The Arabian nights (1907) Illustrated by Walter Paget

October 30, 2017 | Author: Anonymous | Category: N/A
Share Embed


Short Description

Rouse, W. H. D. (William Henry Denham), 1863-1950 The Arabian nights arabian nights ......

Description

FAfRY TALCS

BEFtRENCr

592^P^rub^i:w\ oi IVse

-ArabtoA oidut 3 3333

THE

:

NEW YORK •



;

08119 0908

PUBLIC LIBRARY

*

-0

«

j

1

PRESENTED BY

S. S3v% <

tit:

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft

Corporation

http://www.archive.org/details/arabiannightsOOrous

^l^e

J3rabian

Jlighls.

^i=r-.->

'"fp

Wj)feiF^|l(gi(gt

CONTENTS. PAGE

The Merchant and the Genie

9

26

The Story of the Fisherman The Enchanted Horse

The Story

of

55

Aladdin, or The Wonderful Lamp

.

.

Ali Baba

96 199

The Story of Kummir al Zummaun and Badoura, Princess OF China

233

280

SiNDBAD THE SaILOR

The Story

of the Little

Hunchback

313

,T "^

'* '^^,ti^

PROPERTY OF THE OF NEW YORK

COT

a22oS25 f'i^OH.JC

INTRODUCTION.

T HE

book of the Arabian Nights' Entertainment, or, more properl}^ The Thousand and One Nights, is not very ancient in its present shape. The book was first made known in the West by Antoine Galland, who in 1704 published a paraphrase in French of a manuscript which came into his hands. This manuscript, which was in existence in 1548, is not very much earlier than that date; and the internal evidence of tlie tales, the atmosphere and setting, points to a date not earlier than 1450 for their compilation in this form. While, however, the atmosphere is Moslem and the setting or local colour points to Egypt in the 14th to i6th centuries, the tales themselves point to Arabia, and in particular to the heyday of Bagdad with the Caliph Haroun al Reschid. Some of the tales have a historical basis; some are Persian or Indian; others are folk-tales or older than the hills; there are not a few repetitions. All this evidence indicates that the work is a compilation based on one or more older collections, and incorporating a number of stray legends and stories, one of the collections incorporated being Arabian and the final compilation having been made in Egypt somewhere about 1 500. Galland's French paraphrase is a charming work, but it was meant as a children's story book and has no pretentions to scholarly accuracy: it is very much shortened and selects only a part of the material. Two of the most famous stories, Aladdin and Ali Baba, together with others, did not proceed from this collection of the Nights at all, but from another manuscript, which was afterwards identified by Doctor Zotenberg in Paris. Upon Galland's paraphrase are based a number of other selections and adaptations. Earl)- in the 19th century Jonathan Scott produced an English revision or paraphrase selected from the contents of a manuscript in the possession of Edward \\'ortley Montague (181 1, reprinted later). This also contains only a small part of the original. In 1839, E. W. Lane made an independent English translation from an abbreviated version of the Arabic text, which has been several times reprinted and represents what the English reader regards as the Arabian Nights' Entertainment. He, like the rest, selected, abbreviated J-

8

INTRODUCTION.

countries where books are few, the hearing of stories is tlie spice of Hfe, lifting all above their own sordid surroundings, giving happiness to those in trouble and hope to all. The following description from a traveller who knew the Arabs well will illustrate this.

"The fondness of an Arab for the traditional history of the most distinguisht actions of their remote ancestors is proverbial professed story-tellers are ever the appendages of men of rank. It is a great exercise of genius, and a peculiar gift, held in high estimation among them. They have a quickness and clearness of delivery, with a perfect command of words, surprising to a European ear; they never hesitate, are never at a loss; their descriptions are highly poetical, and their relations exemplified by figure and metaphor, the most striking and appropriate their extempore songs are also full of fire, and possess many beautiful and happy similes. "Arab songs go to the heart, and greatly excite the passions. I have seen a circle of Arabs straining their eyes with fixed attention one moment, and bursting with loud laughter: at the next, melting into tears, and clasping their hands in all the Denham's Travels in Africa. ecstasy of grief and sympathy." From stories men gain their history and geography, their science and their rules of life they include for unlettered races I venture to hope that those their education and their religion. who may procure this book for their children will use it in the good old way and tell the stories by word of mouth, or at least read them aloud. Few memories are so lasting as those of the stories which we heard told or read to us in childhood, and to many the memory of a nurse or foster mother is among their dearest thoughts, bringing gratitude for the new worlds of imagination which they have opened up, never to be obliterated throughout the struggles of after life. W. H. D. Rouse. ;



;

^WP^^^WM—fc^

-u-^-y-^

THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE. 'T^HERE

was once

property a great

was

number

obliged

journevs, carried

in

merchant who possessed much

a

lands, goods,

of clerks,

from

time

to

and money, and had

and

factors,

time

with

him he

a

wallet

had

containing

a great

where he could procure no

desert

having despatched

biscuits

his affairs,

and

to pass over,

of his

He

journey,

took horse again

order to return home.

The the

business

sort of provisions.

arrived without accident at the end

in

take

to

He

and on one occasion he took horse, and

dates, because

and,

slaves.

fourth dav of his journey he turned out of

road to rest for

a

while

beneath some

trees.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

lo

He

found a fountain near

branch

the

to

at

hand,

some

the fountain and took

seated

himself beside

biscuits

and dates from

he

of a tree,

tying his horse

so,

wallet.

his

As he lessly

dates

ate his

he threw the

different directions;

in

having finished

then,

being a good Mussulman,

his repast,

stones care-

he washed his

hands, face, and feet, and said his prayers.

Before

he

had finished he saw

with age

and of enormous

size,

him with

a scimitar in his

hand.

in

a terrible

kill

you

my

son."'

with

"How

this

could

He

spoke to him

bidding him "Rise,

voice,

scimitar,

kill

I

white

a genie,

advancing towards

you

as

vour son?'

that

I

may

have killed

exclaimed the

merchant, "I never knew, never saw him."

"Did you not sit down when vou came hither?" demanded the genie, "and did you not take dates out of your w^allet, and as you ate them did vou not throW' the stones about in diff^erent directions?"

"I did

that

all

"I cannot deny "If that

it

say,"

answered the merchant;

it."

be so,"

you have

When

you

reasoned

killed

my

the

son

:

genie,

and

in

"I this

you were throwing the stones about,

was passing

by and

you threw one

which killed him; therefore

I

must

"Ah! my Lord! pardon me merchant.

I

into

kill "

tell

vou

manner.

mv his

son eye,

vou."

exclaimed

the

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. "No "Is

not just to

it

"1 agree I it

no mercy,"

pardon,

kill is,"

it

killed your son

innocently

and

suffer

me

exclaimed the genie.

him that has killed another?" replied

the

merchant,

"but

was unknown to me, and

beg you therefore

I

;

it

ii

I

if

did

pardon me,

to

to live."

But as the genie persisted in his resolution the merchant begged that he might be granted a year's respite in which to return home, bid farewell to and children, and

his wife

"Do you genie,

settle his business affairs.

heaven

take

witness,"

to

the

cried

dav twelvemonth vou will return

"that this

to this spot?"

"I do," answered the merchant, whereupon the genie

left

him and disappeared.

The merchant then hastened and acquaint

family with

his

the

to

home

return

sorrowful

intelli-

There was great lamentation made, and his wife and children wept bitterly, the merchant himgence.

self

mingling

his

with

tears

but

theirs;

standing this he did not neglect to set his order, and at the end of his family adieu

and

the twelvemonth

set out

upon

his

notwithaffairs

in

he bade

journey to the

appointed spot.

He

reached

the

fountain,

horse, and seated himself

He

from

alighted

his

upon the ground.

had not been there

long when

he saw an

old man, leading a hind, approaching.

"Brother,"

said

the

old

man,

"

whv

are

you

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

12

come evil

to this desert place,

the resort of an

is

spirit?"

The merchant to

which

his cnriosity

and related

him the adventure which obliged him

to be there.

The

man

old

satisfied

astonishment

listened with

and when

he had finished exclaimed: "I will remain, Brother,

and be

yonr interview with the genie."

a witness of

Thev conversed together o J

perceived

then

another

time and

for a short

man

old

coming

towards

them, followed by two black dogs. After they

them what they

had

one another,

saluted

did

in

that

he asked

The

place.

old

man

with the hind told him the adventure of the merchant

and the genie, and

and the

second

between them,

that had passed

all

man

old

resolved

also

to

remain

and witness the issue of the meeting.

They had seriously begun to converse together when thev perceived a thick vapour, like a cloud of dust raised by a whirlwind, advancing towards them,

and out of the vapour appeared the genie,

having

a scimitar in his hand.

Taking the merchant bv the arm, he that

mav

I

kill

you

as

vou killed

mv

said:

"Rise,

son."

AVhen the old man who led the hind saw the genie lav hold of the merchant and about to kill him, he threw himself

at

"Prince of Genies, suspend your anger,

me.

I

will tell

the feet of the monster and said I

most

humblv request you

and do me the favour

vou the historv of

mv

life,

:

to

to hear

and of

'B t'other,"

said

the

old

man,

^^why

desert fiace

P"

aye

you

come

to

this

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. the hind you see

if

you think

more wonder-

it

and surprising than the adventure of the merchant,

ful I

and

;

15

hope

you

pardon the

will

man one

unfortunate

half of his offence."

The

genie

deliberating

after

the proposal hnally agreed to

So the old man began said he,

my

"is

living together I

took

cousin; nay, what

me

presented hated

wife,

aversion

so

was too

late.

is

well

"When my

and

that

I

This

slave.

a

my

son

;

wife.

to

my

concealed

knew nothing

wife,

of

of

Before

whom

I

mv

her

till

it

slave and her son, and prayed

take care of them durinjr

wife

slave

son was grown to a youth

recommended

mistrust, the

my

wife, being jealous,

but

obliged to undertake a long journey. I

more,

married her, and after

I

with a son, and

mother

both

"This hind,"

twenty years and having no children,

second

a

it.

his story.

She was very young when

on

time

short

a

was

I

I

it

went

had

no

her to

absence, which was to

be for a whole vear.

"But,

having studied magic,

her

enchantments

and

his

mother

in

changing

she succeeded by

my

son into a calf

into a cow.

"At my return I enquired for mother and child. "'Your slave,' said she, 'is dead; and as for your I have son, I know not what has become of him. not seen him these two months.' "Eight months passed and my son did not return.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

i6

and,

my

being the feast of the great Sacrilice,

It

herdsman bring me

"He

bellowed

eves, that

to

make

piteouslv,

tears

was about

I

so

and

one,

having

the sacrifice,

but

from

her

falling

could not brins: mvself to give her the

I

blow; but delivered her

mv

to

herdsman, who took

her away and slaughtered her.

her

to skin

to sacrifice.

me

accordingly brought

bound her she

cow

a fat

bade

I

found

he

her

But when he came

to be

but skin

nothing:

and bone.

"'Take her

alms, or in anv

in

bring

a fat calf,

"He I

yourself,'

knew

eftort

to

way you

me

not

the

soon

calf

moved as

was

be so cruel

at

mv

and though

fat calf,

vet

son,

the sight

of

I

could not

On

him.

his

mv

that he broke his cord and

feet

as

to take his

as

a

he beheld me, he made so great an

come near me,

threw himself

vou have

if

her stead.'

in

at

'and dispose of her

please; and

returned shortly with

forbear being part, as

it

said,

I

if

conjuring

felt

a tender pitv for him, which

me on

his

behalf,

the calf

home and

bring

I

not to

life.

"I

and

me

bade

me

the

another

interested

herdsman take in

his stead.

"Although mv wife urged me again and again

make so,

the

sacrifice,

I

could not bring myself to do

and the herdsman led him awav.

morning the

to

herdsman desired

to

The speak

following with

me

alone.

"'I

come,'

said he, 'to

communicate

to

you

a

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. piece of intelligence for which thanks.

nie in

have

1

when laughed when

perceived she

moment

after

son

she saw him,

opposite

same time.

asked

I

I

:

other

and

in

her

why

a

"the

at

him

see

joy to

wept

I

our master's

is

with

and

brance of the the

home

"Father," said she,

laughed

alive,

still

skill

one and the

parts at

you bring back

calf

will return

the calf

led

I

a-weeping.

fell

two such

she acted

hope vou

daughter that has some

a

Yesterday

maffic.

I

17

rememwas made mother, who the

sacrifice that

day

of

his

was changed into

cow.

a

These enchantments were

made

by

wife,

^vho

our

master's

hated

mother and son."

"On He

broke

his

if

she were

and

coni

himself at

my

tlive'W

words

I

house

of

to

restore

my

these

hastened to the

mv herdsman

and asked

feet.

able

hearing

both '

son

his

to

daughter

his

former

shape.

"She answered me, and

I

well

know what

smiling, I

owe

'You

to

vou

are our master, ;

but

I

cannot

restore your son to his former shape, except on

conditions

my

:

the

first

is,

that

husband; and the second, that

punish the person

two

me for you allow me to

vou give him

who changed him

to

into a calf.'

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

i8

"Having agreed damsel took a vessel over

that

it

I

herself to the

born a

a

both

to

these conditions,

of water, pronounced words

full

did not understand,

'O

exclaimed

calf,

man, and

art

changed into

and,

calf,

continue in that form

calf,

the

if

but

;

addressing

thou wast thou be

if

by enchantment,

a calf

return to thy natural shape.'

"As in

she spoke, she threw water upon him, and

an instant he recovered his natural form.

"We

embraced each other tenderlv, and

addressed him

acknowledgment to

is

"This it

mv

changed

whom

she

wife, as

I

consented joyfullv,

married she

you

then

I

doubt not but

'I

have promised.' but before

they were

wife into a hind,

and

this

see.

the history of myself and this hind.

is

in

vour deliverer you will consent

to

make her your

"He

words:

in these

Is

not one of the most wonderful and surprising?"

"I

admit

is,"

it

"and on that

said the genie,

account forgive the merchant one half of

When

the

the second,

am

man had

finished

his storv,

led the two black dogs, addressed

the genie and said " I

old

first

who

his crime."

:

you what happened to me, and these two black dogs you see by me, and I am certain

you

going to

I

my

will say that

prising than

when

tell

that

have done

to pardon the

story

which you have this,

I

hope vou

is

yet

more

just heard. will

merchant another half of

sur-

But

be pleased

his oflence."

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

19

"I will," replied the genie, "provided your story surpass that of the hind."

Then

the second old

man began

"Great Prince of Genies, you must know that

we

two black dogs and my-

are three brothers, the

when he, died, left each of us one thousand sequins. With that sum we all became merchants. A little time after we opened shop, my Our

self.

father,

one of these two dogs,

eldest brother,

and trade

travel

view he sold

foreign

in

his

estate,

countries.

resolved to

With

this

and bought goods suited to

the trade he intended to follow.

"He At

went away and was absent

the expiration

thought before

me

"'Is

nised

this

him.

'Ah,

'how could

I

concerning all

I

himself

cried,

him narrowly and recog-

at

brother,'

my

his

presented

you do not know me?' he

know you

into

year.

poor man who

a

alms

ask

to

looked

I

time,

whole

shop.

possible

it

him come lost

my

in

and upon

of this

come

had

a

cried

I,

embracing him,

in this condition?'

made

I

house, and having questioned him

misfortunes,

found that

I

he

had

goods and money through unfortunate

his

trading.

"I immediately shut up to a bath, ing,

gave him

on examining

stock, that

sequins,

I

is

mv

shop and, taking him

clothes

books, that

to say, that

gave

my

the best

I

I

I

had.

Find-

had doubled

my

was worth two thousand

him one-half;

'With

that,'

said

I,

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

20

you may make up your the

loss.'

He

joyfully accepted

and having repaired

present,

we

fortunes,

his

lived together as before.

"Some

time

my

after,

second brother, who

the

is

other of these two dogs, also sold his estate.

to

He

"His elder brother and myself did all we could divert him from his purpose, but without etiect. disposed of

goods

were

as

and with the money bought such

it,

suitable

He

designed to follow.

At the end

parted.

which

trade

the

to

he

and de-

joined a caravan

of the year he returned in the

my

Having myself by this time gained another thousand sequins, I made him a present of them. With this sum he furnished same condition

"Some voyage: velled,'

Who

time

immediately

I

said

T,

can assure

constantly

refused;

solicitation five

much, that

I

but

after

years, they

I

my

thev overcame

had

it?

successful

resolution.

the time arrived that for

our

given

I

importuned me so

vovage,

and had not one dirrim

sand sequins

more

tra-

having resisted their

goods necessary to the undertaking, all,

a trading

in

'You have

shall be

to

In vain thev urged me, for

"When, however, make preparations

spent

came

brothers

declined.

that

whole

at last

my

what have you gained by

'and

me

trade.

should join them

I

than you have been.'

to

his

one of

after,

propose that

to

other brother.

and continued

his shop,

me

as

to each

I

to

we were buv the

found they had

left

of the thou-

of them.

I

did

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. not,

on

trary,

this

upbraid

account,

niv stock

being

shared the half of

with

it

six

still

them.

21

On

thousand

them, telling

con-

the

sequins,

them,

I

'My

we must venture these three thousand sein some secure place that our vovaije be not more successful than vours

brothers, quins, in

case

and hide the rest

We

put

was formerly, we

and to enable us I

as

to

sea

witli

:

a favourable wind.

may have wherewith to assist us, to follow our ancient way of living.'

gave each of them a thousand sequins, and keeping

much

for myself,

sand in a corner of

I

my

buried the house.

We

other three thou-

purchased goods,

and having embarked them on board

a vessel,

which

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

22

we

freighted

between

we

us,

put

with

sea

to

a

favourable wind.

"After two months'

where we landed and had

port, for I

we

sail,

our goods.

arrived happily at

very good market

a

mine so

especially sold

I

With

gained ten to one.

well, that

we bought

the produce

commodities of that country to carry back with us for sale.

"When we I

were ready

met on the seashore

to

me

and besought

hand,

return,

exceedingly

lady,

a

She walked up

some, but poorly clad.

my

embark on our

to

me, kissed

to

with great

hand-

earnestness

marry her and take her along with me.

"She assured me in the

world to be

begged me not

to

that

I

should have with

satisfied

all

the reason

and

her conduct,

object to her on

account of her

poverty.

"And

so

apparel to be ried her,

my

found

my

I

at last

made

I

yielded, and ordered proper

for her,

and, after having mar-

took her on board,

and we

many good

wife possessed so

my two

affairs

as

brothers,

successfully

who had as

not

had

I

qualities that

managed

mine,

envied

prosperity, and suffered their feelings to carry so

far,

night,

that they conspired

when my

both into the

"My

wife

and

against I

were

I

In the mean-

love for her increased every day.

time

set sail.

my

life,

asleep,

their

my them

and one

threw us

sea.

wife proved to be a fairy, and, by conse-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

23

quence, a genie, so that she could not be drowned but for me,

is

it

out her help.

when

I

she took

"When husband,

certain

I

had scarcely fallen into the water,

me

up,

and carried me

to an island.

day appeared, she said to me, 'You

by

that

;

must have perished with-

saving your

^

life,

I

have

see,

not

re-

flKM 6ff^ i

u-^

w

.--

-*»~

1

I

^^S^"^^11

/ met on the seashore a lady.

warded you

ill

for

am

your kindness to me.

being upon

know

that

shore

when you were going

to

embark,

strong desire to have you for

my

husband

mind

to

I

try

a fairy,

and

your goodness,

before you in disguise.

You must

and

You have

the seaI ;

presented

I

felt a

had

a

myself

dealt generously

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

24

bv me, and

am

I

glad

my acknowledgment.

ing

opportunity of return-

of an

But

your brothers, and nothing

I

will

am

incensed against

me

satisfy

but their

liycs.'

"I listened to this discourse with admiration and

thanked

my

way

wife the best

kindness she had done me.

my

for

'as

brothers,

'But, Madam,'

beg you

I

whatever cause of resentment I

am

could for the great

I

to

I,

them;

pardon

they have

given me,

not cruel enough to desire their death.'

"I pacified her by these words, and I

said

me in my own

had concluded she transported

from the island to the roof of

as

soon as

a

moment

house, and

then disappeared.

"I descended, opened the doors of

dug up the three thousand sequins went afterwards

my

mv

house, and

had formerly

I

shop, which

se-

creted.

I

opened,

and was complimented bv the merchants,

my

neighbours, upon

to

my

house,

I

to

me

When

return.

perceived

I

which came up

my

to

in a

there

I

two

I

also

went back

black

dogs,

very submissive manner

:

could not divine the meaning of this circumstance

until

mv

the fairy,

band, be not

appeared and said:

wife,

surprised

to see these

'Hus-

dogs, thev are

vour brothers.' "I was troubled

this

at

declaration,

and asked

her by what power they were so transformed. '"I did of

mv

sisters

it,'

to

said she,

do

it,

'or at least authorised

who

at

one

the same time sunk

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. You have

their ship.

board, but

your two brothers,

to

remain

that time,

if

had on

As

condemned them

have

I

such

a

to

Their perfidiousness

years in that shape.

five

well deserves

too

goods you

the

compensate you another wav.

will

I

lost

25

penance.

you conduct them

to

At

end of

the

my

sister

who

placed the enchantment upon them she will remove

and they will regain their natural forms.'

it,

"The ling in this

who

my it

five

quest

way,

I

years being

my

of

met

this

led the hind, historv,

O

now

wife's

expired,

sister;

I

and

am as

I

travel-

passed

merchant and the good old man

and

sat

down bv them.

Prince of Genies

!

This

is

do not vou think

very extraordinary?"

"I own account

I

it

is,"

replied the

genie,

"and on

that

remit the merchant the second half of the

crime which he has committed against me," and with that the genie disappeared.

The merchant

did not

fail

make due acknowThey rejoiced to see to

ledgment to his deliverers. him out of danger, and, bidding him adieu, each of them proceeded on his way. The merchant returned to his wife

and children, and passed the

days with them

in

peace.

rest of his

THE STORY OV THE EISHERMAN. 'T^HEKE

was once

aged fisherman,

an

who

was so poor that he could scarcely

earn

would maintain and

wife,

He went betimes

and

much

as

himself, his

three

children.

everv day to

imposed

as

it

upon himself not his

The

nets

fish

morning,

the

in

as

a

law

to

cast

above four times

fisheruian.

a dav.

He went

out one morning before daybreak, and

coming to the seaside cast in his nets. As he drew them towards the shore, he found them very heavy, and thought he had a good draught of fish, at which he rejoiced instead

of

;

but

fish

in

his

a

moment

after,

contained

nets

perceiving that

nothing

but the

much vexed to have made He mended his nets, which

carcass of an ass, he was

such a sorrv draught.

were broken second time.

in

several places, and threw

When

them

in

a

he would have withdrawn them

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

27

he found a great deal of resistance, which made him think he had taken abundance of

nothing

except a basket

fish,

but he found

and slime,

of gravel

full

which grieved him extremely.

He

threw awav the basket,

nets from the

slime,

and,

them the

cast

brought up nothing except stones,

washinc:

third time,

shells,

his

but

and mnd.

.}*^«^B*

He

No

language

examined the

can

express

was almost distracted. appear he did

vessel

on all sides.

his

disappointuient

However,

not forget

to say

as

;

dawn began

his prayers,

like

he to a

good Mussulman, and he added to them this petition "Lord, thou knowest that I cast my nets only four :

times

a

dav

;

I

have

alreadv

drawn

them

three 3*

THE

28

ARAJ5IAN NIGHTS.

times, without the least reward

onlv to cast them once more

;

labour:

lor iiiv

I

am

pray thee to render

1

the sea favourable to me.''

The his nets

fisherman, having finished this prayer, cast fourth

the

difficulty

but

weight seemed that

it

vellow

of

vessel

a

lish,

not

was shut up and

upon

founder,

:

which

from

its

and he observed

;

having

This turn of

it.

"I

will sell

it,"

a

measure

of

buv

and

them

in

fastened with lead,

the impression of a seal

tune rejoiced him

empty

be

to

found nothing

copper,

it

with great

as formerly,

out,

but instead of

;

and when he thought

time,

was proper drew them

said he,

with

corn

for-

"to the the

money."

He it,

examined the vessel on

to try if

This

nothing. bottle

He placed tively

circumstance,

a knife,

turned

out, it

fact that the

made him

cover,

To

try

bottle.

mouth downward, but nothing surprised

before him,

there

and the

leaden

and easily opened the

the

which

a

but heard

noise,

something precious.

contained

it

he took

came

made any

contents

was sealed with

think that this,

its

and shook

all sides,

him

came out

a

very

He

extremely.

but while he viewed thick

it

smoke,

atten-

which

obliged him to retire two or three paces back.

The smoke ascended

to the clouds,

and, extend-

ing itself along the sea and upon the shore, formed a great mist,

which we may well imagine

fisherman with astonishment.

When

the

filled

the

smoke was

The smoke

ascciuicit

to

the

clo/iiis.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. all

of the

out

solid

body,

high

as

vessel,

greatest

the

monster of such

would

have

fain

was formed

of which

and became

re-united

it

At the

of giants.

fled,

a

twice as

genie

a

unwieldy bulk,

an

31

of a

sight

fisherman

the

but was so frightened that he

could not move.

"Solomon,' cried the genie immediately, "Solomon, great prophet, pardon, pardon

more oppose your

will,

I

will

obey

never

will

I

;

your com-

all

mands.''

The covered

above

died,

me your

Tell

hundred

eighteen

Solomon up

when he heard these words, recourage: "Proud spirit," said he, "it is

fisherman, his

years

and we are now history,

at

prophet

the end of time.

and how you came

be shut

to

in this vessel."

"Presumptuous fellow," to the

fisherman with

more

with

respect,

"Why man.

I

a

I

"That

me?"

kill

now

not just

set

my

will not save you,"

"I have only

"Speak

look.

pray you, else will

would you

"Did

the genie, turning

said

fierce

have you alreadv forgotten

I kill

manner

me

to

you."

replied the fisher-

you

at

liberty,

and

services?" the genie

answered,

and that

one favour to grant you,

the choice of what

me

the

since

is

would have

of death vou

put you to."

"But wherein have

I

offended you?"

demanded

the fisherman.

"Hearken

to

my

story,"

said

the

genie,

"and

THE

32

yon

nnderstand

then

will

ARAIilAN NIGHTS. the

case.

am one

I

of

those rebellions spirits that opposed the will of Solo-

He

mon, the great prophet.

me by

vants to take

and

as

shut

not

force and bring nie before him,

vowed

he

me up in break my

punish

to

He

me.

therefore

copper vessel; and that

this

prison

might

I

himself stamped the leaden

lie

cover with his great

He

seal.

then gave the vessel

one of the genies who had submitted to

to

me

with orders to throw

"During the ment,

swore that

I

if

the

expiration

him

rich

bevond

ever,

would open

all

my

imprison-

anyone should deliver me be-

of

period,

that

I

would make

That centurv ran

belief.

and during the second

out,

made an oath

I

howthat

I

the treasures of the earth to anvone

me

that might set

him,

into the sea.

hundred years of

first

fore

at liberty,

"In the third a

to submit to his

persisted in refnsing

still

I

authority

therefore sent his ser-

I

but with no better success.

promised to make

mv

deliverer

powerfnl monarch, to be alwavs near him

in spirit,

and to grant him every day three requests, no matter

what they might two former and

"At so long,

deliver

I

But

continued

swore that

me,

this

centurv passed

in

mv

I

would

if,

kill

as

the

prison.

being angry to find mvself

last, I

be.

afterwards,

a

prisonei-

anvone should

him without mercv, and

grant him no other favour but to choose the

manner

of his death, and therefore, since thou hast delivered

me

to-dav,

I

give thee

that choice."

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

33

For some time the fisherman reasoned with the genie, and endeavonred to dissnade him from his purpose; but seeing that

it

was useless he determined

to resort to stratagem.

"Since

must die then," said he

I

to the genie,

"I submit to the will of heaven; but before

choose

I

manner of my death, I conjure you bv the great name of the prophet Solomon to answer me trulv the question I am going to ask you." The genie having promised to speak the truth, the fisherman said to him: "I wish to know if you the

were

really in this vessel, for

cannot believe

I

it

is

capable of holding one of your size." "I swear to you that ing," replied the genie,

I

was there, notwithstand-

me

"just as truly as you see

here."

"Well,"

said the fisherman,

"I cannot and will

not believe you, unless vou go into the vessel again to

prove

Upon solve,

to

it

me,"

body of the genie began

this the

changed

and

before upon

the

itself into

seashore;

at

smoke, last

it

lect itself

and to re-enter the vessel,

remained

outside,

forth,

when immediatelv

which said to the fisherman

to dis-

extending

began to until

as

col-

no part

a voice

came

:

"Well now, incredulous fellow, do not vou believe me now?" The fisherman, instead of answering the genie, took the cover of lead, and, having speedilv replaced

THE Al^MUAN NIGHTS.

34 it

"Now

on the vessel, cried out:

beg

mv

you

to death;

but rather will

sea

whence

took

I

you

beware of such to kill

The liberty,

him

a

I

said

you

hard

struggled

but finding this

"What

you

to

build a house

will

and give notice

throw

to

that shall set

genie

to

shall put

I

their nets

in

wicked genie, who has made himself

set

to

at

endeavoured to

him out of the

let

a

libertv."

at

impossible,

persuade the fisherman to

he

1

will reside,

I

who come

to all fishermen

vow

way

throw you into the

I

and

:

your turn

it

favour and to choose which

upon the shore, where to

is

bottle.

wav of

was

onlv

the

fisherman,

bv

jest,"

said.

"() genie,"

replied

ment ago vou were one of the and

now

you one of the

are

course

will

return,

and there

signify

You

judgment. reject yours,

and

am

to

shall

rejected

greatest of

least.

nothing;

vou

"but

my

Your

the

stav

genies,

crafty dis-

vou

sea

until

pravers

resolved

all

mo-

a

the

and

must

day of I

now

throw

vou into

the genie,

"do not

to

the sea."

"My

good

friend,"

be guilty of such I

replied

cruelty.

If

you

promise to do vou no hurt, nav,

will far

let

from

me

out

that,

I

show vou a wav to become exceedinglv rich." The hope of delivering himself from poverty prevailed with the fisherman, and after making the genie take a great and solemn oath that he would not harm him, he took the covering otf the vessel. will

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. In an instant the

35

began to resume

genie

his form no sooner had he done so than he kicked the bottle ;

hiughed

into

the

face,

and bade

sea,

the

at

fisherman's

him follow him,

bringing

alarmed his nets

with him.

The fisherman took up his nets and followed distrust. They passed by the town, and came to the top of a mountain, from whence

him with some they

descended

them

to a lake that lay

When

into

vast

a

between four

reached

thev

"Cast

:

did

''

;

would make

the waters were full of

were of four colours, fie

threw

each colour. could

not

might get

in

white,

his nets,

for he could see his surprise

red, blue,

them,

considerable

they

and yellow.

and brought out one of

Having never seen the

but admire a

never doubting

and to

fish,

lake the

vour nets and J

in

so,

good catch,

a

brought

hills.

of the

the side

genie said to the fisherman O the fisherman catch fish that he

which

plain,

judging

and,

sum

like before,

for them, he

that

he

he

was very

jovful.

"Carry the

"and he

will

every day to

fish

to

your sultan," said the genie,

You may come

pay you well for them. fish

in this lake

;

but

I

give you warn-

ing not to throw vour nets above once a day, other-

wise you will repent." his

him

Having spoken

this,

he struck

foot upon the ground, which opened, swallowed up,

and then closed

The

fisherman, following the advice of the genie,

again.

AKABIAX NIGHTS.

Till-:

36

did not cast in his nets a second time, but returned

town and went immediately

to the

palace to offer his

The

the sultan's

to

fish.

was much surprised

when he saw them, and took them up and examined them closelv. "Take them," said he to his vizier, "and carry them to the cook, whom the Emperor of the Greeks has sent me. I make no doubt they will prove as good sultan

to the taste as to the sight."

The

them

vizier carried

delivering them to the

He him

to

gold,

then give

returned to the

his

fisherman

which he accordingly

The

money, could scarcely believe being

for his family with the

Now

soon

as

pieces

of

able

a

seen

much

jjood fortune,

his

dream,

until he

to provide

produce of

the sultan's

so

his

but

found

necessaries

Hsh.

cook received the

them and put them upon the fire frying-pan, with oil, and when she thought them enough on one side, she turned them upon the

she prepared

fish,

in

as

hundred

did.

thought the whole must be

by

who ordered

master,

four

are four

to dress."

who had never

fisherman,

otherwise,

"Here

cook, said:

which the sultan wishes you

fish

it

he was directed, and,

as

a

fried

other, but scarcely

were thev turned, when the wall

of the kitchen divided, and a voung: ladv of wonderful

in

beauty entered from the opening. flowered

pendants

in

satin,

after

She was clad

the Egyptian manner,

with

her ears, a necklace of large pearls, and

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. bracelets of gold set with rubies, in

37

and carried

a rod

her hand.

She moved towards the frying-pan,

amazement of with

"Fish,

rod,

von

are

fish,

Then

the cook, and striking one of the hsh

end of the

the

to the great

said

faithful?"

the four fish lifted up their

heads and replied,

''Yes,

yes:

if

we reckon; if vou pay your debts, we pay ours." As soon as thev had hnished

you reckon,

ladv overturned

these words, the

frying-pan, and returned into

the

the open part of the wall, which

as

it

was before.

The cook was ened as

at

what had

soon

had

happened, but

fallen

But they were

sure

tell

voiuig lady of ivondcr-

as

fid beauty cnicvcd.

black as coal

to be carried to the sultan.

"Alas!" I

hsh

upon the hearth.

her greatly, and she

If

sufficiently

up the

took

she

and not ht

greatly fright-

had

she

as

recovered that

became

immediatelv, and

closed

said she,

the

sultan

he will not

to

fell

weeping.

"what what

believe

This troubled

will I

become

have

seen,

me, but will be

of I

me?

am

enraged

against me."

While

she

was

thus

bewailing

herself,

the

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

38

fish

were

had occurred, and the

vizier

grand vizier entered, and asked her

if

the

ready.

She told him sent

word

fish,

as a

the

genie

that

to the fisherman to bring four

more such

misfortune had befallen the others, so that

they were not

The

all

to

fit

be carried to the sultan.

fisherman, without saving anything of what

had told

him,

excused

day on account of the long

himself for that

distance he had to tra-

verse to reach the lake where he caught them

promised

to bring

them without

fail

but

;

on the morrow.

Accordingly he went away by night, and, coming threw

to the lake,

took four

fish

like

in his

nets betimes next morning,

the former, and brought

them

to

the vizier at the hour appointed.

The

them and carried them to the kitchen, and shut himself up with the cook whilst she prepared them and put them on the fire, minister

took

as she

had done the four others the day previously.

When

thev

were

fried

on

one

side,

and she had

turned them upon the other, the kitchen wall again

opened, and the same lady came her hand, struck one of the fore,

and

four gave her the

all

in

with the rod in

spoke to

fish,

as

it

same answer.

then overturned the frying-pan with her rod and

appeared grand

through

vizier,

said that

it

the

having

opening

witnessed

in all

the

She dis-

The

wall.

that had

be-

passed,

was too wonderful and extraordinary to

be concealed from the sultan and that he would

in-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. form him therewith.

much

being

man and such

and the sultan,

This he did,

surprised, sent immediately for the fisher-

said to

him

:

"Friend, bring

me

more

four

fish."

The

fisherman, having undertaken to do

immediately to the of

39



net he

his

and

lake,

caught

four

immediately to the sultan,

at the first fish

went

so,

throwing

in

brought them

and

who ordered

four

that

hundred pieces of gold should be given him.

As soon them that

sultan had the

as the

be carried into

to

was necessary

himself up with

vizier,

that

he ordered

room, with

private

his

for frying them,

the

fish

all

and having shut prepared

minister

them and put them into the frying-pan, and when they were fried on the one side, turned them upon the other;

young

then the wall

ladv, there

a slave, staff in

came

opened, but instead of a

out a black, in the habit of

and of gigantic stature, with his

He

hand.

a great

addressed them

in

green

the

same

words the young lady had used and they answered as before,

and the this

whereupon the black overturned the pan became black as coals. Having done

fish

he disappeared through the opening in the wall.

"After what

I

have seen,"

shall not be able to rest until

said the sultan, I

know what

all

"I this

means."

He

therefore sent

for the

him where he had caught the to the palace.

fisherman fish

and asked

he had brought

"

THE ARABIAN XKiHTS.

40

"I lisbed

for

them

a lake

in

situated

"beyond

four bills," be answered,

between

we

tbe mountains

see from bence."

Tbe sucb

"No," replied tbe

lake.

a

mucb

sultan tben asked tbe vizier

as

beard of

it,

altbougb

be knew of

if

"I never so

vizier,

bave bunted bevond

I

tbe mountains for over sixtv vears." J J

The

bow

sultan asked tbe fisherman

far tbe

lake

might be from the palace, and the fisherman having

answered that journey,

tbe

it

sultan

ordered

commanded

horse, and

more than three hours'

was not

court

his

all

the fisherman

take

to

them

to serve

as a guide.

Thev of

foot

all

ascended

they saw,

it

to

the

mountain, great

their

nobody bad observed

plain that

and

surprise,

at

the

a

vast

tben, and at last

till

came to tbe lake, which thev found to be situated between four bills as tbe fisherman bad de-

they

Tbe water was so transparent, that fish swimming about and notice

scribed.

could see the

thev were like

those

tbe fisherman

they that

had brought

to

tbe palace.

The them

sultan then addressed his court and informed

that

he

was determined not

palace until be had

be

in

that place and

learned

whv

all

bow the

to

return

the lake fish

in

it

to his

came

to

were of

different colours.

Having spoken thus, he ordered bis court to encamp; and immediatelv his pavilion and the tents

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

were planted upon the banks of

household

of his

41

the lake.

When grand

came

night

and

vizier

with

retired

made known

once

at

sultan

the

his

plans

his

to him.

"to withdraw myself from

"I intend," said he, the

camp; but Stay

secret. inir,

my

my

in

pavilion,

the

emirs and courtiers

levee,

tell

them

am

and the following days

alone; thing,

I

fying myself as

we have

rences

to

come

the

cause

to attend

ill

and wish to be

tell

them the same

In the meantime

return.

I

till

absence a

and to-morrow morn-

when

that

my

keep

wish you to

I

of the

intend

I

strange occur-

witnessed."

In vain the

fjrand vizier

endeavoured

to divert

him the

the sultan from this design, representing to

dangers

which

to

suitable for walking,

he found that

might

he

sultan was resolved.

as

satis-

all

He

be

but

exposed,

put on a suit of clothing

took his scimitar, and as soon

was quiet

in

the

camp, went

out alone and climbed to the top of one of the

without

more on

much

difficulty.

He

found the descent

and when he came to the

easy,

until the

the

sun arose, and then,

at

plain,

hills still

walked

a considerable

distance before him, he saw a vast building.

As he drew nearer he found

it

ficent palace of black polished marble, fine steel,

the gates,

was

a

magni-

covered with

smooth as glass. He advanced towards one of which was open, yet he thought it

as

4

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

42

knock before entering.

best to

This he did,

but no one appearing, he

softly,

at

first

knocked again and

again, always louder and louder.

But

came

no one

and so he decided

if it

be inhabited,

no one

here

refreshment

be no

there

he

which followed

his

"I have nothing to fear;

have wherewith to defend

I

"Is there

who comes for The dead silence

passes bv?"

words increased

There was no one

his astonishment,

came

into a spacious

to be seen,

and he accord-

passing on his way, he

so,

one

receive a stranger,

to as

court.

summons

his

to

So entering boldly, he cried:

myself."

and

" If

to enter.

said he to himself,

in it,"

and

answer

in

imilv entered the "rand halls, which were huni: with

The alcoves and

silk tapestry.

with

stuffs

of

Mecca,

richest stuffs of India,

Next he came

and

the

each angle

at

mixed with gold and

into

of the

four

lions,

:

with

porches

superb

a

saloon,

middle of which was a fountain, with gold

were covered

sofas

water issued

and, as

it

fell,

the

silver. in

a lion of

the

massy

from the mouths

formed diamonds

and pearls.

The palace was surrounded on

three

sides

by

gardens containing the most exquisite flowers, and to

complete

number

the

beauty

of

the

place

an

infinite

of birds filled the air with their harmonious

notes.

The

sultan

walked from apartment

where he found

everything

rich

and

to

apartment, magnificent.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. Suddenly he and,

tones,

these words

"O

heard

voice

a

with

listening

fortune!

who wouldst

thou

lot,

not suffer

The

is

it

sultan dycK~ncav

possible

that

I

and saluted

am

great

man

hall,

opened

it,

of a melancholy

and

saw

a

alive,

little

place

to the

after so

whence

door of a

handsome young

countenance,

seated on a throne raised a

sorrows.

liini.

still

coming

my

\V-.VX

manv torments as I have suffered?" The sultan advanced towards the the tones proceeded, and,

me

forbear to persecute me,

V,:

Alas!

distinguished

speedy death put an end to

a

lamentable

in

attention,

:

longer to enjoy a happy

and by

raised

43

richly

habited,

above the ground. 4*

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

44

The

drew near and saluted him, whereupon

sultan

young man returned the

the

ation of his head,

time he said

"My from

come

me

I

vour not

you

accept

heartily

"Being drawn

my

sad

necessity

risins:,

whatever

replied

it,"

I

Perhaps you

help.

But inform

pray you, the meaning of the lake near

why

How

castle?

this

I

will relate

Whose And

the palace, where the fish are of four colours. is

the

hither by your complaints,

the historv of vour misfortunes.

hrst,

same

"

to receive vou.

to the reason of

to offer

me

to

at the

rising,

am prevented bv

I

your apology be, sultan.

without

inclin-

:

lord,

risini?

"As

and,

bv an

salutation

came vou

to

be here?

are vou alone?"

questions the young

Instead of answering these

man began praying grief,

him

to

he said

At

showed the head to the

relate

the

upon

and

bitterly,

cause

the

sultan

excessive

of his

:

my

"Alas! grieve."

weep

to

lord,

how

these words

sultan that he girdle,

is

it

he

lifted

was

and that

possible but

a

up

his

I

should

robe and

man onlv from

the other

the

half of his

bodv was black marble. "You must know, my lord," he continued, "that my father, named Mahmoud, was king of this countrv. This is the kingdom of the Black Isles, which takes

its

name from

the

four

small neigh-

bouring mountains; for those mountains were former-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. ly

islands

the capital

:

resided, was situated

where the

45

my

king,

father,

on the spot now occupied by

the lake you have seen.

"When my

died

father

I

immediatelv afterwards married

most tenderly attached that

my

we had been married

my

wife's

conversing

ladies

me to be "One of them

believed

my

was

cousin. at

I

believed

first

But one day,

years,

five

and

her and

to

was returned.

aftection

succeeded him

I

after

overheard two of

when

together

they

asleep. said to the other:

'Is

the queen

wrong that she does not love so amiable a prince? Every night she mixes the juice of a certain herb not

with his drink, and this makes him sleep so soundly that she

black

able

is

and leave him,

to rise

who

slave

her

instructs

in

and

magic

visit

and

a

all

manner of wickedness that she will one dav no doubt use to the harm of our good lord and master.'

"You mav surprised

2:uess,

this

at

mv

lord,

conversation

awake without having heard

a

;

how much but

word.

I

I

was

feigned

That

niirht

supped with the queen, and when she presented with a cup of liquid drink,

I

went

to a

such as

I

to

was accustomed

I

me to

window which was open and threw

out the drink so quicklv that she had no knowledge of what

I

"Soon lieving

me

had done. afterwards to be

I

asleep,

lay said

down,

and

she,

loud enough for

be-

me

THE ARABIAN XIOHTS.

46 to

'Sleep

bear:

again

may

and

on,

never

voii

wake

!

"She then dressed herself and went out of the room.

I

robed myself

haste,

in

took

and followed her so quickly that

my

scimitar,

soon heard the

I

She passed through

before me.

sound of her

feet

several

which opened upon her pronouncing

gates,

some magical words, and the last she opened was Passing that of the garden, which she entered. entered little wood, where the garden she a through Listenshe was joined by an enormous black man. ing intentlv, I heard them discuss the magical means by which

my

kingdom,

be ruined and overthrown, be

made away

with.

I

I

myself was to

I

had hidden myself, and

blow with my scimispared, because she was my kins-

then struck the black a

The queen woman. I then

whilst

waited until the wicked pair

passed bv the spot where

tar.

and subjects were to

castle,

I

terrific

retired speedily without having

made

mvself known.

"The wound but by her

had given the black was mortal;

I

enchantments she preserved him

an

in

existence in which he could not be said to be either

dead or

alive.

As

well satisfied, and arose as usual,

my to

council.

me

for

when

I

I

When reason,

returned

to

my

bed

had rested some hours

dressed myself,

and

I

afterwards held

the queen next presented herself

she was clad in

of her the

me,

and

deep mourning. she

informed

I

me

enquired that

she

f^^^

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. had three

'mv

father has

her

and offered her

that

her

'I

mother,' said

and

battle,

in

had

she

black

my sympathy

this

mv

excuse for

suspected

not

slave's

me

of

misfortune,

and condolences

in

grief.

"She asked leave

to build for

herself a palace

of tears in which she could shut herself up and

had

for those she

this,

and when the building was

complete she caused the black slave there, and to

used

every

art

to

be carried

her power to restore

in

But though, by her enchantments, she

life.

succeeded

weep

lost.

"I consented to

him

have

a precipice.'

author of the

the

my

her making

concluded from

mourning

being

been killed

down

brother has fallen

"I

of affliction.

news of the death of

just received

she;

causes

distressing

47

preventing his actual death, she could

in

power of speech, neither was he able to walk or support himself. Every day the queen paid him two long visits and worked her magic arts upon him, but without avail. not restore to him the

"One day my her to the

the Palace

tears

she

wretch upon I

shed

whom

lost patience

induced

curiosity

of Tears,

and,

over the bodv

me

to follow

having witnessed of the

wicked

only just punishment had fallen,

and discovered mvself to her, telling

her that such sorrow for a base and ungrateful slave

was both dishonouring

"The queen

to her

rose up

in

and myself.

a furv

and accused

me

48

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

of being the

cause

misery which

of the

had over-

taken the black magician. "'Yes,'

him, for

I

I

replied,

indeed

I

ought to have

I

who

treated

you

manner, but spared you because vou were

woman. and

However,

will

I

have staved

I

now make

"I raised

my

she cried jeeringlv:

see

:

thee

a

among of the

become

to

my

After

me

into this

she destroved

mv

my

and half

became what vou

I

living,

had

capital,

and

enchantments

half marble

lord,

hall,

and populous, changing

understand,

and

a living

this cruel sorceress,

name of queen,

brought

hand too long,

then, raising her voice,

dead man among the the dead.

not

did

I

'By virtue of

Immediatelv,

man.'

kins-

scimitar to strike, but she quicklv

my arm became immovable; command

my

like

in

my

an end of you both.'

pronounced some words

I

chastised

him plotting the downfall of

overheard

my kingdom.

was

'it

man

im worth

changed me thus and

by another enchantment

which was verv flourishing

it

into the

lonelv lake which you have seen.

desert plain and

The

fishes in

the

lake, of four different colours, are the four kinds of

inhabitants, of different religions,

which the

The white are Persians, who worship

blue the Christians,

tained.

and the vellow the told

But

my

me

all

this

is

not

all

:

fire,

Jews.

the

The enchantress

she might add to

this that

citv con-

the Mussulmen, the red the

mv

herself

affliction.

every day, taking advantage of

helpless state, she

comes and gives me, upon my

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. naked

shoulders,

hundred

a

lashes

49

with

a

whip.

me

a

coarse

When

she has finished she throws over

gown

of

goat's

hair,

this

robe

of

mock me." moved bv the

recital

of

over

and

that

brocade, not to honour, but to

The

was greatly

sultan

this affecting story,

and,

anxious to avenge the suf-

ferings of the unfortunate prince, questioned to

where he might

find

him

as

wounded magician and

the

the wicked queen.

The

prince having informed him of the place in

which the Palace of Tears was everv day

sunrise

at

situated,

added that

visited

her fellow

queen

the

conspirator and carried to him the potion which had hitherto prevented his dying, although he had never

power

yet been able to regain the

of speech so that

he might thank her for her attention to him.

Bv

time, the night being far advanced, the

this

He

sultan retired to rest.

proceeded

the

to

perceived

soon

magician

lav,

Palace

the

arose with the of

upon

bed

dawn and he

Entering,

Tears.

which

and with one stroke from

black

the

his scimitar

deprived him of his wretched existence, dragged his

body

into the court of the castle, and threw

it

into

a well.

After

this

he went

covering his face

in

and lay down

such

a

manner

that

in the

bed,

the queen

could not detect the deception about to be practised

upon

her.

Before long she entered the apartment, and

at

THE ARABIAN XIGHTS.

50

the sight of the prostrate figure she began to

"Alas!" said

she,

"will

you be always

me at least, I conjure "Unhappy woman," replied the

one word to

tones,

blacks,

The

and groans

cries

you." sultan in

hoHow

should answer thee?

I

whom

husband,

of thy

thou

my

day with such barbarity, prevent

treatest every

Had you

sleeping night or day. I

Speak

silent?

pronunciation of the

and counterfeiting the "art thou worthy that

weep

disenchanted him,

and have

should long since have been cured,

mv

covered the use of

re-

speech,"

"Well," said the enchantress, "what would you have

me do?" "Make haste and

set

him

be no longer disturbed by

that

at liberty,

I

may

lamentations," replied

his

the sultan.

The enchantress immediately Tears,

had been

set

young

it

over

which caused

a fire.

She

the Palace of

pronounced

she

and, taking a cup of water,

some words over to the

left

it

to

boil as

after^vards

if

it

proceeded

king, her husband, and threw the water

upon him, saving: "Resume your natural form." Scarcely had she spoken the words than the king found himself restored to his former condition.

The enchantress then returned Tears and,

supposing

she

still

to the Palace of

spoke

to

the black,

informed the sultan of what she had done.

"What vou cient,"

replied

have done

the

sultan.

is

by no means

"The town and

suffiits

in-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. habitants

still

midnight, the

51

remain enchanted, and every night, their heads

raise

fish

ont of the lake

and cry for vengeance against you and me. the true cause of the delav of

my

and restore

things

former

your return

I

help

me

to

their

will give

you

mv

at

Go

cure.

This

is

speedilv

state,

and

hand and vou

at

shall

to arise."

I he qiiccii

sprinkled the waters of the lake.

The queen went awav at once, and when she came to the brink of the lake she took a little water in

her hand

and sprinkled the waters of the

Immediately the whole magnificence, and

city

was restored

Mohammedans,

to its

lake.

former

Christians, Persians,

and Jews, freemen or slaves, were

as

they were be-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

52

having

everyone

fore,

recovered

The sultan's numerous camped in the middle peopled

natural

his

form.

retinue found themselves en-

handsome,

of a large,

well-

city.

As soon wonderful

as

enchantress

the

change,

Palace of Tears.

hastened

she

"I have done

had

effected

return

to

the

to

von required

all that

me your

"I pray vou then give

of me," she cried,

this

'

hand and

rise.

"Come

near," said the sultan,

the pronunciation

of the blacks,

he suddenlv rose,

seized her

one blow of

his scimitar

done he

This

and

she did so

as

and with

bv the arm,

ended her wicked

her Iving

left

counterfeiting

still

Palace

the

in

life.

of

Tears, and went to seek for the young King of the

Black

When

Isles.

him

found

he

prince

the

at

once embraced him with great affection and thanked

him with the

8:reatest

sinceritv for

he had

that

all

done for him.

The to

him "

your

sultan

returned

his

embraces

and

said

:

You

mav henceforward

capital,

unless you will

peaceablv

dwell

accompanv me

in

to mine, "

which

is

but a few hours' journey distant.

"Potent monarch, replied the

young

king,

to

whom

"it

will

year to return to your capital.

I

I

take

so much,

vou

a

"

whole

do indeed believe

came hither in the time because mv kingdom was enchanted that

owe

vou

vou ;

mention,

but since the

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. enchantment

taken

is

off,

things are changed

ever, this shall not prevent

my

and that

deliverer,

acknowledging willing to

may

I

You

my whole

accompany vou, and

are

you proofs of

give

during

this

how-

:

following vou, were

utmost corners of the earth.

to the

it

5s

to leave

I

life,

my my am

my kingdom

without regret."

The was so

far

from

young king

the

"The is

was very much surprised

sultan

to find he

own dominions, but answered

his

in the following

words

trouble of returning to

my own

country

recompensed by acquiring you since you will do me the honour

sufficiently

son; for

company me, as such,

as

have no child,

I

and from

this

moment

I

for

a

to ac-

look upon vou

appoint you

my

heir

and successor." Preparations were

at

once begun for the depar-

voung king appointing one of his nearest of reign as monarch in his stead, and, after taking

ture, the

kin to

affectionate leave

of his subjects, he

began their journey.

and the sultan

Thev took with them

a

hundred

camels laden with inestimable riches from the king's

handsome gentlemen on horseback, perfectly well mounted and dressed. They had a pleasant journev, and when

treasury,

and

were

they

approached

came

to

his

receive

the

the

by

followed

capital

sultan

the

fifty

principal

officers

and to assure him that

long absence had occasioned no alteration

empire.

The

inhabitants

also

came out

in

in

his

great

ARABIAN NI(}HTS.

Till-:

54

him with acclamations, and made

crowds, received

public rejoicings for several days.

The

sultan then acquainted his subjects with the

news of

his

Isles as

his son,

having adopted

King of the Black

them how he had been great kingdom to accompanv and

and

willing to leave a live

the

told

with him.

As of the

for the fisherman,

deliverance

as

he was the

of the voung prince,

first

the

cause sultan

gave him a plentiful fortune, which made him and his family

happy

for the rest of their days.

THE ENCHANTED HORSE. 'T^HE

day of the year

first

is

observed throughout Persia as a

solemn

rejoicings

Upon

festival.

are

that

come from

the

neighbouring states and most

re-

are encouraged to

mote

and are

parts of the world,

allowed to compete for large

llic

Hindoo.

dav

held and strangers

wards,

being

to the

sovereign

ventions

invited

and

to

display

various

the

re-

in-

contrivances

thev

the

most

have brought with them.

Upon one

of these

festivals,

after

ingenious artists of the country had repaired to the

Court king,

at

Sheeraz, had been entertained there bv the

and had been bountifully

rewarded

for

their

various productions, just as the assemblv was about

Hindoo appeared at the foot He had with him an artificial horse,

to break up, a

throne.

caparisoned, and so sight he

The

was taken

Hindoo

naturally

imitated

that

of the richly at

first

before

the

for a living animal.

prostrated

himself

ARABIAN NIGHTS.

THi:

56

and,

throne,

poinlini;

emperor, "Though

your

fore

Majesty,

I

horse,

present

I

yet

nothing shown to-day

on which

the

to

nivself

can

I

the

emperor, "than

the

replied

"Sir,"

that

so wonderful as this horse,

is

the horse," replied

in

the

horse

Hindoo,

but the use to which

when

well or better."

"it I

is

not

him, be

may make

where

it

through the

world,

I

it

if

his

recommend mv as

wonderful,

in

a

Majesty

if

Whenever

mount

This,

sir,

wonder which nobody and \\hich I ofTer to show vour :

a

you command me.'

Notwithstanding the manv prodigies

emperor had seen, he had never before

Hindoo

that

beheld

or

that

had promised he could not bring himself the truth of

of art the

came up to this. He told unless he saw him perform what he

of anything

The

I

wish to transport my-

very short time.

wonder of mv horse of,

I

most distant part of the

to the

air

can do

of him.

mav,

it

ever heard speak

heard

for

have communicated the secret to them, any

I

other persons

the

another

applv him, and which,

can

I

of

skill

your Majesty's examination

to

the

resemblance the work-

natural

outward form and appearance that

in

be-

vou

assure

man has given him, which the workman may possiblv execute as

the

last

beg vour Majesty would be pleased to

"T see nothing more

is

the

your eyes."

cast

self

to

said

to believe

it.

Hindoo

instantly

put

his

foot

into

the

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

57

mounted the horse with admirable

Stirrup,

and when he was seated

emperor whither he would be pleased him to proceed.

About

to

three leagues from Sheeraz

mountain,

lofty

from

discernible

the

agility,

asked

saddle

the

in

the

command

there

was

large

square

a

before the palace, where the emperor, his court, and

concourse of people then were.

a great

"Do pointing

vou see that mountain?" to

but

hence,

"it

it,

it

you can make

in

the eye cannot

a

a

great

distance

from

going and returning.

But because

to

vou so

follow

branch of

a

of the speed

you have been there,

me

not

is

enough

judge

far

is

said the emperor,

as

far,

proof that

a

expect that vou will bring

I

palm-tree that grows

at the

bottom

of the hill."

No

sooner had

Hindoo turned

a

the

emperor spoken than the

peg which was

the horse's neck, just by the

and

in

carried

the

in

pommel

his

rider

the

into

air

the rapidity of

with those

that

strongest sight could not discern

the

palm

descended, he

and then

branch

in

his

who had

the

Within

less

him.

than a quarter of an hour they saw

off,

of the saddle,

an instant the horse rose off the ground and

lightning, to such a height

with

hollow of

hand

him returning ;

but before he

took two or three turns

alighted

in

the

air

on the spot whence he

had

set

without receiving the least shock from the horse

to disorder him.

He

dismounted, and, going up to

THE ARABIAN

58

NK'.HTS.

the throne, piostrated himself, and laid the branch of the palm-tree at the feet of the emperor.

The emperor, who had viewed sight with admiration

as well

this extraordinary

astonishment, con-

as

ceived a great desire to have the horse, and thought

would have

that he

difficulty

little

treating with

in

Hindoo.

the

"Judging of the horse by he

said

Hindoo,

the

to

his

"I

outward appearance,"

did

not

think him so

much worth my consideration. As you have shown me his merits, I am obliged to you for undeceiving me and to prove to you how much I esteem it, I ;

purchase him of you,

will

"Sir," that

replied

if

he

is

to be sold."

Hindoo, "I

the

doubted

never

your Majesty, who has the character of the most

on earth, would

liberal prince

work

as

soon as

I

foresaw that

also

you would not only admire and commend would desire to have it. Though I know his render

my

my name

I

;

immortal

however,

I

approve of

with him,

it.

I

in

the world,

in

did

making

and

not

yet

in

marriage,

and

I

am

declaration,

this I

cannot re-

perhaps you

buv

this

horse,

tained him from the inventor by giving him

daughter

intrinsic

can resign him to gratify

have another to add, without which

solve to part

but

it,

continuing master of him would

not so fond of fame but

your Majesty

mv

had shown you on what account

I

he was w^orthy your attention,

value, and that

on

set a just value

promising

at

may

not

but

ob-

my

only

the

same

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. time never to

sell

him

exchange

for

him, but

if

parted with him to

I

something

that

should

I

beyond

all

else."

"I

am

willing,' said the emperor,

whatever you may is

ask

large and contains

in

59

exchange.

great riches

;

"to give you "Sly

kingdom you

give

will

I

value

the choice of what you like best."

This offer seemed roval and noble to the whole Court, but was in

much below what

am

"I

infinitely

"and cannot

generositv;

pleased

if

not resign

yet

I

obliged

The this

sufficientlv

my

he

your

for

must beg of vou not to be

horse

unless

I

tell

you

mv

I

dis-

can-

hand

receive the

of

wife."

courtiers could not forbear laughing aloud

demand

of the

Prince Firoze Shah, the eldest to the

Hindoo; but the

son of the emperor

crown, was most indignant.

The emperor, however, was might

vou

thank

have the presumption to

I

extravagant

and heir

your Majesty,"

to

the princess, your daughter, as

at

Hindoo had

mind.

his

said,

the

inclined to think he

sacrifice the Princess of Persia, so anxious

was

he to possess the horse.

Prince Firoze vShah,

what answer comply with

to

anticipate him,

who saw

his father hesitating

make, began to fear

the

Hindoo's

demand

lest ;

is

to

he said

"I hope your Majesty will forgive if it

he should

therefore,

me

for asking

possible your Majestv should hesitate about a

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

6o

demand from such an

denial to so insolent a nificant fellow?

beg you

I

to consider

insiir-

what von owe

your own blood, and the high rank

to yourself, to

of your ancestors." ''Son,''

emperor,

replied the

of your remonstrance, and for

preserving

the

do not consider horse

;

am of

lustre

sufficientlv

nor that the Hindoo,

mav make

the offer

despair

if

your birth

me

having exceeded

in

not say

excellence

should refuse him,

I

else,

prince

I

should

will

generositv, and deprived

me

esteem

I

thing in

the

vou would

self,

and give

purpose

his

me your

his

exorbitant

I

was

should be glad try

him vour-

opinion.'

fancied,

emperor

before

the

;

from what he had heard,

not

entirely

averse

therefore, he expressed

prince to

showed him how

with

But before

as well.

to guide

help

him

to

his

to

and that the prince might become

favourable to him ran

will

I

daughter, the princess, out

examine the horse,

The Hindoo the

most

as the

world.

mav make another agreement

I

answer

that

alliance,

the

in

of

conclude the bargain with him,

that

be

boast

mv

and, putting

of the question,

him that

this nice

cannot consent to grant him what he asked.

I

:

of this

where shall

I

Perhaps he has not well considered

demand

you

but

;

if

of the glorv of possessing what

singular and wonderful

zeal

the

somewhere

another

much approve

sensible of vour

may be waived.

point of honour

utmost

"I

much

more joy,

mount, and

and manage the horse.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. The feet

both

owner's use,

air,

quick

as

emperor,

peg

the

the

for

had seen

he

bow by

the

few

moments

the

and the numerous assembly

lost

and

Neither

a

in

nor

horse

prince

were

must have remarked the

was so hastv that he would not

him the necessary instructions Therefore the favour

I

make me accountable

permit

govern

to

:

prince

me to give my horse.

ask of your Majesty for

to

what had happened,

at

prostrated himself before the throne and said Majestv^

his

the

a

The Hindoo, alarmed

"Your

the

horse darted into the

arrow shot from

his father,

of him.

be seen.

but,

instantly

an

without staying

turned

archer,

adroit

sight

he

when

him most

stirrups

advice,

without

no sooner had he put

and

Hindoo's assistance, in

however,

mounted,

prince

6i

is

not to

what accidents may

befall

him."

The emperor was much surprised and and asked the Hindoo if there were no bring him back, other than

that

by which

afflicted,

secret to

he

had

been carried away. "Sir," replied

the

Hindoo, "there

hope that the prince, when he will that,

perceive another

peg,

is

room

to

finds himself at a loss,

and

as

soon as he turns

the horse will cease to rise, and descend to the

ground,

when he may

turn him

to

what place

he

pleases by guiding him with the bridle."

Notwithstanding all these arguments of the Hindoo, which carried great appearance of probabi-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

62

litv,

of Persia was nuich alarmed at the

Emperor

the

evident danger of his son. "

suppose," replied he,

I

my

whether

make

may

son

use of

a right

perceive

it

may

;

the ground,

of alighting on

"it

uncertain

and

other peg,

the

the horse, instead

not

fall

very

is

upon some rock,

or

tumble into the sea with him?" "Sir," answered the Hindoo, "I can deliver your

Majesty from

apprehension, by assuring you that

this

the horse crosses seas without ever falling into them,

and alwavs carries

And vour

to go. if

mentioned,

the

pleases.

is

It

anywhere

hnd out the other peg I where he carry him will

but

horse

not to be supposed that he will stop

where

but

he

make himself known." "Be it as it may," "as

Persia,

if

he

He

upon

ordered

officers

his

close

he retired to his palace of the

New

in

to

prisoner,

of

assurance

the

answer for

shall

safely."

then

Emperor

the

replied

and

assistance

find

does not return

Hindoo, and keep him

festival

can

depend

cannot

I

you give me, vour head life

wherever he may wish

Majesty may assure yourself that

does

piince

the

his rider

my

son's

secure after

the

which

great affliction that the

have proved so

Year should

inauspicious.

In the meantime the prince was carried through

with

the

air

an

hour's

prodigious

time

had

velocity;

ascended

and so

in

high

less

that

than

he

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. not

could

anything

distinguish

63

on the

but

earth,

mountains and plains seemed confounded together. think of returning, and It was then he began to conceived he might do

and

peg the contrary way,

by turning the pulling

But when he found

the same time.

the

same

bridle

at

that the horse

rose with the same swift-

still

his

alarm

turned

the

ness,

He

but

other,

was

fault

the

learnt

cautions

to

he

before ever, he

peg

great.

several

and

the

vain.

in

all

'

It

grew sensible

he

then his

was

way

one

times,

of

this

having

not

in

necessary

pre-

the horse

guide

How-

mounted.

examined

the horse's

head and neck with attention, and

perceived

behind

right ear another

than the other. that

peg smaller

He

turned

peg and presently per-

ceived that he descended the same quite

the

manner

as

Tlie prince descended in the

same manner. in

he had mounted,

although not

so swiftly.

Night had fallen over that part of the country

which the prince found himself when

at

in

length the

horse stopped upon solid earth.

He

was verv

faint

from hunger,

having eaten

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

64

nothing since

morning, when

the

the palace with his father to

He

found

a

the

of a mag-

terrace

about

which

staircase

the festival.

assist at

groping

and,

palace,

nificent ness,

himself upon

found

came out of

he

the

in

down

led

dark-

into

an

apartment, the door of which was half open.

Few

Firoze Shah would

but Prince

descend

tured to

those

dark

stairs,

as

have venwas, and

it

expose himself to dangers from unknown

was quite unarmed,

being of

but,

any noise, went softly down the not awaken anybody,

on

the

He

found the

staircase,

stopped

no other noise than

were

w^ho

fast

snoring

He

asleep.

that he might to a landing

door of

a great

of

advanced of

light

a

heard

listening,

some people a

little

into

saw

that

lamp

persons were black chamberlains, with

sabres

him

door and,

the

and bv the

the room,

those

by them,

laid

that

sultan

In

dis-

open.

it,

the

at

stairs,

when he came

and,

that had a light in

hall,

courageous

he opened the door wider, without making

position,

place

a

He

foes.

or

this

was

princess,

the

next

wdiich the

which

room

to

was enough

guard-chamber latter this

it

naked

to inform

some

of

proved

to

be.

the princess lay, as

appeared by the light streaming through a draped

doorway.

Prince Firoze Shah

without waking the curtain, went the

the in,

advanced on

chamberlains.

tip-toe,

He drew

aside

and, without staving to observe

magnificence of the chamber, gave

his

attention

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. to

He

something of greater importance.

beds arranged upon the

women

floor,

and

65

saw many

in these slept the

attendants of the princess, whilst the princess

herself reposed upon a raised couch.

He

crept softly towards the bed, without waking

women,

either the princess or her

and

beheld a beauty so extra-

ordinary that he straightway in

fell

love with her.

But having penetrated thus far,

that

the prince

soon

as

knew very

well

was

dis-

he

as

covered he would be most certainly

killed

bv

So he resolved sympathy of the fell

on

his

the to

guards.

enlist

the

He

princess.

knees beside her and

She opened her eves and, seeing a gently twitched her sleeve.

handsome man

on

TJic pyince opened the door

knees,

his

was greatly surprised, yet seemed

show no

to

sign

of fear.

The rising,

prince

said

bowed

his

"Beautiful Princess,

and

wonderful

bv the most extraordinary

adventure,

suppliant prince, son of the

was yesterdav solemn

head to the ground and,

:

in his Court,

festival,

but

is

now

you see

Emperor

vour feet

of Persia,

a

who

the celebration of a

at in

at

a

strange

countrv,

in

THE ARABIAN

66

danger of

his

life,

if

NICIITS.

vou have not the "goodness and

generosity to afford him voiir assistance and protec-

These

tion.

implore with the confidence that vou

I

will not refuse

me, as one possessing so

much beautv

and majesty must be incapable of entertaining any but the most

"

humane thoughts.

"Prince,"

she

replied

"vou have

courteouslv,

chanced upon no barbarous countrv. Vou are in the kingdom of Bengal, and mv father, who is the rajah, will no doubt extend to you the protection you have But I would have you tell me," she asked of me. " bv what miracle vou have come hither from added, the capital of Persia in so short a time, and bv what

enchantment you have been able as to

come

vifjilance of in

mv

to

mv

o;uards

need of food and

and

orders

give

to

;

rest

my

vour

fati2:ue

must

vet as vou I

will set aside

my women

show you an apartment, after

to penetrate so far

apartment, and to have evaded the

that

be sorelv

mv

curiositv,

regale you and

to

you may

and be the better

rest

yourself

able to satisfv

curiosity."

The

princess's

women, who awoke

words which the prince addressed

were

in

the

utmost

surprise

the

to

the

first

princess,

man at the conceive how he had

to

princess's feet, as they could not

at

come thither without waking them They no sooner comprehended the

see

a

or the chamberlains. princess's intentions

than they were readv to obey her commands.

They

each took a wax candle, of which there were great

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. numbers lighted up

in

67

the room, and after the prince

and con-

had respectfully taken leave, went before ducted him into

a

handsome chamber, where, while

some were preparing the bed, others went kitchen

;

into the

and, notwithstanding the unreasonable hour,

thev soon brought him a choice collation, and

he had eaten

as

much

The prince

the

trays

and

left

as

fell on

him

he

chose,

when

removed

thev

his knees beside Iter.

to

taste

sweets

the

of

repose.

In the meantime the Princess of Bengal was so struck

good

with

the

qualities

and other

charms, wit, politeness,

which she had discovered

in

her short

interview with the prince, that she could not sleep: but

when her women came

into

her

room

a^ain

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

68

questioned them as to the hospitality thev had shown him, and then proceeded to ask them more particu-

what they thought

larly

Thev handsome

to

him.

in

Bengal to be compared

would be happv indeed

marrv

him

thought

thev

that

as

he appeared amiable, that there was no

as

other prince that she

ot

her

assured

her

one

to

and

her father were

if

suited

so

to him,

her .in every

to

way.

The next day dressino^

done

ever

herself at the

tirins:

and

before,

women beyond

her to

and

trv

on

also

possessed, being dissatisfied

she

At length she

the richest stuffs of the for

kings,

Indies,

and

princes,

various grarments

with

was habited

of

anxious was she

so

the

off a2:ain

in

patience

the

tried

pains

than she had

ijlass

endurance,

and take

more

princess took

the

all

which

of them.

garment

a

in

is

onlv

She

princesses.

of

made

adorned

her head, arms, and waist with the finest and largest

diamonds she possessed,

and

she

after

had

and again consulted her glass she asked her one after another,

if

was wantinir

anvthing:

again

women, in

her

attire.

Being than ever,

assured

that

she sent to

was awake, and dressed,

and,

she

she

know

hearing

looked if

that

more

lovelv

the Prince of Persia

he

went immediatelv

was alreadv up to

pav

him

a

visit.

"I would have received you

in

my own

apart-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. "but

ment," she informed him,

guards has leave to come so

my

without rupted

my

gratify

came vou J

ing

New

various

came

said

be

manner

the

the

in

inter-

which

court.

Then

enchanted

horse,

to

recital

of

his

the

of

which

the

to

You mav

Princess,

father,

who

well

minutely,

it

think,

my

what

he

rare

and

not

cares

that

purchase such

a curiosity.-

Hindoo his that he would the

the princess,

emperor,

price,

sister,

saw

proposal,

whom

of courtiers

father,

I

The

Priticcss

and he replied

so

onlv in exchange for

he wished to marrv.

who

laughed

vagance of the demand indignant as

to

asked

the horse

give

my

mv

He

/

of Bengal.

"The crowd

horse.

is

would be very desirous

curious,

the

charm-

that the emperor,

gives for anvthing

to

and beg you to

:

"

ing

might

mention-

Year,

having described

and,

we

inventions

had been brought he

though no further

you,

began

description

a

of the

the

Shah

Firoze

with

festival

to

to

as

my

hither."

Prince story

came

curiosity

chief of

the

as

far,

feared

I

therefore

I

;

leave,

69

my

;

as for

stood about

loudlv

me,

I

at

the

the

extra-

was the more

father was inclined to consent

anxious was he

to

possess the

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

70

"The

despicable Hindoo, thinking no doubt that

me over

he would bring

to

make

nie to

"

and

on

To

make

my

please

a peg,

as

as

father,

his back,

the horse

mount

into the

The

peg, the horse ascended

and

I

was presentlv

motion

the

I

jrrew

sensible

of

it

still

a greater distance

"xAt last

and then

I

I

an

From

I

I

the

un-

was exposed

endeavoured

to

;

turn

and carried me

from the earth.

perceived another peg, which

grew sensible

that

At length

guide the machine.

alighted and, examining

my

upon the terrace of

the steps and, seeing in

the

presently

surrounded with darkness that

through the room

arrow,

some time

for

the horse rose,

towards the earth, and

self

as

way

But the experiment did

the peg the contrarv wav.

not answer, for

to

touched

I

anv object.

was

I

apprehensive of the danger to which

when

before,

such a distance from the earth

at

could not distinguish

swiftness of

mv hand

as to the

instant swift

as

horse,

and did not wait

air,

from the owner

the

I

I

invited

the

put

Hindoo do

had seen the

I

should guide the animal.

that

once

if

horse,

mounted

I

was upon

I

to receive instructions I

of his

a trial of him.

soon

as

opinion

his

understood the singular worth

I

turned,

horse descended

found

myself so

was impossible

to

the horse stopped.

I

it

whereabouts, found my-

this

palace.

I

descended

door open, entered,

passed

which the guards were

asleep,

a

and entered vour chamber.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. "With what passed next you

And now,

feel

I

law of nations

make you an

my

I

are not unacquainted.

According

generosity.

am

mv

person; there onlv remains

heart: but alas! Princess, that

own, your charms have forced it

it

but yield

again,

princess blushed

she had been very

that

in

of

recital

declaring

she

shall

I

and

to you,

mistress

of both

heart and inclination."

The the

up

it

mv

no longer

is

from me, and

only beg for leave to declare you

my

the

to

already your slave, and cannot

offer of

never ask for

thank you for

obliged in duty to

and

your goodness

71

could

prettily

pleasurably

forbear

not

and replied by

entertained

wonderful

prince's

the

she

very

a

adventures,

shudder when

thought of the tremendous height he had been the

air,

descended of in

and

avowing her

delight

upon the terrace of her

some other

spot,

as

might

that

palace

had

he

instead

have

very easily

happened.

"As

to

should think lieved

so.

your

being

my

myself offended

slave," if

you

said

seriously

Assure yourself you are here

"I

she,

as

be-

much

at liberty as in the midst of the Court of Persia."

At this moment one of the princess's women announced that a meal had been served, and the princess led him into a magnificent hall where a cloth was laid, the table being covered with a great variety of dainty and choice dishes. fasted,

Having break-

they rose, and the princess again conducted

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

72

the prince

into

where they gardens

balconv overlooking the

a

in

Here they conversed very

of the palace.

pleasantly

and

down

sat

and magnificent apartment,

large

a

the prince

together,

describing his

home

draw verv Hattering

and managing to

country,

comparisons between the princess's beautiful palace

and

those in his

The

own

country.

no complaints to make her,

assured

father,

the

assuring him that she had

whilst

princess,

him

of

one

the

that

was

rajah,

palace

the

inhabited

bv

to

her

She begged him,

hner.

far

allotted

since chance had brought him so near to her father's capital,

pay him

to

might receive the

there, in order that he

visit

a

honours

due

to

prince of his

a

rank and merit.

The Prince

hoped

princess of Persia

Bengal, and to

a

visit

bv

that,

curiosity

to

exciting

see

the

in

capital

of

her father, the king, seeing him

handsome, wise, and accomplished

so

the

a prince,

might

perhaps resolve to propose an alliance with him, by offering her to

him

no wise averse

to the

this

course

prince,

as

a

did

And her

pleased

was

as she

handsome voung man

would have

however,

wife.

in

herself,

The

vastlv.

not return her an answer

ac-

cording to her expectations. "Princess," he

replied,

preference

"the

vou give the Rajah of Bengal's palace

enough

is it

:

and

to

induce

as to the

me

to believe

proposal of

mv

it

to

which

vour own

much exceeds

going

and paying

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. my

respeds

myself

do

only judge,

father,

an

but

pleasure,

should not

I

But

honour.

would you advise me to great a monarch like an

yourself,

myself before

so

and

without attendants

adventurer,

my

your

king,

a

Princess,

present

to

the

to

73

a train suitable

rank?"

"Prince," give you

any

replied

pain

want no money to

you please here of

make choice

of as

you

not

that

go,

you

shall

and attendants

train ;

"let

but

will

have what

nations in

all

princess,

you

if

;

will furnish

I

:

the

and we have traders and you may

great numbers,

many

as

you please

form your

to

household."

would most willingly accept

"I offer,"

replied

the

prince,

cannot sufficiently show

prevented father

by

must

the feel

my

thought

on

obliging

this

"for which, moreover, gratitude,

of

account

I

were not

uneasiness

the

of

if

my

I

absence.

mv I

should be unworthy of the tenderness he has always

had for

me

calm

his

to

permit me,

if

I

did not return

fears.

as

soon as

Afterwards, Princess,

and think

me worthy

to

if

possible

you

aspire

to

happiness of becoming vour husband,

I

my

stranger,

as

father's leave to return, a prince, to contract an

not

as

a

will

will

the

obtain

but

alliance with your father

by our marriage."

The

Princess of Bengal was too reasonable, after

what the Prince of Persia had longer in persuading him to pay

said,

to persist

a visit to the

any

Rajah

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

74

him contrary

of Bengal, or to ask anvtbing of

But she begged him,

and honour.

diitv

remain a few days longer him,

did she entertain

least,

days had extended

the

months before the prince could manage

into

to

her palace, and so well

in

that

at

to his

to tear

himself away.

But

at

length,

declaring seriously

in

that

he

could stay no longer, he entreated her to accompany

him

to his father's Court.

As

the prince

observed

not averse to this suggestion,

"As

it.

for

my

he continued

pleasure; and

to urge

father's consent, Princess," he

"I venture to assure you he will as for the

was

princess

the

that

said,

you with

receive

Rajah of Bengal,

after all

the love and tender regard he has expressed for vou

he must be the reverse of what Jvou have described

him

if

he should not receive

the embassy which his

my

a

in

father will

manner him for

friendly

send

to

approbation of our marriage."

The address, sufficient

princess

returned

him

answer

to

this

and eyes cast down, were

but her silence, to inform

no

that she

had no reluctance

accompany him into Persia. Her one objection was the fear that the prince might not be able to manage the enchanted horse but on the

to

;

prince's

well

as

declaration the

Hindoo

that

he

himself,

company him. The next morning,

a

could she

little

guide

consented

before

it

to

as

ac-

daybreak.

The

horse iiioniifcd into the air.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. when

went

and princess

The

palace.

turned

prince

his

waist

the

peg,

her

for

when

making

of the

horse

with

prince of

the

towards could

princess

her

arms

about

he

turned

than

mounted

haste,

two

in

the

security,

horse

usual

his

prince,

better

the

terrace

which she had no sooner

:

and was well settled

done,

the

where the

up behind him

easily get

the

asleep,

upon

out

and placed him

Persia,

and,

were

attendants

the

all

77

under

the

time

they

hours'

the

into

air

guidance

reached

the capital of Persia.

He would whence

not alight

had

he

at

nor

out,

set

the great square from in

the

directed his course towards a pleasure-house a

He

led

handsome apartment, where

he

distance from the capital. a

to

do her

and return servants

out for

loud

with

and tears

provide

then

the

his

of love and

eagerly quiries

questioned

were

horse

a

made

Hindoo's horse.

to

of

father,

as

to

to

his

the

be

He

joy

her,

he

arrival,

ordered she

by

saddled,

was

the re-

and

received

the

embraced

people,

him with

his eves.

He

was

adventures,

and

en-

tenderness in as

their

whatever

palace.

father's

his

of

to

that,

leave.

acclamations

emperor,

her

told

He

with

her

ordered

his

father

little

the princess into

was due

that

his

immediately.

her

and took

He set

inform

to

to

quired,

honour

the

all

would go and

but

palace,

whereabouts of the

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

7^

He

was only too

had befallen him, kindness

the

and

each

other,

relate

to

particular

had received

he

that

upon

hands of the

the

at

all

stress

dwelt upon the love they bore

Princess of Bengal, to

anxious laid

and

confessed

finally

he

that

upon her to accompany him to riding with him upon the enchanted horse. prevailed

"Sir,"

Persia,

the

said

had

prince,

you

"I

feel

not

refuse

your consent to

our union,

and the princess

assured

will

awaits your decision as anxiously as at

the

I

She

do.

palace

Majesty often

is

where

now your

goes for your

pleasure."

"Son," replied the emperor, once

more embracing

him, "I not onlv consent to

your marriage with the PrinTlie prince set out for fatlier's

will

bring

liis

palace.

her

to

cess

of

Bengal,

but

1

will

go and meet her mvself, and

mv

palace

and

celebrate

your

nuptials this day."

The emperor than gave orders for his Court to make preparations for the princess's entry; the reannounced by the royal band of military music, and the Hindoo was to be taken

joicings

from

were

to be

his prison

and brought before him.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. When

had been done the emperor said

this

"I secured vour person

answer ever,

and

have

never

found

me

let

again

mv

of

out

returned of the •and

with

had

informed her,

left

;

and

to

soon as

as

bethought him-

he

revenged upon the emperor and the

Without

prince.

was

also

palace

his

emperor's presence

of being

self

and

princess,

Shah

Firoze

emperor was making preparations

the

the

left

horse,

who brought

those

Prince

that

go and bring her to he

your

take

where he had alighted and

place

that

a

might

life

your face more."

see

prison

:

whom, how-

son,

go,

:

The Hindoo had heard from him

your

that

that of the prince,

for

I

79

losing anv time,

he went directly

to the palace, and, addressing himself to the keeper,

told

him he came Princess

the

through

of Bengal,

behind

seated

her,

from the

the

air

he

that

Court and

The

and that the

emperor

the

more

to

that

he

had

him

to

the

that

he

came

do

as

she

been

for

conduct

to

what he

princess,

at

said,

liberty.

him,

gave

because he saw

He

who no sooner

from the

in

Hindoo,

the

imprisoned

had

waited

the whole

sight.

knew

who

set

who

to gratify

wonderful

the

palace-keeper,

credit

was

emperor,

the

to

with

citv

of Persia

him upon the enchanted horse,

great square of his palace,

the

to

Prince

presented

understood

prince than she consented

believed the prince

The Hindoo, overioved

at

his

desired

her.

success and the

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

So

ease

which he had accomplished

witli

mounted the turned the into

the

same

the

to the

advance receive

and instantly the

peg,

prepare

threats,

beyond

emperor

with

their

his

re-

prize.

had

saw what

happened,

him with reproaches

courtiers assailed

but

an

this

he had received,*

for the ill-treatment

the

all his

thinking

in

to

them both, and

brave

appeared above their heads

his

little

princess

the

The Hindoo,

opportunity to

When

on

and the prince rode a

father.

venge himself

and

liim,

mounted

horse

emperor was

the

might

he

that

excellent

time

palace,

his

he and

behind

princess

the

air.

At

way

took

horse,

his villainv,

more they could not do; he was and

power,

returned

they

the

to

overwhelmed with rage and vexation. But what was Prince Firoze Shah's grief at beholding the Hindoo hurrying away the princess,

palace

whom

he loved so passionatelv?

at first

how he should

act,

way

wicked

Hindoo.

the

pleasure

to

He

did not

know

but decided to at least

tempt to recover the princess the

He

from the power of continued

therefore

palace,

at-

where he had

his

the

leit

princess.

The that he

the life.

the

knew by

this

time

had been too credulous, threw himself

prince's

and

feet

"Rise," said loss

who

palace-keeper,

of

my

the

him

entreated prince,

princess

to

"I

you,

to

do not but

to

take

at

his

impute,

mv own

^

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. Rut

want of precaution. a

dervish's

the

Not

far

a

that

it

for

is

him he readily obtained

and from

friend,

and, being

the

and

to

return

took a

in

a

it,

box

present for

travels,

deter-

attempt. to

the

Hindoo.

He managed

enchanted horse so well, that he arrived earlv

next morning

in

a

wood near

kingdom of Cashmeer.

the

capital

of the

Being hungry, and concluding

the princess was also, he alighted left

Prince

himself

as

his

to

he had found his princess,

until

the

in

it

disguised,

upon

out

set

to return

perish

But his

dressed

completely

thus

princess,

to

prince

which he had brought

mined not or

The

Shah.

of jewels

convent

a

the superior of which was the palace-

complete dervish's habit and carried

Firoze

me

me."

from the pleasure palace stood

of dervishes,

keeper's

no time, fetch

lose

and take care you do not give

habit,

hint

least

81

in

the wood, and

the princess reclining on a grassy spot, close to

a rivulet of

clear water,

whilst

he

went

in

search

of food.

The princess would willingly have attempted to make her escape, but she was too much overcome with fear, hunger, and fatigue to move from the spot.

When

the

Hindoo returned, she took eagerlv

the food he gave her, for she wished to recover her

strength sufficiently

to

be able to outwit him,

and

fortunately before long she heard the sound of horse-

men

advancing, and deeming that she could not verv

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

82

hands than those of the Hindoo,

well be in worse

she shrieked and cried for help.

company of horsemen proved Cashmeer and his attendants,

Fortunately the to

who, for

the

be

Sultan of

as they

were returning from hunting,

Princess

the

part of the

Bengal,

of

wood, and ran

happily

through

passed

that

to her assistance.

The sultan addressed himself to the Hindoo, demanded who he was, and wherefore he ill-treated The Hindoo, with great impudence, rethe lady. plied

she

that

was

between them.

right to interfere

The

had any

no one

and

wife,

his

princess,

who neither knew the rank who came so seasonably to

quality of the person relief,

lord,

my

sent to

distress

Heaven

me

has

and

no

give

credit

A

me awav from

the

on

to

the

that

to

impostor.

should be the wife of so vile

I

Hindoo!

a

was going

hither

whom Heaven

are,

have compassion on a princess

forbid that

has forced I

whoever you

assistance,

and despicable

whom

her

hastened to say

"My in

nor

wicked magician, who Prince

be united,

enchanted

of Persia,

to

and has brought

you

horse

behold

there."

The Princess more to persuade she told him was

of Bengal had no occasion to say the Sultan of truth.

Her

Cashmeer beauty,

and tears spoke sufliciently for her. at

the

insolence

of

the

Hindoo,

that

what

majestic

air,

Justly enraged

he

ordered

his

The

sultan addvessed

Jiiiiisclf to

the

Hindoo.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. guards

surround

to

him,

and

strike

85 his

oil

head

:

which sentence was immediately executed. The princess, thus delivered from the persecutions of the Hindoo,

The

sultan conducted her

lodged her his

in the

to attend

another no to

less

palace,

his

afflicting.

where he

most magnificent apartments, next

commanded

own,

slaves

He

into

fell

her,

a

great

number

and ordered

led her himself into

the

a

of

suitable

apartment he

women guard.

had

as-

signed her, where, w^ithout giving her time to thank

him

had received, he

great obligation she

the

for

said to her:

"As rest,

I

am

when vou

princess, that

you must want

my

leave of you

till

take

will

I

certain,

will

be better able to relate to

circumstances of

He The

then

to-morrow,

left

this strange

me

the

adventure."

her.

princess's joy

was inexpressible

at

finding

herself delivered from the Hindoo, and she flattered herself that the Sultan of

by sending her back

his generosity

Persia

when

alas! she

had

to

the Prince of

she should have told him her story, but

was deceived

fallen

Cashmeer would complete

in

love

in

with

her hopes, for the sultan her and

marry her himself the next day.

had resolved

For

to

that reason he

ordered great rejoicings to be made, and the princess

was awakened

at

daybreak by the beating of drums,

the sounding of trumpets, and noise of other instru-

ments expressive of

joy.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

86

When

who had given orders that he should be informed when the princess was ready to receive a

the sultan,

came

visit,

upon

to wait

her,

he had

after

enquired after her health, he acquainted her that those

rejoicings

more

solemn,

were and

at

to

all

render their

nuptials

the

same time

desired

her

the

assent to the union.

This declaration put her into such agitation that she fainted away.

The women slaves who were present assistance, and when at length she began from her swoon she resolved the

sultan

and

be

false

the

to recover

sooner than wed

that,

to

ran to her

prince, she

feign madness, thereby gaining a little time in to

make

So she began

plans for her escape.

the most extravagant expressions

and even rose from her seat

He

before

the

would which

to utter sultan,

as if to attack him.

was greatly grieved, fearing that

it

was

his

sudden and unexpected proposal that had caused the

As

attack. left

her

the

greatest

his

with

presence seemed to her

care

women, of

her

irritate

charging

and

them

never to

her, to

he

take

leave her

alone.

He

sent

many

times during the day to enquire

after her, but the reports he received

favourable. better,

to ask

and if

The

The next day the sultan

sent

were most un-

the princess was for his

still

no

Court physicians

they could cure her. princess,

who

feared

if

they examined her

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. too

closely they

resorted to all

be

potions,

pretended to

to,

anxious

afraid

would discover the

to

she

into

a

them, so

injure

approach

to

which

fly

her.

made

no

TJic princess fainted

«7

she

had

of rage

and

trick fit

that

Some

were

thev

ordered

difficulty

in

her

taking,

away.

but which had no effect whatever in mitigating the disease.

When

the Sultan of

Cashmeer saw

physicians could not cure her,

but

without

effect.

Then he

that his Court

he called sent

in

others,

messages to the

Courts of neighbouring sultans, begging that the most

famous physicians might be allowed to come and their skill

upon the case of the princess.

try

THE ARABIAN NKiHTS.

88

physicians arrived

N^arioiis

tried

their

since

it

but

was

of success,

depend on medicine,

a case that did not

the will of the princess herself.

"on

During habit

in the

but none could boast

skill,

and

parts

all

iroiii

of a

and

provinces

Prince Firoze Shah, disguised

this time,

manv knowing which wav to

towns,

through

travelled

dervish,

not

whether he might not be pur-

direct his course, or

suing the very opposite road to which he

ought, in

order to hear tidings of the lost princess.

He made came

he

place

enquiry

diligent to,

at

till

her

after

through

passing

last,

every

at

much

Hindoostan, he heard the people talk

citv of

of a Princess of Bengal,

day of her intended

who went mad

marriage

with

the

a

the

very

Sultan

of

Cashmeer.

At

the

name

of the Princess

and

Bengal,

of

supposing that there could exist no other Princess of

Bengal than her upon whose account he had undertaken his travels, he hastened towards the kingdom of

Cashmeer, and upon

up

lodging

his

his

arrival

of the princess and the fate of the

and

felt

convinced that he had

beloved object of

his search.

provided himself with let

beard grow

his

could

went

easily to

the

pass

the

at

capital

took

khan, where he heard the story

at a

length found the

at

The following day he

a phvsician's habit, and,

during his

himself

sultans

Hindoo magician,

off

palace,

travels, as

a

where

he

having felt

phvsician.

he

he

He

presented

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. himself to the

and observed,

chief of the officers,

modestly, that perhaps

it

might be looked upon

as

a rash undertaking to attempt to cure the princess after

many had

so

from which he had

specifics,

experienced

might

success,

desired relief.

effect the

The told

chief of the officers

him

he

that the sultan

was welcome,

would receive

him with pleasure, and if

hoped some

that he

but

failed,

that

he should have the good

fortune

restore the

to

cess to her

might expect

reward

prin-

former health, he considerable

a

from

master's

his

liberality.

The Sultan

of Cashmeer,

who had begun hope

covery, the

when

new

ordered into

the

of

him

all

to

of

arrival

shown

be

The prince disguised

Then,

presence.

wasting

re-

heard

he

physician's

his

without

lose

to

princess's

any

as a dervisli.

time,

he told him the princess could not bear the sight of any physician transports,

him

which

straightway

without

falling

increased to

a

little

her

into

most violent

malady

room

;

from

and took

whence,

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

go

through a

he might

lattice,

her without being

see

observed.

There princess

an

Prince

which

had

which

with tears

sitting in

air

Shah

Firoze

in

beheld

her eyes, and singing

deplored

she

deprived

lovelv

his

unhappy

her

fate,

perhaps for ever, of the

her,

object she loved so tenderly.

The

prince was

condition

he

and

him,

her malady

he

so

dear princess, but

his

was feigned

the

told

by the melancholy

affected

which he found

in

certain

felt

much

sultan

covered the nature of the

that

The

him

for

sultan

to

Firoze Shah went

princess

saw him (taking him by

As soon

in.

as

habit

his

to

the

be

threatening and

He, however, went straight towards

abusing him.

and said

the Prince

it

was absolutely

it

physician), she rose up in a rage,

might hear,

dis-

ordered the princess's door to be

and

her,

had

and that

speak with her alone.

opened,

a

he

complaint,

was not incurable, but added that necessarv

for love of

low voice,

a

in

no

one

else

am not a physician, but and am come to procure vou

"Princess, of Persia,

that

I

your liberty."

The voice,

he had

calm

once, and

as

knew

the

and the upper features of

standing

spread

who

princess,

at

her face.

possible

how

his

let

a

Firoze

his face,

beard grow so

secret jov

despair

sound

Shah

of

the

notwith-

long,

grew

and pleasure overtold

had seized

her as

him

briefly

when he

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. saw the Hindoo carry her away

91

the

;

resolution

he

afterwards had taken to leave everything to find her

and never to return home

out,

till

her; and by what good fortune,

and

fatiguing

journey,

at

had

he

he had regained after a long

last,

the

satisfaction

of

finding her in the palace of the Sultan of Cashmeer.

He

happened

that

away

to her,

that

till

moment when he had

greatest importance to

all

from the time she was taken the

to converse with her, telling her that

the

him of

then desired the princess to inform

know

most proper measures

it

happiness

was of the

that he might take

this,

her from the

to deliver

tyranny of the vSultan of Cashmeer.

The

princess, having

informed

him of

that

all

had happened, of her rescue from the Hindoo, and of the sultan's subsequent intention of marrying her,

added that she had been able

of no other

to think

mode of escaping than to feign madness. The prince then asked if she knew what had become of the enchanted horse. The princess, however, knew nothing of its whereabouts, but was quite

sure

the

sultan

had preserved

it

as

a

great

curiosity.

As Firoze Shah never doubted but the had the

horse,

he

tended making use of and

the

told it

to

princess

that

sultan

he

in-

convev them both back had

consulted

together

to

Persia

on

the measures they should take, thev agreed that

the

;

after

thev

princess should dress herself the

next day, and

(j2

receive to

the

THE ARABIAN

NKjllTS.

sultan

but

civilly,

without

The stated

was

sultan

him the

to

when

overjoyed

effect

his

On

when

day,

the

manner

as

vanced,

he regarded

the

him

persuaded

world

him

tented himself with telling her at

her

He

being

soon

likely

was

cure

her

in

how

to

this

well

order

in

begun,

and

then

retired

phvsician con-

rejoiced he was

recover

her health. skilful

what he

complete

to

a

ad-

far

state,

bade her follow the directions of so

physician,

to-

such

in

the greatest

seeing

and,

;

her

as

prince

the following

him

received

princess

the

had had

visit

first

wards the cure of the princess.

in

speakiii_'#^^^i3'"il

A '^%

ifii

I

T

N

large and

,

1

the capital

of one

of the

rich provinces of

kingdom of China, there lived a tailor, named Mustapha,

the

who was hardly,

so poor that he conld

by

his dailv labour,

himself

tain

and

his

which consisted of

main-

familv,

a wife

and

son.

His

son,

who was

called

Aladdin, had been brought up in a

very careless and idle

manner, and by that means TJ/c lamp.

habits.

the in

He

was

morning, the streets

of his

own

When father,

had in

the

contracted

habit of goin^ out earlv in

and would stav out and

manv bad

public

all

places with

dav,

plaving

idle children

age.

he was old enough to learn

not being

took him into

his

a trade,

his

able to put him out to any other,

own

shop, and taught him

how

to

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. use

his

needle

keep him

was

his

but

:

work were

his

to

endeavours to

father's

his

all

97

no sooner

vain, for

in

back turned, than he was gone for that day.

iMustapha chastised him, but Aladdin was incorrigible

and

his

abandon

him

troubled

at

his

to

a

was

grief,

to

forced

was

and

idleness,

not being able

threw him into a

great

his

to

father,

reclaim

so

to

much

him, that

it

of sickness, of which he died in

fit

few months.

The mother,

finding

her

that

follow his father's business,

shut

would

son

not

up the shop, sold

and with the money she received, and

off evervthing,

what she could get by spinning cotton, endeavoured to maintain herself

Aladdin, the fear of a

and her son.

who was now no longer restrained by father, and who cared so little for his

mother, gave himself entirelv over to his idle companions.

custom,

One in

the

dav, as

he was plaving, according to

street

with his vagabond associates,

a stranger passing

by stood to observe him.

This stranger was

a matjician

who had

recentlv

arrived from Africa.

The African magician observing

in

Aladdin's

countenance something absolutelv necessarv execution of the design he was engaged artfully all

about

his family,

in,

for the

enquired

and when he had learned

he desired to know, went up to him, and, taking

him aside from

his

comrades,

said,

"Child,

vour father called Mustapha the tailor?"

was not

THE

9S

"Yes,

doad

a

NK'.Urs.

answorod the bov

sir,"

long

AKAl>l.\N

"biu ho has boon

;

tinio.

Ai ihoso words, tho Atrican magician throw

arms about Aladdin's nock, and with

timos,

toars

his

him sovoral

kissod

ovos.

his

in

who obsorvod his toars, askod him what mado him woo[\ "Alas mv son." oriod tho magician with a sigh, "how can torboar: am vour undo vour worthy tathor was mv own brother. havo boon manv voars abroad, and no\\ am come home with tho hopes ot seeing him. voii tell mo ho is Aladdin,

I

I

1

;

I

1

dead. griot

1

assure vou

to

mo

the comfort •'C/*jV '

'

'

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. who

person

only

could

him

inform

2ig

what

of

he

wanted to know. All the thieves listened to him with the utmost

and the captain,

satisfaction,

we have no

"Comrades,

said:

diligence,

lose

without but

its

we mav

that

suspicion,

go into join

be

shall

one

or

are

;

anv

two

town together, and

the

at

not excite

onlv

let

to

armed,

who we

appearing

his

time

us set off well

let

:

commending

after

our

rendezvous,

the

great

which

Our

square.

comrade, w4io brought us the good news, and house,

the

go and find out

will

I

we mav

that

consult

what had best be done." This plan being approved of

by ,,

,

.

Morgiana marked ^two three

doors

They'

,

ov

and

same

in the

The robber who Ali first

led

had

they

filed

off

in

without

plaved the

the captain

Baba was now

were

Succeeded

town

manner.

the morning

all,

living,

into

in

soon

parties of ^

two

entering

the

being part

the

ready.

suspected. of

street

spy in

where

and when they came to the

of the houses which Morgiana

had marked, he

But the captain observed that the next door was chalked in the same manner in the same place, and, showing it to his guide, asked him what it meant. pointed

it

out.

15*

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

220

The

was so astounded he knew not what

j^nide

and was

answer to make,

he and the captain saw

He

marked. could not

was

houses similarly

declared he had marked but one, and

tell

who had chalked

the rest, so that he

returned

captain

which was

to

be

robbers

the

was explained

return

there

square

and ordered

forest.

As soon

reason of their returninfr

and

the

robber

what he had undertaken

in

the

to

place

the

to

the

them,

to

directly

meeting

the

to

thev arrived

failed

cobbler had

at.

The

as

or six

five

unable to distinguish the house the

stopped

all

more puzzled when

still

to

who had

do was im-

mediately put to death.

Another of the of death, should

he

whom

troop, fail,

not even the fear

could daunt, undertook to

lind out the house.

He first

presented himself to Baba Mustapha as the

robber had done,

marked

it

being shown the house,

and,

with red chalk in a place which he thought

not likely to be noticed.

Not long afterwards Morgiana, whose eyes nothwent

ing could escape,

out,

and seeing the red chalk

marked the neighbours' houses by way of precaution.

The robber returned counted what all

of

he

stole

his

had done,

them thought

They

to

into

the

the

in

plan

and

the

same manner,

comrades and the

captain

re-

and

must succeed.'

town with the same pre-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. caution as before, but on

were again several

The

doors.

when he and

coming

by seeing

baffled

into the street they

same marks on

the

was

captain

verv

who had been

the cause of the

mistake underwent the -same punishment

The

to the

pursuing

two brave fellows of of diminishing it too much by

having

was afraid

this

had been

as

first.

captain,

his troop,

and

angry,

the rest of the troop had returned to

the forest the robber

meted out

221

lost

plan to get information of the residence

of their plunderer.

He so

had found that

good

as

therefore

hands

their

resolved

on

such

and

occasions,

upon

take

to

men's heads were not

his

himself

im-

the

portant commission.

Accordingly he went and addressed himself to

Baba Mustapha, who

did

him the same service he

had done to the other robbers.

He

did not set anv

mark on the house, but examined it so that by passing it often it became impossible

particular

carefully for

him

to mistake

Well returned the

prevent

had

with

satisfied

to the

cave,

it.

forest

their

taking

succeeded

that

revenge gaining

in

attempt,

and joined

them

telling

his

his

captain

the

comrades

nothing

upon the

knowledge

in

now man who

could

of

their

secret.

out

He

had made

he

sent

them

a plan,

to

the

and

in

order to carrv

neighbouring

villages

it

to

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

222

buy nineteen mules one

jars,

of

full

and thirty-eight the

oil,

large

leather

empty.

others

In a few davs' time the robbers had purchased the mules and

men

oil

The

rubbed the outside of the

he

into each,

with

and, after having put one of his

jars,

from the

full

vessel.

thieves had originally been forty in number,

men and the thirty-seven men

captain

thirtv-nine

only

mules

nineteen

and the

jars

were laden with and

of oil

jar full

He until

he

as

he had

led

mules

he came to Ali Baba's

meant

doorway,

to

knock

taking

a

men

;

through

house,

fresh

little

at

the

market

;

and

it

w^here to lodge.

you,

do

me

with you, and

the I

is

now

If I

he

air,

wav, to

sell

whose door

I

in

stopped

at

so late that

the his

"I have

to-morrow's

do not know

should not be troublesome to

favour shall

streets

him seated

but seeing

a great

oil

them

dusk of the

the

mules, addressed himself to him, and said:

brought some

the

in

out with

set

the

that

intended.

laden

the

saw

his

in

it

now

there remained

:

captain

the

;

towards the town, reaching evening,

jars

to

me much

pass

let

be very

night

the

obliged by your

hospitality."

Although Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest, he did not recognise him in

He made him

the disguise of an oil merchant.

come

to

mules

to

his

house and

go into the vard.

opened

He

his

gates

called a slave,

for

welthe

named

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

and ordered him, when the mules were

x\bdoolah,

not only to put them

unladen,

223

but

into the stable,

them fodder; then he bade Morgiana get a good supper for his guest, and sat talking with him to give

had eaten

until he

it.

Baba had retired to rest the captain found means of visiting the vard.

It

that

He

was not

took the

men

a little

out

as

she

picion,

put the

down

self

readv to

to

left

him

and

;

light out

his clothes,

in

the

his

he,

soon

After

signal.

when Morgiana,

house,

the

conducted him to

light,

where

gave them

he

returned

taking up a

give

to

jars,

and bade them be ready to come

air,

as

each of the

off

lid

soon

he

this

until Ali

to after,

his

chamber,

avoid

anv sus-

and

laid

him-

more

that he might be the

rise.

^lorgiana,

who had

not

yet finished

her work,

found to her mortification, when her lamp suddenly

went

out,

what

to

that she had

no more

do she did not know,

oil till

in

the

the

house;

slave

who

had been called to stable the supposed merchant's

mules advised her to take a

which stood

eight jars

in the

little

from the

thirty-

courtyard.

So Morgiana took the oil-pot, and went into the yard what was her surprise upon approaching ;

the

"Is

first it

jar

when

the robber within

Many would have alarm,

it

said

softly

time ?"

but

not

so

uttered

Morgiana.

exclamation

of

Comprehending

at

an

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

224

once that some danger threatened her master, she a

whisper

in this

manner

only replied

She went

in

:

"Not

yet,

but presently."

to all the jars, hearing the

same question and giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil. By this means she found out that her master, instead of entertaining a harmless oil merchant, had She admitted thirty-eight robbers to his house.

made what

she could to

haste

returned to her kitchen, when, lamp,

her

lighted

she

took

her oil-pot, and

fill

as

a

soon

great

over a large

fire,

and

as

soon

as

it

out and poured sufficient of the boiling

robber within

iar to stifle the

All noise,

went

kettle,

again to the oil-jar, and tilled the kettle with it

had

as she

oil,

set

boiled went oil

into each

it.

she accomplished without making any

this

and having put out her lamp she waited to

hear what would happen.

Before long the captain of the robbers got up

and opened

which was

his

to

window, gave the appointed drop

few small

a

stones

window, but growing uneasy that he response, he went the

first

jar

down

and spoke

into the yard.

signal,

from the

no

received

He went

to

There was no answer,

softly.

and then he noticed the smell of hot

oil

and soon

discovered what had happened.

Examining found best

all

to

his

make

all

the

jars,

one

after

he

another,

comrades were dead, and deemed his

escape whilst he yet might.

it

He

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. found a door

in

yard

the

back to the

When the present

master and

Ali

Morgiana was

satisfied that all

was over, and

that

the

his

way

Baba

rose

all

his comrades

early

and

oil-jars

and

to

find that

danger for

had saved her

she

his family, she retired to

he returned he was very

the

into

forest.

The captain found

see

opened

and climbing over the wall made

garden,

When

which

225

bed and

to sleep.

were dead.

went

to

much

the

bath.

surprised to

the merchant had

gone.

He

enquired of Morgiana

how

this

came

and by way of answer she led him to the

and bade him look

inside.

about,

first

jar

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

226

AH Baba

did so, and, seeing a man, started back-

and cried

in alarm,

Morgiana,

"Do

out.

man you

"the

you nor anybody

not be afraid," said

He

any harm.

else

can neither do

there

see

is

Look

dead.

into the other jars."

When

he had done so he stood staring

when

giana for some time in silence, and

Mor-

at

length

at

he recovered himself sufficiently to be able to speak,

"And what

he said:

come

has

"Merchant!" answered one

as

exactly

all

"he

she,

She then recounted

am."

I

of the merchant?" is

much

as

to her

master

had happened, telling him how she

that

had suspected treachery from the time she had

first

observed the chalk marks upon the door. "If you reflect on she,

"you

whom

find

will

you saw

was

it

for.

of the

it

my

for

said

robbers

and two others are

captain

Therefore

upon your guard, and

a plot

Thirty-seven have

in the forest.

but the

perished,

unaccounted

that has happened,"

all

now still

behoves you to be part

I

shall

neglect

nothing necessary for your preservation."

When

Morgiana ceased speaking, Ali Baba was so sensible of the great service she had done him that he said to her:

"I will not die without reward-

ing vou as vou deserve for

the

first

you your

token of

liberty.

we have now

to

You do

wicked thieves with

is

all

owe mv life to vou, and my acknowledgement I give I

:

are to

no longer

a slave.

All

burv the bodies of these

the secrecv imas:inable, that

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. nobody may suspect what that labour Abdoolah and

is

I

become

227

of them,

will undertake."

Ali Baba's garden was very long, at the

farther end

Under

these

by

a great

and wide enough to hold

Tlie robbers

they were hid the

all

jars

number

and the slave dug

he

ivere

all

When

buried.

and weapons, and

for the mules, Ali

Baba

and shaded

of large trees. a

trench,

long

the robbers, and here

buried in Ali

all

But

Babas

this

as

garden.

was done they they had no use

sent them, at different times,

to be sold in the market.

But the

captain

of the

band of robbers was

not long before he planned revenge for the loss of

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

228

He

brave comrades.

his

the

ing

had no intention of remain-

occupant

sole

of

meant

collecting a fresh troop he

the

man who was

the

in possession of

before

but

cave,

end

to put an

to

such a dangerous

secret.

So the morning after his comrades had been destroyed he went into the town and took up his lodging

at

he had,

and

an

as the

of information,

He

inn.

worthy man gave him

He now

all

sorts

but none of a kind that interested

him, he judged that Ali

keep the whole

asked the host what news

Baba had thought

best to

a secret.

affair

determined to play the part of

merchant, and for

this

immediately opposite

a silk

purpose engaged a warehouse

which had belonged

that

Cassim and which was now

in

to

charge of Ali Baba's

son.

He

very soon made friends with the young man,

and, being well disguised,

ventured also to get into

conversation with Ali Baba and was again invited to

spend an evening

at

his house.

Morgiana no sooner

set eyes

mistrusted him, more especially so that

he had a special aversion to

that

none might be used

in

on him than she

when he declared salt

and begged

preparing the evening

meal.

Everyone knows if

a

will

man not

has

once

that

eaten

amongst Eastern nations salt

with

his

enemy he

harm him, and wise Morgiana was

quite

Mot'piana

held a da^ocy

m

Iwr hand.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

231

certain that this was the

reason the pretended

merchant would not eat

salt

When

at

silk

her master's table.

she perceived, moreover, that he had a dagger

hidden beneath

garments she determined to put

his

And

an end to him herself.

so, when supper was came in to dance before her master and his guest. The dance was a strange one, for she held a dagger in her hand and as she twirled about she made a pretence of presenting it now at her

over, she

master's breast, it

now

at his son's,

and

plunged

finally

into the robber's heart.

Baba and

Ali

son

his

were

shocked

at

this

Morgiana opened the pretended merchant's garment and showed them the dagger. "Look action,

until

well

him," she

his

at

fictitious

said,

"and you

face,

tearing the false beard from

w^ill

find

oil-merchant and the

him

to

be both the

captain of the forty

thieves."

Ali Baba and his son

knew

not

how

to express

their gratitude to the brave Morgiana.

"I gave you your liberty," said Ali Baba, "and

promised that but

I

now

my

gratitude

esteem by making you turning

to

should not cease there,

intend giving you a higher proof of

his

son,

my he

daughter-in-law." said:

mv

Then,

"Consider that

by

marrying Morgiana you marrv the preserver of our family."

As

the

son

readily consented

to

the

marriage

the nuptials were celebrated a few days later.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

232

The

body was

captain's

buried

the

in

same

trench as the rest of the troop and no one was ever

any the wiser concerning the matter. Ali

Baba waited

son's marriage

for

a

whole year

to

his

venturing near the cave, be-

before

whom

cause the end of the two robbers

had caused

after

be put to death was

the crosses

still

unknown

to him.

However, return to

the

at

length

Finding

cave.

been undisturbed

he

since

the

decided to venture to that

it

captain's

had evidently death

he de-

cided that the troop of forty robbers was now^ completely destroyed.

He

took away with him

as

much

gold as he could carry, and afterwards took his son to the cave

and taught him the

handed down

to

their

posterity,

secret,

who,

which they using

good fortune with moderation, lived always honour and splendour.

in

their

great

THE STORY OF KUMMIR AL ZUMMAUN AND BADOURA. PRINCESS OF CHINA. A

BOUT

twenty

days'

from the coast of

sail

Persia, there are islands in

the main ocean called the Islands of the Children of

These islands

Khaledan.

were

formerly

governed

named Shaw Zummaim, who would have by

a

king

thought himself one of the

most happy monarchs Badoura, Princess of China.

world,

in

the

on account of

his

peaceful and prosperous reign, had

not been that

it

he had been denied the blessing of children.

He

had

no son

and

this

caused him

to

succeed great

him on the throne,

grief and

uneasiness.

Think then of his joy when, Heaven sent him a son, and the beautiful al

that

he

gave

in

his

prince

old

age,

was

so

him the name of Kummir

Zummaun, which means "Moon

of the Age." i6

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

234

He

was brought up with

imaginable

all

care,

and when he had arrived at a proper age, his father appointed him an experienced governor and able

He

preceptors.

quitted

himself

address,

as

cularly

the

now

the

prince.

till

I

for

parti-

early

in

age,

manhood, began

his

to think

the throne to

it,"

me

to

said

"and think

he,

it

is

retire."

suitable

prince

that

he

wished he

was

marry,

and

marriage

before

had

no wish

to

very plainly.

charge

his

him

aversion

give

he

He

would

him time

However, when

a

to

not

marriage,

force

consider the

at

declared

still

single, the

king was very

council with his vizier,

little

his

end

of

yet

would

himself

his

the

grieved

nor exert his

contented

the prince

patience.

to

not

disobedience,

with

authority.

him

was

father

prince's

discover

paternal

but

and

borne the fatigue of a crown

of

a

wonderful

announced king.

so

telling

to

informed the

make

The not

him,

grown

But the prince

to

who saw

and wished to resign

then

publicly

said

and

father.

his

"I have

now proper to

grace

being advanced

am weary

He

all

had

he

of retirement,

him

with

sultan

he was taught and ac-

all

such

charm

to

When father,

learned

with

inclinations,

proposal.

another

year

intention of remaining

much annoyed. He took who counselled him to have

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

many things about Your Majesty will

"Patience," said he, "brings

seemed impracticable.

that before

235

have no cause to reproach yourself for precipitation, if

you

another

prince

the

give

will

year to

con-

sider your proposal."

The

anxiously

so

thought

married,

son

his

who

sultan,

grand

his

long

this

however, though with much

desired

delay

see

to

an

age

he yielded to

difficulty,

vizier's advice.

But the year expired, and, of the sultan, Prince

Kummir

to the

great regret

Zummaun

al

gave not

the least proof of having changed his sentiments.

One

day,

therefore,

when

was

there

great

a

Council, the sultan addressed him thus, in the hearing

of

while

since

to

the

and

regard

son,

it

my

for

same

my

vou

to

is

now

in

desire

you would

wishes, I

long

a

earnest

imagined

I

on vour part

resistance

a

propose

my

married,

more

had

have such

"My

expressed to you

I

you

see

to

Court:

his

all

but

after

have thought

fit

presence

of

the

Council."

The that he

prince

answered

with

would not comply with

so

much warmth

his father's request,

that the sultan, enraged to see himself thwarted by

him

in full

prince

Council, ordered the guards to take the

away,

and carry him to an old tower that

had long been unoccupied, where he was shut up, with only a bed, a

little

furniture,

some books, and

one slave to attend him. 16*

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

236

Kummir

al

Zummaun,

thus deprived of liberty,

was nevertheless pleased to be alone with

which

made him regard

difference.

confinement with

in-

he bathed and said

his

his

In the evening

his books,

and after having read some chapters

prayers,

Koran, with the same tranquillity of mind

had been self

him while he slept. In this tower was

a well,

davtime for a retreat to It

as if

sultan's palace, he undressed

in the

and went to bed, leaving

morme.

in the

was about

his

midnight

him-

lamp burning by

which served

a certain

he

in

fairv called

the

Mai-

when Maimorme

sprang lightly to the mouth of the well, to wander

about the world after her wonted custom, where her curiosity led in

the

her.

She was surprised

prince's chamber, and,

to see a light

entering,

approached

the bedside.

The

prince was fast asleep

that his eves

were veiled the

;

but notwithstanding

fairv

thouo^ht

him the

young man she had ever seen. She kissed him gently, without waking him, and took her flight As she was ascending she heard a great into the air.

finest

flapping

of wings,

and knew

it

to be a

genie

who

This genie's name was T)anhasch,

made the noise. and Maimorme at once accosted him and asked him where he came from, what he had seen, and what he had done that night.

"Since you desire to know," replied Danhasch, "I will

inform

vou that

I

come from

the

utmost

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. of China

limits

;

the

king

only daughter, the finest in the

as to trail

as

Her

world.

the

is

that ever

polished

Maimorme

and

kissed

full

mirror,

him

of

vermilion

her

eves

are

this

fire,

her nose

Her

teeth

to

black,

neither too

is

finest

like

are

exceed her

and of a

two rows of

whiteness.

in

imperfect sketch, vou

no beautv likelv

smooth

gently, imthout ivaking him.

and surpass the

word, by is

colour.

was seen as

is

long nor too short, and her mouth small

pearls,

an

brown, and of such length

on the ground, her forehead

best

sparkling,

hair

country has

of that

woman

237

may

in the

In

a

guess there world.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

238

"Her

built for her seven

and

beyond

father loves her

magnificent

were

ever

belief and has

most extraordinarv

the

palaces,

that

all

known,

and

has

furnished them most sumptuously.

"Because of the fame of cess's beauty, the

most powerful neighbouring kings

have sent

ambassadors

The King

of China

manner,

obliging his

incomparable prin-

this

to

solicit

any of the

in

marriage.

all

in

the

received them

he resolved not to

but as

daughter without her consent,

like

her

same marry

and she did not

ambassadors were forced

parties, the

to return as they came. "'Sir,' said the

have

'you think

stately

me

married,

and

where

shall

I

find

as

are

inclination to see

me by

oblige

to

such

an

king her father,

princess to the

palaces

but

it;

and

gardens

delicious

me by your Majesty? Through your good pleasure I am under no constraint and have the same honours shown to me as are paid to yourfurnished

These are advantages

self.

anywhere love

else,

to be

cannot expect to find

I

whoever may be my husband

masters,

and

;

men

have no inclination to

I

be commanded.'

but

"The when

king

a very

asked her hand with the others,

single

he

bore^with her whim for some time; powerful in

and more opulent king

marriage

and

same scorn she had

became enraged and

she

treated

him

shown towards the shut

apartment, with only ten old

her up

women

in

a

to wait

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

239

upon her and keep her company, the chief of whom had been her nurse."

Maimorme, having Princess

of

Kummir

al

China,

listened to the story of the

told

her

Zummaun, and

as

story

of the

both

the

Prince

genie

and

the fairy persisted in saying that their special charge

was more beautiful than the other, Danhasch agreed

Danliasch returned, bringing the fair princess with him asleep.

to

go and fetch the princess that they might compare

the two.

Accordingly Danhasch flew

whence

he

soon

bringing the

her

fair

down bv

of the two.

and

with

princess with

incredible

him

the prince's bedside,

towards China,

asleep.

and truly

speed,

He it

set

was

determine which was the more beautiful

diflScult to

yield,

returned

off

it

Neither

was not

Maimorme nor Danhasch would until Maimorme had summoned

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

240 a

named Caochcash,

hideous humpbacked genie,

matter was decided,

the

that

and he declared that the

prince and princess were both equally beautiful.

was

he, too,

who

It

suggested that they should awaken

the two sleepers in turn, and see what they thought

of one another.

So Maimorme transformed and

No

bit the prince.

herself into

a

flea

sooner was he awake than

he espied the sleeping princess and straightway

He

in love with her.

did

not

awaken,

He

chanted sleep. finger this

because

again

fell

she

was sleeping an

en-

next drew a ring from the princess's

and replaced

he

fell

her tenderly, but she

kissed

it

with one from his

into

a

own

after

;

profound and enchanted

sleep.

and

Danhasch next transformed himself into a flea in his turn bit the princess, who awoke from

her sleep, and on opening her eyes was very surprised to see a

her

much

handsome young prince lying by

side,

fast

asleep.

She

fell

in

love with him at once,

as

he had

done with

her,

and was somewhat disappointed that

she could

not

awaken him.

and shook him several times very soon she too

to

to

fell

She kissed ;

but

all

in

his

cheek

vain,

and

asleep.

Then Maimorme bade Danhasch carry her back her own apartment; this he did, and as day began appear Maimorme retired to her well. Kummir al Zummaun, on waking next morning,

Kummiv

al' Ziiuiinaiin

awakened

his slave.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. at

243

once looked for the lady he had seen during the

night, but she

had vanished.

He awakened

who was still asleep, had become of the lady who

his

and asked him w^hat

slave,

had visited him during the night.

"My

Lord,"

answered the

slave,

what lady your Highness speaks

The

"I

know

not

of."

prince flew into a violent rage, and as the

slave persisted in saying that no ladv had been there, his

master beat him

under

arms,

his

soundly and, fastening a rope

plunged him

the

into

threatened to drown him unless he

at

and

well

once confessed

the truth.

The slave, perplexed and himself, "The prince must have grief,

and

falsehood.

I

shall

My

not escape

half dead, said within lost his senses

through

do not

him

if I

Lord," he cried,

in

The

a

a suppliant tone,

"I beseech your Highness to spare will tell

tell

my

life,

and

I

you the truth." prince drew the slave up, but as soon as

he was out of the well he begged leave to go and

change

his wet clothes before he Having obtained permission he went

told out,

the

story.

and having

locked the door upon the prince, ran to the palace just as

he was, and informed the king that the prince

had taken leave of of a lady w^hom

his senses

he had

and raved continually

seen during the night;

he

also called the king's attention to the violence with

which he had been treated.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.



244

The king and examine

went

vizier

his

immediately to

and after

into the condition of the prince,

hearing his story the king could no longer believe that his son had lost his senses,

strange though the

The

circumstances appeared to be. his

upon

ring

father the

his

showed

prince

which he had

finger,

taken from that of the sleeping princess, and begged

no longer, but

his father to delay

whom he had fallen my son," replied the

the lady with ''Alas,

knew who

she

I

is.

would

him

unite

to

so deeply in love.

"I would

king,

the world!

seek her?

shall I

These things

I

As he spoke he took said,

"Come

came

my

con-

my

affliction,

son,

and

the

us

let

love,

conveyed him

led

in

object, he fell sick,

and

go and grieve

and

I

to-

with seeing

son

his

to the

had no sooner arrived than,

unknown

do not understand."

without being able to afford you

Shaw Zummaun then tower,

I

prince by the hand,

the

you with hopeless

gether;

your

then,

confess

in

How

she here, and by what conveyance, without sent?

I

comply with

instantly

your wishes, and should be the happiest father

But where

to

relief."

out of the

palace,

where he

despair at loving an

and took

to his

bed;

king shut himself up with him, without attend-

ing to the affairs of his kingdom, for

Whilst matters

Shaw Zummaun, Princess

Badoura,

China was called.

passed

things

thus

were no

in

many the

better

days.

capital

with

of the

by which name the Princess of

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. When

245

awoke next morning she immediately asked her women what had become of the handsome young man she had seen during the night. No one would believe her storv, and her nurse and women she

slaves sought to convince her

was quite impossible

that

it

that

any young

man

have visited her, locked

had

they

her

into all

could

as she

was

room

and

been sleeping

by the door. She became so angry that the nurse fetched the King

Oueen

and

visited

their

sought

to

her

who

daughter

and

convince

her

of

But when they

error.

not do

could

China,

of

this,

thev be-

came exceedingly concerned at

the

The

state

king,

ordered

her,

^^^^

mind.

her

being convinced

her

and

ever,

of

to

allowed

with a good

that

more

be

at

nurse

the

''«"

door

^^''

^'^

was

she

closelv

only the

guard

^^'^^'^'

Z'^^^"-

insane,

confined to

than

attend

on

of her apart-

ment.

So anxious was he

summoned

his Council,

to

and

effect

after

her cure

that

he

having acquainted

them with the princess's condition said: "If any of you is capable of restoring her to health, I will give

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

246

my

and make him heir to

her to him in marriage,

dominions."

The

and

princess,

great a

on

an

of

desire

emir,

hopes

the

kingdom

obtaining

handsome

a

day governing so

of one

had

as that of China,

already advanced

a great effect

who was

years,

in

As he was

present at this Council.

young

well

skilled

in

magic, he offered the king to recover his daughter,

and

flattered himself with success,

"I consent

to

the trial,"

said

you one condition, and that

I

forgot to

if

you do not succeed, you

tell

:

come

after you,

that they

that

is,

lose your head.

shall

would not be reasonable you should have and what a reward, and vet run no risk you," continued the king,

"but

king;

the

"I say to

may

all

great

so I

It

say to

others

who

consider beforehand

what they undertake."

The emir accepted conducted him

But

his

the condition, and the

king

to the princess's place of confinement.

magic

arts availed

him

little

:

the princess

continued to entreat her father to marry her to the

handsome young

prince,

and

at

length the emir threw

himself at his Majesty's feet and

power to cure her malady. The king, enraged at

his

owned he had no

incapacity,

and the

trouble he had given him, caused him to be immediately beheaded.

Some

days after, unwilling to have

it

said

that

he had neglected his daughter's cure, the king put

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. proclamation

forth

a

there

were

any

in

his

who would undertake

No

less

magicians

magician

he succeeded,

if

and their heads were

and

to

cure

the

underwent the same

all

set

astrologers,

fifty

attempted

princess of her malady, and fate,

if

failed.

than a hundred

and

physicians,

that

to restore the princess to her

he

if

or

astrologer,

senses, he should win her in marriage

or lose his head

stating

capital,

physician,

247

upon poles on every

gate of the city.

Now

Princess Badoura's

the

nurse

whose name was Marzavan, who had brother to the

and

princess

Marzavan had travelled and was much skilled

had

a

son

been foster

brought up with her.

a great deal in foreign parts

in astrology,

geomancy and

the

like secret arts.

As soon from

mother heard he had returned

his

as

his travels she

him

made up her mind

to introduce

princess's

presence that he might try

his skill in curing her;

but as she did not wish him

into the

to lose his

addressed thus

:

"

I

head she disguised him herself to

with the princess the

the

have a daughter

princess

and wishes

I

brought up along

been since married, yet

to see her, without

The chamberlain I

woman and

does her the honour to love her,

still

"Say no more,

a

chamberlain of the guard

whom

she has

;

as

interrupted her, and exclaimed,

will with

oblige the princess ;

being observed."

pleasure do anything to

go and fetch your daughter, or

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

248

send for her about midnight, and the

open

be

gate shall

for vou."

As soon

as

it

was dark the nurse went and

fetched Marzavan, and so well was he disguised that the chamberlain never suspected him of being a man,

but admitted him at once.

The

the

telling

however,

nurse,

princess

that

took the

precaution

the

disguised

of

woman was

Marzavan, her foster brother.

"What! my brother Marzavan," exclaimed princess, with great joy; "approach and take veil

for

;

it

is

oft

the that

unreasonable that a brother and

not

should see each other without covering their

sister

faces.

rejoice to see

I

many "Madam,"

after so

obliged

to

you returned

in

good health,

years' absence."

replied

you.

I

Marzavan,

hoped

to

"I

have

am

infinitely

heard a better

account of your health than has been given me.

however, give

will,

me

It

pleasure to help to remedy

your Highness's situation."

Having thus spoken he drew out a book and some other things which he thought he would require to

aid

rations,

those

him.

The

princess,

observing these

prepa-

"What! brother, are you one of who believe me mad? Undeceive yourself exclaimed,

and hear me."

The

princess

particulars of the

then story,

related to

Marzavan

all

and showed him the

which had been exchanged

for hers.

the ring

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

249

After the princess had concluded Marzavan, with wonder and

remained

astonishment,

for

filled

some

time with his eyes fixed on the ground without speak-

word

ing a

said: ''If in the

must

but at length he lifted up his head and

be as your Highness says, and

least

doubt

with patience. this prince,

sured

I

will

I

do not

at

once

But

your wishes.

your Highness

arm yourself

to

set out in

and when you hear of

shall

Having

gratification of

entreat

first

I

do not despair of being able

I

it,

you the

to procure I

;

it

my

search of

return be as-

have found him." he

spoken,

thus

princess, and set out the next

took

of

leave

morning on

his

the

intended

travels.

He

journeyed from city to

to province,

and from island to

months he arrived

at Torf, a

found the talk was

all

from province

city,

island, until after four

seaport town, where he

of Prince

Kummir

al

Zum-

maun, who was sick and whose history greatly

sembled that of the

was extremely delighted, and self

time

where the prince was in

arriving at

He

obtained

and informed him

The grand

Kummir

al

once informed him-

to be found

that,

all

and

lost

no

capital.

audience of the

grand vizier

hearing of the young prince's

malady, he wished to try and

he must be told

at

Shaw Zummaun's an

Marzavan

Badoura.

Princess

re-

eff"ect

a cure, but first

the details concerning

it.

vizier then related the story of Prince

Zummaun

from the time of

his birth to 17

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

250

the date of his refusing to take a wife and the sub-

sequent imprisonment

had

asserted

befallen

great attention to

tower and

in the

him

that he

all

Marzavan gave

there.

the grand vizier said, and saw

all

no reason to doubt that the prince was the man

whom

the Princess of China so ardently loved.

With-

out explaining himself farther he desired to see the prince, that he might be better able to judge of his

disorder and

cure.

its

"Follow me," said the grand vizier, and at once led him into a room, where the prince was lying upon a bed, languishing and with his eyes shut. Notwithstanding

and

condition,

his

presence of the king, his father, him,

he

could

ever

a

greater

not

once that Prince

Kummir

?"

Zummaun

al

exclamation

of

Marzavan commenced

by

there

noticed

at

and Princess

alike.

Marzavan's

and he opened

prince's curiosity

sitting

"Was

For he

Badoura of China were exactly This

who was

avoid exclaiming:

resemblance

of the

regardless

excited

his eyes.

to recite in verse

all

the

At once that

had

happened between him and the Princess of China. From this the prince had no reason to doubt but that Marzavan knew her and could give him tidings of her. w^ith joy,

His countenance immediately brightened up and Marzavan took the liberty of requesting

the king to allow side

and to be

The

king,

him

left

to take his place

by

his son's

alone with him.

overjoyed

at

the

alteration

in

his

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

comply, and Marzavan

son's countenance, hastened to

was

alone with the

left

him he

said,

"Prince,

The

lady for

grieve.

to

time you should cease to

is

whom

you

suffer

the Prin-

is

King of China.

cess Badoura, daughter of the I

Leaning down

prince.

it

251

This

can assure your Highness from what she has told

me

and what

of her adventure,

She has suffered no

yours.

princess's

story,

learned of

on your account

less

Here he

than you have on hers." he knew of the

have

I

related

that

all

from the night of

their extraordinarv interview.

This prince.

and

at

He

marvellous

had strength

he

felt

a

found himself

is

now

made me. that

is

From

a condition to

in

time

to

the rise,

that time

One to

undertake the voyage

said,

perform the

to

thing

the difficulty

permission

on

began steadily to improve, and when he

he took Marzavan aside and it

effect

sufficient

once began to dress himself.

health

his

had

account

I

travel

still

afflicts

"Dear Marzavan, promise

me, however, and

shall find to obtain

into

a

distant

me

you have

my

father's

country.

to

be a

moment

anxietv to

cure

his

observe he scarcelv allows

You out

of his sight."

Marzavan,

in

Princess Badoura,

his lost

sight of the

beloved

trouble he was

Zummaun. "I have "You have not stirred

about to cause the good Shaw thought of a plan," said he.

abroad for some time, therefore request the king's permission to go upon a hunting party.

He

will 17*

no

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

252

doubt comply.

When

order two

coursers

fleet

you have obtained for each

of us

his

to

leave,

be

got

readv, one to mount, the other to change, and leave the rest to me."

The following day had

The king gave

him.

instructed

prince did

the

and ordered the best horses

consent,

his

the royal

in

Marzavan

as

stable for

his use.

Kummir

caravanserai,

at a

slept

day,

first

or

and Marzavan hunted,

and

inn,

night thev alighted

at

where

they supped,

and

about midnight, when Marzavan awakened

till

the prince

and desired him to change

into another

dress he had brought in his baggage for him.

he had done leading

in

grooms who led the spare

the two

the

horses, all

Zummaun

al

company with

the

prince's suit

this,

When

they stole softlv out of the inn,

two spare horses, and having torn the and dipped

by the roadside so

that

it

it

in

blood,

they threw

it

might appear that the prince

had been devoured by wild animals.

"The king Marzavan, "that

will I

conclude

was

I

have escaped," said

afraid to face his anger, having

allowed you to come to harm."

The that his

if

prince comforted himself with the reflection

he were giving his father cause for great grief

joy would

be the

greater

when he

afterwards

heard he was alive and well.

The

prince and Marzavan, being well provided

for their expenses,

continued their journev both by

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. and

land

and found no other obstacle but the

sea,

length of time which arrived

length

at

the

at

a public

to

three

cognito,

caused

an

to

capital

carried the

his house,

rest

there,

in-

after

the

themselves

during which time Marzavan

voyage,

fatigue of the

of China, where

They remained

inn.

days,

They

necessarily took up.

it

Marzavan, instead of going to prince

253

habit

astrologer's

to

made

be

for

the

The three days being expired, they went prince. together to the bath, where the prince put on his from thence Marzavan conducted astrologer's dress :

him

the

to

King of China's palace and there

left

him.

As soon voice

his

come

to

daughter China, to

and cried: cure of

the

"I

am

high

on the conditions

marrv her

if

I

an

up

am

and

or else

King of

mighty

proposed by

succeed,

Badoura,

Princess

illustrious

most

the

lifted

astrologer and

was alone the prince

as he

to

his

Majesty,

my

lose

life

for

my

on

was some time since anyone had appeared this account, the ill-luck of the hundred and

fruitless

and presumptuous attempt."

It

fifty

who had gone

before

being sufficient to deter

others.

The

prince's

appearance,

his

noble

air

and

blooming youth, made everyone who saw him pity him, and some tried to persuade him to abandon the rash attempt and depart.

But the prince continued

firm,

until

the

grand

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

254 vizier

of the

came and introduced him into the presence King of China, who also was moved to pity

by the sight of the prince's youth and comehness, and gave him an opportunity of withdrawing from the attempt.

But the prince was so confident of success that the king ordered him to be conducted into the princess's apartment.

The a

seeing

you may be witness of

that

her,

my

notwithstanding

who

to you,

will deprive

little

I

to be

is

my

and paper out of

note to the

princess,

had

in

for

hers.

fallen

myself of that pleasure for

the

his pocket,

explaining

He

him,

a

he took pen,

and wrote

who he

how he had changed

concluded

by saying:

to return his love, he will

happiest of mankind.

death, which your refusal

If

not,

a little

was,

love with her upon the

seen her, and

condescend

respect

wife, yet out of

for an astrologer to carry about

first

skill

Being furnished with everything proper

while."

had

my

impatience to see a princess of

her rank,

he

into a great

be best to cure the princess without

"It will

said:

ink,

him

led

which was divided from the princess's apartment Here the prince stopped and tapestry curtain.

hall,

by

guards

chief of the

how

night he his ring

"If you

will

esteem himself

the

sentence of

must draw upon him,

will

be received with resignation, since he will perish on "

account of

When

his love for you.

the

prince

had

finished

his

billet

he

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. folded

and enclosed

up,

it

in

255

the princess's ring.

it

"There, friend," said he to the guard, "carry

your mistress. she reads leave to

it

If

it

does

not cure

and sees what

it

everybody that

I

tell

her as soon as

contains,

am

this to

you

give

I

the most ignorant

and impudent astrologer that ever existed."

The

guard, entering the princess's apartment, gave

She opened the

her the packet.

when

ence, but, to read hall,

with indiffer-

billet

she saw the ring, she had not patience

through, but rose and ran to the entrance

it

They

where she saw and recognised the prince.

embraced tenderly, without being able

speak for

to

excess of joy.

The

where

apartment,

her ring,

prince it

made them come

princess's nurse

"Take

saying:

without restoring

Badoura gave the

Princess

the

yours,

into the

it;

which

I

cannot keep

I

never part

will

with."

The guard went immediately what had happened: "Sir," said logers

cure

"all

he,

the astro-

and doctors who have hitherto pretended to the

pared

to inform the king

princess

with

the

were foolish and ignorant compresent.

He

without

her

cured

seeing her."

The

king

at

once went to

his daughter's

ment and embraced both her and the taking his

"Happy

hand joined

stranger,

word and give you

it

my

prince,

are,

I

will

daughter for your wife

and

saying

to the princess's,

whoever you

apart-

keep ;

my

though

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

256

by what lieve

for

I

see in you,

impossible for

is

it

you are really what you pretend." Kummir al Zummaun thanked the

mv

condition,"

said

"I must

he,

me

the

of one

habit

that

own

not

only

I

;

then

related

in

his

and how wonderful had been the origin of

history, his

am

I

might succeed

I

He

meeting the princess again."

"As

king.

an astrologer, as your Majesty has guessed put on

to be-

love,

and

vellous,

was altogether

that the princess's

were

that both

change of the two

mar-

by the ex-

confirmed

rings.

The marriage was solemnized the rejoicings were universal

Nor was Marzavan

China.

as

him an honourable post

the same day, and

over the empire of

all

The king gave

forgotten.

and

in his Court,

a

promise

of further advancement.

The

months,

several al

bed

him thus address so

tenderly

cause of

The

my

one

night

at the point

has

Kummir saw

he

that

"My

whom

son,

abandoned me

and

is

thins:,

went

I

the

death."

prince

who

his

and heard

awoke with

a sigh

and acquainted

the princess with the cause of his uneasiness. princess,

for

of death,

his attendants:

loved,

up

kept

but in the midst of them

Zummaun dreamt

father on his

were

and rejoicing

feasting

The

strove to please her husband in everyto her father the

hand, and thus addressed him:

beg of your Majesty, and

I

next

dav,

kissed

his

"I have a favour to

beseech you not to deny

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. me

;

may

but that you

not believe

my

soKcitation of the prince

me your

you

will

grant

him and

visit

his father."

ask

I

husband,

beforehand he knows nothing of that

257

my

at the

it

you

assure

I

request.

It

is,

permission to go with

"though

"Daughter," replied the king,

shall

I

be sorry to part with you for so long a time as a

journey

to

a

place

so

distant

cannot disapprove of your resolution yourself:

go,

condition

that

child,

give

I

require,

will



you

is

it

Shaw Zummaun's Court. I hope to this, that we shall alternately his daughter-in-law,

and

I

my

I

worthy of on

but

leave,

you stay no longer than

yet

a

year

in

the king will agree see,

he

his

daughter and

son and

my

son-

in-law."

The consent receive

communicated the King of China's who was transported to

princess to it,

her

husband,

and

returned

his

thanks

for

this

new

token of her love.

to

The King of China gave orders for preparations be made for their departure, and when all things

were ready, he accompanied the prince and princess several

leave of

days' journey on

their

way,

when he took

them with manv tokens of endearment.

After travelling about a month,

they one

day

entered a plain of great extent, planted at convenient distances with

tall

trees,

forming an agreeable shade.

The day being unusually hot, the prince thought it best to encamp there, and proposed it to Badoura,

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

258

who

having

spots;

wish

alighted

in

was presently

tent

a

same

the

They

consented.

the

more

one

of

weary with the fatigues of the

cess,

w^omen

her

down by

her

untie

and she

her,

finest

bade

journey,

which

girdle,

asleep,

falling

the

and the prin-

up,

set

readilv

they

they

laid

her

left

alone.

Kummir to

Zummaun

al

and,

attendants,

his

came

order,

sleeping

the

to

had been giving directions having

things

all

where the

tent

he entered, and

:

seen

in

was

princess

down without making

sat

any noise, intending to repose himself: but observing the

and looked

at

In viewing

it

it,

girdle

princess's

he observed a

felt

it

Desirous

solid.

the

he

;

purse,

unknown

he

her,

took

it

up

the diamonds and rubies one bv one.

sewed neatly on the

riband

by

Iving

and found

to

purse hanging to

and tied

it

fast

with a

contained something

know what

and took out figures

little

stuff,

it

was,

a cornelian

and characters.

he

opened

engraven with

"This cornelian,"

"must be something very valuable, would not carry it with so much or care." It was Badoura's talisman, which the Queen of China had given her daughter as a charm that would keep her, as she said, from any harm as long as she had it about her.

said the prince,

my

princess

The took while

it

prince, the

better to look at the

out to the light,

he

was

holding

the it

up

tent in

talisman,

being dark;

and

hand,

bird

his

a

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. darted

down from

the

and

air

259

snatched

away

it

from him. Great was the concern and grief of the prince when he saw the bird fly away with the -talisman ;

he followed the bird, which

on the ground not

settled far in

it;

bird

took

on

ous

and

wing,

at

mark,

a

He

off.

took

a

thought to

with a stone, and further

in

again

further

the prince, being very dexter-

:

grew

would

it

settled

further

bird

the

prince

he approached, the

ground

the

flight

near, hoping

but as

followed,

talisman

The

beak.

its

drew drop

with the

off,

it

still

keeping

in pursuing,

view.

Thus the

along from

hill

pursued

;

it

the

more eager he

the

flew,

kill

bird

to valley,

it

always

drew him and valley

to hill, all the day, every step lead-

him out of the way from the plain where he had left his camp ^i j j mand Badoura, andj the t> rrmcess -o ing

A

bird snatched the

talisman

stead

might tree,

the

^from

of

him.

perching

probably safe



from

at

night

have

taken

his

heart at having

pursuit.

taken so



on it,

a J

bush,

roosted

where

he

on a high

The prince, vexed to much pains, and yet

not recovered the talisman, determined to rest where

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

26o

he was until shall

find

I

"For," said

morning.

the

my way

back across

"how

he,

hills

and vallevs

tree

and soon

in

the darkness?"

So he

lay

down beneath

He awoke

fast asleep.

a

the next morninc;^ before the

bird had left the tree, and as soon

the wing,

he followed

again

it

day, with no better success

did the

same

he saw

it

on

the

whole of that

he

had done the

than

for ten days together, pursuing the

and keeping

bird,

it

in

view from morning to

lying always under the tree where

and

as

eating nothing but herbs and fruits as he went.

last,

He

fell

it

night,

roosted.

On the eleventh dav the bird continued Kummir al Zummaun pursuing it came

great city.

When

he

despaired

near a

the bird reached the walls,

over them, and the that

flving,

prince of ever

flew

it

saw no more of

it

;

so

recovering the Princess

Badoura's talisman.

He

went into the

city,

which was

built

on the

and walked up and

sea-shore and had a fine

port,

down

knowing where he was, or

the streets without

where

At

to stop. last

he came to the port,

certainty as ever as to

in

great

as

un-

Walking

what he should do.

along the shore, he perceived the gate of a garden open, and an old gardener

man, looking up, saw he was

man, and asked him after him.

to

at

a

come

work

in

it

;

stranger and in

the a

good

Mussul-

and shut the door

When

the bird reached the walls,

it

flew over them, and the prince

saiv no more of

it.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. the

Kummir

al

gardener

why he was

Zummaun

replied the old man,

arrived

by

;

and

idolators,

263

demanded of

entered and so

"Because,"

cautious.

"I see you are a stranger newly

this city

is

inhabited for the most part

who have

mortal

a

aversion

Mussulmen,

and

treat

few

that

are

of

us

with great barbarity.

is

it

supthis,

a miracle that

you

thus far."

entei'ed

The

territories.

wandering

;

prince

had

eaten

him

heartily,

he

to relate

how he had come

"For," said he,

my

requested

when he had

city to

"it

princess

for eleven days

Isle

he

after

meal before him

set a

is

to

finished

his father's

in vain for

where

I

left

me

to

her, after

from the spot."

replied that

it

was

a year's

journey

any country inhabited by Mussul-

that the quickest passage for

go to the

in,

there.

The gardener from that

"Come

And

rest."

he asked the nearest route

think of finding

men

the worthy

saying,

prince complied, and

his story

Then

little hut,

and the

Zinnniaun

you have

the prince into his

had

the warden.

as

man took and

al

here

know

have escaped

Kiiinmir

the

I

pose you did not

and

us

to

of Ebene,

him would be

whence he might

to

easily

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

264

himself to

transport

Khaledan

;

year

Ebene,

to

departed

that

but

a

ship

but

the

makes the voyage

me

"Had you come

and accept of

Now and

again,

my

had

one

unfortunately

you must wait vou

if

a

"you might have

gardener, it.

of

from the port every

sailed

that

taken your passage in

Children

of the

Isles

few days ago.

a

sooner," said

little

the

house, such as

it

stay with

will it

till

you

is,

shall

welcome to it as to your own." The prince gladly accepted the gardener's offer, and abode with him that year, working in the garden

be

as

by day, and passing the night

in

and

tears

sighs,

complaints, thinking of his dear Princess Badoura.

Meanwhile the princess was wondering what had become of the prince. When she awoke, after a long sleep,

and found the prince was not with her, she

women, and asked if they knew where he They had seen him enter the tent, but no one

called her

was.

had seen him go

out.

While they were her girdle, found her

man it

to

back

talking little

to

her,

she

took

purse open and her

up

talis-

She did not doubt the prince had taken

gone.

see what

with

it

was, and

She

him.

waited

return, unable to imagine

he would

that

impatiently

bring for

it

his

what made him stay away

from her so long.

When and

night

heartily

talisman,

as

fell

wished it

overcome with

she was she

seemed

had

that

never

the

loss

grief,

possessed of

it

the

was the

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

The

princess continued the journey under the

Knnimir

al

265

name

of

Zmnmaun.

However, she did not

cause of her trouble.

lose

her judgment, but came to a very courageous resolution.

Only herself and her women knew of the prince's absence, for his men were reposing or asleep in their tents; but she was afraid that if it became known she

might find

who would

laid aside

Kummir

al

in

difficulty

possibly refuse

She therefore one of

some

her

to

submit to

own

Zummaun's.

like him, that the next day,

controlling men,

when

habit,

a

woman.

and put on

She was so much she

came abroad,

the male attendants took her for the prince. 18

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

266

She commanded them to pack up their baggage and when all things were and begin their march ;

women

ready, she ordered one of her

by her and the at

to

go into her

she herself mounting on horseback and riding

litter,

They

side.

sea,

continuing the journey under

princess

the

months bv land

travelled several

name of Kummir Ebene on their way

al

Zummaun.

They touched of the Children

to the Isles

of Khaledan, and went to the

where

capital,

a king

name was Armanos. As soon as King Armanos heard of the arrival Prince Kummir al Zummaun, he waited upon him,

reigned whose

of

accompanied by

He

his courtiers.

received the disguised

who was

of a king

his

friend,

princess

as

and with

the

whom

son

he

always kept up a good understanding: he conducted her to the palace, where an apartment was prepared for her

and

all

her attendants, though she would fain

have excused herself.

He showed

her

all

possible

honour and entertained her three days together with extraordinary magnificence.

At standing

the end of this time. that

her voyage,

such

an

intended

accomplished prince, she

only daughter,

was willing "It

princess

charmed with the

suggested that his

the

is

King Armanos, underand qualities of

air

as

proceeding on

he

supposed her,

at

Ebene, marry

should remain

and accept the crown, which he

to resign in her favour.

time for

me

to rest," said he,

"and nothing

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. my

could be a greater pleasure to uie in

mv

than to see cessor to

mv

so worthy a suc-

by

ruled

retirement,

throne."

The poor not Prince

people

267

princess was

Kummir

al

afraid

to

Zummaun, and

honour he offered her

to decline the

much bent upon

the

own

she was

equally afraid

being so

lest,

kindness might

marriage, his

turn to aversion, and he might take her

life.

These considerations determined her

to

accept

King Armanos and marry his daughter. The marriage treaty being thus concluded, the

the proposal of

ceremony was put off till the next day. In the meantime she gave notice to her and men, who

still

officers

took her for their prince,

that,

with the Princess Badoura's consent, she was about to

wed

the Princess Haiatalnefous.

There was nothing very extraordinarv because

in

those countries

She talked

have two wives.

them keep the

is

it

secret,

after

usual for

to her

in

this,

man

a

to

women and bade

which she took the Prin-

cess Haiatalnefous into her confidence, and promised

when the real most certainly wed her if

her

that

On

with

and all

Badoura rose

he

would

she had a mind to take him.

the marriage

due in

ceremony was carried

magnificence, the

king's

and governed the kingdom ouslv.

arrived,

these conditions the princess agreed to keep

the secret,

out

prince

and

esteem

the

and

Princess affection,

peaceably and prosper-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

268

While

things were

Ebene, Prince

Kummir

early,

Isle in

of

the

gardener. prince was walking

the

as

garden, the noise which two birds were making

in the

neighbouring tree led him to

on

a

to

see

down dead

fell

very

a

in

the

at

his

head

birds

were

up

lift

The two

what was the matter.

fighting furiously, and

them

the

in

Ziimmaiin remained

al

city of idolaters with the

One morning

passing

thus

while one of

little

of the

foot

tree;

the

victorious bird took wing again, and flew away. In an

instant,

beheld the battle

two other large birds, that had at a distance, came from the other on the ground, one

side of the garden, and pitched at the

bird

feet,

and the other

they looked

:

heads

in

token of

at

it

for

grief,

the

head of the dead

some

time, shaking their

at

with their talons and buried

They then minutes,

flew

bringing

which they dug

after

away,

it.

returned

but

them

with

the

and the other one of

the while

all

crying

out

a

in

a

in

its

few had

that

bird

committed the murder, one holding one of in its beak,

grave

a

wings

its legs,

the criminal

doleful

manner and

struggling to escape.

They it

carried

it

to the grave of the bird

had lately sacrificed

the

and there killed

it,

which leaving

body on the spot unburied, and flew away.

The

prince

astonishment,

and

beheld

this

drawing

singular

near

the

eyes upon the remains of the dead

spectacle tree bird,

cast

in

his

amongst

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. which he spied something found

it

was

his

He

red.

269

took

up and

it

beloved Princess Badoura's talisman,

him so much pain and

the loss of which had cost

sorrow. It is

wrapped

kissed the talisman, it

He

impossible to describe the prince's joy.

about

carefully

a riband,

Shortly after

arm.

his

in

it

and tied the

this

good gardener bade him root up an old tree which

bore no al

Kummir

fruit.

Zummaun

and began

took an axe

work.

his

In

cutting off a branch of the

root

found

he

something

against

strike

axe

his

that resisted the blow.

He

removed the

and

earth,

discovered a broad

He

removed the earth ami discovered

^f ^^^^^^ ^^^^^

plate

^^,|^-^h

was

a broad plate of brass.

He

went down,

about in

order,

them all

six

all,

and

at

a

staircase

the

bottom

yards square, with

each with

one

after

full of gold-dust.

fifty

another,

it.

brass on

the

staircase,

and

cavity

He

opened

out of the cave, re-

joicing that he had found such a vast

the

a

found they were

and

He came

saw

steps.

brass urns placed

cover over

a

ten

01

treasure,

put

rooted up the tree

against the gardener's return.

When

he came

in

he

told

the

prince

that

he

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

270

had

learned

just

that

Ebene

the Isle of

in

ship was

a a

about to

for

sail

few days' time, and that he

had arranged with the captain for the prince's passage.

"You

be

that will

me more

could not bring

"and

said the prince,

welcome

as

me and you

return,

in

shall see

to

agreeable tidings,"

have also tidings

I

you

:

come along with

what good fortune heaven has

you."

in store for

prince led the gardener to the place where

The

down

he had rooted up the tree, made him go

into

the cave, and showed him the treasure. "These riches are not mine," said the gardener, For "the property is yours: I have no right to it.

my

fourscore years, since

father's death,

garden without discovering

in this

it

have dug

I

clearly

;

was

it

destined for you."

Kummir

But

not

be

sur-

by the gardener, and protested

in generosity

passed

Zummaun would

al

he would have none of the

treasure

unless

it

wtre

shared by his friend.

The good man, so they shared five

it

consented

to please the prince,

;

between them, and each had twenty-

urns.

Having

done

this

the

gardener

advised

the

prince to be careful to get his treasure privately on

"Otherwise you

board. it,"

said

Ebene you

:

will

he.

"Olives

you know ;

fill

fiftv

I

will run the

are

exported

risk

from

of losing

here

to

have plenty of them, take what

pots,

half with

the gold-dust and

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. half with olives, and

ship

will

when you embark." The prince followed

rest of the

day

in

wore on

into

this advice,

it

carried to the

and spent the

packing up the gold and the olives

again, he

carefully

a cavity with fifty brass urns.

one of the

to distinguish

Now

them

arm, might be lost

his

He saw it

get

and fearing the talisman, which he

in the fifty pots,

put

I

271

pots,

from the

with

a

mark

particular

rest.

whether the gardener, who was

a

very old

man, was quite worn out with age, or had exhausted himself too

much

that

dav,

he was

taken

grew worse the next day, and on the when the prince was ready to embark, was

night,

that

it

was plain he was near

his

end.

that

ill

third,

so

ill

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

272

As soon

day broke, the captain of the ship

as

came with several seamen

who was The and as

his

to ask

the passenger

for

them.

to sail with

prince told them to take the pots of olives

baggage aboard, promising

to follow as

soon

he had taken leave of the gardener.

The seamen took

the pots and baggage and the

make

captain bade the prince

wind being

haste, the

fair.

When

the captain and his

Ziimmaun went thank him for all

men were gone Kummir

to take leave of the gardener,

al

his

good

found

but

offices,

and

him

dying; and had scarcely time to bid him rehearse the articles of his

faith,

before they die,

The

prince

which

when he could

all

good Mussulmen do

expired.

do no

prepare him for burial and lay him

in

there was no one else to do so, and

He

evening before he had finished. all

his

might to the water-side,

remain to

than

less

his grave,

was

it

for

almost

then ran with

but when he reached

the port he found the ship had sailed several hours,

and was already out of

sight.

It

had waited for him

three hours, and, the wind standing

the captain

fair,

durst not stay longer.

Kummir at

where

he

Zummaun was

neither

acquaintance. his

al

exceedingly grieved

being forced to remain another year had,

nor

wished

But the greatest

in

to

affliction

a

country

have,

of

all

any was,

having parted with the Princess Badoura's talisman.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. The only course was to rent

return

to

273

garden,

the

to

of the landlord, and to continue to culti-

it

He

hired a boy to assist him in the drudg-

vate

it.

ery,

and that he might not lose the other half of

the

which came

treasure,

the gardener,

who had no

into fifty other jars,

him by the death of

to

he put the gold-dust

heirs,

which he

up with

filled

olives,

to be ready against the ship's return.

While

prince

the

was beginning another year

of labour, sorrow and impatience, the ship was near-

ing the Isle of Ebene.

The

palace being by the sea-shore, the

or rather the Princess Badoura,

she was flying,

entering

into

the

asked what vessel

came yearly from the

it

as

the

closely,

captain

came

was,

hoping to

Zummaun,

with

hear

all

her

flags

and hearing that

it

idolators and was

city of the

down

ashore.

king,

espying the ship as

port,

generally richly laden, went

new

the port just

to

She questioned him

some news of Kummir

but she was disappointed in

al

for the

this,

captain told her he had no passengers on board, only

merchants who had with them rich monds, musks,

spices, olives

at

linens, dia-

and manv other

The Princess Badoura loved and she

stuff^s,

olives exceedingly,

once ordered the captain to land what

he had, and she would take them

oft

his hands.

"Sire," replied the captain, "there are jars of olives, I

articles.

was forced

fifty

but they belong to a merchant to leave behind."

great

whom

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

274

"No

answered

matter,"

them ashore

;

we

will

"bring

princess,

the

make

nevertheless

bargain

a

for them."

The

captain

pieces

of

hearing that the merchant was very poor,

but,

silver,

demanded one thousand

the princess ordered one thousand pieces of gold to

be given to the captain for the olive merchant.

The money was

paid,

and the

carried

jars

to

the palace.

Night drawing on, the princess withdrew into the inner palace, and went to the Princess Haiatalnefous'

apartment, ordering the

olives

She opened one

to

thither.

jar,

them

them, and poured

Haiatalnefous taste

Princess

the

let

brought

be

to

into

a

Great was her astonishment when she found She ordered the olives were mingled with gold-dust. dish.

the

women

open and emptv

to

and

presence,

wonder was

her

she saw that the olives in

with gold-dust out,

;

when

but

all

the

all

jars

in

her

when

greater

still

them were mixed

of

she saw her talisman drop

she was so surprised that she fainted away. herself and

However, she soon recovered

told

the Princess Haiatalnefous the cause of her agitation.

The next for

the

captain

questions

belonged, that he

day, as soon as

about but

worked

of the the

he in

ship

merchant

knew very a

it

was

light,

she sent

and

asked

him many

to

whom

the

little

of him,

olives

except

garden and seemed very poor.

So the princess next ordered him

to

set

sail

that

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

275

very day for the city of idolators, and to go with

all

speed and fetch the olive merchant and bring him to her, threatening

and the

that

if

He

orders.

and when

had

lost

a

life

him should be confiscated.

lives of all with

So the captain

he did not do so his

no time

carrying out his

in

prosperous voyage to the

city,

he went ashore took with him six stout

They at once went to the garden of Kummir Zummaun, took hold of him and carried him on

seamen. al

board, and set

Kummir

al

sail

Zummaun

was thus taken by

him

it

Ebene.

for the Isle of

asked the captain

why he

and when the captain told

force,

was by the orders of the King of Ebene he

was very much surprised,

he had never set

that

in

kingdom before and did not know him. The captain was not long on his voyage back

foot in his

to

the

Isle

he cast anchor taking

and,

palace,

Though

of Ebene. in the

port,

he

with

his prisoner

where he demanded

it

was night when

landed immediately, him,

hastened to the

to be introduced to the

king.

The inner

Princess Badoura had withdrawn

as she

but when she heard of the came out to speak to him, and

palace,

return she

saw the prince, though he was

dress, she recognised him.

to

embrace him, she knew

made

the

captain's as

soon

in his gardener's

Although she was longing it

was

for the interest of

both of them that she should act the longer before she

into

herself known.

king

a

little

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

276

She turned had been put

him

keep

given

much more

worth

diamond,

thousand

She gold

he

bade

also

had

she

him she would make

telling

olives,

expense

the

of

a rich

whom

merchant

had

he

him.

with

She ordered Kummir apparel and to

in rich

than

pieces

up the account with the brought

and gave him

both voyages.

to for

the the

for

captain

to the

al

Zummaun

to be clothed

carefully tended by one

be

of her officers, and then sent for him to her apartment, and, dismissing her attendants, shut the door and produced the talisman. "It is not long since

astrologer

an

being skilful

presented in

to

it

may perhaps

things,

all

me," she said tell

;

"you,

me

its

use."

Kummir drew near nised

me

to kill find

lamp

a

he

it

Zummaun

al

said,

to

view

took

As soon

it.

"Sire, the

talisman,

the

with grief and despair

if

I

he recog-

as

use of this

talisman

world, to

"You

whom

it

will

the

shall tell

me

the particulars another time," little

and

soon return to you."

At

these words

she

retired,

put

turban, and in a few minutes dressed

female

in

belonged."

replied the pretended king; "remain here a I

is

do not quickly

most charming and lovely princess

the

and

attire,

off

her royal

herself in her

and having the girdle round her which

she had on the day of their separation.

Kummir

al

Zummaun

immediatelv

recognised

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

dear princess, ran to her and tenderly embraced

his

exclaiming:

her,

who

king

replied

not

the

They

expect

in

obliged to the

I

all

thought

it

al

see

sit

down and and

themselves,

happened

that had

to

best for her safety to

Zummaun, and how

any more,"

king

the

embracing him

me;

seated

plained

to

princess,

"you see him

Kummir

"How much am

has so agreeably surprised me."

"Do

to

277

I

her

in

turn

explain."

will

princess

the

how

her,

:

she

ex-

had

pass herself off as

she had been obliged

marry the Princess Haiatalnefous, who had helped

her to keep the secret.

The prince in his turn related all his adventures. The next morning, as soon as it was light, the Princess Badoura dressed herself in her female attire

and sent the chief of the desire

to

guards to King Armanos,

he would

oblige

the king

entered

her by

coming

to

her

apartment.

When amazed he

to see a lady

apartment he was

who was unknown

to him,

and

once asked where the king was.

at

The

princess answered

:

"Yesterday

I

was king,

am onlv Princess of China, wife to the Prince Kummir al Zummaun. If your Majesty

but to-dav true

the

I

will

have patience to hear our adventures,

you

will

I

hope

deceit

condemn me for putting an innocent upon you." The king bade her go on, and

heard

her

not

narrative

astonishment.

The

from

beginning

to

end

princess on finishing said

:

with "Sire,

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

278

you know

as

have several wives, give

to

custom with most men

the

is

it

trust

I

consent

will

your daughter, the Princess Haiatalnefous,

marriage to the prince

in

vour Majesty

to

will with

I

;

my

all

heart

yield up to her the rank and quality of queen, which

of right belongs to her, and content mvself with the

second place."

King Armanos turned and

said:

wife,

whom

"Son, I

in-law, assures

have

me

become your

to

since all

Kummir

Zummaun

al

Princess Badoura

the

I

is

willing for

would

my

know

your

my

along thought to be

that she wife,

to

son-

daughter

you

if

are

willing to marry her and accept the crown."

Kummir

"Sire," replied I

al

Zummaun, "though

desire nothing so earnestly as to see the king

father, vet

the

obligations

I

have to vour

my

JNIaiestv

and the Princess Haiatalnefous are so weighty,

I

can

refuse her nothing."

The the

prince was then proclaimed king, and married

same day with

all

possible demonstrations of joy;

and had every reason to be well pleased with the beauty and wit of the Princess Haiatalnefous.

The two queens

lived together afterwards on the

most friendly and cordial terms.

Some time afterwards news was brought to Kummir al Zummaun that a large army was approaching his capital, and upon

and see what army to his dear father

it

sending messengers to go

was, he learned that

it

belonged

Shaw Zummaun, who had

left

the

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. Isles

of

the

Children

279

Khaledan and who had

ot

travelled a long time in search of his son.

Kummir his father,

than

Zummaun

and never was

once went out to meet

at

a

more

affecting interview

when they met. Shaw Zummaun gently upbraided

unkindness al

al

in

Zummaun

so

cruelly leaving him,

confessed

his

son with

and

Kummir

hearty sorrow for the

which love had urged him

to

commit.

fault

SINDBAD THE SAILOR. T

N

the

reign

Haroiin at

Bagdad

Hindbad. ing

in

voyager ing

a

poor porter called

One

porch

the

the

Cahph

Reschid there lived

day, whilst carryload,

of

which

he

sat

few moments

rest for a

to

house

the

al

very heavy

a

down in

of

magnificent

a

a

famous

named Sindbad.

Hear-

lived

sounds of

and

feasting

laughter, he exclaimed aloud

:

"Consider the difference be-

tween Sindbad

and

me.

I

am

every day exposed to fatigues and calamities, for

and can scarcely get coarse barley-bread

mvself and

my

family, whilst

pends immense riches and pleasure.

agreeable?

happy Sindbad

leads a

life

ex-

of continual

What has he done to obtain a lot so And what have I done to deserve one

so wretched?" It

chanced that Sindbad overheard the porter's

words and, sending

for

him

into his house,

first

feasted

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. him

and

well

then

related

him the following

to

adventures.

strange

"I inherited from property;

able

281

my

but

my

father," said he, "consider-

having squandered

greater

the

became necessary for me to I decided to find a means of making a livelihood. enter into a contract with some merchants who traded bv sea. I accordingly went to Bussorah and

part

in

youth

embarked with which we had

"We

merchants on board

several jointly

set sail

through

Indies,

it

htted

ship

a

out.

and steered our course towards the the

Persian

At

Gulf.

first

was

I

troubled with sea-sickness, but speedily recovered health,

and was not afterwards subject

"In our voyage we touched

we

where

sold

or

elevated bling

to

sails

be

a

small

The

meadow.

furled,

were inclined while

and

drinking,

to land.

and

and shook us

"The

the

captain,

I

but

little

and resemordered

his

as

was amongst the number,

recovering

perceiving

to re-embark,

what we took

back of

One day

eating

ourselves

in

ourselves

from

the

sudden trembled,

terriblv. J

upon us

for

island,

captain

fatigue of the sea, the island on a

lost,

several islands

and permitted such persons

we were enjoying

and

called

at

above the level of the water, green

a

to that complaint.

exchanged our goods.

we were becalmed near

my

a

sea

what had happened, or

we should

for an island

all

be

proved to be

monster. '9

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

282

"The nimblest

got into the sloop, others betook

themselves to swimming;

but for myself

I

was

upon the back of the creature when he dived the

and

sea,

had only time

I

wood that we had brought out of make a fire. "Meanwhile the captain, believing me

perished, set

sail,

"Thus was

a favourable breeze having I

my

all

life

the

me,

failing

"But

sprung up.

as

mv

wave threw me up upon

a

uninhabited

have

to

of the day

rest

and the following night, when, just

was

the ship

exposed to the mercy of the waves

and struggled for

ingly

into

catch hold of a

to

piece of to

still

strength a

seem-

chanced that the

island,

island.

me

fortunatelv for

it

which was very extensive, was not uninhabited, but end

the

which

at

had been cast up, being very

I

bleak and desolate, was seldom visited by the natives.

The maharaja who owned the island, having lost some valuable horses, had sent some of his grooms in

search

as

far

of them,

They soon

me

discovered

me some

gave

men had

having heard

and,

provisions

and invited

all

on

gave I

orders that

required.

the

to

the

me

my to

capital

island.

"The maharaja received me with and

penetrated

had been cast up.

I

them the following day

return with of the

these

the point upon which

as

story,

and

sea

The coast

I

should

great kindness

be furnished with

maharaja's capital being situated

and

having a

fine

harbour,

I

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

283

company of men of my own hoping to hear news from Bagdad, or

frequented fession,

the

profind

an opportunity to return.

"As and

as

I

was one dav

soon

she

as

the port a ship arrived,

at

anchor they began to un-

cast

load

and the

her,

goods

were carried on shore

to

be

sold.

of

my

surprise

then

Judge

when

per-

I

some of the bales to be the same I had embarked at Bussorah. I went on board and made ceived

myself known to the cap-

embraced me with great joy. 'Heaven

who

tain,

be Sindbad was exposed

to

the mercy

of the waves.

me

:

you

praised,'

said

he,

'for

I

can-

your happy escape. not express the jov

affords

it

there are your goods, take and do with them as please,'

"I took out what was most valuable

in

my

bales

and presented them to the maharaja, who, knowing

my ties.

misfortune, asked I

acquainted

their recovery.

accepted

my

much more

He

me how

I

came by such

rari-

him with the circumstances of was pleased with

present,

and

considerable.

in

return

Upon

this

my

good

gave I

luck,

me one

took leave

of him, and went aboard the same ship, after

I

19*

had

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

284

my

exchanged

goods

wood

for

of

sandal,

aloes,

camphire, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, ginger and other

We

commodities of that country.

where

Bussorah,

my

sold

I

arrived safely at

goods

for

hundred

a

thousand sequins and returned to Bagdad.

my

rest of I

grew

of an indolent

merce

I

and

My

life.

put

known

with merchants of

sea

to

inclination to

com-

for the

second time

a

We

probity.

One day we landed on several

spend the

traded from

and exchanged commodities with great

island to island profit.

to

was not long before

it

bought goods proper

intended,

I

voyage

first

Bagdad, but

days at

tired

trade revived.

with

mv

designed after

"I

island covered

an

we could

of fruit trees, but

sorts

man nor animal. We wandered about meadows and beside the streams, and presently I

neither

down

in a

how

and soon

me,

beside

long

gone. tions

slept,

I

leave

I

hundred times of

mv

first

my

life.

too

late.

to do,

I

whence towards

fast

fell

asleep.

but

when

I

to

guess

my

condition.

last I

awoke

this

was

cannot

tell

the ship was

melancholy

I

in vain,

reflec-

and

my

a

produce

me

all

repentance

resigned myself and, not knowing what

looked about on

the

sat

upbraided mvself

climbed up to the top of I

I

for not being content with the

all

the

wine and provisions

vovage, that mis^ht have sufficed

But

"At

you

sad

this

in

my

shady spot, with

see

sea

I

could

all

see

a

sides.

lofty tree,

When

I

from gazed

nothing but sky and

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. looking

but

water,

thing white I

had

;

land

the

beheld some-

I

took what provision

I

and went towards

left,

great that

so

over

coming down,

so

285

the distance being

it,

could not distinguish what

I

As

'

..

..

approached,

I

to

/

a

prodigious

•^

extent;

up

to

found I

I

to

it

to the top as

egg.

was

it

and

came and

it,

to see if

it

but

side,

and that

not,

no climbing up

there was

was so smooth.

it

of

be very smooth.

went round

saw roc's

took

I

touched

was open on any Ihc

I

height

and when

it,

was.

dome

be a white

it

it

was

It

at least fifty

paces round.

"Bv

this

sudden

of a

been

time the sun was about to

covered

became

skv

the

with

a

thick

astonished at this sudden so

when

that

size,

that

I

I

found

came

it

I

dome which

I

so

I

found the

had

much

monstrous

remembered a miracu-

and conceived that the great

much admired must be

for the bird alighted

all

much more

a bird of

towards me.

it

was

had often heard mariners speak of

lous bird called 'roc,'

closer

cloud.

as if I

darkness, but

occasioned by

flying

dark

as

and

set,

and

sat

bird's

over

legs

it,

were

and as

its I

egg,

crept

as big as the

trunk of a tree.

"I tied mvself to one of them with the cloth of

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

286

my

turban

me

carry I

hopes that the roc next morning would

with her out of this desert island, nor was

mistaken,

daylight

for

she

flew away,

As soon

senses.

as

speedily untied

when

so

first

it

was

to a great height,

and

as

rapidity

soon

that

as

lost

I

and had scarcely done

knot,

mon-

the roc, having taken up a serpent of

"The

it

away

flew

bill,

spot where

again.

me was encompassed on

left

by mountains that seemed

sides

my

found myself on the ground,

I

the

strous length in her

all

morning

the

in

descended with such

then

I

in

above

to reach

the clouds, and so steep that there was no possibility

plexity

:

This was a

out of the valley.

of getting so

when

that

compared

I

new

this place

per-

with

the desert island from which the roc had brought

me,

I

found that

"As it

I

I

walked through

this valley

I

perceived that

was strewn with diamonds, some of which were of

a surprising size

;

me was somewhat I

had gained nothing by the change.

but the satisfaction the sight caused

diminished by some other objects

presently saw at a distance, namely, a great

number

of serpents, so large that the least of them was capable of swallowing an elephant.

I

spent the day in walking

about the vallev, and when night came on into a cave, I

where

I

thought

might repose

I

I

went

in safety.

secured the entrance, w^hich was low and narrow,

with

a great stone

to preserve

without excluding the

light.

I

me from

the serpents,

supped on part of

provisions, but the serpents, which

my

began hissing round

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. me,

me

put

such

into

287

extreme fear that

could

I

not sleep.

"When

day appeared the serpents retired and

came out of the cave trembling; but dared

the

night,

I

had not

I

presently

and was awakened by something

asleep

me

during

sleep

to

as

I

falling

fell

by

with a great noise.

"This proved to be a large piece of raw meat;

and

same time

at the

from the rocks

I

saw several others

fall

different places.

in

"I had always regarded as fabulous what

heard

and

sailors

diamonds,

and

others

of

the

of

relate

the

For the

fact

hood of

stratagems

stick

to

of

valley

but

;

had

by

now

I

nothing but the truth.

come

when the

valley

to the

eagles

neighbour-

have

young

joints of meat into the upon whose points they fall, then the eagles, which are stronger

throwing

great

diamonds,

the

valley,

stated

the merchants

is,

this

and,

ones,

had

thev

that

I

employed

merchants to obtain jewels from thence found

down

them

;

country than anywhere

pounce with great force upon those pieces of meat, and carry them to

in this

their

nests

their

young

drive

off

else,

on the precipices of the rocks :

the

the

merchants then run to

eagles

and take

to feed

the nests,

away the diamonds

that stick to the meat.

"Until it

to

but

I

perceived the device

be impossible for

now

I

changed

my

me

to

I

had concluded

get from this abyss,

opinion and began to think

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

288

upon

means of

the

my

deliverance.

together the largest diamonds

collect

and put them into the leather bag

my

to carry

provisions.

my

of

the

cloth

the

ground

diamonds

my

fast

myself

which

in

it

close round

and then

face

made

being placed

scarcely

tied

turban,

with

could

I

to

find,

used

I

afterwards took the largest

I

of meat,

pieces

of the

began

I

in

laid

me

with

myself upon

downward, the bags of

my

to this

girdle.

posture

had

I

when

the

came.

eagles

"Each

them seized

of

a piece of meat,

me up carried me

and one

of the strongest, having taken

with the meat

to which

to his nest on

was fastened,

I

the top of the mountain.

to

"The merchants immediately began their shouting frighten the eagles, and when they had obliged

them nest

quit their

to

where

he saw

came manner

me

the

was much

came

;

I

was

deliverance

explaining

from

the

to

confessed visited

that

in

had

they

perfection.

at the

I

all

him us,

much more surprised They conducted me to

but

I told them my story. encampment and then, having opened my

were surprised

me how

vallev,

other merchants came crowding about

astonished to see me,

to the

alarmed when

but recovering himself asked

mv

of

He

was.

I

thither.

I

prey one of them

largeness of the

Courts

never seen

my

when much when their

bag, thev

diamonds, and

which they had size

and

who owned

the

any of such

prayed the merchant

the

One of

the

inerchaiits

came

io

the

nest

K'hei'e

I was.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. nest to which

had

own)

his

too

(for

many

as

contented

least of

the

take

to

He

pleased.

had been carried

I

is

well

me

valuable enough to save

pressed him

I

me any

to

injury, 'No,' this,

which

the trouble of

making

with

satisfied

anv more voyages, and will as

he

for his share as

them; and when

am very

'I

everv merchant

himself with one, and that

take more, without fear of doing said he,

291

raise as great a fortune

desire.'

I

"I spent several days with the merchants, and every day they threw their pieces of meat into the valley,

had

we

prodigious

We

took

large,

grow

and

its

men may is

also

branches

easily

a

this

horn

white lines

solid,

of

a

the good fortune the

at

first

we

port

so thick,

This tree

that

shade.

its

is

so

one hundred In this island

rhinoceros, an animal less in size

but larger than the buffalo.

elephant,

is

serpents

the island of Roha, where

under

sit

horn upon

has

we had

that yield camphire.

found the

than the

at

near

travelling

were

shipping

reached, and touched the trees

place,

there

which

length,

escape.

the

left

where

mountains,

high

to

being satisfied with the diamonds they

until,

gathered,

its

nose, about

and when

mav be

seen,

cleft

a cubit in

It

length

through the middle

which represent the

figure

of a man. ''At

monds

this

for

island

I

exchanged some of

merchandise,

the other ports

with

we touched

at,

which until

my

dia-

I

traded

at

at

length

we

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

292

landed

whence

irom

Bussorah,

at

proceeded

I

to

Bagdad. "I soon

brance of the perils

former

pleasures of

lost in the

had

encountered

soon

grew weary

I

and

voyages,

life

the

remem-

in

mv two

of

living

without business, and therefore travelled to Bussorah, carrying with

which

with

adventurous

me some

But

trade.

to

and

richest commodities

of the this

voyage

of dangers

full

as

the

proved

being overtaken with a storm in mid-ocean,

as

For

last.

we were

driven from our course and forced to cast anchor

port of an island which was inhabited by hairy

the

savages.

These attacked us

we were unable away of

all

that

to another island,

and whilst the building a

They took

that

possession it

that

we were

set

about

all.

in

the

power

making prepara-

there But fortunatelv J

floating timber near the island,

was

giant

number

numbers

contained and carried

it

and cook us

was an abundance of

such

leaving us in a sorry plight,

we soon discovered a terrible giant, who

tions to kill

in

to resist them.

of our ship and

for

in

of rafts

work we succeeded in upon which we made our at

escape.

"But

alas!

our enemy soon discovered what had

happened, and bringing two other giants to help him they took up great stones, and running into the water they threw them with such unerring aim that rafts

except the one

my good

I

was on were sunk.

all

But

the still

fortune did not desert me, for after passing

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. through

terrible

dangers,

sea and then bv

by

first

land, the sea having cast m}^ raft

293

upon an

habited only by enormous serpents,

I

was mercifully

preserved from these terrible pests, and in

attracting the

attention

of a passing

took

island in-

succeeded

which

ship,

me off the island me safelv home. "But my passion

and

carried

for

trade

and

love

of

novelty

again

prevented

my

settling

down

quietly at Bagdad, and

was not long before I embarked upon my fourth

it

voyage.

"This was no

less

dis-

astrous than the former ones.

Our good by

ship

tremendous

a

driven on shore, Sindbad succeeded

in attracting

the attention of a passing ship,

Once

lost.

again did

bals, but since I life,

I

was

caught

gale

many

and

of the

merchants and seamen were

drowned and the cargo was fall into the power of canni-

was verv thin and lean they spared my However, I managed to

intending to fatten me.

escape from them and had the good fortune to meet

with a tribe of people

who

treated

me

so kindlv indeed that they did not wish

them,

and

them

many

I

abode with them many handicrafts,

such

as

very kindly,

me

to leave

years, teaching

saddle-making,

of

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

294

which they knew nothing, but

which they paid me

for the

handsomely

so

knowledge of

that

I

grew very

prosperous.

"But I could not reconcile myself to remaining away from my own country permanently, and after a very long time I succeeded in getting away and returned to Bagdad.

carried with

I

me

great stores

of precious stones and rich merchandise, out of which I

not

did

support

contribute

to

fail

mosques,

of several

liberally

and

towards the

the subsistence of

the poor.

"The

pleasures

and

kindred

friends

enjoyed

I

me

cure

After a

mv

of

time

I

ship,

a

society of

my

forget

the

all

had undergone, but did not

I

inclination

certain

having built

made me

soon

troubles and calamities

in the

make new voyages.

to

therefore bought goods and, set

I

sail

her with several

in

other merchants of different nations

who had agreed

to sail with me.

"We

sailed with the

first

long navigation, the

first

desert island, where

we found

in

to that

size

young roc had begun with in

it,

in

just

to appear.

me broke

wind and,

we touched

the

at

after a

was a

an egg of a roc, equal

formerly mentioned.

I

it

place

fair

There was

readv to be hatched, and

a

its bill

The merchants who had landed egg with hatchets, made a hole

and pulled out the young roc piecemeal and

roasted

it.

I

had earnestly entreated them

meddle with the

egg,

not to

but they would not listen to

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

295

Scarcely had they finished their repast,

me.

there appeared in the

from

The

two great clouds.

us,

whom

captain

I

knowing by experience they were the male and female

had hired to navigate the

what they meant,

when

a considerable distance

at

air,

said

ship,

roc that belonged to the

young one, and pressed re-embark with

to

prevent

to

us

speed

all

misfortune

the

which he saw would otherwise befall

We

us.

on board and

hastened

set sail with all

possible speed.

"In the meantime, the two rocs approached with noise,

frightful

which

a

they

redoubled when they saw the egg broken and their young one Bj>

tJie

dexterity of

man

appeared sail

missed

it

us.

we could

to

unhappily befell

them

the

in

Thev

back

flew

direction from which

had

while

time,

endeavour to

come,

we

and

made

dis-

all

prevent that

the

which

us.

returned, and

carried

gone.

they

some

for

"Thev

steers

tlie

between

we observed

its

talons

that

stones,

each or

of

rather

rocks, of a monstrous size.

came directly over my ship, they hovered, and one of them let fall a rock, but by the

"When

dexterity

of

thev

the

steersman

it

missed us and, falling

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

296

the

into

divided

sea,

the

The

almost see the bottom. fortune, threw his

water so

that

we could

other roc, to onr mis-

burden so exactly upon the middle

of the ship as to split

The

into a thousand pieces.

it

mariners and passengers were

all

crushed

to death

or sunk.

myself was of the number of the

"I as

came up again

I

I

wreck,

of the

piece

latter,

but

fortunately caught hold of a

and swimming sometimes with

one hand, and sometimes with the other, but always holding

came overcame

me, I

"I

I

down upon

fatigue,

explore

found

whose shore was verv

steep.

that difficulty, however, and got ashore.

sat

my

board, the wind and tide favouring

to an island

I

from to

mv

fast

It

it.

trees

the grass

which

after

seemed

everywhere,

I

recover myself

to

went into the island

to be a delicious garden.

some

of

them

bearing

and there were streams of fresh pure water,

fruits,

which was

"As

light

and good to drink.

advanced into the

I

island,

I

saw an old He was

man, who appeared verv weak and inhrm.

on the bank of

sitting

him

to be

a stream,

and

I

took

like

my-

at hrst

one who had been shipwrecked

went towards him and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed his head. I asked him why he

self.

I

sat so

sign

still,

for

me

but instead of answering me, he to

take

him upon

mv

a

back, and carry

him over the brook, signifying he wished fruit.

made

to gather

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. "I believed he really stood

him

sistance, took

him

over,

bade

iijion

my

clasped

his

who

Sindbad went

He

sat astride

so tight that

the

I

legs

totiuirds

as-

and for that end

off with ease

of doing so the old man,

my

need of

back, and having carried

him get down,

stooped that he might get

decrepit,

in

297

to

but instead

me appeared

nimbly

Jiim

;

about

quite

my

neck.

my

throat

and sainted him.

upon my shoulders and held

thought he would have strangled me,

apprehension of which made

me swoon.

Not-

mv faintins^ the kept fast about my neck, but opened his legs a little When I to give me time to recover my breath. withstanding

ill-natured

old

had done so he struck me so rudely with

fellow

his feet

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

298

that

the

was forced

I

gather and eat

"He

me now and

and forced

trees,

me

left

all

then to stop to

my

when

day, and

to rest at night, laid himself

about

walk under

such as we found.

fruit

never

He made me

to rise.

down

lay

I

down

with me, holding

Every morning he pushed

always

fast

me

make me awake and afterwards obliged me You may judge then what up and walk.

to

to

get

trouble

was

I

of which

neck.

be loaded with such

to

in

could not get

I

"One day had fallen from

a

after cleaning

pressed into

which abounded bash,

put

I

the

wine so

tree.

I

took

large one, and,

a

some

it

juice of grapes,

the island; having filled the cala-

in

by

it

thither again

and going

a convenient place,

in

some days good that

after, it

tasted

I

and found

it

me

soon made

sorrow, gave

me new

spirits that

began to sing and dance

I

burden

found several dry calabashes that

I

it,

a

rid.

forget

vigour, and so exhilarated as

I

my my

walked

along.

"The liquor

man

old

had

perceiving the effect which this

upon me,

and that

him with

carried

I

more ease than before, made me a sign to give him some of it. I handed him the calabash and, the liquor

There

pleasing

being

became

his a

and

loosened

his

to

and

dance

legs

by

drank

he

considerable

intoxicated

manner,

palate,

began

upon degrees

sing

my

off.

it,

he

after

his

of

quantity to

all

it

shoulders.

He

threw

him

and

I

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. upon the ground, where he up

then took

great

a

299

motion

lay without

and

stone

;

I

head

crushed his

to pieces.

was

"I

from

ever

extremely

glad

be thus freed for

to

troublesome fellow.

this

wards the beach, where

walked

I

to-

met the crew of a ship They were that had cast anchor to take in water. surprised to see me, but more so at hearing the particulars of my adventures. *You fell,' they said, hands

the

'into

the

are

who

first

malicious

the

of

never

once made himself master them,

and

he

number

the

of the

of,

till

he had

he had destroyed

this

island

men he

has

slain;

advance

great

the

into

received

me

me

with

great

some

after

harbour of a great

and

hewn

with

"One his

durst

were

in

days' city,

carried

commodation

of

sail

the captain

we

again

out

put

told

arrived

at

to

the

the houses of which were

stone.

invited

me

He

;

things,

when they

kindness

of the merchants,

friendship,

of these

with them to the ship

him what had befallen me. and

me

informed

having

they carried

built

it

numbers.'

"After

sea,

the

that

so

they

unless

island,

by

notorious

merchants and mariners who landed upon not

and

sea,

those

quitted

made

has

of

man

old

ever escaped strangling by his

He

tricks.

I

to

a

me place

foreign

who had to

taken

me

into

go along with him,

appointed

merchants.

for

He

the

ac-

gave

me

20*

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

300

large

a

and having recommended me to some the town who were in the habit of

bag,

people

of

gathering

cocoa-nuts,

desired

them

of

me

take

to

with them.

"We

started and

came presently

a forest of

to

cocoa-nut trees, very lofty and with trunks so smooth that

it

was

possible

not

When we

that bore the fruit.

saw as

number

a great

climb to the branches

to

of apes of several sizes,

soon as they perceived

us,

at

whom

I

the apes.

fled

The merchants

was collected stones and threw them I

did

the

same, and the apes, out of

threw cocoa-nuts

revenge,

who

and climbed to the top

of the trees with surprising swiftness.

w4th

we

entered the forest

at

us

so

fast,

and with

such gestures as sufficiently testified their anger and

We

resentment.

gathered

up the

cocoa-nuts,

and

from time to time threw stones to provoke the apes so

that

by

cocoa-nuts,

this

stratagem we

which

it

would

filled

have

our bags with

been

impossible

otherwise to have done.

"When we to the city,

the

forest

brought. until I

had gathered our number, we returned

where the merchant who had sent me gave

'Go

me

the

on,' said he,

value of the

his

I

'and do the like every dav,

you have got money enough

thanked him for

cocoa-nuts

to

to carry

you home.'

advice and gradually collected

manv cocoa-nuts as produced me a considerable sum of money. I had likewise a number of cocoanuts which I took with me upon the vessel on which as

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. I

embarked, and when she was ready

who had been

leave of the merchant

"We grows

in

sailed

to sail

aloes grows.

I

two islands

so kind to me.

towards the islands where pepper

From thence we went to the where the best species of wood of exchanged my cocoa-nuts in those

pepper and wood of

for

who brought me up some Next

arrived

at

Bussorah

Bagdad, where

I

alms

in

other

as

made

fatigues

vast I

a

thence

sums of

my

upon

by amusements of five

and

my

to

I

times and escaped so

began

to

pepper,

wood

my

gains

from

return

dissipate

many to

myself to new hardships.

expose

returned

my my

that after being ship-

should have resolved never again

year's rest

I

happily

that

different kinds.

"One would have imagined wrecked

vessel

endeavoured

and

hired divers,

gave the tenth of

done

had

I

voyages,

from

;

of aloes and pearls.

in

I

were verv large and

that

embarked

I

and went

aloes,

with other merchants a pearl-fishing.

pure.

took

I

great plenty.

of Comari,

Isle

301

dangers,

I

tempt fortune

But

after

a

prepare for a sixth voyage.

to

"I travelled once more through several provinces of Persia and the Indies

at

a

sea-port

bound on a long voyage. was long indeed, and at the same time so un-

where It

embarked

and arrived

I

in

a ship

fortunate that the captain and pilot lost their course.

They, how^ever,

at last

we had no reason Suddenly we saw the but

discovered where they were, to rejoice at the circumstance.

captain

quit his post, uttering

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

302

He

loud lamentations.

threw

beard, and beat his

his

head

oft'

his

like

a

turban, pulled

We

madman.

asked him the reason, and he answered that he was in the

most dangerous place

"A

in

the ocean.

all

rapid current had caught the ship and

carried to the foot of an inaccessible mountain it

struck and went to pieces, yet

that

we saved our

lives,

it

was

where

such a manner

in

our provisions, and the best

of our goods.

"The mountain

at

the

of which

foot

we were

wrecked formed part of the coast of a verv large It was covered with wrecks and we found

island.

an incredible quantity of goods and riches cast ashore. In

all

other places, rivers

from their channels

run

into the sea, but here a river of fresh water runs out

of the sea into a dark cavern, the entrance of which is

very high and spacious.

in

this

place

is,

What

is

most remarkable

that the stones of the

mountain are

of crystal, rubies or other precious stones.

"Once

cast ashore there

terrible place, for the

is

mountain

no escape from

this

inaccessible

and

is

the strong current prevents escape by sea.

"At first we divided our provisions as equally we could and thus everyone lived a longer or shorter

time,

according to

was inevitable and

at

length

his I

strength

;

as

a

but death

was the only survivor

of the party, and expecting almost hourly to breathe

my

last.

"But

it

pleased

God once more

to

take

com-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. passion on me, and put

in

it

303

my mind

to

go to the

bank of the river which ran into the great cavern. Considering I

its

probable course with great attention,

said to myself, 'This river,

which runs thus under-

ground, must somewhere have an issue. a raft,

and leave mvself to the current,

me

some inhabited country, or

I

to

be drowned,

and

kind of death for another; place,

fatal

my

not

shall

I

will

convev If

only change one

if

get out of this

I

avoid

only

it

shall perish.

I

lose nothing, but

I

make

If I

sad

the

of

fate

comrades, but perhaps find some new occasion

of enriching myself.'

"I immediately went to work upon large pieces of timber and tied

them together

soon made a very solid I

loaded other

all

it

with

precious

so strongly that

When

raft.

I

stones

were

that

and

ambergris

emeralds,

rubies,

I

had finished lying

that

in

place and went on board with two oars that

I

had

made.

"As soon

as I

entered the cavern

and the stream carried I

floated

some days

me in

I

knew not

my

head.

tell

how

At long

length it

a

very nearly touched

it

stupor seized

continued, but

Thus

whither.

darkness, and once

perfect

found the arch so low that

I lost all light,

when

I

me

;

I

cannot

revived

I

was

surprised to find myself in an extensive plain on the

brink of a river, where

my

raft

number of negroes. "They spoke to me, but

was

tied,

amidst a

great

I

did not

understand

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

304

their language

but on

;

my

speaking a few words of

Arabic one of the blacks came forward and answered me. He told me that he and his companions had

been working raft

upon the

in the

when they observed my

fields

river and brought

He

ashore.

it

them mv history and how venture myself upon the river.

me

to

tell

"Before satisfying their curiosity something to I

to

related

with

my

and when

eat,

attentive

that

I

begged

I

to

for

which they listened

me

and then wished

surprise,

accompany them

came

hunger was appeased

that had befallen me,

all

I

asked

might go and

my

tell

to

history

to their king.

"As

I

was quite willing

go with them we

to

we came to the capital of Serendib, which was the name of the island in which I had

marched

till

landed.

"The king received me with great kindness and condescension, and when T had told all my history T caused the precious things I had brought with me on the

raft

to

be brought

him the whole of

my

in

and strai2;htwav ollered

cargo.

"But he would take nothing from charged one of sent all

my

his

officers

goods to

begged the king granted

me

to

allow

permission

honourable manner.

to take care of me, and

a lodging

"I spent a short time

in

He

me.

in

me

provided for me. the

to

and

then

home.

He

island

return

the most obliging and most

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. "He would and when

me for

went

1

me

needs force upon

my

to take

305 a rich present,

leave of him he gave

much more considerable present and a letter the commander of the faithful, our sovereign,

a

saying to me,

and

this

pray you give

'I

letter,

from me,

this present

my

and assure him of

to the caliph,

friendship.'

"I took the present and the

and went on board

king,

and

a ship

Bussorah, and from thence the

first

which

set sail at once,

we landed

very successful navigation

after a

thing

I

did

went

I

was

at

Bagdad, where

to

my

myself of

acquit

to

thanked the

letter,

commission.

now

"Being voyage

I

elling

for,

I

;

absolutely laid aside besides

my

that

thoughts

all

age

my

from

returned

safely

now

as

had

I

encountered

One day servants

as

I

was treating

came and

thought of

my days in my friends,

tranquillity.

that

me.'

I

to the caliph.

he

said

service

;

to

me: 'Sindbad,

you must carry

the king of Serendib. his civilitv.'

This

presence

prostrated myself in the

I

my

It

one of

my

is

from the table

rose

and went to him, and he requested

him forthwith

such

'That an officer of the

told me,

wished to see

caliph

to

rest,

I

so

;

nothing but to pass the rest of

of trav-

required

was resolved no more to expose myself

risks

sixth

stand

me I

accompany

to

did and having

of our

need of your

in

answer and but just

sovereign

I

a present to

should return

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

3o6

command

"This

clap of thunder.

me

of the caliph was to

had no wish

I

other voyage, moreover

like a

ever to take

an-

had made a vow never to

I

go out of Bagdad.

"But the and

insisted

upon

to

submit.

He

to

pay for the

for

my

caliph

was forced

I

thousand

sequins

my

compliance

me one

ordered expenses

of

my

journey.

"I

and

as

prepared

soon

delivered

as the

barked and had at

Serendib

as

soon

as

a

very happy voyage.

my

commission and

I

went

to Bussorah,

I

speedily executed

I

conveniently could

was the king

ious

to

me

keep

I

received permission,

me

a

very considerable

good fortune

to

there

it,

with him. the

so anx-

When,

king dismissed

present.

immediately to return to Bagdad, arrive

leave to

solicited

difficulty to obtain

however, with

few days,

a

and present were

caliph's letter

had much

depart, and

in

where I emHaving arrived

me,

to

departure

I

but

embarked

had not the

speedily as

so

had

I

hoped.

"Three or four days were our

attacked ship,

by

because

pirates, it

after

my

who

easily

was no vessel of

departure,

lives,

but for myself and the

rest,

upon

seized

Some

force.

of the crew offered resistance which cost

them

who were

we

their

not so

imprudent, the pirates saved us on purpose to make slaves of us.

"We

were

all

stripped, and instead of our

own

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

307

clothes they gave us sorry rags, and carried us into a

remote "I soon

as

Some me if

davs

'But

into

by.

It

it

home,

his

I

slave.

asked

answered that and

of

all I

that

I

the

possessed.

replied he, 'can you shoot with a bow?'

me

could, and he gave

I

me

a

bow and

behind him upon an elephant,

some leagues from the

to a thick forest

and shoot

a great tree he

elephants that passed

the

at

bade me climb

appeared there were a great number of them

mv

that forest and

"I remained

any

to

merchant,

a

Then showing me

up in

but

me had robbed me

sold

arrows and, taking

town.

me

me handsomely for a knowing who I was, he

not

after,

answered that

me

merchant, who,

and clad

well,

tell me,'

carried

us.

a rich

he bought me, carried

mechanic,

who

pirates

hands of

into the

understood any trade.

I

no

was

I

as

me

treated

where they sold

island,

fell

elephants;

in

but

master was an ivorv merchant.

the tree

night without seeing

morning

the

in

all

T

perceived

a

number and succeeded in shooting one. The other elephants at once made off and I came down

great

the tree and went to inform

my

dexterity and

where we dug

meaning

we

a hole

to return

my

master.

He

praised

returned to the forest together, for the

when

it

was

elephant, rotten,

my

patron

and take

his

teeth to trade with.

"I continued

this

employment

for

two months,

and killed an elephant every day, getting sometimes

upon one tree and sometimes upon another.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

3o8

"One morning,

me

with

tree

me

horrible

a

alarmed that

fall

fixed their eyes

all

from

my

"My

fears

it

up, and

me

taking

He

tree, fell

I

me up I

with

more

sat

then put himself

elephants,

considerable way, and then

a

ground and retired with

the

was upon

I

at

who followed him

After seeing the elephants go

companions.

up and found

for the largest

back, where

alive.

me down on

laid

and arrows to

on the ground.

it

his

other

troops, carried

his

on

one dead than

the head of the in

was

I

round the foot of the

threw

me

trunk, laid

like

the

trunks

upon me.

were not without cause,

with the tree, and the elephant, his

their

hands.

elephant put his trunk

plucked

with

my bow

allowed

I

and came to

They encompassed

concealed,

I

instead of

that,

they stopped

noise.

was

I

extended, and so

amazement

usual,

as

which

in

looked for the elephants,

I

extreme

perceived with passing by

as

a

I

long and broad

all

got hill,

almost covered with the bones and teeth of elephants. This object furnished I

admired

me

with abundance of reflections.

not but that this was their

they

and doubted

the instinct of those animals,

me

carried

thither

burying place, and that

on

purpose

to

should forbear to persecute them, since for their teeth.

towards the

I

city,

did not stay on the and,

after

my

having

I

hill,

tell

did

me it

I

only

but turned

travelled

a

day

met no elephant on mv wav, which made me think thev had retired and

a night,

I

came

to

patron.

I

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

The

elephant, taking

into

farther

the

come back to "As soon had been

He

of me. a tree

in

Sindbad up, laid him upon

to

forest,

leave

me

as

my

liberty

at

to

me he told me he know what had become

patron saw

great trouble to

had been

into the forest

and

up,

a

bow

the ground, and having sought for

me

despaired of ever seeing

"I told him

all

that

went the next morning with as

Ids hack.

the hill without any obstacle.

newly pulled

"We

309

and had found and arrows on

me

in vain

had

more.

had happened and we both

to the hill.

loaded the elephant which had carried us

manv

teeth as he could bear, and

when we

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

3IO

had returned

my

master said: 'Brother, for

you no more

treat

my

as

such a discovery as will

will

having made

slave, after

enrich me,

I

give you your

I

liberty.'

"My

me what

master then told

he had hitherto

'The elephants of our

concealed from me.

said he, 'have everv vear killed a great slaves,

whom we

sent

we could

cautions

seek

to

them,

give

manv For

ivory.

those

forest,'

crafty

of our all

the

animals

You only have have procured me incredible

destroyed them one time or another. escaped, and besides that

Formerly we could only procure ivory by exposing the lives of our slaves, and now our whole

wealth.

city

enriched

is

Do

by your means.

not think

I

pretend to have rewarded you by giving you your

you considerable riches.' "'Your giving me my liberty is enough to discharge what you owe me,' I said, 'and I deserve no other reward for the service I had the good fortune liberty,

to

I

will also give

do to you and your

my own

but leave

to

return to

country.'

"'Verv little

city,

time bring ships

monsoon*

'the

well,' said he,

ivory.

for

I

will

will

then

in a

send

you home and give you money to pay your charges.' "I stayed with him expecting the monsoon;

made

and during that time we to

the *

A

hill,

that

we

filled

regular wind that blows

many from

the west.

six

all

so

many journeys

our warehouses with

months from the

cast,

and as

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. The

ivory.

same, for

arrived

ships

at

laid

provisions

in

passage, and besides obliged

of

some

After

favours,

his

all

"On

our

islands to take

come to a we touched of the

by

land.

several

a

time

on the way,

all

with

serpents,

arrived

my

fear

or

Our

safely

I

vessel being

the

my

landed

Indies,

my

to

journey

ivory,

bought

intended for presents, ready,

set

out in

of merchants.

I

ven-

proportion

my

proceed on

some

at

and

company

was

a

long

and suffered much, but endured

when

from

these at

thanks for

in

considered

I

the

sea,

from

that pirates,

from other perils to which

All

exposed.

wait

caravan

patience,

nothing to

thousand

sums of

vast

which

with

for

being willing

I

to

when my equipage was large

to accept a present

a

and not

Bussorah,

made

I

me

mainland

the

resolving

rarities,

abundance

fresh provisions.

on

there,

ivory,

my my

in

voyage we stopped

return in

to

with ivory on

it

I

went aboard.

1

port

by sea

ture

him

had returned

patron,

country of great value.

of the

curiosities

1

did the

of the ship wherein

embark, loaded half of

account,

it

my

and

last,

made choice

himself having to

traded in

could not be long concealed from them.

it

"The was

who

other merchants

311

ended

fatigues

Bagdad.

I

went

at

I

I

had from

had been

last,

and

I

immediately to

upon the caliph, and gave him an account of embassy, and moreover related to him all the

surprising

adventures

I

had met with.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

312

"He deemed my them I

retired well

I

and

received,

ever since

my

of

to be so curious,

secretaries

his

characters of gold, and lay

in

treasury.

and

one

ordered

he

that

adventures

have

devoted

Hindbad, the "Well,

who Is

enjoy

so

"You them

such

as

I

have

done,

or

of any

that,

after

all

should

this,

I

his

hand

and kissing

near,

said

:

but are worthy

life,

you enjoy, because you make of good and "generous use. Mav vou

a

continue

to

live in happiness

and joy

till

sequins,

re-

day of your death."

Sindbad ceived

him

to

riches

the

therefore

himself

vou ever hear of any person

not only deserve a quiet

all

the

addressing

seventh

and pleasant life?"

Hindbad drew of

his

said

much

reasonable quiet

a

to

has gone through so niany vicissitudes?

that

not

it

porter,

then

friend, did

suffered

mortal

and

voyage,

last

me

gave

myself wholly

Sindbad here finished the relation of and

honours

the

he

his

in

and friends."

kindred

family,

which

presents

the I

them up

with

satisfied

write

to

him quit

to

and dine reason

to

gave

him

into the his

one

number

porter's

every day with

hundred of

his friends,

employment, him,

remember Sindbad

that

the

and

desired

come

he might have

Sailor.

THE STORY OF THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK. 'HpHERE was in former times at Caspar, on

j|^ the extreme boundaries

who

of Tartarv, a tailor

had he

a pretty wife,

affectionately

and

by

whom

w^hom loved,

was

he

beloved with equal tenderness.

One day The Hunchback.

^^^

hunchback seated himself sing and play

with his his

said

upon

The

tailor

"will

divert

carried

him tailor's

;

both

"This this

little

him

wife

Lnmediatelv

up

to

fellow,"

He

evening."

so the tailor shut

home.

he

little

him and the other readily

invited

cepted the invitation

arrival, the

his wife.

us

a

was pleased

performance, and resolved to take

accordingly

and

while

work,

the shop door and began to

a tabor.

house to entertain he,

at

at

his

after

ac-

shop their

placed before them a good

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

314

dish of

fish

but as the

;

man was

little

eating, he

unluckily swallowed a bone, which, notwithstanding the

that

all

and

tailor

his

could

wife

choked

do,

him.

This

accident

they dreaded that

alarmed

greatly

the magistrates should

if

they would be punished

it

the

husband

devised

took the corpse,

They knocked

at

of

to

led

stairs

get

rid

his plan, his wife

one by the

the

by the head, and carried

hear of

of the

that a Jewish doctor lived

and having formed

just by,

to

it

and he

and the other

feet

to the physician's house.

the door, from which a steep flight

The

chamber.

his

came down without any

light and,

asked what they wanted.

"Have

servant-maid

opening the door,

the goodness," said

the tailor, "to go up again and tell your master

have brought him his

money

him

very

ill

we do

that

we

and wants a piece of

mean

not

to

impose."

the servant had gone up to inform her master,

the tailor and

back's

is

"give him that beforehand, to

into her hand,

convince

When

man who

a

Here," continued he, putting

advice.

for

However,

murderers.

as

scheme

a

He remembered

corpse.

them both,

body

his wife

to the

hastily

head of the

conveyed the hunchstairs

and, leaving

it

there, hurried away.

In the meantime the maid told the doctor that a

man and

desiring

a

woman

waited

he would come

man whom

they had

for

him

at

down and look

brought with

them,

the door, at

a sick

and

put

"/

have killed the poor felloiv ivho ivas brought

to

me

to

be cured.''

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. money

the

had received

she

doctor was delighted

who should

one

he

cried

he

he

with

corpse

cipitated

with

"Bring me

it.

much

a light,"

As

head of the

and came against

light,

violence

and

and

quickly."

towards the

bottom,

the

to

it

so

patient,

"Bring

me

"follow

maid,

hastily ran

without waiting for a

stairs

the

have a good

not be neglected.

the

to

spoke,

The

hand.

his

being paid beforehand; he

at

must needs

thought he

into

317

he

that

had

nearly

a light," he cried again,

prefallen

"quick,

quick."

At

with her

stairs

kicked

;

he went down-

brought one, and

she

last

but

down was

a

when he saw that what he had dead man he was very much

frightened.

"Unhappy man that I am," said he, "why did I attempt to come without a light I have killed the poor fellow who was brought to me to be cured I doubtless I am the cause of his death am ruined. Mercy on me, they will be here out of hand, and drag me out of my house for a !

:

;

murderer."

Notwithstanding into

the

which he was thrown,

to shut his

and

perplexity

he

had the

confusion

precaution

door, for fear anyone passing by should

observe the accident of which he reckoned himself to be the

author.

He

told

his

wife,

who

likewise

exclaimed that they were ruined unless they could find a

means

to be rid of the

body

that very night.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

3i8

"If

we harbour

it

till

the

we

morning

are

lost,"

he

could

said she.

The doctor racked

his brain

vain,

in

not think of any stratagem to relieve his embarrass-

ment; but

his wife,

who was more

"Let us carrv the bodv

said,

fertile in invention,

to the terrace of our

throw

and

house,

down

it

the chimney of our Mussul-

man

neighbour.'

This Mussulman was one of the sultan's purvevors for

furnishing articles

of a

and

butter

oil,

similar

nature,

and had a storehouse where

made

the rats and mice

pro-

digious havoc.

The Jewish doctor The

racked

doctor

his

brain

proving

the

pedient,

his

took

up

to

under

the his

roof of the armpits,

let

the

house

proposed

little

he

hunchback

fastening

and,

ex-

and

wife

ap-

ropes

him down the chimney

into

the purveyor's chamber so dexterously that he stood

upright against the wall,

When

as

if

he

had

been

alive.

they found he had reached the bottom they

pulled

up the

ropes,

and

left

the

body

in

that

position.

They were scarcely seated in their chamber when the purveyor, who had just returned from a

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. went

wedding-feast, in

He

hand.

his

cover a

man

stout fellow,

up

a

stick,

"Ah!"

a

he,

making

but being a

butter and tallow

;

straight for the hunchback,

discover a

but

it

is

man

you who come down

However,

chimney

will

have no wish to come here again."

rob

me.

mice ate

standing in his chimney.

the

to

he took

a thief,

"I thought the rats and

to

lanthorn

a

surprised to dis-

little

and taking him to be

The purveyor was surprised

my

room with

his

standing in his chimney;

and,

said

into

was not

319

I

think

Upon

you this

he attacked the hunchback and struck him several times with his stick.

The corpse

fell

down

flat

on

the ground, and the purveyor redoubled his blows.

But,

observing

that

the

body did not

move, he

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

320

regarded

have

done!

I

my

carried

He to

that

revenge too

saw

already

the

am," said he, "what

man;

a

alas!

thunderstruck

come

officers

and

punishment,

condign

be

to

it

have

I

far."

and

pale

perceived

I

have killed

I

stood

and

nearly

"Wretched man

dead.

he

more

it

he

;

could

fancied

him

drag

to

not

what

tell

to do.

But when he had recovered himself took his

against

where he shop

a

few

come

minutes

that

in

When

he

passed

by the

had it,

when

fell

thinking he

w^as

down,

after

and,

"Thieves

to

shop

placed it

very

davbreak,

posture,

once

end

where

upon

the

by

his

to

bath.

he

street

jostle

to

against

The merchant, knocked

a robber,

redoubling

the

hunchback's body

back.

his

the

happened to

the

of

happened

attacked

furnished

way

his

Christian

a

articles,

on

the

and

and

rich,

various

direction

came

been

the

without

returned

before

with

palace

sultan's

upright

upon of

him.

who was

merchant

an

in

it

end

the

to

it

then

he

;

looking behind

A

placed

hunchback

the

of

and carried

shoulders,

street,

body

crooked

the

he

a little

blows,

cried

it

out

!"

The outcry alarmed immediately,

and

finding

Mussulman asked him abuse a Mussulman in

watch,

the

Christian

a

what that

who came up

reason

manner.

beating

he

had

a

to

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. "He would "and

chant,

order to

have robbed me," replied the mer-

pounced

"If he

did,"

venged yourself

At

the

a Christian dares

he

saying

him

said

him.

kept In

of the

out

"is

observing thus that

Mussulman?"

and

to

more

reflected

upon

his

adventure

conceive

how

could have

The

was ready

the

he

such

the

killed

So

and carried

Christian,

the judge

re-

hand

his

it

meantime,

the

merchant could

till

in

off him."

but

up, he,

have

to the house of the officer of the police,

he was

fist

he stretched

to assassinate a

hold

laid

come, get

hunchback

"Oh!"

behind

"you

watch,

sufficiently;

little

from

throat."

the

said

was dead,

that he

the

same time

the

help

to

me

upon

me bv

take

321

the

where

examine Christian

the

blows of

slight

less

his

man.

judge, having heard the report of the watch

viewed

who could

the

body,

interrogated

not deny the crime,

the

prisoner,

though he had not

But the judge, considering the little hunchback belonged to the sultan, for he was one committed

of

it.

buffoons,

his

would

not

put

went

the

to

sultan's

officers

ceived this a

Christian

the

judge

and

palace with

answer:

who

all

the

a

Christian

to

this

end

he

acquainted

one

of

the

and

re-

had happened,

"I have

kills

ordered

and sent criers

what

the

For

death without higher authority.

no mercy to show to

Mussulman." execution

over the

city

to to

Upon take

this

place,

proclaim that

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

322

they were killing

about to

The

the

his

the

done

every circumstance

body

to

the

had found put

to

be

guilty

the

a

with

having

the

exe-

who

told

killed

the

how he had conveyed

the

his

where

the

merchant

Christian

added

about,"

?

person

for

;

my

Mussulman, without loading the

death

"to

he,

how can he of a man who was dead It is enough for me to

death

touched him

have killed

of

innocent

an

purveyor,

the

"You were

it.

of

he

science

and

place

death

the

that

for

who attended

officer

began to question hunchback,

stop,

through

it.

the

little

to

pushed

committed the murder, but he

not

that

him

to

the

to

purveyor

sultan's

calling

himself had

Upon

brought

and the executioner was about to do

had

Christian

before

for

of

crowd,

him

death

to

place

when

cution

Christian

a

merchant was

execution, duty,

put

Mussulman.

a

Christian

of a

who

connot

is

guilty."

The himself the

purveyor having publicly charged

sultan's

with

officer

the

could

on

the

he,

"and execute

appears

death

do no

by

this

own

the

execute

Christian

the

man

hunchback,

little

than

less

"Let

merchant.

his

of

in

confession

his

go,"

he

said

since

stead,

that

justice

is

it

guilty."

merchant

Thereupon the executioner released

the

and seized the purveyor;

he was going

to

carry

out

the

sentence

but

he

just as

heard

the

voice

of

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. the Jewish doctor,

pend

the

323

earnestly entreating

make

and

execution,

room

him

to sus-

for

him

to

approach.

When "My

he

lord,

appeared before the judge he said

Mussulman you

this

going to exe-

are

am the criminal. Last night a man and a woman, who are unknown to me, came to my door with a sick man my maid went cute

not

is

guilty.

I

;

opened

and

them

piece

a

come and look

her

message,

the

stair-head,

in

and

discovered

and

My

conveying next

death

was dead,

up

neighbour, unjustly,

him

concluded

and

it

;

though

I it

am

will

the

the

finding a

thief,

killed

be

sole

sick

soon

I

!

crooked

now about and

body,

after

our

into

to his

his

house,

after

beating

in

and

put

to

chimney it

to

purveyor,

were going

down

had

he

was not so you

deposition

are

the

was the

roof of the

The purveyor little man for

the

you

whom you let

took

it

took the

I

the

to

Alas

and

and

a candle,

upon

stumble

death

and

wife

it

chamber.

it

had lighted to

without

went,

I

;

him downstairs.

Mussulman whose avenge.

to

name, to step down

disappeared

servant

kick

he

commission

a

While she was delivering conveyed the sick person to

happened

dark

the

with

in their

patient.

they

my

till

person

me,

the

at

and received from

light,

money

of

desire

and

waiting

without a

it

him.

But

convinced by author of the

that

this

mv

murder

was committed undesignedly,

I

;

am

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

324

to

have

charge

to

my

expiate

resolved

crime,

myself

with

that

I

may

not

of

two

deaths

the

Mussulmen.

The

chief

the

Jewish

for

the

doctor was the

executioner to

executioner to hold

for

him

the

"My

made,

appeared,

crying

to

and make room

make

and

Room "you

he,

said

lord,"

the to

judge.

chief

release

about

might come

he

that to

and

hand,

his

that

gave orders

doctor was

tailor

the

fession

him

the

executed when the

be

murderer,

seize

Accordingly

purveyor.

now persuaded

being

justice

con-

his

been

having

narrowly

have

away the lives of three innocent persons; but if you will have the patience to hear me, I will discover to you the real murderer of escaped

the

crookbacked man.

by

piated day,

taking

another's,

and

was

sang a

little,

evening

a

him

gave

I

few^

did

in

plate

his

our utmost

minutes.

be

to

is

to

him

accepted

We

sat

of

fish

throat,

and

relieve

His death

invitation to

supper

in

eating,

my

though

with

us it,

he

;

spend the

to

the

him,

little

down

but

;

my

in

the

sat

ex-

Yester-

work

down

afflicted

and for fear of being charged

at

merry,

be

invited

me. a

was

I

door and

He

house.

with

bone stuck

and a

I

in

I

as

to

my

to

and so

my

at

and went

disposed

came

hunchback

death

his

must be the man.

I

towards the evening,

shop

and

If

he

wife

died

in

extremely,

we

carried

the body to the Jewish doctor's house and knocked.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. The maid came and opened her to

325

door

the

down and give his advice to we had brought along with encourage him,

I

of money,

which

was

I

gone,

a sick

to

come

person

whom

and

us,

desired

I

;

np again and ask her master

go

withal,

to

charged her to give him a piece I

the

When

her hand.

put into

carried

hunchback

she

and

upstairs,

him upon the upper-

laid

most

step,

wife

and

best

of

and then

made the our way home. I

The doctor

accidentally

body down-

threw the

concluded

and

stairs

my

himself to be the author

This being

of his death.

the

case,

doctor and

The The

executioner was

making ready.

^^^

let

me

die

stead."

his

in

the

release

^||

chief

^^^

justice

Spectators

wondered at the strange events which had ensued upon the death of the little hunchback. "Let the Jewish doctor go," said the judge, "and seize the tailor,

since

he

While the put

an

end

to

confesses

crime.'

executioner was the

company where he was. One

wanting the

the

tailor,

of his

the

making ready Sultan

crooked

of

jester,

to

Caspar,

asked

of his officers replied that he

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

326

been

had

dead

found

circumstance

strange

merchant,

Christian

Jewish doctor and selves

Upon an

a

the

to

"with

bring

that

I

own purveyor,

a

charged them-

all

crime.

the

place

of

the

at

and

me

said

judge

the

tell

to

immediately,

place

called to

and happened to

officer went,

of execution

executioner had

He

"Go,"

execution.

body of my poor hunchback him once more."

see

Accordingly the

tailor.

a

the

also

may

the

had

tailor

was

that

accused persons before

and

that

sultan's

expedition,

all

bring the

arrive

death

the

most

and the

city,

receiving this intelligence the sultan sent

officer

he,

about the

with

turn

in

the

in

him

laid

at

the verv time

hands upon the

his

to suspend the execution,

and acquainted the judge with the sultan's pleasure.

The judge obeyed, and went accompanied by the

directly to the palace,

the Jewish doctor,

tailor,

the

purveyor and the Christian merchant, and four men

conveyed the

body of the

hunchback

along with

them.

When

they appeared

the judge

threw himself

afterwards

gave him

a

the

in

at

the

sultan's

prince's

record

faithful

of

presence, feet,

and

all

that

had happened.

The sultan,

said: as

has

story

appeared most extraordinary to the

and addressing himself to the audience,

"Did you ever hear such happened

to

my

little

a

he

surprising event

crooked buffoon?"

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

Now

bodv

a

This

being

down on knees,

and

fastly,

fell

ground,

into

took

great

so

head

his

little

examine

to

a

fit

himself

of

him,

sat

between

his

upon

had looked

he

command

little

storv of the

approached

he

granted,

after

had

nearer.

little

the

who

barber

a

and who now asked leave

hunchback,

so

present

very attentively to the

listened

the

was

there

327

him

stead-

of laughter and had

he

that

back-

fell

wards on the ground, without considering that he

was before the Sultan of Caspar.

"why do vou laugh?"

"Barber," said the sultan,

answered the barber,

"Sir,"

benevolence

Majesty's

and

dead, if

I

be

shall

that

So several

saying,

he

hunchback

the

is

not

content to pass for a dotard

do not convince you of

I

"I swear by your

took

a

it

minute."

this

box

wherein

he

had

medicines that he carried about him to use

drew out a little phial of balsam, with which he rubbed the hunchback's neck a long time; then he took out of his as

might require,

occasion

case

a

neat

tween

the

opened

his

down bone. forth

iron

and

instrument which he inserted be-

hunchback's

teeth,

mouth, he thrust

a

and

after

he

had

pair of small pincers

throat, with which he drew out a fish Immediately the hunchback sneezed, stretched

his

his

arms

and

feet,

opened

his

eyes,

and

showed several other signs of life. The sultan was transported with jov and ad-

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

328

miration to

and

ordered the

down and

be written

Nor Jewish

did

he

doctor,

stop

story

purveyor

the

hunchback

be preserved for ever.

to

here

of

;

but,

and

that

Christian

the

tailor,

merchant

might remember with pleasure the adventure which the accident of the hunchback had occasioned them,

he

did

not

send them away

till

he had given each

them a very rich robe, with which he caused them to be clothed in his presence. As for the barber, he honoured him with a great pension, and kept him near his own person always. of

Printed in Bavaria.

170-32 23-04

s:c-

•OT

View more...

Comments

Copyright © 2017 PDFSECRET Inc.