




TALE

                THE TALE OF THE BULL AND THE ASS



  KNOW, O my daughter, that there was once a merchant who owned much

money and many men, and who was rich in cattle and camels. He had also

a wife and family, and he dwelt in the country, being experienced in

husbandry and devoted to agriculture. Now Allah Most High had

endowed him with understanding the tongues of beasts and birds of

every kind, but under pain of death if he divulged the gift to any. So

he kept it secret for very fear. He had in his cow house a bull and an

ass, each tethered in his own stall, one hard by the other. As the

merchant was sitting near-hand one day with his servans and his

children were playing about him, he heard and bull say to the ass:

  "Hail and health to thee O Father of Waking! for that thou

enjoyest rest and good ministering. All under thee is clean-swept

and fresh-sprinkled. Men wait upon thee and feed thee, and thy

provaunt is sifted barley and thy drink pure spring water, while I

(unhappy creature!) am led forth in the middle of the night, when they

set on my neck the plow and a something called yoke, and I tire at

cleaving the earth from dawn of day till set of sun. I am forced to do

more than I can and to bear all manner of ill-treatment from night to

night. After which they take me back with my sides torn, my neck

flayed, my legs aching, and mine eyelids sored with tears. Then they

shut me up in the byre and throw me beans and crushed straw mixed with

dirt and chaff, and I lie in dung and filth and foul stinks through

the livelong night. But thou art ever in a place swept and sprinkled

and cleansed, and thou art always lying at ease, save when it

happens (and seldom enough!) that the master hath some business,

when he mounts thee and rides thee to town and returns with thee

forthright. So it happens that I am toiling and distrest while thou

takest thine ease and thy rest. Thou sleepest while I am sleepless,

I hunger still while thou eatest thy fill, and I win contempt while

thou winnest goodwill."

  When the bull ceased speaking, the ass turned toward him and said:

"O Broad-o'-Brow, O thou lost one! He lied not who dubbed thee

bullhead, for thou, O father of a bull, hast neither forethought nor

contrivance. Thou art the simplest of simpletons, and thou knowest

naught of good advisers. Hast thou not heard the saying of the wise?



     "For others these hardships and labors I bear,

     And theirs is the pleasure and mine is the care,

     As the bleacher who blacketh his brow in the sun

     To whiten the raiment which other men wear.



But thou, O fool, art full of zeal, and thou toilest and moilest

before the master, and thou tearest and wearest and slayest thyself

for the comfort of another. Hast thou never heard the saw that saith

'None to guide and from the way go wide'? Thou wendest forth at the

call to dawn prayer and thou returnest not till sundown, and through

the livelong day thou endurest all manner hardships: to wit, beating

and belaboring and bad language.

  "Now hearken to me, Sir Bull! When they tie thee to thy stinking

manger, thou pawest the ground with thy forehand and lashest out

with thy hind hoofs and pushest with thy horns and bellowest aloud, so

they deem thee contented. And when they throw thee thy fodder, thou

fallest on it with greed and hastenest to line thy fair fat paunch.

But if thou accept any advice, it will be better for thee, and thou

wilt lead an easier life even than mine. When thou goest afield and

they lay the thing called yoke on thy neck, be down and rise not

again, though haply they swings thee. And if thou rise, lie down a

second time. And when they bring thee home and offer thee thy beans,

fall backward and only sniff at thy meat and withdraw thee and taste

it not, and be satisfied with thy crushed straw and chaff. And on this

wise feign thou art sick, and cease not doing thus for a day or two

days or even three days; so shalt thou have rest from toil and moil."

  When the Bull heard these words, he knew the ass to be his friend

and thanked him, saying, "Right is thy rede," and prayed that all

blessings might requite him, and cried: "O Father Wakener! Thou hast

made up for my failings." (Now the merchant, O my daughter, understood

all that passed between them.) Next day the driver took the bull

and, settling the plow on his neck, made him work as wont. But the

bull began to shirk his plowing, according to the advice of the ass,

and the plowman drubbed him till he broke the yoke and made off. But

the man caught him up and leathered him till he despaired of his life.

Not the less, however, would he do nothing but stand still and drop

down till the evening. Then the herd led him home and stabled him in

his stall, but he drew back from his manger and neither stamped nor

ramped nor butted nor bellowed as he was wont to do, whereat the man

wondered. He brought him the beans and husks, but he sniffed at them

and left them and lay down as far from them as he could and passed the

whole night fasting. The peasant came next morning and, seeing the

manger full of beans, the crushed straw untasted, and the ox lying

on his back in sorriest plight, with legs outstretched and swollen

belly, he was concerned for him, and said to himself, "By Allah, he

hath assuredly sickened, and this is the cause why he would not plow

yesterday."

  Then he went to the merchant and reported: "O my master, the bull is

ailing. He refused his fodder last night- nay, more, he hath not

tasted a scrap of it this morning." Now the merchant-farmer understood

what all this meant, because he had overheard the talk between the

bull and the ass, so quoth he, "Take that rascal donkey, and set the

yoke on his neck, and bind him to the plow and make him do bull's

work." Thereupon the plowman took the ass, and worked him through the

livelong day at the bull's task. And when be failed for weakness, he

made him eat stick till his ribs were sore and his sides were sunken

and his neck was rayed by the yoke. And when he came home in the

evening he could hardly drag his limbs along, either forehand or

hind legs. But as for the bull, he had passed the day lying at full

length, and had eaten his fodder with an excellent appetite, and he

ceased not calling down blessings on the ass for his good advice,

unknowing what had come to him on his account.

  So when night set in and the ass returned to the byre, the bull rose

up before him in honor, and said: "May good tidings gladden thy heart,

O Father Wakener! Through thee I have rested all this day, and I

have eaten my meat in peace and quiet." But the ass returned no reply,

for wrath and heartburning and fatigue and the beating he had

gotten. And he repented with the most grievous of repentance, and

quoth he to himself: "This cometh of my folly in giving good

counsel. As the saw saith, I was in joy and gladness, naught save my

officiousness brought me this sadness. And now I must take thought and

put a trick upon him and return him to his place, else I die." Then he

went aweary to his manger while the bull thanked him and blessed him.

  And even so, O my daughter (said the Wazir) thou wilt die for lack

of wits. Therefore sit thee still and say naught and expose not thy

life to such stress, for, by Allah, I offer thee the best advice,

which cometh of my affection and kindly solicitude for thee. "O my

father," she answered, "needs must I go up to this King and be married

to him." Quoth he, "Do not this deed," and quoth she, "Of a truth I

will." Whereat he rejoined, "If thou be not silent and bide still, I

will do with thee even what the merchant did with his wife." "And what

did be?" asked she.

  Know then (answered the Wazir) that after the return of the ass

the merchant came out on the terrace roof with his wife and family,

for it was a moonlit night and the moon at its full. Now the terrace

overlooked the cow house, and presently as he sat there with his

children playing about him, the trader heard the ass say to the

bull, "Tell me, O Father Broad-o'-Brow, what thou purposest to do

tomorrow." The bull answered: "What but continue to follow thy

counsel, O Aliboron? Indeed it was as good as good could be, and it

hath given me rest and repose, nor will I now depart from it one

tittle. So when they bring me my meat, I will refuse it and blow out

my belly and counterfeit crank." The ass shook his head and said,

"Beware of so doing, O Father of a Bull!" The buff asked, "Why?" and

the ass answered, "Know that I am about to give thee the best of

counsel, for verily I heard our owner say to the herd, 'If the bull

rise not from his place to do his work this morning and if he retire

from his fodder this day, make him over to the butcher that he may

slaughter him and give his flesh to the poor, and fashion a bit of

leather from his hide.' Now I fear for thee on account of this. So

take my advice ere a calamity befall thee, and when they bring thee

thy fodder, eat it and rise up and bellow and paw the ground, or our

master will assuredly slay thee. And peace be with thee!"

  Thereupon the bull arose and lowed aloud and thanked the ass, and

said, "Tomorrow I will readily go forth with them." And he at once ate

up all his meat and even licked the manger. (All this took place and

the owner was listening to their talk.) Next morning the trader and

his wife went to the bull's crib and sat down, and the driver came and

led forth the bull, who, seeing his owner, whisked his tail and

brake wind, and frisked about so lustily that the merchant laughed a

loud laugh and kept laughing till he fell on his back. His wife

asked him, "Whereat laughest thou with such loud laughter as this?"

and he answered her, "I laughed at a secret something which I have

heard and seen but cannot say lest I die my death." She returned,

"Perforce thou must discover it to me, and disclose the cause of thy

laughing even if thou come by thy death!" But he rejoined, "I cannot

reveal what beasts and birds say in their lingo for fear I die."

Then quoth she: "By Allah, thou liest! This is a mere pretext. Thou

laughest at none save me, and now thou wouldest hide somewhat from me.

But by the Lord of the Heaven, an thou disclose not the cause I will

no longer cohabit with thee, I will leave thee at once." And she sat

down and cried.

  Whereupon quoth the merchant: "Woe betide thee! What means thy

weeping? Fear Allah, and leave these words and query me no more

questions." "Needs must thou tell me the cause of that laugh," said

she, and he replied: "Thou wettest that when I prayed Allah to

vouchsafe me understanding of the tongues of beasts and birds, I

made a vow never to disclose the secret to any under pain of dying

on the spot." "No matter!" cried she. "Tell me what secret passed

between the bull and the ass and die this very hour an thou be so

minded." And she ceased not to importune him till he was worn-out

and clean distraught. So at last he said, "Summon thy father and thy

mother and our kith and kin and sundry of our neighbors." Which she

did, and he sent for the kazi and his assessors, intending to make his

will and reveal to her his secret and die the death; for he loved

her with love exceeding because she was his cousin, the daughter of

his father's brother, and the mother of his children, and he had lived

with her a life of a hundred and twenty years.

  Then, having assembled all the family and the folk of his

neighborhood, he said to them, "By me there hangeth a strange story,

and 'tis such that if I discover the secret to any, I am a dead

man." Therefore quoth every one of those present to the woman,

"Allah upon thee, leave this sinful obstinacy and recognize the

right of this matter, lest haply thy husband and the father of thy

children die." But she rejoined, "I will not turn from it till he tell

me, even though he come by his death." So they ceased to urge her, and

the trader rose from amongst them and repaired to an outhouse to

perform the wuzu ablution, and he purposed thereafter to return and to

tell them his secret and to die.

  Now, Daughter Scheherazade, that merchant had in his outhouses

some fifty hens under one cock, and whilst making ready to farewell

his folk he heard one of his many farm dogs thus address in his own

tongue the cock, who was flapping his wings and crowing lustily and

jumping from one hen's back to another and treading all in turn,

saying: "O Chanticleer! How mean is thy wit and how shameless is thy

conduct! Be he disappointed who brought thee up. Art thou not

ashamed of thy doings on such a day as this?" "And what," asked the

rooster, "hath occurred this day?" when the dog answered; "Dost thou

not know that our master is this day making ready for his death? His

wife is resolved that he shall disclose the secret taught to him by

Allah, and the moment he so doeth he shall surely die. We dogs are all

a-mourning, but thou clappest thy wings and clarionest thy loudest and

treadest hen after hen. Is this an hour for pastime and pleasuring?

Art thou not ashamed of thyself?"

  "Then by Allah," quoth the cock, "is our master a lackwit and a

man scanty of sense. If he cannot manage matters with a single wife,

his life is not worth prolonging. Now I have some fifty dame partlets,

and I please this and provoke that and starve one and stuff another,

and through my good governance they are all well under my control.

This our master pretendeth to wit and wisdom, and she hath but one

wife and yet knoweth not how to manage her." Asked the dog, "What

then, O Cock, should the master do to will clear of his strait?" "He

should arise forthright," answered the cock, "and take some twigs from

yon mulberry tree and give her a regular back-basting and

ribroasting till she cry: 'I repent, O my lord! I will never ask

thee a question as Ion, as I live!' Then let him beat her once more

and soundly, and when he shall have done this, he shall sleep free

from care and enjoy life. But this master of ours owns neither sense

nor judgment."

  "Now, Daughter Scheherazade," continued the Wazir, "I will do to

thee as did that husband to that wife." Said Scheherazade, "And what

did he do?" He replied, "When the merchant heard the wise words spoken

by his cock to his dog, he arose in haste and sought his wife's

chamber, after cutting for her some mulberry twigs and hiding them

there. And then he called to her, "Come into the closet, that I may

tell thee the secret while no one seeth me, and then die." She entered

with him and he locked the door and came down upon her with so sound a

beating of back and shoulders, ribs, arms, and legs, saying the

while "Wilt thou ever be asking questions about what concerneth thee

not?" that she was well-nigh senseless. Presently she cried out: "I am

of the repentant! By Allah, I will ask thee no more questions, and

indeed I repent sincerely and wholesomely." Then she kissed his hand

and feet and he led her out of the room submissive, as a wife should

be. Her parents and all the company rejoiced and sadness and

mourning were changed into joy and gladness.

  Thus the merchant learnt family discipline from his cock and he

and his wife lived together the happiest of lives until death. And

thou also, O my daughter! continued the Wazir, unless thou turn from

this matter I will do by thee what that trader did to his wife. But

she answered him with much decision: "I will never desist, O my

father, nor shall this tale change my purpose. Leave such talk and

tattle. I will not listen to thy words and if thou deny me, I will

marry myself to him despite the nose of thee. And first I will go up

to the King myself and alone and I will say to him: 'I prayed my

father to wive me with thee, but he refused, being resolved to

disappoint his lord, grudging the like of me to the like of thee'."

Her father asked, "Must this needs be?" and she answered, "Even so."

  Hereupon the Wazir, being weary of lamenting and contending,

persuading and dissuading her, all to no purpose, went up to King

Shahryar and, after blessing him and kissing the ground before him,

told him all about his dispute with his daughter from first to last

and how he designed to bring her to him that night. The King

wondered with exceeding wonder, for he had made an especial

exception of the Wazir's daughter, and said to him: "O most faithful

of counsellors, how is this? Thou wettest that I have sworn by the

Raiser of the Heavens that after I have gone into her this night I

shall say to thee on the morrow's 'Take her and slay her!' And if thou

slay her not, I will slay thee in her stead without fail." "Allah

guide thee to glory and lengthen thy life, O King of the Age,"

answered the Wazir. "It is she that hath so determined. All this

have I told her and more, but she will not hearken to me and she

persisteth in passing this coming night with the King's Majesty." So

Shahryar rejoiced greatly and said, "'Tis well. Go get her ready,

and this night bring her to me." The Wazir returned to his daughter

and reported to her the command, saying, "Allah make not thy father

desolate by thy loss!"

  But Scheherazade rejoiced with exceeding joy and get ready all she

required and said to her younger sister, Dunyazade: "Note well what

directions I entrust to thee! When I have gone into the King I will

send for thee, and when thou comest to me and seest that he hath had

his carnal will of me, do thou say to me: 'O my sister, an thou be

not sleepy, relate to me some new story, delectable and delightsome,

the better to speed our waking hours.' And I will tell thee a tale

which shall be our deliverance, if so Allah please, and which shall

turn the King from his bloodthirsty custom." Dunyazade answered

"With love and gladness."

  So when it was night, their father the Wazir carried Scheherazade to

the King, who was gladdened at the sight and asked, "Hast thou brought

me my need?" And he answered, "I have." But when the King took her

to his bed and fell to toying with her and wished to go in to her, she

wept, which made him ask, "What aileth thee?" She replied, "O King

of the Age, I have a younger sister, and lief would I take leave of

her this night before I see the dawn." So he sent at once for

Dunyazade and she came and kissed the ground between his hands, when

he permitted her to take her seat near the foot of the couch. Then the

King arose and did away with his bride's maidenhead and the three fell

asleep.

  But when it was midnight Scheherazade awoke and signaled to her

sister Dunyazade, who sat up and said, "Allah upon thee, O my

sister, recite to us some new story, delightsome and delectable,

wherewith to while away the waking hours of our latter night." "With

joy and goodly gree," answered Scheherazade, "if this pious and

auspicious King permit me." "Tell on," quoth the King, who chanced

to be sleepless and restless and therefore was pleased with the

prospect of hearing her story. So Scheherazade rejoiced, and thus,

on the first night of the Thousand Nights and a Night, she began her

recitations.





                 THE FISHERMAN AND THE JINNI



  IT hath reached me, O auspicious King, that there was a fisherman

well stricken in years who had a wife and three children, and withal

was of poor condition. Now it was his custom to cast his net every day

four times, and no more. On a day he went forth about noontide to

the seashore, where he laid down his basket and, tucking up his

shirt and plunging into the water, made a cast with his net and waited

till it settled to the bottom. Then he gathered the cords together and

haled away at it, but found it weighty. And however much he drew it

landward, he could not pull it up, so he carried the ends ashore and

drove a stake into the ground and made the net fast to it. Then he

stripped and dived into the water all about the net, and left not

off working hard until he had brought it up.

  He rejoiced thereat and, donning his clothes, went to the net,

when he found in it a dead jackass which had torn the meshes. Now

when he saw it, he exclaimed in his grief, "There is no Majesty and

there is no Might save in Allah the Glorious, the Great!" Then quoth

he, "This is a strange manner of daily bread," and he began reciting

in extempore verse:



   "O toiler through the glooms of night in peril and in pain,

   Thy toiling stint for daily bread comes not by might and main!

   Seest thou not the fisher seek afloat upon the sea

   His bread, while glimmer stars of night as set in tangled skein?

   Anon he plungeth in despite the buffet of the waves,

   The while to sight the bellying net his eager glances strain,

   Till joying at the night's success, a fish he bringeth home

   Whose gullet by the hook of Fate was caught and cut in twain.

   When buys that fish of him a man who spent the hours of night

   Reckless of cold and wet and gloom in ease and comfort fain,

   Laud to the Lord who gives to this, to that denies, his wishes

   And dooms one toil and catch the prey and other eat the fishes."



Then quoth he, "Up and to it. I am sure of His beneficence,

Inshallah!" So he continued:



     "When thou art seized of Evil Fate, assume

     The noble soul's long-suffering. 'Tis thy best.

     Complain not to the creature, this be 'plaint

     From one most Ruthful to the ruthlessest."



  The fisherman, when he had looked at the dead ass, got it free of

the toils and wrung out and spread his net. Then he plunged into the

sea, saying, "In Allah's name!" and made a cast and pulled at it,

but it grew heavy and settled down more firmly than the first time.

Now he thought that there were fish in it, and he made it fast and,

doffing his clothes, went into the water, and dived and haled until he

drew it up upon dry land. Then found he in it a large earthern pitcher

which was full of sand and mud, and seeing this, he was greatly

troubled. So he prayed pardon of Allah and, throwing away the jar,

wrung his net and cleansed it and returned to the sea the third time

to cast his net, and waited till it had sunk. Then he pulled at it and

found therein potsherds and broken glass. Then, raising his eyes

heavenward, he said: "O my God! Verily Thou wettest that I cast not my

net each day save four times. The third is done and as yet Thou hast

vouchsafed me nothing. So this time, O my God, deign give me my

daily bread."

  Then, having called on Allah's name, he again threw his net and

waited its sinking and settling, whereupon he haled at it but could

not draw it in for that it was entangled at the bottom. He cried out

in his vexation, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in

Allah!" and he began reciting:



     "Fie on this wretched world, an so it be

     I must be whelmed by grief and misery.

     Tho' gladsome be man's lot when dawns the morn,

     He drains the cup of woe ere eve he see.

     Yet was I one of whom the world when asked

     'Whose lot is happiest?' would say, ''Tis he!'"



  Thereupon he stripped and, diving down to the net, busied himself

with it till it came to land. Then he opened the meshes and found

therein a cucumber-shaped jar of yellow copper, evidently full of

something, whose mouth was made fast with a leaden cap stamped with

the seal ring of our Lord Solomon, son of David (Allah accept the

twain!). Seeing this, the fisherman rejoiced and said, "If I sell it

in the brass bazaar, 'tis worth ten golden dinars." He shook it, and

finding it heavy, continued: "Would to Heaven I knew what is herein.

But I must and will open it and look to its contents and store it in

my bag and sell it in the brass market." And taking out a knife, he

worked at the lead till he had loosened it from the jar. Then he

laid the cup on the ground and shook the vase to pour out whatever

might be inside. He found nothing in it, whereat he marveled with an

exceeding marvel. But presently there came forth from the jar a

smoke which spired heavenward into ether (whereat he again marveled

with mighty marvel), and which trailed along earth's surface till

presently, having reached its full height, the thick vapor

condensed, and became an Ifrit huge of bulk, whose crest touched the

clouds while his feet were on the ground. His head was as a dome,

his hands like pitchforks, his legs long as masts, and his mough big

as a cave. His teeth were like large stones, his nostrils ewers, his

eyes two lamps, and his look was fierce and lowering.

  Now when the fisherman saw the Ifrit, his side muscles quivered, his

teeth chattered, his spittle dried up, and he became blind about

what to do. Upon this the Ifrit looked at him and cried, "there is

no god but the God, and Solomon is the prophet of God," presently

adding: "O Apostle of Allah, slay me not. Never again will I gainsay

thee in word nor sin against thee in deed." Quoth the fisherman, "O

Marid, diddest thou say Solomon the Apostle of Allah? And Solomon is

dead some thousand and eight hundred years ago, and we are now in

the last days of the world! What is thy story, and what is thy account

of thyself, and what is the cause of thy entering into this cucurbit?"

  Now when the Evil Spirit heard the words of the fisherman, quoth he:

"There is no god but the God. Be of good cheer, O Fisherman!" Quoth

the fisherman, "Why biddest thou me to be of good cheer?" And he

replied, "Because of thy having to die an ill death in this very

hour." Said the fisherman, "Thou deservest for thy good tidings the

withdrawal of Heaven's protection, O thou distant one! Wherefore

shouldest thou kill me, and what thing have I done to deserve death, I

who freed thee from the jar, and saved thee from the depths of the

sea, and brought thee up on the dry land?" Replied the Ifrit, "Ask

of me only what mode of death thou wilt die, and by what manner of

slaughter shall I slay thee." Rejoined the fisherman, "What is my

crime, and wherefore such retribution?" Quoth the Ifrit, "Hear my

story, O Fisherman!" And he answered, "Say on, and be brief in thy

sayinig, for of very sooth my life breath is in my nostrils."

  Thereupon quoth the Jinni: "Know that I am one among the heretical

Jann, and I sinned against Solomon, David-son (on the twain be

peace!), I together with the famous Sakhr al-Jinni, whereupon the

Prophet sent his Minister, Asaf son of Barkhiya, to seize me. And this

Wazir brought me against my will and led me in bonds to him (I being

downcast despite my nose), and he placed me standing before him like a

suppliant. When Solomon saw me, he took refuge with Allah and bade

me embrace the True Faith and obey his behests. But I refused, so,

sending for this cucurbit, he shut me up therein and stopped it over

with lead, whereon he impressed the Most High Name, and gave his

orders to the Jann, who carried me off and cast me into the midmost of

the ocean. There I abode a hundred years, during which I said in my

heart, 'Whoso shall release me, him will I enrich forever and ever.'

  "But the full century went by and, when no one set me free, I

entered upon the second fivescore saying, 'Whoso shall release me, for

him I will open the hoards of the earth.' Still no one set me free,

and thus four hundred years passed away. Then quoth I, 'Whoso shall

release me, for him will I fulfill three wishes.' Yet no one set me

free. Thereupon I waxed wroth with exceeding wrath and said to myself,

'Whoso shall release me from this time forth, him will I slay, and I

will give him choice of what death he will die.' And now, as thou hast

released me, I give thee full choice of deaths."

  The fisherman, hearing the words of the Ifrit, said, "O Allah! The

wonder of it that I have not come to free thee save in these days!"

adding, "Spare my life, so Allah spare thine, and slay me not, lest

Allah set one to slay thee." Replied the Contumacious One, "There is

no help for it. Die thou must, so ask by way of boon what manner of

death thou wilt die." Albeit thus certified, the fisherman again

addressed the Ifrit, saying, "Forgive me this my death as a generous

reward for having freed thee," and the Ifrit, "Surely I would not slay

thee save on account of that same release." "O Chief of the Ifrits,"

said the fisherman, "I do thee good and thou requitest me with evil!

In very sooth the old saw lieth not when it saith:



     "We wrought them weal, they met our weal with ill,

     Such, by my life! is every bad man's labor.

     To him who benefits unworthy wights

     Shall hap what hapt to Ummi-Amir's neighbor."



  Now when the Ifrit heard these words he answered: "No more of this

talk. Needs must I kill thee." Upon this the fisherman said to

himself: "This is a Jinni, and I am a man to whom Allah hath given a

passably cunning wit, so I will now cast about to compass his

destruction by my contrivance and by mine intelligence, even as he

took counsel only of his malice and his frowardness." He began by

asking the Ifrit, "Hast thou indeed resolved to kill me?" And,

receiving for all answer "Even so," he cried, "Now in the Most Great

Name, graven on the seal ring of Solomon the son of David (peace be

with the holy twain!), an I question thee on a certain matter, wilt

thou give me a true answer?" The Ifrit replied "Yea," but, hearing

mention of the Most Great Name, his wits were troubled and he said

with trembling, "Ask and be brief."

  Quoth the fisherman: "How didst thou fit into this bottle which

would not hold thy hand- no, nor even thy foot- and how came it to be

large enough to contain the whole of thee?" Replied the Ifrit,

"What! Dost not believe that I was all there?" And the fisherman

rejoined, "Nay! I will never believe it until I see thee inside with

my own eyes." The Evil Spirit on the instant shook and became a vapor,

which condensed and entered the jar little and little, till all was

well inside, when lo! the fisherman in hot haste took the leaden cap

with the seal and stoppered therewith the mouth of the jar and

called out to the Ifrit, saying: "Ask me by way of boon what death

thou wilt die! By Allah, I will throw thee into the sea before us

and here will I build me a lodge, and whoso cometh hither I will

warn him against fishing and will say: 'In these waters abideth an

Ifrit who giveth as a last favor a choice of deaths and fashion of

slaughter to the man who saveth him!"'

  Now when the Ifrit heard this from the fisherman and saw himself

in limbo, he was minded to escape, but this was prevented by Solomon's

seal. So he knew that the fisherman had cozened and outwitted him, and

he waxed lowly and submissive and began humbly to say, "I did but jest

with thee." But the other answered, "Thou liest, O vilest of the

Ifrits, and meanest and filthiest!" And he set off with the bottle for

the seaside, the Ifrit calling out, "Nay! Nay!" and he calling out,

"Aye! Aye!" Thereupon the Evil Spirit softened his voice and

smoothed his speech and abased himself, saying, "What wouldest thou do

with me. O Fisherman?" "I will throw thee back into the sea," he

answered, "Where thou hast been housed and homed for a thousand and

eight hundred years. And now I will leave thee therein till Judgment

Day. Did I not say to thee, `Spare me and Allah shall spare thee,

and slay me not lest Allah slay thee'? yet thou spurnedst my

supplication and hadst no intention save to deal ungraciously by me,

and Allah hath now thrown thee into my hands, and I am cunninger

that thou." Quoth the Ifrit, "Open for me that I may bring thee weal."

Quoth the fisherman: "Thou liest, thou accursed! Nothing would satisfy

thee save my death, so now I will do thee die by hurling thee into

this sea." Then the Marid roared aloud and cried: "Allah upon thee,

O Fisherman, don't! Spare me, and pardon my past doings, and as I have

been tyrannous, so be thou generous, for it is said among sayings that

go current: 'O thou who doest good to him who hath done thee evil,

suffice for the ill-doer his ill deeds, and do not deal with me as did

Umamah to 'Atikah.'"

  Asked the fisherman, "And what was their case?" And the Ifrit

answered, "This is not the time for storytelling and I in this prison,

but set me free and I will tell thee the tale." Quoth the fisherman:

"Leave this language. There is no help but that thou be thrown back

into the sea, nor is there any way for thy getting out of it forever

and ever. Vainly I placed myself under thy protection, and I humbled

myself to thee with weeping, while thou soughtest only to slay me, who

had done thee no injury deserving this at thy hands. Nay, so far

from injuring thee by any evil act, I worked thee naught but weal in

releasing thee from that jail of thine. Now I knew thee to be an

evil-doer when thou diddest to me what thou didst, and know that when

I have cast thee back into this sea, I will warn whosoever may fish

thee up of what hath befallen me with thee, and I will advise him to

toss thee back again. So shalt thou abide here under these waters till

The End of Time shall make an end of thee." But the Ifrit cried aloud:

"Set me free. This is a noble occasion for generosity, and I make

covenant with thee and vow never to do thee hurt and harm- nay, I

will help thee to what shall put thee out of want."

  The fisherman accepted his promises on both conditions, not to

trouble him as before, but on the contrary to do him service, and

after making firm the plight and swearing him a solemn oath by Allah

Most Highest, he opened the cucurbit. Thereupon the pillar of smoke

rose up till all of it was fully out, then it thickened and once

more became an Ifrit of hideous presence, who forthright

administered a kick to the bottle and sent it flying into the sea. The

fisherman, seeing how the cucurbit was treated and making sure of

his own death, piddled in his clothes and said to himself, "This

promiseth badly," but he fortified his heart, and cried: "O Ifrit,

Allah hath said: 'Perform your covenant, for the performance of your

covenant shall be inquired into hereafter.' Thou hast made a vow to me

and hast sworn an oath not to play me false lest Allah play thee

false, for verily He is a jealous God who respiteth the sinner but

letteth him not escape. I say to thee as said the Sage Duban to King

Yunan, 'Spare me so Allah may spare thee!'" The Ifrit burst into

laughter and stalked away, saying to the fisherman, "Follow me."

  And the man paced after him at a safe distance (for he was not

assured of escape) till they had passed round the suburbs of the city.

Thence they struck into the uncultivated grounds and, crossing them,

descended into a broad wilderness, and lo! in the midst of it stood

a mountain tarn. The Ifrit waded in to the middle and again cried,

"Follow me," and when this was done he took his stand in the center

and bade the man cast his net and catch his fish. The fisherman looked

into the water and was much astonished to see therein varicolored

fishes, white and red, blue and yellow. However, he cast his net

and, hauling it in, saw that he had netted four fishes, one of each

color. Thereat he rejoiced greatly, and more when the Ifrit said to

him: "Carry these to the Sultan and set them in his presence, then

he will give thee what shall make thee a wealthy man. And now accept

my excuse, for by Allah, at this time I wot none other way of

benefiting thee, inasmuch I have lain in this sea eighteen hundred

years and have not seen the face of the world save within this hour.

But I would not have thee fish here save once a day." The Ifrit then

gave him Godspeed, saying, "Allah grant we meet again," and struck the

earth with one foot, whereupon the ground clove asunder and

swallowed him up.

  The fisherman, much marveling at what had happened to him with the

Ifrit, took the fish and made for the city, and as soon as he

reached home he filled an earthen bowl with water and therein threw

the fish, which began to struggle and wriggle about. Then he bore

off the bowl upon his head and, repairing to the King's palace (even

as the Ifrit had bidden him) laid the fish before the presence. And

the King wondered with exceeding wonder at the sight, for never in his

lifetime had he seen fishes like these in quality or in

conformation. So he said, "Give those fish to the stranger slave

girl who now cooketh for us," meaning the bondmaiden whom the King

of Roum had sent to him only three days before, so that he had not yet

made trial of her talents in the dressing of meat.

  Thereupon the Wazir carried the fish to the cook and bade her fry

them, saying: O damsel, the King sendeth this say to thee: 'I have not

treasured thee, O tear o' me! save for stress time of me.' Approve,

then, to us this day thy delicate handiwork and thy savory cooking,

for this dish of fish is a present sent to the Sultan and evidently

a rarity." The Wazir, after he had carefully charged her, returned

to the King, who commanded him to give the fisherman four hundred

dinars. He gave them accordingly, and the man took them to his bosom

and ran off home stumbling and falling and rising again and deeming

the whole thing to be a dream. However, he bought for his family all

they wanted, and lastly he went to his wife in huge joy and

gladness. So far concerning him.

  But as regards the cookmaid, she took the fish and cleansed them and

set them in the frying pan, basting them with oil till one side was

dressed. Then she turned them over and behold, the kitchen wall

clave asunder, and therefrom came a young lady, fair of form, oval

of face, perfect in grace, with eyelids which kohl lines enchase.

Her dress was a silken headkerchief fringed and tasseled with blue.

A large ring hung from either ear, a pair of bracelets adorned her

wrists, rings with bezels of priceless gems were on her fingers, and

she hent in hand a long rod of rattan cane which she thrust into the

frying pan, saying, "O fish! O fish! Be ye constant to your

convenant?" When the cookmaiden saw this apparition she swooned

away. The young lady repeated her words a second time and a third

time, and at last the fishes raised their heads from the pan, and

saying in articulate speech, "Yes! Yes!" began with one voice to

recite:



     "Come back and so will I! Keep faith and so will I!

     And if ye fain forsake, I'll requite till quits we cry!"



  After this the young lady upset the frying pan and went forth by the

way she came in and the kitchen wall closed upon her. When the

cookmaiden recovered from her fainting fit, she saw the four fishes

charred black as charcoal, and crying out, "His staff brake in his

first bout," she again fell swooning to the ground. Whilst she was

in this case the Wazir came for the fish, and looking upon her as

insensible she lay, not knowing Sunday from Thursday, shoved her

with his foot and said, "Bring the fish for the Sultan!" Thereupon,

recovering from her fainting fit, she wept and informed him of her

case and all that had befallen her. The Wazir marveled greatly and

exclaiming, "This is none other than a right strange matter!" he

sent after the fisher-man and said to him, "Thou, O Fisherman, must

needs fetch us four fishes like those thou broughtest before."

  Thereupon the man repaired to the tarn and cast his net, and when he

landed it, lo! four fishes were therein exactly like the first.

These he at once carried to the Wazir, who went in with them to the

cookmaiden and said, "Up with thee and fry these in my presence,

that I may see this business." The damsel arose and cleansed the fish,

and set them in the frying pan over the fire. However, they remained

there but a little while ere the wall clave asunder and the young lady

appeared, clad as before and holding in hand the wand which she

again thrust into the frying pan, saying, "O fish! O fish! Be ye

constant to your olden convenant?" And behold, the fish lifted their

heads and repeated "Yes! Yes!" and recited this couplet:



     "Come back and so will I! Keep faith and so will I!

     But if ye fain forsake, I'll requite till quits we cry!"



  When the fishes spoke, and the young lady upset the frying pan

with her rod and went forth by the way she came and the wall closed

up, the Wazir cried out, "This is a thing not to be hidden from the

King." So he went and told him what had happened, whereupon quoth

the King, "There is no help for it but that I see this with mine own

eyes Then he sent for the fisherman and commanded him to bring four

other fish like the first and to take with him three men as witnesses.

The fisherman at once brought the fish, and the King, after ordering

them to give him four hundred gold pieces, turned to the Wazir and

said, "Up, and fry me the fishes here before me!" The Minister,

replying, "To hear is to obey," bade bring the frying pan, threw

therein the cleansed fish, and set it over the fire, when lo! the wall

clave asunder, and out burst a black slave like a huge rock or a

remnant of the tribe Ad, bearing in hand a branch of a green tree. And

he cried in loud and terrible tones, "O fish! O fish! Be ye an

constant to your antique convenant?" Whereupon the fishes lifted their

heads from the frying pan and said, "Yes! Yes! We be true to our vow,"

and they again recited the couplet:



     "Come back and so will I! Keep faith and so will I!

     But if ye fain forsake, I'll requite till quits we cry!"



  Then the huge blackamoor approached the frying pan and upset it with

the branch and went forth by the way he came in. When he vanished from

their sight, the King inspected the fish, and finding them all charred

black as charcoal, was utterly bewildered, and said to the Wazir:

"Verily this is a matter whereanent silence cannot be kept. And as for

the fishes, assuredly some marvelous adventure connects with them." So

he bade bring the fisherman and asked him, saying: "Fie on thee,

fellow! Whence come these fishes?" And he answered, "From a tarn

between four heights lying behind this mountain which is in sight of

thy city." Quoth the King, "How many days' march?" Quoth he, "O our

Lord the Sultan, a walk of half-hour." The King wondered, and

straightway ordering his men to march and horsemen to mount, led off

the fisherman, who went before as guide, privily damning the Ifrit.

  They fared on till they had climbed the mountain and descended

unto a great desert which they had never seen during all their

lives. And the Sultan and his merry men marveled much at the wold

set in the midst of four mountains, and the tarn and its fishes of

four colors, red and white, yellow and blue. The King stood fixed to

the spot in wonderment and asked his troops and an present, "Hath

anyone among you ever seen this piece of water before now?" And all

made answer, "O King of the Age, never did we set eyes upon it

during an our days." They also questioned the oldest inhabitants

they met, men well stricken in years, but they replied, each and

every, "A lakelet like this we never saw in this place." Thereupon

quoth the King, "By Allah, I will neither return to my capital nor sit

upon the throne of my forebears till I learn the truth about this tarn

and the fish therein."

  He then ordered his men to dismount and bivouac all around the

mountain, which they did, and summoning his Wazir, a Minister of

much experience, sagacious, of penetrating wit and well versed in

affairs, said to him: "'Tis in my mind to do a certain thing,

whereof I will inform thee. My heart telleth me to fare forth alone

this night and root out the mystery of this tarn and its fishes. Do

thou take thy scat at my tent door, and say to the emirs and wazirs,

the nabobs and the chamberlains, in fine, to all who ask thee, 'The

Sultan is ill at ease, and he hath ordered me to refuse all

admittance.' And be careful thou let none know my design." And the

Wazir could not oppose him. Then the King changed his dress and

ornaments and, slinging his sword over his shoulder, took a path which

led up one of the mountains and marched for the rest of the night till

morning dawned, nor did he cease wayfaring till the heat was too

much for him. After his long walk he rested for a while, and then

resumed his march and fared on through the second night till dawn,

when suddenly there appeared a black point in the far distance. Hereat

he rejoiced and said to himself, "Haply someone here shall acquaint me

with the mystery of the tarn and its fishes."

  Presently, drawing near the dark object, he found it a palace

built of swart stone plated with iron, and while one leaf of the

gate stood wide-open, the other was shut. The King's spirits rose high

as he stood before the gate and rapped a light rap, but hearing no

answer, he knocked a second knock and a third, yet there came no sign.

Then he knocked his loudest, but still no answer, so he said,

"Doubtless 'tis empty." There upon he mustered up resolution and

boldly walked through the main gate into the great hall, and there

cried out aloud: "Holloa, ye people of the palace! I am a stranger and

a wayfarer. Have you aught here of victual?" He repeated his cry a

second time and a third, but still there came no reply.

  So, strengthening his heart and making up his mind, he stalked

through the vestibule into the very middle of the palace, and found no

man in it. Yet it was furnished with silken stuffs gold-starred, and

the hangings were let down over the doorways. In the midst was a

spacious court off which sat four open saloons, each with its raised

dais, saloon facing saloon. A canopy shaded the court, and in the

center was a jetting fount with four figures of lions made of red

gold, spouting from their mouths water clear as pearls and

diaphanous gems. Round about the palace birds were let loose, and over

it stretched a net of golden wire, hindering them from flying off.

In brief, there was everything but human beings. The King marveled

mightily thereat, yet felt he sad at heart for that he saw no one to

give him an account of the waste and its tarn, the fishes, the

mountains, and the palace itself. Presently as he sat between the

doors in deep thought behold, there came a voice of lament, as from

a heart griefspent, and he heard the voice chanting these verses:



   "I hid what I endured of him and yet it came to light,

   And nightly sleep mine eyelids fled and changed to sleepless night.

   O world! O Fate! Withhold thy hand and cease thy hurt and harm

   Look and behold my hapless sprite in dolor and affright.

   Wilt ne'er show ruth to highborn youth who lost him on the way

   Of Love, and fell from wealth and fame to lowest basest wight?

   Jealous of Zephyr's breath was I as on your form he breathed,

   But whenas Destiny descends she blindeth human sight.

   What shall the hapless archer do who when he fronts his foe

   And bends his bow to shoot the shaft shall find his string undight?

   When cark and care so heavy bear on youth of generous soul,

   How shall he 'scape his lot and where from Fate his place of

flight?"



  Now when the Sultan heard the mournful voice he sprang to his feet

and following the sound, found a curtain let down over a chamber door.

He raised it and saw behind it a young man sitting upon a couch

about a cubit above the ground, and he fair to the sight, a

well-shaped wight, with eloquence dight. His forehead was

flower-white, his cheek rosy bright, and a mole on his cheek breadth

like an ambergris mite, even as the poet doth indite:



     A youth slim-waisted from whose locks and brow

     The world in blackness and in light is set.

     Throughout Creation's round no fairer show

     No rarer sight thine eye hath ever met.

     A nut-brown mole sits throned upon a cheek

     Of rosiest red beneath an eye of jet.



  The King rejoiced and saluted him, but he remained sitting in his

caftan of silken stuff purfled with Egyptian gold and his crown

studded with gems of sorts. But his face was sad with the traces of

sorrow. He returned the royal salute in most courteous wise adding, "O

my lord, thy dignity demandeth my rising to thee, and my sole excuse

is to crave thy pardon." Quoth the King: "Thou art excused, O youth,

so look upon me as thy guest come hither on an especial object. I

would thou acquaint me with the secrets of this tarn and its fishes

and of this palace and thy loneliness therein and the cause of thy

groaning and wailing." When the young man heard these words he wept

with sore weeping till his bosom was drenched with tears. The King

marveled and asked him, "What maketh thee weep, O young man?" and he

answered, "How should I not weep, when this is my case!" Thereupon

he put out his hand and raised the skirt of his garment, when lo!

the lower half of him appeared stone down to his feet while from his

navel to the hair of his head he was man. The King, seeing this his

plight, grieved with sore grief and of his compassion cried: "Alack

and wellaway! In very sooth, O youth, thou heapest sorrow upon my

sorrow. I was minded to ask thee the mystery of the fishes only,

whereas now I am concerned to learn thy story as well as theirs. But

there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious,

the Great! Lose no time, O youth, but tell me forthright thy whole

tale." Quoth he, "Lend me thine ears, thy sight, and thine insight."

And quoth the King, "All are at thy service!"

  Thereupon the youth began, "Right wondrous and marvelous is my

case and that of these fishes, and were it graven with gravers upon

the eye corners it were a warner to whoso would be warned." "How is

that?" asked the King, and the young man began to tell






               THE TALE OF THE ENSORCELED PRINCE



  KNOW then, O my lord, that whilom my sire was King of this city, and

his name was Mahmud, entitled Lord of the Black Islands, and owner

of what are now these four mountains. He ruled threescore and ten

years, after which he went to the mercy of the Lord and I reigned as

Sultan in his stead. I took to wife my cousin, the daughter of my

paternal uncle, and she loved me with such abounding love that

whenever I was absent she ate not and she drank not until she saw me

again. She cohabited with me for five years till a certain day when

she went forth to the hammam bath, and I bade the cook hasten to get

ready all requisites for our supper. And I entered this palace and lay

down on the bed where I was wont to sleep and bade two damsels to

fan my face, one sitting by my head and the other at my feet.

  But I was troubled and made restless by my wife's absence and

could not sleep, for although my eyes were closed, my mind and

thoughts were wide-awake. Presently I heard the slave girl at my

head say to her at my feet: "O Mas'udah, how miserable is our master

and how wasted in his youth, and oh! the pity of his being so betrayed

by our mistress, the accursed whore!" The other replied: "Yes

indeed. Allah curse all faithless women and adulterous! But the like

of our master, with his fair gifts, deserveth something better than

this harlot who lieth abroad every night." Then quoth she who sat by

my head, "Is our lord dumb or fit only for bubbling that he

questioneth her not!" and quoth the other: "Fie on thee! Doth our lord

know her ways, or doth she allow him his choice? Nay, more, doth she

not drug every night the cup she giveth him to drink before sleeptime,

and put bhang into it? So he sleepeth and wotteth not whither she

goeth, nor what she doeth, but we know that after giving him the

drugged wine, she donneth her richest raiment and perfumeth herself

and then she fareth out from him to be away till break of day. Then

she cometh to him and burneth a pastille under his nose and he awaketh

from his death-like sleep." When I heard the slave girls' words, the

light became black before my sight and I thought night would never

fall.

  Presently the daughter of my uncle came from the baths, and they set

the table for us and we ate and sat together a fair half-hour quaffing

our wine, as was ever our wont. Then she called for the particular

wine I used to drink before sleeping and reached me the cup, but,

seeming to drink it according to my wont, I poured the contents into

my bosom and, lying down, let her hear that I was asleep. Then,

behold, she cried: "Sleep out the night, and never wake again! By

Allah, I loathe thee and I loathe thy whole body, and my soul

turneth in disgust from cohabiting with thee, and I see not the moment

when Allah shall snatch away thy life!" Then she rose and donned her

fairest dress and perfumed her person and slung my sword over her

shoulder, and opening the gates of the palace, went her ill way.

  I rose and followed her as she left the palace and she threaded

the streets until she came to the city gate, where she spoke words I

understood not and the padlocks dropped of themselves as if broken and

the gate leaves opened. She went forth (and I after her without her

noticing aught) till she came at last to the outlying mounds and a

reed fence built about a round-roofed hut of mud bricks. As she

entered the door, I climbed upon the roof, which commanded a view of

the interior, And lo! my fair cousin had gone in to a hideous Negro

slave with his upper lip like the cover of a pot and his lower like an

open pot, lips which might sweep up sand from the gravel floor of

the cot. He was to boot a leper and a paralytic, lying upon a strew of

sugar-cane trash and wrapped in an old blanket and the foulest rags

and tatters.

  She kissed the earth before him, and he raised his head so as to see

her and said: "Woe to thee! What call hadst thou to stay away all this

time? Here have been with me sundry of the black brethren, who drank

their wine and each had his young lady, and I was not content to drink

because of thine absence." Then she: "O my lord, my heart's love and

coolth of my eyes, knowest thou not that I am married to my cousin,

whose very look I loathe, and hate myself when in his company? And did

not I fear for thy sake, I would not let a single sun arise before

making his city a ruined heap wherein raven should croak and howlet

hoot, and jackal and wolf harbor and loot- nay, I had removed its

very stones to the back side of Mount Kaf." Rejoined the slave:

"Thou liest, damn thee! Now I swear an oath by the valor and honor

of blackamoor men (and deem not our manliness to be the poor manliness

of white men), from today forth if thou stay away till this hour, I

will not keep company with thee nor will I glue my body with thy body.

Dost play fast and loose with us, thou cracked pot, that we may

satisfy thy dirty lusts, O vilest of the vile whites?"

  When I heard his words, and saw with my own eyes what passed between

these two wretches, the world waxed dark before my face and my soul

knew not in what place it was. But my wife humbly stood up weeping

before and wheedling the slave, and saying: "O my beloved, and very

fruit of my heart, there is none left to cheer me but thy dear self,

and, if thou cast me off, who shall take me in, O my beloved, O

light of my eyes?" And she ceased not weeping and abasing herself to

him until he deigned be reconciled with her. Then was she right glad

and stood up and doffed her clothes, even to her petticoat trousers,

and said, "O my master, what hast thou here for thy handmaiden to

eat?" "Uncover the basin," he grumbled, "and thou shalt find at the

bottom the broiled bones of some rats we dined on. Pick at them, and

then go to that slop pot, where thou shalt find some leavings of

beer which thou mayest drink." So she ate and drank and washed her

hands, and went and lay down by the side of the slave upon the cane

trash and crept in with him under his foul coverlet and his rags and

tatters.

  When I saw my wife, my cousin, the daughter of my uncle, do this

deed, I clean lost my wits, and climbing down from the roof, I entered

and took the sword which she had with her and drew it, determined to

cut down the twain. I first struck at the slave's neck and thought

that the death decree had fallen on him, for he groaned a loud hissing

groan, but I had cut only the skin and flesh of the gullet and the two

arteries! It awoke the daughter of my uncle, so I sheathed the sword

and fared forth for the city, and entering the palace, lay upon my bed

and slept till morning, when my wife aroused me and I saw that she had

cut off her hair and had donned mourning garments. Quoth she: "O son

of my uncle, blame me not for what I do. It hath just reached me

that my mother is dead and my father hath been killed in holy war, and

of my brothers one hath lost his life by a snake sting and the other

by falling down some precipice, and I can and should do naught save

weep and lament."

  When I heard her words I refrained from all reproach and said

only: "Do as thou list. I certainly will not thwart thee." She

continued sorrowing, weeping and wailing one whole year from the

beginning of its circle to the end, and when it was finished she

said to me: "I wish to build me in thy palace a tomb with a cupola,

which I will set apart for my mourning and will name the House of

Lamentations." Quoth I again: "Do as thou list!" Then she builded

for herself a cenotaph wherein to mourn, and set on its center a

dome under which showed a tomb like a santon's sepulcher. Thither

she carried the slave and lodged him, but he was exceeding weak by

reason of his wound, and unable to do her love service. He could

only drink wine, and from the day of his hurt he spake not a word, yet

he lived on because his appointed hour was not come. Every day,

morning and evening, my wife went to him and wept and wailed over

him and gave him wine and strong soups, and left not off doing after

this manner a second year. And I bore with her patiently and paid no

heed to her.

  One day, however, I went in to her unawares, and I found her weeping

and beating her face and crying: "Why art thou absent from my sight, O

my heart's delight? Speak to me, O my life, talk with me, O my

love." When she had ended for a time her words and her weeping I

said to her, "O my cousin, let this thy mourning suffice, for in

pouring forth tears there is little profit!" "Thwart me not," answered

she, "in aught I do, or I will lay violent hands on myself!" So I held

my peace and left her to go her own way, and she ceased not to cry and

keen and indulge her affliction for yet another year. At the end of

the third year I waxed aweary of this longsome mourning, and one day I

happened to enter the cenotaph when vexed and angry with some matter

which had thwarted me, and suddenly I heard her say: "O my lord, I

never hear thee vouchsafe a single word to me! Why dost thou not

answer me, O my master?" and she began reciting:



   "O thou tomb! O thou tomb! Be his beauty set in shade?

   Hast thou darkened that countenance all-sheeny as the noon?

   O thou tomb! Neither earth nor yet Heaven art to me,

   Then how cometh it in thee are conjoined my sun and moon?"



  When I heard such verses as these rage was heaped upon my rage, I

cried out: "Wellaway! How long is this sorrow to last?" and I began

repeating:



   "O thou tomb! O thou tomb! Be his horrors set in blight?

   Hast thou darkened his countenance that sickeneth the soul?

   O thou tomb! Neither cesspool nor pigskin art to me,

   Then how cometh it in thee are conjoined soil and coal?"



When she heard my words she sprang to her feet crying: "Fie upon thee,

thou cur! All this is of thy doings. Thou hast wounded my heart's

darling and thereby worked me sore woe, and thou hast wasted his youth

so that these three years he hath lain abed more dead than alive!"

In my wrath I cried: "O thou foulest of harlots and filthiest of

whores ever futtered by Negro slaves who are hired to have at thee!

Yes, indeed it was I who did this good deed." And snatching up my

sword, I drew it and made at her to cut her down. But she laughed my

words and mine intent to scorn, crying: "To heel, hound that thou art!

Alas for the past which shall no more come to pass, nor shall anyone

avail the dead to raise. Allah hath indeed now given into my hand

him who did to me this thing, a deed that hath burned my heart with

a fire which died not a flame which might not be quenched!"

  Then she stood up, and pronouncing some words to me

unintelligible, she said, "By virtue of my egromancy become thou

half stone and half man!" Whereupon I became what thou seest, unable

to rise or to sit, and neither dead nor alive. Moreover, she

ensorceled the city with all its streets and garths, and she turned by

her gramarye the four islands into four mountains around the tarn

whereof thou questionest me. And the citizens, who were of four

different faiths, Moslem, Nazarene, Jew, and Magian, she transformed

by her enchantments into fishes. The Moslems are the white, the

Magians red, the Christians blue, and the Jews yellow. And every day

she tortureth me and scourgeth me with a hundred stripes, each of

which draweth floods of blood and cutteth the skin of my shoulders

to strips. And lastly she clotheth my upper half with a haircloth

and then throweth over them these robes. Hereupon the young man

again shed tears and began reciting:



   "In patience, O my God, I endure my lot and fate,

   I will bear at will of Thee whatsoever be my state.

   They oppress me, they torture me, they make my life a woe,

   Yet haply Heaven's happiness shall compensate my strait.

   Yea, straitened is my life by the bane and hate o' foes,

   But Mustafa and Murtaza shall ope me Heaven's gate."



  After this the Sultan turned toward the young Prince and said: "O

youth, thou hast removed one grief only to add another grief. But now,

O my friend, where is she, and where is the mausoleum wherein lieth

the wounded slave?" "The slave lieth under yon dome," quoth the

young man, "and she sitteth in the chamber fronting yonder door. And

every day at sunrise she cometh forth, and first strippeth me, and

whippeth me with a hundred strokes of the leathern scourge, and I weep

and shriek, but there is no power of motion in my lower limbs to

keep her off me. After ending her tormenting me she visiteth the

slave, bringing him wine and boiled meats. And tomorrow at an early

hour she will be here." Quoth the King: "By Allah, O youth, I will

assuredly do thee a good deed which the world shall not willingly

let die, and an act of derring-do which shall be chronicled long after

I am dead and gone by."

  Then the King sat him by the side of the young Prince and talked

till nightfall, when he lay down and slept. But as soon as the false

dawn showed, he arose and, doffing his outer garments, bared his blade

and hastened to the place wherein lay the slave. Then was he ware of

lighted candles and lamps, and the perfume of incenses and unguents,

and directed by these, he made for the slave and struck him one

stroke, killing him on the spot. After which he lifted him on his back

and threw him into a well that was in the palace. Presently he

returned and, donning the slave's gear, lay down at length within

the mausoleum with the drawn sword laid close to and along his side.

After an hour or so the accursed witch came, and first going to her

husband, she stripped off his clothes and, taking a whip, flogged

him cruelly while he cried out: "Ah! Enough for me the case I am in!

Take pity on me, O my cousin!" But she replied, "Didst thou take

pity on me and spare the life of my truelove on whom I doated?"

  Then she drew the cilice over his raw and bleeding skin and threw

the robe upon all and went down to the slave with a goblet of wine and

a bowl of meat broth in her hands. She entered under the dome

weeping and wailing, "Wellaway!" and crying: "O my lord! Speak a

word to me! O my master! Talk awhile with me!" and began to recite

these couplets:



     "How long this harshness, this unlove, shall bide?

     Suffice thee not tear floods thou hast espied?

     Thou dost prolong our parting purposely

     And if wouldst please my foe, thou'rt satisfied!"



Then she wept again and said: "O my lord! Speak to me, talk with

me!" The King lowered his voice and, twisting his tongue, spoke

after the fashion of the blackamoors and said "'Lack, 'lack! There

be no Majesty and there be no Might save in Allauh, the Gloriose,

the Great!"

  Now when she heard these words she shouted for joy, and fell to

the ground fainting, and when her senses returned she asked, "O my

lord, can it be true that thou hast power of speech?" And the King,

making his voice small and faint, answered: "O my cuss! Dost thou

deserve that I talk to thee and speak with thee?" "Why and wherefore?"

rejoined she, and he replied: "The why is that all the livelong day

thou tormentest thy hubby, and he keeps calling on 'eaven for aid

until sleep is strange to me even from evenin' till mawnin', and he

prays and damns, cussing us two, me and thee, causing me disquiet

and much bother. Were this not so, I should long ago have got my

health, and it is this which prevents my answering thee." Quoth she,

"With thy leave I will release him from what spell is on him," and

quoth the King, "Release him, and let's have some rest!" She cried,

"To hear is to obey," and, going from the cenotaph to the palace,

she took a metal bowl and filled it with water and spake over it

certain words which made the contents bubble and boil as a caldron

seetheth over the fire. With this she sprinkled her husband saying,

"By virtue of the dread words I have spoken, if thou becamest thus

by my spells, come forth out of that form into thine own former form."

  And lo and behold! the young man shook and trembled, then he rose to

his feet and, rejoicing at his deliverance, cried aloud, "I testify

that there is no god but the God, and in very truth Mohammed is His

Apostle, whom Allah bless and keep!" Then she said to him, "Go forth

and return not hither, for if thou do I will surely slay thee,"

screaming these words in his face. So he went from between her

hands, and she returned to the dome and, going down to the

sepulcher, she said, "O my lord, come forth to me that I may look upon

thee and thy goodliness!" The King replied in faint low words: "What

thing hast thou done? Thou hast rid me of the branch, but not of the

root." She asked: "O my darling! O my Negroling! What is the root?"

And he answered: "Fie on thee, O my cuss! The people of this city

and of the four islands every night when it's half-passed lift their

heads from the tank in which thou hast turned them to fishes and cry

to Heaven and call down its anger on me and thee, and this is the

reason why my body's balked from health. Go at once and set them free,

then come to me and take my hand, and raise me up, for a little

strength is already back in me."

  When she heard the King's words (and she still supposed him to be

the slave) she cried joyously: "O my master, on my head and on my eyes

be thy command. Bismillah!" So she sprang to her feet and, full of joy

and gladness, ran down to the tarn and took a little of its water in

the palm of her hand and spake over it words not to be understood, and

the fishes lifted their heads and stood up on the instant like men,

the spell on the people of the city having been removed. What was

the lake again became a crowded capital. The bazaars were thronged

with folk who bought and sold, each citizen was occupied with his

own calling, and the four hills became islands as they were whilom.

  Then the young woman, that wicked sorceress, returned to the King

and (still thinking he was the Negro) said to him: "O my love! Stretch

forth thy honored hand that I may assist thee to rise." "Nearer to

me," quoth the King in a faint and feigned tone. She came close as

to embrace him, when he took up the sword lying hid by his side and

smote her across the breast, so that the point showed gleaming

behind her back. Then he smote her a second time and cut her in

twain and cast her to the ground in two halves. After which he fared

forth and found the young man, now freed from the spell, awaiting

him and gave him joy of his happy release while the Prince kissed

his hand with abundant thanks.

  Quoth the King, "Wilt thou abide in this city, or go with me to my

capital?" Quoth the youth, "O King of the Age, wettest thou not what

journey is between thee and thy city?" "Two days and a half," answered

he, whereupon said the other: "An thou be sleeping, O King, awake!

Between thee and thy city is a year's march for a well-girt walker,

and thou haddest not come hither in two days and a half save that

the city was under enchantment. And I, O King, will never part from

thee- no, not even for the twinkling of an eye." The King rejoiced at

his words and said: "Thanks be to Allah, Who hath bestowed thee upon

me! From this hour thou art my son and my only son, for that in all my

life I have never been blessed with issue." Thereupon they embraced

and joyed with exceeding great joy. And, reaching the palace, the

Prince who had been spellbound informed his lords and his grandees

that he was about to visit the Holy Places as a pilgrim, and bade them

get ready all things necessary for the occasion.

  The preparations lasted ten days, after which he set out with the

Sultan, whose heart burned in yearning for his city, whence he had

been absent a whole twelvemonth. They journeyed with an escort of

Mamelukes carrying all manners of precious gifts and rarities, nor

stinted they wayfaring day and night for a full year until they

approached the Sultan's capital, and sent on messengers to announce

their coming. Then the Wazir and the whole army came out to meet him

in joy and gladness, for they had given up all hope of ever seeing

their King, and the troops kissed the ground before him and wished him

joy of his safety. He entered and took seat upon his throne and the

Minister came before him and, when acquainted with all that had

befallen the young Prince, he congratulated him on his narrow escape.

  When order was restored throughout the land, the King gave largess

to many of his people, and said to the Wazir, "Hither the fisherman

who brought us the fishes!" So he sent for the man who had been the

first cause of the city and the citizens being delivered from

enchantment, and when he came into the presence, the Sultan bestowed

upon him a dress of honor, and questioned him of his condition and

whether he had children. The fisherman gave him to know that he had

two daughters and a son, so the King sent for them and, taking one

dauhter to wife, gave the other to the young Prince and made the son

his head treasurer. Furthermore, he invested his Wazir with the

Sultanate of the City in the Black Islands whilom belonging to the

young Prince, and dispatched with him the escort of fifty armed

slaves, together with dresses of honor for all the emirs and grandees.

The Wazir kissed hands and fared forth on his way, while the Sultan

and the Prince abode at home in all the solace and the delight of

life, and the fisherman became the richest man of his age, and his

daughters wived with the Kings until death came to them.

  And yet, O King! this is not more wondrous than the story of






          THE PORTER AND THE THREE LADIES OF BAGHDAD



  ONCE upon a time there was a porter in Baghdad who was a bachelor

and who would remain unmarried. It came to pass on a certain day, as

he stood about the street leaning idly upon his crate, behold, there

stood before him an honorable woman in a mantilla of Mosul silk

broidered with gold and bordered with brocade. Her walking shoes

were also purred with gold, and her hair floated in long plaits. She

raised her face veil and, showing two black eyes fringed with jetty

lashes, whose glances were soft and languishing and whose perfect

beauty was ever blandishing, she accosted the porter and said in the

suavest tones and choicest language, "Take up thy crate and follow

me."

  The porter was so dazzled he could hardly believe that he heard

her aright, but he shouldered his basket in hot haste, saying in

himself, "O day of good luck! O day of Allah's grace!" and walked

after her till she stopped at the door of a house. There she rapped,

and presently came out to her an old man, a Nazarene, to whom she gave

a gold piece, receiving from him in return what she required of

strained wine clear as olive oil, and she set it safely in the hamper,

saying, "Lift and follow." Quoth the porter, "This, by Allah, is

indeed an auspicious day, a day propitious for the granting of all a

man wisheth." He again hoisted up the crate and followed her till

she stopped at a fruiterer's shop and bought from him Shami apples and

Osmani quinces and Omani peaches, and cucumbers of Nile growth, and

Egyptian limes and Sultani oranges and citrons, besides Aleppine

jasmine, scented myrtle berries, Damascene nenuphars, flower of privet

and camomile, blood-red anemones, violets, and pomegranate bloom,

eglantine, and narcissus, and set the whole in the porter's crate,

saying, "Up with it."

  So he lifted and followed her till she stopped at a butcher's

booth and said, "Cut me off ten pounds of mutton." She paid him his

price and he wrapped it in a banana leaf, whereupon she laid it in the

crate and said, "Hoist, O Porter." He hoisted accordingly, and

followed her as she walked on till she stopped at a grocer's, where

she bought dry fruits and pistachio kernels, Tihamah raisins,

shelled almonds, and all wanted for dessert, and said to the porter,

"Lift and follow me." So he up with his hamper and after her till

she stayed at the confectioner's, and she bought an earthen platter,

and piled it with all kinds of sweetmeats in his shop, open-worked

tarts and fritters scented with musk, and "soap cakes," and lemon

loaves, and melon preserves, and "Zaynab's combs," and "ladies'

fingers," and "Kazi's titbits," and goodies of every description,

and placed the platter in the porter's crate. Thereupon quoth he

(being a merry man), "Thou shouldest have told me, and I would have

brought with me a pony or a she-camel to carry all this market stuff."

She smiled and gave him a little cuff on the nape, saying, "Step out

and exceed not in words, for (Allah willing!) thy wage will not be

wanting."

  Then she stopped at a perfumer's and took from him ten sorts of

waters, rose scented with musk, orange-flower, water-lily,

willow-flower, violet and five others. And she also bought two

loaves of sugar, a bottle for perfume-spraying, a lump of male

incense, aloe wood, ambergris, and musk, with candles of Alexandria

wax, and she put the whole into the basket, saying, "Up with thy crate

and after me." He did so and followed until she stood before the

greengrocer's, of whom she bought pickled sallower and olives, in

brine and in oil, with tarragon and cream cheese and hard Syrian

cheese, and she stowed them away in the crate, saying to the porter,

"Take up thy basket and follow me." He did so and went after her

till she came to a fair mansion fronted by a spacious court, a tall,

fine place to which columns gave strength and grace. And the gate

thereof had two leaves of ebony inlaid with plates of red gold. The


lady stopped at the door and, turning her face veil sideways,

knocked softly with her knuckles whilst the porter stood behind her,

thinking of naught save her beauty and loveliness.

  Presently the door swung back and both leaves were opened, whereupon

he looked to see who had opened it, and behold, it was a lady of

tall figure, some five feet high, a model of beauty and loveliness,

brilliance and symmetry and perfect grace. Her forehead was

flower-white, her cheeks like the anemone ruddy-bright. Her eyes were

those of the wild heifer or the gazelle, with eyebrows like the

crescent moon which ends Sha'aban and begins Ramazan. Her mouth was

the ring of Solomon, her lips coral-red, and her teeth like a line

of strung pearls or of camomile petals. Her throat recalled the

antelope's, and her breasts, like two pomegranates of even size, stood

at bay as it were. Her body rose and fell in waves below her dress

like the rolls of a piece of brocade, and her navel would hold an

ounce of benzoin ointment. In fine, she was like her of whom the

poet said:



     On Sun and Moon of palace cast thy sight,

     Enjoy her flowerlike face, her fragrant light.

     Thine eyes shall never see in hair so black

     Beauty encase a brow so purely white.

     The ruddy rosy cheek proclaims her claim,

     Though fail her name whose beauties we indite.

     As sways her gait, I smile at hips so big

     And weep to see the waist they bear so slight.



  When the porter looked upon her, his wits were waylaid and his

senses were stormed so that his crate went nigh to fall from his head,

and he said to himself, "Never have I in my life seen a day more

blessed than this day!" Then quoth the lady portress to the lady

cateress, "Come in from the gate and relieve this poor man of his

load." So the provisioner went in, followed by the portress and the

porter, and went on till they reached a spacious ground-floor hall,

built with admirable skill and beautified with all manner colors and

carvings, with upper balconies and groined arches and galleries and

cupboards and recesses whose curtains hung before them. In the midst

stood a great basin full of water surrounding a fine fountain, and

at the upper end on the raised dais was a couch of juniper wood set

with gems and pearls, with a canopy like mosquito curtains of red

satin-silk looped up with pearls as big as filberts and bigger.

  Thereupon sat a lady bright of blee, with brow beaming brilliancy,

the dream of philosophy, whose eyes were fraught with Babel's gramarye

and her eyebrows were arched as for archery. Her breath breathed

ambergris and perfumery and her lips were sugar to taste and carnelian

to see. Her stature was straight as the letter l and her face shamed

the noon sun's radiancy; and she was even as a galaxy, or a dome

with golden marquetry, or a bride displayed in choicest finery, or a

noble maid of Araby. The third lady, rising from the couch, stepped

forward with graceful swaying gait till she reached the middle of

the saloon, when she said to her sisters: "Why stand ye here? Take

it down from this poor man's head!" Then the cateress went and stood

before him and the portress behind him while the third helped them,

and they lifted the load from the porter's head, and, emptying it of

all that was therein, set everything in its place. Lastly they gave

him two gold pieces, saying, "Wend thy ways, O Porter."

  But he went not, for he stood looking at the ladies and admiring

what uncommon beauty was theirs, and their pleasant manners and kindly

dispositions (never had he seen goodlier). And he gazed wistfully at

that good store of wines and sweet-scented flowers and fruits and

other matters. Also he marveled with exceeding marvel, especially to

see no man in the place, and delayed his going, whereupon quoth the

eldest lady: "What aileth thee that goest not? Haply thy wage be too

little?" And, turning to her sister, the cateress, she said, "Give him

another dinar!" But the porter answered: "By Allah, my lady, it is not

for the wage, my hire is never more than two dirhams, but in very

sooth my heart and my soul are taken up with you and your condition. I

wonder to see you single with ne'er a man about you and not a soul

to bear you company. And well you wot that the minaret toppleth o'er

unless it stand upon four, and you want this same fourth, and

women's pleasure without man is short of measure, even as the poet

said:



     "Seest not we want for joy four things all told-

     The harp and lute, the flute and flageolet-

     And be they companied with scents fourfold,

     Rose, myrtle, anemone, and violet.

     Nor please all eight an four thou wouldst withhold-

     Good wine and youth and gold and pretty pet.



  "You be three and want a fourth who shall be a person of good

sense and prudence, smart-witted, and one apt to keep careful

counsel." His words pleased and amused them much, and they laughed

at him and said: "And who is to assure us of that? We are maidens, and

we fear to entrust our secret where it may not be kept, for we have

read in a certain chronicle the lines of one Ibn al-Sumam:



     "Hold fast thy secret and to none unfold,

     Lost is a secret when that secret's told.

     An fail thy breast thy secret to conceal,

     How canst thou hope another's breast shall hold?"



When the porter heard their words, he rejoined: "By your lives! I am a

man of sense and a discreet, who hath read books and perused

chronicles. I reveal the fair and conceal the foul and I act as the

poet adviseth:



       "None but the good a secret keep,

       And good men keep it unrevealed.

       It is to me a well-shut house

       With keyless locks and door ensealed."



  When the maidens heard his verse and its poetical application

addressed to them, they said: "Thou knowest that we have laid out

all our moneys on this place. Now say, hast thou aught to offer us

in return for entertainment? For surely we will not suffer thee to sit

in our company and be our cup companion, and gaze upon our faces so

fair and so rare, without paying a round sum. Wettest thou not the

saying:



            "Sans hope of gain

            Love's not worth a grain"?



Whereto the lady portress added, "If thou bring anything, thou art a

something; if no thing, be off with thee, thou art a nothing." But the

procuratrix interposed, saying: "Nay, O my sisters, leave teasing him,

for by Allah he hath not failed us this day, and had he been other

he never had kept patience with me, so whatever be his shot and scot I

will take it upon myself."

  The porter, overjoyed, kissed the ground before her and thanked her,

saying, "By Allah, these moneys are the first fruits this day hath

given me." Hearing this, they said, "Sit thee down and welcome to

thee," and the eldest lady added: "By Allah, we may not suffer thee to

join us save on one condition, and this it is, that no questions be

asked as to what concerneth thee not, and frowardness shall be soundly

flogged." Answered the porter: "I agree to this, O my lady. On my head

and my eyes be it! Look ye, I am dumb, I have no tongue." Then arose

the provisioneress and, tightening her girdle, set the table by the

fountain and put the flowers and sweet herbs in their jars, and

strained the wine and ranged the flasks in rows and made ready every

requisite. Then sat she down, she and her sisters, placing amidst them

the porter, who kept deeming himself in a dream. And she took up the

wine flagon and poured out the first cup and drank it off, and

likewise a second and a third. After this she filled a fourth cup,

which she handed to one of her sisters, and lastly, she crowned a

goblet and passed it to the porter, saying:



     "Drink the dear draught, drink free and fain

     What healeth every grief and pain."



  He took the cup in his hand and, Touting low, returned his best

thanks and improvised:



     "Drain not the bowl save with a trusty friend,

     A man of worth whose good old blood all know.

     For wine, like wind, sucks sweetness from the sweet

     And stinks when over stench it haply blow."



Adding:



     "Drain not the bowl, save from dear hand like thine,

     The cup recalls thy gifts, thou, gifts of wine."



After repeating this couplet he kissed their hands and drank and was

drunk and sat swaying from side to side and pursued:



     "All drinks wherein is blood the Law unclean

     Doth hold save one, the bloodshed of the vine.

     Fill! Fill! Take all my wealth bequeathed or won,

     Thou fawn! a willing ransome for those eyne."



  Then the cateress crowned a cup and gave it to the portress, who

took it from her hand and thanked her and drank. Thereupon she

poured again and passed to the eldest lady, who sat on the couch,

and filled yet another and handed it to the porter. He kissed the

ground before them, and after drinking and thanking them, he again

began to recite:



          "Here! Here! By Allah, here!

          Cups of the sweet, the dear!

          Fill me a brimming bowl,

          The Fount o' Life I speer."



Then the porter stood up before the mistress of the house and said, "O

lady, I am thy slave, thy Mameluke, thy white thrall, thy very

bondsman," and he began reciting:



     "A slave of slaves there standeth at thy door,

     Lauding thy generous boons and gifts galore.

     Beauty! May he come in awhile to 'joy

     Thy charms? For Love and I part nevermore!"



  Then the lady took the cup and drank it off to her sisters'

health, and they ceased not drinking (the porter being in the midst of

them) and dancing and laughing and reciting verses and singing ballads

and ritornellos. All this time the porter was carrying on with them,

kissing, toying, biting, handling, groping, fingering whilst one

thrust a dainty morsel in his mouth and another slapped him, and

this cuffed his cheeks, and that threw sweet flowers at him. And he

was in the very paradise of pleasure, as though he were sitting in the

seventh sphere among the houris of Heaven. And they ceased not to be

after this fashion till night began to fall. Thereupon said they to

the porter, "Bismillah, O our master, up and on with those sorry old

shoes of thine and turn thy face and show us the breadth of thy

shoulders!" Said he: "By Allah, to part with my soul would be easier

for me than departing from you. Come, let us join night to day, and

tomorrow morning we will each wend our own way." "My life on you,"

said the procuratrix, "suffer him to tarry with us, that we may

laugh at him. We may live out our lives and never meet with his

like, for surely he is a right merry rogue and a witty." So they said:

"Thou must not remain with us this night save on condition that thou

submit to our commands, and that whatso thou seest, thou ask no

questions thereanent, nor inquire of its cause." "All right," rejoined

he, and they said, "Go read the writing over the door."

  So he rose and went to the entrance and there found written in

letters of gold wash: WHOSO SPEAKETH OF WHAT CONCERNETH HIM NOT

SHALL HEAR WHAT PLEASETH HIM NOT! The porter said, "Be ye witnesses

against me that I will not speak on whatso concerneth me not." Then

the cateress arose and set food before them and they ate. After

which they changed their drinking place for another, and she lighted

the lamps and candles and burned ambergris and aloe wood, and set on

fresh fruit and the wine service, when they fell to carousing and

talking of their lovers. And they ceased not to eat and drink and

chat, nibbling dry fruits and laughing and playing tricks for the

space of a full hour, when lo! a knock was heard at the gate.

  The knocking in no wise disturbed the seance, but one of them rose

and went to see what it was and presently returned, saying, "Truly our

pleasure for this night is to be perfect." "How is that?" asked

they, and she answered: "At the gate be three Persian Kalandars with

their beards and heads and eyebrows shaven, and all three blind of the

left eye- which is surely a strange chance. They are foreigners from

Roumland with the mark of travel plain upon them. They have just

entered Baghdad, this being their first visit to our city, and the

cause of their knocking at our door is simply because they cannot find

a lodging. Indeed one of them said to me: 'Haply the owner of this

mansion will let us have the key of his stable or some old outhouse

wherein we may pass this night.' For evening had surprised them and,

being strangers in the land, they knew none who would give them

shelter. And, O my sisters, each of them is a figure o' fun after

his own fashion, and if we let them in we shall have matter to make

sport of." She gave not over persuading them till they said to her:

"Let them in, and make thou the usual condition with them that they

speak not of what concerneth them not, lest they hear what pleased

them not."

  So she rejoiced and, going to the door, presently returned with

the three monoculars whose beards and mustachios were clean-shaven.

They salaamed and stood afar off by way of respect, but the three

ladies rose up to them and welcomed them and wished them joy of

their safe arrival and made them sit down. The Kalandars looked at the

room and saw that it was a pleasant place, clean-swept and garnished

with flowers, and the lamps were burning and the smoke of perfumes was

spiring in air, and beside the dessert and fruits and wine, there were

three fair girls who might be maidens. So they exclaimed with one

voice, "By Allah, 'tis good!" Then they turned to the porter and saw

that he was a merry-faced wight, albeit he was by no means sober and

was sore after his slappings. So they thought that he was one of

themselves and said, "A mendicant like us, whether Arab or foreigner!"

  But when the porter heard these words, he rose up and, fixing his

eyes fiercely upon them, said: "Sit ye here without exceeding in talk!

Have you not read what is writ over the door? Surely it befitteth

not fellows who come to us like paupers to wag your tongues at us."

"We crave thy pardon, O Fakir," rejoined they, "and our heads are

between thy hands." The ladies laughed consumedly at the squabble and,

making peace between the Kalandars and the porter, seated the new

guests before meat, and they ate. Then they sat together, and the

portress served them with drink, and as the cup went round merrily,

quoth the porter to the askers, "And you, O brothers mine, have ye

no story or rare adventure to amuse us withal?"

  Now the warmth of wine having mounted to their heads, they called

for musical instruments, and the portress brought them a tambourine of

Mosul, and a lute of Irak, and a Persian harp. And each mendicant took

one and tuned it, this the tambourine and those the lute and the harp,

and struck up a merry tune while the ladies sang so lustily that there

was a great noise. And whilst they were carrying on, behold, someone

knocked at the gate, and the portress went to see what was the

matter there.

  Now the cause of that knocking, O King (quoth Scheherazade) was

this, the Caliph Harun al-Rashid had gone forth from the palace, as

was his wont now and then, to solace himself in the city that night,

and to see and hear what new thing was stirring. He was in

merchant's gear, and he was attended by Ja'afar, his Wazir, and by

Masrur, his Sworder of Vengeance. As they walked about the city, their

way led them toward the house of the three ladies, where they heard

the loud noise of musical instruments and singing and merriment. So

quoth the Caliph to Ja'afar, "I long to enter this house and hear

those songs and see who sing them." Quoth Ja'afar, "O Prince of the

Faithful, these folk are surely drunken with wine, and I fear some

mischief betide us if we get amongst them." "There is no help but that

I go in there," replied the Caliph, "and I desire thee to contrive

some pretext for our appearing among them." Ja'afar replied, "I hear

and I obey," and knocked at the door, whereupon the portress came

out and opened. Then Ja'afar came forward and, kissing the ground

before her, said, "O my lady, we be merchants from Tiberias town. We

arrived at Baghdad ten days ago and, alighting at the merchants'

caravanserai, we sold all our merchandise. Now a certain trader

invited us to an entertainment this night, so we went to his house and

he set food before us and we ate. Then we sat at wine and wassail with

him for an hour or so when he gave us leave to depart. And we went out

from him in the shadow of the night and, being strangers, we could not

find our way back to our khan. So haply of your kindness and

courtesy you will suffer us to tarry with you this night, and Heaven

will reward you!"

  The portress looked upon them and, seeing them dressed like

merchants and men of gave looks and solid, she returned to her sisters

and repeated to them Ja'afar's story, and they took compassion upon

the strangers and said to her, "Let them enter." She opened the door

to them, when said they to her, "Have we thy leave to come in?"

"Come in," quoth she, and the Caliph entered, followed by Ja'afar

and Masrur. And when the girls saw them they stood up to them in

respect and made them sit down and looked to their wants, saying,

"Welcome, and well come and good cheer to the guests, but with one

condition!" "What is that?" asked they, and one of the ladies

answered, "Speak not of what concerneth you not, lest ye hear what

pleaseth you not." "Even so," said they, and sat down to their wine

and drank deep.

  Presently the Caliph looked on the three Kalandars and, seeing them,

each and every blind of the left eye, wondered at the sight. Then he

gazed upon the girls, and he was startled and he marveled with

exceeding marvel at their beauty and loveliness. They continued to

carouse and to converse, and said to the Caliph, "Drink!" But he

replied, "I am vowed to pilgrimage," and drew back from the wine.

Thereupon the portress rose and, spreading before him a tablecloth

worked with gold, set thereon a porcelain bowl into which she poured

willow-flower water with a lump of snow and a spoonful of sugar candy.

The Caliph thanked her and said in himself, "By Allah, I will

recompense her tomorrow for the kind deed she hath done." The others

again addressed themselves to conversing and carousing, and when the

wine gat the better of them, the eldest lady, who ruled the house,

rose and, making obeisance to them, took the cateress by the hand

and said, "Rise, O my sister, and let us do what is our devoir."

Both answered "Even so!"

  Then the portress stood up and proceeded to remove the table service

and the remnants of the banquet, and renewed the pastilies and cleared

the middle of the saloon. Then she made the Kalandars sit upon a

sofa at the side of the estrade, and seated the Caliph and Ja'afar and

Masrur on the other side of the saloon, after which she called the

porter, and said: "How scant is thy courtesy! Now thou art no

stranger- nay, thou art one of the household." So he stood up and,

tightening his waistcloth, asked, "What would ye I do?" And she

answered, "Stand in thy place." Then the procuratrix rose and set in

the midst of the saloon a low chair and, opening a closet, cried to

the porter, "Come help me."

  So he went to help her and saw two black bitches with chains round

their necks, and she said to him, "Take hold of them," and he took

them and led them into the middle of the saloon. Then the lady of

the house arose and tucked up her sleeves above her wrists and,

seizing a scourge, said to the porter, "Bring forward one of the

bitches." He brought her forward, dragging her by the chain, while the

bitch wept and shook her head at the lady, who, however, came down

upon her with blows on the sconce. And the bitch howled and the lady

ceased not beating her till her forearm failed her. Then, casting

the scourge from her hand, she pressed the bitch to her bosom and,

wiping away her tears with her hands, kissed her head. Then said she

to the porter, "Take her away and bring the second." And when he

brought her, she did with her as she had done with the first.

  Now the heart of the Caliph was touched at these cruel doings. His

chest straitened and he lost all patience in his desire to know why

the two bitches were so beaten. He threw a wink at Ja'afar, wishing

him to ask, but the Minister, turning toward him, said by signs, "Be

silent!" Then quoth the portress to the mistress of the house, "O my

lady, arise and go to thy place, that I in turn may do my devoir." She

answered, "Even so," and, taking her seat upon the couch of juniper

wood, pargetted with gold and silver, said to the portress and

cateress, "Now do ye what ye have to do." Thereupon the portress sat

upon a low seat by the couch side, but the procuratrix, entering a

closet, brought out of it a bag of satin with green fringes and two

tassels of gold. She stood up before the lady of the house and,

shaking the bag, drew out from it a lute which she tuned by tightening

its pegs; and when it was in perfect order, she began to sing these

quatrains:



           "Ye are the wish, the aim of me,

           And when, O love, thy sight I see,

           The heavenly mansion openeth,

           But Hell I see when lost thy sight.

           From thee comes madness, nor the less

           Comes highest joy, comes ecstasy.

           Nor in my love for thee I fear

           Or shame and blame, or hate and spite.

           When Love was throned within my heart

           I rent the veil of modesty,

           And stints not Love to rend that veil,

           Garring disgrace on grace to alight.

           The robe of sickness then I donned,

           But rent to rags was secrecy.

           Wherefore my love and longing heart

           Proclaim your high supremest might.

           The teardrop railing adown my cheek

           Telleth my tale of ignomy.

           And all the hid was seen by all

           And all my riddle ree'd aright.

           Heal then my malady, for thou

           Art malady and remedy!

           But she whose cure is in thy hand

           Shall ne'er be free of bane and blight.

           Burn me those eyne that radiance rain,

           Slay me the swords of phantasy.

           How many hath the sword of Love

           Laid low, their high degree despite?

           Yet will I never cease to pine,

           Nor to oblivion will I flee.

           Love is my health, my faith, my joy,

           Public and private, wrong or right.

           O happy eyes that sight thy charms,

           That gaze upon thee at their gree!

           Yea, of my purest wish and will

           The slave of Love I'll aye be hight."



  When the damsel heard this elegy in quatrains, she cried out

"Alas! Alas!" and rent her raiment, and fell to the ground fainting.

And the Caliph saw scars of the palm rod on her back and welts of

the whip, and marveled with exceeding wonder. Then the portress

arose and sprinkled water on her and brought her a fresh and very fine

dress and put it on her. But when the company beheld these doings,

their minds were troubled, for they had no inkling of the case nor

knew the story thereof. So the Caliph said to Ja'afar: "Didst thou not

see the scars upon the damsel's body? I cannot keep silence or be at

rest till I learn the truth of her condition and the story of this

other maiden and the secret of the two black bitches." But Ja'afar

answered: "O our lord, they made it a condition with us that we

speak not of what concerneth us not, lest we come to hear what

pleaseth us not."

  Then said the portress, "By Allah, O my sister, come to me and

complete this service for me." Replied the procuratrix, "With joy

and goodly gree." So she took the lute and leaned it against her

breasts and swept the strings with her finger tips, and began singing:



     "Give back mine eyes their sleep long ravished,

     And say me whither be my reason fled.

     I learnt that lending to thy love a place,

     Sleep to mine eyelids mortal foe was made.

     They said, `We held thee righteous. Who waylaid

     Thy soul?' 'Go ask his glorious eyes,' I said.

     I pardon all my blood he pleased to shed.

     Owning his troubles drove him blood to shed.

     On my mind's mirror sunlike sheen he cast,

     Whose keen reflection fire in vitals bred.

     Waters of Life let Allah waste at will,

     Suffice my wage those lips of dewy red.

     And thou address my love thou'lt find a cause

     For plaint and tears or ruth or lustilied.

     In water pure his form shall greet your eyne,

     When fails the bowl nor need ye drink of wine."



Then she quoted from the same ode:



     "I drank, but the draught of his glance, not wine,

     And his swaying gait swayed to sleep these eyne.

     'Twas not grape juice gript me but grasp of Past,

     'Twas not bowl o'erbowled me but gifts divine.

     His coiling curllets my soul ennetted

     And his cruel will all my wits outwitted."



After a pause she resumed:



     "If we 'plain of absence, what shall we say?

     Or if pain afflict us, where wend our way?

     An I hire a truchman to tell my tale,

     The lovers' plaint is not told for pay.

     If I put on patience, a lover's life

     After loss of love will not last a day.

     Naught is left me now but regret, repine,

     And tears flooding cheeks forever and aye.

     O thou who the babes of these eyes hast fled,

     Thou art homed in heart that shall never stray.

     Would Heaven I wot hast thou kept our pact

     Long as stream shall flow, to have firmest fay?

     Or hast forgotten the weeping slave,

     Whom groans afflict and whom griefs waylay?

     Ah, when severance ends and we side by side

     Couch, I'll blame thy rigors and chide thy pride!"



  Now when the portress heard her second ode, she shrieked aloud and

said: "By Allah! 'Tis right good!" and, laying hands on her

garments, tore them as she did the first time, and fell to the

ground fainting. Thereupon the procuratrix rose and brought her a

second change of clothes after she had sprinkled water on her. She

recovered and sat upright and said to her sister the cateress,

"Onward, and help me in my duty, for there remains but this one song."

So the provisioneress again brought out the lute and began to sing

these verses:



     "How long shall last, how long this rigor rife of woe

     May not suffice thee all these tears thou seest flow?

     Our parting thus with purpose fell thou dost prolong

     Is't not enough to glad the heart of envious foe?

     Were but this lying world once true to lover heart,

     He had not watched the weary night in tears of woe.

     Oh, pity me whom overwhelmed thy cruel will,

     My lord, my king, 'tis time some ruth to me thou show.

     To whom reveal my wrongs, O thou who murdered me?

     Sad, who of broken troth the pangs must undergo!

     Increase wild love for thee and frenzy hour by hour,

     And days of exile minute by so long, so slow.

     O Moslems, claim vendetta for this slave of Love,

     Whose sleep Love ever wastes, whose patience Love lays low.

     Doth law of Love allow thee, O my wish! to lie

     Lapt in another's arms and unto me cry 'Go!'?

     Yet in thy presence, say, what joys shall I enjoy

     When he I love but works my love to overthrow?"



  When the portress heard the third song, she cried aloud and,

laying hands on her garments, rent them down to the very skirt and

fell to the ground fainting a third time, again showing the scars of

the scourge. Then said the three Kalandars, "Would Heaven we had never

entered this house, but had rather nighted on the mounds and heaps

outside the city! For verily our visit hath been troubled by sights

which cut to the heart." The Caliph turned to them and asked, "Why

so?" and they made answer, "Our minds are sore troubled by this

matter." Quoth the Caliph, "Are ye not of the household?" and quoth

they, "No, nor indeed did we ever set eyes on the place till within

this hour." Hereat the Caliph marveled and rejoined, "This man who

sitteth by you, would he not know the secret of the matter?" And so

saying he winked and made signs at the porter. So they questioned

the man, but he replied: "By the All-might of Allah, in love all are

alike! I am the growth of Baghdad, yet never in my born days did I

darken these doors till today, and my companying with them was a

curious matter." "By Allah," they rejoined, "we took thee for one of

them and now we see thou art one like ourselves."

  Then said the Caliph: "We be seven men, and they only three women

without even a fourth to help them, so let us question them of their

case. And if they answer us not, fain we will be answered by force."

All of them agreed to this except Ja'afar, who said, "This is not my

recking. Let them be, for we are their guests and, as ye know, they

made a compact and condition with us which we accepted and promised to

keep. Wherefore it is better that we be silent concerning this matter,

and as but little of the night remaineth, let each and every of us

gang his own gait." Then he winked at the Caliph and whispered to him,

"There is but one hour of darkness left and I can bring them before

thee tomorrow, when thou canst freely question them all concerning

their story." But the Caliph raised his head haughtily and cried out

at him in wrath, saying: "I have no patience left for my longing to

hear of them. Let the Kalandars question them forthright." Quoth

Ja'afar, "This is not my rede."

  Then words ran high and talk answered talk, and they disputed as

to who should first put the question, but at last all fixed upon the

porter. And as the jangle increased the house mistress could not but

notice it and asked them, "O ye folk! On what matter are ye talking so

loudly?" Then the porter stood up respectfully before her and said: "O

my lady, this company earnestly desire that thou acquaint them with

story of the two bitches and what maketh thee punish them so

cruelly, and then thou fallest to weeping over them and kissing

them. And lastly, they want to hear the tale of thy sister and why she

hath been bastinadoed with palm sticks like a man. These are the

questions they charge me to put, and peace be with thee." Thereupon

quoth she who was the lady of the house to the guests, "Is this true

that he saith on your part?" and all replied, "Yes!" save Ja'afar, who

kept silence.

  When she heard these words she cried: "By Allah, ye have wronged us,

O our guests, with grievous wronging, for when you came before us we

made compact and condition with you that whoso should speak of what

concerneth him not should hear what pleaseth him not. Sufficeth ye not

that we took you into our house and fed you with our best food? But

the fault is not so much yours as hers who let you in." Then she

tucked up her sleeves from her wrists and struck the floor thrice with

her hand, crying, "Come ye quickly!" And lo! a closet door opened

and out of it came seven Negro slaves with drawn swords in hand, to

whom she said, "Pinion me those praters' elbows and bind them each

to each." They did her bidding and asked her: "O veiled and

virtuous! Is it thy high command that we strike off their heads?"

But she answered, "Leave them awhile that I question them of their

condition before their necks feel the sword." "By Allah, O my lady!"

cried the porter, "slay me not for other's sin. All these men offended

and deserve the penalty of crime save myself. Now, by Allah, our night

had been charming had we escaped the mortification of those

monocular Kalandars whose entrance into a populous city would

convert it into a howling wilderness." Then he repeated these verses:



     "How fair is ruth the strong man deigns not smother!

     And fairest fair when shown to weakest brother.

     By Love's own holy tie between us twain,

     Let one not suffer for the sin of other."



  When the porter ended his verse, the lady laughed despite her wrath,

and came up to the party and spake thus: "Tell me who ye be, for ye

have but an hour of life. And were ye not men of rank and perhaps

notables of your tribes, you had not been so froward and I had

hastened your doom." Then said the Caliph: "Woe to thee, O Ja'afar,

tell her who we are lest we be slain by mistake, and speak her fair

before some horror befall us." "'Tis part of thy deserts," replied he,

whereupon the Caliph cried out at him, saying, "There is a time for

witty words and there is a time for serious work." Then the lady

accosted the three Kalandars and asked them, "Are ye brothers?" when

they answered, "No, by Allah, we be naught but fakirs and foreigners."

Then quoth she to one among them, "Wast thus born blind of one eye?"

and quoth he, "No, by Allah, 'twas a marvelous matter and a wondrous

mischance which caused my eye to be torn out, and mine is a tale

which, if it were written upon the eye corners with needle gravers,

were a warner to whoso would be warned." She questioned the second and

third Kalandar, but all replied like the first, "By Allah, O our

mistress, each one of us cometh from a different country, and we are

all three the sons of kings, sovereign princes ruling over suzerains

and capital cities."

  Thereupon she turned toward them and said: "Let each and every of

you tell me his tale in due order and explain the cause of his

coming to our place, and if his story please us, let him stroke his

head and wend his way." The first to come forward was the hammal,

the porter, who said: "O my lady, I am a man and a porter. This

dame, the cateress, hired me to carry a load and took me first to

the shop of a vintner, then to the booth of a butcher, thence to the

stall of a fruiterer, thence to a grocer who also sold dry fruits,

thence to a confectioner and a perfumer-cum-druggist, and from him

to this place, where there happened to me with you what happened. Such

is my story, and peace be on us all!" At this the lady laughed and

said, "Rub thy head and wend thy ways!" But he cried, "By Allah, I

will not stump it till I hear the stories of my companions!" Then came

forward one of the monoculars and began to tell her






FIRST

                    THE FIRST KALANDAR'S TALE



  KNOW, O my lady, that the cause of my beard being shorn and my eye

being outtorn was as follows: My father was a king and he had a

brother who was a king over another city; and it came to pass that I

and my cousin, the son of my paternal uncle, were both born on one and

the same day. And years and days rolled on and as we grew up I used to

visit my uncle every now and then and to spend a certain number of

months with him. Now my cousin and I were sworn friends, for he ever

entreated me with exceeding kindness. He killed for me the fattest

sheep and strained the best of his wines, and we enjoyed long

conversing and carousing. One day when the wine had gotten the

better of us, the son of my uncle said to me, "O my cousin, I have a

great service to ask of thee, and I desire that thou stay me not in

whatso I desire to do!" And I replied, "With joy and goodly will."

  Then he made me swear the most binding oaths and left me, but

after a little while he returned leading a lady veiled and richly

appareled, with ornaments worth a large sum of money. Presently he

turned to me (the woman being still behind him) and said, "Take this

lady with thee and go before me to such a burial ground" (describing

it, so that I knew the place) "and enter with her into such a

sepulcher and there await my coming." The oaths I swore to him made me

keep silence and suffered me not to oppose him, so I led the woman

to the cemetery and both I and she took our seats in the sepulcher.

And hardly had we sat down when in came my uncle's son, with a bowl of

water, a bag of mortar, and an adze somewhat like a hoe. He went

straight to the tomb in the midst of the sepulcher and, breaking it

open with the adze, set the stones on one side. Then he fell to

digging into the earth of the tomb till he came upon a large iron

plate, the size of a wicket door, and on raising it there appeared

below it a staircase vaulted and winding. Then he turned to the lady

and said to her, "Come now and take thy final choice!"

  She at once went down by the staircase and disappeared, then quoth

he to me, "O son of my uncle, by way of completing thy kindness,

when I shall have descended into this place, restore the trapdoor to

where it was, and heap back the earth upon it as it lay before. And

then of thy great goodness mix this unslaked time which is in the

bag with this water which is in the bowl and, after building up the

stones, plaster the outside so that none looking upon it shall say:

'This is a new opening in an old tomb'. For a whole year have I worked

at this place whereof none knoweth but Allah, and this is the need I

have of thee," presently adding, "May Allah never bereave thy

friends of thee nor make them desolate by thine absence, O son of my

uncle, O my dear cousin!" And he went down the stairs and

disappeared for ever.

  When he was lost to sight, I replaced the iron plate and did all his

bidding till the tomb became as it was before, and I worked almost

unconsciously, for my head was heated with wine. Returning to the

palace of my uncle, I was told that he had gone forth a-sporting and

hunting, so I slept that night without seeing him. And when the

morning dawned, I remembered the scenes of the past evening and what

happened between me and my cousin. I repented of having obeyed him

when penitence was of no avail. I still thought, however, that it

was a dream. So I fell to asking for the son of my uncle, but there

was none to answer me concerning him, and I went out to the

graveyard and the sepulchers, and sought for the tomb under which he

was, but could not find it. And I ceased not wandering about from

sepulcher to sepulcher, and tomb to tomb, all without success, till

night set in. So I returned to the city, yet I could neither eat nor

drink, my thoughts being engrossed with my cousin, for that I knew not

what was become of him. And I grieved with exceeding grief and

passed another sorrowful night, watching until the morning. Then

went I a second time to the cemetery, pondering over what the son of

mine uncle had done and, sorely repenting my hearkening to him, went

round among all the tombs, but could not find the tomb I sought. I

mourned over the past, and remained in my mourning seven days, seeking

the place and ever missing the path.

  Then my torture of scruples grew upon me till I well-nigh went

mad, and I found no way to dispel my grief save travel and return to

my father. So I set out and journeyed homeward, but as I was

entering my father's capital a crowd of rioters sprang upon me and

pinioned me. I wondered thereat with all wonderment, seeing that I was

the son of the Sultan, and these men were my father's subjects and

amongst them were some of my own slaves. A great fear fell upon me,

and I said to my soul, "Would Heaven I knew what hath happened to my

father!" I questioned those that bound me of the cause of their so

doing, but they returned me no answer. However, after a while one of

them said to me (and he had been a hired servant of our house),

"Fortune hath been false to thy father. His troops betrayed him, and

the Wazir who slew him now reigneth in his stead, and we lay in wait

to seize thee by the bidding of him." I was well-nigh distraught and

felt ready to faint on hearing of my father's death, when they carried

me off and placed me in presence of the usurper.

  Now between me and him there was an olden grudge, the cause of which

was this: I was fond of shooting with the stone bow, and it befell one

day, as I was standing on the terrace roof of the palace, that a

bird lighted on the top of the Wazir's house when he happened to be

there. I shot at the bird and missed the mark, but I hit the Wazir's

eye and knocked it out, as fate and fortune decreed. Now when I

knocked out the Wazir's eye, he could not say a single word, for

that my father was King of the city, but he hated me ever after, and

dire was the grudge thus caused between us twain. So when I was set

before him hand-bound and pinioned, he straightway gave orders for

me to be beheaded. I asked, "For what crime wilt thou put me to

death?" Whereupon he answered, "What crime is greater than this?"

pointing the while to the place where his eye had been. Quoth I, "This

I did by accident, not of malice prepense," and quoth he, "If thou

didst it by accident, I will do the like by thee with intention." Then

cried he, "Bring him forward," and they brought me up to him, when

he thrust his finger into my left eye and gouged it out, whereupon I

became one-eyed as ye see me.

  Then he bade bind me hand and foot, and put me into a chest, and

said to the sworder, "Take charge of this fellow, and go off with

him to the wastelands about the city. Then draw thy scimitar and

slay him, and leave him to feed the beasts and birds." So the headsman

fared forth with me, and when he was in the midst of the desert, he

took me out of the chest (and I with both hands pinioned and both feet

fettered) and was about to bandage my eyes before striking off my

head. But I wept with exceeding weeping until I made him weep with

me and, looking at him I began to recite these couplets:



     "I deemed you coat o'mail that should withstand

     The foeman's shafts, and you proved foeman's brand.

     I hoped your aidance in mine every chance,

     Though fail my left to aid my dexter hand.

     Aloof you stand and hear the railer's gibe

     While rain their shafts on me the giber band.

     But an ye will not guard me from my foes,

     Stand clear, and succor neither these nor those!"



And I also quoted:



     "I deemed my brethren mail of strongest steel,

     And so they were- from foes to fend my dart!

     I deemed their arrows surest of their aim,

     And so they were- when aiming at my heart!"



  When the headsman heard my lines (he had been sworder to my sire and

he owed me a debt of gratitude), he cried, "O my lord, what can I

do, being but a slave under orders?" presently adding, "Fly for thy

life and nevermore return to this land, or they will slay thee and

slay me with thee." Hardly believing in my escape, I kissed his hand

and thought the loss of my eye a light matter in consideration of my

escaping from being slain. I arrived at my uncle's capital, and

going in to him, told him of what had befallen my father and myself,

whereat he wept with sore weeping and said: "Verily thou addest

grief to my grief, and woe to my woe, for thy cousin hath been missing

these many days. I wot not what hath happened to him, and none can

give me news of him." And he wept till he fainted. I sorrowed and

condoled with him, and he would have applied certain medicaments to my

eye, but he saw that it was become as a walnut with the shell empty.

Then said he, "O my son, better to lose eye and keep life!"

  After that I could no longer remain silent about my cousin, who

was his only son and one dearly loved, so I told him all that had

happened. He rejoiced with extreme joyance to hear news of his son and

said, "Come now and show me the tomb." But I replied, "By Allah, O

my uncle, I know not its place, though I sought it carefully full many

times, yet could not find the site." However, I and my uncle went to

the graveyard and looked right and left, till at last I recognized the

tomb, and we both rejoiced with exceeding joy. We entered the

sepulcher and loosened the earth about the grave, then, upraising

the trapdoor, descended some fifty steps till we came to the foot of

the staircase, when lo! we were stopped by a blinding smoke. Thereupon

said my uncle that saying whose sayer shall never come to shame:

"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the

Glorious, the Great!" and we advanced till we suddenly came upon a

saloon, whose floor was strewed with flour and grain and provisions

and all manner necessaries, and in the midst of it stood a canopy

sheltering a couch. Thereupon my uncle went up to the couch and,

inspecting it, found his son and the lady who had gone down with him

into the tomb, lying in each other's embrace.

  But the twain had become black as charred wood. It was as if they

had been cast into a pit of fire. When my uncle saw this spectacle, he

spat in his son's face and said: "Thou hast thy deserts, O thou hog!

This is thy judgment in the transitory world, and yet remaineth the

judgment in the world to come, a durer and a more enduring." I

marveled at his hardness of heart and, grieving for my cousin and

the lady, said: "By Allah, O my uncle, calm thy wrath. Dost not see

that all my thoughts are occupied with this misfortune, and how

sorrowful I am for what hath befallen thy son, and how horrible it

is that naught of him remaineth but a black heap of charcoal? And is

not that enough, but thou must smite him with thy slipper?" Answered

he: "O son of my brother, this youth from his boyhood was madly in

love with his own sister, and often and often I forbade him from

her, saying to myself, 'They are but little ones.' However, when

they grew up sin befell between them, and although I could hardly

believe it, I confined him and chided him and threatened him with

the severest threats, and the eunuchs and servants said to him:

'Beware of so foul a thing which none before thee ever did, and

which none after thee will ever do, and have a care lest thou be

dishonored and disgraced among the kings of the day, even to the end

of time.' And I added: 'Such a report as this will be spread abroad by

caravans, and take heed not to give them cause to talk or I will

assuredly curse thee and do thee to death.'

  After that I lodged them apart and shut her up, but the accursed

girl loved him with passionate love, for Satan had got the mastery

of her as well as of him and made their foul sin seem fair in their

sight. Now when my son saw that I separated them, he secretly built

this souterrain and furnished it and transported to it victuals,

even as thou seest, and when I had gone out a-sporting, came here with

his sister and hid from me. Then His righteous judgment fell upon

the twain and consumed them with fire from Heaven, and verily the Last

Judgment will deal them durer pains and more enduring!" Then he wept

and I wept with him, and he looked at me and said, "Thou art my son in

his stead." And I bethought me awhile of the world and of its chances,

how the Wazir had slain my father and had taken his place and had

put out my eye, and how my cousin had come to his death by the

strangest chance. And I wept again and my uncle wept with me.

  Then we mounted the steps and let down the iron plate and heaped

up the earth over it, and after restoring the tomb to its former

condition, we returned to the palace. But hardly had we sat down ere

we heard the tom-toming of the kettledrum and tantara of trumpets

and clash of cymbals, and the rattling of war men's lances, and the

clamors of assailants and the clanking of bits and the neighing of

steeds, while the world was canopied with dense dust and sand clouds

raised by the horses' hoofs. We were amazed at sight and sound,

knowing not what could be the matter. So we asked, and were told us

that the Wazir who had usurped my father's kingdom had marched his

men, and that after levying his soldiery and taking a host of wild

Arabs into service, he had come down upon us with armies like the

sands of the sea. Their number none could tell, and against them

none could prevail. They attacked the city unawares, and the citizens,

being powerless to oppose them, surrendered the place. My uncle was

slain and I made for the suburbs, saying to myself, "If thou fall into

this villain's hands, he will assuredly kill thee."

  On this wise all my troubles were renewed, and I pondered all that

had betided my father and my uncle and I knew not what to do; for if

the city people or my father's troops had recognized me, they would

have done their best to will favor by destroying me. And I could think

of no way to escape save by shaving off my beard and my eyebrows. So I

shore them off and, changing my fine clothes for a Kalandar's rags,

I fared forth from my uncle's capital and made for this city, hoping

that peradventure someone would assist me to the presence of the

Prince of the Faithful, and the Caliph who is the Viceregent of

Allah upon earth. Thus have I come hither that I might tell him my

tale and lay my case before him. I arrived here this very night, and

was standing in doubt whither I should go when suddenly I saw this

second Kalandar. So I salaamed to him, saying, 'I am a stranger'

and he answered,- 'I too am a stranger!' And as we were conversing,

behold, up came our companion, this third Kalandar, and saluted us

saying, 'I am a stranger!' And we answered, `We too be strangers!'

  Then we three walked on and together till darkness overtook us and

Destiny drave us to your house. Such, then. is the cause of the

shaving of my beard and mustachios and eyebrows, and the manner of

my losing my left eye. They marveled much at this tale, and the Caliph

said to Ja'afar, "By Allah, I have not seen nor have I heard the

like of what hath happened to this Kalandar!" Quoth the lady of the

house, "Rub thy head and wend thy ways." But he replied, "I will not

go till I hear the history of the two others." Thereupon the second

Kalandar came forward and, kissing the ground, began to tell






SECOND

                  THE SECOND KALANDAR'S TALE



  KNOW, O my lady, that I was not born one-eyed, and mine is a strange

story. And it were graven with needle graver on the eye corners, it

were a warner to whoso would be warned. I am a king, son of a king,

and was brought up like a prince. I learned intoning the Koran

according the seven schools, and I read all manner books, and held

disputations on their contents with the doctors and men of science.

Moreover, I studied star lore and the fair sayings of poets, and I

exercised myself in all branches of learning until I surpassed the

people of my time. My skill in calligraphy exceeded that of all the

scribes, and my fame was bruited abroad over all climes and cities,

and all the kings learned to know my name.

  Amongst others, the King of Hind heard of me and sent to my father

to invite me to his court, with offerings and presents and rarities

such as befit royalties. So my father fitted out six ships for me

and my people, and we put to sea and sailed for the space of a full

month till we made the land. Then we brought out the horses that

were with us in the ships, and after loading the camels with our

presents for the Prince, we set forth inland. But we had marched

only a little way when behold, a dust cloud up flew, and grew until it

walled the horizon from view. After an hour or so the veil lifted

and discovered beneath it fifty horsemen, ravening lions to the sight,

in steel armor dight. We observed them straightly and lo! they were

cutters-off of the highway, wild as wild Arabs. When they saw that

we were only four and had with us but the ten camels carrying the

presents, they dashed down upon us with lances at rest. We signed to

them with our fingers, as it were saying, "We be messengers of the

great King of Hind, so harm us not!" But they answered on like wise,

"We are not in his dominions to obey nor are we subject to his sway."

  Then they set upon us and slew some of my slaves and put the lave to

flight. And I also fled after I had gotten a wound, a grievous hurt,

whilst the Arabs were taken up with the money and the presents which

were with us. I went forth unknowing whither I went, having become

mean as I was mighty, and I fared on until I came to the crest of a

mountain, where I took shelter for the night in a cave. When day arose

I set out again, nor ceased after this fashion till I arrived at a

fair city and a well filled. Now it was the season when winter was

turning away with his rime and to greet the world with his flowers

came prime, and the young blooms were springing and the streams flowed

ringing, and the birds were sweetly singing, as saith the poet

concerning a certain city when describing it:



     A place secure from every thought of fear,

     Safety and peace forever lord it here.

     Its beauties seem to beautify its sons

     And as in Heaven its happy folk appear.



  I was glad of my arrival, for I was wearied with the way, and yellow

of face for weakness and want, but my plight was pitiable and I knew

not whither to betake me. So I accosted a tailor sitting in his little

shop and saluted him. He returned my salaam, and bade me kindly

welcome and wished me well and entreated me gently and asked me of the

cause of my strangerhood. I told him all my past from first to last,

and he was concerned on my account and said: "O youth, disclose not

thy secret to any. The King of this city is the greatest enemy thy

father hath, and there is blood wite between them and thou hast

cause to fear for thy life." Then he set meat and drink before me, and

I ate and drank and he with me, and we conversed freely till

nightfall, when he cleared me a place in a corner of his shop and

brought me a carpet and a coverlet. I tarried with him three days,

at the end of which time he said to me, "Knowest thou no calling

whereby to will thy living, O my son?" "I am learned in the law," I

replied, "and a doctor of doctrine, an adept in art and science, a

mathematician, and a notable pen-man." He rejoined, "Thy calling is of

no account in our city, where not a soul understandeth science or even

writing, or aught save money-making." Then said I, "By Allah, I know

nothing but what I have mentioned," and he answered, "Gird thy

middle and take thee a hatchet and a cord, and go and hew wood in

the wold for thy daily bread till Allah send thee relief, and tell

none who thou art lest they slay thee."

  Then he bought me an ax and a rope and gave me in charge to

certain woodcutters, and with these guardians I went forth into the

forest, where I cut fuel wood the whole of my day and came back in the

evening bearing my bundle on my head. I sold it for half a dinar, with

part of which I bought provision, and laid by the rest. In such work I

spent a whole year, and when this was ended, I went out one day, as

was my wont, into the wilderness and, wandering away from my

companions, I chanced on a thickly grown lowland in which there was an

abundance of wood. So I entered and I found the gnarled stump of a

great tree and loosened the ground about it and shoveled away the

earth. Presently my hatchet rang upon a copper ring, so I cleared away

the soil and behold, the ring was attached to a wooden trapdoor.

This I raised, and there appeared beneath it a staircase.

  I descended the steps to the bottom and came to a door, which I

opened and found myself in a noble hall strong of structure and

beautifully built, where was a damsel like a pearl of great price,

whose favor banished from my heart an grief and cark and care, and

whose soft speech healed the soul in despair and captivated the wise

and ware. Her figure measured five feet in height, her breasts were

firm and upright, her cheek a very garden of delight, her color lively

bright, her face gleamed like dawn through curly tresses which gloomed

like night, and above the snows of her bosom glittered teeth of a

pearly white. When I looked upon her I prostrated myself before Him

who had created her, for the beauty and loveliness He had shaped in

her, and she looked at me and said, "Art thou man or Jinni?" "I am a

man," answered I, and she, "Now who brought thee to this place where I

have abided five-and-twenty years without even yet seeing man in

it?" Quoth I (and indeed I found her words wondersweet, and my heart

was melted to the core by them), "O my lady, my good fortune led me

hither for the dispelling of my cark and care."

  Then I related to her all my mishap from first to last, and my

case appeared to her exceeding grievous, so she wept and said: "I will

tell thee my story in my turn. I am the daughter of the King Ifitamus,

lord of the Islands of Abnus, who married me to my cousin, the son

of my paternal uncle. But on my wedding night an Ifrit named Jirjis

bin Rajmus, first cousin- this is, mother's sister's son- of Iblis,

the Foul Fiend, snatched me up and, flying away with me like a bird,

set me down in this place, wither he conveyed all I needed of fine

stuffs, raiment and jewels and furniture, and meat and drink and other

else. Once in every ten days he comes here and lies a single night

with me, and then wends his way, for he took me without the consent of

his family. And he hath agreed with me that if ever I need him by

night or by day, I have only to pass my hand over yonder two lines

engraved upon the alcove and he will appear to me before my fingers

cease touching. Four days have now passed since he was here, and as

there remain six days before he come again, say me, wilt thou abide

with me five days, and go hence the day before his coming?" I

replied "Yes, and yes again! O rare, if all this be not a dream!"

  Hereat she was glad and, springing to her feet, seized my hand and

carried me through an arched doorway to a hammam bath, a fair hall and

richly decorate. I doffed my clothes, and she doffed hers, then we

bathed and she washed me. And when this was done we left the bath, and

she seated me by her side upon a high divan, and brought me sherbet

scented with musk. When we felt cool after the bath, she set food

before me and we ate and fell to talking, but presently she said to

me, "Lay thee down and take thy rest, for surely thou must be

weary." So I thanked her, my lady, and lay down and slept soundly,

forgetting all that happened to me. When I awoke I found her subbing

and shampooing my feet, so I again thanked her and blessed her and

we sat for a while talking. Said she, "By Allah, I was sad at heart,

for that I have dwelt alone underground for these five-and-twenty

years, and praise be to Allah Who hath sent me someone with whom I can

converse!" Then she asked, "O youth, what sayest thou to wine?" and

I answered, "Do as thou wilt." Whereupon she went to a cupboard and

took out a sealed flask of right old wine and set off the table with

flowers and scented herbs and began to sing these lines:



     "Had we known of thy coming we fain had dispread

     The cores of our hearts or the balls of our eyes,

     Our cheeks as a carpet to greet thee had thrown,

     And our eyelids had strown for thy feet to betread."



  Now when she finished her verse I thanked her, for indeed love of

her had gotten hold of my heart, and my grief and anguish were gone.

We sat at converse and carousal till nightfall, and with her I spent

the night- such night never spent I in all my life! On the morrow

delight followed delight till midday, by which time I had drunken wine

so freely that I had lost my wits, and stood up, staggering to the

right and to the left, and said "Come, O my charmer, and I will

carry thee up from this underground vault and deliver thee from the

spell of thy Jinni." She laughed and replied: "Content thee and hold

thy peace. Of every ten days one is for the Ifrit and the other nine

are thine." Quoth I (and in good sooth drink had got the better of

me), "This very instant will I break down the alcove whereon is graven

the talisman and summon the Ifrit that I may slay him, for it is a

practice of mine to slay Ifrits!" When she heard my words, her color

waxed wan and she said, "By Allah, do not!" and she began repeating:



     "This is a thing wherein destruction lies.

     I rede thee shun it an thy wits be wise."



And these also:



     "O thou who seekest severance, draw the rein

     Of thy swift steed nor seek o'ermuch t' advance.

     Ah stay! for treachery is the rule of life,

     And sweets of meeting end in severance."



  I heard her verse but paid no heed to her words- nay, I raised my

foot and administered to the alcove a mighty kick, and behold, the air

starkened and darkened and thundered and lightened, the earth trembled

and quaked, and the world became invisible. At once the fumes of

wine left my head. I cried to her, "What is the matter?" and she

replied: "The Ifrit is upon us! Did I not warn thee of this? By Allah,

thou hast brought ruin upon me, but fly for thy life and go up by

the way thou camest down!" So I fled up the staircase, but in the

excess of my fear I forgot sandals and hatchet. And when I had mounted

two steps I turned to look for them, and lo! I saw the earth cleave

asunder, and there arose from it an Ifrit, a monster of hideousness,

who said to the damsel: "What trouble and pother be this wherewith

thou disturbest me? What mishap hath betided thee?" "No mishap hath

befallen me," she answered, "save that my breast was straitened and my

heart heavy with sadness. So I drank a little wine to broaden it and

to hearten myself, then I rose to obey a call of nature, but the

wine had gotten into my head and I fell against the alcove." "Thou

liest, like the whore thou art!" shrieked the Ifrit, and he looked

around the hall right and left till he caught sight of my ax and

sandals and said to her, "What be these but the belongings of some

mortal who hath been in thy society?" She answered: "I never set

eyes upon them till this moment. They must have been brought by thee

hither cleaving to thy garments." Quoth the Ifrit, "These words are

absurd, thou harlot! thou strumpet!"

  Then he stripped her stark-naked and, stretching her upon the floor,

bound her hands and feet to four stakes, like one crucified, and set

about torturing and trying to make her confess. I could not bear to

stand listening to her cries and groans, so I climbed the stair on the

quake with fear, and when I reached the top I replaced the trapdoor

and covered it with earth. Then repented I of what I had done with

penitence exceeding, and thought of the lady and her beauty and

loveliness, and the tortures she was suffering at the hands of the

accursed Ifrit, after her quiet life of five-and-twenty years, and how

all that had happened to her was for cause of me. I bethought me of my

father and his kingly estate and how I had become a woodcutter, and

how, after my time had been awhile serene, the world had again waxed

turbid and troubled to me. So I wept bitterly and repeated this

couplet:



     "What time Fate's tyranny shall most oppress thee

     Perpend! One day shall joy thee, one distress thee!"



  Then I walked till I reached the home of my friend the tailor,

whom I found most anxiously expecting me. Indeed he was, as the saying

goes, on coals of fire for my account. And when he saw me he said:

"All night long my heart hath been heavy, fearing for thee from wild

beasts or other mischances. Now praise be to Allah for thy safety!"

I thanked him for his friendly solicitude and, retiring to my

corner, sat pondering and musing on what had befallen me, and I blamed

and chided myself for my meddlesome folly and my frowardness in

kicking the alcove. I was calling myself to account when behold, my

friend the tailor came to me and said: "O youth, in the shop there

is an old man, a Persian, who seeketh thee. He hath thy hatchet and

thy sandals, which he had taken to the woodcutters, saying, I was

going out at what time the muezzin began the call to dawn prayer, when

I chanced upon these things and know not whose they are, so direct

me to their owner. Tie woodcutters recognized thy hatchet and directed

him to thee. He is sitting in my shop, so fare forth to him and

thank him and take thine ax and sandals."

  When I heard these words I turned yellow with fear and felt

stunned as by a blow, and before I could recover myself, lo! the floor

of my private room clove asunder, and out of it rose the Persian,

who was the Ifrit. He had tortured the lady with exceeding tortures,

natheless she would not confess to him aught, so he took the hatchet

and sandals and said to her, "As surely as I am Jirjis of the seed

of Iblis, I will bring thee back the owner of this and these!" Then he

went to the woodcutters with the pretense aforesaid and, being

directed to me, after waiting a while in the shop till the fact was

confirmed, he suddenly snatched me up as a hawk snatcheth a mouse

and flew high in air, but presently descended and plunged with me

under the earth (I being a-swoon the while), and lastly set me down in

the subterranean palace wherein I had passed that blissful night.

  And there I saw the lady stripped to the skin, her limbs bound to

four stakes and blood welling from her sides. At the sight my eyes ran

over with tears, but the Ifrit covered her person and said, "O wanton,

is not this man thy lover?" She looked upon me and replied, "I wot him

not, nor have I ever seen him before this hour!" Quoth the Ifrit,

"What! This torture and yet no confessing?" And quoth she, "I never

saw this man in my born days, and it is not lawful in Allah's sight to

tell lies on him." "If thou know him not," said the Ifrit to her,

"take this sword and strike off his head." She hent the sword in

hand and came close up to me, and I signaled to her with my

eyebrows, my tears the while flowing a-down my cheeks. She

understood me and made answer, also by signs, "How couldest thou bring

all this evil upon me?" And I rejoined after the same fashion, "This

is the time for mercy and forgiveness." And the mute tongue of my case

spake aloud saying:



     Mine eyes were dragomans for my tongue betied,

     And told full clear the love I fain would hide.

     When last we met and tears in torrents railed,

     For tongue struck dumb my glances testified.

     She signed with eye glance while her lips were mute,

     I signed with fingers and she kenned th'implied.

     Our eyebrows did all duty 'twixt us twain,

     And we being speechless, Love spake loud and plain.



  Then, O my mistress, the lady threw away the sword and said: "How

shall I strike the neck of one I wot not, and who hath done me no

evil? Such deed were not lawful in my law!" and she held her hand.

Said the Ifrit: "'Tis grievous to thee to slay thy lover, and, because

he hath lain with thee, thou endurest these torments and obstinately

refusest to confess. After this it is clear to me that only like

loveth and pitieth Eke." Then he turned to me and asked me, "O man,

haply thou also dost not know this woman," whereto I answered: "And

pray who may she be? Assuredly I never saw her till this instant."

"Then take the sword," said he, "and strike off her head and I will

believe that thou wettest her not and will leave thee free to go,

and will not deal hardly with thee." I replied, "That will I do," and,

taking the sword, went forward sharply and raised my hand to smite.

But she signed to me with her eyebrows, "Have I failed thee in aught

of love, and is it thus that thou requitest me?" I understood what her

looks implied and answered her with an eye glance, "I will sacrifice

my soul for thee." And the tongue of the case wrote in our hearts

these lines:



     How many a lover with his eyebrows speaketh

     To his beloved, as his passion pleadeth.

     With flashing eyne his passion he inspireth

     And well she seeth what his pleading needeth.

     How sweet the look when each on other gazeth,

     And with what swiftness and how sure it speedeth.

     And this with eyebrows all his passion writeth,

     And that with eyeballs all his passion readeth.



  Then my eyes filled with tears to overflowing and I cast the sword

from my hand, saying: "O mighty Ifrit and hero, if a woman lacking

wits and faith deem it unlawful to strike off my head, how can it be

lawful for me, a man, to smite her neck whom I never saw in my whole

life? I cannot do such misdeed, though thou cause me drink the cup

of death and perdition." Then said the Ifrit, "Ye twain show the

good understanding between you, but I will let you see how such doings

end." He took the sword and struck off the lady's hands first, with

four strokes, and then her feet, whilst I looked on and made sure of

death and she farewelled me with her dying eyes. So the Ifrit cried at

her, "Thou whorest and makest me a wittol with thine eyes," and struck

her so that her head went flying. Then turned he to me and said: "O

mortal, we have it in our law that when the wife committeth

advowtry, it is lawful for us to slay her. As for this damsel, I

snatched her away on her bride night when she was a girl of twelve and

she knew no one but myself. I used to come to her once in every ten

days and lie with her the night, under the semblance of a man, a

Persian, and when I was well assured that she had cuckolded me, I slew

her. But as for thee, I am not well satisfied that thou hast wronged

me in her. Nevertheless I must not let thee go unharmed, so ask a boon

of me and I will grant it."

  Then I rejoiced, O my lady, with exceeding joy and said, "What

boon shall I crave of thee?" He replied, "Ask me this boon- into what

shape I shall bewitch thee? Wilt thou be a dog, or an ass, or an ape?"

I rejoined (and indeed I had hoped that mercy might be shown me),

"By Allah, spare me, that Allah spare thee for sparing a Moslem and

a man who never wronged thee." And I humbled myself before him with

exceeding humility, and remained standing in his presence, saying,

"I am sore oppressed by circumstance." Said the Ifrit: "Lengthen not

thy words! As to my slaying thee, fear it not, and as to my

pardoning thee, hope it not, but from my bewitching thee there is no

escape." Then he tore me from the ground, which closed under my

feet, and flew with me into the firmament till I saw the earth as a

large white cloud or a saucer in the midst of the waters. Presently he

set me down on a mountain, and taking a little dust, over which he

muttered some magical words, sprinkled me therewith, saying, "Quit

that shape and take thou the shape of an ape!" And on the instant I

became an ape, a tailless baboon, the son of a century.

  Now when he had left me and I saw myself in this ugly and hateful

shape, I wept for myself, but resigned my soul to the tyranny of

Time and Circumstance, well weeting that Fortune is fair and

constant to no man. I descended the mountain and found at the foot a

desert plain, long and broad, over which I traveled for the space of a

month till my course brought me to the brink of the briny sea. After

standing there awhile, I was ware of a ship in the offing which ran

before a fair wind making for the shore. I hid myself behind a rock on

the beach and waited till the ship drew near, when I leaped on

board. I found her full of merchants and passengers, and one of them

cried, "O Captain, this ill-omened brute will bring us ill luck!"

And another said, "Turn this ill-omened beast out from among us."

The Captain said, "Let us kill it!" Another said, "Slay it with the

sword," a third, "Drown it," and a fourth, "Shoot it with an arrow."

  But I sprang up and laid hold of the rais's skirt, and shed tears

which poured down my chops. The Captain took pity on me, and said,

"O merchants, this ape hath appealed to me for protection and I will

protect him. Henceforth he is under my charge, so let none do him

aught hurt or harm, otherwise there will be bad blood between us."

Then he entreated me kindly, and whatsoever he said I understood,

and ministered to his every want and served him as a servant, albeit

my tongue would not obey my wishes, so that he came to love me. The

vessel sailed on, the wind being fair, for the space of fifty days, at

the end of which we cast anchor under the walls of a great city

wherein was a world of people, especially learned men. None could tell

their number save Allah. No sooner had we arrived than we were visited

by certain Mameluke officials from the King of that city, who, after

boarding us, greeted the merchants and, giving them joy of safe

arrival, said: "Our King welcometh you, and sendeth you this roll of

paper, whereupon each and every of you must write a line. For ye shall

know that the King's Minister, a calligrapher of renown, is dead,

and the King hath sworn a solemn oath that he will make none Wazir

in his stead who cannot write as well as he could."

  He then gave us the scroll, which measured ten cubits long by a

breadth of one, and each of the merchants who knew how to write

wrote a line thereon, even to the last of them, after which I stood up

(still in the shape of an ape) and snatched the roll out of their

hands. They feared lest I should tear it or throw it overboard, so

they tried to stay me and scare me, but I signed to them that I

could write, whereat all marveled, saying, "We never yet saw an ape

write." And the Captain cried: "Let him write, and if he scribble

and scrabble we will kick him out and kill him. But if he write fair

and scholarly, I will adopt him as my son, for surely I never yet

saw a more intelligent and well-mannered monkey than he. Would

Heaven my real son were his match in morals and manners!"

  I took the reed and, stretching out my paw, dipped it in ink and

wrote, in the hand used for letters, these two couplets:



     Time hath recorded gifts she gave the great,

     But none recorded thine, which be far higher.

     Allah ne'er orphan men by loss of thee

     Who be of Goodness mother, Bounty's sire.



And I wrote in Rayhani or larger letters elegantly curved:



     Thou hast a reed of rede to every land,

     Whose driving causeth all the world to thrive.

     Nil is the Nile of Misraim by thy boons,

     Who makest misery smile with fingers five.



Then I wrote in the Suls character:



   There be no writer who from Death shall fleet

   But what his hand hath writ men shall repeat.

   Write, therefore, naught save what shall serve thee when

   Thou see't on Judgment Day an so thou see't!



Then I wrote in the character of Naskh:



   When to sore parting Fate our love shall doom,

   To distant life by Destiny decreed,

   We cause the inkhom's lips to 'plain our pains,

   And tongue our utterance with the talking reed.



  Then I gave the scroll to the officials, and after we all had

written our line, they carried it before the King. When he saw the

paper, no writing pleased him save my writing, and he said to the

assembled courtiers: "Go seek the writer of these lines and dress

him in a splendid robe of honor. Then mount him on a she-mule, let a

band of music precede him, and bring him to the presence." At these

words they smiled and the King was wroth with them and cried "O

accursed! I give you an order and you laugh at me?" "O King,"

replied they, "if we laugh 'tis not at thee and not without a

cause." "And what is it?" asked he, and they answered, "O King, thou

orderest us to bring to thy presence the man who wrote these lines.

Now the truth is that he who wrote them is not of the sons of Adam,

but an ape, a tailless baboon, belonging to the ship Captain." Quoth

he, "Is this true that you say?" Quoth they, "Yea! by the rights of

thy munificence!" The King marveled at their words and shook with

mirth and said, "I am minded to buy this ape of the Captain."

  Then he sent messengers to the ship with the mule, the dress, the

guard, and the state drums, saying, "Not the less do you clothe him in

the robe of honor and mount him on the mule, and let him be surrounded

by the guards and preceded by the band of music." They came to the

ship and took me from the Captain and robed me in the robe of honor

and, mounting me on the she-mule, carried me in state procession

through the streets whilst the people were amazed and amused. And folk

said to one another: "Halloo! Is our Sultan about to make an ape his

Minister?" and came all agog crowding to gaze at me, and the town

was astir and turned topsy-turvy on my account. When they brought me

up to the King and set me in his presence, I kissed the ground

before him three times, and once before the High Chamberlain and great

officers, and he bade me be seated, and I sat respectfully on shins

and knees, and all who were present marveled at my fine manners, and

the King most of all.

  Thereupon he ordered the lieges to retire, and when none remained

save the King's Majesty, the eunuch on duty, and a little white slave,

he bade them set before me the table of food, containing all manner of

birds, whatever hoppeth and flieth and treadeth in nest, such as quail

and sand grouse. Then he signed to me to eat with him, so I rose and

kissed ground before him, then sat me down and ate with him. Presently

they set before the King choice wines in flagons of glass and he

drank. Then he passed on the cup to me, and I kissed the ground and

drank and wrote on it:



     With fire they boiled me to loose my tongue,

     And pain and patience gave for fellowship.

     Hence comes it hands of men upbear me high

     And honeydew from lips of maid I sip!



  The King read my verse and said with a sigh, "Were these gifts in

a man, he would excel all the folk of his time and age!" Then he

called for the chessboard, and said, "Say, wilt thou play with me?"

and I signed with my head, "Yes." Then I came forward and ordered

the pieces and played with him two games, both of which I won. He

was speechless with surprise, so I took the pen case and, drawing

forth a reed, wrote on the board these two couplets:



     Two hosts fare fighting thro' the livelong day,

     Nor is their battling ever finished

     Until, when darkness girdeth them about,

     The twain go sleeping in a single bed.



  The King read these lines with wonder and delight and said to his

eunuch, "O Mukbil, go to thy mistress, Sitt al-Husn, and say her,

'Come, speak the King, who biddeth thee hither to take thy solace in

seeing this right wondrous ape!"' So the eunuch went out, and

presently returned with the lady, who when she saw me veiled her

face and said: "O my father, hast thou lost all sense of honor? How

cometh it thou art pleased to send for me and show me to strange men?"

"O Sitt al-Husn," said he, "no man is here save this little foot

page and the eunuch who reared thee and I, thy father. From whom,

then, dost thou veil thy face?" She answered, "This whom thou

deemest an ape is a young man, a clever and polite, a wise and

learned, and the son of a king. But he is ensorceled, and the Ifrit

Jirjaris, who is of the seed of Iblis, cast a spell upon him, after

putting to death his own wife, the daughter of King Ifitamus lord of

the Islands of Abnus." The King marveled at his daughter's words

and, turning to me, said, "Is this true that she saith of thee?" and I

signed by a nod of my head the answer "Yea, verily," and wept sore.

  Then he asked his daughter, "Whence knewest thou that he is

ensorceled?" and she answered: "O my dear Papa, there was with me in

my childhood an old woman, a wily one and a wise and a witch to

boot, and she taught me the theory of magic and its practice, and I

took notes in writing and therein waxed perfect, and have committed to

memory a hundred and seventy chapters of egromantic formulas, by the

least of which I could transport the stones of thy city behind the

Mountain Kaf and the Circumambient Main, or make its site an abyss

of the sea and its people fishes swimming in the midst of it." "O my

daughter," said her father, "I conjure thee, by my life, disenchant

this young man, that I may make him my Wazir and marry thee to him,

for indeed he is an ingenious youth and a deeply learned." "With joy

and goodly gree," she replied and, hending in hand an iron knife

whereon was inscribed the name of Allah in Hebrew characters she

described a wide circle in the midst of the palace hall, and therein

wrote in Kufic letters mysterious names and talismans. And she uttered

words and muttered charms, some of which we understood and others we

understood not.

  Presently the world waxed dark before our sight till we thought that

the sky was falling upon our heads, and lo! the Ifrit presented

himself in his own shape and aspect. His hands were like

many-pronged pitchforks, his legs like the masts of great ships, and

his eyes like cressets of gleaming fire. We were in terrible fear of

him, but the King's daughter cried at him, "No welcome to thee and

no greeting, O dog!" Whereupon he changed to the form of a lion and

said, "O traitress, how is it thou hast broken the oath we sware

that neither should contraire other?" "O accursed one," answered

she, "how could there be a compact between me and the like of thee?"

Then said he, "Take what thou hast brought on thyself." And the lion

open his jaws and rushed upon her, but she was too quick for him, and,

plucking a hair from her head, waved it in the air muttering over it

the while. And the hair straightway became a trenchant sword blade,

wherewith she smote the lion and cut him in twain. Then the two halves

flew away in air and the head changed to a scorpion and the Princess

became a huge serpent and set upon the accursed scorpion, and the

two fought, coiling and uncoiling, a stiff fight for an hour at least.

  Then the scorpion changed to a vulture and the serpent became an

eagle, which set upon the vulture and hunted him for an hour's time,

till he became a black tomcat, which miauled and grinned and spat.

Thereupon the eagle changed into a piebald wolf and these two

battled in the palace for a long time, when the cat, seeing himself

overcome, changed into a worm and crept into a huge red pomegranate

which lay beside the jetting fountain in the midst of the palace hall.

Whereupon the pomegranate swelled to the size of a watermelon in air

and, falling upon the marble pavement of the palace, broke to

pieces, and all the grains fell out and were scattered about till they

covered the whole floor. Then the wolf shook himself and became a

snow-white cock, which fell to picking up the grains, purposing not to

leave one, but by doom of destiny one seed rolled to the fountain edge

and there lay hid.

  The cock fell to crowing and clapping his wings and signing to us

with his beak as if to ask, "Are any grains left?" But we understood

not what he meant, and he cried to us with so loud a cry that we

thought the palace would fall upon us. Then he ran over all the

floor till he saw the grain which had rolled to the fountain edge, and

rushed eagerly to pick it up when behold, it sprang into the midst

of the water and became a fish and dived to the bottom of the basin.

Thereupon the cock changed to a big fish, and plunged in after the

other, and the two disappeared for a while and lo! we heard loud

shrieks and cries of pain which made us tremble. After this the

Ifrit rose out of the water, and he was as a burning flame, casting

fire and smoke from his mouth and eyes and nostrils. And immediately

the Princess likewise came forth from the basin, and she was one

live coal of flaming lowe, and these two, she and he, battled for

the space of an hour, until their fires entirely compassed them

about and their thick smoke filled the palace.

  As for us, we panted for breath, being well-nigh suffocated, and

we longed to plunge into the water, fearing lest we be burnt up and

utterly destroyed. And the King said: "There is no Majesty and there

is no Might save in Allah the Glorious, the Great! Verily we are

Allah's and unto Him are we returning! Would Heaven I had not urged my

daughter to attempt the disenchantment of this ape fellow, whereby I

have imposed upon her the terrible task of fighing yon accursed Ifrit,

against whom all the Ifrits in the world could not prevail. And

would Heaven we had never seen this ape, Allah never assain nor

bless the day of his coming! We thought to do a good deed by him

before the face of Allah, and to release him from enchantment, and now

we have brought this trouble and travail upon our heart." But I, O

my lady, was tonguetied and powerless to say a word to him.

  Suddenly, ere we were ware of aught, the Ifrit yelled out from under

the flames and, coming up to us as we stood on the estrade, blew

fire in our faces. The damsel overtook him and breathed blasts of fire

at his face, and the sparks from her and from him rained down upon us,

and her sparks did us no harm. But one of his sparks alighted upon

my eye and destroyed it, making me a monocular ape. And another fell

on the King's face, scorching the lower half, burning off his beard

and mustachios and causing his underteeth to fall out, while a third

lighted on the castrato's breast, killing him on the spot. So we

despaired of life and made sure of death when lo! a voice repeated the

saying: "Allah is Most Highest! Allah is Most Highest! Aidance and

victory to all who the Truth believe, and disappointment and

disgrace to all who the religion of Mohammed, the Moon of Faith,

unbelieve." The speaker was the Princess, who had burnt the Ifrit, and

he was become a heap of ashes. Then she came up to us and said, "Reach

me a cup of water." They brought it to her and she spoke over it words

we understood not and, sprinkling me with it, cried, "By virtue of the

Truth, and by the Most Great Name of Allah, I charge thee return to

thy former shape!" And behold, I shook and became a man as before,

save that I had utterly lost an eye.

  Then she cried out: "The fire! The fire! O my dear Papa, an arrow

from the accursed hath wounded me to the death, for I am not used to

fight with the Jann. Had he been a man, I had slain him in the

beginning. I had no trouble till the time when the pomegranate burst

and the grains scattered, but I overlooked the seed wherein was the

very life of the Jinni. Had I picked it up, he had died on the spot,

but as Fate and Fortune decreed, I saw it not, so he came upon me

all unawares and there befell between him and me a sore struggle under

the earth and high in air and in the water. And as often as I opened

on him a gate, he opened on me another gate and a stronger, till at

last he opened on me the gate of fire, and few are saved upon whom the

door of fire openeth. But Destiny willed that my cunning prevail

over his cunning, and I burned him to death after I vainly exhorted

him to embrace the religion of Al-Islam. As for me, I am a dead woman.

Allah supply my place to you!"

  Then she called upon Heaven for help and ceased not to implore

relief from the fire, when lo! a black spark shot up from her robed

feet to her thighs, then it flew to her bosom and thence to her

face. When it reached her face, she wept and said, "I testify that

there is no god but the God and that Mohammed is the Apostle of

God!" And we looked at her and saw naught but a heap of ashes by the

side of the heap that had been the Ifrit. We mourned for her, and I

wished I had been in her place, so had I not seen her lovely face

who had worked me such weal become ashes, but there is no gainsaying

the will of Allah.

  When the King saw his daughter's terrible death, he plucked out what

was left of his beard and beat his face and rent his raiment, and I

did as he did and we both wept over her. Then came in the chamberlains

and grandees, and were amazed to find two heaps of ashes and the

Sultan in a fainting fit. So they stood round him till he revived

and told them what had befallen his daughter from the Ifrit, whereat

their grief was right grievous and the women and the slave girls

shrieked and keened, and they continued their lamentations for the

space of seven days. Moreover, the King bade build over his daughter's

ashes a vast vaulted tomb, and burn therein wax tapers and

sepulchral lamps. But as for the Ifrit's ashes, they scattered them on

the winds, speeding them to the curse of Allah.

  Then the Sultan fell sick of a sickness that well-nigh brought him

to his death for a month's space, and when health returned to him

and his beard grew again and he had been converted by the mercy of

Allah to Al-Islam, he sent for me and said: "O youth, Fate had decreed

for us the happiest of lives, safe from all the chances and changes of

Time, till thou camest to us, when troubles fell upon us. Would to

Heaven we had never seen thee and the foul face of thee! For we took

pity on thee, and thereby we have lost our all. I have on thy

account first lost my daughter, who to me was well worth a hundred

men, secondly, I have suffered that which befell me by reason of the

fire and the loss of my teeth, and my eunuch also was slain. I blame

thee not, for it was out of thy power to prevent this. The doom of

Allah was on thee as well as on us, and thanks be to the Almighty

for that my daughter delivered thee, albeit thereby she lost her own

life! Go forth now, O my son, from this my city, and suffice thee what

hath befallen us through thee, even although 'twas decreed for us.

Go forth in peace, and if I ever see thee again I will surely slay

thee." And he cried out at me.

  So I went forth from his presence, O my lady, weeping bitterly and

hardly believing in my escape and knowing not whither I should wend.

And I recalled all that had befallen me, my meeting the tailor, my

love for the damsel in the palace beneath the earth, and my narrow

escape from the Ifrit, even after he had determined to do me die,

and how I had entered the city as an ape and was now leaving it a

man once more. Then I gave thanks to Allah and said, "My eye and not

my life!" And before leaving the place I entered the bath and shaved

my poll and beard and mustachios and eyebrows, and cast ashes on my

head and donned the coarse black woolen robe of a Kalandar.

  Then I journeyed through many regions and saw many a city, intending

for Baghdad, that I might seek audience in the House of Peace with the

Commander of the Faithful, and tell him all that had befallen me. I

arrived here this very night and found my brother in Allah, this first

Kalandar, standing about as one perplexed, so I saluted him with

"Peace be upon thee," and entered into discourse with him. Presently

up came our brother, this third Kalandar, and said to us: "Peace be

with you! I am a stranger," whereto we replied, "And we too be

strangers, who have come hither this blessed night."

  So we all three walked on together, none of us knowing the other's

history, till Destiny drave us to this door and we came in to you.

Such then is my story and my reason for shaving my beard and

mustachios, and this is what caused the loss of my eye. Said the house

mistress, "Thy tale is indeed a rare, so rub thy head and wend thy

ways." But he replied, "I will not budge till I hear my companions'

stories."

  Then came forward the third Kalandar, and said, "O illustrious lady,

my history is not like that of these my comrades, but more wondrous

and far more marvelous. In their case Fate and Fortune came down on

them unawares, but I drew down Destiny upon my own head and brought

sorrow on mine own soul, and shaved my own beard and lost my own

eye. Hear then






THIRD

                   THE THIRD KALANDAR'S TALE



  KNOW, O my lady, that I also am a king and the son of a king and

my name is Ajib son of Khazib. When my father died I succeeded him,

and I ruled and did justice and dealt fairly by all my lieges. I

delighted in sea trips, for my capital stood on the shore, before

which the ocean stretched far and wide, and near hand were many

great islands with sconces and garrisons in the midst of the main.

My fleet numbered fifty merchantmen, and as many yachts for pleasance,

and a hundred and fifty sail ready fitted for holy war with the

unbelievers.

  It fortuned that I had a mind to enjoy myself on the islands

aforesaid, so I took ship with my people in ten keel and, carrying

with me a month's victual, I set out on a twenty days' voyage. But one

night a head wind struck us, and the sea rose against us with huge

waves. The billows sorely buffeted us and a dense darkness settled

round us. We gave ourselves up for lost, and I said, "Whoso

endangereth his days, e'en an he 'scape deserveth no praise." Then

we prayed to Allah and besought Him, but the storm blasts ceased not

to blow against us nor the surges to strike us till morning broke,

when the gale fell, the seas sank to mirrory stillness, and the sun

shone upon us kindly clear. Presently we made an island, where we

landed and cooked somewhat of food, and ate heartily and took our rest

for a couple of days. Then we set out again and sailed other twenty

days, the seas broadening and the land shrinking.

  Presently the current ran counter to us, and we found ourselves in

strange waters, where the Captain had lost his reckoning, and was

wholly bewildered in this sea, so said we to the lookout man, "Get

thee to the masthead and keep thine eyes open." He swarmed up the mast

and looked out and cried aloud, "O Rais, I espy to starboard something

dark, very like a fish floating on the face of the sea, and to

larboard there is a loom in the midst of the main, now black and now

bright." When the Captain heard the lookout's words, he dashed his

turban on the deck and plucked out his beard and beat his face,

saying: "Good news indeed! We be all dead men, not one of us can be

saved." And he fell to weeping and all of us wept for his weeping

and also for our lives, and I said, "O Captain, tell us what it is the

lookout saw."

  "O my Prince," answered he, "know that we lost our course on the

night of the storm, which was followed on the morrow by a two days'

calm during which we made no way, and we have gone astray eleven days'

reckoning from that night, with ne'er a wind to bring us back to our

true course. Tomorrow by the end of the day we shall come to a

mountain of black stone hight the Magnet Mountain, for thither the

currents carry us willy-nilly. As soon as we are under its lea, the

ship's sides will open and every nail in plank will fly out and cleave

fast to the mountain, for that Almighty Allah hath gifted the

loadstone with a mysterious virtue and a love for iron, by reason

whereof all which is iron traveleth toward it. And on this mountain is

much iron, how much none knoweth save the Most High, from the many

vessels which have been lost there since the days of yore. The

bright spot upon its summit is a dome of yellow laton from

Andalusia, vaulted upon ten columns. And on its crown is a horseman

who rideth a horse of brass and holdeth in hand a lance of laton,

and there hangeth on his bosom a tablet of lead graven with names

and talismans." And he presently added, "And, O King, none

destroyeth folk save the rider on that steed, nor will the egromancy

be dispelled till he fall from his horse."

  Then, O my lady, the Captain wept with exceeding weeping and we

all made sure of death doom and each and every one of us farewelled

his friend and charged him with his last will and testament in case he

might be saved. We slept not that night, and in the morning we found

ourselves much nearer the Loadstone Mountain, whither the waters drave

us with a violent send. When the ships were close under its lea,

they opened and the nails flew out and all the iron in them sought the

Magnet Mountain and clove to it like a network, so that by the end

of the day we were all struggling in the waves round about the

mountain. Some of us were saved, but more were drowned, and even those

who had escaped knew not one another, so stupefied were they by the

beating of the billows and the raving of the winds.

  As for me, O my lady, Allah (be His name exalted!) preserved my life

that I might suffer whatso He willed to me of hardship, misfortune,

and calamity, for I scrambled upon a plank from one of the ships and

the wind and waters threw it at the feet of the mountain. There I

found a practicable path leading by steps carven out of the rock to

the summit, and I called on the name of Allah Almighty and breasted

the ascent, clinging to the steps and notches hewn in the stone, and

mounted little by little. And the Lord stilled the wind and aided me

in the ascent, so that I succeeded in reaching the summit. There I

found no resting place save the dome, which I entered, joying with

exceeding joy at my escape, and made the wudu ablution and prayed a

two-bow prayer, a thanksgiving to God for my preservation.

  Then I fell asleep under the dome, and heard in my dream a

mysterious voice saying, "O son of Khazib! When thou wakest from thy

sleep, dig under thy feet and thou shalt find a bow of brass and three

leaden arrows inscribed with talismans and characts. Take the bow

and shoot the arrows at the horseman on the dome top and free

mankind from this sore calamity. When thou hast shot him he shall fall

into the sea, and the horse will also drop at thy feet. Then bury it

in the place of the bow. This done, the main will swell and rise

till it is level with the mountain head, and there will appear on it a

skiff carrying a man of laton (other than he thou shalt have shot)

holding in his hand a pair of paddles. He will come to thee, and do

thou embark with him, but beware of saying Bismillah or of otherwise

naming Allah Almighty. He will row thee for a space of ten days,

till he bring thee to certain islands called the Islands of Safety,

and thence thou shalt easily reach a port and find those who will

convey thee to thy native land. And all this shall be fulfilled to

thee so thou call not on the name of Allah."

  Then I started up from my sleep in joy and gladness and, hastening

to do the bidding of the mysterious voice, found the bow and arrows

and shot at the horseman and tumbled him into the main, whilst the

horse dropped at my feet, so I took it and buried it. Presently the

sea surged up and rose till it reached the top of the mountain, nor

had I long to wait ere I saw a skiff in the offing coming toward me. I

gave thanks to Allah, and when the skiff came up to me, I saw

therein a man of brass with a tablet of lead on his breast inscribed

with talismans and characts, and I embarked without uttering a word.

The boatman rowed on with me through the first day and the second

and the third, in all ten whole days, till I caught sight of the

Islands of Safety, whereat I joyed with exceeding joy and for stress

of gladness exclaimed, "Allah! Allah! In the name of Allah! There is

no god but the God and Allah is Almighty." Thereupon the skiff

forthwith upset and cast me upon the sea, then it righted and sank

deep into the depths.

  Now I am a fair swimmer, so I swam the whole day till nightfall,

when my forearms and shoulders were numbed with fatigue and I felt

like to die, so I testified to my faith, expecting naught but death.

The sea was still surging under the violence of the winds, and

presently there came a billow like a hillock and, bearing me up high

in air, threw me with a long cast on dry land, that His will might

be fulfilled. I crawled upon the beach and doffing my raiment, wrung

it out to dry and spread it in the sunshine. Then I lay me down and

slept the whole night. As soon as it was day, I donned my clothes

and rose to look whither I should walk. Presently I came to a

thicket of low trees and, making a cast round it, found that the

spot whereon I stood was an islet, a mere holm, girt on all sides by

the ocean, whereupon I said to myself, "Whatso freeth me from one

great calamity casteth me into a greater!"

  But while I was pondering my case and longing for death, behold, I

saw afar off a ship making for the island, so I clomb a tree and hid

myself among the branches. Presently the ship anchored and landed

ten slaves, blackamoors, bearing iron hoes and baskets, who walked

on till they reached the middle of the island. Here they dug deep into

the ground until they uncovered a plate of metal, which they lifted,

thereby opening a trapdoor. After this they returned to the ship and

thence brought bread and flour, honey and fruits, clarified butter,

leather bottles containing liquors, and many household stuffs; also

furniture, table service, and mirrors; rugs, carpets, and in fact

all needed to furnish a dwelling. And they kept going to and fro,

and descending by the trapdoor, till they had transported into the

dwelling all that was in the ship.

  After this the slaves again went on board and brought back with them

garments as rich as may be, and in the midst of them came an old old

man, of whom very little was left, for Time had dealt hardly and

harshly with him, and all that remained of him was a bone wrapped in a

rag of blue stuff, through which the winds whistled west and east.

As saith the poet of him:



     Time gars me tremble. Ah, how sore the balk!

     While Time in pride of strength doth ever stalk.

     Time was I walked nor ever felt I tired,

     Now am I tired albe' I never walk!



And the Sheikh held by the hand a youth cast in beauty's mold, all

elegance and perfect grace, so fair that his comeliness deserved to be

proverbial, for he was as a green bough or the tender young of the

roe, ravishing every heart with his loveliness and subduing every soul

with his coquetry and amorous ways. They stinted not their going, O my

lady, till all went down by the trapdoor and did not reappear for an

hour, or rather more; at the end of which time the slaves and the

old man came up without the youth and, replacing the iron plate and

carefully closing the door slab as it was before, they returned to the

ship and made sail and were lost to my sight.

  When they turned away to depart, I came down from the tree and,

going to the place I had seen them fin up, scraped off and removed the

earth, and in patience possessed my soul till I had cleared the

whole of it away. Then appeared the trapdoor, which was of wood, in

shape and size like a millstone, and when I lifted it up, it disclosed

a winding staircase of stone. At this I marveled and, descending the

steps tier I reached the last, found a fair hall, spread with

various kinds of carpets and silk stuffs, wherein was a youth

sitting upon a raised couch and leaning back on a round cushion with a

fan in his hand and nosegays and posies of sweet scented herbs and

flowers before him. But he was alone and not a soul near him in the

great vault. When he saw me he turned pale, but I saluted him

courteously and said: "Set thy mind at ease and calm thy fears. No

harm shall come near thee. I am a man like thyself and the son of a

king to boot, whom the decrees of Destiny have sent to bear thee

company and cheer thee in thy loneliness. But now tell me, what is thy

story and what causeth thee to dwell thus in solitude under the

ground?"

  When he was assured that I was of his kind and no Jinni, he rejoiced

and his fine color returned, and, making me draw near to him, he said:

"O my brother, my story is a strange story and 'tis this. My father is

a merchant jeweler possessed of great wealth, who hath white and black

slaves traveling and trading on his account in ships and on camels,

and trafficking with the most distant cities, but he was not blessed

with a child, not even one. Now on a certain night he dreamed a

dream that he should be favored with a son, who would be

short-lived, so the morning dawned on my father, bringing him woe

and weeping. On the following night my mother conceived and my

father noted down the date of her becoming pregnant. Her time being

fulfilled, she bare me, whereat my father rejoiced and made banquets

and called together the neighbors and fed the fakirs and the poor, for

that he had been blessed with issue near the end of his days. Then

he assembled the astrologers and astronomers who knew the places of

the planets, and the wizards and wise ones of the time, and men

learned in horoscopes and nativities, and they drew out my birth

scheme and said to my father: "Thy son shall live to fifteen years,

but in his fifteenth there is a sinister aspect. An he safely tide

it over, he shall attain a great age. And the cause that threateneth

him with death is this. In the Sea of Peril standeth the Mountain

Magnet hight, on whose summit is a horseman of yellow laton seated

on a horse also of brass and bearing on his breast a tablet of lead.

Fifty days after this rider shall fall from his steed thy son will die

and his slayer will be he who shoots down the horseman, a Prince named

Ajib son of King Khazib."

  My father grieved with exceeding grief to hear these words, but

reared me in tenderest fashion and educated me excellently well till

my fifteenth year was told. Ten days ago news came to him that the

horseman had fallen into the sea and he who shot him down was named

Ajib son of King Khazib." My father thereupon wept bitter tears at the

need of parting with me and became like one possessed of a Jinni.

However, being in mortal fear for me, he built me this place under the

earth, and stocking it with all required for the few days still

remaining, he brought me hither in a ship and left me here. Ten are

already past, and when the forty shall have gone by without danger

to me, he will come and take me away, for he hath done all this only

in fear of Prince Ajib. Such, then, is my story and the cause of my

loneliness."

  When I heard his history I marveled and said in my mind, "I am the

Prince Ajib who hath done all this, but as Allah is with me I will

surely not slay him!" So said I to him: "O my lord, far from thee be

this hurt and harm and then, please Allah, thou shalt not suffer

cark nor care nor aught disquietude, for I will tarry with thee and

serve thee as a servant, and then wend my ways. And after having borne

thee company during the forty days, I will go with thee to thy home,

where thou shalt give me an escort of some of thy Mamelukes with

whom I may journey back to my own city, and the Almighty shall requite

thee for me." He was glad to hear these words, when I rose and lighted

a large wax candle and trimmed the lamps and the three lanterns, and I

set on meat and drink and sweetmeats. We ate and drank and sat talking

over various matters till the greater part of the night was gone, when

he lay down to rest and I covered him up and went to sleep myself.

  Next morning I arose and warmed a little water, then lifted him

gently so as to awake him and brought him the warm water, wherewith he

washed his face, and said to me: "Heaven requite thee for me with

every blessing, O youth! By Allah, if I get quit of this danger and am

saved from him whose name is Ajib bin Khazib, I will make my father

reward thee and send thee home healthy and wealthy. And if I die, then

my blessing be upon thee." I answered, "May the day never dawn on

which evil shall betide thee, and may Allah make my last day before

thy last day!" Then I set before him somewhat of food and we ate,

and I got ready perfumes for fumigating the hall, wherewith he was

pleased. Moreover I made him a mankalah cloth; and we played and ate

sweetmeats and we played again and took our pleasure till nightfall,

when I rose and lighted the lamps, and set before him somewhat to eat,

and sat telling him stories till the hours of darkness were far spent.

Then he lay down to rest and I covered him up and rested also.

  And thus I continued to do, O my lady, for days and nights, and

affection for him took root in my heart and my sorrow was eased, and I

said to myself: "The astrologers lied when they predicted that he

should be slain by Ajib bin Khazib. By Allah, I will not slay him."

I ceased not ministering to him and conversing and carousing with

him and telling him all manner tales for thirty-nine days. On the

fortieth night the youth rejoiced and said: "O my brother,

Alhamdolillah!- praise be to Allah- who hath preserved me from death,

and this is by thy blessing and the blessing of thy coming to me,

and I prayed God that He restore thee to thy native land. But now, O

my brother, I would thou warm me some water for the ghusl ablution and

do thou kindly bathe me and change my clothes." I replied, "With

love and gladness," and I heated water in plenty and carrying it in to

him, washed his body all over, the washing of health, with meal of

lupins, and rubbed him well and changed his clothes and spread him a

high bed whereon he lay down to rest, being drowsy after bathing.

  Then said he, "O my brother, cut me up a watermelon, and sweeten

it with a little sugar candy." So I went to the storeroom and bringing

out a fine watermelon, I found there, set it on a platter and laid

it before him saying, "O my master, hast thou not a knife?" "Here it

is," answered he, "over my head upon the high shelf." So I got up in

haste and, and, taking the knife, drew it from its sheath, but my foot

slipped in stepping down and I fell heavily upon the youth holding

in my hand the knife, which hastened to fulfill what had been

written on the Day that decided the destinies of man, and buried

itself, as if planted, in the youth's heart. He died on the instant.

When I saw that he was slain and knew that I had slain him, mauger

myself I cried out with an exceeding loud and bitter cry and beat my

face and rent my raiment and said: "Verily we be Allah's and unto

Him we be returning, O Moslems! O folk fain of Allah! There remained

for this youth but one day of the forty dangerous days which the

astrologers and the learned had foretold for him, and the

predestined death of this beautiful one was to be at my hand. Would

Heaven I had not tried to cut the watermelon! What dire misfortune

is this I must bear, lief or loath? What a disaster! What an

affliction! O Allah mine, I implore thy pardon and declare to Thee

my innocence of his death. But what God willeth, let that come to

pass."

  When I was certified that I had slain him, I arose and, ascending

the stairs, replaced the trapdoor and covered it with earth as before.

Then I looked out seaward and saw the ship cleaving the waters and

making for the island, wherefore I was afeard and said, "The moment

they come and see the youth done to death, they will know 'twas I

who slew him and will slay me without respite." So I climbed up into a

high tree and concealed myself among its leaves, and hardly had I done

so when the ship anchored and the slaves landed with the ancient

man, the youth's father, and made direct for the place, and when

they removed the earth they were surprised to see it soft. Then they

raised the trapdoor and went down and found the youth lying at full

length, clothed in fair new garments, with a face beaming after the

bath, and the knife deep in his heart. At the sight they shrieked

and wept and beat their faces, loudly cursing the murderer, whilst a

swoon came over the Sheikh so that the slaves deemed him dead,

unable to survive his son. At last they wrapped the slain youth in his

clothes and carried him up and laid him on the ground, covering him

with a shroud of silk.

  Whilst they were making for the ship the old man revived, and,

gazing on his son who was stretched out, fell on the ground and

strewed dust over his head and smote his face and plucked out his

beard, and his weeping redoubled as he thought of his murdered son and

he swooned away once more. After a while a slave went and fetched a

strip of silk whereupon they lay the old man and sat down at his head.

All this took place and I was on the tree above them watching

everything that came to pass, and my heart became hoary before my head

waxed gray, for the hard lot which was mine, and for the distress

and anguish I had undergone, and I fell to reciting:



     "How many a joy by Allah's will hath fled

     With flight escaping sight of wisest head!

     How many a sadness shall begin the day,

     Yet grow right gladsome ere the day is sped!

     How many a weal trips on the heels of ill,

     Causing the mourner's heart with joy to thrill!"



  But the old man, O my lady, ceased not from his swoon till near

sunset, when he came to himself and, looking upon his dead son, he

recalled what had happened, and how what he had dreaded had come to

pass, and he beat his face and head. Then he sobbed a single sob and

his soul fled his flesh. The slaves shrieked aloud, "Alas, our

lord!" and showered dust on their heads and redoubled their weeping

and wailing. Presently they carried their dead master to the ship side

by side with his dead son and, having transported all the stuff from

the dwelling to the vessel, set sail and disappeared from mine eyes. I

descended from the tree and, raising the trapdoor, went down into

the underground dwelling, where everything reminded me of the youth,

and I looked upon the poor remains of him and began repeating these

verses:



     "Their tracks I see, and pine with pain and pang,

     And on deserted hearths I weep and yearn.

     And Him I pray who doomed them depart

     Some day vouchsafe the boon of safe return."



  Then, O my lady, I went up again by the trapdoor, and every day I

used to wander round about the island and every night I returned to

the underground hall. Thus I lived for a month, till at last,

looking at the western side of the island, I observed that every day

the tide ebbed, leaving shallow water for which the flow did not

compensate, and by the end of the month the sea showed dry land in

that direction. At this I rejoiced, making certain of my safety, so

I arose and, fording what little was left of the water, got me to

the mainland, where I fell in with great heaps of loose sand in

which even a camel's hoof would sink up to the knee. However, I

emboldened my soul and, wading through the sand, behold, a fire

shone from afar burning with a blazing light. So I made for it

hoping haply to find succor and broke out into these verses:



     "Belike my Fortune may her bridle turn

     And Time bring weal although he's jealous hight,

     Forward my hopes, and further all my needs,

     And passed ills with present weals requite."



  And when I drew near the fire aforesaid, lo! it was a palace with

gates of copper burnished red which, when the rising sun shone

thereon, gleamed and glistened from afar, showing what had seemed to

me a fire. I rejoiced in the sight, and sat down over against the

gate, but I was hardly settled in my seat before there met me ten

young men clothed in sumptuous gear, and all were blind of the left

eye, which appeared as plucked out. They were accompanied by a Sheikh,

an old, old man, and much I marveled at their appearance, and their

all being blind in the same eye. When they saw me, they saluted me

with the salaam and asked me of my case and my history, whereupon I

related to them all what had befallen me and what full measure of

misfortune was mine. Marveling at my tale, they took me to the

mansion, where I saw ranged round the hall ten couches each with its

blue bedding and coverlet of blue stuff and a-middlemost stood a

smaller couch furnished like them with blue and nothing else.

  As we entered each of the youths took his seat on his own couch


and the old man seated himself upon the smaller one in the middle,

saying to me, "O youth, sit thee down on the floor, and ask not of our

case nor of the loss of our eyes." Presently he rose up and set before

each young man some meat in a charger and drink in a larger mazer,

treating me in like manner, and after that they sat questioning me

concerning my adventures and what had betided me. And I kept telling

them my tale till the night was far spent. Then said the young men: "O

our Sheikh, wilt not thou set before us our ordinary? The time is

come." He replied, "With love and gladness," and rose and, entering

a closet, disappeared, but presently returned bearing on his head

ten trays each covered with a strip of blue stuff. He set a tray

before each youth and, lighting ten wax candles, he stuck one upon

each tray, and drew off the covers and lo! under them was naught but

ashes and powdered charcoal and kettle soot. Then all the young men

tucked up their sleeves to the elbows and fell a-weeping and wailing

and they blackened their faces and smeared their clothes and

buffeted their brows and beat their breasts, continually exclaiming,

"We were sitting at our ease, but our frowardness brought us

unease!" They ceased not to do thus till dawn drew nigh, when the

old man rose and heated water for them, and they washed their face and

donned other and clean clothes.

  Now when I saw this, O my lady, for very wonderment my senses left

me and my wits went wild and heart and head were full of thought, till

I forgot what had betided me and I could not keep silence, feeling I

fain must speak out and question them of these strangenesses. So I

said to them: "How come ye to do this after we have been so

openhearted and frolicsome? Thanks be to Allah, ye be all sound and

sane, yet actions such as these befit none but madmen or those

possessed of an evil spirit. I conjure you by all that is dearest to

you, why stint ye to tell me your history, and the cause of your

losing your eyes and your blackening your faces with ashes and

soot?" Hereupon they turned to me and said, "O young man, hearken

not to thy youthtide's suggestions, and question us no questions."

Then they slept and I with them, and when they awoke the old man

brought us somewhat oi food. And after we had eaten and the plates and

goblets had been removed, they sat conversing till nightfall, when the

old man rose and lit the wax candles and lamps and set meat and

drink before us.

  After we had eaten and drunken we sat conversing and carousing in

companionage till the noon of night, when they said to the old man,

"Bring us our ordinary, for the hour of sleep is at hand!" So he

rose and brought them the trays of soot and ashes, and they did as

they had done on the preceding night, nor more, nor less. I abode with

them after this fashion for the space of a month, during which time

they used to blacken their faces with ashes every night, and to wash

and change their raiment when the morn was young, and I but marveled

the more and my scruples and curiosity increased to such a point

that I had to forgo even food and drink.

  At last I lost command of myself, for my heart was aflame with

fire unquenchable and lowe unconcealable, and I said, "O young men,

will ye not relieve my trouble and acquaint me with the reason of thus

blackening your faces and the meaning of your words, 'We were

sitting at our ease, but our frowardness brought us unease'?" Quoth

they, "'Twere better to keep these things secret." Still I was

bewildered by their doings to the point of abstaining from eating

and drinking and at last wholly losing patience, quoth I to them:

"There is no help for it. Ye must acquaint me with what is the

reason of these doings." They replied: "We kept our secret only for

thy good. To gratify thee will bring down evil upon thee and thou wilt

become a monocular even as we are." I repeated, "There is no help

for it, and if ye will not, let me leave you and return to mine own

people and be at rest from seeing these things, for the proverb saith:



     "Better ye 'bide and I take my leave;

     For what eye sees not heart shall never grieve."



  Thereupon they said to me, "Remember, O youth, that should ill

befall thee, we will not again harbor thee nor suffer thee to abide

amongst us." And bringing a ram, they slaughtered it and skinned it.

Lastly they gave me a knife, saying: "Take this skin and stretch

thyself upon it and we will sew it around thee. Presently there

shall come to thee a certain bird, hight roe, that will catch thee

up in his pounces and tower high in air and then set thee down on a

mountain. When thou feelest he is no longer flying, rip open the

pelt with this blade and come out of it. The bird will be scared and

will fly away and leave thee free. After this fare for half a day, and

the march will place thee at a palace wondrous fair to behold,

towering high in air and builded of khalanj, lign aloes and

sandalwood, plated with red gold, and studded with all manner emeralds

and costly gems fit for seal rings. Enter it and thou shalt will to

thy wish, for we have all entered that palace, and such is the cause

of our losing our eyes and of our blackening our faces. Were we now to

tell thee our stories it would take too long a time, for each and

every of us lost his left eye by an adventure of his own."

  I rejoiced at their words, and they did with me as they said, and

the bird roc bore me off and set me down on the mountain. Then I

came out of the skin and walked on till I reached the palace. The door

stood open as I entered and found myself in a spacious and goodly

hall, wide exceedingly, even as a horse course. And around it were a

hundred chambers with doors of sandal and aloe woods plated with red

gold and furnished with silver rings by way of knockers. At the head

or upper end of the hall I saw forty damsels, sumptuously dressed

and ornamented and one and all bright as moons. None could ever tire

of gazing upon them, and all so lovely that the most ascetic devotee

on seeing them would become their slave and obey their will. When they

saw me the whole bevy came up to me and said: "Welcome and well come

and good cheer to thee, O our lord! This whole month have we been

expecting thee. Praised be Allah Who hath sent us one who is worthy of

us, even as we are worthy of him!"

  Then they made me sit down upon a high divan and said to me, "This

day thou art our lord and master, and we are thy servants and thy

handmaids, so order us as thou wilt." And I marveled at their case.

Presently one of them arose and set meat before me and I ate and

they ate with me whilst others warmed water and washed my hands and

feet and changed my clothes, and others made ready sherbets and gave

us to drink, and all gathered around me, being full of joy and

gladness at my coming. Then they sat down and conversed with me till

nightfall, when five of them arose and laid the trays and spread

them with flowers and fragrant herbs and fruits, fresh and dried,

and confections in profusion. At last they brought out a fine wine

service with rich old wine, and we sat down to drink and some sang

songs and others played the lute and psaltery and recorders and

other instruments, and the bowl went merrily round. Hereupon such

gladness possessed me that I forgot the sorrows of the world one and

all and said: "This is indeed life. O sad that 'tis fleeting!"

  I enjoyed their company till the time came for rest, and our heads

were all warm with wine, when they said, "O our lord, choose from

amongst us her who shall be thy bedfellow this night and not lie

with thee again till forty days be past." So I chose a girl fair of

face and perfect in shape, with eyes kohl-edged by nature's hand, hair

long and jet-black, with slightly parted teeth and joining brows.

'Twas as if she were some limber graceful branchlet or the slender

stalk of sweet basil to amaze and to bewilder man's fancy. So I lay

with her that night. None fairer I ever knew. And when it was morning,

the damsels carried me to the hammam bath and bathed me and robed me

in fairest apparel. Then they served up food, and we ate and drank and

the cup went round till nightfall, when I chose from among them one

fair of form and face, soft-sided and a model of grace, such a one

as the poet described when he said:



     On her fair bosom caskets twain I scanned,

     Sealed fast with musk seals lovers to withstand.

     With arrowy glances stand on guard her eyes,

     Whose shafts would shoot who dares put forth a hand.



  With her I spent a most goodly night, and, to be brief, O my

mistress, I remained with them in all solace and delight of life,

eating and drinking, conversing and carousing, and every night lying

with one or other of them. But at the head of the New Year they came

to me in tears and bade me farewell, weeping and crying out and

clinging about me, whereat I wondered and said: "What may be the

matter? Verily you break my heart!" They exclaimed, "Would Heaven we

had never known thee, for though we have companied with many, yet

never saw we a pleasanter than thou or a more courteous." And they

wept again. "But tell me more clearly," asked I, "what causeth this

weeping which maketh my gall bladder like to burst?" And they

answered: "O lord and master, it is severance which maketh us weep,

and thou, and thou only, art the cause of our tears. If thou hearken

to us we need never be parted, and if thou hearken not we part

forever, but our hearts tell us that thou wilt not listen to our words

and this is the cause of our tears and cries." "Tell me how the case

standeth."

  "Know, O our lord, that we are the daughters of kings who have met

here and have lived together for years, and once in every year we

are perforce absent for forty days. And afterward we return and

abide here for the rest of the twelvemonth eating and drinking and

taking our pleasure and enjoying delights. We are about to depart

according to our custom, and we fear lest after we be gone thou

contraire our charge and disobey our injunctions. Here now we commit

to thee the keys of the palace, which containeth forty chambers, and

thou mayest open of these thirty and nine, but beware (and we

conjure thee by Allah and by the lives of us!) lest thou open the

fortieth door, for therein is that which shall separate us for

ever." Quoth I, "Assuredly I will not open it if it contain the

cause of severance from you." Then one among them came up to me and

falling on my neck wept and recited these verses:



     "If Time unite us after absent-while,

     The world harsh-frowning on our lot shall smile,

     And if thy semblance deign adorn mine eyes,

     I'll pardon Time past wrongs and bygone guile."



And I recited the following:



     "When drew she near to bid adieu with her heart unstrung,

     While care and longing on that day her bosom wrung,

     Wet pearls she wept and mine like red camelians rolled

     And, joined in sad riviere, around her neck they hung."



When I saw her weeping I said, "By Allah, I will never open that

fortieth door, never and nowise!" and I bade her farewell. Thereupon

all departed flying away like birds, signaling with their hands

farewells as they went and leaving me alone in the palace. When

evening drew near I opened the door of the first chamber and

entering it found myself in a place like one of the pleasaunces of

Paradise. It was a garden with trees of freshest green and ripe fruits

of yellow sheen, and its birds were singing clear and keen and rills

ran wimpling through the fair terrene. The sight and sounds brought

solace to my sprite, and I walked among the trees, and I smelt the

breath of the flowers on the breeze and heard the birdies sing their

melodies hymning the One, the Almighty, in sweetest litanies, and I

looked upon the apple whose hue is parcel red and parcel yellow, as

said the poet:



     Apple whose hue combines in union mellow

     My fair's red cheek, her hapless lover's yellow.



Then I looked upon the pear whose taste surpasseth sherbet and

sugar, and the apricot whose beauty striketh the eye with

admiration, as if she were a polished ruby.

  Then I went out of the place and locked the door as it was before.

When it was the morrow I opened the second door, and entering found

myself in a spacious plain set with tall date palms and watered by a

running stream whose banks were shrubbed with bushes of rose and

jasmine, while privet and eglantine, oxeye, violet and lily,

narcissus, origane, and the winter gilliflower carpeted the borders.

And the breath of the breeze swept over these sweet-smelling growths

diffusing their delicious odors right and left, perfuming the world

and filling my soul with delight. After taking my pleasure there

awhile I went from it and, having closed the door as it was before,

opened the third door, wherein I saw a high open hall pargetted with

particolored marbles and pietra dura of price and other precious

stones, and hung with cages of sandalwood and eagle wood, full of

birds which made sweet music, such as the "thousand-voiced," and the

cushat, the merle, the turtledove, and the Nubian ringdove. My heart

was filled with pleasure thereby, my grief was dispelled, and I

slept in that aviary till dawn.

  Then I unlocked the door of the fourth chamber, and therein found

a grand saloon with forty smaller chambers giving upon it. All their

doors stood open, so I entered and found them full of pearls and

jacinths and beryls and emeralds and corals and carbuncles, and all

manner precious gems and jewels, such as tongue of man may not

describe. My thought was stunned at the sight and I said to myself,

"These be things methinks united which could not be found save in

the treasuries of a King of Kings, nor could the monarchs of the

world have collected the like of these!" And my heart dilated and my

sorrows ceased. "For," quoth I, "now verily am I the Monarch of the

Age, since by Allah's grace this enormous wealth is mine, and I have

forty damsels under my hand, nor is there any to claim them save

myself." Then I gave not over opening place after place until nine and

thirty days were passed, and in that time I had entered every

chamber except that one whose door the Princesses had charged me not

to open.

  But my thoughts, O my mistress, ever ran on that forbidden fortieth,

and Satan urged me to open it for my own undoing, nor had I patience

to forbear, albeit there wanted of the trusting time but a single day.

So I stood before the chamber aforesaid and, after a moment's

hesitation, opened the door, which was plated with red gold, and

entered. I was met by a perfume whose like I had never before smelt,

and so sharp and subtle was the odor that it made my senses drunken as

with strong wine, and I fell to the ground in a fainting fit which

lasted a full hour. When I came to myself I strengthened my heart, and

entering, found myself in a chamber whose floor was bespread with

saffron and blazing with light from branched candelabra of gold and

lamps fed with costly oils, which diffused the scent of musk and

ambergris. I saw there also two great censers each big as a mazer

bowl, flaming with lign aloes, nadd perfume, ambergris, and honeyed

scents, and the place was full of their fragrance.

  Presently, O my lady, I espied a noble steed, black as the murks

of night when murkiest, standing ready saddled and bridled (and his

saddle was of red gold) before two mangers, one of clear crystal

wherein was husked sesame, and the other also of crystal containing

water of the rose scented with musk. When I saw this I marveled and

said to myself, "Doubtless in this animal must be some wondrous

mystery." And Satan cozened me so I led him without the palace and

mounted him, but he would not stir from his place. So I hammered his

sides with my heels, but he moved not, and then I took the rein whip

and struck him withal. When he felt the blow, he neighed a neigh

with a sound like deafening thunder and, opening a pair of wings, flew

up with me in the firmament of heaven far beyond the eyesight of

man. After a full hour of flight he descended and alighted on a

terrace roof and shaking me off his back, lashed me on the face with

his tad and gouged out my left eye, causing it roll along my cheek.

  Then he flew away. I went down from the terrace and found myself

again amongst the ten one-eyed youths sitting upon their ten couches

with blue covers, and they cried out when they saw me: "No welcome

to thee, nor aught of good cheer! We all lived of lives the happiest

and we ate and drank of the best. Upon brocades and cloths of gold

we took our rest, and we slept with our heads on beauty's breast,

but we could not await one day to gain the delights of a year!"

Quoth I, "Behold, I have become one like unto you and now I would have

you bring me a tray full of blackness, wherewith to blacken my face,

and receive me into your society." "No, by Allah," quoth they, "thou

shalt not sojourn with us, and now get thee hence!" So they drove me

away.

  Finding them reject me thus, I foresaw that matters would go hard

with me, and I remembered the many miseries which Destiny had

written upon my forehead, and I fared forth from among them

heavy-hearted and tearful-eyed, repeating to myself these words: "I

was sitting at mine ease, but my frowardness brought me to unease."

Then I shaved beard and mustachios and eyebrows, renouncing the world.

and wandered in Kalandar garb about Allah's earth, and the Almighty

decreed safety for me till I arrived at Baghdad, which was on the

evening of this very night. Here I met these two other Kalandars

standing bewildered, so I saluted them saying, "I am a stranger!"

and they answered, "And we likewise be strangers!" By the freak of

Fortune we were like to like, three Kalandars and three monoculars all

blind of the left eye.

  Such, O my lady, is the cause of the shearing of my beard and the

manner of my losing an eye. Said the lady to him, "Rub thy head and

wend thy ways," but he answered, "By Allah, I will not go until I hear

the stories of these others." Then the lady, turning toward the Caliph

and Ja'afar and Masrur, said to them, "Do ye also give an account of

yourselves, you men!" Whereupon Ja'afar stood forth and told her

what he had told the portress as they were entering the house, and

when she heard his story of their being merchants and Mosul men who

had outrun the watch, she said, "I grant you your lives each for

each sake, and now away with you all." So they all went out, and

when they were in the street, quoth the Caliph to the Kalandars, "O

company, whither go ye now, seeing that the morning hath not yet

dawned?" Quoth they, "By Allah, O our lord, we know not where to

go." "Come and pass the rest of the night with us," said the Caliph

and, turning to Ja'afar, "Take them home with thee, and tomorrow bring

them to my presence that we may chronicle their adventures."

  Ja'afar did as the Caliph bade him and the Commander of the Faithful

returned to his palace, but sleep gave no sign of visiting him that

night and he lay awake pondering the mishaps of the three Kalandar

Princes, and impatient to know the history of the ladies and the two

black bitches. No sooner had morning dawned than he went forth and sat

upon the throne of his sovereignty and, turning to Ja'afar, after

all his grandees and officers of state were gathered together, he

said, "Bring me the three ladies and the two bitches and the three

Kalandars."

  So Ja'afar fared forth and brought them all before him (and the

ladies were veiled). Then the Minister turned to them and said in

the Caliph's name: "We pardon you your maltreatment of us and your

want of courtesy, in consideration of the kindness which forewent

it, and for that ye knew us not. Now however I would have you to

know that ye stand in presence of the fifth of the sons of Abbas,

Harun al-Rashid, brother of Caliph Musa al-Hadi, son of Al-Mansur, son

of Mohammed the brother of Al-Saffah bin Mohammed who was first of the

royal house. Speak ye therefore before him the truth and the whole

truth!" When the ladies heard Ja'afar's words touching the Commander

of the Faithful, the eldest came forward and said, "O Prince of True

Believers, my story is one which were it graven with needle gravers

upon the eye corners, were a warner for whoso would be warned and an

example for whoso can take profit from example." And she began to tell






ELDEST

                   THE ELDEST LADY'S TALE



  VERILY a strange tale is mine and 'tis this: Yon two black bitches

are my eldest sisters by one mother and father, and these two others

she who beareth upon her the signs of stripes and the third our

procuratrix, are my sisters by another mother. When my father died,

each took her share of the heritage and after a while my mother also

deceased, leaving me and my sisters german three thousand dinars, so

each daughter received her portion of a thousand dinars and I the

same, albe' the youngest. In due course of time my sisters married

with the usual festivities and lived with their husbands, who bought

merchandise with their wives' moneys and set out on their travels

together. Thus they threw me off. My brothers-in-law were absent

with their wives five years, during which period they spent all the

money they had and, becoming bankrupt, deserted my sisters in

foreign parts amid stranger folk.

  After five years my eldest sister returned to me in beggar's gear

with her clothes in rags and tatters and a dirty old mantilla, and

truly she was in the foulest and sorriest plight. At first sight I did

not know my own sister, but presently I recognized her and said, "What

state is this?" "O our sister," she replied, "words cannot undo the

done, and the reed of Destiny hath run through what Allah decreed."

Then I sent her to the bath and dressed her in a suit of mine own, and

boiled for her a bouillon and brought her some good wine, and said

to her: "O my sister, thou art the eldest, who still standest to us in

the stead of father and mother, and as for the inheritance which

came to me as to you twain, Allah hath blessed it and prospered it

to me with increase, and my circumstances are easy, for I have made

much money by spinning and cleaning silk. And I and you will share

my wealth alike."

  I entreated her with all kindliness and she abode with me a whole

year, during which our thoughts and fancies were always full of our

other sister. Shortly after she too came home in yet fouler and

sorrier plight than that of my eldest sister, and I dealt by her still

more honorably than I had done by the first, and each of them had a

share of my substance. After a time they said to me, "O our sister, we

desire to marry again, for indeed we have not patience to drag on

our days without husbands and to lead the lives of widows

bewitched," and I replied: "O eyes of me! Ye have hitherto seen scanty

weal in wedlock, for nowadays good men and true are become rareties

and curiosities, nor do I deem your projects advisable, as ye have

already made trial of matrimony and have failed." But they would not

accept my advice, and married without my consent. Nevertheless I

gave them outfit and dowries out of my money, and they fared forth

with their mates.

  In a mighty little time their husbands played them false and, taking

whatever they could lay hands upon, levanted and left them in the

lurch. Thereupon they came to me ashamed and in abject case and made

their excuses to me, saying: "Pardon our fault and be not wroth with

us, for although thou art younger in years yet art thou older in

wit. Henceforth we will never make mention of marriage, so take us

back as thy handmaidens that we may eat our mouthful." Quoth I,

"Welcome to you, O my sisters, there is naught dearer to me than you."

And I took them in and redoubled my kindness to them. We ceased not to

live after this loving fashion for a full year, when I resolved to

sell my wares abroad and first to fit me a conveyance for Bassorah. So

I equipped a large ship, and loaded her with merchandise and

valuable goods for traffic and with provaunt and all needful for a

voyage, and said to my sisters, "Will ye abide at home whilst I

travel, or would ye prefer to accompany me on the voyage?" "We will

travel with thee," answered they, "for we cannot bear to be parted

from thee." So I divided my moneys into two parts, one to accompany me

and the other to be left in charge of a trusty person, for, as I

said to myself, "Haply some accident may happen to the ship and yet we

remain alive, in which case we shall find on our return what may stand

us in good stead."

  I took my two sisters and we went a-voyaging some days and nights,

but the master was careless enough to miss his course, and the ship

went astray with us and entered a sea other than the sea we sought.

For a time we knew naught of this, and the wind blew fair for us ten

days, after which the lookout man went aloft to see about him and

cried, "Good news!" Then he came down rejoicing and said, "I have seen

what seemeth to be a city as 'twere a pigeon." Hereat we rejoiced, and

ere an hour of the day had passed, the buildings showed plain in the

offing, and we asked the Captain, "What is the name of yonder city?"

and he answered: "By Allah, I wot not, for I never saw it before and

never sailed these seas in my life. But since our troubles have ended

in safety, remains for you only to land where with your merchandise,

and if you find selling profitable, sell and make your market of

what is there, and if not, we will rest here two days and provision

ourselves and fare away."

  So we entered the port and the Captain went up town and was absent

awhile, after which he returned to us and said, "Arise, go up into the

city and marvel at the works of Allah with His creatures, and pray

to be preserved from His righteous wrath!" So we landed, and going

up into the city, saw at the gate men hending staves in hand, but when

we drew near them, behold, they had been translated by the anger of

Allah and had become stones. Then we entered the city and found all

who therein woned into black stones enstoned. Not an inhabited house

appeared to the espier, nor was there a blower of fire. We were

awe-struck at the sight, and threaded the market streets, where we

found the goods and gold and silver left lying in their places, and we

were glad and said, "Doubtless there is some mystery in all this."

  Then we dispersed about the thoroughfares and each busied himself

with collecting the wealth and money and rich stuffs, taking scanty

heed of friend or comrade.

  As for myself, I went up to the castle, which was strongly

fortified, and, entering the King's palace by its gate of red gold,

found all the vaiselle of gold and silver, and the King himself seated

in the midst of his chamberlains and nabobs and emirs and wazirs, an

clad in raiment which confounded man's art. I drew nearer and saw

him sitting on a throne encrusted and inlaid with pearls and gems, and

his robes were of gold cloth adorned with jewels of every kind, each

one flashing like a star. Around him stood fifty Mamelukes, white

slaves, clothed in silks of divers sorts, holding their drawn swords

in their hands. But when I drew near to them, lo! all were black

stones. My understanding was confounded at the sight, but I walked

on and entered the great hall of the harem, whose walls I found hung

with tapestries of gold-striped silk, and spread with silken carpets

embroidered with golden flowers. Here I saw the Queen lying at full

length arrayed in robes purfled with fresh young pearls. On her head

was a diadem set with many sorts of gems each fit for a ring, and

around her neck hung collars and necklaces. All her raiment and her

ornaments were in natural state, but she had been turned into a

black stone by Allah's wrath.

  Presently I espied an open door, for which I made straight, and

found leading to it a flight of seven steps. So I walked up and came

upon a place pargeted with marble and spread and hung with gold-worked

carpets and tapestry, a-middlemost of which stood a throne of

juniper wood inlaid with pearls and precious stones and set with

bosses of emeralds. In the further wall was an alcove whose

curtains, bestrung with pearls, were let down and I saw a light

issuing therefrom, so I drew near and perceived that the light came

from a precious stone as big as an ostrich egg, set at the upper end

of the alcove upon a little chryselephantine couch of ivory and

gold. And this jewel, blazing like the sun, cast its rays wide and

side. The couch also was spread with all manner of silken stuffs

amazing the gazer with their richness and beauty. I marveled much at

all this, especially when seeing in that place candies ready

lighted, and I said in my mind, "Needs must someone have lighted these

candles." Then I went forth and came to the kitchen and thence to

the buttery and the King's treasure chambers, and continued to explore

the palace and to pace from place to place. I forgot myself in my

awe and marvel at these matters and I was drowned in thought till

the night came on.

  Then I would have gone forth, but knowing not the gate, I lost my

way, so I returned to the alcove whither the lighted candles

directed me and sat down upon the couch, and wrapping myself in a

coverlet, after I had repeated somewhat from the Koran, I would have

slept but could not, for restlessness possessed me. When night was

at its noon I heard a voice chanting the Koran in sweetest accents,

but the tone thereof was weak. So I rose, glad to hear the silence

broken, and followed the sound until I reached a closet whose door

stood ajar. Then, peeping through a chink, I considered the place

and lo! it was an oratory wherein was a prayer niche with two wax

candles burning and lamps hanging from the ceiling. In it too was

spread a prayer carpet whereupon sat a youth fair to see, and before

him on its stand was a copy of the Koran, from which he was reading. I

marveled to see him alone alive amongst the people of the city and

entering, saluted him. Whereupon he raised his eyes and returned my

salaam. Quoth I, "Now by the truth of what thou readest in Allah's

Holy Book, I conjure thee to answer my question." He looked upon me

with a smile and said: "O handmaid of Allah, first tell me the cause

of thy coming hither, and I in turn will tell what hath befallen

both me and the people of this city, and what was the reason of my

escaping their doom." So I told him my story, whereat he wondered, and

I questioned him of the people of the city, when he replied, "Have

patience with me for awhile, O my sister!" and, reverently closing the

Holy Book, he laid it up in a satin bag. Then he seated me by his

side, and I looked at him and behold, he was as the moon at its

full, fair of face and rare of form, soft-sided and slight, of

well-proportioned height, and cheek smoothly bright and diffusing

light. I glanced at him with one glance of eyes which caused me a

thousand sighs, and my heart was at once taken captive-wise, so I

asked him, "O my lord and my love, tell me that whereof I questioned

thee," and he answered:

  "Hearing is obeying! Know, O handmaid of Allah, that this city was

the capital of my father who is the King thou sawest on the throne

transfigured by Allah's wrath to a black stone, and the Queen thou

foundest in the alcove is my mother. They and all the people of the

city were Magians who fire adored in lieu of the Omnipotent Lord and

were wont to swear by lowe and heat and shade and light, and the

spheres revolving day and night. My father had ne'er a son till he was

blest with me near the last of his days, and he reared me till I

grew up and prosperity anticipated me in all things. Now it is

fortuned there was with us an old woman well stricken in years, a

Moslemah who, inwardly believing in Allah and His Apostle, conformed

outwardly with the religion of my people. And my father placed

thorough confidence in her for that he knew her to be trustworthy

and virtuous, and he treated her with ever-increasing kindness,

believing her to be of his own belief.

  "So when I was well-nigh grown up my father committed me to her

charge saying: 'Take him and educate him and teach him the rules of

our faith. Let him have the best instructions and cease not thy

fostering care of him.' So she took me and taught me the tenets of

Al-Islam with the divine ordinances of the wuzu ablution and the

five daily prayers and she made me learn the Koran by rote, often

repeating, 'Serve none save Allah Almighty!' When I had mastered

this much of knowledge, she said to me, 'O my son, keep this matter

concealed from thy sire and reveal naught to him, lest he slay

thee." So I hid it from him, and I abode on this wise for a term of

days, when the old woman died, and the people of the city redoubled in

their impiety and arrogance and the error of their ways.

  "One day while they were as wont, behold, they heard a loud and

terrible sound and a crier crying out with a voice like roaring

thunder so every ear could hear, far and near: 'O folk of this city,

leave ye your fire-worshiping and adore Allah the All-compassionate

King!" At this, fear and terror fell upon the citizens and they

crowded to my father (he being King of the city) and asked him:

'What is this awesome voice we have heard; for it hath confounded us

with the excess of its terror?' And he answered: 'Let not a voice

fright you nor shake your steadfast sprite nor turn you back from

the faith which is right.' Their hearts inclined to his words and they

ceased not to worship the fire and they persisted in rebellion for a

full year from the time they heard the first voice. And on the

anniversary came a second cry, and a third at the head of the third

year, each year once.

  Still they persisted in their malpractices till one day at break

of dawn, judgment and the wrath of Heaven descended upon them with all

suddenness, and by the visitation of Allah all were metamorphosed into

black stones, they and their beasts and their cattle, and none was

saved save myself, who at the time was engaged in my devotions. From

that day to this I am in the case thou seest, constant in prayer and

fasting and reading and reciting the Koran, but I am indeed grown

weary by reason of my loneliness, having none to bear me company."

  Then said I to him (for in very sooth he had won my heart and was

the lord of my life and soul): "O youth, wilt thou fare with me to

Baghdad city and visit the Ulema and men teamed in the law and doctors

of divinity and get thee increase of wisdom and understanding and

theology? And know that she who standeth in thy presence will be thy

handmaid, albeit she be head of her family and mistress over men and

eunuchs and servants and slaves. Indeed my life was no life before

it fell in with thy youth. I have here a ship laden with

merchandise, and in very truth Destiny drove me to this city that I

might come to the knowledge of these matters, for it was fated that we

should meet." And I ceased not to persuade him and speak him fair

and use every art till he consented. I slept that night at his feet

and hardly knowing where I was for excess of joy.

  As soon as the next morning dawned (she pursued, addressing the

Caliph), I arose and we entered the treasuries and took thence

whatever was light in weight and great in worth. Then we went down

side by side from the castle to the city, where we were met by the

Captain and my sisters and slaves, who had been seeking for me. When

they saw me, they rejoiced and asked what had stayed me, and I told

them all I had seen and related to them the story of the young

Prince and the transformation wherewith the citizens had been justly

visited. Hereat all marveled, but when my two sisters (these two

bitches, O Commander of the Faithful!) saw me by the side of my

young lover, they jaloused me on his account and were wroth and

plotted mischief against me. We awaited a fair wind and went on

board rejoicing and ready to fly for joy by reason of the goods we had

gotten, but my own greatest joyance was in the youth. And we waited

awhile till the wind blew fair for us and then we set sail and fared

forth.

  Now as we sat talking, my sisters asked me, "And what wilt thou do

with this handsome young man?" and I answered, "I purpose to make

him my husband!" Then I turned to him and said: "O my lord, I have

that to propose to thee wherein thou must not cross me, and this it is

that, when we reach Baghdad, my native city, I offer thee my life as

thy handmaiden in holy matrimony, and thou shalt be to me baron and

I will be femme to thee." He answered, "I hear and I obey! Thou art my

lady and my mistress and whatso thou doest I will not gainsay." Then I

turned to my sisters and said: "This is my gain. I content me with

this youth and those who have gotten aught of my property, let them

keep it as their gain with my goodwill." "Thou sayest and doest well,"

answered the twain, but they imagined mischief against me.

  We ceased not spooning before a fair wind till we had exchanged

the sea of peril for the seas of safety, and in a few days we made

Bassorah city, whose buildings loomed clear before us as evening fell.

But after we had retired to rest and were sound asleep, my two sisters

arose and took me up, bed and all, and threw me into the sea. They did

the same with the young Prince, who, as he could not swim, sank and

was drowned, and Allah enrolled him in the noble army of martyrs. As

for me, would Heaven I had been drowned with him, but Allah deemed

that I should be of the saved, so when I awoke and found myself in the

sea and saw the ship making off like a flash of lightning, He threw in

my way a piece of timber, which I bestrided, and the waves tossed me

to and fro till they cast me upon an island coast, a high land and

an uninhabited. I landed and walked about the island the rest of the

night, and when morning dawned, I saw a rough track barely fit for

child of Adam to tread, leading to what proved a shallow ford

connecting island and mainland.

  As soon as the sun had risen I spread my garments to dry in its

rays, and ate of the fruits of the island and drank of its waters.

Then I set out along the foot track and ceased not walking till I

reached the mainland. Now when there remained between me and the

city but a two hours' journey, behold, a great serpent, the bigness of

a date palm, came fleeing toward me in all haste, gliding along now to

the right, then to the left, till she was close upon me, whilst her

tongue lolled groundward a span long and swept the dust as she went.

She was pursued by a dragon who was not longer than two lances, and of

slender build about the bulk of a spear, and although her terror

lent her speed and she kept wriggling from side to side, he overtook

her and seized her by the tail, whereat her tears streamed down and

her tongue was thrust out in her agony. I took pity on her and,

picking up a stone and calling upon Allah for aid, threw it at the

dragon's head with such force that he died then and there, and the

serpent, opening a pair of wings, flew into the lift and disappeared

from before my eyes.

  I sat down marveling over that adventure, but I was weary and,

drowsiness overcoming me, I slept where I was for a while. When I

awoke I found a jet-black damsel sitting at my feet shampooing them,

and by her side stood two black bitches (my sisters, O Commander of

the Faithful!). I was ashamed before her and, sitting up, asked her,

"O my sister, who and what art thou?" and she answered: "How soon hast

thou forgotten me! I am she for whom thou wroughtest a good deed and

sowedest the seed of gratitude and slewest her foe, for I am the

serpent whom by Allah's aidance thou didst just now deliver from the

dragon. I am a Jinniyah and he was a Jinn who hated me, and none saved

my life from him save thou. As soon as thou freedest me from him I

flew on the wind to the ship whence thy sisters threw thee, and

removed all that was therein to thy house. Then I ordered my attendant

Marids to sink the ship, and I transformed thy two sisters into

these black bitches, for I know all that hath passed between them

and thee. But as for the youth, of a truth he is drowned."

  So saying, she flew up with me and the bitches, and presently set us

down on the terrace roof of my house, wherein I found ready stored the

whole of what property was in my ship, nor was aught of it missing.

"Now (continued the serpent that was), I swear by all engraven on

the seal ring of Solomon (with whom be peace!) unless thou deal to

each of these bitches three hundred stripes every day I will come

and imprison thee forever under the earth." I answered, "Hearkening

and obedience!" and away she flew. But before going she again

charged me saying, "I again swear by Him who made the two seas flow

(and this be my second oath), if thou gainsay me I will come and

transform thee like thy sisters." Since then I have never failed, O

Commander of the Faithful, to beat them with that number of blows till

their blood flows with my tears, I pitying them the while, and well

they wot that their being scourged is no fault of mine and they accept

my excuses. And this is my tale and my history!





                 THE TALE OF THE THREE APPLES



  THEY relate, O King of the Age and Lord of the Time and of these

days, that the Caliph Harun al-Rashid summoned his Wazir Ja'afar one

night and said to him: "I desire to go down into the city and question

the common folk concerning the conduct of those charged with its

governance, and those of whom they complain we will depose from office

and those whom they commend we will promote." Quoth Ja'afar,

"Hearkening and obedience!"

  So the Caliph went down with Ja'afar and the eunuch Masrur to the

town and walked about the streets and markets, and as they were

threading a narrow alley, they came upon a very old man with a fishing

net and crate to carry small fish on his head, and in his hands a

staff, and as he walked at a leisurely pace, he repeated these lines:



     "They say me: 'Thou shinest a light to mankind

     With thy lore as the night which the Moon doth uplight!'

     I answer, 'A truce to your jests and your gibes.

     Without luck what is learning?- a poor-devil wight!

     If they take me to pawn with my lore in my pouch,

     With my volumes to read and my ink case to write,

     For one day's provision they never could pledge me,

     As likely on Doomsday to draw bill at sight.'

     How poorly, indeed, doth it fare wi' the poor,

     With his pauper existence and beggarly plight.

     In summer he faileth provision to find,

     In winter the fire pot's his only delight.

     The street dogs with bite and with bark to him rise,

     And each losel receives him with bark and with bite.

     If he lift up his voice and complain of his wrong,

     None pities or heeds him, however he's right,

     And when sorrows and evils like these he must brave,

     His happiest homestead were down in the grave."



  When the Caliph heard his verses, he said to Ja'afar, "See this poor

man and note his verses, for surely they point to his necessities."

Then he accosted him and asked, "O Sheikh, what be thine

occupation?" And the poor man answered: "O my lord, I am a fisherman

with a family to keep and I have been out between midday and this

time, and not a thing hath Allah made my portion wherewithal to feed

my family. I cannot even pawn myself to buy them a supper, and I

hate and disgust my life and I hanker after death." Quoth the

Caliph, "Say me, wilt thou return with us to Tigris' bank and cast thy

net on my luck, and whatsoever turneth up I will buy of thee for a

hundred gold pieces?" The man rejoiced when he heard these words and

said: "On my head be it! I will go back with you," and, returning with

them riverward, made a cast and waited a while.

  Then he hauled in the rope and dragged the net ashore and there

appeared in it a chest, padlocked and heavy. The Caliph examined it

and lifted it, finding, it weighty, so he gave the fisherman two

hundred dinars and sent him about his business whilst Masrur, aided by

the Caliph, carried the chest to the palace and set it down and

lighted the candles. Ja'afar and Masrur then broke it open and found

therein a basket of palm leaves corded with red worsted. This they cut

open and saw within it a piece of carpet, which they lifted out, and

under it was a woman's mantilla folded in four, which they pulled out,

and at the bottom of the chest they came upon a young lady, fair as

a silver ingot, slain and cut into nineteen pieces. When the Caliph

looked upon her he cried, "Alas!" and tears ran down his cheeks and

turning to Ja'afar, he said: "O dog of Wazirs, shall folk be

murdered in our reign and be cast into the river to be a burden and

a responsibility for us on the Day of Doom? By Allah, we must avenge

this woman on her murderer, and he shall be made die the worst of

deaths!"

  And presently he added: "Now, as surely as we are descended from the

Sons of Abbas, if thou bring us not him who slew her, that we do her

justice on him, I will hang thee at the gate of my palace, thee and

forty of thy kith and kin by thy side." And the Caliph was wroth

with exceeding rage. Quoth Ja'afar, "Grant me three days' delay,"

and quoth the Caliph, "We grant thee this." So Ja'afar went out from

before him and returned to his own house, full of sorrow and saying to

himself: "How shall I find him who murdered this damsel, that I may

bring him before the Caliph? If I bring other than the murderer, it

will be laid to my charge by the Lord. In very sooth I wot not what to

do." He kept his house three days, and on the fourth day the Caliph

sent one of the chamberlains for him, and as he came into the

presence, asked him, "Where is the murderer of the damsel?" To which

answered Ja'afar, "O Commander of the Faithful, am I inspector of

murdered folk that I should ken who killed her?" The Caliph was

furious at his answer and bade hang him before the palace gate, and

commanded that a crier cry through the streets of Baghdad: "Whoso

would see the hanging of Ja'afar, the Barmaki, Wazir of the Caliph,

with forty of the Barmecides, his cousins and kinsmen, before the

palace gate, let him come and let him look!" The people flocked out

from all the quarters of the city to witness the execution of

Ja'afar and his kinsmen, not knowing the cause.

  Then they set up the gallows and made Ja'afar and the others stand

underneath in readiness for execution, but whilst every eye was

looking for the Caliph's signal, and the crowd wept for Ja'afar and

his cousins of the Barmecides, lo and behold! a young man fair of face

and neat of dress and of favor like the moon raining fight, with

eyes black and bright, and brow flower-white, and cheeks red as rose

and young down where the beard grows, and a mole like a grain of

ambergris, pushed his way through the people till he stood immediately

before the Wazir and said to him: "Safety to thee from this strait,

O Prince of the Emirs and Asylum of the Poor! I am the man who slew

the woman ye found in the chest, so hang me for her and do her justice

on me!" When Ja'afar heard the youth's confession he rejoiced at his

own deliverance, but grieved and sorrowed for the fair youth.

  And whilst they were yet talking, behold, another man well

stricken in years pressed forward through the people and thrust his

way amid the populace till he came to Ja'afar and the youth, whom he

saluted, saying: "Ho, thou the Wazir and Prince sans peer! Believe not

the words of this youth. Of a surety none murdered the damsel but I.

Take her wreak on me this moment, for an thou do not thus, I will

require it of thee before Almighty Allah." Then quoth the young man:

"O Wazir, this is an old man in his dotage who wotteth not whatso he

saith ever, and I am he who murdered her, so do thou avenge her on

me!" Quoth the old man: "O my son, thou art young and desirest the

joys of the world and I am old and weary and surfeited with the world.

I will offer my life as a ransom for thee and for the Wazir and his

cousins. No one murdered the damsel but I, so Allah upon thee, make

haste to hang me, for no life is left in me now that hers is gone."

  The Wazir marveled much at all this strangeness and taking the young

man and the old man, carried them before the Caliph, where, after

kissing the ground seven times between his hands, he said, "O

Commander of the Faithful, I bring thee the murderer of the damsel!"

"Where is he?" asked the Caliph, and Ja'afar answered: "This young man

saith, 'I am the murderer,' and this old man, giving him the lie,

saith, 'I am the murderer,' and behold, here are the twain standing

before thee." The Caliph looked at the old man and the young man and

asked, "Which of you killed the girl?" The young man replied, "No

one slew her save I," and the old man answered, "Indeed none killed

her but myself." Then said the Caliph to Ja'afar, "Take the twain

and hang them both." But Ja'afar rejoined, "Since one of them was

the murderer, to hang the other were mere injustice." "By Him who

raised the firmament and dispread the earth like a carpet," cried

the youth, "I am he who slew the damsel," and he went on to describe

the manner of her murder and the basket, the mantilla, and the bit

of carpet- in fact, all that the Caliph had found upon her.

  So the Caliph was certified that the young man was the murderer,

whereat he wondered and asked him: "What was the cause of thy

wrongfully doing this damsel to die, and what made thee confess the

murder without the bastinado, and what brought thee here to yield up

thy life, and what made thee say 'Do her wreak upon me'?" The youth

answered: "Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that this woman was my

wife and the mother of my children, also my first cousin and the

daughter of my paternal uncle, this old man, who is my father's own

brother. When I married her she was a maid, and Allah blessed me

with three male children by her. She loved me and served me and I

saw no evil in her, for I also loved her with fondest love. Now on the

first day of this month she fell ill with grievous sickness and I

fetched in physicians to her, but recovery came to her little by

little, and when I wished her to go to the hammam bath, she said,

'There is something I long for before I go to the bath, and I long for

it with an exceeding longing.' 'To hear is to comply,' said I. 'And

what is it?' Quoth she, 'I have a queasy craving for an apple, to

smell it and bite a bit of it.' I replied, 'Hadst thou a thousand

longings, I would try to satisfy them!' So I went on the instant

into the city and sought for apples, but could find none, yet had they

cost a gold piece each, would I have bought them. I was vexed at

this and went home and said, 'O daughter of my uncle, by Allah I can

find none!' She was distressed, being yet very weakly, and her

weakness increased greatly on her that night and I felt anxious and

alarmed on her account.

  "As soon as morning dawned I went out again and made the round of

the gardens, one by one, but found no apples anywhere. At last there

met me an old gardener, of whom I asked about them and he answered, 'O

my son, this fruit is a rarity with us and is not now to be found save

in the garden of the Commander of the Faithful at Bassorah, where

the gardener keepeth it for the Caliph's eating.' I returned to my

house troubled by my ill success, and my love for my wife and my

affection moved me to undertake the journey, So I at me ready and

set out and traveled fifteen days and nights, going and coming, and

brought her three apples, which I bought from the gardener for three

dinars. But when I went in to my wife and set them before her, she

took no pleasure in them and let them lie by her side, for her

weakness and fever had increased on her, and her malady lasted without

abating ten days, after which she began to recover health.

  "So I left my house and betaking me to my shop, sat there buying and

selling. And about midday, behold, a great ugly black slave, long as a

lance and broad as a bench, passed by my shop holding in hand one of

the three apples, wherewith he was playing, Quoth I, `O my good slave,

tell me whence thou tookest that apple, that I may get the like of

it?' He laughed and answered: `I got it from my mistress, for I had

been absent and on my return I found her lying ill with three apples

by her side, and she said to me, "My horned wittol of a husband made a

journey for them to Bassorah and bought them for three dinars." 'So

I ate and drank with her and took this one from her.' When I heard

such words from the slave, O Commander of the Faithful, the world grew

black before my face, and I arose and locked up my shop and went

home beside myself for excess of rage. I looked for the apples and

finding, only two of the three, asked my wife, `O my cousin, where

is the third apple?' And raising her head languidly, she answered,

`I wot not, O son of my uncle, where 'tis gone!' This convinced me

that the slave had spoken the truth, so I took a knife and coming

behind her, got upon her breast without a word said and cut her

throat. Then I hewed off her head and her limbs in pieces and,

wrapping her in her mantilla and a rag of carpet, hurriedly sewed up

the whole, which I set in a chest and, locking it tight, loaded it

on my he-mule and threw it into the Tigris with my own hands.

  "So Allah upon thee, O Commander of the Faithful, make haste to hang

me, as I fear lest she appeal for vengeance on Resurrection Day. For

when I had thrown her into the river and one knew aught of it, as I

went back home I found my eldest son crying, and yet he knew naught of

what I had done with his mother. I asked him, 'What hath made thee

weep, my boy?' and he answered, 'I took one of the three apples

which were by my mammy and went down into the lane to play with my

brethren when behold, a big long black slave snatched it from my

hand and said, "Whence hadst thou this?" Quoth I, "My father

traveled far for it, and brought it from Bassorah for my mother, who

was ill, and two other apples for which he paid three ducats." 'He

took no heed of my words and I asked for the apple a second and a

third time, but he cuffed me and kicked me and went off with it. I was

afraid lest my mother should swinge me on account of the apple, so for

fear of her I went with my brother outside the city and stayed there

till evening closed in upon us, and indeed I am in fear of her. And

now, by Allah, O my father, say nothing to her of this or it may add

to her ailment!"

  "When I heard what my child said, I knew that the slave was he who

had foully slandered my wife, the daughter of my uncle, and was

certified that I had slain her wrongfully. So I wept with exceeding

weeping and presently this old man, my paternal uncle and her

father, came in, and I told him what had happened and he sat down by

my side and wept, and we ceased not weeping till midnight. We have

kept up mourning for her these last five days and we lamented her in

the deepest sorrow for that she was unjustly done to die. This came

from the gratuitous lying of the slave, the blackamoor, and this was

the manner of my killing her. So I conjure thee, by the honor of thine

ancestors, make haste to kill me and do her justice upon me, as

there is no living for me after her!"

  The Caliph marveled at his words and said: "By Allah, the young

man is excusable. I will hang none but the accursed slave, and I

will do a deed which shall comfort the ill-at-ease and suffering,

and which shall please the All-glorious King." Then he turned to

Ja'afar and said to him: "Bring before me this accursed slave who

was the sole cause of this calamity, and if thou bring him not

before me within three days, thou shalt be slain in his stead." So

Ja'afar fared forth weeping and saying: "Two deaths have already beset

me, nor shall the crock come off safe from every shock. In this matter

craft and cunning are of no avail, but He who preserved my life the

first time can preserve it a second time. By Allah, I will not leave

my house during the three days of life which remain to me, and let the

Truth (whose perfection be praised!) do e'en as He will." So he kept

his house three days, and on the fourth day he summoned the kazis

and legal witnesses and made his last will and testament, and took

leave of his children weeping.

  Presently in came a messenger from the Caliph and said to him:

"The Commander of the Faithful is in the most violent rage that can

be, and he sendeth to seek thee and he sweareth that the day shall

certainly not pass without thy being hanged unless the slave be

forthcoming," When Ja'afar heard this he wept, and his children and

slaves and all who were in the house wept with him. After he had

bidden adieu to everybody except this youngest daughter, he

proceeded to farewell her, for he loved this wee one, who was a

beautiful child, more than all his other children. And he pressed

her to his breast and kissed her and wept bitterly at parting from

her, when he felt something round inside the bosom of her dress and

asked her, "O my little maid, what is in the bosom pocket?" "O my

father," she replied, "it is an apple with the name of our Lord the

Caliph written upon it. Rayhan our slave brought it to me four days

ago, and would not let me have it till I gave him two dinars for

it." When Ja'afar heard speak of the slave and the apple, he was

glad and put his hand into his child's pocket and drew out the apple

and knew it and rejoiced, saying, "O ready Dispeller of trouble!"

  Then he bade them bring the slave and said to him, "Fie upon thee,

Rayhan! Whence haddest thou this apple?" "By Allah, O my master," he

replied, "though a he may get a man once off, yet may truth get him

off, and well off, again and again. I did not steal this apple from

thy palace nor from the gardens of the Commander of the Faithful.

The fact is that five days ago, as I was walking along one of the

alleys of this city, I saw some little ones at play and this apple

in hand of one of them. So I snatched it from him and beat him, and he

cried and said, 'O youth, this apple is my mother's and she is ill.

She told my father how she longed for an apple, so he traveled to

Bassorah and bought her three apples for three gold pieces, and I took

one of them to play withal.' He wept again, but I paid no heed to what

he said and carried it off and brought it here, and my little lady

bought it of me for two dinars of gold. And this is the whole story."

  When Ja'afar heard his words he marveled that the murder of the

damsel and all this misery should have been caused by his slave. He

grieved for the relation of the slave to himself while rejoicing

over his own deliverance, and he repeated these lines:



     "If ill betide thee through thy slave,

     Make him forthright thy sacrifice.

     A many serviles thou shalt find,

     But life comes once and never twice."



Then he took the slave's hand and, leading him to the Caliph,

related the story from first to last, and the Caliph marveled with

extreme astonishment, and laughed till he fell on his back, and

ordered that the story be recorded and be made public amongst the

people.

 But Ja'afar said, "Marvel not, O Commander of the Faithful, at this

adventure, for it is not more wondrous than the History of the Wazir

Nur al-Din Ali of Egypt and his brother Shams al-Din Mohammed."

Quoth the Caliph, "Out with it, but what can be stranger than this

story?" And Ja'afar answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, I will not

tell it thee save on condition that thou pardon my slave." And the

Caliph rejoined, "If it be indeed more wondrous than that of the three

apples, I grant thee his blood, and if not I will surely slay thy

slave." So Ja'afar began in these words the





      TALE OF NUR AL-DIN ALI AND HIS SON BADR AL-DIN HASAN



  KNOW, O Commander of the Faithful, that in times of yore the land of

Egypt was ruled by a Sultan endowed with justice and generosity, one

who loved the pious poor and companied with the Ulema and learned men.

And he had a Wazir, a wise and an experienced, well versed in

affairs and in the art of government. This Minister, who was a very

old man, had two sons, as they were two moons. Never man saw the

like of them for beauty and grace- the elder called Shams al-Din

Mohammed and the younger Nur al-Din Ali. But the younger excelled

the elder in seemliness and pleasing semblance, so that folk heard his

fame in far countries and men flocked to Egypt for the purpose of

seeing him.

  In course of time their father, the Wazir, died and was deeply

regretted and mourned by the Sultan, who sent for his two sons and,

investing them with dresses of honor, said to them, "Let not your

hearts be troubled, for ye shall stand in your father's stead and be

joint Ministers of Egypt." At this they rejoiced and kissed the ground

before him and performed the ceremonial mourning for their father

during a full month, after which time they entered upon the wazirate

and the power passed into their hands as it had been in the hands of

their father, each doing duty for a week at a time. They lived under

the same roof and their word was one, and whenever the Sultan

desired to travel they took it by turns to be in attendance on him.

  It fortuned one night that the Sultan purposed setting out on a

journey next morning, and the elder, whose turn it was to accompany

him, was sitting conversing with his brother and said to him: "O my

brother, it is my wish that we both marry, I and thou, two sisters,

and go in to our wives on one and the same night." "Do, O my

brother, as thou desirest," the younger replied, "for right is thy

recking and surely I will comply with thee in whatso thou sayest."

So they agreed upon this, and quoth Shams al-Din: "If Allah decree

that we marry two damsels and go in to them on the same night, and

they shall conceive on their bride nights and bear children to us on

the same day, and by Allah's will thy wife bear thee a son and my wife

bear me a daughter, let us wed them either to other, for they will

be cousins." Quoth Nur al-Din: "O my brother, Shams al-Din, what dower

wilt thou require from my son for thy daughter?" Quoth Shams al-Din:

"I will take three thousand dinars and three pleasure gardens and

three farms, and it would not be seemly that the youth make contract

for less than this."

  When Nur al-Din heard such demand, he said: "What manner of dower is

this thou wouldest impose upon my son? Wottest thou not that we are

brothers and both by Allah's grace Wazirs and equal in office? It

behooveth thee to offer thy daughter to my son without marriage

settlement, or, if one need be, it should represent a mere nominal

value by way of show to the world. For thou knowest that the masculine

is worthier than the feminine, and my son is a male and our memory

will be preserved by him, not by thy daughter." "But what," said Shams

al-Din, "is she to have?" And Nur al-Din continued, "Through her we

shall not be remembered among the emirs of the earth, but I see thou

wouldest do with me according to the saying, 'An thou wouldst bluff of

a buyer, ask him high price and higher,' or as did a man who they

say went to a friend and asked something of him being in necessity and

was answered, 'Bismillah, in the name of Allah, I will do all what

thou requirest, but come tomorrow!' Whereupon the other replied in

this verse:



     'When he who is asked a favor saith "Tomorrow,"

     The wise man wots 'tis vain to beg or borrow.'



  Quoth Shams al-Din: "Basta! I see thee fail in respect to me by

making thy son of more account than my daughter, and 'tis plain that

thine understanding is of the meanest and that thou lackest manners.

Thou remindest me of thy partnership in the wazirate, when I

admitted thee to share with me only in pity for thee, and not

wishing to mortify thee, and that thou mightest help me as a manner of

assistant. But since thou talkest on this wise, by Allah, I will never

marry my daughter to thy son- no, not for her weight in gold!" When

Nur al-Din heard his brother's words, he waxed wroth and said: "And I

too, I will never, never marry my son to thy daughter- no, not to keep

from my lips the cup of death." Shams al-Din replied: "I would not

accept him as a husband for her, and he is not worth a paring of her

nail. Were I not about to travel, I would make an example of thee.

However, when I return thou shalt see, and I will show thee, how I can

assert my dignity and vindicate my honor. But Allah doeth whatso He

willeth."

  When Nur al-Din heard this speech from his brother, he was filled

with fury and lost his wits for rage, but he hid what he felt and held

his peace; and each of the brothers passed the night in a place far

apart, wild with wrath against the other.

  As soon as morning dawned the Sultan fared forth in state and

crossed over from Cairo to Jizah and made for the Pyramids,

accompanied by the Wazir Shams al-Din, whose turn of duty it was,

whilst his brother Nur al-Din, who passed the night in sore rage, rose

with the light and prayed the dawn prayer. Then he betook himself to

his treasury and, taking a small pair of saddlebags, filled them

with gold. And he called to mind his brother's threats and the

contempt wherewith he had treated him, and he repeated these couplets:



   "Travel! And thou shalt find new friends for old ones left behind.

   Toil! For the sweets of human life by toil and moil are found.

   The stay-at-home no honor wins, nor aught attains but want,

   So leave thy place of birth and wander all the world around!

   I've seen, and very oft I've seen, how standing water stinks,

   And only flowing sweetens it and trotting makes it sound.

   And were the moon forever full and ne'er to wax or wane,

   Man would not strain his watchful eyes to see its gladsome round.

   Except the lion leave his lair, he ne'er would fell his game,

   Except the arrow leave the bow, ne'er had it reached its bound.

   Gold dust is dust the while it lies untraveled in the mine,

   And aloes wood mere fuel is upon its native ground.

   And gold shall win his highest worth when from his goal ungoaled,

   And aloes sent to foreign parts grows costlier than gold."



  When he ended his verse, he bade one of his pages saddle him his

Nubian mare mule with her padded selle. Now she was a dapple-gray,

with ears like reed pens and legs like columns and a back high and

strong as a dome builded on pillars. Her saddle was of gold cloth

and her stirrups of Indian steel, and her housing of Ispahan velvet.

She had trappings which would serve the Chosroes, and she was like a

bride adorned for her wedding night. Moreover, he bade lay on her back

a piece of silk for a seat, and a prayer carpet under which were his

saddlebags. When this was done, he said to his pages and slaves: "I

purpose going forth a-pleasuring outside the city on the road to

Kalyub town, and I shall be three nights abroad, so let none of you

follow me, for there is something straiteneth my breast." Then he

mounted the mule in haste and, taking with him some provaunt for the

way, set out from Cairo and faced the open and uncultivated country

lying around it.

  About noontide he entered Bilbays city, where he dismounted and

stayed awhile to rest himself and his mule and ate some of his

victual. He bought at Bilbays all he wanted for himself and forage for

his mule and then fared on the way of the waste. Toward nightfall he

entered a town called Sa'adiyah, where he alighted and took out

somewhat of his viaticum and ate. Then he spread his strip of silk

on the sand and set the saddlebags under his head and slept in the

open air, for he was still overcome with anger. When morning dawned he

mounted and rode onward till he reached the Holy City, Jerusalem,

and thence he made Aleppo, where he dismounted at one of the

caravanserais and abode three days to rest himself and the mule and to

smell the air. Then, being determined to travel afar and Allah

having written safety in his fate, he set out again, mending without

wotting whither he was going. And having fallen in with certain

couriers, he stinted not traveling till he had reached Bassorah

city, albeit he knew not what the place was.

  It was dark night when he alighted at the khan, so he spread out his

prayer carpet and took down the saddlebags from the back of the mule

and gave her with her furniture in charge of the doorkeeper that he

might walk her about. The man took her and did as he was bid. Now it

so happened that the Wazir of Bassorah, a man shot in years, was

sitting at the lattice window of his palace opposite the khan and he

saw the porter walking the mule up and down. He was struck by her

trappings of price, and thought her a nice beast fit for the riding of

wazirs or even of royalties, and the more he looked, the more was he

perplexed, till at last he said to one of his pages, "Bring hither yon

doorkeeper." The page went and returned to the Wazir with the

porter, who kissed the ground between his hands, and the Minister

asked him, "Who is the owner of yonder mule, and what manner of man is

he?" and he answered, "O my lord, the owner of this mule is a comely

young man of pleasant manners, withal grave and dignified, and

doubtless one of the sons of the merchants."

  When the Wazir heard the doorkeeper's words he arose forthright and,

mounting his horse, rode to the khan and went in to Nur al-Din, who,

seeing the Minister making toward him, rose to his feet and advanced

to meet him and saluted him. The Wazir welcomed him to Bassorah and

dismounting, embraced him and made him sit down by his side, and said,

"O my son, whence comest thou, and what dost thou seek?" "O my

lord," Nur al-Din replied, "I have come from Cairo city, of which my

father was whilom Wazir, but he hath been removed to the grace of

Allah." And he informed him of all that had befallen him from

beginning to end, adding, "I am resolved never to return home before I

have seen all the cities and countries of the world." When the Wazir

heard this, he said to him: "O my son, hearken not to the voice of

passion lest it cast thee into the pit, for indeed many regions be

waste places, and I fear for thee the turns of Time." Then he let load

the saddlebags and the silk and prayer carpets on the mule and carried

Nur al-Din to his own house, where he lodged him in a pleasant place

and entreated him honorably and made much of him, for he inclined to

love him with exceeding love.

  After a while he said to him: "O my son, here am I left a man in

years and have no male children, but Allah hath blessed me with a

daughter who eveneth thee in beauty, and I have rejected all her

many suitors, men of rank and substance. But affection for thee hath

entered into my heart. Say me, then, wilt thou be to her a husband? If

thou accept this, I will go with thee to the Sultan of Bassorah and

will tell him that thou art my nephew, the son of my brother, and

bring thee to be appointed Wazir in my place that I may keep the

house, for, by Allah, O my son, I am stricken in years and aweary."

When Nur al-Din heard the Wazir's words, he bowed his head in

modesty and said, "To hear is to obey!" At this the Wazir rejoiced and

bade his servants prepare a feast and decorate the great assembly hall

wherein they were wont to celebrate the marriages of emirs and

grandees. Then he assembled his friends and the notables of the

reign and the merchants of Bassorah, and when all stood before him

he said to them: "I had a brother who was Wazir in the land of

Egypt, and Allah Almighty blessed him with two sons, whilst to me,

as well ye wot, He hath given a daughter. My brother charged me to

marry my daughter to one of his sons, whereto I assented, and when

my daughter was of age to marry, he sent me one of his sons, the young

man now present, to whom I purpose marrying her, drawing up the

contract and celebrating the night of unveiling with due ceremony. For

he is nearer and dearer to me than a stranger, and after the

wedding, if he please he shall abide with me, or if he desire to

travel, I will forward him and his wife to his father's home."

Hereat one and all replied, "Right is thy recking," and they looked at

the bridegroom and were pleased with him.

  So the Wazir sent for the kazi and legal witnesses and they wrote

out the marriage contract, after which the slaves perfumed the

guests with incense, and served them with sherbet of sugar and

sprinkled rose-water on them, and all went their ways. Then the

Wazir bade his servants take Nur al-Din to the hammam baths and sent

him a suit of the best of his own especial raiment, and napkins and

towelry and bowls and perfume-burners and all else that was

required. And after the bath, when he came out and donned the dress,

he was even as the full moon on the fourteenth night, and he mounted

his mule and stayed not till he reached the Wazir's palace. There he

dismounted and went in to the Minister and kissed his hands, and the

Wazir bade him welcome, saying: "Arise and go in to thy wife this

night, and on the morrow I will carry thee to the Sultan, and pray

Allah bless thee with all manner of weal." So Nur al-Din left him

and went in to his wife the Wazir's daughter.

  Thus far concerning him, but as regards his elder brother, Shams

al-Din, he was absent with the Sultan a long time, and when he

returned from his journey he found not his brother, and he asked of

his servants and slaves, who answered: "On the day of thy departure

with the Sultan, thy brother mounted his mule fully caparisoned as for

state procession saying, 'I am going towards Kalyub town, and I

shall be absent one day or at most two days, for my breast is

straitened, and let none of you follow me.' Then he fared forth, and

from that time to this we have heard no tidings of him." Shams

al-Din was greatly troubled at the sudden disappearance of his brother

and grieved with exceeding grief at the loss, and said to himself:

"This is only because I chided and upbraided him the night before my

departure with the Sultan. Haply his feelings were hurt, and he

fared forth a-traveling, but I must send after him." Then he went in

to the Sultan and acquainted him with what had happened and wrote

letters and dispatches, which he sent by running footmen to his

deputies in every province. But during the twenty days of his

brother's absence Nur al-Din had traveled far and had reached

Bassorah, so after diligent search the messengers failed to come at

any news of him and returned. Thereupon Shams al-Din despaired of

finding his brother and said: "Indeed I went beyond all bounds in what

I said to him with reference to the marriage of our children. Would

that I had not done so! This all cometh of my lack of wit and want

of caution."

  Soon after this he sought in marriage the daughter of a Cairene

merchant, and drew up the marriage contract, and went in to her. And

it so chanced that on the very same night when Shams al-Din went in to

his wife, Nur al-Din also went in to his wife, the daughter of the

Wazir of Bassorah, this being in accordance with the will of

Almighty Allah, that He might deal the decrees of Destiny to His

creatures. Furthermore, it was as the two brothers had said, for their

two wives became pregnant by them on the same night and both were

brought to bed on the same day, the wife of Shams al-Din, Wazir of

Egypt, of a daughter, never in Cairo was seen a fairer, and the wife

of Nur al-Din of a son, none more beautiful was ever seen in his time,

as one of the poets said concerning the like of him:



     That jetty hair, that glossy brow,

         My slender waisted youth, of thine,


     Can darkness round creation throw,

         Or make it brightly shine.

     The dusky mole that faintly shows

         Upon his cheek, ah! blame it not.

     The tulip flower never blows

         Undarkened by its spot.



  They named the boy Badr al-Din Hasan and his grandfather, the

Wazir of Bassorah, rejoiced in him, and on the seventh day after his

birth made entertainments and spread banquets which would befit the

birth of kings' sons and heirs. Then he took Nur al-Din and went up

with him to the Sultan, and his son-in-law, when he came before the

presence of the King, kissed the ground between his hands and repeated

these verses, for he was ready of speech, firm of sprite and good in

heart, as he was goodly in form:



     "The world's best joys long be thy lot, my lord!

     And last while darkness and the dawn o'erlap.

     O thou who makest, when we greet thy gifts,

     The world to dance and Time his palms to clap."



  Then the Sultan rose up to honor them and, thanking Nur al-Din for

his fine compliment, asked the Wazir, "Who may be this young man?" And

the Minister answered, "This is my brother's son," and related his

tale from first to last. Quoth the Sultan, "And how comes he to be thy

nephew and we have never heard speak of him?" Quoth the Minister: "O

our lord the Sultan, I had a brother who was Wazir in the land of

Egypt and he died, leaving two sons, whereof the elder hath taken

his father's place and the younger, whom thou seest, came to me. I had

sworn I would not marry my daughter to any but him, so when he came

I married him to her. Now he is young and I am old, my hearing is

dulled and my judgment is easily fooled, wherefore I would solicit our

lord the Sultan to set him in my stead, for he is my brother's son and

my daughter's husband, and he is fit for the wazirate, being a man

of good counsel and ready contrivance."

  The Sultan looked at Nur al-Din and liked him, so he stablished

him in office as the Wazir had requested and formally appointed him,

presenting him with a splendid dress of honor and a she-mule from

his private stud, and assigning to him solde, stipends, and

supplies. Nur al-Din kissed the Sultan's hand and went home, he and

his father-in-law, joying with exceeding joy and saying, "All this

followeth on the heels of the boy Hasan's birth!" Next day he

presented himself before the King and, kissing the ground, began

repeating:



   "Grow thy weal and thy welfare day by day,

   And thy luck prevail o'er the envier's spite,

   And ne'er cease thy days to be white as day,

   And thy foeman's day to be black as night!"



  The Sultan bade him be seated on the Wazir's seat, so he sat down

and applied himself to the business of his office and went into the

cases of the lieges and their suits, as is the wont of Ministers,

while the Sultan watched him and wondered at his wit and good sense,

judgment and insight. Wherefor he loved him and took him into

intimacy. When the Divan was dismissed, Nur al-Din returned to his

house and related what had passed to his father-in-law, who

rejoiced. And thenceforward Nur al-Din ceased not so to administer the

wazirate that the Sultan would not be parted from him night or day,

and increased his stipends and supplies till his means were ample

and he became the owner of ships that made trading voyages at his

command, as well as of Mamelukes and blackamoor slaves. And he laid

out many estates and set up Persian wheels and planted gardens.

  When his son Hasan was four years of age, the old Wazir deceased,

and he made for his father-in-law a sumptuous funeral ceremony ere

he was laid in the dust. Then he occupied himself with the education

of this son, and when the boy waxed strong and came to the age of

seven, he brought him a fakir, a doctor of law and religion, to

teach him in his own house, and charged him to give him a good

education and instruct him in politeness and good manners. So the

tutor made the boy read and retain all varieties of useful

knowledge, after he had spent some years in learning the Koran by

heart, and he ceased not to grow in beauty and stature and symmetry.

The professor brought him up in his father's palace, teaching him

reading, writing and ciphering, theology, and belles lettres. His

grandfather, the old Wazir, had bequeathed to him the whole of his

property when he was but four years of age.

  Now during all the time of his earliest youth he had never left

the house till on a certain day his father, the Wazir Nur al-Din, clad

him in his best clothes and, mounting him on a she-mule of the finest,

went up with him to the Sultan. The King gazed at Badr al-Din Hasan

and marveled at his comeliness and loved him. As for the city folk,

when he first passed before them with his father, they marveled at his

exceeding beauty and sat down on the road expecting his return, that

they might look their fill on his beauty and loveliness and symmetry

and perfect grace. And they blessed him aloud as he passed and

called upon Almighty Allah to bless him. The Sultan entreated the

lad with especial favor and said to his father, "O Wazir, thou must

needs bring him daily to my presence." Whereupon he replied, "I hear

and I obey."

  Then the Wazir returned home with his son and ceased not to carry

him to court till he reached the age of twenty. At that time the

Minister sickened and, sending for Badr al-Din Hasan, said to him:

"Know, O my son, that the world of the present is but a house of

mortality, while that the future is a house of eternity. I wish,

before I die, to bequeath thee certain charges, and do thou take

heed of what I say and incline thy heart to my words." Then he gave

him his last instructions as to the properest way of dealing with

his neighbors and the due management of his affairs, after which he

called to mind his brother and his home and his native land and wept

over his separation from those he had first loved.

  Then he wiped away his tears and, turning to his son, said to him:

"Before I proceed, O my son, to my last charges and injunctions,

know that I have a brother, and thou hast an uncle, Shams al-Din

hight, the Wazir of Cairo, with whom I parted, leaving him against his

will. Now take thee a sheet of paper and write upon it whatso I say to

thee." Badr al-Din took a fair leaf and set about doing his father's

bidding, and he wrote thereon a full account of what had happened to

his sire first and last: the dates of his arrival at Bassorah and of

his forgathering with the Wazir, of his marriage, of his going in to

the Minister's daughter, and of the birth of his son- brief, his life

of forty years from the day of his dispute with his brother, adding

the words: "And this is written at my dictation, and may Almighty

Allah be with him when I am gone!" Then he folded the paper and sealed

it and said: "O Hasan, O my son, keep this paper with all care, for it

will enable thee to establish thine origin and rank and lineage, and

if anything contrary befall thee, set out for Cairo and ask for

thine uncle and show him this paper, and say to him that I died a

stranger far from mine own people and full of yearning to see him

and them." So Badr al-Din Hasan took the document and folded it and,

wrapping it up in a piece of waxed cloth, sewed it like a talisman

between the inner and outer cloth of his skullcap and wound his

light turban round it. And he fell to weeping over his father and at

parting with him, and he but a boy.

  Then Nur al-Din lapsed into a swoon, the forerunner of death, but

presently recovering himself, he said: "O Hasan, O my son, I will

now bequeath to thee five last behests. The FIRST BEHEST is: Be

overintimate with none, nor frequent any, nor be familiar with any. So

shalt thou be safe from his mischief, for security lieth in

seclusion of thought and a certain retirement from the society of

thy fellows, and I have heard it said by a poet:



     "In this world there is none thou mayst count upon

     To befriend thy case in the nick of need.

     So live for thyself nursing hope of none.

     Such counsel I give thee-enow, take heed!



  "The SECOND BEHEST is, O my son: Deal harshly with none lest fortune

with thee deal hardly, for the fortune of this world is one day with

thee and another day against thee, and all worldly goods are but a

loan to be repaid. And I have heard a poet say:



     "Take thought nor haste to will the thing thou wilt,

     Have ruth on man, for ruth thou mayst require.

     No hand is there but Allah's hand is higher,

     No tyrant but shall rue worse tyrant's ire!



  "The THIRD BEHEST is: Learn to be silent in society and let thine

own faults distract thine attention from the faults of other men,

for it is said, 'In silence dwelleth safety,' and thereon I have heard

the lines that tell us:



     "Reserve's a jewel, Silence safety is.

     Whenas thou speakest, many a word withhold,

     For an of Silence thou repent thee once,

     Of speech thou shalt repent times manifold.



  "The FOURTH BEHEST, O My son, is: Beware of winebibbing, for wine is

the head of all frowardness and a fine solvent of human wits. So shun,

and again I say shun, mixing strong liquor, for I have heard a poet

say:



     "From wine I turn and whoso wine cups swill,

     Becoming one of those who deem it ill.

     Wine driveth man to miss salvation way,

     And opes the gateway wide to sins that kill.



  "The FIFTH BEHEST, O My Son, is: Keep thy wealth and it will keep

thee, guard thy money and it will guard thee, and waste not thy

substance lest haply thou come to want and must fare a-begging from

the meanest of mankind. Save thy dirhams and deem them the

sovereignest salve for the wounds of the world. And here again I

have heard that one of the poets said:



     "When fails my wealth no friend will deign befriend.

     When wealth abounds all friends their friendship tender.

     How many friends lent aid my wealth to spend,

     But friends to lack of wealth no friendship render."



  On this wise Nur al-Din ceased not to counsel his son Badr al-Din

Hasan till his hour came and, sighing one sobbing sigh, his life

went forth. Then the voice of mourning and keening rose high in his

house and the Sultan and all the grandees grieved for him and buried

him. But his son ceased not lamenting his loss for two months,

during which he never mounted horse, nor attended the Divan, nor

presented himself before the Sultan. At last the King, being wroth

with him, stablished in his stead one of his chamberlains and made him

Wazir, giving orders to seize and set seals on all Nur al-Din's houses

and goods and domains. So the new Wazir went forth with a mighty posse

of chamberlains and people of the Divan, and watchmen and a host of

idlers, to do this and to seize Badr al-Din Hasan and carry him before

the King, who would deal with him as he deemed fit.

  Now there was among the crowd of followers a Mameluke of the

deceased Wazir who, when he had heard this order, urged his horse

and rode at full speed to the house of Badr al-Din Hasan, for he could

not endure to see the ruin of his old master's son. He found him

sitting at the gate with head hung down and sorrowing, as was his

wont, for the loss of his father, so he dismounted and, kissing his

hand, said to him, "O my lord and son of my lord, haste ere ruin

come and lay waste!" When Hasan heard this he trembled and asked,

"What may be the matter?" and the man answered: "The Sultan is angered

with thee and hath issued a warrant against thee, and evil cometh hard

upon my track, so flee with thy life!" At these words Hasan's heart

flamed with the fire of bale, and his rose-red cheek turned pale,

and he said to the Mameluke: "O my brother, is there time for me to go

in and get some worldly gear which may stand me in stead during my

strangerhood?" But the slave replied, "O my lord, up at once and

save thyself and leave this house while it is yet time." And he quoted

these lines:



     "Escape with thy life, if oppression betide thee,

     And let the house tell of its builder's fate!

     Country for country thou'lt find, if thou seek it,

     Life for life never, early or late.

     It is strange men should dwell in the house of abjection

     When the plain of God's earth is so wide and so great!"



  At these words of the Mameluke, Badr al-Din covered his head with

the skirt of his garment and went forth on foot till he stood

outside of the city, where he heard folk saying: "The Sultan hath sent

his new Wazir to the house of the old Wazir, now no more, to seal

his property and seize his son Badr al-Din Hasan and take him before

the presence, that he may put him to death." And all cried, "Alas

for his beauty and his loveliness!" When he heard this, he fled

forth at hazard, knowing not whither he was going, and gave not over

hurrying onward till Destiny drove him to his father's tomb. So he

entered the cemetery and, threading his way through the graves, at

last he reached the sepulcher, where he sat down and let fall from his

head the skirt of his long robe, which was made of brocade with a

gold-embroidered hem whereon were worked these couplets:



     O thou whose forehead, like the radiant East,

     Tells of the stars of Heaven and bounteous dews,

     Endure thine honor to the latest day,

     And Time thy growth of glory ne'er refuse!



  While he was sitting by his father's tomb, behold, there came to him

a Jew as he were a shroff, a money-changer, with a pair of

saddlebags containing much gold, who accosted him and kissed his hand,

saying: "Whither bound, O my lord? 'Tis late in the day, and thou

art clad but lightly, and I read signs of trouble in thy face." "I was

sleeping within this very hour," answered Hasan, "when my father

appeared to me and chid me for not having visited his tomb. So I awoke

trembling and came hither forthright lest the day should go by without

my visiting him, which would have been grievous to me." "O my lord,"

rejoined the Jew, "thy father had many merchantmen at sea, and as some

of them are now due, it is my wish to buy of thee the cargo of the

first ship that cometh into port with this thousand dinars of gold."

"I concent," quoth Hasan, whereupon the Jew took out a bag full of

gold and counted out a thousand sequins, which he gave to Hasan, the

son of the Wazir, saying, "Write me a letter of sale and seal it."

  So Hasan took a pen and paper and wrote these words in duplicate:

"The writer, Hasan Badr al-Din, son of Wazir Nur al-Din, hath sold

to Isaac the Jew all the cargo of the first of his father's ships

which cometh into port, for a thousand dinars, and he hath received

the price in advance." And after he had taken one copy, the Jew put it

into his pouch and went away, but Hasan fell a-weeping as he thought

of the dignity and prosperity which had erst been his and night came

upon him. So he leant his head against his father's gave and sleep

overcame him- glory to Him who sleepeth not! He ceased not slumbering

till the moon rose, when his head slipped from off the tomb and he lay

on his back, with limbs outstretched, his face shining bright in the

moonlight. Now the cemetery was haunted day and night by Jinns who

were of the True Believers, and presently came out a Jinniyah who,

seeing Hasan asleep, marveled at his beauty and loveliness and

cried: "Glory to God! This youth can be none other than one of the

Wuldan of Paradise." Then she flew firmamentward to circle it, as

was her custom, and met an Ifrit on the wing, who saluted her, and

said to him, "Whence comest thou?" "From Cairo," he replied. "Wilt

thou come with me and look upon the beauty of a youth who sleepeth

in yonder burial place?" she asked, and he answered, "I will."

  So they flew till they lighted at the tomb and she showed him the

youth and said, "Now diddest thou ever in thy born days see aught like

this?" The Ifrit looked upon him and exclaimed: "Praise be to Him that

hath no equal! But, O my sister, shall I tell thee what I have seen

this day?" Asked she, "What is that?" and he answered: "I have seen

the counterpart of this youth in the land of Egypt. She is the

daughter of the Wazir Shams al-Din and she is a model of beauty and

loveliness, of fairest favor and formous form, and dight with symmetry

and perfect grace. When she had reached the age of nineteen, the

Sultan of Egypt heard of her and, sending for the Wazir her father,

said to him, `Hear me, O Wazir. It hath reached mine ear that thou

hast a daughter, and I wish to demand her of thee in marriage.' The

Wazir replied:

  "`O our lord the Sultan, deign accept my excuses and take compassion

on my sorrows, for thou knowest that my brother, who was partner

with me in the wazirate, disappeared from amongst us many years ago

and we wot not where he is. Now the cause of his departure was that

one night, as we were sitting together and talking of wives and

children to come, we had words on the matter and he went off in high

dudgeon. But I swore that I would marry my daughter to none save to

the son of my brother on the day her mother gave her birth, which

was nigh upon nineteen years ago. I have lately heard that my

brother died at Bassorah, where he had married the daughter of the

Wazir and that she bare him a son, and I will not marry my daughter

but to him in honor of my brother's memory. I recorded the date of

my marriage and the conception of my wife and the birth of my

daughter, and from her horoscope I find that her name is conjoined

with that of her cousin, and there are damsels in foison for our

lord the Sultan.'

  "The King, hearing his Minister's answer and refusal, waxed wroth

with exceeding wrath and cried: 'When the like of me asketh a girl

in marriage of the like of thee, he conferreth an honor, and thou

rejectest me and puttest me off with cold excuses! Now, by the life of

my head, I will marry her to the meanest of my men in spite of the

nose of thee!' There was in the palace a horse groom which was a Gobbo

with a bunch to his breast and a hunch to his back, and the Sultan

sent for him and married him to the daughter of the Wazir, lief or

loth, and hath ordered a pompous marriage procession for him and

that he go in to his bride this very night. I have not just flown

hither from Cairo, where I left the hunchback at the door of the

hammam bath amidst the Sultan's white slaves, who were waving

lighted flambeaux about him. As for the Minister's daughter, she

sitteth among her nurses and tirewomen, weeping and wailing, for

they have forbidden her father to come near her. Never have I seen,

O my sister, more hideous being than this hunchback, whilst the

young lady is the likest of all folk to this young man, albeit even

fairer than he."

  At this the Jinniyah cried at him: "Thou liest! This youth is

handsomer than anyone of his day." The Ifrit gave her the he again,

adding: "By Allah, O my sister, the damsel I speak of is fairer than

this. Yet none but he deserveth her, for they resemble each other like

brother and sister, or at least cousins. And, wellaway, how she is

wasted upon that hunchback!" Then said she, "O my brother, let us

get under him and lift him up and carry him to Cairo, that we may

compare him with the damsel of whom thou speakest and so determine

whether of the twain is the fairer." "To hear is to obey!" replied he.

"Thou speakest to the point, nor is there a righter recking than

this of thine, and I myself will carry him." So he raised him from the

ground and flew with him like a bird soaring in upper air, the Ifritah

keeping close by his side at equal speed, till be alighted with him in

the city of Cairo and set him down on a stone bench and woke him up.

He roused himself and finding that he was no longer at his father's

tomb in Bassorah city, he looked right and left and saw that he was in

a strange place, and he would have cried out, but the Ifrit gave him a

cuff which persuaded him to keep silence. Then he brought him rich

raiment and clothed him therein and, giving him a lighted flambeau,

said:

  "Know that I have brought thee hither meaning to do thee a good turn

for the love of Allah. So take this torch and mingle with the people

at the hammam door and walk on with them without stopping till thou

reach the house of the wedding festival. Then go boldly forward and

enter the great saloon, and fear none, but take thy stand at the right

hand of the hunchback bridegroom. And as often as any of the nurses

and tirewomen and singing girls come up to thee, put thy hand into thy

pocket, which thou wilt find filled with gold. Take it out and throw

to them and spare not, for as often as thou thrustest fingers in

pouch, thou shalt find it full of coin. Give largess by handfuls and

fear nothing, but set thy trust upon Him who created thee, for this is

not by thine own strength but by that of Allah Almighty, that His

decrees may take effect upon His creatures."

  When Badr al-Din Hasan heard these words from the Ifrit, he said

to himself, "Would Heaven I knew what all this means and what is the

cause of such kindness!" However, he mingled with the people and,

lighting his flambeau, moved on with the bridal procession till he

came to the bath, where he found the hunchback already on horseback.

Then he pushed his way in among the crowd, a veritable beauty of a man

in the finest apparel, wearing tarboosh and turban and a

long-sleeved robe purfled with gold. And as often as the singing women

stopped for the people to give him largess, he thrust his hand into

his pocket and, finding it full of gold, took out a handful and

threw it on the tambourine till he had filled it with gold pieces for

the music girls and the tirewomen. The singers were amazed by his

bounty and the people marveled at his beauty and loveliness and the

splendor of his dress. He ceased not to do thus till he reached the

mansion of the Wazir (who was his uncle), where the chamberlains drove

back the people and forbade them to go forward, but the singing

girls and the tirewomen said, "By Allah, we will not enter unless this

young man enter with us, for he hath given us length o' life with

his largess, and we will not display the bride unless he be present."

  Therewith they carried him into the bridal hall and made him sit

down, defying the evil glances of the hunchbacked bridegroom. The

wives of the emirs and wazirs and chamberlains and courtiers all stood

in double line, each holding a massy cierge ready lighted. All wore

thin face veils, and the two rows right and left extended from the

bride's throne to the head of the hall adjoining the chamber whence

she was to come forth. When the ladies saw Badr al-Din Hasan and noted

his beauty and loveliness and his face that shone like the new moon,

their hearts inclined to him and the singing girls said to all that

were present, "Know that this beauty crossed our hands with naught but

red gold, so be not chary to do him womanly service and comply with

all he says, no matter what he ask." So all the women crowded round

Hasan with their torches and gazed on his loveliness and envied him

his beauty, and one and all would gladly have lain on his bosom an

hour, or rather a year. Their hearts were so troubled that they let

fall their veils from before their faces and said, "Happy she who

belongeth to this youth or to whom he belongeth!" And they called down

curses on the crooked groom and on him who was the cause of his

marriage to the girl beauty, and as often as they blessed Badr

al-Din Hasan they damned the hunchback, saying, "Verily this youth and

none else deserveth our bride. Ah, wellaway for such a lovely one with

this hideous Quasimodo! Allah's curse light on his head and on the

Sultan who commanded the marriage!"

  Then the singing girls beat their tabrets and lullilooed with joy,

announcing the appearing of the bride, and the Wazir's daughter came

in surrounded by her tirewomen, who had made her goodly to look

upon. For they had perfumed her and incensed her and adorned her hair,

and they had robed her in raiment and ornaments befitting the mighty

Chosroes kings. The most notable part of her dress was a loose robe

worn over her other garments. It was diapered in red gold with figures

of wild beasts, and birds whose eyes and beaks were of gems and

claws of red rubies and green beryl. And her neck was graced with a

necklace of Yamani work, worth thousands of gold pieces, whose

bezels were great round jewels of sorts, the like of which was never

owned by Kaysar or by Tobba king. And the bride was as the full moon

when at fullest on fourteenth night, and as she paced into the hall

she was like one of the houris of Heaven- praise be to Him who

created her in such splendor of beauty! The ladies encompassed her

as the white contains the black of the eye, they clustering like stars

whilst she shone amongst them like the moon when it eats up the

clouds.

  Now Badr al-Din Hasan of Bassorah was sitting in full gaze of the

folk when the bride came forward with her graceful swaying and

swimming gait, and her hunchbacked bridegroom stood up to meet and

receive her. She, however, turned away from the wight and walked

forward till she stood before her cousin Hasan, the son of her

uncle. Whereat the people laughed. But when the wedding guests saw her

thus attracted toward Badr al-Din, they made a mighty clamor and the

singing women shouted their loudest. Whereupon he put his hand into

his pocket and, pulling out a handful of gold, cast it into their

tambourines, and the girls rejoiced and said, "Could we will our wish,

this bride were thine!" At this he smiled and the folk came round him,

flambeaux in hand, like the eyeball round the pupil, while the Gobbo

bridegroom was left sitting alone much like a tailless baboon. For

every time they lighted a candle for him it went out willy-nilly, so

he was left in darkness and silence and looking at naught but himself.

  When Badr al-Din Hasan saw the bridegroom sitting lonesome in the

dark, and all the wedding guests with their flambeaux and wax

candles crowding about himself, he was bewildered and marveled much,

but when he looked at his cousin, the daughter of his uncle, he

rejoiced and felt an inward delight. He longed to greet her, and gazed

intently on her face, which was radiant with light and brilliancy.

Then the tirewomen took off her veil and displayed her in all her

seven toilettes before Badr al-Din Hasan, wholly neglecting the Gobbo,

who sat moping alone, and when she opened her eyes, she said, "O

Allah, make this man my goodman and deliver me from the evil of this

hunchbacked groom." As soon as they had made an end of this part of

the ceremony they dismissed the wedding guests, who went forth, women,

children and all, and none remained save Hasan and the hunchback,

whilst the tirewomen led the bride into an inner room to change her

garb and gear and get her ready for the bridegroom.

  Thereupon Quasimodo came up to Badr al-Din Hasan and said: "O my

lord, thou hast cheered us this night with thy good company and

overwhelmed us with thy kindness and courtesy, but now why not get

thee up and go?" "Bismillah," he answered. "In Allah's name, so be

it!" And rising, he went forth by the door, where the Ifrit met him

and said, "Stay in thy stead, O Badr al-Din, and when the hunchback

goes out to the closet of ease, go in without losing time and seat

thyself in the alcove, and when the bride comes say to her: ''Tis I am

thy husband, for the King devised this trick only fearing for thee the

evil eye, and he whom thou sawest is but a syce, a groom, one of our

stablemen.' Then walk boldly up to her and unveil her face, for

jealousy hath taken us of this matter."

  While Hasan was still talking with the Ifrit, behold, the groom

fared forth from the hall and entering the closet of ease, sat down on

the stool. Hardly had he done this when the Ifrit came out of the

tank, wherein the water was, in semblance of a mouse and squeaked

out "Zeek!" Quoth the hunchback, "What ails thee?" And the mouse

grew and grew till it became a coal-black cat and caterwauled "Miaowl!

Miaow!" Then it grew still more and more till it became a dog and

barked out, "Owh! Owh!" When the bridegroom saw this, he was

frightened and exclaimed "Out with thee, O unlucky one!" But the dog

grew and swelled till it became an ass colt that brayed and snorted in

his face, "Hauk! Hauk!" Whereupon the hunchback quaked and cried,

"Come to my aid, O people of the house!" But behold, the ass colt grew

and became big as a buffalo and walled the way before him and spake

with the voice of the sons of Adam, saying, "Woe to thee, O thou

hunchback, thou stinkard, O thou filthiest of grooms!"

  Hearing this, the groom was seized with a colic and he sat down on

the jakes in his clothes with teeth chattering and knocking

together. Quoth the Ifrit, "Is the world so strait to thee thou

findest none to marry save my ladylove?" But as he was silent the

Ifrit continued, "Answer me or I will do thee dwell in the dust!"

"By Allah," replied the Gobbo, "O King of the Buffaloes, this is no

fault of mine, for they forced me to wed her, and verily I wot not

that she had a lover amongst the buffaloes. But now I repent, first

before Allah and then before thee." Said the Ifrit to him: "I swear to

thee that if thou fare forth from this place, or thou utter a word

before sunrise, I assuredly will wring thy neck. When the sun rises,

wend thy went and never more return to this house." So saying, the

Ifrit took up the Gobbo bridegroom and set him head downward and

feet upward in the slit of the privy, and said to him: "I will leave

thee here, but I shall be on the lookout for thee till sunrise, and if

thou stir before then, I will seize thee by the feet and dash out

thy brains against the wall. So look out for thy life!"

  Thus far concerning the hunchback, but as regards Badr al-Din

Hasan of Bassorah, he left the Gobbo and the Ifrit jangling and

wrangling and, going into the house, sat him down in the very middle

of the alcove. And behold, in came the bride attended by an old woman,

who stood at the door and said, "O Father of Uprightness, arise and

take what God giveth thee." Then the old woman went away and the

bride, Sitt al-Husn or the Lady of Beauty hight, entered the inner

part of the alcove brokenhearted and saying in herself, "By Allah, I

will never yield my person to him- no, not even were he to take my

life!"

  But as she came to the further end she saw Badr al-Hasan and she

said, "Dearling! Art thou still sitting here? By Allah, I was

wishing that thou wert my bridegroom, or at least that thou and the

hunchbacked horsegroom were partners in me." He replied, "O

beautiful lady, how should the syce have access to thee, and how

should he share in thee with me?" "Then," quoth she, "who is my

husband, thou or he?" "Sitt al-Husn," rejoined Hasan, "we have not

done this for mere fun, but only as a device to ward off the evil

eye from thee. For when the tirewomen and singers and wedding guests

saw thy beauty being displayed to me, they feared fascination, and thy

father hired the horsegroom for ten dinars and a porringer of meat

to take the evil eye off us, and now he hath received his hire and

gone his gait."

  When the Lady of Beauty heard these words she smiled and rejoiced

and laughed a pleasant laugh. Then she whispered him: "By the Lord,

thou hast quenched a fire which tortured me and now, by Allah, O my

little dark-haired darling, take me to thee and press me to thy

bosom!" Then she began singing:



     "By Allah, set thy foot upon my soul,

     Since long, long years for this alone I long.

     And whisper tale of love in ear of me,

     To me 'tis sweeter than the sweetest song!

     No other youth upon my heart shall lie,

     So do it often, dear, and do it long."



  Then she stripped off her outer gear and she threw open her

chemise from the neck downward and showed her person and all the

rondure of her hips. When Badr al-Din saw the glorious sight, his

desires were roused, and he arose and doffed his clothes, and wrapping

up in his bam, trousers the purse of gold which he had taken from

the Jew and which contained the thousand dinars, he laid it under

the edge of the bedding. Then he took off his turban and set it upon

the settle atop of his other clothes, remaining in his skullcap and

fine shirt of blue silk laced with gold. Whereupon the Lady of

Beauty drew him to her and he did likewise. Then he took her to his

embrace and found her a pearl unpierced, and he abaged her virginity

and had joyance of her youth in his virility; and she conceived by him

that very night. Then he laid his hand under her head and she did

the same and they embraced and fell asleep in each other's arms, as

a certain poet said of such lovers in these couplets:



     Visit thy lover, spurn what envy told,

     No envious churl shall smile on love ensouled.

     Merciful Allah made no fairer sight

     Than coupled lovers single couch doth hold,

     Breast pressing breast and robed in joys their own,

     With pillowed forearms cast in finest mold.

     And when heart speaks to heart with tongue of love,

     Folk who would part them hammer steel ice-cold.

     If a fair friend thou find who cleaves to thee,

     Live for that friend, that friend in heart enfold.

     O ye who blame for love us lover-kind,

     Say, can ye minister to diseased mind?



  This much concerning Badr al-Din Hasan and Sitt al-Husn his

cousin, but as regards the Ifrit, as soon as he saw the twain

asleep, he said to the Ifritah: "Arise, slip thee under the youth, and

let us carry him back to his place ere dawn overtake us, for the day

is near-hand." Thereupon she came forward and getting under him as

he lay asleep, took him up clad only in his fine blue shirt, leaving

the rest of his garments, and ceased not flying (and the Ifrit vying

with her in flight) till the dawn advised them that it had come upon

them midway, and the muezzin began his call from the minaret: "Haste

ye to salvation! Haste ye to salvation!" Then Allah suffered His

angelic host to shoot down the Ifrit with a shooting star, so he was

consumed, but the Ifritah escaped, and she descended with Badr

al-Din at the place where the Ifrit was burnt, and did not carry him

back to Bassorah, fearing lest he come to harm.

  Now by the order of Him who predestineth all things, they alighted

at Damascus of Syria, and the Ifritah set down her burden at one of

the city gates and flew away. When day arose and the doors were

opened, the folk who came forth saw a handsome youth, with no other

raiment but his blue shirt of gold-embroidered silk and skullcap,

lying upon the ground drowned in sleep after the hard labor of the

night, which had not suffered him to take his rest. So the folk,

looking at him, said: "Oh, her luck with whom this one spent the

night! But would he had waited to don his garments!" Quoth another: "A

sorry lot are the sons of great families! Haply he but now came

forth of the tavern on some occasion of his own and his wine flew to

his head, whereby he hath missed the place he was making for and

strayed till he came to the gate of the city, and finding it shut, lay

him down and went to by-by!"

  As the people were bandying guesses about him, suddenly the

morning breeze blew upon Badr al-Din and raising his shirt to his

middle, showed a stomach and navel with something below it, and legs

and thighs clear as crystal and smooth as cream. Cried the people, "By

Allah, he is a pretty fellow!" and at the cry Badr al-Din awoke and

found himself lying at a city gate with a crowd gathered around him.

At this he greatly marveled and asked: "Where am I, O good folk, and

what causeth you thus to gather round me, and what have I had to do

with you?" and they answered: "We found thee lying here asleep

during the call to dawn prayer, and this is all we know of the matter.

But where diddest thou lie last night?" "By Allah, O good people,"

replied he, "I lay last night in Cairo." Said somebody, "Thou hast

surely been eating hashish," and another, "He is a fool," and a third,

"He is a citrouille," and a fourth asked him: "Art thou out of thy

mind? Thou sleepest in Cairo and thou wakest in the morning at the

gate of Damascus city!" Cried he: "By Allah, my good people, one and

all, I lie not to you. Indeed I lay yesternight in the land of Egypt

and yesternoon I was at Bassorah." Quoth one, "Well! well!" and

quoth another, "Ho! ho!" and a third, "So! so!" and a fourth cried,

"This youth is mad, is possessed of the Jinni!" So they clapped

hands at him and said to one another: "Alas, the pity of it for his

youthl By Allah, a madman! And madness is no respecter of persons."

  Then said they to him: "Collect thy wits and return to thy reason!

How couldest thou be in Bassorah yesterday and in Cairo yesternight

and withal awake in Damascus this morning?" But he persisted,

"Indeed I was a bridegroom in Cairo last night." "Belike thou hast

been dreaming," rejoined they, "and sawest all this in thy sleep."

So Hasan took thought for a while and said to them: "By Allah, this is

no dream, nor visionlike doth it seem! I certainly was in Cairo, where

they displayed the bride before me, in presence of a third person, the

hunchback groom, who was sitting hard by. By Allah, O my brother, this

be no dream, and if it were a dream, where is the bag of gold I bore

with me, and where are my turban and my robe, and my trousers?"

  Then he rose and entered the city, threading its highways and byways

and bazaar streets, and the people pressed upon him and jeered at him,

crying out "Madman! Madman!" till he, beside himself with rage, took

refuge in a cook's shop. Now that cook had been a trifle too

clever- that is, a rogue and thief- but Allah had made him repent and

turn from his evil ways and open a cookshop, and all the people of

Damascus stood in fear of his boldness and his mischief. So when the

crowd saw the youth enter his shop, they dispersed, being afraid of

him, and went their ways. The cook looked at Badr al-Din and, noting

his beauty and loveliness, fell in love with him forthright and

said: "Whence comest thou, O youth? Tell me at once thy tale, for thou

art become dearer to me than my soul." So Hasan recounted to him all

that had befallen him from beginning to end (but in repetition there

is no fruition) and the cook said: "O my lord Badr al-Din, doubtless

thou knowest that this case is wondrous and this story marvelous.

Therefore, O my son, hide what hath betide thee, till Allah dispel

what ills be thine, and tarry with me here the meanwhile, for I have

no child and I will adopt thee." Badr al-Din replied, "Be it as thou

wilt, O my uncle!" Whereupon the cook went to the bazaar and bought

him a fine suit of clothes and made him don it, then fared with him to

the kazi, and formally declared that he was his son. So Badr al-Din

Hasan became known in Damascus city as the cook's son, and he sat with

him in the shop to take the silver, and on this wise he sojourned

there for a time.

  Thus far concerning him, but as regards his cousin, the Lady of

Beauty, when morning dawned she awoke and missed Badr al-Din Hasan

from her side; but she thought that he had gone to the privy and she

sat expecting him for an hour or so, when behold, entered her father

Shams al-Din Mohammed, Wazir of Egypt. Now he was disconsolate by

reason of what had befallen him through the Sultan, who had

entreated him harshly and had married his daughter by force to the

lowest of his menials and he too a lump of a groom hunchbacked withal,

and he said to himself, "I will slay this daughter of mine if her

own free she had yielded her person to this accursed carle." So he

came to the door of the bride's private chamber, and said, "Ho! Sitt

al-Husn." She answered him: "Here am I! Here am I! O my lord," and

came out unsteady of pit after the pains and pleasures of the night.

And she kissed his hand, her face showing redoubled brightness and

beauty for having lain in the arms of that gazelle, her cousin.

  When her father, the Wazir, saw her in such case, he asked her, "O

thou accursed, art thou rejoicing because of this horse groom?" And

Sitt al-Husn smiled sweetly and answered: "By Allah, don't ridicule

me. Enough of what passed yesterday when folk laughed at me, and

evened me with that groom fellow who is not worthy to bring my

husband's shoes or slippers- nay, who is not worth the paring of my

husband's nails! By the Lord, never in my life have I nighted a

night so sweet as yesternight, so don't mock by reminding me of the

Gobbo." When her parent heard her words he was filled with fury, and

his eyes glared and stared, so that little of them showed save the

whites and he cried: "Fie upon thee! What words are these? 'Twas the

hunchbacked horse groom who passed the night with thee!" "Allah upon

thee," replied the Lady of Beauty, "do not worry me about the

Gobbo- Allah damn his father- and leave jesting with me, for this

groom was only hired for ten dinars and a porringer of meat and he

took his wage and went his way. As for me, I entered the bridal

chamber, where I found my true bridegroom sitting, after the singer

women had displayed me to him- the same who had crossed their hands

with red gold till every pauper that was present waxed wealthy. And

I passed the night on the breast of my bonny man, a most lively

darling, with his black eyes and joined eyebrows."

  When her parent heard these words, the light before his face

became night, and he cried out at her, saying: "O thou whore! What

is this thou tellest me? Where be thy wits?" "O my father," she

rejoined, "thou breakest my heart. Enough for thee that thou hast been

so hard upon me! Indeed my husband who took my virginity is but just

now gone to the draught-house, and I feel that I have conceived by

him." The Wazir rose in much marvel and entered the privy, where he

found the hunchbacked horse groom with his head in the hole and his

heels in the air. At this sight he was confounded and said, "This is

none other than he, the rascal hunchback!" So he called to him, "Ho,

Hunchback!" The Gobbo grunted out, "Taghum! Taghum!" thinking it was

the Ifrit spoke to him, so the Wazir shouted at him and said, "Speak

out, or I'll strike off thy pate with this sword." Then quoth the

hunchback, "By Allah, O Sheikh of the Ifrits, ever since thou

settest me in this place I have not lifted my head, so Allah upon

thee, take pity and entreat me kindly!"

  When the Wazir heard this he asked: "What is this thou sayest? I'm

the bride's father and no Ifrit." "Enough for thee that thou hast

well-nigh done me die," answered Quasimodo. "Now go thy ways before he

come upon thee who hath served me thus. Could ye not marry me to any

save the ladylove of buffaloes and the beloved of Ifrits? Allah

curse her, and curse him who married me to her and was the cause of

this my case." Then said the Wazir to him, "Up and out of this place!"

"Am I mad," cried the groom, "that I should go with thee without leave

of the Ifrit whose last words to me were: 'When the sun rises, arise

and go thy gait.' So hath the sun risen, or no? For I dare not budge

from this place till then." Asked the Wazir, "Who brought thee

hither?" And he answered, "I came here yesternight for a call of

nature and to do what none can do for me, when lo! a mouse came out of

the water, and squeaked at me and swelled and waxed gross till it

was big as a buffalo, and spoke to me words that entered my ears. Then

he left me here and went away. Allah curse the bride and him who

married me to her!"

  The Wazir walked up to him and lifted his head out of the cesspool

hole, and he fared forth running for dear life and hardly crediting

that the sun had risen, and repaired to the Sultan, to whom he told

all that had befallen him with the Ifrit. But the Wazir returned to

the bride's private chamber, sore troubled in spirit about her, and

said to her, "O my daughter, explain this strange matter to me!" Quoth

she: "'Tis simply this. The bridegroom to whom they displayed me

yestereve lay with me all night, and took my virginity, and I am

with child by him. He is my husband, and if thou believe me not, there

are his turban twisted as it was, lying on the settle and his dagger

and his trousers beneath the bed with a something, I wot not what,

wrapped up in them."

  When her father heard this, he entered the private chamber and found

the turban which had been left there by Badr al-Din Hasan, his

brother's son, and he took it in hand and turned it over, saying,

"This is the turban worn by Wazirs, save that it is of Mosul stuff."

So he opened it and, finding what seemed to be an amulet sewn up in

the fez, he unsewed the lining and took it out. Then he lifted up

the trousers, wherein was the purse of the thousand gold pieces and

opening that also, found in it a written paper. This he read, and it

was the sale receipt of the Jew in the name of Badr al-Din Hasan son

of Nur al-Din All, the Egyptian, and the thousand dinars were also

there.

  No sooner had Shams al-Din read this than he cried out with a loud

cry and fell to the ground fainting, and as soon as he revived and

understood the gist of the matter he marveled and said: "There is no

god but the God, whose All-might is over all things! Knowest thou, O

my daughter, who it was that became the husband of thy virginity?"

"No," answered she, and he said: "Verily he is the son of my

brother, thy cousin, and this thousand dinars is thy dowry. Praise

be to Allah! And would I wot how this matter came about!" Then

opened he the amulet which was sewn up and found therein a paper in

the handwriting of his deceased brother, Nur al-Din the Egyptian,

father of Badr al-Din Hasan. And when he saw the handwriting, he

kissed it again and again, and he wept and wailed over his dead

brother. Then he read the scroll and found in it recorded the dates of

his brother's marriage with the daughter of the Wazir of Bassorah, and

of his going in to her, and her conception, and the birth of Badr

al-Din Hasan, and all his brother's history and doings up to his dying

day.

  So he marveled much and shook with joy and, comparing the dates with

his own marriage and going in unto his wife and the birth of his

daughter, Sitt al-Husn, he found that they perfectly agreed. So he

took the document and, repairing with it to the Sultan, acquainted him

with what had passed, from first to last, whereat the King marveled

and commanded the case to be at once recorded. The Wazir abode that

day expecting to see his brother's son, but he came not, and he waited

a second day, a third day, and so on to the seventh day without any

tidings of him. So he said, "By Allah, I will do a deed such as none

hath ever done before me!" And he took reed pen and ink and drew

upon a sheet of paper the plan of the whole house, showing whereabouts

was the private chamber with the curtain in such a place and the

furniture in such another and so on with all that was in the room.

Then he folded up the sketch and, causing all the furniture to be

collected, he took Badr al-Din's garments and the turban and fez and

robe and purse, and carried the whole to his house and locked them up,

against the coming of his nephew, Badr al-Din Hasan, the son of his

lost brother, with an iron padlock on which he set his seal.

  As for the Wazir's daughter, when her tale of months was

fulfilled, she bare a son like the full moon, the image of his

father in beauty and loveliness and fair proportions and perfect

grace. They cut his navel string and kohled his eyelids to

strengthen his eyes, and gave him over to the nurses and nursery

governesses, naming him Ajib, the Wonderful. His day was as a month

and his month was as a year, and when seven years had passed over him,

his grandfather sent him to school, enjoining the master to teach

him Koran-reading, and to educate him well. He remained at the

school four years, till he began to bully his schoolfellows and

abuse them and bash them and thrash them and say: "Who among you is

like me? I am the son of the Wazir of Egypt!

  At last the boys came in a body to complain to the monitor of what

hard usage they were wont to have from Ajib, and he said to them: "I

will tell you somewhat you may do to him so that he shall leave off

coming to the school, and it is this. When he enters tomorrow, sit

ye down about him and say some one of you to some other: 'By Allah,

none shall play with us at this game except he tell us the names of

his mamma and papa, for he who knows not the names of his mother and

his father is a bastard, a son of adultery, and he shall not play with

us."' When morning dawned, the boys came to school, Ajib being one

of them, and all flocked round him saying: "We will play a game

wherein none shall join save he can tell the name of his mamma and his

papa." And they all cried, "By Allah, good!" Then quoth one of them,

"My name is Majid and my mammy's name is Alawiyah and my daddy's Izz

al-Din." Another spoke in like guise and yet a third, till Ajib's turn

came, and he said, "My name is Ajib, and my mother's is Sitt

al-Husn, and my father's Shams al-Din, the Wazir of Cairo." "By

Allah," cried they, "the Wazir is not thy true father." Ajib answered,

"The Wazir is my father in very deed." Then the boys all laughed and

clapped their hands at him, saying: "He does not know who is his papa.

Get out from among us, for none shall play with us except he know

his father's name."

  Thereupon they dispersed from around him and laughed him to scorn,

so his breast was straitened and he well-nigh choked with tears and

hurt feelings. Then said the monitor to him: "We know that the Wazir

is thy grandfather, the father of thy mother, Sitt al-Husn, and not

thy father. As for thy father, neither dost thou know him nor yet do

we, for the Sultan married thy mother to the hunchbacked horse

groom, but the Jinni came and slept with her and thou hast no known

father. Leave, then, comparing thyself too advantageously with the

littles ones of the school, till thou know that thou hast a lawful

father, for until then thou wilt pass for a child of adultery

amongst them. Seest thou not that even a huckster's son knoweth his

own sire? Thy grandfather is the Wazir of Egypt, but as for thy

father, we wot him not and we say indeed that thou hast none. So

return to thy sound senses!"

  When Ajib heard these insulting words from the monitor and the

schoolboys and understood the reproach they put upon him, he went

out at once and ran to his mother, Sitt al-Husn, to complain, but he

was crying so bitterly that his tears prevented his speech for a

while. When she heard his sobs and saw his tears, her heart burned

as though with fire for him, and she said: "O my son, why dost thou

weep? Allah keep the tears from thine eyes! Tell me what hath

betided thee." So he told her all that he heard from the boys and from

the monitor and ended with asking, "And who, O my mother, is my

father?" She answered, "Thy father is the Wazir of Egypt." But he

said: "Do not lie to me. The Wazir is thy father, not mine! Who then

is my father? Except thou tell me the very truth I will kill myself

with this hanger."

  When his mother heard him speak of his father she wept,

remembering her cousin and her bridal night with him and all that

occurred there and then, and she repeated these couplets:



     "Love in my heart they lit and went their ways,

     And all I love to furthest lands withdrew,

     And when they left me sufferance also left,

     And when we parted Patience bade adieu.

     They fled and flying with my joys they fled,

     In very constancy my spirit flew.

     They made my eyelids flow with severance tears

     And to the parting pang these drops are due.

     And when I long to see reunion day, ruth I sue.

     My groans prolonging sore for ruth I sue.

     Then in my heart of hearts their shapes I trace,

     And love and longing care and cark renew.

     O ye whose names cling round me like a cloak,

     Whose love yet closer than a shirt I drew,

     Beloved ones, how long this hard despite?

     How long this severance and this coy shy flight?"



  Then she wailed and shrieked aloud and her son did the like, and

behold, in came the Wazir, whose heart burnt within him at the sight

of their lamentations and he said, "What makes you weep?" So the

Lady of Beauty acquainted him with what happened between her son and

the schoolboys, and he also wept, calling to mind his brother and what

had past between them and what had betided his daughter and how be had

failed to find out what mystery there was in the matter. Then he

rose at once and, repairing to the audience hall, went straight to the

King and told his tale and craved his permission to travel eastward to

the city of Bassorah and ask after his brother's son. Furthermore,

he besought the Sultan to write for him letters patent, authorizing

him to seize upon Badr al-Din, his nephew and son-in-law,

wheresoever he might find him. And he wept before the King, who had

pity on him and wrote royal autographs to his deputies in all climes

and countries and cities, whereat the Wazir rejoiced and prayed for

blessings on him.

  Then, taking leave of his sovereign, he returned to his house, where

he equipped himself and his daughter and his adopted child Ajib with

all things meet for a long march, and set out and traveled the first

day and the second and the third and so forth till he arrived at

Damascus city. The Wazir encamped on the open space called AlHasa, and

after pitching tents, said to his servants, "A halt here for two

days!" So they went into the city upon their several occasions, this

to sell and that to buy, this to go to the hammam and that to visit

the cathedral mosque of the Banu Umayyah, the Ommiades, whose like

is not in this world. Ajib also went, with his attendant eunuch, for

solace and diversion to the city, and the servant followed with a

quarterstaff of almond wood so heavy that if he struck a camel

therewith the beast would never rise again.

  When the people of Damascus saw Ajib's beauty and brilliancy and

perfect grace and symmetry (for he was a marvel of comeliness and

winning loveliness, softer than the cool breeze of the North,

sweeter than limpid waters to man in drought, and pleasanter than

the health for which sick man sueth), a mighty many followed him,

whilst others ran on before and sat down on the road until he should

come up, that they might gaze on him, till, as Destiny stopped

opposite the shop of Ajib's father, Badr al-Din Hasan. Now his beard

had grown long and thick and his wits had ripened during the twelve

years which had passed over him, and the cook and ex-rogue having

died, the so-called Hasan of Bassorah had succeeded to his goods and

shop, for that he had been formally adopted before the kazi and

witnesses. When his son and the eunuch stepped before him, he gazed on

Ajib and, seeing how very beautiful he was, his heart fluttered and

throbbed, and blood drew to blood and natural affection spake out

and his bowels yearned over him. He had just dressed a conserve of

pomegranate grains with sugar, and Heaven implanted love wrought

within him, so he called to his son Ajib and said: "O my lord, O

thou who hast gotten the mastery of my heart and my very vitals and to

whom my bowels yearn, say me, wilt thou enter my house and solace my

soul by eating of my meat?"

  Then his eyes streamed with tears which he could not stay, for he

bethought him of what he had been and what he had become. When Ajib

heard his father's words, his heart also yearned himward, and he

looked at the eunuch and said to him: "Of a truth, O my good guard, my

heart yearns to this cook. He is as one that hath a son far away

from him. So let us enter and gladden his heart by tasting of his

hospitality. Perchance for our so doing Allah may reunite me with my

father." When the eunuch heard these words, he cried: "A fine thing

this, by Allah! Shall the sons of Wazirs be seen eating in a common

cookshop? Indeed I keep off the folk from thee with this

quarterstaff lest they even look upon thee, and I dare not suffer thee

to enter this shop at all."

  When Hasan of Bassorah heard his speech he marveled and turned to

the eunuch with the tears pouring down his cheeks, and Ajib said,

"Verily my heart loves him!" But he answered: "Leave this talk. Thou

shalt not go in." Thereupon the father turned to the eunuch and

said, "O worthy sir, why wilt thou not gladden my soul by entering

my shop? O thou who art like a chestnut, dark without but white of

heart within! O thou of the like, of whom a certain poet said..." The

eunuch burst out a-laughing and asked: "Said what? Speak out, by

Allah, and be quick about it." So Hasan the Bassorite began reciting

these couplets:



     "If not master of manners or aught but discreet,

     In the household of kings no trust could he take,

     And then for the harem! What eunuch is he

     Whom angels would serve for his service' sake?"



  The eunuch marveled and was pleased at these words, so he took

Ajib by the hand and went into the cook's shop; whereupon Hasan the

Bassorite ladled into a saucer some conserve of pomegranate grains

wonderfully good, dressed with almonds and sugar, saying: "You have

honored me with your company. Eat, then, and health and happiness to

you!" Thereupon Ajib said to his father, "Sit thee down and eat with

us, so perchance Allah may unite us with him we long for." Quoth

Hasan, "O my son, hast thou then been afflicted in thy tender years

with parting from those thou lovest?" Quoth Ajib: "Even so, O nuncle

mine. My heart burns for the loss of a beloved one who is none other

than my father, and indeed I come forth, I and my grandfather, to

circle and search the world for him. Oh, the pity of it, and how I

long to meet him!" Then he wept with exceeding weeping, and his father

also wept seeing him weep and for his own bereavement, which

recalled to him his long separation from dear friends and from his

mother, and the eunuch was moved to pity for him.

  Then they ate together till they were satisfied, and Ajib and the

slave rose and left the shop. Hereat Hasan the Bassorite felt as

though his soul had departed his body and had gone with them, for he

could not lose sight of the boy during the twinkling of an eye, albeit

he knew not that Ajib was his son. So he locked up his shop and

hastened after them, and he walked so fast that he came up with them

before they had gone out of the western gate. The eunuch turned and

asked him, "What ails thee?" and Badr al-Din answered, "When ye went

from me, meseemed my soul had gone with you, and as I had business

without the city gate, I purposed to bear you company till my matter

was ordered, and so return." The eunuch was angered, and said to Ajib:

"This is just what I feared! We ate that unlucky mouthful (which we

are bound to respect), and here is the fellow following us from

place to place, for the vulgar are ever the vulgar."

  Ajib, turning and seeing the cook just behind him, was wroth, and

his face reddened with rage and he said to the servant: "Let him

walk the highway of the Moslems, but when we turn off it to our

tents and find that he still follows us, we will send him about his

business with a flea in his ear." Then he bowed his head and walked

on, the eunuch walking behind him. But Hasan of Bassorah followed them

to the plain Al-Hasa, and as they drew near to the tents, they

turned round and saw him close on their heels, so Ajib was very angry,

fearing that the eunuch might tell his grandfather what had

happened. His indignation was the hotter for apprehension lest any say

that after he had entered a cookshop the cook had followed him. So

he turned and looked at Hasan of Bassorah and found his eyes fixed

on his own, for the father had become a body without a soul, and it

seemed to Ajib that his eye was a treacherous eye or that he was

some lewd fellow.

  So his rage redoubled and, stooping down, he took up a stone

weighing half a pound and threw it at his father. It struck him on the

forehead, cutting it open from eyebrow to eyebrow and causing the

blood to stream down, and Hasan fell to the ground in a swoon whilst

Ajib and the eunuch made for the tents. When the father came to

himself, he wiped away the blood and tore off a strip from his

turban and bound up his head, blaming himself the while, and saying,

"I wronged the lad by shutting up my shop and following, so that he

thought I was some evil-minded fellow." Then he returned to his place,

where he busied himself with the sale of his sweetmeats, and he yeamed

after his mother at Bassorah, and wept over her and broke out

repeating:



     "Unjust it were to bid the world be just

     And blame her not. She ne'er was made for justice.

     Take what she gives thee, leave all grief aside,

     For now to fair and then to foul her lust is."



  So Hasan of Bassorah set himself steadily to sell his sweetmeats,

but the Wazir, his uncle, halted in Damascus three days and then

marched upon Emesa, and passing through that town, he made inquiry

there, and at every place where he rested. Thence he fared on by way

of Hamah and Aleppo and thence through Diyar Bakr and Maridin and

Mosul, still inquiring, till he arrived at Bassorah city. Here, as

soon as he had secured a lodging, he presented himself before the

Sultan, who entreated him with high honor and the respect due to his

rank, and asked the cause of his coming. The Wazir acquainted him with

his history and told him that the Minister Nur al-Din was his brother,

whereupon the Sultan exclaimed, "Allah have mercy upon him!" and

added: "My good Sahib, he was my Wazir for fifteen years and I loved

him exceedingly. Then he died leaving a son who abode only a single

month after his father's death, since which time he has disappeared

and we could gain no tidings of him. But his mother, who is the

daughter of my former Minister, is still among us."

  When the Wazir Shams al-Din heard that his nephew's mother was alive

and well, he rejoiced and said, "O King, I much desire to meet her."

The King on the instant gave him leave to visit her, so he betook

himself to the mansion of his brother Nur al-Din and cast sorrowful

glances on all things in and around it and kissed the threshold.

Then he bethought him of his brother Nur al-Din Ali, and how he had

died in a strange land far from kith and kin and friends, and he

wept and repeated these lines:



     "I wander 'mid these walls, my Lavla's walls,

     And kissing this and other wall I roam.

     'Tis not the walls or roof my heart so loves,

     But those who in this house had made their home."



  Then he passed through the gate into a courtyard and found a vaulted

doorway builded of hardest syenite inlaid with sundry kinds of

multicolored marble. Into this he walked, and wandered about the house

and, throwing many a glance around, saw the name of his brother Nur

al-Din written in gold wash upon the walls. So he went up to the

inscription and kissed it and wept and thought of how he had been

separated from his brother and had now lost him forever.

  Then he walked on till he came to the apartment of his brother's

widow, the mother of Badr al-Din Hasan, the Egyptian. Now from the

time of her son's disappearance she had never ceased weeping and

wailing through the light hours and the dark, and when the years

grew longsome with her, she built for him a tomb of marble in the

midst of the saloon and there used to weep for him day and night,

never sleeping save thereby. When the Wazir drew near her apartment,

he heard her voice and stood behind the door while she addressed the

sepulcher in verse and said:



   "Answer, by Allah! Sepulcher, are all his beauties gone?

   Hath change the power to blight his charms, that beauty's paragon?

   Thou art not earth, O Sepulcher! Nor art thou sky to me.

   How comes it, then, in thee I see conjoint the branch and moon?"



  While she was bemoaning herself after this fashion, behold, the

Wazir went in to her and saluted her and informed her that he was

her husband's brother, and, telling her all that had passed beween

them, laid open before her the whole story- how her son Badr al-Din

Hasan had spent a whole night with his daughter full ten years ago,

but had disappeared in the morning. And he ended with saying: "My

daughter conceived by thy son and bare a male child who is now with

me, and he is thy son and thy son's son by my daughter." When she

heard the tidings that her boy Badr al-Din was still alive and saw her

brother-in-law, she rose up to him and threw herself at his feet and

kissed them. Then the Wazir sent for Ajib and his grandmother stood up

and fell on his neck and wept, but Shams al-Din said to her: "This

is no time for weeping. This is the time to get thee ready for

traveling with us to the land of Egypt. Haply Allah will reunite me

and thee with thy son and my nephew." Replied she, "Hearkening and

obedience," and, rising at once, collected her baggage and treasures

and her jewels, and equipped herself and her slave girls for the

march, whilst the Wazir went to take his leave of the Sultan of

Bassorah, who sent by him presents and rarities for the Sultan of

Egypt.

  Then he set out at once upon his homeward march and journeyed till

he came to Damascus city, where he alighted in the usual place and

pitched tents, and said to his suite, "We will halt a sennight here to

buy presents and rare things for the Sultan." Now Ajib bethought him

of the past, so he said to the eunuch: "O Laik, I want a little

diversion. Come, let us go down to the great bazaar of Damascus and

see what hath become of the cook whose sweetmeats we ate and whose

head we broke, for indeed he was kind to us and we entreated him

scurvily." The eunuch answered, "Hearing is obeying!" So they went

forth from the tents, and the tie of blood drew Ajib toward his

father, and forthwith they passed through the gateway, Bab

al-Faradis hight, and entered the city and ceased not walking

through the streets till they reached the cookshop, where they found

Hasan of Bassorah standing at the door. It was near the time of

midafternoon prayer, and it so fortuned that he had just dressed a

confection of pomegranate grains.

  When the twain drew near to him and Ajib saw him, his heart

yearned toward him, and noticing the scar of the blow, which time

had darkened on his brow, he said to him: "Peace be on thee, O man!

Know that my heart is with thee." But when Badr al-Din looked upon his

son, his vitals yearned and his heart fluttered, and he hung his

head earthward and sought to make his tongue give utterance to his

words, but he could not. Then he raised his head humbly and

suppliant-wise toward his boy and repeated these couplets:



     "I longed for my beloved, but when I saw his face,

     Abashed I held my tongue and stood with downcast eye,

     And hung my head in dread and would have hid my love,

     But do whatso I would, hidden it would not he.

     Volumes of plaints I had prepared, reproach and blame,

     But when we met, no single word remembered I."



And then said he to them: "Heal my broken heart and eat of my

sweetmeats, for, by Allah, I cannot look at thee but my heart

flutters. Indeed I should not have followed thee the other day but

that I was beside myself." "By Allah," answered Ajib, "thou dost

indeed love us! We ate in thy house a mouthful when we were here

before and thou madest us repent for it, for that thou followedst us

and wouldst have disgraced us, so now we will not eat aught with

thee save on condition that thou make oath not to go out after us

nor dog us. Otherwise we will not visit thee again during our

present stay, for we shall halt a week here whilst my grandfather buys

certain presents for the King." Quoth Hasan of Bassorah, "I promise

you this."

  So Ajib and the eunuch entered the shop, and his father set before

them a saucerful of conserve of pomegranate grains. Said Ajib: "Sit

thee down and eat with us. So haply shall Allah dispel our sorrows."

Hasan the Bassorite was joyful and sat down and ate with them, but his

eyes kept gazing fixedly on Ajib's face, for his very heart and vitals

clove to him, and at last the boy said to him: "Did I not tell thee

thou art a most noyous dotard? So do stint thy staring in my face!"

Hansan kept putting morsels into Ajib's mouth at one time and at

another time did the same by the eunuch, and they ate till they were

satisfied and could no more. Then all rose up and the cook poured

water on their hands, and loosing a silken waist shawl, dried them and

sprinkled them with rose-water from a casting bottle he had by him.

Then he went out and presently returned with a gugglet of sherbet

flavored with rose-water, scented with musk, and cooled with snow, and

he set this before them saying, "Complete your kindness to me!" So

Ajib took the gugglet and drank and passed it to the eunuch, and it

went round till their stomachs were full and they were surfeited with

a meal larger than their wont.

  Then they went away and made haste in walking till they reached

the tents, and Ajib went in to his grandmother, who kissed him and,

thinking of her son Badr al-Din Hasan, groaned aloud and wept. Then

she asked Ajib: "O my son! Where hast thou been?" And he answered, "In

Damascus city." Whereupon she rose and set before him a bit of scone

and a saucer of conserve of pomegranate grains (which was too little

sweetened), and she said to the eunuch, "Sit down with thy master!"

Said the servant to himself: "By Allah, we have no mind to eat. I

cannot bear the smell of bread." But he sat down, and so did Ajib,

though his stomach was full of what he had eaten already and

drunken. Nevertheless he took a bit of the bread and dipped it in

the pomegranate conserve and made shift to eat it, but he found it too

little sweetened, for he was cloyed and surfeited, so he said, "Faugh,

what be this wild-beast stuff?" "O my son," cried his grandmother,

"dost thou find fault with my cookery? I cooked this myself and none

can cook it as nicely as I can, save thy father, Badr al-Din Hasan."

"By Allah, O my lady," Ajib answered, "this dish is nasty stuff, for

we saw but now in the city of Bassorah a cook who so dresseth

pomegranate grains that the very smell openeth a way to the heart

and the taste would make a full man long to eat. And as for this

mess compared with his, 'tis not worth either much or little."

  When his grandmother heard his words, she waxed wroth with exceeding

wrath and looked at the servant and said: "Woe to thee! Dost thou

spoil my son, and dost take him into common cookshops?" The eunuch was

frightened and denied, saying, "We did not go into the shop, we only

passed by it." "By Allah," cried Ajib, "but we did go in, and we ate

till it came out of our nostrils, and the dish was better than thy

dish!" Then his grandmother rose and went and told her brother-in-law,

who was incensed against the eunuch, and sending for him, asked him,

"Why didst thou take my son into a cookshop?" And the eunuch, being

frightened, answered, "We did not go in." But Ajib said, "We did go

inside and ate conserve of pomegranate grains till we were fall, and

the cook gave us to drink of iced and sugared sherbet."

  At this the Wazir's indignation redoubled and he questioned the

castrato, but as he still denied, the Wazir said to him, "If thou

speak sooth, sit down and eat before us." So he came forward and tried

to eat, but could not, and threw away the mouthful crying: "O my lord!

I am surfeited since yesterday." By this the Wazir was certified

that he had eaten at the cook's, and bade the slaves throw him,

which they did. Then they came down on him with a rib-basting which

burned him till he cried for mercy and help from Allah, saying, "O

my master, beat me no more and I will tell thee the truth."

Whereupon the Wazir stopped the bastinado and said, "Now speak thou

sooth." Quoth the eunuch, "Know then that we did enter the shop of a

cook while he was dressing conserve of pomegranate grains, and he

set some of it before us. By Allah! I never ate in my life its like,

nor tasted aught nastier than this stuff which is now before us." Badr

al-Din Hasan's mother was angry at this and said, "Needs must thou

go back to the cook and bring me a saucer of conserved pomegranate

grains from that which is in his shop and show it to thy master,

that he may say which be the better and the nicer, mine or his."

Said the unsexed, "I will."

  So on the instant she gave him a saucer and a half-dinar and he

returned to the shop and said to the cook, "O Sheikh of all Cooks,

we have laid a wager concerning thy cookery in my lord's house, for

they have conserve of pomegranate grains there also. So give me this

half-dinar's worth and look to it, for I have eaten a full meal of

stick on account of thy cookery, and so do not let me eat aught more

thereof." Hasan of Bassorah laughed and answered: "By Allah, none

can dress this dish as it should be dressed save myself and my mother,

and she at this time is in a far country." Then he ladled out a

saucerful and, finishing it off with musk and rose-water, put it in

a cloth, which he sealed, and gave it to the eunuch, who hastened back

with it. No sooner had Badr al-Din Hasan's mother tasted it and

perceived its fine flavor and the excellence of the cookery then she

knew who had dressed it, and she screamed and fell down fainting.

  The Wazir, sorely startled, sprinkled rose-water upon her, and after

a time she recovered and said: "If my son be yet of this world, none

dressed this conserve of pomegranate grains but he, and this cook is

my very son Badr al-Din Hasan. There is no doubt of it, nor can

there be any mistake, for only I and he knew how to prepare it and I

taught him." When the Wazir heard her words, he joyed with exceeding

joy and said: "Oh, the longing of me for a sight of my brother's

son! I wonder if the days will ever unite us with him! Yet it is to

Almighty Allah alone that we look for bringing about this meeting."

Then he rose without stay or delay and, going to his suite, said to

them, "Be off, some fifty of you, with sticks and staves to the cook's

shop and demolish it, then pinion his arms behind him with his own

turban, saying, 'It was thou madest that foul mess of pomegranate

grains!' And drag him here perforce, but without doing him a harm."

And they replied, "It is well."

  Then the Wazir rode off without losing an instant to the palace and,

forgathering with the Viceroy of Damascus, showed him the Sultan's

orders. After careful perusal he kissed the letter and placing it upon

his head, said to his visitor, "Who is this offender-of thine?"

Quoth the Wazir, "A man which is a cook." So the Viceroy at once

sent his apparitors to the shop, which they found demolished and

everything in it broken to pieces, for whilst the Wazir was riding

to the palace his men had done his bidding. Then they awaited his

return from the audience, and Hasan of Bassorah, who was their

prisoner, kept saying, "I wonder what they have found in the

conserve of pomegranate grains to bring things to this pass!"

  When the Wazir returned to them after his visit to the Viceroy,

who had given him formal permission to take up his debtor and depart

with him, on entering the tents he called for the cook. They brought

him forward pinioned with his turban, and, when Badr al-Din Hasan

saw his uncle, he wept with exceeding weeping and said, "O my lord,

what is my offense against thee?" "Art thou the man who dressed that

conserve of pomegranate grains?" asked the Wazir, and he answered

"Yes! Didst thou find in it aught to call for the cutting off of my

head?" Quoth the Wazir, "That were the least of thy deserts!" Quoth

the cook, "O my lord, wilt thou not tell me my crime, and what

aileth the conserve of pomegranate grains?" "Presently," replied the

Wazir, and called aloud to his men, saying "Bring hither the camels."

  So they struck the tents and by the Wazir's orders the servants took

Badr al-Din Hasan and set him in a chest which they padlocked and

put on a camel. Then they departed and stinted not journeying till

nightfall, when they halted and ate some victual, and took Badr al-Din

Hasan out of his chest and gave him a meal and locked him up again.

They set out once more and traveled till they reached Kimrah, where

they took him out of the box and brought him before the Wazir, who

asked him, "Art thou he who dressed that conserve of pomegranate

grains?" He answered "Yes, O my lord!" and the Wazir said, "Fetter

him!" So they fettered him and returned him to the chest and fared

on again till they reached Cairo and lighted at the quarter called

Al-Raydaniyah. Then the Wazir gave order to take Badr al-Din Hasan out

of the chest and sent for a carpenter and said to him, "Make me a

cross of wood for this fellow!" Cried Badr al-Din Hasan, "And what

wilt thou do with it?" and the Wazir replied, "I mean to crucify

thee thereon, and nail thee thereto and parade thee all about the

city."

  "And why wilt thou use me after this fashion?" "Because of thy

villainous cookery of conserved pomegranate grains. How durst thou

dress it and sell it lacking pepper?" "And for that it lacked

pepper, wilt thou do all this to me? Is it not enough that thou hast

broken my shop and smashed my gear and boxed me up in a chest and

fed me only once a day?" "Too little pepper! Too little pepper! This

is a crime which can be expiated only upon the cross!" Then Badr

al-Din Hasan marveled and fell a-mourning for his life, whereupon

the Wazir asked him, "Of what thinkest thou?" and he answered him, "Of

maggoty heads like thine, for an thou had one ounce of sense, thou

hadst not treated me thus." Quoth the Wazir, "It is our duty to punish

thee, lest thou do the like again." Quoth Badr al-Din Hasan, "Of a

truth my offense were overpunished by the least of what thou hast

already done to me, and Allah damn all conserve of pomegranate

grains and curse the hour when I cooked it, and would I had died ere

this!" But the Wazir rejoined, "There is no help for it. I must

crucify a man who sells conserve of pomegranate grains lacking

pepper."

  All this time the carpenter was shaping the wood and Badr al-Din

looked on, and thus they did till night, when his uncle took him and

clapped him into the chest, saying, "The thing shall be done

tomorrow!" Then he waited till he knew Badr al-Din Hasan to be asleep,

when he mounted and, taking the chest up before him, entered the

city and rode on to his own house, where he alighted and said to his

daughter, Sitt al-Husn, "Praised be Allah Who hath reunited thee

with thy husband, the son of thine uncle! Up now, and order the

house as it was on thy bridal night." So the servants arose and lit

the candles, and the Wazir took out his plan of the nuptial chamber,

and directed them what to do till they had set everything in its

stead, so that whoever saw it would have no doubt but it was the

very night of the marriage. Then he bade them put down Badr al-Din

Hasan's turban on the settle, as he had deposited it with his own

hand, and in like manner his bag trousers and the purse which were

under the mattress, and told his daughter to undress herself and go to

bed in the private chamber as on her wedding night, adding: "When

the son of thine uncle comes in to thee say to him, 'Thou hast

loitered while going to the privy,' and call him to lie by thy side

and keep him in converse till daybreak, when we will explain the whole

matter to him."

  Then he bade take Badr al-Din Hasan out of the chest, after

loosing the fetters from his feet and stripping off all that was on

him save the fine shirt of blue silk in which he had slept on his

wedding night, so that he was well-nigh naked, and trouserless. All

this was done whilst he was sleeping on utterly unconscious. Then,

by doom of Destiny, Badr al-Din Hasan turned over and awoke, and

finding himself in a lighted vestibule, said to himself, "Surely I

am in the mazes of some dream." So he rose and went on a little to

an inner door and looked in, and lo! he was in the very chamber

wherein the bride had been displayed to him, and there he saw the

bridal alcove and the settle and his turban and all his clothes.

  When he saw this, he was confounded, and kept advancing with one

foot and retiring with the other, saying, "Am I sleeping or waking?"

And he began rubbing his forehead and saying (for indeed he was

thoroughly astounded): "By Allah, verily this is the chamber of the

bride who was displayed before me! Where am I, then? I was surely

but now in a box!" Whilst he was talking with himself, Sitt al-Husn

suddenly lifted the corner of the chamber curtain and said, "O my

lord, wilt thou not come in? Indeed thou hast loitered long in the

watercloset." When he heard her words and saw her face, he burst out

laughing and said, "Of a truth this is a very nightmare among dreams!"

Then he went in sighing, and pondered what had come to pass with him

and was perplexed about his case, and his affair became yet more

obscure to him when he saw his turban and bag trousers and when,

feeling the pocket, he found the purse containing the thousand gold

pieces. So he stood still and muttered: "Allah is All-knowing!

Assuredly I am dreaming a wild waking dream!"

  Then said the Lady of Beauty to him, "What ails thee to look puzzled

and perplexed?" adding, "Thou wast a very different man during the

first of the night!" He laughed and asked her, "How long have I been

away from thee?" and she answered him: "Allah preserve thee and His

Holy Name be about thee! Thou didst but go out an hour ago for an

occasion and return. Are thy wits clean gone?" When Badr al-Din

Hasan heard this, he laughed and said: "Thou hast spoken truth, but

when I went out from thee, I forgot myself awhile in the

draughthouse and dreamed that I was a cook at Damascus and abode there

ten years, and there came to me a boy who was of the sons of the

great, and with him a eunuch." Here he passed his hand over his

forehead and, feeling the scar, cried: "By Allah, O my lady, it must

have been true, for he struck my forehead with a stone and cut it open

from eyebrow to eyebrow, and here is the mark, so it must have been on

wake." Then he added: "But perhaps I dreamt it when we fell asleep,

I and thou, in each other's arms, for meseems it was as though I

traveled to Damascus without tarboosh and trousers and set up as a

cook there."

  Then he was perplexed and considered for a while, and said: "By

Allah, I also fancied that I dressed a conserve of pomegranate

grains and put too little pepper in it. By Allah, I must have slept in

the numero-cent and have seen the whole of this is a dream, but how

long was that dream!" "Allah upon thee," said Sitt al-Husn, "and

what more sawest thou?" So he related all to her, and presently

said, "By Allah, had I not woke up, they would have nailed me to a

cross of wood!" "Wherefore?" asked she, and he answered: "For

putting too little pepper in the conserve of pomegranate grains, and

meseemed they demolished my shop and dashed to pieces my pots and

pans, destroyed all my stuff, and put me in a box. Then they sent

for the carpenter to fashion a cross for me and would have crucified

me thereon. Now Alhamdolillah! thanks be to Allah, for that all this

happened to me in sleep, and not on wake." Sitt al-Husn laughed and

clasped him to her bosom and he her to his.

  Then he thought again and said: "By Allah, it could not be save

while I was awake. Truly I know not what to think of it." Then he

lay down, and all the night he was bewildered about his case, now

saying, "I was dreaming!" and then saying, "I was awake!" till

morning, when his uncle Shams al-Din, the Wazir, came too him and

saluted him. When Badr al-Din Hasan saw him he said: "By Allah, art

thou not he who bade bind my hands behind me and smash my shop and

nail me to a cross on a matter of conserved pomegranate grains because

the dish lacked a sufficiency of pepper?" Whereupon the Wazir said

to him: "Know, O my son, that truth hath shown it soothfast and the

concealed hath been revealed! Thou art the son of my brother, and I

did all this with thee to certify myself that thou wast indeed he

who went in unto my daughter that night. I could not be sure of this

till I saw that thou knewest the chamber and thy turban and thy

trousers and thy gold and the papers in thy writing and in that of thy

father, my brother, for I had never seen thee afore that and knew thee

not. And as to thy mother, I have prevailed upon her to come with me

from Bassorah."

  So saying, he threw himself on his nephew's breast and wept for joy,

and Badr al-Din Hasan, hearing these words from his uncle, marveled

with exceeding marvel and fell on his neck and also shed tears for

excess of delight. Then said the Wazir to him, "O my son, the sole

cause of all this is what passed between me and thy sire," and he told

him the manner of his father wayfaring to Bassorah and all that had

occurred to part them. Lastly the Wazir sent for Ajib, and when his

father saw him he cried, "And this is he who struck me with the

stone!" Quoth the Wazir, "This is thy son!" And Badr al-Din Hasan

threw himself upon his boy and began repeating:



     "Long have I wept o'er severance' ban and bane,

     Long from mine eyelids tear rills rail and rain.

     And vowed I if Time reunion bring,

     My tongue from name of "Severance" I'll restrain.

     Joy hath o'ercome me to this stress that I

     From joy's revulsion to shed tears am fain.

     Ye are so trained to tears, O eyne of me!

     You weep with pleasure as you weep in pain."



When he had ended his verse his mother came in and threw herself

upon him and began reciting:



          "When we met we complained,

          Our hearts were sore wrung.

          But plaint is not pleasant

          Fro' messenger's tongue."



Then she wept and related to him what had befallen her since his

departure, and he told her what he had suffered, and they thanked

Allah Almighty for their reunion.

  Two days after his arrival the Wazir Shams al-Din went in to the

Sultan and, kissing the ground between his hands, greeted him with the

greeting due to kings. The Sultan rejoiced at his return and his

face brightened and, placing him hard by his side, asked him to relate

all he had seen in his wayfaring and whatso had betided him in his

going and coming. So the Wazir told him all that had passed from first

to last and the Sultan said: "Thanks be to Allah for thy victory and

the winning of thy wish and thy safe return to thy children and thy

people! And now I needs must see the son of thy brother, Hasan of

Bassorah, so bring him to the audience hall tomorrow." Shams al-Din

replied, "Thy slave shall stand in thy presence tomorrow, Inshallah,

if it be God's will." Then he saluted him and, returning to his own

house, informed his nephew of the Sultan's desire to see him,

whereto replied Hasan, whilom the Bassorite, "Me slave is obedient

to the orders of his lord." And the result was that next day he

accompanied his uncle, Shams al-Din, to the Divan, and after

saluting the Sultan and doing him reverence in most ceremonious

obeisance and with most courtly obsequiousness, he began improvising

these verses:



     "The first in rank to kiss the ground shall deign

     Before you, and all ends and aims attain.

     You are Honor's fount, and all that hope of you,

     Shall gain more honor than Hope hoped to gain."



  The Sultan smiled and signed to him to sit down. So he took a seat

close to his uncle, Shams al-Din, and the King asked him his name.

Quoth Badr al-Din Hasan, "The meanest of thy slaves is known as

Hasan the Bassorite, who is instant in prayer for thee day and night."

The Sultan was pleased at his words and, being minded to test his

learning and prove his good breeding, asked him, "Dost thou remember

any verses in praise of the mole on the cheek?" He answered, "I do,"

and began reciting:



     "When I think of my love and our parting smart,

     My groans go forth and my tears upstart.

     He's a mole that reminds me in color and charms

     O' the black o' the eye and the grain of the heart."



The King admired and praised the two couplets and said to him:

"Quote something else. Allah bless thy sire, and may thy tongue

never tire!" So he began:



     That cheek mole's spot they evened with a grain

     Of Musk, nor did they here the simile strain.

     Nay, marvel at the face comprising all

     Beauty, nor falling short by single grain."



The King shook with pleasure and said to him: "Say more. Allah bless

thy days!" So be began:



     "O you whose mole on cheek enthroned recalls

     A dot of musk upon a stone of ruby,

     Grant me your favors! Be not stone at heart!

     Core of my heart, whose only sustenance you be!"



  Quoth the King: "Fair comparison, O Hasan! Thou hast spoken

excellently well and hast proved thyself accomplished in every

accomplishment! Now explain to me how many meanings be there in the

Arabic language for the word khal or mole." He replied, "Allah keep

the King! Seven and fifty, and some by tradition say fifty." Said

the Sultan, "Thou sayest sooth," presently adding, "Hast thou

knowledge as to the points of excellence in beauty?" "Yes," answered

Badr al-Din Hasan. "Beauty consisteth in brightness of face, clearness

of complexion, shapeliness of nose, gentleness of eyes, sweetness of

mouth, cleverness of speech, slenderness of shape, and seemliness of

all attributes. But the acme of beauty is in the hair and indeed

al-Shihab the Hijazi hath brought together all these items in his

doggrel verse of the meter Rajaz, and it is this:



     "Say thou to skin 'Be soft,' to face 'Be fair,'

     And gaze, nor shall they blame howso thou stare.

     Fine nose in Beauty's list is high esteemed,

     Nor less an eye full, bright and debonnair.

     Eke did they well to laud the lovely lips

     (Which e'en the sleep of me will never spare),

     A winning tongue, a stature tall and straight,

     A seemly union of gifts rarest rare.

     But Beauty's acme in the hair one views it,

     So hear my strain and with some few excuse it!"



  The Sultan was captivated by his converse and, regarding him as a

friend, asked, "What meaning is there in the saw 'Shurayh is foxier

than the fox'?" And he answered, "Know, O King (whom Almighty Allah

keep!), that the legist Shurayh was wont, during the days of the

plague, to make a visitation to Al-Najaf, and whenever he stood up

to pray, there came a fox which would plant himself facing him and

which, by mimicking his movements, distracted him from his

devotions. Now when this became longsome to him, one day he doffed his

shirt and set it upon a cane and shook out the sleeves. Then,

placing his turban on the top and girding its middle with a shawl,

he stuck it up in the place where he used to pray. Presently up

trotted the fox according to his custom and stood over against the

figure, whereupon Shurayh came behind him, and took him. Hence the

sayer saith, 'Shurayh is foxier than the fox.'" When the Sultan

heard Badr al-Din Hasan's explanation he said to his uncle, Shams

al-Din, "Truly this the son of thy brother is perfect in courtly

breeding and I do not think that his like can be found in Cairo." At

this Hasan arose and kissed the ground before him and sat down again

as a Mameluke should sit before his master.

  When the Sultan had thus assured himself of his courtly breeding and

bearing and his knowledge of the liberal arts and belles-lettres, he

joyed with exceeding joy and invested him with a splendid robe of

honor and promoted him to an office whereby he might better his

condition. Then Badr al-Din Hasan arose and, kissing the ground before

the King, wished him continuance of glory and asked leave to retire

with his uncle, the Wazir Shams al-Din. The Sultan gave him leave

and he issued forth, and the two returned home, where food was set

before them and they ate what Allah had given them. After finishing

his meal Hasan repaired to the sitting chamber of his wife, the Lady

of Beauty, and told her what had past between him and the Sultan,

whereupon quoth she: "He cannot fail to make thee a cup companion

and give thee largess in excess and load thee with favors and

bounties. So shalt thou, by Allah's blessing, dispread, like the

greater light, the rays of thy perfection wherever thou be, on shore

or on sea." Said he to her, "I purpose to recite a Kasidah, an ode, in

his praise, that he may redouble in affection for me." "Thou art right

in thine intent," she answered, "so gather thy wits together and weigh

thy words, and I shall surely see my husband favored with his

highest favor." Thereupon Hasan shut himself up and composed these

couplets on a solid base and abounding in inner grace and copied

them out in a handwriting of the nicest taste. They are as follows:



     Mine is a Chief who reached most haught estate,

     Treading the pathways of the good and great.

     His justice makes all regions safe and sure,

     And against froward foes bars every gate.

     Bold lion, hero, saint, e'en if you call

     Seraph or Sovran he with an may rate!

     The poorest suppliant rich from him returns,

     All words to praise him were inadequate.

     He to the day of peace is saffron Morn,

     And murky Night in furious warfare's bate,

     Bow 'neath his gifts our necks, and by his deeds

     As King of freeborn souls he 'joys his state.

     Allah increase for us his term of years,

     And from his lot avert all risks and fears!



  When he had finished transcribing the lines, he dispatched them in

charge of one of his uncle's slaves to the Sultan, who perused them,

and his fancy was pleased, so he read them to those present and all

praised them with the highest praise. Thereupon he sent for the writer

to his sitting chamber and said to him: "Thou art from this day

forth my boon companion, and I appoint to thee a monthly solde of a

thousand dirhams, over and above that I bestowed on thee aforetime."

So Hasan rose and, kissing the ground before the King several times,

prayed for the continuance of his greatness and glory and length of

life and strength. Thus Badr al-Din Hasan the Bassorite waxed high

in honor and his fame flew forth to many regions, and he abode in

all comfort and solace and delight of life with his uncle and his

own folk till death overtook him.

  When the Caliph Harun al-Rashid heard this story from the mouth of

his Wazir, Ja'afar the Barmecide, he marveled much and said, "It

behooves that these stories be written in letters of liquid gold."

Then he set the slaves at liberty and assigned to the youth who had

slain his wife such a monthly stipend as sufficed to make his life

easy. He also gave him a concubine from amongst his own slave girls,

and the young man became one of his cup companions.





  THE CITY OF MANY-COLUMNED IRAM AND ABDULLAH SON OF ABI KILABAH



  IT is related that Abdullah bin Abi Kilabah went forth in quest of a

she-camel which had strayed from him, and as he was wandering in the

deserts of Al-Yaman and the district of Saba, behold, he came a

great city girt by a vast castle around which were palaces and

pavilions that rose high into middle air. He made for the place

thinking to find there folk of whom he might ask concerning his

she-camel. But when he reached it, he found it desolate, without a

living soul in it. So (quoth he) I alighted and, hobbling my

dromedary, and composing my mind, entered into the city.

  Now when I came to the castle, I found it had two vast gates

(never in the world was seen their like for size and height) inlaid

with all manner jewels and jacinths, white and red, yellow and

green. Beholding this, I marveled with great marvel and thought the

case mighty wondrous. Then, entering the citadel in a flutter of

fear and dazed with surprise and affright, I found it long and wide,

about equaling Al-Medinah in point of size. And therein were lofty

palaces laid out in pavilions all built of gold and silver and

inlaid with many colored jewels and jacinths and chrysolites and

pearls. And the door leaves in the pavilions were like those of the

castle for beauty, and their floors were strewn with great pearls

and balls, no smaller than hazelnuts, of musk and ambergris and

saffron.

  Now when I came within the heart of the city and saw therein no

created beings of the Sons of Adam, I was near swooning and dying

for fear. Moreover, I looked down from the great roofs of the pavilion

chambers and their balconies and saw rivers running under them, and in

the main streets were fruit-laden trees and tall palms, and the manner

of their building was one brick of gold and one of silver. So I said

to myself, "Doubtless this is the Paradise promised for the world to

come." Then I loaded me with the jewels of its gravel and the musk

of its dust as much as I could carry, and returned to my own

country, where I told the folk what I had seen.

  After a time the news reached Mu'awiyah, son of Abu Sufyan, who

was then Caliph in Al-Hijaz, so he wrote to his lieutenant in San'a of

Al-Yaman to send for the teffer of the story and question him of the

truth of the case. Accordingly the lieutenant summoned me and

questioned me of my adventure and of all appertaining to it, and I

told him what I had seen, whereupon he dispatched me to Mu'awiyah,

before whom I, repeated the story of the strange sights, but he

would not credit it. So I brought out to him some of the pearls and

balls of musk and ambergris and saffron, in which latter there was

still some sweet savor, but the pearls were grown yellow and had

lost pearly color.

  Now Mu'awiyah wondered at this and, sending for Ka'ab al-Ahbar, said

to him, "O Ka'ab, I have sent for thee to ascertain the truth of a

certain matter and hope that thou wilt be able to certify me thereof."

Asked Ka'ab, "What is it, O Commander of the Faithful?" and

Mu'awiyah answered, "Wottest thou of any city founded by man which

is builded of gold and silver, the pillars whereof are of chrysolite

and rubies and its gravel pearls and bans of musk and ambergris and

saffron?" He replied, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, this is 'Iram

with pillars decked and dight, the like of which was never made in the

lands,' and the builder was Shaddad son of Ad the Greater." Quoth

the Caliph, 'Tell us something of its history," and Ka'ab said:

  "Ad the Greater had two sons, Shadid and Shaddad, who when their

father died ruled conjointly in his stead, and there was no King of

the Kings of the earth but was subject to them. After awhile Shadid

died and his brother Shaddad reigned over the earth alone. Now he

was fond of reading in antique books, and happening upon the

description of the world to come and of Paradise, with its pavilions

and pileries and trees and fruits and so forth, his soul move him to

build the like thereof in this world, after the fashion aforesaid. Now

under his hand were a hundred thousand kings, each ruling over a

hundred thousand chiefs, commanding each a hundred thousand

warriors, so he called these all before him and said to them: 'I

find in ancient books and annals a description of Paradise as it is to

be in the next world, and I desire to build me its like in this world.

Go ye forth therefore to the goodliest tract on earth and the most

spacious, and build me there a city of gold and silver, whose gravel

shall be chrysolite and rubies and pearls, and for support of its

vaults make pillars of jasper. Fill it with palaces, whereon ye

shall set galleries and balconies, and plant its lanes and

thoroughfares with all manner trees bearing yellow-ripe fruits, and

make rivers to run through it in channels of gold and silver.'

  "Whereat said one and all, 'How are we able to do this thing thou

hast commanded, and whence shall we get the chrysolites and rubies and

pearls whereof thou speakest?' Quoth he, 'What! Weet ye not that the

kings of the world are subject to me and under my hand and that none

therein dare gainsay my word?' Answered they, 'Yes, we know that.'

Whereupon the King rejoined, 'Fare ye then to the mines of chrysolites

and rubies and pearls and gold and silver and collect their produce

and gather together all of value that is in the world, and spare no

pains and leave naught. And take also for me such of these things as

be in men's hands and let nothing escape you. Be diligent and beware

of disobedience.' And thereupon he wrote letters to all the kings of

the world and bade them gather together whatso of these things was

in their subjects' hands, and get them to the mines of precious stones

and metals, and bring forth all that was therein, even from the

abysses of the seas.

  "This they accomplished in the space of twenty years, for the number

of rulers then reigning over the earth was three hundred and sixty

kings. And Shaddad presently assembled from all lands and countries

architects and engineers and men of art and laborers and

handicraftsmen, who dispersed over the world and explored all the

wastes and wolds and tracts and holds. At last they came to an

uninhabited spot, a vast and fair open plain clear of sand hills and

mountains, with founts flushing and rivers rushing, and they said,

'This is the manner of place the King commanded us to seek and ordered

us to find.' So they busied themselves in building the city even as

bade them Shaddad, King of the whole earth in its length and

breadth, leading the fountains in channels and laying the

foundations after the prescribed fashion. Moreover, all the kings of

earth's several reigns sent thither jewels and precious stones and

pearls large and small and carnelian and refined gold and virgin

silver upon camels by land, and in great ships over the waters, and

there came to the builders' hands of all these materials so great a

quantity as may neither be told nor counted nor conceived.

  "So they labored at the work three hundred years, and when they

had brought it to end, they went to King Shaddad and acquainted him

therewith. Then said he: 'Depart and make thereon an impregnable

castle, rising and towering high in air, and build around it a

thousand pavilions, each upon a thousand columns of chrysolite and

ruby and vaulted with gold, that in each pavilion a wazir may

dwell.' So they returned forthwith and did this in other twenty years,

after which they again presented themselves before King Shaddad and

informed him of the accomplishment of his will. Then he commanded

his wazirs, who were a thousand in number, and his chief officers

and such of his troops and others as he put trust in, to prepare for

departure and removal to Many-columned Iram, in the suite and at the

stirrup of Shaddad, son of Ad, King of the world, and he bade also

such as he would of his women and his harem and of his handmaids and

eunuchs make them ready for the journey.

  "They spent twenty years in preparing for departure, at the end of

which time Shaddad set out with his host, rejoicing in the

attainment of his desire till there remained but one day's journey

between him and Iram of the Pillars. Then Allah sent down on him and

on the stubborn unbelievers with him a mighty rushing sound from the

Heavens of His power, which destroyed them all with its vehement

clamor, and neither Shaddad nor any of his company set eyes on the

city. Moreover, Allah blotted out the road which led to the city,

and it stands in its stead unchanged until the Resurrection Day and

the Hour of Judgment."

  So Mu'awiyah wondered greatly at Ka'ab al-Ahbar's story, and said to

him, "Hath any mortal ever made his way to that city?" He replied,

"Yes, one of the companions of Mohammed (on whom be blessing and

peace!) reached it, doubtless and for sure after the same fashion as

this man here seated." And (quoth Al-Sha'abi) it is related, on the

authority of learned men of Himyar in Al-Yaman that Shaddad, when

destroyed with all his host by the sound, was succeeded in his

kingship by his son Shaddad the Less, whom he left viceregent in

Hazramaut and Saba when he and his marched upon Many-columned Iram.

Now as soon as he heard of his father's death on the road, he caused

his body to be brought back from the desert to Hazramaut and bade them

hew him out a tomb in a cave, where he laid the body on a throne of

gold and threw over the corpse threescore and ten robes of cloth of

gold, purfled with precious stones. Lastly at his sire's head he set

up a tablet of gold whereon were graven these verses:



        Take warning O proud,

        And in length o' life vain!

        I'm Shaddad son of Ad,

        Of the forts castellain,

        Lord of pillars and power,

        Lord of tried might and main,

        Whom all earth sons obeyed

        For my mischief and bane,

        And who held East and West

        In mine awfulest reign.

        He preached me salvation

        Whom God did assain,

        But we crossed him and asked,

        "Can no refuge be ta'en?"

        When a Cry on us cried

        From th' horizon plain,

        And we fell on the field

        Like the harvested grain,

        And the Fixt Day await

        We, in earth's bosom lain!



  Al-Sa'alibi also relateth: It chanced that two men once entered this

cave and found steps at its upper end, so they descended and came to

an underground chamber, a hundred cubits long by forty wide and a

hundred high. In the midst stood a throne of gold, whereon lay a man

of huge bulk, filling the whole length and breadth of the throne. He

was covered with jewels and raiment gold-and-silver wrought, and at

his head was a tablet of gold bearing an inscription. So they took the

tablet and carried it off, together with as many bars of gold and

silver and so forth as they could bear away.

  And men also relate the tale of

                THE SWEEP AND THE NOBLE LADY



  DURING the season of the Meccan pilgrimage, whilst the people were

making circuit about the Holy House and the place of compassing was

crowded, behold, a man laid hold of the covering of the Ka'aba and

cried out from the bottom of his heart, saying, "I beseech thee, O

Allah, that she may once again be wroth with her husband and that I

may know her!" A company of the pilgrims heard him and seized him

and carried him to the Emir of the pilgrims, after a sufficiency of

blows, and, said they, "O Emir, we found this fellow in the Holy

Places, saying thus and thus." So the Emir commanded to hang him,

but he cried, "O Emir, I conjure thee, by the virtue of the Apostle

(whom Allah bless and preserve!), hear my story and then do with me as

thou wilt." Quoth the Emir, "Tell thy tale forthright."

  "Know then, O Emir," quoth the man, "that I am a sweep who works

in the sheep slaughterhouses and carries off the blood and the offal

to the rubbish heaps outside the gates. And it came to pass as I

went along one day with my ass loaded, I saw the people running away

and one of them said to me, 'Enter this alley, lest haply they slay

thee.' Quoth I, 'What aileth the folk running away?' and one of the

eunuchs who were passing said to me, 'This is the harem of one of

the notables, and her eunuchs drive the people out of her way and beat

them all, without respect to persons.' So I turned aside with the

donkey and stood still awaiting the dispersal of the crowd, and I

saw a number of eunuchs with staves in their hands, followed by nigh

thirty women slaves, and amongst them a lady as she were a willow wand

or a thirsty gazelle, perfect in beauty and grace and amorous languor,

and all were attending upon her.

  "Now when she came to the mouth of the passage where I stood, she

turned right and left and calling one of the castratos, whispered in

his ear, and behold, he came up to me and laid hold of me, whilst

another eunuch took my ass and made off with it. And when the

spectators fled, the first eunuch bound me with a rope and dragged

me after him, till I knew not what to do, and the people followed us

and cried out, saying: 'This is not allowed of Allah! What hath this

poor scavenger done that he should be bound with ropes?' and praying

the eunuchs, 'Have pity on him and let him go, so Allah have pity on

you!' And I the while said in my mind: 'Doubtless the eunuchry

seized me because their mistress smelt the stink of the offal and it

sickened her. Belike she is with child or ailing, but there is no

Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"

  "So I continued walking on behind them till they stopped at the door

of a great house, and, entering before me, brought me into a big

hall- I know not how I shall describe its magnificence- furnished with

the finest furniture. And the women also entered the hall, and I bound

and held by the eunuch and saying to myself, 'Doubtless they will

torture me here till I die and none know of my death.' However,

after a while they carried me into a neat bathroom leading out of

the hall, and as I sat there, behold, in came three slave girls, who

seated themselves round me and said to me, 'Strip off thy rags and

tatters.' So I pulled off my threadbare clothes and one of them fell

a-rubbing my legs and feet whilst another scrubbed my head and a third

shampooed my body. When they had made an end of washing me, they

brought me a parcel of clothes and said to me, 'Put these on,' and I

answered, 'By Allah, I know not how!' So they came up to me and

dressed me, laughing together at me the while. After which they

brought casting bottles full of rose-water, and sprinkled me

therewith.

  "Then I went out with them into another saloon- by Allah, I know

not how to praise its splendor for the wealth of paintings and

furniture therein- and entering it, I saw a person seated on a couch

of Indian rattan with ivory feet, and before her a number of damsels.

When she saw me, she rose to me and called me, so I went up to her and

she seated me by her side. Then she bade her slave girls bring food,

and they brought all manner of rich meats, such as I never saw in

all my life. I do not even know the names of the dishes, much less

their nature. So I ate my fill, and when the dishes had been taken

away and we had washed our hands, she called for fruits, which came

without stay or delay, and ordered me eat of them. And when we had

ended eating she bade one of the waiting women bring the wine

furniture. So they set on flagons of divers kinds of wine and burned

perfumes in all the censers, what while a damsel like the moon rose

and served us with wine to the sound of the smitten strings. And I

drank, and the lady drank, till we were swized with wine and the whole

time I doubted not but that all this was an illusion of sleep.

  "Presently, she signed to one of the damsels to spread us a bed in

such a place, which being done, she rose and took me by the hand and

led me thither, and lay down and I lay with her till the morning,

and as often as I pressed her to my breast I smelt the delicious

fragrance of musk and other perfumes that exaled from her, and could

not think otherwise but that I was in Paradise, or in the vain

phantasies of a dream. Now when it was day, she asked me where I

lodged and I told her, 'In such a place,' whereupon she gave me

leave to depart, handing to me a kerchief worked with gold and

silver and containing somewhat tied in it, and took leave of me,

saying, 'Go to the bath with this.' I rejoiced and said to myself, 'If

there be but five coppers here, it will buy me this day my morning

meal.'

  "Then I left her, as though I were leaving Paradise, and returned to

my poor crib, where I opened the kerchief and found in it fifty

miskals of gold. So I buried them in the ground and, buying two

farthings' worth of bread and "kitchen," seated me at the door and

broke my fast. After which I sat pondering my case, and continued so

doing till the time of afternoon prayer, when lo! a slave girl

accosted me saying, 'My mistress calleth for thee.' I followed her

to the house aforesaid and, after asking permission, she carried me

into the lady, before whom I kissed the ground, and she commanded me

to sit and called for meat and wine as on the previous day. After

which I again lay with her all night. On the morrow, she gave me a

second kerchief, with other fifty dinars therein, and I took it and,

going home, buried this also. In such pleasant condition I continued

eight days running, going in to her at the hour of afternoon prayer

and leaving her at daybreak, but on the eighth night, as I lay with

her, behold, one of her slave girls came running in and said to me,

'Arise, go up into yonder closet.'

  "So I rose and went into the closet, which was over the gate, and

presently I heard a great clamor and tramp of horse, and, looking

out of the window which gave on the street in front of the house, I

saw a young man as he were the rising moon on the night of fullness

come riding up attended by a number of servants and soldiers who

were about him on foot. He alighted at the door and entering the

saloon, found the lady seated on the couch. So he kissed the ground

between her hands, then came up to her and kissed her hands, but she

would not speak to him. However, he continued patiently to humble

himself, and soothe her and speak her fair, till he made his peace

with her, and they lay together that night. Now when her husband had

made his peace with the young lady, he lay with her that night, and

next morning the soldiers came for him and he mounted and rode away,

whereupon she drew near to me and said, 'Sawest thou yonder man?' I

answered, 'Yes,' and she said, 'He is my husband, and I will tell thee

what befell me with him.'

  "It came to pass one, day that we were sitting, he and I, in the

garden within the house, and behold, he rose from my side and was

absent a long while, till I grew tired of waiting and said to

myself, 'Most like, he is in the privy.' So I arose and went to the

watercloset, but not finding him there, went down to the kitchen,

where I saw a slave girl, and when I enquired for him, she showed

him to me lying with one of the cookmaids. Hereupon I swore a great

oath that I assuredly would do adultery with the foulest and filthiest

man in Baghdad, and the day the eunuch laid hands on thee, I had

been four days going round about the city in quest of one who should

answer to this description, but found none fouler nor filthier than

thy good self. So I took thee and there passed between us that which

Allah foreordained to us, and now I am quit of my oath.'

  "Then she added, 'If, however, my husband return yet a pin to the

cookmaid and lie with her, I will restore thee to thy lost place in my

favors.' Now when I heard these words from her lips, what while she

pierced my heart with the shafts of her glances, my tears streamed

forth till my eyelids were chafed sore with weeping. Then she made

them give me other fifty dinars (making in all four hundred gold

pieces I had of her) and bade me depart. So I went out from her and

came hither, that I might pray Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) to

make her husband return to the cookmaid, that haply I might be again

admitted to her favors."

  When the Emir of the pilgrims heard the man's story, he set him free

and said to the bystanders, "Allah upon you, pray for him, for

indeed he is excusable."





     THE MAN WHO STOLE THE DISH OF GOLD WHEREIN THE DOG ATE



  SOME time erst there was a man who had accumulated debts, and his

case was straitened upon him so that he left his people and family and

went forth in distraction, and he ceased not wandering on at random

till he came after a time to a city tall of walls and firm of

foundations. He entered it in a state of despondency and despair,

harried by hunger and worn with the weariness of his way. As he passed

through one of the main streets, he saw a company of the great going

along, so he followed them till they reached a house like to a royal

palace. He entered with them, and they stayed not faring forward

till they came in presence of a person seated at the upper end of a

saloon, a man of the most dignified and majestic aspect, surrounded by

pages and eunuchs, as he were of the sons of the wazirs. When he saw

the visitors, he rose to greet them and received them with honor,

but the poor man aforesaid was confounded at his own boldness when

beholding the goodliness of the place and the crowd of servants and

attendants, so drawing back in perplexity and fear for his life, sat

down apart in a place afar off, where none should see him.

  Now it chanced that whilst he was sitting, behold, in came a man

with four sporting dogs, whereon were various kinds of raw silk and

brocade and wearing round their necks collars of gold with chains of

silver, and tied up each dog in a place set privy for him. After which

he went out and presently returned with four dishes of gold, full of

rich meats, which he set severally before the dogs, one for each. Then

he went away and left them, whilst the poor man began to eye the

food for stress of hunger, and longed to go up to one of the dogs

and eat with him. But fear of them withheld him. Presently, one of the

dogs looked at him and Allah Almighty inspired the dog with a

knowledge of his case, so he drew back from the platter and signed

to the man, who came and ate till he was filled. Then he would have

withdrawn, but the dog again signed to him to take for himself the

dish and what food was left in it, and pushed it toward him with his

forepaw. 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

with the price a stock in trade, returned to his own town. There he

sold his goods and paid his debts, and he throve and became affluent

and rose to perfect prosperity. He abode in his own land, but after

some years had passed he said to himself, "Needs must I repair to

the city of the owner of the dish, and carry him a fit and handsome

present and pay him the money value of that which his dog bestowed

upon me." So he took the price of the dish and a suitable gift, and

setting out, journeyed day and night till he came to that city. He

entered it and sought the place where the man lived, but he found

there naught save ruins moldering in row and croak of crow, and

house and home desolate and all conditions in changed state. At

this, his heart and soul were troubled, and he repeated the saying

of him who saith:



     "Void are the private rooms of treasury.

     As void were hearts of fear and piety.

     Changed is the wady, nor are its gazelles

     Those fawns, nor sand hills those I wont to see."



  Now when the man saw these moldering ruins and witnessed what the

hand of time had manifestly done with the place, leaving but traces of

the substantial things that erewhiles had been, a little reflection

made it needless for him to inquire of the case, so he turned away.

Presently, seeing a wretched man, in a plight which made him shudder

and feel goose skin, and which would have moved the very rock to ruth,

he said to him: "Ho, thou! What have time and fortune done with the

lord of this place? Where are his lovely faces, his shining full moons

and splendid stars? And what is the cause of the ruin that is come

upon his abode, so that nothing save the walls thereof remain?"

Quoth the other: "He is the miserable thou seest mourning that which

hath left him naked. But knowest thou not the words of the Apostle

(whom Allah bless and keep!), wherein is a lesson to him who will

learn by it and a warning to whoso will be warned thereby and guided

in the right way, 'Verily it is the way of Allah Almighty to raise

up nothing of this world, except He cast it down again'?

  "If thou question of the cause of this accident, indeed it is no

wonder, considering the chances and changes of Fortune. I was the lord

of this place and I builded it and founded it and owned it, and I

was the proud possessor of its full moons lucent and its

circumstance resplendent and its damsels radiant and its garniture

magnificent, but Time turned and did away from me wealth and

servants and took from me what it had lent (not given), and brought

upon me calamities which it held in store hidden. But there must needs

be some reason for this thy question, so tell it me and leave

wondering."

  Thereupon the man who had waxed wealthy, being sore concerned,

told him the whole story, and added: "I have brought thee a present,

such as souls desire, and the price of thy dish of gold which I

took; for it was the cause of my affluence after poverty, and of the

replenishment of my dwelling place after desolation, and of the

dispersion of my trouble and straitness." But the man shook his head

and weeping and groaning and complaining of his lot, answered: "Ho,

thou! Methinks thou art mad, for this is not the way of a man of

sense. How should a dog of mine make generous gift to thee of a dish

of gold and I meanly take back the price of what a dog gave? This were

indeed a strange thing! Were I in extremest unease and misery, by

Allah, I would not accept of thee aught- no, not the worth of a nail

paring! So return whence thou camest in health and safety."

Whereupon the merchant kissed his feet and taking leave of him,

returned whence he came, praising him and reciting this couplet:



     "Men and dogs together are all gone by,

     So peace be with all of them, dogs and men!"



And Allah is All-knowing!

  Again men tell the tale of






      THE RUINED MAN WHO BECAME RICH AGAIN THROUGH A DREAM



  THERE lived once in Baghdad a wealthy man and made of money, who

lost all his substance and became so destitute that he could earn

his living only by hard labor. One night he lay down to sleep dejected

and heavyhearted, and saw in a dream a speaker who said to him,

"Verily thy fortune is in Cairo. Go thither and seek it." So he set

out for Cairo, but when he arrived there, evening overtook him and

he lay down to sleep in a mosque. Presently, by decree of Allah

Almighty a band of bandits entered the mosque and made their way

thence into an adjoining house, but the owners, being aroused by the

noise of the thieves, awoke and cried out. Whereupon the Chief of

Police came to their aid with his officers.

  The robbers made off, but the Wali entered the mosque, and finding

the man from Baghdad asleep there, laid hold of him and beat him

with palm rods so grievous a beating that he was well-nigh dead.

Then they cast him into jail, where he abode three days, after which

the Chief of Police sent for him and asked him, "Whence art thou?" and

he answered, "From Baghdad." Quoth the Wali, "And what brought thee to

Cairo?" and quoth the Baghdadi, "I saw in a dream One who said to

me, 'Thy fortune is in Cairo. Go thither to it.' But when I came to

Cairo the fortune which he promised me proved to be the palm rods thou

so generously gavest to me."

  The Wali laughed till he showed his wisdom 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 in such a district and of such a fashion and its

courtyard is laid out gardenwise, at the lower end whereof is a

jetting fountain and under the same a great sum of money lieth buried.

Go thither and take it.' Yet I went not, but thou, of the briefness of

thy wit, hast journeyed from place to place on the faith of a dream,

which was but an idle galimatias of sleep."

  Then he gave him money, saying, "Help thee back herewith to thine

own country," and he took the money and set out upon his homeward

march. Now the house the Wali had described was the man's own house in

Baghdad, so the wayfarer returned thither and, digging underneath

the fountain in his garden, discovered a great treasure. And thus

Allah gave him abundant fortune, and a marvelous coincidence occurred.

  And a story is also current of






                       THE EBONY HORSE



  THERE was once in times of yore and ages long gone before, a great

and puissant King, of the kings of the Persians, Sabur by name, who

was the richest of all the kings in store of wealth and dominion and

surpassed each and every in wit and wisdom. He was generous,

openhanded and beneficent, and he gave to those who sought him and

repelled not those who resorted to him, and he comforted the

brokenhearted and honorably entreated those who fled to him for

refuge. Moreover, he loved the poor and was hospitable to strangers

and did the oppressed justice upon the oppressor. He had three

daughters, like full moons of shining light or flower gardens blooming

bright, and a son as he were the moon. And it was his wont to keep two

festivals in the twelvemonth, those of the Nau-Roz, or New Year, and

Mihrgan, the Autumnal Equinox, on which occasions he threw open his

palaces and gave largess and made proclamation of safety and

security and promoted his chamberlains and viceroys. And the people of

his realm came in to him and saluted him and gave him joy of the

holy day, bringing him gifts and servants and eunuchs.

  Now he loved science and geometry, and one festival day as he sat on

his kingly throne there came in to him three wise men, cunning

artificers and past masters in all manner of craft and inventions,

skilled in making things curious and rare, such as confound the wit,

and versed in the knowledge of occult truths and perfect in

mysteries and subtleties. And they were of three different tongues and

countries: the first a Hindi or Indian, the second a Roumi or Greek,

and the third a Farsi or Persian. The Indian came forward and,

prostrating himself before the King, wished him joy of the festival

and laid before him a present befitting his dignity; that is to say, a

man of gold, set with precious gems and jewels of price and hending in

hand a golden trumpet. When Sabur saw this, he asked, "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 clarion against

him and he will be seized with a palsy and drop down dead." Much the

King marveled at this and cried, "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 chicks of the same

metal. Sabur 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 passeth, it pecketh one

of its young and crieth out and flappeth its wing, till the four and

twenty hours are accomplished. And when the month cometh to an end, it

will open its mouth and thou shalt see the crescent 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 the blackest ebony wood inlaid

with gold and jewels, and ready harnessed with saddle, bridle, and

stirrups such as befit kings, which when Sabur saw, he marveled with

exceeding marvel and was confounded at the beauty of its form and

the ingenuity of its fashion. So he asked, "What is the use of this

horse of wood, and what is its virtue and what the secret of its

movement?" and the Persian answered, "O my lord, 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 and cover the space of a

year in a single day."

  The King marveled and was amazed at these three wonders, following

thus hard upon one another on the same day, and turning to the sage,

said to him: "By Allah the Omnipotent, and our Lord the Beneficent,

who created all creatures and feedeth them with meat and drink, an thy

speech be veritable and the virtue of thy contrivance appear, I will

assuredly give thee whatsoever thou lustest for and will bring thee to

thy desire and thy wish!" Then he entertained the sages three days,

that he might make trial of their gifts, after which they brought

the figures before him and each took the creature he had wroughten and

showed him the mystery of its movement. The trumpeter blew the

trump, the peacock pecked its chicks, and the Persian sage mounted the

ebony horse, whereupon it soared with him high in air and descended

again. When King Sabur saw all this, he was amazed and perplexed and

felt like to fly for joy and said to the three sages: "Now I am

certified of the truth of your words and it behooveth me to quit me of

my promise. Ask ye, therefore, what ye will, and I will give you

that same."

  Now the report 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 allow us to prefer a request to him, we crave of him that he

give us his three daughters in marriage, that we may be his

sons-inlaw, for that the stability of kings may not be gainsaid."

Quoth the King, "I grant you that which you wish and you desire,"

and bade summon the kazi forthright, that he might marry each of the

sages to one of his daughters. Now it fortuned that the Princesses

were behind a curtain, looking on, and when they heard this, the

youngest considered her husband-to-be and behold, he was an old man, a

hundred years of age, with hair frosted, forehead drooping, eyebrows

mangy, ears slitten, beard and mustachios stained and dyed, eyes red

and goggle, cheeks bleached and hollow, flabby nose like a brinjall or

eggplant, face like a cobblees apron, teeth overlapping and lips

like camel's kidneys, loose and pendulous- in brief, a terror, a

horror, a monster, for he was of the folk of his time the unsightliest

and of his age the frightfulest. Sundry of his grinders had been

knocked out and his eyeteeth were like the tusks of the Jinni who

frighteneth poultry in henhouses.

  Now the girl was the fairest and most graceful of her time, more

elegant than the gazelle, however tender, than the gentlest zephyr

blander, and brighter than the moon at her full, for amorous fray

right suitable, confounding in graceful sway the waving bough and

outdoing in swimming gait the pacing roe,- in fine, she was fairer

and sweeter by far than all 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 weeping and walling. Now

the Prince, her brother, Kamar al-Akmar, or the Moon of Moons hight,

was then newly returned from a journey and, hearing her weeping and

crying, came in to her (for he loved her with fond affection, more

than his other sisters) and asked her: "What aileth thee? What hath

befallen thee? Tell me, and conceal naught from me." So she smote

her breast and answered: "O my brother and my dear one, I have nothing

to hide. 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 make provision for me, and my Lord

will provide." Quoth he, "Tell me what meaneth this talk and what hath

straitened thy breast and troubled thy temper." "O my brother and my

dear one," answered the Princess, "know that my father hath promised

me in marriage to a wicked magician who brought him as a gift a

horse of black wood, and hath bewitched him with his craft and his

egromancy. 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 solaced her, then fared to his sire

and said: "What be this wizard to whom thou hast given my youngest

sister in marriage, and what is this present which he hast brought

thee, so that thou hast killed my sister with 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 and filled with fury, and

the King said, "O my son, an thou sawest this horse, thy wit would

be confounded and thou wouldst be amated with amazement." Then he bade

the slaves bring the horse before him and they did so, and, when the

Prince saw it, it pleased him. So (being an accomplished cavalier)

he mounted it forthright and struck its sides with the shovelshaped

stirrup irons. But it stirred not, and the King said to the sage,

"Go show him its movement, that he also may help thee to win thy

wish."

  Now the Persian bore the Prince a grudge because he willed not he

should have his sister, so he showed him the pin of ascent on the

right side of the horse and saying to him, "Trill this," left him.

Thereupon the Prince trilled the pin and lo! the horse forthwith

soared with him high in ether, as it were a bird, and gave not over

flying till it disappeared from men's espying, whereat the King was

troubled and perplexed about his case and said to the Persian, "O

Sage, look how thou mayst make him descend." But he replied, "O my

lord, I can do nothing, and thou wilt never see him again till

Resurrection Day, for he, of his ignorance and pride, asked me not

of the pin of descent, and I forgot to acquaint him therewith." When

the King heard this, he was enraged with sore rage, and bade bastinado

the sorcerer and clap him in jail, whilst he himself cast the crown

from his head and beat his face and smote his breast. Moreover, he

shut the doors of his palaces and gave himself up to weeping and

keening, he and his wife and daughters and all the folk of the city,

and thus their joy was turned to annoy and their gladness changed into

sore affliction and sadness.

  Thus far concerning them, but as regards the Prince, the horse

gave not over soaring with him till he drew near the sun, whereat he

gave himself up for lost and saw death in the sides, and was

confounded at his case, repenting him of having mounted the horse

and saying to himself: "Verily, this was a device of the sage to

destroy me on account of my youngest sister. But there is no Majesty

and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I am

lost without recourse, but I wonder, did not he who made the ascent

pin make also a descent pin?" Now he was a man of wit and knowledge

and intelligence, so he fell to feeling all the parts of the horse,

but saw nothing save a screw like a cock's head on its right

shoulder and the like on the left, when quoth he to himself, "I see no

sip save these things like button."

  Presently he turned the right-hand pin, whereupon the horse flew

heavenward with increased speed. So he left it, and looking at the

sinister shoulder and finding another pin, he wound it up and

immediately the steed's upward motion slowed and ceased and it began

to descend, little by little, toward the face of the earth, while

the rider became yet more cautious and careful of his life. And when

he saw this and knew the uses of the horse, his heart was filled

with joy and gladness and he thanked Almighty Allah for that He had

deigned deliver him from destruction. Then he began to turn the

horse's head whithersoever he would, making it rise and fall at

pleasure, till he had gotten complete mastery over its every movement.

He ceased not to descend the whole of that day, for that the steed's

ascending flight had borne him afar from the earth, and as he

descended, he diverted himself with viewing the various cities and

countries over which he passed and which he knew not, never having

seen them in his life.

  Amongst the rest, he decried a city ordered after the fairest

fashion in the midst of a verdant and riant land, rich in trees and

streams, with gazelles pacing daintily over the plains, whereat he

fell a-musing and said to himself, "Would I knew the name of yon

town and in what land it is!" And he took to circling about it and

observing it right and left. By this time, the day began to decline

and the sun drew near to its downing, and he said in his mind, "Verily

I find no goodlier place to night in than this city, so I will lodge

here, and early on the morrow I will return to my kith and kin and

my kingdom and tell my father and family what hath passed and acquaint

him with what mine eyes have seen.

  Then he addressed himself to seeking a place wherein he might safely

bestow himself and his horse and where none should descry him, and

presently, behold, he espied a-middlemost of the city a palace

rising high in upper air surrounded by a great wall with lofty

crenelles and battlements, guarded by forty black slaves clad in

complete mail and armed with spears and swords, bows and arrows. Quoth

he, "This is a goodly place," and turned the descent pin, whereupon

the horse sank down with him like a weary bird, and alighted gently on

the terrace roof of the palace. So the Prince dismounted and

ejaculating "Alhamdolillah- praise be to Allah," he began to go round

about the horse and examine it, saying: "By Allah, he who fashioned

thee with these perfections was a cunning craftsman, and if the

Almighty extend the term of my life and restore me to my country and

kinsfolk in safety and reunite me with my father, I will assuredly

bestow upon him all manner bounties and benefit him with the utmost

beneficence."

  By this time 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 nor drunk

water since he parted from his sire. So he said within himself,

"Surely the like of this palace will not lack of victual," and,

leaving the horse above, went down in search of somewhat to eat.

Presently he came to a staircase and, descending it to the bottom,

found himself in a court paved with white marble and alabaster,

which shone in the light of the moon. He marveled at the place and the

goodliness of its fashion, but sensed no sound of speaker and saw no

living soul and stood in perplexed surprise, looking right and left

and knowing not whither he should wend. Then said he to himself, "I

may not do better than return to where I left my horse and pass the

night by it, and as soon as day shall dawn I will mount and ride

away."

  However, as he tarried talking to himself, he espied a light

within the palace, and making toward it, found that it came from a

candle that stood before a door of the harem, at the head of a

sleeping eunuch, as he were one of the Ifrits of Solomon or a

tribesman of the Jinn, longer than lumber and broader than a bench. He

lay before the door, with the pommel of his sword gleaming in the

flame of the candle, and at his head was a bag of leather hanging from

a column of granite. When the Prince saw this, he was affrighted and

said, "I crave help from Allah the Supreme! O mine Holy One, even as

Thou hast already delivered me from destruction, so 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 aside

and opened it and found in it food of the best.

  He ate his fill and refreshed himself and drank water, after which

he hung up the provision bag in its place and drawing the eunuch's

sword from its sheath, took it, whilst the slave slept on, knowing not

whence Destiny should come to him. Then the Prince fared forward

into the palace and ceased not till he came to a second door, with a

curtain drawn before it. So he raised the curtain and, behold, on

entering he saw a couch of the whitest 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 thereon, and found a young lady lying

asleep, chemised with her hair as she were the full moon rising over

the eastern horizon, with flower-white brow and shining hair parting

and cheeks like blood-red anemones, and dainty moles thereon. He was

amazed at her as she lay in her beauty and loveliness, her symmetry

and grace, and he recked no more of death.

  So he went up to her, trembling in every nerve, and, shuddering with

pleasure, kissed her on the right cheek, whereupon she awoke

forthright and opened her eyes, 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." Asked she, "And who brought thee

hither?" and he answered, "My Lord and my fortune." Then said Shams

al-Nahar (for such was her name) "Haply thou art he who demanded me

yesterday of my father in marriage and he rejected thee, pretending

that thou wast foul of favor. By Allah, my sire lied in his throat

when he spoke this thing, for thou art not other than beautiful."

Now the son of the King of Hind had sought her in marriage, but her

father had rejected him for that he was ugly and uncouth, and she

thought the Prince was he. So when she saw his beauty and grace (for

indeed he was like the radiant moon) the syntheism of love gat hold of

her heart as it were a flaming fire, and they fell to talk and

converse.

  Suddenly, her waiting women awoke and, seeing the Prince 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 woke up. Haply 'tis

he who seeketh me in marriage of my sire." Quoth they, "O my lady,

by Allah the All-Father, this is not he who seeketh thee in

marriage, for he is hideous and this man is handsome and of high

degree. Indeed, the other is not fit to be his servant." Then the

handmaidens went out to the eunuch, and finding him slumbering,

awoke him, and he started up in alarm. Said they, "How happeth it that

thou art on guard at the palace and yet men come in to us whilst we

are asleep?" When the black 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

at talk with her, said to him, "O my lord, art thou man or Jinni?"

Replied the Prince: "Woe to thee, O unluckiest of slaves. How darest

thou even the sons of the royal Chosroes with one of the unbelieving

Satans?" And he was as a raging lion.

  Then he took the sword in his hand and said to the slave, "I am

the King's son-in-law, and he hath married me to his daughter and

bidden me go in to her." And when the eunuch heard these words he

replied, "O my lord, if thou be indeed of kind a man as thou

avouchest, she is fit for none but for thee, and thou art worthier

of her than any other." Thereupon the eunuch ran to the King,

shrieking loud and rending his raiment and heaving dust upon his head.

And when the King heard his outcry, he said to him: "What hath

befallen thee? Speak quickly and be brief, for thou hast fluttered

my heart." Answered the eunuch, "O King, come to thy daughter's

succor, for a devil of the Jinn, in the likeness of a King's son

hath got 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 slave women standing to await him, and asked them, "What

is come to my daughter?" "O King," answered they, "slumber overcame us

and when we awoke, we found a young man sitting upon her couch in talk

with her, as he were the full moon. Never saw we aught fairer of favor

than he. So we questioned him of his case and he declared 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 Jinni, but he is modest and

well-bred, and doth nothing unseemly or which leadeth to disgrace."

  Now when the King heard these words, his wrath cooled, and he raised

the curtain little by little and looking in, saw sitting at talk

with his daughter a Prince of the goodliest, with a face like the full

moon for sheen. At this sight he could not contain himself, of his

jealousy for his daughter's honor, and putting aside the curtain,

rushed in upon them drawn sword in hand like a furious Ghul. Now

when the Prince saw him he asked the Princess, "Is this thy sire?" and

she answered, "Yes." Whereupon he sprang, to his feet and, seizing his

sword, cried out at the King with so terrible a cry that he was

confounded. Then the youth would have fallen on him with the sword,

but the King, seeing that the Prince was doughtier than he, sheathed

his scimitar and stood till the young man came up to him, when he

accosted him courteously and said to him, "O youth, art thou a man

or a Jinni?" Quoth the Prince: "Did I not respect thy right as mine

host and thy daughter's honor, I would spill thy blood! How darest

thou fellow me with devils, me that am a Prince of the sons of the

royal Chosroes, who, had they wished to take thy kingdom, could

shake thee like an earthquake from thy glory and thy dominions, and

spoil thee of all thy possessions?"

  Now when the King heard his words, he was confounded with awe and

bodily fear of him and rejoined: "If thou indeed be of the sons of the

Kings, as thou pretendest, how cometh it that thou enterest my

palace without my permission, and smirchest mine honor, making thy way

to my daughter and feigning that thou art her husband and claiming

that I have given her to thee to wife, I that have slain kings and

king's sons who sought her of me in marriage? And now who shall save

thee from my might and majesty when, if I cried out to my slaves and

servants and bade them put thee to the vilest of deaths, they would

slay thee forthright? Who 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 shortness and denseness of thy wit! Say

me, canst covet for thy daughter a mate comelier than myself, and hast

ever seen a stouter-hearted man or one better fitted for a Sultan or a

more glorious in rank and dominion than I?" Rejoined the King: "Nay,

by Allah! But I would have had thee, O youth, act after the custom

of kings and demand her from me to wife before witnesses, that I might

have married her to thee publicly. And now, even were I to marry her

to thee privily, yet hast thou dishonored me in her person."

Rejoined the Prince: "Thou sayest sooth, O King, but if thou summon

thy slaves and thy soldiers and they fall upon me and slay me, as thou

pretendest, thou wouldst but publish thine own disgrace, and the

folk would be divided between belief in thee and disbelief in thee.

Wherefore, O King, thou wilt do well, meseemeth, to turn from this

thought to that which I shall counsel thee." Quoth the King, "Let me

hear what thou hast to advise," and quoth the Prince:

  "What I have to propose to thee is this: Either do thou meet me in

combat singular, I and thou, and he who slayeth his adversary shall be

held the worthier and having a better title to the kingdom; or else

let me be this night, and whenas dawns the morn, draw out against me

thy horsemen and footmen and servants, but first tell me their

number." Said the King, "They are forty thousand horse, besides my own

slaves and their followers, who are the like of them in number."

Thereupon said the Prince: "When the day shall break, do thou array

them against me and say to them: 'This man is a suitor to me for my

daughter's hand, on condition that he shall do battle singlehanded

against you all; for he pretendeth that he will overcome you and put

you to the rout, and indeed that ye cannot prevail against him.' After

which, leave me to do battle with them. If they slay me, then is thy

secret the surer guarded and thine honor the better warded, and if I

overcome them and see their backs, then is it the like of me a king

should covet to his son-in-law."

  So the King approved of his opinion and accepted his proposition,

despite his awe at the boldness of his speech and amaze at the

pretensions of the Prince to meet in fight his whole host, such as

he had described it to him, being at heart assured that he would

perish in the fray and so he should be quit of him and freed from

the fear of dishonor. Thereupon he called the eunuch and bade him go

to his Wazir without stay and delay and command him to assemble the

whole of the army and cause them don their arms and armor and mount

their steeds. So the eunuch carried the King's order to the

Minister, who straightway summoned the captains of the host and the

lords of the realm and bade them don their harness of derring-do and

mount horse and sally forth in battle array.

  Such was their case, but as regards the King, he sat a long while

conversing with the young Prince, being pleased with his wise speech

and good sense and fine breeding. And when it was daybreak, he

returned to his palace and, seating himself on his throne, commanded

his merry men to mount, and bade them saddle one of the best of the

royal steeds with handsome selle and housings and trappings and

bring it to the Prince. But the youth said, "O King, I will not

mount horse till I come in view of the troops and review them." "Be it

as thou wilt," replied the King. Then the two repaired to the parade

ground where the troops were drawn up, and the young 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

seeketh my daughter in marriage, and in very sooth never have I seen a

goodlier than he- no, nor a stouter of heart nor a doughtier of arm,

for he pretendeth that he can overcome you singlehanded, and force you

to flight and that, were ye a hundred thousand in number, yet for

him would ye be but few. Now when he chargeth down on you, do ye

receive him upon point of pike and sharp of saber, for indeed he

hath undertaken a mighty matter."

  Then quoth the King to the Prince, "Up, O my son, and do thy

devoir on them." Answered he: "O King, thou dealest not justly and

fairly by me. How shall I go forth against them, seeing that I am

afoot and the men be mounted?" The King retorted, "I bade thee

mount, and thou refusedst, but choose thou which of my horses thou

wilt." Then he said, "Not one of thy horses pleaseth me, and I will

ride none but that on which I came." Asked the King, "And where is thy

horse?" "Atop of thy palace." "In what part of my palace?" "On the

roof." Now when the King heard these words, he cried: "Out on thee!

This is the first sip thou hast given of madness. How can the horse be

on the roof.? But we shall at once see if thou speak truth or lies."

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." So all the

people marveled at the young Prince's words, saying one to other, "How

can a horse come down the steps from the roof.? Verily this is a thing

whose like we never heard."

  In the meantime the King's messenger repaired to the palace and,

mounting to the roof, found the horse standing there, and never had he

looked on a handsomer. But when he drew near and examined it, he saw

that it was made of ebony and ivory. Now the officer was accompanied

by other high officers, who also looked on, and they laughed to one

another, saying: "Was it of the like of this horse that the youth

spake? We cannot deem him other than mad. However, we shall soon see

the truth of his case. Peradventure herein is some mighty matter,

and he is a man of high degree." Then they lifted up the horse bodily,

carrying it to the King, set it down before him. And all the lieges

flocked round to look at it, marveling at the beauty of its

proportions and the richness of its saddle and bridle. The King also

admired it, and wondered at it with extreme wonder, and he asked the

Prince, "O youth, is this thy horse?" He answered, "Yes, O King,

this is my horse, and thou shalt soon see the marvel it showeth."

Rejoined the King, "Then take and mount it," and the Prince

retorted, "I will not mount till the troops withdraw afar from it."

  So the King bade them retire a bowshot from the horse, whereupon

quoth its owner: "O King, see thou, I am about to mount my horse and

charge upon thy host and scatter them right and left and split their

hearts asunder." Said the King, "Do as thou wilt, and spare not

their lives, for they will not spare thine." Then the Prince

mounted, whilst the troops ranged themselves in ranks before him,

and one said to another, "When the youth cometh between the ranks,

we will take him on the points of our pikes and the sharps of our

sabers." Quoth another: "By Allah, this is a mere misfortune. How

shall we slay a youth so comely of face and shapely of form?" And a

third continued: "Ye will have hard work to get the better of him, for

the youth had not done this but for what he knew of his own prowess

and pre-eminence of valor."

  Meanwhile, having settled himself in his saddle, the Prince turned

the pin of ascent whilst an eyes were strained to see what he would

do, whereupon the horse began to heave and rock and sway to and fro

and make the strangest of movements steed ever made, till its belly

was filled with air and it took flight with its rider and soared

high into the sky. When the King saw this, he cried out to his men,

saying: "Woe to you! Catch him, catch him, ere he 'scape you!" But his

Wazirs and viceroys said to him: "O King, can a man overtake the

flying bird? This is surely none but some mighty magician or Marid

of the, Jinn, or devil, and Allah save thee from him! So praise thou

the Almighty for deliverance of thee and of all thy host from his

hand."

  Then the King returned to his palace after seeing the feat of the

Prince, and going in to his daughter, acquainted her with what had

befallen them both on the parade ground. He found her grievously

afflicted for the Prince and bewailing her separation from him,

wherefore she fell sick with violent sickness and took to her

pillow. Now when her father saw her on this wise, he pressed her to

his breast and kissing her between the eyes, said to her: "O my

daughter, praise Allah Almighty and thank Him for that He hath

delivered us from this crafty enchanter, this villian, this low

fellow, this thief who thought only of seducing thee!" And he repeated

to her the story of the Prince and how he had disappeared in the

firmament, and he abused him and cursed him, knowing not how dearly

his daughter loved him. But she paid no heed to his words and did

but redouble in her tears and wails, saying to herself, "By Allah, I

will neither eat meat nor drain drink till Allah reunite me with him!"

Her father was greatly concerned for her case and mourned much over

her plight, but for all he could do to soothe her, love longing only

increased on her.

  Thus far concerning the King and Princess Shams al-Nahar, but as

regards Prince Kamar al-Akmar, when he had risen high in air, he

turned his horse's head toward his native land, and being alone, mused

upon the beauty of the Princess and her loveliness. Now he had

inquired of the King's people the name of the city and of its King and

his daughter, and men had told him that it was the city of Sana'a.

So he journeyed with all speed till he drew near his father's

capital and, making an airy 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 seeing its threshold strewn with ashes, thought

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, all pale of faces and lean of frames. When his sire descried

him and was assured that it was indeed his son, he cried out with a

great cry and fell down in a fit, but after a time, coming to himself,

threw himself upon him and embraced him, clipping him to his bosom and

rejoicing in him with exceeding joy and extreme gladness. His mother

and sisters heard this, so they came in, and seeing the Prince, fell

upon him, kissing him and weeping and joying with exceeding joyance.

  Then they questioned him of his case, so he told them all that had

past from first to last, and his father said to him, "Praised be Allah

for thy safety, O coolth of my eyes and core of my heart!" Then the

King bade hold high festival, and the glad tidings flew through the

city. So they beat drums and cymbals and, doffing the weed of

mourning, they donned the gay garb of gladness 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 King proclaimed a

general pardon, and opening the prisons, released those who were

therein prisoned. Moreover, he made banquets for the people, with

great abundance of eating and drinking, for seven days and nights, and

all creatures were gladsomest. And he took horse with his son and rode

out with him, that the folk might see him and rejoice.

  After a while the Prince asked about the maker of the horse, saying,

"O my father, what hath fortune done with him?" and the King answered:

"Allah never bless him nor the hour wherein I set eyes on him! For

he was the cause of thy separation from us, O my son, and he hath lain

in jail since the day of thy disappearance." Then the King bade

release him from prison and, sending for him, invested him in a

dress of satisfaction and entreated him with the utmost favor and

munificence, save that he would not give him his daughter to wife.

Whereat the sage raged with sore rage and repented of that which he

had done, knowing that the Prince had secured the secret of the

steed and the manner of its motion. Moreover, the King said to his

son: "I reck thou wilt do well not to go near the horse henceforth,

and more especially not to mount it after this day; for thou knowest

not its properties, and belike thou art in error about it."

  Now the Prince had told his father of his adventure with the King of

Sana'a and his daughter, and he said, "Had the King intended 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 places and the

King and his son to the palace, where they sat down and fell to

eating, drinking, and making merry. Now the King had a handsome

handmaiden who was skilled in playing the lute, so she took it and

began to sweep the strings and sing thereto before the King and his

son of separation of lovers, and she chanted the following verses:



  "Deem not that absence breeds in me aught of forgetfulness.

   What should remember I did you fro' my remembrance wane?

  Time dies but never dies the fondest love for you we bear,

  And in your love I'll die and in your love I'll arise again."



  When the Prince heard these verses, the fires of longing flamed up

in his heart, and pine and passion redoubled upon him. Grief and

regret were sore upon him and his bowels yeamed in him for love of the

King's daughter of Sana'a. So he rose forthright and, escaping his

father's notice, went forth the palace to the horse and mounting it,

turned the pin of ascent, whereupon birdlike it flew with him high

in air and soared toward the upper regions of the sky. In early

morning his father missed him, and going up to the pinnacle of the

palace in great concern, saw his son rising into the firmament,

whereat he was sore afflicted and repented in all penitence that he

had not taken the horse and hidden it. And he said to himself, "By

Allah, if but my son returned 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.

  Such was his case, but as regards the Prince, he ceased not flying

on through air till he came to the city of Sana'a and alighted on

the roof as before. Then he crept 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 alcove chamber and

stopped to listen, when lo! he heard her shedding plenteous tears

and reciting verses, whilst her women slept round her. Presently,

overhearing her weeping and wailing, quoth they, "O our mistress,

why wilt thou mourn for one who mourneth not for thee?" Quoth she,

"O ye little of wit, is he for whom I mourn of those who forget or who

are forgotten?" And she fell again to wailing and weeping, till sleep

overcame her.

  Hereat the Prince's heart melted for her and his gall bladder was

like to burst, so he entered and, seeing her lying asleep without

covering, touched her with his hand, whereupon she opened her eyes and

espied him standing by her. Said he, "Why all this crying and

mourning?" And when she knew him, she threw herself upon him and

took him around the neck and kissed him and answered, "For thy sake

and because of my separation from thee." Said he, "O my lady, I have

been made desolate by thee all this long time!" But she replied, "'Tis

thou who hast desolated me, and hadst thou tarried longer, I had

surely died!" Rejoined he: "O my lady, what thinkest thou of my case

with thy father, and how he dealt with me? Were it not for my love

of thee, O temptation and seduction of the Three Worlds, I had

certainly 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 my life be sweet to me after thee?" Quoth

he: "Let what hath happened suffice. I am now hungry, and thirsty." So

she bade her maidens make ready meat and drink, and they sat eating

and drinking and conversing till night was well-nigh ended; and when

day broke he rose to take leave of her and depart ere the eunuch

should awake.

  Shams al-Nahar asked him, "Whither goest thou?" and he answered, "To

my father' house, 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

Allah the Almighty, take me with thee whereso thou wendest and make me

not taste anew the bitter gourd of separation from thee." Quoth he,

"Wilt thou indeed go with me?" and quoth she, "Yes." "Then," said

he, "arise, that we depart." So she rose forthright and going to a

chest, affayed herself in what was richest and dearest to her of her

trinkets of gold and jewels of price, and she fared forth, her

handmaids recking naught. So he carried her up to the roof of the

palace and, mounting the ebony horse, took her up behind him and

made her fast to himself, binding her with strong bonds. After which

he turned the shoulder pin of ascent and the horse rose with him

high in air.

  When her slave women saw this, they shrieked aloud and told her

father and mother, who in hot haste ran to the palace roof and looking

up, saw the magical horse flying away with the Prince and Princess. At

this the King was troubled with ever-increasing trouble and cried out,

saying, "O King's son, I conjure thee, by Allah, have ruth on me and

my wife and bereave us not of our daughter!" The Prince made him no

reply, but, thinking in himself that the maiden repented of leaving

father and mother, asked her, "O ravishment of the age, say me, wilt

thou that I restore thee to thy mother and father?" Whereupon she

answered: "By Allah, O my lord, that is not my desire. My only wish is

to be with thee, wherever thou art, for I am distracted by the love of

thee from all else, even from my father and mother." Hearing these

words, the Prince joyed with great joy, and made the horse fly and

fare softly with them, so as not to disquiet her. Nor did they stay

their flight till they came in sight of a green meadow, wherein was

a spring of running water. Here they alighted and ate and drank, after

which the Prince took horse again and set her behind him, binding

her in his fear for her safety, after which they 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 his beloved 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

sire. So he set her down in one of his father's gardens without the

city where his parent was wont to take his pleasure, and carrying

her into a domed summerhouse prepared there for the King, left the

ebony horse at the door and charged the damsel 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."

She was delighted when she heard these words and said to him, "Do as

thou wilt," for she thereby understood that she should not enter the

city but with due honor and worship, as became her rank.

  Then the Prince left her and betook himself to the palace of the

King his father, who rejoiced in his return and met him and welcomed

him, and the Prince said to him: "Know that I have brought with me the

King's daughter 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 the procession of estate and go forth to meet her and show her

the royal dignity and troops and guards." Answered the King, "With joy

and gladness," and straightway bade decorate the town with the

goodliest adornment. Then he took horse and rode out in all

magnificence and majesty, he and his host, high officers, and

household, with drums and kettledrums, fifes and clarions and all

manner instruments, whilst the Prince drew forth of his treasuries

jewelry and apparel and what else of the things which kings hoard

and made a rare display of wealth-and splendor. Moreover he got

ready for the Princess a canopied litter of brocades, green, red,

and yellow, wherein he set Indian and Greek and Abyssinian slave

girls. Then he left the litter and those who were therein and preceded

them to the pavilion where he had set her down, and searched but found

naught, neither Princess nor horse.

  When he saw this, he beat his face and rent his raiment and began to

wander 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 this horse, seeing I told her nothing of it? Maybe the

Persian sage who made the horse hath chanced upon her and stolen her

away, in revenge for my father's treatment of him." Then he sought the

guardians of the garden and asked them if they had seen any pass the

precincts, and said: "Hath anyone come in here? Tell me the truth

and the whole truth, or I will at once strike off your heads." They

were terrified by his threats, but they answered with one voice, "We

have seen no man enter save the Persian sage, who came to gather

healing herbs." So the Prince was certified that it was indeed he that

had taken away the maiden, and abode confounded and perplexed

concerning his case. And he was abashed before the folk and, turning

to his sire, told him what had happened and said to him: "Take the

troops and march them back 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 thy choler and master thy chagrin and come home

with us and look what Idng's daughter thou wouldst fain have, that I

may marry thee to her." But the Prince paid no heed to his words and

farewelling him, departed, whilst the King returned to the city, and

their joy was changed into sore annoy. Now, as Destiny issued her

decree, when the Prince left the Princess in the garden house and

betook himself to his father's palace for the ordering of his

affair, the Persian entered the garden to pluck certain simples and,

scenting the sweet savor of musk and perfumes that exhaled from the

Princess and impregnated the whole place, followed it till he came

to the pavilion and saw standing at the door the horse which he had

made with his own hands. His heart was filled with joy and gladness,

for he had bemourned its loss much since it had gone out of his

hand. So he went up to it and, examining its every part, found it

whole 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

sheen in the sky serene, knew her at the first glance to be some

highborn 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 procession with all

splendor.

  Then he went up to her and kissed the earth between her hands,

whereupon she raised her eyes to him and, finding him exceedingly foul

of face and favor, asked, "Who art thou?", and he answered, "O my

lady, I am a messenger sent by the Prince, who hath bidden me bring

thee to another pleasance nearer the city, for that my lady the

Queen cannot walk so far and is unwilling, of her joy in thee, that

another should forestall her with thee." Quoth she, "Where is the

Prince?" and quoth the Persian, "He is in the city, with his sire, and

forthwith he shall come for thee in great state." Said she: "O thou!

Say me, could he find none handsomer to send to me?" Whereat loud

laughed the sage and said: "Yea verily, he hath not a Mameluke as ugly

as I am, but, O my lady, let not the ill favor of my face and the

foulness of my form deceive thee. Hadst thou profited of me as hath

the Prince, verily thou wouldst praise my affair. Indeed, he chose

me as his messenger to thee because of my uncomeliness and

loathsomeness in his jealous love of thee. Else hath he Mamelukes

and Negro slaves, pages, eunuchs, and attendants out of number, each

goodlier than other."

  Whenas she heard this, it commended itself to her reason and she

believed him, so she rose forthright and, putting her hand in his,

said, "O my father, what hast thou brought me to ride?" He replied, "O

my lady thou shalt ride the horse thou camest on," and she, "I

cannot ride it by myself." Whereupon he smiled and knew that he was

her master and said, "I will ride with thee myself." So he mounted

and, taking her up behind him, bound her to himself with firm bonds,

while she knew not what he would with her. Then he turned the ascent

pin, whereupon the belly of the horse became full of wind and it

swayed to and fro like a wave of the sea, and rose with them high in

air, nor slackened in its flight till it was out of sight of the city.

Now when Shams al-Nahar saw this, she asked him: "Ho, thou! What is

become of that thou toldest me of my Prince, making me believe that he

sent thee to me?" Answered the Persian, "Allah damn the Prince! He

is a mean and skinflint knave." She cried: "Woe to thee! How darest

thou disobey thy lord's commandment?" Whereto the Persian replied: "He

is no lord of mine. Knowest thou who I am?" Rejoined the Princess,

"I know nothing of thee save what thou toldest me," and retorted he:

"What I told thee was a trick of mine against thee and the King's son.

I have long lamented the loss of this horse which is under us, for I

constructed it and made myself master of it. But now I have gotten

firm hold of it and of thee too, and I will burn his heart even as

he hath burnt mine, nor shall he ever have the horse again- no,

never! So be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, for I

can be of more use to thee than he. And I am generous as I am wealthy.

My servants and slaves shall obey thee as their mistress. I will

robe thee in finest raiment and thine every wish shall be at thy

will."

  When she heard this, she buffeted her face and cried out, saying:

"Ah, wellaway! I have not won my beloved and I have lost my father and

mother!" And she wept bitter tears over what had befallen her,

whilst the sage fared on with her, without ceasing, till he came to

the land of the Greeks and alighted in a verdant mead, abounding in

streams and trees. Now this meadow lay near a city wherein was a

King of high puissance, and it chanced 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 damsel and the horse by his side, and

before the sage was ware, the King's slaves fell upon him and

carried him and the lady and the horse to their master, who, noting

the foulness of the man's favor and his loathsomeness and the beauty

of the girl and her loveliness, said, "O my lady, what kin is this

oldster to thee?" The Persian made haste to reply, saying, "She is

my wife and the daughter of my father's brother." But the lady at once

gave him the lie and said: "O King, by Allah, I know him not, nor is

he my husband. Nay, he is a wicked magician who hath stolen me away by

force and fraud." Thereupon the King bade bastinado 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 jail; and, taking

from him the damsel and the ebony horse (though he knew not its

properties nor the secret of its motion), set the girl in his seraglio

and the horse amongst his hoards.

  Such was the case with the sage and the lady, but as regards

Prince Kamar al-Akmar, he garbed himself in traveling gear and

taking what he needed of money, set out tracking their trail in very

sorry plight, and journeyed from the country to country and city to

city seeking the Princess and inquiring after the ebony horse,

whilst all who heard him marveled at him and deemed his talk

extravagant. Thus he continued doing a long while, but for all his

inquiry and quest, he could hit on no news of her. At last he came

to her father's city of Sana'a and there asked 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, continuing to inquire

concerning the twain as he went till, as chance would have it, he

alighted at a certain khan and saw a company of merchants sitting at

talk. So he sat down near them and heard one say, "O my friends, I

lately witnessed a wonder of wonders." They asked, "What was that?"

and he answered: "I was visiting such a district in such a city

(naming the city wherein was the Princess), and I heard its people

chatting of a strange thing which had lately befallen. It was that

their King went out one day hunting and coursing with a company of his

courtiers and the lords of his realm, and issuing from the city,

they came to a green meadow where they espied an old man standing,

with a woman sitting hard by a horse of ebony. The man was foulest

foul of face and loathly of form, but the woman was a marvel of beauty

and loveliness and elegance and perfect grace, and as for the wooden

horse, it was a miracle- never saw eyes aught goodlier than it nor

more gracious than its make." Asked the others, "And what did the King

with them?" and the merchant answered; "As for the man, the King

seized him and questioned him of the damsel and he pretended that she

was his wife and the daughter of his paternal uncle, but she gave him

the lie forthright and declared that he was a sorcerer and a villian.

So the King took her from the old man and bade beat him and cast him

into the trunk house. As for the ebony horse, I know not what became

of it."

  When the Prince heard these words, he drew near to the merchant

and began questioning him discreetly and courteously touching the name

of the city and of its King, which when he knew, he passed the night

full of joy. And as soon as dawned the day he set out and traveled

sans surcease till he reached that city. But when he would have

entered, the gatekeepers laid hands on him, that they might bring

him before the King to question him of his condition and the craft

in which he skilled and the cause of his coming thither- such being

the usage and custom of their ruler. Now it was suppertime when he

entered the city, and it was then impossible to go in to the King or

take counsel with him respecting the stranger. So the guards carried

him to the jail, thinking to lay him by the heels there for the night.

But when the warders saw his beauty and loveliness, they could not

find it in their hearts to imprison him. They made him sit with them

without the walls, and when food came to them, he ate with them what

sufficed him.

  As soon as they had made an end of eating, they turned to the Prince

and said, "What countryman art thou?" "I come from Fars," answered he,

"the land of the Chosroes." When they heard this, they laughed and one

of them said: "O Chosroan, I have heard the talk of men and their

histories and I have looked into their conditions, but never saw I

or heard I a bigger liar than the Chosroan which is with us in the

jail." Quoth another, "And never did I see aught fouler than his favor

or more hideous than his visnomy." Asked the Prince, "What have ye

seen of his lying?" and they answered: "He pretendeth that he is one

of the wise! Now the King came upon him as he went a-hunting, and

found with him a most beautiful woman and a horse of the blackest

ebony- never saw I a handsomer. As for the damsel, she is with the

King, who is enamored of her and would fain marry her. But she is mad,

and were this man a leech, as he claimeth to be, he would have

healed her, for the King doth his utmost to discover a cure for her

case and 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 hoard

house, and the ugly man is here with us in prison, and as soon as

night falleth, he weepeth and bemoaneth himself and will not let us

sleep."

  When the warders had recounted the case of the Persian egromancer

they held in prison and his weeping and wailing, the Prince at once

devised a device whereby he might compass his desire, and presently

the guards of the gate, being minded to sleep, led him into the jail

and locked the door. So he overheard the Persian weeping and bemoaning

himself in his own tongue, and saying: "Alack, and alas 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 won my will of

her! All this cometh of my lack of sense, in that I sought for

myself that which I deserved not and which befitted not the like of

me. For whoso seeketh what suiteth him not at all, falleth with the

like of my fall." Now when the King's son heard this, he accosted

him in Persian, saying: "How long will this weeping and wailing

last? Say me, thinkest thou that hath befallen thee that which never

befell other than thou?"

  Now when the Persian heard this, he made friends with him and

began to complain to him of his case and misfortunes. And as soon as

the morning morrowed, the warders took the Prince and carried him

before their King, informing him that he had entered the city on the

previous night, at a time when audience was impossible. Quoth the King

to the Prince, "Whence comest thou, and what is thy name and trade,

and why hast thou traveled hither?" He replied: "As to my name, I am

called in Persian Harjah. As to my country, I come from the land of

Fars, and I am of the men of art and especially of the art of medicine

and healing the sick and those whom the Jinns drive mad. For this I go

round about all countries and cities, to profit by adding knowledge to

my knowledge, and whenever I see a patient I heal him, and this is

my craft." Now when the King heard this, he rejoiced with exceeding

joy and said, "O excellent sage, thou hast indeed come to us at a time

when we need thee." Then he acquainted him with the case of the

Princess, adding, "If thou cure her and recover her from her

madness, thou shalt have of me everything thou seekest." Replied the

Prince, "Allah save and favor the King. Describe to me all thou hast

seen of her insanity, and tell me how long it is since the access

attacked her, also how thou camest by her and the horse and the sage."

  So the King told him the whole story, from first to last, adding,

"The sage is in jail." Quoth the Prince, "O auspicious King, and

what hast thou done with the horse?" Quoth the King, "O youth, it is

with me yet, laid up in one of my treasure chambers." Whereupon said

the Prince within himself: "The best thing I can do is first to see

the horse and assure myself of its condition. If it be whole and

sound, all will be well and end well. But if its motor works be

destroyed, I must find some other way of delivering my beloved."

Thereupon 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, showed him into the place where

the horse was. The Prince went round about it, examining its

condition, and found it whole and sound, whereat he rejoiced greatly

and said to the King: "Allah save and exalt the King! I would fain

go in to the damsel, that I may see how it is with her, for I hope

in Allah to heal her by my healing hand through means of the horse."

Then he bade them take care of the horse and the King carried him to

the Princess's apartment, where her lover found her wringing her hands

and writhing and beating herself against the ground, and tearing her

garments to tatters as was her wont. But there was no madness of

Jinn 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 the Three Worlds," and went on to

soothe her and speak her fair, till he managed to whisper, "I am Kamar

al-Akmar," whereupon she cried out with a loud cry and fell down

fainting for excess of joy. But the King thought this was epilepsy

brought on by her fear of him, and by her suddenly being startled.

Then the Prince put his mouth to her ear and said to her: "O Shams

al-Nahar, O seduction of the universe, have a care for thy life and

mine and be patient and constant; for this our position needeth

sufferance and skillful contrivance to make shift for our delivery

from this tyrannical King. My first move will be now to go out to

him and tell him that thou art possessed of a Jinn and hence thy

madness, but that I will engage to heal thee and drive away the evil

spirit if he will at once unbind thy bonds. So when he cometh in to

thee, do thou speak him smooth words, that he may think I have cured

thee, and all will be done for us as we desire." Quoth she,

"Hearkening and obedience," and he went out to the King in joy and

gladness, and said to him: "O august King, I have, by thy good

fortune, discovered her disease and its remedy, and have cured her for

thee. So now do thou go in to and speak her softly and treat her

kindly, and promise her what thou desirest of her be accomplished to

thee."

  Thereupon the King went in to her, and when she saw him, she rose

and kissing the ground before him, bade him welcome and said, "I

admire how thou hast come to visit thy handmaid this day." Whereat

he was ready to fly for joy and bade the waiting women and the eunuchs

attend her and carry her to the hammam and make ready for her

dresses and adornment. So they went in to her and saluted her, and she

returned their salaams with the goodliest language and after the

pleasantest fashion. Whereupon 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 ground before him. Whereupon he joyed in her with joy

exceeding and said to the Prince: "O Sage, O Philosopher, all this

is of thy blessing. Allah increase to us the benefit of thy healing

breath!" The Prince replied: "O King, for the completion of her cure

it behooveth that thou go forth, thou and all thy troops and guards,

to the place where thou foundest her, not forgetting the beast of

black wood which was with her. For therein is a devil, and unless I

exorcise him, he will return to her and afflict her at the head of

every month." "With love and gladness," cried the King, "O thou Prince

of all philosophers and most learned of all who see the light of day."

  Then he brought out the ebony horse to the meadow in question and

rode thither with all his troops and the Princess, little weeting

the purpose of the Prince. Now when they came to the appointed

place, the Prince, still habited as a leech, bade them set the

Princess and the steed as far as eye could reach from the King and his

troops, and said to him: "With thy leave, and at thy word, I will

now proceed to the fumigations and conjurations, and here imprison the

adversary of mankind, that he may never more return to her. After

this, I shall mount this wooden horse, which seemeth to be made of

ebony, and take the damsel up behind me, whereupon it will shake and

sway to and fro and fare forward till it come to thee, when the affair

will be at an end. And after this thou mayest do with her as thou

wilt." When the King heard his words, he rejoiced with extreme joy, so

the Prince mounted the horse, and taking the damsel up behind him,

whilst the King and his troops watched him, bound her fast to him.

Then he turned the ascending pin and the horse took flight and

soared with them high in air, till they disappeared from every eye.

  After this the King abode half the day expecting their return, but

they returned not. So when he despaired of them, repenting him greatly

of that which he had done and grieving sore for the loss of the

damsel, he went back to the city with his troops. He then sent for the

Persian who was in prison and said to him: "O thou traitor, O thou

villain, why didst thou hide from me the mystery of the ebony horse?

And now a sharper hath come to me and hath carried it off, together

with a slave girl whose ornaments are worth a mint of money, and I

shall never see anyone or anything of them again!" So the Persian

related to him all his past, first and last, and the King was seized

with a fit of by which well-nigh ended his life. He shut himself up in

his palace for a while, mourning and afflicted. But at last his Wazirs

came in to him and applied themselves to comfort him, saying: "Verily,

he who took the damsel is an enchanter, and praised be Allah who

hath delivered thee from his craft and sorcery!" And they ceased not

from him till he was comforted for her loss.

  Thus far concerning the the King, but as for the Prince, he

continued his career toward his father's capital in joy and cheer, and

stayed not till he alighted on his own palace, where he set the lady

in safety. After which he went in to his father and mother and saluted

them and acquainted them with her coming, whereat they were filled

with solace and gladness. Then he spread great banquets for the

townsfolk and they held high festival a whole month, at the end of

which time he went in to the Princess and they took their joy of

each other with exceeding joy. But his father brake the ebony horse in

pieces and destroyed its mechanism for flight.

  Moreover, the Prince wrote a letter to the Princess's father,

advising him of all that had befallen her and informing him how she

was now married to him and in all health and happiness, and sent it by

a messenger, together with costly presents and curious rarities. And

when the messenger arrived at the city which was Sana'a and

delivered the letter and the presents to the King, he read the missive

and rejoiced greatly thereat and accepted the presents, honoring and

rewarding the bearer handsomely. Moreover, he forwarded rich gifts

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 presents till, in course of time, his

sire King Sabur deceased and he reigned in his stead, ruling justly

over his lieges and conducting himself well and righteously toward

them, so that the land submitted to him and his subjects did him loyal

service. And Kamar al-Akmar and his wife Shams al-Nahar abode in the

enjoyment of all satisfaction and solace of life till there came to

them the Destroyer of delights and Sunderer of societies, the

Plunderer of palaces, the Caterer for cemeteries, and the Garnerer

of graves. And now glory be to the Living One who dieth not and in

whose hand is the dominion of the worlds visible and invisible!

  Moreover I have heard tell the tale of






     THE ANGEL OF DEATH WITH THE PROUD AND THE DEVOUT MAN



  IT is related, O auspicious King, that one of the olden monarchs was

once minded to ride out in state with the officers of his realm and

the grandees of his retinue and display to the folk the marvels of his

magnificence. So he ordered his lords and emirs equip them therefor

and commanded his keeper of the wardrobe to bring him of the richest

of raiment, such as befitted the King in his state, and he bade them

bring his steeds of the finest breeds and pedigrees every man heeds.

Which being done, he chose out of the raiment what rejoiced him most

and of the horses that which he deemed best, and donning the

clothes, together with a collar set with margarites and rubies and all

manner jewels, mounted and set forth in state, making his destrier

prance and curvet among his troops and glorying in his pride and

despotic power.

  And Iblis came to him and, laying his hand upon his nose, blew

into his nostrils the breath of hauteur and conceit, so that he

magnified and glorified himself and said in his heart, "Who among

men is like unto me?" And he became so pulled up with arrogance and

self-sufficiency, and so taken up with the thought of his own splendor

and magnificence, that he would not vouchsafe a glance to any man.

Presently there stood before him one clad in tattered clothes and

saluted him, but he returned not his salaam, whereupon the stranger

laid hold of his horse's bridle. "Lift thy hand!" cried the King.

"Thou knowest not whose bridle rein it is whereof thou takest hold."

Quoth the other, "I have a need of thee." Quoth the King, "Wait till I

alight, and then name thy need." Rejoined the stranger, "It is a

secret and I will not tell it but in thine ear." So the King bowed his

head to him and he said, "I am the Angel of Death and I purpose to

take thy soul." Replied the King, "Have patience with me a little,

whilst I return to my house and take leave of my people and children

and neighbors and wife." "By no means so," answered the Angel. "Thou

shalt never return nor look on them again, for the fated term of

thy life is past."

  So saying, he took the soul of the King (who fell off his horse's

back dead) and departed thence. Presently the Death Angel met a devout

man, of whom Almighty Allah had accepted, and saluted him. He returned

the salute, and the Angel said to him, "O pious man, I have a need

of thee which must be kept secret." "Tell it in my ear," quoth the

devotee, and quoth the other, "I am the Angel of Death." Replied the

man: "Welcome to thee! And praised be Allah for thy coming! I am

aweary of awaiting thine arrival, for indeed long hath been thine

absence from the lover which longeth for thee." Said the Angel, "If

thou have any business, make an end of it," but the other answered,

saying, "There is nothing so urgent to me as the meeting with my Lord,

to whom be honor and glory!" And the Angel said, "How wouldst thou

fain have me take thy soul? I am bidden to take it as thou willest and

choosest." He replied, "Tarry till I make the wuzu ablution and

pray, and when I prostrate myself, then take my soul while my body

is on the ground." Quoth the Angel, "Verily, my Lord (be He extolled

and exalted!) commanded me not to take thy soul but with thy consent

and as thou shouldst wish, so I will do thy will." Then the devout man

made the minor ablution and prayed, and the Angel of Death took his

soul in the act of prostration and Almighty Allah transported it to

the place of mercy and acceptance and forgiveness.

  And they tell another tale of the adventures of






SINDBAD

           SINDBAD THE SEAMAN AND SINDBAD THE LANDSMAN



  THERE lived in the city of Baghdad during the reign of the Commander

of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, a man named Sindbad the Hammal,

one in poor case who bore burdens on his head for hire. It happened to

him one day of great heat that whilst he was carrying a heavy load, he

became exceeding weary and sweated profusely, the heat and the

weight alike oppressing him. Presently, as he was passing the gate

of a merchant's house before which the ground was swept and watered,

and there the air was temperate, he sighted a broad bench beside the

door, so he set his load thereon, to take rest and smell the air. He

sat down on the edge of the bench, and at once heard from within the

melodious sound of lutes and other stringed instruments, and

mirth-exciting voices singing and reciting, together with the song

of birds warbling and glorifying Almighty Allah in various tunes and

tonguess- turtles, mocking birds, merles, nightingales, cushats, and

stone curlews- whereat he marveled in himself and was moved to mighty

joy and solace.

  Then he went up to the gate and saw within a great flower garden

wherein were pages and black slaves and such a train of servants and

attendants and so forth as is found only with kings and sultans. And

his nostrils were greeted with the savory odours of an manner meats

rich and delicate, and delicious and generous wines. So he raised

his eyes heavenward and said, "Glory to Thee, O Lord, O Creator and

Provider, Who providest whomso Thou wilt without count or stint! O

mine Holy One, I cry Thee pardon for an sins and turn to Thee

repenting of all offenses!



     "How many by my labors, that evermore endure,

     All goods of life enjoy and in cooly shade recline?

     Each morn that dawns I wake in travail and in woe,

     And strange is my condition and my burden gars me pine.

     Many others are in luck and from miseries are free,

     And Fortune never load them with loads the like o' mine.

     They live their happy days in all solace and delight,

     Eat, drink, and dwell in honor 'mid the noble and the digne.

     All living things were made of a little drop of sperm,

     Thine origin is mine and my provenance is thine,

     Yet the difference and distance 'twixt the twain of us are far

     As the difference of savor 'twixt vinegar and wine.

     But at Thee, O God All-wise! I venture not to rail,

     Whose ordinance is just and whose justice cannot fail."



  When Sindbad the Porter had made an end of reciting his verses, he

bore up his burden and was about to fare on when there came forth to

him from the gate a little foot page, fair of face and shapely of

shape and dainty of dress, who caught him by the hand saying, "Come in

and speak with my lord, for he calleth for thee." The porter would

have excused himself to the page, but the lad would take no refusal,

so he left his load with the doorkeeper in the vestibule and

followed the boy into the house, which he found to be a goodly

mansion, radiant and full of majesty, till he brought him to a grand

sitting room wherein he saw a company of nobles and great lords seated

at tables garnished with all manner of flowers and sweet-scented

herbs, besides great plenty of dainty viands and fruits dried and

fresh and confections and wines of the choicest vintages. There also

were instruments of music and mirth and lovely slave girls playing and

singing. All the company was ranged according to rank, and in the

highest place sat a man of worshipful and noble aspect whose beard

sides hoariness had stricken, and he was stately of stature and fair

of favor, agreeable of aspect and full of gravity and dignity and

majesty. So Sindbad the Porter was confounded at that which he

beheld and said in himself, "By Allah, this must be either a piece

of Paradise or some king's palace!"

  Then he saluted the company with much respect, praying for their

prosperity, and kissing the ground before them, stood with his head

bowed down in humble attitude. The master of the house bade him draw

near and be seated and bespoke him kindly, bidding him welcome. Then

he set before him various kinds of viands, rich and delicate and

delicious, and the porter, after saying his Bismillah, fell to and ate

his fill, after which he exclaimed, "Praised be Allah, whatso be our

case!" and, washing his hands, returned thanks to the company for

his entertainment. Quoth the host: "Thou art welcome, and thy day is a

blessed. But what thy name and calling?" Quoth the other, "O my

lord, my name is Sindbad the Hammal, and I carry folk's goods on my

head for hire." The housemaster smiled and rejoined: "Know, O

Porter, that thy name is even as mine, for I am Sindbad the Seaman.

And now, O Porter, I would have thee let me hear the couplets thou

recitedst at the gate anon.' The porter was abashed and replied:

"Allah upon thee! Excuse me, for toil and travail and lack of luck

when the hand is empty teach a man ill manners and boorish ways." Said

the host: "Be not ashamed. Thou art become my brother. But repeat to

me the verses, for they pleased me whenas I heard thee recite them

at the gate."

  Hereupon the Porter repeated the couplets and they delighted the

merchant, who said to him: "Know, O Hammal, that my story is a

wonderful one, and thou shalt hear all that befell me and all I

underwent ere I rose to this state of prosperity and became the lord

of this place wherein thou seest me. For I came not to this high

estate save after travail sore and perils galore, and how much toil

and trouble have I not suffered in days of yore! I have made seven

voyages, by each of which hangeth a marvelous tale, such as

confoundeth the reason, and all this came to pass by doom of Fortune

and Fate. For from what Destiny doth write there is neither refuge nor

flight. Know, then, good my lords," continued he, "that I am about

to relate the






            FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD HIGHT THE SEAMAN



  MY father was a merchant, one of the notables of my native place,

a moneyed man and ample of means, who died whilst I was yet a child,

leaving me much wealth in money and lands and farmhouses. When I

grew up, I laid hands on the whole and ate of the best and drank

freely and wore rich clothes and lived lavishly, companioning and

consorting with youths of my own age, and considering that this course

of life would continue forever and ken no change. Thus did I for a

long time, but at last I awoke from my heedlessness and, returning

to my senses, I found my wealth had become unwealth and my condition

ill-conditioned, and all I once hent had left my hand. And

recovering my reason, I was stricken with dismay and confusion and

bethought me of a saying of our lord Solomon, son of David (on whom be

peace!), which I had heard aforetime from my father: things are better

than other three. The day of death is better than the day of birth,

a live dog is better than a dead lion, and the grave is better than

want." Then I got together my remains of estates and property and sold

all, even my clothes, for three thousand dirhams, with which I

resolved to travel to foreign parts, remembering the saying of the

poet:



     By means of toil man shall scale the height,

     Who to fame aspires mustn't sleep o' night.

     Who seeketh pearl in the deep must dive,

     Winning weal and wealth by his main and might.

     And who seeketh Fame without toil and strife

     Th' impossible seeketh and wasteth life.



  So, taking heart, I bought me goods, merchandise and all needed

for a voyage, and impatient to be at sea, I embarked, with a company

of merchants, on board a ship bound for Bassorah. There we again

embarked and sailed many days and nights, and we passed from isle to

isle and sea to sea and shore to shore, buying and selling and

bartering everywhere the ship touched, and continued our course till

we came to an island as it were a garth of the gardens of Paradise.

Here the captain cast anchor and, making fast to the shore, put out

the landing planks. So all on board landed and made furnaces, and

lighting fires therein, busied themselves in various ways, some

cooking and some washing, whilst other some walked about the island

for solace, and the crew fell to eating and drinking and playing and

sporting. I was one of the walkers, but as we were thus engaged,

behold the master, who was standing on the gunwale, cried out to us at

the top of his voice, saying: "Ho there! Passengers, run for your

lives and hasten back to the ship and leave your gear and save

yourselves from destruction, Allah preserve you!. For this island

whereon ye stand is no true island, but a great fish stationary

a-middlemost of the sea, whereon the sand hath settled and trees

have sprung up of old time, so that it is become like unto an

island. But when ye lighted fires on it, it felt the heat and moved,

and in a moment it will sink with you into the sea and ye will all

be drowned. So leave your gear and seek your safety ere ye die!"

  All who heard him left gear and goods, clothes washed and

unwashed, fire pots and brass cooking pots, and fled back to the

ship for their lives, and some reached it while others (amongst whom

was I) did not, for suddenly the island shook and sank into the

abysses of the deep, with all that were thereon, and the dashing sea

surged over it with clashing waves. I sank with the others down,

down into the deep, but Almighty Allah preserved me from drowning

and threw in my way a great wooden tub of those that had served the

ship's company for tubbing. I gripped it for the sweetness of life

and, bestriding it like one riding, paddled with my feet like oars,

whilst the waves tossed me as in sport right and left. Meanwhile the

captain made sail and departed with those who had reached the ship,

regardless of the drowning and the drowned. And I ceased not following

the vessel with my eyes till she was hid from sight and I made sure of

death.

  Darkness closed in upon me while in this plight, and the winds and

waves bore me on all that night and the next day, till the tub brought

to with me under the lee of a lofty island with trees overhanging

the tide. I caught hold of a branch and by its aid clambered up onto

the land, after coming nigh upon death. But when I reached the

shore, I found my legs cramped and numbed and my feet bore traces of

the nibbling of fish upon their soles, withal I had felt nothing for

excess of anguish and fatigue. I threw myself down on the island

ground like a dead man, and drowned in desolation, swooned away, nor

did I return to my senses till next morning, when the sun rose and

revived me. But I found my feet swollen, so made shift to move by

shuffling on my breech and crawling on my knees, for in that island

were found store of fruits and springs of sweet water. I ate of the

fruits, which strengthened me. And thus I abode days and nights till

my life seemed to return and my spirits began to revive and I was

better able to move about. So, after due consideration, I fell to

exploring the island and diverting myself with gazing upon all

things that Allah Almighty had created there, and rested under the

trees, from one of which I cut me a staff to lean upon.

  One day as I walked along the marge I caught sight of some object in

the distance and thought it a wild beast or one of the monster

creatures of the sea, but as I drew near it, looking hard the while,

saw that it was a noble mare, tethered on the beach. Presently I

went up to her, but she cried out against me with a great cry, so that

I trembled for fear and turned to go away, when there came forth man

from under the earth and followed me, crying out and saying, "Who

and whence art thou, and what caused thee to come hither?" "O my

lord," answered I, "I am in very sooth a waif, a stranger, and was

left to drown with sundry others by the ship we voyaged in. But

Allah graciously sent me a wodden tub, so I saved myself thereon and

it floated with me, till the waves cast me up on this island." When he

heard this, he took my hand and saying, "Come with me," carried me

into a great sardab, or underground chamber, which was spacious as a

saloon.

  He made me sit down at its upper end, then he brought me somewhat of

food and, being a-hungered, I ate till I was satisfied and

refreshed. And when he had put me at mine ease, he questioned me of

myself, and I told him all that had befallen me from first to last.

And as he wondered at my adventure, I said: "By Allah, O my lord,

excuse me, I have told thee the truth of my case and the accident

which betided me, and now I desire that thou tell me who thou art

and why thou abidest here under the earth and why thou hast tethered

yonder mare on the brink of the sea." Answered he: "Know that I am one

of the several who are, stationed in different parts of this island,

and we are of the grooms of King Mihrjan, and under our hand are all

his horses. Every month about new-moon tide we bring hither our best

mares which have never been covered, and picket them on the seashore

and hide ourselves in this place under the ground, so that none may

espy us. Presently the stallions of the sea scent the mares and come

up out of the water and, seeing no one, leap the mares and do their

will of them. When they have covered them, they try to drag them

away with them, but cannot, by reason of the leg ropes. So they cry

out at them and butt at them and kick them, which we hearing, know

that the stallions have dismounted, so we run out and shout at them,

whereupon they are startled and return in fear to the sea. Then the

mares conceive by them and bear colts and fillies worth a mint of

money, nor is their like to be found on earth's face.

  This is the time of the coming forth of the sea stallions, and

Inshallah! I will bear thee to King Mihrjan and show thee our country.

And know that hadst thou not happened on us, thou hadst perished

miserably and none had known of thee. But I will be the means of the

saving of thy life and of thy return to thine own land." I called down

blessings on him and thanked him for his kindness and courtesy. And

while we were yet talking, behold, the stallion came up out of the

sea, and giving a great cry, sprang upon the mare and covered her.

When he had done his will of her, he dismounted and would have carried

her away with him, but could not by reason of the tether. She kicked

and cried out at him, whereupon the groom took a sword and target

and ran out of the underground saloon, smiting the buckler with the

blade and calling to his company, who came up shouting and brandishing

spears. And the stallion took fright at them and plunging into the sea

like a buffalo, disappeared under the waves.

  After this we sat awhile till the rest of the grooms came up, each

leading a mare, and seeing me with their fellow syce, questioned me of

my case, and I repeated my story to them. Thereupon they drew near

me and spreading the table, ate and invited me to eat. So I ate with

them, after which they took horse and mounting me on one of the mares,

set out with me and fared on without ceasing till we came to the

capital city of King Mihrjan, and going in to him, acquainted him with

my story. Then he sent for me, and when they set me before him and

salaams had been exchanged, he gave me a cordial welcome and wishing

me long life, bade me tell him my tale. So I related to him all that I

had seen and all that had befallen me from first to last, whereat he

marveled and said to me: "By Allah, O my son, thou hast indeed been

miraculously preserved! Were not the term of thy life a long one, thou

hadst not escaped from these straits. But praised be Allah for

safety!" Then he spoke cheerily to me and entreated me with kindness

and consideration. Moreover, he made me his agent for the port and

registrar of all ships that entered the harbor. I attended him

regularly, to receive his commandments, and he favored me and did me

all manner of kindness and invested me with costly and splendid robes.

Indeed, I was high in credit with him as an intercessor for the folk

and an intermediary between them and him when they wanted aught of

him.

  I abode thus a great while, and as often as I passed through the

city to the port, I questioned the merchants and travelers and sailors

of the city of Baghdad, so haply I might hear of an occasion to return

to my native land, but could find none who knew it or knew any who

resorted thither. At this I was chagrined, for I was weary of long

strangerhood, and my disappointment endured for a time till one day,

going in to King Mihrjan, I found with him a company of Indians. I

saluted them and they returned my salaam, and politely welcomed me and

asked me of my country. When they asked me of my country, I questioned

them of theirs and they told me that they were of various castes, some

being called shakiriyah, who are the noblest of their casts and

neither oppress nor offer violence to any, and others Brahmans, a folk

who abstain from wine but live in delight and solace and merriment and

own camels and horses and cattle. Moreover, they told me that the

people of India are divided into two and seventy castes, and I

marveled at this with exceeding marvel.

  Amongst other things that I saw in King Mihrijan's dominions was

an island called Kasil, wherein all night is heard the beating of

drums and tabrets, but we were told by the neighboring islanders and

by travelers that the inhabitants are people of diligence and

judgment. In this sea I saw also a fish two hundred cubits long and

the fishermen fear it, so they strike together pieces of wood and

put it to flight. I also saw another fish with a head like that of

an owl, besides many other wonders and rarities, which it would be

tedious to recount. I occupied myself thus in visiting the islands

till one day as I stood in the port with a staff in my hand, according

to my custom, behold, a great ship, wherein were many merchants,

came sailing for the harbor. When it reached the small inner port

where ships anchor under the city, the master furled his sails and

making fast to the shore, put out the landing planks, whereupon the

crew fell to breaking bulk and landing cargo whilst I stood by, taking

written note of them.

  They were long in bringing the goods ashore, so I asked the

master, "Is there aught left in thy ship?" and he answered: "O my

lord, there are divers bales of merchandise in the hold, whose owner

was drowned from amongst us at one of the islands on our course; so

his goods remained in our charge by way of trust, and we purpose to

sell them and note their price, that we may convey it to his people in

the city of Baghdad, the Home of Peace." "What was the merchant's

name?" quoth I, and quoth he, "Sindbad the Seaman," whereupon I

straitly considered him and knowing him, cried out to him with a great

cry, saying: "O Captain, I am that Sindbad the Seaman who traveled

with other merchants, and when the fish heaved and thou calledst to

us, some saved themselves and others sank, I being one of them. But

Allah Almighty threw in my way a great tub of wood, of those the

crew had used to wash withal, and the winds and waves carried me to

this island, where by Allah's grace I fell in with King Mihrjan's

grooms and they brought me hither to the King their master. When I

told him my story, he entreated me with favor and made me his

harbor-master, and I have prospered in his service and found

acceptance with him. These bales therefore are mine, the goods which

God hath given me."

  The other exclaimed: "There is no Majesty and there is no Mihgt save

in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Verily, there is neither conscience

nor good faith left among men!" Said I, "O Rais, what mean these

words, seeing that I have told thee my case?" And he answered,

"Because thou heardest me say that I had with me goods whose owner was

drowned, thou thinkest to take them without right. But this is

forbidden by law to thee, for we saw him drown before our eyes,

together with many other passengers, nor was one of them saved. So how

canst thou pretend that thou art the owner of the goods?" "O Captain,"

said I, "listen to my story and give heed to my words, and my truth

will be manifest to thee, for lying and leasing are the letter marks

of the hypocrites." Then I recounted to him all that had befallen me

since I sailed from Baghdad with him to the time when we came to the

fish island where we were nearly drowned, and I reminded him of

certain matters which had passed between us. Whereupon both he and the

merchants were certified of the truth of my story and recognized me

and gave me joy of my deliverance, saying: "By Allah, we thought not

that thou hadst escaped drowning! But the Lord hath granted thee new

life."

  Then they delivered my bales to me, and I found my name written

thereon, nor was aught thereof lacking. So I opened them and making up

a present for King Mihrjan of the finest and costliest of the

contents, caused the sailors carry it up to the palace, where I went

in to the King and laid my present at his feet, acquainting him with

what had happened, especially concerning the ship and my goods,

whereat he wondered with exceeding wonder, and the truth of an that

I had told him was made manifest to him. His affection for me

redoubled after that and he showed me exceeding honor and bestowed

on me a great present in return for mine. Then I sold my bales and

what other matters I owned, making a great profit on them, and

bought me other goods and gear of the growth and fashion of the island

city.

  When the merchants were about to start on their homeward voyage, I

embarked on board the ship all that I possessed, and going in to the

King, thanked him for all his favors and friendship and craved his

leave to return to my own land and friends. He farewelled me and

bestowed on me great store of the country stuffs and produce, and I

took leave of him and embarked. Then we set sail and fared on nights

and days, by the permission of Allah Almighty, and Fortune served us

and Fate favored us, so that we arrived in safety at Bassorah city,

where I landed rejoiced at my safe return to my natal soil. After a

short stay, I set out for Baghdad, the House of Peace, with store of

goods and commodities of great price. Reaching the city in due time, I

went straight to my own quarter and entered my house, where all my

friends and kinsfolk came to greet me.

  Then I bought me eunuchs and concubines, servants and Negro

slaves, till I had a large establishment, and I bought me houses,

and lands and gardens, till I was richer and in better case than

before, and returned to enjoy the society of my friends and

familiars more assiduously than ever, forgetting all I had suffered of

fatigue and hardship and strangerhood and every peril of travel. And I

applied myself to all manner joys and solaces and delights, eating the

daintiest viands and drinking the deliciousest wines, and my wealth

allowed this state of things to endure.

  This, then, is the story of my first voyage, and tomorrow,

Inshallah! I will tell you the tale of the second of my seven voyages.

(Saith he who telleth the tale): Then Sindbad the Seaman made

Sindbad the Landsman sup with him and bade give him a hundred gold

pieces, saying, "Thou hast cheered us with thy company this day."

The porter thanked him and, taking the gift, went his way, pondering

that which he had heard and marveling mightily at what things betide

mankind. He passed the night in his own place and with early morning

repaired to the abode of Sindbad the Seaman, who received him with

honor and seated him by his side. As soon as the rest of the company

was assembled, he set meat and drink before them, and when they had

well eaten and drunken and were merry and in cheerful case, he took up

his discourse and recounted to them in these words the narrative of






            THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN



  KNOW, O my brother, that I was living a most comfortable and

enjoyable life, in all solace and delight, as I told you yesterday,

until one day my mind became possessed with the thought of traveling

about the world of men and seeing their cities and islands, and a

longing seized me to traffic and to make money by trade. Upon this

resolve I took a great store of cash and buying goods and gear fit for

travel, bound them up in bales. Then I went down to the riverbank,

where I found a noble ship and brand-new about to sail equipped with

sails of fine cloth and well manned and provided. So I took passage in

her, with a number of other merchants, and after embarking our

goods, we weighed anchor the same day. Right fair was our voyage,

and we sailed from place to place and from isle to isle, and

whenever we anchored we met a crowd of merchants and notables and

customers, and we took to buying and selling and bartering.

  At last Destiny brought us to an island, fair and verdant, in

trees abundant, with yellow-ripe fruits luxuriant, and flowers

fragrant and birds warbling soft descant, and streams crystalline

and radiant. But no sign of man showed to the descrier- no, not a

blower of the fire. The captain made fast with us to this island,

and the merchants and sailors landed and walked about, enjoying the

shade of the trees and the song of the birds, that chanted the praises

of the One, the Victorious, and marveling at the works of the

Omnipotent King. I landed with the rest, and, sitting down by a spring

of sweet water that welled up among the trees, took out some vivers

I had with me and ate of that which Allah Almighty had allotted unto

me. And so sweet was the zephyr and so fragrant were the flowers

that presently I waxed drowsy and, lying down in that place, was

soon drowned in sleep.

  When I awoke, I found myself alone, for the ship had sailed and left

me behind, nor had one of the merchants or sailors bethought himself

of me. I searched the island right and left, but found neither man nor

Jinn, whereat I was beyond measure troubled, and my gall was like to

burst for stress of chagrin and anguish and concern, because I was

left quite alone, without aught of worldly gear or meat or drink,

weary and heartbroken. So I gave myself up for lost and said: "Not

always doth the crock escape the shock. I was saved the first time

by finding one who brought me from the desert island to an inhabited

place, but now there is no hope for me." Then I fell to weeping and

wailing and gave myself up to an access of rage, blaming myself for

having again ventured upon the perils and hardships of voyage,

whenas I was at my ease in mine own house in mine own land, taking

my pleasure with good meat and good drink and good clothes and lacking

nothing, neither money nor goods. And I repented me of having left

Baghdad, and this the more after all the travails and dangers I had

undergone in my first voyage, wherein I had so narrowly escaped

destruction, and exclaimed, "Verily we are, Allah's, and unto Him we

are returning!"

  I was indeed even as one mad and Jinn-struck, and presently I rose

and walked about the island, right and left and every whither,

unable for trouble to sit or tarry in ay one place. Then I climbed a

tall tree and looked in all directions, but saw nothing save sky and

sea and trees and birds and isles and sands. However, after a while my

eager glances fell upon some great white thing, afar off in the

interior of the island. So I came down from the tree and made for that

which I had seen, and behold, it was a huge white dome rising high

in air and of vast compass. I walked all around it, but found no

door thereto, nor could I muster strength or nimbleness by reason of

its exceeding smoothness and slipperiness. So I marked the spot

where I stood and went round about the dome to measure its

circumference, which I found fifty good paces. And as I stood

casting about how to gain an entrance, the day being near its fall and

the sun being near the horizon, behold, the sun was suddenly hidden

from me and the air became dull and dar! Methought a cloud had come

over the sun, but it was the season of summer, so I marveled at this

and, lifting my head, looked steadfastly at the sky, when I saw that

the cloud was none other than an enormous bird, of gigantic girth

and inordinately wide of wing, which as it flew through the air veiled

the sun and hid it from the island.

  At this sight my wonder redoubled and I remembered a story I had

heard aforetime of pilgrims and travelers, how in a certain island

dwelleth a huge bird, called the "roc," which feedeth its young on

elephants, and I was certified that the dome which caught my sight was

none other than a roc's egg. As I looked and wondered at the marvelous

works of the Almighty, the bird alighted on the dome and brooded

over it with its wings covering it and its legs stretched out behind

it on the ground, and in this posture it fell asleep, glory be to

Him who sleepeth not! When I saw this, I arose and, unwinding my

turban from my head, doubled it and twisted it into a rope, with which

I girt my middle and bound my waist fast to the legs of the roc,

saying in myself, "Peradventure this bird may carry me to a land of

cities and inhabitants, and that will be better than abiding in this

desert island." I passed the night watching and fearing to sleep, lest

the bird should fly away with me unawares, and as soon as the dawn

broke and morn shone, the roc rose off its egg and spreading its wings

with a great cry, flew up into the air dragging me with it, nor ceased

it to soar and to tower till I thought it had reached the limit of the

firmament. After which it descended earthward, little by little,

till it lighted on the top of a high hill.

  As soon as I found myself on the hard ground, I made haste to unbind

myself, quaking for fear of the bird, though it took no heed of me nor

even felt me, and loosing my turban from its feet, I made off with

my best speed. Presently I saw it catch up in its huge claws something

from the earth and rise with it high in air, and observing it

narrowly, I saw it to be a serpent big of bulk and gigantic of

girth, wherewith it flew away clean out of sight. I marveled at this,

and faring forward, found myself on a peak overlooking a valley,

exceeding great and wide and deep and bounded by vast mountains that

spired high in air. None could descry their summits for the excess

of their height, nor was any able to climb up thereto. When I saw

this, I blamed myself for that which I had done and said: "Would

Heaven I had tarried in the island! It was better than this wild

desert, for there I had at least fruits to eat and water to drink, and

here are neither trees nor fruits nor streams. But there is no Majesty

and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!

Verily, as often as I am quit of one peril I fall into a worse

danger and a more grievous."

  However, I took courage and walking along the wady, found that its

soil was of diamond, the stone wherewith they pierce minerals and

precious stones and porcelain and onyx, for that it is a dense stone

and a dure, whereon neither iron nor hardhed hath effect, neither

can we cut off aught therefrom nor break it, save by means of

loadstone. Moreover, the valley swarmed with snakes and vipers, each

big as a palm tree, that would have made but one gulp of an

elephant. And they came out by night, hiding during the day lest the

rocs and eagles pounce on them and tear them to pieces, as was their

wont, why I wot not. And I repented of what I had done and Allah, I

have made haste to bring destruction upon myself!" The day began to

wane as I went along, and I looked about for a place where I might

pass the night, being in fear of the serpents, ace for my and I took

no thought of meat and drink in my concern for my life. Presently, I

caught sight of a cave near-hand, with a narrow doorway, so I entered,

and seeing a great stone close to the mouth, I rolled it up and

stopped the entrance, saying to myself, "I am safe here for the night,

and as soon as it is day, I will go forth and see what Destiny will

do." Then I looked within the cave and saw at the upper end a great

serpent brooding on her eggs, at which my flesh quaked and my hair

stood on end, but I raised my eyes to Heaven and, committing my case

to fate and lot, abode all that night without sleep till daybreak,

when I rolled back the stone from the mouth of the cave and went

forth, staggering like a drunken man and giddy with watching and

fear and hunger.

  As in this sore case I walked along the valley, behold, there fell

down before me a slaughtered beast. But I saw no one, whereat I

marveled with great marvel and presently remembered a story I had

heard aforetime of traders and pilgrims and travelers- how the

mountains where are the diamonds are full of perils and terrors, nor

can any fare through them, but the merchants who traffic in diamonds

have a device by which they obtain them; that is to say, they take a

sheep and slaughter and skin it and cut it in pieces and cast them

down from the mountaintops into the valley sole, where, the meat being

fresh and sticky with blood, some of the gems cleave to it. Then

they leave it till midday, when the eagles and vultures swoop down

upon it and carry it in their claws to the mountain summits, whereupon

the merchants come and shout at them and scare them away from the

meat. Then they come, and taking the diamonds which they find sticking

to it, go their ways with them and leave the meat to the birds and

beasts, nor can any come at the diamonds but by this device.

  So when I saw the slaughtered beast fall (he pursued) and

bethought me of the story, I went up to it and filled my pockets and

shawl girdle and turban and the folds of my clothes with the

choicest diamonds, and as I was thus engaged, down fell before me

another great piece of meat. Then with my unrolled turban and lying on

my back, I set the bit on my breast so that I was hidden by the

meat, which was thus raised above the ground. Hardly had I gripped

it when an eagle swooped down upon the flesh and, seizing it with

his talons, flew up with it high in air and me clinging thereto, and

ceased not its flight till it alighted on the head of one of the

mountains, where, dropping the carcass he fell to rending it. But,

behold, there arose behind him a great noise of shouting and

clattering of wood, whereat the bird took fright and flew away. Then I

loosed off myself the meat, with clothes daubed with blood

therefrom, and stood up by its side. Whereupon up came the merchant

who had cried out at the eagle, and seeing me standing there,

bespoke me not, but was affrighted at me and shook with fear.

  However, he went up to the carcass and, turning it over, found no

diamonds sticking to it, whereat he gave a great cry and exclaimed:

"Harrow, my disappointment! There is no Majesty and there is no

Might save in Allah with Whom we seek refuge from Satan the stoned!"

And he bemoaned himself and beat hand upon hand, saying: "Alas, the

pity of it! How cometh this?" Then I went up-to him and he said to me,

"Who art thou, and what causeth thee to come hither?" And I: "Fear

not, I am a man and a good man and a merchant. My story is a

wondrous and my adventures marvelous and the manner of my coming

hither is prodigious. So be of good cheer. Thou shalt receive of me

what shall rejoice thee, for I have with me great plenty of diamonds

and I will give thee thereof what shall suffice thee, for each is

better than aught thou couldst get otherwise. So fear nothing." The

man rejoiced thereat and thanked and blessed me. Then we talked

together till the other merchants, hearing me in discourse with

their fellow, came up and saluted me, for each of them had thrown down

his piece of meat.

  And as I went off with them and told them my whole story, how I

had suffered hardships at sea and the fashion of my reaching the

valley. But I gave the owner of the meat a number of the stones I

had by me, so they all wished me joy of my escape, saying: "By

Allah, a new life hath been decreed to thee, for none ever reached

yonder valley and came off thence alive before thee, but praised be

Allah for thy safety!" We passed the night together in a safe and

pleasant place, beyond measure rejoiced at my deliverance from the

valley of Serpents and my arrival in an inhabited land. And on the

morrow we set out and journeyed over the mighty range of mountains,

seeing many serpents in the valley, till we came to a fair great

island wherein was a garden of huge champhor trees under each of which

a hundred men might take shelter. When the folk have a mind to get

camphor, they bore into the upper part of the bole with a long iron,

whereupon the liquid camphor, which is the sap of the tree, floweth

out and they catch it in vessels, where it concreteth like gum; but

after this the tree dieth and becometh firewood.

  Moreover, there is in this island a kind of wild beast, called

rhinoceros, that pastureth as do steers and buffaloes with us; but

it is a huge brute, bigger of body than the camel, and like it feedeth

upon the leaves and twigs of trees. It is a remarkable animal with a

great and thick horn, ten cubits long, a-middleward its head,

wherein, when cleft in twain, is the likeness of a man. Voyagers and

pilgrims and travelers declare that this beast called karkadan will

carry off a great elephant on its horn and graze about the island

and the seacoast therewith and take no heed of it till the elephant

dieth and its fat, melting in the sun, runneth down into the

rhinoceros's eyes and blindeth him, so that he lieth down on the

shore. Then comes the bird roc and carrieth off both the rhinoceros

and that which is on its horn, to feed its young withal. Moreover, I

saw in this island many kinds of oxen and buffaloes, whose like are

not found in our country.

  Here I sold some of the diamonds which I had by me for gold dinars

and silver dirhams and bartered others for the produce of the country,

and loading them upon beasts of burden, fared on with the merchants

from valley to valley and town to town, buying and selling and viewing

foreign countries and the works and creatures of Allah till we came to

Bassorah city, where we abode a few days, after which I continued my

journey to Baghdad. I arrived at home with great store of diamonds and

money and goods, and forgathered with my friends and relations and

gave alms and largess and bestowed curious gifts and made presents

to all my friends and companions. Then I betook myself to eating

well and drinking well and wearing fine clothes and making merry

with my fellows, and forgot all my sufferings in the pleasures of

return to the solace and delight of life, with light heart and

broadened breast. And everyone who heard of my return came and

questioned me of my adventures and of foreign countries, and I related

to them all that had befallen me, and the much I had suffered, whereat

they wondered and gave me joy of my safe return.

  This, then, is the end of the story of my second voyage, and

tomorrow, Inshallah! I will tell you what befell me in my third

voyage.

The company marveled at his story and supped with him, after which

he ordered a hundred dinars of gold to be given to the porter, who

took the sum with many thanks and blessings (which he stinted not even

when he reached home) and went his way, wondering at what he had

heard. Next morning as soon as day came in its sheen and shone, he

rose and, praying the dawn prayer, repaired to the house of Sindbad

the Seaman, even as he had bidden him, and went in and gave him good

morrow. The merchant welcomed him and made him sit with him till the

rest of the company arrived, and when they had well eaten and

drunken and were merry with joy and jollity, their host began by

saying: Hearken, O my brothers, to what I am about to tell you, for it

is even more wondrous than what you have already heard. But Allah

alone kenneth what things His Omniscience concealed from man! And

listen to





           THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN



  AS I told you yesterday, I returned from my second voyage

overjoyed at my safety and with great increase of wealth, Allah having

requited me all that I had wasted and lost, and I abode awhile in

Baghdad city savoring the utmost ease and prosperity and comfort and

happiness, till the carnal man was once more seized with longing for

travel and diversion and adventure, and yearned after traffic and

lucre and emolument, for that the human heart is naturally prone to

evil. So, making up my mind, I laid in great plenty of goods

suitable for a sea voyage and repairing to Bassorah, went down to

the shore and found there a fine ship ready to sail, with a full

crew and a numerous company of merchants, men of worth and

substance, faith, piety, and consideration. I embarked with them and

we set sail on the blessing of Allah Almighty and on His aidance and

His favor to bring our voyage to a safe and prosperous issue, and

already we congratulated one another on our good fortune and boon

voyage.

  We fared on from sea to sea and from island to island and city to

city, in all delight and contentment, buying and selling wherever we

touched, and taking our solace and our pleasure, till one day when

as we sailed athwart the dashing sea swollen with clashing billows,

behold, the master (who stood on the gunwale examining the ocean in

all directions) cried out with a great cry, and buffeted his face

and pluckt out his beard and rent his raiment, and bade furl the

sail and cast the anchors. So we said to him, "O Rais, what is the

matter?" "Know, O my brethren (Allah preserve you!) that the wind hath

gotten the better of us and hath driven us out of our course into

midocean, and Destiny, for our ill luck, hath brought us to the

Mountain of the Zughb, a hairy folk like apes, among whom no man

ever fell and came forth alive. And my heart presageth that we all

be dead men."

  Hardly had the master made an end of his speech when the apes were

upon us. They surrounded the ship on all sides, swarming like

locusts and crowding the shore. They were the most frightful of wild

creatures, covered with black hair like felt, foul of favor and

small of stature, being but four spans high, yellow-eyed and

black-faced. None knoweth their language nor what they are, and they

shun the company of men. We feared to slay them or strike them or

drive them away, because of their inconceivable multitude, lest if

we hurt one, the rest fall on us and slay us, for numbers prevail over

courage. So we let them do their will, albeit we feared they would

plunder our goods and gear. They swarmed up the cables and gnawed them

asunder, and on like wise they did with all the ropes of the ship,

so that if fell off from the wind and stranded upon their

mountainous coast. Then they laid hands on all the merchants and crew,

and landing us on the island, made off with the ship and its cargo and

went their ways, we wot not whither.

  We were thus left on the island, eating of its fruits and potherbs

and drinking of its streams till one day we espied in its midst what

seemed an inhabited house. So we made for it as fast as our feet could

carry us and, behold, it was a castle strong and tall, compassed about

with a lofty wall, and having a two-leaved gate of ebony wood, both of

which leaves open stood. We entered and found within a space wide

and bare like a great square, round which stood many high doors open

thrown, and at the farther end a long bench of stone and braziers,

with cooking gear hanging thereon and about it great Plenty of

bones. But we saw no one and marveled thereat with exceeding wonder.

Then we sat down in the courtyard a little while, and presently

falling asleep, slept from the forenoon till sundown, when lo! the

earth trembled under our feet and the air rumbled with a terrible

tone.

  Then there came down upon us, from the top of the castle, a huge

creature in the likeness of a man, black of color, tall and big of

bulk, as he were a great date tree, with eyes like coals of fire and

eyeteeth like boar's tusks and a vast big gape like the mouth of a

well. Moreover, he had long loose lips like camel's hanging down

upon his breast, and ears like two jarms falling over his shoulder

blades, and the nails of his hands were like the claws of a lion. When

we saw this frightful giant, we were like to faint and every moment

increased our fear and terror, and we became as dead men for excess of

horror and affright. And after trampling upon the earth, he sat awhile

on the bench. Then he arose and coming to us, seized me by the arm,

choosing me out from among my comrades the merchants. He took me up in

his hand and turning me over, felt me as a butcher feeleth a sheep

he is about to slaughter, and I but a little mouthful in his hands.

But finding me lean and fleshless for stress of toil and trouble and

weariness, let me go and took up another, whom in like manner he

turned over and felt and let go. Nor did he cease to feel and turn

over the rest of us, one after another, till he came to the master

of the ship.

  Now he was a sturdy, stout, broad-shouldered wight, fat and in

full vigor, so he pleased the giant, who seized him as a butcher

seizeth a beast, and throwing him down, set his foot on his neck and

brake it, after which he fetched a long spit and thrusting it up his

backside, brought it forth of the crown of his head. Then, lighting

a fierce fire, he set over it the spit with the rais thereon, and

turned it over the coals till the flesh was roasted, when he took

the spit off the fire and set it like a kobab stick before him. Then

he tare the body, limb from limb, as one jointeth a chicken and,

rending the fresh with his nails, fell to eating of it and gnawing the

bones, till there was nothing left but some of these, which he threw

on one side of the wall. This done, he sat for a while, then he lay

down on the stone bench and fell asleep, snarking and snoring like the

gurgling of a lamb or a cow with its throat cut, nor did he awake till

morning, when he rose and fared forth and went his ways.

  As soon as we were certified that he was gone, we began to talk with

one another, weeping and bemoaning ourselves for the risk we ran,

and saying: "Would Heaven we had been drowned in the sea or that the

apes had eaten us! That were better than to be roasted over the coals.

By Allah, this is a vile, foul death! But whatso the Lord willeth must

come-to pass, and there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in

Him, the Glorious, the Great! We shall assuredly perish miserably

and none will know of us, as there is no escape for us from this

place." Then we arose and roamed about the island, hoping that haply

we might find a place to hide us in or a means of flight, for indeed

death was a light matter to us, provided we were not roasted over

the fire and eaten. However, we could find no hiding place, and the

evening overtook us, so, of the excess of our terror, we returned to

the castle and sat down awhile.

  Presently, the earth trembled under our feet and the black ogre came

up to us and turning us over, felt one after other till he found a man

to his liking, whom he took and served as he had done the captain,

killing and roasting and eating him. After which he lay down on the

bench and slept and night, snarling and snoring like a beast with

its throat cut, till daybreak, when he arose and went out as before.

Then we drew together and conversed and add one to other, "By Allah,

we had better throw ourselves into the sea and be drowned than die

roasted for this is an abominable death!" Quoth one of us: "Hear ye my

words! Let us cast about to kill him, and be at peace from the grief

of him and rid the Moslems of his barbarity and tyranny." Then said I:

"Hear me, O my brothers. If there is nothing for it but to slay him,

let us carry some of this firewood and planks down to the seashore and

make us a boat wherein, if we succeed in slaughtering him, we may

either embark and let the waters carry us whither Allah willeth, or

else abide here till some ship pass, when we will take passage in

it. If we fail to kill him, we will embark in the boat and put out

to sea. And if we be drowned, we shall at least escape being roasted

over a kitchen fire with sliced weasands, whilst if we escape, we

escape, and if we be drowned, we die martyrs." "By Allah," said they

all, "this rede is a right," and we agreed upon this, and set about

carrying it out. So we haled down to the beach the pieces of wood

which lay about the bench, and making a boat, moored it to the strand,

after which we stowed therein somewhat of victual and returned to

the castle.

  As soon as evening fell the earth trembled under our feet and in

came the blackamoor upon us, snarling like a dog about to bite. He

came up to us, and feeling us and turning us over one by one, took one

of us and did with him as he had done before and ate him, after

which he lay down on the bench and snored and snorted like thunder. As

soon as we were assured that he slept, we arose and taking two iron

spits of those standing there, heated them in the fiercest of the fire

till they were red-hot, like burning coals, when we gripped fast

hold of them, and going up to the giant as he lay snoring on the

bench, thrust them into his eyes and pressed upon them, all of us,

with our united might, so that his eyeballs burst and he became

stone-blind. Thereupon he cried with a great cry, whereat our hearts

trembled, and springing up from the bench, he fell a-groping after us,

blindfold. We fled from him right and left and he saw us not, for his

sight was altogether blent, but we were in terrible fear of him and

made sure we were dead men despairing of escape. Then he found the

door, feeling for it with his hands, and went out roaring aloud, and

behold, the earth shook under us for the noise of his roaring, and

we quaked for fear. As he quitted the castle we followed him and

betook ourselves to the place where we had moored our boat, saying

to one another: "If this accursed abide absent till the going down

of the sun and come not to the castle, we shall know that he is

dead; and if he come back, we will embark in the boat and paddle

till we escape, committing our affair to Allah."

  But as we spoke, behold, up came the blackamoor with other two as

they were Ghuls, fouler and more frightful than he, with eyes like

red-hot coals, which when we saw, we hurried into the boat and casting

off the moorings, paddled away, and pushed out to sea. As soon as

the ogres caught sight of us, they cried out at us, and running down

to the seashore, fell a-pelting us with rocks, whereof some fell

amongst us and others fell into the sea. We paddled with all our might

till we were beyond their reach, but the most part of us were slain by

the rock-throwing, and the winds and waves sported with us and carried

us into the midst of the dashing sea, swollen with billows clashing.

We knew not whither we went, and my fellows died one after another

till there remained but three, myself and two others, for as often

as one died, we threw him into the sea. We were sore exhausted for

stress of hunger, but we took courage and heartened one another and

worked for dear life, and paddled with main and might till the winds

cast us upon an island, as we were dead men for fatigue and fear and

famine.

  We landed on the island and walked about it for a while, finding

that it abounded in trees and streams and birds, and we ate of the

fruits and rejoiced in our escape from the black and our deliverance

from the perils of the sea. And thus we did till nightfall, when we

lay down and fell asleep for excess of fatigue. But we had hardly

closed our eyes before we were aroused by a hissing sound, like the

sough of wind, and awakening, saw a serpent like a dragon, a

seldseen sight, of monstrous make and belly of enormous bulk, which

lay in a circle around us. Presently it reared its head, and seizing

one of my companions, swallowed him up to his shoulders. Then it

gulped down the rest of him, and we heard his ribs crack in its belly.

Presently it went its way, and we abode in sore amazement and grief

for our comrade and mortal fear for ourselves, saying: "By Allah, this

is a marvelous thing! Each kind of death that threateneth us is more

terrible than the last We were rejoicing in our escape from the

black ogre and our deliverance from the perils of the sea, but now

we have fallen into that which is worse. There is no Majesty and there

is no Might save in Allah! By the Almighty, we have escaped from the

blackamoor and from drowning, but how shall we escape from this

abominable and viperish monster?" Then we walked about the island,

eating of its fruits and drinking of its streams till dusk, when we

climbed up into a high tree and went to sleep there, I being on the

topmost bough.

  As soon as it was dark night, up came the serpent, looking right and

left, and making for the tree whereon we were, climbed up to my

comrade and swallowed him down to his shoulders. Then it coiled

about the bole with him, whilst I, who could not take my eyes off

the sight, heard his bones crack in its belly, and it swallowed him

whole, after which it slid down from the tree. When the day broke

and the light showed me that the serpent was gone, I came down, as I

were a dead man for stress of fear and anguish, and thought to cast

myself into the sea and be at rest from the woes of the world, but

could not bring myself to this, for verily life is dear. So I took

five pieces of wood, broad and long, and bound one crosswise to the

soles of my feet and others in like fashion on my right and left sides

and over my breast, and the broadest and largest I bound across my

head and made them fast with ropes. Then I lay down on the ground on

my back, so that I was completely fenced in by the pieces of wood,

which enclosed me like a bier.

  So as soon as it was dark, up came the serpent as usual, and made

toward me, but could not get at me to swallow me for the wood that

fenced me in. So it wriggled round me on every side whilst I looked on

like one dead by reason of my terror, and every now and then it

would glide away, and come back. But as often as it tried to come at

me, it was hindered by the pieces of wood wherewith I had bound myself

on every side. It ceased not to beset me thus from sundown till

dawn, but when the light of day shone upon the beast it made off, in

the utmost fury and extreme disappointment. Then I put out my hand and

unbound myself, well-nigh down among the dead men for fear and

suffering, and went down to the island shore, whence a ship afar off

in the midst of the waves suddenly struck my sight. So I tore off a

great branch of a tree and made signs with it to the crew, shouting

out the while, which when the ship's company saw they said to one

another: "We must stand in and see what this is. Peradventure 'tis a

man." So they made for the island and presently heard my cries,

whereupon they took me on board and questioned me of my case. I told

them all my adventures from first to last, whereat they marveled

mightily and covered my shame with some of their clothes. Moreover,

they set before me somewhat of food and I ate my fill and I drank cold

sweet water and was mightily refreshed, and Allah Almighty quickened

me after I was virtually dead. So I praised the Most Highest and

thanked Him for His favors and exceeding mercies, and my heart revived

in me after utter despair, till meseemed as if all I had suffered were

but a dream I had dreamed.

  We sailed on with a fair wind the Almighty sent us till we came to

an island called Al-Salahitah, which aboundeth in sandalwood, when the

captain cast anchor. And when we had cast anchor, the merchants and

the sailors landed with their goods to sell and to buy. Then the

captain turned to me and said: "Hark'ee, thou art a stranger and a

pauper and tellest us that thou hast undergone frightful hardships,

wherefore I have a mind to benefit thee with somewhat that may further

thee to thy native land, so thou wilt ever bless me and pray for

me." "So be it," answered I. "Thou shalt have my prayers." Quoth he:

"Know then that there was with us a man, a traveler, whom we lost, and

we know not if he be alive or dead, for we had no news of him. So I

purpose to commit his bales of goods to thy charge, that thou mayst

sell them in this island. A part of the proceeds we will give thee

as an equivalent for thy pains and service, and the rest we will

keep till we return to Baghdad, where we will inquire for his family

and deliver it to them, together with the unsold goods. Say me then,

wilt thou undertake the charge and land and sell them as other

merchants do?" I replied, "Hearkening and obedience to thee, O my

lord, and great is thy kindness to me," and thanked him. Whereupon

he bade the sailors and porters bear the bales in question ashore, and

commit them to my charge.

  The ship's scribe asked him, "O master, what bales are these, and

what merchant's name shall I write upon them?" and he answered: "Write

on them the name of Sindbad the Seaman, him who was with us in the

ship and whom we lost at the roc's island, and of whom we have no

tidings. For we mean this stranger to sell them, and we will give

him a part of the price for his pains and keep the rest till we return

to Baghdad, where if we find the owner we will make it over to him,

and if not, to his family." And the clerk said, "Thy words are

apposite and thy rede is right." Now when I heard the captain give

orders for the bales to be inscribed with my name, I said to myself,

"By Allah, I am Sindbad the Seaman!" So I armed myself with courage

and patience and waited till all the merchants had landed and were

gathered together, talking and chattering about buying and selling.

Then I went up to the captain and asked him, "O my lord, knowest

thou what manner of man was this Sindbad whose goods thou hast

committed to me for sale?" and he answered, "I know of him naught save

that he was a man from Baghdad city, Sindbad hight the Seaman, who was

drowned with many others when we lay anchored at such an island, and I

have heard nothing of him since then."

  At this I cried out with a great cry and said: "O Captain, whom

Allah keep! know that I am that Sindbad the Seaman and that I was

not drowned, but when thou castest anchor at the island, I landed with

the rest of the merchants and crew. And I sat down in a pleasant place

by myself and ate somewhat of food I had with me and enjoyed myself

till I became drowsy and was drowned in sleep. And when I awoke, I

found no ship, and none near me. These goods are my goods and these

bales are my bales, and all the merchants who fetch jewels from the

Valley of Diamonds saw me there and will bear me witness that I am the

very Sindbad the Seaman; for I related to them everything that had

befallen me and told them how you forgot me and left me sleeping on

the island, and that betided me which betided me." When the passengers

and crew heard my words, they gathered about me and some of them

believed me and others disbelieved, but presently, behold, one of

the merchants, hearing me mention the Valley of Diamonds, came up to

me and said to them: "Hear what I say, good people! When I related

to you the most wonderful things in my travels, and I told you that at

the time we cast down our slaughtered animals into the Valley of

Serpents (I casting with the rest as was my wont), there came up a man

hanging to mine, ye believed me not and live me the lie." "Yes," quoth

they, "thou didst tell us some such tale, but we had no call to

credit thee." He resumed: "Now this is the very man, by token that

he gave me diamonds of great value and high price whose like are not

to be found, requiting me more than would have come up sticking to

my quarter of meat. And I companied with him to Bassorah city, where

he took leave of us and went on to his native stead whilst we returned

to our own land. This is he, and he told us his name, Sindbad the

Seaman, and how the ship left him on the desert island. And know ye

that Allah hath sent him hither, so might the truth of my story be

made manifest to you. Moreover, these are his goods, for when he first

forgathered with us, he told us of them; and the truth of his words is

patent."

  Hearing the merchant's speech, the captain came up to me and

considered me straitly awhile, after which he said, "What was the mark

on thy bales?" "Thus and thus," answered I, and reminded him of

somewhat that had passed between him and me when I shipped with him

from Bassorah. Thereupon he was convinced that I was indeed Sindbad

the Seaman and took me round the neck and gave me joy of my safety,

saying: "By Allah, O my lord, thy case is indeed wondrous and thy tale

marvelous. But lauded be Allah Who hath brought thee and me together

again, and Who hath restored to thee thy goods and gear!" Then I

disposed of my merchandise to the best of my skill, and profited

largely on them, whereat I rejoiced with exceeding joy and

congratulated myself on my safety and the recovery of my goods. We

ceased not to buy and sell at the several islands till we came to

the land of Hind, where we bought cloves and ginger and all manner

spices. And thence we fared on to the land of Sind, where also we

bought and sold.

  In these Indian seas I saw wonders without number or count,

amongst others a fish like a cow which bringeth forth its young and

suckleth them like human beings, and of its skin bucklers are made.

There were eke fishes like asses and camels and tortoises twenty

cubits wide. And I saw also a bird that cometh out of a sea shell

and layeth eggs and hatcheth her chicks on the surface of the water,

never coming up from the sea to the land. Then we set sail again

with a fair wind and the blessing of Almighty Allah, and after a

prosperous voyage, arrived safe and sound at Bassorah. Here I abode

a few days, and presently returned to Baghdad, where I went at once to

my quarter and my house and saluted my family and familiars and

friends. I had gained on this voyage what was beyond count and

reckoning, so I gave alms and largess and clad the widow and orphan,

by way of thanksgiving for my happy return, and fell to feasting and

making merry with my companions and intimates and forgot while

eating well and drinking well and dressing well everything that had

befallen me and all the perils and hardships I had suffered.

  These, then, are the most admirable things I sighted on my third

voyage, and tomorrow, an it be the will of Allah, you shall come to me

and I will relate the adventures of my fourth voyage, which is still

more wonderful than those you have already heard. (Saith he who

telleth the tale): Then Sindbad the Seaman bade give Sindbad the

Landsman a hundred golden dinars as of wont, and called for food. So

they spread the tables and the company ate the night meal and went

their ways, marveling at the tale they had heard. The porter after

taking his gold passed the night in his own house, also wondering at

what his namesake the seaman had told him, and as soon as day broke

and the morning showed with its sheen and shone, he rose and praying

the dawn prayer, betook himself to Sindbad the Seaman, who returned

his salute and received him with an open breast and cheerful favor and

made him sit with him till the rest of the company arrived, when he

caused set on food and they ate and drank and made merry. Then Sindbad

the Seaman bespake them and related to them the narrative of






          THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN



  KNOW, O my brethren, that after my return from my third voyage and

forgathering with my friends, and forgetting all my perils and

hardships in the enjoyment of ease and comfort and repose, I was

visited one day by a company of merchants who sat down with me and

talked of foreign travel and traffic till the old bad man within me

yearned to go with them and enjoy the sight of strange countries,

and I longed for the society of the various races of mankind and for

traffic and profit. So I resolved to travel with them and, buying

the necessaries for a long voyage and great store of costly goods,

more than ever before, transported them from Baghdad to Bassorah,

where I took ship with the merchants in question, who were of the

chief of the town. We set out, trusting in the blessing of Almighty

Allah, and with a favoring breeze and the best conditions we salled

from island to island and sea to sea till one day there arose

against us a contrary wind and the captain cast out his anchors and

brought the ship to a standstill, fearing lest she should founder in

midocean.

  Then we all fell to prayer and humbling ourselves before the Most

High, but as we were thus engaged there smote us a furious squall

which tore the sails to rags and tatters. The anchor cable parted and,

the ship foundering, we were cast into the sea, goods and all. I

kept myself afloat by swimming half the day till, when I had given

myself up for lost, the Almighty threw in my way one of the planks

of the ship, whereon I and some others of the merchants scrambled and,

mounting it as we would a horse, paddled with our feet in the sea.

We abode thus a day and a night, the wind and waves helping us on, and

on the second day shortly before the midtime between sunrise and

noon the breeze freshened and the sea wrought and the rising waves

cast us upon an island, well-nigh dead bodies for weariness and want

of sleep, cold and hunger and fear and thirst. We walked about the

shore and found abundance of herbs, whereof we ate enough to keep

breath in body and to stay our failing spirits, then lay down and

slept till morning hard by the sea. And when morning came with its

sheen and shone, we arose and walked about the island to the right and

left till we came in sight of an inhabited house afar off. So we

made toward it, and ceased not walking till we reached the door

thereof when lo! a number of naked men issued from it, and without

saluting us or a word said, laid hold of us masterfully and carried us

to their King, who signed us to sit. So we sat down and they set

food before us such as we knew not and whose like we had never seen in

all our lives. My companions ate of it, for stress of hunger, but my

stomach revolted from it and I would not eat, and my refraining from

it was, by Allah's favor, the cause of my being alive till now. For no

sooner had my comrades tasted of it than their reason fled and their

condition changed and they began to devour it like madmen possessed of

an evil spirit. Then the savages give them to drink of coconut oil and

anointed them therewith, and straightway after drinking thereof

their eyes turned into their heads and they fell to eating greedily,

against their wont.

  When I saw this, I was confounded, and concerned for them, nor was I

less anxious about myself, for fear of the naked folk. So I watched

them narrowly, and it was not long before I discovered them to be a

tribe of Magian cannibals whose King was a Ghul. All who came to their

country or whoso they caught in their valleys or on their roads they

brought to this King and fed them upon that food and anointed them

with that oil, whereupon their stomachs dilated that they might eat

largely, wilst their reason fled and they lost the power of thought

and became idiots. Then they stuffed them with coconut oil and the

aforesaid food till they became fat and gross, when they slaughtered

them by cutting their throats and roasted them for the King's

eating, but as for the savages themselves, they ate human flesh raw.

When I saw this, I was sore dismayed for myself and my comrades, who

were now become so stupefied that they knew not what was done with

them. And the naked folk committed them to one who used every day to

lead them out and pasture them on the island like cattle. And they

wandered amongst the trees and rested at will, thus waxing very fat.

  As for me, I wasted away and became sickly for fear and hunger and

my flesh shriveled on my bones, which when the savages saw, they

left me alone and took no thought of me and so far forgot me that

one day I gave them the slip and walking out of their place, made

for the beach, which was distant, and there espied a very old man

seated on a high place girt by the waters. I looked at him and knew

him for the herdsman who had charge of pasturing my fellows, and

with him were many others in like case. As soon as he saw me, he

knew me to be in possession of my reason and not afflicted like the

rest whom he was pasturing, so signed to me from afar, as who should

say, "Turn back and take the right-hand road, for that will lead

thee into the King's highway." So I turned back, as he bade me, and

followed the right-hand road, now running for fear and then walking

leisurely to rest me, till I was out of the old man's sight. By this

time the sun had gone down and the darkness set in, so I sat down to

rest and would have slept, but sleep came not to me that night for

stress of fear and famine and fatigue.

  When the night was half spent, I rose and walked on till the day

broke in all its beauty and the sun rose over the heads of the lofty

hills and athwart the low gravelly plains. Now I was weary and

hungry and thirsty, so I ate my fill of herbs and grasses that grew in

the island and kept life in body and stayed my stomach, after which

I set out again and fared on all that day and the next night,

staying my greed with roots and herbs. Nor did I cease walking for

seven days and their nights, till the morn of the eighth day, when I

caught sight of a faint object in the distance. So I made toward it,

though my heart quaked for all I had suffered first and last, and,

behold, it was a company of men gathering pepper grains. As soon as

they saw me, they hastened up to me and surrounding me on all sides,

said to me, "Who art thou, and whence come?" I replied, "Know, O folk,

that I am a poor stranger," and acquainted them with my case and all

the hardships and perils I had suffered, whereat they marveled and

gave me joy of my safety, saying: "By Allah, this is wonderful! But

how didst thou escape from these blacks who swarm in the island and

devour all who fall in with them, nor is any safe from them, nor can

any get out of their clutches?"

  And after I had told them the fate of my companions, they made me

sit by them till they got quit of their work, and fetched me

somewhat of good food, which I ate, for I was hungry, and rested

awhile. After which they took ship with me and carrying me to their

island home, brought me before their King, who returned my salute

and received me honorably and questioned me of my case. I told him all

that had befallen me from the day of my leaving Baghdad city,

whereupon he wondered with great wonder at my adventures, he and his

courtiers, and bade me sit by him. Then he called for food and I ate

with him what sufficed me and washed my hands and returned thanks to

Almighty Allah for all His favors, praising Him and glorifying Him.

Then I left the King and walked for solace about the city, which I

found wealthy and populous, abounding in market streets well stocked

with food and merchandise and full of buyers and sellers. So I

rejoiced

at having reached so pleasant a place and took my ease there after

my fatigues, and I made friends with the townsfolk, nor was it long

before I became more in honor and favor with them and their King

than any of the chief men of the realm.

  Now I saw that all the citizens, great and small, rode fine

horses, high-priced and thoroughbred, without saddles or housings,

whereat I wondered and said to the King: "Wherefore, O my lord, dost

thou not ride with a saddle? Therein is ease for the rider and

increase of power." "What is a saddle?" asked he. "I never saw nor

used such a thing in all my life." And I answered, "With thy

permission I will make thee a saddle, that thou mayst ride on it and

see the comfort thereof." And quoth he, "Do so." So quoth I to him,

"Furnish me with some woods." which being brought, I sought me a

clever carpenter and sitting by him, showed him how to make the

saddletree, portraying for him the fashion thereof in ink on the wood.

Then I took wool and teased it and made felt of it, and, covering

the saddletree with leather, stuffed it, and polished it, and attached

the girth and stirrup leathers. After which I fetched a blacksmith and

described to him the fashion of the stirrups and bridle bit. So he

forged a fine pair of stirrups and a bit, and filed them smooth and

tinned them. Moreover, I made fast to them fringes of silk and

fitted bridle leathers to the bit. Then I fetched one of the best of

the royal horses and saddling and bridling him, hung the stirrups to

the saddle and led him to the King. The thing took his fancy and he

thanked me, then he mounted and rejoiced greatly in the saddle and

rewarded me handsomely for my work.

  When the King's Wazir saw the saddle, he asked of me one like it,

and I made it for him. Furthermore, all the grandees and officers of

state came for saddles to me, so I fell to making saddles (having

taught the craft to the carpenter and blacksmith) and selling them

to all who sought, till I amassed great wealth and became in high

honor and great favor with the King and his household and grandees.

I abode thus till one day, as I was sitting with the King in all

respect and contentment, he said to me: "Know thou, O such a one, thou

art become one of us, dear as a brother, and we hold thee in such

regard and affection that we cannot part with thee nor suffer thee

to leave our city. Wherefore I desire of thee obedience in a certain

matter, and I will not have thee gainsay me." Answered I: "O King,

what is it thou desirest of me? Far be it from me to gainsay thee in

aught, for I am indebted to thee for many favors and bounties and much

kindness, and (praised be Allah!) I am become one of thy servants."

Quoth he: "I have a mind to marry thee to a fair, clever, and

agreeable wife who is wealthy as she is beautiful, so thou mayest be

naturalized and domiciled with us. I will lodge thee with me in my

palace, wherefore oppose me not neither cross me in this." When I

heard these words I was ashamed and held my peace nor could make him

any answer, by reason of my much bashfulness before him. Asked he,

"Why dost thou not reply to me, O my son?" and I answered, saying,

"O my master, it is thine to command, O King of the Age!" So he

summoned the kazi and the witnesses and married me straightway to a

lady of a noble tree and high pedigree, wealthy in moneys and means,

the flower of an ancient race, of surpassing beauty and grace, and the

owner of farms and estates and many a dwelling place.

  Now after the King my master had married me to this choice wife,

he also gave me a great and goodly house standing alone, together with

slaves and officers, and assigned me pay and allowances. So I became

in all ease and contentment and delight and forgot everything which

had befallen me of weariness and trouble and hardship. For I loved

my wife with fondest love and she loved me no less, and we were as

one, and abode in the utmost comfort of life and in its happiness. And

I said in myself, "When I return to my native land, I will carry her

with me." But whatso is predestined to a man, that needs must be,

and none knoweth what shall befall him. We lived thus a great while,

till Almighty Allah bereft one of my neighbors of his wife. Now he was

a gossip of mine, so hearing the cry of the keeners, I went in to

condole him on his loss and found him in very ill plight, full of

trouble and weary of soul and mind. I condoled with him and

comforted him, saying: "Mourn not for thy wife, who hath now found the

mercy of Allah. The Lord will surely give thee a better in her

stead, and thy name shall be great and thy life shall be long in the

land, Inshallah!"

  But he wept bitter tears and replied: "O my friend, how can I

marry another wife, and how shall Allah replace her to me with a

better than she, whenas I have but one day left to live?" "O my

brother," said I, "return to thy senses and announce not glad

tidings of thine own death, for thou art well, sound, and in good

case." "By thy life, O my friend," rejoined he, "tomorrow thou wilt

lose me, and wilt never see me again till the Day of Resurrection."

I asked, "How so?" and he answered: "This very day they bury my

wife, and they bury me with her in one tomb. For it is the custom with

us, if the wife die first, to bury the husband alive with her, and

in like manner the wife if the husband die first, so that neither

may enjoy life after losing his or her mate." "By Allah," cried I,

"this is a most vile, lewd custom, and not to be endured of any!"

Meanwhile, behold, the most part of the townsfolk came in and fell

to condoling with my gossip for his wife and for himself.

  Presently they laid the dead woman out, as was their wont, and

setting her on a bier, carried her and her husband without the city

till they came to a place in the side of a mountain at the end of

the island by the sea. And here they raised a great rock and

discovered the mouth of a stone-riveted pit or well, leading down into

a vast underground cavern that ran beneath the mountain. Into this pit

they threw the corpse, then, tying a rope of palm fibers under the

husband's armpits, they let him down into the cavern, and with him a

great pitcher of fresh water and seven scones by way of viaticum. When

he came to the bottom, he loosed himself from the rope and they drew

it up, and stopping the mouth of the pit with the great stone, they

returned to the city, leaving my friend in the cavern with his dead

wife. When I saw this, I said to myself, "By Allah, this fashion of

death is more grievous than the first!" And I went in to the King

and said to him, "O my lord, why do ye bury the quick with the

dead?" Quoth he: "It hath been the custom, thou must know, of our

forebears and our olden kings from time immemorial, if the husband die

first, to bury his wife with him, and the like with the wife, so we

may not sever them, alive or dead." I asked, "O King of the Age, if

the wife of a foreigner like myself die among you, deal ye with him as

with yonder man?" and he answered, "Assuredly we do with him even as

thou hast seen." When I heard this, my gall bladder was like to burst,

for the violence of my dismay and concern for myself. My wit became

dazed, I felt as if in a vile dungeon, and hated their society, for

I went about in fear lest my wife should die before me and they bury

me alive with her. However, after a while I comforted myself,

saying, "Haply I shall predecease her, or shall have returned to my

own land before she die, for none knoweth which shall go first and

which shall go last."

  Then I applied myself to diverting my mind from this thought with

various occupations, but it was not long before my wife sickened and

complained and took to her pillow and fared after a few days to the

mercy of Allah. And the King and the rest of the folk came, as was

their wont, to condole with me and her family and to console us for

her loss, and not less to condole with me for myself. Then the women

washed her, and arraying her in her richest raiment and golden

ornaments, necklaces, and jewelry, laid her on the bier and bore her

to the mountain aforesaid, where they lifted the cover of the pit

and cast her in. After which all my intimates and acquaintances and my

wife's kith and kin came round me, to farewell me in my lifetime and

console me for my own death, whilst I cried out among them, saying:

"Almighty Allah never made it lawful to bury the quick with the

dead! I am a stranger, not one of your kind, and I cannot abear your

custom, and had I known it I never would have wedded among you!"

They heard me not and paid no heed to my words, but laying hold of me,

bound me by force and let me down. into the cavern, with a large

gugglet of sweet water and seven cakes of bread, according to their

custom. When I came to the bottom, they called out to me to cast

myself loose from the cords, but I refused to do so, so they threw

them down on me and, closing the mouth of the pit with the stones

aforesaid, went their ways.

  I looked about me and found myself in a vast cave full of dead

bodies that exhaled a fulsome and loathsome smell, and the air was

heavy with the groans of the dying. Thereupon I fell to blaming myself

for what I had done, saying: "By Allah, I deserve all that hath

befallen me and all that shall befall me! What curse was upon me to

take a wife in this city? There is no Majesty and there is no Might

save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! As often as I say I have

escaped from one calamity, I fall into a worse. By Allah, this is an

abominable death to die! Would Heaven I had died a decent death and

been washed and shrouded like a man and a Moslem. Would I had been

drowned at sea, or perished in the mountains! It were better than to

die this miserable death!" And on such wise I kept blaming my own

folly and greed of gain in that black hole, knowing not night from

day, and I ceased not to ban the Foul Fiend and to bless the

Almighty Friend. Then I threw myself down on the bones of the dead and

lay there, imploring Allah's help, and in the violence of my despair

invoking death, which came not to me, till the fire of hunger burned

my stomach and thirst set my throat aflame, when I sat up and

feeling for the bread, ate a morsel and upon it swallowed a mouthful

of water.

  After this, the worst night I ever knew, I arose, and exploring the,

cavern, found that it extended a long way with hollows in its sides,

and its floor was strewn with dead bodies and rotten bones that had

lain there from olden time. So I made myself a place in a cavity of

the cavern, afar from the corpses lately thrown down, and there slept.

I abode thus a long while, till my provision was like to give out, and

yet I ate not save once every day or second day, nor did I drink

more than an occasional draught, for fear my victual should fail me

before my death. And I said to myself: "Eat little and drink little.

Belike the Lord shall vouchsafe deliverance to thee!" One day as I sat

thus, pondering my case and bethinking me how I should do when my

bread and water should be exhausted, behold, the stone that covered

the opening was suddenly rolled away and the light streamed down

upon me. Quoth I: "I wonder what is the matter. Haply they have

brought another corpse." Then I espied folk standing about the mouth

of the pit, who presently let down a dead man and a live woman,

weeping and bemoaning herself, and with her an ampler supply of

bread and water than usual. I saw her and she was a beautiful woman,

but she saw me not. And they closed up the opening and went away. Then

I took the leg bone of a dead man and, going up to the woman, smote

her on the crown of the head, and she cried one cry and fell down in a

swoon. I smote her a second and a third time, till she was dead,

when I laid hands on her bread and water and found on her great plenty

of ornaments and rich apparel, necklaces, jewels and gold trinkets,

for it was their custom to bury women in all their finery. I carried

the vivers to my sleeping place in the cavern side and ate and drank

of them sparingly, no more than sufficed to keep the life in me,

lest the provaunt come speedily to an end and I perish of hunger and

thirst.

  Yet did I never wholly lose hope in Almighty Allah. I abode thus a

great while, killing all the live folk they let down into the cavern

and taking their provisions of meat and drink, till one day, as I

slept, I was awakened by something scratching and burrowing among

the bodies in a corner of the cave and said, "What can this be?"

fearing wolves or hyenas. So I sprang up, and seizing the leg bone

aforesaid, made for the noise. As soon as the thing was ware of me, it

fled from me into the inward of the cavern, and lo! it was a wild

beast. However, I followed it to the further end, till I saw afar

off a point of light not bigger than a star, now appearing and then

disappearing. So I made for it, and as I drew near, it grew larger and

brighter, till I was certified that it was a crevice in the rock,

leading to the open country, and I said to myself: "There must be some

reason for this opening. Either it is the mouth of a second pit such

as that by which they let me down, or else it is a natural fissure

in the stonery." So I bethought me awhile, and nearing the light,

found that it came from a breach in the back side of the mountain,

which the wild beasts had enlarged by burrowing, that they might enter

and devour the dead and freely go to and from. When I saw this, my

spirits revived and hope came back to me and I made sure of life,

after having died a death. So I went on, as in a dream, and making

shift to scramble through the breach, found myself on the slope of a

high mountain overlooking the salt sea and cutting off all access

thereto from the island, so that none could come at that part of the

beach from the city. I praised my Lord and thanked Him, rejoicing

greatly and heartening myself with the prospect of deliverance.

  Then I returned through the crack to the cavern and brought out

all the food and water I had saved up, and donned some of the dead

folk's clothes over my own. After which I gathered together all the

collars and necklaces of pearls and jewels and trinkets of gold and

silver set with precious stones and other ornaments and valuables I

could find upon the corpses, and making them into bundles with the

graveclothes and raiment of the dead, carried them out to the back

of the mountain facing the seashore, where I established myself,

purposing to wait there till it should please Almighty Allah to send

me relief by means of some passing ship. I visited the cavern daily,

and as often as I found folk buried alive there, I killed them all

indifferently, men and women, and took their victual and valuables and

transported them to my seat on the seashore.

  Thus I abode a long while till one day I caught sight of a ship

passing in the midst of the clashing sea swollen with dashing billows.

So I took a piece of a white shroud I had with me, and tying it to a

staff, ran along the seashore making signals therewith and calling

to the people in the ship, till they espied me, and hearing my shouts,

sent a boat to fetch me off. When it drew near, the crew called out to

me, saying, "Who art thou, and how camest thou to be on this mountain,

whereon never saw we any in our born days?" I answered: "I am a

gentleman and a merchant who hath been wrecked and saved myself on one

of the planks of the ship, with some of my goods. And by the

blessing of the Almighty and the decrees of Destiny and my own

strength and skill, after much toil and moil I have landed with my

gear in this place, where I awaited some passing ship to take me off."

So they took me in their boat, together with the bundles I had made of

the jewels and valuables from the cavern, tied up in clothes and

shrouds, and rowed back with me to the ship, where the captain said to

me: "How camest thou, O man, to yonder place on yonder mountain behind

which lieth a great city? All my life I have sailed these seas and

passed to and fro hard by these heights, yet never saw I here any

living thing save wild beasts and birds." I repeated to him the

story I had told the sailors, but acquainted him with nothing of

that which had befallen me in the city and the cavern, lest there

should be any of the islandry in the ship.

  Then I took out some of the best pearls I had with me and offered

them to the captain, saying: "O my lord, thou hast been the means of

saving me off this mountain. I have no ready money, but take this from

me in requital of thy kindness and good offices.-But he refused to

accept it of me, saying: "When we find a shipwrecked man on the

seashore or on an island, we take him up and give him meat and

drink, and if he be naked we clothe him, nor take we aught from

him- nay, when we reach a port of safety, we set him ashore with a

present of our own money and entreat him kindly and charitably, for

the love of Allah the Most High." So I prayed that his life be long in

the land and rejoiced in my escape, trusting to be delivered from my

stress and to forget my past mishaps, for every time I remembered

being let down into the cave with my dead wife I shuddered in horror.

  Then we pursued our voyage and sailed from island to island and

sea to sea till we arrived at the Island of the Bell which

containeth a city two days' journey in extent, whence after a six

days' ran we reached the Island Kala, hard by the land of Hind. This

place is govemed by a potent and puissant King, and it produceth

excellent camphor and an abundance of the Indian rattan. Here also

is a lead mine. At last by the decree of Allah we arrived in safety at

Bassorah town, where I tarried a few days, then went on to Baghdad

city, and finding my quarter, entered my house with lively pleasure.

There I forgathered with my family and friends, who rejoiced in my

happy return and give me joy of my safety. I laid up in my storehouses

all the goods I had brought with me, and gave alms and largess to

fakirs and beggars and clothed the widow and the orphan. Then I gave

myself up to pleasure and enjoyment, returning to my old merry mode of

rife.

  Such, then, be the most marvelous adventures of my fourth voyage,

but tomorrow, if you will kindly come to me, I will tell you that

which befell me in my fifth voyage, which was yet rarer and more

marvelous than those which forewent it. And thou, O my brother Sindbad

the Landsman, shalt sup with me as thou art wont. (Saith he who

telleth the tale): When Sindbad the Seaman had made an end of his

story, he called for supper, so they spread the table and the guests

ate the evening meal, after which he gave the porter a hundred

dinars as usual, and he and the rest of the company went their ways,

glad at heart and marveling at the tales they had heard, for that each

story was more extraordinary than that which forewent it. The porter

Sindbad passed the night in his own house, in all joy and cheer and

wonderment, and as soon as morning came with its sheen and shone, he

prayed the dawn prayer and repaired to the house of Sindbad the

Seaman, who welcomed him and bade him sit with him till the rest of

the company arrived, when they ate and drank and made merry and the

talk went round amongst them. Presently, their host began the

narrative of





           THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN



  KNOW, O my brothers, that when I had been awhile on shore after my

fourth voyage, and when, in my comfort and pleasures and

merrymakings and in my rejoicing over my large gains and profits, I

had forgotten all I had endured of perils and sufferings, the carnal

man was again seized with the longing to travel and to see foreign

countries and islands. Accordingly I bought costly merchandise

suited to my purpose and, making it up into bales, repaired to

Bassorah, where I walked about the river quay till I found a fine tall

ship, newly builded, with gear unused and fitted ready for sea. She

pleased me, so I bought her and, embarking my goods in her, hired a

master and crew, over whom I set certain of my slaves and servants

as inspectors. A number of merchants also brought their outfits and

paid me freight and passage money. Then, after reciting the fatihah,

we set sail over Allah's pool in all joy and cheer, promising

ourselves a prosperous voyage and much profit.

  We sailed from city to city and from island to island and from sea

to sea viewing the cities and countries by which we passed, and

selling and buying in not a few, till one day we came to a great

uninhabited island, deserted and desolate, whereon was a white dome of

biggest bulk half buried in the sands. The merchants landed to examine

this dome, leaving me in the ship, and when they drew near, behold, it

was a huge roc's egg. They fell a-beating it with stones, knowing

not what it was, and presently broke it open, whereupon much water ran

out of it and the young roc appeared within. So they pulled it forth

of the shell and cut its throat and took of it great store of meat.

Now I was in the ship and knew not what they did, but presently one of

the passengers came up to me and said, "O my lord, come and look at

the egg that we thought to be a dome." So I looked, and seeing the

merchants beating it with stones, called out to them: "Stop, stop!

Do not meddle with that egg, or the bird roc will come out and break

our ship and destroy us." But they paid no heed to me and gave not

over smiting upon the egg, when behold, the day grew dark and dun

and the sun was hidden from us, as if some great cloud had passed over

the firmament. So we raised our eyes and saw that what we took for a

cloud was the roc poised between us and the sun, and it was his

wings that darkened the day. When he came and saw his egg broken, he

cried a loud cry, whereupon his mate came flying up and they both

began circling about the ship, crying out at us with voices louder

than thunder. I called to the rais and crew, "Put out to sea and

seek safety in flight, before we be all destroyed!" So the merchants

came on board and we cast off and made haste from the island to gain

the open sea.

  When the rocs saw this, they flew off, and we crowded all sail on

the ship, thinking to get out of their country, but presently the

two reappeared and flew after us and stood over us, each carrying in

its claws a huge boulder which it had brought from the mountains. As

soon as the he-roc came up with us, he let fall upon us the rock he

held in his pounces, but the master put about ship, so that the rock

missed her by some small matter and plunged into the waves with such

violence that the ship pitched high and then sank into the trough of

the sea, and the bottom the ocean appeared to us. Then the she-roc let

fall her rock, which was bigger than that of her mate, and as

Destiny had decreed, it fell on the poop of the ship and crushed it,

the rudder flying into twenty pieces. Whereupon the vessel foundered

and all and everything on board were cast into the main. As for me,

I struggled for sweet life till Almighty Allah threw in my way one

of the planks of the ship, to which I clung and bestriding it, fell

a-paddling with my feet.

  Now the ship had gone down hard by an island in the midst of the

main, and the winds and waves bore me on till, by permission of the

Most High, they cast me up on the shore of the island, at the last

gasp for toil and distress and half-dead with hunger and thirst. So

I landed more like a corpse than a live man, and throwing myself

down on the beach, lay there awhile till I began to revive and recover

spirits, when I walked about the island, and found it as it were one

of the garths and gardens of Paradise. Its trees, in abundance

dight, bore ripe-yellow fruit for freight, its streams ran clear and

bright, its flowers were fair to scent and to sight, and its birds

warbled with delight the praises of Him to whom belong Permanence

and All-might. So I ate my fill of the fruits and slaked my thirst

with the water of the streams till I could no more, and I returned

thanks to the Most High and glorified Him, after which I sat till

nightfall hearing no voice and seeing none inhabitant. Then I lay

down, well-nigh dead for travail and trouble and terror, and slept

without surcease till morning, when I arose and walked about under the

trees till I came to the channel of a draw well fed by a spring of

running water, by which well sat an old man of venerable aspect,

girt about with a waistcloth made of the fiber of palm fronds. Quoth I

to myself. "Haply this Sheikh is of those who were wrecked in the ship

and hath made his way to this island."

  So I drew near to him and saluted him, and he returned my salaam

by signs, but spoke not, and I said to him, "O nuncle mine, what

causeth thee to sit here?" He shook his head and moaned and signed

to me with his hand as who should say, "Take me on thy shoulders and

carry me to the other side of the well channel." And quoth I in my

mind: "I will deal kindly with him and do what he desireth. It may

be I shall win me a reward in Heaven, for he may be a paralytic." So I

took him on my back, and carrying him to the place whereat he pointed,

said to him, "Dismount at thy leisure." But he would not get off my

back, and wound his legs about my neck. I looked at them, and seeing

that they were like a buffalo's hide for blackness and roughness,

was affrighted and would have cast him off, but he clung to me and

gripped my neck with his legs till I was well-nigh choked, the world

grew black in my sight and I fell senseless to the ground like one

dead.

  But he still kept his seat and raising his legs, drummed with his

heels and beat harder than palm rods my back and shoulders, till he

forced me to rise for excess of pain. Then he signed to me with his

hand to carry him hither and thither among the trees which bore the

best fruits, and if ever I refused to do his bidding or loitered or

took my leisure, he beat me with his feet more grievously than if I

had been beaten with whips. He ceased not to signal with his hand

wherever he was minded to go, so I carried him about the island,

like a captive slave, and he dismounted not night or day. And whenas

he wished to sleep, he wound his legs about my neck and leaned back

and slept awhile, then arose and beat me, whereupon I sprang up in

haste, unable to gainsay him because of the pain he inflicted on me.

And indeed I blamed myself and sore repented me of having taken

compassion on him, and continued in this condition, suffering

fatigue not to be described, till I said to myself: "I wrought him a

weal and he requited me with my ill. By Allah, never more will I do

any man a service so long as I live!" And again and again I besought

the Most High that I might die, for stress of weariness and misery.

  And thus I abode a long while till one day I came with him to a

place wherein was abundance of gourds, many of them dry. So I took a

great dry gourd and cutting open the head, scooped out the inside

and cleaned it, after which I gathered grapes from a vine which grew

hard by and squeezed them into the gourd till it was full of the

juice. Then I stopped up the mouth and set it in the sun, where I left

it for some days until it became strong wine, and every day I used

to drink of it, to comfort and sustain me under my fatigues with

that froward and obstinate fiend. And as often as I drank myself

drunk, I forgot my troubles and took new heart. One day he saw me

and signed to me with his hand, as who should say, "What is that?"

Quoth I, "It is an excellent cordial, which cheereth the heart and

reviveth the spirits." Then, being heated with wine, I ran and

danced with him among the trees, clapping my hands and singing and

making merry, and I staggered under him by design.

  When he saw this, he signed to me to give him the gourd that he

might drink, and I feared him and gave it him. So he took it, and

draining it to the dregs, cast it on the ground, whereupon he grew

frolicsome and began to clap hands and jig to and fro on my shoulders,

and he made water upon me so copiously that all my dress was drenched.

But presently, the fumes of the wine rising to his head, he became

helplessly drunk and his side muscles and limbs relaxed and he

swayed to and fro on my back. When I saw that he had lost his senses

for drunkenness, I put my hand to his legs and, loosing them from my

neck, stooped down well-nigh to the ground and threw him at full

length. Then I took up a great stone from among the trees and coming

up to him, smote him therewith on the head with all my might and

crushed in his skull as he lay dead-drunk. Thereupon his flesh and fat

and blood being in a pulp, he died and went to his deserts, The

Fire, no mercy of Allah be upon him!

  I then returned, with a heart at ease, to my former station on the

seashore, and abode in that island many days, eating of its fruits and

drinking of its waters and keeping a lookout for passing ships, till

one day, as I sat on the beach recalling all that had befallen me

and saying, "I wonder if Allah will save me alive and restore me to my

home and family and friends!" behold, a ship was making for the island

through the dashing sea and clashing waves. Presently it cast anchor

and the passengers landed, so I made for them, and when they saw me

all hastened up to me and gathering round me, questioned me of my case

and how I came thither. I told them all that had betided me, whereat

they marveled with exceeding marvel and said: "He who rode on thy

shoulder is called the Sheikh-al-Bahr or Old Man of the Sea, and

none ever felt his legs on neck and came off alive but thou, and those

who die under him he eateth. So praised be Allah for thy safety!" Then

they set somewhat of food before me, whereof I ate my fill, and gave

me somewhat of clothes, wherewith I clad myself anew and covered my

nakedness. After which they took me up into the ship and we sailed

days and nights till Fate brought us to a place called the City of

Apes, builded with lofty houses, all of which gave upon the sea, and

it had a single gate studded and strengthened with iron nails.

  Now every night as soon as it is dusk the dwellers in this city used

to come forth of the gates and, putting out to sea in boats and ships,

pass the night upon the waters in their fear lest the apes should come

down on them from the mountains. Hearing this, I was sore troubled,

remembering what I had before suffered from the ape kind. Presently

I landed to solace myself in the city, but meanwhile the ship set sail

without me, and I repented of having gone ashore, and calling to

mind my companions and what had befallen me with the apes, first and

after, sat down and fell aweeping and lamenting. Presently one of

the townsfolk accosted me and said to me, "O my lord, meseemeth thou

art a stranger to these parts?" "Yes," answered I, "I am indeed a

stranger and a poor one, who came hither in a ship which cast anchor

here, and I landed to visit the town. But when I would have gone on

board again, I found they had sailed without me." Quoth he, "Come

and embark with us, for if thou lie the night in the city, the apes

will destroy thee." "Hearkening and obedience," replied I, and rising,

straightway embarked with him in one of the boats, whereupon they

pushed off from shore, and anchoring a mile or so from the land, there

passed the night. At daybreak they rowed back to the city, and

landing, went each about his business. Thus they did every night,

for if any tarried in the town by night the apes came down on him

and slew him. As soon as it was day, the apes left the place and ate

of the fruits of the gardens, then went back to the mountains and

slept there till nightfall, when they again came down upon the city.

  Now this place was in the farthest part of the country of the

blacks, and one of the strangest things that befell me during my

sojourn in the city was on this wise. One of the company with whom I

passed the night in the boat asked me: "O my lord, thou art apparently

a stranger in these parts. Hast thou any craft whereat thou canst

work?" and I answered: "By Allah, O my brother, I have no trade nor

know I any handicraft, for I was a merchant and a man of money and

substance and had a ship of my own, laden with great store of goods

and merchandise. But it foundered at sea and all were drowned

excepting me, who saved myself on a piece of plank which Allah

vouchsafed to me of His favor."

  Upon this he brought me a cotton bag and giving it to me, said:

"Take this bag and fill it with pebbles from the beach and go forth

with a company of the townsfolk to whom I will give a charge

respecting thee. Do as they do and belike thou shalt gain what may

further thy return voyage to thy native land." Then he carried me to

the beach, where I filled my bag with pebbles large and small, and

presently we saw a company of folk issue from the town, each bearing a

bag like mine, filled with pebbles. To these he committed me,

commending me to their care, and saying: "This man is a stranger, so

take him with you and teach him how to gather, that he may get his

daily bread, and you will earn your reward and recompense in

Heaven." "On our head and eyes be it!" answered they, and bidding me

welcome, fared on with me till we came to a spacious wady, full of

lofty trees with trunks so smooth that none might climb them.

  Now sleeping under these trees were many apes, which when they saw

us rose and fled from us and swarmed up among the branches,

whereupon my companions began to pelt them with what they had in their

bags, and the apes fell to plucking of the fruit of the trees and

casting them at the folk. I looked at the fruits they cast at us and

found them to be Indian or coconuts, so I chose out a great tree

full of apes, and going up to it, began to pelt them with stones,

and they in return pelted me with nuts, which I collected, as did

the rest. So that even before I had made an end of my bagful of

pebbles, I had gotten great plenty of nuts. And as soon as my

companions had in like manner gotten as many nuts as they could carry,

we returned to the city, where we arrived at the fag end of day.

Then I went in to the kindly man who had brought me in company with

the nut-gatherers and gave him all I had gotten, thanking him for

his kindness, but he would not accept them, saying, "Sell them and

make profit by the price," and presently he added (giving me the key

of a closet in his house): "Store thy nuts in this safe place and go

thou forth every morning and gather them as thou hast done today,

and choose out the worst for sale and supplying thyself; but lay up

the rest here, so haply thou mayst collect enough to serve thee for

thy return home." "Allah requite thee!" answered I, and did as he

advised me, going out daily with the coconut gatherers, who

commended me to one another and showed me the best-stocked trees. Thus

did I for some time, till I had laid up great store of excellent nuts,

besides a large sum of money, the price of those I had sold. I

became thus at my ease and bought all I saw and had a mind to, and

passed my time pleasantly, greatly enjoying my stay in the city,

till as I stood on the beach one day a great ship steering through the

heart of the sea presently cast anchor by the shore and landed a

company of merchants, who proceeded to sell and buy and barter their

goods for coconuts and other commodities.

  Then I went to my friend and told him of the coming of the ship

and how I had a mind to return to my own country, and he said, "

'Tis for thee to decide." So I thanked him for his bounties and took

leave of him. Then, going to the captain of the ship, I agreed with

him for my passage and embarked my coconuts and what else I possessed.

We weighed anchor the same day and sailed from island to island and

sea to sea, and whenever we stopped, I sold and traded with my

coconuts, and the Lord requited me more than I erst had and lost.

  Amongst other places, we came to an island abounding in cloves and

cinnamon and pepper, and the country people told me that by the side

of each pepper bunch groweth a great leaf which shadeth it from the

sun and casteth the water off it in the wet season; but when the

rain ceaseth, the leaf turneth over and droopeth down by the side of

the bunch. Here I took in great store of pepper and cloves and

cinnamon, in exchange for coconuts, and we passed thence to the Island

of Al-Usirat, whence cometh the Comorin aloes wood, and thence to

another island, five days' journey in length, where grows the

Chinese lign aloes, which is better than the Comorin. But the people

of this island are fouler of condition and religion than those of

the other, for that they love fornication and wine bibbing, and know

not prayer nor call to prayer.

  Thence we came to the pearl fisheries, and I gave the divers some of

my coconuts and said to them, "Dive for my luck and lot!" They did

so and brought up from the deep bright great store of large and

priceless pearls, and they said to me, "By Allah, O my master, thy

luck is a lucky!" Then we sailed on, with the blessing of Allah (Whose

name be exalted!), and ceased not sailing till we arrived safely at

Bassorah. There I abode a little and then went on to Baghdad, where

I entered my quarter and found my house and forgathered with my family

and saluted my friends, who gave me joy of my safe return, and I

laid up all my goods and valuables in my storehouses. Then I

distributed alms and largess and clothed the widow and the orphan

and made presents to my relations and comrades, for the Lord had

requited me fourfold that I had lost. After which I returned to my old

merry way of life and forgot all I had suffered in the great profit

and gain I had made.

  Such, then, is the history of my fifth voyage and its wonderments,

and now to supper, and tomorrow, come again and I will tell you what

befell me in my sixth voyage, for it was still more wonderful than

this. (Saith he who telleth the tale): Then he called for food, and

the servants spread the table, and when they had eaten the evening

meal, he bade give Sindbad the Porter a hundred golden dinars and

the landsman returned home and lay him down to sleep, much marveling

at all he had heard. Next morning, as soon as it was light, he

prayed the dawn prayer, and, after blessing Mohammed the Cream of

all creatures, betook himself to the house of Sindbad the Seaman and

wished him a good day. The merchant bade him sit, and talked with

him till the rest of the company arrived. Then the servants spread the

table, and when they had well eaten and drunken and were mirthful

and merry, Sindbad the Seaman began in these words the narrative of






            THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN



  KNOW, O my brothers and friends and companions all, that I abode

some time, after my return from my fifth voyage, in great solace and

satisfaction and mirth and merriment, joyance and enjoyment, and I

forgot what I had suffered, seeing the great gain and profit I had

made, till one day as I sat making merry and enjoying myself with my

friends, there came in to me a company of merchants whose case told

tales of travel, and talked with me of voyage and adventure and

greatness of pelf and lucre. Hereupon I remembered the days of my

return abroad, and my joy at once more seeing my native land and

forgathering with my family and friends, and my soul yearned for

travel and traffic. So, compelled by Fate and Fortune, I resolved to

undertake another voyage, and, buying me fine and costly merchandise

meet for foreign trade, made it up into bales, with which I

journeyed from Baghdad to Bassorah.

  Here I found a great ship ready for sea and full of merchants and

notables, who had with them goods of price, so I embarked my bales

therein. And we left Bassorah in safety and good spirits under the

safeguard of the King, the Preserver, and continued our voyage from

place to place and from city to city, buying and selling and profiting

and diverting ourselves with the sight of countries where strange folk

dwell. And Fortune and the voyage smiled upon us till one day, as we

went along, behold, the captain suddenly cried with a great cry and

cast his turban on the deck. Then he buffeted his face like a woman

and plucked out his beard and fell down in the waist of the ship

well-nigh fainting for stress of grief and rage, and crying, "Oh,

and alas for the ruin of my house and the orphanship of my poor

children!" So all the merchants and sailors came round about him and

asked him, "O master, what is the matter?" For the light had become

night before, their sight. And he answered, saying: "Know, O folk,

that we have wandered from our course and left the sea whose ways we

wot, and come into a sea whose ways I know not, and unless Allah

vouchsafe us a means of escape, we are all dead men. Wherefore pray ye

to the Most High that He deliver us from this strait. Haply amongst

you is one righteous whose prayers the Lord will accept." Then he

arose and clomb the mast to see an there were any escape from that

strait. And he would have loosed the sails, but the wind redoubled

upon the ship and whirled her round thrice and drave her backward,

whereupon her rudder brake and she fell off toward a high mountain.

  With this the captain came down from the mast, saying: "There is

no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the

Great, nor can man prevent that which is foreordained of Fate! By

Allah, we are fallen on a place of sure destruction, and there is no

way of escape for us, nor can any of us be saved!" Then we all fill

a-weeping over ourselves and bidding one another farewell for that our

days were come to an end, and we had lost an hopes of life.

Presently the ship struck the mountain and broke up, and all and

everything on board of her were plunged into the sea. Some of the

merchants were drowned and others made shift to reach the shore and

save themselves upon the mountain, I amongst the number. And when we

got ashore, we found a great island, or rather peninsula, whose base

was strewn with wreckage and crafts and goods and gear cast up by

the sea from broken ships whose passengers had been drowned, and the

quantity confounded count and calculation. So I climbed the cliffs

into the inward of the isle and walked on inland till I came to a

stream of sweet water that welled up at the nearest foot of the

mountains and disappeared in the earth under the range of hills on the

opposite side. But all the other passengers went over the mountains to

the inner tracts, and, dispersing hither and thither, were

confounded at what they saw and became like madmen at the sight of the

wealth and treasures wherewith the shores were strewn.

  As for me, I looked into the bed of the stream aforesaid and saw

therein great plenty of rubies, and great royal pearls and all kinds

of jewels and precious stones, which were as gravel in the bed of

the rivulets that ran through the fields, and the sands sparkled and

glittered with gems and precious ores. Moreover, we found in the

island abundance of the finest lign aloes, both Chinese and Comorin.

And there also is a spring of crude ambergris, which floweth like

wax or gum over the stream banks, for the great heat of the sun, and

runneth down to the seashore, where the monsters of the deep come up

and, swallowing it, return into the sea. But it burneth in their

bellies, so they cast it up again and it congealeth on the surface

of the water, whereby its color and quantities are changed, and at

last the waves cast it ashore, and the travelers and merchants who

know it collect it and sell it. But as to the raw ambergris which is

not swallowed, it floweth over the channel and congealeth on the

banks, and when the sun shineth on it, it melteth and scenteth the

whole valley with a musk-like fragrance. Then when the sun ceaseth

from it, it congealeth again. But none can get to this place where

is the crude ambergris, because of the mountains which enclose the

island on all sides and which foot of man cannot ascend.

  We continued thus to explore the island, marveling at the

wonderful works of Allah and the riches we found there, but sore

troubled for our own case, and dismayed at our prospects. Now we had

picked up on the beach some small matter of victual from the wreck and

husbanded it carefully eating but once every day or two, in our fear

lest it should fail us and we die miserably of famine and affright.

Moreover, we were weak for colic brought on by seasickness and low

diet, and my companions deceased, one after other, till there was

but a small company of us left. Each that died we washed and

shrouded in some of the clothes and linen cast ashore by the tides,

and after a little, the rest of my fellows perished one by one, till I

had buried the last of the party and abode alone on the island, with

but a little provision left, I who was wont to have so much. And I

wept over myself, saying: "Would Heaven I had died before my

companions and they had washed me and buried me! It had been better

than I should perish and none wash me and shroud me and bury me. But

there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the glorious,

the Great!" Now after I had buried the last of my party and abode

alone on the island, I arose and dug me a deep grave on the

seashore, saying to myself: "Whenas I grow weak and know that death

cometh to me, I will cast myself into the grave and die there, so

the wind may drift the sand over me and cover me and I be buried

therein."

  Then I fell to reproaching myself for my little wit in leaving my

native land and betaking me again to travel after all I had suffered

during my first five voyages, and when I had not made a single one

without suffering more horrible perils and more terrible hardships

than in its forerunners, and having no hope of escape from my

present stress. And I repented me of my folly and bemoaned myself,

especially as I had no need of money, seeing that I had enough and

could not spend what I had- no, nor a half of it in all my life.

However, after a while Allah sent me a thought, and I said to

myself: "By God, needs must this stream have an end as well as a

beginning, ergo an issue somewhere, and belike its course may lead

to some inhabited place. So my best plan is to make me a little boat

big enough to sit in, and carry it and, launching it on the river,

embark therein and drop down the stream. If I escape, I escape, by

God's leave, and if I perish, better die in the river than here."

Then, sighing for myself, I set to work collecting a number of

pieces of Chinese and Comorin aloes wood and I bound them together

with ropes from the wreckage. Then I chose out from the broken-up

ships straight planks of even size and fixed them firmly upon the

aloes wood, making me a boat raft a little narrower than the channel

of the stream, and I tied it tightly and firmly as though it were

nailed. Then I loaded it with the goods, precious ores and jewels, and

the union pearls which were like gravel, and the best of the ambergris

crude and pure, together with what I had collected on the island and

what was left me of victual and wild herbs. Lastly I lashed a piece of

wood on either side, to serve me as oars, and launched it, and

embarking, did according to the saying of the poet:



     Fly, fly with life whenas evils threat,

     Leave the house to tell of its builder's fate!

     Land after land shalt thou seek and find,

     But no other life on thy wish shall wait.

     Fret not thy soul in thy thoughts o' night,

     All woes shall end or sooner or late.

     Whoso is born in one land to die,

     There and only there shall gang his pit.

     Nor trust great things to another wight,

     Soul hath only soul for confederate.



  My boat raft drifted with the stream, I pondering the issue of my

affair, and the drifting ceased not till I came to the place where

it disappeared beneath the mountain. I rowed my conveyance into the

place, which was intensely dark, and the current carried the raft with

it down the underground channel. The thin stream bore me on through

a narrow tunnel where the raft touched either side and my head

rubbed against the roof, return therefrom being impossible. Then I

blamed myself for having thus risked my life, and said, "If this

passage grow any straiter, the raft will hardly pass, and I cannot

turn back, so I shall inevitably perish miserably in this place." And

I threw myself down upon my face on the raft, by reason of the

narrowness of the channel, whilst the stream ceased not to carry me

along, knowing not night from day for the excess of the gloom which

encompassed me about and my terror and concern for myself lest I

should perish. And in such condition my course continued down the

channel, which now grew wider and then straiter. Sore a-weary by

reason of the darkness which could be felt, I feel asleep as I lay

prone on the craft, and I slept knowing not an the time were long or

short.

  When I awoke at last, I found myself in the light of Heaven and

opening my eyes, I saw myself in a broad of the stream and the raft

moored to an island in the midst of a number of Indians and

Abyssinians. As soon as these blackamoors saw that I was awake, they

came up to me and bespoke me in their speech. But I understood not

what they said and thought that this was a dream and a vision which

had betided me for stress of concern and chagrin. But I was

delighted at my escape from the river. When they saw I understood them

not and made them no answer, one of them came forward and said to me

in Arabic: "Peace be with thee, O my brother! Who art thou, and whence

faredst thou hither? How camest thou into this river, and what

manner of land lies behind yonder mountains, for never knew we

anyone make his way thence to us?" Quoth I: "And upon thee be peace

and the ruth of Allah and His blessing! Who are ye, and what country

is this?" "O my brother," answered he, "we are husbandmen and

tillers of the soil, who came out to water our fields and plantations,

and finding thee asleep on this raft, laid hold of it and made it fast

by us, against thou shouldst awake at thy leisure. So tell us how thou

camest hither." I answered, "For Allah's sake, O my lord, ere I

speak give me somewhat to eat, for I am starving, and after ask me

what thou wilt."

  So he hastened to fetch me food and I ate my fill, till I was

refreshed and my fear was calmed by a good bellyful and my life

returned to me. Then I rendered thanks to the Most High for mercies

great and small, glad to be out of the river and rejoicing to be

amongst them, and I told them all my adventures from first to last,

especially my troubles in the narrow channel. They consulted among

themselves and said to one another, "There is no help for it but we

carry him with us and present him to our King, that he may acquaint

him with his adventures." So they took me, together with raft boat and

its lading of moneys and merchandise, jewels, minerals, and golden

gear, and brought me to their King, who was King of Sarandib,

telling him what had happened. Whereupon he saluted me and bade me

welcome. Then he questioned me of my condition and adventures

through the man who had spoken Arabic, and I repeated to him my

story from beginning to end, whereat he marveled exceedingly and

gave me joy of my deliverance. After which I arose and fetched from

the raft great store of precious ores and jewels and ambergris and lip

aloes and presented them to the King, who accepted them and

entreated me with the utmost honor, appointing me a lodging in his own

palace. So I consorted with the chief of the islanders, and they

paid me the utmost respect. And I quitted not the royal palace.

  Now the Island Sarandib lieth under the equinoctial line, its

night and day both numbering twelve hours. It measureth eighty leagues

long by a breadth of thirty and its width is bounded by a lofty

mountain and a deep valley. The mountain is conspicuous from a

distance of three days, and it containeth many kinds of, rubies and

other minerals, and spice trees of all sorts. The surface is covered

with emery, wherewith gems are cut and fashioned; diamonds are in

its rivers and pearls are in its valleys. I ascended that mountain and

solaced myself with a view of its marvels, which are indescribable,

and afterward I returned to the King. Thereupon all the travelers

and merchants who came to the place questioned me of the affairs of my

native land and of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid and his rule, and I told

them of him and of that wherefor he was renowned, and they praised him

because of this, whilst I in turn questioned them of the manners and

customs of their own countries and got the knowledge I desired.

  One day the King himself asked me of the fashions and form of

government of my country, and I acquainted him with the circumstance

of the Caliph's sway in the city of Baghdad and the justice of his

rule. The King marveled at my account of his appointments and said:

"By Allah, the Caliph's ordinances are indeed wise and his fashions of

praiseworthy guise, and thou hast made me love him by what thou

tellest me. Wherefore I have a mind to make him a present and send

it by thee." Quoth I: "Hearkening and obedience, O my lord. I will

bear thy gift to him and inform him that thou art his sincere lover

and true friend." Then I abode with the King in great honor and regard

and consideration for a long while till one day, as I sat in his

palace, I heard news of a company of merchants that were fitting out

ship for Bassorah, and said to myself, "I cannot do better than voyage

with these men." So I rose without stay or delay and kissed the King's

hand and acquainted him with my longing to set out with the merchants,

for that I pined after my people and mine own land. Quoth he, "Thou

art thine own master, yet if it be thy will to abide with us, on our

head and eyes be it, for thou gladdenest us with thy company." "By

Allah, O my lord," answered I, "thou hast indeed overwhelmed me with

thy favors and well-doings, but I weary for a sight of my friends

and family and native country."

  When he heard this, he summoned the merchants in question and

commended me to their care, paying my freight and passage money.

Then he bestowed on me great riches from his treasuries and charged me

with a magnificent present for the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Moreover,

he gave me a sealed letter, saying, "Carry this with thine own hand to

the Commander of the Faithful, and give him many salutations from us!"

"Hearing and obedience," I replied. The missive was written on the

skin of the khawi (which is finer than lamb parchment and of yellow

color), with ink of ultramarine, and the contents were as follows:

"Peace be with thee from the King of Al-Hind, before whom are a

thousand elephants and upon whose palace crenelles are a thousand

jewels. But after (laud to the Lord and praises to His Prophet!) we

send thee a trifling gift, which be thou pleased to accept. Thou art

to us a brother and a sincere friend, and great is the love we bear

for thee in heart. Favor us therefore with a reply. The gift besitteth

not thy dignity, but we beg of thee, O our brother, graciously to

accept it, and peace be with thee." And the present was a cup of

ruby a span high, the inside of which was adorned with precious

pearls;

and a bed covered with the skin of the serpent which swalloweth the

elephant, which skin hath spots each like a dinar and whoso sitteth

upon it never sickeneth; and a hundred thousand miskals of Indian lign

aloes and a slave girl like a shining moon.

  Then I took leave of him and of all my intimates and acquaintances

in the island, and embarked with the merchants aforesaid. We sailed

with a fair wind, committing ourselves to the care of Allah (be He

extolled and exalted!), and by His permission arrived at Bassorah,

where I passed a few days and nights equipping myself and packing up

my bales. Then I went on to Baghdad city, the House of Peace, where

I sought an audience of the Caliph and laid the King's presents before

him. He asked me whence they came, and I said to him, "By Allah, O

Commander of the Faithful, I know not the name of the city nor the way

thither!" He then asked me, "O Sindbad, is this true which the King

writeth?" and I answered, after kissing the ground: "O my lord, I

saw in his kingdom much more than he hath written in his letter. For

state processions a throne is set for him upon a huge elephant

eleven cubits high, and upon this he sitteth having his great lords

and officers and guests standing in two ranks, on his right hand and

on his left. At his head is a man hending in hand a golden javelin and

behind him another with a great mace of gold whose head is an

emerald a span long and as thick as a man's thumb. And when he

mounteth horse there mount with him a thousand horsemen clad in gold

brocade and silk, and as the King proceedeth a man precedeth him,

crying, 'This is the King of great dignity, of high authority!' And he

continueth to repeat his praises in words I remember not, saying at

the end of his panegyric, 'This is the King owning the crown whose

like nor Solomon nor the Mihraj ever possessed.' Then he is silent and

one behind him proclaimeth, saying, 'He will die! Again I say he

will die!' and the other addeth, 'Extolled be the perfection of the

Living who dieth not!' Moreover, by reason of his justice and

ordinance and intelligence, there is no kazi in his city, and all

his lieges distinguish between truth and falsehood." Quoth the Caliph:

"How great is this King! His letter hath shown me this, and as for the

mightiness of his dominion thou hast told us what thou hast

eyewitnessed. By Allah, he hath been endowed with wisdom, as with wide

rule."

  Then I related to the Commander of the Faithful all that had

befallen me in my last voyage, at which he wondered exceedingly and

bade his historians record my story and store it up in his treasuries,

for the edification of all who might see it. Then he conferred on me

exceeding great favors, and I repaired to my quarter and entered my

home, where I warehoused all my goods and possessions. Presently my

friends came to me and I distributed presents among my family and gave

alms and largess, after which I yielded myself to joyance and

enjoyment, mirth and merrymaking, and forgot all that I had suffered.

  Such, then, O my brothers, is the history of what befell me in my

sixth voyage, and tomorrow, Inshallah! I will tell you the story of my

seventh and last voyage, which is still more wondrous and marvelous

than that of the first six. (Saith he who telleth the tale): Then be

bade lay the table, and the company supped with him, after which he

gave the porter a hundred dinars, as of wont, and they all went

their ways, marveling beyond measure at that which they had heard.

Sindbad the Landsman went home and slept as of wont. Next day he

rose and prayed the dawn prayer and repaired to his namesake's

house, where, after the company was all assembled, the host began to

relate





          THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN



  KNOW, O company, that after my return from my sixth voyage, which

brought me abundant profit, I resumed my former life in all possible

joyance and enjoyment and mirth and making merry day and night. And

I tarried sometime in this solace and satisfaction, till my soul began

once more to long to sail the seas and see foreign countries and

company with merchants and hear new things. So, having made up my

mind, I packed up in bales a quantity of precious stuffs suited for

sea trade and repaired with them from Baghdad city to Bassorah town,

where I found a ship ready for sea, and in her a company of

considerable merchants. I shipped with them and, becoming friends,

we set forth on our venture in health and safety, and sailed with a

wind till we came to a city called Madinat-al-Sin.

  But after we had left it, as we fared on in all cheer and

confidence, devising of traffic and travel, behold, there sprang up

a violent head wind and a tempest of rain fell on us and drenched us

and our goods. So we covered the bales with our cloaks and garments

and drugget and canvas, lest they be spoiled by the rain, and betook

ourselves to prayer and supplication to Almighty Allah, and humbled

ourselves before Him for deliverance from the peril that was upon

us. But the captain arose and, tightening his girdle, tucked up his

skirts, and after taking refuge with Allah from Satan the Stoned,

clomb to the masthead, whence he looked out right and left, and gazing

at the passengers and crew, fell to buffeting his face and plucking

out his beard. So we cried to him, "O Rais, what is the matter?" and

he replied, saying: "Seek ye deliverance of the Most High from the

strait into which we have fallen, and bemoan yourselves and take leave

of one another. For know that the wind hath gotten the mastery of

us, and hath driven us into the uttermost of the seas world." Then

he came down from the masthead and opening his sea chest, pulled but a

bag of blue cotton, from which he took a powder like ashes. This he

set in a saucer wetted with a little water, and after waiting a

short time, smelt and tasted it. And then he took out of the chest a

booklet, wherein he read awhile, and said, weeping:

  "Know, O ye passengers, that in this book is a marvelous matter,

denoting that whoso cometh hither shall surely die, without hope of

escape. For that this ocean is called the Sea of the Clime of the

King, wherein is the sepulcher of our lord Solomon, son of David (on

both be peace!), and therein are serpents of vast bulk and fearsome

aspect. And what ship soever cometh to these climes, there riseth to

her a great fish out of the sea and swalloweth her up with all and

everything on board her." Hearing these words from the captain,

great was our wonder, but hardly had he made an end of speaking when

the ship was lifted out of the water and let fall again, and we

applied to praying the death prayer and committing our souls to Allah.

  Presently we heard a terrible great cry like the loud-pealing

thunder whereat we were terror-struck and became as dead men, giving

ourselves up for lost. Then, behold, there came up to us a huge

fish, as big as a tall mountain, at whose sight we became wild for

affright and, weeping sore, made ready for death, marveling at its

vast size and gruesome semblance. When lo! a second fish made its

appearance, than which we had seen naught more monstrous. So we

bemoaned ourselves of our lives and farewelled one another. But

suddenly up came a third fish bigger than the two first, whereupon

we lost the power of thought and reason and were stupefied for the

excess of our fear and horror. Then the three fish began circling

round about the ship and the third and biggest opened his mouth to

swallow it, and we looked into its mouth and, behold, it was wider

than the gate of a city and its throat was like a long valley. So we

besought the Almighty and called for succor upon His Apostle (on

whom be blessing and peace!), when suddenly a violent squall of wind

arose and smote the ship, which rose out of the water and settled upon

a great reef, the haunt of sea monsters, where it broke up and fell

asunder into planks, and all and everything on board were plunged into

the sea.

  As for me, I tore off all my clothes but my gown, and swam a

little way, till I happened upon one of the ship's planks, whereto I

clung and bestrode it like a horse, whilst the winds and the waters

sported with me and the waves carried me up and cast me down. And I

was in most piteous plight for fear and distress and hunger and

thirst. Then I reproached myself for what I had done and my soul was

weary after a life of ease and comfort, and I said to myself: "O

Sindbad, O Seaman, thou repentest not and yet thou art ever

suffering hardships and travails, yet wilt thou not renounce sea

travel, or an thou say, 'I renounce,' thou liest in thy

renouncement. Endure then with patience that which thou sufferest, for

verily thou deservest all that betideth thee!" And I ceased not to

humble myself before Almighty Allah and weep and bewail myself,

recalling my former estate of solace and satisfaction and mirth and

merriment and joyance. And thus I abode two days, at the end of

which time I came to a great island abounding in trees and streams.

There I landed and ate of the fruits of the island and drank of its

waters, till I was refreshed and my life returned to me and my

strength and spirits were restored and I recited:



     "Oft when thy case shows knotty and tangled skein,

     Fate downs from Heaven and straightens every ply.

     In patience keep thy soul till clear thy lot,

     For He who ties the knot can eke untie."



  Then I walked about till I found on the further side a great river

of sweet water, running with a strong current, whereupon I called to

mind the boat raft I had made aforetime and said to myself: "Needs

must I make another. Haply I may free me from this strait. If I

escape, I have my desire and I vow to Allah Almighty to foreswear

travel. And if I perish, I shall be at peace and shall rest from

toil and moil." So I rose up and gathered together great store of

pieces of wood from the trees (which were all of the finest

sandalwood, whose like is not albe' I knew it not), and made shift

to twist creepers and tree twigs into a kind of rope, with which I

bound the billets together and so contrived a raft. Then saying, "An I

be saved, 'tis of God's grace," I embarked thereon and committed

myself to the current, and it bore me on for the first day and the

second and the third after leaving the island whilst I lay in the

raft, eating not and drinking, when I was athirst, of the water of the

river, till I was weak and giddy as a chicken for stress of fatigue

and famine and fear.

  At the end of this time I came to a high mountain, whereunder ran

the river, which when I saw, I feared for my life by reason of the

straitness I had suffered in my former journey, and I would fain

have stayed the raft and landed on the mountainside. But the current

overpowered me and drew it into the subterranean passage like an

archway, whereupon I gave myself up for lost and said, "There is no

Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"

However, after a little the raft glided into open air and I saw before

me a wide valley, whereinto the river fell with a noise like the

rolling of thunder and a swiftness as the rushing of the wind. I

held onto the raft, for fear of falling off it, whilst the waves

tossed me right and left, and the craft continued to descend with

the current, nor could I avail to stop it nor turn it shoreward till

it stopped me at a great and goodly city, grandly edified and

containing much people. And when the townsfolk saw me on the raft,

dropping down with the current, they threw me out ropes, which I had

not strength enough to hold. Then they tossed a net over the craft and

drew it ashore with me, whereupon I fell to the ground amidst them, as

I were a dead man, for stress of fear and hunger and lack of sleep.

  After a while, there came up to me out of the crowd an old man of

reverend aspect, well stricken in years, who welcomed me and threw

over me abundance of handsome clothes, wherewith I covered my

nakedness. Then he carried me to the hammam bath and brought me

cordial sherbets and delicious perfumes. Moreover, when I came out, he

bore me to his house, where his people made much of me and, seating me

in a pleasant place, set rich food before me, whereof I ate my fill

and returned thanks to God the Most High for my deliverance. Thereupon

his pages fetched me hot water, and I washed my hands, and his

handmaids brought me silken napkins, with which I dried them and wiped

my mouth. Also the Sheikh set apart for me an apartment in a part of

his house, and charged his pages and slave girls to wait upon me and

do my will and supply my wants. They were assiduous in my service, and

I abode with him in the guest chamber three days, taking my ease of

good eating and good drinking and good scents till life returned to me

and my terrors subsided and my heart was calmed and my mind was eased.

  On the fourth day the Sheikh, my host, came in to me and said: "Thou

cheerest us with thy company, O my son, and praised be Allah for thy

safety! Say, wilt thou now come down with me to the beach and the

bazaar and sell thy goods and take their price? Belike thou mayest buy

thee wherewithal to traffic. I have ordered my servants to remove

thy stock in trade from the sea, and they have piled it on the shore."

I was silent awhile and said to myself, "What mean these words, and

what goods have I?" Then said he: "O my son, be not troubled nor

careful, but come with me to the market, and if any offer for thy

goods what price contenteth thee, take it. But an thou be not

satisfied, I lay em up for thee in my warehouse, against a fitting

occasion for sale." So I bethought me of my case and said to myself,

"Do his bidding and see what are these goods!" and I said to him: "O

my nuncle the Sheikh I hear and obey. I may not gainsay thee in aught,

for Allah's blessing is on all thou dost."

  Accordingly he guided me to the market street, where I found that he

had taken in pieces the raft which carried me and which was of

sandalwood, and I heard the broker crying it for sale. Then the

merchants came and opened the gate of bidding for the wood and bid

against one another till its price reached a thousand dinars, when

they left bidding and my host said to me: "Hear, O my son, this is the

current price of thy goods in hard times like these. Wilt thou sell

them for this, or shall I lay them up for thee in my storehouses

till such time as prices rise?" "O my lord," answered I, "the business

is in thy hands. Do as thou wilt." Then asked he: "Wilt thou sell

the wood to me, O my son, for a hundred gold pieces over and above

what the merchants have bidden for it?" and I answered, "Yes, I have

sold it to thee for monies received." So he bade his servants

transport the wood to his storehouses, and, carrying me back to his

house, seated me, and counted out to me the purchase money. After

which he laid it in bags and, setting them in a privy place, locked

them up with an iron padlock and gave me its key.

  Some days after this the Sheikh said to me, "O my son, I have

somewhat to propose to thee, wherein I trust thou wilt do my bidding."

Quoth I, "What is it?" Quoth he: "I am a very old man, and have no

son, but I have a daughter who is young in years and fair of favor and

endowed with abounding wealth and beauty. Now I have a mind to marry

her to thee, that thou mayest abide with her in this our country.

And I will make, thee master of all I have in hand, for I am an old

man and thou shalt stand in my stead." I was silent for shame and made

him no answer, whereupon he continued: "Do my desire in this, O my

son, for I wish but thy weal. And if thou wilt but as I say, thou

shalt have her at once and be as my son, and all that is under my hand

or that cometh to me shall be thine. If thou have a mind to traffic

and travel to thy native land, none shall hinder thee, and thy

property will be at thy sole disposal. So do as thou wilt." "By Allah,

O my uncle," replied I, "thou art become to me even as my father,

and I am a stranger and have undergone many hardships, while for

stress of that which I have suffered naught of judgment or knowledge

is left to me. It is for thee, therefore, to decide what I shall do."

  Hereupon he sent his servants for the kazi and the witnesses and

married me to his daughter, making for us a noble marriage feast and

high festival. When I went in to her, I found her perfect in beauty

and loveliness and symmetry and grace, clad in rich raiment and

covered with a profusion of ornaments and necklaces and other trinkets

of gold and silver and precious stones, worth a mint of money, a price

none could pay. She pleased me, and we loved each other, and I abode

with her in all solace and delight of life till her father was taken

to the mercy of Allah Almighty. So we shrouded him and buried him, and

I laid hands on the whole of his property and all his servants and

slaves became mine. Moreover, the merchants installed me in his

office, for he was their sheikh and their chief, and none of them

purchased aught but with his knowledge and by his leave. And now his

rank passed on to me.

  When I became acquainted with the townsfolk, I found that at the

beginning of each month they were transformed, in that their faces

changed and they became like unto birds and they put forth wings

wherewith they flew unto the upper regions of the firmament; and

none remained in the city save the women and children. And I said in

my mind, "When the first of the month cometh, I will ask one of them

to carry me with them, whither they go." So when the time came and

their complexion changed and their forms altered, I went in to one

of the townsfolk and said to him: "Allah upon thee! Carry me with

thee, that I might divert myself with the rest and return with you."

"This may not be," answered he. But I ceased not to solicit him, and I

importuned him till he consented. Then I went out in his company,

without telling any of my family or servants or friends, and he took

me on his back and flew up with me so high in air that I heard the

angels glorifying God in the heavenly dome, whereat I wondered and

exclaimed: "Praised be Allah! Extolled be the perfection of Allah!"

  Hardly had I made an end of pronouncing the tasbih- praised be

Allah!- when there came out a fire from Heaven and all but consumed

the company. Whereupon they fied from it and descended with curses

upon me and, casting me down on a high mountain, went away exceeding

wroth with me, and left me there alone. As I found myself in this

plight, I repented of what I had done and reproached myself for having

undertaken that for which I was unable, saying: "There is no Majesty

and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! No

sooner am I delivered from one affliction than I fall into a worse."

And I continued in this case, knowing not whither I should go, when

lo! there came up two young men, as they were moons, each using as a

staff a rod of red gold. So I approached them and saluted them; and

when they returned my salaam, I said to them: Allah upon you twain.

Who are ye, and what are ye?" Quoth they, "We are of the servants of

the Most High Allah, abiding in this mountain," and giving me a rod of

red gold they had with them, went their ways and left me.

  I walked on along the mountain ridge, staying my steps with the

staff and pondering the case of the two youths, when behold, a serpent

came forth from under the mountain, with a man in her jaws whom she

had swallowed even to below his navel, and he was crying out and

saying, "Whoso delivereth me, Allah will deliver him from all

adversity!" So I went up to the the serpent and smote her on the

head with the golden staff, whereupon she cast the man forth of her

mouth. Then I smote her a second time, and she turned and fled,

whereupon he came up to me and said, "Since my deliverance from yonder

serpent hath been at thy hands I will never leave thee, and thou shalt

be my comrade on this mountain." "And welcome," answered I. So we

fared on along the mountain till we fell in with a company of folk,

and I looked and saw amongst them the very man who had carried me

and cast me down there. I went up to him and spake him fair,

excusing to him and saying, "O my comrade, it is not thus that

friend should deal with friend." Quoth he, "It was thou who

well-nigh destroyed us by thy tasbih and thy glorifying God on my

back." Quoth I, "Pardon me, for I had no knowledge of this matter, but

if thou wilt take me with thee, I swear not to say a word."

  So he relented and consented to carry me with him, but he made an

express condition that so long as I abode on his back, I should

abstain from pronouncing the tasbih or otherwise glorifying God.

Then I gave the wand of gold to him whom I had delivered from the

serpent and bade him farewell, and my friend took me on his back and

flew with me as before, till he brought me to the city and set me down

in my own house. My wife came to meet me and, saluting me, gave me joy

of my safety and then said: "Beware of going forth hereafter with

yonder folk, neither consort with them, for they are brethren of the

devils, and know not how to mention the name of Allah Almighty,

neither worship they Him." "And how did thy father with them?" asked

I, and she answered: "My father was not of them, neither did he as

they. And as now he is dead, methinks thou hadst better sell all we

have and with the price buy merchandise and journey to thine own

country and people, and I with thee; for I care not to tarry in this

city, my father and my mother being dead." So I sold all the Sheikh's

property piecemeal, and looked for one who should be journeying thence

to Bassorah that I might join myself to him.

  And while thus doing I heard of a company of townsfolk who had a

mind to make the voyage but could not find them a ship, so they bought

wood and built them a great ship, wherein I took passage with them,

and paid them all the hire. Then we embarked, I and my wife, with

all our movables, leaving our houses and domains and so forth, and set

sail, and ceased not sailing from island to island and from sea to

sea, with a fair wind and a favoring, till we arrived at Bassorah safe

and sound. I made no stay there, but freighted another vessel and,

transferring my goods to her, set out forthright for Baghdad city,

where I arrived in safety, and entering my quarter and repairing to my

house, forgathered with my family and friends and familiars and laid

up my goods in my warehouses.

  When my people, who, reckoning the period of my absence on this my

seventh voyage, had found it to be seven and twenty years and had

given up all hope of me, heard of my return, they came to welcome me

and to give me joy of my safety. And I related to them all that had

befallen me, whereat they marveled with exceeding marvel. Then I

foreswore travel and vowed to Allah the Most High I would venture no

more by land or sea, for that this seventh and last voyage had

surfeited me of travel and adventure, and I thanked the Lord (be He

praised and glorified!), and blessed Him for having restored me to

my kith and kin and country and home. "Consider, therefore, O Sindbad,

O Landsman," continued Sindbad the Seaman, "what sufferings I have

undergone and what perils and hardships I have endured before coming

to my present state." "Allah upon thee, O my Lord!" answered Sindbad

the, Landsman. "Pardon me the wrong I did thee." And they ceased not

from friendship and fellowship, abiding in all cheer and pleasures and

solace of life till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and

the Sunderer of Societies, and the Shatterer of palaces and the

Caterer for Cemeteries; to wit, the Cup of Death, and glory be to

the Living One who dieth not! And there is a tale touching






               THE LADY AND HER FIVE SUITORS



  A WOMAN of the daughters of the merchants was married to a man who

was a great traveler. It chanced once that he set out for a far

country and was absent so long that his wife, for pure ennui, fell in

love with a handsome young man of the sons of the merchants, and

they loved each other with exceeding love. One day the youth quarreled

with another man, who lodged a complaint against him with the Chief of

Police, and he cast into prison. When the news came to the merchant's

wife his mistress, she well-nigh lost her wits. Then she arose and

donning her richest clothes, repaired to the house of the Chief of

Police. She saluted him and presented a written petition to this

purport: "He thou hast clapped in jail is my brother Such-and-such,

who fell out with Such-a-one, and those who testified against him bore

false witness. He hath been wrongfully imprisoned, and I have none

other to come in to me nor to provide for my support, therefore I

beseech thee of thy grace to release him." When the magistrate had

read the paper, he cast his eyes on her and fell in love with her

forthright, so he said to her: "Go into the houses till I bring him

before me. Then I will send for thee and thou shalt take him." "O my

lord," replied she, "I have none to protect me save Almighty Allah! I

am a stranger and may not enter any man's abode." Quoth the Wali, "I

will not let him go except thou come to my home and I take my will of

thee." Rejoined she, "If it must be so, thou must needs come to my

lodging and sit and sleep the siesta and rest thewhole day there."

"And where is thy abode?" asked he, and she answered, "In such a

place," and appointed him for such a time.

  Then she went out from him, leaving his heart taken with love of

her, and she repaired to the Kazi of the city, to whom she said, "O

our lord the Kazi!" He exclaimed, "Yes!" and she continued, "Look into

my case, and thy reward be with Allah the Most High!" Quoth he, "Who

hath wronged thee?" and quoth she, "O my lord, I have a brother and

I have none but that one, and it is on his account that I come to

thee, because the Wali hath imprisoned him for a criminal and men have

borne false witness against him that he is a wrongdoer, and I

beseech thee to intercede for him with the Chief of Police."

  When the Kazi looked on her, he fell in love with her forthright and

said to her: "Enter the house and rest awhile with my handmaids whilst

I send to the Wali to release thy brother. If I knew the money fine

which is upon him, I would pay it out of my own purse, so I may have

my desire of thee, for thou pleaseth me with thy sweet speech."

Quoth she, "If thou, O my lord, do thus, we must not blame others."

Quoth he, "An thou wilt not come in, wend thy ways." Then said she,

"An thou wilt have it so, O our lord, it will be privier and better in

my place than in thine, for here are slave girls and eunuchs and

goers-in and comers-out, and indeed I am a woman who wotteth naught of

this fashion, but need compelleth." Asked the Kazi, "And where is

thy house?" and she answered, "In such a place," and appointed him for

the same day and time as the Chief of Police.

  Then she went out from him to the Wazir, to whom she preferred her

petition for the release from prison of her brother, who was

absolutely necessary to her. But he also required her of herself,

saying, "Suffer me to have my will of thee and I will set thy

brother free." Quoth she: "An thou wilt have it so, be it in my house,

for there it will be privier both for me and for thee. It is not far

distant, and thou knowest that which behooveth us women of cleanliness

and adornment." Asked he, "Where is thy house?" "In such a place,"

answered she, and appointed him for the same time as the two others.

  Then she went out from him to the King of the city and told him

her story and sought of him her brother's release. "Who imprisoned

him?" enquired he, and she replied, "'Twas thy Chief of Police."

When the King heard her speech, it transpierced his heart with the

arrows of love and he bade her enter the palace with him, that he

might send to the Kazi and release her brother. Quoth she: "O King,

this thing is easy to thee, whether I will or nill, and if the King

will indeed have this of me, it is of my good fortune. But if he

come to my house, he will do me the more honor by setting step

therein, even as saith the poet:



     "O my friends, have ye seen or have ye heard

     Of his visit whose virtues I hold so high?"



Quoth the King, "We will not cross thee in this." So she appointed him

for the same time as the three others, and told him where her house

was.

  Then she left him, and betaking herself to man which was a

carpenter, said to him: "I would have thee make me a cabinet with four

compartments one above other, each with its door for locking up. Let

me know thy hire and I will give it thee." Replied he: "My price

will be four dinars. But, O noble lady and well-protected, if thou

wilt vouchsafe me thy favors, I will ask nothing of thee. Rejoined

she, "An there be no help but that thou have it so, then make thou

five compartments with their padlocks." And she appointed him to bring

it exactly on the day required. Said he, "It is well. Sit down, O my

lady, and I will make it for thee forthright, and after I will come to

thee at my leisure." So she sat down by him whilst he fell to work

on the cabinet, and when he had made an end of it, she chose to see it

at once carried home and set up in the sitting chamber. Then she

took four gowns and carried them to the dyer, who dyed them each of

a different color, after which she applied herself to making ready

meat and drink, fruits, flowers, and perfumes.

  Now when the appointed trysting day came, she donned her costliest

dress and adorned herself and scented herself, then spread the

sitting room with various kinds of rich carpets, and sat down to await

who should come. And behold, the Kazi was the first to appear,

devancing rest, and when she saw him, she rose to her feet and

kissed the ground before him, then, taking him by the hand, made him

sit down by her on the couch and lay with him and fell to jesting

and toying with him. By and by he would have her do his desire, but

she said, "O my lord, doff thy clothes and turban and assume this

yellow cassock and this headkerchief, whilst I bring thee meat and

drink, and after thou shalt win thy will." So saying, she took his

clothes and turban and clad him in the cassock and the kerchief. But

hardly she done this when lo! there came a knocking at the door. Asked

he, "Who is that rapping at the door?" and she answered, "My husband."

Quoth the Kazi, "What is to be done, and where shall I go?" Quoth she,

"Fear nothing. I will hide thee in this cabinet," and he, "Do as

seemeth good to thee."

  So she took him by the hand and pushing him into the lowest

compartment, locked the door upon him. Then she went to the house

door, where she found the Wali, so she bussed ground before him and

taking his hand, brought him into the saloon, where, she made him

sit down and said to him: "O my lord, this house is thy house, this

place is thy place, and I am thy handmaid. Thou shalt pass all this

day with me, wherefore do thou doff thy clothes and don this red gown,

for it is a sleeping gown." So she took away his clothes and made

him assume the red gown and set on his head an old patched rag she had

by her. After which she sat by him on the divan and she sported with

him while he toyed with her awhile, till he put out his hand to her.

Whereupon she said to him: "O our lord, this day is thy day and none

shall share in it with thee. But first, of thy favor and

benevolence, write me an order for my brother's release from gaol,

that my heart may be at ease." Quoth he, "Hearkening and obedience. On

my head and eyes be it!" and wrote a letter to his treasurer,

saying: "As soon as this communication shall reach thee, do thou set

Such-a-one, free, without stay or delay, neither answer the bearer a

word." Then he sealed it and she took it from him, after which she

began to toy again with him on the divan when, behold, someone knocked

at the door. He asked, "Who is that?" and she answered, "My

husband." "What shall I do?" said he, and she, "Enter this cabinet,

till I send him away and return to thee." So she clapped him into

the second compartment from the bottom and padlocked the door on

him, and meanwhile the Kazi heard all they said.

  Then she went to the house door and opened it, whereupon lo! the

Wazir entered. She bussed the ground before him and received him

with all honor and worship, saying: "O my lord, thou exaltest us by

thy coming to our house. Allah never deprive us of the light of thy

countenance!" Then she seated him on the divan and said to him, "O

my lord, doff thy heavy dress and turban and don these lighter

vestments." So he put off his clothes and turban and she clad him in a

blue cassock and a tall red bonnet, and said to him: "Erst thy garb

was that of the wazirate, so leave it to its own time and don this

light gown, which is better fitted for carousing and making merry

and sleep." Thereupon she began to play with him and he with her,

and he would have done his desire of her, but she put him off, saying,

"O my lord, this shall not fail us." As they were talking there came a

knocking at the door, and the Wazir asked her, "Who is that?" to which

she answered, "My husband." Quoth he, "What is to be done?" Qhoth she,

"Enter this cabinet, till I get rid of him and come back to thee,

and fear thou nothing."

  So she put him in the third compartment and locked the door on after

which she went out and opened the house door when lo and behold! in

came the King. As soon as she saw him she kissed ground before him,

and taking him by the hand, led him into the saloon and seated him

on the divan at the upper end. Then said she to him, "Verily, O

King, thou dost us high honor, and if we brought thee to gift the

world and all that therein is, it would not be worth a single one of

thy steps usward." And when he had taken his seat upon the divan she

said, "Give me leave to speak one word." "Say what thou wilt."

answered he, and she said, "O my lord, take thine ease and doff thy

dress and turban." Now his clothes were worth a thousand dinars, and

when he put them off she clad him in a patched gown, worth at the very

most ten dirhams, and fell to talking and jesting with him, all this

while the folk in the cabinet hearing everything that passed, but

not daring to say a word. Presently the King put his hand to her

neck and sought to do his design of her, when she said, "This thing

shall not fail us, but I had first promised myself to entertain thee

in this sitting chamber, and I have that which shall content thee."

Now as they were speaking, someone knocked at the door and he asked

her, "Who is that?" "My husband," answered she, and he, "Make him go

away of his own goodwill, or I will fare forth to him and send him

away perforce." Replied she, "Nay, O my lord, have patience till I

send him away by my skillful contrivance." "And I, how shall I do!"

inquired the King. Whereupon she took him by the hand and making him

enter the fourth compartment of the cabinet, locked it upon him.

  Then she went out and opened the house door, when behold, the

carpenter entered and saluted her. Quoth she, "What manner of thing is

this cabinet thou hast made me?" "What aileth it, O my lady?" asked

he, and she answered, "The top compartment is too strait." Rejoined

he, "Not so," and she, "Go in thyself and see. It is not wide enough

for thee." Quoth he, "It is wide enough for four." and entered the

fifth compartment, whereupon she locked the door on him. Then she took

the letter of the Chief of Police and carried it to the Treasurer,

who, having read and understood it, kissed it and delivered her

lover to her. She told him all she had done and he said, "And how

shall we act now?" She answered, "We will remove hence to another

city, for after this work there is no tarrying for us here."

  So the twain packed up what goods they had and, loading them on

camels, set out forthright for another city. Meanwhile, the five abode

each in his compartment of the cabinet without eating or drinking

three whole days, during which time they held their water until at

last the carpenter could retain his no longer, so he staled on the

King's head, and the King urined on the Wazir's head, and the Wazir

piddled on the Wall, and the Wali pissed on the head of the Kazi.

Whereupon the Judge cried out and said: "What nastiness is this?

Doth not what strait we are in suffice us, but you must make water

upon us?" The Chief of Police recognized the Kazi's voice and

answered, saying aloud, "Allah increase thy reward, O Kazi!" And

when the Kazi heard him he knew him for the Wali. Then the Chief of

Police lifted up his voice and said, "What means this nastiness?"

and the Wazir answered, saying, "Allah increase thy reward, O Wali!"

whereupon he knew him to be the Minister. Then the Wazir lifted up his

voice and said, "What means this nastiness?" But when the King heard

and recognized his Minister's voice, he held his peace and concealed

his affair.

  Then said the Wazir: "May Allah damn this woman for her dealing with

us! She hath brought hither all the chief officers of the state,

except the King. Quoth the King, "Hold your peace, for I was the first

to fall into the toils of this lewd strumpet." Whereat cried the

carpenter: "And I, what have I done? I made her a cabinet for four

gold pieces, and when I came to seek my hire, she tricked me into

entering this compartment and locked the door on me." And they fell to

talking with one another, diverting the King and doing away his

chagrin. Presently the neighbors came up to the house and, seeing it

deserted, said one to other: "But yesterday our neighbor, the wife

of Such-a-one, was in it, but now no sound is to be heard therein

nor is soul to be seen. Let us break open the doors and see how the

case stands, lest it come to the ears of the Wali or the King and we

be cast into prison and regret not doing this thing before."

  So they broke open the doors and entered the saloon, where they

saw a large wooden cabinet and heard men within groaning for hunger

and thirst. Then said one of them, "Is there a Jinni in this

cabinet?-and his fellow, "Let us heap fuel about it and burn it with

fire." When the Kazi heard this, he bawled out to them, "Do it not!"

And they said to one another, " Verily the Jinn make believe to be

mortals and speak with men's voices." Thereupon the Kazi repeated

somewhat of the Sublime Koran and said to the neighbors, "Draw near to

the cabinet wherein we are." So they drew near, and he said, "I am

So-and-so the Kazi, and ye are Such-a-one and Such-a-one, and we are

here a company." Quoth the neighbors, "Who brought you here?" And he

told them the whole case from beginning to end. Then they fetched a

carpenter, who opened the five doors and let out Kazi, Wazir, Wali,

King, and carpenter in their queer disguises; and each, when he saw

how the others were accoutered, fell a-laughing at them. Now she had

taken away all their clothes, so every one of them sent to his

people for fresh clothes and put them on and went out, covering

himself therewith from the sight of the folk. Consider, therefore,

what a trick this woman played off upon the folk!

  And I have heard tell also a tale of






              KHALIFAH THE FISHERMAN OF BAGHDAD



  THERE was once in tides of yore and in ages and times long gone

before in the city of Baghdad a fisherman, Khalifah hight, a pauper

wight, who had never once been married in all his days. It chanced one

morning that he took his net and went with it to the river as was

his wont, with the view of fishing before the others came. When he

reached the bank, he girt himself and tucked up his skirts. Then

stepping into the water, he spread his net and cast it a first cast

and a second, but it brought up naught. He ceased not to throw it till

he had made ten casts, and still naught came up therein, wherefore his

breast was straitened and his mind perplexed concerning his case and

he said: "I crave pardon of God the Great, there is no god but He, the

Living, the Eternal, and unto Him I repent. There is no Majesty and

there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Whatso He

willeth is and whatso He nilleth is not! Upon Allah (to Whom belong

Honor and Glory!) dependeth daily bread! When as He giveth to His

servant, none denieth him; and when as He denieth a servant, none

giveth to him." And of the excess of his distress, he recited these

two couplets:



     "An Fate afflict thee, with grief manifest,

     Prepare thy patience and make broad thy breast;

     For of His grace the Lord of all the worlds

     Shall send to wait upon unrest sweet Rest."



  Then he said in his mind, "I will make this one more cast,

trusting in Allah, so haply He may not disappoint my hope." And he

rose, and casting into the river the net as far as his arm availed,

gathered the cords in his hands and waited a full hour, after which he

pulled at it and, finding it heavy, handled it gently and drew it

in, little by little, till he got it ashore, when lo and behold! he

saw in it a one-eyed, lame-legged ape. Seeing this, quoth Khalifah:

"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah Verily, we

are Allah's and to Him we are returning! What meaneth this

heartbreaking, miserable ill luck and hapless fortune? What is come to

me this blessed day? But all this is of the destinies of Almighty

Allah!" Then he took the ape and tied him with a cord to a tree

which grew on the riverbank, and grasping a whip he had with him,

raised his arm in the air, thinking to bring down the scourge upon the

quarry, when Allah made the ape speak with a fluent tongue, saying: "O

Khalifah, hold thy hand and beat me not, but leave me bounden to

this tree and go down to the river and cast thy net, confiding in

Allah; for He will give thee thy daily bread."

  Hearing this, Khalifah went down to the river, and casting his

net, let the cords run out. Then he pulled it in and found it

heavier than before, so he ceased not to tug at it till he brought

it to land, when, behold, there was another ape in it, with front

teeth wide apart, kohl-darkened eyes, and hands stained with henna

dyes; and he was laughing, and wore a tattered waistcloth about his

middle. Quoth Khalifah, "Praised be Allah Who hath changed the fish of

the river into apes!" Then, going up to the first ape, who was still

tied to the tree, he said to him: "See, O unlucky, how fulsome was the

counsel thou gavest me! None but thou made me light on this second

ape; and for that thou gavest me good morrow with thy one eye and

thy lameness, I am become distressed and weary, without dirham or

dinar."

  So saying, he hent in hand a stick and flourishing it thrice in

the air, was about to come down with it upon the lame ape, when the

creature cried out for mercy and said to him: "I conjure thee, by

Allah, spare me for the sake of this my fellow, and seek of him thy

need; for he will guide thee to thy desire!" So he held his hand

from him, and throwing down the stick, went up to and stood by the

second ape, who said to him: "O Khalifah, this my speech will profit

thee naught except thou hearken to what I say to thee; but an thou

do my bidding and cross me not, I will be the cause of thine

enrichment." Asked Khalifah, "And what hast thou to say to me that I

may obey thee therein?" The ape answered, "Leave me bound on the

bank and hie thee down to the river, then cast thy net a third time,

and after I will tell thee what to do."

  So he took his net, and going down to the river, cast it once more

and waited awhile. Then he drew it in, and finding it heavy, labored

at it and ceased not his travail till he got it ashore, when he

found in it yet another ape. But this one was red, with a blue

waistcloth about his middle; his hands and feet were stained with

henna and his eyes blackened with kohl When Khalifah saw this, he

exclaimed: "Glory to God the Great! Extolled be the perfection of

the Lord of Dominion! Verily, this is a blessed day from first to last

Its ascendant was fortunate in the countenance of the first ape, and

the scroll is known by its superscription! Verily, today is a day of

apes. There is not a single fish left in the river, and we are come

out today but to catch monkeys!"

  Then he turned to the third ape and said, "And what thing thou also,

O unlucky?" Quoth the ape, "Dost thou not know me, O Khalifah!" and

quoth he, "Not I!" The ape cried, "I am the ape of Abu al-Sa'adat

the Jew, the shroff." Asked Khalifah, "And what dost thou for him?"

and the ape answered, "I give him good morrow at the first of the day,

and he gaineth five ducats; and again at the end of the day, I give

him good even, and he gaineth other five ducats." Whereupon Khalifah

turned to the first ape and said to him: "See, O unlucky, what fine

apes other folk have! As for thee, thou givest me good morrow with thy

one eye and thy lameness and thy ill-omened phiz, and I become poor

and bankrupt and hungry!" So saying, he took the cattle stick, and

flourishing it thrice in the air, was about to come down with it on

the first ape, when Abu al-Sa'adat's ape said to him: "Let him be, O

Khalifah. Hold thy hand and come hither to me, that I may tell thee

what to do."

  So Khalifah threw down the stick, and walking up to him,'cried, 'And

what hast thou to say to me, O monarch of all monkeys?" Replied the

ape: "Leave me and the other two apes here, and take thy not and

cast it into the river; and whatever cometh up, bring it to me, and

I will tell thee what shall gladden thee." He replied, "I hear and

obey," and took the net and gathered it on his shoulder, reciting

these couplets:



  "When straitened is my breast I will of my Creator pray,

  Who may and can the heaviest weight lighten in easiest way,

  For ere man's glance can turn or close his eye by God His grace

  Waxeth the broken whole and yieldeth jail its prison prey.

  Therefore with Allah one and all of thy concerns commit,

  Whose grace and favor men of wit shall nevermore gainsay."



  Now when Khalifah had made an end of his verse, he went down to

the river, and casting his net, waited awhile. After which he drew

it up and found therein a fine young fish, with a big head, a tail

like a ladle, and eyes like two gold pieces. When Khalifah saw this

fish, he rejoiced, for he had never in his life caught its like, so he

took it, marveling, and carried it to the ape of Abu al-Sa'adat the

Jew, as 'twere he had gotten possession of the universal world.

Quoth the ape, "O Khalifah, what wilt thou do with this, and with

thine ape?" and quoth the fisherman: "I will tell thee, O monarch of

monkeys, all I am about to do. Know then that first, I will cast about

to make away with yonder accursed, my ape, and take thee in his stead,

and give thee every day to eat of whatso thou wilt." Rejoined the ape:

"Since thou hast made choice of me, I will tell thee how thou shalt do

wherein, if it please Allah Almighty, shall be the mending of thy

fortune. Lend thy mind, then, to what I say to thee and 'tis this!

Take another cord and tie me also to a tree, where leave me and go

to the midst of the dike and cast thy net into the Tigris. Then

after waiting awhile, draw it up and thou shalt find therein a fish

than which thou never sawest a finer in thy whole life. Bring it to me

and I will tell thee how thou shalt do after this."

  So Khalifah rose forthright, and casting his net into the Tigris,

drew up a great catfish the bigness of a lamb. Never had he set eyes

on its like, for it was larger than the first fish. He carried it to

the ape, who said to him: "Gather thee some green grass and set half

of it in a basket; lay the fish therein and cover it with the other

moiety. Then, leaving us here tied, shoulder the basket and betake

thee to Baghdad. If any bespeak thee or question thee by the way,

answer him not, but fare on till thou comest to the market street of

the money-changers, at the upper end whereof thou wilt find the shop

of Master Abu al-Sa'adat the Jew, Sheikh of the shroffs, and wilt see

him sitting on a mattress, with a cushion behind him and two collers,

one for gold and one for silver, before him, while around him stand

his Mamelukes and Negro slaves and servant lads. Go up to him and

set the basket before him, saying: 'O Abu al-Sa'adat, verily I went

out today to fish and cast my net in thy name, and Allah Almighty sent

me this fish.' He will ask, 'Hast thou shown it to any but me?' and do

thou answer, 'No, by Allah!' Then will he take it of thee and give

thee a dinar. Give it him back and he will give thee two dinars; but

do thou return them also, and so do with everything he may offer thee;

and take naught from him, though he give thee the fish's weight in

gold.

  Then will he say to thee, 'Tell me what thou wouldst have, and do

thou reply, 'By Allah, I will not sell the fish save for two words!'

He will ask, 'What are they?' And do thou answer, 'Stand up and say,

"Bear witness, O ye who are present in the market, that I give

Khalifah the fisherman my ape in exchange for his ape, and that I

barter for his lot my lot and luck for his luck." This is the price of

the fish, and I have no need of gold.' If he do this, I will every day

give thee good morrow and good even, and every day thou shalt gain ten

dinars of good gold; whilst this one-eyed, lame-legged ape shall daily

give the Jew good morrow, and Allah shall afflict him every day with

an avanie which he must needs pay, nor will he cease to be thus

afflicted till he is reduced to beggary and hath naught. Hearken

then to my words, so shalt thou prosper and be guided aright."

  Quoth Khalifah: "I accept thy counsel, O monarch of all the monkeys!

But as for this unlucky, may Allah never bless him! I know not what to

do with him." Quoth the ape, "Let him go into the water, and let me go

also." "I hear and obey," answered Khalifah, and unbound the three

apes, and they went down into the river. Then he took up the

catfish, which he washed, then laid it in the basket upon some green

grass, and covered it with other, and lastly, shouldering his load,

set out with the basket upon his shoulder and ceased not faring till

he entered the city of Baghdad. And as he threaded the streets the

folk knew him and cried out to him, saying, "What hast thou there, O

Khalifah?" But he paid no heed to them and passed on till he came to

the market street of the money-changers and fared between the shops,

as the ape had charged him, till he found the Jew seated at the

upper end, with his servants in attendance upon him, as he were a King

of the Kings of Khorasan. He knew him at first sight; so he went up to

him and stood before him, whereupon Abu al-Sa'adat raised his eyes and

recognizing him, said: "Welcome, O Khalifah! What wantest thou, and

what is thy need? If any have missaid thee or spited thee, tell me and

I will go with thee to the Chief of Police, who shall do thee

justice on him." Replied Khalifah: "Nay, as thy head liveth, O chief

of the Jews, none hath missaid me. But I went forth this morning to

the river and, casting my net into the Tigris on thy luck, brought

up this fish."

  Therewith he opened the basket and threw the fish before the Jew,

who admired it and said, the Pentateuch and the Ten Commandments, I

dreamt last night that the Virgin came to me and said, 'Know, O Abu

al-Sa'adat, that I have sent thee a pretty present!' And doubtless

'tis this fish." Then he turned to Khalifah and said to him, "By thy

faith, hath any seen it but I?" Khalifah replied, "No, by Allah, and

by Abu Bakr the Veridical, none hath seen it save thou, O chief of the

Jews!" Whereupon the Jew turned to one of his lads and said to him:

"Come, carry this fish to my house and bid Sa'adah dress it and fry

and broil it, against I make an end of my business and hie me home."

And Khalifah said, "Go, O my lad, let the master's wife fry some of it

and broil the rest." Answered the boy, "I hear and I obey, O my lord,"

and, taking the fish, went away with it to the house.

  Then the Jew put out his hand and gave Khalifah the fisherman a

dinar, saying, "Take this for thyself, O Khalifah, and spend it on thy

family." When Khalifah saw the dinar on his palm, he took it,

saying, "Laud to the Lord of Dominion!" as if he had never seen

aught of gold in his life, and went somewhat away. But before he had

gone far, he was minded of the ape's charge and turning back, threw

down the ducat, saying: "Take thy gold and give folk back their

fish! Dost thou make a laughingstock of folk?" The Jew, hearing

this, thought he was jesting, and offered him two dinars upon the

other, but Khalifah said: "Give me the fish, and no nonsense. How

knewest thou I would sell it at this price?" Whereupon the Jew gave

him two more dinars and said, "Take these five ducats for thy fish and

leave greed." So Khalifah hent the five dinars in hand and went

away, rejoicing, and gazing and marveling at the gold and saying:

"Glory be to God! There is not with the Caliph of Baghdad what is with

me this day!"

  Then he ceased not faring on till he came to the end of the market

street, when he remembered the words of the ape and his charge, and

returning to the Jew, threw him back the gold. Quoth he: "What

aileth thee, O Khalifah? Dost thou want silver in exchange for

gold?" Khalifah replied: "I want nor dirhams nor dinars. I only want

thee to give me back folk's fish." With this the Jew waxed wroth and

shouted out at him, saying: "O Fisherman, thou bringest me a fish

not worth a sequin and I give thee five for it, yet art thou not

content! Art thou Jinn-mad? Tell me for how much thou wilt sell it."

Answered Khalifah, "I will not sell it for silver nor for gold, only

for two sayings thou shalt say me."

  When the Jew heard speak of the "two sayings," his eyes sank into

his head, he breathed hard and ground his teeth for rage, and said

to him, "O nail paring of the Moslems, wilt thou have me throw off

my faith for the sake of thy fish, and wilt thou debauch me from my

religion and stultify my belief and my conviction which I inherited of

old from my forebears?" Then he cried out to the servants who were

in waiting and said: "Out on you! Bash me this unlucky rogue's neck

and bastinado him soundly!" So they came down upon him with blows

and ceased not beating him till he fell beneath the shop, and the

Jew said to them, "Leave him and let him rise." Whereupon Khalifah

jumped up as if naught ailed him, and the Jew said to him: "Tell me

what price thou asketh for this fish and I will give it thee; for thou

hast gotten but scant good of us this day." Answered the fisherman,

"Have no fear for me, O master, because of the beating, for I can

eat ten donkeys' rations of stick."

  The Jew laughed at his words and said, "Allah upon thee, tell me

what thou wilt have and by the right of my faith, I will give it

thee!" The fisherman replied, "Naught from thee will remunerate me for

this fish save the two words whereof I spake." And the Jew said,

"Meseemeth thou wouldst have me become a Moslem." Khalifah rejoined:

"By Allah, O Jew, an thou Islamize, 'twill nor advantage the Moslems

nor damage the Jews. And in like manner, an thou hold to thy misbelief

'twill nor damage the Moslems nor advantage the Jews. But what I

desire of thee is that thou rise to thy feet and say: 'Bear witness

against me, O people of the market, that I barter my ape for the ape

of Khalifah the fisherman and my lot in the world for his lot and my

luck for his luck'." Quoth the Jew, "If this be all thou desirest,

'twill sit lightly upon me." So he rose without stay or delay and

standing on his feet, repeated the required words. After which he

turned to the fisherman and asked him, "Hast thou aught else to ask of

me?" "No," answered he, and the Jew said, "Go in peace!"

  Hearing this Khalifah sprung to his feet forthright, took up his

basket and net, and returned straight to the Tigris, where he threw

his net and pulled it in. He found it heavy and brought it not

ashore but with travail, when he found it full of fish of all kinds.

Presently up came a woman with a dish, who gave him a dinar, and he

gave her fish for it, and after her a eunuch, who also bought a

dinar's worth of fish, and so forth till he had sold ten dinars'

worth. And he continued to sell ten dinars' worth of fish daily for

ten days, till he had gotten a hundred dinars.

  Now Khalifah the fisherman had quarters in the Passage of the

Merchants, and as he lay one night in his lodging much bemused with

hashish, he said to himself: "O Khalifah, the folk all know thee for a

poor fisherman, and now thou hast gotten a hundred golden dinars.

Needs must the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, hear of

this from someone, and haply he will be wanting money and will send

for thee and say to thee: 'I need a sum of money and it hath reached

me that thou hast an hundred dinars, so do thou lend them to me

those same.' I shall answer, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I am a poor

man, and whoso told thee that I had a hundred dinars lied against

me, for I have naught of this.' Thereupon be will commit me to the

Chief of Police, saying, 'Strip him of his clothes and torment him

with the bastinado till he confess and give up the hundred dinars in

his possession.' Wherefore, meseemeth to provide against this

predicament, the best thing I can do is to rise forthright and bash

myself with the whip, so to use myself to beating." And his hashish

said to him, "Rise, doff thy dress."

  So he stood up, and putting off his clothes, took a whip he had by

him and set handy a leather pillow. Then he fell to lashing himself,

laying every other blow upon the pillow and roaring out the while-:

"Alas! Alas! By Allah, 'tis a false saying, O my lord, and they have

lied against me, for I am a poor fisherman and have naught of the

goods of the world!" The noise of the whip falling on the pillow and

on his person resounded in the still of night and the folk heard it,

and amongst others the merchants, and they said: "Whatever can ail the

poor fellow, that he crieth and we hear the noise of blows falling

on him? 'Twould seem robbers have broken in upon him and are

tormenting him." Presently they all came forth of their lodgings at.

the noise of the blows and the crying, and repaired to Khalifah's

room, but they found the door locked and said one to other: "Belike

the robbers have come in upon him from the back of the adjoining

saloon. It behooveth us to climb over by the roofs."

  So they clomb over the roofs, and coming down through the

skylight, saw him naked and flogging himself, and asked him, "What

aileth thee, O Khalifah?" He answered: "Know, O folk, that I have

gained some dinars and fear lest my case be carried up to the Prince

of True Believers, Harun al-Rashid, and he send for me and demand of

me those same gold pieces; whereupon I should deny, and I fear that if

I deny, he will torture me, so I am torturing myself, by way of

accustoming me to what may come." The merchants laughed at him and

said: "Leave this fooling. May Allah not bless thee and the dinars

thou hast gotten! Verily thou hast disturbed us this night and hast

troubled our hearts."

  So Khalifah left flogging himself and slept till the morning, when

he rose and would have gone about his business, but bethought him of

his hundred dinars and said in his mind: "An I leave them at home,

thieves will steal them, and if I put them in a belt about my waist,

peradventure someone will see me and lay in wait for me till he come

upon me in some lonely place and slay me and take the money. But I

have a device that should serve me well, right well." So he jumped

up forthright and made him a pocket in the collar of his gabardine,

and tying the hundred dinars up in a purse, laid them in the collar

pocket. Then he took his net and basket and staff and went down to the

Tigris, where he made a cast, but brought up naught. So he removed

from that place to another and threw again, but once more the net came

up empty. And he went on removing from place to place till he had gone

half a day's journey from the city, ever casting the net, which kept

bringing up naught. So he said to himself, "By Allah, I will throw

my net a-stream but this once more, whether ill come of it or weal!"

  Then he hurled the net with all his force, of the excess of his

wrath, and the purse with the hundred dinars flew out of his collar

pocket and, lighting in midstream, was carried away by the strong

current. Whereupon he threw down the net, and doffing his clothes,

left them on the bank and plunged into the water after the purse. He

dived for it nigh a hundred times, till his strength was exhausted and

he came up for sheer fatigue, without chancing on it. When he

despaired of finding the purse, he returned to the shore, where he saw

nothing but staff, net, and basket and sought for his clothes but

could light on no trace of them. So he said in himself: "O vilest of

those wherefor was made the byword: 'The pilgrimage is not perfected

save by copulation with the camel!"' Then he wrapped the net about

him, and taking staff in one hand and basket in other, went trotting

about like a camel in rut, running right and left and backward and

forward, disheveled and dusty, as he were a rebel Marid let loose from

Solomon's prison.

  So far for what concerns the fisherman Khalifah; but as regards

the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, he had a friend, a jeweler called Ibn

al-Kirnas, and all the traders, brokers, and middlemen knew him for

the Caliph's merchant. Wherefore there was naught sold in Baghdad by

way of rarities and things of price or Mamelukes or handmaidens but

was first shown to him. As he sat one day in his shop, behold, there

came up to him the Sheikh of the brokers, with a slave girl whose like

seers never saw, for she was of passing beauty and loveliness,

symmetry and perfect grace, and among her gifts that she knew all arts

and sciences and could make verses and play upon all manner musical

instruments. So Ibn al-Kirnas bought her for five thousand golden

dinars and clothed her with other thousand. After which he carried her

to the Prince of True Believers, with whom she lay the night, and

who made trial of her in every kind of knowledge and accomplishment

and found her versed in all sorts of arts and sciences, having no

equal in her time. Her name was Kut al-Kulub and she was even as saith

the poet:



     I fix my glance on her, whene'er she wends,

     And nonacceptance of my glance breeds pain.

     She favors graceful-necked gazelle at gaze,

     And "Graceful as gazelle" to say we're fain.



  On the morrow the Caliph sent for Ibn al-Kirnas, the jeweler, and

bade him receive ten thousand dinars to her price. And his heart was

taken up with the slave girl Kut al-Kulub and he forsook the Lady

Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, for all she was the daughter of his father's

brother, and he abandoned all his favorite concubines and abode a

whole month without stirring from Kut al-Kulub's side save to go to

the Friday prayers and return to her all in haste. This was grievous

to the lords of the realm and they complained thereof to the Wazir

Ja'afar the Barmecide, who bore with the Commander of the Faithful and

waited till the next Friday, when he entered the cathedral mosque and,

forgathering with the Caliph, related to him all that occurred to

him of extraordinary stories anent seld-seen love and lovers, with

intent to draw out what was in his mind.

  Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, O Ja'afar, this is not of my choice,

but my heart is caught in the snare of love and wot I not what is to

be done!" The Wazir Ja'afar replied: "O Commander of the Faithful,

thou knowest how this girl Kut al-Kulub is become at thy disposal

and of the number of thy servants, and that which hand possesseth soul

coveteth not. Moreover, I will tell thee another thing, which is

that the highest boast of kings and princes is in hunting and the

pursuit of sport and victory; and if thou apply thyself to this,

perchance it will divert thee from her, and it may be thou wilt forget

her." Rejoined the Caliph: "Thou sayest well, O Ja'afar. Come let us

go a-hunting forthright, without stay or delay." So soon as Friday

prayers were prayed, they left the mosque, and at once mounting

their she-mules, rode forth to the chase, occupied with talk, and

their attendants outwent them.

  Presently the heat became overhot and Al-Rashid said to his Wazir,

"O Ja'afar, I am sore athirst." Then he looked around, and espying a

figure in the distance on a high mound, asked Ja'afar, "Seest thou

what I see?" Answered the Wazir: "Yes; O Commander of the Faithful.

I see a dim figure on a high mound. Belike he is the keeper of a

garden or of a cucumber plot, and in whatso wise water will not be

lacking in his neighborhood," presently adding, "I will go to him

and fetch thee some." But Al-Rashid said: "My mule is swifter than thy

mule, so do thou abide here, on account of the troops, whilst I go

myself to him and get of this person drink and return." So saying,

he urged his she-mule, which started off like racing wind or railing

water, and in the twinkling of an eye made the mound, where he found

the figure he had, seen to be none other than Khalifah the

fisherman, naked and wrapped in the net.

  And indeed he was horrible to behold, as to and fro he rolled with

eyes for very redness like cresset gleam and dusty hair in

disheveled trim, as he were, Ifrit or a lion grim. Al-Rashid saluted

him and he returned his salutation, but he was wroth, and fires

might have been lit at his breath. Quoth the Caliph, "O man, hast thou

any water?" and quote Khalifah: "How, thou, art thou blind, or

Jinnmad? Get thee to the river Tigris, for 'tis behind this mound." So

Al-Rashid went around the mound, and going down to the river, drank

and watered his mule. Then without a moment's delay he returned to

Khalifah and said to him, "What aileth thee, O man, to stand here, and

what is thy calling.?" The fisherman cried: "This is a stranger and

sillier question than that about the water! Seest thou not the gear of

my craft on my shoulder?" Said the Caliph, "Belike thou art a

fisherman?" and he replied, "Yes." Asked Al-Rashid, "Where is thy

gabardine, and where are thy waistcloth and girdle, and where be the

rest of thy raiment?"

  Now these were the very things which had been taken from Khalifah,

like for like, so when he heard the Caliph name them, he got into

his head that it was he who had stolen his clothes from the riverbank,

and coming down from the top of the mound, swiftlier than the blinding

levin, laid hold of the mule's bridle, saying, "Hark ye, man, bring me

back my things and leave jesting and joking." Al-Rashid replied, "By

Allah, I have not seen thy clothes, nor know aught of them!" Now the

Caliph had large cheeks and a small mouth, so Khalifah said to him:

"Belike thou art by trade a singer, or a piper on pipes? But bring

me back my clothes fairly and without more ado, or I will bash thee

with this my staff till thou bepiss thyself and befoul thy clothes."

When Al-Rashid saw the staff in the fisherman's hand and that he had

the vantage of him, he said to himself, "By Allah, I cannot brook from

this mad beggar half a blow of that staff!" Now he had on a satin

gown, so he pulled it off and gave it to Khalifah, saying, "O man,

take this in place of thy clothes." The fisherman took it and turned

it about and said, "My clothes are worth ten of this painted aba

cloak," and rejoined the Caliph, "Put it on till I bring thee thy

gear."

  So Khalifah donned the gown, but finding it too long for him, took a

knife he had with him tied to the handle of his basket, and cut off

nigh a third of the skirt, so that it fell only beneath his knees.

Then he turned to Al-Rashid and said to him, "Allah upon thee, O

piper, tell me what wage thou gettest every month from thy master, for

thy craft of piping." Replied the Caliph, "My wage is ten dinars a

month," and Khalifah continued: "By Allah, my poor fellow, thou makest

me sorry for thee! Why, I make thy ten dinars every day! Hast thou a

mind to take service with me, and I will teach thee the art of fishing

and share my gain with thee? So shalt thou make five dinars a day

and be my slavey and I will protect thee against thy master with

this staff." Quoth Al-Rashid, "I will well," and quoth Khalifah: "Then

get off thy she-ass and tie her up, so she may serve us to carry the

fish hereafter, and come hither, that I may teach thee to fish

forthright."

  So Al-Rashid alighted, and hobbling his mule, tucked his skirts into

his girdle, and Khalifah said to him, "O piper, lay hold of the net

thus and put it over thy forearm thus and cast it into the Tigris

thus." Accordingly the Caliph took heart of grace and, doing as the

fisherman showed him, threw the net and pulled at it, but could not

draw it up. So Khalifah came to his aid and tugged at it with him, but

the two together could not hale it up. Whereupon said the fisherman:

"O piper of ill-omen, for the first time I took thy gown in place of

my clothes, but this second time I will have thine ass and will beat

thee to boot till thou bepiss and beskit thyself, an I find my net

torn." Quoth Al-Rashid, "Let the twain of us pull at once." So they

both pulled together, and succeeded with difficulty in hauling that

net ashore, when they found it full of fish of all kinds and colors,

and Khalifah said to Al-Rashid: "By Allah, O piper, thou art foul of

favor but an thou apply thyself to fishing, thou wilt make a mighty

fine fisherman. But now 'twere best thou bestraddle thine ass and make

for the market and fetch me a pair of frails, and I will look after

the fish till thou return, when I and thou will load it on thine ass's

back. I have scales and weights and all we want, so we can take them

with us, and thou wilt have nothing to do but to hold the scales and

punch the price. For here we have fish worth twenty dinars. So be fast

with the frails and loiter not."

  Answered the Caliph, "I hear and obey" and mounting, left him with

his fish, and spurred his mule, in high good humor, and ceased not

laughing over his adventure with the fisherman till he came up to

Ja'afar, who said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, belike when

thou wentest down to drink, thou foundest a pleasant flower garden and

enteredst and tookest thy pleasure therein alone?" At this Al-Rashid

fell a laughing again and all the Barmecides rose and kissed the

ground before him, saying: "O Commander of the Faithful, Allah make

joy to endure for thee and do away annoy from thee! What was the cause

of thy delaying when thou faredst to drink, and what hath befallen

thee?" Quoth the Caliph, "Verily, a right wondrous tale and a joyous

adventure and a wondrous hath befallen me.

  And he repeated to them what had passed between himself and the

fisherman and his words, "Thou stolest my clothes!" and how he had

given him his gown and how he had cut off a part of it, finding it too

long for him. Said Ja'afar, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,

I had it in mind to beg the gown of thee, but now I will go straight

to the fisherman and buy it of him." The Caliph replied, "By Allah, he

hath cut off a third part of the skirt and spoilt it! But, O

Ja'afar, I am tired with fishing in the river, for I have caught great

store of fish, which I left on the bank with my master Khalifah, and

he is watching them and waiting for me to return to him with a

couple of frails and a matchet. Then we are to go, I and he, to the

market and sell the fish and share the price." Ja'afar rejoined, "O

Commander of the Faithful, I will bring you a purchaser for your

fish." And Al-Rashid retorted: "O Ja'afar, by the virtue of my holy

forefathers, whoso bringeth me one of the fish that are before

Khalifah, who taught me angling, I will give him for it a gold dinar!"

So the crier proclaimed among the troops that they should go forth and

buy fish for the Caliph, and they all arose and made for the

riverside.

  Now while Khalifah was expecting the Caliph's return with the two

frails, behold, the Mamelukes swooped down upon him like vultures

and took the fish and wrapped them in gold-embroidered kerchiefs,

beating one another in their eagerness to get at the fisherman

Whereupon quoth Khalifah, "Doubtless these are the fish of

Paradise!" and hending two fish right hand and left, plunged into

the water up to his neck and fell a-saying, "O Allah, by the virtue of

these fish, let Thy servant the piper, my partner, came to me at

this very moment." And suddenly up to him came a black slave which was

the chief of the Caliph's Negro eunuchs. He had tarried behind the

rest, by reason of his horse having stopped to make water by the way,

and finding that naught remained of the fish, little or much, looked

right and left till he espied Khalifah standing in the stream with a

fish in either hand, and said to him, "Come hither, O Fisherman!"

But Khalifah replied, "Begone and none of your impudence!" So the

eunuch went up to him and said, "Give me the fish and I will pay

thee their price." Replied the fisherman: "Art thou little of wit? I

will not sell them." Therewith the eunuch drew his mace upon him,

and Khalifah cried out, saying: "Strike not, O loon! Better largess

than the mace."

  So saying, he threw the two fishes to the eunuch, who took them

and laid them in his kerchief. Then he put hand in pouch, but found

not a single dirham, and said to Khalifah: "O fisherman, verily thou

art out of luck for, by Allah, I have not a silver about me! But

come tomorrow to the palace of the Caliphate and ask for the eunuch

Sandal, whereupon the castratos will direct thee to me, and by

coming thither thou shalt get what falleth to thy lot and therewith

wend thy ways." Quoth Khalifah, "Indeed, this is a blessed day, and

its blessedness was manifest from the first of it!"

  Then he shouldered his net and returned to Baghdad, and as he passed

through the streets, the folk saw the Caliph's gown on him and

stared at him till he came to the gate of his quarter, by which was

the shop of the Caliph's tailor. When the man saw him wearing dress of

the apparel of the Caliph, worth a thousand dinars, he said to him, "O

Khalifah, whence hadst thou that gown?" Replied the fisherman: "What

aileth thee to be impudent? I had it of one whom I taught to fish

and who is become my apprentice. I forgave him the cutting off of

his hand for that he stole my clothes and gave me this cape in their

place." So the tailor knew that the Caliph had come upon him as he was

fishing and jested with him and given him the gown.

  Such was his case, but as regards Harun al-Rashid, he had gone out

a-hunting and a-fishing only to divert his thoughts from the damsel

Kut al-Kulub. But when Zubaydah heard of her and of the Caliph's

devotion to her, the lady was fired with the jealousy which the more

especially fireth women, so that she refused meat and drink and

rejected the delights of sleep, and awaited the Caliph's going forth

on a journey or what not, that she might set a snare for the damsel.

So when she learnt that he was gone hunting and fishing, she bade

her women furnish the palace fairly and decorate it splendidly and

serve up viands and confections. And amongst the rest she made a China

dish of the daintiest sweetmeats that can be made, wherein she had put

bhang.

  Then she ordered one of her eunuchs go to the damsel Kut al-Kulub

and bid her to the banquet, saying: "The Lady Zubaydah bint alKasim,

the wife of the Commander of the Faithful, hath drunken medicine

today, and having heard tell of the sweetness of thy singing,

longeth to divert herself with somewhat of thine art." Kut al-Kulub

replied, "Hearing and obedience are due to Allah and the Lady

Zubaydah," and rose without stay or delay, unknowing what was hidden

for her in the secret purpose. Then she took with her what instruments

she needed and, accompanying the eunuch, ceased not faring till she

stood in the presence of the Princess. When she entered she kissed the

ground before her again and again, then rising to her feet, said:

"Peace be on the Lady of the exalted seat and the presence whereto

none may avail, daughter of the house Abbasi and scion of the

Prophet's family! May Allah fulfill thee of peace and prosperity in

the days and the years!"

  Then she stood with the rest of the women and eunuchs, and presently

the Lady Zubaydah raised her eyes and considered her beauty and

loveliness. She saw a damsel with cheeks smooth as rose and breasts

like granado, a face moon-bright, a brow flower-white, and great

eyes black as night. Her eyelids were languor-dight and her face

beamed with light, as if the sun from her forehead arose and the murks

of the night from the locks of her brow. And the fragrance of musk

from her breath strayed, and flowers bloomed in her lovely face

inlaid. The moon beamed from her forehead and in her slender shape the

branches swayed. She was like the full moon shining in the nightly

shade. Her eyes wantoned, her eyebrows were like a bow arched, and her

lips of coral molded. Her beauty amazed all who espied her and her

glances amated all who eyed her. Glory be to Him Who formed her and

fashioned her and perfected her!

  Quoth the Lady Zubaydah: "Well come, and welcome and fair cheer to

thee, O Kut al-Kulub! Sit and divert us with thine art and the

goodliness of thine accomplishments." Quoth the damsel, "I hear and

I obey," and rose and exhibited tricks of sleight of hand and

legerdemain and all manner pleasing arts, till the Princess came

near to fall in love with her and said to herself, "Verily, my

cousin Al-Rashid is not to blame for loving her!" Then the damsel

kissed ground before Zubaydah and sat down, whereupon they set food

before her. Presently they brought her the drugged dish of

sweetmeats and she ate thereof, and hardly had it settled in her

stomach when her head fell backward and she sank on the ground

sleeping. With this, the lady said to her women, "Carry her up to

one of the chambers, till I summon her," and they replied, "We hear

and we obey. Then said she to one of her eunuchs, "Fashion me a

chest and bring it hitherto to me!" And shortly afterward she bade

make the semblance of a tomb and spread the report that Kut al-Kulub

had choked and died, threatening her familiars that she would smite

the neck of whoever should say, "She is alive."

  Now, behold, the Caliph suddenly returned from the chase, and the

first inquiry he made was for the damsel. So there came to him one

of his eunuchs, whom the Lady Zubaydah had charged to declare she

was dead if the Caliph should ask for her and, kissing ground before

him, said: "May thy head live, O my lord! Be certified that Kut

al-Kulub choked in eating and is dead." Whereupon cried Al-Rashid,

"God never gladden thee with good news, O thou bad slave!" and entered

the palace, where he heard of her death from everyone and asked,

"Where is her tomb?" So they brought him to the sepulcher and showed

him the pretended tomb, saying, "This is her burial place." The

Caliph, weeping sore for her, abode by the tomb a full hour, after

which he arose and went away, in the utmost distress and the deepest

melancholy.

  So the Lady Zubaydah saw that her plot had succeeded, and forthright

sent for the eunuch and said, "Hither with the chest!" He set it

before her, when she bade bring the damsel, and locking her up

therein, said to the eunuch: "Take all pains to sell this chest, and

make it a condition with the purchaser that he buy it locked. Then

give alms with its price." So he took it and went forth to do her

bidding.

  Thus fared it with these, but as for Khalifah the fisherman, when

morning morrowed and shone with its light and sheen, he said to

himself, "I cannot do aught better today than visit the eunuch who

bought the fish of me, for he appointed me to come to him in the

palace of the Caliphate." So he went forth of his lodging, intending

for the palace, and when he came thither, he found Mamelukes, Negro

slaves, and eunuchs standing and sitting, and looking at them, behold,

seated amongst them was the eunuch who had taken the fish of him, with

the white slaves waiting on him. Presently, one of the Mameluke lads

called out to him, whereupon the eunuch turned to see who he was and

lo! it was the fisherman. Now when Khalifah was ware that he saw him

and recognized him, he said to him: "I have not failed thee, O my

little Tulip! On this wise are men of their word." Hearing his

address, Sandal the eunuch laughed and replied, "By Allah, thou art

right, O Fisherman," and put his hand to his pouch, to give him

somewhat. But at that moment there arose a great clamor. So he

raised his head to see what was to do, and finding that it was the

Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide coming forth from the Caliph's presence,

he rose to him and forewent him, and they walked about conversing

for a longsome time.

  Khalifah the fisherman waited awhile, then, growing weary of

standing, and finding that the eunuch took no heed of him, he set

himself in his way and beckoned to him from afar, saying, "O my lord

Tulip, give me my due and let me go!" The eunuch heard him, but was

ashamed to answer him because of the Minister's presence, so he went

on talking with Ja'afar and took no notice whatever of the

fisherman. Whereupon quoth Khalifah: "O slow o' pay! May Allah put

to shame all churls and all who take folk's goods and are niggardly

with them! I put myself under thy protection, O my lord Bran-belly, to

give me my due and let me go!" The eunuch heard him, but was ashamed

to answer him before Ja'afar, and the Minister saw the fisherman

beckoning and talking to him, though he knew not what he was saying.

So he said to Sandal, misliking his behavior, "O Eunuch, what would

yonder beggar with thee?" Sandal replied, "Dost thou not know him, O

my lord the Wazir?" and Ja'afar answered: "By Allah I know him not!

How should I know a man I have never seen but at this moment?"

  Rejoined the Eunuch: "O my lord, this is the fisherman whose fish we

seized on the banks of the Tigris. I came too late to get any and

was ashamed to return to the Prince of True Believers emptyhanded when

all the Mamelukes had some. Presently I espied the fisherman

standing in midstream, calling on Allah, with four fishes in his

hands, and said to him, 'Give me what thou hast there and take their

worth.' He handed me the fish and I put my hand into my pocket,

purposing to gift him with somewhat, but found naught therein and

said, 'Come to me in the palace, and I will give thee wherewithal to

aid thee in thy poverty.' So he came to me today and I was putting

hand to pouch, that I might give him somewhat, when thou camest

forth and I rose to wait on thee and was diverted with thee from

him, till he grew tired of waiting. And this is the whole story how he

cometh to be standing here."

  The Wazir, hearing this account, smiled and said: "O Eunuch, how

is it that this fisherman cometh in his hour of need and thou

satisfiest him not? Dost thou not know him, O chief of the eunuchs?"

"No," answered Sandal, and Ja'afar said. "This is the master of the

Commander of the Faithful, and his partner and our lord the Caliph

hath arisen this morning strait of breast, heavy of heart, and

troubled in thought, nor is there aught will broaden his breast save

this fisherman. So let him not go till I crave the Caliph's pleasure

concerning him and bring him before him. Perchance Allah will

relieve him of his oppression and console him for the loss of Kut

al-Kulub by means of the fisherman's presence, and he will give him

wherewithal to? better himself, and thou wilt be the cause of this."

Replied Sandal: "O my lord, do as thou wilt, and may Allah Almighty

long continue thee a pillar of the dynasty of the Commander of the

Faithful, whose shadow Allah perpetuate and prosper it, root and

branch!"

  Then the Wazir Ja'afar rose up and went in to the Caliph, and Sandal

ordered the Mamelukes not to leave the fisherman, whereupon Khalifah

cried: "How goodly is thy bounty, O Tulip! The seeker is become the

sought. I come to seek my due, and they imprison me for debts in

arrears!" When Ja'afar came into the presence of the Caliph, he

found him sitting with his head bowed earthward, breast straitened and

mind melancholy, humming the verses of the poet:



  My blamers instant bid that I for her become consoled,

  But I, what can I do, whose heart declines to be controlled?

  And how can I in patience bear the loss of lovely maid

  When fails me patience for a love that holds with firmest hold!

  Ne'er I'll forget her nor the bowl that 'twixt us both went round

  And wine of glances maddened me with drunkenness ensouled.



  Whenas Ja'afar stood in the presence, he said: "Peace be upon

thee, O Commander of the Faithful, Defender of the honor of the

Faith and descendant of the uncle of the Prince of the Apostles, Allah

assain him and save him and his family one and an!" The Caliph

raised his head and answered, "And on thee be. peace and the mercy

of Allah and His blessings!" Quoth Ja'afar, "With leave of the

Prince of True Believers, his servant would speak without

restraint." Asked the Caliph: "And when was restraint put upon thee in

speech, and thou the Prince of Wazirs? Say what thou wilt." Answered

Ja'afar: "When I went out, O my lord, from before thee, intending

for my house, I saw standing at the door thy master and teacher and

partner, Khalifah the fisherman, who was aggrieved at thee and

complained of thee, saying: 'Glory be to God! I taught him to fish and

he went away to fetch me a pair of frails, but never came back. And

this is not the way of a good partner or of a good apprentice.' So, if

thou hast a mind to partnership, well and good; and if not, tell

him, that he may take to partner another."

  Now when the Caliph heard these words, he smiled and his

straitness of breast was done away with and he said, "My life on thee,

is this the truth thou sayest, that the fisherman standeth at the

door?" and Ja'afar replied, "By thy life, O Commander of the Faithful,

he standeth at the door." Quoth the Caliph: "O Ja'afar, by Allah, I

will assuredly do my best to give him his due! If Allah at my hands

send him misery, he shall have it, and if prosperity, he shall have

it." Then he took a piece of paper, and cutting it in pieces, said

to the Wazir: "O Ja'afar, write down with thine own hand twenty sums

of money, from one dinar to a thousand, and the names of all kinds

of offices and dignities from the least appointment to the

Caliphate; also twenty kinds of punishment, from the hightest

beating to death." "I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful,"

answered Ja'afar, and did as he was bidden.

  Then said the Caliph: "O Ja'afar, I swear by my holy forefathers and

by my kinship to Hamzah and Akil, that I mean to summon the

fisherman and bid him take one of these papers, whose contents none

knoweth save thou and I. And whatsoever is written in the paper

which he shall choose, I will give it to him. Though it be the

Caliphate, I will divest myself thereof and invest him therewith and

grudge it not to him. And on the other hand, if there be written

therein hanging or mutilation or death, I will execute it upon him.

Now go and fetch him to me." When Ja'afar heard this, he said to

himself: "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the

Glorious, the Great' It may be somewhat will fall to this poor

wretch's lot that will bring about his destruction and I shall be

the cause. But the Caliph hath sworn, so nothing remains now but to

bring him in, and naught will happen save whatso Allah willeth."

Accordingly he went out to Khalifah the fisherman and laid hold of his

hand, to carry him in to the Caliph, whereupon his reason fled and

he said in himself: "What a stupid I was to come after yonder

ill-omened slave, Tulip, whereby he hath brought me in company with

Bran-belly!" Ja'afar fared on with him, with Mamelukes before and

behind, whilst he said, "Doth not arrest suffice, but these must go

behind and before me, to hinder my making off?" till they had

traversed seven vestibules, when the Wazir said to him: "Mark my

words, O Fisherman! Thou standest before the Commander of the Faithful

and Defender of the Faith!"

  Then he raised the great curtain and Khalifah's eyes fell on the

Caliph, who was seated on his couch, with the lords of the realm

standing in attendance upon him. As soon as he knew him, he went up to

him and said: "Well come, and welcome to thee, O piper! 'Twas not

right of thee to make thyself a fisherman and go away, leaving me

sitting to guard the fish, and never to return! For, before I was

aware, there came up Mamelukes on beasts of all manner colors, and

snatched away the fish from me, I standing alone. And this was all

of thy fault, for hadst thou returned with the frails forthright, we

had sold a hundred dinars' worth of fish. And now I come to seek my

due, and they have arrested me. But thou, who hath imprisoned thee

also in this place?" The Caliph smiled, and raising a corner of the

curtain, put forth his head and said to the fisherman, "Come hither

and take thee one of these papers." Quoth Khalifah the fisherman:

"Yesterday thou wast a fisherman, and today thou hast become an

astrologer, but the more trades a man hath, the poorer he waxeth."

Thereupon Ja'afar said: "Take the paper at once, and do as the

Commander of the Faithful biddeth thee, without prating."

  So he came forward and put forth his hand saying, "Far be it from me

that this piper should ever again be my knave and fish with me!" Then,

taking the paper, he handed it to the Caliph, saying: "O piper, what

hath come out for me therein? Hide naught thereof." So Al-Rashid

received it and passed it on to Ja'afar and said to him, "Read what is

therein." He looked at it and said, "There is no Majesty and there

is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" Said the

Caliph: "Good news, O Ja'afar? What seest thou therein?" Answered

the Wazir: "O Commander of the Faithful there came up from the

paper, 'Let the Fisherman receive a hundred blows with a stick.'" So

the Caliph commanded to beat the Fisherman and they gave him a hundred

sticks, after which he rose, saying: "Allah damn this, O Branbelly!

Are jail and sticks part of the game?"

  Then said Ja'afar: " O Commander of the Faithful, this poor devil is

come to the river, and how shall he go away thirsting? We hope that

among the alms deeds of the Commander of the Faithful he may have

leave to take another paper, so haply somewhat may come out

wherewithal he may succor his poverty." Said the Caliph: "By Allah,

O Ja'afar, if he take another paper and death be written therein, I

will assuredly kill him, and thou wilt be the cause." Answered

Ja'afar, "If he die he will be at rest." But Khalifah the fisherman

said to him: "Allah ne'er, gladden thee with good news! Have I made

Baghdad strait upon you, that ye seek to slay me?" Quoth Ja'afar,

"Take thee a paper, and crave the blessing of Allah Almighty!"

  So he put out his hand, and taking a paper, gave it to Ja'afar,

who read it and was silent. The Caliph asked, "Why art thou silent,

O son of Yahya?" and he answered: "O Commander of the Faithful,

there hath come out on this paper, 'Naught shall be given to the

fisherman."' Then said the Caliph: "His daily bread will not come from

us. Bid him fare forth from before our face." Quoth Ja'afar: "By the

claims of thy pious forefathers, let him take a third paper. It may be

it will bring him alimony," and quoth the Caliph, "Let him take one

and no more."

  So he put out his hand and took a third paper, and behold, therein

was written, "Let the Fisherman be given one dinar." Ja'afar cried

to him, "I sought good fortune for thee, but Allah willed not to

thee aught save this dinar." And Khalifah answered: "Verily, a dinar

for every hundred sticks were rare good luck. May Allah not send thy

body health!" The Caliph laughed at him and Ja'afar took him by the

hand and led him out. When he reached the door, Sandal the eunuch

saw him and said to him: "Hither, O Fisherman! Give us portion of that

which the Commander of the Faithful hath bestowed on thee whilst

jesting with thee." Replied Khalifah: "By Allah, O Tulip, thou art

right! Wilt thou share with me, O nigger? Indeed, I have eaten stick

to the tune of a hundred blows and have earned one dinar, and thou art

but too welcome to it." So saying, he threw him the dinar and went

out, with the tears flowing down the plain of his cheeks.

  When the eunuch saw him in this plight, he knew that he had spoken

sooth and called to the lads to fetch him back. So they brought him

back and Sandal, putting his hand to his pouch, pulled out a red

purse, whence he emptied a hundred golden dinars into the

fisherman's hand, saying, "Take this gold in payment of thy fish,

and wend thy ways." So Khalifah, in high good humor, took the

hundred ducats and the Caliph's one dinar and went his way, and forgot

the beating.

  Now as Allah willed it for the furthering of that which He had

decreed, he passed by the mart of the handmaidens, and seeing there

a mighty ring where many folks were forgathering, said to himself,

"What is this crowd?" So he brake through the merchants and others,

who said, "Make wide the way for Skipper Rapscallion, and let him

pass." Then he looked, and behold, he saw a chest, with a eunuch

seated thereon and an old man standing by it,-and the Sheikh was

crying: "O merchants, O men of money, who will hasten and hazard his

coin for this chest of unknown contents from the palace of the Lady

Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, wife of the Commander of the Faithful? How

much shall I say for you? Allah bless you all!" Quoth one of the

merchants; "By Allah, this is a risk! But I will say one word, and

no blame to me. Be it mine for twenty dinars." Quoth another, "Fifty,"

and they went on bidding, one against other, till the price reached

a hundred ducats.

  Then said the crier, "Will any of you bid more, O merchants?" And

Khalifah the fisherman said, "Be it mine for a hundred dinars and

one dinar." The merchants, hearing these words, thought he was jesting

and laughed at him, saying, "O Eunuch, sell it to Khalifah for a

hundred dinars and one dinar!" Quoth the eunuch: "By Allah, I will

sell it to none but him! Take it, O Fisherman. The Lord bless thee

in it, and here with thy gold." So Khalifah pulled out the ducats

and gave them to the eunuch, who, the bargain being duly made,

delivered to him the chest and bestowed the price in alms on the spot,

after which he returned to the palace and acquainted the Lady Zubaydah

with what he had done, whereat she rejoiced. Meanwhile the fisherman

hove the chest on shoulder, but could not carry it on this wise for

the excess of its weight, so he lifted it onto his head and thus

bore it to the quarter where he lived. Here he set it down, and

being weary, sat awhile bemusing what had befallen him and saying in

himself, "Would Heaven I knew what is in this chest!"

  Then he opened the door of his lodging and haled the chest till he

got it into his closet, after which he strove to open it, but

failed. Quoth he: "What folly possessed me to buy this chest? There is

no help for it but to break it open and see what is herein." So he

applied himself to the lock, but could not open it, and said to

himself, "I will leave it till tomorrow." Then he would have stretched

him out to sleep, but could find no room, for the chest filled the

whole closet. So he got upon it and lay him down. But when he had lain

awhile, behold, he felt something stir under him, whereat sleep

forsook him and his reason fled. So he arose and cried: "Meseems there

be Jinns in the chest. Praise to Allah Who suffered me not to open it!

For had I done so, they had risen against me in the dark and slain me,

and from them would have befallen me naught of good."

  Then he lay down again, when lo! the chest moved a second time, more

than before, whereupon he sprang to his feet and said: "There it

goes again. But this is terrible!" And he hastened to look for the

lamp, but could not find it and had not the wherewithal to buy

another. So he went forth and cried out, "Ho, people of the

quarter!" Now the most part of the folk were asleep, but they awoke at

his crying and asked, "What aileth thee, O Khalifah?" He answered,

"Bring me a lamp, for the Jinn are upon me." They laughed at him and

gave him a lamp, wherewith he returned to his closet. Then he smote

the lock of the chest with a stone and broke it, and opening it, saw a

damsel like a houri lying asleep within. Now she had been drugged with

bhang, but at that moment she threw up the stuff and awoke. Then she

opened her eyes, and feeling herself confined and cramped, moved.

At this sight quoth Khalifah, "By Allah, O my lady, whence art

thou?" and quoth she, "Bring me jessamine, and narcissus." And

Khalifah answered, "There is naught here but henna flowers."

  Thereupon she came to herself, and considering Khalifah, said to

him, "What art thou?" presently adding, "And where am I?" He said,

"Thou art in my lodging." Asked she, "Am I not in the palace of the

Caliph Harun al-Rashid?" And quoth he: "What manner of thing is

Al-Rashid? O madwoman, Thou art naught but my slave girl. I bought

thee this very day for a hundred dinars and one dinar, and brought

thee home, and thou wast asleep in this here chest." When she heard

these words she said to him, "What is thy name?" Said he: "My name

is Khalifah. How comes my star to have grown propitious, when I know

my ascendant to have been otherwise?" She laughed and cried: "Spare me

this talk! Hast thou anything to eat?" Replied he: "No, by Allah,

nor yet to drink! I have not eaten these two days, and am now in

want of a morsel." She asked, "Hast thou no money?" and he said:

"Allah keep this chest which hath beggared me. I gave all I had for it

and am become bankrupt."

  The damsel laughed at him and said: "Up with thee and seek of thy

neighbors somewhat for me to eat, for I am hungry." So he went forth

and cried out, "Ho, people of the quarter!" Now the folk were

asleep, but they awoke and asked, "What aileth thee, O Khalifah?"

Answered he, "O my neighbors, I am hungry and have nothing to eat." So

one came down to him with a bannock and another with broken meats

and a third with a bittock of cheese and a fourth with a cucumber, and

so on till his lap was full and he returned to his closet and laid the

whole between her hands, saying, "Eat." But she laughed at him,

saying: "How can I eat of this when I have not a mug of water

whereof to drink? I fear to choke with a mouthful and die." Quoth

he, "I will fill thee this pitcher." So he took the pitcher, and going

forth, stood 'm the midst of the street and cried out, saying, "Ho,

people of the quarter!" Quoth they, "What calamity is upon thee

tonight, O Khalifah!" And he said, "Ye gave me food and I ate, but now

I am athirst, so give me to drink."

  Thereupon one came down to him with a mug and another with an ewer

and a third with a gugglet, and he filled his pitcher, and bearing

it back, said to the damsel, "O my lady, thou lackest nothing now."

Answered she, "True, I want nothing more at this present." Quoth he,

"Speak to me and say me thy story." And quoth she: "Fie upon thee!

An thou knowest me not, I will tell thee who I am. I am Kut al-Kulub,

the Caliph's handmaiden, and the Lady Zubaydah was jealous of me, so

she drugged me with bhang and set me in this chest," presently adding:

"Alhamdolillah- praised be God- for that the matter hath come to easy

issue and no worse! But this befell me not save for thy good luck, for

thou wilt certainly get of the Caliph Al-Rashid money galore, that

will be the means of thine enrichment." Quoth Khalifah, "Is not

Al-Rashid he in whose palace I was imprisoned?" "Yes," answered she,

and he said: "By Allah, never saw I more niggardly wight than he, that

piper little of good and wit! He gave me a hundred blows with a

stick yesterday and but one dinar, for all I taught him to fish and

made him my partner, but he played me false." Replied she: "Leave this

unseemly talk, and open thine eyes and look thou bear thyself

respectfully whenas thou seest him after this, and thou shalt win

thy wish."

  When he heard her words, it was if he had been asleep and awoke, and

Allah removed the veil from his judgment, because of his good luck,

and he answered, "O my head and eyes!" Then said he to her, "Sleep, in

the name of Allah." So she lay down and fell asleep (and he afar

from her) till the morning, when she sought of him ink case and paper,

and when they were brought, wrote to Ibn al-Kirnas, the Caliph's

friend, acquainting him with her case and how at the end of all that

had befallen her she was with Khalifah the fisherman, who had bought

her. Then she gave him the scroll, saying-"Take this and hie thee to

the jewel market and ask for the shop of Ibn al-Kirnas the Jeweler and

give him this paper, and speak not." "I hear and I obey," answered

Khalifah, and going with the scroll to the market, inquired for the

shop of Ibn al-Kirnas. They directed him thither, and on entering it

he saluted the merchant, who returned his salaam with contempt and

said to him, "What dost thou want?" Thereupon he gave him the letter

and he took it, but read it not, thinking the fisherman a beggar who

sought an alms of him, and said to one of his lads, "Give him half a

dirham." Quoth Khalifah: "I want no alms. Read the paper."

  So Ibn al-Kirnas took the letter and read it, and no sooner knew its

import than he kissed it and laid it on his head. Then he arose and

said to Khalifah, "O my brother, where is thy house?" Asked

Khalifah: "What wantest thou with my house? Wilt thou go thither and

steal my slave girl?" Then Ibn al-Kirnas answered: "Not so. On the

contrary, I will buy thee somewhat whereof you may eat, thou and she."

So he said, "My house is in such a quarter," and the merchant

rejoined: "Thou hast done well. May Allah not give thee health, O

unlucky one!" Then he called out to two of his slaves and said to

them: "Carry this man to the shop of Mohsin the shroff and say to him,

'O Mohsin, give this man a thousand dinars of gold,' then bring him

back to me in haste."

  So they carried him to the money-changer, who paid him the money,

and returned with him to their master, whom they found mounted on a

dapple she-mule worth a thousand dinars, with Mamelukes and pages

about him, and by his side another mule like his own, saddled and

bridled. Quoth the jeweler to Khalifah, "Bismillah, mount this

mule." Replied he, "I won't, for by Allah, I fear she throw me," and

quoth Ibn al-Kirnas, "By God, needs must thou mount." So he came up,

and mounting her, face to crupper, caught hold of her tail and cried

out, whereupon she threw him on the ground and they laughed at him.

But he rose and said, "Did I not tell thee I would not mount this

great jenny-ass?" Thereupon Ibn al-Kirnas left him in the market,

and repairing to the Caliph, told him of the damsel, after which he

returned and removed her to his own house.

  Meanwhile Khalifah went home to look after the handmaid and found

the people of the quarter forgathering and saying: "Verily, Khalifah

is today in a terrible pickle! Would we knew whence he can have gotten

this damsel!" Quoth one of them: "He is a mad pimp. Haply he found her

lying on the road drunken, and carried her to his own house, and his

absence showeth that he knoweth his offense." As they were talking,

behold, up came Khalifah, and they said to him: "What a plight is

thine, O unhappy! Knowest thou not what is come to thee?" He

replied, "No, by Allah!" and they said: "But just now there came

Mamelukes and took away thy slave girl whom thou stolest, and sought

for thee, but found thee not." Asked Khalifah, "And how came they to

take my slave girl?" and quoth one, "Had he fallen in their way,

they had slain him."

  But he, so far from heeding them, returned running to the shop of

Ibn al-Kirnas, whom he met riding, and said to him: "By Allah, 'twas

not right of thee to wheedle me and meanwhile send thy Mamelukes to

take my slave girl!" Replied the jeweler, "O idiot, come with me,

and hold thy tongue." So he took him and carried him into a house

handsomely builded, where he found the damsel seated on a couch of

gold, with ten slave girls like moons round her. Sighting her, Ibn

al-Kirnas kissed ground before her, and she said, "What hast thou done

with my new master, who bought me with all he owned?" He replied, "O

my lady, I gave him a thousand golden dinars,' and related to her

Khalifah's history from first to last, whereat she laughed and said:

"Blame him not, for he is but a common wight. These other thousand

dinars are a gift from me to him, and Almighty Allah willing, he shall

win of the Caliph what shall enrich him."

  As they were talking, there came a eunuch from the Commander of

the Faithful in quest of Kut al-Kulub, for when he knew that she was

in the house of Ibn al-Kirnas, he could not endure, the severance, but

bade bring her forthwith. So she repaired to the Palace, taking

Khalifah with her, and going into the presence, kissed ground before

the Caliph, who rose to her, saluting and welcoming her, and asked her

how she had fared with him who had brought her. She replied: "He is

a man, Khalifah the fisherman hight, and there he standeth at the

door. He telleth me that he hath an account to settle with the

Commander of the Faithful, by reason of a partnership between him

and the Caliph in fishing." Asked Al-Rashid, "Is he at the door?"

and she answered, "Yes." So the Caliph sent for him and he kissed

ground before him and wished him endurance of glory and prosperity.

The Caliph marveled at him and laughed at him, and said to him, "O

Fisherman, wast thou in very deed my partner yesterday?" Khalifah took

his meaning, and heartening his heart and summoning spirit, replied:

"By Him who bestowed upon thee the succession to thy cousin, I know

her not in anywise and have had no commerce with her save by way of

sight and speech!"

  Then he repeated to him all that had befallen him since he last

saw him, whereat the Caliph laughed and his breast broadened and he

said to Khalifah, "Ask of us what thou wilt, O thou who bringest to

owners their own!" But he was silent, so the Caliph ordered him

fifty thousand dinars of gold and a costly dress of honor such as

great sovereigns don, and a she-mule, and gave him black slaves of the

Sudan to serve him, so that he became as he were one of the kings of

that time. The Caliph was rejoiced at the recovery of his favorite and

knew that all this was the doing of his cousin-wife, the Lady

Zubaydah, wherefore he, was sore enraged against her and held aloof

from her a great while, visiting her not, neither inclining to

pardon her. When she was certified of this, she was sore concerned for

his wrath, and her face, that was wont to be rosy, waxed pale and

wan till, when her patience was exhausted, she sent a letter to her

cousin, the Commander of the Faithful, making her excuses to him and

confessing her offenses, and ending with these verses:



  I long once more the love that was between us to regain,

  That I may quench the fire of grief and bate the force of bane.

  O lord of me, have ruth upon the stress my passion deals,

  Enough to me is what you doled of sorrow and of pain.

  'Tis life to me an deign you keep the troth you deigned to plight,

  'Tis death to me an troth you break and fondest vows profane.

  Given I've sinned a sorry sin, yet grant me ruth, for naught,

  By Allah, sweeter is than friend who is of pardon fain.



When the Lady Zubaydah's letter reached the Caliph, and reading it, he

saw that she confessed her offense and sent her excuses to him

therefor, he said to himself, "Verily, all sins doth Allah

forgive-aye, Gracious, Merciful is He!" And he returned her an

answer expressing satisfaction and pardon and forgiveness for what was

past, whereat she rejoiced greatly.

  As for Khalifah the fisherman, the Caliph assigned him a monthly

solde of fifty dinars, and took him into especial favor, which would

lead to rank and dignity, honor and worship. Then he kissed ground

before the Commander of the Faithful and went forth with stately gait.

When he came to the door, the eunuch Sandal, who had given him the

hundred dinars, saw him, and knowing him, said to him, "O Fisherman,

whence all this?" So he told him all that had befallen him, first

and last, whereat Sandal rejoiced, because he had been the cause of

his enrichment, and said to him, "Wilt thou not give me largess of

this wealth which is now become thine?" So Khalifah put hand to

pouch and taking out a purse containing a thousand dinars, gave it

to the eunuch, who said, "Keep thy coins, and Allah bless thee

therein!" and marveled at his manliness and at the liberality of his

soul, for all his late poverty.

  Then, leaving the eunuch, Khalifah mounted his she-mule and rode,

with the slaves' hands on her crupper, till he came to his lodging

at the khan, whilst the folk stared at him in surprise for that

which had betided him of advancement. When he alighted from his beast,

they accosted him and inquired the cause of his change from poverty to

prosperity, and he told them an that had happened to him from incept

to conclusion. Then he bought a fine mansion and laid out thereon much

money, till it was perfect in all points. And he took up his abode

therein and was wont to recite thereon these two couplets:



   Behold a house that's like the Dwelling of Delight,

   Its aspect heals the sick and banishes despite.

   Its sojourn for the great and wise appointed is,

   And Fortune fair therein abideth day and night.



  Then, as soon as he was settled in his house, he sought him in

marriage the daughter of one of the chief men of the city, a

handsome girl, and went in unto her and led a life of solace and

satisfaction, joyaunce and enjoyment; and he rose to passing affluence

and exceeding prosperity. So when he found himself in this fortunate

condition, he offered up thanks to Allah (extolled and excelled be

He!) for what He had bestowed on him of wealth exceeding and of favors

ever succeeding, praising his Lord with the praise of the grateful.

And thereafter Khalifah continued to pay frequent visits to the Caliph

Harun al-Rashid, with whom he found acceptance and who ceased not to

overwhelm him with boons and bounty. And he abode in the enjoyment

of the utmost honor and happiness and joy and gladness, and in

riches more than sufficing and in rank ever rising- brief, a sweet

life and a savory, pure as pleasurable, till there came to him die

Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies. And extolled be

the perfection of Him to whom belong glory and permanence and He is

the Living, the Eternal, who shall never die!

  And amongst the tales they, tell is one of






           ABU KIR THE DYER AND ABU SIR THE BARBER



  THERE dwelt once, in Alexander city, two men, of whom one was a

dyer, by name of Abu Kir, and the other a barber, Abu Sir, and they

were neighbors in the market street, where their shops stood side by

side. The dyer was a swindler and a liar, an exceeding wicked wight,

as if indeed his head temples were hewn out of a boulder rock or

fashioned of the threshold of a Jewish synagogue, nor was he ashamed

of any shameful work he wrought amongst the folk. It was his wont,

when any brought him cloth for staining, first to require of him

payment under pretense of buying dyestuffs therewith. So the

customer would give him the wage in advance and wend his ways, and the

dyer would spend all he received on meat and drink, after which he

would sell the cloth itself as soon as ever its owner turned his

back and waste its worth in eating and drinking not else, for he ate

not but of the daintiest and most delicate viands nor drank but of the

best of that which doth away the wit of man. And when the owner of the

cloth came to him, he would say to him, "Return to me tomorrow

before sunrise and thou shalt find thy stuff dyed."

  So the customer would go away, saying to himself, "One day is near

another day," and return next day at the appointed time, when the dyer

would say to him: "Come tomorrow. Yesterday I was not at work, for I

had with me guests and was occupied with doing what their wants

required till they went, but tomorrow before sunrise come and take thy

cloth dyed." So he would fare forth and return on the third day,

when Abu Kir would say to him: "Indeed yesterday I was excusable,

for my wife was brought to bed in the night, and all day I was busy

with manifold matters, but tomorrow, without fail, come and take thy

cloth dyed." When the man came again at the appointed time, he would

put him off with some other pretense, it mattered little what, and

would swear to him, as often as he came, till the customer lost

patience and said, "How often wilt thou say to me, 'Tomorrow?' Give me

my stuff, I will not have it dyed." Whereupon the dyer would make

answer: "By Allah, O my brother, I am abashed at thee, but I must tell

the truth and may Allah harm all who harm folk in their goods!" The

other would exclaim, "Tell me what hath happened," and Abu Kir would

reply: "As for thy stuff, I dyed that same on matchless wise and

hung it on the drying rope, but 'twas stolen and I know not who

stole it." If the owner of the stuff were of the kindly he would

say, "Allah will compensate me," and if he were of the

ill-conditioned, he would haunt him with exposure and insult, but

would get nothing of him, though he complained of him to the judge.

  He ceased not doing thus till his report was noised abroad among the

folk and each used to warn other against Abu Kir, who became a

byword amongst them. So they all held aloof from him and none would be

entrapped by him save those who were ignorant of his character; but

for all this, he failed not daily to suffer insult and exposure from

Allah's creatures. By reason of this his trade became slack, and he

used to go to the shop of his neighbor the barber Abu Sir and sit

there, facing the dyery and with his eyes on the door. Whenever he

espied anyone who knew him not standing at the dyery door with a piece

of stuff in his hand, he would leave the barber's booth and go up to

him saying, "What seekest thou, O thou?" and the man would reply,

"Take and dye me this thing." So the dyer would ask, "What color

wilt thou have it?" For, with all his knavish tricks, his hand was

in all manner of dyes. But he was never true to anyone, wherefore

poverty had gotten the better of him. Then he would take the stuff and

say, "Give me my wage in advance, and come tomorrow and take the

stuff." So the stranger would advance him the money and wend his

way, whereupon Abu Kir would carry the cloth to the market street

and sell it and with its price buy meat and vegetables and tobacco and

fruit and what not else he needed. But whenever he saw anyone who

had given him stuff to dye standing at the door of his shop, he

would not come forth to him or even show himself to him.

  On this wise he abode years and years, till it fortuned one day that

he received cloth to dye from a man of wrath, and sold it and spent

the proceeds. The owner came to him every day, but found him not in

his shop; for whenever he espied anyone who had claim against him,

he would flee from him into the shop of the barber, Abu Sir. At last

that angry man, finding that he was not to be seen and growing weary

of such work, repaired to the kazi, and bringing one of his

sergeants to the shop, nailed up the door, in presence of a number

of Moslems, and sealed it, for that he saw therein naught save some

broken pans of earthenware, to stand him instead of his stuff. After

which the sergeant took the key, saying to the neighbors, "Tell him to

bring back this man's cloth, then come to me and take his shop-key,"

and went his way, he and the man.

  Then said Abu Sir to Abu Kir: "What ill business is this? Whoever

bringeth thee aught, thou losest it for him. What hath become of

this angry man's stuff.?" Answered the dyer, "O my neighbor, 'twas

stolen from me." "Prodigious!" exclaimed the barber. "Whenever

anyone giveth thee aught, a thief stealeth it from thee! Art thou then

the meeting place of every rogue upon town? But I doubt me thou liest,

so tell me the truth." Replied Abu Kir, "O my neighbor, none hath

stolen aught from me." Asked Abu Sir, "What then dost thou with the

people's property?" and the dyer answered, "Whenever anyone giveth

me aught to dye, I sell it and spend the price." Quoth Abu Sir, "Is

this permitted thee of Allah?" and quoth Abu Kir, "I do this only

out of poverty, because business is slack with me and I am poor and

have nothing." And he went on to complain to him of the dullness of

his trade and his lack of means.

  Abu Sir in like manner lamented the little profit of his own

calling, saying: "I am a master of my craft and have not my equal in

this city, but no one cometh to me to be polled, because I am a

pauper. And I loathe this art and mystery, O my brother." Abu Kir

replied: "And I also loathe my own craft, by reason of its

slackness. But, O my brother, what call is there for our abiding in

this town? Let us depart from it, I and thou, and solace ourselves

in the lands of mankind, carrying in our hands our crafts which are in

demand all the world over. So shall we breathe the air, and rest

from this grievous trouble." And he ceased not to command travel to

Abu Sir till the barber became wishful to set out, so they agreed upon

their route. When they agreed to travel together, Abu Kir said to

Abu Sir: "O my neighbor, we are become brethren and there is no

difference between us, so it behooveth us to recite the fatihah that

he of us who gets work shall of his gain feed him who is out of

work, and whatever is left, we will lay in a chest. And when we return

to Alexandria, we will divide it fairly and equally." "So be it,"

replied Abu Sir, and they repeated the opening chapter of the Koran on

this understanding.

  Then Abu Sir locked up his shop and gave the key to its owner,

whilst Abu Kir left his door locked and sealed and let the key lie

with the kazi's sergeant. After which they took their baggage and

embarked on the morrow in a galleon upon the salt sea. They set sail

the same day and fortune attended them, for, of Abu Sir's great good

luck, there was not a barber in the ship, albeit it carried a

hundred and twenty men, besides captain and crew. So when they

loosed the sails, the barber said to the dyer: "O my brother, this

is the sea, and we shall need meat and drink. We have but little

provaunt with us and haply the voyage will be long upon us,

wherefore methinks I will shoulder my budget and pass among the

passengers, and maybe someone will say to me, 'Come hither, O

barber, and shave me,' and I will shave him for a scone or a silver

bit or a draught of water. So shall we profit by this, I and thou

too." "There's no harm in that," replied the dyer, and laid down his

head and slept, whilst the barber took his gear and water tasse, and

throwing over his shoulder a rag to serve as napkin (because he was

poor), passed among the passengers.

  Quoth one of them, "Ho, master, come and shave me." So he shaved

him, and the man gave him a half-dirham, whereupon quoth Abu Sir: "O

my brother, I have no use for this bit. Hadst thou given me a scone,

'twere more blessed to me in this sea, for I have a shipmate, and we

are short of provision." So he gave him a loaf and a slice of cheese

and filled him the tasse with sweet water. The barber carried all this

to Abu Kir and said, "Eat the bread and cheese and drink the water."

Accordingly he ate and drank, whilst Abu Sir again took up his shaving

gear and, tasse in hand and rag on shoulder, went round about the deck

among the passengers. One man he shaved for two scones and another for

a bittock of cheese, and he was in demand, because there was no

other barber on board. Also he bargained with everyone who said to

him, "Ho, master, shave me!" for two loaves and a half-dirham, and

they gave him whatever he sought, so that by sundown he had

collected thirty loaves and thirty silvers with store of cheese and

olives and botargos. And besides these he got from the passengers

whatever he asked for and was soon in possession of things galore.

  Amongst the rest, he shaved the captain, to whom he complained of

his lack of victual for the voyage, and the skipper said to him, "That

art welcome to bring thy comrade every night and sup with me, and have

no care for that so long as ye sail with us." Then he returned to

the dyer, whom he found asleep. So he roused him, and when Abu Kir

awoke, he saw at his head an abundance of bread and cheese and

olives and botargos and said, "Whence gottest thou all this?" "From

the bounty of Allah Almighty," replied Abu Sir. Then Abu Kir would

have fallen to, but the barber said to him: "Eat not of this, O my

brother, but leave it to serve us another time. For know that I shaved

the captain and complained to him of our lack of victual, whereupon

quoth he: 'Welcome to thee! Bring thy comrade and sup both of ye

with me every night.' And this night we sup with him for the first

time."

  But Abu Kir replied, "My head goeth round with seasickness and I

cannot rise from my stead, so let me sup off these things and fare

thou alone to the captain." Abu Sir replied, "There is no harm in

that," and sat looking at the other as he ate, and saw him hew off

gobbets as the quarryman heweth stone from the hill quarries and

gulp them down with the gulp of an elephant which hath not eaten for

days, bolting another mouthful ere he had swallowed the previous one

and glaring the while at that which was before him with the

glowering of a Ghul, and blowing as bloweth the hungry bull over his

beans and bruised straw. Presently up came a sailor and said to the

barber, "O craftsmaster, the captain biddeth thee come to supper and

bring thy comrade." Quoth the barber to the dyer, "Wilt thou come with

us?" but quoth he, "I cannot walk." So the barber went by himself

and found the captain sitting before a tray whereon were a score or

more of dishes, and all the company were awaiting him and his mate.

  When the captain saw him, he asked, "Where is thy friend?" and Abu

Sir answered, "O my lord, he is seasick." Said the skipper, "That will

do him no harm, his sickness will soon pass off, but do thou carry him

his supper and come back, for we tarry for thee." Then he set apart

a porringer of kababs and putting therein some of each dish, till

there was enough for ten, gave it to Abu Sir, saying, "Take this to

thy chum." He took it and carried it to the dyer, whom he found

grinding away with his dog teeth at the food which was before him,

as he were a camel, and heaping mouthful on mouthful in his hurry.

Quoth Abu Sir, "Did, I not say to thee, 'Eat not of this'? Indeed

the captain is a kindly man. See what he hath sent thee, for that I

told him thou wast seasick." "Give it here," cried the dyer. So the

barber gave him the platter, and he snatched it from him and fell upon

his food, ravening for it and resembling a grinning dog or a raging

lion or a roc pouncing on a pigeon or one well-nigh dead for hunger

who, seeing meat, falls ravenously to eat.

  Then Abu Sir left him, and going back to the captain, supped and

enjoyed himself and drank coffee with him, after which he returned

to Abu Kir and found that he had eaten all that was in the porringer

and thrown it aside, empty. So he took it up and gave it to one of the

captain's servants, then went back to Abu Kir and slept till the

morning. On the morrow he continued to shave, and all he got by way of

meat and drink he gave to his shipmate, who ate and drank and sat

still, rising not save to do what none could do for him, and every

night the barber brought him a full porringer from the captain's

table.

  They fared thus twenty days until the galleon cast anchor in the

harbor of a city, whereupon they took leave of the skipper, and

landing, entered the town and hired them a closet in a khan. Abu Sir

furnished it, and buying a cooking pot and a platter and spoons and

what else they needed, fetched meat and cooked it. But Abu Kir fell

asleep the moment he entered the caravanserai and awoke not till Abu

Sir aroused him and set the tray of food before him. When he awoke, he

ate, and saying to Abu Sir, "Blame me not, for I am giddy," fell

asleep again. Thus he did forty days, whilst every day the barber took

his gear, and making the round of the city, wrought for that which

fell to his lot, and returning, found the dyer asleep and aroused him.

The moment he awoke he fell ravenously upon the food, eating as one

who cannot have his fill nor be satisfied, after which he went

asleep again.

  On this wise he passed other forty days, and whenever the barber

said to him, "Sit up and be comfortable and go forth and take an

airing in the city, for 'tis a gay place and a pleasant and hath not

its equal among the cities," he would reply, "Blame me not, for I am

giddy." Abu Sir cared not to hurt his feelings nor give him hard

words, but on the forty-first day, he himself fell sick and could

not go abroad, so he engaged the porter of the khan to serve them

both, and he did the needful for them and brought them meat and

drink whilst Abu Kir would do nothing but eat and sleep. The man

ceased not to wait upon them on this wise for four days, at the end of

which time the barbees malady redoubled on him, till he lost his

senses for stress of sickness; and Abu Kir, feeling the sharp pangs of

hunger, arose and sought in his comrade's clothes, where he found a

thousand silver bits. He took them and, shutting the door of the

closet upon Abu Sir, fared forth without telling any, and the

doorkeeper was then at market and thus saw him not go out.

  Presently Abu Kir betook himself to the bazaar and clad himself in

costly clothes, at a price of five hundred half-dirhams. Then he

proceeded to walk about the streets and divert himself by viewing

the city, which he found to be one whose like was not among cities.

But he noted that all its citizens were clad in clothes of white and

blue, without other color. Presently he came to a dyer's, and seeing

naught but blue in his shop, pulled out to him a kerchief and said, "O

master, take this and dye it and win thy wage." Quoth the dyer, "The

cost of dyeing this will be twenty dirhams," and quoth Abu Kir, "In

our country we dye it for two." "Then go and dye it in your own

country! As for me, my price is twenty dirhams and I will not bate a

tittle thereof." "What color wilt thou dye it?" "I will dye it

blue." "But I want it dyed red." "I know not how to dye red." "Then

dye it green." "I know not how to dye it green." "Yellow." "Nor yet

yellow." Thereupon Abu Kir went on to name the different tints to him,

one after other, till the dyer said: "We are here in this city forty

master dyers, not one more nor one less, and when one of us dieth,

we teach his son the craft. If he leave no son, we abide lacking

one, and if he leave two sons, we teach one of them the craft, and

if he die, we teach his brother. This our craft is strictly ordered,

and we know how to dye but blue and no other tint whatsoever."

  Then said Abu Kir: "Know that I too am a dyer, and wot how to dye

all colors, and I would have thee take me into thy service on hire,

and I will teach thee everything of my art, so thou mayst glory

therein over all the company of dyers." But the dyer answered, "We

never admit a stranger into our craft." Asked Abu Kir, "And what if

I open a dyery for myself?" whereto the other answered, "We will not

suffer thee to do that on any wise." Whereupon he left him, and

going to a second dyer, made him the like proposal, but he returned

him the same answer as the first. And he ceased not to go from one

to other till he had made the round of the whole forty masters, but

they would not accept him either to master or apprentice. Then he

repaired to the Sheikh of the dyers and told what had passed, and he

said, "We admit no strangers into our craft."

  Hereupon Abu Kir became exceeding wroth, and going up to the King of

that city, made complaint to him, saying, "O King of the Age, I am a

stranger and a dyer by trade," and he told him whatso had passed

between himself and the dyers of the town, adding: "I can dye

various kinds of red, such as rose-color and jujubel-color and various

kinds of green, such as grass-green and pistachio-green and olive

and parrot's wing, and various kinds of black, such as coal-black

and kohl-black, and various shades of yellow, such as orange and

lemon-color," and went on to name to him the rest of the colors.

Then said he, "O King of the Age, all the dyers in thy city cannot

turn out of hand any one of these tints, for they know not how to

dye aught but blue. Yet they will not admit me amongst them, either to

master or apprentice." Answered the King: "Thou sayst sooth for that

matter, but I will open to thee a dyery and give thee capital, and

have thou no care anent them; for whoso offereth to do thee let or

hindrance, I will hang him over his shop door."

  Then he sent for builders and said to them, "Go round about the city

with this master dyer, and whatsoever place pleaseth him, be it shop

or khan or what not, turn out its occupier and build him a dyery after

his wish. Whatsoever he biddeth you, that do ye, and oppose him not in

aught." And he clad him in a handsome suit and gave him two white

slaves to serve him, and a horse with housings of brocade and a

thousand dinars, saying, "Expend this upon thyself against the

building be completed." Accordingly Abu Kir donned the dress, and

mounting the horse, became as he were an emir. Moreover the King

assigned him a house, and bade furnish it, so they furnished it for

him and he took up his abode therein. On the morrow he mounted and

rode through the city, whilst the architects went before him, and he

looked about him till he saw a place which pleased him and said, "This

stead is seemly," whereupon they turned out the owner and carried

him to the King, who gave him as the price of his holding, what

contented him and more.

  Then the builders fell to work, whilst Abu Kir said to them,

"Build thus and thus and do this and that," till they built him a

dyery that had not its like. Whereupon he presented himself before the

King and informed him that they had done building the dyery and that

there needed but the price of the dyestuffs and gear to set it

going. Quoth the King, "Take these four thousand dinars to thy capital

and let me see the first fruits of thy dyery." So he took the money

and went to the market where, finding dyestuffs plentiful and

well-nigh worthless, he bought all he needed of materials for

dyeing; and the King sent him five hundred pieces of stuff, which he

set himself to dye of all colors, and then he spread them before the

door of his dyery.

  When the folk passed by the shop, they saw a wonder sight whose like

they had never in their lives seen, so they crowded about the

entrance, enjoying the spectacle and questioning the dyer and

saying, "O master, what are the names of these colors?" Quoth he,

"This is red and that yellow and the other green," and so on, naming

the rest of the colors. And they fell to bringing him longcloth and

saying to him, "Dye it for us like this and that, and take what hire

thou seekest." When he had made an end of dyeing the King's stuffs, he

took them and went up with them to the Divan, and when the King saw

them he rejoiced in them and bestowed abundant bounty on the dyer.

Furthermore, all the troops brought him stuffs, saying, "Dye for us

thus and thus," and he dyed for them to their liking, and they threw

him gold and silver. After this his fame spread abroad, and his shop

was called the Sultan's Dyery. Good came in to him at every door and

none of the other dyers could say a word to him, but they used to come

to him kissing his hands and excusing themselves to him for past

affronts they had offered him and saying, "Take us to thine

apprentices." But he would none of them, for he had become the owner

of black slaves and handmaids and had amassed store of wealth.

  On this wise fared it with Abu Kir, but as regards Abu Sir, after

closet door had been locked on him and his money had been stolen, he

abode prostrate and unconscious for three successive days, at the

end of which the concierge of the khan, chancing to look at the

door, observed that it was locked, and bethought himself that he had

not seen and heard aught of the two companions for some time. So he

said in his mind: "Haply they have made off without paying rent, or

perhaps they are dead, or what is to do with them?" And he waited till

sunset, when he went up to the door and heard the barber groaning

within. He saw the key in the lock, so he opened the door, and

entering, found Abu Sir lying groaning, and said to him: "No harm to

thee. Where is thy friend?" Replied Abu Sir: "By Allah, I came to my

senses only this day and called out, but none answered my call.

Allah upon thee, O my brother, look for the purse under my head and

take from it five half-dirhams and buy me somewhat nourishing, for I

am sore a-hungered." The porter put out his hand, and taking the

purse, found it empty and said to the barber, "The purse is empty,

there is nothing in it." Whereupon Abu Sir knew that Abu Kir had taken

that which was therein and had fled, and he asked the porter, "Hast

thou not seen my friend?" Answered the doorkeeper, "I have not seen

him for these three days, and indeed methought you had departed,

thou and he." The barber cried, "Not so, but he coveted my money and

took it and fled, seeing me sick."

  Then he fell a-weeping and a-wailing, but the doorkeeper said to

him, "No harm shall befall thee, and Allah will requite him his deed."

So he went away and cooked him some broth, whereof he ladled out a

plateful and brought it to him. Nor did he cease to tend him and

maintain him with his own moneys for two months' space, when the

barber sweated and the Almighty made him whole of his sickness. Then

he stood up and said to the porter: "An ever the Most High Lord enable

me, I will surely requite thee thy kindness to me. But none

requiteth save the Lord of His bounty!" Answered the porter:

"Praised be He for thy recovery! I dealt not thus with am but of

desire for the face of Allah the Bountiful."

  Then the barber went forth of the khan and threaded the market

streets of the town till Destiny brought him to the bazaar wherein was

Abu Kir's dyery, and he saw the varicolored stuffs dispread before the

shop and a jostle of folk crowding to look upon them. So he questioned

one of the townsmen and asked him, "What place is this, and how cometh

it that I see the folk crowding together?" whereto the man answered,

saying: "This is the Sultan's Dyery, which he set up for a

foreigner, Abu Kir high! And whenever he dyeth new stuff, we all flock

to him and divert ourselves by gazing upon his handiwork, for we

have no dyers in our land who know how to stain with these colors. And

indeed there befell him with the dyers who are in the city that

which befell." And he went on to tell him all that had passed

between Abu Kir and the master dyers and how he had complained of them

to the Sultan, who took him by the hand and built him that dyery and

gave him this and that- brief, he, recounted to him all that had

occurred.

  At this the barber rejoiced and said in himself: "Praised be Allah

Who hath prospered him, so that he is become a master of his craft!

And the man is excusable, for of a surety he hath been diverted from

thee by his work and hath forgotten thee; but thou actedst kindly by

him and entreatedst him generously what time he was out of work, so

when he seeth thee, he will rejoice in thee and entreat thee

generously, even as thou entreatedst him." According he made for the

door of the dyery, and saw Abu Kir seated on a high mattress spread

upon a bench beside the doorway, clad in royal apparel and attended by

four blackamoor slaves and four white Mamelukes all robed in the

richest of raiment. Moreover, he saw the workmen, ten Negro slaves,

standing at work; for when Abu Kir bought them, he taught them the

craft of dyeing, and he himself sat amongst his cushions as he were

a grand wazir or a mighty monarch, putting his hand to naught but only

saying to the men, "Do this and do that." So the barber went up to him

and stood before him, deeming he would rejoice in him when he saw

him and salute him and entreat him with honor and make much of him.

But when eye fell upon eye, the dyer said to him: "O scoundrel how

many a time have I bidden thee stand not at the door of the

workshop? Hast thou a mind to disgrace me with the folk, thief that

thou art? Seize him."

  So the blackamoors ran at him and laid hold of him, and the dyer

rose up from his seat and said, "Throw him." Accordingly they threw

him down and Abu Kir took a stick and dealt him a hundred strokes on

the back, after which they turned him over and he beat him other

hundred blows on his belly. Then he said to him: "O scoundrel, O

villain, if ever again I see thee standing at the door of this

dyery, I will forthwith send thee to the King, and he will commit thee

to the Chief of Police, that he may strike thy neck. Begone, may Allah

not bless thee!" So Abu Sir departed from him, brokenhearted by reason

of the beating and shame that had betided him, whilst the bystanders

asked Abu Kir, "What hath this man done?" He answered: "The fellow

is a thief, who stealeth the stuffs of folk. He hath robbed me of

cloth, how many a time! And I still said to myself, 'Allah forgive

him!' He is a poor man, and I cared not to deal roughly with him, so I

used to give my customers the worth of their goods and forbid him

gently, but he would not be forbidden. And if he come again, I will

send him to the King, who will put him to death and rid the people

of his mischief." And the bystanders fell to abusing the barber

after his back was turned.

  Such was the behavior of Abu Kir, but as regards Abu Sir, he

returned to the khan, where he sat pondering that which the dyer had

done by him, and he remained seated till the burning of the beating

subsided, when he went out and walked about the markets of the city.

Presently he bethought him to go to the hammam bath, so he said to one

of-the townsfolk, "O my brother, which is the way to the baths?" Quoth

the man, "And what manner of thing may the baths be?" and quoth Abu

Sir, "'Tis a place where people wash themselves and do away their dirt

and defilements, and it is of the best of the good things of the

world." Replied the townsman, "Get thee to the sea," but the barber

rejoined, "I want the hammam baths." Cried the other: "We know not

what manner of thing is the hammam, for we all resort to the sea. Even

the King, when he would wash, betaketh himself to the sea."

  When Abu Sir was assured that there was no bath in the city and that

the folk knew not the baths nor the fashion thereof, he betook himself

to the King's Divan and, kissing ground between his hands, called down

blessings on him and said: "I am a stranger and a bathman by trade,

and I entered thy city and thought to go to the hammam, but found

not one therein. How cometh a city of this comely quality to lack a

hammam, seeing that the bath is of the highest of the delights of this

world?" Quoth the King, "What manner of thing is the hammam?" So Abu

Sir proceeded to set forth to him the quality of the bath, saying,

"Thy capital will not be a perfect city till there be a hammam

therein." "Welcome to thee!" said the King and clad him in a dress

that had not its like and gave him a horse and two blackamoor

slaves, presently adding four handmaids and as many white Mamelukes.

He also appointed him a furnished house and honored him yet more

abundantly than he had honored the dyer.

  After this he sent builders with him, saying to them, "Build him a

hammam in what place soever shall please him." So he took them and

went with them through the midst of the city till he saw a stead

that suited him. He pointed it out to the builders and they set to

work, whilst he directed them, and they wrought till they builded

him a hammam that had not its like. Then he bade them paint it, and

they painted it rarely, so that it was a delight to the beholders.

After which Abu Sir went up to the King and told him that they had

made an end of building and decorating the hammam, adding, "There

lacketh naught save the furniture." The King gave him ten thousand

dinars wherewith he furnished the bath and ranged the napkins on the

ropes, and all who passed by the door stared at it and their mind

was confounded at its decorations. So the people crowded to this

spectacle, whose like they had never in their lives seen, and

solaced themselves by staring at it and saying, "What is this

thing?" To which Abu Sir replied, "This is a hammam," and they

marveled thereat. Then he heated water and set the bath a-working, and

he made a jetting fountain in the great basin, which ravished the

wit of an who saw it of the people of the city.

  Furthermore, he sought of the King ten Mamelukes not yet come to

manhood, and he gave him ten boys like moons, whereupon Abu Sir

proceeded to shampoo them, saying, "Do in this wise with the bathers."

Then he burnt perfumes and sent out a crier to cry aloud in the

city, saying, "O creatures of Allah, get ye to the baths which be

called the Sultan's Hammam!" So the lieges came thither and Abu Sir

bade the slave boys wash their bodies. The folk went down into the

tank and coming forth, seated themselves on the raised pavement whilst

the boys shampooed them, even as Abu Sir had taught them. And they

continued to enter the hammam and do their need therein gratis and

go out, without paying, for the space of three days.

  On the fourth day the barber invited the King, who took horse with

his grandees and rode to the baths, where he put off his clothes and

entered. Then Abu Sir came in to him and rubbed his body with the

bag gloves, peeling from his skin dirt rolls like lampwicks and

showing them to the King, who rejoiced therein, and clapping his

hand upon his limbs, heard them ring again for very smoothness and

cleanliness. After which thorough washing Abu Sir mingled rosewater

with the water of the tank and the King went down therein. When he

came forth, his body was refreshed and he felt a lightness and

liveliness such as he had never known in his life. Then the barber

made him sit on the dais and the boys proceeded to shampoo him, whilst

the censers fumed with the finest lign aloes.

  Then said the King, "O master, is this the hammam?" and Abu Sir

said, "Yes." Quoth the King; "As my head liveth, my city is not become

a city indeed but by this bath," presently adding, "But what pay

takest thou for each person?" Quoth Abu Sir, "That which thou

biddest will I take," whereupon the King cried, "Take a thousand

gold pieces for everyone who washeth in thy hammam." Abu Sir, however,

said: "Pardon, O King of the Age! All men are not alike, but there are

amongst them rich and poor, and if I take of each a thousand dinars,

the hammam will stand empty, for the poor man cannot pay this

price." Asked the King, "How then wilt thou do for the price?" and the

barber answered: "I will leave it to their generosity. Each who can

afford aught shall pay that which his soul grudgeth not to give, and

we will take from every man after the measure of his means. On this

wise will the folk come to us, and he who is wealthy shall give

according to his station and he who is wealthless shall give what he

can afford. Under such condition the hammam will still be at work

and prosper exceedingly. But a thousand dinars is a monarch's gift,

and not every man can avail to this."

  The lords of the realm confirmed Abu Sir's words, saying: "This is

the truth, O King of the Age! Thinkest thou that all folk are like

unto thee, O glorious King?" The King replied: "Ye say sooth, but this

man is a stranger and poor, and 'tis incumbent on us to deal

generously with him, for that he hath made in our city this hammam

whose like we have never in our lives seen and without which our

city were not adorned nor hath gotten importance. Wherefore, an we

favor him with increase of fee, 'twill not be much." But the

grandees said: "An thou wilt guerdon him, be generous with thine own

moneys, and let the King's bounty be extended to the poor by means

of the low price of the hammam, so the lieges may bless thee. But as

for the thousand dinars, we are the lords of thy land, yet do our

souls grudge to pay it, and how then should the poor be pleased to

afford it?" Quoth the King: "O my Grandees, for this time let each

of you give him a hundred dinars and a Mameluke, a slave girl, and a

blackamoor," and quoth they: "'Tis well. We will give it, but after

today whoso entereth shall give him only what he can afford, without

grudging." "No harm in that," said the King, and they gave him the

thousand gold pieces and three chattels.

  Now the number of the nobles who were washed with the King that

day was four hundred souls, so that the total of that which they

gave him was forty thousand dinars, besides four hundred Mamelukes and

a like number of Negroes and slave girls. Moreover, the King gave

him ten thousand dinars, besides ten white slaves and ten

handmaidens and a like number of blackamoors, whereupon, coming

forward, Abu Sir kissed the ground before him and said: "O

auspicious Sovereign, lord of justice, what place will contain me

all these women and slaves?" Quoth the King: "O weak o' wit, I bade

not my nobles deal thus with thee but that we might gather together

unto thee wealth galore; for maybe thou wilt bethink thee of thy

country and family and repine for them and be minded to return to

thy mother land- so shalt thou take from our country muchel of money

to maintain thyself withal, what while thou livest in thine own

country." And quoth Abu Sir: "O King of the Age (Allah advance thee!),

these white slaves and women and Negroes befit only kings, and hadst

thou ordered me ready money, it were more profitable to me than this

army; for they must eat and drink and dress, and whatever betideth

me of wealth, it will not suffice for their support."

  The King laughed and said: "By Allah, thou speaketh sooth! They

are indeed a mighty host, and thou hast not the wherewithal to

maintain them; but wilt thou sell them to me for a hundred dinars a

head?" Said Abu Sir, "I sell them to thee at that price." So the

King sent to his treasurer for the coin and he brought it and gave Abu

Sir the whole of the price without abatement and in full tale, after

which the King restored the slaves to their owners, saying, "Let

each of you who knoweth his slaves take them, for they are a gift from

me to you." So they obeyed his bidding and took each what belonged

to him, whilst Abu Sir said to the King: "Allah ease thee, O King of

the Age, even as thou hast eased me of these Ghuls, whose bellies none

may fill save Allah!" The King laughed, and said he spake sooth. Then,

taking the grandees of his realm from the hammam, returned to his

palace. But the barber passed the night in counting out his gold and

laying it up in bags and sealing them, and he had with him twenty

black slaves and a like number of Mamelukes and four slave girls to

serve him.

  Now when morning morrowed, he opened the hammam and sent out a crier

to cry, saying: "Whoso entereth the baths and washeth shall give

that which he can afford and which his generosity requireth him to

give." Then he seated himself by the pay chest and customers flocked

in upon him, each putting down that which was easy to him, nor had

eventide evened ere the chest was full of the good gifts of Allah

the Most High. Presently the Queen desired to go to the hammam, and

when this came to Abu Sir's knowledge, he divided the day on her

account into two parts, appointing that between dawn and noon to men

and that between midday and sundown to women. As soon as the Queen

came, he stationed a handmaid behind the pay chest, for he had

taught four slave girls the service of the hammam, so that they were

become expert bathwomen and tirewomen. When the Queen entered, this

pleased her, and her breast waxed broad, and she laid down a

thousand dinars.

  Thus his report was noised abroad in the city, and all who entered

the bath he entreated with honor, were they rich or poor. Good came in

upon him at every door, and he made acquaintance with the royal guards

and got him friends and intimates. The King himself used to come to

him one day in every week, leaving with him a thousand dinars, and the

other days were for rich and poor alike; and he was wont to deal

courteously with the folk and use them with the utmost respect. It

chanced that the King's sea captain came in to him one day in the

bath, so Abu Sir did off his dress and going in with him, proceeded to

shampoo him, and entreated him with exceeding courtesy. When he came

forth, he made him sherbet and coffee, and when he would have given

him somewhat, he swore that he would not accept from him aught. So the

captain was under obligation to him, by reason of his exceeding

kindness and courtesy, and was perplexed how to requite the bathman

his generous dealing.

  Thus fared it with Abu Sir, but as regards Abu Kir, hearing an the

people recounting wonders of the baths and saying, "Verily, this

hammam is the Paradise of this world! Inshallah, O Such-a-one, thou

shalt go with us tomorrow to this delightful bath," he said to

himself, "Needs must I fare like the rest of the world, and see this

bath that hath taken folk's wits." So he donned his richest dress, and

mounting a she-mule and bidding the attendance of four white slaves

and four blacks, walking before and behind him, he rode to the hammam.

When he alighted at the door, he smelt the scent of burning aloes wood

and found people going in and out and the benches full of great and

small. So he entered the vestibule, and saw Abu Sir, who rose to him

and rejoiced in him, but the dyer said to him: "Is this the way of

well-born men? I have opened me a dyery and am become master dyer of

the city and acquainted with the King and have risen to prosperity and

authority, yet camest thou not to me nor askest of me nor saidst,

'Where's my comrade?' For my part, I sought thee in vain and sent my

slaves and servants to make search for thee in all the khans and other


places, but they knew not whither thou hadst gone, nor could anyone

give me tidings of thee."

  Said Abu Sir, "Did I not come to thee, and didst thou not make me

out a thief and bastinado me and dishonor me before the world?" At

this Abu Kir made a show of concern and asked: "What manner of talk is

this? Was it thou whom I beat?" and Abu Sir answered, "Yes, 'twas

I." Whereupon Abu Kir swore to him a thousand oaths that he knew him

not and said: "There was a fellow like thee, who used to come every

day and steal the people's stuff, and I took thee for him." And he

went on to pretend penitence, beating hand upon hand and saying:

"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the

Glorious, the Great. Indeed we have sinned against thee, but would

that thou hadst discovered thyself to and said, 'I am Such-a-one!'

Indeed the fault is with thee, for that thou madest not thyself

known unto me, more especially seeing that I was distracted for much

business." Replied Abu Sir: "Allah pardon thee, O my comrade! This was

foreordained in the secret purpose, and reparation is with Allah.

Enter and put off thy clothes and bathe at thine ease." Said the dyer,

"I conjure thee, by Allah, O my brother, forgive me!" and said Abu

Sir: "Allah acquit thee of blame and forgive thee! Indeed this thing

was decreed to me from an eternity."

  Then asked Abu Kir, "Whence gottest thou this high degree?" and

answered Abu Sir: "He who prospered thee prospered me, for I went up

to the King and described to him the fashion of the hammam, and he

bade me build one." And the dyer said: "Even as thou art beknown of

the King, so also am I, and, Inshallah- God willing- I will make him

love and favor thee more than ever, for my sake. He knoweth not that

thou art my comrade, but I will acquaint him of this and commend

thee to him." But Abu Sir said: "There needeth no commendation, for He

who moveth man's heart to love still liveth, and indeed the King and

all his Court affect me and have given me this and that." And he

told him the whole tale, and said to him: "Put off thy clothes

behind the chest and enter the hammam, and I will go in with thee and

rub thee down with the glove." So he doffed his dress, and Abu Sir,

entering the bath with him, soaped him and gloved him and then dressed

him and busied himself with his service till he came forth, when he

brought him dinner and sherbets, whilst all the folk marveled at the

honor he did him.

  Then Abu Kir would have given him somewhat, but he swore that he

would not accept aught from him, and said to him: "Shame upon such

doing! Thou art my comrade, and there is no diference between us."

Then Abu Kir observed: "By Allah, O my comrade, this is a mighty

fine hammam of thine, but there lacketh somewhat in its ordinance."

Asked Abu Sir, "And what is that?" and Abu Kir answered: "It is the

depilatory, to wit, the paste compounded of yellow arsenic and

quicklime which removeth the hair with comfort. Do thou prepare it,

and next time the King cometh, present it to him, teaching him how

he shall cause the hair to fall off by such means, and he will love

thee with exceeding love and honor thee." Quoth Abu Sir, "Thou

speaketh sooth, and Inshallah, I will at once make it."

  Then Abu Kir left him and mounted his mule, and going to the King,

said to him, "I have a warning to give thee, O King of the Age!"

"And what is thy warning?" asked the King, and Abu Kir answered, "I

hear that thou hast built a hamman." Quoth the King: "Yes. There

came to me a stranger and I builded the baths for even as I builded

the dyery for thee, and indeed 'tis a mighty fine hammam and an

ornament to my city," and he went on to describe to him the virtues of

the bath. Quoth the dyer, "Hast thou entered therein?" and quoth the

King, "Yes." Thereupon cried Abu Kir: "Alhamdolillah- praised be

God- who saved thee from the mischief of yonder villian and foe of

the Faith- I mean the bathkeeper!" The King inquired, "And what of

him?" and Abu Kir replied: "Know, O King of the Age, that an thou

enter the hammam again after this day, thou wilt surely perish."

"How so?" said the King, and the dyer said: "This bathkeeper is thy

foe and the foe of the Faith, and he induced thee not to stablish this

bath but because he designed therein to poison thee. He hath made

for thee somewhat, and he will present it to thee when thou enterest

the hammam, saying, 'This is a drug which, if one apply to his parts

below the waist, will remove the hair with comfort." Now it is no

drug, but a drastic dreg and a deadly poison, for the Sultan of the

Christians hath promised this obscene fellow to release to him his

wife and children an he will kill thee. For they are prisoners in

the hands of that Sultan. I myself was captive with him in their land,

but I opened a dyery and dyed for them various colors, so that they

conciliated the King's heart to me and he bade me ask a boon of him. I

sought of him freedom and he set me at liberty, whereupon I made my

way to this city, and seeing yonder man in the hammam, said to him,

'How didst thou effect thine escape and win free with thy wife and

children?' Quoth he: 'We ceased not to be in captivity, I and my

wife and children, till one day the King of the Nazarenes held a Court

whereat I was present, amongst a number of others. And as I stood

amongst the folk, I heard them open out on the kings and name them,

one after other, till they came to the name of the King of this

city, whereupon the King of the Christians cried out "Alas!" and said,

"None vexeth me in the world, but the King of such a city! Whosoever

will contrive me his slaughter I will give him all. he shall ask."

So I went up to him and said, "An I compass for thee his slaughter,

wilt thou set me free, me and my wife and my children?" The King

replied, "Yes, and I will give thee to boot whatso thou shalt desire."

So we agreed upon this, and he sent me in a galleon to this city,

where I presented myself to the King and he built me this hammam.

  "'Now, therefore, I have naught to do but to slay him and return

to the King of the Nazarenes, that I may redeem my children and my

wife and ask a boon of him.' Quoth I: 'And how wilt thou go about to

kill him?' and quoth he, 'By the simplest of all devices, for I have

compounded him somewhat wherein is poison, so when he cometh to the

bath, I shall say to him "Take this paste and anoint therewith thy

parts below the waist for it will cause the hair to drop off." So he

will take it and apply it to himself, and the poison will work in

him a day and a night, till it reacheth his heart and destroyeth

him. And meanwhile I shall have made off and none will know that it

was I slew him.' When I heard this," added Abu Kir, "I feared for

thee, my benefactor, wherefore I have told thee of what is doing.

  As soon as the King heard the dyer's story, he was wroth with

exceeding wrath and said to him, "Keep this secret." Then he

resolved to visit the hammam, that he might dispel doubt by

supplying certainty, and when he entered, Abu Sir doffed his dress,

and betaking himself as of wont to the service of the King,

proceeded to glove him, after which he said to him, "O King of the

Age, I have made a drug which assisteth in plucking out the lower

hair." Cried the King, "Bring it to me." So the barber brought it to

him and the King, finding it nauseous of smell, was assured that it

was poison, wherefore he was incensed and called out to his guards,

saying, "Seize him!" Accordingly they seized him, and the King

donned his dress and returned to his palace; boiling with fury, whilst

none knew the cause of his indignation, for, of the excess of his

wrath he had acquainted no one therewith and none dared ask him.

  Then he repaired to the audience chamber, and causing Abu Sir to

be brought before him with his elbows pinioned, sent for his sea

captain and said to him: "Take this villian and set him in a sack with

two quintals of lime unslaked and tie its mouth over his head. Then

lay him in a cockboat and row out with him in front of my palace,

where thou wilt see me sitting at the lattice. Do thou say to me,

'Shall I cast him in?' and if I answer, 'Cast him!' throw the sack

into the sea, so the quicklime may be slacked on him to the intent

that he shall die drowned and burnt." "Hearkening and obeying,"

quoth the captain, and taking Abu Sir from the presence, carried him

to an island facing the King's palace, where he said to him: "Ho,

thou, I once visited thy hammam and thou entreatedst me with honor and

accomplishedst all my needs and I had great pleasure of thee.

Moreover, thou swarest that thou wouldst take no pay of me, and I love

thee with a great love. So tell me how the case standeth between

thee and the King, and what abominable deed thou hast done with him

that he is wroth with thee and hath commanded me that thou shouldst

die this foul death."

  Answered Abu Sir, "I have done nothing, nor weet I of any crime I

have committed against him which merited this!" Rejoined the

captain: "Verily, thou wast high in rank with the King, such as none

ever won before thee, and all who are prosperous are envied. Haply

someone was jealous of thy good fortune and threw out certain hints

concerning thee to the King, by reason whereof he is become enraged

against thee with rage so violent. But be of good cheer, no harm shall

befall thee. For even as thou entreatedst me generously, without

acquaintanceship between me and thee, so now I will deliver thee.

But an I release thee, thou must abide with me on this island till

some galleon sail from our city to thy native land, when I will send

thee thither therein."

  Abu Sir kissed his hand and thanked him for that, after which the

captain fetched the quicklime and set it in a sack, together with a

great stone, the size of a man, saying, "I put my trust in Allah!"

Then he gave the barber a net, saying: "Cast this net into the sea, so

haply thou mayest take somewhat of fish. For I am bound to supply

the King's kitchen with fish every day, but today I have been

distracted from fishing by this calamity which hath befallen thee, and

I fear lest the cook's boys come to me in quest of fish and find none.

So, an thou take aught, they will find it and thou wilt veil my

face, whilst I go and play off my practice in front of the palace

and feign to cast thee into the sea." Answered Abu Sir: "I will fish

the while. Go thou, and God help thee!" So the captain set the sack in

the boat and paddled till it came under the palace, where he saw the

King seated at the lattice and said to him, "O King of the Age,

shall I cast him in?" "Cast him!" cried the King, and signed to him

with his hand, when lo and behold! something flashed like levin and

fell into the sea. Now that which had fallen into the water was the

King's seal ring, and the same was enchanted in such way that when the

King was wroth with anyone and was minded to slay him, he had but to

sign to him with his right hand, whereon was the signet ring, and

therefrom issued a flash of lightning, which smote the object, and

thereupon his head fell from between his shoulders. And the troops

obeyed him not, nor did he overcome the men of might, save by means of

the ring. So when it dropped from his finger, he concealed the

matter and kept silence, for that he dared not say, "My ring is fallen

into the sea," for fear of the troops, lest they rise against him

and slay him.

  On this wise it befell the King. But as regards Abu Sir, after the

captain had left him on the island he took the net and casting it into

the sea, presently drew it up full of fish, nor did he cease to

throw it and pull it up full till there was a great mound of fish

before him. So he said in himself, "By Allah, this long while I have

not eaten fish!" and chose himself a large fat fish, saying, "When the

captain cometh back, I will bid him fry it for me, so I may dine on

it." Then he cut its throat with a knife he had with him, but the

knife stuck in its gills, and there he saw the King's signet ring, for

the fish had swallowed it and Destiny had driven it to that island,

where it had fallen into the net. He took the ring and drew it on

his little finger, not knowing its peculiar properties. Presently up

came two of the cook's boys in quest of fish, and seeing Abu Sir, said

to him, "O man, whither is the captain gone?" "I know not," said he,

and signed to them with his right hand, when, behold, the heads of

both underlings dropped off from between their shoulders. At this

Abu Sir was amazed and said, "Would I wot who slew them!"

  And their case was grievous to him, and he was still pondering it

when the captain suddenly returned, and seeing the mound of fishes and

two man lying dead and the seal ring on Abu Sir's finger, said to him:

"O my brother, move not thy hand whereon is the signet ring, else thou

wilt kill me." Abu Sir wondered at this speech and kept his hand

motionless, whereupon the captain came up to him and said, "Who slew

these two men?" "By Allah, O my brother, I wot not!" "Thou sayest

sooth, but tell me, whence hadst thou that ring?" "I found it in

this fish's gills." "True," said the captain, "for I saw it fall

flashing from the King's palace and disappear in the sea, what time he

signed toward thee, saying, 'Cast him in.' So I cast the sack into the

water, and it was then that the ring slipped from his finger and

fell into the sea, where this fish swallowed it, and Allah drave it to

thee, so that thou madest it thy prey, for this ring was thy lot.

But kennest thou its property?"

  Said Abu Sir, "I knew not that it had any properties peculiar to

it," and the captain said: "Learn, then, that the King's troops obey

him not save for fear of this signet ring, because it is spelled,

and when he was wroth with anyone and had a mind to kill he would sign

at him therewith and his head would drop from between his shoulders,

for there issued a flash of lightning from the ring and its ray

smote the object of his wrath, who died forthright." At this, Abu

Sir rejoiced with exceeding joy and said to the captain, "Carry me

back to the city," and he said, "That will I, now that I no longer

fear for thee from the King, for wert thou to sip at him with thy

hand, purposing to kill him, his head would fall down between thy

hands. And if thou be minded to slay him and all his host, thou

mayst slaughter them without let or hindrance."

  So saying, he embarked him in the boat and bore him back to the

city, so Abu Sir landed, and going up to the palace, entered the

council chamber, where he found the King seated facing his officers,

in sore cark and care by reason of the seal ring and daring not tell

any of his folk anent its loss. When he saw Abu Sir, he said to him:

"Did we not cast thee into the sea? How hast thou contrived to come

forth of it?" Abu Sir replied: "O King of the Age, whenas thou

badest throw me into the sea, thy captain carried me to an island

and asked me of the cause of thy wrath against me, saying, 'What

hast thou done with the King, that he should decree thy death?' I

answered, 'By Allah, I know not that I have wrought him any wrong!'

Quoth he: 'Thou wast high in rank with the King, and haply someone

envied thee and threw out certain hints concerning thee to him, so

that he is become incensed against thee. But when I visited thee in

thy hammam, thou entreatedst me honorably, and I will requite thee thy

hospitality to me by setting thee free and sending thee back to

thine own land.' Then he set a great stone in the sack in my stead and

cast it into the seat, but when thou signedst to him to throw me in,

thy seal ring dropped from thy finger into the main, and a fish

swallowed it.

  "Now I was on the island a-fishing, and this fish came up in the net

with others, whereupon I took it, intending to broil it. But when I

opened its belly, I found the signet ring therein, so I took it and

put it on my finger. Presently up came two of the servants of the

kitchen, questing fish, and I signed to them with my hand, knowing

not the property of the seal ring, and their heads fell off. Then

the captain came back, and seeing the ring on my finger, acquainted me

with its spell. And, behold, I have brought it back to thee, for

that thou dealtest kindly by me and entreatedst me with the utmost

honor, nor is that which thou hast done me of kindness lost upon me.

Here is thy ring, take it! But an I have done with thee aught

deserving of death, tell me my crime and slay me and thou shalt be

absolved of sin in shedding my blood."

  So saying, he pulled the ring from his finger and gave it to the

King, who, seeing Abu Sir's noble conduct, took the ring and put it on

and felt life return to him afresh. Then he rose to his feet, and

embracing the barber, said to him: "O man, thou art indeed of the

flower of the well-born! Blame me not, but forgive me the wrong I have

done thee. Had any but thou gotten hold of this ring, he had never

restored it to me." Answered Abu Sir: "O King of the Age, an thou

wouldst have me forgive thee, tell me what was my fault which drew

down thine anger upon me, so that thou commandedst to do me die."

Rejoined the King: "By Allah, 'tis clear to me that thou art free

and guiltless in all things of offense, since thou hast done this good

deed. Only the dyer denounced thee to me in such and such words,"

and he told him all that Abu Kir had said. Abu Sir replied: "By Allah,

O King of the Age, I know no King of the Nazarenes, nor during my days

have ever journeyed to a Christian country, nor did it ever come

into my mind to kill thee. But this dyer was my comrade and neighbor

in the city of Alexandria, where life was straitened upon us.

Therefore we departed thence, to seek our fortunes, by reason of the

narrowness of our means at home, after we had recited the opening

chapter of the Koran together, pledging ourselves that he who got work

should feed him who lacked work. And there befell me with him

such-and-such things."

  Then he went on to relate to the King all that had betided him

with Abu Kir the dyer: how he had robbed him of his dirhams and had

left him alone and sick in the khan closet, and how the door keeper

had fed him of his own moneys till Allah recovered him of his

sickness, when he went forth and walked about the city with his

budget, as was his wont, till his espied a dyery, about which the folk

were crowding; so he looked at the door, and seeing Abu Kir seated

on a bench there, went in to salute him, whereupon he accused him of

being a thief and beat him a grievous beating- brief, he told him his

whole tale, from first to last, and added: "O King of the Age, 'twas

he who counseled me to make the depilatory and present it to thee,

saying: 'The hammam is perfect in all things but that it lacketh

this.' And know, O King of the Age, that this drug is harmless and

we use it in our land, where 'tis one of the requisites bath, but I

had forgotten it. So when the dyer visited the hammam, I entreated him

with honor and he reminded me of it, and enjoined me to make it

forthwith. But do thou send after the porter of such a khan and the

workmen of the dyery and question them all of that which I have told

thee."

  Accordingly the King sent for them and questioned them one and all

and they acquainted him with the truth of the matter. Then he summoned

the dyer, saying, "Bring him barefooted, bareheaded, and with elbows

pinioned!" Now he was sitting in his house, rejoicing in Abu Sir's

death, but ere he could be ware, the King's guards rushed in upon

him and cuffed him on the nape, after which they bound him and bore

him into the presence, where he saw Abu Sir seated by the King's

side and the doorkeeper of the khan and workmen of the dyery

standing before him. Quoth the doorkeeper to him: "Is not this thy

comrade whom thou robbedst of his silvers and leftest with me sick

in the closet doing such-and-such by him?" And the workmen said to

him, "Is not this he whom thou badest us seize and beat?" Therewith

Abu Kir's baseness was made manifest to the King, and he was certified

that he merited torture yet sorer than the torments of Munkar and

Nakir. So he said to his guards: "Take him and parade him about the

city and the markets; then set him in a sack and cast him into the

sea." Whereupon quoth Abu Sir: "O King of the Age, accept my

intercession for him, for I pardon him all he hath done with me."

But quoth the King: "An thou pardon him all his offenses against thee,

I cannot pardon him his offenses against me." And he cried out,

saying, "Take him."

  So they took him and paraded him about the city, after which they

set him in a sack with quicklime and cast him into the sea, and he

died, drowned and burnt. Then said the King to the barber, "O Abu Sir,

ask of me what thou wilt and it shall be given thee." And he answered,

saying, "I ask of thee to send me back to my own country, for I care

no longer to tarry here." Then the King gifted him great store of

gifts, over and above that which he had whilom bestowed on him, and

amongst the rest a galleon freighted with goods. And the crew of

this galleon were Mamelukes, so he gave him these also, after offering

to make him his Wazir, whereto the barber consented not. Presently

he farewelled the King and set sail in his own ship manned by his

own crew, nor did he cast anchor till he reached Alexandria and made

fast to the shore there. They landed, and one of his Mamelukes, seeing

a sack on the beach, said to Abu Sir: "O my lord, there is a great

heavy sack on the seashore, with the mouth tied up, and I know not

what therein."

  So Abu Sir came up, and opening the sack, found therein the

remains of Abu Kir, which the sea had borne thither. He took it forth,

and burying it near Alexandria, built over the grave a place of

visitation. After this Abu Sir abode awhile, till Allah took him to

Himself, and they buried him hard by the tomb of his comrade Abu

Kir, wherefore that place was called Abu Kir and Abu Sir, but it is

now known as Abu Kir only. This, then, is that which hath reached us

of their history, and glory be to Him Who endureth forever and aye and

by Whose will enterchange the night and the day.

  And of the stories they tell is one anent






                   THE SLEEPER AND THE WAKER



  IT hath reached me, O auspicious King, that there was once at

Baghdad, in the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid, a man and a merchant who

had a son Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a by name. The merchant died leaving

great store of wealth to his heir, who divided it into two equal

parts, whereof he laid up one and spent of the other half. And he fell

to companying with Persians and with the sons of the merchants, and he

gave himself up to good drinking and good eating till all the wealth

he had with him was wasted and wantoned. Whereupon he betook himself

to his friends and comrades and cup companions and expounded to them

his case, discovering to them the failure of that which was in his

hand of wealth. But not one of them took heed of him or even deigned

answer him.

  So he returned to his mother (and indeed his spirit was broken)

and related to her that which had happened to him and what had

befallen him from his friends, how they had neither shared with him

nor requited him with speech. Quoth she: "O Abu al-Hasan, on this wise

are the sons of this time: And thou have aught, they draw thee near to

them, and if thou have naught, they put thee away from them." And

she went on to condole with him, what while he bewailed himself and

his tears flowed and he repeated these lines:



     "An wane my wealth, no man will succor me,

     When my wealth waxeth all men friendly show.

     How many a friend for wealth showed friendliness

     Who, when my wealth departed, turned to foe!"



  Then he sprang up, and going to the place wherein was the other half

of his goods, took it and lived with it well. And he sware that he

would never again consort with a single one of those he had known, but

would company only with the stranger, nor entertain even him but one

night, and that when it morrowed, he would never know him more.

Accordingly he fell to sitting every eventide on the bridge over

Tigris and looking at each one who passed by him. And if he saw him to

be a stranger, he made friends with him and carried him to his

house, where he conversed and caroused with him all night till

morning. Then he dismissed him, and would never more salute him with

the salaam nor ever more drew near unto him, neither invited him

again.

  Thus he continued to do for the space of a full year, till one day

while he sat on the bridge, as was his wont, expecting who should come

to him so he might take him and pass the night with him, behold, up

came the Caliph and Masrur, the Sworder of his vengeance, disguised in

merchants' dress, according to their custom. So Abu al-Hasan looked at

them, and rising, because he knew them not, asked them: "What say

ye? Will ye go with me to my dwelling place, so ye may eat what is

ready and drink what is at hand; to wit, platter bread and meat cooked

and wine strained?" The Caliph refused this, but he conjured him and

said to him: "Allah upon thee, O my lord. Go with me, for thou art

my guest this night, and balk not my hopes of thee!" And he ceased not

to press him till he consented, whereat Abu al-Hasan rejoiced, and

walking on before him, gave not over talking with him till they came

to his house and he carried the Caliph into the saloon.

  Al-Rashid entered a hall such as an thou sawest it and gazedst

upon its walls, thou hadst beheld marvels, and hadst thou looked

narrowly at its water conduits, thou wouldst have seen a fountain

cased with gold. The Caliph made his man abide at the door, and as

soon as he was seated, the host brought him somewhat to eat. So he

ate, and Abu al-Hasan ate with him, that eating might be grateful to

him. Then he removed the tray and they washed their hands and the

Commander of the Faithful sat down again. Whereupon Abu al-Hasan set

on the drinking vessels, and seating himself by his side, fell to

filling and giving him to drink and entertaining him with discourse.

And when they had drunk their sufficiency the host called for a


slave girl like a branch of ban, who took a lute and sang to it

these two couplets:



      "O thou aye dwelling in my heart,

      Whileas thy form is far from sight,

      Thou art my sprite by me unseen,

      Yet nearest near art thou, my sprite."



  His hospitality pleased the Caliph, and the goodliness of his

manners, and he said to him: "O youth, who art thou? Make me

acquainted with thyself, so I may requite thee thy kindness." But

Abu al-Hasan smiled and said: 'O my lord, far be it, alas! that what

is past should again come to pass and that I company with thee at

other time than this time!" The Prince of True Believers asked: "Why

so? And why wilt thou not acquaint me with thy case?" and Abu al-Hasan

answered, "Know, O my lord, that my story is strange and that there is

a cause for this affair." Quoth Al-Rashid, "And what is the cause?"

and quoth he, "The cause hath a tail." The Caliph laughed at his words

and Abu al-Hasan said, "I will explain to thee this saying by the tale

of the larrikin and the cook. So hear thou, O my lord, the






STORY

            STORY OF THE LARRIKIN AND THE COOK"



  ONE of the ne'er do-wells found himself one fine morning without

aught, and the world was straitened upon him and patience failed

him. So he lay down to sleep, and ceased not slumbering till the sun

stang him and the foam came out upon his mouth, whereupon he arose,

and he was penniless and had not even so much as a single dirham.

Presently he arrived at the shop of a cook, who had set his pots and

pans over the fire and washed his saucers and wiped his scales and

swept his shop and sprinkled it. And indeed his fats and oils were

clear and clarified and his spices fragrant, and he himself stood

behind his cooking pots ready to serve customers. So the larrikin,

whose wits had been sharpened by hunger, went in to him and saluting

him, said to him, "Weigh me half a dirham's worth of meat and a

quarter of a dirham's worth of boiled grain, and the like of bread."

So the kitchener weighed it out to him and the good-for-naught entered

the shop, whereupon the man set the food before him and he ate till he

had gobbled up the whole and licked the saucers and sat perplexed,

knowing not how he should do with the cook concerning the price of

that he had eaten, and turning his eyes about upon everything in the

shop.

  And as he looked, behold, he caught sight of an earthen pan lying

arsy-versy upon its mouth, so he raised it from the ground and found

under it a horse's tail, freshly cut off and the blood oozing from it,

whereby he knew that the cook adulterated his meat with horseflesh.

When he discovered this default, he rejoiced therein, and washing

his hands, bowed his head and went out. And when the kitchener saw

that he went and gave him naught, he cried out, saying, "Stay, O pest,

O burglar!" So the larrikin stopped and said to him, "Dost thou cry

out upon me and call to me with these words, O comute?" Whereat the

cook was angry, and coming down from the shop, cried: "What meanest

thou by thy speech, O low fellow, thou that devourest meat and

millet and bread and kitchen and goest forth with 'the peace be on

thee!' as it were the thing had not been and down naught for it?"

Quoth the lackpenny, "Thou liest, O accursed son of a cuckold!"

Whereupon the cook cried out, and laying hold of his debtor's

collar, said, "O Moslems, this fellow is my first customer this day,

and he hath eaten my food and given me naught."

  So the folk gathered about them and blamed the ne'er-do-well and

said to him, "Give him the price of that which thou hast eaten." Quoth

he, "I gave him a dirham before I entered the shop," and quoth the

cook: "Be everything I sell this day forbidden to me, if he gave me so

much as the name of a coin! By Allah, he gave me naught, but ate my

food and went out and would have made off, without aught said."

Answered the larrikin, "I gave thee a dirham," and he reviled the

kitchener, who returned his abuse, whereupon he dealt him a buffet and

they gripped and grappled and throttled each other. When the folk

saw them fighting, they came up to them and asked them, "What is

this strife between you, and no cause for it?" and the lackpenny

answered, "Ay, by Allah, but there is a cause for it, and the cause

hath a tail!" Whereupon cried the cook: "Yea, by Allah, now thou

mindest me of thyself and thy dirham! Yes, he gave me a dirham, and

but a quarter of the coin is spent. Come back and take the rest of the

price of thy dirham." For he understood what was to do, at the mention

of the tail.

  "And I, O my brother," added Abu al-Hasan, "my story hath a cause,

which I will tell thee." The Caliph laughed at his speech and said:

"By Allah, this is none other than a pleasant tale! Tell me thy

story and the cause."

  Replied the host: "With love and goodly gree! Know, O my lord,

that my name is Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a and that my father died and

left me abundant wealth, of which I made two parts. One I laid up, and

with the other I betook myself to enjoying the pleasures of friendship

and conviviality and consorting with intimates and boon companions and

the sons of the merchants, nor did I leave one but I caroused with him

and he with me. And I lavished all my money on comrades and good

cheer, till there remained with me naught. Whereupon I betook myself

to the friends and fellow topers upon whom I wasted my wealth, so

perhaps they might provide for my case, but when I visited them and

went round about to them all, I found no vantage in one of them, nor

would any so much as break a bittock of bread in my face. So I wept

for myself, and repairing to my mother, complained to her of my

case. Quoth she: 'Such are friends. An thou have aught, they

frequent thee and devour thee, but an thou have naught, they cast thee

off and chase thee away.' Then I brought out the other half of my

money and bound myself by an oath that I would never more entertain

any save one single night, after which I would never again salute

him nor notice him. Hence my saying to thee: 'Far be it, alas! that

what is past should again come to pass, for I will never again company

with thee after this night."'

  When the Commander of the Faithful heard this, he laughed a loud

laugh and said: "By Allah, O my brother, thou art indeed excused in

this matter, now that I know the cause and that the cause hath a tail.

Nevertheless, Inshallah, I will not sever myself from thee." Replied

Abu al-Hasan: "O my guest, did I not say to thee, 'Far be it, alas!

that what is past should again come to pass?' For indeed I will

never again forgather with any!" Then the Caliph rose and the host set

before him a dish of roast goose and a bannock of first bread, and

sitting down, fell to cutting off morsels and morseling the Caliph

therewith. They gave not over eating till they were filled, when Abu

al-Hasan brought basin and ewer and potash and they washed their

hands. Then he lighted three wax candles and three lamps, and

spreading the drinking cloth, brought strained wine, clear, old, and

fragrant, whose scent was as that of virgin musk. He filled the

first cup and saying, "O my boon companion, be ceremony laid aside

between us by thy leave! Thy slave is by thee, may I not be

afflicted with thy loss!" drank if off and filled a second cup,

which he handed to the Caliph with due reverence.

  His fashion pleased the Commander of the Faithful, and the

goodliness of his speech, and he said to himself, "By Allah, I will

assuredly requite him for this!" Then Abu al-Hasan filled the cup

again and handed it to the Cahph, reciting these two couplets:



  "Had we thy coming known, we would for sacrifice

  Have poured thee out heart's blood or blackness of the eyes.

  Ay, and we would have spread our bosoms in thy way,

  That so thy feet might fare on eyelids, carpet-wise."



When the Caliph heard his verses, he took the cup from his hand and

kissed it and drank it off and returned it to Abu al-Hasan, who made

him an obeisance and filled and drank. Then he filled again, and

kissing the cup thrice, recited these lines:



      "Your presence honoreth the base,

      And we confess the deed of grace.

      An you absent yourself from us,

      No freke we find to fill your place."



  Then he gave the cup to the Caliph, saying: "Drink it in health

and soundness! It doeth away malady and bringeth remedy and setteth

the runnels of health to flow free." So they ceased not carousing

and conversing till middle night, when the Caliph said to his host, "O

my brother, hast thou in thy heart a concupiscence thou wouldst have

accomplished, or a contingency thou wouldst avert?" Said he: "By

Allah, there is no regret in my heart save that I am not empowered

with bidding and forbidding, so I might manage what is in my mind!"

Quoth the Commander of the Faithful, "By Allah, and again by Allah,

O my brother, tell me what is in thy mind!" And quoth Abu al-Hasan:

"Would Heaven I might be Caliph for one day and avenge myself on my

neighbors, for that in my vicinity is a mosque, and therein four

sheikhs, who hold it a grievance when there cometh a guest to me,

and they trouble me with talk and worry me in words and menace me that

they will complain of me to the Prince of True Believers, and indeed

they oppress me exceedingly. And I crave of Allah the Most High

power for one day, that I may beat each and every of them with four

hundred lashes, as well as the imam of the mosque, and parade them

round about the city of Baghdad and bid cry before them: 'This is

the reward and the least of the reward of whoso exceedeth in talk

and vexeth the folk and turneth their joy to annoy.' This is what I

wish, and no more."

  Said the Caliph: "Allah grant thee that thou seekest! Let us crack

one last cup and rise ere the dawn draw near, and, tomorrow night I

will be with thee again." Said Abu al-Hasan, "Far be it!" Then the

Caliph crowned a cup, and putting therein a piece of Cretan bhang,

gave it to his host and said to him, "My life on thee, O my brother,

drink this cup from my hand!" and Abu al-Hasan answered, "Ay, by thy

life, I will drink it from thy hand." So he took it and drank it

off, but hardly had it settled in his stomach when his head forewent

his heels and he fell to the ground like one slain. Whereupon the

Caliph went out and said to his slave Masrur: "Go in to yonder young

man, the housemaster, and take him up and bring him to me at the

palace. And when thou goest out, shut the door." So saying, he went

away, whilst Masrur entered, and taking up Abu al-Hasan, shut the door

behind him, and made after his master till he reached with him the

palace what while the night drew to an end and the cocks began

crowing, and set him down before the Commander of the Faithful, who

laughed at him.

  Then he sent for Ja'afar the Barmecide and when he came before

him, said to him, "Note thou yonder young man," pointing to Abu

al-Hasan, "and when thou shalt see him tomorrow seated in my place

of estate and on the throne of my caliphate and clad in my royal

clothing, stand thou in attendance upon him, and enjoin the emirs

and grandees and the folk of my household and the officers of my realm

to be upon their feet, as in his service, and obey him in whatso he

shall bid them do. And thou, if he speak to thee of aught, do it,

and hearken unto his say and gainsay him not in anything during this

coming day." Ja'afar acknowledged the order with "Hearkening and

obedience" and withdrew, whilst the Prince of True Believers went in

to the palace women, who came up to him, and he said to them: "When

this sleeper shall awake tomorrow, kiss ye the ground between his

hands, and do ye wait upon him and gather round about him and clothe

him in the royal clothing and serve him with the service of the

caliphate, and deny not aught of his estate, but say to him, 'Thou art

the Caliph."' Then he taught them what they should say to him and

how they should do with him, and withdrawing to a retired room, let

down a curtain before himself and slept.

  Thus fared it with the Caliph, but as regards Abu al-Hasan, he

gave not over snoring in his sleep till the day brake clear and the

rising of the sun drew near, when a woman in waiting came up to him

and said to him, "O our lord, the morning prayer!" Hearing these

words, he laughed, and opening his eyes, turned them about the

palace and found himself in an apartment whose walls were Painted with

gold and lapis lazuli and its ceiling dotted and starred with red

gold. Around it were sleeping chambers with curtains of

gold-embroidered silk let down over their doors, and all about vessels

of gold and porcelain and crystal and furniture and carpets dispread

and lamps burning before the niche wherein men prayed, and slave girls

and eunuchs and Mamelukes and black slaves and boys and pages and

attendants.

  When he saw this, he was bewildered in his wit and said: "By Allah

either I am dreaming a dream, or this is Paradise and the Abode of

Peace!" And he shut his eyes and would have slept again. Quoth one

of the eunuchs, "O my lord, this is not of thy wont, O Commander of

the Faithful!" Then the rest of the handmaids of the palace came up to

him and lifted him into a sitting posture, when he found himself

upon a mattress raised a cubit's height from the ground and all

stuffed with floss silk. So they seated him upon it and propped his

elbow with a pillow, and he looked at the apartment and its vastness

and saw those eunuchs and slave girls in attendance upon him and

standing about his head, whereupon he laughed at himself and said, "By

Allah, 'tis not as I were on wake, yet I am not asleep!" And in his

perplexity he bowed his chin upon his bosom, and then opened his eyes,

little by little, smiling, and saying, "What is this state wherein I

find myself?" Then he arose and sat up, whilst the damsels laughed

at him privily, and he was bewildered in his wit, and bit his

finger, and as the bite pained him, he cried "Oh!" and was vexed.

And the Caliph watched him whence he saw him not, and laughed.

  Presently Abu al-Hasan turned to a damsel and called to her,

whereupon she answered, "At thy service, O Prince of True

Believers!" Quoth he, "What is thy name?" and quoth she, "Shajarat

al-Durr." Then he said to her, "By the protection of Allah, O

damsel, am I Commander of the Faithful?" She replied, "Yes, indeed, by

the protection of Allah thou in this time art Commander of the

Faithful." Quoth he, "By Allah, thou liest, O thousandfold whore!"

Then he glanced at the chief eunuch and called to him, whereupon he

came to him and kissing the ground before him, said, "Yes, O Commander

of the Faithful." Asked Abu al-Hasan, "Who is Commander of the

Faithful?" and the eunuch answered "Thou." And Abu al-Hasan said,

"Thou Hest, thousandfold he-whore that thou art!" Then he turned to

another eunuch and said to him, "O my chief, by the protection of

Allah, am I Prince of the True Believers?" Said he: "Ay, by Allah, O

my lord, thou art in this time Commander of the Faithful and

Viceregent of the Lord of the Three Worlds."

  Abu al-Hasan laughed at himself and doubted of his reason and was

bewildered at what he beheld, and said: "In one night do I become

Caliph? Yesterday I was Abu al-Hasan the Wag, and today I am Commander

of the Faithful." Then the Chief Eunuch came up to him and said: "O

Prince of True Believers (the name of Allah encompass thee!), thou art

indeed Commander of the Faithful and Viceregent of the Lord of the

Three Worlds!" And the slave girls and eunuchs flocked round about

him, till he arose and abode wondering at his case. Hereupon the

eunuch brought him a pair of sandals wrought with raw silk and green

silk and purfled with red gold, and he took them and after examining

them, set them in his sleeve. Whereat the castrato cried out and said:

"Allah! Allah! O my lord, these are sandals for the treading of thy

feet, so thou mayst wend to the wardrobe." Abu al-Hasan was

confounded, and shaking the sandals from his sleeve, put them on his

feet, whilst the Caliph died of laughter at him. The slave forewent

him to the chapel of ease, where he entered, and doing his job, came

out into the chamber, whereupon the slave girls brought him a basin of

gold and a ewer of silver and poured water on his hands, and he made

the wuzu ablution. Then they spread him a prayer carpet and he prayed.

  Now he knew not how to pray, and gave not over bowing and

prostrating for twenty inclinations, pondering in himself the while

and saying: "By Allah, I am none other than the Commander of the

Faithful in very truth! This is assuredly no dream, for all these

things happen not in a dream." And he was convinced and determined

in himself that he was Prince of True Believers, so he pronounced

the salaam and finished his prayers, whereupon the Mamelukes and slave

girls came round about him with bundled suits of silken and linen

stuffs and clad him in the costume of the caliphate and gave the royal

dagger in his hand.

  Then the chief eunuch came in and said, "O Prince of True Believers,

the Chamberlain is at the door craving permission to enter." Said

he, "Let him enter!" whereupon he came in, and after kissing ground,

offered the salutation, "Peace be upon thee, O Commander of the

Faithful!" At this Abu al-Hasan rose and descended from the couch to

the floor, whereupon the official exclaimed: "Allah! Allah! O Prince

of True Believers, wottest thou not that all men are thy lieges and

under thy rule and that it is not meet for the Caliph to rise to any

man?" Presently the eunuch went out before him, and the little white

slaves behind him, and they ceased not going till they raised the

curtain and brought him into the hall of judgment and the throne

room of the caliphate. There he saw all curtains and the forty doors

and Al-'Ijli and Al-Rakashi the poet, and 'Ibdan and Jadim and Abu

Ishak the cup companion, and beheld swords drawn and the lions

compassing the throne as the white of the eye encircleth the black,

and gilded glaives and death-dealing bows and Ajams and Arabs and

Turks and Daylamites and folk and peoples and emirs and wazirs and

captains and grandees and lords of the land and men of war in band,

and in very sooth there appeared the might of the House of Abbas and

the majesty of the Prophet's family.

  So he sat down upon the throne of the caliphate and set the dagger

on his lap, whereupon all present came up to kiss ground between his

hands and called down on him length of life and continuance of weal.

Then came forward Ja'afar the Barmecide and, kissing the ground, said:

"Be the wide world of Allah the treading of thy feet, and may Paradise

be thy dwelling place and the fire the home of thy foes! Never may

neighbor defy thee, nor the lights of fire die out for thee, O

Caliph of all cities and ruler of all countries!" Therewithal Abu

al-Hasan cried out at him and said, "O dog of the sons of Barmak, go

down forthright, thou and the chief of the city police, to such a

place in such a street, and deliver a hundred dinars of gold to the

mother of Abu al-Hasan the Wag, and bear her my salutation. Then go to

such a mosque and take the four Sheikhs and the imam and scourge

each of them with a thousand lashes and mount them on beasts, face

to tail, and parade them round about all the city and banish them to a

place other than this city. And bid the crier make cry before them,

saying: 'This is the reward and the least of the reward of whoso

multiplieth words and molesteth his neighbors and damageth their

delights and stinteth their eating and drinking!'"

  Ja'afar received the command and answered "With obedience," after

which he went down from before Abu al-Hasan to the city and did all he

had ordered him to do. Meanwhile, Abu al-Hasan abode in the caliphate,

taking and giving, bidding and forbidding and carrying out his command

till the end of the day, when he gave leave and permission to

withdraw, and the emirs and officers of state departed to their

several occupations and he looked toward the Chamberlain and the

rest of the attendants and said, "Begone!" Then the eunuchs came to

him, and calling down on him length of life and continuance of weal,

walked in attendance upon him and raised the curtain, and he entered

the pavilion of the harem, where he found candles lighted and lamps

burning and singing women smiting on instruments, and ten slave girls,

high-bosomed maids. When he saw this, he was confounded in his wit and

said to himself, "By Allah, I am in truth Commander of the

Faithful!" presently adding: "Or haply these are of the Jann, and he

who was my guest yesternight was one of their kings who saw no way

to requite my favors save by commanding his Ifrits to address me as

Prince of True Believers. But an these be of the Jann, may Allah

deliver me in safety from their mischief!"

  As soon as he appeared, the slave girls rose to him, and carrying

him up on to the dais, brought him a great tray bespread with the

richest viands. So he ate thereof with all his might and main, till he

had gotten his fill, when he called one of the handmaids and said to

her, "What is thy name?" Replied she, "My name is Miskah," and he said

to another, "What is thy name?" Quoth she, "My name is Tarkah." Then

he asked a third, "What is thy name?" who answered, "My name is

Tohfah." And he went on to question the damsels of their names, one

after other, till he had learned the ten, when he rose from that place

and removed to the wine chamber. He found it every way complete, and

saw therein ten great trays, covered with all fruits and cates and

every sort of sweetmeats. So he sat down and ate thereof after the

measure of his competency, and finding there three troops of singing

girls, was amazed, and made the girls eat.

  Then he sat and the singers also seated themselves, whilst the black

slaves and the white slaves and the eunuchs and pages and boys

stood, and of the slave girls some sat and others stood. The damsels

sang and warbled all varieties of melodies and the place rang with the

sweetness of the songs, whilst the pipes cried out and the lutes

with them wailed, till it seemed to Abu al-Hasan that he was in

Paradise, and his heart was heartened and his breast broadened. So

he sported, and joyaunce grew on him and he bestowed robes of honor on

the damsels and gave and bestowed, challenging this girl and kissing

that and toying with a third, plying one with wine and morseling

another with meat, till nightfall.

  All this while the Commander of the Faithful was diverting himself

with watching him and laughing, and when night fell he bade one of the

slave girls drop a piece of bhang in the cup and give it to Abu

al-Hasan to drink. So she did his bidding and gave him the cup,

which no sooner had he drunk than his head forewent his feet.

Therewith the Caliph came forth from behind the curtain laughing,

and calling to the attendant who had brought Abu al-Hasan to the

palace, said to him, "Carry this man to his own place." So Masrur took

him up, and carrying him to his own house, set him down in the saloon.

Then he went forth from him, and shutting the saloon door upon him,

returned to the Caliph, who slept till the morrow.

  As for Abu al-Hasan, he gave not over slumbering till Almighty Allah

brought on the morning, when he recovered from the drug and awoke,

crying out and saying: "Ho, Tuffahah! Ho, Rahat al-Kulub! Ho,

Miskah! Ho, Tohfah!" And he ceased not calling upon the palace

handmaids till his mother heard him summoning strange damsels, and

rising, came to him and said: "Allah's name encompass thee! Up with

thee, O my son, O Abu al-Hasan! Thou dreamest." So he opened his eyes,

and finding an old woman at his head, raised his eyes and said to her,

"Who art thou?" Quoth she, "I am thy mother," and quoth he: "Thou

liest! I am the Commander of the Faithful the Viceregent of Allah."

Whereupon his mother shrieked aloud and said to him: "Heaven

preserve thy reason! Be silent, O my son, and cause not the loss of

our lives and the wasting of thy wealth, which will assuredly befall

us if any hear this talk and carry it to the Caliph."

  So he rose from his sleep, and finding himself in his own saloon and

his mother by him, had doubts of his wit, and said to her: "By

Allah, O my mother, I saw myself in a dream in a palace, with slave

girls and Mamelukes about me and in attendance upon me, and I sat upon

the throne of the Caliphate and ruled. By Allah, O my mother, this

is what I saw, and in very sooth it was no dream!" Then he bethought

himself awhile and said: "Assuredly, I am Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a, and

this that I saw was only a dream when I was made Caliph and bade and

forbade." Then he bethought himself again and said: "Nay, but 'twas

not a dream, and I am none other than the Caliph, and indeed I gave

gifts and bestowed honor robes." Quoth his mother to him: "O my son,

thou sportest with thy reason. Thou wilt go to the madhouse and become

a gazingstock. Indeed, that which thou hast seen is only from the Foul

Fiend, and it was an imbroglio of dreams, for at times Satan

sporteth with men's wits in all manner of ways."

  Then said she to him, "O my son, was there anyone with thee

yesternight?" And he reflected and said: "Yes, one lay the night

with me and I acquainted him with my case and told him my tale.

Doubtless, he was of the devils, and I, O my mother, even as thou

sayst truly, am Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a." She rejoined: "O my son,

rejoice in tidings of all good, for yesterday's record is that there

came the Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide and his many, and beat the

Sheikhs of the mosque and the imam, each a thousand lashes, after

which they paraded them round about the city, making proclamation

before them and saying, 'This is the reward and the least of the

reward of whoso faileth in goodwill to his neighbors and troubleth

on them their lives!' And he banished them from Baghdad. Moreover, the

Caliph sent me a hundred dinars and sent to salute me."

  Whereupon Abu al-Hasan cried out and said to her: "O ill-omened

crone, wilt thou contradict me and tell me that I am not the Prince of

True Believers? 'Twas I who commanded Ja'afar the Barmecide to beat

the Sheikhs and parade them about the city and make proclamation

before them, and 'twas I, very I, who sent thee the hundred dinars and

sent to salute thee, and I, O beldam of ill luck, am in very deed

the Commander of the Faithful, and thou art a liar, who would make

me out an idiot." So saying, he rose up and fell upon her and beat her

with a staff of almond wood, till she cried out "Help, O Moslems!" And

he increased the beating upon her till the folk heard her cries, and

coming to her, found Abu al-Hasan bashing his mother and saying to

her: "Old woman of ill omen, am I not the Commander of the Faithful?

Thou hast ensorceled me!" When the folk heard his words, they said,

"This man raveth," and doubted not of his madness.

  So they came in upon him, and seizing him, pinioned his elbows,

and bore him to the bedlam. Quoth the superintendant, "What aileth

this youth?" and quoth they, "This is a madman, afflicted of the

Jinn." "By Allah," cried Abu al-Hasan, "they lie against me! I am no

madman, but the Commander of the Faithful." And the superintendent

answered him, saying, "None lieth but thou, O foulest of the

Jinn-maddened!" Then he stripped him of his clothes, and clapping on

his neck a heavy chain, bound him to a high lattice and fell to

beating him two bouts a day and two a-nights, and he ceased not

abiding on this wise the space of ten days. Then his mother came to

him and said: "O my son, O Abu al-Hasan, return to thy right reason,

for this is the Devil's doing." Quoth he: "Thou sayest sooth, O my

mother, and bear thou witness of me that I repeat me of that talk

and turn me from my madness. So do thou deliver me, for I am nigh upon

death." Accordingly his mother went out to the superintendent and

procured his release, and he returned to his own house.

  Now this was at the beginning of the month, and when it ended, Abu

al-Hasan longed to drink liquor and, returning to his former habit,

furnished his saloon and made ready food and bade bring wine. Then,

going forth to the bridge, he sat there, expecting one whom he

should converse and carouse with, according to his custom. As he sat

thus, behold, up came the Caliph and Masrur to him, but Abu al-Hasan

saluted them not and said to Al-Rashid, "No friendly welcome to

thee, O King of the Jann!" Quoth Al-Rashid, "What have I done to

thee?" and quoth Abu al-Hasan, "What more couldst thou do than what

thou hast done to me, O foulest of the Jann? I have been beaten and

thrown into bedlam, where all said I was Jinn-mad, and this was caused

by none save thyself. I brought thee to my house and fed thee with

my best, after which thou dist empower thy Satans and Marids to

disport themselves with my wits from morning to evening. So avaunt and

aroynt thee and wend thy ways!"

  The Caliph smiled and, seating himself by his side, said to him,

"O my brother, did I not tell thee that I would return to thee?" Quoth

Abu al-Hasan, "I have no need of thee, and as the byword sayeth in

verse:



  "Fro' my friend, 'twere meeter and wiser to part,

  For what eye sees not born shall ne'er sorrow heart."



And indeed, O my brother, the night thou camest to me and we conversed

and caroused together, I and thou, 'twas as if the Devil came to me

and troubled me that night." Asked the Caliph, "And who is he, the

Devil?" and answered Abu al-Hasan, "He is none other than thou."

Whereat the Caliph laughed and coaxed him and spake him fair,

saying: "O my brother, when I went out from thee, I forgot the door

and left it open, and perhaps Satan came in to thee." Quoth Abu

al-Hasan: "Ask me not of that which hath betided me. What possessed

thee to leave the door open, so that the Devil came in to me and there

befell me with him this and that?" And he related to him all that

had betided him, first and last (and in repetition is no fruition),

what while the Caliph laughed and hid his laughter.

  Then said he to Abu al-Hasan: "Praised be Allah who hath done away

from thee whatso irked thee, and that I see thee once more in weal!"

And Abu al-Hasan said: "Never again will I take thee to cup

companion or sitting comrade, for the proverb saith, 'Whoso

stumbleth on a stone and thereto returneth, upon him be blame and

reproach.' And thou, O my brother, nevermore will I entertain thee nor

company with thee, for that I have not found thy heel propitious to

me." But the Caliph coaxed him and said, "I have been the means of thy

winning to thy wish anent the imam and the Sheikhs." Abu al-Hasan

replied, "Thou hast," and Al-Rashid continued, "And haply somewhat may

betide which shall gladden thy heart yet more." Abu al-Hasan asked,

"What dost thou require of me?" and the Commander of the Faithful

answered: "Verily, I am thy guest. Reject not the guest." Quoth Abu

al-Hasan: "On condition that thou swear to me by the characts on the

seal of Solomon, David's son (on the twain be the peace!) that thou

wilt not suffer thine Ifrits to make fun of me." He replied, "To

hear is to obey!"

  Whereupon the wag took him and brought him into the saloon and set

food before him and entreated him with friendly speech. Then he told

him all that had befallen him, whilst the Caliph was like to die of

stifled laughter. After which Abu al-Hasan removed the tray of food,

and bringing the wine service, filled a cup and cracked it three

times, then gave it to the Caliph, saying: "O boon companion mine, I

am thy slave, and let not that which I am about to say offend thee,

and be thou not vexed, neither do thou vex me." And he recited these

verses:



   "Hear one that wills thee well! Lips none shall bless

   Save those who drink for drunk and all transgress.

   Ne'er will I cease to swill while night falls dark

   Till lout my forehead low upon my tass.

   In wine like liquid sun is my delight

   Which clears all care and gladdens allegresse."



  When the Caliph heard these his verses and saw how apt he was at

couplets, he was delighted with exceeding delight, and taking the cup,

drank it off, and the twain ceased not to converse and carouse till

the wine rose to their heads. Then quoth Abu al-Hasan to the Caliph:

"O boon companion mine, of a truth I am perplexed concerning my

affair, for meseemed I was Commander of the Faithful and ruled and

gave gifts and largess, and in very deed, O my brother, it was not a

dream." Quoth the Caliph, "These were the imbroglios of sleep," and

crumbling a bit of bhang into the cup, said to him, "By my life, do

thou drink this cup," and said Abu al-Hasan, "Surely I will drink it

from thy hand." Then he took the cup and drank it off, and no sooner

had it settled in his stomach than his head fell to the ground

before his feet. Now his manners and fashions pleased the Caliph,

and the excellence of his composition and his frankness, and he said

in himself, "I will assuredly make him my cup companion and sitting

comrade." So he rose forthright, and saying to Masrur, "Take him

up," returned to the palace.

  Accordingly, the eunuch took up Abu al-Hasan, and carrying him to

the palace of the caliphate, set him down before Al-Rashid, who bade

the slaves and slave girls compass him about, whilst he himself hid in

a place where Abu al-Hasan could not see him. Then he commanded one of

the handmaidens to take the lute and strike it over the wag's head,

whilst the rest smote upon their instruments. So they played and sang,

till Abu al-Hasan awoke at the last of the night and heard the

symphony of lutes and tambourines and the sound of the flutes and

the singing of the slave girls, whereupon he opened eyes, and

finding himself in the palace, with the handmaids and eunuchs about

him, exclaimed: "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in

Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Come to my help this night, which

meseems more unlucky than the former! Verily, I am fearful of the

madhouse and of that which I suffered therein the first time, and I

doubt not but the Devil is come to me again, as before. O Allah, my

Lord, put thou Satan to shame!" Then he shut his eyes and laid his

head in his sleeve, and fell to laughing softly and raising his head

betimes, but still found the apartment lighted and the girls singing.

  Presently one of the eunuchs sat down at his head and said to him,

"Sit up, O Prince of True Believers, and look on thy palace and thy

slave girls." Said Abu al-Hasan: "Under the veil of Allah, am I in

truth Commander of the Faithful, and dost thou not lie? Yesterday I

rode not forth, neither ruled, but drank and slept, and this eunuch

cometh to make me rise." Then he sat up and recalled to thought that

which had betided him with his mother and how he had beaten her and

entered the bedlam, and he saw the marks of the beating wherewith

the superintendant had beaten him, and was perplexed concerning his

affair and pondered in himself, saying, "By Allah, I know not how my

case is nor what is this that betideth me!" Then, gazing at the

scene around him, he said privily, "All these are of the Jann in human

shape, and I commit my case to Allah."

  Presently he turned to one of the damsels and said to her, "Who am

I?" Quoth she, "Thou art the Commander of the Faithful," and quoth he:

"Thou liest, O calamity! If I be indeed the Commander of the Faithful,

bite my finger." So she came to him and bit it with all her might, and

he said to her, "It doth suffice." Then he asked the chief eunuch,

"Who am I?" and he answered, "Thou art the Commander of the Faithful."

So he left him and returned to his wonderment. Then, turning to a

little white slave, said to him, "Bite my ear," and he bent his head

low down to him and put his ear to his mouth. Now the Mameluke was

young and lacked sense, so he closed his teeth upon Abu al-Hasan's ear

with all his might, till he came near to sever it. And he knew not

Arabic, so as often as the wag said to him, "It doth suffice," he

concluded that he said, "Bite like a vice," and redoubled his bite and

made his teeth meet in the ear, whilst the damsels were diverted

from him with hearkening to the singing girls, and Abu al-Hasan

cried out for succor from the boy and the Caliph lost his senses for

laughter.

  Then he dealt the boy a cuff, and he let go his ear, whereupon all

present fell down with laughter and said to the little Mameluke,

"Art mad that thou bitest the Caliph's ear on this wise?" And Abu

al-Hasan cried to them: "Sufficeth ye not, O ye wretched Jinns, that

which hath befallen me? But the fault is not yours. The fault is of

your chief, who transmewed you from Jinn shape to mortal shape. I seek

refuge against you this night by the Throne Verse and the Chapter of

Sincerity and the Two Preventives!" So saying, the wag put off his

clothes till he was naked, with prickle and breech exposed, and danced

among the slave girls. They bound his hands and he wantoned among

them, while they died of laughing at him and the Caliph swooned away

for excess of laughter.

  Then he came to himself, and going forth the curtain to Abu

al-Hasan, said to him: "Out on thee, O Abu al-Hasan! Thou slayest me

with laughter." So he turned to him, and knowing him, said to him, "By

Allah, 'tis thou slayest me and slayest my mother and slewest the

Sheikhs and the imam of the mosque!" After which he kissed ground

before him and prayed for the permanence of his prosperity and the

endurance of his days. The Caliph at once robed him in a rich robe and

gave him a thousand dinars, and presently he took the wag into

especial favor and married him and bestowed largess on him and

lodged him with himself in the palace and made him of the chief of his

cup companions, and indeed he was preferred with him above them, and

the Caliph advanced him over them all, so that he sat with him and the

Lady Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, whose treasuress, Nuzhat al-Fuad hight,

was given to him in marriage.

  After this Abu al-Hasan the wag abode with his wife in eating and

drinking and all delight of life, till whatso was with them went the

way of money, when he said to her, "Harkye, O Nuzhat al-Fuad!" Said

she, "At thy service," and he continued, "I have it in mind to play

a trick on the Caliph, and thou shalt do the like with the Lady

Zubaydah, and we will take of them at once, to begin with, two hundred

dinars and two pieces of silk." She rejoined, "As thou willest, but

what thinkest thou to do?" And he said: "We will feign ourselves dead,

and this is the trick. I will die before thee and lay myself out,

and do thou spread over me a silken napkin and loose my turban over me

and tie my toes and lay on my stomach a knife and a little salt.

Then let down thy hair and betake thyself to thy mistress Zubaydah,

tearing thy dress and slapping thy face and crying out. She will ask

thee, 'What aileth thee?' and do thou answer her, 'May thy head

outlive Abu al-Hasan the wag, for he is dead.' She will mourn for me

and weep and bid her new treasuress give thee a hundred dinars and a

piece of silk and will say to thee, 'Go, lay him out and carry him

forth.' So do thou take of her the hundred dinars and the piece of

silk and come back, and when thou returnest to me, I will rise up

and thou shalt lie down in my place, and I will go to the Caliph and

say to him, 'May thy head outlive Nuzhat al-Fuad,' and rend my raiment

and pluck out my beard. He will mourn for thee and say to his

treasurer, 'Give Abu al-Hasan a hundred dinars and a piece of silk.'

Then he will say to me, 'Go, lay her out and carry her forth,' and I

will come back to thee."

  Therewith Nuzhat al-Fuad rejoiced and said, "Indeed, this is an

excellent device." Then Abu al-Hasan stretched himself out

forthright and she shut his eyes and tied his feet and covered him

with the napkin and did whatso her lord had bidden her. After which

she tare her gear and bared her head and letting down her hair, went

in to the Lady Zubaydah, crying out and weeping. When the Princess saw

her in this state, she cried: "What plight is this? What is thy story,

and what maketh thee weep?" And Nuzhatal-Fuad answered, weeping and

loud-wailing the while: "O my lady, may thy head live and mayst thou

survive Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a, for he is dead!" The Lady Zubaydah

mourned for him and said, "Alas, poor Abu al-Hasan the wag!" and she

shed tears for him awhile. Then she bade her treasuress give Nuzhat

al-Fuad a hundred dinars and a piece of silk and said to her, "O

Nuzhat al-Fuad, go, lay him out and carry him forth."

  So she took the hundred dinars and the piece of silk and returned to

her dwelling, rejoicing, and went in to her spouse and acquainted

him what had befallen, whereupon he arose and rejoiced and girdled his

middle and danced and took the hundred dinars and the piece of silk

and laid them up. Then he laid out Nuzhat al-Fuad and did with her

as she had done with him, after which he rent his raiment and

plucked out his beard and disordered his turban and ran out, nor

ceased running till he came in to the Caliph, who was sitting in the

judgment hall, and he in this plight, beating his breast. The Caliph

asked him, "What aileth thee, O Abu al-Hasan?" and he wept and

answered, "Would Heaven thy cup companion had never been, and would

his hour had never come!" Quoth the Caliph, "Tell me thy case," and

quoth Abu al-Hasan, "O my lord, may thy head outlive Nuzhat

al-Fuad!" The Caliph exclaimed, "There is no god but God," and smote

hand upon hand. Then he comforted Abu al-Hasan and said to him,

"Grieve not, for we will bestow upon thee a bedfellow other than she."

And he ordered the treasurer to give him a hundred dinars and a piece

of silk. Accordingly the treasurer did what the Caliph bade him, and

Al-Rashid said to him, "Go, lay her out and carry her forth and make

her a handsome funeral."

  So Abu al-Hasan took that which he had given him and returning to

his house, rejoicing, went in to Nuzhat al-Fuad and said to her,

"Arise, for our wish" is won." Hereat she arose and he laid before her

the hundred ducats and the piece of silk, whereat she rejoiced, and

they added the gold to the gold and the silk to the silk and sat

talking and laughing each to other.

  Meanwhile, when Abu al-Hasan fared forth the presence of the

Caliph and went to lay out Nuzhat al-Fuad, the Commander of the

Faithful mourned for her, and dismissing the Divan, arose and betook

himself, leaning upon Masrur, the Sworder of his vengeance, to the

Lady Zubaydah, that he might condole with her for her handmaid. He

found her sitting weeping and awaiting his coming, so she might

condole with him for his boon companion Abu al-Hasan the wag. So he

said to her, "May thy head outlive thy slave girl Nuzhat al-Fuad!" and

said she: "O my lord, Allah preserve my slave girl! Mayst thou live

and long survive thy boon companion Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a, for he is

dead." The Caliph smiled and said to his eunuch: "O Masrur, verily

women are little of wit. Allah upon thee, say, was not Abu al-Hasan

with me but now?" Quoth the Lady Zubaydah, laughing from a heart

full of wrath: "Wilt thou not leave thy jesting? Sufficeth thee not

that Abu al-Hasan is dead, but thou must put to death my slave girl

also and bereave us of the twain, and style me little of wit?" The

Caliph answered, "Indeed, 'tis Nuzhat al-Fuad who is dead." And the

Lady Zubaydah said: "Indeed he hath not been with thee, nor hast

thou seen him, and none was with me but now save Nuzhat al-Fuad, and

she sorrowful, weeping, with her clothes torn to tatters. I exhorted

her to patience and gave her a hundred dinars and a piece of silk, and

indeed I was awaiting thy coming, so I might console thee for thy

cup companion Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a, and was about to send for

thee." The Caliph laughed and said, "None is dead save Nuzhat

al-Fuad," and she, "No, no, good my lord; none is dead but Abu

al-Hasan the wag."

  With this the Caliph waxed wroth, and the hashimi vein started out

from between his eyes and throbbed, and he cried out to Masrur and

said to him, "Fare thee forth to the house of Abu al-Hasan the wag,

and see which of them is dead." So Masrur went out, running, and the

Caliph said to the Lady Zubaydah, "Wilt thou lay me a wager?" And said

she, "Yes, I will wager, and I say that Abu al-Hasan is dead."

Rejoined the Caliph: "And I wager and say that none is dead save

Nuzhat al-Fuad, and the stake between me and thee shall be the

Garden of Pleasaunce against thy palace and the Pavilion of Pictures."

So they agreed upon this and sat awaiting Masrur's return with the

news.

  As for the eunuch, he ceased not running till he came to the

by-street wherein was the stead of Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a. Now the

wag was comfortably seated and leaning back against the lattice, and

chancing to look round, saw Masrur running along the street and said

to Nuzhat al-Fuad, "Meseemeth the Caliph, when I went forth from

him, dismissed the Divan and went in to the Lady Zubaydah to condole

with her, whereupon she arose and condoled with him, saying, 'Allah

increase thy recompense for the loss of Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a!'

And he said to her, 'None is dead save Nuzhat al-Fuad, may thy head

outlive her!' Quoth she, ''Tis not she who is dead, but Abu al-Hasan

al-Khali'a, thy boon companion.' And quoth he, 'None is dead save

Nuzhat al-Fuad.' And they waxed so obstinate that the Caliph became

wroth and they laid a wager, and he hath sent Masrur the Sworder to

see who is dead. Now, therefore, 'twere best that thou lie down, so he

may sight thee and go and acquaint the Caliph and confirm my saying."

  So Nuzhat al-Fuad stretched herself out and Abu al-Hasan covered her

with her mantilla and sat weeping at her head. Presently, Masrur,

the eunuch, suddenly came in to him and saluted him, and seeing Nuzhat

al-Fuad stretched out, uncovered her face and said: "There is no god

but God! Our sister Nuzhat al-Fuad is dead indeed. How sudden was

the stroke of Destiny! Allah have ruth on thee and acquit thee of

all charge!" Then he returned and related what had passed before the

Caliph and the Lady Zubaydah, and he laughing as he spoke. "O accursed

one," cried the Caliph: "this is no time for laughter! Tell us which

is dead of them." Masrur replied: "By Allah, O my lord, Abu al-Hasan

is well, and none is dead but Nuzhat al-Fuad." Quoth the Caliph to

Zubaydah, "Thou hast lost thy pavilion in thy play," and he jeered

at her. and said, "O Masrur, tell her what thou sawest."

  Quoth the eunuch: "Verily, O my lady, I ran without ceasing till I

came in to Abu al-Hasan in his house, and found Nuzhat al-Fuad lying

dead and Abu al-Hasan sitting tearful at her head. I saluted him and

condoled with him and sat down by his side and uncovered the face of

Nuzhat al-Fuad and saw her dead and her face swollen. So I said to

him, 'Carry her out forthwith, so we may pray over her.' He replied,

''Tis well,' and I left him to lay her out and came hither, that I

might tell you the news." The Prince of True Believers laughed and

said, "Tell it again and again to thy lady Little-wits." When the Lady

Zubaydah heard Masrur's words and those of the Caliph she was wroth

and said, "None is little of wit save he who believeth a black slave."

And she abused Masrur, whilst the Commander of the Faithful laughed;

and the eunuch, vexed at this, said to the Caliph, "He spake sooth who

said, 'Women are little of wits and lack religion."'

  Then said the Lady Zubaydah to the Caliph: "O Commander of the

Faithful, thou sportest and jestest with me, and this slave

hoodwinketh me, the better to please thee. But I will send and see

which of them be dead." And he answered, saying, "Send one who shall

see which of them is dead." So the Lady Zubaydah cried out to an old

duenna, and said to her: "Hie thee to the house of Nuzhat al-Fuad in

haste and see who is dead, and loiter not." And she used hard words to

her. So the old woman went out running, whilst the Prince of True

Believers and Masrur laughed, and she ceased not running till she came

into the street. Abu al-Hasan saw her, and knowing her, said to his

wife: "O Nuzhat al-Fuad, meseemeth the Lady Zubaydah hath sent to us

to see who is dead and hath not given credit to Masrur's report of thy

death. Accordingly she hath dispatched the old crone, her duenna, to

discover the truth. So it behooveth me to be dead in my turn for the

sake of thy credit with the Lady Zubaydah."

  Hereat he lay down and stretched himself out, and she covered him

and bound his eyes and feet and sat in tears at his head. Presently

the old woman came in to her and saw her sitting at Abu al-Hasan's

head, weeping and recounting his fine qualities; and when she saw

the old trot, she cried out and said to her: "See what hath befallen

me! Indeed Abu al-Hasan is dead and hath left me lone and lorn!"

Then she shrieked out and rent her raiment and said to the crone, "O

my mother, how very good he was to me!" Quoth the other, "Indeed

thou art excused, for thou wast used to him and he to thee."

  Then she considered what Masrur had reported to the Caliph and the

Lady Zubaydah and said to her, "Indeed, Masrur goeth about to cast

discord between the Caliph and the Lady Zubaydah." Asked Nuzhat

al-Fuad, "And what is the cause of discord, O my mother?" and the

other replied: "O my daughter, Masrur came to the Caliph and the

Lady Zubaydah and gave them news of thee that thou wast dead and

that Abu al-Hasan was well." Nuzhat al-Fuad said to her: "O naunty

mine, I was with my lady just now and she gave me a hundred dinars and

a piece of silk, and now see my case and that which hath befallen

me! Indeed I am bewildered, and how shall I do, and I lone and lorn?

Would Heaven I had died and he had lived!" Then she wept and with

her wept the old woman, who, going up to Abu al-Hasan and uncovering

his face, saw his eyes bound and swollen for the swathing. So she

covered him again and said, "Indeed, O Nuzhat al-Fuad, thou art

afflicted in Abu al-Hasan!"

  Then she condoled with her, and going out from her, ran along the

street till she came into the Lady Zubaydah and related to her the

story, and the Princess said to her, laughing: "Tell it over again

to the Caliph, who maketh me out little of wit, and lacking of

religion, and who made this ill-omened liar of a slave presume to

contradict me." Quoth Masrur, "This old woman lieth, for I saw Abu

al-Hasan well and Nuzhat al-Fuad it was who lay dead." Quoth the

duenna, "'Tis thou that liest, and wouldst fain cast discord-between

the Caliph and the Lady Zubaydah." And Masrur cried, "None lieth but

thou, O old woman of ill omen, and thy lady believeth thee, and she

must be in her dotage." Whereupon the Lady Zubaydah cried out at him,

and in very sooth she was enraged with him and with his speech and

shed tears.

  Then said the Caliph to her: "I lie and my eunuch lieth, and thou

liest and thy waiting-woman lieth, so 'tis my rede we go, all four

of us together, that we may see which of us telleth the truth." Masrur

said: "Come, let us go, that I may do to this ill-omened old woman

evil deeds and deal her a sound drubbing for her lying." And the

duenna answered him: "O dotard, is thy wit like into my wit? Indeed

thy wit is as the hen's wit." Masrur was incensed at her words and

would have laid violent hands on her, but the Lady Zubaydah pushed him

away from her and said to him, "Her truthspeaking will presently be

distinguished from thy truth-speaking and her leasing from thy

leasing." Then they all four arose, laying wagers one with other,

and went forth afoot from the palace gate and hied on till they came

in at the gate of the street where Abu al-Hasan al-Khali'a dwelt.

  He saw them, and said to his wife, Nuzhat al-Fuad: "Verily, all that

is sticky is not a pancake they cook, nor every time shall the crock

escape the shock. It seemeth the old woman hath gone and told her lady

and acquainted her with our case and she hath disputed with Masrur,

the eunuch, and they have laid wagers each with other about our

death and are come to us, all four, the Caliph and the eunuch and

the Lady Zubaydah and the old trot." When Nuzhat al-Fuad heard this,

she started up from her outstretched posture and asked, "How shall

we do?" whereto he answered, "We will both feign ourselves dead

together and stretch ourselves out and hold out breath." So she

hearkened unto him and they both lay down on the place where they

usually slept the siesta and bound their feet and shut their eyes

and covered themselves with the veil and held their breath.

  Presently up came the Caliph, Zubaydah, Masrur, and the old woman,

and entering, found Abu al-Hasan the wag and wife both stretched out

as dead, which when the Lady saw, she wept and said: "They ceased

not to bring ill news of my slave girl till she died. Methinketh Abu

al-Hasan's death was grievous to her and that she died after him."

Quoth the Caliph: "Thou shalt not prevent me with thy prattle and

prate. She certainly died before Abu al-Hasan, for he came to me

with his raiment rent and his beard plucked out, beating his breast

with two bits of unbaked brick, and I gave him a hundred dinars and

a piece of silk and said too him, 'Go, bear her forth, and I will give

thee a bedfellow other than she and handsomer, and she shall be

instead of her.' But it would appear that her death was no light

matter to him and he died after her, so it is I who have beaten thee

and gotten thy stake." The Lady Zubaydah answered him in words galore,

and the dispute between them waxed sore.

  At last the Caliph sat down at the heads of the pair and said: "By

the tomb of the Apostle of Allah (whom may He save and assain!) and

the sepulchers of my fathers and forefathers, whoso will tell me which

of them died before the other, I will willingly give him a thousand

dinars!" When Abu al-Hasan heard the Caliph's words, he sprang up in

haste and said: "I died first, O Commander of the Faithful! Here

with the thousand dinars, and acquit thee of thine oath and the

swear thou sworest." Nuzhat al-Fuad rose also and stood up before

the Caliph and the Lady Zubaydah, who both rejoiced in this and in

their safety, and the Princess chid her slave girl. Then the Caliph

and Zubaydah gave them joy of their well-being and knew that this

death was a trick to get the gold, and the Lady said to Nuzhat

al-Fuad: "Thou shouldst have sought of me that which thou neededst,

without this fashion, and not have burned my heart for thee." And she,

"Verily, I was ashamed, O my lady."

  As for the Caliph, he swooned away for laughing and said, "O Abu

al-Hasan, thou wilt never cease to be a wag and do peregrine things

and prodigious!" Quoth he: "O Commander of the Faithful, this trick

I played off for that the money which thou gavest me was exhausted,

and I was ashamed to ask of thee again. When I was single, I could

never keep money in hand, but since thou marriedst me to this

damsel, if I possessed even thy wealth, I should lay it waste.

Wherefore when all that was in my hand was spent, I wrought this

sleight so I might get of thee the hundred dinars and the piece of

silk, and all this is an alms from our lord. But now make haste to

give me the thousand dinars and acquit thee of thine oath." The Caliph

and the Lady Zubaydah laughed and returned to the palace, and he

gave Abu al-Hasan the thousand dinars saying, "Take them as a

douceur for thy perservation from death," whilst her mistress did

the like with Nuzhat al-Fuad, honoring her with the same words.

Moreover, the Caliph increased the wag in his solde and supplies,

and he and his wife ceased not to live in joy and contentment till

there came to them the Destroyer of delights and Severer of societies,

the Plunderer of palaces, and the Gamerer of graves.

  And among tales they tell is one touching






ALADDIN

                ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP



  IT hath reached me, O King of the Age, that there dwelt in a city of

the cities of China a man which was a tailor, withal a pauper, and

he had one son, Aladdin hight. Now this boy had been from his babyhood

a ne'er-do-well, a scapegrace. And when he reached his tenth year, his

father inclined to teach him his own trade, and, for that he was

overindigent to expend money upon his learning other work or craft

or apprenticeship, he took the lad into his shop that he might be

taught tailoring. But, as Aladdin was a scapegrace and a ne'er-do-well

and wont to play at all times with the gutter boys of the quarter,

he would not sit in the shop for a single day. Nay, he would await his

father's leaving it for some purpose, such as to meet a creditor, when

he would run off at once and fare forth to the gardens with the

other scapegraces and low companions, his fellows. Such was his

case- counsel and castigation were of no avail, nor would he obey

either parent in aught or learn any trade. And presently, for his

sadness and, sorrowing because of his son's vicious indolence, the

tailor sickened and died.

  Aladdin continued in his former ill courses, and when his mother saw

that her spouse had deceased and that her son was a scapegrace and

good for nothing at all, she sold the shop and whatso was to be

found therein and fell to spinning cotton yarn. By this toilsome

industry she fed herself and found food for her son Aladdin the

scapegrace, who, seeing himself freed from bearing the severities of

his sire, increased in idleness and low habits. Nor would he ever stay

at home save at meal hours while his miserable wretched mother lived

only by what her hands could spin until the youth had reached his

fifteenth year. It befell one day of the days that as he was sitting

about the quarter at play with the vagabond boys, behold, a dervish

from the Maghrib, the Land of the Setting Sun, came up and stood

gazing for solace upon the lads. And he looked hard at Aladdin and

carefully considered his semblance, scarcely noticing his companions

the while. Now this dervish was a Moorman from Inner Morocco, and he

was a magician who could upheap by his magic hill upon hill, and he

was also an adept in astrology. So after narrowly considering Aladdin,

he said in himself, "Verily, this is the lad I need and to find whom I

have left my natal land." Presently he led one of the children apart

and questioned him anent the scapegrace saying, "Whose son is he?" And

he sought all information concerning his condition and whatso

related to him.

  After this he walked up to Aladdin, and drawing him aside, asked, "O

my son, haply thou art the child of Such-a-one the tailor?" and the

lad answered, "Yes, O my lord, but 'tis long since he died." The

Maghrabi, the magician, hearing these words, threw himself upon

Aladdin and wound his arms around his neck and fell to bussing him,

weeping the while with tears trickling a-down his cheeks. But when the

lad saw the Moorman's case, he was seized with surprise thereat and

questioned him, saying, "What causeth thee weep, O my lord, and how

camest thou to know my father?" "How canst thou, O my son," replied

the Moorman, in a soft voice saddened by emotion, "question me with

such query after informing me that thy father and my brother is

deceased? For that he was my brother german, and now I come from my

adopted country and after long exile I rejoiced with exceeding joy

in the hope of looking upon him once more and condoling with him

over the past. And now thou hast announced to me his demise. But blood

hideth not from blood, and it hath revealed to me that thou art my

nephew, son of my brother, and I knew thee amongst all the lads,

albeit thy father, when I parted from him, was yet unmarried."

  Then he again clasped Aladdin to his bosom, crying: "O my son, I

have none to condole with now save thyself. And thou standest in stead

of thy sire, thou being his issue and representative and 'whoso

leaveth issue dieth not,' O my child!" So saying, the magician put

hand to purse, and pulling out ten gold pieces, gave them to the

lad, asking, "O my son, where is your house and where dwelleth she,

thy mother and my brother's widow?" Presently Aladdin arose with him

and showed him the way to their home, and meanwhile quoth the

wizard: "O my son, take these moneys and give them to thy mother,

greeting her from me, and let her know that thine uncle, thy

father's brother, hath reappeared from his exile and that

Inshallah- God willing- on the morrow I will visit her to salute her

with the salaam and see the house wherein my brother was homed and

look upon the place where he lieth buried." Thereupon Aladdin kissed

the Maghrabi's hand, and after running in his joy at fullest speed

to his mother's dwelling entered to her clean contrariwise to his

custom, inasmuch as he never came near her save at mealtimes only.

  And when he found her, the lad exclaimed in his delight: "O my

mother, I give thee glad tidings of mine uncle who hath returned

from his exile, and who now sendeth me to salute thee." "O my son,"

she replied, "meseemeth thou mockest me! Who is this uncle, and how

canst thou have an uncle in the bonds of life?" He rejoined: "How

sayest thou, O my mother, that I have no living uncles nor kinsmen,

when this man is my father's own brother? Indeed he embraced me and

bussed me, shedding tears the while, and bade me acquaint thee

herewith." She retorted, "O my son, well I wot thou haddest an

uncle, but he is now dead, nor am I ware that thou hast other eme."

  The Moroccan magician fared forth next morning and fell to finding

out Aladdin, for his heart no longer permitted him to part from the

lad. And as he was to-ing and fro-ing about the city highways, he came

face to face with him disporting himself, as was his wont, amongst the

vagabonds and the scapegraces. So he drew near to him, and taking

his hand, embraced him and bussed him. Then pulled out of his poke two

dinars and said: "Hie thee to thy mother and give her these couple

of ducats and tell her that thine uncle would eat the evening meal

with you. So do thou take these two gold pieces and prepare for us a

succulent supper. But before all things, show me once more the way

to your home." "On my head and mine eyes be it, O my uncle," replied

the lad and forewent him, pointing out the street leading to the

house. Then the Moorman left him and went his ways and Aladdin ran

home and, giving the news and the two sequins to his parent, said, "My

uncle would sup with us."

  So she arose straightway and, going to the market street, bought all

she required. Then, returning to her dwelling, she borrowed from the

neighbors whatever was needed of pans and platters, and so forth,

and when the meal was cooked and suppertime came she said to

Aladdin: "O my child, the meat is ready, but peradventure thine

uncle wotteth not the way to our dwelling. So do thou fare forth and

meet him on the road." He replied, "To hear is to obey," and before

the twain ended talking a knock was heard at the door. Aladdin went

out and opened, when, behold, the Maghrabi, the magician, together

with a eunuch carrying the wine and the dessert fruits. So the lad led

them in and the slave went about his business. The Moorman on entering

saluted his sister-in-law with the salaam, then began to shed tears

and to question her, saying, "Where be the place whereon my brother

went to sit?" She showed it to him, whereat he went up to it and

prostrated himself in prayer and kissed the floor, crying: how scant

is my satisfaction and how luckless is my lot, for that I have lost

thee, O my brother, O vein of my eye!" And after such fashion he

continued weeping and wailing till he swooned away for excess of

sobbing and lamentation, wherefor Aladdin's mother was certified of

his soothfastness. So, coming up to him, she raised him from the floor

and said, "What gain is there in slaying thyself?"

  As soon as he was seated at his ease, and before the food trays were

served up, he fell to talking with her and saying: "O wife of my

brother, it must be a wonder to thee how in all thy days thou never

sawest me nor learnst thou aught of me during the lifetime of my

brother who hath found mercy. Now the reason is that forty years ago I

left this town and exiled myself from my birthplace and wandered forth

over all the lands of Al-Hind and Al-Sind and entered Egypt and

settled for a long time in its magnificent city, which is one of the

world wonders, till at last I fared to the regions of the setting

sun and abode for a space of thirty years in the Moroccan interior.

Now one day of the days, O wife of my brother, as I was sitting

alone at home, I fell to thinking of mine own country and of my

birthplace and of my brother (who hath found mercy). And my yearning

to see him waxed excessive and I bewept and bewailed my strangerhood

and distance from him. And at last my longings drave me homeward until

I resolved upon traveling to the region which was the falling place of

my head and my homestead, to the end that I might again see my

brother. Then quoth I to myself: 'O man, how long wilt thou wander

like a wild Arab from thy place of birth and native stead? Moreover,

thou hast one brother and no more, so up with thee and travel and look

upon him ere thou die, for who wotteth the woes of the world and the

changes of the days? 'Twould be saddest regret an thou lie down to die

without beholding thy brother. And Allah (laud be to the Lord!) hath

vouchsafed thee ample wealth, and belike he may be straitened and in

poor case, when thou wilt aid thy brother as well as see him.'

  "So I arose at once and equipped me for wayfare and recited the

fatihah. Then, whenas Friday prayers ended, I mounted and traveled

to this town, after suffering manifold toils and travails which I

patiently endured whilst the Lord (to Whom be honor and glory!) veiled

me with the veil of His protection. So I entered, and whilst wandering

about the streets the day before yesterday I beheld my brother's son

Aladdin disporting himself with the boys and, by God the Great, O wife

of my brother, the moment I saw him this heart of mine went forth to

him (for blood yearneth unto blood!), and my soul felt and informed me

that he was my very nephew. So I forgot all my travails and troubles

at once on sighting him, and I was like to fly for joy. But when he

told me of the dear one's departure to the ruth of Allah Almighty, I

fainted for stress of distress and disappointment. Perchance, however,

my nephew hath informed thee of the pains which prevailed upon me. But

after a fashion I am consoled by the sight of Aladdin, the legacy

bequeathed to us by him who hath found mercy for that 'whoso leaveth

issue is not wholly dead.'"

  And when he looked at his sister-in-law, she wept at these his

words, so he turned to the lad, that he might cause her to forget

the mention of her mate, as a means of comforting her and also of

completing his deceit, and asked him, saying: "O my son Aladdin, what

hast thou learned in the way of work, and what is thy business? Say

me, hast thou mastered any craft whereby to earn a livelihood for

thyself and for thy mother?" The lad was abashed and put to shame

and he hung down his head and bowed his brow groundward. But his

parent spake out: "How, forsooth? By Allah, he knoweth nothing at all,

a child so ungracious as this I never yet saw- no, never! All the day

long he idleth away his time with the sons of the quarter, vagabonds

like himself, and his father (O regret of me!) died not save of

dolor for him. And I also am now in piteous plight. I spin cotton

and toil at my distant night and day, that I may earn me a couple of

scones of bread which we eat together. This is his condition, O my

brother-in-law, and, by the life of thee, he cometh not near me save

at mealtimes, and none other. Indeed, I am thinking to lock the

house door, nor ever open to him again, but leave him to go and seek a

livelihood whereby he can live, for that I am now grown a woman in

years and have no longer strength to toil and go about for a

maintenance after this fashion. O Allah, I am compelled to provide him

with daily bread when I require to be provided!"

  Hereat the Moorman turned to Aladdin and said: "Why is this, O son

of my brother, thou goest about in such ungraciousness? 'Tis a

disgrace to thee and unsuitable for men like thyself. Thou art a youth

of sense, O my son, and the child of honest folk, so 'tis for thee a

shame that thy mother, a woman in years, should struggle to support

thee. And now that thou hast grown to man's estate, it becometh thee

to devise thee some device whereby thou canst live, O my child. Look

around thee and Alhamdolillah- praise be to Allah- in this our town

are many teachers of all manner of crafts, and nowhere are they more

numerous. So choose thee some calling which may please thee to the end

that I stablish thee therein, and when thou growest up, O my son, thou

shalt have some business whereby to live. Haply thy father's

industry may not be to thy liking, and if so it be, choose thee some

other handicraft which suiteth thy fancy. Then let me know and I

will aid thee with all I can, O my son." But when the Maghrabi saw

that Aladdin kept silence and made him no reply, he knew that the

lad wanted none other occupation than a scapegrace life, so he said to

him: "O son of my brother, let not my words seem hard and harsh to

thee, for if despite all I say thou still dislike to learn a craft,

I will open thee a merchant's store furnished with costliest stuffs

and thou shalt become famous amongst the folk and take and give and

buy and sell and be well known in the city."

  Now when Aladdin heard the words of his uncle the Moorman, and the

design of making him a khwajah- merchant and gentleman- he joyed

exceedingly, knowing that such folk dress handsomely and fare

delicately. So he looked at the Maghrabi smiling and drooping his head

groundward and saying with the tongue of the case that he was content.

The Maghrabi the magician, looked at Aladdin and saw him smiling

whereby he understood that the lad was satisfied to become a trader.

So he said to him: "Since thou art content that I open thee a

merchant's store and make thee a gentleman, do thou, O son of my

brother, prove thyself a man and Inshallah- God willing- tomorrow I

will take thee to the bazaar in the first place have a fine suit of

clothes cut out for thee, such gear as merchants wear; and secondly, I

will look after a store for thee and keep my word."

  Now Aladdin's mother had somewhat doubted the Moroccan being her

brother-in-law, but as soon as she heard his promise of opening a

merchant's store for her son and setting him up with stuffs and

capital and so forth, the woman decided and determined in her mind

that this Maghrabi was in very sooth her husband's brother, seeing

that no stranger man would do such goodly deed by her son. So she

began directing the lad to the right road and teaching him to cast

ignorance from out his head and to prove himself a man. Moreover,

she bade him ever obey his excellent uncle as though he were his

son, and to make up for the time he had wasted in frowardnes with

his fellows. After this she arose and spread the table, then served up

supper, so all sat down and fell to eating and drinking while the

Maghrabi conversed with Aladdin upon matters of business and the like,

rejoicing him to such degree that he enjoyed no sleep that night.

But when the Moorman saw that the dark hours were passing by, and

the wine was drunken, he arose and sped to his own stead. But ere

going he agreed to return next morning and take Aladdin and look to

his suit of merchant's clothes being cut out for him.

  And as soon as it was dawn, behold, the Maghrabi rapped at the door,

which was opened by Aladdin's mother. The Moorman, however, would

not enter, but asked to take the lad with him to the market street.

Accordingly Aladdin went forth to his uncle and, wishing him good

morning, kissed his hand, and the Moroccan took him by the hand and

fared with him to the bazaar. There he entered a clothier's shop

containing all kinds of clothes, and called for a suit of the most

sumptuous, whereat the merchant brought him out his need, all wholly

fashioned and ready sewn, and the Moorman said to the lad, "Choose,

O my child, whatso pleaseth thee." Aladdin rejoiced exceedingly,

seeing that his uncle had given him his choice, so he picked out the

suit most to his own liking and the Moroccan paid to the merchant

the price thereof in ready money. Presently he led the lad to the

hammam baths, where they bathed. Then they came out and drank

sherbets, after which Aladdin arose and, donning his new dress in huge

joy and delight, went up to his uncle and kissed his hand and

thanked him for his favors.

  The Maghrabi, the magician, after leaving the hammam with Aladdin,

took him and trudged with him to the merchants' bazaar, and having

diverted him by showing the market and its sellings and buyings, and

to him: "O my son, it besitteth thee to become familiar with the folk,

especially with the merchants, so thou mayest learn of them merchant

craft, seeing that the same hath now become thy calling." Then he

led him forth and showed him the city and its cathedral mosques,

together with all the pleasant sights therein, and lastly made him

enter a cook's shop. Here dinner was served to them on platters of

silver and they dined well and ate and drank their sufficiency,

after which they went their ways. Presently the Moorman pointed out to

Aladdin the pleasaunces and noble buildings, and went in with him to

the Sultan's palace and diverted him with displaying all the

apartments, which were mighty fine and grand, and led him finally to

the khan of stranger merchants, where he himself had his abode. Then

the Moroccan invited sundry traders which were in the caravanserai,

and they came and sat down to supper, when he notified to them that

the youth was his nephew, Aladdin by name. And after they had eaten

and drunken and night had fallen, he rose up, and taking the lad

with him, led him back to his mother, who no sooner saw her boy as

he were one of the merchants than her wits took flight and she waxed

sad for very gladness.

  Then she fell to thanking her false connection, the Moorman, for all

his benefits and said to him: "O my brother-in-law, I can never say

enough though I expressed my gratitude to thee during the rest of

thy days and praised thee for the good deeds thou hast done by this my

child." Thereupon quoth the Moroccan: "O wife of my brother, deem this

not mere kindness of me, for that the lad is mine own son, and 'tis

incumbent on me to stand in the stead of my brother, his sire. So be

thou fully satisfied!" And quoth she: "I pray Allah by the honor of

the Hallows, the ancients and the moderns, that He preserve thee and

cause thee continue, O my brother-in-law, and prolong for me thy life.

So shalt thou be a wing overshadowing this orphan lad, and he shall

ever be obedient to thine orders, nor shall he do aught save whatso

thou biddest him thereunto."

  The Maghrabi replied: "O wife of my brother, Aladdin is now a man of

sense and the son of goodly folk, and I hope to Allah that he will

follow in the footsteps of his sire and cool thine eyes. But I

regret that, tomorrow being Friday, I shall not be able to open his

shop, as 'tis meeting day when all the merchants, after congregational

prayer, go forth to the gardens and pleasaunces. On the Sabbath,

however, Inshallah!- an it please the Creator- we will do our

business. Meanwhile tomorrow I will come to thee betimes and take

Aladdin for a pleasant stroll to the gardens and pleasaunces without

the city, which haply he may hitherto not have beheld. There also he

shall see the merchants and notables who go forth to amuse themselves,

so shall he become acquainted with them and they with him."

  The Maghrabi went away and lay that night in his quarters, and early

next morning he came to the tailor's house and rapped at the door. Now

Aladdin (for stress of his delight in the new dress he had donned

and for the past day's enjoyment in the hammam and in eating and

drinking and gazing at the folk, expecting futhermore his uncle to

come at dawn and carry him off on pleasuring to the gardens) had not

slept a wink that night, nor-closed his eyelids, and would hardly

believe it when day broke. But hearing the knock at the door, he

went out at once in hot haste, like a spark of fire, and opened and

saw his uncle, the magician, who embraced him and kissed him. Then,

taking his hand, the Moorman said to him as they fared forth together,

"O son of my brother, this day will I show thee a sight thou never

sawest in all thy life," and he began to make the lad laugh and

cheer him with pleasant talk. So doing, they left the city gate, and

the Moroccan took to promenading with Aladdin amongst the gardens

and to pointing out for his pleasure the mighty fine pleasaunces and

the marvelous high-builded pavilions. And whenever they stood to stare

at a garth or a mansion or a palace, the Maghrabi would say to his

companion, "Doth this please thee, O son of my brother?"

  Aladdin was nigh to fly with delight at seeing sights he had never

seen in all his born days, and they ceased not to stroll about and

solace themselves until they waxed a-weary, then they entered a mighty

grand garden which was near-hand, a place that the heart delighted and

the sight belighted, for that its swift-running rills flowed amidst

the flowers and the waters jetted from the jaws of lions molded in

yellow brass like unto gold. So they took seat over against a

lakelet and rested a little while, and Aladdin enjoyed himself with

joy exceeding and fell to jesting with his uncle and making merry with

him as though the magician were really his father's brother.

  Presently the Maghrabi arose, and loosing his girdle, drew forth

from thereunder a bag full of victual, dried fruits and so forth,

saying to Aladdin: "O my nephew, haply thou art become a-hungered,

so come forward and eat what thou needest." Accordingly the lad fell

upon the food and the Moorman ate with him, and they were gladdened

and cheered by rest and good cheer. Then quoth the magician: "Arise, O

son of my brother, an thou be reposed, and let us stroll onward a

little and reach the end of our walk." Thereupon Aladdin arose and the

Moroccan paced with him from garden to garden until they left all

behind them and reached the base of a high and naked hill, when the

lad, who during all his days had never issued from the city gate and

never in his life had walked such a walk as this, said to the

Maghrabi: "O uncle mine, whither are we wending? We have left the

gardens behind us one and all and have reached the barren hill

country. And if the way be still long, I have no strength left for

walking. Indeed I am ready to fall with fatigue. There are no

gardens before us, so let us hark back and return to town." Said the

magician: "No, O my son. This is right road, nor are the gardens

ended, for we are going to look at one which hath ne'er its like

amongst those of the kings, and all thou hast beheld are naught in

comparison therewith. Then gird thy courage to walk. Thou art now a

man, Alhamdolillah- praise be to Allah!"

  Then the Maghrabi fell to soothing Aladdin with soft words and

telling him wondrous tales, lies as well as truth, until they

reached the site intended by the African magician, who had traveled

from the sunset land to the regions of China for the sake thereof. And

when they made the place, the Moorman said to Aladdin: "O son of my

brother, sit thee down and take thy rest, for this is the spot we

are now seeking and, Inshallah, soon will I divert thee by

displaying marvel matters whose like not one in the world ever saw,

nor hath any solaced himself with gazing upon that which thou art

about to behold. But when thou art rested, arise and seek some wood

chips and fuel sticks which be small and dry, wherewith we may

kindle a fire. Then will I show thee, O son of my brother, matters

beyond the range of matter." Now when the lad heard these words, he

longed to look upon what his uncle was about to do and, forgetting his

fatigue, he rose forthright and fell to gathering small wood chips and

dry sticks, and continued until the Moorman cried to him, "Enough, O

son of my brother!"

  Presently the magician brought out from his breast pocker a

casket, which he opened, and drew from it all he needed of incense.

Then he fumigated and conjured and adjured, muttering words none might

understand. And the ground straightway clave asunder after thick gloom

and quake of earth and bellowings of thunder. Hereat Aladdin was

startled and so affrighted that he tried to fly, but when the

African magician saw his design, he waxed wroth with exceeding

wrath, for that without the lad his work would profit him naught,

the hidden hoard which he sought to open being not to be opened save

by means of Aladdin. So, noting this attempt to run away, the magician

arose, and raising his hand, smote Aladdin on the head a buffet so

sore that well-nigh his back teeth were knocked out, and he fell

swooning to the ground. But after a time he revived by the magic of

the magician, and cried, weeping the while: "O my uncle, what have I

done that deserveth from thee such a blow as this?" Hereat the

Maghrabi fell to soothing him, and said: "O my son, 'tis my intent

to make thee a man. Therefore do thou not gainsay me, for that I am

thine uncle and like unto thy father. Obey me, therefore, in all I bid

thee, and shortly thou shalt forget all this travail and toil whenas

thou shalt look upon the marvel matters I am about to show thee."

  And soon after the ground had cloven asunder before the Moroccan, it

displayed a marble slab wherein was fixed a copper ring. The Maghrabi,

striking a geomantic table, turned to Aladdin and said to him: "An

thou do all I shall bid thee, indeed thou shalt become wealthier

than any of the kings. And for this reason, O my son, I struck thee,

because here lieth a hoard which is stored in thy name, and yet thou

designedst to leave it and to levant. But now collect thy thoughts,

and behold how I opened earth by my spells and adjurations. Under

yon stone wherein the ring is set lieth the treasure wherewith I

acquainted thee. So set thy hand upon the ring and raise the slab, for

that none other amongst the folk, thyself excepted, hath power to open

it, nor may any of mortal birth save thyself set foot within this

enchanted treasury which hath been kept for thee. But 'tis needful

that thou learn of me all wherewith I would charge thee, nor gainsay

e'en a single syllable of my words. All this, O my child, is for thy

good, the hoard being of immense value, whose like the kings of the

world never accumulated, and do thou remember that 'tis for thee and

me."

  So poor Aladdin forgot his fatigue and buffet and tear-shedding, and

he was dumbed and dazed at the Maghrabi's words and rejoiced that he

was fated to become rich in such measure that not even the sultans

would be richer than himself. Accordingly he cried: "O my uncle, bid

me do all thou pleasest, for I will be obedient unto thy bidding." The

Maghrabi replied: "O my nephew, thou art to me as my own child and

even dearer, for being my brother's son and for my having none other

kith and kin except thyself. And thou, O my child, art my heir and

successor." So saying, he went up to Aladdin and kissed him and

said: "For whom do I intend these my labors? Indeed, each and every

are for thy sake, O my son, to the end that I may leave thee a rich

man and one of the very greatest. So gainsay me not in all I shall say

to thee, and now go up to yonder ring and uplift it as I bade thee."

Aladdin answered: "O uncle mine, this ring is overheavy for me. I

cannot raise it single-handed, so do thou also come forward and lend

me strength and aidance toward uplifting it, for indeed I am young

in years." The Moorman replied: "O son of my brother, we shall find it

impossible to do aught if I assist thee, and all our efforts would

be in vain. But do thou set thy hand upon the ring and pull it up, and

thou shalt raise the slab forthright, and in very sooth I told thee

that none can touch it save thyself. But whilst haling at it cease not

to pronounce thy name and the names of thy father and mother, so

'twill rise at once to thee, nor shalt thou feel its weight."

  Thereupon the lad mustered up strength and girt the loins of

resolution and did as the Moroccan had bidden him, and hove up the

slab with all ease when he pronounced his name and the names of his

parents, even as the magician had bidden him. And as soon as the stone

was raised he threw it aside, and there appeared before him a

sardab, a souterrain, whereunto led a case of some twelve stairs,

and the Maghrabi said: "O Aladdin, collect thy thoughts and do

whatso I bid thee to the minutest detail, nor fail in aught thereof.

Go down with all care into yonder vault until thou reach the bottom,

and there shalt thou find a space divided into four halls, and in each

of these thou shalt see four golden jars and others of virgin or and

silver. Beware, however, lest thou take aught therefrom or touch them,

nor allow thy gown or its skirts even to brush the jars or the

walls. Leave them and fare forward until thou reach the fourth hall,

without lingering for a single moment on the way. And if thou do aught

contrary thereto, thou wilt at once be transformed and become a

black stone. When reaching the fourth hall, thou wilt find therein a

door, which do thou open, and pronouncing the names thou spakest

over the slab, enter therethrough into a garden adorned everywhere

with fruit-bearing trees. This thou must traverse by a path thou wilt

see in front of thee measuring some fifty cubits long beyond which

thou wilt come upon an open saloon, and herein a ladder of some thirty

rungs. Thou shalt there find a lamp hanging from its ceiling, so mount

the ladder and take that lamp and place it in thy breast pocket

after pouring out its contents. Nor fear evil from it for thy clothes,

because its contents are not common oil. And on return thou art

allowed to pluck from the trees whoso thou pleasest, for all is

thine so long as the lamp is in thy hand."

  Now when the Moorman ended his charge to Aladdin, he drew off a seal

ring and put it upon the lad's forefinger, saying: "O my son, verily

this signet shall free thee from all hurt and fear which may

threaten thee, but only on condition that thou bear in mind all I have

told thee. So arise straightway and go down the stairs,

strengthening thy purpose and girding the loins of resolution.

Moreover, fear not, for thou art now a man and no longer a child.

And in shortest time, O my son, thou shalt will thee immense riches

and thou shalt become the wealthiest of the world."

  Accordingly, Aladdin arose and descended into the souterrain,

where he found the four jars, each containing four jars of gold, and

these he passed by as the Moroccan had bidden him, with the utmost

care and caution. Thence he fared into the garden and walked along its

length until he entered the saloon, where he mounted the ladder and

took the lamp, which he extinguished, pouring out the oil which was

therein, and placed it in his breast pocket. Presently, descending the

ladder, he returned to the garden, where he fell to gazing at the

trees, whereupon sat birds glorifying with loud voices their Great

Creator. Now he had not observed them as he went in, but all these

trees bare for fruitage costly gems. Moreover, each had its own kind

of growth and jewels of its peculiar sort and these were of every

color, green and white, yellow, red, and other such brilliant hues,

and the radiance flashing from these gems paled the rays of the sun in

forenoon sheen. Furthermore the size of each stone so far surpassed

description that no King of the Kings of the World owned a single

gem equal to the larger sort, nor could boast of even one half the

size of the smaller kind of them. Aladdin walked amongst the trees and

gazed upon them and other things which surprised the sight and

bewildered the wits, and as he considered them, he saw that in lieu of

common fruits the produce was of mighty fine jewels and precious

stones, such as emeralds and diamonds, rubies, spinels, and balases,

pearls and similar gems, astounding the mental vision of man.

  And forasmuch as the lad had never beheld things like these during

his born days, nor had reached those years of discretion which would

teach him the worth of such valuables (he being still but a little

lad), he fancied that all these jewels were of glass or crystal. So he

collected them until he had filled his breast pockets, and began to

certify himself if they were or were not common fruits, such as

grapes, figs, and suchlike edibles. But seeing them of glassy

substance, he, in his ignorance of precious stones and their prices,

gathered into his breast pockets every kind of growth the trees

afforded, and having failed of his purpose in finding them food, he

said in his mind, "I will collect a portion of these glass fruits

for playthings at home." So he fell to plucking them in quantities and

cramming them in his pokes and breast pockets till these were

stuffed full. After which he picked others which he placed in his

waist shawl and then, girding himself therewith, carried off all he

availed to, purposing to place them in the house by way of ornaments

and, as hath been mentioned, never imagining that they were other than

glass.

  Then he hurried his pace in fear of his uncle, the Maghrabi, until

he had passed through the four halls and lastly on his return

reached the souterrain, where he cast not a look at the jars of

gold, albeit he was able and allowed to take of the contents on his

way back. But when he came to the souterrain stairs and clomb the

steps till naught remained but the last, and finding this higher

than an the others, he was unable alone and unassisted, burthened

moreover as he was, to mount it. So he said to the Maghrabi, "O my

uncle, lend me thy hand and aid me to climb." But the Moorman

answered: "O my son, give me the lamp and lighten thy load. Belike

'tis that weighteth thee down." The lad rejoined: "O my uncle, 'tis

not the lamp downweigheth me at all, but do thou lend me a hand, and

as soon as I reached ground I will give it to thee." Hereat the

Moroccan, the magician, whose only object was the lamp and none other,

began to insist upon Aladdin giving it to him at once. But the lad

(forasmuch as he had placed it at the bottom of his breast pocket

and his other pouches, being full of gems, bulged outward) could not

reach it with his fingers to hand it over, so the wizard after much

vain persistency in requiring what his nephew was unable to give

fell to raging with furious rage and to demanding the lamp, whilst

Aladdin could not get at it. Yet had the lad promised truthfully

that he would give it up as soon as he might reach ground, without

lying thought or ill intent. But when the Moorman saw that he would

not hand it over, he waxed wroth with wrath exceeding and cut off

all his hopes of winning it. So he conjured and adjured and cast

incense a-middlemost the fire, when forthright the slab made a cover

of itself, and by the might of magic lidded the entrance. The earth

buried the stone as it was aforetime, and Aladdin, unable to issue

forth, remained underground.

  Now the sorcerer was a stranger and, as we have mentioned, no

uncle of Aladdin's, and he had misrepresented himself and preferred

a lying claim, to the end that he might obtain the lamp by means of

the lad for whom this hoard had been upstored. So the accursed

heaped the earth over him and left him to die of hunger. For this

Maghrabi was an African of Afrikiyah proper, born in the inner

Sunset Land, and from his earliest age upward he had been addicted

to witchcraft and had studied and practiced every manner of occult

science, for which unholy lore the city of Africa is notorious. And he

ceased not to read and hear lectures until he had become a past master

in all such knowledge. And of the abounding skill in spells and

conjurations which he had acquired by the perusing and the lessoning

of forty years, one day of the days he discovered by devilish

inspiration that there lay in an extreme city of the cities of

China, named Al-Kal'as, an immense hoard, the like whereof none of the

kings in this world had ever accumulated. Moreover, that the most

marvelous article in this enchanted treasure was a wonderful lamp,

which whoso possessed could not possibly be surpassed by any man

upon earth, either in high degree or in wealth and opulence, nor could

the mightiest monarch of the universe attain to the all-sufficiency of

this lamp with its might of magical means. When the Maghrabi assured

himself by his science and saw that this hoard could be opened only by

the presence of a lad named Aladdin, of pauper family and abiding in

that very city, and learnt how taking it would be easy and without

hardships, he straightway and without stay or delay equipped himself

for a voyage to China (as we have already told), and be did what he

did with Aladdin fancying that he would become Lord of the Lamp. But

his attempt and his hopes were baffled and his work was clean

wasted. Whereupon, determining to do the lad die, he heaped up the

earth over him by gramarye to the end that the unfortunate might

perish, reflecting that "The live man hath no murtherer." Secondly, he

did so with the design that, as Aladdin could not come forth from

underground, he would also be impotent to bring out the lamp from

the souterrain. So presently he wended his ways and retired to his own

land, Africa, a sadder man and disappointed of all his expectations.

  Such was the case with the wizard, but as regards Aladdin, when

the earth was heaped over him, he began shouting to the Moorman,

whom he believed to be his uncle, and praying him to lend a hand

that he might issue from the souterrain and return to earth's surface.

But however loudly he cried, none was found to reply. At that moment

he comprehended the sleight which the Moroccan had played upon him,

and that the man was no uncle, but a liar and a wizard. Then the

unhappy despaired of life, and learned to his sorrow that there was no

escape for him, so he fell to beweeping with sore weeping the calamity

had befallen him. And after a little while he stood up and descended

the stairs to see if Allah Almighty had lightened his grief load by

leaving a door of issue. So he turned him to the right and to the

left, but he saw naught save darkness and four walls closed upon

him, for that the magician had by his magic locked all the doors and

had shut up even the garden wherethrough the lad erst had passed, lest

it offer him the means of issuing out upon earth's surface, and that

he might surely die. Then Aladdin's weeping waxed sorer and his

wailing louder whenas he found all the doors fast shut, for he had

thought to solace himself awhile in the garden. But when he felt

that all were locked, he fell to shedding tears and lamenting like

unto one who hath lost his every hope, and he returned to sit upon the

stairs of the flight whereby he had entered the souterrain.

  But it is a light matter for Allah (be He exalted and extolled!)

whenas He designeth aught to say, "Be," and it becometh, for that He

createth joy in the midst of annoy. And on this wise it was with

Aladdin. Whilst the Maghrabi, the magician, was sending him down

into the souterrain, he set upon his finger by way of gift a seal ring

and said: "Verily this signet shall save thee from every strait an

thou fall into calamity and ill shifts of time, and it shall remove

from thee all hurt and harm, and aid thee with a strong arm whereso

thou mayest be set." Now this was by Destiny of God the Great, that it

might be the means of Aladdin's escape. For whilst he sat wailing

and weeping over his case and cast away all hope of life, and utter

misery overwhelmed him, he rubbed his hands together for excess of

sorrow, as is the wont of the woeful. Then, raising them in

supplication to Allah, he cried, "I testify that there is no God

save Thou alone, the Most Great, the Omnipotent, the All-conquering,

Quickener of the dead, Creator of man's need and Granter thereof,

Resolver of his difficulties and duress and Bringer of joy, not of

annoy. Thou art my sufficiency and Thou art the Truest of Trustees.

And I bear my witness that Mohammed is Thy servant and Thine

Apostle, and I supplicate Thee, O my God, by his favor with Thee to

free me from this my foul plight."

  And whilst implored the Lord and was chafing his hands in the

soreness of his sorrow for that had befallen him of calamity, his

fingers chanced to rub the ring, when, lo and behold! forthright its

familiar rose upright before him and cried: "Adsum! Thy slave

between thy hands is come! Ask whatso thou wantest, for that I am

the thrall of him on whose hand is the ring, the signet of my lord and

master." Hereat the lad looked at him and saw standing before him a

Marid like unto an Ifrit of our lord Solomon's Jinns. He trembled at

the terrible sight, but, hearing the Slave of the Ring say, "Ask

whatso thou wantest. Verily, I am thy thrall seeing that the signet of

my lord be upon thy finger," he recovered his spirits and remembered

the Moorman's saying when giving him the ring. So he rejoiced

exceedingly and became brave and cried, "Ho, thou slave of the Lord of

the Ring, I desire thee to set me upon the face of the earth." And

hardly had he spoken this speech when suddenly the ground clave

asunder and he found himself at the door of the hoard and outside it

in full view of the world. Now for three whole days he had been

sitting in the darkness of the treasury underground, and when the

sheen of day and the shine of sun smote his face he found himself

unable to keep his eyes open; so he began to unclose the lids a little

and to close them a little until his eyeballs regained force and got

used to the light and were purged of the noisome murk. Withal he was

astounded at finding himself without the hoard door whereby he had

passed in when it was opened by the Maghrabi, the magician, especially

as the adit had been lidded and the ground had been smoothed,

showing no sign whatever of entrance.

  Thereat his surprise increased until he fancied himself in another

place, nor was his mind convinced that the stead was the same until he

saw the spot whereupon they had kindled the fire of wood chips and

dried sticks, and where the African wizard had conjured over the

incense. Then he turned him rightward and leftward and sighted the

gardens from afar and his eyes recognized the road whereby he had

come. So he returned thanks to Allah Almighty, Who had restored him to

the face of earth and had freed him from death after he had cut off

all hopes of life. Presently he arose and walked along the way to

the town, which now he knew well, until he entered the streets and

passed on to his own home. Then he went in to his mother, and on

seeing her, of the overwhelming stress of joy at his escape and the

memory of past affright and the hardships he had borne and the pangs

of hunger, he fell to the ground before his parent in a fainting

fit. Now his mother had been passing sad since the time of his leaving

her, and he found her moaning and crying about him. However, on

sighting him enter the house she joyed with exceeding joy, but soon

was overwhelmed with woe when he sank upon the ground swooning

before her eyes. Still, she did not neglect the matter or treat it

lightly, but at once hastened to sprinkle water upon his face, and

after she asked of the neighbors some scents which she made him

snuff up. And when he came round a little, he prayed her to bring

him somewhat of food saying, "O my mother, 'tis now three days since I

ate anything at all." Thereupon she arose and brought him what she had

by her, then, setting it before him, said: "Come forward, O my son.

Eat and be cheered, and when thou shalt have rested, tell me what hath

betided and affected thee, O my child. At this present I will not

question thee, for thou art aweary in very deed." Aladdin ate and

drank and was cheered, and after he had rested and had recovered

spirits he cried:

  "Ah, O my mother, I have a sore grievance against thee for leaving

me to that accursed wight who strave to compass my destruction and

designed to take my life. Know thou that I beheld death with mine

own eyes at the hand of this damned wretch, whom thou didst to be my

uncle, and had not Almighty Allah rescued me from him, I and thou, O

my mother, had been cozened by the excess of this accursed's

promises to work my welfare, and by the great show of affection

which he manifested to us. Learn, O my mother, that this fellow is a

sorcerer, a Moorman, an accursed, a liar, a traitor, a hypocrite,

nor deem I that the devils under the earth are damnable as he. Allah

abase him in his every book! Hear then, O my mother, what this

abominable one did, and all that I shall tell thee will be soothfast

and certain. See how the damned villain brake every promise he made,

certifying that he would soon work all good with me. And do thou

consider the fondness which he displayed to me and the deeds which

he did by me, and all this only to win his wish, for his design was to

destroy me. And Alhamdolillah- laud to the Lord- for my deliverance.

Listen and learn, O my mother, how this accursed entreated me."

  Then Aladdin informed his mother of all that had befallen him,

weeping the for stress of gladness- how the Maghrabi had led him to a

hill wherein was hidden the hoard and how he had conjured and

fumigated, adding: "After which, O my mother, mighty fear gat hold of

me when the hill split and the earth gaped before me by his

wizardry. And I trembled with terror at the rolling of thunder in mine

ears and the murk which fell upon us when he fumigated and muttered

spells. Seeing these horrors, I in mine affright desiped to fly, but

when he understood mine intent, he reviled me and smote me a buffet so

sore that it caused me swoon. However, inasmuch as the treasury was to

be opened only by means of me, O my mother, he could not descend

therein himself, it being in my name and not in his. And for that he

is an ill-omened magician, he understood that I was necessary to him

and this was his need of me." Aladdin acquainted his mother with all

that had befallen him from the Maghrabi, the magician, and said:

  "After he had buffeted me, he judged it advisable to soothe me in

order that he might send me down into the enchanted treasury, and

first he drew from his finger a ring, which he placed upon mine. So

I descended and found four halls all full of gold and silver, which

counted as naught, and the accursed had charged me not to touch

aught thereof. Then I entered a mighty fine flower garden everywhere

bedecked with tall trees whose foilage and fruitage bewildered the

wits, for all, O my mother, were of varicolored glass, and lastly I

reached the hall wherein hung this lamp. So I took it straightway

and put it out and poured forth its contents." And so saying,

Aladdin drew the lamp from his breast pocket and showed it to his

mother, together with the gems and jewels which he had brought from

the garden. And there were two large bag pockets full of precious

stones, whereof not one was to be found amongst the kings of the

world. But the lad knew naught anent their worth, deeming them glass

or crystal. And presently he resumed:

  "After this, O mother mine, I reached the hoard door carrying the

lamp and shouted to the accursed sorcerer which called himself my

uncle to lend me a hand and hale me up, I being unable to mount of

myself the last step for the overweight of my burthen. But he would

not and said only, 'First hand me the lamp!' As, however, I had placed

it at the bottom of my breast pocket and the other pouches bulged

out beyond it, I was unable to get at it and said, 'O my uncle, I

cannot reach thee the lamp, but I will give it to thee when outside

the treasury.' His only need was the lamp, and he designed, O my

mother, to snatch it from me and after that slay me, as indeed he

did his best to do by heaping the earth over my head. Such then is

what befell me from this foul sorcerer." Hereupon Aladdin fell to

abusing the magician in hot wrath and with a burning heart, and

crying: "Wellaway! I take refuge from this damned wight, the

forswearer the wrongdoer, the forswearer, the lost to all humanity,

the archtraitor, the hyprocrite, the annihilator of ruth and mercy."

When Aladdin's mother heard his words and what had befallen him from

the Maghrabi, the magician, she said: "Yea, verily, O my son, he is

a miscreant, a hypocrite who murthereth the folk by his magic. But

'twas the grace of Allah Almighty, O my child, that saved thee from

the tricks and the treachery of this accursed sorcerer whom I deemed

to be truly thine uncle."

  Then, as the lad had not slept a wink for three days and found

himself nodding, he sought his natural rest, his mother doing on

like wise, nor did he awake till about noon on the second day. As soon

as he shook off slumber he called for somewhat of food, being sore

a-hungered, but said his mother: "O my son, I have no victual for

thee, inasmuch as yesterday thou atest all that was in the house.

But wait patiently a while. I have spun a trifle of yarn which I will

carry to the market street and sell it and buy with what it may be

worth some victual for thee." "O my mother," said he, "keep your

yarn and sell it not, but fetch me the lamp I brought hither that I

may go vend it, and with its price purchase provaunt, for that I

deem 'twill bring more money than the spinnings." So Aladdin's

mother arose and fetched the lamp for her son, but while so doing

she saw that it was dirty exceedingly, so that said: "O my son, here

is the lamp, but 'tis very foul. After we shall have washed it and

polished it 'twill sell better." Then, taking a handful of sand, she

began to rub therewith, but she had only begun when appeared to her

one of the Jann, whose favor was frightful and whose bulk was horrible

big, and he was gigantic as one of the Jababirah. And forthright he

cried to her: "Say whatso thou wantest of me. Here am I, thy slave and

slave to whoso holdeth the lamp, and not I alone, but all the Slaves

of the Wonderful Lamp which thou hendest in hand."

  She quaked and terror was sore upon her when she looked at that

frightful form, and her tongue being tied, she could not return

aught reply, never having been accustomed to espy similar

semblances. Now her son was standing afar off, and he had already seen

the Jinni of the ring which he had rubbed within the treasury, so when

he heard the slave speaking to his parent, he hastened forward, and

snatching the lamp from her hand, said: "O Slave of the Lamp, I am

a-hungered, and 'tis my desire that thou fetch me somewhat to eat, and

let it be something toothsome beyond our means." The Jinni disappeared

for an eye twinkle and returned with a mighty fine tray and precious

of price, for that 'twas all in virginal silver, and upon it stood

twelve golden platters of meats manifold and dainties delicate, with

bread snowier than snow; also two silvern cups and as many black jacks

full of wine clear-strained and long-stored. And after setting all

these before Aladdin, he vanished from vision.

  Thereupon the lad went and sprinkled rose-water upon his mother's

face and caused her snuff up perfumes pure and pungent, and said to

her when she revived: "Rise, O mother mine, and let us eat of these

meats wherewith Almighty Allah hath eased our poverty." But when she

saw that mighty fine silvern tray she fell to marveling at the matter,

and quoth she: "O my son, who be this generous, this beneficent one

who hath abated our hunger pains and our penury? We are indeed under

obligation to him, and meseemeth 'tis the Sultan who, hearing of our

mean condition and our misery, hath sent us this food tray." Quoth he:

"O my mother, this be no time for questioning. Arouse thee and let

us eat, for we are both a-famished." Accordingly they sat down to

the tray and fell to feeding, when Aladdin's mother tasted meats whose

like in all her time she had never touched. So they devoured them with

sharpened appetites and all the capacity engendered by stress of

hunger. And secondly, the food was such that marked the tables of

the kings. But neither of them knew whether the tray was or was not

valuable, for never in their born days had they looked upon aught like

it.

  As soon as they had finished the meal (withal leaving victual enough

for supper and eke for the next day), they arose and washed their

hands and sat at chat, when the mother turned to her son and said:

"Tell me, O my child, what befell thee from the slave, the Jinni,

now that Alhamdolillah- laud to the Lord!- we have eaten our full of

the good things wherewith He hath favored us and thou hast no pretext

for saying to me, 'I am a-hungered."' So Aladdin related to her all

that took place between him and the slave what while she had sunk upon

the ground a-swoon for sore terror, and at this she, being seized with

mighty great surprise, said: "'Tis true, for the Jinns do present

themselves before the sons of Adam, but I, O my son, never saw them in

all my life, and meseemeth that this be the same who saved thee when

thou wast within the enchanted hoard." "This is not he, O my mother.

This who appeared before thee is the Slave of the Lamp!" "Who may this

be, O my son?" "This be a slave of sort and shape other than he.

That was the familiar of the ring, and this his fellow thou sawest was

the Slave of the Lamp thou hendest in hand." And when his parent heard

these words she cried: "There! there! So this accursed, who showed

himself to me and went nigh unto killing me with affright, is attached

to the lamp." "Yes," he replied, and she rejoined: "Now I conjure

thee, O my son, by the milk wherewith I suckled thee, to throw away

from thee this lamp and this ring, because they can cause us only

extreme terror, and I especially can never a-bear a second glance at

them. Moreover, all intercourse with them is unlawful, for that the

Prophet (whom Allah save and assain!) warned us against them with

threats."

  He replied: "Thy commands, O my mother, be upon my head and mine

eyes, but as regards this saying thou saidest, 'tis impossible that

I part or with lamp or with ring. Thou thyself hast seen what good the

slave wrought us whenas we were famishing, and know, O my mother, that

the Maghrabi, the liar, the magician, when sending me down into the

hoard, sought nor the silver nor the gold wherewith the four halls

were fulfilled, but charged me to bring him only the lamp (naught

else), because in very deed he had learned its priceless value. And

had he not been certified of it, he had never endured such toil and

trouble, nor had he traveled from his own land to our land in search

thereof, neither had he shut me up in the treasury when he despaired

of the lamp which I would not hand to him. Therefore it besitteth

us, O my mother, to keep this lamp and take all care thereof, nor

disclose its mysteries to any, for this is now our means of livelihood

and this it is shall enrich us. And likewise as regards the ring, I

will never withdraw it from my finger, inasmuch as but for this thou

hadst nevermore seen me on life- nay, I should have died within the

hoard underground. How then can I possibly remove it from my finger?

And who wotteth that which may betide me by the lapse of time, what

trippings or calamities or injurious mishaps wherefrom this ring may

deliver me? However, for regard to thy feelings I will stow away the

lamp, nor ever suffer it to be seen of thee hereafter." Now when his

mother heard his words and pondered them, she knew they were true

and said to him: "Do, O my son, whatso thou willest. For my part, I

wish never to see them nor ever sight that frightful spectacle I

erst saw."

  Aladdin and his mother continued eating of the meats brought them by

the Jinni for two full told days till they were finished. But when

he learned that nothing of food remained for them, he arose and took a

platter of the platters which the slave had brought upon the tray. Now

they were all of the finest gold, but the lad knew naught thereof,

so he bore it to the bazaar and there, seeing a man which was a Jew, a

viler than the Satans, offered it to him for sale. When the Jew espied

it, he took the lad aside that none might see him, and he looked at

the platter and considered it till he was certified that it was of

gold refined. But he knew not whether Aladdin was acquainted with

its value or he was in such matters a raw laddie, so he asked him,

"For how much, O my lord, this platter?" and the other answered, "Thou

wottest what be its worth." The Jew debated with himself as to how

much he should offer, because Aladdin had returned him a craftsmanlike

reply, and he thought of the smallest valuation. At the same time he

feared lest the lad, haply knowing its worth, should expect a

considerable sum. So he said in his mind, "Belike the fellow is an

ignoramus in such matters, nor is ware of the price of the platter."

Whereupon he pulled out of his pocket a dinar, and Aladdin eyed the

gold piece lying in his palm and, hastily taking it, went his way,

whereby the Jew was certified of his customer's innocence of all

such knowledge, and repented with entire repentance that he had

given him a golden dinar in lieu of a copper carat, a

bright-polished groat.

  However, Aladdin made no delay, but went at once to the baker's,

where he bought him bread and changed the ducat. Then, going to his

mother, he gave her the scones and the remaining small coin and

said, "O my mother, hie thee and buy thee all we require." So she

arose and walked to the bazaar and laid in the necessary stock,

after which they ate and were cheered. And whenever the price of the

platter was expended, Aladdin would take another and carry it to the

accursed Jew, who brought each and every at a pitiful price; and

even this he would have minished but, seeing how he had paid a dinar

for the first, he feared to offer a lesser sum, lest the lad go and

sell to some rival in trade and thus he lose his usurious gains. Now

when all the golden platters were sold, there remained only the silver

tray whereupon they stood, and for that it was large and weighty,

Aladdin brought the Jew to his house and produced the article when the

buyer, seeing its size, gave him ten dinars, and these being accepted,

went his ways.

  Aladdin and his mother lived upon the sequins until they were spent,

then he brought out the lamp and rubbed it, and straightway appeared

the slave who had shown himself aforetime. And said the lad: "I desire

that thou bring me a tray of food like unto that thou broughtest me

erewhiles, for indeed I am famisht." Accordingly, in the glance of

an eye the slave produced a similar tray supporting twelve platters of

the most sumptuous, furnished with requisite cates, and thereon

stood clean bread and sundry glass bottles of strained wine. Now

Aladdin's mother had gone out when she knew he was about to rub the

lamp, that she might not again look upon the Jinni; but after a

while she returned, and when she sighted the tray covered with

silvern platters and smelt the savor of the rich meats diffused over

the house, she marveled and rejoiced. Thereupon quoth he: "Look, O

my mother! Thou badest me throw away the lamp. See now its virtues,"

and quoth she, "O my son, Allah increase his weal, but I would not

look upon him." Then the lad sat down with his parent to the tray

and they ate and drank until they were satisfied, after which they

removed what remained for use on the morrow.

  As soon as the meats had been consumed, Aladdin arose and stowed

away under his clothes a platter of the platters and went forth to

find the Jew, purposing to sell it to him, but by fiat of Fate he

passed by the shop of an ancient jeweler, an honest man and a pious

who feared Allah. When the Sheikh saw the lad, he asked him, saying:

"O my son, what dost thou want? For that times manifold have I seen

thee passing hereby and having dealings with a Jewish man, and I

have espied thee handing over to him sundry articles. Now also I fancy

thou hast somewhat for sale and thou seekest him as a buyer thereof.

But thou wottest not, O my child, that the Jews ever hold lawful to

them the good of Moslems, the confessors of Allah Almighty's unity,

and always defraud them, especially this accursed Jew with whom thou

hast relations and into whose hands thou hast fallen. If then, O my

son, thou have aught thou wouldest sell, show the same to me and never

fear, for I will give thee its full price, by the truth of Almighty

Allah."

  Thereupon Aladdin brought out the platter, which when the ancient

goldsmith saw, he took and weighed it in his scales and asked the lad,

saying, "Was it the fellow of this thou soldest to the Jew?" "Yes, its

fellow and its brother," he answered, and quoth the old man, "What

price did he pay thee?" Quoth the lad, "One dinar." The ancient

goldsmith, hearing from Aladdin how the Jew used to give only one

dinar as the price of the platter, cried, "Ah! I take refuge from this

accursed who cozeneth the servants of Allah Almighty!" Then, looking

at the lad, he exclaimed: "O my son, verily yon tricksy Jew hath

cheated thee and laughed at thee, this platter being pure silver and

virginal. I have weighed it and found it worth seventy dinars, and, if

thou please to take its value,-take it." Thereupon the Sheikh

counted out to him seventy gold pieces, which he accepted, and

presently thanked him for his kindness in exposing the Jew's

rascality.

  And after this, whenever the price of a platter was expended, he

would bring another, and on such wise he and his mother were soon in

better circumstances. Yet they ceased not to live after their olden

fashion as middle-class folk, without spending on diet overmuch or

squandering money. But Aladdin had now thrown off the ungraciousness

of his boyhood. He shunned the society of scapegraces and he began

to frequent good men and true, repairing daily to the market street of

the merchants and there companying with the great and small of them,

asking about matters of merchandise and learning the price of

investments and so forth. He likewise frequented the bazaars of the

goldsmiths and the jewelers, where he would sit and divert himself

by inspecting their precious stones and by noting how jewels were sold

and bought therein. Accordingly, he presently became ware that the

tree truits wherewith he had filled his pockets what time he entered

the enchanged treasury were neither glass nor crystal, but gems rich

and rare, and he understood that he had acquired immense wealth such

as the kings never can possess. He then considered all the precious

stones which were in the jewelers' quarter, but found that their

biggest was not worth his smallest.

  On this wise he ceased not every day repairing to the bazaar and

making himself familiar with the folk and winning their loving will,

and inquiring anent selling and buying, giving and taking, the dear

and the cheap, until one day of the days when, after rising at dawn

and donning his dress he went forth, as was his wont, to the jewelers'

bazaar and as he passed along it he heard the crier crying as follows:

"By command of our magnificent master, the King of the Time and the

Lord of the Age and the Tide, let all the folk lock up their shops and

stores and retire within their houses, for that the Lady Badr

al-Budur, daughter of the Sultan, designeth to visit the hammam. And

whoso gainsayeth the order shall be punished with death penalty, and

be his blood upon his own neck!" But when Aladdin heard the

proclamation, he longed to look upon the King's daughter and said in

his mind, "Indeed all the lieges talk of her beauty and loveliness,

and the end of my desires is to see her." Then Aladdin fell to

contriving some means whereby he might look upon the Princess Badr

al-Budur, and at last judged best to take his station behind the

hammam door, whence he might see her face as she entered. Accordingly,

without stay or delay he repaired to the baths before she was expected

and stood a-rear of the entrance, a place whereat none of the folk

happened to be looking.

  Now when the Sultan's daughter had gone the rounds of the city and

its main streets and had solaced herself by sight-seeing, she

finally reached the hammam, and whilst entering she raised her veil

and Aladdin saw her favor, he said: "In very truth her fashion

magnifieth her Almighty Fashioner, and glory be to Him Who created her

and adorned her with this beauty and loveliness." His strength was

struck down from the moment he saw her and his thoughts were

distraught. His gaze was dazed, the love of her gat hold of the

whole of his heart, and when he returned home to his mother, he was as

one in ecstasy. His parent addressed him, but he neither replied nor

denied, and, when she set before him the morning meal he continued

in like case, so quoth she: "O my son, what is't may have befallen

thee? Say me, doth aught ail thee? Let me know what ill hath betided

thee, for, unlike thy custom, thou speakest not when I bespeak

thee." Thereupon Aladdin (who used to think that all women resembled

his mother and who, albeit he had heard of the charms of Badr

al-Budur, daughter of the Sultan, yet knew not what "beauty" and

"loveliness" might signify) turned to his parent and exclaimed, "Let

me be!" However, she persisted in praying him to come forward and eat,

so he did her bidding, but hardly touched food. After which he lay

at full length on his bed all the night through in cogitation deep

until morning morrowed.

  The same was his condition during the next day, when his mother

was perplexed for the case of her son and unable to learn what had

happened to him. So, thinking that belike he might be ailing, she drew

near him and asked him, saying: "O my son, an thou sense aught of pain

or suchlike, let me know, that I may fare forth and fetch thee the

physician. And today there be in this our city a leech from the land

of the Arabs whom the Sultan hath sent to summon, and the bruit abroad

reporteth him to be skillful exceedingly. So, an be thou ill, let me

go and bring him to thee." Aladdin, hearing his parent's offer to

summon the mediciner, said: "O my mother, I am well in body and on

no wise ill. But I ever thought that all women resembled thee until

yesterday, when I beheld the Lady Badr al-Budur, daughter of the

Sultan, as she was faring for the baths."

  Then he related to her all and everything that had happened to

him, adding: "Haply thou also hast heard the crier a-crying: 'Let no

man open shop or stand in street that the Lady Badr al-Budur may

repair to the hammam without eye seeing her.' But I have looked upon

her even as she is, for she raised her veil at the door, and when I

viewed her favor and beheld that noble work of the Creator, a sore fit

of ecstasy, O my mother, fell upon me for love of her, and firm

resolve to win her hath opened its way into every limb of me, nor is

repose possible for me except I win her. Wherefor I purpose asking her

to wife from the Sultan, her sire, in lawful wedlock." When

Aladdin's mother heard her son's words, she belittled his wits and

cried: "O my child, the name of Allah upon thee! Meseemeth thou hast

lost thy senses. But be thou rightly guided, O my son, nor be thou

as the men Jinn-maddened!" He replied: "Nay, O mother of mine, I am

not out of my mind, nor am I of the maniacs, nor shall this thy saying

alter one jot of what is in my thoughts. For rest is impossible to

me until I shall have won the dearling of my heart's core, the

beautiful Lady Badr al-Budur. And now I am resolved to ask her of

her sire the Sultan."

  She rejoined: "O my son, by my life upon thee, speak not such

speech, lest any overhear thee and say thou be insane. So cast away

from thee such nonsense! Who shall undertake a matter like this, or

make such request to the King? Indeed, I know not how, supposing thy

speech to be soothfast, thou shalt manage to crave such grace of the

Sultan, or through whom thou desirest to propose it." He retorted:

"Through whom shall I ask it, O my mother, when thou art present?

And who is there fonder and more faithful to me than thyself? So my

design is that thou thyself shalt proffer this my petition." Quoth

she: "O my son, Allah remove me far therefrom! What! Have I lost my

wits, like thyself? Cast the thought away, and a long way, from thy

heart. Remember whose son thou art, O my child, the orphan boy of a

tailor, the poorest and meanest of the tailors toiling in this city;

and I, thy mother, am also come of pauper folk and indigent. How

then durst thou ask to wife the daughter of the Sultan, whose sire

would not deign marry her with the sons of the kings and the

sovereigns, except they were his peers in honor and grandeur and

majesty, and were they but one degree lower, he would refuse his

daughter to them." Aladdin took patience until his parent had said her

say, when quoth he: "O my mother, everything thou hast called to

mind is known to me. Moreover, 'tis thoroughly well known to me that I

am the child of pauper parents, withal do not these words of thee

divert me from my design at all, at all. Nor the less do I hope of

thee, an I be thy son and thou truly love me, that thou grant me

this favor. Otherwise thou wilt destroy me, and present death hovereth

over my head except I win my will of heart's dearling. And I, O my

mother, am in every case thy child."

  Hearing these words, his parent wept of her sorrow for him and said:

"O my child! Yes, in very deed I am thy mother, nor have I any son

or life's blood of my liver except thyself, and the end of my wishes

is to give thee a wife and rejoice in thee. But suppose that I would

seek a bride of our likes and equals, her people will at once ask an

thou have any land or garden, merchandise or handicraft, wherewith

thou canst support her, and what is the reply I can return? Then, if I

cannot possibly answer the poor like ourselves, how shall I be bold

enough, O my son, to ask for the daughter of the Sultan of China land,

who hath no peer or behind or before him? Therefore do thou weigh this

matter in thy mind. Also who shall ask her to wife for the son of a

snip? Well indeed I wot that my saying aught of this kind will but

increase our misfortunes, for that it may be the cause of our

incurring mortal danger from the Sultan- peradventure even death for

thee and me.

  "And, as concerneth myself, how shall I venture upon such rash

deed and perilous, O my son? And in what way shall I ask the Sultan

for his daughter to be thy wife, and indeed how ever shall I even

get access to him? And should I succeed therein, what is to be my

answer an they ask me touching thy means? Haply the King will hold

me to be a madwoman. And lastly, suppose that I obtain audience of the

Sultan, what offering is there I can submit to the King's majesty?

'Tis true, O my child, that the Sultan is mild and merciful, never

rejecting any who approach him to require justice or ruth or

protection, nor any who pray him for a present, for he is liberal

and lavisheth favor upon near and far. But he dealeth his boons to

those deserving them, to men who have done some derring-do in battle

under his eyes or have rendered as civilians great service to his

estate. But thou! Do thou tell me what feat thou hast performed in his

presence or before the public that thou meritest from him such

grace? And secondly, this boon thou ambitionest is not for one of

our condition, nor is it possible that the King grant to thee the

bourne of thine aspiration. For whoso goeth to the Sultan and

craveth of him a favor, him it besitteth to take in hand somewhat that

suiteth the royal majesty, as indeed I warned thee aforetime. How,

then, shalt thou risk thyself to stand before the Sultan and ask his

daughter in marriage when thou hast with thee naught to offer him of

that which beseemeth his exalted station?"

  Hereto Aladdin replied: "O my mother, thou speakest to the point and

hast reminded me aright, and 'tis meet that I revolve in mind the

whole of thy remindings. But, O my mother, the love of Princess Badr

al-Budur hath entered into the core of my heart, nor can I rest

without I win her. However, thou hast also recalled to me a matter

which I forgot, and 'tis this emboldeneth me to ask his daughter of

the King. Albeit thou, O my mother, declarest that I have no gift

which I can submit to the Sultan, as is the wont of the world, yet

in very sooth I have an offering and a present whose equal, O my

mother, I hold none of the kings to possess- no, even aught like it.

Because verily that which I deemed glass or crystal was nothing but

precious stones, and I hold that all the kings of the world have never

possessed anything like one of the smallest thereof. For by

frequenting the jeweler folk I have learned that they are the

costliest gems, and these are what I brought in my pockets from the

hoard, whereupon, an thou please, compose thy mind.

  "We have in our house a bowl of China porcelain, so arise thou and

fetch it, that I may fill it with these jewels, which thou shalt carry

as a gift to the King, and thou shalt stand in his presence and

solicit him for my requirement. I am certified that by such means

the matter will become easy to thee, and if thou be unwilling, O my

mother, to strive for the winning of my wish as regards the Lady

Badr al-Budur, know thou that surely I shall die. Nor do thou

imagine that this gift is of aught save the costliest of stones, and

be assured, O my mother, that in my many visits to the jewelers'

bazaar I have observed the merchants selling for sums man's judgment

may not determine jewels whose beauty is not worth one quarter-carat

of what we possess, seeing which I was certified that ours are

beyond all price. So arise, O my mother, as I bade thee, and bring

me the porcelain bowl aforesaid, that I may arrange therein some of

these gems, and we will see what semblance they show."

  So she brought him the china bowl, saying in herself, "I shall

know what to do when I find out if the words of my child concerning

these jewels be soothfast or not." And she set it before her son,

who pulled the stones out of his pockets and disposed them in the

bowl, and ceased not arranging therein gems of sorts till such time as

he had filled it. And when it was brimful, she could not fix her

eyes firmly upon it; on the contrary, she winked and blinked for the

dazzle of the stones and their radiance and excess of lightninglike

glance, and her wits were bewildered thereat. Only she was not

certified of their value being really of the enormous extent she had

been told. Withal she reflected that possibly her son might have

spoken aright when he declared that their like was not to be found

with the kings. Then Aladdin turned to her and said: "Thou

hast-seen, O my mother, that this present intended for the Sultan is

magnificent, and I am certified that it will procure for thee high

honor with him, and that he will receive thee with all respect. And

now, O my mother, thou hast no excuse, so compose thy thoughts and

arise. Take thou this bowl, and away with it to the palace."

  His mother rejoined: "O my son, 'tis true that the present is

highpriced exceedingly and the costliest of the costly, also that

according to thy word none owneth its like. But who would have the

boldness to go and ask the Sultan for his daughter, the Lady Badr

al-Budur? I indeed dare not say to him, 'I want thy daughter!' when he

shall ask me, 'What is thy want?' For know thou, O my son, that my

tongue will be tied. And granting that Allah assist me and I

embolden myself to say to him, 'My wish is to become a connection of

thine through the marriage of thy daughter the Lady Badr al-Budur,

to my son Aladdin,' they will surely decide at once that I am demented

and will thrust me forth in disgrace and despised. I will not tell

thee that I shall thereby fall into danger of death, for 'twill not be

I only, but thou likewise. However, O my son, of my regard for thine

inclination I needs must embolden myself and hie thither. Yet, O my.

child, if the King receive me and honor me on account of the gift

and inquire of me what thou desirest, and in reply I ask of him that

which thou desirest in the matter of thy marriage with his daughter,

how shall I answer him and he ask me, as is man's wont, 'What

estates hast thou, and what income?' And perchance, O my son, he

will question me of this before questioning me of thee."

  Aladdin replied: "'Tis not possible that the Sultan should make such

demand what time he considereth the jewels and their magnificence, nor

is it meet to think of such things as these, which may never occur.

Now do thou but arise and set before him this present of precious

stones and ask of him his daughter for me, and sit not yonder making

much of the difficulty in thy fancy. Ere this thou hast learned, O

mother mine, that the lamp which we possess hath become to us a stable

income, and that whatso I want of it the same is supplied to me. And

my hope is that by means thereof I shall learn how to answer the

Sultan should he ask me of that thou sayest." Then Aladdin and his

mother fell to talking over the subject all that night long, and

when morning morrowed, the dame arose and heartened her heart,

especially as her son had expounded to her some little of the powers

of the lamp and the virtues thereof; to wit, that it would supply

all they required of it. Aladdin, however, seeing his parent take

courage when he explained to her the workings of the lamp, feared lest

she might tattle to the folk thereof, so he said to her: "O my mother,

beware how thou talk to any of the properties of the lamp and its

profit, as this is our one great good. Guard thy thoughts lest thou

speak overmuch concerning it before others, whoso they be. Haply we

shall lose it and lose the boon fortune we possess and the benefits we

expect, for that 'tis of him." His mother replied, "Fear not therefor,

O my son," and she arose and took the bowl full of jewels, which she

wrapped up in a fine kerchief, and went forth betimes that she might

reach the Divan ere it became crowded.

  When she passed into the palace, the levee not being fully attended,

she saw the wazirs and sundry of the lords of the land going into

the presence room, and after a short time, when the Divan was made

complete by the Ministers and high officials and chieftains and

emirs and grandees, the Sultan appeared, and the wazirs made their

obeisance and likewise did the nobles and the notables. The King

seated himself upon the throne of his kingship, and all present at the

levee stood before him with crossed arms awaiting his commandment to

sit, and when they received it, each took his place according to his

degree. Then the claimants came before the Sultan, who delivered

sentence, after his wonted way, until the Divan was ended, when the

King arose and withdrew into the palace and the others all went

their ways. And when Aladdin's mother saw the throne empty and the

King passing into his harem, she also wended her ways and returned

home. But as soon as her son espied her, bowl in hand, he thought that

haply something untoward had befallen her, but he would not ask of

aught until such time as she had set down the bowl, when she

acquainted him with that had occurred and ended by adding:

"Alhamdolillah- laud to the Lord!- O my child, that I found courage

enough and secured for myself standing place in the levee this day.

And, albe' I dreaded to bespeak the King yet (Inshallah!) on the

morrow I will address him. Even today were many who, like myself,

could not get audience of the Sultan. But be of good cheer, O my

son, and tomorrow needs must I bespeak him for thy sake, and what

happened not may happen." When Aladdin heard his parent's words, he

joyed with excessive joy, and, although he expected the matter to be

managed hour by hour, for excess of his love and longing to the Lady

Badr al-Budur, yet he possessed his soul in patience.

  They slept well that night, and betimes next morning the mother of

Aladdin arose and went with her bowl to the King's Court, which she

found closed. So she asked the people and they told her that the

Sultan did not hold a levee every day, but only thrice in the

sennight, wherefor she determined to return home. And after this,

whenever she saw the Court open she would stand before the King

until the reception ended, and when it was shut she would go to make

sure thereof, and this was the case for the whole month. The Sultan

was wont to remark her presence at every levee, but on the last day

when she took her station, as was her wont, before the Council, she

allowed it to close, and lacked boldness to come forward and speak

even a syllable. Now as the King, having risen, was making for his

harem accompanied by the Grand Wazir, he turned to him and said: "O

Wazir, during the last six or seven levee days I see yonder old

woman present herself at every reception, and I also note that she

always carrieth a something under her mantilla. Say me, hast thou, O

Wazir, any knowledge of her and her intention?" "O my lord the

Sultan," said the other, "verily women be weakly of wits, and haply

this goodwife cometh hither to complain before thee against her

goodman or some of her people." But this reply was far from satisfying

the Sultan- nay, he bade the Wazir, in case she should come again,

set her before him, and forthright the Minister placed hand on head

and exclaimed, "To hear is to obey, O our lord the Sultan!"

  Now one day of the days, when she did according to her custom, the

Sultan cast his eyes upon her as she stood before him and said to

his Grand Wazir: "This be the very woman whereof I spake to thee

yesterday, so do thou straightway bring her before me, that I may

see what be her suit and fulfill her need." Accordingly the Minister

at once introduced her, and when in the presence she saluted the

King by kissing her finger tips and raising them to her brow, and,

praying for the Sultan's glory and continuance and the permanence of

his prosperity, bussed ground before him. Thereupon quoth he: "O

woman, for sundry days I have seen thee attend the levee sans a word

said, so tell me an thou have any requirement I may grant." She kissed

ground a second time and after blessing him, answered: "Yea, verily,

as thy head liveth, O King of the Age, I have a want. But first of all

do thou deign grant me a promise of safety, that I may prefer my

suit to the ears of our lord the Sultan, for haply thy Highness may

find it a singular." The King, wishing to know her need, and being a

man of unusual mildness and clemency, gave his word for her immunity

and bade forthwith dismiss all about him, remaining without other

but the Grand Wazir. Then he turned toward his suppliant and said:

"Inform me of thy suit. Thou hast the safeguard of Allah Almighty." "O

King of the Age," replied she, "I also require of thee pardon," and

quoth he, "Allah pardon thee even as I do."

  Then quoth she: "O our lord the Sultan, I have a son, Aladdin hight,

and he, one day of the days, having heard the crier commanding all men

to shut shop and shun the streets for that the Lady Badr al-Budur,

daughter of the Sultan, was going to the hammam, felt an

uncontrollable longing to look upon her, and hid himself in a stead

whence he could sight her right well, and that place was behind the

door of the baths. When she entered, he beheld her and considered

her as he wished, and but too well, for since the time he looked

upon her, O King of the Age, unto this hour, life hath not been

pleasant to him. And he hath required of me that I ask her to wife for

him from thy Highness, nor could I drive this fancy from his mind,

because love of her hath mastered his vitals and to such degree that

he said to me, 'Know thou, O mother mine, that an I win not my wish

surely I shall die.' Accordingly I hope that thy Highness will deign

be mild and merciful and pardon this boldness on the part of me and my

child and refrain to punish us therefor."

  When the Sultan heard her tale, he regarded her with kindness and,

laughing aloud, asked her, "What may be that thou carriest, and what

be in yonder kerchief?" And she, seeing the Sultan laugh in lieu of

waxing wroth at her words, forthright opened the wrapper and set

before him the bowl of jewels, whereby the audience hall was illumined

as it were by lusters and candelabra. And he was dazed and amazed at

the radiance of the rare gems, and he fell to marveling at their

size and beauty and excellence and cried: "Never at all until this day

saw I anything like these jewels for size and beauty and excellence,

nor deem I that there be found in my Treasury a single one like them."

Then he turned to his Minister and asked: "What sayest thou, O

Wazir? Tell me, hast thou seen in thy time such mighty fine jewels

as these?" The other answered: "Never saw I such, O our lord the

Sultan, nor do I think that there be in the treasures of my lord the

Sultan the fellow of the least thereof." The King resumed: "Now indeed

whoso hath presented to me such jewels meriteth to become bridegroom

to my daughter, Badr al-Budur, because, as far as I see, none is

more deserving of her than he." When the Wazir heard the Sultan's

words, he was tongue-tied with concern, and he grieved with sore

grief, for the King had promised to give the Princess in marriage to

his son. So after a little while he said: "O King of the Age, thy

Highness deigned promise me that the Lady Badr al-Budur should be

spouse to my son, so 'tis but right that thine Exalted Highness

vouchsafe us a delay of three months, during which time, Inshallah! my

child may obtain and present an offering yet costlier than this."

Accordingly the King, albeit he knew that such a thing could not be

done, or by the Wazir or by the greatest of his grandees, yet of his

grace and kindness granted him the required delay.

  Then he turned to the old woman, Aladdin's mother, and said: "Go

to thy son and tell him I have pledged my word that my daughter

shall be in his name. Only 'tis needful that I make the requisite

preparations of nuptial furniture for her use, and 'tis only meet that

he take patience for the next three months." Receiving this reply,

Aladdin's mother thanked the Sultan and blessed him, then, going forth

in hottest haste, as one flying for joy, she went home. And when her

son saw her entering with a smiling face, he was gladdened at the

sip of good news, especially because she had returned without delay,

as on the past days, and had not brought back the bowl. Presently he

asked her saying: "Inshallah, thou bearest me, O my mother, glad

tidings, and peradventure the jewels and their value have wrought

their work, and belike thou hast been kindly received by the King

and he hath shown thee grace and hath given ear to thy request?" So

she told him the whole tale, how the Sultan had entreated her well and

had marveled at the extraordinary size of the gems and their

surpassing water, as did also the Wazir, adding: "And he promised that

his daughter should be thine. Only, O my child, the Wazir spake of a

secret contract made with him by the Sultan before he pledged

himself to me and, after speaking privily, the King put me off to

the end of three months. Therefore I have become fearful lest the

Wazir be evilly disposed to thee, and perchance he may attempt to

change the Sultan's mind."

  When Aladdin heard his mother's words and how the Sultan had

promised him his daughter, deferring, however, the wedding until after

the third month, his mind was gladdened and he rejoiced exceedingly

and said: Inasmuch as the King hath given his word after three

months (well, it is a long time!), at all events my gladness is mighty

great." Then he thanked his parent, showing her how her good work

had exceeded her toil and travail, and said to her: "By Allah, O my

mother, hitherto I was as 'twere in my grave and therefrom thou hast

withdrawn me. And I praise Allah Almighty because I am at this

moment certified that no man in the world is happier than I, or more

fortunate." Then he took patience until two of the three months had

gone by.

  Now one day of the days his mother fared forth about sundown to

the bazaar that she might buy somewhat of oil, and she found all the

market shops fast shut and the whole city decorated, and the folk

placing waxen tapers and flowers at their casements. And she beheld

the soldiers and household troops and agas riding in procession, and

flambeaux and lusters flaming and flaring, and she wondered at the

marvelous sight and the glamour of the scene. So she went in to an

ouman's store which stood open still and bought her need of him and

said: "By thy life, O uncle, tell me what be the tidings in town

this day, that people have made all these decorations and every

house and market street are adorned and the troops all stand on

guard?" The oilman asked her, "O woman, I suppose thou art a stranger,

and not one of this city?" and she answered, "Nay, I am thy

townswoman." He rejoined: "Thou a townswoman, and yet wottest not that

this very night the son of the Grand Wazir goeth in to the Lady Badr

al-Budur, daughter of the Sultan! He is now in the hammam, and all

this power of soldiery is on guard and standing under arms to await

his coming forth, when they will bear him in bridal procession to the

palace, where the Princess expecteth him."

  As the mother of Aladdin heard these words, she grieved and was

distraught in thought and perplexed how to inform her son of this

sorrowful event, well knowing that the poor youth was looking, hour by

hour, to the end of the three months. But she returned straightway

home to him, and when she entered she said, "O my son, I would give

thee certain tidings, yet hard to me will be the sorrow they shall

occasion thee." He cried, "Let me know what be thy news," and she

replied: "Verily the Sultan hath broken his promise to thee in the

matter of the Lady Badr al-Budur, and this very night the Grand

Wazir's son goeth in to her. And for some time, O my son, I have

suspected that the Minister would change the King's mind, even as I

told thee how he had spoken privily to him before me." Aladdin

asked: "How learnedst thou that the Wazir's son is this night to pay

his first visit to the Princess?" So she told him the whole tale,

how when going to buy oil she had found the city decorated and the

eunuch officials and lords of the land with the troops under arms

awaiting the bridegroom from the baths, and that the first visit was

appointed for that very night.

  Hearing this, Aladdin was seized with a fever of jealousy brought on

by his grief. However, after a short while he remembered the lamp and,

recovering his spirits, said: "By thy life, O my mother, do thou

believe that the Wazir's son will not enjoy her as thou thinkest.

But now leave we this discourse, and arise thou and serve up supper,

and after eating let me retire to my own chamber and all will be

well and happy." After he had supped Aladdin retired to his chamber

and, locking the door, brought out the lamp and rubbed it, whenas

forthright appeared to him its familiar, who said: "Ask whatso thou

wantest, for I am thy slave and slave to him who holdeth the lamp in

hand, I and all the Slaves of the Lamp." He replied: "Hear me! I

prayed the Sultan for his daughter to wife and he plighted her to me

after three months, but he hath not kept his word- nay, he hath given

her to the son of the Wazir, and this very night the bridegroom will

go in to her. Therefore I command thee (an thou be a trusty servitor

to the lamp), when thou shalt see bride and bridegroom bedded together

this night, at once take them up and bear them hither abed. And this

be what I want of thee." The Marid replied, "Hearing and obeying,

and if thou have other service but this, do thou demand of me all thou

desirest." Aladdin rejoined, "At the present time I require naught

save that I bade thee do."

  Hereupon the slave disappeared and Aladdin returned to pass the rest

of the evening with his mother. But at the hour when he knew that

the servitor would be coming, he arose and retired to his chamber, and

after a little while, behold, the Marid came, bring to him the newly

wedded couple upon their bridal bed. Aladdin rejoiced to see them with

exceeding joy, then he cried to the slave, "Carry yonder gallowsbird

hence and lay him at full length in the privy." His bidding was done

straightway, but before leaving him, the slave blew upon the

bridegroom a blast so cold that it shriveled him, and the plight of

the Wazir's son became piteous. Then the servitor, returning to

Aladdin, said to him, "An thou require aught else, inform me thereof,"

and said the other, "Return a-morn, that thou mayest restore them to

their stead," whereto, "I hear and obey," quoth the Marid, and

evanished.

  Presently Aladdin arose, hardly believing that the affair had been

such a success for him, but whenas he looked upon the Lady Badr

al-Budur lying under his own roof, albeit he had long burned with

her love, yet he preserved respect for her and said: "O Princess of

fair ones, think not that I brought thee hither to minish thy honor.

Heaven forfend! Nay, 'twas only to prevent the wrong man enjoying

thee, for that thy sire, the Sultan, promised thee to me. So do thou

rest in peace." When the Lady Badr al-Budur, daughter of the Sultan,

saw herself in that mean and darksome lodging, and heard Aladdin's

words, she was seized with fear and trembling and waxed clean

distraught, nor could she return aught of reply. Presently the youth

arose, and stripping off his outer dress, placed a scimitar between

them and lay upon the bed beside the Princess. And he did no villain

deed, for it sufficed him to prevent the consummation of her

nuptials with the Wazir's son. On the other hand, the Lady Badr

al-Budur passed a night the evilest of all nights, nor in her born

days had she seen a worse. And the same was the case with the

Minister's son, who lay in the chapel of ease and who dared not stir

for the fear of the Jinni which overwhelmed him.

  As soon as it was morning the slave appeared before Aladdin

without the lamp being rubbed, and said to him: "O my lord, an thou

require aught, command me therefor, that I may do it upon my head

and mine eyes." Said the other: "Go, take up and carry the bride and

bridegroom to their own apartment." So the servitor did his bidding in

an eye glance and bore away the pair and placed them in the palace

as whilom they were and without their seeing anyone. But both died

of affright when they found themselves being transported from stead to

stead. And the Marid had barely time to set them down and wend his

ways ere the Sultan came on a visit of congratulation to his daughter.

And when the Wazir's son heard the doors thrown open, he sprang

straightway from his couch and donned his dress, for he knew that none

save the King could enter at that hour. Yet it was exceedingly hard

for him to leave his bed, wherein he wished to warm himself a trifle

after his cold night in the watercloset which he had lately left.

The Sultan went in to his daughter, Badr al-Budur, and, kissing her

between the eyes, gave her good morning and asked her of her

bridegroom and whether she was pleased and satisfied with him. But she

returned no reply whatever and looked at him with the eye of anger,

and although he repeated his words again and again, she held her

peace, nor bespake him with a single syllable.

  So the King quitted her and, going to the Queen, informed her of

what had taken place, between him and his daughter, and the mother,

unwilling to leave the Sultan angered with their child, said to him:

"O King of the Age, this be the custom of most newly married

couples, at least during their first days of marriage, for that they

are bashful and somewhat coy. So deign thou excuse her, and after a

little while she will again become herself and speak with the folk

as before, whereas now her shame, O King of the Age, keepeth her

silent. However, 'tis my wish to fare forth and see her." Thereupon

the Queen arose and donned her dress, then, going to her daughter,

wished her good morning and kissed her between the eyes. Yet would the

Princess make no answer at all, whereat quoth the Queen to herself:

"Doubtless some strange matter hath occurred to trouble her with

such trouble as this." So she asked her, saying: "O my daughter,

what hath caused this thy case? Let me know what hath betided thee

that when I come and give thee good morniing, thou hast not a word

to say to me." Thereat the Lady Badr al-Budur raised her head and

said: "Pardon me, O my mother, 'twas my duty to meet thee with all

respect and worship, seeing that thou hast honored me by this visit.

However, I pray thee to hear the cause of this my condition and see

how the night I have just spent hath been to me the evilest of the

nights. Hardly had we lain down, O my mother, than one whose form I

wot not uplifted our bed and transported it to a darksome place,

fulsome and mean."

  Then the Princess related to the Queen Mother all that had

befallen her that night- how they had taken away her bridegroom,

leaving her lone and lonesome, and how after a while came another

youth who lay beside her in lieu of her bridegroom, after placing

his scimitar between her and himself. "And in the morning," she

continued, "he who carried us off returned and bore us straight back

to our own stead. But at once when he arrived hither he left us, and

suddenly my sire, the Sultan, entered at the hour and moment of our

coming and I had nor heart nor tongue to speak him withal, for the

stress of the terror and trembling which came upon me. Haply such lack

of duty may have proved sore to him, so I hope, O my mother, that thou

wilt acquaint him with the cause of this my condition, and pardon me

for not answering him and blame me not, accept my excuses."

  When the Queen heard these words of Princess Badr al-Budur, she said

to her: "O my child, compose thy thoughts. An thou tell such tale

before any, haply shall he say, 'Verily, the Sultan's daughter hath

lost her wits.' And thou hast done right well in not choosing to

recount thine adventure to thy father, and beware, and again I say

beware, O my daughter, lest thou inform him thereof." The Princess

replied: "O my mother, I have spoken to thee like one sound in senses,

nor have I lost my wits. This be what befell me, and if thou believe

it not because coming from me, ask my bridegroom." To which the

Queen replied: "Rise up straightway, O my daughter, and banish from

thy thoughts such fancies as these. And robe thyself and come forth to

glance at the bridal feasts and festivities they are making in the

city for the sake of thee and thy nuptials, and listen to the drumming

and the singing and look at the decorations all intended to honor

thy marriage, O my daughter."

  So saying, the Queen at once summoned the tirewoman, who dressed and

prepared the Lady Badr al-Budur, and presently she went in to the

Sultan and assured him that their daughter had suffered during all her

wedding night from swevens and nightmare, and said to him, "Be not

severe with her for not answering thee." Then the Queen sent privily

for the Wazir's son and asked of the matter, saying, "Tell me, are

these words of the Lady Badr al-Budur soothfast or not?" But he, in

his fear of losing his bride out of hand, answered, "O my lady, I have

no knowledge of that whereof thou speakest." Accordingly the mother

made sure that her daughter had seen visions and dreams. The

marriage feasts lasted throughout that day with almes and singers

and the smiting of all manner instruments of mirth and merriment,

while the Queen and the Wazir and his son strave right strenuously

to enhance the festivities that the Princess might enjoy herself.

And that day they left nothing of what exciteth to pleasure

unrepresented in her presence, to the end that she might forget what

was in her thoughts and derive increase of joyance.

  Yet did naught of this take any effect upon her- nay, she sat in

silence, sad of thought, sore perplexed at what had befallen her

during the last night. It is true that the Wazir's son had suffered

even more he had passed his sleeping hours lying in the watercloset.

He, however had falsed the story and had cast out remembrance of the

night, in the first place for his fear of losing his bride and with

her the honor of a connection which brought him such excess of

consideration and for which men envied him so much, and secondly, on

account of the wondrous loveliness of the Lady Badr al-Budur and her

marvelous beauty.

  Aladdin also went forth that day and looked at the merrymakings,

which extended throughout the city as well as the palace, and he

fell a-laughing, especially when he heard the folk prating of the high

honor which had accrued to the son of the Wazir and the prosperity

of his fortunes in having become son-in-law to the Sultan, and the

high consideration shown by the wedding fetes. And he said in his

mind: "Indeed ye wot not, O ye miserables, what befell him last night,

that ye envy him!" But after darkness fell and it was time for

sleep, Aladdin arose and, retiring to his chamber, rubbed the lamp,

whereupon the slave incontinently appeared and was bidden to bring him

the Sultan's daughter, together with her bridegroom, as on the past

night, ere the Wazir's son could abate her maidenhead. So the Marid

without stay or delay evanished for a little while until the appointed

time, when he returned carrying the bed whereon lay the Lady Badr

al-Budur and the Wazir's son. And he did with the bridegroom as he had

done before; to wit, he took him and laid him at full length in the

jakes and there left him dried-up for excess of fear and trembling.

Then Aladdin arose and, placing the scimitar between himself and the

Princess, lay down beside her, and when day broke the slave restored

the pair to their own place, leaving Aladdin filled with delight at

the state of the Minister's son.

  Now when the Sultan woke up a-morn, he resolved to visit his

daughter and see if she would treat him as on the past day. So,

shaking off his sleep, he sprang up and arrayed himself in his

raiment, and going to the apartment of the Princess, bade open the

door. Thereat the son of the Wazir arose forthright and came down from

his bed and began donning his dress whilst his ribs were wrung with

cold. For when the King entered the slave had but just brought him

back. The Sultan, raising the arras, drew near his daughter as she lay

abed and gave her good morning. Then, kissing her between the eyes, he

asked her of her case. But he saw her looking sour and sad, and she

answered him not at all only glowering at him as one in anger, and her

plight was pitiable. Hereat the Sultan waxed wroth with her for that

she would not reply, and he suspected that something evil had befallen

her, whereupon he bared his blade and cried to her, brand in hand,

saying: "What be this hath betided thee? Either acquaint me with

what happened or this very moment I will take thy life! Is such

conduct the token of honor and respect I expect of thee, that I

address thee and thou answerest me not a word?"

  When the Lady Badr al-Budur saw her sire in high dudgeon and the

naked glaive in his grip, she was freed from her fear of the past,

so she raised her head and said to him: "O my beloved father, be not

wroth with me, nor be hasty in thy hot passion, for I am excusable

in what thou shalt see of my case. So do thou lend an ear to what

occurred to me, and well I wot that after hearing my account of what

befell to me during these two last nights, thou wilt pardon me, and

thy Highness will be softened to pitying me even as I claim of thee

affection for thy child." Then the Princess informed her father of all

that had betided her, adding: "O my sire, an thou believe me not,

ask my bridegroom and he will recount to thy Highness the whole

adventure. Nor did I know either what they would do with him when they

bore him away from my side or where they would place him." When the

Sultan heard his daughter's words, he was saddened and his eyes

brimmed with tears, then he sheathed his saber and kissed her, saying:

"O my daughter, wherefore didst thou not tell me what happened on

the past night, that I might have guarded thee from this torture and

terror which visited thee a second time? But now 'tis no matter.

Rise and cast out all such care, and tonight I will set a watch to

ward thee, nor shall any mishap again make thee miserable."

  Then the Sultan returned to his palace and straightway bade summon

the Grand Wazir and asked him as he stood before him in his service:

"O Wazir, how dost thou look upon this matter? Haply thy son hath

informed thee of what occurred to him and to my daughter." The

Minister replied, "O King of the Age, I have not seen my son or

yesterday or today." Hereat the Sultan told him all that had afflicted

the Princess, adding: "'Tis my desire that thou at once seek tidings

of thy son concerning the facts of the case. Peradventure of her

fear my daughter may not be fully aware of what really befell her,

withal I hold all her words to be truthful." So the Grand Wazir arose,

and going forth, bade summon his son and asked him anent all his

lord had told him whether it be true or untrue. The youth replied:

"O my father the Wazir, Heaven forbid that the Lady Badr al-Budur

speak falsely. Indeed all she said was sooth, and these two nights

proved to us the evilest of our nights instead of being nights of

pleasure and marriage joys. But what befell me was the greater evil,

because instead of sleeping abed with my bride, I lay in the wardrobe,

a black hole, frightful, noisome of stench, truly damnable, and my

ribs were bursten with cold." In fine, the young man told his father

the whole tale, adding as he ended it: "O dear father mine, I

implore thee to speak with the Sultan that he may set me free from

this marriage. Yes, indeed 'tis a high honor for me to be the Sultan's

son-in-law, and especially the love of the Princess hath gotten hold

of my vitals, but I have no strength left to endure a single night

like unto these two last."

  The Wazir, hearing the words of his son, was saddened and

sorrowful exceedingly, for it was his desire to advance and promote

his child by making him son-in-law to the Sultan. So he became

thoughtful and perplexed about the affair and the device whereby to

manage it, and it was sore grievous for him to break off the marriage,

it having been a rare enjoyment to him that he had fallen upon such

high good fortune. Accordingly he said: "Take patience, O my son,

until we see what may happen this night, when we will set watchmen

to ward you. Nor do thou give up the exalted distinction which hath

fallen to none save to thyself." Then the Wazir left him and,

returning to the sovereign, reported that all told to him by the

Lady Badr al-Budur was a true tale. Whereupon quoth the Sultan, "Since

the affair is on this wise, we require no delay," and he at once

ordered all the rejoicings to cease and the marriage to be broken off.

This caused the folk and the citizens to marvel at the matter,

especially when they saw the Grand Wazir and his son leaving the

palace in pitiable plight for grief and stress of passion, and the

people fell to asking, "What hath happened, and what is the cause of

the wedding being made null and void?"

  Nor did any know aught of the truth save Aladdin, the lover who

claimed the Princess's hand, and he laughed in his sleeve. But even

after the marriage was dissolved, the Sultan forgot nor even

recalled to mind his promise made to Aladdin's mother, and the same

was the case with the Grand Wazir, while neither had any inkling of

whence befell them that which had befallen. So Aladdin patiently

awaited the lapse of the three months after which the Sultan had

pledged himself to give him to wife his daughter. But soon as ever the

term came, he sent his mother to the Sultan for the purpose of

requiring him to keep his covenant. So she went to the palace, and

when the King appeared in the Divan and saw the old woman standing

before him, he remembered his promise to her concerning the marriage

after a term of three months, and he turned to the Minister and

said: "O Wazir, this be the ancient dame who presented me with the

jewels and to whom we pledged our word that when the three months

had elapsed we would summon her to our presence before all others." So

the Minister went forth and fetched her, and when she went in to the

Sultan's presence she saluted him and prayed for his glory and

permanence of prosperity. Hereat the King asked her if she needed

aught, and she answered: "O King of the Age, the three months' term

thou assignedst to me is finished, and this is thy time to my son

Aladdin with thy daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur."

  The Sultan was distraught at this demand, especially when he saw the

old woman's pauper condition, one of the meanest of her kind, and

yet the offering she had brought to him was of the most magnificent,

far beyond his power to pay the price. Accordingly he turned to the

Grand Wazir and said: "What device is there with thee? In very sooth I

did pass my word, yet meseemeth that they be pauper folk, and not

persons of high condition." The Grand Wazir, who was dying of envy and

who was especially saddened by what had befallen his son, said to

himself, "How shall one like this wed the King's daughter and my son

lose this highmost honor?" Accordingly he answered his sovereign,

speaking privily: "O my lord, 'tis an easy matter to keep off a poor

devil such as this, for he is not worthy that thy Highness give his

daughter to a fellow whom none knoweth what he may be." "By what

means," inquired the Sultan, "shall we put off the man when I

pledged my promise, and the word of the kings is their bond?"

Replied the Wazir: "O my lord, my rede is that thou demand of him

forty platters made of pure sand gold and full of gems (such as the

woman brought thee aforetime), with forty white slave girls to carry

the platters and forty black eunuch slaves." The King rejoined: "By

Allah, O Wazir, thou hast spoken to the purpose, seeing that such

thing is not possible, and by this way we shall be freed."

  Then quoth he to Aladdin's mother: "Do thou go and tell thy son that

I am a man of my word even as I plighted it to him, but on condition

that he have power to pay the dower of my daughter. And that which I

require of him is a settlement consisting of twoscore platters of

virgin gold, all brimming with gems the like of those thou

broughtest to me, and as many white handmaids to carry them and

twoscore black eunuch slaves to serve and escort the bearers. An thy

son avail hereto, I will marry him with my daughter." Thereupon she

returned home wagging her head and saying in her mind: "Whence can

my poor boy procure these platters and such jewels? And granted that

he return to the enchanted treasury and pluck them from the

trees- which, however, I hold impossible- yet given that he bring

them, whence shall he come by the girls and the blacks?" Nor did she

leave communing with herself till she reached her home, where she

found Aladdin awaiting her, and she lost no time in saying: "O my son,

did I not tell thee never to fancy that thy power would extend to

the Lady Badr al-Budur, and that such a matter is not possible to folk

like ourselves?"

  "Recount to me the news," quoth he, so quoth she: "O my child,

verily the Sultan received me with all honor according to his

custom, and meseemeth his intentions toward us be friendly. But

thine enemy is that accursed Wazir, for after I addressed the King

in thy name as thou badest me say, 'In very sooth the promised term is

past,' adding, "Twere well an thy Highness would deign issue

commandment for the espousals of thy daughter the Lady Badr al-Budur

to my son Aladdin,' he turned to and addressed the Minister, who

answered privily, after which the Sultan gave me his reply." Then

she enumerated the King's demand and said: "O my son, he indeed

expecteth of thee an instant reply, but I fancy that we have no answer

for him." When Aladdin heard these words, he laughed and said: "O my

mother, thou affirmest that we have no answer and thou deemest the

case difficult exceedingly, but compose thy thoughts and arise and

bring me somewhat we may eat. And after we have dined, an the

Compassionate be willing, thou shalt see my reply. Also the Sultan

thinketh like thyself that he hath demanded a prodigious dower in

order to divert me from his daughter, whereas the fact is that he hath

required of me a matter far less than I expected. But do thou fare

forth at once and purchase the provision and leave me to procure

thee a reply."

  So she went out to fetch her needful from the bazaar and Aladdin

retired to his chamber and, taking the lamp, rubbed it, when

forthright appeared to him its slave and said, "Ask, O my lord, whatso

thou wantest." The other replied: "I have demanded of the Sultan his

daughter to wife, and he hath required of me forty bowls of purest

gold each weighing ten pounds and all to be filled with gems such as

we find in the gardens of the hoard; furthermore, that they be borne

on the heads of as many white handmaids, each attended by her black

eunuch slave, also forty in full rate. So I desire that thou bring all

these into my presence." "Hearkening and obeying, O my lord," quoth

the slave and, disappearing for the space of an hour or so,

presently returned bringing the platters and jewels, handmaids and

eunuchs. Then, setting them before him, the Marid cried: "This be what

thou demandest of me. Declare now an thou want any matter or service

other than this." Aladdin rejoined: "I have need of naught else, but

an I do, I will summon thee and let thee know."

  The slave now disappeared, and after a little while, Aladdin's

mother returned home, and on entering the house, saw the blacks and

the handmaids. Hereat she wondered and exclaimed, "All this proceedeth

from the lamp which Allah perpetuate to my son!" But ere she doffed

her mantilla Aladdin said to her: "O my mother, this be thy time.

Before the Sultan enter his seraglio palace do thou carry to him

what he required, and wend thou with it at once, so may he know that I

avail to supply all he wanteth and yet more. Also that he is

beguiled by his Grand wazir, and the twain imagined vainly that they

would baffle me." Then he arose forthright and opened the house

door, when the handmaids and blackamoors paced forth in pairs, each

girl with her eunuch besider her, until they crowded the quarter,

Aladdin's mother foregoing them. And when the folk of that ward

sighted such mighty fine sight and marvelous spectacle, all stood at

gaze and they considered the forms and figures of the handmaids,

marveling at their beauty and loveliness, for each and every wore

robes inwrought with gold and studded with jewels, no dress being

worth less than a thousand dinars. They stared as intently at the

bowls, and albeit these were covered with pieces of brocade, also

orfrayed and dubbed with precious stones, yet the sheen outshot from

them dulled the shine of sun.

  Then Aladdin's mother walked forward and all the handmaids and

eunuchs paced behind her in the best of ordinance and disposition, and

the citizens gathered to gaze at the beauty of the damsels, glorifying

God the Most Great, until the train reached the palace and entered

it accompanied by the tailor's widow. Now when the agas and

chamberlains and army officers beheld them, all were seized with

surprise, notably by seeing the handmaids, who each and every would

ravish the reason of an anchorite. And albeit the royal chamberlains

and officials were men of family, the sons of grandees and emirs,

yet they could not but especially wonder at the costly dresses of

the girls and the platters borne upon their heads, nor could they gaze

at them open-eyed by reason of the exceeding brilliance and

radiance. Then the nabobs went in and reported to the King, who

forthright bade admit them to the presence chamber, and Aladdin's

mother went in with them.

  When they stood before the Sultan, all saluted him with every sign

of respect and worship and prayed for his glory and prosperity. Then

they set down from their heads the bowls at his feet and, having

removed the brocade covers, rested with arms crossed behind them.

The Sultan wondered with exceeding wonder, and was distraught by the

beauty of the handmaids and their loveliness, which passed praise. And

his wits were wildered when he considered the golden bowls brimful

of gems which captured man's vision, and he was perplexed at the

marvel until he became like the dumb, unable to utter a syllable for

the excess of his wonder. Also his sense was stupefied the more when

he bethought him that within an hour or so all these treasures had

been collected. Presently he commanded the slave girls to enter,

with what loads they bore, the dower of the Princess, and when they

had done his bidding, Aladdin's mother came forward and said to the

Sultan: "O my lord, this be not much wherewith to honor the Lady

Badr al-Budur, for that she meriteth these things multiplied times

manifold."

  Hereat the sovereign turned to the Minister and asked: "What

sayest thou, O Wazir? Is not he who could produce such wealth in a

time so brief, is he not, I say, worthy to become the Sultan's

son-in-law and take the King's daughter to wife?" Then the Minister

(although he marveled at these riches even more than did the

Sultan), whose envy was killing him and growing greater hour by

hour, seeing his liege lord satisfied with the moneys and the dower

and yet being unable to fight against fact, made answer, "'Tis not

worthy of her." Withal he fell to devising a device against the

King, that he might withhold the Lady Badr al-Budur from Aladdin,

and accordingly he continued: "O my liege, the treasures of the

universe all of them are not worth a nail paring of thy daughter.

Indeed thy Highness hath prized these things overmuch in comparison

with her."

  When the King heard the words of his Grand Wazir, he knew that the

speech was prompted by excess of envy, so, turning to the mother of

Aladdin, he said: "O woman, go to thy son and tell him that I have

accepted of him the dower and stand to my bargain, and that my

daughter be his bride and he my son-in-law. Furthermore, bid him at

once make act of presence that I may become familiar with him. He

shall see naught from me save all honor and consideration, and this

night shall be the beginning of the marriage festivities. Only, as I

said to thee, let him come to me and tarry not." Thereupon Aladdin's

mother returned home with the speed of the storm winds that she

might hasten her utmost to congratulate her son, and she flew with joy

at the thought that her boy was about to become son-in-law to the

Sultan.

  After her departure the King dismissed the Divan and, entering the

palace of the Princess, bade them bring the bowls and the handmaids

before him and before her, that she also might inspect them. But

when the Lady Badr al-Budur considered the jewels, she waxed

distraught and cried: "Meseemeth that in the treasuries of the world

there be not found one jewel rivaling these jewels." Then she looked

at the handmaids and marveled at their beauty and loveliness, and knew

that all this came from her new bridegroom, who had sent them in her

service. So she was gladdened, albeit she had been grieved and

saddened on account of her former husband, the Wazir's son, and she

rejoiced with exceeding joy when she gazed upon the damsels and

their charms. Nor was her sire, the Sultan, less pleased and

inspirited when he saw his daughter relieved of an her mourning and

melancholy, and his own vanished at the sight of her enjoyment. Then

he asked her: "O my daughter, do these things divert thee? Indeed I

deem that this suitor of thine be more suitable to thee than the son

of the Wazir, and right soon, Inshallah! O my daughter, thou shalt

have fuller joy with him."

  Such was the case with the King, but as regards Aladdin, as soon

as he saw his mother entering the house with face laughing for

stress of joy he rejoiced at the sign of glad tidings and cried: "To

Allah alone be lauds! Perfected is an I desired." Rejoined his mother:

"Be gladdened at my good news, O my son, and hearten thy heart and

cool thine eyes for the winning of thy wish. The Sultan hath

accepted thine offering- I mean the moneys and the dower of the Lady

Badr al-Budur, who is now thine affianced bride. And this very

night, O my child, is your marriage and thy first visit to her, for

the King, that he might assure me of his word, hath proclaimed to

the world thou art his son-in-law, and promised this night to be the

night of going in. But he also said to me, 'Let thy son come hither

forthright that I may become familiar with him and receive him with

all honor and worship.' And now here am I, O my son, at the end of

my labors. Happen whatso may happen, the rest is upon thy shoulders."

  Thereupon Aladdin arose and kissed his mother's hand and thanked

her, enhancing her kindly service. Then he left her and, entering

his chamber, took the lamp and rubbed it, when, lo and behold! its

slave appeared and cried: "Adsum! Ask whatso thou wantest." The

young man replied: "'Tis my desire that thou take me to a hammam whose

like is not in the world. Then fetch me a dress so costly and kingly

that no royalty ever owned its fellow." The Marid replied, "I hear and

I obey," and carried him to baths such as were never seen by the Kings

of the Chosroes, for the building was all of alabaster and camelian,

and it contained marvelous limnings which captured the sight, and

the great hall was studded with precious stones. Not a soul was

therein, but when Aladdin entered, one of the Jann in human shape

washed him and bathed him to the best of his desire. Aladdin after

having been washed and bathed, left the baths and went into the

great hall, where he found that his old dress had been removed and

replaced by a suit of the most precious and princely. Then he was

served with sherbets and ambergrised coffee, and after drinking he

arose and a party of black slaves came forward and clad him in the

costliest of clothing, then perfumed and fumigated him. It is known

that Aladdin was the son of a tailor, a pauper, yet now would none

deem him to be such- nay, all would say: "This be the greatest that

is of the progeny of the kings. Praise be to Him Who changeth and

Who is not changed!"

  Presently came the Jinni and, lifting him up, bore him to his

home, and asked, "O my lord, tell me, hast thou aught of need?" He

answered: "Yes, 'tis my desire that thou bring me eight and forty

Mamelukes, of whom two dozen shall forego me and the rest follow me,

the whole number with their war chargers and clothing and

accouterments. And all upon them and their steeds must be of naught

save of highest worth and the costliest, such as may not be found in

treasuries of the kings. Then fetch me a stallion fit for the riding

of the Chosroes and let his furniture, all thereof, be of gold crusted

with the finest gems. Fetch me also eight and forty thousand dinars,

that each white slave may carry a thousand gold pieces. 'Tis now my

intent to fare to the, Sultan, so delay thou not, for that without

an these requisites whereof I bespake thee I may no visit him.

Moreover, set before me a dozen slave girls unique in beauty and dight

with the most magnificent dresses, that they wend with my mother to

the royal palace, and let every handmaid be robed in raiment that

befitteth Queen's wearing." The slave replied, "To hear is to obey,"

and, disappearing for an eye twinkling, brought all he was bidden

bring, and led by hand a stallion whose rival was not amongst the

Arabian Arabs, and its saddlecloth was of splendid brocade

gold-in-wrought.

  Thereupon, without stay or delay, Aladdin sent for his mother and

gave her the garments she should wear and committed to her charge

the twelve slave girls forming her suite to the palace. Then he sent

one of the Mamelukes whom the Jinni had brought to see if the Sultan

had left the seraglio or not. The white slave went forth lighter

than the lightning and, returned in like haste, said, "O my lord,

the Sultan awaiteth thee!" Hereat Aladdin arose and took horse, his

Mamelukes riding a-van and arear of him, and they were such that all

must cry, "Laud to the Lord Who created them and clothed them with

such beauty and loveliness!" And they scattered gold amongst the crowd

in front of their master, who surpassed them all in comeliness and nor

needest thou ask concerning the sons of the kings- praise be to the

Bountiful, the Eternal! All this was of the virtues of the wonderful

lamp, which whoso possessed, him it gifted with fairest favor and

finest figure, with wealth and with wisdom. The folk admired Aladdin's

liberality and exceeding generosity, and all were distraught seeing

his charms and elegance, his gravity and his good manners. They

glorified the Creator for this noble creation, they blessed him each

and every, and albeit they knew him for the son of Such-a-one, the

tailor, yet no man envied him- nay, all owned that he deserved his

great good fortune.

  Now the Sultan had assembled the lords of the land and, informing

them of the promise he had passed to Aladdin touching the marriage

of his daughter, had bidden them await his approach and then go forth,

one and all, to meet him and greet him. Hereupon the emirs and wazirs,

the chamberlains, the nabobs and the army officers, took their

stations expecting him at the palace gate. Aladdin would fain have

dismounted at the outer entrance, but one of the nobles, whom the King

had deputed for such duty, approached him and said, "O my lord, 'tis

the royal command that thou enter riding thy steed, nor dismount

except at the Divan door." Then they all forewent him in a body and

conducted him to the appointed place, where they crowded about him,

these to hold his stirrup and those supporting him on either side

whilst others took him by the hands and helped him dismount. After

which all the emirs and nobles preceded him into the Divan and led him

close up to the royal throne.

  Thereupon the Sultan came down forthright from his seat of estate

and, forbidding him to buss the carpet, embraced and kissed and seated

him to the right of and beside himself. Aladdin did whatso is suitable

in the case of the kings of salutation and offering of blessings, and

said: "O our lord the Sultan, indeed the generosity of thy Highness

demanded that thou deign vouchsafe to me the hand of thy daughter, the

Lady Badr al-Budur, albeit I undeserve the greatness of such gift, I

being but the humblest of thy slaves. I pray Allah grant thee

prosperity and perpetuance, but in very sooth, O King, my tongue is

helpless to thank thee for the fullness of the favor, passing all

measure, which thou hast bestowed upon me. And I hope of thy Highness

that thou wilt give me a piece of ground fitted for a pavilion which

shall besit thy daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur." The Sultan was

struck with admiration when he saw Aladdin in his princely suit and

looked upon him and considered his beauty and loveliness, and noted

the Mamelukes standing to serve him in their comeliness and seemlihed.

And still his marvel grew when the mother of Aladdin approached him in

costly raiment and sumptuous, clad as though she were a queen, and

when he gazed upon the twelve handmaids standing before her with

crossed arms and with all worship and reverence doing her service. He

also considered the eloquence of Aladdin and his delicacy of speech,

and he was astounded thereat, he and all his who were present at the

levee.

  Thereupon fire was kindled in the Grand Wazir's heart for envy of

Aladdin until he was like to die. And it was worse when the Sultan,

after hearing the youth's succession of prayers and seeing his high

dignity of demeanor, respectful withal, and his eloquence and elegance

of language, clasped him to his bosom and kissed him and cried, "Alas,

O my son, that I have not enjoyed thy converse before this day!" He

rejoiced in him with mighty great joy and straightway bade the music

and the bands strike up. Then he arose and taking the yotith, led

him into the palace, where supper had been prepared, and the eunuchs

at once laid the tables. So the sovereign sat down and seated his

son-in-law on his right side, and the wazirs and high officials and

lords of the land took places each according to his degree,

whereupon the bands played and a mighty fine marriage feast was

dispread in the palace. The King now applied himself to making

friendship with Aladdin and conversed with the youth, who answered him

with all courtesy and eloquence, as though he had been bred in the

palaces of the kings or he had lived with them his daily life. And the

more the talk was prolonged between them, the more did the Sultan's

pleasure and delight increase, hearing his son-in-law's readiness of

reply and his sweet flow of language.

  But after they had eaten and drunken and the trays were removed, the

King bade summon the kazis and witnesses, who presently attended and

knitted the knot and wrote out the contract writ between Aladdin and

the Lady Badr al-Budur. And presently the bridegroom arose and would

have fared forth, when his father-in-law withheld him and asked:

"Whither away, O my child? The bride fetes have begun and the marriage

is made and the tie is tied and the writ is written." He replied: "O

my lord the King, 'tis my desire to edify, for the Lady Badr al-Budur,

a pavilion befitting her station and high degree, nor can I visit

her before so doing. But, Inshallah! the building shall be finished

within the shortest time, by the utmost endeavor of thy slave and by

the kindly regard of thy Hihgness. And although I do (yes indeed!)

long to enjoy the society of the Lady Badr al-Budur, yet 'tis

incumbent of me first to serve her, and it becometh me to set about

the work forthright." "Look around thee, O my son," replied the

Sultan, "for what ground thou deemest suitable to thy design, and do

thou take all things into thy hands. But I deem the best for thee will

be yonder broad plain facing my palace, and if it please thee, build

thy pavilion thereupon." "And this," answered Aladdin, "is the sum

of my wishes, that I may be near-hand to thy Highness.

  So saying, he farewelled the King and took horse, with his Mamelukes

riding before him and behind him, and all the world blessed him and

cried, "By Allah he is deserving," until such time as he reached his

home. Then he alighted from his stallion and repairing to his chamber,

rubbed the lamp and behold, the slave stood before him and said, "Ask,

O my lord, whatso thou wantest," and Aladdin rejoined: "I require thee

of a service grave and important which thou must do for me, and 'tis

that thou build me with all urgency a pavillion fronting the palace of

the Sultan. And it must be a marvel for it shall be provided with

every requisite, such as royal furniture and so forth." The slave

replied, "To hear is to Obey," and evanished, and before the next dawn

brake returned to Aladdin and said: "O my lord, the pavilion is

finished to the fullest of thy fancy, and if thou wouldst inspect

it, arise forthright and fare with me."

  Accordingly he rose up, and the slave carried him in the space of an

eye glance to the pavilion, which when looked upon it struck him

with surprise at such building, all its stones being of jasper and

alabaster, Sumaki marble and mosaicwork. Then the slave led him into

the treasury, which was full of all manner of gold and silver and

costly gems, not to be counted or computed, priced or estimated.

Thence to another place, where Aladdin saw all requisites for the

table, plates and dishes, spoons and ladles, basins and covers, cups

and tasses, the whole of precious metal. Thence to the kitchen,

where they found the kitcheners provided with their needs and

cooking batteries, likewise golden and silvern. Thence to a

warehouse piled up with chests full-packed of royal raiment, stuffs

that captured the reason, such as gold-wrought brocades from India and

China and kimcobs or orfrayed cloths. Thence to many apartments

replete with appointments which beggar description. Thence to the

stables containing coursers whose like was not to be met with

amongst the kings of the universe. And lastly they went to the harness

rooms all hung with housings, costly saddles, and other furniture,

everywhere studded with pearls and precious stones. And all this was

the work of one night.

  Aladdin was wonder-struck and astounded by that magnificent

display of wealth, which not even the mightiest monarch on earth could

produce, and more so to see his pavilion fully provided with eunuchs

and handmaids whose beauty would reduce a saint. Yet the Prime

marvel of the pavilion was an upper kiosque or belvedere of four and

twenty windows all made of emeralds and rubies and other gems, and one

window remained unfinished at the requirement of Aladdin, that the

Sultan might prove him impotent to complete it. When the youth had

inspected the whole edifice, he was pleased and gladdened exceedingly.

Then, turning to the slave, he said: "I require of thee still one

thing which is yet wanting and whereof I had forgotten to tell

thee." "Ask, O my lord, thy want," quoth the servitor, and quoth the

other: "I demand of thee a carpet of the primest brocade all

gold-inwrought which, when unrolled and outstretched, shall extend

hence to the Sultan's palace, in order that the Lady Badr al-Budur

may, when coming hither, pace upon it and not tread common earth." The

slave departed for a short while and said on his return, "O my lord,

verily that which thou demandest is here." Then he took him and showed

him a carpet, which wildered the wits, and it extended from palace

to pavillion. And after this the servitor bore off Aladdin and set him

down in his own home.

  Now day was brightening, so the Sultan rose from his sleep and

throwing open the casement, looked out and espied opposite his

palace a palatial pavilion ready edified. Thereupon he fell to rubbing

his eyes and opening them their widest and considering the scene,

and he soon was certified that the new edifice was mighty fine, and

grand enough to bewilder the wits. Moreover, with amazement as great

he saw the carpet dispread between palace and pavilion. Like their

lord, also the royal doorkeepers and the household, one and all,

were dazed and amazed at the spectacle. Meanwhile the Wazir came in,

and as he entered, espied the newly builded pavilion and the carpet,

whereat he also wondered. And when he went in to the Sultan, the twain

fell to talking on this marvelous matter with great surprise at a

sight which distracted the gazer and attracted the heart. They said

finally, "In very truth, of this pavilion we deem that none of the

royalties could build its fellow," and the King, turning to the

Minister, asked him: "Hast thou seen now that Aladdin is worthy to

be the husband of the Princess, my daughter? Hast thou looked upon and

considered this right royal building, this magnificence of opulence,

which thought of man cannot contain?" But the Wazir in his envy of

Aladdin replied: "O King of the Age, indeed this foundation and this

building and this opulence may not be save by means of magic, nor

can any man in the world, be he the richest in good or the greatest in

governance, avail to found and finish in a single night such edifice

as this." The Sultan rejoined: "I am surprised to see in thee how thou

dost continually harp on evil opinion of Aladdin, but I hold that 'tis

caused by thine envy and jealousy. Thou wast present when I gave him

the ground at his own prayer for a place whereon he might build a

pavilion wherein to lodge my daughter, and I myself favored him with a

site for the same, and that too before thy very face. But however that

be, shall one who could send me as dower for the Princess such store

of such stones whereof the kings never obtained even a few, shall

he, I say, be unable to edify an edifice like this?" When the Wazir

heard the Sultan's words, he knew that his lord loved Aladdin

exceedingly, so his envy and malice increased. only, as he could do

nothing against the youth, he sat silent, and impotent to return a

reply.

  But Aladdin, seeing that it was broad day and the appointed time had

come for his repairing to the Place (where his wedding was being

celebrated and the emirs and wazirs and grandees were gathered

together about the Sultan to be present at the ceremony), arose and

rubbed the lamp, and when its slave appeared and said, "O my lord, ask

whatso thou wantest, for I stand before thee and at thy service," said

he: "I mean forthright to seek the palace, this day being my wedding

festival, and I want thee to supply me with ten thousand dinars."

The slave evanished for an eye twinkling and returned bringing the

moneys, when Aladdin took horse with his Mamelukes a-van and arear and

passed on his way, scattering as he went gold pieces upon the lieges

until all were fondly affected toward him and his dignity was

enhanced. But when he drew near the palace, and the emirs and agas and

army officers who were standing to await him noted his approach,

they hastened straightway to the King and gave him the tidings

thereof, whereupon the Sultan rose and met his son-in-law and, after

embracing and kissing him, led him, still holding his hand, into his

own apartment, where he sat down and seated him by his right side.

  The city was all decorated and music rang through the palace and the

singers sang until the King bade bring the noon meal, when the eunuchs

and Mamelukes hastened to spread the tables and trays which are such

as are served to the kings. Then the Sultan and Aladdin and the

lords of the land and the grandees of the realm took their seats and

ate and drank until they were satisfied. And it was a mighty fine

wedding in city and palace, and the high nobles all rejoiced therein

and the commons of the kingdom were equally gladdened, while the

governors of provinces and nabobs of districts flocked from far

regions to witness Aladdin's marriage and its processions and

festivities. The Sultan also marveled in his mind to look at Aladdin's

mother and recall to mind how she was wont to visit him in pauper

plight while her son could command an this opulence and

magnificence. And when the spectators who crowded the royal palace

to enjoy the wedding feasts looked upon Aladdin's pavilion and

beauties of the building, they were seized with an immense surprise,

that so vast an edifice as this could be reared on high during a

single night, and they blessed the youth and cried: "Allah gladden

him: By Allah, he deserveth all this! Allah bless his days!"

  When dinner was done, Aladdin rose and, farewelling the Sultan, took

horse with his Mamelukes and rode to his own pavilion, that he might

prepare to receive therein his bride, the Lady Badr al-Budur. And as

he passed, all the folk shouted their good wishes with one voice and

their words were: "Allah gladden thee! Allah increase thy glory! Allah

grant thee length of life!" while immense crowds of people gathered to

swell the marriage procession, and they conducted him to his new home,

he showering gold upon them during the whole time. When he reached his

pavilion, he dismounted and walked in and sat him down on the divan,

whilst his Mamelukes stood before him with arms afolded. Also after

a short delay they brought him sherbets, and when these were drunk, he

ordered his white slaves and handmaids and eunuchs and all who were in

the pavilion to make ready for meeting the Lady Badr al-Budur.

Moreover, as soon as midafternoon came and the air had cooled and

the great heat of the sun was abated, the Sultan bade his army

officers and emirs and wazirs go down into the maydan plain, whither

he likewise rode. And Aladdin also took horse with his Mamelukes, he

mounting a stallion whose like was not among the steeds of the, Arab

al-Arba, and he showed his horsemanship in the hippodrome, and so

played with the jarid that none could withstand him, while his bride

sat gazing upon him from the latticed balcony of her bower and, seeing

in him such beauty and cavalarice, she fell headlong in love of him

and was like to fly for joy. And after they had ringed their horses on

the maydan and each had displayed whatso he could of horsemanship,

Aladdin proving himself the best man of all, they rode in a body to

the Sultan's palace and the youth also returned to his own pavilion.

  But when it was evening, the wazirs and nobles took the bridegroom

and, falling in, escorted him to the royal hamman (known as the

Sultani), when he was bathed. and perfumed. As soon as he came out

he donned a dress more magnificent than the former and took horse with

the emirs and the soldier officers riding before him and forming a

grand cortege, wherein four of the wazirs bore naked swords round

about him. All the citizens and the strangers and the troops marched

before him in ordered throng carrying wax candles and kettledrums

and pipes and other instruments of mirth and merriment, until they

conducted him to his pavilion. Here he alighted and, walking in,

took his seat and seated the wazirs and emirs who had escorted him,

and the Mamelukes brought sherbets and sugared drinks, which they also

passed to the people who had followed in his train. It was a world

of folk whose tale might not be told. Withal Aladdin bade his

Mamelukes stand without the pavilion doors and shower gold upon the

crowd.

  When the Sultan returned from the maydan plain to his palace, he

ordered the household, men as well as women, straightway to form a

cavalcade for his daughter, with all ceremony, and bear her to her

bridegroom's pavilion. So the nobles and soldier officers who had

followed and escorted the bridegroom at once mounted, and the

handmaids and eunuchs went forth with wax candles and made a mighty

fine procession for the Lady Badr al-Budur, and they paced on

preceding her till they entered the pavilion of Aladdin, whose

mother walked beside the bride. In front of the Princess also fared

the wives of the wazirs and emirs, grandees and notables, and in

attendance on her were the eight and forty slave girls presented to

her aforetime by her bridegroom, each hending in hand a huge cierge

scented with camphor and ambergris and set in a candlestick of

gem-studded gold. And reaching Aladdin's pavilion, they led her to her

bower in the upper story and changed her robes and enthroned her.

Then, as soon as the displaying was ended, they accompanied her to

Aladdin's apartments, and presently he paid her the first visit. Now

his mother was with the bride, and when the bridegroom came up and did

off her veil, the ancient dame fell to considering the beauty of the

Princess and her loveliness, and she looked around at the pavilion,

which was all litten up by gold and gems besides the manifold

candelabra of precious metals encrusted with emeralds and jacinths, so

she said in her mind: "Once upon a time I thought the Sultan's

palace mighty fine, but this pavilion is a thing apart. Nor do I

deem that any of the greatest kings of Chosroes attained in his day to

aught like thereof. Also am I certified that all the world could not

build anything evening it." Nor less did the Lady Badr al-Budur fall

to gazing at the pavilion and marveling for its magnificence.

  Then the tables were spread and they all ate and drank and were

gladdened after which fourscore damsels came before them, each holding

in hand an instrument of mirth and merriment. Then they deftly moved

their finger tips and touched the strings, smiting them into song most

musical most melancholy, till they rent the hearts of the hearers.

Hereat the Princess increased in marvel, and quoth she to herself, "In

all my life ne'er heard I songs like these," till she forsook food,

the better to listen. And at last Aladdin poured out for her wine

and passed it to her with his own hand. So great joy and jubilee

went round amongst them, and it was a notable night, such a one as

Iskandar, Lord of the Two Horns, had never spent in his time. When

they had finished eating and drinking and the tables were removed from

before them, Aladdin arose and went in to his bride.

  As soon as morning morrowed he left his bed, and the treasurer

brought him a costly suit and a mighty fine, of the most sumptuous

robes worn by the kings. Then, after drinking coffee flavored with

ambergris, he ordered the horses be saddled and, mounting with his

Mamelukes before and behind him, rode to the Sultan's palace, and on

his entering its court the eunuchs went in and reported his coming

to their lord. When the Sultan heard of Aladdin's approach, he rose up

forthright to receive him and embraced and kissed him as though he

were his own son. Then, seating him on his right, he blessed and

prayed for him, as did the wazirs and emirs, the lords of the land and

the grandees of the realm. Presently the King commanded bring the

morning meal, which the attendants served up, and all broke their fast

together, and when they had eaten and drunken their sufficiency and

the tables were removed by the eunuchs, Aladdin turned to the Sultan

and said: "O my lord, would thy Highness deign honor me this day at

dinner in the house of the Lady Badr al-Budur, thy beloved daughter,

and come accompanied by all thy Ministers and grandees of the

reign?" The King replied (and he was delighted with his son-in-law),

"Thou art surpassing in liberality, O my son!"

  Then he gave orders to all invited and rode forth with them (Aladdin

also riding beside him) till they reached the pavilion, and as he

entered it and considered its construction, its architecture and its

stonery, all jasper and camelian, his sight was dazed and his wits

were amazed at such grandeur and magnificence of opulence. Then,

turning to the Minister, he thus addressed him: "What sayest thou?

Tell me, hast thou seen in all thy time aught like this amongst the

mighties of earth's monarchs for the abundance of gold and gems we are

now beholding?" The Grand Wazir replied: "O my lord the King, this

be a feat which cannot be accomplished by might of monarch amongst

Adam's sons, nor could the collected peoples of the universal world

build a palace like unto this,- nay, even builders could not be found

to make aught resembling it, save (as I said to thy Highness) by force

of sorcery." These words certified the King that his Minister spake

not except in envy and jealousy of Aladdin, and would stablish in

the royal mind that all this splendor was not made of man, but by

means of magic and with the aid of the black art. So quoth he to

him: "Suffice thee so much, O Wazir. Thou hast none other word to

speak, and well I know what cause urgeth thee to say this say."

  Then Aladdin preceded the Sultan till he conducted him to the

upper kiosque, where he saw its skylights, windows, and latticed

casements and jalousies wholly made of emeralds and rubies and other

costly gems, whereat his mind was perplexed and his wits were

bewildered and his thoughts were distraught. Presently he took to

strolling round the kiosque and solacing himself with these sights

which captured the vision, till he chanced to cast a glance at the

window which Aladdin by design had left unwrought and not finished

like the rest. And when he noted its lack of completion, he cried,

"Woe and wellaway for thee, O window, because of thine

imperfection," and, turning to his Minister, he asked, "Knowest thou

the reason of leaving incomplete this window and its framework?" The

Wazir said: "O my lord, I conceive that the want of finish in this

window resulteth from thy Highness having pushed on Aladdin's

marriage, and he lacked the leisure to complete it." Now at that

time Aladdin had gone in to his bride, the Lady Badr al-Budur, to

inform her of her father's presence, and when he returned, the King

asked him: "O my son, what is the reason why the window of this

kiosque was not made perfect?" "O King of the Age, seeing the

suddenness of my wedding," answered he, "I failed to find artists

for finishing it." Quoth the Sultan, "I have a mind to complete it

myself," and quoth Aladdin: "Allah perpetuate thy glory, O thou the

King. So shall thy memory endure in thy daughter's pavilion."

  The Sultan forthright bade summon jewelers and goldsmiths, and

ordered them he supplied from the treasury with all their needs of

gold and gems and noble ores, and when they were gathered together, he

commanded them to complete the work still wanting in the kiosque

window. Meanwhile the Princess came forth to meet her sire, the

Sultan, who noticed as she drew near her smiling face, so he

embraced her and kissed her, then led her to the pavilion, and all

entered in a body. Now this was the time of the noonday meal and one

table had been spread for the sovereign, his daughter, and his

son-in-law and a second for the wazirs, the lords of the land, the

grandees of the realm, the chief officers of the host, the

chamberlains and the nabobs. The King took seat between the Princess

and her husband, and when he put forth his hand to the food and tasted

it, he was struck with surprise by the flavor of the dishes and

their savory and sumptuous cooking. Moreover, there stood before him

the fourscore damsels, each and every saying to the full moon, "Rise

that I may seat myself in thy stead!" All held instruments of mirth

and merriment, and they tuned the same and deftly moved their finger

tips and smote the srings into song most musical, most melodious,

which expanded the mourner's heart. Hereby the Sultan was gladdened,

and time was good to him, and for high enjoyment he exclaimed, "In

very sooth the thing is beyond the compass of King and Caesar."

  Then they fell to eating and drinking, and the cup went round

until they had drunken enough, when sweetmeats and fruits of sorts and

other such edibles were served, the dessert being laid out in a

different salon, whither they removed and enjoyed of these pleasures

their sufficiency. Presently the Sultan arose that he might see if the

produce of his jewelers and goldsmiths favored that of the pavilion.

So he went upstairs to them and inspected their work and how they had

wrought, but he noted a mighty great difference, and his men were

far from being able to make anything like the rest of Aladdin's

pavilion. They informed him how all the gems stored in the lesser

Treasury had been brought to them and used by them, but that the whole

had proved insufficient. Wherefor he bade open the greater Treasury,

and gave the workmen all they wanted of him. Moreover, he allowed

them, an it sufficed not, to take the jewels wherewith Aladdin had

gifted him. They carried off the whole and pushed on their labors, but

they found the gems fail them, albeit had they not finished half the

part wanting to the kiosque window. Herewith the King commanded them

to seize all the precious stones owned by the wazirs and grandees of

the realm, but although they did his bidding, the supply still fell

short of their requirements.

  Next morning Aladdin arose to look at the jewelers' work and

remarked that they had not finished a moiety of what was wanting to

the kiosque window. So he at once ordered them to undo all they had

done and restore the jewels to their owners. Accordingly they pulled

out the precious stones and sent the Sultan's to the Sultan and the

wazirs' to the wazirs. Then the jewelers went to the King and told him

of what Aladdin had bidden, so he asked them: "What said he to you,

and what was his reason, and wherefore was he not content that the

window be finished, and why did he undo the work ye wrought?" They

answered, "O our lord, we know not at all, but he bade us deface

whatso we had done." Hereupon the Sultan at once called for his horse,

and mounting, took the way pavillonward, when Aladdin, after

dismissing the goldsmiths and jewelers had retired into his closet and

had rubbed the lamp. Hereat straightway its servitor appeared to him

and said: "Ask whatso thou wantest. Thy slave is between thy hands,"

and said Aladdin, "'Tis my desire that thou finish the window which

was left unfinished." The Marid replied, "On my head be it, and also

upon mine eyes!" Then he vanished, and after a little while

returned, saying, "O my lord, verily that thou commandedst me do is

completed." So Aladdin went upstairs to the kiosque and found the

whole window in wholly finished state, and whilst he was he was

still considering it, behold, a castrato came in to him and said: "O

my lord, the Sultan hath ridden forth to visit thee and is passing

through the pavilion gate."

  So Aladdin at once went down and received his father-in-law. The

Sultan, on sighting his son-in-law, cried to him: "Wherefore, O my

child, hast thou wrought on this wise and sufferedst not the

jewelers to complete the kiosque window, leaving in the pavilion an

unfinished place?" Aladdin replied: "O King of the Age, I left it

not imperfect save for a design of mine own, nor was I incapable of

perfecting it, nor could I purpose that thy Highness should honor me

with visiting a pavilion wherein was aught of deficiency. And that

thou mayest know I am not unable to make it perfect, let thy

Highness deign walk upstairs with me and see if anything remain to

be done therewith or not." So the Sultan went up with him and,

entering the kiosque, fell to looking right and left, but he saw no

default at all in any of the windows- nay, he noted that all were

perfect. So he marveled at the sight and embraced Aladdin and kissed

him, saying: "O my son, what be this singular feat? Thou canst work in

a single night what in months the jewelers could not do. By Allah, I

deem thou hast nor brother nor rival in this world." Quoth Aladdin:

"Allah prolong thy life and preserve thee to perpetuity! Thy slave

deserveth not this encomium." And quoth the King: "By Allah, O my

child, thou meritest all praise for a feat whereof all the artists

of the world were incapable." Then the Sultan came down and entered

the apartments of his daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur, to take rest

beside her, and he saw her joyous exceedingly at the glory and

grandeur wherein she was. Then, after reposing awhile, he returned

to his palace.

  Now Aladdin was wont every day to thread the city streets with his

Mamelukes riding a-van and arear of him showering rightward and

leftward gold upon the folk, and all the world, stranger and neighbor,

far and near, were fulfilled of his love for the excess of his

liberality and generosity. Moreover, he increased the pensions of

the poor Religious and the paupers, and he would distribute alms to

them with his own hand, by which good deed he won high renown

throughout the realm and most of the lords of the land and emirs would

eat at his table, and men swore not at all save by his precious

life. Nor did he leave faring to the chase and the maydan plain and

the riding of horses and playing at javelin play in presence of the

Sultan. And whenever the Lady Badr al-Budur beheld him disporting

himself on the backs of steeds, she loved him much the more, and

thought to herself that Allah had wrought her abundant good by causing

to happen whatso happened with the son of the Wazir and by

preserving her virginity intact for her true bridegroom, Aladdin.

Aladdin won for himself day by day a fairer fame and a rarer report,

while affection for him increased in the hearts of all the lieges

and he waxed greater in the eyes of men.

  Moreover, it chanced that in those days certain enemies took horse

and attacked the Sultan, who armed and accoutered an army to repel

them and made Aladdin commander thereof. So he marched with his men,

nor ceased marching until he drew near the foe, whose forces were

exceeding many, and presently when the action began, he bared his

brand and charged home upon the enemy. Then battle and slaughter

befell and violent was the hurly-burly, but at last Aladdin broke

the hostile host and put all to flight, slaying the best part of

them and pillaging their coin and cattle, property and possessions,

and he despoiled them of spoils that could not be counted nor

computed. Then he returned victorious after a noble victory and

entered the capital, which had decorated herself in his honor, of

her delight in him. And the Sultan went forth to meet him and giving

him joy, embraced him and kissed him. And throughout the kingdom was

held high festival with great joy and gladness. Presently the

sovereign and his son-in-law repaired to the pavilion, where they were

met by the Princess Badr al-Budur, who rejoiced in her husband and,

after kissing him between the eyes, led him to her apartments. After a

time the Sultan also came and they sat down while the slave girls

brought them sherbets and confections, which they ate and drank.

Then the Sultan commanded that the whole kingdom be decorated for

the triumph of his son-in-law and his victory over the invader, and

the subjects and soldiery and all the people knew only Allah in Heaven

and Aladdin on earth, for that their love, won by his liberality,

was increased by his noble horsemanship and his successful battling

for the country and putting to flight the foe.

  Such then was the high fortune of Aladdin, but as regards the

Maghrabi, the magician, after returning to his native country he

passed all this space of time in bewailing what he had borne of toil

and travail to will the lamp, and mostly that his trouble had gone

vain and that the morsel when almost touching his lips had flown

from his grasp. He pondered all this and mourned and reviled Aladdin

for the excess of his rage against him, and at times he would exclaim:

"For this bastard's death underground I am well satisfied, and hope

only that some time or other I may obtain the lamp, seeing how 'tis

yet safe." Now one day of the days he struck a table of sand and

dotted down the figures and carefully considered their consequence,

then he transferred them to paper that he might study them and make

sure of Aladdin's destruction and the safety of the lamp preserved

beneath the earth. Presently he firmly stablished the sequence of

the figures, mothers as well as daughters, but still he saw not the

lamp. Thereupon rage overrode him and he made another trial to be

assured of Aladdin's death, but he saw him not in the enchanted

treasure.

  Hereat his wrath still grew, and it waxed greater when he

ascertained that the youth had issued from underground and was now

upon earth's surface alive and alert. Furthermore, that he had

become owner of the lamp, for which he had himself endured such toil

and travail and troubles as man may not bear save for so great an

object. Accordingly quoth he to himself: "I have suffered sore pains

and penalties which none else could have endured for the lamp's sake

in order that other than that I may carry it off, and this accursed

hath taken it without difficulty. And who knoweth an he wot the

virtues of the lamp, than whose owner none in the world should be

wealthier? There is no help but that I work for his destruction." He

then struck another geomantic table and, examining the figures, saw

that the lad had won for himself unmeasurable riches and had wedded

the daughter of his King, so of his envy and jealousy he was fired

with the flame of wrath, and rising without let or stay, he equipped

himself and set forth for China land, where he arrived in due season.

  Now when he had reached the King's capital wherein was Aladdin, he

alighted at one of the khans, and when he had rested from the

weariness of wayfare, he donned his dress and went down to wander

about the streets, where he never passed a group without hearing

them prate about the pavilion and its grandeur and vaunt the beauty of

Aladdin and his lovesomeness, his liberality and generosity, his

fine manners and his good morals. Presently he entered an

establishment wherein men were drinking a certain warm beverage, and

going up to one of those who were loud in their lauds, he said to him,

"O fair youth, who may be the man ye describe and commend?"

"Apparently thou art a foreigner, O man," answered the other, "and

thou comest from a far country. But even this granted, how happeneth

it thou hast not heard of the Emir Aladdin, whose renown, I fancy,

hath filled the universe, and whose pavilion, known by report to far

and near, is one of the wonders of the world? How, then, never came to

thine ears aught of this or the name of Aladdin (whose glory and

enjoyment Our Lord increase!) and his fame?" The Moorman replied: "The

sum of my wishes is to look upon this pavilion, and if thou wouldest

do me a favor, prithee guide me thereunto, for I am a foreigner."

The man rejoined, "To hear is to obey," and, foregoing him, pointed

out Aladdin's pavilion, whereupon the Moroccan fell to considering it,

and at once understood that it was the work of the lamp. So he

cried: "Ah! Ah! needs must I dig a pit for this accursed, this son

of a snip, who could not earn for himself even an evening meal. And if

the Fates abet me, I will assuredly destroy his life and send his

mother back to spinning at her wheel, e'en as she was wont erewhiles

to do."

  So saying, he returned to his caravanserai in a sore state of

grief and melancholy and regret bred by his envy and hate of

Aladdin. He took his astrological gear and geomantic table to discover

where might he the lamp, and he found that it was in the pavilion

and not upon Aladdin's person. So he rejoiced thereat with joy

exceeding and exclaimed: "Now indeed 'twill he an easy task to take

the life of this accursed and I see my way to getting the lamp."

Then he went to a coppersmith and said to him: "Do thou make me a

set of lamps, and take from me their full price and more, only I would

have thee hasten to finish them." Replied the smith, "Hearing and

obeying," and fell a-working to keep his word. And when they were

ready, the Moorman paid him what price he required, then, taking them,

he carried them to the khan and set them in a basket. Presently he

began wandering about the highways and market streets of the capital

crying aloud: "Ho! Who will exchange old lamps for new lamps?" But

when the folk heard him cry on this wise, they derided him and said,

"Doubtless this man is Jinnmad, for that he goeth about offering new

for old." And a world followed him, and the children of the quarter

caught him up from place to place, laughing at him the while, nor

did he forbid them or care for their maltreatment. And he ceased not

strolling about the streets till he came under Aladdin's pavilion,

where he shouted with his loudest voice, and the boys screamed at him:

"A madman! A madman!"

  Now Destiny had decreed that the Lady Badr al-Budur be sitting in

her kiosque, whence she heard one crying like a crier, and the

children bawling at him. Only she understood not what was going on, so

she gave orders to one of her slave girls, saying, "Go thou and see

who 'tis that crieth, and what be his cry." The girl fared forth and

looked on, when she beheld a man crying, "Ho! Who will exchange old

lamps for new lamps?" and the little ones pursuing and laughing at

him. And as loudly laughed the Princess when this strange case was

told to her. Now Aladdin had carelessly left the lamp in his

pavilion without hiding it and locking it up in his strongbox, and one

of the slave girls who had seen it said: "O my lady, I think to have

noticed in the apartment of my lord Aladdin an old lamp, so let us

give it in change for a new lamp to this man, and see if his cry he

truth or lie." Whereupon the Princess said to the slave girl, "Bring

the old lamp which thou saidst to have seen in thy lord's apartment."

  Now the Lady Badr al-Budur knew naught of the lamp and of the

specialities thereof which had raised Aladdin, her spouse, to such

high degree and grandeur, and her only end and aim was to understand

by experiment the mind of a man who would give in exchange the new for

the old. So the handmaid fared forth and went up to Aladdin's

apartment and returned with the lamp to her lady, who, like all the

others, knew nothing of the Maghrabi's cunning tricks and his crafty

device. Then the Princess bade an aga of the eunuchry go down and

barter the old lamp for a new lamp. So he obeyed her bidding and,

after taking a new lamp from the man, he returned and laid it before

his lady, who looking at it and seeing that it was brand-new, fell

to laughing at the Moorman's wits.

  But the Moroccan, when he held the article in hand and recognized it

for the lamp of the enchanted treasury, at once placed it in his

breast pocket and left all the other lamps to the folk who were

bartering, of him. Then he went forth running till he was clear of the

city, when he walked leisurely over the level grounds, and he took

patience until night fell on him in desert ground, where was none

other but himself. There he brought out the lamp, when suddenly

appeared to him the Marid, who said: "Adsum! Thy slave between thy

hands is come. Ask of me whatso thou wantest." "'Tis my desire," the

Moorman replied, "that thou upraise from its present place Aladdin's

pavilion, with its inmates and all that be therein, not forgetting

myself, and set it down upon my own land, Africa. Thou knowest my

town, and I want the building placed in the gardens hard by it." The

Marid slave replied: "Hearkening and obedience. Close thine eyes and

open thine eyes, whenas thou shalt find thyself together with the

pavilion in thine own country." This was done, and in an eye twinkling

the Moroccan and the pavilion, with all therein, were transported to

the African land.

  Such then was the work of the Maghrabi, the magician, but now let us

return to the Sultan and his son-in-law. It was the custom of the

King, because of his attachment to and his affection for his daughter,

every morning when he had shaken off sleep to open the latticed

casement and look out therefrom, that he might catch sight of her

abode. So that day he arose and did as he was wont. But when he drew

near the latticed casement of his palace and looked out at Aladdin's

pavilion, he saw naught- nay, the site was smooth as a well-trodden

highway and like unto what it had been aforetime, and he could find

nor edifice nor offices. So astonishment clothed him as with a

garment, and his wits were wildered and he began to rub his eyes, lest

they he dimmed or darkened, and to gaze intently. But at last he was

certified that no trace of the pavilion remained, nor sign of its

being, nor wist he the why and the wherefore of its disappearance.

So his surprise increased and he smote hand upon hand and the tears

trickled down his cheeks over his beard, for that he knew not what had

become of his daughter.

  Then he sent out officials forthright and summoned the Grand

Wazir, who at once attended, and seeing him in this piteous plight,

said: "Pardon, O King of the Age, may Allah avert from thee every ill!

Wherefore art thou in such sorrow?" Exclaimed the sovereign,

"Methinketh thou wettest not my case." And quoth the Minister: "Oh

no wise, O our lord. By Allah, I know of it nothing at all." "Then,"

resumed the Sultan, "'tis manifest thou hast not looked this day in

the direction of Aladdin's pavilion." "True, O my lord," quoth the

Wazir. "It must still be locked and fast shut," and quoth the King:

"Forasmuch as thou hast no inkling of aught, arise and look out at the

window and see Aladdin's pavilion, whereof thou sayest 'tis locked and

fast shut." The Minister obeyed his bidding, but could not see

anything, or pavilion or other place. So with mind and thoughts sore

perplexed he returned to his liege lord, who asked him: "Hast now

learned the reason of my distress, and noted yon locked-up palace

and fast shut?" Answered the Wazir: "O King of the Age, erewhile I

represented to thy Highness that this pavilion and these matters be

all magical." Hereat the Sultan, fired with wrath, cried, "Where be

Aladdin?" and the Minister replied, "He hath gone a-hunting," when the

King commanded without stay or delay sundry of his agas and army

officers to go and bring to him his son-in-law chained and with

pinioned elbows.

  So they fared forth until they found Aladdin, when they said to him:

"O our lord Aladdin, excuse us, nor be thou wroth with us, for the

King hath commanded that we carry thee before him pinioned and

fettered, and we hope pardon from thee, because we are under the royal

orders which we cannot gainsay." Aladdin, hearing these words, was

seized with surprise, and not knowing the reason of this, remained

tonguetied for a time, after which he turned to them and asked: "O

assembly, have you naught of knowledge concerning the motive of the

royal mandate? Well I wot my soul to be innocent, and that I never

sinned against King or against kingdom." "O our lord," answered

they, "we have no inkling whatever." So Aladdin alighted from his

horse and said to them: "Do ye whatso the Sultan bade you do, for that

the King's command is upon the head and the eyes." The agas, having

bound Aladdin in bonds and pinioned his elbows behind his back,

haled him in chains and carried him into the city. But when the lieges

saw him pinioned and ironed, they understood that the Sultan

purposed to strike off his head, and forasmuch as he was loved of them

exceedingly, all gathered together and seized their weapons, then,

swarming out of their houses, followed the soldiery to see what was to

do. And when the troops arrived with Aladdin at the palace, they

went in and informed the Sultan of this, whereat he forthright

commanded the sworder to cut off the head of his son-in-law.

  Now as soon as the subjects were aware of this order, they

barricaded the gates and closed the doors of the palace and sent a

message to the King saying: "At this very moment we will level thine

abode over the heads of all it containeth, and over thine own, if

the least hurt or harm befall Aladdin." So the Wazir went in and

reported to the Sultan: "O King of the Age, thy commandment is about

to seal the roll of our lives, and 'twere more suitable that thou

pardon thy son-in-law, lest there chance to us a sore mischance, for

that the lieges do love him far more than they love us." Now the

Sworder had already dispread the carpet of blood and, having seated

Aladdin thereon, had bandaged his eyes. Moreover, he had walked

round him three several times awaiting the last orders of his lord,

when the King looked out of the window and saw his subjects, who had

suddenly attacked him, swarming up the walls intending to tear them

down. So forthright he bade the Sworder stay his hand from Aladdin and

commanded the crier fare forth to the crowd and cry aloud that he

had pardoned his son-in-law and received him back into favor.

  But when Aladdin found himself free and saw the Sultan seated on his

throne, he went up to him and said: "O my lord, inasmuch as thy

Highness hath favored me throughout my life, so of thy grace now deign

let me know the how and the wherein I have sinned against thee." "O

traitor," cried the King, "unto this present I knew not any sin of

thine." Then, turning to the Wazir, he said: "Take him and make him

look out at the window, and after let him tell us where be his

pavilion." And when the royal order was obeyed, Aladdin saw the

place level as a well-trodden road, even as it had been ere the base

of the building was laid, nor was there the faintest trace of edifice.

Hereat he was astonished and perplexed, knowing not what had occurred.

But when he returned to the presence, the King asked him: "What is

it thou hast seen? Where is thy pavilion, and where is my daughter,

the core of my heart, my only child, than whom I have none other?"

Aladdin answered, "O King of the Age, I wot naught thereof nor aught

of what hath befallen," and the Sultan rejoined: "Thou must know, O

Aladdin, I have pardoned thee only that thou go forth and look into

this affair and inquire for me concerning my daughter. Nor do thou

ever show thyself in my presence except she be with thee, and if

thou bring her not, by the life of my head I will cut off the head

of thee." The other replied: "To hear is to obey. Only vouchsafe me

a delay and respite of some forty days, after which, an I produce

her not, strike off my head and do with me whatso thou wishest." The

Sultan said to Aladdin: "Verily, I have granted thee thy request, a

delay of forty days. But think not thou canst fly from my hand, for

I would bring thee back even if thou wert above the clouds instead

of being only upon earth's surface." Replied Aladdin: "O my lord the

Sultan, as I said to thy Highness, an I fail to bring her within the

term appointed, I will present myself for my head to he stricken off."

  Now when the folk and the lieges all saw Aladdin at liberty, they

rejoiced with joy exceeding and were delighted for his release, but

the shame of his treatment and bashfulness before his friends and

the envious exultation of his foes had bowed down Aladdin's head. So

he went forth a wandering through the city ways, and he was

perplexed concerning his case and knew not what had befallen him. He

lingered about the capital for two days, in saddest state, wotting not

what to do in order to find his wife and his pavilion, and during this

time sundry of the folk privily brought him meat and drink. When the

two days were done, he left the city to stray about the waste and open

lands outlying the walls, without a notion as to whither he should

wend. And he walked on aimlessly until the path led him beside a

river, where, of the stress of sorrow that overwhelmed him, he

abandoned himself to despair and thought of casting himself into the

water. Being, however, a good Moslem who professed the unity of the

Godhead, he feared Allah in his soul, and standing upon the margin, he

prepared to perform the wuzu ablution.

  But as he was bailing up the water in his right hand and rubbing his

fingers, it so chanced that he also rubbed the ring. Hereat its

Marid appeared, and said to him: "Adsum! Thy thrall between thy

hands is come. Ask of me whatso thou wantest." Seeing the Marid,

Aladdin rejoiced with exceeding joy and cried: "O Slave, I desire of

thee that thou bring before me my pavilion and therein my wife, the

Lady Badr al-Budur, together with all and everything it containeth."

"O my lord," replied the Marid, "'tis right hard upon me that thou

demandest a service whereto I may not avail. This matter dependeth

upon the Slave of the Lamp, nor dare I even attempt it." Aladdin

rejoined: "Forasmuch as the matter is beyond thy competence, I require

it not of thee, but at least do thou take me up and set me down beside

my pavilion in what land soever that may be." The slave exclaimed,

"Hearing and obeying, O my lord," and uplifting him high in air,

within the space of an eye glance set him down beside his pavilion

in the land of Africa, and upon a spot facing his wife's apartment.

  Now this was at fall of night, yet one look enabled him to recognize

his home, whereby his cark and care were cleared away and he recovered

trust in Allah after cutting off all his hope to look upon his wife

once more. Then he fell to pondering the secret and mysterious

favors of the Lord (glorified he His omnipotence!), and how after

despair had mastered him the ring had come to gladden him, and how

when all his hopes were cut off, Allah had deigned bless him with

the services of its slave. So he rejoiced and his melancholy left him.

Then, as he had passed four days without sleep for the excess of his

cark and care and sorrow and stress of thought, he drew near his

pavilion and slept under a tree hard by the building, which (as we

mentioned) had been set down amongst the gardens outlying the city

of Africa. He slumbered till morning showed her face, and when

awakened by the warbling of the small birds, he arose and went down to

the bank of the river which flowed thereby into the city, and here

he again washed hands and face and after finished his wuzu ablution.

Then he prayed the dawn prayer, and when he had ended his orisons he

returned and sat down under the windows of the Princess's bower.

  Now the Lady Badr al-Budur, of her exceeding sorrow for severance

from her husband and her sire, the Sultan, and for the great mishap

which had happened to her from the Maghrabi, the magician, the

accursed, was wont to rise during the murk preceding dawn and to sit

in tears, inasmuch as she could not sleep o' nights and had forsworn

meat and drink. Her favorite slave girl would enter her chamber at the

hour of prayer salutation in order to dress her, and this time, by

decree of Destiny, when she threw open the window to let her lady

comfort and console herself by looking upon the trees and rills, and

she herself peered out of the lattice, she caught sight of her

master sitting below, and informed the Princess of this, saying: "O my

lady! O my lady! Here's my lord Aladdin seated at the foot of the

wall!" So her mistress arose hurriedly and gazing from the casement,

saw him, and her husband, raising his head, saw her, so she saluted

him and he saluted her, both being like to fly for joy. Presently

quoth she, "Up and come in to me by the private postern, for now the

accursed is not here," and she gave orders to the slave girl, who went

down and opened for him. Then Aladdin passed through it and was met by

his wife, when they embraced and exchanged kisses with all delight

until they wept for overjoy.

  After this they sat down, and Aladdin said to her: "O my lady,

before all things 'tis my desire to ask thee a question. 'Twas my wont

to place an old copper lamp in such a part of my pavilion. What became

of that same?" When the Princess heard these words, she sighed and

cried, "O my dearling, 'twas that very lamp which garred us fall

into this calamity!" Aladdin asked her, "How befell the affair?" and

she answered by recounting to him all that passed, first and last,

especially how they had given in exchange an old lamp for a new

lamp, adding: "And next day we hardly saw one another at dawn before

we found ourselves in this land, and he who deceived us and took the

lamp by way of barter informed me that he had done the deed by might

of his magic and by means of the lamp; that he is a Moorman from

Africa; and that we are now in his native country."

  When the Lady Badr al-Budur ceased speaking, Aladdin resumed:

"Tell me the intent of this accursed in thy respect, also what he

sayeth to thee and what he his will of thee." She replied: "Every

day he cometh to visit me once and no more. He would woo me to his

love, and he sueth that I take him to spouse in lieu of thee and

that I forget thee and he consoled for the loss of thee. And he

telleth me that the Sultan, my sire, hath cut off my husband's head,

adding that thou, the son of pauper parents, wast by him enriched. And

he sootheth me with talk, but he never seeth aught from me save

weeping and wailing, nor hath he heard from me one sugar-sweet

word." Quoth Aladdin: "Tell me where he hath placed the lamp, an

thou know anything thereof," and quoth she: "He beareth it about on

his body alway, nor is it possible that he leave it for a single hour.

Moreover, once when he related what I have now recounted to thee, he

brought it out of his breast pocket and allowed me to look upon it."

When Aladdin heard these words, he joyed with exceeding joy and

said: "O my lady, do thou lend ear to me. 'Tis my design to go from

thee forthright and to return only after doffing this my dress, so

wonder not when thou see me changed, but direct one of thy women to

stand by the private postern alway, and whenever she espy me coming,

at once to open. And now I will devise a device whereby to slay this

damned loon."

  Herewith he arose and, issuing from the pavilion door, walked till

he met on the way a fellah, to whom he said, "O man, take my attire

and give me thy garments." But the peasant refused, so Aladdin

stripped him of his dress perforce and donned it, leaving to the man

his own rich gear by way of gift. Then he followed the highway leading

to the neighboring city and entering it, went to the perfumers'

bazaar, where he bought of one some rarely potent bhang, the son of

a minute, paying two dinars for two drachms thereof, and he returned

in disguise by the same road till he reached the pavilion. Here the

slave girl opened to him the private postern, wherethrough he went

in to the Lady Badr al-Budur, and said: "Hear me! I desire of thee

that thou dress and dight thyself in thy best and thou cast off all

outer show and semblance of care. Also when the accursed, the

Maghrabi, shall visit thee, do thou receive him with a 'Welcome and

fair welcome,' and meet him with smiling face and invite him to come

and sup with thee. Moreover, let him note that thou hast forgotten

Aladdin, thy beloved, likewise thy father, and that thou hast

learned to love him with exceeding love, displaying to him all

manner joy and pleasure. Then ask him for wine, which must be red, and

pledge him to his secret in a significant draught. And when thou

hast given him two or three cups full and hast made him wax

careless, then drop these drops into his cup and fill it up with wine.

No sooner shall he drink of it than he will fall upon his back

senseless as one dead." Hearing these words, the Princess exclaimed:

"'Tis exceedingly sore to me that I do such deed, withal must I do

it that we escape the defilement of this accursed who tortured me by

severance from thee and from my sire. Lawful and right therefore is

the slaughter of this accursed."

  Then Aladdin ate and drank with his wife what hindered his hunger,

then, rising without stay or delay, fared forth the pavilion. So the

Lady Badr al-Budur summoned the tirewoman, who robed and arrayed her

in her finest raiment and adorned her and perfumed her. And as she

was thus, behold, the accursed Maghrabi entered. He joyed much

seeing her in such case and yet more when she confronted him, contrary

to her custom, with a laughing face, and his love longing increased,

and his desire to have her. Then she took him and, seating him

beside her, said: "O my dearling, do thou (an thou be willing) come to

me this night and let us sup together. Sufficient to me hath been my

sorrow, for were I to sit mourning through a thousand years or even

two thousand, Aladdin would not return to me from the tomb. And I

depend upon thy say of yesterday; to wit, that my sire, the Sultan,

slew him in his stress of sorrow for serverance from me.

  "Nor wonder thou an I have changed this day from what I was

yesterday, and the reason thereof is I have determined upon taking

thee to friend and playfellow in lieu of and succession to Aladdin,

for that now I have none other man but thyself. So I hope for thy

presence this night, that we may sup together and we may carouse and

drink somewhat of wine each with other, and especially 'tis my

desire that thou cause me taste the wine of thy natal soil, the

African land, because belike 'tis better than aught of the wine of

China we drink. I have with me some wine, but 'tis the growth of my

country and I vehemently wish to taste the wine produced by thine."

  When the Maghrabi saw the love lavisht upon him by the Lady Badr

al-Budur, and noted her change from the sorrowful, melancholy woman

she was wont to be, he thought that she had cut off her hope of

Aladdin, and he joyed exceedingly and said to her: "I hear and obey, O

my lady, whatso thou wishest and all thou biddest. I have at home a

jar of our country wine, which I have carefully kept and stored deep

in earth for a space of eight years, and I will now fare and fill from

it our need and will return to thee in all haste." But the Princess,

that she might wheedle him the more and yet more, replied: "O my

darling, go not thou, leaving me alone, but send one of the eunuchs to

fill for us thereof, and do thou remain sitting beside me, that I

may find in thee my consolation." He rejoined: "O my lady, none

wotteth where the jar be buried save myself, nor will I tarry from

thee." So saying, the Moorman went out, and after a short time he

brought back as much wine as they wanted, whereupon quoth the Princess

to him: "Thou hast been at pains and trouble to serve me, and I have

suffered for thy sake, O my beloved." Quoth he: "On no wise, O eyes of

me. I hold myself enhonored by thy service."

  Then the Lady Badr al-Budur sat with him at table, and the twain

fell to eating, and presently the Princess expressed a wish to

drink, when the handmaid filled her a cup forthright and then

crowned another for the Moroccan. So she drank to his long life and

his secret wishes, and he also drank to her life. Then the Princess,

who was unique in eloquence and delicacy of speech, fell to making a

cup companion of him and beguiled him by addressing him in the

sweetest terms of hidden meaning. This was done only that he might

become more madly enamored of her, but the Maghrabi thought that it

resulted from her true inclination for him, nor knew that it was a

snare set up to slay him. So his longing for her increased, and he was

dying of love for when he saw her address him in such tenderness of

words and thoughts, and his head began to swim and an the world seemed

as nothing in his eyes. But when they came to the last of the supper

and the wine had mastered his brains and the Princess saw this in him,

she said: "With us there be a custom throughout our country, but I

know not an it be the usage of yours or not." The Moorman replied,

"And what may that be?" So she said to him: "At the end of supper each

lover in turn taketh the cup of the beloved and drinketh it off."

And at once she crowned one with wine and bade the handmaid carry to

him her cup, wherein the drink was blended with the bhang.

  Now she had taught the slave girl what to do, and all the

handmaids and eunuchs in the pavilion longed for the sorcerer's

slaughter and in that matter were one with the Princess. Accordingly

the damsel handed him the cup and he, when he heard her words and

saw her drinking from his cup and passing hers to him and noted all

that show of love, fancied himself Iskandar, Lord of the Two Horns.

Then said she to him, the while swaying gracefully to either side

and putting her hand within his hand: "O my life, here is thy cup with

me and my cup with thee, and on this wise do lovers drink from each

other's cups." Then she bussed the brim and drained it to the dregs,

and again she kissed its lip and offered it to him. Thereat he flew

for joy and, meaning to do the like, raised her cup to his mouth and

drank off the whole contents, without considering whether there was

therein aught harmful or not. And forthright he rolled upon his back

in deathlike condition and the cup dropped from his grasp, whereupon

the Lady Badr al-Budur and the slave girls ran hurriedly and opened

the pavilion door to their lord Aladdin, who, disguised as a fellah,

entered therein.

  He went up to the apartment of his wife, whom he found still sitting

at table, and facing her lay the Maghrabi as one slaughtered. So he at

once drew near to her and kissed her and thanked her for this. Then,

rejoicing with joy exceeding, he turned to her and said: "Do thou with

thy handmaids betake thyself to the inner rooms and leave me alone for

the present, that I may take counsel touching mine affair." The

Princess hesitated not but went away at once, she and her women.

Then Aladdin arose, and after locking the door upon them, walked up to

the Moorman and put forth his hand to his breast pocket and thence

drew the lamp, after which he unsheathed his sword and slew the

villain. Presently he rubbed the lamp and the Marid slave appeared and

said: "Adsum, O my lord! What is it thou wantest?" "I desire of thee,"

said Aladdin, "that thou take up my pavilion from this country and

transport it to the land of China and there set it down upon the

site where it was whilom, fronting the palace of the Sultan." The

Marid replied, "Hearing and obeying, O my lord."

  Then Aladdin went and sat down with his wife and throwing his arms

round her neck, kissed her and she kissed him, and they set in

converse what while the Jinni transported the pavilion and all therein

to the place appointed. Presently Aladdin bade the handmaids spread

the table before him, and he and the Lady Badr al-Budur took seat

thereat and fell to eating and drinking, in all joy and gladness, till

they had their sufficiency, when, removing to the chamber of wine

and cup converse, they sat there and caroused in fair companionship

and each kissed other with all love liesse. The time had been long and

longsome since they enjoyed aught of pleasure, so they ceased not

doing, thus until the wine sun arose in their heads and sleep gat hold

of them, at which time they went to their bed in all ease and comfort.

Early on the next morning Aladdin woke and awoke his wife, and the

slave girls came in and donned her dress and prepared her and

adorned her whilst her husband arrayed himself in his costliest

raiment, and the twain were ready to fly for joy at reunion after

parting. Moreover, the Princess was especially joyous and gladsome

because on that day she expected to see her beloved father.

  Such was the case of Aladdin and the Lady Badr al-Budur, but as

regards the Sultan, after he drove away his son-in-law he never ceased

to sorrow for the loss of his daughter, and every hour of every day he

would sit and weep for her as women weep, because she was his only

child and he had none other to take to heart. And as he shook off

sleep morning after morning he would hasten to the window and throw it

open and peer in the direction where formerly stood Aladdin's pavilion

and pour forth tears until his eyes were dried up and their lids

were ulcered. Now on that day he arose at dawn and, according to his

custom, looked out, when lo and behold! he saw before him an

edifice, so he rubbed his eyes and considered it curiously, when he

became certified that it was the pavilion of his son-in-law. So he

called for a horse without let or delay, and as soon as his beast

was saddled, he mounted and made for the place, and Aladdin, when he

saw his father-in-law approaching, went down and met him halfway,

then, taking his hand, aided him to step upstairs to the apartment

of his daughter. And the Princess, being as earnestly desirous to

see her sire, descended and greeted him at the door of the staircase

fronting the ground-floor hall. Thereupon the King folded her in his

arms and kissed her, shedding tears of joy, and she did likewise, till

at last Aladdin led them to the upper saloon, where they took seats

and the Sultan fell to asking her case and what had betided her.

  The Lady Badr al-Budur began to inform the Sultan of all which had

befallen her, saying: "O my father, I recovered not life save

yesterday when I saw my husband, and he it was who freed me from the

thraldom of that Maghrabi, that magician, that accursed, than whom I

believe there be none viler on the face of earth. And but for my

beloved, I had never escaped him, nor hadst thou seen me during the

rest of my days. But mighty sadness and sorrow gat about me, O my

father, not only for losing thee but also for the loss of a husband

under whose kindness I shall be all the length of my life, seeing that

he freed me from that fulsome sorcerer." Then the Princess began

repeating to her sire everything that happened to her, and relating to

him how the Moorman had tricked her in the guise of a lamp-seller

who offered in exchange new for old, how she had given him the lamp

whose worth she knew not, and how she had bartered it away only to

laugh at the lampman's folly.

  "And next morning, O my father," she continued, "we found

ourselves and whatso the pavilion contained in Africa land, till

such time as my husband came to us and devised a device whereby we

escaped. And had it not been for Aladdin's hastening to our aid, the

accursed was determined to enjoy me perforce." Then she told him of

the bhang drops administered in wine to the African and concluded:

"Then my husband returned to me, and how I know not, but we were

shifted from Africa land to this place." Aladdin in his turn recounted

how, finding the wizard dead-drunken, he had sent away his wife and

her women from the poluted place into the inner apartments; how he had

taken the lamp from the sorcerer's breast pocket, whereto he was

directed by his wife; how he had slaughtered the villain; and

finally how, making use of the lamp, he had summoned its slave and

ordered him to transport the pavilion back to its proper site,

ending his tale with: "And, if thy Highness have any doubt anent my

words, arise with me and look upon the accursed magician." The King

did accordingly and, having considered the Moorman, bade the carcass

be carried away forthright and burned and its ashes scattered in air.

  Then he took to embracing Aladdin and, kissing him, said: "Pardon

me, O my son, for that I was about to destroy thy life through the

foul deeds of this damned enchanter, who cast thee into such pit of

peril. And I may be excused, O my child, for what I did by thee,

because I found myself forlorn of my daughter, my only one, who to

me is dearer than my very kingdom. Thou knowest how the hearts of

parents yearn unto their offspring, especially when like myself they

have but one and none other to love." And on this wise the Sultan took

to excusing himself and kissing his son-in-law. Aladdin said to the

Sultan: "O King of the time, thou didst naught to me contrary to

Holy Law, and I also sinned not against thee, but all the trouble came

from that Maghrabi, the impure, the magician." Thereupon the Sultan

bade the city be decorated, and they obeyed him and held high feast

and festivities. He also commanded the crier to cry about the

streets saying: "This day is a mighty great fate, wherein public

rejoicings must be held throughout the realm, for a full month of

thirty days, in honor of the Lady Badr al-Budur and her husband

Aladdin's return to their home."

  On this wise befell it with Aladdin and the Maghrabi, but withal the

King's son-in-law escaped not wholly from the accursed, albeit the

body had been burnt and the ashes scattered in air. For the villain

had a brother yet more villainous than himself, and a greater adept in

necromancy, geomancy, and astromancy. And even as the old saw saith,

"A bean and 'twas split," so each one dwelt in his own quarter of

the globe that he might fill it with his sorcery, his fraud, and his

treason. Now one day of the days it fortuned that the Moorman's

brother would learn how it fared with him, so he brought out his

sandboard and dotted it and produced the figures which, when he had

considered and carefully studied them, gave him to know that the man

he sought was dead and housed in the tomb. So he grieved and was

certified of his disease, but he dotted a second time seeking to learn

the manner of the death and where it bad taken place. So he found that

the site was the China land and that the mode was the foulest of

slaughter. Furthermore, that he who did him die was a young man

Aladdin hight. Seeing this, he straightway arose and equipped

himself for wayfare, then he set out and cut across the wilds and

wolds and heights for the space of many a month until he reached China

and the capital of the Sultan wherein was the slayer of his brother.

  He alighted at the so-called strangers' khan and, hiring himself a

cell, took rest therein for a while, then he fared forth and

wandered about the highways that he might discern some path which

would aid him unto the winning of his ill-minded wish; to wit, of

wreaking upon Aladdin blood revenge for his brother. Presently he

entered a coffeehouse, a fine building which stood in the market place

and which collected a throng of folk to play, some at the mankalah,

others at the backgammon, and others at the chess and what not else.

There he sat down and listened to those seated beside him, and they

chanced to be conversing about an ancient dame and a holy, by name

Fatimah, who dwelt away at her devotions in a hermitage without the

town, and this she never entered save only two days each month. They

mentioned also that she had performed many saintly miracles, which

when the Maghrabi, the necromancer, heard he said in himself: "Now

have I found that which I sought. Inshallah- God willing- by means of

this crone will I will to my wish."

  The necromancer went up to the folk who were talking of the miracles

performed by the devout old woman and said to one of them: "O my

uncle, I heard you an chatting about the prodigies of a certain

saintess named Fatimah. Who is she, and where may be her abode?"

"Marvelous!" exclaimed the man. "How canst thou be in our city and yet

never have heard about the miracles of the Lady Fatimah? Evidently,

O thou poor fellow, thou art a foreigner, since the fastings of this

devotee and her asceticism in worldly matters and the beauties of

her piety never came to thine ears." The Moorman rejoined: "'Tis true,

O my lord. Yes, I am a stranger, and came to this your city only

yesternight. And I hope thou wilt inform me concerning the saintly

miracles of this virtuous woman and where may be her wone, for that

I have fallen into a calamity, and 'tis my wish to visit her and crave

her prayers, so haply Allah (to Whom be honor and glory!) will,

through her blessings, deliver me from mine evil." Hereat the man

recounted to him the marvels of Fatimah, the devotee, and her piety

and the beauties of her worship, then, taking him by the hand, went

with him without the city and showed him the way to her abode, a

cavern upon a hillock's head. The necromancer acknowledged his

kindness in many words and, thanking him for his good offices,

returned to his cell in the caravanserai.

  Now by the fiat of Fate on the very next day Fatimah came down to

the city, and the Maghrabi, the necromancer, happened to leave his

hostelry a-morn, when he saw the folk swarming and crowding. Wherefore

he went up to discover what was to do, and found the devotee

standing a-middlemost the throng, and all who suffered from pain or

sickness flocked to her soliciting a blessing, and praying for her

prayers, and each and every she touched became whole of his illness.

The Moroccan, the necromancer, followed her about until she returned

to her antre. Then, awaiting till the evening evened, he arose and

repaired to a vintner's store, where he drank a cup of wine. After

this he fared forth the city, and finding the devotee's cavern,

entered it and saw her lying prostrate with her back upon a strip of

matting. So he came forward and mounted upon her belly, then he drew

his dagger and shouted at her, and when she awoke and opened her eyes,

she espied a Moorish man with an unsheathed poniard sitting upon her

middle as though about to kill her.

  She was troubled and sore terrified, but he said to her: "Hearken!

And thou cry out or utter a word, I will slay thee at this very

moment. Arise now and do all I bid thee." Then he sware to her an oath

that if she obeyed his orders, whatever they might be, he would not do

her die. So saying, he rose up from off her and Fatimah also arose,

when he said to her, "Give me thy gear and take thou my habit,"

whereupon she gave him her clothing and head fillets, her face

kerchief and her mantilla. Then quoth he, "'Tis also requisite that

thou anoint me with somewhat shall make the color of my face like unto

thine." Accordingly she went into the inner cavern, and bringing out a

gallipot of ointment, spread somewhat thereof upon her palm and with

it besmeared his face until its hue favored her own. Then she gave him

her staff and, showing him how to walk and what to do when he

entered the city, hung her rosary around his neck. Lastly she handed

to him a mirror and said, "Now look! Thou differest from me in

naught," and he saw himself Fatimah's counterpart as thou she had

never gone or come. But after obtaining his every object he falsed his

oath and asked for a cord, which she brought to him. Then he seized

her and strangled her in the cavern, and presently, when she was dead,

haled the corpse outside and threw it into a pit hard by and went back

to sleep in her cavern. And when broke the day, he rose, and repairing

to the town, took his stand under the walls of Aladdin's pavilion.

  Hereupon flocked the folk about him, all being certified that he was

Fatimah, the devotee, and he fell to doing whatso she was wont to

do. He laid hands on these in pain and recited for those a chapter

of the Koran and made orisons for a third. Presently the thronging

of the folk and the clamoring of the crowd were heard by the Lady Badr

al-Budur, who said to her handmaidens. "Look what is to do, and what

he the cause of this turmoil!" Thereupon the aga of the eunuchry fared

forth to see what might be the matter and, presently returning,

said: "O my lady, this clamor is caused by the Lady Fatimah, and if

thou be pleased to command, I will bring her to thee. So shalt thou

gain through her a blessing." The Princess answered: "Go bring her,

for since many a day I am always hearing of her miracles and her

virtues, and I do long to see her and get a blessing by her

intervention, for the folk recount her manifestations in many cases of

difficulty."

  The aga went forth and brought in the Moroccan, the necromancer,

habited in Fatimah's clothing, and when the wizard stood before the

Lady Badr al-Budur, he began at first sight to bless her with a string

of prayers, nor did any one of those present doubt at all but that

he was the devotee herself. The Princess arose and salaamed to him,

then, seating him beside her, said: "O my Lady Fatimah, 'tis my desire

that thou abide with me alway, so might I be blessed through thee, and

also learn of thee the paths of worship and piety and follow thine

example making for salvation." Now all this was a foul deceit of the

accursed African, and he designed furthermore to complete his guile,

so he continued: "O my Lady, I am a poor woman and a religious that

dwelleth in the desert, and the like of me deserveth not to abide in

the palaces of the kings." But the Princess replied: "Have no care

whatever, O my Lady Fatimah. I will set apart for thee an apartment of

my pavilion that thou mayest worship therein, and none shall ever come

to trouble thee. Also thou shalt avail to worship Allah in my place

better than in thy cavern." The Moroccan rejoined: "Hearkening and

obedience, O my lady. I will not oppose thine order, for that the

commands of the children of the kings may not be gainsaid nor

renounced. Only I hope of thee that my eating and my drinking and

sitting may be within my own chamber, which shall be kept wholly

private. Nor do I require or desire the delicacies of diet, but do

thou favor me by sending thy handmaid every day with a bit of bread

and a sup of water, and, when I feel fain of food, let me eat by

myself in my own room."

  Now the accursed hereby purposed to avert the danger of haply

raising his face kerchief at mealtimes, when his intent might be

baffled by his beard and mustachios discovering him to be a man. The

Princess replied: "O my Lady Fatimah, be of good heart, naught shall

happen save what thou wishest. But now arise and let me show thee

the apartment in the palace which I would prepare for thy sojourn with

us." The Lady Badr al-Budur arose, and taking the necromancer who

had disguised himself as the devotee, ushered him in to the place

which she had kindly promised him for a home, and said: "O my Lady

Fatimah, here thou shalt dwell with every comfort about thee and in

all privacy and repose, and the place shall be named after thy

name." Whereupon the Maghrabi acknowledged her kindness and prayed for

her. Then the Princess showed him the jalousies and the jeweled

kiosque with its four and twenty windows, and said to him, "What

thinkest thou, O my Lady Fatimah, of this marvelous pavilion?" The

Moorman replied: "By Allah, O my daughter, 'tis indeed passing fine

and wondrous exceedingly, nor do I deem that its fellow is to be found

in the whole universe. But alas for the lack of one thing which

would enhance its beauty and decoration!" The Princess asked her: "O

my Lady Fatimah, what lacketh it, and what be this thing would add

to its adornment? Tell me thereof, inasmuch as I was wont to believe

it wholly perfect." The Moroccan answered: "O my lady, all it

wanteth is that there he hanging from the middle of the dome the egg

of a fowl called the roc, and were this done, the pavilion would

lack its peer all the world over." The Princess asked, "What he this

bird, and where can we find her egg?" and the Moroccan answered, "O my

lady, the roc is indeed a giant fowl which carrieth off camels and

elephants in her pounces and flieth away with them, such is her

stature and strength. Also this fowl is mostly found in Mount Kaf, and

the architect who built this pavilion is able to bring thee one of her

eggs."

  They then left such talk, as it was the hour for the noonday meal,

and when the handmaid had spread the table, the Lady Badr alBudur sent

down to invite the accursed African to eat with her. But he accepted

not, and for a reason he would on no wise consent- nay, he rose and

retired to the room which the Princess had assigned to him and whither

the slave girls carried his dinner. Now when evening evened, Aladdin

returned from the chase and met his wife, who salaamed to him, and

he clasped her to his bosom and kissed her. Presently, looking at

her face, he saw thereon a shade of sadness, and he noted that,

contrary to her custom, she did not laugh, so he asked her: "What hath

betided thee, O my dearling? Tell me, hath aught happened to trouble

thy thoughts?" "Nothing whatever," answered she. "But, O my beloved, I

fancied that our pavilion lacked naught at all. However, O eyes of me,

O Aladdin, were the dome of the upper story hung with an egg of the

fowl called roc, there would be naught like it in the universe." Her

husband rejoined: "And for this trifle thou art saddened, when 'tis

the easiest of all matters to me! So cheer thyself, and whatever

thou wantest, 'tis enough thou inform me thereof, and I will bring

it from the abysses of the earth in the quickest time and at the

earliest hour."

  Aladdin, after refreshing the spirits of his Princess by promising

her all she could desire, repaired straightway to his chamber and

taking the lamp, rubbed it, when the Marid appeared without let or

delay saying, "Ask whatso thou wantest." Said the other: "I desire

thee to fetch me an egg of the bird roc, and do thou hang it to the

dome crown of this my pavilion." But when the Marid heard these words,

his face waxed fierce and he shouted with a mighty loud voice and a

frightful, and cried: "O denier of kindly deeds, sufficeth it not

for thee that I and all the Slaves of the Lamp are ever at thy

service, but thou must also require me to bring thee our Liege Lady

for thy pleasure, and hang her up at thy pavilion dome for the

enjoyment of thee and thy wife? Now, by Allah, ye deserve, thou and

she, that I reduce you to ashes this very moment and scatter you

upon the air. But inasmuch as ye twain be ignorant of this matter,

unknowing its inner from its outer significance, I will pardon you,

for indeed ye are but innocents. The offense cometh from that accursed

necromancer, brother to the Maghrabi, the magician, who abideth here

representing himself to be Fatimah, the devotee, after assuming her

dress and belongings and murthering her in the cavern. Indeed he

came hither seeking to slay thee by way of blood revenge for his

brother, and 'tis he who taught thy wife to require this matter of

me."

  So saying, the Marid evanished. But when Aladdin heard these

words, his wits fled his head and his joints trembled at the Marid's

terrible shout. But he empowered his purpose and, arising

forthright, issued from his chamber and went into his wife's. There he

affected an ache of head, for that he knew how famous was Fatimah

for the art and mystery of healing all such pains. And when the Lady

Badr alBudur saw him sitting hand to head and complaining of unease,

she asked him the cause and he answered, "I know of none other save

that my head acheth exceedingly." Hereupon she straightway bade summon

Fatimah, that the devotee might impose her hand upon his head, and

Aladdin asked her, "Who may this Fatimah be?" So she informed him that

it was Fatimah, the devotee, to whom she had given a home in the

pavilion. Meanwhile the slave girls had fared forth and summoned the

Maghrabi, and when the accursed made act of presence, Aladdin rose

up to him and, acting like one who knew naught of his purpose,

salaamed to him as though he had been the real Fatimah and, kissing

the hem of his sleeve, welcomed him and entreated him with honor,

and said: "O my Lady Fatimah, I hope thou wilt bless me with a boon,

for well I wot thy practice in the healing of pains. I have gotten a

mighty ache in my head." The Moorman, the accursed, could hardly

believe that he heard such words, this being all that he desired.

The necromancer, habited as Fatimah, the devotee, came up to Aladdin

that he might place hand upon his head and heal his ache. So he

imposed one hand and, putting forth the other under his gown, drew a

dagger wherewith to slay him. But Aladdin watched him and, taking

patience till he had wholly unsheathed the weapon, seized him with a

forceful grip and, wrenching the dagger from his grasp, plunged it

deep into his heart.

  When the Lady Badr al-Budur saw him do on this wise, she shrieked

and cried out: "What hath this virtuous and holy woman done that

thou hast charged thy neck with the heavy burthen of her blood shed

wrongfully? Hast thou no fear of Allah that thou killest Fatimah, this

saintly woman, whose miracles are far-famed?" "No," replied Aladdin,

"I have not killed Fatimah. I have slain only Fatimah's slayer, he

that is the brother of the Maghrabi, the accursed, the magician, who

carried thee off by his black art and transported my pavilion to the

Africa land. And this damnable brother of his came to our city and

wrought these wiles, murthering Fatimah and assuming her habit, only

that he might avenge upon me his brother's blood. And he also 'twas

who taught thee to require of me a roc's egg, that my death might

result from such requirement. But an thou doubt my speech, come

forward and consider the person I have slain." Thereupon Aladdin

drew aside the Moorman's face kerchief and the Lady Badr al-Budur

saw the semblance of a man with a full heard that well-nigh covered

his features.

  She at once knew the truth, and said to her husband, "O my

beloved, twice have I cast thee into death risk!" But he rejoined: "No

harm in that, O my lady. By the blessing of your loving eyes, I accept

with all joy all things thou bringest me." The Princess, hearing these

words, hastened to fold him in her arms and kissed him, saying: "O

my dearling, all this is for my love to thee and I knew naught

thereof, but indeed I do not deem lightly of thine affection." So

Aladdin kissed her and strained her to his breast, and the love

between them waxed but greater. At that moment the Sultan appeared,

and they told him all that had happened, showing him the corpse of the

Maghrabi, the necromancer, when the King commanded the body to be

burned and the ashes scattered on air, even as had befallen the

wizard's brother.

  And Aladdin abode with his wife, the Lady Badr al-Budur, in all

pleasure and joyaunce of life, and thenceforward escaped every danger,

and after a while, when the Sultan deceased, his son-in-law was seated

upon the throne of the kingdom. And he commanded and dealt justice

to the lieges so that all the folk loved him, and he lived with his

wife in all solace and happiness until there came to him the Destroyer

of delights and the Severer of societies.

  And a tale is also told about






                ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES



  IN days of yore and in times and tides long gone before, there dwelt

in a certain town of Persia two brothers, one named Kasim and the

other Ali Baba, who at their father's demise had divided the little

wealth he had left to them with equitable division, and had lost no

time in wasting and spending it all. The elder, however, presently

took to himself a wife, the daughter of an opulent merchant, so that

when his father-in-law fared to the mercy of Almighty Allah, he became

owner of a large shop filled with rare goods and costly wares and of a

storehouse stocked with precious stuffs, likewise of much gold that

was buried in the ground. Thus was he known throughout the city as a

substantial man. But the woman whom Ali Baba had married was poor

and needy. They lived, therefore, in a mean hovel, and Ali Baba eked

out a scanty livelihood by the sale of fuel which he daily collected

in the jungle and carried about the town to the bazaar upon his

three asses.

  Now it chanced one day that Ali Baba had cut dead branches and dry

fuel sufficient for his need, and had placed the load upon his beasts,

when suddenly he espied a dust cloud spiring high in air to his

right and moving rapidly toward him, and when he closely considered

it, he descried a troop of horsemen riding on amain and about to reach

him. At this sight he was sore alarmed, and fearing lest perchance

they were a band of bandits who would slay him and drive off his

donkeys, in his affright he began to run. But forasmuch as they were

near-hand and he could not escape from out the forest, he drove his

animals laden with the fuel into a byway of the bushes and swarmed

up a thick trunk of a huge tree to hide himself therein. And he sat

upon a branch whence he could descry everything beneath him whilst

none below could catch a glimpse of him above, and that tree grew

close beside a rock which towered high abovehead.

  The horsemen, young, active, and doughty riders, came close up to

the rock face and all dismounted, whereat Ali Baba took good note of

them, and soon he was fully persuaded by their mien and demeanor

that they were a troop of highwaymen who, having fallen upon a

caravan, had despoiled it and carried off the spoil and brought

their booty to this place with intent of concealing it safely in

some cache. Moreover, he observed that they were forty in number.

Ali Baba saw the robbers, as soon as they came under the tree, each

unbridle his horse and hobble it. Then all took off their

saddlebags, which proved to he full of gold and silver. The man who

seemed to he the captain presently pushed forward, load on shoulder,

through thorns and thickets, till he came up to a certain spot,

where he uttered these strange words: "Open, Sesame!" And forthwith

appeared a wide doorway in the face of the rock. The robbers went

in, and last of all their chief, and then the portal shut of itself.

  Long while they stayed within the cave whilst Ali Baba was

constrained to abide perched upon the tree, reflecting that if he came

down, peradventure the band might issue forth that very moment and

seize him and slay him. At last he had determined to mount one of

the horses and driving on his asses, to return townward, when suddenly

the portal flew open. The robber chief was first to issue forth, then,

standing at the entrance, he saw and counted his men as they came out,

and lastly he spake the magical words, "Shut, Sesame!" whereat the

door closed of itself. When all had passed muster and review, each

slung on his saddlebags and bridled his own horse, and as soon as

ready they rode off, led by the leader, in the direction whence they

came. Ali Baba remained still perched on the tree and watched their

departure, nor would he descend until what time they were clean gone

out of sight, lest perchance one of them return and look around and

descry him.

  Then he thought within himself: "I too will try the virtue of

those magical words and see if at my bidding the door will open and

close." So he called out aloud, "Open, Sesame!" And no sooner had he

spoken than straightway the portal flew open and he entered within. He

saw a large cavern and a vaulted, in height equaling the stature of

a full-grown man, and it was hewn in the live stone and, lighted up

with light that came through air holes and bull's-eyes in the upper

surface of the rock which formed the roof. He had expected to find

naught save outer gloom in this robbers' den, and he was surprised

to see the whole room filled with bales of all manner stuffs, and

heaped up from sole to ceiling with camelloads of silks and brocades

and embroidered cloths and mounds on mounds of varicolored carpetings.

Besides which, he espied coins golden and silvern without measure or

account, some piled upon the ground and others bound in learthern bags

and sacks. Seeing these goods and moneys in such abundance, Ali Bab

determined in his mind that not during a few years only but for many

generations thieves must have stored their gains and spoils in this

place.

  When he stood within the cave, its door had closed upon him, yet

he was not dismayed, since he had kept in memory the magical words,

and he took no heed of the precious stuffs around him, but applied

himself only and wholly to the sacks of ashrafis. Of these he

carried out as many as he judged sufficient burthen for the beasts,

then he loaded them upon his animals, and covered his plunder with

sticks and fuel, so none might discern the bags but might think that

he was carrying home his usual ware. Lastly he called out, "Shut,

Sesame!" and forthwith the door closed, for the spell so wrought

that whensoever any entered the cave, its portal shut of itself behind

him, and as he issued therefrom, the same would neither open nor close

again till he had pronounced the words "Shut, Sesame!" Presently,

having laden his asses, Ali Baba urged them before him with all

speed to the city and reaching home, he drove them into the yard, and,

shutting close the outer door, took down first the sticks and fuel and

after the bags of gold, which he carried in to his wife.

  She felt them, and finding them full of coin, suspected that Ali

Baba had been robbing, and fell to berating and blaming him for that

he should do so ill a thing. Quoth Ali Baba to his wife, "Indeed I

am no robber, and rather do thou rejoice with me at our good fortune."

Hereupon he told her of his adventure, and began to pour the gold from

the bags in heaps before her, and her sight was dazzled by the sheen

and her heart delighted at his recital and adventures. Then she

began counting the gold, whereat quoth Ali Baba: "O silly woman, how

long wilt thou continue turning over the coin? Now let me dig a hole

wherein to hide this treasure, that none may know its secret." Quoth

she: "Right is thy rede! Still would I weigh the moneys and have

some inkling of their amount," and he replied, "As thou pleasest,

but see thou tell no man." So she went off in haste to Kasim's home to

borrow weights and scales wherewith she might balance the ashrafis and

make some reckoning of their value. And when she could not find Kasim,

she said to his wife, "Lend me, I pray thee, thy scales for a moment."

Replied her sister-in-law, "Hast thou need of the bigger balance or

the smaller?" and the other rejoined, "I need not the large scales,

give me the little," and her sister-in-law cried, "Stay here a

moment whilst I look about and find thy want."

  With this pretext Kasim's wife went aside and secretly smeared wax

and suet over the pan of the balance, that she might know what thing

it was Ali Baba's wife would weigh, for she made sure that whatso it

be, some bit thereof would stick to the wax and fat. So the woman took

this opportunity to satisfy her curiosity, and Ali Baba's wife,

suspecting naught thereof, carried home the scales and began to

weigh the gold, whilst Ali Baba ceased not digging. And when the money

was weighed, they twain stowed it into the hole, which they

carefully filled up with earth. Then the good wife took back the

scales to her kinswoman, all unknowing that an ashrafi had adhered

to the cup of the scales. But when Kasim's wife espied the gold

coin, she fumed with envy and wrath, saying to herself: "So ho! They

borrowed my balance to weigh out ashrafis?" And she marveled greatly

whence so poor a man as Ali Baba had gotten such store of wealth

that he should he obliged to weigh it with a pair of scales.

  Now after long pondering the matter, when her husband returned

home at eventide, she said to him: "O man, thou deemest thyself a

wight of wealth and substance, but lo! thy brother Ali Baba is an emir

by the side of thee, and richer far than thou art. He hath such

heaps of gold that he must needs weigh his moneys with scales,

whilst thou, forsooth, art satisfied to count thy coin." "Whence

knowest thou this?" asked Kasim. And in answer his wife related all

anent the pair of scales, and how she found an ashrafi stuck to

them, and shewed him the gold coin, which bore the mark and

superscription of some ancient king. No sleep had Kasim all that night

by reason of his envy and jealousy and covetise, and next morning he

rose betimes and going to Ali Baba, said: "O my brother, to all

appearance thou art poor and needy, but in effect thou hast a store of

wealth so abundant that perforce thou must weigh thy gold with

scales." Quoth Ali Baba: "What is this thou sayest? I understand

thee not. Make clear thy purport." And quoth Kasim, with ready rage:

"Feign not that thou art ignorant of what I say, and think not to

deceive me." Then, showing him the ashrafi, he cried: "Thousands of

gold coins such as these thou hast put by, and meanwhile my wife found

this one stuck to the cup of the scales." Then Ali Baba understood how

both Kasim and his wife knew that he had store of ashrafis, and said

in his mind that it would not avail him to keep the matter hidden, but

would rather cause ill will and mischief, and thus he was induced to

tell his brother every whit concerning the bandits and also of the

treasure trove in the cave.

  When he had heard the story, Kasim exclaimed: "I would fain learn of

thee the certainty of the place where thou foundest the moneys, also

the magical words whereby the door opened and closed. And I forewarn

thee, an thou tell me not the whole truth, I will give notice of those

ashrafis to the wah, then shalt thou forfeit all thy wealth and he

disgraced and thrown into gaol." Thereupon Ali Baba told him his tale,

not forgetting the magical words, and Kasim, who kept careful heed

of all these matters, next day set out, driving ten mules he had

hired, and readily found the place which Ali Baba had described to

him. And when he came to the aforesaid rock and to the tree whereon

Ali Baba had hidden himself, and he had made sure of the door he cried

in great joy, "Open, Sesame!" The portal yawned wide at once and Kasim

went within and saw the piles of jewels and treasures lying ranged all

around, and as soon as he stood amongst them the door shut after

him, as wont to do. He walked about in ecstasy marveling at the

treasures, and when weary of admiration, he gathered together bags

of ashrafis, a sufficient load for his ten mules, and placed them by

the entrance in readiness to he carried outside and set upon the

beasts. But by the will of Allah Almighty he had clean forgotten the

cabalistic words, and cried out, "Open, Barley!" Whereat the door

refused to move. Astonished and confused beyond measure, he named

the names of all manner of grains save sesame, which had slipped

from his memory as though he had never heard the word, whereat in

his dire distress he heeded not the ashrafis that lay heaped at the

entrance, and paced to and fro, backward and forward, within the cave,

sorely puzzled and perplexed. The wealth whose sight had erewhile

filled his heart with joy and gladness was now the cause of bitter

grief and sadness.

  It came to pass that at noontide the robbers, returning by that way,

saw from afar some mules standing beside the entrance, and much they

marveled at what had brought the beasts to that place, for inasmuch as

Kasim by mischance had faded to tether or hobble them, they had

strayed about the jungle and were browsing hither and thither.

However, the thieves paid scant regard to the estrays, nor cared

they to secure them, but only wondered by what means they had wandered

so far from the town. Then, reaching the cave, the captain and his

troop dismounted, and going up to the door, repeated the formula,

and at once it flew open.

  Now Kasim had heard from within the cave the horse hoofs drawing

nigh and yet nigher, and he fell down to the ground in a fit of

fear, never doubting that it was the clatter of the banditti who would

slaughter him without fail. Howbeit, he presently took heart of grace,

and at the moment when the door flew open he rushed out hoping to make

good his escape. But the unhappy ran full tilt against the captain,

who stood in front of the band, and felled him to the ground,

whereupon a robber standing near his chief at once bared his brand and

with one cut clave Kasim clean in twain. Thereupon the robbers

rushed into the cavern, and put back as they were before the bags of

ashrafis which Kasim had heaped up at the doorway ready for taking

away, nor recked they aught of those which Ali Baba had removed, so

dazed and amazed were they to discover by what means the strange man

had effected an entrance. All knew that it was not possible for any to

drop through the skylights, so tall and steep was the rock's face,

withal slippery of ascent, and also that none could enter by the

portal unless he knew the magical words whereby to open it. However,

they presently quartered the dead body of Kasim and hung it to the

door within the cavern, two parts to the right jamb and as many to the

left, that the sight might be a warning of approaching doom for all

who dared enter the cave. Then, coming out, they closed the hoard door

and rode away upon their wonted work.

  Now when night fell and Kasim came not home, his wife waxed uneasy

in mind, and running round to Ali Baba, said: "O my brother, Kasim

hath not returned. Thou knowest whither he went, and sore I fear me

some misfortune hath betided him." Ali Baba also divined that a mishap

had happened to prevent his return. Not the less, however, he strove

to comfort his sister-in-law with words of cheer, and said: "O wife of

my brother, Kasim haply exerciseth discretion and, avoiding the

city, cometh by a roundabout road and will he here anon. This I do

believe is the reason why he tarrieth." Thereupon, comforted in

spirit, Kasim's wife fared homeward and sat awaiting her husband's

return, but when half the night was spent and still he came not, she

was as one distraught. She feared to cry aloud for her grief, lest

haply the neighbors, hearing her, should come and learn the secret, so

she wept in silence and upbraiding herself, fell to thinking:

"Wherefore did I disclose this secret to him and beget envy and

jealousy of Ali Baba? This be the fruit thereof, and hence the

disaster that hath come down upon me."

  She spent the rest of the night in bitter tears, and early on the

morrow hied in hottest hurry to Ali Baba and prayed that he would go

forth in quest of his brother. So he strove to console her, and

straightway set out with his asses for the forest. Presently, reaching

the rock, he wondered to see stains of blood freshly shed, and not

finding his brother or the ten mules, he forefelt a calamity from so

evil a sign. He then went to the door and saying, "Open, Sesame!" he

pushed in and saw the dead body of Kasim, two parts hanging to the

right and the rest to the left of the entrance. Albeit he was

affrighted beyond measure of affright, he wrapped the quarters in

two cloths and laid them upon one of his asses, hiding them

carefully with sticks and fuel that none might see them. Then he

placed the bags of gold upon the two other animals and likewise

covered them most carefully, and when all was made ready he closed the

cave door with the magical words, and set him forth wending homeward

with all ward and watchfulness. The asses with the load of ashrafis he

made over to his wife, and bade her bury the bags with diligence,

but he told her not the condition in which he had come upon his

brother Kasim. Then he went with the other ass- to wit, the beast

whereon was laid the corpse- to the widow's house and knocked gently

at the door.

  Now Kasim had a slave girl shrewd and sharp-witted, Morgiana

hight. She as softly undid the bolt and admitted Ali Baba and the

ass into the courtyard of the house, when he let down the body from

the beast's back and said: "O Morgiana, haste thee and make thee ready

to perform the rites for the burial of thy lord. I now go to tell

the tidings to thy mistress, and I will quickly return to help thee in

this matter." At that instant Kasim's widow, seeing her

brother-in-law, exclaimed: "O Ali Baba, what news bringest thou of

my spouse? Alas! I see grief tokens written upon thy countenance.

Say quickly what hath happened." Then he recounted to her how it had

fared with her husband and how he had been slain by the robbers and in

what wise he had brought home the dead body. Ali Baba pursued: "O my

lady, what was to happen hath happened, but it behooveth us to keep

this matter secret, for that our lives depend upon privacy." She

wept with sore weeping and made answer: "It hath fared with my husband

according to the fiat of Fate, and now for thy safety's sake I give

thee my word to keep the affair concealed." He replied: "Naught can

avail when Allah hath decreed. Rest thee in patience until the days of

thy widowhood be accomplisht, after which time I will take thee to

wife, and thou shalt live in comfort and happiness. And fear not

lest my first spouse vex thee or show aught of jealousy, for that

she is kindly and tender of heart." The widow, lamenting her loss

noisily, cried, "Be it as e'en thou please."

  Then Ali Baba farewelled her, weeping and wailing for her husband,

and joining Morgiana, took counsel with her how to manage the burial

of his brother. So, after much consultation and many warnings, he left

the slave girl and departed home driving his ass before him. As soon

as Ali Baba had fared forth Morgiana went quickly to a druggist's

shop, and that she might the better dissemble with him and not make

known the matter, she asked of him a drug often administered to men

when diseased with dangerous distemper. He gave it saying: "Who is

there in thy house that lieth so in as to require this medicine?"

and said she: "My master Kasim is sick well nigh unto death. For

many days he hath nor spoken nor tasted aught of food, so that

almost we despair of his life." Next day Morgiana went again and asked

the druggist for more of medicine and essences such as are adhibited

to the sick when at door of death, that the moribund may haply rally

before the last breath. The man gave the potion and she, taking it,

sighed aloud and wept, saying: "I fear me he may not have strength

to drink this draught. Methinks all will be over with him ere I return

to the house."

  Meanwhile Ali Baba was anxiously awaiting to hear sounds of

wailing and lamentation in Kasim's home, that he might at such

signal hasten thither and take part in the ceremonies of the

funeral. Early on the second day Morgiana went with veiled face to one

Baba Mustafa, a tailor well shotten in years whose craft was to make

shrouds and cerecloths, and as soon as she saw him open his shop she

gave him a gold piece and said, "Do thou bind a bandage over thine

eyes and come along with me." Mustafa made as though he would not

go, whereat Morgiana placed a second gold coin in his palm and

entreated him to accompany her. The tailor presently consented for

greed of gain, so, tying a kerchief tightly over his eyes, she led him

by the hand to the house wherein lay the dead body of her master.

Then, taking off the bandage in the darkened room, she bade him sew

together the quarters of the corpse, limb to its limb, and casting a

cloth upon the body, said to the tailor: "Make haste and sew a

shroud according to the size of this dead man, and I will give thee

therefor yet another ducat." Baba Mustafa quickly made the cerecloth

of fitting length and breadth, and Morgiana paid him the promised

ashrafi, then, once more bandaging his eyes, led him back to the place

whence she had brought him. After this she returned hurriedly home and

with the help of Ali Baba washed the body in warm water and donning

the shroud, laid the corpse upon a clean place ready for burial.

  This done, Morgiana went to the mosque and gave notice to an imam

that a funeral was awaiting the mourners in a certain household, and

prayed that he would come to read the prayers for the dead, and the

imam went back with her. Then four neighbors took up the bier and bore

it on their shoulders and fared forth with the imam and others who

were wont to give assistance at such obsequies. After the funeral

prayers were ended four other men carried off the coffin, and Morgiana

walked before it bare of head, striking her breast and weeping and

wailing with exceeding loud lament, whilst Ali Baba and the

neighbors came behind. In such order they entered the cemetery and

buried him, then, leaving him to Munkar and Nakir- the Questioners of

the Dead- all wended their ways. Presently the women of the quarter,

according to the custom of the city, gathered together in the house of

mourning and sat an hour with Kasim's widow comforting and

condoling, presently leaving her somewhat resigned and cheered. Ali

Baba stayed forty days at home in ceremonial lamentation for the

loss of his brother, so none within the town save himself and his wife

(Kasim's widow) and Morgiana knew aught the secret. And when the forty

days of mourning were ended Ali Baba removed to his own quarters all

the property belonging to the deceased and openly married the widow.

Then he appointed his nephew, his brother's eldest son, who had

lived a long time with a wealthy merchant and was perfect of knowledge

in all matters of trade, such as selling and buying, to take charge of

the defunct's shop and to carry on the business.

  It so chanced one day when the robbers, as was their wont, came to

the treasure cave that they marveled exceedingly to find nor sign

nor trace of Kasim's body, whilst they observed that much of gold

had been carried off. Quoth the captain: "Now it behooveth us to

make inquiry in this matter, else shall we suffer much of loss, and

this our treasure, which we and our forefathers have amassed during

the course of many years, will little by little be wasted and

spoiled." Hereto all assented and with single mind agreed that he whom

they had slain had knowledge of the magical words whereby the door was

made to open; moreover, that someone besides him had cognizance of the

spell and had carried off the body, and also much of gold. Wherefore

they needs must make diligent research and find out who the man ever

might be. They then took counsel and determined that one amongst them,

who should be sagacious and deft of wit, must don the dress of some

merchant from foreign parts, then, repairing to the city, he must go

about from quarter to quarter and from street to street and learn if

any townsman had lately died, and if so where he wont to dwell, that

with this clue they might be enabled to find the wight they sought.

Hereat said one of the robbers: "Grant me leave that I fare and find

out such tidings in the town and bring thee word anon, and if I fail

of my purpose I hold my life in forfeit."

  Accordingly that bandit, after disguising himself by dress, pushed

at night into the town, and next morning early he repaired to the

market square and saw that none of the shops had yet been opened

save only that of Baba Mustafa, the tailor, who, thread and needle

in hand, sat upon his working stool. The thief bade him good day and

said: "'Tis yet dark. How canst thou see to sew?" Said the tailor:

"I perceive thou art a stranger. Despite my years, my eyesight is so

keen that only yesterday I sewed together a dead body whilst sitting

in a room quite darkened." Quoth the bandit thereupon to himself, "I

shall get somewhat of my want from this snip," and to secure a further

clue he asked: "Meseemeth thou wouldst jest with me, and thou

meanest that a cerecloth for a corpse was stitched by thee and that

thy business is to sew shrouds." Answered the tailor: "It mattereth

not to thee. Question me no more questions."

  Thereupon the robber placed an ashrafi in his hand and continued: "I

desire not to discover aught thou hidest, albeit my breast, like every

honest man's, is the grave of secrets, and this only would I learn

of thee- in what house didst thou do that job? Canst thou direct me

thither, or thyself conduct me thereto?" The tailor took the gold with

greed and cried: "I have not seen with my own eyes the way to that

house. A certain bondswoman led me to a place which I know right well,

and there she bandaged my eyes and guided me to some tenement and

lastly carried me into a darkened room where lay the dead body

dismembered. Then she unbound the kerchief and bade me sew together

first the corpse and then the shroud, which having done, she again

blindfolded me and led me back to the stead whence she had brought

me and left me there. Thou seest then I am not able to tell thee where

thou shalt find the house." Quoth the robber: "Albeit thou knowest not

the dwelling whereof thou speakest, still canst thou take me to the

place where thou wast blindfolded. Then I will bind a kerchief over

thine eyes and lead thee as thou wast led. On this wise perchance thou

mayest hit upon the site. An thou wilt do this favor by me, see,

here another golden ducat is thine." Thereupon the bandit slipped a

second ashrafi into the tailor's palm, and Baba Mustafa thrust it with

the first into his pocket. Then, leaving his shop as it was, he walked

to the place where Morgiana had tied the kerchief around his eyes, and

with him went the robber, who, after binding on the bandage, led him

by the hand.

  Baba Mustafa, who was clever and keen-witted, presently striking the

street whereby he had fared with the handmaid, walked on counting step

by step, then, halting suddenly, he said, "Thus far I came with

her," and the twain stopped in front of Kasim's house, wherein now

dwelt his brother Ali Baba. The robber then made marks with white

chalk upon the door, to the end that he might readily find it at

some future time, and removing the bandage from the tailor's eyes,

said: "O Baba Mustafa, I thank thee for this favor, and Almighty Allah

guerdon thee for thy goodness. Tell me now, I pray thee, who

dwelleth in yonder house?" Quoth he: "In very sooth I wot not, for I

have little knowledge concerning this quarter of the city." And the

bandit, understanding that he could find no further clue from the

tailor, dismissed him to his shop with abundant thanks, and hastened

back to the tryst place in the jungle where the band awaited his

coming.

  Not long after, it so fortuned that Morgiana, going out upon some

errand, marveled exceedingly at seeing the chalk marks showing white

in the door. She stood awhile deep in thought, and presently divined

that some enemy had made the signs that he might recognize the house

and play some sleight upon her lord. She therefore chalked the doors

of all her neighbors in like manner and kept the matter secret,

never entrusting it or to master or to mistress. Meanwhile the

robber told his comrades his tale of adventure and how he had found

the clue, so the captain and with him all the band went one after

other by different ways till they entered the city, and he who had

placed the mark on Ali Baba's door accompanied the chief to point

out the place. He conducted him straightway to the house and shewing

the sign exclaimed, "Here dwelleth he of whom we are in search!" But

when the captain looked around him, he saw that all the dwellings bore

chalk marks after like fashion, and he wondered, saying: "By what

manner of means knowest thou which house of all these houses that bear

similar signs is that whereof thou spokest?" Hereat the robber guide

was confounded beyond measure of confusion, and could make no

answer. Then with an oath he cried: "I did assuredly set a sign upon a

door, but I know not whence came all the marks upon the other

entrances, nor can I say for a surety which it was I chalked."

Thereupon the captain returned to the market place and said to his

men: "We have toiled and labored in vain, nor have we found the

house we went forth to seek. Return we now to the forest, our

rendezvous. I also will fare thither."

  Then all trooped off and assembled together within the treasure

cave, and when the robbers had all met, the captain judged him

worthy of punishment who had spoken falsely and had led them through

the city to no purpose. So he imprisoned him in presence of them

all, and then said he: "To him amongst you will I show special favor

who shall go to town and bring me intelligence whereby we may lay

hands upon the plunderer of our property." Hereat another of the

company came forward and said, "I am ready to go and inquire into

the case, and 'tis I who will bring thee to thy wish." The captain,

after giving him presents and promises, dispatched him upon his

errand, and by the decree of Destiny, which none may gainsay, this

second robber went first to the house of Baba Mustafa the tailor, as

had done the thief who had foregone him. In like manner he also

persuaded the snip with gifts of golden coin that he be led

hood-winked, and thus too he was guided to Ali Baba's door. Here,

noting the work of his predecessor, he affixed to the jamb a mark with

red chalk, the better to distinguish it from the others, whereon still

showed the white. Then hied he back in stealth to his company.

  But Morgiana on her part also descried the red sign on the entrance,

and with subtle forethought marked all the others after the same

fashion, nor told she any what she had done. Meanwhile the bandit

rejoined his band and vauntingly said: "O our captain, I have found

the house and thereon put a mark whereby I shall distinguish it

clearly from all its neighbors." But, as aforetime, when the troop

repaired thither, they saw each and every house marked with signs of

red chalk. So they returned disappointed and the captain, waxing

displeased exceedingly and distraught, clapped also this spy into

gaol. Then said the chief to himself: "Two men have failed in their

endeavor and have met their rightful meed of punishment, and I trow

that none other of my band will essay to follow up their research.

So I myself will go and find the house of this wight."

  Accordingly he fared along, aided by the tador Baba Mustafa, who had

gained much gain of golden pieces in this matter, he hit upon the

house of Ali Baba. And here he made no outward show or sign, but

marked it on the tablet of his heart and impressed the picture upon

the page of his memory. Then, returning to the jungle, he said to

his men: "I have full cognizance of the place and have limned it

clearly in my mind, so now there will be no difficulty in finding

it. Go forth straightway and buy me and bring hither nineteen mules,

together with one large leathern jar of mustard oil and seven and

thirty vessels of the same kind clean empty. Without me and the two

locked up in gaol ye number thirty-seven souls, so I will stow you

away armed and accoutered each within his jar and will load two upon

each mule, and upon the nineteenth mule there shall be a man in an

empty jar on one side and on the other the jar full of oil. I for my

part, in guise of an oil merchant, will drive the mules into the town,

arriving at the house by night, and will ask permission of its

master to tarry there until morning. After this we shall seek occasion

during the dark hours to rise up and fall upon him and slay him."

Furthermore, the captain spake, saying: "When we have made an end of

him we shall recover the gold and treasure whereof he robbed us and

bring it back upon the mules."

  This counsel pleased the robbers, who went forthwith and purchased

mules and huge leathern jars, and did as the captain had bidden

them. And after a delay of three days, shortly before nightfall they

arose, and oversmearing all the jars with oil of mustard, each hid him

inside an empty vessel. The chief then disguised himself in trader's

gear and placed the jars upon the nineteen mules; to wit, the

thirty-seven vessels, in each of which lay a robber armed and

accoutered, and the one that was full of oil. This done, he drove

the beasts before him, and presently he reached Ali Baba's place at

nightfall, when it chanced that the housemaster was strolling after

supper to and fro in front of his home. The captain saluted him with

the salaam and said: "I come from such-and-such a village with oil,

and ofttimes have I been here a-selling oil, but now to my grief I

have arrived too late and I am sore troubled and perplexed as to where

I shall spend the night. An thou have pity on me, I pray thee grant

that I tarry here in thy courtyard and ease the mules by taking down

the jars and giving the beasts somewhat of fodder." Albeit Ali Baba

had heard the captain's voice when perched upon the tree and had

seen him enter the cave, yet by reason of the disguise he knew him not

for the leader of the thieves, and granted his request with hearty

welcome and gave him full license to halt there for the night. He then

pointed out an empty shed wherein to tether the mules, and bade one of

the slave boys go fetch grain and water. He also gave orders to the

slave girl Morgiana, saying: "A guest hath come hither and tarrieth

here tonight. Do thou busy thyself with all speed about his supper and

make ready the guest bed for him."

  Presently, when the captain had let down all the jars and had fed

and watered his mules, Ali Baba received him with all courtesy and

kindness, and summoning Morgiana, said in his presence: "See thou fail

not in service of this our stranger, nor suffer him to lack for aught.

Tomorrow early I would fare to the hammam and bathe, so do thou give

my slave boy Abdullah a suit of clean white clothes which I may put on

after washing. Moreover, make thee ready a somewhat of broth

overnight, that I may drink it after my return home." Replied she,

"I will have all in readiness as thou hast bidden." So Ali Baba

retired to his rest, and the captain, having supped, repaired to the

shed and saw that all the mules had their food and drink for the

night, and finding utter privacy, whispered to his men who were in

ambush: "This night at midnight, when ye hear my voice, do you quickly

open with your sharp knives the leathern jars from top to bottom,

and issue forth without delay." Then, passing through the kitchen,

he reached the chamber wherein a bed had been dispread for him,

Morgiana showing the way with a lamp. Quoth she, "An thou need aught

beside, I pray thee command this thy slave, who is ever ready to

obey thy say!" He made answer, "Naught else need I." Then, putting out

the light, he lay down on the bed to sleep awhile ere the time came to

rouse his men and finish off the work.

  Meanwhile Morgiana did as her master had bidden her. She first

took out a suit of clean white clothes and made it over to Abdullah,

who had not yet gone to rest. Then she placed the pigskin upon the

hearth to boil the broth and blew the fire till it burnt briskly.

After a short delay she needs must see an the broth be boiling, but by

that time all the lamps had gone out and she found that the oil was

spent and that nowhere could she get a light. The slave boy Abdullah

observed that she was troubled and perplexed hereat, and quoth he to

her: "Why make so much ado? In yonder shed are many jars of oil. Go

now and take as much soever as thou listest." Morgiana gave thanks

to him for his suggestion, and Abdullah, who was lying at his ease

in the hall, went off to sleep so that he might wake betimes and serve

Ali Baba in the bath. So the handmaiden rose, and with oil can in hand

walked to the shed where stood the leathern jars all ranged in rows.

  Now as she drew nigh unto one of the vessels, the thief who was

hidden therein, hearing the tread of footsteps, bethought him that

it was of his captain, whose summons he awaited, so he whispered,

"Is it now time for us to sally forth?" Morgiana started back

affrighted at the sound of human accents, but inasmuch as she was bold

and ready of wit, she replied, "The time is not yet come," and said to

herself: "These jars are not full of oil, and herein I perceive a

manner of mystery. Haply the oil merchant hatcheth some treacherous

plot against my lord, so Allah, the Compassionating, the

Compassionate, protect us from his snares!" Wherefore she answered

in a voice made like to the captain's, "Not yet, the time is not

come." Then she went to the next jar and returned the same reply to

him who was within, and soon to all the vessels, one by one. Then said

she in herself: "Laud to the Lord! My master took this fellow in

believing him to he an oil merchant, but lo! he hath admitted a band

of robbers, who only await the signal to fall upon him and plunder the

place and do him die."

  Then passed she on to the furthest jar and, finding it brimming with

oil, filled her can. and returning to the kitchen, trimmed the lamp

and lit the wicks. Then, bringing forth a large caldron, she set it

upon the fire, and filling it with oil from out the jar, heaped wood

upon the hearth and fanned it to a fierce flame, the readier to boil

its contents. When this was done, she bailed it out in potfuls and

poured it seething hot into the leathern vessels, one by one, while

the thieves, unable to escape, were scalded to death and every jar

contained a corpse. Thus did this slave girl by her subtle wit make

a clean end of all, noiselessly and unknown even to the dwellers in

the house. Now when she had satisfied herself that each and every of

the men had been slain, she went back to the kitchen and, shutting

to the door, sat brewing Ali Baba's broth.

  Scarce had an hour passed before the captain woke from sleep and,

opening wide his window, saw that all was dark and silent. So he

clapped his hands as a signal for his men to come forth, but not a

sound was heard in return. After a while he clapped again and called

aloud, but got no answer, and when he cried out a third time without

reply, he was perplexed and went out to the shed wherein stood the

jars. He thought to himself: "Perchance all are fallen asleep,

whenas the time for action is now at hand, so I must e'en awaken

them without stay or delay." Then, approaching the nearest jar, he was

startled by a smell of oil and seething flesh, and touching it

outside, he felt it reeking hot. Then, going to the others one by one,

he found all in like condition. Hereat he knew for a surety the fate

which had betided his band and, fearing for his own safety, he clomb

onto the wall, and thence dropping into a garden, made his escape in

high dudgeon and sore disappointment. Morgiana awaited awhile to see

the Captain return from the shed but he came not, whereat she knew

that he had scaled the wall and had taken to flight, for that the

street door was double-locked. And the thieves being all disposed of

on this wise, Morgiana laid her down to sleep in perfect solace and

ease of mind.

  When two hours of darkness yet remained, Ali Baba awoke and went

to the hammam, knowing naught of the night adventure, for the

gallant slave girl had not aroused him, nor indeed had she deemed such

action expedient, because had she sought an opportunity of reporting

to him her plan, she might haply have lost her chance and spoiled

the project. The sun was high over the horizon when Ali Baba walked

back from the baths, and he marveled exceedingly to see the jars still

standing under the shed, and said: "How cometh it that he, the oil

merchant, my guest, hath not carried to the market his mules and

jars of oil?" She answered: "Allah Almighty vouchsafe to thee sixscore

years and ten of safety! I will tell thee in privacy of this

merchant."

So Ali Baba went apart with his slave girl, who, taking him without

the house, first locked the court door, then, showing him a jar, she

said, "Prithee look into this and see if within there be oil or

aught else."

  Thereupon, peering inside it, he perceived a man, at which sight

he cried aloud and fain would have fled in his fright. Quoth Morgiana:

"Fear him not. This man hath no longer the force to work thee harm, he

lieth dead and stone-dead." Hearing such words of comfort and

reassurance, Ali Baba asked: "O Morgiana, what evils have we

escaped, and by what means hath this wretch become the quarry of

Fate?" She answered: "Alhamdolillah- praise be to Almighty Allah!- I

will inform thee fully of the case. But hush thee, speak not aloud,

lest haply the neighbors learn the secret and it end in our confusion.

Look now into all the jars, one by one from first to last." So Ali

Baba examined them severally and found in each a man fully armed and

accoutered, and all lay scalded to death. Hereat, speechless for sheer

amazement, he stared at the jars, but presently, recovering himself,

he asked, "And where is he, the oil merchant?" Answered she: "Of him

also I will inform thee. The villain was no trader, but a traitorous

assassin whose honeyed words would have ensnared thee to thy doom. And

now I will tell thee what he was and what hath happened, but meanwhile

thou art fresh from the hammam and thou shouldst first drink

somewhat of this broth for thy stomach's and thy health's sake." So

Ali Baba went within and Morgiana served up the mess, after which

quoth her master: "I fain would hear this wondrous story. Prithee tell

it to me, and set my heart at ease." Hereat the handmaid fell to

relating whatso had betided in these words:

  "O my master, when thou badest me boil the broth and retiredst to

rest, thy slave in obedience to thy command took out a suit of clean

white clothes and gave it to the boy Abdullah, then kindled the fire

and set on the broth. As soon as it was ready I had need to light a

lamp so that I might see to skim it, but all the oil was spent, and,

learning this, I told my want to the slave boy Abdullah, who advised

me to draw somewhat from the jars which stood under the shed.

Accordingly I took a can and went to the first vessel, when suddenly I

heard a voice within whisper with all caution, 'Is it now time for

us to sally forth?' I was amazed thereat, and judged that the

pretended merchant had laid some plot to slay thee, so I replied, 'The

time is not yet come.' Then I went to the second jar and heard another

voice, to which I made the like answer, and so on with all of them.

I now was certified that these men awaited only some signal from their

chief, whom thou didst take to guest within thy walls supposing him to

he a merchant in oil, and that after thou receivedst him hospitably

the miscreant had brought these men to murther thee and to plunder thy

good and spoil thy house.

  "But I gave him no opportunity to will his wish. The last jar I

found full of od, and taking somewhat therefrom, I lit the lamp. Then,

putting a large caldron upon the fire, I filled it up with oil which I

brought from the jar and made a fierce blaze under it, and when the

contents were seething hot, I took out sundry cansful with intent to

scald them all to death, and going to each jar in due order, I

poured within them, one by one, boiling oil. On this wise having

destroyed them utterly, I returned to the kitchen, and having

extinguished the lamps, stood by the window watching what might

happen, and how that false merchant would act next. Not long after I

had taken my station, the robber captain awoke and ofttimes signaled

to his thieves. Then, getting no reply, he came downstairs and went

out to the jars, and finding that all his men were slain, he fled

through the darkness, I know not whither. So when he had clean

disappeared I was assured that, the door being double-locked, he had

scaled the wall and dropped into the garden and made his escape.

Then with my heart at rest I slept."

  And Morgiana, after telling her story to her master, presently

added: "This is the whole truth I have related to thee. For some

days indeed have I had inkling of such matter, but withheld it from

thee, deeming it inexpedient to risk the chance of its meeting the

neighbors' ears. Now, however, there is no help but to tell thee

thereof. One day as I came to the house door I espied thereon a

white chalk mark, and on the next day a red sign beside the white. I

knew not the intent wherewith the marks were made, nevertheless I

set others upon the entrances of sundry neighbors, judging that some

enemy had done this deed, whereby to encompass my master's

destruction. Therefore I made the marks on all the other doors in such

perfect conformity with those I found that it would be hard to

distinguish amongst them. Judge now and see if these signs and all

this villainy be not the work of the bandits of the forest, who marked

our house that on such wise they might know it again. Of these forty

thieves there yet remain two others concerning whose case I know

naught, so beware of them, but chiefly of the third remaining

robber, their captain, who fled hence alive. Take good heed and be

thou cautious of him, for shouldst thou fall into his hands, he will

in no wise spare thee, but will surely murther thee. I will do all

that lieth in me to save from hurt and harm thy life and property, nor

shall thy slave be found wanting in any service to my lord."

  Hearing these words, Ali Baba rejoiced with exceeding joyance and

said to her: "I am well pleased with thee for this thy conduct, and

say me what wouldst thou have me do in thy behalf. I shall not fail to

remember thy brave deed so long as breath in me remaineth." Quoth she:

"It behooveth us before all things forthright to bury these bodies

in the ground, that so the secret be not known to anyone." Hereupon

Ali Baba took with him his slave boy Abdullah into the garden and

there under a tree they dug for the corpses of the thieves a deep

pit in size proportionate to its contents, and they dragged the bodies

(having carried off their weapons) to the fosse and threw them in.

Then, covering up the remains of the seven and thirty robbers, they

made the ground appear level and clean as it wont to be. They also hid

the leathern jars and the gear and arms, and presently Ali Baba sent

the mules by ones and twos to the bazaar and sold them all with the

able aid of his slave boy Abdullah. Thus the matter was hushed up, nor

did it reach the ears of any. However, Ali Baba ceased not to be ill

at ease, lest haply the captain or the surviving two robbers should

wreak their vengeance on his head. He kept himself private with all

caution, and took heed that none learn a word of what had happened and

of the wealth which he had carried off from the bandits' cave.

  Meanwhile the captain of the thieves, having escaped with his

life, fled to the forest in hot wrath and sore irk of mind, and his

senses were scattered and the color of his visage vanished like

ascending smoke. Then he thought the matter over again and again,

and at last he firmly resolved that he needs must take the life of Ali

Baba, else he would lose all the treasure which his enemy, by

knowledge of the magical words, would take away and turn to his own

use. Furthermore, he determined that he would undertake the business

singlehanded; and that after getting rid of Ali Baba, he would

gather together another band of banditti and would pursue his career

of brigandage, as indeed his forebears had done for many

generations. So he lay down to rest that night, and rising early in

the morning, donned a dress of suitable appearance, then, going to the

city, alighted at a caravanserai, thinking to himself: "Doubtless

the murther of so many men hath reached the wali's ears, and Ali

Baba hath been seized and brought to justice, and his house is leveled

and his good is confiscated. The townfolk must surely have heard

tidings of these matters." So he straightway asked of the keeper of

the khan, "What strange things have happened in the city during the

last few days?" And the other told him all that he had seen and heard,

but the captain could not learn a whit of that which most concerned

him. Hereby he understood that Ali Baba was ware and wise, and that he

had not only carried away such store of treasure, but he had also

destroyed so many lives and withal had come off scatheless.

Furthermore, that he himself must needs have all his wits alert not to

fall into the hands of his foe and perish.

  With this resolve the captain hired a shop in the bazaar, whither he

bore whole bales of the finest stuffs and goodly merchandise from

his forest treasure house, and presently he took his seat within the

store and fell to doing merchant's business. By chance his place

fronted the booth of the defunct Kasim, where his son, Ali Baba's

nephew, now traded, and the captain, who called himself Khwajah Hasan,

soon formed acquaintance and friendship with the shopkeepers around

about him and treated all with profuse civilities. But he was

especially gracious and cordial to the son of Kasim, a handsome

youth and a well-dressed, and ofttimes he would sit and chat with

him for a long while. A few days after, it chanced that Ali Baba, as

he was sometimes wont to do, came to see his nephew, whom he found

sitting in his shop. The captain saw and recognized him at sight,

and one morning he asked the young man, saying, "Prithee tell me, who

is he that ever and anon cometh to thee at thy place of sale?" Whereto

the youth made answer, "He is my uncle, the brother of my father."

Whereupon the captain showed him yet greater favor and affection,

the better to deceive him for his own devices, and gave him presents

and made him sit at meat with him and fed him with the daintiest of

dishes.

  Presently Ali Baba's nephew bethought him it was only right and

proper that he also should invite the merchant to supper, but

whereas his own house was small, and he was straitened for room and

could not make a show of splendor, as did Khwajah Hasan, he took

counsel with his uncle on the matter. Ali Baba replied to his

nephew: "Thou sayest well. It behooveth thee to entreat thy friend

in fairest fashion even as he hath entreated thee. On the morrow,

which is Friday, shut thy shop, as do all merchants of repute. Then,

after the early meal, take Khwajah Hasan to smell the air, and as thou

walkest lead him hither unawares. Meanwhile I will give orders that

Morgiana shall make ready for his coming the best of viands and all

necessaries for a feast. Trouble not thyself on any wise, but leave

the matter in my hands." Accordingly on the next day- to wit,

Friday- the nephew of Ali Baba took Khwajah Hasan to walk about the

garden, and as they were returning he led him by the street wherein

his uncle dwelt. When they came to the house, the youth stopped at the

door and knocking, said: "O my lord, this is my second home. My

uncle hath heard much of thee and of thy goodness meward, and desireth

with exceeding desire to see thee, so shouldst thou consent to enter

and visit him, I shall be truly glad and thankful to thee." Albeit

Khwajah Hasan rejoiced in heart that he had thus found means whereby

he might have access to his enemy's house and household, and

although he hoped soon to attain his end by treachery, yet he

hesitated to enter in and stood to make his excuses and walk away.

  But when the door was opened by the slave porter, Ali Baba's

nephew seized his companion's hand and after abundant persuasion led

him in, whereat he entered with great show of cheerfulness as though

much pleased and honored. The housemaster received him with all

favor and worship and asked him of his welfare, and said to him: "O my

lord, I am obliged and thankful to thee for that thou hast shewn favor

to the son of my brother, and I perceive that thou regardest him

with an affection even fonder than my own." Khwajah Hasan replied with

pleasant words and said: "Thy nephew vastly taketh my fancy and in him

I am well pleased, for that although young in years yet he hath been

endued by Allah with much of wisdom."

  Thus they twain conversed with friendly conversation, and

presently the guest rose to depart and said: "O my lord, thy slave

must now farewell thee, but on some future day- Inshallah- he will

again wait upon thee." Ali Baba, however, would not let him leave, and

asked: "Whither wendest thou, O my friend? I would invite thee to my

table, and I pray thee sit at meat with us and after hie thee home

in peace. Perchance the dishes are not as delicate as those whereof

thou art wont to eat, still deign grant me this request, I pray

thee, and refresh thyself with my victual." Quoth Khwajah Hasan: "O

lord, I am beholden to thee for thy gracious invitation, and with

pleasure would I sit at meat with thee, but for a special reason

must I needs excuse myself. Suffer me therefore to depart, for I may

not tarry longer, nor accept thy gracious offer." Hereto the host made

reply: "I pray thee, O my lord, tell me what may be the reason so

urgent and weighty." And Khwajah Hasan answered: "The cause is this. I

must not, by order of the physician who cured me lately of my

complaint, eat aught of food prepared with salt." Quoth Ali Baba:

"An this be all, deprive me not, I pray thee, of the honor thy company

will confer upon me. As the meats are not yet cooked, I will forbid

the kitchener to make use of any salt. Tarry here awhile, and I will

return anon to thee." So saying, Ali Baba went in to Morgiana and bade

her not put salt into any one of the dishes, and she, while busied

with her cooking, fell to marveling greatly at such order and asked

her master, "Who is he that eateth meat wherein is no salt?" He

answered: "What to thee mattereth it who he may be? Only do thou my

bidding." She rejoined: "'Tis well. All shall be as thou wishest." But

in mind she wondered at the man who made such strange request, and

desired much to look upon him.

  Wherefore, when all the meats were ready for serving up, she

helped the slave boy Abdullah to spread the table and set on the meal,

and no sooner did she see Khwajah Hasan than she knew who he was,

albeit he had disguised himself in the dress of a stranger merchant.

Furthermore, when she eyed him attentively, she espied a dagger hidden

under his robe. "So ho!" quoth she to herself. "This is the cause

why the villain eateth not of salt, for that he seeketh an opportunity

to slay my master, whose mortal enemy he is. Howbeit I will be

beforehand with him and dispatch him ere he find a chance to harm my

lord." Now when Ali Baba and Khwajah Hasan had eaten their

sufficiency, the slave boy Abdullah brought Morgiana word to serve the

dessert, and she cleared the table and set on fruit fresh and dried in

salvers, then she placed by the side of Ali Baba a small tripod for

three cups with a flagon of wine, and lastly she went off with the

slave boy Abdullah into another room, as though she would herself

eat supper. Then Khwajah Hasan- that is, the captain of the

robbers- perceiving that the coast was clear, exulted mightily,

saying to himself: "The time hath come for me to take full

vengeance. With one thrust of my dagger I will dispatch this fellow,

then escape across the garden and wend my ways. His nephew will not

adventure to stay my hand, for an he do but move a finger or toe

with that intent, another stab with settle his earthly account.

Still must I wait awhile until the slave boy and the cookmaid shall

have eaten and lain down to rest them in the kitchen."

  Morgiana, however, watched him wistfully and divining his purpose,

said in her mind: "I must not allow this villain advantage over my

lord, but by some means I must make void his project and at once put

an end to the life of him." Accordingly the trusty slave girl

changed her dress with all haste and donned such clothes as dancers

wear. She veiled her face with a costly kerchief, around her head

she bound a fine turban, and about her middle she tied a waistcloth

worked with gold and silver, wherein she stuck a dagger whose hilt was

rich in filigree and jewelry. Thus disguised, she said to the slave

boy Abdullah: "Take now thy tambourine, that we may play and sing

and dance in honor of our master's guest." So he did her bidding and

the twain went into the room, the lad playing and the lass

following. Then, making a low congee, they asked leave to perform

and disport and play, and Ali Baba gave permission, saying, "Dance now

and do your best that this our guest may he mirthful and merry." Quoth

Khwajah Hasan, "O my lord, thou dost indeed provide much pleasant

entertainment."

  Then the slave boy Abdullah, standing by, began to strike the

tambourine whilst Morgiana rose up and showed her perfect art and

pleased them vastly with graceful steps and sportive motion. And

suddenly, drawing the poniard from her belt, she brandished it and

paced from side to side, a spectacle which pleased them most of all.

At times also she stood before them, now clapping the sharp-edged

dagger under armpit and then setting it against her breast. Lastly she

took the tambourine from the slave boy Abdullah, and still holding the

poniard in her right, she went round for largess as is the custom

amongst merrymakers. First she stood before Ali Baba, who threw a gold

coin into the tambourine, and his nephew likewise put in an ashrafi.

Then Khwajah Hasan, seeing her about to approach him, fell to

pulling out his purse, when she heartened her heart, and quick as

the blinding levin she plunged the dagger into his vitals, and

forthwith the miscreant fell back stone-dead.

  Ali Baba was dismayed, and cried in his wrath: "O unhappy, what is

this deed thou hast done to bring about my ruin?" But she replied:

"Nay, O my lord, rather to save thee and not to cause thee harm have I

slain this man. Loosen his garments and see what thou wilt discover

thereunder." So Ali Baba searched the dead man's dress and found

concealed therein a dagger.

  Then said Morgiana: "This wretch was thy deadly enemy. Consider

him well. He is none other than the oil merchant, the captain of the

band of robbers. Whenas he came hither with intent to take thy life,

he would not eat thy salt, and when thou toldest me that he wished not

any in the meat, I suspected him, and at first sight I was assured

that he would surely do thee die. Almighty Allah he praised, 'tis even

as I thought." Then Ali Baba lavished upon her thanks and

expressions of gratitude, saying, "Lo, these two times hast thou saved

me from his hand," and falling upon her neck, he cried: "See, thou art

free, and as reward for this thy fealty I have wedded thee to my

nephew." Then, turning to the youth, he said: "Do as I bid thee and

thou shalt prosper. I would that thou marry Morgiana, who is a model

of duty and loyalty. Thou seest now yon Khwajah Hasan sought thy

friendship only that he might find opportunity to take my life, but

this maiden with her good sense and her wisdom hath slain him and

saved us."

  Ali Baba's nephew straightway consented to marry Morgiana. After

which the three, raising the dead body, bore it forth with all heed

and vigilance and privily buried it in the garden, and for many

years no one know aught thereof. In due time Ali Baba married his

brother's son to Morgiana with great pomp, and spread a bride feast in

most sumptuous fashion for his friends and neighbors, and made merry

with them and enjoyed singing and all manner of dancing and

amusements. He prospered in every undertaking and Time smiled upon him

and a new source of wealth was opened to him.

  For fear of the thieves he had not once visited the jungle cave

wherein lay the treasure since the day he had carried forth the corpse

of his brother Kasim. But some time after, he mounted his hackney

one morning and journeyed thither, with all care and caution, till

finding no signs of man or horse, and reassured in his mind, he

ventured to draw near the door. Then, alighting from his beast, he

tied it up to a tree, and going to the entrance, pronounced the

words which he had not forgotten, "Open, Sesame!" Hereat, as was its

wont, the door flew open, and entering thereby he saw the goods and

hoard of gold and silver untouched and lying as he had left them. So

he felt assured that not one of all the thieves remained alive, and

that save himself there was not a soul who knew the secret of the

place. At once he bound in his saddlecloth a load of ashrafis such

as his horse could bear and brought it home, and in after days he

showed the hoard to his sons and sons' sons and taught them how the

door could he caused to open and shut. Thus Ali Baba and his household

lived all their lives in wealth and joyance in that city where erst he

had been a pauper, and by the blessing of that secret treasure he rose

to high degree and dignities.






CONCLUSION

                            CONCLUSION



  NOW during this time Scheherazade had borne the King three boy

children, so when she had made an end of the story, she rose to her

feet and kissing ground before him, said, "O King of the Time and

unique one of the Age and the Tide, I am thine handmaid, and these

thousand nights and a night have I entertained thee with stories of

folk gone before and admonitory instances of the men of yore. May I

then make bold to crave a boon of thy Highness?" He replied, "Ask, O

Scheherazade, and it shall be granted to thee." Whereupon she cried

out to the nurses and the eunuchs, saying, "Bring me my children."

So they brought them to her in haste, and they were three boy

children, one walking, one crawling, and one suckling. She took

them, and setting them before the King, again kissed the ground and

said: "O King of the Age, these are thy children, and I crave that

thou release me from the doom of death, as a dole to these infants.

For an thou kill me, they will become motherless and will find none

among women to rear them as they should he reared."

  When the King heard this, he wept, and straining the boys to his

bosom, said: "By Allah, O Scheherazade, I pardoned thee before the

coming of these children, for that I found thee chaste, pure,

ingenuous, and pious! Allah bless thee and thy father and thy mother

and thy root and thy branch! I take the Almighty to witness against me

that I exempt thee from aught that can harm thee." So she kissed his

hands and feet and rejoiced with exceeding joy, saying, "The Lord make

thy life long and increase thee in dignity and majesty!" presently

adding: "Thou marveledst at that which befell thee on the part of

women; yet there betided the Kings of the Chosroes before thee greater

mishaps and more grievous than that which hath befallen thee; and

indeed I have set forth unto thee that which happened to caliphs and

kings and others with their women, but the relation is longsome and

hearkening groweth tedious, and in this is all-sufficient warning

for the man of wits and admonishment for the wise."

  Then she ceased to speak, and when King Shahryar heard her speech

and profited by that which she said, he summoned up his reasoning

powers and cleansed his heart and caused his understanding revert

and turned to Allah Almighty and said to himself: "Since there

befell the Kings of the Chosroes more than that which hath befallen

me, never whilst I live shall I cease to blame myself for the past. As

for this Scheherazade, her like is not found in the lands, so praise

be to Him who appointed her a means for delivering His creatures

from oppression and slaughter!" Then he arose from his seance and

kissed her head, whereat she rejoiced, she and her sister Dunyazade,

with exceeding joy.

  When the morning morrowed, the king went forth and sitting down on

the throne of the kingship, summoned the lords of his land,

whereupon the chamberlains and nabobs and captains of the host went in

to him and kissed ground before him. He distinguished the Wazir,

Scheherazade's sire, with special favor and bestowed on him a costly

and splendid robe of honor and entreated him with the utmost kindness,

and said to him: "Allah protect thee for that thou gavest me to wife

thy noble daughter, who hath been the means of my repentance from

slaying the daughters of folk. Indeed I have found her pure and pious,

chaste and ingenuous, and Allah hath vouchsafed me by her three boy

children, wherefore praised be He for his passing favor." Then he

bestowed robes of honor upon his wazirs and emirs and chief

officers, and he set forth to them briefly that which had betided

him with Scheherazade and how he had turned from his former ways and

repented him of what he had done and purposed to take the Wazir's

daughter, Scheherazade, to wife and let draw up the marriage

contract with her. When those who were present heard this, they kissed

the ground before him and blessed him and his betrothed

Scheherazade, and the Wazir thanked her. Then Shahryar made an end

of his sitting in all weal, whereupon the folk dispersed to their

dwelling places and the news was bruited abroad that the King purposed

to marry the Wazir's daughter, Scheherazade.

  Then he proceeded to make ready the wedding gear, and presently he

sent after his brother, King Shah Zaman, who came, and King Shahryar

went forth to meet him with the troops. Furthermore, they decorated

the city after the goodliest fashion, and diffused scents from censers

and burnt aloes wood and other perfumes in all the markets and

thoroughfares, and rubbed themselves with saffron, what while the

drums beat and the flutes and pipes sounded and mimes and

mountebanks played and plied their arts and the King lavished on

them gifts and largess. And in very deed it was a notable day. When

they came to the palace, King Shahryar commanded to spread the

tables with beasts roasted whole and sweetmeats and all manner of

viands, and bade the crier cry to the folk that they should come up to

the Divan and eat and drink, and that this should be a means of

reconciliation between him and them. So high and low, great and small,

came up unto him, and they abode on that wise, eating and drinking

seven days with their nights.

  Then the King shut himself up with his brother and related to him

that which had betided him with the Wazir's daughter, Scheherazade,

during the past three years, and told him what he had heard from her

of proverbs and parables, chronicles and pleasantries, quips and

jests, stories and anecdotes, dialogues and histories and elegies

and other verses. Whereat King Shah Zaman marveled with the

uttermost marvel and said: "Fain would I take her younger sister to

wife, so we may be two brothers german to two sisters german, and

they on like wise be sisters to us; for that the calamity which befell

me was the cause of our discovering that which befell thee, and all

this time of three years past I have taken no delight in woman, save

that I lie each night with a damsel of my kingdom, and every morning

I do her to death. But now I desire to marry thy wife's sister,

Dunyazade."

  When King Shahryar heard his brother's words, he rejoiced with joy

exceeding and arising forthright, went in to his wife, Scheherazade,

and acquainted her with that which his brother purposed, namely that

he sought her sister, Dunyazade in wedlock, whereupon she answered: "O

King of the Age, we seek of him one condition; to wit, that he take up

his abode with us, for that I cannot brook to be parted from my sister

an hour, because we were brought up together and may not endure

separation each from other. If he accept this pact, she is his

handmaid." King Shahryar returned to his brother and acquainted him

with that which Scheherazade had said, and he replied: "Indeed, this

is what was in my mind, for that I desire nevermore to be parted

from thee one hour. As for the kingdom, Allah the Most High shall send

to it whomso He chooseth, for that I have no longer a desire for the

kinship." When King Shahryar heard his brother's words, he rejoiced

exceedingly and said: "Verily, this is what I wished, O my brother. So

Alhamdolillah- praised be Allah- who hath brought about union between

us."

  Then he sent after the kazis and ulema, captains and notables, and

they married the two brothers to the two sisters. The contracts were

written out and the two Kings bestowed robes of honor of silk and

satin on those who were present, whilst the city was decorated and the

rejoicings were renewed. The King commanded each emir and wazir and

chamberlain and nabob to decorate his palace, and the folk of the city

were gladdened by the presage of happiness and contentment. King

Shahryar also bade slaughter sheep and set up kitchens and made

bride feasts and fed all comers, high and low; and he gave alms to the

poor and needy and extended his bounty to great and small. Then the

eunuchs went forth, that they might perfume the hammam for the brides,

so they scented it with rose-water and willow-flower water and pods of

musk and fumigated it with Kakili eagle wood and ambergris. Then

Scheherazade entered, she and her sister Dunyazade, and they

cleansed their heads and clipped their hair.

  When they came forth of the hammam bath, they donned raiment and

ornaments such as men were wont prepare for the Kings of the Chosroes;

and among Scheherazade's apparel was a dress purfled with red gold and

wrought with counterfeit presentments of birds and beasts. And the two

sisters encircled their necks with necklaces of jewels of price, in

the like whereof Iskandar rejoiced not, for therein were great

jewels such as amazed the wit and dazzled the eye. And the imagination

was bewildered at their charms, for indeed each of them was brighter

than the sun and the moon. Before them they lighted brilliant

flambeaux of wax in candelabra of gold, but their faces outshone the

flambeaux, for that they had eyes sharper than unsheathed swords and

the lashes of their eyelids bewitched all hearts. Their cheeks were

rosy red and their necks and shapes gracefully swayed and their eyes

wantoned like the gazelle's. And the slave girls came to meet them

with instruments of music. Then the two Kings entered the hammam bath,

and when they came forth, they sat down on a couch set with pearls and

gems, whereupon the two sisters came up to them and stood between

their hands, as they were moons, bending and leaning from side to side

in their beauty and loveliness.

  Presently they brought forward Scheherazade and displayed her, for

the first dress, in a red suit, whereupon King Shahryar rose to look

upon her and the wits of all present, men and women, were bewitched

for that she was even as saith of her one of her describers:



     A sun on wand in knoll of sand she showed,

     Clad in her cramoisy-hued chemisette.

     Of her lips' honeydew she gave me drink

     And with her rosy cheeks quencht fire she set.



Then they attired Dunyazade in a dress of blue brocade and she

became as she were the full moon when it shineth forth. So they

displayed her in this, for the first dress, before King Shah Zaman,

who rejoiced in her and well-nigh swooned away for love longing and

amorous desire. Yea, he was distraught with passion for her whenas

he saw her, because she was as saith of her one of her describers in

these couplets:



     She comes appareled in an azure vest,

     Ultramarine as skies are deckt and dight.

     I view'd th' unparalleled sight, which showed my eyes

     A summer moon upon a winter night.



  Then they returned to Scheherazade and displayed her in the second

dress, a suit of surpassing goodliness, and veiled her face with her

hair like a chin veil. Moreover, they let down her side locks, and she

was even as saith of her one of her describers in these couplets:



     O hail to him whose locks his cheeks o'ershade,

     Who slew my life by cruel hard despite.

     Said I, "Hast veiled the morn in night?" He said,

     "Nay I but veil moon in hue of night."



Then they displayed Dunyazade in a second and a third and a fourth

dress, and she paced forward like the rising sun, and swayed to and

fro in the insolence of beauty, and she was even as saith the poet

of her in these couplets:



     The sun of beauty she to all appears

     And, lovely coy, she mocks all loveliness.

     And when he fronts her favor and her smile

     A-morn, the sun of day in clouds must dress.



Then they displayed Scheherazade in the third dress and the fourth and

the fifth, and she became as she were a ban branch snell or a

thirsting gazelle, lovely of face and perfect in attributes of

grace, even as saith of her one in these couplets:



     She comes like fullest moon on happy night,

     Taper of waist with shape of magic might.

     She hath an eye whose glances quell mankind,

     And ruby on her cheeks reflects his light.

     Enveils her hips the blackness of her hair-

     Beware of curls that bite with viper bite!

     Her sides are silken-soft, that while the heart

     Mere rock behind that surface 'scapes our sight.

     From the fringed curtains of her eyne she shoots

     Shafts that at furthest range on mark alight.



  Then they returned to Dunyazade and displayed her in the fifth dress

and in the sixth, which was green, when she surpassed with her

loveliness the fair of the four quarters of the world, and outvied

with the brightness of her countenance the full moon at rising tide,

for she was even as saith of her the poet in these couplets:



  A damsel 'twas the tirer's art had decked with snare and sleight,

  And robed with rays as though the sun from her had borrowed light.

  She came before us wondrous clad in chemisette of green,

  As veiled by his leafy screen Pomegranate hides from sight.

  And when he said, "How callest thou the fashion of thy dress?"

  She answered us in pleasant way with double meaning dight:

  "We call this garment crevecoeur, and rightly is it hight,

  For many a heart wi' this we brake and harried many a sprite."



Then they displayed Scheherazade in the sixth and seventh dresses

and clad her in youth's clothing, whereupon she came forward swaying

from side to side and coquettishly moving, and indeed she ravished

wits and hearts and ensorceled all eyes with her glances. She shook

her sides and swayed her haunches, then put her hair on sword hilt and

went up to King Shahryar, who embraced her as hospitable host

embraceth guest, and threatened her in her ear with the taking of

the sword, and she was even as saith of her the poet in these words:



     Were not the murk of gender male,

     Than feminines surpassing fair,

     Tirewomen they had grudged the bride,

     Who made her beard and whiskers wear!



Thus also they did with her sister Dunyazade, and when they had made

an end of the display, the King bestowed robes of honor on all who

were present and sent the brides to their own apartments. Then

Scheherazade went in to King Shahryar and Dunyazade to King, Shah

Zaman, and each of them solaced himself with the company of his

beloved consort and the hearts of the folk were comforted.

  When morning morrowed, the Wazir came in to the two Kings and kissed

ground before them, wherefore they thanked him and were large of

bounty to him. Presently they went forth and sat down upon couches

of kingship, whilst all the wazirs and emirs and grandees and lords of

the land presented themselves and kissed ground. King Shahryar ordered

them dresses of honor and largess, and they prayed for the

permanence and prosperity of the King and his brother.

  Then the two sovereigns appointed their sire-in-law, the Wazir, to

be Viceroy in Samarkand, and assigned him five of the chief emirs to

accompany him, charging them attend him and do him service. The

Minister kissed the ground and prayed that they might be vouchsafed

length of life. Then he went in to his daughters, whilst the eunuchs

and ushers walked before him, and saluted them and farewelled them.

They kissed his hands and gave him joy of the kingship and bestowed on

him immense treasures, after which he took leave of them and setting

out, fared days and nights till he came near Samarkand, where the

townspeople met him at a distance of three marches and rejoiced in him

with exceeding joy. So he entered the city and they decorated the

houses, and it was a notable day. He sat down on the throne of his

kingship and the wazirs did him homage and the grandees and emirs of

Samarkand, and all prayed that he might be vouchsafed justice and

victory and length of continuance. So he bestowed on them robes of

honor and entreated them with distinction, and they made him Sultan

over them.

  As soon as his father-in-law had departed for Samarkand, King

Shahryar summoned the grandees of his realm and made them a stupendous


banquet of all manner of delicious meats and exquisite sweetmeats.

He also bestowed on them robes of honor and guerdoned them, and

divided the kingdoms between himself and his brother in their

presence, whereat the folk rejoiced. Then the two Kings abode, each

ruling a day in turn, and they were ever in harmony each with other,

while on similar wise their wives continued in the love of Allah

Almighty and in thanksgiving to Him. And the peoples and the provinces

were at peace and the preachers prayed for them from the pulpits,

and their report was bruited abroad and the travelers bore tidings

of them to all lands.

  In due time King Shahryar summoned chroniclers and copyists and bade

them write all that had betided him with his wife, first and last.

So they wrote this and named it The Stories of the Thousand Nights and

a Night. The book came to thirty volumes, and these the King laid up

in his treasury. And the two brothers abode with their wives in all

pleasaunce and solace of life and its delights, for that indeed

Allah the Most High had chanced their annoy into joy, and on this wise

they continued till there took them the Destroyer of delights and

the Severer of societies, the Desolator of dwelling places and Gamerer

of graveyards, and they were translated to the ruth of Almighty Allah.

Their houses fell waste and their palaces lay in ruins and the kings

inherited their riches.

  Then there reigned after them a wise ruler, who was just,

keen-witted, and accomplished, and loved tales and legends, especially

those which chronicle the doings of sovereigns and sultans, and he

found in the treasury these marvelous stories and wondrous

histories, contained in the thirty volumes aforesaid. So he read in

them a first book and a second and a third and so on to the last of

them, and each book astounded and delighted him more than that which

preceded it, till he came to the end of them. Then he admired whatso

he had read therein of description and discourse and rare traits and

anecdotes and moral instances and reminiscences, and bade the folk

copy them and dispread them over all lands and climes, wherefore their

report was bruited abroad and the people named them The Marvels and

Wonders of the Thousand Nights and a Night. This is all that hath come

down to us of the origin of this book, and Allah is All-knowing. So

Glory he to Him Whom the shifts of Time waste not away, nor doth aught

of chance or change affect His sway, Whom one case diverteth not

from other case and Who is sole in the attributes of perfect grace.

And prayer and peace he upon the Lord's Pontiff and Chosen One among

His creatures, our lord MOHAMMED, the Prince of mankind, through

whom we supplicate Him for a goodly and a godly



                               FINIS






                               THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

                             by Sir Richard Burton



ENTERTAINMENTS

               THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS

                    (ALF LAYLAH WA LAYLAH)

             STORY OF KING SHAHRYAR AND HIS BROTHER



                    In the Name of Allah,

            the Compassionating, the Compassionate!



PRAISE BE TO ALLAH - THE BENEFICENT KING - THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE

- LORD OF THE THREE WORLDS - WHO SET UP THE FIRMAMENT WITHOUT

PILLARS IN ITS STEAD - AND WHO STRETCHED OUT THE EARTH EVEN AS A BED -

AND GRACE, AND PRAYER-BLESSING BE UPON OUR LORD MOHAMMED - LORD OF

APOSTOLIC MEN - AND UPON HIS FAMILY AND COMPANION TRAIN -PRAYER AND

BLESSINGS ENDURING AND GRACE WHICH UNTO THE DAY OF DOOM SHALL REMAIN -

AMEN! - O THOU OF THE THREE WORLDS SOVEREIGN!



  AND AFTERWARD. Verily the works and words of those gone before us

have become instances and examples to men of our modern day, that folk

may view what admonishing chances befell other folk and may

therefrom take warning; and that they may peruse the annals of antique

peoples and all that hath betided them, and be thereby ruled and

restrained. Praise, therefore, be to Him who hath made the histories

of the past an admonition unto the present! Now of such instances

are the tales called "A Thousand Nights and a Night," together with

their far-famed legends and wonders.

  Therein it is related (but Allah it is All-knowing of His hidden

things and All-ruling and All-honored and All-giving and

All-gracious and All-merciful!) that in tide of yore and in time

long gone before, there was a King of the Kings of the Banu Sasan in

the islands of India and China, a Lord of armies and guards and

servants and dependents. He left only two sons, one in the prime of

manhood and the other yet a youth, while both were knights and braves,

albeit the elder was a doughtier horseman than the younger. So he

succeeded to the empire, when he ruled the land and lorded it is

over his lieges with justice so exemplary that he was beloved by all

the peoples of his capital and of his kingdom. His name was King

Shahryar, and he made his younger brother, Shah Zaman hight, King of

Samarkand in Barbarian land. These two ceased not to abide in their

several realms and the law was ever carried out in their dominions.

And each ruled his own kingdom with equity and fair dealing to his

subjects, in extreme solace and enjoyment, and this condition

continually endured for a score of years.

  But at the end of the twentieth twelvemonth the elder King yearned

for a sight of his younger brother and felt that he must look upon him

once more. So he took counsel with his Wazir about visiting him, but

 the Minister, finding the project unadvisable, recommended that a

letter be written and a present be sent under his charge to the

younger brother, with an invitation to visit the elder. Having

accepted this advice, the King forthwith bade prepare handsome

gifts, such as horses with saddles of gem-encrusted gold; Mamelukes,

or white slaves; beautiful handmaids, high-breasted virgins, and

splendid stuffs and costly. He then wrote a letter to Shah Zaman

expressing his warm love and great wish to see him, ending with

these words: "We therefore hope of the favor and affection of the

beloved brother that he will condescend to bestir himself and turn his

face usward. Furthermore, we have sent our Wazir to make all ordinance

for the march, and our one and only desire it is to see thee ere we

die. But if thou delay or disappoint us, we shall not survive the

blow. Wherewith peace be upon thee!"

  Then King Shahryar, having sealed the missive and given it is to the

Wazir with the offerings aforementioned, commanded him to shorten

his skirts and strain his strength and make all expedition in going

and returning. "Harkening and obedience!" quoth the Minister, who fell

to making ready without stay and packed up his loads and prepared

all his requisites without delay. This occupied him three days, and on

the dawn of the fourth he took leave of his King and marched right

away, over desert and hallway, stony waste and pleasant lea, without

halting by night or by day. But whenever he entered a realm whose

ruler was subject to his suzerain, where he was greeted with

magnificent gifts of gold and silver and all manner of presents fair

and rare, he would tarry there three days, the term of the guest rite.

And when he left on the fourth, he would be honorably escorted for a

whole day's march.

  As soon as the Wazir drew near Shah Zaman's court in Samarkand he

dispatched to report his arrival one of his high officials, who

presented himself before the King and, kissing ground between his

hands, delivered his message. Hereupon the King commanded sundry of

his grandees and lords of his realm to fare forth and meet his

brother's Wazir at the distance of a full day's journey. Which they

did, greeting him respectfully and wishing him all prosperity and

forming an escort and a procession. When he entered the city, he

proceeded straightway to the palace, where he presented himself in the

royal presence; and after kissing ground and praying for the King's

health and happiness and for victory over all his enemies, he

informed him that his brother was yearning to see him, and prayed

for the pleasure of a visit.

  He then delivered the letter, which Shah Zaman took from his hand

and read. It contained sundry hints and allusions which required

thought, but when the King had fully comprehended its import, he said,

"I hear and I obey the commands of the beloved brother!" adding to the

Wazir, "But we will not march till after the third day's hospitality."

He appointed for the Minister fitting quarters of the palace and

pitching tents for the troops, rationed them with whatever they

might require of meat and drink and other necessaries. On the fourth

day he made ready for wayfare and got together sumptuous presents

befitting his elder brother's majesty, and stablished his chief

Wazir Viceroy of the land during his absence. Then he caused his tents

and camels and mules to be brought forth and encamped, with their

bales and loads, attendants and guards, within sight of the city, in

readiness to set out next morning for his brother's capital.

  But when the night was half-spent he bethought him that he had

forgotten in his palace somewhat which he should have brought with

him, so he returned privily and entered his apartments, where he found

the Queen, his wife, asleep on his own carpet bed embracing with

both arms a black cook of loathsome aspect and foul with kitchen

grease and grime. When he saw this the world waxed black before his

sight and he said: "If such case happen while I am yet within sight of

the city, what will be the doings of this damned whore during my

long absence at my brother's court?" So he drew his scimitar, and

cutting the two in four pieces with a single blow, left them on the

carpet and returned presently to his camp without letting anyone

know of what had happened. Then he gave orders for immediate departure

and set out at once and began his travel; but he could not help

thinking over his wife's treason, and he kept ever saying to

himself: "How could she do this deed by me? How could she work her own

death?" till excessive grief seized him, his color changed to

yellow, his body waxed weak, and he was threatened with a dangerous

malady, such a one as bringeth men to die. So the Wazir shortened

his stages and tarried long at the watering stations, and did his best

to solace the King.

  Now when Shah Zaman drew near the capital of his brother, he

dispatched vaunt-couriers and messengers of glad tidings to announce

his arrival, and Shahryar came forth to meet him with his wazirs and

emirs and lords and grandees of his realm, and saluted him and joyed

with exceeding joy and caused the city to be decorated in his honor.

When, however, the brothers met, the elder could not but see the

change of complexion in the younger and questioned him of his case,

whereto he replied: "'Tis caused by the travails of wayfare and my

case needs care, for I have suffered from the change of water and air!

But Allah be praised for reuniting me with a brother so dear and so

rare!" On this wise he dissembled and kept his secret, adding: "O King

of the Time and Caliph of the Tide, only toil and moil have tinged

my face yellow with bile and hath made my eyes sink deep in my head."

  Then the two entered the capital in all honor, and the elder brother

lodged the younger in a palace overhanging the pleasure garden. And

after a time, seeing his condition still unchanged, he attributed it

is to his separation from his country and kingdom. So he let him

wend his own ways and asked no questions of him till one day when he

again said, "O my brother, I see thou art grown weaker of body and

yellower of color." "O my brother," replied Shah Zaman, "I have an

internal wound." Still he would not tell him what he had witnessed

in his wife. Thereupon Shahryar summoned doctors and surgeons and bade

them treat his brother according to the rules of art, which they did

for a whole month. But their sherbets and potions naught availed,

for he would dwell upon the deed of his wife, and despondency, instead

of diminishing, prevailed, and leechcraft treatment utterly failed.

  One day his elder brother said to him: "I am going forth to hunt and

course and to take my pleasure and pastime. Maybe this would lighten

thy heart." Shah Zaman, however, refused, saying: "O my brother, my

soul yearneth for naught of this sort, and I entreat thy favor to

stiffer me tarry quietly in this place, being wholly taken up with

my malady." So King Shah Zaman passed his night in the palace, and

next morning when his brother had fared forth, he removed from his

room and sat him down at one of the lattice windows overlooking the

pleasure grounds. And there he abode thinking with saddest thought

over his wife's betrayal, and burning sighs issued from his tortured

breast.

  And as he continued in this case lo! a postern of the palace,

which was carefully kept private, swung open, and out of it is came

twenty slave girls surrounding his brother's wife, who was wondrous

fair, a model of beauty and comeliness and symmetry and perfect

loveliness, and who paced with the grace of a gazelle which panteth

for the cooling stream. Thereupon Shah Zaman drew back from the

window, but he kept the bevy in sight, espying them from a place

whence he could not be espied. They walked under the very lattice

and advanced a little way into the garden till they came to a

jetting fountain a-middlemost a great basin of water. Then they

stripped off their clothes, and behold, ten of them were women,

concubines of the King, and the other ten were white slaves. Then they

all paired off, each with each. But the Queen, who was left alone,

presently cried out in a loud voice, "Here to me, O my lord Saeed!"

  And then sprang with a drop leap from one of the trees a big

slobbering blackamoor with rolling eyes which showed the whites, a

truly hideous sight. He walked boldly up to her and threw his arms

round her neck while she embraced him as warmly. Then he bussed her

and winding his legs round hers, as a button loop clasps a button,

he threw her and enjoyed her. On like wise did the other slaves with

the girls till all had satisfied their passions, and they ceased not

from kissing and clipping, coupling and carousing, till day began to

wane, when the Mamelukes rose from the damsels' bosoms and the

blackamoor slave dismounted from the Queen's breast. The men resumed

their disguises and all except the Negro, who swarmed up the tree,

entered the palace and closed the postern door as before.

  Now when Shah Zaman saw this conduct of his sister-in-law, he said

to himself: "By Allah, my calamity is lighter than this! My brother is

a greater King among the Kings than I am, yet this infamy goeth on

in his very palace, and his wife is in love with that filthiest of

filthy slaves. But this only showeth that they all do it and that

there is no woman but who cuckoldeth her husband. Then the curse of

Allah upon one and all, and upon the fools who lean against them for

support or who place the reins of conduct in their hands!" So he put

away his melancholy and despondency, regret and repine, and allayed

his sorrow by constantly repeating those words, adding, "'Tis my

conviction that no man in this world is safe from their malice!"

  When suppertime came, they brought him the trays and he ate with

voracious appetite, for he had long refrained from meat, feeling

unable to touch any dish, however dainty. Then he returned grateful

thanks to Almighty Allah, praising Him and blessing Him, and he

spent a most restful night, it having been long since he had savored

the sweet food of sleep. Next day he broke his fast heartily and began

to recover health and strength, and presently regained excellent

condition. His brother came back from the chase ten days after, when

he rode out to meet him and they saluted each other. And when King

Shahryar looked at King Shah Zaman, he saw how the hue of health had

returned to him, how his face had waxed ruddy, and how he ate with

an appetite after his late scanty diet. He wondered much and said:

"O my brother, I was no anxious that thou wouldst join me in hunting

and chasing, and wouldst take thy pleasure and pastime in my

dominion!" He thanked him and excused himself.

  Then the two took horse and rode into the city, and when they were

seated at their ease in the palace, the food trays were set before

them and they ate their sufficiency. After the meats were removed

and they had washed their hands, King Shahryar turned to his brother

and said: "My mind is overcome with wonderment at thy condition. I was

desirous to carry thee with me to the chase, but I saw thee changed in

hue, pale and wan to view, and in sore trouble of mind too. But now,

Alhamdolillah- glory be to God!- I see thy natural color hath returned

to thy face and that thou art again in the best of case. It was my

belief that thy sickness came of severance from thy family and

friends, and absence from capital and country, so I refrained from

troubling thee with further questions. But now I beseech thee to

expound to me the cause of thy complaint and thy change of color,

and to explain the reason of thy recovery and the return to the

ruddy hue of health which I am wont to view. So speak out and hide

naught!"

  When Shah Zaman heard this, he bowed groundward awhile his head,

then raised it and said: "I will tell thee what caused my complaint

and my loss of color. But excuse my acquainting thee with the cause of

its return to me and the reason of my complete recovery. Indeed I pray

thee not to press me for a reply." Said Shahryar, who was much

surprised by these words, "Let me hear first what produced thy

pallor and thy poor condition." "Know, then, O my brother," rejoined

Shah Zaman, "that when thou sentest thy Wazir with the invitation to

place myself between thy hands, I made ready and marched out of my

city. But presently I minded me having left behind me in the palace

a string of jewels intended as a gift to thee. I returned for it

alone, and found my wife on my carpet bed and in the arms of a hideous

black cook. So I slew the twain and came to thee, yet my thoughts

brooded over this business and I lost my bloom and became weak. But

excuse me if I still refuse to tell thee what was the reason of my

complexion returning."

  Shahryar shook his head, marveling with extreme marvel, and with the

fire of wrath flaming up from his heart, he cried, "Indeed, the malice

of woman is mighty!" Then he took refuge from them with Allah and

said: "In very sooth, O my brother, thou hast escaped many an evil

by putting thy wife to death, and right excusable were thy wrath and

grief for such mishap, which never yet befell crowned king like

thee. By Allah, had the case been mine, I would not have been

satisfied without slaying a thousand women, and that way madness lies!

But now praise be to Allah Who hath tempered to thee thy

tribulation, and needs must thou acquaint me with that which so

suddenly restored to thee complexion and health, and explain to me

what causeth this concealment." "O King of the Age, again I pray

thee excuse my so doing!" "Nay, but thou must." "I fear, O my brother,

lest the recital cause thee more anger and sorrow than afflicted

me." "That were but a better reason," quoth Shahryar, "for telling

me the whole history, and I conjure thee by Allah not to keep back

aught from me."

  Thereupon Shah Zaman told him all he had seen, from commencement

to conclusion, ending with these words: "When I beheld thy calamity

and the treason of thy wife, O my brother, and I reflected that thou

art in years my senior and in sovereignty my superior, mine own sorrow

was belittled by the comparison, and my mind recovered tone and

temper. So, throwing off melancholy and despondency, I was able to eat

and drink and sleep, and thus I speedily regained health and strength.

Such is the truth and the whole truth." When King Shahryar heard

this he waxed wroth with exceeding wrath, and rage was like to

strangle him. But presently he recovered himself and said, "O my

brother, I would not give thee the lie in this matter, but I cannot

credit it till I see it with mine own eyes." "And thou wouldst look

upon thy calamity," quoth Shah Zaman, "rise at once and make ready

again for hunting and coursing, and then hide thyself with me. So

shalt thou witness it and thine eyes shall verify it." "True," quoth

the King. Whereupon he let make proclamation of his intent to

travel, and the troops and tents fared forth without the city, camping

within sight, and Shahryar sallied out with them and took seat

a-midmost his host, bidding the slaves admit no man to him. When night

came on, he summoned his Wazir and said to him, "Sit thou in my stead,

and let none wot of my absence till the term of three days."

  Then the brothers disguised themselves and returned by night with

all secrecy to the palace, where they passed the dark hours. And at

dawn they seated themselves at the lattice overlooking the pleasure

grounds, when presently the Queen and her handmaids came out as

before, and passing under the windows, made for the fountain. Here

they stripped, ten of them being men to ten women, and the King's wife

cried out, "Where art thou, O Saeed?" The hideous blackamoor dropped

from the tree straightway, and rushing into her arms without stay or

delay, cried out, "I am Sa'ad al-Din Saood!" The lady laughed

heartily, and all fell to satisfying their lusts, and remained so

occupied for a couple of hours, when the white slaves rose up from the

handmaidens' breasts and the blackamoor dismounted from the Queen's

bosom. Then they went into the basin and after performing the ghusl,

or complete ablution, donned their dresses and retired as they had

done before.

  When King Shahryar saw this infamy of his wife and concubines, he

became as one distraught, and he cried out: "Only in utter solitude

can man be safe from the doings of this vile world! By Allah, life

is naught but one great wrong." Presently he added, "Do not thwart me,

O my brother, in what I propose." And the other answered, "I will

not." So he said: "Let us up as we are and depart forthright hence,

for we have no concern with kingship, and let us overwander Allah's

earth, worshiping the Almighty till we find someone to whom the like

calamity hath happened. And if we find none then will death be more

welcome to us than life."

  So the two brothers issued from a second private postern of the

palace, and they never stinted wayfaring by day and by night until

they reached a tree a-middle of a meadow hard by a spring of sweet

water on the shore of the salt sea. Both drank of it and sat down to

take their rest. And when an hour of the day had gone by, lo! they

heard a mighty roar and uproar in the middle of the main as though the

heavens were falling upon the earth, and the sea brake with waves

before them and from it towered a black pillar, which grew and grew

till it rose skyward and began making for that meadow. Seeing it, they

waxed fearful exceedingly and climbed to the top of the tree, which

was a lofty, whence they gazed to see what might be the matter. And

behold, it was a Jinni, huge of height and burly of breast and bulk,

broad of brow and black of blee, bearing on his head a coffer of

crystal. He strode to land, wading through the deep, and coming to the

tree whereupon were the two Kings, seated himself beneath it. He

then set down the coffer on its bottom and out of it drew a casket

with seven padlocks of steel, which he unlocked with seven keys of

steel he took from beside his thigh, and out of it a young lady to

come was seen, whiteskinned and of winsomest mien, of stature fine and

thin, and bright as though a moon of the fourteenth night she had

been, or the sun raining lively sheen. Even so the poet Utayyah

hath excellently said:-



     She rose like the morn as she shone through the night

     And she gilded the grove with her gracious sight.

     From her radiance the sun taketh increase when

     She unveileth and shameth the moonshine bright.

     Bow down all beings between her hands

     As she showeth charms with her veil undight.

     And she floodeth cities with torrent tears

     When she flasheth her look of levin light.



  The Jinni seated her under the tree by his side and looking at

her, said: "O choicest love of this heart of mine! O dame of noblest

line, whom I snatched away on thy bride night that none might

prevent me taking thy maidenhead or tumble thee before I did, and whom

none save myself hath loved or hath enjoyed. O my sweetheart! I

would lief sleep a little while." He then laid his head upon the

lady's thighs, and, stretching out hip legs, which extended down to

the sea, slept and snored and snarked like the roll of thunder.

Presently she raised her head toward the treetop and saw the two Kings

perched near the summit. Then she softly lifted off her lap the

Jinni's pate, which she was tired of supporting, and placed it upon

the ground, then, standing upright under the tree, signed to the

Kings, "Come ye down, ye two, and fear naught from this Ifrit." They

were in a terrible fright when they found that she had seen them,

and answered her in the same manner, "Allah upon thee and by thy

modesty, O lady, excuse us from coming down!" But she rejoined by

saying: "Allah upon you both that ye come down forthright. And if ye

come not, I will rouse upon you my husband, this Ifrit, and he shall

do you to die by the illest of deaths." And she continued making

signals to them.

  So, being afraid, they came down to her, and she rose before them

and said, "Stroke me a strong stroke, without stay or delay, otherwise

will I arouse and set upon you this Ifrit, who shall slay you

straightway." They said to her: "O our lady, we conjure thee by Allah,

let us off this work, for we are fugitives from such, and in extreme

dread and terror of this thy husband. How then can we do it in such

a way as thou desirest?" "Leave this talk. It needs must be so," quoth

she, and she swore them by Him who raised the skies on high without

prop or pillar that if they worked not her will, she would cause

them to be slain and cast into the sea. Whereupon out of fear King

Shahryar said to King Shah Zaman, "O my brother, do thou what she

biddeth thee do." But he replied, "I will not do it till thou do it

before I do." And they began disputing about futtering her.

  Then quoth she to the twain: "How is it I see you disputing and

demurring? If ye do not come forward like men and do the deed of kind,

ye two, I will arouse upon you the Ifrit." At this, by reason of their

sore dread of the Jinni, both did by her what she bade them do, and

when they had dismounted from her, she said, "Well done!" She then

took from her pocket a purse and drew out a knotted string whereon

were strung five hundred and seventy seal rings, and asked, "Know ye

what be these?" They answered her saying, "We know not!" Then quoth

she: "These be the signets of five hundred and seventy men who have

all futtered me upon the horns of this foul, this foolish, this filthy

Ifrit. So give me also your two seal rings, ye pair of brothers."

  When they had drawn their two rings from their hands and given

them to her, she said to them: "Of a truth this Ifrit bore me off on

my bride night, and put me into a casket and set the casket in a

coffer, and to the coffer he affixed seven strong padlocks of steel

and deposited me on the deep bottom of the sea that raves, dashing and

clashing with waves, and guarded me so that I might remain chaste

and honest, quotha! that none save himself might have connection

with me. But I have lain under as many of my kind as I please, and

this wretched Jinni wotteth not that Destiny may not be averted nor

hindered by aught, and that whatso woman willeth, the same she

fulfilleth however man nilleth. Even so saith one of them:



           "Rely not on women,

           Trust not to their hearts,

           Whose joys and whose sorrows

           Are hung to their parts!

           Lying love they will swear thee

           Whence guile ne'er departs.

           Take Yusuf for sample,

           'Ware sleights and 'ware smarts!

           Iblis ousted Adam

           (See ye not?) thro' their arts."



  Hearing these words, they marveled with exceeding marvel, and she

went from them to the Ifrit, and taking up his head on her thigh as

before, said to them softly, "Now wend your ways and bear yourselves

beyond the bounds of his malice." So they fared forth saying either to

other, "Allah! Allah!" and: "There be no Majesty and there be no Might

save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great, and with Him we seek refuge

from women's malice and sleight, for of a truth it hath no mate in

might. Consider, O my brother, the ways of this marvelous lady with an

Ifrit, who is so much more powerful than we are. Now since there

hath happened to him a greater mishap than that which befell us and

which should bear us abundant consolation, so return we to our

countries and capitals, and let us decide never to intermarry with

womankind, and presently we will show them what will be our action."

  Thereupon they rode back to the tents of King Shahryar, which they

reached on the morning of the third day. And having mustered the

wazirs and emirs, the chamberlains and high officials, he gave a

robe of honor to his Viceroy and issued orders for an immediate return

to the city. There he sat him upon his throne and, sending for the

Chief Minister, the father of the two damsels who (Inshallah!) will

presently be mentioned, he said, "I command thee to take my wife and

smite her to death, for she hath broken her plight and her faith."

So he carried her to the place of execution and did her die. Then King

Shahryar took brand in hand and, repairing to the seraglio, slew all

the concubines and their Mamelukes. He also sware himself by a binding

oath that whatever wife he married he would abate her maidenhead at

night and slay her next morning, to make sure of his honor. "For,"

said he, "there never was nor is there one chaste woman upon the

face of earth."

  Then Shah Zaman prayed for permission to fare homeward, and he

went forth equipped and escorted and traveled till he reached his

own country. Meanwhile Shahryar commanded his Wazir to bring him the

bride of the night that he might go in to her. So he produced a most

beautiful girl, the daughter of one of the emirs, and the King went in

unto her at eventide. And when morning dawned, he bade his Minister

strike off her head, and the Wazir did accordingly, for fear of the

Sultan. On this wise he continued for the space of three years,

marrying a maiden every night and killing her the next morning, till

folk raised an outcry against him and cursed him, praying Allah

utterly to destroy him and his rule. And women made an uproar and

mothers wept and parents fled with their daughters till there remained

not in the city a young person fit for carnal copulation.

  Presently the King ordered his Chief Wazir, the same who was charged

with the executions, to bring him a virgin, as was his wont, and the

Minister went forth and searched and found none. So he returned home

in sorrow and anxiety, fearing for his life from the King. Now he

had two daughters, Scheherazade and Dunyazade, hight, of whom the

elder had perused the books, annals, and legends of preceding kings,

and the stories, examples, and instances of bygone men and things.

Indeed it was said that she had collected a thousand books of

histories relating to antique races and departed rulers. She had

purused the works of the poets and knew them by heart, she had studied

philosophy and the sciences, arts, and accomplishments. And she was

pleasant and polite, wise and witty, well read and well bred. Now on

that day she said to her father: "Why do I see thee thus changed and

laden with cark and care? Concerning this matter quoth one of the

poets:



           "Tell whoso hath sorrow

           Grief never shall last.

           E'en as joy hath no morrow

           So woe shall go past."



  When the Wazir heard from his daughter these words, he related to

her, from first to last, all that had happened between him and the

King. Thereupon said she: "By Allah, O my father, how long shall

this slaughter of women endure? Shall I tell thee what is in my mind

in order to save both sides from destruction?" "Say on, O my

daughter," quoth he, and quoth she: "I wish thou wouldst give me in

marriage to this King Shahryar. Either I shall live or I shall be a

ransom for the virgin daughters of Moslems and the cause of their

deliverance from his hands and thine." "Allah upon thee!" cried he

in wrath exceeding that lacked no feeding. "O scanty of wit, expose

not thy life to such peril! How durst thou address me in words so wide

from wisdom and unfar from foolishness? Know that one who lacketh

experience in worldly matters readily falleth into misfortune, and

whoso considereth not the end keepeth not the world to friend, and the

vulgar say: 'I was lying at mine ease. Naught but my officiousness

brought me unease'." "Needs must thou," she broke in, "make me a

doer of this good deed, and let him kill me an he will. I shall only

die a ransom for others." "O my daughter," asked he, "and how shall

that profit thee when thou shalt have thrown away thy life?" And she

answered, "O my father, it must be, come of it what will!" The Wazir

was again moved to fury and blamed and reproached her, ending with,

"In very deed I fear lest the same befall thee which befell the bull

and the ass with the husbandman." "And what," asked she, "befell them,

O my father?" Whereupon the Wazir began

