score damsels like moons, and amongst them, the lady +Budour, with her lute in her hand. She preluded in eleven modes, +then returning to the first, sang the following verses: + +Fire is not so fierce and so hot as the fires in my heart that + glow, And granite itself is less hard than the heart of my + lord, I trow. +Indeed, when I think on his make and his fashion, I marvel to see + A heart that is harder than rock in a body that's softer + than snow. + +Quoth I to her, 'Repeat the verses and the air.' But she would +not; so I bade the boatmen pelt her with oranges, and they pelted +her till we feared her boat would sink. Then she went her way, +and this is how the love was transferred from her breast to +mine." So I gave them joy of their reunion and taking the purse, +with its contents, returned to Baghdad. + +When the Khalif heard Ibn Mensour's story, his heart was +lightened and the restlessness and oppression from which he +suffered forsook him. + + + + + + THE MAN OF YEMEN AND HIS SIX SLAVE-GIRLS + + + +The Khalif El-Mamoun was sitting one day in his palace, +surrounded by his grandees and officers of state, and there were +present also before him all his poets and minions, amongst the +rest one named Mohammed of Bassora. Presently, the Khalif turned +to the latter and said to him, 'O Mohammed, I wish thee to tell +me something that I have never before heard.' 'O Commander of the +Faithful,' answered Mohammed, 'shall I tell thee a thing that I +have heard with my ears of a thing that I have seen with my +eyes?' 'Tell me whichever is the rarer,' said El Mamoun. + +'Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,' began Mohammed, 'that +there lived once a wealthy man, who was a native of Yemen; but he +left his native land and came to this city of Baghdad, whose +sojourn so pleased him that he transported hither his family and +possessions. Now he had six slave-girls, the first fair, the +second dark, the third fat, the fourth thin, the fifth yellow and +the sixth black, all fair of face and perfectly accomplished and +skilled in the arts of singing and playing upon instruments of +music. One day he sent for them all and called for meat and +drink; and they ate and drank and made merry. Then he filled the +cup and taking it in his hand, said to the blonde, "O new-moon- +face, let us hear somewhat pleasing." So she took the lute and +tuning it, made music thereon with such melodious trills and +modulations that the place danced to the rhythm; after which she +played a lively measure and sang the following verses: + +I have a friend, whose form is mirrored in mine eye, And deep + within my breast, his name doth buried lie. +Whenas I call him back to mind, I am all heart, And when on him I + gaze, all eyes indeed am I. +"Forswear the love of him," my censor says; and I, "That which is + not to be, how shall it be?" reply. +"Go forth from me," quoth I, "and leave me, censor mine: Feign + not that eath and light, that's grievous to aby." + +At this their master was moved to mirth and drinking off his cup, +gave the damsels to drink, after which he said to the brunette, +"O light of the brasier[FN#35] and delight of souls, let us hear +thy lovely voice, wherewith all that hearken are ravished." So +she took the lute and trilled upon it, till the place was moved +to mirth; then, taking all hearts with her graceful bendings, she +sang the following verses: + +As thy face liveth, none but thee I'll love nor cherish e'er, + Till death, nor ever to thy love will I be false, I swear. +O full moon, shrouded, as it were a veil, with loveliness, All + lovely ones on earth that be beneath thy banners fare. +Thou, that in pleasantness and grace excellest all the fair, May + God, the Lord of heaven and earth, be with thee everywhere! + +The man was pleased and drank off his cup; after which he filled +again and taking the goblet in his hand, beckoned to the plump +girl and bade her sing and play. So she took the lute and +striking a grief-dispelling measure, sang as follows: + +If but thy consent be assured, O thou who art all my desire, Be + all the folk angered 'gainst me; I set not a whit by their + ire. +And if thou but show me thy face, thy brilliant and beautiful + face, I reck not if all the kings of the earth from my + vision retire. +Thy favour, O thou unto whom all beauty must needs be referred, + Of the goods and the sweets of the world is all that I seek + and require. + +The man was charmed and emptying his cup, gave the girls to +drink. Then he beckoned to the slender girl and said to her, "O +houri of Paradise, feed thou our ears with sweet sounds." So she +took the lute and tuning it, preluded and sang the following +verses: + +Is it not martyrdom that I for thine estrangement dree, Seeing, + indeed, I cannot live, if thou depart from me? +Is there no judge, in Love its law, to judge betwixt us twain, to + do me justice on thy head and take my wreak of thee? + +Their lord rejoiced and emptying the cup, gave the girls to +drink. Then he signed to the yellow girl and said to her, "O sun +of the day, let us hear some pleasant verses." So she took the +lute and preluding after the goodliest fashion, sang as follows: + +I have a lover, whenas I draw him nigh, He bares upon me a sword + from either eye. +May God avenge me some whit of him! For lo, He doth oppress me, + whose heart in 's hand doth lie. +Oft though, "Renounce him, my heart," I say, yet it Will to none + other than him itself apply. +He's all I ask for, of all created things; Yet jealous Fortune + doth him to me deny. + +The man rejoiced and drank and gave the girls to drink; then he +filled the cup and taking it in his hand, signed to the black +girl, saying, "O apple of the eye, let us have a taste of thy +fashion, though it be but two words." So she took the lute and +preluded in various modes, then returned to the first and sang +the following verses to a lively air: + +O eyes, be large with tears and pour them forth amain, For, lo, + for very love my senses fail and wane. +All manner of desire I suffer for his sake I cherish, and my foes + make merry at my pain. +My enviers me forbid the roses of a cheek; And yet I have a heart + that is to roses fain. +Ay, once the cups went round with joyance and delight And to the + smitten lutes, the goblets did we drain, +What time my love kept troth and I was mad for him And in faith's + heaven, the star of happiness did reign. +But lo, he turned away from me, sans fault of mine! Is there a + bitterer thing than distance and disdain? +Upon his cheeks there bloom a pair of roses red, Blown ready to + be plucked; ah God, those roses twain! +Were't lawful to prostrate oneself to any else Than God, I'd sure + prostrate myself upon the swain. + +Then rose the six girls and kissing the ground before their lord, +said to him, "Judge thou between us, O our lord!" He looked at +their beauty and grace and the difference of their colours and +praised God the Most High and glorified Him: then said he, "There +is none of you but has read the Koran and learnt to sing and is +versed in the chronicles of the ancients and the doings of past +peoples; so it is my desire that each of you rise and pointing to +her opposite, praise herself and dispraise her rival; that is to +say, let the blonde point to the black, the plump to the slender +and the yellow to the brunette; and after, the latter shall, each +in turn, do the like with the former; and be this illustrated +with citations from the Holy Koran and somewhat of anecdotes and +verse, so as to show forth your culture and elegance of +discourse." Quoth they, "We hear and obey." + +So the blonde rose first and pointing at the black, said to her, +"Out on thee, blackamoor! It is told that whiteness saith, 'I am +the shining light, I am the rising full moon.' My colour is +patent and my forehead is resplendent, and of my beauty quoth the +poet: + +A blonde with smooth and polished cheeks, right delicate and + fair, As if a pearl in beauty hid, as in a shell, she were. +Her shape a splendid Alif[FN#36] is, her smile a medial + Mim[FN#37] And over it her eyebrows make inverted + Nouns,[FN#38] a pair. +Yes, and the glances of her eyes are arrows, and her brows A bow + that therewithal is horned with death and with despair. +If to her cheeks and shape thou pass, her cheeks are roses red, + Sweet basil, ay, and eglantine and myrtles rich and rare. +'Tis of the saplings' wont, to be implanted in the meads But, in + the saplings of thy shape, how many meads are there! + +My colour is like the wholesome day and the newly-gathered +orange-blossom and the sparkling star; and indeed quoth God the +Most High, in His precious book, to His prophet Moses (on whom be +peace), 'Put thy hand into thy bosom and it shall come forth +white without hurt.'[FN#39] And again He saith, 'As for those +whose faces are made white, they are in the mercy of God and +dwell for ever therein.'[FN#40] My colour is a miracle and my +grace an extreme and my beauty a term. It is in the like of me +that clothes show fair and to the like of me that hearts incline. +Moreover, in whiteness are many excellences; for instance, the +snow falls white from heaven, and it is traditional that white is +the most beautiful of colours. The Muslims also glory in white +turbans; but I should be tedious, were I to repeat all that may +be said in praise of white; little and enough is better than too +much. So now I will begin with thy dispraise, O black, O colour +of ink and blacksmith's dust, thou whose face is like the crow +that brings about lovers' parting! Verily, the poet saith in +praise of white and dispraise of black: + +Seest not that for their milky hue white pearls in price excel + And charcoal for a groat a load the folk do buy and sell? +And eke white faces, 'tis well known, do enter Paradise, Whilst + faces black appointed are to fill the halls of Hell. + +And indeed it is told in certain histories, related on the +authority of devout men, that Noah (on whom be peace) was +sleeping one day, with his sons Ham and Shem seated at his head, +when a wind sprang up and lifting his clothes, uncovered his +nakedness; whereat Ham laughed and did not cover him; but Shem +rose and covered him. Presently, Noah awoke and learning what had +passed, blessed Shem and cursed Ham. So Shem's face was whitened +and from him sprang the prophets and the orthodox Khalifs and +Kings; whilst Ham's face was blackened and he fled forth to the +land of Ethiopia, and of his lineage came the blacks. All people +are of a mind in affirming the lack of understanding of the +blacks, even as saith the adage, 'How shall one find a black +having understanding?'" + +Quoth her master, "It sufficeth; sit down, thou hast been +prodigal." And he signed to the negress, who rose, and pointing +at the blonde, said, "Doth thou not know that, in the Koran sent +down to His prophet and apostle, is transmitted the saying of God +the Most High, 'By the night, when it veileth [the world with +darkness], and by the day, when it appeareth in all its +glory!'[FN#41] If the night were not more illustrious than the +day, why should God swear by it and give it precedence of the +day? And indeed those of sense and understanding accept this. +Knowst now that black [hair] is the ornament of youth and that, +when whiteness descends upon the head, delights pass away and the +hour of death draws nigh? Were not black the most illustrious of +things, God had not set it in the kernel of the heart and the +apple of the eye; and how excellent is the saying of the poet: + +An if I cherish the dusky maids, this is the reason why; They + have the hue of the core of the heart and the apple of the + eye +And youth; nor in error I eschew the whiteness of the blondes; + For 'tis the colour of hoary hair and shrouds in them shun + I. + +And that of another: + +The brown, not the white, are first in my love And worthiest + eke to be loved of me, +For the colour of damask lips have they, Whilst the white have + the hue of leprosy. + +And of a third: + +Black women, white of deeds, are like indeed to eyne That, though + jet-black they be, with peerless splendours shine. +If I go mad for her, be not amazed; for black The source of + madness is, when in the feminine.[FN#42] +'Tis as my colour were the middle dark of night; For all no moon + it be, yet brings it light, in fine. + +Moreover, is the companying together of lovers good but in the +night? Let this quality and excellence suffice thee. What +protects lovers from spies and censors like the blackness of the +shadows? And nought gives them cause to fear discovery like the +whiteness of the dawn. So, how many claims to honour are there +not in blackness and how excellent is the saying of the poet: + +I visit them, and the mirk of night doth help me to my will And + seconds me, but the white of dawn is hostile to me still. + +And that of another: + +How many a night in joy I've passed with the beloved one, What + while the darkness curtained us about with tresses dun! +Whenas the light of morn appeared, it struck me with affright, + And I to him, 'The Magians lie, who worship fire and sun.' + +And saith a third: + +He came forth to visit me, shrouding himself in the cloak of the + night, And hastened his steps, as he wended, for caution and + fear and affright. +Then rose I and laid in his pathway my cheek, as a carpet it + were, For abjection, and trailed o'er my traces my skirts, + to efface them from sight. +But lo, the new moon rose and shone, like a nail-paring cleft + from the nail, And all but discovered our loves with the + gleam of her meddlesome light. +And then there betided between us what I'll not discover, i' + faith: So question no more of the matter and deem not of ill + or unright. + +And a fourth: + +Foregather with thy lover, whilst night your loves may screen; + For that the sun's a telltale, the moon a go-between. + +And a fifth: + +I love not white women, with fat blown out and overlaid; The girl + of all girls for me is the slender dusky maid. +Let others the elephant mount, if it like them; as for me, I'll + ride but the fine-trained colt on the day of the cavalcade. + +And a sixth: + +My loved one came to me by night And we did clip and interlace +And lay together through the dark; But, lo, the morning broke + apace. +To God, my Lord, I pray that He Will reunite us of His grace +And make night last to me, what while I hold my love in my + embrace. + +Were I to set forth all the praise of blackness, I should be +tedious; but little and enough is better than great plenty and +too much. As for thee, O blonde, thy colour is that of leprosy +and thine embrace is suffocation; and it is of report that frost +and intense cold[FN#43] are in Hell for the torment of the +wicked. Again, of black things is ink, wherewith is written the +word of God; and were is not for black ambergris and black musk, +there would be no perfumes to carry to kings. How many glories +are there not in blackness and how well saith the poet: + +Dost thou not see that musk, indeed, is worth its weight in gold, + Whilst for a dirhem and no more a load of lime is sold? +Black eyes cast arrows at men's hearts; but whiteness of the + eyes, In man, is judged of all to be unsightly to behold." + +"It sufficeth," said her master. "Sit down." So she sat down and +he signed to the fat girl, who rose and pointing at the slim +girl, uncovered her arms and legs and bared her stomach, showing +its creases and the roundness of her navel. Then she donned a +shift of fine stuff, that showed her whole body, and said, +"Praised be God who created me, for that He beautified my face +and made me fat and fair and likened me to branches laden with +fruit and bestowed upon me abounding beauty and brightness; and +praised be He no less, for that He hath given me the precedence +and honoured me, when He speaks of me in His holy book! Quoth the +Most High, 'And he brought a fat calf.'[FN#44] And indeed He hath +made me like unto an orchard, full of peaches and pomegranates. +Verily, the townsfolk long for fat birds and eat of them and love +not lean birds; so do the sons of Adam desire fat meat and eat of +it. How many precious attributes are there not in fatness, and +how well saith the poet: + +Take leave of thy love, for the caravan, indeed, is on the + start. O man, canst thou bear to say farewell and thus + from her to part? +'Tis as her going were, I trow, but to her neighbour's house, + The faultless gait of a fat fair maid, that never tires + the heart. + +Sawst thou ever one stop at a butcher's stall, but sought fat +meat of him? The wise say, 'Pleasure is in three things, eating +flesh and riding on flesh and the thrusting of flesh into +flesh.' As for thee, O thin one, thy legs are like sparrow's +legs or pokers, and thou art like a cruciform plank or a piece +of poor meat; there is nought in thee to gladden the heart; +even as saith of thee the poet: + +Now God forfend that aught enforce me take for bedfellow A + woman like a foot-rasp, wrapt in palm-fibres and tow! +In every limb she has a horn, that butts me in my sleep, So + that at day-break, bruised and sore, I rise from her and + go." + +"It is enough," quoth her master. "Sit down." So she sat down +and he signed to the slender girl, who rose, as she were a +willow-wand or a bamboo-shoot or a plant of sweet basil, and +said, "Praised be God who created me and beautified me and made +my embraces the end of all desire and likened me to the branch, +to which all hearts incline. If I rise, I rise lightly; if +I sit, I sit with grace; I am nimble-witted at a jest and +sweeter-souled than cheerfulness [itself]. Never heard I one +describe his mistress, saying, 'My beloved is the bigness of an +elephant or like a long wide mountain;' but rather, 'My lady +hath a slender waist and a slim shape.' + +A little food contents me and a little water stays my thirst; +my sport is nimble and my habit elegant; for I am sprightlier +than the sparrow and lighter-footed than the starling. My +favours are the desire of the longing and the delight of the +seeker; for I am goodly of shape, sweet of smile and graceful +as the willow-wand or the bamboo-cane of the basil-plant; nor +is there any can compare with me in grace, even as saith one of +me: + +Thy shape unto the sapling liken I And set my hope to win thee or + to die. +Distraught, I follow thee, and sore afraid, Lest any look on thee + with evil eye. + +It is for the like of me that lovers run mad and that the longing +are distracted. If my lover be minded to draw me to him, I am +drawn to him, and if he would have me incline to him, I incline +to him and not against him. But as for thee, O fat of body, thine +eating is as that of an elephant, and neither much not little +contents thee. When thou liest with a man, he hath no ease of +thee, nor can he find a way to take his pleasure of thee; for the +bigness of thy belly holds him off from clipping thee and the +grossness of thy thighs hinders him from coming at thy kaze. What +comeliness is there in thy grossness and what pleasantness or +courtesy in thy coarse nature? Fat meat is fit for nought but +slaughter, nor is there aught therein that calls for praise. If +one joke with thee, thou art angry; if one sport with thee, thou +art sulky; if thou sleep, thou snorest; if thou walk, thou +pantest; if thou eat, thou art never satisfied. Thou art heavier +than mountains and fouler than corruption and sin. Thou hast in +thee nor movement nor blessing nor thinkest of aught but to eat +and sleep. If thou make water, thou scatterest; if thou void, +thou gruntest like a bursten wine-skin or a surly elephant. If +thou go to the draught-house, thou needest one to wash out thy +privy parts and pluck out the hairs; and this is the extreme of +laziness and the sign of stupidity. In fine, there is no good +thing in thee, and indeed the poet saith of thee: + +Heavy and swollen with fat, like a blown-out water-skin, With + thighs like the pillars of stone that buttress a mountain's + head, +Lo, if she walk in the West, so cumbrous her corpulence is The + Eastern hemisphere hears the sound of her heavy tread." + +Quoth her master, "It is enough: sit down." So she sat down and +he signed to the yellow girl, who rose to her feet and praised +God and magnified His name, calling down peace and blessing on +the best of His creatures;[FN#45] after which she pointed at the +brunette and said to her, "I am praised in the Koran, and the +Compassionate One hath described my colour and its excellence +over all others in His manifest Book, where He saith, 'A yellow +[heifer], pure yellow, whose colour rejoices the beholders.' +[FN#46] Wherefore my colour is a portent and my grace an extreme +and my beauty a term; for that my colour is the colour of a dinar +and of the planets and moons and of apples. My fashion is the +fashion of the fair, and the colour of saffron outvies all +other colours; so my fashion is rare and my colour wonderful. I +am soft of body, and of great price, comprising all attributes of +beauty. My colour, in that which exists, is precious as virgin +gold, and how many glorious qualities are there not in me! Of the +like of me quoth the poet: + +Yellow she is, as is the sun that shineth in the sky, And like to + golden dinars, eke, to see, her beauties are. +Nor with her brightness, anywise, can saffron hold compare, And + even the very moon herself her charms outvie by far. + +And now I will begin in thy dispraise, O brown of favour! Thy +colour is that of the buffalo, and all souls shudder at thy +sight. If thy colour be in aught, it is blamed; if it be in food, +it is poisoned; for thy colour is that of flies and is a mark of +ugliness in dogs. It is, among colours, one which strikes with +amazement and is of the signs of mourning. Never heard I of brown +gold or brown pearls or brown jewels. If thou enter the wardrobe, +thy colour changes, and when thou comest out, thou addest a new +ugliness to thine ugliness. Thou art neither black, that thou +mayst be known, nor white, that thou mayst be described; and +there is no good quality in thee, even as saith of thee the poet: + +As a complexion unto her, the hue of soot doth serve; Her mirky + colour is as dust on couriers' feet upcast. +No sooner fall mine eyes on her, thou but a moment's space, Than + troubles and misgivings straight beset me thick and fast." + +"Enough," said her master. "Sit down." So she sat down and he +signed to the brunette. Now she was endowed with grace and beauty +and symmetry and perfection, delicate of body, with coal-back +hair, slender shape, rosy, oval cheeks, liquid black eyes, fair +face, eloquent tongue, slim waist and heavy buttocks. So she rose +and said, "Praised be God who hath created me neither blameably +fat nor lankily slender, neither white like leprosy nor yellow +like colic nor black like coal, but hath made my colour to be +beloved of men of wit; for all the poets praise brunettes in +every tongue and exalt their colour over all others. Brown of +hue, praiseworthy of qualities; and God bless him who saith: + +In the brunettes a meaning is, couldst read its writ aright, + Thine eyes would never again look on others, red or white. +Free-flowing speech and amorous looks would teach Harout[FN#47] + himself The arts of sorcery and spells of magic and of + might. + +And saith another: + +Give me brunettes; the Syrian spears, so limber and so + straight, Tell of the slender dusky maids, so lithe and + proud of gait. +Languid of eyelids, with a down like silk upon her cheek, + Within her wasting lover's heart she queens it still in + state. + +And yet another: + +Yea, by my life, such virtues in goodly brownness lie, One spot + thereof makes whiteness the shining moons outvie; +But if the like of whiteness is borrowed, then, for sure, Its + beauty were transmuted unto reproach thereby. +Not with her wine[FN#48] I'm drunken, but with her + tresses[FN#49] bright That make all creatures drunken that + dwell beneath the sky. +Each of her charms doth envy the others; yea, and each To be + the down so silky upon her cheek doth sigh. + +And again: + +Why should I not incline me unto the silken down On the cheeks + of a dusky maiden, like the cane straight and brown, +Seeing the spot of beauty in waterlilies' cups Is of the poets + fabled to be all beauty's crown? +Yea, and I see all lovers the swarthy-coloured mole, Under the + ebon pupil, do honour and renown. +Why, then, do censors blame me for loving one who's all A mole? + May Allah rid me of every railing clown! + +My form is beautiful and my shape slender; kings desire my colour +and all love it, rich and poor. I am pleasant, nimble, handsome, +elegant, soft of body and great of price. I am perfect in beauty +and breeding and eloquence; my aspect is comely and my tongue +fluent, my habit light and my sport graceful. As for thee, +[O yellow girl,] thou art like unto a mallow of Bab el Louc, +yellow and made all of sulphur. Perdition to thee, O pennyworth +of sorrel, O rust of copper, O owl's face and food of the damned! +Thy bedfellow, for oppression of spirit, is buried in the tombs, +and there is no good thing in thee, even as saith the poet of the +like of thee: + +Paleness[FN#50] is sore on her, for all no illness doth her + fret; My breast is straitened by its sight; ay, and my + head aches yet. +If thou repent thee not, my soul, to punish thee, I vow, I'll + humble thee with a kiss of her face, my teeth on edge + shall set." + +"Enough," said her master; "sit down." Then he made peace +between them and clad them all in sumptuous dresses of honour +and handselled them with precious jewels of land and sea. And +never, O Commander of the Faithful, in any place or time have I +seen fairer than these six fair damsels.' + +When the Khalif El Mamoun heard this story from Mohammed of Bassora, +he said to him, 'O Mohammed, knowest thou the abiding-place of +these damsels and their master, and canst thou make shift to buy +them of him for us?' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' answered he, +'I have heard that their master is wrapped up in them and cannot +endure to be parted from them.' 'Take threescore thousand dinars, +--that is, ten thousand for each girl,--' rejoined the Khalif, +'and go to his house and buy them of him.' So Mohammed took the +money and betaking himself to the man of Yemen, acquainted him +with the Khalif's wish. He consented to sell them at that price, +to pleasure him, and despatched them to El Mamoun, who assigned +them an elegant lodging and used to sit with them therein, +marvelling at their beauty and grace, no less than at their varied +colours and the excellence of their speech. + +After awhile, when their former owner could no longer endure separation +from them, he sent a letter to the Khalif, complaining of his ardent +love for them and containing, amongst the rest, the following verses: + +Six damsels fair and bright have captivated me; My blessing and + my peace the six fair maidens greet! +My life, indeed, are they, my hearing and my sight, Yea, and my + very drink, my pleasance and my meat. +No other love can bring me solace for their charms, And + slumber, after them, no more to me is sweet. +Alas, my long regret, my weeping for their loss! Would I have + ne'er been born, to know this sore defeat! +For eyes, bedecked and fair with brows like bended bows, Have + smitten me to death with arrows keen and fleet. + +When the letter came to El Mamoun's hands, he clad the six +damsels in rich apparel and giving them threescore thousand +dinars, sent them back to their master, who rejoiced in them +with an exceeding joy,--more by token of the money they brought +him,--and abode with them in all delight and pleasance of life, +till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the +Sunderer of Companies. + + + + + + HAROUN ER RASHID AND THE DAMSEL AND + ABOU NUWAS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid, being one night exceeding restless +and oppressed with melancholy thought, went out and walked +about his palace, till he came to a chamber, over whose doorway +hung a curtain. He raised the curtain and saw, at the upper end +of the room, a bed, on which lay something black, as it were a +man asleep, with a candle on his right hand and another on his +left and by his side a flagon of old wine, over against which +stood the cup. The Khalif wondered at this, saying, 'How came +yonder black by this wine-service?' Then, drawing near the bed, +he found that it was a girl asleep there, veiled with her hair, +and uncovering her face, saw that it was like the moon on the +night of her full. So he filled a cup of wine and drank it to +the roses of her cheeks; then bent over her and kissed a mole +on her face, whereupon she awoke and cried out, saying, 'O +Trusty One of God,[FN#51], what is to do?' 'A guest who knocks +at thy dwelling by night,' replied the Khalif, '[hoping] that +thou wilt give him hospitality till the dawn.' 'It is well,' +answered she; 'I will grace the guest with my hearing and my +sight.' + +So she brought the wine and they drank it together; after which +she took the lute and tuning it, preluded in one-and-twenty +modes, then returning to the first, struck a lively measure and +sang the following verses: + +The tongue of passion in my heart bespeaks thee for my soul, + Telling I love thee with a love that nothing can control. +I have an eye, that testifies unto my sore disease, And eke a + heart with parting wrung, a-throb for love and dole. +Indeed, I cannot hide the love that frets my life away; Longing + increases still on me, my tears for ever roll. +Ah me, before the love of thee, I knew not what love was; But + God's decree must have its course on every living soul. + +Then said she, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I am a wronged +woman.' 'How so?' quoth he, 'and who hath wronged thee?' She +answered, 'Thy son bought me awhile ago, for ten thousand +dirhems, meaning to give me to thee; but the daughter of thine +uncle[FN#52] sent him the price aforesaid and bade him shut me +up from thee in this chamber.' Whereupon, 'Ask a boon of me,' +said the Khalif; and she, 'I ask thee to lie to-morrow night +with me.' 'If it be the will of God,' replied the Khalif, and +leaving her, went away. + +Next morning, he repaired to his sitting-room and called for +Abou Nuwas, but found him not and sent his chamberlain to seek +for him. The chamberlain found him in pawn, in a tavern, for a +score of a thousand dirhems, that he had spent on a certain +boy, and questioned him. So he told him what had befallen him +with the boy and how he had spent a thousand dirhems upon him; +whereupon quoth the chamberlain, 'Show him to me; and if he be +worth this, thou art excused.' 'Wait awhile,' replied the poet, +'and thou shalt see him presently.' As they were talking, up +came the boy, clad in a white tunic, under which was another of +red and yet another of black. When Abou Nuwas saw him, he +sighed and repeated the following verses: + +To me he appeared in a garment of white, His eyes and his + eyelids with languor bedight. +Quoth I, "Dost thou pass and salutest me not? Though God knows + thy greeting were sweet to my spright. +Be He blessed who mantled with roses thy cheeks, Who creates, + without let, what He will, of His might!" +"Leave prating," he answered; "for surely my Lord Is wondrous + of working, sans flaw or dissight. +Yea, truly, my garment is even as my face And my fortune, each + white upon white upon white." + +When the boy heard this, he put off the white tunic and +appeared in the red one; whereupon Abou Nuwas redoubled in +expressions of admiration and repeated the following verses: + +Appeared in a garment, the colour of flame, A foeman of mine, + "The beloved," by name. +"Thou'rt a full moon," I said in my wonder, "And com'st In a + garment that putteth the roses to shame. +Hath the red of thy cheek clad that vest upon thee Or in + heart's blood of lovers hast tinctured the same?" +Quoth he, "'Twas the sun lately gave me the wede; From the + rubicund hue of his setting it came. +So my garment and wine and the colour so clear Of my cheek are + as flame upon flame upon flame." + +Then the boy doffed the red tunic and abode in the black; +whereupon Abou Nuwas redoubled in attention to him and repeated +the following verses: + +He came in a tunic all sable of hue And shone out, thus veiled + in the dark, to men's view. +"Thou passest," quoth I, "without greeting, and thus Givest + cause to exult to the rancorous crew. +Thy garment resembles thy locks and my lot, Yea, blackness and + blackness and blackness thereto." + +Then the chamberlain returned to Haroun er Reshid and +acquainted him with the poet's predicament, whereupon he bade +him take a thousand dirhems and go and take him out of pawn. So +he returned to Abou Nuwas and paying his score, carried him to +the Khalif, who said, 'Make me some verses containing the +words, "O Trusty One of God, what is to do?"' 'I hear and obey, +O Commander of the Faithful,' answered he and improvised the +following verses: + +My night was long for sleeplessness and care. Weary I was and + many my thoughts were. +I rose and walked awhile in my own place, Then midst the + harem's cloistered courts did fare, +Until I chanced on somewhat black and found It was a damsel + shrouded in her hair. +God bless her for a shining moon! Her shape A willow-wand, and + pudour veiled the fair. +I quaffed a cup to her; then, drawing near, I kissed the mole + upon her cheek so rare. +She woke and swayed about in her amaze, Even as the branch + sways in the rain-fraught air; +Then rose and said, "O Trusty One of God, What is to do, and + thou, what dost thou there?" +"A guest", quoth I, "that sues to thee, by night, For shelter + till the hour of morning-prayer." +"Gladly," she said; "with hearing and with sight To grace the + guest, my lord, I will not spare." + +'Confound thee!' cried the Khalif. 'It is as if thou hadst been +present with us.' Then he took him by the hand and carried him +to the damsel, who was clad in a dress and veil of blue. When +Abou Nuwas saw her, he was profuse in expressions of admiration +and recited the following verses: + +Say to the lovely maid, i' the veil of azure dight, "By Allah, + O my life, have pity on my plight! +For when the fair entreats her lover cruelly, Sighs of all + longing rend his bosom day and night. +So, by thy charms and by the whiteness of thy cheek, Have ruth + upon a heart for love consumed outright. +Incline to him and be his stay 'gainst stress of love, Nor let + what fools may say find favour in thy sight." + +Then the damsel set wine before the Khalif and taking the lute, +played a lively measure and sang the following verses: + +Wilt thou be just in thy love to others and deal with me + Unjustly and put me away, while others have joy in thee? +Were there for lovers a judge, to whom I might complain Of + thee, he would do me justice and judge with equity. +If thou forbid me to pass thy door, yet from afar To greet thee + and to bless, at least, I shall be free. + +The Khalif bade her ply Abou Nuwas with wine, till he lost his +wits; when he gave him a full cup, and he drank a draught of it +and held the cup in his hand. Er Reshid bade the girl take the +cup from him and conceal it; so she took it and hid it between +her thighs. Then he drew his sword and standing at the poet's +head, pricked him with the point; whereupon he awoke and saw +the Khalif standing over him, with a drawn sword. At this sight +the fumes of the wine fled from his head and the Khalif said to +him, 'Make me some verses and tell me therein what is come of +thy cup; or I will cut off thy head.' So he improvised the +following verses: + +My tale, indeed is hard to tell: The thief was none but yon + gazelle. +She stole my cup of wine, whereof My lips had drunken but one + spell, +And hid it in a place, for which My heart's desire's + unspeakable. +I name it not, for awe of him, In whom the right thereof doth + dwell. + +'Confound thee!' quoth the Khalif. 'How knewst thou that? But +we accept what thou sayst.' Then he ordered him a dress of +honour and a thousand dinars, and he went away, rejoicing. + + + + + + THE MAN WHO STOLE THE DISH OF GOLD IN + WHICH THE DOG ATE. + + + +There was once a man, who was overborne with debt, and his case +was straitened upon him, so that he left his people and family +and went forth in distraction. He wandered on at random till he +came to a high-walled and splendidly built city and entered it +in a state of wretchedness and despair, gnawed with hunger and +worn with the toil of his journey. As he passed through one of +the streets, he saw a company of notables going along; so he +followed them, till they entered a house like to a royal +palace. He entered with them, and they stayed not till they +came in presence of a man of the most dignified and majestic +aspect, seated at the upper end of a saloon and surrounded by +pages and servants, as he were of the sons of the Viziers. When +he saw the visitors, he rose and received them with honour; but +the poor man was confounded at the goodliness of the place and +the crowd of servants and attendants and drawing back, in fear +and perplexity, sat down apart in a place afar off, where none +should see him. + +After awhile, in came a man with four hunting-dogs, clad in +various kinds of silk and brocade and having on their necks +collars of gold with chains of silver, and tied up each dog in a +place set apart for him; after which he went out and presently +returned with four dishes of gold, full of rich meats, one of +which he set before each dog. Then he went away and left them, +whilst the poor man began to eye the food, for stress of hunger, +and would fain have gone up to one of the dogs and eaten with +him; but fear of them withheld him. Presently, one of the +dogs looked at him and God the Most High inspired him with a +knowledge of his case; so he drew back from the platter and +beckoned to the man, who came and ate, till he was satisfied. +Then he would have withdrawn, but the dog pushed the dish +towards him with his paw, signing to him to take it and what +was left in it for himself. So the man took the dish and +leaving the house, went his way, and none followed him. Then +he journeyed to another city, where he sold the dish and buying +goods with the price, returned to his own town. There he sold +his stock and paid his debts; and he prospered and became rich +and at his ease. + +After some years had passed, he said to himself, 'Needs must I +repair to the city of the owner of the dish, which the dog +bestowed on me, and carry him its price, together with a fit +and handsome present.' So he took the price of the dish and a +suitable present and setting out, journeyed night and day, till +he came to the city and entering, went straight to the place +where the man's house had been; but lo, he found there nothing +but mouldering ruins and dwelling-places laid waste, over which +the raven croaked; for the place was desert and the environs +changed out of knowledge. At this, his heart and soul were +troubled and he repeated the words of him who saith: + +The privy chambers are void of all their hidden store, As + hearts of the fear of God and the virtues all of yore. +Changed is the vale and strange to me are its gazelles, And + those I knew of old its sandhills are no more. + +And those of another: + +The phantom of Saada came to me by night, near the break of + day, And roused me, whenas my comrades all in the desert + sleeping lay. +But, when I awoke to the dream of the night, that came to visit + me, I found the air void and the wonted place of our + rendezvous far away. + +When he saw what the hand of time had manifestly done with the +place, leaving but traces of the things that had been aforetime, +the testimony of his eyes made it needless for him to enquire +of the case; so he turned away and seeing a wretched man, in +a plight that made the skin quake and would have moved the +very rock to pity, said to him, 'Harkye, sirrah! What have +time and fortune done with the master of this place? Where are +his shining full moons[FN#53] and splendid stars;[FN#54] and +what is the cause of the ruin that is come upon his abode, so +that but the walls thereof remain?' Quoth the other, 'He is the +miserable wretch thou seest bewailing that which hath befallen +him. Knowest thou not the words of the Prophet (whom God bless +and preserve), wherein is a lesson to him who will profit by it +and an admonition to whoso will be guided thereby in the right +way? "Verily it is the way of God the Most High to raise up +nothing of this world, except He cast it down again." If thou +enquire of the cause of this thing, indeed, it is no wonder, +considering the vicissitudes of fortune. I was the master of +this place and its builder and founder and owner and lord of +its shining full moons and radiant damsels and of all its +splendid circumstance an magnificent garniture; but Fortune +turned and did away from me wealth and servants, overwhelming +me unawares with disasters unforeseen and bringing me to this +sorry plight. But there must needs be some reason for this thy +question: tell it me and leave wondering.' + +So the other told him the whole story, sore concerned at what +he heard and saw, and added, 'I have brought thee a present +such as souls desire, and the price of thy dish of gold, that I +took; for it was the cause of my becoming rich, after poverty, +and of the reinstating of my dwelling-place, after desolation, +and of the doing away of my trouble and straitness from me.' +But the poor man shook his head, groaning and weeping and +lamenting, and answered, 'O man, methinks thou art mad; for +this is not the fashion of a man of understanding. How should a +dog of mine make gift to thee of a dish of gold and I receive +back its price? This were indeed a strange thing! By Allah, +were I in the straitest misery and unease, I would not accept +of thee aught, no, not the worth of a nail-paring! So return +whence thou camest, in health and safety.' + +The merchant kissed his feet and taking leave of him, returned +whence he came, praising him and reciting the following verse: + +The men and eke the dogs are gone and vanished all. Peace be + upon the men and dogs, whate'er befall! + + + + + + THE SHARPER OF ALEXANDRIA AND THE + MASTER OF POLICE. + + + +There was once, in the coast-fortress of Alexandria, a Master +of Police, Husameddin by name, who was one night sitting in his +seat of office, when there came in to him a trooper, who said +to him, 'Know, O my lord, that I entered the city this night +and alighted at such a khan and slept there, till a third part +of the night was past, when I awoke and found my saddle-bags +cut open and a purse of a thousand dinars stolen from them.' No +sooner had he done speaking than the magistrate called his +officers and bade them lay hands on all in the khan and clap +them in prison till the morning; and on the morrow, he caused +bring the instruments of torment and sending for the prisoners, +was about to torture them, [to make them confess], in the +presence of the owner of the stolen money, when, behold, a man +pressed through the crowd and coming up to the chief of the +police, said, 'O Amir, let these folk go, for they are wrongly +accused. It was I who robbed the trooper, and here is the purse +I stole from his saddle-bags.' So saying, he pulled out the +purse from his sleeve and laid it before Husameddin, who said +to the soldier, 'Take thy money; thou hast no ground of +complaint now against the people of the khan.' Thereupon the +latter and all who were present fell to blessing the thief and +praising him; but he said, 'O Amir, the skill is not in that I +came to thee and brought thee the purse, but in taking it a +second time from the trooper.' 'And how didst thou take it, O +sharper?' asked Husameddin. + +'O Amir,' replied the thief, 'I was standing in the +money-changers' bazaar at Cairo, when I saw yonder man receive +the gold and put it in his purse; so I followed him from street +to street, but found no occasion of stealing it from him. Then +he left Cairo and I followed him from place to place, casting +about by the way to rob him, but without avail, till he entered +this city and I followed him to the khan. I took up my lodging +beside him and watched him till he fell asleep and I heard him +snoring, when I went softly up to him and cutting open his +saddlebags with this knife, took the purse thus--' + +So saying, he put out his hand and took the purse from before +the chief of the police, whilst the latter and the trooper and +the folk drew back, watching him and thinking he would show them +how he took the purse from the saddle-bags; but, of a sudden, +he broke into a run and threw himself into a reservoir hard by. +The chief of the police called to his officers to pursue him, +but before they could put off their clothes and descend the +steps, he had made off; and they sought for him, but found him +not; for the streets of Alexandria all communicate one with +another. So they came back, empty-handed, and the chief of the +police said to the trooper, 'Thou hast no recourse against the +folk; for thou foundest him who robbed thee and receivedst back +thy money, but didst not keep it.' So the trooper went away, +having lost his money, whilst the folk were delivered from his +hands and those of the chief of the police; and all this was of +the favour of God the Most High. + + + + + + EL MELIK EN NASIR AND THE THREE MASTERS + OF POLICE. + + + +El Melik en Nasir[FN#55] once sent for the chiefs of the police +of New Cairo, Boulac and Old Cairo and said to them, 'I wish +each of you to tell me the most remarkable thing that hath +befallen him during his term of office.' 'We hear and obey,' +answered they. Then said the chief of the police of New Cairo, +'O our lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell +me, during my term of office, was on this wise: + + + + + +Story of the Chief of the Police of New Cairo. + + + +There were once, in this city, two men apt to bear witness in +matters of blood and wounds; but they were both given to wine +and women and debauchery; nor, do what I would, could I succeed +in bringing them to account. So I charged the vintners and +confectioners and fruiterers and chandlers and bagnio-keepers +to acquaint me of these two, when ever they should anywhere be +engaged in drinking or debauchery, whether together or apart, +and that, if they or either of them bought of them aught for +the purpose of carousal, they should not conceal it from me. +And they replied, "We hear and obey." + +One night, a man came to me and said, "O my lord, know that the +two witnesses are in such a house in such a street, engaged +in sore wickedness." So I disguised myself and went out, +accompanied by none but my page, to the street in question. +When I came to the house, I knocked at the door, whereupon a +slave-girl came out and opened to me, saying, "Who art thou?" I +made her no answer, but entered and saw the two witnesses and +the master of the house sitting, and lewd women with them, and +great plenty of wine before them. When they saw me, they rose to +receive me, without showing the least alarm, and made much of me, +seating me in the place of honour and saying to me, "Welcome for +an illustrious guest and a pleasant cup-companion!" + +Presently, the master of the house went out and returning after +awhile with three hundred dinars, said to me, without the least +fear, "O my lord, it is, we know, in thy power both to disgrace +and punish us; but this will bring thee nothing but weariness. +So thou wouldst do better to take this money and protect us; +for God the Most High is named the Protector and loveth those +of His servants who protect each other; and thou shalt have thy +reward in the world to come." The money tempted me and I said +in myself, "I will take the money and protect them this once; +but, if ever again I have them in my power, I will take my +wreak of them." + +So I took the money and went away; but, next day, one of the +Cadi's serjeants came to me and cited me before the court. I +accompanied him thither, knowing not the meaning of the +summons; and when I came into the Cadi's presence, I saw the +two witnesses and the master of the house sitting by him. The +latter rose and sued me for three hundred dinars, nor was it in +my power to deny the debt; for he produced a written obligation +and the two others testified against me that I owed the amount. + +Their evidence satisfied the Cadi and he ordered me to pay the +money; nor did I leave the Court till they had of me the three +hundred dinars. So I went away, in the utmost wrath and +confusion, vowing vengeance against them and repenting that I +had not punished them.' + +Then rose the chief of the Boulac police and said, 'As for me, +O our lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell +me, during my term of office, was as follows: + + + + + +Story of the Chief of the Boulac Police. + + + +I was once in debt to the amount of three hundred thousand +dinars, and being distressed thereby, I sold what was behind me +and what was before me and all I could lay my hands on, but +could raise no more than a hundred thousand dinars and abode in +great perplexity. One night, as I sat at home, in this state of +mind, there came a knocking at the gate; so I said to one of my +servants, "See who is at the door." He went out and returned, +pale and trembling in every nerve; so I said to him, "What ails +thee?" "There is a man at the door, seeking thee," answered he. +"He is half naked, clad in skins, with a sword and a knife in +his girdle, and with him are a company of the same fashion." So +I took my sword and going out to see who these were, found them +as the boy had reported and said to them, "What is your +business?" "We are thieves," answered they, "and have made +great purchase to-night and appointed it to thy use, that thou +mayst pay therewith the debts that oppress thee and free +thyself from thy distress." "Where is it?" asked I; and they +brought me a great chest, full of vessels of gold and silver; +which when I saw, I rejoiced and said in myself, "It were +ungenerous to let them go away empty-handed." + +So I took the hundred thousand dinars I had by me and gave it +to them, thanking them; and they took it and went their way, +under cover of the night. But, on the morrow, when I examined +the contents of the chest, I found them gilded brass and +pewter, worth five hundred dirhems at the most; and this was +grievous to me, for I had lost what money I had, and trouble +was added to my trouble.' + +Then rose the chief of the police of Old Cairo and said, 'O our +lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell me, +during my term of office, was on this wise: + + + + + +Story of the Chief of the Old Cairo Police + + + +I once had ten thieves hanged, each on his own gibbet, and set +guards to watch them and hinder the folk from taking them down. +Next morning, when I came to look at them, I found two bodies +hanging from one gibbet and said to the guards, "Who did this, +and where is the tenth gibbet?" But they denied all knowledge +of it, and I was about to beat them, when they said, "Know, O +Amir, that we fell asleep last night, and when we awoke, we +found one of the bodies gone, gibbet and all, whereat we were +alarmed, fearing thy wrath. But, presently, up came a peasant, +jogging along on his ass; so we laid hands on him and killing +him, hung his body upon this gibbet, in the stead of the +missing thief." + +When I heard this, I marvelled and said to them, "Had he aught +with him?" "He had a pair of saddle-bags on the ass," answered +they. "What was in them?" asked I and they said, "We know not." +Quoth I, "Bring them hither." So they brought them to me and I +bade open them, when, behold, therein was the body of a +murdered man, cut in pieces. When I saw this, I marvelled and +said in myself, "Glory be to God! The cause of the hanging of +this peasant was no other but his crime against this murdered +man; and the Lord is no unjust dealer with [His] servants."' +[FN#56] + + + + + + THE THIEF AND THE MONEY-CHANGER + + + +A money-changer, bearing a bag of money, once passed by a +company of thieves, and one of the latter said to the others, +'I know how to steal yonder bag of money.' 'How wilt thou do +it?' asked they. 'Look,' answered he and followed the money- +changer, till he entered his house, when he threw the bag on a +shelf and went into the draught-house, to do an occasion, +calling to the slave-girl to bring him an ewer of water. So she +took the jug and followed him to the draught-house, leaving the +door open, whereupon the thief entered and taking the bag of +money, made off with it to his companions, to whom he related +what had passed. 'By Allah,' said they, 'this was a clever +trick! It is not every one could do it: but, presently, the +money-changer will come out of the draught-house and missing +the bag of money, will beat the slave-girl and torture her +grievously. Meseems thou hast at present done nothing worthy of +praise; but, if thou be indeed a sharper, thou wilt return and +save the girl from being beaten.' 'If it be the will of God,' +answered the thief, 'I will save both the girl and the purse.' + +Then he went back to the money-changer's house and found him +beating the girl, because of the bag of money; so he knocked at +the door and the man said, 'Who is there? Quoth the thief, 'I +am the servant of thy neighbour in the bazaar.' So he came out +to him and said, 'What is thy business?' 'My master salutes +thee,' replied the thief, 'and says to thee, "Surely, thou art +mad to cast the like of this bag of money down at the door of +thy shop and go away and leave it! Had a stranger chanced on +it, he had made off with it." And except my master had seen it +and taken care of it, it had been lost to thee.' So saying, he +pulled out the purse and showed it to the money-changer, who +said, 'That is indeed my purse,' and put out his hand to take +it; but the thief said, 'By Allah, I will not give it thee, +till thou write me a receipt; for I fear my master will not +believe that thou hast duly received the purse, except I bring +him a writing to that effect, under thy hand and seal.' So the +money-changer went in to write the receipt; but, in the +meantime, the thief made off with the bag of money, having +[thus] saved the slave-girl her beating. + + + + + + THE CHIEF OF THE COUS POLICE AND THE + SHARPER + + + +It is related that Alaeddin, chief of the police of +Cous[FN#57], was sitting one night in his house, when a man of +comely aspect and dignified port, followed by a servant bearing +a chest upon his head, came to the door and said to one of the +young men, 'Go in and tell the Amir that I would speak with him +privily.' So the servant went in and told his master, who bade +admit the visitor. When he entered the Amir saw him to be a man +of good appearance and carriage; so he received him with +honour, seating him beside himself, and said to him, 'What is +thy business?' 'I am a highwayman,' replied the stranger, 'and +am minded to repent at thy hands and turn to God the Most High +but I would have thee help me to this, for that I am in thy +district and under thine eye. I have here a chest, wherein is +that which is worth nigh forty thousand dinars; and none hath +so good a right to it as thou; so do thou take it and give me +in exchange a thousand dinars of thy money, lawfully gotten, +that I may have a little capital, to aid me in my repentance, +and not be forced to resort to sin for subsistence; and with +God the Most High be thy reward!' So saying he opened the chest +and showed the Amir that it was full of trinkets and jewels and +bullion and pearls, whereat he was amazed and rejoiced greatly. +Then he cried out to his treasurer, to bring him a purse of a +thousand dinars, and gave it to the highwayman, who thanked him +and went his way, under cover of the night. + +On the morrow, the Amir sent for the chief of the goldsmiths and +showed him the chest and what was therein; but the goldsmith +found it nothing but pewter and brass and the jewels and pearls +all of glass; at which Alaeddin was sore chagrined and sent in +quest of the highwayman; but none could come at him. + + + + + + IBRAHIM BEN EL MEHDI AND THE MERCHANT'S + SISTER. + + + +The Khalif El Mamoun once said to [his uncle] Ibrahim ben el +Mehdi, 'Tell us the most remarkable thing that thou hast ever +seen.' 'I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful,' answered +he. 'Know that I went out one day, a-pleasuring, and my course +brought me to a place where I smelt the odour of food. My soul +longed for it and I halted, perplexed and unable either to go +on or enter. Presently, I raised my eyes and saw a lattice +window and behind it a hand and wrist, the like of which for +beauty I never saw. The sight turned my brain and I forgot the +smell of the food and began to cast about how I should get +access to the house. After awhile, I espied a tailor hard by +and going up to him, saluted him. He returned my greeting and I +said to him, "Whose house is that?" "It belongs to a merchant +called such an one," answered he, "who consorteth with none but +merchants." + +As we were talking, up came two men of comely and intelligent +aspect, riding on horseback; and the tailor told me their names +and that they were the merchant's most intimate friends. So I +spurred my horse towards them and said to them, "May I be your +ransom! Abou such an one[FN#58] waits for you!" And I rode with +them to the gate, where I entered and they also. When the +master of the house saw me, he doubted not but I was their +friend; so he welcomed me and made me sit down in the highest +room. Then they brought the table of food and I said, "God hath +granted me my desire of the food; and now there remain the hand +and wrist." After awhile, we removed, for carousal, to another +room, which I found full of all manner of rarities; and the +host paid me particular attention, addressing his conversation +to me, for that he deemed me a guest of his guests; whilst the +latter, in like manner, made much of me, taking me for a friend +of the master of the house. + +When we had drunk several cups of wine, there came in to us a +damsel of the utmost beauty and elegance, as she were a +willow-wand, who took a lute and playing a lively measure, sang +the following verses: + +Is it not passing strange, indeed, one house should hold us + tway And still thou drawst not near to me nor yet a word + dost say, +Except the secrets of the souls and hearts that broken be And + entrails blazing in the fires of love, the eye bewray +With meaning looks and knitted brows and eyelids languishing + And hands that salutation sign and greeting thus convey? + +When I heard this, my entrails were stirred and I was moved to +delight, for the excess of her grace and the beauty of the +verses she sang; and I envied her her skill and said, "There +lacketh somewhat to thee, O damsel!" Whereupon she threw the +lute from her hand, in anger, and cried, "Since when do you use +to bring ill-mannered fools into your assemblies?" Then I +repented of what I had done, seeing that the others were vexed +with me, and said in myself, "My hopes are at an end;" and I +saw no way of quitting myself of reproach but to call for a +lute, saying, "I will show you what escaped her in the air she +sang." So they brought me a lute and I tuned it and sang the +following verses: + +This is thy lover distraught, absorbed in his passion and pain; + Thy lover, the tears of whose eyes run down on his body + like rain. +One hand to his heart ever pressed, whilst the other the + Merciful One Imploreth, so He of His grace may grant him + his hope to attain. +O thou, that beholdest a youth for passion that's perished, + thine eye And thy hand are the cause of his death and yet + might restore him again. + +When the damsel heard this, she sprang up and throwing herself +at my feet, kissed them and said, "It is thine to excuse, O my +lord! By Allah, I knew not thy quality nor heard I ever the +like of this fashion!" And they all extolled me and made much +of me, being beyond measure delighted, and besought me to sing +again. So I sang a lively air, whereupon they all became as +drunken men, and their wits left them. Then the guests departed +to their homes and I abode alone with the host and the girl. +The former drank some cups with me, then said to me, "O my +lord, my life hath been wasted, in that I have not known the +like of thee till now. By Allah, then, tell me who thou art, +that I may know who is the boon-companion whom God hath +bestowed on me this night." + +I would not at first tell him my name and returned him evasive +answers; but he conjured me, till I told him who I was; +whereupon he sprang to his feet and said, "Indeed, I wondered +that such excellence should belong to any but the like of thee; +and Fortune hath done me a service for which I cannot avail to +thank her. But, belike, this is a dream; for how could I hope +that the family of the Khalifate should visit me in my own +house and carouse with me this night?" I conjured him to be +seated; so he sat down and began to question me, in the most +courteous terms, as to the cause of my visit. So I told him the +whole matter, concealing nothing, and said to him, "Verily, I +have had my desire of the food, but not of the hand and wrist." +Quoth he, "Thou shalt have thy desire of them also, so God +will." Then said he to the slave-girl, "Bid such an one come +down." And he called his slave-girls down, one by one and +showed them to me; but I saw not my mistress among them, and he +said, "O my lord, there is none left save my mother and sister; +but, by Allah, I must needs have them also down and show them +to thee." + +I marvelled at his courtesy and large-heartedness and said, +"May I be thy ransom! Begin with thy sister." "Willingly," +replied he. So she came down and behold, it was she whose hand +and wrist I had seen. "May God make me thy ransom!" said I. +"This is the damsel whose hand and wrist I saw at the lattice." +Then he sent at once for witnesses and bringing out two myriads +of dinars, said to the witnesses, "This our lord Ibrahim ben el +Mehdi, uncle of the Commander of the Faithful, seeks the hand +of my sister such an one, and I call you to witness that I +marry her to him and that he has endowed her with a dowry of +ten thousand dinars." And he said to me, "I give thee my sister +in marriage, at the dowry aforesaid." "I consent," answered I. +Whereupon he gave one of the bags to her and the other to the +witnesses, and said to me, "O my lord, I desire to array a +chamber for thee; where thou mayst lie with thy wife." But I +was abashed at his generosity and was ashamed to foregather +with her in his house; so I said, "Equip her and send her to my +house." And by thy life, O Commander of the Faithful, he sent +me such an equipage with her, that my house was too strait to +hold it, for all its greatness! And I begot on her this boy +that stands before thee.' + +The Khalif marvelled at the merchant's generosity and said, +'Gifted of God is he! Never heard I of his like.' And he bade +Ibrahim bring him to court, that he might see him. So he +brought him and the Khalif conversed with him; and his wit and +good breeding so pleased him, that he made him one of his chief +officers. + + + + + + THE WOMAN WHOSE HANDS WERE CUT OFF FOR + THAT SHE GAVE ALMS TO THE POOR. + + + +A certain King once made proclamation to the people of his +realm, saying, 'If any of you give alms of aught, I will +assuredly cut off his hand;' wherefore all the people abstained +from alms-giving, and none could give to any. + +One day a beggar accosted a certain woman (and indeed hunger +was sore upon him) and said to her, 'Give me an alms.' 'How can +I give thee aught,' answered she, 'when the King cutteth off +the hands of all who give alms?' But he said, 'I conjure thee +by God the Most High, give me an alms.' So, when he adjured her +by God, she had compassion on him and gave him two cakes of +bread. The King heard of this; so he called her before him and +cut off her hands, after which she returned to her house. + +A while after, the King said to his mother, 'I have a mind to +take a wife; so do thou marry me to a fair woman.' Quoth she, +'There is among our female slaves one who is unsurpassed in +beauty; but she hath a grievous blemish.' 'What is that?' asked +the King; and his mother answered, 'She hath had both her hands +cut off.' Said he, 'Let me see her.' So she brought her to him, +and he was ravished by her and married her and went in to her; +and she brought him a son. + +Now this was the woman, who had her hands cut off for +alms-giving; and when she became queen, her fellow-wives envied +her and wrote to the King [who was then absent] that she was +unchaste; so he wrote to his mother, bidding her carry the +woman into the desert and leave her there. The old queen obeyed +his commandment and abandoned the woman and her son in the +desert; whereupon she fell to weeping and wailing exceeding +sore for that which had befallen her. As she went along, with +the child at her neck, she came to a river and knelt down to +drink, being overcome with excess of thirst, for fatigue and +grief; but, as she bent her head, the child fell into the +water. + +Then she sat weeping sore for her child, and as she wept, there +came up two men, who said to her, 'What makes thee weep?' Quoth +she, 'I had a child at my neck, and he hath fallen into the +water.' 'Wilt thou that we bring him out to thee?' asked they, +and she answered, 'Yes.' So they prayed to God the Most High, +and the child came forth of the water to her, safe and sound. +Quoth they, 'Wilt thou that God restore thee thy hands as they +were?' 'Yes,' replied she: whereupon they prayed to God, +blessed and exalted be He! and her hands were restored to her, +goodlier than before. Then said they, 'Knowst thou who we are?' +'God [only] is all-knowing,' answered she; and they said, 'We +are thy two cakes of bread, that thou gavest in alms to the +beggar and which were the cause of the cutting off of thy +hands. So praise thou God the Most High, for that He hath +restored thee thy hands and thy child.' So she praised God the +Most High and glorified Him. + + + + + + THE DEVOUT ISRAELITE. + + + +There was once a devout man of the children of Israel[FN#59], +whose family span cotton; and he used every day to sell the +yarn they span and buy fresh cotton, and with the profit he +bought the day's victual for his household. One day, he went +out and sold the day's yarn as usual, when there met him one of +his brethren, who complained to him of want; so he gave him the +price of the yarn and returned, empty-handed, to his family, +who said to him, 'Where is the cotton and the food?' Quoth he, +'Such an one met me and complained to me of want; so I gave him +the price of the yarn.' And they said, 'How shall we do? We +have nothing to sell.' Now they had a broken platter and a jar; +so he took them to the market; but none would buy them of him. + +Presently, as he stood in the market, there came up a man with +a stinking, swollen fish, which no one would buy of him, and he +said to the Jew, 'Wilt thou sell me thine unsaleable ware for +mine?' 'Yes,' answered the Jew and giving him the jar and +platter, took the fish and carried it home to his family, who +said, 'What shall we do with this fish?' Quoth he, 'We will +broil it and eat of it, till it please God to provide for us.' +So they took it and ripping open its belly, found therein a +great pearl and told the Jew, who said, 'See if it be pierced. +If so, it belongs to some one of the folk; if not, it is a +provision of God for us.' So they examined it and found it +unpierced. + +On the morrow, the Jew carried it to one of his brethren, who +was skilled in jewels, and he said, 'Whence hadst thou this +pearl?' 'It was a gift of God the Most High to us,' replied the +Jew, and the other said, 'It is worth a thousand dirhems, and I +will give thee that sum; but take it to such an one, for he +hath more money and skill than I.' So the Jew took it to the +jeweller, who said, 'It is worth threescore and ten thousand +dirhems and no more. Then he paid him that sum and the Jew +hired two porters to carry the money to his house. As he came +to his door, a beggar accosted him, saying, 'Give me of that +which God the Most High hath given thee.' Quoth the Jew, 'But +yesterday, we were even as thou; take half the money.' So he +made two parts of it, and each took his half. Then said the +beggar, 'Take back thy money and God prosper thee in it; I am a +messenger, whom thy Lord hath sent to try thee.' Quoth the Jew, +'To God be the praise and the thanks!' and abode with his +family in all delight of life, till death. + + + + + + ABOU HASSAN EZ ZIYADI AND THE MAN FROM + KHORASSAN. + + + +Quoth Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi[FN#60], 'I was once in very needy +case, and the baker and grocer and other purveyors importuned +me, so that I was in sore straits and knew of no resource nor +what to do. Things being thus, there came in to me one day one +of my servants and said to me, "There is a man, a pilgrim, at +the door, who seeks admission to thee." Quoth I, "Admit him." +So he came in and behold, he was a native of Khorassan. We +exchanged salutations and he said to me, "Art thou Abou Hassan +ez Ziyadi?" "Yes," answered I. "What is thy business?" Quoth +he, "I am a stranger and am minded to make the pilgrimage; but +I have with me a great sum of money, which is burdensome to me. +So I wish to deposit with thee these ten thousand dirhems, +whilst I make the pilgrimage and return. If the caravan return +and thou see me not, know that I am dead, in which case the +money is a gift from me to thee; but if I come back, it shall +be mine." "Be it as thou wilt," answered I, "so it please God +the Most High." So he brought out a leather bag and I said to +the servant, "Fetch the scales." He brought them and the man +weighed out the money and handed it to me, after which he went +his way. Then I called the tradesmen and paid them what I owed +and spent freely, saying in myself, "By the time he returns, +God will have succoured me with one or another of His bounties." +However, next day, the servant came in to me and said, "Thy +friend the man from Khorassan is at the door." + +"Admit him," answered I. So he came in and said to me, "I had +thought to make the pilgrimage; but news hath reached me of the +death of my father, and I have resolved to return; so give me +the money I deposited with thee yesterday." When I heard this, +I was troubled and perplexed beyond measure and knew not what +reply to make him; for, if I denied it, he would put me to my +oath, and I should be shamed in the world to come; whilst, if I +told him that I had spent the money, he would make an outcry +and disgrace me. So I said to him, "God give thee health! This +my house is no stronghold nor place of safe custody for this +money. When I received thy leather bag, I sent it to one with +whom it now is; so do thou return to us to-morrow and take thy +money, if it be the will of God." + +So he went away, and I passed the night in sore concern, because +of his return to me. Sleep visited me not nor could I close my +eyes: so I rose and bade the boy saddle me the mule. "O my lord," +answered he, "it is yet but the first watch of the night." So I +returned to bed, but sleep was forbidden to me and I ceased not +to awaken the boy and he to put me off, till break of day, when +he saddled me the mule, and I mounted and rode out, not knowing +whither to go. I threw the reins on the mule's shoulders and +gave myself up to anxiety and melancholy thought, whilst she +fared on with me to the eastward of Baghdad. Presently, as I +went along, I saw a number of people in front and turned aside +into another path to avoid them; but they, seeing that I wore +a professor's hood, followed me and hastening up to me, said, +"Knowest thou the lodging of Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi?" "I am he," +answered I; and they rejoined, "The Commander of the Faithful +calls for thee." Then they carried me before El Mamoun, who +said to me, "Who art thou?" Quoth I, "I am a professor of the +law and traditions, and one of the associates of the Cadi Abou +Yousuf." "How art thou called?" asked the Khalif. "Abou Hassan +ez Ziyadi," answered I, and he said, "Expound to me thy case." + +So I told him how it was with me and he wept sore and said to +me, "Out on thee! The Apostle of God (whom may He bless and +preserve) would not let me sleep this night, because of thee; +for he appeared to me in my first sleep and said to me, +'Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi.' Whereupon I awoke and knowing +thee not, went to sleep again; but he came to me a second time +and said to me, 'Woe to thee! Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi.' I +awoke a second time, but knew thee not, so went to sleep again; +and he came to me a third time and still I knew thee not and +went to sleep again. Then he came to me once more and said, +'Out on thee! Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi!' After that I +dared not go to sleep again, but watched the rest of the night +and aroused my people and sent them in all directions in quest +of thee." Then he gave me ten thousand dirhems, saying, "This +is for the Khorassani," and other ten thousand, saying, "Spend +freely of this and amend thy case therewith, and set thine +affairs in order." Moreover, he gave me yet thirty thousand +dirhems, saying, "Furnish thyself with this, and when the day +of estate comes round, come thou to me, that I may invest thee +with an office." + +So I took the money and returned home, where I prayed the +morning-prayer. Presently came the Khorassani, so I carried him +into the house and brought out to him ten thousand dirhems, +saying, "Here is thy money." "It is not my very money," +answered he. "How cometh this?" So I told him the whole story, +and he wept and said, "By Allah, hadst thou told me the truth +at first, I had not pressed thee! And now, by Allah, I will not +accept aught of the money; and thou art quit of it." So saying, +he went away and I set my affairs in order and repaired on the +appointed day to the Divan, where I found the Khalif seated. +When he saw me, he called me to him and bringing forth to me a +paper from under his prayer-carpet, said to me, "This is a +patent, conferring on thee the office of Cadi of the western +division of the Holy City[FN#61] from the Bab es Selam[FN#62] +to the end of the town; and I appoint thee such and such +monthly allowances. So fear God (to whom belong might and +majesty) and be mindful of the solicitude of His Apostle (whom +may He bless and preserve) on thine account." The folk marvelled +at the Khalif's words and questioned me of their meaning; so I +told them the whole story and it spread abroad amongst the +people.' + +And [quoth he who tells the tale] Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi ceased +not to be Cadi of the Holy City, till he died in the days of El +Mamoun, the mercy of God be on him! + + + + + + THE POOR MAN AND HIS GENEROUS FRIEND. + + + +There was once a rich man, who lost all he had and became poor, +whereupon his wife counselled him to seek aid of one of his +friends. So he betook himself to a certain friend of his and +acquainted him with his strait; and he lent him five hundred +dinars to trade withal. Now he had aforetime been a jeweller; +so he took the money and went to the jewel-bazaar, where he +opened a shop to buy and sell. Presently, three men accosted +him, as he sat in his shop, and asked for his father. He told +them that he was dead, and they said, 'Did he leave any +offspring?' Quoth the jeweller, 'He left a son, your servant.' +'And who knoweth thee for his son?' asked they. 'The people of +the bazaar,' replied he; and they said, 'Call them together, +that they may testify to us that thou art his son.' So he +called them and they bore witness of this; whereupon the three +men delivered to him a pair of saddle-bags, containing thirty +thousand dinars, besides jewels and bullion, saying, 'This was +deposited with us in trust by thy father.' Then they went away; +and presently there came to him a woman, who sought of him +certain of the jewels, worth five hundred dinars, and paid him +three thousand for them. + +So he took five hundred dinars and carrying them to his friend, +who had lent him the money, said to him, 'Take the five hundred +dinars I borrowed of thee; for God hath aided and prospered +me.' 'Not so,' quoth the other. 'I gave them to thee outright, +for the love of God; so do thou keep them. And take this paper, +but read it not, till thou be at home, and do according to that +which is therein.' So he took the paper and returned home, +where he opened it and read therein the following verses: + +The men who came to thee at first my kinsmen were, my sire, His + brother and my dam's, Salih ben Ali is his name. +Moreover, she to whom thou soldst the goods my mother was, And + eke the jewels and the gold, from me, to boot, they came; +Nor, in thus ordering myself to thee, aught did I seek Save of + the taking it from me to spare thee from the shame. + + + + + + THE RUINED MAN WHO BECAME RICH AGAIN + THROUGH A DREAM. + + + +There lived once in Baghdad a very wealthy man, who lost all +his substance and became so poor, that he could only earn his +living by excessive labour. One night, he lay down to sleep, +dejected and sick at heart, and saw in a dream one who said to +him, 'Thy fortune is at Cairo; go thither and seek it.' So he +set out for Cairo; but, when he arrived there, night overtook +him and he lay down to sleep in a mosque. Presently, as fate +would have it, a company of thieves entered the mosque and made +their way thence into an adjoining house; but the people of the +house, being aroused by the noise, awoke and cried out; +whereupon the chief of the police came to their aid with his +officers. The robbers made off; but the police entered the +mosque and finding the man from Baghdad asleep there, laid hold +of him and beat him with palm rods, till he was well-nigh dead. +Then they cast him into prison, where he abode three days, +after which the chief of the police sent for him and said to +him, 'Whence art thou?' 'From Baghdad,' answered he. 'And what +brought thee to Cairo?' asked the magistrate. Quoth the +Baghdadi, 'I saw in a dream one who said to me, "Thy fortune is +at Cairo; go thither to it." But when I came hither, the +fortune that he promised me proved to be the beating I had of +thee.' + +The chief of the police laughed, till he showed his jaw-teeth, +and said, 'O man of little wit, thrice have I seen in a dream +one who said to me, "There is in Baghdad a house of such a +fashion and situate so-and-so, in the garden whereof is a +fountain and thereunder a great sum of money buried. Go thither +and take it." Yet I went not; but thou, of thy little wit, hast +journeyed from place to place, on the faith of a dream, which +was but an illusion of sleep.' Then he gave him money, saying, +'This is to help thee back to thy native land.' Now the house +he had described was the man's own house in Baghdad; so the +latter returned thither, and digging underneath the fountain in +his garden, discovered a great treasure; and [thus] God gave +him abundant fortune. + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL MUTAWEKKIL AND HIS + FAVOURITE MEHBOUBEH. + + + +There were in the palace of the Khalif El Mutawekkil ala Allah +[FN#63] four thousand concubines, whereof two thousand were +Greeks [and other foreigners] and other two thousand native +Arabians[FN#64] and Abyssinians; and Obeid ibn Tahir[FN#65] +had given him two hundred white girls and a like number of +Abyssinian and native girls[FN#66]. Among these latter was a +girl of Bassora, Mehboubeh by name, who was of surpassing +beauty and elegance and voluptuous grace. Moreover, she played +upon the lute and was skilled in singing and making verses and +wrote excellent well; so that El Mutawekkil fell passionately +in love with her and could not endure from her a single hour. +When she saw this, she presumed upon his favour to use him +haughtily and capriciously, so that he waxed exceeding wroth +with her and forsook her, forbidding the people of the palace +to speak with her. + +On this wise she abode some days, but the Khalif still inclined +to her; and he arose one morning and said to his courtiers, +'I dreamt, last night, that I was reconciled to Mehboubeh.' +'Would God this might be on wake!' answered they. As they were +talking, in came one of the Khalif's maidservants and whispered +him that they had heard a noise of singing and luting in +Mehboubeh's chamber and knew not what this meant. So he rose +and entering the harem, went straight to Mehboubeh's apartment, +where he heard her playing wonder-sweetly upon the lute and +singing the following verses: + +I wander through the halls, but not a soul I see, To whom I may + complain or who will speak with me. +It is as though I'd wrought so grievous an offence, No + penitence avails myself therefrom to free. +Will no one plead my cause with a king, who came to me In sleep + and took me back to favour and to gree; +But with the break of day to rigour did revert And cast me off + from him and far away did flee? + +When the Khalif heard these verses, he marvelled at the strange +coincidence of their dreams and entered the chamber. As soon as +she was ware of him, she hastened to throw herself at his feet, +and kissing them, said, 'By Allah, O my lord, this is what I +dreamt last night; and when I awoke, I made the verses thou +hast heard.' ''By Allah,' replied El Mutawekkil, 'I also dreamt +the like!' Then they embraced and made friends and he abode +with her seven days and nights. + +Now she had written upon her cheek, in musk, the Khalif's name, +which was Jaafer: and when he saw this, he made the following +verses: + +One wrote on her cheek, with musk, a name, yea, Jaafer to wit: + My soul be her ransom who wrote on her cheek what I see on + it! +If her fingers, indeed, have traced a single line on her cheek, + I trow, in my heart of hearts full many a line she hath + writ +O thou, whom Jaafer alone of men possesses, may God Grant + Jaafer to drink his fill of the wine of thy beauty and + wit! + +When El Mutawekkil died, all his women forgot him save +Mehboubeh, who ceased not to mourn for him, till she died and +was buried by his side, the mercy of God be on them both! + + + + + + WERDAN THE BUTCHER HIS ADVENTURE WITH + THE LADY AND THE BEAR. + + + +There lived once in Cairo, in the days of the Khalif El Hakim +bi Amrillah, a butcher named Werdan, who dealt in sheep's +flesh; and there came to him every forenoon a lady and gave him +a diner, whose weight was nigh two and a half Egyptian diners, +saying, 'Give me a lamb.' So he took the money and gave her the +lamb, which she delivered to a porter she had with her; and he +put it in his basket and she went away with him to her own +place. This went on for some time, the butcher profiting a +dinar by her every day, till at last he began to be curious +about her and said to himself, 'This woman buys a diner's worth +of meat of me every day, paying ready money, and never misses a +day. Verily, this is a strange thing!' So he took an occasion +of questioning the porter, in her absence, and said to him, +'Whither goest thou every day with yonder woman?' 'I know not +what to make of her,' answered the porter; 'for, every day, +after she hath taken the lamb of thee, she buys fresh and dried +fruits and wax candles and other necessaries of the table, a +dinar's worth, and takes of a certain Nazarene two flagons of +wine, for which she pays him another diner. Then she loads me +with the whole and I go with her to the Vizier's Gardens, where +she blindfolds me, so that I cannot see where I set my feet, +and taking me by the hand, leads me I know not whither. +Presently, she says, "Set down here;" and when I have done so, +she gives me an empty basket she has ready and taking my hand, +leads me back to the place, where she bound my eyes, and there +does off the bandage and gives me ten dirhems.' 'God be her +helper!' quoth Werdan; but he redoubled in curiosity about her +case; disquietude increased upon him and he passed the night in +exceeding restlessness. + +Next morning, [quoth Werdan,] she came to me as of wont and +taking the lamb, delivered it to the porter and went away. So I +gave my shop in charge to a boy and followed her, unseen of +her; nor did I cease to keep her in sight, hiding behind her, +till she left Cairo and came to the Vizier's Gardens. Then I +hid, whilst she bound the porter's eyes, and followed her again +from place to place, till she came to the mountain and stopped +at a place where there was a great stone. Here she made the +porter set down his crate, and I waited, whilst she carried him +back to the Vizier's Gardens, after which she returned and +taking out the contents of the basket, disappeared behind the +stone. Then I went up to the stone and pulling it away, +discovered behind it an open trap-door of brass and a flight of +steps leading downward. So I descended, little by little, into +a long corridor, brilliantly lighted, and followed it, till I +came to a [closed] door, as it were the door of a room. I +looked about till I discovered a recess, with steps therein; +then climbed up and found a little niche with an opening +therein giving upon a saloon. + +So I looked in and saw the lady cut off the choicest parts of +the lamb and laying them in a saucepan, throw the rest to a +huge great bear, who ate it all to the last bit. When she had +made an end of cooking, she ate her fill, after which she set +on wine and fruits and confections and fell to drinking, using +a cup herself and giving the bear to drink in a basin of gold, +till she was heated with wine, when she put off her trousers +and lay down. Thereupon the bear came up to her and served her, +whilst she gave him the best of what belongeth to mankind, till +he had made an end, when he sat down and rested. Presently, he +sprang to her and served her again; and thus he did, till he +had furnished half a score courses, and they both fell down in +a swoon and abode without motion. + +Then said I to myself, "Now is my opportunity," and taking a +knife I had with me, that would cut bones before flesh, went +down to them and found them motionless, not a muscle of them +moving for their much swink. So I put my knife to the bear's +gullet and bore upon it, till I severed his head from his body, +and he gave a great snort like thunder, whereat she started up +in alarm and seeing the bear slain and me standing with the +knife in my hand, gave such a shriek that I thought the soul +had left her body. Then said she, "O Werdan, is this how thou +requitest me my favours?" "O enemy of thine own soul," replied +I, "dost thou lack of men that thou must do this shameful +thing?" She made me no answer, but bent down to the bear, and +finding his head divided from his body, said to me, "O Werdan, +which were the liefer to thee, to hearken to what I shall say +to thee and be the means of thine own safety and enrichment to +the end of thy days, or gainsay me and so bring about thine own +destruction?" "I choose rather to hearken unto thee," answered +I. "Say what thou wilt." "Then," said she, "kill me, as thou +hast killed this bear, and take thy need of this treasure and +go thy way." Quoth I, "I am better than this bear. Return to +God the Most High and repent, and I will marry thee, and we +will live on this treasure the rest of our lives." "O Werdan," +rejoined she, "far be it from me! How shall I live after him? +An thou kill me not, by Allah, I will assuredly do away thy +life! So leave bandying words with me, or thou art a lost man. +This is all I have to say to thee and peace be on thee." Then +said I, "I will slay thee, and thou shalt go to the malediction +of God." So saying, I caught her by the hair and cut her +throat; and she went to the malediction of God and of the +angels and of all mankind. + +Then I examined the place and found there gold and pearls and +jewels, such as no king could bring together. So I filled the +porter's crate with as much as I could carry and covered it +with the clothes I had on me. Then I shouldered it and going up +out of the underground place, set out homeward and fared on, +till I came to the gate of Cairo, where I fell in with ten of +the Khalif's body-guard, followed by El Hakim[FN#67] himself, +who said to me. "Ho, Werdan!" "At thy service, O King," replied +I. "Hast thou killed the woman and the bear?" asked he and I +answered, "Yes." Quoth he, "Set down the basket and fear +naught, for all the treasure thou hast with thee is thine, and +none shall dispute it with thee." So I set down the basket, and +he uncovered it and looked at it; then said to me, "Tell me +their case, though I know it, as if I had been present with +you." So I told him all that had passed and he said, "Thou hast +spoken the truth, O Werdan. Come now with me to the treasure." + +So I returned with him to the cavern, where he found the +trap-door closed and said to me, "O Werdan, lift it; none but +thou can open the treasure, for it is enchanted in thy name and +favour." "By Allah," answered I, "I cannot open it;" but he +said, "Go up to it, trusting in the blessing of God." So I +called upon the name of God the Most High and going up to the +trap-door, put my hand to it; whereupon it came up, as it had +been the lightest of things. Then said the Khalif, "Go down and +bring up what is there; for none but one of thy name and favour +and quality hath gone down there since the place was made, and +the slaying of the bear and the woman was appointed to be at +thy hand. This was recorded with me and I was awaiting its +fulfilment." Accordingly, I went down and brought up all the +treasure, whereupon the Khalif sent for beasts of burden and +carried it away, after giving me the porter's crate, with what +was therein. So I carried it home and opened me a shop in the +market. And [quoth he who tells the tale] this market is still +extant and is known as Werdan's Market. + + + + + + THE KING'S DAUGHTER AND THE APE. + + + +There was once a King's daughter, whose heart was taken with +love of a black slave: he did away her maidenhead, and she +became passionately addicted to amorous dalliance, so that she +could not endure from it a single hour and made moan of her +case to one of her body women, who told her that no thing doth +the deed of kind more abundantly than the ape. Now it chanced, +one day, that an ape-leader passed under her lattice, with a +great ape; so she unveiled her face and looking upon the ape, +signed to him with her eyes, whereupon he broke his bonds and +shackles and climbed up to the princess, who hid him in a place +with her, and he abode, eating and drinking and cricketing, +night and day. Her father heard of this and would have killed +her; but she took the alarm and disguising herself in a [male] +slave's habit, loaded a mule with gold and jewels and precious +stuffs past count; then, taking horse with the ape, fled to +Cairo, where she took up her abode in one of the houses without +the city. + +Now, every day, she used to buy meat of a young man, a butcher, +but came not to him till after noonday, pale and disordered in +face; so that he said in himself, 'There hangs some mystery by +this slave.' For she used to visit him in her slave's habit. +[Quoth the butcher,] So, one day, when she came to me as usual, +I went out after her, unseen, and ceased not to follow her from +place to place, so as she saw me not, till she came to her +lodging, without the city, and I looked in upon her, through a +cranny, and saw her light a fire and cook the meat, of which +she ate her fill and gave the rest to an ape she had with her. +Then she put off her slave's habit and donned the richest of +women's apparel; and so I knew that she was a woman. After this +she set on wine and drank and gave the ape to drink; and he +served her nigh half a score times, till she swooned away, when +he threw a silken coverlet over her and returned to his place. + +Thereupon I went down into the midst of the place and the ape, +becoming aware of me, would have torn me in pieces; but I made +haste to pull out my knife and slit his paunch. The noise +aroused the young lady, who awoke, terrified and trembling; and +when she saw the ape in this plight, she gave such a shriek, +that her soul well-nigh departed her body. Then she fell down +in a swoon, and when she came to herself, she said to me, "What +moved thee to do thus? By Allah, I conjure thee to send me after +him!" But I spoke her fair and engaged to her that I would stand +in the ape's stead, in the matter of much clicketing, till her +trouble subsided and I took her to wife. + +However, I fell short in this and could not endure to it; so I +complained of her case to a certain old woman, who engaged to +manage the affair and said to me, "Thou must bring me a cooking- +pot full of virgin vinegar and a pound of pyrethrum."[FN#68] +So I brought her what she sought, and she laid the pyrethrum +in the pot with the vinegar and set it on the fire, till it +boiled briskly. Then she bade me serve the girl, and I served +her, till she fainted away, when the old woman took her up, and +she unknowing, and set her kaze to the mouth of the cooking-pot. +The steam of the pot entered her poke and there fell from it +somewhat, which I examined and behold, it was two worms, one +black and the other yellow. Quoth the old woman, "The black was +bred of the embraces of the negro and the yellow of those of +the ape." + +When my wife recovered from her swoon, she abode with me, in +all delight and solace of life, and sought not copulation, as +before, for God the Most High had done away from her this +appetite; whereat I marvelled and acquainted her with the case. +Moreover, [quoth he who tells the tale,] she took the old woman +to be to her in the stead of her mother, and she and Werdan and +his wife abode in joy and cheer, till there came to them the +Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and glory +be to the Living One, who dieth not and in whose hand is the +empire of the Seen and the Unseen! + + + + + + THE ENCHANTED HORSE. + + + +There was once, of old time, a great and puissant King, of the +Kings of the Persians, Sabour by name, who was the richest of +all the Kings in store of wealth and dominion and surpassed them +all in wit and wisdom. Generous, open-handed and beneficent, he +gave to those who sought and repelled not those who resorted to +him, comforted the broken-hearted and honourably entreated those +who fled to him for refuge. Moreover, he loved the poor and was +hospitable to strangers and did the oppressed justice upon those +who oppressed them. He had three daughters, like shining full +moons or flowered gardens, and a son as he were the moon; and it +was his wont to keep two festivals in the year, those of the New +Year and the Autumnal Equinox, on which occasions he threw open +his palaces and gave gifts and made proclamation of safety and +security and advanced his chamberlains and officers; and the +people of his realm came in to him and saluted him and gave him +joy of the festival, bringing him gifts and servants. + +Now he loved science and geometry, and one day, as he sat on +his throne of kingship, during one of these festivals, there +came in to him three sages, cunning artificers and past masters +in all manner of crafts and inventions, skilled in making +rarities, such as confound the wit, and versed in the knowledge +of [occult] truths and subtleties; and they were of three +different tongues and countries, the first an Indian, the +second a Greek and the third a Persian. The Indian came forward +and prostrating himself before the King, gave him joy of the +festival and laid before him a present befitting [his dignity]; +that is to say, a figure of gold, set with precious stones and +jewels of price and holding in its hand a golden trumpet. When +Sabour saw this, he said, 'O sage, what is the virtue of this +figure?' And the Indian answered, 'O my lord; if this figure be +set at the gate of thy city, it will be a guardian over it; +for, if an enemy enter the place, it will blow this trumpet +against him, and so he will be known and laid hands on.' The +King marvelled at this and said, 'By Allah, O sage, an this thy +word be true, I will grant thee thy wish and thy desire.' + +Then came forward the Greek and prostrating himself before the +King, presented him with a basin of silver, in whose midst was +a peacock of gold, surrounded by four-and-twenty young ones of +the same metal. Sabour looked at them and turning to the Greek, +said to him, 'O sage, what is the virtue of this peacock?' 'O +my lord,' answered he, 'as often as an hour of the day or night +passes, it pecks one of its young [and cries out and flaps its +wings,] till the four-and-twenty hours are accomplished; and +when the month comes to an end, it will open its mouth and thou +shalt see the new moon therein.' And the King said, 'An thou +speak sooth, I will bring thee to thy wish and thy desire.' + +Then came forward the Persian sage and prostrating himself +before the King, presented him with a horse of ebony wood, +inlaid with gold and jewels, ready harnessed with saddle and +bridle and stirrups such as befit kings; which when Sabour saw, +he marvelled exceedingly and was confounded at the perfection +of its form and the ingenuity of its fashion. So he said, 'What +is the use of this horse of wood, and what is its virtue and +the secret of its movement?' 'O my lord,' answered the Persian, +'the virtue of this horse is that, if one mount him, it will +carry him whither he will and fare with its rider through the +air for the space of a year and a day.' The King marvelled and +was amazed at these three wonders, following thus hard upon +each other in one day, and turning to the sage, said to him, +'By the Great God and the Bountiful Lord, who created all +creatures and feedeth them with water and victual, an thy +speech be true and the virtue of thy handiwork appear, I will +give thee whatsoever thou seekest and will bring thee to thy +wish and thy desire!' + +Then he entertained the three sages three days, that he might +make trial of their gifts, after which they brought them before +him and each took the creature he had wrought and showed him +the secret of its movement. The trumpeter blew the trumpet, the +peacock pecked its young and the Persian sage mounted the horse +of ebony, whereupon it soared with him into the air and +descended again. When the King saw all this, he was amazed and +perplexed and was like to fly for joy and said to the three +sages, 'Now am I certified of the truth of your words and it +behoves me to quit me of my promise. Seek ye, therefore, what +ye will, and I will give it you.' Now the report of the [beauty +of the] King's daughters had reached the sages, so they +answered, 'If the King be content with us and accept of our +gifts and give us leave to ask a boon of him, we ask of him +that he give us his three daughters in marriage, that we may be +his sons-in-law; for that the stability of kings may not be +gainsaid.' Quoth the King, 'I grant you that which you desire,' +and bade summon the Cadi forthright, that he might marry each +of the sages to one of his daughters. + +Now these latter were behind a curtain, looking on; and when they +heard this, the youngest considered [him that was to be] her +husband and saw him to be an old man, a hundred years of age, +with frosted hair, drooping forehead, mangy eyebrows, slitten +ears, clipped[FN#69] beard and moustaches, red, protruding eyes, +bleached, hollow, flabby cheeks, nose like an egg-plant and face +like a cobbler's apron, teeth overlapping one another,[FN#70] +lips like camel's kidneys, loose and pendulous; brief, a monstrous +favour; for he was the frightfullest of the folk of his time; his +grinders had been knocked[FN#71] out and his teeth were like the +tusks of the Jinn that fright the fowls in the hen-house. Now the +princess was the fairest and most graceful woman of her time, more +elegant than the tender gazelle, blander than the gentle zephyr +and brighter than the moon at her full, confounding the branch +and outdoing the gazelle in the flexile grace of her shape and +movements; and she was fairer and sweeter than her sisters. So, +when she saw her suitor, she went to her chamber and strewed dust +on her head and tore her clothes and fell to buffeting her face +and lamenting and weeping. + +Now the prince her brother, who loved her with an exceeding +love, more than her sisters, was then newly returned from a +journey and hearing her weeping and crying, came in to her and +said, 'What ails thee? Tell me and conceal nought from me.' 'O +my brother and my dear one,' answered she, 'if the palace be +straitened upon thy father, I will go out; and if he be +resolved upon a foul thing, I will separate myself from him, +though he consent not to provide for me.' Quoth he, 'Tell me +what means this talk and what has straitened thy breast and +troubled thy humour.' 'O my brother and my dear one,' answered +the princess, 'know that my father hath given me in marriage to +a sorcerer, who brought him, as a gift, a horse of black wood, +and hath stricken him with his craft and his sorcery; but, as +for me, I will none of him, and would, because of him, I had +never come into this world!' Her brother soothed her and +comforted her, then betook himself to his father and said to +him, 'What is this sorcerer to whom thou hast given my youngest +sister in marriage, and what is this present that he hath +brought thee, so that thou hast caused my sister to [almost] +die of chagrin? It is not right that this should be.' + +Now the Persian was standing by and when he heard the prince's +words, he was mortified thereby and filled with rage, and the +King said, 'O my son, an thou sawest this horse, thy wit would +be confounded and thou wouldst be filled with amazement.' Then +he bade the slaves bring the horse before him and they did so; +and when the prince, who was an accomplished cavalier, saw it, +it pleased him. So he mounted it forthright and struck its +belly with the stirrup-irons; but it stirred not and the King +said to the sage, 'Go and show him its movement, that he also +may help thee to thy wish.' Now the Persian bore the prince +malice for that he willed not he should have his sister; so he +showed him the peg of ascent on the right side [of the horse's +neck] and saying to him, 'Turn this pin,' left him. So the +prince turned the pin and forthwith the horse soared with him +into the air, as it were a bird, and gave not over flying with +him, till it disappeared from sight, whereat the King was +troubled and perplexed about his affair and said to the +Persian, 'O sage, look how thou mayst make him descend.' But he +answered, 'O my lord, I can do nothing, and thou wilt never see +him again till the Day of Resurrection, for that he, of his +ignorance and conceit, asked me not of the peg of descent and I +forgot to acquaint him therewith.' When the King heard this, he +was sore enraged and bade beat the sorcerer and clap him in +prison, whilst he himself cast the crown from his head and +buffeted his face and beat upon his breast. Moreover, he shut +the doors of his palaces and gave himself up to weeping and +lamentation, he and his wife and daughters and all the folk of +the city; and [thus] their joy was turned to mourning and their +gladness changed into chagrin and sore affliction. + +Meanwhile, the horse gave not over soaring with the prince, +till he drew near the sun, whereat he gave himself up for lost +and was confounded at his case, repenting him of having mounted +the horse and saying in himself, 'Verily, this was a plot of +the sage to destroy me; but there is no power and no virtue but +in God the Most High, the Supreme! I am lost without recourse; +but, I wonder, did not he who made the peg of ascent make a peg +of descent also?' Now he was a man of wit and intelligence; so +he fell to examining all the parts of the horse, but saw +nothing save a peg, like a cock's head, on its right shoulder +and the like on the left, and turned the right-hand peg, +whereupon the horse flew upward with increased speed. So he +left it and turned the left-hand peg, and immediately the +steed's upward motion ceased and he began to descend, little by +little, towards the earth. When the prince saw this and knew +the uses of the horse, he was filled with joy and gladness and +thanked God the Most High for that He had vouchsafed to deliver +him from destruction. Then he began to turn the horse's head +whither he would, making him rise and fall at pleasure, till he +had gotten complete command of his movement. + +He ceased not to descend the whole of that day, for that the +steed's upward flight had borne him afar from the earth; and as +he descended, he diverted himself with viewing the various +towns and countries over which he passed and which he knew not, +having never seen them in his life. Amongst the rest, he saw a +city of the goodliest ordinance, in the midst of a green and +smiling country, abounding in trees and streams; whereat he +fell a-musing and said in himself, 'Would I knew the name of +yonder city and in what country it is!' And he began to circle +about it and observe it right and left. By this time, the day +began to wane and the sun drew near to its setting; and he +said, 'I see no goodlier place to pass the night in than this +city; so I will lodge here this night and on the morrow I will +return to my people and my kingdom and tell my father and +family what has passed and what I have seen with my eyes.' Then +he addressed himself to look for a place, where he might safely +bestow himself and his horse and where none should see him, and +presently espied a palace, surrounded by a great wall with +lofty battlements, rising high into the air from the midst of +the city and guarded by forty black slaves, clad in complete +mail and armed with spears and swords and bows and arrows. +Quoth he, 'This is a goodly place,' and turned the peg of +descent, whereupon the horse sank down with him and alighted +gently on the roof of the palace. So the prince dismounted and +began to go round about the horse and examine it, saying, 'By +Allah, he who fashioned thee was a cunning craftsman, and if God +extend the term of my life and restore me to my country and family +in safety and reunite me with my father, I will assuredly bestow +upon him all manner of bounties and entreat him with the utmost +favour.' + +By this time the night had overtaken him and he sat on the +roof, till he was assured that all in the palace slept; and +indeed hunger and thirst were sore upon him, for that he had +not tasted food since he parted from his father. So he said in +himself, 'Surely, the like of this palace will not lack of +victual,' and leaving the horse there, went in quest of +somewhat to eat. Presently, he came to a stair and descending +it, found himself in a court paved with white marble and +alabaster, that shone in the light of the moon. He marvelled at +the place and the goodliness of its fashion, but heard no sound +and saw no living soul and stood in perplexity, looking right +and left and knowing not whither he should go. Then said he to +himself, 'I cannot do better than return to where I left my +horse and pass the night by it; and as soon as it is day, I +will mount and depart.' However, as he stood talking to +himself, he espied a light within the palace, and making +towards it, found that it came from a candle that stood before +a door of the palace, at the head of an eunuch, as he were one +of the Afrits of Solomon or a tribesman of the Jinn, longer +than a plank and wider than a bench. He lay asleep before the +door, with the pommel of his sword gleaming in the flame of the +candle, and at his head was a budget of leather[FN#72] hanging +from a column of granite. + +When the prince saw this, he was affrighted and said, 'I crave +help from God the Supreme! O my God, even as Thou hast [already] +delivered me from destruction, vouchsafe me strength to quit +myself of the adventure of this palace!' So saying, he put out +his hand to the budget and taking it, carried it to a place +apart and opened it and found in it food of the best. So he +ate his fill and refreshed himself and drank water, after +which he hung the budget up in its place and drawing the +eunuch's sword from its sheath, took it, whilst the latter +slept on, knowing not whence destiny should come to him. Then +the prince fared on into the palace, till he came to another +door, with a curtain drawn before it; so he raised the curtain +and entering, saw a couch of ivory, inlaid with pearls and +jacinths and jewels, and four slave-girls sleeping about it. He +went up to the couch, to see what was therein, and found a +young lady lying asleep, veiled with her hair, as she were the +full moon at its rising, with flower-white forehead and +shining parting and cheeks like blood-red anemones and dainty +moles thereon. + +When he saw this, he was amazed at her beauty and grace and +symmetry and recked no more of death. So he went up to her, +trembling in every nerve, and kissed her on the right cheek; +whereupon she awoke forthright and seeing the prince standing +at her head, said to him, 'Who art thou and whence comest thou?' +Quoth he, 'I am thy slave and thy lover.' 'And who brought thee +hither?' asked she. 'My Lord and my fortune,' answered he; and +she said, 'Belike thou art he who demanded me yesterday of my +father in marriage and he rejected thee, pretending that thou +wast foul of favour. By Allah he lied, when he spoke this thing, +for thou art not other than handsome.' + +Now the son of the King of Hind[FN#73] had sought her in +marriage, but her father had rejected him, for that he was ill- +favoured, and she thought the prince was he. So, when she saw +his beauty and grace, for indeed he was like the radiant moon, +her heart was taken in the snare of his love, as it were a +flaming fire, and they fell to talk and converse. Presently, +her waiting-women awoke from their sleep and seeing the prince +sitting with their mistress, said to her, 'O my lady, who is +this with thee?' Quoth she, 'I know not; I found him sitting by +me, when I awoke. Belike it is he who seeks me in marriage of +my father.' 'O my lady,' answered they, 'by the Most Great God, +this is not he who seeks thee in marriage, for he is foul and +this man is fair and of high condition. Indeed, the other is +not fit to be his servant.' + +Then they went out to the eunuch and finding him asleep, awoke +him, and he started up in alarm. Quoth they, 'How comes it that +thou art guardian of the palace and yet men come in to us, +whilst we are asleep?' When the eunuch heard this, he sprang in +haste to his sword, but found it not, and fear took him and +trembling. Then he went in, confounded, to his mistress and +seeing the prince sitting talking with her, said to the former, +'O my lord, art thou a man or a genie?' 'O it on thee, O +unluckiest of slaves!' replied the prince. 'How darest thou +even a prince of the sons of the Chosroes with one of the +unbelieving Satans?' Then he took the sword in his hand and +said, 'I am the King's son-in-law, and he hath married me to +his daughter and bidden me go in to her.' 'O my lord,' replied +the eunuch, 'if thou be indeed a man, as thou avouchest, she is +fit for none but thee, and thou art worthier of her than any +other.' + +Then he ran to the King, shrieking out and rending his clothes +and casting dust upon his head; and when the King heard his +outcry, he said to him, 'What has befallen thee? Speak quickly +and be brief; for thou troublest my heart.' 'O King,' answered +the eunuch, 'come to thy daughter's succour; for a devil of the +Jinn, in the likeness of a king's son, hath gotten possession +of her; so up and at him!' When the King heard this, he thought +to kill him and said, 'How camest thou to be careless of my +daughter and let this demon come at her?' Then he betook +himself to the princess's palace, where he found her women +standing, [awaiting him] and said to them, 'What is come to my +daughter?' 'O King,' answered they, 'sleep overcame us and when +we awoke, we found a young man sitting talking with her, as he +were the full moon, never saw we a fairer of favour than he. So +we questioned him of his case and he avouched that thou hadst +given him thy daughter in marriage. More than this we know not, +nor do we know if he be a man or a genie; but he is modest and +well bred, and doth nothing unseemly.' + +When the King heard this, his wrath cooled and he raised the +curtain stealthily and looking in, saw a prince of the goodliest +fashion, with a face like the shining full moon, sitting talking +with his daughter. At this sight he could not contain himself, +of his jealousy for his daughter, and putting the curtain aside, +rushed in upon them, like a Ghoul, with his drawn sword in his +hand. When the prince saw him, he said to the princess, 'Is this +thy father?' 'Yes,' answered she; whereupon he sprang to his +feet and taking his sword in his hand, cried out at the King +with such a terrible cry, that he was confounded. Then he would +have fallen on him with the sword; but the King, seeing that the +prince was doughtier than he, sheathed his blade and stood till +the latter came up to him, when he accosted him courteously and +said to him, 'O youth, art thou a man or a genie?' Quoth the +prince, 'Did I not respect thy right[FN#74] and thy daughter's +honour, I would spill thy blood! How darest thou even me with +devils, me that am a prince of the sons of the Chosroes, who, +had they a mind to take thy kingdom, could shake thee from thy +power and thy dominion and despoil thee of all thy possessions?' +When the King heard his words, he was smitten with awe and fear +of him and rejoined, 'If thou indeed be of the sons of the kings, +as thou pretendest, how comes it that thou enterest my palace, +without my leave, and soilest my honour, making thy way to my +daughter and feigning that thou art her husband and that I have +given her to thee to wife, I that have slain kings and kings' +sons, who sought her of me in marriage? And now who shall save +thee from my mischief, when, if I cried out to my slaves and +servants and bade them put thee to death, they would slay thee +forthright? Who then shall deliver thee out of my hand?' + +When the prince heard this speech of the King, he answered, +'Verily, I wonder at thee and at the poverty of thy wit! Canst +thou covet for thy daughter a goodlier mate than myself and +hast ever seen a stouter of heart or a more sufficient or a +more glorious in rank and dominion than I?' 'Nay, by Allah,' +rejoined the King. 'But, O youth, I would have had thee make +suit to me for her hand before witnesses, that I might marry +her to thee publicly; and now, were I to marry her to thee +privily, yet hast thou dishonoured me in her person.' 'Thou +sayst well, O King,' replied the prince; 'but, if thy servants +and soldiers should fall upon me and slay me, as thou pretendest, +thou wouldst but publish thine own dishonour, and the folk +would be divided between belief and disbelief with regard +to thee. Wherefore, meseems thou wilt do well to turn from +this thought to that which I shall counsel thee.' Quoth the +King, 'Let me hear what thou hast to propose.' And the prince +said, 'What I have to propose to thee is this: either do +thou meet me in single combat and he who slays the other shall +be held the worthier and having a better title to the kingdom; +or else, let me be this night and on the morrow draw out +against me thy horsemen and footmen and servants; but [first] +tell me their number.' Quoth the King, 'They are forty thousand +horse, besides my own slaves and their followers, who are the +like of them in number.' 'When the day breaks, then,' continued +the prince, 'do thou array them against me and say to them, +"This fellow is a suitor to me for my daughter's hand, on +condition that he shall do battle single-handed against you +all; for he pretends that he will overcome you and put you to +the rout and that ye cannot prevail against him." Then leave me +to do battle with them. If they kill me, then is thy secret the +safelier hidden and thine honour the better guarded; and if I +overcome them, then is the like of me one whose alliance a King +should covet.' + +The King approved of his counsel and accepted his proposition, +despite his awe and amaze at the exorbitant pretension of the +prince to do battle against his whole army, such as he had +described it to him, being at heart assured that he would +perish in the mellay and so he be quit of him and freed from +the fear of dishonour. So he called the eunuch and bade him go +forthright to his Vizier and bid him assemble the whole of the +troops and cause them don their arms and mount their horses. +The eunuch carried the King's order to the Vizier, who straightway +summoned the captains of the army and the grandees of the realm +and bade them don their harness of war and mount their horses +and sally forth in battle array. + +Meanwhile, the King sat conversing with the prince, being +pleased with his wit and good breeding, till daybreak, when he +returned to his palace and seating himself on his throne, +commanded the troops to mount and bade saddle one of the best +of the royal horses with handsome housings and trappings and +bring it to the prince. But the latter said, 'O King, I will +not mount, till I come in sight of the troops and see them.' +'Be it as thou wilt,' answered the King. Then they repaired to +the tilting ground, where the troops were drawn up, and the +prince looked upon them and noted their great number; after +which the King cried out to them, saying, 'Ho, all ye men, +there is come to me a youth who seeks my daughter in marriage, +--never have I seen a goodlier than he, no, nor a stouter of +heart nor a doughtier, for he pretends that he can overcome +you, single-handed, and put you to the rout and that, were ye a +hundred thousand in number, yet would ye be for him but little. +But, when he charges upon you, do ye receive him upon the +points of your lances and the edges of your sabres; for, +indeed, he hath undertaken a grave matter.' + +Then said he to the prince, 'Up, O my son, and do thy will on +them.' 'O King,' answered he, 'thou dealest not fairly with me. +How shall I go forth against them, seeing that I am afoot and +they are mounted?' 'I bade thee mount, and thou refusedst,' +rejoined the King; 'but take which of my horses thou wilt.' But +he said, 'None of thy horses pleases me, and I will ride none +but that on which I came.' 'And where is thy horse?' asked the +King. 'Atop of thy palace,' answered the prince, and the King +said, 'In what part of my palace?' 'On the roof,' replied the +prince. 'Out on thee!' quoth the King. 'This is the first sign +thou hast given of madness. How can the horse be on the roof? +But we shall soon see if thou speak truth or falsehood.' Then +he turned to one of his chief officers and said to him, 'Go to +my palace and bring me what thou findest on the roof.' And all +the people marvelled at the prince's words, saying, 'How can a +horse come down the steps from the roof? Verily this is a thing +whose like we never heard.' + +Meanwhile, the King's messenger repaired to the palace, +accompanied by other of the royal officers, and mounting to the +roof, found the horse standing there,--never had they looked on +a handsomer; but when they drew near and examined it, they saw +that it was made of ebony and ivory; whereat they laughed to +each other, saying, 'Was it of the like of this horse that the +youth spoke? Surely, he must be mad; but we shall soon see the +truth of his case. Belike, there hangs some great mystery by +him.' Then they lifted up the horse and carrying it to the +King, set it down before him, and all the people flocked round +it, staring at it and marvelling at the beauty of its fashion +and the richness of its saddle and bridle. The King also +admired it and wondered at it extremely; and he said to the +prince, 'O youth, is this thy horse?' 'Yes, O King,' answered +the prince; 'this is my horse, and thou shalt soon see wonders +of it.' 'Then take and mount it,' rejoined the King, and the +prince said, 'I will not mount till the troops withdraw afar +from it.' So the King bade them withdraw a bowshot from the +horse; whereupon quoth the prince, 'O King, I am about to mount +my horse and charge upon thy troops and scatter them right and +left and cleave their hearts in sunder.' 'Do as thou wilt,' +answered the King; 'and spare them not, for they will not spare +thee.' Then the prince mounted, whilst the troops ranged +themselves in ranks before him, and one said to another, 'When +the youth comes between the ranks, we will take him on the +points of our pikes and the edges of our swords.' 'By Allah,' +quoth another, 'it were pity to kill so handsome and well-shaped +a youth!' 'By Allah,' rejoined a third, 'ye will have hard work +to get the better of him; for he had not done this, but for what +he knew of his own prowess and valiantise.' + +Meanwhile, the prince, having settled himself in his saddle, +whilst all eyes were strained to see what he would do, turned +the peg of ascent; whereupon the horse began to sway to and fro +and make the strangest of movements, after the manner of +horses, till its belly was filled with air and it took flight +with him and soared into the sky. When the King saw this, he +cried out to his men, saying, 'Out on you! Take him, ere he +escape you!' But his Viziers and officers said to him, 'O King, +how shall we overtake the flying bird? This is surely none but +some mighty enchanter, and God hath saved thee from him. So +praise thou the Most High for thy deliverance from his hand.' +Then the King returned to his palace and going in to his +daughter, acquainted her with what had befallen. He found her +sore afflicted for the prince and bewailing her separation from +him; wherefore she fell grievously sick and took to her pillow. +When her father saw her thus, he pressed her to his bosom and +kissing her between the eyes, said to her, 'O my daughter, +praise God and thank Him for that He hath delivered thee from +this crafty enchanter!' And he repeated to her the story of the +prince's disappearance; but she paid no heed to his word and +did but redouble in her tears and lamentations, saying to +herself, 'By Allah, I will neither eat nor drink, till God +reunite me with him!' Her father was greatly concerned for her +plight and mourned sore over her; but, for all he could do to +comfort her, passion and love-longing still grew on her for the +prince. + +Meanwhile, the King's son, whenas he had risen into the air, +turned his horse's head towards his native land, musing upon +the beauty and grace of the princess. Now he had enquired of +the King's people the name of the princess and of the King her +father and of the city, which was the city of Senaa of Yemen. +So he journeyed homeward with all speed, till he drew near his +father's capital and making a circuit about the city, alighted +on the roof of the King's palace, where he left his horse, whilst +he descended into the palace and finding its threshold strewn +with ashes, bethought him that one of his family was dead. Then +he entered, as of wont, and found his father and mother and +sisters clad in mourning raiment of black, pale-faced and lean +of body. When his father saw him and was assured that it was +indeed his son, he gave a great cry and fell down in a swoon, +but presently coming to himself, threw himself upon him and +embraced him, straining him to his bosom and rejoicing in him +exceedingly. His mother and sisters heard this; so they came +in and seeing the prince, fell upon him, kissing him and weeping +and rejoicing with an exceeding joy. Then they questioned him of +his case; so he told them all that had befallen him from first +to last and his father said to him, 'Praised be God for thy +safety, O solace of my eyes and life-blood of my heart!' + +Then the King bade hold high festival, and the glad news flew +through the city. So they beat the drums and the cymbals and +putting off the raiment of mourning, donned that of joy and +decorated the streets and markets; whilst the folk vied with +one another who should be the first to give the King joy, and +the latter proclaimed a general pardon and opening the prisons, +released those who were therein. Moreover, he made banquets to +the people seven days and nights and all creatures were glad; +and he took horse with his son and rode out with him, that the +folk might see him and rejoice. After awhile the prince +enquired for the maker of the horse, saying, 'O my father, what +hath fortune done with him?' 'May God not bless him,' answered +the King, 'nor the hour in which I set eyes on him! For he was +the cause of thy separation from us, O my son, and he hath lain +in prison since the day of thy disappearance.' Then he bade +release him from prison and sending for him, invested him in a +dress of honour and entreated him with the utmost favour and +munificence, save that he would not give him his daughter to +wife; whereat he was sore enraged and repented of that which he +had done, knowing that the prince had learnt the secret of the +horse and the manner of its motion. Moreover, the King said to +his son, 'Methinks thou wilt do well not to mount the horse +neither go near it henceforth; for thou knowest not its +properties, and it is perilous for thee to meddle with it.' Now +the prince had told his father of his adventure with the King's +daughter of Senaa, and he said, 'If the King had been minded to +kill thee, he had done so; but thine hour was not yet come.' + +When the rejoicings were at an end, the people returned to +their houses and the King and his son to the palace, where they +sat down and fell to eating and drinking and making merry. Now +the King had a handsome slave-girl, who was skilled in playing +upon the lute; so she took it and began to play upon it and +sing thereto of separation of lovers before the King and his +son, and she chanted the following verses: + +Think not that absence ever shall win me to forget: For what + should I remember, if I'd forgotten you? +Time passes, but my passion for you shall never end: In love of + you, I swear it, I'll die and rise anew. + +When the prince heard this, the fires of longing flamed up in +his heart and passion redoubled upon him. Grief and regret were +sore upon him and his entrails yearned in him for love of the +King's daughter of Senaa; so he rose forthright and eluding his +father's notice, went forth the palace to the horse and +mounting it, turned the peg of ascent, whereupon it flew up +into the air with him and soared towards the confines of the +sky. Presently, his father missed him and going up to the +summit of the palace, in great concern, saw the prince rising +into the air; whereat he was sore afflicted and repented +exceedingly that he had not taken the horse and hidden it: and +he said in himself, 'By Allah, if but my son return to me, I +will destroy the horse, that my heart may be at rest concerning +my son.' And he fell again to weeping and bewailing himself for +his son. + +Meanwhile, the prince flew on through the air till he came to +the city of Senaa and alighted on the roof as before. Then he +went down stealthily and finding the eunuch asleep, as of wont, +raised the curtain and went on, little by little, till he came +to the door of the princess's chamber and stopped to listen; +when, behold, he heard her weeping plenteous tears and reciting +verses, whilst her women slept round her. Presently, they heard +her weeping and wailing and said, 'O our mistress, why wilt +thou mourn for one who mourns not for thee?' 'O little of +wit,' answered she, 'is he for whom I mourn of those who are +forgotten?' And she fell again to weeping and wailing, till +sleep overcame her. + +Now the prince's heart ached for her, so he entered and seeing +her lying asleep, without covering, touched her with his hand; +whereupon she opened her eyes and saw him standing by her. +Quoth he, 'Why this weeping and mourning?' And when she knew +him, she threw herself upon him and embraced him and kissed him +and answered, 'For thy sake and because of my separation from +thee.' 'O my lady,' said he, 'I have wearied for thee all this +time!' But she answered, 'It is I who have wearied for thee, +and hadst thou tarried longer, I had surely died!' 'O my lady,' +rejoined he, 'what thinkest thou of my case with thy father and +how he dealt with me? Were it not for my love of thee, O +ravishment of all creatures, I had surely slain him and made +him a warning to all beholders; but, even as I love thee, so I +love him for thy sake.' Quoth she, 'How couldst thou leave me? +Can life be sweet to me after thee?' Quoth he, 'Let what has +happened suffice now: I am hungry and thirsty.' So she bade her +maidens make ready meat and drink, [and they sat eating and +drinking and conversing] till nigh upon daybreak, when he rose +to take leave of her and depart, ere the eunuch should awake, +and she said, 'Whither goest thou?' 'To my father's house,' +answered he; 'and I plight thee my troth that I will come to +thee once in every week.' But she wept and said, 'I conjure +thee, by God the Supreme, take me with thee whither thou goest +and make me not taste anew the bitterness of separation from +thee.' Quoth he, 'Wilt thou indeed go with me?' and she +answered, 'Yes.' 'Then,' said he, 'arise, that we may depart.' +So she rose forthright and going to a chest, arrayed herself in +what was richest and dearest to her of her trinkets of gold and +jewels of price. Then he carried her up to the roof of the +palace and mounting the horse, took her up behind him and bound +her fast to himself; after which he turned the peg of ascent, +and the horse rose with him into the air. When her women saw +this, they shrieked aloud and told her father and mother, who +rushed up to the roof of the palace and looking up, saw the +ebony horse flying away with the prince and princess. At this +the King was sore troubled and cried out, saying, 'O King's +son, I conjure thee, by Allah, have compassion on me and my +wife and bereave us not of our daughter!' The prince made him +no reply, but, thinking that the princess repented of leaving +her father and mother, said to her, 'O ravishment of the age, +wilt thou that I restore thee to thy father and mother?' 'By +Allah, O my lord, that is not my desire,' answered she; 'my +only wish is to be with thee wherever thou art; for I am +distracted by the love of thee from all else, even to my father +and mother.' At this the prince rejoiced greatly and made +the horse fare softly with them, so as not to disquiet the +princess; nor did they stay their flight till they came in +sight of a green meadow, in which was a spring of running +water. Here they alighted and ate and drank; after which they +took horse again and fared on, till they came in sight of his +father's capital. At this, the prince was filled with joy and +bethought himself to show her the seat of his dominion and his +father's power and dignity and give her to know that it was +greater than that of her father. So he set her down in one of +his father's pleasance-gardens [without the city] and carrying +her into a pavilion there, prepared for the King, left the +horse at the door and charged her keep watch over it, saying, +'Sit here, till my messenger come to thee; for I go now to my +father, to make ready a palace for thee and show thee my royal +estate.' 'Do as thou wilt,' answered she, for she was glad that +she should not enter but with due honour and observance, as +became her rank. + +Then he left her and betook himself to the palace of the King +his father, who rejoiced in his return and welcomed him; and +the prince said to him, 'Know that I have brought with me the +princess of whom I told thee and have left her without the city +in such a garden and come to tell thee, that thou mayest make +ready and go forth to meet her in state and show her thy royal +dignity and troops and guards.' 'With all my heart,' answered +the King and straightway bade decorate the city after the +goodliest fashion. Then he took horse and rode out in all state +and splendour, he and his troops and household and grandees; +whilst the prince made ready for her a litter of green and +red and yellow brocade, in which he set Indian and Greek +and Abyssinian slave-girls. Moreover, he took forth of his +treasuries jewellery and apparel and what else of the things +that kings treasure up and made a rare display of wealth and +magnificence. Then he left the litter and those who were +therein and rode forward to the pavilion, where he had left the +princess; but found both her and the horse gone. When he saw +this, he buffeted his face and rent his clothes and went round +about the garden, as he had lost his wits; after which he came +to his senses and said to himself, 'How could she have come at +the secret of the horse, seeing I told her nothing of it? Maybe +the Persian sage who made the horse has chanced upon her and +stolen her away, in revenge for my father's treatment of him.' +Then he sought the keepers of the garden and asked them if they +had seen any enter the garden. + +Quoth they, 'We have seen none enter but the Persian sage, who +came to gather simples.' So the prince was certified that it +was indeed he that had taken away the princess and abode +confounded and perplexed concerning his case. And he was +abashed before the folk and returning to his father, [told him +what had happened and] said to him, 'Take the troops and return +to the city. As for me, I will never return till I have cleared +up this affair.' When the King heard this, he wept and beat his +breast and said to him, 'O my son, calm thyself and master thy +chagrin and return with us and look what King's daughter thou +wouldst fain have, that I may marry thee to her.' But the +prince paid no heed to his words and bidding him farewell, +departed, whilst the King returned to the city and their joy +was changed into mourning. + +Now, as Fate would have it, when the prince left the princess +in the pavilion and betook himself to his father's palace, for +the ordering of his affair, the Persian entered the garden to +pluck simples and scenting the fragrance of musk and essences, +that exhaled from the princess's person and perfumed the whole +place, followed it till he came to the pavilion and saw the horse, +that he had made with his own hands, standing at the door. At +this sight, his heart was filled with joy and gladness, for he +had mourned sore for it, since it had gone out of his hand. So +he went up to it and examining its every part, found it safe +and sound; whereupon he was about to mount and ride away, when +he bethought himself and said, 'Needs must I first look what +the prince hath brought and left here with the horse.' So he +entered the pavilion and seeing the princess sitting there, as +she were the sun shining in the cloudless sky, knew her to be +some high-born lady and doubted not but the prince had brought +her thither on the horse and left her in the pavilion, whilst +he went to the city, to make ready for her entry in state. + +Then he went up to her and kissed the earth before her, +whereupon she raised her eyes to him and finding him exceeding +foul of face and favour, said, 'Who art thou?' 'O my lady,' +answered he, 'I am sent by the prince, who hath bidden me bring +thee to another garden, nearer the city; for that my lady the +queen cannot go so far a journey and is unwilling, of her joy +in thee, that another should forestall her with thee.' 'Where +is the prince?' asked she; and the Persian replied, 'He is in +the city, with his father, and will presently come for thee in +great state.' 'O fellow,' said she, 'could he find none to send +to me but thee?' At this he laughed and answered, 'O my lady, +let not the ugliness of my face and the foulness of my favour +deceive thee. Hadst thou profited of me as hath the prince, +thou wouldst praise my affair. Indeed, he chose me as his +messenger to thee, because of my uncomeliness and forbidding +aspect, in his jealousy and love of thee: else hath he slaves +and pages and servants, white and black, out of number, each +goodlier than the other.' When she heard this, it commended +itself to her reason and she believed him; so she rose and +putting her hand in his, said, 'O my father, what hast thou +brought me to ride?' 'O my lady,' answered he, 'thou shalt ride +the horse thou camest on.' Quoth she, 'I cannot ride it by +myself.' Whereupon he smiled and knew that she was in his power +and said, 'I myself will ride with thee.' So he mounted and +taking her up behind him, bound her fast to himself, for she +knew not what he would with her. Then he turned the peg of +ascent, whereupon the belly of the horse became full of wind +and it swayed to and fro and rose with them into the air nor +slackened in its flight, till it was out of sight of the city. + +When the princess saw this, she said to him, 'O fellow, what +didst thou tell me of the prince, that he sent thee to me?' +'Foul befall the prince!' answered the Persian. 'He is a +scurril knave.' And she said, 'Out on thee! How darest thou +disobey thy lord's commandment!' 'He is no lord of mine,' +rejoined the Persian. 'Knowst thou who I am?' 'I know nothing +of thee,' replied the princess, 'save what thou toldest me.' +Quoth he, 'What I told thee was a trick of mine against thee +and the prince. I am he who made this horse under us, and I +have long regretted its loss; for the prince made himself +master of it. But now I have gotten possession of it and of +thee too, and I will rack his heart, even as he hath racked +mine; nor shall he ever have the horse again. So take comfort +and be of good cheer, for I can be of more service to thee than +he.' When she heard this, she buffeted her face and cried out, +saying, 'Ah, woe is me! I have neither gotten my beloved nor +kept my father and mother!' And she wept sore over what had +befallen her, whilst the Persian fared on with her, without +ceasing, till he came to the land of the Greeks and alighted in +a verdant meadow, abounding in trees and streams. + +Now this meadow was near a city, in which was a king of great +puissance, and it befell that he went forth that day to hunt +and divert himself. As he passed by the meadow, he saw the +Persian standing there, with the princess and the horse by his +side, and before he was aware, the King's followers fell upon +him and carried him, the lady and the horse to their master, +who noting the foulness of his favour and the beauty and grace +of the princess, said to the latter, 'O my lady, what kin is +this old fellow to thee?' The Persian made haste to reply, 'She +is my wife and the daughter of my father's brother.' But she +gave him the lie and said, 'O King, by Allah, I know him not, +nor is he my husband, but hath stolen me away by force and +fraud.' Thereupon the King bade beat the Persian, and they beat +him, till he was well-nigh dead; after which the King commanded +to carry him to the city and cast him into prison, and taking +the princess and the horse from him, set the former in his +harem and laid up the latter in his treasury, though he knew +not its properties nor the secret of its motion. + +Meanwhile, the prince donned a travelling-habit and taking what +he needed of money, set out, in very sorry plight, in quest of +the princess, and journeyed from country to country and city to +city, enquiring after the ebony horse, whilst all who heard him +marvelled at him and deemed his talk extravagant. Thus did he a +long while; but, for all his enquiry and research, he could win +at no news of her. At last, he came to the city of Senaa and +there enquired for her, but could get no tidings of her and +found her father mourning her loss. So he turned back and made +for the land of the Greeks, pursuing his enquiries as he went, +till, as chance would have it, he alighted at a certain khan +and saw a company of merchants sitting talking. He sat down +near them and heard one say to the others, 'O my friends, I +happened lately upon a wonder of wonders.' 'What was that?' +asked they, and he answered, 'I was late in such a city,' +naming the city wherein was the princess, 'and heard its people +speak of a strange thing that had lately befallen. It was that +their King went out one day a-hunting, with a company of his +courtiers and the grandees of his realm, and coming to a green +meadow, espied there a man standing, with a horse of ebony, and +a lady sitting hard by. The man was ugly and foul of favour, +but the lady was a marvel of beauty and grace and symmetry; and +as for the ebony horse, it was a wonder, never saw eyes aught +goodlier than it nor more perfect than its fashion.' 'And +what did the King with them?' asked the others. 'As for the +man,' said the merchant, 'he questioned him of the lady and +he pretended that she was his wife and the daughter of his +father's brother; but she gave him the lie. So the King took +her from him and bade beat him and cast him into prison. As +for the horse, I know not what became of it.' When the prince +heard this, he drew near unto the speaker and questioned him +discreetly and courteously, till he told him the name of the +city and of its king; which when he knew, he passed the night, +full of joy. + +On the morrow, he set out and travelled till he reached the +city; but, when he would have entered, the gatekeepers laid +hands on him, that they might bring him before the King; for +that it was his wont to question all strangers respecting their +conditions and the crafts in which they were skilled and the +reason of their coming thither. Now it was eventide, when he +entered the city, and it was then too late to go in to the King +or take counsel with him respecting him. So they carried him to +the prison, thinking to lay him therein for the night; but, +when the warders saw his beauty and grace, they could not find +it in their hearts to imprison him, but made him sit with them, +without the prison; and when food came to them, he ate his fill +with them. When they had made an end of eating, they turned to +him and said, 'What countryman art thou?' 'I come from Persia,' +answered he, 'the land of the Chosroes.' When they heard this, +they laughed and one of them said, 'O Chosroaen, I have heard +the talk of men and their histories and looked upon their +conditions; but never saw or heard I a greater liar than the +Chosroaen that is with us in the prison.' 'Nor,' quoth another, +'did I ever see fouler than his favour or more repulsive than +his aspect.' 'What have ye seen of his lying?' asked the +prince, and they answered, 'He pretends that he is a sage. Now +the King came upon him, as he went a-hunting, and found with +him a most beautiful lady and a horse of ebony, never saw I a +handsomer. As for the lady, she is with the King, who is +enamoured of her and would fain marry her; but she is mad, and +were this man a physician, as he pretends, he would have cured +her, for the King doth his utmost endeavour to find a remedy +for her disease, and this whole year past hath he spent +treasures upon physicians and astrologers, on her account; but +none can avail to cure her. As for the horse, it is in the +royal treasury, and the man is here with us in the prison; and +all night long he weeps and bemoans himself and will not let us +sleep.' + +When the prince heard this, he bethought himself of a device by +which he might compass his desire; and presently the warders, +being minded to sleep, clapped him into the prison and locked +the door. He heard the Persian weeping and bemoaning himself, +in his own tongue, and saying, 'Woe is me for my sin, that I +sinned against myself and against the King's son, in that which +I did with the damsel; for I neither left her nor got my desire +of her! All this comes of my want of sense, in that I sought +for myself that which I deserved not and which befitted not the +like of me; for he, who seeks what befits him not, falleth into +the like of my predicament.' When the prince heard this, he +accosted him in Persian, saying, 'How long wilt thou keep up +this weeping and wailing? Thinkst thou that there hath befallen +thee what never befell other than thou?' When the Persian heard +this, he made friends with him and began to complain to him of +his case and misfortunes. + +As soon as it was day, the warders took the prince and carried +him before the King, informing him that he had entered the city +on the previous night, at a time when no audience could be had +of him. Quoth the King to the prince, 'Whence comest thou and +what is thy name and craft and why comest thou hither?' And he +answered, 'I am called, in Persian, Herjeh. I come from the +land of Fars and I am of the men of art and especially of the +art of medicine and cure the sick and the mad. For this, I go +round about all countries and cities, adding knowledge to my +knowledge, and whenever I see a sick person, I heal him; and +this is my craft.' When the King heard this, he rejoiced +exceedingly and said, 'O excellent sage, thou hast come to us +at a time when we have need of thee.' Then he acquainted him +with the case of the princess, adding, 'If thou win to cure her +and recover her of her madness, thou shalt have of me whatever +thou seekest.' 'May God advance the King!' rejoined the prince. +'Describe to me all thou hast seen of her madness and tell me +how long it is since it attacked her; also how thou camest by +her.' So the King told him the whole story, from first to last, +adding, 'The sage is in prison.' 'O august King,' said the +prince, 'and what hast thou done with the horse?' 'It is with +me yet, laid up in one of my treasure-chambers,' replied the +King; whereupon quoth the prince in himself, 'The first thing +to do is to see the horse and assure myself of its condition. +If it be whole and unhurt, all will be well; but, if its works +be destroyed, I must find some other way of delivering my +beloved.' + +So he turned to the King and said to him, 'O King, I must see +the horse in question: haply I may find in it somewhat that +will serve me for the recovery of the damsel.' 'With all my +heart,' replied the King and taking him by the hand, led him to +the place where the horse was. The prince went round about it, +examining its condition, and found it whole and unhurt, whereat +he rejoiced greatly and said to the King, 'May God exalt the +King! I would fain go in to the damsel, that I may see how it +is with her; for I hope, by God's grace, to cure her by means +of the horse.' Then he bade take care of the horse and the King +carried him to the princess's apartment, where he found her +writhing and beating herself against the ground, as was her +wont; but there was no madness in her, and she did this but +that none might approach her. When the prince saw her thus, he +said to her, 'No harm shall betide thee, O ravishment of all +creatures;' and went on to soothe her and speak her fair, till +he won to make himself known to her; whereupon she gave a loud +cry and fell down in a swoon for excess of joy; but the King +thought this came of her fear of him. + +Then the prince put his mouth to her ear and said to her, 'O +seduction of the universe, have a care for thy life and mine +and be patient and constant; for we have need of patience and +skilful ordinance to make shift for our delivery from this +tyrannical King. To begin with, I will now go out to him and +tell him that thou art possessed of a genie, and hence thy +madness; but, that if he will loose thee from thy bonds, I will +engage to heal thee and drive away the evil spirit. So, when he +comes in to thee, do thou give him fair words, that he may +think I have cured thee, and all will be accomplished as we +desire.' Quoth she, 'I hear and obey;' and he went out to the +King, full of joy and happiness, and said to him, 'O august +King, by thy good fortune I have discovered her disease and its +remedy and have cured her for thee. So now do thou go in to her +and speak softly to her and entreat her kindly, and promise her +what may please her; so shall all thou desirest of her be +accomplished to thee.' So he went in to her and when she saw +him, she rose and kissing the ground, bade him welcome; whereat +he was greatly rejoiced and bade the eunuchs and waiting-women +attend her and carry her to the bath and make ready for her +dresses and ornaments. + +So they went in to her and saluted her, and she returned their +greeting, after the goodliest and pleasantest fashion; after +which they clad her in royal apparel and clasping a collar of +jewels about her neck, carried her to the bath and served her +there. Then they brought her forth, as she were the full moon; +and when she came into the King's presence, she saluted him and +kissed the ground before him, whereupon he rejoiced in her with +an exceeding joy and said to the prince, 'All this is of thy +blessing, may God increase us of thy good offices!' Quoth the +prince, 'O King, it behoves, for the completion of her cure, +that thou carry her forth, together with the ebony horse, and +attend her with all thy troops to the place where thou foundest +her, that there I may expel from her the evil spirit, by whom +she is possessed, and bind him and kill him, so he may never +more return to her.' 'With all my heart,' answered the King. +Then he caused carry out the horse to the meadow in question +and mounting, rode thither with all his troops and the princess, +knowing not the prince's purpose. + +When they came to the appointed place, the prince bade set the +horse and the princess as far as the eye could reach from the +King and his troops and said to the former, 'With thy leave, I +will now proceed to the needful fumigations and conjurations +and imprison the genie here, that he may nevermore return to +her. After this, I shall mount the horse and take the damsel up +behind me; whereupon it will sway to and fro and fare forward, +till it come to thee, when the affair will be at an end; and +after this thou mayst do with her as thou wilt.' And when the +King heard his words, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy. So the +prince mounted the horse and taking the princess up behind him, +bound her fast to him, whilst the King and his troops watched +him. Then he turned the peg of ascent and the horse took flight +and soared with them into the air, till he disappeared from +sight. + +The King abode half the day, expecting their return; but they +returned not. So, when he despaired of them, he returned to the +city with his troops, repenting him greatly of that which he +had done and grieving sore for the loss of the damsel. He shut +himself up in his palace, mourning and afflicted; but his +Viziers came in to him and applied themselves to comfort him, +saying, 'Verily, he who took the damsel is an enchanter, and +praised be God who hath delivered thee from his craft and +sorcery!' And they ceased not from him, till he was comforted +for her loss. + +Meanwhile, the prince bent his course, in joy and cheer, +towards his father's capital and stayed not, till he alighted +on his own palace, where he set the princess in safety; after +which he went in to his father and mother and acquainted them +with her coming, whereat they rejoiced exceedingly. Then he +made great banquets to the townsfolk and they held high +festival a whole month, at the end of which time he went in to +the princess and they rejoiced in one another with an exceeding +joy. But his father broke the horse in pieces and destroyed its +works. Moreover, the prince wrote a letter to the princess's +father, advising him of all that had befallen her and how she +was now married to him and in all health and happiness, and +sent it by a messenger, together with costly presents and +rarities. The messenger, in due course, arrived at the city of +Senaa and delivered the letter and the presents to the King, +who, when he read the former, rejoiced greatly and accepted the +presents, rewarding the bearer handsomely. Moreover, he sent +rich presents to his son-in-law by the same messenger, who +returned to his master and acquainted him with what had passed, +whereat he was much cheered. And after this the prince wrote a +letter every year to his father-in-law and sent him a present, +till, in course of time, his father King Sabour died and he +reigned in his stead, ruling justly over his subjects and +ordering himself well and righteously towards them, so that +they submitted themselves to him and did him loyal service; and +he and his wife abode in the enjoyment of all delight and +solace of life, till there came to them the Destroyer of +Delights and Sunderer of Companies, He that layeth waste the +palaces and peopleth the tombs; and glory be to the Living One +who dieth not and in whose hand is the dominion of the Seen and +the Unseen! + + + + + + UNS EL WUJOUD AND THE VIZIER'S DAUGHTER + ROSE-IN-BUD. + + + + +There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a +King of great power and glory and dominion, who had a Vizier +named Ibrahim, and this Vizier had a daughter of extraordinary +beauty and grace, gifted with surpassing brilliancy and all +perfection, possessed of abundant wit and perfectly accomplished. +She loved wine and good cheer and fair faces and choice verses +and rare stories; and the delicacy of her charms invited all +hearts to love, even as Saith the poet, describing her: + +She shines out like the moon at full, that midst the stars doth + fare, And for a wrapping-veil she hath the ringlets of her + hair. +The Eastern zephyr gives her boughs to drink of all its sweets + And like a jointed cane, she sways to every breath of air. +She smiles in passing by. O thou that dost alike accord With + red and yellow and arrayed in each, alike art fair, +Thou sportest with my wit in love, so that indeed meseems As if + a sparrow in the clutch of playful urchin 'twere. + +Her name was Rose-in-bud and she was so named for the exceeding +delicacy and perfection of her beauty; and the King loved to +carouse with her, because of her wit and good breeding. + +Now it was the King's custom yearly to gather together all the +nobles of his realm and play with the ball. So, when the day +came round, on which the folk assembled for ball-play, the +Vizier's daughter seated herself at her lattice, to divert +herself by looking on at the game; and as they were at play, +her eyes fell upon a youth among them, never was seen a +handsomer than he or a goodlier of favour, for he was bright of +face, laughing-teethed, tall and broad-shouldered. She looked +at him again and again and could not take her fill of gazing on +him. Then she said to her nurse, 'What is the name of yonder +handsome young man among the troops?' 'O my daughter,' replied +the nurse, 'they are all handsome. Which of them dost thou +mean?' 'Wait till he passes,' said Rose-in-bud, 'and I will +point him out to thee.' So she took an apple and waited till he +came under her window, when she dropped it on him, whereupon he +raised his head, to see who did this, and saw the Vizier's +daughter at the window, as she were the full moon in the +darkness of the night; nor did he withdraw his eyes, till he +had fallen passionately in love with her; and he recited the +following verses: + +Was it an archer shot me or did thine eyes undo The lover's + heart that saw thee, what time thou metst his view? +Did the notched arrow reach me from midst a host, indeed, Or + was it from a lattice that launched at me it flew? + + When the game was at an end, he went away with the King, +[whose servant and favourite he was,] with heart occupied with +love of her; and she said to her nurse, 'What is the name of +that youth I showed thee?' 'His name is Uns el Wujoud,' +answered she; whereat Rose-in-bud shook her head and lay down +on her couch, with a heart on fire for love. Then, sighing +deeply, she improvised the following verses: + +He erred not who dubbed thee, "All creatures' delight,"[FN#75] + That pleasance and bounty[FN#76] at once dust unite. +Full-moonlike of aspect, O thou whose fair face O'er all the + creation sheds glory and light, +Thou'rt peerless midst mortals, the sovran of grace, And many a + witness to this I can cite. +Thy brows are a Noun[FN#77] and shine eyes are a Sad,[FN#78] + That the hand of the loving Creator did write; +Thy shape is the soft, tender sapling, that gives Of its + bounties to all that its favours invite. +Yea, indeed, thou excellest the world's cavaliers In pleasance + and beauty and bounty and might. + +When she had finished, she wrote the verses on a sheet of +paper, which she folded in a piece of gold-embroidered silk and +laid under her pillow. Now one of her nurses saw her; so she +came up to her and held her in talk, till she slept, when she +stole the scroll from under her pillow and reading it, knew +that she had fallen in love with Uns el Wujoud. Then she +returned the scroll to its place and when her mistress awoke, +she said to her, 'O my lady, indeed, I am to thee a faithful +counsellor and am tenderly solicitous for thee. Know that +passion is grievous and the hiding it melteth iron and causeth +sickness and unease; nor is there reproach for whoso confesses +it.' 'O my nurse,' rejoined Rose-in-bud,'and what is the remedy +of passion?' 'The remedy of passion is enjoyment,' answered the +nurse. 'And how may one come by enjoyment?' asked Rose-in-bud. +'By letters and messages,' replied the nurse, 'and many a +tender word and greeting; this brings lovers together and makes +hard matters easy. So, if thou have aught at heart, mistress +mine, I will engage to keep thy secret and do thy need and +carry thy letters.' + +When the girl heard this, her reason fled for joy; but she +restrained herself from speech, till she should see the issue +of the matter, saying in herself, 'None knoweth this thing of +me, nor will I trust this woman with my secret, till I have +proved her.' Then said the nurse, 'O my lady, I saw in my sleep +as though one came to me and said, "Thy mistress and Uns el +Wujoud love one another; so do thou serve their loves by +carrying their messages and doing their need and keeping their +secrets; and much good shall befall thee." So now I have told +thee my dream, and it is thine to decide.' 'O my nurse,' quoth +Rose-in-bud, 'canst thou keep secrets?' 'And how should I not +keep secrets,' answered the nurse, 'I that am of the flower of +the free-born?' Then Rose-in-bud pulled out the scroll, on +which she had written the verses afore said, and said to her,' +Carry this my letter to Uns el Wujoud and bring me his answer.' + +So the nurse took the letter and repairing to Uns el Wujoud, +kissed his hands and saluted him right courteously, then gave +him the letter; and he read it and wrote on the back the +following verses: + +I temper my heart in passion and hide my case as I may; But my + case interprets for me and doth my love bewray. +And whenas my lids brim over with tears,--lest the spy should + see And come to fathom my secret,--"My eye is sore," I + say. +Of old I was empty-hearted and knew not what love was; But now + I am passion's bondman, my heart to love's a prey. +To thee I prefer my petition, complaining of passion and pain, + So haply thou mayst be softened and pity my dismay. +With the tears of my eye I have traced it, that so unto thee it + may The tidings of what I suffer for thee to thee convey. +God watch o'er a visage, that veileth itself with beauty, a + face That the full moon serves as a bondman and the stars + as slaves obey! +Yea' Allah protect her beauty, whose like I ne'er beheld! The + boughs from her graceful carriage, indeed, might learn to + sway. +I beg thee to grant me a visit; algates, if it irk thee nought. + An thou knewst how dearly I'd prize it, thou wouldst not + say me nay. +I give thee my life, so haply thou mayst accept it: to me Thy + presence is life eternal and hell thy turning away. + +Then he folded the letter and kissing it, gave it to the nurse +and said to her, 'O nurse, incline thy lady's heart to me.' 'I +hear and obey,' answered she and carried the letter to her +mistress, who kissed it and laid it on her head, then wrote at +the foot of it these verses: + +Harkye, thou whose heart is taken with my grace and loveliness, + Have but patience, and right surely thou my favours shalt + possess. +When we were assured the passion thou avouchedst was sincere + And that that which us betided had betided thee no less, +Gladly had we then vouchsafed thee what thou sighedst for, and + more; But our guardians estopped us to each other from + access. +When night darkens on the dwellings, fires are lighted in our + heart And our entrails burn within us, for desire and + love's excess. +Yea, for love and longing, slumber is a stranger to our couch + And the burning pangs of fever do our body sore distress. +'Twas a law of passion ever, love and longing to conceal; Lift + not thou the curtain from us nor our secret aye + transgress. +Ah, my heart is overflowing with the love of yon gazelle; Would + it had not left our dwellings for the distant wilderness. + +Then she folded the letter and gave it to the nurse, who took +it and went out to go to the young man; but as she went forth +the door, her master met her and said to her, 'Whither away?' +'To the bath,' answered she; but, in her trouble, she dropped +the letter, without knowing it, and one of the servants, seeing +it lying in the way, picked it up. When she came without the +door, she sought for it, but found it not, so turned back to +her mistress and told her of this and what had befallen her +with the Vizier. + +Meanwhile, the latter came out of the harem and seated himself +on his couch. Presently, the servant, who had picked up the +letter, came in to him, with it in his hand, and said, 'O my +lord, I found this paper lying on the floor and picked it up.' +So the Vizier took it from his hand, folded as it was, and +opening it, read the verses above set down. Then he examined +the writing and knew it for his daughter's hand; whereupon he +went in to her mother, weeping so sore that his beard was +drenched. 'What makes thee weep, O my lord?' asked she; and he +answered, 'Take this letter and see what is therein.' So she +took it and saw it to be a love-letter from her daughter +Rose-in-bud to Uns el Wujoud; whereupon the tears sprang to her +eyes; but she mastered herself and swallowing her tears, said +to her husband, 'O my lord, there is no profit in weeping: the +right course is to cast about for a means of preserving thine +honour and concealing thy daughter's affair.' And she went on +to comfort him and lighten his trouble. Quoth he, 'I am fearful +of what may ensue this passion of my daughter, and that for two +reasons. The first concerns myself; it is, that she is my daughter; +the second, that Uns el Wujoud is a favourite with the Sultan, +who loves him with an exceeding love, and maybe great troubles +shall come of this affair. What deemest thou of the matter?' +'Wait,' answered she, 'whilst I pray to God for direction.' +So she prayed a two-bow prayer, according to the prophetic +ordinance of the prayer for divine guidance; after which she +said to her husband, 'Amiddleward the Sea of Treasures stands +a mountain called the Mount of the Bereaved Mother,' (the cause +of which being so named shall follow in its place, if it be the +will of God,) 'and thither can none come, save with difficulty; +do thou make her an abiding-place there.' + +So the Vizier and his wife agreed to build, on the mountain in +question, a strong castle and lodge his daughter therein with a +year's victual, to be annually renewed, and attendants to serve +and keep her company. Accordingly, he collected builders and +carpenters and architects and despatched them to the mountain, +where they builded her an impregnable castle, never saw eyes +its like. Then he made ready victual and carriage for the +journey and going in to his daughter by night, bade her make +ready to set out on a pleasure-excursion. She refused to set +out by night, but he was instant with her, till she went forth; +and when she saw the preparations for the journey, her heart +misgave her of separation from her beloved and she wept sore +and wrote upon the door the following verses, to acquaint him +with what had passed and with the transports of passion and +grief that were upon her, transports such as would make the +flesh quake, that would cause the hearts of stones to melt and +eyes to overflow with tears: + +By Allah, O house, if the loved one pass in the morning-glow + And greet with the greeting of lovers, as they pass to and + fro, +Give him our salutation, a pure and fragrant one, For that we + have departed, and whither he may not know. +Why on this wise they hurry me off by stealth, anights And + lightly equipped, I know not, nor whither with me they go. +Neath cover of night and darkness, they carry me forth, alack I + Whilst the birds in the brake bewail us and make their + moan for our woe; +And the tongue of the case interprets their language and cries, + "Alas, Alas for the pain of parting from those that we + love, heigho!" +When I saw that the cups of sev'rance were filled and that + Fate, indeed, Would give us to drink of its bitter, + unmingled, would we or no, +I blended the draught with patience becoming, as best I might; + But patience avails not to solace my heart for your loss, + I trow. + +Then she mounted, and they set forward with her and fared on +over desert and plain and hill, till they came to the shore of +the Sea of Treasures, where they pitched their tents and built +a great ship, in which they embarked her and her suite and +carried them over to the mountain. Here they left them in the +castle and making their way back to the shore, broke up the +vessel, in obedience to the Vizier's commandment, and returned +home, weeping over what had befallen. + +Meanwhile, Uns el Wujoud arose from sleep and prayed the +morning prayer, after which he mounted and rode forth to wait +upon the Sultan. On his way, he passed by the Vizier's house, +thinking to see some of his followers, as of wont, but saw no +one and drawing near the door, read the verses aforesaid +written thereon. At this sight, his senses failed him; fire was +kindled in his vitals and he returned to his lodging, where he +passed the rest of the day in ceaseless trouble and anxiety, +without finding ease or patience, till night darkened upon him, +when his transport redoubled. So he put off his clothes and +disguising himself in a fakir's habit, set out, at a venture, +under cover of the night, distraught and knowing not whither he +went. + +He wandered on all that night and next day, till the heat of +the sun grew fierce and the mountains flamed like fire and +thirst was grievous upon him. Presently, he espied a tree, by +whose side was a spring of running water; so he made towards it +and sitting down in the shade, on the bank of the rivulet, +essayed to drink, but found that the water had no taste in his +mouth. Then, [looking in the stream,] he saw that his body was +wasted, his colour changed and his face grown pale and his, +feet, to boot, swollen with walking and weariness. So he shed +copious tears and repeated the following verses: + +The lover is drunken with love of his fair; In longing and heat + he redoubles fore'er. +Love-maddened, confounded, distracted, perplexed, No dwelling + is pleasant to him and no fare. +For how, to a lover cut off from his love, Can life be + delightsome? 'Twere strange an it were. +I melt with the fire of my passion for her And the tears down + my cheek roll and never forbear. +Shall I ever behold her or one from her stead, With whom I may + solace my heart in despair? + +And he wept till he wet the ground; after which he rose and +fared on again over deserts and wilds, till there came out upon +him a lion, with a neck buried in hair, a head the bigness of a +dome, a mouth wider than the door [thereof] and teeth like +elephants' tusks. When Uns el Wujoud saw him, he gave himself up +for lost and turning towards Mecca, pronounced the professions +of the faith and prepared for death. + +Now he had read in books that whoso will flatter the lion, +beguileth him, for that he is lightly duped by fair words and +glorieth in praise; so he began and said, 'O lion of the forest +and the waste! O unconquerable warrior! O father of heroes and +Sultan of wild beasts! Behold, I am a desireful lover, whom +passion and severance have undone. Since I parted from my +beloved, I have lost my reason; wherefore, do thou hearken to +my speech and have ruth on my passion and love-longing.' When +the lion heard this, he drew back from him and sitting down on +his hind-quarters, raised his head to him and began to frisk +his tail and paws to him; which when Uns el Wujoud saw, he +recited these verses: + +Wilt slay me, O lord of the desert, before My enslaver I meet + with, e'en her I adore? +No fat on me is; I'm no booty for thee; For the loss of my + loved one hath wasted me sore. +Yea, my love's separation hath worn out my soul, And I'm grown + like a shape, with a shroud covered o'er. +Give the railers not cause to exult in my woe, O prince of the + spoilers, O lion of war! +A lover, all sleepless for loss of my dear, I'm drowned in the + tears from mine eyelids that pour; +And my pining for her in the darkness of night Hath robbed me, + for passion, of reason and lore. + +When he had finished, the lion rose and coming softly up to +him, with his eyes full of tears, licked him with his tongue, +then walked on before him, signing to him, as who should say, +'Follow me.' So he followed him, and he led him on till he +brought him, over a mountain, to the farther side, where he +came upon the track of a caravan and knew it to be that of +Rose-in-bud and her company. When the lion saw that he knew the +track and set himself to follow it, he turned back and went his +way; whilst Uns el Wujoud followed the foot-marks, till they +brought him to a surging sea, swollen with clashing billows. The +trail led down to the water's edge and there broke off; whereby +he knew that they had taken ship there and had continued their +journey by sea. So he lost hope of finding his beloved and +repeated the following verses, weeping sore: + +Far's the place of visitation and my patience faileth me For my + love; but how to reach her o'er the abysses of the sea? +When, for love of her, my vitals are consumed and I've forsworn + Slumber, sleep for wake exchanging, ah, how can I patient + be? +Since the day she left the homesteads and departed, hath my + heart Burnt with never-ceasing anguish, all a-fire with + agony. +Oxus and Jaxartes, running like Euphrates, are my tears; More + than rain and flood abounding, run like rivers to the sea. +Ulcerated are my eyelids with the running of the tears, And my + heart on fires of passion's burnt and wasted utterly. +Yea, the armies of my longing and my transport on me pressed, + And the hosts of my endurance did before them break and + flee. +Lavishly my life I've ventured for the love of her; for life Is + the lightest to a lover of all ventures, verily. +Be an eye of God unpunished that beheld the beauteous one, Than + the moon how much more splendid, in the harem's sanctuary! +Struck was I and smitten prostrate by wide-opened eyes, whose + shafts, From a bow all stringless loosened, pierced the + hapless heart of me. +By the soft and flexile motions of her shape she captived me, + Swaying as the limber branches sway upon the cassia-tree. +Union with her I covet, that therewith I may apply Solace to + the pains of passion, love and care and misery. +For the love of her, afflicted, as I am, I have become; All + that's fallen on me betided from the evil eye, perdie. + +Then he wept, till he swooned away, and abode in his swoon a +long while. When he came to himself, he looked right and left +and seeing none in the desert, was fearful of the wild beasts; +so he climbed to the top of a high mountain, where he heard a +man's voice speaking within a cavern. He listened and found it +to be that of a devotee, who had forsworn the world and given +himself up to pious exercises. So he knocked thrice at the +cavern door; but the hermit made him no answer, neither came +forth to him; wherefore he sighed heavily and recited the +following verses: + +What way is open unto me, to my desire to get And put off + weariness and toil and trouble and regret? +All pains and terrors have combined on me, to make me hoar And + old of head and heart, whilst I a very child am yet. +I find no friend to solace me of longing and unease' Nor one + 'gainst passion and its stress to aid me and abet. +Alas, the torments I endure for waste and wistful love! + Fortune, meseems, 'gainst me is turned and altogether set. +Ah, woe's me for the lover's pain, unresting, passion-burnt, + Him who in parting's bitter cup his lips perforce hath + wet! +His wit is ravished clean away by separation's woe, Fire in his + heart and all consumed his entrails by its fret. +Ah, what a dreadful day it was, when to her stead I came And + that, which on the door was writ, my eyes confounded met! +I wept, until I gave the earth to drink of my despair; But + still from friend and foe I hid the woes that me beset. +Then strayed I forth till, in the waste, a lion sprang on me + And would have slain me straight; but him with flattering + words I met +And soothed him. So he spared my life and succoured me, as + 'twere He too had known love's taste and been entangled in + its net. +Yet, for all this, could I but win to come to my desire, All, + that I've suffered and endured, straightway I should + forget. +O thou, that harbour'st in thy cave, distracted from the world, + Meseems thou'st tasted love and been its slave, O + anchoret! + +Hardly had he made an end of these verses when, behold, the +door of the cavern opened and he heard one say' 'Alas, the pity +of it I' So he entered and saluted the hermit, who returned his +greeting and said to him, 'What is thy name?' 'Uns el Wujoud,' +answered the young man. 'And what brings thee hither?' asked +the hermit. So he told him his whole story, whereat he wept and +said' 'O Uns el Wujoud, these twenty years have I dwelt in this +place, but never beheld I any here, till the other day, when I +heard a noise of cries and weeping, and looking forth in the +direction of the sound, saw much people and tents pitched on +the sea-shore. They built a ship, in which they embarked and +sailed away. Then some of them returned with the ship and +breaking it up, went their way; and methinks those, who +embarked in the ship and returned not, are they whom thou +seekest. In that case, thy trouble must needs be grievous and +thou art excusable; though never yet was lover but suffered +sorrows.' Then he recited the following verses: + +Uns el Wujoud, thou deem'st me free of heart, but, wel-a-way! + Longing and transport and desire fold and unfold me aye. +Yea, love and passion have I known even from my earliest years, + Since at my mother's nursing breast a suckling babe I lay. +I struggled sore and long with Love, till I his power + confessed. If thou enquire at him of me, he will me not + unsay. +I quaffed the cup of passion out, with languor and disease, And + as a phantom I became for pining and decay. +Strong was I, but my strength is gone and neath the swords of + eyes, The armies of my patience broke and vanished clean + away. +Hope not to win delight of love, without chagrin and woe; For + contrary with contrary conjoined is alway. +But fear not change from lover true; do thou but constant be + Unto thy wish, and thou shalt sure be happy yet some day: +For unto lovers passion hath ordained that to forget Is heresy, + forbidden all its mandates that obey. + +Then he rose and coming to the youth, embraced him, and they +wept together, till the hills rang with their crying and they +fell down in a swoon. When they revived, they swore brotherhood +in God the Most High, and the hermit said to Uns el Wujoud, +'This night will I pray to God and seek of Him direction what +thou shouldst do to attain thy desire.' + +To return to Rose-in-bud. When they brought her into the castle +and she beheld its ordinance, she wept and exclaimed, 'By +Allah, thou art a goodly place, save that thou lackest the +presence of the beloved in thee!' Then, seeing [many] birds in +the island, she bade her people set snares for them and hang up +all they caught in cages within the castle; and they did so. But +she sat at a window of the castle and bethought her of what had +passed, and passion and transport and love-longing redoubled +upon her, till she burst into tears and repeated the following +verses: + +To whom, of my desire complaining, shall I cry, To whom, for + loss of loves and parting's sorrow, sigh? +Flames rage within my breast, but I reveal them not, For fear + lest they my case discover to the spy. +I'm grown as thin as e'er a bodkin's wood, so worn With absence + and lament and agony am I. +Where is the loved one's eye, to see how I'm become Even as a + blasted tree, stripped bare and like to die? +They wronged me, when they shut me prisoner in a place, Wherein + my love, alas I may never come me nigh. +Greetings a thousandfold I beg the sun to bear, What time he + riseth up and setteth from the sky, +To a beloved one, who puts the moon to shame, For loveliness, + and doth the Indian cane outvie. +If the rose ape his cheek, "Now God forfend," I say, "That of + my portion aught to pilfer thou shouldst try." +Lo, in his mouth are springs of limpid water sweet, Refreshment + that would bring to those in flames who lie. +How shall I one forget who is my heart and soul, My malady and + he that healing can apply? + +Then, as the shadows darkened upon her, her longing increased +and she called to mind the past and recited these verses also: + +The shadows darken and passion stirs up my sickness amain And + longing rouses within me the old desireful pain. +The anguish of parting hath taken its sojourn in my breast And + love and longing and sorrow have maddened heart and brain. +Passion hath made me restless and yearning consumes my soul And + tears discover my secret, that else concealed had lain. +I know of no way to ease me of sickness and care and woe; Nor + can my weak endeavour reknit Love's severed skein. +My heart is a raging furnace, because of the heat whereof My + entrails are racked with anguish, that nothing can assain. +O thou, that thinkest to blame me for what is fallen on me, + Enough, I suffer with patience whatever the Fates ordain. +I swear I shall ne'er find comfort nor be consoled for them, + The oath of the children of passion, whose oaths are never + in vain! +Bear tidings, O night, to my dear ones and greet them and + witness bear That thou knowest in thee I sleep not, but + ever to wake am fain. + +Meanwhile, the hermit said to Uns el Wujoud, 'Go down into the +valley and fetch me palm-fibre.' So he went and returned with +the palm-fibre, which the hermit took and twisting into ropes, +made therewith a net, such as is used for carrying straw; after +which he said to the youth, 'O Uns el Wujoud, in the heart of +the valley grows a gourd, which springs up and dries upon its +roots. Go thither and fill this net therewith; then tie it +together and casting it into the water, embark thereon and make +for the midst of the sea, so haply thou shalt come to thy +desire; for he, who adventureth not himself, shall not attain +that he seeketh.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Uns el Wujoud and +bidding the hermit farewell after he had prayed for him, betook +himself to the hollow of the valley, where he did as he had +counselled him and launched out upon the water, supported by +the net. + +Then there arose a wind, which drove him out to sea, till he +was lost to the hermit's view; and he ceased not to fare on +over the abysses of the ocean, one billow tossing him up on the +crest of the wave and another bearing him down into the trough +of the sea, and he beholding the while the terrors and wonders +of the deep, for the space of three days, at the end of which +time Fate cast him upon the Mount of the Bereft Mother, where +he landed, weak and giddy as a fledgling bird, for hunger and +thirst; but, finding there streams running and birds warbling +on the branches and fruit-laden trees, growing in clusters and +singly, he ate of the fruits and drank of the streams. Then he +walked on till he saw some white thing alar off, and making for +it, found that it was a strongly-fortified castle. So he went +up to the gate and finding it locked, sat down by it. + +He sat thus three days and on the fourth, the gate opened and +an eunuch came out, who seeing Uns el Wujoud seated there, said +to him, 'Whence comest thou and who brought thee hither?' Quoth +he, 'I come from Ispahan and was travelling by sea with +merchandise, when my ship was wrecked and the waves cast me +upon this island.' When the eunuch heard this, he wept and +embraced him, saying, 'God preserve thee, O [thou that bringest +me the] fragrance of the beloved! Ispahan is my own country and +I have there a cousin, the daughter of my father's brother, +whom I loved and cherished from a child; but a people stronger +than we fell upon us and taking me among other booty, docked me +and sold me for an eunuch, whilst I was yet a lad; and this is +how I come to be what I am.' Then he carried him into the +courtyard of the castle, where he saw a great basin of water, +surrounded by trees, on whose branches hung cages of silver, +with doors of gold, and therein birds warbling and singing the +praises of the Requiting King. In the first cage he came to was +a turtle dove which, seeing him, raised her voice and cried +out, saying, 'O Bountiful One!'[FN#79] Whereat he fell down in +a swoon, but, presently coming to himself, sighed heavily and +recited the following verses: + +O turtle, art thou mad for love, as is my case? Then sing, 'O + Bountiful!' and seek the Lord His grace! +Tell me, doth thy descant in joyance tale its rise Or in + desireful pain, that in thy heart hath place? +If for desire thou moan'st of bygone loves or pin'st For dear + ones that have gone and left thee but their trace, +Or if thou'st lost thy love, like me, ah, then, indeed, + Severance long-felt desire discovereth apace. +God guard a lover true! Though my bones rot, nor time Nor + absence from my heart her image shall efface. + +Then he fainted again and presently coming to his senses, went +on to the second cage, wherein he found a ring-dove. When it +saw him, it sang out, 'O Eternal, I praise thee!' and he sighed +and recited these verses: + +I heard a ring-dove say in her plaintive note, "Despite of my + woes, O Eternal, I praise Thee still!" +And God, of His grace, reunion of our loves, in this my travel, + may yet to us fulfil. +She visits me oft,[FN#80] with her dusk-red honeyed lips, And + lends to the passion within me an added thrill. +And I cry, whilst the fires in my tortured heart flame high And + my soul for ardour consumes and my eyes distil +Tears that resemble blood and withouten cease Pour down on my + wasted cheeks in many a rill, +There's none created without affliction, and I Must bear with + patience my tribulations, until +The hour of solace with her I love one day Unite me. Ah, then, + by God His power and will, +In succouring lovers, I vow, I'll spend my good, For they're of + my tribe and category still; +And eke from prison I'll loose the birds, to boot, And leave, + for joyance, the thought of every ill! + +Then he went on to the third cage, in which was a mocking-bird. +When it saw him, it set up a song, and he recited the following +verses: + +The mocking-bird delighteth me with his harmonious strain, As + 'twere a lover's voice that pines and wastes for love in + vain. +Woe's me for those that lovers be! How many a weary night, For + love and anguish and desire, to waken they are fain! +'Twould seem as if they had no part in morning or in sleep, For + all the stress of love and woe that holds their heart and + brain. +When I became distraught for her I love and wistfulness Bound + me in fetters strait, the tears from out mine eyes did + rain +So thick and fast, they were as chains, and I to her did say, + "My tears have fallen so thick, that now they've bound me + with a chain." +The treasures of my patience fail, absence is long on me And + yearning sore; and passion's stress consumeth me amain. +If God's protection cover me and Fortune be but just And Fate + with her whom I adore unite me once again, +I'll doff my clothes, that she may see how worn my body is, For + languishment and severance and solitary pain. + +Then he went on to the fourth cage, where he found a +nightingale, which, at sight of him, began to tune its +plaintive note. When he heard its descant, he burst into tears +and repeated the following verses: + +The nightingale's note, when the dawning is near, Distracts + from the lute-strings the true lover's ear. +Complaineth, for love-longing, Uns el Wujoud, Of a passion that + blotteth his being out sheer. +How many sweet notes, that would soften, for mirth, The + hardness of iron and stone, do I hear! +The zephyr of morning brings tidings to me Of meadows, + full-flower'd for the blossoming year. +The scents on the breeze and the music of birds, In the + dawning, transport me with joyance and cheer. +But I think of a loved one, that's absent from me, And mine + eyes rain in torrents, with tear upon tear; +And the ardour of longing flames high in my breast, As a fire + in the heart of a brasier burns clear. +May Allah vouchsafe to a lover distraught To see and foregather + once more with his dear! +Yea, for lovers, heart-sickness and longing and woe And wake + are excuses that plainly appear. + +Then he went on a little and came to a handsome cage, than +which there was no goodlier there, and in it a culver, that is +to Say, a wood-pigeon, the bird renowned among the birds as the +singer of love-longing, with a collar of jewels about its neck, +wonder-goodly of ordinance. He considered it awhile and seeing +it mazed and brooding in its cage, shed tears and repeated +these verses: + +O culver of the copse, may peace upon thee light, O friend of + all who love and every wistful wight! +I love a young gazelle, a slender one, whose glance Than + sharpest sabre's point is keener and more bright. +For love of her, my heart and entrails are a-fire And + sicknesses consume my body and my spright. +The sweet of pleasant food's forbidden unto me, And eke I am + denied the taste of sleep's delight. +Solace and fortitude have taken flight from me, And love and + longing lodge with me, both day and night. +How shall my life be sweet to me, while she's afar, That is my + life, my wish, the apple of my sight? + +When the pigeon heard these verses, it awoke from its brooding +and cooed and warbled and trilled, till it all but spoke; and +the tongue of the case interpreted for it and recited the +following verses: + +O lover, thy wailings recall to my mind The time when my youth + from me wasted and dwined, +And A mistress, whose charms and whose grace I adored, + Seductive and fair over all of her kind; +Whose voice, from the twigs of the sandhill upraised, Left the + strains of the flute, to my thought, far behind. +A snare set the fowler and caught me, who cried, "Would he d + leave me to range at my will on the wind!" +I had hoped he was clement or seeing that I Was a lover, would + pity my lot and be kind; +But no, (may God smite him!) he tore me away From my dear and + apart from her harshly confined. +Since then, my desire for her grows without cease, And my heart + with the fires of disjunction is mined. +God guard a true lover, who striveth with love And hath + suffered the torments in which I have pined! +When he seeth me languish for love in my cage, He will loose + me, in mercy, my loved one to find + + Then Uns el Wujoud turned to his friend, the Ispahani and said +to him, 'What palace is this? Who built it and who abideth in +it?' Quoth the eunuch, 'The Vizier of King Shamikh built it +for his daughter, fearing for her the assaults of fate and the +vicissitudes of fortune, and lodged her therein, with her +attendants; nor do we open it save once in every year, when our +victual comes to us.' And Uns el Wujoud said in himself, 'I +have gained my end' though after long travail.' + +Meanwhile, Rose-in-bud took no delight in eating nor drinking, +sitting nor sleeping; but her transport and passion and +love-longing redoubled on her, and she went wandering about the +castle, but could find no issue; wherefore she shed plenteous +tears and recited the following verses: + +They have prisoned me straitly from him I adore And given me to + eat of mine anguish galore. +My heart with the flames of love-longing they fired, When me + from the sight of my loved one they bore. +They have cloistered me close in a palace built high On a mount + in the midst of a sea without shore. +If they'd have me forget, their endeavour is vain, For my love + but redoubles upon me the more. +How can I forget him, when all I endure Arose from the sight of + his face heretofore? +My days are consumed in lament, and my nights Pass in thinking + of him, as I knew him of yore. +His memory my solace in solitude is, Since the lack of his + presence I needs must deplore. +I wonder, will Fate grant my heart its desire And my love, + after all, to my wishes restore! + +Then she donned her richest clothes and trinkets and threw a +necklace of jewels around her neck; after which she ascended to the +roof of the castle and tying some strips of Baalbek stuff together, +[to serve for a rope], made them fast to the battlements and let +herself down thereby to the ground. Then she fared on over wastes +and wilds, till she came to the sea-shore, where she saw a +fishing-boat, and therein a fisherman, whom the wind had driven +on to the island, as he went, fishing here and there, on the sea. +When he saw her, he was affrighted, [ taking her for a Jinniyeh] +and put out again to sea; but she cried out and made pressing +signs to him to return, reciting the following verses: + +Harkye, O fisherman, fear thou no injury; I'm but an earthly + maid, a mortal like to thee. +I do implore thee, stay, give ear unto my prayer And hearken to + my true and woeful history. +Pity, (so God thee spare,) the ardour [of my love,] And say if + thou hast seen a loved one, fled from me. +I love a fair-faced youth and goodly; brighter far Of aspect + than the face of sun or moon is he. +The antelope, that sees his glances, cries, "His slave Am I," + and doth confess inferiority. +Yea, beauty on his brow these pregnant words hath writ In very + dust of musk, significant to see, +"Who sees the light of love is in the way of right, And he who + strays commits foul sin and heresy." +An thou have ruth on me and bring me to his sight, O rare! + Whate'er thou wilt thy recompense shall be; +Rubies and precious stones and freshly gathered pearls And + every kind of gem that is in earth and sea. +Surely, O friend, thou wilt with my desire comply; For all my + heart's on fire with love and agony. + +When the fisherman heard this, he wept and sighed and lamented; +then, recalling what had betided himself in the days of his +youth, when love had the mastery over him and transport and +love-longing and distraction were sore upon him and the fires +of passion consumed him, replied with these verses: + +Indeed, the lover's excuse is manifest, Wasting of body and + streaming tears, unrest, +Eyes, in the darkness that waken still, and heart, As 'twere a + fire-box, bespeak him love-oppress. +Passion, indeed, afflicted me in youth, And I good money from + bad learnt then to test. +My soul I bartered, a distant love to win; To gain her favours, + I wandered East and West; +And eke I ventured my life against her grace And deemed the + venture would bring me interest. +For law of lovers it is that whoso buys His love's possession + with life, he profits best. + +Then he moored his boat to the shore and bade her embark, +saying, 'I will carry thee whither thou wilt.' So she embarked +and he put off with her; but they had not gone far, before +there came out a stern-wind upon the boat and drove it swiftly +out of sight of land. The fisherman knew not whither he went, +and the wind blew without ceasing three days, at the end of +which time it fell, by leave of God the Most High, and they +sailed on, till they came in sight of a city builded upon the +seashore, and the fisherman set about making fast to the land. + +Now the King of the city, a very powerful prince called Dirbas, +was at that moment sitting, with his son, at a window in the +palace giving upon the sea, and chancing to look out to +sea-ward, they saw the fishing-boat enter the harbour. They +observed it narrowly and espied therein a young lady, as she +were the full moon in the mid-heaven, with pendants in her ears +of fine balass rubies and a collar of precious stones about her +neck. So the King knew that this must be the daughter of some +king or great noble, and going forth of the sea-gate of the +palace, went down to the boat, where he found the lady asleep +and the fisherman busied in making fast to the shore. He went +up to her and aroused her, whereupon she awoke, weeping; and he +said to her, 'Whence comest thou and whose daughter art thou +and what brings thee hither?' 'I am the daughter of Ibrahim, +Vizier to King Shamikh,' answered she; 'and the manner of my +coming hither is strange and the cause thereof extraordinary.' +And she told him her whole story, hiding nought from him; then +she sighed deeply and recited the following verses: + +Tears have mine eyelids wounded sore, and wonder-fast they flow + Adown my cheek for parting's pain and memory and woe, +For a beloved's sake, who dwells for ever in my heart, Though + to foregather with himself I cannot win, heigho! +Fair, bright and brilliant is his face, in loveliness and + grace, Turk, Arab and barbarian he cloth indeed o'ercrow. +The full moon and the sun contend in deference to him, And when + he rises into sight, they, lover-like, bend low. +His eyes with wondrous witchery are decked, as 'twere with + kohl; Even as a bow, that's bent to shoot its shafts, to + thee they show. +O thou, to whom I have perforce revealed my case, have ruth On + one with whom the shifts of love have sported long eno'. +Lo, broken-hearted, Love hath cast me up upon thy coast, + Wherefore I trust that thou on me fair favour wilt bestow. +The noble who, when folk of worth alight within their bounds, + Do honour and protect them, win increase of glory so. +Cover thou then, my lord, my hope, two lovers' follies up And + let them to thy succouring hand their loves' reunion owe. + +Then she shed plenteous tears and recited these verses also: + +I lived, a marvel till I saw in love, then lived no mo'; Each + month to thee as Rejeb[FN#81] be, as free from fear of + foe! +Is it not strange that, on the morn they went away, I lit Fire + in my vitals with the tears that from mine eyes did flow? +Indeed, mine eyelids ran with blood, and on the wasted plain Of + my sad cheek, that therewithal was watered, gold did grow. +Yea, for the safflower hue, that thence o'erspread my cheeks, + they seem The shirt of Joseph, steeped in blood, to make a + lying show. + +When the King heard this, he was certified of her passion and +love-longing and was moved to compassion for her; so he said to +her, 'Fear nothing and be not troubled; thou hast attained the +term of thy wishes; for needs must I bring thee to thy desire.' +And he recited the following verses: + +Daughter if nobles, thou hast reached thy wishes' goal, I trow: + In happy presage then rejoice and fear not any woe. +Treasures this very day, will I collect and neath escort Of + horsemen and of champions, to Shamikh they shall go. +Brocade and bladders full of musk I will to him despatch And + eke white silver and red gold I'll send to him also. +Yea, and a letter neath my hand my wish for ties of kin And for + alliance with himself shall give him eke to know; +And all endeavour will I use, forthwith, that he thou lov'st + Once more with thee may be conjoined, to part from thee no + mo. +I, too, have battened upon love and know the taste thereof And + can excuse the folk who've quaffed the self-same cup of + woe. + +Then, returning to his palace, he summoned his Vizier and +causing pack him up countless treasure, bade him carry it to +King Shamikh and say to him, 'The King is minded to ally +himself with thee by marrying Uns el Wujoud, shine officer, to +his daughter. So needs must thou send him with me, that the +marriage may be solemnized in her father's kingdom.' And he +wrote a letter to King Shamikh, to this effect, and gave it to +the Vizier, charging him without fail bring back Uns el Wujoud, +on pain of deposition from his office. 'I hear and obey,' +answered the Vizier and setting out forthright, in due course +arrived at the court of King Shamikh, to whom he delivered the +letter and presents, saluting him in the name of King Dirbas. +When Shamikh read the letter and saw the name of Uns el Wujoud, +he burst into tears and said to the Vizier, 'And where is Uns +el Wujoud? He went away, and we know not his place of abiding. +Bring him to me, and I will give thee the sum of the presents +thou hast brought me, twice told.' And he wept and sighed and +groaned, reciting the following verses: + +Him whom I loved to me restore; By gold and gifts I set no + store. +Nor do I crave largesse, indeed, Of pearls and gems and + precious ore. +As 'twere a moon at full, for us, In beauty's heaven he did + soar. +Passing in wit and grace, gazelles With him comparison gave + o'er. +His shape was as a willow-wand, For fruits that sweet + seductions bore; +But in the willow, to enslave The hearts of men, there is no + lore. +I reared him from a child upon The bed of fondness evermore; +And now I am at heart distraught For him and sorrow passing + sore. + +Then said he to the Vizier, 'Go back to thy master and tell him +that Uns el Wujoud has been missing this year past, and his +lord knoweth not whither he is gone nor hath any news of him.' +'O my lord,' answered King Dirbas's Vizier, 'my master said to +me, "An thou come back without him, thou shalt be ousted from +the Vizierate and shall not enter my city." How then can I +return without him?' So King Shamikh said to his Vizier +Ibrahim, 'Take a company and go with him and make search for +Uns el Wujoud everywhere.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Ibrahim, +and taking a company of his own retainers, set out in quest of +Uns el Wujoud, accompanied by King Dirbas's Vizier; and as +often as they fell in with Bedouins or others, they enquired at +them of Uns el Wujoud, saying, 'Have ye seen a man, whose name +is so and so and his favour thus and thus?' But they answered, +'We know him not.' + +So they fared on, enquiring in city and hamlet and seeking in +hill and plain and desert and wold, till they came to the +sea-shore, where they took ship and sailed, till they came to +the Mountain of the Bereaved Mother; and King Dirbas's Vizier +said to Ibrahim, 'Why is this mountain thus called?' 'There was +once of old time,' answered the other Vizier, 'a Jinniych, of +the Jinn of China, who fell passionately in love with a man and +being in fear of her own people, searched all the earth for a +place, where she might hide him from them, till she happened on +this mountain and finding it inaccessible both to men and Jinn, +carried off her beloved and lodged him therein. There she used +to visit him privily, till she had borne him a number of +children, and the merchants, sailing by the mountain, in their +voyages over the sea, heard the weeping of the children, as it +were the wailing of a woman who had lost her young, and said, +"Is there here a mother bereaved of her children?" For which +reason the place was named the Mountain of the Bereaved +Mother.' And King Dirbas's Vizier marvelled at this. + +Then they landed and making for the castle, knocked at the gate, +which was opened to them by an eunuch, who knew the Vizier +Ibrahim and kissed his hands. Ibrahim entered and finding in +the courtyard, among the serving men, a man in the habit of a +fakir,[FN#82] said. 'Whence comes yonder fellow?' Quoth they, +'He is a merchant, who hath lost his goods by shipwreck, but +saved himself on a plank; and he is an ecstatic.'[FN#83] Now +this was none other than Uns el Wujoud, [but the Vizier knew +him not]; so he left him and went on into the castle. He found +there no trace of his daughter and questioned her women, who +answered, 'She abode with us but a little while and went away, +how and whither we know not.' Whereupon he wept sore and +repeated the following verses: + +O house, whose birds warbled for joyance whilere And whose + sills were resplendent with glory and pride, +Till the lover came to thee, bemooning himself For his passion, + and found thy doors open and wide, +Would I knew where my soul is, my soul that was late In a + house, where its masters no longer abide! +Therein were all things that are costly and rich And with suits + of brocade it was decked, like a bride. +Yea, happy and honoured its doorkeeper were. Would God I knew + whither its mistress hath tried! + +Then he wept and sighed and bemoaned himself, exclaiming, +'There is no resource against the ordinance of God neither is +there any escape from that which He hath decreed!' Then he went +up to the roof and finding the strips of Baalbek stuff tied to +the battlements and hanging down to the ground, knew that she +had descended thence and had fled forth, as one distracted and +mad with passion. Presently, he turned and seeing there two +birds, an owl and a raven, deemed this an ill omen; so he +groaned and recited these verses: + +Unto the loved ones' stead I came, as hoping, by their sight, + To quench the fire that burnt in me of love-longing and + woe; +But no beloved found I there, nor aught, indeed, I found, Save + two ill-omened ones, an owl And eke a corby-crow. +And quoth the tongue o' the case to me, "Thou hast been + tyrannous And hast two longing lovers torn, the one the + other fro! +Taste of the anguish, then, of love what thou hast made them + taste And live, 'twixt agony and tears, in sorrow evermo." + +Then he descended, weeping, and bade the servants go forth and +search the island for their mistress; so they sought for her, +but found her not. As for Uns el Wujoud, when he was certified +that Rose-in-bud was indeed gone, he gave a great cry and fell +down in a swoon, nor came to himself for a long time, whilst +the folk deemed that a ravishment from the Merciful One had +taken him and that he was absorbed in contemplation of the +splendour of the majesty of the Requiter of good and evil. +Then, despairing of finding Uns el Wujoud and seeing that +Ibrahim was distracted for the loss of his daughter, King +Dirbas's Vizier addressed himself to return to his own country, +for all he had not attained the object of his journey, and said +to Ibrahim? 'I have a mind to take yonder fakir with me; it may +be God, for his sake, will incline the King's heart to me, for +that he is a holy man; and after, I will send him to Ispahan, +which is near our country.' 'Do &as thou wilt,' answered +Ibrahim. + +So they took leave of one another and departed, each for his +own country, King Dirbas's Vizier carrying with him Uns el +Wujoud, who was still insensible. They bore him with them on +muleback, unknowing if he were carried or not, for three days, +at the end of which time he came to himself and said, 'Where am +I?' 'Thou art in company with King Dirbas's Vizier,' answered +they and went and told the latter, who sent him rose-water and +sherbet of sugar, of which they gave him to drink and restored +him. Then they fared on till they drew near King Dirbas's +capital and the King, being advised of his Vizier's coming, +wrote to him, saying, 'An Uns el Wujoud be not with thee, come +not to me ever.' + +When the Vizier read the royal mandate, it was grievous to him, +for he knew not that Rose-in-bud was with the King nor why he +had sent him in quest of Uns el Wujoud, neither knew he that +the fakir he had with him was Uns el Wujoud himself; and the +latter in like manner knew not whither they were bound nor that +the Vizier had been despatched in quest of himself. So, when he +saw him thus chagrined, he said to him, 'What ails thee?' And +he answered, 'I was sent by the King on an errand, which I +have not been able to accomplish. So, when he heard of my +return, he wrote to me? saying, "Enter not my city, except thou +have fulfilled my need."' 'And what is the King's need?' asked +Uns el Wujoud. So the Vizier told him the case, and he said, +'Fear nothing, but go boldly to the King and take me with thee; +and I will be surety to thee for the coming of Uns el Wujoud.' +At this the Vizier rejoiced and said, 'Is this true that thou +sayest?' 'Yes,' answered he; whereupon the Vizier mounted and +carried him to King Dirbas, who said to him, 'Where is Uns el +Wujoud?' 'O King,' answered the young man, 'I know where he +is.' So the King called him to him and said, 'Where?' 'Near at +hand, replied Uns d Wujoud. 'Tell me what thou wouldst with +him, and I will fetch him to thee.' 'With all my heart,' +answered the King; 'but the case calls for privacy.' + +So he bade the folk withdraw and, carrying Uns el Wujoud into +his closet, told him the whole story; whereupon quoth the +youth, 'Clothe me in rice apparel, and I will eftsoons bring +Uns el Wujoud to thee.' So they brought him a sumptuous dress, +and he donned it and said, 'I am the Delight of the World[FN#84] +and the Mortification of the Envious.' So saying, he transfixed +ail hearts with his glances and recited the following verses: + +My loved one's memory cheers me still in this my solitude And + doth wanhope from me away, as I in absence brood. +I have no helper but my tears; yet, when from out mine eyes + They flow, they lighten my despair and ease my drearihood. +Sore is my longing; yea, it hath no like and my affair In love + and passion's marvellous, beyond all likelihood. +I lie the night long, wakeiul-eyed,--no sleep is there for + me,--And pass, for love, from heaven to hell, according to + my mood. +Yea, patience fair some time I had, but have it now no more; + And longing and chagrin increase upon me, like a flood. +Indeed, my body's worn to nought, for severance from her; + Yearnings my aspect and my form to change have all + subdued. +Mine eyelids ulcerated are with weeping, nor can I Avail to + stay the constant tears, wherewith they're still bedewed. +Indeed, I can no more; my strength, my very vitals fail. How + many sorrows have I borne, on sorrows still renewed! +My heart and head are grizzled grown, for loss of a princess In + beauty, sure, the fairest maid that ever lover wooed. +In her despite, our parting was, for no desire hath she Save to + be joined with me and feed once more on lovers' food. +I wonder, will my fate to me union vouchsafe with her I + cherish, after absence long and stress of lonelihood, +And shut the book of severance up, that now is open wide, And + blot out troubles from my thought with love's supremest + good? +Shall my beloved, in my land, my cup-companion be And sorrow + and affliction be by pure delight ensued? + +'By Allah,' exclaimed the King, 'ye are, indeed, a pair of true +lovers and in the heaven of beauty two shining stars! Your +story is marvellous and your case extraordinary.' Then he told +him all that had befallen Rose-in-bud; and Uns el Wujoud said, +'Where is she, O King of the age?' 'She is with me now,' +answered Dirbas and sending for the Cadi and the witnesses, +drew up the contract of marriage between her and him. Then he +loaded Uns el Wujoud with favours and bounties and sent to King +Shamikh, advising him of what had befallen, whereat the latter +rejoiced with an exceeding joy and wrote back to him, saying, +'Since the marriage contract hath been drawn up at thy court! it +behoves that the wedding and consummation be at mine.' And he +made ready camels and horses and men and sent them in quest of +the lovers. + +When the embassy reached King Dirbas, he gave the pair great +store of treasure and despatched them to King Shamikh's court +with an escort of his own troops. The day of their arrival was +a notable day, never was seen a greater; for the King assembled +all the singers and players on instruments of music and made +banquets and held high festival seven days; and on each day he +gave largesse to the folk and bestowed on them sumptuous +dresses of honour. Then Uns el Wujoud went in to Rose-in-bud, +and they embraced and sat weeping for excess of joy and +gladness, whilst she recited the following verses: + +Gladness is come, dispelling grief and putting care aside; We + are united now and have our enviers mortified. +The fragrant breeze of union blows fresh and sweet for us, + Whereby our bodies, vitals, hearts are all revivified. +The splendour of fulfilled delight in all its glory shines, And + for glad tidings beat the drums about us far and wide. +Think not we weep for stress Of grief or for affliction; nay, + It is for joy our tears flow down and will not be denied. +How many terrors have we seen, that now are past away! Yet we + each agonizing strait did patiently abide. +In one hour of delight have we forgotten all the woes, Whose + stresses made us twain, whilom, grey-haired and + hollow-eyed. + +Then they clipped each other and ceased not from their embrace, +till they fell down in a swoon, for the ecstasy of reunion; and +when they came to themselves, Uns d Wujoud recited these +verses: + +Ah, how peerlessly sweet are the nights of delight, When the + loved one to me keeps the troth she did plight, +When enjoyment enjoyment ensues and the bonds Of estrangement + between us are sundered outright, +And fortune is come to us, favouring and fair, After turning + away with aversion and spite! +Fair fortune hath set up her standards for us And we drink from + her hand a cup pure of affright. +United, our woes each to each we recount And the nights when in + torments we watched for the light. +But now, O my lady, forgotten have we Our griefs, and God + pardon the past its upright! +How pleasant, how lovesome, how joyous is life! Enjoyment my + passion doth only excite. + +Then they gave themselves up anew to the pleasures of the +nuptial bed and passed seven whole days thus, carousing and +conversing and reciting verses and telling pleasant tales and +anecdotes, in the intervals of amorous dalliance; for so +drowned were they in the sea of passion, that they knew not +night from day and it was to them, for very stress of joy and +gladness and pleasure and delight, as if the seven days were +but one day, and that without a morrow. Nor did they know the +seventh day, but by the coming of the singers and players on +instruments of music;[FN#85] whereat Rose-in-bud was beyond +measure wondered and improvised the following verses: + +Despite the enviers' rage and malice of the spy, I've won of + him I love my wish to satisfy; +Yea, we have crowned our loves with many a close embrace, On + cushions of brocade and silken stuffs piled high +Upon a couch full soft, of perfumed leather made And stuffed + with down of birds of rarest kind that fly. +Thanks to the honeyed dews of my beloved's lips, Illustrious + past compare, no need of wine have I. +Yea, for the sweet excess of our fulfilled delight, The present + from the past we know, nor far from nigh. +A miracle indeed! Seven nights o'er us have passed, Without our + taking note of how they flitted by; +Till, on the seventh day, they wished us joy and said, "Your + union God prolong to all eternity!" + +When she had finished, Uns el Wujoud kissed her, more than a +hundred times, and recited the following verses: + +O day of pure delight and mutual happiness! The loved one came + and set me free from loneliness. +She blest me with the sweets of all her glorious charms, What + while her converse filled my spirit with liesse. +She plied me with the wine of amorous delight, Till all my + senses failed, for very drunkenness. +Yea, merry each with each we made, together lay, Then fell to + wine and did, in song, our cheer express; +Nor knew we, of the days that fleeted over us, The present from + the past, for very joy's excess. +Fair fall all those that love of ease and twinned delight, And + joy to them fulfil its promise none the less! +Ne'er may they know the taste of parting's bitter cup! God + succour them as me He succoured in my stress! + +Then they went forth and distributed to the folk alms and +largesse of money and raiment and so forth; after which +Rose-in-bud bade empty the bath for her and turning to Uns el +Wujoud, said to him' 'O solace of my eyes, I have a mind to see +thee in the bath; and we will be alone together therein.' He +gladly consented to this, and she bade perfume the bath for +them with all manner of scented woods and essences and light +the candles. Then, of the excess of her contentment, she +recited the following Verses: + +O thou aforetime of my heart that mad'st prize (And the present + for us on the past still relies), +Thou, the only companion I crave, for to me None other the want + of thy presence supplies, +To the bath,--that in midst of hell-fire we may see Even + Paradise shining,--come, light of mine eyes! +We will scent it with ambergris, aloes and musk, Till the + fragrance in clouds from all quarters arise. +Yea, Fortune we'll pardon her sins and give thanks, For His + grace, to the Merciful One, the All-Wise; +And I'll say, when I see thee therein, "O my love, All delights + be thy lot in the earth and the skies!" + +So they went to the bath and took their pleasure there in; +after which they returned to their palace and there abode in +the fulness of delight, till there came to them the Destroyer +of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and glory be to Him +who changeth not neither ceaseth and in whom all things have +their term! + + + + + + ABOU NUWAS WITH THE THREE BOYS AND THE + KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID. + + + +Abou Nuwas one day shut himself up and making ready a richly- +furnished saloon, set out therein a banquet of meats of all +kinds and colours that lips and tongue can desire. Then he went +forth, to seek a minion who should befit the entertainment, +saying, 'O my God and my Master and my Lord, I beseech Thee to +send me one worthy of this banquet and apt to carouse with me +this day!' Hardly had he made an end of speaking, when he +espied three handsome beardless youths, as they were of the +children of Paradise, differing in complexion but equal in +perfection of beauty; and all hearts yearned with desire to the +graceful bending of their shapes, even to what saith the poet: + +Two beardless youths I happened on one day And said "I love + you." "Hast thou pelf?" asked they. +"Yes," answered I, "and liberality." "Then is the matter easy," + did they say. + +Now Abou Nuwas was on this wise given and loved to sport and +make merry with the fair and cull the rose from every fresh- +flowered cheek, even as saith the poet: + +Full many a graybeard is amorous and loves Fair faces and music + and dalliance and glee: +From Mosul, the country of pureness,[FN#86] he comes, Yet + nought but Aleppo[FN#87] remembereth he. + +So he accosted them with the salutation, and they returned his +greeting with all honour and civility and would have gone their +way; but he stayed them, repeating these verses: + +To none but me your footsteps steer; For I have store of all + good cheer; +Wine that the heart of convent monk Would glad, so bright it is + and clear; +And flesh of sheep, to boot, have I And birds of land and sea + and mere. +Eat ye of these and drink old wine, That doth away chagrin and + fear. + +The boys were beguiled by his verses and consented to his +wishes, saying, 'We hear and obey.' So he carried them to his +lodging, where they found all ready that he had set forth in +his verses. They sat down and ate and drank and made merry +awhile, after which they appealed to Abou Nuwas to decide which +was the handsomest and most shapely of them. So he pointed to +one of them, after having kissed him twice, and recited the +following verses: + +With my life I will ransom the mole, on the cheek of the + loveling that is; For how should I ransom it else with + treasure or aught but my soul? +And blessed for ever be He who fashioned his cheek without hair + And made, of His power and His might, all beauty to dwell + in yon mole! + +Then he pointed to another and kissing his lips, repeated these +verses: + +There's a loveling hath a mole upon his cheek, As 'twere musk + on virgin camphor, so to speak. +My eyes marvel when they see it. Quoth the mole, "Heaven's + blessing on the Prophet look ye seek!"[FN#88] + +Then he pointed to the third and repeated the following verses, +after kissing him half a score times: + +All in a silver cup he melted gold full fine, A youth whose + hands were dyed in ruby-coloured wine, +And with the skinkers went and handed round one cup Of wine, + whilst other two were proffered by his eyne. +Fairer than all the Turks, an antelope, whose waist Together + would attract the mountains of Hunain.[FN#89] +An if I were content with crooked[FN#90] womankind, Betwixt + attractions twain would be this heart of mine. +One love towards Diyarbeker[FN#91] drawing it, and one That + draws it, otherguise, to the land of Jamiain.[FN#92] + +Now each of the youths had drunk two cups, and when it came to +Abou Nuwas's turn, he took the goblet and repeated these +verses: + +Drink not of wine except it be at the hands of a loveling slim, + Who in brightness of soul resembles it and it resembles + him. +The drinker of wine, in very truth, hath no delight thereof, + Except the cheek of the fair be pure, who doth the goblet + brim. + +Then he drank off his cup, and when it came round to Him again, +joyance got the mastery of him and he repeated The following +verses: + +Make thou thy boon-fellow of cups, brimmed up as full as this, + And eke to follow cup with cup, I rede thee, do not miss, +Poured by a damask-lipped one's hand, a wonder-lovely fair, + Whose mouth's sweet water, after sleep, as musk on apple + is. +Drink not of wine, except it be from the hand of a gazelle, + Whose cheek is goodlier than itself and sweeter still his + kiss. + +Presently, the wine crept to his head, drunkenness mastered him +and he knew not hand from head, so that he swayed about for +mirth, inclining anon to this one, to kiss him, and anon to +another. Then he fell to glorying in himself and his case and +the goodliness of his entertainment and his companions, and +recited these verses: + +None knoweth perfection of pleasure but he Who drinketh, with + fair ones to hearten him still. +This sings to him, t'other, when cheer him would be, Revives + him forthright with the cups he doth fill; +And whenever from one he hath need of a kiss, Long draughts + from his lips, at his case, he doth swill. +God bless them! Right sweet has my day with them been, And + wonder delightsome and void of all ill! +We drank of the wine cup, both mingled and pure, And agreed + whoso slept, we should touzle at will. + +At this moment, there came a knocking at the door; so they bade +him who knocked enter, and behold, it was the Khalif Haroun er +Reshid. When they saw him, they all rose to him and kissed the +ground before him; and the fumes of the wine forsook Abou +Nuwas's head for awe of the Khalif, who said to him, 'Hallo, +Abou Nuwas!' 'At thy service, O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered he, 'may God preserve thee!' 'What state is this I +find thee in?' asked the Khalif; and the poet replied, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, methinks my state dispenses with +question.' Quoth the Khalif, 'O Abou Nuwas, I have sought +direction of God the Most High and appoint thee Cadi of +whoremasters.' 'Dost thou indeed invest me with that office, O +Commander of the Faithful?' asked Abou Nuwas. 'I do,' replied +the Khalif. 'Then, O Commander of the Faithful,' rejoined Abou +Nuwas, 'hast thou any suit to prefer to me?' At this the Khalif +was wroth and turned away and left them, full of rage, and +passed the night, sore angered against Abou Nuwas, whilst the +latter spent the merriest and most easeful of nights, till the +day dawned and the morning-star appeared and shone, when he +broke up the sitting and dismissing the boys, donned his court- +dress and set out for the Khalif's palace. + +Now it was the latter's custom, when the Divan broke up, to +withdraw to his sitting-chamber and summon thither his poets +and minions and musicians, each having his own place, which he +might not overpass. So, that day, he retired to his saloon, and +the minions came and seated themselves, each in his place. +Presently, in came Abou Nuwas and was about to take his usual +seat, when the Khalif cried out to Mesrour the headsman and +bade him strip the poet of his clothes and clap an ass's pannel +on his back. Moreover, he charged him bind a halter about his +head and a crupper under his rear and carry him round to all +the lodgings of the slave-girls and the chambers of the harem, +that the women might make mock of him; then cut off his head +and bring it to him. 'I hear and obey,' replied Mesrour and +accoutring Abou Nuwas, as the Khalif had bidden him, carried +him round to all the lodgings of the harem, in number as the +days of the year; but he made all the girls laugh with his +buffooneries and each gave him something, so that he returned +with a pocketful of money. + +Just then, Jaafer the Barmecide, who had been absent on an +important business for the Khalif, entered and seeing the poet +in this plight, said to him, 'Hallo, Abou Nuwas!' 'At thy +service, O our lord,' answered he. 'What offence hast thou +committed,' asked Jaafer, 'to bring this punishment on thee?' +'None whatever,' answered the other, 'except that I made our +lord the Khalif a present of the best of my verses, and he +presented me, in return, with the best of his clothes.' When +the Khalif heard this, he laughed, from a heart full of wrath, +and [not only] pardoned Abou Nuwas, but gave him a myriad of +money. + + + + + + ABDALLAH BEN MAAMER WITH THE MAN OF + BASSORA AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL. + + + +A certain man of Bassora once bought a slave-girl and reared +and educated her excellent well. Moreover, he loved her very +dearly and spent all his substance in pleasuring and making +merry with her, till he had nothing left and want was very sore +upon him. So she said to him, 'O my master, sell me; for thou +needest my price and it makes my heart ache to see the sorry +plight to which want hath brought thee. It thou sell me and +make use of my price, it will be better for thee than keeping +me, and haply God the Most High will prosper thee and mend thy +fortune.' He agreed to this, of the straitness of his case, and +carried her to the bazaar, where the broker offered her for +sale to the Governor of Bassora, by name Abballah ben Maamer et +Teimi, and she pleased him. So he bought her, for five hundred +dinars, of her master, who took the money and was about to go +away, when the girl burst into tears and repeated the following +verses: + +May Allah prosper unto thee the money thou hast got! For me, + nought's left me but lament and memory and woe. +I say to my afflicted soul, "Mourn little or mourn much; It + skills not, for the loved one's gone and will return no + mo." + +When he heard this, he sighed heavily and replied thus: + +Though there be no recourse for thee in this thy case and thou + Find nought but death to solace thee, excuse me yet and + know, +Evening and morn the thought of thee will company with me, + Wherewith a heart I will console, that's all fulfilled of + woe. +Peace be on thee! Henceforth for us no meeting shall there be + Nor any union more, except Ben Maamer will it so. + +When Abdallah heard these verses and saw their affliction, he +exclaimed, 'By Allah, I will have no hand in separating you; +for it is manifest to me that ye indeed love one another. So +take the money and the damsel, O man, and may God bless thee in +them! For parting is grievous to true lovers.' So they kissed +his hand and going away, ceased not to dwell together, till +death parted them; and glory be to Him whom death overtaketh +not! + + + + + + THE LOVERS OF THE BENOU UDHREH. + + + +There was once, among the Benou Udhreh, a handsome and +accomplished man, who was never a day out of love, and it +chanced that he became enamoured of a beautiful woman of his +own tribe and sent her many messages; but she ceased not to use +him with cruelty and disdain, till, for stress of passion and +longing and distraction, he fell exceeding sick and took to his +bed and forswore sleep. His sickness grew on him and his +anguish redoubled upon him, till he was all but dead; and his +case became known and his passion noised abroad among the folk. +His family and hers were instant with her to visit him, but she +refused, till he was at the point of death, when, being told of +this, she relented towards him and vouchsafed him a visit. When +he saw her, his eyes ran over with tears and he repeated the +following verses, from a broken heart: + +If, by thy life, there pass thee by my funeral train, to wit, A + bier borne on the necks of four, wilt grudge to follow it? +Wilt thou not follow in its track, that so thou mayst salute + The sepulchre of one who's dead, committed to the pit? + +When she heard this, she wept sore and said to him, 'By Allah, +I thought not that passion had come to such a pass with thee, +as to cast thee into the arms of death! Had I known this, I had +been favourable to thee, and thou shouldst have enjoyed thy +desire.' At this, his tears streamed down, like the cloud- +showers, and he repeated the following verse: + +She draweth near to me, when death hath come betwixt us two And + proffereth union, when it no profit can me do. + +Then he gave one sigh and died, and she fell on him, kissing +him and weeping, till she swooned away. When she came to +herself she charged her people bury her in his grave and +recited the following verses, with streaming eyes: + +We lived upon the earth a life of comfort and delight: Country + and tribe and dwelling-place alike of us were proud; +But Fortune and the shifts of time did rend our loves apart, + And now the grave uniteth us within a single shroud. + +Then she fell again to weeping and ceased not from tears and +lament, till she swooned away. She lay three days, senseless; +then died and was buried in his grave. This is one of the +strange chances of love. + + + + + + THE VIZIER OF YEMEN AND HIS YOUNG + BROTHER + + + +Bedreddin, Vizier of Yemen, had a young brother of singular +beauty and kept strait watch over him. So he applied himself to +seek a governor for him and coming upon an elder of dignified +and reverend aspect, chaste and pious, lodged him in a house +next his own, whence he used to come daily to the Vizier's +dwelling, to teach the latter's brother. After awhile, the old +man's heart was taken with love for his pupil and longing grew +upon him and his entrails were troubled, till, one day, he made +moan of his case to the boy, who said, 'What can I do, seeing +that I may not leave my brother day or night? Thou seest how +careful he is over me.' Quoth the governor, 'My lodging adjoins +thine; so, when thy brother sleeps, do thou rise and entering +the wardrobe, feign thyself asleep. Then come to the parapet of +the roof and I will receive thee on the other side of the wall; +so shalt thou sit with me awhile and return without thy +brother's knowledge.' 'I hear and obey,' answered the boy. So, +when awhile of the night was past, he entered the closet and +waited till his brother lay down on his bed and was drowned in +sleep, when he rose and going to the parapet of the roof, found +the governor awaiting him, who gave him his hand and carried +him to the sitting-chamber, where he had made ready various +dainties for his entertainment, and they sat down to carouse. + +Now it was the night of the full moon, and as they sat, passing +the wine-cup to one another, her rays shone upon them, and the +governor fell to singing. But, whilst they were thus in mirth +and joyance and good cheer, such as confounds the wit and the +sight and defies description, the Vizier awoke and missing his +brother, arose in affright and found the door open. So he went +up to the roof and hearing a noise of talk, peeped over the +parapet and saw a light shining in the governor's lodging. He +looked in and espied his brother and his governor sitting +carousing: but the latter became aware of him and sang the +following verses, cup in hand, to a lively measure: + +He gave me wine to drink, of his mouth's nectar rare, Toasting + with down of cheeks and what adjoineth there; +Then passed with me the night, embracing, cheek to cheek, A + loveling midst mankind unpeered and past compare. +The full moon gazed on us all night; pray then to her, So to + his brother she to tell of us forbear. + +Now the Vizier was a merry man; so, when he heard this, he +said, 'By Allah, I will not betray you!' And he went away and +left them to their diversion. + + + + + + THE LOVES OF THE BOY AND GIRL AT SCHOOL. + + + +A boy and a girl once learnt together in a school, and the boy +fell passionately in love with the girl. So, one day, when the +other boys were heedless, he took her tablet[FN#93] and wrote +on it the following verses: + +Tell me, what sayst thou unto him, whom sickness for thy love + Hath worn and wasted, till he's grown distraught and + stupefied? +Him who of passion maketh moan; for love and longing pain, That + which is in his heart, indeed, no longer can he hide. + +When the girl took her tablet, she read the verses and wept for +pity of him; then wrote thereunder these others: + +An if we see one languishing for very love of us, Our favours, + surely, unto him shall nowise be denied. +Yea, and of us he shall obtain that which he doth desire Of + love-delight, whate'er to us in consequence betide. + +Now it chanced that the teacher came in on them And taking the +tablet, unnoticed, read what was written thereon. So he was +moved to pity of their case and wrote on the tablet the +following verses, in reply to those of the girl: + +Favour thy lover, for he's grown distracted for desire, And + reck thou not of punishment nor fear lest any chide. +As for the master, have no dread of his authority, For he with + passion an its pains aforetime hath been tried. + +Presently, the girl's master entered the school and finding the +tablet, read the above verses and wrote under them the following: + +May Allah never separate your loves, whilst time abide, And may + your slanderer be put to shame and mortified! +But, for the master of the school, by Allah, all my life, A + busier go-between than he I never yet espied. + +Then he sent for the Cadi and the witnesses and married them on +the spot. Moreover, he made them a marriage-feast and entreated +them with exceeding munificence; and they abode together in joy +and contentment, till there came to them the Destroyer of +Delights and the Sunderer of Companies. + + + + + + EL MUTELEMMIS AND HIS WIFE UMEIMEH. + + + +It is related that El Mutelemmis[FN#94] once fled from En Numan +ben Mundhir[FN#95] and was absent so long that the folk deemed +him dead. Now he had a handsome wife, Umeimeh by name, and her +family pressed her to marry again; but she refused, for that +she loved her husband El Mutelemmis very dearly. However, they +were instant with her, because of the multitude of her suitors, +and importuned her till she at last reluctantly consented and +they married her to a man of her own tribe. + +On the night of the wedding, El Mutelemmis came back and +hearing in the camp a noise of pipes and tabrets and seeing +signs of festival, asked some of the children what was toward, +to which they replied, 'They have married Umeimeh, widow of El +Mutelemmis, to such an one, and he goes in to her this night.' +When he heard this, he made shift to enter the house with the +women and saw there the bride seated on her throne. By and by, +the bridegroom came up to her, whereupon she sighed heavily and +weeping, recited the following verses: + +Ah would, (but many are the shifts of good and evil fate), I + knew in what far land thou art, O Mutelemmis mine! + +Now El Mutelemmis was a renowned poet: so he answered her with +the following verse: + +Right near at hand, Umeimeh! Know, whene'er the caravan Halted, + I never ceased for thee with longing heart to pine. + +When the bridegroom heard this, he guessed how the case stood +and went forth from among them in haste, repeating the following +verse: + +I was in luck, but now I'm fall'n into the contrary. A + hospitable house and room your reknit loves enshrine! + +So El Mutelemmis took his wife again and abode with her in all +delight and solace of life, till death parted them. And glory +be to Him at whose command the earth and the heavens shall +arise! + + + + + + THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE + PRINCESS ZUBEIDEH IN THE BATH. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid loved the Princess Zubeideh with an +exceeding love and laid out for her a pleasaunce, in which he +made a great pool and led thither water from all sides. +Moreover, he set thereabout a screen of trees, which so grew +and interlaced over the pool, that one could go in and wash, +without being seen of any, for the thickness of the leafage. It +chanced, one day, that Zubeideh entered the garden and coming +to the basin, gazed upon its goodliness, and the limpidity of +the water and the interlacing of the trees over it pleased her. +Now it was a day of exceeding heat; so she put off her clothes +and entering the pool, which was not deep enough to cover her, +fell to pouring the water over herself from an ewer of silver. + + +The Khalif heard she was in the pool; so he left his palace and +came down to spy upon her, through the screen of the leaves. He +stood behind the trees and saw her naked, with all her secret +charms displayed. Presently, she became aware of him and +turning, saw him behind the trees and was ashamed that he +should see her naked. So she laid her hands on her kaze, but it +escaped from between them, by reason of its much greatness and +plumpness; and the Khalif turned and went away, wondering and +reciting the following verse: + +I looked on her whom I adore And longing rose in me full sore. + +But he knew not what to say next; so he sent for Abou Nuwas and +bade him make a piece of verse commencing with the above line. 'I +hear and obey,' replied the poet and in a twinkling extemporized +the following lines: + +I looked on her whom I adore, And longing rose in me full sore +For a gazelle that ravished me, By double lote-trees shaded + o'er. +The water on her dainty part With silver ewer did she pour +And would have hidden it, seeing me, But all too small her + hands therefor. +Would I were on it, wel-a-way, An hour or liefer two or more! + +The Khalif smiled and made him a handsome present, and he went +away rejoicing. + + + + + + HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE THREE POETS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid was exceeding restless one night; +so he rose and walked about his palace, till he happened on a +damsel overcome with wine. Now he was greatly enamoured of this +damsel; so he toyed with her and pulled her to him, whereupon +her girdle fell down and her trousers were unloosed and he +besought her of amorous dalliance. But she said to him, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, wait till to-morrow night, for I am +unprepared for thee, knowing not of thy coming.' So he left her +and went away. + +On the morrow, he sent a page to her to announce his visit to +her apartment; but she sent back to him, saying, 'The day +obliterates the promise of the night.' So he said to his +minions, 'Make me somewhat of verse, introducing these words, +"The day obliterates the promise of the night."' 'We hear and +obey,' answered they; and Er Recashi[FN#96] came forward and +recited the following: + +By Allah, an thou feltst my longing and my pain, Repose had + turned away from thee and taken flight. +A maid hath made me love-distraught, nor visiting Nor being + visited, a sad and love-lorn wight. +She promised me her grace, then turned away and said, "The day + obliterates the promise of the night." + +Then Abou Musab came forward and recited these verses: + +When wilt thou put away this dotage from thy spright? Thy heart + is dazed and rest to thee forbidden quite. +Is't not enough for thee to have a weeping eye And vitals still + on fire for memory and despite? +For self-conceit, indeed, he laugheth, when he saith, "The day + obliterates the promise of the night." + +Last came Abou Nuwas and recited the following: + +Love was prolonged and far was union out of sight, Nor skilled + it aught to feign aversion and despite. +One day, she came into the palace, drunk with wine, But even + her drunkenness with pudour was bedight. +Her upper garments dropped and left her shoulders bare And + loosened trousers showed the dwelling of delight; +Yea, and the breeze shook hips, full heavy, and a shape, As + 'twere a branch, whereon pomegranates twain unite. +"Give me a tryst," quoth I; and she replied, "The place Of + visiting will be to-morrow clean and right." +Next day, I came and said, "Thy promise;" but quoth she, "The + day obliterates the promise of the night." + +The Khalif bestowed a myriad each on Er Recashi and Abou Musab, +but bade strike off Abou Nuwas's head, saying, 'Thou west with +us yesternight in the palace.' 'By Allah,' answered the poet, +'I slept not but in my own house! I was directed to what I said +by thine own words as to the subject of the poem; and indeed +quoth God the Most High (and He is the truest of all speakers), +"As for poets (devils ensue them!) dost thou not see how they +run wild in each valley and say that they do not?"'[FN#97] So +the Khalif forgave him and bestowed on him two myriads of gold. + + + + + + MUSAB BEN EZ ZUBEIR AND AAISHEH + DAUGHTER OF TELHEH. + + + +It is told of Musab ben ez Zubeir[FN#98] that he met Izzeh, who +was one of the shrewdest of women, in Medina and said to her, +'I have a mind to marry Aaisheh,[FN#99] daughter of Telheh, and +I would have thee go to her and spy out for me how she is +made.' So she went and returning to Musab, said, 'I have seen +her, and her face is more beautiful than health; she hath large +and well-opened eyes, an aquiline nose and smooth, oval cheeks +and a mouth like a cleft pomegranate, a neck like an ewer of +silver and a bosom with two breasts like twin pomegranates, a +slim waist and a slender belly, with a navel therein as it were +a casket of ivory, and backside like a hummock of sand. +Moreover, she hath plump thighs and legs like columns of +alabaster; but I saw her feet to be large, and thou wilt fall +short with her in time of amorous dalliance.' Upon this report, +he married her and Izzeh invited Aaisheh and the women of the +tribe of Kureish to her house, when Aaisheh sang the following, +with Musab standing by: + +The mouths of girls, with their odoriferous, Sweet breath and + their witching smiles, are sweet to buss; +Yet ne'er have I tasted them, but in thought of him; And by + thought, indeed, the Ruler rules over us. + +The night of his going in to her, he departed not from her, +till after seven courses; and on the morrow, a freed-woman of +his met him and said to him, 'May I be thy ransom! Thou art +perfect, even in this.' + +Quoth a certain woman, 'I was with Aaisheh, when her husband +came in to her, and she lusted to him; so he fell upon her and +she puffed and snorted and made use of all manner of rare +motions and strange inventions, and I the while within hearing. +So when he came out from her, I said to her, "How canst thou, +with thy rank and nobility and condition, do thus, and I in thy +house?" Quoth she, "A woman should bring her husband all of +which she is mistress, by way of excitations and rare motions. +What mislikest thou of this?" And I answered, "I would have +this anights." "Thus is it by day," rejoined she, "and by night +I do more than this; for, when he sees me, desire stirs in him +and he falls on heat; so he puts out his hand to me and I obey +him, and it is as thou seest."' + + + + + + ABOUL ASWED AND HIS SQUINTING SLAVE-GIRL. + + + +Aboul Aswed bought a native-born slave-girl, who was squint- +eyed, and she pleased him; but his people decried her to him; +whereat he wondered and spreading out his hands, recited the +following verses: + +They run her down to me, and yet no fault in her find I, Except + perhaps it be a speck she hath in either eye. +To compensate this fault, if fault it be, o' the upper parts + She's slim and heavy of the parts beneath the waist that + lie. + + + + + + + HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE TWO SLAVE-GIRLS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid lay one night between two slave-girls, +one from Medina and the other from Cufa, and the latter rubbed his +hands, whilst the former rubbed his feet and made his yard to +stand up. Quoth the Cufan girl, 'I see thou wouldst keep the whole +of the stock-in-trade to thyself; give me my share of it.' And the +other answered, 'I have been told by Malik, on the authority of +Hisham ibn Orweh,[FN#100] who had it of his [grand]father,[FN#101] +that the Prophet said, "Whoso bringeth the dead to life, it is +his."' But the Cufan took her unawares and pushing her away, took +it all in her own hand and said, 'El Aamesh[FN#102] tells us, on +the authority of Kheithemeh,[FN#103] who had it of Abdallah ben +Mesoud,[FN#104] that the Prophet said, "Game belongeth to him who +taketh it, not to him who raiseth it."' + + + + + + THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE THREE + SLAVE-GIRLS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid lay once with three slave-girls, a +Meccan, a Medinan and an Irakite. The Medina girl put her hand +to his yard and handled it, whereupon it rose and the Meccan +sprang up and drew it to herself. Quoth the other, 'What is +this unjust aggression? I have heard of Malik,[FN#105] on the +authority of Ez Zuhri,[FN#106] who had it of Abdallah ibn +Salim,[FN#107] on the report of Said ben Zeid,[FN#108] that the +Apostle (whom God bless and preserve) said, "Whoso revivifies a +dead land, it is his."' And the Meccan answered, 'Sufyan[FN#109] +tells us, on the authority of Abou Zenad,[FN#110] who had it of +El Aarej,[FN#111] on the report of Abou Hureireh,[FN#112] that +the Apostle of God said, "The game is his who catches it, not +his who starts it."' But the Irak girl pushed them both away and +taking it to herself, said, 'This is mine, till your contention +be decided.' + + + + + + THE MILLER AND HIS WIFE. + + + + +There was a miller, who had an ass to turn his mill; and he was +married to a wicked wife, whom he loved; but she hated him and +loved a neighbour of hers, who liked her not and held aloof +from her. One night, the miller saw, in his sleep, one who said +to him, 'Dig in such a spot of the ass's circuit in the mill, +and thou shalt find a treasure.' When he awoke, he told his +wife the dream and charged her keep it secret; but she told her +neighbour, thinking to win his favour, and he appointed with +her to come to her by night. So he came and they dug in the +mill and found the treasure and took it forth. Then said he to +her, 'How shall we do with this?' 'We will share it equally +between us,' answered she; 'and do thou leave thy wife and I +will cast about to rid me of my husband. Then shalt thou marry +me, and when we are united, we will add the two halves of the +treasure, one to the other, and it will be [all] in our hands.' +Quoth he, 'I fear lest Satan seduce thee and thou take some man +other than myself; for gold in the house is like the sun in the +world. Meseems, therefore, it were better that the money be all +in my hands, so thou mayst study to win free of thy husband and +come to me.' 'I fear the like of thee,' rejoined she, 'and I +will not yield up my part to thee; for it was I directed thee +to it.' When he heard this, covetise prompted him to kill her; +so he killed her and threw her body into the empty hole; but +the day overtook him and hindered him from covering it up; so +he took the treasure and went away. + +Presently, the miller awoke and missing his wife, went into the +mill, where he fastened the ass to the beam and shouted to it. +It went on a little, then stopped; whereupon he beat it +grievously; but the more he beat it, the more it drew back; for +it was affrighted at the dead woman and could not go on. So he +took out a knife and goaded it again and again, but still it +would not budge. Then he was wroth with it, knowing not the +cause of its obstinacy, and drove the knife into its flanks, +and it fell down dead. When the sun rose, he saw his wife lying +dead, in the place of the treasure, and great was his rage and +sore his chagrin for the loss of the treasure and the death of +his wife and his ass. All this came of his letting his wife +into his secret and not keeping it to himself. + + + + + + THE SIMPLETON AND THE SHARPER. + + + +A certain simple fellow was once going along, haling his ass +after him by the halter, when a couple of sharpers saw him and +one said to his fellow, 'I will take that ass from yonder man.' +'How wilt thou do that?' asked the other. 'Follow me and I will +show thee,' replied the first. So he went up to the ass and +loosing it from the halter, gave the beast to his fellow; then +clapped the halter on his own head and followed the simpleton, +till he knew that the other had got clean off with the ass, +when he stood still. The man pulled at the halter, but the +thief stirred not; so he turned and seeing the halter on a +man's neck, said to him, 'Who art thou?' Quoth the sharper, 'I +am thine ass and my story is a strange one. Know that I have a +pious old mother and came in to her one day, drunk; and she +said to me, "O my son, repent to God the Most High of these thy +transgressions." But I took the cudgel and beat her, whereupon +she cursed me and God the Most High changed me into an ass and +caused me fall into thy hands, where I have remained till now. +However, to-day, my mother called me to mind and her heart +relented towards me; so she prayed for me, and God restored me +to my former shape of a man.' 'There is no power and no virtue +but in God the Most High, the Supreme!' cried the simpleton. 'O +my brother, I conjure thee by Allah, acquit me of what I have +done with thee, in the way of riding and so forth.' + +Then he let the sharper go and returned home, drunken with +chagrin and concern. His wife asked him, 'What ails thee and +where is the ass?' And he answered, 'Thou knowest not what was +this ass; but I will tell thee.' So he told her the story, and +she exclaimed, 'Woe worth us for God the Most High! How could +we have used a man as a beast of burden, all this while?' And +she gave alms and asked pardon of God. Then the man abode +awhile at home, idle, till she said to him, 'How long wilt thou +sit at home, idle? Go to the market and buy us an ass and do +thy business with it.' Accordingly, he went to the market and +stopping by the ass-stand, saw his own ass for sale. So he went +up to it and clapping his mouth to its ear, said to it, 'Out on +thee, thou good-for-nought! Doubtless thou hast been getting +drunk again and beating thy mother! But, by Allah, I will never +buy thee more!' And he left it and went away. + + + + + + THE IMAM ABOU YOUSUF WITH HAROUN ER + RESHID AND ZUBEIDEH. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid went up one noon-tide to his couch, +to lie down, and mounting, found thereon fresh semen; whereat +he was startled and sore perturbed and troubled. So he called +the princess Zubeideh and said to her, 'What is that spilt on +the bed?' She looked at it and replied, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, it is semen.' 'Tell me truly what this means,' said he; +'or I will lay violent hands on thee forthright.' 'O Commander of +the Faithful,' answered she, 'indeed, I know not how it came +there and I am guiltless of that whereof thou suspectest me.' +So he sent for the Imam Abou Yousuf and told him the case. The +Imam raised his eyes to the roof and seeing a crack therein, +said to the Khalif, 'O Commander of the Faithful, the bat hath +semen like that of a man, and this is bats' semen.' Then he +called for a lance and thrust it into the crack, whereupon down +fell the bat. In this manner the Khalif's suspicions were +dispelled and Zubeideh's innocence was made manifest; whereat +she gave vent to her joy and promised Abou Yousuf a liberal +reward. + +Now there were with her magnificent fruits, out of their +season, and she knew of others in the garden; so she said to +Abou Yousuf, 'O Imam of the Faith, which wouldst thou rather of +the two kinds of fruits, those that are here or those that are +not here?' 'Our code forbids us to pronounce judgment on the +absent,' answered he. 'When they are present, we will give +judgment.' So she caused bring the two kinds of fruits before +him, and he ate of both. Quoth she, 'What is the difference +between them?' And he answered, 'As often as I think to praise +one kind, the other puts in its claim.' The Khalif laughed at +his answer and made him a present. Zubeideh also gave him what +she had promised him, and he went away, rejoicing. See, then, +the blessed qualities of this Imam and how at his hands were +made manifest the truth and the innocence of the lady Zubeideh. + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL HAKIM AND THE MERCHANT. + + + +The Khalif El Hakim bi Amrillah was riding out in state one day, +when he came to a garden, in which he saw a man, surrounded by +slaves and servants. He asked him for a draught of water, and +the man gave him to drink, saying, 'Peradventure, the Commander +of the Faithful will honour me by alighting in this my garden.' +So the Khalif dismounted and entered the garden with his suite; +whereupon the man brought out to them a hundred carpets and a +hundred leather mats and a hundred cushions and set before them +a hundred dishes of fruits, a hundred saucers of sweetmeats and +a hundred bowls full of sherbets of sugar; whereat the Khalif +marvelled and said to his host, 'O man, this thy case is a +strange one. Didst thou know of our coming and make this +preparation for us?' 'No, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered the other, 'I knew not of thy coming and am but a +merchant of the rest of thy subjects. But I have a hundred +concubines; so, when the Commander of the Faithful honoured +me by alighting with me, I sent to each of them, bidding her +send me the morning-meal here. So they sent me each of her +furniture and of the excess of her meat and drink: and every +day each sends me a dish of meat and another of marinades, also +a plate of fruits and a saucer of sweetmeats and a bowl of +sherbet. This is my every- day noon-meal, nor have I added +aught thereto for thee.' + +The Khalif prostrated himself in thanksgiving to God the Most +High and said, 'Praised be God, who hath been so bountiful to +one of our subjects, that he entertaineth the Khalif and his +suite, without making ready for them, but of the surplus of his +day's victual!' Then he sent for all the dirhems in the +treasury, that had been struck that year,--and they were in +number three thousand and seven hundred thousand;--nor did he +mount, till the money came, when he gave it to the merchant, +saying, 'Use this for the maintenance of thy state; and thy +desert is more than this.' Then he mounted and rode away. + + + + + + KING KISRA ANOUSHIRWAN AND THE VILLAGE + DAMSEL. + + + + +The just King, Kisra Anoushirwan,[FN#113] was hunting one day +and became separated from his suite, in pursuit of an antelope. +Presently, he caught sight of a hamlet, near at hand, and being +sore athirst, made for the door of a house, that stood by the +wayside, and asked for a draught of water. A damsel came out +and looked at him; then, going back into the house, pressed the +juice from a sugar-cane into a tankard and mixed it with water; +after which she strewed on the top somewhat of perfume, as it +were dust, and carried it to the King. He took it and seeing in +it what resembled dust, drank it, little by little, till he +came to the end. Then said he to her, 'O damsel, the drink is +good and sweet, but for this dust in it, that troubles it.' 'O +guest,' answered she, 'I put that in, of intent.' 'And why +didst thou thus?' asked he; and she replied, 'I saw that thou +wast exceeding thirsty and feared that thou wouldst swallow the +whole at one draught and that this would do thee a mischief; +and so hadst thou done, but for this dust that troubled the +drink.' The King wondered at her wit and good sense and said to +her, 'How many sugar-canes didst thou press for this draught?' +'One,' answered she; whereat the King marvelled and calling for +the roll of the taxes of the village, saw that its assessment +was but little and bethought him to increase it, on his return +to his palace, saying in himself, 'Why is a village so lightly +taxed, where they get this much juice out of one sugar-cane?' + +Then he left the village and pursued his chase. As he came back +at the end of the day, he passed alone by the same door and +called again for drink; whereupon the same damsel came out and +knowing him, went in to fetch him drink. It was some time +before she returned and the King wondered at this and said to +her, 'Why hast thou tarried?' Quoth she, 'Because one sugar- +cane yielded not enough for thy need. So I pressed three; but +they yielded not so much as did one aforetime.' 'What is the +cause of that?' asked the King; and she answered, 'The cause of +it is that the King's mind is changed.' Quoth he, 'How knewst +thou that?' 'We hear from the wise,' replied she, 'that, when +the King's mind is changed against a folk, their prosperity +ceaseth and their good waxeth less.' Anoushirwan laughed and +put away from his mind that which he had purposed against the +people of the village. Moreover, he took the damsel to wife +then and there, being pleased with her much wit and acuteness +and the excellence of her speech. + + + + + + THE WATER-CARRIER AND THE GOLDSMITH'S + WIFE. + + + +There was once, in the city of Bokhara, a water-carrier, who +used to carry water to the house of a goldsmith and had done +thus thirty years. Now the goldsmith had a wife of exceeding +beauty and elegance and withal renowned for modesty, chastity +and piety. One day, the water-carrier came, as of wont, and +poured the water into the cisterns. Now the woman was standing +in the midst of the court; so he went up to her and taking her +hand, stroked it and pressed it, then went away and left her. +When her husband came home from the bazaar, she said to him, 'I +would have thee tell me what thou hast done in the bazaar, +today, to anger God the Most High.' Quoth he, 'I have done +nothing.' 'Nay,' rejoined she, 'but, by Allah, thou hast indeed +done something to anger God; and except thou tell me the truth, +I will not abide in thy house, and thou shalt not see me, nor +will I see thee.' 'I will tell thee the truth,' answered he. +'As I was sitting in my shop this day, a woman came up to me +and bade me make her a bracelet. Then she went away and I +wrought her a bracelet of gold and laid it aside. Presently, +she returned and I brought her out the bracelet. She put out +her hand and I clasped the bracelet on her wrist; and I +wondered at the whiteness of her hand and the beauty of her +wrist and recalled what the poet says: + +Bracelets, upon her wrists, of glittering virgin gold She hath, + like fire ablaze on running water cold. +It is as if the wrists and bracelets thereabout Were water girt + with fire, right wondrous to behold. + +So I took her hand and pressed it and squeezed it.' 'God is +Most Great!' exclaimed the woman. 'Why didst thou this ill +thing? Know that the water-carrier, who has come to our house +these thirty years, nor sawst thou ever any treason in him, +took my hand to day and pressed and squeezed it.' Quoth her +husband, 'O woman, let us crave pardon of God! Verily, I repent +of what I did, and do thou ask forgiveness of God for me.' 'God +pardon me and thee,' said she, 'and vouchsafe to make good the +issue of our affair!' + +Next day, the water-carrier came in to the jeweller's wife and +throwing himself at her feet, grovelled in the dust and +besought pardon of her, saying, 'O my lady, acquit me of that +which Satan deluded me to do; for it was he that seduced me and +led me astray.' 'Go thy ways,' answered she; 'the fault was not +in thee, but in my husband, for that he did what he did in his +shop, and God hath retaliated upon him in this world.' And it +is related that the goldsmith, when his wife told him how the +water-carrier had used her, said, 'Tit for tat! If I had done +more, the water-carrier had done more.' And this became a +current byword among the folk. + +So it behoveth a wife to be both outward and inward with her +husband, contenting herself with little from him, if he cannot +give her much, and taking pattern by Aaisheh[FN#114] the +Truthful and Fatimeh[FN#115] the Clean Maid, (may God the Most +High accept of them), that she may be of the company of the +righteous.[FN#116] + + + + + + KHUSRAU AND SHIRIN WITH THE FISHERMAN. + + + +King Khusrau[FN#117] of Persia loved fish; and one day, as he +sat in his saloon, he and Shirin[FN#118] his wife, there came a +fisherman, with a great fish, and presented it to the King, who +was pleased and ordered the man four thousand dirhems. When he +was gone, Shirin said to the King, 'Thou hast done ill.' +'Wherefore?' asked he; and she answered, 'Because if, after +this, thou give one of thy courtiers a like sum, he will +disdain it and say, "He hath but given me the like of what he +gave the fisherman." And if thou give him less, he will say, +"He makes light of me and gives me less than he gave the +fisherman."' 'Thou art right,' rejoined Khusrau; 'but the thing +is done and it ill becomes a king to go back on his gift.' +Quoth Shirin, 'An thou wilt, I will contrive thee a means to +get it back from him.' 'How so?' asked he; and she said, 'Call +back the fisherman and ask him if the fish be male or female. +If he say, "Male," say thou, "We want a female," and if he say, +"Female," say, "We want a male."' + +So he sent for the fisherman, who was a man of wit and +discernment, and said to him, 'Is this fish male or female?' +The fisherman kissed the ground and answered, 'It is of the +neuter gender, neither male nor female.' The King laughed and +ordered him other four thousand dirhems. So the fisherman went +to the treasurer and taking his eight thousand dirhems, put +them in a bag he had with him. Then, throwing the bag over his +shoulder, he was going away, when he dropped a dirhem; so he +laid the bag off his back and stooped down to pick it up. Now +the King and Shirin were looking on, and the latter said, 'O +King, didst thou note the meanness and greediness of yon man, +in that he must needs stoop down, to pick up the one dirhem, +and could not bring himself to leave it for one of the King's +servants?' When the King heard this, he was wroth with the +fisherman and said, 'Thou art right, O Shirin!' So he called +the man back and said to him, 'Thou low-minded fellow! Thou art +no man! How couldst thou put the bag off thy shoulder and stoop +to pick up the one dirhem and grudge to leave it where it +fell?' The fisherman kissed the earth before him and answered, +'May God prolong the King's life! Indeed, I did not pick up the +dirhem, because of its value in my eyes; but because on one of +its faces is the likeness of the King and on the other his +name; and I feared lest any should unwittingly set his foot +upon it, thus dishonouring the name and presentment of the +King, and I be blamed for the offence.' The King wondered at +his wit and shrewdness and ordered him yet other four thousand +dirhems. Moreover, he let cry abroad in his kingdom, saying, +'It behoveth none to order himself by women's counsel; for +whoso followeth their advice, loseth, with his one dirhem, +other two.' + + + + + + YEHYA BEN KHALID THE BARMECIDE AND THE + POOR MAN. + + + +Yehya ben Khalid the Barmecide was returning home, one day, +from the Khalif's palace, when he saw a man at the gate of his +house, who rose at his approach and saluted him, saying, 'O +Yehya, I am in need of that which is in thy hand, and I make +God my intermediary with thee.' So Yehya caused set apart a +place for him in his house and bade his treasurer carry him a +thousand dirhems every day and that his food should be of the +choicest of his own meat. The man abode thus a whole month, at +the end of which time, having received in all thirty thousand +dirhems, he departed by stealth, fearing lest Yehya should take +the money from him, because of the greatness of the sum; and +when they told Yehya of this, he said, 'By Allah, though he had +tarried with me to the end of his days, yet had I not scanted +him of my largesse nor cut off from him the bounties of my +hospitality!' For, indeed, the excellences of the Barmecides +were past count nor can their virtues be told; especially those +of Yehya teen Khalid, for he abounded in noble qualities, even +as saith the poet of him: + +I asked munificence, "Art free?" It answered, "No, perdie! + Yehya ben Khalid's slave am I; my lord and master he." +"A boughten slave?" asked I; but, "Nay, so heaven forfend!" + quoth it. "From ancestor to ancestor he did inherit me." + + + + + + MOHAMMED EL AMIN AND JAAFER BEN EL HADI. + + + +Jaafer ben Mousa el Hadi[FN#119] once had a slave-girl, a lute +player, called El Bedr el Kebir, than whom there was not in her +time a fairer of face nor a better-shaped nor a more elegant of +manners nor a more accomplished in singing and smiting the +strings; she was indeed perfect in beauty and charm. Mohammed +el Amin,[FN#120] son of Zubeideh, heard of her and was instant +with Jaafer to sell her to him; but he replied, 'Thou knowest +it beseems not one of my rank to sell slave-girls nor traffic +in concubines; but, were it not that she was reared in my +house, I would send her to thee, as a gift, nor grudge her to +thee.' + +Some days after this, El Amin went to Jaafer's house, to make +merry; and the latter set before him that which it behoves to +set before friends and bade El Bedr sing to him and gladden +him. So she tuned the lute and sang right ravishingly, whilst El +Amin fell to drinking and making merry and bade the cupbearers +ply Jaafer with wine, till he became drunken, when he took the +damsel and carried her to his own house, but laid not a finger +on her. On the morrow, he sent to invite Jaafer; and when he +came, he set wine before him and bade the girl sing to him, from +behind the curtain. Jaafer knew her voice and was angered at +this, but, of the nobleness of his nature and the greatness of +his mind, he dissembled his vexation and let no change appear in +his demeanour. + +When the carousel was at an end, El Amin commanded one of his +servants to fill the boat, in which Jaafer had come, with +dirhems and dinars and all manner jewels and jacinths and rich +clothes and other treasures of price. So he laid therein a +thousand myriads of money and a thousand fine pearls, each +worth twenty thousand dirhems; nor did he give over loading the +barge with all manner of precious things, till the boatmen +cried out for quarter, saying, 'The boat cannot hold any more;' +whereupon he bade them carry all this to Jaafer's palace. Such +are the fashions of the magnanimous, may God have mercy on +them! + + + + + + + THE SONS OF YEHYA BEN KHALID AND SAID BEN + SALIM EL BAHILI. + + + +(Quoth Said ben Salim el Bahili[FN#121]), I was once, in the +days of Haroun er Reshid, in very narrow case and greatly +oppressed with debts, that had accumulated upon me and that I +had no means of discharging. My doors were blocked up with +creditors and I was without cease importuned for payment by +claimants, who dunned me in crowds, till I was at my wits' +end what to do. At last, being sore perplexed and troubled, +I betook myself to Abdallah ben Malik el Khuzai[FN#122] and +besought him to aid me with his judgment and of his good +counsel direct me to the door of relief; and he said, "None can +quit thee of this thy strait but the Barmecides." Quoth I, "Who +can brook their pride and put up with their arrogance?" And he +answered, "Thou must put up with it, for the sake of amending +thy case." So I left him and went straight to El Fezl and +Jaafer, sons of Yehya ben Khalid, to whom I related my case. +"God give thee His aid," answered they, "and enable thee by +His bounties to dispense with the aid of His creatures and +vouchsafe thee abundant good and bestow on thee what shall +suffice thee, without the need of any but Himself; for He can +what He will and is gracious and provident with His servants." + +I went out from them and returned to Abdallah, disappointed and +perplexed and heavy at heart, and told him what they had said. +Quoth he, "Thou wouldst do well to abide with us this day, that +we may see what God the Most High will decree." So I sat with +him awhile, and lo, up came my servant, who said to me, "O my +lord, there are at our door many laden mules, and with them a +man, who says he is the agent of Fezl and Jaafer ben Yehya." +Quoth Abdallah, "I trust that relief is come to thee: go and +see what is to do." So I left him and running to my house, +found at the door a man, who gave me a letter, wherein was +written the following: "Know that, after thou hadst been with +us and acquainted us with thy case, we betook ourselves to the +Khalif and informed him that the case had reduced thee to the +humiliation of begging; whereupon he ordered thee a million +dirhems from the Treasury. We represented to him that thou +wouldst spend this money in paying thy creditors and said, +'Whence shall he provide for his subsistence?' So he ordered +thee other three hundred thousand, and we have sent thee, of +our own money, a million dirhems each, so that thou hast now +three millions and three hundred thousand dirhems, wherewithal +to order thine affair and amend thine estate." + +See, then, the munificence of these generous men; may God the +Most High have mercy on them! + + + + + + THE WOMAN'S TRICK AGAINST HER HUSBAND. + + + +A man brought his wife a fish one Friday and bidding her cook +it against the end of the congregational prayers, went out to +his business. Meanwhile, there came in her friend,[FN#123] who +bade her to a wedding at his house; so she agreed and laying +the fish in a jar of water, went off with him and was absent a +whole week, whilst her husband sought her from house to house +and enquired after her; but none could give him any news of +her. + +On the following Friday, she came home, [and he fell to chiding +and reproaching her;] but she brought out to him the fish alive +from the jar and assembled the folk against him. He told them +his case; but they credited him not and said, 'It cannot be +that the fish should have remained alive all this while.' So +they caused adjudge him mad and imprisoned him and laughed at +him, whereupon he wept sore and recited the following verses: + +A hag, that holds high rank, indeed, in lewdness! In her face + Are witnesses that testify to filth and wantonness. +When she's unclean, she bawds; and when she's clean, she plays + the whore: So, all her time, she's either bawd or else + adulteress. + + + + + + THE DEVOUT WOMAN AND THE TWO WICKED + ELDERS.[FN#124] + +There was once, of old time, a virtuous woman among the children +of Israel, who was pious and devout and used every day to go out +to the place of prayer, first entering a garden, which adjoined +thereto, and there making the ablution. Now there were in this +garden two old men, its keepers, who fell in love with her +and sought her favours; but she refused, whereupon said they, +'Except thou yield thyself to us, we will bear witness against +thee of fornication.' Quoth she, 'God will preserve me from your +wickedness!' Then they opened the garden-gate and cried out, and +the folk came to them from all sides, saying, 'What ails you?' +Quoth they, 'We found this damsel in company with a youth, who +was doing lewdness with her; but he escaped from our hands.' + +Now it was the use of the people of those days to expose an +adulteress to public ignominy for three days and after stone +her. So they pilloried her three days, whilst the two old men +came up to her daily and laying their hands on her head, said, +'Praised be God who hath sent down His vengeance on thee!' + +On the fourth day, they carried her away, to stone her; but a +lad of twelve years old, by name Daniel, followed them to the +place of execution and said to them, 'Hasten not to stone her, +till I judge between them.' So they set him a chair and he sat +down and caused bring the old men before him separately. (Now +he was the first that separated witnesses.) Then said he to the +first, 'What sawest thou?' So he repeated to him his story, and +Daniel said, 'In what part of the garden did this befall?' 'On +the eastern side,' replied the elder, 'under a pear-tree.' Then +he called the other old man and asked him the same question; +and he replied, 'On the western side of the garden, under an +apple-tree.' Meanwhile the damsel stood by, with her hands and +eyes uplift to heaven, imploring God for deliverance. Then God +the Most High sent down His vengeful thunder upon the two old +men and consumed them and made manifest the innocence of the +damsel. + +This was the first of the miracles of the Prophet Daniel, on +whom and on the Prophet be blessing and peace! + + + + + + JAAFER THE BARMECIDE AND THE OLD + BEDOUIN. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid went out one day, with Abou Yousuf +the minion and Jaafer the Barmecide and Abou Nuwas, into the +desert, where they fell in with an old man, leant upon his ass. +The Khalif bade Jaafer ask him whence he came; so he said to +him, 'Whence comest thou?' 'From Bassora,' answered the +Bedouin. 'And whither goest thou?' asked Jaafer. 'To Baghdad,' +said the other. 'And what wilt thou do there?' asked Jaafer. 'I +go to seek medicine for my eye,' replied the old man. Quoth the +Khalif, 'O Jaafer, make us sport with him.' 'If I jest with +him,' answered Jaafer, 'I shall hear what I shall not like.' +But Er Reshid rejoined, 'I charge thee, on my authority, jest +with him.' + +So Jaafer said to the Bedouin, 'If I prescribe thee a remedy +that shall profit thee, what wilt thou give me in return?' +Quoth the other, 'God the Most High will requite thee for me +with better than I can give thee.' 'Harkye, then,' said Jaafer, +'and I will give thee a prescription, which I have given to +none but thee.' 'What is that?' asked the Bedouin; and Jaafer +answered, 'Take three ounces of wind-wafts and the like of +sunbeams and moonshine and lamp-light; mix them together and +let them lie in the wind three months. Then bray them three +months in a mortar without a bottom and laying them in a cleft +platter, set it in the wind other three months; after which use +three drachms every night in thy sleep, and (God willing) thou +shalt be cured.' + +When the Bedouin heard this, he stretched himself out on the +ass's back and letting fly a terrible great crack of wind, said +to Jaafer, 'Take this, in payment of thy prescription. When I +have followed it, if God grant me recovery, I will give thee a +slave-girl, who shall serve thee in thy lifetime a service, +wherewith God shall cut short thy term; and when thou diest and +God hurries thy soul to the fire, she shall blacken thy face +with her ordure, of her mourning for thee, and lament and +buffet her face, saying, "O frosty-beard, what a ninny thou +wast!"'[FN#125] The Khalif laughed till he fell backward, and +ordered the Bedouin three thousand dirhems. + + + + + + + THE KHALIF OMAR BEN KHETTAB AND THE + YOUNG BEDOUIN. + + + +The sheriff[FN#126] Hussein ben Reyyan relates that the Khalif +Omar ben Khettab was sitting one day, attended by his chief +counsellors, judging the folk and doing justice between his +subjects, when there came up to him two handsome young men, +haling by the collar a third youth, perfectly handsome and +well dressed, whom they set before him. Omar looked at him and +bade them loose him; then, calling him near to himself, said +to them, 'What is your case with him?' 'O Commander of the +Faithful,' answered they, 'we are two brothers by one mother +and known as followers of the truth. We had a father, a very +old man of good counsel, held in honour of the tribes, pure of +basenesses and renowned for virtues, who reared us tenderly, +whilst we were little, and loaded us with favours, when we +grew up; in fine, a man abounding in noble and illustrious +qualities, worthy of the poet's words: + +"Is Abou es Sekr of Sheiban[FN#127]?" they questioned of me; + and "No," I answered, "my life upon it! But Sheiban's of + him, I trow. +How many a father hath ris'n in repute by a noble son, As + Adnan,[FN#128] by God's Apostle, to fame and glory did + grow!" + +He went forth this day to his garden, to take his pleasure +amongst its trees and pluck the ripe fruits, when this young +man slew him and swerved from the road of righteousness; +wherefore we demand of thee the retribution of his crime and +call upon thee to pass judgment upon him, according to the +commandment of God.' + +The Khalif cast a terrible look at the accused youth and said +to him, 'Thou hearest the complaint of these young men; what +hast thou to say in reply?' Now he was stout of heart and ready +of speech, having doffed the wede of faint-heartedness and put +off the apparel of affright; so he smiled and after paying the +usual ceremonial compliment to the Khalif, in the most eloquent +and elegant words, said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I have +given ear to their complaint, and they have said sooth in that +which they avouch, so far as they have set out what befell; and +the commandment of God is a decreed decree.[FN#129] But I will +state my case before thee, and thine be it to decide thereon. + +Know then, O Commander of the Faithful, that I am a very Arab +of the Arabs, the noblest of those that are beneath the skies. +I grew up in the dwellings of the desert, till evil and hostile +times fell upon my tribe, when I came to the utterward of this +town, with my children and good and household. As I went along +one of the paths between the gardens, with my she-camels, high +in esteem with me and precious to me, and midst them a stallion +of noble race and goodly shape, a plenteous getter, by whom the +females bore abundantly and who walked among them, as he were a +crowned king,--behold, one of the she-camels broke away and +running to the garden of these young men's father, began to +crop the branches that showed above the wall. I ran to her, to +drive her away, when there appeared, at a breach of the wall, +an old man, whose eyes sparkled with anger, holding a stone in +his right hand and swaying to and fro, like a lion preparing +for a spring. He cast the stone at my stallion, and it struck +him in a vital part and killed him. When I saw the stallion +drop dead beside me, live coals of anger were kindled in my +heart; so I took up the stone and throwing it at the old man, +it was the cause of his end: thus his own wrongful act returned +against him and the man was slain of that wherewith he slew. +When the stone struck him, he cried out with a terrible great +cry, and I hastened from the spot; but these young men hurried +after me and laying hands on me, carried me before thee.' + +Quoth Omar, (may God the Most High accept of him), 'Thou hast +confessed thy crime and acquittal is impossible; for [the law +of] retaliation is imperative and there is no time of escape.' +[FN#130] 'I hear and obey the judgment of the Imam,' answered +the Bedouin, 'and am content to submit me to the requirement +of the law of Islam; but I have a young brother, whose old +father, before his death, appointed to him great store of +wealth and much gold and committed his affair to me, saying, +"I give this into thy hand for thy brother; keep it for him +with thy might." So I took the money and buried it; nor doth +any know of it but I. Now, if thou adjudge me to die forthright, +the money will be lost and thou wilt be the cause of its loss; +wherefore the little one will sue thee for his due on the day +when God shall judge His creatures. But, if thou wilt grant +me three days' delay, I will appoint one to undertake the boy's +affair, in my stead, and return to answer my debt; and I have +one who will be my surety for this my word.' + +The Khalif bowed his head awhile, then raised it and looking +round upon those present, said, 'Who will be surety to me for +his return?' The Bedouin looked at the faces of those who were +in company and pointing to Abou Dherr,[FN#131] said, 'This man +will answer for me and be my surety.' 'O Abou Dherr,' said Omar, +'dost thou hear what this youth says and wilt thou be surety +to me for his return?' 'Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered Abou Dherr, 'I will be surety for him three days.' +So the Khalif accepted his guarantee and let the young man go. + +Now, at the appointed time, when the days of grace were nearly +or quite at end and still the Bedouin came not, the Khalif sat +in his council, with the Companions[FN#132] surrounding him, +like the stars about the moon, Abou Dherr and the plaintiffs +being also present; and the latter said, 'O Abou Dherr, where +is the defendant and how shall he return, having once escaped? +But we will not stir hence, till thou bring him to us, that we +may take our wreak of him.' 'As the All-Wise King liveth,' +replied Abou Dherr, 'if the days of grace expire and the young +man return not, I will fulfil my warranty and surrender myself +to the Imam.' 'By Allah,' rejoined Omar, 'if the young man +tarry, I will assuredly execute on Abou Dherr that which is +prescribed by the law of Islam!' Thereupon the eyes of the +bystanders ran over with tears; those who looked on raised +groans, and great was the clamour. Then the chiefs of the +Companions were instant with the plaintiffs to accept the +bloodwit and win the thanks of the folk, but they refused and +would nothing but the talion. However, as the folk were swaying +to and fro and clamorously bemoaning Abou Dherr, up came the +young Bedouin, with face beaded with sweat and shining like the +new moon, and standing before the Imam, saluted him right +fairly and said to him, 'I have given the boy in charge to his +mother's brothers and have made them acquainted with all that +pertains to his affairs and let them into the secret of his +good; after which I braved the heats of midday and am come to +redeem the promise of a free-born man.' + +The folk marvelled at his good faith and loyalty and his +intrepid offering himself to death; and one said to him, 'How +noble a youth art thou and how loyal to thy promise and thy +duty!' 'Are ye not certified,' rejoined he, 'that when death +presenteth itself none can escape from it? And indeed I have +kept faith, that it be not said, "Loyalty is gone from among +men."' 'By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,' said Abou +Dherr, 'I became warrant for this young man, without knowing to +what tribe he belonged, nor had I seen him before that day; but +when he turned away from all else who were present and singled +me out, saying, "This man will answer for me and be my surety," +I thought ill to refuse him, and humanity forbade to baulk his +expectation, there being no harm in compliance with his desire, +that it be not said, "Benevolence is gone from among men."' +Then said the two young men, 'O Commander of the Faithful, we +forgive this youth our father's blood,--seeing that [by his +noble behaviour] he hath changed desolation into cheer,--that +it be not said, "Humanity is gone from among men."' + +The Khalif rejoiced in the acquittance of the young Bedouin and +his truth and good faith; moreover, he extolled the humanity of +Abou Dherr, over all his companions, and approved the benevolent +resolve of the two young men, giving them grateful praise and +applying to their case the saying of the poet: + +He who doth good among the folk shall be repaid again; For + works of Good are never lost betwixten God and men. + +Then he offered to pay them, from the Treasury, the bloodwit +for their father; but they refused, saying, 'We forgave him but +of our desire unto God the Bountiful, the Exalted; and he who +is thus minded followeth not his benefits with reproach neither +mischief.' + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL MAMOUN AND THE PYRAMIDS OF + EGYPT. + + + +It is told that the Khalif El Mamoun, son of Haroun er Reshid, +when he entered the [God-]guarded city of Cairo, was minded to +pull down the Pyramids, that he might take what was therein; +but, when he went about to do this, he could not avail thereto, +for all his endeavour. He expended great sums of money in the +attempt, but only succeeded in opening up a small gallery in +one of them, wherein he found treasure, to the exact amount of +the money he had spent in the works, neither more nor less; at +which he marvelled and taking what he found there, desisted +from his intent. + +Now the Pyramids are three in number, and they are one of the +wonders of the world; nor is there on the face of the earth +their like for height and fashion and skilful ordinance; for +they are builded of immense rocks, and they who built them +proceeded by piercing one block of stone and setting therein +upright rods of iron; after which they pierced a second block +of stone and lowered it upon the first. Then they poured melted +lead upon the joints and set the blocks in geometrical order, +till the building was complete. The height of each pyramid was +a hundred cubits, of the measure of the time, and it was four- +square, each side three hundred cubits long, at the bottom, and +sloping upward thence to a point. The ancients say that, in the +western Pyramid, are thirty chambers of vari-coloured granite, +full of precious stones and treasures galore and rare images +and utensils and costly arms, which latter are anointed with +magical unguents, so that they may not rust till the day of +Resurrection. Therein, also, are vessels of glass, that will +bend and not break, containing various kinds of compound drugs +and medicinal waters. In the second Pyramid are the records of +the priests, written on tablets of granite,--to each priest his +tablet, on which are set out the wonders of his craft and his +achievements; and on the walls are figures like idols, working +with their hands at all manner crafts and seated on thrones. To +each pyramid there is a guardian, that keeps watch over it and +guards it, to all eternity, against the ravages of time and the +vicissitudes of events; and indeed the marvels of these +pyramids astound all who have eyes and wit. Many are the poems +that describe them, thou shalt profit no great matter thereby, +and among the rest, quoth one of them: + +The high resolves of kings, if they would have them to abide In + memory, after them, are in the tongues of monuments. +Dost thou not see the Pyramids? They, of a truth, endure And + change not for the shifts of time or chances of events. + +And again: + +Consider but the Pyramids and lend an ear to all They tell of + bygone times and that which did of yore befall. +Could they but speak, assuredly they would to us relate What + time and fate have done with first and last and great and + small. + +And again: + +I prithee, tell me, friend of mine, stands there beneath the + sky A building with the Pyramids of Egypt that can vie +In skilful ordinance? Behold, Time's self's afraid of them, + Though of all else upon the earth 'tis dreaded, low and + high. +My sight no longer rests upon their wondrous ordinance, Yet are + they present evermore unto my spirit's eye. + +And again: + +Where's he the Pyramids who built? What was his tribe, His time + and what the place where he was stricken dead? +The monuments survive their lords awhile; then death O'ertaketh + them and they fall prostrate in their stead. + + + + + + + THE THIEF TURNED MERCHANT AND THE OTHER + THIEF. + + + +There was once a thief who repented to God the Most High and +making good his repentance, opened himself a shop for the sale +of stuffs, where he continued to trade awhile. One day, he +locked his shop and went home; and in the night there came to +the bazaar a cunning thief, disguised in the habit of the +merchant, and pulling out keys from his sleeve, said to the +watchman of the market, 'Light me this candle.' So the watchman +took the candle and went to get a light, whilst the thief +opened the shop and lit another candle he had with him. When +the watchman came back, he found him seated in the shop, +looking over the account-books and reckoning with his fingers; +nor did he leave to do thus till point of day, when he said to +the man, 'Fetch me a camel-driver and his camel, to carry some +goods for me.' So the man fetched him a camel, and the thief +took four bales of stuffs and gave them to the camel-driver, +who loaded them on his beast. Then he gave the watchman two +dirhems and went away after the camel-driver, the watchman the +while believing him to be the owner of the shop. + +Next morning, the merchant came and the watchman greeted +him with blessings, because of the two dirhems, much to the +surprise of the former, who knew not what he meant. When he +opened his shop, he saw the droppings of the wax and the +account-book lying on the floor, and looking round, found +four bales of stuffs missing. So he asked the watchman what +had happened and he told him what had passed in the night, +whereupon the merchant bade him fetch the camel-driver and said +to the latter, 'Whither didst thou carry the stuffs?' 'To such +a wharf,' answered the driver; 'and I stowed them on board such +a vessel.' 'Come with me thither,' said the merchant. So the +camel-driver carried him to the wharf and showed him the barque +and her owner. Quoth the merchant to the latter, 'Whither didst +thou carry the merchant and the stuff?' 'To such a place,' +answered the master, 'where he fetched a camel-driver and +setting the bales on the camel, went I know not whither.' +'Fetch me the camel-driver,' said the merchant; so he fetched +him and the merchant said to him, 'Whither didst thou carry the +bales of stuffs from the ship?' 'To such a khan,' answered he. +'Come thither with me and show it to me,' said the merchant. + +So the camel-driver went with him to a khan at a distance from +the shore, where he had set down the stuffs, and showed him the +mock merchant's magazine, which he opened and found therein his +four bales untouched and unopened. The thief had laid his +mantle over them; so the merchant took the bales and the cloak +and delivered them to the camel-driver, who laid them on his +camel; after which the merchant locked the magazine and went +away with the camel-driver. On the way, he met the thief, who +followed him, till he had shipped the bales, when he said to +him, 'O my brother (God have thee in His keeping!), thou hast +recovered thy goods, and nought of them is lost; so give me +back my cloak.' The merchant laughed and giving him back his +cloak, let him go unhindered. + + + + + + + MESROUR THE EUNUCH AND IBN EL CARIBI + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid was very restless one night; so he +said to his Vizier Jaafer, 'I am sleepless tonight and my heart +is oppressed and I know not what to do.' Now his henchman +Mesrour was standing before him, and he laughed. Quoth the +Khalif, 'Dost thou laugh in derision of me or art thou mad?' +'Neither, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,' answered +Mesrour, 'by thy kinship to the Prince of Apostles, I did it +not of my free-will; but I went out yesterday to walk and +coming to the bank of the Tigris, saw there the folk collected +about a man named Ibn el Caribi, who was making them laugh; and +but now I recalled what he said, and laughter got the better of +me; and I crave pardon of thee, O Commander of the Faithful!' +'Bring him to me forthright,' said the Khalif. So Mesrour +repaired in all haste to Ibn el Caribi and said to him, 'The +Commander of the Faithful calls for thee.' 'I hear and obey,' +answered the droll. 'But on condition,' added Mesrour, 'that, +if he give thee aught, thou shalt have a fourth and the rest +shall be mine.' 'Nay,' replied the other, 'thou shalt have half +and I half.' 'Not so,' insisted Mesrour; 'I will have three- +quarters.' 'Thou shalt have two-thirds, then,' rejoined Ibn el +Caribi; 'and I the other third.' To this Mesrour agreed, after +much haggling, and they returned to the palace together. + +When Ibn el Caribi came into the Khalif's presence, he saluted +him, as became his rank, and stood before him; whereupon said +Er Reshid to him, 'If thou do not make me laugh, I will give +thee three blows with this bag.' Quoth Ibn el Caribi in +himself, 'Three strokes with that bag were a small matter, +seeing that beating with whips irketh me not;' for he thought +the bag was empty. Then he clapped into a discourse, such as +would make a stone laugh, and gave vent to all manner of +drolleries; but the Khalif laughed not neither smiled, whereat +Ibn el Caribi marvelled and was chagrined and affrighted. Then +said the Khalif, 'Now hast thou earned the beating,' and gave +him a blow with the bag, in which were four pebbles, each two +pounds in weight. The blow fell on his neck and he gave a great +cry, then calling to mind his compact with Mesrour, said, +'Pardon, O Commander of the Faithful! Hear two words from me.' +'Say on,' replied the Khalif. Quoth Ibn el Caribi, 'Mesrour +made it a condition with me that, whatsoever might come to me +of the bounties of the Commander of the Faithful, one-third +thereof should be mine and the rest his; nor did he agree to +leave me so much as one-third save after much haggling. Now +thou hast bestowed on me nothing but beating; I have had my +share and here stands he, ready to receive his; so give him the +two other blows.' + +When the Khalif heard this, he laughed till he fell backward; +then calling Mesrour, he gave him a blow, whereat he cried out +and said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, one-third sufficeth me: +give him the two-thirds.' The Khalif laughed at them and +ordered them a thousand diners each, and they went away, +rejoicing. + + + + + + + THE DEVOUT PRINCE. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid had a son, who, from the time he +attained the age of sixteen, renounced the world and walked in +the way of ascetics and devotees. He was wont to go out to the +tombs and say, 'Behold, ye that lie here once possessed the +world, but that was no deliverer for you [from death], and now +are ye come to your graves! Would God I knew what ye say and +what is said to you!' And he wept, as one weeps that is +troubled and fearful, and repeated the words of the poet: + +Whene'er the funerals pass, my heart with fear is torn, And the + wailing of the mourners maketh me to mourn. + +One day, as he sat among the tombs, according to his wont, his +father passed by, in all his state, surrounded by his viziers +and grandees and the officers of his household, who saw the +Khalif's son, with a gown of woollen stuff on his body and a +cowl of the same on his head, and said to one another, 'This +youth dishonours the Commander of the Faithful among Kings: +but, if he reproved him, he would leave his present way of +life.' The Khalif heard what they said; so he bespoke his son +of this, saying, 'O my son, thou puttest me to shame by thy +present way of life.' The young man looked at him and made no +reply: then he beckoned to a bird, that was perched on the +battlements of the palace, and said to it, 'O bird, I conjure +thee, by Him who created thee, alight upon my hand.' And +straightway it flew down and perched on his hand. Quoth he, +'Return to thy place;' and it did so. Then he said, 'Alight on +the hand of the Commander of the Faithful;' but it refused, and +he said to his father, 'It is thou that puttest me to shame, +amongst the friends of God, by thy love of the world; and now I +am resolved to depart from thee, never to return to thee, save +in the world to come.' Then he went down to Bassora, where he +fell to working with those that wrought in mud,[FN#133] taking, +as his day's hire, but a dirhem and a danic.[FN#134] With the +danic he fed himself and gave alms of the dirhem. + +(Quoth Abou Aamir of Bassora), There fell down a wall in my +house: so I went out to the station of the artisans, to find +one who should set it up for me, and my eyes fell on a handsome +youth of a radiant countenance. So I accosted him and said to +him, "O my friend, dost thou seek work?" "Yes," answered he; +and I said, "Come with me and build a wall." "On two conditions," +replied he. Quoth I, "What are they, O my friend?" "First," +said he, "that my hire be a dirhem and a danic, and secondly, +that, when the Muezzin calls to prayer, thou shalt let me +go pray with the congregation." "It is well," answered I +and carried him to my house, where he fell to work, such work +as I never saw the like of. Presently, I named to him the +morning meal; but he said, "No;" and I knew that he was +fasting. When he heard the call to prayer, he said to me, "Thou +knowest the condition?" "Yes," answered I. So he loosed his +girdle and applying himself to the ablution, made it after a +fashion than which I never saw a goodlier; then went to the +mosque and prayed with the congregation and returned to his +work. He did the like upon the call to afternoon-prayer, and +when I saw him fall to work again thereafterward, I said to +him, "O my friend, the hours of labour are over for to-day; a +workman's day is but till the time of afternoon-prayer." "Glory +be to God," answered he, "my service is till the night." And he +ceased not to work till nightfall, when I gave him two dirhems. +Quoth he, "What is this?" "By Allah," answered I, "this is +[but] part of thy wage, because of thy diligence in my service." +But he threw me back the two pieces, saying, "I will have no +more than was agreed upon between us." I pressed him to take +them, but could not prevail upon him; so I gave him the dirhem +and the danic, and he went away. + +Next morning early, I went to the station, but found him not; +so I enquired for him and was told that he came thither only on +Saturdays. So, when Saturday came, I betook me to the market +and finding him there, said to him, "In the name of God, do me +the favour to come and work for me." ["Willingly,"] said he, +"upon the conditions thou wottest of." "It is well," answered I +and carrying him to my house, stood watching him, unseen of +him, and saw him take a handful of mud and lay it on the wall, +when, behold, the stones ranged themselves one upon another; +and I said, "On this wise are the friends of God." He worked +out his day and did even more than before; and when it was +night, I gave him his hire, and he took it and went away. + +When the third Saturday came round, I went to the standing, but +found him not; so I enquired for him and was told that he lay +sick in the hut of such a woman. Now this was an old woman, +renowned for piety, who had a hut of reeds in the burial- +ground. So I went thither and found him lying on the naked +earth, with a brick for a pillow and his face beaming with +light. I saluted him and he returned my salute; and I sat +down at his head, weeping over his tenderness of years and +strangerhood and submission to the will of his Lord. Then said +I to him, "Hast thou any need?" "Yes," answered he; and I said, +"What is it?" He replied, "Come hither tomorrow in the forenoon +and thou wilt find me dead. Wash me and dig my grave and tell +none thereof: but shroud me in this my gown, after thou hast +unsewn it and taken out what thou shalt find in the bosom, +which keep with thee. Then, when thou hast prayed over me and +laid me in the dust, go to Baghdad and watch for the Khalif +Haroun er Reshid, till he come forth, when do thou bear him my +salutation and give him what thou shalt find in the breast of +my gown." Then he made the profession of the Faith and glorified +his Lord in the most eloquent of words, reciting the following +verses: + +Carry the trust of him on whom the wished-for death hath come + To Er Reshid, and thy reward with thy Creator stand! +"An exile greets thee," say, "who longed full sorely for thy + sight; With long desire he yearned for thee, far in a + foreign strand. +Nor hate nor weariness from thee estranged him, for, indeed, To + God Most High he was brought near by kissing thy right + hand. +But, O my father, 'twas his heart, shunning the vain delights + Of this thy world, that drove him forth to seek a distant + land!" + +Then he betook himself to prayer, asking pardon of God and +blessing the Lord of the Just[FN#135] and repeating verses of +the Koran; after which he recited the following: + +Let not prosperity delude thee, father mine; For fortune wastes + and life itself must pass away. +Whenas thou com'st to know of folk in evil plight, Think thou + must answer it upon the Judgment Day; +And when thou bearest forth the dead unto the tombs, Think that + thou, too, must pass upon the self-same way! + +Then I left him and went home. On the morrow, I returned, at +the appointed hour, and found him indeed dead, the mercy of God +be on him! So I washed him and unsewing his gown, found in the +bosom a ruby worth thousands of diners and said to myself, "By +Allah, this youth was indeed abstracted from the things of this +world!" After I had buried him, I made my way to Baghdad and +going to the Khalif's palace, waited till he came forth, when I +accosted him in one of the streets and gave him the ruby, which +when he saw, he knew and fell down in a swoon. His attendants +laid hands on me, but he revived and bade them unhand me and +bring me courteously to the palace. They did his bidding, and +when he returned, he sent for me and carrying me into his +closet, said to me, "How doth the owner of this ruby?" Quoth I, +"He is dead;" and told him what had passed; whereupon he fell +a-weeping and said, "The son hath profited, but the father is +disappointed." Then he called out, saying, "Ho, such an one!" +And behold, a woman came out to him. When she saw me, she would +have withdrawn; but he said to her, "Come; and heed him not." +So she entered and saluted, and he threw her the ruby, which +when she knew, she gave a great shriek and fell down in a +swoon. As soon as she came to herself, she said, "O Commander +of the Faithful, what hath God done with my son?" And he said +to me, "Do thou tell her;" for he could not speak for weeping. +So I repeated the story to her, and she began to weep and say +in a failing voice, "How I have longed for thy sight, O +consolation of my eyes! Would I might have given thee to drink, +when thou hadst none to tend thee! Would I might have companied +with thee, whenas thou foundest none to cheer thee!" And she +poured forth tears and recited the following verses: + +I weep for one to whom death came, an exile and in pain: Alone + he died, without a friend to whom he might complain. +Puissant and honoured and conjoined with those that loved him + dear, To live alone and seeing none, unfriended, he was + fain. +That which the days conceal shall yet be manifest to us: Not + one of us by death, indeed, unsmitten may remain. +O absent one, the Lord of all decreed thy strangerhood, And + thou left'st far behind the love that was betwixt us + twain! +Though death, my son, forbid me hope to see thee in this life, + Tomorrow, on the Reckoning-Day, we two shall meet again. + +Quoth I, "O Commander of the Faithful, was he indeed thy son?" +"Yes," answered he; "and indeed, before I succeeded to this +office, he was wont to visit the learned and company with the +devout; but, when I became Khalif, he grew estranged from me +and withdrew himself apart. Then said I to his mother, 'This +thy son is absorbed in God the Most High, and it may be that +tribulations shall befall him and he be smitten with stress of +evil chance; wherefore, do thou give him this ruby, that it may +be to him a resource in the hour of need.' So she gave it him, +conjuring him to take it, and he obeyed her. Then he left the +things of our world to us and removed himself from us; nor did +he cease to be absent from us, till he went to the presence of +God (to whom belong might and majesty) with a holy and pure +mind." Then said he, "Come, show me his grave." So we repaired +to Bassora and I showed him his son's grave. When he saw it, he +wept and lamented, till he fell down in a swoon; after which he +came to himself and asked pardon of God, saying, "We are God's, +and to Him we return!" and invoked blessings on the dead. Then he +besought me of companionship; but I said to him, "O Commander of +the Faithful, verily, in thy son's case is for me the gravest of +admonitions!" And I recited the following verses: + +'Tis I am the stranger! None harbours the wight, Though he lie + in his native city by night. +'Tis I am the exile! Nor children nor wife Nor comrades have I, + to take ruth on my plight. +The mosques are my refuge; I haunt them indeed: My heart from + their shelter shall never take flight. +To the Lord of all creatures, to God be the praise, Whilst yet + in the body abideth the spright! + + + + + + THE SCHOOLMASTER WHO FELL IN LOVE BY + REPORT. + + + +(Quoth one of the erudite), I passed once by a [school, in +which a] schoolmaster, comely of aspect and well dressed, was +teaching children; so I entered, and he rose and made me sit +with him. Then I examined him in the Koran and in syntax and +poetry and lexicography, and found him perfect in all that was +required of him and said to him, "God strengthen thy purpose! +Thou art indeed versed in all that is sought of thee." So I +frequented him awhile, discovering daily some new excellence +in him, and said to myself, "This is indeed a wonder in a +schoolmaster; for the understanding are agreed upon the lack of +wit of those that teach children." Then I separated myself from +him and sought him out and visited him [only] every few days, +till, one day, coming to see him as of wont, I found the school +shut and made enquiry of the neighbours, who said, "Some one is +dead in his house." So I said to myself, "It behoves me to pay +him a visit of condolence," and going to his house, knocked at +the door. A slave-girl came out to me and said, "What dost thou +want?" "I want thy master," answered I. Quoth she, "He is +sitting alone, mourning." "Tell him," rejoined I, "that his +friend so and so seeks to condole with him." She went in and +told him; and he said, "Admit him." So she brought me in to +him, and I found him seated alone and his head bound [with the +fillets of mourning]. "May God amply requite thee!" said I. +"This is a road all must perforce travel, and it behoves thee +to take patience. But who is dead unto thee?" "One who was +dearest and best beloved of the folk to me," answered he. Quoth +I, "Perhaps thy father?" He replied, "No;" and I said, "Thy +mother?" "No," answered he. "Thy brother?" "No." "One of thy +kindred?" "No." "Then," asked I, "what relation was the dead to +thee?" "My mistress," answered he. Quoth I to myself, "This is +the first sign of his lack of wit." Then I said to him, "There +are others than she and fairer;" and he answered, "I never saw +her, that I might judge whether or no there be others fairer +than she." Quoth I to myself, "This is another sign" Then I +said to him, "And how couldst thou fall in love with one thou +hast never seen?" Quoth he, "I was sitting one day at the +window, when there passed by a man, singing the following +verse: + +Umm Amri,[FN#136] God requite thee thy generosity! Give back my + heart, prithee, wherever it may be! + +When I heard this, I said to myself, 'Except this Umm Amri were +without equal in the world, the poets had not celebrated her in +amorous verse.' So I fell in love with her; but, two days +after, the same man passed, singing the following verse: + +The jackass with Umm Amri departed; but, alas, Umm Amri! She + returned not again, nor did the ass. + +Thereupon I knew that she was dead and mourned for her. This +was three days ago, and I have been mourning ever since." So I +left him and went away, having assured myself of the feebleness +of his wit. + + + + + + + THE FOOLISH SCHOOLMASTER + + + +A man of elegant culture once entered a school and sitting down +by the master, entered into discourse with him and found him an +accomplished theologian, poet, grammarian and lexicographer, +intelligent, well bred and pleasant; whereat he wondered, +saying in himself, 'It cannot be that a man, who teaches +children in a school, should have a perfect wit.' When he was +about to go away, the schoolmaster said to him, 'Thou art my +guest to-night;' and he consented and accompanied him to his +house, where he made much of him and set food before him. They +ate and drank and sat talking, till a third part of the night +was past, when the host spread his guest a bed and went up to +his harem. The other lay down and addressed himself to sleep, +when, behold, there arose a great clamour in the harem. He +asked what was to do, and they said, 'A terrible thing hath +befallen the sheikh, and he is at the last gasp.' 'Take me up +to him,' said he. So they carried him to the schoolmaster, whom +he found lying insensible, with his blood streaming down. He +sprinkled water on his face and when he revived, he said to +him, 'What has betided thee? When thou leftest me, thou west in +all good cheer and sound of body.' 'O my brother,' answered the +schoolmaster, 'after I left thee, I sat meditating on the works +of God the Most High and said to myself, "In every thing God +hath created for man there is an use; for He (to whom be glory) +created the hands to seize, the feet to walk, the eyes to see, +the ears to hear and the yard to do the deed of kind; and so on +with all the members of the body, except these two cullions; +there is no use in them." So I took a razor I had by me and cut +them off; and there befell me what thou seest.' So the guest +left him and went away, saving, 'He was in the right who said, +"No schoolmaster who teaches children can have a perfect wit, +though he know all sciences." + + + + + + THE IGNORANT MAN WHO SET UP FOR A + SCHOOLMASTER. + + + +There was once, among the hangers-on of the collegiate mosque, +a man who knew not how to read and write and got his bread by +gulling the folk. One day, he bethought him to open a school +and teach children; so he got him tablets and written scrolls +and hung them up in a [conspicuous] place. Then he enlarged his +turban and sat down at the door of the school. The people, who +passed by and saw his turban and the tablets and scrolls, +thought he must be a very learned doctor; so they brought him +their children; and he would say to this, 'Write,' and to that, +'Read;' and thus they taught one another. + +One day, as he sat, as of wont, at the door of the school, he +saw a woman coming up, with a letter in her hand, and said to +himself, 'This woman doubtless seeks me, that I may read her +the letter she has in her hand. How shall I do with her seeing +I cannot read writing?' And he would fain have gone down and +fled from her; but, before he could do this, she overtook him +and said to him, 'Whither away?' Quoth he, 'I purpose to pray +the noontide-prayer and return.' 'Noon is yet distant,' said +she; 'so read me this letter.' He took the letter and turning +it upside down, fell to looking at it, now shaking his head and +anon knitting his eyebrows and showing concern. Now the letter +came from the woman's husband, who was absent; and when she saw +the schoolmaster do thus, she said, 'Doubtless my husband is +dead, and this learned man is ashamed to tell me so.' So she +said to him, 'O my lord, if he be dead, tell me.' But he shook +his head and held his peace. Then said she, 'Shall I tear my +clothes?' 'Tear,' answered he. 'Shall I buffet my face?' asked +she; and he said, 'Buffet.' So she took the letter from his +hand and returning home, fell a-weeping, she and her children. + +One of her neighbours heard her weeping and asking what ailed +her, was answered, 'She hath gotten a letter, telling her that +her husband is dead.' Quoth the man, 'This is a lying saying; +for I had a letter from him but yesterday, advising me that he +is in good health and case and will be with her after ten +days.' So he rose forthright and going in to her, said, 'Where +is the letter thou hast received?' She brought it to him, and +he took it and read it; and it ran as follows, after the usual +salutations, 'I am well and in good health and case and will be +with thee after ten days. Meanwhile, I send thee a quilt and an +extinguisher.'[FN#137] So she took the letter and returning +with it to the schoolmaster, said to him, 'What moved thee to +deal thus with me?' And she repeated to him what her neighbour +had told her of her husband's well-being and of his having sent +her a quilt and an extinguisher. 'Thou art in the right,' +answered he. 'But excuse me, good woman; for I was, at the +time, troubled and absent-minded and seeing the extinguisher +wrapped in the quilt, thought that he was dead and they had +shrouded him.' The woman, not smoking the cheat, said, 'Thou +art excused.' and taking the letter, went away. + + + + + + THE KING AND THE VIRTUOUS WIFE + + + +A certain King once went forth in disguise, to look into the +affairs of his subjects. Presently, he came to a great village +and being athirst, stopped at the door of a house and asked for +water. There came out to him a fair woman, with a pitcher of +water, which she gave him, and he drank. When he looked at her, +he was ravished with her and required her of love. Now she knew +him; so she brought him into the house and making him sit down, +brought out a book and said to him, 'Look in this book, whilst +I order my affair and return to thee.' So he looked into the +book, and behold, it treated of the Divine prohibition against +adultery and of the punishments that God hath prepared for +those that do it. When he read this, his flesh quaked and he +repented to God the Most High: then he called the woman and +giving her the book, went away. Now her husband was absent and +when he returned, she told him what had passed, whereat he was +confounded and said in himself, 'I fear lest the King's desire +have fallen upon her.' And he dared not have to do with her +after this. + +After awhile, the wife told her kinsfolk of her husband's +conduct, and they complained of him to the King, saying, 'May +God advance the King! This man hired of us a piece of land, for +tillage, and tilled it awhile; then left it fallow and tilled +it not, neither forsook it, that we might let it to one who +would till it. Indeed, harm is come to the field, and we fear +its corruption, for that land, if it be not tilled' spoileth.' +Quoth the King to the man, 'What hinders thee from tilling thy +land?' 'May God advance the King!' answered he. 'It came to my +knowledge that a lion entered the field, wherefore I stood in +awe of him and dared not approach it, seeing that I know I +cannot cope with the lion, and I stand in fear of him.' The +King understood the parable and rejoined, saying, 'O fellow, +the lion trampled not thy land, and it is good for tillage; so +do thou till it and God prosper thee in it, for the lion hath +done it no hurt.' Then he bade give the man and his wife a +handsome present and sent them away. + + + + + + ABDURREHMAN THE MOOR'S STORY OF THE ROC. + + + +There was once a man of the people of Morocco, called +Abdurrehman the Moor, and he was known, to boot, as the +Chinaman, for his long sojourn in Cathay. He had journeyed far +and wide and traversed many seas and deserts and was wont to +relate wondrous tales of his travels. He was once cast upon an +island, where he abode a long while and returning thence to his +native country, brought with him the quill of the wing-feather +of a young roe, whilst yet unhatched and in the egg; and this +quill was big enough to hold a skinful of water, for it is said +that the length of the young roe's wing, when it comes forth of +the egg, is a thousand fathoms. The folk marvelled at this +quill, when they saw it, and Abdurrehman related to them the +following adventure. + +He was on a voyage in the China seas, with a company of +merchants, when they sighted a great island so they steered +for it and casting anchor before it, saw that it was large and +spacious. The ship's people went ashore to get wood and water, +taking with them skins and ropes and axes, and presently espied +a great white gleaming dome, a hundred cubits high. So they +made towards it and drawing near, found that it was a roe's +egg and fell on it with axes and stones and sticks, till they +uncovered the young bird and found it as it were a firm-set +mountain. They went about to pluck out one of its wing-feathers, +but could not win to do so, save by helping one another, for +all the feathers were not full grown; after which they took +what they could carry of the young bird's flesh and cutting +the quill away from the feather-part, returned to the ship. +Then they spread the canvas and putting out to sea, sailed +with a fair wind all that night, till the sun rose, when they +saw the old roc come flying after them, as he were a vast +cloud, with a rock in his talons, like a great mountain, bigger +than the ship. As soon as he came over the vessel, he let fall +the rock upon it; but the ship, having great way on her, +forewent the rock, which fell into the sea with a terrible +crash. So God decreed them safety and delivered them from +destruction; and they cooked the young bird's flesh and ate it. +Now there were amongst them old grey bearded men; and when they +awoke on the morrow, they found that their beards had turned +black, nor did any who had eaten of the young roc ever grow +grey. Some held the cause of the return of youth to them and +the ceasing of hoariness from them to be that they had heated +the pot with arrow-wood, whilst others would have it that it +came of eating the young roe's flesh; and this is indeed a +wonder of wonders. + + + + + + ADI BEN ZEID AND THE PRINCESS HIND. + + + +En Numan ben el Mundhir, King of the Arabs [of Irak], had a +daughter named Hind, who was eleven years old and was the +loveliest woman of her age and time. She went out one Easter, +which is a feast-day of the Nazarenes,[FN#138] to the White +Church, to take the sacrament. Now that day came to El Hireh a +young man called Adi ben Zeid,[FN#139] with presents from +Chosroes,[FN#140] to En Numan, and he also went into the White +Church, to communicate. He was tall and well-favoured, with +handsome eyes and smooth cheeks, and had with him a company of +his people. Now there was with Hind a slave-girl named Mariyeh, +who was enamoured of Adi, but had not been able to win to him. +So, when she saw him in the church, she said to Hind, 'Look at +yonder youth. By Allah, he is handsomer than all thou seest!' +'And who is he?' asked Hind. 'Adi ben Zeid,' answered Mariyeh +Quoth the princess, 'I fear lest he know me, if I draw near, +to look on him closelier.' 'How should he know thee,' said +Mariyeh, 'when he has never seen thee?' So she drew near him +and found him jesting with his companions; and indeed he +surpassed them all, not only in his beauty, but in the excellence +of his speech and the eloquence of his tongue and the richness +of his apparel. When the princess saw him, she was ravished with +him, her reason was confounded and her colour changed; and +Mariyeh, seeing her inclination to him, said to her, 'Speak to +him.' So she spoke to him and went away. + +When he saw her and heard her speech, he was captivated by her +and his wit was dazed; his colour changed and his heart +fluttered, so that his companions misdoubted of him, and he +whispered one of them to follow her and find out who she was. +The man followed her and returning to his master, informed him +that she was the princess Hind, daughter of En Numan. So Adi +left the church, knowing not whither he went, for stress of +love, and reciting the following verses: + +Companions mine, yet one more favour I entreat: Address ye to + the ways once more your travelling feet. +Turn me towards the lands, the lands where Hinda dwells; Then + go and her I love with tidings of me greet. + +Then he went to his lodging and lay that night, restless nor +tasting sleep. On the morrow, Mariyeh accosted him, and he +received her kindly, though before he would not hearken to her, +and said to her, 'What is thy will?' Quoth she, 'I have a suit +to thee.' 'Name it,' answered he; 'for, by Allah, thou shalt +not ask me aught, but I will give it thee!' So she told him +that she was in love with him, and her suit to him was that he +would grant her a lover's privacy; and he agreed to do her +will, on condition that she would serve him with Hind and make +shift to bring them together. Then he took her into a vintner's +shop, in one of the by-streets of Hireh, and lay with her; +after which she returned to Hind and said to her, 'Dost thou +not long to see Adi?' 'How can this be?' replied the princess. +'Indeed my longing for him makes me restless, and no repose is +left me since yesterday, on his account.' Quoth Mariyeh, 'I +will appoint him to be in such a place, where thou canst look +on him from the palace.' 'Do what thou wilt,' replied Hind and +agreed with her upon the place. + +So Adi came, and the princess looked out upon him; and when she +saw him, she was like to fall down from the top of the palace +and said to Mariyeh, 'Except thou bring him in to me this +night, I shall die.' So saying, she fell down in a swoon, and +her serving-women lifted her up and bore her into the palace; +whilst Mariyeh hastened to En Numan and discovered the whole +matter to him, saying, 'Verily, she is mad for love of Adi; and +except thou marry her to him, she will be put to shame and die +of love for him.' The King bowed his head awhile in thought and +exclaimed again and again, 'Verily, we are God's and to Him we +return!' Then said he, 'Out on thee! How shall the marriage be +brought about, seeing it misliketh me to open the matter to +him?' 'He is yet more ardently in love and yet more desireful +of her than she of him,' answered Mariyeh; 'and I will so order +the matter that he shall be unaware that his case is known to +thee; but do not betray thyself, O King.' + +Them she went to Adi and said to him, 'Make a feast and bid the +King thereto; and when wine hath gotten the better of him, ask +of him the hand of his daughter, for he will not refuse thee.' +Quoth Adi, 'I fear lest this enrage him against me and be the +cause of enmity between us.' + +But she answered, 'I came not to thee, till I had settled the +whole matter with him.' Then she returned to En Numan and said +to him, 'Seek of Adi that he entertain thee in his house.' +'There is no harm in that,' replied the King and after three +days, besought Adi to give him and his lords the morning-meal +in his house. The young man consented, and the King went to +him; and when the wine had taken effect on En Numan, Adi rose +and sought of him his daughter in marriage. He consented and +married them and brought her to him after three days; and they +abode at En Numan's court, in all delight and solace of life, +three years, at the end of which time the King was wroth with +Adi and slew him. Hind mourned for him with an exceeding grief +and built her a convent without the city, whither she retired +and devoted herself to religious exercises, weeping and +bemoaning her husband, till she died. And her convent is extant +to this day without El Hireh. + + + + + + DIBIL EL KHUZAI WITH THE LADY AND MUSLIM + BEN EL WELID. + + + +(Quoth Dibil el Khuzai[FN#141]), I was sitting one day at the +gate of El Kerkh,[FN#142] when a lady came up to me, never saw +I a handsomer or better shaped than she, walking with a swaying +gait and ravishing, with her flexile grace, all who beheld her. +When my eyes fell on her, I was captivated by her and my +entrails trembled and meseemed my heart fled forth of my +breast; so I accosted her with the following verse: + +Unsealed are the springs of tears for mine eyes, heigho! And + sealed are the springs of sleep to my lids, for woe. + +She turned her head and looking at me, made answer forthright +with the following: + +And surely, an ailing eye to have, for him Whom her looks + invite, is a little thing, I trow. + +I was astounded at the readiness of her reply and the sweetness +of her speech and rejoined with this verse: + +And doth then the heart of my fair indeed incline To favour him + whose tears as a river flow? + +She answered me, without hesitation, thus: + +If thou desire us of love, betwixt us love Is a loan to be + returned, I'd have thee know. + +Never entered my ears sweeter than her speech nor ever saw I +brighter than her face: so I changed the rhyme and measure, to +try her, in my wonder at her speech, and repeated the following +verse: + +Will destiny e'er gladden us with union and delight And one + desireful one at last with other one unite? + +She smiled at this, (never saw I fairer than her mouth nor +sweeter than her lips,) and answered me, without hesitation, as +follows: + +I prithee, what hath destiny to do betwixt us twain? Thou'rt + destiny: rejoice us, then, with union and delight. + +At this, I sprang up and kissing her hands, said, "I had not +thought that Fortune would vouchsafe me such an opportunity. Do +thou follow me, not of command or against thy will, but of thy +grace and favour to me." Then I went on and she after me. + +Now I had not, at that time, a lodging I deemed fit for the +like of her; Muslim ben El Welid[FN#143] was my fast friend, +and he had a handsome house. So I made for his abode and +knocked at the door, whereupon he came out, and I saluted him, +saying, "It is for a time like this that friends are treasured +up." "With all my heart," answered he; "enter." So we entered, +I and the lady, but found money scarce with him. However, he +gave me a handkerchief, saying, "Carry it to the market and +sell it and buy meat and what else thou needest." So I took the +handkerchief and hastening to the market, sold it and bought +meat and what else we required; but, when I returned, I found +that Muslim had retired, with the lady, to an underground +chamber.[FN#144] When he heard me, he came out and said to me, +"God requite thee the kindness thou hast done me, O Abou +Ali,[FN#145] and reckon it of thy good deeds on the Day of +Resurrection!" So saying, he took from me the meat and wine and +shut the door in my face His words enraged me and I knew not +what to do; but he stood behind the door, shaking for mirth; +and when he saw me thus, he said to me, "I conjure thee on my +life, O Abou Ali, tell me who it was composed this verse? + +I lay in the arms of the fair one all night, Whilst my friend + slept, clean-limbed, but polluted of spright." + +At this, my rage redoubled, and I replied, "He who wrote this +other verse: + +One, I wish him in's girdle a thousand of horns, Exceeding the +idol Menaf[FN#146] in their height!" + +Then I began to revile him and reproach him with the foulness +of his conduct and his lack of honour; and he was silent. But, +when I had finished, he smiled and said, "Out on thee, O fool! +Thou hast entered my house and sold my handkerchief and spent +my money: so, with whom art thou wroth, O pimp?" Then he left +me and went away to her, whilst I said, "By Allah, thou art +right to call me a fool and a pimp!" Then I left his door and +went away in sore concern, whereof I feel the trace in my heart +to this day; and I never had my desire of her nor ever heard of +her more. + + + + + + ISAAC OF MOSUL AND THE MERCHANT. + + + +(Quoth Ishac ben Ibrahim el Mausili), One day, being weary of +assiduous attendance upon the Khalif, I mounted my horse and +went forth, at break of day, having a mind to ride out and take +my pleasure in the open country, and I said to my servant, "If +there come a messenger from the Khalif or another, say that I +set out at daybreak, upon a pressing business, and that thou +knowest not whither I am gone." So I rode forth alone and went +round about the city, till the sun grew hot, when I halted in a +street, known as El Herem, and stood my horse under the +spacious jutting porch of one of the houses there, to shelter +me from the glare of the sun. + +I had not stood long, before there came up a black slave, +leading an ass with jewelled housings, on which sat a damsel, +clad in the richest of clothes, richness can go no farther; and +I saw that she was elegantly made, with languorous looks and +graceful carriage. I asked one of the passers-by who she was, +and he said, "She is a singer." And I fell in love with her at +sight, so that I could scarce keep my seat on my horse's back. +She entered the house at whose gate I stood; and as I cast +about for a device to gain access to her, there came up two +comely young men, who sought admission, and the master of the +house gave them leave to enter. So they alighted and entered, +and I with them, they supposing that the master of the house +had invited me; and we sat awhile, till food was brought and we +ate. Then they set wine before us, and the damsel came out, +with a lute in her hand. She sang and we drank, till I rose to +do an occasion. During my absence, the host questioned the two +others of me, and they replied that they knew me not; whereupon +quoth he, "This fellow is a spunger, but he is well-bred and +pleasant; so entreat him fairly." Then I came back and sat down +in my place, whilst the damsel sang the following verses to a +pleasing air: + +Say thou unto the she-gazelle, who yet is no gazelle, And the + wild heifer, languorous-eyed, who yet no heifer is, +"One, who in dalliance affects the male, no female is, And he + who is effeminate of step's no male, ywis." + +She sang it excellent well, and the company drank and her song +pleased them. Then she sang various songs to rare tunes, and +amongst the rest one of mine, to the following words: + +The pleasant girls have gone and left The homesteads empty and + bereft +Of their sweet converse, after cheer, All void and ruined by + Time's theft. + +She sang this even better than the first; then she sang other +rare songs, old and new, and amongst them, another of mine, +with the following words: + +To the loved one, who turneth in anger away And vrithdraweth + himself far apart from thee, say, +"The mischief thou wroughtest, thou wroughtest indeed, For all, + per-adventure, thou west but in play." + +I asked her to repeat the song, that I might correct it for +her; whereupon one of the men turned to me and said, "Never saw +I a more brazen-faced parasite than thou. Art thou not content +with spunging, but thou must meddle, to boot? Verily, in thee +is the saying made true, 'A parasite and a meddler.'" I hung +down my head for shame and made him no answer, whilst his +companion would have restrained him from me; but he would not +be restrained. Presently, they rose to pray, but I hung behind +a little and taking the lute, tuned it after a particular +fashion and stood up to pray with the rest. When we had made an +end of prayer, the same man fell again to flouting and reviling +me and persisted in his churlishness, whilst I held my peace. +Then the damsel took the lute and touching it, knew that it was +other than as she had left it and said, "Who hath touched my +lute?" Quoth they, "None of us hath touched it." "Nay, by +Allah," rejoined she, "some one hath touched it, and he a past +master in the craft; for he hath ordered the strings and tuned +them after the fashion of one who is right skilled in the art." +Quoth I, "It was I tuned it." "Then, God on thee," answered +she, "take it and play on it!" So I took it and playing a rare +and difficult measure, that came nigh to deaden the live and +raise the dead, sang thereto the following verses: + +I had a heart, wherewith of yore I lived: 'Twas seared with + fire and all consumed indeed. +Her love, alack I was not vouchsafed to me; Unto the slave + 'twas not of Heaven decreed. +If what I taste be passion's very food, Then all who love upon + its like must feed. + +When I had finished, there was not one of the company but +sprang from his place and sat down before me,[FN#147] saying +"God on thee, O our lord, sing us another song." "With all my +heart," said I and playing another measure in masterly fashion, +sang thereto the following: + +O thou whose heart, for fortune's blows, is all consumed and + sped, Sorrows with whom from every side have taken up + their stead, +Unlawful unto her, my heart who pierces with her shafts, Is + that my blood which, breast-bones 'twixt and + vitals,[FN#148] she hath shed. +'Twas plain, upon the parting day, that her resolve, our loves + To sunder, unto false suspect must be attributed. +She pours forth blood she had not shed, if passion had not + been. Will none my murderess ensue and wreak me on her + head? + +When I had made an end of this song, there was not one of them +but rose to his feet and threw himself to the ground, for +excess of delight. Then I cast the lute from my hand; but they +said, "Allah on thee, let us hear another song, so God increase +thee of His bounty!" "O folk," replied I, "I will sing you +another song and another and another and will tell you who I +am. Know that I am Ishac ben Ibrahim el Mausili, and by Allah, +I bear myself haughtily to the Khalif, when he seeks me. Ye +have today made me hear [abuse from] an unmannerly fellow such +as I loathe; and by Allah, I will not speak a word nor sit with +you, till ye put yonder quarrelsome churl out from among you!" +Quoth the latter's companion to him, "This is what I feared and +warned thee against." So they took him by the hand and put him +out; and I took the lute and sang over again the songs of my +fashion that the damsel had sung. Then I whispered the host +that she had taken my heart and that I had no patience to +endure from her. Quoth he, "Thou shalt have her and all that +pertains to her of clothes and jewels, on one condition." "What +is that?" asked I. "It is," answered he, "that thou abide with +me a month." "It is well," rejoined I; "I will do this." So I +abode with him a whole month, whilst none knew where I was and +the Khalif sought me everywhere, but could come by no news of +me; and at the end of this time, the merchant delivered to me +the damsel, together with all that pertained to her of things +of price and an eunuch to attend her. + +I brought her to my lodging, feeling as I were lord of the +whole world, for stress of delight in her; then rode forthright +to El Mamoun. When he saw me, he said, "Out on thee, O Isaac, +where hast thou been all this while?" I acquainted him with the +story and he said, "Bring me the man at once." So I told him +where he dwelt, and he sent and fetched him and questioned him +of the case; whereupon he repeated the story and the Khalif +said to him, "Thou art a man of a generous mind, and it is just +that thou be upheld in thy generosity." Then he ordered him a +hundred thousand dirhems and said to me, "O Isaac, bring me the +damsel." So I brought her to him, and she sang and delighted +him. He was greatly gladdened by her and ordered her fifty +thousand dirhems, saying to me, "I appoint her of service every +Thursday, when she must come and sing to me from behind the +curtain." So, by Allah, this ride of mine was a source of +profit both to me and to others. + + + + + + THE THREE UNFORTUNATE LOVERS. + + + +(Quoth El Utbi[FN#149]), I was sitting one day with a company +of men of culture, telling stories of the folk, when the talk +turned upon anecdotes of lovers and each of us said his say +thereon. Now there was in our company an old man, who remained +silent, till we had all spoken and had no more to say, when he +said, "Shall I tell you a thing, the like of which you never +heard?" "Yes," answered we; and he said, "Know, then, that I +had a daughter, who loved a youth, but we knew it not. The +youth in question loved a singing-girl, who, in her turn, +was enamoured of my daughter. One day, I was present at an +assembly, where were also the young man and the girl; when the +latter sang the following verses: + +Tears are the token by which, for love, Abjection in lovers + still is shown, +And more by token in one who finds No friend, to whom he may + make his moan. + +'By Allah, thou hast said well, O my lady!' exclaimed the +youth. 'Doss thou bid me die?' 'Yes,' answered the girl from +behind the curtain, 'if thou be in love.' So he laid his head +on a cushion and closed his eyes; and when the cup came round +to him, we shook him and found that he was dead. Therewith we +all flocked to him, and our joy was troubled and we grieved and +broke up forthright. When I came home, my people taxed me with +returning before the appointed time, and I told them what had +befallen the youth, thinking to surprise them. My daughter +heard my words and rising, went into another chamber, whither I +followed her and found her lying, with her head on a cushion, +as I had told of the young man. I shook her and behold, she +was dead. So we laid her out and set forth next morning with +her funeral, whilst the friends of the young man carried him +out, likewise, to bury him. As we were on the way to the +burial-place, we met a third funeral and enquiring whose it +was, were told that it was that of the singing-girl, who, +hearing of my daughter's death, had done even as she and was +dead. So we buried them all three on one day, and this is the +rarest story that ever was heard of lovers." + + + + + + THE LOVERS OF THE BENOU TAI. + + + +Quoth a man of the Benou Temim (cited by Casim ben Adi), I went +out one day in search of a stray beast and coming to the waters +of the Benou Tai, saw two companies of people, near one +another, and those of each company were disputing among +themselves. So I watched them and observed, in one of the +companies, a young man, wasted with sickness, as he were a +worn-out water-skin. As I looked on him, he repeated the +following verses: + +What ails the fair that she returneth not to me? Is't + grudgingness in her or inhumanity? +I sickened, and my folk to visit me came all. Why 'mongst the + visitors wast thou then not to see? +Hadst thou been sick, I would have hastened to thy side; Nor + menaces nor threats had hindered me from thee. +I miss thee midst the rest, and desolate am I: Thy loss, my + heart's abode, is grievous unto me. + +A damsel in the other company heard his words and hastened +towards him. Her people followed her, but she repelled them +with blows. Then the youth caught sight of her and ran towards +her, whilst his people ran after him and laid hold of him. +However, he struggled, till he freed himself from them, and she +in like manner loosed herself; and they ran to each other and +meeting between the two parties, embraced and fell down dead. + +Thereupon there came out an old man from one of the tents and +stood over them, weeping sore and exclaiming, "Verily, we are +God's and to Him we return!" Then, "May God the Most High have +mercy on you both!" said he. "By Allah, though you were not +united in your lives, I will at least unite you after death." +And he bade lay them out. So they washed them and shrouded them +in one shroud and buried them in one grave, after they had +prayed over them; nor were there men nor women in the two +parties but I saw weeping over them and buffeting their faces. +Then I questioned the old man of them, and he said, "She was my +daughter and he my brother's son; and love brought them to this +pass." "May God amend thee!" exclaimed I. "But why didst thou +not marry them to one another?" Quoth he, "I feared reproach +and dishonour; and now I am fallen upon both." + + + + + + THE MAD LOVER. + + + +(Quoth Aboulabbas el Muberred[FN#150]), I set out one day with +a company to El Berid on an occasion, and coming to the +monastery of Heraclius,[FN#151] we alighted in its shade. +Presently a man came out to us and said, "There are madmen in +the monastery, and amongst them one who speaketh wisdom; if ye +saw him, ye would marvel at his speech." So we arose all and +went into the monastery, where we saw a man seated on a leather +mat in one of the cells, with bare head and eyes fixed upon the +wall. We saluted him, and he returned our greeting, without +looking at us; and one said to us, "Repeat some verses to him; +for, when he hears verses, he speaks." So I repeated the +following verses: + +O best of all the race whom Eve gave birth unto, Except for + thee the world were neither sweet nor bright: +Thou'rt he, whose face if God unveil to any man, Eternity is + his; his head shall ne'er grow white.[FN#152] + +When he heard this, he turned towards us and repeated these +lines: + +God indeed knows that I am sore afflicted: I suffer so, I + cannot tell the whole. +I have two souls; one in this place is dwelling; Another + country holds my second soul. +Meseems the absent one is like the present And wearies under + the same weight of dole. + +Quoth he, "Have I said well or ill?" "Thou hast said well and +excellent well," replied we. Then he put out his hand and took +a stone, that was by him; whereupon we fled from him, thinking +he would throw it at us; but he fell to beating his breast +therewith violently and said to us, "Fear not, but draw near +and hear somewhat from me and receive it from me." So we came +back, and he repeated the following verses: + +When they made their beasts of burden kneel as day drew nigh + and nigher, Then they mounted and the camels bore away my + heart's desire,-- +When my eyes perceived my loved one through the crannied + prison-wall, Then I cried, with streaming eyelids and a + heart for love a-fire, +"Turn thou leader of the camels, let me bid my love farewell!" + For her absence and estrangement, life and hope in me + expire. +Still I kept my troth and failed not from her love; ah, would I + knew What she did with that our troth-plight, if she kept + her faith entire! + +Then he looked at me and said, "Dost thou know what she did?" +"Yes," answered I, "she is dead; may God the Most High have +mercy on her!" At this his face changed and he sprang to his +feet and cried out, "How knowest thou she is dead?" "Were she +alive," answered I, "she had not left thee thus." "By Allah, +thou art right," said he, "and I care not to live after her." +Then his nerves quivered and he fell on his face; and we ran up +to him and shook him and found him dead, the mercy of God be on +him! At this we marvelled and mourned sore for him and laid him +out and buried him. When I returned to Baghdad and went in to +the Khalif El Mutawekkil, he saw the trace of tears on my face +and said to me, "What is this?" So I told him what had passed, +and it was grievous to him and he said, "What moved thee to +deal thus with him? By Allah, if I thought thou didst this with +intent, I would punish thee therefor!" And he mourned for him +the rest of the day. + + + + + + THE APPLES OF PARADISE. + + + +(Quoth Abou Bekr Mohammed ibn el Ambari[FN#153]), I once left +Ambar, on a journey to Ammouriyeh, in the land of the Greeks, +[FN#154], and alighted midway at the monastery of El Anwar, +[FN#155], in a village near Ammouriyeh, where there came out +to me the prior of the monastery and superior of the monks, +Abdulmesih[FN#156] by name, and brought me into the monastery. +There I found forty monks, who entertained me that night +with the most liberal hospitality, and I saw among them such +abounding piety and diligence in devotion as I never beheld the +like of in any others. On the morrow, I took leave of them and +went on to Ammouriyeh, where I did my business and returned to +Ambar [without again visiting the monastery]. + +Next year it befell that I made the pilgrimage to Mecca, and as +I was compassing the Holy House, behold, I saw Abdulmesih the +monk also making the circuit of the Kaabeh, and with him five +of his fellows, the monks. When I was certified that it was +indeed he, I accosted him, saying, "Art thou not Abdulmesih er +Rahib?"[FN#157] "Nay," answered he; "I am Abdallah er Raghib." +[FN#158] Therewith I fell to kissing his hoary hairs and weeping; +then, taking him by the hand, I led him aside into a corner of +the sanctuary and said to him, "Tell me the manner of thy +conversion to Islam." "It was a wonder of wonders," answered +he; "and befell thus. Know that, not long after thy visit to +us, a company of Muslim devotees came to the village, in which +is our monastery, and sent a youth to buy them food. He saw, +in the market, a Christian damsel selling bread, who was of +the fairest of women, and became then and there so passionately +enamoured of her, that his senses failed him and he fell on his +face in a swoon. When he revived, he returned to his companions +and told them what had happened, saying, 'Go ye about your +business; I may not go with you.' They blamed him and exhorted +him, but he paid no heed to them; so they left him and went on, +whilst he entered the village and seated himself at the door +of the woman's shop. She asked him what he wanted, and he told +her that he was in love with her, whereupon she turned from +him; but he abode in his place three days, without tasting +food, with his eyes fixed on her face. + +When she saw that he departed not from her, she went to her +people and acquainted them with her case, and they set the boys +of the village on him, who pelted him with stones and bruised +his ribs and broke his head; but, for all this, he would not +budge. Then the people of the village took counsel together to +kill him; but one of them came to me and told me of his +condition, and I went out to him and found him lying prostrate +on the ground. So I wiped the blood from his face and carried +him to the convent, where I dressed his wounds, and he abode +with me fourteen days. But, as soon as he could walk, he left +the convent and returned to the door of the woman's shop, where +he sat gazing on her as before. When she saw him, she came out +to him and said, 'By Allah, thou movest me to pity! If thou +wilt enter my faith, I will marry thee.' 'God forbid,' answered +he, 'that I should put off the faith of the Unity and enter +that of Plurality!'[FN#159] Quoth she, 'Come in with me to my +house and take thy will of me and go thy ways in peace.' 'Not +so,' answered he, 'I will not barter the pious service of +twelve years for the lust of a moment.' 'Then depart from me +forthright,' said she; and he rejoined, 'My heart will not +suffer me to do that;' whereupon she turned her face from him. +Presently the boys found him out and began to throw stones +at him; and he fell on his face, saying, 'Verily, God is my +keeper, who sent down the Book and who protecteth the righteous!' +[FN#160] At this juncture, I sallied forth and driving away +the boys, lifted his head from the ground and heard him say, +'O my God, unite me with her in Paradise!' Then I took him in +my arms, to carry him to the monastery; but he died, before +I could reach it, and I dug him a grave without the village +and buried him there. + +In the middle of that night, the people of the village heard +the damsel give a great cry, and she in her bed; so they +flocked to her and questioned her of her case. Quoth she, 'As I +slept, the Muslim [who ye wot of] came in to me and taking me +by the hand, carried me to the gate of Paradise; but the keeper +denied me entrance, saying, "It is forbidden to unbelievers." +So I embraced Islam at his hands and entering with him, beheld +therein palaces and trees, such as I cannot describe to you. +Moreover, he brought me to a pavilion of jewels and said to me, +"This is my pavilion and thine, nor will I enter it except with +thee; but, after five nights, thou shalt be with me therein, if +it be the will of God the Most High." Then, putting his hand to +a tree that grew at the door of the pavilion, he plucked +therefrom two apples and gave them to me, saying, "Eat this and +keep the other, that the monks may see it." So I ate one of +them and never tasted I aught sweeter than it. Then he took my +hand and carried me back to my house; and when I awoke, I found +the taste of the apple in my mouth and the other in my hand.' +So saying, she brought out the apple, and it shone in the +darkness of the night, as it were a sparkling star. So they +carried her to the monastery, where she repeated to us her +vision and showed us the apple; never saw we its like among all +the fruits of the world. Then I took a knife and cut the apple +into as many pieces as we were folk in the company; and never +knew we aught more delicious than its taste nor sweeter than +its scent; but we said, 'Haply this was a devil that appeared +to her, to seduce her from her faith.' Then her people took her +and went away; but she abstained from eating and drinking till +the fifth night, when she rose from her bed and going forth the +village to the grave of the young Muslim, threw herself upon it +and died. + +Her people knew not what was come of her; but, on the morrow, +there came to the village two Muslim elders, clad in hair- +cloth, and with them two women in like garb, and said, 'O +people of the village, with you is a woman of the friends of +God,[FN#161] who died a Muslim, and we will take charge of her, +instead of you.' So the damsel's family sought her and found +her dead on the young Muslim's grave; and they said, 'This our +sister died in our faith, and we will take charge of her.' 'Not +so,' rejoined the two old men; 'she died a Muslim and we claim +her.' And the dispute waxed hot between them, till one of the +Muslims said, 'Be this the test of her faith. Let the forty +monks of the monastery come all and [essay to] lift her from +the grave. If they succeed, then she died a Nazarene; if not, +one of us shall come and lift her up, and if she yield to him, +she died a Muslim.' The villagers agreed to this and fetched +the forty monks, who heartened each other and came to her, to +lift her, but could not. Then we tied a great rope about her +middle and tugged at it with our might; but the rope broke in +sunder, and she stirred nor; and the villagers came and joined +their endeavour to ours, but could not move her from her place. +At last, when all our devices failed, we said to one of the two +old Muslims, 'Come thou and lift her.' So he went up to the +grave and covering her with his mantle, said, 'In the name of +God the Compassionate, the Merciful, and of the Faith of the +Apostle of God, on whom be peace and salvation!' Then he lifted +her and taking her in his bosom, betook himself with her to a +cave hard by, where they laid her, and the two women came and +washed her and shrouded her. Then the two elders bore her to +the young Muslim's grave and prayed over her and buried her by +his side and went their way. + +Now we were witness of all this; and when we were alone with +one another, we said, 'Of a verity, the Truth is most worthy to +be followed;[FN#162] and indeed it hath been publicly manifested +to us, nor is it possible to have a clearer proof of the truth +of Islam than that we have seen this day with our eyes.' So I +and all the monks embraced Islam and on like wise did the people +of the village; and we sent to the people of Mesopotamia for a +doctor of the law, to instruct us in the ordinances of Islam and +the canons of the Faith. They sent us a pious man, who taught us +the rites of devotion and the tenets of the faith and the +service of God; and we are now in great good case. To God be +the praise and the thanks!" + + + + + + THE LOVES OF ABOU ISA AND CURRET EL AIN. + + + +(Quoth Amr ben Mesaadeh[FN#163]), Abou Isa, son or Er Reshid +and brother to El Mamoun, was enamoured of a girl called Curret +el Ain, belonging to Ali ben Hisham,[FN#164] and she also loved +him; but he concealed his passion, complaining of it to none +neither discovering his secret to any, of his pride and +magnanimity; and he had used his utmost endeavour to buy her of +her lord, but in vain. At last, when his patience failed him +and his passion was sore on him and he was at his wits' end +concerning her affair, he went in, one day of state, to El +Mamoun, after the folk had retired, and said to him, "O +Commander of the Faithful, if thou wilt this day make trial of +thy governors,[FN#165] by visiting them unawares, thou wilt the +men of worth from those that lack of it and note each one's +[due] place, after the measure of his faculties." (But he +purposed, in saying this, to win to sit with Curret el Ain in +her lord's house.) El Mamoun approved his proposal and bade +make ready a barge, called the Flyer, in which he embarked, +with his brother and a party of his chief officers. The first +house he visited was that of Hemid et Tawil of Tous, whom he +found seated on a mat and before him singers and players, with +lutes and hautboys and other instruments of music in their +hands. El Mamoun sat with him awhile, and presently he set +before him dishes of nothing but flesh-meat, with no birds +among them. The Khalif would not taste thereof and Abou Isa +said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, we have taken the +owner of this place unawares, and he knew not of thy coming; +but now let us go to another place, that is prepared and fitted +for thee." + +So the Khalif arose and betook himself, with his brother and +his suite, to the abode of Ali ben Hisham, who, on hearing of +their approach, came out and received them after the goodliest +fashion, and kissed the earth before El Mamoun. Then he brought +them into his palace and opened to them a saloon, than which +never saw eyes a goodlier. Its floors and walls and columns +were of vari-coloured marble, adorned with Greek paintings: it +was spread with Indian matting, on which were carpets and +divans of Bassora make, fitted to the length and breadth of the +room. The Khalif sat awhile, examining the house and its roof +and walls, then said, "Give us to eat." So they brought him +forthwith nigh upon a hundred dishes of fowls, besides other +birds and brewises and fricassees and marinades. When he had +eaten, he said, "Give us to drink, O Ali;" and the latter set +before him raisin-wine, boiled with fruits and spices, in +vessels of gold and silver and crystal, served by boys like +moons, clad in garments of Alexandrian cloth of gold and +bearing on their breasts flagons of crystal, full of rose-water +mingled with musk. El Mamoun marvelled exceedingly at all this +and said, "Harkye, Aboulhusn!"[FN#166] Whereupon Ali sprang to +the carpet [on which the Khalif was seated] and kissing it, +said, "At thy service, O Commander of the Faithful!" and stood +before him. Quoth El Mamoun, "Let us hear some pleasant songs." +"I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful," replied Ali and +said to one of his servants, "Fetch the singing-women." + +So he went out and returned in a moment, followed by ten +eunuchs, bearing ten golden stools, which they set down; and +these in their turn were followed by ten damsels, as they were +shining full moons or flowerful gardens, clad in black brocade, +with crowns of gold on their heads. They sat down on the stools +and sang various songs. Then El Mamoun looked at one of them +and captivated by her elegance and the beauty of her aspect, +said to her, "What is thy name, O damsel?" "My name is Sejahi, +O Commander of the Faithful," answered she; and he said, "Sing +to us, O Sejahi!" So she took the lute and playing a lively +measure, sang the following verses: + +Right stealthily, for fearfulness, I fare, the weakling's gait, + Who sees unto the watering-place two lion-whelps draw + near, +With cloak, instead of sword, begirt and bosom love-distraught + And heart for eyes of enemies and spies fulfilled of fear, +Till in to one at last I come, a loveling delicate, Like to a + desert antelope, that's lost its younglings dear. + +"Well done, O damsel!" said the Khalif. "Whose is this song?" +"The words are by Amr ben Madi Kerib er Zubeidi,"[FN#167] +answered she, "and the air is Mabid's."[FN#168] Then the Khalif +and Ali and Abou Isa drank and the damsels went away and were +succeeded by other ten, clad in flowered silk of Yemen, +brocaded with gold, who sat down on the chairs and sang various +songs. The Khalif looked at one of them, who was like a wild +cow of the desert, and said to her, "What is thy name, O +damsel?" "My name is Zebiyeh, O Commander of the Faithful," +answered she. "Sing to us, O Zebiyeh," said he; so she warbled +some roulades and sang the following verses: + +Houris, noble ladies, that reck not of disquiet, Like antelopes + of Mecca, forbidden to be slain; +Of their soft speech, they're taken for courtezans; but Islam + Still makes them from unseemliness and lewdness to + refrain. + +When she had finished, "Bravo!" cried the Khalif. "Whose is +this song?" "The words are by Jerir,"[FN#169] answered she, +"and the air by Suraij." Then the Khalif and his company drank, +whilst the girls went away and there came yet another ten, as +they were rubies, bareheaded and clad in red brocade, gold +inwoven and broidered with pearls and jewels, who sat down on +the stools and sang various airs. The Khalif looked at one of +them, who was like the sun of the day, and said to her, "What +is thy name?" "O Commander of the Faithful," answered she, "my +name is Fatin." "Sing to us, O Fatin," quoth he. So she played +a lively measure and sang the following verses: + +Vouchsafe me of thy grace; 'tis time to yield consent: Enough + have I endured of absence and lament. +Thou'rt he whose face unites all charms, on whose account My + patience have I lost, for very languishment. +I've spent my life for love of thee; ah, would to God I might + receive return for that which I have spent! + +"Bravo, O Fatin!" exclaimed the Khalif, when she had finished. +"Whose song is that?" "The words are by Adi ben Zeid," answered +she, "and the tune is an old one." Then they drank, whilst the +damsels retired and were succeeded by other ten, as they were +sparkling stars, clad in flowered silk, embroidered with gold, +and girt with jewelled zones. They sat down and sang various +airs; and the Khalif said to one of them, who was like a +willow-wand, "What is thy name, O damsel!" "My name is Reshaa, +O Commander of the Faithful," answered she. "Sing to us, O +Reshaa," said he. So she played a lively measure and sang the +following verses: + +There's a houri healing passion [with her kiss], Like a sapling + or a wild gazelle at gaze. +Wine I quaff unto the vision of her cheeks[FN#170] And dispute + the goblet with her, till she sways. +Then she lies and sleeps the night long in my arms, And I say, + "This is the wish of all my days." + +"Well done, O damsel!" said the Khalif. "More." So she rose and +kissing the ground before him, sang the following verse: + +She came out to gaze on the bridal at leisure, In a tunic with + ambergris smeared, worth a treasure. + +The Khalif was much pleased with this verse, which when Reshaa +saw, she repeated it several times. Then said El Mamoun, "Bring +up the barge," being minded to embark and depart: but Ali said +to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, I have a slave-girl, whom +I bought for ten thousand dinars; she hath taken my whole +heart, and I would fain show her to the Commander of the +Faithful. If she please him and he will accept of her, she is +his: and if not, let him hear something from her." "Bring her +to me," said the Khalif; and there came forth a damsel, as she +were a willow-wand, with heart-seducing eyes and eyebrows like +a double bow. On her head she wore a crown of red gold, set +with pearls and jewels, under which was a fillet, wrought in +letters of chrysolite with the following words: + +Behold, a Jinniyeh this is; and Jinn hath she also, I trow, Who + teach her men's hearts to transfix, by means of a + stringless bow. + +She walked, with a gait like that of a fleeing gazelle, till +she came to a chair, on which she seated herself. The Khalif +marvelled at her beauty and grace; but when Abou Isa saw her, +his colour changed and he was in ill case. "O Abou Isa," said +the Khalif, "what ails thee, to change colour thus?" "O +Commander of the Faithful," answered he, "it is because of pain +that seizes me bytimes." "Hast thou known yonder damsel before +to-day?" asked El Mamoun. "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful," +answered he. "Can the moon be hidden?" Then said El Mamoun to +her, "What is thy name, O damsel?" "My name is Curret el Ain, O +Commander of the Faithful," replied she; and he said, "Sing to +us, O Curret el Ain." So she sang the following verses: + +The loved ones passed from thee in middle midnight's shade And + fared forth in the dawn, with the pilgrims' cavalcade. +The tents of pride they pitched round their pavilions And + veiled themselves about with hangings of brocade. + +Quoth the Khalif, "Bravo, O Curret el Ain! Whose song is that?" +"The words are by Dibil el Khuzai," answered she, "and the air +by Zourzour es Seghir." Abou Isa looked at her and his tears +choked him; so that the company marvelled at him. Then she +turned to El Mamoun and said to him, "O Commander of the +Faithful, wilt thou give me leave to change the words?" "Sing +what thou wilt," answered the Khalif. So she played a lively +measure and sang the following verses: + +If thou please me and he please thee in public, look thou hide + And keep in secret straiter watch o'er love, lest ill + betide. +And disregard and put away the tales of slanderers; For seldom + seeks the sland'rer aught but lovers to divide. +They say that when a lover's near, he wearies of his love And + that by absence passion's cured. 'Tis false; for I have + tried +Both remedies, but am not cured of that which is with me, + Withal that nearness easier is than distance to abide. +Yet nearness of abode, forsooth, may nowise profit thee, An If + the grace of him thou lov'st be unto thee denied. + +When she finished, Abou Isa said, "O Commander of the Faithful, +we will be at peace, though we be dishonoured. Dost thou give +me leave to reply to her?" "Yes," answered the Khalif. "Say +what thou wilt to her." So he swallowed his tears and sang +these verses: + +I held my peace nor said, "I am in love;" and eke The passion + that I felt even from my heart hid I: +And natheless, if my eyes do manifest my love, It is because + they are the shining moon anigh. + +Then Curret el Ain took the lute and rejoined with the +following: + +If what thou dost pretend were very truth, Thou woulst not with + mere wishing rest content, +Nor couldst endure to live without a girl, In charms and beauty + wonder excellent. +But there is nought in that thou dost avouch, Save only idle + talk and compliment. + +When Abou Isa heard this, he fell a-weeping and lamenting and +discovered the trouble and anguish of his soul. Then he raised +his eyes to her and sighing, repeated the following: + +Under my wede there is a wasted body And in my soul an all- + absorbing thought. +I have a heart, whose suffering is eternal, and eyes with tears + like torrents ever fraught. +When a wise man meets me, he rebukes me, Chiding the love that + thou in me hath wrought. +Lord, I've no strength all this my dole to suffer; Prithee, + come Death or quick relief be brought! + +When he had ended, Ali ben Hisham sprang up and kissing his +feet, said, "O my lord, God hath heard thy prayer and answered +thy supplication, and consenteth to thy taking her with all her +gear, so the Commander of the Faithful have no mind to her." +"Had we a mind to her," answered the Khalif, "we would prefer +Abou Isa before ourselves and help him to his desire." So +saying, he rose and embarking, went away, whilst Abou Isa +tarried for Curret al Ain, whom he took and carried to his own +house, with a breast dilated for gladness. See then the +generosity of Ali ben Hisham. + + + + + + EL AMIN BEN ER RESHID AND HIS UNCLE + IBRAHIM BEN EL MEHDI. + + + +El Amin,[FN#171] son of Er Reshid, once entered the house of +his uncle Ibrahim ben el Mehdi and saw there a slave-girl +playing upon the lute. She was one of the fairest of women, +and his heart inclined to her. Ibrahim, seeing how it was with +him, sent the girl to him, with rich apparel and precious +jewels. When he saw her, he thought that his uncle had lain +with her; so he was loath to have to do with her, because of +this, and sent her back to Ibrahim, accepting the present that +came with her. Ibrahim learnt the reason of this from one of +El Amin's servants; so he took a shift of flowered silk and let +work upon his skirt, in letters of gold, the following lines: + +By Him to whom all fronts do bow, of that which is Beneath her + skirt, I swear, I'm ignorant outright; +Nor have I had in aught to meddle with her mouth, Except it + were by way of hearing and of sight. + +Then he clad her in the shift and giving her a lute sent her +once more to his nephew. When she came into the latter's +presence, she kissed the earth before him and tuning the lute, +sang thereto the following verses: + +By returning the gift, thou showest what's hid in thy breast, + And thine aversion to me is made manifest. +As thou bear malice for aught that hath been,--forgive The + past, for the Khalifate's sake, and let it rest. + +When she had made an end of her song, El Amin looked at her and +reading that which was wrought upon her skirt, could not +control himself, but drew near unto her and kissed her and +appointed her a separate lodging in his palace. Moreover, he +thanked his uncle for this and bestowed on him the government +of Er Rei.[FN#172] + + + + + + EL FETH BEN KHACAN AND THE KHALIF EL + MUTAWEKKIL. + + + +The Khalid El Mutawekkil[FN#173] was once again taking +medicine, and folk sent him all manner of presents and +rarities. Amongst others, El Feth ben Khacan[FN#174] sent him +a virgin slave, high-bosomed, of the fairest of women of her +time, and with her a vase of crystal, containing red wine, and +a goblet of red gold, whereon were graven in black the following +verses: + +When th' Imam's made an end of taking medicine And health and + strength ensue to him thereon, in fine, +There's no medicament befits him but to drink, From out this + cup, a draught of this decocted wine. +And break the seal[FN#175] reserved to him, for this, indeed, + Right salutary is, hard after medicine. + +Now the physician Youhenna[FN#176] was with the Khalif, when +the damsel entered; and when he read the above verses, he +smiled and said, 'By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, Feth +is better versed than I in the art of medicine: so let not +the Commander of the Faithful gainsay his prescription.' +Accordingly, the Khalif followed El Feth's prescription and was +made whole by the blessing of God. + + + + + + THE MAN'S DISPUTE WITH THE LEARNED + WOMAN OF THE RELATIVE EXCELLENCE OF THE + MALE AND THE FEMALE. + + + +(Quoth a certain man of learning) I never saw a woman sharper- +witted, more intelligent, better furnished in learning, more +excellent of faculties or more pleasant of ingredients than +a female preacher of the people of Baghdad, by name Sitt el +Meshayikh.[FN#177] It chanced that she came to the city of +Hemah in the year [of the Hegira] 561[FN#178] and there +delivered salutary exhortations to the folk from the pulpits. +Now there used to visit her house a number of students of +divinity and [other] persons of learning and culture, who +would argue with her upon questions of theology and discuss +controversial points with her. I went to her one day, with a +friend of mine, a man of education; and when we had taken our +seats, she set before us a dish of fruit and seated herself +behind a curtain. Now she had a [young] brother, a handsome +youth, who stood by us, to serve us. + +When we had eaten, we fell to disputing upon points of divinity, +and I propounded to her a theological question, bearing upon a +difference between the Imams.[FN#179] She proceeded to speak in +answer, whilst I listened; but my friend fell the while to +looking upon her brother's face and considering his charms, +without paying any heed to what she said. Now she was watching +him from behind the curtain; so, when she had made an end of +her exposition, she turned to him and said, "Meseems thou art +of those that give men the preference over women!" "Assuredly," +answered he. "And why so?" asked she. "Because," replied he, +"God hath preferred the male over the female; and I love that +which excels and mislike that which is excelled." She laughed +and said, "Wilt thou deal fairly with me in argument, if I +argue the matter with thee?" "I will," answered he. Then said +she, "What is the evidence of the superiority of the male to +the female?" "It is of two kinds," answered he, "that which +is founded on authority and that which is founded on reason. +The authoritative part derives from the Koran and the Sunneh +[Traditions of the Prophet]. As for the former, quoth God the +Most High, 'Men stand above women, in that God hath given +these the preference over those;'[FN#180] and again, 'If +there be not two men, then [call] one man and two women;' +[FN#181] and again, when treating of the law of inheritance, +'[If there be brothers and sisters,] let each male have the +like of the portion of two females.'[FN#182] Thus God, blessed +and exalted be He, hath in these places preferred the male over +the female and teaches that a woman is as the half of a man, +for that he is worthier than she. As for the Sunneh, is it not +reported of the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) that he +appointed the blood-wit for a woman to be half that of a man? +As for the evidence of reason, the male is the agent and the +female the patient." + +"Thou hast said well, O my lord," rejoined she; "but, by Allah, +thou hast proved my contention with thine own lips and hast +advanced arguments that tell against thee, and not for thee. +Thus: God (blessed and exalted be He) preferred the male above +the female, solely because of the quality of masculinity; and +in this, there is no difference between us. Now this quality +[of masculinity] is common to the child, the boy, the youth, +the adult and the graybeard; nor is there any distinction +between them in this. Since, then, the superior excellence of +man enures to him solely by virtue of the quality of masculinity, +it behoves that thy heart incline to the graybeard and thy soul +delight in him, equally with the boy, seeing that there is no +distinction between them, in point of masculinity. But the +difference between thee and me turns upon the qualities that +are sought as constituting excellence of intercourse and +delight of usance; and thou hast adduced no proof of the +superiority of the male over the female in this." + +"O my lady," answered he, "knowest thou not that which is +proper to the boy of symmetry of shape and rosy cheeks and +pleasant smile and sweetness of speech? Boys are, in these +respects, superior to women; and the proof of this is what is +reported of the Prophet, that he said, 'Stay not thy gaze upon +the beardless boys, for in them is the similitude[FN#183] of +the black-eyed girls of Paradise.' Nor indeed is the superiority +of the boy over the girl hidden to any, and how well saith Abou +Nuwas: + +The least of his virtues it is that thou'rt free From + uncleanness with him nor with child can he be. + +And what another poet says: + +Quoth th' Iman Abou Nuwas, past-master sure was he In every + canon of debauch and jolly knavery, +"O ye that love the downy cheeks of younglings, take your fill + Of a delight, in Paradise that will not founden be." + +So if one enlarge in praise of a girl and wish to enhance her +value by the mention of her charms, he likens her to a boy, +because of the illustrious qualities that belong to the latter, +even as saith the poet: + +Boylike of buttocks, to and fro, in amorous dalliance, She + sways as sway the nodding canes that in the north wind + dance. + +If boys, then, were not superior to girls, why should the +latter be likened to them? And know also, may God the Most High +preserve thee, that a boy is easy to be led, adapting himself +to the wish, pleasant of commerce and manners, inclining to +assent rather than difference, especially when the down on his +face creeps lightly and the hair darkens on his lips and the +vermilion of early youth runs in his cheeks, so that he is like +the full moon; and how goodly is the saying of Abou Temmam: +[FN#184] + +"The whiskers on his cheek appear;" the slanderers said to me; + Quoth I, "That's none of his defect; so give me no more + prate." +What time he came of age to bear buttocks that here and there + Pulled him and over beads of pearl his lips' hair darkened + late +And eke the rose a solemn oath, full fast and binding, swore + Its ruddy marvels from his cheek should never separate, +I with my eyelids spoke to him, without the need of speech, And + for reply thereto was what his eyebrows answered straight. +His goodliness still goodlier is than that thou knewst of yore, + And the hair guardeth him from those his charms would + violate. +Brighter and sweeter are his charms, now on his cheek the down + Shows and the hair upon his lips grows dark and delicate; +And those who chide me for the love of him, when they take up + Their parable of him and me, say evermore, "His mate." + +And quoth El Heriri[FN#185] and saith well: + +My censors say, "What is this love and doting upon him? Seest + not the hair upon his cheeks that sprouts? Where is thy + wit?" +Quoth I, "By Allah, an ye chide at me, I rede you note The + exposition of the truth that in his eyes is writ. +But for the blackness of the down, that veils his chin and + cheeks, Upon the brightness of his face no mortal gaze + might sit. +A man who sojourns in a land, wherein no herbage is, Whenas the + very Spring arrives, shall he depart from it?" + +And quoth another: + +"He is consoled," say the censors of me; but, by heaven, they + lie! For solace and comfort come hardly to those for + longing that sigh. +When the rose of his cheek stood blooming alone, I was not + consoled; So how should I now find solace, that basil has + sprung thereby? + +And again: + +A slender one, whose glances and the down upon his cheeks Each + other, in the slaying of folk, abet and aid. +A sabre of narcissus[FN#186] withal, he sheddeth blood, The + hangers[FN#187] of its scabbard of very myrtle made. + +And again: + +Not with his wine I'm drunken, but with his tresses bright, + That make all creatures drunken, yea, all beneath the sky. +Each of his charms doth envy the others; ay, and each To be the + down so silky upon his cheek doth sigh. + +These are the excellences of the boy, that women do not +possess, and these suffice and more to give boys the preference +in grace and glory over women." + +"God give thee health!" cried she. "Verily, thou hast imposed +the discussion upon thyself; and thou hast spoken and hast not +stinted and hast adduced these arguments, in support of thy +contention. But now is the truth made manifest;[FN#188] so +swerve thou not from the path thereof; and if thou be not +content with a summary of proof, I will set it out to thee in +detail. God on thee, where is the boy beside the girl and who +shall liken the kid to the wild cow? The girl is soft of +speech, fair of shape, like a stalk of sweet basil, with teeth +like chamomile-petals and hair like halters. Her cheeks are +like blood-red anemones and her face like an apple; she hath +lips like wine and breasts like double pomegranates and a shape +flexile as a willow-wand. Her body is rounded and well-formed: +she hath a nose like the point of a shining sword and a +forehead brilliant with whiteness and joined eyebrows and black +and melting eyes. If she speak, fresh pearls are scattered from +her mouth and all hearts are ravished by the daintiness of her +charms; when she smiles, thou wouldst think the moon shone out +from between her lips and when she gazes, swords flash from her +eyes. In her all beauties have their term, and she is the +centre of attraction of traveller and stay-at-home. She hath +two red lips softer than cream and sweeter of taste than honey, +and a bosom, as it were a way between two hills, wherein are a +pair of breasts like globes of ivory; likewise, a smooth belly, +soft of flanks as palm-flowers[FN#189] and creased with folds +and dimples that overlap one another, and luxuriant thighs, +like columns of pearl, and buttocks, that beat together like +seas of crystal or mountains of light, and two slender feet and +hands like ingot of virgin gold. So, O wretched fellow, where +are mortal men besides the Jinn? Knowest thou not that mighty +kings and captains and noble princes still submit themselves +humbly to women and depend on them for delight? Verily, they +[women] say, 'We rule over [all] necks and captivate [all] +hearts.' How many a rich man have they not made poor, how many +a powerful one have they not humbled and how many a noble have +they not reduced to servitude! Indeed, they seduce the learned +and bring the pious to shame and make poor the rich and plunge +the favoured of fortune into misery. Yet, for all this, the +wise but redouble in love and honour of them, nor do they count +this oppression or dishonour. How many a man for them hath +transgressed against his Lord and called down on himself the +wrath of his father and mother! And all this because of the +preponderance of the love of them over hearts. Knowest thou +not, O wretched fellow, that for them are palaces built and +slave-girls bought, and over them curtains are let down, that +for them do tears flow and for them armies levied and pleasure- +houses raised up and riches gathered and heads smitten off? And +indeed he spoke sooth who said, 'The world is a commentary +[FN#190] upon women.' + +As for thy citation from the Holy Traditions, it is an argument +against thee and not for thee; for the Prophet (whom God bless +and preserve) compares boys to the houris of Paradise. Now, +without doubt, the subject of comparison is more worthy than +the object compared with it; so, except women be the worthier +and the goodlier, wherefore should other than they be likened +to them? As for thy saying that girls are likened to boys, it +is not so, but the contrary: boys are likened to girls; for +folk say, 'Yonder boy is like a girl.' As for that thou quotest +from the poets, the verses in question were the product of an +unnatural complexion in this respect; and as for the confirmed +sodomists and debauchees, that sin against religion, whom God +hath condemned in His Holy Book, wherein He denounceth their +filthy practices, saying, 'Do ye betake you to males from the +four corners of the world and forsake that which your Lord hath +created for you of your wives? Nay, but ye are a froward +folk.'[FN#191] These it is that liken girls to boys, of their +exceeding profligacy and frowardness and inclination to follow +the devil and their own lusts, so that they say, 'She is apt +for two men;' and these are all wanderers from the path of +right. Quoth their chief Abou Nuwas: + +A slender one, boyish of waist and of wit, For wencher as well + as for sodomite fit. + +As for what thou sayest of a boy's whiskers and moustaches and +how they add to his beauty and grace, by Allah, thou wanderest +from the right path and sayest that which is other than the +truth; for whiskers change the charms of the comely into +ugliness; even as saith the poet: + +The whiskers, that sprout on the cheek of the wight, His lovers + avenge, if he 've done them unright. +I see not on 's face what is like unto smoke, Except that his + curls are as coals to the sight. +If the most of his paper[FN#192] thus blackened be, where Is + there room, deemest thou, for the pen to indite? +If any prefer him another above, 'Tis ignorance makes them thus + turn from the light. + +Glory be to God", continued she, "how is it hidden from thee +that the perfection of delight is in women and that abiding +pleasure is not to be found but with them? Seeing that God +(blessed and exalted be He) hath promised His prophets and +saints black-eyed damsels in Paradise and hath appointed them +for a recompense of their pious works: and had God the Most +High known that the supreme delight was in the possession of +other than women, He had rewarded them therewith and promised +it to them. And quoth he whom God bless and preserve, 'The +things in which I most delight of [the things of] your world +are three: women and perfume and the solace of my eyes in +prayer.' Verily, God hath appointed boys to serve His prophets +and saints in Paradise, because Paradise is the abode of +delight and pleasance, which could not be complete without the +service of boys; but, as to the use of them for aught but +service, it is sin and corruption. How well saith the poet: + +Men's turning unto boys is very frowardness; Who noble[FN#193] +women loves is noble[FN#194] none the less. +What difference 'twixt the lewd and him whose bedfellow A houri +is, for looks a very sorceress. +He rises from her couch and she hath given him scent; He +perfumes all the house therewith and each recess. +No boy, indeed, is worth to be compared with her: Shall aloes +evened be with what not filthiness?" + +Then said she, "O folk, ye have made me overpass the bounds of +modesty and the province of free-born women and indulge in idle +talk and freedoms of speech, that beseem not people of learning. +But the breasts of the noble are the tombs of secrets, and +conversations of this kind are in confidence. Moreover, actions +are according to intents, and I ask pardon of God for myself +and you and all Muslims, seeing that He is forgiving and +merciful." + +With this she held her peace and thereafter would answer us of +nought; so we went our way, rejoicing in that we had profited +by her discourses and sorrowing to part from her. + + + + + + ABOU SUWEID AND THE HANDSOME OLD + WOMAN. + + + +(Quoth Abou Suweid), I entered a garden one day, I and a +company of my friends, to buy somewhat of fruit; and we saw, in +a corner of the place, an old woman, who was bright of face, +but her hair was white, and she was combing it with a comb of +ivory. We stopped before her, but she paid no heed to us +neither veiled her face So I said to her' "O old woman, wert +thou to dye thy hair black, thou wouldst be handsomer than a +girl. What hinders thee from this?" She raised her head and +looking at me with great eyes, recited the following verses: + +That which the years had dyed, I dyed erewhen but, sooth to + tell, My dye endureth not, whilst that of Time's + perdurable +Clad in the raiment of my youth and beauty, of old days, + Proudly I walked, and back and front, men had with me to + mell + +"By Allah," cried I, "bravo to thee for an old woman! How +sincere art thou in thy yearning remembrance of sin and how +false in thy presence of repentance from for bidden things!" + + + + + + THE AMIR ALI BEN TAHIR AND THE GIRL MOUNIS. + + + +There was once shown to the Amir Ali ben Mohammed ben Abdallah +ben Tahir[FN#195] a slave-girl, who was excellently handsome +and well-bred and an accomplished poetess; and he asked her of +her name. 'May God advance the Amir,' replied she, 'my name is +Mounis.' Now he knew this before; so he bowed his head awhile, +then raising his eyes to her, recited the following verse: + +What dost thou say of one, on whom sickness and pain have + wrought, For love and longing after thee, till he is grown + distraught? + +'God exalt the Amir!' answered she and recited this verse in +reply: + +An if we saw a lover true, on whom the pangs of love Were sore, + we would to him vouchsafe the favours that he sought. + +Her reply pleased him; so he bought her for threescore and ten +thousand dirhems and begat on her Obeidallah teen Mohammed, +after police-magistrate [at Baghdad]. + + + + + + THE WOMAN WHO HAD A BOY AND THE OTHER + WHO HAD A MAN TO LOVER. + + + +(Quoth Abou el Ainaae[FN#196]), There were in our street two +women, one of whom had to lover a man and the other a beardless +boy, and they foregathered one night on the roof of a house, +not knowing that I was within hearing. Quoth one to the other, +"O my sister, how canst thou brook the harshness of thy lover's +beard, as it falls on thy breast, when he kisses thee, and his +moustaches rub thy cheek and lips?" "Silly wench that thou +art," replied the other, "what adorns the tree but its leaves +and the cucumber but its bloom? Didst ever see aught uglier +than a scald-head, with his beard plucked out? Knowest thou not +that the beard is to men as the side-locks to women; and what +is the difference between the chin and the cheek? Knowest thou +not that God (blessed and exalted be He) hath created an angel +in heaven, who saith, 'Glory be to Him who adorneth men with +beards and women with tresses?' So, were not the beard even as +the tresses in comeliness, it had not been coupled with them, O +silly woman! How shall I underlie a boy, who will be hasty with +me in emission and forestall me in flaccescence, and leave a +man, who, when he takes breath, clips close and when he enters, +goes leisurely, and when he has done, repeats, and when he +pushes, pushes hard, and as often as he withdraws, returns?" +The other was edified by her speech and said, "I forswear my +lover by the Lord of the Kaabeh!" + + + + + + THE HAUNTED HOUSE IN BAGHDAD. + + + +There lived once, in the city of Cairo, a merchant by name +Hassan the Jeweller of Baghdad, who had great store of wealth +in money and jewels and lands and houses beyond count. God +had blessed him with a son of perfect beauty and elegance, +rosy-cheeked, fair of face and well-shaped, whom he named Ali +of Cairo and taught the Koran and science and elocution and the +other branches of polite letters, till he became proficient +in all manner of knowledge and was under his father's hand +in trade. After awhile, Hassan fell sick and his sickness +increased upon him, till he made sure of death and calling his +son to him, said, 'O my son, verily this world passeth away; +but the next endureth for ever. Every soul must taste of death; +and now, O my son, my last hour is at hand and I desire to lay +on thee an injunction, which if thou observe, thou shalt abide +in peace and prosperity, till thou meet God the Most High; but +if thou follow it not, there shall befall thee weariness galore +and thou wilt repent of having transgressed my admonitions.' 'O +my father,' replied Ali, 'how shall I do other than hearken to +thee and do after thine enjoinder, seeing that I am bounden by +the law of God to obey thee and give ear to thy word?' 'O my +son,' rejoined his father, 'I leave thee lands and houses +and goods and wealth past count; wert thou each day to spend +thereof five hundred dinars, thou wouldst miss nought of it. +But, O my son, look that thou live in the fear of God and +follow His Chosen One (whom may He bless and preserve) in +what he is reported to have enjoined and forbidden in his +traditions. Be thou assiduous in good works and the practice of +beneficence and in consorting with men of worth and piety and +learning; and look that thou have a care for the poor and needy +and shun avarice and meanness and the converse of the wicked or +those of doubtful character. Look kindly upon thy servants and +family, and also upon thy wife, for she is of the daughters +of the notables and is with child by thee; belike God will +vouchsafe thee virtuous offspring by her.' And he went on to +exhort him thus, weeping and saying, 'O my son, I beseech God +the Bountiful, the Lord of the Empyrean, to deliver thee from +all straits that may betide thee and grant thee His speedy +relief!' + +His son wept sore and said, 'O my father, I am consumed by thy +words, for they are as the words of one that saith farewell.' +'Yes, O my son,' replied the merchant, 'I am ware of my +condition: forget thou not my enjoinder.' Then he fell to +repeating the professions of the Faith and reciting [verses of +the Koran], until the appointed hour arrived, when he said, +'Draw near unto me, O my son.' So Ali drew near and he kissed +him; then he sighed and his soul departed his body and he went +to the mercy of God the Most High. Therewith great grief fell +upon Ali; the noise of lamentation arose in his house and his +father's friends flocked to him. Then he betook himself to +preparing him for burial and made him a splendid funeral. They +bore him to the place of prayer and prayed over him, then to +the cemetery, where they buried him and recited over him what +was fitting of the Koran; after which they returned to the +house and condoled with the dead man's son and went each his +own way. Moreover, Ali prayed the Friday prayers for his father +and let make recitations of the whole Koran for the [accustomed] +space of forty days, during which time he abode in the house +and went not forth, save to the place of prayer; and every +Friday he visited his father's tomb. + +He ceased not from his prayers and devotions, till, at last, +his fellows of the sons of the merchants came in to him one +day and saluting him, said, 'How long wilt thou keep up this +thy mourning and neglect thy business and the company of +thy friends? Verily, this is a fashion that will bring thee +weariness, and thy body will suffer greatly for it.' Now, +when they came in to him, Iblis the accursed was with them, +prompting them, and they went on to press him to accompany them +to the bazaar, whilst Iblis incited him to consent to them, +till he yielded and went forth the house with them, that the +will of God (blessed and exalted be He) might be fulfilled. +'Mount thy mule,' quoth they, 'and ride with us to such a +garden, that we may divert us there and that thy grief and +melancholy may depart from thee.' So he mounted and taking his +slave, went with them to the garden in question, where they +entered, and one of them went and making ready the morning- +meal, brought it to them there. So they ate and made merry and +sat, talking, till the end of the day, when they mounted and +returned each to his own lodging, where they passed the night. +On the morrow, they said to Ali, 'Come with us.' 'Whither?' +asked he, and they answered, 'To such a garden; for it is +finer than the first and more pleasant.' So he went with them +to the garden, and one of them, going away, made ready the +morning-meal and brought it to them, together with strong wine; +and Ali said, 'What is this?' Quoth they, 'This is what dispels +grief and unveils gladness.' And they went on to commend it to +him, till they prevailed upon him and he drank with them. Then +they sat, drinking and talking, till the end of the day, when +each returned home. + +As for Ali, he was giddy with wine and went in, in this plight, +to his wife, who said to him, 'What ails thee?' Quoth he, 'We +were making merry to-day, when one of my companions brought us +liquor; so my friends drank and I with them, and this giddiness +came upon me.' 'O my lord,' said she, 'hast thou forgotten thy +fathers injunction and done that from which he forbade thee, in +consorting with lewd folk?' 'These are of the sons of the +merchants,' answered he; 'they are no lewd folk, only lovers of +mirth and good cheer.' And he continued to lead this life with +his friends, day after day, going from place to place and +feasting and drinking with them, till they said to him, 'Our +turns are ended, and now it is thy turn.' 'Welcome and fair +welcome!' answered he; so, on the morrow, he made ready all +that the case called for of meat and drink, double what they +had provided, and taking cooks and tent-pitchers and coffee- +makers, repaired with the others to Er Rauzeh[FN#197] and +the Nilometer, where they abode a whole month, eating and +drinking and hearing music and making merry. At the end of the +month, Ali found that he had spent a great sum of money; but +Satan the Accursed deluded him and said to him, 'Though thou +shouldst spend every day a like sum, yet would not thy wealth +fail.' So he took no account of expense and continued this way +of life three years, whilst his wife remonstrated with him and +reminded him of his father's injunctions; but he hearkened not +to her, till he had spent all his ready money, when he fell to +selling his jewels and spending their price, till they were all +gone. Then he sold his houses and lands and farms and gardens, +one after another, till they were all gone and he had nothing +left but the house in which he lived. So he tore out the marble +and wood-work and sold it and spent of its price, till he had +made an end of this also, when he bethought himself and finding +that he had nothing left to spend, sold the house itself and +spent the purchase-money. + +Presently, the man who had bought the house came to him and +said, 'Look thyself out a lodging, for I have need of my +house.' So he bethought himself and considering that he had +nothing requiring a house, except his wife, who had borne him a +son and daughter,--for he had not a servant left,--hired a room +in one of the mean lodging houses and there took up his abode, +after having lived in honour and luxury, with many servants and +much wealth, and came to lack of one day's bread. Quoth his +wife, 'I warned thee of this and exhorted thee to obey thy +father's injunction, and thou wouldst not hearken to me; but +there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the +Supreme! Whence shall the little ones eat? Arise, go round to +thy friends, the sons of the merchants: it may be they will +give thee somewhat on which we may live this day.' So he went +the round of his friends, one by one; but they all hid their +faces from him and gave him nothing but injurious and revolting +words; and he returned to his wife and said to her, 'They have +given me nothing.' Thereupon she went out to beg of her +neighbours wherewithal to sustain themselves and came to a +woman, whom she had known in former days. When she came in to +her and she saw her plight, she rose and receiving her kindly, +wept and said, 'What hath befallen thee?' So she told her of +her husband's conduct, and the other said, 'Welcome and fair +welcome! Whatever thou needest, seek it of me, without price.' +'May God abundantly requite thee!' answered she. Then her +friend gave her as much victual as would suffice herself and +her family a whole month, and she took it and returned to her +lodging. When her husband saw her, he wept and said, 'Whence +hadst thou that?' 'I got it of such a woman,' answered she; +'for, when I told her what had befallen us, she failed me not +in aught, but said, "Seek of me all thou needest."' 'Since thou +hast this,' rejoined her husband, 'I will betake myself to a +place I have in my mind; peradventure God the Most High will +bring us relief.' + +So saying, he took leave of her and kissing the children, went +out, not knowing whither he should go, and walked on till he +came to Boulac,[FN#198] where he saw a ship about to sail for +Damietta. Here he met a man, between whom and his father there +had been friendship; and he saluted him and said to him, +'Whither away?' 'To Damietta,' replied Ali; 'I have friends +there, whom I would fain enquire after and visit and return.' +The man took him home and entreated him hospitably, then, +furnishing him with victual [for the voyage] and giving him +somewhat of money, embarked him on board the vessel bound for +Damietta. When they reached that place, Ali landed, not knowing +where to go, but, as he was walking along, a merchant saw him +and had pity on him. So he carried him to his house, where he +abode awhile, till he said in himself, 'How long shall this +sojourning in other folks' houses last?' Then he left the +merchant's house and went down to the quay, where he saw a ship +ready to sail for Syria. His host provided him with victual and +embarked him in the ship; and it set sail and arrived, in due +course, at the coast of Syria, where he landed and journeyed +till he entered Damascus. As he walked about the town, a +benevolent man saw him and took him to his house, where he +abode awhile, till, one day, going abroad, he saw a caravan +about to start for Baghdad and bethought himself to journey +thither with it. So he returned to his host and taking leave of +him, set out with the caravan. + +Now God (blessed and exalted be He) inclined to him the heart +of one of the merchants, so that he took him with him, and Ali +ate and drank with him, till they came within one day's journey +of Baghdad, where a company of highwaymen fell upon the caravan +and took all they had. But few of the merchants escaped and +these made each for a [separate] place of refuge. As for Ali, +he made for Baghdad, where he arrived at sundown, as the +gatekeepers were about to shut the gates, and said to them +'Let me in with you.' So they admitted him and asked him +whence he came and whither he was bound. 'I am a man from +the city of Cairo,' replied he, 'and have with me mules laden +with merchandise and slaves and servants. I forewent them, to +look me out a place wherein to deposit my goods; but as I rode +along on my mule, there fell upon me a company of highway robbers, +who took my mule and gear; nor did I escape from them but at +the last gasp.' The warders entreated him hospitably and bade +him welcome, saying, 'Abide with us this night, and in the +morning we will look thee out a place befitting thee.' Then he +sought in his pocket and finding a dinar remaining of those he +had gotten of the merchant at Boulac, gave it to one of the +gatekeepers, saying, 'Take this and change it and bring us +something to eat.' The man took it and went to the market, +where he changed it and brought Ali bread and cooked meat. So +he ate, he and the gatekeepers, and he lay the night with them. + +On the morrow, one of the warders carried him to a merchant of +the town, to whom he told the same story, and he believed him, +deeming that he was a merchant and had with him loads of +merchandise. So he took him up into his shop and entreated him +with honour. Moreover, he sent to his house for a splendid suit +of his own apparel for him and carried him to the bath. So, +[quoth Ali], I went with him to the bath, and when we came out, +he brought me to his house, where he caused set the morning-meal +before us, and we ate and made merry. + +Then said he to one of his slaves, "Harkye, Mesoud, take this +thy lord and show him the two houses in such a place. Whichever +pleases him of them, give him the key of it and come back." So +I went with the slave, till we came to a place where stood +three houses, side by side, new and shut up. He opened the +first and the second, and I looked at them; after which he said +to me, "Of which of them shall I give thee the key?" "To whom +does yon large house belong?" asked I. "To us," answered he; +and I said, "Open it, that I may view it." Quoth he, "Thou hast +no call to it." "Wherefore?" asked I; and he, "Because it is +haunted, and none lodges there but in the morning he is a dead +man; nor do we use to open the door, to take out the corpse, +but mount the roof of one of the other two houses and take it +up thence. For this reason, my master has abandoned the house +and says, 'I will never again give it to any one.'" Quoth I, +"Open it, that I may view it;" and I said in myself, "This is +what I seek. I will pass the night there and in the morning be +a dead man and be at peace from this miserable plight of mine." +So he opened it and I entered and found it a splendid house, +without its like; and I said to the slave, "I will have none +other than this house; give me the key." But he answered, "I +will not give thee this key till I consult my master," and +going to the latter, said to him, "The Egyptian merchant saith, +'I will lodge in none but the great house.'" + +When the merchant heard this, he rose and coming to Ali, said +to him, 'O my lord, thou hast no need of this house.' But he +replied, 'I will lodge in none other than this; for I care +nothing for this saying.'[FN#199] 'Then,' said the other, +'write me an acknowledgment that, if aught happen to thee, I am +not responsible.' 'So be it,' answered Ali; whereupon the +merchant fetched an assessor from the Cadi's court and taking +of him the prescribed acknowledgment, delivered him the key, +which he took and entered the house. The merchant sent him +bedding by a slave, who spread it for him on the bench behind +the door and went away. Presently Ali went into the inner court +and seeing there a well with a bucket, let down the latter and +drew water, with which he made the ablution and prayed the +obligatory prayers. Then he sat awhile, till the merchant's +slave brought him the evening meal from his master's house, +together with a lamp, a candle and candlestick, a basin and +ewer and a gugglet; after which he left him and returned home. +Ali lighted the candle and supped at his ease and prayed the +evening prayer; after which he said to himself, 'Let us take +the bed and go upstairs and sleep there, rather than here.' So +he took the bed and carried it upstairs, where he found a +splendid saloon, with gilded ceiling and walls and floor of +variegated marble. He spread his bed there and sitting down, +began to recite somewhat of the sublime Koran, when suddenly he +heard one calling to him and saying, 'O Ali, O son of Hassan, +shall I send thee down the gold?' And he answered, 'Send away.' + +Hardly had he spoken, when pieces of gold began to rain down on +him, like [pebbles from] a mangonel, nor stinted till the +saloon was full. Then said the voice, 'Set me free, that I may +go my way; for I have made an end of my service and have +delivered unto thee that which was committed to me for thee.' +Quoth Ali, 'I adjure thee by the Most High God to tell me the +history of this gold.' 'This is a treasure that was enchanted +to thee of old time,' replied the voice; 'and to every one, who +entered the house, we used to come and say to him, "O Ali, O +son of Hassan, shall we send down the gold?" Whereat he would +be affrighted and cry out, and we would come down to him and +break his neck and go away. But, when thou camest and we +accosted thee by thy name and that of thy father, saying, +"Shall we send thee down the gold?" and thou madest answer, +saying, "Send away," we knew thee for the owner of it and sent +it down. Moreover, there is yet another treasure for thee in +the land of Yemen, whither thou wouldst do well to journey and +fetch it. And now I would have thee set me free, that I may go +my way.' 'By Allah,' said Ali, 'I will not set thee free, till +thou bring me hither the treasure from Yemen!' Quoth the voice, +'If I bring it thee, wilt thou release me and the servant of +the other treasure also?' 'Yes,' replied Ali; and the genie +said, 'Swear to me.' So he swore to him, and he was about to go +away, when Ali said to him, 'I have one other service to ask of +thee.' 'What is that?' asked the genie. Quoth Ali, 'I have a +wife and children at Cairo, in such a place; thou must fetch +them to me, at their ease and without hurt.' 'I will bring them +to thee in state,' answered the genie, 'in a litter, with a +train of slaves and servants, together with the treasure from +Yemen, if it be the will of God the Most High.' Then he took of +him leave of absence for three days, at the end of which time +all this should be with him, and departed. + +When it was morning, Ali went round about the saloon, seeking a +place wherein to lay the gold, and saw in the wall of the dais +a marble panel, with a knob in it. So he pressed the knob and +the panel slid back and discovered a door, which he opened and +entering, found a great closet, full of linen bags. So he took +out the bags and fell to filling them with gold and replacing +them in the closet, till he had transported thither the whole +treasure, whereupon he shut the door and pressing the knob, the +panel returned to its place. Then he went down and seated +himself on the bench behind the door. Presently, there came a +knock at the door; so he opened it and found the merchant's +slave, who, seeing him, returned in haste to his master with +the good tidings, saying, 'O my lord, the merchant, who is +lodged in the haunted house, is alive and well and sits on the +bench behind the door.' When the merchant heard this, he rose +joyfully and went to the house, taking breakfast with him; and +when he saw Ali, he embraced him and kissed him between the +eyes, saying, 'How hath God dealt with thee?' 'Right well,' +answered Ali. 'I slept upstairs in the marble saloon.' Quoth +the merchant, 'Did aught come to thee or didst thou see aught?' +'No,' replied Ali; 'I recited some little of the Koran and +slept till morning, when I arose and after making the ablution +and praying, came down and seated myself on the bench behind +the door.' 'Praised be God for safety!' exclaimed the merchant, +then left him and presently sent him slaves and servants, black +and white and male and female, with furniture. They swept the +house from top to bottom and furnished it magnificently, after +which three black slaves and the like number of white and four +slave-girls abode with him, to serve him, and the rest returned +to their master's house. When the merchants heard of him, they +sent him presents of all manner of things of price, even to +meat and drink and clothes, and took him with them in the +market, saying, 'When will thy baggage arrive?' And he answered, +'After three days it will come.' + +Accordingly, when the three days had elapsed, the servant of +the first treasure came to him and said, 'Go forth and meet thy +harem, together with the treasure I have brought thee from +Yemen, part of which is by way of costly merchandise; but the +slaves, black and white, and the horses and camels and mules +are all of the Jinn. (Now the genie, when he betook himself to +Cairo, found Ali's wife and children in sore straits for +nakedness and hunger; so he carried them forth of the town in a +travelling-litter and clad them in sumptuous raiment of that +which was in the treasure of Yemen.) When Ali heard this, he +rose and repairing to the merchants, said to them, 'Come, go +forth the city with me, to meet the caravan, with my merchandise, +and honour me with the presence of your harems, to meet my +harem.' 'We hear and obey,' answered they and sending for +their harems, went forth all together and alighted in one +of the gardens without the city. As they sat talking, behold, a +cloud of dust arose out of the heart of the desert, and they +came out to see what it was. Presently, it lifted and discovered +mules and muleteers and tent-pitchers and linkmen, who came on, +singing and dancing, till they reached the garden, when the +chief of the muleteers came up to Ali and kissing his hand, +said to him, 'O my lord, we have been long on the way, for +we thought to enter some days ago; but we were in fear of +the highway-robbers, so abode in our station four days, till +God the Most High rid us of them.' + +Then the merchants mounted their mules and rode forward with +the caravan, wondering at the [number of] mules laden with +chests, whilst their harems followed them, with Ali's harem, +marvelling at the richness of the apparel of his wife and +children and saying to each other, 'Verily, the King of Baghdad +hath no such raiment, no, nor any other of the kings or +merchants or notables.' So they entered Baghdad in great state +and rode on till they came to Ali's house, where they alighted +and brought the mules and their burdens into the midst of the +courtyard. Then they unloaded them and laid up the goods in the +storehouses, whilst the merchants' wives went up with Ali's +family to the saloon, which they found as it were a luxuriant +garden, spread with magnificent furniture. They sat in mirth +and good cheer till noon, when they brought them up the noon +meal, of all manner meats and sweetmeats of the best; and +they ate and drank costly sherbets and perfumed themselves +thereafter with rose-water and scented woods. Then they took +leave and departed, men and women. When the merchants returned +home, they all sent presents to Ali, according to their +conditions; and their wives likewise sent presents to his wife, +so that there came to them great plenty of slaves, black and +white and male and female, and store of all manner goods, such +as grain and sugar and so forth, beyond count. As for the +landlord of the house, he abode with Ali and quitted him not, +but said to him, 'Let the slaves and servants take the mules +and the other cattle into one of my other houses, to rest.' +Quoth Ali, 'They set out again to-night for such a place.' Then +he gave them leave to go forth the city, that they might set +out on their journey at nightfall; whereupon they took leave of +him forthright and departing the city, flew off through the air +to their several abodes. + +Ali and the merchant sat together till a third of the night +was past, when the latter returned to his own house and Ali +went up to his wife and children and greeted them, saying, +'What hath befallen you all this time?' So she told him what +they had suffered of hunger and nakedness and toil, and he +said, 'Praised be God for safety! How did ye come?' 'O my lord,' +answered she, 'I was asleep, with my children, yesternight, +when suddenly one raised us from the ground and carried us +through the air, without doing us any hurt, nor did he give +over flying with us, till he set us down in a place as it were +a Bedouin camping-place, where we saw laden mules and a litter +borne upon two great mules, and round them servants, boys and +men. So I said to them, "Who are ye and what are these loads +and where are we?" And they answered, "We are the servants of +the merchant Ali ibn Hassan of Cairo, who has sent us to fetch +you to him at Baghdad." Quoth I, "Is it far or near, hence to +Baghdad?" "Near," answered they; "there lies but the darkness +of the night between us and the city." Then they mounted us in +the litter, and on the morrow, we found ourselves with thee, +without having suffered any hurt. 'Who gave you these clothes?' +asked he, and she said, 'The chief of the caravan opened one of +the chests on the mules and taking out the clothes, clad me and +the children each in a suit; after which he locked the chest +and gave me the key, saying, "Take care of it, till thou give +it to thy husband." And here it is, safe.' So saying, she gave +him the key, and he said, 'Dost thou know the chest?' 'Yes,' +answered she. So he took her down to the magazine and she +pointed it out, whereupon he put the key in the lock and opened +the chest, in which he found much raiment and the keys of all +the other chests. So he took them out and fell to opening the +other chests, one after another, and feasting his eyes upon the +jewels and precious metals they contained, whose like was not +found with any of the kings; after which he locked them again +and took the keys, saying to his wife, 'This is of the bounty +of God the Most High.' + +Then he returned with her to the saloon and bringing her to the +secret panel, pressed the knob and opened the door of the +closet into which he entered with her and showed her the gold +he had laid up there. Quoth she, 'Whence hadst thou all this?' +'It came to me by the grace of my Lord,' answered he and told +her all that had befallen him, from first to last. 'O my lord,' +said she, 'all this comes of the blessing of thy father's +prayers, whenas he prayed for thee, before his death, saying, +"I beseech God to cast thee into no strait, except He bring +thee speedy deliverance [therefrom]!" So praised be God the +Most High for that He hath brought thee relief and hath +requited thee with more than thou didst lose! But God on thee, +O my lord, return not to thy sometime fashion and companying +with folk of lewd life; but look thou fear God the Most High, +both in public and private!' And she went on to admonish him. +Quoth he, 'I accept thine admonition and beg God the Most High +to remove the wicked from us and stablish us in His obedience +and in the observance of the law of His Prophet, on whom be +peace and salvation!' + +Ali and his wife and children were now in all delight of life and +gladness; and he opened him a shop in the merchants' bazaar and +stocking it with jewels and precious metals, sat therein with +his children and servants. He soon became the most considerable +of the merchants of Baghdad, and his report reached the King of +that city, who sent a messenger to command his attendance. So +he took four trays of red gold and filling them with jewels and +precious metals, such as no king possessed, went up to the +palace and presenting himself before the prince, kissed the +earth before him and wished him continuance of glory and +prosperity, in the best words he could command. 'O merchant,' +said the King, 'thou honourest our city with thy presence;' +and Ali rejoined, saying, 'O King of the age, thy slave hath +brought thee a present and hopes for acceptance thereof from +thy favour.' So saying, he laid the four trays before the King, +who uncovered them and seeing that they contained jewels, +whose like he possessed not and whose worth equalled treasuries +of money, said, 'O merchant, thy present is accepted, and so +God please, we will requite thee with its like.' And Ali kissed +his hands and went away. Then the King called his grandees +and said to them, 'How many kings have sought my daughter in +marriage?' 'Many,' answered they. 'Hath any of them given me +the like of this gift?' asked he. 'Not one,' replied they; +'for that none of them hath its like;' and he said, 'I have +consulted God the Most High,[FN#200] as to marrying my daughter +to this merchant. What say ye?' 'Be it as thou deemest,' +answered they. Then he bade the eunuch carry the four trays +into his harem and going in to his wife, laid them before +her. She uncovered them and seeing therein that whose like +she possessed not,--no, nor a fraction thereof,--said to him, +'Of which of the kings hadst thou these? Peradventure of +one of those that seek our daughter in marriage?' 'Not so,' +answered he, 'I had them of an Egyptian merchant, who is lately +come to our city. I heard tell of him and sent to command him +to us, thinking to make his acquaintance, so haply we might +find with him somewhat of jewels and buy them of him for our +daughter's equipment. He obeyed the summons and brought us +these four trays, as a present, and I saw him to be a handsome +and elegant young man[FN#201] of dignified aspect and accomplished +wit, well-nigh as he were of the sons of the kings. Wherefore my +heart inclined to him and I rejoiced in him and thought to marry +my daughter to him.' Then he told her what had passed between +himself and his grandees on the subject and added, 'But what +sayst thou?' 'O King of the age,' answered she, 'the affair +is in God's hand, and thine, and what God willeth shall come +to pass.' 'If it be His will,' rejoined the King, 'I will marry +her to none other than this young man.' + +So, on the morrow, he went out to his Divan and sending for Ali +and the rest of the merchants of Baghdad, bade them be seated. +Then he summoned the Cadi of the Divan and said to him, 'O +Cadi, draw up the contract of marriage between my daughter and +the merchant Ali of Cairo.' But the latter said, 'Thy pardon, O +our lord the Sultan! It befits not that a merchant, such as I, +be the King's son-in-law.' Quoth the King, 'It is my will to +bestow this favour upon thee, as well as the Vizierate.' And he +invested him forthwith in the Vizier's habit. Then Ali sat down +in the seat of the Vizierate and said, 'O King of the age, thou +hast bestowed on me this; and indeed I am honoured by thy +bounties; but hear one word from me.' 'Say on,' answered the +King, 'and fear not.' Quoth Ali, 'Since it is thine august will +to marry thy daughter, thou wouldst do better to marry her to +my son.' 'Hast thou then a son?' asked the King; and Ali +replied, 'Yes.' 'Send for him forthright,' said the King; +whereupon, 'I hear and obey,' answered Ali and sent a servant +to fetch his son, who came and kissing the ground before the +King, stood in an attitude of respect. The King looked at him +and seeing him to be yet comelier than his daughter and +goodlier than she in symmetry and brightness and perfection, +said to him, 'O my son, what is thy name?' 'O our lord the +Sultan,' replied the young man, who was then fourteen years +old, 'my name is Hassan.' Then the Sultan said to the Cadi, +'Write the contract of marriage between my daughter Husn el +Wujoud and Hassan, son of the merchant Ali of Cairo.' So he +wrote the contract of marriage between them, and the affair was +ended on the goodliest wise; after which all in the Divan went +their ways and the merchants escorted the Vizier Ali to his +house, where they gave him joy of his advancement and departed. +Then he went in to his wife, who, seeing him clad in the +Vizier's habit, exclaimed, 'What is this?' So he told her all +that had passed, and she rejoiced therein with an exceeding +joy. + +On the morrow, he went up to the Divan, where the King received +him with especial favour and seating him beside himself, said +to him, 'O Vizier, we purpose to celebrate the wedding festivities +and bring thy son in to our daughter.' 'O our lord the Sultan,' +replied Ali, 'that thou deemest good is good.' So the Sultan +gave orders for the festivities, and they decorated the city +and held high festival thirty days, in all cheer and gladness; +at the end of which time, the Vizier Ali's son Hassan went +in to the princess and enjoyed her beauty and grace. When +the queen saw her daughter's husband, she conceived a warm +affection for him, and in like manner she rejoiced greatly in +his mother. Then the King bade build his son-in-law a palace +beside his own; so they built him with all speed a splendid +palace, in which he took up his abode; and his mother used to +abide with her son some days and then return to her own house. +After awhile, the queen said to her husband, 'O King of the +age, Hassan's mother cannot take up her abode with her son and +leave the Vizier; neither can she abide with her husband and +leave her son.' 'Thou sayst sooth,' replied the King and bade +build a third palace beside the two others, which being done in +a few days, he caused remove thither the Vizier's goods, and +the latter and his wife took up their abode there. Now the +three palaces communicated with one another, so that, when the +King had a mind to speak with the Vizier by night, he would go +to him or send to fetch him; and so with Hassan and his father +and mother. + +They dwelt thus in the greatest happiness and contentment awhile, +till the King fell ill and his sickness increased on him. So he +summoned the grandees of his realm and said to them, 'There is +come upon me a sore sickness, peradventure a mortal one, and I +have therefore summoned you to consult you respecting a certain +matter, on which I would have you counsel me as you deem well.' +'What is the matter of which thou wouldst take counsel with us, +O King?' asked they; and he answered, 'I am old and sickly and +I fear for the realm, after me, from the enemies; so I would +have you all agree upon some one, that I may proclaim him king +in my lifetime and so ye may be at ease.' Whereupon quoth they +all, 'We all approve of thy son-in-law Hassan, son of the +Vizier Ali; for we have seen the perfectness of his wit and +understanding, and he knows the rank of all, great and small. + +'Are ye indeed agreed upon this?' asked the King, and they +answered, 'Yes.' 'Peradventure,' quoth he, 'ye say this to my +face, of respect for me; but, behind my back, ye will say +otherwise.' But they all answered, saying, 'By Allah, our word, +in public and in private, is one, varying not; and we accept +him frankly and with all our hearts.' 'Since the case is thus,' +said the King, 'bring the Cadi of the Holy Law and all the +chamberlains and captains and officers of state before me +to-morrow, and we will settle the affair on the goodliest +wise.' 'We hear and obey,' answered they and withdrawing, +notified all the doctors of the law and the chief Amirs. + +So, on the morrow, they came up to the Divan and saluted the +King, who said to them, 'O Amirs of Baghdad, whom will ye have +to be king over you after me, that I may invest him in my +lifetime, in the presence of you all?' Quoth they all, 'We are +agreed upon thy daughter's husband, Hassan, son of the Vizier +Ali.' 'If it be so,' said the King, 'go all of you and bring +him before me.' So they all arose and repairing to Hassan's +palace, said to him, 'Come with us to the King.' 'Wherefore?' +asked he, and they answered, 'For a thing that will advantage +both us and thee.' So he went in with them to the King and +kissed the ground before the latter, who bade him be seated and +said to him, 'O Hassan, all the Amirs have approved of thee and +agreed to make thee king over them after me; and it is my +purpose to proclaim thee, whilst I yet live, and so make an end +of the business.' But Hassan arose and kissing the earth once +more before the King, said to him, 'O our lord the King, among +the Amirs there be [many] who are older than I and greater of +worth; hold me quit therefore of this thing.' Quoth all the +Amirs, 'We consent not but that thou be king over us.' Then +said Hassan, 'My father is older than I, and he and I are one +thing; and it befits not to advance me over him.' But Ali +said, 'I will consent to nothing but what is pleasing to my +brethren; and they have all chosen and agreed upon thee. +Wherefore gainsay thou not the King's commandment and that +of thy brethren.' And Hassan hung his head in abashment before +the King and his father. Then said the King to the Amirs, 'Do +ye all accept of him?' 'We do,' answered they and recited +thereupon seven Fatihehs.'[FN#202] So the King said to the +Cadi, 'Draw up a legal act testifying of these Amirs that they +are agreed to make my daughter's husband Hassan king over +them.' So the Cadi wrote the act and made it executory,[FN#203] +after they had all taken the oath of fealty to Hassan. Then the +King invested him with the insignia of royalty and bade him +take his seat on the throne; whereupon they all arose and +kissed King Hassan's hands and did homage to him. + +The new king dispensed justice among the people that day, in +right royal fashion, and invested the grandees of the realm in +splendid robes of honour. When the Divan broke up, he went in +to his father-and-law and kissed his hands; and the old King +said to him, 'O my son, look thou govern the people in the fear +of God.' 'O my father,' replied Hassan, 'through thy prayers +for me, the grace of God will come to me.' Then he entered his +own palace and was met by his wife and her mother and their +attendants, who kissed his hands and gave him joy of his +advancement, saying, 'This is a blessed day.' Then he went in +to his father and mother, who rejoiced with an exceeding joy in +that which God had vouchsafed him of his advancement to the +kingship, and his father exhorted him to the fear of God and to +affectionate solicitude in his dealings with his subjects. He +passed the night in joy and gladness, and on the morrow, having +prayed the appointed prayers, concluding with the customary +recitation of part of the Koran, he repaired to the Divan, +whither came all his officers and dignitaries. He passed the +day in dispensing justice among his subjects, enjoining to +beneficence and forbidding from iniquity and appointing and +displacing, till nightfall, when the Divan broke up, after the +goodliest fashion, and all present withdrew and went each his +own way. Then he arose and went in to the palace, where he +found his father-in-law's sickness grown heavy upon him and +said to him, 'May no hurt befall thee!' At this the old King +opened his eyes and said, 'O Hassan!' 'At thy service, O my +lord,' replied the young man. Quoth the old King, 'My last hour +is at hand: be careful of thy wife and her mother and look +thou fear God and honour thy parents, being still in awe of +the majesty of the Requiting King and remembering that He +commandeth to justice and beneficence.' And Hassan replied, +'I hear and obey.' + +The old King lingered three days after this and was then +received into the mercy of God the Most High. They paid him +the last offices and buried him and held over him readings and +recitations of the Koran, to the end of the [customary] forty +days. And King Hassan, son of the Vizier, reigned in his stead, +and his subjects rejoiced in him and all his days were gladness. +Moreover, his father ceased not to be his chief Vizier on his +right hand, and he took to himself another Vizier, to be at his +left hand. His reign was a prosperous one and he abode long +King in Baghdad. God blessed him, by the old King's daughter, +with three sons, who inherited the kingdom after him; and they +abode in the enjoyment of all delight and solace of life, till +there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer +of Companies. And glory be to Him who is eternal and in whose +hand are annulment and confirmation! + + + + + + THE PILGRIM AND THE OLD WOMAN WHO DWELT + IN THE DESERT. + + + +A man of the pilgrims once slept a long sleep and awaking, +found no trace of the caravan. So he arose and walked on, but +lost his way and presently came to a tent, at whose door he saw +an old woman and a dog by her, asleep. He went up to the tent +and saluting the old woman, sought of her food. 'Go to yonder +valley,' said she, 'and catch thy sufficiency of serpents, that +I may broil of them for thee and give thee to eat.' 'I dare not +catch serpents,' answered the pilgrim; 'nor did I ever eat +them.' Quoth the old woman, 'I will go with thee and catch +them; fear not.' So she went with him, followed by the dog, to +the valley, and catching a sufficient number of serpents, +proceeded to broil them. He saw nothing for it but to eat, for +fear of hunger and exhaustion; so he ate of the serpents. + +Then he was athirst and asked for water to drink. 'Go to the +spring and drink,' answered she. So he went to the spring and +found the water thereof bitter; yet needs must he drink of it, +for all its bitterness, because of the violence of his thirst. +Then he returned to the old woman and said to her, 'O old +woman, I marvel at thy choosing to abide in this place and +putting up with such meat and drink!' 'And how is it then in +thy country?' asked she. 'In my country,' answered he, 'are +wide and spacious houses and ripe and delicious fruits and +sweet and abundant waters and goodly viands and fat meats and +plentiful flocks and all things pleasant and all the goods of +life, the like whereof are not, save in the Paradise that God +the Most High hath promised to His pious servants.' 'All this,' +replied she, 'have I heard: but tell me, have you a Sultan who +ruleth over you and is tyrannical in his rule and under whose +hand you are, who, if one of you commit a fault, taketh his +goods and undoth him and who, when he will, turneth you out of +your houses and uprooteth you, stock and branch?' 'Indeed, that +may be,' answered the man. 'Then, by Allah,' rejoined she, +'these your delicious viands and dainty life and pleasant +estate, with tyranny and oppression, are but a corroding +poison, in comparison wherewith, our food and fashion, with +freedom and safety, are a healthful medicine. Hast thou not +heard that the best of all boons, after the true Faith, are +health and security?' + +Now these[FN#204] [quoth he who tells the tale] may be by the +just rule of the Sultan, the Vicar of God in His earth, and the +goodness of his policy. The Sultan of times past needed but +little awfulness, for that, when the people saw him, they +feared him; but the Sultan of these days hath need of the most +accomplished policy and the utmost majesty, for that men are +not as men of time past and this our age is one of folk +depraved and greatly calamitous, noted for folly and hardness +of heart and inclined to hatred and enmity. If, therefore, the +Sultan that is set over them be (which God the Most High +forfend) weak or lack of policy and majesty, without doubt, +this will be the cause of the ruin of the land. Quoth the +proverb, 'A hundred years of the Sultan's tyranny, rather than +one of the tyranny of the people, one over another.' When the +people oppress one another, God setteth over them a tyrannical +Sultan and a despotic King. Thus it is told in history that +there was, one day, presented to El Hejjaj ben Yousuf[FN#205] a +docket, in which was written, 'Fear God and oppress not His +servants with all manner of oppression.' When he read this, he +mounted the pulpit, (for he was ready of speech,) and said, 'O +folk' God the Most High hath set me over you, by reason of your +[evil] deeds; and though I die, yet will ye not be delivered +from oppression, with your evil deeds; for God the Most High +hath created many like unto me. If it be not I, it will be a +more fertile than I in mischief and a mightier in oppression +and a more strenuous in violence, even as saith the poet: + +For no hand is there but the hand of God is over it And no + oppressor but shall be with worse than he oppress. + +Tyranny is feared: but justice is the best of all things. We +beg God to better our case.' + + + + + + ABOULHUSN AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL TAWEDDUD. + + + +There was once in Baghdad a man of rank and rich in money and +houses and lands, who was one of the chiefs of the merchants, +and God had largely endowed him with worldly goods, but had +not vouchsafed him what he longed for of offspring; and there +passed over him a long space of time, without his being blessed +with children, male or female. His years waxed great, his bones +became wasted and his back bent, and weakness and trouble +increased on him, and he feared the loss of his wealth and +possessions, seeing he had no child, whom he might make his +heir and by whom he should be remembered. So he betook himself +with supplication to God the Most High, fasting by day and +rising by night [to pray]. Moreover, he made vows to God the +Living, the Eternal, and visited the pious and was instant in +supplication to the Most Migh, till He gave ear to him and +accepted his prayer and took pity on his striving and complaining; +so that, before many days were past, he lay with one of his women +and she became with child by him the same night. She accomplished +the months of her pregnancy and casting her burden, bore a male +child as he were a piece of the moon; whereupon the merchant, +in his gratitude to God, (to whom belong might and majesty,) +fulfilled his vows and gave alms and clothed the widow and the +orphan. + +On the seventh night after the boy's birth, he named him +Aboulhusn, and the wet-nurses suckled him and the dry-nurses +dandled him and the slaves and servants carried him, till he +grew up and throve and learnt the sublime Koran and the +ordinances of Islam and the things of the True Faith. Moreover, +he learned writing and poetry and mathematics and archery and +became the pearl of his age and the goodliest of the folk of +his time and his day, fair of face and fluent of tongue, +bearing himself with a proud and graceful port and glorying in +his symmetry and amorous grace. His cheeks were red and his +forehead white and brilliant and the tender down of the +whiskers darkened upon his face, even as saith one, describing +him: + +The Spring of the down on his cheeks to the eye shows clear; + And how shall the rose endure, after Spring is here? +Dost thou not see that the growth on his cheek, forsooth, A + violet is, that forth of its leaves doth peer? + +He abode awhile with his father, in the best of case, and the +latter rejoiced and delighted in him, till he came to man's +estate, when the merchant one day made him sit down before him +and said to him, 'O my son, the appointed term draws near; my +last hour is at hand and it remains but to meet God (to whom +belong might and majesty). I leave thee what shall suffice +thee, even to thy son's son, of money and farms and houses and +gardens; wherefore, O my son, fear thou God the Most High in +[dealing with] that which I leave thee and follow none but +those who will help thee [in this].' Not long after, he +sickened and died; so his son ordered his funeral, after the +goodliest fashion, and burying him, returned to his house and +sat mourning for him [many] days and nights, till certain of +his friends came in to him and said to him, 'Whoso leaveth the +like of thee after him is not dead; indeed, what is past is +past and mourning beseemeth none but girls and cloistered +women.' And they ceased not from him, till they wrought on him +to enter the bath and break off his mourning. Then he forgot +his father's injunctions, and his head was turned by his +riches; he thought fortune would still abide with him, as it +was, and that wealth would never come to an end. So he ate and +drank and made merry and took his pleasure and gave gifts of +money and raiment and was profuse with gold and gave himself up +to eating fowls and breaking the seals of wine-flasks and +listening to songs and to the laugh of the wine, as it gurgled +from the flagon; nor did he give over this way of life, till +his wealth was wasted and the case became straitened [upon him] +and he bit his hands [for repentance] and gone was all he had. + +In good sooth, he had nothing left, after that which he had +squandered, but a slave-girl that his father had bequeathed to +him with the rest of his estate: her name was Taweddud and she +had no equal in beauty and grace and brightness and symmetry +and all perfection. She was past mistress in all manner of arts +and accomplishments and endowed with [many] excellences, +surpassing all the folk of her age and time. She was grown more +notorious than a way-mark,[FN#206] for the versatility of her +genius, and outdid the fair both in theory and practice and +elegant and flexile grace, more by token that she was five feet +high and in conjunction with fair fortune, with strait arched +brows, as they were the crescent moon of Shaaban,[FN#207] and +eyes like those of gazelles, nose like the point of the sabre +and cheeks like blood-red anemones, mouth like Solomon's seal +and teeth like necklaces of pearls, navel holding an ounce of +benzoin ointment and waist more slender than his body whom love +hath wasted and whom concealment [of his passion] hath made +sick, and buttocks heavier than two hills of sand; brief, in +all she answered to the saying of him who says: + +Her fair shape ravisheth, if face to face she did appear, And + if she turn, for severance from her she slayeth sheer. +Sun-like, full-moon-like, sapling-like, unto her character + Estrangement nowise appertains nor cruelty austere. +Under the bosom of her shift the garths of Eden are, and the + full-moon revolveth still upon her neck-rings' sphere. + +She seemed [at once] a rising full moon and a browsing gazelle, +a girl of nine and five,[FN#208] putting to shame the moon and +the sun, even as saith of her the eloquent and ingenious poet: + +The likeness of the full-moon, faring o'er The heavens, five + and five and after four; +'Tis not my fault, if she have made of me Its likeness, when it + first in heaven doth soar. + +White of skin, odoriferous of breath, it seemed as if she were +[at once] fashioned of fire and moulded of crystal; rose-red +was the cheek of her and perfect her shape and figure; even as +saith of her one, describing her: + + +Scented with sandal and musk, right proudly doth she go, With + gold and silver and rose and saffron-colour aglow. +A flower in a garden she is, a pearl in an ouch of gold Or an + image in chapel set for worship of high and low. +Slender and shapely she is; vivacity bids her arise, But the + weight of her hips says, "Sit, or softly and slowly go." +Whenas her favours I seek and sue for my heart's desire, "Be + gracious," her beauty says; but her coquetry answers, + "No." +Glory to Him who made beauty her portion, and that Of her lover + to be the prate of the censurers, heigho! + +Indeed, she captivated all who saw her, with the excellence of +her beauty and the sweetness of her smile, and transpierced +them with the arrows she launched from her eyes; and withal she +was eloquent of speech and excellently skilled in poetry. + +When Aboulhusn had squandered all his wealth and there remained +to him nought but this slave-girl, when [I say] the wretchedness +of his plight became manifest to him, he abode three days +without tasting food or taking rest in sleep, and Taweddud +said to him, 'O my lord, carry me to the Khalif Haroun er +Reshid, fifth of the sons of Abbas, and seek of him ten thousand +dinars to my price. If he deem me dear at this price, say to +him, "O Commander of the Faithful, my slave is worth more +than this: do but prove her, and her value will be magnified +in thine eyes, for she hath not her equal, and it were unfit +that any but thou should possess her." And beware, O my lord, +of selling me for less than the sum I have named, for it is +but little for the like of me.' (Now Aboulhusn knew not her +worth nor that she had no equal in her day.) So he carried +her to the Khalif, to whom he repeated what she had bidden +him say, and the Khalif said to her, 'What is thy name?' +'Taweddud,' answered she. 'O Taweddud,' asked he, 'in what +branches of knowledge dost thou excel?' 'O my lord,' answered +she, 'I am versed in syntax and poetry and jurisprudence and +exegesis and lexicography and music and the knowledge of the +Divine ordinances and in arithmetic and geodesy and the fables +of the ancients. I know the sublime Koran [by heart] and have +read it according to the seven and the ten and the fourteen +[modes]. I know the number of its chapters and verses and +sections and words and letters and its halves and fourths +and eighths and tenths, the number of acts of adoration, +that occur in it, and what there is in it of cancelling and +cancelled;[FN#209] also what parts of it were revealed at +Medina and what at Mecca and the manner of the different +revelations. I know the Holy Traditions, their history and +variants and the manner of their recitation and interpretation, +together with those of them whose chain of descent is unbroken +and those for which it is broken; and I have studied the exact +sciences, geometry and philosophy and medicine and logic +and rhetoric and composition; and I know many things and am +passionately fond of poetry. I can play the lute and know its +gamut and notation and so forth. If I sing and dance, I ravish, +and if I adorn and perfume myself, I slay. In fine, I have +reached a pitch of perfection such as can only be estimated by +those who are stablished in knowledge.'[FN#210] + +When the Khalif heard her words, he wondered at them and at the +eloquence of her speech, seeing the tenderness of her age, and +turning to Aboulhusn, said to him, 'I will summon those who +shall examine her in all she lays claim to; if she answer +[correctly,] I will give thee the price thou askest for her and +more; and if not, thou art fitter to [possess] her [than I].' +'With all my heart, O Commander of the Faithful,' replied +Aboulhusn. So the Khalif wrote to the Viceroy of Bassora, to +send him Ibrahim ben Siyyar the poet, who was the first man of +his day in argument and eloquence and poetry and logic, and +bade him bring with him readers of the Koran and doctors of the +law and physicians and astrologers and sages and geometricians +and philosophers; and Ibrahim was more learned than all. In a +little while they all arrived at the Khalif's palace, knowing +not what was to do, and the latter sent for them to his +sitting-chamber and bade them be seated. So they sat down and +he bade fetch the damsel Taweddud, who came and unveiling, +showed herself, as she were a sparkling star. The Khalif caused +set her a stool of gold; and she saluted and speaking with an +eloquent tongue, said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, bid the +learned men present contend with me in argument.' So he said to +them, 'I desire of you that ye dispute with this damsel on the +things of her faith and make void her argument, in all she +avoucheth;' and they answered, saying, 'We hear and obey God +and thee, O Commander of the Faithful.' + +Thereupon Taweddud bowed her head and said, 'Which of you is +the doctor of the law, the scholar, versed in the interpretation +of the Koran and in the Traditions?' Quoth one of them, 'I am +the man thou seekest.' 'Then,' said she, 'ask me of what thou +wilt.' Quoth the doctor, 'Hast thou read the precious book of +God and dost thou know its abrogating and abrogated parts and +hast thou meditated its verses and expressions?' 'Yes,' answered +she. 'Then,' said he, 'I will proceed to question thee of the +obligatory ordinances and the immutable institutions: so tell +me of these, O damsel, and who is thy Lord, who thy prophet, +and who thy brethren. Also, what is thy [point of] fronting +[in prayer], what thine exemplar, what thy path and what thy +highway?' 'Allah is my Lord,' replied she, 'and Mohammed (whom +God bless and preserve) my prophet and the true-believers are my +brethren. The Koran is my exemplar and the Kaabeh my [point of] +fronting; the practice of good is my path and the Sunneh[FN#211] +my highway.' (Q.) 'With what do we know God the Most High?' +(A.) 'With the understanding.' (Q.) 'And what is the understanding?' +(A.) 'It is of two kinds, natural and acquired. The first is that +which God (to whom belong might and majesty) bestoweth on whom He +will of His servants; and the other is that which men acquire +by dint of study and fair knowledge.' (Q.) 'Thou hast answered +well. Where is the seat of the understanding?' (A.) 'God casteth +it in the heart, whence its lustre ascendeth to the brain and +there becometh fixed.' (Q.) 'How knowest thou the Prophet of God?' +(A.) 'By the reading of God's Holy Book and by signs and proofs +and portents and miracles.' (Q.) 'What are the obligatory +ordinances and the immutable institutions?' (A.) 'The obligatory +ordinances are five in number. (1) Testification that there is no +god but God alone, that He hath no partner in divinity and that +Mohammed is His servant and His apostle. (2) The scrupulous +performance of the enjoined prayers. (3) The payment of the +poor-rate. (4) Fasting Ramazan. (5) The performance of the +Pilgrimage to God's Holy House [at Mecca] for all to whom it +is possible. The immutable institutions are four in number; to +wit, night and day and sun and moon, the which build up life and +hope, neither knoweth any son of Adam if they will be destroyed +on the Day of Judgment.' (Q.) 'What are the obligatory rites of +the Faith?' (A.) 'Prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage, +fighting for the Faith and abstinence from what is forbidden.' +(Q.) 'Why dost thou stand up to pray?' (A.) 'To express the +devout intent of the slave submitting himself to [or acknowledging] +the Divinity.' (Q.) 'What are the conditions precedent of standing +up to pray?' (A.) 'Purification, covering the privy parts, +the avoidance of soiled clothes, standing on a clean place, +fronting [the Kaabeh,] a standing posture, the intent[FN#212] +and the magnification of prohibition.'[FN#213] (Q.) 'With what +shouldest thou go forth thy house to pray? (A.) 'With an intent +of worship.'[FN#214] (Q.) 'With what intent shouldest thou +enter the mosque?' (A.) 'With an intent of service.'[FN#215] +(Q.) 'Why do we front the Kaabeh?' (A.) 'In obedience to three +Divine and one Traditional ordinance.' (Q.) 'What is the +commencement, the consecration and the dissolution [end] of +prayer?' (A.) 'Purification, the magnification of prohibition +and the salutation of the angels [concluding prayer].' (Q.) +'What of him who neglecteth prayer?' (A.) 'It is reported, +among the authentic (Traditions of the Prophet, that he said), +"He, who neglecteth prayer wilfully and without excuse, hath no +part in Islam."' (Q.) 'What is prayer?' (A.) 'Prayer is +communion between the slave and his Lord, and in it are ten +virtues, to wit, (1) it illumines the heart (2) makes the face +shine (3) pleases the Merciful One (4) angers Satan (5) +conjures calamity (6) wards off the mischief of enemies (7) +multiplies mercy (8) forfends vengeance [or punishment] (9) +brings the slave nigh unto [or in favour with] his Lord and +(10) restrains from lewdness and iniquity. It is one of the +written obligatory ordinances and the pillar of the Faith.' +(Q.) 'What is the key of prayer?' (A.) 'Ablution.' (Q.) 'What +is the key of ablution?' (A.) 'Nomination.'[FN#216] (Q.) 'That +of naming God?' (A.) 'Faith.' (Q.) 'That of Faith?' (A.) 'Trust +in God.' (Q.) 'That of trust in God?' (A.) 'Hope.' (Q.) 'That +of Hope?' (A.) 'Obedience.' (Q.) 'That of obedience?' (A.) 'The +confession of the unity and the acknowledgment of the divinity +of God.' (Q.) 'What are the Divine ordinances of ablution?' +(A.) 'They are six in number, according to the canon of the +Imam Es Shafi Mohammed ben Idris (of whom God accept) to wit, +(1) intent[FN#217] to wash the face (2) washing the face (3) +washing the hands and elbows (4) wiping part of the head (5) +washing the feet and heels and (6) observing the prescribed +order of ablution, whose statutes are ten in number, to wit, +(1) nomination (2) washing the hands before putting them into +the vase (3) rinsing the mouth (4) drawing up water through the +nostrils (5) wiping the whole head (6) washing the ears within +and without with fresh water (7) separating a thick beard (8) +separating the fingers and toes (9) washing the right foot +before the left and (10) doing each of these thrice and all in +unbroken succession. When the ablution is ended, the devotee +should (quoth Es Shafi[FN#218]) say, "I testify that there is +no god but God alone, who hath no partner, and that Mohammed is +His servant and apostle. O my God, make me of those who repent +and are made clean! Glory to Thee, O my God, and in Thy praise +I testify that there is no god but Thou! I crave pardon of +Thee and repent to Thee!" For it is reported, in the Holy +Traditions, that the Prophet (whom God bless and keep) said of +this prayer, "Whoso ensueth every ablution with this prayer, +the eight gates of Paradise are open to him; he shall enter at +which he pleases."' (Q.) 'When a man purposes to make the +ablution, what betides him from the angels and the devils?' +(A.) 'When a man prepares for ablution, the angels come and +stand on his right and the devils on his left hand. If he name +God, at the beginning of the ablution, the devils flee from him +and the angels hover over him with a pavilion of light, having +four ropes, to each an angel glorifying God and craving pardon +for him, so long as he remains silent or calls upon the name of +God. But if he omit to begin with naming God (to whom belong +might and majesty) neither remain silent, the angels depart +from him and the devils settle upon him and whisper evil +thoughts unto him, till he falls into doubt and comes short in +his ablution. For (quoth he on whom be blessing and salvation) +"A perfect ablution driveth away the devils and assureth +against the tyranny of the Sultan; and he who neglecteth the +ablution, if calamity befall him, let him blame none but +himself."' (Q.) 'What should a man do, when he awakes from +sleep?' (A.) 'He should wash his hands thrice, before putting +them into the vessel.' (Q.) 'What are the ordinances, Koranic +and Traditional, of complete ablution?'[FN#219] (A.) 'The +Koranic ordinances are intent and covering the whole body with +water, so that it shall come at every part of the hair and +skin. The Traditional, previous partial ablution [as before +prayer,] rubbing the body, separating the hair and deferring in +words[FN#220] the washing of the feet till the end of the +ablution.' (Q.) 'What are the reasons [or occasions] for making +the ablution with other than water, and what are the ordinances +thereof, Koranic and Traditional?'[FN#221] (A.) 'The reasons +are seven in number, to wit, lack of water, fear, need thereto, +going astray on a journey, sickness, having the bones [broken +and] in splints and wounds. As for its ordinances, the Koranic +are four in number, to wit, intent, dust, applying it to the +face and to the hands, and the Traditional two, to wit, +nomination and preferring the right before the left hand.' (Q.) +'What are the conditions, the essentials [or fundamentals] and +the Traditional statutes of prayer?' (A.) 'The conditions are +five in number, to wit, (1) purification of the members (2) +covering the privy parts (3) observing the proper hours, either +of certainty or to the best of one's belief, (4) fronting the +Kaabeh and (5) standing on a clean place. The essentials are +twelve in number, to wit, (1) intent (2) the magnification of +prohibition (3) standing at the proper distance one from +another (4) repeating the first chapter of the Koran and also +(according to the Shafiyites) saying, "In the name of God the +Merciful, the Compassionate!" a verse thereof (5) bowing the +body and tranquillity [or gravity] therein (6) keeping the feet +and legs still and in the same position, [whilst the rest of +the body moves], and tranquillity therein (7) prostration and +tranquillity therein (8) sitting between two prostrations and +tranquillity therein (9) repeating the latter profession of +the Faith and sitting up therefor (10) invoking benediction +on the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) (11) the first +Salutation[FN#222] and (12) the intent of making an end of +prayer, [expressed] in words. The Traditional statutes are +the call to prayer, the repetition of the words of the latter, +raising the hands to either side of the face, whilst pronouncing +the magnification of prohibition, pronouncing the magnification +before reciting the Fatiheh [First chapter of the Koran], +seeking refuge with God,[FN#223] saying "Amen," repeating +the (obligatory) chapter [of the Koran] after the Fatiheh, +repeating the magnifications during change of posture, saying, +"May God hear him who praiseth Him!" and "O our Lord, to Thee +be the praise!" uttering aloud the prayers in their places +and in like manner, under the breath, those so prescribed, +the first testification and sitting up thereto, blessing the +Prophet therein, blessing his family in the latter profession +[or testification] and the second Salutation.' (Q.) 'On what +is the poor-rate taxable?' (A.) 'On gold and silver and camels +and oxen and sheep and wheat and barley and millet and beans +and pulse and rice and raisins and dates.' (Q.) 'What is the +poor-rate on gold ?' (A.) 'Below twenty dinars, nothing; but, +on that amount and over, half a dinar for every score.' +(Q.) 'On silver?' (A.) 'Under two hundred dirhems, nothing; +then, five dirhems on every two hundred.' (Q.) 'On camels?' +(A.) 'For every five, an ewe, or for every twenty-five a +pregnant camel.' (Q.) 'On sheep?' (A.) 'On forty and over, an +ewe for every forty head.' (Q.) 'What are the ordinances of +the Fast [of Ramazan]?' (A.) 'The Koranic are intent,[FN#224] +abstinence from eating, drinking and copulation and stoppage of +vomiting. It is incumbent on all who submit to the Law, save +women in their courses and forty days after child-birth; and it +becomes obligatory on sight of the new moon or on news of its +appearance, brought by a trustworthy person and commending +itself as truth to the hearer's heart; and among its requisites +is that it be commenced by night.[FN#225] The Traditional +ordinances of fasting are, hastening to break the fast,[FN#226] +deferring the fore-dawn meal[FN#227] and abstaining from +speech, save for good works and for calling on the name of God +and reciting the Koran.' (Q.) 'What things vitiate not the +fast?' (A.) 'The use of unguents and eye-powders and the dust +of the road and the swallowing of one's spittle and the +emission of seed in dreams of dalliance or at the sight of a +strange woman and cupping and letting blood; none of these +things vitiates the fast.' (Q.) 'What are the prayers of the +two great [annual] Festivals?' (A.) 'Two one-bow prayers, after +the traditional ordinance, without call to prayer or the +repetition thereof by the devotee, who shall say, "Prayer is a +collector of all folk!"[FN#228] and pronounce the magnification +seven times in the first prayer, besides the magnification of +prohibition, and in the second, five times, besides that of +rising up, (according to the canon of the Imam Es Shafi, on +whom God have mercy) and make the profession of the Faith.' +(Q.) 'What are the prayers prescribed on the occasion of an +eclipse of the sun or moon?' (A.) 'Two one-bow prayers, without +call to prayer or repetition thereof by the devotee, who shall +make in each two standings up and two inclinations and two +prostrations, then sit up and testify and salute.' (Q.) 'What +is the ritual of prayer for rain?' (A.) 'Two one-bow prayers, +without call to prayer or repetition; then shall the devotee +make the profession and salute. Moreover [the Imam] shall +deliver an exhortation and (in place of the magnification, as +in the two exhortations of the two great Festivals) ask pardon +of God and reverse his mantle and pray and supplicate.' (Q.) +'What are the additional or occasional prayers?' (A.) 'The +least is a one-bow prayer and the most eleven.' (Q.) 'What +is the forenoon prayer?' (A.) 'At least, two one-bow prayers +and at most, twelve.' (Q.) 'What is the service of seclusion?' +[FN#229] (A.) 'It is a matter of Traditional ordinance.' +(Q.) 'What are its conditions?' (A.) '(1) Expression of intent +(2) not leaving the mosque save of necessity (3) not having +to do with a woman (4) fasting and (5) abstaining from speech.' +(Q.) 'Under what conditions is pilgrimage obligatory?' (A.) +'So a man be of full age and understanding and a true-believer +and it be possible to him; and it is obligatory [on all], once +before death.' (Q.) 'What are the Koranic statutes of the +pilgrimage?'' (A.) '(1) Assumption of the pilgrim's habit +(2) station at Arafat (3) compassing [the Kaabeh] (4) running +[between Sefa and Merweh[FN#230]] and (5) [previous] shaving +or clipping the hair.' (Q.) 'What are the Koranic statutes of +the lesser pilgrimage?' (A.) 'Reassuming the pilgrim's habit and +compassing and running [as before].' (Q.) 'What are the Koranic +ordinances of the assumption of the pilgrim's habit?' (A.) +'Putting off sewn garments, forswearing perfume and ceasing to +shave the head or cut the nails and avoiding the killing of +game and copulation.' (Q.) 'What are the Traditional statutes +of the pilgrimage?' (A.) '(1) The crying out, "Here I am, O our +Lord!"[FN#231] (2) the circuitings [about the Kaabeh] of +arrival [at] and departure [from Mecca] (3) the passing the +night at Muzdelifeh and Mina[FN#232] and (4) the stone-throwing.' +[FN#233] (Q.) 'What is the war in defence of the Faith and its +essentials?' (A.) 'Its essentials are (1) the descent of the +infidels upon us (2) the existence of the Imam[FN#234] (3) a +state of [armed] preparation and (4) firmness in meeting the +foe. Its ordinance is incital to battle, in that the Most High +hath said, "O my Prophet, incite the faithful to battle!"' +[FN#235] (Q.) 'What are the ordinances of buying and selling?' +(A.) 'The Koranic are (1) offer and acceptance and (2) if the +thing sold be a (white) slave, by whom one profiteth, to do +one's endeavour to convert him to Islam and (3) to abstain +from usury; the Traditional, resiliation and option before +separating, after the saying of the Prophet, "The parties +to a sale shall have the option [of cancelling or altering +the terms of a bargain,] whilst they are yet unseparated."' +(Q.) 'What is it forbidden to sell [or exchange] for what?' +(A.) 'On this point I mind me of an authentic tradition, +reported by Nafi[FN#236] of the Apostle of God, that he forbade +the sale of dried dates for fresh and fresh figs for dry and +jerked for fresh meat and cream for butter; in fine, of all +eatables of one and the same kind, it is unlawful to sell some +for other some.'[FN#237] When the professor heard her words +and knew that she was keen of wit, ingenious and learned in +jurisprudence and the Traditions and the interpretation of the +Koran and what not else, he said in himself, 'Needs must I go +about with her, that I may overcome her in the assembly of the +Commander of the Faithful.' So he said to her, 'O damsel, what +is the lexicographical meaning of the word wuzou?'[FN#238] +And she answered, 'Cleanliness and freedom from impurities.' +(Q.) 'And of prayer?' (A.) 'An invocation of good.' (Q.) 'And +of ghusl?'[FN#239] (A.) 'Purification.' (Q.) 'And of fasting?' +(A.) 'Abstention.' (Q.) 'And of zekat?'[FN#240] (A.) 'Increase.' +(Q.) 'And of pilgrimage?' (A.) 'Visitation [or quest].' (Q.) 'And +of jehad?'[FN#241] (A.) '[Endeavour in] repelling.' With this the +doctor's arguments were exhausted, so he rose to his feet and +said, 'Bear witness against me, O Commander of the Faithful, +that this damsel is more learned than I am in the Law. Quoth +she, 'I will ask thee somewhat, which do thou answer me +speedily, an thou be indeed a learned man.' 'Say on,' quoth he; +and she said, 'What are the arrows of the Faith?' 'They are ten +in number,' answered he; 'to wit, (1) Testification,[FN#242] +that is, religion (2) Prayer, that is, the Covenant (3) Alms, +that is, purification (4) Fasting, that is, defensive armour +(5) Pilgrimage, that is, the Law (6) Fighting for the Faith, +that is, a general duty (7) Enjoining to beneficence and (8) +Forbidding from iniquity, both of which are jealousy [for good] +(9) The communion of the faithful, that is, sociableness, and +(10) Seeking knowledge, that is, the praiseworthy way.' (Q.) +'What are the roots[FN#243] of Islam?' (A.) 'They are four +in number, to wit, sincerity of belief, truth of purpose, +observance of the limit [prescribed by the Law] and keeping the +Covenant.' Then said she, 'I have one more question to ask +thee, which if thou answer, [it is well]; else, I will take thy +clothes.' Quoth he, 'Speak, O damsel;' and she said, 'What are +the branches[FN#244] of Islam?' But he was silent and made no +reply; and she said, 'Put off thy clothes, and I will expound +them to thee.' Quoth the Khalif, 'Expound them, and I will make +him put off his clothes for thee.' 'They are two-and-twenty in +number,' answered she, 'to wit, (1) holding fast to the Book of +God the Most High (2) taking example by His Apostle (whom God +bless and preserve) (3) abstaining from doing evil (4) eating +what is lawful and (5) avoiding what is unlawful (6) restoring +things wrongfully taken to their owners (7) repentance (8) +knowledge of the Law (9) love of [Abraham] the Friend [of God] +(10) and of the followers of the Revelation[FN#245] (11) belief +in the Apostles (12) fear of apostacy (13) preparation for +departure[FN#246] (14) strength of conviction (15) clemency in +time of power (16) strength in time of weakness (17) patience +under affliction (18) knowledge of God the Most High and (19) +of what His Prophet hath made known to us (20) gainsaying Iblis +the accursed (21) striving earnestly against the lusts of the +soul and gainsaying them and (22) guiltlessness of believing in +any other god but God.' + +When the Commander of the Faithful heard her words, he bade the +doctor put off his clothes and hood; and he did so and went +forth, beaten and confounded, from the Khalif's presence. +Thereupon arose another man and said to her, 'O damsel, hear a +few questions from me.' 'Say on,' quoth she; and he said, 'What +are the conditions of valid [purchase by] payment in advance?' +'That the amount [of the thing bought], the kind and the period +[of delivery to the purchaser], be [fixed or] known,' replied +she. (Q.) 'What are the Koranic canons of eating?' (A.) 'The +confession [by the eater] that God the Most High provideth him +and giveth him to eat and drink and thanksgiving to Him +therefor.' (Q.) 'What is thanksgiving?' (A.) 'The use by the +creature of that which God vouchsafeth to him in the manner and +to the ends for which He hath created it.' (Q.) 'What are the +Traditional canons of eating?' (A.) 'The [preliminary] naming +[of God] and washing the hands, sitting on the left buttock, +eating with three fingers and eating of that which is chewed.' +[FN#247] (Q.) 'What are the civilities of eating?' (A.) 'Taking +small mouthfuls and looking little at one's table-companion.' +(Q.) 'What are the heart's stays [or articles of faith] and +their correlatives?' (A.) 'They are three in number, to wit, +(1) holding fast to the Faith, the correlative whereof is the +shunning of infidelity, (2) holding fast to the Traditional Law +and its correlative, the shunning of innovation [or heresy] and +(3) holding fast to obedience and its correlative, the shunning +of disobedience.' (Q.) 'What are the conditions of ablution?' +(A.) '(1) Submission to the will of God[FN#248] (2) possession +of discernment of good and evil [or having attained the age of +discretion] (3) purity of the water and (4) absence of legal +or material impediments.' (Q.) 'What is belief?' (A.) 'It is +divided into nine parts, to wit, (1) belief in the One worshipped +(2) belief in the condition of slavery [of the worshipper] +(3) belief in one God, to the exclusion of all others (4) belief +in the Two Handfuls[FN#249] (5) belief in Providence (6) belief +in the Abrogating and (7) in the Abrogated (8) belief in God, His +angels and apostles and (9) in fore-ordained Fate, general and +particular, its good and ill, sweet and bitter.' (Q.) 'What +three things do away other three?' (A.) 'It is told of Sufyan +eth Thauri[FN#250] that he said, "Three things do away other +three. Making light of the pious doth away the future life, +making light of kings doth away [this] life and making light of +expenditure doth away wealth."' (Q.) 'What are the keys of the +heavens, and how many gates have they?' (A.) 'Quoth God the Most +High, "And heaven shall be opened, and it shall be [all] doors," +[FN#251] and quoth he whom God bless and keep, "None knoweth the +number of the gates of heaven, save He who created it, and there +is no son of Adam but hath two gates allotted to him in the skies, +one whereby his subsistence cometh down and another where-through +his works [good and evil] ascend. The former is not closed, +save when his term of life comes to an end, nor the latter, +till his soul ascends [for judgment]."' (Q.) 'Tell me of a +thing and a half thing and a no-thing.' (A.) 'The thing is the +believer, the half thing the hypocrite and the no-thing the +infidel.' (Q.) 'Tell me of various kinds of hearts.' (A.) +'There is the whole [or perfect] heart, which is that of +[Abraham] the Friend [of God], the sick heart, that of the +infidel, the contrite heart, that of the pious, fearful ones, +the heart consecrated to God, that of our Lord Mohammed (whom +God bless and preserve) and the enlightened [or enlightening] +heart, that of those who follow him. The hearts of the learned +are of three kinds, to wit, those that are in love with this +world, with the next and with their Lord; and it is said that +hearts are three, the suspended, that of the infidel, the +non-existent [or lost], that of the hypocrite, and the constant +[or firm], that of the true-believer. Moreover, it is said that +the latter is of three kinds, namely, the heart dilated with +light and faith, that wounded with fear of estrangement and +that which feareth to be forsaken of God.' + +Quoth the second doctor, 'Thou hast said well;' whereupon said +she to the Khalif, 'O Commander of the Faithful, he has +questioned me, till he is weary, and now I will ask him two +questions. If he answer them, it is well, and if not, I will +take his clothes and he shall depart in peace.' Quoth the +doctor, 'Ask me what thou wilt,' and she said, 'What is +religion?' 'Religion,' answered he, 'is confession[FN#252] with +the tongue and belief with the heart and doing with the +members. Quoth the Prophet, "The believer is not perfect in +belief, except five qualities be accomplished in him, namely, +trust in God, committal of his affair to Him, submission to His +commandment, acquiescence in His decrees and that he do all for +His sake; so is he of those who are acceptable to God and who +give and withhold for His sake, and he is perfect in belief."' +Then said she, 'What is the Koranic ordinance of ordinances +and the ordinance which is the preliminary of all ordinances +and that of which all others stand in need and that which +comprehendeth all others, and what is the Traditional ordinance +that entereth into the Koranic, and that whereby the latter is +completed?' But he was silent and made no reply; whereupon the +Khalif bade her expound and ordered him to doff his clothes and +give them to her. 'O doctor,' said she, 'the Koranic ordinance +of ordinances is the knowledge of God the Most High; that, +which is the preliminary of all others, is the testifying that +there is no god but God and that Mohammed is His apostle; that, +of which all others have need, is ablution; that, which +compriseth all others, is that of [total] ablution from +[ceremonial] defilement; the Traditional ordinance, that enters +into the Koranic, is the separation of the fingers and the +thick beard; and that, wherewith all Koranic ordinances are +completed, is circumcision.' Therewith was manifest the +insufficiency of the doctor, who rose to his feet and said, 'I +call God to witness, O Commander of the Faithful, that this +damsel is more learned than I in the Law and what pertains +thereto.' So saying, he put off his clothes and went away, +defeated. + +Then turned she to the rest of the learned men present and +said, 'O masters, which of you is the reader,[FN#253] versed in +the seven readings and in syntax and lexicography?' Thereupon +the professor arose and seating himself before her, said, 'Hast +thou read the Book of God the Most High and made thyself +throughly acquainted with its verses and its various parts, +abrogating and abrogated, equivocal and unequivocal, Meccan and +Medinan? Dost thou understand its interpretation and hast thou +studied it, according to the various versions and readings?' +'Yes,' answered she; and he said, 'What, then, is the number of +its chapters, how many are Meccan and how many Medinan? How +many verses and decades[FN#254] does it contain, how many +words and how many letters and how many acts of prostration +and how many prophets and birds are mentioned in it?' 'It +contains a hundred and fourteen chapters,' replied she, 'whereof +threescore and ten were revealed at Mecca and forty and four at +Medina, six thousand three hundred and thirty-six verses, six +hundred and twenty-one decades, seventy-nine thousand four +hundred and thirty-nine words and three hundred and twenty- +three thousand and six hundred and seventy letters; and to the +reader thereof, for every letter, accrue ten benefits. The +acts of prostration it contains are fourteen in number, and +five-and-twenty prophets are named therein, to wit, Adam, Noah, +Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Elisha, Jonah, Lot, +Salih, Houd,[FN#255] Shuaib,[FN#256] David, Solomon, Dhoulkifl, +[FN#257] Idris,[FN#258] Elias, Yehya,[FN#259] Zacharias, Job, +Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Mohammed, the peace of God and His +blessing be on them all! Moreover, nine birds [or flying +things] are mentioned in the Koran, namely, the gnat, the bee, +the fly, the ant, the hoopoe, the crow, the locust, the bustard +and the bird of Jesus[FN#260] (on whom be peace), to wit, the +bat.' (Q.) 'Which is the most excellent chapter of the Koran?' +(A.) 'That of the Cow.'[FN#261] (Q.) 'Which is the most magnificent +verse?' (A.) 'That of the Throne;[FN#262] it has fifty words, in +each fifty blessings.' (Q.) 'What verse hath in it nine signs [or +wonders]?' (A.) 'That in which quoth God the Most High, "Verily, +in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation +of night and day and the ship that runneth in the sea with what +profiteth mankind and in what God sendeth down from heaven of +water and quickeneth therewith the earth, after its dearth, and +spreadeth abroad therein all manner cattle, and the shifting of +the winds and the clouds, pressed into service betwixt heaven +and earth, are signs for folk who understand."'[FN#263] (Q.) +'Which is the most just?' (A.) 'That in which God saith, "Verily, +God commandeth to justice and beneficence and giving to those +that are near unto us and forbiddeth from profligacy and iniquity +and oppression."'[FN#264] (Q.) 'Which is the most yearnful?' (A.) +'That in which quoth God, "Shall every man of them yearn to +enter a garden of delight?"'[FN#265] (Q.) 'Which is the most +hopeful?' (A.) 'That in which quoth God the Most High, "Say, 'O +ye my servants, that have transgressed against your own souls, +despair not of the mercy of God! Indeed, God forgiveth sins, +all of them, for He is the Forgiving, the Compassionate.'"' +[FN#266] (Q.) 'By what version dost thou read?' (A.) 'By that of +the people of Paradise, to wit, the version of Nafi.'[FN#267] +(Q.) 'In which verse doth God make prophets lie?' (A.) 'In that +wherein He saith, "They [the brothers of Joseph] brought lying +blood upon his shirt."'[FN#268] (Q.) 'In which doth He make +infidels speak the truth?' (A.) 'In that wherein He saith, "The +Jews say, 'The Nazarenes are [grounded] on nought,' and the +Nazarenes say, 'The Jews are [grounded] on nought;' and [yet] +they [both] read the Scripture."[FN#269] And [in this] both speak +the truth.' (Q.) 'In which doth God speak in His own person [in +the singular]?' (A.) 'In that in which He saith, "Neither have I +created Jinn and men, but that they should worship."'[FN#270] +(Q.) 'In which do the angels speak?' (A.) 'In that which saith, +"We celebrate Thy praises and hallow Thee."'[FN#271] (Q.) 'What +sayst thou of the formula, "I seek refuge with God from Satan +the Stoned"?' (A.) 'It is obligatory, by commandment of God, +on all who read the Koran, as appears by His saying, "When +thou readest the Koran, seek refuge with God from Satan the +Stoned."'[FN#272] (Q.) 'What are the words and variants of +the formula?' (A.) 'Some say, "I take refuge with God the +All-hearing and knowing, etc.," and others, "With God the +Strong;" but the best is that of which the noble Koran and the +Traditions speak. The Prophet was used, whenas he was about to +open the Koran, to say, "I take refuge with God from Satan +the Stoned." And quoth a Tradition, reported by Nafi on the +authority of his [adopted] father, "The apostle of God used, +when he rose in the night to pray, to say aloud, 'God is Most +Great, with [all] greatness! Praise be to God abundantly! Glory +to God morning and evening!' Then would he say, 'I seek refuge +with God from Satan the Stoned and from the instigations of the +Devils and their evil suggestions."' And it is told of Ibn +Abbas[FN#273] (of whom God accept) that he said, "The first +time Gabriel came down to the Prophet [with a portion of the +Koran,] he taught him [the formula of] seeking refuge, saying, +'O Mohammed, say, "I seek refuge with God the All-hearing and +knowing;" then say, "In the name of God the Compassionate, the +Merciful!" And read, in the name of thy Lord who created men +from clotted blood.'"'[FN#274] (Q.) 'What sayst thou of the +verse, "In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful"? +Is it one of the verses of the Koran?' (A.) 'Yes; it is a verse +of "The ant"[FN#275] and occurs also [at the head of the first +and] between every two [following] chapters; and there is much +difference of opinion, respecting this, among the learned.' +(Q.) 'Why is not the formula written at the head of the chapter +of Immunity?'[FN#276] (A.) 'When this chapter was revealed for +the dissolution of the alliance between the Prophet and the +idolaters, the former sent Ali ibn Abi Talib (whose face God +honour) therewith [from Medina to Mecca] at the season of the +greater pilgrimage;[FN#277] and he read the chapter to them, +but did not read "In the name, etc."'[FN#278] (Q.) 'What of the +excellence of the formula and the blessing that attaches to +it?' (A.) 'It is told of the Prophet that he said, "Never is +'In the name, etc.' pronounced over aught, but there is a +blessing in it;" and it is reported, on his authority, that the +Lord of Glory swore by His glory that never should the formula +be pronounced over a sick person, but he should be healed of +his sickness. Moreover, it is said that, when God created the +empyreal heaven, it was agitated with an exceeding agitation; but +He wrote on it, "In the name, etc.," and its agitation subsided. +When the formula was first revealed to the Prophet, he said, "I +am safe from three things, earthquake and metamorphosis and +drowning;" and indeed its virtues are great and its blessings +too many to enumerate. It is told of the Prophet that he said, +"There will be brought before God, on the judgment day, a man +with whom He shall reckon and finding no good deed to his account, +shall order him to the fire; but the man will say, 'O my God, +Thou hast not dealt justly by me!' Then shall God (to whom belong +might and majesty) say, 'How so?' and the man will answer, saying, +'O Lord, for that Thou callest Thyself the Compassionate, the +Merciful, yet wilt Thou punish me with the fire!' And God +(extolled be His majesty) shall say, 'I did indeed name myself +the Compassionate, the Merciful. Carry My servant to Paradise, +of My mercy, for I am the most Merciful of those that have +mercy.'"' (Q.) 'What was the origin of the use of the formula?' +(A.) 'When God revealed the Koran, they wrote, "In Thy name, O +my God!"; when He revealed the words, "Say, pray ye to God or +pray ye to the Compassionate, what days ye pray, for to Him +[belong] the most fair names,"[FN#279] they wrote, "In the name +of God, the Compassionate;" and when He revealed the words, +"Your God is one God, there is no god but He, the Compassionate, +the Merciful,"[FN#280] they wrote, "In the name of God, the +Compassionate, the Merciful!"' (Q.) 'Did God reveal the Koran +all at once or at intervals?' (A.) 'Gabriel the Faithful +[Spirit] (on whom be peace) descended with it from the Lord of +the Worlds upon His Prophet Mohammed, Prince of the Apostles +and seal[FN#281] of the Prophets, by detached verses, containing +commandment and prohibition, promise and menace, anecdotes +and similitudes, as the occasion called for it, in the course +of twenty years.' (Q.) 'Which chapter was first revealed?' +(A.) 'According to Ibn Abbas, that of the Clot of Blood,[FN#282] +and according to Jabir ben Abdallah,[FN#283] that of the Covered +[with a cloak].'[FN#284] (Q.) 'Which verse was the last revealed?' +(A.) 'That of Usury,[FN#285] and it is said [also], the verse, +"When there cometh God's succour and victory."'[FN#286] (Q.) 'Tell +me the names of the Companions who collected the Koran, in the +lifetime of the Apostle of God.' (A.) 'They were four in number, +to wit, Ubai ibn Kaab, Zeid ibn Thabit, Abou Ubeideh Aamir ben +Jerrah and Othman ben Affan,[FN#287] may God accept of them all!' +(Q.) 'Who are the readers, from whom the [accepted] reading of +the Koran is taken?' (A.) 'They are four in number, namely, +Abdallah ben Mesoud, Ubai ben Kaab, Maadh ben Jebel[FN#288] and +Salim ben Abdallah.'[FN#289] (Q.) 'What sayst thou of the words +of the Most High, "That which is sacrificed to stones"?'[FN#290] +(A.) 'The stones are idols, which are set up and worshipped, instead +of God the Most High, and [from this] we seek refuge with Him.' +(Q.) 'What sayst thou of the words of the Most High, "[Quoth +Jesus] Thou knowest what is in my soul, and I know not what is +in Thy soul"?'[FN#291] (A.) 'They mean "Thou [God] knowest the +truth of me and what is in me and I [Jesus] know not what is in +Thee;" and the proof of this are his words,[FN#292] "Thou [God] +art He that knoweth the hidden things;" and it is said, also, +"Thou [God] knowest my essence, but I [man] know not Thine +essence."' (Q.) 'What sayst thou of the words of the Most High, +"O ye that believe, deny not yourselves the good things that +God hath made lawful to you!"?'[FN#293] (A.) 'My master (on +whom God have mercy) told me that Ez Zuhak[FN#294] said, "There +was a people of the true-believers who said, 'We will dock our +yards and don sackcloth;' whereupon this verse was revealed." +But El Cutadeh[FN#295] says that it was revealed on account of +sundry Companions of the Apostle of God, Ali ibn Abi Talib and +Othman ben Musaab and others, who said, "We will dock ourselves +and don hair [cloth] and make us monks."' (Q.) 'What sayst thou +of the words of the Most High, "And God took Abraham to +friend"?'[FN#296] (A.) 'The friend [of God] is the needy, the +poor, and (according to another saying) he is the lover, he who +is absorbed in the love of God the Most High and in whose +exclusive devotion there is no falling away.' + +When the professor saw her pass on in speech with the passing +of the clouds[FN#297] and that she stayed not in answering, he +rose to his feet and said, 'I take God to witness, O Commander +of the Faithful, that this damsel is more learned than I in +Koranic exegesis and what pertains thereto.' Then said she, 'I +will ask thee one question, which if thou answer, it is well: +but if thou answer not, I will strip off thy clothes.' 'Ask +on,' quoth the Khalif; and she said, 'Which verse of the +Koran has in it three-and-twenty Kafs,[FN#298] which sixteen +Mims,[FN#299] which a hundred and forty Ains,[FN#300] and which +section[FN#301] lacks the formula, "To whom [God] belong might +and majesty"?' He could not answer, and she said to him, 'Put +off thy clothes.' So he doffed them, and she said, 'O Commander +of the Faithful, the verse of the sixteen Mims is in the +chapter Houd and is the saying of the Most High, "It was +said, 'O Noah, go down in peace from us, and blessing upon +thee!'"[FN#302]; that of the three-and-twenty Kafs is the verse +called of the Faith, in the chapter of the Cow; that of the +hundred and forty Ains is in the chapter of El Aaraf,[FN#303] +"And Moses chose seventy men of his tribe to [attend] our +appointed time;[FN#304] to each man a pair of eyes."[FN#305] +And the set portion which lacks the formula, "To whom [God] +belong might and majesty," is that which comprises the chapters +"The Hour draweth nigh and the Moon is cloven in twain," "The +Compassionate" and "The Event."'[FN#306] And the professor +departed in confusion. + +Then came forward the skilled physician and said to her, 'We +have done with theology and come now to physiology. Tell me, +therefore, how is man made, how many veins, bones and vertebrae +are there in his body, which is the chief vein and why Adam was +named Adam?' 'Adam was called Adam,' answered she, 'because of +the udmeh, to wit, the tawny colour of his complexion and also +(it is said) because he was created of the adim of the earth, +that is to say, of the soil of its surface. His breast was made +of the earth of the Kaabeh, his head of earth from the East and +his legs of earth from the West. There were created for him +seven doors [or openings] in his head, to wit, the eyes, the +ears, the nostrils and the mouth, and two passages, the urethra +and the anus. The eyes were made the seat of the sense of +sight, the ears of that of hearing, the nostrils of that of +smell, the mouth of that of taste and the tongue to speak forth +what is in the innermost heart of man. Adam was originally +created of four elements combined, water, earth, fire and air. +The yellow bile is the humour of fire, being hot and dry, the +black bile that of earth, being cold and dry, the phlegm that +of water, being cold and moist, and the blood that of air, +being hot and moist. There are in man three hundred and +threescore veins, two hundred and forty bones and three souls +[or natures], the animal, the rational and the essential or +[natural], to each of which is allotted a separate function. +Moreover, God made him a heart and spleen and lungs and six +guts and a liver and two kidneys and marrow [or brain] and +buttocks and bones and skin and five senses, hearing, seeing, +smell, taste and touch. The heart He set on the left side of +the breast and made the stomach the exemplar [or governor] +thereof. He appointed the lungs for a ventilator to the heart +and set the liver on the right side, opposite thereto. Moreover, +He made, besides this, the midriff and the intestines and set +up the bones of the breast and ribbed them with the ribs.' +(Q.) 'How many ventricles are there in a man's head?' (A.) 'Three, +which contain five faculties, styled the intrinsic senses, i.e. +common sense, fancy, thought, apperception and memory.' (Q.) +'Describe to me the scheme of the bones.' (A.) 'It consists of +two hundred and forty bones, which are divided into three parts, +the head, the trunk and the extremities. The head is divided +into skull and face. The skull is constructed of eight bones, +and to it are attached the teeth, two-and- thirty in number, +and the hyoid bone, one. The trunk is divided into spinal column, +breast and basin. The spinal column is made up of four-and-twenty +bones, called vertebrae, the breast of the breastbone and the ribs, +which are four-and-twenty in number, twelve on each side, and +the basin of the hips, the sacrum and the coccyx. The extremities +are divided into arms and legs. The arms are again divided into +shoulder, comprising shoulder-blades and collar-bone, the upper- +arm, one bone, the fore-arm, composed of two bones, the radius and +the ulna, and the hand, consisting of the wrist, the metacarpus +and the fingers. The wrist is composed of eight bones, ranked in +two rows, each comprising four bones; the metacarpus of five +and the fingers, which are five in number, of three bones each, +called the phalanges, except the thumb, which has but two. +The lower extremities are divided into thigh, one bone, leg, +composed of three bones, the tibia, the fibula and the kneepan, +and the foot, divided like the hand, with the exception of the +wrist,[FN#307] which is composed of seven bones, ranged in two +rows, two in one and five in the other.' (Q.) 'Which is the +root of the veins?' (A.) 'The aorta from which they ramify, and +they are many, none knoweth the tale of them save He who +created them; but, as I have before observed, it is said that +they are three hundred and threescore in number. Moreover, God +hath appointed the tongue to interpret [for the thought], the +eyes to serve as lanterns, the nostrils to smell with, and the +hands for prehensors. The liver is the seat of pity, the spleen +of laughter and the kidneys of craft; the lungs are the +ventilators, the stomach the storehouse and the heart the +pillar [or mainstay] of the body. When the heart is sound, the +whole body is sound, and when the heart is corrupt, the whole +body is corrupt.' (Q.) 'What are the outward signs and symptoms +of disease in the members of the body, both internal and +external?' (A.) 'A physician, who is a man of understanding, +looks into the state of the body and is guided by the feel of +the hands, according as they are firm [or flabby], hot or cool, +moist or dry. Internal disorders are also indicated by external +symptoms, such as yellowness of the [whites of the] eyes, which +denotes jaundice, and bending of the back, which denotes +disease of the lungs.' (Q.) 'What are the internal symptoms of +disease?' (A.) 'The science of the diagnosis of disease by +internal symptoms is founded upon six canons, to wit, (1) the +actions [of the patient] (2) what is evacuated from his body +(3) the nature and (4) site of the pain he feels (5) swelling +and (6) the effluvia given off by his body.' (Q.) 'How cometh +hurt to the head?' (A.) 'By the introduction of food upon food, +before the first be digested, and by satiety upon satiety; this +it is that wasteth peoples. He who will live long, let him be +early with the morning-meal and not late with the evening-meal; +let him be sparing of commerce with women and chary of cupping +and blood-letting and make of his belly three parts, one for +food, one for drink and the third for air; for that a man's +intestines are eighteen spans in length and it befits that he +appoint six for food, six for drink, and six for air. If he +walk, let him go gently; it will be wholesomer for him and +better for his body and more in accordance with the saying of +God the Most High, "Walk not boisterously [or proudly] upon the +earth."'[FN#308] (Q.) 'What are the symptoms of yellow bile and +what is to be feared there-from?' (A.) 'The symptoms are, +sallow complexion and dryness and bitter taste in the mouth, +failure of the appetite, and rapid pulse; and the patient has +to fear high fever and delirium and prickly heat and jaundice +and tumour and ulceration of the bowels and excessive thirst.' +(Q.) 'What are the symptoms of black bile and what has the +patient to fear from it, if it get the mastery of the body?' +(A.) 'The symptoms are deceptive appetite and great mental +disquiet and care and anxiety; and it behoves that it be +evacuated, else it will generate melancholy and leprosy and +cancer and disease of the spleen and ulceration of the bowels.' +(Q.) 'Into how many branches is the art of medicine divided?' +(A.) 'Into two: the art of diagnosing diseases and that of +restoring the diseased body to health.' (Q.) 'When is the +drinking of medicine more efficacious than otherwhen?' (A.) +'When the sap runs in the wood and the grape thickens in +the cluster and the auspicious planets[FN#309] are in the +ascendant, then comes in the season of the efficacy of drinking +medicine and the doing away of disease.' (Q.) 'What time is it, +when, if a man drink from a new vessel, the drink is wholesomer +and more digestible to him than at another time, and there +ascends to him a pleasant and penetrating fragrance?' (A.) +'When he waits awhile after eating, as quoth the poet: + +I rede thee drink not after food in haste, but tarry still; + Else with a halter wilt thou lead thy body into ill. +Yea, wait a little after thou hast eaten, brother mine; Then + drink, and peradventure thus shalt thou attain unto thy + will.' + + +(Q.) 'What food is it that giveth not rise to ailments?' (A.) +'That which is not eaten but after hunger, and when it is +eaten, the ribs are not filled with it, even as saith Galen the +physician, "Whoso will take in food, let him go slowly and he +shall not go wrong." To end with the saying of the Prophet, +(whom God bless and preserve,) "The stomach is the home of +disease, and abstinence is the beginning[FN#310] of cure, +[FN#311] for the origin of every disease is indigestion, +that is to say, corruption of the meat in the stomach."' (Q.) +'What sayst thou of the bath?' (A.) 'Let not the full man enter +it. Quoth the Prophet, "The bath is the delight of the house, +for that it cleanseth the body and calleth to mind the fire [of +hell]."' (Q.) 'What waters[FN#312] are best for bathing?' (A.) +'Those whose waters are sweet and plains wide and whose air is +pleasant and wholesome, its climate [or seasons] being fair, +autumn and summer and winter and spring.' (Q.) 'What kind of +food is the most excellent?' (A.) 'That which women make and +which has not cost overmuch trouble and which is readily +digested. The most excellent of food is brewis,[FN#313] +according to the saying of the Prophet, "Brewis excels other +food, even as Aaisheh excels other women."' (Q.) 'What kind of +seasoning[FN#314] is most excellent?' (A.) 'Flesh meat (quoth +the Prophet) is the most excellent of seasonings; for that it +is the delight of this world and the next.' (Q.) 'What kind of +meat is the most excellent?' (A.) 'Mutton; but jerked meat is +to be avoided, for there is no profit in it.' (Q.) 'What of +fruits?' (A.) 'Eat them in their prime and leave them when +their season is past.' (Q.) 'What sayst thou of drinking +water?' (A.) 'Drink it not in large quantities nor by gulps, +or it will give thee the headache and cause divers kinds of +harm; neither drink it immediately after the bath nor after +copulation or eating (except it be after the lapse of fifteen +minutes for a young and forty for an old man) or waking from +sleep.' (Q.) 'What of drinking wine?' (A.) 'Doth not the +prohibition suffice thee in the Book of God the Most High, +where He saith, "Verily, wine and casting lots and idols and +divining arrows are an abomination of the fashion of the Devil: +shun them, so surely shall ye thrive."[FN#315] And again, "If +they ask thee of wine and casting lots, say, 'In them are great +sin and advantages to mankind, but the sin of them is greater +than the advantage.'"[FN#316] Quoth the poet: + +O wine-bibber, art not ashamed and afraid To drink of a thing + that thy Maker forbade? +Come, put the cup from thee and mell with it not, For wine and + its drinker God still doth upbraid. + +And quoth another: + +I drank the sweet sin till my wit went astray: 'Tis ill + drinking of that which doth reason away. + +As for the useful qualities that are therein, it disperses +gravel from the kidneys and strengthens the bowels, banishes +care, moves to generosity and preserves health and digestion. +It assains the body, expels disease from the joints, purifies +the frame of corrupt humours, engenders cheerfulness and +gladdens and keeps up the natural heat. It contracts the +bladder, strengthens the liver and removes obstructions, +reddens the face, clears away cobwebs from the brain and defers +gray hairs. In short, had not God (to whom belong might and +majesty) forbidden it, there were not on the face of the earth +aught fit to stand in its place. As for drawing lots, it is a +game of hazard.'[FN#317] (Q.) 'What wine is the best?' (A.) +'That which is pressed from white grapes and ferments fourscore +days or more: it resembleth not water and indeed there is +nothing on the surface of the earth like unto it.' (Q.) 'What +of cupping?' (A.) 'It is for him who is [over] full of blood +and has no defect therein. Whoso will be cupped, let it be at +the wane of the moon, on a day without cloud or wind or rain +and the seventeenth of the month. If it fall on a Tuesday, it +will be the more efficacious, and nothing is more salutary for +the brain and eyes and for clearing the memory than cupping.' +(Q.) 'What is the best time for cupping?' (A.) 'One should be +cupped fasting, for this fortifies the wit and the memory. It +is reported of the Prophet that, when any one complained to him +of a pain in the head or legs, he would bid him be cupped and +not eat salt [meat] fasting, for it engendered scurvy, neither +eat sour milk immediately after [cupping].' (Q.) 'When is +cupping to be avoided?' (A.) 'On Wednesdays and Saturdays, and +let him who is cupped on these days blame none but himself. +Moreover, one should not be cupped in very hot nor in very cold +weather; and the best season for cupping is Spring.' (Q.) 'Tell +me of copulation.' + +At this Taweddud hung her head, for shame and confusion before +the Khalif; then said, 'By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, +it is not that I am at fault, but that I am ashamed, though, +indeed, the answer is on the tip of my tongue.' 'Speak, O +damsel,' said the Khalif; whereupon quoth she, 'Copulation hath +in it many and exceeding virtues and praiseworthy qualities, +amongst which are, that it lightens a body full of black bile +and calms the heat of love and engenders affection and dilates +the heart and dispels sadness; and the excess of it is more +harmful in summer and autumn than in spring and winter.' (Q.) +'What are its good effects?' (A.) 'It doth away trouble and +disquiet, calms love and chagrin and is good for ulcers in a +cold and dry humour; but excess of it weakens the sight and +engenders pains in the legs and head and back: and beware, +beware of having to do with old women, for they are deadly. +Quoth the Imam Ali,[FN#318] (whose face God honour), "Four +things kill and ruin the body: bathing on a full stomach, +eating salt meat, copulation on a plethora [of blood] and lying +with an ailing woman; for she will weaken thy strength and +infect thy body with sickness; and an old woman is deadly +poison." And quoth one of them, "Beware of taking an old woman +to wife, though she be richer in goods than Caroun."'[FN#319] +(Q.) 'What is the best copulation?' (A.) 'If the woman be +young, well-shaped, fair of face, swelling-breasted and of +honourable extraction, she will add to thee strength and health +of body; and let her be even as saith the poet, describing her: + +Even by thy looks, I trow, she knows what thou desir'st, By + instinct, without sign or setting forth of sense; +And when thou dost behold her all-surpassing grace, Her charms + enable thee with gardens to dispense.' + +(Q.) 'At what time is copulation good?' (A.) 'If by day, after +the morning-meal, and if by night, after food digested.' (Q.) +'What are the most excellent fruits?' (A.) 'The pomegranate and +the citron.' (Q.) 'Which is the most excellent of vegetables?' +(A.) 'The endive.' (Q.) 'Which of sweet-scented flowers?' +(A.) 'The rose and the violet.' (Q.) 'How is sperma hominis +secreted?' (A.) 'There is in man a vein that feeds all the +other veins. Water [or blood] is collected from the three +hundred and threescore veins and enters, in the form of red +blood, the left testicle, where it is decocted, by the heat of +man's temperament, into a thick, white liquid, whose odour is +as that of the palm-spathe.' (Q.) 'What bird [or flying thing] +is it that emits seed and menstruates?' (A.) 'The bat, that is, +the rere-mouse.' (Q.) 'What is that which, when it is shut out +[from the air], lives, and when it smells the air, dies?' (A.) +'The fish.' (Q.) 'What serpent lays eggs?' (A.) 'The dragon.' + +With this the physician was silent, being weary with much +questioning, and Taweddud said to the Khalif, 'O Commander of +the Faithful, he hath questioned me till he is weary, and now I +will ask him one question, which if he answer not, I will take +his clothes as lawful prize.' 'Ask on,' quoth the Khalif. So +she said to the physician, 'What is that which resembles the +earth in [plane] roundness, whose resting-place and spine are +hidden, little of value and estimation, narrow-chested, its +throat shackled, though it be no thief nor runaway slave, +thrust through and through, though not in fight, and wounded, +though not in battle; time eats its vigour and water wastes it +away; now it is beaten without a fault and now made to serve +without stint; united after separation, submissive, but not to +him who caresses it, pregnant[FN#320] without a child in its +belly, drooping, yet not leaning on its side, becoming dirty +yet purifying itself, cleaving to [its mate], yet changing, +copulating without a yard, wrestling without arms, resting and +taking its ease, bitten, yet not crying out, [now] more +complaisant than a boon-companion and [anon] more troublesome +than summer-heat, leaving its wife by night and clipping her +by day and having its abode in the corners of the mansions of +the noble?' The physician was silent and his colour changed and +he bowed his head awhile in perplexity and made no reply; +whereupon she said to him, 'O physician, speak or put off thy +clothes.' At this, he rose and said, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, bear witness against me that this damsel is more +learned than I in medicine and what else and that I cannot cope +with her.' And he put off his clothes and fled forth. Quoth the +Khalif to Taweddud, 'Expound to us thy riddle,' and she +replied, 'O Commander of the Faithful, it is the button and the +button loop.' + +Then said she, 'Let him of you who is an astronomer come +forward.' So the astronomer came forward and sat down before +her. When she saw him, she laughed and said, 'Art thou the +astronomer, the mathematician, the scribe?' 'Yes,' answered he. +'Ask of what thou wilt,' quoth she; 'success rests with God.' +So he said, 'Tell me of the sun and its rising and setting?' +And she replied, 'The sun rises in the Eastern hemisphere and +sets in the Western, and each hemisphere comprises ninescore +degrees. Quoth God the Most High, "Verily, I swear by the Lord +of the places of the sunrise and of the sunsetting."[FN#321] +And again, "He it is who appointed the sun for a splendour and +the moon for a light and ordained to her mansions, that ye +might know the number of the years and the reckoning."[FN#322] +The moon is Sultan of the night and the sun Sultan of the day, +and they vie with one another in their courses and follow each +other in uninterrupted succession. Quoth God the Most High, "It +befits not that the sun overtake the moon nor that the night +prevent the day, but each glides in [its own] sphere."'[FN#323] +(Q.) 'When the day cometh, what becomes of the night, and what +of the day, when the night cometh?' (A.) 'He maketh the night +to enter into the day and the day into the night.'[FN#324] (Q.) +'Enumerate to me the mansions of the moon.' (A.) 'They are +eight-and-twenty in number, to wit, Sheretan, Butain, Thureya, +Deberan, Hecaaeh, Henaaeh, Dhiraa, Nethreh, Terf, Jebheh, Zubreh, +Serfeh, Awwaa, Simak and Ghefr, Zubaniya, Iklil, Kelb, Shauleh, +Naaim, Beldeh, Saad edh Dhabih, Saad el Bulaa, Saad el Akhbiyeh, +Saad es Suwoud, Fergh the Former and Fergh the Latter and Rishaa. +They are disposed in the order of the letters of the alphabet, +according to their numerical power, and there are in them secret +virtues which none knoweth save God (glorified and exalted be +He) and those who are firmly stablished in science. They are +divided among the twelve signs of the Zodiac, in the ratio of two +mansions and a third of a mansion to each sign. Thus Sheretan, +Butain and one-third of Thureya belong to Aries, the other two- +thirds of Thureya, Deberan and two thirds of Hecaaeh to Taurus, +the other third of Hecaaeh, Henaaeh and Dhiraa to Gemini, Nethreh, +Terf, and a third of Jebheh to Cancer, the other two-thirds of +Jebheh, Zubreh and two-thirds of Serfeh to Leo, the other third +of Serfeh, Awwaa and Simak to Virgo, Ghefr, Zubaniya and one-third +of Iklil to Libra, the other two-thirds of Iklil, Kelb and two- +thirds of Shauleh to Scorpio, the other third of Shauleh, Naaim +and Beldeh to Sagittarius, Saad edh Dhabih, Saad el Bulaa and +one-third of Saad es Suwoud to Capricorn, the other two-thirds +of Saad es Suwoud, Saad el Akbiyeh and two-thirds of Fergh the +Former to Aquarius, the other third of Fergh the Former, Fergh +the Latter and Rishaa to Pisces.' (Q.) 'Tell me of the planets +and their natures, also of their sojourn in the signs of the +Zodiac, their aspects, favourable and sinister, their houses, +ascendants and descendants.' (A.) 'The sitting is narrow [for +so comprehensive a matter], but they are seven in number, to +wit, the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and +Saturn. The sun is hot and dry, sinister in conjunction, +favourable in opposition, and abides thirty days in each sign. +The moon is cold and moist, favourable of aspect, and abides +two days in each sign and a third of another day. Mercury is of +a mixed nature, favourable [in conjunction] with the favourable +and sinister [in conjunction] with the sinister [asterisms], +and abides in each sign seventeen and a half days. Venus is +temperate, favourable and abides in each sign five-and-twenty +days. Mars is sinister and abides in each sign ten months. +Jupiter is favourable and abides in each sign a year. Saturn is +cold and dry and sinister and abides in each sign thirty +months. The house of the sun is Leo, its ascendant is Aries and +its descendant Aquarius. The moon's house is Cancer, its +ascendant Taurus, its descendant Scorpio and its sinister +aspect Capricorn. Saturn's house is Capricorn and Aquarius, its +ascendant Libra, its descendant Aries and its sinister aspects +Cancer and Leo. Jupiter's house is Pisces and Sagittarius, its +ascendant Cancer, its descendant Capricorn and its sinister +aspects Gemini and Leo. Venus's house is Taurus, its ascendant +Pisces, its descendant Libra and its sinister aspects Aries and +Scorpio. Mercury's house is Gemini and Virgo, its ascendant +Virgo, its descendant Pisces and its sinister aspect Taurus. +Mars's house is Aries and Scorpio, its ascendant Capricorn, its +descendant Cancer and its sinister aspect Libra.' + +When the astronomer saw her acuteness and skill and heard her +fair answers, he bethought him for a device to confound her +before the Commander of the Faithful and said to her, 'O +damsel, will rain fall this month?' At this she bowed her head +and pondered so long, that the Khalif thought her at a loss for +an answer and the astronomer said to her, 'Why dost thou not +speak?' Quoth she, 'I will not speak except the Commander of +the Faithful give me leave.' The Khalif laughed and said, 'How +so?' Said she, 'I would have thee give me a sword, that I may +strike off his head, for he is an infidel.' At this the Khalif +and those about him laughed, and she said, 'O astronomer, there +are five things that none knoweth save God the Most High;' and +she repeated the following verse: 'Verily, with God is the +knowledge of the hour; He sendeth down the rain and knoweth +what is in the wombs. None knoweth what the morrow shall bring +forth for him nor in what land he shall die. Verily, God is the +All-wise, the All-knowing.'[FN#325] + +Quoth the astronomer, 'Thou hast said well, and by Allah, I +thought but to try thee.' 'Know,' rejoined she, 'that the +almanack-makers have certain signs and tokens, referring to the +planets, relative to the coming in of the year, and in which +are tribulations for the folk.' (Q.) 'What are they?' (A.) +'Each day hath a planet that rules it. So, if the first day of +the year fall on a Sunday, that day is the sun's and this +portends (though God alone is All-knowing) oppression of kings +and sultans and governors and much miasma and lack of rain and +that the folk will be in great disorder and the grain-crop will +be good, except lentils, which will perish, and the vines will +rot and flax will be dear and wheat cheap from the beginning of +Toubeh[FN#326] to the end of Beremhat.[FN#327] Moreover, in +this year there will be much fighting among kings, and there +shall be great plenty of good in this year.' (Q.) 'What if the +first day fall on Monday?' (A.) 'That day belongs to the moon +and portends righteousness in administrators and deputies and +that it will be a year of much rain and grain-crops will be +good, but linseed will decay and wheat will be cheap in the +month Keyehk;[FN#328] also that plagues will be rife and +that half the sheep and goats will die, that grapes will be +plentiful and honey scarce and cotton cheap.' (Q.) 'What if it +fall on Tuesday?' (A.) 'That is Mars's day and portends death +of great men and much destruction and outpouring of blood and +dearness of grain, lack of rain and scarcity of fish, which +will anon be in excess and anon fail [altogether]. In this +year, lentils and honey will be cheap and linseed dear and only +barley will thrive, to the exception of all other grain: great +will be the fighting among kings and death will be in the blood +and there will be much mortality among asses.' (Q.) 'What if it +fall on Wednesday?' (A.) 'That is Mercury's day and portends +great anarchy among the folk and much enmity and rotting of +some of the green crops and moderate rains; also that there +will be great mortality among cattle and infants and much +fighting by sea, that wheat will be dear from Burmoudeh to +Misra[FN#329] and other grains cheap: thunder and lightning +will abound and honey will be dear, palm-trees will thrive and +bear apace and flax and cotton will be plentiful, but radishes +and onions will be dear.' (Q.) 'What if it fall on Thursday?' +(A.) 'That is Jupiter's day and portends equity in viziers and +righteousness in Cadis and fakirs and the ministers of religion +and that good will be plentiful: rain and fruits and trees and +grain and fish will abound and flax, cotton, honey and grapes +be cheap.' (Q.) 'What if it fall on Friday?' (A.) 'That day +belongs to Venus and portends oppression in the chiefs of the +Jinn and talk of forgery and calumny; there will be much dew, +the autumn crops will be good in the land and there will be +cheapness in one town and not in another: lewdness will be +rife by land and sea, linseed will be dear, also wheat, in +Hatour,[FN#330] but cheap in Amshir:[FN#331] honey will be +dear and grapes and melons will rot.' (Q.) 'What if it fall +on Saturday?' (A.) 'That is Saturn's day and portends the +preferment of slaves and Greeks and those in whom there is no +good, neither in their neighbourhood; there will be great +drought and scarcity; clouds will abound and death will be rife +among mankind and woe to the people of Egypt and Syria from the +oppression of the Sultan and failure of blessing upon the green +crops and rotting of grain.' + +With this, the astronomer hung his head, [being at an end of +his questions], and she said to him, 'O astronomer, I will ask +thee one question, which if thou answer not, I will take thy +clothes.' 'Ask on,' replied he. Quoth she, 'Where is Saturn's +dwelling place?' And he answered, 'In the seventh heaven.' (Q.) +'And that of Jupiter?' (A.) 'In the sixth heaven.' (Q.) 'And +that of Mars?' (A.) 'In the fifth heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of +the sun?' (A.) 'In the fourth heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of +Venus?' (A.) 'In the third heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of Mercury?' +(A.) 'In the second heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of the moon?' (A.) +'In the first heaven.' Quoth she, 'Well answered; but I have +one more question to ask thee. Into how many parts are the +stars divided?' But he was silent and answered nothing; and she +said to him, 'Put off thy clothes.' So he put them off and she +took them; after which the Khalif said to her, 'Tell us the +answer to thy question.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered she, 'the stars are divided into three parts, one +whereof is hung in the sky of the earth,[FN#332] as it were +lamps, to give light to the earth, another suspended in the +air, to give light to the seas and that which is therein, and +the third is used to transfix the demons withal, when they draw +near by stealth to [listen to the talk of the angels in] +heaven. Quoth God the Most High, "Verily, we have decked the +sky of the earth with lamps and have appointed them for +projectiles against the demons."'[FN#333] Quoth the astronomer, +'I have one more question to ask, which if she answer, I will +avow myself beaten.' 'Say on,' answered she. Then said he, +'What four incompatible things are based upon other four +incompatibles?' 'The four elements,' replied she; 'for of heat +God created fire, which is by nature hot and dry; of dryness, +earth, which is cold and dry; of cold, water, which is cold and +moist; of moisture, air, which is hot and moist. Moreover, He +created twelve signs of the Zodiac, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, +Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, +Aquarius and Pisces and appointed them of four [several] +humours, three, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, fiery, Taurus, Virgo +and Capricorn, earthy, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, airy, and +Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, watery.' With this, the astronomer +rose, and saying, 'Bear witness against me that she is more +learned than I,' went away beaten. + +Then said the Khalif, 'Where is the philosopher?' whereupon one +came forward and said to Taweddud, 'What is Time?' 'Time,' +answered she, 'is a name applied to the [lapse of the] hours of +the day and night, which are but the measures of the courses of +the sun and moon in their several orbits, even as God the Most +High telleth us, when he saith, "And a sign to them [is] the +night, from which we strip off the day, and behold, they are in +darkness, and the sun runneth to a fixed abode, [appointed] to +it; this is the ordinance of the Sublime, the All-knowing."' +[FN#334] (Q.) 'How comes unbelief to the son of Adam?' (A.) 'It +is reported of the Prophet that he said, "Unbelief runs in a man, +as the blood runs in the veins, when he reviles the world and Time +and night and the hour." And again, "Let none of you revile Time, +for Time is God; neither the world, for it saith, 'May God not +help him that reviles me!' neither the hour, for 'Verily, the hour +cometh, without doubt;'[FN#335] neither the earth, for it is a +portent, according to the saying of the Most High, 'From it we +created you, to it we will return you and from it we will bring +you forth yet again.'"'[FN#336] (Q.) 'What are the five that ate +and drank, yet came not out of loins nor belly?' (A.) 'Adam and +Simeon and Salih's she-camel[FN#337] and Ishmael's ram and the +bird that Abou Bekr the Truth-teller saw in the cave.'[FN#338] +(Q.) 'Tell me of five that are in Paradise and are neither +mortals, Jinn nor angels?' (A.) 'Jacob's wolf and the Seven +Sleepers' dog and Esdras's ass and Salih's camel and the +Prophet's mule.' (Q.) 'What man prayed a prayer neither on +earth nor in heaven?' (A.) 'Solomon [son of David], when he +prayed on his carpet, borne by the wind.' (Q.) 'A man once +looked at a handmaid in the morning, and she was unlawful to +him; but, at noonday, she became lawful to him. By mid-afternoon, +she was again unlawful, but at sundown, she was lawful to him. +At evensong, she was a third time unlawful, but by daybreak, she +became once more lawful to him.' (A.) 'This was a man who looked +at another's handmaid in the morning, and she was then unlawful +to him, but at midday he bought her, and she became lawful to him. +At mid-afternoon he enfranchised her, and she became unlawful to +him, but at sundown he married her and she was again lawful to +him. At evensong, he divorced her and she was then a third time +unlawful to him, but, next morning, at daybreak, he took her back, +and she became once more lawful to him.' (Q.) 'Tell me what tomb +fared on with him that lay buried therein?' (A.) 'The whale, +when it had swallowed Jonah.' (Q.) 'What spot of ground is it, +upon which the sun shone once, but will never again shine till +the Day of Judgment?' (A.) 'The bottom of the Red Sea, when Moses +smote it with his staff, and the sea clove asunder in twelve +places, according to the number of the tribes; then the sun +shone on the bottom and will do so never again till the Day of +Judgment.' (Q.) 'What was the first skirt that trailed upon the +surface of the earth?' (A.) 'That of Hagar, out of shame before +Sarah, and it became a custom among the Arabs.' (Q.) 'What is +that which breathes without life?' (A.) 'Quoth God the Most +High, "By the morning, when it breathes!"'[FN#339] (Q.) 'A +number of pigeons came to a high tree and lighted, some on the +tree and others under it. Said those on the tree to those on +the ground, "If one of you come up to us, ye will be a third +part of us [all] in number; and if one of us descend to you, we +shall be like unto you in number." How many pigeons were there +in all?' (A.) 'Twelve: seven alighted on the tree and five +beneath.' + +With this the philosopher put off his clothes and fled forth: +whereupon she turned to those present and said, 'Which of you +is the rhetorician that can discourse of all kinds of +knowledge?' There came forward Ibrahim ben Siyyar and said to +her, 'Think me not like the rest.' Quoth she, 'It is the more +sure to me that thou wilt be beaten, for that thou art a +boaster, and God will help me against thee, that I may strip +thee of thy clothes. So, if thou sentest one to fetch thee +wherewithal to clothe thyself, it would be well for thee.' 'By +Allah,' cried he, 'I will assuredly conquer thee and make thee +a byword among the folk, generation after generation!' 'Do +penance [in advance] for thy [void] oath,' rejoined she. Then +said he, 'What five things did God create, before He made man?' +And she replied, 'Water and earth and light and darkness and +the fruits [of the earth].' (Q.) 'What did God create with the +hand of omnipotence?' (A.) 'The empyreal heaven and the tree +Touba[FN#340] and Adam and the garden of Eden; these God +created with the hand of His omnipotence; but to all other +created things He said, "Be,"--and they were.' (Q.) 'Who is thy +father in Islam?' (A.) 'Mohammed, whom God bless and preserve!' +(Q.) 'Who was the father [in Islam] of Mohammed?' (A.) 'Abraham +the Friend of God.' (Q.) 'What is the Faith of Islam?' (A.) +'The professing that there is no god but God and that Mohammed +is the apostle of God.' (Q.) 'What is thy first and thy last?' +(A.) 'My first is troubled water[FN#341] and my last filthy +carrion. The first of me is dust and the last dust. Quoth the +poet: + +Created wast thou of the dust and didst a man become, Ready in + question and reply and fluent in debate. +Then to the dust return'dst anon and didst become of it, For + that, in very deed, of dust at first thou wast create.' + +(Q.) 'What thing was it, whose first [state] was wood and its +last life?' (A.) 'Moses' rod, when he cast it on the ground and +it became, by permission of God, a writhing serpent.'[FN#342] +(Q.) 'What is the meaning of the verse in the Koran, "And I +have other need [or occasion] for it"?'[FN#343] (A.) 'He +[Moses] was wont to plant his staff in the ground, and it would +flower and fruit and shade him from the heat and the cold. +Moreover, it would carry him, when he was weary, and guard his +sheep from the wild beasts, whilst he slept.' (Q.) 'What woman +was born of a man alone and what man of a woman alone?' (A.) 'Eve +of Adam and Jesus of Mary.' (Q.) 'What fire eats and drinks, what +fire eats but drinks not, what fire drinks but eats not and what +other neither eats nor drinks?' (A.) 'Hellfire eats and drinks, +the fire of the world eats but drinks not, the fire of the sun +drinks but eats not, and that of the moon neither eats nor drinks.' +(Q.) 'Which is the open [door] and which the shut [door]?' (A.) +'The Traditional Ordinances are the open, the Koranic the shut +[door].' (Q.) 'Of what does the poet speak, when he says: + +A dweller in the sepulchre, at 's head his victual lies; Whenas + he tastes thereof, he speaks and questions and replies. +He rises up and walks and talks, yet silent is the while, And + turns anon unto the tomb wherefrom he did arise. +No living one is he, that hath a title to respect, Nor dead, + that folk should say of him, "God's mercy him comprise!"?' + +(A.) 'The pen.' (Q.) 'What does the poet refer to in these +verses: + +Two breasts in one it hath; its blood is eath and quick of + flow, Wide-mouthed, though all the rest be black, its ears + are white as snow. +It hath an idol like a cock, that doth its belly peck, And half + a dirhem is its worth, if thou its price wouldst know?' + +(A.) 'The inkhorn.' (Q.) 'And in these: + +Say to men of wit and learning and to doctors everywhere, + Skilled to find the hidden meanings riddles and enigmas + bear, +Come expound to me what is it that ye see a bird produce, + 'Mongst the Arabs and barbarians and wherever else ye + fare; +Neither flesh nor blood, I warrant, hath the thing whereof I + speak; Neither down nor feathers, birdwise, for a garment + doth it wear. +Boiled it is and likewise roasted, eaten hot and eaten cold; + Yea, to boot, and when 'tis buried in the glowing embers' + flare, +Colours twain in it are noted, one as silver clear and white, + And the other lucent yellow, gold therewith may not + compare. +Living can it not be reckoned, neither may we count it dead: + Tell me, then, what is this wonder, rarity of all things + rare?' + +(A.) 'Thou makest long the questioning of an egg worth a doit.' +(Q.) 'How many words [or times] did God speak to Moses?' (A.) +'It is related of the Prophet that he said, "God spoke to Moses +fifteen hundred and fifteen words [or times]."' (Q.) 'Tell me +of fourteen things that speak to the Lord of the Worlds?' (A.) +'The seven heavens and the seven earths, when they say, "We +come, obedient."'[FN#344] (Q.) 'How was Adam created?' (A.) +'God created Adam of clay: the clay He made of foam and the +foam of the sea, the sea of darkness, darkness of light, light +of a fish, the fish of a rock, the rock of a ruby, the ruby of +water, and the water He created by the exertion of His omnipotent +will, according to His saying (exalted be His name!), "His +commandment is only when He willeth aught, that He say, 'Be,' +--and it is."'[FN#345] (Q.) 'What is meant by the poet in the +following verses: + +A things sans mouth or maw that eats in wondrous wise; On trees + and beasts it feeds and all beneath the skies. +Give it to eat, it thrives and flourishes amain; But give it + not to drink of water, or it dies?' + +(A.) 'Fire.' (Q.) 'And in these: + +Two lovers, that are still estopped from all delight: + Embracing, each with each, they pass the livelong night. +They guarantee the folk from all calamity, And with the risen + sun they're torn apart forthright?' + +(A.) 'The leaves of a gate.' (Q.) 'Tell me of the gates of +Hell?' (A.) 'They are seven in number and their names are +comprised in the following verses: + +Jehennem first, then Leza comes and eke Hetim as well; Then + must thou count Sair, and fifth comes Seker, sooth to + tell: +Sixth comes Jehim and last of all, Hawiyeh; thus thou hast, In + compass brief of doggrel rhyme, the seven rooms of Hell.' + +(Q.) 'To what does the poet refer in these verses: + +A pair of ringlets long she hath, that trail for aye Behind + her, as she comes and goes upon her way, +And eye that never knows the taste of sleep nor sheds A tear, + for none it hath for shedding, sooth to say; +Nor wears it aught of clothes, from year to ended year; Yet in + all manner wede it doth the folk array?' + +(A.) 'A needle.' (Q.) 'What is the length and breadth of the +bridge Es Sirat?' (A.) 'Its length is three thousand years' +journey, a thousand in descent, a thousand level and a thousand +in ascent: it is sharper than a sword and finer than a hair.' +(Q.) 'How many intercessions [with God] hath the Prophet [for +each soul]?' (A.) 'Three.' (Q.) 'Was Abou Bekr the first that +embraced Islam?' (A.) 'Yes.' (Q.) 'Yet Ali[FN#346] became a +Muslim before him?' (A.) 'All came to the Prophet, when he was +a boy of seven years old, for God vouchsafed him the knowledge +of the truth in his tender youth, so that he never prostrated +himself to idols.' (Q.) 'Which is the more excellent, Ali or +Abbas?'[FN#347] + +Now she knew that, in propounding this question, Ibrahim was +laying a trap for her; for, if she said, 'Ali is the more +excellent,' she would fall in disgrace with the Khalif; so she +bowed her head awhile, now reddening, now paling, then said, +'Thou askest me of two excellent men, each having [his own +especial] excellence. Let us return to what we were about.' +When the Khalif heard her reply, he rose to his feet and said, +'By the Lord of the Kaabeh, thou hast said well, O Taweddud!' +Then said Ibrahim, 'What means the poet, when he says: + +Slender of skirts and slim of shape and sweet of taste it is, + Most like unto the spear, except it lacks of the spontoon. +In all the countries of the world the folk make use of it, And + eaten 'tis in Ramazan, after mid-afternoon?' + +She answered, 'The sugar-cane;' and he said, 'Tell me of many +things.' 'What are they?' asked she; and he said, 'What is +sweeter than honey, what is sharper than the sword, what is +swifter than poison, what is the delight of a moment and what +the contentment of three days, what is the pleasantest of days, +what is the joy of a week, what is the debt that the worst +payer denieth not, what is the prison of the tomb, what is the +joy of the heart, what is the snare of the soul, what is death +in life, what is the malady that may not be healed, what is the +reproach that may not be done away, what is the beast that +harbours not in cultivated fields, but lodges in waste places +and hates mankind and hath in it somewhat of the make of seven +strong beasts?' Quoth she, 'Hear what I shall say in answer; +then put off thy clothes, that I may expound to thee.' Then the +Khalif said, 'Expound, and he shall put off his clothes.' So +she said, 'That, which is sweeter than honey, is the love of +pious children to their parents; that, which is sharper than +the sword, is the tongue; that, which is swifter than poison, +is the evil eye; the delight of a moment is coition and the +contentment of three days is the depilatory for women; the +pleasantest of days is that of profit on merchandise; the joy +of a week is the bride; the debt, which the worst payer denieth +not, is death; the prison of the tomb is an ill son; the joy of +the heart is a woman obedient to her husband, (and it is said +also that, when fleshmeat descends upon the heart, it rejoiceth +therein); the snare [or vexation] of the soul is a disobedient +slave; death in life is poverty; the malady, that may not be +healed, is an ill nature and the reproach, that may not be done +away, is an ill daughter; lastly, the beast that harbours not +in cultivated fields, but lodges in waste places and hates +mankind and hath in it somewhat of the make of seven strong +beasts, is the locust, whose head is as the head of the horse, +its neck as the neck of the bull, its wings as the wings of the +vulture, its feet as the feet of the camel, its tail as the +tail of the serpent, its body as the body of the scorpion and +its horns as the horns of the gazelle.' + +The Khalif was astounded at her quickness and understanding and +said to Ibrahim, 'Put off thy clothes.' So he rose and said, 'I +call all who are present in this assembly to witness that she +is more learned than I and all the learned men.' And he put off +his clothes and gave them to her, saying, 'Take them and may +God not bless them to thee!' The Khalif ordered him fresh +clothes and said to Taweddud, 'There is one thing left of +that for which thou didst engage, namely, chess.' And he +sent for professors of chess and draughts and backgammon. The +chess-player sat down before her, and they set the pieces, and +he moved and she moved; but, every move he made she speedily +countered, till she beat him and he found himself check-mated. +Quoth he, 'I did but lead thee on, that thou mightest think +thyself skilful; but set up again, and I will show thee.' So +they placed the pieces a second time, and he said to himself, +'Open thine eyes, or she will beat thee.' And he fell to moving +no piece, save after calculation, and ceased not to play, till +she said, 'Check-mate.' When he saw this, he was confounded at +her quickness and skill; but she laughed and said, 'O master, +I will make a wager with thee on this third game. I will give +thee the queen and the right-hand rook and the left-hand knight; +if thou beat me, take my clothes, and if I beat thee, I will +take thine.' 'I agree to this,' replied he, and they replaced +the pieces, she giving him the queen, rook and knight. Then +said she, 'Move, O master.' So he moved, saying in himself, +'I cannot but win, with such an advantage,' and made a combination; +but she moved on, little by little, till she made one of her pawns +a queen and pushing up to him pawns and other pieces, to take off +his attention, set one in his way and tempted him with it.[FN#348] +Accordingly, he took it and she said to him, 'The measure is meted +out and the equilibrium established. Eat, O man, till thou pass +repletion; nought shall be thy ruin but greediness. Knowest thou +not that I did but tempt thee, that I might beguile thee? See: +this is check-mate: put off thy clothes.' 'Leave me my trousers,' +quoth he, 'so God requite thee;' and he swore by Allah that he +would contend with none, so long as Taweddud abode at the Court +of Baghdad. Then he took off his clothes and gave them to her +and went away. + +Then came the backgammon-player, and she said to him, 'If I +beat thee, what wilt thou give me?' Quoth he, 'I will give thee +ten suits of brocade of Constantinople, figured with gold, and +ten suits of velvet and a thousand dinars, and if I beat thee, +I ask nothing but that thou write me an acknowledgment thereof.' +'To it, then,' replied she, 'and do thy best.' So they played, +and he lost and went away, jabbering in the Frank jargon and +saying, 'By the bounty of the Commander of the Faithful, there +is not her like in all the world!' Then the Khalif summoned +players on instruments of music and said to her, 'Dost thou +know aught of music?' 'Yes,' answered she. So he bade bring +a peeled and polished lute, whose owner [or maker] was ground +down by exile [or estrangement from the beloved] and of which +quoth one, describing it: + +God watered a land and straight a tree sprang up on its root: + It cast forth branches and throve and flourished with many + a shoot. +The birds, when the wood was green, sang o'er it, and when it + was dry, Fair women sang to it in turn, for lo, 'twas a + minstrel's lute! + +So they brought a bag of red satin, with tassels of +saffron-coloured silk: and she opened the bag, and took out a +lute, on which were graven the following verses: + +Full many a tender branch a lute for singing-girl has grown, + Wherewith at banquets to her mates she makes melodious + moan. +She sings; it follows on her song, as 'twere to teach her how + Heart's troubles in clear perfect speech of music to make + known. + +She laid her lute in her lap and letting her breasts hang over +it, bent to it as bends a mother, suckling her child; then +preluded in twelve different modes, till the whole assembly was +agitated with delight, and sang the following verses: + +Leave your estrangement, I pray, and bid your cruelty hold, + For, by your life, my heart will never for you be + consoled. +Have pity on one who weeps, afflicted and ever sad, A slave of + passion, who burns for thee with longings untold. + +The Khalif was ravished and exclaimed, 'May God bless thee and +receive him who taught thee[FN#349] into His mercy!' Whereupon +she rose and kissed the earth before him. Then he sent for +money and paid her master Aboulhusn a hundred thousand dinars +to her price; after which he said to her, 'O Taweddud, ask a +boon of me.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' replied she, 'I ask +of thee that thou restore me to my lord who sold me to thee.' +'It is well,' answered the Khalif and restored her to her +master and gave her five thousand dinars for herself. Moreover, +he appointed Aboulhusn one of his boon-companions and assigned +him a monthly stipend of a thousand dinars so long as he should +live, and he abode with the damsel Taweddud in all delight of +life. + +Marvel then, O King, at the eloquence of this damsel and the +greatness of her learning and understanding and her perfect +excellence in all branches of knowledge, and consider the +generosity of the Khalif Haroun er Reshid, in that he gave her +master this money and said to her, 'Ask a boon of me;' and she +besought him to restore her to her lord. So he restored her to +him and gave her five thousand dinars for herself and made him +one of his boon-companions. Where is such generosity to be +found after the Abbaside Khalifs, may God the Most High have +mercy upon them all! + + + + + +End of Vol. IV + + + + + Arabian Nights, Volume 4 + Footnotes + + +[FN#1] A very famous legist and wit of the eighth century and a +prime favourite with Er Reshid. He was one of the chief pupils +of the Imam Abou Henifeh (see note, Vol. II. p. 131 {see Vol. 2 +FN#91}) and was Cadi of Baghdad under the third, fourth and +fifth Khalifs of the Abbaside dynasty. + +[FN#2] Shown in choosing so learned a Cadi. + +[FN#3] Governor of the two Iraks (i.e. Bassora and Cufa) in the +reign of Hisham, tenth Khalif of the Ommiade dynasty (A.D. +723-741). He was celebrated for his beneficence and liberality. + +[FN#4] Koran iii. 178, etc. + +[FN#5] "The hand of a thief shall not be cut off for stealing +less than a quarter of a dinar."--Mischat ul Masabih. + +[FN#6] El Asmai the poet, author or compiler of the well-known +romance of Antar. + +[FN#7] Zanzibar (ant. Zengibar). + +[FN#8] The word Sherif (lit. noble) signifies strictly a +descendant of the martyr Hussein, son of the Khalif Ali; but it +is here used in the sense of "chief" [of the bazaar]. + +[FN#9] Quaere Mensour en Nemri, a well-known poet of the time +and (originally) a protege of Yehya's son, El Fezl. + +[FN#10] Intendant of the palace to Haroun er Reshid and captain +of his guards. + +[FN#11] i.e. the Khalif + +[FN#12] i.e. As if he were an old Bedouin, with forehead +disfigured by the friction of the rope of camel's hair, which +is part of the Bedouin headdress. + +[FN#13] Mohammed said, "Change the whiteness of your hair, but +not with anything black." Henna is the approved hairdye for a +true-believer; it changes the hair to a reddish-brown. + +[FN#14] i.e. thou that art as dear to me as my sight and +hearing. + +[FN#15] A fountain of Paradise. + +[FN#16] Syn. languishing (munkesir). + +[FN#17] A river of Paradise. + +[FN#18] i.e. Orthodox. + +[FN#19] These words are a quotation from a well-known piece of +verse. + +[FN#20] Of the Prophet. + +[FN#21] Usually made of palm-fibres. + +[FN#22] The distinctive headdress of the Muslims. + +[FN#23] The bridge that spans Hell, finer than a hair and +sharper than a sword, and over which all must pass on the Day +of Judgment. + +[FN#24] Or leader of the people at prayer, who stands opposite +the niche sunk into or painted on the wall of the mosque, to +indicate the direction of Mecca. + +[FN#25] All this is an audacious parody of the Muslim ritual of +prayer. + +[FN#26] Lit. "exclamations of 'Glory be to God!'" which are of +frequent recurrence in the Mohammedan formulas of prayer. See +last note. + +[FN#27] i.e. governor. + +[FN#28] The word ucwaneh, here used in the dual number, usually +designates the teeth, in its common meaning of "camomile- +flower": but the lips are here expressly mentioned, and this +fact, together with that of the substitution, in the Breslau +edition, of the word akikan (two cornelians or rubies) for +ucwanetan (two camomiles), as in the Calcutta and Boulac +editions, shows that the word is intended to be taken in its +rarer meaning of "corn-marigold." + +[FN#29] Syn. Fortune (ez zeman). + +[FN#30] One of the tribes of the Arabs and that to which the +renowned Maan ben Zaideh (see Vol. III. p. 317, {Vol. 3, +FN#121}) belonged. + +[FN#31] The Muslims accuse the Jews of having corrupted the +Pentateuch and others of their sacred books, even as the +Christians the Gospels (see Vol. II. page 149, note {Vol. 2, +FN#97}), by expunging or altering the passages foretelling the +coming of Mohammed. + +[FN#32] See Vol. I. p. 135, note 2. {Vol. 1, FN#45} + +[FN#33] i.e. as a martyr. + +[FN#34] The force of this comparison will best appear from the +actual figuration of the Arabic double-letter Lam-Alif (Anglice +L.A.) which is made up of the two letters *<arabic character>, +(initial form of Lam) and *<arabic character> (final of Alif,) +and is written thus, *<arabic character>. + +[FN#35] i.e. O thou, whose glance is as the light of the +glowing embers. + +[FN#36] Thus figured in Arabic *<arabic character>. + +[FN#37] Thus *<arabic character>. + +[FN#38] Thus *<arabic character>. + +[FN#39] Koran xxvil. 12. + +[FN#40] Koran iii. 103. + +[FN#41] Koran xcii. 1,2. + +[FN#42] Sauda, feminine of aswed (black), syn. black bile +(melancholia). + +[FN#43] The distinctive colour of which is white. + +[FN#44] Koran li. 26. + +[FN#45] Mohammed. + +[FN#46] Koran ii. 64, referring to an expiatory heifer which +the Jews were commanded, through Moses, to sacrifice. + +[FN#47] See note, Vol III. p. 104 {Vol. 3, FN#19} + +[FN#48] Sulafeh. + +[FN#49] Sewalif, plural of salifeh (equivalent of sulafeh). A +play upon the double meaning of the word is, of course, +intended. + +[FN#50] Syn. yellowness (isfirar). + +[FN#51] A title of the Prophet. + +[FN#52] His wife Zubeideh. + +[FN#53] i.e. his beautiful slave-girls. + +[FN#54] i.e. his beautiful slave-girls. + +[FN#55] Title of Saladin (Selaheddin) and several other +Eyoubite Sultans of Egypt and Syria. It is equivalent to our +"Defender of the Faith." + +[FN#56] Koran xli. 46. + +[FN#57] A town of Upper Egypt. + +[FN#58] Meaning the merchant, whose name, Abou Jaafer or the +like, he had learnt from the tailor. + +[FN#59] Muslim Jews. + +[FN#60] A well-known jurist at Baghdad in the reign of the +Khalif Mamoun. + +[FN#61] Medina. + +[FN#62] One of the gates of the great mosque there, wherein is +the tomb of the Prophet. + +[FN#63] Tenth Khalif of the Abbaside dynasty, A.D. 849-861. + +[FN#64] Muwelledat, women born in Muslim countries of +slave-parents; syn. mulatto-women. + +[FN#65] Lieutenant of the Prefect of Baghdad. + +[FN#66] Muwelledat, women born in Muslim countries of +slave-parents; syn. mulatto-women. + +[FN#67] El Hakim bi Amrillah, sixth Fatimite Khalif of Egypt +(A.D. 995-1021), cruel and fantastic tyrant, who claimed to be +an incarnation of the Deity. He was the founder of the religion +of the Druses, who look to him to reappear and be their Messiah + +[FN#68] Bastard or Spanish pellitory. + +[FN#69] Or dyed. + +[FN#70] Or interlocking. + +[FN#71] Or torn. + +[FN#72] Sufreh, a round piece of leather used (mostly by +travellers) as a table-cloth and having a running string +inserted round its edge, by means of which it can be converted +into a bag or budget for holding provisions, as in this +instance. + +[FN#73] Lower India. + +[FN#74] i.e. as master of the house in which I have sought +shelter. + +[FN#75] Uns el Wujoud. + +[FN#76] A pun upon his name, Uns wa joud, pleasance and bounty. + +[FN#77] See supra, p. 95, note 3. {Vol. 4, FN#38} + +[FN#78] The fourteenth letter of the Arabic alphabet, in its +medial form (<arabic>) closely resembling an eye underlined +with kohl. + +[FN#79] See Note, Vol. III. p. 274. {Vol. 3, FN#102} + +[FN#80] i.e. in dreams.. + +[FN#81] One of the months in which war was forbidden to the +pagan Arabs and a sort of Treve de Dieu prevailed. + +[FN#82] The Arabic word fakir means literally, "a poor man;" +but it would appear, from what follows, that Uns el Wujoud had +disguised himself as a religious mendicant and was taken for +such by the people of the castle. + +[FN#83] i.e. one absorbed in the contemplation of supra- +terrestrial things. + +[FN#84] Uns el Wujoud. + +[FN#85] To salute them and wish them joy, according to Oriental +custom. + +[FN#86] Mosul is called the land of purity, in a religious +sense, it having never been polluted with idolatrous worship. + +[FN#87] The people of Aleppo seem to have been noted for +debauchery. + +[FN#88] i.e. Do not express admiration openly, lest it attract +the evil eye, but vent your wonder by saying, "God bless and +preserve the Prophet!" according to general Muslim wont. + +[FN#89] A gorge near Mecca, the scene of one of Mohammed's +battles. + +[FN#90] i.e. as made out of a crooked rib, according to the +tradition. + +[FN#91] i.e. the land of the virgin. + +[FN#92] The word Jamiain means "two congregational mosques," +which would only be found in a large town like Baghdad. It is +possible, therefore, that the expression, "land of Jamiain," +may mean Baghdad or some other great city, noted for its +debauched manners. + +[FN#93] Oriental substitute for slate. + + +[FN#94] A pre-Mohammedan poet. + +[FN#95] King of Hireh in Chaldaea, a fantastic and bloodthirsty +tyrant, whom he had lampooned. + +[FN#96] Aboulabbas er Recashi, a well-known poet of the time. + +[FN#97] Koran xxvi. 224, 5, 6. + +[FN#98] Half-brother of Abdallah ben ez Zubeir, the celebrated +pretender to the Khalifate, see Vol. III. p. 194, note 3. {Vol. +3, FN#62} + +[FN#99] Grand-daughter of the Khalif Aboubekr and the most +beautiful woman of her day. + +[FN#100] A famous Medinan Traditionist of the eighth century. + +[FN#101] Er Zubeir ibn el Awwam, cousin-german to Mohammed and +one of his Companions. + +[FN#102] Abou Mohammed el Aamesh, a Cufan Traditionist of the +eighth century. + +[FN#103] A Traditionist of the seventh century. + +[FN#104] One of the Companions. + +[FN#105] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#106] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#107] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#108] Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#109] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#110] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#111] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#112] Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#113] A.D. 530-579. The founder of the great Persian dynasty +of the Kisras (Chosroes). Mohammed was born in the reign of +this monarch, whose name is a synonym with Eastern writers for +all that is just and noble in a King. + +[FN#114] Wife of Mohammed. + +[FN#115] Daughter of Mohammed. + +[FN#116] Lit. "of the ancestors," i.e. those pious and blessed +persons who have gone before. The word es selef (the ancestors) +is specially applied to Mohammed, his wife Aaisheh, the first +three Khalifs and certain other early Muslims. + +[FN#117] Khusrau Perviz, grandson of Kisra Anoushirwan (see +supra, p. 228). {Vol. 4, FN#113} + +[FN#118] The famous beauty, daughter of Maurice, Emperor of the +East, and heroine of Nizami's well-known poem. + +[FN#119] First cousin of Haroun er Reshid. + +[FN#120] Son and successor of Er Reshid. + +[FN#121] A well-known grammarian and traditionist of the time, +afterwards governor of part of Khorassan, under the Khalif El +Mamoun. + +[FN#122] Intendant of the palace under Er Reshid. + +[FN#123] i.e. lover. + +[FN#124] Muslim version of Susannah and the Elders. + +[FN#125] Lit. O frosty-beard (fool), how frosty was thy beard! + +[FN#126] Descendant of the Prophet. + +[FN#127] Name of a tribe. + +[FN#128] A descendant of Ishmael, from whom the Arab +genealogists trace Mohammed's lineage. + +[FN#129] Koran xxxiii. 38. + +[FN#130] Koran xxxviii. 2. + +[FN#131] One of the Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#132] Of the Prophet i.e. those who had personally known +Mohammed. + +[FN#133] i.e. the builders, who, in the East, use mud or clay +for mortar. + +[FN#134] About a penny. + +[FN#135] Mohammed. + + +[FN#136] A woman's name. + +[FN#137] For putting out the fire in a brasier or +cooking-stove. + +[FN#138] The last Kings of Hireh were Christians. + +[FN#139] A prae-Islamitic poet. + +[FN#140] King of Persia and En Numan's suzerain. + +[FN#141] A celebrated poet of the eighth and ninth centuries at +the court d the Abbaside Khalifs. + +[FN#142] A quarter of Baghdad. + +[FN#143] Another well-known poet of the time, Dibil's teacher +and friend. + +[FN#144] Underground rooms are much used in Baghdad and Central +Asia, for coolness' sake, in the season of the great heats. + +[FN#145] Dibil's surname. + +[FN#146] An idol of the pagan Arabs, before the coming of +Mohammed. + +[FN#147] In the attitude or a pupil before his master. + +[FN#148] i.e. heart's blood. + +[FN#149] A well-known poet, who flourished at Baghdad in the +ninth century + +[FN#150] Aboulabbas Mohammed ben Yezid eth Thumali, surnamed El +Muberred, a famous Baghdad grammarian of the ninth century. + +[FN#151] A monastery in the town of Hemah in Syria, so called +from the Emperor Heraclius, who retired thither, to end his. +days. + +[FN#152] These verses are addressed to the Prophet Mohammed. + +[FN#153] The most learned grammarian of his day. He flourished +at Baghdad in the first half of the tenth century. + +[FN#154] Anatolia. + +[FN#155] The Lights. + +[FN#156] Servant of the Messiah. + +[FN#157] The monk. + +[FN#158] The desireful servant of God. Abdallah is the name +commonly given to a Christian convert to Islam. This question +and answer are a good example of the jingle of rhymes so much +affected by the Arabs. + +[FN#159] i.e. of gods (shirk). + +[FN#160] Koran vii. 195. + +[FN#161] i.e. saints. + +[FN#162] Koran x. 36. + +[FN#163] A well-known man of letters and one of El Mamoun's +viziers. + +[FN#164] Prefect of Baghdad under El Mamoun. + +[FN#165] i.e. the persons in authority under them. + +[FN#166] Surname of Ali ben Hisham. + +[FN#167] A renowned chieftain and poet of the time of Mohammed. + +[FN#168] A famous singer and composer of the first century of +the Hegira. + +[FN#169] One of the greatest of Arab poets; he flourished in +the first century of the Hegira. + +[FN#170] i.e. as to the sound of music. + +[FN#171] Sixth of the Abbaside Khalifs, A.D. 809-813. + +[FN#172] See note, Vol. III. p. 324. {See Vol. 3, FN#130}. + +[FN#173] Tenth Abbaside Khalif, A.D. 849-861. + +[FN#174] Vizier and favourite of El Mutawekkil, killed A.D. 861 +whilst endeavouring to defend the Khalif against the parricide +El Muntestr. + +[FN#175] Virginitatem tollere. + +[FN#176] Johannes, a Greek physician in high favour with El +Mutawekkil and others of the Abbaside Khalifs. + +[FN#177] i.e. Princess of the Doctors or men of learning. + +[FN#178] A.D. 1166. + +[FN#179] Or heads of the various sects or schools of religion. + +[FN#180] Koran iv. 38. + +[FN#171] As witness to a debt, Koran ii. 282. + +[FN#182] Koran iv. 175. + +[FN#183] Or "eye-glance." + +[FN#184] Abou Temmam et Tai (of the tribe of Tai), a famous +poet of the first half of the ninth century and postmaster at +Mosul under the Khalif Wathic Billah (commonly known as +Vathek), A.D. 842-849. He was the compiler of the famous +anthology of ancient Arabian poetry, known as the Hemaseh +(Hamasa). + +[FN#185] Aboulcasim el Heriri, the famous poet and grammarian, +author of the Mecamat, the most celebrated single work in +Arabic literature. He holds much the same rank in Arabic +letters as Pope and Boileau in the literature of England +and France and may, with much better reason, be styled "le +legislateur du Parnasse (Arabe)." He was a native of Bassora +and died early in the twelfth century. + +[FN#186] i.e. the languishing glance of his eye. + +[FN#187] i.e. his whiskers. + +[FN#188] Koran xii. 51. + +[FN#189] Or quare palm-spathes. + +[FN#190] Or quare "an exposition of women." + +[FN#191] Koran xxvi. 165, 166. + +[FN#192] i.e. the whiteness of his face. + +[FN#193] Or "freeborn," the Arabic word used here having this +double meaning. The Arabs hold that the child of freeborn +parents (Lat. ingenuus) must of necessity be noble and those +born of slave parents or a slave mother the contrary. + +[FN#194] Or "freeborn," the Arabic word used here having this +double meaning. The Arabs hold that the child of freeborn +parents (Lat. ingenuus) must of necessity be noble and those +born of slave parents or a slave mother the contrary. + +[FN#195] A famous statesman, soldier, poet and musician, +governor of Khorassan, Egypt and other provinces under the +Khalif El Mamoun. + +[FN#196] Abou Abdallah ibn el Casim el Hashimi, surnamed Abou +el Ainaa, a blind traditionist and man of letters of Bassora, +in the ninth century, and one of the most celebrated wits of +his day. + +[FN#197] An island near Cairo, on which is situate the +Nilometer. It is a favourite pleasure-resort of the Cairenes. + +[FN#198] The port of Cairo. + +[FN#199] i.e. the report of its being haunted. + +[FN#200] i.e. by the Sortes Coranicae or other similar process. + +[FN#201] The word shabb (young man) is applied by the Arabs to +men of all ages from early adolescence to forty or even +(according to some authorities) fifty. + +[FN#202] i.e. recited the first chapter of the Koran seven +times. + +[FN#203] i.e. affixed the tughraa, the royal seal or rather +countermark. + +[FN#204] i.e. health and security. + +[FN#205] See Vol. III. p. 225, note 1. {Vol. 3 FN#78} + +[FN#206] A pile of stones or other land-mark, set up to show +the way to travellers in the desert. + +[FN#207] The eyebrows of a beautiful woman are usually compared +to the new moon of Ramazan (see note, Vol. I. p. 71 {see Vol. 1 +FN#26}). The meaning here is the same, the allusion being +apparently to the eagerness with which the pagan Arabs may be +supposed to have watched for the appearance of the new moon of +Shaaban, as giving the signal for the renewal of predatory +excursions, after the enforced close-time or Treve de Dieu of +the holy month Rejeb. + +[FN#208] Quaere fourteen [years old]. + +[FN#209] i.e. the abrogated passages and those by which they +are abrogated. + +[FN#210] Koran iv. 160. + +[FN#211] Traditions of the Prophet. + +[FN#212] i.e. saying, "I purpose to pray such and such +prayers." + +[FN#213] i.e. saying, "God is most Great!" So called, because +its pronunciation after that of the niyeh or intent, prohibits +the speaking of any words previous to prayer. + +[FN#214] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#215] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#216] i.e. saying, "In the name of God, etc." + +[FN#217] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#218] It may be noted that these answers of Taweddud form an +excellent compendium of devotional practice, according to the +tenets of the Shafy school. + +[FN#219] Obligatory as a preparation for the Friday prayer and +on other occasions when legal purification is necessary. + +[FN#220] i.e. saying, "I purpose to defer, etc." + +[FN#221] i.e. with sand, earth or dust. + +[FN#222] i.e. saying, "Peace be on us and [all] the righteous +worshippers of God!" + +[FN#223] i.e. saying, "I seek refuge with God from Satan the +accursed." + +[FN#224] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#225] Lit. that the intent shall be by night. + +[FN#226] At sundown. + +[FN#227] Eaten a little before the break of day, the fast +commencing as soon as there is light enough to distinguish a +black thread from a white and lasting till sunset. + +[FN#228] A saying of Mohammed. + +[FN#229] i.e. retirement to a mosque for pious exercises, +equivalent to the Roman Catholic retraite. + +[FN#230] Two hills near Mecca. + +[FN#231] On first catching sight of Mecca. + +[FN#232] Places near Mecca. + +[FN#233] At a pillar supposed to represent the Devil. + +[FN#234] Or chief of the faith. + +[FN#235] Koran vii. 66. + +[FN#236] One of the followers of Mohammed, i.e. those who had +known some of the Companions [of the Prophet] though they had +never seen himself. The freedman [and adopted son] of Abdallah, +son of Omar ben El Khettab, the most authoritative of all the +Companions and reporters of the sayings and doings of the +Prophet. + +[FN#237] i.e. at a profit. The exchange must be equal and +profitless. + +[FN#238] Ablution. + +[FN#239] Complete ablution. + +[FN#240] Poor-rate. + +[FN#241] Warring for the Faith. + +[FN#242] i.e. saying, "I testify that there is no God, etc." + +[FN#243] i.e. fundamentals. + +[FN#244] i.e. derivatives. + +[FN#245] i.e. the true believers. + +[FN#246] i.e. death. + +[FN#247] i.e. that which does not require to be cut with a +knife. "Cut not meat with a knife, because it is of the manners +and customs of the barbarians; but eat it with your teeth."-- +Mishcat ul Masabih. + +[FN#248] Or "being a Muslim." + +[FN#249] Apparently referring to the verse, "The earth all +[shall be] His handful [on the] Day of Resurrection and the +heavens rolled up in His right [hand]."--Koran xxxix. 67. + +[FN#250] See Vol. II. p. 126, note. {Vol. 2, FN#76} + +[FN#251] Koran lxxviii. 19. + +[FN#252] Of the unity of God. + +[FN#253] i.e. professor of Koranic exegesis. + +[FN#254] i.e. portions so called. + +[FN#255] Heber. + +[FN#256] Jethro. + +[FN#257] Joshua. + +[FN#258] Enoch. + +[FN#259] John the Baptist. + +[FN#260] i.e. the bird of clay fabled by the Koran (following +the Apocryphal Gospel of the childhood of Christ) to have been +animated by him. + +[FN#261] Koran ii. + +[FN#262] Koran ii. 256, "God, there is no god but He, the +Living, the Eternal. Slumber taketh him not, neither sleep, and +His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Who is +he that intercedeth with Him but by His leave? He knoweth what +is before them and what is behind them, nor do they comprehend +aught of the knowledge of Him but of what He willeth. His +throne embraceth the heavens and the earth and the guarding of +them oppresseth Him not, for He is the Most High, the Supreme." + +[FN#263] Koran ii. 159. + +[FN#264] Koran xvi. 92. + +[FN#265] Paradise, Koran lxx. 38. + +[FN#266] Koran xxxix. 54. + +[FN#267] See note, p. 338 supra. {Vol. 4, FN#236} + +[FN#268] Koran xii. 18. + +[FN#269] Koran ii. 107. + +[FN#270] Koran li. 57. + +[FN#271] Koran ii. 28. + +[FN#272] Koran xvi. 100. The Muslims fable the devil to have +tempted Abraham to disobey God's commandment to sacrifice +Ishmael (Isaac) and to have been driven off by the Patriarch +with stones. Hence he is called "The Stoned." + +[FN#273] Abdallah ibn Abbas, first cousin of Mohammed and the +most learned theologian among the Companions. + +[FN#274] Koran xcvi. 1 and 2. + +[FN#275] Koran xxvii. 30. + +[FN#276] Koran ix. + +[FN#277] i.e. the day of the sacrifice at Mina, which completes +the ceremonies of the pilgrimage. + +[FN#278] The better opinion seems to be that this omission +(unique in the Koran) arose from the ninth chapter having +originally formed part of the eighth, from which it was +separated after Mohammed's death. + +[FN#279] Koran xvii. 110. + +[FN#280] Koran ii. 158. + +[FN#281] i.e. him who seals or closes the list of the prophets. + +[FN#282] C. xcvi. + +[FN#283] A native of Medina and one of the first of Mohammed's +disciples. + +[FN#284] Koran lxxiv. + +[FN#285] There are several verses on this subject. + +[FN#286] Koran cx. 1. + +[FN#287] The third Khalif. + +[FN#288] Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#289] One of the Followers. + +[FN#290] Koran v. 4. + +[FN#291] Koran v. 116. + +[FN#292] In the same verse. + +[FN#293] Koran v. 89. + +[FN#294] Ez Zuhak ben Sufyan, one of the Companions. + +[FN#295] One of the Followers. + +[FN#296] Koran iv. 124. + +[FN#297] i.e. without hesitation or interruption. + +[FN#298] Kaf, the 21st letter of the Arabic alphabet. + +[FN#299] Mim, the 24th letter of the Arabic alphabet. + +[FN#300] Ain, the 18th letter of the Arabic alphabet. + +[FN#301] The Koran is divided into sixty set portions, +answering or equivalent to our Lessons, for convenience of use +in public worship. + +[FN#302] Koran xi. 50. + +[FN#303] Name of the partition-wall between heaven and hell. + +[FN#304] Koran vii. 154. + +[FN#305] A play on the word ain, which means "eye." + +[FN#306] Chapters liv. lv. and lvi. + +[FN#307] i e. ankle. + +[FN#308] Koran xvii. 39. + +[FN#309] Two stars in Aquarius and Capricorn. + +[FN#310] Or chief part, lit. head. + +[FN#311] Or remedial treatment. + +[FN#312] Quare hot springs. + +[FN#313] A dish of crumpled bread and broth. + +[FN#314] Or savoury supplement to bread, rice and so forth. + +[FN#315] Koran v. 92. + +[FN#316] Koran ii. 216. + +[FN#317] Played with headless arrows. + +[FN#318] The fourth Khalif. + +[FN#319] The Korah of Numbers xvi. fabled by the Muslims +(following a Talmudic tradition) to have been a man of immense +wealth. "Now Caroun was of the tribe of Moses [and Aaron], but +he transgressed against them and we gave him treasures, the +keys whereof would bear down a company of men of strength."-- +Koran xxviii. 76. + +[FN#320] Syn. bearing a load (hamil). + +[FN#321] Koran lxx. 40. + +[FN#322] Koran x. 5. + +[FN#323] Koran xxxvi. 40. + +[FN#324] Koran xxii. 60. + +[FN#325] Koran xxxi. 34. + +[FN#326] Fifth and seventh months of the Coptic year, answering +(roughly) to our January and March. + +[FN#327] Fifth and seventh months of the Coptic year, answering +(roughly) to our January and March. + +[FN#328] Fourth month of the Coptic year. + +[FN#329] Eighth and twelfth months of the Coptic year (April +and August). + +[FN#330] Third month (November) of the Coptic year. + +[FN#331] Sixth month (February) of the Coptic year. + +[FN#332] The lowest of the seven stages into which Mohammedan +tradition divides the heavens. + +[FN#333] Koran lxxvii. 5. + +[FN#334] Koran xxxvi. 36, 37, 38. + +[FN#335] Koran xxii. 7. + +[FN#336] Koran xx. 57. + +[FN#337] A she-camel, big with young, miraculously produced, +according to Muslim legend, from a rock by the Prophet Salih, +for the purpose of converting the Themoudites. + +[FN#338] Where he was hiding with Mohammed from the pursuit of +the Benou Curaish. + +[FN#339] Koran lxxxi. 18. + +[FN#340] In Paradise. + +[FN#341] Sperma hominis. + +[FN#342] The Muslims attribute this miracle to Moses, instead +of Aaron. See Koran vii. 110 et seq. + +[FN#343] [Quoth God] "What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?" +Quoth he, "It is my staff, on which I lean and wherewith I beat +down leaves for my flock, and I have other uses for it."--Koran +xx. 18, 19. + +[FN#344] Then He turned to the heaven (now it was smoke) and +said to it and to the earth, "Come ye twain, obedient or +loathing." And they said both, "We come, obedient."--Koran xli. +10. + +[FN#345] Koran xxxvi. 82. + +[FN#346] Ali ibn Abi Taleb, first cousin of Mohammed and fourth +Khalif. + +[FN#347] Uncle of Mohammed and ancestor of the Abbaside +Khalifs. + +[FN#348] Lit. gave him to eat of it. + +[FN#349] Assuming him to be dead. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT, VOLUME IV *** + +This file should be named 41001107a.txt or 41001107a.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 41001117a.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 41001107b.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Book Of The Thousand Nights And One Night, Volume IV + +Author: Anonymous + +Translator: John Payne + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8658] +[This file was first posted on July 30, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT, VOLUME IV *** + + + + +Text scanned by JC Byers (www.wollamshram.ca/1001) and proofread +by JC Byers, Graeme Houston, Renate Preuss, Coralee Sheehan, +Marryann Short, and Anne Soulard + + +Editorial Note: Project Gutenberg also has the translation of this work by + Richard F. Burton in 16 volumes. + + + + + THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT: + + Now First Completely Done Into English + Prose and Verse, From The Original Arabic, + + By John Payne +(Author of "The Masque of Shadows," "Intaglios: Sonnets," "Songs + of Life and Death," + "Lautrec," "The Poems of Master Francis Villon of Paris," "New + Poems," Etc, Etc.). + + In Nine Volumes: + + + + VOLUME THE FOURTH. + + + + 1901 + + Delhi Edition + + + Contents of The Fourth Volume. + + + +1. The Imam Abou Yousuf With Haroun er Reshid and his Vizier + Jaafer +2. The Lover Who Feigned Himself a Thief to save His Mistress's + Honour +3. Jaafer the Barmecide and the Bean-seller +4. Abou Mohammed the Lazy +5. Yehya Ben Khalid and Mensour +6. Yehya Ben Khalid and the Man Who Forged a Letter in His Name +7. The Khalif el Mamoun and the Strange Doctor +8. Ali Shar and Zumurrud +9. The Loves of Jubeir Ben Umeir and the Lady Budour +10. The Man of Yemen and His Six Slave Girls +11. Haroun er Reshid with the Damsel and Abou Nuwas +12. The Man Who Stole The Dog's Dish of Gold +13. The Sharper of Alexandria and the Master of Police +14. El Melik en Nasir and the Three Masters of Police + a. Story of the Chief of the New Cairo Police + b. Story of the Chief of the Boulac Police + c. Story of the chief of the Old Cairo Police +15. The Thief and the Money-Changer +16. The Chief of the Cous Police and the Sharper +17. Ibrahim Ben el Mehdi and the Merchant's Sister +18. The Woman Whose Hands Were Cut Off For Almsgiving +19. The Devout Israelite +20. Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi and the Man From Khorassan +21. The Poor Man and his Generous Friend +22. The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through a Dream +23. El Mutawekkil and his Favourite Mehboubeh +24. Werdan the Butcher's Adventure with the Lady and the Bear +25. The King's Daughter and the Ape +26. The Enchanted Horse +27. Uns El Eoujoud and the Vizier's Daughter Rose-in-Bud +28. Abou Nuwas with the Three Boys and the Khalif Haroun er + Reshid +29. Abdallah Ben Maamer with the Man of Bassora and His Slave + Girl +30. The Lovers of the Benou Udhreh +31. The Vizier of Yemen and His Young Brother +32. Loves of the Boy and Girl at School +33. El Mutelemmis and His Wife Umeimeh +34. Haroun er Reshid and Zubeideh in the Bath +35. Haroun er Reshid and the Three Poets +36. Musab Ben ez Zubeir and Aaisheh His Wife +37. Aboulasweh and His Squinting Slave Girl +38. Haroun er Reshid ad the Two Girls +39. Hroun er Reshid and the Three Girls +40. The Miller and his Wife +41. The Simpleton and the Sharper +42. The Imam Abou Yousuf with Haroun er Reshid and Zubeideh +43. The Khalif el Hakim and the Merchant +44. King Kisra Anoushirwan and the Village Damsel +45. The Water-Carrier and the Goldsmith's Wife +46. Khusrau and Shirin and the Fisherman +47. Yehya Ben Khalid and the Poor Man +48. Mohammed El Amin and Jaafer Ben el Hadi +49. Said Ben Salim and the Barmecides +50. The Woman's Trick Against Her Husband +51. The Devout Woman and the Two Wicked Elders +52. Jaafer the Barmecide and the Old Bedouin +53. Omar Ben Khettab and the Young Bedouin +54. El Mamoun and the Pyramids of Egypt +55. The Thief Turned Merchant and the Other Thief +56. Mesrour and Ibn El Caribi +57. The Devout Prince +58. The Schoolmaster Who Fell in Love by Report +59. The Foolish Schoolmaster +60. The Ignorant Man Who Set up For a Schoolmaster +61. The King and the Virtuous Wife +62. Abdurrehman the Moor's Story of the Roc +63. Adi Ben Zeid and the Princess Hind +64. Dibil el Khuzai With the Lady and Muslim Ben el Welid +65. Isaac of Mosul and the Merchant +66. The Three Unfortunate Lovers +67. The Lovers of the Benou Tai +68. The Mad Lover +69. The Apples of Paradise +70. The Loves of Abou Isa and Current El Ain +71. El Amin and His Uncle Ibrahim Ben el Mehdi +72. El Feth Ben Khacan and El Mutawekkil +73. The Man's Dispute with the Learned Woman of the Relative + Excellence of the Male and the Female +74. Abou Suweid and the Handsome Old Woman +75. Ali Ben Tahir and the Birl Mounis +76. The Woman Who Has a Boy and the Other Who Had a Man to Lover +77. The Haunted House in Baghdad +78. The Pilgrim and the Old Woman Who Dwelt in the Desert +79. Aboulhusn and His Slave Girl Taweddud + + + + + THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS + AND ONE NIGHT + + + + + HOW THE IMAM ABOU YOUSUF EXTRICATED THE + KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND HIS VIZIER + JAAFER FROM A DILEMMA. + + + +It is said that Jaafer the Barmecide was one night carousing with +Er Reshid, when the latter said to him, 'O Jaafer, I hear that +thou hast bought such and such a slave-girl. Now I have long +sought her and my heart is taken up with love of her, for she is +passing fair; so do thou sell her to me.' 'O Commander of the +Faithful,' replied Jaafer, 'I will not sell her.' 'Then give her +to me,' rejoined the Khalif. 'Nor will I give her,' answered +Jaafer. 'Be Zubeideh triply divorced,' exclaimed Haroun, 'if +thou shalt not either sell or give her to me!' Quoth Jaafer, 'Be +my wife triply divorced, if I either sell or give her to thee!' +After awhile they recovered from their intoxication and were ware +that they had fallen into a grave dilemma, but knew not how to +extricate themselves. Then said Er Reshid, 'None can help us in +this strait but Abou Yousuf.'[FN#1] So they sent for him, and +this was in the middle of the night. When the messenger reached +the Imam, he arose in alarm, saying in himself, 'I should not be +sent for at this hour, save by reason of some crisis in Islam.' +So he went out in haste and mounted his mule, saying to his +servant, 'Take the mule's nose-bag with thee; it may be she has +not finished her feed; and when we come to the Khalif's palace, +put the bag on her, that she may eat what is left of her fodder, +whilst I am with the Khalif.' 'I hear and obey,' replied the man. + +So the Imam rode to the palace and was admitted to the presence +of Er Reshid, who made him sit down on the couch beside himself, +whereas he was used to seat none but him, and said to him, 'We +have sent for thee at this hour to advise us upon a grave matter, +with which we know not how to deal' And he expounded to him the +case. 'O Commander of the Faithful,' replied Abou Yousuf, 'this +is the easiest of things.' Then he turned to Jaafer and said to +him, 'O Jaafer, sell half of her to the Commander of the Faithful +and give him the other half; so shall ye both be quit of your +oaths.' The Khalif was delighted with this and they did as he +prescribed. Then said Er Reshid, 'Bring me the girl at once, for +I long for her exceedingly.' So they brought her and the Khalif +said to Abou Yousuf, 'I have a mind to lie with her forthright; +for I cannot endure to abstain from her during the prescribed +period of purification; how is this to be done?' 'Bring me one of +thine unenfranchised male slaves,' answered the Imam, 'and give +me leave to marry her to him; then let him divorce her before +consummation. So shall it be lawful for thee to lie with her +before purification.' This expedient pleased the Khalif yet more +than the first and he sent for the slave. When he came, Er Reshid +said to the Imam, 'I authorize thee to marry her to him.' So the +Imam proposed the marriage to the slave, who accepted it, and +performed the due ceremony; after which he said to the slave, +'Divorce her, and thou shalt have a hundred diners.' But he +refused to do this and the Imam went on to increase his offer, +till he bid him a thousand diners. Then said the slave to him, +'Doth it rest with me to divorce her, or with thee or the +Commander of the Faithful?' 'With thee,' answered the Imam. +'Then, by Allah,' quoth the slave, 'I will never do it!' + +At this the Khalif was exceeding wroth and said to the Imam, +'What is to be done, O Abou Yousuf?' 'Be not concerned, O +Commander of the Faithful,' replied the Imam; 'the thing is easy. +Make this slave the damsel's property.' Quoth Er Reshid, 'I give +him to her;' and the Imam said to the girl, 'Say, "I accept."' So +she said, 'I accept:' whereupon quoth Abou Yousuf, 'I pronounce +divorce between them, for that he hath become her property, and +so the marriage is annulled.' With this, Er Reshid sprang to his +feet and exclaimed, 'It is the like of thee that shall be Cadi in +my time.' Then he called for sundry trays of gold and emptied +them before Abou Yousuf, to whom he said, 'Hast thou wherein to +put this ?' The Imam bethought him of the mule's nose-bag; so he +sent for it and filling it with gold, took it and went home; and +on the morrow, he said to his friends, 'There is no easier or +shorter road to the goods of this world and the next, than that +of learning; for, see, I have received all this money for +answering two or three questions.' Consider, then, O polite +[reader], the pleasantness of this anecdote, for it comprises +divers goodly features, amongst which are the complaisance of +Jaafer to Er Reshid and the wisdom[FN#2] of the Khalif and the +exceeding wisdom of Abou Yousuf, may God the Most High have mercy +on all their souls! + + + + + THE LOVER WHO FEIGNED HIMSELF A THIEF TO + SAVE HIS MISTRESS'S HONOUR. + + + +There came one day to Khalid ibn Abdallah el Kesri,[FN#3] +governor of Bassora, a company of men dragging a youth of +exceeding beauty and lofty bearing, whose aspect expressed good +breeding and dignity and abundant wit They brought him before the +governor, who asked what was to do with him, and they replied, +'This fellow is a thief, whom we caught last night in our +dwelling.' Khalid looked at him and was struck with wonder at his +well-favouredness and elegance; so he said to the others, 'Loose +him,' and going up to the young man, asked what he had to say for +himself. 'The folk have spoken truly,' answered he; 'and the case +is as they have said.' 'And what moved thee to this,' asked +Khalid, 'and thou so noble and comely of aspect?' 'The lust +after worldly good,' replied the other, 'and the ordinance of +God, glorified and exalted be He!' 'May thy mother be bereaved of +thee!' rejoined Khalid. 'Hadst thou not, in thy fair face and +sound sense and good breeding, what should restrain thee from +thieving?' 'O Amir,' answered the young man, 'leave this talk +and proceed to what God the Most High hath ordained; this is +what my hands have earned, and God is no oppressor of His +creatures.'[FN#4] Khalid was silent awhile, considering the +matter; then he said to the young man, 'Verily, thy confession +before witnesses perplexes me, for I cannot believe thee to be a +thief. Surely thou hast some story that is other than one of +theft. Tell it me'. 'O Amir,' replied the youth, 'deem thou +nought save what I have confessed; for I have no story other than +that I entered these folk's house and stole what I could lay +hands on, and they caught me and took the stuff from me and +carried me before thee.' Then Khalid bade clap him in prison and +commanded a crier to make proclamation throughout Bassora, +saying, 'Ho, whoso is minded to look upon the punishment of such +an one, the thief, and the cutting off of his hand, let him be +present tomorrow morning at such a place!' + +When the youth found himself in prison, with irons on his feet, +he sighed heavily and repeated the following verses, whilst the +tears streamed from his eyes: + +Khalid doth threaten me with cutting off my hand, Except I do + reveal to him my mistress' case. +But, "God forbid," quoth I, "that I should e'er reveal That which + of love for her my bosom doth embrace!" +The cutting-off my hand, for that I have confessed Unto, less + grievous were to me than her disgrace. + +The warders heard him and went and told Khalid, who sent for the +youth after nightfall and conversed with him. He found him +well-bred and intelligent and of a pleasant and vivacious wit; so +he ordered him food and he ate. Then said Khalid, 'I know thou +hast a story to tell that is no thief's; so, when the Cadi comes +to-morrow morning and questions thee before the folk, do thou +deny the charge of theft and avouch what may avert the cutting-off +of thy hand; for the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) saith, +"In cases of doubt, eschew [or defer] punishment."' Then he sent +him back to the prison, where he passed the night. + +On the morrow, the folk assembled to see his hand cut off, nor +was there man or woman in Bassora but came forth to look upon his +punishment. Then Khalid mounted in company of the notables of the +city and others and summoning the Cadi, sent for the young man, +who came, hobbling in his shackles. There none saw him but wept +for him, and the women lifted up their voices in lamentation. The +Cadi bade silence the women and said to the prisoner, 'These +folk avouch that thou didst enter their dwelling and steal their +goods: belike thou stolest less than a quarter dinar?'[FN#5] +'Nay,' replied he, 'I stole more than that.' 'Peradventure,' +rejoined the Cadi, 'thou art partner with them in some of the +goods?' 'Not so,' replied the young man; 'it was all theirs. I +had no right in it.' At this Khalid was wroth and rose and smote +him on the face with his whip, applying this verse to his own +case: + +Man wisheth and seeketh his wish to fulfil, But Allah denieth + save that which He will. + +Then he called for the executioner, who came and taking the +prisoner's hand, set the knife to it and was about to cut it off, +when, behold, a damsel, clad in tattered clothes, pressed through +the crowd of women and cried out and threw herself on the young +man. Then she unveiled and showed a face like the moon; whereupon +the people raised a mighty clamour and there was like to have +been a riot amongst them. But she cried out her loudest, saying, +'I conjure thee, by Allah, O Amir, hasten not to cut off this +man's hand, till thou have read what is in this scroll!' So +saying, she gave him a scroll, and he took it and read therein +the following verses: + +O Khalid, this man is love-maddened, a cave of desire, Transfixed + by the glances that sped from the bows of my eye. +The shafts of my looks 'twas that pierced him and slew him; + indeed, He a bondsman of love, sick for passion and like for + to die. +Yea, rather a crime, that he wrought not, he choose to confess + Than suffer on her whom he cherished dishonour to lie. +Have ruth on a sorrowful lover; indeed he's no thief, But the + noblest and truest of mortals for passion that sigh. + +When he had read this, he called the girl apart and questioned +her; and she told him that the young man was her lover and she +his mistress. He came to the dwelling of her people, thinking to +visit her, and threw a stone into the house, to warn her of his +coming. Her father and brothers heard the noise of the stone and +sallied out on him; but he, hearing them coming, caught up all +the household stuff and made as if he would have stolen it, to +cover his mistress's honour. 'So they seized him,' continued she, +'saying, "A thief!" and brought him before thee, whereupon he +confessed to the robbery and persisted in his confession, that he +might spare me dishonour; and this he did, making himself a +thief, of the exceeding nobility and generosity of his nature.' + +'He is indeed worthy to have his desire,' replied Khalid and +calling the young man to him, kissed him between the eyes. Then +he sent for the girl's father and bespoke him, saying, 'O elder, +we thought to punish this young man by cutting off his hand; but +God (to whom belong might and majesty) hath preserved us from +this! and I now adjudge him the sum of ten thousand dirhems, for +that he would have sacrificed his hand for the preservation of +thine honour and that of thy daughter and the sparing you both +reproach. Moreover, I adjudge other ten thousand dirhems to thy +daughter, for that she made known to me the truth of the case; +and I ask thy leave to marry him to her.' 'O Amir,' rejoined the +old man, 'thou hast my consent.' So Khalid praised God and +thanked Him and offered up a goodly exhortation and prayer; after +which he said to the young man, 'I give thee this damsel to wife, +with her own and her father's consent; and her dowry shall be +this money, to wit, ten thousand dirhems. 'I accept this marriage +at thy hands,' replied the youth and Khalid let carry the money +on trays in procession to the young man's house, whilst the +people dispersed, full of gladness. And surely [quoth he who +tells the tale[FN#6]] never saw I a rarer day than this, for that +its beginning was weeping and affliction and its end joy and +gladness. + + + + + JAAFER THE BARMECIDE AND THE BEANSELLER. + + + +When Haroun er Reshid put Jaafer the Barmecide to death, he +commanded that all who wept or made moan for him should be +crucified; so the folk abstained from this. Now there was a +Bedouin from a distant desert, who used every year to make and +bring to Jaafer an ode in his honour, for which he rewarded him +with a thousand diners; and the Bedouin took them and returning +to his own country, lived upon them, he and his family, for the +rest of the year. Accordingly, he came with his ode at the wonted +time and finding Jaafer done to death, betook himself to the +place where his body was hanging, and there made his camel kneel +down and wept sore and mourned grievously. Then he recited his +ode and fell asleep. In his sleep Jaafer the Barmecide appeared +to him and said, 'Thou hast wearied thyself to come to us and +findest us as thou seest; but go to Bassora and ask for such a +man there of the merchants of the town and say to him, "Jaafer +the Barmecide salutes thee and bids thee give me a thousand +diners, by the token of the bean."' + +When the Bedouin awoke, he repaired to Bassora, where he sought +out the merchant and repeated to him what Jaafer had said in the +dream; whereupon he wept sore, till he was like to depart the +world. Then he welcomed the Bedouin and entertained him three +days as an honoured guest; and when he was minded to depart, he +gave him a thousand and five hundred diners, saying, 'The +thousand are what is commanded to thee, and the five hundred are +a gift from me to thee; and every year thou shalt have of me a +thousand diners.' When the Bedouin was about to take leave, he +said to the merchant, 'I conjure thee, by Allah, tell me the +story of the bean, that I may know the origin of all this.' 'In +the early part of my life,' replied the merchant, 'I was +miserably poor and hawked hot boiled beans about the streets of +Baghdad for a living. + +I went out one cold, rainy day, without clothes enough on my body +to protect me from the weather, now shivering for excess of cold +and now stumbling into the pools of rain-water, and altogether in +so piteous a plight as would make one shudder to look upon. Now +it chanced that Jaafer was seated that day, with his officers and +favourites, in an upper chamber overlooking the street, and his +eye fell on me; so he took pity on my case and sending one of his +servants to fetch me to him, said to me, "Sell thy beans to my +people." So I began to mete out the beans with a measure I had +with me, and each who took a measure of beans filled the vessel +with gold pieces, till the basket was empty. Then I gathered +together the money I had gotten, and Jaafer said to me, "Hast +thou any beans left?" "I know not," answered I and sought in the +basket, but found only one bean. This Jaafer took and splitting +it in twain, kept one half himself and gave the other to one of +his favourites, saying, "For how much wilt thou buy this +half-bean?" "For the tale of all this money twice-told," replied +she; whereat I was confounded and said in myself, "This is +impossible." But, as I stood wondering, she gave an order to one +of her handmaids and the girl brought me the amount twice-told. +Then said Jaafer, "And I will buy my half for twice the sum of +the whole. Take the price of thy bean." And he gave an order to +one of his servants, who gathered together the whole of the money +and laid it in my basket; and I took it and departed. Then I +betook myself to Bassora, where I traded with the money and God +prospered me, to Him be the praise and the thanks! So, if I give +thee a thousand diners a year of the bounty of Jaafer, it will in +no wise irk me.' Consider then the munificence of Jaafer's nature +and how he was praised both alive and dead, the mercy of God the +Most High be upon him! + + + + + + ABOU MOHAMMED THE LAZY. + + + +It is told that Haroun er Reshid was sitting one day on the +throne of the Khalifate, when there came in to him a youth of his +eunuchs, bearing a crown of red gold, set with pearls and rubies +and all manner other jewels, such as money might not buy, and +kissing the ground before him, said, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, the lady Zubeideh kisses the earth before thee and +saith to thee, thou knowest she hath let make this crown, which +lacks a great jewel for its top; and she hath made search among +her treasures, but cannot find a jewel to her mind.' Quoth the +Khalif to his chamberlains and officers, 'Make search for a +great jewel, such as Zubeideh desires.' So they sought, but found +nothing befitting her and told the Khalif, who was vexed thereat +and exclaimed, 'Am I Khalif and king of the kings of the earth +and lack of a jewel? Out on ye! Enquire of the merchants.' So +they enquired of the merchants, who replied, 'Our lord the Khalif +will not find a jewel such as he requires save with a man of +Bassora, by name Abou Mohammed the Lazy.' They acquainted the +Khalif with this and he bade his Vizier Jaafer send a letter to +the Amir Mohammed ez Zubeidi, governor of Bassora, commanding him +to equip Abou Mohammed the Lazy and bring him to Baghdad. + +Jaafer accordingly wrote a letter to that effect and despatched +it by Mesrour, who set out forthright for Bassora and went in to +the governor, who rejoiced in him and entreated him with the +utmost honour. Then Mesrour read him the Khalif's mandate, to +which he replied, 'I hear and obey,' and forthwith despatched +him, with a company of his followers, to Abou Mohammed's house. +When they reached it, they knocked at the door, whereupon a +servant came out and Mesrour said to him, 'Tell thy master that +the Commander of the Faithful calls for him.' The servant went in +and told his master, who came out and found Mesrour, the Khalif's +chamberlain, and a company of the governor's men at the door. So +he kissed the earth before Mesrour and said, 'I hear and obey the +summons of the Commander of the Faithful; but enter ye my house.' +'We cannot do that,' replied Mesrour, 'save in haste; for the +Commander of the Faithful awaits thy coming.' But he said, 'Have +patience with me a little, till I set my affairs in order.' So, +after much pressure and persuasion, they entered and found the +corridor hung with curtains of blue brocade, figured with gold, +and Abou Mohammed bade one of his servants carry Mesrour to the +bath. Now this bath was in the house and Mesrour found its walls +and floor of rare and precious marbles, wrought with gold and +silver, and its waters mingled with rose-water. The servants +served Mesrour and his company on the most perfect wise and clad +them, on their going forth of the bath, in robes of honour of +brocade, interwoven with gold. + +Then they went in to Abou Mohammed and found him seated in his +upper chamber upon a couch inlaid with jewels. Over his head hung +curtains of gold brocade, wrought with pearls and jewels, and the +place was spread with cushions, embroidered in red gold. When he +saw Mesrour, he rose to receive him and bidding him welcome, +seated him by his side. Then he called for food: so they brought +the table of food, which when Mesrour saw, he exclaimed, 'By +Allah, never saw I the like of this in the palace of the +Commander of the Faithful!' For indeed it comprised all manner of +meats, served in dishes of gilded porcelain. So they ate and +drank and made merry till the end of the day, when Abou Mohammed +gave Mesrour and each of his company five thousand diners; and on +the morrow he clad them in dresses of honour of green and +gold and entreated them with the utmost honour. Then said +Mesrour to him, 'We can abide no longer, for fear of the Khalif's +displeasure.' 'O my lord,' answered Abou Mohammed, 'have patience +with us till to-morrow, that we may equip ourselves, and we will +then depart with you.' So they tarried that day and night with +him; and next morning, Abou Mohammed's servants saddled him a +mule with housings and trappings of gold, set with all manner +pearls and jewels; whereupon quoth Mesrour in himself, 'I wonder +if, when he presents himself in this equipage before the +Commander of the Faithful, he will ask him how he came by all +this wealth.' + +Then they took leave of Ez Zubeidi and setting out from Bassora, +fared on, without stopping, till they reached Baghdad and +presented themselves before the Khalif who bade Abou Mohammed be +seated. So he sat down and addressing the Khalif in courtly wise, +said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I have brought with me +a present by way of homage: have I thy leave to produce it?' +'There is no harm in that,' replied the Khalif; whereupon Abou +Mohammed caused bring in a chest, from which he took a number of +rarities and amongst the rest, trees of gold, with leaves of +emerald and fruits of rubies and topazes and pearls. Then he +fetched another chest and brought out of it a pavilion of +brocade, adorned with pearls and rubies and emeralds and +chrysolites and other precious stones; its poles were of the +finest Indian aloes-wood, and its skirts were set with emeralds. +Thereon were depicted all manner beasts and birds and other +created things, spangled with rubies and emeralds and chrysolites +and balass rubies and other precious stones. + +When Er Reshid saw these things, he rejoiced exceedingly, and +Abou Mohammed said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, deem not +that I have brought these to thee, fearing aught or coveting +aught; but I knew myself to be but a man of the people and that +these things befitted none save the Commander of the Faithful. +And now, with thy leave, I will show thee, for thy diversion, +something of what I can do.' 'Do what thou wilt,' answered Er +Reshid, 'that we may see.' 'I hear and obey,' said Abou Mohammed +and moving his lips, beckoned to the battlements of the palace, +whereupon they inclined to him; then he made another sign to +them, and they returned to their place. Then he made a sign with +his eye, and there appeared before him cabinets with closed +doors, to which he spoke, and lo, the voices of birds answered +him [from within]. The Khalif marvelled exceedingly at this and +said to him, 'How camest thou by all this, seeing that thou art +only known as Abou Mohammed the Lazy, and they tell me that thy +father was a barber-surgeon, serving in a public bath, and left +thee nothing?' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' answered he, +'listen to my story, for it is an extraordinary one and its +particulars are wonderful; were it graven with needles upon the +corners of the eye, it would serve as a lesson to him who can +profit by admonition.' 'Let us hear it,' said the Khalif. + +'Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,' replied Abou Mohammed, +'(may God prolong to thee glory and dominion,) that the report of +the folk, that I am known as the Lazy and that my father left me +nothing, is true; for he was, as thou hast said, but a barber- +surgeon in a bath. In my youth I was the laziest wight on the +face of the earth; indeed, so great was my sluggishness that, +if I lay asleep in the sultry season and the sun came round upon +me, I was too lazy to rise and remove from the sun to the shade; +and thus I abode till I reached my fifteenth year, when my father +was admitted to the mercy of God the Most High and left me +nothing. However, my mother used to go out to service and feed me +and give me to drink, whilst I lay on my side. + + +One day, she came in to me, with five silver dirhems, and said to +me, "O my son, I hear that the Sheikh Aboul Muzeffer is about to +go a voyage to China." (Now this Sheikh was a good and charitable +man and loved the poor.) "So come, let us carry him these five +dirhems and beg him to buy thee therewith somewhat from the land +of China, so haply thou mayst make a profit of it, by the bounty +of God the Most High!" I was too lazy to move; but she swore by +Allah that, except I rose and went with her, she would neither +bring me meat nor drink nor come in to me, but would leave me to +die of hunger and thirst. When I heard this, O Commander of the +Faithful, I knew she would do as she said; so I said to her, +"Help me to sit up." She did so, and I wept the while and said to +her, "Bring me my shoes." Accordingly, she brought them and I +said, "Put them on my feet." She put them on my feet and I said, +"Lift me up." So she lifted me up and I said, "Support me, that I +may walk." So she supported me and I went along thus, still +stumbling in my skirts, till we came to the river-bank, where we +saluted the Sheikh and I said to him, "O uncle, art thou Aboul +Muzeffer?" "At thy service," answered he, and I said, "Take these +dirhems and buy me somewhat from the land of China: haply, God +may vouchsafe me a profit of it." Quoth the Sheikh to his +companions, "Do ye know this youth?" "Yes," replied they; "he is +known as Abou Mohammed the Lazy, and we never saw him stir from +his house till now." Then said he to me, "O my son, give me the +dirhems and the blessing of God the Most High go with them!" So +he took the money, saying, "In the name of God!" and I returned +home with my mother. + +Meanwhile the Sheikh set sail, with a company of merchants, and +stayed not till they reached the land of China, where they bought +and sold, and having done their intent, set out on their homeward +voyage. When they had been three days at sea, the Sheikh said to +his company, "Stay the ship!" And they asked him what was to do +with him. "Know," replied he, "that I have forgotten the +commission with which Abou Mohammed the Lazy charged me; so let +us turn back, that we may buy him somewhat whereby he may +profit." "We conjure thee, by God the Most High," exclaimed they, +"turn not back with us; for we have traversed an exceeding great +distance and endured sore hardship and many perils." Quoth he, +"There is no help for it;" and they said "Take from us double the +profit of the five dirhems and turn not back with us." So he +agreed to this and they collected for him a great sum of money. + +Then they sailed on, till they came to an island, wherein was +much people; so they moored thereto and the merchants went +ashore, to buy thence precious metals and pearls and jewels and +so forth. Presently, Aboul Muzeffer saw a man seated, with many +apes before him, and amongst them one whose hair had been plucked +off. As often as the man's attention was diverted from them, the +other apes fell upon the plucked one and beat him and threw him +on their master; whereupon the latter rose and beat them and +bound them and punished them for this; and all the apes were +wroth with the plucked ape therefor and beat him the more. When +Aboul Muzeffer saw this, he took compassion upon the plucked ape +and said to his master, "Wilt thou sell me yonder ape?" "Buy," +replied the man, and Aboul Muzeffer rejoined, "I have with me +five dirhems, belonging to an orphan lad. Wilt thou sell me the +ape for that sum?" "He is thine," answered the ape-merchant. "May +God give thee a blessing of him!" So the Sheikh paid the money +and his slaves took the ape and tied him up in the ship. + +Then they loosed sail and made for another island, where they +cast anchor; and there came down divers, who dived for pearls and +corals and other jewels. So the merchants hired them for money +and they dived. When the ape saw this, he did himself loose from +his bonds and leaping off the ship's side, dived with them; +whereupon quoth Aboul Muzeffer, "There is no power and no virtue +but in God the Most High, the Supreme! The ape is lost to us, by +the [ill] fortune of the poor fellow for whom we bought him." And +they despaired of him; but, after awhile, the company of divers +rose to the surface, and with them the ape, with his hands full +of jewels of price, which he threw down before Aboul Muzeffer, +who marvelled at this and said, "There hangs some great mystery +by this ape!" + +Then they cast off and sailed till they came to a third island, +called the Island of the Zunonj,[FN#7] who are a people of the +blacks, that eat human flesh. When the blacks saw them, they +boarded them in canoes and taking all in the ship, pinioned them +and carried them to their king who bade slaughter certain of the +merchants. So they slaughtered them and ate their flesh; and the +rest passed the night in prison and sore concern. But, when it +was [mid]night, the ape arose and going up to Aboul Muzeffer, did +off his bonds. When the others saw him free, they said, "God +grant that our deliverance may be at thy hands, O Aboul +Muzeffer!" But he replied, "Know that he who at delivered me, by +God's leave, was none other than this ape; and I buy my release +of him at a thousand dinars." "And we likewise," rejoined the +merchants, "will pay him a thousand diners each, if he release +us." With this, the ape went up to them and loosed their bonds, +one by one, till he had freed them all, when they made for the +ship and boarding her, found all safe and nothing missing. So +they cast off and set sail; and presently Aboul Muzeffer said to +them, "O merchants, fulfil your promise to the ape." "We hear and +obey," answered they and paid him a thousand diners each, whilst +Aboul Muzeffer brought out to him the like sum of his own monies, +so that there was a great sum of money collected for the ape. + +Then they fared on till they reached the city of Bassora, where +their friends came out to meet them; and when they had landed, +the Sheikh said, "Where is Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" The news +reached my mother, who came to me, as I lay asleep, and said to +me, "O my son, the Sheikh Aboul Muzeffer has come back and is now +in the city; so go thou to him and salute him and enquire what he +hath brought thee; it may be God hath blessed thee with +somewhat." "Lift me from the ground," quoth I, "and prop me up, +whilst I walk to the river-bank." So she lifted me up and I went +out and walked on, stumbling in my skirts, till I met the Sheikh, +who exclaimed, at sight of me, "Welcome to him whose money has +been the means of my delivery and that of these merchants, by +the will of God the Most High! Take this ape that I bought for +thee and carry him home and wait till I come to thee." So I +took the ape, saying in myself, "By Allah, this is indeed rare +merchandise!" and drove it home, where I said to my mother, +"Whenever I lie down to sleep, thou biddest me rise and trade; +see now this merchandise with thine own eyes." + +Then I sat down, and presently up came Aboul Muzeffer's slaves +and said to me, "Art thou Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" "Yes," +answered I; and behold, Aboul Muzeffer appeared behind them. So I +went up to him and kissed his hands; and he said to me, "Come +with me to my house." "I hear and obey," answered I and followed +him to his house, where he bade his servants bring me the money +[and what not else the ape had earned me]. So they brought it and +he said to me, "O my son, God hath blessed thee with this wealth, +by way of profit on thy five dirhems." Then the slaves laid the +treasure in chests, which they set on their heads, and Aboul +Muzeffer gave me the keys of the chests, saying, "Go before the +slaves to thy house; for all this wealth is thine." So I returned +to my mother, who rejoiced in this and said to me, "O my son, God +hath blessed thee with this much wealth; so put off thy laziness +and go down to the bazaar and sell and buy." So I shook off my +sloth, and opened a shop in the bazaar, where the ape used to sit +on the same divan with me, eating with me when I ate and drinking +when I drank. But, every day, he was absent from daybreak till +noon-day, when he came back, bringing with him a purse of a +thousand diners, which he laid by my side, and sat down. Thus did +he a great while, till I amassed much wealth, wherewith I bought +houses and lands and planted gardens and got me slaves, black and +white and male and female. + +One day, as I sat in my shop, with the ape at my side, he began +to turn right and left, and I said in myself, "What ails the +beast?" Then God made the ape speak with a glib tongue, and he +said to me, "O Abou Mohammed!" When I heard him speak, I was sore +afraid; but he said to me, "Fear not; I will tell thee my case. +Know that I am a Marid of the Jinn and came to thee, because of +thy poor estate; but to-day thou knowest not the tale of thy +wealth; and now I have a need of thee, wherein it thou do my +will, it shall be well for thee." "What is it?" asked I, and he +said, "I have a mind to marry thee to a girl like the full moon." +"How so?" quoth I. "To. morrow," replied he, "don thou thy +richest clothes and mount thy mule, with the saddle of gold, and +ride to the forage-market. There enquire for the shop of the +Sherif[FN#8] and sit down beside him and say to him, 'I come to +thee a suitor for thy daughter's hand.' If he say to thee, 'Thou +hast neither money nor condition nor family,' pull out a thousand +diners and give them to him; and if he ask more, give him more +and tempt him with money." "I hear and obey," answered I; +"to-morrow, if it please God, I will do thy bidding." + +So on the morrow I donned my richest clothes and mounting my mule +with trappings of gold, rode, attended by half a score slaves, +black and white, to the forage-market, where I found the Sherif +sitting in his shop. I alighted and saluting him, seated myself +beside him. Quoth he, "Haply, thou hast some business with us, +which we may have the pleasure of transacting?" "Yes," answered +I; "I have business with thee." "And what is it?" asked he. Quoth +I, "I come to thee as a suitor for thy daughter's hand." And he +said, "Thou hast neither money nor condition nor family;" +whereupon I pulled out a thousand diners of red gold and said to +him, "This is my rank and family; and he whom God bless and keep +hath said, 'The best of ranks is wealth.' And how well saith the +poet: + +Whoso hath money, though it be but dirhems twain, his lips Have + learnt all manner speech and he can speak and fear no + slight. +His brethren and his mates draw near and hearken to his word And + 'mongst the folk thou seest him walk, a glad and prideful + wight. +But for the money, in the which he glorieth on this wise, + Thou'dst find him, midst his fellow-men, in passing sorry + plight. +Yea, whensoe'er the rich man speaks, though in his speech he err, + 'Thou hast not spoken a vain thing,' they say; 'indeed, + thou'rt right.' +But, for the poor man, an he speak, albeit he say sooth, They + say, 'Thou liest,' and make void his speech and hold it + light +For money, verily, in all the lands beneath the sun, With + goodliness and dignity cloth its possessors dight. +A very tongue it is for him who would be eloquent And eke a + weapon to his hand who hath a mind to fight." + +When he heard this, he bowed his head awhile, then, raising it, +said, "If it must be so, I will have of thee other three thousand +diners." "I hear and obey," answered I and sent one of my +servants to my house for the money. When he came back with it, I +handed it to the Sherif, who rose and bidding his servants shut +his shop, invited his brother-merchants to the wedding; after +which he carried me to his house and drew up the contract of +marriage between his daughter and myself, saying to me, "After +ten days, I will bring thee in to her." So I went home rejoicing +and shutting myself up with the ape, told him what had passed; +and he said, "Thou hast done well." + +When the time appointed by the Sherif drew near, the ape said to +me, "There is a thing I would fain have thee do for me; and +after, thou shalt have of me what thou wilt." "What is that?" +asked I. Quoth he, "At the upper end of the bridechamber stands a +cabinet, on whose door is a padlock of brass and the keys under +it. Take the keys and open the cabinet, in which thou wilt find a +coffer of iron, with four talismanic flags at its angles. In its +midst is a brass basin full of money, wherein is tied a white +cock with a cleft comb; and on one side of the coffer are eleven +serpents and on the other a knife. Take the knife and kill the +cock; cut away the flags and overturn the chest; then go back to +the bride and do away her maidenhead. This is what I have to ask +of thee." "I hear and obey," answered I and betook myself to the +Sherif's house. + +As soon as I entered the bridechamber, I looked for the cabinet +and found it even as the ape had described it. Then I went in to +the bride and marvelled at her beauty and grace and symmetry, for +indeed they were such as no tongue can set forth. So I rejoiced +in her with an exceeding joy; and in the middle of the night, +when she slept, I rose and taking the keys, opened the cabinet. +Then I took the knife and killed the cock and threw down the +flags and overturned the coffer, whereupon the girl awoke and +seeing the closet open and the cock slain, exclaimed, "There is +no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme! The +Marid hath gotten me!" Hardly had she made an end of speaking, +when the Marid came down upon the house and seizing the bride, +flew away with her; whereupon there arose a great clamour and in +came the Sherif, buffeting his face. "O Abou Mohammed," said he, +"what is this thou hast done? Is it thus thou requitest us? I +made the talisman in the cabinet in my fear for my daughter from +this accursed one; for these six years hath he sought to steal +away the girl, but could not. But now there is no more abiding +for thee with us; so go thy ways." + +So I went out and returned to my own house, where I made search +for the ape, but could find no trace of him; whereby I knew that +he was the Marid, who had taken my wife and had tricked me into +destroying the talisman that hindered him from taking her, and +repented, rending my clothes and buffeting my face; and there was +no land but was straitened upon me. So I made for the desert, +knowing not whither I should go, and wandered on, absorbed in +melancholy thought, till night overtook me. Presently, I saw two +serpents fighting, a white one and a tawny. So I took up a stone +and throwing it at the tawny serpent, which was the aggressor, +killed it; whereupon the white serpent made off, but returned +after awhile accompanied by ten others of the same colour, which +went up to the dead serpent and tore it in pieces, till but the +head was left. Then they went their ways and I fell prostrate for +weariness on the ground where I stood; but, as I lay, pondering +my case, I heard a voice repeat the following verses, though I +saw no one: + +Let destiny with slackened rein its course appointed fare And lie + thou down by night to sleep with heart devoid of care. +For, twixt the closing of the eyes and th' opening thereof, God + hath it in His power to change a case from foul to fair. + +When I heard this, great concern got hold of me and I was beyond +measure troubled; and I heard a voice from behind me repeat these +verses also: + +Muslim, whose guide's the Koran and his due, Rejoice, for succour + cometh thee unto. +Let not the wiles of Satan make thee rue, For we're a folk whose + creed's the One, the True. + +Then said I, "I conjure thee by Him whom thou worshippest, let me +know who thou art!" Thereupon the unseen speaker appeared to me, +in the likeness of a man, and said, "Fear not; for the report of +thy good deed hath reached us, and we are a people of the +true-believing Jinn. So, if thou lack aught, let us know it, that +we may have the pleasure of fulfilling thy need." "Indeed," +answered I, "I am in sore need, for there hath befallen me a +grievous calamity, whose like never yet befell man." Quoth he, +"Surely, thou art Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" And I answered, "Yes." +"O Abou Mohammed," rejoined the genie, "I am the brother of the +white serpent, whose enemy thou slewest. We are four brothers, by +one father and mother, and we are all indebted to thee for thy +kindness. Know that he who played this trick on thee, in the +likeness of an ape, is a Marid of the Marids of the Jinn; and had +he not used this artifice, he had never been able to take the +girl; for he hath loved her and had a mind to take her this long +while, but could not win at her, being hindered of the talisman; +and had it remained as it was, he could never have done so. +However, fret not thyself for that; we will bring thee to her and +kill the Marid; for thy kindness is not lost upon us." + +Then he cried out with a terrible voice, and behold, there +appeared a company of Jinn, of whom he enquired concerning the +ape; and one of them said, "I know his abiding-place; it is in +the City of Brass, upon which the sun riseth not." Then said the +first genie to me, "O Abou Mohammed, take one of these our +slaves, and he will carry thee on his back and teach thee how +thou shalt get back the girl: but know that he is a Marid and +beware lest thou utter the name of God, whilst he is carrying +thee; or he will flee from thee, and thou wilt fall and be +destroyed." "I hear and obey," answered I and chose out one of +the slaves, who bent down and said to me, "Mount." So I mounted +on his back, and he flew up with me into the air, till I lost +sight of the earth and saw the stars as they were fixed mountains +and heard the angels glorifying God in heaven, what while the +Marid held me in converse, diverting me and hindering me from +pronouncing the name of God. But, as we flew, behold, one clad in +green raiment, with streaming tresses and radiant face, holding +in his hand a javelin whence issued sparks of fire, accosted me, +saying, "O Abou Mohammed, say, 'There is no god but God and +Mohammed is His apostle;' or I will smite thee with this +javelin." + +Now I was already sick at heart of my [forced] abstention from +calling on the name of God; so I said, "There is no god but God +and Mohammed is His apostle." Whereupon the shining one smote the +Marid with his javelin and he melted away and became ashes; +whilst I was precipitated from his back and fell headlong toward +the earth, till I dropped into the midst of a surging sea, +swollen with clashing billows. Hard by where I fell was a ship +and five sailors therein, who, seeing me, made for me and took me +up into the boat. They began to speak to me in some tongue I knew +not; but I signed to them that I understood not their speech. So +they fared on till ended day, when they cast out a net and caught +a great fish and roasting it, gave me to eat; after which they +sailed on, till they reached their city and carried me in to +their king, who understand Arabic. So I kissed the ground before +him, and he bestowed on me a dress of honour and made me one of +his officers. I asked him the name of the city, and he replied, +"It is called Henad and is in the land of China." Then he +committed me to his Vizier, bidding him show me the city, which +was formerly peopled by infidels, till God the Most High turned +them into stones; and there I abode a month's space, diverting +myself with viewing the place, nor saw I ever greater plenty of +trees and fruits than there. + +One day, as I sat on the bank of a river, there accosted me a +horseman, who said to me, "Art thou not Abou Mohammed the Lazy?" +"Yes," answered I; whereupon, "Fear not," said he; "for the +report of thy good deed hath reached us." Quoth I, "Who art +thou?" And he answered, "I am a brother of the white serpent, and +thou art hard by the place where is the damsel whom thou +seekest." So saying, he took off his [outer] clothes and clad me +therein, saying, "Fear not; for he, that perished under thee, was +one of our slaves." Then he took me up behind him and rode on +with me, till we came to a desert place, when he said to me, +"Alight now and walk on between yonder mountains till thou seest +the City of Brass; then halt afar off and enter it not, till I +return to thee and teach thee how thou shalt do." "I hear and +obey," replied I and alighting, walked on till I came to the +city, the walls whereof I found of brass. I went round about it, +looking for a gate, but found none; and presently, the serpent's +brother rejoined me and gave me a charmed sword that should +hinder any from seeing me, then went his way. + +He had been gone but a little while, when I heard a noise of +cries and found myself in the midst of a multitude of folk whose +eyes were in their breasts. Quoth they, "Who art thou and what +brings thee hither?" So I told them my story, and they said, "The +girl thou seekest is in the city with the Marid; but we know not +what he hath done with her. As for us, we are brethren of the +white serpent. But go to yonder spring and note where the water +enters, and enter thou with it; for it will bring thee into the +city." I did as they bade me and followed the water-course, till +it brought me to a grotto under the earth, from which I ascended +and found myself in the midst of the city. Here I saw the damsel +seated upon a throne of gold, under a canopy of brocade, midmost +a garden full of trees of gold, whose fruits were jewels of +price, such as rubies and chrysolites and pearls and coral. + +When she saw me, she knew me and accosted me with the +[obligatory] salutation, saying, "O my lord, who brought thee +hither?" So I told her all that had passed and she said, "Know +that the accursed Marid, of the greatness of his love for me, +hath told me what doth him hurt and what profit and that there is +here a talisman by means whereof he could, an he would, destroy +this city and all that are therein. It is in the likeness of an +eagle, with I know not what written on it, and whoso possesses +it, the Afrits will do his commandment in everything. It stands +upon a column in such a place; so go thou thither and take it. +Then set it before thee and taking a chafing-dish, throw into it +a little musk, whereupon there will arise a smoke, that will draw +all the Afrits to thee, and they will all present themselves +before thee, nor shall one be absent; and whatsoever thou biddest +them, that will they do. Arise therefore and do this thing, with +the blessing of God the Most High." + +"I hear and obey," answered I and going to the column, did what +she bade me, whereupon the Afrits presented themselves, saying, +"Here are we, O our lord! Whatsoever thou biddest us, that will +we do." Quoth I, "Bind the Marid that brought the damsel hither." +"We hear and obey," answered they and disappearing, returned +after awhile and informed me that they had done my bidding. Then +I dismissed them and returning to my wife, told her what had +happened and said to her, "Wilt thou go with me?" "Yes," answered +she. So I carried her forth of the city, by the underground +channel, and we fared on, till we fell in with the folk who had +shown me the way into the city. I besought them to teach me how I +should return to my native land; so they brought us to the +seashore and set us aboard a ship, which sailed on with us with a +fair wind, till we reached the city of Bassora. Here we landed, +and I carried my wife to her father's house; and when her people +saw her, they rejoiced with an exceeding joy. Then I fumigated +the eagle with musk and the Afrits flocked to me from all sides, +saying, "At thy service; what wilt thou have us do?" I bade them +transport all that was in the City of Brass of gold and silver +and jewels and precious things to my house in Bassora, which they +did; and I then ordered them to fetch the ape. So they brought +him before me, abject and humiliated, and I said to him, "O +accursed one, why hast thou dealt thus perfidiously with me?" +Then I commanded the Afrits to shut him in a brazen vessel: so +they put him in a strait vessel of brass and sealed it with lead. +But I abode with my wife in joy and delight; and now, O Commander +of the Faithful, I have under my hand such stores of precious +things and rare jewels and other treasure as neither reckoning +may comprise nor measure suffice unto. All this is of the bounty +of God the Most High, and if thou desire aught of money or what +not, I will bid the Jinn bring it to thee forthright.' + +The Khalif wondered greatly at his story and bestowed on him +royal gifts, in exchange for his presents, and entreated him with +the favour he deserved. + + + + + + THE GENEROUS DEALING OF YEHYA BEN KHALID + THE BARMECIDE WITH MENSOUR. + + + +It is told that Haroun er Reshid, in the days before he became +jealous of the Barmecides, sent once for one of his guards, Salih +by name, and said to him, 'O Salih, go to Mensour[FN#9] and say +to him, "Thou owest us a thousand thousand dirhems and we require +of thee immediate payment of the amount." And I charge thee, O +Salih, an he pay it not before sundown, sever his head from his +body and bring it to me.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Salih and +going to Mensour, acquainted him with what the Khalif had said, +whereupon quoth he, 'By Allah, I am a lost man; for all my estate +and all my hand owns, if sold for their utmost value, would not +fetch more than a hundred thousand dirhems. Whence then, O Salih, +shall I get the other nine hundred thousand?' 'Contrive how thou +mayst speedily acquit thyself,' answered Salih; 'else art thou a +dead man; for I cannot grant thee a moment's delay after the time +appointed me by the Khalif, nor can I fail of aught that he hath +enjoined on me. Hasten, therefore, to devise some means of saving +thyself ere the time expire.' 'O Salih,' quoth Mensour, 'I beg +thee of thy favour to bring me to my house, that I may take +leave of my children and family and give my kinsfolk my last +injunctions.' + +So he carried him to his house, where he fell to bidding his +family farewell, and the house was filled with a clamour of +weeping and lamentation and calling on God for help. Then Salih +said to him, 'I have bethought me that God may peradventure +vouchsafe thee relief at the hands of the Barmecides. Come, let +us go to the house of Yehya ben Khalid.' So they went to Yehya's +house, and Mensour told him his case, whereat he was sore +concerned and bowed his head awhile; then raising it, he called +his treasurer and said to him, 'How much money have we in our +treasury?' 'Five thousand dirhems,' answered the treasurer, and +Yehya bade him bring them and sent a message to his son Fezl, +saying, 'I am offered for sale estates of great price, that may +never be laid waste; so send me somewhat of money.' Fezl sent him +a thousand thousand dirhems, and he despatched a like message to +his son Jaafer, who also sent him a thousand thousand dirhems; +nor did he leave sending to his kinsmen of the Barmecides, till +he had collected from them a great sum of mosey for Mensour. But +the latter and Salih knew not of this; and Mensour said to Yehya, +'O my lord, I have laid hold upon thy skirt for I know not +whither to look for the money but to thee; so discharge thou the +rest of my debt for me, in accordance with thy wonted generosity, +and make me thy freed slave.' Thereupon Yehya bowed his head and +wept; then he said to a page, 'Harkye, boy, the Commander of the +Faithful gave our slave-girl Denanir a jewel of great price: go +thou to her and bid her send it us.' The page went out and +presently returned with the jewel, whereupon quoth Yehya, 'O +Mensour, I bought this jewel of the merchants for the Commander +of the Faithful, for two hundred thousand diners, and he gave it +to our slave-girl Denanir the lutanist. When he sees it with +thee, he will know it and spare thy life and do thee honour for +our sake; and now thy money is complete.' + +So Salih took the money and the jewel and carried them to the +Khalif, together with Mensour; but on the way? he heard the +latter repeat this verse, applying it to his own case: + +It was not love, indeed, my feet to them that led; Nay, but + because the stroke of th' arrows I did dread. + +When Salih heard this, he marvelled at the baseness and +ingratitude of Mensour's nature, and turning upon him, said, +'There is none on the face of the earth better than the +Barmecides, nor any baser nor more depraved than thou; for they +bought thee off from death and saved thee from destruction, +giving thee what should deliver thee; yet thou thankest them not +nor praisest them, neither acquittest thee after the manner of +the noble; nay, thou requitest their benevolence with this +speech.' Then he went to Er Reshid and acquainted him with all +that had passed; and he marvelled at the generosity and +benevolence of Yehya ben Khalid and the baseness and ingratitude +of Mensour and bade restore the jewel to Yehya, saying, 'That +which we have given, it befits not that we take again.' + +So Salih returned to Yehya, and acquainted him with Mensour's ill +conduct; whereupon, 'O Salih,' replied he, 'when a man is in +distress, sick at heart and distracted with melancholy thought. +he is not to be blamed for aught that falls from him; for it +comes not from the heart.' And he fell to seeking excuse for +Mensour. But Salih wept [in telling the tale] and exclaimed, +'Never shall the revolving sphere bring forth into being the like +of thee, O Yehya! Alas, that one of such noble nature and +generosity should be buried beneath the earth! 'And he repeated +the following verses: + +Hasten to do the kindnesses thou hast a mind unto; For bounty is + not possible at every tide and hour. +How many a man denies his soul to do the generous deed, To which + it's fain, till lack of means deprive him of the power! + + + + + + THE GENEROUS DEALING OF YEHYA BEN KHALID + WITH A MAN WHO FORGED A LETTER IN HIS + NAME. + + + +There was between Yehya ben Khalid and Abdallah ben Malik el +Khuzai[FN#10] a secret enmity, the reason whereof was that Haroun +er Reshid loved the latter with an exceeding love, so that Yehya +and his sons were wont to say that he had bewitched the Khalif; +and thus they abode a long while, with rancour in their hearts, +till it fell out that the Khalif invested Abdallah with the +government of Armenia and sent him thither. Soon after he had +established himself in his seat of government, there came to him +one of the people of Irak, a man of excellent parts and good +breeding, who had lost his wealth and wasted his substance, and +his estate was come to nought; so he forged a letter to Abdallah +in Yehya's name and set out therewith for Armenia. When he came +to the governor's gate, he gave the letter to one of the +chamberlains, who carried it to his master. Abdallah read it and +considering it attentively, knew it to be forged; so he sent for +the man, who presented himself before him and called down +blessings upon him and praised him and those of his court. Quoth +Abdallah to him, 'What moved thee to weary thyself thus and bring +me a forged letter? But be of good heart; for we will not +disappoint thy travail.' 'God prolong the life of our lord the +Vizier!' replied the other. 'If my coming irk thee, cast not +about for a pretext to repel me, for God's earth is wide and the +Divine Provider liveth. Indeed, the letter I bring thee from +Yehya ben Khalid is true and no forgery.' Quoth Abdallah, 'I will +write a letter to my agent at Baghdad and bid him enquire +concerning the letter. If it be true, as thou sayest, I will +bestow on thee the government of one of my cities; or, if thou +prefer a present, I will give thee two hundred thousand dirhems, +besides horses and camels of price and a robe of honour. But, if +the letter prove a forgery, I will have thee beaten with two +hundred blows of a stick and thy beard shaven.' + +Accordingly, he bade confine him in a privy chamber and furnish +him therein with all he needed, till his case should be made +manifest. Then he despatched a letter to his agent at Baghdad, to +the following purport: 'There is come to me a man with a letter +purporting to be from Yehya ben Khalid. Now I have my doubts of +this letter: so delay thou not, but go thyself and learn the +truth of the case and let me have an answer in all speed.' When +the letter reached the agent, he mounted at once and betook +himself to the house of Yehya ben Khalid, whom he found sitting +with his officers and boon-companions. So he gave him the letter +and he read it and said to the agent, 'Come back to me to-morrow, +against I write thee an answer.' + +When the agent had gone away, Yehya turned to his companions and +said, 'What doth he deserve who forgeth a letter in my name and +carrieth it to my enemy?' They all answered, saying this and +that, each proposing some kind of punishment; but Yehya said, 'Ye +err in that ye say and this your counsel is of the meanness and +baseness of your spirits. Ye all know the close favour of +Abdallah with the Khalif and what is between him and us of +despite and enmity; and now God the Most High hath made this man +an intermediary, to effect a reconciliation between us, and hath +appointed him to quench the fire of hate in our hearts, which +hath been growing this score years; and by his means our +differences shall be accorded. Wherefore it behoves me to requite +him by confirming his expectation and amending his estate; so I +will write him a letter to Abdallah, to the intent that he may +use him with increase of honour and liberality.' + +When his companions heard what he said, they called down +blessings on him and marvelled at his generosity and the +greatness of his magnanimity. Then he called for paper and ink +and wrote Abdallah a letter in his own hand, to the following +effect: 'In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful! Thy +letter hath reached me (may God give thee long life!) and I have +read it and rejoice in thy health and well-being. It was thy +thought that yonder worthy man had forged a letter in my name and +that he was not the bearer of any message from me; but the case +is not so, for the letter I myself wrote, and it was no forgery; +and I hope, of thy courtesy and benevolence and the nobility of +thy nature, that thou wilt fulfil this generous and excellent man +of his hope and wish and use him with the honour he deserves and +bring him to his desire and make him the special object of thy +favour and munificence. Whatever thou dost with him, it is to me +that thou dost it, and I am beholden to thee accordingly.' Then +he superscribed the letter and sealing it, delivered it to the +agent, who despatched it to Abdallah. + +When the latter read it, he was charmed with its contents and +sending for the man, said to him, 'Now will I give thee which +thou wilt of the two things I promised thee.' 'The gift were more +acceptable to me than aught else,' replied the man; whereupon +Abdallah ordered him two hundred thousand dirhems and ten Arab +horses, five with housings of silk and other five with richly +ornamented saddles of state, besides twenty chests of clothes and +ten mounted white slaves and a proportionate quantity of jewels +of price. Moreover, he bestowed on him a dress of honour and sent +him to Baghdad in great state. When he came thither, he repaired +to Yehya's house, before he went to his own folk, and sought an +audience of him. So the chamberlain went in to Yehya and said to +him, 'O my lord, there is one at our door who craves speech of +thee; and he is a man of apparent wealth and consideration, +comely of aspect and attended by many servants.' Yehya bade admit +him; so he entered and kissed the ground before him. 'Who art +thou?' asked Yehya; and he answered, 'O my lord, I am one who was +dead from the tyranny of fortune; but thou didst raise me again +from the grave of calamities and preferredst me to the paradise +of [my] desires. I am he who forged a letter in thy name and +carried it to Abdallah ben Malek el Khuzai.' 'How hath he dealt +with thee,' asked Yehya, 'and what did he give thee?' Quoth the +man, 'He hath made me rich and overwhelmed me with presents and +favours, thanks to thee and thy great generosity and magnanimity +and to thine exceeding goodness and abounding munificence and +thine all-embracing liberality. And now, behold, I have brought +all that he gave me, and it is at thy door; for it is thine to +command, and the decision is in thy hand.' 'Thou hast done me +better service than I thee,' rejoined Yehya; 'and I owe thee +thanks without stint and abundant largesse, for that thou hast +changed the enmity that was between me and yonder man of worship +into love and friendship. Wherefore I will give thee the like of +what Abdallah gave thee.' Then he ordered him money and horses +and apparel, such as Abdallah had given him; and thus that man's +fortune was restored to him by the munificence of these two +generous men. + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL MAMOUN AND THE STRANGE + DOCTOR + + + +It is said that there was none, among the Khalifs of the house of +Abbas, more accomplished in all branches of knowledge than El +Mamoun. On two days in each week, he was wont to preside at +conferences of the learned, when the doctors and theologians met +and sitting, each in his several rank and room, disputed in his +presence. One day, as he sat thus, there came into the assembly a +stranger, clad in worn white clothes, and sat down in an obscure +place, behind the doctors of the law. Then the assembled scholars +began to speak and expound difficult questions, it being the +custom that the various propositions should be submitted to each +in turn and that whoso bethought him of some subtle addition or +rare trait, should make mention of it. So the question went round +till it came to the stranger, who spoke in his turn and made a +goodlier answer than that of any of the doctors; and the Khalif +approved his speech and bade advance him to a higher room. When +the second question came round to him, he made a still more +admirable answer, and the Khalif ordered him to be preferred to a +yet higher place. When the third question reached him, he made +answer more justly and appropriately than on the two previous +occasions, and El Mamoun bade him come up and sit near himself. +When the conference broke up, water was brought and they washed +their hands; after which food was set on and they ate. Then the +doctors arose and withdrew; but El Mamoun forbade the stranger to +depart with them and calling him to himself, entreated him with +especial favour and promised him honour and benefits. + +Presently, they made ready the banquet of wine; the fair-faced +boon-companions came and the cup went round amongst them till it +came to the stranger, who rose to his feet and said, 'If the +Commander of the Faithful permit me, I will say one word.' 'Say +what thou wilt,' answered the Khalif. Quoth the stranger, +'Verily, the Exalted Intelligence[FN#11] (whose eminence God +increase!) knoweth that his slave was this day, in the august +assembly, one of the unknown folk and of the meanest of the +company, and the Commander of the Faithful distinguished him and +brought him near to himself, little as was the wit he showed, +preferring him above the rest and advancing him to a rank whereto +his thought aspired not: and now he is minded to deprive him of +that small portion of wit that raised him from obscurity and +augmented him, after his littleness. God forfend that the +Commander of the Faithful should envy his slave what little he +hath of understanding and worth and renown! But, if his slave +should drink wine, his reason would depart from him and ignorance +draw near to him and steal away his good breeding; so would he +revert to that low degree, whence he sprang, and become +contemptible and ridiculous in the eyes of the folk. I hope, +therefore, that the August Intelligence, of his power and bounty +and royal generosity and magnanimity, will not despoil his slave +of this jewel.' + +When the Khalif heard his speech, he praised him and thanked him +and making him sit down again in his place, showed him high +honour and ordered him a present of a hundred thousand diners. +Moreover he mounted him upon a horse and gave him rich apparel; +and in every assembly he exalted him and showed him favour over +all the other doctors, till he became the highest of them all in +rank. + + + + + + ALI SHAR AND ZUMURRUD. + + + +There lived once, of old days, in the land of Khorassan, a +merchant called Mejdeddin, who had great wealth and many slaves +and servants, black and white; but he was childless until he +reached the age of threescore, when God the Most High vouchsafed +him a son, whom he named Ali Shar. The boy grew up like the moon +on the night of its full, and when he came to man's estate and +was endowed with all kinds of perfection, his father fell sick of +a mortal malady and calling his son to him, said to him, 'O my +son, the hour of my death is at hand, and I desire to give thee +my last injunctions.' 'And what are they, O my father?' asked +Ali. 'O my son,' answered Mejdeddin, 'I charge thee, be not [too] +familiar with any and eschew what leads to evil and mischief. +Beware lest thou company with the wicked; for he is like the +blacksmith; if his fire burn thee not, his smoke irks thee: and +how excellent is the saying of the poet: + +There is no man in all the world whose love thou shouldst desire, + No friend who, if fate play thee false, will true and + constant be. +Wherefore I'd have thee live apart and lean for help on none. In + this I give thee good advice; so let it profit thee. + +And what another saith: + +Men are a latent malady; Count not on them, I counsel thee. +An if thou look into their case, They're full of guile and + perfidy. + +And yet a third: + +The company of men will profit thee in nought, Except to pass + away the time in idle prate; +So spare thou to converse with them, except it be For gain of + lore and wit or mending of estate. + +And a fourth + +If a quickwitted man have made proof of mankind, I have eaten of + them, where but tasted hath he, +And have seen their affection but practice and nought But + hypocrisy found their religion to be.' + +'O my father,' said Ali, 'I hear and obey: what more shall I do?' +'Do good when thou art able thereto,' answered his father; 'be +ever courteous and succourable to men and profit by all occasions +of doing a kindness; for a design is not always easy of +accomplishment; and how well saith the poet: + +'Tis not at every time and season that to do Kind offices, + indeed, is easy unto you; +So, when the occasion serves, make haste to profit by't, Lest by + and by the power should fail thee thereunto.' + +'I hear and obey,' answered Ali; 'what more?' 'Be mindful of +God,' continued Mejdeddin, 'and He will be mindful of thee. +Husband thy wealth and squander it not; for, if thou do, thou +wilt come to have need of the least of mankind. Know that the +measure of a man's worth is according to what his right hand +possesses: and how well saith the poet: + +If wealth should fail, there is no friend will bear me company, + But whilst my substance yet abounds, all men are friends to + me. +How many a foe for money's sake hath companied with me! How many + a friend for loss thereof hath turned mine enemy!' + +'What more?' asked Ali. 'O my son,' said Mejdeddin, 'take counsel +of those who are older than thou and hasten not to do thy heart's +desire. Have compassion on those that are below thee, so shall +those that are above thee have compassion on thee; and oppress +none, lest God set over thee one who shall oppress thee. How well +saith the poet: + +Add others' wit to thine and counsel still ensue; For that the + course of right is not concealed from two. +One mirror shows a man his face, but, if thereto Another one he + add, his nape thus can he view. + +And as saith another: + +Be slow to move and hasten not to match thy heart's desire: Be + merciful to all, as thou on mercy reckonest; +For no hand is there but the hand of God is over it, And no + oppressor but shall be with worse than he opprest. + +And yet another: + +Do no oppression, whilst the power thereto is in thine hand; For + still in peril of revenge the sad oppressor goes. +Thine eyes will sleep anon, what while the opprest, on wake, call + down Curses upon thee, and God's eye shuts never in repose. + +Beware of drinking wine, for it is the root of all evil: it does +away the reason and brings him who uses it into contempt; and how +well saith the poet: + +By Allah, wine shall never invade me, whilst my soul Endureth in + my body and my thoughts my words control! +Not a day long will I turn me to the zephyr-freshened bowl, And + for friend I'll choose him only who of wine-bibbing is + whole. + +This, then,' added Mejdeddin, 'is my charge to thee; keep it +before thine eyes, and may God stand to thee in my stead.' Then +he swooned away and kept silence awhile. When he came to himself, +he besought pardon of God and making the profession of the Faith, +was admitted to the mercy of the Most High. His son wept and +lamented for him and made due preparation for his burial. Great +and small attended him to the grave and the readers recited the +Koran about his bier; nor did Ali Shar omit aught of what was due +to the dead. Then they prayed over him and committed him to the +earth, graving these words upon his tomb: + +Created of the dust thou wast and cam'st to life And eloquence + didst learn and spokest many a word; +Then to the dust again returnedst and wast dead, As 'twere from + out the dust, indeed, thou'dst never stirred. + +His son Ali Shar grieved for him and mourned him after the wont +of men of condition; nor did he cease therefrom till his mother +died also, not long afterward, when he did with her as he had +done with his father. Then he sat in the shop, selling and buying +and consorting with none of God's creatures, in accordance with +his father's injunction. + +On this wise he abode for a year, at the end of which time there +came in to him certain whoreson fellows by craft and companied +with him, till he turned with them to lewdness and swerved from +the right way, drinking wine in goblets and frequenting the fair +night and day; for he said in himself, 'My father amassed this +wealth for me, and if I spend it not, to whom shall I leave it? +By Allah, I will not do save as saith the poet: + +If all the days of thy life thou get And heap up treasure, to + swell thy hoard, +When wilt thou use it and so enjoy That thou hast gathered and + gained and stored?' + +Then he ceased not to squander his wealth all tides of the day +and watches of the night, till he had made away with it all and +abode in evil case and troubled at heart. So he sold his shop and +lands and so forth, and after this he sold the clothes off his +body, leaving himself but one suit. Then drunkenness left him and +thought came to him, and he fell into melancholy. + +One day, when he had sat from day-break to mid-afternoon without +breaking his fast, he said in himself, 'I will go round to those +on whom I spent my wealth: it may be one of them will feed me +this day.' So he went the round of them all; but, as often as he +knocked at any one's door, the man denied himself and hid from +him, till he was consumed with hunger. Then he betook himself to +the bazaar, where he found a crowd of people, assembled in a ring +round somewhat, and said in himself, 'I wonder what ails the folk +to crowd together thus? By Allah, I will not remove hence, till I +see what is within yonder ring!' So he made his way into the ring +and found that the crowd was caused by a damsel exposed for sale. +She was five feet high, slender of shape, rosy-cheeked and high- +bosomed and surpassed all the people of her time in beauty and +grace and elegance and perfection; even as saith one, describing +her: + +As she wished, she was created, after such a wise that lo! She in + beauty's mould was fashioned, perfect, neither less no mo'. +Loveliness itself enamoured of her lovely aspect is; Coyness + decks her and upon her, pride and pudour sweetly show. +In her face the full moon glitters and the branch is as her + shape; Musk her breath is, nor midst mortals is her equal, + high or low. +'Tis as if she had been moulded out of water of pure pearls; In + each member of her beauty is a very moon, I trow. + +And her name was Zumurrud. + +When Ali Shar saw her, he marvelled at her beauty and grace and +said, 'By Allah, I will not stir hence till I see what price this +girl fetches and know who buys her!' So he stood with the rest of +the merchants, and they thought he had a mind to buy her, knowing +the wealth he had inherited from his parents. Then the broker +stood at the damsel's head and said, 'Ho, merchants! Ho, men of +wealth! Who will open the biddings for this damsel, the mistress +of moons, the splendid pearl, Zumurrud the Curtain-maker, the aim +of the seeker and the delight of the desirous? Open the biddings, +and on the opener be nor blame nor reproach.' + +So one merchant said, 'I bid five hundred dinars for her.' 'And +ten,' said another. 'Six hundred,' cried an old man named +Reshideddin, blue-eyed and foul of face. 'And ten,' quoth +another. 'I bid a thousand,' rejoined Reshideddin; whereupon the +other merchants were silent and the broker took counsel with the +girl's owner, who said, 'I have sworn not to sell her save to +whom she shall choose; consult her.' So the broker went up to +Zumurrud and said to her, 'O mistress of moons, yonder merchant +hath a mind to buy thee.' She looked as Reshideddin and finding +him as we have said, replied, 'I will not be sold to a grey- +beard, whom decrepitude hath brought to evil plight.' 'Bravo,' +quoth I, 'for one who saith: + +I asked her for a kiss one day, but she my hoary head Saw, though + of wealth and worldly good I had great plentihead; +So, with a proud and flouting air, her back she turned on me And, + "No, by Him who fashioned men from nothingness!" she said. +"Now, by God's truth, I never had a mind to hoary hairs, And + shall my mouth be stuffed, forsooth, with cotton, ere I'm + dead?" + +'By Allah,' quoth the broker, 'thou art excusable, and thy value +is ten thousand dinars!' So he told her owner that she would not +accept of Reshideddin, and he said, 'Ask her of another.' +Thereupon another man came forward and said, 'I will take her at +the same price.' She looked at him and seeing that his beard was +dyed, said, 'What is this lewd and shameful fashion and +blackening of the face of hoariness?' And she made a great show +of amazement and repeated the following verses: + +A sight, and what a sight, did such a one present To me! A neck, + to beat with shoes, by Allah, meant! +And eke a beard for lie a coursing-ground that was And brows for + binding on of ropes all crook'd and bent.[FN#12] +Thou that my cheeks and shape have ravished, with a lie Thou dost + disguise thyself and reck'st not, impudent; +Dyeing thy hoary hairs disgracefully with black[FN#13] And hiding + what appears, with fraudulent intent; +As of the puppet-men thou wert, with one beard go'st And with + another com'st again, incontinent. + +And how well saith another: + +Quoth she to me, "I see thou dy'st thy hoariness;" and I, "I do + but hide it from thy sight, O thou my ear and eye!"[FN#14] +She laughed out mockingly and said, "A wonder 'tis indeed! Thou + so aboundest in deceit that even thy hair's a lie." + +'By Allah,' quoth the broker, 'thou hast spoken truly!' The +merchant asked what she said: so the broker repeated the verses +to him, and he knew that she was in the right and desisted from +buying her. Then another came forward and would have bought her +at the same price; but she looked at him and seeing that he had +but one eye, said, 'This man is one-eyed; and it is of such as he +that the poet saith: + +Consort not with him that is one-eyed a day, And be on thy guard + 'gainst his mischief and lies: +For God, if in him aught of good had been found, Had not curst + him with blindness in one of his eyes.' + +Then the broker brought her another bidder and said to her, 'Wilt +thou be sold to this man?' She looked at him and seeing that he +was short of stature and had a beard that reached to his navel, +said, 'This is he of whom the poet speaks, when he says: + +I have a friend, who has a beard, that God Caused flourish + without profit, till, behold. +'Tis, as it were, to look upon, a night Of middle winter, long + and dark and cold.' + +'O my lady,' said the broker, 'look who pleases thee of these +that are present, and point him out, that I may sell thee to +him.' So she looked round the ring of merchants, examining them +one by one, till her eyes rested on Ali Shar. His sight cost her +a thousand sighs and her heart was taken with him: for that he +was passing fair of favour and more pleasant than the northern +zephyr; and she said, 'O broker, I will be sold to none but my +lord there, he of the handsome face and slender shape, whom the +poet describes in the following verses: + +They showed thy lovely face and railed At her whom ravishment + assailed. +Had they desired to keep me chaste, Thy face so fair they should + have veiled. + +None shall possess me but he,' added she; 'for his cheek is +smooth and the water of his mouth sweet as Selsebil;[FN#15] his +sight is a cure for the sick and his charms confound poet and +proser, even as saith one of him: + +The water of his mouth is wine, and very musk The fragrance of + his breath; his teeth are camphor white. +Rizwan hath put him our from paradise, for fear The black-eyed + girls of heaven be tempted with the wight. +Men blame him for his pride; but the full moon's excuse, How + proud so'er it be, finds favour in our sight. + +Him of the curling locks and rose-red cheeks and enchanting +glances, of whom saith the poet: + +A slender loveling promised me his favours fair and free; So my + heart's restless and my eye looks still his sight to see. +His eyelids warranted me the keeping of his troth; But how shall + they, that bankrupt[FN#16] are, fulfil their warranty? + +And as saith another: + +"The script of whiskers on his cheek," quoth they, "is plain to + see: How canst thou then enamoured be of him, and whiskered + he?" +Quoth I, "Have done with blame and leave your censuring, I pray. + As if it be a very script, it is a forgery. +Lo, in the gathering of his cheeks the meads of Eden be, And more + by token that his lips are Kauther,[FN#17], verily." + +When the broker heard the verses she repeated on the charms of +Ali Shar, he marvelled at her eloquence, no less than at the +brightness of her beauty; but her owner said to him, 'Marvel not +at her beauty, that shames the sun of day, nor that her mind is +stored with the choicest verses of the poets; for, besides this, +she can repeat the glorious Koran, according to the seven +readings, and the august Traditions, after the authentic text; +and she writes the seven hands and is versed in more branches of +knowledge than the most learned doctor. Moreover, her hands are +better than gold and silver; for she makes curtains of silk and +sells them for fifty dinars each; and it takes her eight days to +make a curtain.' 'Happy the man,' exclaimed the broker, 'who hath +her in his house and maketh her of his privy treasures!' And her +owner said, 'Sell her to whom she will.' So the broker went up to +Ali Shar and kissing his hands, said to him, 'O my lord, buy thou +this damsel, for she hath made choice of thee.' Then he set forth +to him all her charms and accomplishments, and added: 'I give +thee joy, if thou buy her, for she is a gift from Him who is no +niggard of His giving.' + +Ali bowed his head awhile, laughing to himself and saying +inwardly, 'Up to now I have not broken my fast; yet I am ashamed +to own before the merchants that I have no money wherewith to buy +her.' The damsel, seeing him hang down his head, said to the +broker, 'Take my hand and lead me to him, that I may show myself +to him and tempt him to buy me; for I will not be sold to any but +him.' So the broker took her hand and stationed her before Ali +Shar, saying, 'What is thy pleasure, O my lord?' But he made him +no answer, and the girl said to him, 'O my lord and darling of my +heart, what ails thee that thou wilt not bid for me? Buy me for +what thou wilt, and I will bring thee good fortune.' Ali raised +his eyes to her and said, 'Must I buy thee perforce? Thou art +dear at one thousand dinars.' 'Then buy me for nine hundred,' +answered she. 'Nay,' rejoined he; and she said, 'Then for eight +hundred;' and ceased not to abate the price, till she came to a +hundred dinars. Quoth he, 'I have not quite a hundred dinars.' +'How much dost thou lack of a hundred?' asked she, laughing. 'By +Allah,' replied he, 'I have neither a hundred dinars, nor any +other sum; for I own neither white money nor red, neither dinar +nor dirhem. So look out for another customer.' When she knew that +he had nothing, she said to him, 'Take me by the hand and carry +me aside into a passage, as if thou wouldst examine me privily.' +He did so and she took from her bosom a purse containing a +thousand dinars, which she gave him saying, 'Pay down nine +hundred to my price and keep the rest to provide us withal.' + +He did as she bade him and buying her for nine hundred dinars, +paid down the price from the purse and carried her to his house, +which when she entered, she found nothing but bare floors, +without carpets or vessels. So she gave him other thousand +dinars, saying, 'Go to the bazaar and buy three hundred dinars' +worth of furniture and vessels for the house and three dinars' +worth of meat and drink, also a piece of silk, the size of a +curtain, and gold and silver thread and [sewing] silk of seven +colours.' He did her bidding, and she furnished the house and +they sat down to eat and drink; after which they went to bed and +took their pleasure, one of the other. And they lay the night +embraced and were even as saith the poet: + +Cleave fast to her thou lov'st and let the envious rail amain; + For calumny and envy ne'er to favour love were fain. +Lo, whilst I slept, in dreams I saw thee lying by my side And + from thy lips the sweetest, sure, of limpid springs did + drain. +Yea, true and certain all I saw is, as I will avouch, And 'spite + the envier, thereto I surely will attain. +There is no goodlier sight, indeed, for eyes to look upon, Than + when one couch in its embrace enfoldeth lovers twain, +Each to the other's bosom clasped, clad in their twinned delight, + Whilst hand with hand and arm with arm about their necks + enchain. +Lo, when two hearts are straitly knit in passion and desire, But + on cold iron smite the folk who chide at them in vain. +Thou, that for loving censurest the votaries of love, Canst thou + assain a heart diseased or heal a cankered brain? +If in thy time thou find but one to love thee and be true, I rede + thee cast the world away and with that one remain. + +They lay together till the morning and love for the other was +stablished in the heart of each of them. On the morrow, Zumurrud +took the curtain and embroidered it with coloured silks and gold +and silver thread, depicting thereon all manner birds and beasts; +nor is there in the world a beast but she wrought on the curtain +the semblant thereof. Moreover, she made thereto a band, with +figures of birds, and wrought at it eight days, till she had made +an end of it, when she trimmed it and ironed it and gave it to +Ali, saying, 'Carry it to the bazaar and sell it to one of the +merchants for fifty dinars; but beware lest thou sell it to a +passer-by, for this would bring about a separation between us, +because we have enemies who are not unmindful of us.' 'I hear and +obey,' answered he and repairing to the bazaar, sold the curtain +to a merchant, as she bade him; after which he bought stuff for +another curtain and silk and gold and silver thread as before and +what they needed of food, and brought all this to her, together +with the rest of the money. + +They abode thus a whole year, and every eight days she made a +curtain, which he sold for fifty dinars. At the end of the year, +he went to the bazaar, as usual, with a curtain, which he gave to +the broker; and there came up to him a Christian, who bid him +threescore dinars for the curtain; but he refused, and the +Christian went on to bid higher and higher, till he came to a +hundred dinars and bribed the broker with ten gold pieces. So the +latter returned to Ali and told him of this and urged him to +accept the offer, saying, 'O my lord, be not afraid of this +Christian, for he can do thee no hurt.' The merchants also were +instant with him to accept the offer; so he sold the curtain to +the Christian, though his heart misgave him, and taking the +price, set off to return home. + +Presently, he found the Christian walking behind him; so he said +to him, 'O Nazarene, why dost thou follow me?' 'O my lord,' +answered the other, 'I have a need at the end of the street, may +God never bring thee to need!' Ali went on, but, as he came to +the door of his house, the Christian overtook him; so he said to +him, 'O accursed one, what ails thee to follow me wherever I go?' +'O my lord,' replied the other, 'give me a draught of water, for +I am athirst; and with God the Most High be thy reward!' Quoth +Ali in himself, 'Verily, this man is a tributary [of the +Khalifate] and seeks a draught of water of me; by Allah, I will +not disappoint him!' So he entered the house and took a mug of +water; but Zumurrud saw him and said to him, 'O my love, hast +thou sold the curtain?' 'Yes,' answered he. 'To a merchant or a +passer-by?' asked she. 'For my heart forethinketh me of +separation.' 'To a merchant, of course,' replied he. But she +rejoined, 'Tell me the truth of the case, that I may order my +affair; and what wantest thou with the mug of water?' 'To give +the broker a drink,' answered he; whereupon she exclaimed, 'There +is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme!' +And repeated the following verses: + +O thou that seekest parting, stay thy feet: Let clips and kisses + not delude thy spright. +Softly, for fortune's nature is deceit And parting is the end of + love-delight. + +Then he took the mug and going out, found the Christian within +the vestibule and said to him, 'O dog, how darest thou enter my +house without my leave?' 'O my lord,' answered he, 'there is no +difference between the door and the vestibule and I will not +budge hence, save to go out; and I am beholden to thee for thy +kindness.' Then he took the mug and emptying it, returned it to +Ali, who took it and waited for him to go; but he did not move. +So Ali said to him, 'Why dost thou not rise and go thy way?' 'O +my lord,' answered the Christian, 'be not of those that do a +kindness and after make a reproach of it, nor one of whom saith +the poet: + +Gone, gone are they who, if thou stoodst before their door of + old, Had, at thy seeking, handselled thee with benefits + untold! +And if thou stoodest at their door who follow after them, These + latter would begrudge to thee a draught of water cold. + +O my lord,' continued he, 'I have drunk, and now I would have +thee give me to eat of whatever is in the house, though it be but +a crust of bread or a biscuit and an onion.' 'Begone, without +more talk,' replied Ali; 'There is nothing in the house.' 'O my +lord,' insisted the Christian, 'if there be nothing in the house, +take these hundred dinars and fetch us somewhat from the market, +if but a cake of bread, that bread and salt may pass between us.' +With this, quoth Ali to himself, 'This Christian is surely mad; I +will take the hundred dinars and bring somewhat worth a couple of +dirhems and laugh at him.' 'O my lord,' added the Christian, 'I +want but somewhat to stay my hunger, were it but a cake of dry +bread and an onion; for the best food is that which does away +hunger, not rich meats; and how well saith the poet: + +A cake of dry stale bread will hunger out to flight: Why then are + grief and care so heavy on my spright? +Death is, indeed, most just, since, with an equal hand, Khalif + and beggar-wretch, impartial, it doth smite.' + +Then said Ali, 'Wait here, whilst I lock the saloon and fetch +thee somewhat from the market.' 'I hear and obey,' said the +Christian. So Ali shut up the saloon and locking the door with a +padlock, put the key in his pocket: after which he repaired to +the market and bought fried cheese and virgin honey and bananas +and bread, with which he returned to the Christian. When the +latter saw this, he said, 'O my lord, this is [too] much; thou +hast brought enough for half a score men and I am alone; but +belike thou wilt eat with me.' 'Eat by thyself,' replied Ali; 'I +am full.' 'O my lord,' rejoined the Christian, 'the wise say, "He +who eats not with his guest is a base-born churl."' + +When Ali heard this, he sat down and ate a little with him, after +which he would have held his hand: but [whilst he was not +looking] the Christian took a banana and peeled it, then, +splitting it in twain, put into one half concentrated henbane, +mixed with opium, a drachm whereof would overthrow an elephant. +This half he dipped in the honey and gave to Ali Shar, saying, 'O +my lord, I swear by thy religion that thou shalt take this.' Ali +was ashamed to make him forsworn; so he took the half banana and +swallowed it; but hardly had it reached his stomach, when his +head fell down in front of his feet and he was as though he had +been a year asleep. + +When the Nazarene saw this, he rose, as he had been a bald wolf +or a baited cat, and taking the saloon key, made off at a run, +leaving Ali Shar prostrate. Now this Christian was the brother of +the decrepit old man who thought to buy Zumurrud for a thousand +dinars, but she would have none of him and flouted him in verse. +He was an infidel at heart, though a Muslim in outward show, and +called himself Reshideddin;[FN#18] and when Zumurrud mocked him +and would not accept of him to her lord, he complained to his +brother, the aforesaid Christian, Bersoum by name, who said to +him, 'Fret not thyself about this affair; for I will make shift +to get her for thee, without paying a penny.' + +Now he was a skilful sorcerer crafty and wicked; so he watched +his time and played Ali Shar the trick aforesaid; then, taking +the key, he went to his brother and told him what had passed, +whereupon Reshideddin mounted his mule and repaired with his +servants to Ali Shar's house, taking with him a purse of a +thousand dinars, wherewith to bribe the master of police, should +he meet him. He unlocked the saloon door, and the men who were +with him rushed in upon Zumurrud and seized her, threatening her +with death if she spoke; but they left the house as it was and +took nothing therefrom. Moreover, they laid the key by Ali's side +and leaving him lying in the vestibule, shut the door on him and +went away. The Christian carried the girl to his own house and +setting her amongst his women and concubines, said to her, 'O +strumpet, I am the old man, whom thou did reject and lampoon; but +now I have thee, without paying a penny.' 'God requite thee, O +wicked old man,' replied she, with her eyes full of tears, 'for +sundering my lord and me!' 'Wanton doxy that thou art,' rejoined +he,' thou shalt see how I will punish thee! By the virtue of the +Messiah and the Virgin, except thou obey me and embrace my faith, +I will torture thee with all manner of torture!' 'By Allah,' +answered she, 'though thou cut me in pieces, I will not forswear +the faith of Islam! It may be God the Most High will bring me +speedy relief, for He is all-powerful, and the wise say, "Better +hurt in body than in religion."' + +Thereupon the old man called out to his eunuchs and women, +saying, 'Throw her down!' So they threw her down and he beat her +grievously, whilst she cried in vain for help, but presently +stinted and fell to saying, 'God is my sufficiency, and He is +indeed sufficient!' till her breath failed her and she swooned +away. When he had taken his fill of beating her, he said to the +eunuchs, 'Drag her forth by the feet and cast her down in the +kitchen, and give her nothing to eat.' They did his bidding, and +on the morrow the accursed old man sent for her and beat her +again, after which he bade return her to her place. When the pain +of the blows had subsided, she said, 'There is no god but God and +Mohammed is His Apostle! God is my sufficiency and excellent is +He in whom I put my trust!' And she called upon our lord Mohammed +(whom God bless and preserve) for succour. + +Meanwhile, Ali Shar slept on till next day, when the fumes of the +henbane quitted his brain and he awoke and cried out, 'O +Zumurrud!' But none answered him. So he entered the saloon and +found 'the air empty and the place of visitation distant;'[FN#19] +whereby he knew that it was the Nazarene, who had played him this +trick. And he wept and groaned and lamented and repeated the +following verses: + +O Fate, thou sparest not nor dost desist from me: Lo, for my soul + is racked with dolour and despite! +Have pity, O my lords, upon a slave laid low, Upon the rich made + poor by love and its unright. +What boots the archer's skill, if, when the foe draw near, His + bowstring snap and leave him helpless in the fight? +And when afflictions press and multiply on man, Ah, whither then + shall he from destiny take flight? +How straitly did I guard 'gainst severance of our loves! But, + when as Fate descends, it blinds the keenest sight. + +Then he sobbed and repeated these verses also: + +Her traces on the encampment's sands a robe of grace bestow: The + mourner yearneth to the place where she dwelt whiles ago. +Towards her native land she turns; a camp in her doth raise + Longing, whose very ruins now are scattered to and fro. +She stops and questions of the place; but with the case's tongue + It answers her, "There is no way to union, I trow. +'Tis as the lost a Levin were, that glittered on the camp Awhile, + then vanished and to thee appeareth nevermo'." + +And he repented, whenas repentance availed him not, and wept and +tore his clothes. Then he took two stones and went round the +city, beating his breast with the stones and crying out, 'O +Zumurrud!' whilst the children flocked round him, calling out, 'A +madman! A madman!' and all who knew him wept for him, saying, +'Yonder is such an one: what hath befallen him?' This he did all +that day, and when night darkened on him, he lay down in one of +the by-streets and slept till morning. On the morrow, he went +round about the city with the stones till eventide, when he +returned to his house, to pass the night. One of his neighbours, +a worthy old woman, saw him and said to him, 'God keep thee, O my +son! How long hast thou been mad?' And he answered her with the +following verse: + +Quoth they, "Thou'rt surely mad for her thou lov'st;" and I + replied, "Indeed the sweets of life belong unto the raving + race. +My madness leave and bring me her for whom ye say I'm mad; And if + she heal my madness, spare to blame me for my case." + +Therewith she knew him for a lover who had lost his mistress and +said, 'There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, +the Supreme! O my son, I would have thee acquaint me with the +particulars of thine affliction. Peradventure God may enable me +to help thee against it, if it so please Him.' So he told her all +that had happened and she said, 'O my son, indeed thou hast +excuse.' And her eyes ran over with tears and she repeated the +following verses: + +Torment, indeed, in this our world, true lovers do aby; Hell + shall not torture them, by God, whenas they come to die! +Of love they died and to the past their passions chastely hid; So + are they martyrs, as, indeed, traditions[FN#20] testify. + +Then she said, 'O my son, go now and buy me a basket, such as the +jewel-hawkers carry, and stock it with rings and bracelets and +ear-rings and other women's gear, and spare not money. Bring all +this to me and I will set it on my head and go round about, in +the guise of a huckstress, and make search for her in all the +houses, till I light on news of her, if it be the will of God the +Most High.' Ali rejoiced in her words and kissed her hands, then, +going out, speedily returned with all she required; whereupon she +rose and donning a patched gown and a yellow veil, took a staff +in her hand and set out, with the basket on her head. + +She ceased not to go from quarter to quarter and street to street +and house to house, till God the Most High led her to the house +of the accursed Reshideddin the Nazarene. She heard groans within +and knocked at the door, whereupon a slave-girl came down and +opening the door to her, saluted her. Quoth the old woman, 'I +have these trifles for sale: is there any one with you who will +buy aught of them?' 'Yes,' answered the girl and carrying her +indoors, made her sit down; whereupon all the women came round +her and each bought something of her. She spoke to them fair and +was easy with them as to price, so that they rejoiced in her, +because of her pleasant speech and easiness. Meanwhile, she +looked about to see who it was she had heard groaning, till her +eyes fell on Zumurrud, when she knew her and saw that she was +laid prostrate. So she wept and said to the girls, 'O my +children, how comes yonder damsel in this plight?' And they told +her what had passed, adding, 'Indeed, the thing is not of our +choice; but our master commanded us to do this, and he is now +absent on a journey.' 'O my children,' said the old woman, 'I +have a request to make of you, and it is that you loose this +unhappy woman of her bonds, till you know of your lord's return, +when do ye bind her again as she was; and you shall earn a reward +from the Lord of all creatures.' 'We hear and obey,' answered +they and loosing Zumurrud, gave her to eat and drink. + +Then said the old woman, 'Would my leg had been broken, ere I +entered your house!' And she went up to Zumurrud and said to her, +'O my daughter, take heart; God will surely bring thee relief.' +Then she told her [privily] that she came from her lord Ali Shar +and appointed her to be on the watch that night, saying, 'Thy +lord will come to the bench under the gallery and whistle to +thee; and when thou hearest him, do thou whistle back to him and +let thyself down to him by a rope from the window, and he will +take thee and go away.' Zumurrud thanked the old woman, and the +latter returned to Ali Shar and told him what she had done, +saying, 'Go to-night, at midnight, to such a quarter,--for the +accursed fellow's house is there and its fashion is thus and +thus. Stand under the window of the upper chamber and whistle; +whereupon she will let herself down to thee; then do thou take +her and carry her whither thou wilt.' He thanked her for her good +offices and repeated the following verses, with the tears running +down his cheeks: + +Let censors cease to rail and chide and leave their idle prate: + My body's wasted and my heart weary and desolate; +And from desertion and distress my tears, by many a chain Of true + traditions handed down, do trace their lineage straight. +Thou that art whole of heart and free from that which I endure Of + grief and care, cut short thy strife nor question of my + state. +A sweet-lipped maiden, soft of sides and moulded well of shape, + With her soft speech my heart hath ta'en, ay, and her + graceful gait. +My heart, since thou art gone, no rest knows nor my eyes do + sleep, Nor can the hunger of my hopes itself with patience + sate. +Yea, thou hast left me sorrowful, the hostage of desire, 'Twixt + enviers and haters dazed and all disconsolate. +As for forgetting, 'tis a thing I know not nor will know; For + none but thou into my thought shalt enter, soon or late. + +Then he sighed and shed tears and repeated these also: + +May God be good to him who brought me news that ye were come! For + never more delightful news unto my ears was borne. +If he would take a worn-out wede for boon, I'd proffer him A + heart that at the parting hour was all in pieces torn. + +He waited until the appointed time, then went to the street, +where was the Christian's house, and recognizing it from the old +woman's description, sat down on the bench under the gallery. +Presently, drowsiness overcame him, for it was long since he had +slept, for the violence of his passion, and he became as one +drunken with sleep. Glory be to Him who sleepeth not! + +Meanwhile, chance led thither a certain thief, who had come out +that night to steal somewhat and prowled about the skirts of the +city, till he happened on Reshideddin's house. He went round +about it, but found no way of climbing up into it and presently +came to the bench, where he found Ali Shar asleep and took his +turban. At that moment, Zumurrud looked out and seeing the thief +standing in the darkness, took him for her lord; so she whistled +to him and he whistled back to her; whereupon she let herself +down to him, with a pair of saddle-bags full of gold. When the +robber saw this, he said to himself, 'This is a strange thing, +and there must needs be some extraordinary cause to it.' Then, +snatching up the saddle-bags, he took Zumurrud on his shoulders +and made off with both like the blinding lightning. + +Quoth she, 'The old woman told me that thou wast weak with +illness on my account; and behold, thou art stronger than a +horse.' He made her no reply; so she put her hand to his face and +felt a beard like a bath-broom,[FN#21] as he were a hog that had +swallowed feathers and they had come out at his gullet; whereat +she took fright and said to him, 'What art thou?' 'O strumpet,' +answered he, 'I am the sharper Jewan the Kurd, of the band of +Ahmed ed Denef; we are forty sharpers, who will all tilt at thy +tail this night, from dusk to dawn.' When she heard his words, +she wept and buffeted her face, knowing that Fate had gotten the +better of her and that there was nothing for it but to put her +trust in God the Most High. So she took patience and submitted +herself to the ordinance of God, saying, 'There is no god but +God! As often as we escape from one trouble, we fall into a +worse.' + +Now the manner of Jewan's coming thither was thus: he had said to +Ahmed ed Denef, 'O captain, I have been here before and know a +cavern without the town, that will hold forty souls; so I will go +before you thither and set my mother therein. Then will I enter +the city and steal somewhat on your account and keep it till you +come; so shall you be my guests this day.' 'Do what thou wilt,' +replied Ahmed. So Jewan forewent them to the cavern and left his +mother there; but, as he came out, he found a trooper lying +asleep, with his horse tethered beside him; so he slew him and +taking his clothes and arms, hid them with his mother in the +cave, where also he tied up the horse. Then he betook himself to +the city and prowled about, till he happened on the Christian's +house and did with Ali Shar and Zumurrud as we have said. He +ceased not to run, with Zumurrud on his back, till he came to the +cavern, where he gave her in charge of his mother, saying, 'Keep +watch over her till I come back to thee at point of day,' and +went away. + +Meanwhile Zumurrud said to herself, 'Now is the time to cast +about for a means of escape. If I wait till these forty men come, +they will take their turns at me, till they make me like a water- +logged ship.' Then she turned to the old woman and said to her, +'O my aunt, wilt thou not come without the cave, that I may louse +thee in the sun?' 'Ay, by Allah, O my daughter!' replied the old +woman. 'This long time have I been out of reach of the bath; for +these hogs cease not to hale me from place to place.' So they +went without the cavern, and Zumurrud combed out the old woman's +hair and killed the vermin in her head, till this soothed her and +she fell asleep; whereupon Zumurrud arose and donning the clothes +of the murdered trooper, girt herself with his sword and covered +her head with his turban, so that she became as she were a man. +Then she took the saddle-bags full of gold and mounted the horse, +saying in herself, 'O kind Protector, I adjure thee by the glory +of Mohammed, (whom God bless and preserve,) protect me! If I +enter the city, belike one of the trooper's folk will see me, and +no good will befall me.' So she turned her back on the city and +rode forth into the desert. + +She fared on ten days, eating of the fruits of the earth and +drinking of its waters, she and her horse; and on the eleventh +day, she came in sight of a pleasant and safe city, stablished in +good; the season of winter had departed from it with its cold and +the spring-tide came to it with its roses and orange-blossoms; +its flowers blew bright, its streams welled forth and its birds +warbled. As she drew near, she saw the troops and Amirs and +notables of the place drawn up before the gate, at which she +marvelled and said to herself, 'The people of the city are all +collected at the gate: there must needs be a reason for this.' +Then she made towards them; but, as she drew near, the troops +hastened forward to meet her and dismounting, kissed the ground +before her and said, 'God aid thee, O our lord the Sultan!' + +Then the grandees ranked themselves before her, whilst the troops +ranged the people in order, saying, 'God aid thee and make thy +coming a blessing to the Muslims, O Sultan of all men! God +stablish thee, O king of the age and pearl of the day and the +time!' 'What ails you, O people of the city?' asked Zumurrud; and +the chamberlain answered, 'Verily, He who is no niggard in giving +hath been bountiful to thee and hath made thee Sultan of this +city and ruler over the necks of all that are therein; for know +that it is the custom of the citizens, when their king dies, +leaving no son, that the troops should sally forth of the pace +and abide there three days; and whoever cometh from the quarter +whence thou hast come, they make him king over them. So praised +be God who hath sent us a well-favoured man of the sons of the +Turks; for had a lesser than thou presented himself, he had been +Sultan.' + +Now Zumurrud was well-advised in all she did; so she said, 'Think +not that I am of the common folk of the Turks; nay, I am a man of +condition; but I was wroth with my family, so I went forth and +left them. See these saddle-bags full of gold I brought with me, +that I might give alms thereof to the poor and needy by the way.' +So they called down blessings upon her and rejoiced in her with +an exceeding joy and she also rejoiced in them and said in +herself, 'Now that I have attained to this estate, it may be God +will reunite me with my lord in this place, for He can do what He +will.' Then the troops escorted her to the city and dismounting, +walked before her to the palace. Here she alighted and the Amirs +and grandees, taking her under the armpits, carried her into the +palace and seated her on the throne; after which they all kissed +the ground before her. Then she bade open the treasuries and gave +largesse to the troops, who offered up prayers for the continuance +of her reign, and all the townsfolk and the people of the kingdom +accepted her rule. + +She abode thus awhile, ordering and forbidding, and remitted +taxes and released prisoners and redressed grievances, so that +all the people came to hold her in exceeding reverence and to +love her, by reason of her generosity and continence; but, as +often as she bethought her of her lord, she wept and besought God +to reunite them; and one night, as she was thinking of him and +calling to mind the days she had passed with him, her eyes ran +over with tears and she repeated the following verses: + +My longing, 'spite of time, for thee is ever new; My weeping + wounds my lids and tears on tears ensue. +Whenas I weep, I weep for anguish of desire; For grievous + severance is a lover's heart unto. + +Then she wiped away her tears and rising, betook herself to the +harem, where she appointed to the slave-girls and concubines +separate lodgings and assigned them pensions and allowances, +giving out that she was minded to live apart and devote herself +to works of piety. So she betook herself to fasting and praying, +till the Amirs said, 'Verily, this Sultan is exceeding devout.' +Nor would she suffer any attendants about her, save two little +eunuchs, to serve her. + +She held the throne thus a whole year, during which time she +heard no news of Ali Shar, and this was exceeding grievous to +her; so, when her distress became excessive, she summoned her +Viziers and chamberlains and bid them fetch architects and +builders and make her a tilting ground, a parasang long and the +like broad, in front of the palace. They hastened to do her +bidding, and when the place was competed to her liking, she went +down into it and they pitched her there a great pavilion, wherein +the chairs of the Amirs were set in their order. Then she bade +spread in the tilting-ground tables with all manner rich meats +and ordered the grandees to eat. So they ate and she said to +them, 'It is my will that, on the first day of each month, ye do +on this wise and proclaim in the city that none shall open his +shop, but that all the people shall come and eat of the king's +banquet, and that whoso disobeyeth shall be hanged over his own +door.' + +They did as she bade them, and when came the first day of the +next month, Zumurrud went down into the tilting-ground and the +crier proclaimed aloud, saying, 'Ho, all ye people, great and +small, whoso openeth shop or house or magazine shall straightway +be hanged over his own door; for it behoves you all to come and +eat of the king's banquet.' Then they laid the tables and the +people came in troops; so she bade them sit down at the tables +and eat their fill of all the dishes. So they sat down and she +sat on her chair of estate, watching them, whilst each thought +she was looking at none but him. Then they fell to eating and the +Amirs said to them, 'Eat and be not ashamed; for this is pleasing +to the King.' So they ate their fill and went away, blessing the +King and saying, one to the other, 'Never saw we a Sultan that +loved the poor as doth this Sultan.' And they wished her length +of life, whilst Zumurrud returned to the palace, rejoicing in her +device and saying in herself, 'If it please God the Most High, I +shall surely by this means happen on news of my lord Ali Shar.' + +When the first day of the second month came round, she made the +banquet as before and the folk came and sat down at the tables, +company by company and one by one. As she sat on her throne, at +the head of the tables, watching the people eat, her eye fell on +Bersoum, the Nazarene who had bought the curtain of Ali Shar; and +she knew him and said in herself, 'This is the first of my solace +and of the accomplishment of my desire.' Bersoum came up to the +table and sitting down with the rest to eat, espied a dish of +sweet rice, sprinkled with sugar; but it was far from him. So he +pushed up to it and putting out his hand to it, took it and set +it before himself. His next neighbour said to him, 'Why dost thou +not eat of what is before thee? Art thou not ashamed to reach +over for a dish that is distant from thee?' Quoth Bersoum, 'I +will eat of none but this dish.' 'Eat then,' rejoined the other, +'and small good may it do thee!' But another man, a hashish- +eater, said, 'Let him eat of it, that I may eat with him.' 'O +unluckiest of hashish-eaters,' replied the first speaker, 'this +is no meat for thee; it is eating for Amirs. Let it be, that it +may return to those for whom it is meant and they eat it.' + +But Bersoum heeded him not and putting his hand to the rice, took +a mouthful and put it in his mouth. He was about to take a second +mouthful, when Zumurrud, who was watching him, cried out to +certain of her guards, saying, 'Bring me yonder man with the dish +of sweet rice before him and let him not eat the mouthful he hath +ready, but throw it from his hand.' So four of the guards went up +to Bersoum and throwing the mouthful of rice from his hand, haled +him forthright before Zumurrud, whilst all the people left eating +and said to one another, 'By Allah, he did wrong in not eating of +the food meant for the like of him.' 'For me,' quoth one, 'I was +content with this frumenty that is before me.' And the hashish- +eater said, 'Praised be God who hindered me from eating of the +dish of sweet rice, for I looked for it to stand before him and +was only waiting for him to have stayed his hunger of it, to eat +with him, when there befell him what we see.' And they said, one +to another, 'Wait till we see what befalls him.' + +Then said Zumurrud to Bersoum, 'Out on thee, O blue eyes! What is +thy name and why comest thou hither?' But the accursed fellow +miscalled himself, having a white turban,[FN#22] and answered, 'O +King, my name is Ali; I am a weaver and came hither to trade.' +'Bring me a table of sand and a pen of brass,' quoth Zumurrud, +and they brought her what she sought. She levelled the sand and +taking the pen, drew a geomantic figure, in the likeness of an +ape; then, raising her head, she considered Bersoum straitly and +said to him, 'O dog, how darest thou lie to kings? Art thou not a +Nazarene, Bersoum by name, and comest thou not hither in quest of +somewhat? Speak the truth, or, by the splendour of the Deity, I +will strike off thy head?' At this, Bersoum was confounded and +the Amirs and bystanders said, 'Verily, the King understands +geomancy: blessed be He who hath gifted him!' Then Zumurrud cried +out upon Bersoum and said, 'Tell me the truth, or I will make an +end of thee!' 'Pardon, O King of the age,' replied Bersoum; 'the +table hath told thee aright; thy slave is indeed a Nazarene.' +Whereupon all present wondered at the King's skill in geomancy, +saying, 'Verily, the King is a diviner, whose like there is not +in the world.' + +Then Zumurrud bade flay the Christian and stuff his skin with +straw and hang it over the gate of the tilting-ground. Moreover, +she commanded to dig a pit without the city and burn his flesh +and bones therein and throw over his ashes offal and rubbish. 'We +hear and obey,' answered they and did with him as she bade. When +the people saw what had befallen the Christian, they said, 'He +hath his deserts; but what an unlucky mouthful was that for him!' +And another said, 'Be my wife triply divorced if ever I eat of +sweet rice as long as I live!' 'Praised be God,' quoth the +hashish-eater, 'who saved me from this fellow's fate by hindering +me from eating of the rice!' Then they all went out, minded +thenceforth to leave sitting in the Christian's place, over +against the dish of sweet rice. + +When the first day of the third month came, they laid the tables +as of wont, and Queen Zumurrud came down and sat on her throne, +with her guards in attendance on her, fearing her danger. Then +the townsfolk entered, as usual, and went round about the tables, +looking for the place of the dish of sweet rice, and quoth one to +another, 'Hark ye, Hajji Khelef!' 'At thy service, O Hajji +Khalid,' answered the other. 'Avoid the dish of sweet rice,' said +Khalid, 'and look thou eat not thereof; for if thou do, thou wilt +be hanged.' Then they sat down to meat; and as they were eating, +Zumurrud chanced to look at the gate of the tilting-ground and +saw a man come running in. So she considered him and knew him for +Jewan the Kurd. + +Now the manner of his coming was on this wise. When he left his +mother, he went to his comrades and said to them, 'I had fine +purchase yesterday; for I slew a trooper and took his horse. +Moreover there fell to me last night a pair of saddle-bags, full +of gold, and a girl worth more than the money; and I have left +them all with my mother in the cave.' At this they rejoiced and +repaired to the cavern at nightfall, whilst they forewent them, +that he might fetch them the booty. But he found the place empty +and questioned his mother, who told him what had befallen; +whereupon he bit his hands for despite and exclaimed, 'By Allah, +I will make search for yonder harlot and take her, wherever she +is, though it be in the shell of a pistachio-nut, and quench my +malice on her!' So he went forth in quest of her and journeyed +from place to place, till he came to Queen Zumurrud's city. He +found the town deserted and enquiring of some women whom he saw +looking from the windows, learnt that it was the Sultan's custom +to make a banquet for all the people on the first of each month +and was directed to the tilting-ground, where the feast was +spread. + +So he came running in and finding no place empty, save that +before the dish of sweet rice, took his seat there and put out +his hand to the dish; whereupon the folk cried out to him, +saying, 'O brother, what wilt thou do?' Quoth he, 'I mean to eat +my fill of this dish.' 'If thou eat of it,' rejoined one of the +people, 'thou wilt assuredly be hanged.' But Jewan said, 'Hold +thy peace and talk not thus.' Then he stretched out his hand to +the dish aforesaid and drew it to him. + +Now the hashish-eater, of whom we have before spoken, was sitting +by him; but when he saw him do this, the fumes of the hashish +left his head and he fled from his place and sat down afar off, +saying, 'I will have nothing to do with yonder dish.' Then Jewan +put out his hand, as it were a crow's foot, and dipping it in the +dish, scooped up therewith half the dishful and drew it out, as +it were a camel's hoof, and the bottom of the dish appeared. He +rolled the rice in his hand, till it was like a great orange, and +threw it ravenously into his mouth; and it rolled down his +gullet, with a noise like thunder. 'Praised by God,' quoth his +neighbour, 'who hath not made me meat before thee; for thou hast +emptied the dish at one mouthful.' 'Let him eat,' said the +hashish-eater; 'methinks he hath a gallows-face.' Then, turning +to Jewan, 'Eat,' added he, 'and small good may it do thee!' + +Jewan put out his hand again and taking another mouthful, was +rolling it in his hands like the first, when Zumurrud cried out +to the guards, saying, 'Bring me yonder man in haste and let him +not eat the mouthful in his hand.' So they ran and seizing him, +as he bent over the dish, brought him to her, whilst the people +exulted over him and said, one to the other, 'He hath his +deserts, for we warned him, but he would not take warning. +Verily, this place is fated to be the death of whoso sits +therein, and yonder rice is fatal to all who eat of it.' + +Then said Zumurrud to Jewan, 'What is thy name and condition and +why comest thou hither?' 'O our lord the Sultan,' answered he, +'my name is Othman; I am a gardener and am come hither in quest +of somewhat I have lost.' 'Bring me a table of sand,' said +Zumurrud. So they brought it, and she took the pen and drawing a +geomantic figure, considered it awhile, then raising her head, +exclaimed, 'Out on thee, thou sorry knave! How darest thou lie to +kings? This sand tells me that thy name is Jewan the Kurd and +that thou art by trade a robber, taking men's goods in the way of +unright and slaying those whom God hath forbidden to slay, save +for just cause.' And she cried out upon him, saying, 'O hog, tell +me the truth of thy case or I will cut off thy head!' + +When he heard this, he turned pale and his teeth chattered; then, +deeming that he might save himself by telling the truth, he +replied, 'O King, thou sayest sooth; but I repent at thy hands +henceforth and turn to God the Most High!' Quoth she, 'I may not +leave a pest in the way of the true-believers.' And she said to +her guards, 'Take him and flay him and do with him as ye did by +his like last month.' And they did her commandment. When the +hashish-eater saw this, he turned his back upon the dish of rice, +saying, 'It is unlawful to present my face to thee.' Then, when +they had made an end of eating, they dispersed and Zumurrud +returned to her palace and dismissed her attendants. + +When the fourth month came round, they made the banquet, as of +wont, and the folk sat awaiting leave to begin. Presently +Zumurrud entered and sitting down on her throne, looked at the +tables and saw that room for four people was left void before the +dish of rice, at which she wondered. As she sat, looking around, +she saw a man come running in at the gate, who stayed not till he +reached the tables and finding no room, save before the dish of +rice, took his seat there. She looked at him and knowing him for +the accursed Christian, who called himself Reshideddin, said in +herself, 'How blessed is this device of the food, into whose +toils this infidel hath fallen!' + +Now the manner of his coming was extraordinary, and it was on +this wise. When he returned from his journey, the people of the +house told him that Zumurrud was missing and with her a pair of +saddle-bags full of gold; whereupon he rent his clothes and +buffeted his face and plucked out his beard. Then he despatched +his brother Bersoum in quest of her, and when he was weary of +awaiting news of him, he went forth himself, to seek for him and +for Zumurrud, and fate led him to the latter's city. He entered +it on the first day of the month and finding the streets deserted +and the shops shut, enquired of the women at the windows, who +told him that the King made a banquet on the first of each month +for the people, all of whom were bound to attend it, nor might +any abide in his house or shop that day; and they directed him to +the tilting-ground. + +So he betook himself thither and sitting down before the rice, +put out his hand to eat thereof, whereupon Zumurrud cried out to +her guards, saying, 'Bring me him who sits before the dish of +rice.' So they laid hands on him and brought him before Queen +Zumurrud, who said to him, 'Out on thee! What is thy name and +occupation, and what brings thee hither?' 'O King of the age,' +answered he, 'my name is Rustem and I have no occupation, for +I am a poor dervish.' Then said she to her attendants, 'Bring +me a table of sand and pen of brass.' So they brought her what +she sought, as usual; and she took the pen and drawing a +geomantic figure, considered it awhile, then raising her head to +Reshideddin, said, 'O dog, how darest thou lie to kings? Thy name +is Reshideddin the Nazarene; thou art outwardly a Muslim, but a +Christian at heart, and thine occupation is to lay snares for the +slave-girls of the Muslims and take them. Speak the truth, or +I will smite off thy head.' He hesitated and stammered, then +replied, 'Thou sayest sooth, O King of the age!' Whereupon she +commanded to throw him down and give him a hundred blows on each +sole and a thousand on his body; after which she bade flay him +and stuff his skin with hards of flax and dig a pit without the +city, wherein they should burn his body and cast dirt and rubbish +on his ashes. They did as she bade them and she gave the people +leave to eat. + +So they ate their fill and went their ways, whilst Zumurrud +returned to her palace, thanking God for that He had solaced her +heart of those who had wronged her. Then she praised the Creator +of heaven and earth and repeated the following verses: + +Lo, these erst had power and used it with oppression and unright! + In a little, their dominion was as it ne'er had been. +Had they used their power with justice, they had been repaid the + like; But they wrought unright and Fortune guerdoned them + with dole and teen. +So they perished and the moral of the case bespeaks them thus, + "This is what your crimes have earnt you: Fate is not to + blame, I ween." + +Then she called to mind her lord Ali Shar and wept, but presently +recovered herself and said, 'Surely God, who hath given mine +enemies into my hand, will vouchsafe me speedy reunion with my +beloved; for He can do what He will and is generous to His +servants and mindful of their case!' Then she praised God (to +whom belong might and majesty) and besought forgiveness of Him, +submitting herself to the course of destiny, assured that to each +beginning there is an end, and repeating the saying of the poet: + +Be at thine ease, for all things' destiny Is in His hands who + fashioned earth and sea. +Nothing of Him forbidden shall befall Nor aught of Him appointed + fail to thee. + +And what another saith: + +Let the days pass, as they list, and fare, And enter thou not the + house of despair. +Full oft, when the quest of a thing is hard, The next hour brings + us the end of our care. + +And a third: + +Be mild what time thou'rt ta'en with anger and despite And + patient, if there fall misfortune on thy head. +Indeed, the nights are quick and great with child by Time And of + all wondrous things are hourly brought to bed. + +And a fourth: + +Take patience, for therein is good; an thou be learn'd in it, + Thou shalt be calm of soul nor drink of anguish any whit. +And know that if, with a good grace, thou do not thee submit, Yet + must thou suffer, will or nill, that which the Pen hath + writ. + +She abode thus another whole month's space, judging the folk and +commanding and forbidding by day, and by night weeping and +bewailing her separation from her lord Ali Shar. On the first day +of the fifth month, she bade spread the banquet as usual and sat +down at the head of the tables, whilst the people awaited the +signal to fall to, leaving the space before the dish of rice +vacant. She sat with eyes fixed upon the gate of the tilting- +ground, noting all who entered and saying, 'O Thou that +restoredst Joseph +to Jacob and didst away the affliction of Job, vouchsafe of Thy +power and greatness to restore me my lord Ali Shar; for Thou +canst all things! O Lord of all creatures, O Guide of the erring, +O Hearer of those that cry, O Answerer of prayer, answer Thou my +prayer, O Lord of all creatures!' + +Hardly had she made an end of her prayer, when she saw entering +the gate a young man, in shape like the willow wand, the +comeliest and most accomplished of youths, save that his face was +sallow and his form wasted. He came up to the tables and finding +no seat vacant save before the dish of rice, sat down there; +whereupon Zumurrud's heart fluttered and observing him narrowly, +she knew him for her lord Ali Shar and was like to have cried out +for joy, but restrained herself, fearing disgrace before the +folk. Her bowels were troubled and her heart throbbed; but she +concealed that which she suffered. + +Now the manner of his coming thither was on this wise. When +he awoke and found himself lying on the bench outside the +Christian's house, with his head bare, he knew that some one had +come upon him and robbed him of his turban, whilst he slept. So +he spoke the word, which whoso saith shall never be confounded, +that is to say, 'Verily, we are God's and to Him we return!' and +going back to the old woman's house, knocked at the door. She +came out and he wept before her, till he swooned away. When he +came to himself, he told her all that had passed, and she blamed +him and chid him for his heedlessness, saying, 'Thou hast but +thyself to thank for thine affliction and calamity.' And she +gave not over reproaching him, till the blood streamed from his +nostrils and he again fainted away. When he revived, he saw her +weeping over him; so he bewailed himself and repeated the +following verses: + +How bitter is parting to friends, and how sweet Reunion to + lovers, for sev'rance that sigh! +May God all unite them and watch over me, For I'm of their number + and like for to die. + +The old woman mourned over him and said to him, 'Sit here, whilst +I go in quest of news and return to thee in haste.' 'I hear and +obey,' answered he. So she left him and was absent till midday, +when she returned and said to him, 'O Ali, I fear me thou must +die in thy grief; thou wilt never see thy beloved again save on +Es Sirat;[FN#23] for the people of the Christian's house, when +they arose in the morning, found the window giving on the garden +broken in and Zumurrud missing, and with her a pair of saddle- +bags, full of the Christian's money. When I came thither, I found +the Master of Police and his officers standing at the door, and +there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the +Supreme!' + +When he heard this, the light in his eyes was changed to darkness +and he despaired of life and made sure of death; nor did he leave +weeping, till he lost his senses. When he recovered, love and +longing were sore upon him; there befell him a grievous sickness +and he kept his house a whole year; during which time the old +woman ceased not to bring him doctors and ply him with diet- +drinks and make him broths, till his life returned to him. Then +he recalled what had passed and repeated the following verses: + +Union is parted; in its stead, of grief I am possessed: My tears + flow still, my heart's on fire for yearning and unrest. +Longing redoubles on a wight who hath no peace, so sore Of love + and wakefulness and pain he's wasted and oppressed. +Lord, I beseech Thee, if there be relief for me in aught, + Vouchsafe it, whilst a spark of life abideth in my breast. + +When the second year began, the old woman said to him, 'O my son, +all this thy sadness and sorrowing will not bring thee back thy +mistress. Rise, therefore, take heart and seek for her in the +lands: haply thou shalt light on some news of her.' And she +ceased not to exhort and encourage him, till he took heart and +she carried him to the bath. Then she made him drink wine and eat +fowls, and thus she did with him for a whole month, till he +regained strength and setting out, journeyed without ceasing till +he arrived at Zumurrud's city, when he went to the tilting-ground +and sitting down before the dish of sweet rice, put out his hand +to eat of it. + +When the folk saw this, they were concerned for him and said to +him, 'O young man, eat not of that dish, for whoso eats thereof, +misfortune befalls him.' 'Leave me to eat of it,' answered he, +'and let them do with me as they list, so haply I may be at rest +from this weary life.' Then he ate a first mouthful, and Zumurrud +was minded to have him brought to her; but bethought her that +belike he was anhungred and said in herself, 'It were well to let +him eat his fill.' So he went on eating, whilst the people looked +on in astonishment, waiting to see what would befall him; and +when he had done, Zumurrud said to certain of her eunuchs, 'Go to +yonder youth that eateth of the rice and bring him to me on +courteous wise, saying, 'The King would have speech of thee on +some slight matter.' 'We hear and obey,' answered they and going +up to Ali Shar, said to him, 'O my lord, the King desires the +favour of a word with thee, and let thy heart be easy.' 'I hear +and obey,' replied he and followed the eunuchs, who carried him +before Zumurrud, whilst the people said to one another, 'There is +no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the Supreme! I +wonder what the King will do with him!' And others said, 'He will +do him nought but good; for, were he minded to harm him, he had +not suffered him to eat his fill.' + +When he came before Zumurrud, he saluted and kissed the earth +before her, whilst she returned his greeting and received him +with honour. Then said she to him, 'What is thy name and +condition and what brought thee hither?' 'O King,' answered he, +'my name is Ali Shar; I am of the sons of the merchants of +Khorassan and the object of my coming hither is to seek for a +slave-girl whom I have lost; for she was dearer to me than my +sight and my hearing, and indeed my soul cleaves to her, since I +lost her.' And he wept, till he swooned away. She caused sprinkle +rose-water on his face, till he came to himself, when she said, +'Bring me the table of sand and the pen.' So they brought them +and she took the pen and drew a geomantic figure, which she +considered awhile; then, 'Thou hast spoken sooth,' quoth she. +'God will grant thee speedy reunion with her; so be not +troubled.' Then she bade her chamberlain carry him to the bath +and after clothe him in a handsome suit of royal apparel, and +mount him an one of the best of the King's horses and bring him +to the palace at end of day. So the chamberlain took him away, +whilst the folk said to one another, 'What makes the King deal +thus courteously with yonder youth?' And one said, 'Did I not +tell you that he would do him no hurt? For he is fair of aspect; +and this I knew, when the King suffered him to eat his fill.' And +each said his say; after which they all dispersed and went their +ways. + +As for Zumurrud, she thought the night would never come, that she +might be alone with the beloved of her heart. As soon as it was +dusk, she withdrew to her sleeping-chamber and made as she were +overcome with sleep; and it was her wont to suffer none to pass +the night with her, save the two little eunuchs that waited upon +her. After a little, she sent for Ali Shar and sat down upon the +bed, with candles burning at her head and feet and the place +lighted with hanging lamps of gold that shone like the sun. When +the people heard of her sending for Ali Shar, they marvelled and +said, 'Algates, the King is enamoured of this young man, and to- +morrow he will make him commander of the troops.' And each +thought his thought and said his say. When they brought him in to +her, he kissed the earth before her and called down blessings on +her, and she said in herself, 'Needs must I jest with him awhile, +ere I make myself known to him.' Then said she to him, 'O Ali, +hast thou been to the bath?' 'Yes, O my lord,' answered he. +'Come, eat of this fowl and meat and drink of this wine and +sherbet of sugar,' said she; 'for thou art weary; and after come +hither.' 'I hear and obey,' replied he and did as she bade him. + +When he had made an end of eating and drinking, she said to him, +'Come up with me on the couch and rub my feet.' So he fell to +rubbing her feet and legs and found them softer than silk. Then +said she, 'Go higher with the rubbing;' and he, 'Pardon me, O my +lord, I will go no higher than the knee.' Whereupon, 'Wilt thou +gainsay me?' quoth she. 'It shall be an ill-omened night for +thee! Nay, but it behoves thee to do my bidding and I will make +thee my minion and appoint thee one of my Amirs.' 'And in what +must I do thy bidding, O King of the age?' asked Ali. 'Put off +thy trousers,' answered she, 'and lie down on thy face.' Quoth +he, 'That is a thing I never in my life did; and if thou force me +thereto, I will accuse thee thereof before God on the Day of +Resurrection. Take all thou hast given me and let me go to my own +city.' And he wept and lamented. But she said, 'Put off thy +trousers and lie down on thy face, or I will strike off thy +head.' So he did as she bade him and she mounted upon his back. +And he felt what was softer than silk and fresher than cream and +said in himself, 'Of a truth, this King is better than all the +women!' + +She abode a while on his back, then turned over on to the ground, +and he said [in himself], 'Praised be God! It seems his yard is +not in point.' Then said she, 'O Ali, it is of the wont of my +yard that it standeth not on end, except it be rubbed with the +hand; so, some, rub it with thy hand, till it be in point, else +will I kill thee.' So saying, she lay down on her back and taking +his hand, set it to her kaze, and he found it a kaze softer than +silk, white, plump and great, resembling for heat the hot room of +the bath or the heart of a lover, whom passion hath wasted. Quoth +Ali in himself, 'Verily, this King hath a kaze. This is a wonder +of wonders!' And desire got hold on him and his yard stood on end +to the utmost; which when Zumurrud saw, she burst out laughing +and said to him, 'O my lord, all this betideth and yet thou +knowest me not!' 'And who art thou, O King?' asked he; and she +said, 'I am thy slave-girl Zumurrud.' + +When he knew this and was certified that she was indeed his very +slave-girl Zumurrud, he threw himself upon her, as the lion upon +the sheep, and kissed her and embraced her. Then he thrust his +yard into her poke and stinted not to play the porter at her door +and the Imam[FN#24] at her prayer-niche, whilst she with him +ceased not from inclination and prostration and rising up and +sitting down,[FN#25] accompanying her canticles of praise[FN#26] +with motitations and other amorous gestures, till the [two +little] eunuchs [aforesaid] heard [the noise]. So they came and +peeping out from behind the curtains, saw the King lying [on his +back] and Ali Shar upon him, thrusting and thronging amain, +whilst she puffed and blew and wriggled. Quoth they, 'This is no +man's wriggle; belike this King is a woman.' But they concealed +their affair and discovered it to none. + +On the morrow, Zumurrud summoned all the troops and the grandees +of the realm and said to them, 'I am minded to journey to this +man's country; so choose a deputy, who shall rule over you, till +I return to you.' And they answered, 'We hear and obey.' Then she +applied herself to making ready for the journey and furnished +herself with victual and treasure and camels and mules and so +forth; after which she set out with Ali Shar, and they fared on, +till they arrived at his native place, where he entered his house +and gave alms and largesse. God vouchsafed him children by her, +and they both lived the happiest of lives, till there came to +them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Companies. Glory +be to God, the Eternal without cease, and praised be He in every +case! + + + + + + THE LOVES OF JUBEIR BEN UMEIR AND THE LADY + BUDOUR + + + +It is related the Khalif Haroun er Reshid was restless one night +and could not sleep; so that he ceased not to toss from side to +side for very restlessness, till, growing weary of this, he +called Mesrour and said to him, 'O Mesrour, look what may solace +me of this my restlessness.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered Mesrour, 'wilt thou walk in the garden of the palace and +divert thyself with the sight of its flowers and gaze upon the +stars and note the beauty of their ordinance and the moon among +them, shining on the water?' 'O Mesrour,' replied the Khalif, 'my +heart inclines not to aught of this.' 'O my lord,' continued +Mesrour, 'there are in thy palace three hundred concubines, each +of whom hath her separate lodging. Do thou bid retire each into +her own apartment and then go thou about and divert thyself with +gazing on them, without their knowledge.' 'O Mesrour,' answered +Haroun, 'the palace is mine and the girls are my property: +moreover, my soul inclineth not to aught of this.' 'O my lord,' +said Mesrour, 'summon the doctors and sages and poets and bid +them contend before thee in argument and recite verses and tell +thee tales and anecdotes.' 'My soul inclines not to aught of +this,' answered the Khalif; and Mesrour said, 'O my lord, bid the +minions and wits and boon-companions attend thee and divert thee +with witty sallies.' 'O Mesrour,' replied the Khalif, 'indeed my +soul inclineth not to aught of this.' 'Then, O my lord,' rejoined +Mesrour, 'strike off my head; maybe, that will dispel thine +unease and do away the restlessness that is upon thee.' + +At this the Khalif laughed and said, 'See which of the boon- +companions is at the door.' So Mesrour went out and returning, +said, 'O my lord, he who sits without is Ali ben Mensour of +Damascus, the Wag.' 'Bring him to me,' quoth Haroun; and Mesrour +went out and returned with Ibn Mensour, who said, on entering, +'Peace be on thee, O Commander of the Faithful!' The Khalif +returned his salutation and said to him, 'O Ibn Mensour, tell us +one of thy stories.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' said the +other, 'shall I tell thee what I have seen with my eyes or what I +have only heard tell?' 'If thou have seen aught worth telling,' +replied the Khalif, 'let us hear it; for report is not like eye- +witness.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' said Ibn Mensour, 'lend +me thine ear and thy heart.' 'O Ibn Mensour,' answered the +Khalif, 'behold, I am listening to thee with mine ears and +looking at thee with mine eyes and attending to thee with my +heart.' + +'Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,' began Ibn Mensour, +'that I receive a yearly allowance from Mohammed ben Suleiman el +Hashimi, Sultan[FN#27] of Bassora; so I went to him, once upon a +time, as usual, and found him about to ride out a-hunting. I +saluted him, and he returned my salute and would have me mount and +go a-hunting with him; but I said, "O my lord, I cannot ride; so +do thou stablish me in the guest-house and give thy chamberlains +and officers charge over me." And he did so and departed for the +chase. His officers entreated me with the utmost honour and +hospitality; but I said in myself, "By Allah, it is a strange +thing that I should have used so long to come from Baghdad to +Bassora, yet know no more of the town than from the palace to +the garden and back again! When shall I find an occasion like +this to view the different parts of Bassora? I will rise at once +and walk forth alone and divert myself and digest what I have +eaten." + +So I donned my richest clothes and went out a-walking in Bassora. +Now it is known to thee, O Commander of the Faithful, that it +hath seventy streets, each seventy parasangs long of Irak +measure; and I lost myself in its by-streets and thirst overcame +me. Presently, as I went along, I came to a great door, on which +were two rings of brass, with curtains of red brocade drawn +before it. Over the door was a trellis, covered with a creeping +vine, that hung down and shaded the doorway; and on either side +the porch was a stone bench. I stood still, to gaze upon the +place, and presently heard a sorrowful voice, proceeding from a +mourning heart, warbling melodiously and chanting the following +verses: + +My body is become th' abode of sickness and dismay, By reason of + a fawn, whose land and stead are far away. +O zephyr of the waste, that roused my pain in me, I pray, By God + your Lord, to him, with whom my heart dwells, take your way + And prithee chide him, so reproach may soften him, + maybe. +And if to you he do incline and hearken, then make fair Your + speech and tidings unto him of lovers, 'twixt you, bear. +Yea, and vouchsafe to favour me with service debonair And unto + him I love make known my case and my despair, + Saying, "What ails thy bounden slave that, for + estrangement, she +Should die without offence of her committed or despite Or + disobedience or breach of plighted faith or slight +Or fraud or turning of her heart to other or unright?" And if he + smile, with dulcet speech bespeak ye thus the wight: + "An thou thy company wouldst grant to her, 'twere well + of thee; +For she for love of thee's distraught, as needs must be the case; + Her eyes are ever void of sleep; she weeps and wails apace." +If he show favour and incline to grant the wished-for grace, 'Tis + well and good; but, if ye still read anger in his face, + Dissemble then with him and say, "We know her not, not + we." + +Quoth I to myself, "Verily, if the owner of this voice be fair, +she unites beauty of person and eloquence and sweetness of +voice." Then I drew near the door, and raising the curtain little +by little, beheld a damsel, white as the moon, when it rises on +its fourteenth night, with joined eyebrows and languorous +eyelids, breasts like twin pomegranates and dainty lips like twin +corn-marigolds,[FN#28] mouth as it were Solomon's seal and teeth +that sported with the reason of rhymester and proser, even as +saith the poet: + +O mouth of the beloved, who set thy pearls arow And eke with + wine fulfilled thee and camomiles like show, +And lent the morning-glory unto thy smile, and who Hath with a + padlock sealed thee of rubies sweet of show? +Whoso but looks upon thee is mad for joy and pride. How should + it fare with him, who kisseth thee, heigho! + +And as saith another: + +O pearls of the teeth of my love, Have ruth on cornelian and + spare To vie with it! Shall it not find You peerless and + passing compare? + +In fine, she comprised all manner of loveliness and was a +ravishment to men and women, nor could the beholder satisfy +himself with the sight of her beauty; for she was as the poet +hath said of her: + +If, face to face, she do appear, unveiled, she slays; and if + She turn her back, she makes all men her lovers far and + near. +Like the full moon and eke the sun she is, but cruelty And + inhumanity belong not to her nature dear. +The garden-gates of Paradise are opened with her shift And the + full moon revolveth still upon her neck-rings' sphere. + +As I looked at her through the opening of the curtains, she +turned and seeing me standing at the door, said to her maid, +"See who stands at the door." So the maid came up to me and +said, "O old man, hast thou no shame, or do gray hairs and +impudence go together?" "O my mistress," answered I, "I confess +to the gray hairs, but as for unmannerliness, I think not to be +guilty of it." "And what can be more unmannerly," rejoined her +mistress, "than to intrude thyself upon a house other than thy +house and gaze on a harem other than thy harem?" "O my lady," +said I, "I have an excuse." "And what is thine excuse?" asked +she. Quoth I, "I am a stranger and well-nigh dead of thirst." +"We accept thine excuse," answered she and calling one of her +maids, said to her, "O Lutf, give him to drink in the golden +tankard." + +So she brought me a tankard of red gold, set with pearls and +jewels, full of water mingled with odoriferous musk and covered +with a napkin of green silk; and I addressed myself to drink +and was long about it, casting stolen glances at her the while, +till I could prolong it no longer. Then I returned the tankard +to the maid, but did not offer to go; and she said to me, "O old +man, go thy way." "O my lady," replied I, "I am troubled in mind." +"For what?" asked she; and I answered, "For the uncertainty of +fortune and the vicissitudes of events." "Well mayst thou be +troubled thereanent," replied she, "for Time[FN#29] is the +mother of wonders. But what hast thou seen of them that thou +shouldst muse upon?" Quoth I, "I was thinking of the former +owner of this house, for he was my good friend in his lifetime." +"What was his name?" asked she. "Mohammed ben Ali the Jeweller," +answered I; "and he was a man of great wealth. Did he leave +any children?" "Yes," said she; "he left a daughter, Budour +by name, who inherited all his wealth." Quoth I, "Meseems +thou art his daughter?" "Yes," answered she, laughing; then +added, "O old man, thou hast talked long enough; go thy ways." +"Needs must I go," replied I; "but I see thou art out of health. +Tell me thy case; it may be God will give thee solace at +my hands." "O old man," rejoined she, "if thou be a man of +discretion, I will discover to thee my secret; but first +tell me who thou art, that I may know whether thou art worthy +of confidence or not; for the poet saith: + +None keepeth secrets but the man who's trusty and discreet: A + secret's ever safely placed with honest fold and leal; +For me, my secrets I preserve within a locked-up house, Whose + key is lost and on whose door is set the Cadi's seal." + +"O my lady," answered I, "an thou wouldst know who I am, I am +Ali ben Mensour of Damascus, the Wag, boon-companion to the +Khalif Haroun er Reshid." When she heard my name she came down +from her seat and saluting me, said, "Welcome, O Ibn Mensour! +Now will I tell thee my case and entrust thee with my secret. +Know that I am a lover separated from her beloved." "O my +lady," rejoined I, "thou art fair and shouldst love none but +the fair. Whom then dost thou love?" Quoth she, "I love Jubeir +ben Umeir es Sheibani, Prince of the Benou Sheiban;"[FN#30] and +she described to me a young man than whom there was none +handsomer in Bassora. "O my lady," asked I, "have letters or +interviews passed between you?" "Yes," answered she; "but his +love for me was of the tongue, not of the heart; for he kept +not his covenant nor was faithful to his troth." "And what was +the cause of your separation?" asked I. + +"I was sitting one day," replied she, "whilst my maid here +combed my hair. When she had made an end of combing it, she +plaited my tresses, and my beauty and grace pleased her; so she +bent down to me and kissed my cheek. At that moment, he came +in, unawares, and seeing her kiss my cheek, turned away in +anger, vowing eternal separation and repeating the following +verses: + +If any share with me in her I love, incontinent, I'll cast her + off from me and be to live alone content. +A mistress, sure, is nothing worth, if, in the way of love, She + wish for aught but that to which the lover doth consent. + +And from that time to this, O Ibn Mensour," continued she, "he +hath neither written to me nor answered my letters." "And what +thinkest thou to do?" asked I. Quoth she, "I have a mind to send +him a letter by thee. If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt +have of me five hundred dinars; and if not, then a hundred for +thy pains." "Do what seemeth good to thee," answered I. So she +called for inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses: + +Whence this estrangement and despite, beloved of my soul? + Whither have kindliness and love between us taken flight? +What makes thee with aversion turn from me? Indeed, thy face Is + not the face I used to know, when we our troth did plight. +Belike, the slanderers have made a false report of me, And thou + inclin'dst to them, and they redoubled in despite. +If thou believedst their report, far, far it should have been + From thee, that art too whole of wit at such a bait to + bite! +Yea, I conjure thee by thy life, tell me what thou hast heard: + For lo! thou knowest what was said and wilt not do + unright. +If aught I've said that angered thee, a speech of change + admits; Ay, and interpreting, I trow, may change its + meaning quite, +Were it a word sent down from God; for even the Pentateuch Hath + falsified and garbled been of this and th' other + wight.[FN#31] +Whilst, as for lies, how many were of folk before us told! + Joseph to Jacob was traduced and blackened in his sight. +Yea, for the slanderer and myself and thee, an awful day Of + standing up shall come, when God to judgment all shall + cite. + +Then she sealed the letter and gave it to me. I took it and +carried it to the house of Jubeir ben Umeir, whom I found +absent hunting. So I sat down, to wait for him, and presently +he returned; and when I saw him come riding up, my wit was +confounded by his beauty ands grace. As soon as he saw me +sitting at the door, he dismounted and coming up to me, saluted +and embraced me; and meseemed I embraced the world and all that +therein is. Then he carried me into his house and seating me on +his own couch, called for food. So they brought a table of +khelenj[FN#32] wood of Khorassan, with feet of gold, whereon +were all manner of meats, fried and roasted and the like. So I +seated myself at the table and examining it, found the following +verses engraved upon it: + +Weep for the cranes that erst within the porringers did lie And + for the stews and partridges evanished heave a sigh! +Mourn for the younglings of the grouse; lament unceasingly, As, + for the omelettes and the fowls browned in the pan, do I. +How my heart yearneth for the fish that, in its different + kinds, Upon a paste of wheaten flour, lay hidden in the + pie! +Praised be God for the roast meat, as in the dish it lay, With + pot-herbs, soaked in vinegar, in porringers hard by, +And eke the rice with buffaloes' milk dressed and made savoury, + Wherein the hands were plunged and arms were buried + bracelet high! +O soul, I rede thee patient be, for God is bountiful: What + though thy fortunes straitened be, His succour's ever + nigh. + +Then said Jubeir, "Put thy hand to our food and ease our heart +by eating of our victual." "By Allah," answered I, "I will not +eat a mouthful, till thou grant me my desire." "What is thy +desire?" asked he. So I brought out the letter and gave it to +him; but, when he had read it, he tore it into pieces and +throwing it on the floor, said to me, "O Ibn Mensour, I will +grant thee whatever thou askest, save this that concerns the +writer of this letter, for I have no answer to make to her." At +this, I rose in anger; but he caught hold of my skirts, saying, +"O Ibn Mensour, I will tell thee what she said to thee, for all +I was not present with you." "And what did she say to me?" +asked I. "Did she not say to thee," rejoined he, "'If thou bring +me back an answer, thou shalt have of me five hundred dinars; +and if not, a hundred for thy pains?'" "Yes," answered I; and +he said, "Abide with me this day and eat and drink and make +merry, and thou shalt have five hundred dinars." + +So I sat with him and ate and drank and made merry and +entertained him with converse; after which I said to him, "O my +master, is there no music in thy house?" "Indeed," answered he, +"we have drunk this long while without music." Then he called +out, saying, "Ho, Shejeret ed Durr!" Whereupon a slave-girl +answered him from her chamber and came in to us, with a lute of +Indian make, wrapped in a silken bag. She sat down and laying +the lute in her lap, preluded in one-and-twenty modes, then, +returning to the first, sang the following verses to a lively +measure: + +Who hath not tasted the sweet and the bitter of passion, I + trow, The presence of her whom he loves from her absence + he hardly shall know. +So he, from the pathway of love who hath wandered and fallen + astray, The smooth knoweth not from the rough of the + roadway, wherein he doth go. +I ceased not the votaries of love and of passion to cross and + gainsay, Till I too must taste of its sweet and its + bitter, its gladness and woe. +Then I drank a full draught of the cup of its bitters, and + humbled was I, and thus to the bondman of Love and its + freedman therein was brought low. +How many a night have I passed with the loved one, carousing + with him, Whilst I drank from his lips what was sweeter + than nectar and colder than snow! +How short was the life of the nights of our pleasance! It + seemed to us still, No sooner was night fallen down than + the daybreak to eastward did glow. +But Fortune had vowed she would sever our union and sunder our + loves; And now, in good sooth, she her vow hath + accomplished. Fate ordered it so; +Fate ordered it thus, and against its ordaining, appeal there + is none; For who shall gainsay a supreme one's + commandments or causes him forego? + +Hardly had she made an end of these verses, when Jubeir gave a +great cry and fell down in a swoon; whereupon, "May God not +punish thee, O old man!" exclaimed the damsel. "This long time +have we drunk without music, for fear the like of this should +befall our master. But go now to yon chamber and sleep there." +So I went to the chamber in question and slept till the +morning, when a page brought me a purse of five hundred dinars +and said to me, "This is what my master promised thee; but +return thou not to her who sent thee and let it be as if +neither thou nor we had heard of this affair." "I hear and +obey," answered I and taking the purse, went my way. + +However, I said in myself, "The lady will have expected me +since yesterday; and by Allah, I must needs return to her and +tell her what passed between me and him; or she will curse me +and all who come from my country." So I went to her and found +her standing behind the door; and when she saw me, she said, "O +Ibn Mensour, thou hast gotten me nought." "Who told thee of +this?" asked I; and she answered, "O Ibn Mensour, yet another +thing hath been revealed to me; and it is that, when thou +gavest hum the letter, he tore it in pieces and throwing it on +the floor, said to thee, 'O Ibn Mensour, ask me anything but +what relates to the writer of this letter; for I have no reply +to make to her.' Then didst thou rise from beside him in anger; +but he laid hold of thy skirts, saying, 'Abide with me to-day, +for thou art my guest, and eat and drink and make merry; and +thou shalt have five hundred dinars.' So thou didst sit with +him, eating and drinking and making merry, and entertainedst +him with converse; and a slave-girl sand such an air and such +verses, whereupon he fell down in a swoon." Quoth I, "Wast thou +then with us?" "O Ibn Mensour," replied she, "hast thou not +heard the saying of the poet: + +The heart of the lover hath eyes, well I wot, That see what the + eyes of beholders see not. + +But," added she, "day and night alternate not upon aught, but they +change it." Then she raised her eyes to heaven and said, "O my +God and my Master and my Lord, like as Thou hast afflicted me +with love of Jubeir ben Umeir, even so do Thou afflict him with +love of me and transfer the passion from my heart to his!" Then +she gave me a hundred dinars for my pains and I took it and +returned to the palace, when I found the Sultan come back from +hunting; so I took my pension of him and made my way back to +Baghdad. + +Next year, I repaired to Bassora, as usual, to seek my pension, +and the Sultan paid it to me; but as I was about to return to +Baghdad, I bethought me of the lady Budour and said to myself, +"By Allah, I must needs go and see what hath befallen between +her and her lover!" So I went to her house and finding the +porch swept and sprinkled and slaves and servants and pages +standing before the door, said to myself, "Most like grief hath +broken the lady's heart and she is dead, and some Amir or other +hath taken up his abode in her house." So I went on to Jubeir's +house, where I found the benches of the porch broken down and +no pages at the door, as of wont, and said to myself, "Belike +he too is dead." Then I took up my station before the door of +his house and with my eyes running over with tears, bemoaned it +in the following verses: + +Lords, that are gone, but whom my heart doth evermore ensue, + Return; so shall my festal says return to me with you. +I stand before your sometime stead, bewailing your abodes, With + quivering lids, from which the tears rain down, like + summer dew. +Weeping, I question of the house and ruins, "Where is he Who + was the source of benefits and bounties ever new?" +[They answer] "Go thy ways, for those thou lov'st from the + abode Departed are and neath the dust are buried; so + adieu!" +May God not stint us of the sight [in dreams] of all their + charms Nor be their noble memories aye absent from men's + view! + +As I was thus bewailing the folk of the house, there came a +black slave thereout and said to me, "Hold thy peace, O old +man! May thy mother be bereft of thee! What ails thee to bemoan +the house thus?" Quoth I, "I knew it of yore, when it belonged +to a good friend of mine." "What was his name?" asked the +slave. And I answered, "Jubeir ben Umeir the Sheibani." "And +what hath befallen him?" rejoined he. "Praised be God, he is +yet in the enjoyment of wealth and rank and prosperity, except +that God hath stricken him with love of a damsel called the +lady Budour; and he is overcome with love of her, that, for the +violence of his passion and torment, he is like a great rock +overthrown. If he hunger, he saith not, 'Feed me;' nor, if he +thirst, doth he say, 'Give me to drink.'" Quoth I, "Ask leave +me to go in to him." "O my lord," said the slave, "Wilt thou go +in to him who understands or to him who understands not?" "I +must needs see him, whatever be his case," answered I. + +Se he went in and presently returned with permission for me to +enter, whereupon I went in to Jubeir and found him like a rock +overthrown, understanding neither sign nor speech. I spoke to +him, but he answered me not; and one of his servants said to +me, "O my lord, if thou know aught of verse, repeat it, and +raise thy voice; and he will be aroused by this and speak with +thee." So I recited the following verses: + +Budour's love hast thou forgotten or art deaf still to her + sighs? Wak'st anights, or do thine eyelids close upon thy + sleeping eyes? +If thy tears flow fast and freely, night and day long, torrent- + wise, Know thou, then, that thou shalt sojourn evermore in + Paradise.[FN#33] + +When he heard this, he opened his eyes and said, "Welcome, O +Ibn Mensour! Verily, the jest is become earnest." "O my lord," +said I, "is there aught thou wouldst have me do for thee?" +"Yes," answered he; "I would fain write her a letter and send +it to her by thee. If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt +have of me a thousand dinars; and if not, two hundred for thy +pains." "Do what seemeth good to thee," said I. So he called to +one of his slave-girls for inkhorn and paper and wrote the +following verses: + +By Allah, O my lady, have ruth on me, I pray! For all my wit by + passion is ravished quite away. +Yea, love for thee and longing have mastered me and clad With + sickness and bequeathed me abjection and dismay. +Aforetime, O my lady, by love I set small store And deemed it + light and easy to bear, until to-day; +But now that Love hath shown me the billows of its sea, Those I + excuse, repenting, who languish neath its sway. +Vouchsafe thy grace to grant me; or, if thou wilt me slay, At + least, then, for thy victim forget thou not to pray. + +Then he sealed the letter and gave it to me. I took it and +repairing to Budour's house, raised the curtain of the door, +little by little, as of wont, and looking in, saw ten damsels, +high-bosomed maids, like moons, and the lady Budour sitting in +their midst, as she were the full moon among stars or the sun, +when it is clear of clouds; nor was there on her any trace of +pain or care. As I looked and marvelled at her case, she turned +and seeing me standing at the gate, said to me, "Welcome and +fair welcome to thee, O Ibn Mensour! Come in." So I entered and +saluting her, gave her the letter. She read it and laughing, +said to me, "O Ibn Mensour, the poet lied not when he said: + +The love of thee I will endure with patient constancy, Till + such time as a messenger shall come to me from thee. + +O Ibn Mensour," added she, "I will write thee an answer that +he may give thee what he promised thee." "May God requite thee +with good!" answered I. So she called for inkhorn and paper and +wrote the following verses: + +How comes it my vows I fulfilled and thou, thou wast false to + thy plight? Thou sawst me do justice and truth, and yet + thou thyself didst unright. +'Twas thou that begannest on me with rupture and rigour, I + trow; 'Twas thou that play'dst foul, and with thee began + the untruth and the slight. +Yea, still I was true to my troth and cherished but thee among + men And ceased not thine honour to guard and keep it + unsullied and bright, +Till tidings of fashions full foul I heard, as reported of + thee, And saw with mine eyes what thou didst, to harm me + and work me despite. +Shall I then abase my estate, that thine may exalted become? By + God, hadst thou generous been, the like should thy conduct + requite! +So now unto solace I'll turn my heart, with forgetting, from + thee And washing my hands of thy thought, blot despair for + thee out of my spright. + +"By Allah, O my lady," said I, "there needs but the reading of +this letter, to kill him!" So I tore it in pieces and said to +her, "Write him other than this." "I hear and obey," answered +she and wrote the following: + +Indeed, I am consoled and sleep is pleasant to mine eyes; For I + have heard what came of prate of slanderers and spies. +My heart my summons hath obeyed, thee to forget; and eke My + lids to stint from wake for thee have seen it good and + wise. +He lies who says that severance is bitterness; for me I find + its taste none otherwise than sweet; indeed he lies. +I've grown to turn away from those who bring me news of thee + And look upon it as a thing at which my gorge doth rise. +Behold, I have forgotten thee with every part of me. Let then + the spy and who will else this know and recognise. + +"By Allah, O my lady," said I, "when he reads these verses, his +soul will depart his body!" "O Ibn Mensour," quoth she, "is +passion indeed come to such a pass with him as thou sayst?" +"Had I said more than this," replied I, "it were but the truth: +but clemency is of the nature of the noble." When she heard +this, her eyes filled with tears and she wrote him a letter, O +Commander of the Faithful, there is none in thy court could +avail to write the like of it; and therein were these verses: + +How long shall this despite continue and this pride? My enviers' + spite on me thou sure hast satisfied. +Mayhap, I did amiss and knew it not; so tell Me what thou heardst + of me, that did our loves divide. +Even as I welcome sleep unto mine eyes and lids, So would I + welcome thee, beloved, to my side. +I've quaffed the cup of love for thee, unmixed and pure; So, if + thou see me drunk, reproach me not nor chide. + +Then she sealed it and gave it to me; and I said, "O my lady, +this thy letter will heal the sick and ease the thirsting soul." +Then I took it and was going away, when she called me back and +said to me, "Tell me that I will be his guest this night." At +this I rejoiced greatly and carried the letter to Jubeir, whom I +found with his eyes fixed on the door, expecting the reply. I +gave him the letter and he opened and read it, then gave a great +cry and fell down in a swoon. When he came to himself, he said to +me, "O Ibn Mensour, did she indeed write this letter with her +hand and touch it with her fingers?" "O my lord," answered I, "do +folk write with their feet?" And by Allah, O Commander of the +Faithful, I had not done speaking, when we heard the chink of her +anklets in the vestibule and she entered. + +When he saw her, he sprang to his feet, as thou there ailed him +nought, and embraced her as the letter Lam embraces Alif,[FN#34] +and the malady, that would not depart, ceased from him. Then he +sat down, but she abode standing and I said to her, "O my lady, +why dost thou not sit?" Quoth she, "I will not sit, O Ibn +Mensour, save on a condition that is between us." "And what is +that?" asked I. "None may know lovers' secrets," answered she and +putting her mouth to Jubeir's ear, whispered to him; whereupon, +"I hear and obey," replied he and rising, said somewhat privily +to one of his slaves, who went out and returned, in a little, +with a Cadi and two witnesses. Then Jubeir rose and taking a bag +containing a hundred thousand dinars, said, "O Cadi, marry me to +this young lady and write this sum to her dowry." Quoth the Cadi +to her, "Say, 'I consent to this.'" "I consent to this," said +she, whereupon he drew up the contract of marriage, and she +opened the bag and taking out a handful of gold, gave it to the +Cadi and the witnesses and handed the rest to Jubeir. + +Then the Cadi and the witnesses withdrew, and I sat with them, in +mirth and delight, till the most part of the night was past, when +I said in myself, "These are lovers and have been this long while +separated. I will go now and sleep in some place afar from them +and leave them to be private, one with the other." So I rose, but +she laid hold of my skirts, saying, "What thinkest thou to do?" +"So and so," answered I. But she rejoined, "Sit still, when we +would be rid of thee, we will send thee away." So I sat with them +till near daybreak, when she said to me, "O Ibn Mensour, go to +yonder chamber; for we have furnished it for thee, and it is thy +sleeping-place." So I went thither and slept till morning, when a +page brought me basin and ewer, and I made the ablution and +prayed the morning-prayer. Then I sat down and presently, Jubeir +and his mistress came out of the bath in the house, wringing +their locks. + +I wished them good morning and gave them joy of their safety and +reunion, saying to Jubeir, "That which began with constraint hath +ended in contentment." "Thou sayst well," replied he; "and indeed +thou deservest largesse." And he called his treasurer and bade +him fetch three thousand dinars. So he brought a purse containing +that sum, and Jubeir gave it to me, saying, "Favour us by +accepting this." "I will not take it," answered I, "till thou +tell me the manner of the transfer of love from her to thee, +after so great an aversion." "I hear and obey," said he. "Know +that we have a festival, called the festival of the New Year, +when all the people use to take boat and go a-pleasuring on the +river. So I went out, with my comrades, and saw a boat, wherein +were half a score damsels like moons, and amongst them, the lady +Budour, with her lute in her hand. She preluded in eleven modes, +then returning to the first, sang the following verses: + +Fire is not so fierce and so hot as the fires in my heart that + glow, And granite itself is less hard than the heart of my + lord, I trow. +Indeed, when I think on his make and his fashion, I marvel to see + A heart that is harder than rock in a body that's softer + than snow. + +Quoth I to her, 'Repeat the verses and the air.' But she would +not; so I bade the boatmen pelt her with oranges, and they pelted +her till we feared her boat would sink. Then she went her way, +and this is how the love was transferred from her breast to +mine." So I gave them joy of their reunion and taking the purse, +with its contents, returned to Baghdad. + +When the Khalif heard Ibn Mensour's story, his heart was +lightened and the restlessness and oppression from which he +suffered forsook him. + + + + + + THE MAN OF YEMEN AND HIS SIX SLAVE-GIRLS + + + +The Khalif El-Mamoun was sitting one day in his palace, +surrounded by his grandees and officers of state, and there were +present also before him all his poets and minions, amongst the +rest one named Mohammed of Bassora. Presently, the Khalif turned +to the latter and said to him, 'O Mohammed, I wish thee to tell +me something that I have never before heard.' 'O Commander of the +Faithful,' answered Mohammed, 'shall I tell thee a thing that I +have heard with my ears of a thing that I have seen with my +eyes?' 'Tell me whichever is the rarer,' said El Mamoun. + +'Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,' began Mohammed, 'that +there lived once a wealthy man, who was a native of Yemen; but he +left his native land and came to this city of Baghdad, whose +sojourn so pleased him that he transported hither his family and +possessions. Now he had six slave-girls, the first fair, the +second dark, the third fat, the fourth thin, the fifth yellow and +the sixth black, all fair of face and perfectly accomplished and +skilled in the arts of singing and playing upon instruments of +music. One day he sent for them all and called for meat and +drink; and they ate and drank and made merry. Then he filled the +cup and taking it in his hand, said to the blonde, "O new-moon- +face, let us hear somewhat pleasing." So she took the lute and +tuning it, made music thereon with such melodious trills and +modulations that the place danced to the rhythm; after which she +played a lively measure and sang the following verses: + +I have a friend, whose form is mirrored in mine eye, And deep + within my breast, his name doth buried lie. +Whenas I call him back to mind, I am all heart, And when on him I + gaze, all eyes indeed am I. +"Forswear the love of him," my censor says; and I, "That which is + not to be, how shall it be?" reply. +"Go forth from me," quoth I, "and leave me, censor mine: Feign + not that eath and light, that's grievous to aby." + +At this their master was moved to mirth and drinking off his cup, +gave the damsels to drink, after which he said to the brunette, +"O light of the brasier[FN#35] and delight of souls, let us hear +thy lovely voice, wherewith all that hearken are ravished." So +she took the lute and trilled upon it, till the place was moved +to mirth; then, taking all hearts with her graceful bendings, she +sang the following verses: + +As thy face liveth, none but thee I'll love nor cherish e'er, + Till death, nor ever to thy love will I be false, I swear. +O full moon, shrouded, as it were a veil, with loveliness, All + lovely ones on earth that be beneath thy banners fare. +Thou, that in pleasantness and grace excellest all the fair, May + God, the Lord of heaven and earth, be with thee everywhere! + +The man was pleased and drank off his cup; after which he filled +again and taking the goblet in his hand, beckoned to the plump +girl and bade her sing and play. So she took the lute and +striking a grief-dispelling measure, sang as follows: + +If but thy consent be assured, O thou who art all my desire, Be + all the folk angered 'gainst me; I set not a whit by their + ire. +And if thou but show me thy face, thy brilliant and beautiful + face, I reck not if all the kings of the earth from my + vision retire. +Thy favour, O thou unto whom all beauty must needs be referred, + Of the goods and the sweets of the world is all that I seek + and require. + +The man was charmed and emptying his cup, gave the girls to +drink. Then he beckoned to the slender girl and said to her, "O +houri of Paradise, feed thou our ears with sweet sounds." So she +took the lute and tuning it, preluded and sang the following +verses: + +Is it not martyrdom that I for thine estrangement dree, Seeing, + indeed, I cannot live, if thou depart from me? +Is there no judge, in Love its law, to judge betwixt us twain, to + do me justice on thy head and take my wreak of thee? + +Their lord rejoiced and emptying the cup, gave the girls to +drink. Then he signed to the yellow girl and said to her, "O sun +of the day, let us hear some pleasant verses." So she took the +lute and preluding after the goodliest fashion, sang as follows: + +I have a lover, whenas I draw him nigh, He bares upon me a sword + from either eye. +May God avenge me some whit of him! For lo, He doth oppress me, + whose heart in 's hand doth lie. +Oft though, "Renounce him, my heart," I say, yet it Will to none + other than him itself apply. +He's all I ask for, of all created things; Yet jealous Fortune + doth him to me deny. + +The man rejoiced and drank and gave the girls to drink; then he +filled the cup and taking it in his hand, signed to the black +girl, saying, "O apple of the eye, let us have a taste of thy +fashion, though it be but two words." So she took the lute and +preluded in various modes, then returned to the first and sang +the following verses to a lively air: + +O eyes, be large with tears and pour them forth amain, For, lo, + for very love my senses fail and wane. +All manner of desire I suffer for his sake I cherish, and my foes + make merry at my pain. +My enviers me forbid the roses of a cheek; And yet I have a heart + that is to roses fain. +Ay, once the cups went round with joyance and delight And to the + smitten lutes, the goblets did we drain, +What time my love kept troth and I was mad for him And in faith's + heaven, the star of happiness did reign. +But lo, he turned away from me, sans fault of mine! Is there a + bitterer thing than distance and disdain? +Upon his cheeks there bloom a pair of roses red, Blown ready to + be plucked; ah God, those roses twain! +Were't lawful to prostrate oneself to any else Than God, I'd sure + prostrate myself upon the swain. + +Then rose the six girls and kissing the ground before their lord, +said to him, "Judge thou between us, O our lord!" He looked at +their beauty and grace and the difference of their colours and +praised God the Most High and glorified Him: then said he, "There +is none of you but has read the Koran and learnt to sing and is +versed in the chronicles of the ancients and the doings of past +peoples; so it is my desire that each of you rise and pointing to +her opposite, praise herself and dispraise her rival; that is to +say, let the blonde point to the black, the plump to the slender +and the yellow to the brunette; and after, the latter shall, each +in turn, do the like with the former; and be this illustrated +with citations from the Holy Koran and somewhat of anecdotes and +verse, so as to show forth your culture and elegance of +discourse." Quoth they, "We hear and obey." + +So the blonde rose first and pointing at the black, said to her, +"Out on thee, blackamoor! It is told that whiteness saith, 'I am +the shining light, I am the rising full moon.' My colour is +patent and my forehead is resplendent, and of my beauty quoth the +poet: + +A blonde with smooth and polished cheeks, right delicate and + fair, As if a pearl in beauty hid, as in a shell, she were. +Her shape a splendid Alif[FN#36] is, her smile a medial + Mim[FN#37] And over it her eyebrows make inverted + Nouns,[FN#38] a pair. +Yes, and the glances of her eyes are arrows, and her brows A bow + that therewithal is horned with death and with despair. +If to her cheeks and shape thou pass, her cheeks are roses red, + Sweet basil, ay, and eglantine and myrtles rich and rare. +'Tis of the saplings' wont, to be implanted in the meads But, in + the saplings of thy shape, how many meads are there! + +My colour is like the wholesome day and the newly-gathered +orange-blossom and the sparkling star; and indeed quoth God the +Most High, in His precious book, to His prophet Moses (on whom be +peace), 'Put thy hand into thy bosom and it shall come forth +white without hurt.'[FN#39] And again He saith, 'As for those +whose faces are made white, they are in the mercy of God and +dwell for ever therein.'[FN#40] My colour is a miracle and my +grace an extreme and my beauty a term. It is in the like of me +that clothes show fair and to the like of me that hearts incline. +Moreover, in whiteness are many excellences; for instance, the +snow falls white from heaven, and it is traditional that white is +the most beautiful of colours. The Muslims also glory in white +turbans; but I should be tedious, were I to repeat all that may +be said in praise of white; little and enough is better than too +much. So now I will begin with thy dispraise, O black, O colour +of ink and blacksmith's dust, thou whose face is like the crow +that brings about lovers' parting! Verily, the poet saith in +praise of white and dispraise of black: + +Seest not that for their milky hue white pearls in price excel + And charcoal for a groat a load the folk do buy and sell? +And eke white faces, 'tis well known, do enter Paradise, Whilst + faces black appointed are to fill the halls of Hell. + +And indeed it is told in certain histories, related on the +authority of devout men, that Noah (on whom be peace) was +sleeping one day, with his sons Ham and Shem seated at his head, +when a wind sprang up and lifting his clothes, uncovered his +nakedness; whereat Ham laughed and did not cover him; but Shem +rose and covered him. Presently, Noah awoke and learning what had +passed, blessed Shem and cursed Ham. So Shem's face was whitened +and from him sprang the prophets and the orthodox Khalifs and +Kings; whilst Ham's face was blackened and he fled forth to the +land of Ethiopia, and of his lineage came the blacks. All people +are of a mind in affirming the lack of understanding of the +blacks, even as saith the adage, 'How shall one find a black +having understanding?'" + +Quoth her master, "It sufficeth; sit down, thou hast been +prodigal." And he signed to the negress, who rose, and pointing +at the blonde, said, "Doth thou not know that, in the Koran sent +down to His prophet and apostle, is transmitted the saying of God +the Most High, 'By the night, when it veileth [the world with +darkness], and by the day, when it appeareth in all its +glory!'[FN#41] If the night were not more illustrious than the +day, why should God swear by it and give it precedence of the +day? And indeed those of sense and understanding accept this. +Knowst now that black [hair] is the ornament of youth and that, +when whiteness descends upon the head, delights pass away and the +hour of death draws nigh? Were not black the most illustrious of +things, God had not set it in the kernel of the heart and the +apple of the eye; and how excellent is the saying of the poet: + +An if I cherish the dusky maids, this is the reason why; They + have the hue of the core of the heart and the apple of the + eye +And youth; nor in error I eschew the whiteness of the blondes; + For 'tis the colour of hoary hair and shrouds in them shun + I. + +And that of another: + +The brown, not the white, are first in my love And worthiest + eke to be loved of me, +For the colour of damask lips have they, Whilst the white have + the hue of leprosy. + +And of a third: + +Black women, white of deeds, are like indeed to eyne That, though + jet-black they be, with peerless splendours shine. +If I go mad for her, be not amazed; for black The source of + madness is, when in the feminine.[FN#42] +'Tis as my colour were the middle dark of night; For all no moon + it be, yet brings it light, in fine. + +Moreover, is the companying together of lovers good but in the +night? Let this quality and excellence suffice thee. What +protects lovers from spies and censors like the blackness of the +shadows? And nought gives them cause to fear discovery like the +whiteness of the dawn. So, how many claims to honour are there +not in blackness and how excellent is the saying of the poet: + +I visit them, and the mirk of night doth help me to my will And + seconds me, but the white of dawn is hostile to me still. + +And that of another: + +How many a night in joy I've passed with the beloved one, What + while the darkness curtained us about with tresses dun! +Whenas the light of morn appeared, it struck me with affright, + And I to him, 'The Magians lie, who worship fire and sun.' + +And saith a third: + +He came forth to visit me, shrouding himself in the cloak of the + night, And hastened his steps, as he wended, for caution and + fear and affright. +Then rose I and laid in his pathway my cheek, as a carpet it + were, For abjection, and trailed o'er my traces my skirts, + to efface them from sight. +But lo, the new moon rose and shone, like a nail-paring cleft + from the nail, And all but discovered our loves with the + gleam of her meddlesome light. +And then there betided between us what I'll not discover, i' + faith: So question no more of the matter and deem not of ill + or unright. + +And a fourth: + +Foregather with thy lover, whilst night your loves may screen; + For that the sun's a telltale, the moon a go-between. + +And a fifth: + +I love not white women, with fat blown out and overlaid; The girl + of all girls for me is the slender dusky maid. +Let others the elephant mount, if it like them; as for me, I'll + ride but the fine-trained colt on the day of the cavalcade. + +And a sixth: + +My loved one came to me by night And we did clip and interlace +And lay together through the dark; But, lo, the morning broke + apace. +To God, my Lord, I pray that He Will reunite us of His grace +And make night last to me, what while I hold my love in my + embrace. + +Were I to set forth all the praise of blackness, I should be +tedious; but little and enough is better than great plenty and +too much. As for thee, O blonde, thy colour is that of leprosy +and thine embrace is suffocation; and it is of report that frost +and intense cold[FN#43] are in Hell for the torment of the +wicked. Again, of black things is ink, wherewith is written the +word of God; and were is not for black ambergris and black musk, +there would be no perfumes to carry to kings. How many glories +are there not in blackness and how well saith the poet: + +Dost thou not see that musk, indeed, is worth its weight in gold, + Whilst for a dirhem and no more a load of lime is sold? +Black eyes cast arrows at men's hearts; but whiteness of the + eyes, In man, is judged of all to be unsightly to behold." + +"It sufficeth," said her master. "Sit down." So she sat down and +he signed to the fat girl, who rose and pointing at the slim +girl, uncovered her arms and legs and bared her stomach, showing +its creases and the roundness of her navel. Then she donned a +shift of fine stuff, that showed her whole body, and said, +"Praised be God who created me, for that He beautified my face +and made me fat and fair and likened me to branches laden with +fruit and bestowed upon me abounding beauty and brightness; and +praised be He no less, for that He hath given me the precedence +and honoured me, when He speaks of me in His holy book! Quoth the +Most High, 'And he brought a fat calf.'[FN#44] And indeed He hath +made me like unto an orchard, full of peaches and pomegranates. +Verily, the townsfolk long for fat birds and eat of them and love +not lean birds; so do the sons of Adam desire fat meat and eat of +it. How many precious attributes are there not in fatness, and +how well saith the poet: + +Take leave of thy love, for the caravan, indeed, is on the + start. O man, canst thou bear to say farewell and thus + from her to part? +'Tis as her going were, I trow, but to her neighbour's house, + The faultless gait of a fat fair maid, that never tires + the heart. + +Sawst thou ever one stop at a butcher's stall, but sought fat +meat of him? The wise say, 'Pleasure is in three things, eating +flesh and riding on flesh and the thrusting of flesh into +flesh.' As for thee, O thin one, thy legs are like sparrow's +legs or pokers, and thou art like a cruciform plank or a piece +of poor meat; there is nought in thee to gladden the heart; +even as saith of thee the poet: + +Now God forfend that aught enforce me take for bedfellow A + woman like a foot-rasp, wrapt in palm-fibres and tow! +In every limb she has a horn, that butts me in my sleep, So + that at day-break, bruised and sore, I rise from her and + go." + +"It is enough," quoth her master. "Sit down." So she sat down +and he signed to the slender girl, who rose, as she were a +willow-wand or a bamboo-shoot or a plant of sweet basil, and +said, "Praised be God who created me and beautified me and made +my embraces the end of all desire and likened me to the branch, +to which all hearts incline. If I rise, I rise lightly; if +I sit, I sit with grace; I am nimble-witted at a jest and +sweeter-souled than cheerfulness [itself]. Never heard I one +describe his mistress, saying, 'My beloved is the bigness of an +elephant or like a long wide mountain;' but rather, 'My lady +hath a slender waist and a slim shape.' + +A little food contents me and a little water stays my thirst; +my sport is nimble and my habit elegant; for I am sprightlier +than the sparrow and lighter-footed than the starling. My +favours are the desire of the longing and the delight of the +seeker; for I am goodly of shape, sweet of smile and graceful +as the willow-wand or the bamboo-cane of the basil-plant; nor +is there any can compare with me in grace, even as saith one of +me: + +Thy shape unto the sapling liken I And set my hope to win thee or + to die. +Distraught, I follow thee, and sore afraid, Lest any look on thee + with evil eye. + +It is for the like of me that lovers run mad and that the longing +are distracted. If my lover be minded to draw me to him, I am +drawn to him, and if he would have me incline to him, I incline +to him and not against him. But as for thee, O fat of body, thine +eating is as that of an elephant, and neither much not little +contents thee. When thou liest with a man, he hath no ease of +thee, nor can he find a way to take his pleasure of thee; for the +bigness of thy belly holds him off from clipping thee and the +grossness of thy thighs hinders him from coming at thy kaze. What +comeliness is there in thy grossness and what pleasantness or +courtesy in thy coarse nature? Fat meat is fit for nought but +slaughter, nor is there aught therein that calls for praise. If +one joke with thee, thou art angry; if one sport with thee, thou +art sulky; if thou sleep, thou snorest; if thou walk, thou +pantest; if thou eat, thou art never satisfied. Thou art heavier +than mountains and fouler than corruption and sin. Thou hast in +thee nor movement nor blessing nor thinkest of aught but to eat +and sleep. If thou make water, thou scatterest; if thou void, +thou gruntest like a bursten wine-skin or a surly elephant. If +thou go to the draught-house, thou needest one to wash out thy +privy parts and pluck out the hairs; and this is the extreme of +laziness and the sign of stupidity. In fine, there is no good +thing in thee, and indeed the poet saith of thee: + +Heavy and swollen with fat, like a blown-out water-skin, With + thighs like the pillars of stone that buttress a mountain's + head, +Lo, if she walk in the West, so cumbrous her corpulence is The + Eastern hemisphere hears the sound of her heavy tread." + +Quoth her master, "It is enough: sit down." So she sat down and +he signed to the yellow girl, who rose to her feet and praised +God and magnified His name, calling down peace and blessing on +the best of His creatures;[FN#45] after which she pointed at the +brunette and said to her, "I am praised in the Koran, and the +Compassionate One hath described my colour and its excellence +over all others in His manifest Book, where He saith, 'A yellow +[heifer], pure yellow, whose colour rejoices the beholders.' +[FN#46] Wherefore my colour is a portent and my grace an extreme +and my beauty a term; for that my colour is the colour of a dinar +and of the planets and moons and of apples. My fashion is the +fashion of the fair, and the colour of saffron outvies all +other colours; so my fashion is rare and my colour wonderful. I +am soft of body, and of great price, comprising all attributes of +beauty. My colour, in that which exists, is precious as virgin +gold, and how many glorious qualities are there not in me! Of the +like of me quoth the poet: + +Yellow she is, as is the sun that shineth in the sky, And like to + golden dinars, eke, to see, her beauties are. +Nor with her brightness, anywise, can saffron hold compare, And + even the very moon herself her charms outvie by far. + +And now I will begin in thy dispraise, O brown of favour! Thy +colour is that of the buffalo, and all souls shudder at thy +sight. If thy colour be in aught, it is blamed; if it be in food, +it is poisoned; for thy colour is that of flies and is a mark of +ugliness in dogs. It is, among colours, one which strikes with +amazement and is of the signs of mourning. Never heard I of brown +gold or brown pearls or brown jewels. If thou enter the wardrobe, +thy colour changes, and when thou comest out, thou addest a new +ugliness to thine ugliness. Thou art neither black, that thou +mayst be known, nor white, that thou mayst be described; and +there is no good quality in thee, even as saith of thee the poet: + +As a complexion unto her, the hue of soot doth serve; Her mirky + colour is as dust on couriers' feet upcast. +No sooner fall mine eyes on her, thou but a moment's space, Than + troubles and misgivings straight beset me thick and fast." + +"Enough," said her master. "Sit down." So she sat down and he +signed to the brunette. Now she was endowed with grace and beauty +and symmetry and perfection, delicate of body, with coal-back +hair, slender shape, rosy, oval cheeks, liquid black eyes, fair +face, eloquent tongue, slim waist and heavy buttocks. So she rose +and said, "Praised be God who hath created me neither blameably +fat nor lankily slender, neither white like leprosy nor yellow +like colic nor black like coal, but hath made my colour to be +beloved of men of wit; for all the poets praise brunettes in +every tongue and exalt their colour over all others. Brown of +hue, praiseworthy of qualities; and God bless him who saith: + +In the brunettes a meaning is, couldst read its writ aright, + Thine eyes would never again look on others, red or white. +Free-flowing speech and amorous looks would teach Harout[FN#47] + himself The arts of sorcery and spells of magic and of + might. + +And saith another: + +Give me brunettes; the Syrian spears, so limber and so + straight, Tell of the slender dusky maids, so lithe and + proud of gait. +Languid of eyelids, with a down like silk upon her cheek, + Within her wasting lover's heart she queens it still in + state. + +And yet another: + +Yea, by my life, such virtues in goodly brownness lie, One spot + thereof makes whiteness the shining moons outvie; +But if the like of whiteness is borrowed, then, for sure, Its + beauty were transmuted unto reproach thereby. +Not with her wine[FN#48] I'm drunken, but with her + tresses[FN#49] bright That make all creatures drunken that + dwell beneath the sky. +Each of her charms doth envy the others; yea, and each To be + the down so silky upon her cheek doth sigh. + +And again: + +Why should I not incline me unto the silken down On the cheeks + of a dusky maiden, like the cane straight and brown, +Seeing the spot of beauty in waterlilies' cups Is of the poets + fabled to be all beauty's crown? +Yea, and I see all lovers the swarthy-coloured mole, Under the + ebon pupil, do honour and renown. +Why, then, do censors blame me for loving one who's all A mole? + May Allah rid me of every railing clown! + +My form is beautiful and my shape slender; kings desire my colour +and all love it, rich and poor. I am pleasant, nimble, handsome, +elegant, soft of body and great of price. I am perfect in beauty +and breeding and eloquence; my aspect is comely and my tongue +fluent, my habit light and my sport graceful. As for thee, +[O yellow girl,] thou art like unto a mallow of Bab el Louc, +yellow and made all of sulphur. Perdition to thee, O pennyworth +of sorrel, O rust of copper, O owl's face and food of the damned! +Thy bedfellow, for oppression of spirit, is buried in the tombs, +and there is no good thing in thee, even as saith the poet of the +like of thee: + +Paleness[FN#50] is sore on her, for all no illness doth her + fret; My breast is straitened by its sight; ay, and my + head aches yet. +If thou repent thee not, my soul, to punish thee, I vow, I'll + humble thee with a kiss of her face, my teeth on edge + shall set." + +"Enough," said her master; "sit down." Then he made peace +between them and clad them all in sumptuous dresses of honour +and handselled them with precious jewels of land and sea. And +never, O Commander of the Faithful, in any place or time have I +seen fairer than these six fair damsels.' + +When the Khalif El Mamoun heard this story from Mohammed of Bassora, +he said to him, 'O Mohammed, knowest thou the abiding-place of +these damsels and their master, and canst thou make shift to buy +them of him for us?' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' answered he, +'I have heard that their master is wrapped up in them and cannot +endure to be parted from them.' 'Take threescore thousand dinars, +--that is, ten thousand for each girl,--' rejoined the Khalif, +'and go to his house and buy them of him.' So Mohammed took the +money and betaking himself to the man of Yemen, acquainted him +with the Khalif's wish. He consented to sell them at that price, +to pleasure him, and despatched them to El Mamoun, who assigned +them an elegant lodging and used to sit with them therein, +marvelling at their beauty and grace, no less than at their varied +colours and the excellence of their speech. + +After awhile, when their former owner could no longer endure separation +from them, he sent a letter to the Khalif, complaining of his ardent +love for them and containing, amongst the rest, the following verses: + +Six damsels fair and bright have captivated me; My blessing and + my peace the six fair maidens greet! +My life, indeed, are they, my hearing and my sight, Yea, and my + very drink, my pleasance and my meat. +No other love can bring me solace for their charms, And + slumber, after them, no more to me is sweet. +Alas, my long regret, my weeping for their loss! Would I have + ne'er been born, to know this sore defeat! +For eyes, bedecked and fair with brows like bended bows, Have + smitten me to death with arrows keen and fleet. + +When the letter came to El Mamoun's hands, he clad the six +damsels in rich apparel and giving them threescore thousand +dinars, sent them back to their master, who rejoiced in them +with an exceeding joy,--more by token of the money they brought +him,--and abode with them in all delight and pleasance of life, +till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the +Sunderer of Companies. + + + + + + HAROUN ER RASHID AND THE DAMSEL AND + ABOU NUWAS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid, being one night exceeding restless +and oppressed with melancholy thought, went out and walked +about his palace, till he came to a chamber, over whose doorway +hung a curtain. He raised the curtain and saw, at the upper end +of the room, a bed, on which lay something black, as it were a +man asleep, with a candle on his right hand and another on his +left and by his side a flagon of old wine, over against which +stood the cup. The Khalif wondered at this, saying, 'How came +yonder black by this wine-service?' Then, drawing near the bed, +he found that it was a girl asleep there, veiled with her hair, +and uncovering her face, saw that it was like the moon on the +night of her full. So he filled a cup of wine and drank it to +the roses of her cheeks; then bent over her and kissed a mole +on her face, whereupon she awoke and cried out, saying, 'O +Trusty One of God,[FN#51], what is to do?' 'A guest who knocks +at thy dwelling by night,' replied the Khalif, '[hoping] that +thou wilt give him hospitality till the dawn.' 'It is well,' +answered she; 'I will grace the guest with my hearing and my +sight.' + +So she brought the wine and they drank it together; after which +she took the lute and tuning it, preluded in one-and-twenty +modes, then returning to the first, struck a lively measure and +sang the following verses: + +The tongue of passion in my heart bespeaks thee for my soul, + Telling I love thee with a love that nothing can control. +I have an eye, that testifies unto my sore disease, And eke a + heart with parting wrung, a-throb for love and dole. +Indeed, I cannot hide the love that frets my life away; Longing + increases still on me, my tears for ever roll. +Ah me, before the love of thee, I knew not what love was; But + God's decree must have its course on every living soul. + +Then said she, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I am a wronged +woman.' 'How so?' quoth he, 'and who hath wronged thee?' She +answered, 'Thy son bought me awhile ago, for ten thousand +dirhems, meaning to give me to thee; but the daughter of thine +uncle[FN#52] sent him the price aforesaid and bade him shut me +up from thee in this chamber.' Whereupon, 'Ask a boon of me,' +said the Khalif; and she, 'I ask thee to lie to-morrow night +with me.' 'If it be the will of God,' replied the Khalif, and +leaving her, went away. + +Next morning, he repaired to his sitting-room and called for +Abou Nuwas, but found him not and sent his chamberlain to seek +for him. The chamberlain found him in pawn, in a tavern, for a +score of a thousand dirhems, that he had spent on a certain +boy, and questioned him. So he told him what had befallen him +with the boy and how he had spent a thousand dirhems upon him; +whereupon quoth the chamberlain, 'Show him to me; and if he be +worth this, thou art excused.' 'Wait awhile,' replied the poet, +'and thou shalt see him presently.' As they were talking, up +came the boy, clad in a white tunic, under which was another of +red and yet another of black. When Abou Nuwas saw him, he +sighed and repeated the following verses: + +To me he appeared in a garment of white, His eyes and his + eyelids with languor bedight. +Quoth I, "Dost thou pass and salutest me not? Though God knows + thy greeting were sweet to my spright. +Be He blessed who mantled with roses thy cheeks, Who creates, + without let, what He will, of His might!" +"Leave prating," he answered; "for surely my Lord Is wondrous + of working, sans flaw or dissight. +Yea, truly, my garment is even as my face And my fortune, each + white upon white upon white." + +When the boy heard this, he put off the white tunic and +appeared in the red one; whereupon Abou Nuwas redoubled in +expressions of admiration and repeated the following verses: + +Appeared in a garment, the colour of flame, A foeman of mine, + "The beloved," by name. +"Thou'rt a full moon," I said in my wonder, "And com'st In a + garment that putteth the roses to shame. +Hath the red of thy cheek clad that vest upon thee Or in + heart's blood of lovers hast tinctured the same?" +Quoth he, "'Twas the sun lately gave me the wede; From the + rubicund hue of his setting it came. +So my garment and wine and the colour so clear Of my cheek are + as flame upon flame upon flame." + +Then the boy doffed the red tunic and abode in the black; +whereupon Abou Nuwas redoubled in attention to him and repeated +the following verses: + +He came in a tunic all sable of hue And shone out, thus veiled + in the dark, to men's view. +"Thou passest," quoth I, "without greeting, and thus Givest + cause to exult to the rancorous crew. +Thy garment resembles thy locks and my lot, Yea, blackness and + blackness and blackness thereto." + +Then the chamberlain returned to Haroun er Reshid and +acquainted him with the poet's predicament, whereupon he bade +him take a thousand dirhems and go and take him out of pawn. So +he returned to Abou Nuwas and paying his score, carried him to +the Khalif, who said, 'Make me some verses containing the +words, "O Trusty One of God, what is to do?"' 'I hear and obey, +O Commander of the Faithful,' answered he and improvised the +following verses: + +My night was long for sleeplessness and care. Weary I was and + many my thoughts were. +I rose and walked awhile in my own place, Then midst the + harem's cloistered courts did fare, +Until I chanced on somewhat black and found It was a damsel + shrouded in her hair. +God bless her for a shining moon! Her shape A willow-wand, and + pudour veiled the fair. +I quaffed a cup to her; then, drawing near, I kissed the mole + upon her cheek so rare. +She woke and swayed about in her amaze, Even as the branch + sways in the rain-fraught air; +Then rose and said, "O Trusty One of God, What is to do, and + thou, what dost thou there?" +"A guest", quoth I, "that sues to thee, by night, For shelter + till the hour of morning-prayer." +"Gladly," she said; "with hearing and with sight To grace the + guest, my lord, I will not spare." + +'Confound thee!' cried the Khalif. 'It is as if thou hadst been +present with us.' Then he took him by the hand and carried him +to the damsel, who was clad in a dress and veil of blue. When +Abou Nuwas saw her, he was profuse in expressions of admiration +and recited the following verses: + +Say to the lovely maid, i' the veil of azure dight, "By Allah, + O my life, have pity on my plight! +For when the fair entreats her lover cruelly, Sighs of all + longing rend his bosom day and night. +So, by thy charms and by the whiteness of thy cheek, Have ruth + upon a heart for love consumed outright. +Incline to him and be his stay 'gainst stress of love, Nor let + what fools may say find favour in thy sight." + +Then the damsel set wine before the Khalif and taking the lute, +played a lively measure and sang the following verses: + +Wilt thou be just in thy love to others and deal with me + Unjustly and put me away, while others have joy in thee? +Were there for lovers a judge, to whom I might complain Of + thee, he would do me justice and judge with equity. +If thou forbid me to pass thy door, yet from afar To greet thee + and to bless, at least, I shall be free. + +The Khalif bade her ply Abou Nuwas with wine, till he lost his +wits; when he gave him a full cup, and he drank a draught of it +and held the cup in his hand. Er Reshid bade the girl take the +cup from him and conceal it; so she took it and hid it between +her thighs. Then he drew his sword and standing at the poet's +head, pricked him with the point; whereupon he awoke and saw +the Khalif standing over him, with a drawn sword. At this sight +the fumes of the wine fled from his head and the Khalif said to +him, 'Make me some verses and tell me therein what is come of +thy cup; or I will cut off thy head.' So he improvised the +following verses: + +My tale, indeed is hard to tell: The thief was none but yon + gazelle. +She stole my cup of wine, whereof My lips had drunken but one + spell, +And hid it in a place, for which My heart's desire's + unspeakable. +I name it not, for awe of him, In whom the right thereof doth + dwell. + +'Confound thee!' quoth the Khalif. 'How knewst thou that? But +we accept what thou sayst.' Then he ordered him a dress of +honour and a thousand dinars, and he went away, rejoicing. + + + + + + THE MAN WHO STOLE THE DISH OF GOLD IN + WHICH THE DOG ATE. + + + +There was once a man, who was overborne with debt, and his case +was straitened upon him, so that he left his people and family +and went forth in distraction. He wandered on at random till he +came to a high-walled and splendidly built city and entered it +in a state of wretchedness and despair, gnawed with hunger and +worn with the toil of his journey. As he passed through one of +the streets, he saw a company of notables going along; so he +followed them, till they entered a house like to a royal +palace. He entered with them, and they stayed not till they +came in presence of a man of the most dignified and majestic +aspect, seated at the upper end of a saloon and surrounded by +pages and servants, as he were of the sons of the Viziers. When +he saw the visitors, he rose and received them with honour; but +the poor man was confounded at the goodliness of the place and +the crowd of servants and attendants and drawing back, in fear +and perplexity, sat down apart in a place afar off, where none +should see him. + +After awhile, in came a man with four hunting-dogs, clad in +various kinds of silk and brocade and having on their necks +collars of gold with chains of silver, and tied up each dog in a +place set apart for him; after which he went out and presently +returned with four dishes of gold, full of rich meats, one of +which he set before each dog. Then he went away and left them, +whilst the poor man began to eye the food, for stress of hunger, +and would fain have gone up to one of the dogs and eaten with +him; but fear of them withheld him. Presently, one of the +dogs looked at him and God the Most High inspired him with a +knowledge of his case; so he drew back from the platter and +beckoned to the man, who came and ate, till he was satisfied. +Then he would have withdrawn, but the dog pushed the dish +towards him with his paw, signing to him to take it and what +was left in it for himself. So the man took the dish and +leaving the house, went his way, and none followed him. Then +he journeyed to another city, where he sold the dish and buying +goods with the price, returned to his own town. There he sold +his stock and paid his debts; and he prospered and became rich +and at his ease. + +After some years had passed, he said to himself, 'Needs must I +repair to the city of the owner of the dish, which the dog +bestowed on me, and carry him its price, together with a fit +and handsome present.' So he took the price of the dish and a +suitable present and setting out, journeyed night and day, till +he came to the city and entering, went straight to the place +where the man's house had been; but lo, he found there nothing +but mouldering ruins and dwelling-places laid waste, over which +the raven croaked; for the place was desert and the environs +changed out of knowledge. At this, his heart and soul were +troubled and he repeated the words of him who saith: + +The privy chambers are void of all their hidden store, As + hearts of the fear of God and the virtues all of yore. +Changed is the vale and strange to me are its gazelles, And + those I knew of old its sandhills are no more. + +And those of another: + +The phantom of Saada came to me by night, near the break of + day, And roused me, whenas my comrades all in the desert + sleeping lay. +But, when I awoke to the dream of the night, that came to visit + me, I found the air void and the wonted place of our + rendezvous far away. + +When he saw what the hand of time had manifestly done with the +place, leaving but traces of the things that had been aforetime, +the testimony of his eyes made it needless for him to enquire +of the case; so he turned away and seeing a wretched man, in +a plight that made the skin quake and would have moved the +very rock to pity, said to him, 'Harkye, sirrah! What have +time and fortune done with the master of this place? Where are +his shining full moons[FN#53] and splendid stars;[FN#54] and +what is the cause of the ruin that is come upon his abode, so +that but the walls thereof remain?' Quoth the other, 'He is the +miserable wretch thou seest bewailing that which hath befallen +him. Knowest thou not the words of the Prophet (whom God bless +and preserve), wherein is a lesson to him who will profit by it +and an admonition to whoso will be guided thereby in the right +way? "Verily it is the way of God the Most High to raise up +nothing of this world, except He cast it down again." If thou +enquire of the cause of this thing, indeed, it is no wonder, +considering the vicissitudes of fortune. I was the master of +this place and its builder and founder and owner and lord of +its shining full moons and radiant damsels and of all its +splendid circumstance an magnificent garniture; but Fortune +turned and did away from me wealth and servants, overwhelming +me unawares with disasters unforeseen and bringing me to this +sorry plight. But there must needs be some reason for this thy +question: tell it me and leave wondering.' + +So the other told him the whole story, sore concerned at what +he heard and saw, and added, 'I have brought thee a present +such as souls desire, and the price of thy dish of gold, that I +took; for it was the cause of my becoming rich, after poverty, +and of the reinstating of my dwelling-place, after desolation, +and of the doing away of my trouble and straitness from me.' +But the poor man shook his head, groaning and weeping and +lamenting, and answered, 'O man, methinks thou art mad; for +this is not the fashion of a man of understanding. How should a +dog of mine make gift to thee of a dish of gold and I receive +back its price? This were indeed a strange thing! By Allah, +were I in the straitest misery and unease, I would not accept +of thee aught, no, not the worth of a nail-paring! So return +whence thou camest, in health and safety.' + +The merchant kissed his feet and taking leave of him, returned +whence he came, praising him and reciting the following verse: + +The men and eke the dogs are gone and vanished all. Peace be + upon the men and dogs, whate'er befall! + + + + + + THE SHARPER OF ALEXANDRIA AND THE + MASTER OF POLICE. + + + +There was once, in the coast-fortress of Alexandria, a Master +of Police, Husameddin by name, who was one night sitting in his +seat of office, when there came in to him a trooper, who said +to him, 'Know, O my lord, that I entered the city this night +and alighted at such a khan and slept there, till a third part +of the night was past, when I awoke and found my saddle-bags +cut open and a purse of a thousand dinars stolen from them.' No +sooner had he done speaking than the magistrate called his +officers and bade them lay hands on all in the khan and clap +them in prison till the morning; and on the morrow, he caused +bring the instruments of torment and sending for the prisoners, +was about to torture them, [to make them confess], in the +presence of the owner of the stolen money, when, behold, a man +pressed through the crowd and coming up to the chief of the +police, said, 'O Amir, let these folk go, for they are wrongly +accused. It was I who robbed the trooper, and here is the purse +I stole from his saddle-bags.' So saying, he pulled out the +purse from his sleeve and laid it before Husameddin, who said +to the soldier, 'Take thy money; thou hast no ground of +complaint now against the people of the khan.' Thereupon the +latter and all who were present fell to blessing the thief and +praising him; but he said, 'O Amir, the skill is not in that I +came to thee and brought thee the purse, but in taking it a +second time from the trooper.' 'And how didst thou take it, O +sharper?' asked Husameddin. + +'O Amir,' replied the thief, 'I was standing in the +money-changers' bazaar at Cairo, when I saw yonder man receive +the gold and put it in his purse; so I followed him from street +to street, but found no occasion of stealing it from him. Then +he left Cairo and I followed him from place to place, casting +about by the way to rob him, but without avail, till he entered +this city and I followed him to the khan. I took up my lodging +beside him and watched him till he fell asleep and I heard him +snoring, when I went softly up to him and cutting open his +saddlebags with this knife, took the purse thus--' + +So saying, he put out his hand and took the purse from before +the chief of the police, whilst the latter and the trooper and +the folk drew back, watching him and thinking he would show them +how he took the purse from the saddle-bags; but, of a sudden, +he broke into a run and threw himself into a reservoir hard by. +The chief of the police called to his officers to pursue him, +but before they could put off their clothes and descend the +steps, he had made off; and they sought for him, but found him +not; for the streets of Alexandria all communicate one with +another. So they came back, empty-handed, and the chief of the +police said to the trooper, 'Thou hast no recourse against the +folk; for thou foundest him who robbed thee and receivedst back +thy money, but didst not keep it.' So the trooper went away, +having lost his money, whilst the folk were delivered from his +hands and those of the chief of the police; and all this was of +the favour of God the Most High. + + + + + + EL MELIK EN NASIR AND THE THREE MASTERS + OF POLICE. + + + +El Melik en Nasir[FN#55] once sent for the chiefs of the police +of New Cairo, Boulac and Old Cairo and said to them, 'I wish +each of you to tell me the most remarkable thing that hath +befallen him during his term of office.' 'We hear and obey,' +answered they. Then said the chief of the police of New Cairo, +'O our lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell +me, during my term of office, was on this wise: + + + + + +Story of the Chief of the Police of New Cairo. + + + +There were once, in this city, two men apt to bear witness in +matters of blood and wounds; but they were both given to wine +and women and debauchery; nor, do what I would, could I succeed +in bringing them to account. So I charged the vintners and +confectioners and fruiterers and chandlers and bagnio-keepers +to acquaint me of these two, when ever they should anywhere be +engaged in drinking or debauchery, whether together or apart, +and that, if they or either of them bought of them aught for +the purpose of carousal, they should not conceal it from me. +And they replied, "We hear and obey." + +One night, a man came to me and said, "O my lord, know that the +two witnesses are in such a house in such a street, engaged +in sore wickedness." So I disguised myself and went out, +accompanied by none but my page, to the street in question. +When I came to the house, I knocked at the door, whereupon a +slave-girl came out and opened to me, saying, "Who art thou?" I +made her no answer, but entered and saw the two witnesses and +the master of the house sitting, and lewd women with them, and +great plenty of wine before them. When they saw me, they rose to +receive me, without showing the least alarm, and made much of me, +seating me in the place of honour and saying to me, "Welcome for +an illustrious guest and a pleasant cup-companion!" + +Presently, the master of the house went out and returning after +awhile with three hundred dinars, said to me, without the least +fear, "O my lord, it is, we know, in thy power both to disgrace +and punish us; but this will bring thee nothing but weariness. +So thou wouldst do better to take this money and protect us; +for God the Most High is named the Protector and loveth those +of His servants who protect each other; and thou shalt have thy +reward in the world to come." The money tempted me and I said +in myself, "I will take the money and protect them this once; +but, if ever again I have them in my power, I will take my +wreak of them." + +So I took the money and went away; but, next day, one of the +Cadi's serjeants came to me and cited me before the court. I +accompanied him thither, knowing not the meaning of the +summons; and when I came into the Cadi's presence, I saw the +two witnesses and the master of the house sitting by him. The +latter rose and sued me for three hundred dinars, nor was it in +my power to deny the debt; for he produced a written obligation +and the two others testified against me that I owed the amount. + +Their evidence satisfied the Cadi and he ordered me to pay the +money; nor did I leave the Court till they had of me the three +hundred dinars. So I went away, in the utmost wrath and +confusion, vowing vengeance against them and repenting that I +had not punished them.' + +Then rose the chief of the Boulac police and said, 'As for me, +O our lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell +me, during my term of office, was as follows: + + + + + +Story of the Chief of the Boulac Police. + + + +I was once in debt to the amount of three hundred thousand +dinars, and being distressed thereby, I sold what was behind me +and what was before me and all I could lay my hands on, but +could raise no more than a hundred thousand dinars and abode in +great perplexity. One night, as I sat at home, in this state of +mind, there came a knocking at the gate; so I said to one of my +servants, "See who is at the door." He went out and returned, +pale and trembling in every nerve; so I said to him, "What ails +thee?" "There is a man at the door, seeking thee," answered he. +"He is half naked, clad in skins, with a sword and a knife in +his girdle, and with him are a company of the same fashion." So +I took my sword and going out to see who these were, found them +as the boy had reported and said to them, "What is your +business?" "We are thieves," answered they, "and have made +great purchase to-night and appointed it to thy use, that thou +mayst pay therewith the debts that oppress thee and free +thyself from thy distress." "Where is it?" asked I; and they +brought me a great chest, full of vessels of gold and silver; +which when I saw, I rejoiced and said in myself, "It were +ungenerous to let them go away empty-handed." + +So I took the hundred thousand dinars I had by me and gave it +to them, thanking them; and they took it and went their way, +under cover of the night. But, on the morrow, when I examined +the contents of the chest, I found them gilded brass and +pewter, worth five hundred dirhems at the most; and this was +grievous to me, for I had lost what money I had, and trouble +was added to my trouble.' + +Then rose the chief of the police of Old Cairo and said, 'O our +lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell me, +during my term of office, was on this wise: + + + + + +Story of the Chief of the Old Cairo Police + + + +I once had ten thieves hanged, each on his own gibbet, and set +guards to watch them and hinder the folk from taking them down. +Next morning, when I came to look at them, I found two bodies +hanging from one gibbet and said to the guards, "Who did this, +and where is the tenth gibbet?" But they denied all knowledge +of it, and I was about to beat them, when they said, "Know, O +Amir, that we fell asleep last night, and when we awoke, we +found one of the bodies gone, gibbet and all, whereat we were +alarmed, fearing thy wrath. But, presently, up came a peasant, +jogging along on his ass; so we laid hands on him and killing +him, hung his body upon this gibbet, in the stead of the +missing thief." + +When I heard this, I marvelled and said to them, "Had he aught +with him?" "He had a pair of saddle-bags on the ass," answered +they. "What was in them?" asked I and they said, "We know not." +Quoth I, "Bring them hither." So they brought them to me and I +bade open them, when, behold, therein was the body of a +murdered man, cut in pieces. When I saw this, I marvelled and +said in myself, "Glory be to God! The cause of the hanging of +this peasant was no other but his crime against this murdered +man; and the Lord is no unjust dealer with [His] servants."' +[FN#56] + + + + + + THE THIEF AND THE MONEY-CHANGER + + + +A money-changer, bearing a bag of money, once passed by a +company of thieves, and one of the latter said to the others, +'I know how to steal yonder bag of money.' 'How wilt thou do +it?' asked they. 'Look,' answered he and followed the money- +changer, till he entered his house, when he threw the bag on a +shelf and went into the draught-house, to do an occasion, +calling to the slave-girl to bring him an ewer of water. So she +took the jug and followed him to the draught-house, leaving the +door open, whereupon the thief entered and taking the bag of +money, made off with it to his companions, to whom he related +what had passed. 'By Allah,' said they, 'this was a clever +trick! It is not every one could do it: but, presently, the +money-changer will come out of the draught-house and missing +the bag of money, will beat the slave-girl and torture her +grievously. Meseems thou hast at present done nothing worthy of +praise; but, if thou be indeed a sharper, thou wilt return and +save the girl from being beaten.' 'If it be the will of God,' +answered the thief, 'I will save both the girl and the purse.' + +Then he went back to the money-changer's house and found him +beating the girl, because of the bag of money; so he knocked at +the door and the man said, 'Who is there? Quoth the thief, 'I +am the servant of thy neighbour in the bazaar.' So he came out +to him and said, 'What is thy business?' 'My master salutes +thee,' replied the thief, 'and says to thee, "Surely, thou art +mad to cast the like of this bag of money down at the door of +thy shop and go away and leave it! Had a stranger chanced on +it, he had made off with it." And except my master had seen it +and taken care of it, it had been lost to thee.' So saying, he +pulled out the purse and showed it to the money-changer, who +said, 'That is indeed my purse,' and put out his hand to take +it; but the thief said, 'By Allah, I will not give it thee, +till thou write me a receipt; for I fear my master will not +believe that thou hast duly received the purse, except I bring +him a writing to that effect, under thy hand and seal.' So the +money-changer went in to write the receipt; but, in the +meantime, the thief made off with the bag of money, having +[thus] saved the slave-girl her beating. + + + + + + THE CHIEF OF THE COUS POLICE AND THE + SHARPER + + + +It is related that Alaeddin, chief of the police of +Cous[FN#57], was sitting one night in his house, when a man of +comely aspect and dignified port, followed by a servant bearing +a chest upon his head, came to the door and said to one of the +young men, 'Go in and tell the Amir that I would speak with him +privily.' So the servant went in and told his master, who bade +admit the visitor. When he entered the Amir saw him to be a man +of good appearance and carriage; so he received him with +honour, seating him beside himself, and said to him, 'What is +thy business?' 'I am a highwayman,' replied the stranger, 'and +am minded to repent at thy hands and turn to God the Most High +but I would have thee help me to this, for that I am in thy +district and under thine eye. I have here a chest, wherein is +that which is worth nigh forty thousand dinars; and none hath +so good a right to it as thou; so do thou take it and give me +in exchange a thousand dinars of thy money, lawfully gotten, +that I may have a little capital, to aid me in my repentance, +and not be forced to resort to sin for subsistence; and with +God the Most High be thy reward!' So saying he opened the chest +and showed the Amir that it was full of trinkets and jewels and +bullion and pearls, whereat he was amazed and rejoiced greatly. +Then he cried out to his treasurer, to bring him a purse of a +thousand dinars, and gave it to the highwayman, who thanked him +and went his way, under cover of the night. + +On the morrow, the Amir sent for the chief of the goldsmiths and +showed him the chest and what was therein; but the goldsmith +found it nothing but pewter and brass and the jewels and pearls +all of glass; at which Alaeddin was sore chagrined and sent in +quest of the highwayman; but none could come at him. + + + + + + IBRAHIM BEN EL MEHDI AND THE MERCHANT'S + SISTER. + + + +The Khalif El Mamoun once said to [his uncle] Ibrahim ben el +Mehdi, 'Tell us the most remarkable thing that thou hast ever +seen.' 'I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful,' answered +he. 'Know that I went out one day, a-pleasuring, and my course +brought me to a place where I smelt the odour of food. My soul +longed for it and I halted, perplexed and unable either to go +on or enter. Presently, I raised my eyes and saw a lattice +window and behind it a hand and wrist, the like of which for +beauty I never saw. The sight turned my brain and I forgot the +smell of the food and began to cast about how I should get +access to the house. After awhile, I espied a tailor hard by +and going up to him, saluted him. He returned my greeting and I +said to him, "Whose house is that?" "It belongs to a merchant +called such an one," answered he, "who consorteth with none but +merchants." + +As we were talking, up came two men of comely and intelligent +aspect, riding on horseback; and the tailor told me their names +and that they were the merchant's most intimate friends. So I +spurred my horse towards them and said to them, "May I be your +ransom! Abou such an one[FN#58] waits for you!" And I rode with +them to the gate, where I entered and they also. When the +master of the house saw me, he doubted not but I was their +friend; so he welcomed me and made me sit down in the highest +room. Then they brought the table of food and I said, "God hath +granted me my desire of the food; and now there remain the hand +and wrist." After awhile, we removed, for carousal, to another +room, which I found full of all manner of rarities; and the +host paid me particular attention, addressing his conversation +to me, for that he deemed me a guest of his guests; whilst the +latter, in like manner, made much of me, taking me for a friend +of the master of the house. + +When we had drunk several cups of wine, there came in to us a +damsel of the utmost beauty and elegance, as she were a +willow-wand, who took a lute and playing a lively measure, sang +the following verses: + +Is it not passing strange, indeed, one house should hold us + tway And still thou drawst not near to me nor yet a word + dost say, +Except the secrets of the souls and hearts that broken be And + entrails blazing in the fires of love, the eye bewray +With meaning looks and knitted brows and eyelids languishing + And hands that salutation sign and greeting thus convey? + +When I heard this, my entrails were stirred and I was moved to +delight, for the excess of her grace and the beauty of the +verses she sang; and I envied her her skill and said, "There +lacketh somewhat to thee, O damsel!" Whereupon she threw the +lute from her hand, in anger, and cried, "Since when do you use +to bring ill-mannered fools into your assemblies?" Then I +repented of what I had done, seeing that the others were vexed +with me, and said in myself, "My hopes are at an end;" and I +saw no way of quitting myself of reproach but to call for a +lute, saying, "I will show you what escaped her in the air she +sang." So they brought me a lute and I tuned it and sang the +following verses: + +This is thy lover distraught, absorbed in his passion and pain; + Thy lover, the tears of whose eyes run down on his body + like rain. +One hand to his heart ever pressed, whilst the other the + Merciful One Imploreth, so He of His grace may grant him + his hope to attain. +O thou, that beholdest a youth for passion that's perished, + thine eye And thy hand are the cause of his death and yet + might restore him again. + +When the damsel heard this, she sprang up and throwing herself +at my feet, kissed them and said, "It is thine to excuse, O my +lord! By Allah, I knew not thy quality nor heard I ever the +like of this fashion!" And they all extolled me and made much +of me, being beyond measure delighted, and besought me to sing +again. So I sang a lively air, whereupon they all became as +drunken men, and their wits left them. Then the guests departed +to their homes and I abode alone with the host and the girl. +The former drank some cups with me, then said to me, "O my +lord, my life hath been wasted, in that I have not known the +like of thee till now. By Allah, then, tell me who thou art, +that I may know who is the boon-companion whom God hath +bestowed on me this night." + +I would not at first tell him my name and returned him evasive +answers; but he conjured me, till I told him who I was; +whereupon he sprang to his feet and said, "Indeed, I wondered +that such excellence should belong to any but the like of thee; +and Fortune hath done me a service for which I cannot avail to +thank her. But, belike, this is a dream; for how could I hope +that the family of the Khalifate should visit me in my own +house and carouse with me this night?" I conjured him to be +seated; so he sat down and began to question me, in the most +courteous terms, as to the cause of my visit. So I told him the +whole matter, concealing nothing, and said to him, "Verily, I +have had my desire of the food, but not of the hand and wrist." +Quoth he, "Thou shalt have thy desire of them also, so God +will." Then said he to the slave-girl, "Bid such an one come +down." And he called his slave-girls down, one by one and +showed them to me; but I saw not my mistress among them, and he +said, "O my lord, there is none left save my mother and sister; +but, by Allah, I must needs have them also down and show them +to thee." + +I marvelled at his courtesy and large-heartedness and said, +"May I be thy ransom! Begin with thy sister." "Willingly," +replied he. So she came down and behold, it was she whose hand +and wrist I had seen. "May God make me thy ransom!" said I. +"This is the damsel whose hand and wrist I saw at the lattice." +Then he sent at once for witnesses and bringing out two myriads +of dinars, said to the witnesses, "This our lord Ibrahim ben el +Mehdi, uncle of the Commander of the Faithful, seeks the hand +of my sister such an one, and I call you to witness that I +marry her to him and that he has endowed her with a dowry of +ten thousand dinars." And he said to me, "I give thee my sister +in marriage, at the dowry aforesaid." "I consent," answered I. +Whereupon he gave one of the bags to her and the other to the +witnesses, and said to me, "O my lord, I desire to array a +chamber for thee; where thou mayst lie with thy wife." But I +was abashed at his generosity and was ashamed to foregather +with her in his house; so I said, "Equip her and send her to my +house." And by thy life, O Commander of the Faithful, he sent +me such an equipage with her, that my house was too strait to +hold it, for all its greatness! And I begot on her this boy +that stands before thee.' + +The Khalif marvelled at the merchant's generosity and said, +'Gifted of God is he! Never heard I of his like.' And he bade +Ibrahim bring him to court, that he might see him. So he +brought him and the Khalif conversed with him; and his wit and +good breeding so pleased him, that he made him one of his chief +officers. + + + + + + THE WOMAN WHOSE HANDS WERE CUT OFF FOR + THAT SHE GAVE ALMS TO THE POOR. + + + +A certain King once made proclamation to the people of his +realm, saying, 'If any of you give alms of aught, I will +assuredly cut off his hand;' wherefore all the people abstained +from alms-giving, and none could give to any. + +One day a beggar accosted a certain woman (and indeed hunger +was sore upon him) and said to her, 'Give me an alms.' 'How can +I give thee aught,' answered she, 'when the King cutteth off +the hands of all who give alms?' But he said, 'I conjure thee +by God the Most High, give me an alms.' So, when he adjured her +by God, she had compassion on him and gave him two cakes of +bread. The King heard of this; so he called her before him and +cut off her hands, after which she returned to her house. + +A while after, the King said to his mother, 'I have a mind to +take a wife; so do thou marry me to a fair woman.' Quoth she, +'There is among our female slaves one who is unsurpassed in +beauty; but she hath a grievous blemish.' 'What is that?' asked +the King; and his mother answered, 'She hath had both her hands +cut off.' Said he, 'Let me see her.' So she brought her to him, +and he was ravished by her and married her and went in to her; +and she brought him a son. + +Now this was the woman, who had her hands cut off for +alms-giving; and when she became queen, her fellow-wives envied +her and wrote to the King [who was then absent] that she was +unchaste; so he wrote to his mother, bidding her carry the +woman into the desert and leave her there. The old queen obeyed +his commandment and abandoned the woman and her son in the +desert; whereupon she fell to weeping and wailing exceeding +sore for that which had befallen her. As she went along, with +the child at her neck, she came to a river and knelt down to +drink, being overcome with excess of thirst, for fatigue and +grief; but, as she bent her head, the child fell into the +water. + +Then she sat weeping sore for her child, and as she wept, there +came up two men, who said to her, 'What makes thee weep?' Quoth +she, 'I had a child at my neck, and he hath fallen into the +water.' 'Wilt thou that we bring him out to thee?' asked they, +and she answered, 'Yes.' So they prayed to God the Most High, +and the child came forth of the water to her, safe and sound. +Quoth they, 'Wilt thou that God restore thee thy hands as they +were?' 'Yes,' replied she: whereupon they prayed to God, +blessed and exalted be He! and her hands were restored to her, +goodlier than before. Then said they, 'Knowst thou who we are?' +'God [only] is all-knowing,' answered she; and they said, 'We +are thy two cakes of bread, that thou gavest in alms to the +beggar and which were the cause of the cutting off of thy +hands. So praise thou God the Most High, for that He hath +restored thee thy hands and thy child.' So she praised God the +Most High and glorified Him. + + + + + + THE DEVOUT ISRAELITE. + + + +There was once a devout man of the children of Israel[FN#59], +whose family span cotton; and he used every day to sell the +yarn they span and buy fresh cotton, and with the profit he +bought the day's victual for his household. One day, he went +out and sold the day's yarn as usual, when there met him one of +his brethren, who complained to him of want; so he gave him the +price of the yarn and returned, empty-handed, to his family, +who said to him, 'Where is the cotton and the food?' Quoth he, +'Such an one met me and complained to me of want; so I gave him +the price of the yarn.' And they said, 'How shall we do? We +have nothing to sell.' Now they had a broken platter and a jar; +so he took them to the market; but none would buy them of him. + +Presently, as he stood in the market, there came up a man with +a stinking, swollen fish, which no one would buy of him, and he +said to the Jew, 'Wilt thou sell me thine unsaleable ware for +mine?' 'Yes,' answered the Jew and giving him the jar and +platter, took the fish and carried it home to his family, who +said, 'What shall we do with this fish?' Quoth he, 'We will +broil it and eat of it, till it please God to provide for us.' +So they took it and ripping open its belly, found therein a +great pearl and told the Jew, who said, 'See if it be pierced. +If so, it belongs to some one of the folk; if not, it is a +provision of God for us.' So they examined it and found it +unpierced. + +On the morrow, the Jew carried it to one of his brethren, who +was skilled in jewels, and he said, 'Whence hadst thou this +pearl?' 'It was a gift of God the Most High to us,' replied the +Jew, and the other said, 'It is worth a thousand dirhems, and I +will give thee that sum; but take it to such an one, for he +hath more money and skill than I.' So the Jew took it to the +jeweller, who said, 'It is worth threescore and ten thousand +dirhems and no more. Then he paid him that sum and the Jew +hired two porters to carry the money to his house. As he came +to his door, a beggar accosted him, saying, 'Give me of that +which God the Most High hath given thee.' Quoth the Jew, 'But +yesterday, we were even as thou; take half the money.' So he +made two parts of it, and each took his half. Then said the +beggar, 'Take back thy money and God prosper thee in it; I am a +messenger, whom thy Lord hath sent to try thee.' Quoth the Jew, +'To God be the praise and the thanks!' and abode with his +family in all delight of life, till death. + + + + + + ABOU HASSAN EZ ZIYADI AND THE MAN FROM + KHORASSAN. + + + +Quoth Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi[FN#60], 'I was once in very needy +case, and the baker and grocer and other purveyors importuned +me, so that I was in sore straits and knew of no resource nor +what to do. Things being thus, there came in to me one day one +of my servants and said to me, "There is a man, a pilgrim, at +the door, who seeks admission to thee." Quoth I, "Admit him." +So he came in and behold, he was a native of Khorassan. We +exchanged salutations and he said to me, "Art thou Abou Hassan +ez Ziyadi?" "Yes," answered I. "What is thy business?" Quoth +he, "I am a stranger and am minded to make the pilgrimage; but +I have with me a great sum of money, which is burdensome to me. +So I wish to deposit with thee these ten thousand dirhems, +whilst I make the pilgrimage and return. If the caravan return +and thou see me not, know that I am dead, in which case the +money is a gift from me to thee; but if I come back, it shall +be mine." "Be it as thou wilt," answered I, "so it please God +the Most High." So he brought out a leather bag and I said to +the servant, "Fetch the scales." He brought them and the man +weighed out the money and handed it to me, after which he went +his way. Then I called the tradesmen and paid them what I owed +and spent freely, saying in myself, "By the time he returns, +God will have succoured me with one or another of His bounties." +However, next day, the servant came in to me and said, "Thy +friend the man from Khorassan is at the door." + +"Admit him," answered I. So he came in and said to me, "I had +thought to make the pilgrimage; but news hath reached me of the +death of my father, and I have resolved to return; so give me +the money I deposited with thee yesterday." When I heard this, +I was troubled and perplexed beyond measure and knew not what +reply to make him; for, if I denied it, he would put me to my +oath, and I should be shamed in the world to come; whilst, if I +told him that I had spent the money, he would make an outcry +and disgrace me. So I said to him, "God give thee health! This +my house is no stronghold nor place of safe custody for this +money. When I received thy leather bag, I sent it to one with +whom it now is; so do thou return to us to-morrow and take thy +money, if it be the will of God." + +So he went away, and I passed the night in sore concern, because +of his return to me. Sleep visited me not nor could I close my +eyes: so I rose and bade the boy saddle me the mule. "O my lord," +answered he, "it is yet but the first watch of the night." So I +returned to bed, but sleep was forbidden to me and I ceased not +to awaken the boy and he to put me off, till break of day, when +he saddled me the mule, and I mounted and rode out, not knowing +whither to go. I threw the reins on the mule's shoulders and +gave myself up to anxiety and melancholy thought, whilst she +fared on with me to the eastward of Baghdad. Presently, as I +went along, I saw a number of people in front and turned aside +into another path to avoid them; but they, seeing that I wore +a professor's hood, followed me and hastening up to me, said, +"Knowest thou the lodging of Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi?" "I am he," +answered I; and they rejoined, "The Commander of the Faithful +calls for thee." Then they carried me before El Mamoun, who +said to me, "Who art thou?" Quoth I, "I am a professor of the +law and traditions, and one of the associates of the Cadi Abou +Yousuf." "How art thou called?" asked the Khalif. "Abou Hassan +ez Ziyadi," answered I, and he said, "Expound to me thy case." + +So I told him how it was with me and he wept sore and said to +me, "Out on thee! The Apostle of God (whom may He bless and +preserve) would not let me sleep this night, because of thee; +for he appeared to me in my first sleep and said to me, +'Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi.' Whereupon I awoke and knowing +thee not, went to sleep again; but he came to me a second time +and said to me, 'Woe to thee! Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi.' I +awoke a second time, but knew thee not, so went to sleep again; +and he came to me a third time and still I knew thee not and +went to sleep again. Then he came to me once more and said, +'Out on thee! Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi!' After that I +dared not go to sleep again, but watched the rest of the night +and aroused my people and sent them in all directions in quest +of thee." Then he gave me ten thousand dirhems, saying, "This +is for the Khorassani," and other ten thousand, saying, "Spend +freely of this and amend thy case therewith, and set thine +affairs in order." Moreover, he gave me yet thirty thousand +dirhems, saying, "Furnish thyself with this, and when the day +of estate comes round, come thou to me, that I may invest thee +with an office." + +So I took the money and returned home, where I prayed the +morning-prayer. Presently came the Khorassani, so I carried him +into the house and brought out to him ten thousand dirhems, +saying, "Here is thy money." "It is not my very money," +answered he. "How cometh this?" So I told him the whole story, +and he wept and said, "By Allah, hadst thou told me the truth +at first, I had not pressed thee! And now, by Allah, I will not +accept aught of the money; and thou art quit of it." So saying, +he went away and I set my affairs in order and repaired on the +appointed day to the Divan, where I found the Khalif seated. +When he saw me, he called me to him and bringing forth to me a +paper from under his prayer-carpet, said to me, "This is a +patent, conferring on thee the office of Cadi of the western +division of the Holy City[FN#61] from the Bab es Selam[FN#62] +to the end of the town; and I appoint thee such and such +monthly allowances. So fear God (to whom belong might and +majesty) and be mindful of the solicitude of His Apostle (whom +may He bless and preserve) on thine account." The folk marvelled +at the Khalif's words and questioned me of their meaning; so I +told them the whole story and it spread abroad amongst the +people.' + +And [quoth he who tells the tale] Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi ceased +not to be Cadi of the Holy City, till he died in the days of El +Mamoun, the mercy of God be on him! + + + + + + THE POOR MAN AND HIS GENEROUS FRIEND. + + + +There was once a rich man, who lost all he had and became poor, +whereupon his wife counselled him to seek aid of one of his +friends. So he betook himself to a certain friend of his and +acquainted him with his strait; and he lent him five hundred +dinars to trade withal. Now he had aforetime been a jeweller; +so he took the money and went to the jewel-bazaar, where he +opened a shop to buy and sell. Presently, three men accosted +him, as he sat in his shop, and asked for his father. He told +them that he was dead, and they said, 'Did he leave any +offspring?' Quoth the jeweller, 'He left a son, your servant.' +'And who knoweth thee for his son?' asked they. 'The people of +the bazaar,' replied he; and they said, 'Call them together, +that they may testify to us that thou art his son.' So he +called them and they bore witness of this; whereupon the three +men delivered to him a pair of saddle-bags, containing thirty +thousand dinars, besides jewels and bullion, saying, 'This was +deposited with us in trust by thy father.' Then they went away; +and presently there came to him a woman, who sought of him +certain of the jewels, worth five hundred dinars, and paid him +three thousand for them. + +So he took five hundred dinars and carrying them to his friend, +who had lent him the money, said to him, 'Take the five hundred +dinars I borrowed of thee; for God hath aided and prospered +me.' 'Not so,' quoth the other. 'I gave them to thee outright, +for the love of God; so do thou keep them. And take this paper, +but read it not, till thou be at home, and do according to that +which is therein.' So he took the paper and returned home, +where he opened it and read therein the following verses: + +The men who came to thee at first my kinsmen were, my sire, His + brother and my dam's, Salih ben Ali is his name. +Moreover, she to whom thou soldst the goods my mother was, And + eke the jewels and the gold, from me, to boot, they came; +Nor, in thus ordering myself to thee, aught did I seek Save of + the taking it from me to spare thee from the shame. + + + + + + THE RUINED MAN WHO BECAME RICH AGAIN + THROUGH A DREAM. + + + +There lived once in Baghdad a very wealthy man, who lost all +his substance and became so poor, that he could only earn his +living by excessive labour. One night, he lay down to sleep, +dejected and sick at heart, and saw in a dream one who said to +him, 'Thy fortune is at Cairo; go thither and seek it.' So he +set out for Cairo; but, when he arrived there, night overtook +him and he lay down to sleep in a mosque. Presently, as fate +would have it, a company of thieves entered the mosque and made +their way thence into an adjoining house; but the people of the +house, being aroused by the noise, awoke and cried out; +whereupon the chief of the police came to their aid with his +officers. The robbers made off; but the police entered the +mosque and finding the man from Baghdad asleep there, laid hold +of him and beat him with palm rods, till he was well-nigh dead. +Then they cast him into prison, where he abode three days, +after which the chief of the police sent for him and said to +him, 'Whence art thou?' 'From Baghdad,' answered he. 'And what +brought thee to Cairo?' asked the magistrate. Quoth the +Baghdadi, 'I saw in a dream one who said to me, "Thy fortune is +at Cairo; go thither to it." But when I came hither, the +fortune that he promised me proved to be the beating I had of +thee.' + +The chief of the police laughed, till he showed his jaw-teeth, +and said, 'O man of little wit, thrice have I seen in a dream +one who said to me, "There is in Baghdad a house of such a +fashion and situate so-and-so, in the garden whereof is a +fountain and thereunder a great sum of money buried. Go thither +and take it." Yet I went not; but thou, of thy little wit, hast +journeyed from place to place, on the faith of a dream, which +was but an illusion of sleep.' Then he gave him money, saying, +'This is to help thee back to thy native land.' Now the house +he had described was the man's own house in Baghdad; so the +latter returned thither, and digging underneath the fountain in +his garden, discovered a great treasure; and [thus] God gave +him abundant fortune. + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL MUTAWEKKIL AND HIS + FAVOURITE MEHBOUBEH. + + + +There were in the palace of the Khalif El Mutawekkil ala Allah +[FN#63] four thousand concubines, whereof two thousand were +Greeks [and other foreigners] and other two thousand native +Arabians[FN#64] and Abyssinians; and Obeid ibn Tahir[FN#65] +had given him two hundred white girls and a like number of +Abyssinian and native girls[FN#66]. Among these latter was a +girl of Bassora, Mehboubeh by name, who was of surpassing +beauty and elegance and voluptuous grace. Moreover, she played +upon the lute and was skilled in singing and making verses and +wrote excellent well; so that El Mutawekkil fell passionately +in love with her and could not endure from her a single hour. +When she saw this, she presumed upon his favour to use him +haughtily and capriciously, so that he waxed exceeding wroth +with her and forsook her, forbidding the people of the palace +to speak with her. + +On this wise she abode some days, but the Khalif still inclined +to her; and he arose one morning and said to his courtiers, +'I dreamt, last night, that I was reconciled to Mehboubeh.' +'Would God this might be on wake!' answered they. As they were +talking, in came one of the Khalif's maidservants and whispered +him that they had heard a noise of singing and luting in +Mehboubeh's chamber and knew not what this meant. So he rose +and entering the harem, went straight to Mehboubeh's apartment, +where he heard her playing wonder-sweetly upon the lute and +singing the following verses: + +I wander through the halls, but not a soul I see, To whom I may + complain or who will speak with me. +It is as though I'd wrought so grievous an offence, No + penitence avails myself therefrom to free. +Will no one plead my cause with a king, who came to me In sleep + and took me back to favour and to gree; +But with the break of day to rigour did revert And cast me off + from him and far away did flee? + +When the Khalif heard these verses, he marvelled at the strange +coincidence of their dreams and entered the chamber. As soon as +she was ware of him, she hastened to throw herself at his feet, +and kissing them, said, 'By Allah, O my lord, this is what I +dreamt last night; and when I awoke, I made the verses thou +hast heard.' ''By Allah,' replied El Mutawekkil, 'I also dreamt +the like!' Then they embraced and made friends and he abode +with her seven days and nights. + +Now she had written upon her cheek, in musk, the Khalif's name, +which was Jaafer: and when he saw this, he made the following +verses: + +One wrote on her cheek, with musk, a name, yea, Jaafer to wit: + My soul be her ransom who wrote on her cheek what I see on + it! +If her fingers, indeed, have traced a single line on her cheek, + I trow, in my heart of hearts full many a line she hath + writ +O thou, whom Jaafer alone of men possesses, may God Grant + Jaafer to drink his fill of the wine of thy beauty and + wit! + +When El Mutawekkil died, all his women forgot him save +Mehboubeh, who ceased not to mourn for him, till she died and +was buried by his side, the mercy of God be on them both! + + + + + + WERDAN THE BUTCHER HIS ADVENTURE WITH + THE LADY AND THE BEAR. + + + +There lived once in Cairo, in the days of the Khalif El Hakim +bi Amrillah, a butcher named Werdan, who dealt in sheep's +flesh; and there came to him every forenoon a lady and gave him +a diner, whose weight was nigh two and a half Egyptian diners, +saying, 'Give me a lamb.' So he took the money and gave her the +lamb, which she delivered to a porter she had with her; and he +put it in his basket and she went away with him to her own +place. This went on for some time, the butcher profiting a +dinar by her every day, till at last he began to be curious +about her and said to himself, 'This woman buys a diner's worth +of meat of me every day, paying ready money, and never misses a +day. Verily, this is a strange thing!' So he took an occasion +of questioning the porter, in her absence, and said to him, +'Whither goest thou every day with yonder woman?' 'I know not +what to make of her,' answered the porter; 'for, every day, +after she hath taken the lamb of thee, she buys fresh and dried +fruits and wax candles and other necessaries of the table, a +dinar's worth, and takes of a certain Nazarene two flagons of +wine, for which she pays him another diner. Then she loads me +with the whole and I go with her to the Vizier's Gardens, where +she blindfolds me, so that I cannot see where I set my feet, +and taking me by the hand, leads me I know not whither. +Presently, she says, "Set down here;" and when I have done so, +she gives me an empty basket she has ready and taking my hand, +leads me back to the place, where she bound my eyes, and there +does off the bandage and gives me ten dirhems.' 'God be her +helper!' quoth Werdan; but he redoubled in curiosity about her +case; disquietude increased upon him and he passed the night in +exceeding restlessness. + +Next morning, [quoth Werdan,] she came to me as of wont and +taking the lamb, delivered it to the porter and went away. So I +gave my shop in charge to a boy and followed her, unseen of +her; nor did I cease to keep her in sight, hiding behind her, +till she left Cairo and came to the Vizier's Gardens. Then I +hid, whilst she bound the porter's eyes, and followed her again +from place to place, till she came to the mountain and stopped +at a place where there was a great stone. Here she made the +porter set down his crate, and I waited, whilst she carried him +back to the Vizier's Gardens, after which she returned and +taking out the contents of the basket, disappeared behind the +stone. Then I went up to the stone and pulling it away, +discovered behind it an open trap-door of brass and a flight of +steps leading downward. So I descended, little by little, into +a long corridor, brilliantly lighted, and followed it, till I +came to a [closed] door, as it were the door of a room. I +looked about till I discovered a recess, with steps therein; +then climbed up and found a little niche with an opening +therein giving upon a saloon. + +So I looked in and saw the lady cut off the choicest parts of +the lamb and laying them in a saucepan, throw the rest to a +huge great bear, who ate it all to the last bit. When she had +made an end of cooking, she ate her fill, after which she set +on wine and fruits and confections and fell to drinking, using +a cup herself and giving the bear to drink in a basin of gold, +till she was heated with wine, when she put off her trousers +and lay down. Thereupon the bear came up to her and served her, +whilst she gave him the best of what belongeth to mankind, till +he had made an end, when he sat down and rested. Presently, he +sprang to her and served her again; and thus he did, till he +had furnished half a score courses, and they both fell down in +a swoon and abode without motion. + +Then said I to myself, "Now is my opportunity," and taking a +knife I had with me, that would cut bones before flesh, went +down to them and found them motionless, not a muscle of them +moving for their much swink. So I put my knife to the bear's +gullet and bore upon it, till I severed his head from his body, +and he gave a great snort like thunder, whereat she started up +in alarm and seeing the bear slain and me standing with the +knife in my hand, gave such a shriek that I thought the soul +had left her body. Then said she, "O Werdan, is this how thou +requitest me my favours?" "O enemy of thine own soul," replied +I, "dost thou lack of men that thou must do this shameful +thing?" She made me no answer, but bent down to the bear, and +finding his head divided from his body, said to me, "O Werdan, +which were the liefer to thee, to hearken to what I shall say +to thee and be the means of thine own safety and enrichment to +the end of thy days, or gainsay me and so bring about thine own +destruction?" "I choose rather to hearken unto thee," answered +I. "Say what thou wilt." "Then," said she, "kill me, as thou +hast killed this bear, and take thy need of this treasure and +go thy way." Quoth I, "I am better than this bear. Return to +God the Most High and repent, and I will marry thee, and we +will live on this treasure the rest of our lives." "O Werdan," +rejoined she, "far be it from me! How shall I live after him? +An thou kill me not, by Allah, I will assuredly do away thy +life! So leave bandying words with me, or thou art a lost man. +This is all I have to say to thee and peace be on thee." Then +said I, "I will slay thee, and thou shalt go to the malediction +of God." So saying, I caught her by the hair and cut her +throat; and she went to the malediction of God and of the +angels and of all mankind. + +Then I examined the place and found there gold and pearls and +jewels, such as no king could bring together. So I filled the +porter's crate with as much as I could carry and covered it +with the clothes I had on me. Then I shouldered it and going up +out of the underground place, set out homeward and fared on, +till I came to the gate of Cairo, where I fell in with ten of +the Khalif's body-guard, followed by El Hakim[FN#67] himself, +who said to me. "Ho, Werdan!" "At thy service, O King," replied +I. "Hast thou killed the woman and the bear?" asked he and I +answered, "Yes." Quoth he, "Set down the basket and fear +naught, for all the treasure thou hast with thee is thine, and +none shall dispute it with thee." So I set down the basket, and +he uncovered it and looked at it; then said to me, "Tell me +their case, though I know it, as if I had been present with +you." So I told him all that had passed and he said, "Thou hast +spoken the truth, O Werdan. Come now with me to the treasure." + +So I returned with him to the cavern, where he found the +trap-door closed and said to me, "O Werdan, lift it; none but +thou can open the treasure, for it is enchanted in thy name and +favour." "By Allah," answered I, "I cannot open it;" but he +said, "Go up to it, trusting in the blessing of God." So I +called upon the name of God the Most High and going up to the +trap-door, put my hand to it; whereupon it came up, as it had +been the lightest of things. Then said the Khalif, "Go down and +bring up what is there; for none but one of thy name and favour +and quality hath gone down there since the place was made, and +the slaying of the bear and the woman was appointed to be at +thy hand. This was recorded with me and I was awaiting its +fulfilment." Accordingly, I went down and brought up all the +treasure, whereupon the Khalif sent for beasts of burden and +carried it away, after giving me the porter's crate, with what +was therein. So I carried it home and opened me a shop in the +market. And [quoth he who tells the tale] this market is still +extant and is known as Werdan's Market. + + + + + + THE KING'S DAUGHTER AND THE APE. + + + +There was once a King's daughter, whose heart was taken with +love of a black slave: he did away her maidenhead, and she +became passionately addicted to amorous dalliance, so that she +could not endure from it a single hour and made moan of her +case to one of her body women, who told her that no thing doth +the deed of kind more abundantly than the ape. Now it chanced, +one day, that an ape-leader passed under her lattice, with a +great ape; so she unveiled her face and looking upon the ape, +signed to him with her eyes, whereupon he broke his bonds and +shackles and climbed up to the princess, who hid him in a place +with her, and he abode, eating and drinking and cricketing, +night and day. Her father heard of this and would have killed +her; but she took the alarm and disguising herself in a [male] +slave's habit, loaded a mule with gold and jewels and precious +stuffs past count; then, taking horse with the ape, fled to +Cairo, where she took up her abode in one of the houses without +the city. + +Now, every day, she used to buy meat of a young man, a butcher, +but came not to him till after noonday, pale and disordered in +face; so that he said in himself, 'There hangs some mystery by +this slave.' For she used to visit him in her slave's habit. +[Quoth the butcher,] So, one day, when she came to me as usual, +I went out after her, unseen, and ceased not to follow her from +place to place, so as she saw me not, till she came to her +lodging, without the city, and I looked in upon her, through a +cranny, and saw her light a fire and cook the meat, of which +she ate her fill and gave the rest to an ape she had with her. +Then she put off her slave's habit and donned the richest of +women's apparel; and so I knew that she was a woman. After this +she set on wine and drank and gave the ape to drink; and he +served her nigh half a score times, till she swooned away, when +he threw a silken coverlet over her and returned to his place. + +Thereupon I went down into the midst of the place and the ape, +becoming aware of me, would have torn me in pieces; but I made +haste to pull out my knife and slit his paunch. The noise +aroused the young lady, who awoke, terrified and trembling; and +when she saw the ape in this plight, she gave such a shriek, +that her soul well-nigh departed her body. Then she fell down +in a swoon, and when she came to herself, she said to me, "What +moved thee to do thus? By Allah, I conjure thee to send me after +him!" But I spoke her fair and engaged to her that I would stand +in the ape's stead, in the matter of much clicketing, till her +trouble subsided and I took her to wife. + +However, I fell short in this and could not endure to it; so I +complained of her case to a certain old woman, who engaged to +manage the affair and said to me, "Thou must bring me a cooking- +pot full of virgin vinegar and a pound of pyrethrum."[FN#68] +So I brought her what she sought, and she laid the pyrethrum +in the pot with the vinegar and set it on the fire, till it +boiled briskly. Then she bade me serve the girl, and I served +her, till she fainted away, when the old woman took her up, and +she unknowing, and set her kaze to the mouth of the cooking-pot. +The steam of the pot entered her poke and there fell from it +somewhat, which I examined and behold, it was two worms, one +black and the other yellow. Quoth the old woman, "The black was +bred of the embraces of the negro and the yellow of those of +the ape." + +When my wife recovered from her swoon, she abode with me, in +all delight and solace of life, and sought not copulation, as +before, for God the Most High had done away from her this +appetite; whereat I marvelled and acquainted her with the case. +Moreover, [quoth he who tells the tale,] she took the old woman +to be to her in the stead of her mother, and she and Werdan and +his wife abode in joy and cheer, till there came to them the +Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and glory +be to the Living One, who dieth not and in whose hand is the +empire of the Seen and the Unseen! + + + + + + THE ENCHANTED HORSE. + + + +There was once, of old time, a great and puissant King, of the +Kings of the Persians, Sabour by name, who was the richest of +all the Kings in store of wealth and dominion and surpassed them +all in wit and wisdom. Generous, open-handed and beneficent, he +gave to those who sought and repelled not those who resorted to +him, comforted the broken-hearted and honourably entreated those +who fled to him for refuge. Moreover, he loved the poor and was +hospitable to strangers and did the oppressed justice upon those +who oppressed them. He had three daughters, like shining full +moons or flowered gardens, and a son as he were the moon; and it +was his wont to keep two festivals in the year, those of the New +Year and the Autumnal Equinox, on which occasions he threw open +his palaces and gave gifts and made proclamation of safety and +security and advanced his chamberlains and officers; and the +people of his realm came in to him and saluted him and gave him +joy of the festival, bringing him gifts and servants. + +Now he loved science and geometry, and one day, as he sat on +his throne of kingship, during one of these festivals, there +came in to him three sages, cunning artificers and past masters +in all manner of crafts and inventions, skilled in making +rarities, such as confound the wit, and versed in the knowledge +of [occult] truths and subtleties; and they were of three +different tongues and countries, the first an Indian, the +second a Greek and the third a Persian. The Indian came forward +and prostrating himself before the King, gave him joy of the +festival and laid before him a present befitting [his dignity]; +that is to say, a figure of gold, set with precious stones and +jewels of price and holding in its hand a golden trumpet. When +Sabour saw this, he said, 'O sage, what is the virtue of this +figure?' And the Indian answered, 'O my lord; if this figure be +set at the gate of thy city, it will be a guardian over it; +for, if an enemy enter the place, it will blow this trumpet +against him, and so he will be known and laid hands on.' The +King marvelled at this and said, 'By Allah, O sage, an this thy +word be true, I will grant thee thy wish and thy desire.' + +Then came forward the Greek and prostrating himself before the +King, presented him with a basin of silver, in whose midst was +a peacock of gold, surrounded by four-and-twenty young ones of +the same metal. Sabour looked at them and turning to the Greek, +said to him, 'O sage, what is the virtue of this peacock?' 'O +my lord,' answered he, 'as often as an hour of the day or night +passes, it pecks one of its young [and cries out and flaps its +wings,] till the four-and-twenty hours are accomplished; and +when the month comes to an end, it will open its mouth and thou +shalt see the new moon therein.' And the King said, 'An thou +speak sooth, I will bring thee to thy wish and thy desire.' + +Then came forward the Persian sage and prostrating himself +before the King, presented him with a horse of ebony wood, +inlaid with gold and jewels, ready harnessed with saddle and +bridle and stirrups such as befit kings; which when Sabour saw, +he marvelled exceedingly and was confounded at the perfection +of its form and the ingenuity of its fashion. So he said, 'What +is the use of this horse of wood, and what is its virtue and +the secret of its movement?' 'O my lord,' answered the Persian, +'the virtue of this horse is that, if one mount him, it will +carry him whither he will and fare with its rider through the +air for the space of a year and a day.' The King marvelled and +was amazed at these three wonders, following thus hard upon +each other in one day, and turning to the sage, said to him, +'By the Great God and the Bountiful Lord, who created all +creatures and feedeth them with water and victual, an thy +speech be true and the virtue of thy handiwork appear, I will +give thee whatsoever thou seekest and will bring thee to thy +wish and thy desire!' + +Then he entertained the three sages three days, that he might +make trial of their gifts, after which they brought them before +him and each took the creature he had wrought and showed him +the secret of its movement. The trumpeter blew the trumpet, the +peacock pecked its young and the Persian sage mounted the horse +of ebony, whereupon it soared with him into the air and +descended again. When the King saw all this, he was amazed and +perplexed and was like to fly for joy and said to the three +sages, 'Now am I certified of the truth of your words and it +behoves me to quit me of my promise. Seek ye, therefore, what +ye will, and I will give it you.' Now the report of the [beauty +of the] King's daughters had reached the sages, so they +answered, 'If the King be content with us and accept of our +gifts and give us leave to ask a boon of him, we ask of him +that he give us his three daughters in marriage, that we may be +his sons-in-law; for that the stability of kings may not be +gainsaid.' Quoth the King, 'I grant you that which you desire,' +and bade summon the Cadi forthright, that he might marry each +of the sages to one of his daughters. + +Now these latter were behind a curtain, looking on; and when they +heard this, the youngest considered [him that was to be] her +husband and saw him to be an old man, a hundred years of age, +with frosted hair, drooping forehead, mangy eyebrows, slitten +ears, clipped[FN#69] beard and moustaches, red, protruding eyes, +bleached, hollow, flabby cheeks, nose like an egg-plant and face +like a cobbler's apron, teeth overlapping one another,[FN#70] +lips like camel's kidneys, loose and pendulous; brief, a monstrous +favour; for he was the frightfullest of the folk of his time; his +grinders had been knocked[FN#71] out and his teeth were like the +tusks of the Jinn that fright the fowls in the hen-house. Now the +princess was the fairest and most graceful woman of her time, more +elegant than the tender gazelle, blander than the gentle zephyr +and brighter than the moon at her full, confounding the branch +and outdoing the gazelle in the flexile grace of her shape and +movements; and she was fairer and sweeter than her sisters. So, +when she saw her suitor, she went to her chamber and strewed dust +on her head and tore her clothes and fell to buffeting her face +and lamenting and weeping. + +Now the prince her brother, who loved her with an exceeding +love, more than her sisters, was then newly returned from a +journey and hearing her weeping and crying, came in to her and +said, 'What ails thee? Tell me and conceal nought from me.' 'O +my brother and my dear one,' answered she, 'if the palace be +straitened upon thy father, I will go out; and if he be +resolved upon a foul thing, I will separate myself from him, +though he consent not to provide for me.' Quoth he, 'Tell me +what means this talk and what has straitened thy breast and +troubled thy humour.' 'O my brother and my dear one,' answered +the princess, 'know that my father hath given me in marriage to +a sorcerer, who brought him, as a gift, a horse of black wood, +and hath stricken him with his craft and his sorcery; but, as +for me, I will none of him, and would, because of him, I had +never come into this world!' Her brother soothed her and +comforted her, then betook himself to his father and said to +him, 'What is this sorcerer to whom thou hast given my youngest +sister in marriage, and what is this present that he hath +brought thee, so that thou hast caused my sister to [almost] +die of chagrin? It is not right that this should be.' + +Now the Persian was standing by and when he heard the prince's +words, he was mortified thereby and filled with rage, and the +King said, 'O my son, an thou sawest this horse, thy wit would +be confounded and thou wouldst be filled with amazement.' Then +he bade the slaves bring the horse before him and they did so; +and when the prince, who was an accomplished cavalier, saw it, +it pleased him. So he mounted it forthright and struck its +belly with the stirrup-irons; but it stirred not and the King +said to the sage, 'Go and show him its movement, that he also +may help thee to thy wish.' Now the Persian bore the prince +malice for that he willed not he should have his sister; so he +showed him the peg of ascent on the right side [of the horse's +neck] and saying to him, 'Turn this pin,' left him. So the +prince turned the pin and forthwith the horse soared with him +into the air, as it were a bird, and gave not over flying with +him, till it disappeared from sight, whereat the King was +troubled and perplexed about his affair and said to the +Persian, 'O sage, look how thou mayst make him descend.' But he +answered, 'O my lord, I can do nothing, and thou wilt never see +him again till the Day of Resurrection, for that he, of his +ignorance and conceit, asked me not of the peg of descent and I +forgot to acquaint him therewith.' When the King heard this, he +was sore enraged and bade beat the sorcerer and clap him in +prison, whilst he himself cast the crown from his head and +buffeted his face and beat upon his breast. Moreover, he shut +the doors of his palaces and gave himself up to weeping and +lamentation, he and his wife and daughters and all the folk of +the city; and [thus] their joy was turned to mourning and their +gladness changed into chagrin and sore affliction. + +Meanwhile, the horse gave not over soaring with the prince, +till he drew near the sun, whereat he gave himself up for lost +and was confounded at his case, repenting him of having mounted +the horse and saying in himself, 'Verily, this was a plot of +the sage to destroy me; but there is no power and no virtue but +in God the Most High, the Supreme! I am lost without recourse; +but, I wonder, did not he who made the peg of ascent make a peg +of descent also?' Now he was a man of wit and intelligence; so +he fell to examining all the parts of the horse, but saw +nothing save a peg, like a cock's head, on its right shoulder +and the like on the left, and turned the right-hand peg, +whereupon the horse flew upward with increased speed. So he +left it and turned the left-hand peg, and immediately the +steed's upward motion ceased and he began to descend, little by +little, towards the earth. When the prince saw this and knew +the uses of the horse, he was filled with joy and gladness and +thanked God the Most High for that He had vouchsafed to deliver +him from destruction. Then he began to turn the horse's head +whither he would, making him rise and fall at pleasure, till he +had gotten complete command of his movement. + +He ceased not to descend the whole of that day, for that the +steed's upward flight had borne him afar from the earth; and as +he descended, he diverted himself with viewing the various +towns and countries over which he passed and which he knew not, +having never seen them in his life. Amongst the rest, he saw a +city of the goodliest ordinance, in the midst of a green and +smiling country, abounding in trees and streams; whereat he +fell a-musing and said in himself, 'Would I knew the name of +yonder city and in what country it is!' And he began to circle +about it and observe it right and left. By this time, the day +began to wane and the sun drew near to its setting; and he +said, 'I see no goodlier place to pass the night in than this +city; so I will lodge here this night and on the morrow I will +return to my people and my kingdom and tell my father and +family what has passed and what I have seen with my eyes.' Then +he addressed himself to look for a place, where he might safely +bestow himself and his horse and where none should see him, and +presently espied a palace, surrounded by a great wall with +lofty battlements, rising high into the air from the midst of +the city and guarded by forty black slaves, clad in complete +mail and armed with spears and swords and bows and arrows. +Quoth he, 'This is a goodly place,' and turned the peg of +descent, whereupon the horse sank down with him and alighted +gently on the roof of the palace. So the prince dismounted and +began to go round about the horse and examine it, saying, 'By +Allah, he who fashioned thee was a cunning craftsman, and if God +extend the term of my life and restore me to my country and family +in safety and reunite me with my father, I will assuredly bestow +upon him all manner of bounties and entreat him with the utmost +favour.' + +By this time the night had overtaken him and he sat on the +roof, till he was assured that all in the palace slept; and +indeed hunger and thirst were sore upon him, for that he had +not tasted food since he parted from his father. So he said in +himself, 'Surely, the like of this palace will not lack of +victual,' and leaving the horse there, went in quest of +somewhat to eat. Presently, he came to a stair and descending +it, found himself in a court paved with white marble and +alabaster, that shone in the light of the moon. He marvelled at +the place and the goodliness of its fashion, but heard no sound +and saw no living soul and stood in perplexity, looking right +and left and knowing not whither he should go. Then said he to +himself, 'I cannot do better than return to where I left my +horse and pass the night by it; and as soon as it is day, I +will mount and depart.' However, as he stood talking to +himself, he espied a light within the palace, and making +towards it, found that it came from a candle that stood before +a door of the palace, at the head of an eunuch, as he were one +of the Afrits of Solomon or a tribesman of the Jinn, longer +than a plank and wider than a bench. He lay asleep before the +door, with the pommel of his sword gleaming in the flame of the +candle, and at his head was a budget of leather[FN#72] hanging +from a column of granite. + +When the prince saw this, he was affrighted and said, 'I crave +help from God the Supreme! O my God, even as Thou hast [already] +delivered me from destruction, vouchsafe me strength to quit +myself of the adventure of this palace!' So saying, he put out +his hand to the budget and taking it, carried it to a place +apart and opened it and found in it food of the best. So he +ate his fill and refreshed himself and drank water, after +which he hung the budget up in its place and drawing the +eunuch's sword from its sheath, took it, whilst the latter +slept on, knowing not whence destiny should come to him. Then +the prince fared on into the palace, till he came to another +door, with a curtain drawn before it; so he raised the curtain +and entering, saw a couch of ivory, inlaid with pearls and +jacinths and jewels, and four slave-girls sleeping about it. He +went up to the couch, to see what was therein, and found a +young lady lying asleep, veiled with her hair, as she were the +full moon at its rising, with flower-white forehead and +shining parting and cheeks like blood-red anemones and dainty +moles thereon. + +When he saw this, he was amazed at her beauty and grace and +symmetry and recked no more of death. So he went up to her, +trembling in every nerve, and kissed her on the right cheek; +whereupon she awoke forthright and seeing the prince standing +at her head, said to him, 'Who art thou and whence comest thou?' +Quoth he, 'I am thy slave and thy lover.' 'And who brought thee +hither?' asked she. 'My Lord and my fortune,' answered he; and +she said, 'Belike thou art he who demanded me yesterday of my +father in marriage and he rejected thee, pretending that thou +wast foul of favour. By Allah he lied, when he spoke this thing, +for thou art not other than handsome.' + +Now the son of the King of Hind[FN#73] had sought her in +marriage, but her father had rejected him, for that he was ill- +favoured, and she thought the prince was he. So, when she saw +his beauty and grace, for indeed he was like the radiant moon, +her heart was taken in the snare of his love, as it were a +flaming fire, and they fell to talk and converse. Presently, +her waiting-women awoke from their sleep and seeing the prince +sitting with their mistress, said to her, 'O my lady, who is +this with thee?' Quoth she, 'I know not; I found him sitting by +me, when I awoke. Belike it is he who seeks me in marriage of +my father.' 'O my lady,' answered they, 'by the Most Great God, +this is not he who seeks thee in marriage, for he is foul and +this man is fair and of high condition. Indeed, the other is +not fit to be his servant.' + +Then they went out to the eunuch and finding him asleep, awoke +him, and he started up in alarm. Quoth they, 'How comes it that +thou art guardian of the palace and yet men come in to us, +whilst we are asleep?' When the eunuch heard this, he sprang in +haste to his sword, but found it not, and fear took him and +trembling. Then he went in, confounded, to his mistress and +seeing the prince sitting talking with her, said to the former, +'O my lord, art thou a man or a genie?' 'O it on thee, O +unluckiest of slaves!' replied the prince. 'How darest thou +even a prince of the sons of the Chosroës with one of the +unbelieving Satans?' Then he took the sword in his hand and +said, 'I am the King's son-in-law, and he hath married me to +his daughter and bidden me go in to her.' 'O my lord,' replied +the eunuch, 'if thou be indeed a man, as thou avouchest, she is +fit for none but thee, and thou art worthier of her than any +other.' + +Then he ran to the King, shrieking out and rending his clothes +and casting dust upon his head; and when the King heard his +outcry, he said to him, 'What has befallen thee? Speak quickly +and be brief; for thou troublest my heart.' 'O King,' answered +the eunuch, 'come to thy daughter's succour; for a devil of the +Jinn, in the likeness of a king's son, hath gotten possession +of her; so up and at him!' When the King heard this, he thought +to kill him and said, 'How camest thou to be careless of my +daughter and let this demon come at her?' Then he betook +himself to the princess's palace, where he found her women +standing, [awaiting him] and said to them, 'What is come to my +daughter?' 'O King,' answered they, 'sleep overcame us and when +we awoke, we found a young man sitting talking with her, as he +were the full moon, never saw we a fairer of favour than he. So +we questioned him of his case and he avouched that thou hadst +given him thy daughter in marriage. More than this we know not, +nor do we know if he be a man or a genie; but he is modest and +well bred, and doth nothing unseemly.' + +When the King heard this, his wrath cooled and he raised the +curtain stealthily and looking in, saw a prince of the goodliest +fashion, with a face like the shining full moon, sitting talking +with his daughter. At this sight he could not contain himself, +of his jealousy for his daughter, and putting the curtain aside, +rushed in upon them, like a Ghoul, with his drawn sword in his +hand. When the prince saw him, he said to the princess, 'Is this +thy father?' 'Yes,' answered she; whereupon he sprang to his +feet and taking his sword in his hand, cried out at the King +with such a terrible cry, that he was confounded. Then he would +have fallen on him with the sword; but the King, seeing that the +prince was doughtier than he, sheathed his blade and stood till +the latter came up to him, when he accosted him courteously and +said to him, 'O youth, art thou a man or a genie?' Quoth the +prince, 'Did I not respect thy right[FN#74] and thy daughter's +honour, I would spill thy blood! How darest thou even me with +devils, me that am a prince of the sons of the Chosroës, who, +had they a mind to take thy kingdom, could shake thee from thy +power and thy dominion and despoil thee of all thy possessions?' +When the King heard his words, he was smitten with awe and fear +of him and rejoined, 'If thou indeed be of the sons of the kings, +as thou pretendest, how comes it that thou enterest my palace, +without my leave, and soilest my honour, making thy way to my +daughter and feigning that thou art her husband and that I have +given her to thee to wife, I that have slain kings and kings' +sons, who sought her of me in marriage? And now who shall save +thee from my mischief, when, if I cried out to my slaves and +servants and bade them put thee to death, they would slay thee +forthright? Who then shall deliver thee out of my hand?' + +When the prince heard this speech of the King, he answered, +'Verily, I wonder at thee and at the poverty of thy wit! Canst +thou covet for thy daughter a goodlier mate than myself and +hast ever seen a stouter of heart or a more sufficient or a +more glorious in rank and dominion than I?' 'Nay, by Allah,' +rejoined the King. 'But, O youth, I would have had thee make +suit to me for her hand before witnesses, that I might marry +her to thee publicly; and now, were I to marry her to thee +privily, yet hast thou dishonoured me in her person.' 'Thou +sayst well, O King,' replied the prince; 'but, if thy servants +and soldiers should fall upon me and slay me, as thou pretendest, +thou wouldst but publish thine own dishonour, and the folk +would be divided between belief and disbelief with regard +to thee. Wherefore, meseems thou wilt do well to turn from +this thought to that which I shall counsel thee.' Quoth the +King, 'Let me hear what thou hast to propose.' And the prince +said, 'What I have to propose to thee is this: either do +thou meet me in single combat and he who slays the other shall +be held the worthier and having a better title to the kingdom; +or else, let me be this night and on the morrow draw out +against me thy horsemen and footmen and servants; but [first] +tell me their number.' Quoth the King, 'They are forty thousand +horse, besides my own slaves and their followers, who are the +like of them in number.' 'When the day breaks, then,' continued +the prince, 'do thou array them against me and say to them, +"This fellow is a suitor to me for my daughter's hand, on +condition that he shall do battle single-handed against you +all; for he pretends that he will overcome you and put you to +the rout and that ye cannot prevail against him." Then leave me +to do battle with them. If they kill me, then is thy secret the +safelier hidden and thine honour the better guarded; and if I +overcome them, then is the like of me one whose alliance a King +should covet.' + +The King approved of his counsel and accepted his proposition, +despite his awe and amaze at the exorbitant pretension of the +prince to do battle against his whole army, such as he had +described it to him, being at heart assured that he would +perish in the mellay and so he be quit of him and freed from +the fear of dishonour. So he called the eunuch and bade him go +forthright to his Vizier and bid him assemble the whole of the +troops and cause them don their arms and mount their horses. +The eunuch carried the King's order to the Vizier, who straightway +summoned the captains of the army and the grandees of the realm +and bade them don their harness of war and mount their horses +and sally forth in battle array. + +Meanwhile, the King sat conversing with the prince, being +pleased with his wit and good breeding, till daybreak, when he +returned to his palace and seating himself on his throne, +commanded the troops to mount and bade saddle one of the best +of the royal horses with handsome housings and trappings and +bring it to the prince. But the latter said, 'O King, I will +not mount, till I come in sight of the troops and see them.' +'Be it as thou wilt,' answered the King. Then they repaired to +the tilting ground, where the troops were drawn up, and the +prince looked upon them and noted their great number; after +which the King cried out to them, saying, 'Ho, all ye men, +there is come to me a youth who seeks my daughter in marriage, +--never have I seen a goodlier than he, no, nor a stouter of +heart nor a doughtier, for he pretends that he can overcome +you, single-handed, and put you to the rout and that, were ye a +hundred thousand in number, yet would ye be for him but little. +But, when he charges upon you, do ye receive him upon the +points of your lances and the edges of your sabres; for, +indeed, he hath undertaken a grave matter.' + +Then said he to the prince, 'Up, O my son, and do thy will on +them.' 'O King,' answered he, 'thou dealest not fairly with me. +How shall I go forth against them, seeing that I am afoot and +they are mounted?' 'I bade thee mount, and thou refusedst,' +rejoined the King; 'but take which of my horses thou wilt.' But +he said, 'None of thy horses pleases me, and I will ride none +but that on which I came.' 'And where is thy horse?' asked the +King. 'Atop of thy palace,' answered the prince, and the King +said, 'In what part of my palace?' 'On the roof,' replied the +prince. 'Out on thee!' quoth the King. 'This is the first sign +thou hast given of madness. How can the horse be on the roof? +But we shall soon see if thou speak truth or falsehood.' Then +he turned to one of his chief officers and said to him, 'Go to +my palace and bring me what thou findest on the roof.' And all +the people marvelled at the prince's words, saying, 'How can a +horse come down the steps from the roof? Verily this is a thing +whose like we never heard.' + +Meanwhile, the King's messenger repaired to the palace, +accompanied by other of the royal officers, and mounting to the +roof, found the horse standing there,--never had they looked on +a handsomer; but when they drew near and examined it, they saw +that it was made of ebony and ivory; whereat they laughed to +each other, saying, 'Was it of the like of this horse that the +youth spoke? Surely, he must be mad; but we shall soon see the +truth of his case. Belike, there hangs some great mystery by +him.' Then they lifted up the horse and carrying it to the +King, set it down before him, and all the people flocked round +it, staring at it and marvelling at the beauty of its fashion +and the richness of its saddle and bridle. The King also +admired it and wondered at it extremely; and he said to the +prince, 'O youth, is this thy horse?' 'Yes, O King,' answered +the prince; 'this is my horse, and thou shalt soon see wonders +of it.' 'Then take and mount it,' rejoined the King, and the +prince said, 'I will not mount till the troops withdraw afar +from it.' So the King bade them withdraw a bowshot from the +horse; whereupon quoth the prince, 'O King, I am about to mount +my horse and charge upon thy troops and scatter them right and +left and cleave their hearts in sunder.' 'Do as thou wilt,' +answered the King; 'and spare them not, for they will not spare +thee.' Then the prince mounted, whilst the troops ranged +themselves in ranks before him, and one said to another, 'When +the youth comes between the ranks, we will take him on the +points of our pikes and the edges of our swords.' 'By Allah,' +quoth another, 'it were pity to kill so handsome and well-shaped +a youth!' 'By Allah,' rejoined a third, 'ye will have hard work +to get the better of him; for he had not done this, but for what +he knew of his own prowess and valiantise.' + +Meanwhile, the prince, having settled himself in his saddle, +whilst all eyes were strained to see what he would do, turned +the peg of ascent; whereupon the horse began to sway to and fro +and make the strangest of movements, after the manner of +horses, till its belly was filled with air and it took flight +with him and soared into the sky. When the King saw this, he +cried out to his men, saying, 'Out on you! Take him, ere he +escape you!' But his Viziers and officers said to him, 'O King, +how shall we overtake the flying bird? This is surely none but +some mighty enchanter, and God hath saved thee from him. So +praise thou the Most High for thy deliverance from his hand.' +Then the King returned to his palace and going in to his +daughter, acquainted her with what had befallen. He found her +sore afflicted for the prince and bewailing her separation from +him; wherefore she fell grievously sick and took to her pillow. +When her father saw her thus, he pressed her to his bosom and +kissing her between the eyes, said to her, 'O my daughter, +praise God and thank Him for that He hath delivered thee from +this crafty enchanter!' And he repeated to her the story of the +prince's disappearance; but she paid no heed to his word and +did but redouble in her tears and lamentations, saying to +herself, 'By Allah, I will neither eat nor drink, till God +reunite me with him!' Her father was greatly concerned for her +plight and mourned sore over her; but, for all he could do to +comfort her, passion and love-longing still grew on her for the +prince. + +Meanwhile, the King's son, whenas he had risen into the air, +turned his horse's head towards his native land, musing upon +the beauty and grace of the princess. Now he had enquired of +the King's people the name of the princess and of the King her +father and of the city, which was the city of Senaa of Yemen. +So he journeyed homeward with all speed, till he drew near his +father's capital and making a circuit about the city, alighted +on the roof of the King's palace, where he left his horse, whilst +he descended into the palace and finding its threshold strewn +with ashes, bethought him that one of his family was dead. Then +he entered, as of wont, and found his father and mother and +sisters clad in mourning raiment of black, pale-faced and lean +of body. When his father saw him and was assured that it was +indeed his son, he gave a great cry and fell down in a swoon, +but presently coming to himself, threw himself upon him and +embraced him, straining him to his bosom and rejoicing in him +exceedingly. His mother and sisters heard this; so they came +in and seeing the prince, fell upon him, kissing him and weeping +and rejoicing with an exceeding joy. Then they questioned him of +his case; so he told them all that had befallen him from first +to last and his father said to him, 'Praised be God for thy +safety, O solace of my eyes and life-blood of my heart!' + +Then the King bade hold high festival, and the glad news flew +through the city. So they beat the drums and the cymbals and +putting off the raiment of mourning, donned that of joy and +decorated the streets and markets; whilst the folk vied with +one another who should be the first to give the King joy, and +the latter proclaimed a general pardon and opening the prisons, +released those who were therein. Moreover, he made banquets to +the people seven days and nights and all creatures were glad; +and he took horse with his son and rode out with him, that the +folk might see him and rejoice. After awhile the prince +enquired for the maker of the horse, saying, 'O my father, what +hath fortune done with him?' 'May God not bless him,' answered +the King, 'nor the hour in which I set eyes on him! For he was +the cause of thy separation from us, O my son, and he hath lain +in prison since the day of thy disappearance.' Then he bade +release him from prison and sending for him, invested him in a +dress of honour and entreated him with the utmost favour and +munificence, save that he would not give him his daughter to +wife; whereat he was sore enraged and repented of that which he +had done, knowing that the prince had learnt the secret of the +horse and the manner of its motion. Moreover, the King said to +his son, 'Methinks thou wilt do well not to mount the horse +neither go near it henceforth; for thou knowest not its +properties, and it is perilous for thee to meddle with it.' Now +the prince had told his father of his adventure with the King's +daughter of Senaa, and he said, 'If the King had been minded to +kill thee, he had done so; but thine hour was not yet come.' + +When the rejoicings were at an end, the people returned to +their houses and the King and his son to the palace, where they +sat down and fell to eating and drinking and making merry. Now +the King had a handsome slave-girl, who was skilled in playing +upon the lute; so she took it and began to play upon it and +sing thereto of separation of lovers before the King and his +son, and she chanted the following verses: + +Think not that absence ever shall win me to forget: For what + should I remember, if I'd forgotten you? +Time passes, but my passion for you shall never end: In love of + you, I swear it, I'll die and rise anew. + +When the prince heard this, the fires of longing flamed up in +his heart and passion redoubled upon him. Grief and regret were +sore upon him and his entrails yearned in him for love of the +King's daughter of Senaa; so he rose forthright and eluding his +father's notice, went forth the palace to the horse and +mounting it, turned the peg of ascent, whereupon it flew up +into the air with him and soared towards the confines of the +sky. Presently, his father missed him and going up to the +summit of the palace, in great concern, saw the prince rising +into the air; whereat he was sore afflicted and repented +exceedingly that he had not taken the horse and hidden it: and +he said in himself, 'By Allah, if but my son return to me, I +will destroy the horse, that my heart may be at rest concerning +my son.' And he fell again to weeping and bewailing himself for +his son. + +Meanwhile, the prince flew on through the air till he came to +the city of Senaa and alighted on the roof as before. Then he +went down stealthily and finding the eunuch asleep, as of wont, +raised the curtain and went on, little by little, till he came +to the door of the princess's chamber and stopped to listen; +when, behold, he heard her weeping plenteous tears and reciting +verses, whilst her women slept round her. Presently, they heard +her weeping and wailing and said, 'O our mistress, why wilt +thou mourn for one who mourns not for thee?' 'O little of +wit,' answered she, 'is he for whom I mourn of those who are +forgotten?' And she fell again to weeping and wailing, till +sleep overcame her. + +Now the prince's heart ached for her, so he entered and seeing +her lying asleep, without covering, touched her with his hand; +whereupon she opened her eyes and saw him standing by her. +Quoth he, 'Why this weeping and mourning?' And when she knew +him, she threw herself upon him and embraced him and kissed him +and answered, 'For thy sake and because of my separation from +thee.' 'O my lady,' said he, 'I have wearied for thee all this +time!' But she answered, 'It is I who have wearied for thee, +and hadst thou tarried longer, I had surely died!' 'O my lady,' +rejoined he, 'what thinkest thou of my case with thy father and +how he dealt with me? Were it not for my love of thee, O +ravishment of all creatures, I had surely slain him and made +him a warning to all beholders; but, even as I love thee, so I +love him for thy sake.' Quoth she, 'How couldst thou leave me? +Can life be sweet to me after thee?' Quoth he, 'Let what has +happened suffice now: I am hungry and thirsty.' So she bade her +maidens make ready meat and drink, [and they sat eating and +drinking and conversing] till nigh upon daybreak, when he rose +to take leave of her and depart, ere the eunuch should awake, +and she said, 'Whither goest thou?' 'To my father's house,' +answered he; 'and I plight thee my troth that I will come to +thee once in every week.' But she wept and said, 'I conjure +thee, by God the Supreme, take me with thee whither thou goest +and make me not taste anew the bitterness of separation from +thee.' Quoth he, 'Wilt thou indeed go with me?' and she +answered, 'Yes.' 'Then,' said he, 'arise, that we may depart.' +So she rose forthright and going to a chest, arrayed herself in +what was richest and dearest to her of her trinkets of gold and +jewels of price. Then he carried her up to the roof of the +palace and mounting the horse, took her up behind him and bound +her fast to himself; after which he turned the peg of ascent, +and the horse rose with him into the air. When her women saw +this, they shrieked aloud and told her father and mother, who +rushed up to the roof of the palace and looking up, saw the +ebony horse flying away with the prince and princess. At this +the King was sore troubled and cried out, saying, 'O King's +son, I conjure thee, by Allah, have compassion on me and my +wife and bereave us not of our daughter!' The prince made him +no reply, but, thinking that the princess repented of leaving +her father and mother, said to her, 'O ravishment of the age, +wilt thou that I restore thee to thy father and mother?' 'By +Allah, O my lord, that is not my desire,' answered she; 'my +only wish is to be with thee wherever thou art; for I am +distracted by the love of thee from all else, even to my father +and mother.' At this the prince rejoiced greatly and made +the horse fare softly with them, so as not to disquiet the +princess; nor did they stay their flight till they came in +sight of a green meadow, in which was a spring of running +water. Here they alighted and ate and drank; after which they +took horse again and fared on, till they came in sight of his +father's capital. At this, the prince was filled with joy and +bethought himself to show her the seat of his dominion and his +father's power and dignity and give her to know that it was +greater than that of her father. So he set her down in one of +his father's pleasance-gardens [without the city] and carrying +her into a pavilion there, prepared for the King, left the +horse at the door and charged her keep watch over it, saying, +'Sit here, till my messenger come to thee; for I go now to my +father, to make ready a palace for thee and show thee my royal +estate.' 'Do as thou wilt,' answered she, for she was glad that +she should not enter but with due honour and observance, as +became her rank. + +Then he left her and betook himself to the palace of the King +his father, who rejoiced in his return and welcomed him; and +the prince said to him, 'Know that I have brought with me the +princess of whom I told thee and have left her without the city +in such a garden and come to tell thee, that thou mayest make +ready and go forth to meet her in state and show her thy royal +dignity and troops and guards.' 'With all my heart,' answered +the King and straightway bade decorate the city after the +goodliest fashion. Then he took horse and rode out in all state +and splendour, he and his troops and household and grandees; +whilst the prince made ready for her a litter of green and +red and yellow brocade, in which he set Indian and Greek +and Abyssinian slave-girls. Moreover, he took forth of his +treasuries jewellery and apparel and what else of the things +that kings treasure up and made a rare display of wealth and +magnificence. Then he left the litter and those who were +therein and rode forward to the pavilion, where he had left the +princess; but found both her and the horse gone. When he saw +this, he buffeted his face and rent his clothes and went round +about the garden, as he had lost his wits; after which he came +to his senses and said to himself, 'How could she have come at +the secret of the horse, seeing I told her nothing of it? Maybe +the Persian sage who made the horse has chanced upon her and +stolen her away, in revenge for my father's treatment of him.' +Then he sought the keepers of the garden and asked them if they +had seen any enter the garden. + +Quoth they, 'We have seen none enter but the Persian sage, who +came to gather simples.' So the prince was certified that it +was indeed he that had taken away the princess and abode +confounded and perplexed concerning his case. And he was +abashed before the folk and returning to his father, [told him +what had happened and] said to him, 'Take the troops and return +to the city. As for me, I will never return till I have cleared +up this affair.' When the King heard this, he wept and beat his +breast and said to him, 'O my son, calm thyself and master thy +chagrin and return with us and look what King's daughter thou +wouldst fain have, that I may marry thee to her.' But the +prince paid no heed to his words and bidding him farewell, +departed, whilst the King returned to the city and their joy +was changed into mourning. + +Now, as Fate would have it, when the prince left the princess +in the pavilion and betook himself to his father's palace, for +the ordering of his affair, the Persian entered the garden to +pluck simples and scenting the fragrance of musk and essences, +that exhaled from the princess's person and perfumed the whole +place, followed it till he came to the pavilion and saw the horse, +that he had made with his own hands, standing at the door. At +this sight, his heart was filled with joy and gladness, for he +had mourned sore for it, since it had gone out of his hand. So +he went up to it and examining its every part, found it safe +and sound; whereupon he was about to mount and ride away, when +he bethought himself and said, 'Needs must I first look what +the prince hath brought and left here with the horse.' So he +entered the pavilion and seeing the princess sitting there, as +she were the sun shining in the cloudless sky, knew her to be +some high-born lady and doubted not but the prince had brought +her thither on the horse and left her in the pavilion, whilst +he went to the city, to make ready for her entry in state. + +Then he went up to her and kissed the earth before her, +whereupon she raised her eyes to him and finding him exceeding +foul of face and favour, said, 'Who art thou?' 'O my lady,' +answered he, 'I am sent by the prince, who hath bidden me bring +thee to another garden, nearer the city; for that my lady the +queen cannot go so far a journey and is unwilling, of her joy +in thee, that another should forestall her with thee.' 'Where +is the prince?' asked she; and the Persian replied, 'He is in +the city, with his father, and will presently come for thee in +great state.' 'O fellow,' said she, 'could he find none to send +to me but thee?' At this he laughed and answered, 'O my lady, +let not the ugliness of my face and the foulness of my favour +deceive thee. Hadst thou profited of me as hath the prince, +thou wouldst praise my affair. Indeed, he chose me as his +messenger to thee, because of my uncomeliness and forbidding +aspect, in his jealousy and love of thee: else hath he slaves +and pages and servants, white and black, out of number, each +goodlier than the other.' When she heard this, it commended +itself to her reason and she believed him; so she rose and +putting her hand in his, said, 'O my father, what hast thou +brought me to ride?' 'O my lady,' answered he, 'thou shalt ride +the horse thou camest on.' Quoth she, 'I cannot ride it by +myself.' Whereupon he smiled and knew that she was in his power +and said, 'I myself will ride with thee.' So he mounted and +taking her up behind him, bound her fast to himself, for she +knew not what he would with her. Then he turned the peg of +ascent, whereupon the belly of the horse became full of wind +and it swayed to and fro and rose with them into the air nor +slackened in its flight, till it was out of sight of the city. + +When the princess saw this, she said to him, 'O fellow, what +didst thou tell me of the prince, that he sent thee to me?' +'Foul befall the prince!' answered the Persian. 'He is a +scurril knave.' And she said, 'Out on thee! How darest thou +disobey thy lord's commandment!' 'He is no lord of mine,' +rejoined the Persian. 'Knowst thou who I am?' 'I know nothing +of thee,' replied the princess, 'save what thou toldest me.' +Quoth he, 'What I told thee was a trick of mine against thee +and the prince. I am he who made this horse under us, and I +have long regretted its loss; for the prince made himself +master of it. But now I have gotten possession of it and of +thee too, and I will rack his heart, even as he hath racked +mine; nor shall he ever have the horse again. So take comfort +and be of good cheer, for I can be of more service to thee than +he.' When she heard this, she buffeted her face and cried out, +saying, 'Ah, woe is me! I have neither gotten my beloved nor +kept my father and mother!' And she wept sore over what had +befallen her, whilst the Persian fared on with her, without +ceasing, till he came to the land of the Greeks and alighted in +a verdant meadow, abounding in trees and streams. + +Now this meadow was near a city, in which was a king of great +puissance, and it befell that he went forth that day to hunt +and divert himself. As he passed by the meadow, he saw the +Persian standing there, with the princess and the horse by his +side, and before he was aware, the King's followers fell upon +him and carried him, the lady and the horse to their master, +who noting the foulness of his favour and the beauty and grace +of the princess, said to the latter, 'O my lady, what kin is +this old fellow to thee?' The Persian made haste to reply, 'She +is my wife and the daughter of my father's brother.' But she +gave him the lie and said, 'O King, by Allah, I know him not, +nor is he my husband, but hath stolen me away by force and +fraud.' Thereupon the King bade beat the Persian, and they beat +him, till he was well-nigh dead; after which the King commanded +to carry him to the city and cast him into prison, and taking +the princess and the horse from him, set the former in his +harem and laid up the latter in his treasury, though he knew +not its properties nor the secret of its motion. + +Meanwhile, the prince donned a travelling-habit and taking what +he needed of money, set out, in very sorry plight, in quest of +the princess, and journeyed from country to country and city to +city, enquiring after the ebony horse, whilst all who heard him +marvelled at him and deemed his talk extravagant. Thus did he a +long while; but, for all his enquiry and research, he could win +at no news of her. At last, he came to the city of Senaa and +there enquired for her, but could get no tidings of her and +found her father mourning her loss. So he turned back and made +for the land of the Greeks, pursuing his enquiries as he went, +till, as chance would have it, he alighted at a certain khan +and saw a company of merchants sitting talking. He sat down +near them and heard one say to the others, 'O my friends, I +happened lately upon a wonder of wonders.' 'What was that?' +asked they, and he answered, 'I was late in such a city,' +naming the city wherein was the princess, 'and heard its people +speak of a strange thing that had lately befallen. It was that +their King went out one day a-hunting, with a company of his +courtiers and the grandees of his realm, and coming to a green +meadow, espied there a man standing, with a horse of ebony, and +a lady sitting hard by. The man was ugly and foul of favour, +but the lady was a marvel of beauty and grace and symmetry; and +as for the ebony horse, it was a wonder, never saw eyes aught +goodlier than it nor more perfect than its fashion.' 'And +what did the King with them?' asked the others. 'As for the +man,' said the merchant, 'he questioned him of the lady and +he pretended that she was his wife and the daughter of his +father's brother; but she gave him the lie. So the King took +her from him and bade beat him and cast him into prison. As +for the horse, I know not what became of it.' When the prince +heard this, he drew near unto the speaker and questioned him +discreetly and courteously, till he told him the name of the +city and of its king; which when he knew, he passed the night, +full of joy. + +On the morrow, he set out and travelled till he reached the +city; but, when he would have entered, the gatekeepers laid +hands on him, that they might bring him before the King; for +that it was his wont to question all strangers respecting their +conditions and the crafts in which they were skilled and the +reason of their coming thither. Now it was eventide, when he +entered the city, and it was then too late to go in to the King +or take counsel with him respecting him. So they carried him to +the prison, thinking to lay him therein for the night; but, +when the warders saw his beauty and grace, they could not find +it in their hearts to imprison him, but made him sit with them, +without the prison; and when food came to them, he ate his fill +with them. When they had made an end of eating, they turned to +him and said, 'What countryman art thou?' 'I come from Persia,' +answered he, 'the land of the Chosroës.' When they heard this, +they laughed and one of them said, 'O Chosroän, I have heard +the talk of men and their histories and looked upon their +conditions; but never saw or heard I a greater liar than the +Chosroän that is with us in the prison.' 'Nor,' quoth another, +'did I ever see fouler than his favour or more repulsive than +his aspect.' 'What have ye seen of his lying?' asked the +prince, and they answered, 'He pretends that he is a sage. Now +the King came upon him, as he went a-hunting, and found with +him a most beautiful lady and a horse of ebony, never saw I a +handsomer. As for the lady, she is with the King, who is +enamoured of her and would fain marry her; but she is mad, and +were this man a physician, as he pretends, he would have cured +her, for the King doth his utmost endeavour to find a remedy +for her disease, and this whole year past hath he spent +treasures upon physicians and astrologers, on her account; but +none can avail to cure her. As for the horse, it is in the +royal treasury, and the man is here with us in the prison; and +all night long he weeps and bemoans himself and will not let us +sleep.' + +When the prince heard this, he bethought himself of a device by +which he might compass his desire; and presently the warders, +being minded to sleep, clapped him into the prison and locked +the door. He heard the Persian weeping and bemoaning himself, +in his own tongue, and saying, 'Woe is me for my sin, that I +sinned against myself and against the King's son, in that which +I did with the damsel; for I neither left her nor got my desire +of her! All this comes of my want of sense, in that I sought +for myself that which I deserved not and which befitted not the +like of me; for he, who seeks what befits him not, falleth into +the like of my predicament.' When the prince heard this, he +accosted him in Persian, saying, 'How long wilt thou keep up +this weeping and wailing? Thinkst thou that there hath befallen +thee what never befell other than thou?' When the Persian heard +this, he made friends with him and began to complain to him of +his case and misfortunes. + +As soon as it was day, the warders took the prince and carried +him before the King, informing him that he had entered the city +on the previous night, at a time when no audience could be had +of him. Quoth the King to the prince, 'Whence comest thou and +what is thy name and craft and why comest thou hither?' And he +answered, 'I am called, in Persian, Herjeh. I come from the +land of Fars and I am of the men of art and especially of the +art of medicine and cure the sick and the mad. For this, I go +round about all countries and cities, adding knowledge to my +knowledge, and whenever I see a sick person, I heal him; and +this is my craft.' When the King heard this, he rejoiced +exceedingly and said, 'O excellent sage, thou hast come to us +at a time when we have need of thee.' Then he acquainted him +with the case of the princess, adding, 'If thou win to cure her +and recover her of her madness, thou shalt have of me whatever +thou seekest.' 'May God advance the King!' rejoined the prince. +'Describe to me all thou hast seen of her madness and tell me +how long it is since it attacked her; also how thou camest by +her.' So the King told him the whole story, from first to last, +adding, 'The sage is in prison.' 'O august King,' said the +prince, 'and what hast thou done with the horse?' 'It is with +me yet, laid up in one of my treasure-chambers,' replied the +King; whereupon quoth the prince in himself, 'The first thing +to do is to see the horse and assure myself of its condition. +If it be whole and unhurt, all will be well; but, if its works +be destroyed, I must find some other way of delivering my +beloved.' + +So he turned to the King and said to him, 'O King, I must see +the horse in question: haply I may find in it somewhat that +will serve me for the recovery of the damsel.' 'With all my +heart,' replied the King and taking him by the hand, led him to +the place where the horse was. The prince went round about it, +examining its condition, and found it whole and unhurt, whereat +he rejoiced greatly and said to the King, 'May God exalt the +King! I would fain go in to the damsel, that I may see how it +is with her; for I hope, by God's grace, to cure her by means +of the horse.' Then he bade take care of the horse and the King +carried him to the princess's apartment, where he found her +writhing and beating herself against the ground, as was her +wont; but there was no madness in her, and she did this but +that none might approach her. When the prince saw her thus, he +said to her, 'No harm shall betide thee, O ravishment of all +creatures;' and went on to soothe her and speak her fair, till +he won to make himself known to her; whereupon she gave a loud +cry and fell down in a swoon for excess of joy; but the King +thought this came of her fear of him. + +Then the prince put his mouth to her ear and said to her, 'O +seduction of the universe, have a care for thy life and mine +and be patient and constant; for we have need of patience and +skilful ordinance to make shift for our delivery from this +tyrannical King. To begin with, I will now go out to him and +tell him that thou art possessed of a genie, and hence thy +madness; but, that if he will loose thee from thy bonds, I will +engage to heal thee and drive away the evil spirit. So, when he +comes in to thee, do thou give him fair words, that he may +think I have cured thee, and all will be accomplished as we +desire.' Quoth she, 'I hear and obey;' and he went out to the +King, full of joy and happiness, and said to him, 'O august +King, by thy good fortune I have discovered her disease and its +remedy and have cured her for thee. So now do thou go in to her +and speak softly to her and entreat her kindly, and promise her +what may please her; so shall all thou desirest of her be +accomplished to thee.' So he went in to her and when she saw +him, she rose and kissing the ground, bade him welcome; whereat +he was greatly rejoiced and bade the eunuchs and waiting-women +attend her and carry her to the bath and make ready for her +dresses and ornaments. + +So they went in to her and saluted her, and she returned their +greeting, after the goodliest and pleasantest fashion; after +which they clad her in royal apparel and clasping a collar of +jewels about her neck, carried her to the bath and served her +there. Then they brought her forth, as she were the full moon; +and when she came into the King's presence, she saluted him and +kissed the ground before him, whereupon he rejoiced in her with +an exceeding joy and said to the prince, 'All this is of thy +blessing, may God increase us of thy good offices!' Quoth the +prince, 'O King, it behoves, for the completion of her cure, +that thou carry her forth, together with the ebony horse, and +attend her with all thy troops to the place where thou foundest +her, that there I may expel from her the evil spirit, by whom +she is possessed, and bind him and kill him, so he may never +more return to her.' 'With all my heart,' answered the King. +Then he caused carry out the horse to the meadow in question +and mounting, rode thither with all his troops and the princess, +knowing not the prince's purpose. + +When they came to the appointed place, the prince bade set the +horse and the princess as far as the eye could reach from the +King and his troops and said to the former, 'With thy leave, I +will now proceed to the needful fumigations and conjurations +and imprison the genie here, that he may nevermore return to +her. After this, I shall mount the horse and take the damsel up +behind me; whereupon it will sway to and fro and fare forward, +till it come to thee, when the affair will be at an end; and +after this thou mayst do with her as thou wilt.' And when the +King heard his words, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy. So the +prince mounted the horse and taking the princess up behind him, +bound her fast to him, whilst the King and his troops watched +him. Then he turned the peg of ascent and the horse took flight +and soared with them into the air, till he disappeared from +sight. + +The King abode half the day, expecting their return; but they +returned not. So, when he despaired of them, he returned to the +city with his troops, repenting him greatly of that which he +had done and grieving sore for the loss of the damsel. He shut +himself up in his palace, mourning and afflicted; but his +Viziers came in to him and applied themselves to comfort him, +saying, 'Verily, he who took the damsel is an enchanter, and +praised be God who hath delivered thee from his craft and +sorcery!' And they ceased not from him, till he was comforted +for her loss. + +Meanwhile, the prince bent his course, in joy and cheer, +towards his father's capital and stayed not, till he alighted +on his own palace, where he set the princess in safety; after +which he went in to his father and mother and acquainted them +with her coming, whereat they rejoiced exceedingly. Then he +made great banquets to the townsfolk and they held high +festival a whole month, at the end of which time he went in to +the princess and they rejoiced in one another with an exceeding +joy. But his father broke the horse in pieces and destroyed its +works. Moreover, the prince wrote a letter to the princess's +father, advising him of all that had befallen her and how she +was now married to him and in all health and happiness, and +sent it by a messenger, together with costly presents and +rarities. The messenger, in due course, arrived at the city of +Senaa and delivered the letter and the presents to the King, +who, when he read the former, rejoiced greatly and accepted the +presents, rewarding the bearer handsomely. Moreover, he sent +rich presents to his son-in-law by the same messenger, who +returned to his master and acquainted him with what had passed, +whereat he was much cheered. And after this the prince wrote a +letter every year to his father-in-law and sent him a present, +till, in course of time, his father King Sabour died and he +reigned in his stead, ruling justly over his subjects and +ordering himself well and righteously towards them, so that +they submitted themselves to him and did him loyal service; and +he and his wife abode in the enjoyment of all delight and +solace of life, till there came to them the Destroyer of +Delights and Sunderer of Companies, He that layeth waste the +palaces and peopleth the tombs; and glory be to the Living One +who dieth not and in whose hand is the dominion of the Seen and +the Unseen! + + + + + + UNS EL WUJOUD AND THE VIZIER'S DAUGHTER + ROSE-IN-BUD. + + + + +There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a +King of great power and glory and dominion, who had a Vizier +named Ibrahim, and this Vizier had a daughter of extraordinary +beauty and grace, gifted with surpassing brilliancy and all +perfection, possessed of abundant wit and perfectly accomplished. +She loved wine and good cheer and fair faces and choice verses +and rare stories; and the delicacy of her charms invited all +hearts to love, even as Saith the poet, describing her: + +She shines out like the moon at full, that midst the stars doth + fare, And for a wrapping-veil she hath the ringlets of her + hair. +The Eastern zephyr gives her boughs to drink of all its sweets + And like a jointed cane, she sways to every breath of air. +She smiles in passing by. O thou that dost alike accord With + red and yellow and arrayed in each, alike art fair, +Thou sportest with my wit in love, so that indeed meseems As if + a sparrow in the clutch of playful urchin 'twere. + +Her name was Rose-in-bud and she was so named for the exceeding +delicacy and perfection of her beauty; and the King loved to +carouse with her, because of her wit and good breeding. + +Now it was the King's custom yearly to gather together all the +nobles of his realm and play with the ball. So, when the day +came round, on which the folk assembled for ball-play, the +Vizier's daughter seated herself at her lattice, to divert +herself by looking on at the game; and as they were at play, +her eyes fell upon a youth among them, never was seen a +handsomer than he or a goodlier of favour, for he was bright of +face, laughing-teethed, tall and broad-shouldered. She looked +at him again and again and could not take her fill of gazing on +him. Then she said to her nurse, 'What is the name of yonder +handsome young man among the troops?' 'O my daughter,' replied +the nurse, 'they are all handsome. Which of them dost thou +mean?' 'Wait till he passes,' said Rose-in-bud, 'and I will +point him out to thee.' So she took an apple and waited till he +came under her window, when she dropped it on him, whereupon he +raised his head, to see who did this, and saw the Vizier's +daughter at the window, as she were the full moon in the +darkness of the night; nor did he withdraw his eyes, till he +had fallen passionately in love with her; and he recited the +following verses: + +Was it an archer shot me or did thine eyes undo The lover's + heart that saw thee, what time thou metst his view? +Did the notched arrow reach me from midst a host, indeed, Or + was it from a lattice that launched at me it flew? + + When the game was at an end, he went away with the King, +[whose servant and favourite he was,] with heart occupied with +love of her; and she said to her nurse, 'What is the name of +that youth I showed thee?' 'His name is Uns el Wujoud,' +answered she; whereat Rose-in-bud shook her head and lay down +on her couch, with a heart on fire for love. Then, sighing +deeply, she improvised the following verses: + +He erred not who dubbed thee, "All creatures' delight,"[FN#75] + That pleasance and bounty[FN#76] at once dust unite. +Full-moonlike of aspect, O thou whose fair face O'er all the + creation sheds glory and light, +Thou'rt peerless midst mortals, the sovran of grace, And many a + witness to this I can cite. +Thy brows are a Noun[FN#77] and shine eyes are a Sad,[FN#78] + That the hand of the loving Creator did write; +Thy shape is the soft, tender sapling, that gives Of its + bounties to all that its favours invite. +Yea, indeed, thou excellest the world's cavaliers In pleasance + and beauty and bounty and might. + +When she had finished, she wrote the verses on a sheet of +paper, which she folded in a piece of gold-embroidered silk and +laid under her pillow. Now one of her nurses saw her; so she +came up to her and held her in talk, till she slept, when she +stole the scroll from under her pillow and reading it, knew +that she had fallen in love with Uns el Wujoud. Then she +returned the scroll to its place and when her mistress awoke, +she said to her, 'O my lady, indeed, I am to thee a faithful +counsellor and am tenderly solicitous for thee. Know that +passion is grievous and the hiding it melteth iron and causeth +sickness and unease; nor is there reproach for whoso confesses +it.' 'O my nurse,' rejoined Rose-in-bud,'and what is the remedy +of passion?' 'The remedy of passion is enjoyment,' answered the +nurse. 'And how may one come by enjoyment?' asked Rose-in-bud. +'By letters and messages,' replied the nurse, 'and many a +tender word and greeting; this brings lovers together and makes +hard matters easy. So, if thou have aught at heart, mistress +mine, I will engage to keep thy secret and do thy need and +carry thy letters.' + +When the girl heard this, her reason fled for joy; but she +restrained herself from speech, till she should see the issue +of the matter, saying in herself, 'None knoweth this thing of +me, nor will I trust this woman with my secret, till I have +proved her.' Then said the nurse, 'O my lady, I saw in my sleep +as though one came to me and said, "Thy mistress and Uns el +Wujoud love one another; so do thou serve their loves by +carrying their messages and doing their need and keeping their +secrets; and much good shall befall thee." So now I have told +thee my dream, and it is thine to decide.' 'O my nurse,' quoth +Rose-in-bud, 'canst thou keep secrets?' 'And how should I not +keep secrets,' answered the nurse, 'I that am of the flower of +the free-born?' Then Rose-in-bud pulled out the scroll, on +which she had written the verses afore said, and said to her,' +Carry this my letter to Uns el Wujoud and bring me his answer.' + +So the nurse took the letter and repairing to Uns el Wujoud, +kissed his hands and saluted him right courteously, then gave +him the letter; and he read it and wrote on the back the +following verses: + +I temper my heart in passion and hide my case as I may; But my + case interprets for me and doth my love bewray. +And whenas my lids brim over with tears,--lest the spy should + see And come to fathom my secret,--"My eye is sore," I + say. +Of old I was empty-hearted and knew not what love was; But now + I am passion's bondman, my heart to love's a prey. +To thee I prefer my petition, complaining of passion and pain, + So haply thou mayst be softened and pity my dismay. +With the tears of my eye I have traced it, that so unto thee it + may The tidings of what I suffer for thee to thee convey. +God watch o'er a visage, that veileth itself with beauty, a + face That the full moon serves as a bondman and the stars + as slaves obey! +Yea' Allah protect her beauty, whose like I ne'er beheld! The + boughs from her graceful carriage, indeed, might learn to + sway. +I beg thee to grant me a visit; algates, if it irk thee nought. + An thou knewst how dearly I'd prize it, thou wouldst not + say me nay. +I give thee my life, so haply thou mayst accept it: to me Thy + presence is life eternal and hell thy turning away. + +Then he folded the letter and kissing it, gave it to the nurse +and said to her, 'O nurse, incline thy lady's heart to me.' 'I +hear and obey,' answered she and carried the letter to her +mistress, who kissed it and laid it on her head, then wrote at +the foot of it these verses: + +Harkye, thou whose heart is taken with my grace and loveliness, + Have but patience, and right surely thou my favours shalt + possess. +When we were assured the passion thou avouchedst was sincere + And that that which us betided had betided thee no less, +Gladly had we then vouchsafed thee what thou sighedst for, and + more; But our guardians estopped us to each other from + access. +When night darkens on the dwellings, fires are lighted in our + heart And our entrails burn within us, for desire and + love's excess. +Yea, for love and longing, slumber is a stranger to our couch + And the burning pangs of fever do our body sore distress. +'Twas a law of passion ever, love and longing to conceal; Lift + not thou the curtain from us nor our secret aye + transgress. +Ah, my heart is overflowing with the love of yon gazelle; Would + it had not left our dwellings for the distant wilderness. + +Then she folded the letter and gave it to the nurse, who took +it and went out to go to the young man; but as she went forth +the door, her master met her and said to her, 'Whither away?' +'To the bath,' answered she; but, in her trouble, she dropped +the letter, without knowing it, and one of the servants, seeing +it lying in the way, picked it up. When she came without the +door, she sought for it, but found it not, so turned back to +her mistress and told her of this and what had befallen her +with the Vizier. + +Meanwhile, the latter came out of the harem and seated himself +on his couch. Presently, the servant, who had picked up the +letter, came in to him, with it in his hand, and said, 'O my +lord, I found this paper lying on the floor and picked it up.' +So the Vizier took it from his hand, folded as it was, and +opening it, read the verses above set down. Then he examined +the writing and knew it for his daughter's hand; whereupon he +went in to her mother, weeping so sore that his beard was +drenched. 'What makes thee weep, O my lord?' asked she; and he +answered, 'Take this letter and see what is therein.' So she +took it and saw it to be a love-letter from her daughter +Rose-in-bud to Uns el Wujoud; whereupon the tears sprang to her +eyes; but she mastered herself and swallowing her tears, said +to her husband, 'O my lord, there is no profit in weeping: the +right course is to cast about for a means of preserving thine +honour and concealing thy daughter's affair.' And she went on +to comfort him and lighten his trouble. Quoth he, 'I am fearful +of what may ensue this passion of my daughter, and that for two +reasons. The first concerns myself; it is, that she is my daughter; +the second, that Uns el Wujoud is a favourite with the Sultan, +who loves him with an exceeding love, and maybe great troubles +shall come of this affair. What deemest thou of the matter?' +'Wait,' answered she, 'whilst I pray to God for direction.' +So she prayed a two-bow prayer, according to the prophetic +ordinance of the prayer for divine guidance; after which she +said to her husband, 'Amiddleward the Sea of Treasures stands +a mountain called the Mount of the Bereaved Mother,' (the cause +of which being so named shall follow in its place, if it be the +will of God,) 'and thither can none come, save with difficulty; +do thou make her an abiding-place there.' + +So the Vizier and his wife agreed to build, on the mountain in +question, a strong castle and lodge his daughter therein with a +year's victual, to be annually renewed, and attendants to serve +and keep her company. Accordingly, he collected builders and +carpenters and architects and despatched them to the mountain, +where they builded her an impregnable castle, never saw eyes +its like. Then he made ready victual and carriage for the +journey and going in to his daughter by night, bade her make +ready to set out on a pleasure-excursion. She refused to set +out by night, but he was instant with her, till she went forth; +and when she saw the preparations for the journey, her heart +misgave her of separation from her beloved and she wept sore +and wrote upon the door the following verses, to acquaint him +with what had passed and with the transports of passion and +grief that were upon her, transports such as would make the +flesh quake, that would cause the hearts of stones to melt and +eyes to overflow with tears: + +By Allah, O house, if the loved one pass in the morning-glow + And greet with the greeting of lovers, as they pass to and + fro, +Give him our salutation, a pure and fragrant one, For that we + have departed, and whither he may not know. +Why on this wise they hurry me off by stealth, anights And + lightly equipped, I know not, nor whither with me they go. +Neath cover of night and darkness, they carry me forth, alack I + Whilst the birds in the brake bewail us and make their + moan for our woe; +And the tongue of the case interprets their language and cries, + "Alas, Alas for the pain of parting from those that we + love, heigho!" +When I saw that the cups of sev'rance were filled and that + Fate, indeed, Would give us to drink of its bitter, + unmingled, would we or no, +I blended the draught with patience becoming, as best I might; + But patience avails not to solace my heart for your loss, + I trow. + +Then she mounted, and they set forward with her and fared on +over desert and plain and hill, till they came to the shore of +the Sea of Treasures, where they pitched their tents and built +a great ship, in which they embarked her and her suite and +carried them over to the mountain. Here they left them in the +castle and making their way back to the shore, broke up the +vessel, in obedience to the Vizier's commandment, and returned +home, weeping over what had befallen. + +Meanwhile, Uns el Wujoud arose from sleep and prayed the +morning prayer, after which he mounted and rode forth to wait +upon the Sultan. On his way, he passed by the Vizier's house, +thinking to see some of his followers, as of wont, but saw no +one and drawing near the door, read the verses aforesaid +written thereon. At this sight, his senses failed him; fire was +kindled in his vitals and he returned to his lodging, where he +passed the rest of the day in ceaseless trouble and anxiety, +without finding ease or patience, till night darkened upon him, +when his transport redoubled. So he put off his clothes and +disguising himself in a fakir's habit, set out, at a venture, +under cover of the night, distraught and knowing not whither he +went. + +He wandered on all that night and next day, till the heat of +the sun grew fierce and the mountains flamed like fire and +thirst was grievous upon him. Presently, he espied a tree, by +whose side was a spring of running water; so he made towards it +and sitting down in the shade, on the bank of the rivulet, +essayed to drink, but found that the water had no taste in his +mouth. Then, [looking in the stream,] he saw that his body was +wasted, his colour changed and his face grown pale and his, +feet, to boot, swollen with walking and weariness. So he shed +copious tears and repeated the following verses: + +The lover is drunken with love of his fair; In longing and heat + he redoubles fore'er. +Love-maddened, confounded, distracted, perplexed, No dwelling + is pleasant to him and no fare. +For how, to a lover cut off from his love, Can life be + delightsome? 'Twere strange an it were. +I melt with the fire of my passion for her And the tears down + my cheek roll and never forbear. +Shall I ever behold her or one from her stead, With whom I may + solace my heart in despair? + +And he wept till he wet the ground; after which he rose and +fared on again over deserts and wilds, till there came out upon +him a lion, with a neck buried in hair, a head the bigness of a +dome, a mouth wider than the door [thereof] and teeth like +elephants' tusks. When Uns el Wujoud saw him, he gave himself up +for lost and turning towards Mecca, pronounced the professions +of the faith and prepared for death. + +Now he had read in books that whoso will flatter the lion, +beguileth him, for that he is lightly duped by fair words and +glorieth in praise; so he began and said, 'O lion of the forest +and the waste! O unconquerable warrior! O father of heroes and +Sultan of wild beasts! Behold, I am a desireful lover, whom +passion and severance have undone. Since I parted from my +beloved, I have lost my reason; wherefore, do thou hearken to +my speech and have ruth on my passion and love-longing.' When +the lion heard this, he drew back from him and sitting down on +his hind-quarters, raised his head to him and began to frisk +his tail and paws to him; which when Uns el Wujoud saw, he +recited these verses: + +Wilt slay me, O lord of the desert, before My enslaver I meet + with, e'en her I adore? +No fat on me is; I'm no booty for thee; For the loss of my + loved one hath wasted me sore. +Yea, my love's separation hath worn out my soul, And I'm grown + like a shape, with a shroud covered o'er. +Give the railers not cause to exult in my woe, O prince of the + spoilers, O lion of war! +A lover, all sleepless for loss of my dear, I'm drowned in the + tears from mine eyelids that pour; +And my pining for her in the darkness of night Hath robbed me, + for passion, of reason and lore. + +When he had finished, the lion rose and coming softly up to +him, with his eyes full of tears, licked him with his tongue, +then walked on before him, signing to him, as who should say, +'Follow me.' So he followed him, and he led him on till he +brought him, over a mountain, to the farther side, where he +came upon the track of a caravan and knew it to be that of +Rose-in-bud and her company. When the lion saw that he knew the +track and set himself to follow it, he turned back and went his +way; whilst Uns el Wujoud followed the foot-marks, till they +brought him to a surging sea, swollen with clashing billows. The +trail led down to the water's edge and there broke off; whereby +he knew that they had taken ship there and had continued their +journey by sea. So he lost hope of finding his beloved and +repeated the following verses, weeping sore: + +Far's the place of visitation and my patience faileth me For my + love; but how to reach her o'er the abysses of the sea? +When, for love of her, my vitals are consumed and I've forsworn + Slumber, sleep for wake exchanging, ah, how can I patient + be? +Since the day she left the homesteads and departed, hath my + heart Burnt with never-ceasing anguish, all a-fire with + agony. +Oxus and Jaxartes, running like Euphrates, are my tears; More + than rain and flood abounding, run like rivers to the sea. +Ulcerated are my eyelids with the running of the tears, And my + heart on fires of passion's burnt and wasted utterly. +Yea, the armies of my longing and my transport on me pressed, + And the hosts of my endurance did before them break and + flee. +Lavishly my life I've ventured for the love of her; for life Is + the lightest to a lover of all ventures, verily. +Be an eye of God unpunished that beheld the beauteous one, Than + the moon how much more splendid, in the harem's sanctuary! +Struck was I and smitten prostrate by wide-opened eyes, whose + shafts, From a bow all stringless loosened, pierced the + hapless heart of me. +By the soft and flexile motions of her shape she captived me, + Swaying as the limber branches sway upon the cassia-tree. +Union with her I covet, that therewith I may apply Solace to + the pains of passion, love and care and misery. +For the love of her, afflicted, as I am, I have become; All + that's fallen on me betided from the evil eye, perdie. + +Then he wept, till he swooned away, and abode in his swoon a +long while. When he came to himself, he looked right and left +and seeing none in the desert, was fearful of the wild beasts; +so he climbed to the top of a high mountain, where he heard a +man's voice speaking within a cavern. He listened and found it +to be that of a devotee, who had forsworn the world and given +himself up to pious exercises. So he knocked thrice at the +cavern door; but the hermit made him no answer, neither came +forth to him; wherefore he sighed heavily and recited the +following verses: + +What way is open unto me, to my desire to get And put off + weariness and toil and trouble and regret? +All pains and terrors have combined on me, to make me hoar And + old of head and heart, whilst I a very child am yet. +I find no friend to solace me of longing and unease' Nor one + 'gainst passion and its stress to aid me and abet. +Alas, the torments I endure for waste and wistful love! + Fortune, meseems, 'gainst me is turned and altogether set. +Ah, woe's me for the lover's pain, unresting, passion-burnt, + Him who in parting's bitter cup his lips perforce hath + wet! +His wit is ravished clean away by separation's woe, Fire in his + heart and all consumed his entrails by its fret. +Ah, what a dreadful day it was, when to her stead I came And + that, which on the door was writ, my eyes confounded met! +I wept, until I gave the earth to drink of my despair; But + still from friend and foe I hid the woes that me beset. +Then strayed I forth till, in the waste, a lion sprang on me + And would have slain me straight; but him with flattering + words I met +And soothed him. So he spared my life and succoured me, as + 'twere He too had known love's taste and been entangled in + its net. +Yet, for all this, could I but win to come to my desire, All, + that I've suffered and endured, straightway I should + forget. +O thou, that harbour'st in thy cave, distracted from the world, + Meseems thou'st tasted love and been its slave, O + anchoret! + +Hardly had he made an end of these verses when, behold, the +door of the cavern opened and he heard one say' 'Alas, the pity +of it I' So he entered and saluted the hermit, who returned his +greeting and said to him, 'What is thy name?' 'Uns el Wujoud,' +answered the young man. 'And what brings thee hither?' asked +the hermit. So he told him his whole story, whereat he wept and +said' 'O Uns el Wujoud, these twenty years have I dwelt in this +place, but never beheld I any here, till the other day, when I +heard a noise of cries and weeping, and looking forth in the +direction of the sound, saw much people and tents pitched on +the sea-shore. They built a ship, in which they embarked and +sailed away. Then some of them returned with the ship and +breaking it up, went their way; and methinks those, who +embarked in the ship and returned not, are they whom thou +seekest. In that case, thy trouble must needs be grievous and +thou art excusable; though never yet was lover but suffered +sorrows.' Then he recited the following verses: + +Uns el Wujoud, thou deem'st me free of heart, but, wel-a-way! + Longing and transport and desire fold and unfold me aye. +Yea, love and passion have I known even from my earliest years, + Since at my mother's nursing breast a suckling babe I lay. +I struggled sore and long with Love, till I his power + confessed. If thou enquire at him of me, he will me not + unsay. +I quaffed the cup of passion out, with languor and disease, And + as a phantom I became for pining and decay. +Strong was I, but my strength is gone and neath the swords of + eyes, The armies of my patience broke and vanished clean + away. +Hope not to win delight of love, without chagrin and woe; For + contrary with contrary conjoined is alway. +But fear not change from lover true; do thou but constant be + Unto thy wish, and thou shalt sure be happy yet some day: +For unto lovers passion hath ordained that to forget Is heresy, + forbidden all its mandates that obey. + +Then he rose and coming to the youth, embraced him, and they +wept together, till the hills rang with their crying and they +fell down in a swoon. When they revived, they swore brotherhood +in God the Most High, and the hermit said to Uns el Wujoud, +'This night will I pray to God and seek of Him direction what +thou shouldst do to attain thy desire.' + +To return to Rose-in-bud. When they brought her into the castle +and she beheld its ordinance, she wept and exclaimed, 'By +Allah, thou art a goodly place, save that thou lackest the +presence of the beloved in thee!' Then, seeing [many] birds in +the island, she bade her people set snares for them and hang up +all they caught in cages within the castle; and they did so. But +she sat at a window of the castle and bethought her of what had +passed, and passion and transport and love-longing redoubled +upon her, till she burst into tears and repeated the following +verses: + +To whom, of my desire complaining, shall I cry, To whom, for + loss of loves and parting's sorrow, sigh? +Flames rage within my breast, but I reveal them not, For fear + lest they my case discover to the spy. +I'm grown as thin as e'er a bodkin's wood, so worn With absence + and lament and agony am I. +Where is the loved one's eye, to see how I'm become Even as a + blasted tree, stripped bare and like to die? +They wronged me, when they shut me prisoner in a place, Wherein + my love, alas I may never come me nigh. +Greetings a thousandfold I beg the sun to bear, What time he + riseth up and setteth from the sky, +To a beloved one, who puts the moon to shame, For loveliness, + and doth the Indian cane outvie. +If the rose ape his cheek, "Now God forfend," I say, "That of + my portion aught to pilfer thou shouldst try." +Lo, in his mouth are springs of limpid water sweet, Refreshment + that would bring to those in flames who lie. +How shall I one forget who is my heart and soul, My malady and + he that healing can apply? + +Then, as the shadows darkened upon her, her longing increased +and she called to mind the past and recited these verses also: + +The shadows darken and passion stirs up my sickness amain And + longing rouses within me the old desireful pain. +The anguish of parting hath taken its sojourn in my breast And + love and longing and sorrow have maddened heart and brain. +Passion hath made me restless and yearning consumes my soul And + tears discover my secret, that else concealed had lain. +I know of no way to ease me of sickness and care and woe; Nor + can my weak endeavour reknit Love's severed skein. +My heart is a raging furnace, because of the heat whereof My + entrails are racked with anguish, that nothing can assain. +O thou, that thinkest to blame me for what is fallen on me, + Enough, I suffer with patience whatever the Fates ordain. +I swear I shall ne'er find comfort nor be consoled for them, + The oath of the children of passion, whose oaths are never + in vain! +Bear tidings, O night, to my dear ones and greet them and + witness bear That thou knowest in thee I sleep not, but + ever to wake am fain. + +Meanwhile, the hermit said to Uns el Wujoud, 'Go down into the +valley and fetch me palm-fibre.' So he went and returned with +the palm-fibre, which the hermit took and twisting into ropes, +made therewith a net, such as is used for carrying straw; after +which he said to the youth, 'O Uns el Wujoud, in the heart of +the valley grows a gourd, which springs up and dries upon its +roots. Go thither and fill this net therewith; then tie it +together and casting it into the water, embark thereon and make +for the midst of the sea, so haply thou shalt come to thy +desire; for he, who adventureth not himself, shall not attain +that he seeketh.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Uns el Wujoud and +bidding the hermit farewell after he had prayed for him, betook +himself to the hollow of the valley, where he did as he had +counselled him and launched out upon the water, supported by +the net. + +Then there arose a wind, which drove him out to sea, till he +was lost to the hermit's view; and he ceased not to fare on +over the abysses of the ocean, one billow tossing him up on the +crest of the wave and another bearing him down into the trough +of the sea, and he beholding the while the terrors and wonders +of the deep, for the space of three days, at the end of which +time Fate cast him upon the Mount of the Bereft Mother, where +he landed, weak and giddy as a fledgling bird, for hunger and +thirst; but, finding there streams running and birds warbling +on the branches and fruit-laden trees, growing in clusters and +singly, he ate of the fruits and drank of the streams. Then he +walked on till he saw some white thing alar off, and making for +it, found that it was a strongly-fortified castle. So he went +up to the gate and finding it locked, sat down by it. + +He sat thus three days and on the fourth, the gate opened and +an eunuch came out, who seeing Uns el Wujoud seated there, said +to him, 'Whence comest thou and who brought thee hither?' Quoth +he, 'I come from Ispahan and was travelling by sea with +merchandise, when my ship was wrecked and the waves cast me +upon this island.' When the eunuch heard this, he wept and +embraced him, saying, 'God preserve thee, O [thou that bringest +me the] fragrance of the beloved! Ispahan is my own country and +I have there a cousin, the daughter of my father's brother, +whom I loved and cherished from a child; but a people stronger +than we fell upon us and taking me among other booty, docked me +and sold me for an eunuch, whilst I was yet a lad; and this is +how I come to be what I am.' Then he carried him into the +courtyard of the castle, where he saw a great basin of water, +surrounded by trees, on whose branches hung cages of silver, +with doors of gold, and therein birds warbling and singing the +praises of the Requiting King. In the first cage he came to was +a turtle dove which, seeing him, raised her voice and cried +out, saying, 'O Bountiful One!'[FN#79] Whereat he fell down in +a swoon, but, presently coming to himself, sighed heavily and +recited the following verses: + +O turtle, art thou mad for love, as is my case? Then sing, 'O + Bountiful!' and seek the Lord His grace! +Tell me, doth thy descant in joyance tale its rise Or in + desireful pain, that in thy heart hath place? +If for desire thou moan'st of bygone loves or pin'st For dear + ones that have gone and left thee but their trace, +Or if thou'st lost thy love, like me, ah, then, indeed, + Severance long-felt desire discovereth apace. +God guard a lover true! Though my bones rot, nor time Nor + absence from my heart her image shall efface. + +Then he fainted again and presently coming to his senses, went +on to the second cage, wherein he found a ring-dove. When it +saw him, it sang out, 'O Eternal, I praise thee!' and he sighed +and recited these verses: + +I heard a ring-dove say in her plaintive note, "Despite of my + woes, O Eternal, I praise Thee still!" +And God, of His grace, reunion of our loves, in this my travel, + may yet to us fulfil. +She visits me oft,[FN#80] with her dusk-red honeyed lips, And + lends to the passion within me an added thrill. +And I cry, whilst the fires in my tortured heart flame high And + my soul for ardour consumes and my eyes distil +Tears that resemble blood and withouten cease Pour down on my + wasted cheeks in many a rill, +There's none created without affliction, and I Must bear with + patience my tribulations, until +The hour of solace with her I love one day Unite me. Ah, then, + by God His power and will, +In succouring lovers, I vow, I'll spend my good, For they're of + my tribe and category still; +And eke from prison I'll loose the birds, to boot, And leave, + for joyance, the thought of every ill! + +Then he went on to the third cage, in which was a mocking-bird. +When it saw him, it set up a song, and he recited the following +verses: + +The mocking-bird delighteth me with his harmonious strain, As + 'twere a lover's voice that pines and wastes for love in + vain. +Woe's me for those that lovers be! How many a weary night, For + love and anguish and desire, to waken they are fain! +'Twould seem as if they had no part in morning or in sleep, For + all the stress of love and woe that holds their heart and + brain. +When I became distraught for her I love and wistfulness Bound + me in fetters strait, the tears from out mine eyes did + rain +So thick and fast, they were as chains, and I to her did say, + "My tears have fallen so thick, that now they've bound me + with a chain." +The treasures of my patience fail, absence is long on me And + yearning sore; and passion's stress consumeth me amain. +If God's protection cover me and Fortune be but just And Fate + with her whom I adore unite me once again, +I'll doff my clothes, that she may see how worn my body is, For + languishment and severance and solitary pain. + +Then he went on to the fourth cage, where he found a +nightingale, which, at sight of him, began to tune its +plaintive note. When he heard its descant, he burst into tears +and repeated the following verses: + +The nightingale's note, when the dawning is near, Distracts + from the lute-strings the true lover's ear. +Complaineth, for love-longing, Uns el Wujoud, Of a passion that + blotteth his being out sheer. +How many sweet notes, that would soften, for mirth, The + hardness of iron and stone, do I hear! +The zephyr of morning brings tidings to me Of meadows, + full-flower'd for the blossoming year. +The scents on the breeze and the music of birds, In the + dawning, transport me with joyance and cheer. +But I think of a loved one, that's absent from me, And mine + eyes rain in torrents, with tear upon tear; +And the ardour of longing flames high in my breast, As a fire + in the heart of a brasier burns clear. +May Allah vouchsafe to a lover distraught To see and foregather + once more with his dear! +Yea, for lovers, heart-sickness and longing and woe And wake + are excuses that plainly appear. + +Then he went on a little and came to a handsome cage, than +which there was no goodlier there, and in it a culver, that is +to Say, a wood-pigeon, the bird renowned among the birds as the +singer of love-longing, with a collar of jewels about its neck, +wonder-goodly of ordinance. He considered it awhile and seeing +it mazed and brooding in its cage, shed tears and repeated +these verses: + +O culver of the copse, may peace upon thee light, O friend of + all who love and every wistful wight! +I love a young gazelle, a slender one, whose glance Than + sharpest sabre's point is keener and more bright. +For love of her, my heart and entrails are a-fire And + sicknesses consume my body and my spright. +The sweet of pleasant food's forbidden unto me, And eke I am + denied the taste of sleep's delight. +Solace and fortitude have taken flight from me, And love and + longing lodge with me, both day and night. +How shall my life be sweet to me, while she's afar, That is my + life, my wish, the apple of my sight? + +When the pigeon heard these verses, it awoke from its brooding +and cooed and warbled and trilled, till it all but spoke; and +the tongue of the case interpreted for it and recited the +following verses: + +O lover, thy wailings recall to my mind The time when my youth + from me wasted and dwined, +And A mistress, whose charms and whose grace I adored, + Seductive and fair over all of her kind; +Whose voice, from the twigs of the sandhill upraised, Left the + strains of the flute, to my thought, far behind. +A snare set the fowler and caught me, who cried, "Would he d + leave me to range at my will on the wind!" +I had hoped he was clement or seeing that I Was a lover, would + pity my lot and be kind; +But no, (may God smite him!) he tore me away From my dear and + apart from her harshly confined. +Since then, my desire for her grows without cease, And my heart + with the fires of disjunction is mined. +God guard a true lover, who striveth with love And hath + suffered the torments in which I have pined! +When he seeth me languish for love in my cage, He will loose + me, in mercy, my loved one to find + + Then Uns el Wujoud turned to his friend, the Ispahani and said +to him, 'What palace is this? Who built it and who abideth in +it?' Quoth the eunuch, 'The Vizier of King Shamikh built it +for his daughter, fearing for her the assaults of fate and the +vicissitudes of fortune, and lodged her therein, with her +attendants; nor do we open it save once in every year, when our +victual comes to us.' And Uns el Wujoud said in himself, 'I +have gained my end' though after long travail.' + +Meanwhile, Rose-in-bud took no delight in eating nor drinking, +sitting nor sleeping; but her transport and passion and +love-longing redoubled on her, and she went wandering about the +castle, but could find no issue; wherefore she shed plenteous +tears and recited the following verses: + +They have prisoned me straitly from him I adore And given me to + eat of mine anguish galore. +My heart with the flames of love-longing they fired, When me + from the sight of my loved one they bore. +They have cloistered me close in a palace built high On a mount + in the midst of a sea without shore. +If they'd have me forget, their endeavour is vain, For my love + but redoubles upon me the more. +How can I forget him, when all I endure Arose from the sight of + his face heretofore? +My days are consumed in lament, and my nights Pass in thinking + of him, as I knew him of yore. +His memory my solace in solitude is, Since the lack of his + presence I needs must deplore. +I wonder, will Fate grant my heart its desire And my love, + after all, to my wishes restore! + +Then she donned her richest clothes and trinkets and threw a +necklace of jewels around her neck; after which she ascended to the +roof of the castle and tying some strips of Baalbek stuff together, +[to serve for a rope], made them fast to the battlements and let +herself down thereby to the ground. Then she fared on over wastes +and wilds, till she came to the sea-shore, where she saw a +fishing-boat, and therein a fisherman, whom the wind had driven +on to the island, as he went, fishing here and there, on the sea. +When he saw her, he was affrighted, [ taking her for a Jinniyeh] +and put out again to sea; but she cried out and made pressing +signs to him to return, reciting the following verses: + +Harkye, O fisherman, fear thou no injury; I'm but an earthly + maid, a mortal like to thee. +I do implore thee, stay, give ear unto my prayer And hearken to + my true and woeful history. +Pity, (so God thee spare,) the ardour [of my love,] And say if + thou hast seen a loved one, fled from me. +I love a fair-faced youth and goodly; brighter far Of aspect + than the face of sun or moon is he. +The antelope, that sees his glances, cries, "His slave Am I," + and doth confess inferiority. +Yea, beauty on his brow these pregnant words hath writ In very + dust of musk, significant to see, +"Who sees the light of love is in the way of right, And he who + strays commits foul sin and heresy." +An thou have ruth on me and bring me to his sight, O rare! + Whate'er thou wilt thy recompense shall be; +Rubies and precious stones and freshly gathered pearls And + every kind of gem that is in earth and sea. +Surely, O friend, thou wilt with my desire comply; For all my + heart's on fire with love and agony. + +When the fisherman heard this, he wept and sighed and lamented; +then, recalling what had betided himself in the days of his +youth, when love had the mastery over him and transport and +love-longing and distraction were sore upon him and the fires +of passion consumed him, replied with these verses: + +Indeed, the lover's excuse is manifest, Wasting of body and + streaming tears, unrest, +Eyes, in the darkness that waken still, and heart, As 'twere a + fire-box, bespeak him love-oppress. +Passion, indeed, afflicted me in youth, And I good money from + bad learnt then to test. +My soul I bartered, a distant love to win; To gain her favours, + I wandered East and West; +And eke I ventured my life against her grace And deemed the + venture would bring me interest. +For law of lovers it is that whoso buys His love's possession + with life, he profits best. + +Then he moored his boat to the shore and bade her embark, +saying, 'I will carry thee whither thou wilt.' So she embarked +and he put off with her; but they had not gone far, before +there came out a stern-wind upon the boat and drove it swiftly +out of sight of land. The fisherman knew not whither he went, +and the wind blew without ceasing three days, at the end of +which time it fell, by leave of God the Most High, and they +sailed on, till they came in sight of a city builded upon the +seashore, and the fisherman set about making fast to the land. + +Now the King of the city, a very powerful prince called Dirbas, +was at that moment sitting, with his son, at a window in the +palace giving upon the sea, and chancing to look out to +sea-ward, they saw the fishing-boat enter the harbour. They +observed it narrowly and espied therein a young lady, as she +were the full moon in the mid-heaven, with pendants in her ears +of fine balass rubies and a collar of precious stones about her +neck. So the King knew that this must be the daughter of some +king or great noble, and going forth of the sea-gate of the +palace, went down to the boat, where he found the lady asleep +and the fisherman busied in making fast to the shore. He went +up to her and aroused her, whereupon she awoke, weeping; and he +said to her, 'Whence comest thou and whose daughter art thou +and what brings thee hither?' 'I am the daughter of Ibrahim, +Vizier to King Shamikh,' answered she; 'and the manner of my +coming hither is strange and the cause thereof extraordinary.' +And she told him her whole story, hiding nought from him; then +she sighed deeply and recited the following verses: + +Tears have mine eyelids wounded sore, and wonder-fast they flow + Adown my cheek for parting's pain and memory and woe, +For a beloved's sake, who dwells for ever in my heart, Though + to foregather with himself I cannot win, heigho! +Fair, bright and brilliant is his face, in loveliness and + grace, Turk, Arab and barbarian he cloth indeed o'ercrow. +The full moon and the sun contend in deference to him, And when + he rises into sight, they, lover-like, bend low. +His eyes with wondrous witchery are decked, as 'twere with + kohl; Even as a bow, that's bent to shoot its shafts, to + thee they show. +O thou, to whom I have perforce revealed my case, have ruth On + one with whom the shifts of love have sported long eno'. +Lo, broken-hearted, Love hath cast me up upon thy coast, + Wherefore I trust that thou on me fair favour wilt bestow. +The noble who, when folk of worth alight within their bounds, + Do honour and protect them, win increase of glory so. +Cover thou then, my lord, my hope, two lovers' follies up And + let them to thy succouring hand their loves' reunion owe. + +Then she shed plenteous tears and recited these verses also: + +I lived, a marvel till I saw in love, then lived no mo'; Each + month to thee as Rejeb[FN#81] be, as free from fear of + foe! +Is it not strange that, on the morn they went away, I lit Fire + in my vitals with the tears that from mine eyes did flow? +Indeed, mine eyelids ran with blood, and on the wasted plain Of + my sad cheek, that therewithal was watered, gold did grow. +Yea, for the safflower hue, that thence o'erspread my cheeks, + they seem The shirt of Joseph, steeped in blood, to make a + lying show. + +When the King heard this, he was certified of her passion and +love-longing and was moved to compassion for her; so he said to +her, 'Fear nothing and be not troubled; thou hast attained the +term of thy wishes; for needs must I bring thee to thy desire.' +And he recited the following verses: + +Daughter if nobles, thou hast reached thy wishes' goal, I trow: + In happy presage then rejoice and fear not any woe. +Treasures this very day, will I collect and neath escort Of + horsemen and of champions, to Shamikh they shall go. +Brocade and bladders full of musk I will to him despatch And + eke white silver and red gold I'll send to him also. +Yea, and a letter neath my hand my wish for ties of kin And for + alliance with himself shall give him eke to know; +And all endeavour will I use, forthwith, that he thou lov'st + Once more with thee may be conjoined, to part from thee no + mo. +I, too, have battened upon love and know the taste thereof And + can excuse the folk who've quaffed the self-same cup of + woe. + +Then, returning to his palace, he summoned his Vizier and +causing pack him up countless treasure, bade him carry it to +King Shamikh and say to him, 'The King is minded to ally +himself with thee by marrying Uns el Wujoud, shine officer, to +his daughter. So needs must thou send him with me, that the +marriage may be solemnized in her father's kingdom.' And he +wrote a letter to King Shamikh, to this effect, and gave it to +the Vizier, charging him without fail bring back Uns el Wujoud, +on pain of deposition from his office. 'I hear and obey,' +answered the Vizier and setting out forthright, in due course +arrived at the court of King Shamikh, to whom he delivered the +letter and presents, saluting him in the name of King Dirbas. +When Shamikh read the letter and saw the name of Uns el Wujoud, +he burst into tears and said to the Vizier, 'And where is Uns +el Wujoud? He went away, and we know not his place of abiding. +Bring him to me, and I will give thee the sum of the presents +thou hast brought me, twice told.' And he wept and sighed and +groaned, reciting the following verses: + +Him whom I loved to me restore; By gold and gifts I set no + store. +Nor do I crave largesse, indeed, Of pearls and gems and + precious ore. +As 'twere a moon at full, for us, In beauty's heaven he did + soar. +Passing in wit and grace, gazelles With him comparison gave + o'er. +His shape was as a willow-wand, For fruits that sweet + seductions bore; +But in the willow, to enslave The hearts of men, there is no + lore. +I reared him from a child upon The bed of fondness evermore; +And now I am at heart distraught For him and sorrow passing + sore. + +Then said he to the Vizier, 'Go back to thy master and tell him +that Uns el Wujoud has been missing this year past, and his +lord knoweth not whither he is gone nor hath any news of him.' +'O my lord,' answered King Dirbas's Vizier, 'my master said to +me, "An thou come back without him, thou shalt be ousted from +the Vizierate and shall not enter my city." How then can I +return without him?' So King Shamikh said to his Vizier +Ibrahim, 'Take a company and go with him and make search for +Uns el Wujoud everywhere.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Ibrahim, +and taking a company of his own retainers, set out in quest of +Uns el Wujoud, accompanied by King Dirbas's Vizier; and as +often as they fell in with Bedouins or others, they enquired at +them of Uns el Wujoud, saying, 'Have ye seen a man, whose name +is so and so and his favour thus and thus?' But they answered, +'We know him not.' + +So they fared on, enquiring in city and hamlet and seeking in +hill and plain and desert and wold, till they came to the +sea-shore, where they took ship and sailed, till they came to +the Mountain of the Bereaved Mother; and King Dirbas's Vizier +said to Ibrahim, 'Why is this mountain thus called?' 'There was +once of old time,' answered the other Vizier, 'a Jinniych, of +the Jinn of China, who fell passionately in love with a man and +being in fear of her own people, searched all the earth for a +place, where she might hide him from them, till she happened on +this mountain and finding it inaccessible both to men and Jinn, +carried off her beloved and lodged him therein. There she used +to visit him privily, till she had borne him a number of +children, and the merchants, sailing by the mountain, in their +voyages over the sea, heard the weeping of the children, as it +were the wailing of a woman who had lost her young, and said, +"Is there here a mother bereaved of her children?" For which +reason the place was named the Mountain of the Bereaved +Mother.' And King Dirbas's Vizier marvelled at this. + +Then they landed and making for the castle, knocked at the gate, +which was opened to them by an eunuch, who knew the Vizier +Ibrahim and kissed his hands. Ibrahim entered and finding in +the courtyard, among the serving men, a man in the habit of a +fakir,[FN#82] said. 'Whence comes yonder fellow?' Quoth they, +'He is a merchant, who hath lost his goods by shipwreck, but +saved himself on a plank; and he is an ecstatic.'[FN#83] Now +this was none other than Uns el Wujoud, [but the Vizier knew +him not]; so he left him and went on into the castle. He found +there no trace of his daughter and questioned her women, who +answered, 'She abode with us but a little while and went away, +how and whither we know not.' Whereupon he wept sore and +repeated the following verses: + +O house, whose birds warbled for joyance whilere And whose + sills were resplendent with glory and pride, +Till the lover came to thee, bemooning himself For his passion, + and found thy doors open and wide, +Would I knew where my soul is, my soul that was late In a + house, where its masters no longer abide! +Therein were all things that are costly and rich And with suits + of brocade it was decked, like a bride. +Yea, happy and honoured its doorkeeper were. Would God I knew + whither its mistress hath tried! + +Then he wept and sighed and bemoaned himself, exclaiming, +'There is no resource against the ordinance of God neither is +there any escape from that which He hath decreed!' Then he went +up to the roof and finding the strips of Baalbek stuff tied to +the battlements and hanging down to the ground, knew that she +had descended thence and had fled forth, as one distracted and +mad with passion. Presently, he turned and seeing there two +birds, an owl and a raven, deemed this an ill omen; so he +groaned and recited these verses: + +Unto the loved ones' stead I came, as hoping, by their sight, + To quench the fire that burnt in me of love-longing and + woe; +But no beloved found I there, nor aught, indeed, I found, Save + two ill-omened ones, an owl And eke a corby-crow. +And quoth the tongue o' the case to me, "Thou hast been + tyrannous And hast two longing lovers torn, the one the + other fro! +Taste of the anguish, then, of love what thou hast made them + taste And live, 'twixt agony and tears, in sorrow evermo." + +Then he descended, weeping, and bade the servants go forth and +search the island for their mistress; so they sought for her, +but found her not. As for Uns el Wujoud, when he was certified +that Rose-in-bud was indeed gone, he gave a great cry and fell +down in a swoon, nor came to himself for a long time, whilst +the folk deemed that a ravishment from the Merciful One had +taken him and that he was absorbed in contemplation of the +splendour of the majesty of the Requiter of good and evil. +Then, despairing of finding Uns el Wujoud and seeing that +Ibrahim was distracted for the loss of his daughter, King +Dirbas's Vizier addressed himself to return to his own country, +for all he had not attained the object of his journey, and said +to Ibrahim? 'I have a mind to take yonder fakir with me; it may +be God, for his sake, will incline the King's heart to me, for +that he is a holy man; and after, I will send him to Ispahan, +which is near our country.' 'Do &as thou wilt,' answered +Ibrahim. + +So they took leave of one another and departed, each for his +own country, King Dirbas's Vizier carrying with him Uns el +Wujoud, who was still insensible. They bore him with them on +muleback, unknowing if he were carried or not, for three days, +at the end of which time he came to himself and said, 'Where am +I?' 'Thou art in company with King Dirbas's Vizier,' answered +they and went and told the latter, who sent him rose-water and +sherbet of sugar, of which they gave him to drink and restored +him. Then they fared on till they drew near King Dirbas's +capital and the King, being advised of his Vizier's coming, +wrote to him, saying, 'An Uns el Wujoud be not with thee, come +not to me ever.' + +When the Vizier read the royal mandate, it was grievous to him, +for he knew not that Rose-in-bud was with the King nor why he +had sent him in quest of Uns el Wujoud, neither knew he that +the fakir he had with him was Uns el Wujoud himself; and the +latter in like manner knew not whither they were bound nor that +the Vizier had been despatched in quest of himself. So, when he +saw him thus chagrined, he said to him, 'What ails thee?' And +he answered, 'I was sent by the King on an errand, which I +have not been able to accomplish. So, when he heard of my +return, he wrote to me? saying, "Enter not my city, except thou +have fulfilled my need."' 'And what is the King's need?' asked +Uns el Wujoud. So the Vizier told him the case, and he said, +'Fear nothing, but go boldly to the King and take me with thee; +and I will be surety to thee for the coming of Uns el Wujoud.' +At this the Vizier rejoiced and said, 'Is this true that thou +sayest?' 'Yes,' answered he; whereupon the Vizier mounted and +carried him to King Dirbas, who said to him, 'Where is Uns el +Wujoud?' 'O King,' answered the young man, 'I know where he +is.' So the King called him to him and said, 'Where?' 'Near at +hand, replied Uns d Wujoud. 'Tell me what thou wouldst with +him, and I will fetch him to thee.' 'With all my heart,' +answered the King; 'but the case calls for privacy.' + +So he bade the folk withdraw and, carrying Uns el Wujoud into +his closet, told him the whole story; whereupon quoth the +youth, 'Clothe me in rice apparel, and I will eftsoons bring +Uns el Wujoud to thee.' So they brought him a sumptuous dress, +and he donned it and said, 'I am the Delight of the World[FN#84] +and the Mortification of the Envious.' So saying, he transfixed +ail hearts with his glances and recited the following verses: + +My loved one's memory cheers me still in this my solitude And + doth wanhope from me away, as I in absence brood. +I have no helper but my tears; yet, when from out mine eyes + They flow, they lighten my despair and ease my drearihood. +Sore is my longing; yea, it hath no like and my affair In love + and passion's marvellous, beyond all likelihood. +I lie the night long, wakeiul-eyed,--no sleep is there for + me,--And pass, for love, from heaven to hell, according to + my mood. +Yea, patience fair some time I had, but have it now no more; + And longing and chagrin increase upon me, like a flood. +Indeed, my body's worn to nought, for severance from her; + Yearnings my aspect and my form to change have all + subdued. +Mine eyelids ulcerated are with weeping, nor can I Avail to + stay the constant tears, wherewith they're still bedewed. +Indeed, I can no more; my strength, my very vitals fail. How + many sorrows have I borne, on sorrows still renewed! +My heart and head are grizzled grown, for loss of a princess In + beauty, sure, the fairest maid that ever lover wooed. +In her despite, our parting was, for no desire hath she Save to + be joined with me and feed once more on lovers' food. +I wonder, will my fate to me union vouchsafe with her I + cherish, after absence long and stress of lonelihood, +And shut the book of severance up, that now is open wide, And + blot out troubles from my thought with love's supremest + good? +Shall my beloved, in my land, my cup-companion be And sorrow + and affliction be by pure delight ensued? + +'By Allah,' exclaimed the King, 'ye are, indeed, a pair of true +lovers and in the heaven of beauty two shining stars! Your +story is marvellous and your case extraordinary.' Then he told +him all that had befallen Rose-in-bud; and Uns el Wujoud said, +'Where is she, O King of the age?' 'She is with me now,' +answered Dirbas and sending for the Cadi and the witnesses, +drew up the contract of marriage between her and him. Then he +loaded Uns el Wujoud with favours and bounties and sent to King +Shamikh, advising him of what had befallen, whereat the latter +rejoiced with an exceeding joy and wrote back to him, saying, +'Since the marriage contract hath been drawn up at thy court! it +behoves that the wedding and consummation be at mine.' And he +made ready camels and horses and men and sent them in quest of +the lovers. + +When the embassy reached King Dirbas, he gave the pair great +store of treasure and despatched them to King Shamikh's court +with an escort of his own troops. The day of their arrival was +a notable day, never was seen a greater; for the King assembled +all the singers and players on instruments of music and made +banquets and held high festival seven days; and on each day he +gave largesse to the folk and bestowed on them sumptuous +dresses of honour. Then Uns el Wujoud went in to Rose-in-bud, +and they embraced and sat weeping for excess of joy and +gladness, whilst she recited the following verses: + +Gladness is come, dispelling grief and putting care aside; We + are united now and have our enviers mortified. +The fragrant breeze of union blows fresh and sweet for us, + Whereby our bodies, vitals, hearts are all revivified. +The splendour of fulfilled delight in all its glory shines, And + for glad tidings beat the drums about us far and wide. +Think not we weep for stress Of grief or for affliction; nay, + It is for joy our tears flow down and will not be denied. +How many terrors have we seen, that now are past away! Yet we + each agonizing strait did patiently abide. +In one hour of delight have we forgotten all the woes, Whose + stresses made us twain, whilom, grey-haired and + hollow-eyed. + +Then they clipped each other and ceased not from their embrace, +till they fell down in a swoon, for the ecstasy of reunion; and +when they came to themselves, Uns d Wujoud recited these +verses: + +Ah, how peerlessly sweet are the nights of delight, When the + loved one to me keeps the troth she did plight, +When enjoyment enjoyment ensues and the bonds Of estrangement + between us are sundered outright, +And fortune is come to us, favouring and fair, After turning + away with aversion and spite! +Fair fortune hath set up her standards for us And we drink from + her hand a cup pure of affright. +United, our woes each to each we recount And the nights when in + torments we watched for the light. +But now, O my lady, forgotten have we Our griefs, and God + pardon the past its upright! +How pleasant, how lovesome, how joyous is life! Enjoyment my + passion doth only excite. + +Then they gave themselves up anew to the pleasures of the +nuptial bed and passed seven whole days thus, carousing and +conversing and reciting verses and telling pleasant tales and +anecdotes, in the intervals of amorous dalliance; for so +drowned were they in the sea of passion, that they knew not +night from day and it was to them, for very stress of joy and +gladness and pleasure and delight, as if the seven days were +but one day, and that without a morrow. Nor did they know the +seventh day, but by the coming of the singers and players on +instruments of music;[FN#85] whereat Rose-in-bud was beyond +measure wondered and improvised the following verses: + +Despite the enviers' rage and malice of the spy, I've won of + him I love my wish to satisfy; +Yea, we have crowned our loves with many a close embrace, On + cushions of brocade and silken stuffs piled high +Upon a couch full soft, of perfumed leather made And stuffed + with down of birds of rarest kind that fly. +Thanks to the honeyed dews of my beloved's lips, Illustrious + past compare, no need of wine have I. +Yea, for the sweet excess of our fulfilled delight, The present + from the past we know, nor far from nigh. +A miracle indeed! Seven nights o'er us have passed, Without our + taking note of how they flitted by; +Till, on the seventh day, they wished us joy and said, "Your + union God prolong to all eternity!" + +When she had finished, Uns el Wujoud kissed her, more than a +hundred times, and recited the following verses: + +O day of pure delight and mutual happiness! The loved one came + and set me free from loneliness. +She blest me with the sweets of all her glorious charms, What + while her converse filled my spirit with liesse. +She plied me with the wine of amorous delight, Till all my + senses failed, for very drunkenness. +Yea, merry each with each we made, together lay, Then fell to + wine and did, in song, our cheer express; +Nor knew we, of the days that fleeted over us, The present from + the past, for very joy's excess. +Fair fall all those that love of ease and twinned delight, And + joy to them fulfil its promise none the less! +Ne'er may they know the taste of parting's bitter cup! God + succour them as me He succoured in my stress! + +Then they went forth and distributed to the folk alms and +largesse of money and raiment and so forth; after which +Rose-in-bud bade empty the bath for her and turning to Uns el +Wujoud, said to him' 'O solace of my eyes, I have a mind to see +thee in the bath; and we will be alone together therein.' He +gladly consented to this, and she bade perfume the bath for +them with all manner of scented woods and essences and light +the candles. Then, of the excess of her contentment, she +recited the following Verses: + +O thou aforetime of my heart that mad'st prize (And the present + for us on the past still relies), +Thou, the only companion I crave, for to me None other the want + of thy presence supplies, +To the bath,--that in midst of hell-fire we may see Even + Paradise shining,--come, light of mine eyes! +We will scent it with ambergris, aloes and musk, Till the + fragrance in clouds from all quarters arise. +Yea, Fortune we'll pardon her sins and give thanks, For His + grace, to the Merciful One, the All-Wise; +And I'll say, when I see thee therein, "O my love, All delights + be thy lot in the earth and the skies!" + +So they went to the bath and took their pleasure there in; +after which they returned to their palace and there abode in +the fulness of delight, till there came to them the Destroyer +of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and glory be to Him +who changeth not neither ceaseth and in whom all things have +their term! + + + + + + ABOU NUWAS WITH THE THREE BOYS AND THE + KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID. + + + +Abou Nuwas one day shut himself up and making ready a richly- +furnished saloon, set out therein a banquet of meats of all +kinds and colours that lips and tongue can desire. Then he went +forth, to seek a minion who should befit the entertainment, +saying, 'O my God and my Master and my Lord, I beseech Thee to +send me one worthy of this banquet and apt to carouse with me +this day!' Hardly had he made an end of speaking, when he +espied three handsome beardless youths, as they were of the +children of Paradise, differing in complexion but equal in +perfection of beauty; and all hearts yearned with desire to the +graceful bending of their shapes, even to what saith the poet: + +Two beardless youths I happened on one day And said "I love + you." "Hast thou pelf?" asked they. +"Yes," answered I, "and liberality." "Then is the matter easy," + did they say. + +Now Abou Nuwas was on this wise given and loved to sport and +make merry with the fair and cull the rose from every fresh- +flowered cheek, even as saith the poet: + +Full many a graybeard is amorous and loves Fair faces and music + and dalliance and glee: +From Mosul, the country of pureness,[FN#86] he comes, Yet + nought but Aleppo[FN#87] remembereth he. + +So he accosted them with the salutation, and they returned his +greeting with all honour and civility and would have gone their +way; but he stayed them, repeating these verses: + +To none but me your footsteps steer; For I have store of all + good cheer; +Wine that the heart of convent monk Would glad, so bright it is + and clear; +And flesh of sheep, to boot, have I And birds of land and sea + and mere. +Eat ye of these and drink old wine, That doth away chagrin and + fear. + +The boys were beguiled by his verses and consented to his +wishes, saying, 'We hear and obey.' So he carried them to his +lodging, where they found all ready that he had set forth in +his verses. They sat down and ate and drank and made merry +awhile, after which they appealed to Abou Nuwas to decide which +was the handsomest and most shapely of them. So he pointed to +one of them, after having kissed him twice, and recited the +following verses: + +With my life I will ransom the mole, on the cheek of the + loveling that is; For how should I ransom it else with + treasure or aught but my soul? +And blessed for ever be He who fashioned his cheek without hair + And made, of His power and His might, all beauty to dwell + in yon mole! + +Then he pointed to another and kissing his lips, repeated these +verses: + +There's a loveling hath a mole upon his cheek, As 'twere musk + on virgin camphor, so to speak. +My eyes marvel when they see it. Quoth the mole, "Heaven's + blessing on the Prophet look ye seek!"[FN#88] + +Then he pointed to the third and repeated the following verses, +after kissing him half a score times: + +All in a silver cup he melted gold full fine, A youth whose + hands were dyed in ruby-coloured wine, +And with the skinkers went and handed round one cup Of wine, + whilst other two were proffered by his eyne. +Fairer than all the Turks, an antelope, whose waist Together + would attract the mountains of Hunain.[FN#89] +An if I were content with crooked[FN#90] womankind, Betwixt + attractions twain would be this heart of mine. +One love towards Diyarbeker[FN#91] drawing it, and one That + draws it, otherguise, to the land of Jamiain.[FN#92] + +Now each of the youths had drunk two cups, and when it came to +Abou Nuwas's turn, he took the goblet and repeated these +verses: + +Drink not of wine except it be at the hands of a loveling slim, + Who in brightness of soul resembles it and it resembles + him. +The drinker of wine, in very truth, hath no delight thereof, + Except the cheek of the fair be pure, who doth the goblet + brim. + +Then he drank off his cup, and when it came round to Him again, +joyance got the mastery of him and he repeated The following +verses: + +Make thou thy boon-fellow of cups, brimmed up as full as this, + And eke to follow cup with cup, I rede thee, do not miss, +Poured by a damask-lipped one's hand, a wonder-lovely fair, + Whose mouth's sweet water, after sleep, as musk on apple + is. +Drink not of wine, except it be from the hand of a gazelle, + Whose cheek is goodlier than itself and sweeter still his + kiss. + +Presently, the wine crept to his head, drunkenness mastered him +and he knew not hand from head, so that he swayed about for +mirth, inclining anon to this one, to kiss him, and anon to +another. Then he fell to glorying in himself and his case and +the goodliness of his entertainment and his companions, and +recited these verses: + +None knoweth perfection of pleasure but he Who drinketh, with + fair ones to hearten him still. +This sings to him, t'other, when cheer him would be, Revives + him forthright with the cups he doth fill; +And whenever from one he hath need of a kiss, Long draughts + from his lips, at his case, he doth swill. +God bless them! Right sweet has my day with them been, And + wonder delightsome and void of all ill! +We drank of the wine cup, both mingled and pure, And agreed + whoso slept, we should touzle at will. + +At this moment, there came a knocking at the door; so they bade +him who knocked enter, and behold, it was the Khalif Haroun er +Reshid. When they saw him, they all rose to him and kissed the +ground before him; and the fumes of the wine forsook Abou +Nuwas's head for awe of the Khalif, who said to him, 'Hallo, +Abou Nuwas!' 'At thy service, O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered he, 'may God preserve thee!' 'What state is this I +find thee in?' asked the Khalif; and the poet replied, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, methinks my state dispenses with +question.' Quoth the Khalif, 'O Abou Nuwas, I have sought +direction of God the Most High and appoint thee Cadi of +whoremasters.' 'Dost thou indeed invest me with that office, O +Commander of the Faithful?' asked Abou Nuwas. 'I do,' replied +the Khalif. 'Then, O Commander of the Faithful,' rejoined Abou +Nuwas, 'hast thou any suit to prefer to me?' At this the Khalif +was wroth and turned away and left them, full of rage, and +passed the night, sore angered against Abou Nuwas, whilst the +latter spent the merriest and most easeful of nights, till the +day dawned and the morning-star appeared and shone, when he +broke up the sitting and dismissing the boys, donned his court- +dress and set out for the Khalif's palace. + +Now it was the latter's custom, when the Divan broke up, to +withdraw to his sitting-chamber and summon thither his poets +and minions and musicians, each having his own place, which he +might not overpass. So, that day, he retired to his saloon, and +the minions came and seated themselves, each in his place. +Presently, in came Abou Nuwas and was about to take his usual +seat, when the Khalif cried out to Mesrour the headsman and +bade him strip the poet of his clothes and clap an ass's pannel +on his back. Moreover, he charged him bind a halter about his +head and a crupper under his rear and carry him round to all +the lodgings of the slave-girls and the chambers of the harem, +that the women might make mock of him; then cut off his head +and bring it to him. 'I hear and obey,' replied Mesrour and +accoutring Abou Nuwas, as the Khalif had bidden him, carried +him round to all the lodgings of the harem, in number as the +days of the year; but he made all the girls laugh with his +buffooneries and each gave him something, so that he returned +with a pocketful of money. + +Just then, Jaafer the Barmecide, who had been absent on an +important business for the Khalif, entered and seeing the poet +in this plight, said to him, 'Hallo, Abou Nuwas!' 'At thy +service, O our lord,' answered he. 'What offence hast thou +committed,' asked Jaafer, 'to bring this punishment on thee?' +'None whatever,' answered the other, 'except that I made our +lord the Khalif a present of the best of my verses, and he +presented me, in return, with the best of his clothes.' When +the Khalif heard this, he laughed, from a heart full of wrath, +and [not only] pardoned Abou Nuwas, but gave him a myriad of +money. + + + + + + ABDALLAH BEN MAAMER WITH THE MAN OF + BASSORA AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL. + + + +A certain man of Bassora once bought a slave-girl and reared +and educated her excellent well. Moreover, he loved her very +dearly and spent all his substance in pleasuring and making +merry with her, till he had nothing left and want was very sore +upon him. So she said to him, 'O my master, sell me; for thou +needest my price and it makes my heart ache to see the sorry +plight to which want hath brought thee. It thou sell me and +make use of my price, it will be better for thee than keeping +me, and haply God the Most High will prosper thee and mend thy +fortune.' He agreed to this, of the straitness of his case, and +carried her to the bazaar, where the broker offered her for +sale to the Governor of Bassora, by name Abballah ben Maamer et +Teimi, and she pleased him. So he bought her, for five hundred +dinars, of her master, who took the money and was about to go +away, when the girl burst into tears and repeated the following +verses: + +May Allah prosper unto thee the money thou hast got! For me, + nought's left me but lament and memory and woe. +I say to my afflicted soul, "Mourn little or mourn much; It + skills not, for the loved one's gone and will return no + mo." + +When he heard this, he sighed heavily and replied thus: + +Though there be no recourse for thee in this thy case and thou + Find nought but death to solace thee, excuse me yet and + know, +Evening and morn the thought of thee will company with me, + Wherewith a heart I will console, that's all fulfilled of + woe. +Peace be on thee! Henceforth for us no meeting shall there be + Nor any union more, except Ben Maamer will it so. + +When Abdallah heard these verses and saw their affliction, he +exclaimed, 'By Allah, I will have no hand in separating you; +for it is manifest to me that ye indeed love one another. So +take the money and the damsel, O man, and may God bless thee in +them! For parting is grievous to true lovers.' So they kissed +his hand and going away, ceased not to dwell together, till +death parted them; and glory be to Him whom death overtaketh +not! + + + + + + THE LOVERS OF THE BENOU UDHREH. + + + +There was once, among the Benou Udhreh, a handsome and +accomplished man, who was never a day out of love, and it +chanced that he became enamoured of a beautiful woman of his +own tribe and sent her many messages; but she ceased not to use +him with cruelty and disdain, till, for stress of passion and +longing and distraction, he fell exceeding sick and took to his +bed and forswore sleep. His sickness grew on him and his +anguish redoubled upon him, till he was all but dead; and his +case became known and his passion noised abroad among the folk. +His family and hers were instant with her to visit him, but she +refused, till he was at the point of death, when, being told of +this, she relented towards him and vouchsafed him a visit. When +he saw her, his eyes ran over with tears and he repeated the +following verses, from a broken heart: + +If, by thy life, there pass thee by my funeral train, to wit, A + bier borne on the necks of four, wilt grudge to follow it? +Wilt thou not follow in its track, that so thou mayst salute + The sepulchre of one who's dead, committed to the pit? + +When she heard this, she wept sore and said to him, 'By Allah, +I thought not that passion had come to such a pass with thee, +as to cast thee into the arms of death! Had I known this, I had +been favourable to thee, and thou shouldst have enjoyed thy +desire.' At this, his tears streamed down, like the cloud- +showers, and he repeated the following verse: + +She draweth near to me, when death hath come betwixt us two And + proffereth union, when it no profit can me do. + +Then he gave one sigh and died, and she fell on him, kissing +him and weeping, till she swooned away. When she came to +herself she charged her people bury her in his grave and +recited the following verses, with streaming eyes: + +We lived upon the earth a life of comfort and delight: Country + and tribe and dwelling-place alike of us were proud; +But Fortune and the shifts of time did rend our loves apart, + And now the grave uniteth us within a single shroud. + +Then she fell again to weeping and ceased not from tears and +lament, till she swooned away. She lay three days, senseless; +then died and was buried in his grave. This is one of the +strange chances of love. + + + + + + THE VIZIER OF YEMEN AND HIS YOUNG + BROTHER + + + +Bedreddin, Vizier of Yemen, had a young brother of singular +beauty and kept strait watch over him. So he applied himself to +seek a governor for him and coming upon an elder of dignified +and reverend aspect, chaste and pious, lodged him in a house +next his own, whence he used to come daily to the Vizier's +dwelling, to teach the latter's brother. After awhile, the old +man's heart was taken with love for his pupil and longing grew +upon him and his entrails were troubled, till, one day, he made +moan of his case to the boy, who said, 'What can I do, seeing +that I may not leave my brother day or night? Thou seest how +careful he is over me.' Quoth the governor, 'My lodging adjoins +thine; so, when thy brother sleeps, do thou rise and entering +the wardrobe, feign thyself asleep. Then come to the parapet of +the roof and I will receive thee on the other side of the wall; +so shalt thou sit with me awhile and return without thy +brother's knowledge.' 'I hear and obey,' answered the boy. So, +when awhile of the night was past, he entered the closet and +waited till his brother lay down on his bed and was drowned in +sleep, when he rose and going to the parapet of the roof, found +the governor awaiting him, who gave him his hand and carried +him to the sitting-chamber, where he had made ready various +dainties for his entertainment, and they sat down to carouse. + +Now it was the night of the full moon, and as they sat, passing +the wine-cup to one another, her rays shone upon them, and the +governor fell to singing. But, whilst they were thus in mirth +and joyance and good cheer, such as confounds the wit and the +sight and defies description, the Vizier awoke and missing his +brother, arose in affright and found the door open. So he went +up to the roof and hearing a noise of talk, peeped over the +parapet and saw a light shining in the governor's lodging. He +looked in and espied his brother and his governor sitting +carousing: but the latter became aware of him and sang the +following verses, cup in hand, to a lively measure: + +He gave me wine to drink, of his mouth's nectar rare, Toasting + with down of cheeks and what adjoineth there; +Then passed with me the night, embracing, cheek to cheek, A + loveling midst mankind unpeered and past compare. +The full moon gazed on us all night; pray then to her, So to + his brother she to tell of us forbear. + +Now the Vizier was a merry man; so, when he heard this, he +said, 'By Allah, I will not betray you!' And he went away and +left them to their diversion. + + + + + + THE LOVES OF THE BOY AND GIRL AT SCHOOL. + + + +A boy and a girl once learnt together in a school, and the boy +fell passionately in love with the girl. So, one day, when the +other boys were heedless, he took her tablet[FN#93] and wrote +on it the following verses: + +Tell me, what sayst thou unto him, whom sickness for thy love + Hath worn and wasted, till he's grown distraught and + stupefied? +Him who of passion maketh moan; for love and longing pain, That + which is in his heart, indeed, no longer can he hide. + +When the girl took her tablet, she read the verses and wept for +pity of him; then wrote thereunder these others: + +An if we see one languishing for very love of us, Our favours, + surely, unto him shall nowise be denied. +Yea, and of us he shall obtain that which he doth desire Of + love-delight, whate'er to us in consequence betide. + +Now it chanced that the teacher came in on them And taking the +tablet, unnoticed, read what was written thereon. So he was +moved to pity of their case and wrote on the tablet the +following verses, in reply to those of the girl: + +Favour thy lover, for he's grown distracted for desire, And + reck thou not of punishment nor fear lest any chide. +As for the master, have no dread of his authority, For he with + passion an its pains aforetime hath been tried. + +Presently, the girl's master entered the school and finding the +tablet, read the above verses and wrote under them the following: + +May Allah never separate your loves, whilst time abide, And may + your slanderer be put to shame and mortified! +But, for the master of the school, by Allah, all my life, A + busier go-between than he I never yet espied. + +Then he sent for the Cadi and the witnesses and married them on +the spot. Moreover, he made them a marriage-feast and entreated +them with exceeding munificence; and they abode together in joy +and contentment, till there came to them the Destroyer of +Delights and the Sunderer of Companies. + + + + + + EL MUTELEMMIS AND HIS WIFE UMEIMEH. + + + +It is related that El Mutelemmis[FN#94] once fled from En Numan +ben Mundhir[FN#95] and was absent so long that the folk deemed +him dead. Now he had a handsome wife, Umeimeh by name, and her +family pressed her to marry again; but she refused, for that +she loved her husband El Mutelemmis very dearly. However, they +were instant with her, because of the multitude of her suitors, +and importuned her till she at last reluctantly consented and +they married her to a man of her own tribe. + +On the night of the wedding, El Mutelemmis came back and +hearing in the camp a noise of pipes and tabrets and seeing +signs of festival, asked some of the children what was toward, +to which they replied, 'They have married Umeimeh, widow of El +Mutelemmis, to such an one, and he goes in to her this night.' +When he heard this, he made shift to enter the house with the +women and saw there the bride seated on her throne. By and by, +the bridegroom came up to her, whereupon she sighed heavily and +weeping, recited the following verses: + +Ah would, (but many are the shifts of good and evil fate), I + knew in what far land thou art, O Mutelemmis mine! + +Now El Mutelemmis was a renowned poet: so he answered her with +the following verse: + +Right near at hand, Umeimeh! Know, whene'er the caravan Halted, + I never ceased for thee with longing heart to pine. + +When the bridegroom heard this, he guessed how the case stood +and went forth from among them in haste, repeating the following +verse: + +I was in luck, but now I'm fall'n into the contrary. A + hospitable house and room your reknit loves enshrine! + +So El Mutelemmis took his wife again and abode with her in all +delight and solace of life, till death parted them. And glory +be to Him at whose command the earth and the heavens shall +arise! + + + + + + THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE + PRINCESS ZUBEIDEH IN THE BATH. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid loved the Princess Zubeideh with an +exceeding love and laid out for her a pleasaunce, in which he +made a great pool and led thither water from all sides. +Moreover, he set thereabout a screen of trees, which so grew +and interlaced over the pool, that one could go in and wash, +without being seen of any, for the thickness of the leafage. It +chanced, one day, that Zubeideh entered the garden and coming +to the basin, gazed upon its goodliness, and the limpidity of +the water and the interlacing of the trees over it pleased her. +Now it was a day of exceeding heat; so she put off her clothes +and entering the pool, which was not deep enough to cover her, +fell to pouring the water over herself from an ewer of silver. + + +The Khalif heard she was in the pool; so he left his palace and +came down to spy upon her, through the screen of the leaves. He +stood behind the trees and saw her naked, with all her secret +charms displayed. Presently, she became aware of him and +turning, saw him behind the trees and was ashamed that he +should see her naked. So she laid her hands on her kaze, but it +escaped from between them, by reason of its much greatness and +plumpness; and the Khalif turned and went away, wondering and +reciting the following verse: + +I looked on her whom I adore And longing rose in me full sore. + +But he knew not what to say next; so he sent for Abou Nuwas and +bade him make a piece of verse commencing with the above line. 'I +hear and obey,' replied the poet and in a twinkling extemporized +the following lines: + +I looked on her whom I adore, And longing rose in me full sore +For a gazelle that ravished me, By double lote-trees shaded + o'er. +The water on her dainty part With silver ewer did she pour +And would have hidden it, seeing me, But all too small her + hands therefor. +Would I were on it, wel-a-way, An hour or liefer two or more! + +The Khalif smiled and made him a handsome present, and he went +away rejoicing. + + + + + + HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE THREE POETS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid was exceeding restless one night; +so he rose and walked about his palace, till he happened on a +damsel overcome with wine. Now he was greatly enamoured of this +damsel; so he toyed with her and pulled her to him, whereupon +her girdle fell down and her trousers were unloosed and he +besought her of amorous dalliance. But she said to him, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, wait till to-morrow night, for I am +unprepared for thee, knowing not of thy coming.' So he left her +and went away. + +On the morrow, he sent a page to her to announce his visit to +her apartment; but she sent back to him, saying, 'The day +obliterates the promise of the night.' So he said to his +minions, 'Make me somewhat of verse, introducing these words, +"The day obliterates the promise of the night."' 'We hear and +obey,' answered they; and Er Recashi[FN#96] came forward and +recited the following: + +By Allah, an thou feltst my longing and my pain, Repose had + turned away from thee and taken flight. +A maid hath made me love-distraught, nor visiting Nor being + visited, a sad and love-lorn wight. +She promised me her grace, then turned away and said, "The day + obliterates the promise of the night." + +Then Abou Musab came forward and recited these verses: + +When wilt thou put away this dotage from thy spright? Thy heart + is dazed and rest to thee forbidden quite. +Is't not enough for thee to have a weeping eye And vitals still + on fire for memory and despite? +For self-conceit, indeed, he laugheth, when he saith, "The day + obliterates the promise of the night." + +Last came Abou Nuwas and recited the following: + +Love was prolonged and far was union out of sight, Nor skilled + it aught to feign aversion and despite. +One day, she came into the palace, drunk with wine, But even + her drunkenness with pudour was bedight. +Her upper garments dropped and left her shoulders bare And + loosened trousers showed the dwelling of delight; +Yea, and the breeze shook hips, full heavy, and a shape, As + 'twere a branch, whereon pomegranates twain unite. +"Give me a tryst," quoth I; and she replied, "The place Of + visiting will be to-morrow clean and right." +Next day, I came and said, "Thy promise;" but quoth she, "The + day obliterates the promise of the night." + +The Khalif bestowed a myriad each on Er Recashi and Abou Musab, +but bade strike off Abou Nuwas's head, saying, 'Thou west with +us yesternight in the palace.' 'By Allah,' answered the poet, +'I slept not but in my own house! I was directed to what I said +by thine own words as to the subject of the poem; and indeed +quoth God the Most High (and He is the truest of all speakers), +"As for poets (devils ensue them!) dost thou not see how they +run wild in each valley and say that they do not?"'[FN#97] So +the Khalif forgave him and bestowed on him two myriads of gold. + + + + + + MUSAB BEN EZ ZUBEIR AND AAISHEH + DAUGHTER OF TELHEH. + + + +It is told of Musab ben ez Zubeir[FN#98] that he met Izzeh, who +was one of the shrewdest of women, in Medina and said to her, +'I have a mind to marry Aaisheh,[FN#99] daughter of Telheh, and +I would have thee go to her and spy out for me how she is +made.' So she went and returning to Musab, said, 'I have seen +her, and her face is more beautiful than health; she hath large +and well-opened eyes, an aquiline nose and smooth, oval cheeks +and a mouth like a cleft pomegranate, a neck like an ewer of +silver and a bosom with two breasts like twin pomegranates, a +slim waist and a slender belly, with a navel therein as it were +a casket of ivory, and backside like a hummock of sand. +Moreover, she hath plump thighs and legs like columns of +alabaster; but I saw her feet to be large, and thou wilt fall +short with her in time of amorous dalliance.' Upon this report, +he married her and Izzeh invited Aaisheh and the women of the +tribe of Kureish to her house, when Aaisheh sang the following, +with Musab standing by: + +The mouths of girls, with their odoriferous, Sweet breath and + their witching smiles, are sweet to buss; +Yet ne'er have I tasted them, but in thought of him; And by + thought, indeed, the Ruler rules over us. + +The night of his going in to her, he departed not from her, +till after seven courses; and on the morrow, a freed-woman of +his met him and said to him, 'May I be thy ransom! Thou art +perfect, even in this.' + +Quoth a certain woman, 'I was with Aaisheh, when her husband +came in to her, and she lusted to him; so he fell upon her and +she puffed and snorted and made use of all manner of rare +motions and strange inventions, and I the while within hearing. +So when he came out from her, I said to her, "How canst thou, +with thy rank and nobility and condition, do thus, and I in thy +house?" Quoth she, "A woman should bring her husband all of +which she is mistress, by way of excitations and rare motions. +What mislikest thou of this?" And I answered, "I would have +this anights." "Thus is it by day," rejoined she, "and by night +I do more than this; for, when he sees me, desire stirs in him +and he falls on heat; so he puts out his hand to me and I obey +him, and it is as thou seest."' + + + + + + ABOUL ASWED AND HIS SQUINTING SLAVE-GIRL. + + + +Aboul Aswed bought a native-born slave-girl, who was squint- +eyed, and she pleased him; but his people decried her to him; +whereat he wondered and spreading out his hands, recited the +following verses: + +They run her down to me, and yet no fault in her find I, Except + perhaps it be a speck she hath in either eye. +To compensate this fault, if fault it be, o' the upper parts + She's slim and heavy of the parts beneath the waist that + lie. + + + + + + + HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE TWO SLAVE-GIRLS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid lay one night between two slave-girls, +one from Medina and the other from Cufa, and the latter rubbed his +hands, whilst the former rubbed his feet and made his yard to +stand up. Quoth the Cufan girl, 'I see thou wouldst keep the whole +of the stock-in-trade to thyself; give me my share of it.' And the +other answered, 'I have been told by Malik, on the authority of +Hisham ibn Orweh,[FN#100] who had it of his [grand]father,[FN#101] +that the Prophet said, "Whoso bringeth the dead to life, it is +his."' But the Cufan took her unawares and pushing her away, took +it all in her own hand and said, 'El Aamesh[FN#102] tells us, on +the authority of Kheithemeh,[FN#103] who had it of Abdallah ben +Mesoud,[FN#104] that the Prophet said, "Game belongeth to him who +taketh it, not to him who raiseth it."' + + + + + + THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE THREE + SLAVE-GIRLS. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid lay once with three slave-girls, a +Meccan, a Medinan and an Irakite. The Medina girl put her hand +to his yard and handled it, whereupon it rose and the Meccan +sprang up and drew it to herself. Quoth the other, 'What is +this unjust aggression? I have heard of Malik,[FN#105] on the +authority of Ez Zuhri,[FN#106] who had it of Abdallah ibn +Salim,[FN#107] on the report of Said ben Zeid,[FN#108] that the +Apostle (whom God bless and preserve) said, "Whoso revivifies a +dead land, it is his."' And the Meccan answered, 'Sufyan[FN#109] +tells us, on the authority of Abou Zenad,[FN#110] who had it of +El Aarej,[FN#111] on the report of Abou Hureireh,[FN#112] that +the Apostle of God said, "The game is his who catches it, not +his who starts it."' But the Irak girl pushed them both away and +taking it to herself, said, 'This is mine, till your contention +be decided.' + + + + + + THE MILLER AND HIS WIFE. + + + + +There was a miller, who had an ass to turn his mill; and he was +married to a wicked wife, whom he loved; but she hated him and +loved a neighbour of hers, who liked her not and held aloof +from her. One night, the miller saw, in his sleep, one who said +to him, 'Dig in such a spot of the ass's circuit in the mill, +and thou shalt find a treasure.' When he awoke, he told his +wife the dream and charged her keep it secret; but she told her +neighbour, thinking to win his favour, and he appointed with +her to come to her by night. So he came and they dug in the +mill and found the treasure and took it forth. Then said he to +her, 'How shall we do with this?' 'We will share it equally +between us,' answered she; 'and do thou leave thy wife and I +will cast about to rid me of my husband. Then shalt thou marry +me, and when we are united, we will add the two halves of the +treasure, one to the other, and it will be [all] in our hands.' +Quoth he, 'I fear lest Satan seduce thee and thou take some man +other than myself; for gold in the house is like the sun in the +world. Meseems, therefore, it were better that the money be all +in my hands, so thou mayst study to win free of thy husband and +come to me.' 'I fear the like of thee,' rejoined she, 'and I +will not yield up my part to thee; for it was I directed thee +to it.' When he heard this, covetise prompted him to kill her; +so he killed her and threw her body into the empty hole; but +the day overtook him and hindered him from covering it up; so +he took the treasure and went away. + +Presently, the miller awoke and missing his wife, went into the +mill, where he fastened the ass to the beam and shouted to it. +It went on a little, then stopped; whereupon he beat it +grievously; but the more he beat it, the more it drew back; for +it was affrighted at the dead woman and could not go on. So he +took out a knife and goaded it again and again, but still it +would not budge. Then he was wroth with it, knowing not the +cause of its obstinacy, and drove the knife into its flanks, +and it fell down dead. When the sun rose, he saw his wife lying +dead, in the place of the treasure, and great was his rage and +sore his chagrin for the loss of the treasure and the death of +his wife and his ass. All this came of his letting his wife +into his secret and not keeping it to himself. + + + + + + THE SIMPLETON AND THE SHARPER. + + + +A certain simple fellow was once going along, haling his ass +after him by the halter, when a couple of sharpers saw him and +one said to his fellow, 'I will take that ass from yonder man.' +'How wilt thou do that?' asked the other. 'Follow me and I will +show thee,' replied the first. So he went up to the ass and +loosing it from the halter, gave the beast to his fellow; then +clapped the halter on his own head and followed the simpleton, +till he knew that the other had got clean off with the ass, +when he stood still. The man pulled at the halter, but the +thief stirred not; so he turned and seeing the halter on a +man's neck, said to him, 'Who art thou?' Quoth the sharper, 'I +am thine ass and my story is a strange one. Know that I have a +pious old mother and came in to her one day, drunk; and she +said to me, "O my son, repent to God the Most High of these thy +transgressions." But I took the cudgel and beat her, whereupon +she cursed me and God the Most High changed me into an ass and +caused me fall into thy hands, where I have remained till now. +However, to-day, my mother called me to mind and her heart +relented towards me; so she prayed for me, and God restored me +to my former shape of a man.' 'There is no power and no virtue +but in God the Most High, the Supreme!' cried the simpleton. 'O +my brother, I conjure thee by Allah, acquit me of what I have +done with thee, in the way of riding and so forth.' + +Then he let the sharper go and returned home, drunken with +chagrin and concern. His wife asked him, 'What ails thee and +where is the ass?' And he answered, 'Thou knowest not what was +this ass; but I will tell thee.' So he told her the story, and +she exclaimed, 'Woe worth us for God the Most High! How could +we have used a man as a beast of burden, all this while?' And +she gave alms and asked pardon of God. Then the man abode +awhile at home, idle, till she said to him, 'How long wilt thou +sit at home, idle? Go to the market and buy us an ass and do +thy business with it.' Accordingly, he went to the market and +stopping by the ass-stand, saw his own ass for sale. So he went +up to it and clapping his mouth to its ear, said to it, 'Out on +thee, thou good-for-nought! Doubtless thou hast been getting +drunk again and beating thy mother! But, by Allah, I will never +buy thee more!' And he left it and went away. + + + + + + THE IMAM ABOU YOUSUF WITH HAROUN ER + RESHID AND ZUBEIDEH. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid went up one noon-tide to his couch, +to lie down, and mounting, found thereon fresh semen; whereat +he was startled and sore perturbed and troubled. So he called +the princess Zubeideh and said to her, 'What is that spilt on +the bed?' She looked at it and replied, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, it is semen.' 'Tell me truly what this means,' said he; +'or I will lay violent hands on thee forthright.' 'O Commander of +the Faithful,' answered she, 'indeed, I know not how it came +there and I am guiltless of that whereof thou suspectest me.' +So he sent for the Imam Abou Yousuf and told him the case. The +Imam raised his eyes to the roof and seeing a crack therein, +said to the Khalif, 'O Commander of the Faithful, the bat hath +semen like that of a man, and this is bats' semen.' Then he +called for a lance and thrust it into the crack, whereupon down +fell the bat. In this manner the Khalif's suspicions were +dispelled and Zubeideh's innocence was made manifest; whereat +she gave vent to her joy and promised Abou Yousuf a liberal +reward. + +Now there were with her magnificent fruits, out of their +season, and she knew of others in the garden; so she said to +Abou Yousuf, 'O Imam of the Faith, which wouldst thou rather of +the two kinds of fruits, those that are here or those that are +not here?' 'Our code forbids us to pronounce judgment on the +absent,' answered he. 'When they are present, we will give +judgment.' So she caused bring the two kinds of fruits before +him, and he ate of both. Quoth she, 'What is the difference +between them?' And he answered, 'As often as I think to praise +one kind, the other puts in its claim.' The Khalif laughed at +his answer and made him a present. Zubeideh also gave him what +she had promised him, and he went away, rejoicing. See, then, +the blessed qualities of this Imam and how at his hands were +made manifest the truth and the innocence of the lady Zubeideh. + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL HAKIM AND THE MERCHANT. + + + +The Khalif El Hakim bi Amrillah was riding out in state one day, +when he came to a garden, in which he saw a man, surrounded by +slaves and servants. He asked him for a draught of water, and +the man gave him to drink, saying, 'Peradventure, the Commander +of the Faithful will honour me by alighting in this my garden.' +So the Khalif dismounted and entered the garden with his suite; +whereupon the man brought out to them a hundred carpets and a +hundred leather mats and a hundred cushions and set before them +a hundred dishes of fruits, a hundred saucers of sweetmeats and +a hundred bowls full of sherbets of sugar; whereat the Khalif +marvelled and said to his host, 'O man, this thy case is a +strange one. Didst thou know of our coming and make this +preparation for us?' 'No, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered the other, 'I knew not of thy coming and am but a +merchant of the rest of thy subjects. But I have a hundred +concubines; so, when the Commander of the Faithful honoured +me by alighting with me, I sent to each of them, bidding her +send me the morning-meal here. So they sent me each of her +furniture and of the excess of her meat and drink: and every +day each sends me a dish of meat and another of marinades, also +a plate of fruits and a saucer of sweetmeats and a bowl of +sherbet. This is my every- day noon-meal, nor have I added +aught thereto for thee.' + +The Khalif prostrated himself in thanksgiving to God the Most +High and said, 'Praised be God, who hath been so bountiful to +one of our subjects, that he entertaineth the Khalif and his +suite, without making ready for them, but of the surplus of his +day's victual!' Then he sent for all the dirhems in the +treasury, that had been struck that year,--and they were in +number three thousand and seven hundred thousand;--nor did he +mount, till the money came, when he gave it to the merchant, +saying, 'Use this for the maintenance of thy state; and thy +desert is more than this.' Then he mounted and rode away. + + + + + + KING KISRA ANOUSHIRWAN AND THE VILLAGE + DAMSEL. + + + + +The just King, Kisra Anoushirwan,[FN#113] was hunting one day +and became separated from his suite, in pursuit of an antelope. +Presently, he caught sight of a hamlet, near at hand, and being +sore athirst, made for the door of a house, that stood by the +wayside, and asked for a draught of water. A damsel came out +and looked at him; then, going back into the house, pressed the +juice from a sugar-cane into a tankard and mixed it with water; +after which she strewed on the top somewhat of perfume, as it +were dust, and carried it to the King. He took it and seeing in +it what resembled dust, drank it, little by little, till he +came to the end. Then said he to her, 'O damsel, the drink is +good and sweet, but for this dust in it, that troubles it.' 'O +guest,' answered she, 'I put that in, of intent.' 'And why +didst thou thus?' asked he; and she replied, 'I saw that thou +wast exceeding thirsty and feared that thou wouldst swallow the +whole at one draught and that this would do thee a mischief; +and so hadst thou done, but for this dust that troubled the +drink.' The King wondered at her wit and good sense and said to +her, 'How many sugar-canes didst thou press for this draught?' +'One,' answered she; whereat the King marvelled and calling for +the roll of the taxes of the village, saw that its assessment +was but little and bethought him to increase it, on his return +to his palace, saying in himself, 'Why is a village so lightly +taxed, where they get this much juice out of one sugar-cane?' + +Then he left the village and pursued his chase. As he came back +at the end of the day, he passed alone by the same door and +called again for drink; whereupon the same damsel came out and +knowing him, went in to fetch him drink. It was some time +before she returned and the King wondered at this and said to +her, 'Why hast thou tarried?' Quoth she, 'Because one sugar- +cane yielded not enough for thy need. So I pressed three; but +they yielded not so much as did one aforetime.' 'What is the +cause of that?' asked the King; and she answered, 'The cause of +it is that the King's mind is changed.' Quoth he, 'How knewst +thou that?' 'We hear from the wise,' replied she, 'that, when +the King's mind is changed against a folk, their prosperity +ceaseth and their good waxeth less.' Anoushirwan laughed and +put away from his mind that which he had purposed against the +people of the village. Moreover, he took the damsel to wife +then and there, being pleased with her much wit and acuteness +and the excellence of her speech. + + + + + + THE WATER-CARRIER AND THE GOLDSMITH'S + WIFE. + + + +There was once, in the city of Bokhara, a water-carrier, who +used to carry water to the house of a goldsmith and had done +thus thirty years. Now the goldsmith had a wife of exceeding +beauty and elegance and withal renowned for modesty, chastity +and piety. One day, the water-carrier came, as of wont, and +poured the water into the cisterns. Now the woman was standing +in the midst of the court; so he went up to her and taking her +hand, stroked it and pressed it, then went away and left her. +When her husband came home from the bazaar, she said to him, 'I +would have thee tell me what thou hast done in the bazaar, +today, to anger God the Most High.' Quoth he, 'I have done +nothing.' 'Nay,' rejoined she, 'but, by Allah, thou hast indeed +done something to anger God; and except thou tell me the truth, +I will not abide in thy house, and thou shalt not see me, nor +will I see thee.' 'I will tell thee the truth,' answered he. +'As I was sitting in my shop this day, a woman came up to me +and bade me make her a bracelet. Then she went away and I +wrought her a bracelet of gold and laid it aside. Presently, +she returned and I brought her out the bracelet. She put out +her hand and I clasped the bracelet on her wrist; and I +wondered at the whiteness of her hand and the beauty of her +wrist and recalled what the poet says: + +Bracelets, upon her wrists, of glittering virgin gold She hath, + like fire ablaze on running water cold. +It is as if the wrists and bracelets thereabout Were water girt + with fire, right wondrous to behold. + +So I took her hand and pressed it and squeezed it.' 'God is +Most Great!' exclaimed the woman. 'Why didst thou this ill +thing? Know that the water-carrier, who has come to our house +these thirty years, nor sawst thou ever any treason in him, +took my hand to day and pressed and squeezed it.' Quoth her +husband, 'O woman, let us crave pardon of God! Verily, I repent +of what I did, and do thou ask forgiveness of God for me.' 'God +pardon me and thee,' said she, 'and vouchsafe to make good the +issue of our affair!' + +Next day, the water-carrier came in to the jeweller's wife and +throwing himself at her feet, grovelled in the dust and +besought pardon of her, saying, 'O my lady, acquit me of that +which Satan deluded me to do; for it was he that seduced me and +led me astray.' 'Go thy ways,' answered she; 'the fault was not +in thee, but in my husband, for that he did what he did in his +shop, and God hath retaliated upon him in this world.' And it +is related that the goldsmith, when his wife told him how the +water-carrier had used her, said, 'Tit for tat! If I had done +more, the water-carrier had done more.' And this became a +current byword among the folk. + +So it behoveth a wife to be both outward and inward with her +husband, contenting herself with little from him, if he cannot +give her much, and taking pattern by Aaisheh[FN#114] the +Truthful and Fatimeh[FN#115] the Clean Maid, (may God the Most +High accept of them), that she may be of the company of the +righteous.[FN#116] + + + + + + KHUSRAU AND SHIRIN WITH THE FISHERMAN. + + + +King Khusrau[FN#117] of Persia loved fish; and one day, as he +sat in his saloon, he and Shirin[FN#118] his wife, there came a +fisherman, with a great fish, and presented it to the King, who +was pleased and ordered the man four thousand dirhems. When he +was gone, Shirin said to the King, 'Thou hast done ill.' +'Wherefore?' asked he; and she answered, 'Because if, after +this, thou give one of thy courtiers a like sum, he will +disdain it and say, "He hath but given me the like of what he +gave the fisherman." And if thou give him less, he will say, +"He makes light of me and gives me less than he gave the +fisherman."' 'Thou art right,' rejoined Khusrau; 'but the thing +is done and it ill becomes a king to go back on his gift.' +Quoth Shirin, 'An thou wilt, I will contrive thee a means to +get it back from him.' 'How so?' asked he; and she said, 'Call +back the fisherman and ask him if the fish be male or female. +If he say, "Male," say thou, "We want a female," and if he say, +"Female," say, "We want a male."' + +So he sent for the fisherman, who was a man of wit and +discernment, and said to him, 'Is this fish male or female?' +The fisherman kissed the ground and answered, 'It is of the +neuter gender, neither male nor female.' The King laughed and +ordered him other four thousand dirhems. So the fisherman went +to the treasurer and taking his eight thousand dirhems, put +them in a bag he had with him. Then, throwing the bag over his +shoulder, he was going away, when he dropped a dirhem; so he +laid the bag off his back and stooped down to pick it up. Now +the King and Shirin were looking on, and the latter said, 'O +King, didst thou note the meanness and greediness of yon man, +in that he must needs stoop down, to pick up the one dirhem, +and could not bring himself to leave it for one of the King's +servants?' When the King heard this, he was wroth with the +fisherman and said, 'Thou art right, O Shirin!' So he called +the man back and said to him, 'Thou low-minded fellow! Thou art +no man! How couldst thou put the bag off thy shoulder and stoop +to pick up the one dirhem and grudge to leave it where it +fell?' The fisherman kissed the earth before him and answered, +'May God prolong the King's life! Indeed, I did not pick up the +dirhem, because of its value in my eyes; but because on one of +its faces is the likeness of the King and on the other his +name; and I feared lest any should unwittingly set his foot +upon it, thus dishonouring the name and presentment of the +King, and I be blamed for the offence.' The King wondered at +his wit and shrewdness and ordered him yet other four thousand +dirhems. Moreover, he let cry abroad in his kingdom, saying, +'It behoveth none to order himself by women's counsel; for +whoso followeth their advice, loseth, with his one dirhem, +other two.' + + + + + + YEHYA BEN KHALID THE BARMECIDE AND THE + POOR MAN. + + + +Yehya ben Khalid the Barmecide was returning home, one day, +from the Khalif's palace, when he saw a man at the gate of his +house, who rose at his approach and saluted him, saying, 'O +Yehya, I am in need of that which is in thy hand, and I make +God my intermediary with thee.' So Yehya caused set apart a +place for him in his house and bade his treasurer carry him a +thousand dirhems every day and that his food should be of the +choicest of his own meat. The man abode thus a whole month, at +the end of which time, having received in all thirty thousand +dirhems, he departed by stealth, fearing lest Yehya should take +the money from him, because of the greatness of the sum; and +when they told Yehya of this, he said, 'By Allah, though he had +tarried with me to the end of his days, yet had I not scanted +him of my largesse nor cut off from him the bounties of my +hospitality!' For, indeed, the excellences of the Barmecides +were past count nor can their virtues be told; especially those +of Yehya teen Khalid, for he abounded in noble qualities, even +as saith the poet of him: + +I asked munificence, "Art free?" It answered, "No, perdie! + Yehya ben Khalid's slave am I; my lord and master he." +"A boughten slave?" asked I; but, "Nay, so heaven forfend!" + quoth it. "From ancestor to ancestor he did inherit me." + + + + + + MOHAMMED EL AMIN AND JAAFER BEN EL HADI. + + + +Jaafer ben Mousa el Hadi[FN#119] once had a slave-girl, a lute +player, called El Bedr el Kebir, than whom there was not in her +time a fairer of face nor a better-shaped nor a more elegant of +manners nor a more accomplished in singing and smiting the +strings; she was indeed perfect in beauty and charm. Mohammed +el Amin,[FN#120] son of Zubeideh, heard of her and was instant +with Jaafer to sell her to him; but he replied, 'Thou knowest +it beseems not one of my rank to sell slave-girls nor traffic +in concubines; but, were it not that she was reared in my +house, I would send her to thee, as a gift, nor grudge her to +thee.' + +Some days after this, El Amin went to Jaafer's house, to make +merry; and the latter set before him that which it behoves to +set before friends and bade El Bedr sing to him and gladden +him. So she tuned the lute and sang right ravishingly, whilst El +Amin fell to drinking and making merry and bade the cupbearers +ply Jaafer with wine, till he became drunken, when he took the +damsel and carried her to his own house, but laid not a finger +on her. On the morrow, he sent to invite Jaafer; and when he +came, he set wine before him and bade the girl sing to him, from +behind the curtain. Jaafer knew her voice and was angered at +this, but, of the nobleness of his nature and the greatness of +his mind, he dissembled his vexation and let no change appear in +his demeanour. + +When the carousel was at an end, El Amin commanded one of his +servants to fill the boat, in which Jaafer had come, with +dirhems and dinars and all manner jewels and jacinths and rich +clothes and other treasures of price. So he laid therein a +thousand myriads of money and a thousand fine pearls, each +worth twenty thousand dirhems; nor did he give over loading the +barge with all manner of precious things, till the boatmen +cried out for quarter, saying, 'The boat cannot hold any more;' +whereupon he bade them carry all this to Jaafer's palace. Such +are the fashions of the magnanimous, may God have mercy on +them! + + + + + + + THE SONS OF YEHYA BEN KHALID AND SAID BEN + SALIM EL BAHILI. + + + +(Quoth Said ben Salim el Bahili[FN#121]), I was once, in the +days of Haroun er Reshid, in very narrow case and greatly +oppressed with debts, that had accumulated upon me and that I +had no means of discharging. My doors were blocked up with +creditors and I was without cease importuned for payment by +claimants, who dunned me in crowds, till I was at my wits' +end what to do. At last, being sore perplexed and troubled, +I betook myself to Abdallah ben Malik el Khuzai[FN#122] and +besought him to aid me with his judgment and of his good +counsel direct me to the door of relief; and he said, "None can +quit thee of this thy strait but the Barmecides." Quoth I, "Who +can brook their pride and put up with their arrogance?" And he +answered, "Thou must put up with it, for the sake of amending +thy case." So I left him and went straight to El Fezl and +Jaafer, sons of Yehya ben Khalid, to whom I related my case. +"God give thee His aid," answered they, "and enable thee by +His bounties to dispense with the aid of His creatures and +vouchsafe thee abundant good and bestow on thee what shall +suffice thee, without the need of any but Himself; for He can +what He will and is gracious and provident with His servants." + +I went out from them and returned to Abdallah, disappointed and +perplexed and heavy at heart, and told him what they had said. +Quoth he, "Thou wouldst do well to abide with us this day, that +we may see what God the Most High will decree." So I sat with +him awhile, and lo, up came my servant, who said to me, "O my +lord, there are at our door many laden mules, and with them a +man, who says he is the agent of Fezl and Jaafer ben Yehya." +Quoth Abdallah, "I trust that relief is come to thee: go and +see what is to do." So I left him and running to my house, +found at the door a man, who gave me a letter, wherein was +written the following: "Know that, after thou hadst been with +us and acquainted us with thy case, we betook ourselves to the +Khalif and informed him that the case had reduced thee to the +humiliation of begging; whereupon he ordered thee a million +dirhems from the Treasury. We represented to him that thou +wouldst spend this money in paying thy creditors and said, +'Whence shall he provide for his subsistence?' So he ordered +thee other three hundred thousand, and we have sent thee, of +our own money, a million dirhems each, so that thou hast now +three millions and three hundred thousand dirhems, wherewithal +to order thine affair and amend thine estate." + +See, then, the munificence of these generous men; may God the +Most High have mercy on them! + + + + + + THE WOMAN'S TRICK AGAINST HER HUSBAND. + + + +A man brought his wife a fish one Friday and bidding her cook +it against the end of the congregational prayers, went out to +his business. Meanwhile, there came in her friend,[FN#123] who +bade her to a wedding at his house; so she agreed and laying +the fish in a jar of water, went off with him and was absent a +whole week, whilst her husband sought her from house to house +and enquired after her; but none could give him any news of +her. + +On the following Friday, she came home, [and he fell to chiding +and reproaching her;] but she brought out to him the fish alive +from the jar and assembled the folk against him. He told them +his case; but they credited him not and said, 'It cannot be +that the fish should have remained alive all this while.' So +they caused adjudge him mad and imprisoned him and laughed at +him, whereupon he wept sore and recited the following verses: + +A hag, that holds high rank, indeed, in lewdness! In her face + Are witnesses that testify to filth and wantonness. +When she's unclean, she bawds; and when she's clean, she plays + the whore: So, all her time, she's either bawd or else + adulteress. + + + + + + THE DEVOUT WOMAN AND THE TWO WICKED + ELDERS.[FN#124] + +There was once, of old time, a virtuous woman among the children +of Israel, who was pious and devout and used every day to go out +to the place of prayer, first entering a garden, which adjoined +thereto, and there making the ablution. Now there were in this +garden two old men, its keepers, who fell in love with her +and sought her favours; but she refused, whereupon said they, +'Except thou yield thyself to us, we will bear witness against +thee of fornication.' Quoth she, 'God will preserve me from your +wickedness!' Then they opened the garden-gate and cried out, and +the folk came to them from all sides, saying, 'What ails you?' +Quoth they, 'We found this damsel in company with a youth, who +was doing lewdness with her; but he escaped from our hands.' + +Now it was the use of the people of those days to expose an +adulteress to public ignominy for three days and after stone +her. So they pilloried her three days, whilst the two old men +came up to her daily and laying their hands on her head, said, +'Praised be God who hath sent down His vengeance on thee!' + +On the fourth day, they carried her away, to stone her; but a +lad of twelve years old, by name Daniel, followed them to the +place of execution and said to them, 'Hasten not to stone her, +till I judge between them.' So they set him a chair and he sat +down and caused bring the old men before him separately. (Now +he was the first that separated witnesses.) Then said he to the +first, 'What sawest thou?' So he repeated to him his story, and +Daniel said, 'In what part of the garden did this befall?' 'On +the eastern side,' replied the elder, 'under a pear-tree.' Then +he called the other old man and asked him the same question; +and he replied, 'On the western side of the garden, under an +apple-tree.' Meanwhile the damsel stood by, with her hands and +eyes uplift to heaven, imploring God for deliverance. Then God +the Most High sent down His vengeful thunder upon the two old +men and consumed them and made manifest the innocence of the +damsel. + +This was the first of the miracles of the Prophet Daniel, on +whom and on the Prophet be blessing and peace! + + + + + + JAAFER THE BARMECIDE AND THE OLD + BEDOUIN. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid went out one day, with Abou Yousuf +the minion and Jaafer the Barmecide and Abou Nuwas, into the +desert, where they fell in with an old man, leant upon his ass. +The Khalif bade Jaafer ask him whence he came; so he said to +him, 'Whence comest thou?' 'From Bassora,' answered the +Bedouin. 'And whither goest thou?' asked Jaafer. 'To Baghdad,' +said the other. 'And what wilt thou do there?' asked Jaafer. 'I +go to seek medicine for my eye,' replied the old man. Quoth the +Khalif, 'O Jaafer, make us sport with him.' 'If I jest with +him,' answered Jaafer, 'I shall hear what I shall not like.' +But Er Reshid rejoined, 'I charge thee, on my authority, jest +with him.' + +So Jaafer said to the Bedouin, 'If I prescribe thee a remedy +that shall profit thee, what wilt thou give me in return?' +Quoth the other, 'God the Most High will requite thee for me +with better than I can give thee.' 'Harkye, then,' said Jaafer, +'and I will give thee a prescription, which I have given to +none but thee.' 'What is that?' asked the Bedouin; and Jaafer +answered, 'Take three ounces of wind-wafts and the like of +sunbeams and moonshine and lamp-light; mix them together and +let them lie in the wind three months. Then bray them three +months in a mortar without a bottom and laying them in a cleft +platter, set it in the wind other three months; after which use +three drachms every night in thy sleep, and (God willing) thou +shalt be cured.' + +When the Bedouin heard this, he stretched himself out on the +ass's back and letting fly a terrible great crack of wind, said +to Jaafer, 'Take this, in payment of thy prescription. When I +have followed it, if God grant me recovery, I will give thee a +slave-girl, who shall serve thee in thy lifetime a service, +wherewith God shall cut short thy term; and when thou diest and +God hurries thy soul to the fire, she shall blacken thy face +with her ordure, of her mourning for thee, and lament and +buffet her face, saying, "O frosty-beard, what a ninny thou +wast!"'[FN#125] The Khalif laughed till he fell backward, and +ordered the Bedouin three thousand dirhems. + + + + + + + THE KHALIF OMAR BEN KHETTAB AND THE + YOUNG BEDOUIN. + + + +The sheriff[FN#126] Hussein ben Reyyan relates that the Khalif +Omar ben Khettab was sitting one day, attended by his chief +counsellors, judging the folk and doing justice between his +subjects, when there came up to him two handsome young men, +haling by the collar a third youth, perfectly handsome and +well dressed, whom they set before him. Omar looked at him and +bade them loose him; then, calling him near to himself, said +to them, 'What is your case with him?' 'O Commander of the +Faithful,' answered they, 'we are two brothers by one mother +and known as followers of the truth. We had a father, a very +old man of good counsel, held in honour of the tribes, pure of +basenesses and renowned for virtues, who reared us tenderly, +whilst we were little, and loaded us with favours, when we +grew up; in fine, a man abounding in noble and illustrious +qualities, worthy of the poet's words: + +"Is Abou es Sekr of Sheiban[FN#127]?" they questioned of me; + and "No," I answered, "my life upon it! But Sheiban's of + him, I trow. +How many a father hath ris'n in repute by a noble son, As + Adnan,[FN#128] by God's Apostle, to fame and glory did + grow!" + +He went forth this day to his garden, to take his pleasure +amongst its trees and pluck the ripe fruits, when this young +man slew him and swerved from the road of righteousness; +wherefore we demand of thee the retribution of his crime and +call upon thee to pass judgment upon him, according to the +commandment of God.' + +The Khalif cast a terrible look at the accused youth and said +to him, 'Thou hearest the complaint of these young men; what +hast thou to say in reply?' Now he was stout of heart and ready +of speech, having doffed the wede of faint-heartedness and put +off the apparel of affright; so he smiled and after paying the +usual ceremonial compliment to the Khalif, in the most eloquent +and elegant words, said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I have +given ear to their complaint, and they have said sooth in that +which they avouch, so far as they have set out what befell; and +the commandment of God is a decreed decree.[FN#129] But I will +state my case before thee, and thine be it to decide thereon. + +Know then, O Commander of the Faithful, that I am a very Arab +of the Arabs, the noblest of those that are beneath the skies. +I grew up in the dwellings of the desert, till evil and hostile +times fell upon my tribe, when I came to the utterward of this +town, with my children and good and household. As I went along +one of the paths between the gardens, with my she-camels, high +in esteem with me and precious to me, and midst them a stallion +of noble race and goodly shape, a plenteous getter, by whom the +females bore abundantly and who walked among them, as he were a +crowned king,--behold, one of the she-camels broke away and +running to the garden of these young men's father, began to +crop the branches that showed above the wall. I ran to her, to +drive her away, when there appeared, at a breach of the wall, +an old man, whose eyes sparkled with anger, holding a stone in +his right hand and swaying to and fro, like a lion preparing +for a spring. He cast the stone at my stallion, and it struck +him in a vital part and killed him. When I saw the stallion +drop dead beside me, live coals of anger were kindled in my +heart; so I took up the stone and throwing it at the old man, +it was the cause of his end: thus his own wrongful act returned +against him and the man was slain of that wherewith he slew. +When the stone struck him, he cried out with a terrible great +cry, and I hastened from the spot; but these young men hurried +after me and laying hands on me, carried me before thee.' + +Quoth Omar, (may God the Most High accept of him), 'Thou hast +confessed thy crime and acquittal is impossible; for [the law +of] retaliation is imperative and there is no time of escape.' +[FN#130] 'I hear and obey the judgment of the Imam,' answered +the Bedouin, 'and am content to submit me to the requirement +of the law of Islam; but I have a young brother, whose old +father, before his death, appointed to him great store of +wealth and much gold and committed his affair to me, saying, +"I give this into thy hand for thy brother; keep it for him +with thy might." So I took the money and buried it; nor doth +any know of it but I. Now, if thou adjudge me to die forthright, +the money will be lost and thou wilt be the cause of its loss; +wherefore the little one will sue thee for his due on the day +when God shall judge His creatures. But, if thou wilt grant +me three days' delay, I will appoint one to undertake the boy's +affair, in my stead, and return to answer my debt; and I have +one who will be my surety for this my word.' + +The Khalif bowed his head awhile, then raised it and looking +round upon those present, said, 'Who will be surety to me for +his return?' The Bedouin looked at the faces of those who were +in company and pointing to Abou Dherr,[FN#131] said, 'This man +will answer for me and be my surety.' 'O Abou Dherr,' said Omar, +'dost thou hear what this youth says and wilt thou be surety +to me for his return?' 'Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered Abou Dherr, 'I will be surety for him three days.' +So the Khalif accepted his guarantee and let the young man go. + +Now, at the appointed time, when the days of grace were nearly +or quite at end and still the Bedouin came not, the Khalif sat +in his council, with the Companions[FN#132] surrounding him, +like the stars about the moon, Abou Dherr and the plaintiffs +being also present; and the latter said, 'O Abou Dherr, where +is the defendant and how shall he return, having once escaped? +But we will not stir hence, till thou bring him to us, that we +may take our wreak of him.' 'As the All-Wise King liveth,' +replied Abou Dherr, 'if the days of grace expire and the young +man return not, I will fulfil my warranty and surrender myself +to the Imam.' 'By Allah,' rejoined Omar, 'if the young man +tarry, I will assuredly execute on Abou Dherr that which is +prescribed by the law of Islam!' Thereupon the eyes of the +bystanders ran over with tears; those who looked on raised +groans, and great was the clamour. Then the chiefs of the +Companions were instant with the plaintiffs to accept the +bloodwit and win the thanks of the folk, but they refused and +would nothing but the talion. However, as the folk were swaying +to and fro and clamorously bemoaning Abou Dherr, up came the +young Bedouin, with face beaded with sweat and shining like the +new moon, and standing before the Imam, saluted him right +fairly and said to him, 'I have given the boy in charge to his +mother's brothers and have made them acquainted with all that +pertains to his affairs and let them into the secret of his +good; after which I braved the heats of midday and am come to +redeem the promise of a free-born man.' + +The folk marvelled at his good faith and loyalty and his +intrepid offering himself to death; and one said to him, 'How +noble a youth art thou and how loyal to thy promise and thy +duty!' 'Are ye not certified,' rejoined he, 'that when death +presenteth itself none can escape from it? And indeed I have +kept faith, that it be not said, "Loyalty is gone from among +men."' 'By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,' said Abou +Dherr, 'I became warrant for this young man, without knowing to +what tribe he belonged, nor had I seen him before that day; but +when he turned away from all else who were present and singled +me out, saying, "This man will answer for me and be my surety," +I thought ill to refuse him, and humanity forbade to baulk his +expectation, there being no harm in compliance with his desire, +that it be not said, "Benevolence is gone from among men."' +Then said the two young men, 'O Commander of the Faithful, we +forgive this youth our father's blood,--seeing that [by his +noble behaviour] he hath changed desolation into cheer,--that +it be not said, "Humanity is gone from among men."' + +The Khalif rejoiced in the acquittance of the young Bedouin and +his truth and good faith; moreover, he extolled the humanity of +Abou Dherr, over all his companions, and approved the benevolent +resolve of the two young men, giving them grateful praise and +applying to their case the saying of the poet: + +He who doth good among the folk shall be repaid again; For + works of Good are never lost betwixten God and men. + +Then he offered to pay them, from the Treasury, the bloodwit +for their father; but they refused, saying, 'We forgave him but +of our desire unto God the Bountiful, the Exalted; and he who +is thus minded followeth not his benefits with reproach neither +mischief.' + + + + + + THE KHALIF EL MAMOUN AND THE PYRAMIDS OF + EGYPT. + + + +It is told that the Khalif El Mamoun, son of Haroun er Reshid, +when he entered the [God-]guarded city of Cairo, was minded to +pull down the Pyramids, that he might take what was therein; +but, when he went about to do this, he could not avail thereto, +for all his endeavour. He expended great sums of money in the +attempt, but only succeeded in opening up a small gallery in +one of them, wherein he found treasure, to the exact amount of +the money he had spent in the works, neither more nor less; at +which he marvelled and taking what he found there, desisted +from his intent. + +Now the Pyramids are three in number, and they are one of the +wonders of the world; nor is there on the face of the earth +their like for height and fashion and skilful ordinance; for +they are builded of immense rocks, and they who built them +proceeded by piercing one block of stone and setting therein +upright rods of iron; after which they pierced a second block +of stone and lowered it upon the first. Then they poured melted +lead upon the joints and set the blocks in geometrical order, +till the building was complete. The height of each pyramid was +a hundred cubits, of the measure of the time, and it was four- +square, each side three hundred cubits long, at the bottom, and +sloping upward thence to a point. The ancients say that, in the +western Pyramid, are thirty chambers of vari-coloured granite, +full of precious stones and treasures galore and rare images +and utensils and costly arms, which latter are anointed with +magical unguents, so that they may not rust till the day of +Resurrection. Therein, also, are vessels of glass, that will +bend and not break, containing various kinds of compound drugs +and medicinal waters. In the second Pyramid are the records of +the priests, written on tablets of granite,--to each priest his +tablet, on which are set out the wonders of his craft and his +achievements; and on the walls are figures like idols, working +with their hands at all manner crafts and seated on thrones. To +each pyramid there is a guardian, that keeps watch over it and +guards it, to all eternity, against the ravages of time and the +vicissitudes of events; and indeed the marvels of these +pyramids astound all who have eyes and wit. Many are the poems +that describe them, thou shalt profit no great matter thereby, +and among the rest, quoth one of them: + +The high resolves of kings, if they would have them to abide In + memory, after them, are in the tongues of monuments. +Dost thou not see the Pyramids? They, of a truth, endure And + change not for the shifts of time or chances of events. + +And again: + +Consider but the Pyramids and lend an ear to all They tell of + bygone times and that which did of yore befall. +Could they but speak, assuredly they would to us relate What + time and fate have done with first and last and great and + small. + +And again: + +I prithee, tell me, friend of mine, stands there beneath the + sky A building with the Pyramids of Egypt that can vie +In skilful ordinance? Behold, Time's self's afraid of them, + Though of all else upon the earth 'tis dreaded, low and + high. +My sight no longer rests upon their wondrous ordinance, Yet are + they present evermore unto my spirit's eye. + +And again: + +Where's he the Pyramids who built? What was his tribe, His time + and what the place where he was stricken dead? +The monuments survive their lords awhile; then death O'ertaketh + them and they fall prostrate in their stead. + + + + + + + THE THIEF TURNED MERCHANT AND THE OTHER + THIEF. + + + +There was once a thief who repented to God the Most High and +making good his repentance, opened himself a shop for the sale +of stuffs, where he continued to trade awhile. One day, he +locked his shop and went home; and in the night there came to +the bazaar a cunning thief, disguised in the habit of the +merchant, and pulling out keys from his sleeve, said to the +watchman of the market, 'Light me this candle.' So the watchman +took the candle and went to get a light, whilst the thief +opened the shop and lit another candle he had with him. When +the watchman came back, he found him seated in the shop, +looking over the account-books and reckoning with his fingers; +nor did he leave to do thus till point of day, when he said to +the man, 'Fetch me a camel-driver and his camel, to carry some +goods for me.' So the man fetched him a camel, and the thief +took four bales of stuffs and gave them to the camel-driver, +who loaded them on his beast. Then he gave the watchman two +dirhems and went away after the camel-driver, the watchman the +while believing him to be the owner of the shop. + +Next morning, the merchant came and the watchman greeted +him with blessings, because of the two dirhems, much to the +surprise of the former, who knew not what he meant. When he +opened his shop, he saw the droppings of the wax and the +account-book lying on the floor, and looking round, found +four bales of stuffs missing. So he asked the watchman what +had happened and he told him what had passed in the night, +whereupon the merchant bade him fetch the camel-driver and said +to the latter, 'Whither didst thou carry the stuffs?' 'To such +a wharf,' answered the driver; 'and I stowed them on board such +a vessel.' 'Come with me thither,' said the merchant. So the +camel-driver carried him to the wharf and showed him the barque +and her owner. Quoth the merchant to the latter, 'Whither didst +thou carry the merchant and the stuff?' 'To such a place,' +answered the master, 'where he fetched a camel-driver and +setting the bales on the camel, went I know not whither.' +'Fetch me the camel-driver,' said the merchant; so he fetched +him and the merchant said to him, 'Whither didst thou carry the +bales of stuffs from the ship?' 'To such a khan,' answered he. +'Come thither with me and show it to me,' said the merchant. + +So the camel-driver went with him to a khan at a distance from +the shore, where he had set down the stuffs, and showed him the +mock merchant's magazine, which he opened and found therein his +four bales untouched and unopened. The thief had laid his +mantle over them; so the merchant took the bales and the cloak +and delivered them to the camel-driver, who laid them on his +camel; after which the merchant locked the magazine and went +away with the camel-driver. On the way, he met the thief, who +followed him, till he had shipped the bales, when he said to +him, 'O my brother (God have thee in His keeping!), thou hast +recovered thy goods, and nought of them is lost; so give me +back my cloak.' The merchant laughed and giving him back his +cloak, let him go unhindered. + + + + + + + MESROUR THE EUNUCH AND IBN EL CARIBI + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid was very restless one night; so he +said to his Vizier Jaafer, 'I am sleepless tonight and my heart +is oppressed and I know not what to do.' Now his henchman +Mesrour was standing before him, and he laughed. Quoth the +Khalif, 'Dost thou laugh in derision of me or art thou mad?' +'Neither, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,' answered +Mesrour, 'by thy kinship to the Prince of Apostles, I did it +not of my free-will; but I went out yesterday to walk and +coming to the bank of the Tigris, saw there the folk collected +about a man named Ibn el Caribi, who was making them laugh; and +but now I recalled what he said, and laughter got the better of +me; and I crave pardon of thee, O Commander of the Faithful!' +'Bring him to me forthright,' said the Khalif. So Mesrour +repaired in all haste to Ibn el Caribi and said to him, 'The +Commander of the Faithful calls for thee.' 'I hear and obey,' +answered the droll. 'But on condition,' added Mesrour, 'that, +if he give thee aught, thou shalt have a fourth and the rest +shall be mine.' 'Nay,' replied the other, 'thou shalt have half +and I half.' 'Not so,' insisted Mesrour; 'I will have three- +quarters.' 'Thou shalt have two-thirds, then,' rejoined Ibn el +Caribi; 'and I the other third.' To this Mesrour agreed, after +much haggling, and they returned to the palace together. + +When Ibn el Caribi came into the Khalif's presence, he saluted +him, as became his rank, and stood before him; whereupon said +Er Reshid to him, 'If thou do not make me laugh, I will give +thee three blows with this bag.' Quoth Ibn el Caribi in +himself, 'Three strokes with that bag were a small matter, +seeing that beating with whips irketh me not;' for he thought +the bag was empty. Then he clapped into a discourse, such as +would make a stone laugh, and gave vent to all manner of +drolleries; but the Khalif laughed not neither smiled, whereat +Ibn el Caribi marvelled and was chagrined and affrighted. Then +said the Khalif, 'Now hast thou earned the beating,' and gave +him a blow with the bag, in which were four pebbles, each two +pounds in weight. The blow fell on his neck and he gave a great +cry, then calling to mind his compact with Mesrour, said, +'Pardon, O Commander of the Faithful! Hear two words from me.' +'Say on,' replied the Khalif. Quoth Ibn el Caribi, 'Mesrour +made it a condition with me that, whatsoever might come to me +of the bounties of the Commander of the Faithful, one-third +thereof should be mine and the rest his; nor did he agree to +leave me so much as one-third save after much haggling. Now +thou hast bestowed on me nothing but beating; I have had my +share and here stands he, ready to receive his; so give him the +two other blows.' + +When the Khalif heard this, he laughed till he fell backward; +then calling Mesrour, he gave him a blow, whereat he cried out +and said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, one-third sufficeth me: +give him the two-thirds.' The Khalif laughed at them and +ordered them a thousand diners each, and they went away, +rejoicing. + + + + + + + THE DEVOUT PRINCE. + + + +The Khalif Haroun er Reshid had a son, who, from the time he +attained the age of sixteen, renounced the world and walked in +the way of ascetics and devotees. He was wont to go out to the +tombs and say, 'Behold, ye that lie here once possessed the +world, but that was no deliverer for you [from death], and now +are ye come to your graves! Would God I knew what ye say and +what is said to you!' And he wept, as one weeps that is +troubled and fearful, and repeated the words of the poet: + +Whene'er the funerals pass, my heart with fear is torn, And the + wailing of the mourners maketh me to mourn. + +One day, as he sat among the tombs, according to his wont, his +father passed by, in all his state, surrounded by his viziers +and grandees and the officers of his household, who saw the +Khalif's son, with a gown of woollen stuff on his body and a +cowl of the same on his head, and said to one another, 'This +youth dishonours the Commander of the Faithful among Kings: +but, if he reproved him, he would leave his present way of +life.' The Khalif heard what they said; so he bespoke his son +of this, saying, 'O my son, thou puttest me to shame by thy +present way of life.' The young man looked at him and made no +reply: then he beckoned to a bird, that was perched on the +battlements of the palace, and said to it, 'O bird, I conjure +thee, by Him who created thee, alight upon my hand.' And +straightway it flew down and perched on his hand. Quoth he, +'Return to thy place;' and it did so. Then he said, 'Alight on +the hand of the Commander of the Faithful;' but it refused, and +he said to his father, 'It is thou that puttest me to shame, +amongst the friends of God, by thy love of the world; and now I +am resolved to depart from thee, never to return to thee, save +in the world to come.' Then he went down to Bassora, where he +fell to working with those that wrought in mud,[FN#133] taking, +as his day's hire, but a dirhem and a danic.[FN#134] With the +danic he fed himself and gave alms of the dirhem. + +(Quoth Abou Aamir of Bassora), There fell down a wall in my +house: so I went out to the station of the artisans, to find +one who should set it up for me, and my eyes fell on a handsome +youth of a radiant countenance. So I accosted him and said to +him, "O my friend, dost thou seek work?" "Yes," answered he; +and I said, "Come with me and build a wall." "On two conditions," +replied he. Quoth I, "What are they, O my friend?" "First," +said he, "that my hire be a dirhem and a danic, and secondly, +that, when the Muezzin calls to prayer, thou shalt let me +go pray with the congregation." "It is well," answered I +and carried him to my house, where he fell to work, such work +as I never saw the like of. Presently, I named to him the +morning meal; but he said, "No;" and I knew that he was +fasting. When he heard the call to prayer, he said to me, "Thou +knowest the condition?" "Yes," answered I. So he loosed his +girdle and applying himself to the ablution, made it after a +fashion than which I never saw a goodlier; then went to the +mosque and prayed with the congregation and returned to his +work. He did the like upon the call to afternoon-prayer, and +when I saw him fall to work again thereafterward, I said to +him, "O my friend, the hours of labour are over for to-day; a +workman's day is but till the time of afternoon-prayer." "Glory +be to God," answered he, "my service is till the night." And he +ceased not to work till nightfall, when I gave him two dirhems. +Quoth he, "What is this?" "By Allah," answered I, "this is +[but] part of thy wage, because of thy diligence in my service." +But he threw me back the two pieces, saying, "I will have no +more than was agreed upon between us." I pressed him to take +them, but could not prevail upon him; so I gave him the dirhem +and the danic, and he went away. + +Next morning early, I went to the station, but found him not; +so I enquired for him and was told that he came thither only on +Saturdays. So, when Saturday came, I betook me to the market +and finding him there, said to him, "In the name of God, do me +the favour to come and work for me." ["Willingly,"] said he, +"upon the conditions thou wottest of." "It is well," answered I +and carrying him to my house, stood watching him, unseen of +him, and saw him take a handful of mud and lay it on the wall, +when, behold, the stones ranged themselves one upon another; +and I said, "On this wise are the friends of God." He worked +out his day and did even more than before; and when it was +night, I gave him his hire, and he took it and went away. + +When the third Saturday came round, I went to the standing, but +found him not; so I enquired for him and was told that he lay +sick in the hut of such a woman. Now this was an old woman, +renowned for piety, who had a hut of reeds in the burial- +ground. So I went thither and found him lying on the naked +earth, with a brick for a pillow and his face beaming with +light. I saluted him and he returned my salute; and I sat +down at his head, weeping over his tenderness of years and +strangerhood and submission to the will of his Lord. Then said +I to him, "Hast thou any need?" "Yes," answered he; and I said, +"What is it?" He replied, "Come hither tomorrow in the forenoon +and thou wilt find me dead. Wash me and dig my grave and tell +none thereof: but shroud me in this my gown, after thou hast +unsewn it and taken out what thou shalt find in the bosom, +which keep with thee. Then, when thou hast prayed over me and +laid me in the dust, go to Baghdad and watch for the Khalif +Haroun er Reshid, till he come forth, when do thou bear him my +salutation and give him what thou shalt find in the breast of +my gown." Then he made the profession of the Faith and glorified +his Lord in the most eloquent of words, reciting the following +verses: + +Carry the trust of him on whom the wished-for death hath come + To Er Reshid, and thy reward with thy Creator stand! +"An exile greets thee," say, "who longed full sorely for thy + sight; With long desire he yearned for thee, far in a + foreign strand. +Nor hate nor weariness from thee estranged him, for, indeed, To + God Most High he was brought near by kissing thy right + hand. +But, O my father, 'twas his heart, shunning the vain delights + Of this thy world, that drove him forth to seek a distant + land!" + +Then he betook himself to prayer, asking pardon of God and +blessing the Lord of the Just[FN#135] and repeating verses of +the Koran; after which he recited the following: + +Let not prosperity delude thee, father mine; For fortune wastes + and life itself must pass away. +Whenas thou com'st to know of folk in evil plight, Think thou + must answer it upon the Judgment Day; +And when thou bearest forth the dead unto the tombs, Think that + thou, too, must pass upon the self-same way! + +Then I left him and went home. On the morrow, I returned, at +the appointed hour, and found him indeed dead, the mercy of God +be on him! So I washed him and unsewing his gown, found in the +bosom a ruby worth thousands of diners and said to myself, "By +Allah, this youth was indeed abstracted from the things of this +world!" After I had buried him, I made my way to Baghdad and +going to the Khalif's palace, waited till he came forth, when I +accosted him in one of the streets and gave him the ruby, which +when he saw, he knew and fell down in a swoon. His attendants +laid hands on me, but he revived and bade them unhand me and +bring me courteously to the palace. They did his bidding, and +when he returned, he sent for me and carrying me into his +closet, said to me, "How doth the owner of this ruby?" Quoth I, +"He is dead;" and told him what had passed; whereupon he fell +a-weeping and said, "The son hath profited, but the father is +disappointed." Then he called out, saying, "Ho, such an one!" +And behold, a woman came out to him. When she saw me, she would +have withdrawn; but he said to her, "Come; and heed him not." +So she entered and saluted, and he threw her the ruby, which +when she knew, she gave a great shriek and fell down in a +swoon. As soon as she came to herself, she said, "O Commander +of the Faithful, what hath God done with my son?" And he said +to me, "Do thou tell her;" for he could not speak for weeping. +So I repeated the story to her, and she began to weep and say +in a failing voice, "How I have longed for thy sight, O +consolation of my eyes! Would I might have given thee to drink, +when thou hadst none to tend thee! Would I might have companied +with thee, whenas thou foundest none to cheer thee!" And she +poured forth tears and recited the following verses: + +I weep for one to whom death came, an exile and in pain: Alone + he died, without a friend to whom he might complain. +Puissant and honoured and conjoined with those that loved him + dear, To live alone and seeing none, unfriended, he was + fain. +That which the days conceal shall yet be manifest to us: Not + one of us by death, indeed, unsmitten may remain. +O absent one, the Lord of all decreed thy strangerhood, And + thou left'st far behind the love that was betwixt us + twain! +Though death, my son, forbid me hope to see thee in this life, + Tomorrow, on the Reckoning-Day, we two shall meet again. + +Quoth I, "O Commander of the Faithful, was he indeed thy son?" +"Yes," answered he; "and indeed, before I succeeded to this +office, he was wont to visit the learned and company with the +devout; but, when I became Khalif, he grew estranged from me +and withdrew himself apart. Then said I to his mother, 'This +thy son is absorbed in God the Most High, and it may be that +tribulations shall befall him and he be smitten with stress of +evil chance; wherefore, do thou give him this ruby, that it may +be to him a resource in the hour of need.' So she gave it him, +conjuring him to take it, and he obeyed her. Then he left the +things of our world to us and removed himself from us; nor did +he cease to be absent from us, till he went to the presence of +God (to whom belong might and majesty) with a holy and pure +mind." Then said he, "Come, show me his grave." So we repaired +to Bassora and I showed him his son's grave. When he saw it, he +wept and lamented, till he fell down in a swoon; after which he +came to himself and asked pardon of God, saying, "We are God's, +and to Him we return!" and invoked blessings on the dead. Then he +besought me of companionship; but I said to him, "O Commander of +the Faithful, verily, in thy son's case is for me the gravest of +admonitions!" And I recited the following verses: + +'Tis I am the stranger! None harbours the wight, Though he lie + in his native city by night. +'Tis I am the exile! Nor children nor wife Nor comrades have I, + to take ruth on my plight. +The mosques are my refuge; I haunt them indeed: My heart from + their shelter shall never take flight. +To the Lord of all creatures, to God be the praise, Whilst yet + in the body abideth the spright! + + + + + + THE SCHOOLMASTER WHO FELL IN LOVE BY + REPORT. + + + +(Quoth one of the erudite), I passed once by a [school, in +which a] schoolmaster, comely of aspect and well dressed, was +teaching children; so I entered, and he rose and made me sit +with him. Then I examined him in the Koran and in syntax and +poetry and lexicography, and found him perfect in all that was +required of him and said to him, "God strengthen thy purpose! +Thou art indeed versed in all that is sought of thee." So I +frequented him awhile, discovering daily some new excellence +in him, and said to myself, "This is indeed a wonder in a +schoolmaster; for the understanding are agreed upon the lack of +wit of those that teach children." Then I separated myself from +him and sought him out and visited him [only] every few days, +till, one day, coming to see him as of wont, I found the school +shut and made enquiry of the neighbours, who said, "Some one is +dead in his house." So I said to myself, "It behoves me to pay +him a visit of condolence," and going to his house, knocked at +the door. A slave-girl came out to me and said, "What dost thou +want?" "I want thy master," answered I. Quoth she, "He is +sitting alone, mourning." "Tell him," rejoined I, "that his +friend so and so seeks to condole with him." She went in and +told him; and he said, "Admit him." So she brought me in to +him, and I found him seated alone and his head bound [with the +fillets of mourning]. "May God amply requite thee!" said I. +"This is a road all must perforce travel, and it behoves thee +to take patience. But who is dead unto thee?" "One who was +dearest and best beloved of the folk to me," answered he. Quoth +I, "Perhaps thy father?" He replied, "No;" and I said, "Thy +mother?" "No," answered he. "Thy brother?" "No." "One of thy +kindred?" "No." "Then," asked I, "what relation was the dead to +thee?" "My mistress," answered he. Quoth I to myself, "This is +the first sign of his lack of wit." Then I said to him, "There +are others than she and fairer;" and he answered, "I never saw +her, that I might judge whether or no there be others fairer +than she." Quoth I to myself, "This is another sign" Then I +said to him, "And how couldst thou fall in love with one thou +hast never seen?" Quoth he, "I was sitting one day at the +window, when there passed by a man, singing the following +verse: + +Umm Amri,[FN#136] God requite thee thy generosity! Give back my + heart, prithee, wherever it may be! + +When I heard this, I said to myself, 'Except this Umm Amri were +without equal in the world, the poets had not celebrated her in +amorous verse.' So I fell in love with her; but, two days +after, the same man passed, singing the following verse: + +The jackass with Umm Amri departed; but, alas, Umm Amri! She + returned not again, nor did the ass. + +Thereupon I knew that she was dead and mourned for her. This +was three days ago, and I have been mourning ever since." So I +left him and went away, having assured myself of the feebleness +of his wit. + + + + + + + THE FOOLISH SCHOOLMASTER + + + +A man of elegant culture once entered a school and sitting down +by the master, entered into discourse with him and found him an +accomplished theologian, poet, grammarian and lexicographer, +intelligent, well bred and pleasant; whereat he wondered, +saying in himself, 'It cannot be that a man, who teaches +children in a school, should have a perfect wit.' When he was +about to go away, the schoolmaster said to him, 'Thou art my +guest to-night;' and he consented and accompanied him to his +house, where he made much of him and set food before him. They +ate and drank and sat talking, till a third part of the night +was past, when the host spread his guest a bed and went up to +his harem. The other lay down and addressed himself to sleep, +when, behold, there arose a great clamour in the harem. He +asked what was to do, and they said, 'A terrible thing hath +befallen the sheikh, and he is at the last gasp.' 'Take me up +to him,' said he. So they carried him to the schoolmaster, whom +he found lying insensible, with his blood streaming down. He +sprinkled water on his face and when he revived, he said to +him, 'What has betided thee? When thou leftest me, thou west in +all good cheer and sound of body.' 'O my brother,' answered the +schoolmaster, 'after I left thee, I sat meditating on the works +of God the Most High and said to myself, "In every thing God +hath created for man there is an use; for He (to whom be glory) +created the hands to seize, the feet to walk, the eyes to see, +the ears to hear and the yard to do the deed of kind; and so on +with all the members of the body, except these two cullions; +there is no use in them." So I took a razor I had by me and cut +them off; and there befell me what thou seest.' So the guest +left him and went away, saving, 'He was in the right who said, +"No schoolmaster who teaches children can have a perfect wit, +though he know all sciences." + + + + + + THE IGNORANT MAN WHO SET UP FOR A + SCHOOLMASTER. + + + +There was once, among the hangers-on of the collegiate mosque, +a man who knew not how to read and write and got his bread by +gulling the folk. One day, he bethought him to open a school +and teach children; so he got him tablets and written scrolls +and hung them up in a [conspicuous] place. Then he enlarged his +turban and sat down at the door of the school. The people, who +passed by and saw his turban and the tablets and scrolls, +thought he must be a very learned doctor; so they brought him +their children; and he would say to this, 'Write,' and to that, +'Read;' and thus they taught one another. + +One day, as he sat, as of wont, at the door of the school, he +saw a woman coming up, with a letter in her hand, and said to +himself, 'This woman doubtless seeks me, that I may read her +the letter she has in her hand. How shall I do with her seeing +I cannot read writing?' And he would fain have gone down and +fled from her; but, before he could do this, she overtook him +and said to him, 'Whither away?' Quoth he, 'I purpose to pray +the noontide-prayer and return.' 'Noon is yet distant,' said +she; 'so read me this letter.' He took the letter and turning +it upside down, fell to looking at it, now shaking his head and +anon knitting his eyebrows and showing concern. Now the letter +came from the woman's husband, who was absent; and when she saw +the schoolmaster do thus, she said, 'Doubtless my husband is +dead, and this learned man is ashamed to tell me so.' So she +said to him, 'O my lord, if he be dead, tell me.' But he shook +his head and held his peace. Then said she, 'Shall I tear my +clothes?' 'Tear,' answered he. 'Shall I buffet my face?' asked +she; and he said, 'Buffet.' So she took the letter from his +hand and returning home, fell a-weeping, she and her children. + +One of her neighbours heard her weeping and asking what ailed +her, was answered, 'She hath gotten a letter, telling her that +her husband is dead.' Quoth the man, 'This is a lying saying; +for I had a letter from him but yesterday, advising me that he +is in good health and case and will be with her after ten +days.' So he rose forthright and going in to her, said, 'Where +is the letter thou hast received?' She brought it to him, and +he took it and read it; and it ran as follows, after the usual +salutations, 'I am well and in good health and case and will be +with thee after ten days. Meanwhile, I send thee a quilt and an +extinguisher.'[FN#137] So she took the letter and returning +with it to the schoolmaster, said to him, 'What moved thee to +deal thus with me?' And she repeated to him what her neighbour +had told her of her husband's well-being and of his having sent +her a quilt and an extinguisher. 'Thou art in the right,' +answered he. 'But excuse me, good woman; for I was, at the +time, troubled and absent-minded and seeing the extinguisher +wrapped in the quilt, thought that he was dead and they had +shrouded him.' The woman, not smoking the cheat, said, 'Thou +art excused.' and taking the letter, went away. + + + + + + THE KING AND THE VIRTUOUS WIFE + + + +A certain King once went forth in disguise, to look into the +affairs of his subjects. Presently, he came to a great village +and being athirst, stopped at the door of a house and asked for +water. There came out to him a fair woman, with a pitcher of +water, which she gave him, and he drank. When he looked at her, +he was ravished with her and required her of love. Now she knew +him; so she brought him into the house and making him sit down, +brought out a book and said to him, 'Look in this book, whilst +I order my affair and return to thee.' So he looked into the +book, and behold, it treated of the Divine prohibition against +adultery and of the punishments that God hath prepared for +those that do it. When he read this, his flesh quaked and he +repented to God the Most High: then he called the woman and +giving her the book, went away. Now her husband was absent and +when he returned, she told him what had passed, whereat he was +confounded and said in himself, 'I fear lest the King's desire +have fallen upon her.' And he dared not have to do with her +after this. + +After awhile, the wife told her kinsfolk of her husband's +conduct, and they complained of him to the King, saying, 'May +God advance the King! This man hired of us a piece of land, for +tillage, and tilled it awhile; then left it fallow and tilled +it not, neither forsook it, that we might let it to one who +would till it. Indeed, harm is come to the field, and we fear +its corruption, for that land, if it be not tilled' spoileth.' +Quoth the King to the man, 'What hinders thee from tilling thy +land?' 'May God advance the King!' answered he. 'It came to my +knowledge that a lion entered the field, wherefore I stood in +awe of him and dared not approach it, seeing that I know I +cannot cope with the lion, and I stand in fear of him.' The +King understood the parable and rejoined, saying, 'O fellow, +the lion trampled not thy land, and it is good for tillage; so +do thou till it and God prosper thee in it, for the lion hath +done it no hurt.' Then he bade give the man and his wife a +handsome present and sent them away. + + + + + + ABDURREHMAN THE MOOR'S STORY OF THE ROC. + + + +There was once a man of the people of Morocco, called +Abdurrehman the Moor, and he was known, to boot, as the +Chinaman, for his long sojourn in Cathay. He had journeyed far +and wide and traversed many seas and deserts and was wont to +relate wondrous tales of his travels. He was once cast upon an +island, where he abode a long while and returning thence to his +native country, brought with him the quill of the wing-feather +of a young roe, whilst yet unhatched and in the egg; and this +quill was big enough to hold a skinful of water, for it is said +that the length of the young roe's wing, when it comes forth of +the egg, is a thousand fathoms. The folk marvelled at this +quill, when they saw it, and Abdurrehman related to them the +following adventure. + +He was on a voyage in the China seas, with a company of +merchants, when they sighted a great island so they steered +for it and casting anchor before it, saw that it was large and +spacious. The ship's people went ashore to get wood and water, +taking with them skins and ropes and axes, and presently espied +a great white gleaming dome, a hundred cubits high. So they +made towards it and drawing near, found that it was a roe's +egg and fell on it with axes and stones and sticks, till they +uncovered the young bird and found it as it were a firm-set +mountain. They went about to pluck out one of its wing-feathers, +but could not win to do so, save by helping one another, for +all the feathers were not full grown; after which they took +what they could carry of the young bird's flesh and cutting +the quill away from the feather-part, returned to the ship. +Then they spread the canvas and putting out to sea, sailed +with a fair wind all that night, till the sun rose, when they +saw the old roc come flying after them, as he were a vast +cloud, with a rock in his talons, like a great mountain, bigger +than the ship. As soon as he came over the vessel, he let fall +the rock upon it; but the ship, having great way on her, +forewent the rock, which fell into the sea with a terrible +crash. So God decreed them safety and delivered them from +destruction; and they cooked the young bird's flesh and ate it. +Now there were amongst them old grey bearded men; and when they +awoke on the morrow, they found that their beards had turned +black, nor did any who had eaten of the young roc ever grow +grey. Some held the cause of the return of youth to them and +the ceasing of hoariness from them to be that they had heated +the pot with arrow-wood, whilst others would have it that it +came of eating the young roe's flesh; and this is indeed a +wonder of wonders. + + + + + + ADI BEN ZEID AND THE PRINCESS HIND. + + + +En Numan ben el Mundhir, King of the Arabs [of Irak], had a +daughter named Hind, who was eleven years old and was the +loveliest woman of her age and time. She went out one Easter, +which is a feast-day of the Nazarenes,[FN#138] to the White +Church, to take the sacrament. Now that day came to El Hireh a +young man called Adi ben Zeid,[FN#139] with presents from +Chosroës,[FN#140] to En Numan, and he also went into the White +Church, to communicate. He was tall and well-favoured, with +handsome eyes and smooth cheeks, and had with him a company of +his people. Now there was with Hind a slave-girl named Mariyeh, +who was enamoured of Adi, but had not been able to win to him. +So, when she saw him in the church, she said to Hind, 'Look at +yonder youth. By Allah, he is handsomer than all thou seest!' +'And who is he?' asked Hind. 'Adi ben Zeid,' answered Mariyeh +Quoth the princess, 'I fear lest he know me, if I draw near, +to look on him closelier.' 'How should he know thee,' said +Mariyeh, 'when he has never seen thee?' So she drew near him +and found him jesting with his companions; and indeed he +surpassed them all, not only in his beauty, but in the excellence +of his speech and the eloquence of his tongue and the richness +of his apparel. When the princess saw him, she was ravished with +him, her reason was confounded and her colour changed; and +Mariyeh, seeing her inclination to him, said to her, 'Speak to +him.' So she spoke to him and went away. + +When he saw her and heard her speech, he was captivated by her +and his wit was dazed; his colour changed and his heart +fluttered, so that his companions misdoubted of him, and he +whispered one of them to follow her and find out who she was. +The man followed her and returning to his master, informed him +that she was the princess Hind, daughter of En Numan. So Adi +left the church, knowing not whither he went, for stress of +love, and reciting the following verses: + +Companions mine, yet one more favour I entreat: Address ye to + the ways once more your travelling feet. +Turn me towards the lands, the lands where Hinda dwells; Then + go and her I love with tidings of me greet. + +Then he went to his lodging and lay that night, restless nor +tasting sleep. On the morrow, Mariyeh accosted him, and he +received her kindly, though before he would not hearken to her, +and said to her, 'What is thy will?' Quoth she, 'I have a suit +to thee.' 'Name it,' answered he; 'for, by Allah, thou shalt +not ask me aught, but I will give it thee!' So she told him +that she was in love with him, and her suit to him was that he +would grant her a lover's privacy; and he agreed to do her +will, on condition that she would serve him with Hind and make +shift to bring them together. Then he took her into a vintner's +shop, in one of the by-streets of Hireh, and lay with her; +after which she returned to Hind and said to her, 'Dost thou +not long to see Adi?' 'How can this be?' replied the princess. +'Indeed my longing for him makes me restless, and no repose is +left me since yesterday, on his account.' Quoth Mariyeh, 'I +will appoint him to be in such a place, where thou canst look +on him from the palace.' 'Do what thou wilt,' replied Hind and +agreed with her upon the place. + +So Adi came, and the princess looked out upon him; and when she +saw him, she was like to fall down from the top of the palace +and said to Mariyeh, 'Except thou bring him in to me this +night, I shall die.' So saying, she fell down in a swoon, and +her serving-women lifted her up and bore her into the palace; +whilst Mariyeh hastened to En Numan and discovered the whole +matter to him, saying, 'Verily, she is mad for love of Adi; and +except thou marry her to him, she will be put to shame and die +of love for him.' The King bowed his head awhile in thought and +exclaimed again and again, 'Verily, we are God's and to Him we +return!' Then said he, 'Out on thee! How shall the marriage be +brought about, seeing it misliketh me to open the matter to +him?' 'He is yet more ardently in love and yet more desireful +of her than she of him,' answered Mariyeh; 'and I will so order +the matter that he shall be unaware that his case is known to +thee; but do not betray thyself, O King.' + +Them she went to Adi and said to him, 'Make a feast and bid the +King thereto; and when wine hath gotten the better of him, ask +of him the hand of his daughter, for he will not refuse thee.' +Quoth Adi, 'I fear lest this enrage him against me and be the +cause of enmity between us.' + +But she answered, 'I came not to thee, till I had settled the +whole matter with him.' Then she returned to En Numan and said +to him, 'Seek of Adi that he entertain thee in his house.' +'There is no harm in that,' replied the King and after three +days, besought Adi to give him and his lords the morning-meal +in his house. The young man consented, and the King went to +him; and when the wine had taken effect on En Numan, Adi rose +and sought of him his daughter in marriage. He consented and +married them and brought her to him after three days; and they +abode at En Numan's court, in all delight and solace of life, +three years, at the end of which time the King was wroth with +Adi and slew him. Hind mourned for him with an exceeding grief +and built her a convent without the city, whither she retired +and devoted herself to religious exercises, weeping and +bemoaning her husband, till she died. And her convent is extant +to this day without El Hireh. + + + + + + DIBIL EL KHUZAÏ WITH THE LADY AND MUSLIM + BEN EL WELID. + + + +(Quoth Dibil el Khuzaï[FN#141]), I was sitting one day at the +gate of El Kerkh,[FN#142] when a lady came up to me, never saw +I a handsomer or better shaped than she, walking with a swaying +gait and ravishing, with her flexile grace, all who beheld her. +When my eyes fell on her, I was captivated by her and my +entrails trembled and meseemed my heart fled forth of my +breast; so I accosted her with the following verse: + +Unsealed are the springs of tears for mine eyes, heigho! And + sealed are the springs of sleep to my lids, for woe. + +She turned her head and looking at me, made answer forthright +with the following: + +And surely, an ailing eye to have, for him Whom her looks + invite, is a little thing, I trow. + +I was astounded at the readiness of her reply and the sweetness +of her speech and rejoined with this verse: + +And doth then the heart of my fair indeed incline To favour him + whose tears as a river flow? + +She answered me, without hesitation, thus: + +If thou desire us of love, betwixt us love Is a loan to be + returned, I'd have thee know. + +Never entered my ears sweeter than her speech nor ever saw I +brighter than her face: so I changed the rhyme and measure, to +try her, in my wonder at her speech, and repeated the following +verse: + +Will destiny e'er gladden us with union and delight And one + desireful one at last with other one unite? + +She smiled at this, (never saw I fairer than her mouth nor +sweeter than her lips,) and answered me, without hesitation, as +follows: + +I prithee, what hath destiny to do betwixt us twain? Thou'rt + destiny: rejoice us, then, with union and delight. + +At this, I sprang up and kissing her hands, said, "I had not +thought that Fortune would vouchsafe me such an opportunity. Do +thou follow me, not of command or against thy will, but of thy +grace and favour to me." Then I went on and she after me. + +Now I had not, at that time, a lodging I deemed fit for the +like of her; Muslim ben El Welid[FN#143] was my fast friend, +and he had a handsome house. So I made for his abode and +knocked at the door, whereupon he came out, and I saluted him, +saying, "It is for a time like this that friends are treasured +up." "With all my heart," answered he; "enter." So we entered, +I and the lady, but found money scarce with him. However, he +gave me a handkerchief, saying, "Carry it to the market and +sell it and buy meat and what else thou needest." So I took the +handkerchief and hastening to the market, sold it and bought +meat and what else we required; but, when I returned, I found +that Muslim had retired, with the lady, to an underground +chamber.[FN#144] When he heard me, he came out and said to me, +"God requite thee the kindness thou hast done me, O Abou +Ali,[FN#145] and reckon it of thy good deeds on the Day of +Resurrection!" So saying, he took from me the meat and wine and +shut the door in my face His words enraged me and I knew not +what to do; but he stood behind the door, shaking for mirth; +and when he saw me thus, he said to me, "I conjure thee on my +life, O Abou Ali, tell me who it was composed this verse? + +I lay in the arms of the fair one all night, Whilst my friend + slept, clean-limbed, but polluted of spright." + +At this, my rage redoubled, and I replied, "He who wrote this +other verse: + +One, I wish him in's girdle a thousand of horns, Exceeding the +idol Menaf[FN#146] in their height!" + +Then I began to revile him and reproach him with the foulness +of his conduct and his lack of honour; and he was silent. But, +when I had finished, he smiled and said, "Out on thee, O fool! +Thou hast entered my house and sold my handkerchief and spent +my money: so, with whom art thou wroth, O pimp?" Then he left +me and went away to her, whilst I said, "By Allah, thou art +right to call me a fool and a pimp!" Then I left his door and +went away in sore concern, whereof I feel the trace in my heart +to this day; and I never had my desire of her nor ever heard of +her more. + + + + + + ISAAC OF MOSUL AND THE MERCHANT. + + + +(Quoth Ishac ben Ibrahim el Mausili), One day, being weary of +assiduous attendance upon the Khalif, I mounted my horse and +went forth, at break of day, having a mind to ride out and take +my pleasure in the open country, and I said to my servant, "If +there come a messenger from the Khalif or another, say that I +set out at daybreak, upon a pressing business, and that thou +knowest not whither I am gone." So I rode forth alone and went +round about the city, till the sun grew hot, when I halted in a +street, known as El Herem, and stood my horse under the +spacious jutting porch of one of the houses there, to shelter +me from the glare of the sun. + +I had not stood long, before there came up a black slave, +leading an ass with jewelled housings, on which sat a damsel, +clad in the richest of clothes, richness can go no farther; and +I saw that she was elegantly made, with languorous looks and +graceful carriage. I asked one of the passers-by who she was, +and he said, "She is a singer." And I fell in love with her at +sight, so that I could scarce keep my seat on my horse's back. +She entered the house at whose gate I stood; and as I cast +about for a device to gain access to her, there came up two +comely young men, who sought admission, and the master of the +house gave them leave to enter. So they alighted and entered, +and I with them, they supposing that the master of the house +had invited me; and we sat awhile, till food was brought and we +ate. Then they set wine before us, and the damsel came out, +with a lute in her hand. She sang and we drank, till I rose to +do an occasion. During my absence, the host questioned the two +others of me, and they replied that they knew me not; whereupon +quoth he, "This fellow is a spunger, but he is well-bred and +pleasant; so entreat him fairly." Then I came back and sat down +in my place, whilst the damsel sang the following verses to a +pleasing air: + +Say thou unto the she-gazelle, who yet is no gazelle, And the + wild heifer, languorous-eyed, who yet no heifer is, +"One, who in dalliance affects the male, no female is, And he + who is effeminate of step's no male, ywis." + +She sang it excellent well, and the company drank and her song +pleased them. Then she sang various songs to rare tunes, and +amongst the rest one of mine, to the following words: + +The pleasant girls have gone and left The homesteads empty and + bereft +Of their sweet converse, after cheer, All void and ruined by + Time's theft. + +She sang this even better than the first; then she sang other +rare songs, old and new, and amongst them, another of mine, +with the following words: + +To the loved one, who turneth in anger away And vrithdraweth + himself far apart from thee, say, +"The mischief thou wroughtest, thou wroughtest indeed, For all, + per-adventure, thou west but in play." + +I asked her to repeat the song, that I might correct it for +her; whereupon one of the men turned to me and said, "Never saw +I a more brazen-faced parasite than thou. Art thou not content +with spunging, but thou must meddle, to boot? Verily, in thee +is the saying made true, 'A parasite and a meddler.'" I hung +down my head for shame and made him no answer, whilst his +companion would have restrained him from me; but he would not +be restrained. Presently, they rose to pray, but I hung behind +a little and taking the lute, tuned it after a particular +fashion and stood up to pray with the rest. When we had made an +end of prayer, the same man fell again to flouting and reviling +me and persisted in his churlishness, whilst I held my peace. +Then the damsel took the lute and touching it, knew that it was +other than as she had left it and said, "Who hath touched my +lute?" Quoth they, "None of us hath touched it." "Nay, by +Allah," rejoined she, "some one hath touched it, and he a past +master in the craft; for he hath ordered the strings and tuned +them after the fashion of one who is right skilled in the art." +Quoth I, "It was I tuned it." "Then, God on thee," answered +she, "take it and play on it!" So I took it and playing a rare +and difficult measure, that came nigh to deaden the live and +raise the dead, sang thereto the following verses: + +I had a heart, wherewith of yore I lived: 'Twas seared with + fire and all consumed indeed. +Her love, alack I was not vouchsafed to me; Unto the slave + 'twas not of Heaven decreed. +If what I taste be passion's very food, Then all who love upon + its like must feed. + +When I had finished, there was not one of the company but +sprang from his place and sat down before me,[FN#147] saying +"God on thee, O our lord, sing us another song." "With all my +heart," said I and playing another measure in masterly fashion, +sang thereto the following: + +O thou whose heart, for fortune's blows, is all consumed and + sped, Sorrows with whom from every side have taken up + their stead, +Unlawful unto her, my heart who pierces with her shafts, Is + that my blood which, breast-bones 'twixt and + vitals,[FN#148] she hath shed. +'Twas plain, upon the parting day, that her resolve, our loves + To sunder, unto false suspect must be attributed. +She pours forth blood she had not shed, if passion had not + been. Will none my murderess ensue and wreak me on her + head? + +When I had made an end of this song, there was not one of them +but rose to his feet and threw himself to the ground, for +excess of delight. Then I cast the lute from my hand; but they +said, "Allah on thee, let us hear another song, so God increase +thee of His bounty!" "O folk," replied I, "I will sing you +another song and another and another and will tell you who I +am. Know that I am Ishac ben Ibrahim el Mausili, and by Allah, +I bear myself haughtily to the Khalif, when he seeks me. Ye +have today made me hear [abuse from] an unmannerly fellow such +as I loathe; and by Allah, I will not speak a word nor sit with +you, till ye put yonder quarrelsome churl out from among you!" +Quoth the latter's companion to him, "This is what I feared and +warned thee against." So they took him by the hand and put him +out; and I took the lute and sang over again the songs of my +fashion that the damsel had sung. Then I whispered the host +that she had taken my heart and that I had no patience to +endure from her. Quoth he, "Thou shalt have her and all that +pertains to her of clothes and jewels, on one condition." "What +is that?" asked I. "It is," answered he, "that thou abide with +me a month." "It is well," rejoined I; "I will do this." So I +abode with him a whole month, whilst none knew where I was and +the Khalif sought me everywhere, but could come by no news of +me; and at the end of this time, the merchant delivered to me +the damsel, together with all that pertained to her of things +of price and an eunuch to attend her. + +I brought her to my lodging, feeling as I were lord of the +whole world, for stress of delight in her; then rode forthright +to El Mamoun. When he saw me, he said, "Out on thee, O Isaac, +where hast thou been all this while?" I acquainted him with the +story and he said, "Bring me the man at once." So I told him +where he dwelt, and he sent and fetched him and questioned him +of the case; whereupon he repeated the story and the Khalif +said to him, "Thou art a man of a generous mind, and it is just +that thou be upheld in thy generosity." Then he ordered him a +hundred thousand dirhems and said to me, "O Isaac, bring me the +damsel." So I brought her to him, and she sang and delighted +him. He was greatly gladdened by her and ordered her fifty +thousand dirhems, saying to me, "I appoint her of service every +Thursday, when she must come and sing to me from behind the +curtain." So, by Allah, this ride of mine was a source of +profit both to me and to others. + + + + + + THE THREE UNFORTUNATE LOVERS. + + + +(Quoth El Utbi[FN#149]), I was sitting one day with a company +of men of culture, telling stories of the folk, when the talk +turned upon anecdotes of lovers and each of us said his say +thereon. Now there was in our company an old man, who remained +silent, till we had all spoken and had no more to say, when he +said, "Shall I tell you a thing, the like of which you never +heard?" "Yes," answered we; and he said, "Know, then, that I +had a daughter, who loved a youth, but we knew it not. The +youth in question loved a singing-girl, who, in her turn, +was enamoured of my daughter. One day, I was present at an +assembly, where were also the young man and the girl; when the +latter sang the following verses: + +Tears are the token by which, for love, Abjection in lovers + still is shown, +And more by token in one who finds No friend, to whom he may + make his moan. + +'By Allah, thou hast said well, O my lady!' exclaimed the +youth. 'Doss thou bid me die?' 'Yes,' answered the girl from +behind the curtain, 'if thou be in love.' So he laid his head +on a cushion and closed his eyes; and when the cup came round +to him, we shook him and found that he was dead. Therewith we +all flocked to him, and our joy was troubled and we grieved and +broke up forthright. When I came home, my people taxed me with +returning before the appointed time, and I told them what had +befallen the youth, thinking to surprise them. My daughter +heard my words and rising, went into another chamber, whither I +followed her and found her lying, with her head on a cushion, +as I had told of the young man. I shook her and behold, she +was dead. So we laid her out and set forth next morning with +her funeral, whilst the friends of the young man carried him +out, likewise, to bury him. As we were on the way to the +burial-place, we met a third funeral and enquiring whose it +was, were told that it was that of the singing-girl, who, +hearing of my daughter's death, had done even as she and was +dead. So we buried them all three on one day, and this is the +rarest story that ever was heard of lovers." + + + + + + THE LOVERS OF THE BENOU TAI. + + + +Quoth a man of the Benou Temim (cited by Casim ben Adi), I went +out one day in search of a stray beast and coming to the waters +of the Benou Tai, saw two companies of people, near one +another, and those of each company were disputing among +themselves. So I watched them and observed, in one of the +companies, a young man, wasted with sickness, as he were a +worn-out water-skin. As I looked on him, he repeated the +following verses: + +What ails the fair that she returneth not to me? Is't + grudgingness in her or inhumanity? +I sickened, and my folk to visit me came all. Why 'mongst the + visitors wast thou then not to see? +Hadst thou been sick, I would have hastened to thy side; Nor + menaces nor threats had hindered me from thee. +I miss thee midst the rest, and desolate am I: Thy loss, my + heart's abode, is grievous unto me. + +A damsel in the other company heard his words and hastened +towards him. Her people followed her, but she repelled them +with blows. Then the youth caught sight of her and ran towards +her, whilst his people ran after him and laid hold of him. +However, he struggled, till he freed himself from them, and she +in like manner loosed herself; and they ran to each other and +meeting between the two parties, embraced and fell down dead. + +Thereupon there came out an old man from one of the tents and +stood over them, weeping sore and exclaiming, "Verily, we are +God's and to Him we return!" Then, "May God the Most High have +mercy on you both!" said he. "By Allah, though you were not +united in your lives, I will at least unite you after death." +And he bade lay them out. So they washed them and shrouded them +in one shroud and buried them in one grave, after they had +prayed over them; nor were there men nor women in the two +parties but I saw weeping over them and buffeting their faces. +Then I questioned the old man of them, and he said, "She was my +daughter and he my brother's son; and love brought them to this +pass." "May God amend thee!" exclaimed I. "But why didst thou +not marry them to one another?" Quoth he, "I feared reproach +and dishonour; and now I am fallen upon both." + + + + + + THE MAD LOVER. + + + +(Quoth Aboulabbas el Muberred[FN#150]), I set out one day with +a company to El Berid on an occasion, and coming to the +monastery of Heraclius,[FN#151] we alighted in its shade. +Presently a man came out to us and said, "There are madmen in +the monastery, and amongst them one who speaketh wisdom; if ye +saw him, ye would marvel at his speech." So we arose all and +went into the monastery, where we saw a man seated on a leather +mat in one of the cells, with bare head and eyes fixed upon the +wall. We saluted him, and he returned our greeting, without +looking at us; and one said to us, "Repeat some verses to him; +for, when he hears verses, he speaks." So I repeated the +following verses: + +O best of all the race whom Eve gave birth unto, Except for + thee the world were neither sweet nor bright: +Thou'rt he, whose face if God unveil to any man, Eternity is + his; his head shall ne'er grow white.[FN#152] + +When he heard this, he turned towards us and repeated these +lines: + +God indeed knows that I am sore afflicted: I suffer so, I + cannot tell the whole. +I have two souls; one in this place is dwelling; Another + country holds my second soul. +Meseems the absent one is like the present And wearies under + the same weight of dole. + +Quoth he, "Have I said well or ill?" "Thou hast said well and +excellent well," replied we. Then he put out his hand and took +a stone, that was by him; whereupon we fled from him, thinking +he would throw it at us; but he fell to beating his breast +therewith violently and said to us, "Fear not, but draw near +and hear somewhat from me and receive it from me." So we came +back, and he repeated the following verses: + +When they made their beasts of burden kneel as day drew nigh + and nigher, Then they mounted and the camels bore away my + heart's desire,-- +When my eyes perceived my loved one through the crannied + prison-wall, Then I cried, with streaming eyelids and a + heart for love a-fire, +"Turn thou leader of the camels, let me bid my love farewell!" + For her absence and estrangement, life and hope in me + expire. +Still I kept my troth and failed not from her love; ah, would I + knew What she did with that our troth-plight, if she kept + her faith entire! + +Then he looked at me and said, "Dost thou know what she did?" +"Yes," answered I, "she is dead; may God the Most High have +mercy on her!" At this his face changed and he sprang to his +feet and cried out, "How knowest thou she is dead?" "Were she +alive," answered I, "she had not left thee thus." "By Allah, +thou art right," said he, "and I care not to live after her." +Then his nerves quivered and he fell on his face; and we ran up +to him and shook him and found him dead, the mercy of God be on +him! At this we marvelled and mourned sore for him and laid him +out and buried him. When I returned to Baghdad and went in to +the Khalif El Mutawekkil, he saw the trace of tears on my face +and said to me, "What is this?" So I told him what had passed, +and it was grievous to him and he said, "What moved thee to +deal thus with him? By Allah, if I thought thou didst this with +intent, I would punish thee therefor!" And he mourned for him +the rest of the day. + + + + + + THE APPLES OF PARADISE. + + + +(Quoth Abou Bekr Mohammed ibn el Ambari[FN#153]), I once left +Ambar, on a journey to Ammouriyeh, in the land of the Greeks, +[FN#154], and alighted midway at the monastery of El Anwar, +[FN#155], in a village near Ammouriyeh, where there came out +to me the prior of the monastery and superior of the monks, +Abdulmesih[FN#156] by name, and brought me into the monastery. +There I found forty monks, who entertained me that night +with the most liberal hospitality, and I saw among them such +abounding piety and diligence in devotion as I never beheld the +like of in any others. On the morrow, I took leave of them and +went on to Ammouriyeh, where I did my business and returned to +Ambar [without again visiting the monastery]. + +Next year it befell that I made the pilgrimage to Mecca, and as +I was compassing the Holy House, behold, I saw Abdulmesih the +monk also making the circuit of the Kaabeh, and with him five +of his fellows, the monks. When I was certified that it was +indeed he, I accosted him, saying, "Art thou not Abdulmesih er +Rahib?"[FN#157] "Nay," answered he; "I am Abdallah er Raghib." +[FN#158] Therewith I fell to kissing his hoary hairs and weeping; +then, taking him by the hand, I led him aside into a corner of +the sanctuary and said to him, "Tell me the manner of thy +conversion to Islam." "It was a wonder of wonders," answered +he; "and befell thus. Know that, not long after thy visit to +us, a company of Muslim devotees came to the village, in which +is our monastery, and sent a youth to buy them food. He saw, +in the market, a Christian damsel selling bread, who was of +the fairest of women, and became then and there so passionately +enamoured of her, that his senses failed him and he fell on his +face in a swoon. When he revived, he returned to his companions +and told them what had happened, saying, 'Go ye about your +business; I may not go with you.' They blamed him and exhorted +him, but he paid no heed to them; so they left him and went on, +whilst he entered the village and seated himself at the door +of the woman's shop. She asked him what he wanted, and he told +her that he was in love with her, whereupon she turned from +him; but he abode in his place three days, without tasting +food, with his eyes fixed on her face. + +When she saw that he departed not from her, she went to her +people and acquainted them with her case, and they set the boys +of the village on him, who pelted him with stones and bruised +his ribs and broke his head; but, for all this, he would not +budge. Then the people of the village took counsel together to +kill him; but one of them came to me and told me of his +condition, and I went out to him and found him lying prostrate +on the ground. So I wiped the blood from his face and carried +him to the convent, where I dressed his wounds, and he abode +with me fourteen days. But, as soon as he could walk, he left +the convent and returned to the door of the woman's shop, where +he sat gazing on her as before. When she saw him, she came out +to him and said, 'By Allah, thou movest me to pity! If thou +wilt enter my faith, I will marry thee.' 'God forbid,' answered +he, 'that I should put off the faith of the Unity and enter +that of Plurality!'[FN#159] Quoth she, 'Come in with me to my +house and take thy will of me and go thy ways in peace.' 'Not +so,' answered he, 'I will not barter the pious service of +twelve years for the lust of a moment.' 'Then depart from me +forthright,' said she; and he rejoined, 'My heart will not +suffer me to do that;' whereupon she turned her face from him. +Presently the boys found him out and began to throw stones +at him; and he fell on his face, saying, 'Verily, God is my +keeper, who sent down the Book and who protecteth the righteous!' +[FN#160] At this juncture, I sallied forth and driving away +the boys, lifted his head from the ground and heard him say, +'O my God, unite me with her in Paradise!' Then I took him in +my arms, to carry him to the monastery; but he died, before +I could reach it, and I dug him a grave without the village +and buried him there. + +In the middle of that night, the people of the village heard +the damsel give a great cry, and she in her bed; so they +flocked to her and questioned her of her case. Quoth she, 'As I +slept, the Muslim [who ye wot of] came in to me and taking me +by the hand, carried me to the gate of Paradise; but the keeper +denied me entrance, saying, "It is forbidden to unbelievers." +So I embraced Islam at his hands and entering with him, beheld +therein palaces and trees, such as I cannot describe to you. +Moreover, he brought me to a pavilion of jewels and said to me, +"This is my pavilion and thine, nor will I enter it except with +thee; but, after five nights, thou shalt be with me therein, if +it be the will of God the Most High." Then, putting his hand to +a tree that grew at the door of the pavilion, he plucked +therefrom two apples and gave them to me, saying, "Eat this and +keep the other, that the monks may see it." So I ate one of +them and never tasted I aught sweeter than it. Then he took my +hand and carried me back to my house; and when I awoke, I found +the taste of the apple in my mouth and the other in my hand.' +So saying, she brought out the apple, and it shone in the +darkness of the night, as it were a sparkling star. So they +carried her to the monastery, where she repeated to us her +vision and showed us the apple; never saw we its like among all +the fruits of the world. Then I took a knife and cut the apple +into as many pieces as we were folk in the company; and never +knew we aught more delicious than its taste nor sweeter than +its scent; but we said, 'Haply this was a devil that appeared +to her, to seduce her from her faith.' Then her people took her +and went away; but she abstained from eating and drinking till +the fifth night, when she rose from her bed and going forth the +village to the grave of the young Muslim, threw herself upon it +and died. + +Her people knew not what was come of her; but, on the morrow, +there came to the village two Muslim elders, clad in hair- +cloth, and with them two women in like garb, and said, 'O +people of the village, with you is a woman of the friends of +God,[FN#161] who died a Muslim, and we will take charge of her, +instead of you.' So the damsel's family sought her and found +her dead on the young Muslim's grave; and they said, 'This our +sister died in our faith, and we will take charge of her.' 'Not +so,' rejoined the two old men; 'she died a Muslim and we claim +her.' And the dispute waxed hot between them, till one of the +Muslims said, 'Be this the test of her faith. Let the forty +monks of the monastery come all and [essay to] lift her from +the grave. If they succeed, then she died a Nazarene; if not, +one of us shall come and lift her up, and if she yield to him, +she died a Muslim.' The villagers agreed to this and fetched +the forty monks, who heartened each other and came to her, to +lift her, but could not. Then we tied a great rope about her +middle and tugged at it with our might; but the rope broke in +sunder, and she stirred nor; and the villagers came and joined +their endeavour to ours, but could not move her from her place. +At last, when all our devices failed, we said to one of the two +old Muslims, 'Come thou and lift her.' So he went up to the +grave and covering her with his mantle, said, 'In the name of +God the Compassionate, the Merciful, and of the Faith of the +Apostle of God, on whom be peace and salvation!' Then he lifted +her and taking her in his bosom, betook himself with her to a +cave hard by, where they laid her, and the two women came and +washed her and shrouded her. Then the two elders bore her to +the young Muslim's grave and prayed over her and buried her by +his side and went their way. + +Now we were witness of all this; and when we were alone with +one another, we said, 'Of a verity, the Truth is most worthy to +be followed;[FN#162] and indeed it hath been publicly manifested +to us, nor is it possible to have a clearer proof of the truth +of Islam than that we have seen this day with our eyes.' So I +and all the monks embraced Islam and on like wise did the people +of the village; and we sent to the people of Mesopotamia for a +doctor of the law, to instruct us in the ordinances of Islam and +the canons of the Faith. They sent us a pious man, who taught us +the rites of devotion and the tenets of the faith and the +service of God; and we are now in great good case. To God be +the praise and the thanks!" + + + + + + THE LOVES OF ABOU ISA AND CURRET EL AIN. + + + +(Quoth Amr ben Mesaadeh[FN#163]), Abou Isa, son or Er Reshid +and brother to El Mamoun, was enamoured of a girl called Curret +el Ain, belonging to Ali ben Hisham,[FN#164] and she also loved +him; but he concealed his passion, complaining of it to none +neither discovering his secret to any, of his pride and +magnanimity; and he had used his utmost endeavour to buy her of +her lord, but in vain. At last, when his patience failed him +and his passion was sore on him and he was at his wits' end +concerning her affair, he went in, one day of state, to El +Mamoun, after the folk had retired, and said to him, "O +Commander of the Faithful, if thou wilt this day make trial of +thy governors,[FN#165] by visiting them unawares, thou wilt the +men of worth from those that lack of it and note each one's +[due] place, after the measure of his faculties." (But he +purposed, in saying this, to win to sit with Curret el Ain in +her lord's house.) El Mamoun approved his proposal and bade +make ready a barge, called the Flyer, in which he embarked, +with his brother and a party of his chief officers. The first +house he visited was that of Hemid et Tawil of Tous, whom he +found seated on a mat and before him singers and players, with +lutes and hautboys and other instruments of music in their +hands. El Mamoun sat with him awhile, and presently he set +before him dishes of nothing but flesh-meat, with no birds +among them. The Khalif would not taste thereof and Abou Isa +said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, we have taken the +owner of this place unawares, and he knew not of thy coming; +but now let us go to another place, that is prepared and fitted +for thee." + +So the Khalif arose and betook himself, with his brother and +his suite, to the abode of Ali ben Hisham, who, on hearing of +their approach, came out and received them after the goodliest +fashion, and kissed the earth before El Mamoun. Then he brought +them into his palace and opened to them a saloon, than which +never saw eyes a goodlier. Its floors and walls and columns +were of vari-coloured marble, adorned with Greek paintings: it +was spread with Indian matting, on which were carpets and +divans of Bassora make, fitted to the length and breadth of the +room. The Khalif sat awhile, examining the house and its roof +and walls, then said, "Give us to eat." So they brought him +forthwith nigh upon a hundred dishes of fowls, besides other +birds and brewises and fricassees and marinades. When he had +eaten, he said, "Give us to drink, O Ali;" and the latter set +before him raisin-wine, boiled with fruits and spices, in +vessels of gold and silver and crystal, served by boys like +moons, clad in garments of Alexandrian cloth of gold and +bearing on their breasts flagons of crystal, full of rose-water +mingled with musk. El Mamoun marvelled exceedingly at all this +and said, "Harkye, Aboulhusn!"[FN#166] Whereupon Ali sprang to +the carpet [on which the Khalif was seated] and kissing it, +said, "At thy service, O Commander of the Faithful!" and stood +before him. Quoth El Mamoun, "Let us hear some pleasant songs." +"I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful," replied Ali and +said to one of his servants, "Fetch the singing-women." + +So he went out and returned in a moment, followed by ten +eunuchs, bearing ten golden stools, which they set down; and +these in their turn were followed by ten damsels, as they were +shining full moons or flowerful gardens, clad in black brocade, +with crowns of gold on their heads. They sat down on the stools +and sang various songs. Then El Mamoun looked at one of them +and captivated by her elegance and the beauty of her aspect, +said to her, "What is thy name, O damsel?" "My name is Sejahi, +O Commander of the Faithful," answered she; and he said, "Sing +to us, O Sejahi!" So she took the lute and playing a lively +measure, sang the following verses: + +Right stealthily, for fearfulness, I fare, the weakling's gait, + Who sees unto the watering-place two lion-whelps draw + near, +With cloak, instead of sword, begirt and bosom love-distraught + And heart for eyes of enemies and spies fulfilled of fear, +Till in to one at last I come, a loveling delicate, Like to a + desert antelope, that's lost its younglings dear. + +"Well done, O damsel!" said the Khalif. "Whose is this song?" +"The words are by Amr ben Madi Kerib er Zubeidi,"[FN#167] +answered she, "and the air is Mabid's."[FN#168] Then the Khalif +and Ali and Abou Isa drank and the damsels went away and were +succeeded by other ten, clad in flowered silk of Yemen, +brocaded with gold, who sat down on the chairs and sang various +songs. The Khalif looked at one of them, who was like a wild +cow of the desert, and said to her, "What is thy name, O +damsel?" "My name is Zebiyeh, O Commander of the Faithful," +answered she. "Sing to us, O Zebiyeh," said he; so she warbled +some roulades and sang the following verses: + +Houris, noble ladies, that reck not of disquiet, Like antelopes + of Mecca, forbidden to be slain; +Of their soft speech, they're taken for courtezans; but Islam + Still makes them from unseemliness and lewdness to + refrain. + +When she had finished, "Bravo!" cried the Khalif. "Whose is +this song?" "The words are by Jerir,"[FN#169] answered she, +"and the air by Suraij." Then the Khalif and his company drank, +whilst the girls went away and there came yet another ten, as +they were rubies, bareheaded and clad in red brocade, gold +inwoven and broidered with pearls and jewels, who sat down on +the stools and sang various airs. The Khalif looked at one of +them, who was like the sun of the day, and said to her, "What +is thy name?" "O Commander of the Faithful," answered she, "my +name is Fatin." "Sing to us, O Fatin," quoth he. So she played +a lively measure and sang the following verses: + +Vouchsafe me of thy grace; 'tis time to yield consent: Enough + have I endured of absence and lament. +Thou'rt he whose face unites all charms, on whose account My + patience have I lost, for very languishment. +I've spent my life for love of thee; ah, would to God I might + receive return for that which I have spent! + +"Bravo, O Fatin!" exclaimed the Khalif, when she had finished. +"Whose song is that?" "The words are by Adi ben Zeid," answered +she, "and the tune is an old one." Then they drank, whilst the +damsels retired and were succeeded by other ten, as they were +sparkling stars, clad in flowered silk, embroidered with gold, +and girt with jewelled zones. They sat down and sang various +airs; and the Khalif said to one of them, who was like a +willow-wand, "What is thy name, O damsel!" "My name is Reshaa, +O Commander of the Faithful," answered she. "Sing to us, O +Reshaa," said he. So she played a lively measure and sang the +following verses: + +There's a houri healing passion [with her kiss], Like a sapling + or a wild gazelle at gaze. +Wine I quaff unto the vision of her cheeks[FN#170] And dispute + the goblet with her, till she sways. +Then she lies and sleeps the night long in my arms, And I say, + "This is the wish of all my days." + +"Well done, O damsel!" said the Khalif. "More." So she rose and +kissing the ground before him, sang the following verse: + +She came out to gaze on the bridal at leisure, In a tunic with + ambergris smeared, worth a treasure. + +The Khalif was much pleased with this verse, which when Reshaa +saw, she repeated it several times. Then said El Mamoun, "Bring +up the barge," being minded to embark and depart: but Ali said +to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, I have a slave-girl, whom +I bought for ten thousand dinars; she hath taken my whole +heart, and I would fain show her to the Commander of the +Faithful. If she please him and he will accept of her, she is +his: and if not, let him hear something from her." "Bring her +to me," said the Khalif; and there came forth a damsel, as she +were a willow-wand, with heart-seducing eyes and eyebrows like +a double bow. On her head she wore a crown of red gold, set +with pearls and jewels, under which was a fillet, wrought in +letters of chrysolite with the following words: + +Behold, a Jinniyeh this is; and Jinn hath she also, I trow, Who + teach her men's hearts to transfix, by means of a + stringless bow. + +She walked, with a gait like that of a fleeing gazelle, till +she came to a chair, on which she seated herself. The Khalif +marvelled at her beauty and grace; but when Abou Isa saw her, +his colour changed and he was in ill case. "O Abou Isa," said +the Khalif, "what ails thee, to change colour thus?" "O +Commander of the Faithful," answered he, "it is because of pain +that seizes me bytimes." "Hast thou known yonder damsel before +to-day?" asked El Mamoun. "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful," +answered he. "Can the moon be hidden?" Then said El Mamoun to +her, "What is thy name, O damsel?" "My name is Curret el Ain, O +Commander of the Faithful," replied she; and he said, "Sing to +us, O Curret el Ain." So she sang the following verses: + +The loved ones passed from thee in middle midnight's shade And + fared forth in the dawn, with the pilgrims' cavalcade. +The tents of pride they pitched round their pavilions And + veiled themselves about with hangings of brocade. + +Quoth the Khalif, "Bravo, O Curret el Ain! Whose song is that?" +"The words are by Dibil el Khuzai," answered she, "and the air +by Zourzour es Seghir." Abou Isa looked at her and his tears +choked him; so that the company marvelled at him. Then she +turned to El Mamoun and said to him, "O Commander of the +Faithful, wilt thou give me leave to change the words?" "Sing +what thou wilt," answered the Khalif. So she played a lively +measure and sang the following verses: + +If thou please me and he please thee in public, look thou hide + And keep in secret straiter watch o'er love, lest ill + betide. +And disregard and put away the tales of slanderers; For seldom + seeks the sland'rer aught but lovers to divide. +They say that when a lover's near, he wearies of his love And + that by absence passion's cured. 'Tis false; for I have + tried +Both remedies, but am not cured of that which is with me, + Withal that nearness easier is than distance to abide. +Yet nearness of abode, forsooth, may nowise profit thee, An If + the grace of him thou lov'st be unto thee denied. + +When she finished, Abou Isa said, "O Commander of the Faithful, +we will be at peace, though we be dishonoured. Dost thou give +me leave to reply to her?" "Yes," answered the Khalif. "Say +what thou wilt to her." So he swallowed his tears and sang +these verses: + +I held my peace nor said, "I am in love;" and eke The passion + that I felt even from my heart hid I: +And natheless, if my eyes do manifest my love, It is because + they are the shining moon anigh. + +Then Curret el Ain took the lute and rejoined with the +following: + +If what thou dost pretend were very truth, Thou woulst not with + mere wishing rest content, +Nor couldst endure to live without a girl, In charms and beauty + wonder excellent. +But there is nought in that thou dost avouch, Save only idle + talk and compliment. + +When Abou Isa heard this, he fell a-weeping and lamenting and +discovered the trouble and anguish of his soul. Then he raised +his eyes to her and sighing, repeated the following: + +Under my wede there is a wasted body And in my soul an all- + absorbing thought. +I have a heart, whose suffering is eternal, and eyes with tears + like torrents ever fraught. +When a wise man meets me, he rebukes me, Chiding the love that + thou in me hath wrought. +Lord, I've no strength all this my dole to suffer; Prithee, + come Death or quick relief be brought! + +When he had ended, Ali ben Hisham sprang up and kissing his +feet, said, "O my lord, God hath heard thy prayer and answered +thy supplication, and consenteth to thy taking her with all her +gear, so the Commander of the Faithful have no mind to her." +"Had we a mind to her," answered the Khalif, "we would prefer +Abou Isa before ourselves and help him to his desire." So +saying, he rose and embarking, went away, whilst Abou Isa +tarried for Curret al Ain, whom he took and carried to his own +house, with a breast dilated for gladness. See then the +generosity of Ali ben Hisham. + + + + + + EL AMIN BEN ER RESHID AND HIS UNCLE + IBRAHIM BEN EL MEHDI. + + + +El Amin,[FN#171] son of Er Reshid, once entered the house of +his uncle Ibrahim ben el Mehdi and saw there a slave-girl +playing upon the lute. She was one of the fairest of women, +and his heart inclined to her. Ibrahim, seeing how it was with +him, sent the girl to him, with rich apparel and precious +jewels. When he saw her, he thought that his uncle had lain +with her; so he was loath to have to do with her, because of +this, and sent her back to Ibrahim, accepting the present that +came with her. Ibrahim learnt the reason of this from one of +El Amin's servants; so he took a shift of flowered silk and let +work upon his skirt, in letters of gold, the following lines: + +By Him to whom all fronts do bow, of that which is Beneath her + skirt, I swear, I'm ignorant outright; +Nor have I had in aught to meddle with her mouth, Except it + were by way of hearing and of sight. + +Then he clad her in the shift and giving her a lute sent her +once more to his nephew. When she came into the latter's +presence, she kissed the earth before him and tuning the lute, +sang thereto the following verses: + +By returning the gift, thou showest what's hid in thy breast, + And thine aversion to me is made manifest. +As thou bear malice for aught that hath been,--forgive The + past, for the Khalifate's sake, and let it rest. + +When she had made an end of her song, El Amin looked at her and +reading that which was wrought upon her skirt, could not +control himself, but drew near unto her and kissed her and +appointed her a separate lodging in his palace. Moreover, he +thanked his uncle for this and bestowed on him the government +of Er Reï.[FN#172] + + + + + + EL FETH BEN KHACAN AND THE KHALIF EL + MUTAWEKKIL. + + + +The Khalid El Mutawekkil[FN#173] was once again taking +medicine, and folk sent him all manner of presents and +rarities. Amongst others, El Feth ben Khacan[FN#174] sent him +a virgin slave, high-bosomed, of the fairest of women of her +time, and with her a vase of crystal, containing red wine, and +a goblet of red gold, whereon were graven in black the following +verses: + +When th' Imam's made an end of taking medicine And health and + strength ensue to him thereon, in fine, +There's no medicament befits him but to drink, From out this + cup, a draught of this decocted wine. +And break the seal[FN#175] reserved to him, for this, indeed, + Right salutary is, hard after medicine. + +Now the physician Youhenna[FN#176] was with the Khalif, when +the damsel entered; and when he read the above verses, he +smiled and said, 'By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, Feth +is better versed than I in the art of medicine: so let not +the Commander of the Faithful gainsay his prescription.' +Accordingly, the Khalif followed El Feth's prescription and was +made whole by the blessing of God. + + + + + + THE MAN'S DISPUTE WITH THE LEARNED + WOMAN OF THE RELATIVE EXCELLENCE OF THE + MALE AND THE FEMALE. + + + +(Quoth a certain man of learning) I never saw a woman sharper- +witted, more intelligent, better furnished in learning, more +excellent of faculties or more pleasant of ingredients than +a female preacher of the people of Baghdad, by name Sitt el +Meshayikh.[FN#177] It chanced that she came to the city of +Hemah in the year [of the Hegira] 561[FN#178] and there +delivered salutary exhortations to the folk from the pulpits. +Now there used to visit her house a number of students of +divinity and [other] persons of learning and culture, who +would argue with her upon questions of theology and discuss +controversial points with her. I went to her one day, with a +friend of mine, a man of education; and when we had taken our +seats, she set before us a dish of fruit and seated herself +behind a curtain. Now she had a [young] brother, a handsome +youth, who stood by us, to serve us. + +When we had eaten, we fell to disputing upon points of divinity, +and I propounded to her a theological question, bearing upon a +difference between the Imams.[FN#179] She proceeded to speak in +answer, whilst I listened; but my friend fell the while to +looking upon her brother's face and considering his charms, +without paying any heed to what she said. Now she was watching +him from behind the curtain; so, when she had made an end of +her exposition, she turned to him and said, "Meseems thou art +of those that give men the preference over women!" "Assuredly," +answered he. "And why so?" asked she. "Because," replied he, +"God hath preferred the male over the female; and I love that +which excels and mislike that which is excelled." She laughed +and said, "Wilt thou deal fairly with me in argument, if I +argue the matter with thee?" "I will," answered he. Then said +she, "What is the evidence of the superiority of the male to +the female?" "It is of two kinds," answered he, "that which +is founded on authority and that which is founded on reason. +The authoritative part derives from the Koran and the Sunneh +[Traditions of the Prophet]. As for the former, quoth God the +Most High, 'Men stand above women, in that God hath given +these the preference over those;'[FN#180] and again, 'If +there be not two men, then [call] one man and two women;' +[FN#181] and again, when treating of the law of inheritance, +'[If there be brothers and sisters,] let each male have the +like of the portion of two females.'[FN#182] Thus God, blessed +and exalted be He, hath in these places preferred the male over +the female and teaches that a woman is as the half of a man, +for that he is worthier than she. As for the Sunneh, is it not +reported of the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) that he +appointed the blood-wit for a woman to be half that of a man? +As for the evidence of reason, the male is the agent and the +female the patient." + +"Thou hast said well, O my lord," rejoined she; "but, by Allah, +thou hast proved my contention with thine own lips and hast +advanced arguments that tell against thee, and not for thee. +Thus: God (blessed and exalted be He) preferred the male above +the female, solely because of the quality of masculinity; and +in this, there is no difference between us. Now this quality +[of masculinity] is common to the child, the boy, the youth, +the adult and the graybeard; nor is there any distinction +between them in this. Since, then, the superior excellence of +man enures to him solely by virtue of the quality of masculinity, +it behoves that thy heart incline to the graybeard and thy soul +delight in him, equally with the boy, seeing that there is no +distinction between them, in point of masculinity. But the +difference between thee and me turns upon the qualities that +are sought as constituting excellence of intercourse and +delight of usance; and thou hast adduced no proof of the +superiority of the male over the female in this." + +"O my lady," answered he, "knowest thou not that which is +proper to the boy of symmetry of shape and rosy cheeks and +pleasant smile and sweetness of speech? Boys are, in these +respects, superior to women; and the proof of this is what is +reported of the Prophet, that he said, 'Stay not thy gaze upon +the beardless boys, for in them is the similitude[FN#183] of +the black-eyed girls of Paradise.' Nor indeed is the superiority +of the boy over the girl hidden to any, and how well saith Abou +Nuwas: + +The least of his virtues it is that thou'rt free From + uncleanness with him nor with child can he be. + +And what another poet says: + +Quoth th' Iman Abou Nuwas, past-master sure was he In every + canon of debauch and jolly knavery, +"O ye that love the downy cheeks of younglings, take your fill + Of a delight, in Paradise that will not founden be." + +So if one enlarge in praise of a girl and wish to enhance her +value by the mention of her charms, he likens her to a boy, +because of the illustrious qualities that belong to the latter, +even as saith the poet: + +Boylike of buttocks, to and fro, in amorous dalliance, She + sways as sway the nodding canes that in the north wind + dance. + +If boys, then, were not superior to girls, why should the +latter be likened to them? And know also, may God the Most High +preserve thee, that a boy is easy to be led, adapting himself +to the wish, pleasant of commerce and manners, inclining to +assent rather than difference, especially when the down on his +face creeps lightly and the hair darkens on his lips and the +vermilion of early youth runs in his cheeks, so that he is like +the full moon; and how goodly is the saying of Abou Temmam: +[FN#184] + +"The whiskers on his cheek appear;" the slanderers said to me; + Quoth I, "That's none of his defect; so give me no more + prate." +What time he came of age to bear buttocks that here and there + Pulled him and over beads of pearl his lips' hair darkened + late +And eke the rose a solemn oath, full fast and binding, swore + Its ruddy marvels from his cheek should never separate, +I with my eyelids spoke to him, without the need of speech, And + for reply thereto was what his eyebrows answered straight. +His goodliness still goodlier is than that thou knewst of yore, + And the hair guardeth him from those his charms would + violate. +Brighter and sweeter are his charms, now on his cheek the down + Shows and the hair upon his lips grows dark and delicate; +And those who chide me for the love of him, when they take up + Their parable of him and me, say evermore, "His mate." + +And quoth El Heriri[FN#185] and saith well: + +My censors say, "What is this love and doting upon him? Seest + not the hair upon his cheeks that sprouts? Where is thy + wit?" +Quoth I, "By Allah, an ye chide at me, I rede you note The + exposition of the truth that in his eyes is writ. +But for the blackness of the down, that veils his chin and + cheeks, Upon the brightness of his face no mortal gaze + might sit. +A man who sojourns in a land, wherein no herbage is, Whenas the + very Spring arrives, shall he depart from it?" + +And quoth another: + +"He is consoled," say the censors of me; but, by heaven, they + lie! For solace and comfort come hardly to those for + longing that sigh. +When the rose of his cheek stood blooming alone, I was not + consoled; So how should I now find solace, that basil has + sprung thereby? + +And again: + +A slender one, whose glances and the down upon his cheeks Each + other, in the slaying of folk, abet and aid. +A sabre of narcissus[FN#186] withal, he sheddeth blood, The + hangers[FN#187] of its scabbard of very myrtle made. + +And again: + +Not with his wine I'm drunken, but with his tresses bright, + That make all creatures drunken, yea, all beneath the sky. +Each of his charms doth envy the others; ay, and each To be the + down so silky upon his cheek doth sigh. + +These are the excellences of the boy, that women do not +possess, and these suffice and more to give boys the preference +in grace and glory over women." + +"God give thee health!" cried she. "Verily, thou hast imposed +the discussion upon thyself; and thou hast spoken and hast not +stinted and hast adduced these arguments, in support of thy +contention. But now is the truth made manifest;[FN#188] so +swerve thou not from the path thereof; and if thou be not +content with a summary of proof, I will set it out to thee in +detail. God on thee, where is the boy beside the girl and who +shall liken the kid to the wild cow? The girl is soft of +speech, fair of shape, like a stalk of sweet basil, with teeth +like chamomile-petals and hair like halters. Her cheeks are +like blood-red anemones and her face like an apple; she hath +lips like wine and breasts like double pomegranates and a shape +flexile as a willow-wand. Her body is rounded and well-formed: +she hath a nose like the point of a shining sword and a +forehead brilliant with whiteness and joined eyebrows and black +and melting eyes. If she speak, fresh pearls are scattered from +her mouth and all hearts are ravished by the daintiness of her +charms; when she smiles, thou wouldst think the moon shone out +from between her lips and when she gazes, swords flash from her +eyes. In her all beauties have their term, and she is the +centre of attraction of traveller and stay-at-home. She hath +two red lips softer than cream and sweeter of taste than honey, +and a bosom, as it were a way between two hills, wherein are a +pair of breasts like globes of ivory; likewise, a smooth belly, +soft of flanks as palm-flowers[FN#189] and creased with folds +and dimples that overlap one another, and luxuriant thighs, +like columns of pearl, and buttocks, that beat together like +seas of crystal or mountains of light, and two slender feet and +hands like ingot of virgin gold. So, O wretched fellow, where +are mortal men besides the Jinn? Knowest thou not that mighty +kings and captains and noble princes still submit themselves +humbly to women and depend on them for delight? Verily, they +[women] say, 'We rule over [all] necks and captivate [all] +hearts.' How many a rich man have they not made poor, how many +a powerful one have they not humbled and how many a noble have +they not reduced to servitude! Indeed, they seduce the learned +and bring the pious to shame and make poor the rich and plunge +the favoured of fortune into misery. Yet, for all this, the +wise but redouble in love and honour of them, nor do they count +this oppression or dishonour. How many a man for them hath +transgressed against his Lord and called down on himself the +wrath of his father and mother! And all this because of the +preponderance of the love of them over hearts. Knowest thou +not, O wretched fellow, that for them are palaces built and +slave-girls bought, and over them curtains are let down, that +for them do tears flow and for them armies levied and pleasure- +houses raised up and riches gathered and heads smitten off? And +indeed he spoke sooth who said, 'The world is a commentary +[FN#190] upon women.' + +As for thy citation from the Holy Traditions, it is an argument +against thee and not for thee; for the Prophet (whom God bless +and preserve) compares boys to the houris of Paradise. Now, +without doubt, the subject of comparison is more worthy than +the object compared with it; so, except women be the worthier +and the goodlier, wherefore should other than they be likened +to them? As for thy saying that girls are likened to boys, it +is not so, but the contrary: boys are likened to girls; for +folk say, 'Yonder boy is like a girl.' As for that thou quotest +from the poets, the verses in question were the product of an +unnatural complexion in this respect; and as for the confirmed +sodomists and debauchees, that sin against religion, whom God +hath condemned in His Holy Book, wherein He denounceth their +filthy practices, saying, 'Do ye betake you to males from the +four corners of the world and forsake that which your Lord hath +created for you of your wives? Nay, but ye are a froward +folk.'[FN#191] These it is that liken girls to boys, of their +exceeding profligacy and frowardness and inclination to follow +the devil and their own lusts, so that they say, 'She is apt +for two men;' and these are all wanderers from the path of +right. Quoth their chief Abou Nuwas: + +A slender one, boyish of waist and of wit, For wencher as well + as for sodomite fit. + +As for what thou sayest of a boy's whiskers and moustaches and +how they add to his beauty and grace, by Allah, thou wanderest +from the right path and sayest that which is other than the +truth; for whiskers change the charms of the comely into +ugliness; even as saith the poet: + +The whiskers, that sprout on the cheek of the wight, His lovers + avenge, if he 've done them unright. +I see not on 's face what is like unto smoke, Except that his + curls are as coals to the sight. +If the most of his paper[FN#192] thus blackened be, where Is + there room, deemest thou, for the pen to indite? +If any prefer him another above, 'Tis ignorance makes them thus + turn from the light. + +Glory be to God", continued she, "how is it hidden from thee +that the perfection of delight is in women and that abiding +pleasure is not to be found but with them? Seeing that God +(blessed and exalted be He) hath promised His prophets and +saints black-eyed damsels in Paradise and hath appointed them +for a recompense of their pious works: and had God the Most +High known that the supreme delight was in the possession of +other than women, He had rewarded them therewith and promised +it to them. And quoth he whom God bless and preserve, 'The +things in which I most delight of [the things of] your world +are three: women and perfume and the solace of my eyes in +prayer.' Verily, God hath appointed boys to serve His prophets +and saints in Paradise, because Paradise is the abode of +delight and pleasance, which could not be complete without the +service of boys; but, as to the use of them for aught but +service, it is sin and corruption. How well saith the poet: + +Men's turning unto boys is very frowardness; Who noble[FN#193] +women loves is noble[FN#194] none the less. +What difference 'twixt the lewd and him whose bedfellow A houri +is, for looks a very sorceress. +He rises from her couch and she hath given him scent; He +perfumes all the house therewith and each recess. +No boy, indeed, is worth to be compared with her: Shall aloes +evened be with what not filthiness?" + +Then said she, "O folk, ye have made me overpass the bounds of +modesty and the province of free-born women and indulge in idle +talk and freedoms of speech, that beseem not people of learning. +But the breasts of the noble are the tombs of secrets, and +conversations of this kind are in confidence. Moreover, actions +are according to intents, and I ask pardon of God for myself +and you and all Muslims, seeing that He is forgiving and +merciful." + +With this she held her peace and thereafter would answer us of +nought; so we went our way, rejoicing in that we had profited +by her discourses and sorrowing to part from her. + + + + + + ABOU SUWEID AND THE HANDSOME OLD + WOMAN. + + + +(Quoth Abou Suweid), I entered a garden one day, I and a +company of my friends, to buy somewhat of fruit; and we saw, in +a corner of the place, an old woman, who was bright of face, +but her hair was white, and she was combing it with a comb of +ivory. We stopped before her, but she paid no heed to us +neither veiled her face So I said to her' "O old woman, wert +thou to dye thy hair black, thou wouldst be handsomer than a +girl. What hinders thee from this?" She raised her head and +looking at me with great eyes, recited the following verses: + +That which the years had dyed, I dyed erewhen but, sooth to + tell, My dye endureth not, whilst that of Time's + perdurable +Clad in the raiment of my youth and beauty, of old days, + Proudly I walked, and back and front, men had with me to + mell + +"By Allah," cried I, "bravo to thee for an old woman! How +sincere art thou in thy yearning remembrance of sin and how +false in thy presence of repentance from for bidden things!" + + + + + + THE AMIR ALI BEN TAHIR AND THE GIRL MOUNIS. + + + +There was once shown to the Amir Ali ben Mohammed ben Abdallah +ben Tahir[FN#195] a slave-girl, who was excellently handsome +and well-bred and an accomplished poetess; and he asked her of +her name. 'May God advance the Amir,' replied she, 'my name is +Mounis.' Now he knew this before; so he bowed his head awhile, +then raising his eyes to her, recited the following verse: + +What dost thou say of one, on whom sickness and pain have + wrought, For love and longing after thee, till he is grown + distraught? + +'God exalt the Amir!' answered she and recited this verse in +reply: + +An if we saw a lover true, on whom the pangs of love Were sore, + we would to him vouchsafe the favours that he sought. + +Her reply pleased him; so he bought her for threescore and ten +thousand dirhems and begat on her Obeidallah teen Mohammed, +after police-magistrate [at Baghdad]. + + + + + + THE WOMAN WHO HAD A BOY AND THE OTHER + WHO HAD A MAN TO LOVER. + + + +(Quoth Abou el Ainaä[FN#196]), There were in our street two +women, one of whom had to lover a man and the other a beardless +boy, and they foregathered one night on the roof of a house, +not knowing that I was within hearing. Quoth one to the other, +"O my sister, how canst thou brook the harshness of thy lover's +beard, as it falls on thy breast, when he kisses thee, and his +moustaches rub thy cheek and lips?" "Silly wench that thou +art," replied the other, "what adorns the tree but its leaves +and the cucumber but its bloom? Didst ever see aught uglier +than a scald-head, with his beard plucked out? Knowest thou not +that the beard is to men as the side-locks to women; and what +is the difference between the chin and the cheek? Knowest thou +not that God (blessed and exalted be He) hath created an angel +in heaven, who saith, 'Glory be to Him who adorneth men with +beards and women with tresses?' So, were not the beard even as +the tresses in comeliness, it had not been coupled with them, O +silly woman! How shall I underlie a boy, who will be hasty with +me in emission and forestall me in flaccescence, and leave a +man, who, when he takes breath, clips close and when he enters, +goes leisurely, and when he has done, repeats, and when he +pushes, pushes hard, and as often as he withdraws, returns?" +The other was edified by her speech and said, "I forswear my +lover by the Lord of the Kaabeh!" + + + + + + THE HAUNTED HOUSE IN BAGHDAD. + + + +There lived once, in the city of Cairo, a merchant by name +Hassan the Jeweller of Baghdad, who had great store of wealth +in money and jewels and lands and houses beyond count. God +had blessed him with a son of perfect beauty and elegance, +rosy-cheeked, fair of face and well-shaped, whom he named Ali +of Cairo and taught the Koran and science and elocution and the +other branches of polite letters, till he became proficient +in all manner of knowledge and was under his father's hand +in trade. After awhile, Hassan fell sick and his sickness +increased upon him, till he made sure of death and calling his +son to him, said, 'O my son, verily this world passeth away; +but the next endureth for ever. Every soul must taste of death; +and now, O my son, my last hour is at hand and I desire to lay +on thee an injunction, which if thou observe, thou shalt abide +in peace and prosperity, till thou meet God the Most High; but +if thou follow it not, there shall befall thee weariness galore +and thou wilt repent of having transgressed my admonitions.' 'O +my father,' replied Ali, 'how shall I do other than hearken to +thee and do after thine enjoinder, seeing that I am bounden by +the law of God to obey thee and give ear to thy word?' 'O my +son,' rejoined his father, 'I leave thee lands and houses +and goods and wealth past count; wert thou each day to spend +thereof five hundred dinars, thou wouldst miss nought of it. +But, O my son, look that thou live in the fear of God and +follow His Chosen One (whom may He bless and preserve) in +what he is reported to have enjoined and forbidden in his +traditions. Be thou assiduous in good works and the practice of +beneficence and in consorting with men of worth and piety and +learning; and look that thou have a care for the poor and needy +and shun avarice and meanness and the converse of the wicked or +those of doubtful character. Look kindly upon thy servants and +family, and also upon thy wife, for she is of the daughters +of the notables and is with child by thee; belike God will +vouchsafe thee virtuous offspring by her.' And he went on to +exhort him thus, weeping and saying, 'O my son, I beseech God +the Bountiful, the Lord of the Empyrean, to deliver thee from +all straits that may betide thee and grant thee His speedy +relief!' + +His son wept sore and said, 'O my father, I am consumed by thy +words, for they are as the words of one that saith farewell.' +'Yes, O my son,' replied the merchant, 'I am ware of my +condition: forget thou not my enjoinder.' Then he fell to +repeating the professions of the Faith and reciting [verses of +the Koran], until the appointed hour arrived, when he said, +'Draw near unto me, O my son.' So Ali drew near and he kissed +him; then he sighed and his soul departed his body and he went +to the mercy of God the Most High. Therewith great grief fell +upon Ali; the noise of lamentation arose in his house and his +father's friends flocked to him. Then he betook himself to +preparing him for burial and made him a splendid funeral. They +bore him to the place of prayer and prayed over him, then to +the cemetery, where they buried him and recited over him what +was fitting of the Koran; after which they returned to the +house and condoled with the dead man's son and went each his +own way. Moreover, Ali prayed the Friday prayers for his father +and let make recitations of the whole Koran for the [accustomed] +space of forty days, during which time he abode in the house +and went not forth, save to the place of prayer; and every +Friday he visited his father's tomb. + +He ceased not from his prayers and devotions, till, at last, +his fellows of the sons of the merchants came in to him one +day and saluting him, said, 'How long wilt thou keep up this +thy mourning and neglect thy business and the company of +thy friends? Verily, this is a fashion that will bring thee +weariness, and thy body will suffer greatly for it.' Now, +when they came in to him, Iblis the accursed was with them, +prompting them, and they went on to press him to accompany them +to the bazaar, whilst Iblis incited him to consent to them, +till he yielded and went forth the house with them, that the +will of God (blessed and exalted be He) might be fulfilled. +'Mount thy mule,' quoth they, 'and ride with us to such a +garden, that we may divert us there and that thy grief and +melancholy may depart from thee.' So he mounted and taking his +slave, went with them to the garden in question, where they +entered, and one of them went and making ready the morning- +meal, brought it to them there. So they ate and made merry and +sat, talking, till the end of the day, when they mounted and +returned each to his own lodging, where they passed the night. +On the morrow, they said to Ali, 'Come with us.' 'Whither?' +asked he, and they answered, 'To such a garden; for it is +finer than the first and more pleasant.' So he went with them +to the garden, and one of them, going away, made ready the +morning-meal and brought it to them, together with strong wine; +and Ali said, 'What is this?' Quoth they, 'This is what dispels +grief and unveils gladness.' And they went on to commend it to +him, till they prevailed upon him and he drank with them. Then +they sat, drinking and talking, till the end of the day, when +each returned home. + +As for Ali, he was giddy with wine and went in, in this plight, +to his wife, who said to him, 'What ails thee?' Quoth he, 'We +were making merry to-day, when one of my companions brought us +liquor; so my friends drank and I with them, and this giddiness +came upon me.' 'O my lord,' said she, 'hast thou forgotten thy +fathers injunction and done that from which he forbade thee, in +consorting with lewd folk?' 'These are of the sons of the +merchants,' answered he; 'they are no lewd folk, only lovers of +mirth and good cheer.' And he continued to lead this life with +his friends, day after day, going from place to place and +feasting and drinking with them, till they said to him, 'Our +turns are ended, and now it is thy turn.' 'Welcome and fair +welcome!' answered he; so, on the morrow, he made ready all +that the case called for of meat and drink, double what they +had provided, and taking cooks and tent-pitchers and coffee- +makers, repaired with the others to Er Rauzeh[FN#197] and +the Nilometer, where they abode a whole month, eating and +drinking and hearing music and making merry. At the end of the +month, Ali found that he had spent a great sum of money; but +Satan the Accursed deluded him and said to him, 'Though thou +shouldst spend every day a like sum, yet would not thy wealth +fail.' So he took no account of expense and continued this way +of life three years, whilst his wife remonstrated with him and +reminded him of his father's injunctions; but he hearkened not +to her, till he had spent all his ready money, when he fell to +selling his jewels and spending their price, till they were all +gone. Then he sold his houses and lands and farms and gardens, +one after another, till they were all gone and he had nothing +left but the house in which he lived. So he tore out the marble +and wood-work and sold it and spent of its price, till he had +made an end of this also, when he bethought himself and finding +that he had nothing left to spend, sold the house itself and +spent the purchase-money. + +Presently, the man who had bought the house came to him and +said, 'Look thyself out a lodging, for I have need of my +house.' So he bethought himself and considering that he had +nothing requiring a house, except his wife, who had borne him a +son and daughter,--for he had not a servant left,--hired a room +in one of the mean lodging houses and there took up his abode, +after having lived in honour and luxury, with many servants and +much wealth, and came to lack of one day's bread. Quoth his +wife, 'I warned thee of this and exhorted thee to obey thy +father's injunction, and thou wouldst not hearken to me; but +there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the +Supreme! Whence shall the little ones eat? Arise, go round to +thy friends, the sons of the merchants: it may be they will +give thee somewhat on which we may live this day.' So he went +the round of his friends, one by one; but they all hid their +faces from him and gave him nothing but injurious and revolting +words; and he returned to his wife and said to her, 'They have +given me nothing.' Thereupon she went out to beg of her +neighbours wherewithal to sustain themselves and came to a +woman, whom she had known in former days. When she came in to +her and she saw her plight, she rose and receiving her kindly, +wept and said, 'What hath befallen thee?' So she told her of +her husband's conduct, and the other said, 'Welcome and fair +welcome! Whatever thou needest, seek it of me, without price.' +'May God abundantly requite thee!' answered she. Then her +friend gave her as much victual as would suffice herself and +her family a whole month, and she took it and returned to her +lodging. When her husband saw her, he wept and said, 'Whence +hadst thou that?' 'I got it of such a woman,' answered she; +'for, when I told her what had befallen us, she failed me not +in aught, but said, "Seek of me all thou needest."' 'Since thou +hast this,' rejoined her husband, 'I will betake myself to a +place I have in my mind; peradventure God the Most High will +bring us relief.' + +So saying, he took leave of her and kissing the children, went +out, not knowing whither he should go, and walked on till he +came to Boulac,[FN#198] where he saw a ship about to sail for +Damietta. Here he met a man, between whom and his father there +had been friendship; and he saluted him and said to him, +'Whither away?' 'To Damietta,' replied Ali; 'I have friends +there, whom I would fain enquire after and visit and return.' +The man took him home and entreated him hospitably, then, +furnishing him with victual [for the voyage] and giving him +somewhat of money, embarked him on board the vessel bound for +Damietta. When they reached that place, Ali landed, not knowing +where to go, but, as he was walking along, a merchant saw him +and had pity on him. So he carried him to his house, where he +abode awhile, till he said in himself, 'How long shall this +sojourning in other folks' houses last?' Then he left the +merchant's house and went down to the quay, where he saw a ship +ready to sail for Syria. His host provided him with victual and +embarked him in the ship; and it set sail and arrived, in due +course, at the coast of Syria, where he landed and journeyed +till he entered Damascus. As he walked about the town, a +benevolent man saw him and took him to his house, where he +abode awhile, till, one day, going abroad, he saw a caravan +about to start for Baghdad and bethought himself to journey +thither with it. So he returned to his host and taking leave of +him, set out with the caravan. + +Now God (blessed and exalted be He) inclined to him the heart +of one of the merchants, so that he took him with him, and Ali +ate and drank with him, till they came within one day's journey +of Baghdad, where a company of highwaymen fell upon the caravan +and took all they had. But few of the merchants escaped and +these made each for a [separate] place of refuge. As for Ali, +he made for Baghdad, where he arrived at sundown, as the +gatekeepers were about to shut the gates, and said to them +'Let me in with you.' So they admitted him and asked him +whence he came and whither he was bound. 'I am a man from +the city of Cairo,' replied he, 'and have with me mules laden +with merchandise and slaves and servants. I forewent them, to +look me out a place wherein to deposit my goods; but as I rode +along on my mule, there fell upon me a company of highway robbers, +who took my mule and gear; nor did I escape from them but at +the last gasp.' The warders entreated him hospitably and bade +him welcome, saying, 'Abide with us this night, and in the +morning we will look thee out a place befitting thee.' Then he +sought in his pocket and finding a dinar remaining of those he +had gotten of the merchant at Boulac, gave it to one of the +gatekeepers, saying, 'Take this and change it and bring us +something to eat.' The man took it and went to the market, +where he changed it and brought Ali bread and cooked meat. So +he ate, he and the gatekeepers, and he lay the night with them. + +On the morrow, one of the warders carried him to a merchant of +the town, to whom he told the same story, and he believed him, +deeming that he was a merchant and had with him loads of +merchandise. So he took him up into his shop and entreated him +with honour. Moreover, he sent to his house for a splendid suit +of his own apparel for him and carried him to the bath. So, +[quoth Ali], I went with him to the bath, and when we came out, +he brought me to his house, where he caused set the morning-meal +before us, and we ate and made merry. + +Then said he to one of his slaves, "Harkye, Mesoud, take this +thy lord and show him the two houses in such a place. Whichever +pleases him of them, give him the key of it and come back." So +I went with the slave, till we came to a place where stood +three houses, side by side, new and shut up. He opened the +first and the second, and I looked at them; after which he said +to me, "Of which of them shall I give thee the key?" "To whom +does yon large house belong?" asked I. "To us," answered he; +and I said, "Open it, that I may view it." Quoth he, "Thou hast +no call to it." "Wherefore?" asked I; and he, "Because it is +haunted, and none lodges there but in the morning he is a dead +man; nor do we use to open the door, to take out the corpse, +but mount the roof of one of the other two houses and take it +up thence. For this reason, my master has abandoned the house +and says, 'I will never again give it to any one.'" Quoth I, +"Open it, that I may view it;" and I said in myself, "This is +what I seek. I will pass the night there and in the morning be +a dead man and be at peace from this miserable plight of mine." +So he opened it and I entered and found it a splendid house, +without its like; and I said to the slave, "I will have none +other than this house; give me the key." But he answered, "I +will not give thee this key till I consult my master," and +going to the latter, said to him, "The Egyptian merchant saith, +'I will lodge in none but the great house.'" + +When the merchant heard this, he rose and coming to Ali, said +to him, 'O my lord, thou hast no need of this house.' But he +replied, 'I will lodge in none other than this; for I care +nothing for this saying.'[FN#199] 'Then,' said the other, +'write me an acknowledgment that, if aught happen to thee, I am +not responsible.' 'So be it,' answered Ali; whereupon the +merchant fetched an assessor from the Cadi's court and taking +of him the prescribed acknowledgment, delivered him the key, +which he took and entered the house. The merchant sent him +bedding by a slave, who spread it for him on the bench behind +the door and went away. Presently Ali went into the inner court +and seeing there a well with a bucket, let down the latter and +drew water, with which he made the ablution and prayed the +obligatory prayers. Then he sat awhile, till the merchant's +slave brought him the evening meal from his master's house, +together with a lamp, a candle and candlestick, a basin and +ewer and a gugglet; after which he left him and returned home. +Ali lighted the candle and supped at his ease and prayed the +evening prayer; after which he said to himself, 'Let us take +the bed and go upstairs and sleep there, rather than here.' So +he took the bed and carried it upstairs, where he found a +splendid saloon, with gilded ceiling and walls and floor of +variegated marble. He spread his bed there and sitting down, +began to recite somewhat of the sublime Koran, when suddenly he +heard one calling to him and saying, 'O Ali, O son of Hassan, +shall I send thee down the gold?' And he answered, 'Send away.' + +Hardly had he spoken, when pieces of gold began to rain down on +him, like [pebbles from] a mangonel, nor stinted till the +saloon was full. Then said the voice, 'Set me free, that I may +go my way; for I have made an end of my service and have +delivered unto thee that which was committed to me for thee.' +Quoth Ali, 'I adjure thee by the Most High God to tell me the +history of this gold.' 'This is a treasure that was enchanted +to thee of old time,' replied the voice; 'and to every one, who +entered the house, we used to come and say to him, "O Ali, O +son of Hassan, shall we send down the gold?" Whereat he would +be affrighted and cry out, and we would come down to him and +break his neck and go away. But, when thou camest and we +accosted thee by thy name and that of thy father, saying, +"Shall we send thee down the gold?" and thou madest answer, +saying, "Send away," we knew thee for the owner of it and sent +it down. Moreover, there is yet another treasure for thee in +the land of Yemen, whither thou wouldst do well to journey and +fetch it. And now I would have thee set me free, that I may go +my way.' 'By Allah,' said Ali, 'I will not set thee free, till +thou bring me hither the treasure from Yemen!' Quoth the voice, +'If I bring it thee, wilt thou release me and the servant of +the other treasure also?' 'Yes,' replied Ali; and the genie +said, 'Swear to me.' So he swore to him, and he was about to go +away, when Ali said to him, 'I have one other service to ask of +thee.' 'What is that?' asked the genie. Quoth Ali, 'I have a +wife and children at Cairo, in such a place; thou must fetch +them to me, at their ease and without hurt.' 'I will bring them +to thee in state,' answered the genie, 'in a litter, with a +train of slaves and servants, together with the treasure from +Yemen, if it be the will of God the Most High.' Then he took of +him leave of absence for three days, at the end of which time +all this should be with him, and departed. + +When it was morning, Ali went round about the saloon, seeking a +place wherein to lay the gold, and saw in the wall of the dais +a marble panel, with a knob in it. So he pressed the knob and +the panel slid back and discovered a door, which he opened and +entering, found a great closet, full of linen bags. So he took +out the bags and fell to filling them with gold and replacing +them in the closet, till he had transported thither the whole +treasure, whereupon he shut the door and pressing the knob, the +panel returned to its place. Then he went down and seated +himself on the bench behind the door. Presently, there came a +knock at the door; so he opened it and found the merchant's +slave, who, seeing him, returned in haste to his master with +the good tidings, saying, 'O my lord, the merchant, who is +lodged in the haunted house, is alive and well and sits on the +bench behind the door.' When the merchant heard this, he rose +joyfully and went to the house, taking breakfast with him; and +when he saw Ali, he embraced him and kissed him between the +eyes, saying, 'How hath God dealt with thee?' 'Right well,' +answered Ali. 'I slept upstairs in the marble saloon.' Quoth +the merchant, 'Did aught come to thee or didst thou see aught?' +'No,' replied Ali; 'I recited some little of the Koran and +slept till morning, when I arose and after making the ablution +and praying, came down and seated myself on the bench behind +the door.' 'Praised be God for safety!' exclaimed the merchant, +then left him and presently sent him slaves and servants, black +and white and male and female, with furniture. They swept the +house from top to bottom and furnished it magnificently, after +which three black slaves and the like number of white and four +slave-girls abode with him, to serve him, and the rest returned +to their master's house. When the merchants heard of him, they +sent him presents of all manner of things of price, even to +meat and drink and clothes, and took him with them in the +market, saying, 'When will thy baggage arrive?' And he answered, +'After three days it will come.' + +Accordingly, when the three days had elapsed, the servant of +the first treasure came to him and said, 'Go forth and meet thy +harem, together with the treasure I have brought thee from +Yemen, part of which is by way of costly merchandise; but the +slaves, black and white, and the horses and camels and mules +are all of the Jinn. (Now the genie, when he betook himself to +Cairo, found Ali's wife and children in sore straits for +nakedness and hunger; so he carried them forth of the town in a +travelling-litter and clad them in sumptuous raiment of that +which was in the treasure of Yemen.) When Ali heard this, he +rose and repairing to the merchants, said to them, 'Come, go +forth the city with me, to meet the caravan, with my merchandise, +and honour me with the presence of your harems, to meet my +harem.' 'We hear and obey,' answered they and sending for +their harems, went forth all together and alighted in one +of the gardens without the city. As they sat talking, behold, a +cloud of dust arose out of the heart of the desert, and they +came out to see what it was. Presently, it lifted and discovered +mules and muleteers and tent-pitchers and linkmen, who came on, +singing and dancing, till they reached the garden, when the +chief of the muleteers came up to Ali and kissing his hand, +said to him, 'O my lord, we have been long on the way, for +we thought to enter some days ago; but we were in fear of +the highway-robbers, so abode in our station four days, till +God the Most High rid us of them.' + +Then the merchants mounted their mules and rode forward with +the caravan, wondering at the [number of] mules laden with +chests, whilst their harems followed them, with Ali's harem, +marvelling at the richness of the apparel of his wife and +children and saying to each other, 'Verily, the King of Baghdad +hath no such raiment, no, nor any other of the kings or +merchants or notables.' So they entered Baghdad in great state +and rode on till they came to Ali's house, where they alighted +and brought the mules and their burdens into the midst of the +courtyard. Then they unloaded them and laid up the goods in the +storehouses, whilst the merchants' wives went up with Ali's +family to the saloon, which they found as it were a luxuriant +garden, spread with magnificent furniture. They sat in mirth +and good cheer till noon, when they brought them up the noon +meal, of all manner meats and sweetmeats of the best; and +they ate and drank costly sherbets and perfumed themselves +thereafter with rose-water and scented woods. Then they took +leave and departed, men and women. When the merchants returned +home, they all sent presents to Ali, according to their +conditions; and their wives likewise sent presents to his wife, +so that there came to them great plenty of slaves, black and +white and male and female, and store of all manner goods, such +as grain and sugar and so forth, beyond count. As for the +landlord of the house, he abode with Ali and quitted him not, +but said to him, 'Let the slaves and servants take the mules +and the other cattle into one of my other houses, to rest.' +Quoth Ali, 'They set out again to-night for such a place.' Then +he gave them leave to go forth the city, that they might set +out on their journey at nightfall; whereupon they took leave of +him forthright and departing the city, flew off through the air +to their several abodes. + +Ali and the merchant sat together till a third of the night +was past, when the latter returned to his own house and Ali +went up to his wife and children and greeted them, saying, +'What hath befallen you all this time?' So she told him what +they had suffered of hunger and nakedness and toil, and he +said, 'Praised be God for safety! How did ye come?' 'O my lord,' +answered she, 'I was asleep, with my children, yesternight, +when suddenly one raised us from the ground and carried us +through the air, without doing us any hurt, nor did he give +over flying with us, till he set us down in a place as it were +a Bedouin camping-place, where we saw laden mules and a litter +borne upon two great mules, and round them servants, boys and +men. So I said to them, "Who are ye and what are these loads +and where are we?" And they answered, "We are the servants of +the merchant Ali ibn Hassan of Cairo, who has sent us to fetch +you to him at Baghdad." Quoth I, "Is it far or near, hence to +Baghdad?" "Near," answered they; "there lies but the darkness +of the night between us and the city." Then they mounted us in +the litter, and on the morrow, we found ourselves with thee, +without having suffered any hurt. 'Who gave you these clothes?' +asked he, and she said, 'The chief of the caravan opened one of +the chests on the mules and taking out the clothes, clad me and +the children each in a suit; after which he locked the chest +and gave me the key, saying, "Take care of it, till thou give +it to thy husband." And here it is, safe.' So saying, she gave +him the key, and he said, 'Dost thou know the chest?' 'Yes,' +answered she. So he took her down to the magazine and she +pointed it out, whereupon he put the key in the lock and opened +the chest, in which he found much raiment and the keys of all +the other chests. So he took them out and fell to opening the +other chests, one after another, and feasting his eyes upon the +jewels and precious metals they contained, whose like was not +found with any of the kings; after which he locked them again +and took the keys, saying to his wife, 'This is of the bounty +of God the Most High.' + +Then he returned with her to the saloon and bringing her to the +secret panel, pressed the knob and opened the door of the +closet into which he entered with her and showed her the gold +he had laid up there. Quoth she, 'Whence hadst thou all this?' +'It came to me by the grace of my Lord,' answered he and told +her all that had befallen him, from first to last. 'O my lord,' +said she, 'all this comes of the blessing of thy father's +prayers, whenas he prayed for thee, before his death, saying, +"I beseech God to cast thee into no strait, except He bring +thee speedy deliverance [therefrom]!" So praised be God the +Most High for that He hath brought thee relief and hath +requited thee with more than thou didst lose! But God on thee, +O my lord, return not to thy sometime fashion and companying +with folk of lewd life; but look thou fear God the Most High, +both in public and private!' And she went on to admonish him. +Quoth he, 'I accept thine admonition and beg God the Most High +to remove the wicked from us and stablish us in His obedience +and in the observance of the law of His Prophet, on whom be +peace and salvation!' + +Ali and his wife and children were now in all delight of life and +gladness; and he opened him a shop in the merchants' bazaar and +stocking it with jewels and precious metals, sat therein with +his children and servants. He soon became the most considerable +of the merchants of Baghdad, and his report reached the King of +that city, who sent a messenger to command his attendance. So +he took four trays of red gold and filling them with jewels and +precious metals, such as no king possessed, went up to the +palace and presenting himself before the prince, kissed the +earth before him and wished him continuance of glory and +prosperity, in the best words he could command. 'O merchant,' +said the King, 'thou honourest our city with thy presence;' +and Ali rejoined, saying, 'O King of the age, thy slave hath +brought thee a present and hopes for acceptance thereof from +thy favour.' So saying, he laid the four trays before the King, +who uncovered them and seeing that they contained jewels, +whose like he possessed not and whose worth equalled treasuries +of money, said, 'O merchant, thy present is accepted, and so +God please, we will requite thee with its like.' And Ali kissed +his hands and went away. Then the King called his grandees +and said to them, 'How many kings have sought my daughter in +marriage?' 'Many,' answered they. 'Hath any of them given me +the like of this gift?' asked he. 'Not one,' replied they; +'for that none of them hath its like;' and he said, 'I have +consulted God the Most High,[FN#200] as to marrying my daughter +to this merchant. What say ye?' 'Be it as thou deemest,' +answered they. Then he bade the eunuch carry the four trays +into his harem and going in to his wife, laid them before +her. She uncovered them and seeing therein that whose like +she possessed not,--no, nor a fraction thereof,--said to him, +'Of which of the kings hadst thou these? Peradventure of +one of those that seek our daughter in marriage?' 'Not so,' +answered he, 'I had them of an Egyptian merchant, who is lately +come to our city. I heard tell of him and sent to command him +to us, thinking to make his acquaintance, so haply we might +find with him somewhat of jewels and buy them of him for our +daughter's equipment. He obeyed the summons and brought us +these four trays, as a present, and I saw him to be a handsome +and elegant young man[FN#201] of dignified aspect and accomplished +wit, well-nigh as he were of the sons of the kings. Wherefore my +heart inclined to him and I rejoiced in him and thought to marry +my daughter to him.' Then he told her what had passed between +himself and his grandees on the subject and added, 'But what +sayst thou?' 'O King of the age,' answered she, 'the affair +is in God's hand, and thine, and what God willeth shall come +to pass.' 'If it be His will,' rejoined the King, 'I will marry +her to none other than this young man.' + +So, on the morrow, he went out to his Divan and sending for Ali +and the rest of the merchants of Baghdad, bade them be seated. +Then he summoned the Cadi of the Divan and said to him, 'O +Cadi, draw up the contract of marriage between my daughter and +the merchant Ali of Cairo.' But the latter said, 'Thy pardon, O +our lord the Sultan! It befits not that a merchant, such as I, +be the King's son-in-law.' Quoth the King, 'It is my will to +bestow this favour upon thee, as well as the Vizierate.' And he +invested him forthwith in the Vizier's habit. Then Ali sat down +in the seat of the Vizierate and said, 'O King of the age, thou +hast bestowed on me this; and indeed I am honoured by thy +bounties; but hear one word from me.' 'Say on,' answered the +King, 'and fear not.' Quoth Ali, 'Since it is thine august will +to marry thy daughter, thou wouldst do better to marry her to +my son.' 'Hast thou then a son?' asked the King; and Ali +replied, 'Yes.' 'Send for him forthright,' said the King; +whereupon, 'I hear and obey,' answered Ali and sent a servant +to fetch his son, who came and kissing the ground before the +King, stood in an attitude of respect. The King looked at him +and seeing him to be yet comelier than his daughter and +goodlier than she in symmetry and brightness and perfection, +said to him, 'O my son, what is thy name?' 'O our lord the +Sultan,' replied the young man, who was then fourteen years +old, 'my name is Hassan.' Then the Sultan said to the Cadi, +'Write the contract of marriage between my daughter Husn el +Wujoud and Hassan, son of the merchant Ali of Cairo.' So he +wrote the contract of marriage between them, and the affair was +ended on the goodliest wise; after which all in the Divan went +their ways and the merchants escorted the Vizier Ali to his +house, where they gave him joy of his advancement and departed. +Then he went in to his wife, who, seeing him clad in the +Vizier's habit, exclaimed, 'What is this?' So he told her all +that had passed, and she rejoiced therein with an exceeding +joy. + +On the morrow, he went up to the Divan, where the King received +him with especial favour and seating him beside himself, said +to him, 'O Vizier, we purpose to celebrate the wedding festivities +and bring thy son in to our daughter.' 'O our lord the Sultan,' +replied Ali, 'that thou deemest good is good.' So the Sultan +gave orders for the festivities, and they decorated the city +and held high festival thirty days, in all cheer and gladness; +at the end of which time, the Vizier Ali's son Hassan went +in to the princess and enjoyed her beauty and grace. When +the queen saw her daughter's husband, she conceived a warm +affection for him, and in like manner she rejoiced greatly in +his mother. Then the King bade build his son-in-law a palace +beside his own; so they built him with all speed a splendid +palace, in which he took up his abode; and his mother used to +abide with her son some days and then return to her own house. +After awhile, the queen said to her husband, 'O King of the +age, Hassan's mother cannot take up her abode with her son and +leave the Vizier; neither can she abide with her husband and +leave her son.' 'Thou sayst sooth,' replied the King and bade +build a third palace beside the two others, which being done in +a few days, he caused remove thither the Vizier's goods, and +the latter and his wife took up their abode there. Now the +three palaces communicated with one another, so that, when the +King had a mind to speak with the Vizier by night, he would go +to him or send to fetch him; and so with Hassan and his father +and mother. + +They dwelt thus in the greatest happiness and contentment awhile, +till the King fell ill and his sickness increased on him. So he +summoned the grandees of his realm and said to them, 'There is +come upon me a sore sickness, peradventure a mortal one, and I +have therefore summoned you to consult you respecting a certain +matter, on which I would have you counsel me as you deem well.' +'What is the matter of which thou wouldst take counsel with us, +O King?' asked they; and he answered, 'I am old and sickly and +I fear for the realm, after me, from the enemies; so I would +have you all agree upon some one, that I may proclaim him king +in my lifetime and so ye may be at ease.' Whereupon quoth they +all, 'We all approve of thy son-in-law Hassan, son of the +Vizier Ali; for we have seen the perfectness of his wit and +understanding, and he knows the rank of all, great and small. + +'Are ye indeed agreed upon this?' asked the King, and they +answered, 'Yes.' 'Peradventure,' quoth he, 'ye say this to my +face, of respect for me; but, behind my back, ye will say +otherwise.' But they all answered, saying, 'By Allah, our word, +in public and in private, is one, varying not; and we accept +him frankly and with all our hearts.' 'Since the case is thus,' +said the King, 'bring the Cadi of the Holy Law and all the +chamberlains and captains and officers of state before me +to-morrow, and we will settle the affair on the goodliest +wise.' 'We hear and obey,' answered they and withdrawing, +notified all the doctors of the law and the chief Amirs. + +So, on the morrow, they came up to the Divan and saluted the +King, who said to them, 'O Amirs of Baghdad, whom will ye have +to be king over you after me, that I may invest him in my +lifetime, in the presence of you all?' Quoth they all, 'We are +agreed upon thy daughter's husband, Hassan, son of the Vizier +Ali.' 'If it be so,' said the King, 'go all of you and bring +him before me.' So they all arose and repairing to Hassan's +palace, said to him, 'Come with us to the King.' 'Wherefore?' +asked he, and they answered, 'For a thing that will advantage +both us and thee.' So he went in with them to the King and +kissed the ground before the latter, who bade him be seated and +said to him, 'O Hassan, all the Amirs have approved of thee and +agreed to make thee king over them after me; and it is my +purpose to proclaim thee, whilst I yet live, and so make an end +of the business.' But Hassan arose and kissing the earth once +more before the King, said to him, 'O our lord the King, among +the Amirs there be [many] who are older than I and greater of +worth; hold me quit therefore of this thing.' Quoth all the +Amirs, 'We consent not but that thou be king over us.' Then +said Hassan, 'My father is older than I, and he and I are one +thing; and it befits not to advance me over him.' But Ali +said, 'I will consent to nothing but what is pleasing to my +brethren; and they have all chosen and agreed upon thee. +Wherefore gainsay thou not the King's commandment and that +of thy brethren.' And Hassan hung his head in abashment before +the King and his father. Then said the King to the Amirs, 'Do +ye all accept of him?' 'We do,' answered they and recited +thereupon seven Fatihehs.'[FN#202] So the King said to the +Cadi, 'Draw up a legal act testifying of these Amirs that they +are agreed to make my daughter's husband Hassan king over +them.' So the Cadi wrote the act and made it executory,[FN#203] +after they had all taken the oath of fealty to Hassan. Then the +King invested him with the insignia of royalty and bade him +take his seat on the throne; whereupon they all arose and +kissed King Hassan's hands and did homage to him. + +The new king dispensed justice among the people that day, in +right royal fashion, and invested the grandees of the realm in +splendid robes of honour. When the Divan broke up, he went in +to his father-and-law and kissed his hands; and the old King +said to him, 'O my son, look thou govern the people in the fear +of God.' 'O my father,' replied Hassan, 'through thy prayers +for me, the grace of God will come to me.' Then he entered his +own palace and was met by his wife and her mother and their +attendants, who kissed his hands and gave him joy of his +advancement, saying, 'This is a blessed day.' Then he went in +to his father and mother, who rejoiced with an exceeding joy in +that which God had vouchsafed him of his advancement to the +kingship, and his father exhorted him to the fear of God and to +affectionate solicitude in his dealings with his subjects. He +passed the night in joy and gladness, and on the morrow, having +prayed the appointed prayers, concluding with the customary +recitation of part of the Koran, he repaired to the Divan, +whither came all his officers and dignitaries. He passed the +day in dispensing justice among his subjects, enjoining to +beneficence and forbidding from iniquity and appointing and +displacing, till nightfall, when the Divan broke up, after the +goodliest fashion, and all present withdrew and went each his +own way. Then he arose and went in to the palace, where he +found his father-in-law's sickness grown heavy upon him and +said to him, 'May no hurt befall thee!' At this the old King +opened his eyes and said, 'O Hassan!' 'At thy service, O my +lord,' replied the young man. Quoth the old King, 'My last hour +is at hand: be careful of thy wife and her mother and look +thou fear God and honour thy parents, being still in awe of +the majesty of the Requiting King and remembering that He +commandeth to justice and beneficence.' And Hassan replied, +'I hear and obey.' + +The old King lingered three days after this and was then +received into the mercy of God the Most High. They paid him +the last offices and buried him and held over him readings and +recitations of the Koran, to the end of the [customary] forty +days. And King Hassan, son of the Vizier, reigned in his stead, +and his subjects rejoiced in him and all his days were gladness. +Moreover, his father ceased not to be his chief Vizier on his +right hand, and he took to himself another Vizier, to be at his +left hand. His reign was a prosperous one and he abode long +King in Baghdad. God blessed him, by the old King's daughter, +with three sons, who inherited the kingdom after him; and they +abode in the enjoyment of all delight and solace of life, till +there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer +of Companies. And glory be to Him who is eternal and in whose +hand are annulment and confirmation! + + + + + + THE PILGRIM AND THE OLD WOMAN WHO DWELT + IN THE DESERT. + + + +A man of the pilgrims once slept a long sleep and awaking, +found no trace of the caravan. So he arose and walked on, but +lost his way and presently came to a tent, at whose door he saw +an old woman and a dog by her, asleep. He went up to the tent +and saluting the old woman, sought of her food. 'Go to yonder +valley,' said she, 'and catch thy sufficiency of serpents, that +I may broil of them for thee and give thee to eat.' 'I dare not +catch serpents,' answered the pilgrim; 'nor did I ever eat +them.' Quoth the old woman, 'I will go with thee and catch +them; fear not.' So she went with him, followed by the dog, to +the valley, and catching a sufficient number of serpents, +proceeded to broil them. He saw nothing for it but to eat, for +fear of hunger and exhaustion; so he ate of the serpents. + +Then he was athirst and asked for water to drink. 'Go to the +spring and drink,' answered she. So he went to the spring and +found the water thereof bitter; yet needs must he drink of it, +for all its bitterness, because of the violence of his thirst. +Then he returned to the old woman and said to her, 'O old +woman, I marvel at thy choosing to abide in this place and +putting up with such meat and drink!' 'And how is it then in +thy country?' asked she. 'In my country,' answered he, 'are +wide and spacious houses and ripe and delicious fruits and +sweet and abundant waters and goodly viands and fat meats and +plentiful flocks and all things pleasant and all the goods of +life, the like whereof are not, save in the Paradise that God +the Most High hath promised to His pious servants.' 'All this,' +replied she, 'have I heard: but tell me, have you a Sultan who +ruleth over you and is tyrannical in his rule and under whose +hand you are, who, if one of you commit a fault, taketh his +goods and undoth him and who, when he will, turneth you out of +your houses and uprooteth you, stock and branch?' 'Indeed, that +may be,' answered the man. 'Then, by Allah,' rejoined she, +'these your delicious viands and dainty life and pleasant +estate, with tyranny and oppression, are but a corroding +poison, in comparison wherewith, our food and fashion, with +freedom and safety, are a healthful medicine. Hast thou not +heard that the best of all boons, after the true Faith, are +health and security?' + +Now these[FN#204] [quoth he who tells the tale] may be by the +just rule of the Sultan, the Vicar of God in His earth, and the +goodness of his policy. The Sultan of times past needed but +little awfulness, for that, when the people saw him, they +feared him; but the Sultan of these days hath need of the most +accomplished policy and the utmost majesty, for that men are +not as men of time past and this our age is one of folk +depraved and greatly calamitous, noted for folly and hardness +of heart and inclined to hatred and enmity. If, therefore, the +Sultan that is set over them be (which God the Most High +forfend) weak or lack of policy and majesty, without doubt, +this will be the cause of the ruin of the land. Quoth the +proverb, 'A hundred years of the Sultan's tyranny, rather than +one of the tyranny of the people, one over another.' When the +people oppress one another, God setteth over them a tyrannical +Sultan and a despotic King. Thus it is told in history that +there was, one day, presented to El Hejjaj ben Yousuf[FN#205] a +docket, in which was written, 'Fear God and oppress not His +servants with all manner of oppression.' When he read this, he +mounted the pulpit, (for he was ready of speech,) and said, 'O +folk' God the Most High hath set me over you, by reason of your +[evil] deeds; and though I die, yet will ye not be delivered +from oppression, with your evil deeds; for God the Most High +hath created many like unto me. If it be not I, it will be a +more fertile than I in mischief and a mightier in oppression +and a more strenuous in violence, even as saith the poet: + +For no hand is there but the hand of God is over it And no + oppressor but shall be with worse than he oppress. + +Tyranny is feared: but justice is the best of all things. We +beg God to better our case.' + + + + + + ABOULHUSN AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL TAWEDDUD. + + + +There was once in Baghdad a man of rank and rich in money and +houses and lands, who was one of the chiefs of the merchants, +and God had largely endowed him with worldly goods, but had +not vouchsafed him what he longed for of offspring; and there +passed over him a long space of time, without his being blessed +with children, male or female. His years waxed great, his bones +became wasted and his back bent, and weakness and trouble +increased on him, and he feared the loss of his wealth and +possessions, seeing he had no child, whom he might make his +heir and by whom he should be remembered. So he betook himself +with supplication to God the Most High, fasting by day and +rising by night [to pray]. Moreover, he made vows to God the +Living, the Eternal, and visited the pious and was instant in +supplication to the Most Migh, till He gave ear to him and +accepted his prayer and took pity on his striving and complaining; +so that, before many days were past, he lay with one of his women +and she became with child by him the same night. She accomplished +the months of her pregnancy and casting her burden, bore a male +child as he were a piece of the moon; whereupon the merchant, +in his gratitude to God, (to whom belong might and majesty,) +fulfilled his vows and gave alms and clothed the widow and the +orphan. + +On the seventh night after the boy's birth, he named him +Aboulhusn, and the wet-nurses suckled him and the dry-nurses +dandled him and the slaves and servants carried him, till he +grew up and throve and learnt the sublime Koran and the +ordinances of Islam and the things of the True Faith. Moreover, +he learned writing and poetry and mathematics and archery and +became the pearl of his age and the goodliest of the folk of +his time and his day, fair of face and fluent of tongue, +bearing himself with a proud and graceful port and glorying in +his symmetry and amorous grace. His cheeks were red and his +forehead white and brilliant and the tender down of the +whiskers darkened upon his face, even as saith one, describing +him: + +The Spring of the down on his cheeks to the eye shows clear; + And how shall the rose endure, after Spring is here? +Dost thou not see that the growth on his cheek, forsooth, A + violet is, that forth of its leaves doth peer? + +He abode awhile with his father, in the best of case, and the +latter rejoiced and delighted in him, till he came to man's +estate, when the merchant one day made him sit down before him +and said to him, 'O my son, the appointed term draws near; my +last hour is at hand and it remains but to meet God (to whom +belong might and majesty). I leave thee what shall suffice +thee, even to thy son's son, of money and farms and houses and +gardens; wherefore, O my son, fear thou God the Most High in +[dealing with] that which I leave thee and follow none but +those who will help thee [in this].' Not long after, he +sickened and died; so his son ordered his funeral, after the +goodliest fashion, and burying him, returned to his house and +sat mourning for him [many] days and nights, till certain of +his friends came in to him and said to him, 'Whoso leaveth the +like of thee after him is not dead; indeed, what is past is +past and mourning beseemeth none but girls and cloistered +women.' And they ceased not from him, till they wrought on him +to enter the bath and break off his mourning. Then he forgot +his father's injunctions, and his head was turned by his +riches; he thought fortune would still abide with him, as it +was, and that wealth would never come to an end. So he ate and +drank and made merry and took his pleasure and gave gifts of +money and raiment and was profuse with gold and gave himself up +to eating fowls and breaking the seals of wine-flasks and +listening to songs and to the laugh of the wine, as it gurgled +from the flagon; nor did he give over this way of life, till +his wealth was wasted and the case became straitened [upon him] +and he bit his hands [for repentance] and gone was all he had. + +In good sooth, he had nothing left, after that which he had +squandered, but a slave-girl that his father had bequeathed to +him with the rest of his estate: her name was Taweddud and she +had no equal in beauty and grace and brightness and symmetry +and all perfection. She was past mistress in all manner of arts +and accomplishments and endowed with [many] excellences, +surpassing all the folk of her age and time. She was grown more +notorious than a way-mark,[FN#206] for the versatility of her +genius, and outdid the fair both in theory and practice and +elegant and flexile grace, more by token that she was five feet +high and in conjunction with fair fortune, with strait arched +brows, as they were the crescent moon of Shaaban,[FN#207] and +eyes like those of gazelles, nose like the point of the sabre +and cheeks like blood-red anemones, mouth like Solomon's seal +and teeth like necklaces of pearls, navel holding an ounce of +benzoin ointment and waist more slender than his body whom love +hath wasted and whom concealment [of his passion] hath made +sick, and buttocks heavier than two hills of sand; brief, in +all she answered to the saying of him who says: + +Her fair shape ravisheth, if face to face she did appear, And + if she turn, for severance from her she slayeth sheer. +Sun-like, full-moon-like, sapling-like, unto her character + Estrangement nowise appertains nor cruelty austere. +Under the bosom of her shift the garths of Eden are, and the + full-moon revolveth still upon her neck-rings' sphere. + +She seemed [at once] a rising full moon and a browsing gazelle, +a girl of nine and five,[FN#208] putting to shame the moon and +the sun, even as saith of her the eloquent and ingenious poet: + +The likeness of the full-moon, faring o'er The heavens, five + and five and after four; +'Tis not my fault, if she have made of me Its likeness, when it + first in heaven doth soar. + +White of skin, odoriferous of breath, it seemed as if she were +[at once] fashioned of fire and moulded of crystal; rose-red +was the cheek of her and perfect her shape and figure; even as +saith of her one, describing her: + + +Scented with sandal and musk, right proudly doth she go, With + gold and silver and rose and saffron-colour aglow. +A flower in a garden she is, a pearl in an ouch of gold Or an + image in chapel set for worship of high and low. +Slender and shapely she is; vivacity bids her arise, But the + weight of her hips says, "Sit, or softly and slowly go." +Whenas her favours I seek and sue for my heart's desire, "Be + gracious," her beauty says; but her coquetry answers, + "No." +Glory to Him who made beauty her portion, and that Of her lover + to be the prate of the censurers, heigho! + +Indeed, she captivated all who saw her, with the excellence of +her beauty and the sweetness of her smile, and transpierced +them with the arrows she launched from her eyes; and withal she +was eloquent of speech and excellently skilled in poetry. + +When Aboulhusn had squandered all his wealth and there remained +to him nought but this slave-girl, when [I say] the wretchedness +of his plight became manifest to him, he abode three days +without tasting food or taking rest in sleep, and Taweddud +said to him, 'O my lord, carry me to the Khalif Haroun er +Reshid, fifth of the sons of Abbas, and seek of him ten thousand +dinars to my price. If he deem me dear at this price, say to +him, "O Commander of the Faithful, my slave is worth more +than this: do but prove her, and her value will be magnified +in thine eyes, for she hath not her equal, and it were unfit +that any but thou should possess her." And beware, O my lord, +of selling me for less than the sum I have named, for it is +but little for the like of me.' (Now Aboulhusn knew not her +worth nor that she had no equal in her day.) So he carried +her to the Khalif, to whom he repeated what she had bidden +him say, and the Khalif said to her, 'What is thy name?' +'Taweddud,' answered she. 'O Taweddud,' asked he, 'in what +branches of knowledge dost thou excel?' 'O my lord,' answered +she, 'I am versed in syntax and poetry and jurisprudence and +exegesis and lexicography and music and the knowledge of the +Divine ordinances and in arithmetic and geodesy and the fables +of the ancients. I know the sublime Koran [by heart] and have +read it according to the seven and the ten and the fourteen +[modes]. I know the number of its chapters and verses and +sections and words and letters and its halves and fourths +and eighths and tenths, the number of acts of adoration, +that occur in it, and what there is in it of cancelling and +cancelled;[FN#209] also what parts of it were revealed at +Medina and what at Mecca and the manner of the different +revelations. I know the Holy Traditions, their history and +variants and the manner of their recitation and interpretation, +together with those of them whose chain of descent is unbroken +and those for which it is broken; and I have studied the exact +sciences, geometry and philosophy and medicine and logic +and rhetoric and composition; and I know many things and am +passionately fond of poetry. I can play the lute and know its +gamut and notation and so forth. If I sing and dance, I ravish, +and if I adorn and perfume myself, I slay. In fine, I have +reached a pitch of perfection such as can only be estimated by +those who are stablished in knowledge.'[FN#210] + +When the Khalif heard her words, he wondered at them and at the +eloquence of her speech, seeing the tenderness of her age, and +turning to Aboulhusn, said to him, 'I will summon those who +shall examine her in all she lays claim to; if she answer +[correctly,] I will give thee the price thou askest for her and +more; and if not, thou art fitter to [possess] her [than I].' +'With all my heart, O Commander of the Faithful,' replied +Aboulhusn. So the Khalif wrote to the Viceroy of Bassora, to +send him Ibrahim ben Siyyar the poet, who was the first man of +his day in argument and eloquence and poetry and logic, and +bade him bring with him readers of the Koran and doctors of the +law and physicians and astrologers and sages and geometricians +and philosophers; and Ibrahim was more learned than all. In a +little while they all arrived at the Khalif's palace, knowing +not what was to do, and the latter sent for them to his +sitting-chamber and bade them be seated. So they sat down and +he bade fetch the damsel Taweddud, who came and unveiling, +showed herself, as she were a sparkling star. The Khalif caused +set her a stool of gold; and she saluted and speaking with an +eloquent tongue, said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, bid the +learned men present contend with me in argument.' So he said to +them, 'I desire of you that ye dispute with this damsel on the +things of her faith and make void her argument, in all she +avoucheth;' and they answered, saying, 'We hear and obey God +and thee, O Commander of the Faithful.' + +Thereupon Taweddud bowed her head and said, 'Which of you is +the doctor of the law, the scholar, versed in the interpretation +of the Koran and in the Traditions?' Quoth one of them, 'I am +the man thou seekest.' 'Then,' said she, 'ask me of what thou +wilt.' Quoth the doctor, 'Hast thou read the precious book of +God and dost thou know its abrogating and abrogated parts and +hast thou meditated its verses and expressions?' 'Yes,' answered +she. 'Then,' said he, 'I will proceed to question thee of the +obligatory ordinances and the immutable institutions: so tell +me of these, O damsel, and who is thy Lord, who thy prophet, +and who thy brethren. Also, what is thy [point of] fronting +[in prayer], what thine exemplar, what thy path and what thy +highway?' 'Allah is my Lord,' replied she, 'and Mohammed (whom +God bless and preserve) my prophet and the true-believers are my +brethren. The Koran is my exemplar and the Kaabeh my [point of] +fronting; the practice of good is my path and the Sunneh[FN#211] +my highway.' (Q.) 'With what do we know God the Most High?' +(A.) 'With the understanding.' (Q.) 'And what is the understanding?' +(A.) 'It is of two kinds, natural and acquired. The first is that +which God (to whom belong might and majesty) bestoweth on whom He +will of His servants; and the other is that which men acquire +by dint of study and fair knowledge.' (Q.) 'Thou hast answered +well. Where is the seat of the understanding?' (A.) 'God casteth +it in the heart, whence its lustre ascendeth to the brain and +there becometh fixed.' (Q.) 'How knowest thou the Prophet of God?' +(A.) 'By the reading of God's Holy Book and by signs and proofs +and portents and miracles.' (Q.) 'What are the obligatory +ordinances and the immutable institutions?' (A.) 'The obligatory +ordinances are five in number. (1) Testification that there is no +god but God alone, that He hath no partner in divinity and that +Mohammed is His servant and His apostle. (2) The scrupulous +performance of the enjoined prayers. (3) The payment of the +poor-rate. (4) Fasting Ramazan. (5) The performance of the +Pilgrimage to God's Holy House [at Mecca] for all to whom it +is possible. The immutable institutions are four in number; to +wit, night and day and sun and moon, the which build up life and +hope, neither knoweth any son of Adam if they will be destroyed +on the Day of Judgment.' (Q.) 'What are the obligatory rites of +the Faith?' (A.) 'Prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage, +fighting for the Faith and abstinence from what is forbidden.' +(Q.) 'Why dost thou stand up to pray?' (A.) 'To express the +devout intent of the slave submitting himself to [or acknowledging] +the Divinity.' (Q.) 'What are the conditions precedent of standing +up to pray?' (A.) 'Purification, covering the privy parts, +the avoidance of soiled clothes, standing on a clean place, +fronting [the Kaabeh,] a standing posture, the intent[FN#212] +and the magnification of prohibition.'[FN#213] (Q.) 'With what +shouldest thou go forth thy house to pray? (A.) 'With an intent +of worship.'[FN#214] (Q.) 'With what intent shouldest thou +enter the mosque?' (A.) 'With an intent of service.'[FN#215] +(Q.) 'Why do we front the Kaabeh?' (A.) 'In obedience to three +Divine and one Traditional ordinance.' (Q.) 'What is the +commencement, the consecration and the dissolution [end] of +prayer?' (A.) 'Purification, the magnification of prohibition +and the salutation of the angels [concluding prayer].' (Q.) +'What of him who neglecteth prayer?' (A.) 'It is reported, +among the authentic (Traditions of the Prophet, that he said), +"He, who neglecteth prayer wilfully and without excuse, hath no +part in Islam."' (Q.) 'What is prayer?' (A.) 'Prayer is +communion between the slave and his Lord, and in it are ten +virtues, to wit, (1) it illumines the heart (2) makes the face +shine (3) pleases the Merciful One (4) angers Satan (5) +conjures calamity (6) wards off the mischief of enemies (7) +multiplies mercy (8) forfends vengeance [or punishment] (9) +brings the slave nigh unto [or in favour with] his Lord and +(10) restrains from lewdness and iniquity. It is one of the +written obligatory ordinances and the pillar of the Faith.' +(Q.) 'What is the key of prayer?' (A.) 'Ablution.' (Q.) 'What +is the key of ablution?' (A.) 'Nomination.'[FN#216] (Q.) 'That +of naming God?' (A.) 'Faith.' (Q.) 'That of Faith?' (A.) 'Trust +in God.' (Q.) 'That of trust in God?' (A.) 'Hope.' (Q.) 'That +of Hope?' (A.) 'Obedience.' (Q.) 'That of obedience?' (A.) 'The +confession of the unity and the acknowledgment of the divinity +of God.' (Q.) 'What are the Divine ordinances of ablution?' +(A.) 'They are six in number, according to the canon of the +Imam Es Shafi Mohammed ben Idris (of whom God accept) to wit, +(1) intent[FN#217] to wash the face (2) washing the face (3) +washing the hands and elbows (4) wiping part of the head (5) +washing the feet and heels and (6) observing the prescribed +order of ablution, whose statutes are ten in number, to wit, +(1) nomination (2) washing the hands before putting them into +the vase (3) rinsing the mouth (4) drawing up water through the +nostrils (5) wiping the whole head (6) washing the ears within +and without with fresh water (7) separating a thick beard (8) +separating the fingers and toes (9) washing the right foot +before the left and (10) doing each of these thrice and all in +unbroken succession. When the ablution is ended, the devotee +should (quoth Es Shafi[FN#218]) say, "I testify that there is +no god but God alone, who hath no partner, and that Mohammed is +His servant and apostle. O my God, make me of those who repent +and are made clean! Glory to Thee, O my God, and in Thy praise +I testify that there is no god but Thou! I crave pardon of +Thee and repent to Thee!" For it is reported, in the Holy +Traditions, that the Prophet (whom God bless and keep) said of +this prayer, "Whoso ensueth every ablution with this prayer, +the eight gates of Paradise are open to him; he shall enter at +which he pleases."' (Q.) 'When a man purposes to make the +ablution, what betides him from the angels and the devils?' +(A.) 'When a man prepares for ablution, the angels come and +stand on his right and the devils on his left hand. If he name +God, at the beginning of the ablution, the devils flee from him +and the angels hover over him with a pavilion of light, having +four ropes, to each an angel glorifying God and craving pardon +for him, so long as he remains silent or calls upon the name of +God. But if he omit to begin with naming God (to whom belong +might and majesty) neither remain silent, the angels depart +from him and the devils settle upon him and whisper evil +thoughts unto him, till he falls into doubt and comes short in +his ablution. For (quoth he on whom be blessing and salvation) +"A perfect ablution driveth away the devils and assureth +against the tyranny of the Sultan; and he who neglecteth the +ablution, if calamity befall him, let him blame none but +himself."' (Q.) 'What should a man do, when he awakes from +sleep?' (A.) 'He should wash his hands thrice, before putting +them into the vessel.' (Q.) 'What are the ordinances, Koranic +and Traditional, of complete ablution?'[FN#219] (A.) 'The +Koranic ordinances are intent and covering the whole body with +water, so that it shall come at every part of the hair and +skin. The Traditional, previous partial ablution [as before +prayer,] rubbing the body, separating the hair and deferring in +words[FN#220] the washing of the feet till the end of the +ablution.' (Q.) 'What are the reasons [or occasions] for making +the ablution with other than water, and what are the ordinances +thereof, Koranic and Traditional?'[FN#221] (A.) 'The reasons +are seven in number, to wit, lack of water, fear, need thereto, +going astray on a journey, sickness, having the bones [broken +and] in splints and wounds. As for its ordinances, the Koranic +are four in number, to wit, intent, dust, applying it to the +face and to the hands, and the Traditional two, to wit, +nomination and preferring the right before the left hand.' (Q.) +'What are the conditions, the essentials [or fundamentals] and +the Traditional statutes of prayer?' (A.) 'The conditions are +five in number, to wit, (1) purification of the members (2) +covering the privy parts (3) observing the proper hours, either +of certainty or to the best of one's belief, (4) fronting the +Kaabeh and (5) standing on a clean place. The essentials are +twelve in number, to wit, (1) intent (2) the magnification of +prohibition (3) standing at the proper distance one from +another (4) repeating the first chapter of the Koran and also +(according to the Shafiyites) saying, "In the name of God the +Merciful, the Compassionate!" a verse thereof (5) bowing the +body and tranquillity [or gravity] therein (6) keeping the feet +and legs still and in the same position, [whilst the rest of +the body moves], and tranquillity therein (7) prostration and +tranquillity therein (8) sitting between two prostrations and +tranquillity therein (9) repeating the latter profession of +the Faith and sitting up therefor (10) invoking benediction +on the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) (11) the first +Salutation[FN#222] and (12) the intent of making an end of +prayer, [expressed] in words. The Traditional statutes are +the call to prayer, the repetition of the words of the latter, +raising the hands to either side of the face, whilst pronouncing +the magnification of prohibition, pronouncing the magnification +before reciting the Fatiheh [First chapter of the Koran], +seeking refuge with God,[FN#223] saying "Amen," repeating +the (obligatory) chapter [of the Koran] after the Fatiheh, +repeating the magnifications during change of posture, saying, +"May God hear him who praiseth Him!" and "O our Lord, to Thee +be the praise!" uttering aloud the prayers in their places +and in like manner, under the breath, those so prescribed, +the first testification and sitting up thereto, blessing the +Prophet therein, blessing his family in the latter profession +[or testification] and the second Salutation.' (Q.) 'On what +is the poor-rate taxable?' (A.) 'On gold and silver and camels +and oxen and sheep and wheat and barley and millet and beans +and pulse and rice and raisins and dates.' (Q.) 'What is the +poor-rate on gold ?' (A.) 'Below twenty dinars, nothing; but, +on that amount and over, half a dinar for every score.' +(Q.) 'On silver?' (A.) 'Under two hundred dirhems, nothing; +then, five dirhems on every two hundred.' (Q.) 'On camels?' +(A.) 'For every five, an ewe, or for every twenty-five a +pregnant camel.' (Q.) 'On sheep?' (A.) 'On forty and over, an +ewe for every forty head.' (Q.) 'What are the ordinances of +the Fast [of Ramazan]?' (A.) 'The Koranic are intent,[FN#224] +abstinence from eating, drinking and copulation and stoppage of +vomiting. It is incumbent on all who submit to the Law, save +women in their courses and forty days after child-birth; and it +becomes obligatory on sight of the new moon or on news of its +appearance, brought by a trustworthy person and commending +itself as truth to the hearer's heart; and among its requisites +is that it be commenced by night.[FN#225] The Traditional +ordinances of fasting are, hastening to break the fast,[FN#226] +deferring the fore-dawn meal[FN#227] and abstaining from +speech, save for good works and for calling on the name of God +and reciting the Koran.' (Q.) 'What things vitiate not the +fast?' (A.) 'The use of unguents and eye-powders and the dust +of the road and the swallowing of one's spittle and the +emission of seed in dreams of dalliance or at the sight of a +strange woman and cupping and letting blood; none of these +things vitiates the fast.' (Q.) 'What are the prayers of the +two great [annual] Festivals?' (A.) 'Two one-bow prayers, after +the traditional ordinance, without call to prayer or the +repetition thereof by the devotee, who shall say, "Prayer is a +collector of all folk!"[FN#228] and pronounce the magnification +seven times in the first prayer, besides the magnification of +prohibition, and in the second, five times, besides that of +rising up, (according to the canon of the Imam Es Shafi, on +whom God have mercy) and make the profession of the Faith.' +(Q.) 'What are the prayers prescribed on the occasion of an +eclipse of the sun or moon?' (A.) 'Two one-bow prayers, without +call to prayer or repetition thereof by the devotee, who shall +make in each two standings up and two inclinations and two +prostrations, then sit up and testify and salute.' (Q.) 'What +is the ritual of prayer for rain?' (A.) 'Two one-bow prayers, +without call to prayer or repetition; then shall the devotee +make the profession and salute. Moreover [the Imam] shall +deliver an exhortation and (in place of the magnification, as +in the two exhortations of the two great Festivals) ask pardon +of God and reverse his mantle and pray and supplicate.' (Q.) +'What are the additional or occasional prayers?' (A.) 'The +least is a one-bow prayer and the most eleven.' (Q.) 'What +is the forenoon prayer?' (A.) 'At least, two one-bow prayers +and at most, twelve.' (Q.) 'What is the service of seclusion?' +[FN#229] (A.) 'It is a matter of Traditional ordinance.' +(Q.) 'What are its conditions?' (A.) '(1) Expression of intent +(2) not leaving the mosque save of necessity (3) not having +to do with a woman (4) fasting and (5) abstaining from speech.' +(Q.) 'Under what conditions is pilgrimage obligatory?' (A.) +'So a man be of full age and understanding and a true-believer +and it be possible to him; and it is obligatory [on all], once +before death.' (Q.) 'What are the Koranic statutes of the +pilgrimage?'' (A.) '(1) Assumption of the pilgrim's habit +(2) station at Arafat (3) compassing [the Kaabeh] (4) running +[between Sefa and Merweh[FN#230]] and (5) [previous] shaving +or clipping the hair.' (Q.) 'What are the Koranic statutes of +the lesser pilgrimage?' (A.) 'Reassuming the pilgrim's habit and +compassing and running [as before].' (Q.) 'What are the Koranic +ordinances of the assumption of the pilgrim's habit?' (A.) +'Putting off sewn garments, forswearing perfume and ceasing to +shave the head or cut the nails and avoiding the killing of +game and copulation.' (Q.) 'What are the Traditional statutes +of the pilgrimage?' (A.) '(1) The crying out, "Here I am, O our +Lord!"[FN#231] (2) the circuitings [about the Kaabeh] of +arrival [at] and departure [from Mecca] (3) the passing the +night at Muzdelifeh and Mina[FN#232] and (4) the stone-throwing.' +[FN#233] (Q.) 'What is the war in defence of the Faith and its +essentials?' (A.) 'Its essentials are (1) the descent of the +infidels upon us (2) the existence of the Imam[FN#234] (3) a +state of [armed] preparation and (4) firmness in meeting the +foe. Its ordinance is incital to battle, in that the Most High +hath said, "O my Prophet, incite the faithful to battle!"' +[FN#235] (Q.) 'What are the ordinances of buying and selling?' +(A.) 'The Koranic are (1) offer and acceptance and (2) if the +thing sold be a (white) slave, by whom one profiteth, to do +one's endeavour to convert him to Islam and (3) to abstain +from usury; the Traditional, resiliation and option before +separating, after the saying of the Prophet, "The parties +to a sale shall have the option [of cancelling or altering +the terms of a bargain,] whilst they are yet unseparated."' +(Q.) 'What is it forbidden to sell [or exchange] for what?' +(A.) 'On this point I mind me of an authentic tradition, +reported by Nafi[FN#236] of the Apostle of God, that he forbade +the sale of dried dates for fresh and fresh figs for dry and +jerked for fresh meat and cream for butter; in fine, of all +eatables of one and the same kind, it is unlawful to sell some +for other some.'[FN#237] When the professor heard her words +and knew that she was keen of wit, ingenious and learned in +jurisprudence and the Traditions and the interpretation of the +Koran and what not else, he said in himself, 'Needs must I go +about with her, that I may overcome her in the assembly of the +Commander of the Faithful.' So he said to her, 'O damsel, what +is the lexicographical meaning of the word wuzou?'[FN#238] +And she answered, 'Cleanliness and freedom from impurities.' +(Q.) 'And of prayer?' (A.) 'An invocation of good.' (Q.) 'And +of ghusl?'[FN#239] (A.) 'Purification.' (Q.) 'And of fasting?' +(A.) 'Abstention.' (Q.) 'And of zekat?'[FN#240] (A.) 'Increase.' +(Q.) 'And of pilgrimage?' (A.) 'Visitation [or quest].' (Q.) 'And +of jehad?'[FN#241] (A.) '[Endeavour in] repelling.' With this the +doctor's arguments were exhausted, so he rose to his feet and +said, 'Bear witness against me, O Commander of the Faithful, +that this damsel is more learned than I am in the Law. Quoth +she, 'I will ask thee somewhat, which do thou answer me +speedily, an thou be indeed a learned man.' 'Say on,' quoth he; +and she said, 'What are the arrows of the Faith?' 'They are ten +in number,' answered he; 'to wit, (1) Testification,[FN#242] +that is, religion (2) Prayer, that is, the Covenant (3) Alms, +that is, purification (4) Fasting, that is, defensive armour +(5) Pilgrimage, that is, the Law (6) Fighting for the Faith, +that is, a general duty (7) Enjoining to beneficence and (8) +Forbidding from iniquity, both of which are jealousy [for good] +(9) The communion of the faithful, that is, sociableness, and +(10) Seeking knowledge, that is, the praiseworthy way.' (Q.) +'What are the roots[FN#243] of Islam?' (A.) 'They are four +in number, to wit, sincerity of belief, truth of purpose, +observance of the limit [prescribed by the Law] and keeping the +Covenant.' Then said she, 'I have one more question to ask +thee, which if thou answer, [it is well]; else, I will take thy +clothes.' Quoth he, 'Speak, O damsel;' and she said, 'What are +the branches[FN#244] of Islam?' But he was silent and made no +reply; and she said, 'Put off thy clothes, and I will expound +them to thee.' Quoth the Khalif, 'Expound them, and I will make +him put off his clothes for thee.' 'They are two-and-twenty in +number,' answered she, 'to wit, (1) holding fast to the Book of +God the Most High (2) taking example by His Apostle (whom God +bless and preserve) (3) abstaining from doing evil (4) eating +what is lawful and (5) avoiding what is unlawful (6) restoring +things wrongfully taken to their owners (7) repentance (8) +knowledge of the Law (9) love of [Abraham] the Friend [of God] +(10) and of the followers of the Revelation[FN#245] (11) belief +in the Apostles (12) fear of apostacy (13) preparation for +departure[FN#246] (14) strength of conviction (15) clemency in +time of power (16) strength in time of weakness (17) patience +under affliction (18) knowledge of God the Most High and (19) +of what His Prophet hath made known to us (20) gainsaying Iblis +the accursed (21) striving earnestly against the lusts of the +soul and gainsaying them and (22) guiltlessness of believing in +any other god but God.' + +When the Commander of the Faithful heard her words, he bade the +doctor put off his clothes and hood; and he did so and went +forth, beaten and confounded, from the Khalif's presence. +Thereupon arose another man and said to her, 'O damsel, hear a +few questions from me.' 'Say on,' quoth she; and he said, 'What +are the conditions of valid [purchase by] payment in advance?' +'That the amount [of the thing bought], the kind and the period +[of delivery to the purchaser], be [fixed or] known,' replied +she. (Q.) 'What are the Koranic canons of eating?' (A.) 'The +confession [by the eater] that God the Most High provideth him +and giveth him to eat and drink and thanksgiving to Him +therefor.' (Q.) 'What is thanksgiving?' (A.) 'The use by the +creature of that which God vouchsafeth to him in the manner and +to the ends for which He hath created it.' (Q.) 'What are the +Traditional canons of eating?' (A.) 'The [preliminary] naming +[of God] and washing the hands, sitting on the left buttock, +eating with three fingers and eating of that which is chewed.' +[FN#247] (Q.) 'What are the civilities of eating?' (A.) 'Taking +small mouthfuls and looking little at one's table-companion.' +(Q.) 'What are the heart's stays [or articles of faith] and +their correlatives?' (A.) 'They are three in number, to wit, +(1) holding fast to the Faith, the correlative whereof is the +shunning of infidelity, (2) holding fast to the Traditional Law +and its correlative, the shunning of innovation [or heresy] and +(3) holding fast to obedience and its correlative, the shunning +of disobedience.' (Q.) 'What are the conditions of ablution?' +(A.) '(1) Submission to the will of God[FN#248] (2) possession +of discernment of good and evil [or having attained the age of +discretion] (3) purity of the water and (4) absence of legal +or material impediments.' (Q.) 'What is belief?' (A.) 'It is +divided into nine parts, to wit, (1) belief in the One worshipped +(2) belief in the condition of slavery [of the worshipper] +(3) belief in one God, to the exclusion of all others (4) belief +in the Two Handfuls[FN#249] (5) belief in Providence (6) belief +in the Abrogating and (7) in the Abrogated (8) belief in God, His +angels and apostles and (9) in fore-ordained Fate, general and +particular, its good and ill, sweet and bitter.' (Q.) 'What +three things do away other three?' (A.) 'It is told of Sufyan +eth Thauri[FN#250] that he said, "Three things do away other +three. Making light of the pious doth away the future life, +making light of kings doth away [this] life and making light of +expenditure doth away wealth."' (Q.) 'What are the keys of the +heavens, and how many gates have they?' (A.) 'Quoth God the Most +High, "And heaven shall be opened, and it shall be [all] doors," +[FN#251] and quoth he whom God bless and keep, "None knoweth the +number of the gates of heaven, save He who created it, and there +is no son of Adam but hath two gates allotted to him in the skies, +one whereby his subsistence cometh down and another where-through +his works [good and evil] ascend. The former is not closed, +save when his term of life comes to an end, nor the latter, +till his soul ascends [for judgment]."' (Q.) 'Tell me of a +thing and a half thing and a no-thing.' (A.) 'The thing is the +believer, the half thing the hypocrite and the no-thing the +infidel.' (Q.) 'Tell me of various kinds of hearts.' (A.) +'There is the whole [or perfect] heart, which is that of +[Abraham] the Friend [of God], the sick heart, that of the +infidel, the contrite heart, that of the pious, fearful ones, +the heart consecrated to God, that of our Lord Mohammed (whom +God bless and preserve) and the enlightened [or enlightening] +heart, that of those who follow him. The hearts of the learned +are of three kinds, to wit, those that are in love with this +world, with the next and with their Lord; and it is said that +hearts are three, the suspended, that of the infidel, the +non-existent [or lost], that of the hypocrite, and the constant +[or firm], that of the true-believer. Moreover, it is said that +the latter is of three kinds, namely, the heart dilated with +light and faith, that wounded with fear of estrangement and +that which feareth to be forsaken of God.' + +Quoth the second doctor, 'Thou hast said well;' whereupon said +she to the Khalif, 'O Commander of the Faithful, he has +questioned me, till he is weary, and now I will ask him two +questions. If he answer them, it is well, and if not, I will +take his clothes and he shall depart in peace.' Quoth the +doctor, 'Ask me what thou wilt,' and she said, 'What is +religion?' 'Religion,' answered he, 'is confession[FN#252] with +the tongue and belief with the heart and doing with the +members. Quoth the Prophet, "The believer is not perfect in +belief, except five qualities be accomplished in him, namely, +trust in God, committal of his affair to Him, submission to His +commandment, acquiescence in His decrees and that he do all for +His sake; so is he of those who are acceptable to God and who +give and withhold for His sake, and he is perfect in belief."' +Then said she, 'What is the Koranic ordinance of ordinances +and the ordinance which is the preliminary of all ordinances +and that of which all others stand in need and that which +comprehendeth all others, and what is the Traditional ordinance +that entereth into the Koranic, and that whereby the latter is +completed?' But he was silent and made no reply; whereupon the +Khalif bade her expound and ordered him to doff his clothes and +give them to her. 'O doctor,' said she, 'the Koranic ordinance +of ordinances is the knowledge of God the Most High; that, +which is the preliminary of all others, is the testifying that +there is no god but God and that Mohammed is His apostle; that, +of which all others have need, is ablution; that, which +compriseth all others, is that of [total] ablution from +[ceremonial] defilement; the Traditional ordinance, that enters +into the Koranic, is the separation of the fingers and the +thick beard; and that, wherewith all Koranic ordinances are +completed, is circumcision.' Therewith was manifest the +insufficiency of the doctor, who rose to his feet and said, 'I +call God to witness, O Commander of the Faithful, that this +damsel is more learned than I in the Law and what pertains +thereto.' So saying, he put off his clothes and went away, +defeated. + +Then turned she to the rest of the learned men present and +said, 'O masters, which of you is the reader,[FN#253] versed in +the seven readings and in syntax and lexicography?' Thereupon +the professor arose and seating himself before her, said, 'Hast +thou read the Book of God the Most High and made thyself +throughly acquainted with its verses and its various parts, +abrogating and abrogated, equivocal and unequivocal, Meccan and +Medinan? Dost thou understand its interpretation and hast thou +studied it, according to the various versions and readings?' +'Yes,' answered she; and he said, 'What, then, is the number of +its chapters, how many are Meccan and how many Medinan? How +many verses and decades[FN#254] does it contain, how many +words and how many letters and how many acts of prostration +and how many prophets and birds are mentioned in it?' 'It +contains a hundred and fourteen chapters,' replied she, 'whereof +threescore and ten were revealed at Mecca and forty and four at +Medina, six thousand three hundred and thirty-six verses, six +hundred and twenty-one decades, seventy-nine thousand four +hundred and thirty-nine words and three hundred and twenty- +three thousand and six hundred and seventy letters; and to the +reader thereof, for every letter, accrue ten benefits. The +acts of prostration it contains are fourteen in number, and +five-and-twenty prophets are named therein, to wit, Adam, Noah, +Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Elisha, Jonah, Lot, +Salih, Houd,[FN#255] Shuaib,[FN#256] David, Solomon, Dhoulkifl, +[FN#257] Idris,[FN#258] Elias, Yehya,[FN#259] Zacharias, Job, +Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Mohammed, the peace of God and His +blessing be on them all! Moreover, nine birds [or flying +things] are mentioned in the Koran, namely, the gnat, the bee, +the fly, the ant, the hoopoe, the crow, the locust, the bustard +and the bird of Jesus[FN#260] (on whom be peace), to wit, the +bat.' (Q.) 'Which is the most excellent chapter of the Koran?' +(A.) 'That of the Cow.'[FN#261] (Q.) 'Which is the most magnificent +verse?' (A.) 'That of the Throne;[FN#262] it has fifty words, in +each fifty blessings.' (Q.) 'What verse hath in it nine signs [or +wonders]?' (A.) 'That in which quoth God the Most High, "Verily, +in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation +of night and day and the ship that runneth in the sea with what +profiteth mankind and in what God sendeth down from heaven of +water and quickeneth therewith the earth, after its dearth, and +spreadeth abroad therein all manner cattle, and the shifting of +the winds and the clouds, pressed into service betwixt heaven +and earth, are signs for folk who understand."'[FN#263] (Q.) +'Which is the most just?' (A.) 'That in which God saith, "Verily, +God commandeth to justice and beneficence and giving to those +that are near unto us and forbiddeth from profligacy and iniquity +and oppression."'[FN#264] (Q.) 'Which is the most yearnful?' (A.) +'That in which quoth God, "Shall every man of them yearn to +enter a garden of delight?"'[FN#265] (Q.) 'Which is the most +hopeful?' (A.) 'That in which quoth God the Most High, "Say, 'O +ye my servants, that have transgressed against your own souls, +despair not of the mercy of God! Indeed, God forgiveth sins, +all of them, for He is the Forgiving, the Compassionate.'"' +[FN#266] (Q.) 'By what version dost thou read?' (A.) 'By that of +the people of Paradise, to wit, the version of Nafi.'[FN#267] +(Q.) 'In which verse doth God make prophets lie?' (A.) 'In that +wherein He saith, "They [the brothers of Joseph] brought lying +blood upon his shirt."'[FN#268] (Q.) 'In which doth He make +infidels speak the truth?' (A.) 'In that wherein He saith, "The +Jews say, 'The Nazarenes are [grounded] on nought,' and the +Nazarenes say, 'The Jews are [grounded] on nought;' and [yet] +they [both] read the Scripture."[FN#269] And [in this] both speak +the truth.' (Q.) 'In which doth God speak in His own person [in +the singular]?' (A.) 'In that in which He saith, "Neither have I +created Jinn and men, but that they should worship."'[FN#270] +(Q.) 'In which do the angels speak?' (A.) 'In that which saith, +"We celebrate Thy praises and hallow Thee."'[FN#271] (Q.) 'What +sayst thou of the formula, "I seek refuge with God from Satan +the Stoned"?' (A.) 'It is obligatory, by commandment of God, +on all who read the Koran, as appears by His saying, "When +thou readest the Koran, seek refuge with God from Satan the +Stoned."'[FN#272] (Q.) 'What are the words and variants of +the formula?' (A.) 'Some say, "I take refuge with God the +All-hearing and knowing, etc.," and others, "With God the +Strong;" but the best is that of which the noble Koran and the +Traditions speak. The Prophet was used, whenas he was about to +open the Koran, to say, "I take refuge with God from Satan +the Stoned." And quoth a Tradition, reported by Nafi on the +authority of his [adopted] father, "The apostle of God used, +when he rose in the night to pray, to say aloud, 'God is Most +Great, with [all] greatness! Praise be to God abundantly! Glory +to God morning and evening!' Then would he say, 'I seek refuge +with God from Satan the Stoned and from the instigations of the +Devils and their evil suggestions."' And it is told of Ibn +Abbas[FN#273] (of whom God accept) that he said, "The first +time Gabriel came down to the Prophet [with a portion of the +Koran,] he taught him [the formula of] seeking refuge, saying, +'O Mohammed, say, "I seek refuge with God the All-hearing and +knowing;" then say, "In the name of God the Compassionate, the +Merciful!" And read, in the name of thy Lord who created men +from clotted blood.'"'[FN#274] (Q.) 'What sayst thou of the +verse, "In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful"? +Is it one of the verses of the Koran?' (A.) 'Yes; it is a verse +of "The ant"[FN#275] and occurs also [at the head of the first +and] between every two [following] chapters; and there is much +difference of opinion, respecting this, among the learned.' +(Q.) 'Why is not the formula written at the head of the chapter +of Immunity?'[FN#276] (A.) 'When this chapter was revealed for +the dissolution of the alliance between the Prophet and the +idolaters, the former sent Ali ibn Abi Talib (whose face God +honour) therewith [from Medina to Mecca] at the season of the +greater pilgrimage;[FN#277] and he read the chapter to them, +but did not read "In the name, etc."'[FN#278] (Q.) 'What of the +excellence of the formula and the blessing that attaches to +it?' (A.) 'It is told of the Prophet that he said, "Never is +'In the name, etc.' pronounced over aught, but there is a +blessing in it;" and it is reported, on his authority, that the +Lord of Glory swore by His glory that never should the formula +be pronounced over a sick person, but he should be healed of +his sickness. Moreover, it is said that, when God created the +empyreal heaven, it was agitated with an exceeding agitation; but +He wrote on it, "In the name, etc.," and its agitation subsided. +When the formula was first revealed to the Prophet, he said, "I +am safe from three things, earthquake and metamorphosis and +drowning;" and indeed its virtues are great and its blessings +too many to enumerate. It is told of the Prophet that he said, +"There will be brought before God, on the judgment day, a man +with whom He shall reckon and finding no good deed to his account, +shall order him to the fire; but the man will say, 'O my God, +Thou hast not dealt justly by me!' Then shall God (to whom belong +might and majesty) say, 'How so?' and the man will answer, saying, +'O Lord, for that Thou callest Thyself the Compassionate, the +Merciful, yet wilt Thou punish me with the fire!' And God +(extolled be His majesty) shall say, 'I did indeed name myself +the Compassionate, the Merciful. Carry My servant to Paradise, +of My mercy, for I am the most Merciful of those that have +mercy.'"' (Q.) 'What was the origin of the use of the formula?' +(A.) 'When God revealed the Koran, they wrote, "In Thy name, O +my God!"; when He revealed the words, "Say, pray ye to God or +pray ye to the Compassionate, what days ye pray, for to Him +[belong] the most fair names,"[FN#279] they wrote, "In the name +of God, the Compassionate;" and when He revealed the words, +"Your God is one God, there is no god but He, the Compassionate, +the Merciful,"[FN#280] they wrote, "In the name of God, the +Compassionate, the Merciful!"' (Q.) 'Did God reveal the Koran +all at once or at intervals?' (A.) 'Gabriel the Faithful +[Spirit] (on whom be peace) descended with it from the Lord of +the Worlds upon His Prophet Mohammed, Prince of the Apostles +and seal[FN#281] of the Prophets, by detached verses, containing +commandment and prohibition, promise and menace, anecdotes +and similitudes, as the occasion called for it, in the course +of twenty years.' (Q.) 'Which chapter was first revealed?' +(A.) 'According to Ibn Abbas, that of the Clot of Blood,[FN#282] +and according to Jabir ben Abdallah,[FN#283] that of the Covered +[with a cloak].'[FN#284] (Q.) 'Which verse was the last revealed?' +(A.) 'That of Usury,[FN#285] and it is said [also], the verse, +"When there cometh God's succour and victory."'[FN#286] (Q.) 'Tell +me the names of the Companions who collected the Koran, in the +lifetime of the Apostle of God.' (A.) 'They were four in number, +to wit, Ubaï ibn Kaab, Zeid ibn Thabit, Abou Ubeideh Aamir ben +Jerrah and Othman ben Affan,[FN#287] may God accept of them all!' +(Q.) 'Who are the readers, from whom the [accepted] reading of +the Koran is taken?' (A.) 'They are four in number, namely, +Abdallah ben Mesoud, Ubaï ben Kaab, Maadh ben Jebel[FN#288] and +Salim ben Abdallah.'[FN#289] (Q.) 'What sayst thou of the words +of the Most High, "That which is sacrificed to stones"?'[FN#290] +(A.) 'The stones are idols, which are set up and worshipped, instead +of God the Most High, and [from this] we seek refuge with Him.' +(Q.) 'What sayst thou of the words of the Most High, "[Quoth +Jesus] Thou knowest what is in my soul, and I know not what is +in Thy soul"?'[FN#291] (A.) 'They mean "Thou [God] knowest the +truth of me and what is in me and I [Jesus] know not what is in +Thee;" and the proof of this are his words,[FN#292] "Thou [God] +art He that knoweth the hidden things;" and it is said, also, +"Thou [God] knowest my essence, but I [man] know not Thine +essence."' (Q.) 'What sayst thou of the words of the Most High, +"O ye that believe, deny not yourselves the good things that +God hath made lawful to you!"?'[FN#293] (A.) 'My master (on +whom God have mercy) told me that Ez Zuhak[FN#294] said, "There +was a people of the true-believers who said, 'We will dock our +yards and don sackcloth;' whereupon this verse was revealed." +But El Cutadeh[FN#295] says that it was revealed on account of +sundry Companions of the Apostle of God, Ali ibn Abi Talib and +Othman ben Musaab and others, who said, "We will dock ourselves +and don hair [cloth] and make us monks."' (Q.) 'What sayst thou +of the words of the Most High, "And God took Abraham to +friend"?'[FN#296] (A.) 'The friend [of God] is the needy, the +poor, and (according to another saying) he is the lover, he who +is absorbed in the love of God the Most High and in whose +exclusive devotion there is no falling away.' + +When the professor saw her pass on in speech with the passing +of the clouds[FN#297] and that she stayed not in answering, he +rose to his feet and said, 'I take God to witness, O Commander +of the Faithful, that this damsel is more learned than I in +Koranic exegesis and what pertains thereto.' Then said she, 'I +will ask thee one question, which if thou answer, it is well: +but if thou answer not, I will strip off thy clothes.' 'Ask +on,' quoth the Khalif; and she said, 'Which verse of the +Koran has in it three-and-twenty Kafs,[FN#298] which sixteen +Mims,[FN#299] which a hundred and forty Ains,[FN#300] and which +section[FN#301] lacks the formula, "To whom [God] belong might +and majesty"?' He could not answer, and she said to him, 'Put +off thy clothes.' So he doffed them, and she said, 'O Commander +of the Faithful, the verse of the sixteen Mims is in the +chapter Houd and is the saying of the Most High, "It was +said, 'O Noah, go down in peace from us, and blessing upon +thee!'"[FN#302]; that of the three-and-twenty Kafs is the verse +called of the Faith, in the chapter of the Cow; that of the +hundred and forty Ains is in the chapter of El Aaraf,[FN#303] +"And Moses chose seventy men of his tribe to [attend] our +appointed time;[FN#304] to each man a pair of eyes."[FN#305] +And the set portion which lacks the formula, "To whom [God] +belong might and majesty," is that which comprises the chapters +"The Hour draweth nigh and the Moon is cloven in twain," "The +Compassionate" and "The Event."'[FN#306] And the professor +departed in confusion. + +Then came forward the skilled physician and said to her, 'We +have done with theology and come now to physiology. Tell me, +therefore, how is man made, how many veins, bones and vertebræ +are there in his body, which is the chief vein and why Adam was +named Adam?' 'Adam was called Adam,' answered she, 'because of +the udmeh, to wit, the tawny colour of his complexion and also +(it is said) because he was created of the adim of the earth, +that is to say, of the soil of its surface. His breast was made +of the earth of the Kaabeh, his head of earth from the East and +his legs of earth from the West. There were created for him +seven doors [or openings] in his head, to wit, the eyes, the +ears, the nostrils and the mouth, and two passages, the urethra +and the anus. The eyes were made the seat of the sense of +sight, the ears of that of hearing, the nostrils of that of +smell, the mouth of that of taste and the tongue to speak forth +what is in the innermost heart of man. Adam was originally +created of four elements combined, water, earth, fire and air. +The yellow bile is the humour of fire, being hot and dry, the +black bile that of earth, being cold and dry, the phlegm that +of water, being cold and moist, and the blood that of air, +being hot and moist. There are in man three hundred and +threescore veins, two hundred and forty bones and three souls +[or natures], the animal, the rational and the essential or +[natural], to each of which is allotted a separate function. +Moreover, God made him a heart and spleen and lungs and six +guts and a liver and two kidneys and marrow [or brain] and +buttocks and bones and skin and five senses, hearing, seeing, +smell, taste and touch. The heart He set on the left side of +the breast and made the stomach the exemplar [or governor] +thereof. He appointed the lungs for a ventilator to the heart +and set the liver on the right side, opposite thereto. Moreover, +He made, besides this, the midriff and the intestines and set +up the bones of the breast and ribbed them with the ribs.' +(Q.) 'How many ventricles are there in a man's head?' (A.) 'Three, +which contain five faculties, styled the intrinsic senses, i.e. +common sense, fancy, thought, apperception and memory.' (Q.) +'Describe to me the scheme of the bones.' (A.) 'It consists of +two hundred and forty bones, which are divided into three parts, +the head, the trunk and the extremities. The head is divided +into skull and face. The skull is constructed of eight bones, +and to it are attached the teeth, two-and- thirty in number, +and the hyoïd bone, one. The trunk is divided into spinal column, +breast and basin. The spinal column is made up of four-and-twenty +bones, called vertebræ, the breast of the breastbone and the ribs, +which are four-and-twenty in number, twelve on each side, and +the basin of the hips, the sacrum and the coccyx. The extremities +are divided into arms and legs. The arms are again divided into +shoulder, comprising shoulder-blades and collar-bone, the upper- +arm, one bone, the fore-arm, composed of two bones, the radius and +the ulna, and the hand, consisting of the wrist, the metacarpus +and the fingers. The wrist is composed of eight bones, ranked in +two rows, each comprising four bones; the metacarpus of five +and the fingers, which are five in number, of three bones each, +called the phalanges, except the thumb, which has but two. +The lower extremities are divided into thigh, one bone, leg, +composed of three bones, the tibia, the fibula and the kneepan, +and the foot, divided like the hand, with the exception of the +wrist,[FN#307] which is composed of seven bones, ranged in two +rows, two in one and five in the other.' (Q.) 'Which is the +root of the veins?' (A.) 'The aorta from which they ramify, and +they are many, none knoweth the tale of them save He who +created them; but, as I have before observed, it is said that +they are three hundred and threescore in number. Moreover, God +hath appointed the tongue to interpret [for the thought], the +eyes to serve as lanterns, the nostrils to smell with, and the +hands for prehensors. The liver is the seat of pity, the spleen +of laughter and the kidneys of craft; the lungs are the +ventilators, the stomach the storehouse and the heart the +pillar [or mainstay] of the body. When the heart is sound, the +whole body is sound, and when the heart is corrupt, the whole +body is corrupt.' (Q.) 'What are the outward signs and symptoms +of disease in the members of the body, both internal and +external?' (A.) 'A physician, who is a man of understanding, +looks into the state of the body and is guided by the feel of +the hands, according as they are firm [or flabby], hot or cool, +moist or dry. Internal disorders are also indicated by external +symptoms, such as yellowness of the [whites of the] eyes, which +denotes jaundice, and bending of the back, which denotes +disease of the lungs.' (Q.) 'What are the internal symptoms of +disease?' (A.) 'The science of the diagnosis of disease by +internal symptoms is founded upon six canons, to wit, (1) the +actions [of the patient] (2) what is evacuated from his body +(3) the nature and (4) site of the pain he feels (5) swelling +and (6) the effluvia given off by his body.' (Q.) 'How cometh +hurt to the head?' (A.) 'By the introduction of food upon food, +before the first be digested, and by satiety upon satiety; this +it is that wasteth peoples. He who will live long, let him be +early with the morning-meal and not late with the evening-meal; +let him be sparing of commerce with women and chary of cupping +and blood-letting and make of his belly three parts, one for +food, one for drink and the third for air; for that a man's +intestines are eighteen spans in length and it befits that he +appoint six for food, six for drink, and six for air. If he +walk, let him go gently; it will be wholesomer for him and +better for his body and more in accordance with the saying of +God the Most High, "Walk not boisterously [or proudly] upon the +earth."'[FN#308] (Q.) 'What are the symptoms of yellow bile and +what is to be feared there-from?' (A.) 'The symptoms are, +sallow complexion and dryness and bitter taste in the mouth, +failure of the appetite, and rapid pulse; and the patient has +to fear high fever and delirium and prickly heat and jaundice +and tumour and ulceration of the bowels and excessive thirst.' +(Q.) 'What are the symptoms of black bile and what has the +patient to fear from it, if it get the mastery of the body?' +(A.) 'The symptoms are deceptive appetite and great mental +disquiet and care and anxiety; and it behoves that it be +evacuated, else it will generate melancholy and leprosy and +cancer and disease of the spleen and ulceration of the bowels.' +(Q.) 'Into how many branches is the art of medicine divided?' +(A.) 'Into two: the art of diagnosing diseases and that of +restoring the diseased body to health.' (Q.) 'When is the +drinking of medicine more efficacious than otherwhen?' (A.) +'When the sap runs in the wood and the grape thickens in +the cluster and the auspicious planets[FN#309] are in the +ascendant, then comes in the season of the efficacy of drinking +medicine and the doing away of disease.' (Q.) 'What time is it, +when, if a man drink from a new vessel, the drink is wholesomer +and more digestible to him than at another time, and there +ascends to him a pleasant and penetrating fragrance?' (A.) +'When he waits awhile after eating, as quoth the poet: + +I rede thee drink not after food in haste, but tarry still; + Else with a halter wilt thou lead thy body into ill. +Yea, wait a little after thou hast eaten, brother mine; Then + drink, and peradventure thus shalt thou attain unto thy + will.' + + +(Q.) 'What food is it that giveth not rise to ailments?' (A.) +'That which is not eaten but after hunger, and when it is +eaten, the ribs are not filled with it, even as saith Galen the +physician, "Whoso will take in food, let him go slowly and he +shall not go wrong." To end with the saying of the Prophet, +(whom God bless and preserve,) "The stomach is the home of +disease, and abstinence is the beginning[FN#310] of cure, +[FN#311] for the origin of every disease is indigestion, +that is to say, corruption of the meat in the stomach."' (Q.) +'What sayst thou of the bath?' (A.) 'Let not the full man enter +it. Quoth the Prophet, "The bath is the delight of the house, +for that it cleanseth the body and calleth to mind the fire [of +hell]."' (Q.) 'What waters[FN#312] are best for bathing?' (A.) +'Those whose waters are sweet and plains wide and whose air is +pleasant and wholesome, its climate [or seasons] being fair, +autumn and summer and winter and spring.' (Q.) 'What kind of +food is the most excellent?' (A.) 'That which women make and +which has not cost overmuch trouble and which is readily +digested. The most excellent of food is brewis,[FN#313] +according to the saying of the Prophet, "Brewis excels other +food, even as Aaïsheh excels other women."' (Q.) 'What kind of +seasoning[FN#314] is most excellent?' (A.) 'Flesh meat (quoth +the Prophet) is the most excellent of seasonings; for that it +is the delight of this world and the next.' (Q.) 'What kind of +meat is the most excellent?' (A.) 'Mutton; but jerked meat is +to be avoided, for there is no profit in it.' (Q.) 'What of +fruits?' (A.) 'Eat them in their prime and leave them when +their season is past.' (Q.) 'What sayst thou of drinking +water?' (A.) 'Drink it not in large quantities nor by gulps, +or it will give thee the headache and cause divers kinds of +harm; neither drink it immediately after the bath nor after +copulation or eating (except it be after the lapse of fifteen +minutes for a young and forty for an old man) or waking from +sleep.' (Q.) 'What of drinking wine?' (A.) 'Doth not the +prohibition suffice thee in the Book of God the Most High, +where He saith, "Verily, wine and casting lots and idols and +divining arrows are an abomination of the fashion of the Devil: +shun them, so surely shall ye thrive."[FN#315] And again, "If +they ask thee of wine and casting lots, say, 'In them are great +sin and advantages to mankind, but the sin of them is greater +than the advantage.'"[FN#316] Quoth the poet: + +O wine-bibber, art not ashamed and afraid To drink of a thing + that thy Maker forbade? +Come, put the cup from thee and mell with it not, For wine and + its drinker God still doth upbraid. + +And quoth another: + +I drank the sweet sin till my wit went astray: 'Tis ill + drinking of that which doth reason away. + +As for the useful qualities that are therein, it disperses +gravel from the kidneys and strengthens the bowels, banishes +care, moves to generosity and preserves health and digestion. +It assains the body, expels disease from the joints, purifies +the frame of corrupt humours, engenders cheerfulness and +gladdens and keeps up the natural heat. It contracts the +bladder, strengthens the liver and removes obstructions, +reddens the face, clears away cobwebs from the brain and defers +gray hairs. In short, had not God (to whom belong might and +majesty) forbidden it, there were not on the face of the earth +aught fit to stand in its place. As for drawing lots, it is a +game of hazard.'[FN#317] (Q.) 'What wine is the best?' (A.) +'That which is pressed from white grapes and ferments fourscore +days or more: it resembleth not water and indeed there is +nothing on the surface of the earth like unto it.' (Q.) 'What +of cupping?' (A.) 'It is for him who is [over] full of blood +and has no defect therein. Whoso will be cupped, let it be at +the wane of the moon, on a day without cloud or wind or rain +and the seventeenth of the month. If it fall on a Tuesday, it +will be the more efficacious, and nothing is more salutary for +the brain and eyes and for clearing the memory than cupping.' +(Q.) 'What is the best time for cupping?' (A.) 'One should be +cupped fasting, for this fortifies the wit and the memory. It +is reported of the Prophet that, when any one complained to him +of a pain in the head or legs, he would bid him be cupped and +not eat salt [meat] fasting, for it engendered scurvy, neither +eat sour milk immediately after [cupping].' (Q.) 'When is +cupping to be avoided?' (A.) 'On Wednesdays and Saturdays, and +let him who is cupped on these days blame none but himself. +Moreover, one should not be cupped in very hot nor in very cold +weather; and the best season for cupping is Spring.' (Q.) 'Tell +me of copulation.' + +At this Taweddud hung her head, for shame and confusion before +the Khalif; then said, 'By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, +it is not that I am at fault, but that I am ashamed, though, +indeed, the answer is on the tip of my tongue.' 'Speak, O +damsel,' said the Khalif; whereupon quoth she, 'Copulation hath +in it many and exceeding virtues and praiseworthy qualities, +amongst which are, that it lightens a body full of black bile +and calms the heat of love and engenders affection and dilates +the heart and dispels sadness; and the excess of it is more +harmful in summer and autumn than in spring and winter.' (Q.) +'What are its good effects?' (A.) 'It doth away trouble and +disquiet, calms love and chagrin and is good for ulcers in a +cold and dry humour; but excess of it weakens the sight and +engenders pains in the legs and head and back: and beware, +beware of having to do with old women, for they are deadly. +Quoth the Imam Ali,[FN#318] (whose face God honour), "Four +things kill and ruin the body: bathing on a full stomach, +eating salt meat, copulation on a plethora [of blood] and lying +with an ailing woman; for she will weaken thy strength and +infect thy body with sickness; and an old woman is deadly +poison." And quoth one of them, "Beware of taking an old woman +to wife, though she be richer in goods than Caroun."'[FN#319] +(Q.) 'What is the best copulation?' (A.) 'If the woman be +young, well-shaped, fair of face, swelling-breasted and of +honourable extraction, she will add to thee strength and health +of body; and let her be even as saith the poet, describing her: + +Even by thy looks, I trow, she knows what thou desir'st, By + instinct, without sign or setting forth of sense; +And when thou dost behold her all-surpassing grace, Her charms + enable thee with gardens to dispense.' + +(Q.) 'At what time is copulation good?' (A.) 'If by day, after +the morning-meal, and if by night, after food digested.' (Q.) +'What are the most excellent fruits?' (A.) 'The pomegranate and +the citron.' (Q.) 'Which is the most excellent of vegetables?' +(A.) 'The endive.' (Q.) 'Which of sweet-scented flowers?' +(A.) 'The rose and the violet.' (Q.) 'How is sperma hominis +secreted?' (A.) 'There is in man a vein that feeds all the +other veins. Water [or blood] is collected from the three +hundred and threescore veins and enters, in the form of red +blood, the left testicle, where it is decocted, by the heat of +man's temperament, into a thick, white liquid, whose odour is +as that of the palm-spathe.' (Q.) 'What bird [or flying thing] +is it that emits seed and menstruates?' (A.) 'The bat, that is, +the rere-mouse.' (Q.) 'What is that which, when it is shut out +[from the air], lives, and when it smells the air, dies?' (A.) +'The fish.' (Q.) 'What serpent lays eggs?' (A.) 'The dragon.' + +With this the physician was silent, being weary with much +questioning, and Taweddud said to the Khalif, 'O Commander of +the Faithful, he hath questioned me till he is weary, and now I +will ask him one question, which if he answer not, I will take +his clothes as lawful prize.' 'Ask on,' quoth the Khalif. So +she said to the physician, 'What is that which resembles the +earth in [plane] roundness, whose resting-place and spine are +hidden, little of value and estimation, narrow-chested, its +throat shackled, though it be no thief nor runaway slave, +thrust through and through, though not in fight, and wounded, +though not in battle; time eats its vigour and water wastes it +away; now it is beaten without a fault and now made to serve +without stint; united after separation, submissive, but not to +him who caresses it, pregnant[FN#320] without a child in its +belly, drooping, yet not leaning on its side, becoming dirty +yet purifying itself, cleaving to [its mate], yet changing, +copulating without a yard, wrestling without arms, resting and +taking its ease, bitten, yet not crying out, [now] more +complaisant than a boon-companion and [anon] more troublesome +than summer-heat, leaving its wife by night and clipping her +by day and having its abode in the corners of the mansions of +the noble?' The physician was silent and his colour changed and +he bowed his head awhile in perplexity and made no reply; +whereupon she said to him, 'O physician, speak or put off thy +clothes.' At this, he rose and said, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, bear witness against me that this damsel is more +learned than I in medicine and what else and that I cannot cope +with her.' And he put off his clothes and fled forth. Quoth the +Khalif to Taweddud, 'Expound to us thy riddle,' and she +replied, 'O Commander of the Faithful, it is the button and the +button loop.' + +Then said she, 'Let him of you who is an astronomer come +forward.' So the astronomer came forward and sat down before +her. When she saw him, she laughed and said, 'Art thou the +astronomer, the mathematician, the scribe?' 'Yes,' answered he. +'Ask of what thou wilt,' quoth she; 'success rests with God.' +So he said, 'Tell me of the sun and its rising and setting?' +And she replied, 'The sun rises in the Eastern hemisphere and +sets in the Western, and each hemisphere comprises ninescore +degrees. Quoth God the Most High, "Verily, I swear by the Lord +of the places of the sunrise and of the sunsetting."[FN#321] +And again, "He it is who appointed the sun for a splendour and +the moon for a light and ordained to her mansions, that ye +might know the number of the years and the reckoning."[FN#322] +The moon is Sultan of the night and the sun Sultan of the day, +and they vie with one another in their courses and follow each +other in uninterrupted succession. Quoth God the Most High, "It +befits not that the sun overtake the moon nor that the night +prevent the day, but each glides in [its own] sphere."'[FN#323] +(Q.) 'When the day cometh, what becomes of the night, and what +of the day, when the night cometh?' (A.) 'He maketh the night +to enter into the day and the day into the night.'[FN#324] (Q.) +'Enumerate to me the mansions of the moon.' (A.) 'They are +eight-and-twenty in number, to wit, Sheretan, Butain, Thureya, +Deberan, Hecaäh, Henaäh, Dhiraa, Nethreh, Terf, Jebheh, Zubreh, +Serfeh, Awwaa, Simak and Ghefr, Zubaniya, Iklil, Kelb, Shauleh, +Naaïm, Beldeh, Saad edh Dhabih, Saad el Bulaa, Saad el Akhbiyeh, +Saad es Suwoud, Fergh the Former and Fergh the Latter and Rishaa. +They are disposed in the order of the letters of the alphabet, +according to their numerical power, and there are in them secret +virtues which none knoweth save God (glorified and exalted be +He) and those who are firmly stablished in science. They are +divided among the twelve signs of the Zodiac, in the ratio of two +mansions and a third of a mansion to each sign. Thus Sheretan, +Butain and one-third of Thureya belong to Aries, the other two- +thirds of Thureya, Deberan and two thirds of Hecaäh to Taurus, +the other third of Hecaäh, Henaäh and Dhiraa to Gemini, Nethreh, +Terf, and a third of Jebheh to Cancer, the other two-thirds of +Jebheh, Zubreh and two-thirds of Serfeh to Leo, the other third +of Serfeh, Awwaa and Simak to Virgo, Ghefr, Zubaniya and one-third +of Iklil to Libra, the other two-thirds of Iklil, Kelb and two- +thirds of Shauleh to Scorpio, the other third of Shauleh, Naaïm +and Beldeh to Sagittarius, Saad edh Dhabih, Saad el Bulaa and +one-third of Saad es Suwoud to Capricorn, the other two-thirds +of Saad es Suwoud, Saad el Akbiyeh and two-thirds of Fergh the +Former to Aquarius, the other third of Fergh the Former, Fergh +the Latter and Rishaa to Pisces.' (Q.) 'Tell me of the planets +and their natures, also of their sojourn in the signs of the +Zodiac, their aspects, favourable and sinister, their houses, +ascendants and descendants.' (A.) 'The sitting is narrow [for +so comprehensive a matter], but they are seven in number, to +wit, the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and +Saturn. The sun is hot and dry, sinister in conjunction, +favourable in opposition, and abides thirty days in each sign. +The moon is cold and moist, favourable of aspect, and abides +two days in each sign and a third of another day. Mercury is of +a mixed nature, favourable [in conjunction] with the favourable +and sinister [in conjunction] with the sinister [asterisms], +and abides in each sign seventeen and a half days. Venus is +temperate, favourable and abides in each sign five-and-twenty +days. Mars is sinister and abides in each sign ten months. +Jupiter is favourable and abides in each sign a year. Saturn is +cold and dry and sinister and abides in each sign thirty +months. The house of the sun is Leo, its ascendant is Aries and +its descendant Aquarius. The moon's house is Cancer, its +ascendant Taurus, its descendant Scorpio and its sinister +aspect Capricorn. Saturn's house is Capricorn and Aquarius, its +ascendant Libra, its descendant Aries and its sinister aspects +Cancer and Leo. Jupiter's house is Pisces and Sagittarius, its +ascendant Cancer, its descendant Capricorn and its sinister +aspects Gemini and Leo. Venus's house is Taurus, its ascendant +Pisces, its descendant Libra and its sinister aspects Aries and +Scorpio. Mercury's house is Gemini and Virgo, its ascendant +Virgo, its descendant Pisces and its sinister aspect Taurus. +Mars's house is Aries and Scorpio, its ascendant Capricorn, its +descendant Cancer and its sinister aspect Libra.' + +When the astronomer saw her acuteness and skill and heard her +fair answers, he bethought him for a device to confound her +before the Commander of the Faithful and said to her, 'O +damsel, will rain fall this month?' At this she bowed her head +and pondered so long, that the Khalif thought her at a loss for +an answer and the astronomer said to her, 'Why dost thou not +speak?' Quoth she, 'I will not speak except the Commander of +the Faithful give me leave.' The Khalif laughed and said, 'How +so?' Said she, 'I would have thee give me a sword, that I may +strike off his head, for he is an infidel.' At this the Khalif +and those about him laughed, and she said, 'O astronomer, there +are five things that none knoweth save God the Most High;' and +she repeated the following verse: 'Verily, with God is the +knowledge of the hour; He sendeth down the rain and knoweth +what is in the wombs. None knoweth what the morrow shall bring +forth for him nor in what land he shall die. Verily, God is the +All-wise, the All-knowing.'[FN#325] + +Quoth the astronomer, 'Thou hast said well, and by Allah, I +thought but to try thee.' 'Know,' rejoined she, 'that the +almanack-makers have certain signs and tokens, referring to the +planets, relative to the coming in of the year, and in which +are tribulations for the folk.' (Q.) 'What are they?' (A.) +'Each day hath a planet that rules it. So, if the first day of +the year fall on a Sunday, that day is the sun's and this +portends (though God alone is All-knowing) oppression of kings +and sultans and governors and much miasma and lack of rain and +that the folk will be in great disorder and the grain-crop will +be good, except lentils, which will perish, and the vines will +rot and flax will be dear and wheat cheap from the beginning of +Toubeh[FN#326] to the end of Beremhat.[FN#327] Moreover, in +this year there will be much fighting among kings, and there +shall be great plenty of good in this year.' (Q.) 'What if the +first day fall on Monday?' (A.) 'That day belongs to the moon +and portends righteousness in administrators and deputies and +that it will be a year of much rain and grain-crops will be +good, but linseed will decay and wheat will be cheap in the +month Keyehk;[FN#328] also that plagues will be rife and +that half the sheep and goats will die, that grapes will be +plentiful and honey scarce and cotton cheap.' (Q.) 'What if it +fall on Tuesday?' (A.) 'That is Mars's day and portends death +of great men and much destruction and outpouring of blood and +dearness of grain, lack of rain and scarcity of fish, which +will anon be in excess and anon fail [altogether]. In this +year, lentils and honey will be cheap and linseed dear and only +barley will thrive, to the exception of all other grain: great +will be the fighting among kings and death will be in the blood +and there will be much mortality among asses.' (Q.) 'What if it +fall on Wednesday?' (A.) 'That is Mercury's day and portends +great anarchy among the folk and much enmity and rotting of +some of the green crops and moderate rains; also that there +will be great mortality among cattle and infants and much +fighting by sea, that wheat will be dear from Burmoudeh to +Misra[FN#329] and other grains cheap: thunder and lightning +will abound and honey will be dear, palm-trees will thrive and +bear apace and flax and cotton will be plentiful, but radishes +and onions will be dear.' (Q.) 'What if it fall on Thursday?' +(A.) 'That is Jupiter's day and portends equity in viziers and +righteousness in Cadis and fakirs and the ministers of religion +and that good will be plentiful: rain and fruits and trees and +grain and fish will abound and flax, cotton, honey and grapes +be cheap.' (Q.) 'What if it fall on Friday?' (A.) 'That day +belongs to Venus and portends oppression in the chiefs of the +Jinn and talk of forgery and calumny; there will be much dew, +the autumn crops will be good in the land and there will be +cheapness in one town and not in another: lewdness will be +rife by land and sea, linseed will be dear, also wheat, in +Hatour,[FN#330] but cheap in Amshir:[FN#331] honey will be +dear and grapes and melons will rot.' (Q.) 'What if it fall +on Saturday?' (A.) 'That is Saturn's day and portends the +preferment of slaves and Greeks and those in whom there is no +good, neither in their neighbourhood; there will be great +drought and scarcity; clouds will abound and death will be rife +among mankind and woe to the people of Egypt and Syria from the +oppression of the Sultan and failure of blessing upon the green +crops and rotting of grain.' + +With this, the astronomer hung his head, [being at an end of +his questions], and she said to him, 'O astronomer, I will ask +thee one question, which if thou answer not, I will take thy +clothes.' 'Ask on,' replied he. Quoth she, 'Where is Saturn's +dwelling place?' And he answered, 'In the seventh heaven.' (Q.) +'And that of Jupiter?' (A.) 'In the sixth heaven.' (Q.) 'And +that of Mars?' (A.) 'In the fifth heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of +the sun?' (A.) 'In the fourth heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of +Venus?' (A.) 'In the third heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of Mercury?' +(A.) 'In the second heaven.' (Q.) 'And that of the moon?' (A.) +'In the first heaven.' Quoth she, 'Well answered; but I have +one more question to ask thee. Into how many parts are the +stars divided?' But he was silent and answered nothing; and she +said to him, 'Put off thy clothes.' So he put them off and she +took them; after which the Khalif said to her, 'Tell us the +answer to thy question.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' +answered she, 'the stars are divided into three parts, one +whereof is hung in the sky of the earth,[FN#332] as it were +lamps, to give light to the earth, another suspended in the +air, to give light to the seas and that which is therein, and +the third is used to transfix the demons withal, when they draw +near by stealth to [listen to the talk of the angels in] +heaven. Quoth God the Most High, "Verily, we have decked the +sky of the earth with lamps and have appointed them for +projectiles against the demons."'[FN#333] Quoth the astronomer, +'I have one more question to ask, which if she answer, I will +avow myself beaten.' 'Say on,' answered she. Then said he, +'What four incompatible things are based upon other four +incompatibles?' 'The four elements,' replied she; 'for of heat +God created fire, which is by nature hot and dry; of dryness, +earth, which is cold and dry; of cold, water, which is cold and +moist; of moisture, air, which is hot and moist. Moreover, He +created twelve signs of the Zodiac, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, +Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, +Aquarius and Pisces and appointed them of four [several] +humours, three, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, fiery, Taurus, Virgo +and Capricorn, earthy, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, airy, and +Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, watery.' With this, the astronomer +rose, and saying, 'Bear witness against me that she is more +learned than I,' went away beaten. + +Then said the Khalif, 'Where is the philosopher?' whereupon one +came forward and said to Taweddud, 'What is Time?' 'Time,' +answered she, 'is a name applied to the [lapse of the] hours of +the day and night, which are but the measures of the courses of +the sun and moon in their several orbits, even as God the Most +High telleth us, when he saith, "And a sign to them [is] the +night, from which we strip off the day, and behold, they are in +darkness, and the sun runneth to a fixed abode, [appointed] to +it; this is the ordinance of the Sublime, the All-knowing."' +[FN#334] (Q.) 'How comes unbelief to the son of Adam?' (A.) 'It +is reported of the Prophet that he said, "Unbelief runs in a man, +as the blood runs in the veins, when he reviles the world and Time +and night and the hour." And again, "Let none of you revile Time, +for Time is God; neither the world, for it saith, 'May God not +help him that reviles me!' neither the hour, for 'Verily, the hour +cometh, without doubt;'[FN#335] neither the earth, for it is a +portent, according to the saying of the Most High, 'From it we +created you, to it we will return you and from it we will bring +you forth yet again.'"'[FN#336] (Q.) 'What are the five that ate +and drank, yet came not out of loins nor belly?' (A.) 'Adam and +Simeon and Salih's she-camel[FN#337] and Ishmael's ram and the +bird that Abou Bekr the Truth-teller saw in the cave.'[FN#338] +(Q.) 'Tell me of five that are in Paradise and are neither +mortals, Jinn nor angels?' (A.) 'Jacob's wolf and the Seven +Sleepers' dog and Esdras's ass and Salih's camel and the +Prophet's mule.' (Q.) 'What man prayed a prayer neither on +earth nor in heaven?' (A.) 'Solomon [son of David], when he +prayed on his carpet, borne by the wind.' (Q.) 'A man once +looked at a handmaid in the morning, and she was unlawful to +him; but, at noonday, she became lawful to him. By mid-afternoon, +she was again unlawful, but at sundown, she was lawful to him. +At evensong, she was a third time unlawful, but by daybreak, she +became once more lawful to him.' (A.) 'This was a man who looked +at another's handmaid in the morning, and she was then unlawful +to him, but at midday he bought her, and she became lawful to him. +At mid-afternoon he enfranchised her, and she became unlawful to +him, but at sundown he married her and she was again lawful to +him. At evensong, he divorced her and she was then a third time +unlawful to him, but, next morning, at daybreak, he took her back, +and she became once more lawful to him.' (Q.) 'Tell me what tomb +fared on with him that lay buried therein?' (A.) 'The whale, +when it had swallowed Jonah.' (Q.) 'What spot of ground is it, +upon which the sun shone once, but will never again shine till +the Day of Judgment?' (A.) 'The bottom of the Red Sea, when Moses +smote it with his staff, and the sea clove asunder in twelve +places, according to the number of the tribes; then the sun +shone on the bottom and will do so never again till the Day of +Judgment.' (Q.) 'What was the first skirt that trailed upon the +surface of the earth?' (A.) 'That of Hagar, out of shame before +Sarah, and it became a custom among the Arabs.' (Q.) 'What is +that which breathes without life?' (A.) 'Quoth God the Most +High, "By the morning, when it breathes!"'[FN#339] (Q.) 'A +number of pigeons came to a high tree and lighted, some on the +tree and others under it. Said those on the tree to those on +the ground, "If one of you come up to us, ye will be a third +part of us [all] in number; and if one of us descend to you, we +shall be like unto you in number." How many pigeons were there +in all?' (A.) 'Twelve: seven alighted on the tree and five +beneath.' + +With this the philosopher put off his clothes and fled forth: +whereupon she turned to those present and said, 'Which of you +is the rhetorician that can discourse of all kinds of +knowledge?' There came forward Ibrahim ben Siyyar and said to +her, 'Think me not like the rest.' Quoth she, 'It is the more +sure to me that thou wilt be beaten, for that thou art a +boaster, and God will help me against thee, that I may strip +thee of thy clothes. So, if thou sentest one to fetch thee +wherewithal to clothe thyself, it would be well for thee.' 'By +Allah,' cried he, 'I will assuredly conquer thee and make thee +a byword among the folk, generation after generation!' 'Do +penance [in advance] for thy [void] oath,' rejoined she. Then +said he, 'What five things did God create, before He made man?' +And she replied, 'Water and earth and light and darkness and +the fruits [of the earth].' (Q.) 'What did God create with the +hand of omnipotence?' (A.) 'The empyreal heaven and the tree +Touba[FN#340] and Adam and the garden of Eden; these God +created with the hand of His omnipotence; but to all other +created things He said, "Be,"--and they were.' (Q.) 'Who is thy +father in Islam?' (A.) 'Mohammed, whom God bless and preserve!' +(Q.) 'Who was the father [in Islam] of Mohammed?' (A.) 'Abraham +the Friend of God.' (Q.) 'What is the Faith of Islam?' (A.) +'The professing that there is no god but God and that Mohammed +is the apostle of God.' (Q.) 'What is thy first and thy last?' +(A.) 'My first is troubled water[FN#341] and my last filthy +carrion. The first of me is dust and the last dust. Quoth the +poet: + +Created wast thou of the dust and didst a man become, Ready in + question and reply and fluent in debate. +Then to the dust return'dst anon and didst become of it, For + that, in very deed, of dust at first thou wast create.' + +(Q.) 'What thing was it, whose first [state] was wood and its +last life?' (A.) 'Moses' rod, when he cast it on the ground and +it became, by permission of God, a writhing serpent.'[FN#342] +(Q.) 'What is the meaning of the verse in the Koran, "And I +have other need [or occasion] for it"?'[FN#343] (A.) 'He +[Moses] was wont to plant his staff in the ground, and it would +flower and fruit and shade him from the heat and the cold. +Moreover, it would carry him, when he was weary, and guard his +sheep from the wild beasts, whilst he slept.' (Q.) 'What woman +was born of a man alone and what man of a woman alone?' (A.) 'Eve +of Adam and Jesus of Mary.' (Q.) 'What fire eats and drinks, what +fire eats but drinks not, what fire drinks but eats not and what +other neither eats nor drinks?' (A.) 'Hellfire eats and drinks, +the fire of the world eats but drinks not, the fire of the sun +drinks but eats not, and that of the moon neither eats nor drinks.' +(Q.) 'Which is the open [door] and which the shut [door]?' (A.) +'The Traditional Ordinances are the open, the Koranic the shut +[door].' (Q.) 'Of what does the poet speak, when he says: + +A dweller in the sepulchre, at 's head his victual lies; Whenas + he tastes thereof, he speaks and questions and replies. +He rises up and walks and talks, yet silent is the while, And + turns anon unto the tomb wherefrom he did arise. +No living one is he, that hath a title to respect, Nor dead, + that folk should say of him, "God's mercy him comprise!"?' + +(A.) 'The pen.' (Q.) 'What does the poet refer to in these +verses: + +Two breasts in one it hath; its blood is eath and quick of + flow, Wide-mouthed, though all the rest be black, its ears + are white as snow. +It hath an idol like a cock, that doth its belly peck, And half + a dirhem is its worth, if thou its price wouldst know?' + +(A.) 'The inkhorn.' (Q.) 'And in these: + +Say to men of wit and learning and to doctors everywhere, + Skilled to find the hidden meanings riddles and enigmas + bear, +Come expound to me what is it that ye see a bird produce, + 'Mongst the Arabs and barbarians and wherever else ye + fare; +Neither flesh nor blood, I warrant, hath the thing whereof I + speak; Neither down nor feathers, birdwise, for a garment + doth it wear. +Boiled it is and likewise roasted, eaten hot and eaten cold; + Yea, to boot, and when 'tis buried in the glowing embers' + flare, +Colours twain in it are noted, one as silver clear and white, + And the other lucent yellow, gold therewith may not + compare. +Living can it not be reckoned, neither may we count it dead: + Tell me, then, what is this wonder, rarity of all things + rare?' + +(A.) 'Thou makest long the questioning of an egg worth a doit.' +(Q.) 'How many words [or times] did God speak to Moses?' (A.) +'It is related of the Prophet that he said, "God spoke to Moses +fifteen hundred and fifteen words [or times]."' (Q.) 'Tell me +of fourteen things that speak to the Lord of the Worlds?' (A.) +'The seven heavens and the seven earths, when they say, "We +come, obedient."'[FN#344] (Q.) 'How was Adam created?' (A.) +'God created Adam of clay: the clay He made of foam and the +foam of the sea, the sea of darkness, darkness of light, light +of a fish, the fish of a rock, the rock of a ruby, the ruby of +water, and the water He created by the exertion of His omnipotent +will, according to His saying (exalted be His name!), "His +commandment is only when He willeth aught, that He say, 'Be,' +--and it is."'[FN#345] (Q.) 'What is meant by the poet in the +following verses: + +A things sans mouth or maw that eats in wondrous wise; On trees + and beasts it feeds and all beneath the skies. +Give it to eat, it thrives and flourishes amain; But give it + not to drink of water, or it dies?' + +(A.) 'Fire.' (Q.) 'And in these: + +Two lovers, that are still estopped from all delight: + Embracing, each with each, they pass the livelong night. +They guarantee the folk from all calamity, And with the risen + sun they're torn apart forthright?' + +(A.) 'The leaves of a gate.' (Q.) 'Tell me of the gates of +Hell?' (A.) 'They are seven in number and their names are +comprised in the following verses: + +Jehennem first, then Leza comes and eke Hetim as well; Then + must thou count Saïr, and fifth comes Seker, sooth to + tell: +Sixth comes Jehim and last of all, Hawiyeh; thus thou hast, In + compass brief of doggrel rhyme, the seven rooms of Hell.' + +(Q.) 'To what does the poet refer in these verses: + +A pair of ringlets long she hath, that trail for aye Behind + her, as she comes and goes upon her way, +And eye that never knows the taste of sleep nor sheds A tear, + for none it hath for shedding, sooth to say; +Nor wears it aught of clothes, from year to ended year; Yet in + all manner wede it doth the folk array?' + +(A.) 'A needle.' (Q.) 'What is the length and breadth of the +bridge Es Sirat?' (A.) 'Its length is three thousand years' +journey, a thousand in descent, a thousand level and a thousand +in ascent: it is sharper than a sword and finer than a hair.' +(Q.) 'How many intercessions [with God] hath the Prophet [for +each soul]?' (A.) 'Three.' (Q.) 'Was Abou Bekr the first that +embraced Islam?' (A.) 'Yes.' (Q.) 'Yet Ali[FN#346] became a +Muslim before him?' (A.) 'All came to the Prophet, when he was +a boy of seven years old, for God vouchsafed him the knowledge +of the truth in his tender youth, so that he never prostrated +himself to idols.' (Q.) 'Which is the more excellent, Ali or +Abbas?'[FN#347] + +Now she knew that, in propounding this question, Ibrahim was +laying a trap for her; for, if she said, 'Ali is the more +excellent,' she would fall in disgrace with the Khalif; so she +bowed her head awhile, now reddening, now paling, then said, +'Thou askest me of two excellent men, each having [his own +especial] excellence. Let us return to what we were about.' +When the Khalif heard her reply, he rose to his feet and said, +'By the Lord of the Kaabeh, thou hast said well, O Taweddud!' +Then said Ibrahim, 'What means the poet, when he says: + +Slender of skirts and slim of shape and sweet of taste it is, + Most like unto the spear, except it lacks of the spontoon. +In all the countries of the world the folk make use of it, And + eaten 'tis in Ramazan, after mid-afternoon?' + +She answered, 'The sugar-cane;' and he said, 'Tell me of many +things.' 'What are they?' asked she; and he said, 'What is +sweeter than honey, what is sharper than the sword, what is +swifter than poison, what is the delight of a moment and what +the contentment of three days, what is the pleasantest of days, +what is the joy of a week, what is the debt that the worst +payer denieth not, what is the prison of the tomb, what is the +joy of the heart, what is the snare of the soul, what is death +in life, what is the malady that may not be healed, what is the +reproach that may not be done away, what is the beast that +harbours not in cultivated fields, but lodges in waste places +and hates mankind and hath in it somewhat of the make of seven +strong beasts?' Quoth she, 'Hear what I shall say in answer; +then put off thy clothes, that I may expound to thee.' Then the +Khalif said, 'Expound, and he shall put off his clothes.' So +she said, 'That, which is sweeter than honey, is the love of +pious children to their parents; that, which is sharper than +the sword, is the tongue; that, which is swifter than poison, +is the evil eye; the delight of a moment is coition and the +contentment of three days is the depilatory for women; the +pleasantest of days is that of profit on merchandise; the joy +of a week is the bride; the debt, which the worst payer denieth +not, is death; the prison of the tomb is an ill son; the joy of +the heart is a woman obedient to her husband, (and it is said +also that, when fleshmeat descends upon the heart, it rejoiceth +therein); the snare [or vexation] of the soul is a disobedient +slave; death in life is poverty; the malady, that may not be +healed, is an ill nature and the reproach, that may not be done +away, is an ill daughter; lastly, the beast that harbours not +in cultivated fields, but lodges in waste places and hates +mankind and hath in it somewhat of the make of seven strong +beasts, is the locust, whose head is as the head of the horse, +its neck as the neck of the bull, its wings as the wings of the +vulture, its feet as the feet of the camel, its tail as the +tail of the serpent, its body as the body of the scorpion and +its horns as the horns of the gazelle.' + +The Khalif was astounded at her quickness and understanding and +said to Ibrahim, 'Put off thy clothes.' So he rose and said, 'I +call all who are present in this assembly to witness that she +is more learned than I and all the learned men.' And he put off +his clothes and gave them to her, saying, 'Take them and may +God not bless them to thee!' The Khalif ordered him fresh +clothes and said to Taweddud, 'There is one thing left of +that for which thou didst engage, namely, chess.' And he +sent for professors of chess and draughts and backgammon. The +chess-player sat down before her, and they set the pieces, and +he moved and she moved; but, every move he made she speedily +countered, till she beat him and he found himself check-mated. +Quoth he, 'I did but lead thee on, that thou mightest think +thyself skilful; but set up again, and I will show thee.' So +they placed the pieces a second time, and he said to himself, +'Open thine eyes, or she will beat thee.' And he fell to moving +no piece, save after calculation, and ceased not to play, till +she said, 'Check-mate.' When he saw this, he was confounded at +her quickness and skill; but she laughed and said, 'O master, +I will make a wager with thee on this third game. I will give +thee the queen and the right-hand rook and the left-hand knight; +if thou beat me, take my clothes, and if I beat thee, I will +take thine.' 'I agree to this,' replied he, and they replaced +the pieces, she giving him the queen, rook and knight. Then +said she, 'Move, O master.' So he moved, saying in himself, +'I cannot but win, with such an advantage,' and made a combination; +but she moved on, little by little, till she made one of her pawns +a queen and pushing up to him pawns and other pieces, to take off +his attention, set one in his way and tempted him with it.[FN#348] +Accordingly, he took it and she said to him, 'The measure is meted +out and the equilibrium established. Eat, O man, till thou pass +repletion; nought shall be thy ruin but greediness. Knowest thou +not that I did but tempt thee, that I might beguile thee? See: +this is check-mate: put off thy clothes.' 'Leave me my trousers,' +quoth he, 'so God requite thee;' and he swore by Allah that he +would contend with none, so long as Taweddud abode at the Court +of Baghdad. Then he took off his clothes and gave them to her +and went away. + +Then came the backgammon-player, and she said to him, 'If I +beat thee, what wilt thou give me?' Quoth he, 'I will give thee +ten suits of brocade of Constantinople, figured with gold, and +ten suits of velvet and a thousand dinars, and if I beat thee, +I ask nothing but that thou write me an acknowledgment thereof.' +'To it, then,' replied she, 'and do thy best.' So they played, +and he lost and went away, jabbering in the Frank jargon and +saying, 'By the bounty of the Commander of the Faithful, there +is not her like in all the world!' Then the Khalif summoned +players on instruments of music and said to her, 'Dost thou +know aught of music?' 'Yes,' answered she. So he bade bring +a peeled and polished lute, whose owner [or maker] was ground +down by exile [or estrangement from the beloved] and of which +quoth one, describing it: + +God watered a land and straight a tree sprang up on its root: + It cast forth branches and throve and flourished with many + a shoot. +The birds, when the wood was green, sang o'er it, and when it + was dry, Fair women sang to it in turn, for lo, 'twas a + minstrel's lute! + +So they brought a bag of red satin, with tassels of +saffron-coloured silk: and she opened the bag, and took out a +lute, on which were graven the following verses: + +Full many a tender branch a lute for singing-girl has grown, + Wherewith at banquets to her mates she makes melodious + moan. +She sings; it follows on her song, as 'twere to teach her how + Heart's troubles in clear perfect speech of music to make + known. + +She laid her lute in her lap and letting her breasts hang over +it, bent to it as bends a mother, suckling her child; then +preluded in twelve different modes, till the whole assembly was +agitated with delight, and sang the following verses: + +Leave your estrangement, I pray, and bid your cruelty hold, + For, by your life, my heart will never for you be + consoled. +Have pity on one who weeps, afflicted and ever sad, A slave of + passion, who burns for thee with longings untold. + +The Khalif was ravished and exclaimed, 'May God bless thee and +receive him who taught thee[FN#349] into His mercy!' Whereupon +she rose and kissed the earth before him. Then he sent for +money and paid her master Aboulhusn a hundred thousand dinars +to her price; after which he said to her, 'O Taweddud, ask a +boon of me.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' replied she, 'I ask +of thee that thou restore me to my lord who sold me to thee.' +'It is well,' answered the Khalif and restored her to her +master and gave her five thousand dinars for herself. Moreover, +he appointed Aboulhusn one of his boon-companions and assigned +him a monthly stipend of a thousand dinars so long as he should +live, and he abode with the damsel Taweddud in all delight of +life. + +Marvel then, O King, at the eloquence of this damsel and the +greatness of her learning and understanding and her perfect +excellence in all branches of knowledge, and consider the +generosity of the Khalif Haroun er Reshid, in that he gave her +master this money and said to her, 'Ask a boon of me;' and she +besought him to restore her to her lord. So he restored her to +him and gave her five thousand dinars for herself and made him +one of his boon-companions. Where is such generosity to be +found after the Abbaside Khalifs, may God the Most High have +mercy upon them all! + + + + + +End of Vol. IV + + + + + Arabian Nights, Volume 4 + Footnotes + + +[FN#1] A very famous legist and wit of the eighth century and a +prime favourite with Er Reshid. He was one of the chief pupils +of the Imam Abou Henifeh (see note, Vol. II. p. 131 {see Vol. 2 +FN#91}) and was Cadi of Baghdad under the third, fourth and +fifth Khalifs of the Abbaside dynasty. + +[FN#2] Shown in choosing so learned a Cadi. + +[FN#3] Governor of the two Iraks (i.e. Bassora and Cufa) in the +reign of Hisham, tenth Khalif of the Ommiade dynasty (A.D. +723-741). He was celebrated for his beneficence and liberality. + +[FN#4] Koran iii. 178, etc. + +[FN#5] "The hand of a thief shall not be cut off for stealing +less than a quarter of a dinar."--Mischat ul Masabih. + +[FN#6] El Asmai the poet, author or compiler of the well-known +romance of Antar. + +[FN#7] Zanzibar (ant. Zengibar). + +[FN#8] The word Sherif (lit. noble) signifies strictly a +descendant of the martyr Hussein, son of the Khalif Ali; but it +is here used in the sense of "chief" [of the bazaar]. + +[FN#9] Quære Mensour en Nemri, a well-known poet of the time +and (originally) a protege of Yehya's son, El Fezl. + +[FN#10] Intendant of the palace to Haroun er Reshid and captain +of his guards. + +[FN#11] i.e. the Khalif + +[FN#12] i.e. As if he were an old Bedouin, with forehead +disfigured by the friction of the rope of camel's hair, which +is part of the Bedouin headdress. + +[FN#13] Mohammed said, "Change the whiteness of your hair, but +not with anything black." Henna is the approved hairdye for a +true-believer; it changes the hair to a reddish-brown. + +[FN#14] i.e. thou that art as dear to me as my sight and +hearing. + +[FN#15] A fountain of Paradise. + +[FN#16] Syn. languishing (munkesir). + +[FN#17] A river of Paradise. + +[FN#18] i.e. Orthodox. + +[FN#19] These words are a quotation from a well-known piece of +verse. + +[FN#20] Of the Prophet. + +[FN#21] Usually made of palm-fibres. + +[FN#22] The distinctive headdress of the Muslims. + +[FN#23] The bridge that spans Hell, finer than a hair and +sharper than a sword, and over which all must pass on the Day +of Judgment. + +[FN#24] Or leader of the people at prayer, who stands opposite +the niche sunk into or painted on the wall of the mosque, to +indicate the direction of Mecca. + +[FN#25] All this is an audacious parody of the Muslim ritual of +prayer. + +[FN#26] Lit. "exclamations of 'Glory be to God!'" which are of +frequent recurrence in the Mohammedan formulas of prayer. See +last note. + +[FN#27] i.e. governor. + +[FN#28] The word ucwaneh, here used in the dual number, usually +designates the teeth, in its common meaning of "camomile- +flower": but the lips are here expressly mentioned, and this +fact, together with that of the substitution, in the Breslau +edition, of the word akikan (two cornelians or rubies) for +ucwanetan (two camomiles), as in the Calcutta and Boulac +editions, shows that the word is intended to be taken in its +rarer meaning of "corn-marigold." + +[FN#29] Syn. Fortune (ez zeman). + +[FN#30] One of the tribes of the Arabs and that to which the +renowned Maan ben Zaideh (see Vol. III. p. 317, {Vol. 3, +FN#121}) belonged. + +[FN#31] The Muslims accuse the Jews of having corrupted the +Pentateuch and others of their sacred books, even as the +Christians the Gospels (see Vol. II. page 149, note {Vol. 2, +FN#97}), by expunging or altering the passages foretelling the +coming of Mohammed. + +[FN#32] See Vol. I. p. 135, note 2. {Vol. 1, FN#45} + +[FN#33] i.e. as a martyr. + +[FN#34] The force of this comparison will best appear from the +actual figuration of the Arabic double-letter Lam-Alif (Anglice +L.A.) which is made up of the two letters *<arabic character>, +(initial form of Lam) and *<arabic character> (final of Alif,) +and is written thus, *<arabic character>. + +[FN#35] i.e. O thou, whose glance is as the light of the +glowing embers. + +[FN#36] Thus figured in Arabic *<arabic character>. + +[FN#37] Thus *<arabic character>. + +[FN#38] Thus *<arabic character>. + +[FN#39] Koran xxvil. 12. + +[FN#40] Koran iii. 103. + +[FN#41] Koran xcii. 1,2. + +[FN#42] Sauda, feminine of aswed (black), syn. black bile +(melancholia). + +[FN#43] The distinctive colour of which is white. + +[FN#44] Koran li. 26. + +[FN#45] Mohammed. + +[FN#46] Koran ii. 64, referring to an expiatory heifer which +the Jews were commanded, through Moses, to sacrifice. + +[FN#47] See note, Vol III. p. 104 {Vol. 3, FN#19} + +[FN#48] Sulafeh. + +[FN#49] Sewalif, plural of salifeh (equivalent of sulafeh). A +play upon the double meaning of the word is, of course, +intended. + +[FN#50] Syn. yellowness (isfirar). + +[FN#51] A title of the Prophet. + +[FN#52] His wife Zubeideh. + +[FN#53] i.e. his beautiful slave-girls. + +[FN#54] i.e. his beautiful slave-girls. + +[FN#55] Title of Saladin (Selaheddin) and several other +Eyoubite Sultans of Egypt and Syria. It is equivalent to our +"Defender of the Faith." + +[FN#56] Koran xli. 46. + +[FN#57] A town of Upper Egypt. + +[FN#58] Meaning the merchant, whose name, Abou Jaafer or the +like, he had learnt from the tailor. + +[FN#59] Muslim Jews. + +[FN#60] A well-known jurist at Baghdad in the reign of the +Khalif Mamoun. + +[FN#61] Medina. + +[FN#62] One of the gates of the great mosque there, wherein is +the tomb of the Prophet. + +[FN#63] Tenth Khalif of the Abbaside dynasty, A.D. 849-861. + +[FN#64] Muwelledat, women born in Muslim countries of +slave-parents; syn. mulatto-women. + +[FN#65] Lieutenant of the Prefect of Baghdad. + +[FN#66] Muwelledat, women born in Muslim countries of +slave-parents; syn. mulatto-women. + +[FN#67] El Hakim bi Amrillah, sixth Fatimite Khalif of Egypt +(A.D. 995-1021), cruel and fantastic tyrant, who claimed to be +an incarnation of the Deity. He was the founder of the religion +of the Druses, who look to him to reappear and be their Messiah + +[FN#68] Bastard or Spanish pellitory. + +[FN#69] Or dyed. + +[FN#70] Or interlocking. + +[FN#71] Or torn. + +[FN#72] Sufreh, a round piece of leather used (mostly by +travellers) as a table-cloth and having a running string +inserted round its edge, by means of which it can be converted +into a bag or budget for holding provisions, as in this +instance. + +[FN#73] Lower India. + +[FN#74] i.e. as master of the house in which I have sought +shelter. + +[FN#75] Uns el Wujoud. + +[FN#76] A pun upon his name, Uns wa joud, pleasance and bounty. + +[FN#77] See supra, p. 95, note 3. {Vol. 4, FN#38} + +[FN#78] The fourteenth letter of the Arabic alphabet, in its +medial form (<arabic>) closely resembling an eye underlined +with kohl. + +[FN#79] See Note, Vol. III. p. 274. {Vol. 3, FN#102} + +[FN#80] i.e. in dreams.. + +[FN#81] One of the months in which war was forbidden to the +pagan Arabs and a sort of Trève de Dieu prevailed. + +[FN#82] The Arabic word fakir means literally, "a poor man;" +but it would appear, from what follows, that Uns el Wujoud had +disguised himself as a religious mendicant and was taken for +such by the people of the castle. + +[FN#83] i.e. one absorbed in the contemplation of supra- +terrestrial things. + +[FN#84] Uns el Wujoud. + +[FN#85] To salute them and wish them joy, according to Oriental +custom. + +[FN#86] Mosul is called the land of purity, in a religious +sense, it having never been polluted with idolatrous worship. + +[FN#87] The people of Aleppo seem to have been noted for +debauchery. + +[FN#88] i.e. Do not express admiration openly, lest it attract +the evil eye, but vent your wonder by saying, "God bless and +preserve the Prophet!" according to general Muslim wont. + +[FN#89] A gorge near Mecca, the scene of one of Mohammed's +battles. + +[FN#90] i.e. as made out of a crooked rib, according to the +tradition. + +[FN#91] i.e. the land of the virgin. + +[FN#92] The word Jamiaïn means "two congregational mosques," +which would only be found in a large town like Baghdad. It is +possible, therefore, that the expression, "land of Jamiaïn," +may mean Baghdad or some other great city, noted for its +debauched manners. + +[FN#93] Oriental substitute for slate. + + +[FN#94] A pre-Mohammedan poet. + +[FN#95] King of Hireh in Chaldæa, a fantastic and bloodthirsty +tyrant, whom he had lampooned. + +[FN#96] Aboulabbas er Recashi, a well-known poet of the time. + +[FN#97] Koran xxvi. 224, 5, 6. + +[FN#98] Half-brother of Abdallah ben ez Zubeir, the celebrated +pretender to the Khalifate, see Vol. III. p. 194, note 3. {Vol. +3, FN#62} + +[FN#99] Grand-daughter of the Khalif Aboubekr and the most +beautiful woman of her day. + +[FN#100] A famous Medinan Traditionist of the eighth century. + +[FN#101] Er Zubeir ibn el Awwam, cousin-german to Mohammed and +one of his Companions. + +[FN#102] Abou Mohammed el Aamesh, a Cufan Traditionist of the +eighth century. + +[FN#103] A Traditionist of the seventh century. + +[FN#104] One of the Companions. + +[FN#105] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#106] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#107] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#108] Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#109] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#110] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#111] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#112] Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#113] A.D. 530-579. The founder of the great Persian dynasty +of the Kisras (Chosroës). Mohammed was born in the reign of +this monarch, whose name is a synonym with Eastern writers for +all that is just and noble in a King. + +[FN#114] Wife of Mohammed. + +[FN#115] Daughter of Mohammed. + +[FN#116] Lit. "of the ancestors," i.e. those pious and blessed +persons who have gone before. The word es selef (the ancestors) +is specially applied to Mohammed, his wife Aaisheh, the first +three Khalifs and certain other early Muslims. + +[FN#117] Khusrau Perviz, grandson of Kisra Anoushirwan (see +supra, p. 228). {Vol. 4, FN#113} + +[FN#118] The famous beauty, daughter of Maurice, Emperor of the +East, and heroine of Nizami's well-known poem. + +[FN#119] First cousin of Haroun er Reshid. + +[FN#120] Son and successor of Er Reshid. + +[FN#121] A well-known grammarian and traditionist of the time, +afterwards governor of part of Khorassan, under the Khalif El +Mamoun. + +[FN#122] Intendant of the palace under Er Reshid. + +[FN#123] i.e. lover. + +[FN#124] Muslim version of Susannah and the Elders. + +[FN#125] Lit. O frosty-beard (fool), how frosty was thy beard! + +[FN#126] Descendant of the Prophet. + +[FN#127] Name of a tribe. + +[FN#128] A descendant of Ishmael, from whom the Arab +genealogists trace Mohammed's lineage. + +[FN#129] Koran xxxiii. 38. + +[FN#130] Koran xxxviii. 2. + +[FN#131] One of the Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#132] Of the Prophet i.e. those who had personally known +Mohammed. + +[FN#133] i.e. the builders, who, in the East, use mud or clay +for mortar. + +[FN#134] About a penny. + +[FN#135] Mohammed. + + +[FN#136] A woman's name. + +[FN#137] For putting out the fire in a brasier or +cooking-stove. + +[FN#138] The last Kings of Hireh were Christians. + +[FN#139] A prae-Islamitic poet. + +[FN#140] King of Persia and En Numan's suzerain. + +[FN#141] A celebrated poet of the eighth and ninth centuries at +the court d the Abbaside Khalifs. + +[FN#142] A quarter of Baghdad. + +[FN#143] Another well-known poet of the time, Dibil's teacher +and friend. + +[FN#144] Underground rooms are much used in Baghdad and Central +Asia, for coolness' sake, in the season of the great heats. + +[FN#145] Dibil's surname. + +[FN#146] An idol of the pagan Arabs, before the coming of +Mohammed. + +[FN#147] In the attitude or a pupil before his master. + +[FN#148] i.e. heart's blood. + +[FN#149] A well-known poet, who flourished at Baghdad in the +ninth century + +[FN#150] Aboulabbas Mohammed ben Yezid eth Thumali, surnamed El +Muberred, a famous Baghdad grammarian of the ninth century. + +[FN#151] A monastery in the town of Hemah in Syria, so called +from the Emperor Heraclius, who retired thither, to end his. +days. + +[FN#152] These verses are addressed to the Prophet Mohammed. + +[FN#153] The most learned grammarian of his day. He flourished +at Baghdad in the first half of the tenth century. + +[FN#154] Anatolia. + +[FN#155] The Lights. + +[FN#156] Servant of the Messiah. + +[FN#157] The monk. + +[FN#158] The desireful servant of God. Abdallah is the name +commonly given to a Christian convert to Islam. This question +and answer are a good example of the jingle of rhymes so much +affected by the Arabs. + +[FN#159] i.e. of gods (shirk). + +[FN#160] Koran vii. 195. + +[FN#161] i.e. saints. + +[FN#162] Koran x. 36. + +[FN#163] A well-known man of letters and one of El Mamoun's +viziers. + +[FN#164] Prefect of Baghdad under El Mamoun. + +[FN#165] i.e. the persons in authority under them. + +[FN#166] Surname of Ali ben Hisham. + +[FN#167] A renowned chieftain and poet of the time of Mohammed. + +[FN#168] A famous singer and composer of the first century of +the Hegira. + +[FN#169] One of the greatest of Arab poets; he flourished in +the first century of the Hegira. + +[FN#170] i.e. as to the sound of music. + +[FN#171] Sixth of the Abbaside Khalifs, A.D. 809-813. + +[FN#172] See note, Vol. III. p. 324. {See Vol. 3, FN#130}. + +[FN#173] Tenth Abbaside Khalif, A.D. 849-861. + +[FN#174] Vizier and favourite of El Mutawekkil, killed A.D. 861 +whilst endeavouring to defend the Khalif against the parricide +El Muntestr. + +[FN#175] Virginitatem tollere. + +[FN#176] Johannes, a Greek physician in high favour with El +Mutawekkil and others of the Abbaside Khalifs. + +[FN#177] i.e. Princess of the Doctors or men of learning. + +[FN#178] A.D. 1166. + +[FN#179] Or heads of the various sects or schools of religion. + +[FN#180] Koran iv. 38. + +[FN#171] As witness to a debt, Koran ii. 282. + +[FN#182] Koran iv. 175. + +[FN#183] Or "eye-glance." + +[FN#184] Abou Temmam et Tai (of the tribe of Tai), a famous +poet of the first half of the ninth century and postmaster at +Mosul under the Khalif Wathic Billah (commonly known as +Vathek), A.D. 842-849. He was the compiler of the famous +anthology of ancient Arabian poetry, known as the Hemaseh +(Hamasa). + +[FN#185] Aboulcasim el Heriri, the famous poet and grammarian, +author of the Mecamat, the most celebrated single work in +Arabic literature. He holds much the same rank in Arabic +letters as Pope and Boileau in the literature of England +and France and may, with much better reason, be styled "le +legislateur du Parnasse (Arabe)." He was a native of Bassora +and died early in the twelfth century. + +[FN#186] i.e. the languishing glance of his eye. + +[FN#187] i.e. his whiskers. + +[FN#188] Koran xii. 51. + +[FN#189] Or quare palm-spathes. + +[FN#190] Or quare "an exposition of women." + +[FN#191] Koran xxvi. 165, 166. + +[FN#192] i.e. the whiteness of his face. + +[FN#193] Or "freeborn," the Arabic word used here having this +double meaning. The Arabs hold that the child of freeborn +parents (Lat. ingenuus) must of necessity be noble and those +born of slave parents or a slave mother the contrary. + +[FN#194] Or "freeborn," the Arabic word used here having this +double meaning. The Arabs hold that the child of freeborn +parents (Lat. ingenuus) must of necessity be noble and those +born of slave parents or a slave mother the contrary. + +[FN#195] A famous statesman, soldier, poet and musician, +governor of Khorassan, Egypt and other provinces under the +Khalif El Mamoun. + +[FN#196] Abou Abdallah ibn el Casim el Hashimi, surnamed Abou +el Ainaa, a blind traditionist and man of letters of Bassora, +in the ninth century, and one of the most celebrated wits of +his day. + +[FN#197] An island near Cairo, on which is situate the +Nilometer. It is a favourite pleasure-resort of the Cairenes. + +[FN#198] The port of Cairo. + +[FN#199] i.e. the report of its being haunted. + +[FN#200] i.e. by the Sortes Coranicæ or other similar process. + +[FN#201] The word shabb (young man) is applied by the Arabs to +men of all ages from early adolescence to forty or even +(according to some authorities) fifty. + +[FN#202] i.e. recited the first chapter of the Koran seven +times. + +[FN#203] i.e. affixed the tughraa, the royal seal or rather +countermark. + +[FN#204] i.e. health and security. + +[FN#205] See Vol. III. p. 225, note 1. {Vol. 3 FN#78} + +[FN#206] A pile of stones or other land-mark, set up to show +the way to travellers in the desert. + +[FN#207] The eyebrows of a beautiful woman are usually compared +to the new moon of Ramazan (see note, Vol. I. p. 71 {see Vol. 1 +FN#26}). The meaning here is the same, the allusion being +apparently to the eagerness with which the pagan Arabs may be +supposed to have watched for the appearance of the new moon of +Shaaban, as giving the signal for the renewal of predatory +excursions, after the enforced close-time or Trêve de Dieu of +the holy month Rejeb. + +[FN#208] Quære fourteen [years old]. + +[FN#209] i.e. the abrogated passages and those by which they +are abrogated. + +[FN#210] Koran iv. 160. + +[FN#211] Traditions of the Prophet. + +[FN#212] i.e. saying, "I purpose to pray such and such +prayers." + +[FN#213] i.e. saying, "God is most Great!" So called, because +its pronunciation after that of the niyeh or intent, prohibits +the speaking of any words previous to prayer. + +[FN#214] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#215] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#216] i.e. saying, "In the name of God, etc." + +[FN#217] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#218] It may be noted that these answers of Taweddud form an +excellent compendium of devotional practice, according to the +tenets of the Shafy school. + +[FN#219] Obligatory as a preparation for the Friday prayer and +on other occasions when legal purification is necessary. + +[FN#220] i.e. saying, "I purpose to defer, etc." + +[FN#221] i.e. with sand, earth or dust. + +[FN#222] i.e. saying, "Peace be on us and [all] the righteous +worshippers of God!" + +[FN#223] i.e. saying, "I seek refuge with God from Satan the +accursed." + +[FN#224] i.e. saying, "I purpose, etc." + +[FN#225] Lit. that the intent shall be by night. + +[FN#226] At sundown. + +[FN#227] Eaten a little before the break of day, the fast +commencing as soon as there is light enough to distinguish a +black thread from a white and lasting till sunset. + +[FN#228] A saying of Mohammed. + +[FN#229] i.e. retirement to a mosque for pious exercises, +equivalent to the Roman Catholic retraite. + +[FN#230] Two hills near Mecca. + +[FN#231] On first catching sight of Mecca. + +[FN#232] Places near Mecca. + +[FN#233] At a pillar supposed to represent the Devil. + +[FN#234] Or chief of the faith. + +[FN#235] Koran vii. 66. + +[FN#236] One of the followers of Mohammed, i.e. those who had +known some of the Companions [of the Prophet] though they had +never seen himself. The freedman [and adopted son] of Abdallah, +son of Omar ben El Khettab, the most authoritative of all the +Companions and reporters of the sayings and doings of the +Prophet. + +[FN#237] i.e. at a profit. The exchange must be equal and +profitless. + +[FN#238] Ablution. + +[FN#239] Complete ablution. + +[FN#240] Poor-rate. + +[FN#241] Warring for the Faith. + +[FN#242] i.e. saying, "I testify that there is no God, etc." + +[FN#243] i.e. fundamentals. + +[FN#244] i.e. derivatives. + +[FN#245] i.e. the true believers. + +[FN#246] i.e. death. + +[FN#247] i.e. that which does not require to be cut with a +knife. "Cut not meat with a knife, because it is of the manners +and customs of the barbarians; but eat it with your teeth."-- +Mishcat ul Masabih. + +[FN#248] Or "being a Muslim." + +[FN#249] Apparently referring to the verse, "The earth all +[shall be] His handful [on the] Day of Resurrection and the +heavens rolled up in His right [hand]."--Koran xxxix. 67. + +[FN#250] See Vol. II. p. 126, note. {Vol. 2, FN#76} + +[FN#251] Koran lxxviii. 19. + +[FN#252] Of the unity of God. + +[FN#253] i.e. professor of Koranic exegesis. + +[FN#254] i.e. portions so called. + +[FN#255] Heber. + +[FN#256] Jethro. + +[FN#257] Joshua. + +[FN#258] Enoch. + +[FN#259] John the Baptist. + +[FN#260] i.e. the bird of clay fabled by the Koran (following +the Apocryphal Gospel of the childhood of Christ) to have been +animated by him. + +[FN#261] Koran ii. + +[FN#262] Koran ii. 256, "God, there is no god but He, the +Living, the Eternal. Slumber taketh him not, neither sleep, and +His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Who is +he that intercedeth with Him but by His leave? He knoweth what +is before them and what is behind them, nor do they comprehend +aught of the knowledge of Him but of what He willeth. His +throne embraceth the heavens and the earth and the guarding of +them oppresseth Him not, for He is the Most High, the Supreme." + +[FN#263] Koran ii. 159. + +[FN#264] Koran xvi. 92. + +[FN#265] Paradise, Koran lxx. 38. + +[FN#266] Koran xxxix. 54. + +[FN#267] See note, p. 338 supra. {Vol. 4, FN#236} + +[FN#268] Koran xii. 18. + +[FN#269] Koran ii. 107. + +[FN#270] Koran li. 57. + +[FN#271] Koran ii. 28. + +[FN#272] Koran xvi. 100. The Muslims fable the devil to have +tempted Abraham to disobey God's commandment to sacrifice +Ishmael (Isaac) and to have been driven off by the Patriarch +with stones. Hence he is called "The Stoned." + +[FN#273] Abdallah ibn Abbas, first cousin of Mohammed and the +most learned theologian among the Companions. + +[FN#274] Koran xcvi. 1 and 2. + +[FN#275] Koran xxvii. 30. + +[FN#276] Koran ix. + +[FN#277] i.e. the day of the sacrifice at Mina, which completes +the ceremonies of the pilgrimage. + +[FN#278] The better opinion seems to be that this omission +(unique in the Koran) arose from the ninth chapter having +originally formed part of the eighth, from which it was +separated after Mohammed's death. + +[FN#279] Koran xvii. 110. + +[FN#280] Koran ii. 158. + +[FN#281] i.e. him who seals or closes the list of the prophets. + +[FN#282] C. xcvi. + +[FN#283] A native of Medina and one of the first of Mohammed's +disciples. + +[FN#284] Koran lxxiv. + +[FN#285] There are several verses on this subject. + +[FN#286] Koran cx. 1. + +[FN#287] The third Khalif. + +[FN#288] Companions of the Prophet. + +[FN#289] One of the Followers. + +[FN#290] Koran v. 4. + +[FN#291] Koran v. 116. + +[FN#292] In the same verse. + +[FN#293] Koran v. 89. + +[FN#294] Ez Zuhak ben Sufyan, one of the Companions. + +[FN#295] One of the Followers. + +[FN#296] Koran iv. 124. + +[FN#297] i.e. without hesitation or interruption. + +[FN#298] Kaf, the 21st letter of the Arabic alphabet. + +[FN#299] Mim, the 24th letter of the Arabic alphabet. + +[FN#300] Ain, the 18th letter of the Arabic alphabet. + +[FN#301] The Koran is divided into sixty set portions, +answering or equivalent to our Lessons, for convenience of use +in public worship. + +[FN#302] Koran xi. 50. + +[FN#303] Name of the partition-wall between heaven and hell. + +[FN#304] Koran vii. 154. + +[FN#305] A play on the word ain, which means "eye." + +[FN#306] Chapters liv. lv. and lvi. + +[FN#307] i e. ankle. + +[FN#308] Koran xvii. 39. + +[FN#309] Two stars in Aquarius and Capricorn. + +[FN#310] Or chief part, lit. head. + +[FN#311] Or remedial treatment. + +[FN#312] Quare hot springs. + +[FN#313] A dish of crumpled bread and broth. + +[FN#314] Or savoury supplement to bread, rice and so forth. + +[FN#315] Koran v. 92. + +[FN#316] Koran ii. 216. + +[FN#317] Played with headless arrows. + +[FN#318] The fourth Khalif. + +[FN#319] The Korah of Numbers xvi. fabled by the Muslims +(following a Talmudic tradition) to have been a man of immense +wealth. "Now Caroun was of the tribe of Moses [and Aaron], but +he transgressed against them and we gave him treasures, the +keys whereof would bear down a company of men of strength."-- +Koran xxviii. 76. + +[FN#320] Syn. bearing a load (hamil). + +[FN#321] Koran lxx. 40. + +[FN#322] Koran x. 5. + +[FN#323] Koran xxxvi. 40. + +[FN#324] Koran xxii. 60. + +[FN#325] Koran xxxi. 34. + +[FN#326] Fifth and seventh months of the Coptic year, answering +(roughly) to our January and March. + +[FN#327] Fifth and seventh months of the Coptic year, answering +(roughly) to our January and March. + +[FN#328] Fourth month of the Coptic year. + +[FN#329] Eighth and twelfth months of the Coptic year (April +and August). + +[FN#330] Third month (November) of the Coptic year. + +[FN#331] Sixth month (February) of the Coptic year. + +[FN#332] The lowest of the seven stages into which Mohammedan +tradition divides the heavens. + +[FN#333] Koran lxxvii. 5. + +[FN#334] Koran xxxvi. 36, 37, 38. + +[FN#335] Koran xxii. 7. + +[FN#336] Koran xx. 57. + +[FN#337] A she-camel, big with young, miraculously produced, +according to Muslim legend, from a rock by the Prophet Salih, +for the purpose of converting the Themoudites. + +[FN#338] Where he was hiding with Mohammed from the pursuit of +the Benou Curaish. + +[FN#339] Koran lxxxi. 18. + +[FN#340] In Paradise. + +[FN#341] Sperma hominis. + +[FN#342] The Muslims attribute this miracle to Moses, instead +of Aaron. See Koran vii. 110 et seq. + +[FN#343] [Quoth God] "What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?" +Quoth he, "It is my staff, on which I lean and wherewith I beat +down leaves for my flock, and I have other uses for it."--Koran +xx. 18, 19. + +[FN#344] Then He turned to the heaven (now it was smoke) and +said to it and to the earth, "Come ye twain, obedient or +loathing." And they said both, "We come, obedient."--Koran xli. +10. + +[FN#345] Koran xxxvi. 82. + +[FN#346] Ali ibn Abi Taleb, first cousin of Mohammed and fourth +Khalif. + +[FN#347] Uncle of Mohammed and ancestor of the Abbaside +Khalifs. + +[FN#348] Lit. gave him to eat of it. + +[FN#349] Assuming him to be dead. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT, VOLUME IV *** + +This file should be named 41001108a.txt or 41001108a.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 41001118a.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 41001108b.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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